We’ll Be Back Soon

Hey Everyone,

We’ve lost some writers recently, but McCarthy Culkin and Joe Lies will continue on with a new blog.  We’ll have more information to come next week. We’ll keep you posted. See you soon!

Joe Lies

Happy Birthday, Bullitt!

Hollywood great Steve McQueen would have been eighty today had he not died thirty years ago.  Steve McQueen was a cool dude.  And one that I feel a kin to because his nickname, like my son’s, was Mac, and he seemed to be able to kick anyone’s ass even though he stood at a mere 5”9’; sort of like my dad, who by the way would kill to be 5”9’.  Also I am allergic to animals and find them kind of stinky so I’ve gotta love a man who was quoted as saying “When a horse learns to buy martinis, I’ll learn to like horses”.  Amen, to that.

I've never liked smoking but McQueen made even that filthy habit look cool

So today we celebrate the birthday of the King of Cool.  A day he shares with some less cool celebrities.  There is nothing worse than having your birthday soiled by sharing it with people who suck.  Trust me, I know first hand.  I wish someone cool like McQueen was born on my birthday.  Instead I share it with Gypsy Rose Lee (the actual stripper, not Natalie Wood), Joe Pesci, and a real life suckafool who I won’t be so rude as to mention here.  So Steve, in honor of your birthday, let’s take a moment to bust on the other losers who were born today so we can be sure you continue to reign supreme even from the afterlife.

Al Reynolds AND Star Jones – They share a birthday and the marriage didn’t last?  How could that be?  Oh, right, he’s gay and she’s a crazy person. Those kinds of relationships never work out.

Louie Anderson – I’m sorry, he just seems like a dick.  He’s not funny and I get the feeling he’s mean in real life.  Maybe, I’m wrong and he’s just swell and I’m the mean one but I usually have pretty good instincts on these kinds of things so let’s just call him an ass and move on.

Yes, I know he's smiling but I don't believe it's genuine.

Donna Pescow – She played the pathetic Annette who kept trying to get with John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever and then she played the title role in the 1979 sitcom Angie about a waitress who married millionaire Robert Hayes. She seems like a nice enough person but she’s no McQueen.  She should have been born with other lesser knowns on the 23rd or the 25th.

Kelly LeBrock – Sure, her body was amazing but her face was weird and she was dumb enough to marry Steven Segal.  Boo!

Lake Bell – Casting directors seem to think she’s sexy. I think she looks like a man.

Yes, I see the boobs, too, but there is something about her face that screams "MAN!" to me.

Lara Flynn Boyle – I kind of love her because, like most of my family, she’s Irish and crazy, but she’s no McQueen.  More like McQueen’s nutso cousin who shows up at family reunions with men like Jack Nicholson and David Spade.  You know what?  I do love her and I bet McQueen would have, too.  Stay crazy, Flynn Boyle!

Lark Voorhies – Two words for you: Lisa Turtle.  She almost deserves this day just for putting up with Screech all those years.

Matthew Peck – Never heard of him?  Your loss.  He’s my 4 year old’s little bud and he knows more about Bakugans than anyone on earth.  McQueen would actually think this kid was cool and be honored to share a birthday with him.  Have fun turning five, MP.

With a steely blue stare like that, this kid could hold his own with McQueen

 Megyn Price – She was on Grounded for Life with Donal Logue and now she’s on Rules of Engagement with David Spade and Seinfeld’s Putty.  She always plays up her boobs.  Bobby and I call her “Slutty Mom” because that’s how she’s usually typecast.  She’s likable enough but a little too low rent to share a birthday with McQueen.  Plus I hate people who don’t know how to spell their own names.  It’s Megan or Meghan but not Megyn.

I’m sure there are others.  There always are.  The great ones never get to have their day all to themselves.  And I guess who is great is relative.  I mean, maybe some of you actually think Kelly LeBrock or Louie Anderson has given more to the world of entertainment than Steve McQueen did.  I sort of want to punch you for thinking that, but to paraphrase the great Bobby Brown “it’s your perogative”.  However, I am sure if you were stuck at the top of The Towering Inferno trying to decide whether or not to get on that outdoor glass elevator, you’d want Steve McQueen not Al Reynolds by your side.  And that’s why anyone can call March 24th their birthday, but the day really belongs to only one man.  Happy Birthday, Bullitt.

Yes, I'll get you out of that burning building, and I'll probably kiss you, too, because that's how I roll.

Kelly Leak Returns

His name was Kelly Leak. He rode a Harley. He wore a fringe jacket. He smoked. He played Centerfield and hit clean up for the Bears. He seemed at least 5 years older than his foul mouthed shortstop, Tanner Boyle. He was the engine that helped the Bears be Bad News, Break Training, and go to Japan. His look defined the mid to late 70’s teenage derelict. He was their best player and the most identifiable character to come out of The Bad News Bears Trilogy. In a lesser known role, Kelly Leak also played for my late 80’s computer baseball Boston Red Sox Team. He was a monster. Besides Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans and Roger Clemens, that team also featured an aging catcher, Crash Davis, and a rookie pitcher, Nuke Laloosh. Suffice it to say, my team was unbeatable. Just ask the guys who captained the Yankees, Mets, and Orioles in the summer of 88. There was no stopping that lineup and Kelly Leak was the anchor. Just a great character, and it wouldn’t have been as iconic if he hadn’t been played by Jackie Earle Haley.

