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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 01 March 2010

 

The time has come once again.  The 2010 Oscars are just a week away.  I’ve rambled on about my love for the Academy Awards too many times so I won’t repeat myself.  It’s just exciting to see a bunch of great films and performances honoured.  Hopefully they’re ones I approve of.

 

Don’t forget to enter my 10^th Annual Oscars competition.  I have selected 5 of the more wide-open categories below (some trickier than others) and everyone is invited to pick who they think will be the winner.  You can enter through the front page of my website.

 

Now yes, I have gambled on the Oscars yet again this year.  Just two bests.  The first was $500 on Avatar to win best picture at odds of $3.  I got very good odds because I backed it in early January before the Golden Globe Awards.  Unfortunately, The Hurt Locker has picked up huge momentum in the meantime and looks like winning.  The second is a roughie - $80 on Carey Mulligan to win best actress at odds of $11.  I don’t think she’ll win but after snatching the BAFTA (where she had home field advantage), she may yet have a chance if there’s a vote split between Streep and Bullock.  That said, my 8 year winning streak looks set to come to an end.  I am up just over $4,533 for the past 15 years so I’m not complaining.  Fingers are crossed a little tighter this year though.

 

The ceremony kicks off at 11am next Monday and for the first time ever, I’ve taken the day off work to watch it live.  Back when Channel 9 only showed a delayed telecast, I used to have to hide somewhere so as not to hear the results.  Thankfully those days are behind us.  I can’t wait and you’ll be able to follow my thoughts on Twitter – http://twitter.com/icestorm77 - on the day.  A full blog wrap will follow as well as details of my competition winners.

 

There is much to discuss so here’s my 2010 form guide with details on who I think will win.  Enjoy!

 

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

 

Ok, I’m going with The Hurt Locker.  It’s won the British Academy Award, the Director’s Guild Award (the most important of all lead up awards) and the Producer’s Guild Award.  It’s also won the majority of critics prizes.  This has been talked about as a “David v. Goliath” race over the past 2 months.  Can a film which made $12m defeat a film which will make in excess of $700m?  The answer looks like being yes.  The strange thing is that now The Hurt Locker is the Goliath in this race with Avatar being David.  Avatar still has a chance but I can’t say it’s a strong one.  Inglourious Basterds is the only other film with any sliver of a hope.  It won the best ensemble award at the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards and could sneak home in a Crash-like upset.   Matt’s Pick:  The Hurt Locker.

 

Best Achievement in Directing

James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Lee Daniels, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
 

Kathryn Bigelow has this one in the bag.  She’s about to make history and become the first woman to ever win the Oscar for best director.  Only 3 women have been previously nominated in this category which is astonishing.  I don’t know the answer to this question but it’s worth debating if you’re tired by this part of the ceremony – has the fact that The Hurt Locker is directed helped its chances?  Are people giving it extra praise and attention because it’s directed by a woman?  I don’t know the answer to those questions but I do know Bigelow will win this Oscar.  Matt’s Pick:  Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker.

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
 

With The Hurt Locker sweeping many guild awards, Jeremy Renner isn’t without hope here.  However, I’m confident that 5-time nominee Jeff Bridges will break his duck and finally win an Academy Award.  He’s a highly regarded actor who has made some great speeches along the way.  This is his time to shine.   Matt’s Pick:  Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
 

Most of the acting races look fairly predictable but if there’s going to be a surprise, it’ll be in the best actress category.  Meryl Streep was the early favourite.  Yes, she’s won twice before but her last victory was in 1983.  She’s had 11 consecutive losses since that time.  Streep is well overdue and this looked to be her year.  Along came Sandra Bullock.  She won the Golden Globe and then the ever important Screen Actors Guild Award.  This makes her the favourite.  But let’s not be too hasty.  The Guild win was significant but did they give it to Bullock only because Streep won in that category two years ago (for Doubt)?  It’s possible and if so, the Oscars may be a different story.  How much love is there for Bullock within the much smaller Academy?  Let’s not rule out Carey Mulligan either.  She won the BAFTA and there are a lot of people who are members of both the American and British Academies.  But did she win mainly because she’s British and was on home turf?  That seems more likely but don’t rule out a Mulligan victory – particularly if Streep and Bullock split their votes.  I need to tip at least one upset so I’m going with Mulligan.  Matt’s Pick:  Carey Mulligan, An Education

