Everyone else can have Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, President's Day, Arbor Day, Mother's Day and Super Bowl Sunday to me they all fail in comparison to my FAVORITE day of the year the day when all of HOLLYWOOD dress up and celebrate, OSCAR DAY! I too join in the fun by dressing up and spending the day in front of my TV watching the per-show, the red carpet (who doesn't like checking out the gowns) and the post show. This year was a little different, I got to spend the day watching the nominated shorts at a local theater for the second year in a roll so let me start with a look at the nominees-
Live Action
The oscar went to Curfew Directed written edited and starring Shawn Christensen. The only US nominee story about a suicidal man who gets a call from his sister asking to watch his niece for a couple of hours. Happy it won.
My other favorite was a strange french film called Death of a Shadow Directed by Tom VonAvermaet and Ellen DeWaele. A story that is hard to explain let me just say that I will never look at a crime scene in the same way again as the lead character took photos of past/future? death as art.
Then there is Henry a Canadian film directed by Yan England. All of these shorts were dramas but this one seemed the saddest for it was about something we all fear, getting old and forgetting your life and who you are.
and there were two tales about kids the first called Asad from South Africa directed by Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura. A young boy learns from an elderly man how to fish in order to keep him from joining his friends in piracy. At the end he has his first catch but I'm not going to ruin it for you.
Finally there is Buzkashi Boys from Afghanistan directed by Sam French and Ariel Nasr. A sweet and sad story about two boys, the son of a blacksmith and an orphan who dream of being more when they grow up.
The Animation--
The oscar went to Paperman directed by John Kahrs from the US. A nice romance about a man working in a office building and tries to contact the girl who is in the building across the street. Magical paper airplanes make it a delight to watch.
From the creators of The Simpsons we get Maggie Simpson in The Longest Daycare directed by David Silverman. At her day in daycare Maggie must save a caterpillar turned butterfly from her nemesis the one eyebrow baby.
Next is Adam and Dog directed by Minkyu. A lonely playful dog comes across a newly created world's first man. No Dialogue but nice to look at.
And Head Over Heels directed by Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly from the UK and my favorite. A long married husband and wife live in a unusual way. Strange but sweet :)
Finally there is the shortest film to ever be nominated called Fresh Guacamole directed by PES. At only 2 minutes a entire story about a unseen person make the snack out of unusual items including a light bulb as the green pepper and poker chips in place of those darn potato chips that ALWAYS break while dipping.
As I was saying Oscar Night is the best night of the entire year and I really enjoyed it this year from all the nominees to the show itself and especially its host. As soon as I heard months ago that Seth MacFarlane was going to be the host I knew I was going to like the show because I like him (even better then the TVseries and movies he creates). MacFarlane did what a host should do for such a important hollywood event, he sang, danced, told jokes, some were controversial, but all in all a perfect.
The show itself was fun to watch. As I long time fan an viewer I have to admit I haven't been this happy about what I saw, now 2 days later and still thinking about it, in a long time. The theme of celebrating the music of film, the guests and the emotion of it all was as magnificent with glitz and glamour.
In a year where I actual really like ALL of them I want to congratulate the winners. And to Mr. Ben Affleck I have to say 15 years ago (When I started to actually pay attention the the Academy Awards and 1st year I saw all the nominated movies) you won for "How do you like them apples?' beating "I'm the King of the World!" yet Titanic went on to win best film over nominee Good Will Hunting leading me to believe that if one wants a best film oscar one should hire Victor Garber (Whom I have loved since playing Mr. Andrews master shipbuilder of Titanic) to portray a real life person, foreign preferable. Just saying:)
In conclusion even my sister who is NOT a fan of Award shows enjoyed Seth MacFarlane and in her own texts "He seemed really comfortable!Total package! Plus Shatner."
