And The Oscar Goes to...

NANCY K. TAKES IT ALL

MOVIE MAVEN KICKS BUTT
WITH A TOTAL OF
17 CORRECT OSCAR PICKS

As for the rest of us? No golden statue. Not even a tinfoil one. But all 15 participants did an admirable job of consulting their gut, or Magic 8-Ball, or the oracle of their choice. And here, without further adieu (or interpretive dance), are the final results of The Oscar Pool:

NancyK - 17
TheBoy - 15
Mensch71 - 14
AnneClausen - 14
GramTuna - 13
GreenTuna - 12
TVJ - 12
Cops - 11
Scout - 10
BSTuna - 10
Laura - 10
Odie - 9
KatJam - 8
Liberal Lucy - 6
TinyTuna - 5

Interestingly, voting in many categories were all over the map. Best Picture nominations were nearly equally divided (Babel-4 / Departed-4 / Iwo Jima-3 / Sunshine-3 / Queen-1). Special Good Guts & Guessing awards must be awarded to GramTuna for nabbing the sole pick for Best Animated Short (Danish Poet), and TheBoy and TinyTuna for their incroyable guess for Best Foreign Film Pick (Lives of Others).

Overall I thought the show was, sadly, dull. And long. Way, WAY too long. And the thing is, I don't really mind the acceptance speeches. If they won, let them say thank you, dammit (Well, not as in "thank you DAMMIT", but as in, dammit, let them say "Thank you."). But as interesting as it was, why did I need to see back lit screen dancers forming a car? Or Ellen vacuuming the theater? Not so funny. I did, however, think that Will Farrel's musical number about the comedian being the loneliest, alcoholic actor at the Oscars was mildly amusing.

But there you have it. iTunes has now put up all the shorts (animated and live action) on their site. Thanks, Steve Jobs. I could have used these a couple of weeks ago. Maybe someday the other films which have never quite made it to the mitten will show up (or come back), either on the big screen or at Ye Olde Video Shoppe. Until then, it's back to ignoring the silver screen, because when your choices are Jim Carrey in The Number 23? (Greater than the terror that Jim Carrey's character...feels in the course of The Number 23 may have been that which Carrey and his castmates felt midway through production as the glowering awfulness of this project began to dawn on them.)

It's not going to be happening.

Congrats again to NancyK. As for the rest of us, well, you're already two full months behind watching next year's contenders. See you at the movies!

And The Oscar Goes to...

NANCY K. TAKES IT ALL

MOVIE MAVEN KICKS BUTT
WITH A TOTAL OF
17 CORRECT OSCAR PICKS

As for the rest of us? No golden statue. Not even a tinfoil one. But all 15 participants did an admirable job of consulting their gut, or Magic 8-Ball, or the oracle of their choice. And here, without further adieu (or interpretive dance), are the final results of The Oscar Pool:

NancyK - 17
TheBoy - 15
Mensch71 - 14
AnneClausen - 14
GramTuna - 13
GreenTuna - 12
TVJ - 12
Cops - 11
Scout - 10
BSTuna - 10
Laura - 10
Odie - 9
KatJam - 8
Liberal Lucy - 6
TinyTuna - 5

Interestingly, voting in many categories were all over the map. Best Picture nominations were nearly equally divided (Babel-4 / Departed-4 / Iwo Jima-3 / Sunshine-3 / Queen-1). Special Good Guts & Guessing awards must be awarded to GramTuna for nabbing the sole pick for Best Animated Short (Danish Poet), and TheBoy and TinyTuna for their incroyable guess for Best Foreign Film Pick (Lives of Others).

Overall I thought the show was, sadly, dull. And long. Way, WAY too long. And the thing is, I don't really mind the acceptance speeches. If they won, let them say thank you, dammit (Well, not as in "thank you DAMMIT", but as in, dammit, let them say "Thank you."). But as interesting as it was, why did I need to see back lit screen dancers forming a car? Or Ellen vacuuming the theater? Not so funny. I did, however, think that Will Farrel's musical number about the comedian being the loneliest, alcoholic actor at the Oscars was mildly amusing.

But there you have it. iTunes has now put up all the shorts (animated and live action) on their site. Thanks, Steve Jobs. I could have used these a couple of weeks ago. Maybe someday the other films which have never quite made it to the mitten will show up (or come back), either on the big screen or at Ye Olde Video Shoppe. Until then, it's back to ignoring the silver screen, because when your choices are Jim Carrey in The Number 23? (Greater than the terror that Jim Carrey's character...feels in the course of The Number 23 may have been that which Carrey and his castmates felt midway through production as the glowering awfulness of this project began to dawn on them.)

