the envelope please...

Well, I fell way short of my goal of seeing all the nominees in the "major" categories, but as of Oscar Time here is my tally of what I will have seen:


Best Picture
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men*


Actor
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd


Actress
Ellen Page - Juno
Laura Linney - The Savages


Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men*
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton


Supporting Actress
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton


Director
Jason Reitman - Juno
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Joel and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men*

Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody - Juno
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Tamara Jenkins - The Savages

*subject to change

I do think I may set a record of a different kind, however. In my (admittedly pissy) opinion, I'm betting that I haven't seen a winner in any category. I'm pretty sure that Daniel Day-Lewis and Julie Christie have Actor and Actress sewn up. I think Director is going to Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood. And I'm willing to bet that Atonement takes Best Picture. This would be especially ironic since this is the one film I've wanted to see the most and haven't. I'm still trying to figure out how to fit in in Sunday afternoon, but I can tell you right now that it won't happen. Oh, well.


What are your picks? Any particular favorites?


Let the show begin...

the envelope, please

The Oscar nominations came out today, firing the starting shot in a most sacred ritual in chez RC. If you combine a Film Geek and a compulsive list maker, what do you get?



Our annual Oscar routine, in all its misguided glory.


It works like this. The goal is to see as many of the nominated films as possible before the Academy Awards. Now even if you kept this to the "major" categories such as Best Picture, Director, Actor and Actress it would still be an undertaking. But we have a broader view of "major" around here. I'm always intrigued by the Screenplays and the FG takes a keen interest in Cinematography. Foreign Film is always fascinating, as are the more "technical" things like editing. To put it mildly, we have our work cut out for us.


I always hang a list from the newspaper up on the fridge so we can mark off what we've seen. The more check marks on my list, the happier I am. Toward the actual awards, we may or may not pick our winners ahead of time. Sometimes we'll just shout out our choices right as they're getting ready to announce the winner. Sometimes not. For us, it's about seeing the films themselves - not picking the winners. (If you want a competitive winner picker, that would be my sister in law. She's ruthless).


This was a much easier task for me before kids. When I was working at Paramount and the FG was in grad school we saw a ton of movies. I think one year we actually managed to see everything on our "major" list. Post kids I'd go see films that had cute guys (if I was lucky) or animated mermaids (if I wasn't) and that was about it. But in the last few years I've gotten my competitive fire back and feel up to the challenge.



These are big words for a woman who has only seen one of the nominated films. Granted, it was Juno, and it was nominated in several categories, but still. I have a big hill to climb. We do have a little ace in the hole though, which evens my odds slightly. The FG gets Academy screeners at work - the DVDs that the studios distribute to sway the Academy members to vote for their film. These are, to put it bluntly, decadent. Last week I sat in front of a roaring fireplace in my living room, drinking wine and watching The Bucket List. (A film that didn't get a single nomination, now that I think of it. Dang it. And I thought it might get me a jump start. I wasn't crazy about the movie, mind you. I just wanted to be able to check something off my list).


The screeners don't always help because I have certain blind spots. Violence really bothers me (which is why I've only seen half of Pan's Labyrinth) and some genres leave me sticking toothpicks in my eyes to stay awake, but I try.


I'll keep you posted. Cross your fingers. And don't forget the popcorn.

The Thursday Three

This week it's all about the

Eye Candy!!

You all know what I mean. The films that please the eye just as much (and usually more) than should be legal, no matter what the rest of the film is like. Some might call these Chick Flicks, which just may be my favorite genre. But they don't have to be. I'm sure men have their own versions of eye candy movies. (My husband's include anything having to do with Ellen Barkin, for instance).


BUT...all of the movies on my list are actually decent movies on their own. The visuals simply make them better.



#1. Pirates of the Caribbean (either the original or the sequel). Orlando Bloom. Keira Knightly for those who like female eye candy. And...


Johnny Depp. Sigh. Normally I wouldn't go for a guy who looks better in eye makeup than I do, but this is no regular guy. He can borrow my mascara any old time he wants to.


Johnny Depp. Sigh. I don't know how anyone who looks that skanky can look that good. Anyone see Chocolat? The man doesn't have a bad angle on him.


I have to stop now. The room is spinning.


When the first movie came out my mom and I took my kids to a multi-plex theatre to see it. (One of the few "kids" movies I've actively promoted going to see). At the last minute Surfer Dude decided it would be too scary and that he didn't want to see it. As luck would have it, Mr. Bean (with Rowan Atkinson) was playing at the same time and that's what SD wanted to see. Well, he was too young to go alone and he wanted me to go with him. My mom took the other two to see Pirates and I went to see...Mr. Bean.


If that isn't mother's love I don't know what is. And don't think I've ever let him forget it.





