'Jack and Jill'は見ていないが、ここで言っていることが理解できる。どの映画も同じようなものだからだ。サンドラーの映画はファンではない。彼はたくさんの映画を過去に作っている。ところがどの映画も-全部ではないが主要作品の殆どは所有の7、8本のDVDで見ている-始まりもだが、終り方もまったく中途半端で、見終えても満足するものがない。彼の下手糞な演技も筋も、映画にのめりこめない理由だ。30分のギャグ物を、無理して一時間以上の映画物に作りなおしたようなものばかり。短ければ、それなりにギャグとして面白いと思う。ところが映画にしているから、時間を持たせるために筋が必要であるが、それが机上で生み出したような滑稽なもの。無理やりに話を組み立てているため、そこに人生の真実がまったく心で感じられない。馬鹿げていて首をかしげたくなる場面の続出。映画がとんでもなく間延びしているから、全体にパンチがまったくなく、見ていて欠伸がでる。たとえて言えばファンシーレストランにいってオードブルからメインのデナーを食べ終え会計後外に出るが、食べた満足感がない。あるいは口直しが欲しくなる。それが彼の映画。よくも次から次と筋があるような無いような映画を大量生産できるなと感心する。時間をじっくりかけて、練った筋をもとにすれば、どんなにか映画が見るに耐えるものになるだろうとつくづく思う。サンドラーの映画を形容するとすれば以下の言葉が良く似合う。Annoing、 bizarre、unfunny、bad acting、silly、to say the least strange、disturbing、drained and strained、chirpy。
*****
'Jack and Jill'
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012
Sandler is still unfunny, no matter how many parts he plays
By KAORI SHOJI
Director: Dennis Dugan
Running time: 91 minutes
Language: English
Opens Jan. 21, 2012
[See Japan Times movie listing]
------------------------------------
Sandler may have once been considered a semi-serious actor with a funny streak ("The Wedding Singer" and "Punch-Drunk Love" come to mind), but his latest vehicle, "Jack and Jill," is a potentially career-sinking torpedo of a stinkbomb. In the United States, this was actually Thanksgiving fare (released Nov. 11) and rated PG. The U.S. army would be well advised to use it as a weapon in the fight against terrorism.
Just to make sure I wasn't the only one suffering from acute chest pains and checking my watch every five seconds, only to be horrified to discover that the movie had just begun, I looked around the screening room, and I saw that many of my fellow critics had closed their eyes, shutting out everything and pretending they were somewhere else. Most likely a world where Sandler does not exist, or one where he's decided to ditch making movies altogether to do volunteer work in Africa.
Does Sandler know that worthy people are going jobless and hungry while he's allowed to make what could aptly be described as a colossal insult against humanity — and being paid for it? Shouldn't there be an Occupy Bad Movies? Just thinking that Sandler and director Dennis Dugan (who's another can of worms all by himself) are among the 1 percent does major inflammatory damage to the soul.
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One of the gaping open wounds that mar "Jack and Jill" is that Sandler is never off-camera — ever. He plays both title roles, twins Jack and Jill Sadelstein, and though we're given to understand that Jack is a better person (more mature, compassionate, etc.) than the bizarrely obnoxious Jill, they're essentially the same. Sit down with them at a dinner table and within a second you'd want to pack up and take the next bus out of town.
The story never acknowledges the fact that Jack and Jill are equally and painfully annoying. It kicks off with the premise that every year, Los Angeles-based hotshot ad executive Jack must endure the presence of his less privileged sister Jill for an entire Thanksgiving weekend and that it gets worse each time. His saintly wife, Erin (Katie Holmes), acts like it's no trouble at all and coos, "But she's your one and only sister!" when Jack gets all het up over his twin's imminent arrival. And when Jill does show, the delivery is a whole lot worse than the promise. At this point in his life, Sandler isn't what you'd call "cute," but the sight of him in a wig, fake boobs and an array of god-awful dresses ups the need for a sick bag.
