Giants Mix

In honor of opening day... a short mix for the Giants. [Ed update: what the hell, Tejada.]

Credit for a chunk of this has to come from this lovely mix, which I listened to a lot last October. (It's also really great to work out to...)

Run This Town SF Giants Remix - DJ E Rock

Electric Feel - MGMT (Timmy's warm up song)

Only Girl in the World SF Remix - Rihanna (Well, the remix comes from San Francisco, and I was listening to it a lot during the series...)

The City - Richie Cunning (video isn't the whole song - fyi)

Black and Orange - Bailey

Say Hey I Love You (SF Giants Version)- Michael Franti

Higher Ground - RHCP

Vertigo - U2

Song 2 - Blur

Know Your Enemy- Green Day

Ready, Steady, Go - Paul Oakenfold

(Those last five are on because they all played at AT&T park on Monday)

SF Giants Fight Song

Don't Stop Believing (Giants 2010) - Ashkon (Duh.)

Movie opinions

About a week before the Oscars, I started a post on movie opinions. Basically, several of my coworkers and I had been sitting around a conference room, filing, and the talk turned to the Oscars. Someone asked me what I wanted to win, and I explained that I thought Winter's Bone was the best film of the year, but I was rooting for The Social Network over The King's Speech. One of the other girls piped up and said she really liked the King's Speech; she thought it was stirring and feel-good. I said something to the effect that I liked Colin Firth's performance, but that I thought the script was uneven and one of the weaker parts of the film and that I didn't like how it glossed over some historical aspects of the story. To which she said something like; "Oh. Well, I really liked it."

And I instantly felt awful.

I hadn't meant to demean her response to the film, or suggest that someone's opinion on a movie only matters if you can break down the various elements in it. I had just gotten into the habit of debating films with a lot of other cinephiles. I'm used to discussing movies with talkative people with a lot of strong opinions. Or rather, with other people who love to debate. And yes, those debates can occasionally turn heated, but for the most part, film people really like talking about film. Getting into the nitty gritty and hashing it out.

Take, for example, the fact that Sherlock Holmes came up at dinner the other night. I really couldn't get into it; one of the other people there really enjoyed it. We talked about Guy Ritchie's other films. We were all able to agree that Rachel McAdams was weirdly anachronistic in it. And we talked about how it really didn't need to be called "Sherlock Holmes" (which led us onto how the same was true for the latest Robin Hood or... hmm. There was another film that used a story/legend but then had no real ties to the source material. It'll come to me. Ed update: I remember - the new trailer for the Three Musketeers. More explosions than one would expect in an Alexandre Dumas adaptation.)

Anyways. Point being - my dinner companions weren't offended by the fact that I disliked a movie that they had enjoyed. No one came away upset or slighted. We had a great discussion about movies that touched on a lot of different points.

But I think there's a real difference when I start talking movies with non-movie folk/more casual theater-goers.

What reminded me of this topic (and spurred me to finish my post) was an essay at Observations on Film Art entitled, "Pleased to Meet You. What's the Greatest Movie Ever Made?" I particularly liked this bit; "people who know a great deal about any subject are likely to seem condescending to people who don’t, even if that is not their intention." Obviously, I'm no expert. I didn't take film theory and I don't study movies for a living. But I'm passionate enough about the topic that if I (stupidly, without thinking) launch into talking about the scriptwriting in the King's Speech, I come off completely condescending, even though I really was just trying to talk about the movie. Carry the conversation forward, and so forth.

I'd hate for something like "What's your favorite movie?" to be a conversation stopper. One of the great things about film is that it is such a universally inclusive topic (we always get around to "recent films we've seen" at our family holidays.) I just wish I better knew how to direct my enthusiasm so that talking with a casual-viewer led to more discussion, not awkwardness.

*le sigh*

Review round-up

Oh, blog. I have neglected you for far too long. Mea culpa. I forgot what it was like to be busy.

