Oscars get 34.3 million viewers, lowest rating since 2008

NEW YORK— Academy Awards viewership dipped to its lowest level since 2008 in a year where the movie industry’s ability to reflect the nation’s diversity was a central issue.

The Nielsen company said Monday preliminary estimates showed 34.3 million people watched Sunday night’s telecast, where “Spotlight” won best picture. Last year’s show was seen by 37.3 million people.

Since 1990, only two Academy Awards telecasts had fewer viewers: in 2008, when “No Country For Old Men” won best picture, and in 2004, when “Chicago” was honored. The peak came when “Titanic” won a boatload of awards in 1998 and 55 million people tuned in.

The paucity of minority nominees this year led to calls for a boycott among some black stars, including Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee. But Nielsen did not immediately have any ethnic breakdown of Oscar viewership. Generally, the popularity of movies being honored tends to be the biggest factor in whether the audience for the live telecast is up or down.

Rock, in his second time hosting, hardly stayed away from the diversity issue. He peppered the audience with his first three jokes on the topic within 25 seconds.

The most recent awards shows, the Golden Globes and Grammys, also saw ratings declines. The Globes, which honor film and television, were seen by 18.5 million people, down from 19.3 million in 2015. The Grammy telecast hit a seven-year low in viewership.

Many years, the Oscars are television’s biggest event after the Super Bowl.

The final half hour of ABC’s pre-show telecast was watched by 22.2 million people, down from 23.8 million last year, Nielsen said.

Twitter marked a milestone, however: Leonardo DiCaprio’s best actor award generated 440,000 tweets in a minute, the fastest ever counted at the Academy Awards. The previous Twitter highlight came two years ago when Ellen DeGeneres made her star-studded selfie.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Helen Hunt Wears H&M (and $700,000 Worth of Jewelry) to the Oscars

Never has the term high-low dressing been more applicable. Oscar nominee Helen Hunt hit the red carpet in a gown with a label we never expected to see on the Academy Awards red carpet: H&M.

But she didn’t skimp when it came time to accessorize the mall-store gown, adding a Martin Katz diamond brooch to the back of the dress, plus a necklace and bracelets from the jeweler, which Hunt noted totaled up to $700,000 worth of jewelry.

Looks like Sharon Stone will have to give up her title of Most Frugal Oscars Dresser. (The actress famously stunned when she showed up at the 1996 Academy Awards in a Gap turtleneck.) Hunt has out-bargained Stone by wearing this midnight blue silk and satin strapless dress.

source:  http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2013/02/24/oscars-2013-helen-hunt-dress/

And the Oscar goes to . . .

While the Razzies are still mulling over who among Katherine Heigl, Milla Jovovich, Kristen Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Tyler Perry, Nicolas Cage, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler and Robert Pattinson “deserve” to take home Golden Raspberry trophies for Worst Performances last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is getting ready to hand over Hollywood’s most coveted golden statuettes for the industry’s over-achievers at the glitzy Oscar Awards on Feb. 24 (morning of Feb. 25 in the Philippines).

After watching all the nominees for this year’s derby (thanks for “Amour” and “The Master,” Tcel), we polled 40 of Tinseltown’s award-giving bodies to see who’s ahead in the race. Unfortunately, one of the most crucial matches will not even be seen at the Oscars on Monday!

So far, the Best Director race has been a two-way duel between Ben Affleck (“Argo,”  our pick) and Kathryn Bigelow (“Zero Dark Thirty”), with eight wins each. Ironically, neither of them made it to the Academy’s five-nominees list! Their films have won 13 awards to date, while Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” could only muster three nods.

Tom Hooper, who helmed the screen version of the celebrated stage musical, “Les Miserables,” was also snubbed. If any of Affleck, Bigelow and Hooper’s movies would snag the top prize, it’ll go down in history as the Best Picture winner that directed itself!

Spielberg has one win, while Ang Lee (“Life of Pi”) and David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”) have two each. Behn Zeitlin (“The Beasts of Southern Wild”) and Michael Haneke (“Amour”) complete the nominees’ circle.

Closest competitor

For Best Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis is unbeatable as the 16th president of the United States. For his crackerjack portrayal, the actor has won almost every accolade there is, amassing 30 awards so far!

His closest competitors are “The Master’s” Joaquin Phoenix (four wins) and “Silver Linings Playbook’s” Bradley Cooper (three). Denzel Washington (“Flight”) and Hugh Jackman (“Les Miserables”) have one award each.

Anne Hathaway is also set to grab her first Oscar (for Best Supporting Actress) for her stirring turn as the tragic Fantine in “Les Miserables.” With “only” five wins, it’ll be hard for Sally Field (as Lincoln’s disturbed wife, Mary Todd, in Spielberg’s historical drama) to keep up with the younger actress’ 21-trophy haul.

