This looks like it could be a fun time.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Garfield Minus Garfield
Some fellow with a blog discovered that if you remove Garfield from the comic strip, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life. Enjoy.
Monday, February 25, 2008
LGBT Donation
I realize this doesn't impact everyone but I consider it to be pretty newsworthy.
Richard Weiland, one of the founding employees of Microsoft, has bequeathed the largest donation ever to be made to the LGBT movement. The sum, $65 million dollars, will go to the Pride Foundation, based in Seattle, advocate for the rights of LGBT people, and provide support for HIV/AIDS organizations. Weiland has served the Pride Foundation as both a volunteer and a board member.
Sadly he died in June of 2006, but "he made sure that the work he cared about in his life would continue, leaving the vast majority of his estate to LGBT, HIV/AIDS, environmental and education organizations." Through the Weiland Designated Fund at Pride Foundation, money will be given to the following organizations:
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight
Education Network (GLSEN)
In The Life
International Gay and Lesbian
Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
Lambda Legal
National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Project Inform
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
(info from gaygamer.net)
Fighting Facebook
So I really hate Facebook. Even more than I dislike Myspace, which I didn't think was possible. The only reason I have a Facebook account is because people share photos and whatnot with me and the only way I can access these things is to create a profile. It's like a pyramid scheme from Hell. The biggest thing I loathe about Facebook is how I'm constantly being bombarded by random shit in the form of bulletins, invites, and notifications. These things just keep piling on into a tower of clutter up the side of my page. It's really quite maddening. I feel like people are constantly throwing garbage at me. People who are supposed to be my friends!
Here are some examples of what I'm dealing with here:
1 American Accent Test Invitation - I don't have an accent, though I can fake a Maine one. Also, when quoting someone I would deam "uneducated", I instinctively slip into a southern accent, even if this person is not from the south. I can't help it. So in summary, test not necessary.
1 Lil Green Patch Request - Somehow sending virtual plants back and forth while consuming energy with our computers is supposed to help fight global warming. Pass.
1 Wedding Calculator Invitation - Supposed to calculate when I'll get married. I think that depends a lot on Congress in my case.
3 Vampire Invitations - I thought vampirism was something that was kinda forced on you. I didn't realize they had an open enrollment period. Sorry, I like garlic too much.
1 Which Disney Princess Are You? Invitation - That's simple. I'm Jasmine, the whore.
1 Have Sex! Invitation - Cyber sex isn't really my thing. There's no alcohol involved!
1 Red Sox Nation Invitation - This person obviously doesn't know me very well.
4 Super Wall Posts - I don't know what my "Super Wall" is and I don't want to know. I seriously doubt it lives up to its name.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. I'll never be able to sort through all this stuff and thankfully I've just discovered an "ignore all" option in tiny text near my insurmountable column of notifications. So if you're responsible for one or many of these things coming my way, please don't take my actions personally. I simply don't care enough to sort through all this and would like nothing more than to make it all go away. I still like you in the real world, honest.
Here are some examples of what I'm dealing with here:
1 American Accent Test Invitation - I don't have an accent, though I can fake a Maine one. Also, when quoting someone I would deam "uneducated", I instinctively slip into a southern accent, even if this person is not from the south. I can't help it. So in summary, test not necessary.
1 Lil Green Patch Request - Somehow sending virtual plants back and forth while consuming energy with our computers is supposed to help fight global warming. Pass.
1 Wedding Calculator Invitation - Supposed to calculate when I'll get married. I think that depends a lot on Congress in my case.
3 Vampire Invitations - I thought vampirism was something that was kinda forced on you. I didn't realize they had an open enrollment period. Sorry, I like garlic too much.
