2009 Oscar Red Carpet & Awards - Live!

Hooray, it's almost time........Oscar Night 2009!

Check back here on Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern for all of the fun --

I'll be live-blogging the Oscar Red Carpet & Awards Show -- watching the red carpet on E! Entertainment Television and the awards on ABC, and interacting LIVE with all of you.

We'll have special guests, interactive polls, silly pix, sound effects.....and you can join in and comment on ALL of the fun.

Just come back & click on the live-blog box below anytime after 6:00 pm Sunday, February 22nd.

We'll be here 'til the bitter end, and we'd love to chat with you!

See you soon..........

Why I Love The Oscars

OK, I know I'm not gonna surprise anyone reading this when I say:

"I really, really LOVE the Oscars!"

Woo Hoo.....alert the media!

But guess what, it's not necessarily for the reason you may think.

I love the Oscars......

Because they always make me feel like a kid again.


Ya see.....I've loved the Oscar TELECAST ever since I was around eight years old.

(For you young'uns out there.....that was way before the internet, home videos, DVD's and 24-hour cable television.)


For a young movie-lover with stars in her eyes, the yearly Oscar show was the only time I could see a gathering of big-time movie stars.....up close & personal.

Remember, there was no Entertainment Tonight, People.com, US Magazine or E! Entertainment Channel.

I wasn't really into who would win or who was best & most deserving......I just loved seeing the stars and the spectacle of it all.


I have fond memories of bargaining with my parents so I could stay up late to watch the big show. It used to be broadcast on a Monday night, so I was supposed to come right home from school....take a long nap & then I could stay up late to watch it.

Let's just say....that idea really worked better in theory than in practice. I was usually a pretty tired girl come Tuesday morning.

OK, so flash-forward about 35 years or so.....and come Oscar season, I still feel like that star-struck 8-year-old, excited to see all of the movie stars and ready to watch the big show.


(Hmmm......or maybe I just want an after-school nap.)

Anyways, that's why I'm here -- blogging about the movies and Oscar night, and ready to give y'all my picks for this year.

I'm extra happy because I just finished my quest to see all of the nominated films in the 6 main categories (4 Acting, Best Director & Best Picture).


I do this not only because I love movies & I'm a total geek....but because it was part of my "agreement" for being chosen as a member of the Columbus Dispatch CAMPP Panel -- the Columbus Association of Motion Picture Pickers.

The feature article about the Oscars and our picks, plus a photo of our CAMPP group, will be in this Sunday's Dispatch Arts section. It's my third year being involved, and I've met a lot of other movie-lovers & Oscar fans, and it's been a lot of fun.

But enough about that......

I'm trying to make this post brief because I would LOVE to hear back from all of you guys regarding the Oscar-nominated films you've seen --

And your ideas about what was hot....and not so hot.




If you email me your thoughts and recommendations.....I will post them here on the blog for others to read and react to.

You can be Anonymous or not, whatever you prefer.

You can also post comments at the bottom of this post, people do it ALL the time.

(Uh, full disclosure here: they don't do it ALL the time.....but some have done it once or twice, in the past....and as a blogger, it's just nice to know that somebody out there is actually reading your stuff and has a thought to share. I'm just sayin'......)


OK, so let's get a little interaction goin' here folks......seriously, it's one of my most favorite things about the internet.

Well, that.....and the fact that I can surf in my PJs while eating Graeter's Mocha Chip ice cream and stalk all sorts of various celebrities & former classmates.


But hey, that's another blog post all together!

Ooops.....I said this would be brief, and wouldn't ya know it -- I've already gone on waaaay too long.

OK, so here's a hint about my main Oscar picks this year:

A Slumdog Reads In The Dark While Wrestling With Doubt.

Got it?

OK, here they are....(The 6 main categories)
Who I think WILL win & who I WANT to win:

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor"
Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn in "Milk"
Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" (WILL win/WANT to win)

COMMENTS: I truly loved Mickey in this flick. Sean was great, but Mickey's performance really had heart & soul (and a staple gun!). Oh yeah, and Brad Pitt has as much of a chance of winning this Oscar as he does getting the "Husband of the Year" award from the Jennifer Aniston Fan Club. I'm just sayin'.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Josh Brolin in "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" (WANT to win)
Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" (WILL win)
Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road"

COMMENTS: I just really thought Hoffman was subtle, yet great as the dubious priest in Doubt. Ledger was over the top for me, but he's gonna win. If he doesn't....the gasp in the Kodak Theater will be long and loud & comic fanboys will take over the streets of the world and revolt. Consider yourself warned.

