Oscars 2012 looks

The big show has come and gone. A silent film, "The Artist" took out five major awards and the visually captivating "Hugo" also took out some major titles.

A huge congratulations to awards winners, noteably Meryl Streep for her Best Actress nod and to Jean Dujardin for his role in "The Artist".

This year's Oscars was nothing spectacular in the fashion department, with all celebrities opting to play it safe. Listed below are those that I thought were best dressed for the evening as well as those that may have missed the mark.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

BEST DRESSED 2012

There was no stand out Number One Best Dressed this year unfortunately, so below are a list of Best Dressed Females of 2012...

ANGELINA JOLIE in VERSACE

(One demerit point for having to repeat the same obligatory pose in every photo to show off the dress to its full capacity)

GIULIANA RANCIC in TONY WARD COUTURE

NATALIE PORTMAN the Polka Dot Princess

PENELOPE CRUZ ~ Old Hollywood Glamour

GWYNETH PALTROW

(The shoulder cape was stunning, she looked sleek, sophisticated and polished)

THE MISSES OF 2012

SANDRA BULLOCK

(Unfortunately I did not think the dress was very flattering for her figure and did not have much shape)

ROONEY MARA

(I didn't like the cut of the front of her dress and felt that I had seen that hair-do and dress combination before...on multiple occasions)

GORGEOUS, BUT I WAS NOT SO SURE ABOUT...

MICHELLE WILLIAMS

(The pink clutch that clashed with the firey red of her dress. Stunning outfit but the bag let her down)

EMMA STONE

(The whole time I was thinking - "I've seen this before, I've seen this before". Flash back to Oscars 2007 and Nicole Kidman wore a stunning red dress that was strikingly similar to Emma's Giambattista Valli gown)



...it's as bad as the DVD cover

TRESPASS

...the review   

This film holds the world record for the fastest release onto DVD from the cinemas. Within eighteen days of opening in US theatres, Trespass was pulled from the big screen and transferred rather promptly to DVD. No wonder...

This film stars Nicholas Cage and Nicole Kidman. Two big stars (only one of them can actually act). Unfortunately having big names was not enough to pull this film through. Joel Schumacher, the director who gave us Phone Booth, Veronica Guerin, The Phantom of the Opera and The Number 23 to name a few, headed this sinking ship, doing what he possibly could to bring a dreadfully woeful storyline to life. There are many factors to why this film is so so bad. The one defining factor is a terrible storyline - it is terrible.

We are transported to a world where a very very wealthy couple living in a high-security compound with their only-child daughter grapple with their relationship issues (albeit rather shallowly) and out of the blue they are taken hostage by a group of doped up "hooligans" that are out to steal everything they have. What makes this story so incredibly awful is the fact that punctuated throughout the whole damned saga are little twists and plot loops which try desperately too hard to make the audience go, "oh shit, no way I didn't see that coming!!!" Unfortunately, the desired affect was not generated and instead as an audience member, I was left sitting there rolling my eyes as one dreadfully thought out twist unfolds after the other. It gets to the point where the story tries to extend itself another extra fifteen minutes by another layer of the plot. Anyway, all I need to say is by the end of the 91minutes you feel like the thing had gone on for 60minutes too long!

The script is crap. I am resorting to profanity and unimaginative vocabulary because there is no need to glorify anything that is just resoundingly that bad. It's crap. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to the writer who must've slaved away for hours and hours on this thing but it's dreadful. The dialogue is bad, it's unbelievable and contrived. 

Nicholas Cage is awful. There I said it. I'm not a Nic Cage fan - never have been - and this film proves to me that he can't act. At all. The only film I liked him in was the sci-fi action flick Knowing. That surprised me. I was to be surprised no more. 'Ol Cage can't extend himself passed that film. Sadly. I cannot for a second believe that he is in a relationship, let alone married to Nicole Kidman in this film. I cannot for a second believe that he is a diamond-dealer. I cannot for a second believe that he is actually smart...in this film. There is a part in the film where he tears into an emotive tyrant of a monologue. I think he was trying to replicate an Al Pacino moment but only Al Pacino can pass off the Al Pacino Monologue - because well, lets face it - he's Al Pacino and only he can do that! Sorry Nicholas, that three minutes of heart wrenching screaming and useless dialogue was over-the-top, over acted and just painful to watch. My eyes felt like they were bleeding out of my skull. When I was doing research on this film I found out that mid-shoot Nicholas decided he didn't want to play the role of the victim and insisted he switch roles to the villain! He really is that much of an arse in real life! Needless to say, the child who threw all his toys out of the cot did not get his way and filming resumed.