The wonder of this vehicle is that Al Pacino (yes, the real one) makes a rather long cameo appearance as himself, and he falls for Jill at a Lakers game. Jill then has a perfect excuse to overstay her welcome at Jack's place: Her brother needs Pacino to star in a TV commercial, and the only way he can swing the deal is through Jill.
Even in this setting, Pacino exudes his own indefatigable aura, which saves the movie from eroding entirely into a lava pit of silliness. And admittedly, he's great fun to watch here. Pacino moves through the story like a man who accidentally came to the wrong party, but was welcomed inside and handed a drink. His body seems constantly on the verge of lunging for the door, and the look on his face (an interesting blend of confusion, resignation and panic) isn't something you'd normally associate with one of Hollywood's cinema legends.
The other wonder is Holmes, aka Mrs. Tom Cruise. In the same year that her husband had starred in and produced "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol," Holmes had starred in "Jack and Jill" as Jack's wife. This discrepancy in their careers is, to say the least, strange as hell.
It would probably be less disturbing if Holmes had looked as if she were enjoying the whole thing, but there's not one instance where her expression registers happiness. She looks more drained and strained with every scene, as though she is suffering from an undetected flu virus (though some may argue that this is her normal appearance anyway).
Surrounded by Sandler and Sandler-in-drag, Holmes as Erin (despite her chirpy and encouraging dialogue) is a woman on the verge. Erin should have got her hands on a chain saw at an early stage in her marriage. No such luck, however, is in store for the poor woman.
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___
Golden Globe Awards 2012 Winners List
January 15, 2012 8:01:00 PM by Drusilla Moorhouse
Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Here are the winners in movies and TV categories for the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards...
MOTION PICTURES
Motion Picture, Drama: The Descendants
Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: The Artist
Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: George Clooney, The Descendants
BACKSTAGE SHOCKERS! Kate Winslet Wants to Be a Man?!
Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Jean DuJardin, The Artist
Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
MORE: 2012 Golden Globes Red Carpet Trend: Jewel Tones
Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Screenplay, Motion Picture: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Foreign Language Film: A Separation, Iran
Animated Feature Film: The Adventures of Tintin
Original Score, Motion Picture: The Artist, Ludovic Bource
Original Song, Motion Picture: "Masterpiece," Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry; W.E.
MORE: Best & Worst of the 2012 Golden Globe Awards: Ricky Gervais Breaks All the Rules Again!
TELEVISION
TV Series, Drama: Homeland
TV Series, Comedy: Modern Family
TV Movie or Miniseries: Downton Abbey
Actor in a TV Series, Drama: Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Actress in a TV Series, Drama: Claire Danes, Homeland
MORE: Kelsey Grammer's Wife, Kayte Walsh, Is Pregnant!
Actor, TV Series Comedy: Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Actress in a TV Series, Comedy: Laura Dern, Enlightened
Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Idris Elba, Luther
Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
MORE: Did Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Deliver on the Golden Globes Red Carpet?
Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
SAG Awards 2012 Winners List
'The Help' nabs Best Ensemble' in a stunning upset, while awards-show fave 'The Artist' leaves light on wins.
By Eric Ditzian (@ericditzian) Jan 29 2012 10:39 PM EST 56,062
The SAG Awards, as we have noted, often have a curious way of letting us know what the Oscars are going to deliver. So when the Screen Actors Guild doled out its golden statuettes on Sunday night (January 29), we couldn't help but feel there were more than a few hints at how the Academy Awards might shake out in a few weeks.
What are we to make of the upset SAG win for "The Help" in outstanding cast in a movie, for instance? Where does this leave "The Artist," which had been looking increasingly, inevitably like the big champ come Oscar night, yet only won outstanding male performance (Jean Dujardin) at the SAGs?
