Mozza’s memoirs

Morrissey likes to do everything doesn’t he? Well, everything that doesn’t involve eating animals. I can’t decide whether I like him or not- there’s definitely something interesting about his character but at the same time I get the impression that if I tried to say anything to him he would just ignore me or make me look stupid.

But let’s put that aside. Moz has allegedly written over 600 pages for the first draft of his memoirs. This could be interesting. Being Morrissey, you’d expect something from these memoirs and get the absolute opposite. Ideally it will be a great insight into the inner-workings of one of the greatest lyricists of the last 25 years, and hopefully some of the questions his fans have never got the answer to will be adressed. But this is Morrissey we’re talking about so I doubt we’ll learn anything other than his opinions on David Cameron shooting stag, James Dean, Oscar Wilde and being alone. Oh Moz, you’re such an enigma.

Hairspray- New Wimbledon Theatre

Saturday 26th March: ****

The orchestra murmurs, the lights dim, and the seat in front of me is empty. Perfect. I didn’t know what to expect from seeing Hairspray live on stage, after all, I only had the 2007 film version of it in my head, and as hard as any theatre may, it’s difficult to recreate film sets on stage. As the curtain rose and the show began, I could tell it was going to be completely enjoyable.

Laurie Scarth was performing as Tracy Turnblad, a character described as a “pleasantly plump teenager” who wants to star in and intergrate her favourite local dance programme, The Corny Collins Show. She was brilliant in the role, possessing a nasal but pleasant sounding voice which suits the chirpy, optimistic character she was portraying. A running tradition in performances of Hairspray has been to cast a male as Tracy’s overweight and well meaning mother, Edna, and again there was perfect star casting with Michael Ball, who would occasionally deliberately break into an exaggerated, deeper version of his real voice which always got a huge laugh from the audience. His possibly unintentional laughing fit with co-star Micky Dolenz, who played Edna’s loving husband Wilbur was a highlight of the show, breaking the barrier between audience and cast, as well as being completely hilarious.

Musical highlights included the opening number, Good Morning Baltimore, setting the scene for a happy couple of hours away from reality and Welcome to the 60s, which in my opinion was the first number to boast the size of the stage, colourful costumes and brilliant singing. Of course, the solo I Know Where I’ve Been by Sandra Marvin, who played the sassy Motormouth Maybelle, host of Corny Collins’s Negro Day, was another highlight, definitely showing off her amazing vocal ability in a prolonged end note (which annoyingly and rather disrepectfully people started cheering halfway during.) But the real highlight was the all singing, all dancing end number You Can’t Stop the Beat feauturing all the cast members. Anyone who wasn’t tapping their feet, mouthing the words or at least trying to keep up with learning the fast paced lyrics must have been a total misery or just plain mad. When the audience were invited to stand up and dance and sing along during the finale, I was first on my feet to do so; a true sign that the show was a success in bringing happiness and music into my life for a few hours!

Live summer music events

I haven’t updated here in a while and since the last time I updated, I found out a lot of things about music festivals by chance. I’m not a huge lover of the mainstream festivals like Reading or Glastonbury, oh that sounds pretentious, mainly because I’m bored of bland indie rock. So here’s a few suggestions as to where to go this summer for half the cost and without the muddy camping.

– Arcade Fire, Beirut, Mumford and Sons and the Vaccines at Hyde Park, London (30th June)

I’m so glad Arcade Fire and Mumford and Sons exist. Two talented groups of people who actually get recognition on the radio. They’re the perfect alternative-alternative combination for a gig in Hyde Park. And on top of that Beirut will be performing! Check them out, words can’t describe how crazily talented the lead singer, Zach Condon is. His vocals are like Rufus Wainwright meets Jeff Buckley and his music is a combination of eastern European, Gypsy, folk and French music, complete with big brass bands and string sections.

Tickets available here for £48.50

– Morrissey, The Eagles, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Iggy and the Stooges etc at Hop Farm Festival,Paddock Wood, Kent (2nd-3rd July)

What’s so great about this festival is that you have the option of getting day tickets or weekend tickets, so camping is also left optional. Another great thing is that they always manage to get a living legend to headline. Last year it was Bob Dylan; a legend but also a bit of a diva who didn’t let the cameras do close ups of him and whose singing voice has slowly transformed itself into sounding like Tom Waits with a cold.This year it’s the turn of Morrissey; also a legend but a bit of a diva, but we wouldn’t have him any other way. The line up will typically be branded as “music for your grumpy old dad”, when in actual fact it’s for anyone with a musical ear.

