So last night was the finale of the fifth season of Top Chef on Bravo. Having worked in a restaurant a great deal I've served my share of good food (a hearty emphasis on served; I'm far to lazy too cook at all much less very well), but being a man of humble means, I've seen only glimpses of the crème de la crème. The best I can probably recall was the five course taster menu that my brother and I enjoyed at Alan Wong's in Honolulu for his 25th birthday (highlight's included "soup & sandwich" Tomato soup and Mozz/foie gras grilled cheese, poached lobster, onaga, twice-cooked shortrib, and coconut tapioca).
However the finale two challenges this season took place in New Orleans, and I certainly have some fond foodie memories of that place. There was dinner at Arnaud's my freshman year with my father (My first taste of turtle soup to start followed by Chicken Pontalba). There was the Brennan's two-fer for my 21st birthday: the Bourbon House the night before, and of course brunch at the original Brennan's on the day of (Eggs Nouvelle Orleans has yet to be dethroned as my most delectable breakfast ever, but the best part was the Banana's Foster fireball that nearly consumed my brother's head). And of course there was the no holds barred tour for my college graduation, that included lunch at Galatoire's (an unparalleled softshell crab sandwich), and dinner at the site of last night's Top Chef finale Commander's Palace (soup trio, and resplendent Gulf fish).
Coming into the finale we had the prohibitive favorite, the caustic Stefan who after displaying his prowess over the rest of the competition challenge after challenge, is starting to slow down at the wrong moment. We had Hosea, by all rights a strong chef, but not entirely the most consistent throughout the competition as he's been too easily distracted by Stefan's largess, and Leah's feminine wiles. And we had the Martian Carla. She nearly got eliminated twice for being less than assertive, but she clearly has the most momentum coming into the finale. I would have to say I was rooting for Carla.
Every season has had its heel (Stephen, Marcel, Hung, Howie) and often times it is one of the most talented, if not the most talented competitor. I've only ever rooted for the once before (I was satisfied when Hung took the title in Season 3). While Stefan was undoubtedly the strongest in this season, I didn't want him to win.
As the judges all commented favorably on each contestant's hors d'œuvres it looked to be shaping up to be one hell of a competition. And Carla killed both the boys with her first course; should serve as a warning against future chefs to think against presenting raw fish in the final round.
Unfortunately this was the peak for Carla as she revealed her weakness in her last two courses, relying to heavily on her sous chef Casey's advice. She won an earlier challenge by showing her ability w/ simple cooking, and yet she chose to sous vide her protein. How do you send the love in the sous vide bag Carla? And you absolutely killed w/ your tart's previously. The small oversight with overcooking the souffle was almost like karma kicking you for straying from your strengths.
In the second course Hosea showed up well with his foie gras & scallops. I'm a little astounded that there was even an issue in the kitchen about the foie. Hosea, if their are THREE portions of foie for a competition with THREE contestants, shouldn't you only need one? Stefan shouldn't have even had to contest his right to some of that foie. I think karma again reared its ugly head, as Stefan's perfectly cooked squab & braised cabbage out-shined Hosea's dish.
The final course became a semantics argument that truly deflated the competition. Hosea chose to forego the logical choice of doing a dessert, chosing to stay true to the natural progression of him dishes by cooking venision (on an unrelated note, I've been craving a good venison dish for months). This decision can viewed as cowardly or cunning. Hosea mentioned that he didn't want to lose Top Chef on a dessert, and who can blame him. But a good chef should have at least one good dessert up their sleeve.
Stefan never thought twice about doing a dessert. Why should he? His desserts in the Restaurant Wars challenge single-handedly saved Leah from going home. But he somehow forgot that this was the last course he would be serving in this competition, and he under-delivered in a big way. Its a shame that he had the stones to do a dessert, yet lost b/c of it. I actually think that next season that the dessert should be made a mandatory part of the final challenge. In my mind's eye I see it as a pitch-perfect twist: Have them plan their perfect meal excluding dessert only to throw it on the table for the contestants in the eleventh hour.
Overall I was disappointed. Hosea clearly won the final challenge, but he is by far the weakest chef of the five victors (Harold, Hung, & certainly Stephanie are leagues ahead of him). Hopefully next season turns out better.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
my favorite people/things from the Oscars this year
Hugh Jackman
No offense Billy Crystal, but his musical bits were better. Its great that even a wider audience now knows that he's capable of doing much more than scratching things with his adamantium claws. He's a Tony-award winning muscial theater actor everyone. Recognize.
Phillip Petit
Man on Wire won for Best Documentary Feature, and the film's subect balances the Oscar upside-down on his chin. Gotta say I never saw that one before.
Kate Winslet
My favorite speech of the night. The moment where she asks her father to whistle so she see him in the audience was priceless. Sure Meryl has lost more Oscar races than she has, but she also won on her second nomination, so those losses have to be easier to take. Thank god they finally gave Kate her due.
(honorable mention for favorite speech moment has to go to the guy who won for Best Animated Short Film...He can barely speak English, and yet he can make me crack a genuine laugh by quoting a Styx song.)
Steve Martin & Tina Fey
While some might pick their thinly-veiled dig at Scientology, but I thought Martin's last line "Don't fall in love with me" was gold. Kudos to the Oscar producers for surprising no one and finding a way to get the red hot Fey on the stage.
James Franco & Seth Rogen
The short film they made w/ Judd Apatow was solid. The idea of stoners finding the overly-serious Best Picture nominees hilarious is not particularly clever, but it was delivered well, and the awkward moment after the clip of Franco kissing Spicoli had to be done. And the cherry on top was James Franco butchering the German pronunciation of the winning live action short film (Spielzeugland). Way to put that Columbia University education to good use.
The younger actors from Slumdog Millionaire
It was not a surprise that Slumdog would clean up this year. But those kids were awesome. On the red carpet they exposed Ryan Seacrest for being a talentless hack (he didn't even try to pronounce their names, they refused to shout them all at once when he asked, he singled out the only one that didn't speak English to interview individually first...needless to say it was a train wreck). And I love it when the Best Picture winner becomes a chance for all involved to come on stage. Even though its the film producer who gets the statue, the award is called Best Picture. Each piece of the intricate puzzle that makes up an impressive film deserves to be on that stage
Seeing the kid who played the youngest version of Salim high-fiving Danny Boyle was really neat. You can't really replicate the brightness of his smile on that stage.
Acting nominee tributes
This was a new wrinkle in the show this year, and I loved it. They brought out five former winners of each acting award to praise each of the 20 nominees individually. Almost every one of the nominees was visibly moved by the gesture. I'd imagine that it was supremely tough to coordinate (they had sneak some of the bigger stars in through a side entrance to keep the surprise intact, and finding 20 former winners had to be a scheduling nightmare), but I really hope they try to do this again.
