The Hurt Locker sweeps the BAFTAs...

The Hurt Locker won 6 prizes at last night's BAFTA ceremony. The war drama nearly shut out Avatar which only took home 2 of its 8 nominated prizes for Production Design and Visual Effects. With every awards show giving the top prize to a different film (Golden Globes: Avatar, BAFTA: Hurt Locker, SAG Awards: Inglourious Basterds), and with 10 films nominated for Best Picture Oscar, this year's Academy Awards ceremony might just be a surprise.

The two prizes that are guaranteed are in the supporting actor categories. Both Mo'Nique (for Precious) and Christoph Waltz (for Inglourious Basterds) tripled their awards last night (both also won SAG and Golden Globes).

The biggest surprises of last night were in the two best actor categories. Colin Firth won the top prize for his work in A Single Man and Carey Mulligan won for An Education. Neither are expected to repeat this win at the Oscars, but we shall see...

WEZ SEZ: The Hurt Locker deserves Best Picture Oscar. See it. Now.

See the full list of winners after the jump... 

The Candy Shop: Britney Spears, Sandra Bullock, Lady Gaga, more...

The Candy Shop

-Karen McCluskey on Desperate Housewives (played by 70 year old Kathryn Joosten) gets lung cancer in a new story line for the hit show. The concept is based on the actress's real life experience with lung cancer last year. She made a complete recovery (as will her character). Joosten is working with the writers to insure the topic is handled correctly. Via NY Post

 

-Dear God Amber Rose, what are you wearing?! If I was Kanye I would ask you in ALL CAPS to kindly change this horrendous outfit.

-Sandra Bullock doesn't have anything to wear to the Oscars yet! Only 3 weeks to go but the Oscar nominated star of The Blind Side isn't worried. "I'm oddly relaxed about it because it's someone else's job to finely stitch thousands of pleats and jewels into a gorgeous thing to make you look divine." She also admitted that she would be comfortable in anything, "Look, if I have to wear a trash bag I'll belt it with rhinestones and I'll make it work, but I'm not panicking for some reason because there are so many beautiful things out there that someone will not want to wear and I'll get it." via Contact Music

-Lady Gaga always knows what to wear to get people to turn their heads. She was the night's big winner at the Brit Awards winning Best International Female, International Album for The Fame and International Breakthrough Act. She also won the evening for most outrageous dress costume as usual.










-Britney Spears is the poster girl for Candie's and they just released their brand new campaign for 2010. She was shot by famed photographers Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger and Terry Richardson. She looks amazing and released a statement saying, "Annie, Mark and Terry are three of the biggest photographers in the world. I am honored to be working with them for my Candie's Only at Kohl's ads. It was an amazing shoot, and I know my fans are going to love the cool images." See the rest of the shoot after the jump...

Last night, a great tragedy occured...

Yes Candy Eaters, tragedy struck last night. The event that will surely make people look back and shake their heads in sorrow and shock occurred in Hollywood at the Golden Globe Awards. The award for Best Motion Picture Drama was given to AVATAR. Go ahead. Take a minute to absorb the shock...

I know what you're thinking: "Why was AVATAR even nominated in that category?" Well it shouldn't have been. It's not a drama. It is an action / adventure kids movie. If you go to McDonald's and buy a Happy Meal, an AVATAR toy will come with it. Large portions of the film (probably most of the film) are completely animated, why was it nominated against live action dramas? Would Polar Express be nominated against The Hours? AVATAR should have been put in the Best Animated Film category against Up where it belongs (although it would not have won - Up was much better than AVATAR).

AVATAR is already the second highest grossing film of all time, and could ultimately beat Titanic for that title. It is an exciting adventure with imaginative art direction. The story is old and recycled, yet still entertaining. The biggest pull of the film (and the main reason it worked so well) was the life-like 3D. It's a story that relies too heavily on a gimmick. Up was a 3D movie, but if you saw it in 2D, it was still amazing. That's because it had a good script, a lot of heart and good performances. AVATAR doesn't have any of those things, which is why everyone says that you have to see it in 3D. Does that mean it is a bad film? Certainly not. Does it mean it has the merits to deserve an artistic award for Best Motion Picture Drama? Certainly not. The only awards it deserves are People's Choice and technical awards.

What is the winning this award going to do for AVATAR? Nothing. What is awarding AVATAR going to do for the Golden Globes? Everything. Last year both the Globes and the Oscars received major backlash for not honoring The Dark Knight as Best Picture (not even nominating it). With viewership dwindling every year, awards shows are going out of style. By nominating and awarding the most popular movie of the year, they get people interested in watching so they can charge more money for ads, etc. Who suffers? The films that actually deserve the award. Four stellar films were nominated against AVATAR: Precious, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and Up in the Air. A win for any of these films would have been a major boost in sales, and a potential expansion to markets that would not otherwise get to see it. It would definitely put the film in the limelight and stir up interest. They all lost out on that opportunity. 

