Season 2 - Part 3

The Secret: Jim and Pam take an awkward elevator ride


The Carpet: Jim doesn't enjoy working near Kelly


Boys and Girls: Black people do like pizza!


Valentine's Day: the camera catches Michael and Jan, again


Dwight's Speech: Dwight's speech, unoriginally enough


Take Your Daughter to Work Day: Michael and his younger self with Edward R. Meow

"The Secret"
5. the waitress' reaction to "chicken breast, hold the chicken"
4. "Her boobs, definitely."
"Wow. That's not what I meant."
3. "What'd you guys talk about?"
"You know. Politics...literature..." and Jim holds up the Hooters shirt
2. "Guess what I found out about Oscar tonight? ... He was lying about being sick!"
1. Michael tries to get the Jim Halpert hair

"The Carpet"
5. Roy's delivery of "you mean the thing?"
4. "I get ten vacation days a year and I try to hold off taking them as long as possible. And this year, I got to the...third week in January."
3. Dwight and Michael raid Accounting (especially Dwight "raiding" Angela)
2. "Jim's been looking at me kind of a lot all week. I would be creeped out by it, but it's nothing compared to the way Michael looks at me..." and a cut to Michael blatantly staring at Ryan through his blinds than "shiftily" looking away
1. "Somebody makin' soup?" OH, CREED.

"Boys and Girls"
5. "I feel you."
"How can you say that?"
"Not literally."
4. "We even like the same girls, some of us!"
3. Kevin in the background when Jim and Roy talk, and his face afterward
2. Michael erases everything on the "do not erase" board...except the actual words "do not erase"

1. "Like if Michael said he got to second base with you, does that mean you like...closed a deal?"

and Kelly's wink. Even Angela's laughing!

"Valentine's Day"
5. "Oy vey! Schmear!" and Michael's dance outside Fiddler on the Roof
4. the "Faces of Scranton" video

3. "New York, New York! The city so nice they named it twice! Manhattan is the other name."
2. Michael's favorite New York pizza joint? Sbarro. So Michael.
1. "I hooked up with her on February 13" and Ryan's hair

"Dwight's Speech"
5. "It's like Club Med but everything is naked."
4. "I will travel to New Zealand and walk the Lord of the Rings trail to Mordor. And then I will hike Mount Doom."
3. "You've gotta waaaaaaave your arms and you've gotta pound your fists many times!"
2. Dwight's actual speech
1. "I'd like to say hi to my friends in China" followed by Creed's Chinese and finger-waving.

"Take Your Daughter to Work Day"
5. Michael's adorable scene(s) with Toby's daughter
4. Michael's username on the dating service
3. "We're not going to see the four-toed Creed."
2. "Hello, tiny one. You are the future!"
1. Stanley screams at Ryan (what Stanley says is absolutely hysterical obviously, but watch Ryan's eyes. Oh my God.)

Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue cover

Huh. Not a very hot picture. Everyone looks incredibly anemic, and though one of them is JESUS, I want to punch two of the others across the face. Oh well.

Season 2 - Part 2

The Client: Michael and his jeans


Performance Review: Dwight realizes it's Friday...


E-Mail Surveillance: Michael at improv

Christmas Party: Ryan chooses unfortunately in White Elephant


Booze Cruise: Michael dances.


The Injury: Jim pops Michael's bubble-wrapped foot

"The Client"

5. "Years...and years...and years..."
4. "Could I have a vodka tonic please?" Both Jan's delivery and the look on her face.
3. "That's why I wanted a signal between us. So I wouldn't have to just shout nonsense words.

That's her fault."
2. Michael's screenplay and its hysterical illustrations

1. Jan and Michael make out...both hysterical and horrifying.

"Performance Review"
5. Jim's plan to make Dwight think it's Friday all day
4. "It's all about my bonus."
3. "Forget everything you thought you knew about ab workouts."
"Done."
2. Dwight's amazing poster
1. "I heard they made out and had sex."
"They just made out, that's it."
"Well, I heard they made out. And had sex."

"E-Mail Surveillance"
5. "I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm making Dwight up. He is very real."
4. "If I step on a mine in Scranton, Pennsylvania and die, you can have my job."
3. "The IT tech guy and me did not get off to a great start..."
2. Jim sings "Islands in the Stream" with Michael
1. Michael at his improv class

"Christmas Party"
5. Meredith flashes Michael, he makes a face...and snaps a picture and marches out. PERFECT.
4. Toby's face when he holds up the poster he bought for Angela
3. "Yep, that's exactly what happened."
2. Michael bought Ryan an iPod...when the price limit was $20
1. "Kevin Malone."
"Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration."
"Stanley Hudson."
"Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration."
"Ryan Howard."
"Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration."
beat...
"What line of work you in, Bob?"

"Booze Cruise"
5. "Michael stands on the front of the boat and says that he's the king of the world within the first hour, or I give you my next paycheck" and sure enough, Michael does it.
4. Michael gives his whole "the ship is sinking!" speech and the non-Dunder-Mifflin people freak out and one even jumps overboard! while the Dunder-Mifflin people sit there and roll their eyes
3. "BFD. Engaged ain't married. ...Never, ever, ever give up."
2. "You know what? I would save the receptionist. I just wanted to...clear that up." Awww.
1. Michael dances to the band's hilarious version of "Get Busy"... and everyone's facial reactions to that

"The Injury"
5. "Dad?"
4. Michael's choice of handicapped icons...and confusing Philadelphia with Big
3. Dwight names the folder on his computer "DWIGHT" over and over again
2. MICHAEL GRILLED HIS FOOT. Really, that's all that needs to be said.
1. "Ryan is...uh...dead"

Oscars' most-snubbed contemporary comedian? It ain't Jim Carrey.

Strut it, Steve.

