Who are these people that are saying that the 2009 MLB playoffs have been a disappointment? Tonight the series returns to the Bronx for the first World Series Game 6 in seven years (Just remembering the '02 series gives me a warm feeling; so nice to see baseball's golden boy Barry Bonds be denied his best chance at a championship). Given that Cliff Lee will likely not be pitching again this season (maybe outta the pen in a potential Game 7 scenario) The Phillies face an uphill battle, albeit a slightly less steep hill than after dropping their first two games at home.
I would like to take the opportunity here and now to ask the Phillies to at least send this series to a Game 7. There a multitude of reasons, the most poignant being that it is my birthday. I currently have a beautiful baseball fan memory tied to my birthday that I would like not to be tainted by the Yankees returning to the pinnacle of baseball.
Growing up I liked the Yankees because my mom did. She's from New York, and I was too young to make the choice for myself, given that I grew up so far from any major league team. In '91 I had a best friend in school who was a huge Braves fan, and we rooted together for that worst-to-first magical season. Add to that TBS's generous coverage, and my affection for those Bravos has held strong for coming up on 20 years. But their ascension to the unofficial title of the "Best Team of the 90's) was stomped on by Joe Torre and his collection of baseball Judas's. I can trace my now powerful distain for the Yankees to that 1996 World Series, which was the beginning of the Yankee's 90's dynasty.
Atlanta hosted the Olympics that year. The Braves were the defending champions, they had The NL Cy Young winner John Smoltz (along with Maddux & Glavine by the way). They beat the Yankees in the first two games in New York by a combined score of 16-1 (12-1 & 4-0). Andruw Jones, a rookie at 19-years-old, hit two homers in Game 1 (The Yankees had a rookie named Jeter who would break some records himself). Heading back to Atlanta they seemed invincible. Even after dropping Game 3, I'd say the train didn't come fully off the tracks until the sixth inning of Game 4.
Leading 6-0, they proceeded to implode, and lose 8-6 in 10 innings. Jim Leyritz sent the game to extras with a two run homer in the 9th, and just hearing his name gives me chills to this day (He also homered later against the Braves in the '99 Series to cap the scoring in the final game (Game 4)). He's had some legal troubles in more recent years (vehicular homicide charge, drunk driving, and most recently battery) & I have to stop myself from saying its karma.
The Yankees won Game 5 beating John Smoltz 1-0, a line eerily similar to Game 7 of the 1991 series where Smoltz was out pitched by Jack Morris. The series went back to New York, and the Yankees took it down. They also won the Series three out of the next four years, blanking the Braves in the '99 Series. But it was the toppling of the Yankees juggernaut that marks my favorite birthday memory.
The terrorist attacks on September 11th pushed the World Series to its latest part of the year ever. Similar to the '96 Series, The Arizona Diamondbacks won the first two games handily (combined score of 13-1), only to see the Yankees take the next three nail-biting games. Mariano Rivera notched a two-inning save in the 2-1 Game 3 victory, and he got credit for their 10-inning 4-3 Game 4 win, that was earned on the power of a 2-out two-tun homer in the 9th by Tino Martinez, and then a walkoff dinger by Derek Jeter the following inning (The first postseason homer in November ever).
The Yankees got another 2-out two-tun homer in the 9th in Game 5 (this time from Scott Brosius), and pushed across the game-winner in the 12th inning. The Diamondbacks exploded in Game 6 to win 15-2, setting up Game 7 that was played on November 4th.
11/04/01. My 20th birthday. The official end of teenage existence. I watched the game from my friend Ken's house on State Street in New Orleans. Two twenty game winners Curt Schilling & Roger Clemens facing off. What more could I ask for?
Well quite frankly I could hope for a Yankees loss. The D'Backs scored first, but fell behind 2-1 by the time Joe Torre called on Mariano Rivera for another two-inning save. After striking out the side in the 8th, but in the 9th, Rivera couldn't hold off the D'Backs any longer. Soon after Tony Womack doubled in the tying run, Rivera faced Luis Gonzales with the bases loaded. Gonzales delivered a soft little liner just past Jeter, winning the game.
