Showbiz Observations

The nominations for the 29^th Annual Razzie Awards were announced one day before the Oscar nominations.  Each year, the Razzie’s hand out awards to the worst in movies. The Golden Raspberry Awards Foundation is made up of 687 members.  These members cast their votes and the winners are announced the morning before the Oscars.

I love the Oscars.  The glamour, the stars, the winners, the acceptance speeches and everything else that makes up Hollywood.   But there is something very fun with the Razzies.  The categories are creative.  Things aren’t so serious.  Well, things are probably serious for the nominees.  When I was reading this year’s nominations, I often nodded my head and thought, “I totally agree.”

The most nominated film of 2008 is “The Love Guru.”  It picked up seven nominations including worst picture, worst actor, worst director and worst screenplay. 

Ouch. 

Remind me to take this off my Netflix queue.

Madonna and her image are in the news again.  Even when she isn’t trying to get in the headlines she lands there anyway.  The latest news: a 30 year-old photograph of a nude Madonna is going to be auctioned by Christie’s Auction House.

The photographer of the image was Lee Friedlander.  The photo shoot happened when Madonna was 20 years old and trying to make a living as a dancer.  In 1979, Friedlander placed an ad seeking a model who was willing to pose nude.  Madonna answered the ad and the rest is history. 

In 1985, Playboy featured the photograph.  Now a lucky bidder has the chance to purchase the photograph.  Madonna was paid $25 to pose for the modeling session.  On Februrary 12, Christie’s is expecting the image to sell for at least $10,000.

Should this image be causing all this fuss?  A nude photograph of an artist who has pushed every limit and crossed every line that she can?  Maybe that is the novelty of this photograph.  Thirty years ago, she wasn’t the Music Icon Madonna:  saying and doing anything to shock the world and stir up controversy. 

Thirty years ago, she was a starving 20 year-old kid who was willing to pose nude for $25.     

Las Vegas is loosing another legend.  The legend isn’t a hotel being imploded by a ton of dynamite.  This time, the legend can be imploded by simply turning out the lights.   The show, “Les Folies Bergere,” will go dark on March 28, 2009.  The topless revue ran for 49 years.  That is a lot of feathers, showgirls, sequins and high heels. 

“Folies Bergere enjoyed an amazing and unprecedented run on the Las Vegas Strip,” said Ron Thacker, Tropicana Las Vegas President. “We are extremely proud to have been part of such an iconic Las Vegas production and offer a sincere thank you to the cast, crew and support staff for their many years of excellence.”

“Les Folies Bergere” traveled from Paris to Las Vegas in 1959.  The show played at the Tropicana for its entire run.  The name and theme of a new show has not been revealed. 

Whatever it is, I doubt it will run for 49 years.  This is something very few legends achieve.

The final negotiations are taking place for a remake of The Karate Kid.   Columbia Pictures is set to produce the film staring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.  The original Karate Kid captured the world’s attention in 1984.   It will be interesting to see how this new film does.  Does the public want or need another telling of the story?  Who knows how much of the original story will even play a part in the new film.

The Next Karate Kid (1994) did little at the box office.  Even with the spin of making the Karate Kid a girl (played by Hillary Swank).  Capturing the simplicity and magic of the first movie will be a challenge for this new undertaking.

Jaden Smith is a great actor.  But is he too young to be playing this role?  Does the audience want to see a 10 year old boy being bullied?  How old will the bullies be?  Do we want to see 9 or 10 year olds beating each other up?  Do we want to see 16 and 17 year olds beating up a 10 year old?  This will be a fine balance for the film makers to find.

The audience will decide if this next Karate Kid will “Wax on” or “Wax off.” 

The world’s favorite Coal Miner’s Daughter, Loretta Lynn, announced that she is going to re-record her #1 hits for a new CD to be released summer 2009.  This is a wonderful idea.  With today’s technology, her music hits will sound better than ever! 

I saw Loretta in concert and she has fans of all ages.  And these fans yell out the names of her hits when Loretta asks, “What do you’ all want to hear?”  Teenage girls and boys, adults, and retired fans are eager to hear their favorite songs.  If the CD is promoted correctly, it could be a great success for Loretta.

I’m guessing Loretta keeps getting the young fans because her autobiographical movie, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” is broadcast many times on cable.  That’s how I got to be a fan of Loretta’s.  The movie is in my Top Five of all time.  It’s one of those movies where I can recite all the dialogue.  I couldn’t even guess how many times I’ve watched it.  Probably somewhere in the area of 9,724 times.

I’ve been told I have a hint of a southern accent.  I always tell people it’s because I’ve watched that movie so many times.  It has some of THE best lines ever!  One of my favorites is after Loretta writes her first song:

“I’ve done written myself a song.  You’re mommies a dag-gom song writer.” 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the presenters at this year’s Academy Awards are going to be kept secret until they walk out onstage.  The Academy hopes this will draw more viewers curious to see who the presenters are. 

Is this a good idea?  I’m not sure this secrecy will draw the attention of many more people at home.  I watch the Oscars every year.  I don’t watch to see who hands out the awards; I watch to see who wins.  That is the TRUE excitement and mystery of the night.  Not to see which top secret star is going to hand out the awards. 

Who will win?  Who won’t will?  Will there be any surprises?  Will there be any upsets?  This is what makes people by the billions turn in each year.  And really, how much of a surprise can any of the presenters really be?  The best of Hollywood is going to be in the audience.  Those are the same people who will be handing out the awards.

The South Beach home of Versace is being opened to the public for tours.  It will cost $65 to get a peak at the 26,000 square foot estate and visitors can also stay for a meal after they complete the tour. 