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

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

And the Oscar goes to Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds.  I hope he’s got room in his house for his Oscar statue.  Given that he’s won 10,000 other awards this season, I have my doubts.  Matt’s Pick:  Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
 

The same thing can be said of Mo’Nique.  When the same actor wins every single award, it makes you wonder if they ever run out of speech material.  Do they just say the same thing at every awards show?  Or do they save up their best material for the Oscars?  We’ll find out soon when Mo’Nique steps to the stage.   Matt’s Pick:  Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.

 

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Up in the Air
 

Academy voters tend to spread their support in the major categories.  Up In The Air won’t be winning any other categories but as one of the more popular best picture nominees, it’s strongly tipped to win this category.  Many see its script as its strongest asset and it’s won a bunch of awards to date.  I think it’s a deserved win.  Matt’s Pick:  Up in the Air.

 

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up
 

This is a tricky one.  The Hurt Locker is the frontrunner given it will win best picture and best director.  But let’s not forget the brilliant writing of Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious Basterds.  Tarantino has won in this category before – back in 1995 for Pulp Fiction – but I don’t know if too many voters will remember this.  Now comes the part of my form guide where I have to make my biggest decision.  When it comes to the Academy Awards, there are two possibilities – (1) the Oscars will be shared around, or (2) one film will sweep most categories even if it doesn’t deserve it.  Slumdog Millionaire did this last year (8 Oscars, really?).  If I tip Hurt Locker here, I’ve got to lean towards it in the technically categories too.  It pains me to say it (because I think Avatar is a better film) but yes, I think a Hurt Locker sweep is on the cards.  It won a lot of awards at the BAFTAs (not so easy for an American film) so I don’t see how it won’t happen back home.  Matt’s Pick:  The Hurt Locker.

 

Best Achievement in Editing

Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
 

The editing award is an interesting one as it’s often the barometer for the best picture Oscar.  It is either won by a big action film (e.g. Speed, The Matrix, The Bourne Ultimatum) or the film which goes on to win the best picture Oscar.  I don’t think I can pick anything else here but The Hurt Locker.  Matt’s Pick:  The Hurt Locker.

 

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon
 

I’m getting angry now.  I feel I’m in another position where I have to pick The Hurt Locker over Avatar.  The White Ribbon took the guild award (in somewhat of an upset) but I think it has little chance against the Avatar v. Hurt Locker battle.  I see voters being anti-Avatar in this category (unnecessarily I believe) because of its reliance on visual effects.  Sigh.   Matt’s Pick:  The Hurt Locker.

 

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Avatar

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria
 

Now, this is interesting.  No Hurt Locker here.  Were the voters not impressed by the military uniforms?  The good news is that it’s someone else’s turn to win.  But which film?  Avatar looks to be the favourite as it’s the only best picture nominee in the list.  Hmmm, this is tricky though.  Will there also be a voter backlash against Avatar because they don’t believe the sets are real?  The Guild was shared between Avatar, Hurt Locker and Sherlock Holmes.  Does this mean Holmes has a realistic chance here?  It did make a lot of money – something that Nine, Parnassus and Young Victoria did not.  Tricky, tricky, tricky.  It’s definitely between these two films but which one?  Avatar won the BAFTA so I’ll give it my preference. Yay Avatar!   Matt’s Pick:  Avatar.

