Saturday, February 28
Being the movie fanatic that I am, I downloaded the 3 hour long 81st Annual Academy Awards (better known as The Oscars) and boy was it the BEST Academy Awards show movie event of the year EVER! I know it's a little due to post an entry on the Oscars but I just love it so much I kept on playing some of the scenes over and over again.
Since the event was held in the Kodak Theatre, it made sense to make the award show depicting a live theatrical performance. Hosted by Hugh Jackman, his opening number was absolutely the best opening monologue ever with a performance.
Even better when he swept Anne Hathaway (who can actually sing) off her feet literally and carrying her on center stage. Next thing you know, Anne Hathaway starts singing and went into the high note.
I guess this is the first time I've ever seen a stage so close to the audience and at the same time, I was rather daunted by it. It just seemed really awkward and terrifying for television viewers to watch in fear of not knowing what to expect or what would happen at a LIVE telecast. Take it from Anne Hathaway.
There were a few scenes from the show that I absolutely loved (other than the opening), one of them was for Best Original Screenplay when Tina Fey and Steve Martin had their hilarious opening appearance to present the nominations, after which was won by Dustin Lance Black for his original screenplay work for the movie Milk.
Also my favourite was during the video montage for Romance 2008 which featured movies last year like revolutionary road, slumdog millionaire, twilight, australia, milk, the curious case of benjamin button just to name a few, meshed and synched together with the song Lovers in Japan by Coldplay at the background. Simply beautiful, Coldplay has done it again. Then there's the montage for Action 2008, also blew me away at the "tick, tick, tick" part, AWESOME.
Then there's Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Role in which he won and his family accepted the Oscar on his behalf. Honestly, if I didn't know that Heath Ledger was being casted as The Joker in The Dark Knight in the first place, I wouldn't have known it was him because his depiction of the diabolic-cynical Joker was absolutely a work or art. I seriously have no idea how any future Batman sequels could top that.
For Best Actress in a Leading Role, I've only watched Changeling from nominee Angelina Jolie with her acting as a single mother who refuses to let her lost son be forgotten from a police cover up when police investigations found the wrong child, based on a true story. Her role was inspiring, bold and emotional. Although she didn't win, she looked stunningly gorgeous as always.
Kate Winslet won leading actress instead for the movie The Reader acting in a german role. I haven't watched it yet but I will soon enough. Downloaded of course.
If you watched last year's Leading Actress winner Marion Cotillard, her brilliant and stunning performance in the french movie La Vie En Rose which I happened to watched after The Academy Awards last year was admirable, her poise and voice in the portrayal of her character in the life of the famous French singer Édith Piaf got her instant nomination and recognition, now alongside Kate Winslet.
For Best Leading Actor, the Oscar goes to the legendary Sean Penn for his bold portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay rights activist and politician to be elected to public office and was assassinated in 1978. Knowing that this movie would NEVER see the light of day in Malaysian Cinemas, I will be downloading this movie as well.
The main category of the night was Best Motion Picture presented by Steven Spielberg won by none other than Slumdog Millionaire. At first before I even knew about the movie, I just noticed that the lead character was Dev Patel from one of my favourite British series called Skins which I had been watching since the first season which he played a Muslim role. Knowing he transitioned from a cast of a British series to the big screen and seeing him playing an Indian role drove my curiosity even more to watch this movie. I never regretted it.
To tell ya the truth, the most gratifying part watching The Oscars especially in another country is the fact that I've watched almost EVERY film being nominated on the show and able to actually understood and give credit for the nominees for their skillful acting and art. The only sad part about it is that I had to download them off the internet in order to watch good movies and good true acting without the risk of being censored in Malaysia.
Even if the movies made it into Malaysia, out of 10 international movies made, probably like what? 4 of them or less will only make it into the big screen in Malaysia and that is just seriously an abomination and a disgrace to the democracy in Malaysia's Independence. There, I've said it.
I'll definitely be watching some of the nominated movies that I haven't watched yet like Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Milk, Doubt, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader, Frost/Nixon just to name a few.
p/s: If you haven't watched The 81st Annual Academy Awards, you could download the torrents here for the 1st part and here for the 2nd part and download with BitComet other torrent downloading applications.
