Recommended Reading

Believe it or not, I actually manage to crack open a book from time to time. Here are a couple recommendations:

Because it is Bitter, Because it is My Heart (Joyce Carol Oates) - I've always enjoyed the work of Joyce Carol Oates, but this is the novel that really blew me away. It's about the complications that arise when a black high school basketball star protects a white girl, and the ensuing murder that takes place. While this sounds like a predictable plot, Oates does anything but take you to familiar territory. Every step of the way, the story thwarts cliche's and takes you on a unique journey into the lives of the people affected by this event. Iris Courtney is one of the most interesting and fully realized main character in any novel I've read. The only warning is that Oates can be a difficult read. This is definitely not a beach book, but it's a rewarding experience if you take the time to get into it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky) - Often compared to Catcher in the Rye (a book I still have not been able to make it through), this story follows high school freshman Charlie and how his life is changed when he falls in with a new group of friends, all much older and more adventurous than him. And no, this is not some corny cautionary tale. It's a mesmerizing look at what can happen if you expand your horizons and begin to experience new things. The story is told through a series of letters that Charlie writes to an unknown person (presumably the reader). The book is so careful and nuanced in it's depiction of teenage life that it reaches some incredibly genuine moments between the brilliantly realized characters. I cannot really do this book justice, so I have provided an excerpt:

"When we got out of the tunnel, Sam screamed this really fun scream, and there it was. Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. Sam sat down and started laughing. Patrick started laughing. I started laughing. And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."

The Next Six Feet Under?

There was a big void left in the TV landscape when Six Feet Under bowed out after five memorable seasons of unique family drama. This season there have been a couple new shows that threatened to take over, but neither were able to rise to the same level of consistent excellence.

The Book of Daniel had one of the more promising casts of the year, with Aidan Quinn and Susanna Thompson as the leads, and supporting roles for Ellen Bustyn, Dylan Baker, Christian Campbell, and the brilliant Garret Dillahunt. The show revolved around a minister, his troubled family, and his imaginary (or not) conversations with Jesus. The show was certainly clever, but the problem is that the people involved knew they were clever, and they weren't very good at hiding it. The overall smugness of the few episodes that aired annoyed me and likely turned most viewers away.

The more likely successor, particularly because it's from the same network, was HBO's Big Love. This show involves a mormon businessman (Bill Paxton) who has three wives (Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin) and many children. Big Love is far more successful than Book of Daniel, mainly because the quirky aspects are merely used as a subset to genuine emotional conflicts. The supporting cast brings alot to the table, particularly Ginnifer Goodwin and Grace Zabriskie, but there is a huge gaping hole at the center with Bill Paxton. He is just not strong enough to carry such a complex show on his own. For instance, there's a scene at the end of the 2nd episode where he delivers a big speech to Goodwin's character and he is unable to sell it at all. It may be unfair, but it's inevitable that Paxton be compared unfavorably to the brilliant Peter Krause and Michael C. Hall. It's a comparison that Paxton and Big Love will lose every time.

Several times during Six Feet Under's run, people complained about how it had fallen apart or juimped the shark, or whatever trendy term people use to substitute for a normal argument these days. Now after seeing how hard it is to duplicate what Six Feet Under did, people should realize what a rare accomplishment it was. It was the perfect combination of talent, style, and tone. It also ended with one of the most satisfying finales in TV history. We won't see something like it again for a long time.

The Office

When The Office premiered last season, I thought it was a pretty funny show with a nice ensemble cast. It had the promise to maybe be as good as the last great workplace sitcom Newsradio. I didn't think it would realize that potential because it seemed certainly destined for cancellation, if not last season then probably very early this season. However, the usually unimaginative NBC stuck with it, using creative ways to boost the ratings (the Itunes downloads have been immensely helpful) and it's now one of their most solidly performing offerings.

The Office didn't only improve it's ratings, it made an emormous improvement in quality during the 2nd season. The show's biggest asset is the cast, and with a longer season they have really had a chance to flesh out their characters. Steve Carell has been able to make Michael Scott into a three-dimensional character while still retaining his character's ridiculously wrongheaded attempts at humor. Rainn Wilson continues to push the envelope as the bizaare Dwight. There's also been terrific use of the minor supporting cast, with my favorite being Mindy Kaling as the talkative Kelly.