 

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Bright Star
Coco Before Chanel
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
The Young Victoria
 

Now this is where it gets really interesting.  I’ve deliberately selected this category in my pick the Oscars competition because there’s no Hurt Locker and no Avatar.  In fact, none of these films made much money at all the box-office.  How many voters have actually seen them?  The Academy tends to favour historical dramas in his category (The Duchess, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Marie Antoinette) but that doesn’t rule any of these five films out.  The Young Victoria won the BAFTA and the Costume Designers Guild Award so it’s earned my selection.  Matt’s Pick:  The Young Victoria.

 

Best Achievement in Makeup

Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria
 

What an odd category.  Just three films – an Italian film which no one will have heard of, a sci-fi action blockbuster which made oodles at the box-office, and a period piece film also nominated in the costume design category.  Interesting indeed.  It’s got to be between Star Trek and The Young Victoria.  Given it’s popularity, I’ll lean towards Star Trek but I think it’ll be a close race.   Matt’s Pick:  Star Trek.

 

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Avatar
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Hurt Locker
Sherlock Holmes
Up
 

This is one of my favourite categories.  I have a collection of close to 200 film scores.  My favourite for this year is the score for A Single Man but sadly it’s not nominated.  The Hurt Locker inclusion surprises me.  Given all the action, I don’t even remember it having much of a score.  Perhaps I’m wrong.  It does show much support for the film though (which I’ve alluded to earlier).  Avatar is probably the favourite but composer James Horner has won before (for Titanic).  Disney films tend to do well in this category which gives Up a strong chance.  I don’t know if I agree with their choice but yes, I do think Up will sneak home.  Matt’s Pick:  Up.

 

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Almost There from The Princess and the Frog
Down in New Orleans from The Princess and the Frog
Loin de Paname from Paris 36
Take It All from Nine
The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart

 

The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart is a beautiful song and surely it must win here.  The two noms for The Princess & The Frog all but eliminate its chances (votes will be split).  Paris 36 would seem unlikely (it’s foreign language and this is its only nomination) and Nine was so poorly received by both the public and critics.   Matt’s Pick:  The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart.

 

Best Achievement in Sound

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
 

Two choices – Avatar or The Hurt Locker.  I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again – The Hurt Locker sweep is on the cards.   Matt’s Pick:  The Hurt Locker.

 

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up
 

Ditto.  And let’s be honest – how does a normal Academy member (who is entitled to vote just like anyone else) distinguish between sound and sound editing?  Beats me.   Matt’s Pick:  The Hurt Locker

 

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Avatar
District 9
Star Trek

 

The easiest category of the night.   Matt’s Pick:  Avatar.

 

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Coraline
Fantastic Mr Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up
 

I’d like to see Fantastic Mr. Fox spring an upset but let’s be honest, Up is the only best picture nominee in this list so how could it lose?  Bonus points at any Oscars party goes to anyone who has actually seen The Secret Of Kells.   Matt’s Pick:  Up.

 

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Ajami (Israel)
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Argentina)
The Milk of Sorrow (Peru)
The Prophet (France)
The White Ribbon (Germany)
 

You have two choices here.  France and Germany have been pitted against each other once again.  Will it be The Prophet (which won the BAFTA and the runner-up award at the Cannes Film Festival)?  Or will it be The White Ribbon (which won the Golden Globe, the European Film Award and the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival).  I’ve seen A Prophet and think it’s overrated so I’m going with The White Ribbon.  Upsets can happen in this category though because to be able to vote, you must have gone to special screenings to prove that you saw the film.  I guess they don’t trust the likes of George Clooney and Julia Roberts when they say they checked out El Secreto de Sus Ojos at their local multiplex.  Matt’s Pick:  The White Ribbon.

 

Best Documentary, Features

Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home
 

Documentaries are becoming more and more prominent each year in cinemas.  Gone are the days when this category was the perfect time for a toilet break.  Recent winners included Man On Wire, An Inconvenient Truth, March Of The Penguins and Fog Of War.  They’re often better than the films which take home the best picture Oscar.  I have issues with the film but The Cove has won the lion’s share of best documentary awards to date.  I’ll be very surprised if it doesn’t win here.  Matt’s Pick:  The Cove.