It was a good 24 hours and as The Host and Kristin Chenoweth sang their final comedic song I laughed cried and started to count the days (363) til the 86th Academy Awards!!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Silver Linings Playbook
It has been 32 years since a movie has had oscar nominations in each of the 4 acting categories and after watching this particular film I understand why. Nominated for 8 oscars including best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress, adapted screenplay, director and movie Silver Linings Playbook is a fine little film.
With a Screenplay (based on a novel by Matthew Quick) and Directed by David O. Russell at the center of this story is a family, a family like many others, to which life has thrown at them a few dilemmas. In this case when Pat Sr. and Dolores played by Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver adult son Pat played by Bradley Cooper (yes Hangover's Bradley Cooper) after a stay at a mental institution returns home. His life is then turned upside down (in a good way) when Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence, who has recently lost her husband to a accident and been fired from her job for "bad behavior" enters the picture.
Silver Linings Playbook is ALL about its main characters. These 4 people who are thrown together and now must work with each other to pick up the pieces of their lives and figure out how to move on. Each of the actors portrays a person who just may be someone the viewer may know. Heck they may not be the most stable person in your life, for example one night your son might wake you and the whole neighborhood up while frantically searching for his wedding video. Then the next week your husband gambles your entire life savings on one football game! If any of this does happen you, as their friend or family should do the right thing and give them a helping hand and together you just may dance your way to your own little victory.
Now here is where I should admit that I was debating on whether or not I should spend time and money to see this film and only did because of the 4 acting nominations but now that I've seen it I am happy I did. There are no special effects, no big locations (just some neighborhoods in Pennsylvania), no elaborate costumes (a certain football jersey does play a small role) and a tone down, impressive Chris Tucker as Danny (a fellow patient of Pat's) makes this the perfect date night flick. So find someone to love and go see Silver Linings Playbook.
With a Screenplay (based on a novel by Matthew Quick) and Directed by David O. Russell at the center of this story is a family, a family like many others, to which life has thrown at them a few dilemmas. In this case when Pat Sr. and Dolores played by Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver adult son Pat played by Bradley Cooper (yes Hangover's Bradley Cooper) after a stay at a mental institution returns home. His life is then turned upside down (in a good way) when Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence, who has recently lost her husband to a accident and been fired from her job for "bad behavior" enters the picture.
Silver Linings Playbook is ALL about its main characters. These 4 people who are thrown together and now must work with each other to pick up the pieces of their lives and figure out how to move on. Each of the actors portrays a person who just may be someone the viewer may know. Heck they may not be the most stable person in your life, for example one night your son might wake you and the whole neighborhood up while frantically searching for his wedding video. Then the next week your husband gambles your entire life savings on one football game! If any of this does happen you, as their friend or family should do the right thing and give them a helping hand and together you just may dance your way to your own little victory.
Now here is where I should admit that I was debating on whether or not I should spend time and money to see this film and only did because of the 4 acting nominations but now that I've seen it I am happy I did. There are no special effects, no big locations (just some neighborhoods in Pennsylvania), no elaborate costumes (a certain football jersey does play a small role) and a tone down, impressive Chris Tucker as Danny (a fellow patient of Pat's) makes this the perfect date night flick. So find someone to love and go see Silver Linings Playbook.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
30 Rock 2006-2013
30 Rock-Out of the two series about a look behind the scenes of a comedy sketch show you were the one that didn't get canceled after one season (Still miss Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip). You were a series about a head TV writer (Who happens to be female), her boss and the "cast of characters" they were in charge of.
Goodbye to...
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) the head writer and creator of TGS (The show within the show) You were always running around frantic, making sure everyone had their lives together before your own.
Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) A man who started as Vice President for East coast TV for NBC and its parent company GM and who always wanted to be better and richer and pushed others out of the way as he climbed his way to the top of the company. You know your typical Republican.
Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) A woman really only into herself (She married a Jenna impersonator) Co-star of TGS and Liz's best friend.
Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) What can I say about you? No really you were a difficult man to figure out can someone really be that unintelligent and childlike and be rich and famous?
Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) My favorite and the one who made me laugh the most. Southern naive NBC Page/Janitor ( I think NBC pages are very cool one let me pretend to be a weather girl when I visited 10 years ago).
And the rest Producer Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) who always had family issues and the writers in the writing room Frank (Judah Friedlander) the one with the hats and Toofer (Keith Powell) The smartest one in the bunch and Finally Tracy's entourage Dot Com (Kevin Brown) and Grizz (Grizz Chapman) who were always there to support Tracy no matter how stupid his ideas were.
TGS and 30 Rock may be gone but you will live on forever (in syndication)
Good luck Tina and the rest of the cast and crew on their future endeavours!!!
Goodbye to...
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) the head writer and creator of TGS (The show within the show) You were always running around frantic, making sure everyone had their lives together before your own.
Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) A man who started as Vice President for East coast TV for NBC and its parent company GM and who always wanted to be better and richer and pushed others out of the way as he climbed his way to the top of the company. You know your typical Republican.
Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) A woman really only into herself (She married a Jenna impersonator) Co-star of TGS and Liz's best friend.
Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) What can I say about you? No really you were a difficult man to figure out can someone really be that unintelligent and childlike and be rich and famous?
Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) My favorite and the one who made me laugh the most. Southern naive NBC Page/Janitor ( I think NBC pages are very cool one let me pretend to be a weather girl when I visited 10 years ago).
And the rest Producer Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) who always had family issues and the writers in the writing room Frank (Judah Friedlander) the one with the hats and Toofer (Keith Powell) The smartest one in the bunch and Finally Tracy's entourage Dot Com (Kevin Brown) and Grizz (Grizz Chapman) who were always there to support Tracy no matter how stupid his ideas were.
TGS and 30 Rock may be gone but you will live on forever (in syndication)
Good luck Tina and the rest of the cast and crew on their future endeavours!!!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
In Memory
Today is the 5th annvesary of the day Heath Ledger died below is what I wrote to EW one year later and to this day the best thing I have gotten published
Even though I cried when I saw my EW I was reminded of why I truly admired Heath Ledger and love everything he was a part of. In fact he was one of just a handful of actors who I went to the movies to see. Which brings me to a day I’ll never forget, the day I went to the multiplex for a Heath Ledger mini-movie-a-thon. I walked up to the counter with money in hand and asked for two separate tickets, one for Casanova and another for Brokeback Mountain.Casanova was showing first so I entered the theater, with only a handful of others, found the perfect seat and waited for the lights to go down. When it was over I had a smile on my face as I re-entered the line with my other ticket in hand. Anyway it turned out Casanova was longer then I planned and by the time I got into the theater showing Brokeback Mountain the only seat left was in the second row! But my eyes adjusted and by the time the credits rolled I was smiling again. When I got back into my car the two movies seemed to become one and I felt like I had just seen a, longer then normal, movie which happen to star the always wounderful,never the same role twice Heath Ledger. Thank you for remembering Heath Ledger one year later. He was one of the best and I hope we never stop talking about him. He was something special and this fan will never forget what it was like watching him on the big screen.
All my Heath Ledger ticket stubs
This is the article as printed in Entertainment Weekly Feb. 13 2009
Private Practice 2007-2013
Yes most of what I write here is positive that is because I only watch what I like, I'm not a critic I don't get paid so I stick with what I know and enjoy. This unfortunately cannot be said about The Greys Anatomy spin-off Private Practice. I watched the first episode of this Shonda Rhimes series because I am a fan of Tim Daly and Taye Diggs but even they couldn't get me to like and to continue watching the show. None of the characters were likable and even though they were all professional adults they all complained about each other and their "terrible" lives like a group of whiny teen girls. The lead character Addison (Kate Walsh) was a doctor who helped women get pregnant but couldn't have kids herself and that was all she talked about. Even though I didn't care for her I still tried to watch but then the writers really made me mad when they killed off the only character I did like. Dell was the in-office assistant and studying to be a mid-wife and was the only one in the bunch who seemed happy, that was until his drug addicted ex girlfriend came back into his life with their young daughter-Spoiler Alert-She dies from an meth explosion, Dell also gets killed off and his daughter has to go and live with his sister which she does not want to do so you would think these doctors, his 'friends" one of who wants a kid of her own would take Dell's daughter in but NOOOO! That was it and I never watched another episode after that! I would never go to any of these doctors (no matter how good looking Taye Diggs is). I am sure there is more to say but this show was just not worth my time.
