tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106733572024-02-07T07:25:05.789-05:00Rethink.Looking from a fresh perspective.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-72470957113541671712015-06-17T12:21:00.000-04:002015-06-17T12:29:21.473-04:00Remembering TV nights with my mom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LMVSXt7L5oXbquunHRKaqbHMtb6E-K7ymG-rc4WEEAheLSjLLn1aeB-hdIlngQO2xMITYHeondPGDExPnl9LOzsP60lqhyvvN1srRdP29mZgYgIqcVWjvz8Bd1Pwvx2hMnAs/s1600/Mom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LMVSXt7L5oXbquunHRKaqbHMtb6E-K7ymG-rc4WEEAheLSjLLn1aeB-hdIlngQO2xMITYHeondPGDExPnl9LOzsP60lqhyvvN1srRdP29mZgYgIqcVWjvz8Bd1Pwvx2hMnAs/s320/Mom2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Today, my mom would have turned 56.<br />
<br />
My mom was one of my heroes, my best friend and my TV buddy.<br />
<br />
We loved to watch Game Show Network, Disney Channel and “Desperate Housewives” together.<br />
<br />
That night, before she went to sleep and never woke up, she came to my room and asked if I wanted to watch “Housewives.” It was a Sunday night. <br />
<br />
It was March 6, 2011, and I was busy in my room, wrapping up Oscars coverage for the season, after returning from Hollywood earlier in the week.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb62o3aCN23Wr66dtJPmjHIMMADscVGwtOI0CsJCKcfb8JPHJ1AwKA0sDCviXA5R4SXbuxehJSN08kcLaqcyIyRAYkxPAmtHOLFEKYJI1Y-n7TzRnUYOFi_CsNJ3POe2MGK2-/s1600/Mom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb62o3aCN23Wr66dtJPmjHIMMADscVGwtOI0CsJCKcfb8JPHJ1AwKA0sDCviXA5R4SXbuxehJSN08kcLaqcyIyRAYkxPAmtHOLFEKYJI1Y-n7TzRnUYOFi_CsNJ3POe2MGK2-/s320/Mom3.jpg" width="320" /></a>That may have been the last interaction I had with her. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLeD1hYM8efkwJ34QE82ETXiE6cydT6oxL9l00pcfq-M1g9gv1uahFsGSmUDwrfRYDz01UVLYmP2iqLzl69MDZB5yPsvWY58Fjg9lRaPkcvckCFb_NGmPMFXlJeXIek-NrcjT/s1600/Mom4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLeD1hYM8efkwJ34QE82ETXiE6cydT6oxL9l00pcfq-M1g9gv1uahFsGSmUDwrfRYDz01UVLYmP2iqLzl69MDZB5yPsvWY58Fjg9lRaPkcvckCFb_NGmPMFXlJeXIek-NrcjT/s320/Mom4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I remember that night like it was yesterday. Her fingers on my slightly opened door, peeking her head into my cramped quarters.<br />
<br />
That smile on her face. <br />
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Maybe I should have joined her for one last TV binge. <br />
<br />
A year or two later, I would find a photo on my phone from that night — the last meal she made. <br />
<br />
It was nothing special: chicken with noodles. <br />
<br />
My mom never had a penchant for making fine cuisine. <br />
<br />
As a divorced working mom raising two kids and going back to school for her MBA, she didn’t spend time creating fanciful meals in the kitchen. <br />
<br />
But that’s okay with me. That meant more TV time with me and the cats. <br />
<br />
On this day, I remember my best friend. I mourn her lose everyday with my sister. But we remember the good times. <br />
<br />
I’ll always remember the time we spent in front of the television. <br />
<br />
To this day, when I watch a good episode from a TV show, I want to tell my mom about it. <br />
<br />
Maybe she’s already seen it up in heaven. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Mom! </span></b>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-22697379468060560712015-04-28T15:00:00.001-04:002015-04-29T00:58:40.506-04:00Tears of gratitude<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of me taken in my office after our 10th anniversary celebration. </td></tr>
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It hit me about 11 hours later.<br />
<br />
I cried tears of gratitude mixed with grief, overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and messages about the closing of <i>Toledo Free Press</i>. <br />
<br />
You never quite realize the impact something has had until it's gone or taken away.<br />
<br />
Reading a colleague's comment on a photo I posted started the tears. <br />
<br />
It was about 2 a.m., 11 hours after Publisher Tom Pounds' <a href="http://bit.ly/tfpclosing" target="_blank">statement</a> went live that his Toledo weekly would be closing its door after 10 years. <br />
<br />
Word traveled quickly. I heard from friends around the country — Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee and Nashville — within an hour of the story going live. I had yet to share anything via social media myself. <br />
<br />
I have been with <i>Toledo Free Press</i> for nearly all of my professional career. Since graduating college in 2009, I worked a few odd jobs until I was hired full-time in May 2010. It was joining the <i>Free Press </i>that showed me how important it is to be a part of something in your community.<br />
<br />
I love the <i>Free Press</i>. I love what it stands for. And I love that it is about the community.<br />
<br />
Yes, I may have lost my job, but more importantly Toledo lost one of its voices, an advocate for many and an outlet for those who were not given one before. <br />
<br />
What meant a lot to me was that we were a newspaper that was informing Toledo with unbiased news and independent reporting that was important for the residents of Toledo to read.<br />
<br />
We saw the city as a glass half-full city.<br />
<br />
Seeing all of the posts and comments on social media only solidified this, bringing those tears of gratitude that we helped change a community for the better. <br />
<br />
I love the <i>Free Press</i>. I will always love and be proud of what our team accomplished throughout its 10 years. <br />
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A photo posted by James A. Molnar (@thegoldknight) on <time datetime="2015-04-28T00:39:15+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 27, 2015 at 5:39pm PDT</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-79226440917660196512014-04-16T11:21:00.000-04:002014-04-16T11:21:03.544-04:00A must-see documentary <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3eFVTN477IGkK33w0whBm6MP4BYLm10bYkCb-MKdqyooGZv_uZOvGviwkk8E75zyZhj1fNInrznYYAY_zIweaQHa6Vcahwzntg9MixOHxpsV9pEjvZ7RGGb03YnqLdxFWddJ3w/s1600/MattShepardFriendMine_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3eFVTN477IGkK33w0whBm6MP4BYLm10bYkCb-MKdqyooGZv_uZOvGviwkk8E75zyZhj1fNInrznYYAY_zIweaQHa6Vcahwzntg9MixOHxpsV9pEjvZ7RGGb03YnqLdxFWddJ3w/s1600/MattShepardFriendMine_400.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I recently attended the Cleveland International Film Festival and a documentary really stuck with me.<br />
<br />
"<b>Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine</b>" is a well-done documentary chronicling the life of Shepard, whom the world met after his 1998 beating and murder when he was a gay 21-year-old college student.<br />
<br />
Director Michele Josue said the purpose of the film was to share his story and his humanity and to show that Matt wasn't perfect and he wasn't a martyr.<br />
<br />
What the movie does right is trying to show Shepard as a flawed young man, instead of a gay rights icon. <br />
<br />
Matt struggled with his identity, but also his place in the world. His teachers and mentors interviewed in the documentary echo this struggle.<br />
<br />
Everyone struggles with their identity and place in the world. Having Josue focus on this and the backstory of Matt's life really made the film better.<br />
<br />
If you get a chance to see the documentary, go! I'm hoping to bring a screening to Toledo. Watch my Twitter for updates. <br />
<br />
Read my full review over on <a href="http://www.thegoldknight.com/2014/04/ciff-review-matt-shepard-is-friend-of-mine.html" target="_blank">The Gold Knight</a>.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-56501229824914457112013-04-17T14:20:00.000-04:002013-04-17T14:20:07.774-04:00In Memoriam: Thank you for the journey, Roger Ebert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Each week, my routine was the same. After watching the latest offering from Hollywood on the big screen, I composed my thoughts and analysis and wrote my review. Then, I read what <b>Roger Ebert</b> thought about the movie. <br />
<br />
This final step was important to me — week in and week out. If Ebert loved a movie I disliked, why was that? He always provided great commentary and gave me reasons to admire a certain film more or dislike it more. He has always been an important validator for me. It’s like we had a conversation about a movie each week. <br />
<br />
And now I’m on my own. <br />
<br />
I was devastated to hear about the loss of Ebert. He taught us all about movies and life. <i>The New York Times</i> called him “<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/movies/roger-ebert-film-critic-dies.html" target="_blank">A Critic for the Common Man</a>.”<br />
<br />
He was the consummate writer, journalist, film critic and human being. <br />
<br />
Ebert just celebrated his 46th year as film critic for the <i>Chicago Sun-Times</i>. I always admired Ebert’s ability to draw on his life experiences when reviewing a film. <br />
<br />
The first line of his 2011 memoir, “<b>Life Itself</b>,” reads, “I was born inside the movie of my life.” And while the movie has now ended, Ebert’s archive will give future generations of filmgoers a chance to read his incredible, award-winning oeuvre, which includes more than 7,200 reviews. <br />
<br />
Ebert published a final blog post April 2, writing that his cancer had returned but he was still watching movies and would continue writing. His final words in the post: “So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.”<br />
<br />
Thank you, Roger, for allowing us to be on the journey with you. You’ll never be forgotten. And we will see you at the movies.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-40205822479197789042012-12-08T14:00:00.000-05:002014-04-16T11:06:13.540-04:00Experiencing life’s fragile natureIt's easy to forget how fragile life can be — how fragile we all are.<br />
<br />
I was reminded of this fragility earlier this year when I spent a few days in the hospital. There were so many things wrong with me, my family doctor thought it best to admit me. <br />
<br />
After three full days of blood tests, an IV in each arm, a CT scan and beaucoup medication I was able to head home. I had been diagnosed with a fever, viral infection, strep throat and swollen ankles and joints — the latter of which the disease specialist called <b>post-streptococcal reactive arthritis</b>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://360.io/uurmLZ" width="540"></iframe><br />
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For months after my stay at the hospital, which came at the beginning of May, I had to see a rheumatologist, a joint doctor. From there, I had more tests — my blood toxicity still high — and even had to see a cardiologist to make sure my heart was not affected from the strep. <br />
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I was on multiple medications for weeks, steroids almost until Labor Day. <br />
<br />
The fragility of my body was tested. My ecosystem had been compromised. It wasn't until later in the summer when I finally felt back to normal. <br />
<br />
This experience was the first real wake up call to the fragility of life — my life. <br />
<br />
I am thankful for each day I wake up. I have been trying to eat, exercise and sleep better. You only get one body, one life. <br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hospital viewing</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HSSYlRGIY4EMKjagllJVUz2OVSeJrbg9C5VAoQSrqK0kVUD62TFy8HXjK5KaTBbvwfYiqQAUkNBBrSSU4bEfvmhQHmWtXI-maNlhll-Vrw8caMJQ-JMukw9K8goieHyn24hV/s1600/James-Instagram-Scrubs-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HSSYlRGIY4EMKjagllJVUz2OVSeJrbg9C5VAoQSrqK0kVUD62TFy8HXjK5KaTBbvwfYiqQAUkNBBrSSU4bEfvmhQHmWtXI-maNlhll-Vrw8caMJQ-JMukw9K8goieHyn24hV/s320/James-Instagram-Scrubs-blog.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>The next time I really witnessed the fragility of life was just after Thanksgiving. <br />
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On Nov. 30, my friends and I were given a rare opportunity to witness a surgery or two at Toledo Hospital. <br />
<br />
We had bid on an auction item at a charity event over the summer. The item included viewing a surgery and having a steak dinner with the surgeon. We decided to pool our money and bid on the item, which we would find out later that we won. <br />
<br />
What this thoracic surgeon and his team of trained specialists do is nothing short of miraculous. Each day, they put on scrubs and save lives. I can't say the same about my life; I design newspapers and write movie reviews. <br />
<br />
My friends and I checked in and got scrubbed up around noon on that Friday. Our first surgery we witnessed was a "routine" pacemaker battery change. <br />
<br />
The pacemaker expert took us aside and talked to us about pacemakers, how they work and how important they are. <br />
<br />
After the surgeon made his small incision below the woman's left collarbone, he showed us the pacemaker and prepared to replace it with a fully charged unit. After he disconnected the old one, we noticed the woman's heart rate flatline on the moment. This was only for a few seconds but we all looked cautiously at one another. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim and I. </td></tr>
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Having masks on, all we could see of each other were enlarged eyes, not quite sure what to make of this flatlined heartbeat. <br />
<br />
The doctor them plugged in the new pacemaker and the heartbeat continued up again. He later told us, he would only have been concerned if the heartbeat didn't return within a minute or two. <br />
<br />
He then sewed her up and the first surgery was done. <br />
<br />
Since we hadn't really eaten that day yet, the doctor told us to go eat and return for the next surgery, which he promised was less routine. <br />
<br />
Three more friends would join us after lunch, but it was very neat for the three of us (Tim, Sue and I) to eat in scrubs in the cafeteria. We felt cool and important — an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" was playing in my head. <br />
<br />
The next surgery would be life-changing for the woman receive and, quite honestly, for us watching it. <br />
<br />
She had been a smart for more than half a century and a cancerous, baseball-sized tumor had developed in her left lower lung lobe. After showing us the CT scan results, one of the doctors told us the woman may need her whole left lung removed in order to stop the cancer. Although, he said he hoped they only need to remove the lower lobe. <br />
<br />
After waiting for a while for the patient to be knocked out, the surgeon returned and it was time to open her up. <br />