To be fair, I haven't exactly been living at the movies, either, seeing as art house flicks have been in short supply around here and the winter doldrums worse than usual. Not to mention the end of the Oscar race is always a little exhausting. Anyways, Jane Eyre doesn't open in SF till next week, ditto Sucker Punch, missed The Way Back, and I'm going to wait for DVD for Rango. I do want to see Uncle Boonmee, and All About Eve is at the Castro this week.

I did catch the animated shorts, and quite enjoyed both Madagascar: Carnet de Voyage and The Lost Thing. And a double feature of 42nd Street and the Gold Diggers of 1933, which ought to keep me satiated on Busby Berkeley for a while.

And I caught Kaboom, which I really enjoyed - it's well worth checking out. It's sort of a college-, coming-of-age, sci-fi romp. With a lot of sex. It's fun.

In terms of DVD releases, I caught The Proposition (fabulous and amazing), the Town (meh - it's no Gone Baby Gone and Rebecca Hall was surprisingly bad in it), State of Play (the BBC miniseries, not the remake; it is completely awesome - Bill Nighy is at his absolute best), Ravenous (silly and ridiculous), and Leaves of Grass (Ed Norton is good, but the script doesn't live up to his performance).

Also saw Season of the Witch. Drunk. It's bad. It's so very, very bad.

Mostly, though, I've finally gotten hooked on The Wire. I'm almost through Season 2, and I'm in real danger of becoming a shut-in until I finish it... Why are shows about drugs, like Breaking Bad, SO ADDICTIVE?! The first few episodes of Season 1 are a little uneven, but it really is one of the best shows around. Definitely see it if you haven't already. I may hold off a few days to finish Season 2, though. I really like the character Ziggy and I'm sensing that things are not going to go well for him...

My super-duper oscar predictions

At last. More than 40 awards shows, critics lists, and prediction reports compiled. This is where I try to take emotion out of the equation, look at the tallys of what has been winning the critical and guild awards, what has the buzz from oscar-oligists, and then stubbornly stick to a Social Network win anyway. Last year I went 17/24, which was dismal, but in 2009, I went 21/24, which tied me with Tom O'Neil (the winning-est oscar pundit that year).

I've changed my mind on the shorts like 3 times already, so I'm stopping the second guessing and just laying it all out...

Best Picture
"The Social Network" [King's Speech]

I'm sorry. This is the one where I am throwing out the guild sweeps and going with my gut. I think Harvey Weinstein is brilliant at what he does, and The King's Speech is just so oscar-baity, but I stand by the fact that no film that has won the GG, NBR and NYFCC has ever lost best picture. I think there was a bit of a backlash against the Social Network's early sweep, but I feel that backlash that has run its course. At least it is an interesting competition.

(My favorite title for someone's Oscar picks? If The King's Speech was best picture, it would win best picture.)

Actor in a Leading Role
Colin Firth in "The King's Speech" [won]

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in "The Fighter" [won]

Actress in a Leading Role
Natalie Portman in "Black Swan" [won]

Sorry, Annette. You'll have to wait for that actual lifetime achievement Oscar.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Melissa Leo in "The Fighter" [won]

I could easily see a Hailee Steinfeld upset here, particularly because of Melissa Leo's recent bizarre antics and the huge number of nominations for True Grit (not to mention its box office prowess). But I think Leo still has a lot of goodwill stored up from Frozen River, and that True Grit will get honored in Cinematography.

Animated Feature Film
"Toy Story 3" Lee Unkrich [won]

Art Direction
"Inception" [Alice in Wonderland]

Very tricky. It has to be either Inception or The King's Speech, because they each won the guild award (Fantasy and Period respectively), and the guild is 10/14 with the eventual Oscar winner. I think Inception has the visual flair to edge out here.

(Alice in Wonderland has a lot of supporters because it is visually extravagant and Tim Burton films do well here, but I think all the computer work will count against it.)