It's not going to be happening.

Congrats again to NancyK. As for the rest of us, well, you're already two full months behind watching next year's contenders. See you at the movies!

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... And You Think:

1. Soldier :: On

2. Lipton :: Tea

3. Reason :: To Be

4. Terms :: Of Endearment

5. Positive :: Affirmative

6. Example :: For Instance

7. Legacy :: Heritage

8. Solo :: Party of One

9. Instrument :: Wind, Brass or Percussion?

10. Later :: Seeya!


Not much time to comment. I'm not a Soldier, I don't drink tea, but I hope to have a positive reason to be. For example, maybe my legacy is to play solos on wind, brass and percussion instruments, though hopefully not at the same time.

Time for church. Seeya!

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... And You Think:

1. Soldier :: On

2. Lipton :: Tea

3. Reason :: To Be

4. Terms :: Of Endearment

5. Positive :: Affirmative

6. Example :: For Instance

7. Legacy :: Heritage

8. Solo :: Party of One

9. Instrument :: Wind, Brass or Percussion?

10. Later :: Seeya!


Not much time to comment. I'm not a Soldier, I don't drink tea, but I hope to have a positive reason to be. For example, maybe my legacy is to play solos on wind, brass and percussion instruments, though hopefully not at the same time.

Time for church. Seeya!

Oscar Update - Guts and Guesses Edition

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 28
Oscar Countdown: Today, Baby!

ALL IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL IS HERE

If you haven't entered the Oscar pool, do it, do it, do IT! And take it from me, it doesn't help one tiny bit if you've seen the films or not. The Oscars aren't about watching movies -- they're about red carpets, rented diamonds and rewarding whomever is the cool kid on the block (Or, the almost dead kid who never won an award before). So if your excuse is but I don't know nothin' about pickin' no movies, Miss Scarlett, well, tough. Pick em' anyway. NOW NOW NOW!

But first (/Chenbot)...

It's Oscar day. After three weeks of painful cinematic cramming, I'm happy to say that at I passed the halfway point of nominated films. I have a couple more options I could try to see, but I know for a fact, that isn't going to happen before show time tonight, so here is one final wrap-up of the good, the bad and the ugly -- with a side of Hummus.


Venus
Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter O'Toole). I have to say Peter O'Toole was fabulous in this film. The subject matter wasn't groundbreaking (Old man takes young, rambunctious girl under his wing and they form an unlikely relationship) but O'Toole did what he did so very well, the entire movie was simply enchanting. He's got tough competition from Forest Whitacker in the Last King of Scotland, but O'Toole also has that "almost dead kid who never won an award before" thing going on, so there could be an upset.


Marie Antoinette
Nominated for Costume Design. First the good: The costumes were pretty. Now the bad: How long do you have? This should win an award for hey idiots, the subject matter was handed to you on a gilded plate and how could you make a movie about important people living during a critical time in history AND STILL HAVE NO SCRIPT? Honestly, this would not have been the film by which to learn history, because the sum of the education would have been when Marie Antoinette woke up every morning and ate, they always played Vivaldi. But the rest of the time it was all indie rock-and-roll, baby. AND there was no head chopping. GreenTuna rating: Let them eat Mince Pie. Bleah.


West Bank Story
Nominated for Live Action Short Film. This *snap* Was *snap* Hy *snap* sterical *snap*!! A short film about two competing Hummus huts along the West Bank, the Israelis and the Palestinians were the modern day Sharks and Jets complete with choreography and a love duet sung on an outdoor stairwell. I don't care if it wins or not, but I sure hope tonight's swag-bags include a Hummus Hut hat. Classic.


Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Nominated for Art Direction, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. Admitting up from that I never saw Pirates the First One, I'm trying to think of what to say that doesn't make me sound like a cranky old person who doesn't like any of these durn newfangled movies. So let's see: Johnny Depp? He seemed to have fun and didn't creep me out like he did in the previews of Willy Wonka. I think I'd go for visual effects, because well, they were pretty effective, and better than an upside-down boat or a flying guy (that I never saw). As for the rest, what can I say? It was silly, It was every piratey stereotype imaginable crammed into one movie (ARRGH), and I sure hope the orchestra enjoyed playing in 6/8 for two hours -- because yeah, it's the nautical thing to do.

