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Enroll in "Film School" With TCM's 31 Days of Oscar

BuzzSugar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:30:55 -0800

The annual 31 Days of Oscar festival on Turner Classic Movies is always a great way to catch up on great films I might have missed, but this year it might also teach me something new. This year's Oscar celebration - which starts Feb. 1 and goes through March 3 - is divided up like a college curriculum, with "departments" like Zoology and Communications and courses of study including Shakespeare's Tragedies, Advanced Ballet, and Contemporary Issues in Mass Media.

It's really a trip to look through all the different movies that fall under each "course." Genetics has The Parent Trap, among others, while Bedknobs and Broomsticks falls under Aerodynamics. Dr. Strangelove, naturally, is covered under Nuclear Physics, and The Graduate is a key component of Contemporary Moral Issues.

It's a pretty clever spin on an old tradition, I think. The full list of films on the docket is over here, and to see a few of the "courses" I might enroll in myself, just read more.

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Architecture Department
Architecture of Ancient Rome
Noon - Julius Caesar (1953)
2:15 p.m. - Ben-Hur (1959)
6:15 p.m. - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)

Sunday, Feb. 8 – Anthropology Department
Urban Ethnic Cultures
8 p.m. - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
10:15 p.m. - Moonstruck (1987)
12:15 a.m. - Marty (1955)
2 a.m. - Boyz N the Hood (1991)
4 a.m. - The Jazz Singer (1927)

Saturday, Feb. 14 – Sociology Department
Race, Gender and Ethnicity
8 p.m. - Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1955)
10 p.m. - The King and I (1956)
12:30 a.m. - South Pacific (1958)
3:15 a.m. - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (1967)
5:15 a.m. - Annie Hall (1977)

Friday, Feb. 27 – Political Science Department
American Elections and the Legislative Process
8 p.m. - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
10:15 p.m. - All the King’s Men (1949)
12:15 a.m. - The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
2:30 a.m. - The Best Man (1964)
4:30 a.m. - So This is Washington (1943)

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TCM Kicks Off Oscar Month; Coincidentally, So Do We

BuzzSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:34:21 -0800

One of my favorite things about February - other than the great things I've got to have - is the Oscar countdown on Turner Classic Movies. The network kicks off its annual 31 Days of Oscar event today, and from now into March, they'll broadcast Oscar-winning and Oscar-worthy fare virtually around the clock.

This is a great way to catch up on all the movies I've been waitflixing or have been meaning to watch for years. The schedule is divided into two sections - daytime and primetime - with a different set of movies for each part. Each day's daytime movies all fit a specific theme (today's is adventure, Sunday's is musicals), while the primetime hours take on movies from a specific decade - Mondays for films of the '20s and '30s, Tuesdays for the '40s, and so forth. All the movies are listed on the mind-boggling printable schedule, which you can find from this site.

And hey, if TCM is doing it, why can't we? We've already gotten into the Oscar spirit, but expect a lot more Oscar goodness starting today, including Oscar-themed movie nights, quizzes, photo galleries, and other features. Stay tuned!

To watch a very cool preview for 31 Days of Oscar, just read more.

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Live Blogging the 2008 Oscars!

BuzzSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:53:18 -0800

The 2008 Oscars are now history, but throughout Sunday's ceremony, I live-blogged some of the highlights, dull spots, and sweetest moments of the night. Read on to see what I made of the ceremony as it was happening - and share your thoughts in the comments! (All time stamps PST, last entry first.)

8:52 p.m.: So, No Country for Old Men is the 80th Best Picture, the Coens took home a couple of twin statuettes, several of the year's best performances got their due - I'm pretty pleased with this year's awards. You?

8:48 p.m.: And, that's it! Only 18 minutes over, with just credits left to go - well played, Stewart.

8:46 p.m.: And No Country takes it! This really was their night. Oh, wow, and Cormac McCarthy is there!

8:45 p.m.: OK, this one's for all the marbles . . .

8:43 p.m.: I'm so torn: On the one hand, I'm disappointed that Diving Bell and the Butterfly will be shut out tonight; I thought Schnabel was a lock for Best Director. On the other hand, the Coens are wonderful. And Frances McDormand looked so pleased!

8:35 p.m.: Daniel Day-Lewis got an Oscar and a near-knighthood. Pretty good for one night, eh? It always amazes me how little he seems like any of his characters - very sweet and gracious, not brooding at all.

8:31 p.m.: Helen Mirren is just the very embodiment of classiness. I want to be Helen Mirren when I grow up!

Lots more, so read more.

8:29 p.m.: My official ending time prediction: 8:52 p.m. PST. We'll see, though; they really do seem to be picking up the pace now.

8:25 p.m.: I'll be honest, I would have been happy with a lot of the Best Original Screenplay nominees winning. But Diablo Cody winning is just wonderful - and the way she grabbed Ellen Page's hands just there? The sweetest! Wow, what an emotional moment for her. I wonder if she was just trying to get offstage before she totally lost it?

8:22 p.m.: Supposedly, the Oscars will end in eight minutes. That's clearly not happening, so I'm taking predictions: What time will this year's ceremony end? Leave your bets in the comments!

8:13 p.m.: I am loving how happy this one Freeheld director is with her award! Sometimes I think the Oscars are just old hat for everyone in Hollywood, and then we get a moment like that.

8:08 p.m.: Whether or not that was Amy Adams dancing during that last Enchanted song, she certainly has had to work for her supper tonight, huh?

7:57 p.m.: Aw, there's Marketa's moment! Thank you, Jon Stewart. You are truly a mensch. And my hero.

7:50 p.m.: OK, all you Once fans, let's hear it! "What are we doing here? This is mad!" Also: Come on, Oscars, let her talk!

