I've been away for a week or so to recharge after a busy awards show season and to take some time for myself. I'm officially back though and ready to bring you all the latest in entertainment news. It's been a while since I posted a film recommendation, but my last one wound up with four Oscar nominations. The film I'm recommending this time around has already scored its Oscar nomination for Best Actor for Demian Bechir. I interviewed him twice during Oscars week here and here, so I was already a fan. He's charming, sweet, and incredibly nice to the press, but his performance in A Better Life is heartbreaking. I think this film was overlooked during all of the awards hoopla by bigger movies like The Artist and Hugo. This flick is one to add to your summer Netflix list. It quietly unfolds with subtle performances that surround a pretty controversial topic here in the United States, illegal immigration.
Now, no matter how you feel about illegal immigration, it will be hard not to be moved by the human side to this story. I know it certainly opened my eyes to the struggle of being in a country illegally whether it is right or not. In Southern California, the immigrant population certainly makes up a huge part of our daily live with gardeners, housekeepers, restaurant help, and construction workers, so it can be hard to formulate a blanket statement on the issue and that is the exact question A Better Life raises....especially when the undocumented workers have children who are legal U.S. citizens. Demian was quite vocal about his stance on the issue throughout the season because he knows firsthand about what it is like to live U.S. illegally. He came to the States to pursue his acting dreams and he lived his life as an illegal immigrant in New York City. A 1986 amnesty program gave him his green card which eventually put him on the road to an Academy Award nomination. So, no matter where you stand on the issue, watch the film and let me know what you think in the comments below. Have you seen A Better Life yet?
Like the Oscar Nominees Luncheon, I decided to give you my stream of consciousness notes. My videos from the red carpet should be up in the morning. Make sure to check back for all of my big interviews....and trust me, they were big.
Tony Bennett called me sweetheart on the red carpet. Swoon.
Meryl Streep answered my question about the fabric of her sustainable green dress by Lanvin.
Michael Moore directly snubbed me. Only one to do so.
Snarkiest answer. Melissa Leo. It was a little rude.
Funniest encounter.....Edie McClurg. She did a Joan and Melissa Rivers red carpet stunt with me. I think we have a show idea here.
The Dictator was the biggest red carpet moment of the night. Bigger than George. Bigger than Brad. I kid you not.
Tom Sherak, President of AMPAS, promised a show running at 3 hours. Did he deliver? (Yes, he did!)
Sandra Bullock continues to be one of my top girl crushes. She’s genuine, sweet, and just a gal you want to have a cocktail with.
Hardest thing on the red carpet was staying warm. The sun went down and so did the temperature. All of the ladies were shivering in their gowns. Goosebumps were the hottest accessory on the red carpet outside of Stacy Kiebler.
Hugo is dominating way more than anyone thought.....at least in the press room.
As much as I love Cirque du Soleil, their performances are best enjoyed in the theatre. A Muppets performance is enjoyable by all. Yes, I am bitter.......I want The Muppets to sing.
I snuck over to the photo room and watched Octavia pose with her Oscars. Holy flashbulbs. No wonder we are still waiting for her here in the press room....she lost her sight.
First F-Bomb of the night by the Documentary guys. Guess Melissa Leo feels better.
My first snack of the night.....2 mac and cheese bites, 1 Tuscan chicken tender, 3 shrimp. The cocktail sauce scares me a bit in my loaned Chagoury Couture dress. Success!
George Clooney is a star. I don’t know what else to tell you, but this awards season has made me into a super fan.
Did you know when winners come into the press room to be interviewed, reporters have a choice to ask questions or put on headsets and listen to the show? It can often be a Sophie’s Choice moment.
Emma Stone is funny. She’s charming. She also needed to wear a bra with that dress.
Everyone loved Chris Rock presenting and you want him to host. Did you forget he was widely criticized for hosting in 2005?
The Academy provides librarians with Oscar history for reference materials. I felt like an uber-Oscar geek when I asked a question.
