The Oscar Winners 2011

The show is over, the war is won, the fat lady has sung... check mate Hollywood. Last night the best of the best from a dazzling year in cinema took home golden Oscar statues to show to their proud parents and agents. If the night had an overall result it appears to have been match point to British cinema and a general triumph for predictability. Here are the results you’d already guessed....

Best Actor – Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)
Best Actress – Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Best Picture – The King’s Speech
Best Director – Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)
Best Supporting Actor – Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Best Supporting Actress – Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Animated Feature – Toy Story 3
Art Direction – Alice In Wonderland
Cinematography – Inception
Costumes – Alice In Wonderland
Documentary – Inside Job
Film Editing – The Social Network
Foreign Language Film – In a Better World
Makeup – Wolfman
Music (Original Score) – The Social Network
Music (Original Song) – We Belong Together (Toy Story 3)
Sound Mixing – Inception
Sound Editing – Inception
Visual Effects – Inception
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – The Social Network
Writing (Original Screenplay) – The King’s Speech

Colin Firth’s best actor win for The King’s Speech was as close as possible to being a sure thing. The film’s wins for Best Picture and Best Director were slightly less certain but arguably also well deserved.  The Social Network must feel a little like it’s had a friend request rejected this morning despite taking home honours for best Music and adapted screenplay.

Inception (the actual best film of the year) was largely overlooked but took home a clutch of technical awards as shiny consolation prizes. At least the academy openly accepts that zero gravity fighting looks cool.

It was clearly a great night to be any casts member of The Fighter who isn’t Mark Walberg. Meanwhile Toy Story 3 won an award for making grown men reluctantly cry in public.

Natalie Portman’s win for best actress reaffirms the universally acknowledged truth that pretending to have aggressive lesbian sex with Mila Kunis really can only lead to good things. I’m sure someone is busy right now happily scribbling the words ‘Oscar Winner’ below her name on all the No Strings Attached posters.

As for me I'm off to watch a press screening for The Eagle and hoping for even better things this year...

Rango Review

Accidentally marooned in the Mojave desert a lonely lizard sets out in search of water, friends and the elusive spirit of the Wild West. Re-inventing himself as a mythical cowboy hero he winds up the unlikely sheriff of a desperate town in dire need of saving from evil bandits. But can he really save the day, can he truly become... Rango.

Versatile and charismatic might as well be Johnny Depp’s middle names. It’s as if the sheer gravity of his charm pulls any passing compliments towards him. But, he deserves them all. If you had to pick any man alive to play a Hawaiian shirt wearing chameleon cowboy it would almost certainly have to be this guy. Depp pours a maniacal likability into the character which is oddly reminiscent of his memorable ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ performance. Clearly aware of this similarity the film openly acknowledges the strange connection with a number of blatant reference and in-jokes.

Depp can and has single handily carried films on the back of his inspired oddity, but thankfully this time he’s surrounded by an array of wonderful vocal performances. Isla Fisher is a fiery tempered western gal, Abigal Breslin is a precociously morbid young possum and Alfred Molina is a piece of philosophical roadkill. It’s all a little insane and utterly brilliant.

The film’s beautiful animation has a mesmerising tangible quality. You can almost feel the fire of the desert or the slime on a toad’s back. The character design is flawless. Every strange looking critter we encounter is raggedly real. There isn’t the slightest trace of the bland symmetrical cuteness that can typically leave animated animals feeling fake and insipid. All the rough edges of Rango’s dusty desert world and its grimy inhabitants are reassuringly real. It’s a pleasure to let your eyes drink it all in.

Hans Zimmer recently crafted the instantly iconic soundtrack to Christopher Nolan’s Inception; his Rango soundtrack is a vastly different but equally masterful creation. Echoing the wailing guitar riffs of Ennio Morricone’s ‘spaghetti western’ scores, it propels the film with the true sound of the Wild West. . Personified onscreen by a wandering mariachi band of owls it brings an adventurous comedic tone to the film.

Rango has its fair share of slapstick laughs, but what’s most delightful is just how genuinely thrilling its real action set pieces are. They easily surpass any of Director Gore Verbinski’s previous swashbuckling efforts in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. One chase sequence in particular involving bats and a banjo cover version of ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ is pure unfiltered genius.

The worst kinds of films are those which try to pander to an audience, especially children.  It’s perilously easy to misjudge the undoubted intelligence and sophistication which a childish mind is capable of. Some people will suggest that Rango is too dark, scary or weird for children. Those people are horribly wrong. It is precisely that kind of convincing peril and unrestrained imagination that children lust for more than adults.  

Every element of this film is tinged with the rare elegance of perfection. It’s a brave and original blend of classic westerns and children’s animation that should absolutely delight most people even if leaves an unlucky few confused or disinterested.  

