Through the annals of time the green baize of the pool table has acted as a battle ground as warriors young and old have locked both cues and wits in combat. We at Q-Tip magazine, pool's number one periodical, are proud to announce that we are inaugurating the official Pool Hall of Fame, which will see those great warriors remembered and honoured for their achievements.
These inductees will be selected on a number of criteria, ranging from their on-table success, to their impact on the sport, and taking into account each aspect of what makes a great pool player.A new inductee will be announced every few weeks, along with a brief biography of their career, and an abridged version of the induction.
The second inductee into the Pool Hall of Fame played an integral role in the worldwide growth of the industry. He made his reputation as one of pool's nice guys, both on and off the table, and through his endless charity work he continues to use his gift for the benefit of others. For bringing a new sense of style and grace to the common room, and for his huge impact on both the doubles and singles scenes, this man truly deserves to take his place in the Q-Tip Magazine Pool Hall of Fame.
The second inductee into the Q-Tip Magazine Hall of Fame is the Big Ukrainian Potter, Andrej Kaminskyj.
Life was hard for the young Andrej Kaminskyj, toiling under the harsh regime of Communist Russian. But unlike so many of his countrymen who have ended up dead, or close to it, Kaminskyj had a gift that would see him leave the poverty of the Soviet Union behind, and start a fresh life in England. It all started when he sent a promo video of himself to Nick Billinge, a video that he filmed on a camera he managed to buy for a loaf of bread. Billinge was uneasy about bringing over an untried youngster from another country, but there was something about Kaminskyj's table manner that he liked.
Once in England, Kaminskyj set about proving to his new boss that he was capable of being a top star, and was a stand-out in the pool training facility, The Corner Pocket. After only a few weeks of training, and coming to terms with the English lifestyle, Billinge decided to give Kaminskyj his big break on television. On the August 7th 1998 edition of Saturday Night That Bag, Kaminskyj debuted as The Big Ukrainian Potter. The fans were at first unsure of what to make of this newcomer, who spoke very little English, but when they saw his potting ability, they soon took to him.
While Kaminskyj's potting ability was impressive, his lack of killer instinct and charisma made it difficult for him to reach the top, and made it hard for Billinge to find a suitable role for him. He had an entertaining run as Jagjit Dusanjh's partner in The Foreign Fanatics, but when Dusanjh joined up with his relatives in The Family, Kaminskyj was back on his own. Things took a turn for the better when he won the rumble match at the second Thy Royale Rumble pay-per-view, last eliminating Darren Hibbert, but he never seized on the opportunities the win created. He finally decided to call it quits on his career when Billinge pitched the idea of playing a Communist character, and being the head of a new faction, The Communist League of International Terrorists. As the supposed founder of CLIT, Kaminskyj filmed a number of vignettes, but he was opposed to the angle from the beginning and informed Billinge that he wanted a release from his contract. The request was granted.
Andrej Kaminskyj inducted into the Hall of Fame by Jagjit Dusanjh.
JD: It was a surprise and an honour to be asked to induct this man into the Hall of Fame. Some people get recognised for talent. Drive. Determination. Will to succeed. This man loved the game. He loved the fans. He gave so much to the world of pool, and took so very little. He wasn't a guy who was going to make it to the top, no matter who he stepped on. He was a guy who made it by being respected by his peers, and by just simply playing good pool. People say he squandered his talent, but you measure a man not by what he achieves, but by what he gives to others. I think back to the time when we were partners, and I wonder how far we could have gone if he'd have just cared more about winning, just had a little bit of fire inside of him. In many ways I'll never forgive him. But nevertheless, I'm proud to introduce to you, the newest inductee into the pool Hall of Fame, Andrej Kaminskyj.
AK: Thank you, Jagjit. Thank you, Q-Tip magazine. This is truly an honour. Excuse my tears of joy, I beg you. What can I say? I look back on my career with so many fond memories. Nicky Billinge, God bless you. Thank you. You took a chance on a kid from the Ukraine. I tried my best for you, always. People say I never tried to win, but I've been a fighter all my life and I've seen things that make you realise winning a pool match isn't that important. But I tried my best, Nicky. To all my great opponents, I thank you for the memories. And the fans especially, I thank you. I came to this country with nothing more than the clothes on my back, and a pool cue, and because of the way you took me into your heart, I now boast an ample wardrobe, and three pool cues. You welcomed me as one of your own and I only hope I didn't let you down. God bless you all.
What the stars say:
Darren Hibbert: He brought things to this game that people hadn't seen before. He was just one of the most amazing potters you'll ever see. But his real legacy lies in how willing he was to give, to impart his knowledge. We're in an industry where people are afraid to help the other guys, in case they became better than them. But with Andrej, maybe it was because he knew that Adam and I were already better than him, but he was always happy to give us advice.
Adam Russell: Two words; Black Magic.
Alan Gillingham: It was such a pleasure to commentate on his matches, because he was always capable of pulling out a new shot that you've never seen before.
Nick Billinge: I always look at Andrej as a missed opportunity. He had the natural ability to be a multi-time world champion, and to have great rivalries with the likes of Appleby and Apno, but it just never quite worked out. I wish he'd have given the CLIT thing a chance to be honest, because I think that could have really been a good storyline. But I suppose if he wasn't feeling CLIT, there's nothing you can do about it.
Konrad Nowacki: I'm very grateful to him. I was going to be a part of CLIT, but thanks to him retiring they held my debut back a couple of months and I never looked back. I was pissed off at the time though.
Andrej Kaminskyj: CLIT was a low point. But it was probably the only one. I had a great time teaming up with Jagger. It was perfect because he was such a character, yet lacking in talent, whereas I had the talent, but lacked charisma. I enjoyed the rumble match, and the subsequent matches against Darren (Hibbert). I think we put on some great matches. I'm very proud. And of course, I still like to make an appearance now and then. But I'm happy with my charity work. Now my biggest adversary is global warming, and the only thing I'm trying to pot is cancer.
There will be a new inductee shortly.
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Saturday 7 April 2007
Pool Player's Cribs
Q-Tip Magazine has the privilege of being invited into the homes of the great and good in the world of pool, and getting exclusive access to the stars on their own turf. From stunning mountainside villas, to majestic country estates, the superstars of pool certainly know how to live in luxury. In this month's edition of Pool Player's Cribs our reporters get the guided tour of the converted Gurdwara that Jagjit Dusanjh calls home.
Dusanjh is probably best known as the man who lost the famed umbrella match to Adam Russell, but during a long and storied career, the man known to some as 'Bad Ass' Jag captivated millions with his antics, and his infamy certainly helped to pay for this beautiful home, which he shares with his wife and daughter. As we arrive at Chez Dusanjh, we are greeted by Jagjit himself, who is quick to point out the two bronze panthers which guard his property. 'Wedding gifts' he says with a smile, as he leads us into his home.
The first room we enter is the living room, spacious yet homely. On the wall are a number of souvenirs from his pool playing days, including a framed copy of Q-Tip Magazine, on which his face adorned the cover. 'This is where my family and I like to relax. It's good for me to have these reminders of my career around me. It helps me to remember what payed for the beautiful furniture we sit on, the food we eat, the tigers we breed'. Walking through the corridors to our next room we ask Jagjit to reflect on his favourite memory from his career. 'I was lucky enough to team for a while with my cousin, Gurjit- one of the best pool players in the world. That was a fun time. We even managed to win a match.' Crazy times.
