After the floods of biblical proportions last weekend, the skies have cleared to give way to absolutely beautiful weather the past few days - I'm actually excited to do my 8 mile run today just because I'll be outside! I also had a great massage yesterday - I'll probably get one more before the marathon and then one the week after.
Avid readers of ...this is home... know that I'm a huge fan of Glee (pass judgment elsewhere! haha), so I stopped flipping the channels last night when I came across this:
Can't April 13 come any faster?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
23004
That's my bib number for the 114th running of the Boston Marathon! I'll be towards the back (but I knew that already), but I'm not worried - I'm running the Boston Marathon!
This past weekend I felt like I was initiated into the "club" - I can really call myself a runner now, after 19 miles in the wind, rain and cold. It was as miserable as you probably all think, and I'll admit, I didn't mind it too much until the last 2.5 miles or so. By then, I had puddles in both of my shoes, I was soaked to the bone, and was pretty tired. BUT! I finished in approx. 3:10, which puts me on pace (I hope) for around a 4:30 marathon.
I've been running with the same group for the past month or so, and we've begun to utilize the run/walk method that Coach Rick has been such a big advocate of. Basically, for every 9 minutes you run, walk 1 minute. It sounds like it would be counter-intuitive and wreak havoc on your overall time, but studies have shown that it actually improves your overall time because you're not as fatigued as you would normally be. It's a little difficult to do at the beginning of long runs (it takes me about 3 miles to get into my rhythm), but once you're well into the run, the break is welcome. And, with my pacing, every 9 minutes I should be hitting a water stop along the course, so it's an easy break. I've also been eating Power-Bar energy chews during the long runs like it's my job - I'm becoming immune to their taste.
I've got just over a month left to meet my $7,000 fundraising goal, and if you haven't donated yet, it's not too late! Click here to support me!
Taking it easy this week - busy weekend, Michael Buble Friday night, NYC on Saturday to see Come Fly Away, A Little Night Music and Sondheim on Sondheim and maybe run the NYC 1/2 Marathon bandit! But if not, I'll be meeting up with a MOS team member who lives in Long Island City to run through Central Park - it's supposed to be beautiful this weekend.
This past weekend I felt like I was initiated into the "club" - I can really call myself a runner now, after 19 miles in the wind, rain and cold. It was as miserable as you probably all think, and I'll admit, I didn't mind it too much until the last 2.5 miles or so. By then, I had puddles in both of my shoes, I was soaked to the bone, and was pretty tired. BUT! I finished in approx. 3:10, which puts me on pace (I hope) for around a 4:30 marathon.
I've been running with the same group for the past month or so, and we've begun to utilize the run/walk method that Coach Rick has been such a big advocate of. Basically, for every 9 minutes you run, walk 1 minute. It sounds like it would be counter-intuitive and wreak havoc on your overall time, but studies have shown that it actually improves your overall time because you're not as fatigued as you would normally be. It's a little difficult to do at the beginning of long runs (it takes me about 3 miles to get into my rhythm), but once you're well into the run, the break is welcome. And, with my pacing, every 9 minutes I should be hitting a water stop along the course, so it's an easy break. I've also been eating Power-Bar energy chews during the long runs like it's my job - I'm becoming immune to their taste.
I've got just over a month left to meet my $7,000 fundraising goal, and if you haven't donated yet, it's not too late! Click here to support me!
Taking it easy this week - busy weekend, Michael Buble Friday night, NYC on Saturday to see Come Fly Away, A Little Night Music and Sondheim on Sondheim and maybe run the NYC 1/2 Marathon bandit! But if not, I'll be meeting up with a MOS team member who lives in Long Island City to run through Central Park - it's supposed to be beautiful this weekend.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Oscar Reactions
Overall, I thought the winners were deserved. Only minor shock/upset of the night was the Adapted Screenplay win for Precious, and Up in the Air batting 0-for-6 and going home empty handed. I was also a little disappointed with Foreign Language film, I thought Un Prophete was outstanding.
Here's the trailer for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood remake. Looks like Gladiator redux (down to the score), but I've already got plans to see it on May 14th. Does that make me a fanboy?
