Iron Man 3 - The Trailer

Iron Man 3 - The Trailer 

In the words of AC/DC... "r u ready?!?!!?!?" It's gonna be epic! 'Njoy Robert and Gwyneth!!! SAVE THE DATE May 3 2013

SETH MACFARLANE TO HOST THE 85TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARD

SETH MACFARLANE TO HOST THE 85TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARD

Could it be more revolutionary?
Well... I guess not!
The "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane will be on stage to host one of the most curious, funny and dangerous Academy Awards ever. 

So guys... from this moment "make sure your seat belt is correctly fastened" and ENJOY THE SHOW!

This will also be a revolutionary year:

"The Globes are usually handed out about a week before the Academy Award nominations are announced, but that won't be the case next year. The motion-picture academy has moved up the Oscar nominations announcement to Jan. 10 - three days before the Globes are set to air Jan. 13." ( The Miami Herald)

and... guess what? Golden Globes will be hosted by this funny lady duo: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler!!!

Can't wait
Stay Tuned 
Uncle Oscar

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/15/3051723/tina-fey-amy-poehler-to-host-golden.html#storylink=cpy

The Lord of the Rings: seventeen Academy Awards

The Lord of the Rings: seventeen Academy Awards

It was Sunday march 24th 2002, the place was L.A., the venue The Kodak Theatre, the Host... the amazing talented woman... Whoopi Goldberg. During that night Halle Berry made history as the first black woman to win a Best Actress Oscar. During that night the world was about to discoved how powerful could be... a Ring. 
A RING TO RULE THEM ALL... as we've learned...

During that night "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" received 13 nominations and won 4 Academy Awards:

Best Art Direction
Grant Major (1 Oscar), Dan Hennah (1 Oscar)
Best Costume design
Ngila Dickson (1 Oscar), Richard Taylor (5 Oscar)
Best Director
Peter Jackson (3 Oscars)
Best Supporting Actor
Ian McKellen
Best film editing
John Gilbert
Best make up WON
Peter Owen, Richard Taylor (5 Oscars)
Best original score WON
Howard Shore (3 Oscars)
Best original song 
Enya, Nick and Roma Ryan
Best sound mixing   
Christopher Boyes (Titanic, Avatar, King Kong, Slumdog Millionaire, Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean - 4 Oscars) Michael Semanick (King Kong, WALL-E, The social network, The curious case of Benjamin Button, The girl with the dragon tattoo, Ratatouille - 2 Oscars) Gethin Creagh, and Hammond Peek (King Kong - 2 Oscars)
Best adapted screenplay
Fran Walsh (3 Oscars), Philippa Boyens (1 Oscar), Peter Jackson (3 Oscars)
Best visual effects WON
Jom Rygiel (3 Oscars), Mark Stetson (1 Oscar), Randall William Cook (3 Oscars), Richard Taylor (5 Oscars)
Best cinematography WON
Andrew Lesnie (1Oscar)

The next year the fellowship was there again with the second chapter "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", it was Sunday March 23, 2003, same venue but different host... that was Steve Martin's big night... it has been the year of Chicago, with 6 Academy Awards... and ... imagine what... Olivia De Havilland was there and she pronounced an amazing speech for Oscar's 75th birthday... one sentence of that speech was used to create the welcoming sentence of that Blog... I'm so proud!!! anyway... during that night Peter Jackson' movie won 2 out of six Awards:

Best Art Direction
Grant Major (1 Oscar), Dan Hennah (1 Oscar), Alan Lee(1 Oscar)
Best film editing
Michael Horton
Best Picture
Barrie M. Osborne (1 Oscar) Fran Walsh (3 Oscars), Peter Jackson (3 Oscars) 
Best sound
Christopher Boyes (Titanic, Avatar, King Kong, Slumdog Millionaire, Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean - 4 Oscars) Michael Semanick (King Kong, WALL-E, The social network, The curious case of Benjamin Button, The girl with the dragon tattoo, Ratatouille - 2 Oscars) Michael Hedges (King Kong - 2 Oscars), and Hammond Peek (King Kong - 2 Oscars)
Best Sound Editing WON
Ethan Van Der Ryn (King Kong -2 Oscars), Michael Hopkins (1 Oscar) 
Best visual effects WON
Jom Rygiel (3 Oscars), Alex Funke (3 Oscar), Randall William Cook (3 Oscars), Joe Lettieri (King Kong, Avatar, I,Robot - 4 Oscars)

But the best was yet to come...
Sunday February 29, 2004 Kodak Theatre L.A, hosting MR. Billy Crystal. During that night The third and last chapter of the Lord of the Rings, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" won ELEVEN ACADEMY AWARDS, tying Titanic and Ben Hur for the most Oscars won. And guess what... with 11 nominations!!! 

