Saturday, January 31, 2009

Answers on "Lost" and Mutiny on BSG

Spoilers Ahead!!!!


LOST:

An episode without Jack, Kate, Sayid or Hurley - when was the last time we had that? I'm glad the show is going to focus on those on the island and Desmond equally, cause honestly, Kate and Jack are not my favorite characters right now. And I want more on those Freighties.

Any episode with a focus on Desmond rocks. He and Pe
nny are the OTP of this show for sure. I'm glad that she's decided to go with him and not force an issue between them by being difficult. And how cute is it that their kid is named Charlie? Makes me wanna watch the Season 3 finale all over again! (Although, someone did point out that her father is also unfortunately named Charles, but we all know it's really after our Charlie!)


Kudos to those who called "Other" island man-Jones as actually being Widmore. At least we will start to understand how Widmore knows of the island and why he might want to get back there. Still don't get how Richard Alpert doesn't age, but we do now understand why he came to see Locke as a child and why he thought Locke would pick the compass. That's all a little clearer now.

As for the Freighties, Miles consistantly cracks me up, I have loads of questions about Charlotte and why the time shifts are affecting her differently than everyone else, and I find Daniel Farraday fascinating. I want more of his backstory, as I'm not sure whether to believe him 50% of the time. But I'll give it up for Jeremy Davies: those eyes are doing some fine acting.



BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:

Firstly, last week's episode about the political climate was so great. As someone who's instinctively anit-military control, I under
stood why democratically the Quorum was so opposed to the Cylon alliance. Zarek and Gaeta have some good points, and yes, the Cylons did try to kill them all 4 years ago. If I were a civilian in this fleet, I would most definitely be confused and probably side with Zarek against the Cylons.


But as most of my favorite characters are either Cylon, or somewhat Cylon sympathizers (Tigh, Helo, Tyrol, Athena, Adama, Starbuck - not really a Cylon sympathizer, but would never betray Adama) I can't get on board with this mutiny. Like it or not, unfair as it is, the fleet is not on a situation where they have the luxury of voting everything democratically; the military has to be given some sway, especially as they've been the ones protecting everyone's ass for the last 4 years. Adama and Roslin have made mistakes, but they've rarely been selfish ones. They don't keep power just for the sake of power. Adama does what he thinks is right, and Roslin did everything she could to help them find Earth - and they did. Who could have known it would be destroyed? And I can't believe that after all this time, they fleet doesn't trust them a little more. I get that these are trying times, but I feel like they've earned a little faith, even in the face of this most recent devastation.

(Who else is really feeling for Chief Tyrol right now? His inability to use the right pronoun ("us...them, you....we, uh, I...they....dammit!"), not knowing at all where he fits in (he was so awesome on Galactica tonight, helping out, and then having to find out that Nicky isn't his?!?!?!?! Holy Crap! The TWoP recaplet said it great: "is the revelation that Hera is still the onl
y Shape Of Things To Come, since Cally continues to suck hilariously from beyond the grave. Nicky's dad is actually Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza, and not Galen at all, which means not only is he a weird-looking kid, but he can't even blame it on being half-Final Fiver. Galen doesn't get to give any more speeches about how she smelled like cabbage, but he does spend the entire time trying to reverse his pronouns and remember he's a Cylon and totally into doing Cylon shit and reading Cylon books and going to Cylon rock and roll shows, even though he's the least Cylony Cylon of all the Cylons.")


With that said, how awesome was tonight'
s episode? It was like the first hour of a great thriller. Again, while I understand at least Gaeta's motivation, this is just unacceptable!!! I was cheering Starbuck on everytime she shot someone down! They were gonna shoot Lee in the face! Racetrack and Skulls? And they rounded up my favorite family, the Agathons, and beat up my beloved Helo, and threw them in the brig, with a promise to rape his Athena! WTF??? Why does every really anti-Cylon person feel the need to rape them? That is really fucked up! You don't have to like them, I understand why you don't, but there's something sick about the constant threat of rape.

Loved seeing Starbuck and Apollo back together. I really don't care whether they are a couple or not, but something just feels right when they've got each other's back
. Also, Adama and Roslin as this affectionate supercouple is really working for me. Her promise to take Gaeta out in the preview for next week was terrifying! Also, about that preview, how ironic is it that Gaeta is (or at least threatening to) giving Adama an unsanctioned trial and blowing him out the airlock (like what was almost done to him) when it was Zareck who originally okay-ed those trials, not Adama. It seems strangely amusing to me.


