Golden Globes 2012 Film Winners

One of the most anticipating award events took place yesterday in Los Angeles. I haven't chance to watch it on-line (don't worry Oscars I won't miss!), but I'm going to do it today. Many actors, actresses, directors, composers were at the 69 Annual Golden Globe Awards and gave some interesting interviews on the red carpet, which I'm very excited to see.

Ricky Gervais was the host. His opening speech was something hilarious (watch it below). He said that the Golden Globes are just like the Oscars, but without all that esteem.



As you know, I made my predictions, and I was very lucky to guess many of the winners, except for Best Actress (Drama), Best Supporting Actor, Best Animated Feature, Best Foreign Film and Best Original Song. It's 9 out 14, so I think it is a good result.

My favourite acceptance speech was said by Michelle Williams, who told us that she considers herself the mother first and the actress second and thanked her daughter. So touching. The most emotional winner was Meryl Streep. I adore this woman.

You can also read some interesting quotes of the night on The Guardian website. And some interesting videos from the big event you can find here.

The Winners (only in film categories):

Best Picture (Drama)

"The Descendants"

Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)

"The Artist"

Best Director

Martin Scorsese ("Hugo")

Best Actor (Drama)

George Clooney ("The Descendants")

Best Actress (Drama)

Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady")

Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)

Jean Dujardin ("The Artist")

Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)

Michelle Williams ("My Week With Marilyn")

Best Supporting Actor

Christopher Plummer ("Beginners")

Best Supporting Actress

Octavia Spencer ("The Help")

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen ("Midnight in Paris")

Best Animated Feature

"The Adventures of Tintin"

Best Foreign Film

"A Separation" by Asghar Farhadi

Best Original Song

"Masterpiece" ("W.E.")

Best Score

Ludovic Bource ("The Artist")

If you are interested in TV shows, which got awards, you can view the whole list here.

Pictures - Daily Mail, HFPA, The Guardian, MTV

Quentin Tarantino’s Favourite Films of 2011

Quentin Tarantino continues the good tradition naming his favourite films of the previous year. He picked 12 films this time, which impressed him the most, including blockbusters and independent works. He must love watching fantasy, and I totally agree with him that "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes" and "X-Men: First Class" were one of the best in this genre in 2011. But I never thought he might enjoy so much "Midnight In Paris" and "Young Adult", not because they are bad, but very sentimental for such a tough guy like him.

The biggest surprise is that he put "The Artist" and "Our Idiot Brother" on one level. The last one doesn't deserves it, but it looks like Tarantino watches everything and can enjoy very different films.

1. "Midnight In Paris"
2. "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes"
3. "Moneyball"
4. "The Skin I Live In"
5. "X-Men: First Class"
6. "Young Adult"
7. "Attack The Block"
8. "Red State"
9. "Warrior"
10. "The Artist" / "Our Idiot Brother" (tie)
11. "The Three Musketeers"

Source - The Quentin Tarantino archives

Do you agree with this list?

"SKYFALL" (2012) - First picture

Empire website released the very first image from upcoming 23rd James Bond film. It is called "Skyfall", and Daniel Craig continues playing its legendary main character. This picture was made while filming at the Four Seasons hotel in London. Everyone knows that James Bond films are more for guys, but I doubt that this particular promo can attract the sterner sex with Craig's muscular almost naked body... On the other hand now I'm waiting for it.

"Skyfall" stars a bunch of good actors - Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Helen McCrory, and is directed by the Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. The film opens this fall.

"Dark Shadows" (2012) - Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer picture

New image from upcoming Tim Burton's film is released. Now we have a better view of two main characters - Barnabas Collins and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. I can't remember when Johnny Depp had such a short haircut. And with this make-up he really looks like a vampire, because it is very hard to tell how old is he. Michelle Pfeiffer still looks much older than she is, but due to her natural face shade her character is a human.

Also starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Moretz, Eva Green, Jonny Lee Miller.

"Dark Shadows" will be out in May.

More about "Dark Shadows" (2012)!

Picture - COLLIDER

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?

"Девушка с татуировкой дракона" (2011) - Рецензия

Грязное белье именитого семейства

Когда клан промышленников с богатой историей попадает под прицел умного и наблюдательного журналиста, членам этой семьи становится все сложнее сохранять напускное спокойствие. Подробности исчезновение, случившегося сорок лет назад, вновь всплывают на поверхность из сточной канавы. Срок давности этого дела давно уже вышел, но теперь пришло время поставить в нем точку.

Первая книга трилогии Стига Ларссона, сделавшая его невероятно популярным посмертно, дождалась своего звездного часа, оказавшись в руках талантливого режиссера Дэвида Финчера. Ни для кого ни загадка, что переносить на экран роман любого жанра — дело не из легких, ведь нужно не упустить массу важных моментов, при этом сделав сюжет динамичным. И вот с помощью крепкого сценария, написанного Стивеном Зеллианом, Финчер переносит нас в заснеженную Швецию, на небольшой остров, жители которого скрывают немало тайн.

