#OSCARS: “THE POWER OF THE DOG” LEADS 2022 OSCAR NOMINEES

Nominations were announced earlier today for the 94th Academy Awards, to be held Sunday, March 27, 2022 at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 8 PM ET. Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan made announcements this year. Leading the pack this year with a total 12 nominations is Jane Campion‘s THE POWER OF THE DOG, followed closely by Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE which garnered 10.

This year’s biggest snubs include Lady Gaga for House of Gucci, and while Denis Villeneuve‘s DUNE received much recognition technically, he isn’t up for Best Director. Though it achieved record-breaking Box Office success and acclaim, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME only garnered one nomination for Special Effects.

Nominees are as follows.

BEST PICTURE

“Belfast”

“CODA” 

“Don’t Look Up” 

“Drive My Car”

“Dune”

“King Richard”

“Licorice Pizza”

“Nightmare Alley”

“The Power of the Dog”

“West Side Story”

BEST DIRECTOR

Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”)

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”)

Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”)

Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”)

Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”)

BEST LEAD ACTOR

Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”)

Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”)

Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick … Boom!”)

Will Smith (“King Richard”)

Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)

BEST LEAD ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)

Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)

Penélope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers”)

Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”)

Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”)

Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)

Jesse Plemons (“The Power of the Dog”)

J.K. Simmons (“Being the Ricardos”)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”)

Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”)

Judi Dench (“Belfast”)

Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”)

Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“CODA,” Siân Heder

“Drive My Car,” Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

“Dune,” Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth

“The Lost Daughter,” Maggie Gyllenhaal

“The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Belfast,” Kenneth Branagh

“Don’t Look Up,” Adam McKay, David Sirota

“King Richard,” Zach Baylin

“Licorice Pizza,” Paul Thomas Anderson

“The Worst Person in the World,” Eskil Vogt, Joachim Troer

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Dune,” Greig Fraser

“Nightmare Alley,” Dan Laustsen

“The Power of the Dog,” Ari Wegner

“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Bruno Delbonnel

“West Side Story,” Janusz Kamiński

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

“Encanto”

“Flee”

“Luca”

“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”

“Raya and the Last Dragon”

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

“Affairs of the Art”

“Bestia”

“Boxballet”

“Robin Robin”

“The Windshield Wiper”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

“Cruella” 

“Cyrano” 

“Dune” 

“Nightmare Alley” 

“West Side Story” 

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

“Don’t Look Up,” Nicholas Britell

“Dune,” Hans Zimmer

“Encanto,” Germaine Franco

“Parallel Mothers,” Alberto Iglesias

“The Power of the Dog,” Jonny Greenwood

BEST SOUND

“Belfast” 

“Dune” 

“No Time to Die” 

“The Power of the Dog” 

“West Side Story”

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Be Alive” (“King Richard”), Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson

“Dos Oruguitas” (“Encanto”), Lin-Manuel Miranda

“Down to Joy” (“Belfast”), Van Morrison

“No Time to Die” (“No Time to Die”), Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell

“Somehow You Do” (“Four Good Days”), Diane Warren

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Ascension” 

“Attica”

“Flee”

“Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”

“Writing With Fire” 

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

“Audible”

“Lead Me Home”

“The Queen of Basketball”

“Three Songs for Benazir”

“When We Were Bullies”

BEST FILM EDITING

“Don’t Look Up”

“Dune”

“King Richard”

“The Power of the Dog”

“Tick, Tick … Boom!”

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

“Drive My Car” (Japan)

“Flee” (Denmark)

“The Hand of God” (Italy)

“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” (Bhutan)

“The Worst Person in the World” (Norway)

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR

“Coming 2 America”

“Cruella” 

“Dune” 

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”

“House of Gucci” 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

“Dune” 

“Nightmare Alley” 

“The Power of the Dog”

“The Tragedy of Macbeth”

“West Side Story” 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

“Dune” 

“Free Guy” 

“No Time to Die” 

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” 

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

“Ala Kachuu – Take and Run”

“The Dress”

“The Long Goodbye”

“On My Mind”

“Please Hold”

The Academy Awards will air on ABC on March 27, 2022.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

#TFCA: “DRIVE MY CAR” NAMED BEST FILM OF 2021 BY TORONTO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

The Toronto Film Critics Association have announced their 2021 Award Winners today. Winning top honours of Best Film is DRIVE MY CAR, a Japanese Drama written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The Film is Japan’s official entry at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Runners-up were LICORICE PIZZA and THE POWER OF THE DOG.

