Okay, okay, I have to eat my words about the Academy Awards never giving the Best Picture Award to a fantasy movie, because The Shape of Water reigned supreme winning both Best Picture and Best Director for Guillermo del Toro at the 90th Academy Awards, which was just tremendous and completely unexpected from my perspective.
Frances McDormand took Best Actress in a Lead Role and Sam Rockwell Best Supporting Actor for Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. Gary Oldman nabbed Best Lead Actor for Darkest Hour and Allison Janney won Best Supporting Actress for I, Tonya. Coco deservingly won Best Animated Feature Film as did Call Me By Your Name for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, and it was great to see a horror represented in there as well this year with Get Out winning Best Original Screenplay for Jordan Peele.
Of course I stayed up until 11.30pm last Tuesday evening to watch the entire event on television, I wouldn't miss it! I wasn't in a glamorous gown, eating canopies with a glass of champagne in my hand as a work colleague suggested I might be. I was actually cosied up on the couch in my PJ's with a coffee and a biscuit in my hand, but I didn't miss any of the action! I also watched The Golden Globes and the BAFTAs as well in similar fashion this year. For me, it is so good to see the movies and actors that I have enjoyed on the big screen getting some well deserved notoriety, it kind of galvanises my opinions about quality cinema and I just love the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood awards ceremony.
It was also my birthday last week. I have now had my fourth round of eleventh birthdays, and was very spoilt by those nearest and dearest to me. It all kicked off on Friday when my new work colleagues gave me an unexpected and very thoughtful gift, then in the evening I was invited out to a friend's house for a delicious home cooked dinner with a group of friends. We enjoyed many laughs and libations alongside of a amazing roasted lamb and the most delicious roasted chicken that I have ever had, topped off with a scrumptious lemon tart for dessert.
My actual birthday, which was Saturday, started off with an incredible brunch at Enfield thanks to Helen, who happily provided the most amazing spread of French pastries, breads and juices for an epic morning feast. Zoe joined us in the afternoon and we all went out for dinner to a swanky new Thai restaurant in Ballarat, and then on to see a live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. Wow! There are some incredibly talented people in Ballarat; what an incredible show! And the music! Now I understand the appeal of a live rock opera, what an amazing effort and what a terrific night out for my birthday.
Came home afterwards and stayed up until 3am listening to music, singing loudly and drinking way too many celebratory drinks. A pretty great end to an exceptionally lovely day I think. I was absolutely showered with amazingly thoughtful gifts from friends and family, received heaps of kind text messages and just felt really loved and appreciated by those that I care about, and who could ask for anything more or better than that on their birthday? What a perfect week of celebrations I have enjoyed and how lucky I am!
Frances McDormand took Best Actress in a Lead Role and Sam Rockwell Best Supporting Actor for Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. Gary Oldman nabbed Best Lead Actor for Darkest Hour and Allison Janney won Best Supporting Actress for I, Tonya. Coco deservingly won Best Animated Feature Film as did Call Me By Your Name for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, and it was great to see a horror represented in there as well this year with Get Out winning Best Original Screenplay for Jordan Peele.
Of course I stayed up until 11.30pm last Tuesday evening to watch the entire event on television, I wouldn't miss it! I wasn't in a glamorous gown, eating canopies with a glass of champagne in my hand as a work colleague suggested I might be. I was actually cosied up on the couch in my PJ's with a coffee and a biscuit in my hand, but I didn't miss any of the action! I also watched The Golden Globes and the BAFTAs as well in similar fashion this year. For me, it is so good to see the movies and actors that I have enjoyed on the big screen getting some well deserved notoriety, it kind of galvanises my opinions about quality cinema and I just love the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood awards ceremony.
It was also my birthday last week. I have now had my fourth round of eleventh birthdays, and was very spoilt by those nearest and dearest to me. It all kicked off on Friday when my new work colleagues gave me an unexpected and very thoughtful gift, then in the evening I was invited out to a friend's house for a delicious home cooked dinner with a group of friends. We enjoyed many laughs and libations alongside of a amazing roasted lamb and the most delicious roasted chicken that I have ever had, topped off with a scrumptious lemon tart for dessert.
