I respectfully offer a disclaimer. There may be some very good movies of the decade I haven't seen yet. This may be why they aren't on my list. Or, alternately, you may have gotten a lot more out of a film that I did. So there, nyahh... wow, that was cathartic. On with the show....
STIWMDSSEHHIWGTABOFOTD (read part 1 for explanation), movie list:
7) Letters From Iwo Jima - I remember when this movie was supposed to be the sideline curiosity to Flags of Our Fathers, the little vanity project that Clint Eastwood just "had to" put together. Okay, after it got nominated for a Best Picture Oscar I decided to check it out, and was very glad I did. Allegedly, it's the Japanese point of view of the Battle of Iwo Jima, though it's been criticized for making characters with exposure to the United States overly sympathetic to the "enemy" in this movie (hey, that's us, and darned unpatriotic! Er, darned patriotic?) Anyway, probably the movie on my list that's been seen by the fewest people. This is a shame, even if I'm not in love with Eastwood as a director. At least he didn't cast an orangutan as a co-lead...
6) Batman Begins - And this movie is probably the one that's been seen by the most. No, The Dark Knight will not be showing up later, because I believe the first film was better, even without Heath Ledger and even with Katie Holmes. Weird, I know. The reintroduction of the Batman franchise had a far better story line to my way of thinking, and while maybe the villains were a little less showy, I think Tom Wilkinson, Liam Neeson, and especially Cillian Murphy were fantastic doing the voodoo they did (yeah, ruins the internal rhyme, moving on...). If Christian Bale had just learned to talk more loudly while constructing the menacing verbal mannerisms of the Caped Crusader, my one big complaint about this movie would be resolved. Oh, and you know, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman just around, doing Caine/Freeman things, no big deal, you know. There might be some of you who criticize the overuse of "hero movies" in this day and age, and you might be right. Doesn't mean the best ones don't stand up to anything else out there. All the Oscar quality movies can't be "chick flicks" can they....
5) The Incredibles - No, I take it back, this one's been seen by more than anyone on the list, but most of them weren't of an age to also read blog entries about movies yet when it came out. There might still be some of you out there who criticize the quality of a movie because it's animated, and see my previous movie comment about superheros, but this has both, and it's that good anyway. I wouldn't have been disappointed to see this one nominated for Best Picture. The redemptive nature of the film, surrounded some pretty dark subject matter for your summer kiddie flick, was impressive enough to get an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. That's the words, not the pictures. I could irritate some people I know and say it's the best Samuel L. Jackson movie from that time period, because he was also doing Star Wars things (*sigh*), but let's move on. Ice to see you, too...
4) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - I bet this movie would have been breathtaking to see on the big screen, but even on video, it was awesome. Not many Westerners, myself included, had been exposed to much of the wuxia style, but considering it became the highest-grossing foreign film in U.S. history, a lot of people did not make the same mistake I did. The character of Li Mu-bai has the warrior/philosopher ethic that 21st Century Jedi only wish they could have. Sigh. Moving on, the movie also led to the opening to the west of other very good films, like Hero, Curse of the Golden Flower, and House of Flying Daggers. Further, it introduced the West to Zhang Ziyi, and as part of the West I am gratified for this introduction. Everybody say "YES!" Sorry, out of practice, there....
3) O Brother, Where Art Thou - so I recently was convinced to watch No Country For Old Men, and the person was bothered on some level that I said it was "good, not great". He said "you must not be a Coen Brothers fan". Au contraire, and to wit, besides... I'm not sure I buy their claim that they had never read The Odyssey at all before making the film, but if so other interpretations gave them a hell of a lot to work with. Not that Homer was this funny. Love the blues tie-in (Tommy Johnson, the crossroads, etc.), fanciful integration on a limited scale during the Depression, and the quotability of this film (Oh, George... not the livestock!). The film is definitely bonafide, and it's a suitor, besides. By the way, we thought... you was... a TOAD!
2) The Departed - I admit, I haven't seen the film Internal Affairs (Hong Kong) upon which this film was based, but it had been a while since I read The Odyssey too. Anyway, don't know any anyone can't be interested in a film with Nicholson, Sheen, Damon, DiCaprio, et al in it, all playing tough guys on one side of the law or the other. A little bit Scarface (the old version), a little bit Goodfellas (I mean, it is a Scorsese film, so hopefully you become inured to the F-word after an f@#&*!% while, but come on, he makes the best f@#&*!% films) and a little bit suspense. Then with the point in the film where you go "holy crap! What the f*#$!"? Oh, very rewatchable, even if you know what's coming. I understand, it's not as much Sixth Sense as a less surprising Usual Suspects or Seven, but that's a fine comparison as far as I'm concerned.