The category’s other nominees are Jacki Weaver (“Silver Linings Playbook”), Amy Adams (“The Master”) and Helen Hunt (“The Sessions”).

The race for Best Supporting Actor is a three-way fight between Phillip Seymour Hoffman of “The Master” (11 wins), Tommy Lee Jones of “Lincoln” (10), and “Django Unchained’s” Christoph Waltz (seven), who should have been nominated in the Best Actor category.

We’d be happy if either Hoffman, who’s as charming as he is menacing as an L. Ron Hubbard-type cult leader, or the riveting Waltz, as a bounty-hunting dentist, goes home with the coveted prize. Completing the list are Alan Arkin (“Argo”) and Robert De Niro (“Silver Linings Playbook”), in his first Academy nomination in 21 years!

The Best Actress derby is even more exciting: Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”) has won 17 awards to date, but among Jennifer Lawrence’s 14 accolades are crucial wins from the Screen Actors Guild, the LA Film Critics and the Golden Globes!

Naomi Watts is just as moving in “The Impossible,” Juan Antonio Bayona’s true-to-life drama about the 2004 Asian tsunami— but, Chastain deserves a hearty pat on the back, and the Oscar, for her pitch-perfect portrayal as a relentless CIA agent who tracks down Osama Bin Laden. Her formidable body of work also deserves a trophy!

If the Academy wants some novelty, it just might let its youngest (9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis of “The Beasts of Southern Wild”) or oldest nominee (85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva of “Amour”) pull a surprise!

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Oscar Awards, behind the scenes

United States-based writer Janet Susan Nepales shares her behind-the-scenes experiences at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday (US time).

HOLLYWOOD --- The 84th Academy Awards held at the Hollywood and Highland Theater (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre) came back to life thanks to a crop of very good movies, great script for the presenters, the Cirque du Soleil number, and the wonderful host Billy Crystal.

But let us take you behind the scenes as we go from the red carpet to the interview room.

On the red carpet, we were entertained by the presence of Crystal the monkey from “The Hangover 2” dressed in a pink dress and wearing a necklace. Then she was followed by a group of penguins.

One of the most adorable couples we anticipated to walk down the red carpet but didn’t were Kermit and Miss Piggy. But we were happy to see Darren Criss perform a duet with Kermit and do “Rainbow Connection.”

Darren said, “I am a small guy like you. You should be in ‘Glee.’” To which Kermit replied, “And you should be in a ‘Muppet’ movie. So why don’t you talk to your people and I will talk to my people and let us make it happen.”

Halle Berry, at the last minute, cancelled her appearance at the Oscars due to a broken foot. She broke it, she said, while trying to chase her three-year-old daughter Nahla.

Producer Brian Glazer told a reporter that he advised actors “to be classy, funny and on time.”

Glenn Close of “Albert Nobbs” was probably the only actress who wore a jacket over her green gown. Just like George Clooney, she went straight to the screaming fans, to say hello before posing for photographers on the red carpet.

P. Diddy came as an executive producer of the winning documentary feature “Undefeated.” The documentary tells the story of the underprivileged and underfunded Manassas Tigers football team and their coaches as they hurdle their struggles and become heroes.

Eco-friendly gown for ‘The Artist’ actress

Missy Pyle of “The Artist” turned out in an eco-friendly, flowing blue gown that won the third annual sustainable couture competition known as the “Red Carpet Green Dress” in the hopes that “more actresses will grace the red carpet in eco-friendly gowns.” She said her gown, designed by Valentina Delfino was made from silkworms. She is the first actress in an Oscar nominated film to wear the annual competition’s winning design.

She was selected for her willowy 5 foot 11 inch frame and her interest in sustainability. Of course, with “The Artist’s” nominations, a lot of attention will also be showered on her. Her gown is made from gluten-free silkworms, she said.

The wife of “Avatar” director James Cameron, Suzy Amis Cameron, started the competition and was the first one to wear the winning eco-friendly design at the Oscars.

The Dictator Meets the American Idol (Host)

Ryan Seacrest, another host of E!, was excited to interview Sacha Baron Cohen who at first was denied to arrive at the Oscars red carpet as his character in his next movie, “The Dictator.” But at the last minute, the Oscar producers allowed him.

So when Sacha walked the red carpet as General Aladeen, the despot he is portraying in his upcoming movie, “The Dictator,” he talked to Ryan while two lovely assistants in military outfits stood beside him, one on each side.

He exclaimed, "Ryan, hello! Death to the West!"

