Yes, two posts in one day. I'm trying to show my blog some love. I used facebook too much now for most of the social stuff and twitter for joking around and myspace only because a few friends haven't switched over to facebook yet but I have not abandoned the ol' blog completely. And since the following is far more than 140 characters I'm going to unveil my new freestyle here. Please enjoy.
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
She broke my heart, now I’m bitter
Now she’s dating some guy named Charlie
But if she were dating another chick that’d be gnarly
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
She was a professional babysitter
I’d come over after the kids were asleep
Hey FCC, here comes the beep-beep-beep!
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
I went to high school with Joel Whitter
Now I’m just sounding like a creep
Hey FCC, here comes the beep-beep-beep!
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
Like Gyllenhaal and Ledger you know I can’t quit her
Keeps me up all night but who needs sleep
Hey FCC, here comes the beep-beep-beep!
Friday, August 7, 2009
"So it's sorta social, demented and sad, but social."
Gotta take a few moments to pass on my condolences to the now late but always great John Hughes. The writer/director/producer extraordinaire of such seminal classics as Sixteen Candles, Vacation, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, Planes Trains and Automobiles, She's Having a Baby, Career Opportunities.
After last directing a film with 1991's Curly Sue he stepped away from Hollywood, still occasionaly worked as a screenwriter on projects of varying success (Maid in Manhattan, Drillbit Taylor) but his impact on the world of film and pop-culture in the 80s is untouchable.
I recently re-watched The Breakfast Club again after having not seen it in many many years and I could still recite every line. I was quickly reminded why I used to watch it and so many other Hughes' films ad nauseum when I was younger. I am pretty sure I'll be re-watching most of them again in the next few weeks to honor the man and enjoy the singularity all over again.
Friday, June 26, 2009
"No man knows till he experiences it, what it is like to feel his own life-blood drawn away into the woman he loves."
Vampires are all the rage in pop-culture at the moment. From the awesome (HBO’s True Blood), the juvenile (Twilight), the sure to be lame (The CW’s upcoming Vampire Diaries from Scream/Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson) to the possible worst idea of all-time (FOX’s proposed Buffy the Vampire Slayer remake without the involvement of Joss Whedon). I consider myself to be a vampire geek through and through so I am very happy to make a recommendation for a new large print paperback from Norton Books which is The New Annotated version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The book is edited by Leslie S. Klinger and also includes a introduction by Neil Gaiman. This is truly a treasure for any fan of vampires or gothic horror. Alongside the text of Stoker’s legendary work of fiction there is a plethora of detailed historical notes, character examinations and wonderful illustrations. It’s a master class in Dracula 101.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Summer Movie Preview (Anti-Blockbuster Edition)
It's Memorial Day weekend and the official kick-off to the summer and that of course means big, loud and dumb movies hitting the screens with force. Don't get me wrong I love the summer movie season but I wanted to take a moment to address some smaller films that are also coming to theaters this summer which I am looking forward to seeing.
The Brothers Bloom (Opens this weekend in limited release)
Writer/Director Rian Johnson follows-up his fantastic debut Brick with this comedic tale of two con men brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) who embark on that elusive final job by taking a bored heiress (Rachel Weisz) on adventures around the world. The cast is top-notch and this looks like a funny and lite romp. Trailer link blow:
The Brothers Bloom (Opens this weekend in limited release)
Writer/Director Rian Johnson follows-up his fantastic debut Brick with this comedic tale of two con men brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) who embark on that elusive final job by taking a bored heiress (Rachel Weisz) on adventures around the world. The cast is top-notch and this looks like a funny and lite romp. Trailer link blow:
Moon (Opens June 12th in limited release)
Sam Rockwell stars as an American astronaut nearing the end of a 3 year long stay at a secluded mining base on the moon when he begins to contemplate the consequences of his work and what the future may hold for him. Kevin Spacey voices the HAL-ish robot that controls the station Rockwell works at. The always great Rockwell seems a perfect fit for this role and I love seeing smart and thought-provoking sci-fi that doesn't rely on CGI. Trailer link below:
Humpday (Opens in July)
Director Lynn Shelton does not shy away from the taboo or boundaries in this tale two overly competitive male college friends who after many libations find themselves enthralled in a dare to make an erotic art film whereupon the two of them have sex with each other on camera. Sometimes writer/director Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair, Baghead) co-stars in what looks to be a funny and hopefully honest twist on male commraderie. Trailer link below:
Away We Go (Opens June 5th in limited release)
From Oscar winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) and a screenplay co-written by literary uber star Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) is this film about a young couple (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph) expecting the birth of their first child who travel around the U.S. visiting friends and relatives all the while trying to find a home of their own. The wonderful supporting cast includes Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Allison Janey but I'm very happy and eager to see Krasinski and Rudolph get to carry what seems likes a lovely and touching film. Trailer link below:
Whatever Works (Opens June 19th in limited release)
I'm an unabashed fan of Woody Allen whatever style or mood he's working with and think a collab between him and Larry David is more than fitting. David portrays a neurotic New Yorker(surprise!) who enters into a strange bedfellows relationship with a young Southern Belle (Evan Rachel Wood) with equally eccentric and confused parents played the comparable Ed Begley Jr and Patricia Clarkson. Allen hasn't disappointed me since he started his current hot-streak dating back to 2004's Melinda and Melinda and this looks to be no exception. Trailer link below:
500 Days of Summer (Opens July 17th in limited release)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, two of the best young actors working today, headline this unorthodox film about a young man examining the best and not so best days of his now ending relationship with the girl of his dreams. Trailer link below:
Paper Heart (Opens August 14th)
Actress Charlyne Yi, best known for some scene-stealing moments in Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, portrays herself in this "mockumentary" about the search for the love in the modern world. Yi's real life boyfriend Michael Cera co-stars and will hopefully redeem himself for last year's painful Nick and Nora... and the not so promising looking Year One coming out earlier in the summer. Trailer link below:
The Hurt Locker (Opens June 26th in limited release)
Formerly an A-List director in the male dominated action genre Katheryn Bigelow (Blue Steel, Point Break) presents this well-received war film set in Iraq and surrounding an elite Army bombing squad with a cast that features Jeremy Renner(who should be a bigger name) and a certain favorite castaway by the name of Evangeline Lily. It looks intense and sharp. I'm glad there are still filmmakers brave enough to make movie about Iraq despite the critical and commercial backlash toward them in recent years. All it is going to take is one really great film about the subject to unleash a wave of the stories that deserve to be told. Trailer link below:
The Boat That Rocked (Opens August 28th)
British writer and filmmaker Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Love Actually) the mastermind of smart and charming but not too saccarine romantic comedy steps out of his comfort zone for this fictionalized telling of a pirate Rock 'n' Roll radio station in England during the 1960s that actually broadcasts from a ship in the North Sea. Phillip Seymour Hoffman leads a great cast that also includes my favorite "Mad Women" January Jones, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton and Kenneth Branagh. Trailer link below:
Taking Woodstock (Opens August 14th)
The last film we preview comes from director Ang Lee with the true story of how a closeted Hotel Manager by the name Elliot Tiber (here played by Demetri Martin) living in the Catskills of upstate New York was able to help the organizers of Woodstock keep the legendary festival alive. The supporting cast includes Eugene Levy, Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kelli Garner and Liev Schrieber. Trailer link below:
Well that's all for now. I hope you'll check out the previews and maybe catch some of the flicks on the big screen sometime this summer in between the Transformers and Terminators and Star Treks we'll all be making to the cineplexes this summer.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Let's play nine!
I've been away awhile so let's talk some baseball. The Texas Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 10-8 earlier this evening thanks to a pair of home runs from Second Baseman Ian Kinsler(above) and 6 solid innings from starting pitcher Kevin Millwood. The Rangers have now won 5 games in a row and are 21-14 overall leading the American League West Division. This marks the first time the Rangers have been 7 games over .500 since early in the 2005 season. Josh Hamilton, who also homered in the game, has knocked one out of the park in 3 of the last 4 games since his return to the big leagues after a rehab stint in the minors and seems to be getting back into All-Star form. The West is a very winnable division this year and I am surprisingly optimistic about their chances even though it's early. We just can't rely on winning games 10-8 so often. Millwood had a good game and the offense had already put several runs on the board for him before he left only to have the bullpen give up 5 runs in the top of the 9th.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Let's Raise Money to Fight Asthma!
I have set-up a personal donation webpage at : http://https://www.mrsnv.com/evt/e01/part.jsp?id=2416&acct=9000002156&rid=0
to raise money for the American Lung Association's BLOW THE WHISTLE OFF ASTHMA WALK to be held this April 25th at the Arbor Trails in Austin, Texas.
I know times are tough but if you are able to spare even a little for such a worthy cause by donating, volunteering or even passing along the word to someone else you know that may be interested it will be appreciated.
Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day full of fresh air.
to raise money for the American Lung Association's BLOW THE WHISTLE OFF ASTHMA WALK to be held this April 25th at the Arbor Trails in Austin, Texas.
I know times are tough but if you are able to spare even a little for such a worthy cause by donating, volunteering or even passing along the word to someone else you know that may be interested it will be appreciated.
Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day full of fresh air.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Catching up
It's a been a very hectic time lately but I wanted to get in a quick update before I go off the grid completely until mid-week.
First off, I want to give a big happy congratulations to Jenny & Chris Foust on the arrival of thier first daughter together, Kamryn.
Hate to follow that with a sad note but I have mention the tragic passing of actor/singer Andy Hallet, best known for his role as the Cabaret hosting Empath demon Lorne on the cult and beloved television series Angel. He died so young at the age of 33 last weekend from heart failure. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. He created one of the most original, joyous and endeliable characters in TV history as far as I'm concerned.
Baseball season starts tonight and Opening Day is offically tomorrow. I'm sad I'm going to miss it as I'll be camping way out on Colorado Bend with my Dad and Godfather Mike, but it's good to know baseball is back.
