Monday, July 25, 2011

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

So it's time to find out how I rank this year's nominees in this categories. On my Oscar blog I give out Meryls as grades but that wouldn't mean much here. With Comedy, I'll use Marys (after Mary Tyler Moore, the comedy legend). With Drama, I don't have an idea but I'll find out.

So the much anticipated ranking is:

1. Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie "Rat Falls"
Mindblowing performance by Edie Falco as Jackie, who has to steal a statue of the Blessed Virgin, deal with a rat and her own addiction. I love Edie Falco so much as she's such a versatile actress. She can play Carmela Soprano and then Nurse Jackie, being brilliant in both. I mean come on! She's unbearably brilliant in Rat Falls. Her performance is full of layers, it's outrageously hysterical and heart-breaking at the same time. Full of wonderful wit and dramatic moments, Edie Falco is unforgettable once again in Nurse Jackie.

2. Laura Linney in The Big C "Pilot"
Honest to God, choosing between Falco and Linney is impossible. They are both fantastic in their dramedy roles. The reason why I went with Falco was the fact that she was freakin' hilarious in her episode. However, Linney is just as great as her showing wonderful irony as a cancer patient who wants to change her life. She's totally realistic and so wonderfully shows the emotions. I'm going to be very happy if she wins (which seems to be most likely).

3. Tina Fey in 30 Rock "Double-Edged Sword"
Tina Fey was born to be on a sitcom. Please don't take it the wrong way but I love the old-fashioned (in the best way possible), ironic greatness left from the classic shows. In Double-Edged Sword, she deals again with her horrible love life. Liz has a fight with her boyfriend during a long wait in an airplane and Fey gets the best out of her. Although sometimes Alec Baldwin and Elizabeth Banks steal the spotlight, Fey's just excellent.

4. Martha Plimpton in Raising Hope "Say Cheese"
Another excellent entry by an excellent comedy actress. In this episode, Plimpton's character gets friendly with her son's date and we get to know how much of a maniac she is about family portraits. Plimpton gets the best out of the scenes, nailing all those funny lines, she never misses an opportunity, everything is where it should be. It's nothing for the ages but it's good fun for one.

5. Amy Poehler in Parks & Recreation "Flu Season"
Horrible submission anyone? Amy Poehler is one of the funniest people alive but this episode submission was a big misstep. At least, her performance just didn't work for me. I mean, the laughs were there for me, it's just that I didn't feel it was a really great performance by her. Her character Leslie ahs to battle flu as she has to attend an important meeting. That sounds excellent but she doesn't have much screentime and all of the supporting characters get funnier lines. Amy does what she can with this stuff but that's not much.

6. Melissa McCarthy in Mike & Molly "First Date"
Why do they feel the need of nominating the leading lady from a horrid CBS show? I thought after dumping Old Christine, everything will be fine. Well, I guess it wasn't. Melissa McCarthy gives an often embarassing, sometimes lovely performance as Molly, who's preparing for her date with Mike. I mean those scenes at the restaurant were horrid, clichéd and I felt I have seen that before. The weakest link...


Final thoughts: I guess Laura Linney will win, which is great but secretly I'm going to be hoping for an Edie Falco upset (she's an Emmy favorite why not?). I know that's not very likely, but still. If Laura wins, that will be more than fine. I will be satisfied even if Amy gets it as she so has to win an Emmy. A McCarthy win would piss me off but that's not gonna happen. Wow, I really felt like a real Emmy voter. That gave me very much pleasure. I've done it according to the rules, I ranked them so that's it. :) I hope you liked the post.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

My name is Bond. James Bond.

I got the best present two days ago. A James Bond collection with the first 20 movies. So what I decided is to catch up with this childhood favorite of mine and I'll rank the 20 films (I don't know if I should rank Craig's films, we'll see), the Bonds and I'll also pick the 10 greatest Bond girls. So the ranking fun will begin. I've already rewatched Dr. No, today I'll get something From Russia with Love and I might meet an old friend named Goldfinger. :) Depending on how tired I'll be... :)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Emmy nominations

So, the nominations are here. I've been disappointed in the Emmys many times before but I'm still going to give it a chance. However, I'll react to the nominations here.

