Flickr/K嘛

59 movies were nominated for Academy Awards this year. If you exclude the shorts (animated, live action and documentary) and the foreign language nominees– but include the full-length documentaries– that brings us down to 40 films. At my Oscars party last weekend, my friends had seen 21 of those 40 films, and I found that pretty impressive.

It gave me an idea…maybe your friends are watching more Oscar-type movies than you think. So based on an extremely unscientific poll of 13 random people (random to you, not me) all living in the District of Columbia, except for one lone friend/sister in northern Virginia, here it is: The Oscar-nominated films your friends checked out in 2009. So what do you think…are any of the movies they skipped worthy of your Netflix queue in 2010?

Movies They Caught
Avatar
The Blind Side
Coraline
Crazy Heart
District 9
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Food, Inc.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Julie & Julia
Nine
Precious
A Serious Man
Sherlock Holmes
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Up
Up in the Air
The Young Victoria

Movies They Skipped
Bright Star
Burma VJ
Coco Before Chanel
The Cove
Il Divo
An Education
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
In the Loop
The Last Station
The Lovely Bones
The Messenger
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Paris 36
The Princess and the Frog
Province
The Secret of Kells
A Single Man
Which Way Home
The White Ribbon

The Oscars are officially yesterday’s news. But now that we’re counting down 363 days until the next awards, what will you most remember– for good and for bad? Here, we rattle off our 10 favorite moments of the night, and our five not so favorite. Did we hit the mark with what you were thinking, too?

Highlights

Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin cohosting. These two wild and crazy guys were funny– admit it. Their bits cuddled in a Snuggie, pretending to only be five years older than Zac Efron and Taylor Lautner and even shouting out to “The Hangover” (a 2009 smash that could never anticipate Oscar, but certainly deserves its due) brought the awards show down at least one necessary notch.
Best score dance tribute. In years past, each of the best song nominees have been performed live throughout the Oscars, but it’s usually a little boring. In a twist on that idea, the best score nominees were performed by street dancers, and it ended up a definite highlight of the evening.
Cameron Diaz and Steve Carell. Again, two funny actors were able to bring an otherwise snotty awards show down to the level of a regular viewer. A funny intro about being beautiful people led right into the animated feature film category, and since both actors have voiced characters before (Diaz for “Shrek” and Carell for “Horton Hears a Who!”), it all added up nicely.
“District 9.” Every year, there are a few riveting movies that come out but remain completely under the radar– small budget films that make big impacts with audiences and critics alike, to quote Chris Pine introducing “District 9″ as a best picture nominee this year. Sometimes these movies make it to the Oscars, but often they do not. When they do, as in the case of this sci-fi thriller, it’s an achievement for movies and moviemakers everywhere. “District 9″ was nominated for four Oscars this year, and although it didn’t take home even one, the recognition alone was important and gratifying. And it’s a good scary movie too, and worth an add to your Netflix queue.
Horror tribute. Apparently, horror is the most popular genre– who knew? It’s our favorite though, and this tribute was long overdo. Getting to see some of Hollywood’s A-list (like Jack Nicholson, Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp) in classic horror clips brought the genre’s significance back to front of mind. And since it’s a difficult feat for even the best-crafted horror movie to get Academy recognition, it’s at least nice to know they’re still down with scary.
John Hughes tribute. Clearly, Hughes was a decade-defining writer and director. In addition to launching the careers of Molly Ringwald, Matthew Broderick and Macaulay Culkin, Hughes always had a message to teenagers: It’s okay to be you. You didn’t have to grow up in the 80’s to love and relate to “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or “Weird Science”; you just had to be in high school once. (We shouted out to our favorite Hughes’ films back in August. Did we get it right or were we way off base?)
NPH intro. Doogie got it right when he said no one wants to do it alone– and he perfectly set up the idea of two hosts for this year’s Oscars. After his roaring success hosting last September’s Emmy Awards, Neil Patrick Harris got the chance to show off his singing chops, and his comedic timing, on the big stage.
Ryan Reynolds and Rachel McAdams presenting. This is really just a personal thing, but we happen to love these two crazy kids. They’re both beautiful and lovable, and interestingly, Canadian. But mainly, we kind of just want to be best friends with them, and so we were happy to see them on the Oscars stage.
Sandra Bullock as best actress. We’re not going to say she’s had the best film career in Hollywood, because with “Speed,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “The Lake House” on her resume, she hasn’t. But Sandra Bullock has been a Hollywood darling for more than 15 years, and she’s earned her place. She’s classy and she’s funny, and “The Blind Side” would have been nothing without her as she truly made the movie.
Screenwriting recognition. Since our biggest dream in life is to one day accept the Oscar for best original screenplay, we most look forward to the writing awards each year. Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr. had one of the best interplays of the evening with their writer vs. actor dialogue: Fey: “And what does a writer look for in an actor? Memorizing. Not paraphrasing. Fear of ad libbing.” Downey Jr.: “It’s a collaboration. A collaboration between handsome, gifted people and sickly little mole people.” We laughed out loud, but the truth is, every good movie starts with a good script. Here’s to writers everywhere.