Mr. Carell was completely snubbed in 2004 and 2006 for Best Supporting Actor - hell, he should have won the thing in 2006. While he wasn't quite deserving of a nomination in 2005 or 2007, for both years he absolutely deserved a nomination in the Golden Globe Best Musical/Comedy actor (and again: in 2005, he should have won the thing). And of course, he should be showered with Emmys (though I'm terrible at judging TV acting; I tend to be like, if they're in a drama and they make me feel something, good! If they're in a comedy and they make me giggle, good!). I'm really disturbed by people that think he's hot, but he's got the rare gift of always bringing the funny and never losing the nuance or complete grip of the character. He plays both at the same time, and the man's a genius.

For reference, the performances I'm talking about -
04: Anchorman
05: The 40-Year-Old Virgin
06: Little Miss Sunshine
07: Dan in Real Life

music-movies #2.

Everywhere I go,
I get slandered. Libel.
I hear words I never heard in the Bible...

Sarah Silverman is repulsive, buttttt...

This is amazing. (Yes, I'm sure you've seen this everywhere already)

and because Season 1 didn't get its pictures...

Pilot: Jan, Michael, and Pam have a meeting... too bad Pam put the memo in the "special bin for stuff from Corporate"


Diversity Day: Stanley, enthusiastic as ever


Health Care: Jim's list of ailments


The Alliance: Dwight spies on Jim


Basketball: Jim reacts to "too gay on the court"


Hot Girl: Dwight tries to buy a purse

Season 2 - Part 1.

The Dundies: Jim is...horrified by Michael's version of "O.P.P."

Sexual Harassment: Darryl and the girl from the video

Office Olympics: Angela plays "Pam Pong"

The Fire: "Guess what smart, sexy temp left his cheese pita on 'oven' instead of timing it for the toaster thing!"

Halloween: Dwight's costume


The Fight: "It absolutely is a toy. Arigato."

"The Dundies" (best. episode. EVER. seriously, it might as well be a tie for everything that happens)
5. Second drink!
4. "What am I going to do with the award? Nothing. I...I don't know what I'm going to do. That's the least of my...concerns right now."
3. Pam and Oscar's takes on the Dundies
2. "What a great year for the Dundies. We got to see Ping, and we learned Michael's true feelings for Ryan - which was touching - and we heard Michael change the lyrics to a number of classic songs, which for me has ruined them for life." Also, "I've Had the Time of My Life" playing in the background is a great little touch.
1. Jim's faces during Pam's speech

"Sexual Harassment"
5. "Hey, um, what has two thumbs and hates Todd Packer? This guy!" followed by Jim's face
4. "She wasn't that hot."
"Yes she was, dammit Kevin!"
3. "The only thing I'm worried about...is gettin' a boner."
2. "I'm just sad the public school system failed him so badly."
1. Jim's face after Phyllis' "one-night stand" quote is my favorite Jim face of all time, because as many have pointed out before me, it's half the usual "oh my God, what?" Jim face, and half "go Phyllis!"

"Office Olympics"
5. "Beets are the worst... nobody likes beets. Nobody likes beets, Dwight! Why don't you grow something that everybody likes. You should grow candy... I'd love a piece of candy right now. Not a beet."
4. Michael makes Ryan come in ridiculously early to bring him breakfast...most of which he doesn't even eat
3. Jim introduces the Olympics
2. FLONKERTON!
1. the closing ceremonies. Totally sweet.

"The Fire"
5. "It's not like there was the Lone Ranger, and Tonto, and Bonto."
4. "Well, I would definitely have sex with Ryan."
3. Dwight sits in his car blasting "Everybody Hurts"
2. Ryan's monologue about how he doesn't want to be a "guy" here...but then, by the end, he's the "Fire Guy"
1. needless to say, "RY-AN STARTED THE FIRE!"

"Halloween"
5. Dwight intoning the names of people Michael should fire while under his hood
4. Michael being adorable with the kids at his house at the end of the episode. Awww...
3. "Oh."
"Yeah. Oh."
2. "Yeah, I went hunting once. Shot the deer in the leg. Had to kill it with a shovel. Why do you ask?"
1. "AAAH I'M GONNA KILL MYSELF!!!!"
"Wow."

"The Fight"
5. the opening where Jim has moved Dwight's desk into the bathroom
4. "Hey Ryan! This is your girlfriend. And I'm mad." and Michael's other prank calls to Ryan's cell phone
3. "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Raging Bull. Pacino." AHAHAHA.
2. the actual fight itself
1. the Armageddon conversation is so funny, on so many levels.

AMAZING PICTURE!

John Krasinski...and JESUS!

top five moments of...

every episode of Season 1 of The Office (US, obviously. Sorry, Brits). I'll be doing this for every (half?) season of the show. I've got all of Season 1 done, most of Season 2 (I just need to finish up "Conflict Resolution" and see "Casino Night" again), some of Season 3, and, um...none of Season 4. I'll get on that...

Season 1

"Pilot"
5. Michael bought his own "World's Best Boss" mug...
4. "If you think she's cute now, you should have seen her a few years ago!"
"What?"
3. Michael screws up the first call in such a Michael-ish way
2. Jim puts Michael's mug in Jell-O at the end of the episode...the theme music is such a cute little touch

1. Jim denies putting Dwight's stapler in Jell-O...as he's eating Jell-O

"Diversity Day"
5. the "races" chosen for the cards (see the picture for a sample...)

4. "If you leave, we'll only have two left!"
3. "Abraham Lincoln once said that if you are a racist, I will attack you with the north."
2. "Not a bad day..."
1. the collard/colored greens debate ("You don't call them collard people. That's offensive.")

"Health Care"
5. Michael's conversation about the mine shaft
4. a quickie, but a goody: when Jim holds up his sheet of illnesses, instead of checking off things at the top, he just drew a huge circle around the entire section
3. "I can raise and lower my cholesterol at will."
"Why would you want to raise your cholesterol?"
"So I can lower it."
2. "I still have a vagina."

1. "Right now, this is just a job. If I advance any higher in this company, then this would be my career. And uh, well, if this were my career... I'd have to throw myself in front of a train."

