Robert Downey Jr. Can Get It!

Confession time. I don't watch American Idol; never have and never will. However, I have seen very few performances posted on youtube e.g. Adam Lambert's take on Tracks of My Tears It was thus a great pleasure to see this next delight. In my opinion, Robert Downey Jr. is so cool and smooth in this. Jack Black although dramatic, has the moves down! I knew he can sing but I had no idea RDJ has some ballet and tap dance in his background. I'm loving this guy more and more. This clip is from from American Idol finale in 2008. I told you I don't watch that show!

2011 Academy Award Predictions

It's 6pm, the evening before the 2011 Oscars, and I'm finally done watching all the Oscar nominated films & docs (except 4 of the 5 foreign films). I wish I could get an invite to become a member of the Academy and vote. It's sad to know that many who can vote don't even watch all the films before voting. Before I give you my picks, do you know how the best film is chosen? Ok, let me try to explain.

So, after the whole The Dark Knight-not-getting-a-nomination debacle, something had to be done. That something resulted to 10 film best feature film nominations in the proceeding years. However, It's no longer who get's the most votes but rather who is higher on everyone's preference.

So, let's say 10 of us vote. Each person lists the best picture in order of preference. For me it's

The Social Network
The Fighter
Inception
Black Swan
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Kids Are Alright
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Now, for a film to win, it has to garner 50% of the votes. So if the Social Network is not voted by 5 out of 10 of us, one film that ranks at the bottom needs to get the boot. So if Winter's Bone is ranked lowest on most of the 10 ballots, it get's booted and its votes redistributed based on popularity. So, if The Social Network, Inception and The Fighter was ranked highly amongst the remaining 9 ballots, then they'll get most of the redistributed votes. This continues until we arrive at the final film. So, it's possible that although I rank the Social Network highly on my ballot, it may get surpassed in number of votes if the other ballots don't rank it as highly. So, you can find the King's Speech or Inception beating it come Oscar night. Hope that makes sense.

As for the rest of my picks, they are as follows:

Best Director:
It's hard to pick which way the Academy will go. Tom Hooper won the Director's Guild Award for directing The King's Speech. However, The Social Network is also a strong contender thus so is David Fincher. I'm going with Tom Hooper.

Best Actress:
Natalie Portman in Black Swan. I love Annette Bening. However, Natalie owns the role and you just get lost in her. Unless the Academy wishes to overlook this and award Annette for losing to Hilary Swank twice, it's Natalie Portman's statuette to lose.

Best Actor:
This was tough for me. Jesse Eisenberg truly annoyed the sh*t out of me as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. James Franco also made 127 Hours truly riveting to watch as the only cast member for most of the film. However, Colin Firth in The King's Speech has the edge this year. And I dare ANYONE to say otherwise!

Best Supporting Actress:
This is hard. It really can go either way between Melissa Leo in The Fighter or Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit. The Academy does love kid actors and first time nominees in best supporting female categories tend to win. See Ana Paquin, Tatum O'neil, Jennifer Hudson and Marlee Matlin to name a few. But, despite history, I give this one to Melissa Leo.

Best Supporting Actor:
There's no competition here - Christian Bale in The Fighter - moving on.

Animated Feature Film:
This is a tie between Toy Story 3 and The Illusionist. The Academy loves Pixar film and Sylvain Chomet (the Illusionist) won this category the last time he was nominated for The Triplets of Belleville (I loved it!). But I'm going with Toy Story 3.

Best Documentary:
I've only watched 4 out of the 5 due to availability. My sister and I truly feel Restrepo should win. However, I think the Academy will go with Exit Through The Gift Shop.

Adapted Screenplay:
The Social Network will edge out Toy Story 3

Original Screenplay:
Inception should and will win.

What are your picks? Make sure you tune in to ABC come Oscar night, Sunday February 27th at 8pm EST.

The Oscars Are Coming!

Ah, what a wonderful way to get back to this blog. The Oscars were announced this morning and if you ask me, yes you did!, The Town and Ben Affleck were ROBBED! Here's a few of the nominations

Best Picture
127 Hours
Inception
Winter's Bone
Black Swan
The Fighter - Yay Mark Wahlberg!!!!!!
The Kids Are Alright
The King's Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3 - Overrated in my opinion
True Grit

Best Actor
James Franco - 127 Hrs
Javier Bardem - Biutiful - I knew it! I just knew it! There was no way he would be left out.
Jeff Bridges - True Grit - Oscar loves to invite winners back
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network - Still have no desire to watch this film....don't know why
Colin Firth - The King's Speech - Swoon!

Best Supporting Actor
Jeremy Renner - The Town - much deserved
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are Alright
Geoffrey Rush -The King's Speech
John Hawkes - Winter's Bone
Christian Bale - The Fighter - this could be his year unless Oscar remembers previous winner Mr. Rush

Best Actress
Annette Bening - The Kids Are Alright - can she finally get her Oscar. Natalie Portman may be her Hilary Swank this year...But no Julianne Moore...my bff
Natalie Portman - The Swan
Nicole Kidman- Rabbit Hole - The face moved...it moved!!!
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine -Yay! This makes up for Ryan Gosling
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

Best Supporting Actress
Melissa Leo - The Fighter - welcome back!
Amy Adams - The Fighter - welcome back!
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom - apparently, I need to watch this movie
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3 - I say if you are in Best picture, you cannot be in this category!
How To Train Your Dragon - I don't get it
The Illusionist - must have taken the place of DESPICABLE ME!!!!!