<br />
Before he started, the surgeon selected what music he wanted to listen to during surgeon. He went to Pandora radio and select the "Cher radio" channel. My friends and I smiled at one another.<br />
<br />
For the next hour, we watched. The surgeon went in through the woman's left side — through her ribs. He pulled them apart and put a clamp to hold them open. He began cutting and his search for the tumor began. <br />
<br />
With each step, he explained to the six of us what he was doing and why. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVKpYg5nr3dDru4KPaqYkXYdHiCeFwiAAC6_7xdeGZYPVL8XMod22k2LgMt6RJeh-gko2x4p6bIZmjJRddRZaVwgb5pfp6Z0R6j2LucnAR8roZNmzVZcy1VxCy1VmbA7Zflv6/s1600/Boys-and-scrubs-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVKpYg5nr3dDru4KPaqYkXYdHiCeFwiAAC6_7xdeGZYPVL8XMod22k2LgMt6RJeh-gko2x4p6bIZmjJRddRZaVwgb5pfp6Z0R6j2LucnAR8roZNmzVZcy1VxCy1VmbA7Zflv6/s640/Boys-and-scrubs-blog.jpg" height="381" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The doctors are ready</b>: My friends Cliff, Luke, Spencer, Tim and I. </td></tr>
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After much investigation, he and the other doctor assisting him decided the whole lung would need to be removed. <br />
<br />
The anesthesiologist pulled us aside at one point and explained everything she and her aid were doing, including their use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube to control the woman's breathing and anesthesia. (<a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1999993-overview#a1" target="_blank">Read more about the tube.</a>)<br />
<br />
Once the lung was removed, the surgeon allowed us to look into the cavity and pointed out various parts of the body, including some of the arteries. <br />
<br />
He then stitched her up, as Cher continued to serenade in the background. <br />
<br />
That was our experience. The room of specialists still could not understand who we were — just non-medical observers for the day. They mostly have students or other specialists in the room observing. <br />
<br />
I'd like to thank that surgeon, his team and the hospital for letting us witness something truly miraculous. It was a normal day for them, but an extraordinary day for us. <br />
<br />
I hope that woman realizes her fragility and the second chance she has been given. We all don't get a second chance. <br />
<br />
I'm thankful for every day I wake up. And I'm trying to make sure I don't visit the hospital again as a patient any time soon.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-88968536456135642832011-02-24T20:00:00.002-05:002012-05-16T15:24:18.959-04:00My predictions: 83rd Academy Awards (updated)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvWBSEB8x8sSP0z5GMUj91_tt6rSRdJVvzaKvXMyCleRudwRq2wp0AHKF5Y99lbfd5l4R9mU0g_9I-pSdEvtPZ2usVxM1z_op5q6ooCT0FtTSF55XPOkyX70cOaWkx-b-1jCT/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_predictions.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="374" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445143539411963650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvWBSEB8x8sSP0z5GMUj91_tt6rSRdJVvzaKvXMyCleRudwRq2wp0AHKF5Y99lbfd5l4R9mU0g_9I-pSdEvtPZ2usVxM1z_op5q6ooCT0FtTSF55XPOkyX70cOaWkx-b-1jCT/s640/OscarCountdown_predictions.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="540" /></a><br />
I have been following the race to Oscar Sunday since <a href="http://www.thegoldknight.com/2010/09/let-prognosticating-begin.html">September</a>, and I'm ready to make my predictions in all 24 categories. (Update: I correctly predicted <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">15/24 categories, a 60 percent accuracy</span></b>, down slightly from last year.)<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Picture</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
“Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers<br />
“The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers<br />
“Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers<br />
“The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">“The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers</span></b><br />
“127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers<br />
“The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers<br />
“Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer<br />
“True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers<br />
“Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Director</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech")<br />
Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan” )<br />
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (“True Grit”)<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>David Fincher (“The Social Network”)</s></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Tom Hooper (“The King's Speech”)</span></b><br />
David O. Russell (“The Fighter”)<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Actor in a Leading Role </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
Javier Bardem ("Biutiful")<br />
Jeff Bridges ("True Grit")<br />
Jesse Eisenberg ("The Social Network")<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Colin Firth ("The King's Speech")</span></b><br />
James Franco ("127 Hours")<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Actress in a Leading Role </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
Annette Bening ("The Kids Are All Right")<br />
Nicole Kidman ("Rabbit Hole")<br />
Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone")<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Natalie Portman ("Black Swan")</span></b><br />
Michelle Williams (“Blue Valentine”)<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Actor in a Supporting Role </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Christian Bale ("The Fighter")</span></b><br />
John Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone”)<br />
Jeremy Renner (“The Town”)<br />
Mark Ruffalo ("The Kids Are All Right")<br />
Geoffrey Rush ("The King's Speech")<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Actress in a Supporting Role </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
Amy Adams ("The Fighter")<br />
Helena Bonham Carter ("The King's Speech")<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Melissa Leo ("The Fighter")</span></b><br />
Hailee Steinfeld ("True Grit")<br />
Jacki Weaver (“Animal Kingdom”)<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Original Screenplay </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"Another Year," Mike Leigh<br />
"The Fighter," Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson, Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson<br />
"Inception," Christopher Nolan<br />
"The Kids Are All Right," Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumber<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"The King's Speech," David Seidler</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Adapted Screenplay </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"127 Hours," Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"The Social Network," Aaron Sorkin</span></b><br />
"Toy Story 3," Michael Arndt, Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich<br />
"True Grit," Joel Coen & Ethan Coen<br />
"Winter’s Bone," Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Animated Feature </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"How to Train Your Dragon," Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois<br />
"The Illusionist," Sylvain Chomet<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"Toy Story 3," Lee Unkrich</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Art Direction</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"Alice in Wonderland," Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara</span></b><br />
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I," Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan<br />
"Inception," Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>"The King's Speech," Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr</s></span></b><br />
"True Grit," Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Cinematography</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
"Black Swan," Matthew Libatique<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"Inception," Wally Pfister</span></b><br />
"The King's Speech," Danny Cohen<br />
"The Social Network," Jeff Cronenweth<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>"True Grit," Roger Deakins</s></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Costume Design</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"Alice in Wonderland," Colleen Atwood</span></b><br />
"I Am Love," Antonella Cannarozzi<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>"The King's Speech," Jenny Beavan</s></span></b><br />
"The Tempest," Sandy Powell<br />
"True Grit," Mary Zophres<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Documentary Feature </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"Exit Through the Gift Shop," Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz<br />
"Gasland," Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">“Inside Job,” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs</span></b><br />
"Restrepo," Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger<br />
"Waste Land," Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Documentary Short </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"Killing in the Name", Jed Rothstein<br />
"Poster Girl", Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"Strangers No More", Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon</span></b><br />
"Sun Come Up," Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger<br />
"The Warriors of Qiugang," Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Film Editing </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"Black Swan," Andrew Weisblum<br />
"The Fighter," Pamela Martin<br />
"The King's Speech," Tariq Anwar<br />
"127 Hours," Jon Harris<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"The Social Network," Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Foreign Language Film</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
“Biutiful” (Mexico)<br />
“Dogtooth”(Greece)<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">“In a Better World” (Denmark)</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>“Incendies” (Canada)</s></span></b><br />
“Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” (Algeria)<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Makeup </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"Barney's Version," Adrien Morot<br />
"The Way Back," Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"The Wolfman," Rick Baker and Dave Elsey </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Music — Original Score</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
"How to Train Your Dragon," John Powell<br />
"Inception," Hans Zimmer <br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>"The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat</s></span></b><br />
"127 Hours," A.R. Rahman <br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"The Social Network," Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Music — Original Song </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
"Coming Home" from "Country Strong," Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey<br />
"I See the Light" from "Tangled," Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater<br />
"If I Rise" from "127 Hours," Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3," Music and Lyric by Randy Newman</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Short Film Animated</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>"Day & Night," Teddy Newton</s></span></b><br />
"The Gruffalo," Jakob Schuh and Max Lang<br />
"Let’s Pollute," Geefwee Boedoe<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"The Lost Thing," Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann</span></b><br />
"Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)," Bastien Dubois<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Short Film Live Action</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
"The Confession," Tanel Toom<br />
"The Crush," Michael Creagh<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"God of Love," Luke Matheny</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>"Na Wewe," Ivan Goldschmidt</s></span></b><br />
"Wish 143," Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Sound Editing </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">“Inception,” Richard King</span></b><br />
“Toy Story 3,” Tom Myers and Michael Silvers<br />
“TRON: Legacy,” Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague<br />
“True Grit,” Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey<br />
“Unstoppable,” Mark P. Stoeckinger<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Sound Mixing </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">X Incorrect</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">“Inception,” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick</span></b><br />
“The King's Speech,” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley<br />
“Salt,” Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><s>“The Social Network,” Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten</s></span></b><br />
“True Grit,” Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Visual Effects </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">√ Correct</span></span></span></b><br />
“Alice in Wonderland,” Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips<br />
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi<br />
“Hereafter,” Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky and Joe Farrell<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">“Inception,” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb</span></b><br />
“Iron Man 2,” Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick<br />
<br />
The 83rd Academy Awards were televised live on ABC Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. PT. The Red Carpet arrivals show, <a href="http://www.thegoldknight.com/2011/01/analysis-expanded-red-carpet-show.html">extended to 90 minutes</a>, began at 4 p.m. PT. <br />
<br />
Here is a <a href="http://issuu.com/jmolnar/docs/tgk_oscarsballot2011">downloadable ballot</a>, thanks to <a href="http://www.thegoldknight.com/">The Gold Knight Blog</a>, my <a href="http://jmolnar.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-new-adventure-gold-knight-blog.html">new adventure</a> I started last fall because I just couldn't contain all of my excitement about the Academy Awards. I was in Los Angeles for the Oscars this year and am sharing all of my experiences on Facebook, Twitter and TGK.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-84880954810782235252011-01-16T17:30:00.004-05:002012-05-16T15:25:30.670-04:00My predictions: Golden Globe Awards 2011 (updated)<i>Originally posted on </i><a href="http://www.thegoldknight.com/2011/01/golden-globes-2011-predictions.html"><i>The Gold Knight Blog</i></a><br />