"The Alliance"
5. It's actually Ryan's birthday...
4. Jim over-enthusiastically taping Dwight into the cardboard box in the warehouse
3. the reality of Jim, Kevin, and Toby's conversation versus what Jim tells Dwight they said in the parking lot
2. Dwight's ridiculous blonde hair
1. "I suggested we flip a coin, but Angela said she didn't like to gamble. Of course, by saying that, she was gambling that I wouldn't smack her."

"Basketball"
5. "This is our warehouse, or as I like to call it, the whorehouse!"
4. "I will use your talents come baseball season, my friend. Or if we box."
3. "Just try not to be too gay on the court. And by gay, I mean, uh, not in the homosexual way at all. I mean in the bad-at-sports way."
2. "I really hope Dwight doesn't make me work. Maybe I should sleep with him... I'm kidding. Kidding! Totally kidding."
1. John Krasinski, sweaty, in gym clothes. Yes, I'm shallow.

"Hot Girl"
5. "It's nice having Katy around. It's another person for Michael to, um...interact with."

4. "Goodnight! It was nice to meet some of you!" (JESUS!)
3. "The purse girl hits everything in my checklist: creamy skin, straight teeth, curly hair, amazing breasts... not for me, for my children. The Schrutes produce very thirsty babies."
2. "Do you love her?!"
"Dwight, no... I don't know. It's too early to tell. I don't know how I feel."
1. Jim and Pam's mock conversation while Dwight buys a purse ("I'm going to be the prettiest girl in the ball!")

And that's that. Season 2 Part 1 coming soon...enough.

You are beautiful, Michelle Williams.

“Please respect our need to grieve privately. My heart is broken. I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day. His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time and we know that he is with us still. She will be brought up with the best memories of him.”

experiment #1

Someone to hold you too close.
Someone to hurt you too deep.
Someone to sit in your chair
To ruin your sleep --

If drinking coffee is your idea of really cool, you can't expect no crazy chick to notice you.

So I'm thinking about this thing where I put my IPod on shuffle, then post a song lyric at the top and a picture of the movie it reminds me of on the bottom. The only problem...I lack creativity and everything reminds me of Lost in Translation.

and i'm back to boring birthday posts.

those flashing lights come from everywhere.

for while i cannot love myself, i'll use something else

Jack Lemmon is so good in this movie. Somehow, he's both very '60s and very contemporary in his acting. I love him so much as an actor, and all things considered, he's probably my very favorite; he's terribly underrated, actually.

how have i never seen this picture before?!?!?!?!

So. Amazing.

ooh, happy birthday.

Of course, it helps that this is one of the best performances of the 2000s (or hell, in general). But...but...but... it would have been worth it even if the performance were terrible to see this, right?

and happy birthday to Vanessa Redgrave. Her scene in Atonement still sticks with me...

and Gene Hackman. He looks like my dad. Like, a lot.

ohhh yeahhh, I was supposed to do SAG reactions

- Good on The Sopranos. It was always an absolutely exemplary television show, and the last season was no different.
- I can't believe I'm going to say this, but that statue should have been Cate Blanchett's. The supporting one, obviously. I don't have a problem with Ruby Dee, though. And it's good to see at least one race be a wild card! (I think I'm still predicting Blanchett, though. The Academy is really wet for her.)
- No one was really dressed all that well. Marion Cotillard is absolutely gorgeous and everyone seems to be going on and on about her dress, but I wasn't that impressed. It was okay but not mind-blowing. I gotta say, Angelina Jolie looked gorgeous in what she was wearing, even though it was...crazy. Also everyone looked pregnant. I saw Cate Blanchett and was like "WHOAH WHAT'S UP WITH THAT????" then I remembered she actually is pregnant. Whoops.
- The Office won??!?!??!? Obviously, I'm thrilled (and yes, JKras was there. Ahhh... he is one tall drink of water). But...did they win for the fourth season? Because haven't they only had like...eight episodes? Not that it matters! Better than any other show on television!
- And that's, uh, that.

isn't this why people hate Crash?...

It's going to be a TV show say what? Look, I think my admiration for Crash has been made clear. I thought it was terrific on first watch and terrific every time I saw it from then on. It also seemed blatantly obvious, at least to me, that it wasn't really about racism; at its core, it was about the fascinating interactions between people, of whatever race, in the beehive of Los Angeles. But I think since winning the Oscar, its makers have been exaggerating its importance. It's a good movie, it's not the be-all-end-all of moral dramas, and I certainly don't see the need for a TV series, especially not two years after the fact when the Brokeback Mountain fans have finally started to freakin' get over it. Sorry, Paul Haggis. I liked it the first time around, but I ain't gonna watch this version of it.

WHAT THE HELL?

Jim and Kevin (my two favorite characters on The Office, by the by) are in License to Wed?

And I just checked IMDb, and Kelly and Angela are too? What the hell. These people all actually have, you know. Comedic talent. Which is fucking hard to have. This is actually making me sort of, in some bizarre way, want to see the movie. And I can't do that.

I didn't watch the SAGs, but...

Viggo: Hey, Javier Bardem.
Javier: Hey, Viggo Mortensen.
Viggo: You're hot.
Javier: I know. So are you.
Viggo: I know. Wanna make out later?
Javier: Totally.



Josh & Jeremy: Sorry, guys. Already beat ya to it.



Jenna: Fancy New Beesley? Is hot!
Justine Credible: OMG WAS JOHN KRASINSKI THERE AND I DIDN'T SEE HIM?!?!??$@?%$%#%L1111~!!!!!


Actual comments on the winners and stuff to come...

Clovie

Getting 2008 off to a pretty darn good start. Many spoilers in this "review."

