Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/27/11 — Christian Bake takes the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “The Fighter” Note his acceptance speech “Bloody hell what a whole room full of talented people. The incredible people: Jack, Mark, Vicky and Mickey. I can’t wait to see the Chapter of this.” Bale played Dicky Eklund, a former fighter now managing the career of his younger brother, Micky. This is the first Academy Award nomination for Christian Bale.
The 10th Anniversary issue of “Entertainment Weekly” crowned Christian Bale as one of the “Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures” of the past decade, citing his incredible and legendary cult status on the Internet. EW also calls Bale one of the “Most Creative People in Entertainment” after his brilliant turn as the psychopathic yuppie serial killer in American Psycho (2000). And “Premiere” lauded him as one of the “Hottest Leading Men Under 30″.

Backstage he said to the press: “I’ve got a question for you guys, actually. You know, you get up there and you’re giving your speech, and I hope to God that I said Mark and Melissa and Amy and Jack. Did I mention them? I did? Fantastic. All right. Huge relief.”

Q. Every intense part of the play and every intense experience you have teaches you something about yourself, this campaign or whatever you want to call it, up to the Oscars you’ve been maybe more personal than any of us have ever seen you before. What has this intense experience taught you about yourself?
A. It’s just a genuine thing, you know, I’m so flattered when anybody, any person, you know, any one person who walks up to me and says that they were really touched by a performance, I really adore that. I really love hearing that, you know. I mean, what we do becomes so much bigger than ourselves and I appreciate that so much. And I’ve been in China. I just got back the day before yesterday, I’ve not been a part of any of the campaign that’s been going on. And just to get back and then hear people tell me how much it means is just wonderful. That’s what you’re hoping for.

And the only thing, you know, I want to say is that obviously the nominees who were nominated for Best Supporting Actor are just phenomenal actors and incredible. But equally, there’s so many other actors out there who would deserve being up here as well, you know. They’re saying I love motorcycle racing, and I was watching something this morning, and it’s like, hey, that comes down to who’s first up to the line, who was the fastest. This has nothing to do with that. It’s not who’s on pole position, well, that guy decided to go backwards, that guy decided to go back in the stand and drink a Slurpee. That guy went forward. It’s all like, what do you think, you know. What I mean, it’s all just a matter of opinion and so abstract. This is a very bizarre thing. But at the same time, I just can’t help but be touched so dearly by it. You know, people, so many inspirational, talented people decided that I was worthy of this. I just treasure this.

Q. Hi. Congratulations.
A. What are these cards? These are people who are going to get questions?

Q. These are auction numbers.
A. You win something?

Q. A statue. So my question is, you have just won, arguably, the biggest award for this role. Is this your favorite role you’ve ever played as an actor? If not, what is?
A. You know, every single role we do is just sort of a cherished friend. There’s a point that I believe I made in the speech is, I was thanking David O. Russell for communicating our work in a way that it meant something to the audience, and that’s where you’re out of control because you can do something that really rips you apart on the set, but if the director and the editor don’t take it and make it mean something to the audience it ends up as nothing. And I was so fortunate that with David and with Pamela Martin, that they were able to take that and really make it mean something, you know. And so fortunate and it’s resulted in this.

Q. Now that you won the Oscar for this kind of movie, technically does that mean that no more Batman?
A. No. I mean, I’m in the middle of filming a movie in China right now. When I finish the movie in China it’s straight on to Batman. So absolutely, much more Batman.

Q. We all know how much you love acting but you hate dealing with the press. So what have you learned in these last couple months that you have to deal with more and more press leading up to this night?
A. Well, the beautiful thing about it is I’ve been in China for the last month. So I actually haven’t had to deal with any of it, you know, I’ve been out of it. I haven’t been campaigning. And I always felt like, you know, it really has to be the performance that stands by itself and should be merited upon that and if I would have lost, I would have still said the same. I wouldn’t have regretted anything. I would have just applauded whoever won and there’s so many wonderful performances out there.