Good show...will have to keep me until next year.
PS - I hope they keep doing the Coming Attractions previews after the show. That was the first look I got at Public Enemies. Michael Mann really got himself a dynamite cast: Depp, Bale, Cotillard...(and that only scratches the surface)...really looking forward to that one.
No offense Billy Crystal, but his musical bits were better. Its great that even a wider audience now knows that he's capable of doing much more than scratching things with his adamantium claws. He's a Tony-award winning muscial theater actor everyone. Recognize.
Phillip Petit
Man on Wire won for Best Documentary Feature, and the film's subect balances the Oscar upside-down on his chin. Gotta say I never saw that one before.
Kate Winslet
My favorite speech of the night. The moment where she asks her father to whistle so she see him in the audience was priceless. Sure Meryl has lost more Oscar races than she has, but she also won on her second nomination, so those losses have to be easier to take. Thank god they finally gave Kate her due.
(honorable mention for favorite speech moment has to go to the guy who won for Best Animated Short Film...He can barely speak English, and yet he can make me crack a genuine laugh by quoting a Styx song.)
Steve Martin & Tina Fey
While some might pick their thinly-veiled dig at Scientology, but I thought Martin's last line "Don't fall in love with me" was gold. Kudos to the Oscar producers for surprising no one and finding a way to get the red hot Fey on the stage.
James Franco & Seth Rogen
The short film they made w/ Judd Apatow was solid. The idea of stoners finding the overly-serious Best Picture nominees hilarious is not particularly clever, but it was delivered well, and the awkward moment after the clip of Franco kissing Spicoli had to be done. And the cherry on top was James Franco butchering the German pronunciation of the winning live action short film (Spielzeugland). Way to put that Columbia University education to good use.
Pineapple Express at the Oscars! - watch more funny videos
The younger actors from Slumdog Millionaire
It was not a surprise that Slumdog would clean up this year. But those kids were awesome. On the red carpet they exposed Ryan Seacrest for being a talentless hack (he didn't even try to pronounce their names, they refused to shout them all at once when he asked, he singled out the only one that didn't speak English to interview individually first...needless to say it was a train wreck). And I love it when the Best Picture winner becomes a chance for all involved to come on stage. Even though its the film producer who gets the statue, the award is called Best Picture. Each piece of the intricate puzzle that makes up an impressive film deserves to be on that stage
Seeing the kid who played the youngest version of Salim high-fiving Danny Boyle was really neat. You can't really replicate the brightness of his smile on that stage.
Acting nominee tributes
This was a new wrinkle in the show this year, and I loved it. They brought out five former winners of each acting award to praise each of the 20 nominees individually. Almost every one of the nominees was visibly moved by the gesture. I'd imagine that it was supremely tough to coordinate (they had sneak some of the bigger stars in through a side entrance to keep the surprise intact, and finding 20 former winners had to be a scheduling nightmare), but I really hope they try to do this again.
Good show...will have to keep me until next year.
PS - I hope they keep doing the Coming Attractions previews after the show. That was the first look I got at Public Enemies. Michael Mann really got himself a dynamite cast: Depp, Bale, Cotillard...(and that only scratches the surface)...really looking forward to that one.
Friday, February 20, 2009
and the Oscar goes to...
So this Sunday is it. The culmination of movie awards season. Zee Oscars.
With the exception of 2007 (when I was stuck toiling away on a cruise ship) I've sat through the 4+ hour marathon that is the Oscars every year since 2001. I don't ogle the fashion. I just love to see the show. See the first time winners struggle to find the words...see the smug previous winners act as though they walk on water. Its a great time.
This year Hugh Jackman is hosting. Expect him to sing. And dance. and crack jokes given to him by funnier people (I heard Ricky Gervais gave him some material). I will be satisfied if he throws at least one of his former co-stars under the bus (I'm rooting for Christian Bale jokes, but I'll bet on Nicole Kidman jokes).
Its killed me that since I began to gobble up every bit on online Oscar buzz, I've not worked in an office that has an Oscar pool. I'm convinced I would clean up.
Anyway here are my guesses for each of the awards to be handed out on Sunday:
Lets start out with the three categories that absolutely no one cares about except for the nominees. You'd be better off picking the over/under on how far from the stage the eventual winners will be seated.
My predicitions for winners will be in bold (EDIT: I just realized that the bold doesn't show up well at all against the black background, so I'm going to change the color of the my picks to red as well as keep them bold). The films I've actually seen are designated with a "-"
Best Short Film, Live Action
Nominees:
Auf der Strecke (On The Line)(2007): Reto Caffi
Manon sur le bitume (Manon on the Asphalt)(2007): Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont
New Boy (2007): Steph Green, Tamara Anghie
Grisen (The Pig) (2008): Tivi Magnusson, Dorthe Warnø Høgh
Spielzeugland (Toyland) (2007): Jochen Alexander Freydank
At the 2004 Oscars, one of the nominees was a film called Most. It was co-written/produced by one William Zabka, 80's high school bully extraordinaire. Alas the former Cobra Kai could not take it down, and that's the most exciting this category has ever been.
Spielzeugland (Toyland) is about the Holocaust. Ship it. Print.
Best Short Film, Animated
Nominees:
La Maison en Petits Cubes (Pieces of Love): Kunio Kato
Ubornaya istoriya - lyubovnaya istoriya (Lavatory Lovestory) (2007): Konstantin Bronzit
Oktapodi (2007): Emud Mokhberi, Thierry Marchand
-Presto (2008): Doug Sweetland
-This Way Up (2008): Alan Smith, Adam Foulkes
Presto was the Pixar short that ran before Wall*E. These used to be money, but they haven't won since For the Birds in 2002 (it ran before Monsters Inc.). Got to peep This Way Up on iTunes last month, and I'm going on a limb for this one.
Best Documentary, Short Subjects
Nominees:
The Conscience of Nhem En (2008): Steven Okazaki
The Final Inch (2008): Irene Taylor Brodsky, Tom Grant
Smile Pinki (2008): Megan Mylan
The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 (2008): Adam Pertofsky, Margaret Hyde
Haven't seen any of these, but my pick is a description of the assassination of MLK from someone who was on the titular balcony. If its halfway well shot its in the bag.
Best Documentary, Features
Nominees:
The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008): Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath
Encounters at the End of the World (2007): Werner Herzog, Henry Kaiser
The Garden (2008/I): Scott Hamilton Kennedy
-Man on Wire (2008): James Marsh, Simon Chinn
Trouble the Water (2008): Tia Lessin, Carl Deal
Man on Wire is killing at every major award show. Trouble the Water is the one on this list I most want to see (I ♥ you NOLA). And I just received Encounters at the End of the World from Netflix yesterday (if its even half as good as Herzog's last documentary Grizzly Man, I will be satisfied.