1 Which Disney Princess Are You? Invitation - That's simple. I'm Jasmine, the whore.
1 Have Sex! Invitation - Cyber sex isn't really my thing. There's no alcohol involved!
1 Red Sox Nation Invitation - This person obviously doesn't know me very well.
4 Super Wall Posts - I don't know what my "Super Wall" is and I don't want to know. I seriously doubt it lives up to its name.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. I'll never be able to sort through all this stuff and thankfully I've just discovered an "ignore all" option in tiny text near my insurmountable column of notifications. So if you're responsible for one or many of these things coming my way, please don't take my actions personally. I simply don't care enough to sort through all this and would like nothing more than to make it all go away. I still like you in the real world, honest.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Torrey's Oscar Picks
I don't have the greatest track record when it comes to making Oscar predictions, but here are my 2008 picks...
update: Well, I came in at 15/24. What is that, 63% correct? Not too shabby, I suppose. It was nice to have films nominated this year that didn't suck. *cough* Crash *cough*
Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
WINNER Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
WINNER Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
MY PICK Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
WINNER Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
MY PICK Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
WINNER Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
WINNER "Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
"Surf's Up" (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck
Achievement in art direction
"American Gangster" (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
WINNER "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson
Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
MY PICK "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
WINNER "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit
Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
WINNER "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
MY PICK "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood
Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
WINNER "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson
Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
WINNER "Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
"War/Dance" (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine
Best documentary short subject
WINNER "Freeheld" A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
"La Corona (The Crown)" A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
"Salim Baba" A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
MY PICK "Sari's Mother" (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley
Achievement in film editing
WINNER "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor
Best foreign language film of the year
"Beaufort" Israel
WINNER "The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia
Achievement in makeup
WINNER "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
"Norbit" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
MY PICK "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
WINNER "Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
MY PICK "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
WINNER "Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Music and Lyric by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production) A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
WINNER "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers
Best animated short film
"I Met the Walrus" A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
"Madame Tutli-Putli" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
"Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)" (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
WINNER "Peter & the Wolf" (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman
Best live action short film
"At Night" A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)" (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
WINNER "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
"Tanghi Argentini" (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
"The Tonto Woman" A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown
Achievement in sound editing
WINNER "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Christopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins
Achievement in sound mixing
WINNER "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin
Achievement in visual effects
WINNER "The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
MY PICK "Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier
Adapted screenplay
"Atonement" (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
"Away from Her" (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
WINNER "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson
Original screenplay
WINNER "Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production), Written by Diablo Cody
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
MY PICK "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins
update: Well, I came in at 15/24. What is that, 63% correct? Not too shabby, I suppose. It was nice to have films nominated this year that didn't suck. *cough* Crash *cough*
Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
WINNER Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
WINNER Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
MY PICK Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
WINNER Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
MY PICK Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
WINNER Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
WINNER "Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
"Surf's Up" (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck
Achievement in art direction
"American Gangster" (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
WINNER "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson
Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
MY PICK "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
WINNER "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit
Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
WINNER "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
MY PICK "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood
Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
WINNER "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson
Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
WINNER "Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
"War/Dance" (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine
Best documentary short subject
WINNER "Freeheld" A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
"La Corona (The Crown)" A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
"Salim Baba" A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
MY PICK "Sari's Mother" (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley
Achievement in film editing
WINNER "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor
Best foreign language film of the year
"Beaufort" Israel
WINNER "The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia
Achievement in makeup
WINNER "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
"Norbit" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
MY PICK "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
WINNER "Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
MY PICK "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
WINNER "Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Music and Lyric by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production) A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
WINNER "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers
Best animated short film
"I Met the Walrus" A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
"Madame Tutli-Putli" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
"Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)" (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
WINNER "Peter & the Wolf" (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman
Best live action short film
"At Night" A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)" (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
WINNER "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
"Tanghi Argentini" (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
"The Tonto Woman" A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown
Achievement in sound editing
WINNER "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Christopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins
Achievement in sound mixing
WINNER "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin
Achievement in visual effects
WINNER "The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
MY PICK "Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier
Adapted screenplay
"Atonement" (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
"Away from Her" (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
WINNER "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson
Original screenplay
WINNER "Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production), Written by Diablo Cody
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
MY PICK "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
It Was A Good Ride While It Lasted
I believe my feelings about this unfortunate development can best be expressed by a quote from one Captain Malcolm Reynolds...