Tickets available here for £75 per day or £140-£173 for the weekend, depending on whether you choose to camp.

Rufus Wainwright at House of Rufus, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden,London (18th-23rd July)

I had to include this really. No, it’s not a festival, but it is a week of Rufus Wainwright shows at the Royal Opera House. The shows are to include two performances of his acclaimed Judy Garland concerts on July 18 and 22, a performance with sister Martha on July19, a performance with his father Loudon Wainwright III on July 21 and a concert version of Rufus’s debut opera Prima Donna followed by an orchestral performance of his own songs on the closing night of July 23.

Tickets for each night available here, tickets range from £25- £100

So not only was that a suggestion of places to go, but also my summer plans written on a blog!

The Barbican Centre’s art filled, quirky free weekender

This weekend, the Barbican Centre are putting on a free weekender for anyone interested in customising clothing, alternative arts and visual artists. It finishes tomorrow, 6th March but it’s worth a trip if you’re interested and have the afternoon off. Activities start at 11am and generally finish around 6pm, although a few continue into the night. I’ve just returned from the Barbican and I had a great time so I thoroughly recommend it. Each section and activity was dedicated to arts and creativity, with one room dedicated to taking items of clothing from a rail, being able to customise them with felt, pen and accessories and taking the finished product away with you once you’d finished, and another stall for creating bowling pins from everyday household objects. For those interested in science and visuals, there was an art installation by Chris O’Shea in which two people were able to manipulate each other’s moves in a ‘body swap’ using an XBox Kinect camera. There were too many things to report on, so I advise you check it out for yourself, and even if you get bored, there’s always the fairground food stalls serving hot dogs and candyfloss amongst other things around the centre to keep you occupied.

A full list of details on events is here. The nearest tube stop for the Barbican Centre is Moorgate, available on the Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Circle lines.

Top 20 Winning Moments in Oscar History

My personal favourite wins:

Best Picture- It Happened One Night (1934)

This was the first comedy to win Best Picture at the Oscars and one of only three films ever to have won in all five major categories: film, director, actor, actress and screenplay, the other two films being One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and Silence of the Lambs (1990). It’s a shame that more comedies weren’t rewarded for their acheivements (I say “weren’t” because I find that most current comedies lack everything classic comedies were full of- wit, character and even humour, and are instead quick and easy money making schemes driven by vulgarity, but maybe that’s just me.) In any case, It Happened One Night was a deserving winner and is worth a watch, if only to see how handsome Clark Gable was.

Best Supporting Actress- Hattie McDaniel as Mammy, Gone with the Wind (1939)

Despite portraying a slave to a white protagonist in a film which almost glorifies slavery and the American Civil War, Hattie McDaniel proved that times were changing when she became the first African-American actor to win an Academy Award. In her acceptance speech she said “I sincerely hope that I shall always be a credit to my race,” and it seems her hopes have come true. Last year, Best Supporting Actress winner Mo’Nique thanked her in her acceptance speech and wore a similar dress to the one she wore at the 1940 Oscars in honour of her.

Best Actress- Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind, (1939)

Without Vivien Leigh, Gone with the Wind would have been a failure. That is all. Who would have thought that a little English girl from Roehampton would go on to play the most important female role of all time. She did it brilliantly, even Margaret Mitchell, the author of the book, said that she was “perfect”.

Best Song- Over the Rainbow, The Wizard of Oz, (1939)

Every time I hear this, I end up crying. As I said in an earlier blog post, musicals don’t come like they used to.

Honorary Award- Judy Garland for juvenile performance (1939)

I love Judy Garland, that’s all I can really say. She perfectly performed the most important role in any children’s film to have been put onto film and she thoroughly deserved recognition for this.

Best Picture- West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story is just one of those films that you can watch over and over again, never get bored of, and always find something new about it. When it won 10 Oscars in 1961 including Best Picture, it pretty much clarified that it is the best musical to have ever been put on film.

Best Actor, Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird, (1962)

Maybe it’s just because I’ve read the books, but like Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, Gregory Peck was perfect casting as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. The film, story and messages are beautiful enough as it is, but Gregory’s performance is so subtle and so strong, that the film easily becomes one of the top 10 ever made.

Best Actress- Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins (1964)

Julie Andrews is a national treasure, and while her performance in Mary Poppins isn’t groundbreaking, it was truly deserved for a wonderful performance in the greatest thought-provoking children’s films of all time. I may be biased because Feed the Birds is one of my favourite songs, but it’s possible that her vocal performance of this song is what won her the Oscar. 