In other sports news I'm pulling for the Michigan State Spartans all the way against the North Carolina Tarheels in tomorrow night's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game. Coach Tom Izzo is a class act and I'm almost as sick of the Tarheels as I am that other school in thier area.
Quick movie recommendation : I Love You Man is another top-notch comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, both of whom are coming off two great comedies from last year in Forgeting Sarah Marshal and Role Models. I also really enjoyed Adventureland from the director of Superbad, although it's less of a straight up comedy and more akin to coming of age flicks like Some Kind of Wonderful or Say Anything... And it's easily the first time I've actually liked Kristen "Pouty Twilight Girl" Stewart in something. Maybe I'll have to give more of a benefit fo the doubt from now on. But that Twilight series, sheesh, just do not get it.
That's all for now, time to head on to see the one and only Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band live in concert for the first time. Hells YEAH!
First off, I want to give a big happy congratulations to Jenny & Chris Foust on the arrival of thier first daughter together, Kamryn.
Hate to follow that with a sad note but I have mention the tragic passing of actor/singer Andy Hallet, best known for his role as the Cabaret hosting Empath demon Lorne on the cult and beloved television series Angel. He died so young at the age of 33 last weekend from heart failure. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. He created one of the most original, joyous and endeliable characters in TV history as far as I'm concerned.
Baseball season starts tonight and Opening Day is offically tomorrow. I'm sad I'm going to miss it as I'll be camping way out on Colorado Bend with my Dad and Godfather Mike, but it's good to know baseball is back.
In other sports news I'm pulling for the Michigan State Spartans all the way against the North Carolina Tarheels in tomorrow night's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game. Coach Tom Izzo is a class act and I'm almost as sick of the Tarheels as I am that other school in thier area.
Quick movie recommendation : I Love You Man is another top-notch comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, both of whom are coming off two great comedies from last year in Forgeting Sarah Marshal and Role Models. I also really enjoyed Adventureland from the director of Superbad, although it's less of a straight up comedy and more akin to coming of age flicks like Some Kind of Wonderful or Say Anything... And it's easily the first time I've actually liked Kristen "Pouty Twilight Girl" Stewart in something. Maybe I'll have to give more of a benefit fo the doubt from now on. But that Twilight series, sheesh, just do not get it.
That's all for now, time to head on to see the one and only Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band live in concert for the first time. Hells YEAH!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
By The Numbers
3 – The number of jokes I was able to make it through during the monologue of Jimmy Fallon’s new tenure as the host of Late Night on NBC before changing the channels.
1997 – The year I thought I was transported back to after watching the opening of last weekend’s episode of MadTV where they had Jerry Springer as a special guest and then proceeded to perform a typically lame spoof of his Mr. Springer’s formerly popular talk show.
Infinity – The number of laughs that Jon Stewart provides for me each night on the Daily Show, especially his current “War of Words” with Financial Talking Head Jim Kramer from CNBC. Bonus Points to Comedy Central for the new Demetri Martin sketch show Important Things which ranges from good to great from episode to episode.
2 – As in 2 percent of the $410 billion dollar Omnibus Spending Bill that President Obama recently signed which will go toward the supposedly outrageous, dangerous and incendiary “earmarks” and “pork barrel projects” that most Congressional Republicans have been trying to convince the public is going to end America as we know it. Can I defend or even pretend that I know the existence of or even understand the purpose of all these many different projects? No, but do we really need the guys responsible for directing the economy into it’s current shit storm down-the-drain situation acting so high and mighty purely for grasping at straws political gain? No, we don’t need that either.
Dos – I didn’t want to use the number two again, so I went for a little Espanola instead. There are dos performances left of Are You MAD Yet? We Are! – A comedy rebuttal to the March madness of politics, panic, drought and depression. This Friday and Saturday night at the historical Bastrop Opera House with shows starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are $5 with an optional dinner at 6:30pm for an additional $15 and it is catered by Fat Cat Caterers. These are zany and course burlesque and vaudeville skits that will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. As always tickets and more info available at: www.bastropoperahouse.com.
5 – The number of years I have worked with my current employer, Austin Regional Clinic as of the 15th.
10 – The number of months which had previously been the longest period of time for me to hold down a single job.
11 – The number of months which my longest romantic relationship has ever lasted. That’s right, never had a one-year anniversary. I’m so pathetic it hurts. Kind of hard to tell where the sarcasm stops and the truth starts at this point isn’t it?
22 – The number of days until I get to Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band live in concert, followed two days later by my 27th birthday which will be spent on a fishing trip at Colorado Bend with father and godfather.
98 – The score (out of 100) that my brilliant young cousin (and namesake) Brent Michael scored on his 3rd grade Reading TAAKS test.
7 – The number of injuries or illnesses that I’ve already incurred during 2 ½ months of this new year. Not a good start, but I’m hoping to turn a corner.
20 – The average number of degrees in Fahrenheit that temperatures in the month of February were warmer than normal here in Austin.
27 - The number of days between this post and my last.
1997 – The year I thought I was transported back to after watching the opening of last weekend’s episode of MadTV where they had Jerry Springer as a special guest and then proceeded to perform a typically lame spoof of his Mr. Springer’s formerly popular talk show.
Infinity – The number of laughs that Jon Stewart provides for me each night on the Daily Show, especially his current “War of Words” with Financial Talking Head Jim Kramer from CNBC. Bonus Points to Comedy Central for the new Demetri Martin sketch show Important Things which ranges from good to great from episode to episode.
2 – As in 2 percent of the $410 billion dollar Omnibus Spending Bill that President Obama recently signed which will go toward the supposedly outrageous, dangerous and incendiary “earmarks” and “pork barrel projects” that most Congressional Republicans have been trying to convince the public is going to end America as we know it. Can I defend or even pretend that I know the existence of or even understand the purpose of all these many different projects? No, but do we really need the guys responsible for directing the economy into it’s current shit storm down-the-drain situation acting so high and mighty purely for grasping at straws political gain? No, we don’t need that either.
Dos – I didn’t want to use the number two again, so I went for a little Espanola instead. There are dos performances left of Are You MAD Yet? We Are! – A comedy rebuttal to the March madness of politics, panic, drought and depression. This Friday and Saturday night at the historical Bastrop Opera House with shows starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are $5 with an optional dinner at 6:30pm for an additional $15 and it is catered by Fat Cat Caterers. These are zany and course burlesque and vaudeville skits that will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. As always tickets and more info available at: www.bastropoperahouse.com.
5 – The number of years I have worked with my current employer, Austin Regional Clinic as of the 15th.
10 – The number of months which had previously been the longest period of time for me to hold down a single job.
11 – The number of months which my longest romantic relationship has ever lasted. That’s right, never had a one-year anniversary. I’m so pathetic it hurts. Kind of hard to tell where the sarcasm stops and the truth starts at this point isn’t it?
22 – The number of days until I get to Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band live in concert, followed two days later by my 27th birthday which will be spent on a fishing trip at Colorado Bend with father and godfather.
98 – The score (out of 100) that my brilliant young cousin (and namesake) Brent Michael scored on his 3rd grade Reading TAAKS test.
7 – The number of injuries or illnesses that I’ve already incurred during 2 ½ months of this new year. Not a good start, but I’m hoping to turn a corner.
20 – The average number of degrees in Fahrenheit that temperatures in the month of February were warmer than normal here in Austin.
27 - The number of days between this post and my last.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sandwiches make the world go round
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Well I just had a fantastic fresh grilled panini sandwich - Turkey & Swiss with lettuce, mayo and ranch dressing. I think I found my new favorite nearby lunch spot. I got it at this little Café/Market on the corner of Manchaca and Ben White which used to be a run of the mill convenience store. I guess it’s been about two years now since they got rid of the gas station and revamped it into what it is now. With free wi-fi, outdoor tables, lots of organic food and snacks, a small kitchen and wide variety of drinks from exotic beers to juices and protein shakes. I’ve been there many times, just to pick-up a six-pack or some munchies but today I decided to grab a sandwich since I was running late during my lunch break and needed to take something back to work. I even had co-workers admiring it and asking where it came from. I highly recommend it if you’re hungry and in the area.
We’re just a few days away from this year’s Academy Awards ceremony and I figured it was time for my revised Oscar picks. I’m only going to present my revised picks for major categories as my original picks for effects, sound, costume, etc. have not changed.
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
He really does seem unstoppable at this point.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
I originally though Peter Morgan would have the best shot here for an award to come Frost/Nixon’s way, but they’ll just have to settle for all those theatre awards because this is sure to be another win for Slumdog.
Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk
There have been many books and documentaries made about Harvey Milk but Black was able to start from square one and write his own compelling and brave version.
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Amazing Woody Allen was not nominated for his fantastic script for VCB, but the lovely and talented Ms. Cruz will most likely become the latest actor that Allen has written and directed to an Oscar win and that’s saying a lot with such a strong and wide-open category.
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
The only question that remains is who the Academy is going to have accepting the award on his behalf, we already know that the statue will go to Matilda afterwards and deservedly so. I think Chris Nolan is the right person. He’s the guy pulling all the strings for this great franchise and it’s shameful that he’s not nominated for writing, directing or producing the most entertaining film of the year.
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Haven’t seen her performance in this, although I’m a huge fan of hers and thought she was easily deserving of a nomination for Revolutionary Road. I don’t think Winslet is going to have to wait for an honorary Oscar like her fellow countryman, the poor Peter O’Toole. Nope she’s sitting pretty even with Meryl breathing down her neck.
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
It pains me to change my vote her from Mickey Rourke to Sean Penn. Not that I don’t love Penn and his wonderful performance in Milk but it’s hard not to root for someone like Rourke especially when you see how great and touching his performance in The Wrestler was. Plus, I feel that there’s momentum for Milk overall which leads me to….
Best Picture: Milk
Yes, Slumdog goes down. I know Harvey is out there campaigning like a mad man for The Reader but I think just getting that film a Best Picture nomination was a win in of itself. Instead I think Milk is going to pull the upset similar to the way Crash did in 2006. The Academy likes to award great films that are about California and considering the Prop 8 backlash lingering(as it should be) as well as the fact that Brokeback Mountain was the film that Crash beat out in 2006 this could be their attempt to make-up for that. While Milk does have a tragic ending the film itself is still very uplifting and inspiring which should be enough to slightly edge out Slumdog Millionaire.
