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Red Carpet: SAG Awards 2013

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The SAG Awards are a funny little awards show: they’re televised, but not on a major network; they’re prestigious, but not on the same level as the Oscars. You almost get the sense that the actresses are sort of waiting until the Oscars to break out their big “statement” gowns. As such, the fashions last night were pretty low key – not that that would ever prevent me from talking about them. Of course.

Best Dressed:

best dressed

  • Naomi Watts: Simple but striking – I think the beading on the front is gorgeous, and I love her hair. Props to her for being my only repeat Best Dressed from the Globes (a very prestigious distinction, obviously).
  • Marion Cotillard: Leave it to everyone’s favorite French import to be one of the only women to make a daring fashion choice last night. I adore this look from head to toe; big bows are always a risky choice, but this one looks just right. I also love the fullness of her train, and her hair is straight up awesome.
  • Jennifer Garner: Seeing them side-by-side made me realize that Garner’s dress is basically the gold version of Naomi Watts’s. I suppose that means I could fault them both for being boring, but instead I’m going to argue that they’re equally awesome. Same comments as Watts: simple but stunning, great beading, lovely hair.

Honorable Mentions:  honorable mentions

  • Amanda Seyfried: There were a lot of basic black and navy gowns on the red carpet last night; I was bored with most of them but not with Seyfried’s. I think it’s the train that saves her here, plus I love the funky necklace and the side-swept hair.
  • Viola Davis: She looks amazing in every color I’ve ever seen her wear, but I think this is a particularly good one for her. There’s nothing revelatory about the design of this gown – it’s your standard Grecian-inspired dress – but she’s making it work.
  • Tina Fey: The perfect combination of quirky meets intellectual meets retro glam. I love her belt – it adds just the right amount of visual interest to the gown.

Worst Dressed: worst dressed

  • Jane Lynch: Kicking of my trio of worst dressed nominees (who coincidentally all wore black) is Jane Lynch, wearing a gown with a very unfortunate top half. Are those metal studs dotting her gown? Ugh.
  • Sigourney Weaver: Another tragic top half: it looks like a black sheet is just pinned to the front of her body, making her appear completely flat and boxy. Just totally unflattering.
  • Julie Bowen: It’s baffling to me that someone as beautiful as Bowen consistently makes such odd fashion choices. Here, her violation is choosing a leather gown with funky shoulders – it just makes for a weird look.

Miscellaneous Fashion Awards of Note:

field, chastain, dockery

  • Best Color: As I mentioned, there was a flood of navy and black gowns at the SAGs last night, so it was nice to see such a gorgeous shade of purple on Sally Field. The dress itself is also quite beautiful; all awards season long, she’s done a fantastic job of dressing in a way that’s age appropriate but not matronly.
  • Best Matching Dress & Hair Combo: I loved the color of Jessica Chastain’s gown, and as I was looking at the photo, it suddenly dawned on me why: it complements her red hair so well. Overall, this look is a winner – but, is it me, or is her dress just a bit too tight?
  • Best Gothic Glamour: I don’t think the striking black gown and heavy dark makeup combo would work for everyone, but Michelle Dockery is pulling it off. However, is she flashing some side boob? How very un-Lady Mary of her.

jones, lawrence, hathaway

  • Best Risk-Taker: If there is one person who is consistently bold with her fashion choices, it’s January Jones. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn’t – and tonight, I think her look fell somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The black strap around her neck is throwing me off here, and her hair is just a bit too much. But props to her for always experimenting with her look.
  • Most Boring: I’m not ever sure what to say about Jennifer Lawrence’s dress. She looks great, but in a very safe way. With that neckline, she needed more of a statement necklace, or something to give this look a little pizzazz. Really glad she won, though.
  • Most Disappointing: I’m still waiting for Anne Hathaway to have her knockout fashion moment this awards season; she disappointed me at the Globes and she disappointed me here too. I was annoyed by the sheer netting on top, but when I realized she was wearing a sheer overlay skirt too, this look became irredeemable. You better pull through at the Oscars, Annie.

kemper, shipka, pare

  • Most Unnecessary Bow: Remember a few paragraphs back when I said that, while Marion Cotillard’s looked nice, bows were a risky proposition? Well, Ellie Kemper illustrates why: her side bow distracts from what is otherwise a perfectly lovely gown.
  • Most Adorable: I love Kiernan Shipka – this gown is just too cute. She’s like Sally Field, but on the opposite end of the spectrum: someone who dresses appropriately for her age, while managing not to look too childish.
  • Best Retro Glam: Whenever I see Best Dressed lists after an award show, Jessica Pare is almost never on them; she seems to fly under the radar a bit. I love her, however – she seems to pull retro fashion inspiration from her own show, and that works for her.

