I heard about the new reality show on FX called Black White and thought it sounded interesting. One black family and one white family get to experience how the other race lives firsthand by becoming that race. The white family becomes black and vice versa. The makeup is pretty amazing and so far the characters have not been inadvertently found out. I say that because the white daughter has already come "out" to her poetry group, all of whom are black. So far I've only watched the second episode (I missed the first one) and found it very intriguing. There are some truly compelling moments in the show and it gives insight into the general misconceptions and assumptions we make about other races and they about the white race. In the second episode it seemed as if the two teen children had more understanding and more acceptance than the parents; that's both good and bad for reasons that should be obvious. I think I'll definitely give it at least one more look. Doesn't sound like your cup of tea? This got me thinking about other reality shows on right now and there is really something on for everyone. Below is just a sample of some of the shows and believe me there are plenty more than what I've got listed. Some even have monetary prizes.
Want to see the world but can't afford it? Check out The Amazing Race. Prize: $1,000,000
For the backyard buddy who wants to rough it in an exotic jungle with no food, no fire and no shelter, or at least pretend: Check out Survivor. Prize: $1,000,000 (although all contestants get some monetary prize. The longer you survive, the higher the prize.)
Want to help pick the next big thing in music? Let your fingers do the voting with American Idol. Prize: A record contract.
Not into music but idolize Thomas Edison? Then check out American Inventor. This show, developed by tart-tongued American Idol judge Simon Cowell, lets viewers judge the invention they think is the most practical, not to mention the most marketable. Cowell does not appear but the show has its own panel of judges. Some of the inventions are a cockroach racetrack (handy in the South no doubt), a portable fan for your hot dogs (the four-legged variety), and a suit carrier in which one can do number 1. Prize: $1,000,000 and a product launch with bragging rights to be called the best thing since sliced bread.
For those who enjoy looking at young girls who do splits, jump, and cheer there is Cheerleader Nation. Nation follows the Kentucky Dunbar High School cheerleading team from tryouts to their competition at the UCA National Championships. Prize: No money but they either win or lose at the championships.
For the kleenex clutchers who enjoy human interest stories with lots of sobbing and sap there's Miracle Workers. I prefer to call this show Extreme Makeover but with humans instead of homes. Each week features two stories of people with overwhelming medical problems but who don't have the overwhelming bank account. The show features a cardiovascular surgeon, a cardiac surgeon and, of course, a crack team of nurses.
Want to keep those pesky kids in line? There's Supernanny which features British import Jo Frost whose "practical, no-nonsense style" will keep those kids seen and not heard. Seriously, Frost has been a nanny for more than 16years and is even a best-selling author of "Supernanny:How To Get The Best From Your Children." Then there's Nanny 911 which is loosely based on the tv show Little Angels, yet another thing British. This team of four nannies, each with a specialty such as proper etiquette and temper tantrum control, helps families and children deal with the pressures of child rearing. One of the nannies even served the British Royal Family. And one family on Nanny 911 inspired a spin-off, Marriage 911, when it was determined they were too much for the nanny to handle. Prize: No monetary prize but you can claim to have the best kid on the block. Added bonus: Your child will speak with a British accent and can be their own show-and-tell at school.
For those of you who want to change your life but want to see what it will be like first there's 30 Days. Hosted by Morgan Spurlock, the guy from the "anti McDonald's movie" Super Size Me, Days features such episodes as a mom, concerned about her college daughter's drinking, switching places with her daughter to hopefully get through to her. Also featured is an episode in which a homophobe red-stater takes on a gay roommate, joins a gay sports team and attends a gay friendly church and sees how it is to live as a minority in San Francisco's Castro district. Of course each story details 30 days. Prize: No monetary prize but hopefully lives will change for the better and each person gains more empathy.
For the Olympic skater lover there's Skating With Celebrities. A panel of judges reigns over professional skaters and minor celebrities as the public votes for their fave.
For the dance lover, Dancing With The Stars. Again a panel of judges and professional dancers dance with minor celebrities as, again, America votes for their fave.
I could go on and on. And for those of you who want to make your own reality, turn the tv off and live life.
peace out,
paul
Friday, March 17, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
The Rock Rolls
The game is simple: Paper covers rock, rock smashes scissors, and scissors cut paper. The Southwest Florida Regional finals of the rock-paper-scissors contest was held last week and a 34-year-old server at an oyster bar won the contest. He put out rock and the only other remaining contestant put out scissors. Needless to say, she was "crushed." The Florida contest had 29 competitors. Now the winner, Jason Wood, heads to colorful Las Vegas to compete for the grand prize of $50,000. Yes, you read that right, $50,000. Over 300 people from all around the country will compete at the Luxor Resort Hotel and Casino on April 9 in the tournament. And I thought it was just a children's game.
peace out,
paul
peace out,
paul
Monday, March 13, 2006
Passing
Maureen Stapleton has passed away, at the age of 80, of chronic pulmonary disease. A longtime smoker, Stapleton (who was not related to Jean Stapleton) suffered from numerous phobias such as fear of airplanes and elevators, Stapleton was nominated for Best Supporting Actress a total of four times. She finally won in 1981 for her role as writer-anarchist Emma Goldman in the film Reds. Goldman, an American journalist who was left-wing, went to Russia to cover the Bolshevik Revolution. I had always thought that Maureen Stapleton and Jean Stapleton, who played Edith Bunker on All In The Family, were sisters. According to IMDB.com, Jean is not related to Maureen. Interesting. One really does learn something new everyday.
peace out,
paul
peace out,
paul
Oscar Only Once More
This is the last time I'll write about this year's Oscar show. I just want to comment that despite the fact this year's show was overall the most disappointing (in terms of who won the major awards) since the year 2000, I'll still watch and I'll still enjoy. Why? Because it is the Oscars and I truly enjoy movies and the predictions are half the fun.