The next room we're shown into is the dining room. The centre-piece of the room is an eighteen foot dinner table, 'for entertaining', as Jagjit explains. Dusanjh is known for his elaborate themed dinner parties, and we encourage him to regale us with an anecdote. 'I had a reunion party, for all of my old pool buddies. The theme was Sikh deities. Anyway, myself, Dan Clearup, Martin Kirkley and Butch Dingle were enjoying a pleasant game of scrabble with a glass of wine when Konrad Nowacki burst in. He'd clearly overdone it on the wine, as he was stark naked, apart from a turban, and proceeded to wave his penis in Paul McFarlane's face'. Jagjit bursts into laughter as he remembers the scene. 'Every night was a party in those days'.
As we enter the master bedroom, Jagjit tells us an interesting fact about the house. 'This house used to be the actual Gurdwara where I got married'. As he shows us the wedding photos displayed proudly on the walls we notice a few familiar faces. 'Yes,' he says, 'Adam Russell, Darren Hibbert and Martin Kirkley all came to my wedding. And for a reasonable fee'. The bed, he tells us, is made from elephant tusks, elephants he killed himself.
The next room we enter, strangely enough, is completely empty. Jagjit bows his head in sadness. We probe him for an explanation and finally he admits to us that this used to be the umbrella room. 'I had a collection of over 12,000 umbrellas at one time,' he says. 'Umbrellas from all over the world. I even had the umbrella that Gene Kelly dances with in Singin' In The Rain. But after losing the umbrella match with Adam (Russell) I couldn't bear looking at them anymore. I gave them all away.' Apparently, Jagjit also had a collection of over 900 rests, which he also gave away after losing a rest match to Adam Russell. After that rest match, Dusanjh wept a single tear on live television. 'I wasn't crying because I lost,' he protests. 'That day happened to be the anniversary of Gert Frobe's (the man who played Goldfinger) death. It was a sad day indeed.'
We complete our tour in the prayer room, where we find Jagjit's wife. It is at this time that we ask Jagjit about the different doubles partners he's had; Andrej Kaminskyj in The Foreign Fanatics, Gurjit Sanghera in The New Age Inlaws, and 'No Shit' Martin Kirkley in The Rebellion, during which time he was known as 'Fuck That' Jagjit Dusanjh. 'I don't think The Rebellion were really given a chance,' he whispers, so as not to disturb his wife. 'We could have been great'. He goes on to tell us that despite all his partners, he'll always consider himself simply a member of The Sanghera Family.
Jagjit shows us out as we thank him for his hospitality. He is certainly a man who likes luxury, be it the soft touch of his hand-woven satin bedspread, or the cold hard carcass of one of the dead African rhinos he has hunted to near-extinction, but on this tour we feel like we have gone beyond the man who so famously wiped his feet on the English flag at Poolamania, and found a loving family man, and generous host.
Dusanjh is probably best known as the man who lost the famed umbrella match to Adam Russell, but during a long and storied career, the man known to some as 'Bad Ass' Jag captivated millions with his antics, and his infamy certainly helped to pay for this beautiful home, which he shares with his wife and daughter. As we arrive at Chez Dusanjh, we are greeted by Jagjit himself, who is quick to point out the two bronze panthers which guard his property. 'Wedding gifts' he says with a smile, as he leads us into his home.
The first room we enter is the living room, spacious yet homely. On the wall are a number of souvenirs from his pool playing days, including a framed copy of Q-Tip Magazine, on which his face adorned the cover. 'This is where my family and I like to relax. It's good for me to have these reminders of my career around me. It helps me to remember what payed for the beautiful furniture we sit on, the food we eat, the tigers we breed'. Walking through the corridors to our next room we ask Jagjit to reflect on his favourite memory from his career. 'I was lucky enough to team for a while with my cousin, Gurjit- one of the best pool players in the world. That was a fun time. We even managed to win a match.' Crazy times.
The next room we're shown into is the dining room. The centre-piece of the room is an eighteen foot dinner table, 'for entertaining', as Jagjit explains. Dusanjh is known for his elaborate themed dinner parties, and we encourage him to regale us with an anecdote. 'I had a reunion party, for all of my old pool buddies. The theme was Sikh deities. Anyway, myself, Dan Clearup, Martin Kirkley and Butch Dingle were enjoying a pleasant game of scrabble with a glass of wine when Konrad Nowacki burst in. He'd clearly overdone it on the wine, as he was stark naked, apart from a turban, and proceeded to wave his penis in Paul McFarlane's face'. Jagjit bursts into laughter as he remembers the scene. 'Every night was a party in those days'.
As we enter the master bedroom, Jagjit tells us an interesting fact about the house. 'This house used to be the actual Gurdwara where I got married'. As he shows us the wedding photos displayed proudly on the walls we notice a few familiar faces. 'Yes,' he says, 'Adam Russell, Darren Hibbert and Martin Kirkley all came to my wedding. And for a reasonable fee'. The bed, he tells us, is made from elephant tusks, elephants he killed himself.
The next room we enter, strangely enough, is completely empty. Jagjit bows his head in sadness. We probe him for an explanation and finally he admits to us that this used to be the umbrella room. 'I had a collection of over 12,000 umbrellas at one time,' he says. 'Umbrellas from all over the world. I even had the umbrella that Gene Kelly dances with in Singin' In The Rain. But after losing the umbrella match with Adam (Russell) I couldn't bear looking at them anymore. I gave them all away.' Apparently, Jagjit also had a collection of over 900 rests, which he also gave away after losing a rest match to Adam Russell. After that rest match, Dusanjh wept a single tear on live television. 'I wasn't crying because I lost,' he protests. 'That day happened to be the anniversary of Gert Frobe's (the man who played Goldfinger) death. It was a sad day indeed.'
We complete our tour in the prayer room, where we find Jagjit's wife. It is at this time that we ask Jagjit about the different doubles partners he's had; Andrej Kaminskyj in The Foreign Fanatics, Gurjit Sanghera in The New Age Inlaws, and 'No Shit' Martin Kirkley in The Rebellion, during which time he was known as 'Fuck That' Jagjit Dusanjh. 'I don't think The Rebellion were really given a chance,' he whispers, so as not to disturb his wife. 'We could have been great'. He goes on to tell us that despite all his partners, he'll always consider himself simply a member of The Sanghera Family.
Jagjit shows us out as we thank him for his hospitality. He is certainly a man who likes luxury, be it the soft touch of his hand-woven satin bedspread, or the cold hard carcass of one of the dead African rhinos he has hunted to near-extinction, but on this tour we feel like we have gone beyond the man who so famously wiped his feet on the English flag at Poolamania, and found a loving family man, and generous host.
Wednesday 14 March 2007
Q-Tip Magazine's Pool Hall of Fame
Through the annals of time the green baize of the pool table has acted as a battle ground as warriors young and old have locked both cues and wits in combat. We at Q-Tip magazine, pool's number one periodical, are proud to announce that we are inaugurating the official Pool Hall of Fame, which will see those great warriors remembered and honoured for their achievements.
These inductees will be selected on a number of criteria, ranging from their on-table success, to their impact on the sport, and taking into account each aspect of what makes a great pool player.
A new inductee will be announced every few weeks, along with a brief biography of their career, and an abridged version of the induction.
It is only fitting that the first Hall of Famer be a true legend in every sense of the word. From his humble beginnings on the pub circuit, to his show-stealing performances on pay-per-view, this superstar has left a legacy on the business which will never be forgotten. Called my many the greatest player never to win the world title, wherever this man went controversy was sure to follow, and in his wake he left bitter former friends and broken dreams.
The first inductee into the Q-Tip Magazine Hall of Fame is the former Eastern Asian champion and Dream Team member, 'The Rock' Andy Appleby.