Favorite Line last episode: "Sometimes I really hate this job." - Adama


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Oh, That Guy!: Academy Awards Edition


MICHAEL SHANNON:

Currently nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Revolutionary Road, here's where you may have seen this character actor before:
  1. 1. Chain Reaction (1996)..............................D.C. Flower Delivery Man
  2. 2. Jesus' Son (1999).....................................Dundun
  3. 3. Cecil B. DeMented (2000)........................Petie
  4. 4. Tigerland (2000).....................................Sgt. Filmore
  5. 5. Pearl Harbor (2001)................................Lt. Gooz Wood
  6. 6. Vanilla Sky (2001)...................................Aaron
  7. 7. High Crimes (2002).................................Troy Abbott
  8. 8. Kangaroo Jack (2003).............................Frankie Lombardo
  9. 9. Bad Boys II (2003)..................................Floyd Poteet
  10. 10. The Woodsman (2004)..........................Rosen
  11. 11. Criminal (2004).....................................Gene
  12. 12. "Law & Order: SVU" (2005).....................Avery Shaw
  13. 13. Bug (2006)............................................Peter Evans
  14. 14. World Trade Center (2006)....................Dave Karnes
  15. 15. Shotgun Stories (2007).........................Son Hayes
  16. 16. Lucky You (2007).................................Ray Zumbro
  17. 17. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead......Dex (2007)

RICHARD JENKINS:

You're sure to notice this character actor from something, he pops up all the time. This year he's getting his first nomination for Best Actor in The Visitor.

  1. 1. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986).................Dr. Wilkes
  2. 2. The Manhattan Project (1986).................Radiation Control Officer
  3. 3. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)...............Clyde Alden
  4. 4. Little Nikita (1988)..................................Richard Grant
  5. 5. Sea of Love (1989)...................................Gruber
  6. 6. Blue Steel (1990).....................................Attorney Mel Dawson
  7. 7. "Queen" miniseries (1993).......................Mr. Benson
  8. 8. Undercover Blues (1993)........................Frank
  9. 9. Wolf (1994).............................................Detective Bridger
  10. 10. It Could Happen to You (1994).............C. Vernon Hale
  11. 11. The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)........Victor
  12. 12. How to Make an American Quilt............Howell Saunders (1995)
  13. 13. Flirting with Disaster (1996)..................Paul Harmon
  14. 14. Absolute Power (1997).........................Michael McCarty
  15. 15. Eye of God (1997).................................Willard Sprague
  16. 16. There's Something About Mary (1998)...Psychiatrist
  17. 17. The Mod Squad (1999)..........................Det. Bob Mothershed
  18. 18. Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)...............Sheriff Art Moran
  19. 19. Random Hearts (1999)..........................Truman Trainor
  20. 20. Me, Myself & Irene (2000)....................Agent Boshane
  21. 21. Say It Isn't So (2001)............................Walter Wingfield
  22. 22. The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)........Walter Abundas
  23. 23. Changing Lanes (2002).........................Walter Arnell
  24. 24. Stealing Harvard (2002).......................Honorable Emmett Cook
  25. 25. The Core (2003)...................................Gen. Thomas Purcell
  26. 26. Intolerable Cruelty (2003)...................Freddy Bender
  27. 27. Cheaper By the Dozen (2003)...............Shake
  28. 28. I Heart Huckabees (2004)....................Mr. Hooten
  29. 29. Shall We Dance (2004)..........................Devine
  30. 30. North Country (2005)..........................Hank Aimes
  31. 31. "Six Feet Under" (2001-2005)...............Nathaniel Fisher
  32. Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)...................Frank Bascombe
  33. 33. Rumor Has It...(2005)..........................Earl Huttinger
  34. 34. The Kingdom (2007)............................Robert Grace
  35. 35. Step Brothers (2008)............................Dr. Robert Doback
  36. 36. Burn After Reading (2008)...................Ted Treffon

Monday, January 26, 2009

SAG Fails & Wins


FAIL: I no longer blame Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt for shunning Ryan Seacrest and E! News on the Golden Globes red carpet. Last night at the SAG awards, the superstar couple made every effort to grant interviews to E! and were accosted with ridiculously personal (and lame!) questions. Rather than talk about their nominations, working with Clint Eastwood & David Fincher, what their favorite films of the year were, E!'s Juliana Rancic went out of her way in an embarrassing display of callousness to plead of Angelina, "How has Brad made you a better woman?" and to query of Brad, "Do you still pinch yourself getting to wake up next to that every day?" Both Angie and Brad were obviously uncomfortable with the onslaught of intimate (and none-of-your-business) questions, but handled the hack reporter with graciousness, however little she deserved it. Now I just feel sorry for them. Seriously reporters, let it go! They're actors too; why don't we focus on that for awhile.


WIN:
Meryl Streep's acceptance speech for Best Actress in Doubt was by far the highlight of the broadcast.


Saturday, January 24, 2009

Things I Missed, Pt. 2

See, I told you it would be up soon! Trust, people, trust.