We’re just a few days away from this year’s Academy Awards ceremony and I figured it was time for my revised Oscar picks. I’m only going to present my revised picks for major categories as my original picks for effects, sound, costume, etc. have not changed.
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
He really does seem unstoppable at this point.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
I originally though Peter Morgan would have the best shot here for an award to come Frost/Nixon’s way, but they’ll just have to settle for all those theatre awards because this is sure to be another win for Slumdog.
Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk
There have been many books and documentaries made about Harvey Milk but Black was able to start from square one and write his own compelling and brave version.
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Amazing Woody Allen was not nominated for his fantastic script for VCB, but the lovely and talented Ms. Cruz will most likely become the latest actor that Allen has written and directed to an Oscar win and that’s saying a lot with such a strong and wide-open category.
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
The only question that remains is who the Academy is going to have accepting the award on his behalf, we already know that the statue will go to Matilda afterwards and deservedly so. I think Chris Nolan is the right person. He’s the guy pulling all the strings for this great franchise and it’s shameful that he’s not nominated for writing, directing or producing the most entertaining film of the year.
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Haven’t seen her performance in this, although I’m a huge fan of hers and thought she was easily deserving of a nomination for Revolutionary Road. I don’t think Winslet is going to have to wait for an honorary Oscar like her fellow countryman, the poor Peter O’Toole. Nope she’s sitting pretty even with Meryl breathing down her neck.
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
It pains me to change my vote her from Mickey Rourke to Sean Penn. Not that I don’t love Penn and his wonderful performance in Milk but it’s hard not to root for someone like Rourke especially when you see how great and touching his performance in The Wrestler was. Plus, I feel that there’s momentum for Milk overall which leads me to….
Best Picture: Milk
Yes, Slumdog goes down. I know Harvey is out there campaigning like a mad man for The Reader but I think just getting that film a Best Picture nomination was a win in of itself. Instead I think Milk is going to pull the upset similar to the way Crash did in 2006. The Academy likes to award great films that are about California and considering the Prop 8 backlash lingering(as it should be) as well as the fact that Brokeback Mountain was the film that Crash beat out in 2006 this could be their attempt to make-up for that. While Milk does have a tragic ending the film itself is still very uplifting and inspiring which should be enough to slightly edge out Slumdog Millionaire.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday Afternoon Quarterbacking
So now two more of my co-workers are pregnant, which brings the current total to 4. But the really big news is that one of my oldest and closest friends, Chris (AKA “Bubba-Chris”), is going to become a first time father. I am happy for all of them; it’s exciting and overwhelming news at the same time. I was at some children’s theatre performances this past weekend and nearly had a panic attack with all the little ones running around. The pressure coming from my mother is going to be ratcheted up several notches now. She’s got grandmother fever and I don’t think it’s going to go away anytime soon. I love her, but I seriously might have to kill her just to live the rest of my life in peace. I would actually consider going back to….college, if that would suffice in getting her off my back about the whole wife & kids thing.
It’s quite funny then to state that I have jumped into playing a small part in a coarse acting play, Julius and Cleopatra, being directed by the venerable Chester Eitze as part of his Silver 25th anniversary production season at the Bastrop Opera House. There are a few actors I am getting the chance to work with for the first time and a few I’ve hits the boards with before. I play a character named Vasectimo who is described as “a giant black eunuch”; a man-servant to Queen Cleopatra. Yes, I know we have a black president and Robert Downey, Jr. is nominated for an Academy Award for his brilliant satire of a “black face” performance in Tropic Thunder, which in and of itself is a “black face” performance, but I’m no Robert Downey, Jr. so there’s no black face in this show. But I do get to wear super-high soled boots to make me taller and I only have four lines to learn, done, and a chariot race sequence. Then there are some burlesque and vaudeville bits I’ll be doing as well. I think it’s going to be fun. It’s coming up quick, too. We start on February 27th and then play Friday and Saturdays through March 14th. As always check out the website, http://www.bastropoperahouse.com/ for more information.
In “Can’t we all just get along?” news: the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue hit newsstands today. Israeli born supermodel Bar Rafaeli is this year’s cover model. A wonderful choice as she is a very beautiful woman from a very turbulent place. I think the U.N. needs to load up a few supply planes full of this magazine and drop them on the Gaza Strip and let’s see if we have a break in the violence. I say we would. Of course there has been much speculation and discussion in the press about whether the lovely Miss Rafaeli skipped out on her mandatory military service as an Israeli citizen. Which makes me think; if you have to force your citizens into military service then things are pretty FUBAR. I am by no means pro-Palestine or anti-Semitic so don’t start your flame-throwing but I think one of the many things I’d to see from our new Presidential administration is an effort to hold Israel responsible for the part it plays in middle east aggression. We are way past playing favorites.
Speaking of the new administration, last night President Obama held his first prime-time news conference. I was only able to catch some highlights since I was at rehearsal last night but I amazed that some reporter and I want to find out who it was that wasted his question on asking about Alex Rodriguez. I mean, really?! You’ve got the leader of the free world standing there and you ask about baseball. Maybe it’s still too early and the reporter still thinks that it’s Dubya up there and is used to lobbing softball questions like that, pun intended. That’s not to say that the Alex Rodriguez story is not a big story. It is. It’s just a big sports story, with a minor, very minor effect on the rest of the nation right now. Economic stimulus, War, Gas prices raising again…any of this ring a bell Mr. or Mrs. Reporter. Sheesh.
A-Rod. You little wanker. F-you man. F-you big time. You cheatin’ lyin’ son of a bitch. You come down to Texas in 2001 with your $252 million dollar contract and promise of greatness and shit it all down the drain. One MVP trophy and three last place finishes later just run-off and join the evil empire, the New York Yankees, get another MVP trophy and pretty much hand over AL dominance to the Boston Red Sox as you choke the big one in the playoffs. You’re nothing but another stain now. Now when is someone going to turn up some concrete evidence on Barry Bonds? If the MLB has a failed test on A-Rod prior to 2004 then there has to be a failed test from Barry Bonds out there somewhere.
It’s quite funny then to state that I have jumped into playing a small part in a coarse acting play, Julius and Cleopatra, being directed by the venerable Chester Eitze as part of his Silver 25th anniversary production season at the Bastrop Opera House. There are a few actors I am getting the chance to work with for the first time and a few I’ve hits the boards with before. I play a character named Vasectimo who is described as “a giant black eunuch”; a man-servant to Queen Cleopatra. Yes, I know we have a black president and Robert Downey, Jr. is nominated for an Academy Award for his brilliant satire of a “black face” performance in Tropic Thunder, which in and of itself is a “black face” performance, but I’m no Robert Downey, Jr. so there’s no black face in this show. But I do get to wear super-high soled boots to make me taller and I only have four lines to learn, done, and a chariot race sequence. Then there are some burlesque and vaudeville bits I’ll be doing as well. I think it’s going to be fun. It’s coming up quick, too. We start on February 27th and then play Friday and Saturdays through March 14th. As always check out the website, http://www.bastropoperahouse.com/ for more information.
In “Can’t we all just get along?” news: the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue hit newsstands today. Israeli born supermodel Bar Rafaeli is this year’s cover model. A wonderful choice as she is a very beautiful woman from a very turbulent place. I think the U.N. needs to load up a few supply planes full of this magazine and drop them on the Gaza Strip and let’s see if we have a break in the violence. I say we would. Of course there has been much speculation and discussion in the press about whether the lovely Miss Rafaeli skipped out on her mandatory military service as an Israeli citizen. Which makes me think; if you have to force your citizens into military service then things are pretty FUBAR. I am by no means pro-Palestine or anti-Semitic so don’t start your flame-throwing but I think one of the many things I’d to see from our new Presidential administration is an effort to hold Israel responsible for the part it plays in middle east aggression. We are way past playing favorites.
Speaking of the new administration, last night President Obama held his first prime-time news conference. I was only able to catch some highlights since I was at rehearsal last night but I amazed that some reporter and I want to find out who it was that wasted his question on asking about Alex Rodriguez. I mean, really?! You’ve got the leader of the free world standing there and you ask about baseball. Maybe it’s still too early and the reporter still thinks that it’s Dubya up there and is used to lobbing softball questions like that, pun intended. That’s not to say that the Alex Rodriguez story is not a big story. It is. It’s just a big sports story, with a minor, very minor effect on the rest of the nation right now. Economic stimulus, War, Gas prices raising again…any of this ring a bell Mr. or Mrs. Reporter. Sheesh.
A-Rod. You little wanker. F-you man. F-you big time. You cheatin’ lyin’ son of a bitch. You come down to Texas in 2001 with your $252 million dollar contract and promise of greatness and shit it all down the drain. One MVP trophy and three last place finishes later just run-off and join the evil empire, the New York Yankees, get another MVP trophy and pretty much hand over AL dominance to the Boston Red Sox as you choke the big one in the playoffs. You’re nothing but another stain now. Now when is someone going to turn up some concrete evidence on Barry Bonds? If the MLB has a failed test on A-Rod prior to 2004 then there has to be a failed test from Barry Bonds out there somewhere.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Important Stuff
+ Final weekend of The Big Bad Musical is upon us. It's been a fun and interesting experience. I hope we get a nice audience. This past Friday's show I absolutely killed it, then Saturday I tanked it. Saturday's performance was being taped of course. That's live theatre. Not sure what's next on the horizon for me acting-wise. I know I want to concentrate on getting my play "Chasing Ghosts" produced before year's end, so whatever capacity it's going to take for me to make that happen whether I have to produce, direct & design it, acting in it, whatever then that's what I have to do. I also think that since the whole stand-up thing dried up last year when I moved back out of Austin and couldn't just drive down to some open mic night after a few too many Zeigen Bachs, that I would like to take some improv classes with hopes of meeting some like minded people to start a troupe with for live performances as well as some comedy short films that I've been tinkering with for a while now.
+Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band have announced thier Spring U.S. tour dates. They are playing Austin, Texas on April 5th. That's just two days before my birthday, so HINT HINT. 'Nuff said.
+ So I finally caught Slumdog Millionaire this past weekend and dare I say “overrated”. I know it’s the little engine that could and probably will this awards season, but I was kind of under whelmed by the picture. That’s not to say that I disliked it. The performances by the children were impeccable and the story has all the hallmarks of a classic Dickensian tale, but there was just a level of disconnect that I couldn’t get past. Although I can certainly understand why people are big fans of the film, it’s not like Little Miss Sunshine where I am just flabbergasted by all the lauds and praise. Overall I think Slumdog Millionaire had more potential and failed to deliver on it.
+ Super Bowl Sunday is bearing down on us and it’s been relatively hype-free. I guess there are bigger and better things for people to have focused on this past two weeks. Which makes me think of a quote I read in Peter King’s SI.com column – “We have a black President, the Arizona Cardinals are in the Super Bowl and someone safely landed a plane in the Hudson River,” yeah it’s been a crazy and eventful start to the year. I don’t really have a rooting interest in either team. Especially when you consider that they both beat the Dallas Cowboys this year.
The Steelers rivalry with the Cowboys is not what is was in 1970s before I was born and I like Coach Tomlin, but considering that Pittsburg did just win the Super Bowl at the end of the 2005 season and the Cardinals are a franchise that have the second longest championship drought, 61 years, behind the 100 years of the baseball Chicago Cubs, I guess I have to go with the underdogs Cardinals. My prediction: “There Will Be Points” - Arizona 42, Pittsburg 31. Larry Fitzgerald is named the MVP with about 10 grabs for over 150 in yardage in a few TDs if not more, capping off a season which has seen him grow into the best receiver in the NFL. Kurt Warner would also likely ride off into the sunset and retire with his Hall of Fame credentials even more intact.
+ Compiling a list of the worst movies of 2008 is easier than I thought and there’s a lot of stuff you’d expect to see on such a list that I haven’t even bothered seeing. So with the recent misfortune of watching another bad Mark Walhberg flick here is my current list of the 15 worst movies of 2008(in no particular order): One Missed Call, The Eye, Max Payne, The Happening, Quarantine, Jumper, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Doomsday, 10,000 B.C., Vantage Point, Prom Night, Made of Honor, Fool’s Gold, Untraceable, Shutter.
I implore you to avoid these films but if you do watch then don’t say that you were not warned. And while I play catch-up on all the Oscar contenders. Let me shift gears and offer up a list of some of my favorite movies of 2008 that you might not have seen but I highly recommend. Now not all of these films are technically 2008 releases but they are recent and something I did see in the last year: The Bank Job (Yes Jason Statham can do more than just kick and growl), In Bruges (a profound and profoundly funny crime film), Man on Wire (a real life fairy-tale), Cassandra’s Dream (another dip into the dark side of Woody Allen), Bella (a heart-wrenching story about how one person can change your life) , Bigger Stronger Faster: Side Effects of the American Dream (wonderful documentary about steroid culture), Appaloosa (a straight-up old fashion western), Grace is Gone (John Cusak is brilliant as a grieving father who has trouble breaking the news to his two daughters of their mother’s death in the Iraq war), Young @ Heart (a lovely documentary about a thriving and inspiring group of senior citizens).
+ I’m not really doing the New Year’s resolution thing this, never really have done it, except for the many, many times I’ve tried to read Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. I guess I’ll give it another shot this year, but who knows. As much reading I do, I always try to keep forcing myself to read even more and I wanted to mention the best book I read in all of 2008, which coincidentally was written by the same author who wrote my favorite novel of 2007 as well. Robert Bolano is the writer I speak of and the novels and The Savage Detectives and 2666 respectively.
I picked up Detectives in ’07 on the recommendation of the cutest “in that bookish/nerdy kind of way” Book People employee who shall remain nameless because she still has a boyfriend. Anyway, we had bonded over our love of Don Quixote and other gems of Spanish culture and literature. So she turned me onto Bolano, the hard living Chilean who died tragically in 2003, but left one hell of a legacy. Detectives chronicles a fictional late 1970s Mexico City where multiple protagonists are involved in a poetry movement. It’s a seductive and strange work, while the next and unfortunately final Bolano novel 2666 is a massive (around 900 pages) and haunting tale about hundreds of mysterious unsolved murders of women in the border towns of Northern Mexico and the many investigations of the social, political and moral realms that could be responsible. Not a light summer read by any means but if you loved David Fincher’s criminally overlooked 2007 film Zodiac, you’ll probably love 2666.
I would be remiss without mentioning the fantastic work of Natasha Wimmer, who translated both of Bolano’s novels into English so that uno language minds like myself can still read and enjoy such great things.
Until next time the bloggcony is closed.
"Bitch may be the new Black, but Black is the new President, Bitch!"
+Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band have announced thier Spring U.S. tour dates. They are playing Austin, Texas on April 5th. That's just two days before my birthday, so HINT HINT. 'Nuff said.
+ So I finally caught Slumdog Millionaire this past weekend and dare I say “overrated”. I know it’s the little engine that could and probably will this awards season, but I was kind of under whelmed by the picture. That’s not to say that I disliked it. The performances by the children were impeccable and the story has all the hallmarks of a classic Dickensian tale, but there was just a level of disconnect that I couldn’t get past. Although I can certainly understand why people are big fans of the film, it’s not like Little Miss Sunshine where I am just flabbergasted by all the lauds and praise. Overall I think Slumdog Millionaire had more potential and failed to deliver on it.
+ Super Bowl Sunday is bearing down on us and it’s been relatively hype-free. I guess there are bigger and better things for people to have focused on this past two weeks. Which makes me think of a quote I read in Peter King’s SI.com column – “We have a black President, the Arizona Cardinals are in the Super Bowl and someone safely landed a plane in the Hudson River,” yeah it’s been a crazy and eventful start to the year. I don’t really have a rooting interest in either team. Especially when you consider that they both beat the Dallas Cowboys this year.
The Steelers rivalry with the Cowboys is not what is was in 1970s before I was born and I like Coach Tomlin, but considering that Pittsburg did just win the Super Bowl at the end of the 2005 season and the Cardinals are a franchise that have the second longest championship drought, 61 years, behind the 100 years of the baseball Chicago Cubs, I guess I have to go with the underdogs Cardinals. My prediction: “There Will Be Points” - Arizona 42, Pittsburg 31. Larry Fitzgerald is named the MVP with about 10 grabs for over 150 in yardage in a few TDs if not more, capping off a season which has seen him grow into the best receiver in the NFL. Kurt Warner would also likely ride off into the sunset and retire with his Hall of Fame credentials even more intact.
+ Compiling a list of the worst movies of 2008 is easier than I thought and there’s a lot of stuff you’d expect to see on such a list that I haven’t even bothered seeing. So with the recent misfortune of watching another bad Mark Walhberg flick here is my current list of the 15 worst movies of 2008(in no particular order): One Missed Call, The Eye, Max Payne, The Happening, Quarantine, Jumper, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Doomsday, 10,000 B.C., Vantage Point, Prom Night, Made of Honor, Fool’s Gold, Untraceable, Shutter.
I implore you to avoid these films but if you do watch then don’t say that you were not warned. And while I play catch-up on all the Oscar contenders. Let me shift gears and offer up a list of some of my favorite movies of 2008 that you might not have seen but I highly recommend. Now not all of these films are technically 2008 releases but they are recent and something I did see in the last year: The Bank Job (Yes Jason Statham can do more than just kick and growl), In Bruges (a profound and profoundly funny crime film), Man on Wire (a real life fairy-tale), Cassandra’s Dream (another dip into the dark side of Woody Allen), Bella (a heart-wrenching story about how one person can change your life) , Bigger Stronger Faster: Side Effects of the American Dream (wonderful documentary about steroid culture), Appaloosa (a straight-up old fashion western), Grace is Gone (John Cusak is brilliant as a grieving father who has trouble breaking the news to his two daughters of their mother’s death in the Iraq war), Young @ Heart (a lovely documentary about a thriving and inspiring group of senior citizens).
+ I’m not really doing the New Year’s resolution thing this, never really have done it, except for the many, many times I’ve tried to read Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. I guess I’ll give it another shot this year, but who knows. As much reading I do, I always try to keep forcing myself to read even more and I wanted to mention the best book I read in all of 2008, which coincidentally was written by the same author who wrote my favorite novel of 2007 as well. Robert Bolano is the writer I speak of and the novels and The Savage Detectives and 2666 respectively.
I picked up Detectives in ’07 on the recommendation of the cutest “in that bookish/nerdy kind of way” Book People employee who shall remain nameless because she still has a boyfriend. Anyway, we had bonded over our love of Don Quixote and other gems of Spanish culture and literature. So she turned me onto Bolano, the hard living Chilean who died tragically in 2003, but left one hell of a legacy. Detectives chronicles a fictional late 1970s Mexico City where multiple protagonists are involved in a poetry movement. It’s a seductive and strange work, while the next and unfortunately final Bolano novel 2666 is a massive (around 900 pages) and haunting tale about hundreds of mysterious unsolved murders of women in the border towns of Northern Mexico and the many investigations of the social, political and moral realms that could be responsible. Not a light summer read by any means but if you loved David Fincher’s criminally overlooked 2007 film Zodiac, you’ll probably love 2666.
I would be remiss without mentioning the fantastic work of Natasha Wimmer, who translated both of Bolano’s novels into English so that uno language minds like myself can still read and enjoy such great things.
Until next time the bloggcony is closed.
"Bitch may be the new Black, but Black is the new President, Bitch!"
Thursday, January 22, 2009
O-S-C-A-R
Wolverine is hosting this year's Academy Awards. That's cool. Not as cool as it would be if Ricky Gervais was hosting, but anyway here be the nominations along with my predicted winners in bold italics and commentary.