First question for the Doc Winners: What about the F-bomb? They said the F-bomb came from the heart even though he apologized to the press for it. Second question: Wondering if they were trying to top Melissa Leo’s F-Bomb. They are going to be remembered for the F-bomb. Classy, guys, classy.
Thanks for passing out snacks to the Oscars audience. I’m hungry.....heading to the press room snack buffet.
Second round of food: 2 pretzel bites with beer cheese, 4 cheese tortellinis, and one egg roll that I didn’t get to eat since I dropped it in the tortellini tray. Shhh.....don’t tell anyone it was me.
It’s quite an honor to have Christopher Plummer in the room. Captain von Trapp forever!
It’s an hour later and we are still waiting on Octavia Spencer in the press room. Just so you know, this is not her decision. It means she was held by production to return to her seat. She might be needed in the audience if The Help is up for other awards that are coming up. They do this for every nominee so there are five possibilities for each nominee should they win.
Christopher Plummer is still holding court and entertaining the press. Big applause when he leaves.
Brett McKenzie is really cute. So glad that he won after I made him sing on the red carpet. “Man.....or Muppet!!”
How is it possible that “Rainbow Connection” never won an Oscar? Blasphemy!
Michel Hazanavicius and Berenice Bejo were adorable on the red carpet. Favorite new couple. And he thanked Uggie the dog....best thank you of the night. Uggie rules.
The back of Berenice Bejo's gorgeous gown.
I know you all love Oprah, but I love Dick Smith. Don’t know who he is? Here you go.
8PM.....no Octavia Spencer.
Resting my eyes for a 30-second Oscar nap. Okay, nap over. Back to work.
Announcement comes over theatre loudspeaker. They ask audience to NOT applaud during In Memoriam segment. They don’t want anyone to be the most popular while dead.
Normally you have to die by January 30th to be included in the In Memoriam segment. I imagine they included Whitney Houston to avoid any post-Oscars backlash.
Hair call for me was at 6:30AM. I am starting to feel the effects now despite two Cokes.
Oooo, just realized that the snarky reporter who sat across from me last year is three seats away from me. I’ve missed her snark. She loathed Natalie Portman last year. She rolls her eyes at the screen as Natalie walks out. By the way, Natalie's fiancé, Benjamin Millepied, was wearing a wedding band. Did those two get married on the sly? Discuss.
Interesting reaction to the Jean DuJardin’s win in the press room. A mix of groans and shock. I’m not sure I am shocked since even I predicted his win......I think we were all looking for The Academy to shake things up a bit. Guess not.
If y’all haven’t seen Albert Nobbs. Add it to your queue. Touching performances and a wonderfully thoughtful film about relationships and love. Very topical in today’s political climate.
Press room bursts into thunderous applause. Meryl Streep wins. I mentioned it on my Behind the Red Carpet segments a few weeks ago: Academy voters are male, white, and over 60.....I said they would swing the vote....and they did.
I’d like to thank the Academy for the suprise. We needed one tonight. Go, Meryl, go. Grab that golden knight and put it on your shelf.
The Artist wins......on stage and on the red carpet. Their PR was in full force and very organized. Thanks for making my job easy, Weinstein publicity. It really is appreciated.
I missed the dessert table. Good thing my Girl Scout cookies and Devil Dogs shipment from the East Coast arrives tomorrow. Yes, this was done on purpose. There is no fat in Oscars.
Guess who got sunburned at the Oscars? Oh me. Red carpet hazards.
The shouting begins in the room next door. Guess Meryl, Jean, Octavia, and Christopher have arrived. Still waiting for Octavia to arrive.......
Guess what, Octavia is here! She’s asked that The Academy keeps the Q&A short. Um......it’s part of your job and you just won. I’m not sure how I feel about that request.
She’s pleasant and she’s here a long time. Guess it was her publicist's request. Make sure to have a nice publicist. It reflects upon your reputation with the press.
A reporter asks her about the physical makeup of the voting members of The Academy which is primarily white, male, over 62. She cuts off the question and says, “I don’t want to get on that bus”. Laughter abounds in the pressroom.
