Tag Archives: Sandra Bullock

Lost my train of thought

Posted on February 16, 2013 | 1 Comment

If my Saturday was a train, it would be derailed.

And what was the object blocking the tracks?

while you were sleepingWhile You Were Sleeping (1995)

This classic romantic comedy (which I have seen way too many times to count) aired on HBO mid-morning — right about the time on a Saturday that you make that fateful decision:

Productive or potato?

But when I heard the first strains of the movie soundtrack, I knew I was beat.  I love watching Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman together on screen…even if it is for the hundredth time.

So there I sat for the next two hours.  And then I had to walk the dog and eat lunch and watch the painful UK-UT game and suddenly — it’s late afternoon.

Oh well.  Tomorrow I won’t turn on the premium channels so early here at the ‘station.’

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True friendship

Posted on March 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Back before Sandra Bullock was “Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock,” she took some time off from doing romantic comedies because she wasn’t happy with the quality of her work.

She returned to the genre in 2002 to do a film with Hugh Grant called “Two Week’s Notice.”  While the film wasn’t a huge success, their pairing was, and the two became great friends off-screen.

Hugh proved that fact this very week.

The tabloids have been filled with news of the affair of Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, and her move out of the family home.  Mere weeks after she dedicated her Oscar — and every other acting award — to James, his admitted infidelity has taken the shine off of her awards season.

Helping to divert attention from his good friend’s troubles, Grant stepped in Wednesday night and got into a tussle at a society party in London with his former PR manager Matthew Freud.

Grant said he didn’t want to speak to Freud — who handled the publicity around Grant’s run-in with a prostitute way back in 1995 — and called him a derogatory name.  Freud responded by smearing chocolate cake on Grant’s white shirt.  Grant threw a punch and a glass of white wine.  Freud volleyed by emailing pictures of the besmeared Grant to friends.

Affair?  What affair?

I hope Sandra appreciates Hugh’s gesture.  It won’t stop the media frenzy, but it created a nice diversion.

No one can resist a food fight.

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Grand gesture

Posted on February 3, 2010 | 1 Comment

The 82nd Academy Award nominations were announced yesterday, and for the first time in the show’s history, the “Best Motion Picture” category was expanded to 10.

And the nominees are:

“Avatar”
“The Blind Side”
“District 9″
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”

By increasing the field to 10, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences theorized that they would be able to recognize ‘more truly deserving films.’

Who are they kidding?

The directors, producers and actors recognized will be able to add “Oscar-nominated” to their resumes and demand higher paychecks for their next projects.  And the ratings for the awards broadcast itself may go up a bit, with a few more box office favorites in the mix.

But one of the serious contenders for “Best Motion Picture” will still win the Oscar, and this year, there are still only five….so they could have avoided all the drama.

Just look at the Top Ten:

  • “The Blind Side” was slammed by the critics, but beloved at the box office.  Sandra Bullock’s nomination for “Best Actress” was recognition enough.
  • “District 9″ seems like a bit of a stretch.  Indie sci-fi overachiever, maybe…but Oscar nominee?
  • “Up,” only the second animated picture to be nominated in the category, is not a serious contender.  (Count yourself lucky.  The producer’s speeches to date have been real snoozes.)
  • “An Education” is the foreign film rep.  Carey Mulligan’s nomination gives it credibility, but no real chance.
  • “A Serious Man”  is, in my opinion, an automatic inclusion.  The Coen Brothers seem to get a pass on whatever they produce and direct.  I’m not even sure the members watch their films anymore.

Which leaves us with…

“Avatar”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”
“Up in the Air”

These are your five serious contenders for the Oscar for “Best Motion Picture.”  The others?

Just filler.

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Posted in Humor, Movies, Television

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Imitation nation

Posted on January 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

And in Hollywood, it’s the best way to make a buck.

Alcon Entertainment was as surprised as anyone by the enormous box office success of “The Blind Side,” which has raked in over $210 million to date.  Add to that Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Sandra Bullock as Best Actress.

Not too shabby.

No doubt studio executives and their minions are scrambling to find scripts or, indeed, any projects they might already have in the can that would strike a similar chord with the audience.

The winner to the starting gate?  CBS Films with the January 22nd release of “Extraordinary Measures,” starring Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford.

Let’s see how it stacks up.

True story?  √

Involves children in crisis?  Even more so.  This film has two children…and they are dying of an incurable disease.  √ √

Happy ending?  If you are going to put us through a story about dying children, there had better be.  √

Big stars?  Harrison Ford big enough for you?  √

I think we have a winner!

Note — “Extraordinary Measures” was one of the first CBS Films placed in production after it was established in 2007.  Try as I might, I couldn’t find out when it was actually completed, though.  Who knows?  The success of “The Blind Side” may have given it new life.

Isn’t that (sniff) the most amazing (sniff sniff) story ever??

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Seeing double

Posted on December 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Golden Globes have always been a bit of a bad boy in the awards community.

The Hollywood Foreign Press is in charge, so newcomers and outsiders are recognized (to the insiders’ dismay).  Everyone is clearly drinking during the ceremony, which can lead to some rather colorful acceptance speeches. (Remember Kate Winslet’s semi-hysterical ramblings after she finally won not once but twice last year?)

And then, there is the name of the awards themselves.  Golden Globes?  I’ll bet pretty much every man out there visualizes a certain part of the female anatomy when he hears that term.

Based on this year’s Golden Globe nominations announced just this morning — my, aren’t I topical — we will all be seeing double come January.

Sandra Bullock is nominated twice — for Best Actress, Drama, “The Blind Side” and Best Actress, Comedy, “The Proposal.”

Meryl Streep is nominated twice as well…this time in the same category (Best Actress, Comedy), for “It’s Complicated” and “Julie and Julia.”

Matt Damon is nominated twice, too — for Best Actor, Comedy, “The Informant!” and Best Supporting Actor, Drama, “Invictus.”

Pretty exciting, huh?  With all those nominations, you’re bound to snag at these one, right?

Not necessarily.  Just ask Julianne Moore.  She’s been nominated twice before and walked away empty-handed.  Kate Winslet’s vapor-inducing win last year was the exception, not the norm. I think multiple nominations often muddy up the field and, if anything, just point more clearly to the other actors in that category.

And let’s not forget — the Golden Globes recognize television as well.  Anna Paquin, nominated Best Actress,  “True Blood”, was also nominated Best Actress, made-for-TV movie “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.”

Who’s going to win it all?  It’s still “Up in the Air.”

He he he

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