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.

Friday's Feast, TinyTuna Style

Here is a Special Friday Feast! Tiny Tuna Style!

Appetizer :: What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your a telephone to make?
Star Wars Theme Song

Soup :: Describe your usual meteorological terms
Very Sunny!!

Salad :: What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?
Music

Main Course :: Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one day. What books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?
Harry Potter, and Unfortunate Event's Books

Desert :: If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like, and what would you name it?
It would be a musical candy. I would call it Music Sweets!

Friday's Feast, TinyTuna Style

Here is a Special Friday Feast! Tiny Tuna Style!

Appetizer :: What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your a telephone to make?
Star Wars Theme Song

Soup :: Describe your usual meteorological terms
Very Sunny!!

Salad :: What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?
Music

Main Course :: Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one day. What books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?
Harry Potter, and Unfortunate Event's Books

Desert :: If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like, and what would you name it?
It would be a musical candy. I would call it Music Sweets!

7th Grade Camp

A special TinyTuna report...

Where has Tiny Tuna been for the last four days? Spending time in Augusta, Michigan with friends, and boogieing till dawn! On Monday, the entire 7th grade went on a trip to Augusta to get away from school. The middle school world is a "sweet" one! After arriving, we got all instructions, and went to our cabins. They were very nice. They even had heated floors, and an indoor bathroom. (Dang! There's a twist!) All the counselors are very nice, and funny. Many of them are just beginners, but they are fun to be with. They plan many fun activities for us. Many of them include sledding, ice fishing, fire and team building, nature, and much more. The camp is only 3 days long, and the time goes by fast. On Tuesday, they had a mix-up lunch, where we could sit with anybody. (We usually sit with our cabin groups!) So, I took a chance and sat with boys. (Oh boy!) It ended up going into an interesting conversation. Then, the best day of camp (always) was Wednesday, our last full day at camp. They always have a celebration (dance) for us. It was a turning point in the world. Valentine's Day Dance, I called it. There were friends, music, dancing, and who could forget screaming? The best part were the "Snowballs", they are the latest thing now! The girls and boys go on separate sides, and two girls and boys start in the middle. The kids then pick people to dance with. Soon, it gets bigger and everybody is dancing. They are very fun, and romantic! (Hee hee hee!!) The best part was a secret. Let's just say, that I settled something very important. (Hee hee hee!!) The whole thing was a ball! I wish I could stay there for a little while longer. But, with all things, they must come to an end. Now, it is back to the old days. Regular people, but a very different perspective!

7th Grade Camp

A special TinyTuna report...

Where has Tiny Tuna been for the last four days? Spending time in Augusta, Michigan with friends, and boogieing till dawn! On Monday, the entire 7th grade went on a trip to Augusta to get away from school. The middle school world is a "sweet" one! After arriving, we got all instructions, and went to our cabins. They were very nice. They even had heated floors, and an indoor bathroom. (Dang! There's a twist!) All the counselors are very nice, and funny. Many of them are just beginners, but they are fun to be with. They plan many fun activities for us. Many of them include sledding, ice fishing, fire and team building, nature, and much more. The camp is only 3 days long, and the time goes by fast. On Tuesday, they had a mix-up lunch, where we could sit with anybody. (We usually sit with our cabin groups!) So, I took a chance and sat with boys. (Oh boy!) It ended up going into an interesting conversation. Then, the best day of camp (always) was Wednesday, our last full day at camp. They always have a celebration (dance) for us. It was a turning point in the world. Valentine's Day Dance, I called it. There were friends, music, dancing, and who could forget screaming? The best part were the "Snowballs", they are the latest thing now! The girls and boys go on separate sides, and two girls and boys start in the middle. The kids then pick people to dance with. Soon, it gets bigger and everybody is dancing. They are very fun, and romantic! (Hee hee hee!!) The best part was a secret. Let's just say, that I settled something very important. (Hee hee hee!!) The whole thing was a ball! I wish I could stay there for a little while longer. But, with all things, they must come to an end. Now, it is back to the old days. Regular people, but a very different perspective!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

It's THAT day, and the lines seem to be firmly drawn. Either you love, love, love-de-dove it, or you hate it with amazingly hateful hate. There's no middle ground, no no-man's land, and no room in the inn for waffles or compromises.

