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Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Oscars 2010: The shoo-ins, the underdogs, and the buzz-worthy

by Kyle Carpenter & Laura Tindal on

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You’ve got 26 days until the Academy Awards, so here’s the buzz and predictions you need to know so you can decide which films to catch up on in the weeks leading up to the Oscars.

BEST PICTURE

This year the Academy has selected 10 motion pictures as candidates for Best Picture, instead of the usual five. The move was made to allow for more diversity in the biggest Oscar category, making more room for small, independent films to be considered alongside the blockbusters. This year’s list of nominees definitely includes a wide range of films, from the accessible, heart-warming, Sandra Bullock vehicle The Blind Side, to the low-budget, mildly-pedophilic British film An Education.

Avatar is in the lead, and is expected to pull a Titantic and not only break box-office records but also pull in a myriad of Oscar statues. But other big names are in the running for this category, including alien Apartheid film District 9 and Tarantino’s Nazi slaughter-fest, Inglourious Basterds. Despite the big names, the movies Avatar has to be wary of are small productions: the tense tale of an American bomb squad unit in Iraq in The Hurt Locker, the depressing plight of an overweight, pregnant, illiterate black teenager in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, and the coming-of-age film An Education all deserve Best Picture this year. Avatar may have had the effects, excitement, and enjoyment factor, but the writing wasn’t enough to get it into the Best Screenplay category (The Blind Side was the only other Best Picture not nominated for Best Screenplay), and An Education looks like it might just follow in Crash‘s footsteps and unexpectedly take this year’s prize.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

This year, a trio of seasoned veterans head up the best actor category: George Clooney (Up in the Air), Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), and Morgan Freeman (Invictus) are nominated alongside Colin Firth (A Single Man) and the relatively unknown Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker). While there’s been a lot of talk about Firth’s performance in his Mad Men-era film (not to be confused with the Coen brothers black comedy A Serious Man, up for Best Picture) – in which he plays a gay British professor struggling to overcome the death of his partner – he won’t be able to stand against Bridges and Clooney. Bridges’ performance as a fading country music star is headed for the win.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

This should be a no-brainer. There is only one man whose performance overshadowed his entire (highly anticipated) movie. Christoph Waltz, a.k.a Hans Landa, “The Jew Hunter” from Tarantino’s spell-check-worthy hit Inglourious Basterds knows how to the steal the show. From the first scene, in which he both intimidates and entrances the audience – not to mention seamlessly switches between speaking French, German, and English – while drinking a glass of milk, Waltz commands every shot, even when sitting across the table from Brad Pitt. He’s already won a mini-Oscar (Golden Globe), and a mini Golden Globe (Screen Actor’s Award), so an Oscar is the next logical step.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Best Actress always seems like it might go in any direction. Meryl Streep may be the best actress of our time, and with 16 Oscar nominations but only two wins, the Academy may decide her dead-on Julia Child is deserving of a reward. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe impressed in Precious, while Helen Mirren has been praised for her role as Leo Tolstoy’s wife in The Last Station. Somehow, Sandra Bullock made it into the running for her Southern accent and blonde hair in The Blind Side, in which she broadens her outlook on life by taking in a teen from a broken home and turning him into a football star. Another newcomer, An Education‘s Carey Mulligan, is also up for the prize, but veteran Streep seems likeliest to win this year.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The two jet-setting actresses (Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick) from George Clooney’s Up In The Air are pitted against each other as nominees, alongside “sad turtle” Maggie Gyllenhaal for her role alongside Jeff Bridges in the country-music romance Crazy Heart. But the spotlight is on last year’s winner Penelope Cruz for her role as Daniel Day-Lewis’ busty, passionate mistress in the musical Nine, as well as on TV actress and talk-show host Mo’Nique for her role as the cruel, abusive mother in Precious. Mo’Nique’s performance was both powerful and unexpected, and is the one that will most likely bring home the Oscar this year.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

It was a good year for animated films, with Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Up all making it into the running for Animated Fe ature Film. Disney’s racially-conscious, back-to-2D The Princess and the Frog is up, as is The Secret of Kells, an Irish indie cartoon about a boy who grows up with monks and discovers his talent for illustration. All of the nominees this year are worthwhile, but considering Up is nominated for a Best Picture Oscar that it’s not going to win, there’s a good chance Pixar will be taking home another Best Animated award.