Plus:
- Here is the plus that takes prescendence over the other pluses, and above all my tiny little minuses; it was an excellently made movie. The opening scenes - at a freakin' party! - were absolutely terrifying because you had no idea what was going to happen, and when whatever happened would happen. All the scenes during the attack were terrifying. The scene in the subways? AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
- You really cared about the characters, even though they were morons (see below)
- The monster had a great design (as did its little parasite things) and I'm glad they didn't give you all this "it just wantz 2b lovd!!!!!" background in the movie. It just showed up and nobody had a clue about anything, which made the movie even more terrifying. I love how you don't know exactly what was going on with anything, like the attack, or Marlena's bite (my friends and I discussed that on the ride home for like half an hour). That said, the viral marketing is brilliant if you're willing to do the effort (or read the efforts that other people have put in ;) )
- The script and acting were way, way, way above average for this type of movie (especially considering the actors were mostly unknowns). I seriously doubt any of them will be in my final lineups by the end of 2008, but I'll be proud to call them finalists/semi-finalists/whatever.

Minus:
- OH CHRIST THE CHARACTERS WERE STUPID. Beth was...arrrghhh!! Yes, I understand why love drove Rob back to get her, but... arghhh!!! The second Rob was like "hey, we can go through the subway tunnels!" I was like "NO. YOU ARE A MORON. DO NOT DO THAT." Also, Hud's death was caused by his own being a moron. OMG let me go back for my camera...ahhhh the monster ate me I'm dead. Also, HUD! SAVE YOUR ASS AND STOP FILMING ("people will want to know how it all went down" was the only stupid line in the whole movie)!
- Okay. I'd heard to bring Dramamine, seriously. And the shakycam didn't bother me so much. You know what did make me feel queasy to the point of uncomfortable? The constant 9/11 imagery. I'm from very close to the city. I remember the day vividly. Yes, I know, it's a movie about New York being attacked. There will be some things that remind the viewer of 9/11 even if the filmmakers were trying their hardest to not have those images in the movie. But...there were scenes that were right off the news from that day. Tough to watch, and hard to believe it was unintentional.
- NOOOOO, JANIS IAN!!!!! (Her "HUD!!" right before they dragged her behind that curtain, though? Terrifying. She was awesome.)
- A few instances of product placement were really very funny. For example, when Rob called his mom and had to tell him his brother had died, and then sat on the bench in the subway and Lily had to comfort him, the zooming camera focused on the Nokia ad, and not Rob and Lily.
- While the monster was always cool-looking, the design and height of it seemed to change... like, we saw its face when they were on the helicopter/about to get on the helicopter? and it looked just like a Rancor from Star Wars (dork reference). Then, when we saw its face when Hud got eaten, it...didn't look like that. I don't think "there were two monsters omg!!!" like some were saying, but it was inconsistent.
- Also, the monster being indestructable was a little ridiculous, but I understand why they had to do it for the sake of the movie.
- Also also, did the monster have like, a cloaking feature or something? Because, like, when they were trying to evacuate people via the Brooklyn Bridge, the government didn't notice it was nearby? When Hud went back to get his camera, he didn't notice it was, uh, STANDING RIGHT OVER IT????
- There were some stupid people in my theater that were really loud.

Overall, though? Great experience, and a very good movie, especially considering it comes out in January, the Month Of Crap That Isn't Going To Make Any Money. The 9/11 references mean I can't ever love it, though, unfortunately... B (maybe, maybe, maybe a B+?)

BREAKING NEWS (okay, not really)

The Coens were the ones to actually win the DGA, not Sean Penn or them and PT Anderson (which would have been so sexy). Good on ya, guys.

In other news, Martin Scorsese is still the cutest little man alive.

You Can Count on Her.

I love Laura Linney. Nay...I worship Laura Linney. She's my favorite actress, certainly currently working and perhaps ever. No one is more consistently brilliant. Take, for instance, Kinsey. While most actresses would have only bothered to show up and not truly try to put any effort into the movie, knowing they had the inherently Oscarable role of the "long-suffering yet loyal spouse in a biopic." Instead, Linney puts fire and life (I know it was basically made to be teh Oscar clip, but that "stop using science to justify what you've done" scene is great), as well as her usual sublety, into the role. She never takes that part for granted and her Oscar nomination was completely deserved (as were her other two, but in an ideal world, she'd have at least seven. Yes, I said seven!). Most people, thank God, agree with me on La Linney, but if she ever gets backlash, it's that she "coasts." That's a ludicrous charge. What happens is, Linney almost never wants you to see her acting, unlike, say, Cate Blanchett or Marion Cotillard in La vie en rose, just to name two punching bags of this blog who were the first to come to mind (sorry guys). Instead, she does what should be the goal of every actor/actress: she becomes her characters. Think about what she's best known for - usually, it's playing a complicated woman in a complicated family. That's an outline, yes, but all these families are different. Linney always captures the precise dynamics in every family she portrays, and she always makes it look effortless and incredibly charming. I can see how some say she "coasts" but she just doesn't do it, dammit!

Laura Linney is the patron saint of this blog, and if you don't like it, GTFO.

so, ummmmmmmmmmmm...

So first I heard Sean Penn won the DGA. Then I heard PT Anderson and the Coens tied (note: this would be the hottest result ever). Then I heard just the Coens won. WHO WON??!!?!? SO CONFUSED!!!

you're so ambitious for a juvenile. but then if you're so smart, tell me, why are you still so afraid?

It's not that Scarlett Johansson isn't a good actress, or that she doesn't give one of the best performances I've ever seen in Lost in Translation, but to think about what she would have been like in the silent era boggles the mind. The girl was born for it.

SAG predictions

I'm really bad at this, so who knows.

Best Performance by an Ensemble Cast
Will win: No Country for Old Men
Spoiler: Hairspray
Should win: Hairspray (keep in mind, this isn't "Best Picture," though SAG often votes as if it is. Hairspray isn't the "Best Picture" here, but it is the best ensemble. Even though there were some people in the cast who were better than others [to say the least], somehow they worked together amazingly well as an ensemble.)
I'll throw something: None of these offend me.