Appleby first came to the attention of pool fans as the mystery doubles partner of Martin Kirkley in a match against The Dream Team. While they lost the match, it was clear that Appleby had a lot of potential, and it didn't take the fans long to get behind the team known as The Kirkles. The Kirkles were instated as the number one contenders for the doubles titles and were set to receive their title match at Zero Remorse. However, no-one could have predicted that behind the scenes the friendship between Kirkley and Appleby had turned to a deep hatred. Who better to capitalise on this turn of events than The Dream Team. In a shocking move, just 3 days before the pay-per-view Appleby turned on his partner, the man who had got him his job, and joined the DTB. Now known as the people's champion, and with his newly won Eastern Asian title, Appleby was suddenly thrust centre-stage as the Dream Team juggernaut went about taking over the pool world. Fans saw a different side of the man they once idolised; he was brash, cocky, and no stranger to controversy.
Appleby first got into trouble with the board of directors with a profanity-laced promo, directed at The King's Court, on live television. This cost him a week's wages, but that didn't seem to bother Appleby. Run-ins with chairman of the board Nick Billinge were a weekly occurrence back then, but Appleby cranked it up a notch one unforgettable New Year's Eve. While out on the town with his Dream Team partners Appleby had a chance encounter with developmental pool player, Dan Hudson. The two got into a war of words which resulted in Appleby DXing the youngster, quite literally, to fuck. Billinge had to take action. He suspended Appleby for 2 months, and made him foot the bill for Hudson's therapy sessions.
When Appleby returned he was noticeably different. He became disillusioned with pool, and many observers said he was becoming more and more reliant on alcohol. He had taken to spending time away from the table with jobber and King's Court member El Jester, who just months earlier Appleby had ripped to shreds in that famous interview. Content to live on the popularity he had built-up in the previous years, Appleby's pool career slowly burnt out and he now scrapes a living on the pub circuit, back where it all began.
Andy Appleby inducted into the Hall of Fame by Adam Russell, Darren Hibbert, and Phil Wallis
AR: To be honoured by the fans, as you're honouring me now by chanting my name, is one thing, but to be honoured by your peers is something truly special. And that's why we're here today, because a real legend has been recognised for his achievements in the world of pool.
PW: You can make a mark in this industry by winning titles, winning fans, and winning matches, and God knows this man did all that, but more than that he made his mark by taking out his penis, flopping it onto a pool table, and saying to everybody 'if you think you can tell me how to go about my business, you can just suck on this'.
DH: Simply put, he was one of the best players I ever saw, and he could entertain a crowd like nobody else. Ladies and gentlemen, the first inductee into the Q-Tip magazine Hall of Fame, and deservedly so, Andy Appleby.
AA: Fucking hell. What an honour. When you start out in this business you have a pretty modest idea of what success is. For me, success was quitting my job as a postie, and being able to support myself just from pool playing. Success was winning my first 50p tournament. I never dreamed I'd be packing arenas, travelling the world, dining out in fancy restaurants. Some fucker asked me the other day 'Andy, why'd you piss all that away?', I said 'mum, for the last time, that wasn't pissing it all away, that was living the dream'. I don't regret a single thing I did in my career. I fucked a lot of girls, DXed a lot of important people, we didn't give a shit. But I owe this as much to these guys here, the DTB, as anyone. We were a proper family back then, and if I miss anything about those old days, it's that.
What the stars say:
Martin Kirkley: There's no hard feelings. I don't hold grudges. Andy was a guy who always lived on the edge, and there was really no telling what he was going to do. It's unfortunate what happened between us but we've shared a pint since, and I don't begrudge him this honour.
Adam Russell: People say I'm a fast player, but Andy is the one guy who can go toe to toe with me in that department. He was a force of nature, a potting machine.
Darren Hibbert: What he did is he raised the bar for us. He was an awesome player, but he had that edge. He just loved controversy, and those days of raising hell will never be replicated.
El Jester: He was my idol, and my mentor. When the drink took hold of him it hit me hard. I chalked his cue for him, tied his shoelaces. He was a mess towards the end.
Phil Wallis: We teamed hundreds of times. More often than not he'd get us disqualified. He'd DX the ref or something. Or tell him to fuck off. He was a foul-mouthed bastard.
Nick Billinge: Martin would hassle me two or three times a week to check out this friend of his on the pub circuit. I've been conned by pub players before so I was hesitant but finally I agreed to give him a look. I knew straight-away he had the potential to be a big star. His manner around the table was so confident, so striking. I knew I was onto a winner.
Dan Hudson: He ruined my life.
Andy Appleby: I guess it's easy to take things for granted. I never did that. I knew it was gonna end badly. Don't ask me how. I just knew. So I savoured every second. Every three course meal, every first class flight, every threesome. Nobody will ever take those memories away from me. Would I do the fucker all over again? With one difference. I never thought I DXed Dan Hudson hard enough. But, y'know, nobody's perfect.
There will be a new inductee shortly.
These inductees will be selected on a number of criteria, ranging from their on-table success, to their impact on the sport, and taking into account each aspect of what makes a great pool player.
A new inductee will be announced every few weeks, along with a brief biography of their career, and an abridged version of the induction.
It is only fitting that the first Hall of Famer be a true legend in every sense of the word. From his humble beginnings on the pub circuit, to his show-stealing performances on pay-per-view, this superstar has left a legacy on the business which will never be forgotten. Called my many the greatest player never to win the world title, wherever this man went controversy was sure to follow, and in his wake he left bitter former friends and broken dreams.
The first inductee into the Q-Tip Magazine Hall of Fame is the former Eastern Asian champion and Dream Team member, 'The Rock' Andy Appleby.
Appleby first came to the attention of pool fans as the mystery doubles partner of Martin Kirkley in a match against The Dream Team. While they lost the match, it was clear that Appleby had a lot of potential, and it didn't take the fans long to get behind the team known as The Kirkles. The Kirkles were instated as the number one contenders for the doubles titles and were set to receive their title match at Zero Remorse. However, no-one could have predicted that behind the scenes the friendship between Kirkley and Appleby had turned to a deep hatred. Who better to capitalise on this turn of events than The Dream Team. In a shocking move, just 3 days before the pay-per-view Appleby turned on his partner, the man who had got him his job, and joined the DTB. Now known as the people's champion, and with his newly won Eastern Asian title, Appleby was suddenly thrust centre-stage as the Dream Team juggernaut went about taking over the pool world. Fans saw a different side of the man they once idolised; he was brash, cocky, and no stranger to controversy.
Appleby first got into trouble with the board of directors with a profanity-laced promo, directed at The King's Court, on live television. This cost him a week's wages, but that didn't seem to bother Appleby. Run-ins with chairman of the board Nick Billinge were a weekly occurrence back then, but Appleby cranked it up a notch one unforgettable New Year's Eve. While out on the town with his Dream Team partners Appleby had a chance encounter with developmental pool player, Dan Hudson. The two got into a war of words which resulted in Appleby DXing the youngster, quite literally, to fuck. Billinge had to take action. He suspended Appleby for 2 months, and made him foot the bill for Hudson's therapy sessions.
When Appleby returned he was noticeably different. He became disillusioned with pool, and many observers said he was becoming more and more reliant on alcohol. He had taken to spending time away from the table with jobber and King's Court member El Jester, who just months earlier Appleby had ripped to shreds in that famous interview. Content to live on the popularity he had built-up in the previous years, Appleby's pool career slowly burnt out and he now scrapes a living on the pub circuit, back where it all began.
