Oscars Winners List and Review

The 81st Annual Academy Awards are officially over, and it turned out to be quiet an enjoyable ceremony - surprisingly so despite it also being the most predictable one in years.

The one surprise came in the form of host Hugh Jackman who (at least, in my opinion) proved to be one Helluva host with his humor and multiple musical performances. Although the ratings will still probably be down, I'd be surprised if he wasn't asked back for next year's ceremony.

As expected, Slumdog Millionaire dominated with eight wins including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" for Danny Boyle.

What was considered the "Surest Thing" of the evening indeed took place with the late Heath Ledger winning a posthumous Oscar in the "Best Supporting Actor" category for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight with his family accepting in his place.

After multiple times going home empty-handed, Kate Winslet finally took home the "Best Actress" Oscar for The Reader despite the overall mixed reception of the film. No doubt, it was a "Career" win more than anything else.

Sean Penn triumphed in the "Best Actor" race over Comeback King Mickey Rourke and Penelope Cruz nabbed the "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Here are the list of winners:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor: Sean Penn - Milk

Best Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Animated Film: Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film: Departures

Best Documentary Film: Man On Wire

Best Documentary Short-Film: Smile Pinki

Best Original Screenplay: Milk

Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Editing: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design: The Duchess

Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Score: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Song: "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Live-Action Short Film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight

Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Third Twilight Film Already Greenlit

I have absolutely no hatred for the popular Twilight book series. Granted, I've yet to read a single word from the novels nor will I ever.

Seriously, I know they're not my cup of tea. So why jump on the "Fuck Twilight!" bandwagon when I already have zero interest in them to begin with?

Not to mention, the obsessive fans of the series are honestly no different than those walking around dressed up like characters from Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings.

All of that asside, the film adaptation of Twilight made a fortune last Fall and Summitt Entertainment (the production company behind said film) has already fast-tracked the sequel New Moon for release this coming November.

And just for the Hell of it (or maybe they're aware this gravy train won't have the longevity that the Harry Potter film-series has had for Warner Brothers), they've just greenlit the third installment in the series Eclipse for a June 30, 2010 release.

The studio has yet to find a director, but one can only assume it might end up being Chris Weitz - the director who will be helming New Moon.

The sequels will be released in cinemas about seven months a part from one another. I don't see why they wouldn't just go ahead and give it to him.

MovieMoan: The Original Series episode 3 - Moaners of the Carribean

Hey folks, just before you sit down to enjoy this year's Oscars (and our podcast right before it), why not enjoy another YouTube enhanced episode of the original MovieMoan series.  Here's the deal for those of you who don't yet know what our show was about:

"It never fails; a film, a series, or a franchise show so much potential for cinematic glory. We think we know how good it's going to be. We think it would be impossible to screw up such a good idea........and that's why we get so darn angry when it happens. If you still have bottled up rage about how your, potential favourite films turned to poo........then Movie Moan is for you.

Tackling everything from the giant movie franchises of the past and present to the films you want to talk about, we won't just be discussing how these films went wrong. This is your chance to dream, pitch, and imagine how bad movies could have been so much better."

So sit back, relax and enjoy as Jamie Williams and myself set sail for a rip moaning adventure on the high seas of dissapointment with the Pirates of the Carribean trilogy:

Funny Trailer

Whatever trepidations I had for Judd Apatow's Funny People (which to be fair had absolutely nothing to do with quality, but merely around fear of "Apatow backlash") has gone away after looking at the film's trailer.

Moviefone has the exclusive first look at the dramedy centering around a world famous stand-up comedian (Adam Sandler) who upon discovering he only has a year left to live takes a struggling yet talented up and comer (Seth Rogen) under his wing and attempts to rekindle a relationship with his now married ex-girlfriend (Leslie Mann).

So many great lines just in that trailer, and more to come in the finished film!

Among my favorites were, "I don't know how to fight! I'm a comedian!" and "You're hiding some Judaism. I don't think I can hide that. My face is circumcised."

Take a look at the trailer here and tell me you're not looking forward to Funny People this summer now.

Has The Man of Steel Been Unleashed?

Last week, Aint-It-Cool News got a scoop on a Superman reboot trilogy being possibly helmed by the Wachowskis. A rumor that turned out to be not so true.

Cut to this afternoon with Slashfilm now getting a scoop on the oft-debated sequel to Bryan Singer's Superman Returns - which last we all heard had gone the way of DivX players and Nintendo Virtual Boy.

According to a password-sensitive area of Legendary Pictures' official home-page (the company that ponied up half the budget for Returns as well as the Batman films and Watchmen), the next Superman installment will in fact be a sequel with the following synopsis listed:

"Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to 'Superman Returns' promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve."

Not to mention, the title Superman: The Man of Steel is no more and is apparently now Superman Unleashed.

It's certainly possible that Warner Brothers and Legendary executives remembered about how Batman Begins fell way below their box-office projections despite solid business (i.e. $200 million+), and nonetheless went forward with the sequel The Dark Knight. Well...you guys know how that turned out.