Q. Reagan Alexander.
A. Love the hat. Been drinking?

Q. Yes.
A. I find myself likewise out in the bar with Dickie and my wife thinking that it was like the other awards where you just walk on in and go out and unfortunately missed Melissa’s acceptance speech because they wouldn’t let me in. I was literally banging on the door with Dickie going, let us in. And they wouldn’t let us in. That was my mistake. I’ll know better if I ever return to the Academy Awards.

Q. So you missed the F bomb?
A. I missed the F bomb. But, you know, I’ve laid down many of them myself before. So I think I know what it was all about.

Q. Do you have a specific spot that you’re going to put this award in your home?
A. I know I’ll get home and my daughter will say, thank you very much, and take that and stick it wherever she wants.

Q. Also, for those of us who fill out the beards, are you going to miss it when you finish filming the film in China?
A. It will actually be shaved off partway through.

Q. Congratulations. Well deserved.
A. Thank you.

Q. I don’t think anybody does a meltdown on film better than you do. And now that you’ve done one that’s chemically enhanced, I got to ask you, what do you think when you see a real life one like Charlie Sheen?
A. Like I said, I’ve been in China. Seriously, it’s been impossible. Just no idea.

Q. I was just wondering, this isn’t the first time that you’ve lost a lot of weight for a role. You did it for RESCUE DAWN. When you accepted to take this role, did you think twice about accepting it because of the physical sacrifice you had to do, and is there any sort of thing that you wouldn’t do to yourself physically at this point in your career?
A. I just like the character and it wasn’t till a little bit later I said, oh, he’s a welterweight, he’s a crack head. How many fat crack heads do you see? Then I realized, that’s what I have to do. So it came later just by that point, you know, like I always say, I saw something and this has always been I didn’t really ever take acting classes. I didn’t go to drama school or anything. I always feel like I’m having to make up for that while other people know where they’re going really and I’m just sort of winging it. I saw something one time, it was Jimi Hendrix, and I just adore the guy’s talent and just raw ability to just communicate through his guitar and I saw something about his fingers just bleeding, just blood dripping off of the strings and I always went, that’s it, that’s it. You know, that inspires me to no end.

So whatever it takes, I feel like I’ll do for a movie. But the thing is, a lot of people see it as a gimmick, and it’s not a gimmick. You know, they say, hey, give a quiet performance, and you can give a quiet performance and lose a lot of weight. Do you know how much it takes do that? So if it’s necessary, I’ll do it, you know. I’m getting a little bit older now. I’m starting to recognize if I do too much, there may be no coming back from it. I don’t have quite that same mentality which I did only a few years back, where I felt I was invincible and it didn’t matter what I did. I was coming through. You know, I have a child now. I just want to really be smart about any other body alterations that I make in the future. I know that too many of them just, you know, there’s only so much your body can take. I’m happy that I’ve done what I’ve done. Who knows. Maybe that will be the last of it. I’ve said that a few times before.

Q. Thank you so much. Congratulations.
A. Thank you so much.
Read More: Hollywoodtoday

More about → Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/27/11 — Christian Bake takes the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “The Fighter” Note his acceptance speech “Bloody hell what a whole room full of talented people. The incredible people: Jack, Mark, Vicky and Mickey. I can’t wait to see the Chapter of this.” Bale played Dicky Eklund, a former fighter now managing the career of his younger brother, Micky. This is the first Academy Award nomination for Christian Bale.

The 10th Anniversary issue of “Entertainment Weekly” crowned Christian Bale as one of the “Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures” of the past decade, citing his incredible and legendary cult status on the Internet. EW also calls Bale one of the “Most Creative People in Entertainment” after his brilliant turn as the psychopathic yuppie serial killer in American Psycho (2000). And “Premiere” lauded him as one of the “Hottest Leading Men Under 30″.

Backstage he said to the press: “I’ve got a question for you guys, actually. You know, you get up there and you’re giving your speech, and I hope to God that I said Mark and Melissa and Amy and Jack. Did I mention them? I did? Fantastic. All right. Huge relief.”

