Grammy Predictions 2013

Album of the Year
The Black Keys-El Camino
fun.-Some Nights
Mumford and Sons-Babel
Frank Ocean-Channel ORANGE
Jack White-Blunderbuss

Who will win?  Tough call many of the artists blends genres of pop/rock/alternative with a hint of folk thrown in there and some R&B.  There are many artists with 6 nominations, and many of them are in this category.  I have not been as good at predicting the Grammy's lately although I predicted Adele's sweep last year, but who didn't?  My gut tells me that the best selling, and most audience friendly Mumford will win here in this category, but their lack of attention in the Record and Song categories are surprising.  I am proud of the Grammy Awards this year this is a solid list of nominees.

Will Win: Mumford and Sons-Babel
Should Win: Frank Ocean-Channel ORANGE
Spoiler:Anyone! fun. is the biggest in my book

Record of the Year
The Black Keys-Lonely Boy
Kelly Clarkson-Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
fun. featuring Janelle Monae-We Are Young
Gotye featuring Kimbra-Somebody that I used to Know
Frank Ocean-Thinkin bout You
Taylor Swift-We are Never Getting Back Together

All great songs in their own right, but fun. has this in the bag, and I would be shocked if they lost this award.  Gotye and Kelly Clarkson are the bigger spoilers in my book.

Will Win-fun. featuring Janelle Monae
Should and Spoiler Win-Gotye-Somebody that I used to Know

Song of the Year

Kelly Clarkson-Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

fun. featuring Janelle Monae-We Are Young

Carly Rae Jepsen-Call Me Maybe

Miguel-Adorn

Ed Sheeran-The A Team

fun. has this one in the bag as well, this track is the exact type of song that wins in both these categories like many before them, and most recently Lady Antebellum, Adele, Amy Winehouse, and the Dixie Chicks.  Will fun. join these names?  Maybe I do think people are underestimating the support for Kelly Clarkson, and the song was a big hit.

Will Win: fun. featuring Janelle Monae-We Are Young

Should Win-Miguel-Adorn

Spoiler-Kelly Clarkson-Stronger

Best New Artist

The Alabama Shakes

fun. 

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean

Never underestimate a good country artist in this category, but my prediction is this is the category for Frank Ocean to win.  Yet honestly this a wide open category where surprises always happen look at past winners Esperanza Spaulding (beating Justin Bieber and Drake), and Shelby Lynne (although I predicted her).

Will and Should Win: Frank Ocean

Spoiler: Anyone, but fun. and Hunter Hayes are most likely

Pop Solo Performance-Kelly Clarkson-Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group-fun. featuring Janelle Monae-We are Young

Pop Vocal Album-fun.-Some Nights

Dance Recording-Skrillex-Bangarang

Dance/Electronica Album-Demau5-Album title goes Here

Rock Performance-Mumford and Sons-I Will Wait

Rock Song-The Black Keys-Lonely Boy

Rock Album-The Black Keys-El Camino

Alternative Album-Gotye-Making Mirrors

R&B Performance-Miguel-Adorn

Traditional R&B Performance-Beyonce-Love on Top

R&B Song-Miguel-Adorn

R&B Album-R Kelly-Write Me Back 

Rap Performance-The Throne-Ni**as in Paris

Rap Sung Collaboration-Nas featuring Amy Winehouse-Cherry Wine

Rap Song-The Throne-Ni**as in Paris

Rap Album-Drake-Take Care

Urban Contemporary Album-Frank Ocean-Channel ORANGE

Country Solo Performance-Carrie Underwood-Blown Away 

Country Duo or Group Performance-Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars-Safe and Sound

Country Album-Miranda Lambert-Four the Record 

Comedy Album-Jimmy Fallon-Blow Your Pants Off

Spoken Word Album-Michelle Obama-American Grown

Performer to Watch: Corey Stoll

While Corey Stoll may not be a household name yet, he sure may become one soon.  The first time I became aware of Mr. Stoll was when he portrayed Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.  While Woody's films tend to have stronger female performances, ranging from his ladies Diane Keaton to Penelope Cruz, Stoll stole the film as the larger than life Hemingway.  While no one managed an acting nomination from Midnight in Paris Stoll was clearly an under appreciated performer in the film, and should have gotten more attention.

