Costume Designers Guild named the Nominees

The awards season continues, and now we know the nominees for the 14th Annual Costume Designers Guild awards.

Again, I selected my predictions with blue, and I hope I will guess the winners at least for Excellence in Contemporary Film nomination. I want that cool Gosling's jacket from "Drive" and I'm really into Lisbeth's style from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Excellence in Period Film nominees have also not so many chances, when "The Artist" is there. And "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" has a good chance too, though I'd say the make-up there is more impressive than the costumes. 

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 21.

Excellence in Contemporary Film:
"Bridesmaids" – Leesa Evans and Christine Wada
"The Descendants" – Wendy Chuck
"Drive" – Erin Benach
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" – Trish Summerville
"Melancholia" – Manon Rasmussen

Excellence in Period Film:
"The Artist" – Mark Bridges
"Jane Eyre " – Michael O'Connor
"The Help" – Sharen Davis
"Hugo" – Sandy Powell
"W.E." – Arianne Phillips

Excellence in Fantasy Film:
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" – Jany Temime
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" – Penny Rose
"Red Riding Hood" – Cindy Evans
"Thor" – Alexandra Byrne
"X-Men: First Class" – Sammy Sheldon

Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries:
"Downton Abbey" – Susannah Buxton
"The Kennedys" – Christopher Hargadon
"Mildred Pierce" – Ann Roth

Outstanding Contemporary Television Series:
"Glee" – Lou Eyrich and Jennifer Eve
"Modern Family" – Alix Friedberg
"Revenge" – Jill Ohanneson
"Saturday Night Live" – Tom Broecker and Eric Justian
"Sons of Anarchy" – Kelli Jones

Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series:
"Boardwalk Empire" – John A. Dunn and Lisa Padovani
"The Borgias" – Gabriella Pescucci
"Game of Thrones" – Michele Clapton
"Once Upon Time" – Eduardo Castro
"Pan Am (Series)" – Ane Crabtree

Who do you think should win these awards? Leave your predictions in comments below.

Soundtrack 2011

There is some time until the Golden Globe and Oscar awards, so I decided to continue summing up the previous film year. This time it is all about music.

I picked ten songs and compositions, which became my favourite ones.

1. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (feat. Karen O) - "Immigrant Song"
Film: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by David Fincher.

This song became even more popular than its original, which Led Zeppelin sang. It channeled the dark atmosphere of the film and made the opening sequence incredibly creepy and beautiful.



2. Kavinsky - "Nightcall"
Film: "Drive" by Nicolas Winding Refn.

"Drive" soundtrack is one of the best I heard this year, and "Nightcall" is a very catchy track, which always reminds me of Ryan Gosling driving away.



3. Alexandre Desplat - "Statues"
Film: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" by David Yates.

Alexandre Desplat knows how to create a magic and feisty composition. The scene before the Battle of Hogwarts is very impressive, especially the part when teachers, students and the Order of the Phoenix are trying to protect the school. It was breathtaking to watch and not the less to listen.



4. Rival Sons - "Torture"
Film: "Real Steel" by Shawn Levy.

"Real Steel" has a combined soundtrack of hip-hop and rock songs, but this one matches my taste perfectly.



5. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - "I've Had the Time of My Life"
Film: "Crazy, Stupid, Love" by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, originally from "Dirty Dancing" by Emile Ardolino.

I fell in love with this song a long time ago, since I saw "Dirty Dancing" for the first time, so I was glad to hear it in this romantic comedy. You have to be a really good dancer to lift a girl like that.



6. Hans Zimmer - "I See Everything"
Film: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows" by Guy Ritchie.

Less than a minute, but it gives me goose bumps.



7. Hans Zimmer - "Blackbeard"
Film: "Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" by Rob Marshall.

The film was average, but the score is great. Hans Zimmer made the first appearance of Blackbeard very badass.



8. Kerris Dorsey - "The Show"
Film: "Moneyball" by Bennett Miller.

Such a sweet girl with a very good voice sings for his father. I didn't like this film, but two scenes, where this song is featured, are very good and sentimental.



9. Henry Jackman - "Magneto"
Film: "X-Men: First Class" by Matthew Vaughn.

I'd call it "The Rise of the Great Villain". Fassbender's character got the best composition, which is good at describing his inner world.