And really, that's too bad.

Let's get the cynicism and check-minuses out of the way: It's a holiday whose real winners are card shops, jewelry stores and florists. It's a holiday where if you don't have a Valentine, it's hard not to feel like a failure. Or a bitter has-been, never-will-be type loser. It's a holiday where the haves seem to have so much, and the have-nots want to slash both tires and wrists -- not necessarily in that order.

But Valentine's Day doesn't have to have anything to do with greeting cards or jewelry in fancy boxes or bouquets of beautifully overpriced flowers. It doesn't have to be about having a spouse, a lover, a significant other, or even a fantasy-worthy milkman. It doesn't have to be about any of those things -- if you choose to NOT let it be.

There is a world of things to love out there, be it animal, vegetable or mineral and there is an infinite number of ways to show that love. Hug a dog, listen to your kids, send someone a funny joke, read a book, listen to music or embrace silence, blow bubbles inside the house, eat something healthfully decadent like chocolate covered tofu (I just made that up), do something for yourself, do something for others or sit back, relax and do absolutely nothing for no other reason than just because.

If there is one thing I think we can agree on, it's that more and more this world is hurting. Cynically speaking, 24-hours of roses are red, violets are blue isn't going to cure anything. But life is overflowing with opportunities to love, and that is not only a powerful salve for today, it's a damn good start on tomorrow.

No purchase necessary.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

It's THAT day, and the lines seem to be firmly drawn. Either you love, love, love-de-dove it, or you hate it with amazingly hateful hate. There's no middle ground, no no-man's land, and no room in the inn for waffles or compromises.

And really, that's too bad.

Let's get the cynicism and check-minuses out of the way: It's a holiday whose real winners are card shops, jewelry stores and florists. It's a holiday where if you don't have a Valentine, it's hard not to feel like a failure. Or a bitter has-been, never-will-be type loser. It's a holiday where the haves seem to have so much, and the have-nots want to slash both tires and wrists -- not necessarily in that order.

But Valentine's Day doesn't have to have anything to do with greeting cards or jewelry in fancy boxes or bouquets of beautifully overpriced flowers. It doesn't have to be about having a spouse, a lover, a significant other, or even a fantasy-worthy milkman. It doesn't have to be about any of those things -- if you choose to NOT let it be.

There is a world of things to love out there, be it animal, vegetable or mineral and there is an infinite number of ways to show that love. Hug a dog, listen to your kids, send someone a funny joke, read a book, listen to music or embrace silence, blow bubbles inside the house, eat something healthfully decadent like chocolate covered tofu (I just made that up), do something for yourself, do something for others or sit back, relax and do absolutely nothing for no other reason than just because.

If there is one thing I think we can agree on, it's that more and more this world is hurting. Cynically speaking, 24-hours of roses are red, violets are blue isn't going to cure anything. But life is overflowing with opportunities to love, and that is not only a powerful salve for today, it's a damn good start on tomorrow.

No purchase necessary.

Oscar Update Take Three

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 21
Oscar Countdown: 13 days

ALL-IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL LINK IS HERE

I've added several more films to the "seen" pile, however it seems that most of them just belong in a pile. Here's the latest and greatest on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Children of Men
Nominated for Cinematography, Film Editing and Adapted Screenplay. This film takes place in Great Britain in the year 2027. Women are infertile. Why? They don't really tell you. The entire world has gone to hell in a fish and chips basket. Why? They don't really tell you. They are rounding up illegal aliens (non-British) right and left. Why? They don't really tell you. Suddenly, a woman (dum-dum-DUM) who is an illegal alien (dum-dum-DUM) is discovered to be very pregnant (dum-dum-DUM). They must get the woman to safety, but how can this happen when they've passed out guns to every single man, woman child and extra in this film? How can she possibly survive when the body count in a 2 hour film climbs faster than the burger count at the local McDonald's? It must be her incredible powers of Scriptonite that enable her to leap giant plot-holes in a single reel. I'm most amused at the adapted screenplay, since there wasn't a whole lot of dialog you could ever hear over the whizzing bullets and screaming.