Andy Appleby inducted into the Hall of Fame by Adam Russell, Darren Hibbert, and Phil Wallis
AR: To be honoured by the fans, as you're honouring me now by chanting my name, is one thing, but to be honoured by your peers is something truly special. And that's why we're here today, because a real legend has been recognised for his achievements in the world of pool.
PW: You can make a mark in this industry by winning titles, winning fans, and winning matches, and God knows this man did all that, but more than that he made his mark by taking out his penis, flopping it onto a pool table, and saying to everybody 'if you think you can tell me how to go about my business, you can just suck on this'.
DH: Simply put, he was one of the best players I ever saw, and he could entertain a crowd like nobody else. Ladies and gentlemen, the first inductee into the Q-Tip magazine Hall of Fame, and deservedly so, Andy Appleby.
AA: Fucking hell. What an honour. When you start out in this business you have a pretty modest idea of what success is. For me, success was quitting my job as a postie, and being able to support myself just from pool playing. Success was winning my first 50p tournament. I never dreamed I'd be packing arenas, travelling the world, dining out in fancy restaurants. Some fucker asked me the other day 'Andy, why'd you piss all that away?', I said 'mum, for the last time, that wasn't pissing it all away, that was living the dream'. I don't regret a single thing I did in my career. I fucked a lot of girls, DXed a lot of important people, we didn't give a shit. But I owe this as much to these guys here, the DTB, as anyone. We were a proper family back then, and if I miss anything about those old days, it's that.
What the stars say:
Martin Kirkley: There's no hard feelings. I don't hold grudges. Andy was a guy who always lived on the edge, and there was really no telling what he was going to do. It's unfortunate what happened between us but we've shared a pint since, and I don't begrudge him this honour.
Adam Russell: People say I'm a fast player, but Andy is the one guy who can go toe to toe with me in that department. He was a force of nature, a potting machine.
Darren Hibbert: What he did is he raised the bar for us. He was an awesome player, but he had that edge. He just loved controversy, and those days of raising hell will never be replicated.
El Jester: He was my idol, and my mentor. When the drink took hold of him it hit me hard. I chalked his cue for him, tied his shoelaces. He was a mess towards the end.
Phil Wallis: We teamed hundreds of times. More often than not he'd get us disqualified. He'd DX the ref or something. Or tell him to fuck off. He was a foul-mouthed bastard.
Nick Billinge: Martin would hassle me two or three times a week to check out this friend of his on the pub circuit. I've been conned by pub players before so I was hesitant but finally I agreed to give him a look. I knew straight-away he had the potential to be a big star. His manner around the table was so confident, so striking. I knew I was onto a winner.
Dan Hudson: He ruined my life.
Andy Appleby: I guess it's easy to take things for granted. I never did that. I knew it was gonna end badly. Don't ask me how. I just knew. So I savoured every second. Every three course meal, every first class flight, every threesome. Nobody will ever take those memories away from me. Would I do the fucker all over again? With one difference. I never thought I DXed Dan Hudson hard enough. But, y'know, nobody's perfect.
There will be a new inductee shortly.
Tuesday 27 February 2007
The Oscars 2007: Review
After my Oscar predictions blogs of a couple of weeks ago I thought it only fair that I post a follow-up blog looking at how I did, and the quality of the show in general.
First of all, my opinion on this year's Oscars. While it certainly wasn't a vintage year in any way, shape or form, I have to say that I enjoyed this year's show. They didn't seem to drag as much as in previous years, surprising considering this was the first time I've actually watched them live, without the ability to fast forward. Ellen DeGeneres made for a very funny host, and kept things moving along at a good pace, and there were enough surprises and feel-good moments to leave me satisfied. I could have done without the acrobats (though one can't deny they were good at what they did), and as is customary the musical performances weren't exactly cutting edge (what I wouldn't give for another Elliott Smith-type moment) - if I never see Celine Dion perform again it will be much too soon, but those things aside the curtain dropped with my desire to one day be on the podium, fighting through the orchestra's attempts to cut me off, undiminished, if not heightened. And while I'm on the subject, while I accept that the show needs to be kept to a manageable timeframe, I really dislike seeing some guy, who is clearly rushing to thank everybody he wants to, being drowned out by music and ushered off the stage. Just had to get that off my chest.
Anyway, onto my not-so-stellar predictions. In my defence I made my predictions fairly early and had I waited another week I think that I may have been more accurate. But you live and learn.
As I mentioned, there were a few surprises at this year's ceremony. While I wouldn't class The Departed's snaggling of the Best Picture award, in a weak category, an out-and-out surprise, it was another year in which the favourite, Babel (the film I predicted would win), was trumped. Of course by the time this was announced it was significantly less surprising considering that Babel had failed to dominate the awards the way a Best Picture winner usually does, and in the most gratifying moment of the night, Martin Scorsese had finally won a Best Director Oscar. Let's ignore the fact that I predicted disappointment once again for Marty (to be fair to me, I did state that the best director award usually went to the director of the best picture); I was very pleased when Scorsese's name was announced and the standing ovation that ensued reminded me just why I love the movies so much.
The Departed walked away with 4 awards in total, the other two coming in the editing category (in which it tellingly beat my pick Babel), and Best Adapted Screenplay. I went out on a limb and picked Borat in the latter category, meaning that all four of The Departed's wins leave me at 0-4 in my predictions. Babel has let me down big time, so it's time to pull this back.
I think everyone must have predicted wins for Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker in the two main acting categories, so I won't boast about getting those right. Same goes for Jennifer Hudson for Best Supporting Actress. The most open of the acting categories was Best Supporting Actor, in which I gave a chance to both Eddie Murphy, my eventual pick, and the veteran Alan Arkin. In another feelgood moment it was Arkin who walked away with the Oscar, leaving my record at a not-too-healthy 3-5.
The one award Babel did win, for best original score, also cost me dearly as I predicted a sympathy win for Notes on a Scandal. Little did I know it would be Inarritu's feature picking up the sympathy vote in this one. One award for Babel has to be a big disappointment, considering that the film was even out-duked by Al Gore's global warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Melissa Etheridge won Best Song for her contribution to the film, surprisingly beating all three of Dreamgirls' efforts (which obviously cancelled each other out, though I unfortunately didn't have the foresight to predict that), and the film also picked up the Best Documentary feature award. In fact, it was this film, and Gore's presence at the ceremony which provided some of the funnier moments of the night as George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio both joked about the possibility of the Democrat running for president in 2008. Gore's win in '07 however took me to 4-7.
Pan's Labyrinth was also a somewhat surprising success on the night, picking up 3 awards; cinematography, art direction, and makeup. Happily for me I predicted all three of these wins bringing my total back up to 7-7. All in all, I'd say that Pan's Labyrinth, rather than The Departed, was the biggest winner of the night as this kind of recognition will do wonders for its reputation, and subsequently its DVD sales. It could have been even better for Guillermo Del Toro's film had it not been squeezed out in the Best Foreign Language Film category by German film The Lives of Others. This win represented my biggest victory of the night also, as I predicted a German win against all the odds. Maybe it's watching all those England-Germany football matches that did it. The German cinema renaissance continues...
Okay, let's wrap this up. The best original screenplay award went to Little Miss Sunshine, not Babel as I predicted (man, that film cost me), and the costume award went to Marie Antoinette. I did say that Sofia Copolla's film deserved the award, but predicted it would go to The Queen, leaving me at 8-9.
I apparently know my sound, as I rightly predicted best sound would go to Dreamgirls, and best sound editing would go to Letters From Iwo Jima, that film's only award of the night. The final awards went to Pirates of the Caribbean for best visual effects (over my pick Poseidon), and Happy Feet for best animated feature (over Cars). This leaves my overall Oscar predictions record at an underwhelming 10-11.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, this year's Oscars were full of surprises so maybe under the circumstances batting at just under 500 isn't too bad, although I expected much better. Still, I'll be back next year, better than ever.