The Rogers Best Canadian Film Award will award one winner $100,000 from Rogers Communications Inc., with two runners-up each receiving $5,000. Finalists in this category are Beans, directed by Tracey Deer; Night Raiders, directed by Danis Goulet; Scarborough, directed by Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson. The winner will be announced at their upcoming (date TBD) Awards Gala.

List of winners below:

Best Film

DRIVE MY CAR

Runners-up: LICORICE PIZZA

THE POWER OF THE DOG

Best Director

Jane Campion (THE POWER OF THE DOG)

Runners-up: Hamaguchi Ryusuke (DRIVE MY CAR)

Denis Villeneuve (DUNE)

Best Actress

Olivia Colman (THE LOST DAUGHTER)

Runners-up: Penelope Cruz (PARALLEL MOTHERS)

Kristen Stewart (SPENCER)

Best Actor

Denzel Washington (THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH)

Runners-up: Benedict Cumberbatch (THE POWER OF THE DOG)

Andrew Garfield (TICK, TICK…BOOM!)

Best Supporting Actress

Jessie Buckley (THE LOST DAUGHTER)

Runners-up: Kirsten Dunst (THE POWER OF THE DOG)

Ruth Negga (PASSING)

Best Supporting Actor

Bradley Cooper (LICORICE PIZZA)

Runners-up: Ciaran Hinds (BELFAST)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (THE POWER OF THE DOG)

Best Screenplay

DRIVE MY CAR

Runners-up: LICORICE PIZZA

THE POWER OF THE DOG

Best Animated Feature

FLEE

Runners-up: ENCANTO

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES

Best Documentary

SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Runners-up: FLEE

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

Best Foreign Language Film

DRIVE MY CAR

Runners-up: PETITE MAMAN

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Best First Feature

THE LOST DAUGHTER

Runners-up: PASSING

PIG

SHIVA BABY

More to come here.

#GOLDENGLOBES: “WEST SIDE STORY”, “THE POWER OF THE DOG” AND “SUCCESSION AMONG BIG WINNERS AT 2022 GOLDEN GLOBES

While they were not televised this year, the 79th edition of the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS took place tonight in private at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. In response to some controversy over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association‘s lack of diversity and business practices, plus also COVID-19 considerations, the event was scaled back, without stars in attendance this year.

Winning top honours this year in the Film categories were THE POWER OF THE DOG, taking Motion Picture – Drama, Director (Jane Campion) and Supporting Actor (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and also WEST SIDE STORY which took Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Actress (Rachel Zegler) and Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose).

In the Television categories, HBO‘s SUCCESSION took top honours for Series Drama, plus Actor in Series Drama (Jeremy Strong) and Supporting Actress – Television (Sarah Snook).

Some surprises in the Motion Picture – Drama Actor and Actress categories with Will Smith defeating THE POWER OF THE DOG‘s Benedict Cumberbatch among others for his work in KING RICHARD, and BEING THE RICARDOS’ Nicole Kidman beating-out favourite Kristen Stewart for SPENCER.

Here are a list of winners:

FILMS

Motion picture — Drama

“The Power of the Dog” | WINNER
“Belfast”
“CODA”
“Dune”
“King Richard”

Actor in a motion picture — Drama

Will Smith (“King Richard”) | WINNER
Mahershala Ali (“Swan Song”)
Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”)
Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”)
Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)

Actress in a motion picture — Drama

Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”) | WINNER
Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)
Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)
Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”)
Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

Motion picture — Musical or Comedy

“West Side Story” | WINNER
“Cyrano”
“Don’t Look Up”
“Licorice Pizza”
“Tick, Tick…Boom!”