  • James Bond and the Quantum of Solace: So it's not even in theaters anymore (unless you live in Eugene and it's at the $1.50 theater!) but I just have a couple things to say. The first thing I said when the credits rolled was, 'Well, I kinda loved it." Having had more time to mull that over, I must confess that while I loved the experience of watching it for the first time, it's not a film I'm eager to revisit. I loved it for the emotional continuity (after 20 films where Bond beds girl after girl, it was nice to see him mourning the loss of Vesper for more than a day and being scolded for his disregard for the women he carelessly seduces), the credits were in the old-Bond style and that's always fun, and reminiscient of Bourne or not, I highly enjoyed the action sequences. But this isn't going to stand out as one of my favorite Bond films, whereas Casino Royale will. Quantum of Solace was fun, but as many critics pointed out, is relied too heavily on the quick-cutting action and the less than memorable plot to be really recognizable as a Bond film. I liked everything about this movie in theory - the second it was over I could name all the cliches I was pleased they avoided and the continuity they included was much appreciated. However the overall effect of the film hasn't stayed with me when it should and I was more impressed with these positives on a checklist than I was in practice. I have no problem with the fallible hero showing more emotion, but I think next time they're going to have to bunker down and embrace just a little bit more of the campy side of Bond. A funny name or two, a kick-ass Bond girl, and a more memorable villain's scheme. (Like the poker game of Casino Royale, which had a great villain, was definitely in the realm of reality, and yet was more thrilling to watch than the water-supply scheme of Solace.) Both Ebert's and The Cooler's reviews were throughly disappointed in the Bourne similarities (Ebert shouted, "James Bond is NOT an ACTION HERO!!!), while Stephanie Zarachek of Salon.com praised Daniel Craig's more emotionally resonant Bond. I've linked each of these reviews which are all great reads, regardless of whether the film is out of theaters now.
  • "Gossip Girl" Makes Entertainment Weekly's Best Performances of the Year Section: Every year EW comes out with an issue devoted to top 10 lists - movies, TV shows, episodes, singles, albums, pop culture moments, and performances. The performances list is not limited to film actors, but to online, television, movie, concert and music video offerings. This year (among Beyonce's tour, Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, and Tina Fey on SNL) they also singled out Chuck and Blair from "Gossip Girl." As much as I am a fan, I wouldn't presume to place the show in the top tier of television programs, even though it's addicting and soapy fun. But week in and week out, I love to watch the performances of Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick, so I think it's great that the performances of actors on a "teen drama" are being recognized for the heartfelt entertainment they are. This is what EW had to say:
"Who knew a non-romance between sworn non-daters would be the sexiest thing to nearly overheat our televisions this year? With their relentless flirty games, Gossip Girl's Blair (Meester, 22) and Chuck (Westwick, 21) twisted their high school soap into a delectable hour of romantic torture. Indeed, who could blame Blair — after months of not quite admitting that the two were in love — for taking matters into, um, her own hands? ''You can't put a finger on what makes two characters connect,'' says Westwick. ''It's just chemistry. We have it. We feel it.'' We do too."
  • Burn After Reading: I can't understand why so many critics gave this a poor review. Yes, it's a little darker than I was expecting (if I hadn't been warned beforehand, the deaths would have really shocked me), but it's one hell of a funny black comedy. It boasts a top-notch cast including Frances McDormand, John Malkovich (the way he speaks is just perfect), Tilda Swinton (she just screams "BITCH") and a sublime cameo by J.K. Simmons. McDormand's performance in particular is perfectly calibrated on the edge of the ludicrous. But the standouts were George Clooney and Brad Pitt. We know they can be funny, Clooney most memorably in other Coen Brothers fair like Intolerable Cruelty and O Brother Where Art Thou, and Pitt in 12 Monkeys and The Mexican, but they have never made me laugh like this before. Clooney boasts a cheesy grin and dandies about cruising the Internet for dates with a lascivious gleam in his eye. Later in the film his character becomes unbearably paranoid and the image of Clooney's eyes bugging out of his head in petrified fear is not something I'll soon forget. Pitt plays an airhead fitness instructor with a bodacious quaff of blond hair, a limited vocabulary, and an enthusiastic regard for doing pumped up dances to music. His character is the perfect blend of empty moron and lovable doofus. I was surprised by how much I came to like his character. And he has one moment in a car where the expression on his face carries the entire scene: He's trying very hard to be serious (obviously having just watched some gangster films for tips) but's he is so stoked to be in this situation he can't keep his face straight and his narrowed eyes keep slipping up. Add these performances to a story about a stolen CIA memoir that somehow includes plastic surgery, the Russian government, and an experimental sex toy and you have one pretty inventive ride.

  • Commercials I Hate/Love/Am Creeped Out By: I suppose they must be dealt with. The following are the most memorable outings I've seen lately.
HATE: Yes, because most women would try to pass of a Glade candle as a high falutin', spendy French piece of crap. I assure you, we're not all this ridiculous. Some of us are not ashamed of buying cheap things that smell good and admitting it.


LOVE:
If this were s
upposed to be serious, it would blow. But any commercial that goes to these lengths to mock speed commercials, and then calls it's creation "the rabbit-panther thingie" deserves some serious praise.


CREEPS ME OUT:
I just can't look at their hands. It makes me hate texting and all who text. SHUT UP!!!