michelle, byrne, cuoco

  • Most In Need of a Tanning Intervention: Dear Lea Michele, please lay off on the spray tanner – it’s not your friend. As for your dress: I like the color, but overall it’s a bit too plain.
  • Silliest Princess: I’m not sure what to make of Rose Byrne’s dress; it almost seems like a combination of a childish princess and a 1920s garden party attendee. Something about this gown just rubs me the wrong way. I also wish that the ruffles were only on top; the fact that they trail all the way down the dress is driving me crazy and seems like overkill.
  • Worst Hair: This is a perfectly passable dress, but Kaley Cuoco’s hair is just inexplicable – it manages both to look too puffy and too flat at the same time. And while I’m on board overall with the recent trend toward bangs (you get ‘em, FLOTUS), I don’t thing bangs are Cuoco’s friend.

fischer, bledel, danes

  • Personal Best: I have never been a fan of Jenna Fischer’s red carpet choices (I think she tends to dress way too conservatively), but this is a real high point for her. She’s dressed modestly, but she doesn’t look frumpy, she looks sleek.
  • Most Disconcerting Couple: Rory Gilmore is dating Pete Campbell in real life?!? I can barely get over this fact, but I will say that I liked Alexis Bledel’s dress – it’s a good color choice for her. Also, Kaley Cuoco, take note: this is how bangs are done.
  • Worst Makeup: I’m ambivalent about Claire Danes’s dress, but the makeup she’s sporting is just plain wrong. More specifically, her lips resemble the color of Kate Winslet’s after she spent hours floating in icy waters (and hogging that damn door) after the Titanic sank.

Did you watch the SAG Awards? And if you did, who wore your favorite looks?

Oscars: Fashion Recap

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Though I’ve recapped the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and the Grammys, let’s be honest – this is the Super Bowl of red carpet fashion. So, naturally, I was pumped about the Oscar red carpet. However…I found myself underwhelmed. There was really no show-stopping look to me (I mean, nothing like this or this or this). To be sure, there were some good looks, but they were lackluster compared to past years, I thought. Here’s what I liked, what I loathed, and what fell somewhere in between.

My Best Dressed:

  • Michelle Williams: I love that she’s always true to her style – this just seemed so her. At first I wasn’t sure about the little skirt around the middle, but it grew on me. This was unique and beautiful.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow: I loved this look. Everything about it was sleek and modern – from the hair to the cut of the dress. I wasn’t a huge fan of the little cape, but everyone kept saying it was cold, so I’ll give her a pass on that.
  • Jessica Chastain: This dress took awhile to grow on me; the pattern was a little aggressive. Ultimately, though, I thought it looked bold and striking. And her hair was perfect.
  • Octavia Spencer: Adored this dress – I loved how all the lines of sparkles met in the middle of the dress’s front. Also, though it’s a small detail, I loved her earrings. Unrelated note: she made me cry when she won. Awwww!

My Worst Dressed:

  • Melissa Leo: I thought this was odd, but not in a good way. I didn’t like how the top of the dress looked almost like a shirt, and I thought the whole dress looked droopy. Very strange.
  • Melissa McCarthy: I wanted to love her dress, but I did not like the color – I thought it washed her out. I also wasn’t sure how I felt about the super sparkly collar and belt.
  • Shailene Woodley: This is a nice dress, but not on her – she’s 20 going on 45 in it! Just way too matronly. She looks like an Amish grandmother.
  • Sandra Bullock: What’s up with that top? And the weird squiggly gold belt? Is this really Marchesa?? Also, her ponytail was way too tight and severe.

Split Decision:

  • Jennifer Lopez: If not for her sleeves, I’m almost certain she would’ve been my number one best dressed. But, man – those sleeves were heinous. Her hair, makeup, and earrings were all flawless though.
  • Kristen Wiig: Love the silhouette and shape of the dress, hate the color – it almost matches her skin perfectly and thus washes her out. Her hair was also a bit beach-y for the Oscars.
  • Emma Stone: She also would’ve been a contender for overall best dressed, but I couldn’t get past the gigantic shoulder bow.
  • Cameron Diaz: The train of her dress was gorgeous, but the top was so boring – and crazy tight. Not even Cameron Diaz can pull that off.

Other Fashion Awards of Note:

  • Best Black: Okay, the thigh slit was a little out of control, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Angelina Jolie. I haven’t been a fan of her red carpet looks all season, but I liked this one. But, please, Angelina – eat a sandwich, for the love of God.
  • Prettiest Polka Dots: I feel like polka dots plus Oscars should not work, but it does on Natalie Portman. This was a fun dress – I just wish she had done something more with her hair; it looked flat and almost a little greasy.
  • Boldest Move: Everything about Viola Davis‘s ensemble made a statement – from the color of her dress, to the wraparound detailing on the train, to her natural hair. I thought she rocked the look.
  • Best Old Hollywood Glamour: From head to toe, Penelope Cruz‘s look was simply classic. The color and cut of her dress, the length of the train, and her hairstyle all screamed quintessential Hollywood glamour. Well done.

