During the 2010 Oscars, which took place Sunday, March 7, the Oscar for best director was awarded to Kathryn Bigelow, making her the first female director to win an Oscar. Bigelow was the fifth woman to be nominated in the history of Academy Awards.
Bigelow's movie, The Hurt Locker, won six Oscars that night as well. The 2008 production is a drama that portrays what happened in the recent war in Iraq. Bigelow's win had directors such as ex-husband James Cameron, director of Avatar and Quentin Tarantino, director of Inglorious Bastards going home empty handed. Last month, Bigelow also became the first woman to win best director at the British Academy Film Awards.
While last night, the first female director took home an Oscar for best director and six Oscars for her movie alone, the world observed International Women's Day today.
Recently, I went to see Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter. I know what you're thinking because I was thinking it too. The weird duet (Johnny and Tim) do it again! You're absolutely right. The movie is full of weirdness right down to the core. In fact, the word weird does not begin to describe this production. Even Hathaway, who has never been in such roles, introduces a new style for herself. Leave it to Tim Burton to take a normal actress and turn her into the most peculiar character ever, The White Queen of Wonderland. Don't get me wrong, while the movie was very odd and twisted in a PG-rated way, it was still a great movie. It had amazing, artistic visuals. The actors and actresses were very attached to the roles. Even the talking animals seemed so real. Everything in the movie truly was part of a wonderland.
Below are just a few images that show the vibrant colors and characters that are incorporated in the movie:
Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Photo courtesy of moviesblog.mtv.com
Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Photo courtesy of insider.com
Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. Photo courtesy of filmofilia.com
According to an article published by The Daily News Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak has responded to the rumors that former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, Mohamed El Baradei might actually be running in the upcoming presidential elections. Mubarak gives El Baradei the green light to run as long as he "respects the [Egyptian] constitution."
The United States is implementing a new system to save money. Several states like Illinois, Michigan, and California are releasing inmates very early on parole in order to cut back on expenses that go towards maintaining these prisoners. Sex offenders, rapists, murders, and thieves are being released sometimes only weeks after they've been in prison. Victims' rights groups are frustrated, along with many governors across the country.
It is a complete outrage for states to put the well-being of their citizens on the line. This just shows how desperate and careless the American government has become.
This morning, I came across a very interesting editorial recently posted on The New York Times. This opinion piece, which was written by Kim Elsesser, a research scholar at the Center for Study of Women at the University of California, Los Angeles, brings up a very interesting topic:
Why do we have separate female and male Oscars for best actresses and actors? And, if we are going to differentiate between the two when it comes to actors, then why the heck don't we do the same for directors and, as she refers to it, "directresses?"
She points out that separate is not equal, and she is absolutely right. If men and women can't be equally evaluated in their same profession, then that is not equality among the sexes. Also, there is no doubt that women are influencing Hollywood greatly.
Maybe it caught my attention because I'm hoping and dreaming for equality among the sexes, or maybe because I truly believe that women can be just as successful and hard-working as men. Either way, this piece brings up some interesting points and it's definitely something worth the read.
BBC: World newscast with David Austin, about the Greek Government’s debt crisis, Italy’s accusations of selling arms to Iran, Ethiopian rebels, and other world issues.
The newscast was very informative, however, the voice quality was extremely monotone. While this is understandable because the reporters and announcers have to be very professional and neutral on such newscasts, it is very unpleasant for the listener. Overall, the quality of the sound was clean and easy to listen to.This newscast was exactly 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
NPR: Corva Coleman was the announcer of the newscast. This newscast primarily focused on what was happening in America, although it did incorporate some important pieces of world news. It also included a small segment from a press conference held by President Obama, who talked about healthcare and the economy.
The quality of the sound is very crisp and clear. Coleman, along with the reporters who were a part of the newscast all had engaging voices that were neutral and professional, yet not monotone and boring. This newscast was more interesting for me because it had better sound quality, along with better announcers and stories. Its length was 4 minutes and 45 seconds.
Here's a topic that I enjoy, yet rarely get the opportunity to write about: Al Pacino. To me, this man is a legend. His movies have left legacies for other actors to live up to. He won an Oscar for Best Actor and was nominated for six. One of the things that I love about him is, despite his rough edges, Pacino gives off a charming and classy vibe. The movie picks below are just a few of my favorites among his many amazing titles.
5) Scent of a Woman
Pacino plays the role of Frank, a blind, retired Lieutenant Colonel who is almost impossible to get along with. He is suicidal, yet comedic. Sad, yet cheerful at times. His character is extremely rich and impossible to not like, even though he is an irritable and grumpy drunk. The best and one of the most famous scenes in this movie is no doubt the Tango scene, where Frank, who is blind dances the Tango perfectly and on tempo with his female partner, played by Gabrielle Anwar.
4) Righteous Kill
This movie had two of my favorite actors of all time: Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The two play the roles of partner cops and best friends. However, one of them has a secret. Can you guess which one? I won't spoil it for you, but this is an action-filled movie that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who the real culprit is. I loved every minute of it!
3) Carlito's Way
A young Puerto-Rican ex-con living in New York, Carlito is now committed to staying out of trouble after his release from prison. Although Carlito finds the love of his life and tries his best to settle down and stay out of trouble, he is faced with pressure due to New York's crime scene, which is full of drugs and thugs. I won't lie to you, if your a true Al Pacino lover, the end of this movie is tragic.
2) Scarface
Truly a classic indeed, this movie was so influential that it was remade in Egypt and starred one of the most famous Egyptian actors of all time, Ahmed Zaki. In Scarface, Pacino plays the role of the infamous Tony Montana, a young cuban who starts off with nothing, but ends up as a drug lord. However, his drug empire doesn't last long because greed gets the best of him. This one is a must-see because it's not only one of the best Al Pacino films, it is one of the best movies of all time.
1) The Godfather
Last, but truly not least, The Godfather lands the slot of number one. A young and sexy Al Pacino plays the role of Michael Corleone, a villain mafia boss that you could easily fall in love with. He has that Italian bad boy swagger with a touch of class that can pull in any lady. The above scene is when Corleone finds out that it was his own brother, Fredo, who betrayed him. It's a scene full of love, yet terror. Not only is the story of The Godfather a masterpiece, the way that Pacino accurately portrayed the character was truly amazing.
