It Ain't Me, Babe....

Oscar, I'm breaking up with you. You started off the evening in all the right ways - I was prepared for an outstanding, spectular event. But it went downhill from there. Fast.

The Foreplay:Smiles and Shivers
I was taken with your very shabby-chic rendition of Best Picture nomination-mashup. Anne Hathaway was clever, she was a great little helper. Who knew she had such chops? Bravo.

The Buildup: A Promise
Bringing out the elite group of former Best Supporting Actresses was very thoughful, a nice touch. Class, all the way. Eva Marie Saint, Whoopi Goldberg, Angelica Huston, Tilda Swinton and Goldie Hawn. What a collection of broads. However, someone should tell Goldie to come in from the 1970's beach. And either grow out or cut those bangs!

In The Throws: Akward
I was let down when Maniston came out on the arm of Jack Black (actually a fitting combination) and proceeded to talk down in her usual way to the audience. All smarmy and smug - she's no Friend of mine. She didn't belong, and it was written all over her face. Can you say uncomfortable?

The Climax: A Letdown
The announcement of Heath's win for Best Supporting Actor came rather quickly from Alan Arkin, as if he expected it. There was no build up. Kevin Cline was the only ray of light on that stage at that moment. Heath's parents were gracious, as were the gratuitous shots of certain weepy audience members. Just kind of felt rather planned and unspontaneous. A turn off.

The Cuddling: None

On that note, I am afraid I have to let you go. The lights are dim on what once was a bright and reciprocal relationship. There's no spark. The passion is gone. And there isn't any blue pill on this planet that will get our connection back.

I have a confession to make. I've met someone new. It just kind of happened, and it just feels so right. And since I just don't see you and I going anywhere, I'm excited to try this new direction.

Her name is Emmy.

2009 Oscar Picks

Awards season is about to end with the live broadcast of the Academy Awards this evening. I usually get excited about this particular show, as it's the be-all end-all of glam and gush. However, I am thinking about skipping it this year, as I feel let down by some of the nominations (and lack thereof).

I've listed the nominees in various categories, who I think has the best odds of winning, who I think should win, and who I feel was left out:

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Who Will Win: Slumdog (decent entertainment, but formulaic and predictable)
Who Should Win: Milk or The Reader (unique, unformulaic, moving, real)
Who Was Left Out: The Dark Knight, Rachel Getting Married, The Visitor, Frozen River

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle 'Slumdog Millionaire'
Stephen Daldry 'The Reader'
David Fincher 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
Ron Howard 'Frost/Nixon'
Gus Van Zant 'Milk'

Who Will Win: Danny Boyle 'Slumdog Millionaire'
Who Should Win: Danny Boyle 'Slumdog Millionaire' (first time actors, unfamilair location)
Who Was Left Out: Jonathan Demme, 'Rachel Getting Married', Clint Eastwood, "Gran Torino'


BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins 'The Visitor'
Frank Langella 'Frost/Nixon'
Sean Penn 'Milk'
Brad Pitt 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
Mickey Rourke 'The Wrestler'

Who Will Win: Sean Penn 'Milk'
Who Should Win: Sean Penn 'Milk' or Richard Jenkins 'The Visitor'
Who Was Left Out: Philip Seymour Hoffman "synecdoche, new york', Leonardo DiCaprio 'Revolutionary Road', Clint Eastwood, 'Gran Torino'

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway 'Rachel Getting Married'
Angelina Jolie 'Changeling'
Melissa Leo 'Frozen River'
Meryl Streep 'Doubt'
Kate Winselt 'The Reader'

Who Will Win: Kate Winselt 'The Reader'
Who Should Win: Melissa Leo 'Frozen River'
Who Was Left Out: Kate Winselt, 'Revolutionary Road', Sally Hawkins, 'Happy Go Lucky'

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Josh Brolin, 'Milk'
Robert Downey Jr., 'Tropic Thunder'
Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'Doubt'
Heath Ledger, 'The Dark Night'
Michael Shannon, 'Revolutionary Road'

Who Will Win: Heath Ledger, 'The Dark Night'
Who Should Win: Heath Ledger, 'The Dark Night' OR Michael Shannon, 'Revolutionary Road' Both equally riveting, passionate, and character-driven performances
Who Was Left Out: David Kross, 'The Reader'


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, 'Doubt'
Penelope Cruz 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'
Viola Davis, 'Doubt'
Taraji P. Henson, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
Marisa Tomei, 'The Wrestler'

Who Will Win: Viola Davis, 'Doubt'
Who Should Win: Penelope Cruz 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'
Who Was Left Out: Katherine Keener, 'Synecdoche, New York', Evan Rachel Wood, 'The Wrestler',

OTHER NOTABLE FILMS RELEASED IN 2008:

The Business of Being Born - Documentary, astounding
In Bruges - Colin Ferrel, Ralph Fiennes, visually stunning, hilarious, sad, moving)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - not Academy Award material, but dirty and a great laugh
Then She Found Me - a guilty pleasure, Helen Hunt at her best in years
Reprise - for me, the BEST FILM OF 2008
The Edge of Heaven - beautiful
Bigger, Stronger, Faster - great documentary about steroids
The Foot Fist Way - laugh-out-loud funny
Savage Grace - Julianne Moore, will watch her in anything
Mother of Tears - Dario Argento's very watchable third installment of the "Three Mothers" trilogy
Baghead - EXCELLENT movie, brought to you by the creators of the very overlooked "The Puffy Chair"
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson - moving and eclectic tribute
Lou Reed's Berlin - Julian Schnabel did a fine job with this concert documentary of my fantasy boyfriend
Transsiberian - Hitchcockian thriller on a train in Russia....really great story, surprise ending, and Woody Harrelson holds his own
A Girl Cut In Two - Ludivine Sagnier from "Swimming Pool" is fantastic to watch
Christmas on Mars: a Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips - no explanation needed
Towelhead - unexpected reality. Ferocious in the telling. Heartbraking.
Obscene - great under-the-radar documentary about the fight for defeating cencorship
Religulous - Bill Maher as the ultimate point man for exposing religion, good and bad, in this doc
Blindness - hidden gem of a movie, scarily realistic, apocalyptic, and raw (Julianne Moore again, fine performance)
Quarantine - fun and scary remake of a Spanish horror film "REC"
Filth and Wisdom - can't go wrong with the frontman from Gogol Bordello
Stranded: I've Come From A Plane That Crashed In The Mountains - doc about the soccer team from the movie "Alive" who survived by feasting on their fallen friends
I've Loved You So Long - Kristin Scott Thomas tour de force, raw
Let the Right One In - OUTSTANDING SWEDISH VAMPIRE MOVIE!!!! Like nothing you've seen before. Sweet little love story, mixed with all the right elements of horror
Wendy and Lucy - sad, sad, sad. Good, good, good. Michelle Willams and a dog. Nuff said.