  • The Visitor on DVD: Rent this movie, please. There's now much greater incentive with Richard Jenkins' brilliantly nuanced performance being nominated for an Academy Award, but the film as a whole is a delicate and empathetically told story about isolation and the fragile bonds we forge. It presents obviously political views about illegal immigration, but grounds them in an entirely human story - no one ever feels like they're preaching or acting from a script; their actions are entirely motivated by genuine emotions. Jenkins, who has long been a dependable "Hey, it's that Guy" character actor, anchors the film without seeming to do much. He's remote, but accessible; still and quiet but able to communicate huge changes in the character with subtle facial expressions. He is aided by a colorful and sturdy set of supporting actors with engaging personalities, the greatest of which is Hiam Abbass as a Syrian mother who forms a tentative and tender friendship with Jenkins emotionally distant professor. Please check it out.
  • I'm Ashamed That... : 1) I think Brody Jenner is hot. I'm sure he's a spoiled brat player, but I can't deny that his smile is adorable and his bod is tight, and I perk up when he meanders over to "The Hills" to give Lauren some tough love. I am however, happy to report that I don't watch "Bromance" no matter how attractive the lead douche is. (Not watching "The City" either! Yay!) 2) I am in love with this incredibly cheesy Nickelback song "Gotta Be Somebody." I know most of their songs sound alike, maybe this one too, but it's so fun to listen to on repeat. I even made a Chuck & Blair shipper vid to it - which turned out pretty damn good, considering my crappy technology. 3) Why do I still watch "The Hills"? To be fair, it might be over, so no temptation now, but it's usually pretty boring, Audrina is dead inside, and if I hate Spencer and Heidi as much as I claim, how can I justify watching their skanky asses every week? 4) I never watched "Pushing Daisies," by all accounts a lovely and whimsical show deserving of millions of viewers and starring celebrity crush Lee Pace. And now it's canceled. It will probably be one of those shows I fall in love with on DVD and bemoan never having watched when it was new and I could make a difference, just like "Veronica Mars" and "Freaks and Geeks". Damn me! 5) I still haven't jumped ship on "Grey's Anatomy." Izzie's sleeping with a ghost, George is hardly ever around, I don't care about any of these new people or Meredith and Derek's ridiculous relationship, and even the ever-awesome Bailey and Christina are starting to grate. About the only thing good is Mark and Callie's awesome friendship. Yet I continue to watch.
  • New Critic: I've discovered a new film critic I can't stop reading over at Salon.com. Stephanie Zacharek is someone I'd heard of before, but I had never actually taken the time to read her reviews. In Entertainment Weekly they have a graph showing a list of new releases and the grades 8 critics have given them. Zacharek rarely grades anything higher than a B, and frequently lower. I couldn't understand how she didn't like anything, so I never clicked over and read the reviews. That was stupid of me. After all the time I've spent reading Ebert's reviews, I should know by now that the grade or star rating given to a film has little to do with the what a critic really sees and thinks about a movie. And that's what Zacharek's reviews proved to me. (To be fair, the review that finally made me check her out was the entry on Twilight; while most critics gave is a modest dismissal, Zacherek gave it a B+ - huge for her. Had to see what that was about.) I can't say I agree with all her unfavorable reviews (she seems to have great disdain for all the films directed by Sam Mendes, she's sick of Judd Apatow - maybe she's got a point there, and she didn't like Titanic or L.A. Confidential) but the reasons for her disregard are usually reasonable. She's very articulate about the reasons for her discomfort and sites many principles of filmmaking and technical guffaws that undermine both the meaning ans story of a film. She also notices lots of small moments that influence her readings of the films, and those are what touch me the most. Agree or not, her reviews make me appreciate film more than I did before reading them. I also love that her reviews are never the same length. They're often 1 page (online) but when she finds a film that inspires her own memories (like Milk) or inspires her (like all of Sofia Coppola's films) she goes with it. There are riches to be found there and I have spent the better half of the last 2 weeks mining the site for old reviews.

Friday, January 23, 2009

This Week in Chuck


Let's talk this week's "Gossip Girl", shall we? This episode did several important things: 1) it made me remember how awesome Lily can be 2) it made me fall in love with
Nate Archibald and 3) it reminded me of the scary love I have for Blair Waldorf when she's especially crazy. Lily stepped up, was an actual friend and parent to Chuck (how awesome was his list of ways to discredit Uncle Jack? loved it!) and their relationship was pretty much the highlight of the episode.


As for Nate, while his gosh-darned cuteness has never been in question, I don't usually miss him when he's gone. But let me tell you, his attempt to hide that beautifully amused smile while Vanessa gawked at their opera companions just about did me in. Please show, do me a solid and let him interact with Blair, Serena and Chuck more - I miss it. Nate shouldn't be banished to Vanessa-land; he's done nothing to deserve that. Especially when Dan Humphrey is still in the picture.

Finally, while her bi-polar reactions to the college admissions process were insane, I love it when Blair loses it. The single best line of the episode was her delivery of "Witchhunts are my valium, Serena" in the deadest, creepiest voice I have ever heard. Elizabeth and I rewound that scene about 10 times.

