Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
5 Signs You're Watching A Wes Anderson Movie
5- Bill Murray Being Serious
If you're seeing this comic king in a movie that was made in the past ten years it's probably a Wes Anderson movie. Of the last fifteen film projects Murray has done four have been with Anderson. It was his role in "Rushmore" that made him an indie-film darling with such directors as Jim Jarmusch and Sofia Coppola. Murray has a strong commitment to Anderson, backing up the director by pulling out of his own pocket to help shoot a scene and also working for free in "The Royal Tenenbaums". Their film relationship has produced some interesting film experiences as well as a partnership of respect and comradeship.
4- Slow Motion Endings
In all but one of his films, Anderson has ended with the slow motion shot. We saw Dignan leaving for prison in "Bottle Rocket", Max's Dance with Miss Cross in "Rushmore", Royal Tenenbaums's funeral, and Steve Zissou walk the red carpet all in slow motion into the end credits. It's a signature style that Anderson has replicated in most of his films. Also notice the credits, first name in lower and uppercase but the last name is always uppercase. The only movie that broke the slow motion ending tradition? "The Darjeeling Limited," which began with a slow motion shot of Peter Whitman barely making the namesake train.
3- Mise en Scene
It's all about the details. If you're watching a movie and you feel slightly distorted by a wide angle shots and balanced symmetry of props, then you're in Anderson heaven. Each frame of an Anderson film is packed with props, and a balanced symmetry of the frame, causing slight distortion. This effect can feel almost dream-like, creating a vision that blurs reality with enhanced color palettes as well as elaborate production design. Several of his films use actual sets such as Steve Zissou's boat to contribute an elaborate environment to the story. When there is way too much stuff on the walls in 2.35: 1 aspect ratio you're probably watching a Wes Anderson production.
2- Deteriorating Family
Every Anderson film has a family struggling throughout the narrative. Bob's abuse from his brother Futureman, Mr. Blume's redheaded asshole children, The Tenenbaums, Steve Zissou connecting with his son, and the brothers on board the Darjeeling Limited. Anderson has often stated that J. D. Salinger has been an influence on his writing style balancing the comedy with tragedy at a moment's notice. But Anderson's reflection of families is used as a springboard to address issues such as grief, failure, and regret that have a universal appeal.
1- A Soundtrack You Never Could Have Created
If there's one thing for certain, it's that Anderson can create an amazing soundtrack. His use of sound over the image especially using rock musical compositions has been a trademark since his first film. From the British invasion rock songs of "Rushmore" to the Portuguese David Bowie covers of "Steve Zissou" Anderson's soundtracks have been stellar. With collaboration with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh for original compositions, Anderson's films are ripe with stand out musical tracks. I bet the mix tapes he makes for his friends are the shit.
(from omglists) (also thanks to Greg for the link)
If you're seeing this comic king in a movie that was made in the past ten years it's probably a Wes Anderson movie. Of the last fifteen film projects Murray has done four have been with Anderson. It was his role in "Rushmore" that made him an indie-film darling with such directors as Jim Jarmusch and Sofia Coppola. Murray has a strong commitment to Anderson, backing up the director by pulling out of his own pocket to help shoot a scene and also working for free in "The Royal Tenenbaums". Their film relationship has produced some interesting film experiences as well as a partnership of respect and comradeship.
4- Slow Motion Endings
In all but one of his films, Anderson has ended with the slow motion shot. We saw Dignan leaving for prison in "Bottle Rocket", Max's Dance with Miss Cross in "Rushmore", Royal Tenenbaums's funeral, and Steve Zissou walk the red carpet all in slow motion into the end credits. It's a signature style that Anderson has replicated in most of his films. Also notice the credits, first name in lower and uppercase but the last name is always uppercase. The only movie that broke the slow motion ending tradition? "The Darjeeling Limited," which began with a slow motion shot of Peter Whitman barely making the namesake train.
