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Linh

Adelaide, South Australia, AUSTRALIA


Joined March 29th 2008

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AACTA AWARDS - Part Two

February 1st 2012 04:34
AACTA ACCOLADES by Linh

The inaugural AACTA (formerly the AFI) awards made its debut on the Nine Network last night (31 January) with much anticipation and high hopes. Viewers were treated to pleasant surprises, live entertainment and special appearances from some of Australian film and television stars.
Although dubbed the Australian Oscars, the AACTA awards resembled the Golden Globes, which included awards for television programming and performances. There was even an audience-voted category which may indicate a performer’s or television programme’s popularity and may reflect viewers’ votes for the Logie Awards.

Judy Davis with her AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress for her role in The Eye of the Storm at the 2012 AACTA Awards at Sydney Opera House on 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


The awards ceremony broadcaster, the Nine Network failed to win any awards from two nominations, both for Underbelly Razor. However, the regular faces of Nine’s stable of talent were at the awards to mingle with other nominees and winners. A notable inclusion was Julia Morris, winner of last year’s Celebrity Apprentice screened on Nine, who looked gorgeous and did a fabulous job interviewing celebrities as they arrived on the red carpet.

Daniel Henshall with his AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor for Snowtown at the 2012 AACTA Awards at Sydney Opera House on 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


The highlights of the AACTA awards included the cheeky parody piece of The King’s Speech featuring Colin Firth’s expletive outbursts; Best Lead Actor in a Film for Snowtown, Daniel Henshall dropping the F-bomb in his acceptance speech; Megan Washington singing beautifully during the In Memoriam segment and loud applause when Bill Hunter’s photograph appeared on the megascreen; Olivia Newton John performing a medley from her new film A Few Best Men; Magda Szubanski (Happy Feet Two, The Kath and Kim Filum) singing a clever and funny musical theme for the film Oranges And Sunshine.

Asher Keddie with her Audience Choice Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama for Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo at the 2012 AACTA Awards at Sydney Opera House on 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


Overall, it was a night of triumph for the cast and crew of Snowtown in the film categories and The Slap dominated the awards for the television categories. Red Dog won Best Film, the only win from eight nominations in the film categories. Koko, the star of Red Dog, has also been nominated for a Golden Collar Award for Best Dog in a Foreign Film this year. The Golden Collar Awards will be presented at the Hotel Palomar on 13 February 2012 in Los Angeles.

Meryl Streep accepts her International AACTA award for Best Actress in the film The Iron Lady at Soho House on 27 January 2012 in West Hollywood, California. Image: John Shearer, WireImage.


AACTA 2012 COMPLETE *LIST OF WINNERS:

TELEVISION:

BEST YOUNG ACTOR
Lara Robinson in Cloudstreet-Part 1. FOXTEL –Showcase

BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes’ Journey. Steve Knapman, Kris Wyld. SBS

BEST TELE-FEATURE. MINI-SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
The Slap. Tony Ayres, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon. ABC1

BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
The Gruen Transfer, Series 4. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir. ABC1

BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
The Slap- Episode 3 ‘Harry’. Brendan Cowell. ABC1

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Alex Dimitriades. The Slap. ABC1

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Sarah Snook. Sisters of War. ABC1

BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Richard Cawthorne. Killing Time – Episode 2. FOXTEL – TV1

BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Diana Glenn. The Slap – Episode 3 ‘Harry’. ABC1

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS FOR BEST TELEVISION PROGRAMME
Packed To The Rafters. Seven Network

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Asher Keddie. Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo. ABC1


FILM:

BEST FILM
Red Dog. Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.

BEST DIRECTION
Justin Kurzel. Snowtown.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Leon Ford. Griff The Invisible.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Shaun Grant. Snowtown.

BEST LEAD ACTOR
Daniel Henshall. Snowtown.

BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Judy Davis. The Eye Of The Storm.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Hugo Weaving. Oranges And Sunshine.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Louise Harris. Snowtown.


