Best Actor Award

Blood Diamond, directed by Edward Zwick reaped success at many film awards shows, including the 2006 Academy Awards, its reach was worldwide. The film takes place during the civil war in Sierra Leone in the year 1991. The film follows Danny Archer, an ex-mercenary from Zimbabwe and Solomon Vandy, a Mende fisherman. Though both men are African, their pasts and presents are in stark contrast to one another. Through Solomon’s discovery of a rare pink diamond, the prospect of change in both these…

Ron Clements and John Musker correctly represent Polynesian Culture in their 2016 film, Moana. Moana was nominated for and won numerous awards. It was nominated for both the ‘Best Animated Feature Film of the Year’ and the ‘Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)’ awards in the 2017 Oscars. The film is about a girl called Moana from the island of Motunui who has a desire to be on the water. After finding out her ancestors were voyagers, she goes on an adventure to…

Have you ever been offered a bribe in return of a sexual encounter? Or have you ever felt tempted to accept a bribe for any other desired benefits? Our society has all kinds of people, those who are willing to accept a bribe in exchange for anything, and those who would not. Nonetheless, the poem, “Hazel Tells Laverne,” tells a story about a person who refuses a bribe. The poem, published in 1976, is about a maid named Hazel who finds a frog in the toilet. The frog tells her that he could turn…

“Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli” Film influences our lives in multiple aspects. New films are released every day; however, only a great film can make a lasting impact on society. In 1972, America was faced with national cynicism and an ever-changing cultural view, due to the Watergate Scandal, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Equal Rights Movement for women. Francis Ford Coppola made a bold move by producing a film called The Godfather, which detailed the inter-workings of the Mafia in a…

Holiday. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for that film and won a Tony that same year for her starring role in Ondine. “Over the next decade, Hepburn proved herself more than a math for Hollywood’s top leading men in such hits as Sabrina (1954, with William Holden and Humphrey Bogart), Funny Face (1957, with Fred Astaire) and Love in the Afternoon (1957, with Gary Cooper)” (History.com). Her role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), earned her fourth Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She…

Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant James is like a specialist who knows his bombs inside and out, sometimes better than the makers of the bombs. Although he sometimes seems overly confident, he does his job as best as anyone can do giving the viewer the idea that there is no one better than James. Next in line is Sergeant JT Sanborn played by Anthony Mackie. Sanborn provides cover fire for James as well as provide him with “ears” while James is suited up in his…

September 10, 2015 Elia Kazan’s Lifetime Achievement Award was Justified You have probably heard of or seen A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, or East of Eden, but did you know they were all directed by a man named Elia Kazan? He is most famous for the movies that he has directed and his contributions to the film industry. He was one of the most prominent film directors in the 20th century, and was awarded the lifetime achievement award for his work. However, the tables flipped after…

Director Noah Baumbach has had some sort of fascination with Greta Gerwig lately. While his previous film of 2015 didn't feature the actor, three of his last four directorial outings - including this one, Mistress America - have featured her in prominent roles. If you're one of the people who believe that Baumbach is trying desperately to copy Woody Allen, this certainly helps fit that narrative. Allen wasn't - and to some extent still isn't - exactly shy about focusing on one actress over the…

Most of you know her as the star character from the Hunger Games series. Katniss Everdeen aka Jennifer Lawrence. If I had the opportunity to be who ever I wanted for 24 hours I would be Jennifer Lawrence. She is well known for her acting abilities and I would give anything to be as talented her. Out of all the actresses in the world I believe she is the most down to earth carefree celebrity. Anyone who has watched her interviews knows that she is straightforward and does not read from a script.…

looked to Shingen. The Takeda Clan wanted to use him as a political double, in case the real daimyo was ever hurt or killed. Kagemusha was produced in the 1980’s and won the Cannes Film Festival that year. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and received several other honors. Kagemusha was a film made in Japan during the mid 16 century and was set in the Sengoku Period of Japanese History. The Sengoku Period means “Age of Warring States” this period is…