The Only Slightly Interesting Movie Out There Right is One I Haven't Seen

I keep looking at my Fandango App with giddy anticipation- hoping and praying that there really is a film out there within 35 miles of my location about which I can truly get excited. Hot Tub Time Machine not withstanding, admittedly, Polanski's Ghostwriter, creates a bit of a stirring in my loins but evidently not enough to get me in the theatre the first chance I get. Is this the price I pay for living in Woodland, CA? Granted, I am mildly fascinated with the possibility of Greenberg but even as a write this I feel my eyelids getting heavy. I remember the Squid and the Whale was well written and quietly desperate and familiarly tragic in that adult child of divorce kind of a way. But then a trusted friend said to stay far far way from Margot's Wedding which I did. I am interested in Ben Stiller playing the caustically funny depressed Jew since the Woodman has been out of the pictures now for so long but still, not enough to get me off of the couch today. I have the Piano Teacher and Capitalism: A Love Story waiting to be viewed from Netflix and latest Real Time with Maher too so perhaps this will be a quiet Saturday night in front of the glow- which is just fine with me...


Anyone out there seen Justified yet? I am talking about the new FX series with the scandalously charming Timothy Olyphant and a cast of other characters who are bone chillingly and psychotically both ignorant and evil.  It is very violent and mildly (ha ha) unrealistic given the cinematic verisimilitude that the creators are  trying to achieve but it has certainly grabbed my attention. It's a good thing too considering that I am still heartbroken over the ending of Nip/Tuck.

Join me tonight in watching the return of two great Showtime offerings

I was late in coming to both Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara. But I am now all caught up thanks to Netflix and repeats on Showtime and tonight are the premieres of the second seasons of both shows. I LOVE having great, smart, flawed females in STARRING roles in the box they call the television. Mary Tyler Moore these women are not. I am in turns aghast, in awe and unsure how to understand these characters and all I can say to that is Thank god for flawed women who have agency and ownership in their lives in a very powerful way.

The Oscars are over LOST is coming to a satisfying end and Breaking Bad, Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara are finally back!

Katherine Bigelow wins- James Cameron loses- I do not know which one makes me happiest. I am not usually the vindictive sort but I think in this case I am happier about James Cameron and Avatar losing in pretty much every category. When a young up and coming actress who just made a Cameron film calls him "passionate" and "earnest," you know she is euphemistically pointing out that he is in fact a rageaholic, mean spirited and narcissistic. His bullshit has caught up with him and as far as I am concerned the community, his community is giving him a strong message. The question is is he listening? I do not care how rich or "technically ingenious" someone is- when you cannot be decent and good to those around you- you pay in one way or another.
OK, moving on. Yay Ms. Bigelow. Sad that it took this long for a woman to win in this category but unfortunately, even for the least cynical among us, not surprising.  She is a powerful, purely cinematic director and there was no one more deserving that she this year.


I had so many TV shows and movies in my queue upon my return from the desert but a day at home in my p.j.'s gave me the chance to finally catch up.
I have always had a "love/I am SO bored relationship" with LOST. I gave up again in this last season- the whole gathering of unrecognizable people at the temple was enough for me to turn it off. But with my fast forward button in hand I have been able to stick with it. I am loving the scenes in which we witness the intertwining of their lives if the Island hadn't gotten in the way. The strength of LOST, apart from the crazy story lines, is it's big HEART. Ultimately, love and purpose and understanding is what everyone on the island is seeking and I can relate to that.

My Predictions for the Oscars

Perhaps this comes to no surprise to those who know me but I have actually seen all ten of the best picture nominees. All TEN of the them. Well, actually, the count is really 9 1/2- my husband and I walked out of District 9 half way through. 


OK, I am going to pretend I work in one on those big unidentifiable offices with lots of cubicles- a place where people put in money to vote and win what I believe are called office "pools." As such, my predictions are pointing to who/what I think will win not what I WANT to win. (in parentheses is what I wish would win) Here goes:


Best Picture: AVATAR (The Hurt Locker)
Best Director: Katherine Bigelow
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges (Colin Firth)
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock (Gaourey Sidebe and Carey Mulligan)
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique
Best Original Screenplay: Inglorious Basterds 
Best Adapted: Up in the Air
Best Editing: The Hurt Locker
Best Cinematography: The Hurt Locker
Best Sound Everything: The Hurt Locker
Best Visual Effects: Avatar




Well, OK, maybe some of the choices are wishful thinking but I will be watching and I hope you do too!