"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Wednesday Observation
There is no greater joy in life than that which is brought on by a Snow Day.
-Me
Monday, February 11, 2008
Voice-Over Silliness
Tom Kenny, Rodger Bumpass, Carolyn Lawrence, and Bill Fagerbakke presented this video at the Annie Awards as evidence that they shouldn't be stereotyped for their Spongebob Squarepants characters.
(Thanks to Tony for the link)
This Post Dedicated To Cookie Treible
While I'm in list-posting mode, here are the 30 TV Shows Entertainment Weekly Readers Would Bring Back From The Grave.
Freaks And Geeks
Angel
Sports Night
Grosse Pointe
Rome
Early Edition
Popular
Drive
Covington Cross
Veronica Mars
Eyes
Carnivale
Brimstone
Skin
Once & Again
Wonderfalls
My So Called Life
Arrested Development
Boomtown
Kitchen Confidential
Farscape
Century City
Jake 2.0
Max Headroom
Gideon's Crossing
Joan of Arcadia
Homefront
Jack & Bobby
Reunion
Kindred: The Embraced
My Write-Ins:
Firefly
The best show nobody watched. It was unfortunate that Firefly premiered during a time when reality shows like Survivor were red hot. I think if it had showed up around the time of the new Battlestar Galatica, it would have faired much better. At least we got a kickass movie out of it.
The Critic
I think this show was maybe a little too obscure for a general audience. I imagine many of the jokes and references went over people's heads but I always found it hilarious. Probably the greatest thing John Lovitz has done. Wait, not probably. Definitely.
Strangers With Candy
We got three great seasons but I would have enjoyed a couple more. Such a fantastically talented cast headlined by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, and Stephen Colbert when he was still humble (though no less hilarious.)
Newsradio
Probably one of the greatest ensemble casts ever for a sitcom. It's such a shame that the show wasn't able to rebound after Phil Hartman's death. Those were shoes that were simply impossible to fill. And poor Dave Foley has been in a downward spiral ever since.
Freaks And Geeks
Angel
Sports Night
Grosse Pointe
Rome
Early Edition
Popular
Drive
Covington Cross
Veronica Mars
Eyes
Carnivale
Brimstone
Skin
Once & Again
Wonderfalls
My So Called Life
Arrested Development
Boomtown
Kitchen Confidential
Farscape
Century City
Jake 2.0
Max Headroom
Gideon's Crossing
Joan of Arcadia
Homefront
Jack & Bobby
Reunion
Kindred: The Embraced
My Write-Ins:
Firefly
The best show nobody watched. It was unfortunate that Firefly premiered during a time when reality shows like Survivor were red hot. I think if it had showed up around the time of the new Battlestar Galatica, it would have faired much better. At least we got a kickass movie out of it.
The Critic
I think this show was maybe a little too obscure for a general audience. I imagine many of the jokes and references went over people's heads but I always found it hilarious. Probably the greatest thing John Lovitz has done. Wait, not probably. Definitely.
Strangers With Candy
We got three great seasons but I would have enjoyed a couple more. Such a fantastically talented cast headlined by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, and Stephen Colbert when he was still humble (though no less hilarious.)
Newsradio
Probably one of the greatest ensemble casts ever for a sitcom. It's such a shame that the show wasn't able to rebound after Phil Hartman's death. Those were shoes that were simply impossible to fill. And poor Dave Foley has been in a downward spiral ever since.