Jackie Earle Haley parlayed the success of Kelly Leak into another great role as Moocher in the Academy Award Nominated film, Breaking Away. Even though he was only 17, he held his own with cast mates, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Christopher, and Daniel Stern, who were already well into their 20’s. Moocher had a temper and liked to hit people. Kelly Leak was the same way. He must be a phenomenal actor because he is incredibly small. Maybe 5’5”, yet he pulls off being a tough guy. It doesn’t make sense on paper, but somehow it works on screen. I expected big things from Haley, but after a few television roles, and some B-Movies, by 1993, he had vanished. Stopped acting completely. Instead, he delivered pizzas, drove limousines, and worked for a while as a security officer. If Kelly Leak were on patrol, I’d think twice about causing any trouble. He didn’t make his return to acting until 2006, when Director Steve Zaillian cast him opposite Kate Winslet in All The Kings Men. Zaillian remembered Haley’s late 70’s lexicon and brought him back into acting. That opened the flood gates. That same year, he was cast opposite Winslet again, in his Academy Award Nominated performance in Little Children. He’s great in that movie. Disturbing, yes, but an excellent performance.

I was happy to see him return to the screen. You always wonder what happens to these child actors when they grow up. Some end up doing drugs like the Two Coreys and that girl from Full House, some rob liquor stores like Dana Plato, some find religion like Kirk Cameron, and some do steroids and lift weights constantly like Danny Bonaduce. All tragic stories. There are very few Ron Howard’s out there who have transitioned into successful careers. The train wrecks always make the news, but I imagine most of these child actors went the route of Jackie Earle Haley. They made their livings outside the spotlight of Hollywood. So when someone makes as dramatic a comeback as Haley, it’s something to be applauded. He didn’t descend into darkness, he just waited it out until people recognized he still had talent. It’s great because this guy was born to be a character actor. He’s odd looking and small, yet his presence in a film always makes an impact. He has a very small role in Shutter Island, but his few minutes on screen are the most memorable.

Over the last few years, he has had big roles in big films. He starred in Semi-Pro and Watchmen, and has a recurring role on that new show Human Target. But it wasn’t until I saw a preview for the re-make of Nightmare on Elm Street that I knew he was totally back. Yes, he plays Freddy Krueger. I imagine he’ll bring an even creepier vibe to that legendary character. It’ll be interesting to see what he does with it. I wasn’t looking forward to that film until I realized he was Freddy.

I think I’ve done a relatively good job of not just referring to Haley as Kelly Leak. It was difficult. When someone jumps into your consciousness in a particular role, it’s hard not to refer to them as that forever. It’s the same reason I’ll always call Seann William Scott, Stifler, and I’ll always refer to Julie Bowen as Carol Vescey. They’ve had many parts since American Pie and Ed, but none that can wipe those roles out of my head.  Kelly Leak was on the bench for a while. 13 years to be exact. But like Robert Redford in The Natural, you can’t keep that kind of talent down. It needs to get to the surface. It’ll always find a way. Now lets see if Tanner, Engleberg, Ahmad, and Ogilvie can find their way back too.

It’s great to be Irish

I’m Irish.  And I’m proud of it.  I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know that I was Irish or when I didn’t think it made me better than everyone else.  I have a lot of friends of different backgrounds and I love them all, but I do feel a tad bit sorry for the ones who weren’t lucky enough to be born Irish. One friend in particular was born with the gift and turned his back on it despite the irish flag tatooed on his calf.  It broke my heart.  How could you disregard your heritage when it is so storied and strong and proud as that of the Irish?  I’ll never understand. 

See for me, being Irish is more than just looking at the family tree and figuring out where the grandparents came from.  It’s who I am.  At the worst moments of my life, I have found my strength knowing that I’m Irish and the Irish never give up.  They drink and they fight and they drink somemore, often times amid the dead; who if the story of Tim Finnegan’s Wake is correct (and you bet I believe it is) get a drop of whiskey and come back to life kicking and screaming.  Growing up my family had a dog named Tim Finnegan. Who names their dog after a song about an Irish Wake?  We do.  Because everything about the Irish is at once hilarious and charming and tragic.  Like John Wayne in the Quiet Man, when the Irish get punched they just keep getting up for more. 

Because of my love of my own heritage, I have always loved St. Patrick’s Day.  The way I celebrate it today with two small children is very different then the way I celebrated it as a younger person.  Back when I would be at the bars at noon and stay there until the next day.  Back when if they weren’t playing traditional Irish music, I would request the DJ spin “Come on Eileen” and out dance Michael Flately.  Back when wearing something that said “Kiss Me I’m Irish” could get me in trouble.   Those days were good.  Now I make corned beef and cabbage in a crock pot for my kids and watch Waking Ned Devine, a movie I love for many reasons but mostly for the scene when Michael, pretending to be Ned, gets attend his own funeral and hear the eulogy his friend Jackie gives: 

Michael O’Sullivan was my great friend. But I don’t ever remember telling him that. The words that are spoken at a funeral are spoken too late for the man who is dead. What a wonderful thing it would be to visit your own funeral. To sit at the front and hear what was said, maybe say a few things yourself. Michael and I grew old together. But at times, when we laughed, we grew young. If he was here now, if he could hear what I say, I’d congratulate him on being a great man, and thank him for being a friend

 

It’s beautiful and it’s true.   Most people never say the things they need to say to the living.  And that’s why we mourn the dead so much.   There’s always regret. 

