Tag Archives: Academy Awards

The 85th Academy Awards – Part 2

I am still tired from my 11-hour coverage of the Academy Awards, but so much is still on my mind. The big upset – undoubtedly all the Oscars that went to a little film called Argo that capped off the night with a Best Picture win.  Ever since the nominations were announced, pretty much all that has been heard about was how the Academy overlooked Ben Affleck for Best Director while nominating Argo for Best Picture.  Many tried to explain that the problem lies in that there were eight films nominated for Best Picture, but the Best Director field only … Continue reading →

The 85th Academy Awards – Part 1

It seems only fitting that my last two Pop Culture blogs for Families will be about the Oscars.  If you’ve ever read any of my blogs around this time of year, you know how much I love this ceremony.  Yesterday, I turned E! on at 12:30 to begin my pre-Red Carpet coverage and finally turned the television off at 11:30 – 11 hours later. There were a lot of beautiful dresses.  Although Jessica Chastain didn’t win Best Actress, she was beautiful from head to toe.  Perhaps the Best Actress winner, Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook, should take a cue … Continue reading →

Cheap But Classy

Sunday marks Hollywood’s biggest night of the year.  The Academy Awards will be handed out to the best of the best amongst pomp, circumstance and a ton of glitz and glam.  All while the rest of us watch from our unswanky living rooms. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to rake in the income of Ben Affleck, Sandra Bullock, or Kristen Stewart in order to make Oscar night a class act.  Frugalistas can have fun celebrating Oscar as well with the following party tips: Décor:  Raid the Dollar Store or your closets for red, plastic … Continue reading →

Trouble for Sandra Bullock and Jesse James

They seemed like the perfect couple less than a week ago. Sandra Bullock won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in The Blind Side. Her husband, Jesse James, who looks more at home in a garage than on a red carpet, happily joined her and beamed with pride when she won. He told PEOPLE, “She’s beautiful. She’s amazing. She takes my breath away. Sometimes I look at her and I do, I just lose my breath.” Now cut from the happy couple at the Academy Awards to the news today of rumors of a split due to infidelity. PEOPLE … Continue reading →

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards’ Weirdest Moment

If you watched the 82nd Annual Academy Awards last night, you saw there weren’t many surprises. Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were charming and humorous, but there were no really scandalous or risky jokes. Jeff Bridges locked up Best Actor and Sandra Bullock pulled off her expected Best Actress win. But, there was one surreal moment. It was in the middle of the ceremony when Best Documentary Short was announced. I know what you are thinking “Best Documentary Short?” It is usually during times like this when people go to the kitchen to get a snack. Last night, Music … Continue reading →

Is there an Oscar Scandal Brewing?

You may already know it because I mention it often in blogs, but I love the Academy Awards. It is the one day of the year when everything in my household must come to a complete stop for 12 hours of constant coverage. This year will be no different. I am extra excited because I’ve seen many of the Best Picture nominated films. One film that I was eagerly awaiting the release of was The Hurt Locker. Despite the fact that my husband is a U.S. marine, I am not typically a fan of films about the Iraq war. But, … Continue reading →

A Review of the 81st Academy Awards – Part 2

There were some amusing moments during this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. I thought it was cute when Kunio Kato added “Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto” to the end of his thank you speech for Best Short Film (Animated), La Maison en Petits Cubes. And, I absolutely loved it when high wire walker Phillippe Petit thanked the Academy for believing in magic then did the magic trick. That was also as good as him balancing the Oscar on his chin. That made me want to see Man on Rope. Of course, the big winner of the night was Slumdog Millionaire. It took … Continue reading →

A Review of the 81st Academy Awards – Part 1

Well, the big day is over for another year…sigh. But, at least I have today to relieve everything! I really thought the Academy Awards ceremony was good this year. They tried to mix it up a big due to sagging ratings. Hugh Jackman certainly put on a show, but then I guess he had plenty of practice hosting the Tony Awards three times. I thought his “opening number on a budget” was hilarious and it got a standing ovation from the audience. I also loved the number where he and Beyonce sang about how the musical was back. Hugh was … Continue reading →

Focus on the Oscars: About the Academy Awards

The Academy Awards was first held on May 16, 1929 at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. The ceremony, which was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and William C. DeMille (older brother of Cecil), honored films from 1927 and 1928. Rather than being a big, glitzy production, the first Academy Awards was a private dinner held for less than 250 people. This year will be the 81st Academy Awards ceremony and will be held across the street from the Hotel Roosevelt in the Kodak Theatre. Every year, the awards have been broadcast, first on the radio, then on television (after it became … Continue reading →

Focus on the Oscars: Slumdog Millionaire

Tonight, is the Academy Awards and among those nominated for Best Picture is a film that features Brad Pitt, one that features Leonardo DiCaprio, and one that features Sean Penn. There is a film that chronicles the exchange between a talk show host and a disgraced U.S. President. And then, there is Slumdog Millionaire. More than any of the other films, Slumdog Millionaire has generated a ton of Oscar buzz. Although many mistake it for a Bollywood film because of its Indian background, it is actually a British film. It was written by Simon Beaufov and directed Danny Boyle. It … Continue reading →