i put my bet on you, michelle williams!

So here we are again, at that peak of the awards season, the big fish, the main event, the 2012 Academy Awards, which should be on tomorrow morning, Jakarta time. I was a bit reluctant to write about this, but well, I've watched almost 60 percent of all the nominated movies, so I think I might own the right to have an opinion. To check all the nomination, please go to Oscars.com.

Actor in a Leading Role

I think it's either George Clooney or Jean Dujardin. They both have won awards in many other festival. If I have to choose, I would go with George Clooney. I've watched the Descendants, I must say that it's Clooney's best dramatic role ever. Although it would be nice to have a french guy speaking a few french words at the Oscar podium.

Actress in a Leading Role

If you ask me two weeks ago, I would definitely go with Viola Davis. But after I finished watching My Week with Marilyn, I definitely want Michelle Williams to win, unfortunately she probably will not. But it will be a good surprise and by the way, she did win the Globe though. Then again, if Michelle does not win, my bet is on Viola Davis. I know everyone keeps saying it's going to be Meryl Streep, but serious I'm not really a big fan of the Iron Lady.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Christopher Plummer. The Academy loves seniority .. and he's captain Von Trapp, anyway. Just give it to the man. He totally deserves it.

Actress in a Supporting Role

This is a very interesting category. Although I'm with everyone when they say Octavia Spencer is going to win it, but I seriously wish that Melissa McCarthy would win the Oscar. It's going to be crazy! You know, if McCarthy wins this category, I would do something crazy! I cannot think of anything right now, but seriously I will do something awesome. Maybe I'll kiss everyone or go to a fancy restaurant or something. Go Melissa!

Best Director

Like you have to ask, Michel Hazanavicius has his name stamped on it.

Best Picture

Nine movies were nominated (strange!) and I've watched 6. The Artist and The Descendants are head to head to win it, but I would love to have Midnight in Paris to actually win the best Picture. Yes, I can dream, can't I? HAHAHA. Well, it's the Artist, then.

If you have any other opinion, please comment. Thanks!

adieu whitney houston

I think it was the late 80s when I first watched her video, I wanna Dance with Somebody. I wasn't really know who she was and I was just this young boy. All I know is that she's American with a big hair and it was a very colorful video. Later, I understood that she's one of the world's most successful singers.

Then I'm Your Baby Tonight was released in the early 90s. Followed by The Bodyguard, a couple of years later. I remember how I repeatedly played only the first 4 songs from the album at the attic of my old house here in Pluit. I believe I might have caused a few of unaware embarrassed moments by trying to sing out loud I Have Nothing which caused a stir. Not that I sang it good, but my mother thought I was in pain or something. That period of my life also confirmed that I cannot sing.

Whitney Houston's songs have been part of my life in a way. Exhale was one of the songs I listened to when I had a crush with my classmate during my high school years (now you can guess how old I am). I remember how a good friend sent me her duet with Cece Winans, Count on Me as I left Jakarta to live in Philly in 2001. 

I read about this very shocking unfortunate news on Sunday morning and realized that an icon, a little part of my childhood has forever gone. I often told my friend that Whitney Houston deserved a huge comeback and I strongly believed she could have done it.

Anyway, many have posted her interviews with Diane Sawyer or Oprah talking about her addictions. As much as I'm terribly sorry to watch those videos, I think I prefer to remember her as that skinny cheerful American with a big hair-do singing: "so when the night falls, my lonely heart calls."

Adieu, Whitney Houston (1963 - 2012).