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Michael Parker's Journal
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Thursday, March 30, 2006 |
The publisher of MiPoesias, Didi Menendez has selected my poem "The Prelude to War" as the first bonsai award of 2006. This recognition came as a total surprise, and is an honor. I’m thrilled. And I’m already the new owner of a bonsai tree, as it was on my door step when I drove in from work. You can read my poem here. An audio version of the poem will be available next week.
10:12:55 PM  | |
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 |
Hearken! This is just in from the AP. Democrats in Vermont are going to use a rule of impeachment stated in Jefferson's Manual, which is "a book of parliamentary guidelines written by Thomas Jefferson that supplements U.S. House rules," to start impeachment proceedings against Bush. From David Gram's report:
The state Democratic committee is scheduled to decide the issue in a special meeting April 8.
The resolutions accuse the Bush administration of lying about the case for war in Iraq and illegally engaging in electronic surveillance of Americans.
They rely on "Jefferson's Manual," which says impeachment proceedings can begin "by charges transmitted from the legislature of a state."
Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington said lawmakers should stay focused on state issues and suggested Bush critics work to elect a different Congress in November "that could investigate the actions of the president and change the direction of the country."
The counter-arguement by the Republican made me pause. Are we liberal bloggers really that influential?
James Barnett, chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, said presidents should not be impeached "because we disagree with them," adding that evidence for impeachment was drawn from "left-wing blogs and conspiracy theories."
Dear James, Ummmm.....We're way past disagreeing with him, like by five years full of scandals; and bad or spurious decisions and/or policies.
But I digress. Back to my point-- Using Jefferson's Manual for a case of impeachment by a state. Fascinating! Read whole article here.
10:31:01 PM | |
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Salon's Laura Miller has a fascinating article today on movie critics who have shaped our culture. "The Moviegoers." Check it out.
Note: You may have to watch an advertisement in order to view it.
7:03:31 AM | |
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Friday, March 24, 2006 |
I first heard of Dean Karnazes when he appeared on the David Letterman show last year. I can’t recall why exactly he was on the show but I remember sitting down and listening to Dave guffaw at all of the miles Dean runs at a time. Dean mentioned that he was going to be running an upcoming race around the distance of 200 or 300 miles, I can’t remember which now. And Dave replied something like:"Where on earth can you run that many miles?" Dean explained that in order to get the miles in, he starts at the finish line and runs to the start line; then he starts the race with everyone else and re-runs the route.
Many of you know how much I enjoy running, despite my arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis). Many of you know too that I love long-distance running. I’ve completed 9 marathons. So when I saw his running memoir The Ultra Marathon Man: The Confessions of an All-Night Runner at Borders, I just had to pick it up for my 40 birthday.
I’m finding the book most fascinating. It’s a true memoir of how he started running as a pre-teen, gave up running because of a jerk high school track coach, and then re-found himself running again after experiencing an early mid-life crisis the night of his thirtieth birthday. Dean’s writing captivates with intriguing experiences, insights, and an overall heart-catching style. You might think to yourself that reading about someone’s running experiences would amount to reading a travelogue. Maybe it is the manner in which he approaches describing his races and training runs, because they come alive right before your eyes. If you are a runner, this book will call up all of your similar experiences like a flood. It’s hard not to feel the euphoria of his experience. This is motivational stuff. I dare say it has the magic to change your attitude on life and on your personal fitness.
I’d like to share one of my favorite stories thus far, one that he shared on the Letterman Show. On one of his weekend training runs, he was running from Calistoga (beginning at 5 PM) to the beach at Santa Cruz, a distance of approximately 200 miles. He was running to raise money for a little girl who was near death. He was carrying a picture of her, with "tubes and needles stuck all over her body." When the running became hard, he’d take the picture out and look at her. Even though she was near death, he thought her smile and face were vibrant. As he approached the small town of Petaluma, it was midnight and he was beyond hungry. He knew that if he didn’t get any food in him, his energy would fail him and he wouldn’t be able to accomplish his goal. So as soon as he had service to his cell phone, he called Round Tree Pizza and ordered one large Hawaiian pizza, a whole cheesecake, and a large coffee. Here is the conversation that occurs after:
"How long do you think it’ll take?" [I inquired.].....