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Nominees:
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)(Germany)
Entre les murs (The Class)(2008)(France)
Revanche (2008)(Austria)
Okuribito (Departures)(2008)(Japan)
Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)(2008)(Israel)
Its a close race b/t The Class and Waltz with Bashir. The Class won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. I picked the one that one the Golden Globe (not that those awards have ANY bearing on these), but the trailer for Bashir is much cooler.
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Nominees:
Bolt (2008): Chris Williams, Byron Howard
-Kung Fu Panda (2008): John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
-WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton
I subscribe to the argument that Wall*E was very much in the running for a Best Picture nomination, so this category is no contest (I would have given the noms for the Reader and Frost/Nixon to Wall*E and the Dark Knight).
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
-The Dark Knight (2008): Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin
-Iron Man (2008): John Nelson, Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Shane Mahan
Actually a tougher category to call despite there being so few nominees. The Dark Knight featured more practical effects than CGI so that rounds out the bottom. It becomes a choice b/t a movie driven by effects (Iron Man) and one that depends on them heavily but to a subtle result (Button). I'm going with the Forrest Gump rip-off.
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Nominees:
-The Dark Knight (2008): Richard King
-Iron Man (2008): Frank E. Eulner, Christopher Boyes
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Tom Sayers
-WALL·E (2008): Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
-Wanted (2008): Wylie Stateman
I love how every awards predictor has to define this category along with the other. Sound editing aka Sound design. Its all about creating sounds. I gotta go with the those cute robots.
Best Achievement in Sound
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
-The Dark Knight (2008): Ed Novick, Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
-WALL·E (2008): Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
-Wanted (2008): Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt
Achievement in Sound aka Sound "Mixing." Its all about balancing your noise with your score, and your dialogue. Usually I'd pick the Sound categories to go to the same film, but I gotta go w/ TDK. And I think this is the last category I'll be picking Slumdog Millionaire to lose.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Nominees:
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Gulzar("Jai Ho")
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Maya Arulpragasam("O Saya")
-WALL·E (2008): Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman("Down to Earth")
Don't understand why Bruce Springsteen's song from The Wrestler didn't make the cut here. But Early on it looked like that lovely (see also putrid) song from Bolt by Miley Cyrus & John Travolta was going to be in the running. Now I know this category allows for incredible statements like "Alfred Hitchcock and Federico Fellini never won Oscars, but Eminem and Three Six Mafia have." But having to even think much less say Miley Cyrus Oscar winner makes me dry-heave. This song and its corresponding dance number were awesome.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Alexandre Desplat
-Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
-Milk (2008): Danny Elfman
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman
-WALL·E (2008): Thomas Newman
Its a travesty that Howard and Zimmer got snubbed here for their incredible work in The Dark Knight, but this award has always belonged to Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Achievement in Makeup
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Greg Cannom
-The Dark Knight (2008): John Caglione Jr., Conor O'Sullivan
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008): Mike Elizalde, Thomas Floutz
This one gets tough b/c every single one of these movies mixes CGI w/ extensive makeup. I can't give it to TDK, solely b/c of The Joker, and I think Brad Pitt is more CGI-ed than he is made up. Perelman sat in that makeup chair for four hours each day to become Big Red.
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Nominees:
Australia (2008): Catherine Martin
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Jacqueline West
The Duchess (2008): Michael O'Connor
-Milk (2008): Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road (2008): Albert Wolsky
Could go to Button, but The Duchess plays like a period piece fashion show.
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Nominees:
-Changeling (2008): James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
-The Dark Knight (2008): Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
The Duchess (2008): Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
Revolutionary Road (2008): Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt
AKA...best production design. I think TDK could upset Button here, but I felt like they used practial locations more often than "constructing their set," and Button recreated several different periods and places as it moved through history.
Best Achievement in Editing
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
-The Dark Knight (2008): Lee Smith
-Frost/Nixon (2008): Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
-Milk (2008): Elliot Graham
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Chris Dickens
Slumdog took the corresponding guild award (ACE), and I noticed the editing choices more in this one. I felt that Button could have been cut better, but I wouldn't be surprised if TDK gets a pity win here in response to its Best Picture snub.
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Nominees:
-Changeling (2008): Tom Stern
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Claudio Miranda
-The Dark Knight (2008): Wally Pfister
-The Reader (2008): Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Anthony Dod Mantle
Again going with the guild winner, Although Pfister's chances have signicant traction with TDK. I think its a crime that Roger Deakins will likely get forgotten in this category. The Reader is not his best work, but after eight nominations he should have won by now.
Now into the big ones...writing, acting, directing, and the big chalupa...
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
-Doubt (2008/I): John Patrick Shanley
-Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
-The Reader (2008): David Hare
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy
If this goes any other way you'll probably be able to fly a plane in my mouth.
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Nominees:
-Frozen River (2008): Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008): Mike Leigh
-In Bruges (2008): Martin McDonagh
-Milk (2008): Dustin Lance Black
-WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon
This category ends up being a huge consolation prize for the second-best Best Picture nominee in many years (see Diablo Cody for Juno, or Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation) so that's why I think Milk has the edge. In Bruges & Wall*E are gaining ground, but I don't think they'll pull the upset.
Best Achievement in Directing
Nominees:
-Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
-Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
-David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
-Gus Van Sant for Milk (2008)
Nolan not getting a nomination here was a big surprise. But Boyle is the clear winner. Kinda surprising that this is Fincher's first nomination (for his second-worst movie so far imho).
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
-Amy Adams for Doubt (2008/I)
Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
-Viola Davis for Doubt (2008/I)
-Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)
This category was all but won by Winslet for the Reader, and they threw her in the bigger category. And now Cruz is the frontrunner. Some are picking Davis to pull a Judi Dench (winning for a perf with such little screentime) but I don't think thats possible for a first-time nominee (Dench had lost in the previous year to Helen Hunt).
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
-Josh Brolin for Milk (2008)
-Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
-Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008/I)
-Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road (2008)
This is surest bet all night. What you should take bets on is who gets to accept the award on his behalf. Ledger's dad? His three-year-old daughter? Nolan?... If someone else actually wins, they will have the inside track on the most awkward acceptance speech in Oscar history.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)
-Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
-Melissa Leo for Frozen River (2008)
-Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008/I)
-Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)
Sixth time's the charm for Winslet. She's the frontrunner for the first time. Hopefully the bad press the movie is getting doesn't hurt her campaign. I think Melissa Leo will steal enough votes from Meryl to ship it to Kate.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees:
-Richard Jenkins for The Visitor (2007/I)
-Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
-Sean Penn for Milk (2008)
-Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)
This is the toughest one to call. Penn and Rourke are literally neck and neck. In the end I think Rourke elevated his character more than Penn. I could see someone else playing Harvey Milk, but no one else could be Randy "The Ram." I say that all the old Academy voters who go mushy for biopic leads will split their votes between Penn and Langella, and this will clear the way for Rourke to snag the statue.