 

Best Documentary, Short Subjects

China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
Music by Prudence
Rabbit à la Berlin
 

Now this is the part where you can go to the bathroom.  It’ll take them long enough just to read through the list of nominees – such long titles!  I don’t know which film to pick.  Your guess is as good as mine.  Given the significance of the global financial crisis in America, let’s go with The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant.  Matt’s Pick:  The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant.

 

Best Short Film, Animated

French Roast
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty
The Lady and the Reaper
Logorama
A Matter of Loaf and Death
 

Let’s hope they get these categories out of the way early.  I’m sure they’ll get some young stars (e.g. Miley Cyrus, Zach Efron, Taylor Lautner) to present so that the audience won’t be switching channels.  A Matter Of Loaf and Death is a new Wallace & Gromit short from Nick Park.  Wallace & Gromit films won in this category back in 1994 and 1996.  They also won best animated film in 2006.  The Yanks seem to love them so I dare not tip against them.   Matt’s Pick:  A Matter of Loaf and Death.

 

Best Short Film, Live Action

The Door
Instead of Abracadabra
Kavi
Miracle Fish
The New Tenants
 

Last… and most certainly least.  I believe in the importance of short films but this is one category which doesn’t interest me at the Oscars.  There’s no chance to see them (well, some are available on Youtube) and I don’t care much about who wins.  There is an Australian connection this year though with Sydney-born Luke Doolan nominated for Miracle Fish.  He’s done amazingly well to get this far so let’s hope the “miracle” continues.  Go the Aussies!   Matt’s Pick:  Miracle Fish.

 

That’s it from me.  Let’s hope it’s a great Oscars and that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin do a super job as hosts.  A few upsets would be nice too.  Go Avatar!

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 22 February 2010

  

In next week’s issue, I’ll have my huge Oscars form guide and details on how you can enter my 10^th annual Pick The Oscars contest.  Which 5 categories will I choose this year?  They certainly won’t be any of the acting categories which seem all but locked in.

 

I thought I’d use this blog to catch up on a few little things which I’ve neglected to mention over the past few weeks.

 

BAFTAS 2010

 

The last piece of the Oscar jigsaw was fitted into place with this morning’s BAFTA Awards.  The British tend to favour their own but it was still nice to see the wins of Colin Firth (for A Single Man) and Carey Mulligan (for An Education).  I’m utterly convinced that Mulligan gave a better performance than Streep and Bullock but it won’t count for much at the Oscars.  I can always hope for a surprise.

 

Best supporting actor and supporting actress went to Christoph Waltz and Mo’nique respectively.  Both have plans to extend their homes to accommodate the 15 million awards that they’ve won over the past 2 months.

 

And yes, The Hurt Locker juggernaut rolls on with its win in the best picture category.  It’s now the clear favourite.  Centrebet has it listed at $1.75 with Avatar at $2.00.  I expect it to shorten further in the coming days.  The race is run as far as I’m concerned – The Hurt Locker has the Oscar in the bag.

 

Oscars – Special Screenings

 

Quite a few of the Oscar best picture nominees are currently showing in cinemas but a few opened during the middle of 2009.

 

Dendy Portside are putting on special screenings over the next two weeks for those nominees you might have missed.  They are for District 9 (Mar 6, Mar 7), Inglourious Basterds (Mar 6, Mar 7), A Serious Man (Feb 24, Mar 3) and Up (Feb 27, Feb 28).  You can find out more info on the Dendy website.

 

Having seen The Blind Side over the weekend, I’ve now chalked up all of the best picture nominees.  If I were an Academy member, my votes using the new preferential voting system would be:

 

1. Avatar, 2. An Education, 3. Up In The Air, 4. A Serious Man, 5. District 9, 6. The Hurt Locker, 7. Precious, 8. The Blind Side, 9. Up, 10. Inglourious Basterds.

