Happy 61st Birthday Meryl Streep!

Hat/tip to I Should Be Laughing for reminding me that national treasure Meryl Streep turns 61 today!

2010 Oscars: The Winners

Here are the winners of the 2010 Oscars:

• Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro
• Best Director: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
• Best Actor: Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
• Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
• Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
• Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique in “Precious”
• Best Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
• Best Adapted Screenplay: “Precious” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• Best Foreign Language: “The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
• Best Animated Film: “Up” Pete Docter
• Best Documentary: “The Cove” Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
• Best Cinematography: “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
• Best Art Direction: Avatar” Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair
• Best Costumes: “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
• Best Editing: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
• Best Score: “Up” Michael Giacchino
• Best Song: “The Weary Kind”(Crazy Heart) Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
• Best Makeup: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
• Best Visual Effects: “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones
• Best Sound Editing: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
• Best Sound Mixing: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
• Best Animated Short: “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
• Best Live Action Short: “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
• Best Documentary Short: “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor

I did reasonably well in my predictions this year, getting 17 of 24 correct. If you count my first and second picks then the only one I was completely off on was Best Documentary Short (23 of 24). "The Hurt Locker" cleaning up both the Sound categories was a huge surprise. I really thought that the Academy would recognize "Avatar" over "The Hurt Locker" for Best Picture, but clearly (6 wins to 3 wins) they preferred the little war picture (which was excellent) to the amazing, cinematic experience from the creative genius of the unlikeable James Cameron. They both are great films but I suspect "Avatar" will be the one that is remembered more 50 years from now.

2010 Oscars: MadProfessah's Final Picks

I have previously posted my predictions for who I think should win (and who I think will win) in the Top 8 categories.

Here are my picks for all 24 categories:

Best Picture: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (2nd: James Cameron )
Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker (2nd: Inglourious Basterds)
Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air (2nd: Precious)
Actor: Jeff Bridges (2nd: Jeremy Renner)
Actress: Sandra Bullock (2nd: Meryl Streep)
Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique (2nd: Maggie Gyllenhaal)
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (2nd: Stanley Tucci)
Editing: The Hurt Locker (2nd: Avatar)
Art Direction: Avatar (2nd: Sherlock Holmes)
Sound: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Sound Editing: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Cinematography: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Costumes: The Young Victoria (2nd: Bright Star)
Documentary: The Cove (2nd: Food, Inc)
Foreign Language: A Prophet (2nd: The White Ribbon)
Animated Film: Up (2nd: Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Animated Short: A Matter of Loaf and Death (2nd: Logorama )
Live Action Short: The New Tenants (2nd: Abracadabra )
Documentary Short: China’s Unnatural Disaster (2nd: The Last Truck)
Makeup: Star Trek
Score: Up (2nd: Sherlock Holmes)
Song: The Weary Kind (from Crazy Heart)
Visual Effects: Avatar

I'll check in later. This year is much harder to predict than most!

2010 Oscars: MadProfessah's Predictions

BEST PICTURE
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox)
"The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
"An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics)
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company)
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
"A Serious Man" (Focus Features)
"Up" (Walt Disney)
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)

Should Win: Avatar
Will Win: Avatar

BEST DIRECTOR

• "Avatar" (20th Century Fox) James Cameron
• "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Kathryn Bigelow
• "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Quentin Tarantino
• "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate) Lee Daniels
• "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) Jason Reitman

Should Win: James Cameron, Avatar
Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTOR

• Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight)
• George Clooney in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Colin Firth in "A Single Man" (The Weinstein Company)
• Morgan Freeman in "Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
• Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)

Should Win: Colin Firth, A Single Man
Will Win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

BEST ACTRESS

• Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)
• Helen Mirren in "The Last Station" (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Carey Mulligan in "An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
• Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia" (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Should Win: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Will Win: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Matt Damon in "Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
• Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
• Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station" (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones" (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
• Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company)

Should Win: Christoph Walz, Inglourious Basterds
Will Win: Christoph Walz, Inglourious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Penélope Cruz in "Nine" (The Weinstein Company)
• Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight)
• Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Mo'Nique in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)

Should Win: Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Will Win: Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Written by Mark Boal
• "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Written by Quentin Tarantino
• "The Messenger" (Oscilloscope Laboratories) Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
• "A Serious Man" (Focus Features) Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
• "Up" (Walt Disney) Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Should Win: Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Will Win: Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• "District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
• "An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics) Screenplay by Nick Hornby
• "In the Loop" (IFC Films) Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
• "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate) Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Should Win: Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Will Win: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

WATCH: The Incredible Accents of Meryl Streep

Watch this amazing video of Meryl Streep at work.

