On the Set: Leo & Jude

For no particular reason other than that I saw the photos back to back, two of the world's most familiar stars filming their new movies... all star movies at that.

Leo & Jude. Not in the same movie.

Which movie are you most looking forward to? Clint Eastwood's biopic taking on the fascinating  J.Edgar Hoover with stars Leonardo Dicaprio, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench, Naomi Watts and Josh Lucas OR Steven Soderbergh's CDC thriller Contagion starring an accidental Talented Mr Ripley reunion Jude Law + Gwyneth Paltrow + Matt Damon and a bunch of other stars, too: Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Ehle, Laurence Fishburne and John Hawkes?

I realize that J. Edgar is claiming that it's a 2012 movie but we all know how fast Clint Eastwood works and he's already filming. I expect it in theaters this December.

Animation at the Oscars, an Infographic

There's so much information to parse out here about Oscar's history with the hand or computer drawn division of their industry. This was created by Border Stylo. Isn't it neat?

I wish the information was more complete (i.e nominations by film, too) but it's pretty cool as is. It's not surprising but definitely interesting that 66% of the nominations gathered by the animation genre are in the aural categories (Song, Score and the Sound categories)

For the record, to add to this chart the most nominated animated films are the following.

Belle. She has few equals in the canon.

6 nominations
BEAUTY & THE BEAST (1991) including Best Picture
(I think it's worth noting that even if you subtracted one of these nominations -- given that films can no longer get 3 song nominations by the rules, you'd still have to add it back in if there were animated feature prizes to be won in the 90s. Beauty & The Beast is still the champ, Oscar wise. It's the one that changed the way Oscar thought of Animated Features... with a little help from it's lead in The Little Mermaid of course.)
WALL•E (2008)
5 nominations
ALADDIN (1992)
RATATOUILLE (2007)
UP (2009) including Best Picture
TOY STORY 3 (2010) including Best Picture
4 nominations
THE LION KING (1994)
MONSTERS, INC (2001)
FINDING NEMO (2003)
THE INCREDIBLES (2004)

What'cha think about that?

Happy Valentine's Day

May you soon find your 'Cool Rider' if you haven't already!

ASC Goes to Inception. Oscar Could Be a Nail Biter.

The American Society of Cinematographer's handed their Cinematography prize to Wally Pfister for Inception. Pfister also won the BFCA Critics Choice prize. BAFTA sided with still Oscar-less legend Roger Deakins (interview) for True Grit. Which man will take the Oscar?

Or is The King's Speech just going to win everything in a massive sweeping Royal Love-In? Even if the acting Oscar categories are relatively undramatic this year, there seem to be a few tight races behind the scenes like Best Director (Fincher or Hooper?), Art Direction (Inception or The King's Speech?), Cinematography (Inception or True Grit?) and isn't Score still a toss up but for the aforementioned love-in?

Best Part of the Grammys

Apart from the Cee Lo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Muppets performance of "Forget You", the best part of the Grammys was obvs all the Nicole Kidman reaction shots.

The one that got everyone was talking was her lipsynching to "Teenage Dream" as Katy Perry performed. (Here's a better video of that though it starts immediately so if you're not expecting sound, watch out!)

But she was just awesome throughout, singing along, dancing, smiling, applauding vigorously, etcetera. Since the Grammys have 213 categories they should add a 214th: Best Reaction Shots. Nicole Kidman for the win.

I can't prove the theory but it seems to me that whenever Kidman's hair stays red for long periods the world improves immeasureably.

The Big Wins of the Night
Best Album: Arcade Fire "The Suburbs"
Record and Song of the Year: Lady Antebellum "Need You Now"
Best New Artist: Esperanza Spalding
Best Pop Album: Lady Gaga "The Fame Monster"
Best Rap Album: Eminem "Recovery"

Oh and here's the OTHER Actress Oscar winner who made the night.