As an eccentric child I would have adored this film completely, now as a proudly odd adult I cannot wait to go back to the cinema to watch it again on 4^th of March. Join me and Let’s Ride...

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review

16 year old Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber already has millions of passionately devoted fans around the world and now he has his very own movie too. Interspersing flashy 3D concert footage from his 2010 American tour with home movies and backstage interviews; the film charts his dizzying rise from YouTube phenomenon to global megastar in just a couple of years.

For anyone unfamiliar with the charms of Justin Bieber, the film offers a handy guide to how he’s managed to permeate the hearts of half the planet’s teenagers and almost every aspect of pop culture. Although as a documentary the film could be accused of pulling its punches. The film favours a simple life story narrative over any kind of detailed exploration of the issues surrounding pubescent superstardom.

The film casually reassures us that Justin is just a normal kid but it largely ignores the obvious questions of how untold wealth, public adoration and pressure affect a child. Hardcore ‘Beliebers’ will be predictably ecstatic to see their hero celebrated, but less lovelorn viewers may find themselves yearning for a little more critical probing.

Those with a natural inclination for despising Justin Bieber and the tween-pop music industry he represents will be left disappointed in their search for ammunition to attack him with. There’s no evidence he’s the obnoxious brat many would presuppose and he’s certainly not talentless. The film offers lots of compelling home movie evidence of his astonishing musical gifts. That fact alone may be enough to dispel some of the scepticism and hate that has inevitably followed Bieber’s unparalleled success.

At times the film is hilarious, thanks to the frenzied ramblings of teenage girls hopelessly afflicted with the infamous “Bieber Fever”. Whether they’re professing an earnest intention to marry him or just exploding into joyous tears at his mere presence, their unrestrained hysteria is deeply endearing and amusing. A glorious slow motion celebration of Justin’s boyish hair tossing is a more deliberately irreverent moment in a film that carefully avoids ever taking itself too seriously.

The film is proud to deliver a positive message of self belief that insists kids can do anything and should never give up on their dreams. It might be a clichéd and heavy-handed moral, but it’s still a good attitude to expose young minds to.

The merits of 3D technology remain up for debate, but it’s a perfect fit for capturing the fast paced kinetic wonders of a live concert. Thrown up onto the giant screen, the diminutive pop idol literally reaches into the audience to grab us by the hand, thus fulfilling the deepest wishes of countless young girls in darkened cinemas.

While the film is unashamedly made for dedicated fans, its likeable enthusiasm and cute comedy should win over most reluctant viewers. You won’t necessarily come out of the cinema utterly in love with Justin Bieber, but you’ll certainly find it harder to dislike him. You also really don’t need to have the musical tastes of a 13 year old girl to enjoy this film, although it probably wouldn’t hurt... 

Black Swan Review

Natalie Portman will win an Oscar for this performance. Her unhinged emotional intensity, coupled with a ruthless physical transformation into a prima ballerina, makes her an inevitable red carpet victor. Built around this incredible central performance, the film is a mesmerising journey of mental collapse. It is darkly psychotic and inescapably gripping.

Portman plays a young ballerina struggling to deal with the immense pressures of her first leading role in Swan Lake. An abusive instructor, a talented rival dancer and the aging star she replaced in the spotlight all help push her to the brink of madness and beyond. Spiralling into terrifying hallucinations as opening night draws closer.

Director Darren Aronofsky has drawn unlikely comparisons between Black Swan and his previous masterpiece The Wrestler. Superficially there may seem little to connect the high art of Ballet with the brutish pratfalls of professional wrestling. However, there is a deep and surprising emotional connection between these two worlds. They share the same tragedy, of performers left physically and emotionally broken by the self-destructive sacrifice necessary for their craft.

The ballet community hasn’t responded particularly well to seeing some of its ugliest stereotypes on the big screen. However, whether the film’s character assassinations are accurate or deserved is irrelevant to its own undoubted success as a sublime work of filmmaking art.

Black Swan throbs and aches with a sinister sexual electricity. Vincent Cassel does fine work as a predatory ballet instructor, but of course it’s the film’s already infamous lesbian sex scenes which grab the erotic headlines. However, the passionate encounter between Portman and bitter rival dancer (Mila Kunis) is nothing like the exercise in adolescent wish fulfilment some may have expected.

The integration of the Swan Lake ballet movements into the films ominous and lurching soundtrack is seamless and effective. Aronofsky blends subtle special effects with gritty cinematography an equally deft touch to plunge the audience into an increasingly jarring and nightmarish world.

Black Swan is blessed with the kind of sophisticated suspense and sexual intrigue that would have made Alfred Hitchcock proud. It’s bleak, shocking, beautiful and intense.

Justin Bieber Never Say Never European Premiere

We talk to pop music superstar Justin Bieber at the premeire of his new 3D concert movie Never Say Never at the O2 arena in London.