Another reporter asks Meryl if she is gunning for Katherine Hepburn’s record. “Oh, she has more?” “Four” says the reporter. ‘Oh”, says Meryl. Hilarious.
She’s very moved that her makeup artist, J. Roy Helland, won on the same night she did.
“Never give up” is her advice to women. I like it. Simple, but true. Meryl's words of wisdom.
“But I’m so thirsty”. She says this before her final question. Haha.....she wants alcohol. My kind of gal!
What did you see when you first saw the margaret Thatcher makeup? “I first saw my dad. Maybe my dad looks like Margaret Thatcher”.
Jolie-ing the leg is a new verb. Adapted Screenplay winner, Jim Rash: “We have exactly the same legs and I wanted to show everyone. It was a loving tribute”. I'm not sure Angie saw it that way, but use it in a sentence at work tomorrow.
Alexander Payne is talking about his next film. I really enjoy his films, so I hope I don’t have to wait five more years for another Payne film.
We hit a hot red carpet on Wednesday night thanks to TheWrap.com who hosted a fantastic Pre-Oscars party at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. If you have seen any of my recent press junkets, they also usually happen at the Four Seasons, so yeah, the doormen know me at that hotel. I am officially a part of the regular press circuit now. That's pretty cool.
But, back to that red carpet! How does Oscar Nominee, Demian Bechir in a custom cut suit sound to you? So hot and so nice. I also had the opportunity to speak with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close nominee, Max von Sydow, who is just such a lovely man. While I was not a huge fan of the movie, I must say his nomination is well-deserved. Other celebs included Missi Pyle from The Artist who bonded with me over our love for Chagoury Couture as well as Jane Seymour, and Dennis Haysbert.
Check out our night of interviews and my custom dress from V. Mora Designs. I will talk more about the dress next week and give you the inside scoop on the charity we are donating it to.
Last week was the Oscar Nominees luncheon which is an intimate look at the current crop of Hollywood's finest. I offered my coverage with Mingle Media TV in video form, but I thought it would be fun to give you a look into my notes written in a stream of consciousness form. I cleaned up any spelling or grammar errors since I was typing on my iPad, but it's a true insider's look on how it all went down. Enjoy!
Notes:
Learned my lesson last year. Eat before you go. Starbucks run. Front row this year. Reporter to my left is trying to get the scoop on my marital/dating status, reporter to my right is fantastically wacky. I like her.
11:33AM George Clooney: Go big or go home. Came early for "free booze". Repeated question that each reporter asked--total media pro. It's good to be a friend of George--Viola/ Brad stay at Lake Como. Sam from KTLA wants to know how he can stay here. Ah, the media is so funny. Sooo handsome. Oooo, he dropped an F-bomb. Awesome. Rooting for Alexander Payne. Delicious...reporter next to me giggles because I uttered that comment out loud.
Hear my question at the 5:15 mark.....
11:42PM Rooney Mara: Slight and quite bashful. Ah, my first dress question gets answered. No dress yet. "people send you things and you find something you like. I dont like a lot of color". " Pierced one nipple, not both. She's keeping it for now, doesn't want to pierce it again. "Everything happened so fast., trying to take it all in." Mugler jacket/ASOS jumpsuit which she pronounces as "A-S-O-S".
11:58AM Max von Sydow: What an honor. Media asking who he was excited to meet. Christopher Plummer. He's so distinguished. How about the ladies? asks a reporter. He responds, "Yes, some of the directors too." Ah, a sense of humor. Moves in to hear a question. Standing in front of me. Should I hug him? Nominated 29 years ago for Pelle the Conquerer here. Yes, someone finally asks him a good question.
12:05PM Viola Davis: Hot, hot in hot pink. "if you guys could see me at home with my cornrows...." Great story about getting George's villa for her honeymoon. "Greatest gift anyone could have given us". Lost her hair at 28 after reading bad review about her Broadway show due to stress. "At 46, let so much of that go. Define joy and happiness for yourself. and I've got my hair." She has the room memorized. It's quiet in here. Sign of a star. Wearing JC Abando that day.