DIRECTING

Canadian content is taking over in this category, with Ontarian James Cameron (Avatar) and Montrealer Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) both nominated this year. Yet what people are really excited about is Cameron running against his ex-wife, director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), for the award. Considering Cameron is on his fifth wife, the excitement should be directed not towards Bigelow’s marital history, but to the fact that if she wins, Bigelow would be the first woman to win this award. The Hurt Locker definitely deserves the prize, and it’s worth your time – one view is enough to see why Bigelow will be making history in March.

ART DIRECTION/CINEMATOGRAPHY/FILM EDITING/VISUAL EFFECTS

Avatar has got these awards in the bag. No matter what you think about James Cameron, the writing, or colonialism, you have to admit Avatar created an experience never before seen. The effects, art direction, and filming are so beautifully done that you almost forget it’s all CGI. Add in the 3D, and you’ve got the future of filmmaking. The other nominees don’t stand a chance.

ORIGINAL SONG

There’s no nice way to say it, but lame songs that are largely un-enjoyable outside of their films almost always win in the Best Original Song category. Case in point: two Randy Newman songs from The Princess and the Frog are nominated. And one of them will probably win. Also nominated is “Loin de Paname,” which won’t win because it’s not in English and it’s from a movie that nobody has seen (Paris 36). “The Weary Kind” from Crazy Heart is also competing, and despite being a great song that’s preferable to a Disney win, it would be an out-of-character choice for the Academy. Acoustic songs tend to be drowned out by big, overproduced show tunes at the Oscars – just ask Elliott Smith in 1998 or Bruce Springsteen in 1995. “Take It All” from Nine – the movie that had Oscars written all over it (until it came out) – could pull off a win, as judges seem to like big, jazzy throwbacks, such as in Nine’s older sibling, Chicago.

Arts & Entertainment

POP RHETORIC: R.I.P. MTV

by Alex Knoll on

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The Buggles need to come out with a new one-hit wonder: “Internet Killed the Video Star.”

This is the sad but true fate that our music age has come to. Remember when VH1 only played new music videos? How about MTV? Or MuchMusic? For the latter, you may be thinking, “but MuchMusic still plays music videos.” Really? Turn on your television right now. The only chance you have of seeing a music video is if you happen to catch MuchOnDemand, which currently only plays a collection of top 10 countdown crap. What you’re more likely to find is a popular teen show about rich kids who love to gossip.

Everyone loves music videos. Many nostalgic memories from my childhood revolve around them – from my first exposure to sex in Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs,” to the beginning of my (very healthy) obsession with Christopher Walken sparked by his bizarre appearance in Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice.” Half the fun of discovering new bands and songs back in the day was by dissecting their video premier on TV. Just think of all the cool/crazy/inspiring/unique/weird videos that you’ve seen, and what that did for the artist’s popularity. A music video was nearly as important as sound in defining a band. Today, the videos that are being made definitely aren’t appreciated nearly as much as they were when they were played on TV.

At its conception, MTV – standing for Music Television, lest we forget – was a sister channel to VH1, and both were created simply to play music videos, and showcase both mainstream and indie artists. Then owned by CHUM, MuchMusic was created as a Canadian equivalent to MTV. Since then, all three channels have, in unison, made completely pathetic 180s from their original purpose.

What’s to blame for this downward spiral of music television? The Internet, of course. The Internet has taken over music television. I know the progression makes sense – it’s much easier to go to YouTube and search for whatever music videos you want to see – but what’s the incentive for artists to create cool/crazy/inspiring/unique/weird videos there’s no gurantee that they will be seen by anyone? The truth is, there isn’t much incentive anymore, which is precisely why there just aren’t as many amazing videos being made (with a few exceptions, of course).

