Julie & Julia

Yesterday I watched Julie & Julia. It was a very enjoyable movie, maybe not a masterpiece but still a wholesome and fun movie. Meryl Streep truly was Julia Child and gave probably one of the best female leading performance of the year (still haven't decided if she's better than Gainsbourg). Stanley Tucci had his own while playing against Streep and was a lot better than he was in "The Devil Wears Prada". Amy Adams gave a pretty safe and charming turn, but nothing we haven't seen from her before. Also the score was superb!

Be Italian!

Best Actress 1964

My Nominees:
Anne Bancroft - The Pumpkin Eater
When I first watched this movie I was mesmerized how great Bancroft was in this. Before this movie I only knew her as the mother in The Graduate. But now i'm a complete fan. The breakdown is just scaring because it seems so real!

Catherine Deneuve - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
This is the breakthrough of Deneuve, and a good one too. Her charisma just sparkles and she really seems like a star here.

Olivia de Havilland - Lady in a Cage
This was a terrific performance in a terryifing film. The whole movie is a psychological suspense movie, and De Havilland is at the top of her game in this.

Audrey Hepburn - My Fair Lady
A classic performance certifing Hepburns status as a cultural icon.

Kim Stanley - Séance on a Wet Afternoon
Haunting.... and great.

and the Winner Is!

FYC: Jane Krakowski for Oscar Host!

I'm falling more and more for Krakowski. The Nine soundtrack, 30 rock AND the fantastic TV ad where she plays Scarlett O'Hara. SO ALL I CAN SAY IS KRAKOWSKI FOR OSCAR HOST!

Penélope Cruz

Remember for some years ago when nobody likes Cruz, now it all suddenly changed. EVERYONE loves Cruz. Her year in 2008 was great, and so will the rest of 2009 also be. She was very good in "Broken Embraces", not "Vicky Cristina" great but still very good.

Well she's currently the front-runner for almost everyones sexpot of the year award :P

Best Actress 1961

This my take on the Best Actress category 1961 (quite random I know!)

I'm going to do as Andrew did over Encore's World of Film & TV blog (which you could visit if you look at my favourite blogs :). He did semi-finalist and finalist list, which I thought was a very good idea :)

Semifinalist:

Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany's
I know this is probably one of the most well known performances of Hepburn, but it wasn't really the WOW factor I thought it would be. She looks beautiful and does her job well. She is marvellous in some scenes, but more less than often. Also we can say she was miscast. BUT this is though one of the most iconic performances of 1961 and the moment she sings "Moon River" is pure magic.

Audrey Hepburn - The Children's Hours
While "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was a miscasting, this was the complete opposite. Hepburn is used to do this kind of role as the sweet woman. While it was a beautiful performance, it turned out quite boring.

Shirley MacLaine - The Children's Hours
MacLaine makes surprisingly little with this juicy role, even if she's better than Hepburn we all know she could do LOT more. Also one thing regarding this movie is that the supporting players stole this show.

Finalists:
Sophia Loren - Two Women
One of these performances where the actress gives up everything and just makes the role come alive. Loren is marvelous!

Clauda McNeill - A Raisin' in the Sun
This is a wonderful and splendid performance by McNeill as the mother. She lights up the screen every minute on screen.

Natalie Wood - Splendor in the Grass
Many people calls this performance dull and uninspired, but I disagree. Wood was charming and heartbreaking here. This really showed how good an actress Wood was. I can't decide Loren and Wood who was the best of the nominees, but Wood gets the title right now.

The Nominees:
Anouke Aimée - Lola
She gives the most sensual performance this year, but also the most joyful. She's really on par with the original Lola.

Harriet Andersson - Through a Glass Darkly
The scene when she's sleepwalking is just breathtaking! Harriet truly gives the character a great performance.

Deborah Kerr - The Innocents
This is a career defining role for Kerr. She's never been better. Her performance is a haunting one, and you sure notice the similarity between her role and the great Nicole Kidman in "The Others", but Kerr was better.

Delphine Seyrig - Last Year at Marienbad
Her performance is maybe not as flashy as everyone else, but she works it out great and you notice her in a moment!

Lucyna Winnicka - Mother Joan of the Angels
WOW! This is what I call a performance. She gives the role a three-dimensonial performance, Wonderful I only say!

and the winner is...

The Women - The 2008 Version

Last year "The Women" was released. It was critically loathed and earned 1 razzie nomination for Worst Actress.

Friday I saw it for the first time, I've wanted to seen it since it was released but was scared off by all the negative critics (except Roger Ebert's one). Slowly into the movie I began to realize this wasn't that awful. Of course it wasn't anywhere near the 1939 version, but still not bad. The script was pretty dull though, but it was all helped up by the actresses in this movie. Bening, Ryan, Messing and Leachman are all great comedienne and didn't deserve mention by the Razzie, but Messing and Smith surely did. But it's during the last parts of the movie it begins to crash, not completely but almost. It turns out to be another one of these Hollywood comedies with the same predictable which is ofcourse really boring.

Overall this is a entertaining and sophisticated comedy, but with many flaws that the actresses even couldn't overcome.

Rate: C