I'm not dead...yet.

For those of you who may have thought that I dropped off the face of the Earth, you were fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on what kind of person you are) incorrect. I've been extremely busy lately, and school has stressed me out beyond the point of sanity. No all-nighters yet, but I've had some pretty frequent late nights.
Since I like lists, here's one about my school year thus far:

1. AP English - easily my favorite class. The spontaneity really fits my learning style. I actually somewhat enjoy the in-class essays. (Strange but true.) We've got a melting pot of personalities in the class, creating an interesting vibe during discussions. Some people are very raucous and argumentative and blurt out anything that comes to mind even if it's a nonsensical mess; some people don't say a word; and some people try to contribute intelligently when possible and restrain themselves when they don't have something valuable to say (I'd like to think I belong in this category.)
2. The best part of English: my teacher is pretty much one of my favorite people ever, which is why he deserves his own position on this list. He's quite a character: He wears the same outfit everyday (a blazer, dress shirt, and khakis—English teacher style), drinks incessant amounts of coffee (which makes the room perpetually smell like coffee), and is a scatterbrained, tangential English nerd just like yours truly. Needless to say, we get along pretty well. :)
3. Taking a boatload of AP classes- I've realized that I'm probably taking too many AP classes. The material is not necessary difficult. It's just that the workload piles up—the more you take, the more work you get. More work = no free time = stressed me. I am rarely in a calm state of mind anymore.
4. Drama- there's far too much drama in school. Let's face it: people get too riled up about the most trivial concerns, and they just need to chill. Really. The world is too complicated to worry about all the little things in life.
5. Time management- see number 3. I've gotten really bad at this. I always find a way to procrastinate, either by doing work that doesn't need to be done, browsing the Internet, or just stalling. Blah. I hope this doesn't become an unbreakable habit.
I miss having a free weekend. Most of my weekends are working weekends, aka trying to cram in all the work I possibly can. I miss serenity.

[src]

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The Week in Links

As usual, there's not much going on in my mundane life besides the usual high school summer busyness. Busy and summer probably shouldn't go together, but I don't have a choice. I'm packing for camp: two weeks of intensive forensics in humid D.C. I'll try to update as much as I can; it should be a rewarding experience. In the meantime, I hope you guys are enjoying your vacations; I'm assuming that's where all of you are. (Aah, my nearly nonexistent readership is shrinking even further! ;D)
Bringing back the link list to recap the week:
• MJ overload: I watched some of the memorial service and thought that it was an appropriate and moving sendoff for the King of Pop. Tuesday was focused solely on the man and his music, not the man and his controversies, a welcome relief. But, it all comes with a price: The memorial cost L.A. an estimated $1.4 million, and amid California's budget crisis, civilians may have to foot the bill.
Lately, I've been thinking about us '90s kids, who grew up hearing about his nosejobs and child molestation trials and never got to experience the impact of his music. I have vivid memories of those headlines, which gave me a negative impression of someone still so revered across the globe. I partially understand the reasons for the idolatry, but he remains a man shrouded in mystery. [/moment of introspection]
It's not over yet!! The media is still buzzing nonstop about all things Michael Jackson. Drug addiction, alleged family intervention, where to bury him, his dermatologist supposedly the father of his children (and probably responsible for his bleach-white skin): You name it, they've got it. People are getting carried away, as Gail Collins writes in her latest Op/Ed piece. In related news, behold the Jackson Cheeto.
• Potter Anticipation: The Gang of Three and Potterheads brave torrential rain to attend the London premiere. Unfortunately, I will not have time to see the latest installment, but it's common knowledge that the series has declined in cinematic quality with each subsequent release. Even during my Potter craze back in the day—I remember having a slew of Potter-related websites favorited—I was quick to criticize the limits of each film adaptation. Anyway, those of you who do get the chance to see it, let me know how it fares.
• Once again, strife in China: NYT profiles one family stuck in the midst of the Uighur/Han clashes, yet another ethnic conflict involving China's minority groups. Of course, this means tougher crackdowns on social media and even more human rights restrictions from the Chinese government. They've banned Facebook and shut down Uighur Muslim mosques. Here's what the US should do about it.
• Eloquent Brits wrap up Wimbledon: I don't mean to rip on him, but I'm officially sick of Roger Federer. Sure, he's the greatest tennis player of all time. There's no need for hyper-analysis. (Or maybe I've been watching too much Sports Center.) On the flip side, the Brits, who, just a week ago, had their entire nation's hopes obliterated by Andy Roddick, eloquently praise his fighting spirit in the epic final. After watching many Roddick matches over the years, I'm convinced it may just be bad karma that stands between him and the Wimbledon championship or any Grand Slam for that matter. It's unfortunate that he lives in the era of the greatest tennis player ever. Nevertheless, I hope he comes back strong and kicks some ass at the US Open.
• This woman will not go away anytime soon. Only the future will tell what kind of grand scheme she's planning. (World conquest? Cribs: Wasilla Edition? Guest starring on 30 Rock? Rush Limbaugh's alter ego?) Btw, if you haven't already, read this Vanity Fair feature on Palin. It provides some compelling insight and the juicy details of the behind-the-scenes power struggle during the McCain campaign. 'Nuff said.
On the road again in T-minus 38 hours...

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Queen's Day

If you despise Meryl Streep, I greatly apologize for today's lengthy post. But, how could you? :)
Nathaniel over at The Film Experience has informally proclaimed June as Meryl Streep Month, and today, the celebrations culminate as the legendary Ms. Streep turns 60. Amid his "Streep at 60: A Retrospective" series and his blog buddy Nick's tribute piece, I've decided to offer my own rather elementary take and appreciation of sorts to one of the classiest and down to earth ladies in Hollywood and, first and foremost, one of our greatest silver screen giants. (I say elementary because between those two sources, you've already got enough Streep praise for a day!)

In a career spanning 30+ years, Meryl has graced character after character, ranging from her tragic Sophie Zawistowski, a Holocaust survivor haunted by the secrets of her past, to her icy Miranda Priestly, the omnipotent editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. Her never-ending list of accolades impresses even the most experienced moviegoers: 15 Oscar nominations and (only) 2 wins, 23 Golden Globe nods and 6 wins, 2 Emmys, Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Film Institute and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and many more. Will anyone ever topple her records? I think not, but it's still debatable. (Fangirl moment: Can AMPAS hurry up and give her a third/fourth Oscar? You know she deserves it.)
But, enough about that. I know if she were reading this post (psh, I can wish), she probably wouldn't relish each reference to her gargantuan circle of awards. She wouldn't want to hear about how fantastic her performances are and how impressive her career is, but I can't help that. Every performance is meticulously crafted, technical, sometimes even polarizing. But even so, her best roles are often deeply affecting, transformative, and endearing. Regardless of the style or genre, her character creations are always a sight to behold. Although Meryl loves to think otherwise, she is the queen of characters, accents, and arguably of modern cinema. Watching any of her performances is watching a grand master in her state of Zen. There are not nearly enough words to describe them.
They call her the chameleon for a reason: Her versatility is beyond measure. Similarly, her humility is beyond inspiring. Despite her storied career, she never takes herself too seriously and always seems to have a refreshing sense of humor about everything. She doesn't forget her humble beginnings growing up in New Jersey, attending Vassar and Dartmouth College, and getting an MFA from Yale's prestigious School of Drama. Her dedication to her craft and the longevity of her career are what other actors can only dream of. And, she's successfully raised four talented children and stayed married to the same man her entire career. In today's Hollywood, that seems like a myth. At the end of the day, maybe that's why she's so extraordinary- there's no one quite like Meryl.
Below, in collage form, is a breakdown of some of her most iconic and memorable roles, what can be perceived as 10 Streep essentials. Keep in mind that I still have a lot to see, so this is just a sampling. I won't bore you with the details of each one, but you can read more about them at The Film Experience (Nathaniel is painstakingly reviewing the highlights) . In addition, here are 60 ways to celebrate.