BEST PICTURE
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
Amazingly I have yet to see any of these films, but I will catch-up on them all before the awards. I think its shame “The Dark Knight” was passed up but I think ultimately “Button” will eek out a win over “Slumdog” although they will both end up with a several trophies before the nights over.
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"
I would have gone with Hathaway if Kate was nominated here for “Revolutionary Road” and in the supporting category for “The Reader” as she was at the Golden Globes, but since this is her lone nomination it’s hers to lose and I don’t think she will.
BEST ACTOR
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
So very happy to see Richard Jenkins pick-up a nod here. If Clint Eastwood had snuck in with “Gran Torino” I’d be liking his chances at finally getting a golden statue for acting, but alas he’ll have to live with a slew of trophies for his amazing work behind the camera. That leaves comeback boy Rourke as the favorite.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"
Cruz was an early front-runner for this category and then Winslet starting gaining a lot of momentum for “The Reader” but now that she’s nominated in the Lead category I think it falls back to Penelope, although this race feels very wide open. It’s Adams’ second nom and Tomei is a previous winner in this very category.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"
Another very strong category all-around. Brolin and Downey are being nominated for their body of recent strong work as much as these individual performances. I hear Shannon is a revelation and Hoffman is a stalwart, but the sentimental and deserving pick is Ledger. His Joker is a thing of legend and icon.
BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"
I think Boyle will follow-up his Golden Globe with another win here. Fincher could very well win here though while “Slumdog” wins Best Picture. But I think it will more likely split this way. The lack of a nom for Chris Nolan is disheartening and considering his film is closest to Fincher’s amongst this group that also did not get a Best Picture nom makes me think Boyle is more the likely winner.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, "WALL-E"
I loved “WALL-E” but it’s a shame Jenny Lumet’s screenplay for “Rachel Getting Married” didn’t get a nomination. Decorated playwright McDonagh is probably the best pure writer amongst this group, he also penned an Oscar winning short film a few years ago, but I think Black’s original take on the life of Harvey Milk is our winner. There were many competing Harvey Milk projects and source materials that never came to fruition but Black just started from scratch and created his own passion project.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Hare, "The Reader"
Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"
John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"
Eric Roth, Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Three playwrights nominated here, two of whom adapted their very own stage material. Roth is a past winner for Forest Gump and taking the task of turning a short story into an epic film seems like it would be a lock, but I have a feeling Peter Morgan, who has been on a tear recently with great screenplays for “The Queen” and “The Last King of Scotland” helps “Frost/Nixon” avoid a shut-out by picking up his first trophy in this category for his timely and sharp piece of historical fiction.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"The Baader-Meinhof Complex" (Germany)
"The Class" (France)
"Departures" (Japan)
"Revanche" (Austria)
"Waltz with Bashir" (Israel)
I’m not very familiar with any of the nominated films outside of “Bashir” but the buzz has been pretty incredible on it and I can not wait to see it.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"Wall-E"
This is your lock of locks.
BEST ART DIRECTION
"Changeling"
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"
"Dark Knight"
"The Duchess"
"Revolutionary Road"
The gorgeous southern gothic scope of “Button” will probably win out.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Changeling" Tom Stern
"Slumdog Millionaire," Anthony Dod Mantle
"The Reader," Chris Menges
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," Claudio Miranda
"The Dark Knight," Wally Pfister
Ditto from above.
BEST FILM EDITING
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall
"The Dark Knight," Lee Smith
"Frost/Nixon," Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
"Milk," Elliot Graham
"Slumdog Millionaire," Chris Dickens
It appears Dickens and director Boyle worked close together to craft a perfectly compressed film and I think they’ll be rewarded for it. The film has even been described as "Dickensian" which is a good thing.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"Australia," Catherine Martin
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," Jacqueline West
"The Duchess," Michael O'Conner
"Milk", Danny Glicker
"Revolutionary Road," Albert Wolsky
Gotta go with the 19th Century British royalty almost anytime. Safe choice, but nothing else really pops out. Another "Dark Knight" snub in this category.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
"Encounters at the End of the World"
"The Garden"
"Man on Wire"
"Trouble the Water"
“Man on Wire” is breathtaking and inspiring. A lovely film that is a tribute to brave and bold spirits everywhere.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Slumdog Millionaire," "Jai Ho," A.R. Rahman
"Slumdog Millionaire," "O Saya," A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.
"Wall-E," "Down To Earth," Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman
No. No. No. Only three songs nominated and one of them is not Bruce Springsteen for the title track to “The Wrestler”. Travesty. “Down to earth” is pretty vanilla so I’d have to go with something from “Slumdog”. Probably the track with M.I.A. I'm interested in hearing the music from "Slumdog" so it should be one of the first films I try to catch up with.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," Alexandre Desplat
"Defiance," James Newton Howard
"Milk," Danny Elfman
"Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman
"WALL-E," Thomas Newman
A.R. Rahman hot off his Golden Globe win looks poised for another Golden trophy, even with stiff competition from four of Hollywood’s best known and recognized composers.
BEST MAKEUP
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Colleen Callaghan, Fionagh Cush
"The Dark Knight," Peter Robb-King, John Caglione Jr.
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army," Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz
Great work in all three films here, but “Button” breaks new ground.
BEST SOUND EDITING
"The Dark Knight," Richard King
"Iron Man," Frank Eulner, Christopher Boyes
"Slumdog Millionaire," Tom Sayers
"Wall-E," Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
"Wanted," Wylie Stateman
I’m just guessing the Academy will throw “The Dark Knight” a bone here. Action films tend to do well in this category, look at “Bourne Ultimatum” win last year.
BEST SOUND MIXING
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Mark Weingarten, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce
"The Dark Knight," Ed Novick, Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo
"Slumdog Millionaire," Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
"Wall-E," Ben Burtt, Tom Myers, Michael Semanick
"Wanted," Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt
Another win “Slumdog”, which seems to dazzle as much with aesthetics as it does with soul.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Eric Barba
"The Dark Knight," Chris Corbould, Nick Davis, Paul Franklin, Tim Webber
"Iron Man," John Nelson
Same as with the make-up category, “Button” gets the win for using its effects more seamlessly than fantasy or action films.
BEST PICTURE
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
Amazingly I have yet to see any of these films, but I will catch-up on them all before the awards. I think its shame “The Dark Knight” was passed up but I think ultimately “Button” will eek out a win over “Slumdog” although they will both end up with a several trophies before the nights over.
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"
I would have gone with Hathaway if Kate was nominated here for “Revolutionary Road” and in the supporting category for “The Reader” as she was at the Golden Globes, but since this is her lone nomination it’s hers to lose and I don’t think she will.
BEST ACTOR
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
So very happy to see Richard Jenkins pick-up a nod here. If Clint Eastwood had snuck in with “Gran Torino” I’d be liking his chances at finally getting a golden statue for acting, but alas he’ll have to live with a slew of trophies for his amazing work behind the camera. That leaves comeback boy Rourke as the favorite.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"
Cruz was an early front-runner for this category and then Winslet starting gaining a lot of momentum for “The Reader” but now that she’s nominated in the Lead category I think it falls back to Penelope, although this race feels very wide open. It’s Adams’ second nom and Tomei is a previous winner in this very category.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"
Another very strong category all-around. Brolin and Downey are being nominated for their body of recent strong work as much as these individual performances. I hear Shannon is a revelation and Hoffman is a stalwart, but the sentimental and deserving pick is Ledger. His Joker is a thing of legend and icon.
BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"
I think Boyle will follow-up his Golden Globe with another win here. Fincher could very well win here though while “Slumdog” wins Best Picture. But I think it will more likely split this way. The lack of a nom for Chris Nolan is disheartening and considering his film is closest to Fincher’s amongst this group that also did not get a Best Picture nom makes me think Boyle is more the likely winner.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, "WALL-E"
I loved “WALL-E” but it’s a shame Jenny Lumet’s screenplay for “Rachel Getting Married” didn’t get a nomination. Decorated playwright McDonagh is probably the best pure writer amongst this group, he also penned an Oscar winning short film a few years ago, but I think Black’s original take on the life of Harvey Milk is our winner. There were many competing Harvey Milk projects and source materials that never came to fruition but Black just started from scratch and created his own passion project.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Hare, "The Reader"
Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"
John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"
Eric Roth, Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Three playwrights nominated here, two of whom adapted their very own stage material. Roth is a past winner for Forest Gump and taking the task of turning a short story into an epic film seems like it would be a lock, but I have a feeling Peter Morgan, who has been on a tear recently with great screenplays for “The Queen” and “The Last King of Scotland” helps “Frost/Nixon” avoid a shut-out by picking up his first trophy in this category for his timely and sharp piece of historical fiction.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"The Baader-Meinhof Complex" (Germany)
"The Class" (France)
"Departures" (Japan)
"Revanche" (Austria)
"Waltz with Bashir" (Israel)
I’m not very familiar with any of the nominated films outside of “Bashir” but the buzz has been pretty incredible on it and I can not wait to see it.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"Wall-E"
This is your lock of locks.
BEST ART DIRECTION
"Changeling"
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"
"Dark Knight"
"The Duchess"
"Revolutionary Road"
The gorgeous southern gothic scope of “Button” will probably win out.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Changeling" Tom Stern
"Slumdog Millionaire," Anthony Dod Mantle
"The Reader," Chris Menges
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," Claudio Miranda
"The Dark Knight," Wally Pfister
Ditto from above.
BEST FILM EDITING
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall
"The Dark Knight," Lee Smith
"Frost/Nixon," Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
"Milk," Elliot Graham
"Slumdog Millionaire," Chris Dickens
It appears Dickens and director Boyle worked close together to craft a perfectly compressed film and I think they’ll be rewarded for it. The film has even been described as "Dickensian" which is a good thing.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"Australia," Catherine Martin
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," Jacqueline West
"The Duchess," Michael O'Conner
"Milk", Danny Glicker
"Revolutionary Road," Albert Wolsky
Gotta go with the 19th Century British royalty almost anytime. Safe choice, but nothing else really pops out. Another "Dark Knight" snub in this category.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
"Encounters at the End of the World"
"The Garden"
"Man on Wire"
"Trouble the Water"
“Man on Wire” is breathtaking and inspiring. A lovely film that is a tribute to brave and bold spirits everywhere.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Slumdog Millionaire," "Jai Ho," A.R. Rahman
"Slumdog Millionaire," "O Saya," A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.
