Ho, Ho, Ho

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

I hope you all have a lovely holiday season. See you in 2009!

Where's the Freakin Snow???

Do you know it is going to be 50 degrees here today, tomorrow, and Tuesday? WTF? It's the middle of December and where's the snow? I actually didn't wear a scarf and gloves to go outside this morning. And people say there's no such thing as global warming. HA! Anyway, yesterday I was a slug, seriously. I vegged most of the afternoon and all night. It was great. Don't you love those days? If you plan on a slug-fest any time soon, here are three items for you to enjoy.

Film: Amelie
Amelie was on Ovation last night. I sat through the hour of commercials just to once again enjoy this French flick. It never gets old, folks! This 2001 film still makes me smile. Part of that is because Audrey Tautou (of The DiVinci Code) is so darn cute. She's such a wonderful oddball and she really makes the film lovely. Also, the supporting cast of quirky characters adds to the overall fun of the film. I've only seen a handful of French films, but a couple of these character actors have popped up in those films. This is not a Christmas film per se, but the idea of helping your fellow man in small ways certainly puts one in the Christmas spirit. This is not a "pay it forward" kind of film. And sometimes Amelie's little plans to help do not always pan out as she intends. But the film will make you feel just a little bit better about this world.

Television: Heroes
Let me say up front that I am not saying you should be watching Heroes this season. Frankly, it's getting a bit annoying. I agree with Entertainment Weekly that it's about time to kill off some heroes to lighten the load. They can begin with Mohinder. Also, the whole good/bad/who can tell storyline with Gabriel has to go. He's clearly good in the future so let's get him there for goodness sake. And I was really surprised about the whole Ella twist. And what about Hiro?! How many times is he going to end up in the past??? But I digress. I mostly want to point out some brilliant guest casting. A couple of weeks ago Seth Green and Breckin Meyer were in a two-episode story arc as a couple of comic book geeks. Totally an in-joke! I loved it and snickered my way through their scenes. Maybe if Tim Kring had more moments of clarity like he had when he cast Green and Meyers, the show wouldn't suck so much.

Book: ??
Sorry folks, I haven't a book to recommend for Christmas reading right now. I just started one and am not along enough to decide if it's good enough to recommend. I have a shelf full of books staring me in the face and I intend to plow through as many as possible before the second week in January. Wish me luck!

Countdown to Christmas

Don't worry, I won't be rehashing last year's Christmas picks again this year. In fact, this week's suggestions have nothing to do with Christmas other than the fact that I am listening to Christmas music as I type this. I'm just giving folks fair warning that Christmas is less than three weeks away.

Film: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Set in the 1980s in Communist Romania, this film will shock you but not in the ways you think. This film is about a college student's plight to get an illegal abortion. Yes, there is a rather gruesome moment towards the film's end but that shouldn't deter you from watching this excellent film. The story is not really about Gabita (the girl who is pregnant); it's really about her friend Otilia who helps out. Usually one sees these kind of stories from the mother-to-be. The shift to Otilia's experience is fascinating and unique. We watch as Otilia makes the arrangements while trying to keep her own relationship together in the face of deception and fear. The film is full of suspense and will make you happy we live in an era when Roe v. Wade is alive and well.

Television: Big Love
I talked about Big Love last year after watching Season 1. Let me mention it again. I am working my way through Season 2 (no spoilers please!) and loving it. Season 1 is about the utopian family Bill sets up for his three wives and many children. At the end of Season 1, reality sets in when the family is exposed. Season 2 is about Bill keeping his head above water and keeping his polygamous family safe and out of prison. There are many twists and turns, mostly thanks to the nastiness going on at Roman Grant's (Bill's father-in-law, played with brilliance by Harry Dean Stanton) polygamous compound. The big star so far is the pathologically-lying Rhonda (played by Daveigh Chase, voice of Lilo from Lilo and Stitch and Sen from Spirited Away). The ever-creepy Alby is also playing a more interesting role this season. The cast of this show is excellent. Although I mention Daveigh Chase and Matt Ross, let us not forget the brilliance of the Henrickson family: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, and Ginnifer Godwin.

Book: Ophelia
Written by Lisa Klein, this novel tells the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark from Ophelia's point of view. I am a sucker for a good alternative POV story. (I loved both The Red Tent and Wicked.) This one will not disappoint. While it is not necessary to know Shakespeare's Hamlet before reading Ophelia, it would be useful to have a basic understanding of the play to catch many of the in-jokes. What I especially like is the way Klein rethinks some of the famous scenes and lines between Hamlet and Ophelia. Is it possible, just possible, that Hamlet meant for Ophelia to run away to a nunnery in hopes that she would be saved from a murder attempt? One will never know what Shakespeare had in mind for Ophelia, but a reader will think long and hard about the possibilities found in Klein's superb retelling.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As you can tell, I am taking time off from my critiques to enjoy the holiday season. However, before I go eat as much turkey as humanly possible, I leave you with the pop culture items I most thankful for this holiday season.

• Fringe
• Action films like the Jason Bourne and Hellboy series
• Guillermo del Torro
• J. K. Rowling
• Television shows on DVD
• Entertainment Weekly
• Theorist trading cards and finger puppets

See you the first weekend in December!

Another Good Week for Entertainment

As the weather has gotten colder, I have taken to burying myself under a blanket and enjoying a good show, a good movie, and a good book. (Although not all at once.)

Film: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
It's been a week since I've seen this film and I'm still trying to decide where my sympathies should lie. There aren't many redeeming characters here, except maybe the mom. Although the majority of characters are all shady at best, the actors portraying them are wonderful. Brothers Hank (Ethan Hawke) and Andy (Philip Seymore Hoffman) are both in financial trouble, so they stage a robbert of their parents' jewelry store. As you can imagine, the robbery goes wrong. There is just one desperate act here after another. What I liked about this film - other than the acting - is the narrative flow. If you're easily confused by a film like Pulp Fiction, you'll be doubly confused by this one. The movie goes back and forth in time between the lives of both Hank and Andy. Events overlap and are told from different points of view. The editing here is fantastic. Sidney Lumet did a brilliant job directing the film. Also, the ever-brilliant Albert Finney (the boys' father) delivers a powerful performance at the end of the film that will leave you shocked (but in a good way, I think). If you are in the mood for a strong drama, go out and add this one to your Netflix list.

Television: Fringe
I mentioned this show back in September as a new "must watch" series. Sometimes my interest in a television show peters out (read: My Own Worst Enemy). Not so with Fringe. If you haven't tuned in yet, do so immediately. People will make comparisons to The X-Files and while there is an element of "X-Files-ness" here, Fringe is its own show. Each week is a self-contained event of supernatural or crazy death/destruction. It is then Agent Olivia Dunham's job to work with scientist Walter Bishop and his son, Peter, to discover a cure/reason. That's the basic premise. What I really like about this show, and what keeps me coming back every week, is Walter Bishop (John Noble). No one argues that this man is crazy and J. J. Abrams plays that up in very minor ways. For example, in last week's episode Peter realizes that his father used to experiment on him. When Peter confronts Walter, Walter simply goes back to work and changes the subject. Also, Walter has a problem remembering names. For awhile he couldn't remember his FBI assistant, Astrid, at all. Now he calls her everything from "astro" to "astroid." It is moments like these that make this show work. You'll be a bit grossed out, you'll be fascinated, and you'll even laugh a bit.

Book: The Terror
I bought Dan Simmons's book because Stephen King loved it and said it creeped him out. While it didn't really creep me out, it was definitely a page-turner. The book follows the doomed crew of Sir John Franklin's actual, historical 1845 voyage to find the North-West Passage. This book is historical fiction and presents alternate stories of the crew members. As if being stuck in the ice for three years wasn't enough, a supernatural beastie starts stalking and killing members of the expedition. I am a big fan of historical fiction when it is done well and this one is done well. Simmons nicely details the daily experiences of men frozen in the ice in an age where canned food was often poisoned and wool was the best protection from the elements. I will say that you will be thankful that we live in an era of synthetic fiber and warm boots. You will honestly feel sorry for the men on board both the HMS Terror and the HMS Erebus as they optimistically hope for rescue. But the man to keep an eye on is Captain of the HMS Terror, Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier. Don't be turned off by King's praise of this book. You won't have to read it with the lights on. Enjoy this novel as a piece of historical fiction with a supernatural twist. It's a long one - about 800 pages - but well worth the ride. The ending with throw you for a loop.

Back to Pop Culture

After an excellent discussion of politics, it's time to get back to the roots of this blog. I, for one, have still be reading and watching lots of interesting stuff this week.

Film: Smart People
I loved this film. It's billed as a romance, but I don't think I'd call it that. It's more a study of sad, depressed, dysfunctional people. Who happen to be smart. And one is a college English prof. And it's set in The Burgh. What isn't there to like? We all know that I don't watch a lot of romantic comedies; this is not a comedy. In the end, there hasn't been a great revelation. There hasn't been a significant change in any of the characters. Instead, the characters are aware of their short-comings and are trying to be less sad, depressed, and dysfunctional. Whether or not they succeed is not important. Heck, I can't even tell you if the film has a happy, romantic ending. I think that's why I like it. Well, that and the fact that Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, and Ellen Paige are all awesome. Oh, and if you happen to be an English prof (or a future English prof), or you ever took an English course in college, you may see a little too much of yourself, your English prof, and/or colleagues in this film, which just adds to the humor.