10 Streep Essentials: 1. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); 2. Sophie's Choice (1982); 3. Silkwood (1983); 4. Out of Africa (1985); 5. Postcards from the Edge (1990); 6. One True Thing (1998); 7. The Hours (2002); 8. Adaptation. (2002); 9. Angels in America (2003); 10. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

In the meantime, the queen of modern cinema never stops! In August, she will be seen in Nora Ephron's Julie & Julia, where she takes on the late chef Julia Child. It's her third summer movie in three years, making it hard to believe that she's gaining the most commercial appeal of her career at an age when most actresses are long gone from the mainstream. Later this year, she stars in an as of yet untitled Nancy Meyers comedy.
In closing, Meryl's contemporaries and descendants constantly thank and honor her. But today, we get to sing her praises too. I can honestly say that we are so lucky to live in the Streep era of cinema and to experience every moment of her screen life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the ultimate chameleon, goddess, living legend, and idol: the one and only Meryl Streep.
P.S.: She's hilarious! Her acceptance speeches are always a treat, and her interviews are never dull. Here's one with Ellen DeGeneres. Trust me, you will be dying laughing when you get to the dialects part (6:00).
That's all. (a Meryl cliché for those of you who love The Devil Wears Prada like I do!)

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You've Been Link'd

• Awards Daily: Positive Up reviews just as it opens up the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. Remember, Up hits US theatres May 29.
• For Dunderheads: things to watch for on tonight's Office season finale. Jennie Tan (Tanster), who runs the awesome fan site OfficeTally, was an extra in the episode!
• Reuters: Offbeat, but interesting. Doesn't she have any family to support her? Poor old lady. :(
• Politico: The extremely biased Chris Matthews of MSNBC (well, it's no secret anymore) is still Obama's #1 fan and finds yet another way to publicly defend him. In the meantime, Sarah Palin seems to be inching her way back into the spotlight. Could Palin 2012 be next?
• CNN: A captivating photo journal highlighting beauty amid the turmoil in Afghanistan.
• The Caucus (NYT): Another reason to turn your phone off.
• Film Experience: Nine trailer, much better than the Entertainment Tonight preview with that annoying lady talking over it like she always does. Like I mentioned before, musicals aren't always my thing, but I must say it looks intriguing, especially with all the talent involved.
Finally, shoutout time! The lovely & talented Cate Blanchett turns the big 4-0 today. My inner cinephile is slightly lamenting this milestone b/c it means that there's one less thespian in the under 40 age group. Nearly all of my favorite actors are over the age of 40, so it frequently begs the question: why is there such a big discrepancy in talent between these generations? I'm certainly not saying younger generations are less talented than older ones. It just seems like being young in Hollywood generally means you have to be the star du jour or splattered on the cover of a tabloid, not a serious, respected actor. Bottom line: I can't name a lot of good actors under 40, only a few. Can you? Rambling monologue aside, I hope Cate has a very happy birthday!

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Jumping on the bandwagon...

...because it's Friday and I don't want to do my homework. :)
8 things I did yesterday:
1. Went to the dentist for a checkup
2. Watched The Office and 30 Rock (an aside: I think the video I posted the other day is a lot funnier if you actually watch the show and know what's going on. Otherwise, it's kind of odd. But isn't everything on that show odd??! That's why we love it!)
3. Studied the names of body parts in French (And to go along with that, we did the "hokey-pokey", "Simon Says", "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes", and other kiddie songs en français, which became slightly embarrassing.)
4. Sit-ups and push-ups in an effort to exercise more
5. Mass-studied for Chem test
6. Practiced clarinet concerto
7. Read The Namesake
8. Slept. (OK, maybe that doesn't count.)
8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Forensics banquet at the end of month (senior speeches are always a lot of fun!)
2. Summer @ Columbia - I was accepted, but my parents decided it would be better for me to go to Forensics camp at George Mason this summer. Not a bad choice, and it is still a fine opportunity, but I'm still bummed that I will not be exploring the Big Apple this summer. Also, I committed a lot of time in preparing the application and got accepted, only to give it up. The good news is I can reapply next year.
3. Writing a short story from an idea that has been floating around in my head
4. Family trip to San Francisco this summer (possibly)
5. Volunteering at various places this summer
6. Screenwriting class this summer at my local theatre (trying to develop my interests)
7. Performing my clarinet concerto with my orchestra (albeit majorly nerve-racking)
8. Did I mention summer?
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Compose a song (Even with all of my musical instruction and experience, I don't actually have a lot of creative talent.)
2. Run fast
3. Manage my weight easily
4. Multi-task efficiently
5. Volunteer in an impoverished country to witness real suffering/poverty
6. Have a career that I will completely enjoy (Is it possible?)
7. Be self-confident and get rid of my pessimism (I'm trying.)
8. Fit into society (I'm convinced I will always be an outcast, but who knows? Besides, lots of people achieve greatness from being peculiar. Maybe I just need to embrace my individual differences.)
8 books I want to read:
Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama
Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
Unaccustomed Earth, Jhumpa Lahiri (Well, anything by Jhumpa Lahiri. I love her writing style.)
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, Julie Powell
What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, Dave Eggers
Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote

Blerg, this post is so boring. Need to write something interesting for a change.
P.S.: I apologize if I haven't been around to any of your blogs lately. I will catch up soon!

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Reel Brief: Coming Attractions 2009 (2)