My actual birthday, which was Saturday, started off with an incredible brunch at Enfield thanks to Helen, who happily provided the most amazing spread of French pastries, breads and juices for an epic morning feast. Zoe joined us in the afternoon and we all went out for dinner to a swanky new Thai restaurant in Ballarat, and then on to see a live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. Wow! There are some incredibly talented people in Ballarat; what an incredible show! And the music! Now I understand the appeal of a live rock opera, what an amazing effort and what a terrific night out for my birthday.
Came home afterwards and stayed up until 3am listening to music, singing loudly and drinking way too many celebratory drinks. A pretty great end to an exceptionally lovely day I think. I was absolutely showered with amazingly thoughtful gifts from friends and family, received heaps of kind text messages and just felt really loved and appreciated by those that I care about, and who could ask for anything more or better than that on their birthday? What a perfect week of celebrations I have enjoyed and how lucky I am!
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
Release Date: 1988
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 164 mins
Based on the controversial 1953 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis and directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last Temptation of Christ ruffled more than a few Christian feathers with it's unique depiction of the life of Jesus Christ. In the movie, Christ sees himself struggling with temptations of the human condition, from fear and doubt to reluctance and lust. This is a story that is clearly removed from the traditional teachings of the Gospel and commonly accepted biblical portrayals of Christ's life, but certainly not a less worthy version in my view.
We follow Jesus of Nazareth from his humble beginnings as a carpenter in Roman-occupied Judea until the end of his life when he is crucified and meets his final temptation.
I think that the depictions of Jesus' sexual relationship with the prostitute Mary Magdalene, and the imagery of the devil may have been the main force behind a lot of the controversy surrounding the movie. I however, thought that this was a tastefully put together body of work, and a beautifully spiritual retelling of Jesus' life.
The cast is amazing; Willem Dafoe is astounding as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel is fabulous as Judas and Barbara Hershey is superb as Mary Magdalene. The soundtrack, composed by Peter Gabriel, is hauntingly beautiful and was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Score in a Motion Picture. In 1990, the soundtrack won a Grammy for Best New Age Album.
If you are hypersensitive about the Gospels, then you probably aren't going to hire a film like this anyway, but if you are open minded to hearing stories about the life of Christ, then I highly recommend that you take the time to see this movie.
FINAL SAY: If I was a woodcutter, I'd cut. If I was a fire, I'd burn. But I'm a heart and I love. That's the only thing that I can do.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 1988
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 164 mins
Based on the controversial 1953 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis and directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last Temptation of Christ ruffled more than a few Christian feathers with it's unique depiction of the life of Jesus Christ. In the movie, Christ sees himself struggling with temptations of the human condition, from fear and doubt to reluctance and lust. This is a story that is clearly removed from the traditional teachings of the Gospel and commonly accepted biblical portrayals of Christ's life, but certainly not a less worthy version in my view.
We follow Jesus of Nazareth from his humble beginnings as a carpenter in Roman-occupied Judea until the end of his life when he is crucified and meets his final temptation.
I think that the depictions of Jesus' sexual relationship with the prostitute Mary Magdalene, and the imagery of the devil may have been the main force behind a lot of the controversy surrounding the movie. I however, thought that this was a tastefully put together body of work, and a beautifully spiritual retelling of Jesus' life.
The cast is amazing; Willem Dafoe is astounding as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel is fabulous as Judas and Barbara Hershey is superb as Mary Magdalene. The soundtrack, composed by Peter Gabriel, is hauntingly beautiful and was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Score in a Motion Picture. In 1990, the soundtrack won a Grammy for Best New Age Album.
If you are hypersensitive about the Gospels, then you probably aren't going to hire a film like this anyway, but if you are open minded to hearing stories about the life of Christ, then I highly recommend that you take the time to see this movie.
FINAL SAY: If I was a woodcutter, I'd cut. If I was a fire, I'd burn. But I'm a heart and I love. That's the only thing that I can do.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
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