Q. Every intense part of the play and every intense experience you have teaches you something about yourself, this campaign or whatever you want to call it, up to the Oscars you’ve been maybe more personal than any of us have ever seen you before. What has this intense experience taught you about yourself?
A. It’s just a genuine thing, you know, I’m so flattered when anybody, any person, you know, any one person who walks up to me and says that they were really touched by a performance, I really adore that. I really love hearing that, you know. I mean, what we do becomes so much bigger than ourselves and I appreciate that so much. And I’ve been in China. I just got back the day before yesterday, I’ve not been a part of any of the campaign that’s been going on. And just to get back and then hear people tell me how much it means is just wonderful. That’s what you’re hoping for.

And the only thing, you know, I want to say is that obviously the nominees who were nominated for Best Supporting Actor are just phenomenal actors and incredible. But equally, there’s so many other actors out there who would deserve being up here as well, you know. They’re saying I love motorcycle racing, and I was watching something this morning, and it’s like, hey, that comes down to who’s first up to the line, who was the fastest. This has nothing to do with that. It’s not who’s on pole position, well, that guy decided to go backwards, that guy decided to go back in the stand and drink a Slurpee. That guy went forward. It’s all like, what do you think, you know. What I mean, it’s all just a matter of opinion and so abstract. This is a very bizarre thing. But at the same time, I just can’t help but be touched so dearly by it. You know, people, so many inspirational, talented people decided that I was worthy of this. I just treasure this.

Q. Hi. Congratulations.
A. What are these cards? These are people who are going to get questions?

Q. These are auction numbers.
A. You win something?

Q. A statue. So my question is, you have just won, arguably, the biggest award for this role. Is this your favorite role you’ve ever played as an actor? If not, what is?
A. You know, every single role we do is just sort of a cherished friend. There’s a point that I believe I made in the speech is, I was thanking David O. Russell for communicating our work in a way that it meant something to the audience, and that’s where you’re out of control because you can do something that really rips you apart on the set, but if the director and the editor don’t take it and make it mean something to the audience it ends up as nothing. And I was so fortunate that with David and with Pamela Martin, that they were able to take that and really make it mean something, you know. And so fortunate and it’s resulted in this.

Q. Now that you won the Oscar for this kind of movie, technically does that mean that no more Batman?
A. No. I mean, I’m in the middle of filming a movie in China right now. When I finish the movie in China it’s straight on to Batman. So absolutely, much more Batman.

Q. We all know how much you love acting but you hate dealing with the press. So what have you learned in these last couple months that you have to deal with more and more press leading up to this night?
A. Well, the beautiful thing about it is I’ve been in China for the last month. So I actually haven’t had to deal with any of it, you know, I’ve been out of it. I haven’t been campaigning. And I always felt like, you know, it really has to be the performance that stands by itself and should be merited upon that and if I would have lost, I would have still said the same. I wouldn’t have regretted anything. I would have just applauded whoever won and there’s so many wonderful performances out there.

Q. Reagan Alexander.
A. Love the hat. Been drinking?

Q. Yes.
A. I find myself likewise out in the bar with Dickie and my wife thinking that it was like the other awards where you just walk on in and go out and unfortunately missed Melissa’s acceptance speech because they wouldn’t let me in. I was literally banging on the door with Dickie going, let us in. And they wouldn’t let us in. That was my mistake. I’ll know better if I ever return to the Academy Awards.

Q. So you missed the F bomb?
A. I missed the F bomb. But, you know, I’ve laid down many of them myself before. So I think I know what it was all about.

Q. Do you have a specific spot that you’re going to put this award in your home?
A. I know I’ll get home and my daughter will say, thank you very much, and take that and stick it wherever she wants.

Q. Also, for those of us who fill out the beards, are you going to miss it when you finish filming the film in China?
A. It will actually be shaved off partway through.

