Oscar Night!

So it begins! The red carpet coverage has just begun on television - so get your snacks, nibbles and tipples ready. Thanks very much to Monica, we have the running order of the ceremony and a full listing of all of the presenters. Not a Gyllenhaal in sight (at least not on the stage), which is a disappointment. So nothing for it but to enjoy what else is on offer and cheer on some favourites - for me, Cate Blanchett and Daniel Day Lewis - and hope for some decent frocks. I'll be looking out for Nicole Kidman too. The Oscars is not a short event - remember to take lots of breaks and drink plenty of liquids.


Thanks to Get Real for providing the link to a full account of The Night Before party last night at the Beverly Hills Hotel. As well as confirmation that Jake Gyllenhaal was there - although alas he got in without me seeing him - we also hear that the stars had to run a MacDonald's gauntlet. They then had the chance to play video games and choose sneakers. It suggests they may all have gone home with hands full.


That is backed up by this new report from the party - but still with no pictures. This also reminds me that I forgot to mention that I saw Christina Applegate last night as well, sitting in the foyer. I got lost wandering around the bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel (nearly ending up in the tennis courts) and it's strange thinking that I could have bumped into the lovely Jennifer Aniston.


No post about the Oscars could be complete without mentioning the film that should be up there - Zodiac. More than one commentator has noted its absence, including Cinemaslave: 'David Fincher’s noir-tinged expose of the California serial killer is a perfect blend of visual style and narrative efficiency. Although the running time (nearly three hours) may tax a viewer’s bladder, the story is always gripping. A major snub by the Academy; suspense films haven’t been this good since Hitchcock’s prime. And let’s please stop bashing Jake Gyllenhaal, who does fine work as the obsessed cartoonist turned investigator. Thanks.'



WDW Road Trip

First thing this morning, I went up to the Kodak Theater to have a look for myself. Although it was before 10am and raining and not warm, the crowds were already building and filling the little space available for those who hadn't won a seat in the red carpet lottery. The main spectacle at that time was a big effort to wring the carpet free of rain.




Having left the Big Gold Statue, I walked across Hollywood and took in a couple of places from Jakeland - the fabulous Whole Foods Market (the guy Jake was speaking to in these pictures was still there) and Madeo's Restaurant. I tried to have lunch in another of Jake's favourites - Hugo's - but as soon as I walked in the door they lost all power.






And finally

I've been very grateful to everyone helping me out with links while I haven't had so much time to search them out myself. Thanks to Paul for the link to a notice about the wrap party for Brothers: 'All wrapped: The big-name flick Brothers ended its filming with a party at the College of Santa Fe, where much of the movie was shot at the college's Garson Studios. Jake Gyllenhaal, one of the movie's three stars, stopped by the event. Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman, however, were no-shows.'


Includes pictures from IHJ and Just Jared.