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I didn’t really mean for my blog to become so American Idol-influenced, but with the news that my favourite mulleted Idol cast-off will be available for my viewing pleasure 24 a day (how creepy does that sound?) as if tomorrow, I couldn’t help but share the news. Apparently 20,000 people signing a petition to get top 16 contestant Alex Lambert back on the show does make things happen. Alex may not be returning to the Idol stage, but Idol producer Simon Fuller clearly took notice, and invited Alex to join his new online web series, If I Can Dream. I’d never heard of the series before, but apparently it’s been running for a few weeks now. It revolves around a few aspiring singers/models/actors who live in a house together in L.A. while trying to break into their respective fields. 24-hour live streams are available online, and half-hour episodes recapping the highlights of the week will are posted each Monday. Alex will be moving into the house tomorrow at 6pm PT.
When I checked out the website, three of the young housemates were lying around and listening to Alex’s version of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” (he never sang it on the show, but you can hear it here). After it ended, they all half-heartedly agreed that he was ”really good”. One of them (Justin?) discussed his thoughts on a new roommate and used the word “excited” roughly 30 times in the span of a minute. They are currently reading some news headlines out loud, and they don’t seem to have opinions on anything. I’m not sure how seemingly soft-spoken Alex will get along with this bunch, but you can be sure that I’ll be tuning in sporadically to find out.
Here’s my slightly belated ranking of this week’s performances on American Idol. The top 10 took on an array of R&B songs under the guidance of guest mentor Usher (who was spot-on with a lot of his critique). Not taking tonight’s elimination into account, here’s what I thought:
1. Lee Dewyze (“Treat Her Like a Lady”) – On a night that featured a lot of surprisingly strong performances, Lee stepped out (battling a case of walking pneumonia, no less) and gave the strongest performance of the night by a mile. It reminded me a lot of when David Cook started to come into his own in the top 12 a couple of seasons ago. We saw hints of what Lee was capable of with “Beast of Burden” two weeks ago, but tonight he gave what might be my favourite performance of the season so far.
2. Crystal Bowersox (“Midnight Train to Georgia”) – Though I was still busy beaming from Lee’s performance that came right before her, Crystal did a great job with this Idol favourite. She took a seat behind the piano for the first time, which I liked, and showed a slightly different side. A very strong performance from one of the season’s most consistent players.
3. Casey James (“Hold On, I’m Coming”) – Plugging in the guitar once again, Casey gave a rock-solid vocal. I always enjoy performances, but I’d love to see him step up and have a “wow” moment like Lee did. He still seems a bit stiff. He teased us with the promise of an acoustic number nest week, which I’m excited to see.
4. Andrew Garcia (“Forever”) – I’ve been waiting every week for Andrew to reclaim his former glory, and just when I’d almost given up on him, he reminded everyone why he’s still there. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but he managed to re-capture some of the laidback cool that he showed in you-know-which-performance.
5. Aaron Kelly (“Ain’t No Sunshine”) –With the arduous task of following Lee and Crystal, Aaron gave a perfectly pleasant take on Bill Withers’ classic. It wasn’t especially memorable, but it’s clear that this kid is a fighter. He’s gaining confidence (and aging, it seems) by the week.
6. Didi Benami (“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”) – For the second week running, Didi received far too much critique from the panel. I thought it was one of her stronger performances, offering some of the genuine emotion that mentor Usher had asked for.
7. Mike Lynche (“Ready for Love”) – Though I enjoyed Big Mike’s performance slightly more than I usually do, even with the acoustic set-up, he still oozed cheese and insincerity. I will never understand the love for this guy.
8. Katie Stevens (“Chain of Fools”) – Though she took on too big of a song that didn’t suit her teenage persona, Katie’s performance of the Aretha Franklin song offered some really impressive moments, vocally. She’s got talent, but still comes across as too pose-y and emotionally vacant in her performances.
9. Siobhan Magnus (“Through the Fire”) – I still like Siobhan, but on a night where almost everyone stepped up their game, she took a giant leap backwards. The pitch (especially on the higher parts) was a mess, and her screaming shtick is getting old FAST. She’s got to sort herself out.