First of all, my opinion on this year's Oscars. While it certainly wasn't a vintage year in any way, shape or form, I have to say that I enjoyed this year's show. They didn't seem to drag as much as in previous years, surprising considering this was the first time I've actually watched them live, without the ability to fast forward. Ellen DeGeneres made for a very funny host, and kept things moving along at a good pace, and there were enough surprises and feel-good moments to leave me satisfied. I could have done without the acrobats (though one can't deny they were good at what they did), and as is customary the musical performances weren't exactly cutting edge (what I wouldn't give for another Elliott Smith-type moment) - if I never see Celine Dion perform again it will be much too soon, but those things aside the curtain dropped with my desire to one day be on the podium, fighting through the orchestra's attempts to cut me off, undiminished, if not heightened. And while I'm on the subject, while I accept that the show needs to be kept to a manageable timeframe, I really dislike seeing some guy, who is clearly rushing to thank everybody he wants to, being drowned out by music and ushered off the stage. Just had to get that off my chest.
Anyway, onto my not-so-stellar predictions. In my defence I made my predictions fairly early and had I waited another week I think that I may have been more accurate. But you live and learn.
As I mentioned, there were a few surprises at this year's ceremony. While I wouldn't class The Departed's snaggling of the Best Picture award, in a weak category, an out-and-out surprise, it was another year in which the favourite, Babel (the film I predicted would win), was trumped. Of course by the time this was announced it was significantly less surprising considering that Babel had failed to dominate the awards the way a Best Picture winner usually does, and in the most gratifying moment of the night, Martin Scorsese had finally won a Best Director Oscar. Let's ignore the fact that I predicted disappointment once again for Marty (to be fair to me, I did state that the best director award usually went to the director of the best picture); I was very pleased when Scorsese's name was announced and the standing ovation that ensued reminded me just why I love the movies so much.
The Departed walked away with 4 awards in total, the other two coming in the editing category (in which it tellingly beat my pick Babel), and Best Adapted Screenplay. I went out on a limb and picked Borat in the latter category, meaning that all four of The Departed's wins leave me at 0-4 in my predictions. Babel has let me down big time, so it's time to pull this back.
I think everyone must have predicted wins for Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker in the two main acting categories, so I won't boast about getting those right. Same goes for Jennifer Hudson for Best Supporting Actress. The most open of the acting categories was Best Supporting Actor, in which I gave a chance to both Eddie Murphy, my eventual pick, and the veteran Alan Arkin. In another feelgood moment it was Arkin who walked away with the Oscar, leaving my record at a not-too-healthy 3-5.
The one award Babel did win, for best original score, also cost me dearly as I predicted a sympathy win for Notes on a Scandal. Little did I know it would be Inarritu's feature picking up the sympathy vote in this one. One award for Babel has to be a big disappointment, considering that the film was even out-duked by Al Gore's global warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Melissa Etheridge won Best Song for her contribution to the film, surprisingly beating all three of Dreamgirls' efforts (which obviously cancelled each other out, though I unfortunately didn't have the foresight to predict that), and the film also picked up the Best Documentary feature award. In fact, it was this film, and Gore's presence at the ceremony which provided some of the funnier moments of the night as George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio both joked about the possibility of the Democrat running for president in 2008. Gore's win in '07 however took me to 4-7.
Pan's Labyrinth was also a somewhat surprising success on the night, picking up 3 awards; cinematography, art direction, and makeup. Happily for me I predicted all three of these wins bringing my total back up to 7-7. All in all, I'd say that Pan's Labyrinth, rather than The Departed, was the biggest winner of the night as this kind of recognition will do wonders for its reputation, and subsequently its DVD sales. It could have been even better for Guillermo Del Toro's film had it not been squeezed out in the Best Foreign Language Film category by German film The Lives of Others. This win represented my biggest victory of the night also, as I predicted a German win against all the odds. Maybe it's watching all those England-Germany football matches that did it. The German cinema renaissance continues...
Okay, let's wrap this up. The best original screenplay award went to Little Miss Sunshine, not Babel as I predicted (man, that film cost me), and the costume award went to Marie Antoinette. I did say that Sofia Copolla's film deserved the award, but predicted it would go to The Queen, leaving me at 8-9.
I apparently know my sound, as I rightly predicted best sound would go to Dreamgirls, and best sound editing would go to Letters From Iwo Jima, that film's only award of the night. The final awards went to Pirates of the Caribbean for best visual effects (over my pick Poseidon), and Happy Feet for best animated feature (over Cars). This leaves my overall Oscar predictions record at an underwhelming 10-11.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, this year's Oscars were full of surprises so maybe under the circumstances batting at just under 500 isn't too bad, although I expected much better. Still, I'll be back next year, better than ever.
Monday 5 February 2007
Academy Awards 2007: Part Two
This is the second part of my Oscars analysis and predictions.
Best adapted screenplay category - Sacha Baron Cohen et al (Borat); Alfonso Cuaron et al (Children of Men); William Monahan (The Departed); Todd Field, Tom Perrotta (Little Children); Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal)
It seems obvious that the best picture winner would win one of the screenplay awards, which is why The Departed immediately leaps off the page here, and is certainly in with a chance. Borat has been a cultural phenomenom in the States, and I'm sure the Academy would like to show how 'cool' they are by recognising it in some way. I'd rule out Children of Men. Though the premise is good, Cuaron and his co-writers made a meal of the characterisation. The subject matter of Little Children may be too edgy for the Academy's tastes, whereas Notes on a Scandal seems tailor-made for Oscar night.
Something in me wants to see Field and Perrotta win for Little Children. I just feel it would be a refreshingly brave choice. I have a feeling that Sacha Baron Cohen and his team of writers may run out popular winners though.
Best supporting actor category - Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine); Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children); Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond); Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls); Mark Wahlberg (The Departed)
Jack Nicholson casts a giant shadow over this category. Everyone talked of his Oscar-worthy performance in The Departed, yet it's co-star Mark Wahlberg who gets the films only acting nomination. That could work against him. Eddie Murphy won the Golden Globe which would have to make him the favourite here, though veteran actor Alan Arkin would be a popular winner. Playing a paedophile probably won't win Jackie Earle Haley many votes, and Hounsou's second nomination is unlikely to yield any better results than his first.
I like the underdog so I'll be rooting for Haley, though I can't see anything other than a Murphy win.
Best supporting actress category - Adriana Barraza (Babel); Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal); Rinko Kikuchi (Babel); Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls); Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)
This one is fairly clear-cut and should see a supporting actor/actress double for the otherwise largely ignored Dreamgirls. Jennifer Hudson proved to be a very popular winner at the Golden Globes and that should carry her to success here. With Hudson around it's hard to see youngster Abigail Breslin doing a Tatum O'Neal and walking away with this award but stranger things have happened. Blanchett is also always worth a shout. The two Babel girls will cancel each other out.
Well, I'm a big Blanchett fan but she's won this one before so maybe I'll root for the Japanese girl just to be different. Ultimately it doesn't matter as Hudson will dance away with this one.
Best cinematography category - Vilmos Zsigmond (The Black Dahlia); Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men); Dick Pope (The Illusionist); Guillermo Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth); Wally Pfister (The Prestige)
Strange to see none of the major films being nominated in this category, which makes it a very open field. Of the five, Pan's Labyrinth was the most highly acclaimed by the critics and offers something vastly different which could make it stand out in the crowd. However, Zsigmond's recreation of 1940's Hollywood will surely appeal to the voters.
