What's that in the sky? It's a bird..... it's a plane.... it's an Oscar Nominee!

"And the award goes to......."

The Oscars? Yea ok, its somewhat cheesy, and maybe a little bias... but who wouldn't want a buff gold covered man holding a sword looking down on them from a shelf high above. It would make an awesome paper weight that's for sure.

I have been a movie fan since day 1. My first movie experience was watching Return of the Jedi in the theater when I was just a wee tot. My mom fed me Vienna sausages (snack of champions) and I made it through all 3 hours. I even remember a few scenes. That is a kick-A first movie if I may say.... and it started a life of movie love. The Oscar's are a recognition of the magic that can sometimes be felt through the screen. I had the pleasure of watching all 5 Best Picture Nominees for 2008 (I am thaaaat into movies, 14 hours in a dark room with a few hundred movie lovin' freak friends) and here is my 'D' Rated the run down:

MILK: This was first movie of the morning and I knew that it was going to be an emotional roller coaster. I will be honest.... I almost cried, like 10 times.... I mean.... I was really trying to save face in a theater packed with people I was going to spend the rest of the day with.... so I choked it up. What is that anyway?! Why do you feel like 10 tons of pressure like you are choking to stop yourself from crying... It almost makes you cry from the pain! There is no avoidance! Any who... Back to the movie.... It was by far my favorite of the day. Penn's performance was that of legend and I am SO happy that he won the Oscar for best actor. Definitely growing up in S.F. made it that much more special. I give this movie a solid A+.

THE READER: This movie was drama too! Can a teary-eyed woman catch a break!? Ok, so not as much choking as in the last movie but still... anything based in or around World War II is going to be drama. So tragedy aside... I liked this film as well but I would say it was my least favorite of the day. Something in it didn't catch me. Winslet was great, and am happy she won Best Actress... But it was hard to love or hate her, so I was stuck somewhere in the middle for the entire film. Her self preservation and pride was interesting and well played... But came just a little short of making me care. But! I have to give it credit for being a movie about the love of reading.... so.... you get a little bump up to a B-.




THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON: Whew... lemme take a breather with this... somewhat... light hearted movie. Couldn't have come at a better time for me. I had seen this movie already, it was one of my Disney World flight pastimes so I was prepared for it. The progression of Pitt from this old scary child to hot(!) motorcycle old man was quite interesting. The effects people were fantastic and this story read well with a clear beginning, middle, and end. I was pleased with all acting and just the overall flow of the film. It was very.... actually.... think of a light hearted Fight Club... if that is possible. I know, what the heck?! But Fincher has a very dynamic and specific filming style and I 100% picked up on it in this movie. I give it a hearty and lively B.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE: Back to the drama. Ok, drama with a happy ending. I LOVED this movie. It will definitely be one of the movies I can see myself watching a few times through because of its pure entertainment value. Patel is just SO genuine... you are really pulling for him the entire time. Also, I really liked getting to watch the game show host say "Who wants to be a.... mill-i-o-naire" like 50 gillion times. Ha. I would say in reflection I do really think this movie deserved the Best Picture award (I was originally a little bitter because Milk did not win). I think the award should go to the best idea... the best execution... the best 'movie magic'.... which 100% was this film. Classic rags-to-riches + boy loves girl and will do anything for her. Ok, everyone in unison.... 'Awwwww.....' Definitely another A+ on our hands.

FROST vs. NIXON: Ok, so maybe not the best idea to put this on after 10 hours of movie.... because this movie really took a lot of thought, a lot of analysis... but I powered through and really REALLY enjoyed this showdown! The acting was insane! Langella was an awesome Nixon, who actually made me care for him. If an actor can pull that out of a political 'monster' I definitely comend him. Ok, so I still wouldnt vote for him. :) Either way.... worth the watch.... even just for the history lesson. B++ (extra plus for the awesome laughs)

It is great to see any film... good or bad (ok, so Step Brothers.... yea, not glad I saw that at ALL!) so go out and see 'em! I can't wait for next year. "And the winner is...."

Memorable quotes for
"The Critic"
Duke Phillips: Why the hell do you have to be so critical?
Jay Sherman: I'm a critic.
Duke Phillips: No, your job is to rate movies on a scale from "good" to "excellent".
Jay Sherman: What if I don't like them?
Duke Phillips: That's what "good" is for.

Making up a song about Coraline... She's a peach, she's a doll, she's a pal of mine...

So I have been really trying to wrap my little mind around the insane experience of watching Coraline... not once... oh no, it cannot be seen only once... but twice. Once in a blue moon (or in a blue haired child) you come across something that is as amazing as it is strange but it works.... somehow.