I recently read a Stephen King article about this year's Oscar show and he asked, "Was Crash the best picture of the year?" He said it wasn't and I agree. While I don't agree with him on which picture was the Best Picture, I do agree that Crash was an important picture. As far as the best picture goes, I truly believe that of the five nominess, Munich was the best movie of the year 2005. Munich tells of the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic games and the subsequent assassination of the Palestinian terrorists responsible. It also shows why the war in the Middle East has continued unabated. It's a gripping and important film that everyone should watch. Yes, liberties were taken and some of the things in the film are speculated. However, it goes a long way to showing why peace is so hard to achieve in one of the most polarized areas of the world.
I've heard the theory that Brokeback Mountain did not win Best Picture because it wasn't nominated for Film Editing and a certain portion of the academy does not vote for movies that are not nominated in that category. While that may or may not be true, a lack of a nod in film editing is not the only reason Brokeback didn't win. First off the last time a film that wasn't nominated for Film Editing won Best Picture was back in 1980 when Ordinary People took home the prize. Every other year since then the Best Picture has been in the Film Editing category. Having said that, I think, arguably, the biggest reason Brokeback didn't get the top prize is because of the content. It's about two cowboys who have a decades long sexual relationship. Most of the 6 thousand some odd academy members are older, white men; many of whom are probably stuffy and conservative. That seems to be a paradox considering the field they represent. One sidenote to Brokeback is that it has been billed as groundbreaking; that's not true. There have been other films that deal with the gay theme with high profile actors. Most notably is the film Making Love, a 1980 film that starred Harry Hamilin, Michael Ontkean, Kate Jackson, and Academy Award winner Wendy Hiller. Brokeback is only groundbreaking in that it deals with ranch hands out in the west in the 1960's-1980's. Before this film, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were not popular and commanding actors. It remains to be seen if they continue in their high profile status.
Felicity Huffman actually had a double whammy in terms of her missing out on her award. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I truly believe that Felicity Huffman gave the best female performance of the five who were nominated. Reese would be a not too close second. The movie Transamerica was so little known that even some of the gay people I know was not aware of it before it came out. And some of them are movie buffs. The second strike is the fact that Huffman plays a male-to-female pr-op transgender and shows her "appendage." It seems to me if the academy really was more liberal and not as older white male that Huffman would probably have walked away with the prize. She certainly deserved it.
Well, as I said, I'll keep watching the Oscars because when the academy gets it right, it's pure gold; actually, it's britannium or copper (the Oscars aren't pure gold). Above I said that this year's show was overall the most disappointing since 2000. Let me tell you how the winners would have stacked up if I had been in charge. Julia Roberts would still have won her award. Instead of Best Actor Russell Crowe for Gladiator, Ed Harris would have won for Pollock. Albert Finney would have won Best Supporting Actor for Erin Brockovich instead of Benecio Del Toro for Traffic. And Julie Walters would have won Best Supporting Actress for Billy Elliott instead of Marcia Gay Harden for Pollock. And the big prize would not have gone to Gladiator but to the Steven Soderbergh directed Erin Brockovich instead. I think it would have been really exciting and cool to have director Steven Soderbergh win for both of his films that year. He DID win Best Director for Traffic.
peace out,
paul
I recently read a Stephen King article about this year's Oscar show and he asked, "Was Crash the best picture of the year?" He said it wasn't and I agree. While I don't agree with him on which picture was the Best Picture, I do agree that Crash was an important picture. As far as the best picture goes, I truly believe that of the five nominess, Munich was the best movie of the year 2005. Munich tells of the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic games and the subsequent assassination of the Palestinian terrorists responsible. It also shows why the war in the Middle East has continued unabated. It's a gripping and important film that everyone should watch. Yes, liberties were taken and some of the things in the film are speculated. However, it goes a long way to showing why peace is so hard to achieve in one of the most polarized areas of the world.
I've heard the theory that Brokeback Mountain did not win Best Picture because it wasn't nominated for Film Editing and a certain portion of the academy does not vote for movies that are not nominated in that category. While that may or may not be true, a lack of a nod in film editing is not the only reason Brokeback didn't win. First off the last time a film that wasn't nominated for Film Editing won Best Picture was back in 1980 when Ordinary People took home the prize. Every other year since then the Best Picture has been in the Film Editing category. Having said that, I think, arguably, the biggest reason Brokeback didn't get the top prize is because of the content. It's about two cowboys who have a decades long sexual relationship. Most of the 6 thousand some odd academy members are older, white men; many of whom are probably stuffy and conservative. That seems to be a paradox considering the field they represent. One sidenote to Brokeback is that it has been billed as groundbreaking; that's not true. There have been other films that deal with the gay theme with high profile actors. Most notably is the film Making Love, a 1980 film that starred Harry Hamilin, Michael Ontkean, Kate Jackson, and Academy Award winner Wendy Hiller. Brokeback is only groundbreaking in that it deals with ranch hands out in the west in the 1960's-1980's. Before this film, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were not popular and commanding actors. It remains to be seen if they continue in their high profile status.