The only saving grace in this dreadful melodrama is Nicole Kidman. She is a great actress and what she is doing in this film I have no bloody idea. I don't think she does either - but her performance was flawless. There were snippets where the crying and screaming was bordering on over-done, however what could she do? She was given a role that required her to be terrified. She played it very well and was the only believable force in the entire cast.

I won't even start on the bandits - they were all bad. The doped-up girlfriend was the worst of all. Where the hell did they find her from? I was relieved when her character was aptly killed off.

So....I don't normally launch into a scathing review unless I really really dislike the film. Nay, I have to say I hate this film. This film is awful. If anything I think you have to be stoned to watch it! Even then I think the 91 minutes will make most of you resort to gouging your own entrails out. No wonder this film left the cinema ever so quickly...

Trespass is a no go - do not pass - exit stage left. This has a future for late night midnight viewing and a heavily discounted price at the local DVD store. Bad bad bad. Thank goodness it never made it to the big screen in Australia!

2/10

(2 points for Nicole of course...)

MyHub Valentines Ballets & Films

Happy Valentines Day MyHub Readers!

This year I highlight below some beautiful Valentines Ballets and Films.

At least with some of these films you can dash out to the DVD store and rent a few out for some quality couch time with your loved one, but it's always nice to Google & YouTube some of these ballets too! The wonders of the internet...

Have a loving day you loved up folk!

~xoxox~

A Classic Valentine's Ballet...

A true romantic gem that was brought to Australian audiences last year, another Graeme Murphy spectacular!! I speak of his own, Romeo & Juliet.

A Classic Valentine's Film...

An Audrey Hepburn gem, she did many love stories in her time but I personally love the triangle in Sabrina. A Classic Audrey film for Valentines Day.

Romantic Valentine's Ballets...

Angelin Prejlocaj's Le Parq

Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Manon

Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Romantic Valentine's Films...

For the right combination of humor and romance, don't look passed 2003's Love Actually

A tear jerker... The Time Traveller's Wife adapted from Audrey Niffenegger's novel

If you are a Jane Austen devotee 1995's Sense & Sensibility will not disappoint

Or if you are a Bronte sister fan then last year's Jane Eyre is a sure thing starring gamine Australian beauty Mia Wasikowska and the Byronic Michael Fassbender as her Rochester...



BAFTA Winners 2012

The British Academy's "night of nights" saw The Artist claim majority of the awards along with Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy also claiming a few nods. My predictions were correct for the Best Picture Award, rightly going to The Artist.

Unfortunately, the evening saw Michelle Williams miss out in her Best Actress Category with Meryl Streep taking out the BAFTA for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. That is saying a lot, that the British recognise and applaud an American's portrayal of their once illustrious leader.

The evening saw both George Clooney and Brad Pitt miss out in their categories, with Jean Dujardin taking home the BAFTA for his role in The Artist.

Congratulations to Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer both winning their Best Supporting Actor Categories, which means that an Oscar is pretty much a sure thing. These two have been quite consistant in their Awards Season.

The final Harry Potter film only won one award and that was for Best Achievement for Special Visual Effects. Whilst at the time of  its release critics were touting this film would take out majority of the major awards, it has not done so!

Now we will all be gearing up for the big guns later this month!!!



The Hunter

Adelaide born director, Daniel Nettheim who was responsible for Australian shows such as "Dance Academy", "Spirited" and "All Saints" brought to screen Julia Leigh's 1999 novel, "The Hunter". "The Hunter" stars Willem Dafoe, Sam Neil and Frances O'Connor. An Australian production with an American lead, this independent film tells the story of a hired mercenary whom under the instruction of a biotech company is sent to Tasmania to search for, and collect tissues samples of the elusive (yet extinct) Tasmanian Tiger. 