  • Most Simultaneously Safe and Stunning: The dress was relatively simple and perhaps slightly boring, but Tina Fey looked damn good. Her hairstyle and earrings were also fantastic.
  • Most Fabulous at Any Age: I loved that Glenn Close‘s look was beautiful yet still age-appropriate. The deep emerald green color was gorgeous, and the jacket over top made it appropriate for her.
  • Fiercest Hair: I like Rose Byrne‘s dress well enough, but I’m flat-out obsessed with her hair. I think it elevates everything about her look. So dramatic.
  • Most Indicative of Her Impending Win: This dress was a lot of gold, but I thought Meryl Streep looked great. Plus, during the pre-show, E! mentioned that in something like 4 out of 10 years, the best actress winner has been wearing a gold dress. And it worked out for Meryl here, too.

  • Most in Need of a Smile: I don’t understand why Rooney Mara has chosen to act like Lisbeth Salander in real life; it’s like method acting to the extreme. You’re nominated for an Academy Award – just crack a smile already! Her hair was too severe, and something about the top of the dress felt off to me.
  • Oddest Shoulder Pads: Just when I think Maya Rudolph is making progress on her red carpet choices, she shows up in this. The top was too conservative and matronly, and the silver shoulder pads were awful.
  • Most Similar to an Actual Oscar Statuette: I’ve loved Stacy Keibler‘s dresses all season, but I did not like this one. Doesn’t she look like an Oscar herself? And that gigantic bow/ruffle/whatever on her hip was strange.
  • Most Disappointing: Since she is so stunning, I felt like Berenice Bejo should’ve been a candidate for best dressed. But this look was severely underwhelming, from the pale color to the long sleeves to the random confetti-ish pieces sprinkled all over the dress.

Movie Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

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I really, really want to make a bad joke right now. Something along the lines of, maybe they should’ve called this movie “Extremely Long and Incredibly Corny.” I guess I just did. Ba dum bum.

Anyway, the movie. This is one of those movies where you watch the preview (and seriously, have you seen this preview? It gave me chills. I blame U2.) and think it could be incredible. Then reviews start trickling in, saying it’s really not a great film. Then you think to yourself, I still want to watch it anyway. What the hell do movie critics know?

In this case, though, they were right. Something about this movie just didn’t “click” for me. It’s odd – it seems like it should work. There are big movie stars (Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock) and they give nice performances. The subject matter is moving and important. It’s based on a critically acclaimed book. What’s not to like?

I had a couple problems with it. My silly parody title above pretty much sums up how I felt. First, “Extremely Long”: this is, objectively, a longer film. But sometimes, subjectively, long films feel short because they’re so great and you don’t get bored watching them. This, however, is a long film that feels even longer as the plot grows more and more unlikely and tedious. I just wanted the kid to figure out what that damn key opened already! Or, alternatively, to chuck it off the Brooklyn Bridge in frustration. Either one would’ve been fine.

Second, “Incredibly Corny.” Okay, one character says that finding the key’s owner would be a “miracle” and I guess this scene is supposed to justify the fact that figuring out who owns the key would’ve been basically impossible. I mean, there are only 400-odd people with the last name “Black” in NYC? For a city of 8 million-ish people, that seems like a low number. And this little kid is going to track down each one of them, without once getting lost or abducted or anything? It’s not a “miracle,” it’s freaking impossible. The other thing I found too corny was who “The Renter” turned out to be. I won’t spoil it here, but that was just…too cheesy.

I did love some of the performances in this movie, particularly those of Viola Davis and Jeffrey Wright, who have small – but pivotal – roles. Also, Thomas Horn, playing the lead role, was outstanding. The movie suggests that he has some form of autism, and Horn just nails it, every single little detail. And Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock were their solid, reliable selves. But even they couldn’t make this a good film.

My Grade: C

SAG Awards: Fashion Recap

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The Screen Actors Guild Awards were held last night, and because all the winners were fairly predictable (except Jean Dujardin – MAJOR yay moment!), fashion was my main point of interest. I didn’t think the looks here were quite as exciting as those at the Golden Globes, but I suppose that’s to be expected, since this is a more casual, low-key awards show. Here’s what I thought:

My Four Best Dressed:

  • Viola Davis: My only repeat winner from the Globes, and she deserves it. The striking white of the dress and its beautiful cut would be enough to merit inclusion, but I also liked the touch of gold – it gave the gown something extra special. And her hair is so cute!
  • Emma Stone: I like that she went with a shorter length; she stood out from the rest of the crowd. I also love the slight ruffles on the top – they make the dress fun, but there aren’t so many of them as to be overpowering.
  • Michelle Williams: I love this color on her; her hair was looking particularly golden blonde tonight, and the red just went perfectly with it. I also like the lace at the top of the dress – that little touch elevates the dress and makes it something special.
  • Rose Byrne: I know this might seem like an out-of-left-field choice, but I give Byrne major props for daring to be way different. From the plunging pantsuit to the blunt bangs, this look was crazy bold – and I loved it.