And finally...
Best Motion Picture of the Year
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Ceán Chaffin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
-Frost/Nixon (2008): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner
-Milk (2008/I): Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
-The Reader (2008): Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti, Redmond Morris
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Christian Colson
Slumdog is a juggernaut very similarly to what Return of the King was in 2004 (although a clean sweep is highly unlikely). Now that they finally named the nominees for producing The Reader, the nomination makes since. Both Minghella and Pollack, Oscar darlings died while this movie was in production. This nomination is their subtle curtain call.
OK so that's done... many thanks to info I've gathered all over the web most notably at The Envelope: The LA Times Awards Insider, The Oscar Warrior at Comingsoon.net, and Brad Brevet at Rope of Silicon.
With the exception of 2007 (when I was stuck toiling away on a cruise ship) I've sat through the 4+ hour marathon that is the Oscars every year since 2001. I don't ogle the fashion. I just love to see the show. See the first time winners struggle to find the words...see the smug previous winners act as though they walk on water. Its a great time.
This year Hugh Jackman is hosting. Expect him to sing. And dance. and crack jokes given to him by funnier people (I heard Ricky Gervais gave him some material). I will be satisfied if he throws at least one of his former co-stars under the bus (I'm rooting for Christian Bale jokes, but I'll bet on Nicole Kidman jokes).
Its killed me that since I began to gobble up every bit on online Oscar buzz, I've not worked in an office that has an Oscar pool. I'm convinced I would clean up.
Anyway here are my guesses for each of the awards to be handed out on Sunday:
Lets start out with the three categories that absolutely no one cares about except for the nominees. You'd be better off picking the over/under on how far from the stage the eventual winners will be seated.
My predicitions for winners will be in bold (EDIT: I just realized that the bold doesn't show up well at all against the black background, so I'm going to change the color of the my picks to red as well as keep them bold). The films I've actually seen are designated with a "-"
Best Short Film, Live Action
Nominees:
Auf der Strecke (On The Line)(2007): Reto Caffi
Manon sur le bitume (Manon on the Asphalt)(2007): Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont
New Boy (2007): Steph Green, Tamara Anghie
Grisen (The Pig) (2008): Tivi Magnusson, Dorthe Warnø Høgh
Spielzeugland (Toyland) (2007): Jochen Alexander Freydank
At the 2004 Oscars, one of the nominees was a film called Most. It was co-written/produced by one William Zabka, 80's high school bully extraordinaire. Alas the former Cobra Kai could not take it down, and that's the most exciting this category has ever been.
Spielzeugland (Toyland) is about the Holocaust. Ship it. Print.
Best Short Film, Animated
Nominees:
La Maison en Petits Cubes (Pieces of Love): Kunio Kato
Ubornaya istoriya - lyubovnaya istoriya (Lavatory Lovestory) (2007): Konstantin Bronzit
Oktapodi (2007): Emud Mokhberi, Thierry Marchand
-Presto (2008): Doug Sweetland
-This Way Up (2008): Alan Smith, Adam Foulkes
Presto was the Pixar short that ran before Wall*E. These used to be money, but they haven't won since For the Birds in 2002 (it ran before Monsters Inc.). Got to peep This Way Up on iTunes last month, and I'm going on a limb for this one.
Best Documentary, Short Subjects
Nominees:
The Conscience of Nhem En (2008): Steven Okazaki
The Final Inch (2008): Irene Taylor Brodsky, Tom Grant
Smile Pinki (2008): Megan Mylan
The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 (2008): Adam Pertofsky, Margaret Hyde
Haven't seen any of these, but my pick is a description of the assassination of MLK from someone who was on the titular balcony. If its halfway well shot its in the bag.
Best Documentary, Features
Nominees:
The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008): Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath
Encounters at the End of the World (2007): Werner Herzog, Henry Kaiser
The Garden (2008/I): Scott Hamilton Kennedy
-Man on Wire (2008): James Marsh, Simon Chinn
Trouble the Water (2008): Tia Lessin, Carl Deal
Man on Wire is killing at every major award show. Trouble the Water is the one on this list I most want to see (I ♥ you NOLA). And I just received Encounters at the End of the World from Netflix yesterday (if its even half as good as Herzog's last documentary Grizzly Man, I will be satisfied.
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Nominees:
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)(Germany)
Entre les murs (The Class)(2008)(France)
Revanche (2008)(Austria)
Okuribito (Departures)(2008)(Japan)
Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)(2008)(Israel)
Its a close race b/t The Class and Waltz with Bashir. The Class won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. I picked the one that one the Golden Globe (not that those awards have ANY bearing on these), but the trailer for Bashir is much cooler.
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Nominees:
Bolt (2008): Chris Williams, Byron Howard
-Kung Fu Panda (2008): John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
-WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton
I subscribe to the argument that Wall*E was very much in the running for a Best Picture nomination, so this category is no contest (I would have given the noms for the Reader and Frost/Nixon to Wall*E and the Dark Knight).
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
-The Dark Knight (2008): Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin
-Iron Man (2008): John Nelson, Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Shane Mahan
Actually a tougher category to call despite there being so few nominees. The Dark Knight featured more practical effects than CGI so that rounds out the bottom. It becomes a choice b/t a movie driven by effects (Iron Man) and one that depends on them heavily but to a subtle result (Button). I'm going with the Forrest Gump rip-off.
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Nominees:
-The Dark Knight (2008): Richard King
-Iron Man (2008): Frank E. Eulner, Christopher Boyes
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Tom Sayers
-WALL·E (2008): Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
-Wanted (2008): Wylie Stateman
I love how every awards predictor has to define this category along with the other. Sound editing aka Sound design. Its all about creating sounds. I gotta go with the those cute robots.
Best Achievement in Sound
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
-The Dark Knight (2008): Ed Novick, Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
-WALL·E (2008): Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
-Wanted (2008): Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt
Achievement in Sound aka Sound "Mixing." Its all about balancing your noise with your score, and your dialogue. Usually I'd pick the Sound categories to go to the same film, but I gotta go w/ TDK. And I think this is the last category I'll be picking Slumdog Millionaire to lose.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Nominees:
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Gulzar("Jai Ho")
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Maya Arulpragasam("O Saya")
-WALL·E (2008): Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman("Down to Earth")
Don't understand why Bruce Springsteen's song from The Wrestler didn't make the cut here. But Early on it looked like that lovely (see also putrid) song from Bolt by Miley Cyrus & John Travolta was going to be in the running. Now I know this category allows for incredible statements like "Alfred Hitchcock and Federico Fellini never won Oscars, but Eminem and Three Six Mafia have." But having to even think much less say Miley Cyrus Oscar winner makes me dry-heave. This song and its corresponding dance number were awesome.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Alexandre Desplat
-Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
-Milk (2008): Danny Elfman
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman
-WALL·E (2008): Thomas Newman
Its a travesty that Howard and Zimmer got snubbed here for their incredible work in The Dark Knight, but this award has always belonged to Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Achievement in Makeup
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Greg Cannom
-The Dark Knight (2008): John Caglione Jr., Conor O'Sullivan
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008): Mike Elizalde, Thomas Floutz
This one gets tough b/c every single one of these movies mixes CGI w/ extensive makeup. I can't give it to TDK, solely b/c of The Joker, and I think Brad Pitt is more CGI-ed than he is made up. Perelman sat in that makeup chair for four hours each day to become Big Red.