Q. Congratulations. Well deserved.
A. Thank you.

Q. I don’t think anybody does a meltdown on film better than you do. And now that you’ve done one that’s chemically enhanced, I got to ask you, what do you think when you see a real life one like Charlie Sheen?
A. Like I said, I’ve been in China. Seriously, it’s been impossible. Just no idea.

Q. I was just wondering, this isn’t the first time that you’ve lost a lot of weight for a role. You did it for RESCUE DAWN. When you accepted to take this role, did you think twice about accepting it because of the physical sacrifice you had to do, and is there any sort of thing that you wouldn’t do to yourself physically at this point in your career?
A. I just like the character and it wasn’t till a little bit later I said, oh, he’s a welterweight, he’s a crack head. How many fat crack heads do you see? Then I realized, that’s what I have to do. So it came later just by that point, you know, like I always say, I saw something and this has always been I didn’t really ever take acting classes. I didn’t go to drama school or anything. I always feel like I’m having to make up for that while other people know where they’re going really and I’m just sort of winging it. I saw something one time, it was Jimi Hendrix, and I just adore the guy’s talent and just raw ability to just communicate through his guitar and I saw something about his fingers just bleeding, just blood dripping off of the strings and I always went, that’s it, that’s it. You know, that inspires me to no end.

So whatever it takes, I feel like I’ll do for a movie. But the thing is, a lot of people see it as a gimmick, and it’s not a gimmick. You know, they say, hey, give a quiet performance, and you can give a quiet performance and lose a lot of weight. Do you know how much it takes do that? So if it’s necessary, I’ll do it, you know. I’m getting a little bit older now. I’m starting to recognize if I do too much, there may be no coming back from it. I don’t have quite that same mentality which I did only a few years back, where I felt I was invincible and it didn’t matter what I did. I was coming through. You know, I have a child now. I just want to really be smart about any other body alterations that I make in the future. I know that too many of them just, you know, there’s only so much your body can take. I’m happy that I’ve done what I’ve done. Who knows. Maybe that will be the last of it. I’ve said that a few times before.

Q. Thank you so much. Congratulations.
A. Thank you so much.
Read More: Hollywoodtoday

More about → Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Disney Acquires Social Network For Kids Togetherville

Disney Acquires Social Network For Kids Togetherville

Disney has just acquired Togetherville, a social network for kids 10 years of age or younger, we’ve confirmed with the company. Terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed at the moment.

Togetherville, which exited beta last year, mimics the experience of adult social networking sites, i.e. Facebook but in an age-appropriate and parent-monitored environment. Togetherville promises a safer, more secure environment, where parents can moderate who their children are connecting with. Parents approve each of their child’s friends, and can also connect with other parents using Facebook’s social graph.
Parents can easily interact with their kids in Togetherville, while kids have their very own social community and login to engage with friends, play games, watch videos, and create art. Children create “neighborhoods” from Facebook friends, and can connect through School Communities, which allows parents and kids connect with school friends without requiring the parents to be connected via Facebook.

We were tipped off on the acquisition by a reader. The site’s terms of service, it states: “Welcome to the Internet sites of the Walt Disney Internet Group (“WDIG”). “WDIG Sites” include Disney.com, ABCNEWS.com, ABC.com, ESPN.com, DisneyShopping.com, Go.com, Movies.com, FamilyFun.com, and other Internet sites on which these terms of use are posted.” Another clue is CEO and founder Mandeep Dhillon’s LinkedIn profile, which now states he is “Vice President, Togetherville at The Walt Disney Company.”
Read More: Techcrunch

More about → Disney Acquires Social Network For Kids Togetherville

Disney Acquires Social Network For Kids Togetherville

Disney Acquires Social Network For Kids Togetherville

Disney has just acquired Togetherville, a social network for kids 10 years of age or younger, we’ve confirmed with the company. Terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed at the moment.

