It's been quite a while since I've done one of these. I finally scrounged together enough time to put one together, and I thought with the Oscars a week away it would make for a good topic. So without further ado... Activate interlock... Dynotherms connected... Infracells up... Mega thrusters are go... Let's go Voltron Force!
The standard warning for those of you who've never seen one of these before: If you would like to see some of the latest entertainment news, celebrity gossip and odd crap making the rounds, keep reading. However, if you are easily offended by half-nude men & women or other such things, you might want to stop right now.
You've been warned.
► [Who Should Win?... Who Will Win?]
I've done a version of this topic the past couple of years, so I thought it might be a nice late-night diversion in advance of the Academy Awards ceremony, as well as a chance to look back at previous winners. In the past, there have been arguments over how some films won over what were arguably superior movies. But the operative word in the previous sentence is "arguably", since all of this is subjective.
You can see the entire list of nominees by clicking on the link for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Here's some of the major categories.....
Avatar |
The Blind Side |
District 9 |
An Education |
The Hurt Locker |
Inglourious Basterds |
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire |
A Serious Man |
Up |
Up in the Air |
The Academy expanded the Best Picture nominees to ten this year, allowing for more commercial films to be on the list. For example, last year there were complaints in some circles after '
The Dark Knight' failed to make the cut. The purpose of expanding the
Best Picture list is two-fold. It helps the broadcast ratings for the Oscars to have films most people have actually heard of and seen, and it helps the studios & producers to keep interest in their films high for them to be showcased at the Oscars. One hand washes the other.
Right now the conventional wisdom is the race for Best Picture is between 'Avatar' & 'The Hurt Locker'. However, there's speculation on the effect of an "e-mail scandal", wherein 'The Hurt Locker' producers sent out emails urging Academy voters to vote to hurt 'Avatar'.
Initially, Nicolas Chartier broke Oscar rules by sending out an e-mail blast that urged academy members to campaign for "The Hurt Locker" and not to vote for that "$500M film" ("Avatar," of course). Soon afterward, Chartier sent out an apology, blaming the transgression on his "naivete" as a first-time contender, but now more damning e-mails have surfaced. Hammond (Notes on a Season) has unearthed new letters to Oscar voters that "not only asked for votes but actually gave more specific instructions than even the academy does on the official ballot." The letters tell voters how to mark their ballots in order to help "Hurt Locker" and hurt "Avatar."
Of the films nominated, the ones that impressed me the most were 'Inglourious Basterds', 'Up', and 'District 9'. Each of those movies went in different directions that actually surprised & impressed me. With 'Inglourious Basterds', Tarantino uses a lot of old film tropes, but mashes them together to make a film that can be interpreted as a parody of old WWII films. 'District 9' creates a very affecting tale. Part of the reason 'District 9' works so well is that even though the subject matter is alien "Prawns", Mechs, and mutagenic spray that can turn humans into prawns, the underlying story is believable. If we've treated each other as humans that way either in the past or present, it's not so far to believe that we could treat aliens the same way.
The first 15 minutes of Pixar's 'Up' are among some of the most beautiful moments of film I've ever seen. I'm always impressed when a film can convey such a range of emotions without a single word of dialogue.
However, I fully expect 'Avatar' to win. It is innovative & a great experience, especially if you see it in IMAX 3D. I just wonder if the "classic" label hung on it by some critics largely based on the visual effects is still going to apply in 5 to 10 years when every sci-fi/action film has similar or better visuals. Are people still going to feel it's a "classic", since when you strip the effects away all you have is a formulaic plot.
All that being said, my vote is for 'Inglourious Basterds'.
- Best Achievement in Directing
James Cameron - Avatar |
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker |
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds |
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire |
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air |
The winner of "
Best Director" is usually a portent of "
Best Picture", since the director of the film that wins best picture almost always wins this award (
although, it's not a given). Since I think '
Avatar' is going to win Best Picture, my crystal ball predicts a good night for James Cameron.
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side |
Helen Mirren - The Last Station |
Carey Mulligan - An Education |
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire |
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia |
The odds have Sandra Bullock with an
even money chance of winning. It's possible for Bullock to win both an Oscar & Razzie (
for her performance in 'All About Steve') in the same year. However, it wouldn't surprise me if Gabourey Sidibe or Meryl Streep wins. Streep hasn't won an Oscar in 26 years (
since her performance in 'Sophie's Choice'), even though she's been nominated for an Oscar 12 times in that period.
