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Marion Cottilard because she's the hottest of the bunch.

Nicodemus wrote:

Eh, same difference, buddy. What is Canada, but America's hat, anyway?

I almost bought a t-shirt with this insignia on it. I also found, in a similar location, a shirt that says, simply: "18-1." In appropriate colors, naturally. I may buy one just to be the thorn in the side of my fellow student from Foxboro, MA...

Some responses / comments...

annyonggob:

(Not to digress, here, or anything, but I have a confession to make: When I say your "handle" in my mind, it comes out sounding like, annoying glob. You deserve better, and I feel awful about it, but, well, there it is. Sorry.)

...Nico, the aforementioned Ms. Blanchett is technically foreign (Aussie)...

I never let facts get in the way of hyperbole, sorry.

...I guess it's because they're from an English-speaking background...

Bingo. To the Academy, only non-English-speakers... and Republicans... are "foreigners."

And of course we have that weird Italian guy who I don't think can speak anything resembling proper English-Roberto Benigni. That guy still cracks me up...

Not I. Life Is Beautiful was a precious film, but I was over that guy ten minutes before I'd ever heard of him. Happy people piss me off, I wish I could hit them repeatedly over the head with my shoe.

(Damn, I'm starting to sound like cRAzY... [Wink]n)

I actually think Marion Cotilliard's chances aren't far off Julie Christie's chances...

You're probably right. Handing Ellen Page, a relatively inexperienced, fresh-faced newbie, the Oscar would be a little like handing the Presidency to a first-term (third-year) U.S. Senator... Oh, wait... Hm. Nevermind.

I totally agree with how Paul Dano should have at least had some more buzz regarding his performance. Simply put, his Eli Sunday was the yang to the yin of [Day-Lewis]' Daniel Plainview.

Simply, but artfully. Props.

It's not unheard of for two supporting actors in the same movie to be up in the same category, but I guess with Javier Bardem dominating that Supporting Actor spot for No Country, I guess TLJ was a little overlooked.

A lot of times, when actors deliver two (or more) great performances in a single year, one is left wanting, and often times they'll simply cancel each other out, in a weird, irrational left-coast New Math calculus. Javier Bardem was deserving of recognition for both No Country AND Love in the Time of Cholera; Jones excelled in both In the Valley of Elah and No Country. Casey Affleck showed his acting chops in Jesse James and Gone Baby Gone. Philip Seymour Hoffman delivered the goods in no less than three films: The Savages, Charlie Wilson's War and Until the Devil Knows You're Dead. And, somehow, James McAvoy was un-nominated for either Atonement or Becoming Jane. Neither was Christian Bale given any love for 3:10 to Yuma and Rescue Dawn. I tell ya, there's a dart board somewhere in the AMPAS offices, folks.

I never saw much of Arrested Development, sadly. (Yes, it's true... there are things I miss, on occasion.) What I did see of it was excellent, though. Can't say as I paid much attention to Michael Cera, though; I'll take y'all's word for it.

The Supporting Actor role for Juno that I woulda liked to have seen an iota of buzz for was for Jason Bateman.

[Nodding] Another actor who had an incredible '07, between Juno and The Kingdom. I hadn't paid him much mind in years; I will now. Both he and Jennifer Garner (another Kingdom cast member) gave flat-out phenomenal performances in Juno, I thought.

...[H]e's been criticized for playing the uptight, straight man too often really. But not so in Juno.

True enough. At times I wasn't sure if he was going to rape Ellen Page, or offer her a hit off an eggplant bong. Thank God, he just wanted to show her torture porn and pretend he was a sophomore in high school again. Awwwww.

I know near the end here I've deviated from the Best Actress topic, so I'm sorry about that...

The Forum Nazis are asleep. You're safe.

Jason Bateman... continues to challenge and reinvent himself through his acting, I am truly hopeful that Hancock will be a major breakout for him as a supporting actor.

Y'know, I hadn't realized until just today that Michael Mann was in on Hancock, too... I'm beginning to get all fizzy for that film.

I am loving all the Jason Bateman love going on on this topic.

Well, we love that you're loving our love, mooreland. Wait... what?

Jack0:

I feel dirty voting for Ellen here.

T. M. I. Go wash your hands.

I am almost certain that there are plenty of Academy members who vote without seeing all the performances of the nominees.

No! Say it isn't so! Consternation! Uproar! But... WHAT could they possibly ever USE to determine their votes, then...? You don't suppose... They couldn't be swayed by... PERSONAL PREFERENCE, do you? [Gasping]

Just wait 'til 60 Minutes hears about THIS...

(To clarify: My sarcasm's not directed at you, mooreland. I just hate the Academy. Though, in spite of themselves, I must admit they got it mostly right, this year...)

Ha, scratch that.