Television: Moonlighting
I have been feeling retro these past few weeks and have been walking down memory lane with David Addison and Maddie Hayes. I remember this show fondly but was afraid that my fond memories would end poorly upon rewatching (think Superfriends). Much to my surprise, this show stands the test of time (except for Maddie's wardrobe). The chemistry between Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd is amazing. I can only think of a handful of television duos to have such chemistry. Also, the writing is brilliantly funny. They were talking fast before the kids (and moms) of the WB/CW made it popular. Plus, they are constantly referencing the fact that they are a television show, yet no one blinks an eye when it happens. They tear down the fourth wall without anyone thinking much about it. Finally, they've got some fun people on the show. A very young Tim Robbins appears in one of the first eps and a very old Orson Welles appears in another. I am almost through Season 2 and couldn't be happier. I know the show eventually jumps the shark, but I am enjoying every moment until that happens. If you're feeling a little nostalgic, check out some old eps of Moonlighting. (By the way, the show appeared in 1985, 23 years ago. Does that make anyone else feel just a smidge bit old?)

Book: The Road
Go out and read Cormac McCarthy's saga of a father and son before it ends up at your local cineplex (due out in January). Set in a post-apocalyptic America, this book will send shivers up your spine. I have to warn you, though, nothing really happens in this novel. A father and his son are heading to the ocean where, hopefully, it will be warmer. They are following the road to get there but always vigilant in case one of the many cannibalistic hordes finds them. (There is no explanation but the world has died. There are neither animals nor plants left alive.) I was surprised to find myself so caught up in this world. Trust me, as you read you will never think of canned food, shopping carts, and shoes the same way. I am a bit concerned about the adaptation; Hollywood will have to make some significant additions to appeal to the masses. That's why I recommend reading this book now.

GO OBAMA GO!!!!

I could not be happier about tonight's election results. GO OBAMA! WHOO-HOO!!!!!

Now, I could spend some time addressing all the conservative viewpoints I've been hearing over the past few months. I could point out the hypocrisy coming from the McCain camp over family values. I could remind the McCain supporters that Reps told Hillary Clinton to deal with it when people started accusing the media of being sexist yet yelled and screamed when they thought Palin was being treated unfairly. I could also point out the under-handed tactics used against Obama throughout the last few months. I might even point out that all media is not liberal; we do, after all, have Fox News. Finally, I could reiterate the woderful phrase used by Gloria Steinem in an article: "The wrong woman and the wrong time."

Luckily, like the man I supported and voted for, I am above all that. All I am going to say is that I chose wisely. I spent a great deal of time following both McCain and Obama's campaigns. I read about their agendas from both biased and unbiased media outlets. I spent time trying to understand the issues and vote for the person who best represents what I believe in. I did not let factually-iffy email forwards dictate my political preferences; I preferred facts. In other words, I made an extremely informed decision that was based on my belief system and not gender or race issues.

To those Americans out there who are bitching up a storm, I have two things to say:

1. Get over it. Obama won the electoral vote by 2-1. That's huge and says a lot about the majority opinion in this country. The people have spoken and if they have spoken for the person you didn't vote for, oh well. That's the way politics work.
2. Suck it up. We Dems had to live with "W" for the last eight years. You can certainly suffer through Obama for the next four.

No matter what your political affiliation, however, this election has been historical and momentous. I am proud to be living in an era when an African American and a woman can run for the White House. This election just proves that democracy is still alive and well in America despite the cynics. Hopefully change is on its way and it is change for the better.

Halloween Re-Cap

This week is to fill you in on the three scary movies I watched this past week. Don't worry, next week I'll get back to books and television.

The Reaping
I can't remember how I came across this 2007 film but I'm glad I did. Starring Hilary Swank as Katherine, an ex-minister who has lost her faith and now debunks miracles, the film is about good versus evil. Katherine is brought to Haven, LA where plagues are appearing. She must decide whether or not the plagues have a "real" explanation or have been brought about by God (or maybe even the Devil). I like a good God-versus-Satan movie and this one does not disappoint. The ending left me satisfied yet slightly creeped-out.

Bug
Yes Matt, you can tell that this was a play first in three acts. But besides that, it is a good flick. I was expecting something more along the lines of Arachnaphobia because I thought there might be more bugs. In actuality, there are none. OR ARE THERE????? Seriously, I'm not giving anything away. Although this film was not quite what I expected, I enjoyed it. The fall into paranoia is excellent. This may be Ashley Judd's best performance and she does it all without makeup. Michael Shannon is especially intriguing as Peter Evans. Like The Reaping, this film was very much worth the ending. Wow!

And the scariest film I saw all week...

W
If you like and respect the current administration, you probably shouldn't go see this film. Luckily, I have no such qualms. Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, and Thandie Newton all rock out as W, Poppy, and Condi, respectively. Believe it or not, Oliver Stone actually presents a SOMEWHAT sympathetic view of W. Sadly, we are sympathetic because he's a moron who is controlled by forces way smarter and eviler than he is. The true sympathetic character here is Poppy, who constantly has to bail out his disappointing son. Neither Condi nor Vice come off quite so well. The only person who is truely a "good" guy is good old Colin Powell. Rock on, Colin! I left the theater glad I voted for John Kerry and sad the majority of Americans would rather have a "good-old-boy" in the office than someone who knows something about politics and world affairs.

Happy Halloween!

Last year I did a Halloween tribute for the entire month of October. This year, I have held back my Halloween excitement a bit. But you all had to know I couldn't go through the month without giving you a few frightening recommendations. As you prepare for your Halloween festivities, consider adding one or more of the following films to your "must see" list.

Silent: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
There are many adaptations of Stevenson's novel. My recommendation is the 1920 version starring John Barrymore. If you aren't in to silent films, you probably won't find this adaptation wonderfully great. I, however, am a lover of silent films and the few horror ones rock my world. Although Director John S. Robertson does little with the story beyond a love interest for Jekyll, the wicked awesome spider scene is worth the watch. Robertson had to have superimposed one film over another to achieve the effect and it works. This film won't scare you, but it will impress upon you how creative silent film directors were in the infancy of special effects.

Classic: Rope
Okay, I'll be up front and admit that this isn't a scary film per se. Actually, it's one of my favorite of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers. (It may have popped up in my blog before.) This 1948 film is the first pairing of Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart. Shot in only seven or eight takes - extremely unheard of, even today - the film follows a post-murder dinner part given by Learner and Loeb wanna-be's. Stewart figures out what the two have done and the story just gets more interesting by the moment. As you watch, pay special attention to the set. Hitchcock designed an apartment set where the walls and setting could be moved along with the camera. He didn't want more than a few cuts in this film which makes it not only an impressive work of cinematic technique but an intriguing thriller sure to interest those folks not much for blood and gore.

Slasher: Alien
If you haven't done so lately, it is time to revisit this 1979 slasher classic. We all know that Sigourney Weaver can kick ass. She gets the attention for this film, which is sort of a shame. (Not that she doesn't deserve that attention!) What really takes this first film in the quadrilogy to a new level - beyond just the gore and shocks - is the supporting cast. You have Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, and Ian Holm. These guys can all act and they prove it. Oh, and don't forget that the excellent Ridley Scott was at the helm. Sure, the alien jumping out of Hurt's stomach is the classic scene - spoofed at the end of Spaceballs - but there's a lot more to this film than that. The alien demonstrates some pretty good special effects and cats always make for some much-needed added suspense. But don't forget the story in which we are warned that when we butt our noses into places we don't belong and ignore the warning signs, we are bound to get horribly mutiliated. Hm, a postcolonial story for the ages.

Contemporary: Bug
Okay, okay, I haven't actually seen this film yet. In fact, it's what I'll be watching Halloween night. But I've heard good things about it. I'll keep you posted on how I liked it.

Enjoy your Beggar's Night and have some fun at Blockbuster's!

Groggy But Here

I'm feeling a bit loopy this morning thanks to good old Robitussin. I love fall but the 7-10 days when the weather jumps up and down 20-30 degrees just kills me. By this time next week I'll be fine, but this week I'll be groggy and coughing. Fun, fun, fun! But at least I have an excuse to sit back and enjoy some excellent pop culture!

Film: Right at Your Door
I had very few expectations for this 2006 film. A dirty bomb goes off in L.A. and Brad (Rory Cochrane) must seal up his house to protect himself from the toxic fumes. The kicker is that his wife, Lexi (played by tv's In Plain Sight Mary McCormack), is out in the stuff. When she comes home, he must decide whether or not to let her in; leaving her outside will surely lead to her death from the fumes. It's a 90-minute panic attack that will leave you thinking at the end. I am fascinated by the wave of post-9/11 horror films that deal with home invasion of various kinds (think Verbinski's The Ring). If you can think of any other home invasion films, let me know. In the meantime, check out this intriguing look at panic, love, and media cluelessness.

Television Recap: My Own Worst Enemy
First, let me assure you that any show with the ever-hot hottie Christian Slater is a show I am going to watch at least once. This NBC retelling of the Jekyll/Hyde story had me quite concerned. Very rarely do I actually like these adaptations. The main exception was BBC's Jekyll with Tom Nesbitt. Apparently, Enemy's creator, Jason Smilovic, took a page out of BBC's book because this show is actually rather interesting. My favorite element of the show is that Edward is the dominant personality while Henry is the created alter-ego. This is a new turn in Jekyll/Hyde retellings and one that is giving the show a nice twist. Also, the actors are a wise choice. Slater is doing a good job avoiding his Jack Nicholson performance angle, Alfre Woodard is always enjoyable, and Mike O'Malley does his own nice dual-personality take. The writing is a bit cheesy but the show overall has potential. Last night's episode set up some interesting directions so we'll see where it goes.

