And the race is on for the coveted little gold man of 2009. If you didn't catch the nominees, you can get the complete list at Oscar's website: www.oscar.com.
There weren't many surprises other than Revolutionary Road. I think most folks were expecting Kate Winslet to get her nomination for that film rather than The Reader. I can only speak for The Reader since I haven't seen Road and I can tell you she is fabulous as Hannah Schmidt. The other big surprise for me is Richard Jenkins for The Visitor. I have the film coming soon and I hear he is tremendous. While I appreciate Clint Eastwood, I'm glad someone new and different broke into that race.
I am disappointed that Christopher Nolan received no love for The Dark Knight in either Picture or Director. The film is really a work of art and should have been nominated for Best Picture. Having never seen Benjamin Button, I can't really speak about it except to say that several of my friends (and you know who you are) were unimpressed with the film so I am surprised by its many nominations.
Since I have only seen one of the five films up for Best Picture and little else, I shouldn't be making predictions yet. That said, can we finally honor Kate Winslet for her amazing work? Also, Heath Ledger's posthumous Oscar seems a sure-thing. I'll have my predictions closer to the February 22 event. By then, I hope to have seen four of the five Picture nominations (I just can't bring myself to sit through Benjamin's backwards aging process).
I've spoken, let's hear from you!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
What's New Pussycats?
No waves made this week in terms of pop culture but I did come across a few gems.
Film: The Leopard
I ran across this 1963 Italian film in one of my film studies book and decided to take a look. The book's author was all "mise-en-scene, blah, blah, blah." (For those of you not in the know, mise-en-scene is a film's setting, costuming, props, etc.) When I received the film from Netflix and saw that it was three hours long I thought, "You've got to be kidding." As I watched - over the course of three different evenings - I realized why the book's author was so enamored with the film. The story is somewhat basic and a knowledge of Italian revolutions might be helpful in fully understanding the storyline. The acting is okay; Burt Lancaster (who'd of guessed) plays Prince Fabrizio Salina. But what kept me watching was the mise-en-scene. The Leopard is probably one of the most beautifully-set films I've ever seen. From the outside scenes to the grand ball at the end, the constumes and settings will blow your mind. If you never actually get around to sitting thought the entire three hours, skip ahead to the final 45 minutes to catch that ball; it will knock your socks off. By the way, don't get the English dubbed version. The Italian is beautiful; it made me want to learn another language.
Television: Make 'Em Laugh
I mentioned this PBS documentary on humor last week as an aside. I caught the first two installments this past Wednesday and it made me laugh. I never realized how funny George Burns and Gracie Allen were! Likewise, I never had the privilege of watching Jonathan Winters perform. Tune in this Wednesday (or check your local listings) for more of the history of American humor. You'll find your dreary winter evening much more enjoyable for a few laughs.
Book: Darwinia
I love a good book that is pure candy for the brain. Darwinia is one such book. Published in 1998 by Robert Charles Wilson, Darwinia begins in 1912 when "The Miracle" occurs: Europe's people and cities cease to exist. In its place is a continent of wild animals and plants never before seen on Earth. What follows is the story of Guilford Law, a photographer who's much different than he expects. Slowly we learn what Darwinia really is and why Europe has gone. The book gets a bit too "sci-fi-y" when it goes into The Archives and psilife but beyond some bogging down in the science sections - which are few - the story reads pretty quickly. It's not the most brilliant thing I've ever read, but it certainly did make for some good beach/pool reading.
Film: The Leopard
I ran across this 1963 Italian film in one of my film studies book and decided to take a look. The book's author was all "mise-en-scene, blah, blah, blah." (For those of you not in the know, mise-en-scene is a film's setting, costuming, props, etc.) When I received the film from Netflix and saw that it was three hours long I thought, "You've got to be kidding." As I watched - over the course of three different evenings - I realized why the book's author was so enamored with the film. The story is somewhat basic and a knowledge of Italian revolutions might be helpful in fully understanding the storyline. The acting is okay; Burt Lancaster (who'd of guessed) plays Prince Fabrizio Salina. But what kept me watching was the mise-en-scene. The Leopard is probably one of the most beautifully-set films I've ever seen. From the outside scenes to the grand ball at the end, the constumes and settings will blow your mind. If you never actually get around to sitting thought the entire three hours, skip ahead to the final 45 minutes to catch that ball; it will knock your socks off. By the way, don't get the English dubbed version. The Italian is beautiful; it made me want to learn another language.
