I’m going to be so happy after the Academy Awards because then I can finally stop posting about Slumdog Millionaire winning every award possible. It is kind of getting redundant and boring.
In addition to winning the WGA for Best Adapted Screenplay this weekend, Slumdog swept the BAFTAs, receiving 7 awards. Here is the complete list of BAFTA winners.
BEST FILM Slumdog Millionaire
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM Man on Wire
THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD
for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer for their First Feature Film
Steve McQueen (Director/Writer) – Hunger
DIRECTOR Slumdog Millionaire – Danny Boyle
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY In Bruges – Martin McDonagh
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Slumdog Millionaire – Simon Beaufoy
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE I’ve Loved You So Long – Yves Marmion, Philippe Claudel
ANIMATED FILM WALL•E – Andrew Stanton
LEADING ACTOR Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
LEADING ACTRESS Kate Winslet – The Reader
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, who played ill-fated lovers in the 1997 smash hit Titanic, are reuniting for a drama about postwar disillusionment, the DreamWorks movie studio said on Friday.
Revolutionary Road will be directed by Winslet’s husband, filmmaker Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for directing 1999’s dysfunctional family drama American Beauty.
The DreamWorks project, based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates, revolves around a suburban couple caught between their hopes for a life of art, culture and sophistication and the everyday drudgery of boring jobs and domesticity. Revolutionary Road is considered a master work of modern American literature, and was named one of the top 100 novels of all time by Time magazine.
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Titanic is most definitely not one of my favorite movies. But I like Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio enough that I would see Revolutionary Road.
Today’s Oscar preview is of Best Actress Nominees. 2006 was an unusually strong year for female performances with the best without a doubt coming from Helen Mirren in The Queen.
Penelope Cruz as Raimunda in Volver
This is Cruz’s first Oscar nomination.
What the critics have said:
“Cruz has never been more radiant and funny: Comparisons to Sophia Loren in her Vittorio DeSica heyday are flying about, and richly warranted.” — Jan Stuart, Newsday
“Penelope Cruz has never looked more beautiful and she gives a sensational, career best performance as Raimunda.” — Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
“Whatever the director asks of Cruz she delivers with poise and sincerity. It’s easily her finest work, and one of the year’s best performances.”– Shawn Levy, Oregonian
Judi Dench as Barbara Covett in Notes on A Scandal.
This is Dench’s sixth Oscar nomination; she won in 1999 for her work in Shakespeare in Love.
What the critics have said:
“The build-up in this movie is actually too good for its ending, but that’s also no reason to skip out on a wonderful turn from Dench.” — Jeffrey Chen, Window to the Movies
“In England, it seems, actresses have nothing to fear from age. They can simply wait for writers to create fresh work for them.” — David Denby, New Yorker
“Dench is nothing less than great in this role. It’s hard to recall a recent performance of such unrelenting ferocity, such a thoroughgoing devotion to the domination of another life.” —TIME Magazine
This is Mirren’s third Oscar nomination; she is the favorite to win.
What the critics have said:
“That’s Mirren’s magic: She makes us care, no matter how shallow our curtsies.” — Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Mirren’s ability to disappear into the stoic modern monarch in the week following Princess Diana’s death may warrant her an Oscar for The Queen — and it would not be undeserved.” –Gina Carbone, Seacoast Newspapers (NH/Maine)
“Brilliant as Morgan’s script is, it is Helen Mirren’s diamond-hard performance that is the jewel of The Queen’s crown.” — Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada.
This is Streep’s fourteenth Oscar nomination; she has won two previous times, for Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie’s Choice.
What the critics have said:
“Streep makes it work. Streep makes it fun. Best known for her dramatic brilliance, Streep has done strong comedic turns in the past, and this performance is a reminder of that, and then some.” — Jennifer Frey, Washington Post
“Streep’s practically the whole show — and steals it accordingly.” — Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Meryl Streep inspires both terror and a measure of awe as the imperious editor of a glossy fashion magazine in the screen version of Lauren Weisberger’s best-selling novel.” — A.O. Scott, New York Times
This is Winslet’s fifth Oscar nomination; she has never won.
What the critics have said:
“The main reason to watch is Winslet, who brings flesh-and blood dimension to Perrotta’s central character.” — Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Daily News
“An honest look at infidelity and its ramifications. Clearly one of the best of the year with multiple Oscar-caliber performances, especially by the brilliant Kate Winslet.” — Tony Medley, tonymedley.com
“Kate Winslet is damn hot. That, and just about the best actress in film today.” — Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Lets be honest. Right now, everyone needs a break from whatever they have going on in their life right now. If that means you, then The Holiday is a great escape from the holiday madness.
In the style of Love Actually, The Holiday, directed by Nancy Meyers, is a romantic comedy set during the Holiday season.
Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, is the owner of a Los Angeles company that produces movie trailers. She learns that her long-time boyfriend (Edward Norton) is two-timing her and after two swift punches to the face, she kicks him out. Meanwhile, in England, Iris (Kate Winslet), a journalist, has been struggling for three years to get over her ex (Rufus Sewell) when he announces his engagement at the company holiday party.
The women, heartbroken and alone, have a chance meeting through the internet and agree to swap homes for two weeks. Amanda heads to Iris’s cottage in Surrey while Iris jets off to L.A. and Amanda’s mansion. Enter Graham (Jude Law) and Miles (Jack Black) as Amanda’s and Iris’s respective romantic interests. And a love story blooms.
Is The Holiday‘s plot predictable, cheesy, and filled with cliches? Absolutely. Did that stop me from enjoying it? Not at all. Sure it’s no Love Actually, but who (except the real film critics of America) cares.
I had a really good time seeing this movie because it’s delightful and entertaining. One lovely subplot was involving a legendary screenwriter, played by Eli Wallach, who Iris befriends, allowing for endless classic movie references.
The Holiday, without a doubt, is the perfect movie to indulge yourself with this holiday season.
@Cinefille 
