NPR Series: The 81st Annual Academy Awards

NPR Series: The 81st Annual Academy Awards http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99708412&ft=1&f=99708412 <em>The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</em> leads the 2009 Oscar pack with 13 nominations, including Best Picture. Winners of the 81st Academy Awards will be announced Feb. 22 in Hollywood — and NPR.org will be <strong>live-blogging the ceremony.</strong> Check back here for new stories daily. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif The 81st Annual Academy Awards http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99708412&ft=1&f=99708412 'Slumdog Millionaire' Trumps Oscar Competition The Academy Awards took over Hollywood last night as some of the world's biggest stars were honored for their work in film. <em>Slumdog Millionaire</em> was the big winner, sweeping the ceremony with eight awards, including the prize for best picture. <em>Boston Globe</em> film critic Wesley Morris offers a wrap-up of last night's festivities. Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101027919&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101027919&ft=1&f=99708412 The Academy Awards took over Hollywood last night as some of the world's biggest stars were honored for their work in film. Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner, sweeping the ceremony with eight awards, including the prize for best picture. Boston Globe film critic Wesley Morris offers a wrap-up of last night's festivities.

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]]> Inspirational Movies Win Big At Oscars The ghetto-to-glory story <em>Slumdog Millionaire</em> was named Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday. It won seven other Oscars, including Best Director. Kate Winslet won Best Actress for the Holocaust-themed drama <em>The Reader,</em> and Sean Penn took Best Actor for the title role in <em>Milk.</em> Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101024341&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101024341&ft=1&f=99708412 The ghetto-to-glory story Slumdog Millionaire was named Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday. It won seven other Oscars, including Best Director. Kate Winslet won Best Actress for the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader, and Sean Penn took Best Actor for the title role in Milk.

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]]> The Curious Case Of A Missing Academy Award Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in the 1939 epic <em>Gone With the Wind</em> — becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award. But her award has been missing for some 40 years. Was it lost, stolen or simply overlooked? Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100937570&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100937570&ft=1&f=99708412 Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in the 1939 epic Gone With the Wind — becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award. But her award has been missing for some 40 years. Was it lost, stolen or simply overlooked?

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]]> Movie Music 2009: Oscar-Nominated Scores Tucked in among the Oscars for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture is a lesser-known category: Best Original Score. Film-music specialist Andy Trudeau has come to discuss the nominees every year since the 68th Academy Awards. Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:56:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100922879&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100922879&ft=1&f=99708412 Tucked in among the Oscars for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture is a lesser-known category: Best Original Score. Film-music specialist Andy Trudeau has come to discuss the nominees every year since the 68th Academy Awards.

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]]> Creating Queenie: Taraji Henson's Leap Of Faith The <em>Benjamin Button</em> actress talks with NPR's Michele Norris about bringing a character to life on screen — and helping audiences connect with the movie's distinctly different hero. Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:26:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100826262&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100826262&ft=1&f=99708412 The Benjamin Button actress talks with NPR's Michele Norris about bringing a character to life on screen — and helping audiences connect with the movie's distinctly different hero.

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]]> Who Are You Wearing To The Oscars? Who Cares? At the annual Oscar gala, the cameras flash and reporters ask whose clothes you're wearing. But they only offer a glimpse of nominees and their escorts. This Sunday, commentator Peggy Orenstein will walk the red carpet with her filmmaker husband — another time. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100839097&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100839097&ft=1&f=99708412 At the annual Oscar gala, the cameras flash and reporters ask whose clothes you're wearing. But they only offer a glimpse of nominees and their escorts. This Sunday, commentator Peggy Orenstein will walk the red carpet with her filmmaker husband — another time.

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]]> At 91, Shoemaker To The Stars Is Still In Business The man behind Charlton Heston's sandals in <em>The Ten Commandments</em> is 91-year-old Willie Rivera, who began making shoes at the age of 13 in Mexico City. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s and has dressed the feet of legends such as Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Lily Tomlin and Bill Cosby. Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:35:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100687447&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100687447&ft=1&f=99708412 The man behind Charlton Heston's sandals in The Ten Commandments is 91-year-old Willie Rivera, who began making shoes at the age of 13 in Mexico City. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s and has dressed the feet of legends such as Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Lily Tomlin and Bill Cosby.

