Natasha Jane Richardson-A Fave♥ (A Cinema Saturday Weekend Special In lieu of Cinema Saturday Review.)

Natasha Jane Richardson♥

I Love Natasha Richardson. The first time I saw Natasha Richardson act was in the movie Nell. I was totally impressed! I knew she was classy, cool, and Southern.....then I learned that she was British. LOL. She hit the accent DEAD ON. I became VERY impressed. The versatility and talent for acting of this wonderful actress had impacted Me for good. Then it was Years after that that I learned she was a daughter to Vanessa Redgrave- again, this woman had earned her own kudos without any resting on her blue-blooded laurels. Her raw talent stands on its own. She has the accolades with or without belonging to her fine Acting Dynasty. So I have movies of hers on my list to see now that I am looking forward to watching. And there are the ones I have seen and always Love. From Nell to The Parent Trap on screen; from Ibsen plays to Cabaret on stage-she has proved to be one of the finest and most well-rounded entertainers ever-period. You KNOW I will be reviewing many Movies with this sublime talent in them in the near future.

Aside from her large body of work on both stage and screen, I just keep learning amazing things about her as a person deeply involved in society and activism (Her Charities, Causes, Cooking, etc....this Fiercely loved Friend affects so many in countless ways-from Family to Fans).

Love You, Natasha.

This is a WONDERFUL YouTube tribute. Good Job, Jenjane1993!

Ms. Holm will not be posting a movie review today! :-P She will make it up next week.

Australia- Review #6

Baz Luhrmann has done it again. He has made another Baz-terpiece. It is called Australia, and it is an unabashed love letter (as my sister puts it) to the continent from one of its most celebrated filmmakers-But Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman firmly put their signatures on this love letter as well with two fine and entertaining performances. I really enjoyed the chemistry Kidman and Jackman created. Kidman is such an ethereal, regal, and talented actress. I love her talent and professionalism. She is definitely in my top three fave actresses list. A miniscule part of why she is a fave of mine is that She is an extremely adept comic! Luhrmann harvests this talent from her particularly well. (Watch for this in Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge as well-for which Kidman SHOULD HAVE WON THE BEST ACTRESS OSCAR! >:^/) As far as Hugh Jackman goes, he is perfect in the role of the diamond-in-the-rough leading Man. The Meeting- and then relationship development between Kidman's Lady Sarah Ashley and Jackman's Drover is somewhat cliche, but I never really minded for a minute. (Jackman can clean up pretty well, too! :-D Just watch the movie and You will see what I mean!)

To touch on the plot just a little, Sarah Ashley arrives in Australia to check on Her husband and their Cattle Station, Faraway Downs. She arrives only to find her husband murdered and Herself between a rock and a hard spot, because She feels that She must sell all of her husband's Cattle in order to avoid the loss of Her husband's assets to a crooked Cattle Station manager (Neil Fletcher played by David Wenham) that Her husband hired. She persuades Drover, an independent Cattle drover to help Her transport the 1500 Cattle to Darwin. There are so many characters that I could discuss, but needless to say, Lady Sarah Ashley and the not-so-prim-and-proper Drover are drawn to each other, and through the rough go in getting the cattle to Darwin, they are plagued by plots of Niel Fletcher to gain a Cattle monopoly partly by taking away from Her Faraway Downs. This includes a fire, poisoned water, and murder-not to mention the fact that Fletcher is the father of a Half-Aboriginal boy, Nullah(Brandon Walters) who becomes more and more like a son to Sarah Ashley as the film goes on. Fletcher goes to great lengths to hide this. Nullah and his mother live on Faraway downs as help to Sarah. (The shameful history of the treatment of the Aboriginal people of Australia known as the "Forgotten Generation" and the Half-Aboriginal children known as the "Stolen Generation" is acknowledged in a very sensitive and meaningful manner, but to try to do justice to this disgrace in a film is basically impossible, but Luhrmann did what He set out to do.) The character Nullah in this film is a young boy -about eight- who tries to protect his mother and his self but tragedy happens to his mother and Kidman's Ashley grows to be more protective and deeply attatched to Nullah. I think to go any further would be too much of a spoiler. This film, which is an epic Western/War Drama all in one is lengthy(about three hours long) but enjoyable. Each character is representational of larger forces and groups in Austalia and its history , of course, but the characters are fleshed out well and are engaging. It is well done on many levels and layers even though a film like this is likely to bite off more than it can chew. It is BIG and EPIC!!

One last thing, the Cinematography is BREATHTAKINGLY fabulous! That is due mainly to the fabulous and rugged Australian landscape itself. So breathtaking! (Laura Ashley's primness and proper ways are unconquerable, but the untamed beauty of Australia does something to her that matures her sensibilities and relaxes her uptightness-and of course Drover has something to do with that as well.) I think that Australia is a fine film, and a fun one. I dig Baz Luhrmann's artsy style and sense of fun, humor, and grandeur. Good on Ya, Baz! I give this film 3 out of 4 stars.

Note to readers from Ms. Holm: Don't give up on Me! A Slumdog Millionaire Review is forthcoming!

