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2012 Academy Awards Luncheon
The annual Oscar nominees luncheon is a longstanding tradition. The awards body extends an invitation to every single recipient of a nomination of this year’s event and awards them…well, there is no award. It’s kind of a pat on the back, honor to be nominated type of thing with some free food and a photo-op. All in all, this event really serves no purpose other than placating tradition.
However, as meaningless as this luncheon is, I always get a kick out of this annual photograph. There’s something kind of nostalgic and eye-catching about seeing all of the nominees lined up, middle school yearbook-style. It also gives you the chance to brush up on your “who’s who?” of Hollywood power, including the ones that you don’t regularly see on the screen. There also exists little moments in these things that make me smile. There’s old friends Marty and Spielberg standing side-by-side on the top right. Seventeen-time legend Meryl Streep alongside the up-and-comer Rooney Mara (apparently she doesn’t smile when someone says cheese, and I love her for it) at the top left. Nick Nolte looking like a sunburned Santa Clause and that the guy doing the Gollum impression in the second row.
Enjoy this year’s edition of the “Where’s Waldo?” Oscar spread.
Click the image to resize:
One Year and Counting…
Well folks, I never thought I would be able to hold out this long. I’ve made blogging attempts before that have come and gone. Either the site never caught on or I just lost interest completely. However, this time around, the adverse of both of those scenarios has happened and I’m proud to report that The Edge of the Frame has now been operating for over a year.
It may not be the exact same blog that it was twelve months ago. Certain changes and alterations have been made to the format and content. However, the integrity of the site and its mission statement remain intact and unwavering. The Edge of the Frame is committed to bringing you up to date Hollywood and awards news while also filling your ears with my own opinions and musings on the world of cinema, old and new.
Now, with this milestone, I hope to revitalize the site and bring back some aspects that have waned in recent months. Perhaps the most glaring shortfall has been the lack of reviews for new select films that I see in theaters. I will attempt to reach a certain quota of movie reviews each month. Along with that, I plan to reinstitute the “New Additions” feature, giving short tidbits for all of the movies that I view and add to my Fields List. Hopefully, I can throw in a few more creative lists, as well.
All the while, we are now entering the Oscar season, a time when my reporting-Tourettes for will be in full swing. Therefore, you’ll be sure to find every critics’ award, juicy announcement and game-changing update that you could ever hope to find right here. It’ll be yet to see if a clear frontrunner emerges that will have this site in its cheering section. I don’t think I have to remind anyone of what that film happened to be last year.
Speaking of the awards race, I believe I’ll kick off this new year with my newest round of Oscar predictions. Watch for those to appear later today. Until then, I thank you all for you’re continuing support of the site. From last October till now, my viewership per month has increased ten times over. It’d be nice to see that same escalation one year from now, and that event will only transpire with the help from all of you. Thank you.
Tom Hooper in Talks to Direct “Les Miserables” Film Adaptation
Well….shit. This is some of the best and worst news that I’ve heard in quite a long time. Perhaps more impactful things have happened to the world of cinema that have affected me in different ways. However, this news is rubbing me in a way I really can’t even describe.
I guess that it’s important to know the history. Most people have heard of or seen a production of “Les Miserables” at some point in their lives. It’s practically the most popular and adored musical of the last quarter century. I am definitely one of its fans. Little do some people know that before turning to a life of film, I did a lot of theater. I starred in a number of plays in high school, musical and dramatic, and dabbled in stage direction, as well. Without a doubt, my favorite performance that I’ve ever had the opportunity to give on stage was the role of Javert in “Les Miserables,” and ever since then, I have been eternally hooked on every aspect of said play.
Since I’m such a fan, I have been waiting and hoping for a film adaptation of the musical itself to come along for the better part of a decade. It is my absolute dream film. I would wait in line for weeks at opening night for a ticket. Now, it appears that it’s finally happening and all I can feel is disappointment.
Why, oh, why, oh, why in heaven’s name did they have to go with Tom Hooper. I can think of any number of names who I’d rather see attached to my dream project. Directors well-suited for the job would include Roman Polanski, Guillermo Del Toro, Joe Wright, Stephen Daldry, Baz Luhrman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Frank Darabont, hell, even J.J. Abrams might be a stellar choice.
You know, maybe Hooper’s not even a terrible decision. I mean, the man is not a bad director. He did, in fact, do a phenomenal job with the “John Adams” miniseries. Perhaps this film is actually right up his alley. Yet right now, I just can’t see it, because for the last few months, I cannot imagine him as anything more than an antagonist. Partnered with Harvey Weinstein, he is the arch nemesis to what what could have been one of the greatest Oscar outcomes in recent memory. Will I ever be able to shrug off this hatred and enjoy the man for what he can produce and how good his craft can be. Maybe.
Yet, for now, I mourn…..
Below is a clip, not from the musical production itself, but from the 25th Anniversary Concert. Whoever was conducting this should be shot for what he did to some of these cues, but this is still a powerful rendition of one of the show’s greatest numbers.
Ricky Gervais’ Funniest Moments from the Globes
As I stated earlier in my postgame analysis for this year’s Golden Globe awards, one of the absolute highlights had to be Ricky Gervais’ cringingly brutal assault on Hollywood’s elite through his stand-up. There were certain moments when the audience and bloggers believed that he had been fired midway through the show for his humor just got too out-of-hand. It’s my fervent prayer that the powers-that-be realize that for much of the viewing public, his performances was absolutely gold. And whether he hosts or not, the stars are still going to show up…so have him host it anyway!!!
Well, I was just put on to a video compilation of some of his best bits of the night. So if you missed the Globes, or just want to experience some of the comic’s no-holds-barred routine all over again, check out the video below:
The Edge of the Frame 