Here's the trailer for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood remake. Looks like Gladiator redux (down to the score), but I've already got plans to see it on May 14th. Does that make me a fanboy?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
2010 Acacemy Award Winners
Picture: The Hurt Locker
Director: Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Actor: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
Actress: Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds
Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher - Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Original Screenplay: Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker
Animated Feature: Up
Foreign Language Film: El Secreto de sus Ojos - Argentina
Documentary: The Cove
Art Direction: Avatar
Cinematography: Avatar
Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Makeup: Star Trek
Original Song: "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)"
Original Score: Up
Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects: Avatar
Short Film - Live Action: Music by Prudence
Short Film - Animated: Logorama
Director: Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Actor: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
Actress: Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds
Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher - Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Original Screenplay: Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker
Animated Feature: Up
Foreign Language Film: El Secreto de sus Ojos - Argentina
Documentary: The Cove
Art Direction: Avatar
Cinematography: Avatar
Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Makeup: Star Trek
Original Song: "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)"
Original Score: Up
Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects: Avatar
Short Film - Live Action: Music by Prudence
Short Film - Animated: Logorama
Live Oscar Blogging!
12:01am - And with that, The Hurt Locker becomes the lowest grossing Best Picture winner ever, with a domestic gross of about $13 million. It was the big winner of the night, winning a total of 6 awards; Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.
11:59pm - THE HURT LOCKER!
11:58pm - BEST PIC- I CANT HANDLE IT!
11:55pm - The Academy makes history and awards Kathryn Bigelow best Director for The Hurt Locker - I'll be able to watch the Oscars next year!
11:50pm - SaBu wins! Hooray!
11:44pm - Traipsing out the next set to present Best Actress - Oprah is speaking about Gabby Sidibe - should be ridiculous
11:33pm - Nice speeches to the nominees, and Jeff Bridges wins Best Actor and gets a standing ovation...bring on Best Actress
11:24pm - And things just got interesting with the Best Actor presenters....
11:16pm - El Secreto de sus Ojos wins foreign - boo
11:10pm - Ugh, there are 5 awards left! Do we REALLY need to go to another commercial?! Nice Hurt Locker montage though
11:08pm - The Hurt Locker takes editing
10:55pm - Avatar wins best visual effects. In a related story, the Earth is round.
10:52pm - So that was pretty terrible
10:46pm - Do we really need to have this dance segment? I'd like to get to bed before 2am...
10:36pm - In Memoriam montage - ends with Karl Malden, left off Farrah Fawcett - whoops
10:28pm - The Hurt Locker takes both sound awards - things are getting interesting...
10:08pm - Avatar gets its first win, art direction. These "I see you" jokes need to stop, they're lame
9:59pm - Mo'Nique wins Supporting Actress and gets a well deserved standing ovation. Outstanding
9:50pm - First major upset - Precious wins Adapted Screenplay - wow
9:39pm - Good for Ben Stiller for fully committing to the Avatar bit - awkward, but funny. And Star Trek wins make up
9:35pm - Shorts are over (read: most boring)
9:22pm - Nice John Hughes tribute - Judd and Macually are a mess...
9:16pm - Hurt Locker wins Best Original Screenplay!! Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come!
9:12pm - This is going to be a long night - it's been almost 40 minutes and only 3 awards have been given out
9:05pm - T-Bone Burnett is a GIANT!
8:58pm - Up wins animated - again, big shock...
8:47pm - First award of the night, Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
8:42pm - Great opening - but a little nervous that The Hurt Locker didn't get a ton of applause and Avatar did...
8:34pm - Ok, awesome opening
8:32pm - YES!! NPH!!
8:30pm - OMG!! IT'S STARTING FOR REAL THIS TIME!!
8:22pm - Miley Cyrus is one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people?! Seriously?!
8:14pm - According to Sherry Shepard, JLo is wearing Armandi Preeday - ABC's casting people need to get the axe. Seriously. Do their decisions not have to be vetted by anyone?
8:10pm - Who hired Kathy Ireland? Someone should loose their job...
8:03pm - Ok, we get it, Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire - could we be any more pretentious?