Book: Natural Born Charmer
Okay you chick lit folks out there, here is a recommendation from me. I picked this book up as an audio book for my last trip to PA. It is apparently part of a series of books created by Susan Elizabeth Phillips about the fictitious Chicago Stars football team. Luckily, one need not to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one. Blue Bailey - an out-of-work, down-on-her-luck artist - is picked up by Dean Robillard - the gorgeous Stars quarterback. They head to his farm in Tennessee where serious family issues abound for Dean. Normally I am not one for chick lit, but I really enjoyed this book. I think I liked the complexity of the many plots and sub-plots. Yes, the book is predictably but that's okay. Getting there is rather enjoyable. Actually, I enjoyed the sub-plot between the famous singer Jack Patriot and April Robillard (Dean's mom) more than anything else. I'm not sure how this book actually reads, but as an audio book it will provide you about ten hours of fun.

History Rocks!

Okay folks, I'll be out of town next weekend so this posting will have to hold you for two whole weeks. I'm sure you'll manage just fine.

Film: John Adams
This mini-series should probably be in the television category, but it felt more like a film than a mini-series to me. If you haven't already seen HBO's homage to Adams, go out and rent it. First, Adams is now my favorite founding father. Without him, Washington and Jefferson would have been minor footnotes in history. I have long admired the relationship between John and Abigail and this film just enhanced that admiration. This film is a poignant, mostly honest, and loving story of a man who refused to give in and lived life doing what he thought was right for a country he loved. Do these actions make him a great man? Yes and no. He gave up a lot of family time for his country and that caused some deep divides with his children. But the film makes me glad that our young country had such a good man at its helm. This film would not be what it is without the casting of Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney as John and Abigail. These two character actors always shine and never so much as the second presidential couple. Giamatti shows every emotion Adams went through in his 90 years. Linney excels at portraying the love and frustration Abigail must have felt for her husband. The rest of the cast is also excellent. I was especially impressed with Stephen Dillane (who is new to me although not to the profession) as Thomas Jefferson and David Morse (another awesome character actor) as General Washington. And yes, that is Sarah Stanley from Avonlea all growed up as Abigail "Nabby" Adams. And can I just say that I am most happy that I live in the age of anesthesia.

Television Recap: Pushing Daisies
This quirky, witty show ended up being my favorite from last season. I anxiously awaited its return. I am happy to say that the quirkiness and wittiness of the show remain. It's fast-paced and fun to watch. The narrator is still a lovely story-telling element without being overbearing. The look of the show is just lovely. The color and mix between the style of the 1950s and today works to the show's advantage. Kristen Chenoweth is perhaps my favorite of the ensemble cast, but that is not to say that the remainder of the cast isn't excellent. In fact, I think it is the ensemble element that gives this show my thumbs up.

Book: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Lisa See's book about two friends in 18th-century China may be one of the most moving stories I've read in awhile. The book begins right before Snow Flower and Lily become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. (Meaning they are best, best, best friends forever.) It follows the girls through their foot binding, engagements, marriages, children, tragedies, and sitting still times. Readers know right from the first pages that something will happen between Snow Flower and Lily, but they cannot imagine what. When the break-up comes, it is sad and unexpected despite the earlier warnings. Nothing may be so sad about this book as the effects of foot binding. From Lily's toes as they break to her three-day-long trek through the mountains, readers will feel every pain in her foot as she does. The only thing that is sadder is the place of women in Chinese society in that era. The desperation Lily and Snow Flower feel when they cannot get pregnant and the worries that they have waiting for the birth of a son will make you glad we live in an era where a woman's worth is not measured by the size of her feet or the fertility of her womb. If you want to read a historically-correct tale of what it was like to be a young girl in China, this is the story to read.

Let Us Bow Before the Coens!

Okay folks, two out of three ain't bad. I just stated an excellent new book - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - so you only have a movie and television show for the week. I'm sure you'll make do.

Film: Burn After Reading
Ignore the critics as they know nothing! This new addition to the black comedy genre comes from the two contemporary film geniuses, Joel and Ethan Coen. Can these two do no wrong? I laughed my ass off throughout the whole film. You need to go for the awesome cast. Don't let anyone (those nasty critics again) say anything bad about John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Frances McDormand. They are all hysterical as selfish, self-centered, wack jobs. The plot is foolish, but then what dark comedy has a serious plot? The point of this film is to let that amazing bunch of actors act silly. There will be a couple of plot surprises. (I will say no more.) And the end will make you throw up your hands and shake your head. (But in a good way.) If you get the chance, run down to the local cinema and catch this film before it leaves. Will it give the Coen brothers their next Oscar? Absolutely not. But I bet they didn't make it for Oscar glory. Instead, I bet they, like their actors, just had a good time.

Television Recap: Heroes
Heroes stated with a bang. I had lost interest during last season; thank goodness it was cut short due to the writer's strike. I was concerned with how the new season would begin. Creator Tim Kring did not pull a single punch. There is Future Peter and current Peter-trapped-in-a-bad-guy's-body, there is the potential of an Ando with powers, and Mrs. Petrelli seems to be reunited with a third son. That is just three storylines. Somthing's wrong with Claire, Nathan can heal, and Matt Parkman is in Africa. Not to mention a bunch of big bads escaped from Level 5. All that in the first episode. I can't wait to see where Kring goes from here. I am hoping that he sticks with his promise to return to his roots of Season 1. If he can pull off half of the plotlines he introduced last Monday, Season 3 will be a roller coaster ride of good times. I can't wait!

A Slow Week

I didn't do a lot of new stuff this week. That said, I still have a few recommendations up my sleeve.

Film: Citizen Kane
I recently rewatched Orson Welles's 1941 masterpiece. I hadn't seen it since my undergrad days and had therefore forgotton much of it. I have to say, it was truly a pleasure to rewatch this film. Of course, people and organizations like the AFI are always hyping Citizen Kane as one of the best films of all time. In this case, they are right. Orson Welles's film still stands the test of time. The film seeks to discover the meaning of Charles Kane's last word, "Rosebud." In the process, viewers learn about the life of a rich newspaper mogul who becomes an eccentric recluse. The story isn't shocking, especially by today's standards. What is amazing is how Welles filmed this story. His use of lighting and camera angles is magnificent. Somehow Welles makes the tyrant Kane into an utterly sympathetic human being. Even after his second wife, Susan, finally leaves his abusive household, viewers feel more sorry for Kane than Susan. That is remarkable filmmaking. Do yourselves a favor and go rent this classic or catch it on TCM. You'll be happy you did and you'll finally discover what all the hoopla is about.

Television: Project Runway
It's taken me awhile to write about this season's Project Runway. I have to admit, it is not my favorite season. Most of the designers are annoying, especially Kenley. (Earth to Kenley, "Get over yourself!") At least Suade has stopped referring to himself in the third person. No one has really impressed me yet. Also, since it is Bravo's last season with Project Runway, they are getting as much money as possible with product-placement challenges. There was one challenge that involved using pieces from a Saturn car and another that hocked American Express. It is truly a lackluster season and I am sorry that Bravo had to run the show into the ground. That said, I still watch it every week for Tim Gunn and the drama. (What little of it there is. Did I mention that the contestants have no personalities?) My three picks for Fashion Week are Korto, Leanne, and Jerell. I thought Terry would be in the final three and was shocked when she was sent packing.

Book: Three Cups of Tea
This 2007 release is this month's book club book and I loved it! Co-authored by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, the book is the story of Mortenson's mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Having failed to climb K2, Mortenson wanders, half dead, into the extremely rural and poor village of Korphe, Pakistan. After being welcomed into their village, he promises to return to build the children - both boys and girls - a school since the Pakistani government had not. A year later, he returns and succeeds in building the school. Thus begins Mortenson's life of philanthropy. The story tells of his successes with the schools, his failures with fundraising, his kidnapping and perilous travels, and much more. Every American should read this book!!! The War on Terror is not going to be won by military might, at least not alone. Mortenson makes an excellent case for the education of young people, especially girls. The education of girls truly will change a culture; the Puritans believed this way back in the 1600s. If the children of the Middle East have an option other than madrassas - those breeding grounds for extremists - most of them will take it. These people are peaceful Muslims and their story needs to be told. Thanks to Greg Mortenson, it finally is.

Yeah For Television!

The new television season is upon us. I watched two shows this week and you'll see my comments below. I still have a few more shows that look promising so I'll review them in coming weeks.

Film: Lars and the Real Girl
As promised, here is my review of Lars and the Real Girl. It is awesome! This 2007 film is about a young, socially awkward man (Lars) who buys a sex doll and treats her like a real woman. The story is really about a man finding his place in life and the people around him who love him and help him to get there. When Bianca (the doll) is first introduced, you may cringe from the extreme awkwardness, but soon you will find yourself treating her like a real person. This movie is very sweet and everyone should rent it. Had Daniel Day-Lewis not been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar this last year, Ryan Gosling would certainly have won for his portrayal of Lars. This quirky romance will make you feel good about humanity and will make you wish you lived in a close-knit, small-town community.

Television 1: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chonicles (Mondays at 8)
I am so glad that Sarah, John, Cameron, and Derek are back in action. The season premiere was not as good as I had hoped but still very enjoyable. Cameron is not evil, thankfully. And they brought back the T-1000. How cool! Derek didn't get as much play time this episode as I would have liked. Detective Ellison looks like he's going to be an interesting character this year. Will he or won't he knowingly work for a Terminator? And, more importantly, can the second-generation Terminators learn how to love? Good questions asked but not answered this past week.