Previously: Part 1
Shutter Island (Paramount)- 10/02
Shutter Island is the third Dennis Lehane novel to be adapted for the screen, this time by Laela Kalogridis. It follows an eerie plot involving two US marshals (Leonardo DiCaprio & Mark Ruffalo) investigating the escape of Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), a patient at Ashecliffe, an insane asylum on Shutter Island in remote Massachusetts.
<= The film seems to be advertised as a film noir-esque thriller, not the typical genre for the cast and director Martin Scorsese. Scorsese, who finally won his long overdue Best Director Oscar for 2006's The Departed, can once again showcase his mad cinematic skills, a welcome return for every moviegoer. I'm also looking forward to the vibrant cast, particularly the constantly underrated Ruffalo & Mortimer in their juicy roles.
Up (Disney/Pixar)- 5/29 [trailer]
Evidently, Pixar has a venerable track record of creating animated hits that always please: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, WALL•E, and my personal fave, Finding Nemo. Additionally, their films have won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature 4 times since the category was created in 2001. Now, the innovative studio has another family-friendly movie perfect for the summer. Up tells the story of 78 year old Carl Fredrickson, who finally realizes his dream of seeing the world by attaching thousands of balloons to his house and literally floating away. His plans take a turn when he finds 8 year old Russell hidden in his house. I've long grown out of kiddie movies, but Pixar's features appeal to all ages and are always worth their while.
Away We Go (Focus Features)- 6/05 [trailer]
From a screenplay written by bestselling authors Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, this dramedy is about a couple (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph) searching for the right place to settle down and raise their soon-to-be-born child. Sam Mendes adds to his unique filmography of suburban dissection (American Beauty & Revolutionary Road), mobsters (Road to Perdition), and wars (Jarhead) by shifting gears with what looks like a witty and heartwarming flick. And, our favorite Dunder Mifflin Scranton assistant regional manager Krasinski and versatile SNL alum Rudolph could potentially jump-start their fledgling movie careers with their first leading roles.
Taking Woodstock (Focus Features)- 8/14 [trailer]
The films of Ang Lee show a vast range of eccentricities, so it's no surprise that the Brokeback Mountain director has now chosen to tackle the subject of the Woodstock Festival, the arts and music gathering that remains one of the symbols of tumultuous 1960s Americana. The film follows Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin), one of Woodstock's key organizers. Based on a true story, Lee regular James Schamus adapted the film from Tiber's autobiography of the same name. Martin is an interesting casting choice, seeing as that he is a comedian best known for his work as Senior Youth Correspondent on The Daily Show. He is joined by an impressive supporting cast that includes Imelda Staunton as his mother and Emile Hirsch as a soldier recently returned from Vietnam. A whole host of other actors play addtional characters who shaped Tiber and the Woodstock landscape.
An Education (Sony Pictures Classics)- Oct.
British newcomer Carey Mulligan stars in this coming-of-age indie about a naïve Londoner swept off her feet by a charming playboy (Peter Sarsgaard). The flick, directed by Danish director Lone Scherfig and written by novelist Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity), won the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival and has been riding on a lot of buzz ever since. If the buzz can last until December, look for it on the grueling awards circuit. In particular, Mulligan has received praise for her performance, and crazy Oscar pundits are already predicting a lot of traction for her in the Best Actress race.

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Reel Brief: Coming Attractions 2009 (1)

INT. THEATRE
A GIRL settles into her seat, popcorn in hand, waiting intently for the feature presentation to begin. She glances under her feet and finds gum sticking to her shoe. Slightly bothered, the girl sighs and focuses straight ahead. The lights dim, chatter diminishes, and the screen flickers.

I decided to do my most anticipated movies series differently from the way I did it last year. I picked ten films in no particular order and wrote a little blurb about each summarizing why you should look out for it. Short and sweet. And since variety is the spice of life, I've selected movies of a variety of genres and styles. Note that this is just a sampling; these are difficult to narrow down, and I always discover a few flicks later in the year, especially if they're indies. The first five after the jump.
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*Release dates subject to change
The Boat that Rocked (Universal)- 8/28 [trailer]
A new comedy from writer-director Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings & A Funeral), The Boat that Rocked is about a group of 1960s radio DJs, led by loudmouthed American "The Count" (Philip Seymour Hoffman in a comedic role!). The crew operates pirate broadcasts to the UK from a ship off the coast. (Historical perspective: the British government limited the amount of radio stations, so many stations would try offshore pirate broadcasting to gain an audience.) Unfortunately, this hasn't received very good reception across the pond. Critics have panned the film for a "muddled" organization and "contrived storyline." This could mean equally disappointing reviews when it premieres here. We shall see...
The Lovely Bones (DreamWorks/Paramount)- 12/11
Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh, the team behind the spectacular film version of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, adapted Alice Sebold's bestselling novel about Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), who is raped and murdered by a neighbor, George Harvey (Stanley Tucci). From Heaven, Susie watches her family cope with their loss and analyzes the choices they must make. Any literary adaptation will be strictly compared to its source material, but this team has proven itself with LOTR. They've also assembled a talented cast: besides Ronan and Tucci, Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg play Susie's parents, and Susan Sarandon plays her grandmother. Additionally, the film is sure to bring up many provocative themes.
This Side of the Truth (Warner Bros.)- 9/25
The always hilarious Ricky Gervais makes his directorial debut in this flick about "a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain." This Side of the Truth features an all-star cast of some of today's big names in comedy, including Gervais himself, Jason Bateman, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, and SNL's featured player Bobby Moynihan. Together, its interesting premise and lineup of comics could make it one of the year's more exceptional comedies. Originally scheduled for a spring release, the film's details are still being kept under wraps until the fall. In the meantime, watch Ricky's announcement of the release date, which features some advice to the little kiddies. :)
Julie & Julia (Columbia)- 8/07 (Isn't the teaser poster cute?) =>
Here's one for the gourmands! Nora Ephron based this flick on NYC blogger Julie Powell's best-selling book Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen and French chef Julia Child's memoir My Life in France. The former originates from Powell's blog chronicling her quest to complete each recipe in Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Ephron has recruited two lovely ladies to portray the leading roles, Amy Adams as Julie Powell and Meryl Streep as Julia Child. So, I guess this is also one for the ladies!

Nine (The Weinstein Company)- 11/25
The award-winning Broadway musical now has an screen version, thanks to director Rob Marshall (Chicago). Yours truly isn't the biggest fan of musicals and over-hyped Oscar bait, but the plot and cast could change her opinion of this particular film. Daniel Day-Lewis is Guido Contini, a director facing a midlife crisis. He must balance his relationships with his wife (Marion Cotillard), mistress (Penélope Cruz), mother (Sophia Loren), producer (Judi Dench), and protégée (Nicole Kidman). Complicated indeed. We know Kidman can handle the vocal demands (Moulin Rouge!), but it remains to be seen if the rest of these thespians have the skills to take on Nine's showy tunes.
*The other five coming soon!

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As I Am

The last two weeks have consisted of long, stress-inducing days and nights, which explains my absence from the old blog. Spring break is approaching but not before I complete the massive influx of work leading up to it (most difficult PreCalc test of the year, reading The Iliad and Don Quixote at the same time for English, last Forensics tournament of the year, and more).
Chicago was enjoyable but chilly. I suppose it would have been more relaxing if the academically minded (read: nerdy) person in me wasn't constantly considering the boatload of work I was missing in school. We unfortunately did not get an adequate taste of the metropolis since we only visited some main attractions, such as the Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and Sears Tower. The former two were geared more toward young ones, not us, so those were ultimately a waste of our time. For me, going to the city requires a bit of exploration on foot to get the best metropolitan experience, and that's what I enjoy the most about cities. Essentially, that was the main flaw of our trip. The Wind Ensemble adjudication/clinic was a meaningful experience and helped us learn about what we need to improve.
So that's how I am at the moment: sleep-deprived, anxious, blah. I'm sorry I have nothing else to say, but after all, it is my mundane life. I'll be back when I'm more relaxed for something more meaningful and less snoozeworthy. A mini blogroll after the jump.
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~Friday Mini Blogroll~
•Casting Call: Here's a film worth seeing...next summer. (From Awards Daily and In Contention via /Film)
The Dark Knight director Chris Nolan is back with another "thinking man's" piece (no, it's not another addition to the Batman franchise), this time a "sci-fi thriller set within the architecture of the mind" that boasts an interestingly diverse cast, at least so far.
•Obamamania Revisited (more like Continued): More nonsensical reports of Obama's first overseas tour, like the press' obsession with Michelle Obama's fashion sense. Can we please get down to business? Will we ever?
•April Fool's Day Parade: I didn't know such a celebration actually existed. Oh wait, it doesn't. My bad.