8:01pm - Ugh, I forgot that ABC does a stupid pre-show. I have Oscar blue-balls
8:00pm - IT'S STARTING! IT'S STARTING!
7:58pm - Made the switch from E! to ABC - Ryan Seacrest was getting abrasive
7:55pm - Kate Winslet is beautiful. Sam Mendes is a lucky man
7:50pm - I still can't believe that Gerard Butler played the Phantom of the Opera
7:46pm - If NPH opens the show, I just might pee...
7:43pm - From @Awardsdaily I follow on twitter: When the camera cuts away from Gabby to any of the other actresses I have flashbacks of Auschwitz. #oscars. #jokesinpoortaste
7:40pm - Quote of the night goes to Gabby Sidibe "If a dress were porn, this would be the money shot." Game. Set. Match.
7:38pm - Whoa. Keanu Reeves. What's with the patchy beard? And Woody Harrelson is wearing a hemp suit. Are you surprised? Gabby Sidibe is gonna tell me somethin' bout her dress
7:36pm - If you're curious about the breakdown of the Academy:
7:33pm - Marc Anthony, you're at best, a B list celeb. You're not entitled to wear sunglasses when it's raining.
7:30pm - I think that Adam Shenkman would be fun to hang out with. And Meryl, why do you always look like an old woman - you're not THAT old! And can someone please give Demi Moore a steak? THIRTY MINUTES TIL THE BIG SHOW!
7:27 pm- Do you think George Clooney is as nice in person as he seems?
7:25pm - Live blogging or live tweeting? Ima do both
7:17pm - Is Ryan Seacrest a midget? I think so. Kathryn Bigelow is a COUGAR
7:12pm - Live blogging commences! I've waited 365 days for this - it's one of my favorite days of the year. SaBu looks amazing, Miley Cyrus is a whore, so is her mother with stupid angel wing tats. Ryan Seacrest asked Tom Ford who he was wearing - seriously? SJP looks a little tragic...
11:59pm - THE HURT LOCKER!
11:58pm - BEST PIC- I CANT HANDLE IT!
11:55pm - The Academy makes history and awards Kathryn Bigelow best Director for The Hurt Locker - I'll be able to watch the Oscars next year!
11:50pm - SaBu wins! Hooray!
11:44pm - Traipsing out the next set to present Best Actress - Oprah is speaking about Gabby Sidibe - should be ridiculous
11:33pm - Nice speeches to the nominees, and Jeff Bridges wins Best Actor and gets a standing ovation...bring on Best Actress
11:24pm - And things just got interesting with the Best Actor presenters....
11:16pm - El Secreto de sus Ojos wins foreign - boo
11:10pm - Ugh, there are 5 awards left! Do we REALLY need to go to another commercial?! Nice Hurt Locker montage though
11:08pm - The Hurt Locker takes editing
10:55pm - Avatar wins best visual effects. In a related story, the Earth is round.
10:52pm - So that was pretty terrible
10:46pm - Do we really need to have this dance segment? I'd like to get to bed before 2am...
10:36pm - In Memoriam montage - ends with Karl Malden, left off Farrah Fawcett - whoops
10:28pm - The Hurt Locker takes both sound awards - things are getting interesting...
10:08pm - Avatar gets its first win, art direction. These "I see you" jokes need to stop, they're lame
9:59pm - Mo'Nique wins Supporting Actress and gets a well deserved standing ovation. Outstanding
9:50pm - First major upset - Precious wins Adapted Screenplay - wow
9:39pm - Good for Ben Stiller for fully committing to the Avatar bit - awkward, but funny. And Star Trek wins make up
9:35pm - Shorts are over (read: most boring)
9:22pm - Nice John Hughes tribute - Judd and Macually are a mess...
9:16pm - Hurt Locker wins Best Original Screenplay!! Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come!
9:12pm - This is going to be a long night - it's been almost 40 minutes and only 3 awards have been given out
9:05pm - T-Bone Burnett is a GIANT!
8:58pm - Up wins animated - again, big shock...
8:47pm - First award of the night, Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
8:42pm - Great opening - but a little nervous that The Hurt Locker didn't get a ton of applause and Avatar did...
8:34pm - Ok, awesome opening
8:32pm - YES!! NPH!!