"Wall-E," "Down To Earth," Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman
No. No. No. Only three songs nominated and one of them is not Bruce Springsteen for the title track to “The Wrestler”. Travesty. “Down to earth” is pretty vanilla so I’d have to go with something from “Slumdog”. Probably the track with M.I.A. I'm interested in hearing the music from "Slumdog" so it should be one of the first films I try to catch up with.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," Alexandre Desplat
"Defiance," James Newton Howard
"Milk," Danny Elfman
"Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman
"WALL-E," Thomas Newman
A.R. Rahman hot off his Golden Globe win looks poised for another Golden trophy, even with stiff competition from four of Hollywood’s best known and recognized composers.
BEST MAKEUP
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Colleen Callaghan, Fionagh Cush
"The Dark Knight," Peter Robb-King, John Caglione Jr.
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army," Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz
Great work in all three films here, but “Button” breaks new ground.
BEST SOUND EDITING
"The Dark Knight," Richard King
"Iron Man," Frank Eulner, Christopher Boyes
"Slumdog Millionaire," Tom Sayers
"Wall-E," Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
"Wanted," Wylie Stateman
I’m just guessing the Academy will throw “The Dark Knight” a bone here. Action films tend to do well in this category, look at “Bourne Ultimatum” win last year.
BEST SOUND MIXING
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Mark Weingarten, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce
"The Dark Knight," Ed Novick, Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo
"Slumdog Millionaire," Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
"Wall-E," Ben Burtt, Tom Myers, Michael Semanick
"Wanted," Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt
Another win “Slumdog”, which seems to dazzle as much with aesthetics as it does with soul.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Eric Barba
"The Dark Knight," Chris Corbould, Nick Davis, Paul Franklin, Tim Webber
"Iron Man," John Nelson
Same as with the make-up category, “Button” gets the win for using its effects more seamlessly than fantasy or action films.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Yes we did!
"Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonightand only time we chill is when we kill each otherit takes skill to be real, time to heal each otherAnd although it seems heaven sentWe ain't ready, to see a black President"
- TuPac Shakur circa 1996
Those words from the song "Changes" that was released posthumously two years after his death in September 1996 take on such vivid and now dated feeling. In our lives it seems as though the watershed historical moments which mold the times we live in are more often than not connected to tragic events like the death of Tupac Shakur. For me there was the suicide of Kurt Cobain on my twelfth birthday in 1994. The helicopter crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan in August 1990, which was the first and one of the only times I've ever seen my father cry. The Challenger shuttle explosion in 1986 that I watched with the rest of my pre-school class and luckily was still too young to fully understand the tragedy of it at the time. The death of Princess Diana in 1997. The Columbine Massacre on April 20, 1999. Voting for the first time ever in the 2000 Presidential election, which will undoubtedly go down as the most controversial of modern times. The horrific events of September 11, 2001 in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. The War in Iraq that began March 2003 and will end…well, we'll see about that. Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.
Now not everything has been tragic though. Sometimes petty and disappointing, like watching President Clinton impeached but not removed from office for lying about oral sex with an intern. And knowing that the U.S. Congress spent millions of tax payer dollars trying to bring the President down with the investigation that lead to the discovery of said sex scandal.
There have been unforgettable and inspiring times like when I was over at my neighbor's, The Alexander family, as we watched the Berlin Wall come tumbling down piece by piece and the cold come to an end.
There have been historical non-events like Y2K. While I've seen technology grow from floppy discs to flash drives. The once amazing 8-bit graphics of Atari and NES game systems are now replaced by the Sony Playstation 3 with its High-Def picture and interactive play. We have set a robotic foot on Mars and one of the earliest Voyagers satellites that had been launched ten years before I was born has now left our known solar system.
I watched with pride as Vince Young delivered a National Championship to the Texas Longhorns that was 30 years in the waiting in arguably the greatest college football game of all-time during the 2006 Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans. I watched in amazement as the Boston Red Sox went from down 0-3 against the hated New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series to winning their next 7 games in a row to capture their first World Series title in 86 years.
I've seen Will Smith go from winning the first ever Grammy award presented for Rap music to becoming Hollywood's most bankable leading man. And speaking of the Grammys, I've also witnessed Jethro Tull defeat Metallica for the first ever Heavy Metal Grammy.
My first musical listening device was an actual record player that I received secondhand from my uncle, along with many beloved secondhand vinyl albums; before moving onto cassettes, cds, and now mp3s. From a ghetto blaster boom-box that took a dozen D-sized batteries to operate to a Sony Disc Walkman and now my iPod with 80 gigs of memory for music, movies, pictures and games.
When I was born a former B-Movie actor was in the White House. Now, god forbid someone like Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon or Natalie Maines express their political opinions before there are riots of complaint and overreaction.
In almost 27 years, I've seen the world grow and change in many ways. But I can only wish that Tupac were here today to witness what I've just witnessed and wonder what kind of verse he would come up with now. What rhymes with Obama?
- TuPac Shakur circa 1996
Those words from the song "Changes" that was released posthumously two years after his death in September 1996 take on such vivid and now dated feeling. In our lives it seems as though the watershed historical moments which mold the times we live in are more often than not connected to tragic events like the death of Tupac Shakur. For me there was the suicide of Kurt Cobain on my twelfth birthday in 1994. The helicopter crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan in August 1990, which was the first and one of the only times I've ever seen my father cry. The Challenger shuttle explosion in 1986 that I watched with the rest of my pre-school class and luckily was still too young to fully understand the tragedy of it at the time. The death of Princess Diana in 1997. The Columbine Massacre on April 20, 1999. Voting for the first time ever in the 2000 Presidential election, which will undoubtedly go down as the most controversial of modern times. The horrific events of September 11, 2001 in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. The War in Iraq that began March 2003 and will end…well, we'll see about that. Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.
Now not everything has been tragic though. Sometimes petty and disappointing, like watching President Clinton impeached but not removed from office for lying about oral sex with an intern. And knowing that the U.S. Congress spent millions of tax payer dollars trying to bring the President down with the investigation that lead to the discovery of said sex scandal.
There have been unforgettable and inspiring times like when I was over at my neighbor's, The Alexander family, as we watched the Berlin Wall come tumbling down piece by piece and the cold come to an end.
There have been historical non-events like Y2K. While I've seen technology grow from floppy discs to flash drives. The once amazing 8-bit graphics of Atari and NES game systems are now replaced by the Sony Playstation 3 with its High-Def picture and interactive play. We have set a robotic foot on Mars and one of the earliest Voyagers satellites that had been launched ten years before I was born has now left our known solar system.
I watched with pride as Vince Young delivered a National Championship to the Texas Longhorns that was 30 years in the waiting in arguably the greatest college football game of all-time during the 2006 Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans. I watched in amazement as the Boston Red Sox went from down 0-3 against the hated New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series to winning their next 7 games in a row to capture their first World Series title in 86 years.
I've seen Will Smith go from winning the first ever Grammy award presented for Rap music to becoming Hollywood's most bankable leading man. And speaking of the Grammys, I've also witnessed Jethro Tull defeat Metallica for the first ever Heavy Metal Grammy.
My first musical listening device was an actual record player that I received secondhand from my uncle, along with many beloved secondhand vinyl albums; before moving onto cassettes, cds, and now mp3s. From a ghetto blaster boom-box that took a dozen D-sized batteries to operate to a Sony Disc Walkman and now my iPod with 80 gigs of memory for music, movies, pictures and games.
When I was born a former B-Movie actor was in the White House. Now, god forbid someone like Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon or Natalie Maines express their political opinions before there are riots of complaint and overreaction.
In almost 27 years, I've seen the world grow and change in many ways. But I can only wish that Tupac were here today to witness what I've just witnessed and wonder what kind of verse he would come up with now. What rhymes with Obama?
Friday, December 26, 2008
Aluminum Hearts
she took me as i was
a precocious, arrogant kid
found me ever so charming
even the parts i hid
she taught me how to love
and it did make me grow
but not fully enough
to honestly let her know
a precocious, arrogant kid
found me ever so charming
even the parts i hid
she taught me how to love
and it did make me grow
but not fully enough
to honestly let her know
her heart was an organ of fire
i was just a terrible liar
making such a beautiful thing break
will always be my biggest mistake
will always be my biggest mistake
ten years since that night
she was the brightest light
and now i have only myself to blame
for the pain of having to carry this flame
she was the brightest light
and now i have only myself to blame
for the pain of having to carry this flame
It's been a while since I've written poetry, but this was an occasion above all others that warranted a return to the form. I love and miss you Melissa and I'm still so very sorry.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas. I also wanted to get this survey posted, since I had time to take it during a slow work day today. I've taken it every year the last several years and it's always interesting to look back and see what changes from year to year.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? I remained completely, although not entirely by choice, celibate.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No, I still need to get back into shape.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My family welcomed twin boys, Bryce and Bryant to my cousin Jennifer and her husband Dewey and they were followed in June by birth of my cousin Stephanie's little girl Ava.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Nobody that I had a personal(as in met them in person) relationship with, but there were a lot of untimely and tragic deaths this year from stars like Paul Newman, Heath Ledger, Sydney Pollack and Mitch Mitchell to a local restrauntuer Denny Young, who I didn't know well but have friends and family who close to him and know what a great and unique guy he was.
5. What countries did you visit? I did not leave the good ole US of A this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I would like to have my living arrangement change again soon and hopefully be able to afford a new car early in the year as well.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Easy, November 4th 2008. Yes We Did!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving.