That said, color me skeptical on this latest development.

Update: Strike that last remark. The Superman sequel is listed in Production Weekly and the screen-capture that started this development is real. So this news is legit.

She'll Be Back...Maybe.

Yes, we know that McG talks outta his butt a bit too much - what with the infamous "I got Cameron's approval" and "Casting Sam Worthington was based on Jim's recommendation" remarks that turned out to be BS.

But when he revealed a month or so back that Linda Hamilton is on their radar to return for voice-over work on Terminator: Salvation, I have to admit it sounded like a realistic possibility.

And now Sarah Connor herself has confirmed to the MTV Movies Blog that indeed she's in talks with the producers over said gig:

“My contribution would be voiceover. I would probably be very happy to loan my voice depending on what the material is. Wait and see. They’re already writing it. We’ve been negotiating it.”

Salvation opens this coming Memorial Day weekend and we're nearing the end of February. So if they're going to get Hamilton to agree to do it, they should moving forward on this ASAP.

Liev to get "Salty" with Angelina

Ok that is maybe the worst healdine ive ever written but it's late, so onwards. Variety reports that Liev Schrieber in negotiations to play opposite Angelina Jolie in the Colubmia Picutres action thriller 'Salt'.

Some may remember this was a Tom Cruise project for a while but he dipped out in favour of other options and the script was re-written to fit a woman, so that it could star the worlds most famous actress Angelina Jolie.

The story centers on Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who is fingered as a Russian sleeper spy. She eludes capture by superiors who are convinced she is out to assassinate the president. While trying to reunite with her family, she struggles to prove someone else is the traitor.

Schreiber will play Salt's boss and friend on the Russian desk at the CIA.

I like Liev, I think he's a good actor and I'm glad to see him getting bigger roles, and Jolie can certainly carry off action like no other actress, so this "bourne with boobs" as some have dubbed it, or maybe I just did, should turn out to be fun, Phillip Noyce is at the helm and he's a solid director.

'Salt' is set to start shooting in New York next month

Tom is Cruising several projects

Seems Tom Cruise is back in the Hollywood good graces as a number of studios vie for his signature to star in their movie. Variety has a list of the projects Cruise is eyeing, the top three are:

* "Matarese," which also has Denzel Washington attached, and will soon get a rewrite by Cronenberg.

* "The Tourist," the Spyglass remake that would co-star Charlize Theron. A rewrite was turned in this week by Christopher McQuarrie, who co-wrote and produced "Valkyrie" with Cruise, and whose script work was informed by long talks with Cruise as they barnstormed publicity on the UA WWII film.

* "Motorcade," the Len Wiseman-directed DreamWorks thriller that pits the U.S. president against terrorists who commandeer his motorcade on the streets of Los Angeles. Billy Ray is racing to complete a rewrite of the script, with Cruise's input.

He is also circling a movie titled 'Lost for Words' as well as two Fox comedies 'The Hardy Men' with Ben Stiller and 'Wichita' with Cameron Diaz.

Varitey also state that Crusie is expected to make two movies this year from the above as well as starring in the adaption of 'The Champions' next year.

Now if I were Tom's agent I'd tell him to get on 'Motorcade' and 'Matarese', one for the summer and one for November, both are ideal vehciles to get Cruise back on the blockbuster path.

Thor Has (Still) Yet To Be Cast

I was hoping that things were a bit further along on Kenneth Branagh's Thor in terms of casting. But from the looks of it - not so much.

The good folks over at Corona Coming Attractions got a hold on a casting call notice for the title character:

Male MUST BE MID-LATE 20'S and SIX FEET OR TALLER. LEAD.

Physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild. A natural warrior with a quick charming wit who must be genuinely and severly humbled before becoming the compassionate, mature her of our film.

One can only assume that Marvel Films, Branagh & Co. decided not to go with Kevin McKidd who has previously met with them over playing the Norse God.

Fock Me.

When your sequel makes $280 million, another one is inevitable - even if it takes five years to get going.

Hollywood Reporter (via their Risky Biz Blog) confirms that work is under-way for Little Fockers - the third film in the insanely-profitable series following 2000's Meet the Parents and 2004's Meet the Fockers.

Ben Stiller, Robero De Niro and Owen Wilson are currently hammering out deals to return and Universal has turned to writer/director of the forthcoming comedy I Love You, Man John Hamburg for rewrite duties.

Meanwhile, the studio is also searching for a new director as Jay Roache (who helmed the first two films) will take a step back and serve as a producer.

Among the rumored candidates (which is said to include Yes Man's Peyton Reed and In Good Company helmer Paul Weitz), my money's on David Wain who just delivered a sizeable hit in the form of last Fall's Role Models for Universal.

Like I said, it was a matter of time before another one of these films got going. I guess this means I'll be dragged to the multi-plex to sit through this when it comes out. Kill me...