I didn’t know the last day I ever spent with my mother was the last – but she did.  And when we were saying goodbye, she hugged me in a way that was different than how she’d hugged me before and then she told me that I was a wonderful daughter and that she was sorry for being so hard on me because although she’d never said it before she thought I was perfect.  At that moment, I just thought we were having an really awesome day, but later I knew that she was saying goodbye and at the same time giving me the greatest gift of my life.  Absolution.

So this St Patrick’s Day, while you’re drinking your green beer and singing “Danny Boy”, don’t forget to use your gift of gab to cut through all the blarney and thank your family or your friends or the drunk guy next to you for being there because you never know when it’s your last chance to speak up and trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Zach Attack

Saturday Night Live finally got it right last weekend. There was a time that they didn’t just go after the most famous star, or best looking, or It person of the moment. There was a time where they pursued funny people. The object was to make a funny show. They had guest hosts like Steve Martin, George Carlin, Buck Henry, Carrie Fisher, Richard Pryor, Rob Reiner, and Lily Tomlin. There were a number of seasons when Steve Martin and Buck Henry hosted multiple times. The reason for this is that they were ridiculously funny and made for a great show. They didn’t try to make Lebron James or Michael Phelps into comedians. They went after professionals and the show thrived because of it. Now, they mainly go after celebrities like Zac Efron or Jon Hamm. Nice guys, I’m sure, but not exactly hilarious. But this week it was like they stepped back in to a place where all that mattered was the funny when Zach Galifianakis absolutely killed as host.

It’s good to see Galifianakis’ career take off like it has since he starred in The Hangover. He was the funniest thing in an extremely funny movie. I’ve been a fan of his for years. I think his stand up comedy is incredibly strange and really funny. I even enjoyed his work in bad films like Out Cold. Just a horrible movie, but he saves it with every scene he’s in. He took bad material and made it a riot. In The Hangover, he finally had good material, and he made that great. Currently, he also co-stars in HBO’s Bored to Death. He plays Jason Schwartzman’s sidekick and steals every scene. The show especially shines when they get Galifianakis and Ted Danson in the same scene. They play off each other very well. He even had a short lived talk show on VH1 called Late World with Zach Galifianakis. It was all kinds of strange. I loved it. But it was probably too weird for society in general. I liked that VH1 gave it a shot even though they pulled the plug pretty quickly. They had good intentions, just no follow through.

I couldn’t believe SNL actually had the foresight to cast him as host. During a season in which we’ve had do endure Blake Lively, Taylor Lautner, and Sigourney Weaver, seeing a pro like Galifianakis take the helm was a breath of comedic air. Right now, SNL has some great cast members like Bill Hader, Jason Sudekis, and Kristen Wiig. All three of them are outrageously versatile. Hader is by far my favorite. All of his characters make me laugh. He’s really weird, in a good way. Same goes for Sudekis. He’s a little more mainstream with his humor, but he always saves the sketches he’s in. Wiig can play anything and the writers know that. She’s in almost every sketch. But SNL also has some severe handicaps and it almost ruins the show. I’ve said this before, but Kenan Thompson is arguably my least favorite person that has ever been on SNL. He’s not funny. He’ll never be funny. And the fact that they keep trying to shove this guy down America’s throat almost makes me not want to watch. Also, I don’t care for Will Forte’s brand of humor either. He’s the opposite of funny. Again, I’m sure the reason they still have jobs are that they are really nice guys. Everybody probably likes them. It doesn’t change the fact that they are the original butchers of comedy. Absolutely horrible.

When Zach Galifianakis came out for his monologue, I knew the tone of this particular show was going to be different. He didn’t come out and talk about how this is his dream to host SNL, or rely on cast members to help save his opening bit. No, Galifianakis came out and did stand up.

It was excellent. Everything worked. From the bit about him being backstage Febreezing his beard, to him saying, “We’ve got a great show, Hoobastank is here. Wait, no it’s not Hoobastank. Oh, we’ve got Vampire Weekend.” It was all gold. Even the sketches he’s in take on a different tone. He’s a very odd guy. He brings a weird energy to everything he does. Personally, I think it’s outrageously funny. He immediately unnerves you because you aren’t sure what will happen next. That’s good comedy. As opposed to Kenan Thompson where you know exactly what will happen next. He’ll talk real loud or dress up as a woman. It doesn’t take a genius to see where his “comedy” will go. It must have been a pleasure for Hader, Sudekis, and Wiig to be able to play off another comedian. Someone who actually brings something to the table besides celebrity.

My hope is that SNL continues to hire comedians to host. Or, if they find someone who works like Justin Timberlake and Alec Baldwin, bring them back a couple times a season. They did this in SNL’s heyday, they can do it now. Or take more chances like Galifianakis. Bring in a Patton Oswalt or Jim Gaffigan. I know why you feel the need to cast Gerard Butler, he’s really popular, but I doubt he’s ever stood in front of a crowd in a small comedy club in Idaho and brought down the house. Go make another crappy movie. Let the comedy professionals handle the heavy lifting.