12:11PM Jonah Hill/Brad Pitt: Matching gray suits. Brad has shiny hair. Everyone talking to Brad. Jonah is hanging back, kind of quiet. Lots of Latin outlets asking about Demian's performance. "a story of value and getting second chances." (Pitt). Pranks: Brad is the "bobby Fischer is pranks...a masterful art form with this guy", says Hill.
12:18PM Janet McTeer: Wearing a formal suit. Says it was hard "trying to play an Irishman in front of an Irish crew. That was really scary." Their reaction was "what the f--k was that?!". HA! Second f-bomb of the day. Rooting for Glenn. Her cell phone rings. She quickly says "have a little bit of respect for the talent. It's a text". Hilarious. Hid her hands a lot in the film because the are"quite girly". Didn't wear men's underwear in the film. (Just in case you were wondering.)
12:23PM Glenn Close: Hawaiian jacket. "You are one of five...how could you possibly think of yourself as a loser. " Inspiring to hear how she got Albert Nobbs done. 1998 is the year she took out the first option on this movie. You are awesome, Glenn.
12:27PM Octavia Spencer: "It will hit me two weeks later and I will enjoy it......and I am a symbol of hope for all of the other actors that have been doing it as long as I have". "I've mauled everyone" since she's near Brad, Meryl, George. What was it like to maul George? That's what I wanted to ask. Behave. Didn't like people misinterpreting her words during the press junket process for The Help. It's tough, but a part of the process. Waiting for food. No alcohol until then. Smart lady. Sings "Oscar nominee" into the mic over and over.
12:32 Kenneth Branagh: First time at luncheon even though it's not his first nomination. Enjoys working with Dame Judi Dench. Emma Watson in her first grown-up role resonated with him.
12:36. Berenice Bejo: speaks Spanish, talks about life in Argentina. Preparation the same as a film. Experience is different for audience. (I asked her whether it was different for an actor to prepare for a silent movie.) Dress is done. "No, it's like Christmas. You don't say a thing". Guess we won't find out her Oscar designer today. Wants husband to like her dress. Today's dress: Elie Saab
12:39PM Jean DuJardin: Movie poster controversy question. Skip it says the moderator. Yep, keep the questions conservative. Oooooooo...French. Translator is here. The Artist is an LA film. Likes "energy, playing with extras, the food.". (Wait, playing with the extras??) Back to French. Back to food likes cinnamon rolls. Not preparing a speech. He "wants element of surprise".
12:43PM Gary Oldman: Finally an Oscar nominee after all of these years. "it's a fairy tale". "I'm having a ball". He likes hanging out with Brad and George. Me too. Talks about Academy recognizing people in their 20's thru 80's. Interviewed Ben Gazzara about 5 months ago who just passed away. "Oscar is better than the money. The villains are the one you do for money they"re expensive. They will be now." Yes, sir, they will....your agent will be happy too.
12:50PM Lady next to me is wielding an unwieldy pen. I'm wearing a DVF dress, watch out!
12:50PM Melissa McCarthy: Everyone gets excited. Gorgeous in green. Gets teary-eyed looking at Oscar behind her. Ah, I'm afraid she's going to burst into tears. No competition with her friend Octavia. Melissa is smaller in real life. No idea who her designer is, but she's wearing Neil Lane jewelry.
12:54PM Michelle Williams: Very Mia Farrow-looking today. So luminous. Oscar dress question. No dress yet. "should I have?". Her advice for other nominees? "Bring a snack". Word. That is so true. Oscar Day is a hungry day. Dress is awesome. Doesn't know designer of her dress today. So charming
12:57PM Nick Nolte: He is sweaty and very red. Starts out with a joke. Looks like Santa Claus. I am just stunned. Tells a story about leaving a party at 5am and how he needs stricter rules. Story about Jimmy from Pittsburgh. Who is Jimmy? I'm confused. Still going at 1:02. PR Guy makes him shorten story. WTF???