Best Actor
Will win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Spoiler: George Clooney
Should win: Day-Lewis
I'll throw something: Gosling

Best Actress
Will win: Christie
Spoiler: Page
Should win: Christie
I'll throw something: Cotillard (I've accepted she might win the Oscar. Ewwwww) or Blanchett

Best Supporting Actor
Will win: Bardem
Spoiler: Affleck
Should win: Jones
I'll throw something: nobody

Best Supporting Actress
Will win: Blanchett (note: whoever wins this wins the Oscar, I believe.)
Spoiler: Ryan
Should win: Blanchett
I'll throw something: Keener

And TV. Just for shits 'n' giggles! I'm probably gonna get these all wrong! Without the spoilers and "should win"s because I don't watch that much current TV (minus, clearly, The Office...). I find it hard to take the comedy nominations seriously because there's no John Krasinski...

Ensemble - Comedy Series: 30 Rock
Ensemble - Drama Series: The Sopranos
Actor - Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Actor - Drama Series: John Hamm, Mad Men
Actress - Comedy Series: Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Actress - Drama Series: Glenn Close, Damages
Actor - Miniseries: Kevin Kline, As You Like It
Actress - Miniseries: Queen Latifah, Life Support

Probably my favorite of the many first-time nominees

Yes, I realize how silly and frivolous it seems to be posting about the Oscars now, but...



Ah, Viggo. Despite your presence in a few movies, I can't say I ever really noticed you until 2001 and the Lord of the Rings series, where my first thought was "damn that guy pulls off long hair even better than Orlando Bloom." Since then, though, you've been a (happily) inescapable part of the movies. You were serviceable if not outstanding in the Lord of the Rings, but then came your work with Cronenberg...ahhhhh. You were a revelation in A History of Violence (I was never expecting a performance like that, and it was absolutely brilliant), and you're even better in Eastern Promises. Your nomination was completely deserved. You are incredibly talented, and I'm thrilled to say that you're now an Oscar nominee. Keep it up, and it won't be too long before you're a winner (The Road?).

I gotta say, though, when I look at your name for too long I just start to giggle. VIGGO!

Light in your eyes.

There's a light in your eyes that I used to see
There's a place in your heart where I used to be
Was I wrong to assume
You were waiting for me?
There's a light in your eyes
Did you leave that light burning for me?

Not connected to anything I'm thinking/feeling (yeah, I'm still with the lovely boyf, in case anyone was wondering), but just a good song.

Done now, I suppose.

There's only so much time you can spend mourning someone you didn't know, no matter how how much you liked them or how sad their sudden, all-too-soon death is. I'm sure the return of poor Michelle and Matilda to New York will be a ridiculous media frenzy, and I'll try my best to stay out of it.

In conclusion, and I hope this is the last time I have to say it: Rest in peace, Heath Ledger.

And it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart.

i really am gonna miss you, lovely.

a beautiful tribute.

An Actor Whose Work Will Outlast the Frenzy from the New York Times.

turbulent day, huh?

So incredibly sad.

I absolutely loved Heath Ledger, honestly. I loved him in 10 Things I Hate About You (even if it was way beneath him...okay, that movie is a huge guilty pleasure), I loved him in Monster's Ball (he's the best performance in the movie!), I loved having this picture on my desktop for a good portion of freshman year (what can I say, he's a good-looking guy), and I loved, loved, loved him for Brokeback Mountain. Little else worked in that movie, but Ennis del Mar - you broke my heart. Today, you broke my heart again. 28 years old...

RIP, Heath.

and the oscar (nomination) goes to...

YEAH IT DOES.

For my predictions, see here. Note I only predicted the major ones.

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Thoughts: This lineup is hot. When the worst of them is Juno, you know something happened to the Academy, and that something was awesome. AHHHH Atonement YAYYY!!! No, it's not the best of these nominees, but it's fantastic, in my Best Picture lineup, and I'm glad to see it recover. Take THAT, guilds!
Will win: No Country for Old Men has the most nominations and it's got the (deserved) hype going for it since it opened.
Alternate: It's clear they loved There Will Be Blood too, but that has way more detractors than No Country.
Dark horse: Juno has been surprising everyone all season.
Should win: All of these movies are absolutely exemplary for what they are, but There Will Be Blood is a true frontrunner in the quest to revolutionize cinema. Damn, PTA.
I predicted: 4/5, missing Atonement for Into the Wild; Atonement was my 6th placer. I'm extremely pleased with that and rather happy in a schadenfreude-ish way that Oscar clearly didn't like Into the Wild, as it's one of very few films this year that I didn't think lived up to their hype (the other notable ones being I'm Not There, Knocked Up, and especially Once). Toldja Oscar wouldn't go for Diving Bell.

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood
Ethan & Joel Coen - No Country for Old Men
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Jason Reitman - Juno
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Thoughts: I'm not quite sure what Reitman's direction had to do with Juno being so good, but it only proves that the Academy loved it. Diving Bell gets the lone arty spot, I guess. And YES for PTA. After being ignored for two masterpieces in the '90s, he finally gets the nomination for what might be his greatest film yet. I do find it shocking that all the actor-directors were snubbed this year - Denzel, Sean Penn, Ben Affleck. I realize Denzel and Ben weren't really in the race to begin with, but you know.
Will win: It's the Coens' to lose.
Alternate: Like I said before, Oscar loved There Will Be Blood, and Anderson is all over that movie.
Dark horse: Schnabel won the Globe (from the Foreign Press, mind you) and clearly has support... but when's the last time the lone director won?
Should win: As I said before, P.T. Anderson makes what might be the greatest film of his career (and that's saying a lot when you've made Boogie Nights and Magnolia), and There Will Be Blood just wouldn't be the same without him. That's a stupid statement, I realize - aren't the directors what make their films, after all? - but There Will Be Blood is just very, very, Paul Thomas Anderson.
I predicted: 4/5 missing Reitman (didn't we all) for Penn, whose film I thought had more support in general + actor-turned-director. Reitman wasn't even in my (four!) alternates =/

