I don't do enough of these things on book topics, so I thought I come up with something that celebrates my favorite hobby. Today is Top 5 Favorite Current Authors. This is authors who are currently publishing books. It is also my favorites, not necessarily the best (although I'd like to think I have a pretty good eye for good prose)...
5) Chuck Palahniuk
Best know for Fight Club, Palahniuk has a way of writing about the disgusting in a very frank way. Haunted has a short story in it that actually made me vomit a little in my mouth. As gross and vulgar as Palahniuk can be, he is also a great story teller, a brilliant satirist, and an intriguing social commentator. His books aren't always easy to digest, but they are well written and highlight aspects of humanity we aren't always willing to look at.
4) Michael Chabon
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is one of my all time favorite novels. I remember getting to the last few pages and feeling depressed that the book would soon be over and the characters would no longer be in my life. Chabon paints wonderful characters that draw you into the stories he is telling. He's probably the most highly acclaimed author on my list. Can't wait to read the new book he has coming out later this year.
3) Dan Simmons
Chabon may be the most acclaimed, but I think Simmons is the most talented. Simmons has written at least one novel in every conceivable book genre except Romance and nails every single one of them. I can't imagine his publisher is happy with this, but he does it so well and is able to keep his own voice so strong that he carries a large audience with him no matter the genre. His most famous work is probably the Hyperion sci-fi novels, but he started with horror (Song of Kali is a horror masterpiece) and has written hard boiled PI (Hardcase), crime thriller (Darwin's Blade) and historical fiction (The Crook Factory).
2) Nick Hornby
I relate to Nick Hornby's work more then any other piece of literature. High Fidelity is easily my favorite novel of all time. I've read it at least three times and can never get enough. I feel like Hornby writes me better then I can do myself. His books aren't pieces of art, they aren't the best prose I've ever seen, they don't make deep social commentary. There is just something about his sensibilities that I love and am drawn to. His characters and their dilemmas feel real, not a construct of plot or commentary and I really enjoy that.
1) Chuck Klosterman
Klosterman makes me think. Both his fiction and his essays are written from a point of view that questions our way of thought. He uses pop culture to make points about how we relate as a society and question how we think as a people. And, he does it all without taking himself or his work seriously. I love Klosterman because I walk away from his writing with a good laugh and a deep thought to carry around.
Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Franzen, Joe Nesbo, Jeffrey Eugenides,
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
How I Met Your Mother: Karma
At one time HIMYM had the best comedy writing on television. It was witty and fresh and was able to weave humor in with emotion. We are currently so far from those days it's painful. Seasons 1,2 and 3 of HIMYM have to be embarrassed to be associated with the writing of season 7. "Karma" was filled with so much hack material it felt more like an episode of Will and Grace then HIMYM. A bunch of jokes dealing with confusion over a stripper named Destiny? Are you kidding me? Two and a Half Men would be embarrassed to use those jokes! Barney thinking he's dating a stripper when he's really just being played? First, I don't believe he's that stupid. Second, that joke has been done so many times it feels stale. The writer's of this show are better than this episode and should be ashamed that it saw the light of day.
That alone is enough to give the episode a loss and I didn't even get into the ending. Didn't we just do an episode about how Lily and Marshal moving out of the city meant the booth at MacClaren's was never the same? Now, four episodes later they are moving back? What the fuck?!?! Seems to me like the booth will be the same again. I use to feel like this show had a sense of direction, that they knew where the story was heading and that was one of the things that made it so great. Now they don't even know where they are going from episode to episode. Characters change, histories change, just to fit into that weeks episode. At least the show is giving me a reason to vent once a week.
4-12-2.
That alone is enough to give the episode a loss and I didn't even get into the ending. Didn't we just do an episode about how Lily and Marshal moving out of the city meant the booth at MacClaren's was never the same? Now, four episodes later they are moving back? What the fuck?!?! Seems to me like the booth will be the same again. I use to feel like this show had a sense of direction, that they knew where the story was heading and that was one of the things that made it so great. Now they don't even know where they are going from episode to episode. Characters change, histories change, just to fit into that weeks episode. At least the show is giving me a reason to vent once a week.
4-12-2.
Walking Dead: 18 Miles Out
Okay, for the first time I am starting to get a little annoyed with The Walking Dead. How much of Shane is rick going to put up with? It seems like it is already long past the amount any of us would have taken. Shane continues to be a loose cannon, all his behavior is out in the open, yet Rick still keeps him around. I understand that it is part of the character they are trying to paint, that Rick is less willing to make the hard decisions and let people go, but his relationship with Shane has reached the point of absurdity. No rational human would still be dealing with the psych, no matter what their history or friendship might be. He slept with his wife, he shot a man and let him get eaten to save himself, he let out the barn zombies and shot them even though Rick told him not to, now he attacks Rick and tries to kill him. I don't care how nice a guy you are or how much you are struggling to maintain humanity, you leave that guy in the bus to be eaten by zombies. There is a lot I'm looking forward to in this show, but they have to resolve the Shane issue fast because I'm finding it harder and harder to believe that everyone would keep him around.
Best moment of the episode... Rick killing a zombie by blasting through the head of a dead zombie laying atop him. Very cool.
Best moment of the episode... Rick killing a zombie by blasting through the head of a dead zombie laying atop him. Very cool.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Oscar Flashback
In light of last night's big winner at the Academy Awards, The Artist, I thought it might be time to take a look at Oscar winner's from the past. Bill Simmons has talked about the idea of looking back at the Best Picture award every ten years and re-vote to see if the win holds up. I couldn't help but think of this theory as the Academy handed out the best picture to The Artist. Is anyone going to still be talking about this movie in ten years? It feels so much like a movie of the moment. If you were going to watch a silent movie ten years from now is it going to be the artist or something with Charlie Chaplin? Hugo on the other hand has that feeling of timelessness, a movie that could be watched for years to come.
With all that in mind, let's look back on some past Oscar winners and see it they still stand up...
2006 (5 years ago)
Best Picture: The Departed
Other nominations: Babel, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen
Best Actor: Forrest Whitaker-Last Kind Of Scotland
Other nominations: Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond, Ryan Gosling-Half Nelson, Peter O'Toole-Venus, Will Smith-Pursuit Of Happiness
Best Actress: Helen Mirren-The Queen
Other nominations: Penelope Cruz-Volver, Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal, Meryl Streep-Devil Wears Prada, Kate Winslet-Little Children
Pretty underwhelming year for the movies. The Departed still holds up and didn't really have much challenging it. Little Miss Sunshine is probably the most memorable movie on the list. Notice both actor winners were imitations. I'm telling you, the easiest way to get an Oscar is get a role mimicking someone. Looking back, Gosling should have won best actor and Steep or Winslet best actress.
2001 (10 years ago)
Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind
Other nominations: Gosford Park, In The Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, Moulin Rouge
Best Actor: Denzel Washington-Training Day
Other nominations: Russel Crow-A Beautiful Mind, Will Smith-Ali, Sean Penn-I Am Sam, Tom Wilkinson-In the Bedroom
Best Actress: Halle Berry-Mosnster's Ball
Other nominations: Renee Zellweger-Bridget Jones's Diary, Sissy Spacek-In the Bedroom, Judi Dench-Iris, Nicole Kidman-Mulin Rouge
Holly cow, this year was even more underwhelming! In the Bedroom was my favorite that year, but looking back Fellowship of the Rings was the best of the three Lord of the Rings movies and probably should have gotten the award over A Beautiful Mind. It certainly deserved an award over Return of the King, which was the worst of the three, yet the only one to win. It seems like the Academy got both acting awards right this year. Denzel Washington has to be the biggest upset of all time; he beat two imitations and a handicap. That is totally amazing and unheard of.
1991 (20 years ago)
Best Picture: Silence of the Lambs
Other nominations: Beauty and the Beast, Bugsy, JFK, The Prince of Tides
Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins-Silence of the Lambs
Other nominations: Warren Beatty-Bugsy, Robert De Niro-Cape Fear, Robin Williams-Fisher King, Nick Nolte-Prince of Tides
Best Actress: Jodie Foster-Silence of the Lambs
Other nominations: Geena Davis-Thelma and Louise, Susan Sarandon-Thelma and Louise, Bette Midler-For the Boys, Laura Dern-Rambling Rose
Finally a powerhouse year. Even with the category loaded with big pictures of the day, the Academy got this one right. JFK was a buzz worthy film at the time that has not held up. The Prince of Tides was super popular but hasn't lasted. Beauty and the Beast is an all time classic, but is it better then Silence of the Lambs? Silence of the Lambs is one of those movies that created a whole new genre and certainly deserved the Oscar. Can't say anything bad about the actor awards either. Two all time classic roles that will never be forgotten. It is interesting how main stream the nominations were in '94. These were all movies that everyone saw, as apposed to the more art house type films and roles that get nominated today.
1981 (30 years ago)
Best Picture: Chariots of Fire
Other nominations: Atlantic City, On Golden Pond, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Reds
Best Actor: Henry Fonda-On Golden Pond
Other nominations: Warren Beatty-Reds, Burt Lancaster-Atlantic City, Dudley Moore-Arthur, Paul Newman-Absence of Malice
Best Actress: Kathrine Hepburn-On Golden Pond
Other nominations: Diane Keaton-Reds, Marsha Mason-Only When I Laugh, Susan Sarandon-Atlantic City, Meryl Streep-The French Lieutenant's Woman
One of the biggest mistakes in Oscar history. Chariots of Fire was a big deal when it came out and certainly has one of the most famous scores of all time, but ask someone under 30 what Chariots of Fire is and they won't know. It was a boring film that just hasn't lasted the test of time. Raiders of the Lost Ark on the other hand is one of the most famous movies of all time. Hands down, if re-voted today, Raiders would win. I can't really comment on the acting awards. It seems to me that both were pretty much life time achievement nods to two great actors. We've reached a point where I'm not familiar with all the films and roles. What's Atlantic City? I've never heard of it.
