LIFESTYLE37 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 Music & Movies All bets off as crowded Oscars race enters home straight

he race for Oscars glory is entering its final week in Hollywood and Tsuspense is building, as one of the most crowded fields in decades battles for Academy Awards gold. Three films- historical drama “12 Years a Slave,” space thriller “Gravity” and crime caper “American Hustle”-are all frontrunners for the coveted best picture prize to be handed out on March 2. In the acting categories, Cate Blanchett leads the pack for her turn in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” while Matthew McConaughey is widely tipped for his portrayal of homophobic AIDS activist Ron Woodroof in “Dallas Buyers Club.” For supporting cast, Jared Leto’s role as Woodroof’s unlikely transsexual busi- ness partner has put him ahead of the field, while Lupita Nyong’o could take home a statuette for her big-screen debut in “12 Years a Slave.” But all bets File photo shows Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres opens the 79th Academy File photo shows from left, Bono, Larry Mullen, Jr, The Edge and Adam Clayton, of are off for the big prize of the night, the Awards telecast, in Los Angeles. —AP the Irish band U2, winners of the award for best original song for “Ordinary Love” winner of which will be announced at from the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” arrive at The Weinstein Company’s the end of the 86th Academy Awards Golden Globes after party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. —AP ceremony hosted by US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

No shoo-ins this year “One thing is confirmed for certain: There will be genuine suspense until the last envelope is opened,” wrote Variety’s Tim Gray after Britain’s Baftas, the last major awards show before the season- climaxing Oscars. Voting for the famous golden statuettes began on Valentine’s Day, and the nearly 6,000 voting mem- bers of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have until Tuesday afternoon to cast their ballots. That is when exhausted nominees can in theory sit back after their months- long marathon campaigns of media interviews, red carpet appearances and publicity spots, which come to a fren- zied peak for the 12 days of actual vot- ing. It has been a long awards season- extended by the Winter Olympics in Sochi, which bumped the Oscars from This image released by Focus Features shows Jared Leto as Rayon in a This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Michael Fassbender, left, February into March. And it has also scene from “Dallas Buyers Club.” —AP Lupita Nyong’o and Chiwetel Ejiofor, right, in a scene from the film, “12 been one of the most grueling, partly Years A Slave.” —AP due to the bumper crop of films vying filmmaker to win the Oscar for best pic- praise for her work in the 3D space dra- ances by Irish rockers U2 and a first family drama “Philomena,” after other for glory. ture. And “Slave” star Chiwetel Ejiofor ma, prompting some to suggest she Oscars turn by veteran Bette Midler. It Weinstein-backed films failed to make could yet pip McConaughey for best could cause an upset in the best actress will be preceded by the usual fashion the best picture shortlist, including Big field for best picture actor. race. extravaganza on the red carpet, as “August: Osage County” and “Lee Daniels’ Nine films are up for best picture: The film earned nine Oscar nods, Australian Blanchett remains the firm Tinseltown’s finest parade along The Butler.” “Last year, (‘The Butler’) “American Hustle,” “Captain Phillips,” including one for Michael Fassbender in favorite in that category-the revival of Hollywood Boulevard and into the Dolby would have been a lock for a nomination “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Gravity,” “Her,” the best supporting actor category for child sex abuse allegations against Allen Theatre. with my hands tied behind my back and “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” “12 Years A his searing turn as a sadistic slave owner. seems to have had little impact on her Legendary Hollywood kingpin Harvey blindfolded,” said Weinstein in a recent Slave” and Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Two other films share top honors for chances-despite a strong field also con- Weinstein, behind recent Oscar winners interview. “This year, it’s different. No Wall Street.” “12 Years a Slave,” a harrow- most nominations with 10 apiece- taining Bullock, Meryl Streep (“August: “The King’s Speech” and “The Artist,” said frontrunner, three movies tied for first ing true story of a black man sold into ”American Hustle” and Mexican director Osage County”), Judi Dench the sheer number of good 2013 movies place, and one, the little Irish film, charg- slavery, won