Вместо заслуженного отдыха осужденный столичный журналист Микаэль Блумквист бросает свои апартаменты, любовницу и ввязывается в очередное расследование, которое сулит ему очень хорошее вознаграждение. На его месте врядли бы кто-то смог устоять перед искушением очистить свое имя и вернуть доверие читателей и коллег, без которого на его карьере можно было бы поставить крест. Чем глубже он погружается в факты дела о загадочном исчезновении Харриет Вангер, тем больше ему улыбается удача. Жизнь же его новой помощницы Лисбет Саландер является полной противоположностью. Зависимость от своего опекуна, насилие, наркотики, страсть к татуировкам, агрессивный внешний не слишком способствуют душевному спокойствию и материальному благополучию. Ей не стоит переходить дорогу, а женоненавистникам лучше вообще обращаться в бегство, если Лисбет напала на их след. И такие разные люди объединяются, чтобы поймать опасного преступника, который все это время следит за ними в ответ. Из Дэниэла Крэйга получился любопытный журналист-профессионал, чье чувство самосохранения постоянно выключается в самый неподходящий момент. А юная Руни Мара переиграла здесь всех, показав нам настоящего бойца, который привык рассчитывать только на себя и всегда учитывать возможные последствия своих поступков. Ее странная героиня вызывает лишь симпатию, восхищая своими хакерскими талантами и навыками выживания.

Хотя в книге писатель достаточно много времени выделяет каждому второстепенному герою, все больше запутывая читателя и отодвигая момент раскрытия тайны на потом, Финчер значительно упростил круг подозреваемых. Больше всего экранного времени получили Кристофер Пламмер, Стивен Беркофф и Стеллан Скарсгард, убедительно сыграв своих персонажей. Робин Райт также хорошо справилась со своей ролью заботливого редактора, чье мнение часто идет в разрез с мнением Блумквиста. Единственным неясным персонажем оказался экс-фашист Харальд в исполнении актера Пера Мирберга. Такой милый дедушка с добрыми глазами и необъяснимой гостеприимностью, которой он отнюдь не отличался в книге, совершенно не соответствует действительности.

Американская экранизация получилась очень атмосферным триллером. Расчлененные животные, сцены невероятно жестокого изнасилования, жуткие подробности убийств, совершенных много десятилетий назад, камера пыток — здесь есть все, что может шокировать зрителя. И эти зверства происходят на фоне спокойных пейзажей Стокгольма и тихого острова возле вымышленного города Хедестада. Дэвид Финчер остался верен себе, сумев порадовать с самых первых секунд бесподобными вступительными титрами, красивыми и пугающими одновременно. К сожалению, кассовые сборы кинокартины оставляют желать лучшего, но надежда на трилогию все еще остается.

Если люди пытаются закопать свои скелеты поглубже, у этой девушки и ее нового друга всегда найдется лопата побольше, чтобы вытащить их на поверхность.

Make-up Pre-Nominees for Oscar 2012

The Academy announced 7 films, only three of which will get a chance to fight for a golden statuette for Best Make-up. I'm glad to see in this list my favourite film of the previous year, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2". Its creators did a wonderful job with fantastic realistic make-up. They turned Warwick Davis into a goblin Griphook and later into Professor Flitwick; drew thousands of wounds while the battle of Hogwarts was taking place; and in the end those artists made 20-year-old actors look twice older.

"Anonymous" and "The Artist" deserved to be in this list either, because the appearance of the characters perfectly matched the time, when the events happened. And "Albert Nobbs" is a remarkable film to be nominated for the make-up, because Glenn Close really looked like a man there. Amazing work.

More about OSCAR 2012!

The only thing is a bit weird that they included "Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life", which was out in 2010, not in 2011. It must impress the academics very much.

"Albert Nobbs"
"Anonymous"
"The Artist"
"Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"The Iron Lady"

You will know all 84th Academy Awards nominations on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. And winners will be announced on February 26, 2012.

Oscar 2012 - Trailer and Poster

The first 84th Academy Awards trailer arrived. Many talented actors are very busy now, but they found some to film a very remarkable promo video. Megan Fox and Josh Freeman, who worked together on the first two "Transformers" films, are traveling around the world in the search for perfect Oscars host. I think they wanted to make Megan and Josh a bit like Scully and Mulder from "The X-Files". But it was not a good idea. We know the Host is Billy Crystal, but he looks funny with that hair. But now he lives in Mongolia and is very lonely without his Oscar job. Poor guy, isn't he?

Mr. Crystal was the Host for many times by now, but I've never watched this event with him. I think thanks to him Oscar 2012 will be fun.

The ceremony will take place on February 26, 2012.

More about OSCAR 2012!



Films featured on this poster: "Forrest Gump" (1994), "The Godfather" (1972), "The Sound of Music" (1965), "Gone with the Wind" (1939), "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989), "Giant" (1956), "Gladiator" (2000) and "Casablanca" (1943). I watched almost every film and I think everyone should see those all of them.

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.