<br />
It's time for bacchanalian party of the year: the Golden Globe Awards. Ricky Gervais is the ringleader for the second year of an evening where celebrities eat and, notably, drink — an awards show without the required gravitas. Last year Gervais was the first host in 15 years for the show by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.<br />
<br />
Here are my predictions (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>marked in blue <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">and winners highlighted **</span></b></span>) for the <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">68th Annual Golden Globe Awards</span></b></i>. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments.<br />
<br />
Josh Duhamel, Katie Holmes and Blair Underwood announced the noms <a href="http://www.thegoldknight.com/2010/12/golden-globes-nominations-round-one.html">in December</a>. "The King's Speech" received seven nominations, "The Fighter" and "The Social Network" six.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGw_qIo0vpRJ_Ek5mayCdUESITjSo_E_Q7ZwZbqPK4_DnZVfqEmBZcboGt6wNPznnYk3K5Lv74cDzWNoDUCUzYzP_9yZDBZyC5sywDUJQAWdFqYGfvCvtzqRq9GfAi-fcvJnkbPA/s1600/GoldenGlobesSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGw_qIo0vpRJ_Ek5mayCdUESITjSo_E_Q7ZwZbqPK4_DnZVfqEmBZcboGt6wNPznnYk3K5Lv74cDzWNoDUCUzYzP_9yZDBZyC5sywDUJQAWdFqYGfvCvtzqRq9GfAi-fcvJnkbPA/s640/GoldenGlobesSide.jpg" width="141" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Film </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">11/14</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Best Motion Picture – Drama</b><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"Black Swan" #2</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"The Fighter"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"Inception"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"The King’s Speech" #3</span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"The Social Network" **</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical</b><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"Alice In Wonderland"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"Burlesque"</span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"The Kids Are All Right" **</span></span></b></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"Red"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"The Tourist"</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – Drama</b><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Halle Berry, "Frankie And Alice"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter’s Bone" #2</span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Natalie Portman, "Black Swan" **</span></span></b></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama</b><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network" #3</span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Colin Firth, "The King’s Speech" **</span></span></b></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">James Franco, "127 Hours" #2</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Ryan Gosling, "Blue Valentine"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Mark Wahlberg, "The Fighter"</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right" **</span></span></b></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Anne Hathaway, "Love And Other Drugs"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Angelina Jolie, "The Tourist"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Julianne Moore, "The Kids Are All Right"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Emma Stone, "Easy A"</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Johnny Depp, "Alice In Wonderland"</span></b></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Johnny Depp, "The Tourist"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Paul Giamatti, "Barney’s Version" **</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Jake Gyllenhaal, "Love And Other Drugs" #2</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Kevin Spacey, "Casino Jack"</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Amy Adams, "The Fighter" #3</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Helena Bonham Carter, "The King’s Speech"</span></b></li>
<li>Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Melissa Leo, "The Fighter" #2 **</span></li>
<li>Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Christian Bale, "The Fighter" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Michael Douglas, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"</li>
<li>Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network" #2</li>
<li>Jeremy Renner, "The Town"</li>
<li>Geoffrey Rush, "The King’s Speech" #3</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Director – Motion Picture</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">David Fincher, "The Social Network" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Tom Hooper, "The King’s Speech"</li>
<li>Christopher Nolan, "Inception" #2</li>
<li>David O. Russell, "The Fighter"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Screenplay</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Christopher Nolan, “Inception” #2</li>
<li>Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, “The Kids Are All Right”</li>
<li>David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”</li>
<li>Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, “127 Hours”</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network” **</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Foreign Language Film</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">“Biutiful” (Mexico/Spain)</span></b></li>
<li>“The Concert” (France)</li>
<li>“The Edge” (Russia)</li>
<li>“I Am Love” (Italy) #2</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">“In a Better World” (Denmark) **</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Animated Feature</b><br />
<ul>
<li>“Despicable Me”</li>
<li>“How to Train Your Dragon”</li>
<li>“The Illusionist”</li>
<li>“Tangled”</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">“Toy Story 3” **</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Original Score</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Danny Elfman, “Alice in Wonderland”</li>
<li>Hans Zimmer, “Inception” #2</li>
<li>Alexandre Desplat, “The King’s Speech” #2</li>
<li>A.R. Rahman, “127 Hours”</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “The Social Network” **</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Original Song</b><br />
<ul>
<li>“Bound to You” from “Burlesque”</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from “Burlesque” **</span></span></b></li>
<li>“There’s a Place for Us” from “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”</li>
<li>“Coming Home” from “Country Strong”</li>
<li>“I See the Light” from “Tangled” #2</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Television <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">8/11</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Best Television Series, Drama</b><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"Boardwalk Empire" #2 **</span></li>
<li>"Dexter"</li>
<li>"The Good Wife" #3</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"Mad Men"</span></b></li>
<li>"The Walking Dead"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Televison Series, Comedy or Musical</b><br />
<ul>
<li>"30 Rock"</li>
<li>"The Big Bang Theory"</li>
<li>"The Big C"</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"Glee" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>"Modern Family" #2</li>
<li>"Nurse Jackie"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" #3</li>
<li>Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"</li>
<li>Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" #2</li>
<li>Hugh Laurie, "House"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"</span></b></li>
<li>Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" #2</li>
<li>Piper Perabo, "Covert Affairs"</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Katey Sagal, "Sons of Anarchy" **</span></li>
<li>Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" #2</li>
<li>Steve Carell, "The Office" #3</li>
<li>Thomas Jane, "Hung"</li>
<li>Matthew Morrison, "Glee"</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Jim Parsons, "Big Bang Theory" **</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<b>Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Toni Collette, "United States of Tara" #3</li>
<li>Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"</li>
<li>Tina Fey, "30 Rock"</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Laura Linney, "The Big C" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Lea Michelle, "Glee" #2</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"The Pacific"</span></b></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">"Carlos" #2 **</span></li>
<li>"Temple Grandin"</li>
<li>"You Don't Know Jack"</li>
<li>"The Pillars of the Earth"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Dennis Quaid, "The Special Relationship" #2</li>
<li>Ian McShane, "The Pillars of the Earth"</li>
<li>Édgar Ramírez, "Carlos"</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Al Pacino, "You Don't Know Jack" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Idris Elba, "Luther"</li>
</ul>
<b>Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Claire Danes, "Temple Grandin" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Hayley Atwell, "The Pillars of the Earth"</li>
<li>Jennifer Love Hewitt, "The Client List"</li>
<li>Judi Dench, "Return to Cranford"</li>
<li>Romola Gara, "Emma"</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television</b></div>
<ul>
<li>Hope Davis, "Special Relationship"</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Jane Lynch, "Glee" **</span></span></b></li>
<li>Kelly McDonald, "Boardwalk Empire"</li>
<li>Julia Stiles, "Dexter"</li>
<li>Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family" #2</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television</b></div>
<ul>
<li>Scott Caan, "Hawaii Five-0"</li>
<li>Chris Noth, "The Good Wife"</li>
<li>David Straithairn, "Temple Grandin" #2</li>
<li>Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family" #2</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Chris Colfer, "Glee" **</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
The Golden Globe Awards will air LIVE coast-to-coast on Sunday, January 16, 2011, on NBC from 5:00-8:00 p.m. (PST) /8:00-11:00 p.m. (EST) from the Beverly Hilton Hotel with host Ricky Gervais. (Originally posted: Jan. 16, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. ET)James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-58996807587536167632011-01-15T00:01:00.016-05:002012-05-16T15:24:55.777-04:00My new adventure: The Gold Knight Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dVO0dRYESrcXQnF95V4NzwHL7PsJ3ghvEzEYfzgJYvk4Ismvk8EJy7boenazJqCNXgO6xMnka5eBEzHmMGnYnpH0T_1nyzN6ddguUSQal8L5kj1Q-h_eTqvOVuVQLDH0As0WdQ/s1600/NewAddress_Crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dVO0dRYESrcXQnF95V4NzwHL7PsJ3ghvEzEYfzgJYvk4Ismvk8EJy7boenazJqCNXgO6xMnka5eBEzHmMGnYnpH0T_1nyzN6ddguUSQal8L5kj1Q-h_eTqvOVuVQLDH0As0WdQ/s1600/NewAddress_Crop.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I love the Oscars. I wear that on my sleeves. Over the last two years, I've used this blog, Rethink., as a place for covering the Academy Awards. Last fall, I decided that I needed a better (and more marketable) place for doing so. And thus was born <a href="http://thegoldknight.com/">The Gold Knight blog</a>. <br />
<br />
Over the course of the last few months, I've really taken off with my new blog. I have multiple correspondents — some of whom are close friends. I write a column for <i>Toledo Free Press Star</i>. I applied for Oscar Sunday press credentials and, while I did not get them, I have made some inroads with the Academy.<br />
<br />
I am very proud of where I have been thus far and am exciting about where I am going. I'll be in Los Angeles for the Oscars this year. While I might not have full access, I have a few (legal) tricks up my sleeve.<br />
<br />
To all my friends, thank you for all of the support and I appreciate your help and guidance.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-1209969468094572092010-10-03T19:00:00.006-04:002012-05-16T15:28:03.918-04:00Review and Commentary: ‘The Social Network’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96tSrYk3zI599HZw1kVOFnjBc-1UhKaIj2bjj5CNKSCl_FQ-it6uyJfaMaR-PJy-JP_K10Qn2FXuGXL2BSvuKcYxqlk63tvKVLeQa7JfMQ_xVwYNgusFgqznIlhUHaTRB0m3gmw/s1600/TheSocialNetwork_pc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96tSrYk3zI599HZw1kVOFnjBc-1UhKaIj2bjj5CNKSCl_FQ-it6uyJfaMaR-PJy-JP_K10Qn2FXuGXL2BSvuKcYxqlk63tvKVLeQa7JfMQ_xVwYNgusFgqznIlhUHaTRB0m3gmw/s1600/TheSocialNetwork_pc.jpg" /></a></div>
I experienced college with Facebook. Toward the end of my senior year in high school, I heard about a website for social networking. Sure, we had MySpace in high school, but there was an air of mystery to it that was unappealing. Who was I really talking to? And, no one can forget those obnoxious and hideous profile pages. Who could find anything in that barrage of flashing images, clashing colors and obtrusive music that started with every new profile seen. I could not handle it.<br />
<br />
And then there was the promise of “The Facebook.” At the time, you needed an e-mail account ending with .edu or you would not be able to join. The profiles clearly stated the member’s name at the top of the page. The design was clean and made finding information easy. And, most of all, no music randomly starting. This was the place for me.<br />
<br />
As soon as I received my university e-mail address, I registered for an account. Since that day in the summer of 2005, my life has been cataloged via Facebook (and since 2008, Twitter).<br />
<br />
This is my backstory as I began to watch “<b style="color: #444444;">The Social Network</b>.” Suffice it to say I was already invested to this film even before taking my seat in the theater because my college career was influenced so heavily by Facebook. But my attachment to the website didn’t mean I was going to<br />
love the film.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Aaron Sorkin</b>, who wrote the screenplay, explained on “<b style="color: #444444;">The View</b>” that your opinion of the movie will not be swayed about whether or not you like Facebook.<br />
<br />
