A Story of a Rabbit and His Carrot

Seeing as how most shorts are only seen at film festivals it's going to be pretty difficult to predict what shorts will be nominated each year. That said, I do feel that Doug Sweetland's extremely funny short "Presto," a story about a rabbit and magician who get into a rather intense disagreement over a carrot, it likely a shoe-in to get nominated. Those who wish to see the short can see it before "Wall-E" in most theaters.

Will Lucas Finally Win His Oscar?

I know this is a bit of a long shot (considering the poor quality of the film), but I'm going to add "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" to the Best Animated Feature predictions. Yeah, I know this is a terrible film, with a script worse then the movie it's spun off from and the most wooden animation in the world, but it's also a film produced by George Lucas.



Lucas has long been a bit of an outcast in Hollywood. The studios didn't get him when he was younger, he went on to create two of the most profitable franchises in movie history, and has since become a producer as big as Daryl F. Zanuck. The guy may be a questionable director, but it was thanks to "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" that digital film making was put on the map. Yet the man has yet to win an Oscar. Even Stanely Kubrick won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for "2001: A Space Odyssey," so why not Lucas? Well, this is a good chance to rectify that mistake with "The Clone Wars." Yeah it's a lousy movie, probably the worst kind of kids entertainment and the Academy would be doing that category no favors by voting for it. But there's this nagging voice that says it could pull a MAJOR upset! After all, why worry about disgracing an under-appreciated category when the newspapers can have the headlines "Lucas Finally Wins Oscar." I hope I'm wrong, but I've got this bad feeling.

The Dark Dialog

I know that there is a lot of talk about a Best Picture nomination for "The Dark Knight," the one thing that puzzles me is why there is no talk about a nomination for the screenplay as well. I mean, is it even possible to have one of the most complex and exciting action films of the summer...without the characters saying anything interesting? I find that hard to believe in a movie with several quotable lines and unpredictable twists. I think the issue is that people don't know where this could get nominated. Is this an original or adapted screenplay? Well, it's based off a series of comic books but the story itself is original. So hard to choose. Personally I think we should just pull a Two-Face and flip a coin. Heads...



...we put it in Original. Tails...



...we put it under Adapted.


And the category is...


...heads. So (for now) I'm going to put this prediction under the Best Original Screenplay category. Of course, depending on how things play out with other screenplays, this could always end up in the adapted category (and let's face it, it's chances of winning are better there).

My Friend Says Ponyo Was "Personal"

So I have a friend who is studying in Japan this year and he got to see Hayao Miyazaki's new hit "Ponyo on a Cliff" in a Japanese theater. This is cool because I feel that watching a Japanese movie in a Japanese theater would be a fun experience. He couldn't understand everything that was going on, but he did comment that it was a more personal film then his last couple. In fact, here's the part of his e-mail where he mentions the film:

The art style was very different and welcome - it looked like a large part of it had been done with coloured pencils, tho it's still recognisably a Ghibli film. It's not a very epic movie, like most of Miyazaki's previous works; it's more of a personal narrative like "Totoro" with fantasy added in. Oh, and the villain kind of reminds me of Howl. Good movie. I hope to see it again when subtitles are available!

Well, if it's still in theaters when I go to Japan this year I want to see it too. Oh, and I also can't wait to see Disney's dub of the movie early next year. I normally frown on dubs but Disney does theirs right.

Not Oscar Material

I just want to say that while most sites only reference movies that they consider to be Oscar worthy, it's such a slow period for Oscar movies that I'm going to proudly say that I have not seen "Disaster Movie," I don't plan to see "Disaster Movie," and I doubt we will be seeing this movie get nominated for anything at the Oscars. Of course, if "Norbit" can get an Oscar nomination...

I Wonder What Warner Bros. Plans To Do With All That Money

"The Dark Knight" is going to pass the $500 million mark this weekend. That much is a given but that's not what I want to talk about. No, I want to talk about the movie as it's seen in IMAX. As with most IMAX theaters, my local theater didn't get this movie until today. I had seen it three times already so this would be my forth. I knew that twenty minutes of the movie was shot with IMAX camera's. What I didn't think of was how this could potentially affect the Best Director race. Right now everyone is talking about what Oscars "The Dark Knight" will be nominated for; Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture, Best Makeup...everything. And though Christopher Nolan is predicted to get a Best Director nomination I think he's going to actually win it.