INTERNATIONAL AWARDS:

BEST FILM
The Artist. Thomas Langmann.

BEST SCREENPLAY (Joint Winners)
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon. The Ides of March.
J.C. Chandor. Margin Call.

BEST DIRECTION
Michel Hazanavicius. The Artist.

BEST ACTOR
Jean Dujardin. The Artist.

BEST ACTRESS
Meryl Streep. The Iron Lady.

*Courtesy of www.aacta.org
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AACTA Awards:The Australian Oscars-Part One

January 31st 2012 10:28
AACTA Awards Arrivals by Linh

The inaugural AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) awards will be presented on Tuesday 31 January at the Sydney Opera House and broadcast on the Nine Network in Australia. The AACTA replaces the AFI (Australian Film Institute) awards with Academy Award winner and co-founder Geoffrey Rush as AACTA President. Geoffrey Rush has recenty been named as the 2012 Australian of the Year. Previously held in November, the awards ceremony will now be held during the traditional awards season to coincide with the American awards season.

The winners will also receive the new statuette designed by multi-award winning sculptor Ron Gomboc. The statuette is crafted with a human silhouette based on the shape of the Southern Cross constellation- a series of five stars visible only from the Southern Hemisphere. The statuette’s body is cast in 22 karat gold and the base is crafted of Australian tiger iron, a gemstone mined in Western Australia.

GLORIOUS GOLD: The new AACTA statuette making its debut at the AACTA Awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: aacta.org


Stars of Australian stage, film, television and radio shone on the red carpet for the first ever AACTA awards. AACTA’s International awards were presented in a special awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday 27 January and will be screened as part of the broadcast on Tuesday night.

Go to http://aacta.org/ for all the latest news, images and videos.

AACTA President and Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush arrives for the inaugural AACTA Awards at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


Looking regal in gold, Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett arrives at the Sydney Opera House for the inaugural AACTA Awards on Tuesday 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


Svelte and sophisticated star of Red Dog and Any Questions For Ben?, Rachael Taylor arrives for the inaugural AACTA Awards at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


Rove McManus and Tasma Walton arrive at the Sydney Opera House for the inaugural AACTA Awards on Tuesday 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.


Beautiful mother, model and author Miranda Kerr graces the red carpet at the Sydney Opera House for the inaugural AACTA Awards on Tuesday 31 January 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Image: Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images.




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The Artist (preview); silent black and white drama comedy film review

January 29th 2012 06:23
Scintillating Silence by Linh

Promotional poster for the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


French director, screenwriter and producer Michel Hazanavicius’ film The Artist is a visual and technical homage to the silent film era with references to silent film acting, Hollywood celebrity fanaticism, and other technical aspects of silent film-making before talkies arrived.
The Artist has already won a swag of film awards and has recently been nominated for ten Academy Awards, following three wins at the recent Golden Globe Awards.
The Artist is a black and white silent film that covers the years 1927 to 1932, and focusses on a popular and famous Hollywood silent film star whose career ends when audio technology for talkies (talking movies) arrive, which reflects the real life problems actors faced in having their voices heard by the cinema audiences at the time.

SILENT SUSPICIONS: Doris (Penelope Ann Miller) is unimpressed with her husband George kissing other women, in the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


