50 Movies for 50 States
Rotten Tomatoes has put together a list of 50 movies that best represent each of the 50 states. It’s fun to look at, if you have the time. You’ll never guess what they selected for Oklahoma…
The 2009 Oscars*
This year’s Oscar telecast was great! The changes they made [almost] totally worked – the acting award presentations were all so much more personal, and the show was altogether more entertaining than usual. It seemed the Academy Awards wasn’t taking itself so seriously this year, which was fantastic. Hugh Jackman’s opening number was fabulous (though that music medley in the middle was pretty rough – too many songs not mixed together well). I liked that they had the same presenters give several awards, instead of switching presenters nearly every time. Though I wish they would have given each of the nominees for best song more time to perform!
But best of all? Sean Penn’s Best Actor win for “Milk”! A surprise, but a fantastic one. I was at a friend’s place watching the show, and this was the only time during the night where we all yelled out with happiness. We actually all stood up and were high-fiving each other. (full disclosure: most of the people watching were gay 😉 )
So, though I watch every year, and will undoubtedly continue to do so, this was the first time in a long time that I’ve really, truly had fun watching The Oscars – I hope they keep it up in 2010!
*technically, I think this may have been the 2008 Oscars, since it covered films released in 2008. Oh, well…
Update: Sean Penn’s terrific acceptance speech.
“For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone”
And here’s the very moving speech from Dustin Lance Black, who won for his screenplay for “Milk”.
“…if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches or by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you God does love you and that very soon I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.” (If you didn’t tear up during that speech, you’re heartless)
Last weekend, and Chicago
Yes, yes, it’s already Saturday – but there were two things of note that I wanted to mention about last weekend, and I wanted to be sure that I didn’t miss doing so!
1. I went and saw Slumdog Millionaire. Finally, weeks and weeks after it opened here – I don’t know what took me so long. Anyway, it’s a fantastic movie (that’s right, you heard it here first). It’s way more intense than I imagined it would be (I was expecting a sweet, heartwarming story about a poor kid who goes on a game show. Um, not quite.). But it’s definitely a must-see. And the soundtrack is fantastic, I bought it as soon as I got home. The best song is called “Jai Ho”; they play it over the closing credits (the only part of the movie that is even a little bit “Bollywood”). So I’m posting a “video” here (you know how I love to post the YouTube); however, since this movie is still in theatres, it’s not the scene from the film. Rather, it’s a photo of the film while the song plays. In other words, you’ll want to just push play and then keep reading…nothing to see here, move along, move along 🙂
2. I finally learned how to flip things using only a
skilletcorrection: according to the chef, it was a saute pan. On Sunday, Robert made carnitas and I went over to learn to make homemade tortillas. Not only that, I learned to turn one over using only the flip of my wrist. (let it be said: Robert is a patient man). So watch out pancakes, here I come! Um, if only I could make decent pancakes to begin with. Damn.
So that was last weekend! Then this week, I went to Chicago for work. I have never really spent time in Chicago before, and it was nice. The downtown is a lot better than I expected; there’s actually life in their downtown (restaurants, etc.), and the architecture is pretty fantastic. I also got to meet up with an old friend while I was there. I hadn’t seen Ray for three years or so, so that was nice! Granted, I was out later than I should have been…but it was totally worth it.