Galifianakis has a lot of projects coming out soon. That’s good news. There just isn’t enough funny out there. And when there is, they try to shoehorn people like Ashton Kutcher and Brendan Fraser into those roles. It almost never works. Lets put the funny people in the funny movies. We’ll all benefit. And lets hope SNL has learned a valuable lesson. It was a show built on bizarre humor for people who stay up late at night. Lets get guest hosts who understand that ethos. Last week, they most certainly did.

Lighten Up

Satrurday night after we finally got Charlie the Humper to sleep, Bobby and I sat down on the couch with a couple of beers for our usual Saturday night playing catch up with our DVR.    I had wanted to watch the premiere of the new Parenthood TV show on ABC  but had missed it earlier in the week so we were planning to check it out.  I LOVED the 1989 movie Parenthood.  Loved it when I saw it in the theater twenty years ago, and have loved it during every cable repeat since.  The Buckmans had their eccentricities but they were a great family.   When you watched the movie depending on what stage of life you were in, you wanted to have those parents or be those parents.   And it holds up.  I still can’t walk away from that movie on cable. 

Keanu, Joaquin and Cool....I wanna be a part of this family

We lasted twenty minutes before I asked Bobby if we could turn the Parenthood TV show off.    Unlike the Buckmans who may be crotchedy or crazy, but all still maintain their warmth – the Bravermans are just sort of crappy.   Which is too bad because I expected more from a cast that included Coach (Craig T. Nelson), Nate Fisher (Peter Krause) and Lorelei Gilmore (Lauren Graham).   I understand that they were trying to show how there is real love underneath all the unpleasantness that makes up a family but it was so heavy on the uncomfortable, judgemental, biting moments that I just felt sad.  Sad that families have to be that way.  And I had to turn it off because in real life I have seen really ugly family moments or months or years and I don’t want to relive that on a TV show.  I don’t consider bringing up all my emotional baggage and driving me to tears entertaining.   It’s the same reason I don’t go see movies with names like Dying Young.  I’ve seen enough real people do that so when I’m going to the movies I’d rather sit back and enjoy something a little lighter.  

The guy from Punk'd and the psycho from Swimfan....I'll pass on this one

That’s why when we turned off Parenthood, we turned on The House Bunny.   Best Decision Ever.  The House Bunny rocked.  Sure it was low brow and unrealistic, but it had heart.  And as silly as the movie was it had a message.   You know, that it doesn’t matter how hot you are – it’s what’s inside that counts?  Cliché?  For sure.  True?  Definitely.  And I thought it was cool that a movie with fun makeover scenes and cute boys, was really about how it’s okay to be yourself.  Because girls have it rough.   I see the toys marketed to them and it’s all princesses and prom queens which is a lot to live up to.  I had a terrible self image as a young girl.  I never thought I was attractive.  My mom, on the other hand, who looked exactly like me, I thought was gorgeous.  The difference between us was that she always carried herself like she was the most important person in the room.  And I always carried myself  like I was the Disney tween star’s dorky side kick.  The way we thought about ourselves really rubbed off on the way other people thought about us.  And all I can say is I am so glad I have little boys and I promise I will teach them to give a second look to the girl with glasses and a ponytail. 

There are very few problems that a make-over montage can't solve

Anyhow, loved The House Bunny.  Loved Anna Faris.  Loved Christopher McDonald.  Loved Colin Hanks and Rumer Willis and Kat harine McFee and the guy from All American Rejects.   Seriously, they all rocked it.  And watching the movie made me feel good which is how I want to feel at the end of a movie.  Is that such a bad thing?

Because ever since Sunday night when Sandra Bullock won the oscar for her performance in The Blind Side, I’ve been seeing all these mean messages on Facebook and the internet about how she didn’t deserve it.   Why didn’t she deserve it?  Obviously, the Academy members thought she did.  Is she Meryl Streep?  No.  Did she have to be continually, horrifying abused in her movie?  No.    Do some people find the story behind her movie hokey?  Sure.  But you know what, those people need to let it go because it’s not some hokey work of fiction, it’s a true story.  That woman really did save a boy’s life.  And that boy is now a college graduate and a professional football player.  That’s an awesome story and it’s the kind of story that should be told.  These are the kind of people we should want to emmulate.  And Sandra Bullock changed her look and her voice and her demeanor and made you believe she was that woman, so who cares if Miss Congeniality was a piece of crap?  She’s been a successful working actress for years and she pulled off a performance that no one thought she had in her and yes, it was in a heartwarming film.  Good for her.  And good for the people like me who saw it and loved it.  And good for the people out there who will benefit from the kindness of strangers who maybe learned something from such a nice movie.  Entertainment doesn’t always have to be heavy and dark and twisted to be quality.  I loved seeing the guy who adapted the screenplay for Precious win, even though that movie is too disturbing for me to ever watch.  And I was thrilled for Kathryn Bigelow because, although I haven’t seen The Hurt Locker yet, I do plan to rent it, and I’m a huge fan of her earlier directorial work on Point Break which while not Oscar-worthy material was a hugely entertaining film.  But mostly I was glad to see something upbeat win.  Cause there’s not enough of that in the world.

She thanked her mom, her tough guy husband cried and she earned it. Stop putting the girl next door down!

