The Tempest

  Woody Allen, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and the Tempest. 

    You could say that things got crazy, that Woody Allen's personal life could have an impact on the race and that a thousand different factors would matter. But really, who gives a shit? I mean, sure, some melodrama and controversy over Cate Blanchett may do harm, but still it's publicity. And after all, didn't we already know that he had some Roman Polanski business in the past? Weren't there any rumors that he molested the girl? I don't know it just doesn't seem that unexpected. Yeah, I'm sorry maybe the cases of the respective directors are incomparable. Yet again people, nobody gives a damn, with all due respect. 
      Back to the beginning then, you might say it's crazy in the race, but.... no. There is nothing going on, nothing changing, no unexpected twists. Maybe the BAFTAs will spice it up, but that's a whole weak away.
      Approaching the film subject from a different side we are all devastated to learn about the passing of a great actor. He amused us in "Charlie Wilson's War", he intrigued in "Doubt", and amazed in "Capote". I don't want this to sound like an obituary, but he truly was one of the great ones. Rest In Peace, Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
    Now let me explain the title of the post. The Tempest, no, nothing to do with Shakespeare. It's something that might happen shortly. Like I said there is NOTHING happening now. Maybe that is the precise reason to believe that there might be something in the very near future. The silence before the thunder, or however that saying goes. Maybe the BAFTAs will shake it up? Maybe some scandals will develop? Nothing as effective in campaigning than backstabbing your fellow nominees, and when that works and you thank the Academy, you mention your "sincere" gratitude to the opponents for the inspiration. Well, I might have exaggerated but something has gotta happen right? Or all the Oscar-bloggers will soon lose their jobs.
    Anyways, I am adding some additional nominations for the Burt Awards, which winners will be announced this Sunday. The new categories are: Best Scene; Best Quote. That's it. 
   As for the Oscar nominees I must admit I took a second shot at "American Hustle", and I quite enjoyed it this time. It didn't convince me to call it the best movie of the year, but it was OK.
   
Just for the routine's sake I'll type some predictions in, so here they are ladies and gents:


BEST PICTURE
1. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)
2. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
3. American Hustle (David O. Russel)
4. Her (Spike Jonze)
5. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)
6. Philomena (Stephen Frears)
7. Dallas Buyers Club (Jean-Marc Vallee)
8. Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass)
9. Nebraska (Alexander Payne)

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Alsonso Cuaron (Gravity)
2. Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
3. David O. Russel (American Hustle)
4. Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Alexander Payne (Nebraska)

BEST ACTOR
1. Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
2. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
3. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
4. Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
5. Christian Bale (American Hustle)

BEST ACTRESS
1. Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
2. Amy Adams (American Hustle)
3. Judi Dench (Philomena)
4. Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
5. Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1. Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
2. June Squibb (Nebraska)
3. Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
4. Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
5. Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)



THE BURT AWARDS REMAINING CATEGORIES


BEST SCENE 
- "August: Osage County" - Julia Roberts makes Meryl Streep eat fish.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHPsIbfNcLQ

- "Captain Phillips" - Ending scene with nurse helping Tom Hanks.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl5IP6E-9CI

- "American Hustle" - Jennifer Lawrence burns "science oven".
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIGPvPRzEaQ

- "The Wolf of Wall Street" - DiCaprio cerebral palsy phase after Lemmon Quaaludes.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr3151RdQWE

- "The Wolf of Wall Street" - Matthew McConaughey hums during lunch with DiCaprio.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YCHmOAbJBs


BEST QUOTE
-  "Eat the fish, bitch!" - Julia Roberts in "August: Osage County"
- "I'm never going to Benihana's again. I don't care who's birthday it is." - Jonah Hill in "The Wolf of Wall Street"
- "And here's Woody's little sister, Rose. She was only nineteen when she died in a car accident. What a whore." - June Squibb in "Nebraska"
- "If you ride like lighting, you're gonna crash like thunder." - Ben Mendelsohn in "The Place Beyond the Pines"
- "These bastards where so strong, I discovered a whole new phase. The cerebral palsy phase" - Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Wolf of Wall Street"