Best Actor
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd
Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

Thoughts: When I first watched the Oscar broadcast at lunchtimeish here and they got to Best Actor and they said Tommy's name, I thought someone had made some sort of cruel joke and when I really checked the Oscar nominations, it would be like...Cate Blanchett again or something. But NO! He really got nominated! AMAZING. That said, wow, Oscar hates its youngin's. Hirsch, Gosling, and McAvoy, all serious contenders, got left out for Lee Jones, which means the youngest is Depp, who is... 44? 45?
Will win: Daniel Day-Lewis has kind of had this in the bag since the trailer came out, and for good reason.
Alternate: Clooney has the (very few) awards DDL doesn't, and the love of, well, everyone! Plus, the film was clearly liked.
Dark horse: Haha hey, remember how back in like February/March '07 some big/main Oscar coverer guy made a blog post that was like "THERE IS A 90% CHANCE JOHNNY DEPP WILL WIN THE OSCAR WHOAMG." Well...you don't make claims like that a year in advance =/ Depp's hype still isn't dead, though, and he clearly has fans (and detracters, finally, thank God. Just when I start to be less annoyed by him...).
Should win: Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis. Though all these nominees are good, and actually, three of these are my top 3 (you'll just have to wait a little to see who, though. Ha.)...
I predicted: 4/5 missing Lee Jones (not in my alternates...but was he in yours either? Probably not...) for Hirsch.

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away from Her
Marion Cotillard - La vie en rose
Laura Linney - The Savages
Ellen Page - Juno

Thoughts: OMG OMG OMG OMG LAURAAA!!!!!!! When I watched the nomination video and they said Blanchett first, I actually went "BAH" and prepared to sleep through the rest of the nomination... but ohhh noooo it was JOLIE who got the snub, for the Lovely Laura Linney! AHHHHH I love the Oscars sometimes!!!! I'm so very thrilled about Laura I'm almost - almost - okay with Jesus getting snubbed.
Will win: Julie Christie.
Alternate: Ellen Page. I don't care that Cotillard won the Globe, that's the Foreign Press and Juno clearly had a lot of support (Director...yeah, who saw that getting in?). Or...okay, I just don't want to think about Cotillard winning. Blah.
Dark horse: Oh, I so want to say Linney's going to pull a Gay Harden. Sorry, Julie, but I'd about cry in joy if that happened. But, yeah, I'm not deluding myself. Unfortunately, Cotillard is way more likely, which means her fans would continue being the most obnoxious ever until the end of time. Yes, we know you thought she was good. Do you have to keep insulting the person who's going to win the Oscar over her? Ass (es).
Should win: Both Linney and Christie were superb, but LAURA LINNEY!!!! AAAAHHH I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE ACTUALLY GOT IN!!!!!!
I predicted: 3/5 going with Blanchett for the snub instead of Jolie (I wasn't the biggest fan of Jolie either, but booooo) and Adams instead of Linney for the "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE" spot. I also said that I would cry of happiness if Linney got in...I can't say I did, but I did let out quite a loud shriek of utter joy. I swear, the Oscars make crazy people out of all of us.

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck - The Assassination...
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War
Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Thoughts: This has been locked up for uh, a long time, so yeah. It really is an excellent lineup, though.
Will win: Javier Bardem. And Spain, for some reason, hates him (my host mom, while I was there, tried to explain it to me, but I was very confused and I'm still not sure why), so I'm sure they won't mention it. Hee.
Alternate: Casey Affleck has the critics' wins Bardem doesn't. Oscars for the whole Affleck family! Hooray! (Imagine if Ben got in somehow, too, and Jennifer Garner for Juno. That'd be adorable.)
Dark horse: Holbrook could concievably pull an Alan Arkin, beating other, much better, nominees, but there's a pretty significant difference - Arkin's film was beloved by the Academy and Holbrook's isn't.
Should win: Javier Bardem was kind of beyond words in No Country. From the very beginning...that look on his face when he strangles the guy who arrests him is amazing (and obviously, terrifying). Ahhh... but as I said above, it's an excellent lineup. Even if Holbrook - the least of the group - pulls an Arkin I won't have to do a "what? NO!" like I did last year.
I predicted: 5/5. Hooray. Me, and everyone else, I think.

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
Ruby Dee - American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Thoughts: It's fine. Neither Ryan nor Dee really excite me, but both are okay (and Dee was in Do the Right Thing! And Ryan was in You Can Count on Me! Both of these, quite frankly, get you eternal love from me!). And hey, Tilda Swinton finally gave a performance that made me understand her hype!
Will win: Hard to call between Ryan and Blanchett. I'm gonna wait until the SAG is over to make a final call, I think... for now, I'm going with Blanchett.
Alternate: Ryan's right on her heels, though. I think this one is far from locked.
Dark horse: ...or, I can still easily see Blanchett and Ryan splitting votes and Swinton getting it, especially since the film is a Best Picture nominee, supported in other categories, and not seeming likely of a win anywhere...
Should win: Cate Blanchett. Fine, universe! You win! (Seriously, she was excellent in I'm Not There. The...only excellent thing about that movie. =/)
I predicted: 4/5, going for Keener over Dee. I wish it had gone to, I dunno, Kelly MacDonald or Jennifer Garner or something, but between Keener and Dee, I'm glad I was wrong.

Best Original Screenplay
Juno
Lars and the Real Girl
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
The Savages

Thoughts: Yup, pretty standard. It was always going to be 4 great screenplays and one that had no chance and was bad (Lars and the Real Girl or Knocked Up). Also...this lineup is estrogen-riffic!
Will win: Juno. Have you been paying attention for the past month or so?
Alternate: Michael Clayton, if the "homeskillet" backlash kicks up enough...
Dark horse: Ratatouille. OMG if this won I would be SO HAPPY.
Should win: Ratatouille. Though, as I said, four of these screenplays are great and one is...Lars and the Real Girl.
I predicted: 4/5, going for Knocked Up instead of Lars and the Real Girl, assuming Oscar couldn't ignore Apatow any more. I guess they can... and quite frankly, I'm damn thankful for that!

