Summer is better than Winter: Reason # 273

Over the winter I experience a phenomenon in Utah known as inversion. It’s where the air pressure forces all the pollution to the ground. As I work up on the 23rd floor, I get a pretty good view of this and here are some images showing what we live in over the winter…gross. I love summer so much I can’t even begin to describe how much I am dreading the winter…and it lasts forever.

Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. It might be funnier for me though with all the film terminology.

What, me? A Marathon?

Because I am completely random and I hate running, I have decided to run a marathon. ‘Why’ you may ask? I have been asking that same question for a while now ever since I made the decision. There are a bunch of reasons why I shouldn’t: Have no clue what I'm doing, never found running particularly fun, have a sprained ankle, am in the ‘Clydesdale’, or ‘large weight’ class for all the races…. the list goes on and on. However, there are a few motivators as well: Get in shape, run for causes, demonstrate to my family that obesity can be overcome (you may not think it, but according to this chart, I am obese). Anyway, I have set my goal, chartered my course and have started training. I guess that’s the main reason for running, it gives me a focused goal that is achievable, and I think everyone wants to feel like they’ve accomplished something.

Oscar Nominations 2009

Once again the Oscar race has proven it’s irrelevance with the rest of America. You can see all of the nominations here, but for all those who go to see movies to be entertained or, like the rest of us, whenever we can get out; you may not recognize much on there. There are a few travesty trends that must be pointed out…
‘Mainstream’ = No Love:
The Reader and Frost/Nixon over Wall-E and The Dark Knight? How can that be? I am more and more convinced that the elitist attitude in Hollywood prevents great pictures from being seen or considered since they were ‘mainstream’-sickening
Fame > Talent:
Jump on the Brangelina bandwagon folks, all Brad and Angelina had to do was show up on the red carpet for their movie premiers and POOF! Nominations. Its comforting to know neither will win it even though that doesn’t dull the pain from Cate Blanchet and Sally Hawkins being left out.
Political Causes & Holocaust always trump:
How could The Reader and Milk rack up so many awards? They were barely seen, positively reviewed and seriously flawed. While the acting was impeccable, both suffered from a serious case of mediocrity and left us knowing they could have both been so much more. But when you make a films that ring sentimental to agendas and races in Hollywood, you will get nominated aka Brokeback Mountain and Beautiful Life.
Good songs belong on the radio, not in movies:
Springsteen's Wrestler song being left out of the race is like denying U2 the chance to play Cochella because they are too big. Like Enchanted last year, throw in some zany dance numbers, forgettable lyrics and you have this years Slumdog Millionaire song nominations.
What exactly does a director do?:
Best director nominations are always messed up. Most people think that if they nominate a movie for best picture, they have to nominate the director as well. Hmmm, not so. Chris Nolan beat out by Stephen Daldry, Danny Boyle being nominated for one of his weaker films and Gus Van Sant for Milk over Paranoid Park? Why do we even have this category anymore if people can’t understand what a director does?
See More Films:
The one thing that the Oscars do get right is instilling that little sense of interest in main stream audiences that tend to reward the curious. There are the little gems scattered throughout the nominations that, if you take the time to find out “was she really that good?” you will be pleasantly surprised. Here’s to all the Richard Jenkins, Melissa Leos, Viola Davis' and Foreign and Documentary categories of the world. You make us proud, and barring any further ridiculous snubs by the elitist members, might even get the exposure from viewers to lift you to the level you belong.

If there is a message to this rant, it’s a plea for the academy to nominate the deserving and popular films. That way everyone gets exposure, rather than just a dwindling telecast of mediocre artsy films on a pity party watch.

Weird

I lived in Gaithersburg Maryland for almost 8 years of my life and I never knew right down the street in Rockville, MD was the grave of F.Scott Fitzgerald. Why does this have to do with anything you might ask? Well, I pride myself on seeing a lot of the local culture and sites in the places I live. And to find out that I lived miles from the grave site of one of the greatest American authors of all time and never visited was a little disheartening. I guess that I have gotten a lot more adventuresome with my wife and kids...so much so that I eventually want to go out and see the spiral jetty in the middle of freakin' nowhere.

Toy Story vs. The Dark Knight

Because this made me laugh, and I needed a good laugh at the moment.

Death in The Dark Knight

So now that ‘The Dark Knight” did a bazillion dollars on it’s opening weekend, you know there are some movie execs in Hollywood figuring out how they can kill off one of their lead actors in an upcoming tentpole. I know it’s horrible to say, but honestly I think a big part of TDK’s success is the death of Heath Ledger. Brilliant as his acting stint may be and as awesome as Nolan is at directing, I bet a numerous host went to see Ledgers final performance, rather than just cause it was a Bat pic. Believe me, those execs look at trends, cause and effect, and somewhere out there, one of them is eyeing the WB’s haul and hoping for someone to die. I wish it were not so, but those sketchy morals and emphasis on Box office are some of the reasons I chose to eschew the lure of Hollywood. I still miss Cali though!