"Let’s say twenty-five minutes," [replied the manager.]
"Then I’ll meet you at the corner of Highway 116 and Arnold Drive."
"What, right on the corner?" he asked. "That’s a pretty lonely stretch of highway. What color’s your car?"
"I’m not in a car," I said. "But I’ll be easy to spot. I’m the only one out here running."
"Running?" There was a brief moment of silence. "Is someone chasing you?"
"No," I laughed.
"But it’s midnight!" he said.
"Yes, it’s late. And that’s why I need pizza. I’m starving."
"Got it." [Long pause.] "Makes perfect sense...."
******
Exactly twenty-five minutes later, a dusty pickup truck with oversized tires came barreling down the road. My pizza had arrived. To my surprise, the young manager was behind the wheel.
"Dude!" he cried, jumping out of the car. "You’re mad. This is awesome!"
He pulled the pizza off the passenger seat and opened the box. It was masterfully crafted, almost as high as it was wide.... I paid the tab, thanked him, and prepared to charge on.
******
With the cheesecake stacked on top of the pizza, I started running again, eating as I went. Over the years I’d perfected the craft of eating on the fly. I balanced the box of pizza and cheesecake in one hand and ate with the other.... For efficiency, I rolled four pieces of pizza into one big log like a huge Italian burrito. Easier to fit it in my mouth that way.
9:45:50 PM | |
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Sunday, March 19, 2006 |
The revolutionary-themed action film V for Vendetta grossed $26.1 million dollars to lead the films at the US boxoffice this weekend. Read the report here.
8:55:53 PM | |
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Saturday, March 18, 2006 |
I went with friends last night to see V for Vendetta. I will write a review of it as soon as I can. But I felt compelled to acknowledge it this morning because I can't help thinking about it -- its vision of a totalitarian government, the ideas of government and freedom expressed by the protaganist "V," played compellingly by Hugo Weaving.
Each viewer who walks into this show carries with them the baggage of their life's experience and beliefs on how government should work.
Point to consider: Some people are going to perceive that this vision of a futuristic Britain is a slam on the current US government, even though it is fashioned more on Hitler's Germany. Furthermore, the vision of this film is really quite applicable to any country and/or political persuasion. (There's a term for its all-encompassing application but I can't think of it at the moment.) No matter whether you are American, British, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Iraqi, etc. and no matter if you are Republican or Democrat, this film speaks to the vulnerability to abuse and capriciousness of governments who obtain too much control and power.
V left me feeling overpowered at times, but mostly I was totally engrossed in the script and dialogue. In the same vein as the works 1984, Farenheit 451, The Handmaid's Tale, and We, V for Vendetta feels like one of the most important films to hit the big screen in a very long time.
****
Footnote: Some of the ideas V espouses to in the film remind me of some of the arguments Hamilton, Madison, and Jay put forth in The Federalist Papers, particularly the idea that the political motivation of man is self-interest and that as a collective governing body might betray the trust of its citizens and oppress them if an elaborate system of checks and balances (that were written into the U.S. Constitution) were not in place.
11:10:10 AM | |
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Thursday, March 16, 2006 |
My dear wife J threw me a surprise party at our good friends' house (the Kroghs) across the county! I had no idea this was in the works even. She was masterfully deceiving! She got me over there by having them invite us over to see the movie The History of Violence. The house was full of friends and family!
I always become reflective at these big birthday events. Good thing they didn't ask me to give a speech! I have thought about friends and family the past few days, even the friends of long ago. They ahve all come to mean so much to me and my family.
