The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 12 - Best Director and Best Film

The last post in the Lady K Academy Film Awards is upon us. And I have saved the best awards for last. Best Director and Best Film. 

So without further delay I announce the winner of the Best Director is 

Martin Scorsese for Hugo

Anyone who read my review of Hugo back in December will know how passionate I was about the direction of the film and how amazing I thought the 3D was. Well I have recently watched Hugo again, on a 3D TV, and let me tell you, it was just as impressive as it was at the cinema. 

For those who missed it, my review had this to say "Hugo is such a charming film, an absolute pleasure from start to finish. The fact that it was directed by Martin Scorsese makes it all the more incredible. Now I'm not saying old Marty is not a good director. I'm sure we all agree that he has made some magnificent films, but these are films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, more recently Gangs of New York and Shutter Island. He's not exactly known for charming kids films. 

The other impressive thing about the film being directed by Martin Scorsese is that this is the first time he's shot a film in 3D. And I think this might be the most impressive use of 3D I have ever seen. Everything pops, like a feast for your eyes, from the dust in the train station to the people on screen, it's a visual treat. Mr Scorsese hasn't gone down the classic route of having things come out of the screen, instead he's just made everything three dimensional. It's honestly amazing use of 3D. If you see Hugo, and I highly recommend you do, you should see it in 3D."

It's such a shame that I can't show you the 3D in the trailer below. Instead I will just have to urge you, if you missed this at the cinema (and how you could have when my review pleaded with you to see it), if you find that the film has a one off 3D showing at your local cinema, maybe on a kids club or such, go and see it! Or if you have a friend with a 3D TV, rent the 3D Blu Ray version of Hugo, take it round, and marvel in it's brilliant storytelling and eye opening use of 3D. The best use of 3D I have EVER seen.

Finally, I present the award for Best Film, which goes to The Help

The Help was not only my highest rated new film of last year, it was also the film that had the biggest emotional impact on me. The performances were all superb, which I have hopefully demonstrated through my awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress both going to artists from The Help. The direction was well informed and considerate towards the subject matter. The script was spot on. And the overall film, which combined all of these elements was a truly wonderful piece of filmmaking.

I think I've said it all but in case you missed this one too, my review had this to say " The Help left me feeling that I'd just watched a really great film. This is an eye opening story told with such emotion, had me laughing and crying in equal measure, which was so well executed by all involved. It seemed a story which was very dear to the hearts of everyone who had a hand in it, from the actors to the writers and director. It was a story told with such attention to detail and a lot of love.

I can't recommend this film highly enough. Harrowing in places, unafraid to show the bad with the good, but a film which ultimately proves that humanity can be gracious and kind. But without the schmaltz. As near perfect as a new film has gotten for me this year."

A well deserved winner. The trailer is just to prove my point.

Runners Up for Best Director:
J.J. Abrams - Super 8
Nicholas Winding Refn - Drive
Tate Taylor - The Help

Runners Up for Best Film:
Hugo
Drive
Super 8

You know the drill, agree or disagree I want to see your thoughts below!

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 11 - Best Lead

The Lady K Academy only has 4 awards left to give out and tonight is going to be another double awarder as we salute the Actor and Actress who literally lead the way in 2011.

Without further ado the award for Best Actor goes to...

Ryan Gosling for Drive* 

(*although he also gave very noteworthy performances in 

Blue Valentine, Crazy, Stupid, Love and The Ides Of March)

Ryan Gosling was on fire last year with 3 very different movies on general release within 3 months of each other. 1 romantic comedy, 1 crime thriller and 1 political drama. He also had romantic drama Blue Valentine out at the start of the year. Even if he's not your favourite actor you have to admit he's hard working! As I saw each of these films I can say without a doubt that he was fantastic in each of them, but the one which made me decide he was worthy of this award was Drive.

This is what my review had to say: "Despite being the main character, the driver not only has no name, he also has very few lines in the film, with most of his feelings being played out through looks in the rear view mirror. Having said that the performances of Gosling and all of the other actors involved are faultless."

To give you a taste of Ryan's performance in the film I have attached a video I found which is set entirely to a song from the film, no dialogue. I thought it was a good demonstration given the lack of dialogue for the driver in the film.

Please note this is a clip from an 18 certificate movie and does show violent scenes. If you haven't seen the film there are some spoilers.

We follow Ryan's stunning performance in Drive with our award for Best Actress.

