Old, familiar faces at the PMPC Star Awards ; Will the Oscar Awards

The awards season is reaching, no, is already at its peak. Two weeks ago, the Urian gave out trophies to its own list of worthies. Last Saturday night, the Star Awards for Movies of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) did its turn of handing out those precious and much-coveted little statuettes. Any day now and the Film Academy Awards and the FAMAS will stage their respective palabas.

Everybody happy? I guess so -- except the losers (sob!).

By the time you're reading this (if you still bother to), your eyes should be glued to RPN 9 which is (starting at 9 a.m.) telecasting "live" (honestly now, it's slightly delayed to accommodate the usual load of commercials -- ho-hum!) the 72nd Annual Academy Awards (with a replay tonight at 8).

With the local award derbies (Urian, FAP, Star and the FAMAS) as with the Oscars, it's sometimes easier to do a "fearful" forecast after one or two award-giving bodies (Golden Globe Awards before the Oscars, etc.; and the Urian and/or the Star Awards before the remaining two others) have, well, set the "trend."

At last Saturday's Star Awards, old, familiar faces dominated the major categories, such as Elizabeth Oropesa (Best Actress), Ricky Davao (Best Actor) and Glydel Mercado (in a tie for Best Supporting Actress with Rufa Mae Quinto) who have already the same honors at the Urian. If the Urian and the Star come, can the FAMAS and the FAP Awards be far behind?

The "trend" seems to be towards a grand slam win for both Elizabeth and Ricky, knock on wood.

Showbiz-observers (this one included) have a feeling that it's going to be a "Beauty"-ful day at the Oscars, with top favorite American Beauty edging out the competition for the major awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Actress (Annette Bening) and Best Actor (Kevin Spacey).

But I hope (against hope?) that Haley Joel Osment will bag the Best Supporting Actor award because isn't he so good and so lovable and so memorable as the boy who sees and talks to the dead in The Sixth Sense? Tom Cruise (Magnolia) and old reliable Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules) might give the boy stiff competition, though.

Angelina Jolie (daughter of Jon Voight) is said to be a "sure bet" as Best Supporting Actress plum for Girl, Interrupted (topbilled by Winona Ryder).

But then, you and I can never tell, so it's better for us to stay tuned on RPN 9 to find out what surprises the Oscars has in store for us.

Meanwhile, as the endless commercials are rolling on, Funfare offers some Oscar trivia to keep you occupied (a nice breather, you know):

1. Who's the only person to direct himself to an acting Oscar?

2. Which actors are involved in the only tie for the Oscar Best Actor?

3. Which actresses are involved in the only tie for Oscar Best Actress?

4. What year was the only two Oscars given for Best Director?

5. Who's the only actor to win two Oscars for the same performance?

6. Who are the two great actors who are the all-time Oscar losers?

7. What's the only silent film to win as Oscar Best Picture?

8. What's the first sound film to win Best Picture?

9. What's the first film in color to win Best Picture?

10. What's the last black-and-white film to win Best Picture?

Answers:

1. Laurence Olivier for Hamlet (1948)

2. Wallace Beery (The Champ) and Fredric March (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) in 1931-32

3. Katharine Hepburn (The Lion in Winter) and Barbara Streisand (Funny Girl) in 1968

4. In 1961, to Robert Wise and Jerome Robins who co-directed The West Side Story

5. World War II veteran Harold Russell as Best Supporting Actor and an honorary Oscar for The Best Years of Our Lives in 1946

6. Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole

7. Wings (1927-28)

8. Broadway Melody (1928-29)

9. Gone With The Wind (1939)

10. The Apartment (1960)

(Source: The Secret History of Hollywood's Academy Awards by Anthony Holden)

What's up?

* Vicor Music Corporation introduces their newest artist Jerome Abalos via a special radio launch at 11:50 a.m. today simultaneous in six FM stations. Listeners will get to hear Jerome's song, Larawang Kupas, a cut from his self-titled album, for the very first time. The song is expected to create some noise in the local music scene with its special lyrics and add to that Jerome's soulful interpretation of the song. Participating in this special radio event are the top rated stations in Metro Manila; 102.7 Star-FM; 101.9 WRR; 101.1 Yes-FM; 97.9 Home Radio; 95.5 Pinoy Radio and 90.7 Love Radio. So don't be left behind, catch Jerome and his song, Larawang Kupas, at your favorite stations at 11:50 a.m.!

* Fat Session's Retro in the Metro Bar Tour makes a final stop at Kiko's Bar along Makati Ave. on Thursday, March 30. Party non-stop with the music that made a whole generation rock as Irene, Archie, Stephen and the rest of the gang dish out favorites like Hustle, Betcha By Golly Wow, and tunes from the likes of VST & Co., ABBA, Roberta Flack. Retro in the Metro is sponsored by Eventscape Manila, Goodfellas Ltd., Broline, Smart Buddy GSM Pre-paid, Alka-Seltzer, Home Cable, Jack Daniels, Carnation Coffeemate, Fiber Rich Nesvita, Nescafe, Carnation Calcium Plus and official radio stations [email protected] and Magic 89.9 DWTM. For ticket inquiries, call Eventscape Manila at 561-0442 or 562-7411.