Of course, some videos get spread virally by word of mouth, but this just doesn’t happen as much as it used to. The truth is, the Internet has shoved music television into dark corners; dark corners that resort to not-even-real reality shows that appeal almost exclusively to tweens to get light. But can we really blame this on the Internet’s power to give us and future generations access to whatever we want? Yes.

Obviously, it was the networks’ decision to revamp the music channels, but this was done out of necessity. Media has switched to the Internet, and therefore demand for music television has declined.

But wait, doesn’t this point fingers at us? Did we kill the video star? Maybe our society just needs a wake-up call: if we stop spending so much time watching viral videos and start paying more attention to what musicians have to offer, we’ll go back to the good ole’ days where it was actually worth it for them to show what they could come up with.

The recently launched TV channel Aux (currently only playing on Rogers Cable), is on my side. Aux is programmed to showcase music videos by new and emerging artists in a wide variety of genres. I think a revelation of music-video comeback is in order; it’s just a matter of us all screwing the Internet and watching channels like Aux. Then, maybe, we can snowball ourselves back into a music era reminiscent of the nineties where music videos were actually appreciated. Because who doesn’t love the nineties?

This may seem a little improbable, if not impossible, but I can dream. Plus, if it weren’t for Ricky Martin on MuchMusic, who knows when I would have first seen people “banging” in a closet?

– Alex KnollA & E Contributor

Letters to the Editor, Opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Foucalt you, Ricky.

Re: “Piñata Diplmacy: James McGill – Turning in my grave” by Ricky Kreitner (22.09.09)

What up, James McGill, Michel Foucault here (also conveniently undead for the time being). I am writing to clear up certain misconceptions you seem to have regarding my personal area of expertise: cultural studies. To be sure, there is great value in studying classical works, but it seems to me, oh gracious namesake of this institution, that a fur trader such as yourself might miss the importance of studying the workings of culture in postmodern society. After all, your lifespan (1744-1813) barely qualifies you as part of the modern age, let alone allowing for a comprehension of the complicated relations of the postmodern. Well, let me get you up to speed on a few things that have happened in the last century and a half.

Despite your skepticism regarding the necessity and value of teaching “cultural literacy,” I must insist as a critical cultural studies theorist myself in the importance of understanding the world around you. Things are slightly more complicated now; a pelt is not worth what it used to be! Instead, existence in the wake of modernity and industrialization as well as postmodernity and globalization is complicated by ideas of cultural hegemony and embedded power relations. Sorry if this is over your head, Mr. McGill, but that is precisely my point: cultural studies literally teaches you about yourself by theorizing one’s relationship to the world, as well as exposing the hidden workings of culture itself. Nothing exists outside of culture, Mr. McGill – except us, because technically we are ghosts.

Before I return to my place as a key theorist in McGill’s cultural studies curriculum specializing in the relationship between power, knowledge and discourse, I must fight fire with fire! In response to your threat, remember: the panoptic gaze is watching you James McGill and he/she/it is pissed! Internalize surveillance!

– Mishki VaccaroU3 Cultural Studies

Kira hearts the Tribune.

The group which protested last week’s Choose Life event was not, in fact, affiliated with QPIRG in any way – except that, along with most McGill students, we had all probably paid our fees. Unlike the Daily, the fine folks at the Tribune have recorders – use them.

– Kira PageU2 Philosophy and Environment

The Daily reads the Trib.

Re: “Charkaoui: innocent until proven guilty” (Editorial, 29.09.09)

While I appreciate the sentiment expressed toward the end of last week’s editorial on Montrealer Adil Charkaoui’s recent victory at the Federal Court, it included some factual inaccuracies that need clarification.

First, a security certificate can be applied to any non-citizen, not only “suspected terrorists.” For instance, Charkaoui and his family arrived in Montreal in 1995, yet he remains a permanent resident while his parents and wife have acquired citizenship. This distinction allowed the government to send Charkaoui to jail for two years and impose severe bail conditions on him for the last four, all without ever publicly releasing the information in his file. How? The so-called evidence is secret, as to protect “national security” – one of many terms, including “sleeper agent,” that remains undefined in Charkaoui’s file.