Television 2: Fringe (Tuesdays at 8)
I have to say that I'm not sure I'll make it through the whole season of Fringe but I enjoyed the first episode. First the likes. I actually like Joshua Jackson in the role Peter Bishop. I think the dynamics between Peter and his father will be an intrguing aspect of the show. His father's insanity, however, will get old fast if not done well. I also like the secretive aspect of Olivia's government bosses. That could get interesting. And of course J. J. Abrams knows how to spin a serialized yard. Now the concerns. This could prove to be an X-Files clone. I'm rather concerned about that. Bones works because it's something a bit different (no supernatural angles). Fringe, however, could easily become a Mulder/Scully, government-conspiracy, "the-truth-is-out-there," paranoia-fest. That would be bad. A less brilliant writer/director would fall into that trap. Abrams may be able to pull it off; time will tell and I'll certainly stick around for at least some of the ride.

Sorry for the Delay

Last week was crazy. I barely had time to do my errands and make food let alone jot down a blog entry. But that's okay because I also didn't have any time to actually read or watch anything either.

Film: Hamlet 2
I was going to discuss Lars and the Real Girl (next week, I promise) this week but then last evening I went and laughed my way through Hamlet 2. Let me begin by saying that this film is not actually a sequel to the play. It's about a sad, sad bad-actor-turned-drama-high-school-teacher named Dana (played by the utterly hysterical Steve Coogan). When his position is cut, he decides to write a play about his relationship with his father, thus the birth of Hamlet 2, the play-within-a-movie. This film will offend everyone about something. Whether it is the song "Sexy Jesus" or the racial and sexual stereotyping, it has a little something for everyone. The thing is, the film really isn't being mean in any way, shape, or form. In fact, the film points out the stupidity of close-mindedness. And that's what makes it funny. Plus, it's about the struggles of a truly clueless but lovable man. You really want Dana to make a difference and succeed, even if you've seen his naked ass a few too many times. Go see this film right now! But don't yell at me if you can't get the final credits song out of your head for a week.

Television: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Tomorrow night at 8pm on Fox the new season begins! I'm so excited! Although only nine episodes in length, Season 1 completely captured my interest. When the show ended in March, there were hints that Cameron may not be all she seemed, John and Derek were bonding, and Agent Ellison had discovered the terminator FBI agent. Shock of shocks!!! Now it's time to see where we go from here. Will John and Sarah be able to take down Skynet? (Doubtful given the upcoming Terminator 4.) Will Derek be the uncle and father-figure John never had? Will Cameron prove to be evil? I have me theories about these questions but I'll wait until the season has progressed before passing any judgments myself. All I can say for certain is that I'll be front and center tomorrow night for the season premier.

Book: Floating Dragon
This is a classic novel dating all the way back to 1982. Just kidding! It's not really that classic. Actually, it's a fun horror novel from Peter Straub. I had only read one Straub novel before this one (Ghost Story) but really enjoyed it. I also very much enjoyed his partnership with Stephen King on both The Talisman and Black House. I picked up Floating Dragon at a book store for a dollar and read it this summer. It tells the story of a Connecticut town where an ancient devil - The Dragon - and a man-made poisonous cloud collide to cause all sorts of trouble. Four surviving members of the town's original four founding families band together to defeat The Dragon. Like King, Straub has an excellent pace to his storytelling. The events unfold just as they should in Floating Dragon. Unlike King, Straub keeps the narrative a bit more tightly contained. In the end, I like both authors and would recommend you find a couple of Straub's novels in the bargin bin of your local book dealer. He'll be great for the upcoming long winter nights when you just want to curl up under a blanket and enjoy a good story.

Post-Olympics Let-Down

No more rooting for USA or a good underdog from another country. It will be two more years until I jump up and down cheering. (Okay, maybe not that long if I get the PSU/OSU game this fall. Go Lions!!!) Despite staying up late to watch the events, I still managed to read a book and watch non-Olympic pop culture.

Film: The Graduate
Everyone knows the iconic scenes: "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" and the church at the end. I hadn't realized how brilliant this film actually is. Those are two minor scenes in the filmic scope of this short (1 hour 45 minutes) movie. Mike Nichols is brilliant. His framing techniques in the beginning and the montage after Ben first sleeps with Mrs. Robinson are cutting-edge. They withstand the test of time in their ingenuity and grace. These are truly beautiful moments in filmmaking. The story even holds up after all these years. What 22-year-old isn't worried after graduation? Who wouldn't want to find their soulmate? That said, Ben is a bit creepy as a stalker but he does get the girl. The big question is, does he keep her? Nichols doesn't really give us a truly happy ending. By focusing on Ben and Elaine at the back of the bus, Nichols implies a fear of the future. Quite frankly, I don't think they'd still be married today. Also, let's not forget the importance of the soundtrack to this film. I can only think of two contemporary filmmakers who make music a character in their films: Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson. I have to say, Mike Nichols did it best in 1967.

Television: Bones
I just made my way through Season 1 of this murder-a-week show. At first, I wasn't sure I'd like it. The more I watched, the more the characters drew me in. Believe it or not, Bones is a character-driven show. Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth are yin and yang. Except here's where it gets trippy. Temperance is the masculine partner and Seeley is the feminine partner. She's all logic and he's all intuition. This flip in traditional gender coding is pretty cool and unusual for mainstream tv. Good for Fox! Add in the supporting characters and you have an interesting crime-solving family. The squints even come out ahead most days. (Which, being a squint to some degree myself, may make the show all the more enjoyable.) I have to admit that I had a hard time believing David Boreanaz could do a character other than Angel, but he makes an excellent FBI agent. He's able to show more sense of humor; something that came out every once and awhile on Buffy and Angel but never developed to its full potential. Here he is right at home in the casting here. I can't wait to see what happens to the gang in Season 2.

Book: The Bloody Chamber
This 1990 release is a collection of short stories by Angela Carter. But these aren't just any short stories; these are retellings of fairy tales. Made for adult women. Did I mention that? These stories are feminist takes on what we were to learn as young women from our fairy tales. Instead of being nice, good, rule-abiding women as is to happen with Cinderella and Snow White, the women in Carter's texts are sexual, predatory, questioning, and realistic. Some come out ahead and some do not. The best story in the collection is Carter's most famous: "The Bloody Chamber," a retelling of the Bluebeard story. Second best is "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon," a beauty and the beast retelling. The rest are good but get a little over-descriptive. Carter knows more adjectives than most writers. This is a woman who was smoking something at some point in her life to write the stories she does. I've read The Magic Toyshop and, quite frankly, I don't get it. These stories are much more accessible but with some I got the same feeling. For example, what am I supposed to learn from "The Erl-King"? It went over my head. Despite a couple of misses, the collection is overall enjoyable. Just be prepared to think a bit with some stories.

Non-Professional Athletes Rock Out!

I love the Olympics. I get very excited and even start screaming at the television (like they can hear me in China).

Television: The Olympics
Still. There have been some excellent moments this Olympics, especially for women who are breaking the age barriers. A 41-year-old swimmer, Dara Torres from the US, won three medals. At 38, a Romanian won the marathon by over one minute. (Apparently that is huge in marathons.) And last night a 33-year-old German woman won the silver in the vault. Most gymnasts retire at 20. Rock on athletic chicks! I also still hate the announcers. After the men won the relay Saturday night to give Michael Phelps his last gold medal, the announcer poolside asked one of the swimmers something like, "What do you think Phelps's gold medal means and how does he feel?" Why not just ask Phelps? Why completely negate the man's contribution to the TEAM win? Announcers are dumb. Now we're on to track and field which amazes me. Those runners make it look so easy.

Film: Death at a Funeral
There is nothing better than British black humor. The 2007 film was directed by Miss Piggy (Frank Oz). A family is holding a funeral for their father/husband. A little person (played by the always brilliant Peter Dinklage) shows up to blackmail the sons by claiming that he and their father were lovers. A cousin's fiancee (Alan Tudyk from Firefly and Serenity sporting a convincing Brit accent) is accidentally given strong hallucinogens by his fiancee. Hilarity ensues when said drugs are then given to Dinklage's character in an attempt to keep him quiet. I laughed so hard at one point that Porthos actually came into the living room and stared at me. He was like, "What the hell is wrong with you?" Tears came pouring out of my eyes. All I can say is little people look funny jumping on a couch, poop humor can get to me, and a naked man on a roof is hours of entertainment.

Book: The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club
Valerie lent be Laurie Notaro's first collection of short stories and I loved them. I didn't laugh out loud quite as much as I did with Autobiography of a Fat Bride but the stories were still excellent. I especially liked "A Morsel from the Garden of Eden" and the pairing of "Waking Angela Up" and "Angela's Revenge." I don't know how Notaro has lived as long as she has - by all accounts she should be dead from severe alcohol poisoning - but I hope she lives a lot longer and keeps writing. As a woman, I can relate with almost every scenario she presents. Truth be told, I really hope I am an Idiot Girl instead of a Smart Girl because the Idiot Girls seem to have tons more fun.

I Want to Believe

I had a few moments to spare and tomorrow looks like it might end up rather busy so I figured I'd post my weekly blog a day early.

Television: The Olympics
DUH!!! The Olympics are the only sports I'll actually sit down and watch. I prefer the Winter Olympics but the Summer ones rock as well. (That said, I may be one of the few women in the world who doesn't really care about either ice skating or gymnastics, but I'll watch 'em anyway.) The opening ceremonies last night were amazing! China really outdid itself. My favs were the drums and the little kids, but the choice for the kids to hand the flag off to the military folks was an interesting one. My big complaint, however, is for whomever was in charge of NBC's broadcast. All those stupid aerial shots were seriously annoying me. I get that there's a big LCD parchment screen on the ground; I wanted to see what the people were doing on that screen. Also, Matt Lauer totally annoys the crap out of me. But then, I'm not someone who needs mindless prattle over my Olympics. Overall I was very pleased. Now on to beach volleyball and swimming! (And anything else that's on either NBC or USA.)