10. Tim Urban (“Sweet Love”) – Before his performance, I thought to myself, “it doesn’t even matter what Tim sings. It won’t change anyone’s mind, either way.” Sure enough, he gave a bland flatliner of a performance, but still received screams from the audience. The judges have seemingly given up on critiquing his singing and have moved onto questioning his omnipresent grin.
Here’s the much-belated fourth installment of my “Favourite Performances of the Decade” series. I’ve seen a few more amazing performances since I compiled my original list, so I’ll likely be posting another five performances soon.
Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There (2007)
Tilda Swinton was quite good in Michael Clayton, but I was shocked when she won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 2008 Oscars, over Cate Blanchett. Blanchett was one of six actors to portray Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There, and though she was the only female in the cast, her performance was hands-down the most captivating and convincing performance of the bunch. Playing “Jude” (each of the six actors has a separate storyline, all of which show different facets of Dylan’s life) Blanchet loped, squinted, and mumbled her way to a pitch-perfect Dylan impersonation. She had this great aura of cool in her gender-bending performance, which made her segment of the story infinitely captivating.
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood (2007)
He’s one of the best working actors, but Daniel Day-Lewis took his career to new heights with his unforgettable role in P.T. Anderson’s 2007 masterpiece, There Will Be Blood. Over the top in the truest sense of the phrase, Day-Lewis’ performance is amazingly fun to watch. Plainview is already a bit of a caricature, and Day-Lewis’ performance – though hammy – is perfectly demented, and really draws the audience in. Other actors might have looked foolish when reciting lines like, “I…drink…your…milkshake! I DRINK IT UP!” (which became 2007′s most unlikely cinematic catchphrase), but Day-Lewis brings just the right tone to it. The movie staggers around in this kind of surreal, woozy state of semi-consciousness, and as Plainview makes bloody blows and sells whatever is left of his soul, Daniel Day-Lewis slips into his character wholeheartedly.
Amy Adams – Junebug (2005)
Amy Adams shines as the eternally optimistic Ashley in Junebug. Stuck in a dead-end Southern town with a husband who seems to resent her presence, Ashley is still bubbly and excitable. When her brother-in-law visits with his new wife from the city, Ashley finds herself eager to please. Adams plays the demonstrative young mother-to-be with a sparkle in her eye that feels like a giant breath of fresh air. Her genuine performance is at times hilarious, melancholy, and heartbreaking. Adams has since gone on to bigger roles, and she always brings wonderful poise to the screen, but her breakthrough performance in Junebug is unforgettable.
Renee Zelwegger – Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Though I may not be a huge fan of Zelwegger, but her motor-mouthed turn as the chain-smoking Bridget Jones was irresistible. Armed with a spot-on British accent and loads of charm, Zelwegger made the romantically unlucky thirty-something relatable, and provided many laughs throughout the film. Bridget Jones was a top-notch romantic comedy, and Zelwegger helped to elevate it beyond the usual fare. She had great chemistry with Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, and whether she was flubbing a public speaking engagement or her own dinner party, she was frothy, light, and hilarious. Forget Chicago, and try this infinitely watchable film, instead.
Joquin Phoenix – Walk the Line (2005)
In an ingenious bit of casting, Phoenix portrayed The Man in Black (aka Johnny Cash) in 2005′s Walk the Line. The dark edge to Phoenix is perfectly suited to the troubled country star, and his brooding acting style fits the tone of the film to a tee. Though Walk the Line is a fairly by-the-numbers biopic, Phoenix’s performance helps to elevate it. He makes the best of clichéd material and embodies the musical legend so believably. The musical numbers are a treat to watch (who knew Phoenix had such a great voice?), and whether he’s falling in love with his wife-to-be (played by Reese Witherspoon) or having a meltdown, Phoenix’s presence is undeniable.
Last night’s theme on American Idol was “Billboard #1′s”. Didn’t we just have three weeks of that theme in the top 24? And why did almost everyone pick a song that was at least 30 years old? Here’s my ranking of how the performances went down, from best to worst:
1. Crystal Bowersox (“Me and Bobby McGee”) – Seeming much more comfortable on the gargantuan stage than she did last week (perhaps bringing her own homey rug to lay down helped), Crystal fulfilled her Idol sound-alike destiny by singing a Janis Joplin song. Some of the high notes were rough, but given the emotional abandon that she sang with, it worked with her performance. The judges once again tried to say something “constructive” by encouraging her to connect more with the audience, but I thought that she did a great job of doing just that.