In the poem I wrote this week, "At the End of the Street Lies the Sky," I mentioned good neighbors who "helped round out \ the days, grow the kids, and watch \ year after year arrive and depart."
This thought applies especially to my family, my wonderful wife J and kids. They are my grounding. (I love you dearly.)
This thought also applies to all of my friends who I have worked with over the years, who I have lived next to, or who I have come to know through this small blog -- poets, writers, teachers, professors, bloggers, and readers. In one way or another, you all have helped me round out each day, helped me fulfill it. And the years, though they come and go like pages in a fiction, are all the more intriguing and meaningful because of you.
So, from my heart, thank you.
10:46:18 PM | |
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Tuesday, March 14, 2006 |
At the End of the Street Lies the Sky
At the end of the street lies the sky
dressed in the purple magician’s robe
of eventide and the winter storm.
Tonight she sculpts stairs of ice and
snow. She casts spells upon the laden
earth and the dying man can hear
her invitations in the blizzard, in
dreams that are like all other dreams
except soundly, deeply, more vividly.
He leaves while his wife is sleeping.
He leaves without any goodbyes.
There is no gentle kiss for her lips
no tussling of the boys’ hair or
kiss for the daughter with the moon-
shaped face. This is not intentional.
How could he know the destination
of this dream? He leaves his house,
walks down the silent street and
past the rows of barren trees
that shield the homes of dear
neighbors who helped round out
the days, grow the kids, and watch
year after year arrive and depart.
He does not think this odd tonight.
He considers this an adventure
walking past the shroud of snow
and onto the glistening stairs
that climb the breast of sky.
10:22:26 PM | |
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Monday, March 13, 2006 |
I went to Borders with the intentions on picking up two poetry books and one crime novel:
- David Harsent’s Whitebread nominated poetry book Legion;
- Jack Gilbert’s poetry collection Refusing Heaven, which won the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award; and
- John Baker’s crime Shooting in the Dark.
Needless to say, the Borders I went to must only like American books because John Baker nor David Harsent were even listed in their database. "Bad Borders! Bad, bad Borders!"
Looks like I'm going to have to get the courage to order online. And while I'm at it, I have been meaning to order Pris Campbell's well-reviewed chapbook "Abrasions."
I came home with Jack Gilbert’s amazing Refusing Heaven. I’m spellbound. I’ll most likely be writing a review of it for my next MiPo column. So stay tuned.
* To purchase or view a list of all of the National Book Critics Circle Awards for 2005, click here.
8:59:01 PM | |
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Sunday, March 12, 2006 |
I saw this over on Sisyphus Walking. Ryan is the classic The Flowers of Evil, by Charles Baudelaire.
I greatly enjoyed the film adapted from this classic: 
Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose. You are a
mystery novel dealing with theology,
especially with catholic vs liberal issues.
You search wisdom and knowledge endlessly,
feeling that learning is essential in life.
Which literature classic are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
8:56:24 PM | |
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Saturday, March 11, 2006 |
#4 Best of Family Films for 2005.
One of the smartest and hypnotic horror films you’re likely to experience is Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, about a young man who wakes from a coma to find that he and a handful of others are the only survivors of a virus that has turned a majority of Brits into blood-seeking zombies. What makes 28 Days stand out from the typical horror fare is a svelte script with intriguing and well-developed dramatic interludes in between the frenetic chase sequences and attacks. Because of this, the character’s grave predicament seems believable, their reactions and actions logically sound, and there is an overall touch of humanity that endears you to the main characters cause for survival.
You might be questioning my reasoning for bringing this horror film to light in this review, but I do this to point out this fact: Danny Boyle (who also directed The Beach, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave) creates the same type of believability and touch of humanity in the wonderful film Millions.
Boyle takes a comedic story about a young boy who finds millions of dollars outside of his cardboard hut, and rather than let the acting and film unravel into maudlin, Disney-like comic kitsch, which it easily could have done, he transforms it into a smart and delightfully dramatic, touching, and life-affirming film.
