I Have Found

If Mo'Nique wasn't nominated this year, I'd give her the Oscar. Without even thinking about it. (You did know that I have the power to give out Oscars, didn't you?)

If anyone knows of any way I can become Maggie Gyllenhaal, I would really appreciate you letting me know. It's a hard thing to accomplish. And I'm not so keen on identity theft.

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Anyway. Tomorrow is the Oscars. I'm watching a really mediocre "Road to the Gold" special on ABC. So incredibly mediocre that they called The Dark Knight not being nominated last year a "travesty" - as an argument FOR the 10 nomination system, no less. I don't know why I've kept this on my TV.

I don't want to repeat all of the opinions I stated in this entry, especially since I'll be full of many more after the show. But I don't want Avatar to win and I want James Cameron knocked off of his high horse.

I was watching the Independent Spirit Awards last night because I do every year because I think it's a really important area of film making to support. Part of me wants to win an Independent Spirit Award more than an Oscar - the whole thing just feels a lot less political and so much more about actors and film making. It's refreshing and inspiring to watch.

I'd never thought much about film and TV acting until recently. Theatre has consumed my entire life for so long, I hadn't had the chance to think about other areas until I graduated and had my own time to do with what I wanted. I just took a commercial class and found that I don't hate being on camera, and that I'm actually fairly good at it. Theatre is always going to be my number one priority, but it's nice to know that I'm comfortable with the whole shebang, and not just because I would never turn down any acting work - but because I would WANT to.

I'm starting Sheri Sanders' Rock Audition class this coming week and am really, really excited to start singing again - somewhere other than my living room.

Man, ABC is losing credibility rapidly with this Oscars special, btw. Sandy Kenyon (seen in the back of taxis) is grating on my nerves.

Okay. I'm toying with the idea of live blogging during the Oscars - well, I guess not LIVE, but I'll blog as the award show goes on and then post. Though I might be too busy keeping up with my Twitter and Facebook... can I tackle 3 social networking mediums at once?!?!??$!@:!?!?#:?1$:14

Kbye.

*K

Bonnaroo 2010 line-up!

Today is an important day because I now know that Steve Martin makes music. The world feels perfect again. If I were to ever go to Bonnaroo, it would be to see him. Not even joking. I know this entire thing feels really sarcastic. But seriously. Steve Martin is the freaking man.

Also GWAR would be hysterical/badass.

And despite my lack of interest in rap music, I too am under Jay-Z's spell and wouldn't mind bearing witness to him being awesome in person.

People are also excited about Tokyo Police Club, Baabal Maal, Jimmy Cliff, and Monte Montgomery. I don't know who any of these people are, but I sure do like their names.

IN OTHER NEWS: Saints Parade in New Orleans. It's totally happening. I didn't watch the Super Bowl. I only watched the commercials. Oh, and the half-time show, which I thought was pretty badass even though then men on stage could have died of natural causes at any time during the performance. (Because they're OLD.) But I'm glad the Saints won. New Orleans definitely needed a win. So, they're gonna have a parade now!

What else? Gmail buzz. I have been on gmail all day and this is the first I'm hearing of it... but as soon as I figure out exactly what it is and how it works, I'm pretty certain I'll love it. Because Google can do no wrong. Well..... okay, there was Google Wave, but we can forgive that, can't we? Everyone who ever knew what it was has already forgotten about it anyway.

And lastly on my agenda for the evening, NYC schools closed due to snow. Also Mike's job. And probably one of my jobs. Snow, y'all.

*K

New blog template! All the fabulous credit goes to http://ericulous.com/. As if you actually believe I created this by myself. Pah.

It's going to take some time to get used to, but I think it's pretty spiffy. See where it says SIDEBAR? ---->

Click it.

Yeah, the side bar pops out. That's just how I roll now.

Links up top. Cute Twitter link in the top right corner. Pictures of some hot chick. Best blog layout ever.

That's all. Direct all questions elsewhere.

*K

Overall: okay, Academy. Okay.

Everything makes sense and was pretty easy to call - best actor noms, supporting actor and actress (why they even bothered nominating anyone besides Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique...) Best Actress? Well, yes and no. We all know by now that Sandra Bullock is going to win, unless the Oscar angels grant me my one wish of Carey Mulligan walking away with the golden man. Helen Mirren, Gabourey Sidibe - makes sense. I haven't seen The Last Station, but it's Helen Mirren, so I'm willing to bet she's giving a Helen Mirren quality performance. Gabourey is fantastic in Precious, and were it any other year I think she'd have a serious shot. So, here comes the kicker. Meryl Streep for Julia and Julia.

Maybe it isn't a "kicker". Maybe I should have seen it coming. She's Meryl Streep. And she's nominated BECAUSE SHE'S MERYL STREEP. I would find it hard to take anyone seriously who could look at me and say that she deserves that nomination spot over Emily Blunt or Marion Cotillard. Julie & Julia was a really good movie. I loved it. I read the book the minute it was over. She was great, Amy Adams was great. They were both charming in a Nora Ephron penned feel good "chick flick". It is not - I WILL REPEAT - it is not an Oscar worthy role. And with so many other performances out there, I think it's embarrassing that the Academy felt the need to nominate her. And trust me, I think just as highly of Meryl as everyone else. But I'm realistic about it.

All of that aside, the winners are fairly easier to figure out.

But I'm here today to call shenanigans on the new NOMINATE EVERY MOVIE EVER rule.

Well, no. Not every movie ever. Because somehow A Single Man was overlooked for a sentimental, run of the mill movie like The Blind Side.

Why, dear Oscars, do you feel it's necessary to nominate TEN movies? I mean, TEN. Really? TEN? Is it really that difficult to make up your mind? I can't wrap my head around why this is a good or even relevant change. Did you feel, dear Oscars, you were leaving too many people out? Were you hurting feelings? Did someone complain to the teacher? But wait, this is HOLLYWOOD NOT KINDERGARTEN.