Best Sequels Ever
Here are Moviephone's 25 Best Movie Sequels Of All Time:
25) Die Hard 2
24) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
23) The Road Warrior
22) Before Sunset
21) Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi
20) Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
19) After The Thin Man
18) The Bourne Supremacy
17) Superman II
16) Rocky II
15) Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
14) Evil Dead 2
13) Toy Story 2
12) Dawn Of The Dead
11) Kill Bill Vol. 2
10) Bride Of Frankenstein
09) X2: X-Men United
08) Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
07) The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers
06) Terminator 2: Judgement Day
05) Spider-Man 2
04) Aliens
03) The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King
02) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
01) The Godfather Part II
My Write-In:
Back To The Future Part II
I won't argue with the fact that the first BTTF was a tighter, more well-scripted film. But I simply find Part II to be more fun. They took the premise of the first movie and ran with it which, to me, is what a good sequel does. Part II also has one of the best cliffhanger endings ever.
25) Die Hard 2
24) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
23) The Road Warrior
22) Before Sunset
21) Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi
20) Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
19) After The Thin Man
18) The Bourne Supremacy
17) Superman II
16) Rocky II
15) Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
14) Evil Dead 2
13) Toy Story 2
12) Dawn Of The Dead
11) Kill Bill Vol. 2
10) Bride Of Frankenstein
09) X2: X-Men United
08) Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
07) The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers
06) Terminator 2: Judgement Day
05) Spider-Man 2
04) Aliens
03) The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King
02) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
01) The Godfather Part II
My Write-In:
Back To The Future Part II
I won't argue with the fact that the first BTTF was a tighter, more well-scripted film. But I simply find Part II to be more fun. They took the premise of the first movie and ran with it which, to me, is what a good sequel does. Part II also has one of the best cliffhanger endings ever.
Worst Sequels Ever
Here are Moviefone's 25 Worst Movie Sequels Of All Time:
25) Bad Boys II
24) Caddyshack II
23) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
22) Rocky V
21) Major League II
20) Jaws 3-D
19) Scary Movie 2
18) The Sting II
17) Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde
16) The Next Karate Kid
15) Battle For The Planet Of The Apes
14) The Exorcist II: The Heretic
13) Be Cool
12) Son Of The Mask
11) The Matrix Revolutions
10) Superman IV: The Quest For Peace
09) Speed 2: Cruise Control
08) Weekend At Bernie's II
07) Blues Brothers 2000
06) Jason X
05) Staying Alive
04) Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
03) Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
02) Basic Instinct 2
01) Batman And Robin
My Write-Ins:
Spider-Man 3
Just plain awful. I really enjoyed Spidey 2 but this sequel took everything in the wrong direction.
Alien 3
I can't believe this movie was the follow-up to Aliens. I also can't believe it was directed by David Fincher.
Oceans 12
Everything that made the first movie so much fun is gone; replaced with smug, self-serving jokes and a plot that goes nowhere.
RoboCop 3
Robot ninjas and a forced PG-13 rating? No thank you.
25) Bad Boys II
24) Caddyshack II
23) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
22) Rocky V
21) Major League II
20) Jaws 3-D
19) Scary Movie 2
18) The Sting II
17) Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde
16) The Next Karate Kid
15) Battle For The Planet Of The Apes
14) The Exorcist II: The Heretic
13) Be Cool
12) Son Of The Mask
11) The Matrix Revolutions
10) Superman IV: The Quest For Peace
09) Speed 2: Cruise Control
08) Weekend At Bernie's II
07) Blues Brothers 2000
06) Jason X
05) Staying Alive
04) Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
03) Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
02) Basic Instinct 2
01) Batman And Robin
My Write-Ins:
Spider-Man 3
Just plain awful. I really enjoyed Spidey 2 but this sequel took everything in the wrong direction.
Alien 3
I can't believe this movie was the follow-up to Aliens. I also can't believe it was directed by David Fincher.
Oceans 12
Everything that made the first movie so much fun is gone; replaced with smug, self-serving jokes and a plot that goes nowhere.
RoboCop 3
Robot ninjas and a forced PG-13 rating? No thank you.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Uncanny Resemblance
Greg recently shared this link with me:
The 10 Star Wars Toys That Unintentionally Look Like Other Celebrities
The John Kerry is dead-on!