...he transforms it into a smart and delightfully dramatic, touching, and life-affirming film.
As Millions begins, Britain is in the act of switching its currency to the Euro. Daily, shipments of the soon to be defunct currency (Pounds) are being loaded on trains and taken to the incinerator. All you need to know here is: there is a robbery; there is a thief that throws bags full of pounds from a train; and one of the bags happens to fall on top of Damian's (the wonderful Alexander Nathan Etel) cardboard playhouse.
Damian tells his brother Anthony (Lewis Owen McGibbon), who immediately wants to invest the money so that they are rich the rest of their lives. Damian, however, wants to do good deeds with it. And he’s always getting an earful from Anthony for throwing away money to feed or care for the poor.
The conflict between their different goals and personalities is richly layered and it is beneficial to the plot because it accentuates their individual struggles and/or pining.
I think Boyle succeeds here because he doesn’t allow the film to cast judgement on the boys for us. He allows them a maturity that is refreshing; he lets them show off their unique skills and knowledge. After all, this film is about these boys and their remarkable experiences. And these experiences just wouldn’t be remarkable if the boys were anything less. Who would believe them?
...Damian won't have closure, he won’t be whole, until he knows his mother is alright.
But, I want to spend some time on the most endearing aspect of Millions, the character Damian. Damian is a complex character and Alexander Etel plays him masterfully. He makes Damian wear his desires and goodness on his sleeve. And it’s not easy resisting this charm.
Most endearing is his continual visits with the saints. He loves saints. Not only has he memorized their names and the miracles they performed, but he talks to them wherever he may be – in his bedroom, in his clubhouse, at school, etc. These scenes are great fun, mainly because they are filmed in a matter-of-fact manner. Damian isn’t any more surprised by their visit as he would be of his dad or brother walking into his room. It’s natural. And every visit, he inquires if any of them have seen a St. Maureen, his mother. And at these moments, we sense the heart of the character – that Damian won’t have closure, he won’t be whole, until he knows his mother is alright. (This has a beautiful resolution, I assure you.)
Millions is one of those special films that remind you of what is important and good; it is one of those films you want to cling to when you get hit broadside by the craziness of the world and you need your cup of near-empty hope refilled.
* Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, who wrote Welcome to Sarejevo, Code 46, and 24 Hour Party People.
12:16:09 AM | |
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Thursday, March 09, 2006 |
The Science Editor for MSNBC, Alan Boyle, discussed "the most important discovery in planetary science in a quarter-century" today. Taking his information and visuals from the journal Science, Boyle revealed that scientists have found evidence of water on Saturn's moon, Enceladus. As a sneek peak into the article "Water On Saturn Moon Could Support Life", consider these paragraphs:
The imaging team's conclusion was supported by the temperature readings from Cassini's infrared spectrometer: Although the surface temperatures were far below freezing, the readings showed relatively warm spots in the south polar region, centering on the tiger stripes. Scientists traced the internal heating patterns that could create such warm spots, and concluded that temperatures could be above freezing mere yards beneath the surface.
"It can be warm enough 10 meters or so beneath the surface," Porco explained, "and there's enough pressure to keep liquid water stable at that depth."
Still more supporting evidence came from an analysis of the ice surrounding the "tiger stripe" cracks. That ice was amorphous and virtually crater-free, indicating that it welled up relatively recently.
Cassini's images showed that the geysers rose hundreds of miles above the surface. Based on the imagery, researchers concluded that most of the ice crystals fell back to the surface as snow. Some of the ice escaped Enceladus' gravity field to become part of a wide, thin ring of Saturn known as the E ring.
Read the whole article here. The pictures of the beautiful moon are worth a look.
