Christopher Plummer

I mentioned previously about the Oscars being a list for us mortals to read and rush out to see, to which there’s no problem.

I want to dive just a little deeper into the pasts of these Oscar winners, mainly because all of them have worked in the business for a while before their big wins on the big night.

Some of them you may not have a clue about, and that’s mainly due to the fact The Artist smashed everyone’s expectations, and now the public are scrambling for any French movie in sight.

Michel Hazanavicius (Winner of Best Director of The Artist)

First big directing gig: OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
The man is married to Bérenice Bejo (main actress in The Artist), so that should say something about the praise he deserves, but he’s also very good at directing comedies. In fact, one of my favourite films (mentioned above) has the stars of The Artist in it. Not bad a start from commercial work, huh?

Meryl Streep (Winner of Best Actress for The Iron Lady)
First big role: Julia
You may not have known this, but Meryl Steep was quite the stage lady. Her start on Broadway was what got her into films, though it was a shaky start. I can still remember her chemistry with Goldie Hawn in the film Death Becomes Her, and where I personally feel she was hilarious.

Jean Dujardin (Winner of Best Actor for The Artist)
First movie role: Brice de Nice
France’s answer to George Clooney, and suit designers’ dream model. While I only first saw him inHazanavicius’ OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, he was well-known on television for the comedy series Un Gars, Un Fille. His first big flick was Brice de Nice, surrounding a surfer dude in Nice, with all the cliche attachments of a surfer dude. Quite honestly I could watch anything with the guy and I’d find it amazing……Charming bastard.

Christopher Plummer (Winner of Best Supporting Actor in Beginners)
First hit: The Sound of Music
If you didn’t recognise the dashing young man in The Sound of Music, it’s because it’s been that long since the film was made. Beginners was a brilliant film, and the award was well-deserved. I almost forgot how long Plummer has been in the business. The Return of the Pink Panther, Malcolm X, 12 Monkeys, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo…heck, he was even in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country!

Octavia Spencer (Winner of Best Supporting Actress in The Help)
First big break: A Time to Kill
Not the most loveable first film, but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? Apparently Spencer was originally hired to work in the casting department on the film based off of John Grisham’s novel, and ended up on-screen instead. Not a bad way of getting into show business. Though with films like Big Momma’s House and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, I’m sure this is also a big breather for her too.

Woody Allen (Winner of Best Writing – Original Screnplay for Midnight in Paris)
First screenwriting gig: What’s New Pussycat?
He is so well-known in the film industry as a mover, a shaker, and that can also be said outside the studio. But well before his success was What’s New Pussycat?, where he wrote the original screenplay, as well as writing himself more into it, causing a feud with Warren Beatty who was losing screen time. Want to be in the film more? Write yourself in more! The style of a true genius.

Alexander Payne (Winner of Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants)
First claim to fame: Election
Everyone was keen to see how Matthew Broderick would survive after his amazing role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and while I personally found Election to have it moments of glory, others didn’t think so. But that didn’t stop Alexander Payne from working his way up to Clooney, and an Oscar.

Gore Verbinski (Winner of Best Animation for Rango)

First big flick: Mouse Hunt
His beginnings directing music videos for punk rock bands like Bad Religion and NOFX give him big kudos from me, but the loveable duo of Nathan Lane and Lee Evans chasing a mouse around a mansion is what gave Verbinski his big boost into the stars, leading on to adapt The Ring for American audiences.