My Four Worst Dressed:

  • Jenna Ushkowitz: So tacky. I do not like the rainbow-y fabric. I also don’t like how you can see the white mini dress underneath – I know it’s necessary to cover her up, but it looks odd.
  • Jenna Fischer: She is so pretty, but she always dresses matronly on the red carpet. The color – the drab blue/grey – is kind of depressing, and the cap sleeves make her look so old! This was very Pam Beasley (circa the early years of the Office) of her.
  • Shailene Woodley: UGH. Though the print of her dress may fit in with her movie thematically (the Descendants is set in Hawaii), the fabric is so tacky and not at all red carpet worthy. This was particularly disappointing since I loved her dress at the Golden Globes.
  • Heather Morris: OH GOD. This is like an 80s tranny train wreck. I feel like that’s harsh of me but…no, no, no. That’s all I can say.

Miscellaneous Fashion Awards of Note:

  • Most Effortlessly Elegant: From the casual hair to the way her dress just seems to fit effortlessly, I loved Berenice Bejo’s whole look. I also like the purple necklace a lot – it’s a piece I’d want to own (though I’m sure it’s worth, like, $2 million or something).
  • The “Begrudging Admittance That You Look Good Even Though You Shouldn’t Be Here” Award, Part Deux: I’m giving Stacy Keibler the exact same award I gave her at the Globes. This dress was really lovely (I adore the black lace), and I think her hairstyle is perfect – so soft and pretty. And even though I mock her for being the latest in George Clooney’s revolving parade of girlfriends, even I found it harsh when one of the idiotic red carpet interviewers called her “not a bad accessory.” Ouch.
  • Prettiest Color, Part One: I love the color Emily Blunt’s emerald green gown, although the style of the dress seems like something that’s been done before, many times. Also, her hair is a bit too messy. Like, “chunks just hanging down her face” messy.
  • Prettiest Color, Part Two: I think the color of Dianna Agron’s dress is spectacular. I also like how the dress gathers in the middle, and how it has soft ruffles, not over-the-top ruffles (soft ruffles as opposed to over-the-top ruffles is apparently a very big concern for me today).

  • Most Improved: Julie Bowen wins this one for making a big (heck, a GIGANTIC) improvement over her Golden Globes dress. I like the color and drapey-ness of the gown. Yeah, drapey-ness. It’s a word.
  • Best Sleek + Silvery, Part One: This is a pretty standard silhoutte, but I love the fabric of Naya Rivera’s gown – it’s gorgeous and perfectly shimmery. Also, her hair is fantastic – so soft and pretty!
  • The “Please Keep the Gals in Check Award”: I know you’re a new mom, Natalie Portman, but rein the girls in, okay? Also: nice dress. Love the bold color, even though the bow is a bit much.
  • Best Sleek + Silvery, Part Two: There seemed to be a fair amount of silvery, sparkly gowns on the red carpet, and I’m all about that trend. I love how Octavia Spencer’s dress gathers off-center at the hip. Very nice. I also don’t generally like longer sleeves on the red carpet, but hers looked great.

  • The LBD Done Right Award: Can an evening gown be properly called a little black dress? I dunno, but I’m going with it. Archie Panjabi’s dress was so simple, but stunning nonetheless. I liked how it was all black, but the top was a different material than the bottom and so there was a neat contrast. I also liked the one shoulder cut and her lovely earrings.
  • Prettiest Sculpted Top: Sofia Vergara’s dresses are generally too (predicatably) va-va-voom for me, but I dig this one. Love the color, love the top (and the way it’s sculpted – very interesting). Such a pretty look for her.
  • The Black + White Done Right Award: I like the white top/black bottom dress that Maya Rudolph rocked. It was fairly straightforward and simple, but I thought this was a fantastic look for her.
  • The “When Did Liz Lemon Become a Fashion Maven?” Award: I said it at the Globes, but I’m usually not a fan of Tina Fey’s red carpet choices. However, this is the second event in a row where I’ve loved her dress. This is simple, but I think the color gradient top adds just enough interest to make it a great dress.

  • The Too Severe Award: Once again, Angelina Jolie lets me down. I just think there’s something way too severe and harsh about this dress – she looks scary, and not in a good way. She’s too gorgeous for this!
  • Biggest Snoozefest: Oh, Jessica Chastain, I still cannot believe you’re not rocking the red carpet more. This was an improvement over your Globes dress, but still not enough. It’s an okay dress, but there’s nothing interesting about it.
  • The “Help, My Necklace is Trying to Eat Me” Award: Kristen Wiig’s dress is boring, but it’s the choker that really steals the show. That thing is freaking out of control.
  • Most Ready for a Post-Show Luau: Come on, girl – this is waaaay too casual. I think Busy Philipps is hilarious, so it pains me to say this, but if there hadn’t been so many other dresses I hated, this definitely would’ve been a strong contender for “worst dressed.”

