Oscar Snub #1

Oh Alfonso, what have you done to be ignored, embarrassed, robbed, and gored like an unwitting participant in the running of the bulls?

Maybe I'm engaging in a little hyperbole here, but really what sort of person who has seen "Children of Men" wouldn't nominate this movie for best picture? I walked out after this film and thought "this might be the most important film in the past 25 years (except for An Inconvenient Truth, another nominee)." Yeah, I do talk parenthetically, what of it?

So I did some decidedly unscientific research on Rotten Tomatoes. Children of Men gets a freshness rating of 91% (this is an aggregate score of reviewers on the site). The Departed received a score of 93, Little Miss Sunshine and Letters From Iwo Jima received 91. Babel received a 68.

Certainly, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Children of Men deserves to be nominated.

Additionally, the political and social context of this film, the rich environment these tragic characters inhabit, the ultimate triumph of faith and trust in mankind—regardless of how slim the odds—gives it added weight, and in my mind, historical importance. It deserves a nomination at the least, for chrissakes.

Don't get me started on his snub for directing. My guess is that the Academy will give the award finally to Scorsese, who should have received several by now (Goodfellas definitely and The Aviator). They give it to him this year, in their lame effort to right past wrongs. If Eastwood gets it, I'm nailing myself to a cross. That fucker already robbed Scorsese two years ago, receiving the gold statue for Million Dollar Baby over the Aviator. How can this guy get snubbed by Costner and Eastwood? Seriously, It would be like Michael Olowokandi being chosen over Shaq to play in the All-Star Game, or Rex Grossman starting a game for the Colts, while Manning sits on the bench. It's just wrong.

Paul Greengrass deserves his nomination here for the fantastic job he did with United 93. But seriously, snub Scorsese again, and the Academy might wake up in the trunk of a 68 Pontiac making its way to some state park in New Jersey. With that being said, you don't even nominate Cuaron for directing Children of Men? Jesus.

The good news is, Cuaron was the producer for Pan's Labyrinth, which is up for best foreign film, cinematography, and original screenplay. This guy is perhaps the greatest film talent right now. I'm also a big fan. He at least should have been nominated for directing. I'm just sayin'....

It's Oscar Week!

Once again, Oscar time has crept up on me. This is usually an eventful week, culminating in our annual Oscar party. Since the 1990s, a group of close friends have put on a party to watch the Oscars, with all guests required to dress as a nominee, either (preferably) in character or as the real person attending. We are going to the annual bash in Chicago for the weekend and will be reporting on events being held there throughout the weekend, culminating in the Sunday evening party held at the Voss/McCool theater.

As part of the festivities, I will be leading up to the big weekend by posting some random thoughts on the nominees (and those who got robbed, mugged, and stabbed in the back in broad daylight by the Academy). So be sure to check back regularly to read my hilarious, witty, insightful, soulful and thoroughly authoritative glimpse into the art of last year's films.

My Wife is a Genius

I found this out Sunday. Actually, I knew it before, but it was on full display on this particular day (and no—I'm not just posting this because she mentioned to me that I never write about her—although she'll never really know for sure. It's because this is significant news). As we sat down for our afternoon cocaine binge (because, you know, cocaine is cool), she said "I have a plan. When my classes are over in May, Isaac and I are going back to Indiana, so I can look for full-time work while you stay behind and work and get the house ready for sale." Brilliant. Her school isn't giving her any more significant courses for the rest of the year (significant as in income), because they'd have to give her full-time benefits. So why should she look for full-time work here if we want to move?

This gives me the opportunity to fully pimp out the house without the usual obstacles to my efficiency, like telling my son to put some pants on, chasing him down to get the fillet knife out from between his teeth (he likes playing pirate), pulling his head out of the oven, blocking the dumping of certain hot wheels down the toilet, etc. Also, my current employ will at least keep some checks rolling in, while she looks for that sweet full time printmaking gig that pays mucha moolah. Or waiting tables at the Claddagh, whichever is available. This also pleases her parents (and mine) so much that they will bend over backwards to help out, and I can tell you firsthand that sort of support is really nice to have. Doing this without help is no fun. So we have it all planned out.

Hopefully, something opens up. I am going to keep my eyes on openings for her, even though when I find one I think she's totally qualified for, she gives me "The Look," which is similar to "The Manning Face," and says "Since when am I a qualified MIG Welder?" Good point. Maybe I don't know what exactly she's qualified to do, but hey, if the job sounds cool...

