Jennifer Lawrence was this year's winner for Best Actress at the Oscars, and whether you loved or hated her performance (or the movie), you have to admit that her happiness is contagious. Though many of us probably know her from her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, this wasn't J-Law's first nomination with the Academy. The 22-year-old was previously nominated for her role in Winter's Bone, making her one of the youngest actresses ever nominated (she didn't win).
But this isn't why you should love Jennifer Lawrence.
She's played Mystique in X-Men first class, a role which she'll be reprising in the new installment of the series next year.
But this isn't why you should love Jennifer Lawrence.
You should love Jennifer Lawrence because she's funny, down-to-earth and is reacting to all the excitement in her life the same way any one of us would—with total dork out moments, humour and shock.
One of the best things I've seen about Jennifer Lawrence is her appreciation that she doesn't necessarily look the same as the Hollywood mainstays, and she's OK with that. She's tall, she's curvier than many and she's oh-so-adorkable. She also understands (at 22!) that celebrity is fickle and it all could go away at any time and for any reason and she's totally OK with that. Her hyper awareness of her situation is remarkable. Many celebs who have been in the game for years don't have the clarity or appreciation for their situations quite like Jen does and it seems like a breath of fresh air!
She also doesn't seem to take anything about Hollywood too seriously and just rolls with pretty much anything. Case in point? She recently admitted during an interview that she "stalked" John Stamos at a party they were both at, following him from room-to-room while "staring at his butt" (and come on, who WOULDN'T do that with Stamos?).
Am I gushing yet? I also really adore the fact that J-Law isn't just doing "safe" films or "blockbuster" roles. I mean, sure, X-Men and The Hunger Games are two of the biggest science fiction franchises ever to be produced, but she's just as comfortable in Silver Linings Playbook or Winter's Bone.
BUT I think the thing I like THE BEST about Jennifer Lawrence is her reaction to everything in her life right now: one of sheer joy, confusion and happiness. Even her trip up the steps at the Oscars was amazing. But what happened afterwards sealed the deal for my love:
The exchange is a little hard to hear, but Jack tells her that he is a "big fan" and that he loved her in SLP. He then goes on to say, "You look like an old girlfriend." Her response? "Do I look like a NEW one?" Jack, "I thought about it." Her reaction is a gif for the ages.
Between Jack, Jennifer Garner, and just the sheer joy in her life, I can't help but see that her star is not only on the rise, she'll be the actress that young girls look up to for years to come.
So, spill it! What do you think of Jennifer Lawrence?
Photo by PR Photos
This year's Oscars telecast clocked in at nearly 4 hours long. An insanely boring, useless 4 hours. I wasn't expecting to like Seth MacFarlane as host, but he was BAD. Bad as in how-does-he-not-know-how-awful-this-is bad. His false laugh between jokes. His snappy fingers. Bob Hope you ain't, buddy. There were so many sexist, racist, and homophobic remarks followed by his weasly little smile and twinkle that I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. And having ANOTHER song after the Best Picture award? Holy moly, man. At least James Franco appeared to have smoked a little weed and THAT was entertaining.
The dresses were OK, and a few stood out for me. I loved Reese Witherspoon's dress and Charlize Theron has her hair done EXACTLY the way I was going to do it for the summer (foiled!). Anne Hathaway's dress was awful from the front and lovely from the back. But the real interesting bits were the winners. If you were able to sit through all the drivel. Let's take a look at how I fared in my predictions:
Best Supporting Actress
I predicted Anne Hathaway, and she won. Her speech was forgettable, though many really enjoyed it.
Best Supporting Actor
My prediction was right again! Christoph Waltz' acceptance speech was wonderful.
Best Animated Feature
I called Wreck-It-Ralph over Brave but was wrong. One of the few "Girl Power" moments of the night.
Best Foreign Language Film
3 for 4 for me. I predicted Amour and was right.
Best Original Song
ADELE! She also sang Skyfall and sounded wonderful last night. And having Shirley Bassey sing Goldfinger? One of the highlights of the night for me, for sure!