For those people wanting to experience more than a tour, there is also an option to stay overnight at the home.  This will set you back a little more than $65.  During the high tourist season, three of the rooms will rent go for $1,200 a night. The other 7 rooms go up in price.  The most expensive is the owner’s suite which goes for $10,000 a night. 

I would love to see the mansion.  I really enjoy touring museums and historical homes.  Next time I find myself in FL, I plan to take the tour.  And then hopefully the next time I am back, I can stay the night.  Right now, I’ll have to stick with the $65 tour.

With the broadcast of the Golden Globes, another awards show is wrapped up for the year.  The broadcast was back after being basically canceled last year due to the writer’s strike.  [Remember that Hollywood.  We writers are important!].

 The Globes are a relaxed Oscars.  More humor, more fun and probably less pressure for the nominees.  The broadcast moved along quickly and had some surprises (Colin Farrell’s win) and some non-surprises (Keith Ledger’s win).

Of course everyone wants to know what the stars were wearing.  This year, I think the women’s gowns were mostly off-the-mark.  The last few years we’ve seen such classic, streamlined and elegant gowns.  This year we saw gown after gown with a gathering of excess fabric bunched in one area or another.  I didn’t get it.  For the men, we’re reminded again how many different tuxes there are and how some men know how to wear a tux and some don’t.

I present my opinion of the Red Carpet Fashion Show.  For this review, I’m talking about the gowns/tuxes, not the person.  These movie stars are all gorgeous.  But sometime their choice of clothing doesn’t match their physical beauty.

Worst Female Fashions

1. Jennifer Lopez (J Lo usually looks amazing but this dress did not).
2. Sandra Bullock (I’m not a big fan so it was easy to put her on this list).
3. Eva Mendes.
4. Sally Hawkins (she looked anorexic and her dress did not help the appearance.  The entire audience looked like they were thinking the same thing I did.).
5. Cameron Diaz (After watching her in a few interviews, I don’t care for her so I don’t feel bad for putting her on the list).
6. Renee Zellweger (another actress who is not on my favorite list of people so I didn’t mind that her dress did not work).

Worst Male Fashions

1. Zach Efron (why did he plaster his hair down like that?).
2. Sting (he wasn’t even recognizable).
3. Tom Cruise (he actually didn’t look too bad but I’m still punishing him for the Oprah incident, the Brooke Shields incident and the whole Scientology incident).

Best Female Fashions

These women all looked gorgeous.  Their gowns, hair and makeup were fantastic.  They redefined breathtaking.

1. Kate Winslet
2. Anna Paquin.
3. Beyonce.
4. Demi Moore.
5. Susan Sarandon.
6. Laura Linney.
7. Mary-Louise Parker.
8. Emma Thompson.
9. Christina Applegate.

Best Male Fashions

These men looked sexy and handsome and showed the world how to wear a tux.  I’m sure many tongues were hanging out at the site of these heartthrobs.

1. Jonathan Rhys Meyers. 
2. Brad Pitt.
3. Ashton Kutcher.
4. Colin Ferrall.
5. Patrick Dempsey.
6. Kiefer Sutherland.
7. Terrence Howard.
8. Sean Combs.
9. David Duchovny.
10. Simon Baker.

The Award season is here.  This week alone there are three telecasts.  The People’s Choice Awards, The Critic’s Choice Awards and the Golden Globes.  I enjoyed the People’s Choice Awards but I didn’t even realize the Critic’s Choice Awards were broadcast–the very next night.  Talk about a quick turn around.  The market is getting flooded with trophies!  Why would Hollywood schedule two awards shows back-to-back?  And then the Golden Globes just a few days later?

How many females in the business will attend all three events (the third being tomorrow’s Golden Globes)?  That would mean three different gowns, three different sets of jewelry, three different hair styles and three different makeup jobs.  You never want to be a carbon copy on the red carpet.

Also, if a guy attends all three events, would he wear the same tux?  Or would he rent (assuming he rents) a different tux each night?  I would want a different designer’s tux each night.  The women get to be different for each walk down the red carpet, so why couldn’t I?  That way when I’m asked, “Who are you wearing?” I can reply with a different name each time.  

One day I hope to worry about that.    

I’m behind on movies.  Panic is setting in.  I usually do a very good job at keeping up with theatrical releases but suddenly I find myself running behind a race car trying to get inside it.  Has January ever had so many quality movies released?  If I ever want to catch up by Oscar time, I need to see a couple movies each weekend.  At least this is the goal right now. The movies on my Must See in the Theater List. 

The Wrestler: At first I didn’t want to see this.  It seemed like a joke.  Then the praise and incredible reviews kept growing and growing.   After seeing the trailer last weekend, I really want to see the entire film.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button:  Another one of those movies I didn’t really care to see until I realized what it was about.  Now I can’t wait.  I plan to see this one tomorrow.  The running time of almost three hours doesn’t worry me at all.  I sat through Titanic four times in the theater.  And that was longer.

Revolutionary Road:  Speaking of Titanic, Kate and Leo reunite and critics love the movie.  I’m curious if my mind will allow me to forget that Kate and Leo co-starred before in a very successful movie.  Movie stars of past did this all the time (Gable/Crawford, Spencer/Hepburn).  Let’s see how Kate and Leo pull it off!

Frost/Nixon: The whole movie fascinates me.  I want to see how the roles are handled.

Milk: The praise for Sean Penn doesn’t stop.  I don’t know much about the people portrayed in this film, but I know that I should.  This will be a great introduction.

Gran Torino: I enjoy Eastwood’s movies.  I’m not completely sold on this one so I might wait and see how the buzz continues before I see it in the theater.