 

I know that sounds harsh putting Inglourious Basterds in the 10^th slot but I actually thought all of this year’s nominees were pretty good and there were just a few issues I had with Basterds (relating to the ending) that don’t sit well with me.

 

Avatar - $100m In Australia!

 

On 12 February 2010, Avatar passed the $100m mark in Australia.  Many people thought it would be big but I don’t think many thought it would be THIS BIG.  To put it into perspective, here are the top 5 films of all time at the Australian box-office…

 

1.     Avatar (2009) - $102.6m

2.     Titanic (1997) - $57.6m

3.     Shrek 2 (2004) - $50.3m

4.     Lord Of The Rings; The Return Of The King - $49.3m

5.     Crocodile Dundee (1986) - $47.7m

 

Prior to Avatar, just 2 films had cracked the $50m barrier.  So aside from Titanic, Avatar can now say that it has more than double the box-office of every single film ever released in Australia.  It has obliterated the previous record and when it finally finishes up, it’ll set a new benchmark that will seem unattainable.  It’s been a great few months to be a cinema owner.

 

Brisbane International Film Festival

 

Still no news on a venue but the Brisbane International Film Festival has been confirmed for November 4-14 this year.  This is the first time it’s moved away from its traditional July to August period and it should give the festival a fresh feel.  All those scarves and jumpers I bought last year will be of no use this time around.  It’ll be interesting to see if the new dates attract a better list of films and marquee guests.  Time will tell.

 

French Film Festival

 

Outside of BIFF, one of the biggest film festivals of the year is the French Film Festival.  This year’s dates are March 17 to 31 and it will be hosted by the Palace Centro and Barracks.

 

There will be over 40 new French films in 6 distinctive sections.  Micmacs, the new film from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie), will launch the festival on its Opening Night.  Jeunet will be in Australia to promote the film but sadly won’t be coming to Brisbane.

 

You can check out the program by visiting the festival website at http://www.frenchfilmfestival.org.  Tickets are already on sale with most films costing $16 for adults.

 

Hamlet

 

Last but not least, I caught my first play of 2010 on Saturday night.  I know the story of Hamlet pretty well but I still struggle with Shakespearean dialect when it’s delivered at breakneck speed.  Some of the contemporary elements were also a little too modern for my liking.  They’re the only qualms I can think of.

 

The play was very good with Toby Schmitz strong in the leading role.  I really liked the opening minute – where the theatre was plunged into darkness (I couldn’t even see the person in front of me) and a loud, thundering soundtrack could be heard.  It’s on at the La Boite theatre for the next few weeks so be sure to check it out.  Next on the menu is The Little Dog Laughed – tickets booked for March 12.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 15 February 2010

 

It’s been a long, tiring week and I’m pretty spent right now.

 

But I do something very exciting this morning.  I had a chance to interview rising Aussie star Mia Wasikowska, star of the upcoming Alice In Wonderland movie.  I’ve been watching her over the past few weeks on the In Treatment television series and I can assure you all that she has a bright future.

 

Thanks must go to Spencer Howson and the 612 ABC team for organising the interview.  You can listen to it here on the ABC Breakfast Blog or download it directly from my website here.

 

Incidentally, I now have all my ABC spots for 2010 podcasted and you can download them from the front page of my website.  If you’re too lazy to read my reviews, now you can just listen to them!

 

But for those without sound (and to help get a few more Google hits), here’s an abbreviated transcript (without all the ums and ahs) of what Mia had to say…

 

 

Matt:  We’ve had so many great actors come out of this country but a lot of them never quite make it in Hollywood but now, she’s only 20 years of age but you’ll be hearing a lot over the next few years from Mia Wasikowska.  She started out five years ago on All Saints, appeared in a few Aussie films like Suburban Mayhem and Rogue and I first noticed her in a brilliant HBO drama called In Treatment, which you’ve got to see, of course now she’s the lead actress in a Tim Burton movie – Alice In Wonderland - with an incredible cast and a $250m budget!  Mia, thanks for joining us here on 612ABC this morning.