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie in "Changeling"
Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" (WANT to win)
Meryl Streep in "Doubt"
Kate Winslet in "The Reader" (WILL win)

COMMENTS: I truly love Kate Winslet, but I thought her Revolutionary Road performance was more Oscar-worthy. It would be so great if Melissa Leo won, but that will NEVER happen. Next to no one saw her small film and it was bleak & depressing, but she was so awesome in it. Frankly, I'm just happy she's nominated, and that Happy Go Lucky's Sally Hawkins will be nowhere near that stage on Sunday night.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams in "Doubt"
Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis in "Doubt" (WILL win)
Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (WANT to win)
Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler"

COMMENTS: This is the Oscar category that is always wacky & hard to predict. Past winners include youngsters Tatum O'Neal & Anna Pacquin, a surprising Marisa Tomei and Dame Judi Dench for an whopping 8 minute role in Shakespeare in Love. Pundits are picking Penelope Cruz, but I think the early groundswell for Viola Davis' strong 12 minute Doubt performance will hold. I loved Henson in Benjamin Button, even though I didn't love the flick.

Achievement in directing

David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire" (WILL win/WANT to win)

COMMENTS: Danny Boyle pretty much has this one in the bag, and I think he totally deserves it. I love, LOVED Slumdog and I think that what Boyle achieved with that story, those children and that setting was truly wonderful.

Best motion picture of the year

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"

COMMENTS: So, I guess you figured out that I was gonna pick Slumdog. What can I say? I'm a sucker for true love and a good Bollywood dance sequence. This category is another pretty sure bet if you're planning to do an Oscar pool. Bottom line: Slumdog is the one film over the last several years that I feel confident and happy to recommend to any and everyone. See this flick!

OK......there ya have it.

Take 'em or leave 'em, those are my Oscar predictions and thoughts as we head into the weekend before Hollywood's biggest night.

Now it's your turn: Send me an email or comment below about your predictions and thoughts about the Oscars and this year's slate of contenders.


(Or, if you'd rather just talk about Paul Blart-Mall Cop, that's OK by me.)

I wanna hear from you all, just a little or a lot....and I'll post it all on the blog.

In the meantime, I've been busy Twittering about the Oscars this week and plan to "live-tweet" during the Oscar Red Carpet pre-show and the award ceremony.

You can follow my Twitter feed anytime (or just on Oscar night) by clicking the link below & creating your own Twitter account in just a few short steps.

Once you're logged on, just search for my Twitter username: KellyGingery

It's really easy & painless, believe me. Even if you don't plan to ever post any "tweets", you still need to create a free account.....but then you can read the Twitter feeds from all sorts of interesting folks.

Seriously, it's informative & fun....I recently got my sis Julie and friend Marri to drink the Twitter "Kool-Aid".....and now they can't stop "tweeting"!

Check it out here: www.twitter.com

OK y'all, that's it for now......I'm lookin' forward to your emails & comments.

Let me hear from you, I'm listening.

Welcome Back!

Hey there Movie Lovers......

Welcome back to the Blog.

I can't believe it's been just over a month since I've posted here. That's the longest I've ever gone without blogging.

Wow -- and it's even Oscar season.

What the heck is wrong with me?

I'll tell you what's wrong with me:

Hello, my name is MovieChick.....and I am an information junkie.

There.....I said it.

Seriously....... It's one of the reasons I love movies and movie trivia, and that I'm addicted to the internet and various social networking sites.

(Twitter.....Facebook.....People.com.....you get the picture.)


Hellooooo.......I am a news & pop culture information addict.

Well, this past month I have been in overdrive.

In addition to my frequent journeys to the local multiplex to complete my Oscar-nominated movie-watching quest.....


"Real-life" has been pretty engaging as well.