And I know there are people out there who will see my defense of lighter forms of entertainment as a sign of lower intelligence.  As I’ve mentioned before, I saw Fight Club with an ass who thought that my dislike for it meant it was over my head.   I understood the movie, I just hated it.  I also hated the douche who thought it went over my head.   And he was shocked when he found out I didn’t like him.  He was so self involved that it had never occurred to him that comments like that were rude and offensive.  He actually felt really bad but it was too late.  When you’re that much of a condensending jerk, I don’t think even the House Bunny can fix you.

And The Oscar Goes To…

The Academy Awards are this weekend and the fact that I see just about every movie that comes out, I feel the need to weigh in. I’m going to give you my predictions for who will win, and who should win. Let me state up front that I have some natural biases. My hatred for Avatar won’t allow me to select it for anything, even if I believe it might win something. I just can’t do it. I do the same thing with Fantasy Football. I can’t, and I won’t have any Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles or New York Giants on my squad. I can’t have them infecting my team. So that’s why I won’t let Avatar disgrace my ballot. There’s something in me that won’t allow it. Also, even though I know it’s not true, I want to believe the Academy will make the right decisions, so my belief in that will skew some of my choices. Again, it’s the same reason I believe The Washington Nationals will contend for the pennant this year after losing 100 games in each of the last two seasons. I need to believe. Anyway, here we go…

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart

George Clooney – Up In The Air

Colin Firth – A Single Man

Morgan Freeman – Invictus

Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker

Will Win: Jeff Bridges. This is a one horse race this year. Even though Clooney did a great job in Up In The Air and Jeremy Renner vaulted himself into the public consciousness in The Hurt Locker, it’s all about Bridges. He’s long overdue for this award and his portrayal as Bad Blake, a country music legend that never quite got the recognition he deserved was phenomenal. Bridges has had an amazing career and it’s good that when the Academy finally recognizes him, it’s for a role that is truly deserving.

Should Win: Jeff Bridges. For all the reasons I gave you in the previous paragraph.

Actor in a Supporting Roll

Matt Damon – Invictus

Woody Harrelson – The Messenger

Christopher Plummer – The Last Station

Stanely Tucci – The Lovely Bones

Christoph Waltz – Inglorious Basterds

Will Win: Christoph Waltz. First off, I was leery of Inglorious Basterds. Mainly because I don’t think Brad Pitt can carry a movie. I think he’s good, but he has trouble handling the work load of a whole film. But that’s not what Inglorious Basterds was, and Waltz was unbelievable. I would argue that he has the biggest role in the film and that’s why it’s as good as it is. He’s awesome in it. He’s the villain for sure, but he plays it differently than you’ve seen villains, especially Nazi’s, played before. I have never seen this guy in anything before, and I don’t know how that’s possible. He should be a huge star. He’s definitely known in Europe, but it’s time he takes Hollywood by storm.

Should Win: Christoph Waltz. There really isn’t anyone in this category that can touch him this year. I think Matt Damon and Stanely Tucci are excellent actors, but it’s all about Waltz this season.

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 and Julia

Will Win: Meryl Streep. She gets nominated every year, so it’s easy to just say they throw her in there because of her name. That’s not the case this year. She’s excellent in this film. Meryl Streep is an icon, but you forget that it’s her playing Julia Child, and that’s not an easy feat.

Should Win: This is a tough one. I didn’t see Precious because I didn’t want to spend two hours watching a teenager get beat by her mother and molested by her father. That sounds awful. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Sidibe, but since I didn’t see it, I can’t say she should win. I think it’s a battle between Streep and Mulligan. I’m going to go with Carey Mulligan. An Education could be very boring at times, but she was always compelling to watch. This girl is going to have a great career. If Streep or Sibide won, I would be fine with that.

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.

Will Win: Mo’Nique. Again, I didn’t see Precious, but Mo’Nique has all the buzz. Whenever a comedian takes on a role this challenging and makes you believe, they are tough to beat. See Robin Williams and Tom Hanks for clarification. She looks terrifying in every scene I’ve watched. I don’t think anyone’s taking this from her.

Should Win: Anna Kendrick. I loved Up In The Air, and she was by far the best thing in it. Frankly, I’m surprised Vera Farmiga got nominated because she was the worst. But Kendrick made a jump in this movie. She’s destined to be a major star. I’m a huge Clooney fan, and he was great, but the movie suffered when Kendrick wasn’t on screen. That is saying something.

Best Director

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

Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow. The Hurt Locker was an excellent film. It was intense, emotional, and it had some nice action. It’s a really good movie and Bigelow did an outstanding job of mixing all those elements together in a very enjoyable film. Cameron is probably the favorite here, but as I said, Avatar gets no love from me. Bigelow is Cameron’s ex wife, so that should mollify the Academy.

Should Win: Another tough call. I think Bigelow and Tarantino are both deserving, but I’m going with Jason Reitman. Part of this is that I’m in the tank for Reitman. Juno and Thank You For Smoking are two of my favorite films over the last few years and Up In The Air is a great follow up. I think what it comes down to is that I want him to 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

Will Win: The Hurt Locker. I have to believe that the Academy will not reward a two hour video game and instead give it to a movie that actually has something to say and be entertaining at the same time.