 

Mia:  Yeah, thank you for having me.

 

Matt:  You’ve got to tell me Mia – how did all of this happen?  How did a girl from Canberra end up with a dream role in Alice In Wonderland?

 

Mia:  When I was about 14 or 15 I became very interested in film and sought out how I could be a part of it.  I ended up joining an agency in Sydney and then going out for auditions and that’s how it began.

 

Spencer:  Did you audition for this role or are you at a stage where they come to you?

 

Mia:  No, I auditioned for Alice.  I sent off a video audition in February 2008 and then towards the end of the year ended up doing another couple of auditions with Tim and that’s how I got the role.

 

Matt:  The first time I saw this title I thought ok, it’s an adaptation of Alice and Wonderland but I’ve heard it’s not quite so.  What exactly is the film about?

 

Mia:  Well in this film, Alice is 19 and she’s returning to Wonderland and she’s at a different stage in her life than the Alice in the storybooks.  It’s sort of her journey back to Wonderland and finding herself amongst all these crazy characters.

 

Matt:  Working with Tim Burton… I think he’s such a great director but all his films are so quirky like Edward Scissorhands and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.  I keep thinking he must have the most warped sense of humour but what’s he actually like to work with?

 

Mia:  He’s such a wonderful person.  A really lovely guy.  As an actor you feel a lot of trust from him and he’s very collaborative and open to suggestions and ideas and it’s really nice to work with someone who’s like that.  He has such a creative energy that he’s always pouring into his work.

 

Matt:  So much of this film has been put together with digital effects and of course it’s being released in 3D in some cinemas.  What sort of challenges does that throw up working with so many special effects?

 

Mia:  It’s a very strange way to make a film.  It was three months of green screen and every scene you see me in with an animated character, it obviously wasn’t there, so I was looking at a tennis ball or sticky tape or a cardboard cut-out.  It presents you with its own set of challenges making a film that way.

 

Spencer:  What about the 3D thing? Are you conscious of that when you’re filming the movie?

 

Mia:  Sometimes.  It just becomes quite technical and sometimes it changes the way that you shoot a scene but it wasn’t too intrusive.

 

Spencer:  It wasn’t filmed with 3D cameras this one, was it?

 

Mia:  Yeah, that’s right.  The 3D was in post production so yeah, it wasn’t too hard.

 

Matt:  Have you had a chance to see the finished film yet?  How it’s all come together…

 

Mia:  I haven’t actually.  I’ll be excited to see what it looks like.

 

Matt:  Is there one of those big gala premieres somewhere that you get to get dressed up and go to?

 

Mia:  Yes, in a couple of weeks, in London so that should be exciting.

 

Matt:  A London premiere… exciting!  Do you have to go all over the world over the next month to help promote the film?

 

Mia:  We’ve been doing press in different cities but there aren’t so many screenings – I believe that’s the only one… in London.

 

Spencer:  I’ve wondered about that.  You haven’t seen the film yet but you sort of get the impression there’ll be the London premiere, the Disneyland premiere, the Sydney premiere… and by the end of it the last thing you’d want to do would be to see the film one more time.

 

Mia:  Yes, I know, I know.  This is kind of unusual in that way.

 

Spencer:  Do you still live in Australia, Mia?

 

Mia:  Yes, I do.  I still live at home with my family.

 

Spencer:  Is that right?  With mum and dad?

 

Mia:  Yes, I do.  But I’m not there very often but as soon as I finish work I kind of run back home.

 

Spencer:  Because you’ve got a slight American accent I think.  I don’t mean to insult but I’m just pointing out the elephant in the room.  Is it because you spend a lot of time with Americans?

 

Mia:  I guess so.  I’ve been on and off there since I was about 16 so, I’ve spent a lot of time there.

 

Matt:  I’ve seen Mia in In Treatment and of course you have a beautiful American accent in that TV series.

 

Spencer:  Can we just talk about that for a moment?  I know we’re here to talk about Alice but Matthew’s been going on about this In Treatment show.  He’s been watching episode after episode.  I’ve never seen it.