Top-30 HOME ALONE moments

Happy New Year! I hope you are having a great time now, because I'm. The first blog entry of 2012 I want to write about a few good films, which you know and probably have seen many times. There are no winter holidays for me without "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2". When I was watching the first part a few days ago, I thought I should write about its best moments. So here is the list!

1. Ruined family dinner
We know it's all Buzz's vault, but we know also that no one should mess with Kevin. Especially it's a bad choice to eat his favourite pizza when he is very hungry.

2. Some Ice-cream and a detective
He knows how to spend his parents-free time. And it's the first time we see a fictional gangster film "Angels with Filthy Souls". That killing scene helped Kevin a few times to scare away some strangers.



3. Mama screaming, part 1
Catherine O'Hara was great playing Kevin's mom, but I just can't stop laughing when she screams every time she realizes that her son is missing.

4. Everybody's home!
We know that the main character is a smart kid, but it was genius to put all those fake people in his living room to scare away 'wet bandits.'

5. Dangerous to be a pizza guy
That poor guy didn't do anything wrong, but Kevin likes to play nasty jokes. I hope the first one didn't have to go to the psychiatrist after that evening...

6. Goodnight kiss
It's the first time Kevin realizes how it feels to be on holidays without his family. Even if they aren't the best, but they are his relatives and he misses them. Very much.

7. Singing "White Christmas"
It's one of the most favourite and nicest scenes in "Home Alone". Macaulay Culkin was very good in portraying the classic song by The Drifters. And its ending is priceless.

8. Polka king
John Candy saves the day! But the greeting speech about his musical achievements sounds very funny.

9. Don't believe in gossips
If a person isn't like everybody else, it doesn't mean that this person is some freak or murderer. This grandfather with horrible appearance turned out to be a very kind man, who was very lonely without his family. Just like Kevin was.

10. Battle plan
I always admired how Kevin prepares his house for an unforgettable evening with bandits. He is ready to kick some asses.

11. Chicken much?
"Why the hell did you take your shoes off?" asks Harry.
"Why the hell are you dressed like a chicken?" asks Marv.
They are really dumb, if they thought they can kill this kid. Very self-confident.

12. Who is the best creature?
When I was little, I was so glad that there was a huge spider, because it saves Kevin's life. Though I hate spiders very much, but this one will always be the hero.

13. Happy family reunion, part 1
Mom arrives, dad arrives along with all brothers and sisters. It should be the best Christmas ever, but they don't know that Kevin messed up a little again.

14. How to ruin a big concert
Buzz is an idiot. He messes up with Kevin and makes himself a victim again. By the way, Macaulay Culkin sang very good indeed.

15. Never let you go
If parents are a bit irresponsible, it's time for kid to take care of himself and don't be forgotten at home again. But it didn't work out as they thought, did it?

16. New York, New York
I've never understood why the McCallisters chose Florida over New York to spend their Christmas vacation. And Kevin doesn't waste a minute, sightseeing and taking pictures.

17. Mama screaming, part 2
Yeah, it becomes a family tradition to lose Kevin somewhere and go for a vacation without him. Catherine O'Hara screams harder and even faints this time.

18. Freedom smells
Who knew that freedom smells like fish?

19. Hotel suite for a kid
The main character has his dad's money, so it would have been stupid to live on the street. But Kevin must have a good nerve to book himself the best apartments in The Plaza, which is one of the greatest USA hotels. And he met Donald Trump there!

20. How to tip
No cash, just one gum. I like the face of the hotel worker when he refuses to take another tip from Kevin and later realises that the boy wanted to give him some actual money.

21. Toys' paradise
I'd like to visit such place as Duncan's toy chest.

22. Fake Christmas detective
It is the second fake gangster film, a sequel of "Angels with Filthy Souls". There are a violent murder, and laugh, and the best Happy New Year wish I've ever heard.



23. A picture to remember
Sticky bandits are very photogenic, aren't they?

24. Falling bricks
That must hurt so hard, but Marv is a tough guy.

25. Electric shower
One bandit slips, falls into a shelf full of heavy paint cans, then he gets up and sees a washbasin. He is so happy to have a chance to wash his face and hands, but there is a trick. I always wondered if it is possible to survive all those bricks, toasting, falling, but surely no one could survive his genius trap. Marv is a very tough guy.

26. One, two, three and four
Harry is the smartest of those two, but he always underestimates Kevin. Two cans are nothing when there is a huge pipe coming after. Twice.

27. Birds' snack
That woman saves Kevin's life and two bandits becoming a dinner for doves.

28. Biggest Christmas tree
It is great when the mother knows what her child would do and where he could be on the Christmas Eve.

29. Happy family reunion, part 2
It's a very touching moment with Christmas presents and snowy morning until they see a hotel bill. Oops! Kevin is in trouble again.

30. Two doves
It's nice to have a good friend, especially when he is the only friend. I admire how Kevin manages to make friends with people, who are outsiders. He is just being very sincere and open-hearted. This boy has the biggest heart.

I hope you enjoyed my top-30 moments, if I forgot some good scenes, which you like very much, leave a comment below.