Cinematography
"True Grit," Roger Deakins [Inception]

Wally Pfister could upset, given that he won the ASC. I can't decide if the acting branch will go with Inception or the older bent of the Academy will go with True Grit. Or rather, I think both those things will happen, but I can't tell who has more pull. Inceptions sequences were so memorable, but most of what I think about from True Grit were landscape frames. I'm going with "Oscar voters are old" on this one.

Costume Design
"The King's Speech," Jenny Beavan [Alice in Wonderland]

Alice in Wonderland could upset, just because Colleen Atwood has SUCH name recognition for costumes. But as one blog pointed out, the last 5 winners here were: Memoirs of a Geisha, Marie Antoinette, Elizabeth: the Golden Age, the Duchess, and the Young Victoria. Period/Royalty FTW!

Director
"The Social Network," David Fincher [Tom Hooper]

Documentary (Feature)
"Inside Job," Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs [won]

Documentary (Short Subject)
"Strangers No More" [won]

Film Editing
"The Social Network" [won]

Foreign Language Film
"In a Better World," Denmark [won]

Incendies as the possible upset.

Makeup
"The Wolfman," Rick Baker and Dave Elsey [won]

Music (Original Score)
"The Social Network," Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross [won]

I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that The Social Network, The King's Speech, and Inception ALL used previous recordings prominently (Edward Grieg's In the Hall of the Mounatin King, Beethoven's 7th, and Edith Piaf's Je Ne Regrette Rien respectively), but Black Swan, True Grit, the Fighter, and the Kids are All Right were all disqualified for using pre-existing music or songs. This category needs fixin.

Music (Original Song)
"We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3," Music and Lyric by Randy Newman [won]

Short Film (Animated)
"Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)" Bastien Dubois [The Lost Thing]

The predictable choice here is The Gruffalo. It's like the King's Speech of animation. BUT! Last year's Logorama upset was pretty shocking. I'd love to see Madagascar upset the obvious British choice. I think with its innovative mash of animation styles and international subject, it has a good chance.

Short Film (Live Action)
"The Confession," Tanel Toom [God of Love]

Wish 143 for an upset.

Sound Editing
"Inception," Richard King [won]

Sound Mixing
"Inception," Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick [won]

Shockingly, True Grit won this at the guilds. But I think Inception will get both sound categories from a broader pool of voters. (But, seriously, that club scene in the Social Network...)

Visual Effects
"Inception," Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb [won]

Adapted Screenplay
"The Social Network," Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin [won]

Original Screenplay
"The King's Speech," Screenplay by David Seidler [won]

This makes me sad. The script was the weakest element of this film. Inception was clever, and Christopher Nolan was snubbed for directing.


So - sometimes the tech categories can point the way to what will win out, but I think Inception sweeps a lot of those this year, which doesn't help predict the Social Network/King's Speech showdown.

It's also important to note that Best Picture and Best Director have only differed 12 times since 1948. And people are pretty sure that David Fincher will get it, DGA be damned (17 oscar pundits predict Fincher over 10 for Hooper).

I realize that 5/6 films that have won PGA, DGA, and SAG went on to win best picture. BUT! I think the Fighter and the Social Network split the SAG vote. And the DGA was very much an upset.

AND since the Social Network is favored in Editing, Director and Adapted Screenplay, that gives it an edge. The last film to win those 3 categories and NOT best picture was Traffic in 2000 (although that was before preferential voting).

But I think preferential voting will also help Social Netowrk. I really think the Social Network will rank as #2 on more ballots than The King's Speech. Can you really see a Fighter/King's Speech or Inception/King's Speech ballot happening? I mean, The Social Network won 99 critics/guild awards to the King's Speech's 37 over the season. I think it is the more widely liked film.

As Sasha Stone wrote; “There is no reason to assume [The King's Speech] won’t win. Except for that tiny needling truth that it isn’t the best film of the 10.” That has to be needling the voters. They've gone for quality over expectation more and more in recent years.

The Social Network's totally gonna win.

