oscars - Page 2

An Oscars Problem: Anne Hathaway Is Not Funny

6:29AM Richard Lawson | Everyone was befuddled when the news dropped that instead of some familiar old-ish white man or Whoopi Goldberg, this year’s Oscar hosts would be Anne Hathaway and James Franco. Well, the James Franco bit just seemed like yet another weird event in his performance art career of being weird, so sure, OK. But the Hathaway angle remained confusing. Now we see why! After the initial “Her?” reaction died down, a little promo clip was released that was actually sorta funny! Funny at least in the Anne Hathaway getting tackled to the ground style of funny. So maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. Weird, but not awful. Hathaway has proven she can sing, so maybe she’ll just be the prettily trilling straight woman to Franco’s elasti-faced whatever. Fine. We can deal with that. But now. Oh but now. Now this newer, longer promo clip has been released and Anne Hathaway is not playing the straight woman. No. She is doing jokes! Anne Hathaway-style jokes! And they are very bad. And her delivery is very bad. She is the nerdy girl with the makeover who thinks she’s cool all of a sudden. She is Mia Thermopolis in Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. I mean, that jokey dancing thing? I’m pretty sure the last time that was funny, I was drinking Busch Light from a can and “Let’s Get Retarded” was blasting on Laurence the theatre senior’s speakers. Which is to say some seven years ago. Also, fake outtakes? Lah-haaaame. Just the lamest. I’ve now swung back to where I originally started. This is going to be a disaster. Not, mind you, that the Oscars are ever that funny, but Jon Stewart and Ellen DeGeneres and even Martin-Baldwin did pretty good work. And no, I am not mildly intrigued by this curious Grease redo thing that Franco posted on his Twitter. I’m not. Apparently they’re doing that number on the show on Sunday. Disaster. Disaster, I say!

The Oscar Envelope Gets A Makeover

4:32PM Co.Design | For the past 70 years, the names of Academy Award winners have been sealed in unremarkable little envelopes presenters have no qualms tearing open and leaving aside like some discarded fruit rind. Now, the homely Oscar envelope is getting a makeover. More »

Someone To Finally Pay Attention To The Millennials

9:00AM Richard Lawson | At long last young twentysomethings are getting a work of art all about them. Naturally MTV is the network to bravely take up the mantle. Also today: some truly scary movie casting, some somewhat less scary TV casting, and a discussion of the work of Chris Columbus. More »

Your Ultimate Oscar Party Menu

7:59AM Richard Lawson | The Oscars are on Sunday and today is Tuesday, meaning you need to start planning your menu for the party. Luckily we’re here to give you some ideas for the perfect awards show feast, all based on this year’s nominees! More »

Awards Season: When Good Actors Go Bad

7:42AM Richard Lawson | The Golden Globes and SAG Awards have been given out and the Oscar nominations have been announced, so we are reaching the denouement of the 2011 Awards Season Thrill-Parade. And, unfortunately, one of the saddest narratives of the season is playing out with one of our favourite actresses, Melissa Leo. She’s gotten way too into the whole hoopla. More »

Gwyneth Paltrow To Bless Us With A Song Once More

7:16AM Richard Lawson | Yes indeedy, the blonde wisp-angel is performing at this year’s Oscars. Also today: turns out The Walking Dead actually does need writers, Ben Affleck might be headed to Tehran, and MTV finally says no to Lauren Conrad. More »

Compare The King’s Speech To The Real King’s Speech

9:36AM Brian Moylan | Here’s a video of the real stammer-filled speech King George VI gave at the closing of the British Empire Exhibition in 1925. It’s the same speech that begins the Oscar-nominated movie The King’s Speech. How faithful was the adaptation? More »

First Look At Oscar Hosts Anne Hathaway And James Franco Is Surprisingly Promising

6:48AM Richard Lawson | ABC has released its first promo for this year’s Oscar broadcast, showcasing the comedy stylings of hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway. It’s short but also… kinda fun? Mostly it’s satisfying to watch Anne Hathaway be tackled to the ground. More »

The Best Picture Oscar Nominees In Lego

6:10AM Brian Moylan | Lego maestro and film buff Alex Eylar has used his unique skills to recreate scenes from each of the 10 Oscar nominees for Best Picture. We never thought Jeff Bridges would look so menacing as a tiny plastic man! More »

How Much Is An Oscar Nomination Actually Worth?

8:44AM Brian Moylan | Hollywood doesn’t care about art – just money – so it’s no surprise that many people are interested in knowing how much an Oscar nomination for Best Picture is worth in dollars. Finally, they have an answer. More »