The Only Time I've Ever Wanted To Be In Grade 5 Again

These kids are going to be singing on the Oscars tomorrow night.  Go kids!

I Met The Walrus

I was catching up on my The Hour video podcasts and was really glad to catch a segment with Jerry Levitan who in 1969 at the tender age of 14, finagled his way into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and snagged an interview with him.  

To hear Jerry talk about the experience was hilarious but to see the animated short film that's been made about his experience was incredible.  The film is called I Met The Walrus and is in contention for an Oscar. 

If you have 9 minutes, watch the segment from The Hour first and then have a look at the actual film which is about 5 minutes long.  

If you don't like either, as always, my policy is:  your money back!

Judi Judi Judi

Johnny Yen mentioned in a recent comment that a friend of his owns the company that makes the Oscar statuettes. I wonder if he could get the Academy to go back in time and award a few trophies where they may have overlooked particular brilliance as decided by me. I only wonder as I tell myself often, I have exquisite taste and have no doubt I'd make a thoughtful voter.

It seems that every year, there's a fierce competition for the nomination slots and these fill up quickly depending on who has the biggest marketing budget. To offset the boredom next year, I think I'll beg off the Oscar telecast and throw a Spirit Awards party. At least their show is sensibly aired on a Saturday, the participants seem loose and relaxed and a bunch of films that don't necessarily have all the clout at the box office get a shot at things.

I was hoping the Oscar race this past year would have had room for a handful of awards for Notes On A Scandal. I'm handing out praise in lieu of trophies simply because performers like Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett need my help desperately.

This film crackles with an intensity I hadn't expected given the themes it handles so artfully. Loneliness, desire and acts of desperation are on full display and deftly handled. Dame Judi Dench particularly gives a searing performance and Cate Blanchett is, as always, note perfect. Bill Nighy and Andrew Simpson help by inhabiting characters that act like real people and they all do justice to Patrick Marber's excellent screenplay based on Zoe Heller's book. The crowning punctuation to the film is an urgent and involving score by Philip Glass.

Director Richard Eyre has masterfully harnessed the power of these fine performers and presents a top notch entertainment.

In a related note, I saw an advertisement for the Luminato arts festival to be held here in June on television last night. Philip Glass will perform the World Premiere of Book of Longing, his collaboration with Leonard Cohen which sounds really interesting. I think I'll invite Judi and Cate along, you know, for the exposure.

Hustle & Flowbee

I had avoided watching Hustle & Flow until now as I thought I wouldn't be able to survive staring into the cult indoctrinating eyes of Terrence Howard for 2 solid hours. Hello Principal Blackman!

You know he's got those weird translucent eyes most of the time so don't pretend he doesn't. It seems that this time though, he thoughtfully used a different set and good on him.

Everyone turned in great and believable performances and the music was loud and fun. I would have said crunk or crunkin' but I'm still trying to pin down what that means.

Oh yeah, and hello Academy of Stupidity? Your credibility called, it wants some of them Oscars back. At the very least you should have nominated Taraji P. Henson if not the rest of them fine bitches and hos. Like any of them need my pimp ass endorsement.

Excuse Me While I Slip Into Another Dementia

What am I wearing for the Oscars you find yourself not asking?

Well, I think I'll stick with a classic to start - an Old Navy 100% cotton pyjama pant. Just to add some spice to the mix, I'm going with either a Tommy Fullfigure tee or something in a NaNoWriMo shirt from days gone by (Is that you Delta Dawn? What the fuck have you got on?).

They never photograph my feet anyway so it'll probably just be non descript slippers, no socks.

And you?

You Had Me At Don't Forget To Spit On That Before You Stick It In Me

As I wend my way though the films with major acting nods in this year’s Oscar race, I slow down to reflect on a few of the nominated performances.

Heath Ledger – How hard can it be to mumble and not show any emotion for a couple of hours? I do it every day!

Felicity Huffman – Is it really that tough to take an ugly girl and make her pretend she’s a pre-op transsexual? Picture Dennis Quaid in that mousy wig and you've got yourself an acting coup.

Catherine Keener & Philip Seymour Hoffman in The 40 Year Old Pithy Homosexual or Stand By Your Man – loved you both even if I’m not sure which one was the top.

Amy Adams – why you’re just as cute as a little Junebug!! Plus you sort of remind me of my favourite Tanya.

Terrence Howard – Hustle and Flow this. You’ve got that weird eye thing going on so I’m scared to watch your movie so far.

Jake Gyllenhaal -- Only supporting actor? Give the boy his break back. It’s his mountain that gets broke in’nt?