My favorite part of the Office, and the part that has really taken off in the 2nd season, is the relationship between Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer). Jim is the average guy, stuck in a dead end job with an annoying co-worker sitting across from him and an obnoxious boss. The only thing that gets him through the day is his friendship, and infatuation with receptionist Pam, who is unfortunately engaged. Together, they play practical jokes on Dwight and fumble around with their obvious affection for each other. The best gags involve Jim hiding Dwight's desk in the bathroom, putting all of Dwight's stuff in the vending machine, or making him think it was Friday instead of Thursday (causing him to miss work the next day). Because I work in an office environment myself and deal with many of the same things, Jim and Pam have become my heroes.

I only recently saw the UK version of The Office, but the Jim/Pam relationship is even more impressive when you see how difficult a task they had in recreating the amazing chemistry of Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis) in the original version. For instance, how could they possibly recreate the heartstopping scene at the end of UK series 2 when Tim cut off his microphone and asked Dawn not to leave? Well, in one of the most famous episodes of the US version, "The Booze Cruise", there is a moment where Jim and Pam stare at each other for 27 seconds, without any dialogue whatsoever. Krasinski and Fischer did wonders with this memorable scene. Unfortunately, the open ended nature of the US version will make it more difficult to have the same kind of closure that we got to see for Tim and Dawn, but I'm confident that the writers can make it work.

It's a great feeling when quality shows seem to be doing well. Last season, I was upset when The Office was randomly renewed and Kevin Hill and Joan of Arcadia were cancelled. I certainly would have traded The Office to get either of them back, but now I'm ecstatic that NBC finally made a smart decision and stuck with this show. If you're a fan of the BBC version who hasn't seen this one, then I strongly suggest you check it out. Or if you were like me and enjoy the US version but haven't seen the original then I implore you to check that out as well. And if you're Tim, Dawn, Jim, or Pam, then keep fighting the idiots at work. I'll be cheering you on.

Midseason TV: The Unit

The Unit is a CBS show involving a group of military special forces agents sent on secret missions. There's certainly nothing new about that premise. The one interesting twist is that The Unit also focuses on the wives of the agentsback home (There are sadly no ass kicking female agents on this show). Unfortunately, some pretty hokey writing cheapens that element and prevents The Unit from being a quality show.

The first episode focuses on the introduction of new agent Bob Brown (Scott Foley) into the group. While on a training mission with unit leader Jonas Blane (Dennis Haysbert), they stumble across an airline hijacking in Utah. Back home, Bob's wife Kim (Audrey Marie Anderson) struggles to settle in, as she learns that they'll be living on base and she won't be able to call her husband anytime she feels like it.

There is a major plot hole early on in the show. About 16 minutes in, Kim learns that she now has to adopt a cover. At this point, she has already interacted with dozens of people. There is no reason to believe that such a secretive organization would be so stupid to wait that long before making sure she kept her cover. The writing in general is pretty weak, with the dialogue hitting a low point when one of the wives (played by Regina Taylor) tells Kim "You're not in the Army, You're in the Unit."

The strong points about the Unit include Dennis Haysbert in a thoroughly commanding performance, some extremely well done action scenes, and the strong ensemble cast. The pilot hits a high point near the end with the exciting rescue of the hijacked passengers. Unfortunately, it then completely falls apart right after that with two awful twists that promise some ridiculous melodrama in upcoming episodes. I doubt I'll be sticking around to witness it.

The Wrong Upset

I sat there all night waiting for an upset. Come on, we can get at least one upset. Amy over Rachel? Jake over George? Heath over Philip? Something?

The upset finally came. But it was at the wrong time. The worst possible time. In the worst upset since I've been watching the Oscars (yes that includes 1998), Crash won Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain. Is it racism? Is it stupidity? I don't know why and I don't care. It's bullshit no matter what.

This is the part where I'm supposed to say I'm boycotting the Oscars. But I know it would be a lie. I'll be back next year for more punishment.

Oscar Predictions

Here are my Predictions for the 78th Annual Academy Awards

This list includes the nominees that I think will win, the nominees that deserve to win, and the best non-nominated performance/film from that category.

