All about Eve - old

Late to the party but it was a fun Oscars show on the whole.The goodThe winners. Not all were my personal faves but it would be churlish to wish anyone had not won. The delight on each face as their name is read out, the proud, beaming mother, the emotional shout outs to close family - how could anyone not congratulate each and every winner.Ellen -she did a very good jobThe pizza and the selfie - yes, perhaps the Oscars should be above such plebeian pursuits but 4 days on people are still talking about the Oscars and all the awards shows need to keep their audiences these days. And who cares if it was product placement. It worked.The badLeo losing.The annoyingKim novak's face. Why do once great beauties do this to themselves? Yes, I know about the pressures on women in Hollywood etc but no woman has yet managed to look younger or attractive with this kind of surgery so why ruin yourself?Lupita's fame hungry brother blocking out Angelina in the selfie. It wasn't cute or funny. He was a guest not a star. No one asked him to join. He ran out from several rows back to take centre stage. Rude.

Leo will win a proper acting Oscar. The Academy knows it has screwed up in respect of him but he has plenty of time to win and will do so within 3 years I reckon.None of the others will ever win, imo. Nominees yes, even multiple nominees but winners in that list, no.

What on earth for and in what universe could Rachel from Friends ever get a whiff of an Oscar???Sponge bob square pants has more chance of winning best picture.

If I was an Ampas voter I don't know if I would vote early on and just go for what I love or wait until the end so I could deny every movie and star who had run an objectionable and/ or desperate campaign. I had so hoped that Slave would run its campaign on the merits of the movie which are considerable but no, it went for the racial jugular: vote for this film, whether you like it or not or else you're racist. The online campaign by the likes of the AD woman have done the film and McQueen a big disservice by not just passionately supporting but hectoring and bullying. Apparently Slave 'must' win because it will 'change the world'. McQueen 'must' win best director because then little black boys can grow up to be great film makers ( obviously the filmic ambitions of little Mexican boys are irrelevant to Ms Stone). I'm ok with Slave winning best picture but the campaign has ensured that I won't care when it does. The best supporting actress race has also been tainted by this kind of argument. I didn't rate Lupita's performance anyway but now I'm firmly rooting for JLaw.My predictionsBest picture - head says 12 years a slave. Heart says Gravity ( just to annoy the bullies)Best actor - head says Matthew. Heart says Leo all the way but a Matthew/ Leo tie will doBest actress- head and heart say CateSupporting actor - head says Leto. Heart says Leto is fine but if not, Barkhad AbdiSupporting actress - head says Lupita Hathaway. Heart says JLaw or Roberts or Squibb

Bravo guys. I didn't know these awards existed. What a great idea. I wish I'd voted.I'll be sure to wear a stunning gown next year for the red carpet!And may the Boffy force be with Leo on March 2nd.

This is a very interesting comment Ozymandias. It's worth noting that the babies the singer from The lost prophets abused were provided to him by 'fans'. Later, when he actually admitted the offences ( so was not convicted whist still protesting his innocence), some 'fans' telephoned him and pledged their support for the, quote, 'lol situation' he was in.Some years ago I wrote an article for an online magazine about the Michael Jackson case. I didn't give an opinion on his guilt or innocence. I tred to be as fair as possible. But I did say that if Michael Jackson the plumber had little boys over for a sleepover, his neighbours would call social services not say, 'aah, isn't it sweet how he relates to children because he's so childlike himself.'For that observation, which many people shared, I received more hate mail than I have ever done for anything else I've written. It came from Jackson fans (and I liked the guy as an artist myself) who were beside themselves with 'grief' for the situation their hero found himself in. Some furiously told me that they were on anti depressants and sleeping tablets because they were so stressed by the 'lies' being told against 'the greatest human being who ever walked the planet'!Fandom is a curious thing indeed!

Lego opens in the UK next Friday but they've started limited previews. I thought it was great. Funny and clever. It's going to be huge.

The article acknowledged that it was quite common in certain Hollywood circles. Also, that some parents were happy to collude if there was the chance of a movie role ie money for their daughter in it.Still doesn't make it right or Polanski any less of a creepy perv.

The whole Polanski scandal was before my time but I read a very detailed article about it in Vanity FAir some years ago. It was awful, sordid stuff. A number of big names, notably Jack Nicholson did not come out of it smelling of roses. Only Angelica Huston managed to show a sliver of decency in the whole disgusting mess and even she wasn't great.I don't buy the 'his family was killed in concentration camps' and 'Sharon Tate was murdered' argument as some kind of excuse. Many people experience horrors beyond comprehension but don't behave as that odious little creep did. I wish Hollywood would stop lionising him.As for Allen, I have no definite opinion on whether he abused Dylan or not. But I can't see how It can be said he wasn't in a parental role to Mia's children. He was in a relationship with their mother for many years and his son ( legally at least) is the brother of the other children, Soon Yi included.

If I had to think of the actors and actresses who are forced on the public, Carey Mulligan would be way, way down the list. She's a low key actress and celebrity who has struck lucky with a couple of big roles but doesn't promote herself in the hideous way some others with far less talent do. She'll never be a superstar and doesn't seem to hanker for that kind of fame. Nor have i ever felt that those behind her films have tried to shove her down the public's throat. She makes a film, does some promo for it and goes away. She doesn't register on most people's radar a lot of the time.By contrast Hollywood has tried to force Hathaway on an indifferent public as: a great beauty, sex symbol, amazing actress and multi talented entertainer. The public hasn't bought her as any of these things. She's more usually found on more 'most irritating person' lists than anything else.I'm not saying she isn't a decent actress or doesn't have talent but she's been forced on us as something more than she is and the public hasn't fallen for it.