7:36:34 PM | |
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Wednesday, March 08, 2006 |
Roger Ebert has been a proponent of Paul Haggis' Oscar-winning film Crash since it was released. When I saw the film, I remembered Ebert's review. His analysis, in my opinion, was spot on! Consider his closing remarks:
Not many films have the possibility of making their audiences better people. I don't expect "Crash" to work any miracles, but I believe anyone seeing it is likely to be moved to have a little more sympathy for people not like themselves. The movie contains hurt, coldness and cruelty, but is it without hope? Not at all. Stand back and consider. All of these people, superficially so different, share the city and learn that they share similar fears and hopes. Until several hundred years ago, most people everywhere on earth never saw anybody who didn't look like them. They were not racist because, as far as they knew, there was only one race. You may have to look hard to see it, but "Crash" is a film about progress.
He also named it the best film of 2005, stating his reason in this manner:
Much of the world's misery is caused by conflicts of race and religion. Paul Haggis' film, written with Robert Moresco, uses interlocking stories to show we are in the same boat, that prejudice flows freely from one ethnic group to another. His stories are a series of contradictions in which the same people can be sinned against or sinning. There was once a simple morality formula in America in which white society was racist and blacks were victims, but that model is long obsolete. Now many more players have entered the game: Latinos, Asians, Muslims, and those defined by sexual orientation, income, education or appearance.
America is a nation of minority groups, and we get along with each other better than many societies that criticize us.... We are all immigrants here. What is wonderful about "Crash" is that it tells not simple-minded parables, but textured human stories based on paradoxes.
(I just love this: "textured human stories based on paradoxes." )
So I was pleased to see Ebert respond to the flurry of heated articles questioning the legitimacy of or reasoning behind Crash's win. Ebert's article is titled: "The Fury of the Crash-lash." Enjoy.
9:32:21 PM | |
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Tuesday, March 07, 2006 |
My wife J received this extremely challenging "Guess the Movies" quiz from a co-worker and forwarded it to me. I'm linking to it for you to view and/or download so you can play it also.
Your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to accurately guess the films from sixty frames of film. The trick is this: the people have been made invisible (I don't know how) so you only see the clothes they were wearing in the shot.
This is a challenge that will take you awhile. Leave a comment or send an email when you need to know any hints or just give up and need to know the answers.
The quiz was created using Microsoft Excel by Stephen Royle and updated by Arno de Wever and Gavin Summers. Unfortunately, if you do not have this program, I'm afraid you cannot play along. (Does anyone have any conversion ideas?)
6:19:23 PM | |
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Sunday, March 05, 2006 |
In 1995, one of the most heated and controversial marketing campaigns in Oscar history resulted in Shakespeare in Love being crowned the Best Picture Oscar over heavily favored and beloved Saving Private Ryan. Tonight, we have witnessed yet another upset! The ensemble film Crash, a fierce and seemingly unapologetic portrait of racial and cultural tensions that simmer in the streets and suburbs of LA among blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asians and Arabs, beat out the heavily favored, yet controversial films Brokeback Mountain, which had won all awards it was nominated for leading up to tonight.
Who knew? Well, it seemed all week that the national papers and critics had Crash as the talking point. USA TODAY had it splashed on the Thursday's cover a headline suggestiong Crash could "crash" the Oscars. Roger Ebert spoke of the buzz and predicted its win. And right before the ceremonies began tonight, Gene Shallott (I think) mentioned that the Fates seemed to be standing with Crash-- "all I have heard all week is 'Crash. Crash. Crash.'
George Clooney's win in the Supporting Actor category for Syriana was also a surprise, but was also predicted based on the fact that the Academy might not want him to leave empty handed, a fact that Clooney himself joked about when accepting the award.
Additional Notes:
* Dolly Parton doesn't look like she's aged in the past twenty years, except for her neck. I thought for sure she was a sure-shot for winning Best Song for "Travelin' Through." She lost to 306's "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp".
* John Stewart's best line of the evening: "Unfortunately, Bjork won't be joining us tonight. She was trying on her costume when she was shot by Dick Cheney." Hilarious!