Felicity Huffman actually had a double whammy in terms of her missing out on her award. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I truly believe that Felicity Huffman gave the best female performance of the five who were nominated. Reese would be a not too close second. The movie Transamerica was so little known that even some of the gay people I know was not aware of it before it came out. And some of them are movie buffs. The second strike is the fact that Huffman plays a male-to-female pr-op transgender and shows her "appendage." It seems to me if the academy really was more liberal and not as older white male that Huffman would probably have walked away with the prize. She certainly deserved it.
Well, as I said, I'll keep watching the Oscars because when the academy gets it right, it's pure gold; actually, it's britannium or copper (the Oscars aren't pure gold). Above I said that this year's show was overall the most disappointing since 2000. Let me tell you how the winners would have stacked up if I had been in charge. Julia Roberts would still have won her award. Instead of Best Actor Russell Crowe for Gladiator, Ed Harris would have won for Pollock. Albert Finney would have won Best Supporting Actor for Erin Brockovich instead of Benecio Del Toro for Traffic. And Julie Walters would have won Best Supporting Actress for Billy Elliott instead of Marcia Gay Harden for Pollock. And the big prize would not have gone to Gladiator but to the Steven Soderbergh directed Erin Brockovich instead. I think it would have been really exciting and cool to have director Steven Soderbergh win for both of his films that year. He DID win Best Director for Traffic.
peace out,
paul
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
word of the week
Compassion fatigue. This is what the city of Houston is feeling right about now with an estimated 150,000 Katrina evacuees living in the Texas city. The evacuees are putting a burden on the city's health care system, schools, and adding to the city's already high crime rate. In the last six months, since the hurricane, 33 of the evacuees have either been victim or perpetrator in the city's 189 murders. No matter what people may think of mayor Bill White, he's certainly been generous in opening the city up to people who still need a place to stay. At this point, however, graffiti such as F*** New Orleans is showing up on walls. Also the evacuees are begin taunted with by the city's residents. It also didn't help when some leaders of New Orleans said that the hardworking evacuees could return to the Big Easy. In other words, ok, Houston, you keep the people we don't want.
And speaking of Katrina, the leaked videotape from August 2005 that shows Bush being briefed on the potential disaster of Katrina must make Bush want to just put his head in his hands. After the hurricane, he was on the news shows saying that no one anticipated the breaching of the levees. This videotape proves that he at least knew the potential was there. What a mess!
peace out,
paul
And speaking of Katrina, the leaked videotape from August 2005 that shows Bush being briefed on the potential disaster of Katrina must make Bush want to just put his head in his hands. After the hurricane, he was on the news shows saying that no one anticipated the breaching of the levees. This videotape proves that he at least knew the potential was there. What a mess!
peace out,
paul
settled dust
Ok, I've gotten over the disappointment of the Oscars. While I agree with the men who won acting Oscars, I'm very much in disagreement with the women. Amy Adams and Felicity Huffman were robbed. But why? First off, Felicity Huffman's role in Transamerica may have been too risky, too daring for the Academy. What's more, the film was not widely seen and the role was not flashy either. As for Adams, her role in Junebug was THE most refreshing of all 5 supporting actresses. Again the film was not popular and therefore probably not widely seen. Have YOU heard of Junebug? As my friend Francine said, "It was a popularity contest this year." While that is not always true, it was very much so this year; unfortunately. As far as the major awards went this year there really weren't any surprises. I did keep hoping for a best actress upset though. I did correctly predict that Crash would win best pic but I'm sure there were more than a few people who were surprised when it took the big prize. Many people were probably hankering for a Brokeback win. Having said that, it's not too early to start looking for potential nominees for next year's show. Keep an eye out for brilliant and stand out performances and superb movies. Let me know if you see one!!!
peace out,
paul
peace out,
paul
Monday, March 06, 2006
results
I must be getting old. I couldn't finish watching the big show last night so I recorded the rest of it. I just finished watching the last award and of the rest of them I got sound editing, foreign language, actor, actress, adapted and original screenplay, director, and picture correct. The ones I didn't guess correctly are original song, film editing, and cinematography (I thought for sure Brokeback would get it). That brings the total correct to 17 and 7 incorrect. Out of 24 awards, that's only about a 70%. Oh well, I did my best.
By the way, I know Reese Witherspoon won but I will never stop believing that Felicity Huffman gave the best performance and really should have won the award. And all four acting winners were first time nominees. The last time that happened was 1961 when Maximillian Schell, Sophia Loren, George Chakiris, and Rita Moreno won the awards.
peace out,
paul
By the way, I know Reese Witherspoon won but I will never stop believing that Felicity Huffman gave the best performance and really should have won the award. And all four acting winners were first time nominees. The last time that happened was 1961 when Maximillian Schell, Sophia Loren, George Chakiris, and Rita Moreno won the awards.
peace out,
paul
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Thus far
3 down and only 21 more to go. So far I've gotten the first three awards correct in terms of predicting who will win. The animated feature, visual effects and supporting actor winners were who I predicted would win. However, those first three were not really surprises. Dolly Parton is so skinny. At 60 years old she looks like a toothpick. Jim commented that she looks like a cartoon character and there's something wrong with her lips. Jim says it's collagen. She still does look good for 60 though.
paul
paul
Saturday, March 04, 2006
weekly post March 3, 2006
The "what to give up, what to give up" edition
Disclaimer: Parts of the following email are not original thoughts or ideas. Instead they were taken from other sources(my spouse). In other words, not all of what I'm writing is mine!