Ultimately, this was just the Golden Globes. No awards show can compare to the Oscars. But many times the Oscars follow Globe trending, and if that is the case this  year, the movie industry may never be the same. You make some pictures for global appeal. They are not made for artistic merit. They are made to make money and have cool shots of flying animals. Then you make some movies to go the long haul. You put time and energy and thought into the script. You cast actors who can handle the emotional terrain of the story. You have a director who can handle guiding a movie through it's intense journey. And ultimately, you may be rewarded with critical acclaim and awards which could translate to higher sales and future opportunities.

Dear Academy voters, NOT for your consideration: AVATAR

See the full list of winners from last night's Golden Globes ceremony after the jump...

The movies of 2009 in 7 minutes...

One editor with a lot of time and a lot of love for movies made this sweet video. It combines most of the over 300 movie releases of 2009 into 7 minutes. Yummy!

"Moon" left out of the Oscar race by Sony...

It looks like Sony Pictures Classics has decided to not back Moon in the Oscar race this season. The film is directed by Duncan Jones and stars Sam Rockwell. Despite getting good critical praise and nominations / wins at many top film festivals (British Independent Film Awards, Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Athens International Film Festival), it was not included in the studio's awards season screener copies that were sent out to academy voters. This nearly ensures that the film will not be nominated for any Academy Awards. Why isn't the studio standing behind the film? Duncan Jones (the director) would like to know, and he has taken to his Twitter page to find out. Last Wednesday he tweets about the decision to not include the film: "we have more than asked.. we’ve knocked heads. they have chosen the films they are backing & we are not in their plans. They say it costs too much for our little film as they would need to be water-marked copies as our DVD isnt out yet in the US.”

The DVD argument by the studio has not satisfied the protest though, and Hollywood heavy-weights Neil Gaiman and Jon Favreau have both joined in offering their praise and support for the film. A petition has also been started to get Sam Rockwell a Best Actor nomination (you can sign it HERE). It currently has over 3,000 signatures. 

The hope is that solid work gets awarded, but when you have such big-budget films and studios, smaller independent features can only hope for their production studio to promote them. In this case, unless Sony Pictures Classics changes its mind, Moon is destined to be another film passed over for blockbusters like Avatar (nominated for Best Picture Drama Golden Globe).

Full list of Golden Globe Noms...

The Golden Globe nominations came out this morning and showed an unusually wide array of nominees. The only clear runners were Up in the Air and Nine with 6 and 5 nominations respectively. Others at the top of the list were Avatar and Inglorious Basterds each with 4, and Precious with 3 including a best picture drama nod for each. Avatar is a surprise nod as the reviews have been very mixed for the technologically advanced film. Sandra Bullock was nominated in both the Best Actress Comedy and Best Actress Drama categories for her work in The Proposal and The Blind Side. Other actors with two nods are Matt Damon (Invictus and The Informant!), and Meryl Streep (twice in Best Actress Comedy for Julie & Julia and It's Complicated) - really, do these nominations even mean anything to her anymore? Other crowd favorites with nominations are The Hangover, (500) Days of Summer, and Up. TV nominations for Mad Men, True Blood, Glee and 30 Rock.

The awards season is heating up and with so many contenders, the Oscars this year could go to anyone, especially now that they upped the Best Picture category to 10 films. See the full list of Golden Globe nominees after the jump...

Oscar buzz for Sandra Bullock...

2009 was a good year for Sandra Bullock. No. Make that a great year for Sandra Bullock (if you don't count All About Steve). The Proposal was this summer's surprise hit earning $164 million at the US box office to become her highest grossing film ever. Now, just four months later she is on track to beat that record. Her current film, The Blind Side took in $34 million in its opening weekend which is now her biggest opening ever. It has also surprised everyone by taking in $105 million in just 2 weeks and by holding the number 2 spot at the box office 2 weeks in a row.

On top of garnering a huge chunk of change at the box office, Sandra Bullock's performance in The Blind Side is getting both fan and critical acclaim. The film currently has a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes with most critics who don't like the film still praising Bullock's performance (NY Times) and the NY Post even went so far as to claim it was better than "Precious" saying:  "All Bullock's films promote an edifying sense of human experience -- she has an instinct for what people like to see -- and that gift makes 'The Blind Side' the perfect, God-sent antidote to 'Precious'." While that claim is highly debatable, one thing is certain, Sandra Bullock is gathering the winds that could take her to an Oscar nomination.

Warner (the distributor of the film) was not planning on promoting Bullock's performance for the Oscar race but they may be changing their minds soon. The studio distribution president just told The Wrap entertainment news site that he hopes "this movie makes the Academy's top 10 (for the best picture race), and Sandy Bullock gets a look, too."

It was also just announced that Sandra Bullock will be awarded the prestigious American Riviera Award at the 25th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Past winners include Mickey Rourke, Forrest Whitaker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The festival's director released this statement: “Bullock’s career-capping performance in ‘The Blind Side’ encompasses everything we have loved about her since the early '90s, from the deft physical comedy in ‘While You Were Sleeping,’ to the mettle of her role in the Academy Award-winning ‘Crash.’ What a most perfect time to salute this enduring movie star’s lengthy career.”