Best Art Direction WON
Grant Major (1 Oscar), Dan Hennah (1 Oscar), Alan Lee(1 Oscar)
Best film editing WON
Jamie Selkirk (1 Oscar)
Best Picture WON
Barrie M. Osborne (1 Oscar) Fran Walsh (3 Oscars), Peter Jackson (3 Oscars) 
Best sound Mixing WON
Christopher Boyes (Titanic, Avatar, King Kong, Slumdog Millionaire, Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean - 4 Oscars) Michael Semanick (King Kong, WALL-E, The social network, The curious case of Benjamin Button, The girl with the dragon tattoo, Ratatouille - 2 Oscars) Michael Hedges (King Kong - 2 Oscars), and Hammond Peek (King Kong - 2 Oscars)
Best visual effects WON
Jom Rygiel (3 Oscars), Alex Funke (3 Oscar), Randall William Cook (3 Oscars), Joe Lettieri (King Kong, Avatar, I,Robot - 4 Oscars)
Best Director WON
Peter Jackson (3 Oscars)Best adapted screenplay WON
Fran Walsh (3 Oscars), Philippa Boyens (1 Oscar), Peter Jackson (3 Oscars) 
Best original score WONHoward Shore (3 Oscars)
Best Music, Song WON
Annie Lennox (1 Oscar), Fran Walsh (3 Oscars), Howard Shore (3 Oscars)
Best Costume design WON
Ngila Dickson (1 Oscar), Richard Taylor (5 Oscar) Best make up WON
Peter King (1 Oscar), Richard Taylor (5 Oscars)
Yesterday after 8 years I did again the Lord of the Rings Marathon... It worth it...

 

And now the World is waiting for... the next masterpiece 

"The Hobbit: an unexpected journey"

Greta Garbo - Hollywood Walk of Fame

Greta Garbo - Hollywood Walk of Fame

It was February 8, 1960... and on the Hollywood Walk of Fame appeared the star dedicated to Greta Garbo, one of the few silent movie actresses to successfully negotiate the transition to sound, she remained an icon of style and glamour.

Category

Motion Pictures

Address

6901 Hollywood Blvd.

Ceremony date

February 8, 1960

The Answer... Greta Garbo

The Answer... Greta Garbo

 

Garbo in Anne Christie (1930)

Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was a swedish actress, and one of the most famous movie icon from 30's to 50's. She was born in 1905 in Stockholm. she had an amazing imagination and she always dreamed of becoming an actress. In 1922 she joined the Kungliga Dramatiska Teaterns Elevskola, a dramatic acting school in Stockholm. 

                Greta Garbo at Kungliga Dramatiska Teaterns Elevskola 1922 (third from right)

 In 1924 she started her career in silent movies working with Mauritz Stiller (one of the most important sweden directors), acting in "Gösta Berlings saga" based on a sweden book of the Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf. At that time L.B. Mayer (vice president and CEO of  MGM) was looking for new talents, and Garbo was introduced to Mayer thanks to Mr. Victor Seastrom, swedish director at MGM and friend of Stiller. Stiller and Garbo were introduced to Mayer that was impressed by Garbo's appeal and trapped in her sensual eyes...

Not sure about that but after Mayer saw Greta Garbo he said: "I can make a star out of her." and "I’ll take her without him. I’ll take her with him."( referring to Stiller).

She moved to L.A. where she started to work in several silent movies (The Temptress, Flesh and the Devil, The Kiss).

In 1930 she started acting in talkies and she received her first nominee as Best Actress for her role in Anna Christie. At that time the enthusiasm for Garbo was also present on magazine's covers, with a very curious title referring to Greta Garbo acting in her first talkies: "Garbo Talks".

                                    Anne Christie (1930)

Other important movies are: Mata Hari with Ramon Navarro, Romance, Queen Christina and Grand Hotel, but the movie that perfectly showed her capability to attract the public also in comedy was Ninotchka, written by Billy Wilder, and directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Bela Lugosi and Melvin Douglas. Also for Ninotchka, another expression was invented to underline that was Garbo's first comedie and she laughed: "Garbo laughs".

                           Ninotchka "Garbo laughs" (1939)

Pure divertissement...

Ninotchka: Why should you carry other people's bags?

Porter: Well... That's my business madame

Ninotchka: That's no business, that's social injustice...

Porter: That depends on the tips...

    
                       

                                 Ninotchka arrives in Paris

Indeed Greta Garbo determined style, fashion and glamour, she loved being different. Her androgyn style reflected her personality... which was not so common... she was like a tornado... Garbo was actually "the style", she was THE DIVINE... 

After being the Queen of MGM for more than 10 years, she decided to retire from her acting career during the 40's, but she remained an inspiration for the next generations.