“<i style="color: blue;">If you hate Facebook, if you love Facebook, if you’ve never heard of Facebook, that doesn’t matter. The movie isn’t about Facebook</i>,” Sorkin said to the ladies.<br />
<br />
And part of that statement is true. Sorkin’s screenplay focuses on the story <i>around</i> Facebook, not necessarily the website itself.<br />
<br />
Sorkin and director <b>David Fincher</b> understand “The Social Network” is about the characters, not the website.<br />
<br />
The movie is jam-packed with impeccable, smart dialogue thanks to Sorkin, the brain behind great TV series “<b>The West Wing</b>” and “<b>Sports Night</b>.” The audience experiences a high-energy, fast-paced story that keeps its attention.<br />
<br />
Comparing “Network” to other excellent films from this year — such as “<b>Inception</b>” and “<b>Toy Story 3</b>” — is difficult because the genres are vastly different. There is, however, one similarity: they are all impressive films.<br />
<br />
The editing, cinematography and soundtrack work very well together, keeping “The Social Network” exciting and intense. Viewers are immersed into the film and are suddenly invested in the story. It is hard to watch passively. Eyes are glued to the screen for the two-hour running time, making for an atypical movie-going experience.<br />
<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10673357#editor/target=post;postID=120996946809457209"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-wWSXcZAxX9UCPB7QBcKHWFybCAgkOos9dN3nYr_LKiILzg25sV8tckIdwhuVcXtl9vAoWm9MQIV4eSlDQmdWhC1QT5sMIAoEcV9GlhDtAC5Bdt43RSBk48p2SzhfJP_jFXUw/s1600/RatingStar_Full.jpg" /></a><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10673357#editor/target=post;postID=120996946809457209"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-wWSXcZAxX9UCPB7QBcKHWFybCAgkOos9dN3nYr_LKiILzg25sV8tckIdwhuVcXtl9vAoWm9MQIV4eSlDQmdWhC1QT5sMIAoEcV9GlhDtAC5Bdt43RSBk48p2SzhfJP_jFXUw/s1600/RatingStar_Full.jpg" /></a><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10673357#editor/target=post;postID=120996946809457209"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-wWSXcZAxX9UCPB7QBcKHWFybCAgkOos9dN3nYr_LKiILzg25sV8tckIdwhuVcXtl9vAoWm9MQIV4eSlDQmdWhC1QT5sMIAoEcV9GlhDtAC5Bdt43RSBk48p2SzhfJP_jFXUw/s1600/RatingStar_Full.jpg" /></a><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10673357#editor/target=post;postID=120996946809457209"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-wWSXcZAxX9UCPB7QBcKHWFybCAgkOos9dN3nYr_LKiILzg25sV8tckIdwhuVcXtl9vAoWm9MQIV4eSlDQmdWhC1QT5sMIAoEcV9GlhDtAC5Bdt43RSBk48p2SzhfJP_jFXUw/s1600/RatingStar_Full.jpg" /></a><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10673357#editor/target=post;postID=120996946809457209"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-wWSXcZAxX9UCPB7QBcKHWFybCAgkOos9dN3nYr_LKiILzg25sV8tckIdwhuVcXtl9vAoWm9MQIV4eSlDQmdWhC1QT5sMIAoEcV9GlhDtAC5Bdt43RSBk48p2SzhfJP_jFXUw/s1600/RatingStar_Full.jpg" /></a> / 5<br />
<br />
<b>Trailer</b>:<br />
<object height="250" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/53OUHupfqws?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999">
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<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
</param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always">
</param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/53OUHupfqws?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="250"></embed></object>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-11392565187099986472010-08-28T18:00:00.002-04:002012-05-16T15:28:54.050-04:00My official 2010 Emmys Predictions (Updated)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSKxzz3kdeAa8gk2HstfG3bs1al5saZMJ51S50AwTxWOeam0PntDyOoJJJDfrGvZkBNWse9IPfgi5p_tr6OGSH9iGog5QQc7hpLdKpG6rSgTukj-WsWFtu63-cOxU9KVCRQcg/s1600/Emmys_predictions.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="280" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510587851072042914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSKxzz3kdeAa8gk2HstfG3bs1al5saZMJ51S50AwTxWOeam0PntDyOoJJJDfrGvZkBNWse9IPfgi5p_tr6OGSH9iGog5QQc7hpLdKpG6rSgTukj-WsWFtu63-cOxU9KVCRQcg/s640/Emmys_predictions.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="540" /></a>Normally, I don't play the predictions game with the Emmys, but I was asked what shows I thought would win so here we are... There are 19 categories to be determined, split between series, specials and acting.<br />
<br />
Typically, the Academy Awards has many predictors for whom will win. With the Emmys, it's a little more up in the air. With that said, here are <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;">my official predictions for the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards </span></b>(winners marked ***):<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SERIES, DRAMA</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 60% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Breaking Bad (AMC)</li>
<li>Dexter (Showtime)</li>
<li>The Good Wife (CBS) – Ultimate dark horse, but unlikely</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Lost (ABC)</span> – Winner; last season to be nominated, spectacular show</li>
<li><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Mad Men (AMC)</span> – Cast won Emmy; won last two years; I'm not a fan</li>
<li>True Blood (HBO)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SERIES, COMEDY</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 85% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)</li>
<li>Glee (FOX) – Dark horse, but hour-long shows fail to win category</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Modern Family (ABC)</span> – Critics favorite and likely winner</li>
<li>Nurse Jackie (Showtime)</li>
<li>The Office (NBC) </li>
<li>30 Rock (NBC)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 95% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Amazing Race (CBS) </span>– Won since category was created; No. 8? Yep.</li>
<li>American Idol (FOX) – Probably Not</li>
<li>Dancing with the Stars (ABC)</li>
<li>Project Runway (Lifetime)</li>
<li>***Top Chef (Bravo)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">MADE FOR TV MOVIE</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 60% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Endgame (PBS)</li>
<li>Georgia O’Keeffe (Lifetime)</li>
<li>Moon Shot (History)</li>
<li>The Special Relationship (HBO)</li>
<li><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Temple Grandin (HBO) </span>– Dark horse; movie about autism</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)</span> – Winner; movie about Jack Kevorkian; STRONG acting</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">MINISERIES</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 95% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li style="color: #990000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***The Pacific (HBO)<span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"> – Cast won for miniseries</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></li>
<li>Return to Cranford (PBS)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 75% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000066;">The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)</span> </span>– Already won writing award; the favorite</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>– Won the last seven years; No. 8? Probably.</li>
<li>Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)</li>
<li>Saturday Night Live (NBC) – A great season, but competition is stiff</li>
<li>The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC) – What a great win this would be!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 60% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Bill Maher “...But I’m Not Wrong” (HBO)</li>
<li>Hope for Haiti Now:A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief (MTV) – Great show</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)</span> – Won last year</li>
<li>Robin Williams: Weapons Of Self Destruction (HBO)</li>
<li>The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)</li>
<li>Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me (HBO)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">ACTOR, DRAMA</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 50% Confidence – Almost a toss-up</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights – Nope</li>
<li>***Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad – Won twice, but probably not a third</li>
<li>Matthew Fox, Lost – Would be great, but not likely</li>
<li><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Michael C. Hall, Dexter</span> – Critics (and my friends) love him and the show</li>
<li>Jon Hamm, Mad Men – Could win</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Hugh Laurie, House</span> – For the finale alone... the ultimate winner</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">ACTRESS, DRAMA</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 98% Confidence!</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights</li>
<li>Glenn Close, Damages</li>
<li>Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU</li>
<li>January Jones, Mad Men</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife</span> – Hands down; won the Golden Globe</li>
<li>***Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer – Maybe, but very unlikely</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">ACTOR, COMEDY</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 85% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock – Won the last two times, but another win? Maybe</li>
<li>Steve Carell, The Office</li>
<li>Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm</li>
<li>Matthew Morrison, Glee – Possible, but unlikely</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory</span> – Easy choice</li>
<li>Tony Shalhoub, Monk – Maybe, but probably not</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">ACTRESS, COMEDY</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 75% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Toni Collette, United States Of Tara – Won last year, maybe again</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie</span> – Time has come</li>
<li>Tina Fey, 30 Rock – Maybe but unlikely</li>
<li>Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures Of Old Christine</li>
<li>Lea Michele, Glee – Competition is fierce so no chance</li>
<li>Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 80% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Andre Braugher, Men Of A Certain Age</li>
<li>Michael Emerson, Lost – Already won, but could win again</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Terry O’Quinn, Lost</span> – Already won, but WHAT A PERFORMANCE!!</li>
<li>***Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad – A possibility</li>
<li>Martin Short, Damages</li>
<li>John Slattery, Mad Men</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 60% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Christine Baranski, The Good Wife</span> – Perfect performances week to week</li>
<li>Rose Byrne, Damages</li>
<li>Sharon Gless, Burn Notice – If Men vs. Wife splits all votes, a likely win</li>
<li>Christina Hendricks, Mad Men – Could win the Men vs. Wife contest</li>
<li>Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men – Did I mention I don't watch this show? Maybe</li>
<li>***Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife – No showcase episode</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 75% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Ty Burrell, Modern Family</li>
<li>Chris Colfer, Glee – Great actor, but not his year</li>
<li>Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men – No</li>
<li>Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family</li>
<li>Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother – Would be great</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family</span> – Someone from this show will win; he's winning</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 95% Confidence!</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Julie Bowen, Modern Family</li>
<li>Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Jane Lynch, Glee</span> – Hands down, but a "Modern Family" lady could ride the wave...</li>
<li>Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men</li>
<li>Sofia Vergara, Modern Family</li>
<li>Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">LEAD ACTOR, MINISERIES/MOVIE</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 85% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Jeff Bridges, A Dog Year – Too soon for an Emmy after an Oscar? Maybe, but it's possible</li>
<li>Ian McKellen, The Prisoner – BIG NAME, GREAT ACTOR, but unlikely</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Al Pacino, You Don't Know Jack </span>– Most likely</li>
<li>Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship</li>
<li>Michael Sheen, The Special Relationship</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">LEAD ACTRESS, MINISERIES/MOVIE</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 90% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Joan Allen, Georgia O’Keeffe – Probably not...</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">***Claire Danes, Temple Grandin</span> – Most likely in very tough competition</li>
<li>Hope Davis, The Special Relationship</li>
<li>Judi Dench, Return to Cranford – Maybe</li>
<li>Maggie Smith, Capturing Mary</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPPORTING ACTOR, MINISERIES/MOVIE</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 65% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Michael Gambon, Emma – Could win</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">John Goodman, You Don't Know Jack </span>– Probably will win</li>
<li>Jonathan Pryce, Return to Cranford</li>
<li><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Patrick Stewart, Hamlet </span>– Dark horse</li>
<li>***David Strathairn, Temple Grandin</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MINISERIES/MOVIE</span> <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"> – 65% Confidence</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Kathy Bates, Alice</li>
<li>Catherine O'Hara, Temple Grandin – Possible, but unlikely</li>
<li>***Julia Ormond, Temple Grandin</li>
<li><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Susan Sarandon, You Don't Know Jack</span> – Great acting, could pull out a win</li>
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Brenda Vaccaro, You Don't Know Jack</span> – Most likely winner, but competitive category</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">UPDATE:</span></b></i> Successfully predicted 10/19 categories.<br />
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Need to print out a ballot? I've got you covered:<br />
<div>
