Showing posts with label OscarWatch2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OscarWatch2016. Show all posts

Monday, March 14, 2016

FEBRUARY ROUND UP

February was a little bit challenging, I did lots of great things, but also felt the weight of the world piling onto me by the month’s end.

Work continued to be crazy busy with my second new staff member commencing her traineeship. We had our 10th Anniversary Party which was loads of fun, with a magician, party games, and fun for the kids. There were a few minor things to resolve, but nothing new there. But an unpleasant incident with an unstable member of the public, and the unrelenting heat in that huge non air-conditioned building did take it’s toll on me.


I also had a few dramas with boys I say boys cause they sure as hell were not men. This dating caper has not been great the past few months, so I have rejigged a few things, pulled my cranky pants up high and called out some childish behaviour, sleazy behaviour, and good ole liars!  But I do feel a change in the air, so onwards I go!

So between that, some minor health things, and a very long fight with Telstra over non service, Well, I ended the month feeling a little low. As I write this I am pleased to say my bounce back didn’t take too long and I am feeling well and happy.  I guess it is important to acknowledge life is not all fun, we all have our moments, low points, and time we feel that putting one foot in front of each other is too hard. Having people to talk to that can help you is key, and knowing to look after yourself at that point is very important. Please know I am here for everyone if you are ever feeling like that, I know what it is like, my shoulders are wide and my ears open!


J, L and I saw The Incredible Feelzo: man of moderate talent for the fringe festival. This was a wonderful one man show filled with stories, humour, melancholy, death-defying feats, puppets, magic, and much more.


J, l, A and I headed to the Regal to honour Bowie in watching his Reality Tour from 2003 shown on the big screen. We were all still a little raw in our loss, so many tears were shed that night. It is still difficult to believe he is no longer around.




I finally caught up with my dear friend D, for a Christmas and birthday catch up, and to hear about her amazing overseas trip.

I began Yoga with C, it is not as relaxing as I thought, I am much more flexible than I thought, and it is a lot easier to do than I thought, but far more physical than I thought. Moral: don’t think so much and do!

I enjoyed Amy Dale and Candace Fox at our first Share the Story with Carol Duncan at Cardiff Library. Amazing evening, Fox is a star for sure, with her trajectory going through the roof as she is partnering with James Patterson in the near future. Both told many fascinating stories of crime and true crime, the genres they write about, not really one of my topics of interest, but Carol’s great interviewing skills and their vivacious chatter made it compelling.


I had a lovely walk exploring an area of Eleebana, and found a fab lookout hidden in the scrub.







I saw the new exhibition at Newcastle Art Gallery, Just Draw, which I highly recommend and a wonderful interactive play called Hello Stranger. Hello Stranger began on a bus, where we were transported to a secret location. We interacted lightly with the music, dance, and story as the evening progressed. At times it was a little confronting, but mostly it was thoroughly entertaining, and a really sharp, well produced play.




J and I ate at Saigon Feast, and I was back at Coal and Cedar with the gals and special guests, N and M.



L & I took a class in Crochet, which was much harder than it looks, but loads of fun. I am hoping to practice enough to commence a throw rug for my lounge room.



At Bookclub we chatted about Patti Smith’s M Train, which I loved.

And of course, the month ended on a high with The Academy Awards. Here are my predictions and how I went.


And some random pics...












Tuesday, March 1, 2016

OSCAR WATCH 2016: THE CEREMONY AND WINNERS

Well, better late than never and against all odds, here is my Post Oscars Post!!
 
I have to say it was a clockwork, ordinary Oscars with no real amazing highpoint. Not to say it was bad, it just wasn’t a great one. It seemed perfunctory and robotic.
 
Chris Rock
Chris Rock’s opening piece was great and on pointe! It walked the fine line of not being too offensive, but still pushing the boundaries and addressing the issues. 
I did like the line, “we have better things to protest!”
His interviews at the Compton theatre were hilarious, and the Girl Guide cookies worked a treat.


The Funny
I liked the banter between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe – they should take that on the road, hilarious!
Sarah Silverman also was great and funny in her usual way with her James Bond shtick.
As always Tina Fey and Steve Carell were great.
The black actors adding their touch to Oscar movie scenes.

 
Best Dressed
Best dressed without a shadow of a doubt was Cate Blanchett, with Jared Leto coming in second!
 
The Good
I liked the sentiment and emotional section of Lady Gaga’s performance although I did not think she sounded very good, it was almost forced, too operatic like. But the ending made up for that. Amazing. Oh and Joe Biden’s introduction.
Dave Grohl singing Blackbird for the In Memorium.

 
The Bad
Ali G was weird and as great as it was to see the droids from Star Wars it didn’t really work.

 
And the Ugly
But then there was the 50 Shades of Grey song and dance thing...WTAF!? Will that awful monstrosity ever die!?
 
And so the winners
The big winner was Mad Max; Fury Road winning 6 technical awards.
Amy for Documentary and Inside Out for Animation – both favourites of mine.
Ex Machine upsetting in the Special Effects category – also loved that film.
Back to back wins for the sublime Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
The surprise/upset of Mark Rylance winning Best Supporting Actor.
The lovely speeches from Alicia Vikander and Brie Larson.
And of course Leo and that magnificent speech.


My Highlights
The great Ennio Morricone finally winning after all these years.
And Spotlight – my pick and favourite – winning Best Film. It was a really important film with a serious story to tell by a fabulous ensemble cast.

 
So how did I go?
I got 17 correct out of a possible 24 categories. This is equal to last year. I got caught out with the Best Supporting Actor, the three shorts, Original Song, Visual Effects, and Original Screenplay.


OSCAR WATCH 2016: Best Dressed

As always here are some faves from the Red Carpet!

BEST DRESSED - CATE AND JARED



RUNNERS UP: BRIE AND JULIANNE



GORGEOUS PURPLES



SILVER SCREEN: LILY AND DAISY



PRETTY IN PINK: JENNIFER


SILVER THREAD: ISLA AND ALICIA



VA VA VOOM: SOFIA AND KATE



STATUES: NAOMI AND SAOIRSE



TANGARINE DREAM: OLIVIA


CLASSIC GRACE: CHARLOTTE


LOVE THE PRINT BUT NOT THE DRESS: AMY


HATE THE DRESS BUT LOVE THE BRACELETS: WHOOPI


HOT COUPLES...WAIT WHAT!?



VELVET JACKET AND SLIPPERS: EDDIE


AND MICHAEL KEATON CAUSE HE'S MICHAEL KEATON