Best Adapted Screenplay
Atonement
Away from Her
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Thoughts: Away from Her is an absolutely lovely surprise. Sarah Polley deserved a nomination (and a win!) all the way back in 1997 for The Sweet Hereafter, so that's great for her. I didn't think she was quite as deserving for director - she was a tad too detached - but here, totally. Congrats, Sarah!
Will win: No Country for Old Men, which isn't only the frontrunner but also had an unlikely Globe win.
Alternate: There Will Be Blood is clearly the second-placer in a lot of these categories...
Dark horse: Atonement, if it had had more support throughout the season in general, is the British prestige-y type movie that Oscar loves.
Should win: Atonement, for deftly adapting an incredibly complex novel (though I still haven't seen Diving Bell, and probably won't for a long time :( ).
I predicted: 4/5, going for Into the Wild instead of Away from Her. But we all know what was Into the Wild's fate...

Note: after here, the predictions get kinda list-y and less analysis-y...

Best Cinematography
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Will win: No Country for Old Men
Alternate: Atonement
Dark horse: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Should win: of these, Atonement, though I give Deakins the win for Assassination and No Country together

Best Editing
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Will win: No Country for Old Men
Alternate: There Will Be Blood
Dark horse: The Bourne Ultimatum
Should win: There Will Be Blood (or No Country for Old Men...hmm)

Best Art Direction
American Gangster
Atonement
The Golden Compass
Sweeney Todd
There Will Be Blood
Will win: hmmm, Sweeney Todd
Alternate: Atonement
Dark horse: There Will Be Blood
Should win: There Will Be Blood

Best Costume Design
Across the Universe
Atonement
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
La vie en rose
Sweeney Todd
Will win: Atonement
Alternate: Sweeney Todd
Dark horse: Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Should win: Atonement (ahhh, the green dress!)

Best Makeup
La vie en rose
Norbit
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Will win: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Should win: La vie en rose

Best Score
3:10 to Yuma
Atonement
The Kite Runner
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
Will win: Atonement
Alternate: Ratatouille
Dark horse: Michael Clayton
Should win: Atonement (why oh why is There Will Be Blood not eligible again)

Best Original Song
August Rush - "Raise It Up"
Enchanted - "Happy Working Song"
Enchanted - "So Close"
Enchanted - "That's How You Know"
Once - "Falling Slowly"
Will win: "Falling Slowly"
Alternate: "That's How You Know"
Dark horse: "So Close"
Should win: "Falling Slowly"

Best Sound
3:10 to Yuma

The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
Transformers
Will win: Transformers
Alternate: The Bourne Ultimatum
Dark horse: No Country for Old Men
Should win: ummm... No Country for Old Men?

Best Sound Editing
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
There Will Be Blood
Transformers
Will win: Transformers
Alternate: The Bourne Ultimatum
Dark horse: No Country for Old Men
Should win: Transformers

Best Visual Effects
The Golden Compass
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Transformers
Will win: Transformers
Should win: Transformers

Best Animated Film
Persepolis
Ratatouille
Surf's Up
Will win: Ratatouille
Should win: Ratatouille

and for Foreign Language, Documentary, and the Shorts, just...look on IMDb or something. Lazy, I am.

Overall notes:
- AHHHHH LAURA LINNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- They really didn't like Sweeney Todd or Into the Wild very much.
- HAHAHAHA NORBIT THE OSCAR NOMINEE HAHAHAHA. Between this and Click last year, I think the Makeup department is just insane and wants to fuck with all of us.
- Okay, three nominations for Enchanted's songs (including the inane "Happy Working Song," which wouldn't have been shit without the genius person who sings it), but you couldn't manage a nod for Amy Adams? Boo. At least she'll be singing it live (I guess)!!!
- As long as I'm on the subject, Best Song is very strange. August Rush was awful and I don't enjoy thinking about it, but "Raise It Up" was the best song in the movie...not that that really says too much. Once is the most overrated film of 2007, but it should honestly take up all five spaces in this category ("Falling Slowly," "If You Want Me," "Lies," "Fallen from the Sky," "When Your Mind's Made Up" is a much better lineup than what they have).
- Surf's Up over The Simpsons Movie might be the strangest nominee of all, next to the very idea of Norbit as an Oscar nominee. Jesus Christ, the Academy loves penguins!
- Okay, I gotta say it: both Cate Blanchett and Jodie Foster were leads in crap films that got awful reviews and were way below them this year. Cate Blanchett was fine but far from outstanding or even very good in her movie. Jodie Foster was, well, not Silence of the Lambs or Contact level, but she was Jodie, that is to say, approximating brilliant. Who's got the Oscar nomination, though? Sigh.
- Do you think Keira is having a fabulous little fit that she didn't get a nomination but the scrawny Irish unknown did?
- SO happy for Ratatouille's many nominations. It's such a great movie.
- Teehee, one of the Best Foreign Film nominations (which are bizarre... where is 4 Months and Persepolis and Diving Bell????? Utterly weird) is from Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan greatest country in the world. All other countries are run by little girls. Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium. Other countries have inferior potassium...
- ... could Kevin O'Connell actually win the Oscar? If he does, I'm predicting he gives one of the best speeches of the night (please, God, let us have an Oscar ceremony.) - in freakin' Sound!
- AHHHHHHH LAURA LINNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have time for a full commentary right now, but...

Laura, you made my day!!!

I know I'm not the only one that heard someone whoop and go "yesss!" when her name got read out. Did you hear C.Blah get that? Marion? NO.

oscar nomination eve! AHHHH.

WHO'S EXCITED??? Me, obviously. I guess it's too late to set up a novena for Amy Adams/Laura Linney/Nicole Kidman/Romola Garai/Tang Wei/Christian Bale/Tommy Lee Jones...