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</div>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-76700783019710837432010-06-24T06:00:00.003-04:002012-05-16T15:11:08.926-04:00Oscar® (Way Early!) Update: A January Telecast? And producers named.Four months ahead of last year's announcement, the <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">83rd Annual Academy Awards now has telecast producers</span>. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced late Tuesday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yL8vWRgjHahfnHe1ooxFfMWZ_IeKDTO88GdA6BRLa6irOyTgL-YF6lSaXMFgCGbNmy_G9313rheh9mYpzBkC1pfmsIJaexrzK2YAl8nSqEQ1twVr037jYGJ4URa51uZd3mqa/s1600/Headshot_Cohen.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486194065794725986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yL8vWRgjHahfnHe1ooxFfMWZ_IeKDTO88GdA6BRLa6irOyTgL-YF6lSaXMFgCGbNmy_G9313rheh9mYpzBkC1pfmsIJaexrzK2YAl8nSqEQ1twVr037jYGJ4URa51uZd3mqa/s400/Headshot_Cohen.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 185px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 153px;" /></a>Academy Award-winning producer <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Bruce Cohen</span> and television producer/director <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Don Mischer</span> will produce the ceremony. Mischer will pull double duty as telecast director as well. While being involved with the telecast is a first for the gentlemen, they worked together on the Academy’s first Governors Awards last November.<br />
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“<span style="color: red; font-style: italic;">I fell in love with the Oscars as an eight-year-old kid</span>, the night my grandmothers let me stay up to watch for the first time,” Cohen was quoted in the press release. "We hope to create a show that celebrates what people around the world love about the Academy Awards year after year – the excitement, glamour and tradition of Oscar Night itself.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAXEJ1xPPQXpV6icVDqYW9-FCu0n5OtfLDDFEJx80iMbDS3z8irrKdY3dTqIl39PnVVWO4x1mN9WolnGx0WhJYWXwkcssGQXkKezMqFOWkoPfOJw2y90iWWh536L-ynlQPk36/s1600/Headshot_Mischer.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486194473484366418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAXEJ1xPPQXpV6icVDqYW9-FCu0n5OtfLDDFEJx80iMbDS3z8irrKdY3dTqIl39PnVVWO4x1mN9WolnGx0WhJYWXwkcssGQXkKezMqFOWkoPfOJw2y90iWWh536L-ynlQPk36/s400/Headshot_Mischer.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 185px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 153px;" /></a>Cohen won an Academy Award in 1999, with Dan Jinks, as a producer of Best Picture “American Beauty.” Both he and Jinks were nominated again in 2008 for "Milk" in the Best Picture category. Cohen’s other producing credits include “Big Fish” (2003) and “Pushing Daisies."<br />
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Mischer’s producer/director credits include several Super Bowl halftime shows and the opening ceremonies of both Winter and Summer Olympic Games. He has earned 15 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.<br />
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But that's not what had people talking... buzz was circulating about a Board of Governors meeting Tuesday night where members discussed <span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">moving up the February ceremony date to a Sunday in January</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6FmGU-NjjKh7sHqmsMgP6dHLsn04tlOjh4gA7lgeeEhzzj23UEUwYz6ddiVH-lsiLLFoDj8JxJuVemFXhtBlGkQ3GdC7WEAhmu-bRC_iUWFWQ1frXToTnDhzKtE9kkYO8Uac/s1600-h/OscarUpdate.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351307757649427682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6FmGU-NjjKh7sHqmsMgP6dHLsn04tlOjh4gA7lgeeEhzzj23UEUwYz6ddiVH-lsiLLFoDj8JxJuVemFXhtBlGkQ3GdC7WEAhmu-bRC_iUWFWQ1frXToTnDhzKtE9kkYO8Uac/s400/OscarUpdate.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 275px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>Since the 2004 ceremony, the Academy moved the normally late March telecast up a month, to February. The 2006 and 2010 ceremonies were held on the first Sundays of March because of the Winter Olympics. Other February ceremonies were held in 1935 and 1939 through 1942.<br />
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Wednesday afternoon, Academy officials confirmed <span style="font-weight: bold;">the change would <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> affect next year's ceremony</span>, according to <a href="http://oscar-watch.ew.com/2010/06/23/oscars-academy-awards-moving-january/">Entertainment Weekly</a>.<br />
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"The discussion was about the possibility of doing so no sooner than the 84th Academy Awards, to be held in 2012," an Academy spokeswoman said. "The date for the next Oscar telecast, the 83rd, has already been announced and is firm: February 27, 2011.”<br />
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We're <span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">248 days out from the Oscar Sunday</span>. Keep it here for complete news and links about all things Oscar.<br />
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Now, go back to enjoying your summer.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Links:</span><br />
• <a href="http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/06/mixed-reaction-to-new-date-for-oscars-.html">Read a roundup of reactions</a> from Hollywood insiders.<br />
• From the Hollywood Reporter: "<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ieb17ddd24af6bab69514a4ebaea4e293?pn=1">Holding Oscars earlier would be tricky</a>"<br />
• Hollywood scoop queen Nikki Finke <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/exclusive-oscar-shocker-academy-board-of-governors-tonight-discussed-moving-awards-to-january/">first reported the possible move</a> late Tuesday.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-86256284424145785912010-03-07T07:00:00.002-05:002012-05-16T15:22:15.697-04:00mtvU correspondent team announced<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMlgv-qrqm7XzhGG1EkaErifk1TobaLnHhannBD6avLzmzRVdIfDmpCoGpWKuzEHvtl2KpdH7hUHkRY6bVwqCLIvCXI4NCZ4iSTf3rNWEDmn7h2xPTZmnx7DGndLzLQxcOnpl/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_mtvu.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445778111496766722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMlgv-qrqm7XzhGG1EkaErifk1TobaLnHhannBD6avLzmzRVdIfDmpCoGpWKuzEHvtl2KpdH7hUHkRY6bVwqCLIvCXI4NCZ4iSTf3rNWEDmn7h2xPTZmnx7DGndLzLQxcOnpl/s400/OscarCountdown_mtvu.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 286px;" /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">And the spot on the Red Carpet goes to…</span></i> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;"><i>Terry Stackhouse and Zach Cusson</i></span></b>. The team from Emerson College are the Grand Prize winners for the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">2010 Oscar Correspondent Contest</span></b>, sponsored by the Academy and mtvU.<br />
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The coveted prize among college journalists gives students <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">a spot on the Red Carpet </span></b>for the 82nd Academy Awards and access to the backstage press rooms and the Governors Ball.<br />
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“Terry and Zach made a strong impression among the online voters and with the Academy and mtvU selection panel. We are certain they will represent college journalists well,” said Academy President Tom Sherak, quoted in the press release. “They are in for an experience like no other — the energy and excitement on Oscar’s® red carpet is truly unique.”<br />
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Stackhouse and Cusson battled for votes on mtvU's Web site after winning a spot to compete against 10 semifinalists, which was whittled down to three mid-February.<br />
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The <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">winning team was selected through a second round of online voting and evaluation by a panel composed of Academy staff and journalists</span></i> — Jess Cagle from Entertainment Weekly, Sandy Cohen from the Associated Press and Bonnie Tiegel from “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider,” according to a press release.<br />
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<b>Runners-up Rachel Berry and Christian Hartnett of Chapman University</b>, and <b>Brandon McCaskill and Kiarra Hart of Florida A&M University</b> earned bleacher seats along the Red Carpet, where they will be able to watch guest arrivals. They also will receive admission to the 2010 Bleacher Fan Oscar Viewing Party, sponsored by Kodak, at the El Capitan Theatre. Kodak provided each of the finalists with a Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera and a Kodak EasyShare M381 digital camera.<br />
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Rethink. will be watching for coverage from the Emerson team and will share any videos we find.<br />
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Link: <a href="http://www.mtvu.com/on-campus/oscars-student-correspondent-red-carpet-contest-2010/">Emerson team video</a>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-54677347898932292122010-03-06T22:00:00.001-05:002010-03-06T22:00:00.132-05:00Video update: Meeting OscarSpending the weekend in Chicago, I enjoyed visiting the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">"Meet the Oscars" exhibition</span></b> at the Shops At Northbridge downtown, Michigan Avenue. Thanks to Kodak, you can take a picture with an Oscar statuette and have a copy printed in about a minute and go online later to download a digital copy.<br /><br />If you are visiting Chicago, the exhibition closes Sunday at 6 p.m. CT. If you are in New York City, there is another "Meet the Oscars" location at The Shops at Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center, running until Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.<br /><br />This was my second time holding an Oscar statuette and was just as enjoyable as the first. The 8.5-pound statuette never ceases to amaze. It's shiny, smooth and solid. And the most coveted and well-known trophy in the world.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uPXOrD084lI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uPXOrD084lI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br />Link to video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPXOrD084lI">Oscar Update: Meet Oscar - March 7, 2010</a><br /><br /><br />Sunday night we will learn the lucky few who are given their very own golden statuette.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-23580853838659280322010-03-05T09:00:00.003-05:002012-05-16T13:18:15.293-04:00My official 2010 Oscar Predictions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvWBSEB8x8sSP0z5GMUj91_tt6rSRdJVvzaKvXMyCleRudwRq2wp0AHKF5Y99lbfd5l4R9mU0g_9I-pSdEvtPZ2usVxM1z_op5q6ooCT0FtTSF55XPOkyX70cOaWkx-b-1jCT/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_predictions.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445143539411963650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvWBSEB8x8sSP0z5GMUj91_tt6rSRdJVvzaKvXMyCleRudwRq2wp0AHKF5Y99lbfd5l4R9mU0g_9I-pSdEvtPZ2usVxM1z_op5q6ooCT0FtTSF55XPOkyX70cOaWkx-b-1jCT/s400/OscarCountdown_predictions.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 277px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Are you in need of some help for your office Oscar pool? Well have no fear because here are </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my official predicitions for the 82nd Academy Awards</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. My average rate of success is 75% and above. And I will note each category with a percentage of confidence to give you the best shot at winning your pool.<br /><br />This year, let me say, could be very predictable or very unpredictable. I'm going with both.<br /></span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best motion picture of the year</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 50%</span></i></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox) — MY MONEY'S ON "AVATAR," BUT I'M JADED; I DID NOT LIKE "HURT LOCKER" AS MUCH</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: #33ccff; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment) — ALL THE PREDICTORS ARE THERE, BUT I CANNOT PUT THIS DOWN FOR THE WIN</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“A Serious Man” (Focus Features)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up” (Walt Disney)</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: silver; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) — THE DARK HORSE; COULD STEAL THE NIGHT</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Performance by an actor in a leading role</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 90%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight) — DONE</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">George Clooney in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Colin Firth in “A Single Man” (The Weinstein Company)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Performance by an actor in a supporting role</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 99.99%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Matt Damon in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company) — THE SUREST WINNER OF THE NIGHT / EASIEST PREDICTION</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Performance by an actress in a leading role</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 75%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.) — HANDS DOWN!</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Performance by an actress in a supporting role</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 85%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Penélope Cruz in “Nine” (The Weinstein Company)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate) — HANDS DOWN WINNER!!!!!</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best animated feature film of the year</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 90%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Coraline” (Focus Features), Henry Selick</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Wes Anderson</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Secret of Kells” (GKIDS), Tomm Moore</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up” (Walt Disney), Pete Docter — PIXAR IS ALWAYS A GREAT CHOICE!!</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in art direction</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 70%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in cinematography</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 75%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore — WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FILM!