Film: X-Files
I went to see my old friends Mulder and Scully last week. If you haven't gone to see it yet, it is very much like a non-alien, non-conspiracy episode, which is a very nice change from the last couple of seasons of the show. The big reason you'll want to go see it is to find out whether or not Mulder and Scully are a couple. I'm not giving anything away. It wasn't a movie I really needed to pay $6 to see (although I enjoyed it). If you're a fan of the show, you'll enjoy the nostalgia factor and the ending (stay through the credits). I'm not telling you to run out and pay money to see, but definitely put the film on your Netflix list.

Book: Wild Seed
I finally got around to reading my first Octavia Butler novel and it was amazing. I promised MG I wouldn't give anything away so don't worry, there are no spoilers here. The short, short summary is that a 4,000-year-old being, Doro, partakes in genetic experiments by breeding people with superhuman and telekinetic abilities. Eventually, he stumbles on the 300-year-old Anyanwu, a healer and shapeshifter. Together, they impact the world in a truly unique way, as well as each other. There are some seriously angering moments when you just want to throttle Doro. You'll feel sorry for Anyanwu at several points in the novel. Plus, it's difficult to respect Isaac but even more difficult to dislike him. Butler is a truly gifted and unique storyteller. I plan on savoring all of her books because, as some of you know, she has died before her time. My next Butler novel is Fledgling and if it's half as brilliant as Wild Seed, it will be a wondrous experience.

I'm Ba-ack

Welcome back to the Excellent Pop Culture blog! Did you miss me?? Okay, probably not. But I'm back anyway. This week I am celebrating the glorious-ness of summer blockbusters with two excellent summer flicks and one amazing preview.

The Dark Knight
From the very first moments of this film you know you're in for a treat. It may be lengthy - which almost kept me from seeing it in the theater - but you don't realize it because the time just flies. Where to begin? How about Christopher Nolan. This guy made indies before he hit the mainstream. (Hello, Memento anyone?) He brings a craft to Batman that hasn't been there since Tim Burton was at the helm in the 1980s. Then, Nolan is smart enough to cast real actors in the lead roles. You're watching an ensemble cast where everyone has at least one Oscar nomination! (Okay, Aaron Eckhart doesn't. And I can't remember if Maggie Gyllenhaal has one yet or not, but she will before too long.) Then he gives them an excellent story. What more could you want? It's high-action and the special effects are awesome but these things never overpower the actual story. Folks, even though Nolan's first Batman film was considered the "origin story," The Dark Knight is the real origin of Batman. The worst part about this film is knowing that Heath Ledger will never again embody the villainy and psychosis of the Joker. He is one bad villain and neither Nolan nor Ledger flinch at the depravity and sociopathic tendencies of the character. All-in-all, this film is worth a trip to the theater. And you might want to splurge for popcorn (but maybe not soda) since you'll be there awhile.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors for a reason. I loved the camp of Hellboy and couldn't wait to see what del Toro did for a sequel. Instead of camp, this time he gives viewers camp with a message. Plus, he's got those fantastic special effects creatures that we've come to know and love from him. I don't know what del Toro was smoking in his youth, but it worked. There isn't a lot of need for thought or analysis here. Just go and have a good time watching Ron Perlman have fun. The scene where he and Abe Sapien sing Barry Manillow is priceless and hysterical. After Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth, I can't wait to see what del Toro does to Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.

Watchmen
No, the film didn't sneak into theaters behind your back. It's not due out until March 2009. But I did see the preview before The Dark Knight. At first, I thought it was just another silly superhero film with an interesting soundtrack. And then Rorschach appeared. At that point I grabbed my sister and said, "Oh my god it's the Watchmen!!!" I think I finally shut my mouth about 10 seconds after the preview was over. I suspect she was thankful for the dark theater so no one could see me completely overreact to a stupid preview. I have been really doubting the ability of anyone, especially the guy who gave us the testosterone-filled 300, to do Alan Moore's greatest graphic novel justice. After this preview, I am no longer quite a nay-sayer. If the film is anything like its preview, it's going to be excellent. It will definitely be more V than League (speaking of which, the third League graphic novel comes out soon). Let's just hope that Zack Snyder gets it right and that the preview is not the best parts spliced together. If you haven't seen the preview, you can watch it at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/trailers-screenplay-vi4108058905.

On Hiatus

Like most of my television shows, I am going on hiatus for part of the summer. I am taking the rest of July off since I'll be spending most of it on vacation.

When I get back, I'll have much to discuss since I am taking several books with me and plan on seeing Batman while I'm gone. I may also take in The X-Files as well.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a July must-see: Wanted. I saw this excellent film last evening. James McAvoy shone as usual. Can the guy do wrong? Plus, he's pretty hot even when he's taking a beating. You all know that I love a good action film; this is an excellent action film. Although the effects will outshine most everything else, there are some lovely general shots as well. Plus, there's an interesting story to the film. Anyone who has worked a miserable, low-paying, useless-boss job will appreciate this movie. And it's a great date flix since McAvoy will appeal to the ladies and Angelina to the men.

Have a great month!

Summer Not-So-Loving

Tomorrow is the first day of July and I have yet to be blown away by television and a book. What is wrong? I have season one of Bones coming and I'm enjoying a Peter Straub novel from the 1980s. Maybe my luck is about to change. At least the movies are still enjoyable.

Film: The Happening
It's going to be tough to discuss M. Night's latest without giving anything away. To keep the spoiler alerts at zero, I will not discuss the plot at all. Let's begin with the acting. There is no doubt that M. Night can do brilliant stuff with his actors. I mean, did anyone consider that Bruce Willis was a dramatic actor before The Sixth Sense???? The Happening is no different. Mark Wahlburg is very good in this film. He doesn't seem to be acting at all. While watching the film, I could connect with his reactions to the events because they would have been mine to some extent. I love that real-life feel M. Night has. Also, no one does surprise shots like this man. I don't mean jump-out-of-your-seat surprise (there are some of those, too); they can be surprising in their beauty. There are several such scenes - two of which occur in Princeton - throughout the film. No one does a door shot like this man. His frame-within-a-frame shots are beautiful. There are two scenes from this film that have stuck with me, but I won't tell you what they are. I'll simply say one occurs in NYC and one in Princeton. Those who have seen the film will be able to know exactly what I mean. As Matt and I have discussed, though, M. Night needs to learn to censor himself. There are "well duh" moments throughout the script; there are also some very unnecessary lines. But overall this is another beautiful film from M. Night. I love the man and all his films. I'm sure that statement will drum up some indignation from the lurkers out there, but isn't that the whole point of a blog?

Television: The Justice League
I totally got sucked into a Justice League marathon on Boomerang Saturday. And I don't mean the old Justice League of my youth. (Not that I didn't absolutely LOVE my JL lunchbox in grade school!) We're talking the revamped series of the new millennium. I have long enjoyed the artistic style of producer Bruce Timm, who incidently has a long history of animation. It's dark and edgy, perfect for an adult audience. I hadn't watched too many JL eps, though. I really enjoyed getting to know them. The voices are fun; although I didn't recognize the main voices, a quick trip to IMDB confirmed that many of the secondary characters have been voiced by very famous folks like Hector Elizondo, Virginia Madsen, and Mark Hamill. The comedy is quite adult with many sexual references throughout the several episodes I caught. Not only that, the show is very self-referential and the best moments are when it's mocking it's very superhero culture. This is not the oh-so-lame (again, I'll admit that I thought it was the best cartoon ever when I was younger) JL with Aquaman and the Wonderbrats. If you're flipping one day and come across an epsiode, stop for a moment and take in a little superhero amusement.

There is no book recommendation this week. Sorry!

AFI's 10 Top !0

Well folks, as you know - unless you're living under a rock or spent a fabulous week+ in Europe (so jealous, Val and T, the pics look awesome!) - AFI has come up with the top 10 films of 10 different genres: animation, romantic comedies, westerns, sports, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, gangster, courtroom drama, and epic. You can view the list at http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html.

This week, let's talk the list.

I have to say that I was pretty impressed. For the most part, I thought the movies were good pics. Some of my favorites made it: The Philadelphia Story, Adam's Rib, Moonstruck (#5, #7, and #8 romantic comedies); Cat Ballou (#10 western, and a big surprise); Rocky (#2 sports); Rear Window and The Usual Suspects (#3 and #10 mystery); the entire fantasy list; Star Wars, Blade Runner, Terminator 2 (#2, #6, and #8 sci-fi); The Godfather 1 and 2 and Pulp Fiction (#1, #3, and #7 gangsters); and Schindler's List (#3 epic). This is not to say that I can't appreciate many of the other films, but these are my favs from the list.

That said, I have a few comments on said list. First, where is the horror genre? Mystery is not horror. The Shining should have been on this list somewhere. Horror is its own genre and worthy of a top 10 list. Second, Raiders of the Lost Arc should also appear on one of these lists. However, it doesn't really fit into any of the genres as defined by the AFI. Technically it's not fantasy since it's set firmly in this world and it's probably not long enough to be an epic (or boring enough). Maybe they could have also included an action list. Also, when commenting remember that the AFI is the American Film Insitute. On one blog I checked out people were commenting that The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly should have made the list. It's an Italian film so it was rightly left off.

There's my peace. Hopefully I've gotten the ball rolling. Next week I'll be discussing The Happening but without any spoilers!