Comments on the nominations, of course, after I get done with classes which is uh, never, tomorrow.

in honor of the second-best season finale ever.

...the best, of course, being Sex and the City's "I Heart NY."

Hey.

Hey, how's it going?

Good. Especially after I took all your money in poker.

Haha, yeah... um, hey, can I talk to you about something?

About when you want to give me more of your money?

No, I wa -

Did you want to do that now?

Well...

We can go inside. Feelin' kinda good tonight.

I was just... um...

(pause)

I'm in love with you.

What?

I'm really sorry if that's weird for you to hear. But I needed you to... hear it.

Probably not good timing - I know that - I just...

What are you doing?

What do you expect me to say to that?

I just needed you to know. Once.

Well, I, um... I... I can't...

Yeah.

You have no idea...

Don't do that.

...what your friendship means to me.

Come on. I don't wanna do that. I wanna be more than that.

I can't.

I'm really sorry... if you misinterpreted things. It's probably my fault.

Not your fault. I'm sorry I misinterpreted... uh... our friendship.

----------------------------------

About ten minutes ago.

No, I didn't know what to say.

Yes, I know.

No, I don't know, mom. He's my best friend.

Yeah, he's great.

Yeah... I think I am.

Um... I have to go. I will.

Listen, Jim...

You cried, I cried, we all cried. And, in my case, COULD NOT wait to get the next set of DVDs to watch Season 3.

You know who I just realized who my eternal enemies are?

People who would award The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Brokeback Mountain for the Best Screenplays of 2005. Sorry if you happen to be one of them, dear reader, but I shall probably spend my life arguing against you.

because I can't think of anything better.

Independent Spirit Awards guesses. Why did I do them in such a strange order? I don't know.

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
Jennifer Jason Leigh - Margot at the Wedding
Anna Kendrick - Rocket Science
Tamara Podenski - Four Sheets to the Wind
Marisa Tomei - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Will win: Blanchett
Spoiler: Tomei
Could win: Jason Leigh
Should win: Blanchett
I haven't seen: Kendrick, Podenski

Best Supporting Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Talk to Me
Marcus Carl Franklin - I'm Not There
Kene Holliday - Great World of Sound
Irfan Kahn - The Namesake
Steve Zahn - Rescue Dawn
Will win: Ejiofor
Spoiler: Franklin
Could win: Zahn
Should win: Zahn
I haven't seen: Ejiofor, Holliday

Best First Screenplay
A Mighty Heart
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Broken English
Juno
Rocket Science
Will win: Juno
Spoiler: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Could win: A Mighty Heart
I haven't seen: Broken English, Rocket Science

Best Screenplay
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Savages
Starting Out in the Evening
Waitress
Year of the Dog
Will win: The Savages
Spoiler: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Could win: Waitress
I haven't seen: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly =/

Best Actor
Pedro Castaneda - August Evening
Don Cheadle - Talk to Me
Frank Langella - Starting Out in the Evening
Tony Leung - Lust, Caution
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Savages
Will win: Langella
Spoiler: Hoffman
Could win: Cheadle
Should win: Hoffman, though I think if I saw Cheadle I might like him more
I haven't seen: Castaneda, Cheadle

Best Actress
Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Sienna Miller - Interview
Ellen Page - Juno
Parker Posey - Broken English
Tang Wei - Lust, Caution
Will win: Page
Spoiler: Jolie
Could win: Wei
Should win: Wei narrowly over Miller
I haven't seen: Posey

Best First Feature
2 Days in Paris
Great World of Sound
The Lookout
Rocket Science
Vanaja
Will win: Rocket Science
Spoiler: 2 Days in Paris
Could win: The Lookout
Should win: ???
I haven't seen: any of these except The Lookout which wasn't worthy of much save a mention of Jeff Daniels.

Best Director
Todd Haynes - I'm Not There
Tamara Jenkins - The Savages
Jason Reitman - Juno
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Gus Von Sant - Paranoid Park
Will win: Schnabel
Spoiler: Haynes
Could win: Reitman
I haven't seen: Schnabel or Von Sant

Best Picture
A Mighty Heart
I'm Not There
Juno
Paranoid Park
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Will win: Juno
Spoiler: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Could win: I'm Not There
I haven't seen: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Paranoid Park

happy birthday, Rainn Wilson.

I have been Michael's number two guy for about five years. And we make a great team. We're like one of those classic famous teams. He's like Mozart and I'm like...Mozart's friend. No. I'm like Butch Cassidy and Michael is like... Mozart. You try and hurt Mozart? You're gonna get a bullet in your head courtesy of Butch Cassidy.

Such a great IMDb poll...

today. I voted for Jules Winnfield (of course - a role, and a performance, so strong that Samuel L. Jackson is still getting typecast as him today, 14 years after Pulp Fiction. I don't care what ya'll say about Martin Landau; yeah, he was really good in Ed Wood, but that Oscar was Sammy's.), and he's rightfully winning, but I love almost all those characters/performances.

Juno...

... ain't "hipster crap." The first twenty or so minutes are kind of "oh no, not this again...," I know (Rainn Wilson, I love your most famous show and I love you on it, but not here). But after that, it turns into a really touching story about a girl who just happens to listen to the Moldy Peaches and be a complete smart-aleck, and those around her. It's a lovely movie, not about "look how cool Juno is," but about relationships - Juno and Paulie, Juno and Leah, Juno and her parents, Juno and Mark, Juno and Vanessa, Mark and Vanessa, her parents and Mark and Vanessa... When I first read the script without having seen the movie, I admit, I thought it was laughably bad. But - maybe it's a testament to the strength of the actors - it works so well on screen. The ending is unbelievably perfect. A lesser movie might end with Mark and Juno together, or Juno and Paulie keeping the baby, but this film strikes a perfect chord with its last scenes. It's such a cliche but: during Juno, I laughed and I cried. "Hipsters" never had such heart as Juno does, and I wish there was room for it on my top 10 (2007 is awesome). A-