Film School Friday Lesson #23 - How To Win An Oscar

Last time, Film School Friday taught readers how to survive a Valentines break up by murdering their exes in the most dramatic way possible. The problem with that is that the suffering won't last for long, even if you tie your ex to a chair and starve them to death while forcing them to watch Super Size Me on an Imax sized screen. It's just not enough.

This is where I'm going to throw caution to the wind and suggest something unusually sensible for once, something that won't get you arrested or leave you stranded in space, barking to a random Chinese man fifty gazillion miles away. Pay attention. This won't happen again any time soon. My advice to the spurned lovers out there is to just simply be the bigger person. No, I'm not saying you go out and re-enact Super Size Me on a grand scale, but you do need to have some dignity and try not to get petty about things. What's the best way to do that? Win an Oscar. That'll show those smug, good for nothing bastards what they're missing out on, so start writing your speech, pick out a dress and grab that award polish as you read on for today's lesson.

Oscars 2014: Winner Predictions Part Two.

 

Yesterday, I predicted some Oscar winners. Today I'll be doing the same thing. Every year when the winners are announced, there is only one group of awards anyone really cares about; the acting categories. It makes sense, they tend to be the only names people recognise on the list of nominees. This years list is no different, sprinkled with big name stars you know, some names you don't and some you just can't pronounce. But whose name will be called out on March 2nd? Whose face will have a fake smile plastered across it, as they realise they haven't won? And  whose overly indulgent acceptance speech with be played out by the orchestra? Let's see what I think... 

Oscars 2014: Winner Predictions Part One.

Since the Oscar nominations were announced last week, people have been speculating and predicting whose names will be read out on the evening of March 2nd at the Kodak Theatre. While some categories seem obvious to call, others have people baffled, like Best Picture. Thanks to the tie at the PGA between Gravity and 12 Years, as well as American Hustles SAG win, this years Oscars is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years. Who should win? Who should have been nominated? And  who the bloody hell will win? I don't know, but like everyone else, I'm going to have a guess anyway. Here are my Oscar 2014 predictions... 

Oscar 2014: The Mistakes

In late December, the Academy of Motion Arts and Science mail its ballots to all its 6,000 members. They then watch a hell of a lot of films and vote for the best in each branch; actors for actors, screenwriters for screenwriters, they are all eligible to select Best Picture. You would think that with nearly 6,000 members voting in their field of expertise, they wouldn't make mistakes right? Well, you're wrong, wrong! Every year, no matter what, the Academy always makes mistakes. Some are quite big, like leaving Ben Affleck out of the Best Director category last year, and some are smaller, like WALL.E not getting a Best Picture nod a few years back. This year is no exception.

Oscars 2014: The Nominees.

After months of speculation, whispers and waiting, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science have announced this years contenders for the much coveted Oscars. Each year comes with some surprising nominees and some not so surprising nominees. This year is no exception. Where the bloody hell was Emma Thompson and Oprah Winfrey? What, no love for Tom Hanks? And what the hell is going on in the Best Original Song category? Lets take a look shall we?  

The Blind Side (2009): Mini Movie Review

A lot of things can get in the way of finding time to review films, including work, family and alcohol, but some movies still deserve a mention, so that’s where my Mini Movie Reviews come in. Each is less than 100 words long or your money back. That’s a promise people! Today it’s The Blind Side.

Oscars 2014: Will Gravity Pave The Way For Science Fiction At The Academy Awards?

I just don’t get it.

For decades, the Academy Awards have claimed to celebrate the best cinematic achievements of the year but unfortunately, this only applies to the golden few. If your film is a historical drama based on real events and happens to feature a transformative performance from Meryl Streep, then you’re in luck. However, if you deviate from this tried and tested Academy formula in any way, your chances of even being nominated for an Oscar diminish greatly.

Oscars 2013: The Winners

Well after months of excitement, anticipation, predictions and a thousand other award ceremonies, last night the envelopes were finally opened and the names were revealed. We saw some surprise winners and some less surprising winners. Host Seth Macfarlane has received a lot of mixed reviews from the critics and twitter...ok so they're mostly negative reviews but who cares? I personally enjoyed him hosting; the musical numbers, the bad taste jokes...What did people expect from the man who created Family Guy? Anyway, lets take a look at who won and whether my predictions were right.

How Have They Not Won An Oscar?!

An Academy Award is seen by many as the pinnacle of acting, the holy grail for those performers who have made an unforgettable mark on pop culture and film history, yet many stars have an empty space on their mantelpiece where their Oscar should be. As you go down my list of actors and actresses who have not received an Academy Award, I defy you not to gasp and say "How have they not won an Oscar?!", pointing angrily at the screen and cursing the Academy for all eternity. With that in mind, here are the nominees for Best Actor or Actress in a Leading or Supporting Role who should have won a damn Oscar!