Should Win: I’m struggling with this one. The Hurt Locker is definitely deserving, but I’m going to say Inglorious Basterds. I liked Up In The Air better, but Inglorious Basterds was a fun movie that had a surprising amount of depth. The acting was sensational and I enjoyed every minute of this film. Sure, Tarantino threw history out the window, but who cares. Really great film. I’d be psyched if they gave this film the nod. I’d also be fine with either The Hurt Locker or Up In The Air. If anything else wins, it’s criminal.

There you have it. I’m not going to predict things like Best Animated Film because I didn’t see any of them, and I don’t care. I didn’t put any other categories because you probably don’t care about them. Have fun watching the Oscars this weekend. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin should put on a great show. And if you feel the need, root against Avatar. The fate of the movies you will see in the future depends on it. Because if it wins, it’ll be cartoons and 3D everywhere you look. I don’t want to think what this world will be like if that happens.

In reality, I’ve got better things to do

On Monday night, I put myself through something really ugly.  I watched the finale of the most recent installment of ABC’s The Bachelor.  This one subtitled “On the Wings of Love” because the man looking for love is a pilot.  Just typing that makes me want to throw up a little.  Imagine how I felt when at the end of the program, Bachelor Jake and the girl he picked to be his wife, were serenaded on stage by Jeffrey Osborne singing live for them?  I think I may have gone slightly blind.  And deaf.

Why did I do this to myself you ask?  I have no idea.  I think it was because as a subscriber to US Weekly, I had been bombarded by stories of how nasty one of Jake’s final two women was and I just had to watch it play out.  Sad, I know.  And it ended just as my favorite magazine predicted it would; with Jake dumping sweet, naive, trusting Tenley for Vienna, a redneck Hooters waitress. And not the kind of Hooters waitress who is just using what God gave her to help pay for medical school.  No, Vienna is the kind whose boobs and hair extensions are the only thing faker than her crazy split personality.  Honestly, I was glad he picked her because they deserve each other.  Jake is a cry baby tool with a smug grin and zero charisma.  Bob walked in when I was watching one of the earlier episodes of the show and thought I was watching SOAP net because the lighting and Jake’s hair and the fact that he was crying while saying something like “I just have to follow my heart, even though it’s breaking” screamed daytime drama.

When it was over, I vowed to boycott all future Bachelor and Bachelorette shows including next Monday’s big event Jason & Molly’s Wedding which ABC is calling “the year’s greatest love story”.  Really?  The year’s greatest love story was some unknown tool picking one girl to be his wife and offering her a ring on national television and then a few months later coming back on TV and saying “oops, I made a mistake; I should have picked the other girl”.  That’s romantic?  Cause it sounds totally douchey to me.  Not that the first girl was all that broken up about it since she parlayed her dumping into numerous other TV gigs and has already married someone else . Wow, dreams really do come true. 

The year's greatest love story? I think not.

So anyhow, I was hoping since I’m swearing off all Bachelor related programming that my time in hell with Jake and Vienna was over.  But nooooo…..ABC had to throw a wrench in my plans by announcing at the end of the show that Jake will be the eleventh “celebrity” contestant on the new Dancing with the Stars.  Now, I know you’re thinking, well, do you HAVE to watch DWTS?  And the answer of course is, yes, because one of the other ten contestants is Shannon Doherty and you know I can’t say no to Brenda Walsh. Despite her horrible teeth and vicious personality, she is one of my best friends.

Actually, now that I think about it, would a real BFF want me to continue to endure the pain and horror that reality TV inflicts on me?  I think not.  It’s time I pulled a Kelly Taylor and chose me.  Goodbye reality TV.  The rest of you will have to endure watching Jake, who will undoubtedly dance to “On the Wings of Love” while Vienna sits adoringly in the audience wiping wing sauce off her chin and giving dirty looks to all the other girls, by yourself. 

I know many of you think I can’t swear off reality TV entirely, but you’re wrong.  You see as much as I love cheesy TV, I hate being a party to the advancement of people I don’t like.  And I don’t like people like Kate Gosselin or Donald Trump.  I don’t like the cast of Jersey Shore. And I really don’t like Hooters – the wings are horrible.

I’m sorry Cyndi Lauper, because I do love you, but I can’t watch a show that calls a criminal politician with ken doll hair a “celebrity”

And I’ve realized that by watching these crappy shows when I could be reading or talking on the phone or making out with Bobby, I’m helping these talentless losers stay famous.  And I’m helping them get swag and free trips to St Lucia!  There is no way I can be a party to that.

So, I’ll stick to scripted television and get my dancing fix by watching Brenda shimmy with Kelly, Donna and Emily Valentine on SOAPnet.  Clearly, she’ll be walking home with that disco ball trophy.  Too bad I won’t be watching.