Lowlights

“Avatar” not winning bigger. It’s not the highest grossing movie of all time (three short months after being released) for nothing. “Avatar” is an amazing accomplishment in moviemaking, perfectly blending a solid script with the most amazing technical features ever. It only took home three of its nine Oscar nominations on Sunday night, and we think that’s a little bit of a travesty.
The documentary short Kayne moment. “Music by Prudence” is the 33-minute movie directed by Roger Ross Williams that won the best documentary short Oscar on Sunday. Elinor Burkett was a producer on the movie who removed herself from the film nearly a year ago, and despite a lawsuit between the two and their understandably not speaking to each other, Burkett still found it reasonable to storm the stage during Williams’ acceptance speech. Faux. Pas.
Miley Cyrus and Elizabeth Banks presenting. We’ll keep this one short: Miley Cyrus is a 17-year-old pop singer, and Elizabeth Banks is just not funny. Next time ladies, please stay home.
Mo’Nique as best supporting actress. Let’s review Mo’Nique’s acting credits: “Moesha,” “The Parkers” and “Phat Girlz.” And now she’s an Oscar winner…and an arrogant one at that. Her acceptance speech opened with, “First, I would like to thank the Academy, for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics.” In other words, “I’m an amazing actress.” Also, she thanked Tyler Perry, and we’re not even going to start in on how many things are wrong with that.
Ten best picture nominees. To their credit, they made it work, periodically presenting each of the best picture nominees so as not to overwhelm viewers with so, so many. And in the final moments of the 2010 Academy Awards when Tom Hanks presented the Oscar for best motion picture, he didn’t keep viewers waiting by rattling off all 10 nominees again. Still, we think 10 was just way too many, and took credibility away from the more deserving nominees in the category. There will only ever be one winner, but now there are nine losers. Let’s bring it back to five nominees, and the esteem of the category can be restored.

(Of course, the biggest Oscars highlight of all for me this year was my lovely friends showing up at my place with bottles of wine and dressed up in black tie garb. It wouldn’t be an Oscars party without them, and I think these photos will prove just that.)

59 movies were nominated for Academy Awards this year. How many have you seen?

Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

The Rules Are Simple.
For each category, number the nominees one through five; one means you think this nominee will definitely win the Oscar, and five means you think it has no shot. This way for each category, you have a numerical score. Once all of the awards are presented, total up the scores for each participant and the low score wins. Have everyone throw $5 into the pot, and the winner takes all. Yay gambling!

The Boss hails from New Jersey, obviously. (Flickr/FromTheNorth)

There are two important Oscar categories when it comes to music: Original score, and original song. Scores are written by composers specifically for a film, with the intention of adding drama to the movie– so it’s actually the song category that’s the fun one. This is where we (sometimes) get to see our favorite artists take center stage at an otherwise pretty upscale (read: snotty) movie award show. It’s true that Disney can tend to take over; “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” all won big in their day, but then it’s hard to argue with Alan Menken or Tim Rice. Disney is nice, but when “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” wins the Oscar for best original song, it’s kind of just…okay.

Believe it or not, some artists who truly rock have actually won Academy Awards in the past– like Bruce Springsteen (“Streets of Philadelphia,” 1993), Bob Dylan (“Things Have Changed,” 2000) and Eminem (“Lose Yourself,” 2002). YES, Eminem is an Oscar winner; we just said that. Hey, the guy deserved it, because “Lose Yourself” is an anthem. But since this year’s Oscar nominees for best song include two from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” we’re not feeling very hopeful for the original song award. So instead, we offer up our thoughts on mandatory movie listening from the past 12 months. These may not be nominees next weekend, but they deserve a spot on your iPod regardless.

1. “Welcome Home” by Coheed and Cambria, from “9″
2. “Rich Girls” by The Virgins, from “17 Again”
3. “Mushaboom” by Feist, from “(500) Days of Summer”
4. “Jesus, Etc.” by Wilco, from “Funny People”
5. “Fruit Machine” by The Ting Tings, from “He’s Just Not That Into You”
6. “Little Lover’s So Polite” by Silversun Pickups, from “Jennifer’s Body”
7. “Mike Modrak” by Michael Cera, from “Paper Heart”
8. “Ghosts” by Ladytron, from “Sorority Row”
9. “Happy Together” by Filter, from “The Stepfather”
10. “Hearing Damage” by Thom Yorke, from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”
11. “Desolation Row” by My Chemical Romance, from “Watchmen”
12. “Blue Turning Grey” by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, from “Whip It”

We want to hear your movie playlist recommendations. Want a hint? Movies made by hip people or for teenagers, summer blockbusters and horror flicks usually have worthy soundtracks. Check out 2009’s soundtracks and get back to us with your favorites.

Planning a successful Oscars party menu from Diane Rusignola on Vimeo.