The Tasmanian Tiger holds somewhat of a mythological status for the Apple Isle. There have been reported "sightings" and there are those out there who firmly believe that this animal is not extinct. The last known surviving Tasmanian Tiger died in captivity in Hobart Zoo some seventy-six years ago. The central character of this story is the Tiger and the mystery behind its existence. 

Willem Dafoe as the hunter

I love how my home is the setting for such a great film. Tasmania is a beautiful place. It gets a bad wrap from the other Australian States however, what is undeniably true is the fact that Tasmania's landscape is a world of its own and it is incredibly beautiful. I will say that the film displays some stunning visuals of this remarkable place. The wilderness in Tasmania (and those that live and have been there will agree) in many places is untouched and unforgiving. The landscape has a bittersweetness to it. Whilst incredibly beautiful, it is also, incredibly dangerous. There is a haunting beauty associated with Tasmania and the film captures this "feel" so effortlessly. 

The real Tasmanian Tiger

The beginning credits show archival footage of the real Tasmanian Tiger and that in itself has an eeriness to it. The whole film is punctuated by these images and you are reminded of how very real this legend is. Overall, the central theme and message behind this film seems to delve into issues such as conservation, appreciation of nature, the importance of family but also, the importance of preservation - whether it is preservation of the myth itself, even if it means doing something extreme. I will not mention too much more about this as I do not want to spoil the film for anyone. All I have to say is, it is very well made and the story is very touching. 

"The Hunter" is worth seeing and I hope international audiences will have the chance to appreciate this great film as well.

7/10 

Madonna

Those close to me know that I love Madonna.

Those that have been around me the past few days know how much I dislike her new song..."Give me all your luvin'". I'm not going to write a blog post about how much I think that song is a travesty and how disappointed I am (being a Madonna fan).