Actor in a motion picture — Musical or Comedy

Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick…Boom!”) | WINNER
Leonardo DiCaprio (“Don’t Look Up”)
Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”)
Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza”
Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”

Actress in a motion picture — Musical or Comedy

Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) | WINNER
Marion Cotillard (“Annette”)
Alana Haim (“Licorice Pizza”)
Jennifer Lawrence (“Don’t Look Up”)
Emma Stone (“Cruella”)

Supporting actor in a motion picture

Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”) | WINNER
Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”
Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”)
Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”)
Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)

Supporting actress in a motion picture

Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) | WINNER
Caitriona Balfe (“Belfast”)
Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)
Ruth Negga (“Passing”)

Director — Motion Picture

Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”) – WINNER
Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”)
Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”)
Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”)

Screenplay — Motion Picture

“Belfast”| WINNER
“Being the Ricardos”
“Don’t Look Up”
“Licorice Pizza”
“The Power of the Dog”

Motion picture — Foreign Language

“Drive My Car” (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Japan) | WINNER
“Compartment No. 6” (Juho Kuosmanen, Finland)
“The Hand of God” (Paolo Sorrentino, Italy)
“A Hero” (Asghar Farhadi, Iran)
“Parallel Mothers” (Pedro Almodóovar, Spain)

Motion picture — Animated

“Encanto” | WINNER
“Flee”
“Luca”
“My Sunny Maad”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”

Original score — Motion Picture

“Dune” — Hans Zimmer | WINNER
“Encanto” — Germaine Franco
“The French Dispatch” — Alexandre Desplat
“Parallel Mothers” — Alberto Iglesias
“The Power of the Dog” — Jonny Greenwood

Original song — Motion Picture

“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (Billie Eilish; written by Eilish, Miles Ale, Finneas O’Connell) | WINNER
“Be Alive” from “King Richard” (Beyoncé; written by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson)
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” (Sebastiáan Yatra; written by Lin-Manuel Miranda)
“Down to Joy” from “Belfast” (written and performed by Van Morrison)
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” (Jennifer Hudson; written by Jamie Alexander Hartman, Hudson, Carole King)

TV

Television series — Drama

“Succession” | WINNER
“Lupin”
“The Morning Show”
“Pose”
“Squid Game”

Actor in a television series — Drama

Jeremy Strong, “Succession” | WINNER
Brian Cox, “Succession”
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Omar Sy, “Lupin”

Actress in a television series — Drama

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, “Pose” | WINNER
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Christine Baranaski, “The Good Fight”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Television series — musical or comedy

“Hacks” | WINNER
“The Great”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Reservation Dogs”
“Ted Lasso”

Actor in a television series — musical or comedy

Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” | WINNER
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”
Nicholas Hoult, “The Great”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

Actress in a television series — Musical or Comedy

Jean Smart, “Hacks” | WINNER
Hannah Einbeinder, “Hacks”
Elle Fanning, “The Great”
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”

Limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for Television

“The Underground Railroad” | WINNER
“Dopesick”
“Impeachment: American Crime Story”
“Maid”
“Mare of Easttown”

Actor in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television

Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” | WINNER
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
Oscar Isaac, “Scenes from a Marriage”
Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
Tahar Rahim, “The Serpent”

Actress in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television

Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” | WINNER
Jessica Chastain, “Scenes from a Marriage”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
Margaret Qualley, “Maid”

Supporting Actor — Television

O Yeong-Su, “Squid Game” | WINNER
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

Supporting Actress — Television

Sarah Snook, “Succession” | WINNER
Jennifer Coolidge, “White Lotus”
Kaitlyn Dever, “Dopesick”
Andie MacDowell, “Maid”
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

Awards Season will culminate in the 94th annual Academy Awards, which take place Sunday, March 27, 2022.