Best Picture- The Sound of Music, (1965)

I had to put this here. The Sound of Music has to be the most joyous, uplifting musical of all time, and I’ve seen Singin’ in the Rain. It has become a part of every person’s childhood and everything about it is instrantly memorable, whether it’s the songs, locations or dialogue. From the opening moments of Maria spinning into view against the backdrop of the picturesque Austrian scenery to the end sequence of the von Trapp family travelling on foot after managing to escape the Nazis, you’re smiling the entire way through. And if you’re really obsessed with the beauty of it all, I highly recommend a trip to Salzburg. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited.

Best Original Score, Maurice Jarre: Doctor Zhivago, (1965)

It’s difficult to sum up a score in a couple of sentences and explain why it was so deserving. Doctor Zhivago is a film I’ve seen only about three times (which for me is a small amount, I’ve been known to watch the same film up to 50 times before), but the music has stayed with me constantly.

Honorary Award- Cary Grant (1969)

One of the only classic actors who never received a Best Actor Oscar, it was wonderful that the Academy recognised his talent and importance to the industry, three years after his retirement from acting.

Honarary Award- Charles Chaplin (1971)

Arguably the most important and iconic figure in film history, watching the applause and recognition Charlie Chaplin received when awarded his honorary Oscar is what makes me realise how important film is to me and to so many other people. In short, I just love emotional speeches and crowds of actors in one building admiring each other’s work.

Best Foreign Language Film- Cinema Paradiso, (1989)

I really can’t decide whether this film is totally uplifting and romantic or totally miserable, but currently I’m sticking with the latter. The music, the acting, the relationships in this film are spot on and capture the stereotypical nostalgic and romantic Italy us foreigners love to see.

Best Actor- Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett, Philadelphia (1993)

Tom Hanks’s performance in Philadelphia was the reason behind my descision to study film. He has the capability of retaining his good-guy persona in every one of his films whilst still managing to play a diverse range of characters. In Philadelphia he plays a lawyer whose firm fires him after discovering he has AIDS. Philadelphia isn’t really a “gay movie” or “AIDS movie”, but a film about justice and equality. My favourite part of his performance, and what won him the Oscar in my opinion, is the scene in which he emotionally recites the libretto from his favourite Maria Callas aria, and in doing so wins over the respect and loyalty of his once homophobic lawyer without using any words of his own. It’s probably my favourite scene from any film ever.

Best Director- Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List, (1993)

One of the most emotional films I’ve ever seen. It’s brilliantly acted and although no film is entirely realistic, Schindler’s List does a pretty good job. The black and white visuals help this, as does the fact that Spielberg doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the Holocaust. The famous girl in the red coat also serves as the perfect example of lost innocence and identity in the most horrific event in history.

Best Foreign Language Film- La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful), (1998)

Life is Beautiful is one of those films which you either love or hate. I’m in the 50% of those who love it. When director and lead actor Roberto Benigni’s name was called as winner, he was so overjoyed that he jumped over all the seats in the theatre and hopped up the stage to collect his award from presenter Sophia Loren. What a happy man.

Best Original Score, Nicola Piovani: Life is Beautiful, (1998)

The score sums up the film. Many people dislike the film because they think it trivialises the Holocaust, but in my opinion, it’s not a Holocaust film, it just happens to be set against the backdrop of a concentration camp. The film is about childhood innocence and love between a family, and the sweet melody of Nicola Piovani’s score emphasizes both of these themes for me.

Best Director- Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain (2006)

So many people expressed their anger at the Academy when Brokeback Mountain was not awaded Best Picture at the 2006 Oscars, labelling them homophobic and basing their descisions on politics. A win for Ang Lee as Best Director in my eyes makes up for their mistake, as at least the voters were still able to see the beauty of the visuals and human relationships in the film.

Best Actress- Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, La Vie en Rose (2007)

Possibly the greatest female performance of all time. The amazing thing about Marion Cotillard is that I don’t think she realised how good she was in it, and during awards season of that year when she was crowned winner of countless awards, each time she was announced winner she looked truly shocked and humbled. Her acceptance speech for the Oscars is one which I can watch over and over again because she is just so grateful and didn’t expect to win.

Best Actor- Colin Firth as King George VI, The King’s Speech (2011)

About time! As one article put it, he’s been a solid actor for a good twenty years, and while he’s had his ups and downs with choice of roles and films, he’s always been consistent and finally his acting style is being used to it’s full advantage. In his role as King George VI, he doesn’t stray far from his style in romcoms like Bridget Jones and Love Actually, but in these films he never got to make the most of his ability. He can convey humour, sadness and happiness in just his eyes within one sentence, he’s amazing.