2. Casey James (“The Power of Love”) – When Casey said that wanted to “get around a little bit” on the stage with his performance this week, I had horrible flashback to his attempts at choreography in the top 24 group numbers. Luckily, his version of “working the stage” consisted of starting his performance ten feet away from the microphone stand, and then walking over to it. He was one of the few that chose the right song this week (though the judges disagreed), and his laid-back bluesy style is developing nicely. The guitar playing is great, and I love his voice.
3. Aaron Kelly (“Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”) – Unsurprisingly, wee Aaron Kelly admitted to having a crush on mentor (don’t even get me started) Miley Cyrus. On top of having the pressure of the object of his affections sitting in the audience, the poor guy had laryngitis and tonsillitis, too. He’s gaining confidence weekly, and his take on the Aerosmith song was surprisingly good. The vocal wasn’t perfect, but his performance was captivating.
4. Siobhan Magnus (“Superstition”) – Everyone’s new favourite oddball took on this Stevie Wonder classic, and earned accolades from mentor Miley Cyrus. Her “screaming” shtick was awesome the first time couple of times, but felt tired this week. She’s a great singer, and one of the more interesting contestants, but the end of this performance got too shrill, and it just became unpleasant.
5. Lee Dewyze (“The Letter”) – In what would become the first of many odd song choices, Lee took a break from his “rocker dude” persona with this Box Tops song. It was one of his strongest technical performances yet, but he seemed a bit uncomfortable on stage, and never seemed to fully get into the groove of the song. Not a bad performance at all, but a bit forgettable.
6. Didi Benami (“You’re No Good”) – In the night’s most unfairly maligned performance, Didi took a lot of heat from the judges for her “dramatic” performance. However, I thought that she showed great personality, and sang the song quite respectably. I’m not crazy about her style, but I thought that this was one of her better performances.
7. Michael Lynche (“When a Man Loves a Woman”) – Yes, he’s got a good voice, but he chose one of the most hackneyed songs in Idol history, and made it feel even more old-fashioned. He sang it well, but it felt like a second-rate Ruben Studdard performance.
8. Andrew Garcia (“Heard it Through the Grapevine”) – Mr. Identity Crisis once again picked a really strange song, and while I thought that it was an improvement from last week, Andrew doesn’t strike me as a soul singer in any way, and the song almost seemed too big for him. I think he’s the only contestant left who’s managed to get uniformly negative reviews from the judges every week since the top 24 began.
9. Katie Stevens (“Big Girls Don’t Cry”) – It was probably her best performance yet, but as the numbers get whittled down, Katie just gets swallowed up by the competition. Her pitch was iffy at times, but my main problem with her is always the performance. It still felt stilted, and as though she was just going through the “diva” motions with this Fergie song.
10. Tim Urban (“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”) –I actually thought that his performance was kind of fun (though the judges slammed him for stage-sliding and daring to touch the audience), but that’s about all I can say. He sang the song adequately, but he’s yet to bring a single spark of authenticity or true emotion to any of his performances. The little girls love him, but this guy is just so many notches below everyone else on the talent scale.
11. Paige Miles (“Against All Odds”) – And now on to someone who couldn’t even manage to sing her song adequately. Yes, that’s right TIM URBAN out-sang someone. I never thought I’d see the day. This performance was an absolute disaster from the first note to the last. I don’t know what went wrong, but it was one of the worst top 12 performances that I can remember from any season.
Should Go: Tim or Paige (is there some way that we can deprive both of them of going on the tour, and bring Alex Lambert back?)
Will Go: Paige
Fans of singer-songwriter Ryan Adams can always look forward to watching Adams take the stage over at CBS’s The Late Show every time he releases a new disc (which as we know, is often). Over the past nine years, Letterman’s welcomed Adams to his show 10 times (by my count, at least. Let me know if I’m missing any performances), and the usually jaded talk show host seems genuinely excited every time.
Here’s a look at Ryan Adams on The Late Show, over the years. Every performance is great, in its own way. With his new “metal” record, Orion, apparently slated for a vinyl release, maybe we’ll get to see him on the show for an eleventh time in the not-so distant future.