Stoll recently hit my radar once again in the new original series from Netflix entitled House of Cards.  In House of Cards Stoll plays Representative Peter Russo, a man caught in Francis Underwood's (Kevin Spacey) cross hairs in his master plan to manipulate.  Peter not only navigates the tricky political world but a relationship with a staffer and an addiction to drugs and and alcohol.  As Peter's story evolves I imagine his character will continue to prove Stoll's strong acting abilities.

While Stoll has had numerous small roles/guest starring roles over the years television series like ER, CSI, Without a Trace, The Nine, Law & Order: LA and many more.  Stoll has also landed roles in major action films like Salt, Lucky Number Slevin, and The Bourne Legacy.

Stoll has a few films coming down the line with lots of potential including Decoding Annie Park, Non-Stop, and Glass Chin.  Look for Stoll now in the Netflix original series if you have not started yet!

Tune In or Tune Out: House of Cards (Netflix)

House of Cards (Netflix)

Created by: Beau Willimon (Ides of March)

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, and Kate Mara

Do you have Netflix? If the answer is no, I am going to advise that within the next couple of months that you should invest in the watch instant feature.  Not only has Netflix been doing a good job getting more movies, and television series, but now they have their own television series, and its good!

House of Cards centers around the inner workings of politics in Washington DC and the election of a new President.  While the show focuses on many different political players in DC the show focuses House Majority Whip Francis Underwood played brilliantly by Kevin Spacey.  The shows other main player is a young upstart reporter Zoe barnes played incredible vitality by Kate Mara.  While Spacey is a house hold name as a two time Oscar winner Mara is a bit more unknown but her performance in the first American Horror Story series was brilliant.  Francis's wife Claire Underwood played by Robin Wright is another focal point of the show, and while her story was a bit dull the character is not, and Wright has this dark energy which she exudes in a commanding supporting role.

Together these power players along with the rest of the cast work together to create a show which centers on the intrigue within DC.  Francis was groomed to be the President elects Secretary of State but was passed over by the administration.  Francis teams up with Zoe, his wife, staffers, and other politicians to manipulate a situation that will enact a form of revenge that is almost Shakespearean.

Series creator Beau Willimon who wrote the electrifying film Ides of March teams up with genius director David Fincher for the first episode of this new series.  Willimon's script is excellent; he knows how to create connecting points, which will help develop characters while moving the show in an interesting direction. Fincher's direction is incredible, the man can almost do no wrong.  In this series he works well with the actors to create the edge of seat intensity. One of my favorite aspect of the script, and direction is the Spacey breaks the fourth wall talking to viewer.  Characters rarely break the fourth because it feels contrived or forced but within the context of this show, there is something devilishly fun about being led down the path with Francis.

For their first major television series Netflix has gambled a lot on this series, and it's paid off.  While the show may not be for everyone, mainly if you are not intrigued by politics, but the characters are fantastic, the writing is sharp, and the direction flawless.  Even only after one episode I am intrigued and will going back to finish all thirteen, which are available.  This is a brilliant show, and strategy.  I applaud the tenacity of Netflix, and the people involved with this show.

Verdict: Tune In!!

Women in Comedy Part II: Acting, Directing, Writing, Creating, Producing!

This past Saturday night Lena Dunham became the first winner of the Director's Guild of America (DGA) Award in the television comedy category.  Dunham won the DGA for the episode entitled "Pilot" or the first episode of the show Girls.  While women have won this category in the drama category, most of the recent wins have come in the most recent years.  One of the most recent wins was Patty Jenkins winning for the first episode of the television series The Killing.

Over the last decade female characters in television series both comedy and drama have become more and more interesting and dynamic.  One of the main reasons for these dynamic women in television is mainly because there are more women behind the scenes as creators, directors, writers, and producers.  In the drama world Shonda Rhimes is the best example working, with shows like Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal centered all on female leads.  Yet the women of comedy have grown the most, and in larger numbers.

I would say that Tina Fey was at the start of this trend in the world of television comedy.  Fey an SNL alum created a small, but critically acclaimed television series about Liz Lemon who works on an NBC Variety Show named TGS. Sound familiar?  Fey's television series, 30 Rock, was not a monster hit in the ratings, but the show had an impact in many ways.  Fey started this trend where she not only starred in the show, but she created the show, produced the show, and wrote for 30 Rock.  Fey's Liz Lemon does feels as though she is a genuine creation of her own make; she is Tina Fey.  I always think of 30 Rock as the modern day Mary Tyler Moore Show, but Mary Richards was written and created by a woman now.