Poseidon
Nominated for Visual Effects. You know, with no Shelley Winters there to swim and swim and swim and then have a heart attack in her beloved Manny's arms, you knew going in it was going to be an uphill battle. I remember Poseidon the first and the big 1-sheets (outside case posters) that showed the main cast in small boxed pictures. You never knew who was going to make it and who was going to tank. This Poseidon wasn't much different; in fact they offed some of the characters in the exact same order as the original movie. Your best bet was if you were the single mother with a child, because the child HAS to make it just for comic relief and hope for tomorrow yada yada yada kum-bah-yah. As predicted, there were lots of bodies, water, fire and screaming (not necessarily in that order) and no poignant Maureen McGovern song telling us there had to be a morning after. What's up with that?

Half Nelson
Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ryan Gosling). Never heard of him. Never heard of the film. Of course, I loved it. Why? Because it had a plot and they didn't decided to solve it by passing out guns. Because there were actors who were there to serve the intent of the story rather than chew up the scenery. Because at the end of the film, there were no neat, tidy happy endings with hugs and sweeping vistas and the like. It was realistic. Characters were neither "good guys" or "bad guys," they were just people living the life with the cards they were dealt. At the end of the film, you hoped for all of them, but had no guarantees for any of them. Fabulous acting. Great movie.

Little Children
Nominated for Supporting Actor (Jack Earle Haley), Best Actress (Kate Winslet) and Adapted Screenplay. This is another keeper. Jack Earle Haley was terrific, and I'd like to see him win. Kate Winslet was also fabulous, but I'm afraid she has little hope of beating The Queen. What I really loved about this film was the writing. The narrative that wove in and out of the story was beautiful and almost poetic. Much like the film Half-Nelson, Little Children presented a story in its entirety, without labeling people and their actions good, bad or indifferent. That isn't to say that the people IN the film weren't doing that, when in fact one of the points of the movie is that we are so quick to judge others while turning a blind eye to ourselves. Outstanding film.

Pursuit of Happyness
Nominated for best Actor (Will Smith). So here's the deal. Will Smith? Did a fine job. Will Smith's son? Very cute. Story? Two hours of unbelievably predictable. Because seriously, if the film is called Pursuit of Happyness and in the last five minutes, he is run over by a bus and dies, THAT would be a surprise. But (spoiler!) he isn't hit by a bus and there you go. The film was fine but not great, the ending obvious and I wished they would have gotten there a little faster because you knew 15 minutes into the film exactly where it was heading.

Monster House
Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. Sorry Mr. House -- you have no prayer against either Cars or Happy Feet. I remember seeing the trailers for this film before it came out and TinyTuna uttering a definite "NO" when I asked her if she wanted to see it. After I watched it, I told her she wouldn't like it. Too monstery, too housey, too much little computer animated kids running around screaming which gets old very, VERY quickly. Bleah. Glad I didn't suffer through this one in the theater.


On deck for the coming week: Babel and Blood Diamond. Can I just say I am not thrilled about watching either one of these?

Oscar Update Take Three

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 21
Oscar Countdown: 13 days

ALL-IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL LINK IS HERE

I've added several more films to the "seen" pile, however it seems that most of them just belong in a pile. Here's the latest and greatest on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Children of Men
Nominated for Cinematography, Film Editing and Adapted Screenplay. This film takes place in Great Britain in the year 2027. Women are infertile. Why? They don't really tell you. The entire world has gone to hell in a fish and chips basket. Why? They don't really tell you. They are rounding up illegal aliens (non-British) right and left. Why? They don't really tell you. Suddenly, a woman (dum-dum-DUM) who is an illegal alien (dum-dum-DUM) is discovered to be very pregnant (dum-dum-DUM). They must get the woman to safety, but how can this happen when they've passed out guns to every single man, woman child and extra in this film? How can she possibly survive when the body count in a 2 hour film climbs faster than the burger count at the local McDonald's? It must be her incredible powers of Scriptonite that enable her to leap giant plot-holes in a single reel. I'm most amused at the adapted screenplay, since there wasn't a whole lot of dialog you could ever hear over the whizzing bullets and screaming.

