Month: March 2010

82nd Academy Awards Honors “The Hurt Locker”

On March 9, 2010

The 82^nd Academy Awards were broadcast to millions on Sunday, March 7, 2010, and history was made. The first woman won the Best Director Award, Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” and the Best Picture of the Year was an upset: “The Hurt Locker,” a little-seen film about bomb defusers, starring Jeremy Renner.

“Avatar” won 3 Oscars, when all was said and done, one for Visual Effects, one for Cinematography and one for Art Direction. “The Hurt Locker,” meanwhile, raked in the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow), Original Screenplay (Mark Boal), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Mixing.

After those two gorillas in the jungle, the numbers dropped off rapidly: only “Crazy Heart” (with 2) and “Crazy Heart” and “Precious” with 2 apiece challenged for awards this night.

The evening opened with a lame song-and-dance number by Neil Patrick Harris, who had actually been good in this role on an earlier awards show. Neil Patrick Harris sang a song whose message whose message was “No One Wants to Do It Alone.” This is true, and is probably why Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin shared hosting duties for the 82^nd annual Oscars. I was disappointed in their performance, as they are both so funny and quick-witted, individually, but their scripted stuff was somewhat weak…although not as weak as Kathy Ireland’s red carpet interviewing. None of the people doing the red carpet interviews this year impressed, least of all Kathy, Sherry from “The View” or the editor of “People” magazine (I think). I never thought I’d say it, but give us back Joan and Melissa Rivers. Army Archerd just died, so he’s definitely out. What about somebody like Mario Lopez or Joan Hart or, really, just about anybody but this trio.

The winners this night were as follows:

Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker”

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow (first woman director to win)

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges (for “Crazy Heart”)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo’Nique in “Precious”

Best Animated Feature Film: “Up”

Best Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker” by Mark Boal

Best Adapted Screenplay: “Precious”, Geoffrey Fletcher

Best Foreign Language Film: “The Secret in Their eyes” (Argentina)

Best Original Score: “Up” (Michael Giacchino)

Best Original Song: “The Weary King” from “Crazy Heart

Best Art Direction: “Avatar”

Best Cinematography: “Avatar” by Mario Fiore

Best Costume Design: “The Young Victoria” (Sandy Powell)

Best Documentary Feature: “The Cove”

Best Documentary Short Subject: “Music by Prudence”

Best Film Editing: “The Hurt Locker” (Bob Murawksi and Chris Innis)

Best Makeup: “Star Trek”

Best Animated Short Film: “Logarama” (French, 16 mins.)

Best Live Action Short Film: “The New Tenants”

Best Sound Editing: “The Hurt Locker”

Best Sound Mixing: “The Hurt Locker”

Best Visual Effects: “Avatar”

Sandra Bullock’s acceptance speech was the most affecting of the night, for me, as she said, “To that trailblazer who allowed me to have this extraordinary opportunity—and to my lover, Meryl Streep.” Sandra also referenced a time when George Clooney had thrown her into a swimming pool and almost choked up during her acceptance speech. I also enjoyed Mo’Nique pointing out that, at least in her case, the award was truly given for the performance. I agree with that, having seen all the nominated performances, but it didn’t hurt any that Oprah got behind the film Big Time, so that somewhat contradicts Mo’Nique’s comment that politics was not a factor in her win. (She also shared TMI during her Barbara Walters interview, telling the world that she does not shave her legs and has an open marriage with her spouse.)

The evening ended on as always-hurried note, with the dynamic duo of Steve Martin and Alec Baldin signing off very quickly.

Most of the winners were not a surprise, with Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock and Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique winning, as expected.

Crystal Bowersox Continues to Shine on Girls’ Night (3/09/10) on “American Idol”

By Connie Wilson

On March 9, 2010

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It’s so tempting to use that clichéd division for Tuesday night’s Girls’ night on “American Idol,” but I’m not as cruel as Simon, so I’ve chosen The Good, The Bad and the Okay as my categories. To spare you a lot of reading, the shorthand version of my opinion is this:

The Good: Crystal Bowersox and Didi Benami.

The Bad: Katie Stevens and Paige Miles.

The Okay: Everybody else, which means Siobhan Magnus, Lacey Brown, Katelyn Epperly and Lily Scott.

Jermaine, John, Haeley and Michelle Depart “American Idol” on March 4, 2010

By Connie Wilson

On March 5, 2010

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

Ode to “American Idol,” 2010

John Park is in the dark

Haeley’s right behind him

Michelle has gone; she did her best

Jermaine’s gone back to hymns.

The final 16: there they are

I’m still a fan of Lee’s

I also like that Crystal girl

And Siobhan’s cool with me.
Expect the ads to start up now

With cars the kids are driving,

And, after that, we’ll lose a few:

While others will be thriving.

I’m picking Lee and Crystal girl

With Katelyn, Siobhan, Lilly.

I think we’re going to watch some go

Say: Paige, Tim, Alex, Silly.

I cannot see how Katie stays

I’m not real big on Andrew

Lacey’s pale and rather stale

Didi’s on life support, too.

But Katelyn’s there, Chicago style

With Lee and Paige and Casey,

Crystal’s shining like a star,

This picking drives me crazy!

March 3, Wednesday: Crystal Comes Charging Back on “American Idol”

By Connie Wilson

On March 4, 2010

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

“American Idol,” March 3, Wednesday, Girls’ night:

Best of the night: Crystal Bowersox, Siobhan Magnus, Lilly Scott, Katelyn Epperly.

Worst of the night: Didi Benami, Haeley Vaughn, Katie Stevens.

Just okay: Michelle DeLaMor, Lacey Brown, Paige Miles.

Prediction: If Crystal stays healthy, the group mentioned above will be the last 4 girls standing.

I hope that everyone stays healthy!

March 2nd: Crystal Bowersox’ Illness Forces Boys to Sing For Their Supper First

By Connie Wilson

On March 3, 2010

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

The big news on March 2, 2010 (Tuesday) was that the boys had to compete first (rather than the girls as originally scheduled) because of a medical emergency that took female contestant Crystal Bowersox to the hospital. No further details about the Ohio native’s health could be gathered, even by Internet search of such papers as the Toledo Free Press. . (Crystal is from Ohio).

Jill Hudson, spokeswoman for “American Idol” said that the show’s policy was not to comment on the personal lives of the contestants.

The best vocal performances for the night were turned in by Lee DeWyze (also a Chicago contestant, as was Crystal), Michael “Big Daddy” Lynche, and Casey James. Most of the rest of the boys were various levels of forgettable, insipid or terror-struck.
Most likely to be cut this week?

If singing is the criteria (and not good looks) Andrew Garcia, Aaron Kelly, Tim Urban and—if Simon is right—-Jermaine Sellers. However, with the lackluster, uninspired, flat performance of John Mayer’s “Gravity” that Northpark, Illinois native John Park turned in, he’s not out of the woods, either.

Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, both Chicago picks, were emerging as crowd favorites and gifted performers. Let’s hope that Crystal’s front-runner status is not jeopardized by her hospitalization and that she is able to compete on tomorrow night’s (March 3^rd’s) show.