Oscar Update - Guts and Guesses Edition

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 28
Oscar Countdown: Today, Baby!

ALL IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL IS HERE

If you haven't entered the Oscar pool, do it, do it, do IT! And take it from me, it doesn't help one tiny bit if you've seen the films or not. The Oscars aren't about watching movies -- they're about red carpets, rented diamonds and rewarding whomever is the cool kid on the block (Or, the almost dead kid who never won an award before). So if your excuse is but I don't know nothin' about pickin' no movies, Miss Scarlett, well, tough. Pick em' anyway. NOW NOW NOW!

But first (/Chenbot)...

It's Oscar day. After three weeks of painful cinematic cramming, I'm happy to say that at I passed the halfway point of nominated films. I have a couple more options I could try to see, but I know for a fact, that isn't going to happen before show time tonight, so here is one final wrap-up of the good, the bad and the ugly -- with a side of Hummus.


Venus
Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter O'Toole). I have to say Peter O'Toole was fabulous in this film. The subject matter wasn't groundbreaking (Old man takes young, rambunctious girl under his wing and they form an unlikely relationship) but O'Toole did what he did so very well, the entire movie was simply enchanting. He's got tough competition from Forest Whitacker in the Last King of Scotland, but O'Toole also has that "almost dead kid who never won an award before" thing going on, so there could be an upset.


Marie Antoinette
Nominated for Costume Design. First the good: The costumes were pretty. Now the bad: How long do you have? This should win an award for hey idiots, the subject matter was handed to you on a gilded plate and how could you make a movie about important people living during a critical time in history AND STILL HAVE NO SCRIPT? Honestly, this would not have been the film by which to learn history, because the sum of the education would have been when Marie Antoinette woke up every morning and ate, they always played Vivaldi. But the rest of the time it was all indie rock-and-roll, baby. AND there was no head chopping. GreenTuna rating: Let them eat Mince Pie. Bleah.


West Bank Story
Nominated for Live Action Short Film. This *snap* Was *snap* Hy *snap* sterical *snap*!! A short film about two competing Hummus huts along the West Bank, the Israelis and the Palestinians were the modern day Sharks and Jets complete with choreography and a love duet sung on an outdoor stairwell. I don't care if it wins or not, but I sure hope tonight's swag-bags include a Hummus Hut hat. Classic.


Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Nominated for Art Direction, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. Admitting up from that I never saw Pirates the First One, I'm trying to think of what to say that doesn't make me sound like a cranky old person who doesn't like any of these durn newfangled movies. So let's see: Johnny Depp? He seemed to have fun and didn't creep me out like he did in the previews of Willy Wonka. I think I'd go for visual effects, because well, they were pretty effective, and better than an upside-down boat or a flying guy (that I never saw). As for the rest, what can I say? It was silly, It was every piratey stereotype imaginable crammed into one movie (ARRGH), and I sure hope the orchestra enjoyed playing in 6/8 for two hours -- because yeah, it's the nautical thing to do.

Friday's Feast

It's a late morning, suffering through the Pirates of the Caribbean version of Friday's Feast.
Arrrrrgh!

Appetizer: Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?
One over my left eye, one under my left eye, and one on my gut.
Batman, Brother, Baby.
In that order.
Arrrrgh!

Soup: What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?
Last night I found all five pages of a song that were in one plastic box amongst many, many (crazy!), in the basement (dark and scary!), buried under piles and piles of other pieces of music. This is the equivalent of winning the lottery and finding matching socks in my book. Arrrrgh!

Salad: Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.
Bill O'Reilly. Regis Philbin. Howie Mandel. Rachel Ray. Everybody on the Disney Channel. Oh wait...you only wanted ONE? ARRRGH!

Main Course: What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?
"Fashadie" as in:

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Fashadie before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

I finally had to ask what it meant. (Oh.... "If - I - should - die!")
Niiiice. Oh. I mean, ARRRRRGH!


Dessert: Fill in the blank:
I have always thought _______ was _________.

I have always thought a pirates favorite sock was the ARRRRRRRGHyle.
Ba-dump-bump.

Friday's Feast

It's a late morning, suffering through the Pirates of the Caribbean version of Friday's Feast.
Arrrrrgh!

Appetizer: Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?
One over my left eye, one under my left eye, and one on my gut.
Batman, Brother, Baby.
In that order.
Arrrrgh!