10. Alexandre Desplat - "Lily's Theme"
Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" by David Yates.

The most tragic melody I've heard in the last Harry Potter films. It prepares the audience for a serious final of this story.



Which are your top-10 songs you heard in films the previous year?

5 Sexiest Film Characters of 2011

Inspired by Empire magazine, I made my own list of the sexiest characters. But it is so hard to choose, so I decided to make it in the limit of one year.

P.S. Those characters are in no particular order.

1. Captain Jack Sparrow
Film: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

Yes, Johnny Depp still has it. His pirate is one of the most memorable, sly, and funny characters of the decade. And, of course, I like his hair and make-up. If someone says it makes him less manly, I will laugh, because he is more manly than half of todays' Hollywood.

2. Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
Film: "X-Men: First Class"

Michael Fassbender played a few memorable characters in 2011, but I choose his young version of the great villain. Why? He is handsome, powerful, a bit mysterious. Thanks to him I wasn't missing Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in this X-men film.

3. Jamie Rellis
Film: "Friends with Benefits"

There were a few similar films about friendship and sex this year, but this one I enjoyed the most, mostly because of Mila Kunis. She is smart, independent and beautiful, and her Jamie Rellis was the same. I'm glad that this Ukrainian girl makes her dreams come true.

P.S. I bet many men were jealous of Justin Timberlake, while they were watching "Friends with Benefits".

4. Marilyn Monroe
Film: "My Week with Marilyn"

Marilyn was a sex symbol, and she is still one of the most beautiful and charismatic women of all times, so she totally deserves to be included in my list. Michelle Williams is a good actress and she perfectly channeled the inner beauty of miss Monroe, which always made her so special.

5. Driver
Film: "Drive"

This film is one of my favourite of the previous year. Ryan Gosling shocked me again, because he played his part very well. We don't know the real name of his character, but I admire the choice he made. If "Drive" had another final, I probably wouldn't include its main character here. Yes, it is incredibly sexy when a man saves a woman.

Who are your top-5 sexiest characters of the previous film year? Leave your list in comments below.

"DRIVE" (2011) - New poster, stills and synopsis

Along with a new poster and stills, the detail synopsis has been revealed: "Driver (RYAN GOSLING) is a stunt driver by day and a getaway driver by night. Doesn't matter what job he does, Driver is most comfortable behind the wheel of a car. Shannon (BRYAN CRANSTON) is part mentor, part manager for Driver. Since he knows what a great talent Driver is behind the wheel, he either peddles him to film and television directors in the entertainment business or thieves who need an accomplished getaway driver, taking a cut for his own pockets. Always looking to make a buck, Shannon's current plan is funding a stock car that Driver can race on the professional circuit. Since Bernie Rose (ALBERT BROOKS) is the wealthiest guy he knows, even if the sources of his money are questionable, Shannon proposes he be their investor. After seeing Driver in action at the speedway, Bernie Rose insists Nino (RON PERLMAN) partners with them as well.

Primarily a loner and ambivalent about the deals Shannon makes for him, Driver's world changes the day he shares an elevator ride at his apartment building with Irene (CAREY MULLIGAN). When he sees her again at the grocery store with her young son, Benicio (KADEN LEOS), he is transfixed, and willingly offers help when they are stranded in the parking lot because Irene's car won't start. Soon Driver settles into a routine of driving Irene to her waitress job and watching Benicio, entangled in their lives while her car is fixed. This interlude in Driver's life abruptly stops when Standard (OSCAR ISAAC), Irene's husband, is let out early from prison for good behavior. Even though nothing has happened between Driver and Irene, Standard is threatened by another man's presence in his family's life. Driver backs off, respectful of Irene's desire to keep her family together, but when he finds Standard bloodied and lying in the garage with a scared Benicio standing next to his father, Driver is embroiled even further in Irene's life. Then trouble begins…" (Official movie website)

More about "DRIVE" (2011)! (trailers, interviews, stills, posters etc.)

Poster - Icon vs. Icon
Stills - Official movie website

"Drive" (2011) - Poster with Ryan Gosling

The Refinery creative company presented the new poster of action movie called "Drive", starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bruce Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. This bright pink color was a very brave decision, but it doesn't really matter, when Ryan is on it.

More about "Drive" (2011)! (posters, trailers, synopsis etc.)