Togetherville, which exited beta last year, mimics the experience of adult social networking sites, i.e. Facebook but in an age-appropriate and parent-monitored environment. Togetherville promises a safer, more secure environment, where parents can moderate who their children are connecting with. Parents approve each of their child’s friends, and can also connect with other parents using Facebook’s social graph.

Parents can easily interact with their kids in Togetherville, while kids have their very own social community and login to engage with friends, play games, watch videos, and create art. Children create “neighborhoods” from Facebook friends, and can connect through School Communities, which allows parents and kids connect with school friends without requiring the parents to be connected via Facebook.

We were tipped off on the acquisition by a reader. The site’s terms of service, it states: “Welcome to the Internet sites of the Walt Disney Internet Group (“WDIG”). “WDIG Sites” include Disney.com, ABCNEWS.com, ABC.com, ESPN.com, DisneyShopping.com, Go.com, Movies.com, FamilyFun.com, and other Internet sites on which these terms of use are posted.” Another clue is CEO and founder Mandeep Dhillon’s LinkedIn profile, which now states he is “Vice President, Togetherville at The Walt Disney Company.”
Read More: Techcrunch

More about → Disney Acquires Social Network For Kids Togetherville

Predictions: Who Will Take Home an Oscar?

Predictions: Who Will Take Home an Oscar?

The template for this year's Oscar race was carved in stone in September when "The King's Speech" premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and "The Social Network" opened the New York Film Festival. In one corner, you had a film that had seemingly checked off every box in its appeal to Academy voters -- Royals! Period piece! Lofty British drama! Triumph over disability! Triumph over Nazis! -- and, in the other, you had a movie with an unlikable, socially awkward genius protagonist directed by David Fincher, an unlikable, socially awkward genius director.
That dynamic -- young vs. old, Facebook vs. Mr. Darcy -- hasn't changed in the ensuing four months. And even with the late entry of three critically acclaimed box-office successes -- "True Grit," "Black Swan" and "The Fighter" -- this year's best picture trophy will recognize either the emotional uplift of "The King's Speech" or the exhilarating immediacy of "The Social Network."
And, from all appearances, it looks like voters are going with their hearts and not their heads.

Here's how the top races will go:

BEST PICTURE

The nominees: "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "The King's Speech," "127 Hours," "The Social Network," "Toy Story 3," "True Grit," "Winter's Bone"

The winner: "The King's Speech"

Possible upset: "The Social Network"

Why limit the 10 picture race to just these two films? For starters, no movie wins Best Picture without a nomination for its director, which eliminates half the field. And you're out, too, if you don't have a screenplay nomination. That leaves four films, with "The Fighter" and "True Grit" joining the two favorites.

One month ago, everything pointed to "The Social Network" winning. The film had taken every critics prize and the Golden Globe for drama. It's only the third movie since 1975 to win the top awards from the Los Angeles and New York film critics groups, the National Board of Review and the Globe. The other two, "Schindler's List" and "Terms of Endearment," went on to win the Best Picture Oscar.

All that history was wiped out when "The King's Speech" swept the Producers Guild, the Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild. These people vote for the Oscars. Critics do not.

So what happened? It'd be easy to chalk it up to another one of Harvey Weinstein's scorched-earth Oscar campaigns, where his minions wheedle Academy voters and Harvey himself calls in the heavy ammunition. (If Queen Elizabeth loved "The King's Speech," it must be terrific!) But, simply put: Academy members like Harvey's movie best. They feel an emotional connection to "The King's Speech." As for "The Social Network" ... well, it's just not that kind of movie.

Time will tell whether a win for "King's Speech" will be a source of embarrassment to the Academy akin to, say, "Ordinary People" beating "Raging Bull" or "Dances With Wolves" prevailing over "Goodfellas." I'd argue that Fincher's movie is nowhere near as accomplished as the two Scorsese films and that naysayers undervalue all the ways "Speech" goes against conventionality. But "Social Network" supporters tend to stamp their feet when differing viewpoints are offered, so my reasoning would probably fall on deaf ears anyway.

