Life In The Weeds

Moneyball - the movie

Good, solid movie.  I thought it moved a little slow, but even my wife enjoyed it.

The book was better (which is usually the case), as it went into lots more detail about Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and how he and Paul DePodesta (Jonah Hill) orchestrated a myriad of player moves to position the Oakland A's for success.

The Oscar nimoinations just were announced...and, while Moneyball was not up for Best Picture, both Pitt and Hill were nominated for an Oscar, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

Did Pitt and Hill turn in Oscar nominated performances?  No way!

I mean maybe Brad Pitt...MAYBE?  But, Jonah Hill?  I do not think he spoke enough words to qualify!  Isn't there a minimum?  Don't get me wrong, I like Jonah Hill (though, I like fat Jonah Hill better than skinny Jonah Hill)...but this is the first movie he has played where he did not crap hi pants or throw up on himself.

I'll bet the house that neither of these guys take home the hardware on Oscar night.

mj

Avatar...just another movie

We finally got around to watching Avatar this past weekend.  I think we were one of the last two people on Earth who had not yet seen this historic movie.  

When it ended, both my wife and I agreed...it was okay.  A solid adventure movie.

Now, I realize I did not see it in all it's 3D glory...but, I got to tell you, I really don't care much about how the scenery was created and how it all looks.  Who cares if it's real or created on a computer?  Does it help make the movie better or develop the characters in a more interesting way?

Was it a good movie...sure.  Was it one of the best ever...not even close!

mj

Lost (again!)

Unless you have been under a large rock for the last several 6 years, you must be familiar with the show Lost  (ABC, 9pm, tonight). I'm not suggesting you have to be a fan...maybe you have not seen ONE episode...but, certainly you have HEARD of the show.

I was a BIG fan when it premiered in September of 2004...in fact, most of the TV viewing audiences was a fan (based on the incredible ratings and numbers it produced in Season 1). I continued to watch through Season 2, but lost interest when the story line seemed to get more and more bizarre...bordering on ridiculous.

Fast forward to this season...season 6...Lost's final season...I have decided to re-engage!  

I am SO GLAD I've decided to tune in for the last 16 episodes...Lost has to be considered one of the best written shows ever.  The episodes (especially this season) are dramatic stories that unfold like movies on the small screen.  Lost happens to be one of the most expensive television productions ever...it shows!  Sure, everyone watching is hoping for clarity...expecting all the questions and mysteries to be answered and solved...but, in doing so, we are experiencing a show unlike any before, since and probably to come. 

If you once were Lost, I suggest getting Lost, again!

mj

The Oscar Nominees are in...ALL 10!

It's Oscar time!

The opportunity to here your name called onto the stage and except a golden, bald statue named Oscar.

They changed the format this year and I'm not all that happy about it!  Truth is, I really don't care...I mean, I'm not a Oscar freak, but I do have an opinion on a change they made this year!

You'll notice that the academy has expanded the list of best picture nominees to 10...yes, 10 films!

Here they are:

Avatar; The Blind Side; District 9; An Education; The Hurt Locker; Inglourious Basterds; Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire; A Serious Man; Up; Up in the Air.

It seems to me that expanding to ten will only dilute the voting and make it even more difficult to pick a true winner.  I guess it's nice to give more exposure to the the films, but why is this the only category that the expanded?  

Sadly, my children have seen more nominated films then I!  My oldest kids have seen both Up and Avatar...I have only been able to catch The Hurt Locker (not even in the theater!).  

Here is the complete list of nominees for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

mj

Saturday Night Special

When was the last time you went to an R-rated comedy at 10:30PM on a Saturday Night?

High School?  College?  Maybe as a newlywed...when your life (and wife) was still super cool and you probably got "lucky" after...like I said, MAYBE!

Well, for me and a couple of buddies it was a week ago!!  Wives away, kids safe at home...so we went for it!

We descended on Market Fair Theater (Princeton) around 10:30 to catch the 10:35 showing of The Hangover ...I purchased tickets on-line and thought we would head right into the theater.  My buddies thought otherwise and bee-lined for concessions!  No, 10:35 was not too late for pretzelel nubs, an extra large popcorn, raisinets and a 4 gallon coke...what's another $40 bucks!

The Hangover was the quintessential guy movie - a trip to Vegas with lot's of stupid guy humor, a little nudity, a chicken and a tiger!  Ed Helms (The Office) shines, Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers) is surprisingly funny and Zach Galifianakis (nothing!) is a scene stealer.

Glad to see this movie is still going strong - two weeks at #1 and over 100 million - will certainly reach "classic" status with other great guy movies like Wedding Crashers, Old School and Swingers to name a few.

I'm looking forward to doing this again in 2029!