3- Mise en Scene
It's all about the details. If you're watching a movie and you feel slightly distorted by a wide angle shots and balanced symmetry of props, then you're in Anderson heaven. Each frame of an Anderson film is packed with props, and a balanced symmetry of the frame, causing slight distortion. This effect can feel almost dream-like, creating a vision that blurs reality with enhanced color palettes as well as elaborate production design. Several of his films use actual sets such as Steve Zissou's boat to contribute an elaborate environment to the story. When there is way too much stuff on the walls in 2.35: 1 aspect ratio you're probably watching a Wes Anderson production.
2- Deteriorating Family
Every Anderson film has a family struggling throughout the narrative. Bob's abuse from his brother Futureman, Mr. Blume's redheaded asshole children, The Tenenbaums, Steve Zissou connecting with his son, and the brothers on board the Darjeeling Limited. Anderson has often stated that J. D. Salinger has been an influence on his writing style balancing the comedy with tragedy at a moment's notice. But Anderson's reflection of families is used as a springboard to address issues such as grief, failure, and regret that have a universal appeal.
1- A Soundtrack You Never Could Have Created
If there's one thing for certain, it's that Anderson can create an amazing soundtrack. His use of sound over the image especially using rock musical compositions has been a trademark since his first film. From the British invasion rock songs of "Rushmore" to the Portuguese David Bowie covers of "Steve Zissou" Anderson's soundtracks have been stellar. With collaboration with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh for original compositions, Anderson's films are ripe with stand out musical tracks. I bet the mix tapes he makes for his friends are the shit.
(from omglists) (also thanks to Greg for the link)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
He's Back?
Any Zombie Jesus sightings today? And if so, any idea if he saw his shadow?
update: Tony has informed me that old people are offended by the idea of Zombie Jesus. In case there are any old people who visit my blog I must say, "Who let you on the Internet?"
Saturday, March 22, 2008
My Most Offensive Post Yet
I'm not sure what it says about me but I was cracking up through this entire thing. It's sorta like a really raunchy "Kids in the Hall" bit mixed with a healthy dose of "Coffee Talk". Be forwarned if you are the sensitive type, this does contain very explicit language.
(thanks to Jeremy for the link)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Exciting New Feature!
I've added a polling section to the side of the page. Exciting indeed! Expect a new poll twice a week. They won't be anything brilliant or profound, but if you frequent this site you already know that. I keeps my blog how I keeps my women: quick, dirty, and random.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Best Thing I've Seen All Week
What could possibly happen to this Canadian news reporter doing a broadcast from the bottom of a sledding hill?
Reporter Owned By Sled - Watch more free videos
And he still follows through with the sign-off! Canadians may not be the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, but they are resilient.
Reporter Owned By Sled - Watch more free videos
And he still follows through with the sign-off! Canadians may not be the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, but they are resilient.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
And We Have What To Show For This, Exactly?
If you're looking for something to get fired up about on your Tuesday, try this on for size:
(from Yahoo News)
In its sixth year, the Iraq war is costing the US about $12 billion a month.
(from Yahoo News)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Confession Of A Former Guitar Hero Advocate
You know that line, "Anything you can do, I can do better"? That should be Rock Band's motto because it is absolutely the one true king of peripheral-based musical rhythm games. My allegiances to Guitar Hero have been severed. I have seen the light.Wednesday, March 05, 2008
GameDaily's Top 10 Greatest Gaming Consoles
10) Nintendo Gamecube
09) Sega Genesis
08) Nintendo 64
07) Nintendo Entertainment System
06) Sony PlayStation
05) Super Nintendo Entertainment System
04) Nintendo DS
03) Sony PlayStation 2
02) Sega Dreamcast
01) Microsoft Xbox 360
Blogger's Note: No arguments here!