1971 (40 years ago)
Best Picture: The French Connection
Other nominations: A Clockwork Orange, Fiddler on the Roof, The Last Picture Show, Nicholas and Alexandra
Best Actor: Gene Hackman-The French Connection
Other nominations: Peter Finch-Sunday Bloody Sunday, Walter Matthau-Kotch, George C. Scott-The Hospital, Topol-Fiddler on the Roof
Best Actress: Jane Fonda-Klute
Other nominations: Julie Christie-McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Glenda Jackson-Sunday Bloody Sunday, Vanessa Redgrave-Mary, Queen of Scots, Janet Suzman-Nicholas and Alexandra
It's interesting how good films all seem to fall in the same year instead of spreading out. This is another loaded year. It's hard to argue with The French Connection for best picture, it's one of those movies that created a genre of film, but more importantly it created the idea of the anti-hero. I think if we re-vote, Clockwork Orange comes out as best picture and Hackman still gets best actor. Maybe the Academy rewarding imitations is a more recent thing, because Jane Fonda beat out two imitations with a role I've never heard of.
1961 (50 years ago)
Best Picture: West Side Story
Other nominations: Fanny, Judgement at Nuremberg, The Hustler, The Guns of Navarone
Best Actor: Maximilian Schell-Judgement at Nuremberg
Other nominations- Paul Newman-The Hustler, Spencer Tracy-Judgement at Nuremberg, Charles Boyer-Fanny, Stuart Whitman-The Mark
Best Actress: Sophia Loren-Two Women
Other nominations: Piper Laurie-The Hustler, Audrey Hepburn-Breakfast at Tiffany's, Natalie Wood-Splendor in the Grass, Geraldine Page-Summer and Smoke
We're in the territory where I am either a better judge of who should have won because if I've seen or heard of the movie it lasted the test of time or a worse judge because I've only seen a few of the nominees. I think it's pretty safe to say if we re-voted this year there would be changes. West Side Story has no chance of winning best picture because a) musicals are not as popular as they were in 1961 and b) if you watch that movie today it is horribly dated. The Hustler would get my vote for best picture and Paul Newman would get my vote for best actor. It's astonishing to see that Audrey Hepburn did not get the Oscar for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I've never heard of Two Women, so it makes me wonder if Sophia Loren was just an Academy favorite at the time. Hepburn would win hands down in a re-vote, that role being one of the most iconic in film history.
1951 (60 years ago)
Best Picture: An American in Paris
Other nominations: Decision Before Dawn, A Place in the Sun, Quo Vadis, A Street Car Named Desire
Best Actor: Humphrey Bogart-African Queen
Other nominations: Marlon Brando-A Street Car Named Desire, Montgomery Clift-A Place in the Sun, Arthur Kennedy-Bright Victory, Fredric March-Death of a Salesman
Best Actress: Vivien Leigh-A Streetcar Named Desire
Other nominations: Katharine Hepburn-African Queen, Eleanor Parker-Detective Story, Shelly Winters-A Place in the Sun, Jane Wyman-The Blue Veil
Another loaded year. Again, I'm not sure that An American in Paris would play the same in this day and age as it did in 1951. I think this would become a race between A Place in the Sun and A Street Car Named Desire and I see it as a toss up. I am surprised to see that African Queen didn't get a best picture nod. It talks to how stacked the year was. Bogart winning best actor feels like a life time achievement award, it being the only Oscar he won. Brando seemed more deserving.
1941 (70 years ago)
Best Picture: How Green Was My Valley
Other nominations: Blossoms in the Dust, Citizen Kane, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Hold Back the Dawn, The Little Foxes, The Maltese Falcon, One Foot in Heaven, Sergent York, Suspicion
Best Actor: Gary Cooper-Sergent York
Other nominations: Walter Huston-All That Money Can Buy, Robert Montgomery-Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Cary Grant-Penny Serenade, Orson Welles-Citizen Kane
Best Actress: Joan Fontaine-Suspicion
Other nominations: Barbara Stanwyck-Ball of Fire, Olivia de Havilland-Hold Back the Dawn, Greer Garson-Blossoms in the Dust, Bette Davis-The Little Foxes
This has to be the biggest travesty in Oscar history and the only proof of the need for a re-vote every ten years. I've never heard of How Green Was My Valley yet it won over what is without much argument considered the greatest movie ever made, Citizen Kane. Welles also got snubbed for best actor. Kind of crazy to believe this happened.
1931 (80 years ago)
Best Picture: Cimarron
Other nominations: East Lynne, The Front Page, Skippy, Trade Horn
Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore-A Free Soul
Other nominations: Jackie Cooper-Skippy, Richard Dix-Cimarron, Fredric March-The Royal Family of Broadway, Adolphe Menjou-The Front Page
Best Actress: Marie Dressler-Min and Bill
Other nominations: Marlene Dietrich-Morocco, Irene Dunne-Cimarron, Ann Harding-Holiday, Norma Shearer-A Free Soul
I got nothing.
What do you guys think?
With all that in mind, let's look back on some past Oscar winners and see it they still stand up...
2006 (5 years ago)
Best Picture: The Departed
Other nominations: Babel, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen
Best Actor: Forrest Whitaker-Last Kind Of Scotland
Other nominations: Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond, Ryan Gosling-Half Nelson, Peter O'Toole-Venus, Will Smith-Pursuit Of Happiness
Best Actress: Helen Mirren-The Queen
Other nominations: Penelope Cruz-Volver, Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal, Meryl Streep-Devil Wears Prada, Kate Winslet-Little Children
Pretty underwhelming year for the movies. The Departed still holds up and didn't really have much challenging it. Little Miss Sunshine is probably the most memorable movie on the list. Notice both actor winners were imitations. I'm telling you, the easiest way to get an Oscar is get a role mimicking someone. Looking back, Gosling should have won best actor and Steep or Winslet best actress.
2001 (10 years ago)
Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind
Other nominations: Gosford Park, In The Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, Moulin Rouge
Best Actor: Denzel Washington-Training Day
Other nominations: Russel Crow-A Beautiful Mind, Will Smith-Ali, Sean Penn-I Am Sam, Tom Wilkinson-In the Bedroom
Best Actress: Halle Berry-Mosnster's Ball
Other nominations: Renee Zellweger-Bridget Jones's Diary, Sissy Spacek-In the Bedroom, Judi Dench-Iris, Nicole Kidman-Mulin Rouge
Holly cow, this year was even more underwhelming! In the Bedroom was my favorite that year, but looking back Fellowship of the Rings was the best of the three Lord of the Rings movies and probably should have gotten the award over A Beautiful Mind. It certainly deserved an award over Return of the King, which was the worst of the three, yet the only one to win. It seems like the Academy got both acting awards right this year. Denzel Washington has to be the biggest upset of all time; he beat two imitations and a handicap. That is totally amazing and unheard of.
1991 (20 years ago)
Best Picture: Silence of the Lambs
Other nominations: Beauty and the Beast, Bugsy, JFK, The Prince of Tides
Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins-Silence of the Lambs
Other nominations: Warren Beatty-Bugsy, Robert De Niro-Cape Fear, Robin Williams-Fisher King, Nick Nolte-Prince of Tides
Best Actress: Jodie Foster-Silence of the Lambs
Other nominations: Geena Davis-Thelma and Louise, Susan Sarandon-Thelma and Louise, Bette Midler-For the Boys, Laura Dern-Rambling Rose
Finally a powerhouse year. Even with the category loaded with big pictures of the day, the Academy got this one right. JFK was a buzz worthy film at the time that has not held up. The Prince of Tides was super popular but hasn't lasted. Beauty and the Beast is an all time classic, but is it better then Silence of the Lambs? Silence of the Lambs is one of those movies that created a whole new genre and certainly deserved the Oscar. Can't say anything bad about the actor awards either. Two all time classic roles that will never be forgotten. It is interesting how main stream the nominations were in '94. These were all movies that everyone saw, as apposed to the more art house type films and roles that get nominated today.
1981 (30 years ago)
Best Picture: Chariots of Fire
Other nominations: Atlantic City, On Golden Pond, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Reds
Best Actor: Henry Fonda-On Golden Pond
Other nominations: Warren Beatty-Reds, Burt Lancaster-Atlantic City, Dudley Moore-Arthur, Paul Newman-Absence of Malice
Best Actress: Kathrine Hepburn-On Golden Pond
Other nominations: Diane Keaton-Reds, Marsha Mason-Only When I Laugh, Susan Sarandon-Atlantic City, Meryl Streep-The French Lieutenant's Woman
One of the biggest mistakes in Oscar history. Chariots of Fire was a big deal when it came out and certainly has one of the most famous scores of all time, but ask someone under 30 what Chariots of Fire is and they won't know. It was a boring film that just hasn't lasted the test of time. Raiders of the Lost Ark on the other hand is one of the most famous movies of all time. Hands down, if re-voted today, Raiders would win. I can't really comment on the acting awards. It seems to me that both were pretty much life time achievement nods to two great actors. We've reached a point where I'm not familiar with all the films and roles. What's Atlantic City? I've never heard of it.
1971 (40 years ago)
Best Picture: The French Connection
Other nominations: A Clockwork Orange, Fiddler on the Roof, The Last Picture Show, Nicholas and Alexandra
Best Actor: Gene Hackman-The French Connection
Other nominations: Peter Finch-Sunday Bloody Sunday, Walter Matthau-Kotch, George C. Scott-The Hospital, Topol-Fiddler on the Roof
Best Actress: Jane Fonda-Klute
Other nominations: Julie Christie-McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Glenda Jackson-Sunday Bloody Sunday, Vanessa Redgrave-Mary, Queen of Scots, Janet Suzman-Nicholas and Alexandra
It's interesting how good films all seem to fall in the same year instead of spreading out. This is another loaded year. It's hard to argue with The French Connection for best picture, it's one of those movies that created a genre of film, but more importantly it created the idea of the anti-hero. I think if we re-vote, Clockwork Orange comes out as best picture and Hackman still gets best actor. Maybe the Academy rewarding imitations is a more recent thing, because Jane Fonda beat out two imitations with a role I've never heard of.