(Photo credit: 20th Century Studios)

#OSCARS: “NOMADLAND” TAKES TOP PRIZE AT THE 2021 OSCARS

The 93rd annual Academy Awards took place tonight at Union Station in Los Angeles, as Hollywood continues to navigate the Pandemic. The ceremony was preceded by a reduced Red Carpet and attendance was limited and socially-distanced within the venue, a departure from the usual Kodak Theatre, which still was used this year, but for a segment leading to the Humanitarian Award, which was awarded to the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Without a formal host this year, the broadcast also adopted a number of new changes including no interruption of winner’s speeches under Musical Director Questlove. Presenters and winners drew their attention to anti-racism, including Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient Tyler Perry, stating in his speech, “It is my hope that all of us will teach our kids: refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody.”.

The evening’s big winner was NOMADLAND, taking Best Picture. The Film directed by Chloé Zhao, made history as she became the first ever Asian woman to win in the Directing category, following Korean Director Bong Joon-Ho‘s win for Parasite last year. Just last September, the Film had won the People’s Choice Award here in Toronto at TIFF. Frances McDormand went on to win her fourth Oscar, taking Best Actress for her work in the Film.

An absent Sir Anthony Hopkins took home his second Oscar for Best Actor for his work in THE FATHER, which also took Adapted Screenplay earlier in the ceremony. He won previous for 1992’s Silence of the Lambs. Chadwick Boseman who posthumously was sweeping much of Awards Season was seen as the favourite to win, for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

History also was made as MINARI star Youn Yuh-Jung became the first ever South Korean Actress ever to be nominated and win an Oscar. The veteran accepted her Award from MINARI Producer Brad Pitt, starstruck and asking him where he was during production for the Film. Jokingly, she also forgave everyone for mispronouncing her name, questioning whether the Award was simply “American hospitality”.

Some of the evening’s most memorable looks:

Carey Mulligan has arrived. Promising Young Woman star in Valentino. If this isn’t a testament to believing in herself… ✨ pic.twitter.com/4iZpE6te3q

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Maria Bakalova in Louis Vuitton. Best dress so far tonight. Admit it, you’re rooting too for this BORAT star to ‘dark horse’ the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/o5O6bGgRVK

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Minari star Alan Kim in Thom Browne. Such a stylish young man.

Giuliana: Who are you most looking forward to meeting tonight.
Alan: Nobody.

Aww! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/pgdn0d3wRs

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

“That’s hot.” – Paris Hilton

Colman Domingo of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in Versace. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/mTnEvcKd02

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Riz Ahmed in Prada. First time I’ve ever seen a cummerbund on anything but a dress shirt. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/BPf1OXI8if

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Now that’s gorg! Crazy hearing how Amanda Seyfried would do like 200 takes to get it right in MANK for David Fincher. She’s in Armani. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/jlHgfE2gTr

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Complete list of winners here.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF “NOTTURNO”

Short-listed for an Academy Award, Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of Documentary NOTTURNO.

Synopsis:

Gianfranco Rosi’s new documentary is an immersive portrait of those trying to survive in the war-torn Middle East.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance. You must be following.

Enter for a chance to #win a Digital Download of Oscar-nominated NOTTURNO!

How: https://t.co/WwnRSUZO10 pic.twitter.com/oddAxhPQFa

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 3, 2021

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release NOTTURNO, available now on Digital and On-Demand.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE TO AIR INDEPENDENT SPIRIT, BAFTA + OSCAR AWARD-WINNING FILMS JUNE-AUGUST 2020

Hollywood Suite‘s got you covered this Summer with several BAFTA, Independent Spirit and Oscar-winning Films to keep you entertained June through August. See their line-up!

JUNE
June 1–7 Oscar Best Picture
Patton (1970), Moonlight (2016), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), All About Eve (1950), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Hurt Locker (2008) and Out of Africa (1985).