The New TV Cannot Get Here Soon Enough!

After watching Cloverfield this weekend and missing half of it because of my current tv's poor picture quality, I have finally broken down and ordered a new television. I am getting a respectable 31-inch, HD, flat-screen television. It will be glorious and will be in for pick-up this weekend. I can't wait. Then I shall rerent Cloverfield and see what I missed. Despite my television frustrations, however, I still managed to enjoy a bit of pop culture this week.

Television: In Plain Sight
I purposely waiting until Monday to post my choices this week; the reason being that I wanted to watch one more episode of In Plain Sight, a new series on USA Network. If you've never heard of the show, the storyline follows Mary, a US Marshall who works for the Witness Protection Agency. I should probably like this woman because she is a strong, smart woman who is career-driven. However, I don't. I've watched two episodes and I have to say that I won't go out of my way to catch any more. In truth, Mary is annoying. There is very little that is likeable about her. She is too flawed. Some might complain that if her character were played by a man, I would excuse the flaws. Not true. I also have no patience for the annoyingly flawed male characters on shows like ER and Grey's Anatomy. (And don't get me started with the god-awful show about four male friends who spent their time discussing their sexual escapades on the golf course. I don't even remember that show's title because I couldn't get through 15 minutes of one episode.) I like flawed, don't get me wrong. But there needs to be something to balance the flaws out. In Plain Sight's writers just haven't figured out what that is for Mary quite yet and, as a result, she has too many rough edges. The question is whether or not they will ever get the chance.

Film: The Assassination of Jesse James...
Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are both excellent in this film, as is the much-ignored-by-critics Sam Rockwell (loved him as the over-the-top villain in the first Charlie's Angels film). However, this film did not need to be over two hours in length. When are filmmakers going to realize that excellent movies can be shorter than 120 minutes? Most silent films clock in at less than 90 minutes and some of the greats of the 50s and 60s fall between 90 and 120. Anyway, despite the slow moments here and there, the end of this film is excellent. I'm not going to tell you what happens because that would give it away. haha. Seriously, what happens to Robert Ford after he kills Jesse James is worth the long wait. The film really paints an interesting picture of the dynamics between Ford and James and the impossible situation both are in at the end. Rent this film but don't be afraid to fast-forward through much of the middle, especially if you know any history of the American West.

Book: The Historian
People have been after me to read this book since it was published in 2005. I finally got around to reading it. And I liked it. Historically, it is pretty true to the life of Vlad Dracula. I've read the history of the man and so has Elizabeth Kostova, the author. She's spot on. What I really like about this book, however, is Kostova's ability to simultaneously juggle far-past, past, present, soon-to-be-present, fiction, and history all at the same time. Her movement between storylines is seamless and that's no easy task for any writer. In addition, she weaves the information together into a cohesive whole without it feeling forced (for the most part). I would have liked a little more discussion of Dracula's mortal line but that's okay. It's a big book and by no means a quick read. But it's one of those beautiful stories that is worth taking the time to read.

Welcome to Summer TV!

Another summer is about to begin and the intelligent tv is nowhere to be found on the major networks. No, I'm not surprised. Maybe some day the big cheeses will notice that the cable networks get so many summer viewers because their offerings aren't dumb. Do we really need another bachelor/bachelorette tv show? Does anyone really expect those people to stay together? Please. My brain is revolting just thinking about the summer network offerings. Instead, I prefer silly shows and infotainment. Does this make me a better person? Probably not. I just like to think that I have a smidgeon of higher standards for my mindless fare. And to that end...

Television: Ice Road Truckers
Season Two starts tonight, baby! I raved about this show when I discovered it last summer and I can't wait to see the crew start up those ice roads again tonight at 10 on the History Channel. The show is in the same vein as Deadliest Catch, which I actually don't watch. These iron-willed truckers with balls of steel make their way up many miles of 3-foot thick ice to deliver massively heavy equipment to various diamond mines in Canada. They actually drive the ice roads with their hands on the door handle so they can bail if their truck goes through the ice. They have very little time to escape before sinking with the truck into freezing waters. What a lifestyle choice! I hear some of the old favorites from last season will be back as well as some newbies. I'm really looking forward to the start of another season.

Film: Sweeney Todd
I was first introduced to Stephen Sondheim in college with the musical Company and I fell in love. Although Sweeney isn't my favorite Sondheim (I love Company and Into the Woods too much), it's one of the most dark and provocative. Tim Burton was just the man to direct this adaptation. Johnny Depp and Helena Bohnam Carter may not have the chops of the Broadway veterans, but their singing works here because it's Sondheim. Sondheim music is extremely difficult to sing - and I speak from experience - and it's not meant to be beautiful and melodious; that would go against many of his characters' personalities. When you sit down to watch this film, don't judge it based on the musical abilities of its leads (especially Alan Rickman). Instead, enjoy the darkness of the humor and brilliant choice in setting and costumes. Consider Sweeney horror-lite and perfect for an evening with the air conditioning running and a pitcher of margaritas. By the way, if you're a Buffy fan here's your trivia tidbit for the week: Joss Whedon loves Sondheim and modeled his musical episode, "Once More With Feeling," after Sondheim's own musical style.

Book: Bitten
My friend Wendi is currently reading this first book in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series and I thought it deserved a mention from me here on the blog. Published in 2004, Bitten introduces readers to Armstrong's female werewolf, Elena, who is the only female werewolf ever. She struggles between a "normal" life and her pack but realizes that she is different and cannot be "normal." But then, what is normal? This book and its sequels - Stolen and Broken - are excellent summer beach reading. And if you're not going to the beach, they are excellent summer porch reading. They are light, easy to get through, and involve some pretty hot sex. What more could you want? Once you finish Elena's story, you can pick up Armstrong's other women's tales in her other books.

The Mighty, Mighty Bard

I went with friends to Staunton, VA this past weekend to see three performances by the American Shakespeare Center, which performs in the Blackfriar Theatre, an exact replica of the one Shakespeare wrote for. They were phenomenal! I cannot say enough good things about the touring company we saw to do them justice. Therefore, I will just leave it at phenomenal. In light of my lovely trip, I've decided to comment on the three plays. I know this is a bit off my usual pop culture beaten path, but, as I remind my students, Shakespeare was the pop culture of his day.

Taming of the Shrew
Taming has long been one of my favorite plays, despite the extreme anti-powerful woman statement. If you need a plot summary, just watch Ten Things I Hate About You, which is based on the play. The woman who played Katherina, Ginna Hoben, was tremendous. Kate is a tough character to embrace, especially since she spends much of her time complaining and torturing her sister, Bianca. Yet Hoben played her with pizazz. Josh Carpenter, who played Petruchio, was also excellent. He was a good match for Hoben and even had a little Heath Ledger swager to him. These two had really good chemistry, which made for an excellent play. That said, it is difficult to watch this play in the postfeminism era. Essentially, Petruchio starves and browbeats Kate into complete and utter submission. Still, I like this play and its humor.

The Merchant of Venice
Before the show began, Wendi asked me why I liked this play so much. I couldn't really tell her at the time; I just remember really enjoying it after reading it in college. The story follows Antonio, a merchant, who allows his very good friend Bassanio to borrow money on his credit so that Bassanio can woo his love, Portia. Bassanio goes to Shylock, a Jewish money lender, who demands a pound of flesh from Antonio's heart if he cannot pay. Antonio loses his ships and cargo and cannot pay; Shylock demands his pound of flesh, which would kill Antonio. Portia masquerades as a judge and tells Shylock he can have his flesh but he cannot take any blood. In the end, Antonio gets half of Shylock's wealth and Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity. This play was my favorite of the three. I like the play because Shakespeare recognizes that Jews are not necessarily bad people but put into a bad situation by Christians. Yet, Shakespeare doesn't do anything more than this. He still brings about ruin to Shylock, who has every right to be angry with the Christian population and who deserves his pound of flesh. In addition, Shylock's daughter, Jessica, has run away and eloped with Lorenzo, but she is not happy despite her conversion to Christianity. The only happy people are the Christians who have tricked Shylock out of his money and revenge. Merchant is a complex comment on anti-Semitism. What really wowed me about this performance was its ending. Jessica is so distraught that she topples over the money tables being used as the set. The entire place was silent and all you heard was the table thrown over and the change on it spilling over the stage. Although Shakespeare gives no indication that Jessica is so upset at the end of the play, it was an excellent interpretation by the director. I was moved to tears at the end because of Alisa Ledyard's performance as Jessica.

Henry V
This was my first time with Henry V. I don't remember doing the Henry cycle in Shakespeare class in college (but Jennica may want to correct me on this). If I had read this play in the past, I did not remember it. Henry V invades France and succeeds. He marries Katherine, Princess of France, and unites the country for a brief time. This play is about the invasion and a little about his brief courtship of Katherine. I liked this play the least, but that was simply because I didn't know it at all and so it was harder for me to follow; it was still brilliant. A crash-course in Brit history during intermission brought me up to speed and I was able to better grasp the end. Evan Hoffman, who played Henry, was fantastic. His Saint Crispin Day Speech was profoundly moving. He moved around and in the audience to give it and I even wanted to fight for him. I look forward to seeing Henry V again as I'm sure I'll get much more out of it next time. What really impressed me about this play was that 10 people played 46 roles. The point of the American Shakespeare Center is to recreate as much of the original performance's feel as possible. One way they do this is to have a small company, just 12 people in the touring group. To watch the same actors portray multiple roles was excellent in all three plays, but especially in this one as it had significantly more roles to it.