1:03PM Demian Bechir: Like Javier Bardem last year, he gets big cheers. Handsome. He likes hanging with Brad and George too. They're like the cool kids in the club. First Mexican actor nominated since Tony Quinn. Spanish, blah, blah.....I catch every other word. Immigration debate continues due to subject matter on film. "it's a human issue, not a political issue". He's doing a play in Mexico. Flew in this morning. Everyone fighting to be the last question. He's popular.
It's hard to believe that we are rounding the corner to the final award show of the season. With Golden Globes, DGA Awards, and now SAG Awards officially done, where do we stand? Well, here are three takeaways to ponder until the 84th Annual Academy Awards on February 26th:
1. Here are your official Oscar winners in the Supporting Actor/Actress categories: Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer. No one can beat them. It's done and the final Oscar ballots aren't even in.
2. Viola Davis: She proved herself to be a contender tonight, but remember Meryl Streep is a formidable opponent who walked away with the Golden Globe in the same category this year. Many voters feel that Streep is way overdue for another Oscar given the fact that she last won in 1983 for Sophie's Choice and she has a record 17 nominations under her belt. This is a two-woman race for Best Actress at this point.
3. Jean Dujardin: Interesting and unexpected win for him tonight. A two-man race that was being lead by George Clooney and Brad Pitt suddenly became a three-man race for that golden statuette. A good thing to remember is that the Acting Branch at the Academy has the largest membership of any branch. This could sway a race that some thought Clooney had locked up earlier in the awards season.
If you are wondering if The Help now stands a chance to win Best Picture after their ensemble award win at the SAG Awards, think again. The Academy doesn't offer an ensemble category, so the Best Picture race is still The Artist's to lose.
What are your thoughts on last night's show? Comment below and let me know what you think of my awards season assessment.
Here we go right smack in the middle of the holiday season. I have family coming in today, so things will be loud and busy at Chez Burtt. I hope you all have a fun weekend of eating, spending time with family, and taking a minute or two to work out or at least walk it off. (Easier said than done, I know!) With that, let's get right to the Friday Five:
1. Holidays: Oh, this photo was taken just a few years ago....now that you've stopped laughing, you have to love that my mom coordinated my outfit with Santa. In true KB form, I am more interested in striking the right pose for the camera (chin down, eyes up) than I am in Santa. I'm also thinking about that lollipop in my hands. Three seconds to a sugar rush! And, oh yeah, that's my real hair color.
2. The Artist: If you are looking for a movie to see this holiday season, look no further than The Artist. It's a true love letter to the history of film, sound, and music. Be prepared as there is only about a minute of true sound or talking in this film, but enjoy getting lost in the incredible score by Ludovic Bource which tells a dramatic and moving story. I love that a film like this could get made in 2011 given half the junk I have to see for my job involves remakes, guns, 3D, and generally, uninspired writing. I expect a lot of nominations for this film on January 24th, the day the Academy Award nominations are announced.
3. The Dress: Yes, I am going to need a dress for the 84th Annual Academy Award announcements again. For those of you that were around last year, I ran a contest to find a dress for the obscenely, yet exciting, early morning. The rules are going to remain the same and I am posting a photo of the winning dress which turned out to be the perfect example of what I am looking for. I will formerly announce this contest the first week of January, but those of you who want to get started early can either leave me links in the comments section or post a photo on my Facebook wall. Remember, I have to be able to order this online since I will be traveling for most of the month. Again, here are the rules. Happy Shopping, and yes, there will be a gift certificate for the winner!
4. Holiday Greetings: One of the media outlets I work for, Mingle Media TV, came up with a really fun holiday video. It was fun looking at some of the events I covered in 2011 for Red Carpet Report. Watch for me at the 0:06-0:38 mark.
5. The Store: I am happy to say that we have our first donations to The Thirst Project with the sales from the store. There is still a week left in the month, so I will announce the total for December 2011 in a Friday Five during the month of January. Remember, "Water is a human right, join the fight". If you would like to donate, click here.
With that, I am going to wrap it up here at Red Carpet Closet. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannakuh! I will post a bit next with with more of my Best of 2011 lists.