That's a travesty! She has been nominated for a record 15 Academy Awards, only winning two (Best Actress, Sophie's Choice, 1983 and Best Supporting Actress, Kramer vs. Kramer, 1980).

Let's hope that in 2010 her drought ends with a win for Julia & Julia.

Golden Globe Nominations Are Out

The Golden Globe nominations are out:

Motion Picture, Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

Motion Picture, Comedy/Musical
500 Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Actress, Drama
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabby Sidibe, Precious

Actor, Drama
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers

Actor Comedy/Musical
Matt Damon, The Informant
Daniel Day Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joe Gordon Levitt, 500 Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man

Actress, Comedy
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Meryl Streep, It’s Complicated

Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo’nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man

Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Screenplay
Neill Blomkampt & Terri Tatchell, District 9
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Nancy Meyers, It’s Complicated
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Original Score
Michael Giacchino, Up
Marvin Hamlisch, The Informant
James Horner, Avatar
Abel Krozeniowski, A Single Man
Karen O. and Carter Burwell, Where the Wild Things Are

Foreign Language Film
Baria
Broken Embraces
The Maid
Un Prophete
The White Ribbon

Original Song
“Cinema Italiano,” Nine
“I Want To Come Home,” Everybody’s Fine
“I See You,” Avatar
“The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart
“Winter,” Brothers

Hat/tip to AwardsDaily

2009 Oscars: MadProfessah's Final Picks

BEST PICTURE
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
"The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”

SHOULD WIN: “Slumdog Millionaire”

WILL WIN: “Slumdog Millionaire”

BEST DIRECTOR
David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
Gus Van Sant, “Milk”
“Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”
Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
SHOULD WIN: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
WILL WIN: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”

BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
SHOULD WIN: Sean Penn, “Milk”
WILL WIN: Sean Penn, “Milk”

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
SHOULD WIN: Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
WILL WIN: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”
SHOULD WIN: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
WILL WIN: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
SHOULD WIN: Amy Adams, “Doubt”

WILL WIN: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Doubt”
“Frost/Nixon”
“The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
SHOULD WIN: “Slumdog Millionaire”
WILL WIN: “Slumdog Millionaire”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Frozen River”
“Happy-Go-Lucky”
“In Bruges”
“Milk”
“WALL-E"
SHOULD WIN: “Milk”

WILL WIN: “Milk”

MOVIE REVIEW: Doubt

Doubt is in the hunt for Oscar nominations, especially for its high-powered cast of Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

Doubt is written and directed by John Patrick Shanley (who won the 1988 Oscar for Moonstruck) and adapted the screenplay from his own play, Doubt: A Parable, which won the Pulitzer, Drama Desk and Tony awards in 2005.

However, I have doubts about Doubt the movie. As a film director, Shanley is an excellent screenwriter. It is true that Streep is amazing in the lead role of Sister Aloysius that won Cherry Jones the 2005 Tony award while fellow Oscar winner Hoffman matches her in scene after scene as Father Flynn. Many people are touting the chances of Davis to be nominated for (and possibly win) the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for the pivotal role of Mrs. Muller. To MadProfessah the most affecting non-lead role performance was delivered by Amy Adams who plays the young and innocent Sister James.


Davis is also affecting in her one extended scene but the animating force of the impact is from the plot twist that she reveals during her conversation with Sister Aloysius. The story is set in 1964 in a predominantly Irish and Italian section of the Bronx. It depicts the everyday lives of the Catholic nuns and priests and their congregants in a particular parish. The movie is centered around an incident which may or may not have occurred at a Catholic middle school whose principal is played by Streep's character and is in a parish headed by Hoffman's character. The incident involves the first black member of the school, who is an altar boy in Hoffman's church but also in Adams' 8th grade class.


The lasting impact of the movie with this viewer was of the immense tragedy Catholic education was and a disturbing sense of awe at the sheer immensity of the Catholic Church and its impact on America.

OVERALL GRADE: B+/A-.

ACTING: A.
IMAGERY: B.
PLOT: A-.
IMPACT: B+.