Then Ryan asked him what he was wearing and he said, “I am wearing John Galliano (the designer who was found guilty of racist comments to customers in a café) but my socks are from Kmart! Because as Saddam Hussein once told me, ‘Socks are socks. Don’t waste money!” Ryan even pulled up his pants to show Sacha’s Kmart socks.

Ryan then asked the dictator if one of the biggest perks of being so powerful was that he got to attend the Oscars.

Sacha replied, “It gave me an opportunity to bring my dear friend and doubles tennis partner, Kim Jong II (the late North Korean leader).” Sacha was carrying what looked like an urn with the picture of Kim Jong II on it. “It was his dream to come to the Oscars and be sprinkled over the red carpet and HalleBerry’s chest again.”

Then Sacha accidentally stumbled and poured the ashes from the urn all over Ryan’s Burberry tuxedo, causing a commotion among Ryan’s colleagues. Two burly guards suddenly get Sacha out of the area while Sacha pretended to clean up Ryan.

Sacha shouted, “If they ask you who you are wearing, just say Kim Jong II!”

Ryan, who was visibly stunned, said while cleaning up the ashes from his tux, “I had an idea something was coming. I just didn’t know in what fashion or form.

Then Kelly Osbourne said, “We do not know what to say!” Giuliana Rancic said to Ryan, “Do you know how lucky you are? You were the chosen one by The Dictator!”

“Is this a vision of luck?!” Ryan replied while dusting him off. “Now all these cameras are focused on me dusting off.”

Good thing Ryan said, he brought two tuxedos because “my mother always told me to pack two. I did not understand her before but now I know why. Thank God I listened to my mom.”

Best dressed actresses

Some of those who made our “best dressed” list were:

Jennifer Lopez in her Zuhair Murad gown

Angelina Jolie in her high front slit, black Atelier Versace gown

Gwyneth Paltrow in her classic white Tom Ford cape and gown

Stacy Keibler in her gold off-shoulder Marchesa gown

Cameron Diaz in her flowing off-shoulder beige Gucci gown

Michelle Williams was hot in a coral Louis Vuitton strapless gown with ruffled bodice

“The Artist” actress Berenice Bejo wore a very feminine lacey long-sleeved Elie Saab mint-colored gown

Jessica Chastain of “The Help” was stunning in her black and gold brocade Alexander McQueen gown and $2 million in Harry Winston jewelry. She also brought her grandmother to the Oscar while “Moneyball’s” Jonah Hill brought his mom.

Penelope Cruz looked younger in her shorter shoulder-length hair and in a smoke-blue Giorgio Armani fitted bodice and long flowing train

Viola Davis made a strong and sexy statement in her custom-made Vera Wang emerald green corseted gown with a floral crystal appliqué and a chiffon pleated skirt. She also wore her own hair minus wigs and so she thanked Vera Wang for her outfit and “my mom for my hair.” She said it was her husband Julius Tennon who encouraged her not to use a wig. “Step into who you are! It’s a powerful statement,” he said.

Backstage

Meryl Streep encouraged all girls to do what they want and not to be discouraged. She also became emotional again when she talked about the support her husband gives to her to do what she loves to do.

Octavia Spencer was still in tears when she walked backstage and hugging her Oscar statuette tightly. She still could not believe that she has won.

Christopher Plummer, 82, said that he was not the oldest winner but thinks that Charlie Chaplin was the oldest. - GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Guide to the 84th Oscars

MANILA, Philippines - Because the 84th edition of the Oscars is set on Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila), film buffs all over the world are in a whirl of excitement and anticipation trying to determine which among the nominated actors and movies will walk away with arguably the most coveted prize in the world after the Nobel Prize.

Per tradition, this writer is giving The STAR readers a quick run-through of which performers and movies could win in the major categories come Sunday. But before that, here’s a quick trivia: Who is the only actress to have received at least one Oscar nomination for every decade since the ’70s? If you answered Meryl Streep, then mark one correct answer for you.

The chameleonic actress, who began her record-setting Oscar haul of 17 nominations during the latter part of the ‘70s in the Vietnam drama The Deer Hunter, ushers in the second decade of the new century with a new nomination for her magnificent portrayal of England’s Margaret Thatcher in the biopic The Iron Lady.

Ironically, Meryl has amassed so many Oscar nominations that many people think she already has a shelf-full of golden statuettes at home. The sad truth is that she has not won an Oscar since winning in 1982. Consider this: She has been nominated 12 times and also lost for 12 consecutive times since then.

On Sunday night, the greatest American actress in history is poised to finally end the drought and make her 13th nomination since winning for Sophie’s Choice her lucky outing. But many Oscar prognosticators aren’t so sure though. Meryl is facing stiff competition from Tony-winner Viola Davis, whose star-making turn in The Help has already earned her a Best Actress trophy from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the all-important precursor award seen by many Oscar-watchers as the only accurate predictor of the Academy Awards.