Fey influenced gal pal Amy Poehler in her next step after SNL, Poehler is stars in Parks and Recreation, and writes many of the episodes for the show.  I believe that New Girl would be something different without creator/producer Liz Meriweather behind the scenes.  The combination of Deschanel and Meriwather makes Jess an even more interesting layered, and of course quirky character.  Mindy Kailing who was a producer and writer for The Office has her own show now as well, where stars produces, and writes.  While The Mindy Project is still finding its footing the series feels right out of the mind of the star herself, and Mindy's adventures make sense because they are a creation of her own doing.

Then there is today's "modern" girl who has brought women even further to the forefront in television, Lena Dunham. Dunham's Girls is a show where you may not like the characters, you may not think its funny, but boy does it have a strong power.  While I think its one of the funniest shows on television Girls sharply points out the harsh realities of generations inability to cope, struggle, but they know how to have fun, and believe that life should be this amazing adventure.  Dunham has created four spectacularly different female characters that bring out all of these elements.  Dunham is a is genius, and  week after week she creates an evolutionary pattern for women working in television.

If you look at each of these women they star(ed) in some of the funniest shows of the last ten years, and have laid the groundwork for the future of television to continue to evolve, and create incredible female characters.  They have also started this great trend of letting women have more power over their own voice, and establish precedent for future generations to come.  These women are trailblazers in the world of television, and the work they do helps further the art of television.

Oscar Roundup 2012: The DGA Goes to Affleck, So Who Wins Oscar?

On January 10, 2013 the Academy Award nominations were announced.  The two biggest snubs were in the Best Director category, and the snubees were Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Affleck.  That same night the Broadcast Film Critics Awards (BFCA) hosted their awards, and wouldn't you know, Affleck won Best Director, and Argo took home Best Picture.  After that win Argo won Best Picture (Drama) at the Golden Globes, Affleck took home director there too.  Argo took home the Producer's Guild Award, and the following day Argo won Best Ensemble at the Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) Awards.  Both guilds equivalent honors of the Best Picture.  Last night Affleck did something only few others have done, won the Director's Guild of America (DGA) prize without an Oscar nomination.

With all of this support from almost every guild (namely the larger guilds) Argo is unstoppable in the Best Picture category.  Affleck's snub at the Oscars is being shoved in the Academy's face.  While Affleck does not have a director nomination, he is nominated as a Producer.  When Argo wins Best Picture at the Oscars Affleck will stand at the podium along with George Clooney and Grant Heslov.

Yet without a director nomination, Argo will make history on several levels.  As I stated above Affleck has won DGA, and is in a small company of director's who won DGA and were not nominated for Oscar.  One of the of those men is his director competitor Steven Spielberg.  Spielberg won the DGA for The Color Purple, but was not nominated for an Oscar.  Out of Africa won Best Picture that year, and The Color Purple was the only film to win 0 out of 11 nominations.  Affleck's Argo is being compared to another actor turned director's first quest towards Oscar, Ron Howard.  Howard's Apollo 13 won most of the awards Argo has won, but no Howard in the Best Director category.  Apollo 13 did not go on to win Best Picture, it was beat surprisingly by another actor turned director's film Braveheart.  Apollo 13 did win 2 Oscars, Best Editing, and Best Sound.

Argo would be the second film in Oscar history to win without a Best Director nomination.  The first was 1989's Driving Miss Daisy.  Daisy had 9 nominations winning four, Picture, Lead Actress-Jessica Tandy, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Makeup.  While Driving Miss Daisy had numerous acting nominations (three), Argo only has one for Alan Arkin.  Argo has seven nominations at the Oscars.

What are the next awards to pay attention to?  The American Cinema Editors (ACE) Awards, support from this guild would seal the win even further for me, and prove that there is hope for Argo to win this prize on Oscar night.  The Writer's Guild Awards (WGA) are going to be more important than ever.  While most have predicted Tony Kushner's Lincoln will win, many are switching teams with the barrage of Argo support.  If Argo wins hear it has a shot to win this at the Oscars as well.  The last, and probably most important precursor is the British Academy of Television and Film Awards (BAFTA). BAFTA have nominated Argo for seven awards as well.  these winners may be more of a wild card, but have a lot of cross over voters between here and the Oscars.  Affleck is even nominated for Best Actor here, so he has a lot of support look for him to win Director as well.

