Awards Fever: Predictions...

The year of 2014 has been a feast for frequent movie goers and film admires. Like a dog falling into a stack of bones. It has been a real treat. As the prestigious Oscar awards to be announced this Sunday, the race for best picture is heating up faster than an ice can melt. It seems to be a more level playing field as there are no clear favourite to take the prize home as compared to ’12 Years a Slave’ in 2013. The acting in some of these pictures has been admirable as well. When the nominated films were listed, it was difficult to digest the fact that films such as ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘Interstellar’ did not make the cut. Following its recent win in the BAFTA awards, many are predicting ’Boyhood’ to claim the ultimate best picture crown. As much as I respect and admire director’s Linklater 12 year project work of filming a picture using the same cast, the film lack the cutting edge and pace to sustain the audience interest. Before I go through my predictions for some of the Oscar categories, here is a lowdown of some of the nominated films that need to be seen in 2014 and should not be missed by every type of movie goers alike.

BIRDMAN

This is not a superhero movie. I repeat this is not a superhero movie. Personally, this is my most favourite film of 2014 and was lucky enough to catch it in the cinema. This film exposes the situation in current film industry where actors are more renowned by playing a superhero action flick in which the screen time is often lesser compared to an indie drama. The protagonist plays a person trying to revive his career at all costs and the idea of an uninterrupted continuous shot take throughout the movie is truly remarkable in this film. The dialogues, timing and camera angles had to be precise in order to achieve this feat and it truly was.

WHIPLASH

The story of a boy with big dreams but unable to transfer and show his interest to his friends and family because the interest is regarding pure art. In this sort of discouragement is where young adults tend to settle with the norm of being a doctor, engineer or lawyer etc. Some of the scenes in this film were captivating and the final scene has the best ending in any films that I have ever seen.

THE IMITATION GAME

This is a true story of Alan Turing, a British mathematician who managed to break the Nazi codes and enigma by creating a device in which we call as ‘computer’ today. His service was however kept a secret and was later prosecuted for being a homosexual. Benedict Cumberbatch gave an immense performance playing this role.

The full nominations list can be viewed by clicking the link below.

http://oscar.go.com/nominees

My predictions are based on whom I think will win due to favouritism, age, reputation, nationality and also other awards leading up to this Oscar such as the Golden Globes and BAFTA. I will also state on who I personally feel deserves to win based on pure satisfaction alone as I am no expert in this field. The obvious omission for me from being nominated has been stated as well.

The 87^th Academy Award winners will be:

Motion capture effect in Dawn of the Apes

Best Visual Effects:

Will win: Interstellar

Should win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Costume Design:

Will win: 

The Grand Budapest Hotel 

     

Should win: 

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The best background music of 2014

Best Original Music Score

Will win: 

Alexandre Desplat
(The Grand Budapest Hotel)

Should win: 

Hans Zimmer (Interstellar)         

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Will win: The Imitation Game

Should win: Whiplash

Best Original Screenplay:

Will win: Birdman

Should win: Birdman

Best Cinematography:

Will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel             

Should Win: Birdman

Emmanuel Lubezki's brilliant cinematography work in Birdman

Emma Stone in Birdman

Best Supporting Actress

Will win: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)

Should win: Emma Stone (Birdman)

Should’ve been nominated: Naomi Watts (Birdman)

Best Supporting Actor

J.K Simmons in Whiplash

Will win: J.K Simmons (Whiplash)

Should win: J.K Simmons (Whiplash)

*Shoot me if he does not win*

Should’ve been nominated: 

Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler)

Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl

Best Actress

Will win: Julianne Moore (Still Alice)

*I have not seen ‘Still Alice’ and will not see it*

Should win: Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)

Should've been nominated: 

Sarah Snook (Predestination)

Best Actor

Eddie Redmayne plays Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything

Will win: 

Michael Keaton (Birdman)

Should win: 

Eddie Redmayne (Theory of Everything)

Should’ve been nominated: 

Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) & 

Miles Teller (Whiplash)

Alejandro G.Inarritu directing Birdman

Best Director

Will win: Richard Linklater (Boyhood)

Should win: Alejandro.G Inarritu (Birdman)

Should’ve been nominated: 

David Fincher (Gone Girl)

And finally,

The Best Picture of 2014 will be:

Will win: Boyhood

Should win: Birdman

Should’ve been nominated: Gone Girl & Interstellar

Personally hoping that Birdman will win best picture of 2014

 Now lets just hope Neil Patrick Harris does a good job hosting the Oscars and not screw up.