Television: Make 'Em Laugh
I mentioned this PBS documentary on humor last week as an aside. I caught the first two installments this past Wednesday and it made me laugh. I never realized how funny George Burns and Gracie Allen were! Likewise, I never had the privilege of watching Jonathan Winters perform. Tune in this Wednesday (or check your local listings) for more of the history of American humor. You'll find your dreary winter evening much more enjoyable for a few laughs.
Book: Darwinia
I love a good book that is pure candy for the brain. Darwinia is one such book. Published in 1998 by Robert Charles Wilson, Darwinia begins in 1912 when "The Miracle" occurs: Europe's people and cities cease to exist. In its place is a continent of wild animals and plants never before seen on Earth. What follows is the story of Guilford Law, a photographer who's much different than he expects. Slowly we learn what Darwinia really is and why Europe has gone. The book gets a bit too "sci-fi-y" when it goes into The Archives and psilife but beyond some bogging down in the science sections - which are few - the story reads pretty quickly. It's not the most brilliant thing I've ever read, but it certainly did make for some good beach/pool reading.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Clarity Please!
This week I'm going to give you a topic: Southland Tales. Discuss.
I watched this film earlier in the week and found myself fascinated and horribly confused. It is the most bizarre film this side of Brazil and The Fountain. I have to say that I just don't get it, but my confusion does not make it a bad movie. The story is what I find confusing. Boxer Santaros (Dwayne Johnson) has amnesia and is living with porn star Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar). They write a screenplay about the end of the world and planetary slow-downs but it's not actually a screenplay and is really Boxer's memory. Meanwhile, WW3 is going on and an extremist neo-Marxist organization is trying to bring down the conservative government and a new type of fuel called Fluid Karma has been invented. Yeah, it's hard to follow, I know. Add to it Roland Taverner (Seann William Scott) and his twin brother (or is he?) and you've got the making of a complex storyline. The cast is pretty cool, though, and includes everyone from Justin Timberlake and Mandy Moore to Shawn Wallace, Curtis Armstrong, John Larroquette, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Smith, and half the women from SNL.
Because I still find this film fascinating despite my apparently inability to fully comprehend it, I want to spend this week hearing from all of you. If you've seen Southland Tales, please chime in to the discussion. What do you think Director and Writer Richard Kelly is really saying here? (Besides the obvious that war with the Middle East would be bad.)
I watched this film earlier in the week and found myself fascinated and horribly confused. It is the most bizarre film this side of Brazil and The Fountain. I have to say that I just don't get it, but my confusion does not make it a bad movie. The story is what I find confusing. Boxer Santaros (Dwayne Johnson) has amnesia and is living with porn star Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar). They write a screenplay about the end of the world and planetary slow-downs but it's not actually a screenplay and is really Boxer's memory. Meanwhile, WW3 is going on and an extremist neo-Marxist organization is trying to bring down the conservative government and a new type of fuel called Fluid Karma has been invented. Yeah, it's hard to follow, I know. Add to it Roland Taverner (Seann William Scott) and his twin brother (or is he?) and you've got the making of a complex storyline. The cast is pretty cool, though, and includes everyone from Justin Timberlake and Mandy Moore to Shawn Wallace, Curtis Armstrong, John Larroquette, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Smith, and half the women from SNL.
Because I still find this film fascinating despite my apparently inability to fully comprehend it, I want to spend this week hearing from all of you. If you've seen Southland Tales, please chime in to the discussion. What do you think Director and Writer Richard Kelly is really saying here? (Besides the obvious that war with the Middle East would be bad.)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Hello all! I hope you all had a lovely time this holiday season. I hope you are waking up to a bright, glorious new year. And for any of you who are experiencing a nasty hangover, I hope the party last night was worth it. I know it's not Sunday but I couldn't ring in a new year without a pop culture post. And here they are...
Film: The Quiet Man
Yesterday TCM ran a John Wayne marathon. Not being a huge Duke fan, I didn't watch most of it. However, during the afternoon hours they played one of my favorites: The Quiet Man. What makes this John Ford film (yep, he directed much to my surprise) especially excellent is the chemistry between Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Next to Kate Hepburn, Maureen O'Hara is one of my favorite actresses. This film is not her first pairing with Wayne nor her first film with Ford. What I like about this film is that it is not a typical John Wayne film and yet it is. There is a sense of humor here that I think is missing from other John Wayne films. It is clear that Ford, Wayne, and O'Hara are having fun. But what I really watch for is the end. I love the cross-country boxing match between Sean Thornton and Will Danaher. What a great ending! If you've never picked up this 1952 classic, do so now and enjoy the crazy Irish rituals.