F&CK YEAH:
  • All the adult cast members of Modern Family making it
  • nomination for Matt LeBlanc for the brilliant Episodes
  • no nomination for Neil Patrick Harris (seriously, I'm tired of that show and his character)
  • Mad Men gaining less nominations (Could The Good Wife win? One can hope :D)
  • Glee not getting many nods (Gosh, I hate that show)
Pleasant surprise and/or Enthusiastic Nods:
  • The love for Justified.
  • Outstanding Drama Series to Friday Night Lights
  • Again, some love for Maggie Smith is always great and I hope she beats my arch enemy (M.L.)
  • Martha Plimpton is so great and I'm so happy she was nominated.
Not so sure:
  • I was quite furious that Kyra Sedgwick won last year but not giving her a nomination? I don't think that was fair.
  • Zach Galifianikis? I'm so tired of him...
WTF?
  • Mariska Hargitay getting in. I mean... COME ON! Why is she nominated every single damn year?
  • No writing nominations for The Good Wife? Are you kidding?
  • Only one writing nomiantion for Modern Family?
  • Jon Cryer is still getting nominated. Again, some originality, dear voters?
Well, that's it! Later I'll reveal some of my picks, I'll watch (some of) the submitted episodes as I don't watch 20 series regularly (I need some life).

However, I'm saying right now that I'm rooting as hell for Modern Family and Julianna Margulies! :)

Saturday, July 2, 2011

My favorite actresses

Yes, this one is also a really crucial subject to get to know each other. It might be tedious to read all of these names but I'll try. I will comment on my favorite actress only because otherwise it would get really boring and you wouldn't read it anyway, just watch the pictures (sorry, I know, I'm just thinking about myself :D) .

My all-time favorite actress is...
Jane Fonda
I mean, how could she not be my favorite actress, favorite person and everything? If you ask me, she's the most versatile actress I know of. She can play the depressed dance marathon contender in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, a hooker in Klute, a boring housewife going through a radical change in Coming Home, an estranged daughter in On Golden Pond, the opportunist reporter in The China Syndrome and the list could go on. No matter if the movie's a lightweight comedy like Barefoot in the Park, a satyre like Nine to Five or a serious drama like Julia, Jane is always the BEST! :)
My dream is that she presents Best Picture at next year's Oscars (and of course, meeting her in person)! :)
Must-see: Preferably everything, but if I had to choose, Klute; They Shoot Horses, Don't They?; Coming Home, On Golden Pond, Nine to Five, The China Syndrome, Barefoot in the Park, Julia

Maggie Smith
Must-see: A Private Function, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hyrne, California Suite, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Gosford Park, Tea with Mussolini, A Room with a View

Barbara Stanwyck
Must-see: Double Indemnity; The Lady Eve;Sorry, Wrong Number; Ball of Fire

Ellen Burstyn
Must-see: Resurrection, The Exorcist, Requiem for a Dream, The Last Picture Show

Ingrid Bergman
Must-see: Autumn Sonata (in my TOP 5-10 performances), Casablanca, Cactus Flower, Notorious, Gaslight

Glenn Close
Must-see: Dangerous Liaisons, Fatal Attraction, all the episodes of Damages, Reversal of Fortune

Irene Dunne
Must-see: Love Affair, The Awful Truth

Bette Davis
Must-see: All about Eve, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Jezebel; Now, Voyager

Sissy Spacek
Must-see: Coal Miner's Daughter, Carrie, In the Bedroom, Missing

Julianna Margulies
Must-see: City Island, The Good Wife, her episodes on ER

Angela Lansbury
Must-see: The Manchurian Candidate, Gaslight, Beauty and the Beast, some episodes of Murder, She Wrote

Edie Falco
Must-see: The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie

Right now, I'm talking about movie and TV actresses only. Stage actresses would be a different category. :)