The 2016 Kitty Awards

It's crazy that the Academy Awards are this weekend or something. The AA have gotten more boring every year. So ho hum. Unlike the Kitty Awards which, as usual, is filled with exciting choices and the bestest host of all time, Mr. Neil Patrick Harris! Can you believe we got him again?

As you know, the Kitty will go to the most deserving winners. Not the movies that cost the most, or the biggest stars. And, as always, we will use the Academy Award list of nominees so you can see if the judges at the Kittys agree or if they go with something surprising, something you'll be talking about at work because the judges have been so on target! That's how it is, here, at the Kitty Awards!

So, get ready to settle back and enjoy the show! It's time for... the 7th Annual (My G-D, can you believe it's 7 years???Some of us can, because of all the work we do backstage!!) Kitty Awards for all you viewers (I know, I know, readers) out there!

Hit it, Neil!

OK, get ready, here is the first Award:

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale in “The Big Short”
Tom Hardy in “The Revenant”
Mark Ruffalo in “Spotlight”
Mark Rylance in “Bridge of Spies”
Sylvester Stallone in “Creed”
Well, as happens sometimes, the judges didn't see any of these... but they did watch a heck of a lot of that terrific show Medium and think no one could be worthier of a Kitty than All Time Best Husband on a TV Show, Jake Weber! Here you go, Jake!
Now, on to:
Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Jason Leigh in “The Hateful Eight”
Rooney Mara in “Carol”
Rachel McAdams in “Spotlight”
Alicia Vikander in “The Danish Girl”
Kate Winslet in “Steve Jobs”

Oddly enough, Patrica Arquette (of Medium fame!) won the AA last year, so she and Jake have now both won prestigious awards (some MORE prestigious than others!).
So, again, the judges didn't see any of the above. They did see a whole lot of Scandal! And they LOVED Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant, the ever resourceful, always cheery, despite being cheated on and what have you, First Lady!
Here you are, Bellamy! Yay for you!

Now for one of the big Awards (before we go on to things like Director, Music and things that get in the way of finding out which movie you'll be putting the DVD of on hold at your local library!)
 
Best Actor 
 “Embrace of the Serpent” Colombia
“Mustang” France
“Son of Saul” Hungary
“Theeb” Jordan
“A War” Denmark
While the judges like Matt Damon in most things, especially in The Hereafter, the Martian was a little too feel-goody for them. And we believe Leonardo is probably fantastic in the Revenant, but, again, they haven't seen it yet. The judges are HUUUGE Walking Dead fans and no one has more star power and magnetism than Daryl Dixon played by the brilliant Norman Reedus. Last year Michonne, or rather the actress who plays her, Danai Gurira, won the Kitty for Best Supporting Actress, so it's really no surprise that Daryl should have his day, too!
  Below, through the miracle of youtube (and by Infinitify) you can see the emotional range of Norman's Daryl over the course of the series (well some of the series, anyway, but the judges just loved these scenes!).

Here you are, Norman! The judges and probably the whole world loves and admires Daryl for being so take charge, so your Kitty Award was pretty much in the cards!



And here is the award for:
Best Actress Cate Blanchett in “Carol”
Brie Larson in “Room”
Jennifer Lawrence in “Joy”
Charlotte Rampling in “45 Years”
Saoirse Ronan in “Brooklyn”While the judges LOVE Jennifer, Joy just did not do it for them this year. So what actress had the judges raving about her fabulous performance and how she lights up the screen and commands every scene she's in? The amazing Tayonah Parris in Spike Lee's Chi-Raq! Have a look at this timely movie and

Ms. Parris star turn:

Here you are, Tayonah! Your very own Kitty Award so well deserved!

Now for:
The Kitty Award for Best Director

The Big Short” Adam McKay
“Mad Max: Fury Road” George Miller
“The Revenant” Alejandro G. Iñárritu
“Room” Lenny Abrahamson
“Spotlight” Tom McCarthy
All good movies. The Judges even liked Room quite a bit, but the movie they were most impressed with, and with hardly any budget and filmed with iphones was Tangerine directed by Sean S. Baker who also co-wrote the script. This film also has one of the most intriguing casts the judges have ever seen. Have a look:

It's no wonder the award goes to Mr. Baker for this amazing film! And, yes, you can share in the glory of that Kitty for your fabulous performances Mya Taylor and  Kitana Kiki Rodriguez! Cheers to you!

Now, the award for:
Best Foreign Film “Embrace of the Serpent” Colombia
“Mustang” France
“Son of Saul” Hungary
“Theeb” Jordan
“A War” Denmark

Once again, the judges didn't see any of these, not even on Netflix, but they did see A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night on Netflix and it looks like a foreign film even if it was filmed in California, and it does have subtitles and besides it is one of the judges favorite films of the year, as they saw it last year, so, whenever it was actually made, they felt that qualified.  Check this out:

Accepting the Award is the Girl, herself, Ms. Sheila Vand and Masuka the Cat!

Best Original Song 
“Earned It” from “Fifty Shades of Grey”
Music and Lyric by Abel Tesfaye,
Ahmad Balshe, Jason Daheala Quenneville and Stephan Moccio
“Manta Ray” from “Racing Extinction”
Music by J. Ralph and Lyric by Antony Hegarty
“Simple Song #3” from “Youth”
Music and Lyric by David Lang
“Til It Happens To You” from “The Hunting Ground”
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren and Lady Gaga
“Writing’s On The Wall” from “Spectre”
Music and Lyric by Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith What about that powerful title song from Spike Lee's Chi-Raq, Pray 4 my City? 

 Here's a video. The judges think it's a winner! Listen for yourself:

Here's your Kitty, Spike and Nick! Congrats!

Now, for the 4th year in a row, a very special award!!! It's time for the Kitty Lifetime Achievement Award! The award honoring a star's fabulous accomplishments in the arts or what have you and our super surprise winner is...Cary Grant! Yes, Cary has returned to life to accept his award of a lifetime! Wouldn't you!

Cary was fantastic as a romantic lead! Through the miracle of Youtube (and Irene Xandra who put it together) you can get a glimpse of Mr. Grant's charms!  

 And he could be SO funny (clips thanks tomentalist007coldplay ) !
 
Can you ever get enough of Cary Grant???

Here you are, Cary! It was worth coming back for, wasn't it!

And now... the BIGGEST award of the night. Get ready, here are the nominees. Which picture will get the Kitty? It's exciting, yes...as it all comes down to this.
Best Picture

“The Big Short”
“Bridge of Spies”
“Brooklyn”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“The Martian”
“The Revenant”
“Room”
“Spotlight”

Again, the judges liked Room... but the movie that REALLY got their attention, even though they just saw it last night, but, hey, they make the rules, so, anything goes, here, at the Kitty Awards, was Where to Invade Next Michael Moore's eye-opening glimpse at how other countries take care of their citizens, often with ideas that originated in the USA! Here's a preview :

 Congratulations, Mr. Moore! We are sure this is just the first of many awards and, perhaps, also, the BEST!

Well, there you are! Another exciting Kitty Awards and probably the best ever!!! We know the Academy Awards are coming right up and you'll probably watch, as the judges will, and know in their hearts that the Kitty Awards did everything right!

Thanks once more to that host of hosts for giving so generously of his time! Thanks Neil! Hope to see you back here next year!

 * A note about the Kitty Award itself. The statue was inspired by the late and majestic  cat among cats: Big Eric. He will live on in the hearts of all the Kitty Award recipients.