Integrating the IMAX scenes in with the regular cinemascope was pure genius. Not only are the scenes edited together in ways that they aren't distracting, but they made the movie a THEATER experience above all else! In a world where plasma TV's and bright texting is hurting the theater, the direction of "The Dark Knight" actually makes the IMAX experience the best way to see this movie. I saw the movie with about ten people last night. Four had not seen the movie and of those four two had never been to IMAX. Well, once they saw this movie on IMAX they were sold. Not only did they plan to see it again, they started asking what the next films would be on IMAX. They were actually excited about this theater, and they knew the DVD would never match up to what they just saw.

As of right now Christopher Nolan has made the theater experience more profitable and more exciting then it's been in years. We know this movie is likely going to get a Best Picture nomination. We know Heath Ledger will win Best Supporting Actor. Well count me in on betting that even if the movie doesn't win the top prize, Christopher Nolan WILL win Best Director! Unless, of course, the Academy gives the award to Spike Lee as a way of apologizing for not nominating "Do The Right Thing" for Best Picture.

Christopher Nolan filming a scene with an IMAX camera.

They Didn't Nominate WHO [In 1955]!?!

Actors get snubbed for Oscars all the time. Chances are this isn't news to you, chances are one of the main things that turns anyone off from the Oscars are actors and films that the Academy DOESN'T nominate (more so then who wins)! One of the great tragedies the Academy made was when they didn't nominate James Dean for his powerful performance in "Rebel Without A Cause."



Now I've had discussions with a friend about James Dean. He feels Dean was an overrated actor, who acted in ways that would keep him unemployed in todays films. He may be right (his Oscar nominated performance in "Giant" is good for the first half but hooky for the second half), but no one can deny that his performance in "Rebel Without A Cause" to be one of the most legendary performances of our time. I recently re-watched the film and was amazed by the power in it. Yes, it's a little over the top. Most performances were back in the day. But Deans performance was rightly over the top. After all, he was playing a trouble teenager And face it: Most teens are a little over dramatic when they express themselves. What is compelling though is why Dean's character is angry.



He has a good life. There's nothing in particular that you can single out that would make him mad. What I always got was the little things that made him tick. His parents contradicting each other. The school bullies. The shyness around girls. This is one of the few movies that gives the troubled teenager so many little things to frustrate him that his rebeling feels inevitable. He has no specific reason to be angry, he just is. Maybe he doesn't realize why he's angry himself. Trust me folks, these unspoken emotions can't be found in the script. Stangely enough, while co-stars Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo got Oscar nominations for this movie the Academy foolishly passed over Dean, who was unagrubly the most important and emotional character in the film.



Shortly afterwards Dean would die in a car accident and the Academy would apologize for giving him Oscar nominations for "East of Eden" (an average performance) and "Giant" (an uneven but still decent performance). This performance though remains unnominated, despite the fact that it still influences creators today. Oh you don't believe me? Check out this picture of "Futurama"...


...and you tell me that this movie still isn't inspiring someone out there.

Wall•E Comes To BluRay

I'm still wondering whether or not "Wall•E" will be the first animated film to get a Best Picture nomination since Disney's "Beauty & the Beast" in 1991. I think it had a good chance before "The Dark Knight" entered the scene and stole most of the thunder. One thing for sure though is that I totally dig the BluRay cover:



Wall•E is as cute as ever. This is one BluRay that is going on my shelf on day one.

And The Oscar Goes To...WHAT [Costumes 1981]!?!

"Chariots of Fire" is one of my favorite sports movies ever made. This 1981 Best Picture winner (an upset since Warren Beatty's "Reds" was favored to win) is a movie where running is a metaphore for spiritual healing and guidance. The movie has held up very well over the years. The movie won four Oscars, most of them deserved. However there was one Oscar they won that I feel they didn't warrent: Best Costume Design. Now please keep in mind that the costumes in "Chariots of Fire" are by no means bad. They look like they belong in the era, they look authentic, and for the movie they work. But Oscar worthy? Let me show you two pictures of what you will be looking at for most of the movie:




See, the movie is mostly white shirts and pants. Or in other words, these costumes look like glorified bed sheets. I hate to sound cruel, but even with my limited design skills I could make these costumes at home. For a fraction of the cost that was most likely spent on these. Strangely enough, Warren Beatty predicted that whatever won the costumes award would also win Best Picture. I'm not sure where he came up with that prediction, but after looking at the costumes in "Reds"...