 

Matt:  Every episode – I call it like a Quentin Tarantino movie without the violence.  It’s like a 30 minute conversation set completely in one room.  Did they film it all in one shoot or does it take a long time to put that together?

 

Mia:  Well each episode was shot over two days.  It was about a 25 page script so we’d shoot 10 pages one day and then maybe 12 to 15 the next.  Each day was cut into two halves so at the beginning of the day we’d do maybe 5 pages so yeah, it was wonderful.  It was the most fun I’ve ever had with a character and I really loved the experimental nature of it.

 

Spencer:  It’s set in a psychiatrists surgery, is it?

 

Matt:  An office, yes.

 

Spencer:  Has it been on the telly here?

 

Mia:  I believe it might have been on a cable channel here.  It has such a select audience but I would love it to come here on a wider scale.

 

Matt:  Don’t worry Spencer, I’ll let you the DVDs.

 

Spencer:  Ok, good, excellent.  Well we should let you go because you’ve got lots of other people to talk to but March the 4^th I believe is the release date.

 

Matt:  One day before the U.S. too.

 

Mia:  Ooo yeah. That’s right.

 

Spencer:  Ah, is that so.  We’re really leading edge here aren’t we.  The last episode of Flash Forward went on the television here before it went on the TV in the States as well.  Who’d have thunk?  Here in little old Australia.  Well, lovely to have you on the show this morning.

 

Mia:  Thanks for having me.

 

 

That’s it from me for another 7 days.  By the way, it’s a wonderful week of movies it is with Crazy Heart, The Hurt Locker and Shutter Island.  You really must see them all!  Good night!

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 08 February 2010

  
Sandra Bullock

 

When it comes to movies, it seems there’s no actress I dislike more than Sandra Bullock.  I have gone through 14 years of reviews and categorised her movies by grading – good (A+ to A-), average (B+ to B-) and bad (C to C-).  Here are the results:

 

Good –

Average – Infamous, Crash, Two Weeks Notice, Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood, In Love And War, A Time To Kill, Two If By Sea

Bad – All About Steve, The Proposal, Premonition, The Lake House, Miss Congeniality 2, Murder By Numbers, Miss Congeniality, 28 Days, Forces Of Nature, Practical Magic, Hope Floats, Speed 2

 

Of the 19 Bullock films I’ve seen, there were 12 which I strongly didn’t like.  There wasn’t a single film which I gave a good review.

 

Now, of course, I’ve never met Sandra Bullock and have nothing against her personally.  I’m sure I’d be star struck if I was ever lucky enough to meet her.  I just hate her taste in movies.  She’s made some really bad decisions throughout the last decade of her career.

 

And guess what?  Bullock herself agrees!  Here’s an extract from her speech at the Screen Actors Guild Awards this year…

 

“I am Sandra Bullock and I am actor.  And I am so proud to say that in a room full of faces that have inspired me, and allowed me six years ago to say I’m going to stop working because I wasn’t doing good work.  And audition again.  And you say good-bye to the money and you say good-bye to all the things that you became comfortable with.  And in 2006, I sat in this room with a little film called Crash and I got to look at the people who got me here.  So the Screen Actors Guild, thank you so much.”

 

That was a classy speech.  The way that Bullock has handled herself throughout the award season this year has been tremendous.  She’s quick on her feet (unlike Drew Barrymore) and she’s delivered some heartfelt speeches.  There’s a part of me that wants to see her win the Oscar next month.  I love comeback stories and this one would be right up there (which is why I was so gutted when Sean Penn beat Mickey Rourke last year). 

 

But the point I want to make in this week’s blog is that’s “ok” not to like a certain actor, actress or film.  We all have different tastes – and these tastes define who we are as people.  I’ve made plenty of jokes over the years about how much I dislike romantic comedies and Sandra Bullock movies (there’s often an overlap).  I’m not being mean spirited (or at least I’m not intending to be).  I’m just revealing what my taste in movies is like.