I guess I’m too late to do an Oscars liveblog…

…and after the BAFTAs I swore never to do one again (or at least not in the same month), so I am slightly relieved that live coverage isn’t broadcast on my television. I tried to stream it live online, and I managed to successfully for a while, but after about 20 minutes, the server was caught and banned from showing it. I got to watch the excruciatingly awkward encounter between Kirk Douglas and Anne Hathaway, Kirk Douglas and Melissa Leo and Kirk Douglas and…well, everyone really. I also managed to catch Justin Timberlake admitting he was Banksy before Mila Kunis stepped in to assure the audience he wasn’t, just in case someone in the audience didn’t understand that it was a joke, and the two of them presenting awards for Best Animated Short (which went to The Lost Thing) and Best Animated Feature (which went to Toy Story 3. No surprises there.) It was just after this that the live stream I was watching went offline and after a couple more attempts to find another site providing live footage which ended in my laptop shutting itself down every time I clicked onto another possible source, I decided it was time for bed. First thing in the morning, I switched on the laptop and searched for a full list of winners. My immediate surprise was noted in my audible reaction towards the winner at the top of the list; The King’s Speech had won Best Picture. I really didn’t expect that, I was pretty sure The Social Network or Black Swan, or maybe even Toy Story 3 had it in the bag. I read today that The King’s Speech now joins only 10 other British films to have won Best Picture: Hamlet (1947), Tom Jones (1963), Oliver! (1968), The Deer Hunter (1978), Chariots of Fire (1981), Ghandi (1982), The Last Emperor (1987), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008). I watched a video online earlier today of Steven Spielberg presenting the award for Best Picture, and I have to say, he did a wonderful job. In preceding the announcement he said that the winner “will join the list that includes On the Waterfront, Midnight Cowboy, The Godfather and The Deer Hunter. The other nine will join the list that includes The Grapes of Wrath, Citizen Kane, The Graduate and Raging Bull.” I thought that was wonderfully said and really hit home that there were no losers of the night a lot better than the fake sounding “I’m so honoured to be nominated with such a wonderful group of actors but I won the award so there LOL” speeches a lot of actors give which makes me cringe slightly.

Unsurprisingly, Natalie Portman won Best Actress for Black Swan and Colin Firth for The King’s Speech. My love for Mr Firth has never been a secret and I was overjoyed to see him finally hold the statuette. I’ll even admit to pausing the youtube video of his acceptance speech just to take in the fact it had actually happened. There’s not much point in me going over events of the evening, as I’m sure that if you’re interested you would have found a much more reliable and dedicated source to find out the information, someone who didn’t give up in searching for live streaming and fell asleep. Instead, I’ll provide a list of the winners and another blog about my favourite Oscar moments in history.

Oscar winners of 2011 in order of presentation:

Best Art Direction – ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Best Cinematography – INCEPTION

Best Supporting Actress – MELISSA LEO (THE FIGHTER)

Best Animated Short Film – THE LOST THING

Best Animated Feature – TOY STORY 3

Best Adapted Screenplay – AARON SORKIN (THE SOCIAL NETWORK)

Best Original Screenplay – THE KING’S SPEECH

Best Foreign Language Film – IN A BETTER WORLD

Best Supporting Actor – CHRISTIAN BALE (THE FIGHTER)

Best Original Score – THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Achievement in Sound – INCEPTION

Best Sound Editing – INCEPTION

Best Achievement in Makeup – THE WOLF MAN

Best Achievement in Costume Design – ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Best Documentary Short – STRANGERS NO MORE

Best Live Action Short – GOD OF LOVE

Best Documentary Feature Film – INSIDE JOB

Best Visual Effects – INCEPTION

Best Film Editing – THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Original Song – RANDY NEWMAN (TOY STORY 3)

Best Director – TOM HOOPER (THE KING’S SPEECH)

Best Actress – NATALIE PORTMAN (BLACK SWAN)

Best Actor – COLIN FIRTH (THE KING’S SPEECH)

Best Picture – THE KING’S SPEECH

Viva Viva (and two Canadian musical dynasties)

If someone was to ask me who was the best Canadian musical artist ever, I’d be stuck. No, not between Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne, but between Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen. Both are fantastic lyricists, possibly two of the best in the world, Rufus is an incredible vocalist and composer and what Leonard lacks in vocals he makes up for with passion and emotion. I love it when their worlds collide; seeing Leonard praising Rufus’s talents and vice versa or watching Rufus perform Chelsea Hotel, Hallelujah and Everybody Knows in the film Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man are real treats for me. But now their worlds have collided permanently with the birth of Viva Katherine Wainwright Cohen.