The Oscars - who SHOULD win

Best Picture
"Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role
Colin Firth in "The King's Speech"

I'm okay with this one. He was really good, plus I thought he was brilliant in A Single Man. The Oscars always skew old for males, and Jesse Eisenberg will probably get other nominated roles in the future.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in "The Fighter"

Still sad that Mark Ruffalo was nominated over Andrew Garfield, but glad that John Hawkes got some love. All that aside, Christian Bale is brilliant. I'm happy he is finally getting his due.

Actress in a Leading Role
Natalie Portman in "Black Swan"

This one is hard. Jennifer Lawrence is BRILLIANT in Winter's Bone. But I think this is the best work Natalie Portman may ever do.


Actress in a Supporting Role
Hailee Steinfeld in "True Grit"

Much as I liked Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom, Hailee Steinfeld really had the meatier part.

Animated Feature Film
"How to Train Your Dragon" Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

Art Direction
"Inception"

I... HOW is Black Swan not up for this?

Cinematography
"Inception," Wally Pfister

I do love Roger Deakins, but he should have won for the Assassination of Jesse James.

Costume Design
"The Tempest," Sandy Powell

Director
"The Social Network," David Fincher

Documentary (Feature)
"Exit through the Gift Shop," Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz

Film Editing
"Black Swan"

I would have picked Inception, but.... why are the tech categories so screwy this year?

Foreign Language Film
"Dogtooth," Greece

Makeup
"The Wolfman," Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Music (Original Score)
"The Social Network," Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)
"If I Rise" from "127 Hours," Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong

I STILL WANT MY BURLESQUE.

Short Film (Animated)
"Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)" Bastien Dubois

Sound Editing
"Inception," Richard King

BRAAAAAAAHM.

Sound Mixing
"The Social Network," Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten

Seriously - the Club scene is brilliant.

Visual Effects
"Inception," Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb

Adapted Screenplay
"The Social Network," Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

Original Screenplay
"Inception," Written by Christopher Nolan

Meme time!

I got this from the fabulous Bathroom Monologues, found here.

It is based on the Bernard Pivot/James Lipton list of ten questions.

1. What is your favorite word?
I'm partial to oubliette. I never get to use it, though. I also really like words with an x in them; vixen, moxie, Roxie (which somehow ended up being a nickname of mine for about a month in college).

2.What is your least favorite word?
Any sort of management buzzword/jargon. Red flags for incompetence, and they make the hairs on the back of my neck go up.

3.What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Possibility.

4.What turns you off?
Hmm... rejection?

5.What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck.

6.What sound or noise do you love?
This.

7.What sound or noise do you hate?
Babies.

8.What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Attempt? Something involving performing.

9.What profession would you not like to do?
Pediatrician. I can see that going very, very wrong.

10.If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Open bar.

Linkspam

Tori Amos is writing a musical. This is fabulous. (However, I like this performance here. And this one. And this one. Right. Stopping now.)

The Faces Behind Facebook.

If The King's Speech Gets Re-Edited to PG-13, It Doesn't Deserve the Oscar. Well, it doesn't deserve the Oscar anyway, but...

In honor of Sundance.... 10 Great Scenes from Sundance History. (Includes the fabulous note; "If film bloggers were dolphins, hype would be their echolocation.")

And Sundance actors to watch. And another crop.

What do the SAG awards have against Rooney Mara?

10 Reasons to Watch Archer instead of 30 Rock.

Truthful Best Picture Posters.

The history of hip hop.

This answers my questions about Inception's editing snub. Kinda.

Car chases, Whee!

The writer of An American Tail and Land Before Time died. Land Before Time was my second-favorite film growing up. "That's MY Hopper!" Excuse me, I've got something in my eye....

Here is my worry about the reality show about the Giants; (mostly, the more I can watch them, the happier I am. But...) Brian Wilson might start coming to practice dressed as Chuck Norris. And I really want the focus to stay on winning.

And speaking of the Giants.

Um, WHAT.