Looks like the Oscar hosting duties will go to Billy Crystal. Now that we know that Eddie Murphy is officially out and the eight time host will be taking the stage again, it’s now time to focus on the upcoming Oscar telecast.
Nominations Announcement
The nominations announcement is January 24, 2012 and the broadcast is almost one month later, February 26, 2012. Frontrunners of the 2012 broadcast include Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” and George Clooney in “The Descendants.”
Although no one knows for certain what will come out of the coveted red carpet event, the one thing for sure is that it will be a star studded affair that will be debated for months after.
Lack of Quality
I’ll be honest; I’m not that excited about this year’s Academy Awards. I haven’t been excited for a while. There hasn’t really been a great Best Picture category of movies in some time. Which year was the best? My pick is the group selected for 1999.
“American Beauty”
This is one of my all time favorite movies. The writing on this film was excellent and the acting was incredible. The eventual winner of Best Picture, “American Beauty” went on to win awards for Best Actor (Kevin Spacey), Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay (written for screen) (Alan Ball). Ball went on to create other masterpieces such as “Six Feet Under” and “True Blood.”
“The Cider House Rules”
This film was adapted from the novel written by John Irving. “The Cider House Rules” was not only nominated for Best Picture, but it also was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Writing from Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. Although it lost to “American Beauty” for Best Picture, the novel turned film did take home the gold statue for Best Supporting Actor (Michael Caine and Best Writing from Adapted Screenplay (John Irving). This is one of the best written films mainly due to its writer, Irving. The author also penned another novel turned movie, “The World According to Garp,” starring funnyman Robin Williams. I’ve been a fan of his novels for some time and it’s only natural for movies to be made from them.
“The Green Mile”
The Stephen King thriller about a group of Death Row guards and a faith healing prisoner was nominated for a few Oscars including Best Picture, Best Writing from Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. The movie fell short at the awards show but “The Green Mile” is arguably one of the best movies ever. King has turned out some of the best movies ever. Aside from “The Green Mile,” the master of horror also introduced fans to “The Dark Half,” “Stand by Me” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”
“The Insider”
This Russell Crowe led movie reaped a few nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director. The movie was based on an “insider” who decides to go on national television to expose one of the largest industries in the world – tobacco. This movie was great because it was based off a true story seen on the television series, “60 Minutes.” The acting was brilliant with Crowe and Al Pacino and is one of the greatest movies regarding the tobacco business. Another outstanding movie regarding tobacco is “Thank You For Smoking.”
“The Sixth Sense”
“I see dead people,” was the famous line from this Best Picture nominated film. The first of many thrillers from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan, “The Sixth Sense” garnered Oscar nominations in categories such as Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay (written for screen). I don’t know about you, but I completely was fooled about Bruce Willis being dead the entire movie. This method of storytelling made me a fan of Shymalan.
Although the Best Picture category was stacked with great films, the entire year harvested a terrific batch of movies. Other movies to come out of 1999 were “The Matrix,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Fight Club,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Sleepy Hollow” and “Magnolia”.