1) High Fidelity - What came first, the music or the misery? Music, misery, melancholy, misanthropy, melodrama, a hint of misogyny, and "the musical moron twins"... that's at least seven m's, magnificent number, and lot's of mmmmmmms. Good enough for me. Okay, seriously, always been a big John Cusack fan. I think Jack Black works a lot better as a supporting character with the room to stretch and be insane, rather than when that's the primary deal to the movie. And it's a movie that focuses a lot on music, of course, but not just the performances, but also as a vehicle for at least theorizing that what you like is as important as what you like. Okay, it's not as important, but why else do we spend so much time find out what people we associate with and are interested in read, watch, and listen to? Just passing time, I don't think so. Also, this is my #1 because when I first saw this in the theater, and John Cusack said to the audience "there's an art to making a tape" some smart-ass I know (take a bow, Jennie) looked right at me and said "yep, that's you." I said then, and believe it still, that it's a slightly more polished version of whatever amalgam you can put together between me, Wendell, and Richard. For those of you in the know, ponder that and shudder. And if you *really* wanted to screw me up, you should've gotten to me earlier.
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Decade End Humble Opinions - Part I...
assuming I stop being such a Grade A slack-ass and post more often than once every 6 months or so. Anyway, I am planning to do three of these (songs, movies, albums) to reflect the end of the current decade, which still hasn't been "named" (the zeros? the aughts? the ohs? anyway...)
So, the "best songs" of the decade? I dunno. "Favorite"? Probably. "Songs that I would make damn sure someone else has heard if we're gonna talk about best or favorites of the decade"? That sounds about right, so:
The STIWMDSSEHHIWGTABOFOTD, songs list -
7) Seven Nation Army - White Stripes: Anyone who is reading this now knows it already, but to anyone who wanders this way should know now that I'm into the White Stripes. Most important band of the decade as I see it, and it's not even close. Pretty good for a band with two members, one of whom was only really learning to drum at the beginning of this decade, huh? Anyway, I hear that this song helped clue people in to the Stripes, because it was off of their biggest album to date (more on this in a later post, to be sure), Elephant. Yeah, I was already there. Other lists I have seen also talk about this guitar riff being one of the "new classics". Okay, that works.
6) Clocks - Coldplay: Okay, go ahead and abuse me for picking one of the most overplayed songs of the decade. However, one, it was several years ago and some of you might not have immediately screamed when you read this. Two, if I still leave it on every time it comes on, that's gotta be a good sign, right? Honestly, I didn't get as inundated at the time because I think it was right around then that I discovered the crack candy that was iTunes. At any rate, it holds up very nicely, since I'm listening to it right now. I promise to get a little more esoteric later.
5) Steady, As She Goes - The Raconteurs: Yeah, this might get turned into a big love letter for Jack White. Don't care. So this was the first notable side project for White that involved something other than acting or producing Loretta Lynn. This song was a collaborative effort between White and Brendan Benson, which led to an album that is pretty darned good in its own right (Broken Boy Soldiers). Further, if the band hadn't formed off of this song, I wouldn't get treated to the Youtube video of them playing Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" at Lollapalooza.
4) Lion Thief - The Beta Band: I haven't really managed to get anyone to embrace TBB as a group, or any whole album of theirs, but they seem to get positive responses when I play a couple of songs of theirs. "Dry The Rain" sparks the memory of those who then get told about that part in High Fidelity where John Cusack says he's gonna sell 5 albums by The Beta Band. 2000 movie including a 90's song, so that song can't go here. This one can, off of the last album this group made (Heroes To Zeros) before they broke up. Pity. Would like to have seen where they went from here.
3) Seven Times Closer Than Fire - T Bone Burnett: Burnett, producer extraordinaire (O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, et al) released his first album in 14 years in 2006 and this song justified the wait all by itself. When I first heard it, I tried to get lots of people around me to listen to it and tell me what it sounded like, and I got different stuff from every person. It's an interesting song to try and swing dance to, as well. Actually, if you're me, nearly any song I try to swing dance to becomes an "interesting" experience, but I digress. It appeals on a visceral level.
2) Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes: Probably the only surprise here was that it wasn't number one. That crazy Lego video from 2001 set the whole thing in motion for me. I've gone on ad nauseum in an earlier post (about karaoke) about how much I love to sing this song, with his garage rock sensibilities and short but powerful strokes. Doesn't need to be any longer to do its job perfectly. One of my all-time favorite songs, though so is....
1) Pink Bullets - The Shins: Yeah, Natalie Portman was right in Garden State though I am perversely happy to say this song wasn't in that movie. Found it on my own on a mixed CD a woman at work loaned me back in around 2003 or so, and it was interesting to me from the get-go. But it was one of those things like Nick Drake was for me, the kind of thing I kept coming back to and listening. And listening. And you get the idea.