Movies get overlooked all the time, usually for lesser quality movies that sneak their way into the nominations. That sucks, it does, but that's how it works. If they were really concerned about this, maybe try to vote for quality movies, EH? We all know that five or ten nominees, the outcome will be the same. Let's be honest here.

Does this look right to you:

OSCAR NOMINATED THE BLIND SIDE.

UP, OSCAR NOMINATED FOR BEST ANIMATED FEATURE AND BEST PICTURE! BECAUSE WE LOVE TALKING DOGS!

I am, however, thrilled that this put An Education into the mix. But I would have understood had it not made it into the normal five movie list.

The whole change is just bizarre and I still can't understand the thought process. But, c'est la vie.

On that note, if Avatar wins best picture, I'll have lost faith in all humanity.

Not really.

But, well, a little bit. I'm not saying Avatar is bad, I'm really not. I did really enjoy it. I love Pocahontas. (HAH! I kid. Sort of). But it is NOT the best movie ever made. It is especially not the best movie of the year. Up against brilliant, original, WELL ACTED, finely crafted movies like The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, Up in the Air, and An Education... I'd find it hard to be at peace if a movie mainly being praised for it's technical feats walked away with the big prize.

Same goes for James Cameron as director - win all the technical awards there are, dude. You deserve them. It's really a stunning movie to look at. But best director? No, no, no. Kathryn Bigelow better walk away with that award. The Hurt Locker is so engaging and difficult and thrilling, it would be so unjust for her not to win. And, yeah, I'm a little biased being a woman. She would be the first woman to win best director. THE FIRST. I'm thinking... yeah, it's time.

Who knows what the academy has in store for picture and director - I honestly can't predict it.

Leaving you now with the full list of nominees, my personal picks bolded. Because you care. Deeply. Also comments in bold. Because sometimes I comment on things.

(Categories not bolded are categories I have absolutely no clue about. That happens. Sometimes I don't know things. Sometimes. I'll put those first.)

'French Roast'

'Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty'

'The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)'

'Logorama'

'A Matter of Loaf and Death' (Is it bad that I want this to win based on title alone?)

'The Door'

'Instead of Abracadabra'

'Kavi'

'Miracle Fish'

'The New Tenants'

'The Hurt Locker' (Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett)

'Inglorious Basterds' (Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano)

'Star Trek' (Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin)

'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' (Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson) (Though, it has to be said, part of me would LOVE a Transformers movie to win a freaking Oscar just for the mass quantities of LOLs that would ensue).

'The Hurt Locker' (Paul N.J. Ottosson)

'Inglorious Basterds' (Wylie Stateman)

'Star Trek' (Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin)

'Up' (Michael Slivers and Tom Myers)

'District 9' (Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken)

'Star Trek' (Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton)

'Avatar'

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'

'Inglorious Basterds'

'The White Ribbon'

'District 9'

'The Hurt Locker'

'Inglorious Basterds'

'Precious'

'Down in New Orleans from 'The Princess and the Frog' (Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman)

'Loin de Paname' from 'Paris 36' (Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas)

'Take it All' from 'Nine' (Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston)

'The Weary Knd (Theme from Crazy Heart)' from 'Crazy Heart'

Music and Lyric by Ryan Bigham and T Bone Burnett

'Avatar'

'Fantastic Mr. Fox'

'The Hurt Locker'

'Sherlock Holmes'

Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell ('District 9')

Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche ('In the Loop')

Geoffrey Fletcher ('Precious')

Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner ('Up in the Air')

Mark Boal ('The Hurt Locker')

Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman ('The Messenger')

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen ('A Serious Man')

Peter Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy ('Up')

'Coraline'

'Fantastic Mr. Fox'

'The Princess and the Frog'

'The Secret of Kells'

Penelope Cruz ('Nine')

Vera Farmiga ('Up in the Air')

Maggie Gyllenhaal ('Crazy Heart')

Anna Kendrick ('Up in the Air')

Matt Damon ('Invictus')

Woody Harrelson ('The Messenger')

Christopher Plummer ('The Last Station')

Stanley Tucci ('The Lovely Bones')

Sandra Bullock ('The Blind Side')

Helen Mirren ('The Last Station')

Gabourey Sidibe ('Precious')

Meryl Streep ('Julie and Julia')

George Clooney ('Up in the Air')

Morgan Freeman ('Invictus')

Jeremy Renner ('The Hurt Locker')

James Cameron ('Avatar')

Lee Daniels ('Precious')

Jason Reitman ('Up in the Air')

Quentin Tarantino ('Inglorious Basterds')

'Avatar'

'The Blind Side'

'District 9'

'An Education'

'Inglorious Basterds'

'Precious'

'A Serious Man'

'Up'

'Up in the Air'

*K

Sometimes I have a lot of doubts and questions about the experiences I've left myself out of, such as dating. I never dated, I only had exclusive relationships. So it's a weird thing for me to think about. Sometimes I wonder if I missed anything.

But I know I wouldn't have enjoyed it much anyway.

And I also know that even if I had, I would have ended up in the same place. Because this is where I belong.

I'm content with what I've experienced and how I've lived my life. Because I'm so happy where I am right now. Really, I'm just glad I didn't take any longer to get here.

-end sappy-

Keywords to bring unsuspecting people to this entry: Next to Normal Bootleg, Feeling Electric, Alice Ripley, Dexter. (My Dexter entry has been getting tons of traffic).

Oh, and if you don't mind, click on the ads.

*K

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! This video is only one example of the spotty TV coverage we had going on... luckily got the final seconds of the countdown.

2010.... Don't suck.

*K