Amazing Grace-Review #5

I thought this film, Amazing Grace, (Directed by Michael Apted and written by Steven Knight) would be too much of a feel-good and overly preachy film-not that I didn't agree with the Hero's plight every whit (I knew it was about a man's fight against slavery before I saw it). I was pleasantly surprised. It was a BEAUTIFUL story without saccharin sentimentality . I was amazed to see how well this movie was edited, too. Bravo to Rick Shaine. The plot was well-put together and followable through flashbacks. The cinematography is beautiful to watch. Jenny Beavan, a veteran costume designer did very well with that aspect of this film. Late 18th-mid-19th century costuming in films are always a fun challenge for a costume designer I am sure. Research and more research besides hard work and historical vision.....and GUYS IN SUITS!! :-) (Wellllll, there are a lot of funny wigs and stuff in the film, but the general idea is that the costumes are well-done. LOL.)

Anyway, the subject of this historical film which is almost a biopic, really, is William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was TRULY ahead of his time in the area of anti-slave trade. He was extraordinary also in his loyalty to the crown, however,-not expected of a man of such revolutionary ideas. As a powerful M.P. he was above reproach in his loyalty to his country . He was also known for many other social reformations and political fights, but the anti-slavery fight is his legacy. I want to find out more about this man. ( I think a trip to the library is in order.)He is a fascinating character. Ioan Griffudd is Fabulous as Wilberforce. From the younger more energetic William to the ailing and despondent William, Griffudd is well keyed in to his character. The part of the story dealing with his meeting and falling in love with his wife is a wonderful story by itself. His wife-Barbara Spooner- is a brilliant and wonderful friend and a rock to him-and she is played well by Romola Garai. She shares his beliefs and is a trooper along with him in his fight for this monumental cause of humanity and morality. Albert Finney is in the film as the character John Newton who is the author of the song that the film is titled for. Finney is always great to watch. His charactrer in this film, as a repentant former slave trader, finally musters up the courage to face his demons and and find redemption from God (and hope to forgive himself) by helping Wilberforce (he gives his written testimony about his culpability in being a part of the heinous slave trade, and writes the Song "Amazing Grace" -by the way, Finney's character John must use a scribe to dictate this important testimony because he sadly becomes blind ). I really like this film. It is based on an AMAZING true story. Wilberforce is an amazing man-a man that answered the call of people who needed him. He could have chosen a quieter and more serene life as a cleric, but among so many important moments (the movie is full of great quotes as well)in the movie the character Hannah More tells him that he can serve both God and his fellow man by taking on this political fight-and he does. Worth a watch for sure. 3 out of 4 stars. Rated PG.

Oscar Review-"I'd Like to Thank The A-Kaz-emy"

I truly had a FANTASTIC time at Kaz's Oscar Party. I even won Snoopy Socks! (I tied with one other person for guessing the most results correctly on the Oscar Ballot-guessing how the Academy would Vote). It was so fun. Can't wait for next Year ( if I can be so presumptuous to guess that Kaz will let Me come next Year-I drank half of the Dr. Pepper).

Anyway, I will discuss first the predictions that I fell flat on. There were two major surprises for me last night. Penelope Cruz winning the Best Supporting Actress was NOT expected. She has been nominated for a Leading Actress Oscar, and Has won BAFTAs and Cannes Film Festival Leading Actress Award. She is a rich and wonderful actress who can do comedy and drama equally well. The only problem is that the role she won for was not worthy of her. I have not seen the movie and never will. The next surprise was a shocker, but now that the Oscars are over and everything has settled in, It seems that Sean Penn winning for Best Leading Actor Oscar was just the way the Academy was expected to go. Mickey Rourke was talked up a lot-and I figured he would take it, but I guess that Sean Penn is having his revenge for lost Oscars in the past. I did not care for Penn's role that he won for at all, but he is a terrific and passionate actor with a lot of talent. Too bad the LDS church had to take some VERY undeserved hits from screenwiter of Penn's film. >:^( I felt bad for Rourke, too. It must have been deflating to lose. He had piled up just about every other lead actor award this Year-and I wonder if He would rather have had just the Oscar than all the others put together.

The favorite part of the night for Me was without a doubt Kate Winslet's acceptance speech. Here is the link to the vid:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAO0pZ2xvWE . I LOVE that moment of connection with her Dad. She is truly a serene, cool, and amazingly talented actress which is why I LOVED that She was SO happy-and for a moment uncharacteristically not 100% composed. I loved THAT. The Best Actress Race this year was incredible. I wanted all of those women to walk away with it. (I mean, it would have been too cool for Brad and Angie walk away together with their Oscars, RIGHT???- But the Oscars are not theirs.) lol. And ummmmmmmmmmmm Meryl Streep? Wow. How amazing she looked at the Oscars! :-) She is beyond cool. The only blight in the Best Actress Category was CATE BLANCHETT NOT BEING NOMINATED! :-/ Ah, well. Cate will pull a Sean Penn one of these Years (or I should say in many coming Oscars) and win the Best Actress Oscars that She so richly deserves.

The Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Heath was a foregone conclusion.