Hello my friends & loved ones,
I felt I should add that bit at the top since the book world is being turned on its head again. First came the James Frey debacle as it was discovered that his book should have been labeled fiction instead of non-fiction. Now comes news that Dan Brown, author of "The DaVinci Code", all but plagiarized the book "The Holy Blood, and The Holy Grail" while he was writing "DaVinci. "
Lent is upon us and I don't know what your childhood was like during this time but I don't remember ever really giving anything up or my family focusing on it. My mom and dad were only semi-religious. Someone at work asked me what I was going to give up for Lent this year and I really had to think about that. Then I heard Jim's Ash Wednesday sermon and....voila! The past!!! Big applause now. Everyone give up the past. Come on now. What? But isn't the past supposed to be dead? Well, duh! However, many of us, myself included, continue to walk around with the past squarely on our shoulders. The past hurts, the past insults, the past behaviors. Jim likened this to pulling over on the side of the road, picking up a dead woodchuck, making a necklace out of it, putting it around our necks and wearing it. Meanwhile, as the woodchuck continues to rot, we complain about the smell of it. Why don't we just take it off and chuck (sorry) it? What's the difference between doing that and chucking the past? Throw away the past insults of, 'you're not good enough,' 'you're not worthy,' 'you'll never amount to anything,' 'you'll never be loved.' Throw all of those things away and live the now, live the present. The past is just like that rotting woodchuck: Dead. We can't bring the past back (unless we can resurrect H.G. Wells and get him to build a time machine for us). We are worthy, we are loved, and we are good enough. I'm reminded of that character from Saturday Night Live, Stuart Smalley. At the end of his segment he used to turn to a mirror and chant to himself, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." We may have laughed at this (I did) but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that otherwise the past may stink up our lives.
Until next week: Remember, you are good enough, you are smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.
peace out,
paul
Disclaimer: Parts of the following email are not original thoughts or ideas. Instead they were taken from other sources(my spouse). In other words, not all of what I'm writing is mine!
Hello my friends & loved ones,
I felt I should add that bit at the top since the book world is being turned on its head again. First came the James Frey debacle as it was discovered that his book should have been labeled fiction instead of non-fiction. Now comes news that Dan Brown, author of "The DaVinci Code", all but plagiarized the book "The Holy Blood, and The Holy Grail" while he was writing "DaVinci. "
Lent is upon us and I don't know what your childhood was like during this time but I don't remember ever really giving anything up or my family focusing on it. My mom and dad were only semi-religious. Someone at work asked me what I was going to give up for Lent this year and I really had to think about that. Then I heard Jim's Ash Wednesday sermon and....voila! The past!!! Big applause now. Everyone give up the past. Come on now. What? But isn't the past supposed to be dead? Well, duh! However, many of us, myself included, continue to walk around with the past squarely on our shoulders. The past hurts, the past insults, the past behaviors. Jim likened this to pulling over on the side of the road, picking up a dead woodchuck, making a necklace out of it, putting it around our necks and wearing it. Meanwhile, as the woodchuck continues to rot, we complain about the smell of it. Why don't we just take it off and chuck (sorry) it? What's the difference between doing that and chucking the past? Throw away the past insults of, 'you're not good enough,' 'you're not worthy,' 'you'll never amount to anything,' 'you'll never be loved.' Throw all of those things away and live the now, live the present. The past is just like that rotting woodchuck: Dead. We can't bring the past back (unless we can resurrect H.G. Wells and get him to build a time machine for us). We are worthy, we are loved, and we are good enough. I'm reminded of that character from Saturday Night Live, Stuart Smalley. At the end of his segment he used to turn to a mirror and chant to himself, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." We may have laughed at this (I did) but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that otherwise the past may stink up our lives.
Until next week: Remember, you are good enough, you are smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.
peace out,
paul
weekly post from Feb. 25, 2006
Hello friends and loved ones,
Well I'm back after a hiatus last week. This past week has seemed to drag and today Jim and I did nothing all day long. We were going to have dinner with our pet nanny, however, at the time she was going to pick us up we got a brief snow squall and it looked like driving was going to be treacherous. It's always fun getting together with her, especially after we've gone on vacation because we get to watch her expressions as she receives her gifts.
Some of you may know that my new favorite show is American Idol. I really do like this show (although I'm wondering if they could possibly drag out the results show any longer? Oh! My! Gosh!!!!!! It's borders on torturous). Anyway, there's something to be said for going after a dream the way many of these singers are. It's not hard to tell the ones who enjoy what they are doing, who are talented, and who deserve to have their shot at something big. I don't think every finalist has their whole heart and soul in what they are doing and they may be better doing something else for which they have a bigger talent. I think we should all go after what we want instead of sitting around kicking ourselves and saying, 'Why didn't I do that? If only I had done this....' It would be terrible if we knew we had a gift or talent and did nothing about it. We don't want to be sitting around singing our "should have," "could have," "would have." Let's experience life and discover those things we have a gift for. I'm a firm believer that each person around us has at least one thing they are excellent at and can do great things with. I actually believe there is more than one thing, however, I'm not greedy. Ask yourself next time you are alone with yourself, "What am I really good at?"