All Things Indy

In honor of Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls and my intense nostalgia for a series that influenced my childhood in many ways, this week's blog is all about the amazing archaeologist. Don't worry, there are absolutely no spoilers for the last film!

Raiders of the Lost Ark
No film will ever be better than Raiders. Now that this fact has been established, we can move on. I can watch this film over and over again. It established Dr. Indiana Jones as the coolest professor on the planet, even though no one but Marcus Brody and Sallah know he is cool. It's been said before, but let me reiterate: this movie changed the action/adventure genre forever. Every film wants to be Raiders and none ever will. The McGuffin at the beginning is classic, as is Indy's escape from a large boulder. Indy's vulnerability comes through loud and clear when he comments that it's not the years but the mileage. This is a hero with cuts and bruises. The romance with Marion is brilliant and the on-screen chemistry utterly believable. Marion is a strong woman who falls in love with a strong man. Will they live happily ever after? It really doesn't matter because they go off into the sunset together at the end and that's all we want. Oh, and the effects rock out! When The Rock, at the Oscars, blamed Spielburg and Lucas for nightmares after watching the head-melting scene, I completely understood. I remember lying in bed after seeing Raiders thinking about that final Nazi scene. It was thanks to this film that I created the mantra that would get me through my early horror-viewing years: "It's only make believe." I would repeat this to myself over and over until I fell asleep. After all these years, Raiders still surprises me with its brilliance and still makes me smile.

Temple of Doom
Most people consider Doom to be their least favorite of the trilogy. I disagree. Tomb is its own film and should be thought of in that way. It's a different genre, one that deals with serious colonialism and child abuse. Once you get past the silly dinner of monkey brains and eyeball soup, you have a interesting comment on the state of the world and how one culture always seeks to dominate another for no good reason at all. I mean, really. Is the world of Mola Ram and his search for the three Sankara stones all that different from Bush's search for WMDs? This film has its flaws: Willie and Indy don't have the Marion/Indy mojo and Short Round is an odd addition. But in the end, it's Spielburg and Lucas's comment on the world that matters. Life sucks in some places and we need to do what we can to lessen oppression and facism.

Last Crusade
Let's get it out in the open right now. If it weren't for Sean Connery, this film wouldn't be as good as it is. The banter between Indy and Henry is what makes Crusade sparkle. For three films Spielburg and Lucas have set up this daring, brilliant archaeologist who can beat everyone, even Nazis. And then you put him in a film opposite his father - James Bond, no less - and you finally find someone who can beat Indy. The idea of seeking the Holy Grail is interesting. The film is also a nod to the first film: Sallah returns and there's the humorous line in the catacombs when Dr. Schneider asks Indy if he's sure the drawing on the wall is the Ark. But at its heart, this film is about a father and son reuniting as adults in an adventure of their own. It's a grown-up film about grown-up issues and it makes you want to call your parents. Of course, the best moment in the entire film is when we learn Indy's real name.

Crystal Skulls
I will admit that this film is not the film you'll want it to be. It is not Raiders, but then I've already established that no film will ever be Raiders. Instead, Skulls is a nod to Indy's life-long fans. It is a running in-joke of the first three films. It reunites Marion and Indy and their chemistry has not dulled. They pick back up as if they never left off. The introduction of Shia LaBeouf as Mutt is a fun addition that not only will connect to a younger audience but does not burden the film (unlike the aforementioned Short Round). Mutt is not a youth for youth's sake but an important element of the storyline. He propels the action as much as anyone else. The film is tongue-in-cheek and rather silly in places. But then again, so were the 50s pulp comics. The Indy series is based on movie cliffhangers and pulp comics and those changed tone in the 1950s after WWII. It is only right that Skulls would do the same for the Indy saga. That said, the storyline in terms of the crystal skulls is a bit far-fetched and kind of lame. But again, this film is more about creating an end for the fans than giving the fans a deep, brilliant story to follow. Go. Buy some popcorn. Have fun. Laugh a lot. Revel in the fact that Spielburg and Lucas have shown Indy and Marion, warts and all. Then go home and rewatch the original trilogy. It will be a day well spent.

Summer Movie Season Has Begun!

You can tell it's summer when there are no decent television shows to blog about. Wait, check that. When are there good television shows to blog about? Okay, so that's not entirely true and there are some fun tv shows out there. But since the summer movie season has gotten off to a bang, I thought I'd dedicate this week's blog to three excellent movie choices.

Iron Man
Robert Downey, Jr. is the perfect choice for this film. And while Jon Favreau has not always done right - Zathura anyone? - he clearly has the sensibility and finesse for an excellent comic book film. I don't love every comic book film that comes down the pike. X-Men? Loved em. Spider-Man? Bored. The Fantastic Four? WTF??? Iron Man, however, is brilliant. The film doesn't take itself too seriously and the casting is excellent. Who knew Jeff Bridges would make for an interesting bald man? The story focuses on Tony Stark's creation of his alter-ego and that's what makes it fun. Yes, there's a big fight scene at the end, but the fight isn't what's important here; the creation of a flawed superhero is. You'll laugh and snicker at some of the excellent one-liners but you'll also be drawn in to the story. And, if nothing else, those fight-scene special effects are pretty groovy. If you're looking for a popcorn film to start off your summer, this is it.

Priceless
If you're looking for something a lot different to kick off your summer movie viewing, find yourself a multiplex or an indie theater playing this wonderful romantic comedy from France. Audrey Tautou (Amelie and The DaVinci Code) is a poor woman leeching off a series of sugar daddies. Gad Elmaleh is a waiter who falls for her. Eventually, Elmaleh hooks up with a sugar mamma and the two start comparing notes. You gotta love the French when it comes to romantic comedy. This fluffy film rocks out and will not disappoint. I think... I love... Ah forget it. Just go see this flick!

Black Snake Moan
If you just can't bring yourself to pay for overpriced tickets and snacks, you hate sticky floors, and you just can't stand people who talk during the film, go out and rent this dark film starring Christina Ricci as a sex addict and Samuel L. Jackson as the farmer/blues singer who tries to reform her. He does this by locking her to a radiator. Yep, a radiator. This film is pretty dark and pretty deep (the violence and sex are just barely concealed), but it's an amazing story of characters. You aren't going to get that this summer at the multiplex! The two damaged human beings actually end up good for one another. You won't get the ending you're expecting, which is a good thing. And the big surprise of the film, at least for me anyway, will be Justin Timberlake as Ronnie. I hate to say it, but the guy can act.

I'm A Slacker

Yeah, I'm a slacker. Last week was finals week so my life was a bit hectic. As a result, I don't have anything new and exciting to report. Therefore, I thought it would be the perfect week to ask for suggestions from the peanut gallery. What pop culture do you love that my lurkers should be consuming?

For A Little Fun This Week...

It feels like spring and the academic year is coming to a close. What better reason for a little fun this week? The following are three picks that I always enjoy coming back to. They are things I can either watch or read over and over and over again.

Film: The Fifth Element
Silly? Yep. Fun? Yep. Did I mention silly? I love this Bruce Willis flick. Around the time it came out (1997) I remember reading an interview with Willis. He was joking that he was changing his phone number to 1-800-SAVETHEPLANET. I think this film reflects that mood. Clearly the film is supposed to be a spoof of sci-fi and save-the-world films. There are moments so over the top that it makes me smile just thinking about it. (I mean really, stones in a diva's stomach???) Plus, there are lovely nods to cult favorites like Blade Runner. I'm not sure how seriously Milla Jovovich took her role, but you can tell Ian Holm, Gary Oldman, and Chris Tucker are having a great time. Plus, the music is pretty cool, as are the visuals.

Television: House Hunters
I would like to thank HGTV for helping to create a society of voyeurs. How can you not love this show? A house buyer, or buyers, go to three houses. S/he chooses one. The show fast-forwards several months to see what said buyer has done. It's the same format every time so why is it addictive? Because I want to see people's houses. I want to see what $150,000 will buy you in Dallas or $600,000 will buy you in NYC. I want to see the awful decorating sense these people have. Am I nosey? Yep. Do I care? Nope. Now there is even a House Hunters International. Ever wonder how much condos are in Prague? Now you can find out!

Books: The Hobbit
Bilbo Baggins and I have had a love affair since my friends Breanne and Molly introduced us over twenty-five years ago. He still takes my breath away. The beauty and brillaince of Tolkien's novel makes me pick up this book every couple of years for a little light reading. I still get anxious when Bilbo is captured by the trolls. I worry that he won't be able to out-riddle Gollum. And I hope he won't be seen by Smog. The goodness of this one lonely Hobbit reminds me that in a perfect world, one person could make a difference. In mind, Bilbo Baggins certainly has.

Television is Back!

If you haven't heard, many tv series are back on the airwaves with new episodes. Unfortunately, none of the television shows I care about are back. Heroes? Pushing Daisies? Where are you? Luckily, there is still cable infotainment. And with that thought, on to the recommendations...

Television: Top Chef
Most skill shows on the networks don't involve skill. Bravo shows, however, do. I love Top Chef and this season they are in Chicago. The first week they made deep-dish pizza and since then they have had a zoo-inspired challenge and a film-inspired challenge, among others. They are off to an excellent start! While I don't have a favorite yet, I'm keeping my eye on Richard. In case you're wondering, Spike and Andrew are tying for this season's Top Ass.

Film: Paris, je t'aime
If you haven't put this 2006 indie/foreign film on your list, add it now! (Especially if you plan on seeing the City of Lights in the next month or two.) It's a series of 2o five-minute films shot by different directors. Each film is about/set in a different part of Paris and all deal with love, both the good and bad aspects. My favorites are the Coen brothers' (with Steve Buscemi), Nick Nolte's, and Elijah Wood's. But the one that blew them all out of the water was the very last film; my heart broke, wept, and leapt all in five minutes. How often can we say that?