In 1927, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the biggest Hollywood star whose films are similar to those of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks and whose charm and charisma in public has earned him many fans. George has a dog named Jack, who appears in some of his films and is his close companion at work and at home. During one of George’s publicity appearances for his latest silent film A Russian Affair, an aspiring actress named Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) accidentally comes into shot for one of his photo opportunities. George graciously allows her to share the spotlight with him and this infuriates the movie studio boss Al Zimmer (John Goodman) when the press concentrates on George’s ‘mystery woman’ instead of the film. When Peppy auditions for one of George’s upcoming films as an extra, he insists she be cast in his film A German Affair, after witnessing her talent and potential. After the success of this film, Al meets with George and urges him to stop performing in silent films and join him in utilising the latest advancement in film, which enables actors to be audible to audiences, called talkies. George refuses to star in talkies, claiming that he is an artist who does not need technology to act, and he quits. As he leaves the studio, George meets Peppy ascending the stairs, who excitedly tells him she has signed on with the studio to star in their upcoming films. From this point, it becomes apparent that Peppy is a star on the rise while George’s career is coming to an end. This staircase scene is pivotal and foreshadows what is to come in the film; the decline of Geroge’s career as he is seen descending the stairs, while Peppy’s climb up the stairs indicates her rise to stardom.

ASPIRING ACTOR: Peppy (Bérénice Bejo) attempts to impress a stranger (Malcolm McDowell) at her audition in the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


The Artist is aesthetically authentic in its attempt to capture the beauty of silent films technically and visually. Director Hazanavicius has diligently researched the various techniques used in silent films to give a truthful and accurate portrayal of film-making and screen-acting of the silent film era during the late 1920s and early 1930s in Hollywood. The music used to accompany the film’s action is well chosen, despite actor Kim Novak’s *claims that The Artist has misappropriated the music score from Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo, in which she starred. Hazanavicius dismissed Novak’s allegations and claimed he was “inspired by Hitchcock's work.” (BBC news)

SUPERSTAR STATUS: Peppy (Bérénice Bejo) has achieved her dream of Hollywood stardom but feels it has come at the expense of George Valentin's career in the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


The leading actors are French with a superb supporting cast that includes American and British actors. Jean Dujardin is brilliant as the silent film actor George Valentin whose star power fades when silent films wane as talkies become popular. George is seen as proud and resistant to change so his refusal to embrace the inevitable in the rise of talkies has resulted in his downfall. George’s real reason behind his fear does not concern the technology itself, but the quality of his voice and how its foreign-ness may sound to American audiences. Dujardin has already won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and an International AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts) award for Best Actor. He is nominated for Best Leading Actor for The Artist in next month’s Academy Awards ceremony.

MOVIE MAKER: Al Zimmer (John Goodman) not only makes movies but ensures that the movie industry keeps evolving and improving in the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


Hazanavicius’ wife Bérénice Bejo took five months of tap dancing classes, and to acquire the “American actress persona” she watched film clips of Joan Crawford to emulate her **flapper style and Marlene Dietrich (despite being German-born) for her winking and air-kisses. Bejo gives an excellent portrayal of the gorgeous fresh-faced and starry-eyed ingénue Peppy Miller. The beautiful Argentine-French actor epitomised the excitement and adventurous nature of her character Peppy, the type of personality that reflects the way talkies were affecting the film industry at the time. It is in contrast to George’s attitude and fear of talkies as he clings to his old style of filmmaking when he writes, produces, directs and stars in his self-funded silent film called Tears of Love which flopped against Peppy’s talkie film The Beauty Spot. Peppy represented the latest stage in filmmaking’s evolution while George’s resistance to talkies sees him stuck in the past and left behind.
Bejo has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and also in the same category for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has received a Best Leading Actress nomination for a BAFTA award.

TALENTED TWOSOME: George (Jean Dujardin) joins Peppy (Bérénice Bejo) in a dance sequence in the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


Notable performances come courtesy of John Goodman who is fantastic as the studio boss Al Zimmer, whose eagerness to embrace talkies is not only about making profits but to help evolve and grow the film industry; James Cromwell is charming and affable as George’s faithful personal assistant named Clifton who still cares about George even after he fires him; Uggie the Jack Russell Terrier as Jack is a crowd-pleaser and scene-stealer and Penelope Ann Miller is engaging as George’s long-suffering wife Doris, who suspects he is having affairs, feels neglected and lonely, especially as George always brings his work home and never stops “acting”.