1961 (50 years ago)
Best Picture: West Side Story
Other nominations: Fanny, Judgement at Nuremberg, The Hustler, The Guns of Navarone
Best Actor: Maximilian Schell-Judgement at Nuremberg
Other nominations- Paul Newman-The Hustler, Spencer Tracy-Judgement at Nuremberg, Charles Boyer-Fanny, Stuart Whitman-The Mark
Best Actress: Sophia Loren-Two Women
Other nominations: Piper Laurie-The Hustler, Audrey Hepburn-Breakfast at Tiffany's, Natalie Wood-Splendor in the Grass, Geraldine Page-Summer and Smoke
We're in the territory where I am either a better judge of who should have won because if I've seen or heard of the movie it lasted the test of time or a worse judge because I've only seen a few of the nominees. I think it's pretty safe to say if we re-voted this year there would be changes. West Side Story has no chance of winning best picture because a) musicals are not as popular as they were in 1961 and b) if you watch that movie today it is horribly dated. The Hustler would get my vote for best picture and Paul Newman would get my vote for best actor. It's astonishing to see that Audrey Hepburn did not get the Oscar for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I've never heard of Two Women, so it makes me wonder if Sophia Loren was just an Academy favorite at the time. Hepburn would win hands down in a re-vote, that role being one of the most iconic in film history.
1951 (60 years ago)
Best Picture: An American in Paris
Other nominations: Decision Before Dawn, A Place in the Sun, Quo Vadis, A Street Car Named Desire
Best Actor: Humphrey Bogart-African Queen
Other nominations: Marlon Brando-A Street Car Named Desire, Montgomery Clift-A Place in the Sun, Arthur Kennedy-Bright Victory, Fredric March-Death of a Salesman
Best Actress: Vivien Leigh-A Streetcar Named Desire
Other nominations: Katharine Hepburn-African Queen, Eleanor Parker-Detective Story, Shelly Winters-A Place in the Sun, Jane Wyman-The Blue Veil
Another loaded year. Again, I'm not sure that An American in Paris would play the same in this day and age as it did in 1951. I think this would become a race between A Place in the Sun and A Street Car Named Desire and I see it as a toss up. I am surprised to see that African Queen didn't get a best picture nod. It talks to how stacked the year was. Bogart winning best actor feels like a life time achievement award, it being the only Oscar he won. Brando seemed more deserving.
1941 (70 years ago)
Best Picture: How Green Was My Valley
Other nominations: Blossoms in the Dust, Citizen Kane, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Hold Back the Dawn, The Little Foxes, The Maltese Falcon, One Foot in Heaven, Sergent York, Suspicion
Best Actor: Gary Cooper-Sergent York
Other nominations: Walter Huston-All That Money Can Buy, Robert Montgomery-Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Cary Grant-Penny Serenade, Orson Welles-Citizen Kane
Best Actress: Joan Fontaine-Suspicion
Other nominations: Barbara Stanwyck-Ball of Fire, Olivia de Havilland-Hold Back the Dawn, Greer Garson-Blossoms in the Dust, Bette Davis-The Little Foxes
This has to be the biggest travesty in Oscar history and the only proof of the need for a re-vote every ten years. I've never heard of How Green Was My Valley yet it won over what is without much argument considered the greatest movie ever made, Citizen Kane. Welles also got snubbed for best actor. Kind of crazy to believe this happened.
1931 (80 years ago)
Best Picture: Cimarron
Other nominations: East Lynne, The Front Page, Skippy, Trade Horn
Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore-A Free Soul
Other nominations: Jackie Cooper-Skippy, Richard Dix-Cimarron, Fredric March-The Royal Family of Broadway, Adolphe Menjou-The Front Page
Best Actress: Marie Dressler-Min and Bill
Other nominations: Marlene Dietrich-Morocco, Irene Dunne-Cimarron, Ann Harding-Holiday, Norma Shearer-A Free Soul
I got nothing.
What do you guys think?
Saturday, February 25, 2012
84th Annual Academy Awards
I've heard people say that the Grammys are the only award show worth watching. The thought being that because of all the performances, it's the only award show that is interesting. But I think the Grammys are so out of swing with what is actually going on in music that it's a stupid show to watch, performances or not. The Acadmey Awards are by far the best in my eyes. I love the debate that they invoke because in most ways, they are still a revelant award. That being the case, I love to write up a preview every year consisting of who I think will win the major awards and who I want to win. It's my favorite and biggest post of the year. So here's who I think is going to win and why...
Best Animated Feature:
Nominations: Rango, Chico and Rita, A Cat in Paris, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots
Who I Want
To Win: Chico
and Rita
Who I Think
Will Win: Rango
Rango was a funny
movie if you got all the references. I
enjoyed it, but Chico and Rita was
better. It had wonderful hand drawn
animation and a fantastic Cuban jazz soundtrack. The story was cute, but really the movie was
all about the music. The Academy is
probably going to reward Rango for it’s witty writing, but I’m hoping for Chico
and Rita.
Best Documentary Feature:
Nominations: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Hell and Back Again, paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, Pina, Undefeated
Who I Want
To Win: Paradise
Lost 3: Purgatory
Who I Think
Will Win: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
I don’t think
Paradise Lost 3 lives up to the previous two documentaries in the trilogy on
the West Memphis Three, but none of the other nominated films did much for
me. If a Tree Falls: A Story of the
Earth Liberation Front just made me dislike environmentalists more, Pina didn’t
hold my interest at all, and I didn’t get a chance to see Undefeated because it
hasn’t been released yet (not sure how that works, must have been shown at
festivals). The only one I thought was
close to as good was Hell and Back Again which did a good job documenting the
strong emotions surrounding a wounded soldier returning home without making him
seem totally hopeless. I would have much
rather seen Conan O’Brien Can’t Be Stopped and Being Elmo be nominated then the
group the Academy put together. Both of
those films felt more worthy.
I’m pretty sure
Paradise Lost 3 is a shoe in. The amount
of support Hollywood threw behind
the freeing the West Memphis 3 has
to make it a favorite, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Pina may make the
race closer then I would think. This is
always a fun category because you’re never sure which way it’s going to go,
unlike many categories that seem to have been decided months ago.
Best Original Screenplay:
Nominations: The Artist, Bridesmaids, Margin Call, Midnight in Paris, A Seperation
Who I Want
To Win: Midnight in Paris
Who I Think
Will Win: The Artist
It pains me a
little to name Midnight in Paris
the movie I want to win over Bridesmaids.
I feel very strongly that comedies don’t get the recognition they
deserve when it comes to awards and finally we have a comedy getting some
attention, so nothing would make me happier then Kristen Wigg winning. But the fact of the matter is Midnight in Paris
is a stronger screenplay. It’s an
entertaining film that was able to be smart without ever feeling heavy and I
can’t credit that to anything except fantastic writing. This movie was Woody Allen at his best and
deserves to be recognized as such. This
is its best chance at getting that recognition.
Unfortunately, I
have an uneasy feeling that this is going to be The Artist’s night and it’s
going to sweep all these awards. As much
as I disagree with everyone who found the movie entertaining, it has a ton of
media buzz and momentum going into the night and looks to be the night’s big
winner. I’m not sure how the screen play
of a silent movie that stole it’s plot from Singing in the Rain even gets
nominated in this category forget about winning over a movie as wonderfully
written as Midnight in Paris, but common sense and the Academy have never been
bed fellows.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Nominations: Hugo, The Descendants, The Ides of March, Moneyball, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Who I Want
To Win: Hugo
Who I Think
Will Win: The Descendants
As usual, I’m
pretty out of step with the media that seems to influence the Academy
voters. I enjoyed The Descendants much
more then The Artist, but still don’t get the amount of love the movie has been
getting. It wasn’t even in the same
category as Alexander Payne or Allen Sorkin’s best work. Hugo, on the other hand, was a work of
genius. In my eyes, this isn’t even
close, Hugo should get the award hands down, but I’m as certain that The
Descendants will win as I am that Hugo deserves it.
Best Supporting Actress:
Nominations: Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer, Octavia Spencer
Who I Want
To Win: Melissa McCarthy
Who I Think
Will Win: Octavia Spencer
I have no strong
emotions on this one at all. All the
woman nominated seemed worthy enough and there weren’t any performances that I
felt were snubbed or stood out above the rest.
That being the case, I can’t help but root for Melissa McCarthy for the
reason I mentioned when talking about Best Original Screenplay. I’ve been a fan of McCarthy’s since her days
on the Gilmore Girls. It would be so
huge for her to win. But in all honesty,
I can’t see Spencer losing. The acting
in the Help was amazing and Spencer was probably the stand out. I won’t be upset when she wins, but I’m still
fully behind McCarthy.
Best Supporting Actor:
Nominations: Kenneth Branagh, Christopher Plummer, Nick Nolte, Jonah Hill, Max von Sydow
Who I Want
To Win: Christopher Plummer
Who I Think
Will Win: Christopher Plummer
None of these
nominated performances did anything for me.
This award should belong to Albert Brooks for the job he did in Drive,
but he didn’t even get nominated for some odd reason. Without Brooks’ presence I’m left not really
caring who wins. It seems like its
Plummer’s year to win and I wasn’t offended by his performance so I’d be fine
with that. If for some reason Max von
Sydow pulls out a win I won’t really be upset, even though I see the fact that
he was mute as a crutch. I don’t think
Kenneth Branagh did anything to deserve an award. I don’t understand why Jonah Hill was
nominated. And I didn’t see Warrior; I
have no desire to see Warrior and I can’t imagine Nick Nolte doing anything in
Warrior that would warrant an Oscar nomination.