Poster - IMP Awards

"DRIVE" (2011) - Official poster

Finally, the official poster of the last Nicolas Winding Refn's movie called "Drive" has been released. I really like Ryan Gosling's outfit - this jacket is something!

More about "Drive" (2011) (trailers, synopsis, interviews etc.)

Poster - Collider

"Drive" (2011) - Red Band Trailer

This story is about a stunt performer, played by Ryan Gosling, who sometimes works as getaway driver. Director Nicolas Winding Refn said about his movie: "Being realistic is OK, but it's not necessarily very interesting. We weren't aiming to make a documentary. But we wanted to strike a balance so that the film wouldn't become over-stylised." For him it wasn't usual to make movies at Hollywood, so he told how it feels to make movie there: "It was extraordinary, I was in this house with a swimming pool and an orange grove, it was mythical for me to be in that place. And the incredible thing was that everybody was helping me, while I had all these negative preconceptions. The producers were always there for me. I was able to make the movie I wanted to make." Other characters in "Drive" are portrayed by actors Carey Mulligan, Bruce Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. Finally, I want to add that some critics are impressed by their performances and really enjoyed the movie and Nicolas Winding Refn got Prix de la mise en scène (Best Director Award) at the 64th Cannes Film Festival because of this movie.

Clip

Report from Cannes Film Festival (with pictures)

64th Cannes Film Festival - The End (all winners)

Red Band Trailer

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011) - Posters

I find these new posters very romantic, beautifully done and fun, so I hope the movie will be the same.

More about "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (trailer, synopsis, interviews)

Official movie site - http://crazystupidlove.warnerbros.com/

Ryan Gosling on "Late Show with David Letterman" - July 2011

Ryan Gosling visited David Letterman to promote his new movie "Crazy, Stupid, Love". They've made this show funny as always.

Click to watch trailer of "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011).

Answering question about how he got into 'The Mickey Mouse Club', he says: "I've no idea how that happened. I mean they've regretted it very quickly after they've hired me." He told how it was living with her mother in a trailer park while filming the show (because he is from Canada and the club was in Florida). It appears that Ryan moved to New York just a month ago and shares his feeling about this city.

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011) - Trailer

Another romantic comedy about how a man can loose and then get back his wife. “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”, directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, it a witty story about straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell), who is living the dream-good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protégé to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). (Rotten Tomatoes)

I'm not a big fan of Steve Carell (I hate when he makes stupid faces), but I like how he managed to create a dramatic character. Ryan Gosling is charming again and portrays very self-confident man, so I definitely don't want to miss this movie.

Еще одна романтическая комедия о том, как мужчина может потерять, а затем вновь очаровать свою жену. Режиссеры фильма «Эта - дурацкая – любовь» Гленн Фикарра и Джон Рекуа рассказывают остроумную историю о застенчивом Коле Уивере (Стив Карелл), у которого есть хорошая работа, уютный дом, дети и брак с его возлюбленной из средней школы. Но когда Кол узнает, что его жена Эмили (Джулианна Мур) ему изменила и хочет развода, то его идеальной жизни быстро приходит конец. Хуже того, он совершенно не адаптирован к современной холостяцкой жизни. Теперь проводя свободные вечера в местном баре, несчастный Кол знакомится с успешным Джейкобом Палмером (Райан Гослинг) и учится у него как заново завоевать свою жену.

Я не фанатка Стива Карелла (меня раздражает, когда он корчит глупые рожи), но мне понравился этот его драматический персонаж. А Райан Гослинг вновь очарователен и предстает перед нами уверенным в себе мачо, так что я уже точно не пропущу этот фильм.

Release dates - July 29, 2011 (USA), September 2, 2011 (UK).

Official trailer (I love it because of its music - "Black Holes and Revelations" by Muse) -

"The Notebook" - Rachel McAdams

One role can change the whole actor's life and it does. Young, self-confident, ambitious actress came to get a bigger part than her previous roles. She liked staring in comedies, but it is drama that proves how good actress is. Rachel McAdams needed to be noticed and she made all she could to get the leading role in a movie by Nick Cassavetes "The Notebook". She impressed everybody at the audition and made a great screen duet with Ryan Gosling. This movie became one of my favorites along with this talented actors. And when I saw Rachel's audition tape I understood that she is perfect Allie Hamilton.

Rachel McAdams' Audition Tape