We've seen a new President sworn into office, an airliner land safely on the Hudson, a woman (a slightly wacky woman, at that) give birth to octuplets, a myriad of pre-Oscar red carpets and award shows, and.....Friday Night Lights, American Idol AND The Bachelor are back on TV.

Whew.

What's a girl to do?

Well.....this girl decided to take a break from blogging, and just took it all in.

I did a lot of reading, and a lot of watching....and it was fun.

But like my good friend Ah-nold (who I have shared chips & salsa with, by the way)......I'm back.


So....the Academy Awards are less than a week away, and I am now ready to focus on all things Oscar.


My first order of blogging business today was inspired by some recent photos that I happened to view on the internet.

(I know, I know....what a shock.)

These photos inspired me to create a musical video tribute --

To the brave & courageous man who I think totally deserves the Best Actor Oscar this coming Sunday evening at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

So, without further ado........

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present: "Oh Mickey!"




Hope y'all enjoy it......see ya back here again, soon!

Golden Globe Awards 2009 - Fashion Recap Video

Well, it's been two nights since the Golden Globe Awards....and I think I've finally caught up on watching all of the misc. Globes stuff on my DVR.

Let's see.......

There's the E! Red Carpet pre-show, the E! live from the Red Carpet broadcast, the 1 hour NBC Globes pre-show, The E! after-party show, Monday's Entertainment Tonight - Golden Globes edition and the E! Golden Globe Fashion Police Recap show.

Oh yeah......and then there was the actual telecast itself. I wanted to rewatch some of that as well.

Whew!

Oh, and then I have to look at all of the red carpet pictures and read all about it afterward on the internet.

I know, I know......I'm an addict, what can I say?

And....there is no 12-step program for it, so I just deal with it --


Much like Mickey's poor stylist.

OK, so I think I've finally got it all digested...so I decided to put together a little fashion recap video for y'all.

I was inspired by a Seal song (Mr. Heidi Klum) I heard a few days ago, and decided that it would work perfectly for what I wanted to do.

Hope you enjoy it......

Happy New Year....From Harry & Sally & Movie Lovers Only!

To ring in 2009, please enjoy one of my favorite scenes from one of my MOST favorite flicks evah........

When Harry Met Sally.

Harry: "I came here tonight, because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Ahhhh......gotta love it.

Happy New Year to Movie Lovers everywhere!

Happy Holidays From MovieChick......

And just a few of her happy, helpful elves!

Just click the screen below to enjoy our musical Holiday greeting, made especially for our wonderful readers

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Hmmm......I don't know about you, but I'm thinkin' that Tom, Tom, Brad and Georgie never looked so good!

OK, MovieChick hasn't posted much because she's been busy checking out all of the great Holiday flicks (and there are sooooo many of them!).

I recently saw:

Slumdog Millionaire
(Absolutely awesome! Go see this quick - A+)

Twilight
(Interesting, possibly worth the hype - B)

Seven Pounds
(Kinda slow and sentimental, a rental - B)


Just a few on my Christmas "To See" List:

Marley & Me
Doubt
Revolutionary Road
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Bedtime Stories
Valkyrie

Wow.....so many movies, so little time!

Don't worry Movie Lovers -- I plan to see 'em all, and I'll report back with my thoughts and recommendations after a short holiday break.

Happy Holidays everyone.......thanks so much for reading!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Yeah, yeah......I know it's the holiday season.

But even more importantly -- it's the holiday MOVIE season! Hey, for a movie lover like me....this is truly -- "the most wonderful time of the year."

As I sat down to my laptop this morning, I realized that I haven't posted to this blog for almost a month.

Yikes!

Ya know why?

I've been sittin' in a movie theater.

As the weather turns colder and the Oscars get closer, Hollywood begins to roll out the flicks that seem to have just a little bit more substance.

Ya know.....fewer House Bunnies and more Boys in Striped Pajamas. (And I'm not talkin' about Mr. Hefner.....by the way)

Don't get me wrong -- I love a good mindless summer blockbuster every now and then (Helloooo Hancock.....),


but I really love me some good Oscar bait.

So today I thought I'd give y'all a quick rundown of the films that have kept me busy eating too many tubs of popcorn over the last two months.

Here's what I've seen recently, along with my letter grade and a quick comment for each:

The Secret Life of Bees - (Grade: B....no pun intended!)