- Best Performance by an 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 |
Jeff Bridges is considered the favorite. His nomination and the possibility of him winning has been compared to Paul Newman's Best Actor victory for '
Color of Money'. It's the combination of a good performance & the feeling "
it's time" to honor someone for their body of work.
Bridges, who has five prior nominations is way out ahead for his role as a down-and-out country singer in Crazy Heart with fellow nominees as follows, per BoDog: George Clooney (7/2 odds) who won for Syriana (2005), Colin Firth (10/1), Jeremy Renner (12/1), and Morgan Freeman (15/1) in the running.
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon - Invictus |
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger |
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station |
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones |
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds |
I'll be shocked if Christoph Waltz doesn't win this. Could it happen? Sure. Will it happen? No.
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Penélope 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 |
The "
money" has this award as Mo'Nique's to lose. She's consistently won for her performance at other award shows.
Now the fun part.
Among some of the more argued about past best picture winners.....
- 2005: 'Crash' beats 'Brokeback Mountain'
- 2003: 'The Return of the King' or 'Mystic River'?
- 2002: 'Chicago' beats out 'The Pianist', 'The Hours', 'Gangs of New York', and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'
- 2000: 'Gladiator' beats 'Traffic' & 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and the unnominated 'Requiem For a Dream'
- 1998: 'Shakespeare In Love' wins over 'Saving Private Ryan'
- 1994: Probably the most discussed and argued about Best Picture award for those who like to argue about this stuff. 'Forrest Gump' beats 'Pulp Fiction' & 'The Shawshank Redemption'
- 1990: 'Goodfellas' is beaten by 'Dances with Wolves'
- 1985: 'The Color Purple' loses to 'Out of Africa'
- 1982: 'E.T.' or 'Gandhi'?
- 1981: 'Chariots of Fire' beats 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'
- 1980: 'Ordinary People' defeats 'Raging Bull'
- 1979: 'Apocalypse Now' & 'All That Jazz' are beaten by 'Kramer v. Kramer'
- 1968: The win of the musical 'Oliver!' is not criticized as much for beating out the other nominees in its category, but for the movies the Academy didn't nominate against it that year. For example, '2001: A Space Odyssey,' 'Rosemary's Baby,' 'Once Upon a Time in the West,' 'Petulia,' and 'The Producers,' are among the films that could have & weren't nominated for Best Picture.
- 1952: 'High Noon' & 'Singin' In The Rain' (which wasn't even nominated) lose out to 'The Greatest Show On Earth'
- 1941: 'How Green Was My Valley' beats 'Citizen Kane', 'The Maltese Falcon', and 'Sergeant York'
► [The Quality Of Advice.....]
It's always amusing to read the advice dished out in Mens & Womens magazines. It is usually of the very obvious or the very wrong variety, yet very titillating & hence the reason its in the magazine.
For example, in the March 2010 issue of Maxim has an article entitled "Sex: Cheat and Don't Get Caught". The piece is from a female author who intends it to be female advice to men like Tiger Woods on how not to get caught cheating on one's significant other. Among the advice passed along is that if you're going to play phone-tag with your mistress, change her name to a dude's name for caller-id purposes, as well as.....
Don’t Date Your Fling: "F***, don’t date. Period. Don’t meet up for coffee, don’t confide in each other about your lives, don’t even exchange numbers if you can avoid it. Just F***."
This piece did spur some hi-larious blog reactions.
"After checking the mail today, I was sorting out what belonged to me and my husband and what belonged to our roommates and I came across something that has ignited a rage in me that I need to vent about. I have never told my husband what to read, what to watch, how to dress, how to do anything, I just encourage or discourage depending on how I feel about something. But today, I discovered that there is one thing I will NEVER allow to happen. EVER! He is never allowed to buy and/or bring home a Maxim Magazine... Yes, I know that my husband will always be faithful to me because our marriage is strong, open, honest, loving and fulfilling, but I still wouldn’t allow him to read this magazine or bring it into my house. If any man purchases this filthy excuse for a magazine they are helping to pay this woman’s salary and therefore encouraging more articles like this to be published, and heightening the risk of turning the few good men left in this world into lying, cheating, scumbag pigs."
Over at Cosmo they have a related piece if your man is dealing with his sexual desires in a more "personal" way. What are the warning signs & advice if your man happens to be "choking the chicken" & its effecting your sex life? Hilarity ensues.