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No Surprises

Not surprisingly, I can't seem to concentrate today. I'm lacking in cohesive thoughts, hence the jumbled list form of today's dispatch.
-Apparently, Columbia is one of the greenest schools in the US. The environmentalist in me is very pleased to hear this. My application for the summer program is 80% complete, but I still need to finish that dreaded personal statement. Blerg.
-Getting ready for another trip, this time to Chicago for Wind Ensemble adjudication. I am eagerly looking forward to getting out of borderline dead suburbia and touring the Windy City, if it didn't have to come during what I like to call school's Spring Tempest. Looks like I will have to do loads of homework on the 9hr. bus ride.
-The drama on this week's Office episode was tense! Michael acted so differently around the new VP, like we've never seen him before. It was ironic: I didn't know whether to laugh or cry in the last part. (No spoilers in case you haven't seen it yet.)
-Speaking of The Office, John Krasinski stars with SNL alum Maya Rudolph in a new dramedy from American Beauty and Revolutionary Road director Sam Mendes, Away We Go. [trailer] It has the potential to be a great flick, and I've been looking forward to it for a while.
-RIP Natasha Richardson. It's devastating to hear about a tragic accident that didn't deserve to happen to such a classy actress. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen a lot of her many stage and screen credits, but growing up in the '90s, I loved her work in The Parent Trap.
-Fact: 60% of my Saturdays are spent procrastinating, stressing, lamenting, pondering, and writing pointless blog posts like this.
-Fact: Radiohead has a song for every mood. I wish I had their creativity.

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Afternoon Blogroll

I stole Zany's idea of posting some interesting links. =D I like it because it's quick and easy to do.

Firstly, I want to check out A Powerful Noise if I get the chance. I heard about it from a One Campaign update via Facebook, since it's one of the causes I subscribe to. This is kind of old news, but I think you can still see the documentary at various locations. It is about three women in the Third World trying to improve their live in their troubled societies. It sounds like an extremely informative and empowering documentary, especially for women. Additionally, I am always inspired by ordinary citizens making a difference for the greater good.
Over on The Film Experience, Nathaniel brings back his old Tuesday Top 10 series with an post on "overdue" actors. Now that Kate Winslet is finally an Oscar winner, who's next in line? Surprisingly, Laura Linney only made the honorable mention list, but I do agree on Sigourney Weaver, who unfortunately is not getting the same types of roles she got in her heyday. I also approve of the Meryl mention, who's definitely overdue for her third. In response to Nathaniel's question, I hesitate to raise my hand. :( (Julie & Julia, perhaps? It might be too light for Oscar, à la The Devil Wears Prada.)
The New York Times' The Caucus, our always reliable source for political news, brings us the most essential story of the week. Is this really necessary? I'm not ripping on NYT specifically, but society in general, who can't seem to get over the fact that the party's over. There are more pressing matters in the Obama administration. (I admit I might need to shut up about this topic, so I'll make it brief.) The good news is that swing set company now has a way to drum up sales.
In actual news, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been circling the globe, first meeting with leaders in the Middle East to discuss the ongoing (and increasingly bleak) Arab-Israeli conflict, and then moving on to the NATO conference in Geneva. She also announced President Obama will be travelling to Turkey later this month to meet with leaders there, since they are an important ally in the War on Terror in Afghanistan. I was slightly amused by an anecdote that occurred involving her, the Russian foreign minister, and a reset button. Interesting indeed.
Finally, I wish SNL alum Jimmy Fallon the best of luck on his new late-night gig, which debuted this week on NBC. I haven't watched it or heard much about it, but it's nice to see Jimmy back in his element.
Btw, school needs to go away. It is the sole cause of my never-ending stress and absence from blogging. Between rehearsals for all the musical groups I play in, applying for summer programs (which brings piles of paperwork), and scheduling for next year's courses (already!), not even mentioning the onslaught of schoolwork, the spring tempest has arrived. I'm sorry for these meager posts; they are the result of the deadly cycle of school.
<= P.S.: Thanks to kibberon for bestowing me with a blog honor. She brings up a good point: I need a better pseudonym for myself. Currently, mine is too long and odd; any suggestions? Something short and sweet? Anyway, I nominate Zany, Stefany, Wolfe, and seven imaginary blogs.

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Rainy Day Playlist

Here are some music selections I'm listening to on this chilly, drizzly day. Some of these are recent findings; others are taken from my MP3 player/vault of too many songs.
Milk score, Danny Elfman: Initially as I viewed the film, the score didn't really stand out as a redeeming facet (probably b/c of everything else that engaged me), but I've just now discovered its memorable qualities.
"Come On, Come Out", A Fine Frenzy: A Fine Frenzy (aka Alison Sodul) is a unique singer/songwriter who combines traces of alternative rock with genuine vocals, and this song reminds me of feeling carefree and lightweight.
"Gravity", John Mayer: Ah, John Mayer. I love his blues/acoustic style. He makes it a flawless combination, and it really shines through in this lovely, soulful song.
"Gymnopedie No. 1", Erik Satie: This understated piano work originates from the Impressionist period of French composers in the 19th and early 20th century. Flowing and wistful, it's not an easy piece to master.
"New Slang", The Shins: This song is all about exposing the insecurities of our "inverted world", from the wisdom and wit of these indie rock trailblazers.
"Only Human", Jason Mraz: 'Cause we are, but we're not the only ones on this swiftly tilting planet. We share everything with the other living, breathing creatures on this Earth, but sometimes, we can never change. "'Cause we're only human."
"The Story", Brandi Carlile: We all have a story to tell, whether we like it or not. It always makes for a deep topic to ponder on a rainy day, where our story begins and how we wish to continue it.
"Chasing Pavements", Adele: This British newcomer mixes old school vocals with her own talented skills. I love the results.

Also, happy 28th birthday to the ethereal vocalist and all-around cool guy Josh Groban!!! For me, any of his work could fit into a rainy day, but one of my all-time favorite songs is "February Song", with its melancholy melody and bittersweet lyrics.

"Where has that old friend gone, lost in a February song? Tell him it won't be long, 'til he opens his eyes, opens his eyes. Where is that simple day, before colors broke into shades? And how did I ever fade into this life, into this life?"

I'm proud to say that I've been a fan since the very beginning of his career and am constantly excited to see what other eclectic happenings he expands to in the future.