This goes to... Viola Davis for The Help

I pretty much knew all along that my Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress were going to come from The Help, how could they not with such a wealth of female talent on display. But the confusion came when I had to pick one. Just one. Anyone who read my review of The Help will know that I have a huge girl crush on Emma Stone. Love her. She can do no wrong. But Viola was amazing. And so were Octavia, and Bryce, and Jessica. Hardest decision EVER. But as Viola's role really was the pivotal one, I went with my gut and chose Viola's portrayal of Aibileen Clark as the winner for this category.

For anyone who missed it, this is what my review had to say: "The characters are fantastic, even the ones you hate, you can't help but admire the actors potrayal. And the actors, or rather actresses as this is a predominantly female cast, were faultless. Every single one. I know I already mentioned my girl crush on Emma Stone but she is wonderful. But then so are Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain. And the supporting cast is a dream, from the likes of Allison Janney (who can do no wrong in my eyes, I've loved her for years!) to Sissy Spacek and Mary Steenburgen. Fabulous one and all."

And here is a taster of Viola in The Help.

Much as I love Meryl, can you still tell me after watching that clip that Meryl deserved the Oscar? I don't think so!

Runners Up for Best Actor:

Matt Damon surprised me last year in both Hereafter and The Adjustment Bureau. 

Jake Gyllenhaal for Source Code. Yes he's my favourite actor, yes I've met him and am biased as hell but he was brilliant in Source Code, you know it and I know it.

Runners Up for Best Actress:

While Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine and My Week With Marilyn) and Natalie Portman (Black Swan, No Strings Attached and Your Highness) were both very busy ladies last year I think the two women who surprised me the most after Ms Davis were Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids and Tilda Swinton for We Need To Talk About Kevin

So there you have it. My winners for Best Actor and Actress. Who were yours?

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 10 - Best Support

Day 10 of the now infamous Lady K Academy Film Awards. Tonight's awards are for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

There have been lots of outstanding performances this year but for me these two in particular stood out. And to some extent both were playing outcasts. Maybe that's why I identified with them so strongly?

The award for Best Supporting Actor goes to Alan Rickman for 

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2

*Massive Spoiler Alert*

Alan Rickman's performances in all of the Harry Potter movies have been underrated but I think especially in the last installment when his character Snape's secret love for Potter's mother Lily was revealed in his dying moments.

(Thanks to PotterMovies7)

Rickman is rather known for his enjoyable if somewhat OTT performances in the likes of Die Hard and Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves, but I honestly think his portrayal of Snape is one which enhances the Potter films and makes you take more note of the supporting actors and actresses in these films. And lets face it, without the support, Potter would be one lonely boy wizard. 

The award for Best Supporting Actress goes to Jessica Chastain for

The Help

*Yet More Massive Spoilers*

As I said above, both supporting actor and actress played rather outcast characters. And while you might not have felt for Snape until his dying moments, I think you felt for Chastain's Celia in The Help, right from the start. Excluded from her rightful place amongst the women of her small town for daring to marry above her station, and not only that but to marry the ex-boyfriend of high society Hilly Holbrook, Celia is a recluse in her own home. Celia hires Minnie to be her maid when Hilly fires Minnie for using the bathroom in her house. Soon the two of them become friends over their joint hatred of Hilly and her backward ways. But Celia's story becomes ever more tragic when it is revealed that she has suffered a series of miscarriages and worries that she will never be able to have the child that she and husband Johnny long for.

While Chastain is relatively unknown, thanks to a string of recent high profile roles in films such as The Help, The Tree Of Life and Coriolanus, her star is on the rise. And after seeing her performance in The Help I can certainly see why.

Runners Up for Best Supporting Actor:

Zach Galifianakis - It's Kind Of A Funny Story

Geiffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Runners Up for Best Supporting Actress:

Octavia Spencer - The Help (it was very close between Octavia and Jessica but I felt that ultimately you saw a broader range from Jessica)

Vera Farmiga - Source Code

Who stole the show from the lead actors and actresses for you last year? Tell me below...

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 9 - Best Original Song

How this song wasn't Oscar Nominated as Best Original Song I will never know. It seems so wrong to me that the only way for this song to get the credit it deserves is by me giving it an award but so be it!

The Lady K Academy Award for Best Original Song goes to...

The Star Spangled Man from Captain America: The First Avenger

I have said it before and I will say it again, I guarantee that if you put this song on your ipod and listen to it before work on a gloomy Monday morning it will cheer you up so much that you'll be grinning from ear to ear! When this song came on after a hellish 7 hour coach journey I couldn't help but smile. It's just so cheery!