With only one week left until the Oscars, it’s time for you to start planning your menu. It’ll start with the small touches, like flowing champagne and glitzy plates and silverware, and be finished off with delicious food themed around this year’s best picture nominees. Sound like a chore? It’s really not, and we’re walking you through it step-by-step in this video blog. Once you’ve watched, be sure to check out our links below to some great online resources. Time to start cooking!

Tableware
Hollywood-style party plates, napkins and plasticware
Gold plates and plasticware
Plastic champagne flutes

Alcohol
“Red Carpet Fizz” champagne drink recipe
“The Envelope Please” vodka drink recipe

Food
All Recipes‘ Oscars homepage
Epicurious‘ Oscars homepage

Fun Oscar party decorations, games and SWAG from Diane Rusignola on Vimeo.

You’ve mailed out your Oscar party invitations– good. You still have a long way to go before you’ve planned a successful party though. Today we have a special video for you, chock full of ideas for games and prizes, decorations and, perhaps most importantly, swag for your guests to take home. After you’ve watched the video, check out the links below to some of the party supplies we mention, as well as other great decorations at Windy City Novelties and Hollywood Megastore. And now…go get planning!

• *Red carpet
• *Centerpiece
• *Table fringe
• *Popcorn serving buckets
• *Glitter microphone
• *Popcorn swag bags

Flickr/WorthingTheatres

When Martin Scorsese makes a movie, it’s usually worth watching– especially if Leonardo DiCaprio is in it (think: “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator” and “The Departed”). The latest Scorsese/DiCaprio flick, “Shutter Island,” is an interesting breed: It’s a book adaptation. But the story’s original author, Dennis Lehane, is no stranger to books-turned-movies; the novelist also penned “Mystic River” and “Gone, Baby, Gone,” both Hollywood darlings in their own right. But what does this all mean? It means, Lehane plus Scorsese/DiCaprio equals box office gold. Clearly.

DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. marshal paired up with a new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), and en route via ferry in the mid-1950’s to Shutter Island, Massachusetts in the film’s opening scene. The island is small and remote, surrounded by rough terrain, and it’s home to a hospital for the criminally insane; the marshals are being sent there to investigate the disappearance of patient Rachel Solando. They’re greeted by Deputy Warden McPherson (John Carroll Lynch) and a slew of his police team when they arrive on the island, forced to surrender their firearms and given the lay of the land. The hospital grounds are picturesque with meticulously manicured lawns and beautiful old buildings, but Daniels can see right away that the patients are disturbed. He and Aule are escorted to meet the hospital’s head psychiatrist, Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley), who describes Solando’s crime and the details of her improbable escape from a locked cell.

Daniels and Aule begin their investigation, lasting several days through treacherous, hurricane-like weather. As events begin to unravel, Daniels reveals his real motive for taking on the case– to avenge the death of his wife (Michelle Williams), whose murderer may be on Shutter Island. Aule is loyal and willing to help Daniels, who he refers to as “boss,” however he can. But the most interesting relationship in the movie is between Daniels and Cawley; the doctor claims he uses respect and understanding to best treat his patients, but Daniels suspects torture and lobotomies are being conducted in secret.

The tension between DiCaprio and Kingsley, coupled with the gorgeous cinematography and shots of the landscape, are what make “Shutter Island” so thrilling. Both actors have proven themselves with larger than life roles and multiple Academy Award nominations: DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in 2004’s “The Aviator,” and Kingsley even scoring an Oscar win for the title role in 1982’s “Ghandi.” Their relationship here as cop and doctor becomes even more complex as “Shutter Island” unfolds. Ruffalo unsurprisingly plays a worthy sidekick; his under-the-radar acting career pops up every now and then with a strong portrayal to remind you exactly who he is. And Williams, although playing a deceased character who only appears in flashbacks throughout the film, is convincing as DiCaprio’s lost love, with an authentic Boston accent to boot. Patricia Clarkson (“Six Feet Under,” “Good Night, and Good Luck”) and Jackie Earle Haley (“The Bad News Bears,” “Little Children”) both play vital, half-crazed patients in the movie; although they each only appear in one scene, their characters are central to solving the story’s mystery.

But what really makes “Shutter Island” work in the end is the marriage of a solid tale and expert directing. Lehane’s story is gripping, and plot twists will keep moviegoers guessing up until the very end. Scorsese is a film genius, and his ability to transform a book to the big screen is a credit he deserves alone– regardless of Lehane’s past Hollywood successes. Together, writer and director have created a riveting movie, not so much scary as it is tense and perplexing.

So yes, this may indeed be a box office smash (in its first weekend, it earned $41 million), but “Shutter Island” is a film worth seeing regardless. And you just may leave the theater thinking you’d like to read that book.

How-to create great Oscar party invitations from Diane Rusignola on Vimeo.

The Academy Awards are in two weeks, and that means the time for you to start planning your Oscars party is now. This week we’ll bring you a series of three how-to videos guiding you step-by-step to throwing a fantabulous party; we know you’re up for the challenge. Today’s lesson: Party invitations. Watch and learn!