Poseidon
Nominated for Visual Effects. You know, with no Shelley Winters there to swim and swim and swim and then have a heart attack in her beloved Manny's arms, you knew going in it was going to be an uphill battle. I remember Poseidon the first and the big 1-sheets (outside case posters) that showed the main cast in small boxed pictures. You never knew who was going to make it and who was going to tank. This Poseidon wasn't much different; in fact they offed some of the characters in the exact same order as the original movie. Your best bet was if you were the single mother with a child, because the child HAS to make it just for comic relief and hope for tomorrow yada yada yada kum-bah-yah. As predicted, there were lots of bodies, water, fire and screaming (not necessarily in that order) and no poignant Maureen McGovern song telling us there had to be a morning after. What's up with that?

Half Nelson
Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ryan Gosling). Never heard of him. Never heard of the film. Of course, I loved it. Why? Because it had a plot and they didn't decided to solve it by passing out guns. Because there were actors who were there to serve the intent of the story rather than chew up the scenery. Because at the end of the film, there were no neat, tidy happy endings with hugs and sweeping vistas and the like. It was realistic. Characters were neither "good guys" or "bad guys," they were just people living the life with the cards they were dealt. At the end of the film, you hoped for all of them, but had no guarantees for any of them. Fabulous acting. Great movie.

Little Children
Nominated for Supporting Actor (Jack Earle Haley), Best Actress (Kate Winslet) and Adapted Screenplay. This is another keeper. Jack Earle Haley was terrific, and I'd like to see him win. Kate Winslet was also fabulous, but I'm afraid she has little hope of beating The Queen. What I really loved about this film was the writing. The narrative that wove in and out of the story was beautiful and almost poetic. Much like the film Half-Nelson, Little Children presented a story in its entirety, without labeling people and their actions good, bad or indifferent. That isn't to say that the people IN the film weren't doing that, when in fact one of the points of the movie is that we are so quick to judge others while turning a blind eye to ourselves. Outstanding film.

Pursuit of Happyness
Nominated for best Actor (Will Smith). So here's the deal. Will Smith? Did a fine job. Will Smith's son? Very cute. Story? Two hours of unbelievably predictable. Because seriously, if the film is called Pursuit of Happyness and in the last five minutes, he is run over by a bus and dies, THAT would be a surprise. But (spoiler!) he isn't hit by a bus and there you go. The film was fine but not great, the ending obvious and I wished they would have gotten there a little faster because you knew 15 minutes into the film exactly where it was heading.

Monster House
Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. Sorry Mr. House -- you have no prayer against either Cars or Happy Feet. I remember seeing the trailers for this film before it came out and TinyTuna uttering a definite "NO" when I asked her if she wanted to see it. After I watched it, I told her she wouldn't like it. Too monstery, too housey, too much little computer animated kids running around screaming which gets old very, VERY quickly. Bleah. Glad I didn't suffer through this one in the theater.


On deck for the coming week: Babel and Blood Diamond. Can I just say I am not thrilled about watching either one of these?

Weekend Meme Ultimate Unconscious Mutterer Slacker Edition

I say ... And you think:

1. The best things :: In life are free

2. Hold :: Hug

3. Rapture :: Bliss

4. Cover :: Letter

5. Restrictive :: No! No! No! No! No!

6. Baker :: Dozen

7. Author :: Writer

8. Pill :: Medicine

9. Months :: and months and months

10. Valentine's Day :: This Wednesday!


No common link here that I can see, but using a little imagination and creative mathematics, I can say: (1 + 2)9 = 3

awwwwwwwwwww!

Happy 10!


Mutter along HERE.

Weekend Meme Ultimate Unconscious Mutterer Slacker Edition

I say ... And you think:

1. The best things :: In life are free

2. Hold :: Hug

3. Rapture :: Bliss

4. Cover :: Letter

5. Restrictive :: No! No! No! No! No!

6. Baker :: Dozen

7. Author :: Writer

8. Pill :: Medicine

9. Months :: and months and months

10. Valentine's Day :: This Wednesday!


No common link here that I can see, but using a little imagination and creative mathematics, I can say: (1 + 2)9 = 3

awwwwwwwwwww!

Happy 10!


Mutter along HERE.

Weekend Meme Ultimate Slacker Edition

You'd think I was actually doing something important during the past week....