Special Thanks to AndyDrew105 for the above video which perfectly demonstrates the winning qualities of The Star Spangled Man.

There are no runners up in this category as I can't think of a single song from a movie last year which could possibly stand up against The Star Spangled Man. If you can please feel free to try and persuade me below...

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 8 - Best Animated Film

I have just been watching an interview with the director of Wall.e Andrew Stanton.  And while the winner of my award for Best Animated Film does not come close to the emotion I felt at watching Wall.e, it was definitely the best of the bunch of last years animated films.

The award for Best Animated Film goes to... Cars 2

As I said above, Cars 2 didn't quite have the emotion of some of Pixar's earlier films like Monsters Inc, Toy Story 2 or Wall.e but it did have a lot of great qualities. My review had this to say:

"Kudos really goes to the background artists at Pixar who have done an amazing job of the backdrops of Tokyo, Italy and London. Each with their recognisable landmarks and lovely little touches which make these movies enjoyable for adults as well as kids.

My favourite of the new characters has to be McMissile, with his 'tache shaped grille and kindly british accent he comes across as a sweet grandfatherly figure, but then he whips out his custom special agent weaponry and gadgets James Bond would be jealous of and you know you have a worthy hero on your hands.

Pixar really are the masters of their craft with unmatched attention to detail, perfect voice casting time after time and ultimately, a sumptuous end film which will become a beloved classic for generations to come. "

So there you have it. The trailer below is just for extra incentive, if you need it.

Runners Up:
Tangled
Puss In Boots

What animated film did you love last year?

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 7 - Most Heroic Hero

And here we have the second award of the night, for the Best Hero, or as I've labelled it, Most Heroic Hero. I couldn't very well give you a villain and then no-one to fight for truth, justice and the American way. No, no, the winner isn't Superman. *slaps forehead and shakes head*

The award for Most Heroic Hero goes to Chris Evans for his portrayal of 

Steve Rogers, aka Captain America: The First Avenger

It was only when I was writing about why I picked the end scene of Captain America: The First Avenger to win my award for 'Most Heartbreaking End To A Film EVER' that I realised Steve Rogers would also win the award for Most Heroic Hero. He's just so infinitely good. Through and through. All he wants out of life is to fight for his country and get the girl. He's smart, sensible, romantic, brave, and if that wasn't enough he's got more courage in his little finger than most guys have in their whole bodies. All that and no actual superpowers. He's just been beefed up by Dr Erskine's super duper serum. Which only builds on what's already within someone, in his words "bad becomes worse and good becomes great." Which means good old Steve was already good and now he's a super fit great man. There are plenty of super hero characters who sure have been heroic this year but I don't think any of them stand up to Steve.

In honour of Steve's win I have included a short video which shows clips from the film to the backing of the Star Spangled Man - which in my opinion should have won (or at least been nominated) for an Oscar for Best Original Song. If ever you want to listen to something uplifting and inspiring just put that on your ipod. I guarantee it will make you smile if nothing else.

Special Thanks to MindFreak76 for making such a good video!

Runners Up:

Thor - Thor: Buff and funny but also a bit too spoiled to be winner of this award

Charlie Brewster - Fright Night: Similar kind of 'average Joe' hero but not good to the core like Steve

Who would you like to have defending your corner again the evil villainy of the world?

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 7 - Most Villainous Villain

Tonight's double bill of awards sort of go hand in hand. You can't really have one without the other. Like two sides to the same coin. Kinda like members of the same family, who are very different. With that expert link out of the way I would like to wish my sister Tracey a very happy 39th Birthday. And reveal the first of tonight's two awards, Best Villain or Most Villainous Villain as I have named this one...

The award goes to Bryce Dallas Howard for her portrayal of 

Hilly Holbrook in The Help.

When I saw The Help last year it instantly became one of my favourite films of the year. I'm pretty sure I told everyone I know to see it and to this day it makes me well up to think of how emotional it made me. In my review I described it as 'a film which ultimately proves that humanity can be gracious and kind. But without the schmaltz.' But there is one thing about The Help that was neither gracious or kind. And that was the character of Hilly Holbrook. Played to perfection by Bryce Dallas Howard. Never before has a character so nasty, so vindictive, so purely evil deserved such a delicious comeuppance as Hilly Holbrook did. I challenge anyone not to cheer when she finally gets what's coming to her. As I couldn't really find any clips that show just how twisted and condescending and back-stabbing Hilly is, I have instead included a brief profile of her character. And again implore anyone who hasn't seen The Help to get it on DVD when it's released on 12th March 2012. 