Soup: What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?
Last night I found all five pages of a song that were in one plastic box amongst many, many (crazy!), in the basement (dark and scary!), buried under piles and piles of other pieces of music. This is the equivalent of winning the lottery and finding matching socks in my book. Arrrrgh!

Salad: Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.
Bill O'Reilly. Regis Philbin. Howie Mandel. Rachel Ray. Everybody on the Disney Channel. Oh wait...you only wanted ONE? ARRRGH!

Main Course: What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?
"Fashadie" as in:

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Fashadie before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

I finally had to ask what it meant. (Oh.... "If - I - should - die!")
Niiiice. Oh. I mean, ARRRRRGH!


Dessert: Fill in the blank:
I have always thought _______ was _________.

I have always thought a pirates favorite sock was the ARRRRRRRGHyle.
Ba-dump-bump.

Open Letters

Several open letters to people, places or things that will never read them:


An Open Letter to the NBC series Heroes
Dear Heroes,
I love your show and make sure I am sitting in front of my television every Monday night to find out what's happening NEXT! And if I miss the tiniest bit, you, in your infinite wisdom, have provided the whole, entire and complete episode online that I can watch for free. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

I love all the different Heroes and their special powers, but I have to admit I uttered an involuntary "That is SWEET!" out loud this past week when you introduced "Wireless" girl. It goes to show that I am truly a product of my environment when I don't care that much about having the powers of invisibility, or flight, or time travel, or telekinesis, or mind reading, or saving cheerleaders to save the world, and all I really want is free high-speed internet I can access in my head.

Sincerely,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to the CDC
Dear CDC,
After I cleaned out my refrigerator, I'm pretty sure there were several strains (and cures) for all sorts of infectious diseases in my sink. I was going to invite you over for a party to have at it, but I just couldn't take it any longer and had to do the dishes. Maybe next time.

Sincerely,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to my tribute to Jenga I have made in my Dish Drainer
Dear Currently Clean but Precariously Placed Tottering Tower Tupperware,
Please, please, please for the love of God, don't fall. And if you fall, fall away from the litter box. No. Strike that. Just don't fall.

Thanks,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to the Cats Racing Through the House as if Possessed
Stop it now, or else.

GreenTuna




An Open Letter to the Motion Picture Academy of America
Dear MPAA,

Are there any Oscar nominated films worth watching? Because honestly, in the past two weeks I've seen so much junk I'm starting to feel like a regular on Sanford and Son.

Wishing the only only Duds in life were of the Milk variety,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to my cat, Gabby
I was serious back there. Get off my dresser and Stop it NOW.

Wondering how one successfully threatens a cat,
GreenTuna

Open Letters

Several open letters to people, places or things that will never read them:


An Open Letter to the NBC series Heroes
Dear Heroes,
I love your show and make sure I am sitting in front of my television every Monday night to find out what's happening NEXT! And if I miss the tiniest bit, you, in your infinite wisdom, have provided the whole, entire and complete episode online that I can watch for free. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

I love all the different Heroes and their special powers, but I have to admit I uttered an involuntary "That is SWEET!" out loud this past week when you introduced "Wireless" girl. It goes to show that I am truly a product of my environment when I don't care that much about having the powers of invisibility, or flight, or time travel, or telekinesis, or mind reading, or saving cheerleaders to save the world, and all I really want is free high-speed internet I can access in my head.

Sincerely,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to the CDC
Dear CDC,
After I cleaned out my refrigerator, I'm pretty sure there were several strains (and cures) for all sorts of infectious diseases in my sink. I was going to invite you over for a party to have at it, but I just couldn't take it any longer and had to do the dishes. Maybe next time.

Sincerely,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to my tribute to Jenga I have made in my Dish Drainer
Dear Currently Clean but Precariously Placed Tottering Tower Tupperware,
Please, please, please for the love of God, don't fall. And if you fall, fall away from the litter box. No. Strike that. Just don't fall.

Thanks,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to the Cats Racing Through the House as if Possessed
Stop it now, or else.

GreenTuna




An Open Letter to the Motion Picture Academy of America
Dear MPAA,

Are there any Oscar nominated films worth watching? Because honestly, in the past two weeks I've seen so much junk I'm starting to feel like a regular on Sanford and Son.