I haven't felt compelled to blog this week and that's because I've literally been poring over the past winners of all of the critic's awards. I'm almost ready to put my picks of who will win Oscars out there and I'll be posting them this week. The big show is next Sunday and I'll be there front and center watching with (sometimes) bated breath. The one thing I have to say about predicting the winners of the little gold man is this: There are little tricks to use to make a good prediction, however, there is no sure fire way to be sure each prediction is correct. Short of asking all 6,500 members of the Academy who they are voting for, that is. Anyway, if you have a prediction (not who you want to win but who you think will win) feel free to let me know and I'll tell you if I agree. This is the only awards show that I truly enjoy watching and the only one I watch every year. I know, I know, many people don't like the Oscars and many times they get it wrong but in the past few years they've gotten it right more times than not. No awards show is perfect and no one is ever going to agree with every pick but that's what makes our country so great. Freedom to choose! Oh, I'm starting to get all patriotic; where did that come from?
peace out,
paul
Well I'm back after a hiatus last week. This past week has seemed to drag and today Jim and I did nothing all day long. We were going to have dinner with our pet nanny, however, at the time she was going to pick us up we got a brief snow squall and it looked like driving was going to be treacherous. It's always fun getting together with her, especially after we've gone on vacation because we get to watch her expressions as she receives her gifts.
Some of you may know that my new favorite show is American Idol. I really do like this show (although I'm wondering if they could possibly drag out the results show any longer? Oh! My! Gosh!!!!!! It's borders on torturous). Anyway, there's something to be said for going after a dream the way many of these singers are. It's not hard to tell the ones who enjoy what they are doing, who are talented, and who deserve to have their shot at something big. I don't think every finalist has their whole heart and soul in what they are doing and they may be better doing something else for which they have a bigger talent. I think we should all go after what we want instead of sitting around kicking ourselves and saying, 'Why didn't I do that? If only I had done this....' It would be terrible if we knew we had a gift or talent and did nothing about it. We don't want to be sitting around singing our "should have," "could have," "would have." Let's experience life and discover those things we have a gift for. I'm a firm believer that each person around us has at least one thing they are excellent at and can do great things with. I actually believe there is more than one thing, however, I'm not greedy. Ask yourself next time you are alone with yourself, "What am I really good at?"
I haven't felt compelled to blog this week and that's because I've literally been poring over the past winners of all of the critic's awards. I'm almost ready to put my picks of who will win Oscars out there and I'll be posting them this week. The big show is next Sunday and I'll be there front and center watching with (sometimes) bated breath. The one thing I have to say about predicting the winners of the little gold man is this: There are little tricks to use to make a good prediction, however, there is no sure fire way to be sure each prediction is correct. Short of asking all 6,500 members of the Academy who they are voting for, that is. Anyway, if you have a prediction (not who you want to win but who you think will win) feel free to let me know and I'll tell you if I agree. This is the only awards show that I truly enjoy watching and the only one I watch every year. I know, I know, many people don't like the Oscars and many times they get it wrong but in the past few years they've gotten it right more times than not. No awards show is perfect and no one is ever going to agree with every pick but that's what makes our country so great. Freedom to choose! Oh, I'm starting to get all patriotic; where did that come from?
peace out,
paul
Friday, March 03, 2006
Recommending a remake? Who me?
No one can say I don't like remakes. The following proves that. The best remake of 2006 (so far) is the remake of a thriller released in 1979; that's pre-Jason and before Freddy. The movie is When A Stranger Calls and Carol Kane starred in the original as a babysitter who receives threatening phone calls. The caller almost always starts with, "Have you checked the children?" Ultimately, with the help of police, Kane's character, Jill Johnson, discovers where the calls are coming from: from a surprising location. The children are found to have been murdered and the killer is locked up in the loony bin. The killer then escapes and the rest of the movie follows Charles Durning's private investigator and his tracking of the killer. Durning is hired by the father of the children and for the next 40-45 mins the movie plods along and becomes quite boring at times. Years later, after Kane's character marries and has her own children, she receives a call one night while she's out with her husband. The caller asks, "Have you checked the children?" The ensuing showdown is a bit creepy and fulfilling. The only problem is that no reason is ever given for the killer's penchant for harassing teenage babysitters and killing children.
In the remake, relative newcomer Camilla Belle fills Kane's shoes as Jill Johnson. This time the film opens with the discovery of the murdered children while the tormenting phone calls play over the opening credits. It's an eerie touch having the crime scene right next to a carnival; everyone going about their fun with no idea of what's going on in the house right next to them. The rest of the movie features Belle's Jill Johnson babysitting and then she begins receiving the same threatening phone calls. Thankfully, the "have you checked the children" is only used once or twice; it threatened to become a joke in the original. The remake does deviate quite a bit from the original and the stage is set for a game of cat and mouse between Jill and the anonymous caller. All of the changes are good and enhance the story considering it is set in the present. Of course the big twist is where the calls originate from and if you've seen the original you won't be surprised. The suspense is well done though and considering how few characters there are and that most of the action takes place inside of the house, the movie moves along briskly. This could have been a terrible remake considering the technology of the telephones these days, however, the uses of the many features of the telephone are cleverly and believably played; we're really not all connected (not always anyway). The size of the house, which is astronomical, is also effectively used and there are of course a number of cliches; naturally. The dark, windy, and stormy night is just one of the many devices used. Another one is the fake out; the music plays progressively louder trying to make us think a scare is coming. And then there's the fake out's brother, the non-killer scare. We get a jolt or a surprise but it's not the killer. One of the main reasons I liked this remake, and really think it improves upon the original, is because Belle's character is not stupid. And when push comes to shove, she really fights back and isn't feeble about it. That could be a testament to the director, Simon West. West, probably most famous for directing Lara Croft:Tomb Raider, has crafted a smart (but not genius) thriller that really surpasses the original. A bonus is the fact that there is no gore and of course, like the original, there is no explanation as to why the killer does what he does. Only the intimation that in today's world, sometimes there is no explanation. Or something like that.