I’ve resisted writing anything on this topic so far because nothing had been confirmed and I didn’t want to write about speculation, but last week it was announced that a child was born on the 2nd February…to Lorca Cohen and Rufus Wainwright. I read on internet forums, possibly less than a week after her birth, that Lorca Cohen had given birth to a girl and automatically I became intrigued. Why the names Katherine and Wainwright? Perhaps a tribute to her lifelong friend Rufus and his late mother Kate McGarrigle (who along with her sister Anna would be third on my list of favourite Canadian musicians)? As a huge fan of Rufus, I waited patiently for any information regarding this child, and gradually things started to fall into place. Rufus’s father Loudon Wainwright III (not a Canadian), was reported to have told an audience that he had become a grandfather for the second time on 2nd Feburary, (Martha Wainwright, once again, a Canadian, gave birth to her son Arcangelo is November 2009), and at a show of Martha’s, Rufus performed as a guest and apparently dedicated a song to the baby, saying an offical announcement was to come the next week.

If you’ve never heard of Rufus Wainwright, then this is probably making sense to you right now. If you have heard of him however, you’re undoubtedly thinking “I thought Rufus was gay, how has this happened?” Well, you’re right; the man is still very much a gay gentleman and I have the sneaking suspicion he will continue to be so for the remainder of his life. I was in the audience of his Royal Albert Hall performance in November when he casually announced his engagement to boyfriend of five years Jorn Weisbrodt (not a Canadian but very, very German.) Jorn was described as “Deputy Dad” in Rufus’s official statement about Viva, so I can only assume that the girl is going to be raised by her three parents, despite idiots claiming that Lorca served as surrogate for the couple, which is ridiculous, as it was never implied in the statement.

Personally I’m thrilled at the merging of genes that has taken place. Most articles I’ve read have mentioned how lucky this little girl is in terms of musical heritage and the likelihood of her following in her parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps is strong. One thing is for certain though; she is going to have to pull off the ultimate version of Hallelujah!

Here is a video of Viva’s father covering a rarely heard or over-played or over-covered song written by her grandfather:

Whatsonstage awards 2011

The awards season continues with an awards ceremony dedicated to theatre. The winners are chosen by the ticket-buying public, a way of voting and choosing winners that doesn’t always sit particularly well with me, but I probably got that view from watching the X Factor an unhealthy amount last year. Also, the winners and nominations for the Whatsonstage awards are by far superior to the rubbish produced by the X Factor.

Best Actor and Actress in a play went to David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker in All My Sons, a play by Arthur Miller. I’ve read it but haven’t seen it, and all I remember is it being extremely depressing. Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a play went to Nigel Lindsay in Broken Glass at the Tricycle and Tamsin Greig in The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick. I feel bad for not going into detail about these winners, but the truth is, I haven’t seen any of their performances, and I don’t really go and see plays in central London that often. I’m definitely a much bigger musical theatre fan, which is why I saved talking about that till last.

Most articles covering the event seem to go with a headline about Sheridan Smith winning Best Actress in a Musical for Legally Blonde. Now, I say I’m a musical theatre fan, and I can’t really judge because I haven’t heard any of the music from Legally Blonde, but I’m of the impression that if you’re going to put a musical onto the West End, don’t just take a mediocre film and set it to music. I find that so many of these “modern musicals” as I so snobbishly put them, are too pop music sounding for my liking, but then again, I’m probably still mourning the deaths of Gene Kelly and Judy Garland and longing for a time when musical theatre will return to its glory days. Jill Halfpenny won Best Supporting Actress for the same musical, while Ramin Karimloo won Best Actor for Andrew Llyod Webber’s new production Love Never Dies. Again, I say I love musical theatre, but I’ve been brought up to believe that Andrew Llyod Webber’s shows are the work of the devil. He is obviously very talented, and I really do enjoy Phantom of the Opera, but when I compare music from that show to something by Cole Porter or Gershwin, I cry inside. However, I strongly advise listening to Ramin’s voice, he is absolutely incredible. Best supporting Actor went to Joseph Millson for the same show.