* It seemed a bit rude to cut the power to the mikes before the award winners were finished, especially in instances where there were two or three winners.
* The bodice of the jade colored dress worn by the beautiful Selma Hyak looked like it was pushing her breasts stage left.
* The bow on Charlize Theron's dress was larger than her head. Sometimes it got more air time than her face because it was so overpowering. Bad choice.
* I was thrilled to see The Chronicles of Narnia win the Best Makeup Oscar. Why? Because that meant that Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith didn't win it and I've been so disgusted with this last trilogy that I've been wishing it ill will. [Yoda: I sense great anger in him, yes.]
Here are the list of winners:
Best Picture = Crash
Best Actor = Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote
Best Actress = Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line
Best Actor in a Supporting Role = George Clooney for Syriana
Best Actress in a Supporting Role = Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener
Best Directer = Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain
Best Original Screenplay = Crash - Paul Haggis, Robert Moresco
Best Adapted Screenplay = Brokeback Mountain - Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana
Best Cinematography = Memoirs of a Geisha - Dion Beebe
Best Editing = Crash - Hughes Winborne
Best Art Direction = Memoirs of a Geisha - John Myhre, Gretchen Rau
Best Costume = Memoirs of a Geisha - Colleen Atwood
Best Original Score = Brokeback Mountain - Gustavo Santaolalla
Best Original Song = Hustle & Flow - Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, Paul Beauregard ("It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp")
Best Makeup = The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Howard Berger, Tami Lane
Best Sound = King Kong - Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond Peek
Best Sound Editing = King Kong - Mike Hopkins, Ethan Van der Ryn
Best Visual Effects = King Kong - Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, Richard Taylor
Best Animated Film = Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Steve Box, Nick Park
Best Foreign Film = Tsotsi - Gavin Hood(South Africa)
10:52:15 PM | |
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BEST PICTURE
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Munich
Prediction= Brokeback Mountain
Preference= Crash
BEST DIRECTOR
George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck.
Paul Haggis - Crash
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Bennett Miller - Capote
Steven Spielberg - Munich
Prediction= Ang Lee
Preference= Ang Lee
BEST ACTOR
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night, and Good Luck.
Prediction= Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Preference= Phillip Seymour Hoffman
BEST ACTRESS
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Keira Knightley - Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Prediction= Reese Witherspoon
Preference= Charlize Theron
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Matt Dillon - Crash
George Clooney - Syriana
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence
Prediction= Matt Dillon
Preference= Paul Giamatti
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - Junebug
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
Prediction= Rachel Weiz
Preference= Rachel Weiz
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Match Point - Woody Allen
The Squid & the Whale - Noah Baumbach
Good Night, and Good Luck. - George Clooney & Grant Heslov
Syriana - Stephen Gaghan
Crash - Paul Haggis & Robert Moresco
Prediction= Crash - Paul Haggis & Robert Moresco
Preference= Good Night, and Good Luck. - George Clooney & Grant Heslov
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Constant Gardener - Jeffrey Caine
Capote - Dan Futterman
Munich - Tony Kushner & Eric Roth
Brokeback Mountain - Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana
A History of Violence - Josh Olson
Prediction= Brokeback Mountain - Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana
Preference= The Constant Gardener - Jeffrey Caine
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Don't Tell (La Bestia nel Cuore) - Italy
Joyeux Noel - France
Paradise Now - Palestine
Sophie Scholl - Germany
Tsotsi - South Africa
Prediction= Tsotsi - South Africa
Preference= Paradise Now - Palestine
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Darwin's Nightmare
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
March of the Penguins
Murderball
Street Fight
Prediction= March of the Penguins
Preference= March of the Penguins
ANIMATED FILM
Corpse Bride
Howl's Moving Castle
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Prediction= Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Preference= Howl's Moving Castle |
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ART DIRECTION
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Pride & Prejudice
Prediction= Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Preference= Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Batman Begins
Brokeback Mountain
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Memoirs of a Geisha
The New World
Prediction= Brokeback Mountain
Preference= Good Night, and Good Luck.
