Subdued Gervais leads monotonous Golden Globes

January 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Ricky Gervais led an evening of celebrations last night for the 69th Golden Globe Awards, held at the Beverley Hilton, Los Angeles.

The British comedian returned to host the show for his third time; something of a surprise given the numerous complaints he received from celebrities he targeted last year.

However, this year’s awards saw a considerably more subdued Gervais, leaving many feeling let down after his audacious performance 12 months ago.

His attacks seemed more focused on the awards themselves which he claimed lacked the esteem of the Oscars, instead being to them, “what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton – a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker.”

The overall result was a ceremony that lacked the excitement and controversial appeal that made last year so enjoyable. Instead, generally lacklustre and humdrum speeches which listed countless people that needed to be thanked made for a somewhat monotonous affair.

The awards themselves provided few surprises, with The Artist picking up best motion picture – comedy or musical, best score and best actor – comedy or musical for Jean Dujardin.

The Descendants also received notable recognition, being named best motion picture – drama and George Clooney being awarded best actor – drama.

The other major acting awards went to Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in Iron Lady and Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn.

Singer Madonna was awarded best song for ‘Masterpiece’ which features in her directorial debut W.E.

Christopher Plummer won the best supporting actor award for Beginner’s and Octavia Spencer won best supporting actress for The Help.

The best director gong went to Martin Scorsese for Hugo, his first venture into the world of 3D and children’s cinema.

Best screenplay was awarded to Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris whilst Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn won best animation.

Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation continued its winning streak picking up the award for best foreign film.

Morgan Freeman was awarded the Cecil B. De Mille award, given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for outstanding contributions in the world of entertainment.

Presented by dame Helen Mirren and the iconic Sidney Poitier, Freeman announced in his speech, “it has been said that if you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. So for the past 45 years or so, I’ve never had to work. My passion has always been acting.”

Evidently moved by being handed the accolade by Poitier, he referred to him as his “guiding beacon in life,” proclaiming that in his household, it will not just be known as the Cecille B. De Mille award, but the, “Sidney Poitier award” as well.

With the awards season now in full swing, everyone is looking towards the Oscars which will take place next month. Last night’s winners provide interesting possibilities for the upcoming awards as the Oscars do not have separate categories for drama and comedy or musical. It therefore stands that both The Artist and The Descendants have considerable potential in landing the top prizes.

Taken from The Student, published online Mon Jan 16th 2012.

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Best/Worst World Cinema DVD Releases 2011

December 5, 2011 Leave a comment

Best World Cinema Films 2011

 

  1. The Skin I Live In

As beautiful as it is grotesque, Pedro Almodóvar’s arthouse venture is a stunning look at the bizarre. With exquisite cinematography from José Luis Alcaine and original music by Alberto Iglesias, it continues to stir the imagination long after its credits role. Its haunting subject matter is approached with a surprising tenderness, to create a deeply disturbing tale that is aided by a fantastic performance from Antonio Banderas. Whilst it may be too shocking for some, it remains the most powerful film of the year.

  1. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

For anyone with even a passing interest in ghosts or the supernatural, Uncle Boonmee is a definite must see. Deeply enigmatic, it intersperses the extraordinary with the ordinary, to create a magical tale that is incredibly touching to watch. Containing themes encompassing dreams, memories and death, it provides a thought provoking look at the concept of extinction and mortality. Beautifully experimental, its enchanting nature establishes it as a worthy winner of the Palme d’Or.

  1. Le Quattro Volte

Michaelangelo Frammartino’s philosophical film is a poignant depiction of life and the interrelation of all things. Filmed with an incredibly subtle tone, it contains virtually no dialogue but still manages to have a strong effect on the viewer. This lack of speech emphasises the surrounding sounds of each scene which often go unnoticed in most films. Rich in symbolism, it leaves you contemplating your own existence and place within the universe.

Worst World Cinema Films 2011

 

  1. Ninja Girl

Unlike his previous film Alien Vs. Ninja, Seiji Chiba’s latest effort fails to hit the mark. For a martial arts film, it features very little in the way of actual fighting. With poor acting that isn’t helped by a weak script, it fails to draw the viewer in and instead falls flat like the films villains. With its convoluted plot and obtuse subject material, Ninja Girl is definitely one you won’t need to worry about missing.

  1. Norwegian Wood

Adapting Haruki Marukami’s work for the big screen was never going to be an easy task, even if Norwegian Wood is one of his less surreal books. Anh Hung Tran’s bold attempt to breathe life into the well loved author, though admirable, fails to impress. In particular, Rinko Kikuchi’s portrayal of Naoko comes across as irritating making the viewer unable to give her the empathy afforded her in the book. By no means a terrible film, it is let down by its inability to do justice to the original story.

  1. About Elly

Given the success of A Separation, which has made a considerable impact at this year’s film festivals, it is surprising that About Elly is unable to offer the same level of quality. With its unbelievable characters and uninspiring plot, it comes across more as tedious and boring than captivating. Demanding a considerable amount from its audience, the shock factor it strives for at the film’s turning point fails to be delivered. As a director, Asghar Farhadi has a lot to offer Iranian cinema, but sadly this film isn’t a fair representation of his skill.

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