"There are two current factors that are leading more and more men to develop masturbation dependencies, which is when someone masturbates so frequently that it interferes with a healthy sex life," says sex therapist Ian Kerner, PhD, author of She Comes First. And rest assured, neither of them have anything to do with you.
"First, the bad economy is leaving a lot of guys without jobs, so they sit at home, bored, and start masturbating more often," says Kerner. "And second, porn has become so accessible that guys can watch something new every day, so a compulsion grows." There are actually serious consequences to all that whacking off: If he’s doing it too often, he may stop being able to climax with you. "A man’s hand can provide a lot more friction than a vagina, and if he’s compulsively masturbating, he may grow so used to that intense friction that anything less won’t do it for him," says Kerner.
Speaking as a heterosexual male (and if my gay brothers think I'm wrong, please correct me), but I don't know of ANY guy that likes his hand over sexual relations with a partner, if there is a) opportunity & most importantly b) attraction.
However, Mr. Kerner has advise for Cosmo readers on what to do, if you should be in a relationship with a guy whose masturbation has become a problem.
If you’ve noticed that your guy takes a long time to climax during sex or if he can’t finish at all, the only way to find out if excessive solo sex is the problem is to ask. "Tell him he’s seemed dissatisfied during sex and you want to make sure he’s enjoying himself," says Kerner. Then mention that you read in Cosmo that masturbating too much can make it hard to orgasm. By bringing up that you read this article, you’ll let him know he’s not the only one doing it, which will make him more willing to talk about it.
Yes, because every dude will just love to discuss their sex problems over a Cosmo.
► [Movie & Television News]
Movie Trailers: If you have problems with the embedded players below, or want to see other recently released teasers & trailers, click here.
- 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps'
- 'A Nightmare On Elm Street'
Stories making the rounds......
- MTV Prez: Generation Y is less cynical, more civic-minded than Generation X, citing "Jersey Shore" as an example:
"We're pushing Generation X out," Toffler said. "We're slaves to our different audiences, for MTV that's millennials, who are vastly different than Generation X; they're definitely less cynical -- they're more civic minded."
As evidence of the fine taste of this benevolent new generational breed, Toffler cited ... "Jersey Shore."
The network president said, "Millennials are really about authentic reality and family" and that MTV "played up the camaraderie and family elements [on 'Jersey Shore']" to appeal to them.
- AFTRA approves joint talks with SAG
- Study: Most indecency complaints directed at Fox
- Sophisticated Flash Gordon Revamp Keeps Lionman And Hawkmen
- Know Your TV Drama Pilots For Spring 2010!
- Angelina Jolie Kills 'Wanted 2' In Favor Of 'Gravity'
- Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku Teaming For Feature Film
- The pulp era's "Science Detective" is about to make a big-screen comeback, courtesy of the man behind Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; Shane Black will be bringing Doc Savage to the world of movies.
- Paul Greengrass Gives His Final Word on Bourne; He and Matt Damon Both Push Prequel/Reboot Idea
- The CW's identity crisis: Are 'Supernatural' and 'Smallville' better than 'Gossip Girl' and '90210'?
- Matt Damon and Jake Gyllenhaal Turned Down Sam Worthington's Role in 'Avatar'
- LETTERMAN’s Booked Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Tom Brokaw & Jerry Seinfeld!! How Does That Stack Up Against LENO’s First Week Back??
- Spoiler for 'AVATAR 2'?
- How Open Are You, Movie-Wise?
Too often, moviegoers seem to clump into camps: I only watch romantic comedies; I stick with horror; I gotta have my action fix; I won't watch anything made after 1950; I won't watch anything in black and white; I won't watch anything with subtitles. To some extent, we're pushed that way by modern media, as niche marketing gets more and more specific. Go to Netflix or Amazon, search for A Room with a View, and suggestions for other similar, period dramas may pop up as recommended choices for you, as determined by computer algorithms. The computer won't recommend 'The Crazies'.
- Dermot Mulroney To Play "ROCKFORD" In New NBC Pilot
- Julianne Moore may return to 'As the World Turns'
- Roger Ebert Headed To Tuesday’s "Oprah"
- Tron Legacy Movie Trailer Premieres in Los Angeles
- The Denzel Washington Venn Diagram:
- Will Smith to Produce and Star in Remake of Hitchcock’s 'Suspicion'?