BEST ACTRESS

The nominees: Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"; Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"; Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"; Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"; Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"

The winner: Natalie Portman

Possible upset: Annette Bening

Not much of a contest here. Yes, Bening delivered a fine performance (though "Kids" co-star Julianne Moore one-upped her in terms of range), but Portman goes to another stratosphere in "Black Swan." Plus, it's a movie that speaks to the sacrifices performers make for the sake of their art.
You don't think that's going to resonate with this crowd?

BEST ACTOR

The nominees: Javier Bardem, "Biutiful"; Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"; Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"; Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"; James Franco, "127 Hours"

The winner: Colin Firth

Possible upset: Firth doesn't deliver a witty and gracious acceptance speech.

Firth could well have won last year for "A Single Man." In fact, if he had bested Bridges, who prevailed for playing the boozy country singer in "Crazy Heart," it would be Bridges' turn to win the Oscar this year. And, one could easily make the case that Firth delivered a more nuanced, affecting performance for "A Single Man," and that Bridges' Rooster Cogburn was a superior example of a redeemed drunkard.

But that's just rummaging through apples and oranges in a race that, because of the way the Academy votes, belongs to Firth and Firth alone.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

The nominees: Amy Adams, "The Fighter"; Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"; Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"; Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"; Jackie Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"

The winner: Melissa Leo

Possible upset: Hailee Steinfeld

Leo ruffled a few feathers recently when she had the gall to buy her own glossy (i.e. tacky) trade ads featuring a glamorous shot of the 50-year-old actress along with the word "Consider." And, with the Academy Awards, you just don't do that kind of self-promotion because, as we all know, nominees don't actually campaign for the prize. No, they just hit the talk-show circuit and attend awards shows and press receptions and Academy screenings to promote the movie, not themselves.

"She just lost my vote," one Academy member reportedly told The Hollywood Reporter, a comment that concisely sums up the inane logic some Academy members use in marking their ballots. God forbid they actually vote on the work and not the sideshow.

That said, there's always a backlash to the backlash. The sniping might actually cement the win for Leo, who has long been the frontrunner in the category (a status that makes her ad purchase a doubly curious choice.) But if she loses, don't blame the misguided self-promotion. Having fellow "Fighter" cast member Adams in the category could split the vote, giving newcomer Steinfeld the win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

The nominees: Christian Bale, "The Fighter"; John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"; Jeremy Renner, "The Town"; Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"; Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"

The winner: Christian Bale

Possible upset: Geoffrey Rush

The one nominee who didn't glad-hand this year was Bale, proving again that you don't have to make the rounds on the rubber chicken circuit to win an Oscar (Mo'Nique sure as hell didn't last year). Of course, you can afford that luxury only if the work makes voters' teeth drop from the get-go, and Bale's did. From the moment you glimpse his hollow cheeks and wiry frame, you know Bale has done another full-bore freefall in the name of art or insanity or some irresistible combination of both.

At any rate, there's no way he loses. Unless the Academy, really loves "The King's Speech" in a way that transcends categories and common sense.

BEST DIRECTOR

The nominees: Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"; Joel and Ethan Coen, "True Grit"; David Fincher, "The Social Network"; Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"; David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

The winner: Tom Hooper

Possible upset: David Fincher

And, circling back to transcending categories and common sense, look at the nominees in this category. The Coens. David O. Russell. Aronofsky. Fincher. Four (counting the brothers as a two-headed single entity) of the greatest filmmakers working today. You could program a wonderful week-long film festival with their work and still have movies left over for, as they say, further viewing.

And then you have this year's likely winner, Tom Hooper, a Brit who spent most of his career working in television before making "The King's Speech."

You could argue that each of the indisputably great directors has made better films. And you could also note that Hooper invested his movie with plenty of interesting, intelligent visual touches. He moves the camera elegantly and his sense of composition is flawless. He also seems to have a way with actors. But that doesn't make it feel any less ... wrong (there, I said it) to be giving Hooper the Oscar over four equally deserving candidates, directors who have contributed so much to the past quarter century of cinema.