Which reminds me of a 4th amazing quality to this episode - Eric. He's the MVP of the entire show. Not to mention a conscience and the only character who has unparalleled goodwill and heart. His one liner to his mother (caught making out in the kitchen with Rufus, post-coitally, ick) was a stunner, as was his entire, German-infused opera tutorial for Rufus. I'm so glad he's been around more this season.

Winner: Honestly, there wasn't much to choose from this week. While Chuck continues to dress in a manner befitting an earnest, equestrian enthusiast, he's not wearing anything crazy. The last outfit that really screamed "Chuck Bass" was the plaid jacket in episode 9. (We're now on episode 16.) I guess the sparkle tux kinda fits. But all I can say about this week's winner is that at least it's pink and the socks match.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sci-Fi Premiere Week!

If you haven't watched the season premieres of "Lost" or "BSG", beware! Spoilers abound!

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:

Where to begin?


Earth is a nuclear wasteland leaving everyone in a deep depression. Roslin loses all faith in herself and in her Pithian prophecies, going as far as actually burning her bible. That's heartbreaking to watch. And Adama loses a daughter, sees his lover giving up, and decides to make Saul Frakking Tight shoot him in the head by making slanderous and mean comments about Ellen. Nice, Bill, real nice. Watching Roslin and Adama be so weak is not fun. At least one of them always has to be strong.

Starbuck creeped out the uncreep-out-able Leoban by finding her destroyed Viper and her own dead body inside. "What am I?" she asks. Hell if I know. I feel for you, girl! And what is this "harbinger of death" thing all about. I won't pretend to understand all of the prophecy
and religious hoopla and destiny that this show spouts, but I am really confused as to what Kara can possibly be. She's not a Cylon, so how is she still alive? She's not a ghost. What the hell is going on?


After bucking up Lee and sharing one final kiss for old times sake, Lieutenant Anastasia Dualla smiles are herself in the mirror and shoots herself in the frakking head. Someone as strong as her committing suicide, completely giving up, is disturbing to say the least. Definintely one of the most shocking moments the show has ever had, and sure to leave it's mark on Adama, Lee and Felix, who was the last one to talk to the seemingly happy Dualla before she blew her brains out. I thought this meant she might be a Cylon (remember when Boomer shot herself in the face in Season 1) but alas, she's not coming back.


The 5th Cylon is none other that Ellen Tigh, which Saul figures out in a flashback to his time on Earth 2,000 years ago. Yep, that's right. Saul and Ellen Tigh, and the other final 4, all remember parts of the lives they led on a solely Cylon populated Earth 2,000 years ago. WTF? Cylon
s were the 13th tribe, not humans. That means that the humans on Caprica didn't really create the Cylons, at least not when they thought they did, because they existed before that. And from Tyrol's flashback, there were more than 12 models. Which makes me wonder - are the 12 models all that's left of the survivors from Earth's nuclear attack, or are only the Final Five from Earth? The humanoid models of Cylon - who created them? And where did Ellen download? How did the Final Four get reborn 2,000 years ago and end up on Earth? I am so confused, but hungry for the show to provide some answers, which I have no doubt they will.


LOST:

A very satisfying 2-hour premiere. I'm glad the show isn't just focusing on the Oceanic Six, but also simultaneously showing what's happening on the island. I was afr
aid we'd go through 4-6 episodes just showing Jack and the rest getting to the island, then do a full flashback episode showing what the island has been going through in the meantime. I like it better this way.

I don't know about Ben. He seems to have the best intentions for gathering the Oceanic Six and Locke's body together, but an interesting point of contention: Alpert told Locke that the only way to save the island was for them to come back, not that they could save their friends if they came back. So Ben's intention is to save the island right? Save it from what - what happens to it? I'm also confused as to why they have to come back to save the island when it seemed like Ben turning the wheel, not them leaving, is what led to this skipping through time hellhole?


I love seeing Hurley and Sayid together - as usual Hurley has a lot of mood-lifting lines and his flashback was hilarious and crazy. Although how are they gonna get him out of the murder rap now? (How cool was Sayid using the dishwasher as a weapon?!!?) Shouldn't it be evident that the deaths in the safe house were self-defense, not straight out murder? As for Kate, I was getting some seriously creepy undertones from Sun that make me think she has crossed over to the dark side and may not have forgiven Kate at all. I really hope Jin is still alive out there.


Also hoping that we see more of magical, able to change time Desmond in the future. The show is always better when he's around.


Some questions: Who is trying to kill the Oceanic Six? Is it Widmore trying to get to Ben? Does Sun know?

When Locke skips through time on the island, the Others don't. Why not? Are they too connected to the island? Is that why Alpert doesn't age? I don't get that.

Also, does Locke manage to get of the island pretty quickly, during one of the time skips to the present, or has everyone on the island been skipping through time for 3 years? Has it felt like 3 years to them?

I'm sure most of this will get explained, but for now I'm hooked.

Academy Award Nominations


In a year of many good films, but few spectacular ones, I don't think the Oscars could possibly have gotten it right; the nominations don't contradict that. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button continues to ride its win-less but
hypnotic wave all the way to 13 nominations. The nods for all things technical, it deserves; Best Picture, while not surprising, not so much.