(info from gamedaily.com)
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
6 Terrible Cameos That Just About Ruined The Movie
6) Ted Danson in Saving Private Ryan
5) Christopher Lloyd in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
4) M. Night Shyamalan in Signs
3) Matt Damon in Finding Forrester
2) Scott Baio, Red Buttons, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sherman Hemsley, Telly Savalas, Ringo Starr, Ernest Borgnine, Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Patrick Duffy, Merv Griffin, Karl Malden, Pat Morita, John Stamos, Sally Struthers, Jonathan Winters and many many more in Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass
1) Bruce Willis in Ocean's 12
(from cracked.com)
5) Christopher Lloyd in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
4) M. Night Shyamalan in Signs
3) Matt Damon in Finding Forrester
2) Scott Baio, Red Buttons, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sherman Hemsley, Telly Savalas, Ringo Starr, Ernest Borgnine, Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Patrick Duffy, Merv Griffin, Karl Malden, Pat Morita, John Stamos, Sally Struthers, Jonathan Winters and many many more in Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass
1) Bruce Willis in Ocean's 12
(from cracked.com)
Available Nights & Weekends
Someone put together a highly scientific test to determine what a person's worth would be as a personal escort. I'm quite pleased with my results and will be turning in my two-weeks notice immediately. To think that I've been doing it for free all this time! If you would like to find out your own value in the sack, simply click on the image.
Powered By TheirToys
Powered By TheirToys
Monday, March 03, 2008
Aged To Perfection
At long last, a huge injustice in the world of old television show libraries made available for consumer purchase has been corrected. Warner Bros. has finally began releasing Perfect Strangers on DVD. I credit this show for helping to shape me into the hilarious human being I am today and it's about damn time it became immortalized in a handy disc form. If you haven't heard already, Perfect Strangers Seasons 1 & 2 are now available for purchase in one attractive package. What's even better is the measly asking price for these 28 episodes is only $24.99! (I was able to score a set for $19.99 at my local Bullmoose Music store. Truth be told, I would have easily paid eight or ten times that price.)
Now you may be thinking to yourself, "Sure, Perfect Strangers was hilarious and fresh when I was a kid but what about now? Could it possibly hold up?" Well I am here to tell you, "Of course it does, don't be ridiculous!" The show has aged extremely well. The interaction between characters is as enjoyable as ever and the jokes still hold up some 20 years later. There was some genuine comedic talent involved in this show and I'm discovering a lot of things about now it that I didn't fully appreciate when I was younger.
But enough rambling; run out and buy it already! We need to band together to ensure they keep releasing future seasons of one of the best sitcoms the 80s had to offer!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Frackin' Sweet
Just because I'm really feeling the Battlestar fever right now...
(You'll definitely want to click on this for a larger view)
He Does Impressions Too
Yes, I realize it's another Matt Damon post but dammit, the guy just keeps being fantastic.
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
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
I Am Not Amused
Top 5 Reasons To Not Like Dane Cook
(from omglists.com)
5- He (probably) steals jokes
This is a huge internet debate. And there is reason to believe this claim because the evidence is somewhat compelling. Stealing jokes is the worst crime in comedy. You just don't do it. If you're caught it's like wearing the scarlet letter around your neck. I've seen comedians kicked out of clubs because of that. Some of his material is really close to Louis C.K. who is a comedian from the same city as Cook. In my opinion I think they are too close to call, but I have seen comics touch on similar topics with almost the same accuracy in terms on content. I mentioned this fact to a Superfan and was told in response "That he did [Louis C.K's] material better anyway". If that's how people are going to look at things then go ahead. Even if he didn't steal his jokes verbatim the material is uninspired.
4- Lack of respect for other comedians
Its hard to be a comedian when other comedians hate you. And I don't mean because you're famous and open mic comedians rag on you. I'm talking about professional comics. Robert Klein, Jim Breuer, and David Cross have all openly talked about their hatred for Mr. Cook. Why? Mostly it's because of the material, but it has to do partially with Cook himself. In a comedy club in Rhode Island Cook did a surprise set before a headliner and ran past his time bleeding into the other performers act. That's a lack of professional courtesy. It doesn't matter how famous you are you NEVER do that. If you look at people from "The Comedians of Comedy" it is all a social network where people respect other peoples material. No matter how many fans you fill in a stadium, it must be hard to go home and have people you respect not respect you. I kind of feel bad for Dane, but there has to be a reason why his peers won't respect him.
3- Dane Cook "Superfans"
I do not hate every Dane Cook fan. Let me just point that out. I have friends who love Dane Cook and listen to him on a regular basis. But for some reason when I tell Superfans "I don't like him", I get my ear chewed off. The level of fan devotion is almost as bad as thirteen-year-old BackStreet Boys fans saying they don't like N'SYNC. When I do come across a Superfan and I talk about Dane Cook they love to pick a fight about why I don't like him.