</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in costume design</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 90%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Bright Star” (Apparition), Janet Patterson</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Coco before Chanel” (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Sandy Powell — WITHOUT A DOUBT!</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in directing</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 90%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Cameron</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Kathryn Bigelow — HANDS DOWN WINNER!</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Quentin Tarantino</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Lee Daniels</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Jason Reitman</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best documentary feature</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 75%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Burma VJ” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Cove” (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Food, Inc.” (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”, A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Which Way Home”, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best documentary short subject</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> —60%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan, Province”, A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”, A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”, A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Music by Prudence”, An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Rabbit à la Berlin” (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in film editing</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 60%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron — MAYBE "HURT LOCKER" IF IT WINS BEST PICTURE</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Julian Clarke</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best foreign language film of the year</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 75%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Ajami” (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Milk of Sorrow”, A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogrà/Vela Production, Peru</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Un Prophète” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany — I WANT "UN PROPHÈTE" BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in makeup</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 70%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Il Divo” (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 75%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Horner</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Alexandre Desplat</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Giacchino — AMAZING SCORE!!</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 75%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Take It All” from “Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best animated short film</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 60%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“French Roast” , A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)”, A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Logorama” (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“A Matter of Loaf and Death” (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best live action short film</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 60%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Door” (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Instead of Abracadabra”, (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Kavi”, A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Miracle Fish”, (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The New Tenants”, A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in sound editing</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 55%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in sound mixing</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 55%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Achievement in visual effects</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 90%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones — NO QUESTION</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing) , Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Adapted screenplay</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 90%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“In the Loop” (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) , Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner — NO QUESTION</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Original screenplay</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> — 65%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: yellow; margin-left: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino — MAYBE HURT LOCKER, BUT QUENTIN'S GETTING THE BUZZ</span></span></b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“A Serious Man” (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Up” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well there you have it. On Sunday, we'll see how accurate I am. Bon chance! </span></span></span></div>
</span></div>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-80883730074306811702010-03-04T12:00:00.007-05:002010-03-04T12:01:53.536-05:00Rolling out the Red Carpet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM-S-y4pFzSq1BXxlBOIyvxYhRI2un-S89pF3OAXPJZdtoWcRc43xdC82AuleSEXGqSIYpvmI8WwUw_QbCfW16GObVO3PeP1n3vja8GPXhYjWMZllKkk8P9-xknjL9SxcmO6e/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_prep.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM-S-y4pFzSq1BXxlBOIyvxYhRI2un-S89pF3OAXPJZdtoWcRc43xdC82AuleSEXGqSIYpvmI8WwUw_QbCfW16GObVO3PeP1n3vja8GPXhYjWMZllKkk8P9-xknjL9SxcmO6e/s400/OscarCountdown_prep.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444815398203778834" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">We are now three days out from the 82nd Academy Awards.</span></b> Rethink. has been waiting for this day all year and counting down.<br /><br />In Hollywood, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">preparations are being made outside the Kodak Theatre</span></b> along the stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, between N. Orange Drive and N. Highland Avenue. In the photo above, you can see a team of workers rolling out the Red Carpet Wednesday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOwAoI9jXnAd6k79TI2TvrXCnnMb_cxa5UEeKXgovVEeWfIN3U1UJEUh2NefVw1zp4ggXQfOFwz4877p07J8QQLkUnYzcq6t2d32NDwQy6L0VAgs7a6u96u6czv_6l5EL_xof/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_03.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOwAoI9jXnAd6k79TI2TvrXCnnMb_cxa5UEeKXgovVEeWfIN3U1UJEUh2NefVw1zp4ggXQfOFwz4877p07J8QQLkUnYzcq6t2d32NDwQy6L0VAgs7a6u96u6czv_6l5EL_xof/s400/OscarCountdown_03.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444815668626565970" /></a>You'll notice <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">the tents are back this year</span></b> after a one-year hiatus. If it's going to rain, awards show organizers know tents are a MUST, especially organizers for <a href="http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/why-the-golden-globes-didnt-tent-against-the-rain.html">this year's Golden Globes</a>. After deciding not to pitch the tents earlier that day, celebrities found themselves hovering under umbrellas and "Precious" star <b>Gabourey Sidibe</b> was among the many sporting dresses with splotches of rain. Suffice it to say it was not pretty.<br /><br />When I was a bleacher fan in 2008, my friends and I were bummed by the tents and inclement weather; however, we enjoyed not getting wet.<br /><br />Right now, <a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/USCA1225?dayNum=3">Weather.com is forecasting</a> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">party cloudy skies with highs in the low 60s</span></i>; the chance of rain at 20 percent. Expect a decision to be made by early Sunday morning about keeping the tents up .James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-60829837883772768512010-02-22T09:00:00.001-05:002010-02-22T09:01:18.154-05:00Video update: Nominees luncheon, set preview and buzzIn the week's video update, James discusses the latest news and buzz, including the Nominees Luncheon, the mtvU correspondent contest, this year's Oscar set by David Rockwell, the latest rumors and what the WGA Awards means for "Avatar." You do not want to miss this update.<br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bonNTxJ7vRk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bonNTxJ7vRk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br />Link to video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bonNTxJ7vRk">Oscar Update, Feb. 21, 2010</a>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-2600236736472400932010-02-18T06:00:00.014-05:002012-05-16T15:30:13.534-04:00Details: AMC Best Picture Showcase<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9LYtv3iC71qUjFMKHpWghRSA60bYjm5vzP383Ue6X9g6e5V9T022evNk_7o14W6419-MrZfyz9pMaT8yvMUERFSiMKd3KzUE03-3H-RlsFyit7wljwLi7gipRgtrq4EsumlQ/s1600-h/AMCbps.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="346" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439461919097973954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9LYtv3iC71qUjFMKHpWghRSA60bYjm5vzP383Ue6X9g6e5V9T022evNk_7o14W6419-MrZfyz9pMaT8yvMUERFSiMKd3KzUE03-3H-RlsFyit7wljwLi7gipRgtrq4EsumlQ/s640/AMCbps.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="540" /></a>Last week, Rethink. reported <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><i>AMC is continuing its Best Picture Showcase</i></span></b>, even with twice as many nominated films. I've attended the event two times now and it's pretty fun, if you don't mind sitting in a theatre all day.<br />
<br />
Whether you'd like to take a full dose of Oscar nominees all at once or two doses a week apart, AMC Theatres is the place to be. This year fans went to AMC's Web site and more than 86,000 votes were cast for the schedule of the ten Best Picture nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards, according to AMC.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">10 in a row</span></b></span><br />
In you'd like to spend 24 hours straight inside a warm and cozy theatre (not as cozy after three hours), grab the caffeine and head to theatres in New York City (Empire 25), Los Angeles (Block 30), Chicago (River East 21), Washington D.C. (Georgetown 14) or Toronto (Whitby 24). Watch the 10 nominees back-to-back in a cinematic marathon, starting at 12:01 a.m.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Date: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saturday, March 6, 2010<br />
</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Price:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> $45<br />
</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amenities: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Free large popcorn with unlimited refills for the day<br />
</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cool factor:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> If you survive, you can brag and have people think you're a crazy fanatic<br />
</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Special effects: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"AVATAR" and "UP" will be shown in 3D in all 24-hour locations<br />
</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Schedule:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
12:01AM: AVATAR 3D<br />
3:00AM: A Serious Man<br />
5:00AM: Up 3D<br />
7:00AM: District 9<br />
9:10AM: Inglourious Basterds<br />
12:00PM: The Blind Side<br />
2:30PM: An Education<br />
4:30PM: Precious<br />
7:00PM: Up in the Air<br />
9:30PM: The Hurt Locker</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<i>Note: 24-hour Marathon theatres will not host the two-day events</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">5 and 5</span></b></span><br />
For those not as ambitious or near the marathon locations, a more practical option is seeing five of the nominated films in the two Saturdays leading up to the big ceremony on March 7. And you can choose to attend both Saturdays or choose one that best fits your schedule.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Date:</b> Saturdays, Feb. 27 and March 6<br />
<b>Prices:</b><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">TWO-DAY PASS</span></b></i><br />
$60: Online price available at AMCEntertainment.com/BPS<br />
$50: Box office price available only at participating AMC Best Picture Showcase theatres<br />
$40: MovieWatcher® member price available only at participating AMC Best Picture Showcase theatre box offices<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><i>ONE-DAY PASS</i></b></span><br />
$30: Online and box office price available either at AMCEntertainment.com/BPS or at participating theatres<br />
$25: MovieWatcher member price available only at participating AMC Best Picture Showcase theatre box offices<br />
<b>Schedule:</b> Depending on your theatre (</span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.amcentertainment.com/uploadedFiles/Programs_and_Offers/Programs/AMC%20Best%20Picture%20Showcase%20Schedule%20for%20February%2027.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Feb. 27 PDF</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.amcentertainment.com/uploadedFiles/Programs_and_Offers/Programs/AMC%20Best%20Picture%20Showcase%20Schedule%20for%20March%206.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">March 6 PDF</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">).</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here are schedules for a few theatres:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;">Chicago, 600 North Michigan 9, Cantera 30, South Barrington 30</span>; Detroit, Forum 30; <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;">Milwaukee, Mayfair 18</span>; Washington, D.C., Hoffman Center 22 and Potomac 18:<br />
Feb. 27: 10:30AM: AVATAR (3D), 1:45PM: Up, 3:45PM: A Serious Man, 6:30PM: Precious, 8:45PM: District 9<br />
March 6: 10:30AM: An Education, 12:45PM: The Hurt Locker, 3:15PM: Up in the Air, 6:00PM: The Blind Side, 8:30PM: Inglourious Basterds<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;">Chicago, Crestwood 18, Yorktown 17, Yorktown Premium 1</span>; Cincinnati, Newport on the Levee 20; <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;">Columbus, Easton 30</span>; Detroit, Livonia 20; Washington, D.C., Rio 18, Shirlington 7<br />