9. What was your biggest failure? I spent a lot of the year writing to not have finished anything worthwhile.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Oh yeah, two kidney stone attacks this year along with that pesky neuromuscular disorder that comes out of nowhere ever so often.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A new leather jacket, which I got for an absolute steal. And I don't feel bad for buying a nice new leather jacket, even if it cost next to nothing, because I donated 6 coats/jackets of mine to a charity clothing drive. It's a fair trade-off, everything I donated was in great condition. I even convinced my mom to finally donate some of my brother's coats this year. No use in them collecting dust when they could be helping keep someone warm this winter.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? President Elect Barack Obama. Class act all the way.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mostly my own.
14. Where did most of your money go? Gas and other ancillary things involving my vehicle maintenance and itunes of course (I might need rehab to get off it)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Texas Longhorns Football season
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:i. happier or sadder? sadderii. thinner or fatter? Fatter but I'm working on itiii. richer or poorer? Poorer, like most everyone else
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? work-out, get out, travel, sleep, dance
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Self-loath, worry about work20. How will you be spending Christmas? Home with my parents and some family friends.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Not even close.
23. How many one-night stands? Zero24. What was your favorite TV program? Lost, Mad Men, House, The Daily Show
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No26. What was the best book you read? 2666 by Roberto Bolano (an epic and disturbing but fascinating read)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Vampire Weekend, MGMT and Bon Iver
28. What did you want and get?
30. What was your favorite film of this year? The Dark Knight, but there's a lot I haven't seen that looks really great. Rachel Getting Married, Man on Wire, In Bruges and Slumdog Millionaire are also really great.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26 and I had play rehearsal which I had the embarrassment of having to try on a pair of 36 waist costume pants that were too small! Now I'm not really a 36 waist, it must have just been the design of these very old pair of pants but still that was pretty depressing.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being onstage performing more or finishing one of my writing projects and not have it come out as crap.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Probably looking ridiculous by wearing shirts that were tight for me, due to the ever expanding belly region.
34. What kept you sane? medication
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Anne Hathaway is de lovely.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? The Wars in Iraq and Afghanastan
37. Who did you miss? My little brother Travis, go ahead and etch this answer down for this question from now until the end of time
38. Who was the best new person you met? Even though I met him last year, I got to know my friend Melissa's soon to be husband Blake better this year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Hard work and persistence are not always rewards in themselves, sometimes you want and deserve more, and that usually only occurs when you don't get it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Just us kids in the parking lot/Out here givin' it all we got/We don't want to get old and die/There ain't anything we won't try" - from "Just Us Kids" by James McMurtry
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? I remained completely, although not entirely by choice, celibate.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No, I still need to get back into shape.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My family welcomed twin boys, Bryce and Bryant to my cousin Jennifer and her husband Dewey and they were followed in June by birth of my cousin Stephanie's little girl Ava.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Nobody that I had a personal(as in met them in person) relationship with, but there were a lot of untimely and tragic deaths this year from stars like Paul Newman, Heath Ledger, Sydney Pollack and Mitch Mitchell to a local restrauntuer Denny Young, who I didn't know well but have friends and family who close to him and know what a great and unique guy he was.
5. What countries did you visit? I did not leave the good ole US of A this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I would like to have my living arrangement change again soon and hopefully be able to afford a new car early in the year as well.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Easy, November 4th 2008. Yes We Did!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving.
9. What was your biggest failure? I spent a lot of the year writing to not have finished anything worthwhile.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Oh yeah, two kidney stone attacks this year along with that pesky neuromuscular disorder that comes out of nowhere ever so often.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A new leather jacket, which I got for an absolute steal. And I don't feel bad for buying a nice new leather jacket, even if it cost next to nothing, because I donated 6 coats/jackets of mine to a charity clothing drive. It's a fair trade-off, everything I donated was in great condition. I even convinced my mom to finally donate some of my brother's coats this year. No use in them collecting dust when they could be helping keep someone warm this winter.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? President Elect Barack Obama. Class act all the way.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mostly my own.
14. Where did most of your money go? Gas and other ancillary things involving my vehicle maintenance and itunes of course (I might need rehab to get off it)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Texas Longhorns Football season
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:i. happier or sadder? sadderii. thinner or fatter? Fatter but I'm working on itiii. richer or poorer? Poorer, like most everyone else
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? work-out, get out, travel, sleep, dance
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Self-loath, worry about work20. How will you be spending Christmas? Home with my parents and some family friends.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Not even close.
23. How many one-night stands? Zero24. What was your favorite TV program? Lost, Mad Men, House, The Daily Show
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No26. What was the best book you read? 2666 by Roberto Bolano (an epic and disturbing but fascinating read)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Vampire Weekend, MGMT and Bon Iver
28. What did you want and get?
30. What was your favorite film of this year? The Dark Knight, but there's a lot I haven't seen that looks really great. Rachel Getting Married, Man on Wire, In Bruges and Slumdog Millionaire are also really great.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26 and I had play rehearsal which I had the embarrassment of having to try on a pair of 36 waist costume pants that were too small! Now I'm not really a 36 waist, it must have just been the design of these very old pair of pants but still that was pretty depressing.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being onstage performing more or finishing one of my writing projects and not have it come out as crap.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Probably looking ridiculous by wearing shirts that were tight for me, due to the ever expanding belly region.
34. What kept you sane? medication
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Anne Hathaway is de lovely.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? The Wars in Iraq and Afghanastan
37. Who did you miss? My little brother Travis, go ahead and etch this answer down for this question from now until the end of time
38. Who was the best new person you met? Even though I met him last year, I got to know my friend Melissa's soon to be husband Blake better this year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Hard work and persistence are not always rewards in themselves, sometimes you want and deserve more, and that usually only occurs when you don't get it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Just us kids in the parking lot/Out here givin' it all we got/We don't want to get old and die/There ain't anything we won't try" - from "Just Us Kids" by James McMurtry
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Dumb & Dumber (And other comments)
+ So we've got two men making a late push for "Douche bag of the Year" award : Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has been arrested for allegedly scheming to profit from naming President-Elect Barack Obama's now vacant Illinois Senate seat by asking for gifts, favors and cash from potential candidates. Obama has of coursed called for the Governor to step down. Which he absolutely should and then he should be prosecuted and if found guilty go to jail.
+ Next I come back to my home state of Texas where Republican Congressman Joe Barton, a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has introduced legislation to...wait for it...wait for it...end the BCS system. Huh!? Now I am of course by no means at all a BCS apologizer or fan and I like it when I hear our newly elected President say he's in favor at making a change to a college football playoff system, but to waste time and taxpayer money on such a ludicrous piece of non-legislation is just dumbfounding. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. Found everywhere.
+ Trying to Christmas shop without a list in your hands, going on nothing but the stubbornness of believing you have it all in your head, is not a good idea and will cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety and frustration.
+ Laughter really is the best medicine. I can not begin to explain the joy of exposing...er, maybe that's the wrong word to use, the joy of introducing a young person to a comedy milestone known as "Animal House". As you watch and laugh as you have hundreds of times before and as you watch them laugh and see the look in their eyes as they realize that their entire world has just been blown away by and they will keep their promise of deleting Dane Cook as a Myspace friend and adding "Duck Soup" along with anything made by Peter Sellers or Woody Allen in the 1960s or 70s to their Netflix que.
+ I really do feel confident that Colt McCoy will be awarded the Heisman Trophy this Saturday evening at the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan. Sure it's going to be the closest race in the treasured history of the award, but I don't think Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford have had the X-factor that McCoy has had this year for Texas. Going into this season, there was nothing but question marks around how good this Longhorn team could possibly be. Tebow and his Gators and Bradford's Sooners are playing for the National Championship and that's pretty much where most college football pundits believed they could or should be going into this season. Of course, I'm biased in that I want Colt to win the Heisman, but that doesn't change the fact that he should and probably will win. And it's not by any means a consolation prize for not being able to play for the Big 12 or National Championship. He's coming back next year and this time around there won't be anymore question marks surround Colt or the Longhorns.
+ Welcome to the dark side CC Sabathia.
+ So there's this new game for Playstation 3, Mortal Kombat versus DC Comics Universe, and it's really quite awesome. Great characters, visuals, effects and lots of mindless violence. Here's to hoping we get ourselves a really cool Street Fighter versus Marvel Comics next year.
+ Speaking of cool shit I've been checking out with my new PS3, the special features on the gorgeous Iron Man BluRay disc are fantastic. Really love getting to see the rehearsal footage of Robert Downey, Jr. and Jeff Bridges. No FX, no costumes. Just two guys working it out. Of course The Dark Knight disc has now arrived and I'm going to need to take a few days to digest all the great stuff that has to offer other than the fact that I get to watch the best film of the year I've seen so far and further my obsession over Heath Ledger's Joker.
+ Next I come back to my home state of Texas where Republican Congressman Joe Barton, a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has introduced legislation to...wait for it...wait for it...end the BCS system. Huh!? Now I am of course by no means at all a BCS apologizer or fan and I like it when I hear our newly elected President say he's in favor at making a change to a college football playoff system, but to waste time and taxpayer money on such a ludicrous piece of non-legislation is just dumbfounding. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. Found everywhere.
+ Trying to Christmas shop without a list in your hands, going on nothing but the stubbornness of believing you have it all in your head, is not a good idea and will cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety and frustration.
+ Laughter really is the best medicine. I can not begin to explain the joy of exposing...er, maybe that's the wrong word to use, the joy of introducing a young person to a comedy milestone known as "Animal House". As you watch and laugh as you have hundreds of times before and as you watch them laugh and see the look in their eyes as they realize that their entire world has just been blown away by and they will keep their promise of deleting Dane Cook as a Myspace friend and adding "Duck Soup" along with anything made by Peter Sellers or Woody Allen in the 1960s or 70s to their Netflix que.