BEST PICTURE

"Brokeback Mountain"
"Capote"
"Crash"
"Good Night, and Good Luck"
"Munich"

Should Win: Brokeback Mountain moving tale of love, longing, and regret is far and away the best film of the year, and will go down in history as one of the classic films of this era.
Will Win: When they hand Brokeback Mountain the Oscar this year, it will be the third consecutive year that the Oscars got this category completely right.
Snubbed: Me and You and Everyone We Know was cute without being cloying, funny without being silly, and romantic without being sappy. It avoided every possible misstep that independent quirky romantic comedies usually make.

DIRECTOR

Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain"
Bennett Miller, "Capote"
Paul Haggis, "Crash"
George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Steven Spielberg, "Munich"

Should Win: No need to separate director from movie here, as Ang Lee's fingerprints are all over his masterpeice.
Will Win: Lee is even more of a lock than his film. What I mean by that is if Brokeback has a 99.998% chance of winning,t hen Lee has a 99.999% chance.
Snubbed: Stephen Gaghan proved with Traffic that he could write complex multi-character political dramas. With Syriana, he also proved he can direct them, confidently moving through the various storylines and never once getting lost.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"
Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow"
Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line"
David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck"

Should Win: Heath Ledger's complex, introverted performance in Brokeback Mountain was an absolutely moving work of art. I'd also be extremely happy with a David Strathairn victory, though.
Will Win: Complex, introverted performances usually don't win Oscars (sorry Peter Fonda). It usually takes a showy performance and Philip Seymour Hoffman's admittedly strong work as Truman Capote certainly fits that bill.
Snubbed: Lots of great performances in this category got ignored this year (Ledger and Strathairn are the only nominees that made my personal list), but the biggest ommission was Viggo Mortenson's restrained, yet entirely convincing portrait of a killer-turned-family man. Steve Carell amd Eric Bana also should have been here.


ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"
Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"
Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice"
Charlize Theron, "North Country"
Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line"

Should Win: Keira Knightley's cheerful, winning portrayal of Jane Austen's heroine was the most purely entertaining performance of the year.
Will Win: Another one of the most purely entertaining performances was by Reese Witherspoon, who will surely walk away with an Oscar this year. Too bad it's for a terrible movie.
Snubbed: Miranda July not only wrote and directed the unfairly overlooked Me and You and Everyone We Know, but she gave the stunningly original performance at the heart of the movie.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

George Clooney, "Syriana"
Matt Dillon, "Crash"
Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Brokeback Mountain"
William Hurt, "A History of Violence"

Should Win: Despite an upset win at the BAFTA's, Jake Gyllenhaal's performance has been unfairly overlooked during Awards season and received some bewildering criticism. I don't quite understand. Without Jack, there is no Ennis. Ennis's final line is so powerful because Gyllenhaal has made Jack a character worth remembering.
Will Win: This is a tough category, and at least three people have a shot to win (Clooney, Giamatti, and Gyllenhaal), but George Clooney has won most of the pre-Oscar awards and I expect Hollywood to give their new king his first Oscar.
Snubbed: Chiwetel Ejiofor's calmly menacing performance in Serenity created the best villain of the year.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams, "Junebug"
Catherine Keener, "Capote"
Frances McDormand, "North Country"
Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener"
Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain"

Should Win: Keener gave the best performance of the year int his category, but that was for a different movie (The 40 Year Old Virgin). Therefore, I'd have to go with Amy Adams, whose emotional performance was so heartbreaking that you just want to give her a hug.
Will Win: I've been doubting her all along, but Rachel Weisz has won every major pre-Oscar award and I expect her to win the Oscar. Her main competitors are Amy Adams (who could be the MArcia Gay Harden indie darling of this year) or Michelle Williams (who could get carried along by Best Picture Brokeback Mountain).
Snubbed: The unfortunate snub of Maria Bello's performance in a History of Violence is even more annoying because the OScars decided to nominate co-star William Hurt's hammy 10 minute performance (which was only the 5th best performance in the movie). This is also the 2nd time she was overlooked, as she should have previously been nominated for The Cooler.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, "Crash"
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Woody Allen, "Match Point"
Noah Baumbach, "The Squid and the Whale"
Stephen Gaghan, "Syriana"