Admittedly, this writer is one of Meryl’s biggest fans and every time she gets a nomination I always predict a win for her. Two years ago, she had the best chance of winning but Sandra Bullock had the best year of her career and that goodwill carried over to the Oscars. Sadly, the story from two years ago rings similar to this year’s race: Viola is enjoying her best year and the Academy may be inclined to crown that year with a Best Actress award for her.

But being a fan, I can always spin a story favorable to Meryl’s cause. Yes, Meryl will win but not because she hasn’t won in 30 years. She will win because she delivered the best performance of the year and because her turn in The Iron Lady is her best ever! Her towering performance offers many would-be actresses a clinical lesson on how to act.

Other actresses competing with Meryl and Viola for Best Actress are Michelle Williams, who was brilliant as the tormented Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, Glenn Close, who earned her sixth nomination for her gender-bending role in Albert Nobbs and first-time nominee Rooney Mara for her fierce and brave performance in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Best Actress prediction? I am going against the SAG and I predict that Meryl will win her well-deserved third Oscar.

In the hotly contested race for Best Actor, George Clooney and Brad Pitt are undeniably the most popular contenders among the five actors in the race. The Hollywood superstars, who are great friends in real-life, are competing for their masterful turns as fathers-in-crises in The Descendants and Moneyball, respectively. However, the frontrunner in this category is an otherwise unknown French actor named Jean Dujardin whose charming turn as a fading silent film star in the silent movie The Artist has already been recognized by the SAG and the British Academy.

George is tipped by many to win his second Oscar but Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor will most likely spend the evening smiling before the camera while stuck to his seat if the predicted sweep of The Artist materializes and Jean waltzes his way to the stage to collect his Oscar on his very first nomination.

The two other actors nominated in the category are also first-timers: Mexico’s Demian Bichir, who delivered a heartbreaking performance as an illegal immigrant caring for his son in A Better Life, and, surprise, surprise, Gary Oldman! Yes, the actor, considered by many critics as the greatest European actor of his generation, has never received a nomination until this year. The actor was cited for his understated but powerful performance as a master spy in the British adaptation of John Le Carre’s classic novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

My prediction for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin.

While the Best Actor and Best Actress races are difficult to predict, the race for the supporting performances has been virtually decided months ago. Octogenarian actor Christopher Plummer is set to become the oldest performer ever to receive an acting Oscar for his delightful turn as a widower who came out as a gay man to his son during the last days of his life in the acclaimed movie Beginners.

Chris is competing against Max Von Sydow (Extremely Close/Incredibly Loud), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Jonah Hill (Moneyball) and Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn).

In the Best Supporting Actress race, character actress Octavia Spencer is also virtually guaranteed to receive an Oscar for her affecting and audience-pleasing performance as a feisty maid in The Help. Octavia is joined in this category by her The Help co-star Jessica Chastain.

Other actresses nominated in this category are former nominee Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs, Berenice Bejo for The Artist and Melissa McCarthy, whose scene-stealing turn in Bridesmaids is the only comedic performance to receive a nomination this year.

The race for Best Director pits four of Hollywood’s legendary and greatest directors against a Frenchman, whose homage to silent movies could also sweep the Oscars.

French director Michel Hazanavicius, who was declared winner by the Directors Guild of America, is tipped to also win the Oscar for his work in The Artist against Martin Scorsese (Hugo), Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Terence Malick (The Tree of Life) and Alexander Payne (The Descendants).

Alexander and Woody are most likely not going home empty-handed because the nominated directors are also nominated and are expected to win for their writing works on their respective movies.

For the nights’ biggest award, the Best Picture race, nine movies are in competition this year: The Artist, Hugo, War Horse, The Help, The Tree of Life, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, Extremely Close/Incredibly Loud and The Descendants.

My predicted winner for Best Picture is The Artist. But if there will be an upset, look out for either The Help or The Descendants to pull the trick. If Hugo pulls the unlikeliest of upsets and win Best Picture, I will be happiest.

In the animated feature film category, the western Rango is expected to win in a category where the only other mainstream nominees are Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots.

Only two movies are expected to duke it out in the other categories. The Artist and Hugo will most likely split the awards haul with the latter taking most of the technical awards.

The Iranian film A Separation will most likely score a historic win for its country in the Best Foreign Language Film category. However, Poland’s entry In Darkness, which is based on a harrowing true story about the Holocaust, is a dark horse contender that could very well be the surprise winner in the category — and I will be disappointed, if that happens.

Final count. Hugo: Six wins. The Artist: Five wins. The Iron Lady: Two wins.

Beloved comedian and veteran Oscar host Billy Crystal will again take over the emceeing job Sunday night.

Article Source: philstar.com