Things were more predictable on the TV side of things. In 2012, for the second year in a row, "Modern Family" (Outstanding Cast in a Comedy) and "Boardwalk Empire" (Outstanding Cast in a Drama and a Lead Actor win for Steve Buscemi) had strong showings. Check out the full list of winners:
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
"Bridesmaids"
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
☆"The Help"
"Midnight in Paris"
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Demian Bichir, "A Better Life"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"
☆Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"
Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
☆Viola Davis, "The Help"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Tilda Swinton, "We Need to Talk About Kevin"
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Nick Nolte, "Warrior"
Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn"
Armie Hammer, "J. Edgar"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
☆Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
☆Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
"The Adjustment Bureau"
"Cowboys & Aliens"
☆"Harry Potter and the Deahtly Hallows - Part 2"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
"X-Men: First Class"
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie Or Miniseries
Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood"
☆Paul Giamatti, "Too Big to Fail"
Greg Kinnear, "The Kennedys"
Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce"
James Woods, "Too Big to Fail"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie Or Miniseries
Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult"
Betty White, "The Lost Valentine"
☆Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"
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Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick J. Adams, "Suits"
☆Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"
Glenn Close, "Damages"
☆Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
☆Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
☆Betty White, "Hot In Cleveland"
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
☆"Boardwalk Empire"
"Breaking Bad"
"Dexter"
"Game of Thrones"
"The Good Wife"
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
"30 Rock"
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Glee"
☆"Modern Family"
"The Office"
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
"Dexter"
☆"Game of Thrones"
"Southland"
"Spartacus: Gods of the Arena"
"True Blood"
Screen Actors Guild Awards 48th Annual Life Achievement Award
Mary Tyler Moore
Track all of 2012's hottest red-carpet-stunners from awards season at MTV Style and come back to Style every day for the latest fashion news.
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テレビのバラエティ番組でどんなだったかその様子を話題にしている。ケーブルないから見たことない。ここにも書かれているが、高い確率でオスカーを予想するらしい。
****
Screen Actors Guild
SAG Awards 2012: "The Help," Jean Dujardin win big honors
By Lauren Moraski January 29, 2012 7:35 PM
(CBS/AP) "The Help" took home three top honors at the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday: best picture, best actress for Viola Davis and supporting actress for Octavia Spencer.
Dreaming big was perhaps the theme of the night. When French actor Jean Dujardin accepted the lead actor trophy for his role in the black-and-white silent film, "The Artist," he talked about being a bad student growing up.
"Thank you for this dream," he said.
Davis also spoke about following a dream.
"What is there but a dream? You can't trade in your dream for another dream," "The Help" star said while accepting the lead actress award. She ended her speech with a word of advice: "Dream big and dream fierce."
Veteran actor Christopher Plummer took home the first acting honor of the evening: outstanding male actor in a supporting role for "Beginners."
"I'm so flattered to be on the same bill" as the other actors in the category, Plummer, 82, said while accepting the honor, adding that his co-star Ewan McGregor makes "acting look so easy."
"30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin and Betty White of "Hot in Cleveland" won the best acting in a TV comedy series awards.
During her speech, the 90-year-old White said, "I remember you sweetheart," while touching the trophy.
The cast of "Modern Family" took home outstanding ensemble in a comedy series, and it was the younger actors who got the chance to accept the award.
Kate Winslet, who wasn't present to accept the award, won outstanding performance by a female actor in a television movie or miniseries for her role in "Mildred Pierce." Paul Giamatti, also absent from the ceremony, won the TV mini-series/movie actor award for "Too Big to Fail."
The "Bridesmaids" cast caught some laughs for their "Scorsese" drinking game sketch. Every time director Martin Scorsese's name gets mentioned, they said, it was time to take a swig -- and the girls, including Melissa McCarthy (with drink in hand), managed to utter Scorsese quite a few times while on the stage. Other actors followed suit later in the evening, including Tina Fey and Steve Buscemi.