Don’t Believe The Hype

I saw Shutter Island this week and it’s safe to say I was disappointed. Not that it was a bad movie, but I just didn’t like it. I felt as if I’ve seen this kind of movie hundreds of times. There just wasn’t anything original about it. I think my biggest problem with the film is that I expect too much out of Martin Scorsese. I mean the movie was well made. The acting was fine. Unfortunately it’s a tired concept and I expect way more out of Scorsese. This is the guy who directed Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, The Color of Money, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, and The Departed just to name a few. That’s a stellar resume. So when he puts out a film, you expect it to live up to his standard. I realize this is totally unfair. You can’t hit a home run every time. But you can expect him to find good material. I have to think that he has his pick of all the best scripts coming out of Hollywood. Why he chose this ridiculous mess makes no sense. So it’s very disappointing on a number of levels. Not only was the movie uninteresting, his taste level in scripts is clearly slipping. I hate when that happens. I guess we could have seen the signs coming. As great as The Departed was, and it was spectacular, that last scene where the rat shows up was horrible. I was an English major in college and I like symbolism more than most, but that is elementary school symbolism. People in Film Schools all across the country would get laughed out of class for something that obvious and over the top. I can’t believe someone didn’t talk him out of it. “Listen, Martin, you’ve made a brilliant film, don’t scar it with this scene. It doesn’t need it.” I don’t know, maybe he’s such an icon, no one will say anything to him. This movie has made me leery of him.

Unfortunately, I tend to do this to Directors, Actors, Musicians and Authors that I like. You get so entranced by how much you enjoy their work, that when they fail you, it stings. Very rarely do people live up to the hype. It happens sometimes. Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Lebron James have all lived up to their hype. Even more so. But they are the exceptions. In my world, here are a few things where my expectations were probably too great.

I couldn’t wait for Elizabethtown to come out. Cameron Crowe is by far my favorite movie writer and director. He wrote Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and he wrote and directed Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire, and Almost Famous. Yes, I omitted Vanilla Sky for two reasons. First, he adapted that screenplay. And secondly, it was terrible. I’m not blaming him because it wasn’t his story. We’ll just pretend it never happened. But Elizabethtown was supposed to get him back on the right track. When it came out, it certainly did not live up to my expectations. It had one major problem…Orlando Bloom. He was just the wrong guy for that role. Ashton Kutcher was originally cast, but he couldn’t the handle the material. Either could Bloom. Some people will say that Kirsten Dunst also drove them crazy, but I kind of liked her in the film. She drives me nuts in other things, but I thought she did a good job here. The script wasn’t that bad, but it couldn’t overcome Orlando Bloom butchering every scene. The movie succeeds once he gets to Elizabethtown. Every person in that town was spot on. My whole family is from the south, and Cameron Crowe did a superb job in casting the people of that town. Over the years, I’ve softened my stance on this film. It deals with losing a father and once that happened to me, the movie took on a different and more personal meaning. Like all Cameron Crowe movies, the music was spectacular. Tom Petty lent a few songs and they fit the mood perfectly. If I had been casting this film, I would have cast Paul Schneider, the guy who played Bloom’s cousin Jesse, as the lead. He would have brought so much more to the table. Schneider is currently racking up the laughs on Parks and Recreation. He’s a fantastic actor and should get more opportunities. I wanted to love Elizabethtown like I love Almost Famous, but it has too many flaws to be in that category. Even though it disappointed, it won’t stop me from seeing his next film. My expectations for Cameron Crowe are still through the roof.

Nelson Demille wrote my favorite book of all time, The Gold Coast. I’ve lent that book to over twenty people in my life, and they all loved it. It’s great. Through the early 90’s, I read all of his stuff, and he never disappointed. As the decade ended, I starting liking his stuff less and less. I had given up on him, until I heard he was doing a sequel to The Gold Coast. I couldn’t wait to read The Gate House. Once I did, I wish he never had written it. It was almost like a different author wrote it. All the characters were the same and so was the voice, but it lacked the humor and richness of the original. Again, my expectations were too high. There’s no way it could have lived up to them. Trying to match your masterpiece is probably very daunting. It’s also impossible.

Marshall Crenshaw is arguably my favorite singer/songwriter ever. I really enjoy his music, and I have ever since he released his eponymous debut, Marshall Crenshaw. There isn’t a bad song on that album. It’s flawless and it’s probably my favorite album of all time. Over the years he has released a lot of albums and I have liked them all. For whatever reason, I didn’t hold him to the standard of the original. His music evolved in a very nice way. I liked its progression. He never disappointed me until last year, when he put out Jaggedland. That album does absolutely nothing for me. It’s kind of boring. It’s a little more bluesy than he normally does, but even the lyrics weren’t as strong. I can’t tell you how disappointed as I was. But it’s  the only time in over 25 years he’s put out something I didn’t think was great. Marshall gets a pass. I’ll be buying his next record.

There are other things that didn’t meet my expectations like all the movies of M. Night Shymalan after The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. The movies of Wes Anderson after Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.  All the songs, except Supernova, off of Liz Phair’s album Whip-Smart. Every season of One Tree Hill since they graduated High School. The fact that Ted Danson did that show Becker. Hopefully I’ll learn to gauge my expectations, but I couldn’t be more psyched for the Arrested Development movie or the next R.E.M album. I believe the hype. I probably always will.

A Bad Day or A Bad Ass? You decide.

Celebrity gossip website, The Frisky, put out a list last week of 14 celebs who are jerks in person.   The list was based on the personal experiences of journalists who work on the site.  Naturally, a list like this intrigued me. 