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Hollywood's Annual Night of Cinematic Mercy (1)

So, now that awards season has finally commenced with the grand soirée of them all, the Academy Awards, I want to reflect on yet another convoluted whirlwind this awards cycle. But before that, my thoughts on the changes/caveats/everything else about this year's ceremony, "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", after the jump. Once again, I embedded a few YouTube clips for your convenience. :)
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The Good:
-Hugh Jackman actually turned out to be a fine host. I had slight qualms about the Oscars steering away from the comedian emcee thing they have long established as a trademark. Hugh's song and dance background ideally fits the mold of the Grammys or the Tonys more so than the Oscars, but I was wrong this time around. His "recession-proof" opening number was a lot of fun to watch and contained great jokes ridiculing the inevitable problem of how much of the general public has no interest in the nominated films. And, of course, he was uber-charming. :)
-New presenter format for acting awards: If you've watched the show before, you're probably aware of the tradition they have of bringing back the 4 winners from the previous year and have them present the award of the opposite sex (i.e. last year's Best Actor present Best Actress) in kind of a "passing of the torch". This year, many awards watchers panicked when Oscar producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark mentioned they were abandoning this tradition. However, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the new "passing of the torch" approach. For each acting award, they brought back 5 past winners to introduce each of the 5 nominees, and one of them was designated to open the envelope. Very cool and a method that truly never crossed my mind until yesterday.
Here's a sample (Best Actress):

-Queen Latifah singing during In Memoriam: Again, a lot of awards watchers were initially confused by this new addition. Usually, they just play some nostalgic-sounding classical music, sometimes played live by a famous classical musician (always nice and perfectly appropriate), but this year, the talented Queen Latifah sang a lovely song to accompany the montage of the people the film industry lost this year. It was a interesting change, but it worked it pretty well. Of course, the reel culminated with one last tribute to the legendary Paul Newman.
The Bad:
-the Original Song conglomeration: Shows how much the Academy cares about this category. First, b/c of their uber-puzzling preferential ballot system in this category, they only nominated three instead of the usual five songs. Then, they give each song a mere 60-65 seconds of performance time in a mash-up of sorts. Come on.
-no film/acting nominee clips: I like these b/c they give people an idea of what the nominee did to deserve (or in some case, didn't deserve) their nomination. Normally, they omit these if they have time constraints, and obviously they did with this year's new presenter format, which took up the time normally allotted for the clips. So, they actually had a good reason to omit these, unlike years past, where they've sometimes just eliminated that portion for seemingly no reason.
The Ugly:
-Montages: Like every show, I was hoping there would be less of them this year, but there were actually more. But instead of them being random featurettes of different aspects of filmmaking or whatever else they like to use in montages, each montage was a "Yearbook" of the year in Romance, Action, Comedy (featuring a clever short film from Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, and James Franco), and Animation. While it's nice that they're using this to mention the films they don't nominate, I must object when they put, for lack of a better term, crappy movies in a montage with good movies. For instance, the Romance montage featured moments from the likes of Milk, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Revolutionary Road combined with those from Mamma Mia!, High School Musical 3, and Twilight. Wrong choice. The latter group, no matter how popular they are, DO NOT BELONG AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS IN A MONTAGE WITH OTHER GOOD FLICKS.
-a vast majority of the presenters: They didn't belong there (btw: Huffington Post has a poll about this topic). They didn't deserve to be there. Especially sitting in the same room and breathing the same air amongst living legends like Meryl Streep, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Robert DeNiro, etc. Robert Pattinson? Zac Efron? Sarah Jessica Parker? The list goes on. I mean, every year, they get a few odd presenters that seem out of place (last year, Miley Cyrus owned this category), but this year, I felt like it was nearly everyone. Was the rest of the world unavailable? Geez. Interestingly enough, I thought I was the most peeved about this (I always complain about undeserving presenters), but my co-editor was practically shouting when we were discussing this in our conversation today. He said, and I quote, that "it was like they just picked up some random hobos off the streets of L.A. and had them present. Every time, I was shouting at the TV, 'Get off the freaking stage!'" And, I hate to admit it, but he's right. I absolutely concur; it just didn't feel like the Oscars with those talentless idiots handing out all the awards. And, another observation: many of them presented multiple awards in a row. Seriously AMPAS, was no one else available???
-Red Carpet, as usual: You've probably figured out by now that I'm pretty apathetic towards these, and while I did jot down some things during E!'s always horrendous Red Carpet (only they can get away with using the phrase "glamastrator"), there's really not much you missed.

Big 8 Awards Summary (I accurately predicted all of them, but it's nothing to brag about since this year was so pre-determined by the precursors/zeitgeist):
•Supp. Actress- presented by Tilda Swinton (2007), Whoopi Goldberg (1990), Anjelica Huston (1985), Goldie Hawn (1969), & Eva Marie Saint (1954)
Winner: Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)- A lot of Oscar pundits suddenly began predicting Viola Davis (my personal fave of the nominees) last week, but I played it safe and stuck with Penélope. I just couldn't see why the Academy, of all people, would change it up.
Great speech to start out the night! I especially appreciated the part about "protecting art", which never gets old around these parts. And just like her fellow Spaniard Javier Bardem last year, she ended with a little bit to her Spanish fans and family.
•Original Screenplay- presented by the hilariously awesome Tina Fey and Steve Martin (one of the only good presenter pairs)
I'm glad they brought back the feature of reading a few lines from each screenplay while playing that particular scene. It provides a brief glimpse into the arguably most important part of filmmaking, the blank page.
Winner: Dustin Lance Black (Milk)- WALL•E had a pretty good shot here, but in the end, I think the Academy preferred the perpetually rousing speeches to the perfectly measured silence.
Another powerful, but political speech (starts at about 3:54) which I know people thought might have been too deep, but you have to understand how personal Milk was to this guy. He's openly gay, and after hearing Harvey Milk's story, he was determined to write the film and pitch it to studios even though it was deemed a huge risk by others. Bravo!
•Adapted Screenplay- presenters: ditto.
Winner: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
This was a given, so not much to say here; the 1st of 8 Oscars for Slumdog last night, at least according to the mental tally I kept.
•Supp. Actor- presented by Alan Arkin (2006), Cuba Gooding Jr. (1996), Kevin Kline (1988), Christopher Walken (1978), & Joel Grey (1972)
Winner: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)- There was no way they weren't going to give it to him, especially after his tragic death, winning pretty much every award on the face of the Earth for this role, and his family flying all the way out from Australia to accept it on his behalf. Say what you will about the excessive hype, but Heath deserved it. That said, I feel bad for the other Supp. Actor nominees, who were great too but had no shot at all.
Anyway, God bless his family for staying strong and delivering one of the most heartfelt moments of the evening.
•Director- presented by Reese Witherspoon
Winner: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)- No room for surprises here.
Even though I'm not the biggest fan of Slumdog, I give major props to Danny Boyle for having the guts to take a camera straight through the streets of Mumbai and shoot the film without big stars or hefty studios. Here's to a job well done, maestro.
•Actress- presented by Marion Cotillard (2007), Nicole Kidman (2002), Halle Berry (2001), Shirley Maclaine (1983), & Sophia Loren (1961)
You guys know about my affinity for the amazing Kate and my irking feeling of her winning for the wrong role this year (well actually the wrong year too. IMO, she should have won 4 years ago for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.) I've gradually come to terms with it, and it all came full circle last night during Marion Cotillard's moving tribute during the nominees presentation (0:58 on the aforementioned video). I was once more reminded of why I love this actress and her truly sublime work over the years, and at that moment, I realized, this girl deserves it for everything. She deserves it, and I will be happy. And I am, b/c it's about time.
Winner: Kate Winslet (The Reader)- Some prognosticators were sticking to their guns and predicting Meryl. Others sensed a potential vote split and made their last minute prediction to indie darling and "actor's actor" Melissa Leo. They were possible outcomes, but ultimately, it's the year of the Kate.
"Academy Award Winner Kate Winslet" has quite the ring to it! Her speech is at 5:10 on the video, so I don't need to discuss it. More contained and less teary than her second Globes speech.
•Actor- presented by Adrien Brody (2002), Sir Anthony Hopkins (1991), Michael Douglas (1987), Sir Ben Kingsley (1982), & Robert DeNiro (1980)
I really enjoyed Best Actor this year because, aside from Brad Pitt's excruciatingly mediocre turn in ...Benjamin Button, we were treated a phenomenal crop of nominees this year. Yes, I was bitter over one equally fabulous contender (*cough* Leo DiCaprio *cough*) being overlooked by everyone except the Globes, but life goes on. (Unfortunately not for the fanboys, who can never get over anything.) It's never perfect. More on this later in my reflections.
Winner: Sean Penn (Milk)- As I eluded to previously, the Best Actor race this year has constantly shifted between Sean and comeback story of the year Mickey Rourke. It was presumably a really close vote, but Sean probably won because of his performance being incredibly transformative and pertinent to today's political landscape. It should be noted that Sean lost two major precursors, the Golden Globe and BAFTA, to Mickey, but these were largely due to a general apathy towards Milk by the two organizations. However, these "commie, homo-loving sons of guns" got it right. Go Sean!!
•Picture- presented by Steven Spielberg
Winner: Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight)
SHOCKER. Yay for the cute little Indian kids! Fox Searchlight supposedly spent a lot of money and effort to get them all there, but they made it.
Note: I don't predict the other 16 awards b/c of my lack of awareness of them, and it would take way too long to summarize everything. :(