Don't mind if I do. [Reaching]

Finally, dranscht:

I also found, in a similar location, a shirt that says, simply: "18-1." In appropriate colors, naturally. I may buy one just to be the thorn in the side of my fellow student from Foxboro, MA...

[Sweetly] Fuck off.

[Grin]

I'm off to bed, kids. Alarm goes off in two hours. See ya tomorrow. (Today... whatever.)

I remain, as always...

Nico.

Speaking of...I was just in Boston a few days ago for the very first time. It is a beautiful place. Also, not a huge Red Sox fan (I know, Nico. I know.) But Fenway is pretty cool, even if it is covered by huge tarps and being torn apart this time of year. I don't know exactly where that comes in but also, not a huge Patriots fan either...I think that was what made me think of it. (I Hate the Giants too, though)

Wow, I'm never posting this kind of crap ever again.

I was just in Boston a few days ago for the very first time. It is a beautiful place.

Some parts certainly are, StnMan. I can't wait to go back, and to show it to my daughter, who's never been. Bahston is one of the few places I'd relocate to, if needed... Also on that list: Chicago, San Antonio, Toronto, and New Orleans. ([Sigh] Yes, even now...)

Also, Antigua. Got a time-share there, not far from Nelson's Dockyard... It'll do (for now).

...Also, not a huge Red Sox fan (I know, Nico. I know.)

It's fine. As long as you're not a fan of the New York Highlanders (I flat-out REFUSE to call them by that other name), you're forgiven. Nobody's perfect, after all. [Wink] At least, that's what Miley says, and I believe her.

...Fenway is pretty cool...

Just about the last of the great ballparks, along with Wrigley and, I suppose, the Astrodome... Although it's not used for anything anymore, except the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (opening March 3!) That scene from 2010 kills me, when Roy Scheider [sigh] is talking about the Dome's hot dogs...

...I Hate the Giants too, though...

Bless you, my son.

Wow, I'm never posting this kind of crap ever again.

Yeah, God forbid we'd ever talk about anything besides dead celebs and The Hottie and the Nottie... [Grin]

I remain, as always...

Nico.

I don't know who the highlanders are but my favorite team is the Newyorkyankees. Does that make it a little less offensive?

I don't know who the [H]ighlanders are but my favorite team is the [expletive deleted]. Does that make it a little less offensive?

Time for the driver. [[[THWUCK]]]

I remain, as always...

Nico.

Sorry, but when your father, instead of the bible, quotes Don Mattingly's biography to teach you life lessons when you've messed up...some of it tends to stick.

Sorry, but when your father, instead of the [Bible], quotes Don Mattingly's biography to teach you life lessons when you've messed up...some of it tends to stick.

Well. I have no problem with Donnie Baseball, one of the best first basemen of the '80s (perhaps even better than the Orioles' Eddie Murray), and a man who ought to be in the Hall, by now, but isn't for reasons passing understanding. Neither do I have issues with Rickey Henderson, Goose or Reggie. (Dave Winfield, on the other claw...) I went to two of the [expletive deleted] Stadium games of the '81 World Series, which the Dodgers won in six. (My mother was a die-hard fan of the Bronx Bombers.) And, yes, I rooted for the home team, when the rising bile threatening to strangle me subsided.

Mattingly was one of the best athletes -- in any sport -- of his age, and one of the best power hitters of the pre-Steroid Era. He's a class act in my book. It's a shame he was never a Red Sock, but he played his entire career with one team, and that was rare even back then. He's forgiven.

I remain, as always...

Nico.

Yeah, I just wish I would have been old enough to have seen him play.

Also, when I was at Fenway I got a cool picture with the Ted Williams statue out front. It looks like he's putting the hat on MY head. (I bet I'm the very first person in the history of that statue to do that!)

(Not to digress, here, or anything, but I have a confession to make: When I say your "handle" in my mind, it comes out sounding like, annoying glob. You deserve bettear, and I feel awful about it, but, well, there it is. Sorry.)

Well Nico, your handle sound like... um, I'll get back to you on that when I can come up with a comeback...

[Nodding] Another actor who had an incredible '07, between Juno and The Kingdom. I hadn't paid him much mind in years; I will now. Both he and Jennifer Garner (another Kingdom cast member) gave flat-out phenomenal performances in Juno, I thought.

Yeah Bateman had an awesome 2007. I'm gonna go against popular trend a bit here, and although I know you'll probably disagree with me Nico, but I thought The Kingdom was rubbish and I thought Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium was actually quite decent, while Juno was obviously exceptional.

So a bit of an up and down rollercoaster for Bateman IMO. This year with Hancock and with State Of Play and (hopefully) the Arrested Development movie in 2009, the only way he's going is up.