So, let’s go Christopher Plummer.
Best Actress:
Nominations: Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Glenn Close, Rooney Mara,
Nominations: Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Glenn Close, Rooney Mara,
Who I Want To Win: Viola Davis
Who I Think
Will Win: Meryl Streep
Everyone in the
media seems to think Viola Davis is a shoe in for this award. That would be fine by me, The Help hinged on
her performance and she did a great job.
The thing is, as a rule, the Academy loves, I mean LOVES, performances
that include handicaps or imitations and Davis is running against two
imitators, Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher and Michelle Williams as Marilyn
Monroe. The Academy also happens to love
both of these actresses, so I can’t imagine one of them not winning. Williams is still young and it’s been 30 years
since Streep has won an award even though she’s been nominated 15 times over
those years, so I think the award will go to Streep. I’m not a fan of imitations as award winning
performances. I think it is much easier
to look at tape of a real person and mimic their behaviors then it is to take a
fictional character off the page and make them interesting and compelling. For that reason have my fingers crossed that Davis
gets the win. She deserves it way more.
Best Actor:
Nominations: Jean Dujardin, George Clooney, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Demian Bichir
Nominations: Jean Dujardin, George Clooney, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Demian Bichir
Who I Want
To Win: Jean Dujardin
Who I Think
Will Win: Jean Dujardin
As much as I didn’t
like The Artist, I totally respect the job Dujardin did and think he deserves this
award without any doubt. Clooney just played
Clooney and should even be sniffing this award.
Oldman was good and should get an
award at some point but this just isn’t the year. Pitt is playing a real person, but not
someone with enough of a public persona that the Academy would be in awe of the
performance. And I didn’t get to see A
Better Life, but I can’t imagine Bichir pulled off what Dujardin did. Dujardin was able convey humor and pain
without uttering a word and as bored as I got with the plot and the other
characters, I never tired of watching him.
This is the only award The Artist should be walking away with this year.
Best Director:
Nominations: Martin Scorsese, Michel Hazanavicius, Woody Allen, Alexander Payne, Terrence Malick
Nominations: Martin Scorsese, Michel Hazanavicius, Woody Allen, Alexander Payne, Terrence Malick
Who I Want
To Win: Martin Scorsese
Who I Think
Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius
Every aspect of
Hugo was amazing and I give all the credit to Scorsese. He really made a wonderful movie, filled with
solid performances and wonderful cinematography and he was the one who pulled
it all together. As I’ve pointed out
many times in this post, all the media momentum seems to be pointing at The
Artist and The Artist is very much Michel Hazanavicius’ movie, so I can’t see
him not winning. I can’t tell you how
wrong that would be.
Best Picture:
Nominations: The Artist, Moneyball, Hugo, War Horse, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, Tree of Life, The Help
Nominations: The Artist, Moneyball, Hugo, War Horse, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, Tree of Life, The Help
Who I Want
To Win: Hugo
Who I Think
Will Win: The Artist
I’m going to
steal a bit from comedian Doug Benson and play a quick game of “Watch This Not
That” with a few of this year’s nominees fro Best Picture…
The Artist is
this year’s front runner for Best Picture.
It’s a silent movie, a type of movie that fell out style 80 years ago,
and if this movie does anything, it proves why that was the case. After the first 15 minutes I was bored to
tears. The Artist was directed by Michel
Hazanavicius and stars Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. OSS
117: Cairo, Nest of Spies is a 2006
French spy spoof with directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Jean
Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. It’s hilarious
and at no point during the movie did I start watching the time on my DVD player
waiting for it to end. So, watch OSS
117: Cairo, Nest of Spies not The
Artist.
The Descendants
is movie most people think could challenge The Artist for the top prize. It’s an okay movie with some funny moments
and a few tears, but nothing that really blew me away. Alexander Payne wrote and directed it. Sideways is another movie that Payne both
wrote and directed. It’s ten times
funnier and more poignant then The Descendants.
So, watch Sideways not The Descendants.
Extremely Loud
and Incredibly Close is a story about an autistic kid who is trying to deal
with the loss of his father, who he was very close to, after 9/11. It is a very moving movie but feels a little
over the top at times. It is based on a
book written by Jonathan Safran Foer. Everything
Is Illuminated is a little known 2005 movie starring Elijah Wood and is also
based on a Foer novel. It should have
won Best Picture that year even though it wasn’t nominated because it was 100
times better than Crash. So, watch
Everything Is Illuminated not Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
War Horse is a
God awful movie that shouldn’t even be nominated for Best Picture. Lassie Come Home is a movie with the exact
same plot as War Horse but isn’t set during World War II. I was a small child when I saw Lassie Come
Home, so it didn’t see as stupid and hokey as watching War Horse as an adult. So, watch Lassie Come Home not War Horse.
That leaves us
with five other films. Midnight in Paris
is a really good movie that I am glad got nominated but don’t think was quite
good enough to win the award. Tree of
Life was a powerful flick that I’m not sure I quite understood, but I was blown
away by the imagery. There were a lot of
flaws or things to not like about Tree of Life but this is the type of movie
the Academy should be rewarding, it took risks, it pushed the limits of what
film making is, it wasn’t just a rehash of old styles or plots. The most common comment I heard about
Moneyball was, “I’m not a baseball fan and even I liked it.” Well, I am a baseball fan, a huge baseball
fan and I think that’s why I didn’t like it at all. I’m way to close to the subject matter to
enjoy a fictionalized version of it.
This movie may have worked for people unfamiliar with the subject
matter, but it just annoyed and pissed me off.
The Help was a good movie that I figured would get a nomination when I
saw it, but still not good enough for a win.
This leaves Hugo which was by far the best of the nominated films. I haven’t heard anyone talking about this as
the best picture, which makes no sense to me, and there certainly hasn’t been a
Shakespeare in Love type campaign to get it the award, so I doubt it will win,
but I’ll have my fingers crossed on Sunday night.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Top 5: Favorite Movies Of 2011
The last Top 5 of Oscar Week is my 5 favorite movies of 2011. Once again, the list is limited to the movies I actually saw. A movie can't be a favorite if you haven't seen it... right?
5) Midnight In Paris
I find Woody Allen extremely hit or miss. I don't know if there is a movie maker whose movies hit the extremes as much as Allen. His movies are either totally unwatchable or wonderfully amusing. As far as I can tell, he practices the "throw everything against the wall and see what sticks" theory of film making. This is one of the good ones. It is one of those rare films that is able to be incredibly smart and incredibly light at the same time. Owen Wilson is great in the Woody Allen role that most people turn into an imitation. Wilson shows the classic Allen neurosis without turning it into a caricature. It's a well made, well acted fun movie.
4) Young Adult
On the other side of the spectrum is Jason Reitman, who granted hasn't made nearly as many movies or had nearly as long a career, but has not made a movie that I didn't love. This is his latest and the second time his teamed up with writer Diablo Cody. Their first movie, Juno, is one of my all time favorites. While this one isn't the classic Juno was, it is a great movie filled with great performances. Charlize Theron is brilliant as usual and while Patton Oswald is just playing himself, he created a wonderful character who was the perfect spoil for Theron. There is just something about Reitman's sensibilities that I connect and relate with. This movie was no exception.
3) Super 8
I talked about this in my Top 5 Action Movies Of 2011 list and Top 5 Oscar Snubs 2011, so I won't go on very long here. A great movie by J.J. Abrams that was able to encapsulate everything that made blockbusters so special in our youth. It's a love letter to Steven Spielberg, monster movies and every kid who started making movies on their father's super 8 camera. This movie didn't get nearly the award attention it deserved.
2) Hugo
Everyone keeps calling this a kid's movie, but I just didn't see that. It is a great family movie and would certainly appeal to kids, but calling it a kid's movie just seems to be selling it short. Other people describe it as a love letter (there were a ton of love letter movies this year) to silent movies, but I think that sells it short as well. It's really a love letter to storytelling, however the story happens to be told, it's a love letter to all those people who are able to broaden our imaginations. Everything about this movie was fantastic. Amazing cinematography, wonderful storytelling, brilliant acting. I know everyone is crazy about The Artist, but of all the nominated movies this is by far the best movie of year. Hugo is movie making at it's absolute best.
1) 50/50
I talked about this one in my Top 5 Oscar Subs Of 2011 as well. This movie is so amazing, I really have no idea how it wasn't talked about more. Maybe people are tired of cancer movies. It's too bad because this movie worked on so many levels. It was one of the funniest movies of the year, yet the room certainly got a little dusty at the end. It also did a wonderful job dealing with all the emotions that surround the thought of eminent death. The relationship between the main character and his parents was absolutely heartbreaking. Anjelica Huston probably deserved a Supporting Actress nod for her portrayal of Joesph Gordon-Levitt's mom. The two leads, Levitt and Seth Rogan, were awesome as well. This movie was everything I look for in a movie and easily my favorite of 2011. Seriously, rent it today!
Honorable Mentions: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Win Win, The Beaver
5) Midnight In Paris
I find Woody Allen extremely hit or miss. I don't know if there is a movie maker whose movies hit the extremes as much as Allen. His movies are either totally unwatchable or wonderfully amusing. As far as I can tell, he practices the "throw everything against the wall and see what sticks" theory of film making. This is one of the good ones. It is one of those rare films that is able to be incredibly smart and incredibly light at the same time. Owen Wilson is great in the Woody Allen role that most people turn into an imitation. Wilson shows the classic Allen neurosis without turning it into a caricature. It's a well made, well acted fun movie.
4) Young Adult
On the other side of the spectrum is Jason Reitman, who granted hasn't made nearly as many movies or had nearly as long a career, but has not made a movie that I didn't love. This is his latest and the second time his teamed up with writer Diablo Cody. Their first movie, Juno, is one of my all time favorites. While this one isn't the classic Juno was, it is a great movie filled with great performances. Charlize Theron is brilliant as usual and while Patton Oswald is just playing himself, he created a wonderful character who was the perfect spoil for Theron. There is just something about Reitman's sensibilities that I connect and relate with. This movie was no exception.