I deeply apologize for the length; that's definitely enough for today. I promise my reflections post tomorrow will be shorter(!) and the last cinema post for a while. We all need a break from this stuff.

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Six Things- a random survey

A little late in posting this, but it's appropriate for in between studying for tests on a snow day. I finally did the little survey originally from Maria (Maria Ink) but modified it slightly. I love these random surveys! Enjoy! (WARNING: long rambling after the jump.)
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Six random things about me:
1. I keep papers and other random mementos from different years of school filed in folders for each year. I believe I have things dating back as early as third grade, but most of it is from recent years. I don't know why I keep so much of this stuff; I'm either too lazy to sort through it and throw useless things away, or I somehow fool myself into thinking that I need to save all of it just in case I ever want to look at certain things again (which seldom actually occurs). It's perplexing; someday I just want to sit down and pick out everything I should throw away and finally discard of everything.
2. I survive on lists.
In order to remember every little thing I need to do, I have to write it down in a list and check it off when I finish it. Sometimes, I make the mistake of checking off before I even finish it just so it looks like I did it. I don't know; I guess it gives me a minor sense of accomplishment, especially when I procrastinate and subsequently feel like a failure because I didn't get anything done. Perhaps, I should stop doing that...starting now. (I should be studying for Chem. :/)
3. When I was little, I used to narrate parts of my mundane life like it was a story.
This was one of the many odd quirks I had as a child. In my head, I sometimes had a voice that would describe whatever pathetic thing was happening, complete with conversational tags. In certain situations, it would even turn into a play being acted out in my mind. I find it hard to believe this phase happened before I became a writer, but it may have contributed to my then lack of writing sense. Back then, I hated writing and wrote terribly for school functions. My parents groaned at the sight of my paragraphs, which usually consisted of a sequence of events connected by descriptions of people. As I grew out of my narrating habit, I think my writing skills improved. Gradually, writing became almost a way of life for me, and I will never regret it. However, my childhood narrating was still an adequate start to my budding writing career.
4. My myriad of interests make it difficult to decide what path I want to blaze after high school.
When I was little, I went from wanting to become a politician, to a teacher, to a librarian, to a historian. Fortunately for the last few years, I've stayed constant on pursuing either law, government (not politics), economics, journalism, or screenwriting. The downside is these aren't all viable careers, and I have trouble deciding which is best for my skills and capabilities. All would be rewarding, but not necessarily financially. (I'm sure my parents wouldn't want me to be dirt-poor!) Hopefully, as college looms closer and closer, I can figure out my individual path or combine my interests. I reckon I'll still be exploring my options well through college.
5. I always feel the need to connect with others, to feel that I have something in common with them.
It's the most difficult part of being me because I think I seem so different from people. I don't want to feel distant, but I never know what to say or how to react. I always get a peculiar feeling that people are judging me based on every move I make. My eccentricities also disconnect me from others, and sometimes I wonder if I'll ever feel truly comfortable around people in a casual way. I'm not shy or emotionally weak; I just have a lack of self-confidence around unfamiliar people. Or maybe I just don't know how to relax and appear casual because I'm stressed more often than not.
6. I'm convinced I may never fall in love.
I've discovered over time that I'm not much of love-struck person. I pay attention to guys and their looks and personalities, but I never get a feeling of attraction towards anyone. For now, it's probably because I have other life complications to focus on, namely my education, so maybe my attitude towards love will change as I get older. Yes, I know I'm an eternal pessimist, but I want to be more hopeful that the "perfect guy" will come: ambitious, handsome, intelligent, humorous, classy, with just the right amount of charm and kindness.

Six random things I like:
1. Over the years, I've become a pretty devout tea drinker.
I love iced tea, green tea, and chai in particular. Personal favorites: Starbucks' Chai Lattes, Arizona Green Tea, and Nestle Iced Tea. I also enjoy the energy I get from tea and the healthy antioxidants. (Don't worry, I'm not a complete health nut!) My friend has a bumper sticker on Facebook that says "Drinking tea makes me feel British". That very well might be another reason I love tea. Oh, those Brits! They seem so refined with their tea and accents. ;)
2. I love the ocean for both physical and symbolic reasons.
My favorite colors are all shades of blue and green (except fuschia, which is purple), and I love how they all blend together in the ocean. It forms this big blue-green expanse of nothingness. Just water and sea creatures for miles and miles and miles. It seems so endless, yet fascinating. The ocean also represents so many things about life and the world. The tides come in regular cycles, but sometimes they are unexpectedly smaller; or they suddenly get bigger, causing floods and tsunamis. Life can be like that: we get bored of our cyclical existence, and then something totally out of the ordinary happens.
3. I have an affinity toward portraits.
I love all photography in general, particularly landscapes and street views, but portraits have a strange, striking quality to them that other types of photography do not. You can learn a lot about a person just by examining a portrait of them and studying their facial expressions and gestures. Sometimes, people look dignified or important; other times they are more relaxed and easygoing; or they can look forlorn and melancholy. Portraits can be very enigmatic, just like the people they show.
4. I adore the music of George Gershwin.
I'm a classical music fan, always have been, always will. I prefer the Romantic and Modern periods over others because of the unique, individual styles that formed during those times. Gershwin's extraordinary style came about during the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age. His music flawlessly combines classical music and the early stages of jazz, creating an indescribable mosaic of sound. He is one of the only renowned composers that composed quintessentially American music that reflected American life and society of his time. My favorite Gershwin piece is "Rhapsody in Blue", a free-flowing work featuring solo piano as well as numerous other small solos by other instruments. It paints a musical portrait of Gershwin's exciting era.
5. I envy those who have a perfect sense of humor and comedic timing.
I don't have a good sense of humor, so I love people who always know what to say to make people laugh. They can crack a witty joke at just the right time, and everyone gets it and remembers it fondly. Or, comedy writers like the crew on SNL always crack me up. One of my life goals is to work on improving my comedic skills.
6. I love city life.
My dream is to settle in New York City, capital of the world. Every time I go there, I feel as if the world is at my fingertips. You have access to everything the world has to offer. For the artsy person in me, NYC has an incomparable arts scene. For the part of me that can never blend in, I always enjoy how in NYC, you don't have to try to fit in. People from all walks of life, nationalities, occupations, etc. have found a place there, and it's easy to feel comfortable. I know this image sounds almost utopian, but it's so different from the suburban lifestyle that I've grown up in, where everything looks the same. One quirk or flaw can make you stand out, and that has always bothered me.