 

If we all liked the same stuff, the world would be a pretty boring place.  The reason we often become friends with people is because we share common interests.  I’ve got a small circle of friends who love Coen brothers movies (as do I).  We quotes lines to each other and compare our favourites.  I know others who HATE Coen brothers movies.  That’s ok – they’re find to do so.  I admit the Coen’s have a very warped sense of humour.  There’s a line I always use – “to each their own”.

 

And yes, there are millions of people in this world who love Sandra Bullock.  Miss Congeniality made $106m in 2000.  Two Weeks Notice made $93m in 2002. The Proposal made $163m last year.  The Blind Side, currently in release, has turned out to be her biggest yet.  Despite going head-to-head with Avatar, it has made a phenomenal $239m in the United States to date.

 

Now, we’ve reached the crossroads.  The Blind Side is being released in Australia on Feb 25 and I’m hoping to catch a preview of it next week.  Is Bullock’s performance as good as people say?  Is it Oscar worthy?  Or are they over-hyping her performance?  Do they think her performance is “great” only because they’re comparing it to her past works?  Should Carey Mulligan or Meryl Streep win instead?

 

I try to see all films with an open mind and I suddenly find myself very excited about The Blind Side.  The fact that it scored an upset best picture nomination at the Oscars also has be intrigued.  After years of frustration, can my mind me changed on Sandra Bullock?  I’ll find out very soon!

 

Avatar

 

Last week, Titanic’s 12 year record atop the all-time box-office chart in the United States came to an end.  I’ve loved that record.  It’s amazing that a film could stay on top for so long.  $600m was always going to be a tough record to beat.

 

Just as amazing is the fact that the film which beat Titanic was James Cameron’s next film – Avatar.  Say what you will about Cameron, but his films connect with audiences.  The numbers speak for themselves in that regard.

 

Avatar’s total in the United States is now $630m from 8 weeks and it’s still going strong.  It took in another $23.6m on the weekend alone.  Where will it stop?  It’s possible it could finish up with around $750m.

 

It gets better here in Australia.  As of Sunday night, it had taken in $98.3m.  It’s still number one after 8 weeks and by a considerable margin.  It took $3.9m over the last four days.  Mel Gibson’s Edge Of Darkness was next best with a paltry (in comparison) $1.4m.  Avatar will certainly pass the $100m mark in Oz in the next few days.

 

Again, keep in mind that the second highest grossing film in Australian history was Titanic with $57.6m back in 1997.  Not only has Avatar beaten the long standing record here in Australia – it could quite possibly double it!

 

Now I know people throw in the higher 3D ticket price and inflation arguments and yes, they’re true.  If you want to be picky, Gone With The Wind’s inflation adjusted total of $1.5 billion in the United States makes it the “biggest film of all time”.  Still, times change.  There are lot more ways in which people can spend their money now in comparison to 1939.  Avatar deserves a place in box-office history and it’s well deserved. 

 

Oscar Odds

 

Current odds per Centrebet for the best picture Oscar are as follows – Avatar = $1.52, The Hurt Locker = $2.50, rest = no chance.

 

I think this is exceptional good odds for The Hurt Locker.  As I mentioned last week, it’s won all the lead up awards and the majority of Oscar pundits are tipping it to win – see here.  There aren’t many lead up awards left but perhaps the British Academy Awards might tell us something.  I’m kind of hoping for Avatar (given the $500 Oscar bet I placed a month ago) but I don’t know if the British Academy will support it as much as their American counterparts.  Fingers crossed.

 

The Hurt Locker

 

To finish this week, good news for those looking to see The Hurt Locker.  The release date has been brought forward from Feb 25 to Feb 18 and there are advance screenings from this weekend (Feb 12 to Feb 14).  I’ve been frustrated by my inability to be able to see this film but the timing might work out well – I’m sure there will be plenty of Australians keen to see what all the hype is about and I’m sure it’ll do well at the local box-office.