another good flick: 'Benji Button'

Today is another day watching 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' on tv.

Well, Benjamin ( or I easily call him Benji Button) has scored my taught to 'license' it as one of my favourite drama movies, after CRASH (won 2006's Oscars), and bff inspired movie 'Simon Birch'.

I don't know if i'm good at picking a good movie since i'm not on of AMPAS members, but I can tell you this one is so effing outstanding. A story about Benji Button who was born in rare disease (not sure it's a disease). He has our grandpa's condition as he was a baby, growing to be young. Living backward againsts the 'time' of any normal human beings. A condition some people will prefer since it becomes younger, and pretty as Brad Pitt.

Watching the movie a couple of times makes me wondering. Be born already with burdens and growing up easily as the burdens wash away. Living hell at first, and taste the heaven at last.

Benji had been nominated in last year Academy Award, but the eup just came in, to me, as i get smart enough to endorse a great movie, and wiser to pick one. Well broken dvd player is another major reason, making so much delay to keep updated w/ good movies for a year.

The 1st Classical Band Aid

25 years Ago, 'We Are The World' was recorded for fighting African hunger.
year before Bob Geldof motorized the infamous UK 'Band Aid'.

and now, yes there is the new 'We Are The World' (Which is not I'am going to talk about :)) but what I'm up to is the first classical 'band aid': Classical Relief for Haiti.

The relief is joined by 23 classical performers, including Britain's Got Talent winner Faryl Smith, Paul Potts, Rhydian. Not to mention British success group Libera, Blake, All Angels, Bond and soloists like Cammila Kerslake and Darius. the gorgeous 'The Prayer'(writen by David Foster, famously performed by Dion and Bocelli)is selected in marking the first classical band aid.

The Track is now available. Download the track in www.mailonsunday.co.uk/haiticd. the profits will be 100% donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee

Well, if you can't download because of any 'understandable' circumstances :), you can still watch the footage of course. Just insert 'haiti classical relief' in your youtube key-search.



The full list of artists taking part are as follows (in alphabetical order): Aled Jones, All Angels, Blake, Bond, Camilla Kerslake, Charlie Siem, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Darius Campbell, Elysium, Faryl Smith, Gardar Thor Cortez, Julian Lloyd Webber, Julian Smith, Libera, Natasha Marsh, Only Men Aloud, Operababes, Paul Potts, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhydian, Sara Kempe, The Priests, Wynne Evans.

the list is still damn good, but it's a pity other big names, like Charlotte Church (making a good come-back I thought), Hayley Westenra, Katherine Jenkins, to Josh Groban, couldn't join this gang..

(photos are taken from classicfm.co.uk and zimbio.com)

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards: The All New Oscar Records

The Academy has over, but bunch of new records have just been made in 82 years of its celebration saga.

Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman ever to win the Oscar for the best director of a motion picture. Her directed movie, The Hurt Locker, which story out-lines the war in Iraq, also won the major award for the best motion picture. This winning bit 3D blockbuster Avatar expectation to rule the night and make the director James Cameron having ‘I am the king of the world’ moment again, after the success of his 1997’s Titanic in Oscar.

Bigelow was not the only one who hit a record in the prom. Major prices were also given for many first-time recipients. Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) and Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), biting the most nominated actor Meryl Streep in Oscars history, got their first Oscars for Actor/Actress in a leading role. It was Sandy’s first Oscar in her career, also her first to get nominated. Mo’Nique made another list of African-American woman to win the price after Halley Berry in 2002 and Hattie McDaniel whom MoNique mentioned in her outstanding speech. She received her first Oscar for her supporting role in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, an inspiring movie co-produced by Oprah Winfrey.

In this year the Academy team made a little bit enhancement by nominating 10 movies in Best Motion Picture, instead of the usual five since 1946. Disney favorite animated flick Up and sci-fi District 9 are among of them, which are very rare for non-drama picture to get nominated.

The Hurt Locker wins 6 Oscars of their 9 nominations, including Best Screen Play and Best Editing.

Full list winners and nominations: http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2010/oscars

What do I YouTube recently?

I YouTube “Pop-star to Opera-star”.

