Just. Too. Sexy.

I know I haven't posted in awhile and this really doesn't count as a post but I swear i'll get back to regular updates soon. For now, just marvel at how hot SHE is.

Best in Film: 2006: Sound and Sound Effects Editing

I've had a long day and I'm tired. Also, I'm woefully unqualified to really talk about sound mixing in detail. So I'm scrapping the full on explanation and just listing these. Next up is a biggie: Supporting Actor, where I'll be back to pointless droning on why exactly I picked the five candidates.

BEST SOUND MIXING

Apocalypto - Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Cámara
Yeah, it is an awful film but that doesn't take away from O'Connell (Oscar's biggest loser-19 times!) and Co's great work creating the atmosphere of the Mayan civilization. The quiet of the forest, the screaming of the pigs and the loud and textured sounds of the film's last half. Its loud but never blunt work.

Casino Royale - Martin Cantwell, Chris Munro, Mike Prestwood Smith and Mark Taylor
For creating a muscular, loud and energizing mix that threw the franchise back to life.

Children of Men - John Midgley, Chris Burdon and Tom Johnson
Stunningly detailed work: the ringing of the ears, the cat's meows while Theo and Jasper chill out, Theo's flip flops, his foot getting cut all mixed in with the sounds of warfare, a crumbling city and the myriad of languages (Including Sinhalese!) spoken at the edges.

Happy Feet - Wayne Pashley, Greg Fitzgerald, Phil Heywood, Phil Judd, Cory Mandel, Peter Purcell & Robert Sullivan
Musicals are always impressive. Animated musicals are whole other level of wow. Feet not only includes a deft mix of the sounds created to make the world come alive, Mumble's tapping feet and the big booming sound of the most oddly eclectic soundtrack of the year.

Superman Returns - Salty Brincat, John Reitz, Gregg Rudolff and David Campbell
Big, loud and majestic. Just as it should be.

BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING
Casino Royale - Eddy Joseph
Monster House - Dennis Leonard and Randy Thom
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
Superman Returns - Craig Berkey
World Trade Center - Wylie Stateman and Michael D. Wilhoit

Best in Film: 2006: Costume Design

I'm gonna try and do the ballot thingy a little differently this year, scrapping the pretty pictures and names and instead try to illustrate why I've chosen each of the films in each categories. Starting with Costume Design.

The Devil Wears Prada, Patricia Field

A designer's dream, Field (most well known for her work on HBO's Sex and the City) lucks out by costuming a contemporary film where the clothes themselves take centre stage. Luckily she takes the opportunity and runs with it, brilliantly assaying the journey each character (especially Andie) takes through the film and illustrating it in their wardrobe. Also, by using real couture Field creates an authentic fashion world instead of the deplorably fabricated ones we see on television. Miranda and Co. actually look like fashionistas and it gives them the credibility they need for the story to work. Bonus points for creating a singular style for each and every character (no two dress alike).

Dreamgirls, Sharen Davis

Another dream project for any designer. Davis gets to create literally hundreds of costumes for The Dreams, both on and off stage, encompassing over a decade of styles and fads and create them in all their dazzling technicolour glory thanks to the films 'shinier-is-better' mantra. Whilst Production Designer John Myhre is content to cut corners with curtains and lights, Davis is up to task and while it many not always be accurate to the era (neither is the music), it is always stunning.

Little Miss Sunshine, Nancy Steiner

I can sense a big 'WTF?' coming here, but give it a chance. One of my biggest problems with the costumer's branch of the Academy is how they constantly snub contemporary films (though they redeemed themselves by nominating two this year) in favour of period pieces. I'd like to announce that contemporary films have designers too and their job far harder to do and, most times, more impressive. See period pieces with their ornate costumes are definitely pretty but there is no attention paid to who is wearing the clothes. Switch those puffy pretty dresses around between actresses and it wouldn't make a difference, but in a film like Little Miss Sunshine it would be disastrous because each piece of clothing has been especially chosen for each character by taking into account their personality, income and how much attention they pay to what they wear. Look at Grandpa's leather waistcoat, Cheryl's low-key shirts and dresses, Olive's red cowboy boots, Richard's shorts and sandals look and Frank's crisp yet bland shirts. This is extraordinarily detailed work that does a lot to tell us who each character is.