Wishing the only only Duds in life were of the Milk variety,
GreenTuna




An Open Letter to my cat, Gabby
I was serious back there. Get off my dresser and Stop it NOW.

Wondering how one successfully threatens a cat,
GreenTuna

In Praise of Structure

Today TinyTuna is enjoying her fifth day of President's Day. I'm thinking it's not so much President's Day as Groundhog's Day, as the mobius strip known as days off from school hasn't stopped since last Thursday. Add onto that four days at camp, and she's going to have to wear a nametag tomorrow and reintroduce herself to all her teachers.

It has been an unbelievably difficult re-entry for TinyTuna once she got back from camp. I expected tired, but I didn't expect the degree of uncontrolled Satanic behavior that erupted. The weekend was an absolute struggle complete with crying jags, yelling and privileges flying out the window faster than you could say BUT MOM!!!

When TinyTuna finally regained her composure yesterday, I explained to her that were I a parent that didn't care how their child spoke to them, we wouldn't have had any of these problems. Too bad for her that I do care ... A LOT. Arguments over every direction that comes out of my mouth? Not tolerated. Crossed arms, eyeballs rolling across the floor, hips jacked to the side in righteous indignation? Not tolerated. Yelling at the maternal unit? Not tolerated.

The result of the weekend included the computer being taken away, the gameboy being taken away and the television being taken away. And yes world, she missed the first episode of Amazing Race, which sent her into a fireball of rage (until she fell asleep on her bed, fully clothed, ten minutes later).

I don't know for certain what caused Beelzebub to boil over, but I'm thinking 7th Grade Camp had a lot to do with it. It's not like she hasn't been gone for days at a time before -- she did two weeks of music camp last summer, plus a week of camp with her church youth group -- and both times she returned just fine. I think the difference here is that 7th Grade Camp was nothing short of Camp Hormone and Social activities from dawn until dusk. Throw 150 twelve-year olds with no other goals than eating, sleeping, waiting for the dance on Wednesday and talking about each other from dawn until dusk, and (in TinyTuna's case) you've got a recipe for disaster. This child functions the best under a structured setting, working towards a concrete goal that is something other than telling your best friend to go tell their other friend that a certain person you know might like the friend's friend.

Or something.

For the sake of TinyTuna's social life and standing amongst her peers, I'm glad she went to camp. For GreenTuna's sanity and order in the household, I'm grateful we all survived the weekend exorcism, and I hope not to have to repeat it for a long, long time.

In Praise of Structure

Today TinyTuna is enjoying her fifth day of President's Day. I'm thinking it's not so much President's Day as Groundhog's Day, as the mobius strip known as days off from school hasn't stopped since last Thursday. Add onto that four days at camp, and she's going to have to wear a nametag tomorrow and reintroduce herself to all her teachers.

It has been an unbelievably difficult re-entry for TinyTuna once she got back from camp. I expected tired, but I didn't expect the degree of uncontrolled Satanic behavior that erupted. The weekend was an absolute struggle complete with crying jags, yelling and privileges flying out the window faster than you could say BUT MOM!!!

When TinyTuna finally regained her composure yesterday, I explained to her that were I a parent that didn't care how their child spoke to them, we wouldn't have had any of these problems. Too bad for her that I do care ... A LOT. Arguments over every direction that comes out of my mouth? Not tolerated. Crossed arms, eyeballs rolling across the floor, hips jacked to the side in righteous indignation? Not tolerated. Yelling at the maternal unit? Not tolerated.

The result of the weekend included the computer being taken away, the gameboy being taken away and the television being taken away. And yes world, she missed the first episode of Amazing Race, which sent her into a fireball of rage (until she fell asleep on her bed, fully clothed, ten minutes later).

I don't know for certain what caused Beelzebub to boil over, but I'm thinking 7th Grade Camp had a lot to do with it. It's not like she hasn't been gone for days at a time before -- she did two weeks of music camp last summer, plus a week of camp with her church youth group -- and both times she returned just fine. I think the difference here is that 7th Grade Camp was nothing short of Camp Hormone and Social activities from dawn until dusk. Throw 150 twelve-year olds with no other goals than eating, sleeping, waiting for the dance on Wednesday and talking about each other from dawn until dusk, and (in TinyTuna's case) you've got a recipe for disaster. This child functions the best under a structured setting, working towards a concrete goal that is something other than telling your best friend to go tell their other friend that a certain person you know might like the friend's friend.

Or something.