COURAGEOUS CANINE: Jack the dog (Uggie) plays the hero as Peppy (Bérénice Bejo) watches on in the film The Artist. Image: The Weinstein Company.


The Artist is a sublime cinematic experience with fantastic performances from the ensemble cast, providing humour, wit and drama performed without spoken words. There are many memorable moments that audiences will love including Jack the dog’s heroic rescue, rehearsal/audition/dance sequences, Peppy’s private moment with George’s jacket in his dressing room, or the staircase scene that is an allegory of the ups and downs of show business and how it affects those who work in the film industry. It’s a film about intertwined destinies when one kind gesture from a superstar at the height of his career can lead to unexpected generosity in return when he loses everything.

The Artist screens in limited release from Thursday 2 February 2012.

The Artist, Behind The Scenes Film Trailer (courtesy of The Weinstein Company):


Director: Michel Hazanavicius

Writer: Michel Hazanavicius (screenplay)

Cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Malcolm McDowell, Missi Pyle, Beth Grant, Joel Murray, Ken Davitian, Ed Lauter, Bitsie Tulloch, Basil Hoffman, Nina Siemaszko, Bill Fagerbakke, Cletus Young, Uggie the dog.

Producers: Danile Delume, Antoine de Cazotte, Richard Middleton, Emmanuel Montamat, Thomas Langmann

Director of Photography: Guillaume Schiffman

Original Music Composer: Ludovic Bource

Film Editors: Michel Hazanavicius, Anne-Sophie Bion

Production Designer: Laurence Bennett

Costume Designer: Mark Bridges

Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

References:

*BBC news online staff writer. ‘Artist director responds to Kim Novak Vertigo claim’. 10 January 2012. BBC news website:
Really Long Link


**From the Oxford Dictionary: flapper noun, informal - (in the 1920s) a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behaviour.
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The Iron Lady; biopic, drama film review

January 10th 2012 12:06
LEADING LADY: Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) prepares for her victory speech in the film The Iron Lady. Image: Pathé Films.


Margaret’s Memories by Linh


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Albert Nobbs; drama, comedy film review

December 27th 2011 11:02
DUBLIN DATE: Helen (Mia Wasikowska) and Albert (Glenn Close) go on a date in the film Albert Nobbs. Image: Chrysalis Films, West End Films.


Survival Secrets by Linh


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BRIGHT YOUNG TALENT

October 30th 2011 10:36
Emerging Artists by Linh

Talented, *young performers, whose names are being mentioned in certain social and media circles, are emerging from obscurity to possibly become the latest sought-after talents in Hollywood. Some have already starred alongside the biggest names in Hollywood while others are soon to appear in star-studded casts in upcoming films


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Red Dog; drama comedy film review

September 3rd 2011 18:31
PILBARA PALS: Red Dog (Koko) and John (Josh Lucas) become close companions in the film Red Dog. Image: Roadshow.


Wandering Wonder by Linh


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Another List: Same-sex marriage law in New York

June 25th 2011 13:29
Same-Sex Success – List of Celebrity Twitter Responses:

RAINBOW RIGHTS: New York's Empire State Building lights up in rainbow colours for Pride Week.

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3D Thor; action adventure science fiction comedy drama film review

April 30th 2011 09:18
Shakespearean Superhero by Linh

THUNDEROUS THOR: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) shows he is worthy of being King of Asgard in the film Thor. Image: Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios.

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Potiche (Trophy Wife); French comedy drama film review

April 24th 2011 10:00
Gender Games by Linh

HAPPY HOUSEWIFE: Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve) is a seemingly contented as a housewife to husband Robert (Fabrice Luchini) in the film Potiche. Image: Mandarin Films.

