Sunday, February 27, 2011

Montage Monday: And The Oscar Goes To...

By now, the 2011 Academy Award winners are reveling in their grand victory (and nursing a raging hangover from last night's festivities) while the losing nominees are trying their darndest to convince themselves that it truly was an honor to have been nominated in the first place. Personally, I was rooting for Michelle Williams in the Best Actress category -- no disrespect for Natalie Portman's AMAZING performance in Black Swan. I just think Michelle Williams is one of Hollywood's most under-appreciated actresses and I would have liked to have seen her in the spotlight.

This Montage Monday, let's celebrate the Oscar winners by featuring their film location as travel destinations!

BEST PICTURE : THE KING'S SPEECH 
BEST ACTOR: COLIN FIRTH
Destination: Westminster Abbey, England


Tourists admiring Westminster Abbey in London
I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up when I saw Colin Firth's Prince Albert receive his crown at Westminster Abeey to become King George VI of England in the absolutely brilliant "The King's Speech". The scene was beyond moving (as I said, I had a little cry over it) and the fact that visitors can actually visit the site of so many historical events, as well as memorials to important figures, makes Westminster a remarkable place to explore when traveling to London.

BEST ACTRESS: NATALIE PORTMAN (BLACK SWAN)
Destination: New York, USA

A peaceful Central Park moment
That Natalie Portman sure was strung tight in Darren Aronofsky's dark take on the New York City Ballet in "Black Swan". The pressure to stand out among the many talented folks living in New York is high but there is an escape from all the city madness as well. Right in the center of all the craziness that IS New York City lies Central Park, the greatest city escape there ever was! I wonder how Nina, Portman's tormented dancer, could have benefited from a few hours a week in the serenity of Central Park...


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: CHRISTIAN BALE (THE FIGHTER)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: MELISSA LEO (THE FIGHTER)
Destination: Massachusetts, USA

There's nothing common about Boston Commons
Boston is one of Massachusetts's most famous and popular destinations. Although you probably won't find Christian Bale or Mark Wahlberg practicing their punches and jabs in Boston Commons, you can most likely find a game of ultimate frisbee to join. I think the closest thing you'll find to Christian Bale or Mark Wahlberg will be the strong accents, and of that, you'll be sure to find plenty!

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: IN A BETTER WORLD
Destination: Denmark

Aerial view of Copenhagen
My favorite category of the night: Best Foreign Film! I regret to say I have not yet seen this year's winner, "In A Better World", but with a plot that involves revenge and forgiveness and set in the beautiful and picturesque Denmark, I'm really looking forward to my first opportunity to watch this film! It doesn't hurt that the Danish lead, Mikael Persbrandt, looks a little like Daniel Craig either!

Any Oscar surprises or disappointments? 

Is there a particular film that inspires YOU to travel to its destination? Please share!

© Connie Hum 2011

5 comments:

  1. I can't think of a particular film but every time I see prayer flags I want to fly to Nepal.

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  2. @Monica Wong Ohh, I can think of SO many films that make me want to get on a plane! I think there's a future post on that coming up! =) Funny, I think of Nepal and momo's every time I see prayer flags too!

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  3. Cool write-up. I definitely did not watch the oscars (oops). I did love The Fighter, but that film would never make me want to travel to Mass. :)

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  4. I agree that Michelle Williams is under-appreciated, but I this year's Oscar truly belong to Natalie Portman IMHO. However, I know the Michelle Williams will have her time in the spotlight and I hope it's soon!! I'm so happy Colin Firth won also!! Well-deserved!!! Geoffrey Rush was also phenomenal!! I'm so glad The King's Speech won best movie!

    Seeing Eat, Pray, Love (movie was not great, just wanted the see the places, ha.), I especially want to go to India and Indonesia!! then Italy!

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  5. add *but I think and *belonged :)

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