8:30pm - OMG!! IT'S STARTING FOR REAL THIS TIME!!
8:22pm - Miley Cyrus is one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people?! Seriously?!
8:14pm - According to Sherry Shepard, JLo is wearing Armandi Preeday - ABC's casting people need to get the axe. Seriously. Do their decisions not have to be vetted by anyone?
8:10pm - Who hired Kathy Ireland? Someone should loose their job...
8:03pm - Ok, we get it, Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire - could we be any more pretentious?
8:01pm - Ugh, I forgot that ABC does a stupid pre-show. I have Oscar blue-balls
8:00pm - IT'S STARTING! IT'S STARTING!
7:58pm - Made the switch from E! to ABC - Ryan Seacrest was getting abrasive
7:55pm - Kate Winslet is beautiful. Sam Mendes is a lucky man
7:50pm - I still can't believe that Gerard Butler played the Phantom of the Opera
7:46pm - If NPH opens the show, I just might pee...
7:43pm - From @Awardsdaily I follow on twitter: When the camera cuts away from Gabby to any of the other actresses I have flashbacks of Auschwitz. #oscars. #jokesinpoortaste
7:40pm - Quote of the night goes to Gabby Sidibe "If a dress were porn, this would be the money shot." Game. Set. Match.
7:38pm - Whoa. Keanu Reeves. What's with the patchy beard? And Woody Harrelson is wearing a hemp suit. Are you surprised? Gabby Sidibe is gonna tell me somethin' bout her dress
7:36pm - If you're curious about the breakdown of the Academy:
7:33pm - Marc Anthony, you're at best, a B list celeb. You're not entitled to wear sunglasses when it's raining.
7:30pm - I think that Adam Shenkman would be fun to hang out with. And Meryl, why do you always look like an old woman - you're not THAT old! And can someone please give Demi Moore a steak? THIRTY MINUTES TIL THE BIG SHOW!
7:27 pm- Do you think George Clooney is as nice in person as he seems?
7:25pm - Live blogging or live tweeting? Ima do both
7:17pm - Is Ryan Seacrest a midget? I think so. Kathryn Bigelow is a COUGAR
7:12pm - Live blogging commences! I've waited 365 days for this - it's one of my favorite days of the year. SaBu looks amazing, Miley Cyrus is a whore, so is her mother with stupid angel wing tats. Ryan Seacrest asked Tom Ford who he was wearing - seriously? SJP looks a little tragic...
IT'S OSCAR SUNDAY!
Greetings readers! Just got back from a great weekend with the brothers of Theta Mu and their New Member Education retreat in Connecticut. It was a great weekend to see a lot of the guys and meet some of the new members. Also did a couple of great rituals, and it was an absolutely beautiful weekend. And now, onto bigger and better things: ...this is home...'s 2010 Oscar predictions.
Those that know me know that today is my Super Bowl, and that starting at 6, I'll be camped out on the couch and live blogging from 39 Winnecowett Drive (didn't feel like driving back to Somerville after driving back from CT today). I'll also be live blogging. There are quite a few locked down categories, and a few too close to call, most notably Best Picture. I'll start with the sure-thing winners and then move on to the less certain...
LOCKS (or pretty close to it)
Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Geroge Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Directing
James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds
Lee Daniels, Precious: based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
District 9 - Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
An Education -Nick Hornby
In the Loop - Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - Geoffrey Fletcher
Up in the Air - Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Animated Feature
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up
Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
It's either Sandra or Meryl, and I think Sandra will take it - she has the momentum now. Meryl will have to be content with her 2 Oscars and 16 (yes, 16) nominations.
Cinematography
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon
I wont be surprised if any of them (except Harry Potter) win - Basterds and Ribbon are dark horses
Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria
Sound Mixing
Avatar
Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Sound Editing
Avatar
Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up
Both of these categories are tough to call, because they usually go hand and hand. A double win for Avatar or The Hurt Locker wouldn't be a major surprise, nor would a split. I'm gonna go with the split, overall sound going to The Hurt Locker and specific sounds to Avatar.