I'd like to see Guillermo Navarro win, and I think I'll get my wish.
Best foreign language film category - After the Wedding; Days of Glory; Pan's Labyrinth; The Lives of Others; Water
Pan's Labyrinth would seem a likely winner on paper due to its recognition in other categories and comparitively large US distribution, but this category rarely works that way. German cinema is going through a purple patch right now which means The Lives of Others is a strong contender. Canadian film The Barbarian Invasions won this award two years ago so that may count against Water.
Pan's Labyrinth is hailed as one of the films of the year so I think it would be fitting if it won this award. But I feel the Germans will take it. Not on penalties.
The others
I expect Babel to take the editing honours, whereas Pan's Labyrinth should win for art direction and makeup. Marie Antoinette deserves to take the costume design award but it will probably go to The Queen. One of the three songs from Dreamgirls to be nominated will likely win best original song, whilst Notes on a Scandal could pick up a sympathy award for best score after missing out in the bigger categories. Best sound will probably go to Dreamgirls, with Letters From Iwo Jima getting the sound editing nod. That just leaves Poseidon to win best visual effects for the technical awards.
John Lasseter is something of an Oscar favourite which should see his Cars get the best animated feature gong, and the L.A liberals should finally see Al Gore voted in, this time in the shape of An Inconvenient Truth winning the best documentary feature award.
That concludes my look at the 2007 Academy Awards. Not a vintage year by any means but there's plenty of interesting stories waiting to be told. I'll probably do a follow up blog looking at where I went wrong. Enjoy the show.
Best adapted screenplay category - Sacha Baron Cohen et al (Borat); Alfonso Cuaron et al (Children of Men); William Monahan (The Departed); Todd Field, Tom Perrotta (Little Children); Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal)
It seems obvious that the best picture winner would win one of the screenplay awards, which is why The Departed immediately leaps off the page here, and is certainly in with a chance. Borat has been a cultural phenomenom in the States, and I'm sure the Academy would like to show how 'cool' they are by recognising it in some way. I'd rule out Children of Men. Though the premise is good, Cuaron and his co-writers made a meal of the characterisation. The subject matter of Little Children may be too edgy for the Academy's tastes, whereas Notes on a Scandal seems tailor-made for Oscar night.
Something in me wants to see Field and Perrotta win for Little Children. I just feel it would be a refreshingly brave choice. I have a feeling that Sacha Baron Cohen and his team of writers may run out popular winners though.
Best supporting actor category - Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine); Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children); Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond); Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls); Mark Wahlberg (The Departed)
Jack Nicholson casts a giant shadow over this category. Everyone talked of his Oscar-worthy performance in The Departed, yet it's co-star Mark Wahlberg who gets the films only acting nomination. That could work against him. Eddie Murphy won the Golden Globe which would have to make him the favourite here, though veteran actor Alan Arkin would be a popular winner. Playing a paedophile probably won't win Jackie Earle Haley many votes, and Hounsou's second nomination is unlikely to yield any better results than his first.
I like the underdog so I'll be rooting for Haley, though I can't see anything other than a Murphy win.
Best supporting actress category - Adriana Barraza (Babel); Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal); Rinko Kikuchi (Babel); Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls); Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)
This one is fairly clear-cut and should see a supporting actor/actress double for the otherwise largely ignored Dreamgirls. Jennifer Hudson proved to be a very popular winner at the Golden Globes and that should carry her to success here. With Hudson around it's hard to see youngster Abigail Breslin doing a Tatum O'Neal and walking away with this award but stranger things have happened. Blanchett is also always worth a shout. The two Babel girls will cancel each other out.
Well, I'm a big Blanchett fan but she's won this one before so maybe I'll root for the Japanese girl just to be different. Ultimately it doesn't matter as Hudson will dance away with this one.
Best cinematography category - Vilmos Zsigmond (The Black Dahlia); Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men); Dick Pope (The Illusionist); Guillermo Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth); Wally Pfister (The Prestige)
Strange to see none of the major films being nominated in this category, which makes it a very open field. Of the five, Pan's Labyrinth was the most highly acclaimed by the critics and offers something vastly different which could make it stand out in the crowd. However, Zsigmond's recreation of 1940's Hollywood will surely appeal to the voters.
I'd like to see Guillermo Navarro win, and I think I'll get my wish.
Best foreign language film category - After the Wedding; Days of Glory; Pan's Labyrinth; The Lives of Others; Water
Pan's Labyrinth would seem a likely winner on paper due to its recognition in other categories and comparitively large US distribution, but this category rarely works that way. German cinema is going through a purple patch right now which means The Lives of Others is a strong contender. Canadian film The Barbarian Invasions won this award two years ago so that may count against Water.
Pan's Labyrinth is hailed as one of the films of the year so I think it would be fitting if it won this award. But I feel the Germans will take it. Not on penalties.
The others
I expect Babel to take the editing honours, whereas Pan's Labyrinth should win for art direction and makeup. Marie Antoinette deserves to take the costume design award but it will probably go to The Queen. One of the three songs from Dreamgirls to be nominated will likely win best original song, whilst Notes on a Scandal could pick up a sympathy award for best score after missing out in the bigger categories. Best sound will probably go to Dreamgirls, with Letters From Iwo Jima getting the sound editing nod. That just leaves Poseidon to win best visual effects for the technical awards.
John Lasseter is something of an Oscar favourite which should see his Cars get the best animated feature gong, and the L.A liberals should finally see Al Gore voted in, this time in the shape of An Inconvenient Truth winning the best documentary feature award.
That concludes my look at the 2007 Academy Awards. Not a vintage year by any means but there's plenty of interesting stories waiting to be told. I'll probably do a follow up blog looking at where I went wrong. Enjoy the show.
Academy Awards 2007: Part One
As a graduate in film studies, part-owner of a film production company, and a self-confessed film geek, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the runners and riders for the 79th Academy Awards, and give my thoughts and predictions.
I generally make it a point to record the Oscars, and that way I can fast forward through all the crap and just watch the good stuff. This year, as I will be in America on Oscar night, I may make the effort to watch them live. The truth is that I don't really hold a great deal of esteem for the Academy Awards. Well, that isn't strictly true. I think they're a great opportunity for the finest filmmaking achievements of the previous 12 months to be recognised. But there just seems to be too much cynicism about them. The way that the various studios campaign for their movies to be awarded leaves me feeling that the Oscars aren't really about who is most deserving of an award, but which studio has the greater clout. Also, considering some of the Academy's past decisions, I'm not sure how seriously they can be taken as the industry's definitive gauge of cinematic excellence.
All that being said, if I wasn't at least a little seduced by all the glitz, glamour, rumour and rumination, I wouldn't be writing this blog. And if the Academy saw fit to one day honour me, I certainly wouldn't turn them down. So, onwards we go.
I should note at this time that I rarely get a chance to see new films at the cinema, and when I do they tend to be films which don't appeal to the Academy, so I'm basing my predictions on my knowledge of the Oscars.
The host - Ellen DeGeneres
A good choice in my opinion. Ellen is witty and likeable, and it will be a good change of pace to have a female host
Best picture category - Babel; The Departed; Letters From Iwo Jima; Little Miss Sunshine; The Queen
Not a particularly strong bunch this time round, which makes it hard to predict a winner. It would appear that Babel is the favourite, having won the Golden Globe for Best Drama, but we all know what happened to Brokeback Mountain last year. From the reviews I've read this is actually a bit of a mis-step for Alejandro Inarritu, although it has genuine star power in the shape of Brad Pitt and Academy favourite Cate Blanchett. I wouldn't discount The Queen. It has all the hallmarks of the archetypal 'worthy' awards flick, though Frears' involvement suggests to me it may have greater artistic ambitions. Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby won in 2005 so I'd be surprised to see Iwo Jima come out on top. That leaves The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. The former is the highest profile candidate on the list; Scorsese, DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Wahlberg. For this reason is has to be considered a genuine contender. Conversely, Little Miss Sunshine is the outsider, an honour which befell Crash last year. Two years on the trot? I'll say no more.