Television: Leverage
I've been watching this new TNT show for the last few weeks and have finally found some decent drama on television. I love this heist show. If you liked the Ocean's 11 films, you will like this weekly drama. The premise is pretty basic: Tim Hutton, an ex-insurance detective, gets together the best con woman, computer hacker, thief, and muscle to help the hopeless. They are a modern-day group of Robin Hoods. Tim Hutton is always lovely to watch. But the show also has two stand-outs in Gina Bellman and Christian Kane. Gina Bellman is a British actress who I loved in the BBC series Jekyll. Christian Kane was great as Lindsey in Angel and also played young Hud in Secondhand Lions (love that film). Together, the ensemble really fits and the show shines. Since the show is on TNT, I'm sure it will be given time to stretch its legs. I have to say, TNT is fast becoming one of the best networks out there for television.
Book: Brookland
This 2006 novel by Emily Barton is a great, but somewhat sad, read. It is sad because it details an attempt at building the Brooklyn Bridge. Since the book is set in the late 18th/early 19th centuries, you know the Bridge will fail and the characters will have to deal with the consequences. (The Brooklyn Bridge as we know it today was not actually started until 1870.) Once you get past that knowledge, though, the novel is a great story of a family of sisters who have their own issues and demons to deal with. The narrator, Prue Winship, and her sister Tem are gin distillers, a calling taught to them by their father. Prue desperately wants to build a bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn and uses both Tem and their sister Pearl to do it. It is a story of obsession and being single-minded enough to ignore all those around you. There are many times in this novel where you just want to reach in and shake the bejeezus out of Prue, but by the end of the novel, you appreciate her and come to actually sympathize with her.
Film: The Quiet Man
Yesterday TCM ran a John Wayne marathon. Not being a huge Duke fan, I didn't watch most of it. However, during the afternoon hours they played one of my favorites: The Quiet Man. What makes this John Ford film (yep, he directed much to my surprise) especially excellent is the chemistry between Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Next to Kate Hepburn, Maureen O'Hara is one of my favorite actresses. This film is not her first pairing with Wayne nor her first film with Ford. What I like about this film is that it is not a typical John Wayne film and yet it is. There is a sense of humor here that I think is missing from other John Wayne films. It is clear that Ford, Wayne, and O'Hara are having fun. But what I really watch for is the end. I love the cross-country boxing match between Sean Thornton and Will Danaher. What a great ending! If you've never picked up this 1952 classic, do so now and enjoy the crazy Irish rituals.
Television: Leverage
I've been watching this new TNT show for the last few weeks and have finally found some decent drama on television. I love this heist show. If you liked the Ocean's 11 films, you will like this weekly drama. The premise is pretty basic: Tim Hutton, an ex-insurance detective, gets together the best con woman, computer hacker, thief, and muscle to help the hopeless. They are a modern-day group of Robin Hoods. Tim Hutton is always lovely to watch. But the show also has two stand-outs in Gina Bellman and Christian Kane. Gina Bellman is a British actress who I loved in the BBC series Jekyll. Christian Kane was great as Lindsey in Angel and also played young Hud in Secondhand Lions (love that film). Together, the ensemble really fits and the show shines. Since the show is on TNT, I'm sure it will be given time to stretch its legs. I have to say, TNT is fast becoming one of the best networks out there for television.
Book: Brookland
This 2006 novel by Emily Barton is a great, but somewhat sad, read. It is sad because it details an attempt at building the Brooklyn Bridge. Since the book is set in the late 18th/early 19th centuries, you know the Bridge will fail and the characters will have to deal with the consequences. (The Brooklyn Bridge as we know it today was not actually started until 1870.) Once you get past that knowledge, though, the novel is a great story of a family of sisters who have their own issues and demons to deal with. The narrator, Prue Winship, and her sister Tem are gin distillers, a calling taught to them by their father. Prue desperately wants to build a bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn and uses both Tem and their sister Pearl to do it. It is a story of obsession and being single-minded enough to ignore all those around you. There are many times in this novel where you just want to reach in and shake the bejeezus out of Prue, but by the end of the novel, you appreciate her and come to actually sympathize with her.
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