The red carpet issue (Sundance channel) ****

Sundance Channel is airing The Red Carpet Issue, a documentary about the Academy Awards, the Globes, any event which involves stars, brands and publicity by French journalist and filmmaker Olivier Nicklaus and it is a must see. For over 20 years and since actors have accepted to be hangers for clothes and living displays for fashion and jewelry, the red carpet has become synonymous with money : pre-show, post-show, best dressed, worst dressed, any movie star walking the red carpet is wearing someone and is required to give the name of the designer who has provided the goods for the big night. This documentary is fascinating from the beginning to its bitter end. We'll learn that "actors have lots of expenses. Everybody says that Sharon Stone earns a lot of money and that she is always asking for more, but it's normal: she has a dozen bodyguards with her, two or three nannies for the kids, an agent, an assistant... it costs money!"
We'll meet Romain Cayla, co-founder of IDSIDE who proudly presents a 3 click software working with video clips of movie stars on display : 1 click and a label appears identifying the dress as Gucci (a pop up window gives you details on the goods), 2nd click and the necklace is Chopard, 3rd click and Choo Choo for the shoes !
We'll also learn that the red carpet is a job :
1- appear at ease
2- make sure others are not wearing the dame dress
3- remember to stop every two yards and say the same thing over again
4- ease up on the gum and keep that smile even on hostile territory
5- Know how to work the photographers
6- Don't be blinded by the flashes like a deer in the headlights
7- Show that jewelry off (hair up or short)
8- Lift your gown to show the shoes
9- Learn how to strike a pose
10- Know how to make an exit
Believe or not, there are professionals whose job is to train, help, guide and coach the red carpeters. It has become such an industry, a war of nerves and a stressful combat that some of the most renowned and famous designers have decided to give the carpet a bad name. Take Karl Lagerfeld: "ridiculous", "cheap", "look like transvestites", "bad taste" is the verdict of the famous Chanel designer who -he says- could't care less about placing his gowns for Cannes, Oscars and other now cheap events.
Same for Marc Jacobs and many others who are now thrashing out the red carpet and even dare to say that "even Mc Donald's has red carpet events". So ladies, don't cry, walk proudly on the sidewalk and forget about the cheap carpet those poor stars have to walk on !

THE BLIND SIDE effect

"The Blind Side", the feel good movie of the year by John Lee Hancock has been nominated in the best film category of the Oscars. It is a very popular film and a very effective product but it is to cinema what photo romance is to literature. Inspired by true events (always a bad sign...) it tells the story of a good Southern American family, with good values, good kids, good dog, good christians, good all, who helps and adopts a poor black kid with disabilities who happens to be very good at football. Later, the kid became the football star Michael Oher, the story became a non fiction book which became the movie. Sandra Bullock (also nominated for an Oscar) plays the formidable Leigh Anne Tuohy AKA the mom and she does a great job. Of course, she is not interpreting Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I or Simone de Beauvoir but she does a great job although she has seemed a little bit surprised and almost embarrassed by the praise she has received for the Blind Side. The Blind Side has been 100% approved by the people and that's a reality. This $29 million film has grossed $239 million so far and it's not over.... It fits the mold, but best film?????

"The Blind Side", le film bourré de bon sentiments de l'année de John Lee Hancock vient d'être nommé dans la liste des meilleurs films à concourir pour les Oscars. C'est un film très populaire aux Etats-Unis mais il est au cinéma ce que le roman photo est à la littérature. Inspir é de faits réels (toujours un mauvais signe...) il raconte l'histoire d'une famille modèle classe moyenne américaine du sud avec enfants modèles, maison modèle, chien modèle et toute l'enchilada, qui décident d'adopter un pauvre enfant noir qui rame à l'école mais a un talent inné pour le football. Plus tard, l'enfant deviendra une des stars du football américain Michael Oher, l'histoire deviendra un livre qui deviendra le film. Sandra Bullock (aussi nommée pour un Oscar) joue la formidable Leigh Anne Tuohy, la royale Mom et elle s'en sort remarquablement bien. Bien sûr, on ne lui demande pas d'interprêter Jeanne d'Arc, Elizabeth I ou Simone de Beauvoir mais elle s'en sort très bien même si elle semble un peu surprise et presque gênée par les lauriers qu'elle ne cesse de recevoir depuis quelques temps. The Blind Side a été approuvé à 100% par le peuple et c'est comme ça. Ce film au budget de $29 million en a rapporté déjà près de $239 million à ce jours.... Un très bon produit, mais un meilleur film?????

UP IN THE AIR ***

Between James Cameron's AVATAR, its acrylic painting vision of the world filled with mega-smurfs and Jason Reitman's UP IN THE AIR, its very down to earth landscape and George Clooney, I opted for the latter even if it doesn't fly as high as one can expect in the spite of the two page ads in the newspapers, signaling the beginning of the awards race.
UP IN THE AIR is a fine movie - the story of a lonely guy flying the four corners of the USA in order to fire people from their jobs. It is intelligent, thoughtful, just slightly depressing and sometimes funny. The screenplay is definitely not one of the best ever written : too many clichés, too many lines landing flat, not first class material (coming from someone who is not afraid of writing coach and flying cattle, it says a lot) but it is worth watching. George Clooney and Vera Farmiga deliver strong performances as does the rest of the cast. Avatar can wait but I will see it anyway smurfs or not.

Entre la vision du monde tendance peinture acrylique peuplée de gros schtroumphs de James Cameron (AVATAR), et celle de Jason Reitman ras des pâquerettes mais avec George Clooney (UP IN THE AIR), j'ai opté pour le film de Reitman même s'il ne vole pas aussi haut qu'on le dit et ceci malgré la méga campagne du pub dont il bénéficie.
UP IN THE AIR est un bon film qui raconte l'histoire d'un homme très seul qui voyage beaucoup par avion et dont le métier consiste à virer des employés. Job ingrat s'il en est et terriblement d'actualité. Le film est intelligent, bien pensé, légèrement déprimant mais parfois assez drôle. Le scénario n'est cependant pas de première classe : trop de clichés, des répliques qui tombent carrément à plat ou qui sont tellement attendues qu'elles en deviennent absurdes (ceci venant de quelqu'un qui assume son écriture de classe touriste et qui voyage en classe sardine). George Clooney et Vera Farmiga forment un excellent duo et sont accompagnés d'un formidable ensemble d'acteurs. Avatar et ses shtroumphs attendra, il peut attendre. comme le virus H1N1, il s'est répandu sur tout la planète et je ne manquerai pas d'être contaminée.