What was surprising is The Reader claiming the 5th Best Pi
cture and Director slot. I haven't seen it, but no one saw that coming. It didn't get overwhelmingly positive reviews and most had written it off. However, it is a Holocaust movie (thanks Ricky Gervais) and director Stephen Daldry is a former two-time nominee (for Billy Elliot and The Hours). I disappointed that WALL-E didn't get a Best Picture nod, and surprised that The Dark Knight or Doubt didn't take the fifth slot. Even Revolutionary Road; they all seemed more likely choices than The Reader. Another big surprise was Kate Winslet; after winning two Golden Globes, the Academy deemed her role in The Reader to be leading rather than supporting, so she only got one nomination, and not for Revolutionary Road. I think this is probably fair, but I really wanted her to get the double nod, and I think she had a better chance of winning that way. I don't know if she can compete with Anne Hathaway or Meryl Streep in Best Actress.

There were a few pleasant surprises: Richard Jenkins stole the 5th actor spot from Clint Eastwood, with his beautifully subtle performance in The Visitor and Melissa Leo got the last Best Actress slot for her much-praised work in the indie Frozen River. The only downside is that her inclusion left Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) out in the cold. I would have liked to see both of them nominated and Angelina Jolie left out (although I haven't seen Changeling so I really shouldn't judge; just going off what I've read). Michael Shannon's (Revolutionary Road) inclusion in the Supporting Actor category was also a welcome addition given buzz about his performance and a lack of buzz about the film in general.

Overall, most of the nominations don't surprise me. But they don't quite thrill me either. Which may mean I'll actually get to watch the Oscars in relatively indifferent peace this year. The only two films that really knocked me on my ass were WALL-E and Milk, so I'll just cheer any awards that come their way, root for Kate Winslet, (and secretly root for Mickey Rourke). Full list of nominees here.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

New Year's Non-Resolution


I'm typically not one to make any resolutions because I am acutely unable to stick to them. I know this about myself and I respect that. I'm not going to resolve to lose weight or to read more books because that is the one way to be sure I won't. But that doesn't mean I don't have goals or that I don't intend to try and better myself. So although I wouldn't call it a New Year's Resolution, my goal is to stop posting only 5 blogs a month. I used to have a pretty good average going, 12-20 regularly, and I have been heartily ashamed of myself for slacking so monumentally (look for reasons for that in the upcoming post "I Am a Hack"). So, in the coming months, here are some features you can expect to see (I won't put down a timetable as I would be sure to break it):

  • REVIEWS: And I mean a lot of them! I'm sure you've forgotten I ever did this, and though the stress of it is partly why I haven't written one in forever, I can't let that stop me. I'll never get better it I don't keep writing, so write I must. I already have outlines for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt and Twlight, and there are plans to see and review Revolutionary Road, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and The Wrestler in coming weeks. That's a lot of reviewing with me being crusty and all, so I may only end up writing reviews on 3/4 of these films. However, there will be reviews!
  • TWILIGHT FEVER: I finally relented, saw the movie (which I enojoyed) and read the books (which, as I suspected I might, I loved more that I should have). I don't know why I'm surprised: I love "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (human/vampire hookups are so tortured!) and my favorite movie in the 4th grade was the Zefferelli version of Romeo and Juliet. Obviously this franchise would appeal to my melodramatic inner child. I won't be joining a Twi-hards cult and Robert Pattinson is not my new celebrity crush, but there will probably be a post or two about why I loved the books so much when they are no where near the quality of my beloved Harry Potter series.
  • THINGS I MISSED, PT. 2: This one is almost done and will probably be the first or second thing posted. I know, I've said it before, but I swear, it really is almost done!
  • 20 FAVORITE ACTORS: Because that favorite actresses list got me thinking and I can't resist a list...
  • I AM A HACK: A full post in which I explain all of my petty insecurities. Can you wait?
  • OSCAR MONTH: I am finally getting in the swing of Awards Season, though with considerably less zeal than usual. But I'm not going to let that stop me. I had a lot of fun writing some Oscar posts and doing Oscar Top 10-lists last year, so I'm going to try and emulate some of that fun again this year. Last year I wrote about the rules for song/score nominations; this year I may try and dig into the criteria for foreign film or documentary entries (every year it seems the Academy misses something that most critics are flabbergasted to explain, and I'd like to understand why). As for the lists, I did my favorite topics last year, but I may try one on the worst winners or the most hideous fashion. I guess we'll see.
  • 100 FAVORITE FILMS: I did this last year too, so it's hardly necessary for another compilation, but I kind of like the idea of adding new entries every year and tracking my film-loving trajectory. Just indulge me.

In the meantime, here are some videos I love:

  • Found this on another blog. It's Kate Winslet's guest appearence as herself on the British sitcom "Extras" in 2005. Remember at the Golden Globes when Ricky Gervais teased her about doing a Holocaust movie? Here's why. Very funny.


  • I know I haven't gotten to BSG yet, and this video will do little to appease Damon, but it's just a little Apollo/Starbuck shipper vid to Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know." Well-edited, and maybe you'll like it, Sarah!


