Here is another article I wrote to follow up on the Oscars. It's more of a column than an articles actually. This article is actually being edited as we speak to make it sound less columny so you can see the new user friendly version here.
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The Oscars recapped
What were the highlights and low-lifes of this year’s event?
I won’t bore you by telling you who won what or wore what (as far as I’m concerned, it’s one dress, two dress, red dress, blue dress). You can see the list of winners here. But allow me to enlighten you with the highlights and low-lifes of the 77th Academy Awards.
Chris Rock as host was a surprise. Not that I was expecting the occasional “Cheap Pete” schtick, but he certainly brought class to his usual repertoire. I liked his backpedaling on the “I hate the Oscars” comments weeks prior to the event by replacing it with “I love the Oscars…BUT…”
Despite being the host, I think Beyonce had more screen time than Rock by singing three of the five nominated Best Original Songs. She graced us by singing “Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)” from Les Choristes in French no less, “Learn to Be Lonely” from The Phantom of the Opera, and “Believe” from The Polar Express with Josh Groban. This can perhaps be the only chance Jay-Z has to attend the Oscars. Beyonce, you have a beautiful voice and as usual you look fabulous - but stop Bogarting the stage! Unfortunately, none of those songs took home the gold. The Oscar went to “Al Otro Lado Del Río” from The Motorcycle Diaries.
The Oscars this year seemed to be a rush job with their Beauty Pageant-esque presentation for some of the lesser-hyped awards. Even some were presented in the crowd to save walking time unfortunately that put to risk showing some nominees sleeping as they were called for their category.
And can Sean Penn please be scarier? He opened with a noble act of defending Jude Law’s honour before presenting Best Lead Actress. I can assure you, Law’s not crying himself to sleep by Rock’s comments of him being in every movie this year. You used to have a sense of humour Penn, remember? Fast Times at Ridgemont High? We’re No Angels? Madonna?
Okay, so here are some winners. It was no surprise that Hilary Swank won for Best Lead Actress (Million Dollar Baby). She has a knack for playing less than feminine roles though her acceptance speech lacked punch and failed to tear at the heart strings like Halle Berry (Monster’s Ball - 2002) or Tom Hanks (Philandelphia - 1993). She managed to cover her co-stars, husband (we’ll just sit Chad Lowe beside Jay-Z, shall we?), agents, manager, publicists, fourth grade teacher, the mailman, and me… The now two-time Oscar winner was drowned out by the orchestra and dragged off stage by Sean Penn (you don’t want him mad at you. Did you see him get “all up in his grill” with Rock about Jude Law?)
And of course Jamie Foxx took Oscar home for his portrayal of Ray Charles. No one was more deserving of the statuette than Foxx who became the legendary artist. His speech had a tender moment where he thanked his grandmother who whooped him as a child. Okay, maybe not so tender. We can only assume she started beating him after Booty Call. Regardless, Foxx’s loving and talking to Grandma in his dreams moment made his win all the more sentimental.
Despite not being the epic Hollywood picture like The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, which was filmed in 37 days, came out on top by clinching Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Lead Actress (Swank) and of course Clint Eastwood for Best Director and Best Picture. The Aviator visually took it home with cinematography, editing, art direction, costume design, and Best Supporting Actress (well, Cate Blanchett did look stunning.) All bets were on Scorsese to finally win but again, he suffered a huge upset by becoming the Susan Lucci of Best Director. Give the man an Oscar! I know it’s tough to be up against Dirty Harry but it seems like Scorsese is more likely to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award before getting an Oscar.
-- Michelle Villagracia
2.28.2005
2.24.2005
My foot
Going through my old emails and found my "foot" in the door that got me my job at CHUM. I love Adina but for a content coordinator, she has a number of spelling errors :P
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Hi Michelle,
thanks for your email. I know that we are looking for a part-time contentperson to help on possibly a short-term contract. the position is veryjuniur and not terribly challenging. the person hired, however, would haveto understand the web, html, photoshop, and have strong writingskills.Frankly, it is a bit of a boring position ;) It also sounds like youare WAY overqualified. But it is a foot in the door.If you are stil intersted in applying, please do send me your cv.
thanks,
Adina
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Hi Michelle,
thanks for your email. I know that we are looking for a part-time contentperson to help on possibly a short-term contract. the position is veryjuniur and not terribly challenging. the person hired, however, would haveto understand the web, html, photoshop, and have strong writingskills.Frankly, it is a bit of a boring position ;) It also sounds like youare WAY overqualified. But it is a foot in the door.If you are stil intersted in applying, please do send me your cv.
thanks,
Adina
A work in progress
This kinda went nowhere since there wasn't much to tell after that :)
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Supermodel Naomi Campbell blames her use of cocaine for her short and hot temper. Reasons for the excessive weight loss, nosebleeds and wasting, nay, killing the pretty is still up in the air.
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Supermodel Naomi Campbell blames her use of cocaine for her short and hot temper. Reasons for the excessive weight loss, nosebleeds and wasting, nay, killing the pretty is still up in the air.
2.14.2005
Maximus Asshole
This is actually an article I wrote for StarNews - I write a few so feel free to check it out at www.star-tv.com
However, I don't post everything I write. Some I don't feel is particularly news worthy but still something I'd like to write. This is one of them:
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Actor Russell Crowe has spoken out against the likes of George Clooney, Harrison Ford and Robert De Niro for their abuse of their celebrity for a few dollars. A number of actors are known for making TV adverts in foreign countries.
Apparently Crowe is in a different sort of business where making money isn’t part of the deal. The Oscar winner says he would never follow in the footsteps of his Hollywood counterparts by appearing in TV adverts, as he believes it would contradict everything he believes in. I wonder if that would include his band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, playing their first US concert following (or riding off of) the success of ‘The Gladiator.’
The Aussie went on to slander a cinematic great, Robert De Niro. “Robert De Niro's advertising American Express,” he starts. “Gee whiz, it's not the first time he's disappointed me. It's been happening for a while now.”
Crowe told Britain’s GQ he feels it is kind of sacrilegious - it's a complete contradiction of the social contract you have with your audience. Must be in the fine print where it says to start bar fights, be labeled the bad boy of Hollywood and threaten the producer of a British Award Show when your Best Actor acceptance speech is cut short. Russell Crowe, you’re my hero.
However, I don't post everything I write. Some I don't feel is particularly news worthy but still something I'd like to write. This is one of them:
--------------------------------------------------
Actor Russell Crowe has spoken out against the likes of George Clooney, Harrison Ford and Robert De Niro for their abuse of their celebrity for a few dollars. A number of actors are known for making TV adverts in foreign countries.
Apparently Crowe is in a different sort of business where making money isn’t part of the deal. The Oscar winner says he would never follow in the footsteps of his Hollywood counterparts by appearing in TV adverts, as he believes it would contradict everything he believes in. I wonder if that would include his band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, playing their first US concert following (or riding off of) the success of ‘The Gladiator.’
The Aussie went on to slander a cinematic great, Robert De Niro. “Robert De Niro's advertising American Express,” he starts. “Gee whiz, it's not the first time he's disappointed me. It's been happening for a while now.”
Crowe told Britain’s GQ he feels it is kind of sacrilegious - it's a complete contradiction of the social contract you have with your audience. Must be in the fine print where it says to start bar fights, be labeled the bad boy of Hollywood and threaten the producer of a British Award Show when your Best Actor acceptance speech is cut short. Russell Crowe, you’re my hero.
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