oscar sunday
February 25, 2012 § Leave a comment
Tomorrow night is the Academy Awards, and I can’t wait. Every year my family knows they will be taking a back seat as I pop the popcorn and pour the champagne, letting them fend for themselves while I sit glued to the TV.
In some way or another, the movies have always had a special place in my life. Years can be marked by the movie I was in love with: the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films, “Back to the Future” and “The Goonies.” I can remember the vacation out West with my dad when my brother and I chose practically every hotel based on their cable package and the viewing schedule for “Willow,” our movie obsession that year. That was also the trip I forced my dad and bro to stand outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for hours waiting for a glimpse of the stars at the “Ghostbusters II” world premiere. We even made People magazine (OK – very tiny in the background and across the street in a picture that was actually of Kevin Bacon).
In college I worked at a movie theater, and in my twenties I was a publicist in the entertainment industry and worked for an agency representing several movie studios’ regional marketing. It was the perfect job for me, and I still feel like pinching myself when I remember working at the premiere of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” or waiting on the airport tarmac for Kate Hudson and company to get off their private plane during a publicity tour for “Almost Famous.” And I can still hear the squeals from the time Tom Cruise called my co-worker Carolyn’s phone – OMG!
I come by it naturally; my mom – and her mom – both loved the movies. I remember watching all the old Fred Astaire-type singing and dancing films with my Memo, and my mom and I have always loved going to movies together. Our best mother/daughter trip was the one when we went to Hollywood and spent a lovely few days touring all the hip and happening spots – seeing and being seen. It was awesome! (Of course I shouldn’t mention our near-stalking of Billy Joel – my mom’s favorite – when he and his then-wife showed up at The Ivy right after we finished our lunch.)
Every year for the Oscars, my mom and I fill out our ballots and do a little wagering; something gold is always the prize on the line. I don’t like to brag, but I usually win. I think it’s because I don’t vote for what I want to win like my sweet Mama – I vote for what WILL win. I put on my Hollywood-player hat and try to think like the Academy voters, who are sentimental, reward previously denied favorites and like to spread the wealth. I’ve been cramming in my last-minute movie watching and trying to see as many as possible, and I’m ready to vote. Here are my picks. Keep your fingers crossed for me – I’ve got a cute little necklace from JCrew in mind!
My 2012 Oscar Picks
Best Picture: “The Artist”
Best Actor: George Clooney
Best Actress: Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer
Directing: “The Artist”
Adapted Screenplay: “The Descendants”
Original Screenplay: “Midnight in Paris”
little things i love 
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