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Nominees:
Australia (2008): Catherine Martin
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Jacqueline West
The Duchess (2008): Michael O'Connor
-Milk (2008): Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road (2008): Albert Wolsky
Could go to Button, but The Duchess plays like a period piece fashion show.
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Nominees:
-Changeling (2008): James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
-The Dark Knight (2008): Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
The Duchess (2008): Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
Revolutionary Road (2008): Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt
AKA...best production design. I think TDK could upset Button here, but I felt like they used practial locations more often than "constructing their set," and Button recreated several different periods and places as it moved through history.
Best Achievement in Editing
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
-The Dark Knight (2008): Lee Smith
-Frost/Nixon (2008): Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
-Milk (2008): Elliot Graham
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Chris Dickens
Slumdog took the corresponding guild award (ACE), and I noticed the editing choices more in this one. I felt that Button could have been cut better, but I wouldn't be surprised if TDK gets a pity win here in response to its Best Picture snub.
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Nominees:
-Changeling (2008): Tom Stern
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Claudio Miranda
-The Dark Knight (2008): Wally Pfister
-The Reader (2008): Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Anthony Dod Mantle
Again going with the guild winner, Although Pfister's chances have signicant traction with TDK. I think its a crime that Roger Deakins will likely get forgotten in this category. The Reader is not his best work, but after eight nominations he should have won by now.
Now into the big ones...writing, acting, directing, and the big chalupa...
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Nominees:
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
-Doubt (2008/I): John Patrick Shanley
-Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
-The Reader (2008): David Hare
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy
If this goes any other way you'll probably be able to fly a plane in my mouth.
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Nominees:
-Frozen River (2008): Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008): Mike Leigh
-In Bruges (2008): Martin McDonagh
-Milk (2008): Dustin Lance Black
-WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon
This category ends up being a huge consolation prize for the second-best Best Picture nominee in many years (see Diablo Cody for Juno, or Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation) so that's why I think Milk has the edge. In Bruges & Wall*E are gaining ground, but I don't think they'll pull the upset.
Best Achievement in Directing
Nominees:
-Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
-Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
-David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
-Gus Van Sant for Milk (2008)
Nolan not getting a nomination here was a big surprise. But Boyle is the clear winner. Kinda surprising that this is Fincher's first nomination (for his second-worst movie so far imho).
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
-Amy Adams for Doubt (2008/I)
Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
-Viola Davis for Doubt (2008/I)
-Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)
This category was all but won by Winslet for the Reader, and they threw her in the bigger category. And now Cruz is the frontrunner. Some are picking Davis to pull a Judi Dench (winning for a perf with such little screentime) but I don't think thats possible for a first-time nominee (Dench had lost in the previous year to Helen Hunt).
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
-Josh Brolin for Milk (2008)
-Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
-Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008/I)
-Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road (2008)
This is surest bet all night. What you should take bets on is who gets to accept the award on his behalf. Ledger's dad? His three-year-old daughter? Nolan?... If someone else actually wins, they will have the inside track on the most awkward acceptance speech in Oscar history.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)
-Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
-Melissa Leo for Frozen River (2008)
-Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008/I)
-Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)
Sixth time's the charm for Winslet. She's the frontrunner for the first time. Hopefully the bad press the movie is getting doesn't hurt her campaign. I think Melissa Leo will steal enough votes from Meryl to ship it to Kate.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees:
-Richard Jenkins for The Visitor (2007/I)
-Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
-Sean Penn for Milk (2008)
-Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)
This is the toughest one to call. Penn and Rourke are literally neck and neck. In the end I think Rourke elevated his character more than Penn. I could see someone else playing Harvey Milk, but no one else could be Randy "The Ram." I say that all the old Academy voters who go mushy for biopic leads will split their votes between Penn and Langella, and this will clear the way for Rourke to snag the statue.
And finally...
Best Motion Picture of the Year
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Ceán Chaffin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
-Frost/Nixon (2008): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner
-Milk (2008/I): Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
-The Reader (2008): Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti, Redmond Morris
-Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Christian Colson
Slumdog is a juggernaut very similarly to what Return of the King was in 2004 (although a clean sweep is highly unlikely). Now that they finally named the nominees for producing The Reader, the nomination makes since. Both Minghella and Pollack, Oscar darlings died while this movie was in production. This nomination is their subtle curtain call.
OK so that's done... many thanks to info I've gathered all over the web most notably at The Envelope: The LA Times Awards Insider, The Oscar Warrior at Comingsoon.net, and Brad Brevet at Rope of Silicon.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
an actors director ... and good guy
So I finally watched The Wrestler last night. It serves to reinforce my huge geekdom when talking about Darren Aronofsky. This post should serve as a sort of pre-rambling to a massive oscar-prediction write-up.
One of the downsides to living in a small town is that we have one ten-screen movie theater. So our cinematic choices are often limited. It must be said that whoever is in charge of movie selection over there is doing a much better job than in years past. I've actually had the opportunity to watch 3 of the 5 nominees for the Best Picture Oscar in the past two months. He balances crappy horror drivel with films that appeal to our sizable geriatric demographic on the Outer Banks. When Gran Torino opened up to wide release in early January, I was shocked at how full the theater was on its first night here in KDH. And even more shocked at the number of high school kids I saw in the audience.
Unfortunately I had to resort to alternate means to view the latest film by one of my favorite filmmakers...Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler. It involves identifying with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Geoffery Rush (virtually speaking anyway). So my viewing experience did not have the grand scope of a film theater, but I was deeply impressed by Aronofsky's work, as per usual. I can actually point to a viewing of his work as being one of those aha moments, where I realized I was really into film.
..
It was Thanksgiving 2000, and I we were visiting our Arlington, VA friends as per usual. A quasi-tradition we have to is to try and squeeze a movie theater outing into our visit, but this year not everyone was interested. Zag the oldest son of my mom's best friend Linda, had recently gotten into film making, and we had talked some during our visit. I had taken in a seminar in my last semester at high school that dabbled in film analysis, but had been unable to register for any film classes in school due in large part because I registered for all my classes late, but also because the program was small, and the classes filled up very quickly (I guess the idea of watching movies for class appeals to college kids).