Runners Up:

Christoph Waltz ~ August in Water For Elephants

Sentinel Prime in Transformers Dark Of The Moon

Which character gets your vote for Most Villainous Villain?

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 6 - Most Heartbreaking End To A Film EVER

And now to our final award of the night, this is a Lady K Academy exclusive. I guarantee you won't find this award at any other red carpet event (that I know of).

I have no doubt that the uniqueness of this award is being met with intense excitement across the globe, so to put you all out of your anguish I shall announce the winner of this prestigious award is...

Captain America: The First Avenger

Those who haven't seen the comic book story of scrawny Steve Rogers and how he becomes Captain America might think this an odd film to give this kind of seriously heartbreaking award to, so allow me to elaborate. Note spoilers are abound!

All scrawny Steve wants out of life is to join the army and be a hero. But his size, stature and various health problems mean he is turned down at every enlistment he goes to. Eventually Dr Erskine takes pity on Steve and allows him to take part in an experiment he is conducting with a serum he has created. The serum will make Steve taller, stronger, faster, fitter and in almost every way a better human being. The one thing he can't improve on though is just how good Steve is, right to his core. This is one of my favourite lines in the movie when Erskine tells Steve why the serum didn't work on the Nazi's when they took it to improve themselves - "The serum amplifies everything that is inside. So, good becomes great. Bad becomes worse. This is why you were chosen. Because a strong man, who has known power all his life, will lose respect for that power. But a weak man knows the value of strength. And knows compassion."

Eventually the new and physically improved Steve gets to kiss the girl and even plans a date with her before the ship he's piloting crash lands on the ice and he is frozen for 70 years. He wakes up in the present day and the first thing on his mind is that he's missed his date. Saddest. Moment. EVER.

I couldn't find the clip in question without the end credits attached because it's literally the last line in the film, but here it is for you to see, with the fan adjusted credits and all:

Runners Up: *contains spoilers*

Thor - similarly sad, can't ever get back to the girl type ending but with a glimmer of hope

Drive - girl is gone, money is left behind (WTF?) and he's probably going to bleed out and crash his car into a ditch, it's not exactly happy!

Was there a sadder end to a film last year? I don't think so but feel free to leave your thoughts below as ever...

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 6 - Best Kiss

So tonight is a three headed beast of an award night. And this is the second award of the night. Best Kiss.

Up until tonight I had a clear winner in my head for this award, but as I was typing it up I had a sudden feeling that there was a better kiss out there and then I realised what film that best kiss was in.

The award for Best Kiss goes to Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan for the elevator kiss in Drive.

Now unlike the award for Best Fight, Best Kiss had a LOT of contenders. As I mentioned above, until I was actually typing this one up, I already had a very different winner in mind. I was going to go with the kiss in Thor. It was full of passion and semi tragic as he was leaving, intending to return but of course neither of them knew at the time that this wouldn't be possible. And it was a great kiss.

But then lots of films had great kisses this year, Thor aside, fellow Avenger Captain America also had a great, semi tragic kiss. In both of those films the kiss was eagerly anticipated and in my opinion lived up to expectation. Source Code had that wonderful frozen in time kiss, Breaking Dawn had the wedding kiss, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 had one of the most long awaited kisses, and in truth would have won this award (even over Thor) if it hadn't been for the awful direction in that scene that meant you didn't really see the kiss. Drive however, well Drive had a scene which kind of encompassed all of the elements that made the above kisses so great. It was anticipated, seemed to slow time down until all there was in the elevator was the two of them, it was romantic as he was protecting her from a very bad man, it had great music and was just one of those kisses that you wish would happen to you some time. But maybe without the horrendous murder that follows?

Here for those who haven't seen it, is just the kiss (I made sure it cut before the murder - this isn't that kind of blog! ;0). Enjoy.

Runners Up:

See above.

What screen kiss made you weak at the knees this year? The box below is where you get your say...

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 6 - Best Fight

You might have thought that award season was over but as the recent Grammy's and Brit awards have proved, we're still very much in the midst of all the crying and speeches!

Tonight's triple bill of awards was supposed to be posted on Valentines Day as they are themed to coincide with that day, Best Fight, Best Kiss and Most Heartbreaking End To A Film EVER. But with one thing and another I didn't get around to posting them so I'm posting them tonight instead, in honor of my friend Jen's birthday today. Birthdays are often emotional occasions and can be the cause of fights and heartbreak but mostly kisses. I hope Jen will have more of the latter. Happy Birthday!