Sorry Private Practice but you were mean and should have been canceled years ago. Good luck to Tim and Taye in the future.
Sorry Private Practice but you were mean and should have been canceled years ago. Good luck to Tim and Taye in the future.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Goodbye to Fringe 2008-2013
FRINGE- You were a strange and at times confusing little series but I liked you.
You had everything a Sci-Fi geek to could ask for-odd cases about the supernatural, a team to save us, parallel universes and a cow.
It is hard to explain what you were and what happened each week to someone who never watched but I will give it a try.
Let me start with Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) who was the first character we met who was an agent for the Fringe department which is part of the U.S. government whose job it was to "fix" strange events before the population learns about them (See X-Files or Torchwood). On her first case she needs some outside help and tracks down a man named Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and asked him to get his father Walter (John Noble) who is a scientist and is the only one who can help out of the mental hospital. Once Walter is freed they set up his lab in the basement of Harvard University.
As much as I liked the set up and each episode I think I will miss the characters most of all.
Olivia, Who Walter found as a little girl and as he studied her realized she had a power to move through parallel worlds.
Peter, His son who isn't his son but just as smart.
Astrid (Jasika Nicole), Walter's assistant whose name he always forgot.
Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick), The head of Fringe Department
Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) Head of Massive Dynamic a corporation that is behind most of the strange occurrences
and my favorite
Walter Bishop, The smartest man on the team. Is an old man who acts like a kid. Funny, Sweet, always a joy to watch and the kind of guy I would want watching my back if I am in trouble or stuck in another world.
Here is to J.J Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci the creators of the show and their cast on crew! Congrats on this good series.
FRINGE- You were a strange and at times confusing little series but I liked you. Thank you for 5 amazing years.
You had everything a Sci-Fi geek to could ask for-odd cases about the supernatural, a team to save us, parallel universes and a cow.
It is hard to explain what you were and what happened each week to someone who never watched but I will give it a try.
Let me start with Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) who was the first character we met who was an agent for the Fringe department which is part of the U.S. government whose job it was to "fix" strange events before the population learns about them (See X-Files or Torchwood). On her first case she needs some outside help and tracks down a man named Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and asked him to get his father Walter (John Noble) who is a scientist and is the only one who can help out of the mental hospital. Once Walter is freed they set up his lab in the basement of Harvard University.
As much as I liked the set up and each episode I think I will miss the characters most of all.
Olivia, Who Walter found as a little girl and as he studied her realized she had a power to move through parallel worlds.
Peter, His son who isn't his son but just as smart.
Astrid (Jasika Nicole), Walter's assistant whose name he always forgot.
Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick), The head of Fringe Department
Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) Head of Massive Dynamic a corporation that is behind most of the strange occurrences
and my favorite
Walter Bishop, The smartest man on the team. Is an old man who acts like a kid. Funny, Sweet, always a joy to watch and the kind of guy I would want watching my back if I am in trouble or stuck in another world.
Here is to J.J Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci the creators of the show and their cast on crew! Congrats on this good series.
FRINGE- You were a strange and at times confusing little series but I liked you. Thank you for 5 amazing years.
Downton Abbey!