+ I really do feel confident that Colt McCoy will be awarded the Heisman Trophy this Saturday evening at the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan. Sure it's going to be the closest race in the treasured history of the award, but I don't think Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford have had the X-factor that McCoy has had this year for Texas. Going into this season, there was nothing but question marks around how good this Longhorn team could possibly be. Tebow and his Gators and Bradford's Sooners are playing for the National Championship and that's pretty much where most college football pundits believed they could or should be going into this season. Of course, I'm biased in that I want Colt to win the Heisman, but that doesn't change the fact that he should and probably will win. And it's not by any means a consolation prize for not being able to play for the Big 12 or National Championship. He's coming back next year and this time around there won't be anymore question marks surround Colt or the Longhorns.
+ Welcome to the dark side CC Sabathia.
+ So there's this new game for Playstation 3, Mortal Kombat versus DC Comics Universe, and it's really quite awesome. Great characters, visuals, effects and lots of mindless violence. Here's to hoping we get ourselves a really cool Street Fighter versus Marvel Comics next year.
+ Speaking of cool shit I've been checking out with my new PS3, the special features on the gorgeous Iron Man BluRay disc are fantastic. Really love getting to see the rehearsal footage of Robert Downey, Jr. and Jeff Bridges. No FX, no costumes. Just two guys working it out. Of course The Dark Knight disc has now arrived and I'm going to need to take a few days to digest all the great stuff that has to offer other than the fact that I get to watch the best film of the year I've seen so far and further my obsession over Heath Ledger's Joker.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Week in Review
Trust me, it's not all angels in bikinis.
Monday : It's a Monday. A Monday after a Holiday weekend. It sucked as much as you would expect it to.
Tuesday : Would have been my late brother's 25th birthday. Sucked as much as you would expect it to.
Wednesday : Rented my tuxedo for a friend's upcoming wedding, in which I am an usher. It's a nice enough Tuxedo but I really need lose weight. I feel like a sea lion, especially after watching Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace just the week before.
Thursday : Wake-up at 3am with excruciating pain, nausea and gas. It continues throughout the day and the symptoms are familiar to me. Another kidney stone attack. See the doctor and get the confirmation. Now it's time to load up on medication that makes me feel loopy and not in the good way and then just wait and see whether or I'll pass the stone or if it'll just go away.
Friday : Wake-up at 3:30am with even more excruciating pain and nausea. Still waiting and seeing. On the way to work the illness and loopiness aide in me getting into a fender bender that luckily does not cause any bodily harm to the person I rear-ended nor even any damage to their car. Me on the other hand, not so lucky. Upon impact I bumped my head on the steering wheel and got a little bit of whiplash, then I get out of the car to find my bumper and hood all twisted up. Just cosmetic damage, but something I don't need right now nonetheless.
Finally arrive at work and it's a usual busy and frantic morning, followed by a not so usual busy afternoon as I had to cover for two other co-workers who were out of the office and all of the stress, illness and other shit going on I end up snapping at a patient, who even now as I look back with hindsight had it coming because he's always been a prick and deserves to be put in his place even if it causes me to get into a lot of trouble at work.
I'm out of the door at 5pm sharp and head to dress/tech rehearsal and it goes not so well. It's a popular belief that bad dress rehearsals mean a good opening night. I've never believed that. But I'm going to have faith anyway that the show will go on and will go well.
All this and I didn't even get to watch the Victoria's Secret Lingerie Fashion Show. Not that television would do it any justice anyway, but it would be a nice distraction with the daily Murphy's Law my life seems to be right now.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
What's so funny about...?
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us...achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations."
- Abraham Lincoln
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people of Mumbai, India. A terrible tragedy they have been through but I believe, with the aide of faith, kindness and strength within themselves and from around the world they will prevail.
Friday, November 28, 2008
A few quick thoughts on Post-Turkey Day
Three things I think about the Cowboys resounding defeat of the Seahawks:
1) Romo's pinky is a non-factor. The recieving core is active and confident in the throws that thier QB is making.
2) Our red-zone defense is superb. Jay Ratliff, Demarcus Ware and Bradie James are all having Pro-Bowl and All-Pro seasons. I don't care if that was the Seahawks we were facing. The Cowboys might have a difficult final four games ahead of them but I'm not worried about the O-Lines of any of those teams being able to stop our aggressive guys up-front.
3) The lack of depth at running back is a concern, probably the biggest coming down the stretch. We need a healthy and effective Marion Barber to be a Super Bowl contender.
Five things I think about the Texas Longhorns resounding defeat of the Texas A&M Aggies:
1) Congratulations Colt McCoy! Another fantastic performance in getting your first win over the Aggies. The Heisman should be yours buddy, there's simply no contest. Bradford, Harrell, Tebow, Crabtree are all great athletes, but they can not come close to you in heart and leadership. I proudly say that you are the Tim Duncan of College Football players.
2) Mack Brown is also a class act when compared to the smug, arrogant colleauges of his that are so pre-occupied with "style" points and politiking for BCS points. Up 42-9 with 11 minutes to go in the 4th Quarter he did not hesitate to let most of his second team offense get in the game and they proved to be as formidable as any other program's starters.
3) Bravo to Brandon Collins for stepping up and having a break-out game as the Aggie Defense keyed in on covering Shipley and Cosby. He's just one of many offensive skill players to show real promise this year after all the off-season talk how unsure everyone was of how good this Texas team could be. 11-1 with a shot a both a Big-12 and National Championship. Defeated the #1 team in the country on a neutral field and have played one of the toughest schedules in the country. That's how good this Texas team is.
4) I'm not going to be routing for or against Texas Tech or Oklahoma in thier games this weekend. Texas has taken care of it's business on the field and whatever happens, happens. The many scenarios and tie-breakers are just mind-boggling. Champions are decided by winning and losing football games on the field. Head to head. We don't have a system that seems to be that interested in such practical conventions like that but until we do there's nothing we can do about it but just keep on playing the best football we can.
5) Erin Andrews looked good last night, as always. And she had a good game on the sidelines as well for all those "she's beauty, no brains" haters out there. We can forgive the fact that she's a Gator girl. I think she would do just fine here in Austin, dressed up in some burnt orange with that radiant, life-affirming smile of hers and overly-descriptive hand gestures. OK, I'll stop perving out now. Sorry about that.
1) Romo's pinky is a non-factor. The recieving core is active and confident in the throws that thier QB is making.
2) Our red-zone defense is superb. Jay Ratliff, Demarcus Ware and Bradie James are all having Pro-Bowl and All-Pro seasons. I don't care if that was the Seahawks we were facing. The Cowboys might have a difficult final four games ahead of them but I'm not worried about the O-Lines of any of those teams being able to stop our aggressive guys up-front.
3) The lack of depth at running back is a concern, probably the biggest coming down the stretch. We need a healthy and effective Marion Barber to be a Super Bowl contender.
Five things I think about the Texas Longhorns resounding defeat of the Texas A&M Aggies:
1) Congratulations Colt McCoy! Another fantastic performance in getting your first win over the Aggies. The Heisman should be yours buddy, there's simply no contest. Bradford, Harrell, Tebow, Crabtree are all great athletes, but they can not come close to you in heart and leadership. I proudly say that you are the Tim Duncan of College Football players.
2) Mack Brown is also a class act when compared to the smug, arrogant colleauges of his that are so pre-occupied with "style" points and politiking for BCS points. Up 42-9 with 11 minutes to go in the 4th Quarter he did not hesitate to let most of his second team offense get in the game and they proved to be as formidable as any other program's starters.
3) Bravo to Brandon Collins for stepping up and having a break-out game as the Aggie Defense keyed in on covering Shipley and Cosby. He's just one of many offensive skill players to show real promise this year after all the off-season talk how unsure everyone was of how good this Texas team could be. 11-1 with a shot a both a Big-12 and National Championship. Defeated the #1 team in the country on a neutral field and have played one of the toughest schedules in the country. That's how good this Texas team is.
4) I'm not going to be routing for or against Texas Tech or Oklahoma in thier games this weekend. Texas has taken care of it's business on the field and whatever happens, happens. The many scenarios and tie-breakers are just mind-boggling. Champions are decided by winning and losing football games on the field. Head to head. We don't have a system that seems to be that interested in such practical conventions like that but until we do there's nothing we can do about it but just keep on playing the best football we can.
5) Erin Andrews looked good last night, as always. And she had a good game on the sidelines as well for all those "she's beauty, no brains" haters out there. We can forgive the fact that she's a Gator girl. I think she would do just fine here in Austin, dressed up in some burnt orange with that radiant, life-affirming smile of hers and overly-descriptive hand gestures. OK, I'll stop perving out now. Sorry about that.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Give thanks
I am thankful for President-elect Barack Obama.
I am thankful for the time I got to spend this past year with friends serving our country in the military all over the world. They don't get to come home often enough but when they do we make the most of it.
I am thankful for being in good health, including over a year and half without an episode of paralysis caused by a neuromuscular disorder that a few years ago I feared would have a far worse impact on my life.
I am thankful for hope. Because in a year that has been filled with so much anger, frustration, confusion and desperation it is hope that remains my guiding force to not give up.
I am thankful for the new life that entered my family this year. Beautiful twin boys, Bryce and Bryant, were born in March to my cousin Jennifer and then gorgeous baby girl Ava Nikol this past June to my cousin Stephanie.
I am thankful for the good fortune I've seen come to several of my good friends this past year including an impending marriage as well as academic and career successes.
I am thankful for the time I got to spend this past year with friends serving our country in the military all over the world. They don't get to come home often enough but when they do we make the most of it.
I am thankful for being in good health, including over a year and half without an episode of paralysis caused by a neuromuscular disorder that a few years ago I feared would have a far worse impact on my life.
I am thankful for hope. Because in a year that has been filled with so much anger, frustration, confusion and desperation it is hope that remains my guiding force to not give up.
I am thankful for the new life that entered my family this year. Beautiful twin boys, Bryce and Bryant, were born in March to my cousin Jennifer and then gorgeous baby girl Ava Nikol this past June to my cousin Stephanie.
I am thankful for the good fortune I've seen come to several of my good friends this past year including an impending marriage as well as academic and career successes.
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