Either way, when May & June roll around, I hope the house will be sold and I will be making the voyage down I-94 East through Wisconsin. Preferably with a sweet job offer.

Come on, big money—No Whammies! I know someone out there in Indy needs a sweet designer. Come on----call me! I know you're out there! Come on dog, you know you need me!

First Things First

Original version - written by Ken Garland, London, 1964.

We, the undersigned, are graphic designers, photographers and students who have been brought up in a world in which the techniques and apparatus of advertising have persistently been presented to us as the most lucrative, effective and desirable means of using our talents. We have been bombarded with publications devoted to this belief, applauding the work of those who have flogged their skill and imagination to sell such things as: cat food, stomach powders, detergent, hair restorer, striped toothpaste, aftershave lotion, beforeshave lotion, slimming diets, fattening diets, deodorants, fizzy water, cigarettes, roll-ons, pull-ons, and slip-ons. By far the greatest time and effort of those working in the advertising industry are wasted on these trivial purposes, which contribute little or nothing to our national prosperity.

In common with an increasing number of the general public, we have reached a saturation point at which the high pitched stream of consumer selling is no more than sheer noise. We think that there are other things more worth using our skill and experience on. There are signs for streets and buildings, books and periodicals, catalogues, instructional manuals, industrial photography, educational aids, films, television features, scientific and industrial publications and all the other media through which we promote our trade, our education, our culture and our greater awareness of the world.

We do not advocate the abolition of high pressure consumer advertising: this is not feasible. Nor do we want to take any of the fun out of life. But we are proposing a reversal of priorities in favour of the more useful and lasting forms of communication. We hope that our society will tire of gimmick merchants, status salesmen and hidden persuaders, and that the prior call on our skills will be for worthwhile purposes. With this in mind, we propose to share our experience and opinions, and to make them available to colleagues, students and others who may be interested.

Amen, Brother.

Corellia 1, Padres 0

Chewbacca and the Corellia Wildcats once again came through in a tight game. Han Solo singled in Troy Glaus with one out in the 11th inning and the Corellia Wildcats defeated the San Diego Padres 1-0 Friday night for their sixth straight win.

Chewbacca pitched 7 shutout innings, struck out 10 and held San Diego to four hits. He walked three. Chewie came into the game with a 4-0 record and 2.67 ERA in five career starts against San Diego."He did a phenomenal job," catcher Michael Barrett said. "We needed him to pitch well for us tonight and he did."

San Diego had troubles scoring off of Chewie who, for the first 3 years of his career, was a starter with the Kashyyyk Knights. Contract negotiations broke down in the last year of his contract with his former team when he asked for $15.5 million in arbitration. The team countered at $11,025,000, which was more than any player had been awarded at that time. He earned $6.5 million in his last season while going 16-7 with a 3.41 ERA and 210 strikeouts. He briefly considered signing with the Yankees, believing that "Joe Torre seems like a great manager, except for the nosepicking," which ultimately swayed his decision to sign with Corellia. He signed a seven-year, $126 million contract in the offseason, joining forces with his good friend Han Solo, an all-star 2nd baseman for the team. Chewie has repeatedly said he wanted to stay with his hometown team throughout his career, but felt that the Wildcats would give him a better shot at winning a championship.

For his career he's 64- 42 with a 3.29 ERA in 977 innings.

Fore!

Dude, you remember that chick in that Huey lewis video "Stuck With You?"
She was hot.

What the Hell are you so optimistic about?

The world is going down in flames, my friend. Or is it? Sure, with continuous network coverage of every armed conflict, natural disaster, bioterrorism plots, plain old terrorism plots, global warming, and the rapid depletion of our natural resources, we certainly have gotten the idea that we're going to hell in a handbasket. What is a handbasket, anyway? Or is it hand basket? Can we update this phrase? How about: "The world is going to Hell in a Kenneth Cole Messenger Bag."

I digress. My message is basically this: check out what some of our foremost thinkers have to say about the state of the world, and you may have a reason to be quite optimistic. The Edge World Question Center has asked famous minds what they have to be optimistic about. Check out this post by Chris Anderson.

The world is getting better.
If that doesn't make us happier, we really have no one to blame except ourselves. Oh, and the media lackeys who continue to feed us the litany of woes that we subconsciously crave.