COSTUME DESIGN
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Memoirs of a Geisha
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Pride & Prejudice
Walk the Line
Prediction= Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Preference= Pride & Prejudice
FILM EDITING
Cinderella Man
The Constant Gardener
Crash
Munich
Walk the Line
Prediction= Crash
Preference= Crash
MAKEUP
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Cinderella Man Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Prediction= The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Preference= The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
SCORE
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Memoirs of a Geisha
Munich
Pride & Prejudice
Prediction= Brokeback Mountain
Preference= Pride & Prejudice
SONG
"In The Deep" - Crash
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - Hustle & Flow
"Travelin' Thru" - Transamerica
Prediction= "Travelin' Thru" - Transamerica
Preference= "In The Deep" - Crash
SOUND EDITING
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
War of the Worlds
Prediction= King Kong
Preference= War of the Worlds
SOUND MIXING
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Walk the Line
War of the Worlds
Prediction= King Kong
Preference= King Kong
VISUAL EFFECTS
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
King Kong
War of the Worlds
Prediction= King Kong
Preference= King Kong |
Who do you want to win?
4:42:56 PM | |
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Saturday, March 04, 2006 |
#3 Best of Family Films for 2005.
3There have been many memorable comedic pairs in the history of film: Abott & Costello, Bob Hope & Bing Crosby, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin, Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon, Mel Gibson & Danny Glover, Nathan Lane & Mathew Broderick, etc.
In 2005, creator Nick Park brought his famously beloved comedic duo, Wallace and Gromit, to the big screen in the delightful mystery caper The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Now, if you are not familiar with Wallace & Gromit, they have been around since their debut in the short film A Grand Day Out With Wallace and Gromit (1989). Since then, they have appeared in The Wrong Trousers (1993) and A Close Shave (1995). So it only seems natural that their experiences of trial and error progress to the feature length variety.
In my introduction to my selections of the Best Family Films, I mentioned that American films lacked originality and creativity. Here is a film that exceeds at both, and delightfully so. Curse of the Were-Rabbit finds our uncharacteristic inventor and his lovable human-like dog running a humane anti-pest company. (Pest as in rabbits who have been eating up all of the towns vegetables.) After capturing all of the rabbits at Lady Tottington’s estate, Wallace & Gromit quickly discover that their in-house holding cells for the rabbits simply can’t hold the rabbits anymore. So Wallace divines a plan to try to brainwash the rabbits into despising vegetables. The plan works. But soon after, a monstrous beast paralyzes the town and their vegetables. And Wallace & Gromit are called upon to save everything: the town, their vegetables, and the great vegetable competition.
With the talented voices of Ralph Fiennes (Victor Quartermaine) and Helena Bonham Carter (Lady Tottington), buoying up Peter Sallis (Wallace), the narration is a joy–it is taut and the timing is perfect for comedic effect.
In regards to the claymation, Curse of the Were-Rabbit uses the lengthy stop motion animation, which is the cinematic process of bringing pose-able figures to life on screen by breaking up each figure's motion into increments and filming one frame of film per increment. The seamlessness of all of the action in Were-Rabbit makes you realize the magnitude of mastery involved in its creation and the incredible artistic achievement it truly is.
If Were-Rabbit should win the Best Animated Film award this Sunday at the Oscars, which they are favored to, by the way, Nick Park & Co. would not be breaking with tradition. They have already won the Best Picture BAFTA, beating out the much favored The Constant Gardner. And all of their short films have captured the Best Short Film (Animation) awards at the Oscars and BAFTA, except A Grand Day Out, which was nominated but did not win the Oscar.
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Thursday, March 02, 2006 |
#2 Best of Family Films for 2005.