Actor Neil Patrick Harris to host the Oscars this Sunday

Which us your favorite film of 2014? Feel free to comment.

by Ivan Vincent

   

Short Story: One Last Time...

      It’s that time of the year. Spring looms as this marks the end of the chilly winter. After finally completing Cambridge, the dull ride on the railway coach is what separating me from my hometown Eastbourne down South of England. An indescribable feeling when you're able to take a sigh of relief knowing that you have removed an heavy burden from your parents shoulders. Finally, with this degree that I've own relying on parents income is no longer an issue. How I miss my family. In times like this I would just put on my earphones, turn on the Beatles classic playlist and simply float away.

The problem I have in taking long rides is my fragile mind often diverts to my lost childhood sweetheart that I still truly love until this very day. It has been four painful years and she might as well have forgotten my existence. The more I figure out the actual reason she left me for, the more the questions arises instead of answers. The busy coach arrives as I boarded with the coach having more passengers than the number of seats. Oh boy, how foolish was I to have taken the coach on a Saturday. They say nothing happens without a reason and what do you know, there she was sleeping peacefully whilst resting her head on the shoulder of a man which looks like my successor. There are no words to describe the joy that flushed my eyes at that very moment. She probably went on a vacation with her new found love in Norwich and heading back to the same destination as I am. My mind was filled with words to say to her. Her new man was staring at me not knowing the love life that the girl resting on him and I once shared. He must be having the time of his life. I do not envy but hope he can be the one to fill the shoes that I failed to.

 If only I'm given the chance to redeem my mistakes and an opportunity to make amends by starting anew, I would grab it with both hands like my life depends on it. Stations after stations passed by and she was still resting her eyes. Even now I am unable to see her pretty eyes but her pitch black hair, velvet skin and radiant lips was there for me to admire along the way. I must have angered him. He must have been wondering why I was looking at her the whole time as I was driven by joy and strength. Shivers ran down my spine as it was announced that Eastbourne as the next destination. Before he started waking her up I rushed to the next coach with a heavy heart. Deep inside, I knew she just would not want to meet me. He might have told her that some weird man was looking at you while you were asleep but at the deepest core I can put my money on that she will never ever have guessed that it was me, her one and only true love. Yes, today was the day I met my love that I will never be with and may not see her ever again. That ride back home will be one of the best moments of my life as I was grateful enough to see her for one last time in which I will cherish till my last breath.

by Ivan Vincent

The Cup that was~World Cup 2014 review(part 1)

It was on ordinary Sunday on May 11th 2014 for most people. The same does not apply for fellow football fanatics including myself. This date concluded the English Premier league which we Asians share an enormous passion for. Manchester City Football Club claimed the coronation in another memorable season. Weekends will not be the same for football fans until the kick-off of the following season that resumes in August as it seems like it is years away. 

However, there is a World Cup to look forward to. The heat of it has not kick in as many are having their eyes glued on the European Cup Final between two rival clubs from Madrid. After the final on 24^th May 2014, selected players only have less than two weeks to join their international teammates for World Cup duty. Soccer websites were constantly tormented by fans to know which players have been selected to represent their countries. Injuries, lack of form and undisputed relationships between players and coaches play a big part in finalising a squad capable of making history at the World Cup. First and foremost, the biggest tournament in the world is being held at Brazil, the place where people are born with football in them. Many regarded them as favourites led by young prodigy Neymar but not in my eyes though after seeing their finalised squad. I will get to that more in a while. As usual, for some reason or another England seemed to be favourites again alongside Germany, Spain and host Brazil. As a Netherlands supporter since 2004, pressure seems low this time though. Not many are expecting the Dutch to do well this time. Personally, a similar heartbreak from the previous world cup where they lost narrowly in the 2010 final to Spain will be too much to bear. This is a common but weird passion we Southeast Asians share. We thoroughly support a nation in which we have no bond with whatsoever. Thankfully Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and Iran are good enough to represent Asia.