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Recent Comments

Comment by Linh
on The Iron Lady; biopic, drama film review

January 12th 2012 03:10


Celluloid Fun
Hi fog,

Thank you for your comment.
My main gripe is the way dementia was used in "driving" the narrative, as the whole movie was seen through Margaret Thatcher's eyes and dependent on her memory. If dementia is to be used then at least use it to gain an understanding of the older Mrs. Thatcher's reflection on her current state contrasted with her days of power and glory. The film failed to do this and misused dementia as a means to gain sympathy votes and potential awards votes.
They could have made the film about the dementia and how it has made Mrs. Thatcher's memories less reliable and less credible; this would have made it a far better movie and insight into not only a more humane Thatcher but a fragile and vulnerable person worthy of sympathy.
I appreciate your thoughts on this film review.

Cheers!

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Comment by Linh
on The Stoning of Soraya M. (Advance Screening); drama film review

December 23rd 2010 11:09


Celluloid Fun
Hey doctor, interesting that you think that showing the world how women are treated under the Sharia Laws in Middle Eastern countries is foolish.

It must have been a harrowing ordeal for the cast and crew of this film to re-enact the events that resulted in Soraya's death from stoning. I doubt they enjoyed most of the experience, but it was worth it in the end, just to show the world how Sharia Laws can be abused and exploited for selfish reasons.


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Comment by Linh
on Review: The Kids Are Alright (2010)

July 31st 2010 13:08


Celluloid Fun
Fantastic review about a film with some sensitive issues and themes depicted. I really want to see Kids Are Alright whenever it's released in my local arthouse cinema.
Cheers!

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Comment by Linh
on The Dark Crystal Sequel is OFFICIAL

May 5th 2010 11:05


Celluloid Fun
Hi Jason,
This is fantastic news.
I've loved the original 'The Dark Crystal' for its clever puppetry, imaginative story and I look forward to seeing a 3D sequel.

Cheers!

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Comment by Anonymous
on Iron Man 2; action adventure film review

May 5th 2010 11:00


Celluloid Fun
Hi Tyson,
Thank you for the clarification.
I have made corrections. Now that I think about it, the close-up did show something that looked like Thor's Hammer!

Cheers!
Linh

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Comment by Linh
on And the 2010 Nominees Are...

February 4th 2010 20:27


Celluloid Fun
Hi Luke,

Some good predictions and interesting comments.

I hope Sandra Bullock does win because she is a great dramatic and comedic actress. Her nearest competition is Carey Mulligan, and I think Meryl won't win. The role in Julie/Julia was fun but not serious enough for a dramatic award such as Best Actress. I also think it was not a very good film choice for Streep to be nominated as Best Actress. Her role in It's Complicated was by far a better performance.

Jeff Bridges is a sure bet but maybe Jeremy Renner beats him to the Best Actor Oscar.

I would love to see Kathryn Bigelow win Best Director and Avatar as Best Picture.

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Comment by Linh
on Avatar in 3D ; sci-fi fantasy action drama film review

December 21st 2009 19:04


Celluloid Fun
Hi Quin,

Thank you for the comment.
'Avatar' is an excellent film and I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers!

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Comment by Linh
on Oscars 2010: Potential Best Motion Picture Nomination – Invictus

December 17th 2009 02:55


Celluloid Fun
Hi Anonymous,

It would be great to see a well known personality portraying Jonah Lomu, but they've got Zak Feaunati playing him in the film.

Cheers!

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Comment by Linh
on Oscars 2010: Potential Best Motion Picture Nomination – Invictus

December 17th 2009 02:52


Celluloid Fun
Hi katyzzz,

Thanks for your comments, and I really appreciate them.

I put 'fun' in my blog name because I think films should be fun to watch, to make, to write about and to talk about. I'm happy that you like it.

Cheers!

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Comment by Linh
on 3 New Health Benefits of Eating Chocolate

December 12th 2009 21:22


Celluloid Fun
Hi katyzzz,

I love chocolate and eat it at least once every couple of days.
This is great news for every chocoholic, but I agree that further research is needed to prove its health benefits.

Cheers!

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