3) Super 8
I talked about this in my Top 5 Action Movies Of 2011 list and Top 5 Oscar Snubs 2011, so I won't go on very long here. A great movie by J.J. Abrams that was able to encapsulate everything that made blockbusters so special in our youth. It's a love letter to Steven Spielberg, monster movies and every kid who started making movies on their father's super 8 camera. This movie didn't get nearly the award attention it deserved.
2) Hugo
Everyone keeps calling this a kid's movie, but I just didn't see that. It is a great family movie and would certainly appeal to kids, but calling it a kid's movie just seems to be selling it short. Other people describe it as a love letter (there were a ton of love letter movies this year) to silent movies, but I think that sells it short as well. It's really a love letter to storytelling, however the story happens to be told, it's a love letter to all those people who are able to broaden our imaginations. Everything about this movie was fantastic. Amazing cinematography, wonderful storytelling, brilliant acting. I know everyone is crazy about The Artist, but of all the nominated movies this is by far the best movie of year. Hugo is movie making at it's absolute best.
1) 50/50
I talked about this one in my Top 5 Oscar Subs Of 2011 as well. This movie is so amazing, I really have no idea how it wasn't talked about more. Maybe people are tired of cancer movies. It's too bad because this movie worked on so many levels. It was one of the funniest movies of the year, yet the room certainly got a little dusty at the end. It also did a wonderful job dealing with all the emotions that surround the thought of eminent death. The relationship between the main character and his parents was absolutely heartbreaking. Anjelica Huston probably deserved a Supporting Actress nod for her portrayal of Joesph Gordon-Levitt's mom. The two leads, Levitt and Seth Rogan, were awesome as well. This movie was everything I look for in a movie and easily my favorite of 2011. Seriously, rent it today!
Honorable Mentions: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Win Win, The Beaver
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Top 5: Oscar Snubs 2011
This should probably be tomorrow's Top 5, but I still need to see Moneyball and don't want to make a best of 2011 list without seeing it. So, I moved this up a day because I am better prepared at the moment to write it. I tried to pick movies or people from movies that had not be recognized by the Academy in any way. Another criteria was I had to be able to pick a movie or person in the chosen category that didn't deserve the nomination over the movie I felt was snubbed. In other words, I may have felt Kristen Wigg could have gotten nominated for Best Actress but if I couldn't pick someone on the current Best Actress nomination list that shouldn't be there then she wouldn't be considered a snub. Also, this list is based solely on the movies that I was able to watch. Here are my Top 5 Oscar Snubs of 2011...
5) Conan O'Brien Can't Be Stopped: Best Documentary
This was probably my favorite documentary of the year. It doesn't have a deep message or support a cause or teach us anything of importance, so it's no surprise that it got ignored by the Academy. It is, however, an entertaining look at life as a celebrity. You got to see an unguarded Conan deal with touring, fans, and on a small level, the fall out of his parting with NBC. It's a funny intimate documentary that I feel deserved a little recognition. Much more so then To Hell And Back, which I felt I'd seen many times before.
4) Super 8: Best Picture
I know in this day and age the Academy doesn't feel that big budget action flicks like this are worthy of a nomination, I mean, if The Dark Knight isn't Oscar worthy what blockbuster is, but this movie deserved something. The movie had everything that made past Spielberg films Academy Award winners, great story telling, deep characters, amazing special effects, more so than the Spielberg film nominated this year, War Horse. It may not have been overly sappy, a quality that seems to make a movie a contender, but it was certainly more award worthy than War Horse, The Descendants or Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close.
3) Mel Gibson in The Beaver: Best Actor
I realize there isn't a shot in hell that Mel Gibson will ever get recognized by the Academy again, and I certainly don't condone any of his behavior or beliefs that have led to the black-balling, but that has nothing to do with the man's ability to act. I don't feel this dark quirky film got enough attention in general, forget about Gibson's portrayal of an emotionally disturbed toy company owner struggling to save his marriage. And it probably suffered just because of the Gibson stigma and that's sad. I thought Gibson's performance was much more deserving of recognition than George Clooney just playing George Clooney in The Descendants.
2) Albert Brooks in Drive: Best Supporting Actor
I don't really understand this one at all. Albert Brooks' performance seemed like the perfect performance for the Academy to acknowledge. A dark turn from a comedian. We've seen it a dozen times. Brooks was amazing as a total bad ass and the perfect mob boss. I am totally blown away that he didn't get recognized. I haven't seen Moneyball yet, but I can't imagine Jonah Hill was better and Kenneth Branagh certainly didn't hold a candle to Brooks.
1) 50/50: Best Picture
This was my favorite movie of the year and should have been a shoe in for a Best Picture nod. It was hilarious, incredibly sad and deeply poignant, yet some how flew under everyone's radar. Maybe because it stared Joesph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan nobody took it seriously. I don't know, all I know is a ton of people missed a great movie. It was ten times the movie The Descendants was. It was more compelling than The Artist. It was more heart warming than both War Horse and Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close. If you missed this movie rent it tomorrow, you won't be disappointed.
5) Conan O'Brien Can't Be Stopped: Best Documentary
This was probably my favorite documentary of the year. It doesn't have a deep message or support a cause or teach us anything of importance, so it's no surprise that it got ignored by the Academy. It is, however, an entertaining look at life as a celebrity. You got to see an unguarded Conan deal with touring, fans, and on a small level, the fall out of his parting with NBC. It's a funny intimate documentary that I feel deserved a little recognition. Much more so then To Hell And Back, which I felt I'd seen many times before.
4) Super 8: Best Picture
I know in this day and age the Academy doesn't feel that big budget action flicks like this are worthy of a nomination, I mean, if The Dark Knight isn't Oscar worthy what blockbuster is, but this movie deserved something. The movie had everything that made past Spielberg films Academy Award winners, great story telling, deep characters, amazing special effects, more so than the Spielberg film nominated this year, War Horse. It may not have been overly sappy, a quality that seems to make a movie a contender, but it was certainly more award worthy than War Horse, The Descendants or Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close.
3) Mel Gibson in The Beaver: Best Actor
I realize there isn't a shot in hell that Mel Gibson will ever get recognized by the Academy again, and I certainly don't condone any of his behavior or beliefs that have led to the black-balling, but that has nothing to do with the man's ability to act. I don't feel this dark quirky film got enough attention in general, forget about Gibson's portrayal of an emotionally disturbed toy company owner struggling to save his marriage. And it probably suffered just because of the Gibson stigma and that's sad. I thought Gibson's performance was much more deserving of recognition than George Clooney just playing George Clooney in The Descendants.
2) Albert Brooks in Drive: Best Supporting Actor
I don't really understand this one at all. Albert Brooks' performance seemed like the perfect performance for the Academy to acknowledge. A dark turn from a comedian. We've seen it a dozen times. Brooks was amazing as a total bad ass and the perfect mob boss. I am totally blown away that he didn't get recognized. I haven't seen Moneyball yet, but I can't imagine Jonah Hill was better and Kenneth Branagh certainly didn't hold a candle to Brooks.
1) 50/50: Best Picture
This was my favorite movie of the year and should have been a shoe in for a Best Picture nod. It was hilarious, incredibly sad and deeply poignant, yet some how flew under everyone's radar. Maybe because it stared Joesph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan nobody took it seriously. I don't know, all I know is a ton of people missed a great movie. It was ten times the movie The Descendants was. It was more compelling than The Artist. It was more heart warming than both War Horse and Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close. If you missed this movie rent it tomorrow, you won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Top 5: Comedies Of 2011
Today's movie Top 5 (and the last post from me of the day) is the Top 5 Comedies of 2011. These aren't going to necessarily be the best made comedies, they are going to be the movies that made me laugh the most. Maybe a better name would be Funniest Movies of 2011. These types of movies never seem to get there due, even action films get nominated for special effects awards, so I want to list my favorites. I think it's about time the Academy added a Best Comedy category. Animated films get there own category, why not comedies? Also (I didn't make this point yesterday, but it goes for that list as well as every list this week), I'm obviously only ranking the movies that I saw. I watch a lot of movies, but I didn't see them all, so before you go crazy because something isn't on the list, it may be because I didn't see it. On the other hand, it may just be because it wasn't funny...
5) Bridesmaids
This movie had some moments that made me laugh, but I thought it was far from as great as everyone made it out to be. I'm glad it's getting some recognition, comedies never get the attention they deserve from the Academy, but it doesn't get ranked higher than 5 for me. I think all the ladies have been funnier in other stuff. That being said, the food poisoning scene is a classic (Maya Rudolph squatting in the middle of the street in a wedding dress was amazingly funny) and Kristen Wigg driving back and forth trying to get Jason Sudeikis was hilarious. I hoping for this one to win Best Original Screenplay.
4) Paul
I'm not a huge fan of everything Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have done, I didn't find Hot Fuzz all that funny, but this was genius. I'm guessing you would probably need to be a sci-fi movie geek to enjoy the humor and get the references. I am a huge sci-fi geek, a Star Wars child, and this movie had me rolling. There was also plenty of off-color fart jokes if that is more your style. And the cast was well stocked with the very best in comedy at the moment, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogan, Kristen Wigg, Bill Hader, Jason Bateman, Joe Lo Truglio, Jane Lynch, Dave Koechner and Jeffrey Tambor. I thought Kristen Wigg was funnier in this then Bridesmaids. My favorite reference was when Jason Bateman shot his cb radio and said, "Boring conversation anyway." If you don't know it, you should probably give this one a pass.
3) 30 Minutes Or Less
This movie had a great cast as well. I don't think there is a Jesse Eisenberg film that I did enjoy. Anziz Ansari's quick bitter wit in quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Nick Swardson is kind of hit or miss, but at his best is hilarious. Danny McBride, at the moment, always has me in stitches. I have a feeling that his shtick will get tired soon and become stale, much like Jack Black's did, but right now I'm loving it. The best moments in this one are when Eisenberg and Ansari are at each other's throats. The two were great together.