  • The Not Fit for a Khaleesi Award:  I mentioned liking the white top/black bottom combo with Maya Rudolph, but I’m not a fan of it here, on Emilia Clarke. There’s too much going on – too many ruffles, too stiff and structured of a top, and the black lace peeking out under the sleeves is odd. This is not a good dress, Dany. It is known.
  • Best Dressed Person I’ve Only Vaguely Heard Of: I gave this one to Mireille Enos at the Globes, but Missi Pyle takes the award here. This gown was really stunning – and I loved that it was gold, but not over-the-top, crazy sparkly gold. She looks good, although, to me, she will always be the poor girl for whom Ross way over-whitens his teeth on Friends.
  • The Same Dress Every Damn Time Award: I swear, Meryl Streep always wears the same dress – lots of fabric, kinda puffy, long sleeves, big belt – to every awards show. I guess I get it, but I think you can be an older lady and still make better fashion choices/generally look more stunning on the red carpet. Mix it up, Meryl.
  • The Eternal Fashion Risk-Taker Award: Zoe Saldana is always daring, but I’m not a fan of the gamble this time. The top, in particular, looks so odd – see through fabric over a tank top? What’s up with that?

Agree? Disagree? Who were your favorite looks from last night?

If I Picked the Oscar Nominees

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The Oscar nominations are announced bright and early tomorrow morning. As a movie lover who saw a ton of movies over Christmas break, I have lots of ideas about who should be nominated. I’m still waiting for Hollywood to ask for my opinion, but for now, here’s my take on who I’d like to see nominated (Note: these are not predictions – I realize some are long-shots or no-shots-at-all).

Best Picture

(Since the new rules dictate that there will be between five and ten Best Picture nominees, I decided to list movies until I was somewhere within that range and ran out of movies to list – and I wound up with nine I liked enough to include.)

  1. The Artist: Based on its reviews, I figured I’d think this was a good movie, but I had no idea how much I’d adore it. I can’t remember the last time a movie made me smile so much and just feel flat-out joy at watching it. Magical.
  2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The Harry Potter films have grown from faithful recreations of a beloved novel to legitimately outstanding movies in and of themselves. Please, please, please, Academy – finally recognize this fact.
  3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: The more I think about this movie, the more I appreciate it. You could call it a mere thriller, but it’s so suspenseful and stylish that it’s elevated beyond that.
  4. The Help: One of the rare instances where Hollywood did not butcher a book I had loved. There are so many great performances in this film (Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, and on and on and on), and that’s what makes it really shine.
  5. War Horse: I wrote in my review that this was classic Oscar bait but that I didn’t care – and I still feel that way. Beautifully done.
  6. The Descendants: This feels like a “small” movie compared to some of the others on this list, but it’s also kinda brilliant in a quiet way.
  7. Bridesmaids: One of my tests of a movie’s greatness is how often I want to re-watch it, and this movie is one I can (and do) watch over and over again. Yeah, you know about all the hilarious scenes, but I love that it packs a nice emotional punch too (seriously, Kristen Wiig’s character is sad, y’all). Plus, it features Wiig and Maya Rudolph silly dancing to Wilson Phillips. Good times.
  8. Young Adult: I wish this movie had more buzz surrounding it, because I really liked it – from Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt’s performances to all the details of small-town suburbia, it gets everything right.
  9. Crazy Stupid Love: Yes, it’s a romantic comedy, and not the type of movie that ever gets nominated for Best Picture, but I still love this film – from the performance of Steve Carell to the humor to the depiction of modern relationships to the ultimate hopefulness about love.

Best Actor

  1. Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar): I cannot believe DiCaprio hasn’t won an Oscar yet. I don’t think he deserves the win this year (Jean Dujardin does), but what does he have to do to get some Oscar love? I was ambivalent about the movie as a whole, but DiCaprio is spot-on in his portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover.
  2. George Clooney (The Descendants): The Academy loves to recognize women who turn ugly for roles (see: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, etc.), so why not recognize George Clooney for becoming kinda schlubby? (Which, by the way, is not a word I ever imagined using to describe George Clooney). And if that’s not enough for you, he’s fantastic in this role as a beleaguered father trying to deal with the death of his wife, amongst other things.
  3. Jean Dujardin (The Artist): This is maybe the most charismatic performance I have ever seen – watching him put a gigantic smile on my face. I adore him, and would love to see him win it all come Oscar night. And then mime his acceptance speech.
  4. Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March): This movie doesn’t have much Oscar buzz, but I think Gosling’s great in it, starting out idealistic and principled and slowly descending into another ruthless player in the political game. And, of course, looking super tasty while doing so.
  5. Steve Carell (Crazy Stupid Love): This is one of those “not a chance in hell” picks I was talking about, but I just love Carell in this role. He’s known for comedy, but he nails this more serious part as well. He makes his character sad but incredibly lovable, and you can’t help but root for him to come out on top.