Friday's Feast Pathetic Monday Morning Table Scraps I'm So Late I'll Have to Eat at the Kid's Table Edition

Appetizer: Have you been sick yet this winter? If so, what did you come down with?
It's best not to invite a germ-filled Karma over to tea by discussing your lack of a need for 'Tussin and cough drops....

Soup: What color dominates your closet?
Too big and not warm enough. Maybe that makes it frostbite blue.

Salad: How would you describe your personal "comfort zone"
A little fortress filled with food, family, friends, furry critters, a blanket and something on TV. How much more comfy could a Tuna possibly get?

Main Course: On which reality show would you really like to be a contestant?
Amazing Race. I'd go tomorrow (as long as Scout did all the sky-dive, bungee jumping scary heights kind of stuff).

Dessert: Which holiday would you consider to be your favorite?
One that includes a fortress filled with food, family, friends, furry critters, a blanket and something on TV.

Weekend Meme Ultimate Slacker Edition

You'd think I was actually doing something important during the past week....

Friday's Feast Pathetic Monday Morning Table Scraps I'm So Late I'll Have to Eat at the Kid's Table Edition

Appetizer: Have you been sick yet this winter? If so, what did you come down with?
It's best not to invite a germ-filled Karma over to tea by discussing your lack of a need for 'Tussin and cough drops....

Soup: What color dominates your closet?
Too big and not warm enough. Maybe that makes it frostbite blue.

Salad: How would you describe your personal "comfort zone"
A little fortress filled with food, family, friends, furry critters, a blanket and something on TV. How much more comfy could a Tuna possibly get?

Main Course: On which reality show would you really like to be a contestant?
Amazing Race. I'd go tomorrow (as long as Scout did all the sky-dive, bungee jumping scary heights kind of stuff).

Dessert: Which holiday would you consider to be your favorite?
One that includes a fortress filled with food, family, friends, furry critters, a blanket and something on TV.

Oscar Update Take Two

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 15
Oscar Countdown: 20 days
ALL-IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL LINK is HERE

(If, for some reason that doesn't work, go to: http://www.defectiveyeti.com/oscars/ and enter this pool id: 27397)

Meanwhile, while I haven't been posting, I've been watching more movies. No, let me clarify. I've been watching horrible movies that have no chance of winning anything. To any of you out there who dutifully see every movie that gets released, I just don't know how you do it. Maybe this is a particularly bad year, but, as my NewphewTuna once proclaimed when he went down and saw my basement, "Junk, Junk, Junk, Junk, JUNK!"

Click
Nominated for Makeup. Why? WHY? Needless to say, I didn't think it was that particularly outstanding. And as for the movie? Well, it's Adam Sandler. How good do you honestly think it's going to be? It was OK, but only and just OK. If I had plunked down big bucks to see it in a movie theater, I'd be mad. Even with a cowbell-less Christopher Walken, Marge Simpson (Julie Kavner) and The Fonze (Harry Winkler), it just wasn't that great. Think A Christmas Carol with more technology. Greentuna rating: Two bahs and one humbug.

Black Dahlia
Nominated for Cinematography. Oh my Lord in Heaven, I don't even know where to START with this one. There are bad movies, and there are bad movies, but this one is right up there. Here is what it is supposed to be: Period Crime Drama done in a film noir kind of way. Here is what it was: A mess. Start to finish. Filming in sepia tones and grays with lots of shadows and hidden sources of light doesn't make a movie any good, it just makes it dingy. Stilted conversation spoken in a halting cadence doesn't make characters sound gritty yet wizened as they investigate the seamy underbelly of crime, it makes them sound stupid like they can't remember their lines. By the end of the film, people were dying off right and left, and frankly, I was cheering them on. Greentuna rating: The dead people were the lucky ones.

United 93
Nominated for Best Director (Paul Greengrass) and Film Editing. I'm very conflicted about this film. I'm not going to debate whether it should or should not have been made. Somebody felt compelled to make the film and there you have it. It's not a film that I would think of as being particularly cathartic, and it's nothing that I would choose to see as a work of entertainment. For many obvious reasons, it was difficult to watch. However, I will admit that I thought the way it was filmed and put together was a remarkable achievement, considering nearly all of it was filmed inside very close quarters. There are no panoramic vistas and no sweeping soundtracks to entice your eyes and ears. I don't think Greengrass will win for director, but I think there is an outside chance, if they wanted to honor this film somehow, that it might pick up the award for editing.