Foreign Language Film
Ajami (Israel)
The Milk of Sorrow (Peru)
Un Prophete (France)
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Argentina)
The White Ribbon (Germany)
I've seen 3 of the 5 (Ajami, Un Prophete and The White Ribbon) and Un Prophete stayed with me the most. It won the Grand Prix (runner up) prize in Cannes last May - the winner of the Palm d'Or? The White Ribbon. Academy members must see all 5 in order to vote. The buzz is they'll go with something more audience friendly (The Milk of Sorrow), but I'd be surprised if they're not stunned by Un Prophete.
Too Close to Call
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Hurt Locker - Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino
The Messenger - Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
A Serious Man - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Up - Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Hurt Locker and Basterds have split precursors, with Hurt Locker winning the WGA and BAFTA. Basterds was brilliantly written by Tarantino, but I suspect Basterds will be thrown a bone with Christoph Waltz's win. I'm going to go with The Hurt Locker, but won't be surprised by a Basterds win.
Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
Really, this is a 3 film race, Avatar, Hurt Locker and Basterds. Towards the end of February, it seemed like it was The Hurt Locker was in it to win it, sweeping almost all of the critics and guild awards (2 misses, Golden Globes - Avatar, SAG - Basterds). Then there was some major backlash the past week, including a Hurt Locker producer sending an e-mail asking Academy members to vote for his film (a blatant rule violation), and war vets disputing its accuracy. I think though, most ballots had been turned in by that point. I think that The Hurt Locker has pretty broad support (based on it's guild wins), where as Avatar was pretty much visually stunning (the script was terrible) and Basterds is an actors piece. I'm going to go with The Hurt Locker, but I also really enjoyed Avatar and Basterds, so I won't be terribly unhappy if any of them win. The Hurt Locker is my #1 film of the year regardless of tonight's results.
What are your thoughts? Check back starting around 7 for live blogging!
Those that know me know that today is my Super Bowl, and that starting at 6, I'll be camped out on the couch and live blogging from 39 Winnecowett Drive (didn't feel like driving back to Somerville after driving back from CT today). I'll also be live blogging. There are quite a few locked down categories, and a few too close to call, most notably Best Picture. I'll start with the sure-thing winners and then move on to the less certain...
LOCKS (or pretty close to it)
Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Geroge Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Directing
James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds
Lee Daniels, Precious: based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
District 9 - Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
An Education -Nick Hornby
In the Loop - Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - Geoffrey Fletcher
Up in the Air - Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Animated Feature
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up
Feature Documentary
Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home
Art Direction
Avatar
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria
Visual Effects
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek
Original Score
Avatar - James Horner
Fantastic Mr. Fox - Alexandre Desplat
The Hurt Locker - Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
Sherlock Holmes - Hans Zimmer
Up - Michael Giacchino
Original Song
"Almost There" - The Princess and the Frog
"Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog
"Loin de Paname" - Paris 36
"Take It All" - Nine
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" - Crazy Heart
Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
It's either Sandra or Meryl, and I think Sandra will take it - she has the momentum now. Meryl will have to be content with her 2 Oscars and 16 (yes, 16) nominations.
Cinematography
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon
I wont be surprised if any of them (except Harry Potter) win - Basterds and Ribbon are dark horses
Costume Design
Bright Star
Coco Avant Chanel
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Nine
The Young Victoria
Young Victoria could upset, but I heard the Chanel recreations were immaculate
Editing
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Avatar could upset here, but editing gave THL a lot of its suspense
Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria
Sound Mixing
Avatar
Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Sound Editing
Avatar
Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up
Both of these categories are tough to call, because they usually go hand and hand. A double win for Avatar or The Hurt Locker wouldn't be a major surprise, nor would a split. I'm gonna go with the split, overall sound going to The Hurt Locker and specific sounds to Avatar.
Foreign Language Film
Ajami (Israel)
The Milk of Sorrow (Peru)
Un Prophete (France)
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Argentina)
The White Ribbon (Germany)
I've seen 3 of the 5 (Ajami, Un Prophete and The White Ribbon) and Un Prophete stayed with me the most. It won the Grand Prix (runner up) prize in Cannes last May - the winner of the Palm d'Or? The White Ribbon. Academy members must see all 5 in order to vote. The buzz is they'll go with something more audience friendly (The Milk of Sorrow), but I'd be surprised if they're not stunned by Un Prophete.