Garbo died in 1990, Garbo never married, she never won an Oscar but she was awarded with an Academy Honorary Award "for her luminous and unforgettable screen performances" in 1954, and she was the youngest actress receiving an Academy Honorary Award, anyway she didn't go to get it that night... Garbo style... never dies... rebel, genius, unpredictable... 

CAN YOU RECOGNIZE THESE EYES?

CAN YOU RECOGNIZE THESE EYES?

The 3rd Academy Award... November 1930. George Arliss's Disraeli.

The 3rd Academy Award... November 1930. George Arliss' Disraeli.

 

                                               Fiesta Room, The Ambassador Hotel

It was the second time in the same year...November 5 1930... the Academy was honoring movies released from August 1, 1929 to July 31, 1930. The location was the same, The Ambassador Hotel, Fiesta Room.

The Stock market crashed a year before, Mickey Mouse had just made his first appearance in January.

That year the nominations and winners were voted on by the entire Academy membership, not just by a board of judge, and Academy members, were charged a $10 fee to participate at the banquet, the event sold out anyway. The ceremony was hosted by Conrad Nagel, actor of the silent era, but also known for his performances in radio and tv. He has been honored with three stars on the Hollywood walk of fame in the three categories. Nagel will host 3 editions of the Academy Awards, 1930, 1932 and 1953 and this gap between '32 and '53 is a record in the Oscar History. Nagel, six feet tall, blond hair with blue eyes, embodied American charm and sex appeal, and he played  roles that cemented his unspoiled lover image.

                                The beautiful Conrad Nagel

The Academy introduced the first new category since the beginning, the award for Best Sound Recording.

All Quiet on the Western Front, war movie about World War I, was the first movie to take home both Best Picture and Best Director

The Love Parade, didn't won any Oscar but was the first movie to receive 6 nominations, the greatest number till the ceremony began.

Disraeli, was the remake of 1921 movie with Arliss acting in the same role. George Arliss was the first british actor winning an Oscar, and also the first winning actor for portraying a real person. Arliss pushed himself so hard trying to be as equal as possible to the real Disraeli , the British Prime Minister and one of history's best manipulators.

                                    George Arliss, Disraeli

                                       Arliss' performance 
Wanna laugh.....
watch that 

                              Family Guy

Winner List

Actor

• George Arliss in "Disraeli" WON
• George Arliss in "The Green Goddess"
• Wallace Beery in "The Big House"
• Maurice Chevalier in "The Big Pond" "The Love Parade"
• Ronald Colman in "Bulldog Drummond" "Condemned"
• Lawrence Tibbett in "The Rogue Song"

Actress

• Nancy Carroll in "The Devil's Holiday"
• Ruth Chatterton in "Sarah and Son"
• Greta Garbo in "Anna Christie" "Romance"
• Norma Shearer in "The Divorcee" WON
• Norma Shearer in "Their Own Desire"
• Gloria Swanson in "The Trespasser"

Art Direction

• "Bulldog Drummond" (William Cameron Menzies)
• "King of Jazz" Herman Rosse WON
• "The Love Parade" (Hans Dreier)
• "Sally" (Jack Okey)
• "The Vagabond King" (Hans Dreier)

Cinematography

• "All Quiet on the Western Front" (Arthur Edeson)
• "Anna Christie" (William Daniels)
• "Hell's Angels" (Gaetano Gaudio, Harry Perry)
• "The Love Parade" (Victor Milner)
• "With Byrd at the South Pole" Joseph T. Rucker, Willard Van Der Veer WON 

Directing

• Clarence Brown "Anna Christie" "Romance"
• Robert Leonard "The Divorcee"
• Ernst Lubitsch "The Love Parade"
• Lewis Milestone "All Quiet on the Western Front" WON
• King Vidor "Hallelujah"

Outstanding Production

• "All Quiet on the Western Front" Universal WON
• "The Big House" Cosmopolitan
• "Disraeli" Warner Bros.
• "The Divorcee" Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
• "The Love Parade" Paramount Famous Lasky

Sound Recording

• "The Big House" Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director WON
• "The Case of Sergeant Grischa" (RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Tribby, Sound Director)
• "The Love Parade" (Paramount Famous Lasky Studio Sound Department, Franklin Hansen, Sound Director)
• "Raffles" (United Artists Studio Sound Department, Oscar Lagerstrom, Sound Director)
• "Song of the Flame" (First National Studio Sound Department, George Groves, Sound Director)

Writing

• "All Quiet on the Western Front" (George Abbott), (Maxwell Anderson), (Del Andrews)
• "The Big House" Frances Marion WON
• "Disraeli" (Julian Josephson)
• "The Divorcee" (John Meehan)
• "Street of Chance" (Howard Estabrook)