Jessica Lange scored the honor for female actor in a TV drama series for "American Horror Story, while "Boardwalk Empire" star Buscemi won the best male actor prize for TV drama series. He thanked his cast members, including the ones who were killed off last season.
"Please stop yelling at me on the street," Buscemi said, referring to the reaction from "Boardwalk" fans about the season finale.
Prior to the televised ceremony, the final "Harry Potter" installment won the stunt ensemble film award, while HBO's "Game of Thrones" earned the TV stunt honor.
SAG recognized Mary Tyler Moore, 75, with the lifetime achievement award. The prize was presented by Dick Van Dyke, her co-star on the 1960s sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
"I love that woman," Van Dyke said during his introduction. "Beautiful and bright and talented ... She's given so much of herself to help other people."
The SAG Actor winners are picked by their acting peers. Going into the evening, the Deep South drama "The Help" led the with four nominations. "The Artist" was second with three nominations.
In the past, SAG Awards winners have gone on to earn Oscars. In 2011, all four acting winners also won Academy Awards.
セリン・デオンやマライヤ・カレイとよく並び称されるホイットニー・ヒュウストン。世界を代表する3大歌手の一角の死には悲しいものがある。
****
48歳のホイットニー・ヒューストン、ビバリーズヒルズホテルで死す。
Award-winning singer Whitney Houston dies at age 48
By Bob Tourtellotte
Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:04pm EST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston, one of the most talented performers of her generation who lived a turbulent personal life and admitted drug use, died on Saturday in a Beverly Hills hotel room. She was 48.
A Beverly Hills police officer told reporters they were called to the Beverly Hilton, in Los Angeles, at around 3:20 p.m. PST and that emergency personnel found Houston's body in a fourth-floor room, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.
"She has been positively identified by friends and family (who) were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified," Lieutenant Mark Rosen told reporters.
Police said there were no obvious signs of criminal intent at the scene and her death is under investigation.
Houston was in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards, the music industry's biggest honors program that will take place on Sunday night. She died hours before she was expected to perform at record producer Clive Davis's annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday, which is held at the Beverly Hilton
Houston, inspired by soul singers in her New Jersey family, including mother Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and the late Dee Dee Warwick, as well as her godmother Aretha Franklin, became one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, taking multiple Emmy, Grammy and Billboard Music awards.
STELLAR CAREER, PERSONAL TROUBLES
Her popularity soared in the 1980s and 1990s with consecutive No. 1 hits including the smash single "I Will Always Love You," from the soundtrack of the feature film "The Bodyguard," in which she starred.
She also appeared in "Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996)."
By the early 1990s, Houston had become the queen of pop music, achieving great critical and commercial acclaim, but her personal life was becoming troubled. In 1992 she married singer Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy reputation, and during their 14 years together had a tumultuous relationship fueled by drugs.
In 2000, she and Brown were stopped at an airport in Hawaii and security guards discovered marijuana in their luggage.
The pair also starred in reality TV series, "Being Bobby Brown," which painted an often unflattering portrait of the pair.
The last 10 years of Houston's life were dominated by drug use, rumors of relapses and trips to rehab. In a 2002 TV interview, she admitted using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs.
She launched a comeback tour in 2009 and in April 2010 she called media reports she was using drugs again "ridiculous." In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehab program.
Reactions came pouring in from fans and friends in the music industry.
"I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney's passing," legendary music producer Quincy Jones said in a statement. "... I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly."
Neil Portnow, chief executive of the Recording Academy that gives out the Grammys, called her "one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades."
Pop star Rihanna posted on Twitter "No words, just tears," and rapper Nicki Minaj tweeted "Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time."
(Additional reporting by Mary Slosson; Editing by Philip Barbara)
アメリカ音楽界の最大のイベント、グラミー賞。
Grammys 2012 preview: start time, TV schedule, list of performers and presenters
Here are some answers to basic questions about the 2012 Grammys: start time, TV rights, and performers
Vancouver Sun February 12, 2012 2:06 PM
The 2012 Grammy Awards are set for Sunday, February 12. Usually the music industry's biggest night, the 2012 Grammys will be a more sombre affair following the death of singer Whitney Houston.
