Friday, March 03, 2006
I'm not the only one excited...
Check out this film by some guys who are real fired up about Snakes on a Plane.
Faux Snakes on a Plane!
Thanks to my boy Alex for the heads up.
Faux Snakes on a Plane!
Thanks to my boy Alex for the heads up.
Random Thoughts on a Friday...
A Colorado teacher was suspended for making reference to the fact that some people compare Bush to Hitler. Apparently "there were not adequate opportunities for opposing points of view" Sounds like the lecture wasn't fair and balanced enough.
Does anyone else wish Jessica Simpson would just go away? I don't want to pop her bites.
Speaking of useless blondes Anna Nicole Smith's probate case has made the Supreme Court. If this sort of thing isn't the reason I started this site I don't know what is.
Scientists at the University of Colorado are reporting the world could face massive water shortages in the coming years due to reductions in the Antarctic ice sheet associated with global warming. Why do I have to get this news from an Australian paper? Is this not acceptable American news? I guess that question is nearly rhetorical.
I for one am looking forward to Jon Stewart hosting the Oscars. May we finally do away with song parodies and get a few Death to Smoochy jokes included in the program.
And in the does anyone really care department, the World Baseball Classic gets under way today. MSNBC has a nice breakdown here. Given the fact that star players are dropping out of it faster than Republican congressmen can give their Abramoff donations to charity, I really don't know how entertaining it's going to be.
Does anyone else wish Jessica Simpson would just go away? I don't want to pop her bites.
Speaking of useless blondes Anna Nicole Smith's probate case has made the Supreme Court. If this sort of thing isn't the reason I started this site I don't know what is.
Scientists at the University of Colorado are reporting the world could face massive water shortages in the coming years due to reductions in the Antarctic ice sheet associated with global warming. Why do I have to get this news from an Australian paper? Is this not acceptable American news? I guess that question is nearly rhetorical.
I for one am looking forward to Jon Stewart hosting the Oscars. May we finally do away with song parodies and get a few Death to Smoochy jokes included in the program.
And in the does anyone really care department, the World Baseball Classic gets under way today. MSNBC has a nice breakdown here. Given the fact that star players are dropping out of it faster than Republican congressmen can give their Abramoff donations to charity, I really don't know how entertaining it's going to be.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Oscar Pick version 2.0(Best Actress)
The best actress category in '06 offers a grand spectrum of delights. There are actual biographical figures (Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line), loosely biographical figures(Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents), a classical literary heroine(Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice), a woman trying to make her way in a man's world(Charlize Theron in North Country), and a woman playing a man trying to be a woman(Felicity Huffman in Transamerica).
It is truly a dizzying array of stories and fantastic actresses bring them to life richly. It seems a shame not to reward them all for there are truly some awe inspiring performances, and many bold choices that have been made this year. But we must have a winner, someone is taking home a golden bald man(no not Telly Savales), and dear reader I shall now venture to guess whom it shall be.
The consensus favorite seems to be Reese Witherspoon for her shining turn as June Carter Cash. Her June is the warm emotional center of an often dark and discomforting movie. She lifts her man when he is down, and in turn brings a jolt to the film whenever she appears on screen. She draws out the best in Johnny Cash and ultimately herself too. Her radience and her ability to pull him back from the brink are what carry this story, for without June there wouldn't have been a Johnny Cash.
The number 2 pick of most has been Felicity Huffman for her star making turn in Transamerica. Her Bree is a man about to become a woman who realizes she is a father. This is, of course, sort of a strange setup for your typical moviegoer, but Huffman's Bree is so accesible that any taboo one might feel is quickly lost. You realize that this isn't transgender as cause celebre, it's a scared, lonely, somewhat uptight woman coming to grips with the strange twist her life takes. It's a command performance not only for the nuance Huffman brings to a woman playing a man, but for the tactical way in which she pulls it off. Having been a fan since her Sports Night days I hope this is the film that launches her.