I’m in the city for the weekend…I had thought I’d go to Princeton to buy Rachel a drink for her 21st. However, I have to turn around and go to Phoenix for work on Tuesday, so I decided I’d stay close to home for the weekend. A fun-filled Saturday of catching up on the DVR, and a Sunday of laundry and the Grammys (or is that Grammies?). Yeah, probably won’t have much to blog about for a couple of days…
It was 40 years ago today…
…that The Beatles played their very last live performance. The band was in a bad place – infighting, on the verge of breaking up. (All this can be seen in the film “Let It Be“, which I’ve never been able to bring myself to watch – too depressing.) But in the midst of all this turmoil was this last live performance. It was on the rooftop of the Apple Corps offices, completely to the surprise of everyone on the street below. It was broken up by the police, which sounds dramatic, but was actually fairly anticlimactic. (And for those tragic cases out there that have seen “Across the Universe” but know nothing of The Beatles – this is where the last scene in the film comes from)
So, in honor of the anniversary of this impromptu concert, I’m posting it, of course. I’ve found it in three parts on YouTube…
Part 1: “Get Back” and “Don’t Let Me Down”
Part 2: “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “One After 909”
Part 3: “Dig a Pony” and “Get Back” (again)
The Times Of Harvey Milk
The movie Milk is in theatres now, and it’s definitely worth the trip. However, an Oscar-winning documentary about the man came out in 1984, and it’s a must see. The Times of Harvey Milk is available to watch, for free, on hulu right now. I’m going to attempt to embed it here, but if that doesn’t work, check it out on hulu’s site
The Times Of Harvey Milk
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Go See This movie
Yesterday I went and saw Milk, the bio on slain San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk. Everyone should go see this movie (it opens most places on December 5th). It’s hopeful, and sad, and wonderful. I don’t know how I ever questioned Sean Penn being cast as Harvey Milk – I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get an Oscar nod from this. But the entire movie is so well done; from what I remember of the documentary The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, it’s pretty spot-on with accuracy. They also actually filmed this in the Castro, not just on the street but in the bars there. Robert will be the only one who gets this, but at one point, there is a scene where a character runs into the Glass Coffin, and I bust out laughing when I saw that tacky carpeting. Nobody else in the theater was laughing…
The only thing I wish was different about this movie? I wish they would have opened it about three months ago; I have no doubt that had people seen this, the outcome of Prop 8 may have turned out quite differently.
Two Movies, One Weekend
This weekend was fairly uneventful…Tropical Storm Hanna was pretty lame, and not a lot going on. Not the worst thing in the world, I’ve got a lot coming up on the horizon…but I’ve also been home a LOT lately (the stupid ankle still hurts if I walk too far), so it’s getting old. Ah, well.
However, I did see a couple of movies this weekend. After work Friday, Sandy and I went to see Hamlet 2.
I had high hopes for this movie…and ended up being a bit disappointed. Steve Coogan is great, but something about this movie was just off. Rachel and I discussed it, and I think she hit the nail on the head: the main character just wasn’t interesting or funny enough to carry an entire movie. Don’t get me wrong, there were definite “laugh out loud” moments. But overall, not as funny as I had hoped! For a better Steve Coogan movie, see 24 Hour Party People. Not really a comedy, but a damn good movie. (and I must give Rachel credit for introducing it to me, and pointing out that it is the finer of Coogan’s efforts)
Right, so I also went to see Pineapple Express on Saturday.
for those easily offended, this is not the “rated for all ages” preview; this is the R-Rated trailer
My friend Dan called me up to see if I wanted to get out of the house…yes, please! Pineapple Express was pretty freaking hilarious. The one thing I didn’t expect? It was violent. Super violent. Crazy, almost-worse-than-The Dark Knight-violent. It’s a stoner comedy, and the stoners get into highjinks with the bad guy, and usually that’s where this type of movie would get silly. Pineapple Express, however, was true to the way bad guys operate – they shot everyone. Shooting off a foot? Check. Part of someone’s ear? Yup. On and on with the violence. A little much for a relaxing afternoon movie – but still highly entertaining. (Get it? Highly? HIGHly? Ha, I kill me).
So now here it is, another work week. I’ve got a huge project that is never-ending, and it’s Monday before noon and I’m already counting down to the weekend – never a good sign. However, on a positive note: this is the last full week I’ll be in the office until the last week of October. Sweet!
Milk
It’s my new blog!
I’ve been meaning to post on here, but hadn’t yet thought of a good inaugural post. Then I decided, well, probably just best to take the leap. So here goes!
I just watched a preview for the new Gus Van Sant film, “Milk”. This is a movie about Harvey Milk that’s been in the works for awhile…and it looks like it won’t disappoint:
See? Pretty good stuff.
Now, some of you are asking, “Who is Harvey Milk?” A very important figure in history (especially for us gays). Ever heard of the Twinkie defense? No? Well, read about Harvey Milk, and the terrible injustice that was done to him, here:
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/milk01.html
Or, watch the excellent documentary about him from the 80s, narrated by Harvey Firestein, “The Life and Times of Harvey Milk”.
Aide-mémoire 