...and you can't really blame Beatty from feeling discouraged by the loss of this one award. The Best Costume Award is not the most coveted award. Not by a long shot. That said, looking at this comparison could make you feel the awards is a pointless af---nevermind folks, lets not even go there.

Henry Poole Was Inspirational

Though I love the Oscars and I tend to judge the Academy members judgment, I have to admit that I was saddened after I finished watching "Henry Poole Is Here." Partly because of the movie and partly because I know this movie will not get Oscar consideration in any category. Chances are it's not even on the voters radar.



This is a movie about faith. It's not about religion. It's not about church. And heck, to a certain extent it's not even about Jesus, and his mug is (supposingly) in most of the movie. No, this is a movie that is at once about a broken man, at once about faith in good people, and at once about the explainable in the world that just...well, can't be explained. Instead of focusing on asking whether or not there is a God, or whether or not the image in Henry Poole's wall is a miracle or a lousy stuck-o job, the movie decides to focus on what faith is on a fundamental level and what good that faith does for people.

I don't want to spoil too much of the movie (as I still have a review to write), but to say that the movie touched me deeply is an understatement. Some people have been asking me, as a Christian, if there were any good Christian films to made. I always reply the same way: "Just as there are endless possibilities for movies of Catholicism, Scientology, and Atheist themes to be made, so is there endless potential for movies with Christian themes." I'm proud of that explanation, but even I have to admit that the Christian attempts at film tends to be mostly hammy, overtly preachy, and very boring "safe" films that might convert children but not may people above that age level.

Here is something different though. Here is a movie that does not condescend, does not set out to preach, and does not set out to convert. It's concerned with telling a good story with memorable characters. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what a good Christian film movie in general is. Judging by the box office and lack of word-of-mouth this movie is likely to flop at the box office and be a buried treasure in bargain bins over the years. But if you get the chance to see this film please do. It really is one of the better films I've seen this year.

"Appaloosa" Trailer

Out of all the Oscar hopefuls I've heard about so far, "Appaloosa" seems to be the one with the most promise. Famous actor turned director? Check. Acclaimed cast? Check. Broad appeal? Sure looks like it. Ed Harris's first directorial effert since "Pollack" looks to be a sure bet for nominations. One thing that could help is that many "actors turned directors" have won Oscars for directing westerns. Just ask Kevin Costner ("Dances With Wolves") and Clint Eastwood ("Unforgiven"). This is the only upcoming movie I feel comfertable claiming to be a Best Picture nominee this year.

"The Secret Life of Bees" Trailer

I'm not sure whether or not this movie will get any Oscar nominations. The only things it has going for it are established actresses, it's based off a best selling book, and it could potentially get Oprah's support on her show (and if that happens a Best Picture nomination is a given). Plus it's got that (as some people would call it) "chick appeal," which could help get the female vote. For now thought he trailer looks promising.

"Frost/Nixon" Trailer

President Nixon is one of histories most hated presidents. Even people of the Republican Party don't like him much. Normally I would be cautious of a movie about a Republican President (seeing as how most directors are highly liberal), but "Frost/Nixon" looks very interesting. The fact that it's directed by Ron Howard gives me hope. I'm not sure if it will get Oscar nominations or not, but since it is a biopic I don't think we should rule it out at this point. I guess I'll put this on the "wait and see" list.

The Coen Brothers Lost Treasure

Though I was a fan of the Joel & Ethan Coen's movies before they struck Oscar gold with last years "No Country For Old Men," I admit that I've only seen a handful of their movies. I've been attempting to rectify that mistake, and one that I discovered recently was "Barton Fink," a movie I'm sorry I skipped for so long. Both funny and poetic, this movie about a struggling screenwriter really spoke to me. Seeing as how I've been struggling with my own book this was a nice little wake up call. To watch this movie is to understand how writing works. Only a few movies can do that ("Adaptation" and "Whisper of the Heart" come to mind). The funny thing about this wonderful movie is how cheap it was.