Now diverting a bit, seriously Nico, I read all your points FOR The Kingdom you posted a while back, and other than the ending scene, I couldn't see anything noteworthy to make it stand out from the typical crash-and-bash American action movie. It was located in the Middle-East but IMO the themes being presented (if any) were as shallow as a duck's pond. The Kingdom had an opportunity to actually make a point of some sort, but totally missed the mark and failed to address any of the issues I had hoped it would address, and it just played like a shoot 'em up thriller. On another note, Shoot 'Em Up-now there's a shameless action movie that fulfills what it's supposed to... Yeah, potentially hypocritical statements there, but what can you do, I'm not even thinking as I type this now...

(Now that I've stirred the pot a little, back on track...)

True enough. At times I wasn't sure if he was going to rape Ellen Page, or offer her a hit off an eggplant bong. Thank God, he just wanted to show her torture porn and pretend he was a sophomore in high school again. Awwwww.

THAT'S SO TRUE!!! In the cinema where I was watching Juno, the scene where All The Young Dudes is playing and Bateman's character dances with Ellen Page's Juno, there were people in the crowd gasping. You could tell they were going: "Oh no, that guy's gonna hit on then rape Juno!!!". I, on the other hand, gave Diablo Cody and her script more credit than that, as she made it into an extremely poignant scene.

Eh, I've got more to say, but frankly, I'm too tired so I'll just leave it there...

Well Nico, your handle sound like... um, I'll get back to you on that when I can come up with a comeback...

[Chuckle] I really didn't intend that as a slam, ann, more like a rueful admission between friends... But, heck, let 'er rip, anyway. I can take it, I'm a big boy.

...Bateman had an awesome 2007. I'm gonna go against popular trend a bit here, and although I know you'll probably disagree with me Nico, but I thought The Kingdom was rubbish and I thought Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium was actually quite decent...

Huh, that's funny, I totally forgot that Bateman was in Magorium. And, you know something, ann? You're 100% right: I do disagree with you. [Grin]

...Then again, I'm biased. To me, Dustin Hoffman's been a hack since Rain Man. A thoroughly useless waste of space and oxygen (fortunately, he's a runt, so he doesn't use much I guess) in film. This is what happens when "stars" stop giving a shit and just trade on their name, and thirty- (forty-, nearly) year-old notoriety. Hoffman's the new Brando, only one hundred and fifty pounds lighter.

This year with Hancock and with State Of Play and (hopefully) the Arrested Development movie in 2009, the only way [Bateman's] going is up.

I agree, and, moreover, good for him. He's earned it.

...[S]eriously Nico...

Uh-oh.

...I read all your points FOR The Kingdom you posted a while back...

So you're the one.

...[O]ther than the ending scene, I couldn't see anything noteworthy to make it stand out from the typical crash-and-bash American action movie. It was located in the Middle-East but IMO the themes being presented (if any) were as shallow as a duck's pond. The Kingdom had an opportunity to actually make a point of some sort, but totally missed the mark and failed to address any of the issues I had hoped it would address, and it just played like a shoot 'em up thriller.

Well, again, I disagree, but respectfully. I think I pretty clearly understand the issues folks have with Kingdom, and I can't say they're entirely without merit. I just see things a lot of other people don't in it. (It's fine; I'm the same way with Starship Troopers. And Armageddon, and Chicken Run.)

...Shoot 'Em Up-now there's a shameless action movie that fulfills what it's supposed to... Yeah, potentially hypocritical statements there, but what can you do...

[Shaking head] No, no, I get what you're saying. It's like I said somewhere, sometime in the past few days: When I expect schlock, I don't MIND schlock. Expectations impact context, and context defines everything else.

...[Back] on track...

Aww, we were just starting to have fun. Tease.

...Diablo Cody...made it into an extremely poignant scene.

Scene, Hell, it was an extremely poignant FILM, in my opinion. I can't wait for DreamWorks' television series, The United States of Tara, produced by Spielberg and written by Ms. Cody, which, rumor has it, may replace ER Thursday nights on NBC beginning next midseason...

Eh, I've got more to say, but frankly, I'm too tired...

Story of my (online) life. There's always tomorrow, though... That is, until there's not. [Awkward silence]

I remain, as always...

Nico.

Nicodemus wrote:

Scene, Hell, it was an extremely poignant FILM, in my opinion. I can't wait for DreamWorks' television series, The United States of Tara, produced by Spielberg and written by Ms. Cody, which, rumor has it, may replace ER Thursday nights on NBC beginning next midseason...

How about Jennifer's Body, written by Diablo Cody and starring Megan Fox?

dranscht:

How about Jennifer's Body, written by Diablo Cody and starring Megan Fox?

Cheerleaders, hormones, cliques, demons, and Fall Out Boy. Well. I think this just became my fifth-most-anticipated film of 2009 (behind Watchmen, Avatar, Star Trek, and Transformers 2, but ahead of G-Force, Up and Year One).

I remain, as always...

Nico.

Megan Fox.... Ugh.

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