In the remake, relative newcomer Camilla Belle fills Kane's shoes as Jill Johnson. This time the film opens with the discovery of the murdered children while the tormenting phone calls play over the opening credits. It's an eerie touch having the crime scene right next to a carnival; everyone going about their fun with no idea of what's going on in the house right next to them. The rest of the movie features Belle's Jill Johnson babysitting and then she begins receiving the same threatening phone calls. Thankfully, the "have you checked the children" is only used once or twice; it threatened to become a joke in the original. The remake does deviate quite a bit from the original and the stage is set for a game of cat and mouse between Jill and the anonymous caller. All of the changes are good and enhance the story considering it is set in the present. Of course the big twist is where the calls originate from and if you've seen the original you won't be surprised. The suspense is well done though and considering how few characters there are and that most of the action takes place inside of the house, the movie moves along briskly. This could have been a terrible remake considering the technology of the telephones these days, however, the uses of the many features of the telephone are cleverly and believably played; we're really not all connected (not always anyway). The size of the house, which is astronomical, is also effectively used and there are of course a number of cliches; naturally. The dark, windy, and stormy night is just one of the many devices used. Another one is the fake out; the music plays progressively louder trying to make us think a scare is coming. And then there's the fake out's brother, the non-killer scare. We get a jolt or a surprise but it's not the killer. One of the main reasons I liked this remake, and really think it improves upon the original, is because Belle's character is not stupid. And when push comes to shove, she really fights back and isn't feeble about it. That could be a testament to the director, Simon West. West, probably most famous for directing Lara Croft:Tomb Raider, has crafted a smart (but not genius) thriller that really surpasses the original. A bonus is the fact that there is no gore and of course, like the original, there is no explanation as to why the killer does what he does. Only the intimation that in today's world, sometimes there is no explanation. Or something like that.
The top two
The last two awards of the evening and here we go with who I think will win and who should win. Before I start, I'd like to point out that this is the first time since 1981 that all 5 Best Picture and Best Director nominees line up exactly.
Best Director: George Clooney for Good Night, And Good Luck (1st nom), Paul Haggis for Crash (1st nom), Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2nd nom), Bennett Miller for Capote (1st nom), and Steven Spielberg for Munich (6th nom, 2 previous wins).
All five directors did an incredible job, however, Ang Lee took a sparsely written story with very little dialogue and turned it into a movie that ALL kinds of audiences are embracing, despite the fact that it features to non-straight characters. I didn't call them both gay since I'm not sure they are both gay. Gyllenhaal's character may be gay, however, Ledger's character seemed to be more bisexual.
WILL WIN-Ang Lee
SHOULD WIN-Ang Lee
Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Good Night, And Good Luck, and Munich. All five films were powerful and movie events (even if no one saw them). That last bit was a joke since none of these films were blockbusters in terms of ticket sales. I don't think Brokeback is the best film of all five and in terms of longevity, Crash has the most. It was released in May of 2005 and is still being talked about nearly a year later. The film I think really deserves to win is Spielberg's film. This film was the most powerful and probably the most polarizing and controversial.
WILL WIN-Crash
SHOULD WIN-Munich
peace out,
paul
Best Director: George Clooney for Good Night, And Good Luck (1st nom), Paul Haggis for Crash (1st nom), Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2nd nom), Bennett Miller for Capote (1st nom), and Steven Spielberg for Munich (6th nom, 2 previous wins).
All five directors did an incredible job, however, Ang Lee took a sparsely written story with very little dialogue and turned it into a movie that ALL kinds of audiences are embracing, despite the fact that it features to non-straight characters. I didn't call them both gay since I'm not sure they are both gay. Gyllenhaal's character may be gay, however, Ledger's character seemed to be more bisexual.
WILL WIN-Ang Lee
SHOULD WIN-Ang Lee
Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Good Night, And Good Luck, and Munich. All five films were powerful and movie events (even if no one saw them). That last bit was a joke since none of these films were blockbusters in terms of ticket sales. I don't think Brokeback is the best film of all five and in terms of longevity, Crash has the most. It was released in May of 2005 and is still being talked about nearly a year later. The film I think really deserves to win is Spielberg's film. This film was the most powerful and probably the most polarizing and controversial.
WILL WIN-Crash
SHOULD WIN-Munich
peace out,
paul
The Main Races
Only two more days to go until the Oscars and here are my picks for the big ones of who will win and who should win.
Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman (1st nom), Terrence Howard (1st nom), Heath Ledger (1st nom), Joaquin Phoenix (2nd nom), and David Strathairn (1st nom).
All five of these performances were strong and rightfully nominated, however, when it comes to the big prize only one will win. Ledger and Howard portrayed fictional characters and delivered outstanding performances. Strathairn, Phoenix, and Hoffman all played real characters and did the men they played justice. Phoenix does his own singing but Hoffman is the one who really showed people what he can do.
WILL WIN-Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote
SHOULD WIN-Philip Seymour Hoffman
Actress: Judi Dench (5th nom, 1 previous win), Felicity Huffman (1st nom), Keira Knightley (1st nom), Charlize Theron (2nd nom, 1 previous win), Reese Witherspoon (1st nom).