Feb. 27: 10:30AM: AVATAR (3D), 1:45PM: Up in the Air, 4:00PM: Precious, 6:45PM: The Blind Side, 9:15PM: Inglourious Basterds<br />
March 6: 10:30AM: Up, 12:45PM: A Serious Man, 2:45PM: The Hurt Locker, 6:00PM: An Education, 8:00PM: District 9</span><br />
<br />
Get your tickets soon. And if you are a rewards member, you will save a good chunk of change. For all participating theatres and information, head to the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.amcentertainment.com/bps/">Best Picture Showcase Web site</a>. </div>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-47396707907714762312010-02-11T06:00:00.001-05:002010-02-12T01:06:10.883-05:00'SNL' adds its own take on nominationsTo put a smile on your face, we thought we'd share this clip from last week's "Saturday Night Live," where Academy President Tom Sherak got his own impersonator — not bad either. I enjoy the faux "Access Hollywood" coverage.<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4b73a63f5d12f981/4741e3c5156499a7/6daab6ce/-cpid/7c75969bc7b14238" id="W4727a250e66f97234b73a63f5d12f981" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4b73a63f5d12f981/4741e3c5156499a7/6daab6ce/-cpid/7c75969bc7b14238"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></object><br />Video link: <a href="http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/oscar-nominations/1199709/?__cid=thefilter">NBC.com</a>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-58120782778800436712010-02-09T09:00:00.001-05:002010-02-09T09:02:10.641-05:00Video update: Nominees and the Academy calendarIn the week's video update, James discusses the latest news and buzz, including the nominees, AMC continuing its Best Picture Showcase and the latest on the Academy agenda. The first round is ending for mtvU's Red Carpet Correspondent Contest. Final ballots are being mailed out soon and the Nominees Luncheon is coming up.<br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GL0Zyx-0LcA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GL0Zyx-0LcA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br />Link to video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL0Zyx-0LcA">Oscar Update, Feb. 9, 2010</a>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-22961334186847470972010-02-06T06:00:00.001-05:002010-02-06T06:00:06.737-05:00Keeping the Oscar® Nominations secretTo start your weekend off right, I found an interesting read from USA Today's Anthony Breznican. The lucky reporter got permission from the Academy to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">chronicle the events leading up to Tuesday's announcement of the 82nd Academy Awards nominations</span>. (Thus, he knew some of the nominees before the rest of world found out. Awesome!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Once inside</span> the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' headquarters late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, depending on the staff member, <span style="font-weight: bold;">there was no leaving and absolutely no communication with the outside world</span>. Cellphones and smartphones were confiscated. No Internet access. Guards at the doors.<br /><br />From 8:58 p.m. Monday up to the announcement at 5:38 a.m. Tuesday, the lucky few prepare to tell the world how the Academy members have voted.<br /><br />"The accountants have the solemnity of undertakers, but the <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">workers rip open the lids and pull out pages like overeager kids on Christmas morning</span>," Breznican writes.<br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/movieawards/oscars/2010-02-03-oscarsovernight03_ST_N.htm"><br />Find the article here</a> for your reading pleasure. Below, is a video from inside the Academy during the preparations.<br /><br /><object id="flashObj" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="280" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/30317506001?isVid=1&publisherID=29906170001"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=64570987001&playerID=30317506001&domain=embed&"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/30317506001?isVid=1&publisherID=29906170001" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=64570987001&playerID=30317506001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="280" width="400"></embed></object>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-54006687080222870432010-02-03T20:15:00.002-05:002010-02-03T22:12:54.487-05:00Nominations coverage from Beverly HillsThought I would share a video from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Megan Telles' coverage of Tuesday's nominations announcement</span>. You might remember her name from last year when she was a finalist for the Academy's mtvU Correspondent contest. <a href="http://jmolnar.blogspot.com/2009/01/mtvu-announces-semi-finalists-for-red.html">Rethink. ranked her No. 2</a> among the list of 10 talented pairs of undergrads vying for a spot on the red carpet.<br /><br />Telles' partner in crime, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Huse</span>, is again working the camera (Sony EX1, Canon 7D + 400mm f/2.8L IS USM) as the Palestra.net correspondent covers the announcement and interviews "Entertainment Tonight" film guru Leonard Maltin, Academy President Tom Sherak, Parade Magazine reporter Jeanne Wolf and telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic.<br /><br /><object height="250" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IZMWr76qT5k&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=bc0117&color2=f20306"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IZMWr76qT5k&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=bc0117&color2=f20306" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="250" width="400"></embed></object>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-63439829383374848022010-02-02T09:50:00.001-05:002012-05-16T15:30:59.568-04:0082nd Oscar Nominations Announced<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSGatb9o7C1CqfbSn7-fZ3HivxQTZFg3URz0JRGWjtFZVvqPJGww138ZrYxJ1xjAKKKNAgL89pUsg3P_ohZPXE-asvIBeQpqGYs4X23lOj_GLwoiP4qIuY4SqJwBpWKbNbkpH/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_nominations2010.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433655991784181618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSGatb9o7C1CqfbSn7-fZ3HivxQTZFg3URz0JRGWjtFZVvqPJGww138ZrYxJ1xjAKKKNAgL89pUsg3P_ohZPXE-asvIBeQpqGYs4X23lOj_GLwoiP4qIuY4SqJwBpWKbNbkpH/s400/OscarCountdown_nominations2010.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>This morning Anne Hathaway joined Academy President Tom Sherak in announcing the <span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;">82nd Annual Academy Awards nominations</span> in 10 of the 24 categories. "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker" were the two movies running the show. Both lead the race with nine nominations, but not by a landslide.<br />
<br />
"<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">Avatar</span>" was nominated for Best Picture, Cinematography, Art Direction, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Original Score) Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.<br />
<br />
"<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">The Hurt Locker</span>" was nominated in the following categories: Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Original Score), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Writing (Original Screenplay).<br />
<br />
"<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">Inglourious Basterds</span>" was next in line with eight nominations in these categories: Best Picture, Actor in a Supporting Role, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Writing (Original Screenplay).<br />
<br />
"<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">Up in the Air</span>" and "<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire</span>" received six nominations. "<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">Up</span>" has five. All were nominated for Best Picture.<br />
<br />
Interestingly enough, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</span>" received only one nomination for Cinematography. I found this surprising. No Visual Effects nom. But the bar was set very high in 2009 with "Avatar" and "<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">District 9</span>," along with "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Star Trek</span>," which all received nominations for Visual Effects.<br />
<br />
The big surprise of the morning came when "<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">The Blind Side</span>" was announced for Best Picture contention. (Not that it does not deserve the nod.) I had predicted "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Invictus</span>" would take that spot. The other films filling out the Best Picture category are "<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">A Serious Man</span>" and "<span style="color: #000066; font-weight: bold;">An Education</span>."<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Here is the full list:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best motion picture of the year</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox)</li>
<li>“The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)</li>
<li>“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing)</li>
<li>“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)</li>
<li>“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)</li>
<li>“A Serious Man” (Focus Features)</li>
<li>“Up” (Walt Disney)</li>
<li>“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Performance by an actor in a leading role</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)</li>
<li>George Clooney in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</li>
<li>Colin Firth in “A Single Man” (The Weinstein Company)</li>
<li>Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)</li>
<li>Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Performance by an actor in a supporting role</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Matt Damon in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)</li>
<li>Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)</li>
<li>Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)</li>
<li>Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)</li>
<li>Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Performance by an actress in a leading role</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)</li>
<li>Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)</li>
<li>Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)</li>
<li>Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)</li>
<li>Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Performance by an actress in a supporting role</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Penélope Cruz in “Nine” (The Weinstein Company)</li>
<li>Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</li>
<li>Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)</li>
<li>Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)</li>
<li>Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best animated feature film of the year</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Coraline” (Focus Features), Henry Selick</li>
<li>“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Wes Anderson</li>
<li>“The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements</li>
<li>“The Secret of Kells” (GKIDS), Tomm Moore</li>
<li>“Up” (Walt Disney), Pete Docter</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in art direction</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair</li>
<li>“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith</li>
<li>“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim</li>
<li>“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer</li>
<li>“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in cinematography</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore</li>
<li>“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson</li>
<li>“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in costume design</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Bright Star” (Apparition), Janet Patterson</li>
<li>“Coco before Chanel” (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier</li>
<li>“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme</li>
<li>“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood</li>
<li>“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Sandy Powell</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in directing</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Cameron</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Kathryn Bigelow</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Quentin Tarantino</li>
<li>“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Lee Daniels</li>
<li>“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Jason Reitman</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best documentary feature</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Burma VJ” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller</li>
<li>“The Cove” (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined</li>
<li>“Food, Inc.” (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein</li>
<li>“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”, A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith</li>
<li>“Which Way Home”, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best documentary short subject</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan, Province”, A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill</li>
<li>“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”, A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher</li>
<li>“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”, A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert</li>
<li>“Music by Prudence”, An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett</li>
<li>“Rabbit à la Berlin” (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in film editing</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron</li>
<li>“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Julian Clarke</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke</li>
<li>“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best foreign language film of the year</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Ajami” (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel</li>
<li>“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina</li>
<li>“The Milk of Sorrow”, A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogrà/Vela Production, Peru</li>
<li>“Un Prophète” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France</li>