I am a huge.... no wait.... HUGE... fan of Nightmare Before Christmas and I knew from the first blurb of this movie I would love it. Tim Burton's character creation and producing must have rubbed off on the director because this movie reeked of his genius. I have read the book (yes, the book nerd that I am...) and it was great, but short. The writers took the liberty of filling in the blanks visually with what only the mind can imagine. And I thought I had a crazy imagination! It really had the feel of that crazy Alice in Wonderland live action movie that came out back in the day... where she sees herself in the other side of the mirror and its her... but in a different world. Man that movie creeped me out as a kid! Kinda like Return to OZ did. Was that not the craziest scary witch lady EVER!? But I diverge. Either way, this movie has that same fundamental appeal.... your own life but different, what everyone wishes they had.

The animation in the movie is nothing less than brilliant and if this doesn't win some sort of award then there is something seriously wrong. So much fluid movement, it's easy to lose yourself to the chaos in the film. It reads like a child's dream turned nightmare. There were some really scary (and inappropriate... put some clothes on grandma!) parts! I almost felt like... hypnotized... or in a trance at moments. It could be the 2 yard high pear ciders I had at the Yard House before seeing the movie... but really, I mean, there were mice... jumping on balls... to the beat of drums... in a circus tent. Who makes a movie like that?

Oh... and just so we are clear... this song will be stuck in your head for days...



I give this movie my full hearted approval and hope that everyone will give it a chance. If you can catch it in 3D do it! Because nothing says scary crazy awesome like an 'other mother' spider psycho lady coming at you in 3D! Do it, do it, do it!

"Remember, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, it's only the beginning." - D

When you wish upon a star.... mega star that is....

So yea, for all ya'll that don't know (...and honestly if you don't know then you probably don't know me very well...shame!) I am off to Disneyworld tomorrow and I feel like that kid in that commercial who is too excited to sleep. I mean, me.... Disney freak of all Disney freaks.... going to DISNEYWORLD! Um yea... simma down now.

I am biding my time by downloading movies for the long trip tomorrow and I thought... 'hey, self... you haven't written a blog in a long while.... you should get on that.' And, so I am. But now I am stuck.... I don't know what to write about. There have been many happenings that could spark a blog, it's hard to pick just one. So lets make it a lot of things then! Screw conformity! Be a rebel! Viva La Revolucion!

Numero Uno: Jack Black. May I just say... he is out there. I mean, crazy out there. I guess HBO was in a JB mood yesterday because I watched 'Be Kind...Rewind' and 'Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny', back to back. I have always felt he was underrated as an actor and have liked him in pretty much anything I have ever seen him in (yes... including 'Shallow Hal'.... but I wont admit it to ANYONE!... whoops, does this count?). I can't imagine myself being able to make it thought movies like that without him. I have heard he is what is called.... retrosexual. It is the antithesis of metrosexual, where men have womanly qualitites and style. He is a throwback to the time of manly men with hairy chests and beer guts. And it is strangely appealing. :) Way to go JB, givin' hope to all the 'real' men out there.

Next on the agenda: American Idol! Oh yea baby! It is back with a vengeance! Kicking A** and taking names! Ok, so I have only seen 1 week and I am going to miss the next two because I am going to be away... oh yea, where? DISNEYWORLD... in case you forgot :). But it is as good of a time as I remember. I am looking forward to the less craptastic embarrassing people and more of the Hollywood drama-splosion (as opposed to Emily's Dance-splosion on her I-pod). Can I seriously hate on the bull honkey of Bikini Girl (and yes, I have used that as a proper noun, because that is now her official name. No one will ever know her differently. Way to make a name for yourself lady!) getting through! The injustice of the world.... I am ashamed. Either way, AI you rock my world and roll me along.

C is for cookie, thats good enough for me: Blindness, I feel as though I have to write this paragraph in the style of the book by Jose Saramago, with no punctuation apart from the occasional comma and no knowing where the breaks are or who is talking and to whom It's as though you are reading blind It is the book that the movie with Julianne Moore was based from and lemme just tell ya that it was very different from anything I have ever read in my life, but good in the same way While I can't say for sure if I understood all of it, Traumatic, Lovely, Insightful human existence at its rawest. Heavy.

SO! All that aside... I hope all of you had a great Christmas, New Year, Holiday, Shopping Season, etc... and Ill be around. Chatting up some perspicacity and jotting down the gist. FYI... my dog is CUTE!

Over and Out! - D