Here's some basic info on what you need to know about the 2012 Grammys:
When do the 2012 Grammy start?
The Grammys start time is 8:00 pm ET/PT.
What channel will broadcast the 2012 Grammys?
The Grammys will air on CBS in the U.S. In Canada, the awards show will air on Global.
Where are the Grammy taking place?
The awards ceremony will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
Who will host the Grammys?
Rapper LL Cool J is set to host.
Who will be performing at the Grammys?
Some of the notable musicians scheduled to perform at the Grammys: Adele in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery; Coldplay and Rihanna; Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band; and Taylor Swift. Chris Brown, Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood are also slated to hit the stage together while Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt will perform a tribute to the late Etta James.
Who are some of the presenters at the Grammys?
Notable presenters include Jack Black, Drake, Fergie, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson of the Roots, and Ringo Starr.
Will there be a tribute to Whitney Houston at the Grammys?
The Recording Academy intends to include a "respectful" tribute to Houston in Sunday evening's show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to Grammys show producer Ken Ehrlich. Singer Jennifer Hudson is expected to perform as part of a "respectful" tribute at the Grammys,
KABC-TVのチャンネル7でライブ中継をみた。かつて映画で共演したケビン・コスナーと10代の若いホイットニーをスターダムにのし上げたスポンサーのクリーブ・デイビスの弔辞が、歌では生前彼女が才能を大いに讃えたアリーシア・キイがピアノを自ら弾いての熱唱が印象的だった。スティービー・ワンダーを久しぶりにみた。ピアノを弾きながらの、いつもの張りのある歌声を披露。彼の年齢という時が止まっているかのような、少しも歳を感じさせない姿に驚いた。
****
ホイットニー・ヒューストンの葬式
Stars mourn Whitney Houston at rousing New Jersey funeral
By Christine Kearney and Jonathan Allen
NEWARK, New Jersey | Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:24pm EST
NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Stars, family and friends mourned Whitney Houston in a spirited Baptist funeral service at her hometown church on Saturday, a week after the death of the singer whose spectacular voice made her one of the biggest pop stars of her era.
Gospel and soul music greats, celebrities and family members swayed to gospel hits and delivered tributes both sung and spoken to the crowded New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where Houston honed her wide vocal range as a young choral singer with her mother Cissy Houston, a backup singer for Aretha Franklin.
"Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began," said actor Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in the 1992 hit film, "The Bodyguard."
He urged those around the world to "dry our tears, suspend our sorrow - and perhaps our anger - just long enough, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney."
Houston, who died in a Beverly Hills hotel room last week, recorded stirring love songs and vibrant dance tunes during a 30-year career that peaked with her 1992 signature hit "I Will Always Love You" and paved the way for a generation of singers that followed.
She was among the greatest singers of the 1980s and 1990s, but later admitted to heavy use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills. Officials have said prescription drugs were found in the hotel room where she died.
Her death at age 48 shocked her family, fans and the music industry. Houston was found underwater in a hotel bathtub on the eve of the music industry's Grammy Awards. Her cause of death has yet to be determined.
She suffered a turbulent personal life and marriage to singer Bobby Brown, who said in a statement he left the service early after being repeatedly asked to move by security, who prevented him from seeing the daughter he shared with Houston, Bobby Kristina Brown, 18.
"This was a day to honor Whitney," Brown said. "I doubt whether Whitney would have wanted this to occur."
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During the service, her cousin and famed soul singer Dionne Warwick read out a funeral poem and introduced music greats from the past and present, including Alicia Keys who said "it was so obvious the way she just crept into everybody's heart" before singing an emotional rendition of "Prelude to a Kiss."