Best Director
Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky
True Grit - Joel and Ethan Coen - took the place of Christopher Nolan for Inception.
The King's Speech - Tom Hooper
The Social Network - David Fincher
The Fighter - David O. Russell

Best Documentary
Restrepo - My fave...just heart breaking!
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Inside Job
Gasland
Waste Land

Best Foreign Language Film
Biutiful - Mexico
Incedies - Yah Canuck! (That's Canada eh)
In a Better World - Denmark
Dogtooth - Greece
Outside the Law - Yay Algeria!

Best Original Screenplay
The King's Speech
Inception
The Kid's Are Alright
Another Year
The Fighter

Best Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Fun tidbit - Dido can now be known as an Oscar Nominee - Best Original Song for 127 Hours!

You can view the remaining categories here. Tune in to ABC on Sunday February 27th at 8pm EST. Good luck to all the nominees!

My Eyes Are Green - Part Deux

Love the guts of the blonde lady who admitted she was pissed to see she missed out on Oprah's Favorite Things episode. She's right, the rest of the audience was lying! Here's the list:

• Apple ipad
• Classic sparkle UGG Boots
• Madison Patent Large Sofia satchel by Coach
• silk and cashmere tunic with hand beading with black silk and cashmere leggings from Magaschoni
• Hope in a jar by Philosophy customized with a baby picture of Oprah
• $500 lingerie gift certificate from Nordstrom for you and a friend
• Herb-Saver by Prepara
• Chicken Pie by Centerville offered by Harry and David
• 6.5 gallon Garrett's popcorn with a customized favorite things tin
• Le Creuset cast iron pots and pans 10 piece customized Oprah set
• Miracle body jeans by Miraclesuit
• Sophie Jewelry box from Pottery Barn
• Jessica Leigh diamond earrings by Dana Rebecca Designs (100 diamonds in each pair)
• $100 Donors Choose gift card provided by Bing. Bing will donate $1 up to $1M donors for everyone who visits www.bing.com/gives
• Mini Croissants from Williams-Sonoma
• Favorite Things Assortment by Talbott teas
• The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
• A Christmas duet by by Johnny Mathis and Josh Groban
• Yes, it's not what you think!!! Oprah wanted to give VW's red beetle.
• Ok, 2012 VW Beetle instead. This is when I cry. Not from envy but I'm filled with joy for the audience. They'll be the first to own one when it debuts next year in May. 

Like Oprah said, something really magical, and joyful and magical can happen to you when you least expect it.

My Eyes Are Green

'Cause I eat a lot of vegetables. It has nothing to do with Oprah's final Favorite Things Episode. This year Oprah decided to do two episodes. For me, the best part of viewing this show is seeing the reaction of the audience. The black man in the red tie's reaction was simply put, priceless! Check out 0:13, 0:38 and 0:54



I wish I could hide my envy but the chosen audience was truly deserving. Here's a list of what they received.

• Philip Stein Dual time zone diamond watch specially designed for Oprah's 25th silver anniversary retailing $2,475
• Tory Burch tote in grey flannel and silver trimming with the ballerina flats
• Nikon Digital SLR D3100
• Ralph Lauren for Oprah customized cashmere sweater with a matching cashmere cable throw
• Judith Ripka eclipse earrings canary crystals with white sapphire set in sterling
• Andre Walker's (Oprah's hairstylist for 25 years) hair care system now this I would love to have
• 18 Lafco candles retailing $55 each
• Breville panini press from William's Sonoma
• Kyocera ceramic cutlery set
• Beechers World's Best Mac & Cheese
• Bakers Edge brownie and lasagna pan
• A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson
• The book Decoded Jay-Z
• 5 year netflix membership yeah, I could kill for this one! 
• 52inch Sony Bravia 3D flat screen plus blu-ray player this is the point where I said "Oh F*%*k" 
• Kiva gift card provided by Groupon who will match contributions
• Customized closet to be built by the Container Store
• Farewell season t-shirt
• Lululemon athletica drawstring pants
• 4 pairs of Nike Free Run+ shoes
• Everyone flies United Airlines to board Royal Carribean's Allure of The Seas for a 7 days cruise through the Caribbean now I'm pissed with goose bumps all over
• A performance by the Black Eyed Peas and their brand new cd, The Beginning.

Side note- I hope those medics and fedex guys are also getting some of the ultimate favorite things. I don't know if I can make it through part 2.

Where Are My Manners? Puff Puff Pass!

Sorry folks, I've been in my own private heaven since I heard this song that I forgot the proper etiquette is to share the ganja. Looks like we won't have to wait for Detox too much longer. I know, that statement has been said too many times before that it's becoming a joke. But this little girl dreams big. Kush gives me hope that Dr. Dre will bless us with another classic. However Kush, which features Akon and Snoop Dogg, is not the official first single, but a street single...WTF?! I need to speak with Interscope STAT! Sorry for the horrible sound quality



I Need a Doctor ft. Eminem and Liz Rodrigues is the "official" first single. First, this feels like an Eminem track featuring Dr. Dre. Secondly, I'm not sold on this one. Dre might want to rethink detoxification and hit that chronic one more time. Take a listen. Doesn't it give you a Love The Way You Lie vibe?

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/en/play/s/1202d6d-118813/

New Adele

Adele is back! The first single off her new album, 21, has dropped. Rolling in the deep makes me believe that she will not suffer the best new artist Grammy curse. Oh, do you not know about that? Ok, then. I will write you a little article about that.

But back to your scheduled programming.

Adele's sophomore cd is co-produced by Rick Rubin. Yes, Def Jam's Rick Rubin who did a great job on hip hop acts and the last cd by the Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way Home Her soulful voice is perfectly laden with anger and rage needed for this revenge-filled ballad. Amen to seeing the light and being a strong woman; that lover will wish he never met her! Adele fans will not be disappointed and she will definitely make new fans off of this track. Looking forward to February 22nd.