Me: I just don't think he's that funny.
Fan: Whatever man he's hilarious.
Me: I don't think he is hilarious at all. He's just loud to me sometimes.
Fan: You don't like him because he is famous.
Me: No I DON'T! I just like other comedians better. Their material is stronger.
Fan: Psh. Fuck you. (Fan sticks up super finger)
Fuck me for having an opinion and listening to other comics. Geez.
2- No punchlines
Set them up, Knock them down. Set them up knock it down. That's the basic formula of a joke. Setup, and then a punchline. But watch Dane Cook's stand up material and you will see something bizarre. There are hardly any punchlines. Where there should be a joke, there is a noise, or a funny face. Where is the joke? There is no joke. Dane Cook is the master of manipulation. He would of made a great cheerleader in high school. In terms of energy I have never seen anyone control a crowd so effectively. But in terms of telling a joke he falls flat. If you drank a shot of liquor for every punchline uttered from Dane Cook, it would take you three comedy specials to get drunk. Believe me, I tried.
1- No relevance or longevity
Two comedians before Cook have achieved his level of success. Steve Martin and Richard Pryor have both played to thousands of people but their material pushed boundaries in comedy. Pryor engaged both white and black audiences discussing race relations and his own troubled personal life. Martin created a stage character that was wild and wacky but was also inventive and personable. And after realizing the price of fame can be a disaster, Martin wrote and starred in a catalog of films that are now classics. Cook? Well, that's the thing. In terms of being a comic the only thing to learn from him is that you can create a franchise and sell t-shirts. Fifty years from now Pryor's material will still be valuable by touching on universal themes, while jokes about Burger King may not. Only time can tell.
Blogger's Note: I have definitely locked horns with these Dane Cook "Superfans". It's never a pleasant encounter.
(from omglists.com)
5- He (probably) steals jokes
This is a huge internet debate. And there is reason to believe this claim because the evidence is somewhat compelling. Stealing jokes is the worst crime in comedy. You just don't do it. If you're caught it's like wearing the scarlet letter around your neck. I've seen comedians kicked out of clubs because of that. Some of his material is really close to Louis C.K. who is a comedian from the same city as Cook. In my opinion I think they are too close to call, but I have seen comics touch on similar topics with almost the same accuracy in terms on content. I mentioned this fact to a Superfan and was told in response "That he did [Louis C.K's] material better anyway". If that's how people are going to look at things then go ahead. Even if he didn't steal his jokes verbatim the material is uninspired.
4- Lack of respect for other comedians
Its hard to be a comedian when other comedians hate you. And I don't mean because you're famous and open mic comedians rag on you. I'm talking about professional comics. Robert Klein, Jim Breuer, and David Cross have all openly talked about their hatred for Mr. Cook. Why? Mostly it's because of the material, but it has to do partially with Cook himself. In a comedy club in Rhode Island Cook did a surprise set before a headliner and ran past his time bleeding into the other performers act. That's a lack of professional courtesy. It doesn't matter how famous you are you NEVER do that. If you look at people from "The Comedians of Comedy" it is all a social network where people respect other peoples material. No matter how many fans you fill in a stadium, it must be hard to go home and have people you respect not respect you. I kind of feel bad for Dane, but there has to be a reason why his peers won't respect him.
3- Dane Cook "Superfans"
I do not hate every Dane Cook fan. Let me just point that out. I have friends who love Dane Cook and listen to him on a regular basis. But for some reason when I tell Superfans "I don't like him", I get my ear chewed off. The level of fan devotion is almost as bad as thirteen-year-old BackStreet Boys fans saying they don't like N'SYNC. When I do come across a Superfan and I talk about Dane Cook they love to pick a fight about why I don't like him.
Me: I just don't think he's that funny.
Fan: Whatever man he's hilarious.
Me: I don't think he is hilarious at all. He's just loud to me sometimes.
Fan: You don't like him because he is famous.
Me: No I DON'T! I just like other comedians better. Their material is stronger.
Fan: Psh. Fuck you. (Fan sticks up super finger)
Fuck me for having an opinion and listening to other comics. Geez.