Six random things I don't like:
1. I get really peeved when people watch movies just to obsess over movie stars' looks.
Case in point: in English class freshman year, we watched Romeo + Juliet as part of our Shakespeare unit. Of course, some girls in our class were busy whispering to each other: "OMG! Leo DiCaprio is so hot!!" They spent the entire time discussing this, so I was about ready to shoot someone. When I thought it couldn't get any more irritating, they started arguing about how "now that he's old, he looks ugly." WTF??? Good lord. First off, since when was being 30-something considered old? Second, he's still attractive, I admit, but that's beside the point. Really, does it matter? He's a talented actor too, and I think some people can't take that seriously b/c of his looks. Ultimately, there's an infinite amount of things other than pretty people to appreciate about cinema.
2. Slow-walking people put me in a lousy mood.
When I get to school in the morning, the first thing I always notice is zombie-like, half-asleep people trudging through the hallways. Like them, I'm hardly conscious in the morning, but I always end up walking faster than them. Even worse, people will stand in the middle of the hallway to talk to their friends, and no one can get through them. We only have four minutes to get to each class, so it always baffles me why everyone walks at snail speeds in the halls.
3. I detest when everyone in the neighborhood has to mow their lawn at the same time.
I have mild allergies to grass, so when everyone mows their lawn, my eyes get super itchy and my sinuses feel more congested than they have to be. Sometimes, it seems like everyone makes an effort to have the best-kept lawn, so when one person mows their lawn, they have to do so as well. It's like a war of the lawns! That's the thought that comes to mind when everyone starts obsessively mowing their lawns in the spring.
4. I wish I could study math by osmosis.
I can't say that I hate math, but it's just not an easy subject for me. I used to be pretty good at math, generally speaking, when I took relatively basic courses with everyone else in elementary and middle school. But later in middle school and then in high school, when courses were divided by levels, I took some more advanced courses. Now, I realize math is my weakness. I'm not much of numbers and formulas person and can't wrap my head around them. Also, my interest in math has decreased since a lot of the advanced math I learn doesn't seem that useful, aside from Stats. Math is not my strong point at all.
5. I hate when people follow the zeitgeist.
What happened to individuality? When people only go with the recent trends or whatever "everyone else" likes, they're limiting their ability to make their own decisions. We all need embrace individuality because where would we be without it? It's hard to imagine life without the sheer idea of individuality, and if more and more people neglect it, the world would lose its purpose and become drab and predictable. We are all different in many ways, but that's also what connects us.
6. When people take notes, they tend to write really big and skip too many lines and pages before starting a new section.
This is one pet peeve of mine that I constantly spot. What a waste of paper! If everyone wrote a tiny bit smaller and used some of the space they wasted, we could save a lot of trees. Why skip so much space anyway? I get paranoid/symptoms of OCD when I skip too much space. Weird, I know. :)

Six random songs I like:
1. "February Song"- Josh Groban
2. "A Beautiful Mess"- Jason Mraz
3. "Somewhere Only We Know"- Keane
4. "Amsterdam"- Coldplay
5. "Hide and Seek" - Imogen Heap
6. "Wise Up" - Aimee Mann

Six random books I like:
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
2. About a Boy - Nick Hornby
3. Stravaganza series - Mary Hoffman
4. The Time Machine - H.G. Wells
5. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
6. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - Ishmael Beah

Six random movies I like:
1. Amadeus (Milos Forman, 1984)
2. On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954)
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
4. Catch Me If You Can (Steven Spielberg, 2002)
5. Breakfast at Tiffany's (Blake Edwards, 1961)
6. Good Will Hunting (Gus Van Sant, 1997)

Well, that's all! Congratulations if you made it to the end! I apologize profusely if that was too long.

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2008 Discoveries

As promised, here are a few of my favorite things I discovered this year. Many of them were not really discoveries in every sense, but rather, they were reiterations of why I enjoy them. You'll see what I mean.
-Hulu.com: From catching up on episodes of my favorite shows, to reliving SNL clips, to viewing hilarious Office outtakes, this site was the place to be in 2008. Everything is perfectly legal, and it's so easy to find and access whatever you want. I'm a busy person and I often feel like I never have time to watch TV when something I want to watch is on. Hulu makes it very simple to watch TV anytime.
-Film Experience blog: I've been reading the clever, offbeat musings of Nathaniel & friends on and off since 2005, but this year, I finally became a regular reader and a big fan. Nathaniel can always be trusted to provide well-needed wit and wisdom about the enigmatic world of cinema. He shares his own opinions and is at times a fanboy, but at the end of the day, his unique analysis overshadows all else. His contributors also bring some spice and flavor into the scheme of things, and his podcasts are very insightful and entertaining. Basically, they're Film Experience on the go.
-the political influence of Saturday Night Live: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin = 'nuff said. That alone became quite a phenomenon. But there are other equally interesting examples of the influence SNL had on American politics this past year. After the primary debate sketch in February, the media finally acknowledged the growing complaints that accused them of giving Obama "a free ride" during the thick of the Democratic primaries. Furthermore, politicians realized they could reach a wider audience, particularly young voters, so they all booked cameos on the show. Before long, there was a presidential candidate appearance almost every week.
-Franklin Covey planners: Where would I be without these things? I think I have a problem with organization because I have the urge to write everything down. If it's not on my list, I most likely will forget it. These spiffy planners allow me to make to-do lists of my assignments, priorities, reminders, notices, etc. and jot down random thoughts. I've used assignment notebooks for years, but there's something I really like about these things. Perhaps, it's the way they pre-organize everything for you (in different categories or slots), and then you can write whatever you want, wherever you please. Writing is an inherent part of me; I write about anything and everything. I often get sparks of inspiration from out of the blue, and I quickly write them down in my planner and make a mental note to return to them later. The planner is a convenient size too; I can shove it in a bag or purse, and it goes with me everywhere. These planners also make great gifts.
Yes, I realize these selections are very random, and I picked them for no apparent reason. However, I hope you can benefit from these items as much as I have. ;)