2) Hall Pass
It may not have been as funny as Something About Mary or Me, Myself and Irene, but this was defiantly a return to form for the Farrelly brothers. I wasn't sold on the premise, the fact that anyone needs a week off from marriage to figure out that they love their spouse is a horrible message, forget that it breaks my suspension of disbelief that this would be an issue if I was married to Jenna Fischer or Christina Applegate, but that didn't stop me from laughing out loud for an hour and a half. Yes, a lot of the humor is gross out sex and toilet humor, what else would you expect from the Farrellys. I don't care. It made me laugh a lot. It was Jason Sudeikis best role in a year jam packed with movies for him. I thought Owen Wilson was great as well. If you're look for wit, this isn't the movie for you. If you love a good laugh, you need to give it a watch.
1) Your Highness
Yet another Danny McBride movie. I saw this one before 30 Minutes Or Less, so his routine was a little less worn out. And once again, this is a fantasy, sword and sorcerer spoof, so if you aren't a sci-fi geek you might not find it as funny as me. But I was almost in tears during some scenes in this movie. For me James Franco is very hit or miss, but this was certainly a hit. And I know I'm extremely biased on this one, but I thought Zooey Deschanel stole every scene she was in. Her trying to eat at the banquet was genius. The best moments by far, though, were those dealing with the Minotaur and his member. Again, not the smartest humor but fall off the couch funny none the less.
Honorable Mentions: 50/50, Win Win, Cedar Rapids, Horrible Bosses
5) Bridesmaids
This movie had some moments that made me laugh, but I thought it was far from as great as everyone made it out to be. I'm glad it's getting some recognition, comedies never get the attention they deserve from the Academy, but it doesn't get ranked higher than 5 for me. I think all the ladies have been funnier in other stuff. That being said, the food poisoning scene is a classic (Maya Rudolph squatting in the middle of the street in a wedding dress was amazingly funny) and Kristen Wigg driving back and forth trying to get Jason Sudeikis was hilarious. I hoping for this one to win Best Original Screenplay.
4) Paul
I'm not a huge fan of everything Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have done, I didn't find Hot Fuzz all that funny, but this was genius. I'm guessing you would probably need to be a sci-fi movie geek to enjoy the humor and get the references. I am a huge sci-fi geek, a Star Wars child, and this movie had me rolling. There was also plenty of off-color fart jokes if that is more your style. And the cast was well stocked with the very best in comedy at the moment, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogan, Kristen Wigg, Bill Hader, Jason Bateman, Joe Lo Truglio, Jane Lynch, Dave Koechner and Jeffrey Tambor. I thought Kristen Wigg was funnier in this then Bridesmaids. My favorite reference was when Jason Bateman shot his cb radio and said, "Boring conversation anyway." If you don't know it, you should probably give this one a pass.
3) 30 Minutes Or Less
This movie had a great cast as well. I don't think there is a Jesse Eisenberg film that I did enjoy. Anziz Ansari's quick bitter wit in quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Nick Swardson is kind of hit or miss, but at his best is hilarious. Danny McBride, at the moment, always has me in stitches. I have a feeling that his shtick will get tired soon and become stale, much like Jack Black's did, but right now I'm loving it. The best moments in this one are when Eisenberg and Ansari are at each other's throats. The two were great together.
2) Hall Pass
It may not have been as funny as Something About Mary or Me, Myself and Irene, but this was defiantly a return to form for the Farrelly brothers. I wasn't sold on the premise, the fact that anyone needs a week off from marriage to figure out that they love their spouse is a horrible message, forget that it breaks my suspension of disbelief that this would be an issue if I was married to Jenna Fischer or Christina Applegate, but that didn't stop me from laughing out loud for an hour and a half. Yes, a lot of the humor is gross out sex and toilet humor, what else would you expect from the Farrellys. I don't care. It made me laugh a lot. It was Jason Sudeikis best role in a year jam packed with movies for him. I thought Owen Wilson was great as well. If you're look for wit, this isn't the movie for you. If you love a good laugh, you need to give it a watch.
1) Your Highness
Yet another Danny McBride movie. I saw this one before 30 Minutes Or Less, so his routine was a little less worn out. And once again, this is a fantasy, sword and sorcerer spoof, so if you aren't a sci-fi geek you might not find it as funny as me. But I was almost in tears during some scenes in this movie. For me James Franco is very hit or miss, but this was certainly a hit. And I know I'm extremely biased on this one, but I thought Zooey Deschanel stole every scene she was in. Her trying to eat at the banquet was genius. The best moments by far, though, were those dealing with the Minotaur and his member. Again, not the smartest humor but fall off the couch funny none the less.
Honorable Mentions: 50/50, Win Win, Cedar Rapids, Horrible Bosses
How I Met Your Mother: No Pressure
I'm starting to think that the writers of HIMYM get a kick out of pissing off the die hard HIMYM fans. It must be a writer's table joke, how can we end this episode so people watching will want to throw something at their television. There is no other explanation for ending "No Pressure" the way they did. They must be trying to get a rise out of people like me who just can't help displaying anger with the whole direction the is taking. Why wrap up (again) the Ted/Robin romantic relationship just to leave it back open with the last line? It makes no rational sense, so it has to be a joke. Right, HIMYM writers? Right?
Once again there was some funny stuff in this episode, but it continues to get over shadowed by the misplaced emotional story lines. I liked the idea of the long term bets (even if the time line was off: Marshal and Lily said it started ten years ago when they started to become bored in their marriage. but they have only been married for 5 years) and they set up some funny moments, my favorite being when Robin tried to give the hairdryer back and Marshal said forget about it, but my anger at the whole Ted/Robin thing dwarfed the laughter. They also missed a great opportunity for a final scene with Barney finding another way to watch the sex tape.
Maybe we have buried the Ted/Robin thing for good and this show can get back on the winning track, but for now the record is 4-11-2.
Side note: the movie that Ted and his future wife wanted to see but was sold out was Wedding Bride 3. I did get a chuckle out of that.
Once again there was some funny stuff in this episode, but it continues to get over shadowed by the misplaced emotional story lines. I liked the idea of the long term bets (even if the time line was off: Marshal and Lily said it started ten years ago when they started to become bored in their marriage. but they have only been married for 5 years) and they set up some funny moments, my favorite being when Robin tried to give the hairdryer back and Marshal said forget about it, but my anger at the whole Ted/Robin thing dwarfed the laughter. They also missed a great opportunity for a final scene with Barney finding another way to watch the sex tape.
Maybe we have buried the Ted/Robin thing for good and this show can get back on the winning track, but for now the record is 4-11-2.
Side note: the movie that Ted and his future wife wanted to see but was sold out was Wedding Bride 3. I did get a chuckle out of that.
Walking Dead: Triggerfinger
Today is going to be a busy day. This should be one of three posts, so get ready to ignore or get ready to read, which ever suits your opinion of my writing. I missed commenting on last weeks season 2 part 2 Walking Dead premiere, I was time strapped, so I'll add a few comments in this review but I'm not going back, that's how you end up dead.
"Triggerfinger" may be the most intense episode of Walking Dead up to date. This is a show I thought was great from episode one that just keeps getting better and better. There were two scenes in particular that blew me away. One of the first scenes of the show was a tenacious walker trying to shove his face through the partially shattered windshield of Lori's wrecked car. I was already to write about this being the most intense scene in the show so far, the way the walker just wouldn't give up, ramming his face into the windshield, cutting his face as he pushed through, all while Lori sat trapped in the car, but then the writers one upped themselves. The scene with Rick, Hershel and Glenn deciding what to do with the impaled newcomer as the walkers start appearing everywhere is probably the best of the series so far. Should they amputate? Should they rip the leg off? Should they run? It was edgy, grab on to your pillow, on the edge of your seat, thrilling television.
Not only has the show been at it's thrilling best, but the plot is moving forward as we get introduced to more people and more dangerous situations. I'm not sure how the story plays to someone who hasn't read the comics, but those of us who have are getting a little giddy with anticipation. You can see the story lines moving towards two events and I'm excited to see how the television show decides to deal with them. What is going to happen with Shane? Is he going to go of the deep end and meet his demise? Are the people Rick, Hershel and Glenn ran into disciples of the Governor? I have to admit I was extremely happy to see Michael Raymond-James (I loved him in Terriers) and equally upset to have him get killed a few minutes later. He would have been great on this show, but what are you going to do. His demise made sense and was a huge development in the show, so I guess you take the good with the bad.
Can't wait for next week. Things are really starting to pick up!
"Triggerfinger" may be the most intense episode of Walking Dead up to date. This is a show I thought was great from episode one that just keeps getting better and better. There were two scenes in particular that blew me away. One of the first scenes of the show was a tenacious walker trying to shove his face through the partially shattered windshield of Lori's wrecked car. I was already to write about this being the most intense scene in the show so far, the way the walker just wouldn't give up, ramming his face into the windshield, cutting his face as he pushed through, all while Lori sat trapped in the car, but then the writers one upped themselves. The scene with Rick, Hershel and Glenn deciding what to do with the impaled newcomer as the walkers start appearing everywhere is probably the best of the series so far. Should they amputate? Should they rip the leg off? Should they run? It was edgy, grab on to your pillow, on the edge of your seat, thrilling television.
Not only has the show been at it's thrilling best, but the plot is moving forward as we get introduced to more people and more dangerous situations. I'm not sure how the story plays to someone who hasn't read the comics, but those of us who have are getting a little giddy with anticipation. You can see the story lines moving towards two events and I'm excited to see how the television show decides to deal with them. What is going to happen with Shane? Is he going to go of the deep end and meet his demise? Are the people Rick, Hershel and Glenn ran into disciples of the Governor? I have to admit I was extremely happy to see Michael Raymond-James (I loved him in Terriers) and equally upset to have him get killed a few minutes later. He would have been great on this show, but what are you going to do. His demise made sense and was a huge development in the show, so I guess you take the good with the bad.