“New York, New York” – October 4, 2001
Flanked with an arsenal of backing musicians (four guitarists, a conga drummer and a saxophone player all make up his band), Adams’ first appearance on the Late Show after the release of Gold feels a bit chaotic. But the spark that he brings to his wordy love letter to New York is undeniable. (Side note: you can also see hints of the “extended handshake” tradition that would follow in later performances as Dave greets Adams at the end of the performance.)
“The Harder They Come” (with Willie Nelson) – November 4, 2002
Backed by Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, the smiles shared between “Willie and Ryan” (as Dave likes to call them) are priceless.
“Starting To Hurt” – December 10, 2002
Probably the most raw of his Letterman performances. The energy is amazing.
“So Alive” – January 5, 2004
“Let It Ride” – May 25, 2005
Looking rather scraggly, aren’t we? That’s part of the fun of watching all of these performances. Not only are they some of his most consistent performances, but it’s interesting to see the evolution of Adams from a baby-faced kid to this unrecognizable Cousin It look-a-like. Luckily, a haircut was in his future.
“Come Pick Me Up” – November 4, 2005
It seems like they’re trying to make up for the fact that Adams missed out on being on the show when Heartbreaker was released back in 2000. But nonetheless, this is probably my favourite out of all of the performances that he’s given. In some ways, I prefer this slightly to the album version. The little vocal nuances that Adams adds are lovely.
“Ride On” (with America and Ben Kweller) – January 15, 2007
“Two” – June 27, 2007
“I Taught Myself How to Grow Old” – June 27, 2007 (Web exclusive)
“Everybody Knows” – November 1, 2007
This feels like his most polished performance of the bunch. It doesn’t have the intensity of “Come Pick Me Up”, but it’s just a really nice, solid performance of one of his better recent songs.
“How To Keep Love Alive/Pearls on a String” – November 1, 2007 (Web exclusive)
“Fix It” – October 29, 2008
“Cobwebs” – October 29, 2008 (Web exclusive)
Robert Downey Jr.
Essential Filmography: Chaplin (1992), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Tropic Thunder (2008), Zodiac (2007)
Underappreciated Work: Wonderboys (2000)
Despite his personal issues over the past twenty years, Robert Downey Jr.’s unlikely longevity has given him the chance to tackle just about every film genre over the course of his career. Period pieces (Restoration), romantic comedies (Only You), and superhero movies (Iron Man) all went down easy thanks to his quirkily suave style. He may have flubbed his early career and made more than his share of dud films since, but it feels like Downey’s done a lot of his best work yet in the last five years. He gave a fan-favourite performance in 2005′s hillarious Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, earned his second Oscar nomination for Tropic Thunder. Having reinvented himself as a bankable box office star, it’s exciting to think that the peak of Downey’s diverse career might still be ahead of him.
Like many others, I was quite unhappy with last week’s results on American Idol. Alex Lambert and Lilly Scott were two of my favourite contestants. I had five days to bemoan the lack of mullets and peacock feathers on this season before the finals started, and I inevitably tuned in, as usual. I’ll have to settle for Alex and Lilly’s appearances on Ellen Degeneres’ talk show (both sounded great!) and move on (for the most part). The remaining twelve contestants took on the Rolling Stones songbook last night, which should’ve spelled disaster, but actually served some of them much better than expected. Here’s a rundown of how the night went, ranking the performances from best to worst.
1. Siobhan Magnus (“Paint it Black”) – She rightfully earned comparisons to Adam Lambert from Kara with this ballsy, theatrical take on the Rolling Stones classic. She’s got a great voice, but I haven’t been able to fully get behind her over-the-top performance style until tonight. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of scene-stealing. As Simon pointed out, it was a love-it-or-hate-it performance, and those kind of performances are always the most interesting.
2. Casey James (“It’s All Over Now”) – The guy who started off as mere eye candy is proving to be capable of some very tuneful, mature performances. He became a real contender in top 24 week with Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”, and tonight he reclaimed some of that glory with his energetic take on “It’s All Over Now”. This bluesy country rock is exactly where I see him as a musician, and he gave his most self-assured performance yet. His video package included a very complicated back story, and while brain damage may not be the sunniest topic, it was certainly more interesting than listening to half the contests say that they were “really nervous” the first time that they sang in public.