Best Actress

  1. Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo): From her physical transformation to the quiet ruthlessness she brought to the part, Mara was fantastic as Lisbeth Salander. If only the silly Academy would pay attention to the movie…
  2. Viola Davis (The Help): Please, please, for the love of all that is good, don’t let Meryl Streep beat Viola Davis at the Oscars. Meryl Streep is an acting genius, but I really think this is the best performance of 2011. Strong, dignified, and heartbreaking.
  3. Charlize Theron (Young Adult): I give Theron major props for fearlessly playing one of the most unlikeable protagonists in recent memory. Mavis is desperate, pathetic, and far past her prime, and Theron nails every single detail of it.
  4. Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids): Melissa McCarthy seems to be getting most of the Bridesmaids love (and that’s understandable), but Wiig is so great in this movie. From the funny stuff (the airplane scene) to the sad stuff (all her little emotional breakdowns), she nails a whole range of emotions. And her hair looks really pretty the entire time. Important, I know.
  5. Felicity Jones (Like Crazy): I was somewhat “meh” on the movie as a whole, but Jones was excellent, perfectly encapsulating the agony of experiencing a long-distance romance.

Best Supporting Actor

  1. Niels Arestrup (War Horse): Another for the “no way in hell” pile, but I adored Arestrup’s performance in War Horse. The segment of the movie on the French farm was my favorite, and it was largely because of his performance (as well as that of the girl who played his granddaughter). Quiet and powerful.
  2. Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady): It seems mildly slanderous to type this, but I actually enjoyed Broadbent’s performance far more than I did Streep’s in the Iron Lady. What can I say – he’s funny, lovable, and incredibly endearing.
  3. Armie Hammer (J. Edgar): As Broadbent is to Streep, so too Hammer almost is to DiCaprio – he turned in a great performance, and I may have just enjoyed his work even more than Leo’s. His portrayal made me completely feel for his character.
  4. Patton Oswalt (Young Adult): He and Theron complemented each other perfectly in this movie. I loved how his character was the comedic voice of reason, but Oswalt also conveyed what a sad, sad man he was underneath.
  5. Tom Hardy (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy): I’m almost certain Michael Fassbender is going to be nominated for Best Actor, and if Hardy were to get nominated for Supporting (he won’t), that would mean my two biggest Hollywood crushes would be in the same room. Too much to handle. What’s that you say? You don’t care about who my biggest Hollywood crushes are? Well, in that case, Hardy’s performance in this movie was also fantastic. I loved how, in a movie filled with stuffy British men in trench coats, he seemed to be the only one with a heart and soul.

Best Supporting Actress

  1. Shailene Woodley (The Descendants): Part of my amazement at her performance comes from the fact that she currently stars on (what I can only imagine is) a very cheesy show on ABC Family. I mean, going from that to this? Pretty amazing. But that fact notwithstanding, she’s great in this movie as a slightly out-of-control teenager struggling to cope with the impending loss of her mother.
  2. Jessica Chastain (The Help): Jessica Chastain was in approximately 75% of all films made in 2011, but not without good reason – she’s a fantastic actress. Celia was one of my favorite characters in the novel because she’s simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking – and Chastain gets both those aspects just right.
  3. Berenice Bejo (The Artist): A close second to her costar (the aforementioned Jean Dujardin) in the charisma department. I found Bejo’s performance delightful and fun. And she is unfairly beautiful.
  4. Judy Greer (The Descendants): I know this is a small part, and that it’s not a showy performance. But Greer’s wonderful, and it’s about damn time she got some recognition. She’s awesome in just about everything.
  5. Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids): If McCarthy’s name were read tomorrow morning, I’d get such a kick out of it. Her performance is utterly brilliant, and to have such over-the-top comedic gold recognized at the stuffy Oscars would be amazing.

Golden Globes: Fashion Recap

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So, I really like going to the movies, as evidenced by the onslaught of movie review posts over the last few weeks. This, in turn, means I like movie awards season an awful lot. However, even more than enjoying when I see the films I loved win awards, what I truly am obsessed with is the red-carpet fashion. And by “truly am obsessed,” I obviously mean I’m obsessed with complementing and – perhaps more importantly – critiquing said fashion. So let’s get this party started.

My Four Best-Dressed:

  • Viola Davis: The color and cut of this are just fantastic. It’s simple, but she looks so, so pretty!
  • Evan Rachel Wood: She’s almost always tragic on the red carpet, so I give Evan Rachel Wood big props for this number. It’s like a cross between a mermaid and a crocodile, but in the best possible way. I thought the dress was stunning.
  • Tina Fey: Yay, Tina Fey! I never like her red carpet looks (always too meek and basic), so this was a pleasant surprise. Gorgeous color, beautiful ruching, and fantastic train. Liz Lemon for the win!
  • Charlize Theron: I got the sense from cruising the interwebs that reaction was mixed on this gown, but I adore it. If anyone can pull off a gigantic bow, it’s Charlize Theron. I also loved the soft color and her perfect hair and sparkly headband. So excited to see the woman who gave us this and this back on the red carpet and totally rocking it.