June 8–14 BAFTA Best Film
The Full Monty (1997), The Commitments (1991), Bicycle Thieves (1948), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Killing Fields (1984), Boyhood (2014) and Goodfellas (1990).

June 15–21 Oscar Best Actress
Boys Don’t Cry (1999), The Lion in Winter (1968), Children Of A Lesser God (1986), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), Monster’s Ball (2001) and Black Swan (2010).

June 22–28 Oscar Best Supporting Actress
Shampoo (1975), Melvin and Howard (1980), Cactus Flower (1969), The Last Picture Show (1971), The Fighter (2010), California Suite (1978) and My Cousin Vinny (1992).

JULY
June 2–-July 5 Oscar Best Director
The Deer Hunter (1978), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), A Beautiful Mind (2001), The Graduate (1967), Traffic (2000), Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Cabaret (1972).

July 6–12 Oscar Best Picture
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014), Chariots of Fire (1981), The Artist (2011), Casablanca (1942), Silence of the Lambs (1991), The King’s Speech (2010) and Annie Hall (1977).

July 12–19 Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Film
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Sideways (2004), The Wrestler (2008), Juno (2007), Lost in Translation (2003), The Player (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994).

July 20–26 Oscar Best Supporting Actor
Django Unchained (2012), Good Will Hunting (1997), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Julia (1977), Jerry Maguire (1996) and Whiplash (2014).

AUGUST
July 27–August 2 BAFTAs Best Actress
Secrets and Lies (1996), Charade (1963), The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), A Taste of Honey (1961), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), On Golden Pond (1981) and Still Alice (2014).

August 3–9 Oscar Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire (2008), 12 Years A Slave (2013), Rain Man (1988), Dances With Wolves (1990), Forrest Gump (1994), Gandhi (1982) and Around The World In 80 Days (1956).

August 10–16 Oscar Best Original Screenplay
Breaking Away (1979), The Crying Game (1992), Ghost (1990), Sunset Boulevard (1950), Almost Famous (2000), Gosford Park (2001) and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004).

August 17–23 Oscar Best Actor
Wall Street (1987), The Last King of Scotland, (2006), Milk (2008), Save The Tiger (1973), There Will Be Blood (2007), Philadelphia (1993) and Shine (1996).

August 24–30 Oscar Best Actress
Norma Rae (1979), Monster (2003), The Iron Lady (2011), Sophie’s Choice (1982), Funny Girl (1968), Erin Brockovich (2000) and Misery (1990)

August 31 Most Oscars Won By a Film
Summer wraps with the “King of the World,” record-holding 11-time Oscar winner, Titanic (1997).

 

Visit hollywoodsuite.ca for more.

 

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#OSCARS: “PARASITE” LEADS THE WAY AT 2020 ACADEMY AWARDS WITH HISTORIC WINS

Awards Season concludes with a huge bang! Bong Joon Ho‘s PARASITE becomes the first non-English Film ever to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Above this, it also becomes the first Korean Film ever to win Best International Feature Film, the inaugural edition of the Award which has been re-branded from Best Foreign Language Film with The Academy‘s focus on inclusion. Parasite also scored for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, tallying-in at four wins. Bong joked with the audience “I’m ready to drink tonight till tomorrow morning”, also thanking his idol and fellow nominee Martin Scorsese, whose Films he studied.  

Parasite’s scores come as a mild surprise as 1917 which had gained a lot of momentum since its Holiday release, was seen as the favourite to win Best Picture.

Continuing with a pattern seen much of this Awards Season, the acting categories were taken by Joaquin Phoenix (Best Actor for Joker), Renée Zellweger (Best Actress for Judy), Brad Pitt (Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) and Laura Dern (Best Supporting Actress for Marriage Story).

Phoenix drew much reaction with an impassioned speech touching upon concern for the environment and animal consumption, while stressing the importance of humanity and giving people “second chances”, just as he had been given after having made regrettable decisions in the past.

