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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

08 January, 2009
The Official Opening of Award Season (Grab Your Guns)
*Updated* with (( Winners ))

The BFCA hand out their Critics Choice awards tonight... I've been watching screeners from friends frantically this past week and have seen most (though unfortunately not all) of the major films in contention for top prizes at the early Awards shows...

Predictions for tonight...

BEST PICTURE
(( Slumdog Millionaire ))
runner-up: Milk

"Slumdog" is riding Heath-Ledger-esque momentum right now... as topical, political, and controversial as "Milk" is, I don't think it has enough to knock Boyle's piece out of the top spot.

BEST ACTOR
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
(( runner-up: Sean Penn - Milk ))

Rourke has been the frontrunner in this one for a long while, and now that I've finally seen it, I can't say I wholeheartedly disagree, although, to be honest, I'm a little disappointed with this category this year. I still need to see "The Visitor," but I was not at all inspired to watch Eastwood in "Gran Torino" after viewing the trailer, Langella was well over-hyped as Nixon, and Pitt left quite a weak impression on me in "Button."

BEST ACTRESS
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
(( runner-up: Meryl Streep - Doubt ))
(( Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married ))

Anne Hathaway had the momentum in this category shortly before Jolie took it over, and now Streep appears to be the favorite. It may be the fact that I'm not a huge fan of Ms. Streep, but her performance in "Doubt," while strong, dominating, and a bit quirky, couldn't match the power of Leo's performance (sort of soberingly honest a la Amy Ryan/"Gone Baby Gone") in "River."

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
(( Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight ))
runner-up: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

Well, I have to say, this category didn't quite turn out to be the landslide everyone (including myself) sort of assumed in the wake of Ledger's death and stupendous opening of "The Dark Knight." Brolin and Franco were both equally incredible in "Milk," which, unfortunately, as is often the case, will cancel each other out, and Downey Jr., as much as I love him, should be grateful to have pulled in a nomination, as the BFCA rarely gives them out to off-the-wall patently comic performances in silly (albeit big budget), goof-ball comedies. Hoffman can do no wrong in my eyes, and his performance in "Doubt" was easily the strongest - high praise when looking at his co-stars.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis - Doubt
runner-up: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
(( Kate Winslet - The Reader ))

Alright, this is me basically picking the upset over someone I can't stand. Not to take anything away from Davis, as her performance in "Doubt" was remarkable and perhaps (taking into account her very brief time on screen) the most powerful and lasting one this year, but Cruz seems to have everyone assuming this one is locked up.

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Doubt
(( runner-up: Milk ))

In much the same way that Viola Davis' dense (or, perhaps, "consolidated") performance should win out over Penelope Cruz, the very few masterful performances in "Doubt" should topple the larger cast with great performances, "Milk."

BEST DIRECTOR
(( Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire ))
runner-up: David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Nolan and Howard both made some excellent decisions which led to great films, but both made several choices I didn't take well to, and, as a result, should not be considered for this one. Van Sant's film was remarkable, and while I think it'll do better at the more political Oscars, I don't see it bringing home the critics. I love Danny Boyle. I love David Fincher. Both are well under-awarded, and as much as I would love to see that change for the latter, "Slumdog" is by far the superior film.

BEST WRITER (Original or Adapted Screenplay)
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
(( runner-up: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire ))

This one was a tough one. Neither "Frost/Nixon" nor "Button" left me in awe of the writing. However, the other three are all very strong contenders. "Slumdog" is such an amazing film all around that although the writing didn't stick out as mindblowing, it was adequate to the purpose of the film, which, in such a terrific film, makes it great. However, you really have to appreciate the writing in films like "Milk" and "Doubt" that boast multiple Actor/Actress/Ensemble nominations. For me, great writing and great acting are so closely interlaced that it becomes the chicken-and-egg situation (Could that many strong performance come from a less worthy script? Could a less worthy script pull in that many strong actors/performances?). I don't know if "Doubt" will suffer because it is an "adaptation" (meaning the major speeches/dialogue were already "existing," even though the adaptation was done by the original writer), but I can't see "Milk" walking away from the evening empty handed.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
(( Wall-E ))
runner-up: Waltz With Bashir

This category would be a huge upset if anything other than Wall-E took it.

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS (Under 21)
(( Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire ))

No real contest here, I don't think. There still a lot of buzz over Dakota Fanning. Hopefully true talent will beat out name recognition.

BEST ACTION MOVIE
(( The Dark Knight ))

No real contest here, either. Too much press. Too much love. Too much Ledger. It can't be overthrown.

BEST COMEDY MOVIE
(( Tropic Thunder ))
runner-up: Burn After Reading

I guess you could call this an upset. "Burn" is the more "traditional" comedy winner, and "Barcelona" still has all that Penelope momentum, but "Thunder" is far and away the funniest (and the best) film on the list.

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
(( John Adams ))

No real contest. Again, I might look for "Recount" to do better at the Oscars, but I don't think "Adams" has anything to worry about tonight.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Let the Right One In
(( runner-up: Waltz With Bashir ))

I'm ashamed to say that I have seen 0 of the 6 films nominated in this category. So I'll just have to go with the buzz.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
(( Man On Wire ))
runner-up: Young At Heart

I've seen a few in this category, including my favorite movie from last year, "Young@Heart," but for predicting purposes I'm going to have to go with the film I just rented last night but have yet to watch, which has impressed 100% of the critics over at rottentomatoes.com, "Man on Wire."

BEST SONG
"Another Way to Die" (performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, written by Jack White) - Quantum of Solace
(( runner-up: "The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler ))

The Boss is the frontrunner, but you've got to love the theme song to the new Bond film. Alright, maybe you don't have to, but I certainly do. Best song of the year. No doubt. Even though Bruce will win.

BEST COMPOSER
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight
runner-up: Danny Elfman - Milk
(( A. R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire ))

I contemplated removing the runner-up on this one, because there's pretty much no way Zimmer/Newton Howard lose this one. But if they do it'll be to Elfman.



The Rockel score = 9/17... that's gotta get better
posted by Rockel @ 10:48 AM  
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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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