3. Crystal Bowersox (“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”) – Even on a slightly off night, “Mama Sox” is still far better than most of the performers on the show. There was nothing wrong with her take on one of the Stones’ best-known songs, but it just seemed a bit ho-hum compared to last week’s smouldering “Give Me One Reason”. She was given the final performance slot of the night (often called the “pimp spot”), and with all of the judges’ praise, it’s obvious that the producers are behind her.
4. Lee Dewyze (“Beast of Burden”) – In what was perhaps a lapse of judgement, this seasons’ token “rocker guy” gave a relatively laid-back strummy take on a lesser-known Stones song. But nevertheless, he delivered a very solid performance. It was probably my favourite live performance that he’s given yet, and his pitch was much better than it’s been the past few weeks. As the judges pointed out, he’s growing by leaps and bounds each week, and, if given the chance, he could have a similar run to that of David Cook’s a couple of seasons back. I was iffy on his personality at first, but he’s proving himself to be a likeable, interesting guy.
5. Aaron Kelly (“Angie”) – I’m surprised to see Aaron at #5 on my list, considering how so-so he was in the top 24 (I thought he was even worse than Tim Urban last week – which is saying a lot). But while it was mild, as usual, his take on “Angie” was endearing, and he sang it well, technically. He benefitted most from the help of Idol stylists, and he slowly seems to be gaining some confidence. If he can find a way to make his performances more exciting, he could stick around.
6. Didi Benami (“Play With Fire”) – I’m still not sold on Didi and her quavering singing style. She sang the song well, but I found her take on “Play With Fire” pretty dull. The judges gave her universal praise. For me, last week’s “Rhiannon” was much more interesting.
7. Michael Lynche (“Miss You”) – Everyone seems to love this guy except me. Again, he had a solid vocal, but he was up to his usual cheesy stage antics. It was enough to get him an easy pass to next week, but there was nothing memorable about it.
8. Andrew Garcia (“Gimme Shelter”) – Unlike Michael, I really want to like this guy. I liked him all through the audition process, but he hasn’t given a great performance on the live shows yet. And unfortunately, I thought that this was his weakest performance yet (which totally contradicts Ellen’s statement that it was his best yet). It split the judges (and my living room – my dad liked it), but his tepid take on one of the most exciting songs of all time really disappointed me. I’m still rooting for him, but this guy has got to pull himself together fast if he wants to reclaim his spot as a frontrunner.
9. Paige Miles (“Honkey Tonk Women”) – Battling a cast of laryngitis, Paige probably gave her best performance yet. Unfortunately, it still underwhelmed, but at least she finally showed some willingness to fight.
10. Katie Stevens (“Wild Horses”) – As the judges pointed out, Katie picked the correct song for the first time last night. She has a nice voice, but she’s so incredibly robotic and unexciting to watch. Even when she tried to inject some genuine feeling into the song, it still came across cold.
11. Lacey Brown (“Ruby Tuesday”) – I like Lacey’s voice a lot, but her take on “Ruby Tuesday” was boring and uncomfortable. I can sympathize with the shyness that she talked about in her video clip, but she took a big step back performance-wise from last week’s solid performance of Brandi Carlisle’s “The Story”. As Kara pointed out, she tried to bring some “drama” for the first time, which was nice. But it was all very unpolished, and in a very bad way.
12. Tim Urban (“Under My Thumb”) – The only benefit of Tim Urban being on this season is that I can keep making fun of him. His hair may have been a bit less puffy tonight, but Tim still looked just as out of place as ever on the Idol stage. His performances always feel like you’re back in high school, watching the best singer at your school try his hand at singing and playing the guitar in tandem for the first time on stage. Whenever this guy opens his mouth it becomes amateur night. His take on “Hallelujah” last week felt clumsy and devoid of emotion, and this week was a step back from that.
Should Go: Tim Urban (he’ll be my pick until he leaves)
Will Go: Paige Miles?