For the sake of TinyTuna's social life and standing amongst her peers, I'm glad she went to camp. For GreenTuna's sanity and order in the household, I'm grateful we all survived the weekend exorcism, and I hope not to have to repeat it for a long, long time.

Oscar Update Take Four

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 24
Oscar Countdown: 6 days!

ALL IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL IS HERE

Sadly, it was a slower week in movie-viewing land, but when you deal with jobs (plural) and kid (singular but seems like plural) and house (one house, but many messes) and furry critters (twelve feet and unending hair), it gets hard to sneak in much in the way of leisure time. However, I did add a few more films to the "seen" pile.

Babel
Two nominations for best supporting actress (Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi), Directing, Film Editing, Original musical score, Original screenplay and the big Kahuna -- Best picture. This was a very interesting film, and one that I wasn't planning on liking very much. Much like last year's film Crash, there is a degree of too-convenient interconnected storylines (this time on a global scale) that you simply have to accept. Once past that, however, it's an interesting examination of life across a wide spectrum of experiences and cultures. It's also probably the hardest film to explain, ever.

The Good German
Nominated for best Original musical score. In my basement I have a life-sized cardboard standee of that hairy hearthrob Fabio. Being cardboard, he always looks the same, and, if he were able to talk, I can imagine he would always sound the same, telling me in dulcet tones, "I can't believe it's not buttah!" You may be wondering what this nugget of information might have to do with the film "The Good German." Well, it stars George Clooney, or at least it said it did. I actually think it starred a cardboard standee of George Clooney that someone just moved from scene to scene to scene. It also starred an uncharacteristically hammy Cate Blanchett (doing her best Lotte Lenya impersonation throughout the entire film) and a ridiculous Tobey Maguire. What does all this have to do with the musical score? I can only imagine Thomas Newman (whom I love) felt he had to compensate for Clooney's blandness yet somehow match the over-the-top scene chewery of Blanchett and Maguire. The result was a cross between Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and the soundtrack to Dragnet. Bring on the Dinosaurs!

My Country, My Country
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature. This was part of the POV (Point of View) series for PBS, and examined life in Iraq leading up to the elections held in January, 2005. Fascinating film and well done, I don't expect this to beat either Inconvenient Truth or Jesus Camp.

Oscar Update Take Four

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 24
Oscar Countdown: 6 days!

ALL IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL IS HERE

Sadly, it was a slower week in movie-viewing land, but when you deal with jobs (plural) and kid (singular but seems like plural) and house (one house, but many messes) and furry critters (twelve feet and unending hair), it gets hard to sneak in much in the way of leisure time. However, I did add a few more films to the "seen" pile.

Babel
Two nominations for best supporting actress (Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi), Directing, Film Editing, Original musical score, Original screenplay and the big Kahuna -- Best picture. This was a very interesting film, and one that I wasn't planning on liking very much. Much like last year's film Crash, there is a degree of too-convenient interconnected storylines (this time on a global scale) that you simply have to accept. Once past that, however, it's an interesting examination of life across a wide spectrum of experiences and cultures. It's also probably the hardest film to explain, ever.

The Good German
Nominated for best Original musical score. In my basement I have a life-sized cardboard standee of that hairy hearthrob Fabio. Being cardboard, he always looks the same, and, if he were able to talk, I can imagine he would always sound the same, telling me in dulcet tones, "I can't believe it's not buttah!" You may be wondering what this nugget of information might have to do with the film "The Good German." Well, it stars George Clooney, or at least it said it did. I actually think it starred a cardboard standee of George Clooney that someone just moved from scene to scene to scene. It also starred an uncharacteristically hammy Cate Blanchett (doing her best Lotte Lenya impersonation throughout the entire film) and a ridiculous Tobey Maguire. What does all this have to do with the musical score? I can only imagine Thomas Newman (whom I love) felt he had to compensate for Clooney's blandness yet somehow match the over-the-top scene chewery of Blanchett and Maguire. The result was a cross between Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and the soundtrack to Dragnet. Bring on the Dinosaurs!

My Country, My Country
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature. This was part of the POV (Point of View) series for PBS, and examined life in Iraq leading up to the elections held in January, 2005. Fascinating film and well done, I don't expect this to beat either Inconvenient Truth or Jesus Camp.