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Mid-week Musings

I mistakenly got to school early today b/c I thought I neglected to finish editing pages for the paper. However, it turns out I did in fact finish them yesterday. So, I have some down time right now to schmooze.
Noteworthy things of late: (bulleted; I can't seem to think of one particular topic I want to write about today.)
-Thumbs up to Change.gov, the website of the Obama transition team. Continually informing the American public of his message and agenda in a multitude of ways can't hurt in times like these. It also debunks a lot of myths about the administration, or as my World Affairs teacher puts it: “Your crazy Republican friends can shut up.”
-Canadian politics (old news, but I feel like weighing in): It’s pretty interesting that the opposition parties have formed a coalition in retaliation against Conservative PM Stephen Harper. I doubt that would ever happen here. Not surprisingly, this is all caused by the economic crisis.
-Greek riots: Social unrest at work again. It always astounds me how one event, in this case the shooting of a teenager by police, can have massive repercussions across an entire population. The youth already had animosity towards the police, and so this tragic incident lit the spark for the widespread riots plaguing Athens. It is hard to fathom how the government can possibly resolve this.
-Awards update: Amid everything else, year after year, I always manage to keep track of at least the major things b/c of all of the bloggers and pundits who do such a good job of breaking everything down. So a big thank you to all of them who make this so easy for amateurs/non-fanatics/casual observers like me. :) As always, you can check the blogosphere for the complete lowdown on the latest developments.
Broadcast Film Critics (BFCA) nominations- The shocker presented in the slightly alarming graphic on The Film Experience blog. (Shameless promotion: TFE is one of the most original blogs out there. I am a big fan.) Yes folks, Revolutionary Road was completely shut out in all categories. Hmm… The problem is that the snub really doesn’t add up. Positive reviews, prestige, great source material, and raves for the acting usually doesn’t amount to this. And even if it is a “good not great film with better performances” like some films are, it should have at least gotten some love in the acting categories. Some BFCA members said that the DVD screeners were not mailed in time for them to see it, contributing to the lack of votes. It’s either that, or this film isn’t as good as what we all thought. In a matter of minutes, we should know which situation fits. In the meantime, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Milk led with 8 nominations each.
Los Angeles Film Critics (LAFCA) winners- The surprise Best Picture winner, WALL-E, is receiving a lot of buzz. It also raises the question: Can an animated film be nommed for BP when there’s already a category for its genre? Best Actor went to Sean Penn (Milk), and Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) made up for her BFCA snub by winning Best Actress. It looks as if Penelope Cruz and Heath Ledger are the frontrunners to win Supporting Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively. They racked up wins with both the LA and NY critics.
New York Film Critics (NYFCC) winners- BP winner: Milk! (Now I really want to see it!); more wins for Penn and Hawkins! It’s interesting how Sally was basically out of the running for an Oscar nomination, but her buzz has grown exponentially in a matter of days. Btw, I saw Happy-Go-Lucky a few weeks ago, and it is a splendid little flick. More on that later.
Golden Globes nominations, today at 8am ET = "judgment day" for Revolutionary Road. The Globes generally favor big stars, so if DiCaprio & Winslet are snubbed this morning, they are most likely out for the season, creating some big changes in the already unpredictable horse race. On the other hand, Sally Hawkins is a sure bet to be nommed and very likely win Actress in a Musical/Comedy, seeing as that she has no strong competition. This will further fuel the fire for an Oscar nod. But enough speculation; we’ll see what prevails. Of course, there will also be other surprises everywhere else, so I will stay tuned! And don't despair if you're not a film fan: The nice thing about the Globes is that they also honor TV shows, which make the ceremony a pretty diverse, star-studded gala.
Time for class. Changetheworld360 out. =D

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Lazy Sunday

The title, of course, is honor of the classic (well, kind of) SNL Digital Short, as well as the fact that it feels like that kind of day. Is it just me, or has the quality of the Digital Shorts decreased significantly since the days of Lazy Sunday, especially this season?
Speaking of SNL, last night's episode with John Malkovich hosting definitely hit some high notes. I enjoyed his monologue with the twisted 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as the "Cool Obama" commercial and the sketch with Fred and John as twins who get a calculator for Christmas. (All have been uploaded to Hulu.com, so I'm too lazy to post the links) It was nice to see Amy back on Weekend Update, even though Seth soloing worked out pretty well.
I'm a bit late in posting this, but for the record, I just watched it now. More comedy, this time on Prop 8, courtesy of FunnyOrDie: (you'll definitely recognize some of the faces)


On a more serious note: Awards Watching update; this might become a regular feature.
-Lisa Schwartzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) 's reviews of Frost/Nixon and Doubt have me very interested in the former and quite frankly, worried for the latter. After reading reviews from other reliable sources, I think my sentiments are shared by others.
-Milk's rave reviews make me wonder when I'll have a chance to see it. Hopefully very soon.
-Last week brought the first precursors but not much to note, aside from the ongoing rise of Slumdog Millionaire. This week's precursors are much more significant, with the Broadcast Film Critics (BFCA) and New York (NYFCC), Los Angeles (LAFCA), and Chicago area critics announcing their nominees, as well as the Golden Globe nominations, all of which should spice things up a bit.
As for me, back to studying slant asymptotes and other such useless things for PreCalc...have a good week and stay warm (it's frigid here)!

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Random info about today

I'm bored. Here's what I've been doing lately:
Reading A Northern Light.
Summer homework, particularly the Pre-Calc summer packet.
Listening to Coldplay's new album, which is pretty cool. I might post my own review if I get around to it. Favorite tracks: "Viva La Vida", "Violet Hill", "Death and All His Friends", "Cemeteries of London".
Listening to other music, mostly Josh Groban and Coldplay, as usual.
Eagerly awaiting The Dark Knight.
Watching Wimbledon. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, will play each other in the women's singles final on Saturday. Should be interesting.
Random song of the day (because I feel like posting one): "Amsterdam" by Coldplay from their album A Rush of Blood to the Head. It's a really pretty song about barely hanging on to life, something we all feel everyday. Gotta love Chris Martin's gentle vocals and piano. :)

Happy almost Fourth of July! You guys have any fun plans this weekend? I'm going to a 4th of July party on Saturday and my friend's grad party on Sunday (a bit late for grad parties, but oh well).

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Coming this week...

First off, I want to thank everyone who has been reading this blog. One problem with my old one, besides lack of interesting content, was lack of readers. So thank you for actually reading "My Mundane Life", and make sure to leave comments, lots of them!!!
Hopefully sometime this week, after I study for all of my wretched tests, I will have my top 5 Most Anticipated Films of 2008 up, and maybe even a summary of the week's news events if I get to it. Here's a preview of my countdown (most likely, each will be in a separate post as I finish them). I had an extremely difficult time ranking them into a top 5, so don't be angry if your favorites didn't make the list. I've also included the distributing studio, release date, and lead actors for reference.
5. Brideshead Revisited (Miramax, July 25): Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount, December 19): Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton
3. Doubt (Miramax, December 5): Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
2. Revolutionary Road (Paramount Vantage, December 19): Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates
1. The Dark Knight (Warner Bros., July 18): Christian Bale, Heath Ledger (RIP), Aaron Eckhart
Each post will include any available trailers, posters, and/or pictures, as well as my plot summary and thoughts on it. So that's something to look forward to this week!

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