I got this movie for $2.99 at a local retail store. Even though I'm saving money for Japan I found the deal too much to pass up for a Coen Brothers film. Netflix this, watch it on TV,or buy a cheap DVD of it. This is an overlooked gem if ever I saw one.

Oscar Discussion Week One: The Broadway Melody

Title: The Broadway Melody
Director: Harry Beaumont
Starring: Charles King, Anita Page
Rated: Not Rated

Awards Won

Best Picture - 1928

Welcome to the first week of "Kevin's Oscar Discussion." I realized long ago that one of the best uses for a blog was the communication aspects. And since I'm a big movie buff, I figure why not start a weekly series of Oscar discussions. What we will be doing here is watching one movie that won an Oscar for Best Picture a week, for the next 78 weeks. Now you may wonder why 78 when there have been 80 films that won Best Picture. The answer is simple really: Two of the movies are not available on DVD, and hunting down the tapes seems outdated and insane. Its much better to skip those films then to make it a point of discussing them. One of these movies was "Wings," the very first film to win Best Picture.

Since no one will be able to rent it, were starting with "The Broadway Melody," the Best Picture winner of 1928, which means this movie is officially older then my grandma. Now the funny thing about the Academy Awards is that is was created to add sophistication to movies. Some people were beginning to wonder whether or not films were healthy for people, and whether or not they were morally corrupt, and this was eighty years BEFORE the world was a witness to "South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut!" So the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences was created, along with the Academy Awards, to help make films more respectable. Watching "The Broadway Melody" today with this history in mind is a revelation, as this film doesn't really support the fact that movies could be considered either art OR entertainment! Now, I'm going to try and put myself in 1928s shoes while I describe reasons I think this film won.

This was the first musical to be filmed. It was the first major box office hit, making a little bit more then $4 million dollars. It was the first movie to have a scene in full Technicolor. And for all the techniques this film helped create, for all the firsts this film had, watching it today feels like watching a dinosaur. The movie just feels old. The storyline involves two sisters who are both dancers, who go to New York to become Broadway stars. Along the way there will be trials, tribulations, and jealousy spouts. This is really all there is to the story, as the musical numbers are always the center of attention for this film. There will be long scenes of musical numbers, followed by two minutes of dialog, followed by ten minutes of dancing, followed by three minutes of (some of the most idiot) dialog, and so forth. In total, there is maybe thirty-five minutes of actual story in this movie, hardly worth debating in my case.

What is worth debating are the dance sequences. Now, I understand this was the first musical filmed, but that doesnt quite explain all the poor camera shots. During musical numbers the camera will pick a spot to film, and stay there the entire scene. Never mind if the dancers are moving, the camera stays still. There are scenes where the dancers will dance off camera, and the camera will star at an empty stage for a couple of minutes before the dancers come back. Sometimes the camera is in such a poor position, that we cant really see whats going on. There is one musical sequence that is shot from overhead, and I cant figure out what is going on since this sequence in a TAP DANCING sequence! Brilliant, they decide they want to have a tap dancing scene, so they put the camera in a place where you can't even see the dancers feet. Why, why did the director think this was a great idea? Even though I have eighty years worth of movies to benefit me in my experience, didn't the director feel scenes like this looked funny back then?

Back in 1928? Maybe the director was thinking of how he would watch a Broadway show in the audience, where you got to your seat, and for the whole production you basically saw the show from one point of view. I dont know if this was what the director was thinking, but I do know that even in the audience of a live show I have the ability to turn my head at the very least. Viewing problems aside, there isnt really anything to like about the movie nowadays. The acting, like most acting in the old days, is severally melodramatic and wildly overblown, where even simple things as asking for a cup of coffee is often shouted with exaggerated body motions that follow. I cant say any of the music is really all that catchy anymore, and if I were you I wouldnt be expecting a craving to get the soundtrack when the movie is over.

Im going to guess that most of you reading this did not seek out the movie to watch for this discussion. Thats okay, this really wasnt a great movie. Its interesting to see where the movie musical got its start, but it feels like such a fossil these days. It will be interested to see what the next musical was that won Best Picture. Until next time, keep watching great movies.

Movie We'll Be Watching Next Week: All Quite On The Western Front

Another Oscar Nod For Viggo?

