And the Oscar goes to...

Well, I can't say just yet. Anyone who knows me knows that I love movies...and I'm obsessive compulsive, so I make a lot of lists. I list everything...I keep track of things like books I've read and movies I've seen, etc. I've tried to stop, but that just makes Lola's life hard. My current "Must See Videos" list (that's really what I call it) has 405 titles on it dating by to 2003. I will see them all, God willing and the creek don't rise. I systematically cross them off my list as I've seen them. The last movie I was able to cross off of my list is "Smart People" starring Dennis Quaid & Sarah Jessica Parker. It was pretty dull. Next on my list: "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay". I'm really looking forward to it. So now you know how I revere movies and kinda how I watch movies, you should realize that I do intend to see all 5 (a good number, by the way) and so far I've seen 3. I have yet to see "Milk" with Sean Penn or "The Reader" with Kate Winslet. So, of the 3 I have seen, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "Frost/Nixon" & "Slumdog Millionaire", I will tell you that if "Benjamin Button" wins Best Picture, I will leap in disgust from the New River Gorge Bridge. How did that movie get nominated for Best Picture? Have you seen it? It is so DULL!!!! It is a movie that really wants to be "Forrest Gump" but just isn't that interesting. I couldn't wait for this movie to end so I could smoke!!! The Academy loves movies that pretend to be epic and in this case...mission accomplished.

"Frost/Nixon". I saw this movie last Thursday night, the last night it was showing at the Galleria 14. For 2 hours and 16 minutes, I was in a spell. This movie grabs you and holds on for dear life. I loved this movie!!! I was born in 1965 so I was indeed alive when the interviews actually occurred, I was a mere tot more interested in baseball cards and riding my bike, so I do not remember the interviews firsthand, but God I wish I did. This movie is mesmerizing!!! First and foremost, a great movie (and I would consider this a great movie) must have a compelling story and interesting characters. They don't have to be likable, but they do have to be interesting. The characters of David Frost and Richard Nixon achieve that goal. And the acting is first rate!!! The film moves quickly and doesn't drag at all. If it were to win I would be satisfied. On Friday, I went to see "Slumdog Millionaire". You know how when everybody raves about how great something is and you just want to hate the hell out of it? Well, I went to see "Slumdog" with every intention of telling everybody how much it sucked and how the Academy was a bunch of irrelevant old farts. I cannot do that. "Slumdog Millionaire" is a great movie!!! It's fast paced, interesting with great amounts of tension and suspense. About 20 minutes in, I realized that I was watching a really, really good movie. I even texted Lola to tell her what she was missing (I went alone, which I often do). I would totally be fine with "Slumdog" picking up Best Picture. If you haven't seen it, don't let the fact that it is a Bollywood film ( the term used for the incredibly popular Indian, the country not the opposite of cowboy, movie industry. This is just a great movie and I highly recommend you see it while it's still showing at the Galleria 14. So, if "Frost/Nixon" or "Slumdog Millionaire" were to win Best Picture, I would be stoked. let's see if I feel the same way after I see "Milk" and "The Reader". Tomorrow's subject: These are a few of my favorite things. Future posts will include what it's like to have OCD and "People, People piss me off" as well as bands and artists that are great that you may not know about, I.e. The Phunk Junkeez. Hey, this blogging is kinda fun. I will leave you with a favorite quote from the movie wanted, edited for sensitive eyes, "What the heck have you done lately?"