Fashion as always was front and center on the Red Carpet, with black and/or muted pink very commonly seen on stars like Gal Gadot, Margot Robbie, Penélope Cruz, Charlize Theron and Laura Dern. Natalie Portman made a statement wearing an outfit which listed the names of female Filmmakers who didn’t get recognized at the Oscars this year.

While there was no host for the Oscars this year, various Presenters took to the stage at points throughout the night including Janelle Monáe, Billy Porter, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Brie Larson, Sigourney Weaver, Gal Gadot and more.

 

Complete list of winners here.

 

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#SPOTTED: “IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK” TAKES TOP HONOURS AT INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Now in their 34th year, the FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS took place in Santa Monica this past weekend, celebrating the achievement in Independent Film over the past year. Taking top honours was Barry Jenkins’ IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, winning Best Feature. The Adaptation of the Novel by James Baldwin also was awarded Best Director and Supporting Actress, Regina King who the next day, would win an Oscar for the same performance.

As is consistent with most of this Awards Season, we’ve seen a split in the recognition of Films and the Spirit Awards were on-trend. CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? and SUSPIRIA received two awards each, the former winning for Best Supporting Actor, Richard E. Grant and Best Screenplay, Jeff Whitty and Nicole Holofcener. Grant shared some inspiring words about his experience playing Jack Hock, himself having seen several of his friends die victims of HIV. He dedicated his award in memory of those who passed away as a result of the disease.

The Cast of SUSPIRIA received the prestigious Robert Altman Award, honouring its Female Ensemble including Chloë Grace-Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Dakota Johnson and more. Its Cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom also was awarded for her work.

Hosted by Aubrey Plaza, the audience were treated to her expletive-filled dead-pan humour where several including Netflix nor even THE FAVOURITE Director Yorgos Lanthimos (equating the sound of his name to a Harry Potter spell, “You just shout Yorgos Lanthimos and someone gets fingered in a corset!”) were safe from her jokes. Kidding aside, she points out that 60% of Director nominees at the Spirit Awards this year were women, stating “Don’t get too excited, in this case 60% just means three women, but calling it 60% makes it sound way scarier to your uncles.”.  On the growing phenomenon of Films getting digital releases over theatrical, she says, “I truly believe people should see movies how they’re meant to seen in the theatres.”.

 

Plaza‘s amazing Opening Monologue

 

Not only did Best Actress winner Glenn Close rule at the Awards, she and her adorable Havanese dog Pip charmed on the Blue Carpet, she dressed in a shimmery pink lamé suit, before getting her own private dinner hosted by Chanel at STK. Pip also attended.

The Cast of Suspiria also ruled the Blue Carpet with Mother Suspiriorum herself, Dakota Johnson, leading the charge and giving her time generously to fans who queued on the sand for a chance to see the stars.

 

See some of our Snaps:

 

Glenn Close x Pip

 

Aubrey Plaza

 

Barry Jenkins and “If Beale Street Could Talk” Team

 

Joaquin Phoenix

 

Josh Hamilton, Elsie Fisher x Bo Burnham

 

Jon Hamm

 

Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth and the ladies of Suspiria

 

Chloë Grace Moretz x Riley Keough

 

John Waters

 

Ray Romano x Mark Duplass

 

Yalitza Aparicio x Javier Bardem

 

Taraji P. Henson x Shangela

 

You also cannot miss Shangela’s daring performance

 

 

Finn Wolfhard

 

Carey Mulligan x Zoe Kazan

 

Kiki Layne

 

Jeff Witty x Nicole Holofcener

 

Debra Granik

 

Toni Collette

 

Regina Hall

 

Regina King

 

Morgan Neville

 

 

Boots Riley

 

Richard E. Grant

 

Viggo Mortensen

 

Alfonso Cuarón

 

Alfonso Cuarón with Thomasin McKenzie

 

Complete list of winners here.

We attended together with our friends at Hollywood Suite, the exclusive broadcaster of the Spirit Awards and will never forget this amazing journey. Their Cam Maitland did an awesome job interviewing talent on the Blue Carpet which will air at later points. You can subscribe via your television provider at $6 per month, plus basic cable. Hollywoodsuite.com.