Charlize Theron once mined Oscar gold by turning from ravishing beauty to ferocious killer in Monster. She hopes another decidely unglamorous role could bring her a second statue. Her Josey Aimes is a coal miner's daughter who becomes a coal miner herself. She then faces all the predictable harassment that women typically face when thrust into a boys club, and decides to stand up for her rights. In the hands of a lesser actress this might have been a simple feel good character(think Dorothy Boyd in a hard hat). But she instills Josey with such emotional punch as to prove her turn in Monster was less about makeup and more about method.
For five time nominee Judi Dench these awards shows are old hat, she's even got a statue for her work in Shakespeare in Love(the most notable eight minutes in Academy history it seems). No one will take issue with the amount of screen time she gets in the title role of Mrs. Henderson Presents. She brings to this film what she brings to all her work, her amazing screen presence. You get the feeling that everyone on screen raises their game when the Dame is on set, and she brings out the best in her films. This role is well suited, as she flashes her charm, intelligence and bravado in a role perfectly matched to her skill set. But there is also vulnerability to her Mrs. Henderson, the doubts of a woman in war, doing as best she can to make things work. It is this contrast between melancholy and spunk that make this such magnificent work.
Elizabeth Bennet as film character is a been there done that kind of experience. Everyone from Greer Garson to Jennifer Ehle have tackled this role before so finding something new in so familiar a character is a unique challenge. Keira Knightley pulls it off brilliantly. I think perhaps the fact that she is closer in age to the character than her predecessors may help her in this regard. It is clear that Knightley connects with the material and she makes 2 century old dialogue seem fresh and inviting again. There is an effortlessness to the way she plays Bennet that is so natural it amazes. It is a performance worthy of this nod.
So which of these dyanamic ladies will take home the statue on Oscar night? I hate to front run but I have to go with Reese Witherspoon. Hers is a big turn in a fantastic film and she pulls it out with grace and aplomb. As hard as it is to go against Felicity Huffman's masterful work, I think when push comes to shove the voters will go with Reese.
It is truly a dizzying array of stories and fantastic actresses bring them to life richly. It seems a shame not to reward them all for there are truly some awe inspiring performances, and many bold choices that have been made this year. But we must have a winner, someone is taking home a golden bald man(no not Telly Savales), and dear reader I shall now venture to guess whom it shall be.
The consensus favorite seems to be Reese Witherspoon for her shining turn as June Carter Cash. Her June is the warm emotional center of an often dark and discomforting movie. She lifts her man when he is down, and in turn brings a jolt to the film whenever she appears on screen. She draws out the best in Johnny Cash and ultimately herself too. Her radience and her ability to pull him back from the brink are what carry this story, for without June there wouldn't have been a Johnny Cash.
The number 2 pick of most has been Felicity Huffman for her star making turn in Transamerica. Her Bree is a man about to become a woman who realizes she is a father. This is, of course, sort of a strange setup for your typical moviegoer, but Huffman's Bree is so accesible that any taboo one might feel is quickly lost. You realize that this isn't transgender as cause celebre, it's a scared, lonely, somewhat uptight woman coming to grips with the strange twist her life takes. It's a command performance not only for the nuance Huffman brings to a woman playing a man, but for the tactical way in which she pulls it off. Having been a fan since her Sports Night days I hope this is the film that launches her.
Charlize Theron once mined Oscar gold by turning from ravishing beauty to ferocious killer in Monster. She hopes another decidely unglamorous role could bring her a second statue. Her Josey Aimes is a coal miner's daughter who becomes a coal miner herself. She then faces all the predictable harassment that women typically face when thrust into a boys club, and decides to stand up for her rights. In the hands of a lesser actress this might have been a simple feel good character(think Dorothy Boyd in a hard hat). But she instills Josey with such emotional punch as to prove her turn in Monster was less about makeup and more about method.
For five time nominee Judi Dench these awards shows are old hat, she's even got a statue for her work in Shakespeare in Love(the most notable eight minutes in Academy history it seems). No one will take issue with the amount of screen time she gets in the title role of Mrs. Henderson Presents. She brings to this film what she brings to all her work, her amazing screen presence. You get the feeling that everyone on screen raises their game when the Dame is on set, and she brings out the best in her films. This role is well suited, as she flashes her charm, intelligence and bravado in a role perfectly matched to her skill set. But there is also vulnerability to her Mrs. Henderson, the doubts of a woman in war, doing as best she can to make things work. It is this contrast between melancholy and spunk that make this such magnificent work.