2- No punchlines
Set them up, Knock them down. Set them up knock it down. That's the basic formula of a joke. Setup, and then a punchline. But watch Dane Cook's stand up material and you will see something bizarre. There are hardly any punchlines. Where there should be a joke, there is a noise, or a funny face. Where is the joke? There is no joke. Dane Cook is the master of manipulation. He would of made a great cheerleader in high school. In terms of energy I have never seen anyone control a crowd so effectively. But in terms of telling a joke he falls flat. If you drank a shot of liquor for every punchline uttered from Dane Cook, it would take you three comedy specials to get drunk. Believe me, I tried.
1- No relevance or longevity
Two comedians before Cook have achieved his level of success. Steve Martin and Richard Pryor have both played to thousands of people but their material pushed boundaries in comedy. Pryor engaged both white and black audiences discussing race relations and his own troubled personal life. Martin created a stage character that was wild and wacky but was also inventive and personable. And after realizing the price of fame can be a disaster, Martin wrote and starred in a catalog of films that are now classics. Cook? Well, that's the thing. In terms of being a comic the only thing to learn from him is that you can create a franchise and sell t-shirts. Fifty years from now Pryor's material will still be valuable by touching on universal themes, while jokes about Burger King may not. Only time can tell.
Blogger's Note: I have definitely locked horns with these Dane Cook "Superfans". It's never a pleasant encounter.
The Right Man For The Job
(from The Hollywood Reporter)
Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM.
Del Toro's name was on a short list of directors who could tackle the project, one of the most anticipated literary adaptations of the past decade. An ill-chosen director for "Hobbit" could put billions of dollars at stake for New Line and MGM and could turn off an audience that encompasses millions of passionate readers, Tolkien fans and obsessive geeks.
Few filmmakers have the cachet that del Toro has, as well as a deep love for the source material, an assured grasp of fantasy filmmaking and an understanding and command of geek culture as well as its respect. Del Toro has built that goodwill through such films as the Oscar-nominated "Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy," "Blade 2" (which was made by New Line) and "The Devil's Backbone."
For New Line, making "Hobbit" had become a priority in the wake of its billion-dollar success of the Oscar-winning "The Lord of the Rings" movies, which were co-written and directed by Peter Jackson. Jackson wanted to adapt "Hobbit," but when he got into a dispute with the studio over profit participation, the project went into limbo; neither New Line nor MGM, both rights-holders to the film, wanted to risk alienating fans of the trilogy by making an adaptation that didn't have Jackson's involvement.
The December resolution of the Jackson suit, facilitated by MGM CEO Harry Sloan, paved the way for "Hobbit" to get back on the road to the screen. However, because of other commitments that included "The Lovely Bones" and "Tintin," Jackson could not take on writing and directing roles, opting instead to become an executive producer with approval over creative elements of the pair of films.
Because of the strike, no writer has been hired to adapt Tolkien's children's classic, though that process will be fast-tracked once it's resolved. Del Toro and Jackson will oversee "Hobbit's" writing.
Principal photography for the films, which will be shot simultaneously, is tentatively set for 2009. The production budget is estimated at $150 million per film. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the second in 2011.
Blogger's Note: Del Toro would absolutely be my #1 choice as a replacement for Peter Jackson. Assuming Ian McKellen is still on onboard, this should pan out nicely.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Torrey's Bullet Point Review Of There Will Be Blood
- Daniel Day-Lewis has the Best Actor Oscar in the bag. His performance is simply hypnotic. Paul Dano impressed as well.
- I liked the fact that, unlike PT Anderson's previous works, TWBB didn't feature an all-star cast. I think the fact that it was filled with mostly unknowns helped sell its authenticity as a period piece. There were no moments of, "Hey, there's William H. Macy playing a train conductor!"
- Absolutely perfect score that fits the film beautifully and adds a great deal to the overall presentation. I'm always amazed and delighted when a film's score elevates it to something greater. Star Wars would be a prime example of that.
- I suppose not everyone will be satisfied with the film's ending. I dug it.
- I need to see it again to be sure, but this may be PT's greatest film. I think it's certainly his most focused work to date.