7:48 p.m.: And in waltzes John Travolta! Oh, John, you are not that dashing.

7:43 p.m.: I already really wanted to see The Counterfeiters, but this really seals the deal. Also, just gotta say, I love the array of accents on the stage tonight - is this one of the most international Oscars ever?

7:33 p.m.: I was going to say something nice earlier about how the pacing of this year's Oscars felt so much better than normal, but I might have to take that back. We've clearly entered the notorious dead spot - not even presenting Best Actress way early can prevent it. However, the actors in the room really do seem moved by the honorary Oscar presentation. Or maybe they're just paid to look like that.

7:24 p.m.: And, now we're listing 79 movies. Bathroom break!

7:14 p.m.: Wow, Marion Cotillard is adorable! Thanking "life" and "love" and "there are angels in this city" . . . aw, guys, I think I'm going to cry now! What a lovely speech. (Also, not to brag, but I so called that!)

7:08 p.m.: This is usually the deadest hour for the Oscars, so far be it from me to complain, but this seems a little soon for Best Actress, no?

7:03 p.m.: Well, that "and the baby goes to . . . " faux-ceremony was a little awkward, eh? Also disappointing: Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen's bit. Man, I thought they'd be funnier.

6:54 p.m.: Oh, so now I get all the old people in costumes hanging out backstage - they're all extras for "That's How You Know." Also, if somehow Kristin Chenoweth and Amy Adams could do a duet for one of these songs, I think my brain would burst from the cuteness.

6:48 p.m.: Sheesh, the Best Adapted Screenplay category was such a toughie this year - so many of the year's best movies in one little package. I thought it would be Atonement, but I certainly can't fault the Coens' work. Also, I always forget which Coen is which - is Joel the tall one?

6:38 p.m.: Wow! There's our first big upset of the night: Tilda Swinton for Best Supporting Actress. I truly didn't see that coming. And neither did she! That was some genuine shock, right there. And now we know her agent has the butt of an Oscar, so there's that.

6:32 p.m.: Seriously, how great do all the animated shorts look this year? And is that a Peter and the Wolf doll up on stage to accept the award along with the filmmakers?

6:31 p.m.: Um, this Bee Movie tribute to bees is seriously making me long for some more binoculars and periscopes.

6:23 p.m.: Oscars Salute to Binoculars and Periscopes! That almost made me spit soda, right there.

6:18 p.m.: And it's Javier Bardem! No big upsets there, but I think it's the right call - his performance still gives me chills. Aw, and he spoke Spanish for his mama!

6:16 p.m.: Finally, our first big award - Best Supporting Actor, just 46 minutes in.

6:12 p.m.: Yay for Sweeney Todd in the Best Art Direction category - I think that's well-deserved. And I think a number of you will agree!

6:01 p.m.: Amy Adams is adorable as anything, and she looks great, and her voice is wonderful, but this song just isn't the same without rats and termites jumping around. On second thought, maybe it's good that they skipped the termites.

5:58 p.m.: If only all acceptance speeches would follow the model of the La Vie en Rose makeup artists' speech: "I'm proud to be here with you. Bye."

5:57 p.m.: Wow, Katherine Heigl's voice is shaking! I can't believe how nervous she seems.

5:55 p.m.: I don't think I'll ever get sick of Jon Stewart and Steve Carell interacting. They're cute, those two. Also: Yay for Ratatouille!

5:51 p.m.: Great, now "My Heart Will Go On" will be stuck in my head all night. Thanks a lot, Oscars. Is that really the best way to celebrate 80 years of great cinema?

5:48 p.m.: George Clooney's on stage - I guess that means it's really the Oscars now!

5:43 p.m.: Huh, so Best Costumes come first this year – I always expect a supporting acting award this early. Anyway, Elizabeth: The Golden Age won, and I'm 1 for 1 on my ballot. You?

5:41 p.m.: I wonder if the Oscars are mad that the Independent Spirit Awards got to the "we're green so Ed Begley Jr. is powering our show via bicycle" joke before they could use it.

5:36 p.m. Jon on Norbit's nomination: "Too often, the Academy ignores movies that aren't good." Seriously, how preposterous is it that now and forever, they'll be able to market that movie as "the Oscar-nominated Norbit"?

5:33 p.m.: First chuckle courtesy of Jon Stewart: He just described the Oscars as post-writers' strike makeup sex.

5:30 p.m.: And we're off, with a crazy animated montage of movie moments - John Travolta dancing, Mary Poppins flying in. Man, am I glad I have HD right now.

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Buzz In: Who Should Play Frank Sinatra in Scorsese's Biopic?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:50:42 -0700

Who better to direct a biopic about the famous blue-eyed Italian-American entertainer Frank Sinatra than Martin Scorsese? This is the kind of movie news that's so "just right" it makes me wonder why it hasn't happened before. Here's more on the project, titled simply, Sinatra:

The deal comes after years of negotiations with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, a joint venture of the crooner's estate and Warner Music Group. One major obstacle was the internal politics of the estate, where family members had to come to consensus on how to tell the story and, more importantly, just how much of the story to tell.

Raised during the Depression, [Sinatra] built a singing career that weathered many changes in popular culture, all while he racked up 31 gold records and countless other honors. He also had a successful career as an actor, proving naysayers wrong by earning an Oscar for From Here to Eternity. His personal life was just as eventful. He suffered from depression and a bipolar disorder, was alleged to have connections to organized crime and was married four times, including to actresses Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow.

Now the big question remains: What modern-day actor can appropriately portray Sinatra, one of America's most famous singers? Who's got the charm and presence, a bit of an edge at times, and most of all, those mesmerizing eyes? Who would you cast?

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