Dench and Theron have both won before and neither will win this time because their performances weren't as strong as they've given in the past. Knightley is in the "I'm just honored to be nominated" category and has the least chances of winning. Huffman deglamorized herself (Oscar loves that in this category) and really took a chance on her role as a transgender male-to-female and hit it out of the park. Witherspoon did do her own singing, however, the movie was more about Johnny Cash as opposed to the June Carter story. This is the one category I hope I'm wrong about in terms of who will win. Last year the Academy gave the award to Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby instead of Annette Bening for her tour de force performance in Being Julia. This year they can make up for it.
WILL WIN-Reese Witherspoon for Walk The Line
SHOULD WIN-Felicity Huffman for Transamerica
Supporting Actor: George Clooney (1st nom), Matt Dillon (1st nom), Paul Giamatti (1st nom), Jake Gyllenhaal (1st nom), and William Hurt (4th nom, 1 previous win). Let's start with who won't win: Hurt and Gyllenhaal both gave good performances but neither is strong enough to warrant a win and Hurt was only on screen for 10mins. Dillon delivered probably one of his best performances to date but it was in an ensemble piece. Giamatti really deserves this win because he was passed over for a nom in Sideways and American Splendor. Unfortunately, he gave stronger performances in both of those films. This is Clooney's award who actually put on the weight and showed people that he really can act.
WILL WIN-George Clooney for Syriana
SHOULD WIN-George Clooney
Supporting Actress: This is the category that is probably the least predictable. Who the hell knows who will win this award. One can guess but if you look at the nominees and winners in this category throughout the years, some of the winners make one go, "Huh?" So here we go.
Amy Adams (1st nom), Catherine Keener (2nd nom), Frances McDormand (4th nom, 1 previous win), Rachel Weisz (1st nom), and Michelle Williams (1st nom).
Williams and Keener gave good performances but I didn't feel that they were really strong and standout; just good enough to be noticed. McDormand's performance was stronger but not her best and the film was underwhelming. Weisz gave a standout performance and though her character died, she is prevalent throughout the film. Adams gave the freshest performance and literally lit up each scene she was in.
WILL WIN-Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener
SHOULD WIN-Amy Adams for Junebug
Adapted Screenplay:
WILL WIN-Brokeback Mountain
SHOULD WIN-Brokeback Mountain
Original Screenplay:
WILL WIN-Crash
SHOULD WIN-Crash
peace out,
paul
Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman (1st nom), Terrence Howard (1st nom), Heath Ledger (1st nom), Joaquin Phoenix (2nd nom), and David Strathairn (1st nom).
All five of these performances were strong and rightfully nominated, however, when it comes to the big prize only one will win. Ledger and Howard portrayed fictional characters and delivered outstanding performances. Strathairn, Phoenix, and Hoffman all played real characters and did the men they played justice. Phoenix does his own singing but Hoffman is the one who really showed people what he can do.
WILL WIN-Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote
SHOULD WIN-Philip Seymour Hoffman
Actress: Judi Dench (5th nom, 1 previous win), Felicity Huffman (1st nom), Keira Knightley (1st nom), Charlize Theron (2nd nom, 1 previous win), Reese Witherspoon (1st nom).
Dench and Theron have both won before and neither will win this time because their performances weren't as strong as they've given in the past. Knightley is in the "I'm just honored to be nominated" category and has the least chances of winning. Huffman deglamorized herself (Oscar loves that in this category) and really took a chance on her role as a transgender male-to-female and hit it out of the park. Witherspoon did do her own singing, however, the movie was more about Johnny Cash as opposed to the June Carter story. This is the one category I hope I'm wrong about in terms of who will win. Last year the Academy gave the award to Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby instead of Annette Bening for her tour de force performance in Being Julia. This year they can make up for it.
WILL WIN-Reese Witherspoon for Walk The Line
SHOULD WIN-Felicity Huffman for Transamerica
Supporting Actor: George Clooney (1st nom), Matt Dillon (1st nom), Paul Giamatti (1st nom), Jake Gyllenhaal (1st nom), and William Hurt (4th nom, 1 previous win). Let's start with who won't win: Hurt and Gyllenhaal both gave good performances but neither is strong enough to warrant a win and Hurt was only on screen for 10mins. Dillon delivered probably one of his best performances to date but it was in an ensemble piece. Giamatti really deserves this win because he was passed over for a nom in Sideways and American Splendor. Unfortunately, he gave stronger performances in both of those films. This is Clooney's award who actually put on the weight and showed people that he really can act.
WILL WIN-George Clooney for Syriana
SHOULD WIN-George Clooney
Supporting Actress: This is the category that is probably the least predictable. Who the hell knows who will win this award. One can guess but if you look at the nominees and winners in this category throughout the years, some of the winners make one go, "Huh?" So here we go.
Amy Adams (1st nom), Catherine Keener (2nd nom), Frances McDormand (4th nom, 1 previous win), Rachel Weisz (1st nom), and Michelle Williams (1st nom).
Williams and Keener gave good performances but I didn't feel that they were really strong and standout; just good enough to be noticed. McDormand's performance was stronger but not her best and the film was underwhelming. Weisz gave a standout performance and though her character died, she is prevalent throughout the film. Adams gave the freshest performance and literally lit up each scene she was in.