Second, in February 2007 the Supreme Court ruled the security certificate law unconstitutional. For some reason, the Court suspended the effect of its decision by one year. In no way did they require “the Canadian government to create a new class of defence lawyers for suspected terrorists.” In October of 2007, the Conservatives introduced new security certificate legislation – which they managed to push through Parliament at an astonishing pace – which included a provision for “special advocates.” These lawyers have access to the secret files, but cannot communicate this to security certificate detainees or their lawyers, and are not obligated to respect normal conditions of confidentiality with the client.

And again, it’s not just for “suspected terrorists,” but for any non-citizen who finds themselves stripped of their freedoms and labeled a “terror suspect” overnight. It’s a subtle yet vital distinction: your consistent use of “suspected terrorist” as opposed to “security certificate detainee” throughout the editorial unfairly links the villainous term to Charkaoui in the reader’s mind, when in fact there is nothing to substantiate the claim. And what exactly is preventing you from saying “with any confidence that Charkaoui is completely innocent”?

Lastly, it isn’t “necessary that CSIS operate in the shadows,” it’s necessary for CSIS to be accountable. If not, our government will continue to fund the unlawful detention, deportation, and subsequent torture of Canadians.

Everyone deserves the right to see the evidence against them in order to properly defend themselves. However, this will not be a reality in Canada until discriminatory measures like security certificates are banished altogether.

– Max HalparinU4 Geography

Corrections

In the article “QPIRG members protest first Choose Life event of the school year,” (29.09.09) the Tribune mistakenly inferred that QPIRG McGill organized the protest of the event. In fact, QPIRG did not officially organize the protest.

In the editorial “Charkaoui: innocent until proven guilty,” the Tribune asserted that Charkaoui “won a Supreme Court case in February 2007 that required the Canadian government to create a new class of defence lawyers for suspected terrorists.” In fact, the Supreme Court ruling did not necessitate the creation of a new class of defence lawyers; the federal government created this provision after, and in response to, the February 2007 Supreme Court decision that struck down key provisions of security certificates as grossly unfair.

Sports

OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Moguls

by Gabe Polver, Sean Wood, John Hui, Shawn Stenhouse, Adam Sadinsky on

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McGill student Jennifer Heil is – bar none – the best female mogulist in the world. She’s won the last four Freestyle Skiing World Cup events, and rides a tidal wave of momentum into the 2010 Olympics. If she doesn’t bring home gold on the first night of competition, it would be a shocking disappointment. Alex Bilodeau, who shares a coach with Heil, had a disappointing season, but expect him to rise to the occasion. Dale Begg-Smith, a Canadian competing for Australia, will likely be both a champion and a source of national frustration in Vancouver.

Athletes to watch: Jennifer Heil and Alex Bilodeau. The two Canadians will attempt to jump-start the Olympics with gold medals early on in the competition.

Predictions:

Men:

Gold: Dale Begg-Smith, AUSSilver: Guilbaut Colas, FRABronze: Alexandre Bilodeau, CAN

Women:

Gold: Jennifer Heil, CANSilver: Aiko Uemura, JPNBronze: Heather McPhie, USA

Sports

OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Skeleton

by Gabe Polver, Sean Wood, John Hui, Shawn Stenhouse, Adam Sadinsky on

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Remember the name Melissa Hollingsworth: you’ll be hearing a lot about her this month. The Alberta native finished third in Turin, but is the consensus favourite to win gold in Vancouver. Canada has more than one medal threat in this event as well – Amy Gough has slid her way onto the team by posting strong times at World Cup events. For the men, Canadians Jeff Pain and Jon Montgomery are the medal hopefuls. Athletes to watch: Jeff Pain and Melissa Hollingsworth. Pain is looking to improve on a silver-medal finish in 2006, while Hollingsworth dominated the skeleton circuit this year – she’ll be disappointed with anything less than a gold medal.

