Happys Oscars day!

The day when Hollywood pats themselves on the back for four hours straight has returned. The Academy Awards!

I've been up since the crack of dawn covering the latest pre-show updates etc and you can follow all the live coverage over at The Daily Telegraph.

As is the annual tradition, tonight is my Oscars party complete with a best picture themed menu. I'll update you with pictures, puns and wackness tomorrow.

Hollywood stars name their Oscar picks

I interrupt this sabbatical to bring you a link. Not just any link mind you, a link to my first ever story on The Daily Telegraph.

I talk Oscar picks with a wicked list of Hollywood talent including Tom Hiddleston, Kevin Smith, Paul Feig and Phyllida Lloyd.

Read all the juice HERE.

In related news, for all the very best and brightest Oscars coverage check out The Daily Telegraph. It's live baby.

Extended sabbatical

Nothing exciting to say here, just taking an extended blog sabbatical while I settle into my new job.

I’ll be back before the Oscars, I promise.

Mazz

Favourite Movie Friday with Kris Marshall

You know and love him from Death At A Funeral and Love Actually. Now British actor Kris Marshall stars in Stephan Elliott's Aussie comedy A Few Best Men. I spoke to Marshall about the film - which is currently tearing up the Australian box office - a few weeks ago and here's what he had to say about his favourite films of all time:

"I love Withnail & I because I’m an actor and all actors love Withnail & I. Probably my favourite film of all time is this French film called Les Ripoux about bent cops in Paris. I speak French and I just find it hilarious. If you haven’t seen it it’s one I definitely recommend."

A Few Best Men is out in cinemas now.

He’s still J. Edgz from tha block

Dirty Harry takes on dirty Hoover in the latest from director Clint Eastwood - J. Edgar. The biographical drama takes a look at the life and times of America's most famous crime fighter, J. Edgar Hoover. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the title role of J.Edgz (as he's known on the street) as the film follows his major cases and career feats; accomplishments that made him both feared and admired. Mostly told in flashbacks while the elderely FBI director dictates his memoirs to young agents, it also explores his highly controversial private life which included rumours of homosexuality and cross-dressing. At the fore is the relationship between J.Edgz and his second in command, Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer), which spanned some 45 years both professionally and - as suggested in the film - romantically.

J. Edgar should have been a better than what it is. On paper it has all the right ingredients; DiCaprio leads a tremendously accomplished cast including Judi Dench, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas and yet another solid turn from Hammer after his breakout role as the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network. DiCaprio is as incredible as always. After all, this is the guy who was nominated for his first Oscar when he was 19 (What's Eating Gilbert Grape?). As someone who has never done a rom-com or laugh-out loud comedy, J. Edgar is full of the heavy-hitting dramatic material DiCaprio has sought out in his career. His performance was nominated for a best actor Golden Globe earlier this year and although he missed out on the Oscar nomination, J. Edgar rests on his relentless performance. But like another biographical film out at the moment - The Iron Lady - DiCaprio is delivering a five star performance in a three star film. Unsure whether it wants to be a historical thriller or a Brokeback Mountain-esque romantic drama, J. Edgar ends up sitting uncomfortably between the two. Dustin Lance Black - the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Milk - is the scribe and director Clint Eastwood does his best to direct around the muddled script problems that should have been fixed in the draft stages. The final nail in the coffin, however, is the atrocious make-up effects. If you thought it seemed ridiculous no one realised Glenn Close or Janet McTeer's characters in Albert Nobbs were women, their make-up seem like Pan's Labyrinth compared to J. Edgar. Naturally in a story spanning many decades the actors need to age, but the powdery faces and prosperous prosthetics are so ridiculous that by the end of the film Armie Hammer's face looks like it's about to peel off. Built like Oscar bait, there is some merit to J. Edgar. It's just a shame its attributes are stuffed behind shoddy storytelling and even shoddier makeup.

Josh Lawson talks Will Ferrell comedy Dog Fight

American politics are a dog fight and Josh Lawson knows it. As the Republican Primaries heat up and the US prepare for 2012's presidential campaigns, the Australian actor has inadvertently found himself drawn into the circus. Lawson - the star of new Aussie comedy Any Questions For Ben? - has snagged a role alongside Hollywood heavyweights Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in political farce Dog Fight. Directed by Jay Roach (Meet The Parents, Austin Powers trilogy), the film follows two rival South Carolina politicians (Ferrell and Galifianakis) whose presidential aspirations tangle with one another.

After finding his feet in Aussie shows such as Thank God You're Here and The Librarians, Lawson has taken several bites at the Hollywood apple including a starring role in McG's failed Spaced pilot, upcoming comedy film Freeloaders with Olivia Munn and one of the pivotal roles in Showtime's new series House Of Lies alongside Kristen Bell and Don Cheadle. But Dog Fight is shaping up to be his breakout turn.
``It's going to be great,'' said Lawson.
``What's clever about Dog Fight is they never once use the words democratic or republican.
``When I read the script I thought that was brilliant. There's no `we're right wing or we're left wing', they don't go into that at all.
``It doesn't take sides. You don't know who Will Ferrell is for or what team Zach Galifianakis is on because it doesn't matter.
``What matters is the politicians are all the same when it comes down to winning - they will do anything to win.''Lawson plays Galifianakis' older brother in the film and described the character as ``an eternal frat boy''. Based in LA with girlfriend Rachel Taylor, Lawson said watching the political coverage in the US prepared him for Dog Fight and what he considers ``the greatest reality TV show there is''.
``American politics is entertainment in the purest sense,'' he said.
``The personalities are so interesting and the stakes are so high that's it's riveting.
``The games they play, the deception they play against each other, the sledging matches and the under-handed back biting is so prolific that you can't look away.''

Lawson finished filming Dog Fight in New Orleans a few weeks before returning to Australia for the Any Questions For Ben? press tour. Despite the number of high profile ``names'' on set, Lawson said filming Dog Fight was one of his best experiences as an actor.
``Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, Dylan McDermott, Jason Sudeikis, Brian Cox - it's a real heavy hitting cast,'' he said.
``But there wasn't a single ego on set. I've got to say that boils down to the director Jay Roach, who was so lovely.
``He's an amazing guy and one of the best directors I've worked with."

Any Questions For Ben? is out in cinemas on Thursday, February 9. Dog Fight is scheduled with an August release date.