GOSPEL AND SOUL
Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder spoke of once having "a little crush" on Houston before singing a version of his 1982 R&B hit "Ribbon In The Sky," inserting the lyrics "No more, Whitney, No more, Do you have to cry - You'll always be a ribbon in the sky."
Others spoke eloquently of Houston's passion, strong-willed spirit and once hopeful future, including Clive Davis, the founder of her label Arista Records, who discovered and molded Houston into a global pop phenomenon. He said shortly before she died, Houston had promised she was getting back into shape.
"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime. You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that, for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all it takes your breath away," he said. "Music was her passion. Whitney lived music. Whitney loved music."
R. Kelly performed the 2009 song he wrote for Houston, "I Look To You," and director Tyler Perry talked about Houston's "grace that led her all the way to the top of the charts." The service was dominated by gospel music, by singers Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin and others.
Houston's family decided against a public memorial, as was done for pop star Michael Jackson after his 2009 death, but they agreed to allow the four-hour service to be broadcast live by television networks and on the Internet.
Many of Houston's fans left cards and balloons around the church dedicated to the singer, who became a global star with her 1985 debut album, which included the hits "Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love Of All."
Police urged fans to stay home and watch the funeral on the Internet or television, but some flew and drove from around the country to get as close as they could to the late singer.
"This is history," said fan Hedwig Berthold, 40, who flew from Miami and watched the broadcast with dozens of others in a nearby cafe. "I bought her records, I saw her concerts, I saw her in the good times. So I wanted to be here for her final farewell."
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Others gathered on the streets, including Wendy Saunders, who drove from Detroit to pay her respects to Houston and said "She meant so much to me," while Renee Taylor, from Baltimore, held a sign, "You gave us more love than we will ever need."
Houston grew up surrounded by gospel and soul music legends like Franklin - who fell ill and was unable to attend the service - as well as Warwick. She later forged new territory for a black female artist who brought R&B and gospel touches into pop music's mainstream.
After her debut, her popularity grew exponentially with her second album, "Whitney" (1987), with all four singles - "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional," "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" - hitting No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Her music videos featuring her 1980s style and innocent, fun-loving image made her wildly popular around the world. In "The Bodyguard," with Costner, Houston played a character not far removed from her real self: an international singing sensation coping with fame.
Costner recalled during his speech that Hollywood executives were hesitant to cast Houston in her first starring role, preferring "somebody white," but she soon won everyone over. He also spoke of Houston's immense talent - and insecurities.
"The Whitney that I knew, despite her worldwide success and fame, still wondered, 'Am I good enough, Am I pretty enough, Will they like me?' It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," he said. "People didn't just like you, Whitney. They loved you."
She made other films, including "The Preacher's Wife," but the 15-year period when she was married to singer Brown coincided with a decline in the quality and frequency of her albums. The couple, who have an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, divorced in 2007.
Houston's powerful voice suffered in recent years. On her last world tour in 2010, she struggled to hit the high notes.
But the service ended by focusing on the old, soaring voice she had promised to reclaim. Her inimitable "I Will Always Love You," rang out as the casket was carried out of the church.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Reaney and Gianna Palmer; editing by Anthony Boadle and Todd Eastham)
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オスカー3時間前。ここ一週間はTVはオスカー一色。アメリカTV視聴率のランキングはアメリカンフットボールのスーパーボウルが第1位。2位がアカデミー賞、3位がグラミー賞。今年はウィットニー・ヒューストンの死によってグラミー賞が大幅増の40million viewers。オスカーが3位に落ちるとの見通しを告げている。
****
Oscars aim for surprises to spice up show
By Bob Tourtellotte
Sun Feb 26, 2012 3:17pm EST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After the curtain rises on Sunday's Oscars, producers hope a few surprise winners and heartfelt acceptance speeches will spice up the program in which silent movie "The Artist" is widely seen as the choice for best movie.