Book: The Pillars of the Earth
Oprah Book Club sticker be damned! Despite being hawked by America's Queen of the Talkshows, I find myself loving this book. It's a bit lengthy - my copy is about 1000 pages - but a super quick read. I devoured 100 pages the very first night I opened it. The book is set in the early half of the 12th century and follows Prior Phillip as he finances a cathedral, Tom Builder as he builds said cathedral, and Lady Aliena who does something. (Cut me some slack, I'm only 300 pages into the thing!) Normally I would wait until finishing a book before recommending it but not this time. I love the pace, history, and characters of this book. It's not a book for the beach but it is one for the ages.

Another Week On, Then Another Week Off

It's a good thing I don't have a boss for my blog. I am once again leaving for a trip and ignoring the blog for a weekend. This week's picks will have to last you until the second weekend in April. I'm sure you all will get through just fine without me, though.

Film: 21
While I do go to the movies often, it's really quite rare that I go to a movie opening weekend. I'm not against it; my schedule just doesn't often work out. Yesterday, however, I went to see 21. I have to say, it's a fun film. If you're looking for something to do on a lazy afternoon or for a date night, I whole-heartedly endorse Robert Luketic's little film. The story is rather predictable but Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne look like they're having fun. After you've seen 21, I recommend that you try and catch the History Channel documentary, Breaking Vegas. The doc is the true story of the MIT students who counted cards in Vegas.

Book: Josie and Jack
This 2005 novel by Kelly Braffet is marketed as a modern-day Hansel and Gretel story. I would call it a retelling of Flowers in the Attic but grittier. Josie and Jack are siblings who may or may not be more intimate than is acceptable. They are raised by an abusive and brilliant physicist father who leaves them alone during the week. They are home-schooled and spend most of their time either drunk or high. When things go badly at home, they run away to New York City. There Jack uses sex to get them a place to live but things only go from bad to worse. This isn't a novel for the feint-of-heart but it's a really well-written story. It was a recommendation from Powell's books, I believe, and I'm glad I read it, even if I had to watch a happy HGTV home-improvement show after finishing it.

Television: Top Gear
BBC is once again appearing in my blog. On Matt's recommendation, I have started watching Top Gear. At first I was hesitant because I don't care about cars. But I am a convert. The show isn't really about cars so much as it is about the three very funny hosts (plus, Richard is a total hottie). I've only been watching a couple of weeks now, but my favorite episode is definitely where they race across part of Africa in beaten-down, deconstructed cars. I laughed the whole time! This show is indeed about cars, but it is also about three guys having a lot of fun going as fast as possible. You all should definitely check it out.

Happy Easter!

I'm back from my two-week hiatus. Since I was on vacation for part of that time, I have had a chance to catch up on my pop culture intake. Here are the top three from the last two weeks:

Film: Night Watch
I know this Russian horror film got mixed reviews but I liked it! The film is about Others, humans who develop (which is not technically the right term) special abilities like shape-shifting and seeing. There are Light Others and Dark Others with both sides monitoring each other. This first film in Director Timur Bekmambetov's trilogy focuses on the coming of the Great Other, who will bring destruction or something to the world. Really, it's not important. What I liked about this film is the effects. It's a little Blade Runner meets Japenese horror meets The Matrix. The sequel, Day Watch came out in 2006 (Night Watch is from 2004) so that is now on my Netflix list. Twilight Watch, the final film of the trilogy, is currently in production.

Television: My Big Redneck Wedding
My mother introduced me to this show. Apparently she was channel-surfing one night and came across it. I cannot honestly describe this show adequately. It's like a 10-car pileup with dead bodies hanging out the windows: you don't want to watch but you do and then you're mortified at yourself for slowing down long enough to get an eye-full. Seriously, the show is that bad. One episode featured the bride in cammo. Another had the groom going out to hut wild pig for a bachelor party with the pig to be used for the wedding meal. Yep. That's right, folks. The show is on CMT and you can catch it randomly on Saturday afternoons. I'm sure it's on at other times, though. Really, your life will not be complete until you watch this show at least once.

Book: The Fourth Bear
This is Jasper Fforde's sequel to The Big Over Easy. I've posted my love for Fforde before and it has only increased. The second of the Nursery Crime series, The Fourth Bear sees DCI Jack Spratt and Mary Mary trying to simultaneously track down the dreaded serial killer The Gingerbreadman and determine who killed Goldilocks. As they go about their business, Jack must deal with his new neighbors Punch and Judy, who do nothing but fight, and Caliban, who is currently living under his stairs. In addition, his daughter Pandora is getting ready to marry Prometheus the Titan. All of this is just another day for Jack, and he and Mary soon prove that the Nursery Crime Devision is a necessary component of the Reading police force. If you have not yet taken my advice and read a Jasper Fforde book, do so immediately!

March Came in Like a Lion

This week I am catching up on my reading and viewing, and it has been a good week. Well, it's been good for film and reading, anyway. Television is pretty much dead in the water - with the exception of tomorrow night's season finale of SCC - right now so I'm going to give you all two films and no television this week.

Film 1: Requiem
I didn't actually watch this film this week, but I've been meaning to get it up here for the past couple of weeks. This 2006 German film follows the life of Michaela, an epileptic girl heading off to college in the 1970s. She and her family are strict Catholics. Eventually, a priest confirms that Michaela's seizures are a sign of demons and begins a merciless series of exorcisms. The film is very interesting and intense. Sandra Huller (Michaela) is relatively new but she is amazing. Think physical acting a la Christian Bale in The Machinist. The film isn't a happy one, but you'll marvel at the starkness of Michaela's life in contrast to Director Hans-Christian Schmid's cinematic vision.

Film 2: The TV Set
I watched this one last night and loved it! This film - also from 2006 - follows Mike (David Duchovny), a writer, as he tries to have his new show produced and picked up for the fall season. Along the way he has to compromise on everything, including his integrity. If you like television and want to see a not-so-subtle ironic look at the medium, rent this film. It's sad, funny, and the ending will tear your heart out. Just how far will one man sacrifice his art for his family? The cast is huge with such folks as Sigourney Weaver and Ioan Gruffudd. And you'll never recognize Justine Bateman as Mike's wife, Natalie.

Books: The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass
I have finally finished Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. I found the books extremely enjoyable. But I have to say that I'm not sure I would have enjoyed them in my youth. In many ways, I had to read these books as an adult to truly appreciate them. Ten years ago I may have found them difficult to get into. Today, I think Pullman's criticism of organized religion is valid, although a little unfair at times. I do, however, really enjoy his view of spirtuality. His message is one of loyalty, bravery, and friendship and those are all things I can get behind. Unfortunately, not all people are quite so open-minded so I certainly understand where his criticism is coming from even if I don't agree with it. I hope The Golden Compass makes enough money overseas because I would really like to see what Director Chris Weitz could do with these books. (Incidentally, a quick look on imdb.com does not have The Subtle Knife in pre-production so things aren't looking positive.)

Okay folks, these picks are going to have to hold you for awhile. My family is visiting next weekend and I'll be traveling the weekend after that so I won't be back until Easter. In the meantime, watch and read lots! (And if you're looking for an Easter feast-for-the-eyes, let me once again put Babette's Feast up here as a suggestion. If you haven't seen it yet, you really should!)

And The Oscar Goes To...

Tonight is the big night for movie fans everywhere: the Oscars! I could care less about the World Series, the NBA championship, or the Superbowl but I get giddy thinking about the stars, stars, stars out in L.A. tonight. I predict that there are no predictions to be had tonight. Everything seems so up in the air with few shoe-ins. But I'm going to give it my best and devote today's blog to my Oscar winners. Now, I have seen very few of these films so this will probably be one of the worst years ever for my guesses. Tomorrow we'll see how I did.

Picture - No Country for Old Men
Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis (the only sure thing)
Actress - Julie Christie is the "old fav" in the category but she could be upset by Marion Cotillard
Supporing Actor - Javier Bardem but I wouldn't be surprised if Hal Holbrook got the sentimental vote
Supporting Actress - Cate Blanchett may be a favorite, but I'm going with Tilda Swinton on this one; that said, Ruby Dee may come in on the sentimental vote
Director - Coen Brothers
Original Screenplay - Juno
Adapted Screenplay - No Country for Old Men
Documentary Feature - Sicko, but just because Michael Moore is an old favorite
Documentary Short - I have no idea
Animated Feature - Where is The Simpsons????? I'm going with Ratatouille even though I hate animal movies and the Oscar should go to Persepolis
Foreign Language Film - The Counterfeiters
Foreign Language Film - Stupid voters in this categroy; the Oscar should go to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Cinematography - No Country for Old Men
Visual Effects - Transformers
Animated Short Feature - Again, no idea
Live Action Short Film - Nope, no idea
Art Direction - Sweeney Todd
Costume Designer - Atonement, just for Kiera Knightley's green dress
Film Editing - The Bourne Ultimatum, though I doubt it will actually win
Sound Mixing - The Bourne Ultimatum (my friend Brenda once said that a movie with bullets usually wins this category; she's been right more times than not)
Sound Editing - The Bourne Ultimatum (see above)
Original Score - Should have been There Will Be Blood - probably will be Atonement
Original Song - Most likely one of the Enchanted songs - retch...
Makeup - La Vie en Rose - Marion Cotillard's eyebrows should be out Johnny Depp's teeth and hair

So those are my picks. I hope you all settle in with some snacks and enjoy tonight's show!