WILL WIN-Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener
SHOULD WIN-Amy Adams for Junebug
Adapted Screenplay:
WILL WIN-Brokeback Mountain
SHOULD WIN-Brokeback Mountain
Original Screenplay:
WILL WIN-Crash
SHOULD WIN-Crash
peace out,
paul
Thursday, March 02, 2006
All The 'Others'
Here's a list of the rest of the best that will win (my predictions) and should win:
Visual Effects:
WILL WIN-King Kong
SHOULD WIN-King Kong
Makeup:
WILL WIN-The Chronicles Of Narnia
SHOULD WIN-The Chronicles Of Narnia
Art Direction:
WILL WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
SHOULD WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
Original Score:
WILL WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
SHOULD WIN-Munich
Original Song:
WILL WIN-Travelin' Thru
SHOULD WIN-Travelin' Thru
Live Action Short Film:
WILL WIN-Our Time Is Up
SHOULD WIN-Our Time Is Up
Animated Short:
WILL WIN-The Moon and The Son
SHOULD WIN-9
Animated Feature:
WILL WIN-Wallace & Gromit
SHOULD WIN-Wallace & Gromit
Sound Editing:
WILL WIN-King Kong
SHOULD WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
Sound Mixing:
WILL WIN-Walk The Line
SHOULD WIN-Walk The Line
Film Editing:
WILL WIN-Munich
SHOULD WIN-The Constant Gardener
Cinematography:
WILL WIN-Brokeback Mountain
SHOULD WIN-Brokeback Mountain
Foreign Language Film:
WILL WIN-Tsotsi
SHOULD WIN-Paradise Now
Documentary Feature:
WILL WIN-March Of The Penguins
SHOULD WIN-Murderball
Documentary Short:
WILL WIN-The Mushroom Club
SHOULD WIN-God Sleeps In Rwanda
Costume Design:
WILL WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
SHOULD WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
Visual Effects:
WILL WIN-King Kong
SHOULD WIN-King Kong
Makeup:
WILL WIN-The Chronicles Of Narnia
SHOULD WIN-The Chronicles Of Narnia
Art Direction:
WILL WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
SHOULD WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
Original Score:
WILL WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
SHOULD WIN-Munich
Original Song:
WILL WIN-Travelin' Thru
SHOULD WIN-Travelin' Thru
Live Action Short Film:
WILL WIN-Our Time Is Up
SHOULD WIN-Our Time Is Up
Animated Short:
WILL WIN-The Moon and The Son
SHOULD WIN-9
Animated Feature:
WILL WIN-Wallace & Gromit
SHOULD WIN-Wallace & Gromit
Sound Editing:
WILL WIN-King Kong
SHOULD WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
Sound Mixing:
WILL WIN-Walk The Line
SHOULD WIN-Walk The Line
Film Editing:
WILL WIN-Munich
SHOULD WIN-The Constant Gardener
Cinematography:
WILL WIN-Brokeback Mountain
SHOULD WIN-Brokeback Mountain
Foreign Language Film:
WILL WIN-Tsotsi
SHOULD WIN-Paradise Now
Documentary Feature:
WILL WIN-March Of The Penguins
SHOULD WIN-Murderball
Documentary Short:
WILL WIN-The Mushroom Club
SHOULD WIN-God Sleeps In Rwanda
Costume Design:
WILL WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
SHOULD WIN-Memoirs Of A Geisha
Which direction did the shoes go?
Now you can get a pair of shoes that feature ankle support. A U.S. artist has designed a brand of shoes called Brincos (Spanish for jump). The shoes also feature a compass and, on the insole, a map of routes from Tijuana to San Diego (the perfect crossing the border gift). The shoes are made in China, given out free in Tijuana and can be purchased in San Diego for ONLY $125. The creator of the shoes is Judi Werthein. Happy Walking!
peace out,
paul
peace out,
paul
Real Recommendations
Here are some things I recommend. These aren't necessarily new releases but things I've heard or read recently that I really liked.
Song: "What If" by Nichole Nordeman. This is the quintessential how- do- we- know -Jesus- exists-if-we-can't-see-him song for the 2000's. The song is from her Brave CD and once you get past the lite FM sound of the song and focus on the lyrics, the theme of 'just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there' really hits you.
Book: CS Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. Letters written from one evil spirit to another and the finer points of tempting a "patient" (or mankind) with the darker side. It's well written and will make you think.
CD: More Life by a christian group called Newsong. Bouncy songs, ballads that aren't syrupy and listening to the title song, you'd have to be dead to not wanna jump up and down.
TV: The Amazing Race: It's hard to believe this show is on its ninth season, however, it doesn't lack for adventure and excitement. The bickering is as nasty as ever. This show is a good reason not to go on vacation with your best friend, spouse, etc......
peace out,
paul
Song: "What If" by Nichole Nordeman. This is the quintessential how- do- we- know -Jesus- exists-if-we-can't-see-him song for the 2000's. The song is from her Brave CD and once you get past the lite FM sound of the song and focus on the lyrics, the theme of 'just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there' really hits you.
Book: CS Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. Letters written from one evil spirit to another and the finer points of tempting a "patient" (or mankind) with the darker side. It's well written and will make you think.
CD: More Life by a christian group called Newsong. Bouncy songs, ballads that aren't syrupy and listening to the title song, you'd have to be dead to not wanna jump up and down.
TV: The Amazing Race: It's hard to believe this show is on its ninth season, however, it doesn't lack for adventure and excitement. The bickering is as nasty as ever. This show is a good reason not to go on vacation with your best friend, spouse, etc......
peace out,
paul
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