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The Film of the Week
The WORD of the Week

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.


Stupid Fact of the Week
There was only one civilian casualty during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg

30 December, 2008
Films I missed in 2008
10. Rachel Getting Married... Jonathan Demme hasn't had a solid slam dunk since the early 90's, but all accounts point to Anne Hathaway's strongest performance to date as a good reason to check this one out.

9. When Did You Last See Your Father?... This one flew pretty well under the radar and got quite mixed reviews. It also looks like one of those emotional pieces that could very well pass for a glorified Lifetime Movie of the Week. But Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth (in a father-son combo) are reason enough for me to want to give it a shot.

8. Happy-Go-Lucky... This feel-good award-winner looks like a pleasant departure from the norm. Plus it boasts another strong female performance (Sally Hawkins) that may get some love come Oscar time.

7. In Bruges... I've talked about this one before. I wasn't too thrilled after seeing the trailer, much to my disappointment as I do enjoy me some Farrell and Gleeson. However, after being assured by several friends that it is most worthy, as well as some Globe love and Oscar buzz, I am looking forward to viewing it.

6. Man on Wire... Most accounts peg this one as one of (if not the) best documentaries this year, and it's (already) 6 or so awards from various festivals seem to back up this claim.

5. Milk... With the ridiculously amazing cast list attached to this, I really wanted to place this higher on the list. However, with it only managing to scare up one (1) - count 'em, er "it", 1 - Golden Globe nod, I had to drop it down the list a bit.

4. Doubt... How can you go wrong with Philip Seymour Hoffman? or, for that matter, Amy Adams? Streep I could take or leave. Add on top of that major predictions of a supporting actress Oscar nod for Viola Davis (already picking up the Globe nod) and it seems, at the very least, a fine display of acting.

3. The Wrestler... Aronovsky is a terrific director. Rourke's leading performance is pretty much being universally praised as the one to beat this year. I also look forward to Tomei (as always), and, from what I have been told, a wonderful performance by Ms. Evan Rachel Wood.

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button... I'm a big fan of David Fincher. Although, ever behind, I still have not seen "Zodiac," a film that many said was snubbed by the Academy. And while many similar claims have been made throughout the years, it is undeniable that Fincher has released some great work to date and hasn't even one nomination from the Academy to his name. It would be great to see that change on this picture, and I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to hope for that this time around, as "Button" has received 5 Globe nods (Picture, Director, Score, Actor, Screenplay), and is perhaps the strongest candidate for a Screenplay award (behind the very capable pens of Eric Roth [Forrest Gump, Munich, The Good Shepherd] and Robin Swicord [Memoirs of a Geisha]), something that is frequently, though not always, followed by a Directing and/or Picture win.

1. Slumdog Millionaire... Danny Boyle is a risk-taking director, which usually results in something not-so-great ("The Beach," "Alien Love Triangle") or something brilliant, remarkable, and/or revolutionary ("Trainspotting," "28 Days Later"), but rarely anything in between. All reports on his latest film suggest that this may be - if not his best to date - one of the best this year, and certainly something to look for come Oscar (prediction) time.


Honorable Mentions:

- Australia... I love Baz Luhrmann and will see pretty much anything he makes. However, his latest is being hailed as a disappointment (and the box office receipts - to date making back only about 70% of the prod. budget - don't speak too highly either).

- Flash of Genius... I'm so upset that this didn't receive a better response. Greg Kinnear and Alan Alda in a true story of one man going up against the largest corporation in America... sure it sounds like it could have been a bit much (or, as noted above, a basic cable movie of the week), but it looked like it had some potential. The reviews were fair to decent, but apparently even that couldn't bolster its barely noticeable run at the box office.

- Frost/Nixon... I'm not super excited to see this one, even though I don't doubt that Ron Howard and his cast/crew "bring it" (as evidence by a well-rounded 5 Globe nods - Picture, Director, Actor, Screenplay, Score). However, I may have to bump one of my ten in favor of this, simply to compare Rourke's "Wrestler" lead performance with that of Langella as Nixon (the performance that many said, as far back as last year before his "Starting Out in the Evening" performance was "snubbed" by the Academy, would garner him a nod and possibly a statue).

- Che... (aka "Che: Part One" & "Che: Part Two", aka "The Argentine" & "Guerilla") Soderbergh's marathon of a biopic based on the life of Ernesto Che Guevara. I've been interested in this ever since hearing that Benicio Del Toro would be portraying Che himself, although since then I have heard everything from "his best performance to date," to "completely uninspired and lacking dimension." Hopefully I can find the time to watch and decide for myself.

Running long on words and short on time... on to the lightning round for the final three...

- Snow Angels... Rockwell, Beckinsale, NC School of the Arts Alum David Gordon Green ("All the Real Girls," "Pineapple Express"). Small town, indie flick. Looks interesting.

- Revolutionary Road... Yates novel, Mendes, Leo & Kate, lots of hype, don't think it'll live up, should want to see it more than I do.

- Defiance... True story, holocaust, Daniel Craig, Liev Shreiber, Russian accents. Bummed that preliminary reports are mild at best.
posted by Rockel @ 11:31 PM  
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Lyrics of the Week

ON THE NICKEL
by Tom Waits

("I'd like to do a new song here. This is eh, it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street. And eh all the winos affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.")

sticks and stones will break my bones,
but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone,
i'll sing this lullabye just for you,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never comb their hair,
well they're lined up all around the block,
on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket,
there is a hole in the pail,
and if you don't get my letter,
then you'll know that i'm in jail,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never say their prayers,
well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star,
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
just like punchlines between the cars,
and i know a place where a royal flush,
can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson,
is on the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain,
and you're always late for supper,
and man you let me down again,
i thought i heard a mockingbird, roosevelt knows where,
you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys,
who run away from home,
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger,
once you get out on your own,
so here's to all the little boys,
the sandman takes you where,
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman,
on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole,
and we'll fall right up the stairs,
and i'll show you where the short dogs grow,
on the nickel over there.

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