Some of the names were what you would expect.  Jennifer Lopez is a bitch?  Not exactly shocking news.  Bill Cosby is condescending?  I was pretty sure of that already.  Danny Glover is a jerk?  Bobby’s been hankering to get in a fist fight with that guy for years.  Constantine Maroulis from American Idol is a douche?  I believe it.  In fact, I’m pretty sure all the American Idols who got their fifteen minutes and then missed out on Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood style fame and instead got stuck doing things like playing the Teen Angel in Broadway’s latest rival of Grease (yes, I’m talking to you Taylor Hicks) are probably pretty angry and obnoxious. 

This kind of humiliation could bring out the ass in anyone

So the list seemed pretty real and I believe that the journalists who had problems with the celebs really did get a hard time from them.  Living that kind of entitled lifestyle probably makes even the nicest person act like an ass once in a while.  That said, I was sad to hear that Ludacris is a dick and I hope it was just an off day for him.  I appreciated that he always warned everyone to watch out for his medallion cause his diamonds were reckless and I felt empathy for the pain that he must have endured when it felt like a midget was hanging from his necklace.  I also really hope Nicole Ritchie isn’t a total bitch.  I’ve always really liked her and thought she seemed sort of real for someone living a life that is so unreal to most of us.

There are two celebrities on the list of dicks who I have actually run into in real life. 

Henry Rollins sat next to me and Bobby in the Rio Grande in Bethesda years ago.  We didn’t talk to him but we shared the same really crappy waiter and we giggled watching how mad Rollins got when he constantly had to wait what seemed like hours for his ice tea refills.  He was performing that night in DC and we considered trying to get tickets just to see if he came out on stage and said “This song is about the really horrible service I had at the Rio Grande today.  It’s called ‘Asshole, I’m thirsty, bring me my fucking ice tea!’”.   I don’t think being thirsty and anxious for a beverage refill while eating spicy food makes you a jerk.  It was actually kind of funny.  So I’m going to reserve my judgment on Henry.  Under the gruff exterior, I think he’s probably a really good guy.

You don't want to see this guy get dehydrated

I have heard stories before about John Cusack being a real life dick and I’ve always ignored them because the time I met Cusack, I did everything possible to make him act like a dick and he never did. 

After a hard night in College Park, MD, even celebs look rough

It was the summer of 1991; I was fresh off major pancreas surgery and looking good.  My friend Nancy and I went out for drinks at RJ Bentley’s in College Park, MD.  Since it was summer, we weren’t expecting a crowd and had just gone there because her dad was part owner and we were poor.  All of a sudden, I see this guy across the bar that looks totally familiar to me and Nancy.  I am sure we know him but I can’t place him which I attribute to how drunk I am. 

So I walk up to the guy and say “I’m Molly and I know we know each other – did you go to St Mary’s?”  The guy laughs and says no.  I’m like “well, are you from Annapolis?”  Again, he laughs.  I am relentless and ask his name.  He says “John”.  I’m all like “John.  Hmmm.  I know a lot of Johns.  What’s your last name?”  He smiles and says “Cusack”.  Nancy is about to pee her pants.  I am still clueless.  “Cusack.  That sounds so familiar.  John Cusack.  I know I know you.  Holy Shit – YOU’RE JOHN CUSACK”. 

At this point Cusack (who is way taller and broader than I expected) and his friend try to quiet us down and tell us that they’re trying to keep a low profile (Cusack has a beard) so could we please keep quiet about them being there.  We’re like, oh sure, and I have a whole conversation with Cusack where I can’t remember anything he’s been in but I blurt out “I loved your sister Joan in Working Girl!”  I could not have been more of a tool.  Good thing that pancreas surgery had helped me lose 15 pounds from everything but my chest or I’m sure he would have walked away. 

Anyhow, I decide that I have to buy him a drink but before I buy it, I want to see his driver’s license so I can make sure I’m not “buying a drink for some John Cusack impersonator”.  Yes, I carded Lloyd Dobler.  And yes, he was legit.  When I get up to the bar there is a line and no one is letting me cut so I just shout out “Excuse me, but I’m trying to buy a beer for JOHN CUSACK and he’s right over there!”  Everyone stops to look at Cusack who grabs his friend, says good bye to Nancy and bolts.  Hours later when Nancy and I stumbled out and walked past The Vous, Cusack and his friend were in there drinking.  The friend yelled “there’s the girls who chased us out of Bentleys” or something like that.  We just kept going. 

My point in telling you this whole long John Cusack story is that any celebrity who could be that nice to someone as drunk and stupid as I was that night, cannot be a total douche.  No matter how many times I hear that Cusack isn’t nice, I will just keep assuming that like all of us, he has had some bad days and on his good days, he’s the guy we all want him to be.  His former BFF Jeremy Piven, however, I think may be a real live douche.  But that’s just speculation. 

When it comes to being a douche, chances are Ari Gold's got nothing on me

The thing about deciding who is a jerk and who is an angel is that it’s pretty subjective.  Everyone gets grumpy.  Maybe you had to interview someone on the day his dog died or he stubbed his toe really bad or he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  Some days I wake up feeling like being a bitch and I have to fight it to be nice because when you spend all your time with small children being a bitch doesn’t really cut it.  Some days are harder than others for everyone.  I’m sure if I became famous there would be people lined up wanting to tell you what a jerk I am.  And those people would be wrong about me.  I hope some of the people who had bad experiences with Rollins and Luda and Ritchie were wrong, too.  And until it’s proven otherwise, I’m staying objective.