Predictions:

Women:

Gold: Mellisa Hollingsworth, CANSilver: Shelley Rudman, GBRBronze: Katie Uhlaender, USA

Men:

Gold: Martins Dukurs, LATSilver: Jeff Pain, CANBronze: Jon Montgomery, CAN

Sports

OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Speed skating

by Gabe Polver, Sean Wood, John Hui, Shawn Stenhouse, Adam Sadinsky on

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The fastest human-powered sport in the world will offer plenty of excitement for the fans in Vancouver. In the “short-track” events – where skaters race against each other on a track about the size of a hockey rink – South Korea will attempt to repeat their dominating performance in Turin, where they won six out of eight possible gold medals. Montrealer and 1000m world record holder Charles Hamelin will try to hold them off in the men’s 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m. 2007 Dancing with the Stars champ Apolo Ohno needs one more medal to become the most decorated athlete in short-track history.

In long-track speed skating – where the athletes post individual times on a 400m oval – 23-year-old Dutchman Sven Kramer will try to continue his reign over the 5,000m and 10,000m. Watch out for American Shani Davis in the shorter events, who is the world-record holder at the 1,000m and 1,500m. Saskatchewan sprinter Jeremy Wotherspoon will try to crown his brilliant career with the gold medal he has sought since Nagano. Calgary’s Cindy Klassen, who won five medals in Turin, is one of several Canadian women who will try to overcome stiff competition from Germany’s Jenny Wolf and the Czech Republic’s Martina Sablikova.

Athletes to watch: Tyson Heung – he skates for Germany. Heung received his B.Ed. from McGill in 2005.

Predictions:

Men’s short-track 1,000m:

Gold: Lee Ho-Suk, KOR Silver: Charles Hamelin, CANBronze: Apolo Ohno, USA

Women’s long-track 500m:

Gold: Jenny Wolf, GERSilver: Wang Beixing, CHNBronze: Lee-Sang Hwa, KOR

Sports

OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Men’s Hockey

by Gabe Polver, Sean Wood, John Hui, Shawn Stenhouse, Adam Sadinsky on

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For many Canadians, anything less than a gold medal in the Olympic men’s hockey event is unacceptable. Four years ago in Turin, the Russians stunned an entire nation when they blanked Canada 2-0, preventing the Canucks from advancing to the semi-finals. The 2010 edition of the Winter Games is nothing less than a chance at redemption for the tournament favourites.

Mike Babcock, a 1987 McGill grad and current coach of the Detroit Red Wings, has the pieces he needs to win Olympic gold. Canada is deepest down the middle, but the defence is also mobile, fixing what management thought was Canada’s Achilles heel in Turin. As always, Canada is backstopped by three world-class goaltenders – headed by the legendary Martin Brodeur.

Athletes to watch: Joe Thornton. Pegged by many as an underachiever in high-stake games, he must play well if he wishes to silence his critics.

Predictions:Gold: CANSilver: SWE Bronze: RUS

Sports

OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Women’s Hockey

by Gabe Polver, Sean Wood, John Hui, Shawn Stenhouse, Adam Sadinsky on

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Olympic gold is Canada’s to lose in Vancouver. After winning easily in Salt Lake City and Turin, Canada will be relying on experience to guide them to the top of the podium once again. Canadian legends Kim St. Pierre and Hayley Wickenheiser are back, along with superstar McGill goaltender Charline Labonté, but the team will be without veteran Danielle Goyette for the first time since the 1998 Games.The road to the championship, however, will not be a walk in the park – Team USA will be good competition for the Canadians this year. After the 2006 Olympics, Canada won gold at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, but had to settle for silver in the same tournament for two consecutive years, falling to the United States both times.Kim Martin – named best goaltender at the 2006 Olympics – and her Swedish squad will attempt to upset both Canada and the United States, while Finland hopes that they can build on their third place finish at the 2009 IIHF Tournament.

Athletes to watch: Catherine Ward, who graduated last year as the highest scoring defender in Martlets history, will make her first appearance with the Canadian Olympic team this year. The 22-year-old Montrealer was part of the senior team that took home silver in 2009, recording four assists in five games.