2It’s Harry Potter’s fourth year. He’s grown into those teenage years that are marked with growing pains, experiencing your first "puppy love", losing old-time friendships, and longing to be accepted by the older teenagers. But those are just the standard fare of issues and feelings every teen experiences. Harry Potter faces these challenges as well as having to compete in the dangerous Tri Wizard Tournament and fight a duel with the Death Eater’s and Voldermort himself. Indeed, Harry’s life at Hogwarts in this fast-paced (and awesome) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire becomes his most complicated, harsh, and dangerous one yet.
Though these films tend to fly through one action scene after another, this Goblet of Fire has many lovely and memorable moments in between, thanks to the care of a very capable director, Mike Newell (Mona Lisa Smile, Donnie Brasco, and the beloved Four Weddings and a Funeral). Consider this as an example:
After the Winter Ball, the biggest dance that takes place at the school hosting the Tri Wizard Event, the camera zooms in on Hermione Granger, who is sitting on the granite stairs outside of the dance. It’s been a terribly confusing, emotional night for her. Though she attended the dance with the biggest star of international Quidditch, Victor Krum, she had wanted to be asked by one of her best friends, Ron Weasley. But Ron had taken too long to ask her, so Hermione accepted Victor's invitation, feeling that Ron didn’t care enough for her. And when Ron finally got the nerve to ask, Victor had already asked, which made Ron furious because he felt she was a traitor for going to the dance with the "enemy." And to top it off, Victor became a bit too "handsy" with Hermione near the end of the dance. The weight of all these events were visible in Hermione’s expressions and body language, played convincingly by Emma Watson. The touch of real-life, that human element, is reminiscent of Newell’s touch. And I sense that here: the capstone is seeing Hermione barefoot, with the high heels she had been dancing around in for hours dangling in her hands.
Like the third installment of the series, the Goblet of Fire exhibited spectacular sets, costumes, and utterly believable visual effects, especially the opening Quidditch World Cup match.
Yes, Mike Newell’s Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire, though darker than its predecessors, is splendid fun.
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Wednesday, March 01, 2006 |
The #1 Best of Family Film for 2005
1Hayao Miyazaki is an extraordinary storyteller whose previous films have been some of the most critically celebrated animated films in recent history–Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001).
In 2003, Spirited Away was awarded the Best Animated Film Oscar. And Princess Monoke, released before Oscar began honoring animated films, won it’s homeland’s (Japan) Best Film award. This year, Howl's Moving Castle is nominated for Best Animated Film.
Miyazaki’s latest animated adventure is Howl's Moving Castle. Delightful? Absolutely, both for kids and adults. And you won't find humor that is of the cheap variety. No jokes about farts or burps, as many of the American films have sunk into of late. Neither is his script patronizing or inane. There is a style of sophistication in this story and his characters that is refreshing.
Indeed, Miyazaki’s films all have intriguing children as the main characters. What is unique is that he entrusts his child characters with great responsibility--the balance of good and evil ends up resting in their small hands shortly after the film begins, and often before they themselves realize it. The manner in which his characters choose to overcome personal obstacles (primarily a lack of confidence, self-worth, and courage) in order to set life right seems more complex than the average cartoon character. They're clever, bright, human, and highly endearing; and I do believe this all is evidence of a thoughtful and creative creator at the helm.
In Howl’s Moving Castle, our young heroine, Sophie Hatter, is such an example. When she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and turned into an old hag, she doesn't wallow in self-pity or shame. She overcomes it, and her fear, by leaving her home and job to go out into the dangerous Waste to find the Witch in order to have her reverse the curse. Her resolve and courage (and don't leave out a good heart) allow her to make many friends, even out of the unfriendly. Eventually, she becomes the greatest asset to the cause of good in the story.
Howl's Moving Castle is an absolute delight. It's creative and complex; magical.
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One of my blog's hits today came from the Google search "Obi Won - Jesus." Check out the picture on this search result. I always knew Star Wars geeks took their characters seriously, but not to this extreme.
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