Fincher could still sneak in and win this. But chances are he'll get his Oscar 20 years from now for some halfway decent movie starring Brad Pitt, who will, by that point, have assumed the elder-statesman mantle from Jack Nicholson and be sitting in the Kodak Theatre's front row, applauding with gusto.
Read More: MSN 

More about → Predictions: Who Will Take Home an Oscar?

Predictions: Who Will Take Home an Oscar?

Predictions: Who Will Take Home an Oscar?

The template for this year's Oscar race was carved in stone in September when "The King's Speech" premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and "The Social Network" opened the New York Film Festival. In one corner, you had a film that had seemingly checked off every box in its appeal to Academy voters -- Royals! Period piece! Lofty British drama! Triumph over disability! Triumph over Nazis! -- and, in the other, you had a movie with an unlikable, socially awkward genius protagonist directed by David Fincher, an unlikable, socially awkward genius director.

That dynamic -- young vs. old, Facebook vs. Mr. Darcy -- hasn't changed in the ensuing four months. And even with the late entry of three critically acclaimed box-office successes -- "True Grit," "Black Swan" and "The Fighter" -- this year's best picture trophy will recognize either the emotional uplift of "The King's Speech" or the exhilarating immediacy of "The Social Network."
And, from all appearances, it looks like voters are going with their hearts and not their heads.

Here's how the top races will go:

BEST PICTURE

The nominees: "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "The King's Speech," "127 Hours," "The Social Network," "Toy Story 3," "True Grit," "Winter's Bone"

The winner: "The King's Speech"

Possible upset: "The Social Network"

Why limit the 10 picture race to just these two films? For starters, no movie wins Best Picture without a nomination for its director, which eliminates half the field. And you're out, too, if you don't have a screenplay nomination. That leaves four films, with "The Fighter" and "True Grit" joining the two favorites.

One month ago, everything pointed to "The Social Network" winning. The film had taken every critics prize and the Golden Globe for drama. It's only the third movie since 1975 to win the top awards from the Los Angeles and New York film critics groups, the National Board of Review and the Globe. The other two, "Schindler's List" and "Terms of Endearment," went on to win the Best Picture Oscar.

All that history was wiped out when "The King's Speech" swept the Producers Guild, the Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild. These people vote for the Oscars. Critics do not.

So what happened? It'd be easy to chalk it up to another one of Harvey Weinstein's scorched-earth Oscar campaigns, where his minions wheedle Academy voters and Harvey himself calls in the heavy ammunition. (If Queen Elizabeth loved "The King's Speech," it must be terrific!) But, simply put: Academy members like Harvey's movie best. They feel an emotional connection to "The King's Speech." As for "The Social Network" ... well, it's just not that kind of movie.

Time will tell whether a win for "King's Speech" will be a source of embarrassment to the Academy akin to, say, "Ordinary People" beating "Raging Bull" or "Dances With Wolves" prevailing over "Goodfellas." I'd argue that Fincher's movie is nowhere near as accomplished as the two Scorsese films and that naysayers undervalue all the ways "Speech" goes against conventionality. But "Social Network" supporters tend to stamp their feet when differing viewpoints are offered, so my reasoning would probably fall on deaf ears anyway.

BEST ACTRESS

The nominees: Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"; Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"; Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"; Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"; Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"

The winner: Natalie Portman

Possible upset: Annette Bening

Not much of a contest here. Yes, Bening delivered a fine performance (though "Kids" co-star Julianne Moore one-upped her in terms of range), but Portman goes to another stratosphere in "Black Swan." Plus, it's a movie that speaks to the sacrifices performers make for the sake of their art.
You don't think that's going to resonate with this crowd?

BEST ACTOR

The nominees: Javier Bardem, "Biutiful"; Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"; Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"; Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"; James Franco, "127 Hours"

The winner: Colin Firth

Possible upset: Firth doesn't deliver a witty and gracious acceptance speech.