Actress Zooey Deschanel and singer-songwriter M. Ward first teamed up as She & Him for 2008′s successful Volume One, and now they’re back with more of their sunny vintage-y pop.You can listen to Volume Two (out March 23rd on Merge) in its entirety over at NPR.
Click here to listen to Volume Two.
Bright Star has all the makings of your typical frothy period romance, but director Jane Campion wastes no time in proving that it is, in fact, the exact opposite of that. We meet feisty Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) right away, and her love of outlandish fashion and outspoken attitude makes her an immediately interesting protagonist. Fanny soon meets poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw), and despite their initial conflict and the fact that Keats earns virtually no living (thus preventing them from marrying), the two soon fall in love.
Everything about this movie is gorgeous. It’s beautifully shot, and every scene stands out as an artistic reflection of the emotions of the two young lovers. Interior shots add a perfect spill of light coming in through the window, while the scenes that take place outdoors are full of the vibrant colours and textures of nature. The languid feeling that rests comfortably on every scene feels like Campion’s signature on the film.
Stars Cornish and Whishaw are both fantastic in their respective roles. Cornish plays every facet of Fanny’s emotions with an honest mix of innocence and wisdom. Her sheltered world is blown apart by the artistic genius that unassumingly steps in, but Cornish’s Fanny is a worthy match for Keats’ enigmatic intensity. Whishaw never feels like he’s playing a typical biopic role. It doesn’t feel like we’re watching an actor portraying John Keats – it feels like Whishaw is John Keats. He’s a complicated individual, and though there’s an ever-present mystery to Keats, there’s enough genuine charm and heart in Whishaw’s performance to get the audience to become completely attached to the figure.
There may not be quite enough plot to stretch the movie out to two hours, but the simple story develops nicely over the course of the film, and the gorgeous visuals and multi-faceted performances largely prevent the film from dragging. It’s slow, dramatic and romantic, and that’s exactly how this story should be.
Despite being set in the past, Bright Star feels very modern, in many ways. The prim stuffiness of films like Becoming Jane is nowhere to be found. There’s a sexual tension that runs throughout, and the chemistry between Fanny and John crackles in the simplest of gestures – just knowing that they’re on the other side of the wall from each other creates a spark that full-on sex scenes in most movies lack. I came to care so deeply for these two characters and their relationship over the course of the film, and it truly is one of the most romantic films in recent years. I almost never cry at movies, but Bright Star had me welling up at various points, and it left me thinking about the story for days. Thanks to strong visuals, writing, and acting, Bright Star is a strikingly beautiful, engrossing film.
It’s ridiculous to try and predict the Oscars a year in advance. Last year’s frontrunners at this time seemed to be Nine, The Lovely Bones, and Hilary Swank in Amelia. And look at how that turned out. But I’m going to attempt to do the impossible. These predictions will probably begin to look really stupid very quickly, but I’ll leave them up anyways, since it’ll be fun(ny) to look back on. Some of these films will inevitably tank, and new favourites will emerge out of nowhere (I hadn’t even heard of Crazy Heart until last fall, for example), but I’ll be happy if I even get a couple of these right.
******************UPDATE*****************************
Directly below are my unaltered predictions from March for posterity’s sake, but please be sure to look for my updated picks (along with commentary) over at my new predictions page here.)********************************************************
Best Picture
The American
Black Swan
The Fighter
Hereafter
Inception
Love and Other Drugs
Never Let Me Go
The Social Network
Somewhere
The Tree of Life
Best Director
Anton Corbijn – The American
Clint Eastwood – Hereafter
Terrence Mallick – The Tree of Life
Christopher Nolan – Inception
David O. Russell – The Fighter
Best Actor
Matt Damon – Hereafter
Robert Duvall – Get Low
Aaron Eckhart – Rabbit Hole
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
Ryan Gosling – Blue Valentine
Best Actress
Annette Bening – The Kids Are Alright
Anne Hathaway – Love and Other Drugs
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole
Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale – The Fighter
Josh Brolin – True Grit
Ed Harris – The Way Back
Andrew Garfield – Never Let Me Go
Sean Penn – The Tree of Life
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams – The Fighter
Elle Fanning – Somewhere
Bryce Dallas Howard – Hereafter
Helen Mirren – Brighton Rock
Julianne Moore – The Kids Are Alright