#2. The Italian Job. I would be hard pressed to think of a movie I sat down to watch with lower expectations that I enjoyed so much. This is a really fun film and I highly recommend it. It's fast, it's clever and it's pretty funny to boot.
It's also absolutely beautiful, both the locations and how it's shot. (That's the Mrs. Film Geek opinion anyway).

And then there's the cast. Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton and Seth Green (who may be my favorite in the whole thing, because we all know that I have a taste for nerds). To even it all out and bring in the other demographic there's Charlize Theron.
To say that she holds her own against a testosterone charged line-up is an understatement.


This movie even provides a hint of what Keifer Sutherland will look like in a few years, thanks to a small role by Donald Sutherland. (I think I prefer him now, thanks).





#3. Love, Actually. Right. Like this is a surprise to anyone. Just so we're totally straight on this - I actually love this movie. Not just like, not strong affection. I. Actually. Love. This. Movie. It is the perfect Christmas film.

Okay. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the candy. In a nutshell here's my opinion - if you can't find someone in this film who moves you somehow - you're dead. This is a classic example of something for everyone.

It's hard to know where to even start. Colin Firth. Liam Neeson. Alan Rickman. Swoon. Laura Linney. Keira Knightly. Emma Thompson- who I might even switch teams for. Amazingly enough, this is just the A-team of actors in this film. There are many more still to come.


And Hugh Grant. Don't even start - you've all made your opinions very clear to me on this, especially you British babes. But I can't help it. It's a sickness I can't get rid of. (Not that I want to, as much as I love you all and respect your opinions). He pretty much hits all cylinders in my book, although I could certainly do without the dancing. But still...


I'm now pausing for a short break in this Thursday Three to say that from here on out I'm through apologizing and I'm PROUD of my unpopular little fixation. So DEAL WITH IT!! Ahhh...I feel better now.










































Just disregard the bottom one, okay? 'Kay.

Now...back to the original topic...














Then there's the rest of the cast. Eye candy across the board. The actor who plays Karl, the art director that the Laura Linney character lusts after? Pictured ever so sweetly above.

Grrr..... Brother? What brother?

This is the one bad part of the film, because I always shout at the screen - TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!!!! It's painful to watch. The scene. Not him. He looks just fine. Doesn't hurt my eyes a bit.



And just for laurie, who commented "oh, and the only eye candy for me? Ciaran Hinds. you'd better post a big picture of him with your thursday three. hopefully, wearing that gigantic and absurd hat he wore in "persuasion," the best chick flick of all time bar none. in my book, you only need a thursday One this week. persuasion."

Couldn't find a shot with the hat, but I may have to check this movie out. If the picture is any indication...

The Thursday Three

It seems like lately I've either been talking about food or hospitals, so let's change it up a little. How about


Favorite Movie Soundtracks


to get the party started? I'm sure we've all been there. You go to see a movie, and no matter what your opinion of the movie, the music is what you can't get out of your head. It's like a cinematic earworm that stays with you. This one was kind of hard to narrow down to three, but I've tried my best, even though I'm sure there a quite a few I've forgotten.


Let's go!



#1. One From The Heart. If I absolutely had to pick just one, this would be it. Crystal Gayle and Tom Waits, two people I really enjoy separately, have combined for a soundtrack that is out of this world. The movie was a stinkbomb, although they were going for some interesting visual aesthetics that were kind of ahead of their time. But the music is sublime. Moody, bluesy, poignant, and, importantly for a movie soundtrack, completely in keeping with the character of the film. If you ever come across the film, which isn't easy to do as it's probably a twenty year old stinkbomb, just shut your eyes and listen to it.

I still do. On CD. Often.





#2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Yeah, well, what can I say? Love, love, love this soundtrack.(The original, NOT the remake. Ugh). For years it was my housecleaning music because it is impossible for me to sit still when I hear this. Not that it's dance music, mind you. Even the Time Warp is like an acid drenched version of La Macarena. There's not a lot of there there, if you follow me.

I almost hate to admit that I've been to more than my share of RHPS screenings and theater performances. I was Magenta, if anyone cares to know. (And a pretty good one, if I do say so myself). Even so, I like the music a lot more than I like the film. The movie is a little (?) cheesy. The soundtrack just fills me with antici...pation.





#3. Saturday Night Fever. If the true test of a movie soundtrack is that every single time you hear a song from it you think of the movie, this is the ultimate in movie soundtracks. I will grant you that there's a lot negative to say about this one. It ushered in the disco era, for starters. And white suits. And spawned an absolutely horrific sequel. (Because nothing this financially successful ever dies).

It has been a very long time since I saw this film, but I can still remember what is going on in the movie during each song. I'm going to go on record here as saying I've always liked the Bee Gees and I thought they were brilliant with this. Disco was never my thing, but if you had to do it it might as well have been with the Brothers Gibb and company. And they still play these songs a lot, have you noticed? (Of course you hear KC and the Sunshine Band on the radio too, so I'm not entirely sure what my point is).