Best Original Screenplay
Tarantino takes it, and his acceptance speech was bizarre as only a Tarantino speech can be. 5/6 so far!
Best Adapted Screenplay
Argo took it as I predicted.
Best Actress
Jennifer Lawrence wins for Silver Linings Playbook and falls walking up the stairs. The only person in the front row who goes to help her is Hugh Jackman who appeared to have run from the other side of the dias. Way to go, Bradley Cooper.
Best Actor
DDL really showed up Seth MacFarlane. He was wildly humorous. Interesting facts about him—he's the only actor in history to have 3 Oscars for best actor AND his wife is author Arthur Miller's Daughter Rebecca.
Best Director
Ang Lee took home the trophy for Life of Pi. This was surprising. And I got this one wrong. I really thought Spielberg had it....but he has Kate Capshaw, who is quite a fox, still!
Best Picture
And Argo took home the trophy. Certainly wasn't the best movie in my mind, but it was a movie about how Hollywood saves the day.
So, out of my 11 categories, I got 9 right.
What do I win?
Photo courtesy of PR Photos
So, as you're all aware, The Academy Awards are airing this Sunday and YMC will be along for the ride! I'll be firing up my fondue pot and using the hashtag #YMCOscars (@kitten_arms) all night starting at around 6pm EST for all the Red Carpet hijinks and then on with the show! But who will win? I've been thinking a lot about this one, as well as keeping track of all the awards being handed out at various awards shows this season, so I'm thinking that for the top categories at least, I'll be at least half right ;).
Best Supporting Actress
This one is tough. Anne Hathaway seems to be the favourite, but the Academy has a funny way of surprising us. I think there's a dead heat between Hathaway and Sally Field for Lincoln and though it could go either way, I'll predict it goes to Hathaway. Whether she wins or loses, she'll have to stick around the telecast though: she's singing I Dreamed a Dream later in the evening.
Best Supporting Actor
This is a category that I think will win Django Unchained one of it's few awards. Christoph Waltz is beloved, has worked for years and seems genuinely to be happy to be doing what he's doing. This category has a lot of strong contenders, but I'm going with Waltz.
Best Animated Feature
Another dead heat, in my opinion, between Brave and Wreck-It Ralph. Though I'd like to see Brave win, I suspect the award will go to Wreck-It Ralph.
Best Foreign Language Film
This is the one I think Amour will take, although the Canadian entry, Rebelle (War Witch) is stunning.
Best Original Song
If this goes to anyone other than Adele for Skyfall, you may hear me yelling in my living room. The song is chillingly good, and Adele is already half way to her EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) if she wins.
Best Original Screenplay
I'd hope that Django takes this award as well, as Tarantino definitely deserves it, but the Academy may be spooked by his use of the N word (in context, I might add) and give it to Amour or Zero Dark Thirty. But, let's all root for Tarantino anyways.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Though I'd like to see Silver Linings Playbook win this one, Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood, so I'm going to go for it and say Argo will take this one.
Best Actress
I think this is Jennifer Lawrence's year and she'll take the award for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. Though I don't think she was the best actor in that movie by a long shot, I do think the Academy wants to award her because they see her as the big up-and-comer for the future of Hollywood.
Best Actor
While I'd like this to go to Bradley Cooper for his role in Playbook, there's no doubt in my mind that this award will go to anyone OTHER than Daniel Day Lewis for Lincoln.
Best Director
This one, I'm pretty sure, will go to Lincoln. Spielberg seems to get an award every 10 years or so, so the timing is right, and the Academy just loves him.
Ben Affleck will get this one for sure. This is going to be one of those years where the Best Picture isn't the same winner as Best Director. I'm guessing Argo for the win here.
There are interactive online ballots at the Academy's website (which are also printable) so I highly recommend you get sorted, make your picks and join us on Sunday for the telecast using #YMCOscars! If I had about one million more hours, we could talk about who I think will wear what, but let's leave something to the imagination!
So, spill it! Who do you think will win at this weekend's Academy Awards?
Printer-friendly version