Congratulations Are in Order

The Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume were announced this morning and several of the lucky winners will soon be clearing space off the mantel. And yes, above is Vivien Leigh finding a spot for her Oscar for Gone With the Wind (1939).

And the nominees are...

Best Costume

The King's Speech:  Jenny Beavan, Costume Designer

This nomination was totally expected as the costumes are impeccable, well designed and researched and most importantly, not distracting. Of special note were the King's bespoke suits and the Queen Mum's hats. (I am also hoping vintage fur was used). This is not Beavan's first time at bat as she brought home the gold for A Room With a View.

True Grit:   Mary Zophres, Costume Designer

The perfect costume can immediately help an actor get into character and Zophres's designs for Rooster Cogburn's overcoat, Lucky Ned's wooly angora chaps  and La Boeuf's buckskin were as realistic as possible.  As Jeff Bridges notes, "You didn't have to do much acting to feel as if you were in those times."

The Tempest:  Sandy Powell, Costume Designer

Powell's  courtly attire gives a lush feel to the Julie Taymor's adapation of the Shakespearean play. Powell won her third Oscar last year for her period designs for The Young Victoria (prior awards include Shakespeare in Love and The Aviator).


Alice in Wonderland: Colleen Atwood, Costume Designer

Actors Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen) and Anne Hathaway (White Queen) were almost unrecognizable as they were transformed into characters of the beloved Lewis Carroll classic.  Colleen Atwood wanted a more authentic look with Elizabethan and Victorian references in the costumes.

I Am Love: Antonnella Cannarozzi, Costume Designer

Cannarozzi collaborated with Jil Sander and Fendi for sheer perfection. The tailor made suits, Swinton's tangerine sheaths, Berenson in mink cape and Hermes were very fitting for this period drama of a wealthy Milanese family at the turn of the century.



Best Art Direction

The King's Speech: Eve Stewart, Production Designer and Judy Farr, Set Decorator

The Academy loves a period film and this nomination is certainly well deserved. Stewart had the

difficult  task of designing the world of the royals and commoners on a budget. From Logue's shabby/chic artist's studio to the stately rooms of Buckingham and Balmoral Palaces, Stewart and

have created some of the most memorable interiors of the year.

Alice in Wonderland:  Robert Stromberg, Production Designer and Karen O'Hara, Set Decorator

The Academy also tends to award fantasy films and this year proved to be one of the most fruitful with director Tim Burton's Alice and Wonderland leading the pack. Designed by Robert Stromberg (who won for last year's highly inventive designs for Avatar), the effects are pure "Burtonesque", alot of colorful digital eye candy as seen in Wonderland the Underland (think beneath the rabbit hole).

Inception: Guy Hendrix Dyas, Production Designer and Larry Dias and Doug Mowat, Set Decorator

Is it a dream or is it reality? That was the challenge Dyas faced in designing the sets for Inception who literally conceived the plans on the walls of director Christopher Nolan's garage. From the dream city built by Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) in his own mind to the Japanese castle, 20th century architecture played a major role.

True Grit:  Jess Gonchor, Production Designer and Nancy Haigh, Set Decorator

No swinging saloon doors here, Gonchor and   meticulously designed a post Civil War town (Granger, Texas became Fort Smith, Arkansas) to represent "America on the uprise" which meant brick buildings with awnings and balconies.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part One,  Stuart Craig, Production Designer and Stephanie McMillen, Set Decorator

The ceremony will be telecast on Sunday, February 27th. Good luck to all!

Photo Credits: The Weinstein Company, Magnolia Pictures, Miramax, Walt Disney, Paramount, Fox Searchlight, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures

At The Ballet

I was talking to a friend the other night who is a former professional "ballerina" who was quite dismayed at how Hollywood has portrayed her profession. Neurotic psychos, extreme disciplinarians and ruthless get-ahead-at-all-costs prima donnas are often the norm while a few films tend to capture the essence, technique and dedication of this truly incredible and often misunderstood art form:

Black Swan (Fox Searchlight, 2010)

The most recent addition to the dance film genre is Black Swan, a psychological thriller set in the world of the New York City Ballet. Natalie Portman plays Nina, a danceaholic who plays the lead role in Swan Lake and gets in touch with her dark side along the way. While some of the cliches are present - a bitter off the deep end retired dancer (Winona Ryder), stage door mother (Barbara Hershey), etc., the competitiveness and stress of the profession is effectively portrayed. The emotionally charged  film is garnering all sorts of early nominations and Oscar buzz.

The Turning Point (Twentieth Century Fox, 1977)

The Turning Point is the story of the lives two ballet dancers -- one who left the troupe to start a family (Shirley MacLaine) and another who became a prima ballerina (Anne Bancroft). Regret, reflection and jealousy between the two women ensues when MacLaine's daughter (Lesley Browne) joins the company. Doris Day, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn turned down the leads and as well as  real-life ballet legend Gelsey Kirkland who was offered the role of the daughter.  The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture and was miraculously shut out that year.

Lesley Browne and Mikhail Baryshnikov

Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine as friends and rivals

The Red Shoes (Archer, 1948)

The age old choice between love and career is the theme of this ballet classic. Moira Shearer plays a young dancer who becomes the lead in The Red Shoes production (inspired by a Hans Christian Anderson fable) and is considered one of the top ten British films ever made. Art director Hein Heckroth used over 120 paintings as backdrop for the opening dance sequence.

The Company (Sony Pictures, 2003)

Director Robert Altman's drama of a group of ballet dancers with Neve Campbell as  the principal of a Chicago ballet troupe. Apparently Campbell employed her own method acting and trained eight hours a day for four months. The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago cooperated fully with the production both on and off screen.

Campbell with the company's artistic director played by Malcolm McDowell

Photo Credits: Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Archer Films, Fox Searchlight.






                                                                                                                        

On the Radar for Fall

I love this time of year as it signals the debut of a string of interesting movies. On my radar this fall will certainly be the following..

The Black Swan (Fox Searchlight, December lst)

Starring Natalie Portman, the film is a dark thriller about the the obsessive life of a New York Ballet ballerina, her stage door mother and the rivalry between two young dancers. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival recently and already generating Oscar buzz for Portman.

Natalie Portman

The Romantics (Paramount, December 10th)

The film follows seven friends as they unit for a wedding and drama ensues as the bride and maid of honor play out their rivalry over the groom.  Based on the novel by Galt Niederhoffer, the romantic comedy  stars Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel and Candice Bergen. Check out J. Crew's fashion spread on the film as well.

The cast in J Crew attire

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Twentieth Century Fox, September 24th)

Michael Douglas reprises his memorable role as Gordon Gekko who partners after his release from prison with a young trader (Shia LaBouf) as they face a faltering Wall Street and global economy. I doubt "Greed is Good" will be the mantra of this highly anticipated sequel. Directed by Oliver Stone, the film has garnered alot of behind the scenes publicity with Douglas's sad cancer announcement and his battles with  ex-wife Diandra over Wall Street "sequel" money. Hang in there Michael.

Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko twenty years later

Shia LaBouef, Josh Brolin and Michael Douglas

Morning Glory (Paramount, November 12th)

Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford star as two feuding anchors on a Saturday morning news show and Rachel McAdams plays the television producer hired to revive their show. Great ensemble cast and something tells me they took this from real-life.

Rachel McAdams with Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford

Photo Credits: Paramount, Fox Searchlight, Twentieth Century Fox