- First Look: Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis in 'Burke and Hare'
- Dr. House & Blair to get it on? Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl" will star in indie dramatic comedy "The Oranges" opposite Hugh Laurie
- New International Behind the Scenes Look at 'Iron Man 2'
- More Crazy Rumors: Jonah Nolan to Direct 'Superman'?
- The trailer for 'Waking Sleeping Beauty'
► [Music News]
Charts: Through the magic of , you can click on any of the song titles below & hear that particular track.
The top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 are.....
- The Black Eyed Peas - "Imma Be"
- Ke$ha - "TiK ToK"
- Young Money Featuring Lloyd - "BedRock"
- Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"
- Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
- Artists For Haiti - "We Are The World 25 For Haiti"
- Train - "Hey, Soul Sister"
- Ludacris - "How Low"
- Jason Derulo - "In My Head"
- Trey Songz Featuring Fabolous - "Say Aah"
The Top 10 Songs in the United States at the iTunes Store are.....
- The Black Eyed Peas - "Imma Be"
- Train - "Hey, Soul Sister"
- Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
- Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 - "Blah Blah Blah"
- Jason Derulo - "In My Head"
- Ke$ha - "TiK ToK"
- Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris - "Baby"
- Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"
- Kris Allen - "Let It Be"
- Trey Songz Featuring Fabolous - "Say Aah"
Music news circulating around the series of tubes.....
The fourth edition of our annual countdown of music's highest earners finds wide-eyed youngsters (Kings of Leon, Taylor Swift) rubbing elbows with their well-heeled elders (Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac). As the music industry grows ever more complicated, so does our top-secret* Money Makers formula -- comprising, among other variables, monies earned from CD and digital sales, publishing royalties and all forms of streaming. But one thing remains constant: Touring is the prime fattener of bank accounts, as evidenced most dramatically in the eye-popping, chart-topping tally of high-end road hog U2.
- Unearthed Rolling Stones Tracks Emerge for "Exile" Reissue
- Genesis Says Peter Gabriel Missing Rock Hall Induction Is No 'Snub'
- Billy Joel Dismisses Rumors He Yanked Elton John Tour
- Whitney Houston Dismisses Critics, Says Tour Going Well
- Sade's 'Soldier' Stays Put At No. 1 On Billboard 200
- Aerosmith Reconcile to Announce Summer Tour
- Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Announce New Album, Tour
- U.K. Govt Steps In To Protect Abbey Road
- Jennifer Lopez Confirms Split With Epic Records
- Kanye West Returns With 'Coldest Winter' Video
- Springsteen Joins Ray Davies for Kinks LP
- Roger Daltrey Wants to Sing the Blues With Jimmy Page
- 50 Cent Sued For Posting Sex Tape While Feuding With Rick Ross
- Slash Says Velvet Revolver Still Searching for Undiscovered Singer
- The highest debut on the Billboard 200 next week will likely come from Johnny Cash's "American VI: Ain't No Grave," the late legend's final installment in his successful American Recordings series with producer Rick Rubin
► [Gratuitous Links & Pics]
Other News & Crap
- Marie Osmond's Son Commits Suicide
- Scotty Lago Conspiracy Theory -- Up in Smoke
- When the film Precious took home the lion's share of trophies at Friday's NAACP Awards in Los Angeles, the cast and crew were in a celebratory mood -- even when director Lee Daniels made an excruciating boo-boo regarding celebrated star Gabourey Sidibe's weight
- Actor Seth Green Is Engaged!
- Brittany Murphy -- 109 Mystery Pills
- Jim Carrey Is a Grandpa
- How to "Accept" a Marriage Proposal By Hillary Duff
- Fallout from Charlie Sheen's rehab stint: Will CBS sue?
- Charlie's Wife, Brooke Mueller, Moves Rehab Team into Her Home
- More "Two and a Half Men" news, Jon Cryer's Ex-Wife Put A Hit Out On His Ass
- A source close to the investigation into the death of Andrew Koenig tells E! News that the 41-year-old actor's body was found Thursday in Vancouver's Stanley Park hanging from a tree
- Matthew Fox of "Lost" has allegedly been cheating on his wife with a stripper from Oregon
- Carrie Prejean is living in sin
- Star Magazine says that the Real Housewives of Orange County's Vicki sucked on the tongue of a 25-year-old college student while she was partying without her husband Don in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last month
- Tiger Woods makes Elin apologize to daughter's school?
- Gatorade Drops Tiger Woods
- Simon Cowell Is Engaged!
- Gary Coleman hospitalized after seizure on 'The Insider' set
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