Firth could well have won last year for "A Single Man." In fact, if he had bested Bridges, who prevailed for playing the boozy country singer in "Crazy Heart," it would be Bridges' turn to win the Oscar this year. And, one could easily make the case that Firth delivered a more nuanced, affecting performance for "A Single Man," and that Bridges' Rooster Cogburn was a superior example of a redeemed drunkard.

But that's just rummaging through apples and oranges in a race that, because of the way the Academy votes, belongs to Firth and Firth alone.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

The nominees: Amy Adams, "The Fighter"; Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"; Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"; Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"; Jackie Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"

The winner: Melissa Leo

Possible upset: Hailee Steinfeld

Leo ruffled a few feathers recently when she had the gall to buy her own glossy (i.e. tacky) trade ads featuring a glamorous shot of the 50-year-old actress along with the word "Consider." And, with the Academy Awards, you just don't do that kind of self-promotion because, as we all know, nominees don't actually campaign for the prize. No, they just hit the talk-show circuit and attend awards shows and press receptions and Academy screenings to promote the movie, not themselves.

"She just lost my vote," one Academy member reportedly told The Hollywood Reporter, a comment that concisely sums up the inane logic some Academy members use in marking their ballots. God forbid they actually vote on the work and not the sideshow.

That said, there's always a backlash to the backlash. The sniping might actually cement the win for Leo, who has long been the frontrunner in the category (a status that makes her ad purchase a doubly curious choice.) But if she loses, don't blame the misguided self-promotion. Having fellow "Fighter" cast member Adams in the category could split the vote, giving newcomer Steinfeld the win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

The nominees: Christian Bale, "The Fighter"; John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"; Jeremy Renner, "The Town"; Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"; Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"

The winner: Christian Bale

Possible upset: Geoffrey Rush

The one nominee who didn't glad-hand this year was Bale, proving again that you don't have to make the rounds on the rubber chicken circuit to win an Oscar (Mo'Nique sure as hell didn't last year). Of course, you can afford that luxury only if the work makes voters' teeth drop from the get-go, and Bale's did. From the moment you glimpse his hollow cheeks and wiry frame, you know Bale has done another full-bore freefall in the name of art or insanity or some irresistible combination of both.

At any rate, there's no way he loses. Unless the Academy, really loves "The King's Speech" in a way that transcends categories and common sense.

BEST DIRECTOR

The nominees: Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"; Joel and Ethan Coen, "True Grit"; David Fincher, "The Social Network"; Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"; David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

The winner: Tom Hooper

Possible upset: David Fincher

And, circling back to transcending categories and common sense, look at the nominees in this category. The Coens. David O. Russell. Aronofsky. Fincher. Four (counting the brothers as a two-headed single entity) of the greatest filmmakers working today. You could program a wonderful week-long film festival with their work and still have movies left over for, as they say, further viewing.

And then you have this year's likely winner, Tom Hooper, a Brit who spent most of his career working in television before making "The King's Speech."

You could argue that each of the indisputably great directors has made better films. And you could also note that Hooper invested his movie with plenty of interesting, intelligent visual touches. He moves the camera elegantly and his sense of composition is flawless. He also seems to have a way with actors. But that doesn't make it feel any less ... wrong (there, I said it) to be giving Hooper the Oscar over four equally deserving candidates, directors who have contributed so much to the past quarter century of cinema.

Fincher could still sneak in and win this. But chances are he'll get his Oscar 20 years from now for some halfway decent movie starring Brad Pitt, who will, by that point, have assumed the elder-statesman mantle from Jack Nicholson and be sitting in the Kodak Theatre's front row, applauding with gusto.
Read More: MSN 

More about → Predictions: Who Will Take Home an Oscar?

Top Twitter users

Top Twitter users

Check out these interactive galleries of some of the top people on Twitter. Find out who had the most tweets, who are the top entertainers who are tweeting and who has the most followers. Celebrities are not the only ones in a Twitter frenzy. Check out the top politicians and business leaders on Twitter. Now that you’ve got that down, here are some of the top tweets of the week.

More about → Top Twitter users