My Four Worst-Dressed:

  • Freida Pinto: This is a tragic waste of beauty. Pinto is so freaking pretty; it’s downright depressing to see her in a shapeless box of a dress, with sad and flat hair.
  • Lea Michele: I’ll admit, I do derive a cruel pleasure from putting her on my worst dressed list (saying I’m not a fan would be putting it mildly). But, I will concede that she usually looks fantastic on the red carpet – so this misstep was all the more surprising. The bottom half of the dress is fine, but the top half is…garish and wrong.
  • Elizabeth McGovern: It pains me to say it, but Lady Grantham was not looking so good last night (thought: she probably would have been better off stealing a dress from her show’s wardrobe department). I mean, two pieces of solid-colored fabric glued together, not molded into any discernible shape? Blah.
  • Angelina Jolie: Too tight and too severe. I far preferred her Golden Globes look from last year. Seriously, click on that link and marvel at the difference.

Miscellaneous Fashion Awards of Note:

  • Most Eternally Fabulous: Helen Mirren always looks simultaneously wonderful and age-appropriate. She wears classy, dignified clothing but never looks dowdy. I love the navy, the belt, and the fluffiness on the bottom half.
  • Red Carpet Rising Star: Since Jessica Chastain gravely disappointed me (more on that below), I’m banking on Shailene Woodley to be the fresh faced best-dressed this awards show season. I loved the white/grey color and the subtle sparkles – it was simple, but not boring.
  • Most Welcome Return: Natalie Portman, welcome back. We missed you (but not your laugh). I know you’re probably enjoying being a mom and all, but you really belong on the red carpet – stunning dress, gorgeous color, bravo.
  • The “So Pretty I Really Want to Hate Her” Award: Seriously, Kate Beckinsale, it’s just not fair. This almost made my top 4 best dressed list, but I thought it was a tad safe. Still, a very, very nice look.

  • The “Weird, But I Kinda Dig It” Award: Dianna Agron’s dress could charitably be called “daring” or “bold” (and not-so-charitably be called “crazy”). But I liked it, and I think bright red is a great color for her. Unlike her Glee costar Lea Michele, I thought this was a risk that actually paid off.
  • Oddest Accessory: Is that an eagle on your belt, Emma Stone? And, perhaps more to the point, why is there an eagle on your belt? I liked this dress a lot – especially the pairing of the two different shades of red and the cut of the top – but the belt detracted from the overall effect.
  • The “Begrudging Admittance That You Look Good Even Though You Shouldn’t Be Here” Award: I almost feel sad for Stacy Keibler for being the latest in George Clooney’s revolving turntable of girlfriends, but she did look damn good on the red carpet. Red is a great color on her, and I really liked the bow on the back of the dress.
  • The “Wait, How Old Are You?” Award: IMDB tells me that Madeleine Stowe is 53 and I just cannot believe it. Seriously, she looked better than a lot of the gals in their 20s. And, I loved her dress – especially how it was almost made to look like a top and skirt. Cool.

  • Prettiest Color: Octavia Spencer in pale violet – I always think this is a beautiful color, and it looked quite nice on her. Also loved the gems on the front. Pretty dress.
  • Best Dressed Person I’ve Only Vaguely Heard Of: Mireille Enos, in an ethereal yellow and white dress. Loved the colors, the belt, and the cut of the top.
  • Best Hair: Her dress is nothing special, but I really love Reese Witherspoon’s hair. It’s not fancy, but just looks perfect. And she’s so pocket-sized and cute, awww!
  • Most Exuberant: Paula Patton in yellow. The color was bold and wonderful, and the train was fun. Plus, I don’t know how closely you watched the show, but Paula was acting kinda cray cray – like maybe she took a little something before walking the red carpet/presenting? But, yeah, definitely exuberant…

  • Most Unflattering: Oh, Kate Winslet, what happened here? She’s usually one of my red carpet favorites, but this dress did her no favors. I didn’t like the odd gaping hole in the front, and I didn’t like how the little cape sleeves were cut. A misfire.
  • Least Age Appropriate: Julie Bowen’s dress is just lovely…if you happen to be 12 years old and playing one of her daughters on Modern Family. Seriously, the Pretty Pretty Princess look is not working for her – she should be outfitted in a sleek and modern style. Her hair is also an atrocity.
  • Most Terrifying: Tilda Swinton. Enough said.
  • The “Honey, You Know Your Seam is Right Down the Front of Your Dress, Right?” Award: Naya Rivera in a grey dress that would’ve been kinda nice – albeit boring – if not for one glaring problem (see the title of this award).