Honestly either of the last two songs could have been #1, and then there was a huge fall down to #3. The rest of this list was kind of bunched up there, and in fact I might consider Seven Nation Army as high as #5 (big surprise, I know). However, here are the "honorable mention" songs that I just didn't have room for, and at different points of the decade would have probably been somewhere on this list:
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
Flame - Bell X1
Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car - Iron & Wine
Heavy Soul - The Black Keys
American Idiot - Green Day
Indian Ocean - Yusuf Islam
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
So, the "best songs" of the decade? I dunno. "Favorite"? Probably. "Songs that I would make damn sure someone else has heard if we're gonna talk about best or favorites of the decade"? That sounds about right, so:
The STIWMDSSEHHIWGTABOFOTD, songs list -
7) Seven Nation Army - White Stripes: Anyone who is reading this now knows it already, but to anyone who wanders this way should know now that I'm into the White Stripes. Most important band of the decade as I see it, and it's not even close. Pretty good for a band with two members, one of whom was only really learning to drum at the beginning of this decade, huh? Anyway, I hear that this song helped clue people in to the Stripes, because it was off of their biggest album to date (more on this in a later post, to be sure), Elephant. Yeah, I was already there. Other lists I have seen also talk about this guitar riff being one of the "new classics". Okay, that works.
6) Clocks - Coldplay: Okay, go ahead and abuse me for picking one of the most overplayed songs of the decade. However, one, it was several years ago and some of you might not have immediately screamed when you read this. Two, if I still leave it on every time it comes on, that's gotta be a good sign, right? Honestly, I didn't get as inundated at the time because I think it was right around then that I discovered the crack candy that was iTunes. At any rate, it holds up very nicely, since I'm listening to it right now. I promise to get a little more esoteric later.
5) Steady, As She Goes - The Raconteurs: Yeah, this might get turned into a big love letter for Jack White. Don't care. So this was the first notable side project for White that involved something other than acting or producing Loretta Lynn. This song was a collaborative effort between White and Brendan Benson, which led to an album that is pretty darned good in its own right (Broken Boy Soldiers). Further, if the band hadn't formed off of this song, I wouldn't get treated to the Youtube video of them playing Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" at Lollapalooza.
4) Lion Thief - The Beta Band: I haven't really managed to get anyone to embrace TBB as a group, or any whole album of theirs, but they seem to get positive responses when I play a couple of songs of theirs. "Dry The Rain" sparks the memory of those who then get told about that part in High Fidelity where John Cusack says he's gonna sell 5 albums by The Beta Band. 2000 movie including a 90's song, so that song can't go here. This one can, off of the last album this group made (Heroes To Zeros) before they broke up. Pity. Would like to have seen where they went from here.
3) Seven Times Closer Than Fire - T Bone Burnett: Burnett, producer extraordinaire (O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, et al) released his first album in 14 years in 2006 and this song justified the wait all by itself. When I first heard it, I tried to get lots of people around me to listen to it and tell me what it sounded like, and I got different stuff from every person. It's an interesting song to try and swing dance to, as well. Actually, if you're me, nearly any song I try to swing dance to becomes an "interesting" experience, but I digress. It appeals on a visceral level.
2) Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes: Probably the only surprise here was that it wasn't number one. That crazy Lego video from 2001 set the whole thing in motion for me. I've gone on ad nauseum in an earlier post (about karaoke) about how much I love to sing this song, with his garage rock sensibilities and short but powerful strokes. Doesn't need to be any longer to do its job perfectly. One of my all-time favorite songs, though so is....
1) Pink Bullets - The Shins: Yeah, Natalie Portman was right in Garden State though I am perversely happy to say this song wasn't in that movie. Found it on my own on a mixed CD a woman at work loaned me back in around 2003 or so, and it was interesting to me from the get-go. But it was one of those things like Nick Drake was for me, the kind of thing I kept coming back to and listening. And listening. And you get the idea.
Honestly either of the last two songs could have been #1, and then there was a huge fall down to #3. The rest of this list was kind of bunched up there, and in fact I might consider Seven Nation Army as high as #5 (big surprise, I know). However, here are the "honorable mention" songs that I just didn't have room for, and at different points of the decade would have probably been somewhere on this list:
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
Flame - Bell X1
Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car - Iron & Wine
Heavy Soul - The Black Keys
American Idiot - Green Day
Indian Ocean - Yusuf Islam
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Oscars - you watching them? Yeah, me neither...
... but that doesn't mean I am uninterested in knowing who wins, or above some casual speculation about the contenders and pretenders. I will preface all this by saying that if I were still in Roanoke, I'd have seen more Oscar-nominated movies, and that in at least one category I'd be doing a little better than flying blind, that being....
1) Best Actor - Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke
Yeah, not seeing the movies for the two front-runners is gonna make this very hard. I don't think Pitt wins for this polarizing movie, and Richard Jenkins seems to be the guy for whom the nomination is essentially his win. This is a shame because I really liked the movie, and thought he was great. And besides, I liked him better than Pitt in Burn After Reading as well. But anyway, as mentioned in a previous blog, I was at times quite captivated by Langella's performance in Frost/Nixon, but I think the only way he adds an Oscar to his Tony is if the voters who for some reason can't go between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke go his way. I'm gonna lean towards Sean Penn here, but if I somehow carve time out this weekend to see movies, I reserve the right to change my mind.