It is an uncommon singing competition, aired weekly in UK’s ITV, which features pop-stars competing to be an opera performer. the 2010 show begins with eight then-now pop-stars, they are Jimmy Osmond, Mcfly’s Danny Jones, 2002 Popidol winner Darius Campbell, Bernie Nolan, The Saturdays’ Vanessa White, Kym Marsh, Marcella Detroit and Alex James of The Blur. The show becomes really famously hilarious when the opera-stars-to-be find difficulty in different style of they every-time singing. To be a professional in this classical-style of singing, the competitors get a train from today’s famous opera-star, the mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and tenor Rolando Villazon, who also both appearing as commentator in the live-show. Each singer will be given different arias every-week, from Mozart’s Figgaro Marriage to Porgy and Bess.


Since I dreamt to be an opera-star (look-a-like), I think this show is not only offering some ‘entertainment’, but also a chance of learning how to be a good singer according to classical-style of singing.

Interesting part:
- First week, when Blur’ Alex James showed up with different style of singing “Largo al Factotum”
- Trainer and singers always act ridiculously. They got different ‘interpretation’ of songs.

About Globe to Oscars: Ladies, SIZE DOES MATTER

(Gabbie-Mo'Nique-Amber)


Looking out this 2010 Awards season, I notice that there are some differences from the past few years’ tradition. Check out the Globe, SAG, to BAFTA and Oscars’ nominees, doubled-size women are taking the center-stage.

Meet Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe. Making her debut in the “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” movie, she is playing Claireece Jones character, a sixteen year-old girl who is pregnant for the second time after being raped by her father and is also on the receiving end of constant physical abuse by her mother. Raised in the wild New York’s Harlem, Gabby had no confidence in the acting-world. However, she changed her mind after-all by doing “Precious”, directed by Lee Daniels. She went to the casting after her friend encouraged her to do so. Her confidence and, also, role get a warm-welcome by critics. And it’s all paid off. Gabby get Globe, SAG, BAFTA and Oscar nomination, each for ‘Actress in Leading Role’.

Her co-star Mo'Nique, has made her appearance in screen world long ago before Gabby. Monique Imes is well-known for her comedy carrier. She’s doing her own show, once a host in BET awards, and guest-staring in ‘Ugly Betty’. Far beyond from her comedy carrier, Mo’Nique has received her first Golden Globe and SAGs for her drama supporting role in “Precious” and maybe waiting for other winnings in BAFTA and Oscars.
“Precious” itself got 58 nominations in 2009-2010 awards ceremony, and already got 44 of them.

In TV-screen, we've seen Amber Riley, one of the super-talented casts of musical series ‘Glee’. She’s 23 years old now, and when she was 16, she did an American-Idol audition, but she didn’t make it. Well, considering her big success in Glee, I think American Idol would regret her decision of dumping Riley. Already got Globes and SAG trophy with her ‘Glee’ entourage, this always-catchy-fashionista big girl keep her focus on as “Gleeks”, that support her both in acting and singing carrier.

Talking about the Vanity Fair’s March cover, well I think these ‘big girls’ should be consider as "the fresh faces of 2010” on VF March cover, instead of ‘old’ young slim actress. 2010 is all about BIG talent, BIG winning , and BIG size. Yes, SIZE DOES MATTER! ;)

New “We Are The World” (Haiti Relief)

Remember the in-touching song “We Are the World”? which Michael Jackson joint Tina Turner, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder and other legends singing together for African relief hunger and raised $63 million?

It turns out that there will be a new version of “We Are the World”

The song writer, Lionel Richie and the producer fellow musician Quincy Jones, announced that the rearranged-song would be released in order to help Haiti relief after devastative quake hit the poorest country in western-hemisphere. Also to remark the 25th anniversary of this song, artists of musicians and some actors confirmed to join this charity: Celine Dion to Justin Bieber, Rihanna to Vince Vaughn, and Jason Mraz to already Golden Globe and SAG winner Jeff Bridges, also Usher with Barbara Streisand were resembled together in this music-relief. The recording took place in Kermit Studio, L.A., a day after Grammy night last weekend.

The brand new “We Are The World” is due during the opening of 2010 Winter Olympics this mid February.

Grammy on the way.. (eye on Gaga and Beyonce)
The most prestigious music award in the universe is on the way. The 2010 Grammy Awards will be held this weekend in LA. Gaga and Beyonce are battling down with their multiple nominations, including record of the year and album of the year. Many critics are predicting the always-fab Gaga will make this Grammy as her ‘year’ after Gaga’s success both in her album-sell and recent tours. However, Beyonce, with her 2009 party anthem “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” is possibly to win record of the year, after its satisfying record in single sells and receiving a great feedback from music critics.