Slumdog Millionaire for best picture and the Best Direction Oscar for Danny Boyle (with a little help from Loveleen Tandan for their Direction of Slumdog Millionaire) were no surprise.

I just HAVE to mention how much I liked the format of this Year's Oscars-meaning that the nominees being honored personally by former winners in the same category was wonderfully fabulous and personal. Each nominee got a personal mention beyond just the mention among their fellow nominees if they were not awarded the Oscar. It was a FABULOUS idea that I hope is put in place from now on.

Take Care, All. And Keep watching Movies. :-) (Good Movies).

OSCAR EXTRAVAGANZA :-D (History and Predictions!!!!) :-)

O.k.- So I wanted to do something cool for the big day tomorrow, and I decided to save my review for next week. I am just going to post some fun things that have to do with moments in Oscar history-and some of My predictions for tomorrow's awards!

Soooooo Here We go! :-D

-Here is a link to a vid of a moment that really makes me smile and chuckle-What oscar aficionado doesn't remember this????? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cTR6fk8frs

LOL. So Cute.

-Here is a cool Pic of My FAVE ACTRESS in the COOLEST Oscar Dress EVER!!!

Yep. Jodie is truly chic in this beaded Armani. She is at the 1995 Oscars in this pic-That Year She was nominated for best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in Nell.

-Biggest Oscar Travesties in History (In My View):

#1: Hugh Grant not being Nominated and winning for About A Boy-(and others)!

#2: Peter O'Toole losing in the Oscar race for Best Leading Actor EIGHT different TIMES!!!!!!!!!! X-'( What the............. I LOVE Peter O'Toole. What are the odds, huh? (I just watched How to Steal a Million last night.):-D

#3: Cate Blanchett not being nominated for Best Leading Actress this year!!!!!!! >:^/

#4: Richard Farnsworth not getting the Best Leading Actor Oscar for his role in The Strait Story (1999 Film Directed by David Lynch).

-Classiest Oscar Acceptace in My view is Ingrid Bergman accepting her Oscar for her supporting role in Murder on the Orient Express! Here is a link to the vid from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky5sW4no_cg -Watch it. She is total class!

-I love Biopics. Many times, Oscars have been awarded to Movies that are boigraphical. Two of My winning faves are: Amadeus and The Last Emperor, but The Aviator is great, too. I am not a fan of Howard Hughes, but I enjoyed watching this superbly acted film. An advantage to Biopics in the Oscars I think is the frame of reference that is had about the subject by viewers, and that there are clear and unmistakeable ways to "nail" a character(look, accent to name two). Some would argue that it doesn't require an artist to "create" a character as much, but I think there is real talent to it nonetheless. Here is a YouTube vid of Cate Blanchett meeting the press talking about pretty much that same subject. Watch it. It is COOL! The Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg5UQz8PjSE -Such class and eloquence. Wow. This is a bit lengthy, but worth it. (She meets the Press right after her Oscar win for her role in The Aviator).

-Here is a vid that fascinates me. It is Tilda Swinton addressing the SanFransisco International Film Festival. I am in awe of her brilliance and eloquence. She discusses the role of film in modern society and its effect on our collective (and individual) subconscious and welllll........Just watch it! (Here is the link): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qH1_xb1-Xc -This is SO worth seeing!

***Well, My picks for five of the the major awards tomorrow are these(picks meaning how I think the Academy will vote):

Best Film-Slumdog Millionaire-it simply has the momentum.

Best Actress-Kate Winslet or Anne Hathaway. Probably Kate.

Best Actor-Mickey Rourke is the sentimental fave, and I think he will take it.

Best Supporting Actress-This is a hard one. I think that Amy Adams or Viola Davis have great chances, but Marisa Tomei may just blindside them.

Best Supporting Actor-Heath, of Course. I think it is foregone.

Last vid: Best Actresses/Actors in Oscar History. Love this! (Although there is an annoying sound throughout the vid, so turn down the sound if it bugs. The pics are cool.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rADTUkZ-imU

Well, I really hope that my blogger buddies will check out the vids! This has been fun. Monday I will post an Oscar Result and Review blog Entry-So Keep Tuned in! ;-)

LOVE MY DAD-Just had to post these pics! :-D

THE BEST DAD!!!!!! :-) (The most stylin one, too! His fedoras (30+) and ties and Italian suits Prove it)!

This picture is iconic in our family. This is the pic of Dad with Mom that screams "You look at her the wrong way, and I'll can You!" LOL. (Or as far as I am concerned, "My Dad can beat up Your Dad!") ;-)

DAD-(the dapper dude on the right) Man with a Mission, Man ON a mission! A WAY COOL Missionary Photo.

Me as a wee thing excersising Lung power. Me, Mum, and Dad at My Mother's Paternal Grandma's place. :-)

LOVE this Look, it is the MOCK-INDIGNANCY look. :-) Dad's stache and HAT are the BEST, too!

HERE IS SMILEY DAD! :-D LOVE THIS PIC!!!!!!!!

And this is a FAVE......Here am I on My Baptism Day!!!!!!!!!!! :-) Ugh. LOL. THE HAIR.......But easily one of my fave pictures EVER.