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CINEMATRIX: HT16 0th week

  • Let’s start with the obvious. The Golden Globes. They kind of function as the Oscars’ maitre d’, guiding all the big names to their metaphorical tables of cinematic success, and letting everyone know who probably needs to make sure they’re wearing semi-practical frockery on next month’s most famous red carpet. Here’s looking at you, Jennifer Lawrence. The idea is, if you get a nod or a gong at the Globes, it’s seventy percent certain you’re going to end up in exactly the same category, or winning exactly the same trophy, at the Academy Awards next month (bugger for the thirty percent who get their Globes as consolation prizes, but hey — it has to happen, and at least you get something shiny this year). Notable winners were Lawrence (as per usual) for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, Brie Larson for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Kate Winslet for Best Supporting Actress and The Revenant for Best Drama Motion Picture. Writing’s on the Wall scooped the expected but possibly undeserved Best Original Song trophy. The most exciting win (at least, I think so) was Ennio Morricone’s Best Score award, accepted on the elderly maestro’s behalf by Quentin Tarantino. Please let this mean that the musical genius is back in the Hollywood fold. But, of course, everyone’s more interested in… yup, you guessed it, Leonardo DiCaprio. Is he in the running? Is he? Finally? Well, he nimbly picked up the Best Actor gong for his turn in The Revenant (which, along with Bridge of Spies, looks set to be this year’s biggie). But, ya know. They’ve teased us like this before. PLEASE, ACADEMY GODS. PLEASE JUST PUT THE WORLD OUT OF ITS COLLECTIVE MISERY AND GIVE LEO A SHINY GOLD MAN ALREADY. We’ll know a bit more on Thursday, when the Oscar shortlists are announced.

  • Speaking of Jennifer Lawrence, and her all round talent / affable precocity, the twentysomething serial award-snatcher looks set to team up with yet another costar old enough to be her… well, I don’t know, but it’s Javier Bardem, and I have fewer problems with this than I apparently should have as a Good Woman; because yes, there’s a major issue of implicit imbalance in an industry where a young woman can’t find a decent actor within her own age bracket, but also – hello! It’s Javier Bardem. He’s phenomenal. Should Bardem join her (it’s as yet unconfirmed he definitely has the gig), they’re going to be working under the watchful eye of none other than writer-director Darren Aronofsky, according to Variety; and therefore I can only have high hopes that this will be a gilded masterclass in all-round good (and deliciously eccentric) cinema. Awaiting with limited patience.

  • If, and I can only say if, Guillermo del Toro really does end up working with James Cameron on Cameron’s recently proposed collaboration, I can only hazard a guess at the weird and wonderful, crazy lunacy of genius filmmaking that will result. Cameron is reportedly getting del Toro on board for a remake of a 1966 movie, Fantastic Voyage. Just listen to this premise: “a bunch of scientists and a submarine are shrunken to atomic size and injected into the body of a scientist whose life is under threat” (thanks, Empire). Now, picture del Toro’s very particular aesthetic, as demonstrated in Pan’s Labyrinth and Crimson Peak. Now, imagine what this film’s canvas probably demands: internal organs brought to life as a kind of gothic architecture, rapid rivers of blood, massive globules, the human body its very own derelict fortress. It’ll be Hellboy meets Holby City. I’m such a sick person. I really, really hope this gets off the ground. 

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