Torrey's Opinion:
Recommended
Random Related Fact:
In an interview on the National Public Radio program "Fresh Air with Terry Gross," Paul Dano told Gross that he had originally been cast in the much smaller role of Paul Sunday, Eli's brother, and another actor had been cast as Eli. However, after Paul Dano had already started filming his one scene as Paul Sunday, Paul Thomas Anderson decided to replace the actor playing Eli. Anderson then asked Dano to play Eli Sunday (a much bigger role) as well as Paul Sunday, and they decided to change the film to make the brothers identical twins. Anderson asked Dano to play Eli on a Thursday, and filming for the role began four days later, on the next Monday. Daniel Day-Lewis, by contrast, had a whole year to prepare to play Daniel Plainview.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Banner's Follies
Kevin Koster, the Assistant Director for the show JAG, compiled a list of every single catalyst that caused David Banner to "Hulk Out" in the old Incredible Hulk series. Here are some of my favs...
- Kicking over a beehive and then being surprised when the bees are mad at him
- Being trapped in the middle of a forest fire so that burning branches keep falling on him and setting him on fire, and a giant, burning tree falls directly on him as the last straw
- Quicksand
- Receiving a lethal injection, and then having the person say, "Oh. I just gave you a lethal injection. Sorry, David."
- Being pushed down a mountainside by a bigfoot impersonator
- Dealing with a pesky operator in a phone booth ("I DON'T HAVE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS!!!")
- Being tied up and fed soup by an elderly Japanese woman who doesn't understand words like "You've GOT to cut me loose!"
- Being placed in a dumpster by the two garbagemen who think he's a thief, and who don't believe him when he says "Hey! There are rats in here!", and then being bitten by the rats to add injury to insult
- Being trapped inside a football stadium drunk tank while his friend is in danger, and THEN having one of the drunks hit him over the head with a metal object
- Receiving a speeding ticket
- Being stuck in a cab in New York rush hour traffic - "You don't understand, I have to be there by 4:00!" - "Hey, mac, it's rush hour, we ain't gettin' there til five, so relax." - "BUT I HAVE TO BE THERE BY FOUR!!!"
- Being pushed out of a plane at 30,000 feet by a mean guy who yells “You’re gonna land a lot sooner than the rest of us!”
- Being stuck in the police department's voice mail system when he knows his friend is about to be the next lobotomy subject, only to have the police finally pick up the phone after he's turning into the Hulk
You can see the complete list here. Thanks to Greg for sharing this.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
My Bullet Point Review Of Cloverfield
(I always try to be vague in these reviews so as not to spoil plot points for anyone. Cloverfield is going to be a significant challenge so I apologize if these points are even more vague than usual.)
- Every so often a movie comes along that is more than a movie, it's an experience. Cloverfield definitely qualifies as such.
- Smatterings of brilliance sprinkled throughout. Several moments that will have you awestruck.
- Very intense and very emotional. This is a movie that sticks with you long after you leave the theatre.
- The fact that a large-scale movie with loads of special effects and very credible actors can be made for around $25 million really shines a light on how grossly over-paid many of Hollywood's "talents" are.
- If you are prone to motion sickness, better take some Dramamine ahead of time.
- Because the film is so incredibly realistic, I found that certain questionable plot points really stood out to me, more so than they probably would have in other movies. They served as unwanted reminders that this was a Hollywood blockbuster after all, despite the filmmakers trying their darnedest to convince me otherwise. It's really too bad because Cloverfield came damn close to perfection in my book.
TORREY'S OPINION:
Recommended
RANDOM RELATED FACT:
The title "Cloverfield"; initially just a codename for the movie, is named for the boulevard in Santa Monica where the Bad Robot offices were located during the making of the film.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
If Looks Could Kill
This pic was taken today at a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event Bush was attending.
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Internet Party
Bryan also linked me to this very clever video made by some folks at cracked.com. Click the pic to get things rolling.Thursday, January 17, 2008
My Bullet Point Reviews Of No Country For Old Men, Juno, And I Am Legend
I caught a few flicks recently and it's time to play catch-up on reviews.
No Country For Old Men
- Probably my favorite Coen Bros movie since Fargo.
- As with all Coen Bros flicks, fantastic casting.
