LHS, KU grad to perform at tonight’s Academy Awards

A Lawrence High School and Kansas University graduate is scheduled to appear in the 79th Annual Academy Awards, televised nationally at 7:30 p.m. today on ABC.

Jun Kuribayashi is one of seven members of the Pilobolus modern dance company, which will provide entertainment during the show.

Kuribayashi was a member of the KU dance company from 2001 to 2004, said Lynn Bretz, KU spokeswoman. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2004.

He was born in Japan and raised in the United States. His mother, Etsuko Kuribayashi, lives in Lawrence, Bretz said.

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ wins Spirit Award’s top prize

Santa Monica, Calif. – “Little Miss Sunshine,” a dark comedy about a dysfunctional family, won best feature Saturday afternoon at the 2007 Film Independent Spirit Awards. “Sunshine,” which is nominated for five Academy Awards including best picture, won a total of four awards at the beachside event – including best director for Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, supporting male actor for veteran Alan Arkin and best first screenplay for Michael Arndt.

“Sunshine,” which was made for just $8 million, has been one of the Cinderella stories of this year’s awards season. Fox Searchlight Pictures purchased the distribution rights to the film at last year’s Sundance Film Festival for $10 million.

“Sunshine” is considered the trump card at Sunday’s 79th annual Academy Awards – the film that could upset “The Departed” for best picture of 2006.

Arkin, who received a standing ovation as he approached the stage, said, “I feel very small, which is how I felt when I started in this business.” And a delighted Arndt thanked the organization “for having this category.”

Ryan Gosling was named best male lead for his performance as a drug-using urban junior high school teacher in “Half Nelson.” Gosling is also nominated for an Oscar for the role. Gosling’s co-star, Shareeka Epps, received best female lead.

‘Basic Instinct 2′ big winner at Razzies’ worst of 2006

Hollywood – Before Hollywood gets too carried away this weekend with self-congratulations for all the wonderful films produced in 2006, the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation stepped forward Saturday to remind everyone that there were some stinkers too.

Chief among them: “Basic Instinct 2,” named worst picture of the year in the 27th annual Razzie Awards.

The thriller also was (dis)honored in three other categories: worst actress (Sharon Stone), worst prequel or sequel and worst screenplay.

The comedy “Little Man” picked up three Razzies, the Artesia, Calif.-based foundation said in a news release: for worst actor (the teaming of brothers Marlon and Shawn Wayans), worst remake or rip-off (the judges deemed it a rip-off of the 1954 Bugs Bunny cartoon “Baby Buggy Bunny”) and worst screen couple (Shawn Wayans and either Kerry Washington or Marlon Wayans – take your pick).

M. Night Shyamalan was chosen worst director for his box-office dud “Lady in the Water.” Just to rub it in, he also won as worst supporting actor for the same film.

Carmen Electra took worst supporting actress for her work in two films: “Date Movie” and “Scary Movie 4.”