With Affleck winning all of these director prizes this makes Best Director one of the toughest categories to predict.  Who will could be anyone's guess.  Here is my best guess.  Spielberg was snubbed by BAFTA, which was shocking to me because Lincoln still scored the most nominations.

Life of Pi appears to have a lot of support from all the technical branches, and Ang Lee is a well respected director, after all this talk of Argo, and moving forward to Director and Oscar my prediction at this moment is Ang Lee.  Yet as many have cited how something can be nominated for Best Picture without a Best Director nomination makes sense, and Affleck should have been a nominee, along with the snubbed but forgotten Kathryn Bigelow.

Oscar Roundup 2012: Anna Karenina, Life of Pi, and Skyfall win at Art Director's Guil

At the Art Director's Guild (ADG) awards tonight three films took home the top honors.  The ADG break down their nominees and winners into three categories: Period Film, Fantasy Film, and Contemporary Film.  This years nominees in each category were as follows:

Period Film
Anna Karenina
Argo
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Lincoln 

Fantasy Film
Cloud Atlas
The Dark Knight Rises 
Life of Pi
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Prometheus

Contemporary Film
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Flight
The Impossible 
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

The winners in each category were, Anna Karenina, Life of Pi, and Skyfall.  The first two winners have a shot at taking Oscar gold, but since the Academy rarely recognizes contemporary art direction Skyfall did not even make the cut as one of the nominees.

The Oscar nominees would fit within the Best Production Design Category, and the nominees are:

Anna Karenina
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln 

Come Oscar time this is is actually going to be a hard category to predict, Anna Karenina and Life of Pi both have their own merits, but this race is between these two films.  Look for Pi to have Hugo like wins, sweeping most of the technical races.

Tune In or Tune Out: The Americans (F/X)

The Americans

Created by Joe Weisberg 

Starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich

Tune-in or tune out is going to be a new series centered on new television shows.  The goal is to provide people with the opportunity to gage a shows viewership potential.  This week I am tackling the new F/X series The Americans starring Keri Russell (Felicity) and Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters).

The Americans follows Phillip (Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Russell), a married suburban couple who are also spies for the Soviet Union living in America during the 1980s.  The central premise of the show follows the couple as they hunt down a Soviet defector.  While this moment is action packed the series centers on the familial dynamic of the Jennings.  Phillip and Elizabeth have set up "good life" in America, they have two children, and are established.  When an FBI agent moves in across the street after their operation gets blown then tension builds and they two have to navigate their love for the Motherland, and their lives they have built.

The Americans is a fast paced thriller/drama, with strong acting.  While at an hour and a half the show lost steam every now and then I think the hour long dramatic episode will suit this show well.  Rhys and Russell have strong on screen acting chemistry, and they prove they are incredible actors who will help make this material even stronger.  Russell is in fact the MVP so far; she kicks ass, and is one talented actress. 

Some of my favorite moments were watching Phillip and Elizabeth try to pretend their love for America.  As Phillip is at a school assembly with his son he pretends to mouth the words of the National Anthem. There are moments when this seems forced, and like it will become contrived like with the first meeting of the FBI agent, and he states oh I hate Soviets.  While this could become a flaw my hope is Weisberg will get this out of his system. 

While I thought the FBI moving across the street would be cliche along with the constant mention of hating the Soviet Union, I am intrigued by Noah Emerich's character and the depth he could bring to this agent.  I think there is a lot this show can do with this, and my hope is that with Weisman's FBI background he will flesh out this story.

I can move past all of this, but my biggest complaint about this show is that the emphasize dates and time frames quite often, but this does not feel like a "period show."  There is nothing within the art direction or even the clothing to signify the 80s.  Russell could have had bad hair again, and gotten away with it this time.  The show needs to fix this piece because it feel essential to the plot, and they need to do more than just play Genesis.

Yet this was an engrossing television show, with great performances. If you like strong family drama mixed with some action packed thriller moments then this is a show for you.

Update Status 2/25/13

After a few episodes this show is losing me fast, and while I like the concept and cast, I am not sure if the premise, writing, etc can sustain me as a long time viewer.  F/X shows are hit or miss for me, and while many of them are creative they are often some of the more inconsistent with their seasons, look at Nip/Tuck, The Shield, Damages, Sons of Anarchy, and Justified.  Although the latter two are their most consistent.  I feel as though many of their shows seem like they would be better mini-series.

Current Verdict: Two More Episodes and, if there is little improvement I am Out!