Les Miserables won three awards; Best Musical Revival at the Barbican, Best Ensemble Performance at the O2 and Best Theatre Event of the Year for its anniversary concert at the O2. Les Mis celebrated its 25th anniversary in October and to celebrate, Cameron Mackintosh, the original producer of the show, organised a one-off event (well, kind of, there were two performances) at the O2, starring actors past and present in a near 3 hour concert performance of the show. It was amazing and thoroughly deserved the Best Theatre Event of the Year. It starred a wonderful, and oddly attractive singer called Alfie Boe as the character of Jean Valjean, a singer whom everyone must listen to if they have any interest in music, or at least musical theatre, whatsoever. I saw him in Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers at the Coliseum in July and his voice is simply amazing. He has the strange and rare ability to be able to sing musical theatre and opera perfectly, and I haven’t heard anyone able to do it as well as him as Gordon MacRae, and he’s been dead for nearly 30 years!

Well, this wasn’t exactly what I was hoping to write for this entry. As usual, it’s descended into a rant about Alfie Boe. Never mind. If you enjoyed listening to his voice in the link I provided, then I suggest buying tickets for his return to Les Mis in June. I don’t know what part of June he’s rejoining the cast, but here’s a link for ticket buying. It’s an amazing show and I highly recommend it, even if Alfie isn’t in the starring role! If you click on the discounts button on the link, it shows that Les Mis has 25% off a lot of tickets until the 18th June, meaning you can often get front row tickets for £45. Go for it! And if you can’t afford it but still want to watch Les Mis, the link provided earlier with Alfie Boe and Norm Lewis performing is part of a youtube playlist of the 25th anniversary concert. Again, definitely worth a watch.

BAFTAs Liveblog

The BAFTAs are starting on the BBC in half an hour, so I thought I’d create a liveblog to follow what’s going on. I’ve never done anything like this before, and it’s only just dawning on me how quickly I’m going to have to simultaneously think and write, but with any luck, it will be engaging and most likely, sarcastic and cynical.

The Golden Globes saw The Social Network win Best Film, but I have a feeling that The King’s Speech is going to win tonight, as it’s about the only British film of the year that people can remember. I’m a bit sceptical about Colin Firth’s Best Actor win, due to last year’s win for his performance in A Single Man (which in my opinion, is a better performance than in The King’s Speech, and I have a feeling that the American judges are making up for not awarding him last year). But he’s up against Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, James Franco for 127 Hours, Jeff Bridges for True Grit and Javier Bardem for Biutiful. We can rule out Jeff Bridges winning, as he won the Oscar for Best Actor last year, Eisenberg and Franco will be deemed “too young” and Bardem’s performance is from a foreign film, so a win for him is unlikely.

Natalie Portman’s BAFTA is almost certain; the coverage for Black Swan has overshadowed The Kids Are Alright (for which Julianne Moore and Annette Bening are both nominated for Best Actress), and again we have the “too young” or “too foreign” hinderance for  Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit and Noomi Rapace in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

So these are my vague predictions for a few of the main categories. I’ll post this now, go and get a doughnut as I don’t think I’ll have much of a chance to wander into the kitchen in the next two hours, and hopefully my plan will work! Hope you enjoy my debut amateur attempt and liveblogging!

20.57: My flatmate had eaten half of my doughnut. Not a good start to the evening.

20.59: “All eyes are on Natalie Portman and Colin Firth tonight.” Even the BBC voiceover agrees with me. Sorry for these mundane updates, I’m just working out the updating system of this site.

21:00 Montage of red carpet moments to a Katy Perry song. We a clearly living in 2011. I keep looking up and seeing Colin Firth which is making me very happy. But now there’s a load of women talking about their clothes. I’m not interested!

21:03: Breakdancing at the BAFTAs? It’s the Royal Opera House! But it’s mixed with the Nutcracker Suite, so maybe it’s acceptable?

21: 05: Jonathan Ross is just making a few Jonathan Ross style jokes and Emma Watson does not look impressed. Wow, there was nothing else to report on in that opening five minutes.

21:09: Time for another montage, but I’m pretty sure I just looked up to see a clip of Eclipse. Described as a highlight? Really?

21:11: It sounds like Paul McCartney is about to present an award! Oh here he is, thanking everyone, but mainly the Beatles by the sounds of things. He’s presenting the award for Best Original Music and one of the nominees is The King’s Speech, so I assume that will win. And the BAFTA goes to: The King’s Speech, what a surprise! Now we know what the rest of the night will entail: The King’s Speech winning everything it’s nominated for. I think Jonathan Ross already made that joke.

21.15: Special Visual Effects now. Inception will win. I don’t even know if it’s nominated, but it will surely win. Ok, Alice in Wonderland is nominated too, as is Toy Story 3, so I might be wrong. I’m not, Inception won.