Preference: Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Bet: Sean Penn, Milk
2) Best Actress - Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Melissa Leo, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet
I was gonna make some sweet comment about Jolie and Brad Pitt both being nominated, and making comparisons to Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward or even Laurence Olivier/Vivien Leigh but then remembered they weren't hitched. Oops. Salad dressing trumps adopted non-American orphans, I guess. Moving on. Jolie, Hathaway and Leo are all supporting movies that didn't get much love in any other major category, and buzz-wise have fallen behind the umpteenth nomination of Streep (though she hasn't won in over 25 years) and Kate Winslet's 6th nomination meaning it's time for the Academy to give the career nod thing. Streep has fans who loved Mamma Mia as well, and Winslet got two Golden Globes for two roles, yet not nominated for Revolutionary Road. Catholic turmoil vs. ex-Nazi turmoil. Finally, just going with my preference.
Preference and Bet: Kate Winslet, The Reader
3) Best Supporting Actor - Josh Brolin, Robert Downey, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger, Michael Shannon
Admit it, you had to look and say "you mean there are four other people nominated in this category?" Shame for Hoffman and Brolin, but the former has an Oscar, and the latter has been seriously building momentum the last couple of years for another run later. Michael Shannon's nomination was probably the biggest acting surprise, unless you count the fact that there's an acting nomination coming from Tropic Thunder (what kind of odds could you have gotten on that a year ago), Good on ya, Robert Downey, Jr. More comedies should get nominated, but that's another soapbox. For what it's worth, I saw the winning role, found it very powerful, and don't really wanna give away a gimme.
Preference and Bet: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
4) Best supporting actress - Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Marisa Tomei
Okay, I expected Kate Winslet to get her Oscar here before the nominations were announced, so here goes nothing. Let's say that Adams and Davis will split votes for their movie (I would have picked Davis outright if this were not the case), Henson's work in this most-nominated movie has the best shot for an acting win, but I don't see it. I am totally in favor of hot older actresses playing strippers (Tomei is much more eager to take off her clothes in recent years. Seen Before The Devil Knows Your Dead? Everybody say "YES!"), but I don't think she's ever gotten the momentum for this to get there. So, I'll play the thing about Woody Allen's actresses doing well on Oscar night.
Preference: Viola Davis, Doubt
Bet: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
5) Best director - Danny Boyle, Steven Daldry, David Fincher, Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant
Hmm, I felt all the candidates for the movies I have seen did fine jobs. In previous blog posts I have spoke glowingly about Danny and Opie (just sounds like it should be its own movie or something), and wouldn't fault any of these five. Lemme pull one out here...
Preference: Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Bet: David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6) Best animated film - Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E
Okay, I'm taking an almost certain copout freebie here, but I have two things I want to say. One, Wall-E is one of the movies I have seen, so I should be allowed to pick it if I liked it. Two, I liked it, a lot, and wouldn't have even complained if it had snuck on to the nominees for Best Picture. So there.
Preference and Bet: Wall-E
7) Best picture - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire
My whole discussion should be on whether anyone can slow the momentum of Slumdog Millionaire, which has been quite the critical darling. The Indian fairy tale doesn't have major acting awards to shoulder some of the heavy lifting, and with the exception of Danny Boyle's Director nod, doesn't have any other real place to show love for the film. So, while the serious political messages of Milk make it best placed for the upset, I will say not this year.
Preference and Bet: Slumdog Millionaire
and several other "less major awards" I wanna see how I'd do, with preference/bets going towards movies I saw, wanted to see, or wanna go out on a limb on.
1) Original Screenplay - Milk
2) Adapted Screenplay - John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
3) Foreign-Language Film - The Class
4) Costume Design - The Duchess
5) Cinematography - Slumdog Millionaire
6) Visual Effects - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7) Sound Editing/Sound Mixing: could I tell the difference? Probably not - The Dark Knight
So have fun, and let's see if I can match my Grammy post....
1) Best Actor - Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke
Yeah, not seeing the movies for the two front-runners is gonna make this very hard. I don't think Pitt wins for this polarizing movie, and Richard Jenkins seems to be the guy for whom the nomination is essentially his win. This is a shame because I really liked the movie, and thought he was great. And besides, I liked him better than Pitt in Burn After Reading as well. But anyway, as mentioned in a previous blog, I was at times quite captivated by Langella's performance in Frost/Nixon, but I think the only way he adds an Oscar to his Tony is if the voters who for some reason can't go between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke go his way. I'm gonna lean towards Sean Penn here, but if I somehow carve time out this weekend to see movies, I reserve the right to change my mind.