I enjoyed this film, it was nice. Unlike many people in the theater, I hadn't read the book. The casting truly was great. It's a little predictable, but a decent rental. It's a "chick flick" that a guy could like. I think.

Outsourced - (Grade: A)


An unexpected pleasure. A cute, fun indie about a guy who has to go to India to work at a call center to save his job. The two leads are very appealing & have great chemistry. A fish-out-of-water tale with a sweet romantic side. I say seek it out or rent it.

Rachel Getting Married - (Grade: B)


I thought this flick was just OK. Everyone raves about Anne Hathaway & she most definitely will be nominated for an Oscar. She was good, but I just thought the whole thing was a little too quirky and overwrought. Guess I just wasn't in the mood. Nice to see Debra Winger again though as her mom.....love her.

Happy Go Lucky - (Grade: C-)


Whew....more like Happy Go Yucky. I talked a group of friends into seeing this indie flick because I had read good reviews and they raved about the lead. It was just too wacky, UNfunny and had scenes that made absolutely no sense. Frankly, the lead made me want to smack her....hard. Lucky for ME, my friends are still listening to my movie advice!

Quantum of Solace - (Grade: A)


What can I say? I love the crazy, non-stop Bond action and Daniel Craig gets my butt in the seat. (Hmmm.....I don't think that came out quite right.) Anyways, it's fast and furious and full of Bond.....what could be better than that? I'll tell you what -- 3 words: "More beach scenes!"

(Now that's what I'm talkin' about!)


The Boy In The Striped Pajamas - (Grade: B)


OK, this is definitely NOT a feel-good flick. What it is, is a well-done drama about a family dealing with World War II at a German concentration camp. The twist is that the protaganist is German. The change from the usual perspective makes this tale interesting and the two boys at the center of the story are very moving. This is an emotionally draining flick, but very worthwhile.

Australia - (Grade A-)


Loved it. OK....so I'm a sucker for sweeping, epic historical romances. This would have to be pretty bad for me not to like it. For some reason, the critics really seem to have disliked it, and it's not doing great at the box office. I say, take it for what it is.....a throwback to another era. Kinda like, "Calgon, take me away." C'mon people, most of us weren't around back then and we aren't in Australia.....so just sit back, enjoy the story and the scenery (hunky Hugh Jackman shirtless AND in a tux, I'm just sayin'......). Nicole Kidman is very beautiful and the little boy is awesome and brought me to some serious tears, more than once. Yes, it is a little long -- just get the extra-large popcorn and bring a few tissues, just in case.

Four Christmases (Grade: C)

I seriously DID NOT like this movie. I don't think that I laughed even once. Hey, I do have a sense of humor...I guess I just don't think baby puke and grown men body-slamming each other is hilarious. Go figure.

I guess I'm just disappointed because this flick had an interesting and potentially funny premise, along with a great cast....and it just wastes it all, completely.  Those kinda films drive me crazy.  This flick has been number one for 2 weeks in a row and I think I know why --  

Three reasons:
1. It's a comedy, and people want to laugh right now.
2. Reese Witherspoon. She's cute, smart and perky -- and women AND men like her (but only in comedies, did you see her in the Iraq war flick? Didn't think so.)
3. Vince Vaughn. Seriously, I don't get him at all (I think he plays the same guy every time). Apparently, men dig him (and I think wanna BE him) and women wanna date him. (Why? Is it the immature man/boy thing? Ya wanna change him? I'm thinkin' you need to meet a man like Daniel Craig. No changes necessary. No ma'am.)  
Anyways, I say skip this flick -- unless you really wanna see a comedy with a Christmas theme. (Heck, just stay home and rent National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and be done with it. You'll definitely laugh, save a few bucks and thank me later.)


OK, so that's all for now.....the flicks I have seen.

I'd love to hear your feedback, if you've seen any of them as well.

Later in the week, I plan to do a post about the group of upcoming flicks I'm most looking forward to checking out.

Seriously people, get ready to grab some popcorn because there is a lot more Oscar bait out there, just waiting to reel us in.

Yep, for me -- it's definitely.....the most wonderful time of the year.


Happy Holidays Everyone!