You know, it's so difficult to get press passes for the big film events. Especially the winners conferences. Yet the worst 'journalists' always seem to manage to get in. They get star struck and ask the dumbest questions. When I have some time I'll post some of the worst howlers I've heard. But here's one:Bimbo to Fassbender ' Michael, you look very thin in this film. Why was that?'Fassbender (silent for a while): 'Well, I was playing a man who was on hunger strike.'

Hooray for Gravity. I really like Cuaron & co's understated campaign; letting the work speak for itself.I think it's very interesting that where they can and as far as they can, voters are choosing Hustle and Gravity. I can't help feeling 12 years is the 'obligation' vote for many. Still It will get the Oscar. I expect (but don't want) it to sweep the Baftas.

I can't see what on earth the Academy is waiting for from Leo that they wouldn't be ready to give it to him but can hand it to any other actor who gives maybe one great performance in an otherwise mediocre career. Mathew M made Fool's Gold for heavens sake - 2 wasted hours I'll never get back!

Apart from Blanchett and Leto I don't think anything is a lock. I think it's potentially the most interesting Oscars for years.

I so agree. Months after seeing the film I can still recall her icy stares and verbal mauling of Fassbender. Had her role been bigger she'd be the one picking up all the awards.I can't remember Lupita's scenes. She made no impression on me. And the more I see her working soooo hard on the awards circuit, the less she appeals to me generally. Officially team JLaw for the Oscar!

Just some of my thoughts:No disrespect to the other 4 who were all very good in their roles, if Leo can't take the Oscar this year, he should just torch the Academy. This still young man has made so much money for Hollywood. A good proportion of Titanic's billion was due to teenage girls seeing it multiple times. Almost every movie he has made since has had good to great boxoffice. His name has carried many of them beyond the 100 million mark domestically. Very few actors can do that consistently. And if the Academy can reward Sandra and Julia for that, they can do it for Leo.He consistently turns in good to great performances. He could have gone down the easy pretty boy route with Spiderman and Anakin Skywalker but he chose a more varied, challenging and even risky road.....and he has largely made it work.His speeches, on the rare occasion he wins something, are always gracious, charming and intelligent.Go Leo!Actress - in a world where Swank has 2 best actress statuettes, goddess Cate must get her first. In any other year I'd be happy for Amy Adams but it's Cate all the way this time.Director - in a world where Tom Hooper has an Oscar but Fincher doesn't, it has to be Cuaron. Must be Cuaron..Picture - when I first saw 'Slave' I thought it would win. It is a fine film plus it ticks other boxes. It will be an admired rather than loved winner but it will win. I just wish the 'it MUST win or we're calling racism' brigade would shut up. Let the movie stand on its own merits.Then again, if Hustle sweeps, I'm ok with that too! I enjoyed it. (But it won't sweep).Very disappointed by the lack of love for 'Banks'. Deserved better.

The poster for Philomena is awful, just awful. The trailer is not great either. But the film is wonderful. People loved it at the London film festival. And I mean both the journalists at the press screening and the public - that's suggests a film that will win hearts - don't underestimate that.I loved it. I don't think it is worthy of best picture - that must surely go to TYAS. But it is the film people will walk out of feeling great, despite the sad moments in it.Judith Dench is my bet to take best actress if Cate hasn't got it in the bag.

Bonfire of the vanities. That version with Tom Hanks as a ruthless ' master of the universe', Bruce Willis as a drunken British journalist and Melanie Griffith(!) as a 'stunning beauty - an Elizabeth Taylor lookalike - still makes me shudder.

I think it will be a straight fight between Cuaron and McQueen. Either could triumph. I'd be happy with either.

I've seen both Saving Mr Banks and Philomena - both Emma Thompson and Judith Dench are sure fire nominees IMO. If Cate doesn't get the statuette I would go with one of these two.I think Sandra will be nominated but not win.

Despicable Me 2Afternoon showing in LondonCinema 20% fullMissed the trailersMovie : fantastic. Funny, charming, clever - you get the sense the film makers really care about every aspect of what they're putting out to the audience.Deserves all the success it is reaping.

I second that. L M in particular gave one of the most incredible performances I've seen on film.

WWZ in LondonSold out evening showMixed crowd. Several mAle teenage groups.No real reaction to the trailers such as Now you see me. Some groaning at the Kevin Bacon advert where he appears as several characters from his films. I think people are tired of seeing it now.WWZ - People seemed to engage with the story early on and remained so until the end. When it finished there was a lot of animated chatter about the film. I heard several people say they wanted to see it again. Some had read the book and were comparing notes. Overall, I got the impression the audience had really got involved with the story and wanted to discuss it with their companions. From the smiles and excited chatter I'll have to conclude people enjoyed it.I did too as did my friends. It's not making my all time favourite lists but as a summer popcorn film it was fun and and a good trip to the cinema.

I think word of mouth goes beyond saying a film is great or terrible. Lack of enthusiasm is also wom. I took 10 people to see MOS. Aged between 5 and 50. We had a lot of goodwill towards the film - summer, Saturday, Superman, what could go wrong?. 2.5 hours later we and the rest of the audience walked out in complete silence. The air was heavy with the deflation of disappointment.Even the five year old who had counted down the days to the release was not bothered.If that sort of reaction is being mirrored generally then the film will keep dropping regardless of the competition.And, no, WWZ was not generally expected to make 50 million and take away MOS's audience. Many predicted in the 30s and low 40s for it, even 20s on this very forum.

Because I have little nephews whom I had promised to take. Because I don't dislike superhero movies per se, I'm just bored with the current crop that are interchangeable. And because I write about movies and therefore see pretty much everything.