Oscar Update Take Two

Films Nominated: 58
Films Seen: 15
Oscar Countdown: 20 days
ALL-IMPORTANT OSCAR POOL LINK is HERE

(If, for some reason that doesn't work, go to: http://www.defectiveyeti.com/oscars/ and enter this pool id: 27397)

Meanwhile, while I haven't been posting, I've been watching more movies. No, let me clarify. I've been watching horrible movies that have no chance of winning anything. To any of you out there who dutifully see every movie that gets released, I just don't know how you do it. Maybe this is a particularly bad year, but, as my NewphewTuna once proclaimed when he went down and saw my basement, "Junk, Junk, Junk, Junk, JUNK!"

Click
Nominated for Makeup. Why? WHY? Needless to say, I didn't think it was that particularly outstanding. And as for the movie? Well, it's Adam Sandler. How good do you honestly think it's going to be? It was OK, but only and just OK. If I had plunked down big bucks to see it in a movie theater, I'd be mad. Even with a cowbell-less Christopher Walken, Marge Simpson (Julie Kavner) and The Fonze (Harry Winkler), it just wasn't that great. Think A Christmas Carol with more technology. Greentuna rating: Two bahs and one humbug.

Black Dahlia
Nominated for Cinematography. Oh my Lord in Heaven, I don't even know where to START with this one. There are bad movies, and there are bad movies, but this one is right up there. Here is what it is supposed to be: Period Crime Drama done in a film noir kind of way. Here is what it was: A mess. Start to finish. Filming in sepia tones and grays with lots of shadows and hidden sources of light doesn't make a movie any good, it just makes it dingy. Stilted conversation spoken in a halting cadence doesn't make characters sound gritty yet wizened as they investigate the seamy underbelly of crime, it makes them sound stupid like they can't remember their lines. By the end of the film, people were dying off right and left, and frankly, I was cheering them on. Greentuna rating: The dead people were the lucky ones.

United 93
Nominated for Best Director (Paul Greengrass) and Film Editing. I'm very conflicted about this film. I'm not going to debate whether it should or should not have been made. Somebody felt compelled to make the film and there you have it. It's not a film that I would think of as being particularly cathartic, and it's nothing that I would choose to see as a work of entertainment. For many obvious reasons, it was difficult to watch. However, I will admit that I thought the way it was filmed and put together was a remarkable achievement, considering nearly all of it was filmed inside very close quarters. There are no panoramic vistas and no sweeping soundtracks to entice your eyes and ears. I don't think Greengrass will win for director, but I think there is an outside chance, if they wanted to honor this film somehow, that it might pick up the award for editing.

Extravaganza!

Last Tuesday, in the midst of my not-posting, TinyTuna was performed in the 10th annual 7th-8th grade choir EXTRAVAGANZA which is a very CAPS LOCK, leaned over and bold sort of event. It was a vocal variety show sort of deal, with the choir singing some numbers, and kids (who auditioned and were prepared) performing solos, duets, trios and the like. Most kids opted for the safety in numbers approach and did duets, trios and quartets. The heavy favorites were upbeat retro pop songs like The Shoop Shoop Song and The Lion Sleeps Tonight; a smattering of Disney and a show tune here or there.

It was amazing to see the huge variety of "looks" of 12-14 year olds. One boy walked onstage in a tux shirt and bow tie. He was really short and small, and just hadn't hit that middle school growth spurt yet. But you know, as soon as he opened his mouth and started singing, "L! Is for the way you look at me! O! Is for the very one you see..." we giggled just a little because he sang in this very smooth (and much older sounding) baritone crooner style voice. Given a little time for his height to match his voice, he might be the start of the new Rat Pack. Right now though I guess he's more like the Mouse Pack.