Unconscious Mutterings TinyTuna Style

I Say ... And you think ::

1. Threshold :: Walk through..

2. Jason :: Who?

3. Suspicion :: I wonder what she's up to?

4. Tender :: Babies

5. Tempted :: Bargained with the devil

6. Crimson :: The Crimson Chin (Action Figure) on The Fairly-Odd Parents

7. Repulsive :: Hate!

8. Bulldog :: Who forgot to take him out?

9. Garage :: Only in the spring.

10. Racket :: Tennis

Unconscious Mutterings TinyTuna Style

I Say ... And you think ::

1. Threshold :: Walk through..

2. Jason :: Who?

3. Suspicion :: I wonder what she's up to?

4. Tender :: Babies

5. Tempted :: Bargained with the devil

6. Crimson :: The Crimson Chin (Action Figure) on The Fairly-Odd Parents

7. Repulsive :: Hate!

8. Bulldog :: Who forgot to take him out?

9. Garage :: Only in the spring.

10. Racket :: Tennis

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... And you think ::

1. Threshold :: Carry her over the...

2. Jason :: and the Argonauts

3. Suspicion :: Doubt

4. Tender :: Soft

5. Tempted :: YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

6. Crimson :: Red

7. Repulsive :: Just EWW (see: Mince Pie)

8. Bulldog :: Didn't win at Westminster

9. Garage :: Where cars seldom live

10. Racket :: Noise

I can't imagine anything here having anything to do with anything else, so I'm not even going to try. My threshold is safe and I don't know Jason OR the Argonauts. Heck, I wouldn't even know an Argonaut if my bulldog tripped over one. That is, if I had a bulldog. I do, however, have a garage (where the Car formerly known as Crimson (now known as Rusty) does not live), and, in case you have any suspicions to the contrary, I will never, ever, EVER EVER be tempted to eat a Mince Pie, because, just ... EWWWWW.

Mutter along HERE.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... And you think ::

1. Threshold :: Carry her over the...

2. Jason :: and the Argonauts

3. Suspicion :: Doubt

4. Tender :: Soft

5. Tempted :: YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

6. Crimson :: Red

7. Repulsive :: Just EWW (see: Mince Pie)

8. Bulldog :: Didn't win at Westminster

9. Garage :: Where cars seldom live

10. Racket :: Noise

I can't imagine anything here having anything to do with anything else, so I'm not even going to try. My threshold is safe and I don't know Jason OR the Argonauts. Heck, I wouldn't even know an Argonaut if my bulldog tripped over one. That is, if I had a bulldog. I do, however, have a garage (where the Car formerly known as Crimson (now known as Rusty) does not live), and, in case you have any suspicions to the contrary, I will never, ever, EVER EVER be tempted to eat a Mince Pie, because, just ... EWWWWW.

Mutter along HERE.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: What sound, other than normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?
Any sound, no matter how melodious, is going to become an annoyance. I would like my phone to feature James Earl Jones whispering "Use the Phone, Tuna" in my ear. I would like everybody else's phone to play a brief selection from the wonderful piece, 4' 33" (that's "Four Minutes, Thirty-Three Seconds" not "Four Feet, Thirty-Three Inches") by 20th century composer John Cage.

Soup: Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.)
Always 67 degrees with a 40 percent chance of rain. Always.

Salad: What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects/
Advanced Smartass and Bullshit.
OK, Music (and yes that's a REAL subject). Really, anything but geometry.

Main Course: Imagine you were able to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?
I would read "How to remember everything you read for TWO entire days" because not to brag or anything, but I'm already pretty skilled with a 24-hour retention.

Dessert: If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?
Mince Pie Bar. And then I wouldn't eat it.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: What sound, other than normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?
Any sound, no matter how melodious, is going to become an annoyance. I would like my phone to feature James Earl Jones whispering "Use the Phone, Tuna" in my ear. I would like everybody else's phone to play a brief selection from the wonderful piece, 4' 33" (that's "Four Minutes, Thirty-Three Seconds" not "Four Feet, Thirty-Three Inches") by 20th century composer John Cage.

Soup: Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.)
Always 67 degrees with a 40 percent chance of rain. Always.

Salad: What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects/
Advanced Smartass and Bullshit.
OK, Music (and yes that's a REAL subject). Really, anything but geometry.

Main Course: Imagine you were able to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?
I would read "How to remember everything you read for TWO entire days" because not to brag or anything, but I'm already pretty skilled with a 24-hour retention.

Dessert: If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?
Mince Pie Bar. And then I wouldn't eat it.