Oscars 2013: Best Director, Who Should Win?

This years best directing category was the biggest surprise when the nominees names where announced. Former front runner and previous winner Kathryn Bigelow wasn't shown any love from the academy for her work on Zero Dark Thirty, but she wasn't the only one. Ben Affleck's name was absent as well for Argo and Tom Hooper was nowhere to be seen. Very surprising after they all picked up Diretors Guild of America nominations. So who are the lucky devils who did get nominated, let's take a look shall we? 

So Why Does Disney's Paperman (2012) Deserve The Oscar For Best Animated Short?

After being shown theatrically before 'Wreck-It Ralph' in US cinemas, 'Paperman' received a huge amount of critical acclaim from the press and well, just about anybody who got a chance to see it in full. John Kahrs animated short is only seven minutes long but its impact has been huge. This week, it finally became available online and I watched it for the first time. So did Disney's latest short live up to the hype? Most definitely. 

And The Oscar for Best Voice Acting Goes To...

...No one. So why don't they have an Oscar for Best Voice Acting? These days, a whole host of famous actors and actresses have lent their voices to animated films and for some, these characters have since become signature roles. Maybe it's just a lack of respect for animation in general from the Academy, although an Oscar was created for Best Animated Feature back in 2002.

So what gives Academy? Any fan of animation over the age of 6 knows that brilliant voice acting can make all the difference. Some of my favourite characters of all time have been voiced by legendary performers and they shouldn't have been penalised for their work just because they appeared in an animated film instead of live-action. But who do you think would have deserved to win such an award? Love them or hate them, here are my five best picks;

Oscars 2013: Best Song, Who Should Win?

Today I'm taking a look see at the songs nominated for this years Best Original Song. It's looking like it could be a very close race between Skyfall by some one called Adele, whoever she is, and the new song written for Les Miserables. Or will we be in for a surprise come Oscar night?

Oscars 2013: Best Animated film, Who Should Win?

There hasn't been such a strong year for animated films at the Oscars since 2009 when Up won and this year it looks like Disney has this one in the bag again. But when doesn't it? But which one of its brilliant films will be picking up the Oscar? Today I'm taking a look at the films that are nominated to see who will win. Who should win? And who should have been nominated? 

Oscars: Best Animated Feature 2009 - Who Should Have Won?

The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is surprisingly contentious. While some critics believe that the honour has helped increase the visibility of the animated industry since its creation in 2002, others believe that the award was devised as a kind of consolation prize, so that animated films wouldn't have to be nominated for Best Picture. 'Beauty and the Beast' was the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture back in 1991 and it remained the only film to receive this honour until 'Up' was nominated back in 2009.

Oscars: Best Actress 1950 - Who Should Have Won?

Can you believe that Gloria Swanson's timeless performance in  Sunset Boulevard didn't see her picking up an Oscar? Or that Anne Baxter's name wasn't called out on the night for her role as the ultimate social-climbing bitch Eve Harrington? Can you believe that Bette Davis' triumphant return as Margo Channing in the same film didn't earn her a third Oscar? And why didn't Eleanor Parker pick up her first Oscar for her star turn in Caged? Well, it's because they were all nominated in the same year. You know they always say "there just aren't enough good roles out there for women". Well in 1950, that just wasn't the case.

Oscars 2013: Best Supporting Actress, Who Should Win?

This year there is no race for Best Supporting Actress, because the Oscar already has Anne Hathaway's name on it. But lets take a look at who else is nominated this year anyway.

Oscars 2013: Best Supporting Actor, Who Should Win?

This years Best Supporting Actor category is, well very boring this year. All the wonderful men who are nominated are previous winners, and Christoph Waltz's win at the Globes has opened the door for anyone to win. But who could it be? Who can add another Oscar to their awards collection this year?

Oscars 2013: Best Adapted Screenplay, Who Should Win?

The films nominated for this years Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar is what I'm looking at today. For me, the best writing categories in the past have sometimes been given to the film that should have won best picture but wasn't necessarily the safest option, making this category a bit more interesting. The award had been previously won by The Social Network and The Descendants. But who will win this year? Who should win? And who should have been nominated?

Oscars 2013: Best Original Screenplay, Who Should Win?

 

Today I'm looking at who's been nominated for Best Original Screenplay this year. The award was won last year by the great Woody Allen, who holds the record for most wins in this category with three and the most nominations at fifteen. Pretty impressive. But what films this year have the chance to join Woody Allen as a winner for the 2013 Best Original Screenplay, shall we take a look?