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]]> 'The Garden,' An Oscar Underdog <em>The Garden</em> tells the story of poor urban immigrants struggling to save their South Central Los Angeles farm. The movie is one of the five documentaries up for an Academy Award Sunday. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100869759&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100869759&ft=1&f=99708412 The Garden tells the story of poor urban immigrants struggling to save their South Central Los Angeles farm. The movie is one of the five documentaries up for an Academy Award Sunday.

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]]> A Movie's Look, From Toilet To Villain's Lair Lighting, props, sets and costumes all contribute to the "look" of a movie — and production designer J. Michael Riva, the grandson of Marlene Dietrich, makes sure all those elements integrate seamlessly for a film. He has worked on blockbusters such as <em>The Goonies</em> and <em>A Few Good Men.</em> Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:10:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100816240&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100816240&ft=1&f=99708412 Lighting, props, sets and costumes all contribute to the "look" of a movie — and production designer J. Michael Riva, the grandson of Marlene Dietrich, makes sure all those elements integrate seamlessly for a film. He has worked on blockbusters such as The Goonies and A Few Good Men.

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]]> Before 'The Wrestler,' True Drama Beyond The Ring Pro wrestling may be big on theatrics, but the main character in the Oscar-nominated film <em>The Wrester</em> is a lot like a real guy — Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose rise and fall was recorded in a documentary in 2000. Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:03:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100812744&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100812744&ft=1&f=99708412 Pro wrestling may be big on theatrics, but the main character in the Oscar-nominated film The Wrester is a lot like a real guy — Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose rise and fall was recorded in a documentary in 2000.

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]]> 'The Queen Of Bling' Preps For The Oscars Third-generation jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz has adorned Beyonce, Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100778944&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100778944&ft=1&f=99708412 Third-generation jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz has adorned Beyonce, Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor.

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]]> Building The Curious Faces Of 'Benjamin Button' Effects-driven acting? Actor-fueled effects? The line between performance and technology has rarely been thinner than in <em>The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</em>. Laura Sydell goes behind the scenes with the FX gurus who helped make it happen. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100668766&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100668766&ft=1&f=99708412 Effects-driven acting? Actor-fueled effects? The line between performance and technology has rarely been thinner than in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Laura Sydell goes behind the scenes with the FX gurus who helped make it happen.

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]]> 'Slumdog Millionaire' Fits The Bollywood Model Commentator Sandip Roy adds his two cents to the media fray surrounding the Academy Award nominated film, <em>Slumdog Millionaire</em>. Some people have complained that the film paints a negative portrait of India, but Roy has a different view. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100746989&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100746989&ft=1&f=99708412 Commentator Sandip Roy adds his two cents to the media fray surrounding the Academy Award nominated film, Slumdog Millionaire. Some people have complained that the film paints a negative portrait of India, but Roy has a different view.

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]]> Oscars: Keeping Things Short ... And Sweet A short film must make its point quickly, but what becomes clear watching the Oscar-nominated shorts each year is how many different ways there are for a filmmaker to make a point. A lot of heart can be put into a few minutes. Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:02:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100684339&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100684339&ft=1&f=99708412 A short film must make its point quickly, but what becomes clear watching the Oscar-nominated shorts each year is how many different ways there are for a filmmaker to make a point. A lot of heart can be put into a few minutes.

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]]> 'Frozen River,' A Study In Oscar Marketing With its Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay, <em>Frozen River</em> is emerging as this year's "Little Indie Makes Good." Its producers deftly negotiated the movie marketing game and now are planning to capitalize on this opportunity. Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468824&ft=1&f=99708412 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468824&ft=1&f=99708412 With its Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay, Frozen River is emerging as this year's "Little Indie Makes Good." Its producers deftly negotiated the movie marketing game and now are planning to capitalize on this opportunity.

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