The world's top film honors are in jeopardy of losing their status as the second most-watched TV event in the United States behind professional football's Super Bowl if the show can't lure more than 40 million viewers, which could be difficult.
Producers have brought back popular host Billy Crystal to provide laughter, but the best solution for a lively TV awards program, sponsors at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences say, is a group of surprise winners or ones who give genuinely emotional or rousing acceptance speeches.
"Be memorable, and you will be remembered," co-producer Don Mischer told nominees at a recent luncheon.
It's hard to forget 73-year-old Jack Palance doing one-arm pushups on the Oscar stage after winning best supporting actor for 1991's "City Slickers," or more recently the heartfelt speech by writers Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of best song winner "Falling Slowly" from 2007 film, "Once."
The Oscars need a few surprises because silent movie romance "The Artist," while critically lauded, has generated only around $30 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, and the Oscars generally enjoy larger TV audiences when popular hits like "Avatar" are in the hunt for best movie.
The show annually is the second most-watched program on U.S. TV behind professional football's Super Bowl, but this year's Grammy Awards, music's top honors, lured 40 million viewers the night after Whitney Houston's death and could easily surpass the Oscars, which only twice since 2002 has had a larger audience.
Oscar producers also hope a return of popular comedian Crystal as host of the program for the ninth time will lure viewers. He hasn't been emcee of the show since 2004 when it drew roughly 44 million viewers and box office smash "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" was the big winner.
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This year "The Artist," a tale of old Hollywood that sees a fading star find redemption through the love of a woman just as silent movies are being taken over by talkies, is widely picked to take home best film by most industry pundits.
It comes into the night with 10 nominations, second only to Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" with 11. But most of the nods for "Hugo" are in technical categories like cinematography, whereas "The Artist" nominations are spread across several categories.
"It's unbeatable," said Dave Karger, movie writer for Entertainment Weekly magazine.
While it faces keen competition from civil rights drama "The Help," "The Artist" has come out on top in most award shows this year. Still, pundits point out that "The Help" did win best ensemble cast from the Screen Actors Guild, and actors make up the biggest group of Oscar voters.
The third movie that has had Hollywood buzzing this season is family drama "The Descendants," starring George Clooney as a man trying to keep his family together after his cheating wife is hospitalized in a coma. But "Descendants" has failed to spark Oscar voters, and its key win is seen as adapted screenplay.
The category of best actress features a too-close-to-call race between Viola Davis playing a maid in "The Help" and Meryl Streep as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Tom O'Neil of awards website Goldderby.com calls that race "neck and neck."
The best actor category sees American Clooney "Descendants" face Frenchman Jean Dujardin, star of "The Artist." For a long time, Clooney seemed to have the upper hand, but Dujardin has won most every time the two have been pitted against each other.
Supporting actor and actress appear locked for Christopher Plummer, playing an elderly gay man in "Beginners," and Octavia Spencer as one of the black maids in "The Help."
At age 82, Plummer would be the oldest Oscar winner ever, and if both Spencer and Davis are victorious, then it would be the first time two African American women have won those categories in the same year for the same movie.
The race for director is widely tipped to go to "The Artist" maker Michel Hazanavicius, but could see a surprise by "Hugo" and Scorsese, Woody Allen with "Midnight in Paris" or Alexander Payne and "The Descendants."
Finally, Iranian film "A Separation" goes up against Israel's "Footnote" in the category for foreign language film, bringing world politics into the movie industry awards.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Sandra Maler and Cynthia Osterman)
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ワースト映画賞 - The Golden Raspberry awards
And the Worst Film of the Year Is Officially…
Adam Sandler's Jack and Jill. At least according to the Razzies, which just "honored" the film with a dozen nominations for its annual worst-of-the-year awards.