Zag and I decided to go out to Georgetown to find a small screening of Requiem for a Dream. And I was awash in greatness. The arresting cinematography by Matty Libatique and the ominous tones composed by Clint Mansell, coupled with incredible performances, were married to Aronofsky's haunting screenplay and direction to culminate in this eruption of a cinematic experience. With Zag there to help point out particularly impressive tones, themes, and techniques employed by the filmmakers, I was hooked. I wanted to drink in all that film analysis and theory had to offer, in a way that my former English teachers had wanted us to think about the dreary literature in which they drowned us.
Requiem got moderate love from the awards circuit. Most notably was the notice of the strong performance from Ellen Burstyn. She won the Independent Spirit Award for best Female Lead, but lost the Oscar to that horse-toothed Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich. Looking back it was a very strong year for film so I'm not surprised that Darren got lost in the academy shuffle. Another his collaborator's who scored an ISA was Libatique for his cinematography. I actually watched the next two films he DP'ed for solely based on Requiem. The second was the god awful Josie and the Pussycats, that I will still defend to this day (to some degree) based on Libatique's involvement. The first, however, was Joel Schumacher's Tigerland, which featured the role that essentially started the meteoric rise of Colin Farrell. I was impressed when he turned out to be Irish, as I was convinced he was actually from Texas. Another one of his cast-mates captured my attention. He appears here sitting on the bunk on the right.
I knew I had see him before. After I IMDB'ed him, I had to pick my jaw off the floor. (Here's a hint: "How can I have s'more when I haven't had any yet," "You're KILLING ME Smalls"). I watched that flick so many times growing up, and I always wondered what happened to those kids. I even rented that god awful sequel they cranked out because on the back it touted a where-are-they-now featurette.
Anywho, I digress (as is my nature). Libatique has DP'ed for Aronofsky for all his pictures...until The Wrestler. Matty forced Aronofsky to find a new DP for The Wrestler, most likely because Matty was off working on a little picture called Iron Man. Matty's also established a new collaboration trend, having framed each of Spike Lee's pictures since She Hate Me. But never fear...Libatique's hopefully tied to Darren's next two projects.
But perhaps Matty wasn't the right choice for The Wrestler. Maryse Alberti did the lighting and framing for this picture, and his pedigree is not be scoffed at. Most notably when scanning his filmography I saw a few highly touted documentaries, and The Wrestler plays very close to that type of tone. But it wasn't as if Aronofsky wasn't completely w/o his regular collaborators. He had his steady music man Clint Mansell whose provided the score for each of his movies.
My friend Jason liked his music so much that he used it in a clever youtube video,
I still believe a better name for the clip would have been "Requiem for a Wii'm"
...
When I was a sophomore in college I had the good fortune to meet both Aronofsky and Mansell.
We had a screening of Aronofsky's breakout film Pi, and following the film Aronofsky and Mansell (who of course scored this pic as well as Requiem for a Dream by this point) had a Q and A session.
The first thing I realized was...This guy seems like a regular average human being: How in the world did come up with such a depressing, visceral experience like Requiem. When I got a chance to shake his hand and get an autograph, I simply told him that it was a relief to find out that he had a normal sense of humor. There was also much speculation at this Q and A session about the much hyped Batman Year One project that Aronofsky was rumored to be developing. Aronofsky got shafted by the studios on this (I suppose you've seen the two somewhat successful movies starring Christian Bale have you?)and his next big project The Fountain. (I remember reading an early script review when Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt were attached, and he a $75 million budget...this was in 2002; then EVERYTHING WENT WRONG; long story short he had to make the movie for $35 million with Hugh Jackman, and his fiance Rachel Weisz and it was released in 2006)And yet he keeps on trucking despite Hollywood horror stories.
What I've come to realize is that Aronofsky is very much an actor's director. He sets the stage so well for an actor to deliver a monster performance. Burstyn in Requiem got an Oscar nod. Hugh Jackman proved he's a legitimate triple threat by showing dramatic chops in The Fountain, to go along with his action star clout and his Tony-award winning musical theater career. And now he's given Mickey Rourke the best gift he could possible get.
This film was tougher financially for them to make with Rourke as the headliner. And Aronofsky persisted that he be cast. I found his lack of bankability a little surprising given that Rourke had lit up the screen as Marv in Sin City in 2005, but that was not a headlining role by a longshot. But no one could play this role but Rourke.
So yeah Aronofsky didn't get nominated for an Oscar, but you can bet your sweet ass that win Rourke takes it down, he's gonna give up the love for Darren.
One of the downsides to living in a small town is that we have one ten-screen movie theater. So our cinematic choices are often limited. It must be said that whoever is in charge of movie selection over there is doing a much better job than in years past. I've actually had the opportunity to watch 3 of the 5 nominees for the Best Picture Oscar in the past two months. He balances crappy horror drivel with films that appeal to our sizable geriatric demographic on the Outer Banks. When Gran Torino opened up to wide release in early January, I was shocked at how full the theater was on its first night here in KDH. And even more shocked at the number of high school kids I saw in the audience.
Unfortunately I had to resort to alternate means to view the latest film by one of my favorite filmmakers...Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler. It involves identifying with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Geoffery Rush (virtually speaking anyway). So my viewing experience did not have the grand scope of a film theater, but I was deeply impressed by Aronofsky's work, as per usual. I can actually point to a viewing of his work as being one of those aha moments, where I realized I was really into film.
..
It was Thanksgiving 2000, and I we were visiting our Arlington, VA friends as per usual. A quasi-tradition we have to is to try and squeeze a movie theater outing into our visit, but this year not everyone was interested. Zag the oldest son of my mom's best friend Linda, had recently gotten into film making, and we had talked some during our visit. I had taken in a seminar in my last semester at high school that dabbled in film analysis, but had been unable to register for any film classes in school due in large part because I registered for all my classes late, but also because the program was small, and the classes filled up very quickly (I guess the idea of watching movies for class appeals to college kids).
Zag and I decided to go out to Georgetown to find a small screening of Requiem for a Dream. And I was awash in greatness. The arresting cinematography by Matty Libatique and the ominous tones composed by Clint Mansell, coupled with incredible performances, were married to Aronofsky's haunting screenplay and direction to culminate in this eruption of a cinematic experience. With Zag there to help point out particularly impressive tones, themes, and techniques employed by the filmmakers, I was hooked. I wanted to drink in all that film analysis and theory had to offer, in a way that my former English teachers had wanted us to think about the dreary literature in which they drowned us.