Predictions:Gold: CAN Silver: USABronze: SWE

Behind the Bench, Sports

THIRD MAN IN: Tiger, Elin, and Sex rehab

by Gabe Pulver on

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So it looks like Tiger has decided to do something about his errant wood, and it’s not what most people would have expected. In late December, the most recognizable athlete in the world checked into a sex rehabilitation clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Predictably, this news led to some backlash in the national tabloids, but if Tiger and those around him feel that he has a problem – and judging by recent events, this seems likely – then it’s good to see that he’s actually doing something about it. Good for him: Tiger finally recognized that he needs to get his marriage and personal life back together before returning to golf.

Mississippi Sex Rehab also happens to be a good public relations move for Tiger, and will at least quiet the rumors that he is living with a mistress on a yacht. Tiger is ostensibly taking the first steps to fixing what he so dramatically broke apart and that’s commendable. Another good move in the wake of a serious misstep: donating a reported three million dollars to Haiti relief efforts.

But, man, what a ride this has been for Tiger. This recent catastrophe has been a long time in the making – the telltale signs of a failing marriage have been there for years. Remember when Tiger won the 2005 Masters? Or the 2008 US Open? Check out his celebrations on YouTube – the lack of visible affection between him and his wife, Elin Nordegren is telling. I’d like to say that I called him out on his infidelity just from seeing the “Tiger Pat”, but I didn’t. My mom did.

Going to sex rehab could change Tiger’s personality for the better, but it’s definitely going to hurt his game. Ever since he was a teenager, Tiger’s been constantly told that he is golf’s version of Jesus Christ, and a complete failure if he doesn’t crush everything in his path. It’s easy to see how this sort of egomania would translate from the sporting to the romantic sphere of Tiger’s life. If he’s told that his sexual instincts are misguided, it will be interesting to see what effect that has on his (pretty much identical) golf instincts. Michael Jordan had gambling, Theo Fleury had alcohol and cocaine, and Tiger has cocktail waitresses and porn stars. Checking into sex rehab, I’m sure he’s scared he’ll lose his edge.

2010 will be a big year for Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, even if, or when, Tiger comes back. It’s no secret that many on the Tour, especially those two, hate his guts for one reason or another. Mickelson will finally have a psychological advantage over Tiger. Ditto for Garcia, who dealt with his own heartbreak last season when his fiancée dumped him in March. Imagine Tiger on the 72nd tee at Augusta this year, tied with Mickelson, with the green jacket on the line. They’ll make eye contact, and Lefty will flash his awful, irritating grin, that seems to say: I used to be terrified of you, but not anymore. Tiger won’t have a chance.

– Gabe PulverContributor

Sports

OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Bobsleigh

by Gabe Polver, Sean Wood, John Hui, Shawn Stenhouse, Adam Sadinsky on

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While Jamaica will not be participating in bobsleigh next week, there’s no need to fret, as this will remain one of the most exciting events at the Olympics. The biggest stars in the sport will be out at the Whistler Sliding Centre to compete in the four-man, two-man, and two-woman events. Canada will be represented by two men’s crews, led by Lyndon Rush and Pierre Lueders, and two women’s crews, piloted by Kaillie Humphries and Hellen Upperton. As always, the Games will feature elite crews from Germany and Switzerland, the world’s top sliding nations. André Lange of Germany will be looking to add another gold medal to his collection, after winning three in Salt Lake City and Turin. Also joining the field is reigning World Cup champion Steven Holcomb of the USA, who will try to win his first Olympic medal in Vancouver. Canada’s top medal hope should be the two-woman team of Humphries and Heather Moyse.

Athletes to watch: Jesse Lumsden. The Edmonton Eskimos running back joins the ever-growing fraternity of multi-sport athletes, and will serve as Pierre Lueders’ brakeman on both the two-man and four-man crews.

Predictions:

Men’s two-man:

Gold: Beat Hefti, SUISilver: Ivo Rüegg, SUIBronze: Andre Langé, GER

Two-woman:

Gold: Cathleen Martini, GERSilver: Sandra Kiraisis, GERBronze: Kaillie Humphries, CAN

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