The defending champions~Spain

As the deadline to submit the finalised 23 man squad for each nation on the 2^nd of June was came, controversy spread across the soccer websites with fans and players themselves showing their dissatisfaction of the selection. I will breakdown certain heavyweight nations with some surprising inclusions and on whom they entirely omitted which could have been a big difference during the tournament.

Brazil 

Snubbed: Miranda, Felipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Lucas (PSG) and Coutinho (Liverpool)

Surprise inclusion: Paulinho (Tottenham), Jo (Atletico Mineiro) and Fred (Fluminese)

Verdict: The Atletico pair was part of the best defensive European team but not good enough for Scolari’s eyes which may have avoided the infamous 1-7 trashing by the Germans.

Miranda (left) and Felipe Luis with the La Liga title

Argentina

Snubbed: Carlos Tevez (Juventus)

Surprise Inclusion: Gago (Boca Juniors)

Verdict: Could have won them the World Cup with his gritty determination. If only he was at Higuain place for the one on one chance in the final.

Tevez: "I did not make the squad?"

Spain

Snubbed: No one really as each one of them is simply world class.

Surprise Inclusion: Fernando Torres (Chelsea)

Verdict: Probably younger players such as Koke and Isco could have been in the starting XI instead of the ageing Xavi and Xabi Alonso. Oh boy, how they found their replacements already.

Italy

Snubbed: Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina)

Surprise Inclusion: Antonio Cassano (Parma)

Verdict: Unlucky with injuries to their more creative players such as El Sharaway and Montolivo both from AC Milan and it proved costly as they struggled to create chances throughout the tournament.

Germany

Snubbed: Stephen Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen)

Surprise Inclusion: Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)

Verdict: Could have paid the price for leaving out their only on form and proper centre forward but survived because of the embarrassing richness of talented midfielders. Marco Reus, Ilkay Gundogan, the Bender twins, and Schmelzer will be kicking themselves for being injured and missing out altogether.   

Hard Luck : Reus getting injured on the last warm up match

England

Snubbed: Michael Carrick (Manchester United) and Ashley Cole (AS Roma)

Surprise Inclusion: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Verdict: There is no one in England better than Carrick in receiving the ball from defenders with his back to goal and spreading passes forwards while keeping possession for the team. Roy Hodgson failed to see this in otherwise an exciting selection for England fans. Ashley Cole, with his experience, would have done a better shift than Leighton Baines though.

Michael Carrick ~A midfield freak indeed

Belgium

Snubbed: Radja Nainggolan (AS Roma)

Surprise Inclusion: Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United)

Verdict: The dark horses of the tournament with almost everyone wanting to see them do well. Lack of experience in big tournaments cost them dearly in the latter stages.

France

Snubbed: Nasri, Gael Clichy (Manchester City)

Surprise Inclusion: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

Verdict: If not for the injury to Ribery, France may have caused more problems to Germany in the quarter finals clash. Add Nasri into this French equation and their chances for a semi-final berth were a real possibility.

Nasri (right) to Ribery : "Coming over to watch the World Cup with me?"

It’s the eve of the world cup kick-off with fans sharing their predictions of which nation will flop and which will acclaim ultimate glory. Many of my friends raised their eyebrows when I predicted Argentina to conquer Rio come July 12^th in the final. I backed my choice with obvious reasons that they are a South American team used to the surroundings and climate, an inform Di Maria after his champions league final heroics and they have Lionel Messi, a player which every country dream to have. Low expectations might just work to their advantage. An hour before kick-off, seats in every food stall with screens are being filled up, sofa sets at home are occupied and the fever was about to start. All the talks, predictions and build up have come down to this, a month of football orgasm for fanatic fans.

The Kick off ~ Brasil vs Croatia (12th June 2014)

More to follow….

by Ivan Vincent