  • Biggest Disappointment: I was almost certain Jessica Chastain was going to be a rockstar at this year’s awards shows. Wrong! This dress was way too tight and way too plain – and the hairstyle was just blah. Better luck next time, Jessica.
  • Most Mismatched Earrings: It’s hard to see from the above photo, but Julianna Margulies’s dress and earrings were an interesting pairing, to say the least. At first I was convinced that the plum and bright green color combo was hideous, but…it’s kind of growing on me. Make of it what you will (her dress, by the way, was nice but boooooring).
  • Most Tragic Belt: I probably could have gotten on board with Sarah Hyland’s dress, if not for the big black belt. It just didn’t work with the dress.
  • Most Convincing Argument For Not Letting Your Children Pick Out Your Clothing: Sarah Michelle Gellar, who said she had let her daughter choose her ensemble. Probs not a great idea to take fashion advice from a toddler, SMG. Just a thought.

Agree? Disagree? Who were your favorites at the Globes? And who are you looking forward to seeing at the SAG Awards later this month?

Summer Movie Roundup

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I love summer movie season. When I get Entertainment Weekly’s summer movie preview issue in my mailbox, I get super excited and begin to make a list of all the movies I have to see – and it’s always lengthy (never mind the fact that many of these movies will turn out to be clichéd, big budget, Hollywood movie machine disappointments – it’s all about the anticipation, people).

Nevertheless, looking over my list, I am slightly embarrassed about the amount of time and money I spent at the movies this summer. But what the hell – it was really hot, and you can’t beat that AC.

And so, without further delay, my summer movie roundup.

Loved:

  • Harry Potter 7.2: Exactly what I expected, and I find comfort in that consistency. I found myself tearing up throughout, but – oddly, I think – the moment that made me cry the most was when the teachers started casting protective spells around Hogwarts. I got chills.
  • Bridesmaids: This could go in the “loved” category on the strength of Kristen Wiig’s penis impression alone. But there are also numerous other reasons I loved it – like the hot Irish cop, the stellar use of Wilson Phillips, and the fact that Melissa McCarthy pretty much steals every scene she’s in.
  • Crazy Stupid Love: I just loved this movie. Sweet and funny, and all the emotions rang true. I loved that it all built to a sort of wacky, crazy, chaotic scene (if you’ve seen the movie: the part with the homemade putt putt golf course in their backyard). And – Ryan Gosling? Impossibly sexy.
  • The Help: I pretty much walked into this movie knowing I would love it. And I did. First, Viola Davis? Made of awesome. She totally owns the movie. Second, Jessica Chastain? Definitely the next big thing. Her white trash, kooky housewife was my favorite storyline.

Liked:

  • Friends with Benefits: Wanted to love this movie. Mila! Justin! Witty banter! But, mostly, I ended up just liking it. Definitely solid, and better than most of its genre (though the movie employs rom com clichés, it’s at least self-aware about doing so). Also, I really disliked that the doctor Mila Kunis dates turns out to be a complete douche. I thought it would’ve been more powerful if he’d actually been a good guy, and she had to come to the realization that he just wasn’t right for her.
  • Super 8: This was another one that I really wanted to love. I felt like I could have loved a movie that was just about those kids, about them making movies, about them growing up. I did not need there to be a government-covering-up-an-alien-monster plot, and that’s what held this movie back for me. But, seriously, all those kid actors? Excellent. If she doesn’t go the way of Lohan, Elle Fanning is totally going to be a movie star.
  • Monte Carlo: Yeah, I am slightly embarrassed about putting this under “like” and not “meh.” It’s a complete guilty-pleasure movie, but one that I enjoyed (guiltily) nevertheless. I always get sucked into movies that involve completely unrealistic and romanticized European travel (see: my love for the movie “Chasing Liberty,” which I know on a rational level is terrible but nonetheless love). Also – I totally want the shirtdress Leighton Meester wears in the movie.
  • X-Men: I was surprised by how much I liked this movie – and I even briefly flirted with putting it in the “love” column. I’ve never really gotten into superhero movies, but with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as the leads, you can’t go wrong.
  • One Day: Loved this book, and had extremely low expectations for the movie and how Hollywood would inevitably butcher it (see: My Sister’s Keeper). My low expectations caused me to be mildly surprised that the movie didn’t outright suck. But, it wasn’t great either – the book spans two decades, and it was always going to be tough for the film to cover all that without seeming choppy. And why oh why did they have to cast Anne Hathaway? Her accent was SO distracting, and it kept slipping towards Scottish. Very odd.

Meh:

  • Horrible Bosses: This got solid reviews, but it didn’t do much for me. It was funny at times, but not hilarious. And, I kept thinking, are these three guys really going to murder somebody? How can you like protagonists who are aiming to be killers? I mean, I know it’s just a movie, and an exaggerated comedy at that, but that kept bugging me.
  • Something Borrowed: I considered making a fourth category for this movie, and it would go something like, “employs every dumb romantic comedy cliché in the book and drags on interminably toward a thoroughly unsatisfying conclusion.” In that regard, the movie’s pretty much in a class of its own. Why do I pay to see movies like this?