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

This Week in Chuck


Winner #1: Still in the midst of a suicidal breakdown, Chuck wasn't looking too hot this episode. There was still the untidy hair (and I was getting a huge Joker-vibe from his unsteady prancing on the ledge) but no outfit really screamed "I'm Chuck Bass." So we're going with this rather modest suit because I love the red socks.




Winner #2:
The British Flag cuff links Chuck sported last night. Another perfectly chosen detail, it's also a nice inside joke as actor Ed Westwick is actually a Brit. And I can't fail to mention the best line of dialogue from last night: mimicking his father's disappointment in him, Chuck spouts of list of choice complaints ending with, "why do you wear so much purple?" Love it!

Kate Finally Wins!!!


Should have posted this yesterday. True, she actually did win the Broadcast Critic's Award as Best Supporting Actress for The Reader this past Thursday, but winning two Golden Globes in a night like this was just amazing. And I won't deny being awfully moved by her acceptance speeches (especially the shoutout to Leo - those two are just adorable!) I'm just so happy that she finally got a moment in the sun! I'm no longer as concerned with whether she wins an Oscar (it will happen, if not this year, then eventually) because at least she's won something now. I can sleep.




Monday, January 5, 2009

Things I Missed Pt. 1


I'm am going to do a mini wrap-up of all the things I meant to write about over the last couple months, but never got around to. I hate having something to say but not getting the chance to say it just because I didn't get to it in a timely manner, so I apologize for my extreme delinquency on most of these topics. Part 2, containing most of the stuff I missed in December, will be forthcoming.


*The Happening: After the endless critics and bloggers denouncing this as the dud of the year I was expecting a turd of massive proportions. Unexpectedly, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. This doesn't mean the film doesn't have some pretty spectacular flaws. Case in point: the acting. Now I think Zooey Deschanel, Mark Wahlberg and John Leguizamo are quite frequently terrific actors - so why did they stink so magnificently in this movie? They were awkward, stilted, halted, obtuse, unintentionally creepy, and the camera tended to linger on bizarre facial expressions meant to convey....fear? unease? conflicted emotions? I must confess, I'm at a bit of a loss. Obviously the subtext ultimately intended to convey the distance in the marriage of Wahlberg and Deschanel's characters, but the way the relationship was written, filmed and acted kept me expecting a revelation that Deschanel had had an affair with Leguizamo, or that she and Wahlberg had tried out a "furry" sexcapade that left them mortified beyond the telling of it. It was very disconcerting. Which is really too bad considering that subtext between characters has always been one of my favorite aspects of Shyamalan films (like in The Sixth Sense, Signs and The Village).


That said, the random and deliberate suicides really did freak me out. Perhaps Shyamalan could have been a little less graphic at times, and the film was peppered with way too many examples (seriously, we had to sit and watch in horror as yet another person committed atrocious suicide past the one-hour mark), but I won't deny that watching person after person just up and kill themselves wouldn't freak me out. My favorite section of the film was the car ride containing Leguizamo and assorted strangers trying to do math problems to calm themselves down while waiting in dread for the tainted air sneaking in through the ripped roof to infect them. Yikes! And then, of course, the car stops, restarts, and drives directly into a tree, killing all the passengers except for Leguizamo, who picks up a piece of glass and promptly slashes his wrists. I had a nightmare about that scene for sure. Special congratulations must also be given to the "Yeah, well I flirted with the girl at the drugstore when I didn't even HAVE a cold!" scene. It's odd, again strangely acted, but still managed to crack me up. Well played...?