Requiem got moderate love from the awards circuit. Most notably was the notice of the strong performance from Ellen Burstyn. She won the Independent Spirit Award for best Female Lead, but lost the Oscar to that horse-toothed Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich. Looking back it was a very strong year for film so I'm not surprised that Darren got lost in the academy shuffle. Another his collaborator's who scored an ISA was Libatique for his cinematography. I actually watched the next two films he DP'ed for solely based on Requiem. The second was the god awful Josie and the Pussycats, that I will still defend to this day (to some degree) based on Libatique's involvement. The first, however, was Joel Schumacher's Tigerland, which featured the role that essentially started the meteoric rise of Colin Farrell. I was impressed when he turned out to be Irish, as I was convinced he was actually from Texas. Another one of his cast-mates captured my attention. He appears here sitting on the bunk on the right.
Anywho, I digress (as is my nature). Libatique has DP'ed for Aronofsky for all his pictures...until The Wrestler. Matty forced Aronofsky to find a new DP for The Wrestler, most likely because Matty was off working on a little picture called Iron Man. Matty's also established a new collaboration trend, having framed each of Spike Lee's pictures since She Hate Me. But never fear...Libatique's hopefully tied to Darren's next two projects.
But perhaps Matty wasn't the right choice for The Wrestler. Maryse Alberti did the lighting and framing for this picture, and his pedigree is not be scoffed at. Most notably when scanning his filmography I saw a few highly touted documentaries, and The Wrestler plays very close to that type of tone. But it wasn't as if Aronofsky wasn't completely w/o his regular collaborators. He had his steady music man Clint Mansell whose provided the score for each of his movies.
My friend Jason liked his music so much that he used it in a clever youtube video,
I still believe a better name for the clip would have been "Requiem for a Wii'm"
...
When I was a sophomore in college I had the good fortune to meet both Aronofsky and Mansell.
We had a screening of Aronofsky's breakout film Pi, and following the film Aronofsky and Mansell (who of course scored this pic as well as Requiem for a Dream by this point) had a Q and A session.
The first thing I realized was...This guy seems like a regular average human being: How in the world did come up with such a depressing, visceral experience like Requiem. When I got a chance to shake his hand and get an autograph, I simply told him that it was a relief to find out that he had a normal sense of humor. There was also much speculation at this Q and A session about the much hyped Batman Year One project that Aronofsky was rumored to be developing. Aronofsky got shafted by the studios on this (I suppose you've seen the two somewhat successful movies starring Christian Bale have you?)and his next big project The Fountain. (I remember reading an early script review when Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt were attached, and he a $75 million budget...this was in 2002; then EVERYTHING WENT WRONG; long story short he had to make the movie for $35 million with Hugh Jackman, and his fiance Rachel Weisz and it was released in 2006)And yet he keeps on trucking despite Hollywood horror stories.
What I've come to realize is that Aronofsky is very much an actor's director. He sets the stage so well for an actor to deliver a monster performance. Burstyn in Requiem got an Oscar nod. Hugh Jackman proved he's a legitimate triple threat by showing dramatic chops in The Fountain, to go along with his action star clout and his Tony-award winning musical theater career. And now he's given Mickey Rourke the best gift he could possible get.
This film was tougher financially for them to make with Rourke as the headliner. And Aronofsky persisted that he be cast. I found his lack of bankability a little surprising given that Rourke had lit up the screen as Marv in Sin City in 2005, but that was not a headlining role by a longshot. But no one could play this role but Rourke.
So yeah Aronofsky didn't get nominated for an Oscar, but you can bet your sweet ass that win Rourke takes it down, he's gonna give up the love for Darren.
not the way I imagined
So as Spring Training is just getting underway, the Major League baseball trade rumor's have spit out an intriguing little piece of gossip.
Apparently as they are scrambling to fill a hole in both left field and in the middle of their lineup, the Atlanta Braves are kicking the tires on Ken Griffey Jr. Now I would consider him to be fairly well past his best baseball days, but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be an improvement over whose been attempting (see also failing) to produce runs from left field.
Apparently Chipper Jones seems to think this potential acquistion is a good idea. He's willing to bat fourth behind Junior if need be, and apparently Junior is willing to platoon w/ Matt Diaz. But that type of a role may be perfect for Griffey's declining skill set.
I've been a fan of Ken Griffey Jr. forever. When pressed to pick an American League team to root for, I would choose the Marniers soley based on their star centerfielder. I've long wished that my favorite player would find a place on my favorte team, and its strange to think that this could happen, and it still won't be the way I had hoped it would be. The version of Griffey that exists today is not one that I idolized.
So if they Braves do sign him, would I say I've gotten what I wished for? Not really. He's a shadow of his former self. Its kind of akin to blinding yourself down in a tournament to the point where you only have 3 big blinds left. You finally look down at Aces, they hold up, and you've doubled up...but because you waited so long, you're still short-stacked and have lots of work to do.
While it seems like its too little too late, I hold out slim hope that he will be the answer.
and I'm fairly certain I'm going to want one of his Braves jersey's
EDIT: apparently this was not to be...while the flip-flopping on this rumor is similar to the Furcal snafu...its actually totally different. He had decided on Atlanta, but had not agreed to any terms. Apparently a hail-mary phone call from Willie Mays convinced him to protect his legacy in Seattle by returning to the M's. Cest la vie. I think its fine. Lets see who Wren goes after now.
Apparently as they are scrambling to fill a hole in both left field and in the middle of their lineup, the Atlanta Braves are kicking the tires on Ken Griffey Jr. Now I would consider him to be fairly well past his best baseball days, but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be an improvement over whose been attempting (see also failing) to produce runs from left field.
Apparently Chipper Jones seems to think this potential acquistion is a good idea. He's willing to bat fourth behind Junior if need be, and apparently Junior is willing to platoon w/ Matt Diaz. But that type of a role may be perfect for Griffey's declining skill set.
I've been a fan of Ken Griffey Jr. forever. When pressed to pick an American League team to root for, I would choose the Marniers soley based on their star centerfielder. I've long wished that my favorite player would find a place on my favorte team, and its strange to think that this could happen, and it still won't be the way I had hoped it would be. The version of Griffey that exists today is not one that I idolized.
So if they Braves do sign him, would I say I've gotten what I wished for? Not really. He's a shadow of his former self. Its kind of akin to blinding yourself down in a tournament to the point where you only have 3 big blinds left. You finally look down at Aces, they hold up, and you've doubled up...but because you waited so long, you're still short-stacked and have lots of work to do.
While it seems like its too little too late, I hold out slim hope that he will be the answer.
and I'm fairly certain I'm going to want one of his Braves jersey's
EDIT: apparently this was not to be...while the flip-flopping on this rumor is similar to the Furcal snafu...its actually totally different. He had decided on Atlanta, but had not agreed to any terms. Apparently a hail-mary phone call from Willie Mays convinced him to protect his legacy in Seattle by returning to the M's. Cest la vie. I think its fine. Lets see who Wren goes after now.