<li>“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in makeup</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Il Divo” (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano</li>
<li>“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow</li>
<li>“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Horner</li>
<li>“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Alexandre Desplat</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders</li>
<li>“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer</li>
<li>“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Giacchino</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman</li>
<li>“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman</li>
<li>“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas</li>
<li>“Take It All” from “Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston</li>
<li>“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best animated short film</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“French Roast” , A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert</li>
<li>“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell</li>
<li>“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)”, A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia</li>
<li>“Logorama” (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin</li>
<li>“A Matter of Loaf and Death” (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best live action short film</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“The Door” (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn</li>
<li>“Instead of Abracadabra”, (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström</li>
<li>“Kavi”, A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey</li>
<li>“Miracle Fish”, (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey</li>
<li>“The New Tenants”, A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in sound editing</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman</li>
<li>“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin</li>
<li>“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in sound mixing</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson</li>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano</li>
<li>“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin</li>
<li>“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievement in visual effects</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones</li>
<li>“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing) , Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken</li>
<li>“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Adapted screenplay</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell</li>
<li>“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby</li>
<li>“In the Loop” (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche</li>
<li>“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher</li>
<li>“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) , Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Original screenplay</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal</li>
<li>“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino</li>
<li>“The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman</li>
<li>“A Serious Man” (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen</li>
<li>“Up” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy</li>
</ul>
<br />
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by ABC beginning at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.<br />
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Download the well designed <a href="http://oscar.go.com/media/2010/pdf/OSCAR_BALLOT.pdf" style="font-weight: bold;">Official Oscar Ballot here</a>.James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-58614099916522012212010-02-01T20:40:00.003-05:002010-02-01T23:06:16.081-05:00Oscar® Update: Nominations PreviewWhat films are going to be nominated for Best Picture? Will "Avatar" live up to director James Cameron's "Titanic" reputation? What films will be nominated in the Foreign Language category?<br /><br />James answers those questions in his first video update:<br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9130079&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9130079&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />Link to video: <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/9130079">http://www.vimeo.com/9130079</a><br /><br />What do you think of James' prognostications? Comment on this post and begin the debate!<br /><br />Rethink. will have full coverage of the nominations announcement Tuesday morning. Watch it LIVE here (or below in the embedded video) at 8:35 a.m. ET / 5:35 a.m. PT.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340" id="livestreamPlayer" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.livestream.com/grid/LSPlayer.swf?channel=academyawards&autoPlay=false"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed id="livestreamPlayer" src="http://cdn.livestream.com/grid/LSPlayer.swf?channel=academyawards&autoPlay=false" width="560" height="340" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 11px;padding-top:10px;text-align:center;width:560px"></div>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-68611888380380379702010-01-23T18:00:00.004-05:002012-05-16T15:31:29.115-04:00Oscar® nomination ballots due<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatZPauAmWFHuDgmmCewINQYIjUAahDfDZbxC9dm-KR_HRqiflYLbisXM6t3FauPsAc8qHEWXdPWuKT9sNoABqCET_FtA9MZy2PkMFD0zKGaFiJ9hAVZjD9EEc-RkCTNjC6Jdz/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_ballot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="288" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430053953452397138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatZPauAmWFHuDgmmCewINQYIjUAahDfDZbxC9dm-KR_HRqiflYLbisXM6t3FauPsAc8qHEWXdPWuKT9sNoABqCET_FtA9MZy2PkMFD0zKGaFiJ9hAVZjD9EEc-RkCTNjC6Jdz/s640/OscarCountdown_ballot.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="540" /></a>Today is another mile marker on the road to Oscar Sunday®: <span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">nomination ballots are due</span>. The 5,777 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must return their completed Oscar nomination ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) no later than 5 p.m. PT today, January 23. Ballots received after that deadline will not be counted.<br />
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Prior to mailing the ballots on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, the PwC staff made sure no duplicate ballots were sent and that none were missing. Each ballot is numbered to guarantee it is addressed to the appropriate Academy voter. PwC will tabulate the ballots using the preferential voting system (as you can see if the main photo).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJa1c6J9FpqKwK5eBTsUj8aAwCHZpCX921RSsfYIKmZFEfC9nZlpSWYw9nDAJuFSPfqgx593f93M_tSUEuQCg7_rsOEw7f0QjMA5TJUHyYbDVxW4WhH8wSaKfwMBa6ltLERPy/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_43.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430054021681497026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJa1c6J9FpqKwK5eBTsUj8aAwCHZpCX921RSsfYIKmZFEfC9nZlpSWYw9nDAJuFSPfqgx593f93M_tSUEuQCg7_rsOEw7f0QjMA5TJUHyYbDVxW4WhH8wSaKfwMBa6ltLERPy/s400/OscarCountdown_43.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 159px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 158px;" /></a>Rule Five Paragraph 5 in the Academy's Rules & Eligibility states: "In the nominations voting, the marking and tabulation of all ballots shall be according to the preferential or weighted average system. Votes for achievements in motion pictures not on the Reminder List will not be counted in the nominations balloting. Tabulation of final ballots shall be according to the plurality system. No 'write-in' votes shall be counted on the final ballot."<br />
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This is the <span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">76th year of counting Oscars ballots for PwC</span>. Since 1934 only 12 representatives have led the balloting process, according to a <a href="http://www.pwc.com/us/en/press-releases/pwc-celebrates-75-years-of-safeguarding-the-academy-awards-ballots.jhtml">PwC press release</a> last year.<br />
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The process of counting each ballot has remained the same.<br />
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“Even with the technology advancements of the past 75 years, PricewaterhouseCoopers has never changed its process of hand tabulating the ballots to ensure the highest level of precision, discretion and secrecy,” said Rick Rosas, one of two current ballot counting team leaders, in the press release. “Our track record demonstrates the level of accuracy and reliability our Firm brings to the Academy and we look forward to continuing this long-standing tradition.”<br />
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While ballots have been kept safe under PwC's watch for 75 years, <span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">there were slight hiccups for the Academy 10 years ago</span>, for the 72nd Academy Awards. Academy historian Robert Osborne describes these as "<span style="font-weight: bold;">two grand glitches</span>" in his book, "80 Years of Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards."<br />
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Three weeks before the ceremony was to take place on March 26, 2000, <span style="font-weight: bold;">an entire batch of final ballots sent to members in Southern California went missing</span>. After replacement ballots were sent out (in different color return envelopes), the missing ballots (two of the original eight mail sacks) turned up in the U.S. Postal Service's bulk mail sorting center in Bell, Calif., according to Osborn and an Academy <a href="http://old.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2000/00.03.08.html">press release</a>.<br />
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"The nightmare wasn't over," Osborne recounts.<br />
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"The following Monday [in 2000], several crates containing 55 Oscar statuettes — essentially, the full supply for that year's ceremonies — disappeared from a shipping dock, also in Bell, Calif. With the clock ticking away, an S.O.S. was sent to the manufacturer in Chicago, which heroically cast, plated, polished and delivered another supply in time for the show. By the time they arrived, the AWOL awards had mysteriously turned up in a convenience-store parking lot, and three employees of the shipping company eventually found their way into police custody" (Osborne, pg. 339).<br />
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In the 10 years following the so-called "grand glitches," the Academy and PwC have not seen that level of commotion over the balloting or delivery of statuettes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn61iAeM8jUiLR4VY1u5CCPGXhgWi1xrKn1086S1xBDehOdCGMk0fmeBE5GCRiczO58t9SMfskbQJaNQnNeYD-2auGRyE_RcKPiaRDwZMuFJGCdBBhBFrFIyVr7Rg1dnzwYym/s1600-h/OscarCountdown_ballot2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430067913380046818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn61iAeM8jUiLR4VY1u5CCPGXhgWi1xrKn1086S1xBDehOdCGMk0fmeBE5GCRiczO58t9SMfskbQJaNQnNeYD-2auGRyE_RcKPiaRDwZMuFJGCdBBhBFrFIyVr7Rg1dnzwYym/s400/OscarCountdown_ballot2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>After the deadline passes at 5 p.m. PT today, the accountants of PricewaterhouseCoopers will being their seven-day journey of tabulating the responses and compiling a list of nominees, which we will learn in nine days, on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;">Facts from PwC, as of last year:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;">• 440,000+: Approx. number of ballots counted by PwC in 75 years on the job</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">• </span><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">1,700: Approx. number of “person-hours” it takes the PwC team every year to count and verify the ballots by hand</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;">• 24: Number of awards categories to be tabulated for Academy Awards at a secret location known only to the members of the small PwC ballot team</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">• </span><span style="color: #000066; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">7: Number of days it takes to count the ballots for nominations</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;">• 3: Number of days it takes to count the final ballots</span>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673357.post-10899409879652172832010-01-17T12:00:00.007-05:002010-01-17T23:43:10.776-05:00My predictions: Golden Globe AwardsTonight is the Golden Globes. Ricky Gervais is the ringleader for the bacchanalian party that has celebrities eating and, notably, drinking. The evening is an awards show without the required gravitas. It should be a fun evening, especially with host Gervais, the first in 15 years for the show by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.<br /><br />I thought I would take a brief moment to share my predictions (marked in red) for whom I think will be taking home the awards. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments. I've noted in blue possible dark horses and the clears losers — in my mind at least.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATED WITH WINNERS:</span><br />As you can see I was 11 for 19 — 5/9 in the TV categories and 6/10 in the film categories.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIGfITAJ7eudVEIjLp0vRnA8flIH-QXC8FyUzHuEkNc8ncq_4KQw9UN4sT0DSl5C-1YUdy4dseQH6FSBkU_PhZ15HhGEyElrl3T1bDPZxLlC0Xivf2Be0zP-4ZEuMS1MWJjNF/s1600-h/GoldenGlobes-2010-ballot-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIGfITAJ7eudVEIjLp0vRnA8flIH-QXC8FyUzHuEkNc8ncq_4KQw9UN4sT0DSl5C-1YUdy4dseQH6FSBkU_PhZ15HhGEyElrl3T1bDPZxLlC0Xivf2Be0zP-4ZEuMS1MWJjNF/s400/GoldenGlobes-2010-ballot-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427934453403026866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8oMaG8vu7C0q5UcqVuamDBWRckhXX5vhnxlnYmEqFEyCjxNYRG8s5jtrqtBbrqV9KuObQy1DbeZK-206Izx3Izv8Q9xbV5GxJTUMRG9-7SeTk0-uU8OeYfE5jIIJd7NN_LVW/s1600-h/GoldenGlobes-2010-ballot-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8oMaG8vu7C0q5UcqVuamDBWRckhXX5vhnxlnYmEqFEyCjxNYRG8s5jtrqtBbrqV9KuObQy1DbeZK-206Izx3Izv8Q9xbV5GxJTUMRG9-7SeTk0-uU8OeYfE5jIIJd7NN_LVW/s400/GoldenGlobes-2010-ballot-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427934448361852594" /></a>James A. Molnarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13652154661120261939noreply@blogger.com0