Too Close to Call
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Hurt Locker - Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino
The Messenger - Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
A Serious Man - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Up - Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Hurt Locker and Basterds have split precursors, with Hurt Locker winning the WGA and BAFTA. Basterds was brilliantly written by Tarantino, but I suspect Basterds will be thrown a bone with Christoph Waltz's win. I'm going to go with The Hurt Locker, but won't be surprised by a Basterds win.
Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
Really, this is a 3 film race, Avatar, Hurt Locker and Basterds. Towards the end of February, it seemed like it was The Hurt Locker was in it to win it, sweeping almost all of the critics and guild awards (2 misses, Golden Globes - Avatar, SAG - Basterds). Then there was some major backlash the past week, including a Hurt Locker producer sending an e-mail asking Academy members to vote for his film (a blatant rule violation), and war vets disputing its accuracy. I think though, most ballots had been turned in by that point. I think that The Hurt Locker has pretty broad support (based on it's guild wins), where as Avatar was pretty much visually stunning (the script was terrible) and Basterds is an actors piece. I'm going to go with The Hurt Locker, but I also really enjoyed Avatar and Basterds, so I won't be terribly unhappy if any of them win. The Hurt Locker is my #1 film of the year regardless of tonight's results.
What are your thoughts? Check back starting around 7 for live blogging!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
MIA
I apologize, dear readers, for my complete lack of attention to my blog. Life has gotten in the way. I'm still alive, and with less than 7 weeks to go, Marathon training has consumed my life.
What have I been up to for the past few weeks you may ask? Not a whole lot. Training, training and more training. Completed 18 miles last weekend and felt pretty good about it. A 13 mile "break" this weekend (did you ever think I'd consider 13 miles a break? I didn't), and then the final 2 long runs of training - 19 and 21. Whoa! I can't believe it's almost here!
Went to NYC on the 17th to see A View From the Bridge and A Behanding in Spokane, both were blah, and I wasn't able to see the Tim Burton exhibit at MoMA, so a disappointing trip overall. Saw Shutter Island two weeks ago - will someone please give Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar? Please?
It's also Oscar week, so I'll be back later with predictions for the big dance on Sunday night. Are you pumped? I am.
I leave you today with this clip. Roger Ebert was on Oprah yesterday. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002 and has had various surgeries to rid himself of it, but it eventually meant losing part of his jaw and his ability to speak. Esquire ran a fantastic story about him in the March 2010 issue.
He was a frequent panelist at the American Pavilion when I interned at Cannes in 2006 and was lucky enough to meet him and his wife, Chaz. He was an incredible speaker, and reaffirmed my love for film, even if I didn't want to get into the business. Turns out, this was right before he lost his voice. He has been working with a company in Europe to be able to speak through his computer. The results are incredible.
What have I been up to for the past few weeks you may ask? Not a whole lot. Training, training and more training. Completed 18 miles last weekend and felt pretty good about it. A 13 mile "break" this weekend (did you ever think I'd consider 13 miles a break? I didn't), and then the final 2 long runs of training - 19 and 21. Whoa! I can't believe it's almost here!
Went to NYC on the 17th to see A View From the Bridge and A Behanding in Spokane, both were blah, and I wasn't able to see the Tim Burton exhibit at MoMA, so a disappointing trip overall. Saw Shutter Island two weeks ago - will someone please give Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar? Please?
It's also Oscar week, so I'll be back later with predictions for the big dance on Sunday night. Are you pumped? I am.
I leave you today with this clip. Roger Ebert was on Oprah yesterday. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002 and has had various surgeries to rid himself of it, but it eventually meant losing part of his jaw and his ability to speak. Esquire ran a fantastic story about him in the March 2010 issue.
He was a frequent panelist at the American Pavilion when I interned at Cannes in 2006 and was lucky enough to meet him and his wife, Chaz. He was an incredible speaker, and reaffirmed my love for film, even if I didn't want to get into the business. Turns out, this was right before he lost his voice. He has been working with a company in Europe to be able to speak through his computer. The results are incredible.
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