With that soft single, the Yankees' utter dominance was over. They reached the Series again two years later, but were stomped by the NL Wild Card Marlins. And I got to watch it go down on my birthday. I remember it with fondness every year.
So please Phillies…help me preserve the sanctity of this happy memory. Don't let the Yankees clinch tonight. Hold out for Game 7. While I remain a diehard National League fan, I also admit that both teams are worthy of the tittle this year. Both won their division handily, and are blessed with a potent mix of talent, class, gamesmanship, and determination. Please Phillies. Give me one game of 2009 Major League Baseball beyond tonight.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ellipses Spurned
With October fast approaching, I suppose its time to start writing again. My blog-hibernation has lasted far too long. The last post I was working on remains unfinished. Hopefully I will find some interesting topics in the coming weeks.
For now I think I'll just share a great little piece of quirky comic writing. Anyone who has received an email or text from me would agree that I overuse the mythical ellipses (...) Thanks to Mignon Fogerty (aka Grammar Girl) for sending this gem my way:
“Going Cold Turkey on National Punctuation Day”
by Eileen Burmeister
For now I think I'll just share a great little piece of quirky comic writing. Anyone who has received an email or text from me would agree that I overuse the mythical ellipses (...) Thanks to Mignon Fogerty (aka Grammar Girl) for sending this gem my way:
“Going Cold Turkey on National Punctuation Day”
by Eileen Burmeister
I know it’s wrong to use it in such a way, and I know that’s it’s become a crutch, but I must admit that I’ve been having an illegitimate love affair with the ellipses for years now. Surely, I thought, I could find a support group among the many writers who have been similarly led down this particular primrose path of pauses, but alas … none existed.
Not to be dissuaded, I set out and started my own support group called “Ellipses … Anonymous.” I invited everyone to my house at 2000 W. Maple … a place, I must confess, I bought for the address alone … and I served M&Ms in batches of three.
However the people who showed up tended to trail off midway through their stories, or stopped abruptly before staring off into space, which seemed appropriate but really stymied the healing process. It was … daunting.
I found myself wandering the streets that night, talking to myself, binging on one story after another without end, drinking deep from the nectar of incomplete thoughts until … I hit rock bottom.
It had gotten to the point where I couldn’t pause for breath in my prose without automatically hitting dot-dot-dot. I was ravenous … a wild animal on the prowl for a pregnant pause, a thoughtful moment or a half-baked idea so I could swoop in and get my fix. I was putting ellipses where a comma would suffice … ellipses when an em dash would do the trick … ellipses when a yadayadayada would convey the same idea. It was all too much and I collapsed under the pressure.
I woke up the next morning in the gutter outside of a Barnes and Nobles, gripping my beat-up copy of “Love is…” poems and staring in the face of one harsh reality … I needed help.
I got up out of the gutter, flipped open my laptop and started writing … hair of the dog and all that jazz. What I was after was a mantra to get me through the tough spots, those times where it’s just so … tempting (damn!) to use that one, single punctuation, albeit incorrectly. I needed a higher power to see me through, and … amazingly … this little beauty fell out of the sky like a penny … or coin … from Heaven:
God grant me the serenity
To accept the proper uses for the ellipses;
Courage to use it when I should and deny myself when I shouldn’t;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Doesn’t it seem appropriate, then, that today, National Punctuation Day, would be my quit day? I have decided to go cold turkey. No more ellipses for me. I’m clean and sober starting now of course that means I can’t use any punctuation for fear that the pause in and of itself would throw me headlong into a full blown relapse from which I might never recover until I could once again use my beloved and reliable ellipses just saying the word makes this all the more harder until I simply … break … down.
They say that admitting the problem is half the battle, and I’m counting on that to be true. But right now, I have an inexplicable desire to learn Morse code and eat M&Ms. And besides, as my friend Scarlett once said … “Tomorrow is another day.”
Thursday, February 26, 2009
I had a culinary letdown last night
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.
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.
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.
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