Another girl walked on stage and my eyes just about fell out of my head. She was stunning: tall, lanky, and beautifully put together. I never looked that good in middle school. Or high school. OK, face it. I don't look that good now. The next day I told TinyTuna I couldn't believe this girl was only in 8th grade. "She's not," TinyTuna said. "AHA!! I KNEW IT," says I, smugly. "She's a 7th grader." Sheesh. I thought it was time to crawl back under my rock.

TinyTuna's contribution to the EXTRAVAGANZA was the zippy quick Red Riding Hood song from Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, which, sadly for her choir teacher who was also the accompanist, is hard as nails to play. It's no picnic for the singer either, but that didn't seem to phase TinyTuna at all. They were required to perform it with the teacher in front of the class prior to EXTRAVAGANZA to be sure they had it memorized and were prepared. Every day TinyTuna came home, not having sung her piece, for a variety of reasons. Ran out of time. Teacher was gone. It was a sunny day. Who knows. Finally the day arrived. The Teacher was in the school. Students were going to do their acts for the entire class period. I asked TinyTuna that night if she got to sing her song. "Nope," she said. "She still hasn't learned the key change."
They finally rehearsed her song the day of performance. Did TinyTuna care? Nope. Was she nervous? Nope. Did she do a good job? Yep. Was I surprised? Nope. Was I proud? You betcha.

The next day during school, they did a shortened version for the entire school. The choir sang their numbers again, and out of 25 individual acts, 7 were allowed to perform. Most of them were 8th graders, as this would be their last year. However, one 7th grade soloist made the cut, and Little Red Riding Hood rode again, key change and all. Shoop Shoop!

Extravaganza!

Last Tuesday, in the midst of my not-posting, TinyTuna was performed in the 10th annual 7th-8th grade choir EXTRAVAGANZA which is a very CAPS LOCK, leaned over and bold sort of event. It was a vocal variety show sort of deal, with the choir singing some numbers, and kids (who auditioned and were prepared) performing solos, duets, trios and the like. Most kids opted for the safety in numbers approach and did duets, trios and quartets. The heavy favorites were upbeat retro pop songs like The Shoop Shoop Song and The Lion Sleeps Tonight; a smattering of Disney and a show tune here or there.

It was amazing to see the huge variety of "looks" of 12-14 year olds. One boy walked onstage in a tux shirt and bow tie. He was really short and small, and just hadn't hit that middle school growth spurt yet. But you know, as soon as he opened his mouth and started singing, "L! Is for the way you look at me! O! Is for the very one you see..." we giggled just a little because he sang in this very smooth (and much older sounding) baritone crooner style voice. Given a little time for his height to match his voice, he might be the start of the new Rat Pack. Right now though I guess he's more like the Mouse Pack.

Another girl walked on stage and my eyes just about fell out of my head. She was stunning: tall, lanky, and beautifully put together. I never looked that good in middle school. Or high school. OK, face it. I don't look that good now. The next day I told TinyTuna I couldn't believe this girl was only in 8th grade. "She's not," TinyTuna said. "AHA!! I KNEW IT," says I, smugly. "She's a 7th grader." Sheesh. I thought it was time to crawl back under my rock.

TinyTuna's contribution to the EXTRAVAGANZA was the zippy quick Red Riding Hood song from Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, which, sadly for her choir teacher who was also the accompanist, is hard as nails to play. It's no picnic for the singer either, but that didn't seem to phase TinyTuna at all. They were required to perform it with the teacher in front of the class prior to EXTRAVAGANZA to be sure they had it memorized and were prepared. Every day TinyTuna came home, not having sung her piece, for a variety of reasons. Ran out of time. Teacher was gone. It was a sunny day. Who knows. Finally the day arrived. The Teacher was in the school. Students were going to do their acts for the entire class period. I asked TinyTuna that night if she got to sing her song. "Nope," she said. "She still hasn't learned the key change."
They finally rehearsed her song the day of performance. Did TinyTuna care? Nope. Was she nervous? Nope. Did she do a good job? Yep. Was I surprised? Nope. Was I proud? You betcha.

The next day during school, they did a shortened version for the entire school. The choir sang their numbers again, and out of 25 individual acts, 7 were allowed to perform. Most of them were 8th graders, as this would be their last year. However, one 7th grade soloist made the cut, and Little Red Riding Hood rode again, key change and all. Shoop Shoop!