Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Best Actress -- The Five Nights of Oscar

It's that time of the year again, the Olympics are over, and folks are gearing up for the Oscars. Yes, the 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 7th, and I can hardly wait. For me, the Oscars are an exciting night. I make a big bowl of popcorn, curl up in my big cozy chair and watch every minute, from the red carpet to the final curtain. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a movie star. I wanted to walk down the red carpet, my ermine stole wrapped around my shoulders, my diamonds sparkling in the popping flashbulbs. Oh, yessiree, that was glamor. And then, of course, my name would be announced as one of the five nominees for best actress, and finally when I am called... "And the winner is...!" I would walk onto the stage to sound of thunderous applause. Would I fumble my speech? Would I cry? Would I embarrass my mother and father? Oh, no, not me -- I would be too elegant.

*sigh*

The first Oscar ever awarded for best actress was given to Janet Gaynor in 1929 for her roles in three movies, "Seventh Heaven", "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans", and "Street Angel". Meryl Streep had not yet been born. The statue is a knight holding a sword and standing on a reel of film. It was designed by a Los Angeles sculptor named George Stanley, and was almost identical to the ones used today. The first Oscars were solid bronze, but today they are made of pewter and are gold-plated.

This year the nominations for Academy Award for Actress in a Leading Role are:

• Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side"
• Helen Mirren in "The Last Station"
• Carey Mulligan in "An Education"
• Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious"
• Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"

I have seen only one of these five movies, "Julie & Julia", but my prediction is the Oscar will go to Gabourney Sidibe in "Precious". I have nothing to base it on except gut instinct. Have you seen any of these performances? I would be interested to hear who you predict will win the Oscar for best actress this year.

"And the Oscar goes to..."

22 comments:

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I haven't seen any of them yet, but I also think Gabourey Sidibe will win.

I wanted to be an actress from the age of 5, either on stage or in the movies, but I didn't know anything about the Academy Awards then. I just wanted to be the cute little girl who always stole the show.

Jo said...

Susan, you still are the cute little girl who always steals the show...!

kenju said...

I think all little girls dream of what it would be like to be in the movies. I was interested in the leading men!

I haven't seen any of those movies, but I could not deny Meryl Streep anything.

Jo said...

Kenju, oh, yes. *heh* By the way, have you stopped blogging?

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

I would like to thank...

We don't get to see the event on our "public tv" and only on satelite which I don't have. Sad.

Russell said...

Well, as usual, I feel like I have been living in a cave or perhaps under a rock. I do not know who Gabourey Sidibe is nor could I properly pronounce her name! But I shall try to educate myself!

As for Best Actor, I am pulling for Morgan Freeman to finally win an Oscar for a leading role. I have not seen Invictus yet, but it is on my list -- along with several other movies.

This was a most interesting post.

Unknown said...

Hmm I think it will either be Gabourey or Carrie Mulligan - I have seen neither movie but them seem to be the most dramatic/intense films chosen. We shall see, I am excited to see the dresses!! haha

Brenda said...

I have not seen any of the films either except for A Serious Man. So I don't have a clue who to cheer for. I always get teary when people win awards. Well...not always, but many times.
Can you imagine getting to attend one of these? We can dream......

DJan said...

You read it here first: I think it will be Meryl for her performance as Julia Child. She was brilliant. So was Sandra Bullock, but Meryl was better! I haven't seen Precious, but Gaborney keeps losing out...

PinkPanthress said...

I haven't seen any of them, I'm not much one to watch tv or go to the cinemas... :)

But I'll go with your gut instinct, if you watch the Oscars since you were young, you should know better than me who had & who has no chance to win.

Katy said...

I have only see Meryl's performance. Honestly though I would like to see Sandra Bullock win. I don't have anything against the others its just that, well if I was going to pick one name out of the five that I would never dream would win a Oscar it would be Sandra so I'm pulling for her.

Essie said...

Hi Jo, Just a note: if you go by my cousin's website SameTeam.us, he is looking for a featured artist. He asked me if I knew anyone...Dooo Yoouuu???

Just a side note: It may have been unpatriotic of me and the Tea Partyers in my state might hang me like Patty Murray...BUT I WAS ROOTING FOR CANADA'S HOCKEY TEAM!!!! Congratulations!!

Kimberly said...

Seen Julie & Julia, loved it - but my bet is on Sandra Bullock. The movie rousted so my hype & no, I've not seen it.

Carol E. said...

I have seen Blind Side and Julie/Julia. I don't think Bullock should win for Blind Side. She was good, but... not oscar-worthy, IMO. Meryl Streep can do no wrong in my book. I'm interested to see Precious. I have no predictions... usually I avoid watching the Academy Awards. It's so much "yay, rah rah Us!" I can't stand it.

Mary Ellen said...

I've never been a big fan of the Oscar's...at least in the last 10 years it seems like there is too much political bloviating by the actors who have to bore us with their "cause" of the day instead of just saying thank you for the award and thanking those who helped them with the film.

I also wanted to stop over because I was away from my computer for a week and just had to tell you Congrats to Canada on that Hockey gold medal. I watched the game and it was amazing. I'm sad we didn't win, but there was no doubt in my mind that the Canadian team played a better game and deserved to win.

Have to run...so much catching up to do. Thanks for stopping by Bad Habit!

Betty Bishop said...

Precious is the only one I have seen. It is fantastic and I didn't find it depressing at all. It was just real life. I forget who the mother was but she also deserves an Oscar!

scarlethue said...

I haven't even heard of three of the five! Julie and Julia was good, but I don't know that it's Oscar worthy. I haven't seen Precious yet but would like to.

L. D. said...

It is always fascinating but I don't miss it if I do miss it. I really am a fan of Robert Bateman. He came to Iowa years ago and spoke about environmental issues and we saw lot of his original work that he brought with him. I don't own a single print of his, but have all three of his books of prints.

Alicia said...

I've only see Julie & Julia as well, so it will be interesting to see who wins.

I just want to see the clothes the women are wearing, the jewels and the hair styles. The think I hate most about the women's outfits are their big ugly toes hanging over the front of their shoes. Do actresses have extraordinarily large feet? Why can't they fit them correctly?

Anyone?

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Who you callin' "little?"

Goldenrod said...

Meryl Streep is a very talented actress, but of the five it would probably have been Helen Mirren who got my vote had I seen more than one of the movies.

Like Alicia, I enjoy seeing the gowns and hair styles as well. What's this about big ugly toes? Can't say I've noticed that. Now that she's pointed that out, however, I'll probably find myself looking at their feet! :)

Wolynski said...

Love the Oscars as well.

I think Sandra Bullock will win. Haven't seen any of the movies, except for "Julie & Julia" - that way my judgment is not clouded. It's Sandra's time or so goes the buzz.