Justin talks about his faith and says that god is the most important thing in his life and keeps him humble. Justin also gives a personal thank you message for all hs devoted UK fans and says he's looking foward to the UK tour and promises the movie will be loads of fun and really exciting for them.

We also talk to the film's director Jon Chu and celebrity Bieber fans Alesha Dixon and Craig David.

Justin Bieber High Fives A Little Girl

Justin Bieber gives a tiny young fan a High Five on the red carpet at the European premiere of his new concert movie Never Say Never in London at the O2 arena.

Justin may be one of the biggest pop superstars on the planet but he really does love his fans and takes time out from giving interviews and signing autographs to make it a night to remember for one adorable girl.

UK Beliebers - Never Say Never European Premiere

We talk to UK fans of Justin Bieber at the Premiere of his new 3D concert movie Never Say Never at the O2 arena in London. The girls sing, tell us why the love Justin so much and are rewarded by a personal message from Justin and getting to meet the pop music superstar in person.

The Flying Machine - The World Of Chopin's Etudes Premiere

We talk to Oscar winning producer Hugh Welchman and young star Kizzy Mee on the red carpet at the Ryoal Festival Hall in London at the premiere of The Flying Machine. Celebrating the unique musical genius of Chopin the project features actress Heather Graham and classical music star Lang Lang.

X-Factor John Adeleye Album News

We talk to X-Factor star John Adeleye on the red carpet at the UK premeire of Yogi Bear 3D in aid of the Variety Club.

John talks about beng a naughty little boy and his love of classic cartoons. he also shares news of his forthcoming album. He describes his news sound as like James Brown with a little more Rock and Soul. He's currently working hard on his songs with hopes to be in the studios soon and have an album ready for fans before the end of the year.

John also defends singing competitions like the X-factor against criticism that they're ruining the music industry. He also talks about what Simon Cowell and fellow judges Cheryl and Louie are really like in real life.

More Arrested Development Movie News from Will Arnett

Will talks about the forthcoming and long anticipated Arrested Development movie. Will confirms that the cast are all on board even if they haven't signed up just yet. The show's creator Michael Hurwitz is currently writing the screenplay with a view to starting filming by the end of the year.

When asked what to expect for his character GOB in the movie he says that while they'll be some crazy funny stuff there may also be some sadness.

We're not sure how serious he is about that but what is clear is that the long delayed and rumoured film project is happening. Will admits that there are still a couple of things left to resolve before shooting starts but that everyone is ready to go.

Will also confirms that widely reported rumours that Michael Cera was the lone cast member holding out and delaying production of the film were in fact started as a joke by himself and other cast and crew, but that they had to stop when Cera started getting one too many genuinely threatening letters.

Arrested Development Movie Officially Confirmed

Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz and star Will Arnett sit down for a hilarious exclusive interview where they confirm that the long awaited Arrested Development movie is on it's way and should start filming this year wqith the entire original series cast returning. The film will pick up with the syfunctional Bluth family some time after the end of the series.

Mitch is busy writing the script and hopes to have a trailer out by the end of the year. He also says that while he has to remain tight lipped to surprise fans he has some big name stars lined up to appear alongside the series regulars. Let the great experiment begin.....

Helen Mirren Brighton Rock Interview

Oscar winning star Dame Helen Mirren talks to us on the red carpet at the European Premeire of Brighton Rock in Leicester Square. The film is based on Graham Greene's classic novel about a ruthless young gangster called Pinkie. The new version, written and directed by Rowan Joffe and co-starring Sam Riley (Control) and John Hurt updates the story to the 1960s against the background of teen violence and the iconic Mods vs the Rockers riots.

Brighton Rock Director Rowan Joffe Interview

We talk to writer/director Rowan Joffe on the red carpet at the European Premeire of Brighton Rock in Leicester Square. The film is based on Graham Greene's classic novel about a ruthless young gangster called Pinkie. The new version, starring Sam Riley (Control), Helen Mirren (The Queen) and John Hurt updates the story to the 1960s against the background of teen violence and the iconic Mods vs the Rockers riots.

Paul World Premiere Interviews

Stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost talk to us on the red carpet at the world premiere of their latest film Paul. The film is written by Simon and Nick and directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland). It also co-stars Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig and Sigournery Weaver and Seth Rogen as the voice of Paul.

The film tells the story of two british nerds on a roadtrip across americas most famous UFO sites who meet an alien who needs a little help getting home. It's a loving and hilarious homage to iconic 80's films like E.T. and classic sci-fi.

We also talk to Joe Lo Truglio (Superbad) who in addition to playing a bungling secret service agent also spent a lot of time on set down on his knees, standing in for Paul & Seth Rogen while filming.