Should Win: Syriana
Will Win: Crash
Snubbed: Me and You and Everyone We Know

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, "Brokeback Mountain"
Dan Futterman, "Capote"
Jeffrey Caine, "The Constant Gardener"
Josh Olsen, "A History of Violence"
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, "Munich"

Should Win: Brokeback Mountain
Will Win: Brokeback Mountain
Snubbed: Pride and Prejudice

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

"Don't Tell" (Italy)
"Joyeux Noël" (France)
"Paradise Now" (Palestine)
"Sophie Scholl" (Germany)
"Tsotsi" (South Africa)

Will Win: Joyeux Noel

ANIMATED FEATURE

"Howl's Moving Castle"
"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride"
"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"

Should Win: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Will Win: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Snubbed: Deciding to only nominate/honor one movie.


FILM EDITING

Mike Hill and Dan Hanley, "Cinderella Man"
Claire Simpson, "The Constant Gardener"
Hughes Winborne, "Crash"
Michael Kahn, "Munich"
Michael McCusker, "Walk the Line"

Should Win: Munich
Will Win: Crash
Snubbed: Um, Brokeback Mountain, YOU STUPID FUCKS

ORIGINAL SCORE

Gustavo Santaolalla, "Brokeback Mountain"
Alberto Iglesias, "The Constant Gardener"
John Williams, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
John Williams, "Munich"
Dario Marianelli, "Pride & Prejudice"

Should Win: Brokeback Mountain
Will Win: Brokeback Mountain
Snubbed: King Kong

ORIGINAL SONG

"In the Deep" from "Crash"
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow"
"Travelin' Thru" from "Transamerica"

Should Win: Don't Care
Will Win: "In the Deep", Crash
Snubbed: Not deciding to abandon this category forever.

ART DIRECTION

Jim Bissell and Jan Pascale, "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Stuart Craig and Stephenie McMillan, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
Grant Major, Dan Hennah and Simon Bright, "King Kong"
John Myhre and Gretchen Rau, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, "Pride & Prejudice"

Should Win: King Kong
Will Win: King Kong
Snubbed: Sin City

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Wally Pfister, "Batman Begins"
Rodrigo Prieto, "Brokeback Mountain"
Robert Elswit, "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Dion Beebe, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Emmanuel Lubezki, "The New World"

Should Win: Brokeback Mountain
Will Win: Good Night and Good Luck
Snubbed: A History of Violence

COSTUME DESIGN

Gabriella Pescucci, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
Colleen Atwood, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Sandy Powell, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"
Jacqueline Durran, "Pride & Prejudice"
Arianne Phillips, "Walk the Line"

Should Win: Pride and Prejudice
Will Win: Memoirs of a Geisha
Snubbed: King Kong

MAKEUP

Howard Berger and Tami Lane, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
David Leroy and Lance Anderson, "Cinderella Man"
Dave Elsey and Annette Miles, "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith"

Should Win: Uhhhhhh
Will Win: Uhhhhhh
Snubbed: Sin City

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

"Darwin's Nightmare"
"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"
"March of the Penguins"
"Murderball"
"Street Fight"

Should Win: March of the Penguins
Will Win: March of the Penguins
Snubbed: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

SOUND MIXING

Terry Porter, Dean A. Zupancic and Tony Johnson, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek, "King Kong"
Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Rick Kline and John Pritchett, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Paul Massey, D. M. Hemphill and Peter F. Kurland, "Walk the Line"
Andy Nelson, Anne Behlmer and Ronald Judkins, "War of the Worlds"

Should Win: War of the Worlds
Will Win: King Kong
Snubbed: Munich

SOUND EDITING

Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn, "King Kong"
Wylie Stateman, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Richard King, "War of the Worlds"

Should Win: War of the Worlds
Will Win: King Kong
Snubbed: Serenity

VISUAL EFFECTS

Dean Wright, Bill Westenhofer, Jim Berney and Scott Farrar, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers and Richard Taylor, "King Kong"
Dennis Muren, Pablo Helman, Randy Dutra and Daniel Sudick, "War of the Worlds"

Should Win: King Kong
Will Win: King Kong
Snubbed: Serenity