OPEN1NG CREDITS

Since it’s your birthday, these are my birthday wishes for you this year:

1.  That you may win another award this year for the Danish Girl - whether it be Golden Globes, SAG, Critic’s Choice or Oscar’s.  

(Here’s the thing though, you’ll always be one of THE best actors for me :D )

2. That Fantastic Beasts (and where to find them) will be a blockbuster success

3. After seeing you and Jennifer Lawrence in the Graham Norton show, I hope both of you will have a movie together (Calling producers and filmmakers to make this happen :D)

Currently hooked on this TV series - “On the Wings of Love”! :D

Best scene - and most kilig so far in this series - is the one in Napa Valley, at the vineyard <3

(L-R) Dakota Johnson in Saint Laurent; Emma Stone in Elie Saab; Keira Knightley in Valentino; Jennifer Aniston in Versace

First off, congratulations EDDIE on your Oscar for Best Actor!!! I was jumping with joy when Cate called out your name!

Here's Eddie Redmayne with wife, Hannah Bagshawe at the red carpet before the awards show.  Think they were one of the loveliest pair last night.  Both were wearing Alexander McQueen last night. Love it!!!

After reading several articles about Oscar predictions on who’s going to win this Sunday at the Academy Awards, I’ve decided to write a review and rank the performances too. Because in case my bets do not win at the ceremony, in my heart & in this little blog at least they’re winners (hahaha) :D  Also, when THR wrote a few interviews of Academy Award voters & how they voted for all nominees, I was amused with some of the voters and thought, “If this is how they decide the winner, I’m qualified enough to rank & vote too!" LOL!  But with all seriousness, I want to pay tribute to the nominated actors (from the movies I've seen) for this year.  Here it goes:

BEST ACTOR

The five nominated actors are: Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Keaton, Bradley Cooper & Steve Carell.  

I have to make a special mention to Miles Teller.  Not an expert on acting but as a viewer I look for certain things in an actor: (1) obvious talent, (2) relatable/ability to connect with the audience & (3) ability to become the character.  I thought Miles Teller had these factors playing the ambitious and desperate drummer boy & hoped he was a part of the nominated actors.  *sigh* However, Miles is young and talented.  There's a bright future ahead for him. :-)

While I haven't seen Michael Keaton & Steve Carell's performances in Birdman & Foxcatcher, respectively, I know they are deserving of an Academy Award.

Bradley Cooper is a great actor however, I feel that he has had better performances before.  I honestly thought he deserved the Oscar in his role in Silver Linings Playbook.  I don't feel it in this movie.  Like Teller, I know that Cooper will have another chance to get an Oscar-worthy role :-)

The top 2 in this category for me belongs to Benedict Cumberbatch & Eddie Redmayne.  They were just brilliant in their films! (Imitation Game & Theory of Everything).  Cumberbatch can do no wrong in any role he plays actually and in the imitation game, he proves it.  I particularly liked the last part of the scene after he (as Alan Turing) got arrested & Keira (Joan Clarke) visited him in his home.  It was a touching moment & I felt for Mr. Turing.  How I wished though there was one more scene (no idea what that scene should be) focusing on Mr. Turing's personal struggles.  It (missing scene) might have helped Cumberbatch land to #1 spot in the best actor race.  Which means, the #1 & most deserving (for me :D) to get the Oscar Best Actor is dear Eddie Redmayne. 

I admit, I am biased because he is already my favorite actor prior to this movie :D But biases aside, he is a highly talented actor! The Theory of Everything was the first nominated movie I saw and thought his performance was astounding.  Can you just imagine how difficult it is to transform into a character mentally and physically in a span of few months?  There was an interview from an article I read from THR saying that it was easier to act when playing a real person (as opposed to a fictional one) because you didn't have to create that character (out of nothing).  Somehow I disagree.  On the contrary, its more challenging because (1) I don't think actors want to just "copy" the real person and (2) I think actors want to convince audiences that he is that real person as opposed to the actual real person (they're portraying).  And its particularly difficult to convince audiences that you're this character when you're portraying a well-known person (Hawking).  I believed that Eddie was the younger/current Stephen Hawking & the real professor was also the real one - from the future (hehehe) :D.  To be able to portray well a (real) person in various stages of his life and health (within a few months of filming), its pretty admirable.  To quote, "he had complete (character) transformation."  Eddie's not just great in this movie. I've seen his other works & he's good in all of them too.  While I feel that the Oscar would be given to Michael Keaton, I still hope that its going to be Eddie's in the end :-)

BEST ACTOR #1: EDDIE REDMAYNE

#2: BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

After reading several articles about Oscar predictions on who's going to win this Sunday at the Academy Awards, I've decided to write a review and rank the performances too. Because in case my bets do not win at the ceremony, in my heart & in this little blog at least they're winners (hahaha) :D  Also, when THR wrote a few interviews of Academy Award voters & how they voted for all nominees, I was amused with the voters and thought, "If this is how they decide the winner, I'm qualified enough to rank & vote too!" LOL!  But with all seriousness, I want to pay tribute to the nominated films - those that I've seen at least - for this year.  Here it goes:

BEST PICTURE

Amongst the 8 nominated films of this year, I've only seen 5 of them - Theory of Everything, Imitation Game, Grand Budapest Hotel, Whiplash & American Sniper.  The other 3 films - Selma, Boyhood, & Birdman - based on reviews are great films but I just couldn't find time to watch all of them.  Because, life! :D

Visually, the Grand Budapest Hotel was beautiful & quirky but I had a difficult time finishing the story in one sitting.  It was an artsy film but not my cup of tea.  The movie isn't my favorite but I hope it will win awards in cinematography, film editing and/or production design.

American Sniper was a good film.  However, I felt that I've seen better movies about war like Zero Dark Thirty and yes, Lone Survivor. :D

The Theory of Everything was the first Oscar nominated film that I saw.  I didn't have high expectations about the movie mainly because I expected it to feel like a documentary.  The movie proved me wrong and I ended up crying & moved by Stephen & Jane's story instead.  The entire cast performance is what carried the film for me.  You feel that these are the real people in the story, a story told beautifully.  

Whiplash, on the other hand, was the last nominated film that I saw.  While I've read good reviews about this movie, like the Theory of Everything I didn't expect much of it.  And just like the latter, it proved me otherwise.  Its a common story but there is something extraordinary & raw about how it's written & directed.  I like how realistic it is.  Its not just a story for struggling artists but its a story everyone can relate to.  There is an important lesson in the movie.  And the jazz music is great!

I like the simplicity of Whiplash' story & think its a classic movie that people would like to watch even years & years after.  For awhile, this was my best picture out of all the films I had seen but one film deserved the Oscar more - The Imitation Game.

The writing, cinematography & cast performance was just perfect in the Imitation Game.  Benedict Cumberbatch is a genius actor.  I've never heard of Alan Turing until this film.  He (Turing) is an amazing person with an amazing story and the people behind this film have brought honor to his life.  All nominated films, for sure, are great on their own.  But the Oscar Best Picture for this year belongs to The Imitation Game.  This is another classic movie & people aren't going to get tired of watching it.  Apart from being a great film by itself, it deserves this prestigious recognition to pay tribute to a man (Alan Turing) who has made a huge contribution to history.  

Best Picture (#1) - The Imitation Game

#2 - Whiplash

#3 - Theory of Everything

#4 - American Sniper

The Eddie and Wills show: Redmayne's first star role - with Prince and their very upper-crust Eton chums 

Feb. 8, 2015

These days, the backdrop is usually a star-studded red carpet. But during his teenage years, Eddie Redmayne tended to be pictured in an even more exclusive setting.The 33-year-old actor, man-of-the-moment at last night’s Bafta awards, posed in a number of fascinating photographs during his time at Eton, including several with his contemporary, Prince William.One shows Redmayne starring in a house play, Pravda; another sees him standing on the steps of the College chapel as fellow choristers lark about behind him; a third depicts him posing with William and fellow members of an under-16 rugby side.

A strong back row: Eddie Redmayne and Prince William (both circled) were stalwarts of the same rugby team at Eton in 1997

Praiseworthy: A young Eddie Redmayne keeps a straight face as fellow choristers cavort behind him

Sartorial elite: The 17-year-old William lounges against the wall in a tiger-striped waistcoat while fellow prefect Eddie, next to him, appears to be taking it all very seriously.

"When I read the script, I fought incredibly hard for this part," said Redmayne backstage. "But you do it blindly. So when I did get cast … I had a moment of elation and then several months of great trepidation and fear. … It was many sleepless nights." Redmayne said he met Stephen Hawking before filming and was "looking for his approval." "When he was generous enough to offer us his voice, it was really special," he said. Redmayne said that he started off in London theater, and when he first transitioned to L.A. he stayed close to his fellow British actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch. "I remember when we first came over here the Brits would stick together because L.A. is such a confusing city when you first arrive."

Its the category I've been waiting for the entire night - congratulations EDDIE REDMAYNE!!!  Best Actor Motion Picture Drama Golden Globes 2015!!! 

The girls having "friendsgiving" with new friends minus the boys.

The boys - Damon, Stefan & Alaric - are on a road trip to Portland.  In this road trip, Damon & Alaric are teasing Stefan about Caroline.

And here's another webclip of the boys with Damon & Alaric pointing out Caroline's positive qualities.

But wait, did Stefan just "friend-zone" Caroline?!? Not good Stefan! 

Hopefully, later on (preferably by Christmas, LOL!) Stefan realizes that he LOVES Caroline! That she isn't just a friend anymore - to satisfy my cheesy heart :-D <3

In The Theory of Everything , the 32-year-old actor went through a rigorous, painful process to take on the physicality and emotional life of famed scientist Stephen Hawking. It could catapult Redm...