WEZ Sez: The Blind Side: The movie is predictable and a bit over sensationalized at times, but Sandra Bullock will make you forgive every imperfection. Her performance is Oscar nomination worthy.

 What did you think of The Blind Side? Is Sandra Bullock's performance good enough for the Oscars? Comment below...

Oscar Treats...

"PRECIOUS"

Oscar season is beginning to heat up and possible Best Picture nominee, "Precious" had a limited release this past weekend taking in an amazing 1.2million from only 18 screens in 4 cities. The film is a must-see Oscar Treat with award worthy performances all around...

The film deals with the heavy issues of rape, incest, illiteracy, obesity and more with an able hand, and although these topics are quite difficult to watch, you never dis-engage and ultimately hope of a better life prevails, making this a true American story. It will have you thinking and talking about it for days after viewing.

Oscar Watch:
- Gabourey Sidibe as Precious (Best Actress) This no-name breakout star has never been in a movie before. She went to an open call for the film in the Bronx and the rest is history. Her depth of spirit, grace and authenticity carry the film. It would not have worked without her.

- Mo'Nique as her mother Mary (Best Supporting Actress) This is a true a once-in-a-lifetime role for Mo'Nique. Her performance is so full of rage, spite and hate that you will never forget it. She is nearly guaranteed the Oscar.

Other stand-outs include Mariah Carey (Glitter-free), Lenny Kravitz and Sherri Shepherd.

WEZ Sez: "Precious" - Sugar Rush

Nicole Kidman will be loving Gwyneth Paltrow...

Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow will star in the 2011 film "The Danish Girl" together. Kidman, who is also producing the film, will play the first man to undergo a sex change operation (in 1931). Paltrow will play his (her) wife. It seems both ladies are eyeing another golden statue to place on the shelf...

And the Hosting Position for this year's Oscar's goes to...

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin

Two old white men... just what the show needed to get the ratings up. And to add insult to annoyance, the two actors have a movie coming out that they are starring in together. Everyone don't roll your eyes at once now. The gay shimmer from naming Adam Shankman as the show's producer has worn off. Now instead of singing and dancing we're going to get awkward comedy. Granted, they're both very funny men, it's just a different tune from last year's host Hugh Jackman (who did an outstanding job).

What do you think about Martin and Baldwin hosting the Oscars next year? Excited? Scared? Bored?

WEZ Sez: Next year's Oscar hosts - Tart (**) - Should've been Neil Patrick Harris

Little Miss Sunshine to play Little Miss Water...

"Little Miss Sunshine" Oscar nominee, Abigail Breslin will headline the 50th Anniversary revival of "Miracle Worker" on Broadway in the Spring. This will be the 13 year old's Broadway debut but not the first time she realizes what "water" is.

Upon the casting announcement, an instant out-cry was heard from the community of deaf and blind actors. A spokesman said that the producers should have seriously considered a disabled actor first. The producer for the show shot back by saying "I would consider it financially irresponsible to approach a major revival without making a serious effort to get a star." while also saying he would consider a disabled actor for the understudy.

The original production starred Patty Duke who also went on to star in the film (and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress - 1962). Patty Duke is not deaf or blind, but was pretending to be when she played the role.

But seriously, is the casting of Breslin being blown out of proportion or is the Producer out of line? When a play or movie is about a War Veteran should it actually be played by an actor who fought in a war? When the lead role is supposed to have red hair, is it ethically wrong to have a blond actress in a red wig?

Hmmmmm....

Abigail Breslin doesn't care though... she's going to be on Broadway, ya'll! Here's hoping she does better than this actress...

The Oscars go gay...

The Oscars are going full on GAY! After the success of Hugh Jackman's song and dance hosting last year, the Academy has tapped Adam Shankman to produce the 2010 awards show. No host has been named as of yet. The HAIRSPRAY Movie director has had a big week as he was also named the director of the just-optioned stage to screen musical, ROCK OF AGES.

Adam Shankman is a dancer / choreographer that is now also a director / producer having directed BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, A WALK TO REMEMBER, and BEDTIME STORIES. You can see his choreography in countless films including cartoons ANASTASIA and ANTZ. He is also a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance".

Adam Shankman was last involved in the Oscars in '89, "The last time I was on the show was as a dancer, and to come back as a producer is such an unbelievable honor."

With this song and dance man behind the wheel, it seems the Oscar this year could go to the gays. Perhaps the Academy is admitting that the only people who still watch the show are the gays, or more likely, they are hoping that the HAIRSPRAY movie's audience will tune in. Fingers crossed for a ratings rebound - the Oscars are the Gay Super Bowl after all...

Here's the Prop 8 Musical that Adam Shankman directed for Funny or Die. If the Oscars are anything like this, it's going to be Gay-tastic!

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black