Because of my rule to not post Oscar predictions in the bar until I've seen a movie, Viggo Mortensen's name won't go under the Best Actor category...yet. However judging from this trailer for his upcoming film "Good" it's looking like there's a good chance that he'll be up for another Oscar nomination this year (excatly one year after his dark performance in "Eastern Promises").



I'm also going to say that this movie looks like a good bet for a Best Picture nomination. If for no other reason then the fact that World War II films tend to do well at the Oscars, so this is one to keep an eye on in the future.

And The Oscar Goes To...WHAT!?!

I'm going to start one more feature installment and then go to bed, but this feature will be a series of rants where I take a random award won by a film that, I feel, didn't deserve an award in that category. For my first installment I want to mention the Oscar Anne Dudley won for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. The movie she won for? "The Full Monty."



Now don't get me wrong folks; I LOVE "The Full Monty!" I think it's one of our British cousins finest comedies. That said, the score was NOT Oscar worthy! Don't believe me? Go to Amazon.com product page and listen to some of the score samples. Not the songs (which were excellent), the score. Heck, if those samples aren't underwelming enough for you, then just buy the CD. You can buy it used for less then a buck through Amazon.com (Editor's Shameless Note: All purchases through Amazon.com links through this site provides royalties for the webmaster...and he's saving money to go to Japan). This is a classic case where the quality of the songs spilled into the voting of the score.

Of course, this was nothing new for the AMPAS. They were having this problem for years with Disney films winning Oscars not only for songs, but for the scores as well. Scores that, when listened to alone, weren't that great. The straw that broke the camles back was when Hans Zimmer won for his score for "The Lion King," and the Academy created the musical and comedy score award to try and keep Disney from stealing the Best Original Score Oscar away from composers who deserved it. What I find ironic about this is that unlike the Menkin scores, Zimmer's score for "The Lion King" was a good score in it's own right, and probably did deserve to win.

A Forth Trailer For "The Dark Knight"

Well, technically this is a third trailer (the first was a teaser), but what a trailer it is. If they haven't convinced everyone to see this movie from the first three trailers, the rave reviews, and the Heath Ledger factor, chances are this will push those few unfortunate souls into the theaters to see one of the biggest theatrical events since "Finding Nemo."

Sean Penn In "Milk"

I've got my reservations about Gus Van Sant's upcoming biobic "Milk," starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be electing to any political position of importance. Having seen the Oscar winning documentary "The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" makes me wonder why Penn was cast in a role that requires a fun loving individuel. I don't know, maybe it will be a good movie. In the mean time someone managed to tape a video of Sean Penn filming a scene live in San Francisco at City Hall. The audio isn't too clear, but now we have some clue as to how Penn will be acting in this movie.

"Speed Racer" In The...Best Animated Feature Category?

Yes folks, I did not make a mistake: I purposely put "Speed Racers" name on the list for potential nominees in the Best Animated Feature category. Now you may be wondering why I would do such a thing since this movie is, technically, a live action movie. Well...it IS a live action film, but we have to face the fact that a majority of the film is animated! CGI takes up almost 90% of this movie, with only the actors and a few rooms avoiding any blue screen effects. I mean, one look at a screenshot like this...



...and all of a sudden the movie doesn't look so real anymore. It looks (dare I say it) animated doesn't it? Besides, if "Stuart Little 2" was eligible in this category because it was more of a cartoon then a live action film, then I think Warner Bros. could run this film in the category and get away with it. And considering how much of a flop it was, they very well may do that in an effort to make the DVD look more enticing to the movie buying public. I may remove the prediction later on down the road, but I doubt "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" is going to prove much of a threat in this category.

They Didn't Nominate WHAT [In 1933]!?!

This is the first post in a new feature I'm going to call "They Didn't Nominate WHAT!?!" This is a feature where I look at a culturally significant film that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences didn't nominate that year. I'm going to start as early as I can, but let's face it: In the early years of the award there are few films that have held up, so those years will be skipped. Thankfully I found such a film released in 1933 that has had lasting impact throughout the years. And that film is...



..."King Kong." Yes, this is one of the most popular films ever made. So popular is this film that even in an age of digital effects, video games, and even a Peter Jackson remake, you can walk up to any person of any age, and most 0f them will have seen this film. So why is this film still so popular after all these years. After all, compare King Kong in 1933...



