Male protagonists, when alienated or alienating, are righteous. Are pure, and noble, and the world is unworthy of them. Flight is their only hope and salvation. Female protagonists who challenge societal norms must be destroyed by society.
stylist by day; diplomat by night?
stylist by day; diplomat by night?
A copyediting gaffe from the Boston Globe.
summertime!
summertime!
I always know summer has arrived when the Boston Harbor Hotel posts its Movies by Moonlight schedule. This is an amazing venue: a gorgeous outdoor patio right on the water with outdoor dining and plenty of additional seating, a broad staircase leading down, popcorn and ice-cream vendors (for quick supply-runs during intermission!), and a full-sized movie screen 30 feet out over the ocean. BYO snacks and drinks, or buy them there. Best of all: it’s completely free! Movies start at dusk.
The clothes make the man, but the women make the clothes.
The clothes make the man, but the women make the clothes.
In my last post, I promised a movie review, and delivered a tangent. You only might get the movie review today, but I’m entering it through a tangent, and bonus book review or two. My friend Emily had the most religious upbringing of anyone I know. This is in part because Floridian black Baptists and Irish Catholics were vying for her soul.
Let’s giggle at imperialism.
Let’s giggle at imperialism.
I watched a dark and whimsical film over the weekend, of the sort that most reviewers would call a “romp.” I’m not going to call it that, despite the self-aware (and, at times, even self-righteous) rollicking. One of the things I find incredibly intriguing is the extent to which culture impacts popular culture, and how ignorantly unaware most people are of this.
Achievement in Art Direction
Achievement in Art Direction
So here’s where my hackles raise a bit, and I step on some toes. I don’t care about the cool-kid Oscars. The acting, directing, and picture awards don’t really excite me. I’ve got my own secret version of the Big Five, and this category is one of them. My Big Five favorite Academy Awards are for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costumes, Editing, and Special Effects.
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Sorry to break up the Big Five (or six), but I went into this planning to work in order according to the official nominations list, and I’m sticking to it.It’s sort of lovely, like finding a super-easy question buried in your calc final with four minutes left of class.
Cartoons!
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Is there even a question here? I still do really, really want to see Dreamgirls, but it certainly won’t happen in the next two days, or likely even until the movie is released on DVD. That said, I am positively certain that this is the year of Jennifer Hudson.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Why does this keep happening? Especially in Best Actor, there’s this STACK. Last year, two actors turned in Oscar-worthy roles, but only PSH won.
And of course, this is just par for O’Toole’s track record of being nominated opposite and losing to giants (Ben Kingsley’s Gandhi, DeNiro for Raging Bull, Brando as the eponymous Godfather, Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch, etc.).
Movable Feasts Can be Sneaky.
Movable Feasts Can be Sneaky.
Oscar Night is my all-time favorite holiday, but it can creep up on me. (Halloween is a close second). I am a giant dork for movies. I’m also a ridiculous cinema-snob. While I know that Tremors and The Lion in Winter are not on the same level, I’ll defend one’s merits just as relentlessly as the other’s. (They are equally quotable!) Yup, I like movies.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
According to the list-order posted on oscars.org, we’re on Best Actress. And here’s the CRAZY thing: The five nominees this year have 29 nominations and just three wins between them. Let that sink into you head for a moment: twenty-nine nominations. Of course, fully half of those belong the Meryl Streep (14, breaking her own record), and Penélope Cruz is up for her very first golden boy.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Actor in a Supporting Role
The short answer is I have no idea, but that’s no fun. So let’s take a look.
Best Films I Never Saw in 2006
Best Films I Never Saw in 2006
Call it regret, but yuck. Call it a list of what I resolve to Netflix in the coming months—just don’t call me out, because these films can be as perfect as I want them to be, because I haven’t seen them yet.