By Nick Carbone | February 25, 2012 | The Time Mag
The Razzies (also known as the Golden Raspberry awards), are in their 32nd year of celebrating the industry’s worst films. And Adam Sandler’s Jack & Jill cleaned up in this year’s nominations, receiving 12 Razzie nods though it was eligible in only 10 categories. That’s right, the film was so heinous in the eyes of the Razzie voters that it was nominated multiple times per category. Talk about a dis-honor. Not even the vampiric action of Twilight could outshine Sandler’s gender-bending travesty.
Though its not as if anyone expected Jack & Jill to be good. The cross-dressing comedy has been rated in the single digits on Rotten Tomatoes since its November release (it currently holds an abysmal 3% positive rating). One movie critic wrote in his review that it “gives fart jokes a bad name.” We even voted it the worst movie of 2011. But none of those landmarks could have prepared it for such a Razzies sweep. The awards even went outside their own standard boxes to dish out disgrace. Adam Sandler notched a nod for both worst actor (as Jack) and worst actress (as Jill). David Spade was nominated for best supporting actress for his drag queen role in the film.
The Razzies note that Jack & Jill is the fourth film to tally more nominations than there are categories. It joins such esteemed company as Lonely Lady, Showgirls and Battlefield Earth, all which took home the Razzies’ Worst Picture award. What a drag.
See the full list of nominees on the next page.
Worst Picture
- Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
- Jack & Jill
- New Year’s Eve
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon
- Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
Worst Actor
- Russell Brand, Arthur
- Nicolas Cage, Drive Angry 3-D, Season Of The Witch, and Trespass
- Taylor Lautner, Abduction and Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
- Adam Sandler, Jack & Jill and Just Go With It
- Nick Swardson, Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star
Worst Actress
- Martin Lawrence (As “Momma”), Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
- Sarah Palin (As “Herself”), Sarah Palin: The Undefeated
- Sarah Jessica Parker, I Don’t Know How She Does It and New Year’s Eve
- Adam Sandler (As “Jill”), Jack & Jill
- Kristen Stewart, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
Worst Supporting Actress
- Katie Holmes, Jack & Jill
- Brandon T. Jackson (As “Charmaine”), Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
- Nicole Kidman, Just Go With It
- David Spade (As “Monica”), Jack & Jill
- The Underwear Model (Aka Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
Worst Supporting Actor
- Patrick Dempsey, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
- James Franco, Your Highness
- Ken Jeong, Big Momma’s #3, Hangover Part 2, Transformers #3 and Zookeeper
- Al Pacino (As “Al Pacino”), Jack & Jill
- Nick Swardson, Jack & Jill and Just Go With It
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- The Entire Cast of Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star
- The Entire Cast of Jack & Jill
- The Entire Cast of New Year’s Eve
- The Entire Cast of Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
- The Entire Cast of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
Worst Director
- Michael Bay, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
- Tom Brady, Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star
- Bill Condon, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
- Dennis Dugan, Jack & Jill and Just Go With It
- Garry Marshall, New Year’s Eve
Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel
- Arthur
- Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star (Rip-Off of Boogie Nights and A Star Is Born)
- The Hangover Part 2 (Both a sequel and a remake!)
- Jack & Jill (Remake/Rip-Off of Ed Woods’ Glen or Glenda)
- Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
Worst Screen Couple
- Nicolas Cage & Anyone Sharing the Screen with Him in Any of His Three 2011 Movie
- Shia Lebeouf & The Underwear Model (Aka Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), Transformers #3
- Adam Sandler & EITHER Jennifer Aniston OR Brooklyn Decker, Just Go With It
- Adam Sandler & EITHER Katies Holmes, Al Pacino OR Adam Sandler, Jack & Jill
- Kristen Stewart & EITHER Taylor Lautner OR Robert Pattinson, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part I
Worst Screenplay
- Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star, Written by Adam Sandler, Allen Covert and Nick Swardson
- Jack & Jill, Screenplay by Steve Koren & Adam Sandler, Story by Ben Zook
- New Year’s Eve, Written by Katherine Fugate
- Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, Written by Ehren Kruger
- Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I, Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, from the novel by Stephenie Meyer
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