  • Tinkerbell's Movie: Call me crazy, but Tinkerbell just shouldn't sound like a regular person. I haven't actually seen this movie yet (I wouldn't lower myself, queen of the snobs and abstainee of all direct-to-video Disney sequels that I am), but the previews they played for all of October just drove me batty. For starters, the entire thing looked like those horrible "Barbie" movies I hate to hear about; all animatronic, stiff animation and horrible storylines. But the topper was her voice. Tinkerbell is a fairy - she shouldn't sound like a girl at the mall. Her voice should be magical and reeeeeeeeally high pitched and have a little bell sounding in the background. SHE'S A FAIRY!!! And she's got a nasty temper and a lot of spunk as well - did the makers of this movie never see Peter Pan???
  • Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: When I first saw this movie (approximately 2 months ago) I was torn. In the pro column we have: excellent music soundtrack, stars Michael Cera and Kat Dennings - cute, funny, real, awkward - love them, and a romance that happens in one night, reminding me of Before Sunrise, my favorite romance ever. However, in the negative column: the tone of the film can't seem to choose between teen fluff comedy and potentially compelling peek into the life of real teens today. I read the book (yes, it's a teen novel, but I read it anyways!) and that really helped clear up the problems I had with the movie. While the leads are compelling, almost every other character is a light caricature of some sort, whereas in the book all the characters are treated as fully realized characters. For example, both Tris and Tal, Nick and Norahs' respective exes, are written in shallow, one-dimensional portrayals that dumb down the entire film, not to mention make Nick and Norah look stupid every time they go back to them, and they should have more backbone than that. But the pace of the movie works, Nick's gay band and Norah's drunk friend are at least likable and amusing, and the leads do have charming chemistry. I've seen the film more than once since (can you blame me when the $1.50 theater's playing it?) and it's really grown on me. I just wish the screenwriter had trusted the source material and then we might have a teen romance really worth watching. (It might even be rated R - in the book these characters really cuss it up, but of course, the movie about teens has to be rated PG-13 for most teens to actually see it.) The reviews were frequently at odds: Ebert only gave it 2 stars, while Entertainment Weekly gave it an A-, but both reviews have valid points. Read them here: Ebert, Entertainment Weekly.
  • R-Rated Comedies: Maybe I'm immature but my new genre of choice is the rated R comedy set starring all the former stars of "Freaks and Geeks" and Paul Rudd. I know the Judd Apatow and Kevin Smith ouevre is regularly accused of pandering to the gross-out humor, man-child set, and rightly so I guess, but that doesn't stop these movies from consistently cracking me up. Maybe it's my unrequited crush on Seth Rogen (no judgment people!). All I know is my favorite comedies of the past few years have been Superbad, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and The 40 Year-Old Virgin. (And Wedding Crashers - not Apatow, but I don't think Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are out of the man-child stage either.) This November I fell in love with the acerbically bitter Paul Rudd in Role Models (also featuring winning performances from Seann William Scott (Stifler!), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin!) and scene-stealer Bobb'e J. Thompson as a foul-mouthed kid.) It's funny, unique (how many movies have plots that revolve around Live Action Role Playing), and actually kind of heartwarming in the end. Rudd doesn't get nearly enough credit for his acting chops. Plus it utilizes KISS in a kick ass and creative way (not to mention hilarious). I also loved Zach and Miri Make a Porno. It's got ten times the cussing and I wasn't particularly into the extended porn shoot sequences, but I love Seth Rogen, the sex scene between him and Elizabeth Banks is actually really intimate and sweet, and I don't know anyone who can write such crassly poetic dialogue as Kevin Smith. It's often innapropriate, but there's an edge of really intelligent argument always present. Combine that with the delivery of Seth Rogen, and I was falling out of my chair laughing. (His tirade on the double standard that censures men for using sex toys while women are free to openly embrace vibrators was a standout for me.) Don't miss the cameo by Justin Long (of the Mac vs. PC commercials) as a porn star - his voice alone steals the scene.

*Entertainment Weekly's List of the 50 Sexiest Movies:

There's a difference between a hot sex scene and a sexy movie. Lists that merely point to the hottest nude and sex scenes miss the point of what makes a movie sexy and whether a sex scene is relevant to the film. Watching movies only for sex scenes between hot actors is only a step or two higher than watching soft-core porn - simulated sex only! I came across an excellent list compiled by IFC of the 50 Greatest and 50 Worst Sex Scenes. (Beware, some of the pics accompanying this list do show some nudity.) The criteria for the list is not what looks the hottest, but what helps the movie tell the story. I also read a great blog by the always great and
insightful Jason Bellamy about the place of sex in the movies, entitled "Sex and the Cinema: When We Have to Watch." (This followed a great review of the film Lust, Caution, a movie teeming with sex scenes that, he argues, tell the story and are essential to the film, despite the rampant nudity and more than usually graphic sex scenes. Both are great reads.)

This brings me to Entertainment Weekly's November list of the 50 Sexiest Movies. I won't pretend that I can speak as intelligently as any of the articles I have previously mentioned (which is why I linked them first, so you can read about this issue from writers who know their stuff), but I'm aware enough to know that a film that turns you on isn't always a film that uses sex for story, rathe
r than exploitation and titillation. The EW list contains some hits and misses on this score. For example, would How Stella Got Her Groove Back ( at #48) be worth mentioning without the hotness that was newcomer Taye Diggs? I don't think watching his sculpted backside is really necessary, although you could argue that Stella's decisions in the film would be ridiculous if we the audience weren't also suffering intense lust brought on the by handsome boy. What about Basic Instinct (at 21)? The sex scenes do play largely for suspense as we wait for Sharon Stone to whip out the ice pick and stab Michael Douglas mid-coitus, but seen today, they seem rather ridiculous. (As does the iconic 9 1/2 Weeks (at #24).)

I was pleased to see some of my favorites such as The Fabulous Baker Boys (at #12), Love & Basketball (at #28), Secretary (at #38), and Once (at #11), films that have a wide range of different sexuality on display. And I can't argue with the top 5, with Out of Sight and it's memorable, intercut love scene landing at #1. (I like that His Girl Friday, my blog's namesake, placed #2 showing that sexy can be entirely about wit, and Bull Durham at #5, one of the sexiest films around.) Check out the entire list here. I'd love to hear if there are any films you think should have made the cut that didn't - the list is rather prosaic in a lot of ways, despite the obvious inclusion of certain independent films to make the it more well-rounded.