Can't wait for next week. Things are really starting to pick up!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Top 5: Action Movies of 2011
Oscar Season is one of my favorite times of the year. That being the case the week leading up to the big event will be filled with Top 5's themed with the best films that 2011 had to offer. I'm going to start things out with a genre that doesn't get acknowledged enough, if at all, by the Academy, action films. There were plenty of good actions films this year, a couple that I thought might have stood a chance at getting some Best Picture attention. Here are the five that I thought were the best...
5) The Mechanic
Okay, I'm a sucker for almost any Jason Statham movie. Add Ben Foster, who I think has been ignored more then once by the Academy, and you get a film I can't pass up. There was nothing extraordinary about this film, just two great actors kicking lots of ass. It's was much more gory then I expected, as if it had been mixed with a horror film, but that's not a knock.
4) Limitless
I might be stretching the definition of an action movie by including this one. It was more of a psychological thriller or suspense movie then action, but I figure there was enough fight and chase scenes to include it. This one totally surprised me. With Bradley Cooper as the star I was kind of expecting a stupid over budget flop that had nothing to it. Not that I don't like Cooper, I've been a fan ever since Alias, but it seemed like his star had reached a point where he could cash in on a couple bad action movies. Limitless is a smart thriller about a new drug that makes the taker super smart. It's smart, exciting, fast paced, intriguing, entertaining, everything you could want from a good action movie.
3) Drive
This one had me a little torn. I was going to put it lower, if not on the Honorable Mention list, but some elements of the movie were so outstanding it ended up three. For an action movie, Drive is horribly slow. It felt like the makers only had an hour of material so they just made every scene last two or three extra minutes so they could fill an hour and a half. That being said, when something did happen it was awesome. The action scenes were amazing. The acting was great as well. Ryan Gosling was as bad ass as you can get. Gosling is proving to be one of the best, most versatile young actors out there. Albert Brooks was outstanding and bad ass as well. Brooks not getting nominated for Best Supporting Actor was one of the biggest snubs of the season. So in the end, it was worth sitting through the dull parts just to see the wonderful acting and intense action.
2) Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Another movie that surprised the hell out of me. When this one was announced, I groaned and claimed there was no way I was getting within ten feet of the film. Then I saw the trailer and it seemed better then I expected. The movie was a well told story that was able to make me believe the events could occur. Yes, there were holes, but it was just real enough for me to buy in. It was also a great homage to the original movie. The opening scene was a beautiful and subtle reversal of one of the most famous scenes from the first. It was also cool how they threw in news reports about the shuttle launch that would ultimately be Charlton Heston's journey. The movie was everything if didn't expect it to be, and above all, wildly entertaining. I would say it's a must see.
1) Super 8
In an Oscar season that is filled with homages and love letters to bygone film eras, Super 8 is another that should be added to the list. The era it is harkening back to isn't 80 years gone, but that doesn't make it any less of a love letter. Super 8 is J.J. Abrams homage to the Steven Spielberg and George Lucas films of our youth and the style of film making that started many a film maker's career. Mixing elements of E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Jaws, Abrams nailed what made that era so special. I am totally surprised and totally disappointed that this movie didn't get a Best Picture nomination. It's everything that is great about movie making and should have been recognized as such. The only thing I can think is that it's early summer release hurt it by not being fresh in the voters minds. This wasn't just the best action movie this year, but one of the best movies period.
Honorable Mentions: Hobo With A Shotgun, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
5) The Mechanic
Okay, I'm a sucker for almost any Jason Statham movie. Add Ben Foster, who I think has been ignored more then once by the Academy, and you get a film I can't pass up. There was nothing extraordinary about this film, just two great actors kicking lots of ass. It's was much more gory then I expected, as if it had been mixed with a horror film, but that's not a knock.
4) Limitless
I might be stretching the definition of an action movie by including this one. It was more of a psychological thriller or suspense movie then action, but I figure there was enough fight and chase scenes to include it. This one totally surprised me. With Bradley Cooper as the star I was kind of expecting a stupid over budget flop that had nothing to it. Not that I don't like Cooper, I've been a fan ever since Alias, but it seemed like his star had reached a point where he could cash in on a couple bad action movies. Limitless is a smart thriller about a new drug that makes the taker super smart. It's smart, exciting, fast paced, intriguing, entertaining, everything you could want from a good action movie.
3) Drive
This one had me a little torn. I was going to put it lower, if not on the Honorable Mention list, but some elements of the movie were so outstanding it ended up three. For an action movie, Drive is horribly slow. It felt like the makers only had an hour of material so they just made every scene last two or three extra minutes so they could fill an hour and a half. That being said, when something did happen it was awesome. The action scenes were amazing. The acting was great as well. Ryan Gosling was as bad ass as you can get. Gosling is proving to be one of the best, most versatile young actors out there. Albert Brooks was outstanding and bad ass as well. Brooks not getting nominated for Best Supporting Actor was one of the biggest snubs of the season. So in the end, it was worth sitting through the dull parts just to see the wonderful acting and intense action.
2) Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Another movie that surprised the hell out of me. When this one was announced, I groaned and claimed there was no way I was getting within ten feet of the film. Then I saw the trailer and it seemed better then I expected. The movie was a well told story that was able to make me believe the events could occur. Yes, there were holes, but it was just real enough for me to buy in. It was also a great homage to the original movie. The opening scene was a beautiful and subtle reversal of one of the most famous scenes from the first. It was also cool how they threw in news reports about the shuttle launch that would ultimately be Charlton Heston's journey. The movie was everything if didn't expect it to be, and above all, wildly entertaining. I would say it's a must see.
1) Super 8
In an Oscar season that is filled with homages and love letters to bygone film eras, Super 8 is another that should be added to the list. The era it is harkening back to isn't 80 years gone, but that doesn't make it any less of a love letter. Super 8 is J.J. Abrams homage to the Steven Spielberg and George Lucas films of our youth and the style of film making that started many a film maker's career. Mixing elements of E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Jaws, Abrams nailed what made that era so special. I am totally surprised and totally disappointed that this movie didn't get a Best Picture nomination. It's everything that is great about movie making and should have been recognized as such. The only thing I can think is that it's early summer release hurt it by not being fresh in the voters minds. This wasn't just the best action movie this year, but one of the best movies period.
Honorable Mentions: Hobo With A Shotgun, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
How I Met Your Mother: Drunk Train
Uuuugggghhhhh! I can't remember a show I was such a fan of suddenly misfiring so consistently as HIMYM. They just can't seem make funny situations funny or emotional situations poignant anymore, both things that made the show so great at the start. I'm pot committed at this point and I write these reviews because people want to read them, but I'm annoyed to the point of wanting to stop watching. I've been placing all the blame on the writers, but I'm willing to take part of the blame. Maybe I stopped finding this show entertaining because I have a very modern attention span. Maybe it's because I just don't see what's so desirable about Robin that she becomes the subject of every male character's obsession. Maybe it's because the characters have matured past my point of relate-ability. All I know is that I couldn't imagine a worse direction to take the Ted character then to have him profess his love for Robin. He's been a pretty hateful character for the last few seasons and this does nothing to help that. I know I sound like a broken record, but HE NEEDS TO MEET THE MOM! I'm done with all this other bullshit. Every other character has grown from episode one, but Ted is exactly the same, I mean totally identical. This episode just ended on the same beat as episode one. I've been watching this show for seven seasons and Ted hasn't moved an inch. Lilly and Marshal have gotten married and are starting to deal with impending parenthood. Barney has found his real father, dealt with abandonment issues and is starting to throw away his womanizing ways and finding himself falling in love with women. Ted... TED IS THE EXACT SAME! Whatever hardships and trials w may have watched him deal with, he's still standing in front of Robin and telling her that he loves her. Once again this episode had potential, the idea of a drunk train is funny, keeping score in a relationship is both funny and the potential snag they painted it as, but I didn't laugh out loud once and let out an audible groan when it ended. 4-10-2!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Book Review: The Teammates (48 In 2012? #6)
And just like that I'm back on track. Nothing like a short, well written, hard to put down book to help me make up the time I lost trying to get through Infinite Jest. I read this book over three days and probably could have finished it in one sitting if I had the time. Yes, it helps that I am a huge Red Sox fan and love reading anything about the team and it's players, but this was a fantastically engrossing book even disregarding that fact.
The Teammates is David Halberstam's beautiful homage to baseball friendships. In it, he chronicles the last trip taken by Dom DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky to visit the great Ted Williams before he dies and in the process talks about their time together playing for the Boston Red Sox during the 40's and early 50's. Like most of Halberstam's work it is wonderfully written and terribly ingrossing. Halberstam has a knack for conveying the passion and respect he has for his subjects and passing it on to his readers. It comes as no surprise that Ted Williams is painted as a great man, but Halberstam is able to make the other Sox of the era, Bobby Doer, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky look just as amazing.
This book is a love letter to many things: the sport of baseball, the idea of friendships that last a lifetime, and an bygone era of American History. And it succeeds on all those levels. It's a sweet story about four men who made each other better people while living as icons for a generation of Americans. It's not political or incredibly deep because it doesn't have to be. Baseball fan or not, Red Sox fan or not, this is a wonderful book for anyone to read.
The Teammates is David Halberstam's beautiful homage to baseball friendships. In it, he chronicles the last trip taken by Dom DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky to visit the great Ted Williams before he dies and in the process talks about their time together playing for the Boston Red Sox during the 40's and early 50's. Like most of Halberstam's work it is wonderfully written and terribly ingrossing. Halberstam has a knack for conveying the passion and respect he has for his subjects and passing it on to his readers. It comes as no surprise that Ted Williams is painted as a great man, but Halberstam is able to make the other Sox of the era, Bobby Doer, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky look just as amazing.