21:19: It’s montage time again! Goodness, Matt Damon has aged. For some reason, they’re showing us clips from all the films nominated for Best Film, starting with True Grit, so there’s a lot of Jeff Bridges and his trusty eyepatch. I’m sure someone said before that his role in True Grit is his role in Crazy Heart with an eyepatch. Ok, they’re only showing clips from True Grit.

21.22: Hello James McAvoy. Presenting the Best Supporting Actress Award. Again, this is a category I haven’t looked at properly, but Helena Bonham Carter’s nominated for The King’s Speech, so I assume she’ll be favoured. Let’s see if I’m right for the third time in 25 minutes! I’m right! She’s a lovely lady and brilliant actress; she definitely deserves this.

21:27: She’s taking a long time to accept the award. I’ve already been sitting down for so long that the feeling in my legs has gone. Ouch.

21:29: Kevin Spacey is about to present an award whilst pretending to be Bill Clinton. I’m slightly confused. Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. The King’s Speech isn’t nominated so I’m lost as to guessing who’s going to win this! I’ve only heard of Four Lions in this list, so I’m going with that. I’m right again! Kevin Spacey/Bill Clinton has walked off stage and two stars of the film are collecting the award in the absence of the director.

21:32: Now it’s time for another snippet or mini documentary about one of the Best Films, time for The King’s Speech. Cue lots of applause.

21:35: Emma Watson is here to present the Best British Film. Another win for The King’s Speech is in the bag. So far in this list, this The King’s Speech is the only one I’ve seen, but I know that a lot of people have been angry at the lack of recognition for Another Year and Made in Dagenham, so it would be interesting to see if there’s a surprise win. There won’t be. The King’s Speech has won.

21:39: The writer of the film has a stammer apparently, you learn something new everyday. My flatmate is now hoovering, forgive me if I miss out anything important. Who am I kidding, it will just be more awards for The King’s Speech.

21:40: I can’t hear anything, but it’s time for Best Supporting Actor. This is going to be a tricky one- we have the British Christian Bale up for the American The Fighter vs the Australian Geoffrey Rush for The King’s Speech. This is one I can’t predict. I only know that the other men in the category won’t win.  Geoffrey Rush has won. I’m a little surprised actually.

21:44: Inception’s up for Best Film? Surely it’s too Hollywood, too special effects friendly for Britain! It should definitely be applauded for its technicalities, and it’s nice to get a big Hollywood blockbuster that makes you think, but the characters for me were all far too bland, no depth and therefore I couldn’t care less if they all got stuck in their dreams or whatever the hell it was they were doing in the two days I sat there watching it.

21:46: The presenter for Best Original Screenplay almost opened the envelope before the clips were shown. I can only assume this was just to escape the awkward dialogue between her and Dominic Cooper, also presenting. The King’s Speech is nominated, will this be the fourth or fifth award for them. I’ve lost count, but yes, it won. I’ve got another hour of this!

21:51: Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema with Stephen Fry! What a treat! I’m not really following what he’s saying. This might be because of my flatmate distracting me, or maybe because I’m just marvelling at his brilliance. I’ve just realised that the real reason is that he’s talking about Harry Potter. I couldn’t care less, and I’ve been typing constantly for an hour, so it’s time for a break.

21:57: That Harry Potter montage has not encouraged me to see the films at all. This speech seems to be taking as long as the films themselves. I am about to fall asleep. I’m not joking, this is taking forever. Is it over? Oh thank you God.

22:04: I just heard the name Nicholas Hoult so I jumped up from my temporary doze. He and someone I’m not interested in are about to present award for Best Animated Film. Toy Story 3 will win. The other nominees must regret bringing out their films in the same year. I’d be surprised if they even turned up to the award ceremonies. Toy Story 3 won. I didn’t need to tell you.

22.08: Rising Star Award. I’m not sure I care, but Tom Ford’s presenting it and his almost psychotic voice and glare is kind of hypnotizing, so I’m paying attention. Aaron Johnson will probably win this, award ceremonies love new parents. I prefered him when he was young and innocent in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. But if he’s more into producing a family and babies at the age of 12, I’ll let him. Tom Hardy won. Who?

22:15: In Memoriam sections of awards shows always make me sad. I have to admit to shedding a little tear for Tony Curtis.

22:17: Something’s about to be awarded but I’ve lost track, I’m still mourning Tony Curtis. Best Adapted Screenplay apparently. The Social Network won. They must be a bit shocked that they’re at an awards ceremony and not winning everything. “His film was crap and his jokes aren’t funny” says my flatmate. I can neither agree nor disagree with this profound statement, as I haven’t seen it yet.