It's disappointing when you're not strongly rooting for any one film in this category. I think I was such a fan of Inarritu's previous films that I really want Babel to be good, and for that reason I'd probably like it to win this award. In a weak category I think it will just about come out on top.
Best actor category - Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond); Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson); Peter O'Toole (Venus); Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness); Forest Whitaker (The Last King Of Scotland
For me this is a two-horse race. Whitaker has won all the awards coming into this and is considered the favourite. Anytime somebody plays a real-life character such as Idi Amin to the acclaim that Whitaker has here, they have to be instantly considered an Oscar favourite. His only opposition in my opinion is Peter O'Toole. O'Toole was offered a lifetime achievement award a few years back but turned it down on the grounds that he thought he could still win a best actor award (he never has). This could very well be his last chance and for that reason he could get the sympathy vote. DiCaprio seems to be becoming an Academy favourite, but could be hindered by the fact he was also in the high-profile The Departed. Will Smith has been nommed before but if he wasn't going to win for Ali, I can't see him winning for The Pursuit Of Happyness. I'm pleased to see Ryan Gosling nominated. I saw him in The Believer a few years back and thought he had the potential to be one of the great actors of his generation. He's the rank outsider but this nomination could propel him to greater things.
I've always been a fan of Forest Whitaker, and after another of my character actor favourites, Philip Seymour Hoffman, walked away with this award last year, nothing would please me more than to see Whitaker do the same this time around. I expect to see Reese Witherspoon handing him the award on the 24th.
Best actress category - Penelope Cruz (Volver); Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandel); Helen Mirren (The Queen); Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada); Kate Winslet (Little Children)
Or 'the English category'. Helen Mirren is the biggest certainty of this year's awards, despite being surrounded by 4 proven award season heavy hitters. Judi Dench was also nommed last year, and won a best supporting actress Oscar in 1998. Streep is an Oscar-winning machine and won a Golden Globe for her performance in The Devil Wears Prada. Penelope Cruz was awarded at Cannes for Volver, her latest collaboration with director Pedro Almodovar, but of the 5 looks the outsider. Winslet is also a multi-time nominee, although Little Children has stirred up controversy with it's depiction of a child sex offender, which could work against her.
I'm not a particular fan of any of these actresses, though I think they are all very good. I think I would most like to see Winslet win. This, more than any of the others, seems to be her time. It won't happen though. Mirren is a shoo-in.
Best director category - Clint Eastwood (Letters From Iwo Jima); Stephen Frears (The Queen); Paul Greengrass (United 93); Martin Scorsese (The Departed) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
Will this finally be Marty's year? This is his 8th nomination and he should definitely have won in '77, '81, and '91, for Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas respectively. But you get the feeling that his time has past and any award now would be merely apologetic for those glaring errors of judgment. However, buzz is good and he is the favourite after winning at the Globes. He lost out to Clint Eastwood a couple of years ago, and Eastwood is again nominated against him, but this time is an outsider and could suffer from having put out two films this year. Greengrass is included despite United 93 not being in the best picture category, which makes him an unlikely winner. Frears and Inarritu are both contenders. I think a lot of people vote for the director of their best picture pick, which for me would give Inarritu in particular a very good chance.
I would honestly love to see Scorsese win an Oscar, even if he doesn't deserve it, but I have a sneaking feeling it will be first-time nominee Inarritu celebrating.
Best original screenplay category - Guillermo Arriaga (Babel); Iris Yamashita, Paul Haggis (Letters From Iwo Jima); Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine); Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth); Peter Morgan (The Queen)
Paul Haggis won this award last year for Crash, and could be in for another win here. With Iwo Jima not really being in the running for any of the major awards, people could see this category as a chance to recognise it. Arriaga could also profit from the overall success of Babel, though his multilayered narrative, much like Crash last year, and expansive story set on 3 different continents, would perhaps make him a worthy winner. Michael Arndt is also in with a chance. Good storytelling is a staple of indie filmmaking and Little Miss Sunshine is the big independent film of the year. Peter Morgan is a dark horse with The Queen's subject matter likely appealing to the Academy, whereas del Toro, with his foreign language fantasy film, is a rank outsider.
Arriaga is a great writer and I'd like to see him or del Toro win this award, just to upset the apple-cart. My money is on Arriaga.
That's all for part one of my Oscars blog. I'll cover the rest of the categories in part two.
I generally make it a point to record the Oscars, and that way I can fast forward through all the crap and just watch the good stuff. This year, as I will be in America on Oscar night, I may make the effort to watch them live. The truth is that I don't really hold a great deal of esteem for the Academy Awards. Well, that isn't strictly true. I think they're a great opportunity for the finest filmmaking achievements of the previous 12 months to be recognised. But there just seems to be too much cynicism about them. The way that the various studios campaign for their movies to be awarded leaves me feeling that the Oscars aren't really about who is most deserving of an award, but which studio has the greater clout. Also, considering some of the Academy's past decisions, I'm not sure how seriously they can be taken as the industry's definitive gauge of cinematic excellence.
All that being said, if I wasn't at least a little seduced by all the glitz, glamour, rumour and rumination, I wouldn't be writing this blog. And if the Academy saw fit to one day honour me, I certainly wouldn't turn them down. So, onwards we go.
I should note at this time that I rarely get a chance to see new films at the cinema, and when I do they tend to be films which don't appeal to the Academy, so I'm basing my predictions on my knowledge of the Oscars.
The host - Ellen DeGeneres
A good choice in my opinion. Ellen is witty and likeable, and it will be a good change of pace to have a female host
Best picture category - Babel; The Departed; Letters From Iwo Jima; Little Miss Sunshine; The Queen
Not a particularly strong bunch this time round, which makes it hard to predict a winner. It would appear that Babel is the favourite, having won the Golden Globe for Best Drama, but we all know what happened to Brokeback Mountain last year. From the reviews I've read this is actually a bit of a mis-step for Alejandro Inarritu, although it has genuine star power in the shape of Brad Pitt and Academy favourite Cate Blanchett. I wouldn't discount The Queen. It has all the hallmarks of the archetypal 'worthy' awards flick, though Frears' involvement suggests to me it may have greater artistic ambitions. Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby won in 2005 so I'd be surprised to see Iwo Jima come out on top. That leaves The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. The former is the highest profile candidate on the list; Scorsese, DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Wahlberg. For this reason is has to be considered a genuine contender. Conversely, Little Miss Sunshine is the outsider, an honour which befell Crash last year. Two years on the trot? I'll say no more.
It's disappointing when you're not strongly rooting for any one film in this category. I think I was such a fan of Inarritu's previous films that I really want Babel to be good, and for that reason I'd probably like it to win this award. In a weak category I think it will just about come out on top.