Elizabeth Bennet as film character is a been there done that kind of experience. Everyone from Greer Garson to Jennifer Ehle have tackled this role before so finding something new in so familiar a character is a unique challenge. Keira Knightley pulls it off brilliantly. I think perhaps the fact that she is closer in age to the character than her predecessors may help her in this regard. It is clear that Knightley connects with the material and she makes 2 century old dialogue seem fresh and inviting again. There is an effortlessness to the way she plays Bennet that is so natural it amazes. It is a performance worthy of this nod.
So which of these dyanamic ladies will take home the statue on Oscar night? I hate to front run but I have to go with Reese Witherspoon. Hers is a big turn in a fantastic film and she pulls it out with grace and aplomb. As hard as it is to go against Felicity Huffman's masterful work, I think when push comes to shove the voters will go with Reese.
My favorite forthcoming Summer movie:
Snakes on a Plane, or S.O.A.P as it is known as on IMDB, starring Samuel L. Jackson. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417148/
Who needs a plot, it's Samuel L., snakes ,and a plane. This movie will be fabulous as long as it doesn't take itself too seriously. Check out some pics I've found online.
Uh oh, snakes on a plane.
Why did it have to be snakes?
I got that mutha f**kin' snake!
Did you put snakes on my mutha f**kin' plane?
You can't tell me you don't want to see this! I haven't been this excited about unintentional comedy in a movie since the Rundown.(Imagine that pitch, It's the Rock, Christopher Walken, and Stifler from American Pie! You can't make this stuff up.)
Who needs a plot, it's Samuel L., snakes ,and a plane. This movie will be fabulous as long as it doesn't take itself too seriously. Check out some pics I've found online.
Uh oh, snakes on a plane.
Why did it have to be snakes?
I got that mutha f**kin' snake!
Did you put snakes on my mutha f**kin' plane?
You can't tell me you don't want to see this! I haven't been this excited about unintentional comedy in a movie since the Rundown.(Imagine that pitch, It's the Rock, Christopher Walken, and Stifler from American Pie! You can't make this stuff up.)
Tom Delay in some re-election trouble.
Yahoo news has an interesting article on indicted former House majority leader Tom Delay's effort to get re-elected:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060301/pl_nm/delay_dc
My favorite quote: "You never know how well an election will go for an indicted person," DeLay acknowledged in an interview with Reuters after a recent breakfast with Houston-area realtors.
Well, I know how it should go Tommy. With you getting sent back to the bug spray business. That way your noixous fumes will spread no further than living room carpet.
I guess he's now regretting those gerrymandered Texas districts he helped push through the state legislature. He took a less conservative one figuring his position of power, would enable him to cruise to re-elections for years. Isn't it ironic?
Yahoo news has an interesting article on indicted former House majority leader Tom Delay's effort to get re-elected:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060301/pl_nm/delay_dc
My favorite quote: "You never know how well an election will go for an indicted person," DeLay acknowledged in an interview with Reuters after a recent breakfast with Houston-area realtors.
Well, I know how it should go Tommy. With you getting sent back to the bug spray business. That way your noixous fumes will spread no further than living room carpet.
I guess he's now regretting those gerrymandered Texas districts he helped push through the state legislature. He took a less conservative one figuring his position of power, would enable him to cruise to re-elections for years. Isn't it ironic?
NL Central predictions:
1. Cardinals- In one sense the 2006 Cardinals are a bit like the Florida Marlins, they lost a ton of players this offseason. Among the departed are Reggie Sanders, Larry Walker, former staff ace Matt Morris, bench jack of all trades Abraham Nunez and bullpen stalwarts Ray King and Julian Tavarez. That however is where the simularities between these two clubs end, for the Cardinals unlike the Marlins still have a veteran nucleas and did a better job of replacing their departed. Besides any team that features both the reigning Cy Young Winner(Chris Carpenter) and the reigning MVP (Albert Pujols) is starting off ahead of the game.