...to 1976...



...to 2005...



...and it seems that this film's popularity should have died many years ago. Well, it's still alive and just as entertaining today as it was over seventy years ago. Have the effects changed? Yes. Have the times changed? Yes. Have audiences lost their taste in good movies? No. Oh sure, once in awhile you meet a stoner who only watches movies because he likes the purdy graphics, but most people watch movies to be entertained and moved. "King Kong" is a movie that entertains. It entertains with thrills and exciting action sequences that manage to feel fresh so many years later. People who watch this movie for the first time are amazed to find that despite the polish of the remakes, this classic film seems just as convincing now as it did many years ago.



Plus, I don't care who you are, but the sequence where airplanes circle Kong (who is climbing the Empire State Building) is still one of the most emotional and tense scenes in movie history. By this point you've come to like Kong, and the humans greedy attempts to capitalize on him have sicked us by now. The movie concludes with one of the most memorable lines in movie history. Considering how much people were impressed by this movie when it first came out I'm shocked that this movie didn't get a Best Picture nomination. The Academy has nominated worse action films before. But maybe I should cut them a break here. After all, the Academy WAS new, and their nominations have certainly improved since! It's just a shame they overlooked this gem of a film that continues to entertain so many years later.

Design Still In The Works

I choose one design only to go with another. I just can't be happy I tell you. I think I'm happy with the logo now. Course, now I need a blog title change...

The Dark (Animated) Horse

I've already predicted that Hayao Miyazaki's new film has the best chance of upsetting "Wall•E" at the Oscars this year, but I may have discovered a dark horse in the race:



An animated film from Neil Gaiman? Directed by "The Nightmare Before Christmas" director Henry Selick? This may be something to keep an eye out for. Maybe the animation companies are starting to get serious about this award.

Power To The Black Man (I Think)

"Tropic Thunder" is a very funny movie. This much is obvious to those who have seen it. What is even more obvious is that Robert Downey Jr. is brilliant as a white man playing a black character.



This image may be offensive to some, but frankly I don't care because the character is just so stinking funny. Every time he's on screen the movie gets better instantly. It's a comedy role, but one that I think would have a great chance at winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar almost any year. So it's kind of a shame that the movie was released during The Year of the Joker (as I'm going to call it.



Heath Ledger has got this award in the bag. Not only because this is a great performance, but because Ledger is dead (sorry guys, but it's hard to beat a dead guy). I think Downey will at least get a nomination in the supporting category, it's just a shame the movie wasn't released next year when he'd (more then likely) have a chance at winning it. Oh well, that's the Oscar game for you.

Watch Out Wall•E: Here Comes Ponyo

Every year there is much debate about who will win what at the Oscars. Whether it be for actors, songs, or Best Picture, the debate goes on and on. One of the few categories that is pretty easy to properly predict every year is the Best Animated Film category. Not only is this award easy to predict because Pixar wins it most of the time, but also because there's rarely enough quality animated films to warrant getting nominated. Last year "Ratatouille" was a sure bet, and so far people are saying "Wall•E" is the sure winner.



I admit that I was one of the people who felt this way. I mean, once you see movies like "Space Chimps" and "Fly Me To The Moon" you don't exactly feel threatened by the so-called "competition." However I forgot about "Ponyo on the Cliff."



Now I have to admit something: I have no idea what this movie is about. Watching the trailer didn't help one bit (and it's not because of the language barrier). But it has something going for it: Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki is one of the few giants in animation. Like Akira Kurosawa, his films are universally popular and people will watch his movies just because he made them. The thing about the movie is that I'm not sure which year it will be elegable for the Oscars. Chances are Disney will give the film a limited theatrical release near the end of this year. Or they can hold off on it until next year. Either way it goes, this film is likely to be one of the front runners for the Oscar race, and can prove another surprise (Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" beat out the far more popular "Lilo & Stitch" for the gold).

The Game Starts Here

So another blog on the internet is here. Originally titled "The Oscar Master," I decided to change the name of the blog to "The Always Unpredictable Academy Awards." Partly because the Academy Awards never ceases to surprise me, and party because I always have two other internet names, and having a third one seems a bit redundant. I'll be working on the design to have a better theme in the coming weeks. For now though don't forget to RSS this page.