Best actor category - Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond); Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson); Peter O'Toole (Venus); Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness); Forest Whitaker (The Last King Of Scotland
For me this is a two-horse race. Whitaker has won all the awards coming into this and is considered the favourite. Anytime somebody plays a real-life character such as Idi Amin to the acclaim that Whitaker has here, they have to be instantly considered an Oscar favourite. His only opposition in my opinion is Peter O'Toole. O'Toole was offered a lifetime achievement award a few years back but turned it down on the grounds that he thought he could still win a best actor award (he never has). This could very well be his last chance and for that reason he could get the sympathy vote. DiCaprio seems to be becoming an Academy favourite, but could be hindered by the fact he was also in the high-profile The Departed. Will Smith has been nommed before but if he wasn't going to win for Ali, I can't see him winning for The Pursuit Of Happyness. I'm pleased to see Ryan Gosling nominated. I saw him in The Believer a few years back and thought he had the potential to be one of the great actors of his generation. He's the rank outsider but this nomination could propel him to greater things.
I've always been a fan of Forest Whitaker, and after another of my character actor favourites, Philip Seymour Hoffman, walked away with this award last year, nothing would please me more than to see Whitaker do the same this time around. I expect to see Reese Witherspoon handing him the award on the 24th.
Best actress category - Penelope Cruz (Volver); Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandel); Helen Mirren (The Queen); Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada); Kate Winslet (Little Children)
Or 'the English category'. Helen Mirren is the biggest certainty of this year's awards, despite being surrounded by 4 proven award season heavy hitters. Judi Dench was also nommed last year, and won a best supporting actress Oscar in 1998. Streep is an Oscar-winning machine and won a Golden Globe for her performance in The Devil Wears Prada. Penelope Cruz was awarded at Cannes for Volver, her latest collaboration with director Pedro Almodovar, but of the 5 looks the outsider. Winslet is also a multi-time nominee, although Little Children has stirred up controversy with it's depiction of a child sex offender, which could work against her.
I'm not a particular fan of any of these actresses, though I think they are all very good. I think I would most like to see Winslet win. This, more than any of the others, seems to be her time. It won't happen though. Mirren is a shoo-in.
Best director category - Clint Eastwood (Letters From Iwo Jima); Stephen Frears (The Queen); Paul Greengrass (United 93); Martin Scorsese (The Departed) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
Will this finally be Marty's year? This is his 8th nomination and he should definitely have won in '77, '81, and '91, for Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas respectively. But you get the feeling that his time has past and any award now would be merely apologetic for those glaring errors of judgment. However, buzz is good and he is the favourite after winning at the Globes. He lost out to Clint Eastwood a couple of years ago, and Eastwood is again nominated against him, but this time is an outsider and could suffer from having put out two films this year. Greengrass is included despite United 93 not being in the best picture category, which makes him an unlikely winner. Frears and Inarritu are both contenders. I think a lot of people vote for the director of their best picture pick, which for me would give Inarritu in particular a very good chance.
I would honestly love to see Scorsese win an Oscar, even if he doesn't deserve it, but I have a sneaking feeling it will be first-time nominee Inarritu celebrating.
Best original screenplay category - Guillermo Arriaga (Babel); Iris Yamashita, Paul Haggis (Letters From Iwo Jima); Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine); Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth); Peter Morgan (The Queen)
Paul Haggis won this award last year for Crash, and could be in for another win here. With Iwo Jima not really being in the running for any of the major awards, people could see this category as a chance to recognise it. Arriaga could also profit from the overall success of Babel, though his multilayered narrative, much like Crash last year, and expansive story set on 3 different continents, would perhaps make him a worthy winner. Michael Arndt is also in with a chance. Good storytelling is a staple of indie filmmaking and Little Miss Sunshine is the big independent film of the year. Peter Morgan is a dark horse with The Queen's subject matter likely appealing to the Academy, whereas del Toro, with his foreign language fantasy film, is a rank outsider.
Arriaga is a great writer and I'd like to see him or del Toro win this award, just to upset the apple-cart. My money is on Arriaga.
That's all for part one of my Oscars blog. I'll cover the rest of the categories in part two.
Saturday 3 February 2007
Pool Memories 1; The Umbrella Match and the Origin of The Dream Team
This is something of a claim to fame for me. I was studying English Language at Wilmorton College, and it was in one of Jim Smith's classes that I first met Jagjit Dusanjh, recipient of many humbling and embarrassing defeats in the college common room and beyond, all of which began most spectacularly with the infamous umbrella match.
Upon striking up a friendship with the big man, based mainly on exchanging insults and boasts, I was pleased to hear that he enjoyed a game of pool now and then. Back then I was never shy to tell people of my proficiency on the green baize and, after much cajoling, we agreed to have ourselves a game. Not only did I claim I would beat Jagjit, but I insisted that I could do it playing each shot with an umbrella instead of a cue. Thus the umbrealla match was born. He with cue and I with umbrella (which he would provide) would battle it out with pride, and those all-important bragging rights, on the line.
As it turned out this match drew a fair bit of interest. When I entered the common room Jagjit was already there, along with his cousin, the future Blackheart, Harry Sanghera, and an entourage who would come to be known as the Sanghera Family. I suppose they wanted to see who this guy was who thought that he could play pool with an umbrella. I of course was joined by a group of friends, prominent amongst tham being my partner in crime and doubles partner, Darren Hibbert. Of course, once it became apparent what was going on a few other eyes from around the common room were fixed on our corner table. Jagjjit handed me the famed implement - a standard black umbrella, about 18 inches in length, with a thick plastic tip - and battle commenced.
The most astonishing thing about my victory is the ease at which it was achieved. Now, Jagjit turned out to be a woefully inept player, but even so, this was Adam Russell at the beginning of his career playing with an UMBRELLA. After the black was deposited, a barrage of gloating taunts cascaded out of my mouth as Jagjit's bemused cousin shook his head in disappointment. True to form Darren couldn't help but get it on the act. After all, rubbing our opponents' noses in their humiliating defeats was what we did best. It was then that Sanghera looked up, his eyes settling on the two young braggarts before him, and said, 'Who are you two? The dream team?'
'Yes,' Darren replied quick as a flash. 'That's exactly who we are'. And from that moment on we were The Dream Team. And always will be.
Upon striking up a friendship with the big man, based mainly on exchanging insults and boasts, I was pleased to hear that he enjoyed a game of pool now and then. Back then I was never shy to tell people of my proficiency on the green baize and, after much cajoling, we agreed to have ourselves a game. Not only did I claim I would beat Jagjit, but I insisted that I could do it playing each shot with an umbrella instead of a cue. Thus the umbrealla match was born. He with cue and I with umbrella (which he would provide) would battle it out with pride, and those all-important bragging rights, on the line.
As it turned out this match drew a fair bit of interest. When I entered the common room Jagjit was already there, along with his cousin, the future Blackheart, Harry Sanghera, and an entourage who would come to be known as the Sanghera Family. I suppose they wanted to see who this guy was who thought that he could play pool with an umbrella. I of course was joined by a group of friends, prominent amongst tham being my partner in crime and doubles partner, Darren Hibbert. Of course, once it became apparent what was going on a few other eyes from around the common room were fixed on our corner table. Jagjjit handed me the famed implement - a standard black umbrella, about 18 inches in length, with a thick plastic tip - and battle commenced.
The most astonishing thing about my victory is the ease at which it was achieved. Now, Jagjit turned out to be a woefully inept player, but even so, this was Adam Russell at the beginning of his career playing with an UMBRELLA. After the black was deposited, a barrage of gloating taunts cascaded out of my mouth as Jagjit's bemused cousin shook his head in disappointment. True to form Darren couldn't help but get it on the act. After all, rubbing our opponents' noses in their humiliating defeats was what we did best. It was then that Sanghera looked up, his eyes settling on the two young braggarts before him, and said, 'Who are you two? The dream team?'
'Yes,' Darren replied quick as a flash. 'That's exactly who we are'. And from that moment on we were The Dream Team. And always will be.
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