22:20: Mini montage for said film now. I do find it weird how much attention it’s been getting from the awards, but I guess it’s because the film focuses on a contemporary issue and the Academy can say they’re keeping up with the times.

22:23: Tilda Swinton is here to present the award for Best Director. Tom Hooper’s got it in the bag. Oh, I actually let out a sound of surprise when David Fincher was announced as winner. I am truly shocked. He hasn’t attended the ceremony, probably because he thought the same as me. One of the actors accepting has just said he’s not here because he’s busy working on his next film. Yeah right, we know his real reason. He just can’t do a good gracious loser face.

22:27: Is it me or the light or has Gerard Butler gone really grey?

22:28: Award for Best Actress now, it’s Natalie Portman’s time to shine. I was right, but she’s not here to make an emotional speech. I was relying on her the most to make a few sarcastic comments. Natalie, you’ve let me down.

22:32: Oh, I’m so excited, it’s time for Best Actor time! Colin Firth has got to win! I used to think that the three main aspects to sum up England were the Royal family, tea and Hugh Grant, but Colin has replaced Hugh. I haven’t even been paying attention to the other actors, I’m just too busy being in love with Colin Firth. He’s won again! I screamed in joy. He’s getting a huge amount of applause. “I like being here,” he said and I giggled like a fan girl. It’s lovely seeing him back on that stage again. He just thanked Tom Ford for getting him there. I’m melting inside.

22:38: It’s now time for the big one: Best Film. The King’s Speech will win, but we already knew that. Yes, it’s won! The first time I saw the trailer for the film in a British Film lecture at uni, my friend and I knew it would be an awards favourite. It definitely deserves it, it’s one of the best films I’ve seen in the cinema for a long time.

22:44: Tim Burton has taken to the stage to present an award. Another statement from my flatmate (who isn’t as big a film fan as myself if you couldn’t tell) just said “He looks homeless!” I’m trying to work out who it is who’s winning the Fellowship.

22:49: It’s Christopher Lee. He just hobbled onto stage. I can’t take seeing weak old men. He’s thanking people and taking a long time doing so, but I don’t mind, it’s an important event for him. Everyone in the Royal Opera House is applauding him and he’s got a standing ovation and the man seems to be very humbled. It’s moments like this which, although a bit cheesy, make me realise how much I love the film industry.

22:52: The main show is over, but they’re announcing the awards with less coverage. It’s going so quickly that I can’t keep up, but Inception’s won for Best Sound.

22:54: Best Editing goes to The Social Network, Hair and Make-up goes to Alice in Wonderland.

22:56: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has won Best Film Not in the Foreign Language and I got angry because I suddenly realised this award wasn’t presented in the main section of the show. Just because it’s not in English doesn’t mean it has to be forgotten. This rant, has made me miss out on a lot more awards and now it’s finished and my flatmate is complaining.

22:58: The end. This was fun but I won’t be liveblogging for a long time! Hope you enjoyed my attempt!

First post

It’s difficult to sum up what I’m interested in writing about into one word or phrase. If I say “the arts”, it conjures up the image of high culture, theatre and art galleries; images associated far more with an older generation rather than a 19 year old girl. On the other hand, saying “media” is too vague and not a very specific point of interest for a blog. After looking up lots of blogs online using these words, I found that blogs described as “culture blogs” cover everything I’m interested in: theatre, film, music and art. Online newspapers like The Telegraph and The Guardian had good culture sections, covering everything I’d like to write about in my own blog, but its target audience was slightly older than mine probably would be. When researching other blogs in my area, I found an old one called Art and Things, which suggested events and creativities for younger people to get involved with. Ideally, my blog will be a mixture of the various cultural aspects mentioned in The Guardian and Telegraph blogs, while aimed at younger people, suggesting cheap events which students could attend.

Johnny Dee has been writing on the Guardian blog about the upcoming awards season for films and music, a topic which I think is very important for a culture blog, especially when starting one this time of year. I’ve got to agree with him; everything he’s said is pretty much true (especially the parts about Kate Winslet’s over-acting and Rihanna’s outfits upsetting people.) But although the tone is mainly meant to be humourous, I can’t help but see it as coming across as a bit of a put-down towards all awards ceremonies, implying that they’re all boring. Personally, I love the over the top acceptance speeches and all the excitement surrounding the big film awards, but I’m sure within a couple of weeks when both the Baftas and Oscars have no shock results and the leading actress cries halfway through her speech and the Best Picture award goes to the underdog and not just to the big Hollywood blockbuster, just to show everyone that the judges still care about content rather than special effects, I’ll be just as cynical as Johnny Dee. Oh, it looks like I already am.