This book is a love letter to many things: the sport of baseball, the idea of friendships that last a lifetime, and an bygone era of American History. And it succeeds on all those levels. It's a sweet story about four men who made each other better people while living as icons for a generation of Americans. It's not political or incredibly deep because it doesn't have to be. Baseball fan or not, Red Sox fan or not, this is a wonderful book for anyone to read.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Book Review: Lucy (48 In 2012? #5)
A lot of people seem to want to compare Laurence Gonzales and his latest novel, Lucy, with the work of Michael Crichton. I can't imagine a bigger insult to Crichton's work. The concept of a new species made up of mixed monkey and human genes being created by a scientist who studies monkeys deep in the African jungle sounds like something Crichton would write, it kind of sounds like something Crichton DID write, but nothing else in this novel comes even close to or lives up to Crichton's literary standard. The characters are two dimensional and none of their choices make any sense. The plot is all over the place and isn't logical at all. Gonzales seems to want to make some kind of statement on society and how we treat things that are seen as different, but never got deeper then surface level with the issues.
My biggest problem with science fiction is how authors deal with the suspension of disbelief. I call it the "Independence Day Paradox" after the movie Independence Day which struggled mightily with this problem. Whenever someone picks up a science fiction book or turns on a science fiction TV show there is an implied suspension of disbelief on some level, but to what level is determined by how much of the world the story is set in is a creation of the author. J.R.R. Tolkien completely created the world his novels were set in so the audience has to completely suspend disbelief. Whatever Tolkien says is possible is possible because it's his creation. Independence Day, on the other hand, was set in our world, so even though there are aliens events have to comply with the rules of our world. So while the audience will suspend disbelief to the point that will allow aliens to exist, there is no reason to believe a regular human can out run an explosion or that an explosion won't effect a tiny room just because it's not part of the main tunnel.
Lucy is a major victim of the "Independence Day Paradox." While I was ready to suspend my disbelief enough to allow for a creature that was part monkey and part human and to allow for that creature to try to be excepted into society as a human, almost every other event and plot point bordered on ridiculous. I didn't believe any of the characters choices. I didn't believe anyone's reaction to the creature. I didn't believe the military's reaction at all. I couldn't help but find this novel to be just plain stupid and unbelievable.
I had high hopes for Lucy. I loved the concept and thought it had the potential to be a wonderful character and society study. Unfortunately, Gonzales didn't have the chops to pull it off and we are left with a vapid story that falls terrible short of the potential it suggests.
My biggest problem with science fiction is how authors deal with the suspension of disbelief. I call it the "Independence Day Paradox" after the movie Independence Day which struggled mightily with this problem. Whenever someone picks up a science fiction book or turns on a science fiction TV show there is an implied suspension of disbelief on some level, but to what level is determined by how much of the world the story is set in is a creation of the author. J.R.R. Tolkien completely created the world his novels were set in so the audience has to completely suspend disbelief. Whatever Tolkien says is possible is possible because it's his creation. Independence Day, on the other hand, was set in our world, so even though there are aliens events have to comply with the rules of our world. So while the audience will suspend disbelief to the point that will allow aliens to exist, there is no reason to believe a regular human can out run an explosion or that an explosion won't effect a tiny room just because it's not part of the main tunnel.
Lucy is a major victim of the "Independence Day Paradox." While I was ready to suspend my disbelief enough to allow for a creature that was part monkey and part human and to allow for that creature to try to be excepted into society as a human, almost every other event and plot point bordered on ridiculous. I didn't believe any of the characters choices. I didn't believe anyone's reaction to the creature. I didn't believe the military's reaction at all. I couldn't help but find this novel to be just plain stupid and unbelievable.
I had high hopes for Lucy. I loved the concept and thought it had the potential to be a wonderful character and society study. Unfortunately, Gonzales didn't have the chops to pull it off and we are left with a vapid story that falls terrible short of the potential it suggests.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Book Review: Infinite Jest (48 in 2012? #4)
If nothing else this reading challenge has helped me reach one accomplishment: After 3 years and many attempts, I have finally finished Infinite Jest. I have never struggled so much to get through a book. It became more for a sense of pride that I slogged through it then a desire to know how it ended, but now I can say I read it. I am a week behind in my 48 in 2012 self-challenge but feel like my toughest book is now behind me. I should be able to make that week up and I have almost a full year to do so.
Reading David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest was like reading Herman Melville channeled through Virginia Wolf. The book is over 1000 pages including footnotes and, like Melville's Moby Dick, large swaths of that felt like whale blubber. Large portions of the book are taken up by painfully in depth descriptions of things that have very little to do with the over all story. Much like Melville takes up chapters to talk about every species of whale and how they are killed and used on a whaling ship, Wallace, for example, spends tens of pages describing an extremely nuanced game played by tennis academy children in their free time, which does very little to further the plot, nor does the details of the game figure into anything that occurs later. Wallace also goes on for pages at a time without any punctuation or paragraph breaks, hopping around from different points of view in a stream of conscience manner similar to Wolf. This brutal combination of difficult literary styles makes for an extremely dense read.
This isn't a summer beach read. It's hard work. I spent most of my time hating this book, even though there are numerous brilliant passages. I also found myself laughing out loud at Wallace's satire when I wasn't crying over how hard it made my brain hurt. Every time I was about to declare it the worst book I have ever read, I would come across an amazing section that would make me laugh or pull me back into the story. Much like Melville and Wolf, Wallace was a great writer and as frustrating as it was to read, his prose was wonderful and intelligent. Even though I struggled, there is no doubt Wallace was a major talent and this was a masterpiece.
Now that one knows Wallace's history (he recently committed suicide) it's hard to read Infinite Jest and not think about how much of it was written from personal experience. The detail is that much more powerful when you realize that Wallace obviously struggled with many things his characters did in this novel. The book is poignant on its own, but this wrinkle adds another emotional layer to an already dense story.
I'm glad I am finished with Infinite Jest and will never have to pick it up again. At the same time, I am glad I powered through and was able to read it beginning to end. It's an important piece of American Literature with interesting and funny takes on our society and where we are headed.
Reading David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest was like reading Herman Melville channeled through Virginia Wolf. The book is over 1000 pages including footnotes and, like Melville's Moby Dick, large swaths of that felt like whale blubber. Large portions of the book are taken up by painfully in depth descriptions of things that have very little to do with the over all story. Much like Melville takes up chapters to talk about every species of whale and how they are killed and used on a whaling ship, Wallace, for example, spends tens of pages describing an extremely nuanced game played by tennis academy children in their free time, which does very little to further the plot, nor does the details of the game figure into anything that occurs later. Wallace also goes on for pages at a time without any punctuation or paragraph breaks, hopping around from different points of view in a stream of conscience manner similar to Wolf. This brutal combination of difficult literary styles makes for an extremely dense read.
This isn't a summer beach read. It's hard work. I spent most of my time hating this book, even though there are numerous brilliant passages. I also found myself laughing out loud at Wallace's satire when I wasn't crying over how hard it made my brain hurt. Every time I was about to declare it the worst book I have ever read, I would come across an amazing section that would make me laugh or pull me back into the story. Much like Melville and Wolf, Wallace was a great writer and as frustrating as it was to read, his prose was wonderful and intelligent. Even though I struggled, there is no doubt Wallace was a major talent and this was a masterpiece.
Now that one knows Wallace's history (he recently committed suicide) it's hard to read Infinite Jest and not think about how much of it was written from personal experience. The detail is that much more powerful when you realize that Wallace obviously struggled with many things his characters did in this novel. The book is poignant on its own, but this wrinkle adds another emotional layer to an already dense story.
I'm glad I am finished with Infinite Jest and will never have to pick it up again. At the same time, I am glad I powered through and was able to read it beginning to end. It's an important piece of American Literature with interesting and funny takes on our society and where we are headed.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
How I Met Your Mother: The Burning Bee Keeper
"The Burning Bee Keeper" is a wonderful example of what makes HIMYM a special show, yet also showcases how far it's fallen. The story structure is both creative and clever. From day one HIMYM seemed to be a show that was willing to take risks and play with the audiences ideas of how a story could be told. This episode is certainly an example of that philosophy. And as far as telling a clever story goes, the episode was a success. It was well structured and it was cool to see all the pieces of the story coming together as the episode progressed.
What the episode was missing, like it seems many HIMYM episodes are missing these days, was jokes. There were a couple little chuckles but all in all I was left unamused. Once again Chris Elliot was spot on (I wouldn't mind seeing him become a regular) and Barney choosing to be stung by bees rather then stay on the bed room with a crazy lady was funny, but little else worked. Martin Short and his interactions with Ted were just to over the top. Marshal was given very little room to be funny, especially after we were told he had had a few drinks. Lilly was to busy being stressed to be humerus.
The episode also did very little to further any of the larger arching story lines. That being the case, this episode, although not offensive, is totally forgettable. This is going to be one of those episodes that pops up on TBS in reruns and you're going to exclaim, "I don't remember this one." Because of that, even though I enjoyed the structure, it goes down as a loss. 4-9-2.
What the episode was missing, like it seems many HIMYM episodes are missing these days, was jokes. There were a couple little chuckles but all in all I was left unamused. Once again Chris Elliot was spot on (I wouldn't mind seeing him become a regular) and Barney choosing to be stung by bees rather then stay on the bed room with a crazy lady was funny, but little else worked. Martin Short and his interactions with Ted were just to over the top. Marshal was given very little room to be funny, especially after we were told he had had a few drinks. Lilly was to busy being stressed to be humerus.
The episode also did very little to further any of the larger arching story lines. That being the case, this episode, although not offensive, is totally forgettable. This is going to be one of those episodes that pops up on TBS in reruns and you're going to exclaim, "I don't remember this one." Because of that, even though I enjoyed the structure, it goes down as a loss. 4-9-2.
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