Silver-celluloid

And the winner is… The dresses have been worn, fallen over in and even malfunctioned so what about the actual awards? It is probably safe to assume that everyone who is interested knows already, but in case some people have been to Mars today, here is the run-down of last night’s Oscar winners. Best Picture Argo (dir. Ben Affleck) Actress in a Leading Role Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) Actor in a Leading Role Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) Actress in a Supporting Role Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) Actor in a Supporting Role Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) Directing Ang Lee (Life of Pi) Foreign Language Film Amour (Austria) Animated Feature Film Brave (Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman) Writing – Adapted Screenplay Chris Terrio (Amour) Writing – Original Screenplay Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) Cinematography Claudio Miranda (Life of Pi) No real surprises there then. Congratulations to a

The Academy Awards are tomorrow, Sunday 24 th February 2013, so it’s time for a quick reminder of the nominees. Best Picture Amour Argo Beasts of the Southern Wild Django Unchained Les Miserables Life of Pi Lincoln Silver Linings Playbook Zero Dark Thirty Directing Amour – Michael Haneke Beasts of the Southern Wild – Benh Zeitlin Life of Pi – Ang Lee Lincoln – Steven Spielberg Silver Linings Playbook – David O. Russell Actress in a Leading Role Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook Emmanuelle Riva – Amour Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild Naomi Watts – The Impossible Actor in a Leading Role Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables Joaquin Phoenix – The Master Denzel Washington – Flight Actress in a Supporting Role Amy Adams – The Master Sally Field – Lincoln Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables Helen

Sick of the schmaltz and annoying adverts, even looking for a good movie is hijacked by the usual Valentine’s day agenda. A quick search brings a million anti-Valentine’s Day movie lists with the usual suspects: Fatal Attraction, Kramer vs Kramer, divorce, broken hearts, blah, blah, blah. Who wants to watch that kind of misery on Valentine’s Day (okay so some people do, and all power to them, but it’s still all about Valentine’s Day). Check out this alternative anti-Valentine’s Day movie list and crack open some popcorn for a fun-filled night of single-dom. First things first, anything by Quentin Tarantino   Let’s face it, a blood spattered dose of ultra-stylish direction will have you glued to your seat. Recommended: Inglorious Basterds or Pulp Fiction (avoid Deathproof. Sorry Mr Tarantino, but it was not your best). Goodfellas – Always worth a watch, and nothing says romance like gangsters, cocaine and domestic violence. Enjoy. Scream – A good old fashio

Lets take a look at the BAFTA winners. The ceremony was televised in the UK at 9pm Sunday 10 th February and the winners shaped up nicely with a few curve balls. Winners Film     – Argo (dir. Ben Affleck) Leading Actor – Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) Leading Actress – Emmanuelle Riva (Amour) Director – Ben Affleck (Argo) Supporting Actor – Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) Supporting Actress – Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) Original Screenplay – Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino) Outstanding British Film – Skyfall (dir. Sam Mendes) Adapted Screenplay – Silver Linings Playbook (David O’Russell) Cinematography – Life of Pi (Claudio Miranda) So what do you think? In the run up to the Academy Awards there is no greater estimate of the winners than to look at the BAFTAs. Check the BAFTA website here  for the full list of winners.

Despite their misogynous leanings I have loved Alfred Hitchcock’s films from a young age. Many hours have been spent in the company of Norman Bates, Marion Crane, Lisa Freemont and Roger O’Thornhill, or was that George Kaplan? However, it was with some hesitation that I entered the screening of Hitchcock. Ambiguity makes Hitch and his films fascinating, aiding the suspense for which they are famed. This is why I often shy away from these types of fictionalisations, feeling that to know Hitchcock could ruin the magic of his art.   However, the film posed no danger of any real insights into Hitch’s genius, as the best way to describe Hitchcock is fluffy. It brought to mind My Week With Marilyn ;   light, entertaining and enjoyable, but missing the grit to really dissect the personality within. Taking the viewer through the period in which Hitchcock was making Psycho , the film starts promisingly, bringing the viewer unexpectedly into the world of Ed Gein, the notorious seri