Friday, February 13, 2009
this is why I love NPR
I currently subscribe to nine NPR podcasts. This is actually a pared down selection for me, as I had to curtail my podcast list, due to the fact that my inability to listen to actual music was being hindered by my ever-replenishing slate of online radio content. Therefore shows like All Songs Considered, It's All Politics, NPR: Movies, & Talk of the Nation, got the boot b/c they were A) too similar to another podcast I enjoyed, B) not in season (I'm only deeply interested in politics in an election year so sue me), C)featuring too many stories I was hearing on other shows, or D) just ran too long. (I subscribe to longer shows, but they tend to be weekly shows). My listening list is creeping back to the 30 mark, and I fear another subscription trim may be imminent.
Fresh Air I consider to be the crown jewel of the nine NPR shows I enjoy. I just finished listening to yesterdays' show, and discovered something fantastic.
Joss Whedon, the brilliant mind behind one of my favorite TV shoes of all time, is ginormous fan of Stephen Sondheim. Not only is he a fan, but they've met, and have dialogue as artists.
Yes the guy responsible for this:
Is a fan of the guy who wrote the words for this:
Whedon's new show Dollhouse premiere's tonight on Fox, and the buzz on it is not great, but I'm sure that he's got a million even great ideas still germinating inside.
EDIT: Just read a great interview w/ Whedon about this show. I guess I can't make fun of my friends who still read Maxim (you know who you are). The bit about how DC comic book heroes make for bad movies it interesting, and his admission that he is ,in fact, JJ Abrams is hilarious.
Fresh Air I consider to be the crown jewel of the nine NPR shows I enjoy. I just finished listening to yesterdays' show, and discovered something fantastic.
Joss Whedon, the brilliant mind behind one of my favorite TV shoes of all time, is ginormous fan of Stephen Sondheim. Not only is he a fan, but they've met, and have dialogue as artists.
Yes the guy responsible for this:
Is a fan of the guy who wrote the words for this:
Whedon's new show Dollhouse premiere's tonight on Fox, and the buzz on it is not great, but I'm sure that he's got a million even great ideas still germinating inside.
EDIT: Just read a great interview w/ Whedon about this show. I guess I can't make fun of my friends who still read Maxim (you know who you are). The bit about how DC comic book heroes make for bad movies it interesting, and his admission that he is ,in fact, JJ Abrams is hilarious.
Monday, February 9, 2009
A hellish bar poker experience last night
Last night a redonkuous bar league poker session had the chance to put me on life tilt so hard. During the color-up break my table asked me why I seemed so upset.
Heres a possible few reasons:
-A know-it-all with a Discman, who played too many hands, played fairly poorly, but caught enough luck to have his chip stack go way up and way down. (he busted me calling my all-in with KQoff btw: nevermind that it was the only hand at the table anyone raised above 3x the BB, and was the ONLY hand I played when I wasn't in the blinds...it doesn't bother me that much though I had 7.2 blinds and saw Jc10c, which was the best I had seen all night).
-A jabbery yahoo next to me, who was loud, but not ever funny. He hit a three outer on the river to triple up, and celebrated like an idiot. He got a beer spilled on his lap, and I couldn't even enjoy that, because he slowed up a game that was already moving at the rate that my hair grows.
-A rotating average of four players at the table that needed EVERY step and rule explained to them more than once. I say rotating b/c when one player would get knocked out they would be replaced by an alternate who turned out to be even more hopeless. The cherry of this group was the old guy that looked like Dennis Phillips who won the main pot on my bustout hand with Q-efffing-3 offsuit. He said a variation of the words; "I don't know how to play, I've never played here before, I just love this game" about 10 times in the space of about 8 minutes
-My only hand I played and won was a 8d6d from the big blind. Four way limped at 100-200. Flop is Qs-8c-6c-3h. Yep you read that right FOUR FUCKING CARDS. We sussed out that the 3h was the next burn card. I bet 300 into a 400 pot and got one quick call. The 10c peels off completing the flush draw, I check, villian bets 100, I call. The river is the 10s (which means I probably just got counterfeited, and can't call any bet). It goes check, check, and villain shows K-J for a missed OESD, and I take the pot. I'm more upset b/c I should have been bluffed off that pot.
-Alan nearly solidified my resolve to not help him out, by underlining his utter inability to run a tournament. You with think with 50 some odd people he would have a better plan, or pay closer attention, but no, I saw him chatting and carrying on a bunch. (To be fair, it could have been much worse I could just fry an egg on my steaming forehead, but his no-how as a tournament director is seriously limited).
OK...deep breath...rant complete.
I feel much better.
Heres a possible few reasons:
-A know-it-all with a Discman, who played too many hands, played fairly poorly, but caught enough luck to have his chip stack go way up and way down. (he busted me calling my all-in with KQoff btw: nevermind that it was the only hand at the table anyone raised above 3x the BB, and was the ONLY hand I played when I wasn't in the blinds...it doesn't bother me that much though I had 7.2 blinds and saw Jc10c, which was the best I had seen all night).
-A jabbery yahoo next to me, who was loud, but not ever funny. He hit a three outer on the river to triple up, and celebrated like an idiot. He got a beer spilled on his lap, and I couldn't even enjoy that, because he slowed up a game that was already moving at the rate that my hair grows.
-A rotating average of four players at the table that needed EVERY step and rule explained to them more than once. I say rotating b/c when one player would get knocked out they would be replaced by an alternate who turned out to be even more hopeless. The cherry of this group was the old guy that looked like Dennis Phillips who won the main pot on my bustout hand with Q-efffing-3 offsuit. He said a variation of the words; "I don't know how to play, I've never played here before, I just love this game" about 10 times in the space of about 8 minutes
-My only hand I played and won was a 8d6d from the big blind. Four way limped at 100-200. Flop is Qs-8c-6c-3h. Yep you read that right FOUR FUCKING CARDS. We sussed out that the 3h was the next burn card. I bet 300 into a 400 pot and got one quick call. The 10c peels off completing the flush draw, I check, villian bets 100, I call. The river is the 10s (which means I probably just got counterfeited, and can't call any bet). It goes check, check, and villain shows K-J for a missed OESD, and I take the pot. I'm more upset b/c I should have been bluffed off that pot.
-Alan nearly solidified my resolve to not help him out, by underlining his utter inability to run a tournament. You with think with 50 some odd people he would have a better plan, or pay closer attention, but no, I saw him chatting and carrying on a bunch. (To be fair, it could have been much worse I could just fry an egg on my steaming forehead, but his no-how as a tournament director is seriously limited).
OK...deep breath...rant complete.
I feel much better.
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