Without further delay I present the Best Fight award to... Fright Night

I have struggled to decide winners of quite a few of my award categories owing to the great examples available in those categories. Best Fight however really wasn't one of them. While the big blockbusters of summer all had impressive fights in them, Thor, Captain America, X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, Transformers etc etc I didn't really feel that any of those films were worthy of the award for Best Fight. In some the fight scenes were too short (Transformers), in others there were too many to narrow it down (Thor) and others just seemed pointless (X-Men/Green Lantern). But Fright Night just nailed it for me. 

Take one friendly neighbourhood vampire, Jerry: 

Add in a splash of terrorising the neighbours:

Mix the wimpy neighbour with the cool vampire hunter played by none other than David 'Dr Who' Tennant:

Throw in a cross bow, stakes, stake shooting guns and some fire and et voila, you have the ingredients for a well planned out horror movie ending.

The scene in question is not available (to my knowledge - I did spend hours scouring You Tube) so you have to make do with the trailer but believe me when I say that it's a worthy winner.

Runners Up:

See above.

What would you have classed as last years best fight scene? Answers on a postcard please. Or you could just put it in the box below...

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 5 - Best Costume

As promised tonight is a double award-er. And the second award of the night is for Best Costume. I thought about this long and hard as I did see quite a lot of films with traditional costume last year, The King's Speech, The Eagle, Your Highness, Red Riding Hood, Pirates of the Caribbean, Water For Elephants, Cowboys and Aliens, Captain America, Super 8, Jane Eyre, The Three Musketeers, The Help, The Awakening, Hugo, Sherlock Holmes... and I did see a few films with quite futuristic costume, In Time, Real Steel and Green Lantern.


However, being a film fan I can completely grasp how important everyday clothes are in the more regular, present day set films too. I understand that they often help the actor to 'find' the character. But even taking all that into consideration, I couldn't think of a more worthy winner of this award.


Without further adieu I present the award for Best Costume to... Thor.

A film which had to combine several of the above elements in one film, it had the semi futuristic/semi traditional costumes of the Asgaardians as well as the everyday costumes of the human inhabitants.

Below are some examples of the great work accomplished by the wardrobe department on Thor...

And finally for the ladies, a shot of Thor in a scene where he seems to have forgotten his costume...

That was gratuitous. I apologise. But lots of fun. :0)

Runners Up:

Water For Elephants

Captain America

I hope you've enjoyed the special BAFTA edition of my awards. Now I hand over to you and ask what your choices would have been for Best Make Up and Best Costume?

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 5 - Best Make Up

In honor of the fact that I am half writing my blog and half watching the BAFTA's right now I am going to present two awards tonight. Pow Pow.


The first award is for Best Make Up and goes to... Black Swan.

The only thing I truly believe Black Swan did very well was the make up effects. The on-stage make up started out subtle and then turned quite terrifying, the scenes with the skin peeling and cracked toenail are disturbing in their believability and effective in freaking out the audience. 

Below are some shots from the movie to prove my point. If you're at all squeamish don't scroll down...

                          

Runners Up:

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

X-Men: First Class

The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 4 - Best Classic Film Experience

Tonight we have the forth award of the Lady K Academy. As it is my cinema buddy's birthday today I have allowed him the honor of choosing the prestigious award that is to be given out on this date.


So tonight's award is for Best Classic Film Experience. Allow me to explain; Last year I saw seven classic 80s films at the cinema. Not re-releases like The Lion King 3D but one-off screenings of movies that I'd never before seen on a big screen. So I decided to create a special award for the best experience I had watching these 80s classics. Not just for the film but for the whole cinematic experience.

The winner of Best Classic Film Experience is...

Aliens

A rare experience indeed as I saw this in my local independent cinema, which on previous visits had failed to impress me. But it was an amazing film with a fantastic audience and despite equally wonderful experiences at my favourite independent cinema in London, this experience just topped the others. And as I saw this with my cinema buddy it makes it all the more appropriate that this should be the award given out on his birthday. 

My review at the time also picked up on the overall experience of the screening: "The showing of Aliens was sold out and the atmosphere was electric. Fans cheered at the start of the grainy original reel of the film. Favourite lines (mostly by Hudson "No way man!") were met with an auditorium of laughter and those less familiar with the film jumped at all the scary moments. I could not have asked for a better way to experience one of my all time favourite horrors."

Runners Up:
The Princess Bride
Labyrinth

Did you manage to see a classic film at the cinema last year? Or is there one you'd have liked to have seen? Tell me about it below...