Marie Antionette, Milena Canonero

So just after I dissed work on period pieces here I am nominating one myself. Yes, I think contemporary films are more of a challenge but period films that feature costumes this gorgeous deserve recognition (as they have, Canonero picked up an Oscar for her work). But these aren't your average period costumes. Not only is it an epic assignment for Canonero but it is breathtaking to watch how she devotes herself to Coppola's vision, creating candy-coloured dresses that speak volumes of the obscenity, arrogance, fun and wide-eyed wonder of the French Queen herself.

Prairie Home Companion, Catherine Marie Thomas

Beautiful, instantly iconic looks that never once overshadow the blissfully well-worn feeling of the film. The work is also nicely woven into the film: the way Yolanda chooses a top that gives her more cleavage, the Angel's white coat, Lola picking up her mother's shawl from before when she suddenly has to get on stage. Bonus points for Lily Tomlin's green jacket.

winners will be announced later

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oscar Predictions

Picture: Babel (alt. The Departed)
Directing: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
Actor: Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
Actress: Helen Mirren (The Queen)
Actor in a Supporting Role: Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
Writing (Original Screenplay): Little Miss Sunshine
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Departed
Foreign Language Film: The Lives of Others
Documentary Feature: An Inconvenient Truth
Animated Feature Film: Cars
Documentary Short: Recycled Life
Short Film (Animated): The Little Matchgirl
Short Film (Live Action): West Bank Story
Film Editing: Babel
Art Direction: Pan's Labyrinth
Cinematography: Children of Men
Costume Design: Dreamgirls
Makeup: Pan's Labyrinth
Score: The Queen
Song: "I Need To Wake Up" (An Inconvenient Truth)
Sound Editing: Letters From Iwo Jima
Sound Mixing: Dreamgirls
Visual Effects: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Go See This.

Haven't posted about 'Chatroom' yet. Thought I should. Opening night is Friday. Tickets are available at the Wendy Whatmore Academy. Click the picture for more details.

50 Best: 2000-05

01. In the Mood for Love (Wong Kar-Wai)
02. Far From Heaven (Todd Haynes)
03. Dancer in the Dark (Lars von Trier)
04. Moulin Rouge! (Baz Luhrmann)
05. Before Sunset (Richard Linklater)
06. Russian Ark (Alexander Sokurov)
07. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch)
08. Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee)
09. Caché (Michael Haneke)
10. The New World (Terrence Malick)
11. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson)
12. Talk to Her (Pedro Almodóvar)
13. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michele Gondry)
14. What Time is It There? (Tsai Ming-Liang)
15. A History of Violence (David Cronenberg)
16. The Squid and the Whale (Noah Baumbach)
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee)
18. This is My Moon (Asoka Handagama)
19. Requiem for a Dream (Darren Aronofsky)
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Peter Jackson)
21. Downfall (Oliver Hirschbiegel)
22. Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog)
23. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson)
24. Kill Bill, Volume 1 (Quentin Tarantino)
25. Gosford Park (Robert Altman)
26. Under the Sand (François Ozon)
27. The Pianist (Roman Polanski)
28. Before Night Falls (Julian Schnabel)
29. You Can Count on Me (Kenneth Lonergan)
30. A Time for Drunken Horses (Bahman Ghobadi)
31. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)
32. Mystic River (Clint Eastwood)
33. Elephant (Gus van Sant)
34. American Psycho (Mary Harron)
35. Good Night, and Good Luck. (George Clooney)
36. Junebug (Phil Morrison)
37. Millennium Mambo (Hou Hsiao-Hsien)
38. Punch-Drunk Love (Paul Thomas Anderson)
39. 2046 (Wong Kar-Wai)
40. The House of Mirth (Terrence Davies)
41. Monsoon Wedding (Mira Nair)
42. The Piano Teacher (Michael Haneke)
43. Pride and Prejudice (Joe Wright)
44. City of God (Fernando Meirelles)
45. The Fog of War (Errol Morris)
46. The Aviator (Martin Scorsese)
47. Spider-Man 2 (Sam Raimi)
48. 25th Hour (Spike Lee)
49. Ghost World (Terry Zwigoff)
50. Wonder Boys (Curtis Hanson)