Thank you, may I have another Cy Young please, sir?
2. Astros- Will the Rocket return? If he doesn't the 'Stros chances take a significant hit. I'm betting that he will though and that will make this the division's best rotation. Add in a good bullpen backed by the best young closer in the game(Brad Lidge) and you've got a whale of a pitching staff. Now if only they could find someone to hit. Outside of Lance Berkman, there really aren't any other regulars you'd want near your fantasy team(unless of course you're a Preston Wilson fan). Still with Clemens this is largely the same team that went to the Series last year so don't write them off.
3. Cubs- This team could either be marvelous or terrible. It completely depends on the health and well being of a pitching staff that's spent more time on the shelf than Season 3 of Chappelle Show. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are both phenomenal talents, with significant injury questions. Add in the fact that two other pitcher's on this staff are either 40 (Greg Maddux) or historically lousy(Glendon Rusch) and Carlos Zambrano looks like the only lock to have a great year. Still the Cubs did add Juan Pierre to the top of the lineup and assuming that Derek Lee continues his heroics and the Cubs offense should be better this year. I do really like their bullpen, Dempster was solid as the closer and the setup group is terrific. Healthy starters could mean a flag for the little bears from the windy place in '06.
4. Brewers- Did Milwaukee really make it to .500 a year ago? A check of last year's standings reveals that yes, the Men of Beer did in fact, win as many as they lost a year ago. However taking that next step may require some more tinkering. Davis and Capuano gave the Cheeseheads something they hadn't seen in a long time last year, good starting pitching. Add in closer Derrick Turnbow's 39 saves and you have the makings of a very solid pitching staff(as long as they keep Dan Kolb away from the ninth inning). A solid batting order which combines productive vets(Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee), with talented youngsters(Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks) gives the Brewers even more reason for optimism. However in a division packed tighter than an LA courtroom during a celebrity murder trial, it may be hard to see much improvement in the record. Look for the major movement to come in '07.
5. Pirates- There are things I like about the Pirates. They have a beautiful ballpark, some nice young pitching(Kip Wells, Zach Duke) and some thunder in their lineup(Jason Bay, Jeromy Burnitz when healthy). However they have too many weak spots to really be considered a contender. First off Scott Strickland closing? Not my first choice, and how does Roberto Hernandez keep getting MLB contracts? Does this guy have naked pictures of most baseball GMs? If that Steeler fan thought Jerome Bettis was heart attack inducing, wait until he watches Roberto pitch. His buddies will have to prop him up like Terry Kiser in Weekend at Bernie's by the All Star break.
6. Reds- Remember the Big Red Machine? After years of watching Ken Griffey, Jr. not play, neither does Cincinnati. This team is all Thunder and no Lightning. They have a group of players who collectively could lead the majors in homers, and a group of pitchers who surrender almost as many in return. Eric Milton gave out more roundtrippers last season(40) than most frequent flyer programs and he's their number 2 starter, yikes. I'm fully expecting the Great American ballpark scoreboard operator to develop carpal tunnel this year. Eventually this team may emerge from the mire, but it won't be this season.
When you're ready to fly Eric Milton can send you there.
1. Cardinals- In one sense the 2006 Cardinals are a bit like the Florida Marlins, they lost a ton of players this offseason. Among the departed are Reggie Sanders, Larry Walker, former staff ace Matt Morris, bench jack of all trades Abraham Nunez and bullpen stalwarts Ray King and Julian Tavarez. That however is where the simularities between these two clubs end, for the Cardinals unlike the Marlins still have a veteran nucleas and did a better job of replacing their departed. Besides any team that features both the reigning Cy Young Winner(Chris Carpenter) and the reigning MVP (Albert Pujols) is starting off ahead of the game.
Thank you, may I have another Cy Young please, sir?