Preference: Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Bet: Sean Penn, Milk
2) Best Actress - Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Melissa Leo, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet
I was gonna make some sweet comment about Jolie and Brad Pitt both being nominated, and making comparisons to Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward or even Laurence Olivier/Vivien Leigh but then remembered they weren't hitched. Oops. Salad dressing trumps adopted non-American orphans, I guess. Moving on. Jolie, Hathaway and Leo are all supporting movies that didn't get much love in any other major category, and buzz-wise have fallen behind the umpteenth nomination of Streep (though she hasn't won in over 25 years) and Kate Winslet's 6th nomination meaning it's time for the Academy to give the career nod thing. Streep has fans who loved Mamma Mia as well, and Winslet got two Golden Globes for two roles, yet not nominated for Revolutionary Road. Catholic turmoil vs. ex-Nazi turmoil. Finally, just going with my preference.
Preference and Bet: Kate Winslet, The Reader
3) Best Supporting Actor - Josh Brolin, Robert Downey, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger, Michael Shannon
Admit it, you had to look and say "you mean there are four other people nominated in this category?" Shame for Hoffman and Brolin, but the former has an Oscar, and the latter has been seriously building momentum the last couple of years for another run later. Michael Shannon's nomination was probably the biggest acting surprise, unless you count the fact that there's an acting nomination coming from Tropic Thunder (what kind of odds could you have gotten on that a year ago), Good on ya, Robert Downey, Jr. More comedies should get nominated, but that's another soapbox. For what it's worth, I saw the winning role, found it very powerful, and don't really wanna give away a gimme.
Preference and Bet: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
4) Best supporting actress - Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Marisa Tomei
Okay, I expected Kate Winslet to get her Oscar here before the nominations were announced, so here goes nothing. Let's say that Adams and Davis will split votes for their movie (I would have picked Davis outright if this were not the case), Henson's work in this most-nominated movie has the best shot for an acting win, but I don't see it. I am totally in favor of hot older actresses playing strippers (Tomei is much more eager to take off her clothes in recent years. Seen Before The Devil Knows Your Dead? Everybody say "YES!"), but I don't think she's ever gotten the momentum for this to get there. So, I'll play the thing about Woody Allen's actresses doing well on Oscar night.
Preference: Viola Davis, Doubt
Bet: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
5) Best director - Danny Boyle, Steven Daldry, David Fincher, Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant
Hmm, I felt all the candidates for the movies I have seen did fine jobs. In previous blog posts I have spoke glowingly about Danny and Opie (just sounds like it should be its own movie or something), and wouldn't fault any of these five. Lemme pull one out here...
Preference: Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Bet: David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6) Best animated film - Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E
Okay, I'm taking an almost certain copout freebie here, but I have two things I want to say. One, Wall-E is one of the movies I have seen, so I should be allowed to pick it if I liked it. Two, I liked it, a lot, and wouldn't have even complained if it had snuck on to the nominees for Best Picture. So there.
Preference and Bet: Wall-E
7) Best picture - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire
My whole discussion should be on whether anyone can slow the momentum of Slumdog Millionaire, which has been quite the critical darling. The Indian fairy tale doesn't have major acting awards to shoulder some of the heavy lifting, and with the exception of Danny Boyle's Director nod, doesn't have any other real place to show love for the film. So, while the serious political messages of Milk make it best placed for the upset, I will say not this year.
Preference and Bet: Slumdog Millionaire
and several other "less major awards" I wanna see how I'd do, with preference/bets going towards movies I saw, wanted to see, or wanna go out on a limb on.
1) Original Screenplay - Milk
2) Adapted Screenplay - John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
3) Foreign-Language Film - The Class
4) Costume Design - The Duchess
5) Cinematography - Slumdog Millionaire
6) Visual Effects - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7) Sound Editing/Sound Mixing: could I tell the difference? Probably not - The Dark Knight
So have fun, and let's see if I can match my Grammy post....
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Grammy thoughts
It occurs to me, a bit late, that the Grammys are tonight. I do have thoughts and preferences which, while not intensely drawn out, I would like to share with you. I am not going to be comprehensive, but hit the majors and a few of the other ones I might care about, anyway....
1) Best New Artist: Adele, Duffy, Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan -
Okay, if the Jonas Brothers win, I'm going to suggest the NARAS is locked in a room playing a loop of New Kids On The Block, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson. Just a thought. My preference is for Duffy, and my bet is on Adele.
2) Record Of The Year: Viva La Vida, Chasing Pavements, Bleeding Love, Paper Planes, Please Read The Letter - Hmm, I'm surprised to see the M.I.A. and Krauss/Plant entries here, so I will assume that for them, the nomination is enough. Let's think that the Adele and Leona Lewis votes split, and allow for my favorite amongst these to win. My preference is for Viva La Vida, and my bet is also on Coldplay's title track.
