Celebrating the Magic of the Movies at the 84th Annual Academy Awards

And there it went, once again, my favourite event of the year. Films and their fabulous creators were recognized for their hard work and achievements, while the actors and actresses who star in them graced the red carpet with their glamorous (and sometimes not-so-glamorous) looks. All of this and more came alive at this year's 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Brett Ratner was set to produce this year's Oscars with his longtime friend, Eddie Murphy, acting as host. Ratner (famous for films such as Rush Hour and Tower Heist) resigned, however, back in November after referring to rehearsals as being "for fags" during a Q&A session for Tower Heist. And so with his resignation went Eddie Murphy.

As with many things in life, out of something bad came something good. In this case, his name is Billy Crystal. One of the funniest, most adored men in Hollywood, Crystal is personally the epitome of the Oscars. Growing up, it was him who would bring this larger-than-life awards show into our living room in teeny-tiny old Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tonight was his ninth time hosting (his first time being in 1990), and I couldn't have been more excited.

Crystal joked, he sang, and he did it all with class and respect for his fellow actors and crew. Surprisingly, the show was only about five minutes over its time slot - keeping a lot more people up chatting about the show on Twitter until its very end - and showed us just how good veteran Hollywood producer Brian Grazer really is. Grazer, this year's Academy Awards show producer, told E! this afternoon that the crew's goal was for the show "to be classy, be funny, and be on time." Well gosh darn it - that goal surely was fulfilled.

Unlike other years, this year, the two nominees for Original Song did not perform. Instead, however, the Cirque du Soleil troupe from "Iris" blew the roof off the "Chapter 11 Theatre" (one of my faves, Billy)! The high-flying acrobatics and certain movements of the human body I have never seen before really turned out to be a show-stopper - a very welcomed bonus to what some people may find a dry and boring awards show.

This year's Actress in a Supporting Role category featured all first-time nominees; however, it was Octavia Spencer who nabbed the big prize for her role as Minny, the outspoken maid, in The Help. Conversely, Canadian screen and Broadway legend, Christopher Plummer won the Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role for his turn as an elderly man who comes out of the closet to his son in the film, Beginners. This win makes Plummer, 82, the oldest actor ever to win an Oscar.

This year's Actress in a Leading Role was awarded to the most nominated actor ever, the wonderfully-talented and gracious Meryl Streep. Winning for her portrayal as Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Streep now has 17 Oscar nominations and three wins under her belt.

Jean Dujardin, the French actor and star of this year's Best Picture winner, The Artist, and might I add an extremely handsome man, took home the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role. Dujardin said a whopping two words in this silent, black and white film, but sometimes words do not matter. His personality came through vividly in this truly unique film.

This year's Best Picture winner, The Artist, is the first silent film to be nominated since 1928, and it surely won big tonight - also snagging the Oscar for Best Director, which went to Michel Hazanavicius, Best Costume Design, as well as Best Original Score.

The other big winner of the night was Martin Scorsese's 3D adventure drama, Hugo, winning five Oscars, including Art Direction, Cinematography, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.

For a complete list of this year's winners, visit Oscar.go.com, or view my Twitter feed.

Oscar Noms Released!

As usual, the Oscar nominations bring forward a few surprises and a few snubs. However, to each his own, as films are most definitely a personal preference.

One sure thing is that the 84th Annual Academy Awards, live from the Kodak Theatre on Sunday, February 26, belong to Mr. George Clooney. The mega movie star is nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for The Descendants, and also for the Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Oscar for The Ides of March (which is nominated against The Descendants).

Clooney is competing for the Best Actor Oscar against his long-time friend, Brad Pitt (Moneyball), and the popular favourite, Jean Dujardin (The Artist), among others.

The nominations for Actor in a Supporting Role excite me more than the Best Actor category this year. Actor Jonah Hill (best known for his often raunchy comedies) was Brad Pitt’s right-hand man in Moneyball and has scored himself an Oscar nomination for his great work.

Max von Sydow is nominated for his non-speaking role in the heart-wrenching drama, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and one of Canada’s leading actors, the legendary Christopher Plummer is nominated for Beginners.

Christopher Plummer was undoubtedly snubbed for his role as Captain von Trapp in 1965’s blockbuster (and one of my favourite movies), The Sound of Music. After many great roles, Plummer was finally recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his portrayal of Leo Tolstoy in The Last Station (2009).

Now I hate to admit it, but I have yet to see any of the five films from the Actress in a Leading Role category, which means I have a busy four and a half weeks ahead of me. However, if the Golden Globes are a precursor to the Academy Awards (and they usually are), Viola Davis will be a front-runner for her role in The Help, as well as Hollywood’s wonder woman, Meryl Streep, for her portrayal as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

As someone who has watched the Oscars since she was in her mother’s womb, I have to say the Academy sure is lightening up within the last few years, and I like it! Fifteen years ago, I couldn’t see the members of the Academy nominating a character who craps in a sink, yet the foul-mouthed scene-stealer in Bridesmaids is nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role. Melissa McCarthy had millions of people laughing in theatres around the world last year, and surely, the bridal boutique bathroom scene is one they won’t soon forget.

McCarthy is nominated alongside Golden Globe-winner Octavia Spencer (for her role in The Help), as well as Bérénice Bejo in the Best Picture-nominated silent film, The Artist.

After two years of nominating ten films for the Best Picture category, the Academy scaled it back to nine – and I’m not sure why. I’m in preference to the five nomination category, but oh well. Of the nine, the front-runners include The Artist, The Descendants, Moneyball, and Hugo.

Also a surprise is the low number of Original Song nominees – including “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets and “Real in Rio” from the animated feature film, Rio.

The hilarious and talented star of Saturday Night Live and Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig, is nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. She not only starred in the blockbuster comedy, but she also wrote it. Best of luck goes out to her as she is competing against heavyweight and movie veteran, Woody Allen, for his film, Midnight in Paris.

Overall, Hugo leads this year’s Oscar nominations with 11, and The Artist isn’t far behind, snagging a total of 10 nominations.

I can’t wait for this year’s Academy Awards. As usual, it’s my favourite night of the year. Make sure to tune into the live broadcast Sunday, February 26.

For the full list of nominees, visit the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences website.

Sandbox Magazine Says Farewell

For two years, SANDBOX Magazine showcased Winnipeg's fashion, arts and culture communities in the best light possible. Writers, photographers, stylists, make-up artists, hair stylists, models, and copy editors (that's me!) collaborated to create eight online issues, seven print issues and five fabulous release parties.

"SANDBOX has become more than just a magazine. It's become a community of talented and creative local artists that will live on far beyond the final issue," says Jeffrey Vallis, Editor-in-Chief and a dear friend of mine.

What originally started out as a project for Red River College's Creative Communications program quickly became a platform for the local fashion and arts communities. Contributors and readers alike will surely miss the magazine, but the opportunities it created will live on throughout these folks in the city of Winnipeg and beyond.

Join us at the Winnipeg Art Gallery as we say goodbye to SANDBOX Saturday, January 28. Tickets are $10 and are available at Answers at the University of Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg Info Booth, Red River College Mercantile, Hush, and Rhymes with Orange.

Be sure to pick up the final print issue Monday, January 30 - sold exclusively at McNally Robinson Booksellers.