Instead I've listed below some highlights over the many many years this artist has been performing. Some of my favourite Madonna songs below...

~~~

My all time favourite - this song is a CLASSIC

VOGUE

1990

...during her Marilyn days, from the film "Dick Tracy"...

SOONER OR LATER

1990

One of my favourite ballads...from the film "A League of their Own"

THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND

1992

Another classic...

RAIN

1993

I loved pretty much all the songs on this album

RAY OF LIGHT

1998

She had a lot of different sounds and this was another good song from a good studio album

AMAZING

2000

I liked the original film clip that was banned...

AMERICAN LIFE

2003

A memorable duo...

ME AGAINST THE MUSIC 

with Britney Spears

2003

So many many songs, so many more that I like - so that is just a highlight!

5 Questions~

...with
           .....Yuki Hirota ~ 

Ballet Dancer at Noriko Kobayashi Ballet Theatre

I had the pleasure of meeting Yuki some twelve years ago when I was on holiday taking ballet classes in Japan. When I met Yuki she was a student at the Satomi Morikawa Ballet Academy. She was very shy, polite but with a firey passion for ballet which I knew upon meeting her, dancing with her in class and then on stage, that she would go far. Since knowing Yuki she has studied at Elmhurst School of Dance, graduating and then going on to a contract with the Japanese Ballet Company, Noriko Kobayashi Ballet Theatre. She has been dancing there since 2009. There she has danced repertoire as diverse as the classics such as, "The Nutcracker", "Sleeping Beauty" to modern classics such as, Sir Kenneth MacMillan's "Manon" and "Elite Syncopations". 

I had the pleasure of quizzing Yuki on her life as a dancer. 

Thank you so much Yuki for your participation and I wish you all the very best in your career ahead! xx

Yuki and I when we were just kids! Dancing in Japan x

~* ~* ~* ~

What made you decide to become a ballet dancer?

When I had my very first performance at age of 8, I was addicted to dance on the stage!! Then I realized how much I love to dance ballet and to be on the stage!


As Japan is a very traditional country, did the prospect of you becoming a ballet dancer seem unusual to any of your peers ?

All my friends were very supportive because they knew how hard I was practicing everyday. But of course it was very unusual job to choose therefore they were very surprised and amazed when they found out I wanted to be a ballet dancer!


What was the one greatest lesson you learnt at ballet school?

Actually, instead of schools, I have been learning much more since I dance in company!! And the greatest class I ever had is the artistic director's of my company!!She was an incredible dancer n her teaching skill is amazing! She just knows what to say for every each dancer!


After ballet school finished how did you decide which ballet companies you wanted to audition for?

It's of course what repertoire they have, but sometimes you can't choose as there are not always many chances to take auditions.

What is your best advice for a pre-professional dancer that is looking for work as a professional dancer?

My advice for people who want to be dancer is simple. Practice well!! Not just how much you do. Quality is the most important thing - what you should be focus on! So find a teacher who you can really respect and who is strict and who loves and respects ballet!!

  

Last Night - a review

The film "Last Night" went straight to DVD here in Australia. A lot of films do that, whilst they appreciate an audience at a cinema in the US, some miss out down under. Nevertheless, this quaint 93minute drama had some very good actors, a good script and it was really quite a well made piece of film. I can't really fault anything. Except the subject matter. And...I guess the fact that there has already been something released along this nature eight years earlier which was based on a somewhat infamous play, which was provoking, raw and uninhibited I guess it set the bench mark for any film or story within that topic area. I speak of 2004's screen adaptation of Patrick Marber's play, "Closer". 

Unfortunately, for the entire duration of "Last Night" I couldn't help but hark back to Marber's play. Whilst Marber's play focussed on the relationship conflicts and complications between all four protagonists, Massy Tadjedin's "Last Night" only develops and depicts the story from the narrative point of view of the main couple - the couple that has been together for over seven years. Massy's story (as she also wrote this film) was believable, real and moving but it was also predictable. You knew from the title that one of them was going to "muck up", you knew it was either going to be the husband away on the business trip with the sexy co-worker or the wife who was stuck at home, whom all-too-coincidentally bumps into an old flame. Which one? Which one?

I preferred Marber's "Closer" not because of the partner swapping aspect but because he examined and delved into each character's internal conflicts and issues equally. I shouldn't be comparing the two films but I just could not help it I guess, given the subject matter.

Massy's film was well executed - she did not put a foot wrong in how the story was wielded onscreen. The only thing that disappointed me (apart from the rather abrupt ending) was the fact that I kept thinking about Patrick Marber's play...

Needless to say, comments regarding the film's stars - Keira Knightly as usual was just luminous onscreen. The camera loves her, let's not lie. Her performance was good - it was accurate. No surprises there. Sam Worthington who played her husband was also good - accurate. Again no surprises there. I did like how both actors were allowed to use their natural accents in this film (no forced Americanism there). At least that added to the believability. How an Australian and an Englishwoman ended up in New York together who knows? But okay, I guess we are living in a globalized world. 

Eva Mendés played the part of Laura, the co-worker who leads Knightly's husband astray and she did a good job. On the flip side, Frenchman Guillaume Canet also did a good job playing the brooding love-torn French ex-boyfriend well. All actors in this film "did good". No need to elaborate further really.

I wouldn't recommend this film if you were looking for some entertainment on DVD night...this is probably something someone would watch if they were alone, or with a close friend. It's not a couple's film - neither is Patrick Marber's "Closer". 

On all accounts, this film gets 5/10 - all points are for the quality of film making because it was very well done. It loses out because there is still that memory of Marber's screen adapted play that is still all too strong...

Noir

The New York Times has been releasing some fantastic snippets of film featuring some of the most prominent stars of the screen over the past few months. They started with a series based on film villains - "A Touch of Evil" and now they've released "14 Actors Acting". Below are some of my favourites from both series...

Mia Wasikowska in "A Touch of Evil"

Natalie Portman in "14 Actors Acting"

Rooney Mara in "A Touch of Evil"

Noomi Rapace in "14 Actors Acting"

Vincent Cassel in "14 Actors Acting"

First US to graduate from esteemed Bolshoi

In a matter of months both Russia and the US ballet worlds will be making history simulataneously. US 17-year-old ballet dancer, Joy Womack whom started studying at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow will become the first US graduate from the school this spring. The head-strong and dedicated dancer has been studying at the Bolshoi for over two years now. On behalf of My Hub, and its readers we wish Joy a very big congratulations on this incredible effort and only the best in her future career. Bright stars are on the horizon...

Happy dancing ~

Learn more about Joy at her website: www.joywomack.com