3) Album Of The Year: Raising Sand, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Tha Carter III, Year Of The Gentleman, In Rainbows - Okay, Coldplay got nominated for everything that could, just about, but I don't see them winning everything. Li'l Wayne was the best-selling album of the year, and Radiohead is a critical favorite. I have no comment about Ne-Yo, as I know nothing except that modern R&B and Hip-Hop are not genres that tend to win these sort of awards. This is the category where the out of nowhere, "who's heard this?" kind of thing happens most often, so... My preference is for Coldplay, and my bet is for Alison Krauss & Robert Plant.
4) Song Of The Year: American Boy, Chasing Pavements, I'm Yours, Love Song, Viva La Vida - Well, Jason Mraz is a Virginia boy, and you would think Adele might win one of these big ones. Kanye West is an award-winning dude, but... My preference is for Sara Bareilles, and my bet is for Coldplay.
5) Pop Vocal Album: Detours, Rockferry, Long Road Out Of Eden, Spirit, Covers - Let's dismiss James Taylor's covers album first, and then any of the others could win. So, when in doubt, let's go with stuff I like. My preference is for Duffy, but either Sheryl Crow or Eagles would make the old fogies happy.
6) Rock Album: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Consolers Of The Lonely, Rock N Roll Night, Only By The Night, Death Magnetic - Did Metallica put out an album? Whoops. Kings Of Leon? Nope. Kid Rock should be shot for stealing. So, while I didn't like this Raconteurs album as much as their first, I don't want Coldplay to win everything. My preference is for The Raconteurs, and my bet is for Coldplay.
7) Alternative Music Album: In Rainbows, Modern Guilt, Narrow Stairs, The Odd Couple, Evil Urges - Gnarls Barkley, Radiohead, and Beck are all favorites with this group of voters, so I can't see My Morning Jacket and Death Cab For Cutie making off with this. Let's assume some of the voters paid whatever they wanted for Radiohead's album. My preference is for Radiohead, and that's where my vote is.
Enjoy not watching the show and thus not being able to see how I did. Auf Wiedersehen!!
1) Best New Artist: Adele, Duffy, Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan -
Okay, if the Jonas Brothers win, I'm going to suggest the NARAS is locked in a room playing a loop of New Kids On The Block, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson. Just a thought. My preference is for Duffy, and my bet is on Adele.
2) Record Of The Year: Viva La Vida, Chasing Pavements, Bleeding Love, Paper Planes, Please Read The Letter - Hmm, I'm surprised to see the M.I.A. and Krauss/Plant entries here, so I will assume that for them, the nomination is enough. Let's think that the Adele and Leona Lewis votes split, and allow for my favorite amongst these to win. My preference is for Viva La Vida, and my bet is also on Coldplay's title track.
3) Album Of The Year: Raising Sand, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Tha Carter III, Year Of The Gentleman, In Rainbows - Okay, Coldplay got nominated for everything that could, just about, but I don't see them winning everything. Li'l Wayne was the best-selling album of the year, and Radiohead is a critical favorite. I have no comment about Ne-Yo, as I know nothing except that modern R&B and Hip-Hop are not genres that tend to win these sort of awards. This is the category where the out of nowhere, "who's heard this?" kind of thing happens most often, so... My preference is for Coldplay, and my bet is for Alison Krauss & Robert Plant.
4) Song Of The Year: American Boy, Chasing Pavements, I'm Yours, Love Song, Viva La Vida - Well, Jason Mraz is a Virginia boy, and you would think Adele might win one of these big ones. Kanye West is an award-winning dude, but... My preference is for Sara Bareilles, and my bet is for Coldplay.
5) Pop Vocal Album: Detours, Rockferry, Long Road Out Of Eden, Spirit, Covers - Let's dismiss James Taylor's covers album first, and then any of the others could win. So, when in doubt, let's go with stuff I like. My preference is for Duffy, but either Sheryl Crow or Eagles would make the old fogies happy.
6) Rock Album: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Consolers Of The Lonely, Rock N Roll Night, Only By The Night, Death Magnetic - Did Metallica put out an album? Whoops. Kings Of Leon? Nope. Kid Rock should be shot for stealing. So, while I didn't like this Raconteurs album as much as their first, I don't want Coldplay to win everything. My preference is for The Raconteurs, and my bet is for Coldplay.
7) Alternative Music Album: In Rainbows, Modern Guilt, Narrow Stairs, The Odd Couple, Evil Urges - Gnarls Barkley, Radiohead, and Beck are all favorites with this group of voters, so I can't see My Morning Jacket and Death Cab For Cutie making off with this. Let's assume some of the voters paid whatever they wanted for Radiohead's album. My preference is for Radiohead, and that's where my vote is.