The 10 Star Wars Toys That Unintentionally Look Like Other Celebrities
The John Kerry is dead-on!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Quirk
Okay, so Jeremy has roped me into doing some bothersome task where I'm supposed to list quirky facts about myself and force others to do the same. I don't typically participate in such foolishness but I'm feeling uncommonly generous so here goes...
Here are the rules:
* link to the person who tagged you
* post the rules on your blog
* share six non-important things/ habits/ quirks about yourself
* tag at least 3 people at the end of the post and link to their blogs
* let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
Here are my six things:
1) Whenever I'm choosing something from a stack, I simply cannot bring myself to take the item on top. Whether it be a paper from a newsstand, a cereal box at the supermarket or a DVD from Best Buy, I need to go back about 4 or 5 deep to be satisfied with my choice. I guess my thinking it that others have handled the first item and thusly it has somehow been soiled.
2) I cannot stand the thought of hair on a bar of soap. I will hold the bar under the water in the shower, rolling it over in my hand about a dozen times to make certain the soap is completely hair-free before setting it down.
3) When using something with a volume control, I like to leave it on an even number. Car stereo, home theatre, whatever... I am much more comfortable setting it on, say, 34 or 36 than I would be on level 35. I have no idea why my mind works this way but I've learned to roll with it.
4) I have a strong dislike for musical ringtones. The last thing I want to hear is The Black-Eyed Peas randomly coming out of a passerby's pocket. And what would Beethoven think about his classic symphonies being reduced to a chime on some daytrader's iPhone? I just want phones to ring, that's it.
5) I always cry at the end of Big Fish. I have tried to resist but I just can't help it. It starts to build when Will is telling the story for his father and by the time they get to the river where everyone is waiting for him, it's Niagra Falls for me. A rare chink in the armor, I assure you!
6) I am a huge fan of Bonnie Raitt. I could listen to Luck of the Draw all day, everyday. If every gay guy is required to have a diva, I've got dibs on Bonnie.
Here are those I tag:
Cookie
The High Roller
... I guess I don't have many friends who maintain blogs that I'm aware of. See? This was doomed from the start.
Here are the rules:
* link to the person who tagged you
* post the rules on your blog
* share six non-important things/ habits/ quirks about yourself
* tag at least 3 people at the end of the post and link to their blogs
* let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
Here are my six things:
1) Whenever I'm choosing something from a stack, I simply cannot bring myself to take the item on top. Whether it be a paper from a newsstand, a cereal box at the supermarket or a DVD from Best Buy, I need to go back about 4 or 5 deep to be satisfied with my choice. I guess my thinking it that others have handled the first item and thusly it has somehow been soiled.
2) I cannot stand the thought of hair on a bar of soap. I will hold the bar under the water in the shower, rolling it over in my hand about a dozen times to make certain the soap is completely hair-free before setting it down.
3) When using something with a volume control, I like to leave it on an even number. Car stereo, home theatre, whatever... I am much more comfortable setting it on, say, 34 or 36 than I would be on level 35. I have no idea why my mind works this way but I've learned to roll with it.
4) I have a strong dislike for musical ringtones. The last thing I want to hear is The Black-Eyed Peas randomly coming out of a passerby's pocket. And what would Beethoven think about his classic symphonies being reduced to a chime on some daytrader's iPhone? I just want phones to ring, that's it.
5) I always cry at the end of Big Fish. I have tried to resist but I just can't help it. It starts to build when Will is telling the story for his father and by the time they get to the river where everyone is waiting for him, it's Niagra Falls for me. A rare chink in the armor, I assure you!
6) I am a huge fan of Bonnie Raitt. I could listen to Luck of the Draw all day, everyday. If every gay guy is required to have a diva, I've got dibs on Bonnie.
Here are those I tag:
Cookie
The High Roller
... I guess I don't have many friends who maintain blogs that I'm aware of. See? This was doomed from the start.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Friday, February 01, 2008
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