2. Astros- Will the Rocket return? If he doesn't the 'Stros chances take a significant hit. I'm betting that he will though and that will make this the division's best rotation. Add in a good bullpen backed by the best young closer in the game(Brad Lidge) and you've got a whale of a pitching staff. Now if only they could find someone to hit. Outside of Lance Berkman, there really aren't any other regulars you'd want near your fantasy team(unless of course you're a Preston Wilson fan). Still with Clemens this is largely the same team that went to the Series last year so don't write them off.
3. Cubs- This team could either be marvelous or terrible. It completely depends on the health and well being of a pitching staff that's spent more time on the shelf than Season 3 of Chappelle Show. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are both phenomenal talents, with significant injury questions. Add in the fact that two other pitcher's on this staff are either 40 (Greg Maddux) or historically lousy(Glendon Rusch) and Carlos Zambrano looks like the only lock to have a great year. Still the Cubs did add Juan Pierre to the top of the lineup and assuming that Derek Lee continues his heroics and the Cubs offense should be better this year. I do really like their bullpen, Dempster was solid as the closer and the setup group is terrific. Healthy starters could mean a flag for the little bears from the windy place in '06.
4. Brewers- Did Milwaukee really make it to .500 a year ago? A check of last year's standings reveals that yes, the Men of Beer did in fact, win as many as they lost a year ago. However taking that next step may require some more tinkering. Davis and Capuano gave the Cheeseheads something they hadn't seen in a long time last year, good starting pitching. Add in closer Derrick Turnbow's 39 saves and you have the makings of a very solid pitching staff(as long as they keep Dan Kolb away from the ninth inning). A solid batting order which combines productive vets(Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee), with talented youngsters(Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks) gives the Brewers even more reason for optimism. However in a division packed tighter than an LA courtroom during a celebrity murder trial, it may be hard to see much improvement in the record. Look for the major movement to come in '07.
5. Pirates- There are things I like about the Pirates. They have a beautiful ballpark, some nice young pitching(Kip Wells, Zach Duke) and some thunder in their lineup(Jason Bay, Jeromy Burnitz when healthy). However they have too many weak spots to really be considered a contender. First off Scott Strickland closing? Not my first choice, and how does Roberto Hernandez keep getting MLB contracts? Does this guy have naked pictures of most baseball GMs? If that Steeler fan thought Jerome Bettis was heart attack inducing, wait until he watches Roberto pitch. His buddies will have to prop him up like Terry Kiser in Weekend at Bernie's by the All Star break.
6. Reds- Remember the Big Red Machine? After years of watching Ken Griffey, Jr. not play, neither does Cincinnati. This team is all Thunder and no Lightning. They have a group of players who collectively could lead the majors in homers, and a group of pitchers who surrender almost as many in return. Eric Milton gave out more roundtrippers last season(40) than most frequent flyer programs and he's their number 2 starter, yikes. I'm fully expecting the Great American ballpark scoreboard operator to develop carpal tunnel this year. Eventually this team may emerge from the mire, but it won't be this season.
When you're ready to fly Eric Milton can send you there.
Fox News is always good for a laugh.
Last week Fox news anchor Neil Cavuto came up with this brilliant topic of discussion:
This week he returns with this seemingly contradictory bit of "reporting":
Yes, Neil the hundreds of dead Sunnis killed by Shia death squads and the hundreds of Shia killed by Sunni insurgents are just figments of your imagination. This will all surely blow over as these two groups will sweep 1300 years of hatred under the rug and sing Kumbayah.
I'm beginning to think that Republicans are more concerned with being able to say that we are winning the war, than in actually taking steps to win it.
Last week Fox news anchor Neil Cavuto came up with this brilliant topic of discussion:
This week he returns with this seemingly contradictory bit of "reporting":
Yes, Neil the hundreds of dead Sunnis killed by Shia death squads and the hundreds of Shia killed by Sunni insurgents are just figments of your imagination. This will all surely blow over as these two groups will sweep 1300 years of hatred under the rug and sing Kumbayah.
I'm beginning to think that Republicans are more concerned with being able to say that we are winning the war, than in actually taking steps to win it.