Enjoy not watching the show and thus not being able to see how I did. Auf Wiedersehen!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ramble On
Howdy. I don't want to start off too quickly, if only so it will be easy to improve, but I believe I will often find myself making lists of things as I type. Partly this is because once upon a time I wanted to put together a website and use lists of seven to encourage debate/discussion. Now I think it's just because it helps me keep things clear. So, with that in mind....
7 Things I will miss about Roanoke
1) The Grandin Theatre - I love this theatre. I think I have now seen more movies here than anywhere else, and given that this is Roanoke's "art house theatre" they are often provoking, sweeping, and sometimes tedious movies that nonetheless make me think of how to discuss them, cajole others into going with me, and so on. The ambience is perfect. There is one main theatre downstairs with eye-catching classic (or old-timey, if you prefer) construction. There is a tiny (30-40 seat) room that I have not really been inside of in years, though I will remember the time several of us went there in college and took up about 1/5 of the place, even though we drove down there in one car. My most frequent viewing location, though, is upstairs. There are two smaller rooms with slightly skewed split-level seating. You can almost always find me in the bottom row of the top level with my feet propped up on the rail and a bag of Grandin popcorn (which is simply the best around) in my hand, watching the trailers intently in order to find the next thing to see there. I am also damned aggravated that the place has had almost nothing I wanted to see and then the VERY weekend after I move, it starts a run where Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler, and Slumdog Millionaire (all of which I want to see) are coming to the theatre. Not that I think that they planned it just to piss me off, but..... *sigh*
2) Mill Mountain Zoo - I have had memberships off and on during the years, and I will have to make an effort to get up there in the next few days. I miss the prairie dog farm a lot (I actually wanted to look into getting a prairie dog for a pet a few years ago. I currently appease the contained good-sized rodent fix thanks to my rabbit, Trixie). When I go these days, I love to stop and pet the zebu, who does I believe appreciate my attentions. I go take a look at Nina, the cougar, and look at the scratch marks on the trees the zoo has thoughtfully wrapped with metal to keep the dear from getting out and indulging her predatory instincts. I like seeing if the red wolves are making themselves available on a given day, after years of a spot out of sight but never out of mind. I am so taken with the Wah (the red panda for you laymen and laywomen... hey, I like to laywo, oh never mind that now) that I will succumb to youtube videos and the like to get my fix once I leave town. Oy....
3) Martin's Bar and Grill - Good location downtown, but not in the center of the place. The food, though recently adjusting itself away from reasonable prices, is pretty good if unspectacular. It's their taste and programming that makes it my spot. It's as close to a regular hangout as I have. From the poker games run by Star City Poker on Wednesday nights, to the great live music, to the awesome bartender (plug for Didi), to the karaoke, it ensures that if I'm feeling mildly sociable and want to go to a place where most people know my name, I have one. Had one. *shakes head* anyway....
4) B & D Comics - I have spent the last several years living within 5 minutes of this store, from all different sides. Got into "graphic novels" (the adult way to say comic books, FYI) about the time I turned 30, and since then have developed the fondness for Transmetropolitan, Hellblazer/Constantine, Preacher, Lucifer, and Sin City. I argue that Vertigo just does a good job of catering to my needs, but I have also been told that it's because I have a clear preference for "assholes on the side of right". Spider Jerusalem, check to the side of infinity. John Constantine, mostly clear check. Jesse Custer, double check with cheese. Lucifer, dunno because I haven't finished yet, but signs point to solid check. Marv and Dwight, hell yes check. Okay, there may be something to this. I get good ideas there for future reading (thank you, Terri). Love the log building there by the bridge.
5) Annie Moore's - Okay, so it's Applebee's with an Irish theme. Food's good (potato cakes are awesome, shepherd's pie is awesome, and try the bangers and more as well), drinks are good (an Irish theme, of COURSE the drinks are good), they play good live music, and ambience is fantastic. Did I mention how cool it is that they are non-smoking?
6) Plan 9 - I think this would be a good bit higher if not for the fact that this is a chain with a monster store in Richmond, but nevertheless I can tell you how excited I was when they came to town over at Towers, and then that they moved into the Grandin area (within spitting distance of the theatre residing at the top spot). Good selection, have not overinundated themselves with crappy used music (though it will eventually happen, because that's what used stores eventually due), they sell vinyl and display music magazine prominently (they are to blame/credit for my subscription to Paste), and I like talking to the staff (Jamie and Aaron, this one's for you) to try and expand my musical knowledge and selection.
7) location to places north, west, and south - Okay, this is a copout, but the fact is that once I move, I will also lose easy (or at least easier) access to Lexington, Blacksburg, and Smith Mountain Lake (all within an hour), Greensboro and Winston Salem (2 hours and change), Charlotte (3 hours) and Asheville (4 hours). Haven't travelled as much to these places as I once did for reasons various and sundry, but it will be a shame to not be able to get to them nearly as easily, with the possible exception of Lexington which now lies on I-81 between Point A and Point B.