the top prizes at the Golden Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity.” Cuaron is the (“Philomena”) and Amy Adams squeezed out others that would normal- ing up on the outside lane,” he added, Globes and the Baftas. Its British director frontrunner for the best director prize, (“American Hustle.”) The star-studded ly have made the cut. He has thrown his plugging “Philomena” to the last. —AP Steve McQueen would be the first black and his star Sandra Bullock earned high Oscars broadcast will include perform- considerable muscle behind moving Irish back at Daytona looking for a kiss Cent wants to get kissed or die tryin’ at dled it amazingly.” He’s such a NASCAR fan, 50 Cent Daytona. The rapper was back for might be willing to spend some big bucks and invest 50Daytona 500 weekend a year after he in team ownership. “I want to belong here. I like it,” he tried to plant an awkward smooch on Fox reporter told The AP. “I want to have ownership in a team. Erin Andrews. He failed to connect - but 50 Cent has Someone should look forward to me investing in a big plans for his follow up. “I was looking forward to team. I just like it. The energy of the actual racing is kissing somebody,” 50 Cent said Saturday. He didn’t cool.” He’s been busy with his day job. After battling have to look far. 50 Cent shared a stage with Swan with his major label for years, 50 Cent has decided to Racing drivers Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman. become an independent artist. He left his longtime “I’m going to kiss Cole,” 50 Cent said. “Only if I win,” record label, Universal Music Group’s Interscope Whitt responded. 50 Cent, who launched an ultra- Records, and ’s imprint, Shady/Aftermath. The successful, six-times platinum debut with “Get Rich or Grammy winner and his G-Unit Records have signed a Die Tryin’” in 2003, was at Daytona to celebrate his lat- distribution agreement with Caroline, the independ- est business deal. He brought his headphones and ent label at Capital Music Group. Capitol is one of the audio line into NASCAR via a partnership with Swan many labels that are part of Universal Music Group. Racing. The rapper - born Curtis Jackson - will have Jackson is an admitted former crack dealer turned (From left) Host Jimmy Fallon, actor Will Ferrell, First Lady Michelle Obama branding for his SMS Audio line on both of Swan rapper who has built an empire beyond entertain- during the “Ew” skit on Thursday during comedian Fallon’s inaugural week Racing’s cars for Sunday’s Daytona 500. The logos will ment. He invested early in Vitamin Water and has as the new “Tonight Show” host. —AP also be on Kligerman and Whitt’s uniforms, and the expanded his business interests into clothing and drivers will be featured on Swan-branded SMS Audio now audio equipment. Going independent was just headphones. another business decision. Kligerman took 50 Cent for a wild spin around “I can make deals now that I couldn’t make under First lady pays visit to new Daytona in the pace car and hit 135 mph early in the that structure,” he told The AP. “On the brand exten- day. “I didn’t know a Camry could do that!” 50 Cent sion, it’s obvious I’ve been the leader in that actual said. Kligerman, who went airborne and landed on area. When I fell in love with hip-hop culture, it was the roof in his first full Daytona 500 practice, kept 50 actually the opposite, it would be selling out. To be an ‘Tonight Show’ host Cent and the car on four wheels. He was thrilled to be artist and be associated with a major corporation was ichelle Obama stopped by Jimmy Fallon’s associated with one of his favorite artists. He said his a crossover. I had enough of a bad-boy image at that revamped “Tonight Show” to chat about favorite 50 Cent song is “How To Rob.” “That was the point to do what I wanted to do and knew it was big- family life in the White House and pro- one in high school a lot of my friends talked about all ger business-wise.” 50 Cent is about ready to drop his M Rolling Stones rock mote two of her causes, healthy eating and fight- This July 25, 2008 file photo shows Maria von the time,” Kligerman said. “But for pump-up song, I next album, “Animal Ambition.” The first songs he ing fat. The first lady also put in a plug for her hus- know you’ve heard this a lot, but ‘Many Men.’” This was plans to release are called “Don’t Worry About It,” and Trapp, daughter of Austrian Baron Georg von band’s health care law. Mrs Obama appeared in a Abu Dhabi in first just the warm up. Who knows what’s in store for race “Smoke.” Smoke, like Tony Stewart? “Nah, this one was silly skit with Fallon and comedian Will Ferrell. Then, Trapp, smiling during a press conference at the day? In the strangest part of the buildup to last year’s produced by Dr Dre.” Dr Dre produced songs on 50 Villa Trapp in Salzburg, Austria. —AP