Labels: letstalkabout, movies, oscars, photos
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Saturday, February 21
I'm guessing by now you guys were wondering why the long pause of updates from my blog right? I'd have to admit that in a way I was going through a slight "phase" I guess, probably withdrawal symptoms after the chinese new year break adding on that valentine's and chap goh meh were just around the corner along with my programming work load on a dateline. Everytime when I bring myself to post an entry, I had to reflect back into recent events, and then the blogging sensation just gradually died away so I just collapsed the browser tab instead (you have no idea how many drafts I had saved in my post page that I had to delete).
Now after all the busy outings, I'm right back to the like of ROUTINES. This time with an added programming work load for a project at the company which my cousin is working on.
Then there's the beginning of something I guess none of my friends would know I'm capable of getting in my mind to do... which is, waking up at six in the morning for morning jogs before I go to work! I know, I know.. bet some of you would think that it won't last long. Well, you were right. I stopped waking up for early jogs this week after doing it for 2 weeks. My excuse? Not enough sleep. Went out for a few nights this week and got back pretty late and since I couldn't bring myself to wake up that early afterwards, my brain just turned to snooze mode and next thing I know, I only have 30 minutes to prepare for work and adding on the fact that I'm procrastinator, a very good one if I might add.
Other than that, I really needs shed off some extra pounds and get back on track for a healthy life style adding the fact that I'm on antibiotic medication.
I guess now it's the period that I have to make a difference in my life since I'm practically surviving my months like a zombie with half of my daily scheduled planned out for me as a slave to the working world.
sad really.
Now after all the busy outings, I'm right back to the like of ROUTINES. This time with an added programming work load for a project at the company which my cousin is working on.
Then there's the beginning of something I guess none of my friends would know I'm capable of getting in my mind to do... which is, waking up at six in the morning for morning jogs before I go to work! I know, I know.. bet some of you would think that it won't last long. Well, you were right. I stopped waking up for early jogs this week after doing it for 2 weeks. My excuse? Not enough sleep. Went out for a few nights this week and got back pretty late and since I couldn't bring myself to wake up that early afterwards, my brain just turned to snooze mode and next thing I know, I only have 30 minutes to prepare for work and adding on the fact that I'm procrastinator, a very good one if I might add.
Other than that, I really needs shed off some extra pounds and get back on track for a healthy life style adding the fact that I'm on antibiotic medication.
I guess now it's the period that I have to make a difference in my life since I'm practically surviving my months like a zombie with half of my daily scheduled planned out for me as a slave to the working world.
sad really.
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Tuesday, February 3
admittedly, I have to say this. I hate chinese new year... *moo*
It's the whole visiting thing, the firecrackers, the music, the crowds, the cars, the atmosphere, the people, the food, the traditions, the clothes, the smiles, the ang pows (yes, that too), just everything!! the whole idea of it just bothers me... A LOT. The only thing that I love about chinese new year is the week-long holiday break where I can sleep and bid farewell to all the routines in my life recently. Don't ask me why I hate chinese new year, I could ask the same the other way around.
the chinese new year celebrations are almost coming to an end,
and now I'm back to the life of routines and my internship as if things just rewind and warped back a month ago to the exact place I am right now. The buddies all flew back to the peninsular, I'm back to work as usual and the daily cycle continues.
Probably I woke up today at the wrong side of the bed this morning or something.
I just feel miserable.
yes, I hate cny that much.
" mOooOOoooOooooo..."
It's the whole visiting thing, the firecrackers, the music, the crowds, the cars, the atmosphere, the people, the food, the traditions, the clothes, the smiles, the ang pows (yes, that too), just everything!! the whole idea of it just bothers me... A LOT. The only thing that I love about chinese new year is the week-long holiday break where I can sleep and bid farewell to all the routines in my life recently. Don't ask me why I hate chinese new year, I could ask the same the other way around.
the chinese new year celebrations are almost coming to an end,
and now I'm back to the life of routines and my internship as if things just rewind and warped back a month ago to the exact place I am right now. The buddies all flew back to the peninsular, I'm back to work as usual and the daily cycle continues.
Probably I woke up today at the wrong side of the bed this morning or something.
I just feel miserable.
yes, I hate cny that much.
" mOooOOoooOooooo..."
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