Okay, so this was the tryout. Now to see how it looks and how maudlin I sound. *chuckle*
7 Things I will miss about Roanoke
1) The Grandin Theatre - I love this theatre. I think I have now seen more movies here than anywhere else, and given that this is Roanoke's "art house theatre" they are often provoking, sweeping, and sometimes tedious movies that nonetheless make me think of how to discuss them, cajole others into going with me, and so on. The ambience is perfect. There is one main theatre downstairs with eye-catching classic (or old-timey, if you prefer) construction. There is a tiny (30-40 seat) room that I have not really been inside of in years, though I will remember the time several of us went there in college and took up about 1/5 of the place, even though we drove down there in one car. My most frequent viewing location, though, is upstairs. There are two smaller rooms with slightly skewed split-level seating. You can almost always find me in the bottom row of the top level with my feet propped up on the rail and a bag of Grandin popcorn (which is simply the best around) in my hand, watching the trailers intently in order to find the next thing to see there. I am also damned aggravated that the place has had almost nothing I wanted to see and then the VERY weekend after I move, it starts a run where Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler, and Slumdog Millionaire (all of which I want to see) are coming to the theatre. Not that I think that they planned it just to piss me off, but..... *sigh*
2) Mill Mountain Zoo - I have had memberships off and on during the years, and I will have to make an effort to get up there in the next few days. I miss the prairie dog farm a lot (I actually wanted to look into getting a prairie dog for a pet a few years ago. I currently appease the contained good-sized rodent fix thanks to my rabbit, Trixie). When I go these days, I love to stop and pet the zebu, who does I believe appreciate my attentions. I go take a look at Nina, the cougar, and look at the scratch marks on the trees the zoo has thoughtfully wrapped with metal to keep the dear from getting out and indulging her predatory instincts. I like seeing if the red wolves are making themselves available on a given day, after years of a spot out of sight but never out of mind. I am so taken with the Wah (the red panda for you laymen and laywomen... hey, I like to laywo, oh never mind that now) that I will succumb to youtube videos and the like to get my fix once I leave town. Oy....
3) Martin's Bar and Grill - Good location downtown, but not in the center of the place. The food, though recently adjusting itself away from reasonable prices, is pretty good if unspectacular. It's their taste and programming that makes it my spot. It's as close to a regular hangout as I have. From the poker games run by Star City Poker on Wednesday nights, to the great live music, to the awesome bartender (plug for Didi), to the karaoke, it ensures that if I'm feeling mildly sociable and want to go to a place where most people know my name, I have one. Had one. *shakes head* anyway....
4) B & D Comics - I have spent the last several years living within 5 minutes of this store, from all different sides. Got into "graphic novels" (the adult way to say comic books, FYI) about the time I turned 30, and since then have developed the fondness for Transmetropolitan, Hellblazer/Constantine, Preacher, Lucifer, and Sin City. I argue that Vertigo just does a good job of catering to my needs, but I have also been told that it's because I have a clear preference for "assholes on the side of right". Spider Jerusalem, check to the side of infinity. John Constantine, mostly clear check. Jesse Custer, double check with cheese. Lucifer, dunno because I haven't finished yet, but signs point to solid check. Marv and Dwight, hell yes check. Okay, there may be something to this. I get good ideas there for future reading (thank you, Terri). Love the log building there by the bridge.
5) Annie Moore's - Okay, so it's Applebee's with an Irish theme. Food's good (potato cakes are awesome, shepherd's pie is awesome, and try the bangers and more as well), drinks are good (an Irish theme, of COURSE the drinks are good), they play good live music, and ambience is fantastic. Did I mention how cool it is that they are non-smoking?
6) Plan 9 - I think this would be a good bit higher if not for the fact that this is a chain with a monster store in Richmond, but nevertheless I can tell you how excited I was when they came to town over at Towers, and then that they moved into the Grandin area (within spitting distance of the theatre residing at the top spot). Good selection, have not overinundated themselves with crappy used music (though it will eventually happen, because that's what used stores eventually due), they sell vinyl and display music magazine prominently (they are to blame/credit for my subscription to Paste), and I like talking to the staff (Jamie and Aaron, this one's for you) to try and expand my musical knowledge and selection.
7) location to places north, west, and south - Okay, this is a copout, but the fact is that once I move, I will also lose easy (or at least easier) access to Lexington, Blacksburg, and Smith Mountain Lake (all within an hour), Greensboro and Winston Salem (2 hours and change), Charlotte (3 hours) and Asheville (4 hours). Haven't travelled as much to these places as I once did for reasons various and sundry, but it will be a shame to not be able to get to them nearly as easily, with the possible exception of Lexington which now lies on I-81 between Point A and Point B.
Okay, so this was the tryout. Now to see how it looks and how maudlin I sound. *chuckle*
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