- Tommy Lee Jones restoring some dignity in the role he was born to play.
- The pacing and tone of the film many turn off some folks. They have my pity.
TORREY'S OPINION:
Recommended
RANDOM RELATED FACT:
Contrary to most successful films made from books, much of the film's action is taken word for word from Cormac McCarthy's novel and to boot occurs in the same order of events. Bell's final speech in the film, for instance, can be read on the final page of the book.
Juno
- Superb casting, top to bottom.
- Juno has a quirky sense of humor but manages to remain accessible to a general audience. I'd watch it with my Mom.
- The soundtrack fits like a glove.
- I wouldn't want to know the person who doesn't take away some measure of joy from this film.
TORREY'S OPINION:
Strongly Recommended
RANDOM RELATED FACT:
The hamburger phone in the movie is owned by the writer, Diablo Cody.
I Am Legend
- Will Smith is great in it.
- There were moments of brilliance scattered throughout. I really enjoyed the parts that dealt with feelings of solitude and longing for human contact.
- The last half hour feels very rushed. A lot of things happen out of convenience.
- I have made the comment to some that I think the premise would work much better as a three season run on the Sci-Fi Channel.
TORREY'S OPINION:
A Mixed Bag
RANDOM RELATED FACT:
All of the paintings in Dr. Neville's house were taken from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
EW's 25 Best Sci-Fi Movies & Shows Of The Past 25 Years
25. V: The Miniseries (1983)
24. Galaxy Quest (1999)
23. Doctor Who (1963-Present)
22. Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
21. Futurama (1999-2003)
20. Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005)
19. Starship Troopers (1997)
18. Heroes (2006-Present)
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
16. Total Recall (1990)
15. Firefly/Serenity (2002/2005)
14. Children of Men (2006)
13. The Terminator/Terminator 2 (1984/1991)
12. Back to the Future (1985)
11. LOST (2004-Present)
10. The Thing (1982)
09. Aliens (1986)
08. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
07. E.T. (1982)
06. Brazil (1985)
05. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
04. The X-Files (1993-2002)
03. Blade Runner (1982)
02. Battlestar Galactica (2003-Present)
01. The Matrix (1999)
I often think Entertainment Weekly is a crock of shit, but they've actually put together a darn fine list of great sci-fi. Sure we could haggle about the ordering until the cows come home, but there's a lot to love here. Anyone have any write-ins?
24. Galaxy Quest (1999)
23. Doctor Who (1963-Present)
22. Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
21. Futurama (1999-2003)
20. Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005)
19. Starship Troopers (1997)
18. Heroes (2006-Present)
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
16. Total Recall (1990)
15. Firefly/Serenity (2002/2005)
14. Children of Men (2006)
13. The Terminator/Terminator 2 (1984/1991)
12. Back to the Future (1985)
11. LOST (2004-Present)
10. The Thing (1982)
09. Aliens (1986)
08. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
07. E.T. (1982)
06. Brazil (1985)
05. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
04. The X-Files (1993-2002)
03. Blade Runner (1982)
02. Battlestar Galactica (2003-Present)
01. The Matrix (1999)
I often think Entertainment Weekly is a crock of shit, but they've actually put together a darn fine list of great sci-fi. Sure we could haggle about the ordering until the cows come home, but there's a lot to love here. Anyone have any write-ins?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Friday, January 04, 2008
Pod People, I Turn To You In My Hour Of Need
So, I want to get some sort of transmitter for my iPod to use in the car but I'm having a pickle of a time finding something of good quality. Ideally I'd like a hookup that kept the player charged while in use but my biggest concern is sound quality. Before I continue this vicious cycle of trial and return I figured I would turn to you iPod-owning folks to find out what is working for you in your automobiles. Please comment any suggestions; I'll greatly appreciate the help.
Eating A Banana La-La-La
I share with you now an original poem written for me today by Jeremy Snell:
I eat a banana
When my tummy rumbles.
The long yellow fruit
Helps my mind not stumble.
It tastes like a rainbow
When I lick it high to low.
And it tickles my nose
When wrapped in pantyhose.
I eat a banana
But not for an entire feast.
They help me see in the dark
Like a man-cat beast!
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