Quvenzhane Wallis: At The Oscars

In an age of miracle and wonder a little princess goes to the ball. When director Ben Zeitlin cast the role of Hushpuppy for his soon to be lauded “Beasts of the Southern Wild” he found a gem in Quvenzhane Wallis. She embodied everything Zeitlin was look for and more. Wallis was strong, intelligent, self-assured, plucky and well…cute. There was more to her though and most importantly she won Zeitlin over with heart, compassion and a sense of what can only be described as honor. Both Wallis and Zeitlin were nominated for “Best” in their categories as well as the film itself was respectfully. No Oscars were awarded but the hearts and minds of many were won for the duration. They have been enlisted as friends and admirers for life.

 

At the Oscars and all the preliminary events, glamour and glitz Wallis was magnificent in the special way only an innocent can be. She was stylish of dress and lovely with her little puppy-purses and shoulder bags. Her interviews were on point and she showed a wit and aplomb that equaled many an older and more accomplished actress. Her best moment was a view of her dancing way past her bedtime (that had been extended for the events) and spinning in a circle until she was dizzy. Oh; the joys of childhood!   

Congratulations Quvenzhane! Congratulations for being there; at the ball, for showing us grace and joy and for filling our hearts.

Dali Drawings

 Sigmund Freud, Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney; all varied and names to be associated with Salvador Dali. Dali’s showmanship and his works intrigued enlivened and enriched the lives of his viewers and admirers for decades. He still touches millions even though he is not currently en vogue in anything close to the same manner he was just a few years prior. Dali dazzled and confused with his paintings, films, prints and sculptures. His drawings were equally impressive and mysterious. They are the features of this blog.

The lines of Dali are elegant and masterful. The drawings range from the subtle to the beautifully extravagant. The many dream images, the surreal works he playfully produced in his lifetime are statements to his unusual and marvelous mind. 

He could be both baroque and modern in ways that few were able to equal. Perhaps the fact that he outdistanced his surrealist peers is the reason he was denounced by those fellows. To call Dali a genius is almost redundant but if such a thing exists he is certainly among those elite. It has been said that and there is a thin line between genius and madness.

 

 

Dali walked that line for the entirety of his public life with his wife and muse Gala by his side. We can only guess at the meanings and symbols he conjuring’s provided his public; but that is part of the pleasures of his work. He mastered many forms and illuminated many lives.

 

                   “The only difference between a madman and myself is that I am not insane.”

                                                                                                                             Salvador Dali

the OSCARS

 

Winning the much coveted statuette “Oscar” is no less the pinnacle of success for all that make their lives in, through and around the film industry.  The 85th Annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards Ceremony will be held this Sunday night February 24th in their singular glory. Praise, adoration, glamour, riches accomplishment, purpose and joy live within this gold plated embodiment of “the stuff of dreams.”

There are nine nominees for the award of Best Picture. It is to the Academy’s credit that a total of nine candidates were selected in a category that allows for ten. This adds a special legitimacy to the choices. There is no reason to pick a tenth less accomplished piece just to fill a slot and nine are enough. The nominees are strong and varied in every way. Equally while uniquely worthy in fact they are truly all winners. Political intrigue, history, religion, childhood dreams and revolution are among the elements of these excellent works. Emancipation, rescue, revenge, survival and commitment are found along with feast; famine, love, hate and torture all brought to the big screen and this from the one feature “Zero Dark Thirty.” Imagine what the other eight are like with titles including “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, ”Silver Linings Notebook” and “Life of Pi.”  Twenty Twelve was an amazing year for the lovers of film and the nine nominees for best picture are:     

 

 

Amour

Margaret Menegoz, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka and Michael Katz   Producers

 

 

 

Argo

Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney    Producers

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald     Producers

Django Unchained

Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and

Pilar Savone    Producers

Les Misérables

Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh    Producers

 

 

 

Life of Pi

Gil Netter, Ang Lee and

David Womark Producers

 

 

Lincoln

 

Steven Spielberg and  Kathleen Kennedy   Producers

                 
                                                  
                                                                                                                                                     

Silver Linings Playbook

Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and

Jonathan Gordon   Producers

Zero Dark ThirtyMark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison   Producers