 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

 

Photos taken on the Nikon D3400.

#OSCARS: WINS TOP HONOURS AT 2019 ACADEMY AWARDS

The 91st annual Academy Awards took place tonight at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Taking top honours was GREEN BOOK winning Best Picture, a total three Oscars. The TIFF ’18 People’s Choice Award winner directed by Peter Farrelly, also received Best Original Screenplay.

Bohemian Rhapsody took home the most Oscars this evening, victorious in Sound Mixing, Sound Editing and Film Editing. Rami Malek won Best Actor for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody bringing the Biopic’s win tally to four. Olivia Colman took home Best Actress for her work in The Favourite, springing a mild upset. Supporting Actor went to Mahershala Ali who nabbed his second award in the category for Green Book. Regina King won Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk. Directing went to ROMA Helmer Alfonso Cuarón, whose lifetime total at the Awards now is at ten.

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper stole the show with a touching performance of Shallow from A Star is Born before the audience. The song later went on to win Original Song, accepted by Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt.

 

Despite being host-less this year, the show got an introduction from a trio of funnywomen in Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, preceded by a medley of hits from Queen, fronted by Adam Lambert.

Toronto’s Domee Shi won Animated Short for Pixar‘s BAO which played before INCREDIBLES 2 in its theatrical run.

Some winning looks a this evening included: Gemma Chan in Valentino
Lady Gaga in Alexander McQueen
Michelle Yeoh in Elie Saab
Regina King in Oscar de la Renta
Bradley Cooper in Tom Ford
Glenn Close in Carolina Herrera
Melissa McCarthy in Brandon Maxwell

 

Click here for a complete list of winners.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/ABC)

#OSCARS: “ROMA” + “THE FAVOURITE” LEAD OSCAR NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 91st annual Academy Awards were announced this morning and the race still very much is wide-open without a clean-cut choice for Best Picture… and no host set for ceremony itself.

Tying at ten nods apiece are Alfonso Cuarón‘s ROMA and Yorgos Lanthimos’ THE FAVOURITE. Best Picture nominees include:

Best Picture
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice

 

Continuing on its Golden Globes success, we see Bohemian Rhapsody continue to be a major force into the Oscars with Rami Malek up for the highly-competitive Best Actor alongside Bradley Cooper, Viggo Mortensen, Willem Dafoe and Christian Bale.

The Best Actress category also is hotly-contested with screen veteran Glenn Close up against Lady Gaga, Melissa McCarthy, Olivia Colman and aboriginal Mexican Actress Yalitza Aparicio, who stars in ROMA.

Marina de Tavira who also stars in ROMA, pops-up as a bit of a surprise candidate for Best Supporting Actress. The category also includes favourite Regina King, Amy Adams, plus The Favourite Co-Stars and previous Oscar winners, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.

Best Supporting Actor sees Mahershala Ali in contention with Adam Driver, Richard E. Grant, Sam Rockwell after a snub at the Golden Globes, Sam Elliott for A STAR IS BORN.

Many are shocked that after a presence in the Directing category most of Awards Season, that Bradley Cooper was omitted in the Oscars race for his directorial debut in A STAR IS BORN. Up for Best Directing are Spike Lee, Adam McKay, Pawel Pawlikowski, Yorgos Lanthimos and favourite Alfonso Cuarón.

Another noticeable omission is Morgan Neville’s Mr. Rogers Documentary WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? which has been present through much of the season. Nominated for Best Documentary are Free Solo, Hale County, This Morning, This Evening, Minding the Gap, Of Fathers and Sons and RBG.

The Animated Feature category sees Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse pitted against Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Mirai and Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Toronto’s Domee Shi is up for Animated Short with Disney•Pixar’s BAO.

Complete list of Nominees are here.

The 91st annual Academy Awards air February 24, 2019, 8:00 PM EST on ABC.

 

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)