Season 3 has begun but I have been wanting to write about this series since it 1st premiered. As a fan of British TV it is nice to have a show that many other Americans enjoy. Who would have thought that a series about an upper class family and the servants who work for them in the early 20th century would be so good and popular? Downton Abbey is well written, well directed and has some of the best acting on TV.
If you haven't seen it let me sum up the plot. Downton Abby is a large beautiful estate that has been in the Crawley family for generations. The family consists of Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), his American wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), their three daughters Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) and finally there is Robert's mother Violet, Countess of Grantham (The always wonderful Maggie Smith). Working for all of them is the downstairs staff made up of Mr. John Bates (Brendan Coyle) Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) Mrs. O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran), Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan), Anna (Joanne Froggatt) Daisy (Sophie McShera), Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) and Tom Branson (Allen Leech). Here is when the story really begins-With three daughters Mr. Crawley has no male aer to past Downton Abby on to when he no longer can take care of it enter their distant cousin Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) and his mother Isobel (Penelope Wilton). In order to keep Downton in the family Mary must marry Matthew but refuses...maybe?
Three seasons in and a lot has happened, to sum up and fast forward to where we are now-Spoiler Alert--Sybil is married and living is Ireland with the ex-chauffeur Tom and of course her father does not approve, Mr. Bates married Anna but is now in jail after being accused of murdering his wife, Thomas, the snake, has taken over duties with taking care of Mr. Crawley, Mary and Matthew after many non starts and other relationships have decided to get married and Cora's mother (Shirley MacClaine) has arrived from America to attend, and most important the family has lost all their money.
If all this sounds confusing trust me at times it can be but I just like to think of it as a elaborate and fun British soap opera. Like I said a lot has happened so if I forgot something or mis-said something please feel free to add it on and comment. I welcome any detail you can add.
I want to finish by saying that this family and their "staff" have been through war, illness, love found and lost, affairs, scandals, and anything else you can imagine. In the end all of the characters are the real heart of the series and that is what makes it worth tuning in for every week (even if the season is short and you never know when it will return)
One final note-Having to have someone help you get dress and change your clothes 4 times a day would really suck.
If you haven't seen it let me sum up the plot. Downton Abby is a large beautiful estate that has been in the Crawley family for generations. The family consists of Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), his American wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), their three daughters Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) and finally there is Robert's mother Violet, Countess of Grantham (The always wonderful Maggie Smith). Working for all of them is the downstairs staff made up of Mr. John Bates (Brendan Coyle) Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) Mrs. O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran), Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan), Anna (Joanne Froggatt) Daisy (Sophie McShera), Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) and Tom Branson (Allen Leech). Here is when the story really begins-With three daughters Mr. Crawley has no male aer to past Downton Abby on to when he no longer can take care of it enter their distant cousin Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) and his mother Isobel (Penelope Wilton). In order to keep Downton in the family Mary must marry Matthew but refuses...maybe?
Three seasons in and a lot has happened, to sum up and fast forward to where we are now-Spoiler Alert--Sybil is married and living is Ireland with the ex-chauffeur Tom and of course her father does not approve, Mr. Bates married Anna but is now in jail after being accused of murdering his wife, Thomas, the snake, has taken over duties with taking care of Mr. Crawley, Mary and Matthew after many non starts and other relationships have decided to get married and Cora's mother (Shirley MacClaine) has arrived from America to attend, and most important the family has lost all their money.
If all this sounds confusing trust me at times it can be but I just like to think of it as a elaborate and fun British soap opera. Like I said a lot has happened so if I forgot something or mis-said something please feel free to add it on and comment. I welcome any detail you can add.
I want to finish by saying that this family and their "staff" have been through war, illness, love found and lost, affairs, scandals, and anything else you can imagine. In the end all of the characters are the real heart of the series and that is what makes it worth tuning in for every week (even if the season is short and you never know when it will return)
One final note-Having to have someone help you get dress and change your clothes 4 times a day would really suck.
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