in a sit-down interview Thursday, told Fallon, who’s Daytona 500, 50 Cent brought back memories of Joe Cent’s new album, perhaps triggering the latest hip- wrapping up his first week as host of the long-run- Middle East show Namath’s awkward attempt to plant one on Suzy hop rivalry: Which rapper has the freshest head- ning NBC show, that President Barack Obama and Kolber when he tried the same move with Andrews phones, Beats by Dr Dre or SMS Audio? “I’m listening Vice President Joe Biden are getting ready to show intage hell-raisers, the Rolling Stones on pit road. She turned her head one way, then the to mine, he’s listening to his,” 50 Cent said, laughing. America “how they move.” played their first ever concert in the of ‘Sound other, only allowing the “Candy Shop” rapper to get a Before he left the DIS media center, 50 Cent met actor With her signature charm and humor, Mrs VMiddle East on Friday - a gig to peck on the cheek. Gary Sinise of “Forrest Gump” fame and yelled, “Run Obama also talked about the challenge of raising 30,000, mostly Western fans in culturally “I wanted to kiss her, man,” 50 Cent said. “She han- Forrest!” before they shook hands. —AP two young daughters, ages 12 and 15, in the rari- conservative Abu Dhabi. A swaggering of Music’ fame dead at 99 fied world of the White House. “They want nothing Mick Jagger, dressed in black sequins and to do with us,” she laughed. “They really want nor- red satin - later donning a red feather boa - aria von Trapp, a member of the Austrian family malcy and the White House isn’t normal,” Mrs strutted across the stage, showing little sign whose escape from Nazi Germany and subse- Obama said. “I’ll say ‘Don’t you want to invite your of his advancing years as he sang hits Mquent musical career inspired the famed musical friends over to watch a movie?’ They say ‘No one including “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll”, “Honky “,” has died at the age of 99, according wants to come here.’” She then cautioned that her Tonk Women”, “Brown Sugar” and to newspapers quoting her brother. older daughter turns 16 this summer and is ready “Sympathy for the Devil”. Von Trapp died Tuesday but the news was confirmed to learn to drive. “Ladies and gentlemen in DC - But unlike an appearance by Madonna Saturday by her half-brother Johannes von Trapp, accord- watch out,” she warned with a laugh. “Malia Obama in the Gulf Arab state in 2012 - which fea- ing to the New York Daily News. Von Trapp died of natural on the road. Frightening.” tured erotic dancing, provocative outfits causes at her home in Vermont, the paper reported. The first lady also took advantage of her nation- and bare-chested monks - the concert No one was immediately available to comment at the al TV audience to talk about her Let’s Move exercise passed off without controversy. Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, or at the original and diet initiative.”What we’re asking people to do The band - all in their late 60s and early family home, Villa Trapp, in Austria. Von Trapp was one of is show us how you’re moving. We want people to 70s - delighted fans who had travelled from seven children of the Austrian Naval Captain Georg von Facebook it, Tweet it, Instagram it.” She wants to see around the United Arab Emirates for the Trapp and his wife Agathe Whitehead von Trapp. The father “how people around the country are moving.” The only Middle East show at the start of a tour remarried after his wife died and had three more children hashtag is #LetsMove. If there’s enough response, that moves on to Japan, Macau, Australia with his second wife, Maria Augusta von Trapp, who taught “we’ll have a little surprise. The president, and and New Zealand. the children music and wrote a book that became the maybe the vice president, will show us how they “For their first gig in the Middle East, it inspiration for stage and film productions of that made the move,” Mrs Obama said. She also pitched the was magic. It’s history,” said British expat Lisa story a classic. Affordable Care Act, encouraging young people to Ball-Lechgar after the two-hour concert dur- The von Trapp family left Austria in 1938 and per- sign up for health insurance before the end of ing which Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards formed musical numbers across Europe and the United Rapper 50 Cent, left, jokes with driver Cole Whitt, right, during a new confer- March deadline. Young adults, she said, can now be and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie States before settling to live in Vermont, where they ran a ence before practice for Sunday’s NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup series covered for as little as $50 a month, “less than the Watts performed 19 songs. —Reuters resort. —Reuters auto race. —AP cost of gym shoes.” —AP