There are almost too many soundtracks to choose from, and there are many others I love that I've left off due to my own stupid three item limitation. I know how long I can drone on if given a chance, so I nipped it in the bud early. I did it for you. Really.


Tag. You're it.

The Thursday Three

Today let's talk about...

"Sexy" Men I Just Don't Get

I know we all have different tastes in the opposite sex. Or the same sex - to each his or her own. And surely this is a good thing, because otherwise we'd all be duking it out over the same few people. This would inevitably lead to a lot of us being stuck with nothing but cheap paperback romance novels and bad country songs to keep us warm at night. But there are some famous "sexy" men I just don't, for the life of me, get. To be perfectly fair, there a quite a few "sexy" women I'm a little puzzled about too. I almost hate admitting a couple of these, because I think something may be just a little wrong with me. Or maybe even a lot. And I apologize for jumping on the whole celebrity bandwagon, but at least these are people we can all recognize. If I said I didn't find the guy at the Post Office sexy we wouldn't have much to debate, would we?

#1. Tom Cruise. Pre-Open mouth insert foot stage. Pre-Katie Holmes. Pre-radical Scientologist. (Not sure when that was). I just do not understand what it is that makes so many people ga-ga over Tom Cruise. I was fresh out of college and working at Paramount during the Top Gun days when it seemed like he could do no wrong. The day that his production company was moving into their new offices on the lot every female (and quite a few males) felt it necessary to camp out for a glimpse of the man himself. And these were jaded Hollywood types. I passed on that circus, but did see him at other times on the lot. He's short.

Really, the fact that he does nothing for me is particularly odd because he sort of has the Black Irish coloring I've always found irresistable. Dark hair, pale skin, blue eyes. And even that doesn't work for him. (Are his eyes even blue? Maybe hazel, now that I check). But still.

#2. Justin Timberlake. Not even sure where to start here. Just. Don't. Get. It. Maybe it's the age thing, because I know a lot of younger girls who think he's the It Man of the moment. But I don't think so. I can think of plenty of other guys his age who do a lot more for me. Mrs. Robinson just can't think of them right now.

I do like the way he, uh, dances. But I'm opposed to anyone who has ever seen Britney Spears naked on general principle.

Okay, I'm saving this one for last, because even I know there's something wrong with me.

#3. Brad Pitt. Oh Jesus save me, for I have sinned. I do not find Brad Pitt sexy in the least. I think he's cute enough, I mean he doesn't gross me out or anything. I just don't have that weak-kneed thing going. This little glitch makes me feel seriously out of step with the rest of human kind.

I think part of my problem with Brad Pitt is that the "pretty boy" isn't a type I normally gravitate toward. And also that virtually any film he's in has at least one person who out-sexies him in my book. George Clooney. Vince Vaughn. Angelina Jolie.

I wonder if there's anything I can take for this?

All right people, lets have your lists. Someone please make me not be the freak here.

The Thursday Three

I humbly submit my list of the BEST CHICK FLICKS EVER MADE (as interpreted by me) This was not at all easy to narrow down, as the chick flick category happens to be very dear to my heart. When the world gets to be too much for me, I take to my bed with a chick flick and it rarely fails to perk me up. Or calm me down. Whatever. In the interest of provoking arguments amongst the faithful, I’ll give it my best shot to pick just three...

#1) Working Girl – Really, it’s almost impossible to top this one. It’s funny, has a terrific cast, and features all those marvelous eighties fashions. The most important element in a chick flick is that magical payoff moment and the one here will bring tears to your eyes. At least it always does to mine. All this and both Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin pre voice mail follies. What’s not to like?

#2) Dirty Dancing – Why mess with a classic? It amazes me to this day how many adult women I know who can quote HUGE chunks of this movie off the top of their heads. Taken apart piece by piece, I honestly can’t tell you why this film is the chick magnet that it is, but it truly has no peer. Set in a “simpler” (ha) time and the Catskills to boot. And who doesn’t want Johnny to teach them to dance, even if he can’t act for beans. NOBODY puts Baby in a corner, do you hear me? Don’t even try. You heard it here first.

Oh god this is so hard to pick just three…

#3) Notting Hill – Two words. Hugh Grant. This has been in heavy rotation at my house the last couple of years, and it proves my theory that if Hugh Grant can’t make it better it simply isn’t fixable. This chick flick has some terrific elements. It is drop dead hilarious, has some British guy with floppy hair whose name I can’t recall, and delivers a pretty wonderful payoff moment to boot. I’m all over anything set in England anyway, so this one has a lot going for it.

Okay, people, I’m throwing down a challenge. I want your lists! Put them in comments so everyone can see them. Come ON!! Be brave, little buckaroos!!

P.S. Happy one month birthday to this blog!