yep, it's becoming on of those times when i can say things are really....well, coming along alright.
those paths that you thought were for greater men..well it's an overwelming prospect to think that you should find yourseld treding that same path. ..or atleast atempting. i think i wake up 95% - 98% of my mornings thinking of how far i've come. as a person, a girl(or woman but i don't think i'm ready for that title just yet), and state of mind...my morals which are always forcing me to choose the later road no matter how rocky the ...foot..work? uhmm.....anyways. it seems to be my lot in life to always try to better myself....
i've had the great privilege to have been taught or been surrounded by some of the greatest minds of the everyday and beyond life. those people shape my way of thinking that seems to never end.....it's funny but even now i think, "i wonder what person i'm going to meet next?" " how will they influence me?" "will it be for good ...or for evil?" " or will it phase into those gray matters that we dare not venture into?"
for sometime i thought of people as information that in someway can get me closer to that "better" self. i know of my damons and insecurities.. those things that make you hardly face yourself....i suppose that in some light like all people i fear myself. those great powers that i posses for great good or great evil. it's natural thing i suppose....but should a child fear such things? should they be aware of such dangerous and cautionary road blocks? i'm not sure in the sense that all people are different and who really knows. however, i can only.....
for almost really..all my life i've had a sense of self based on..things i've seen, things..that i admire..words, i've read but i noticed that in my mind ihad an idea of what i think i appear as. but it seems that even as i get older. i still feel like i'm reaquainting myself with my face and appear everytime i look in the mirror. my projection of myself isn't exactly worped. it's more like i have a sense in a more sensation..or thoughts of myself. the person i think i am...is usually a bit diferent than what i actually come out to be.
i guess that i still have more to work on as does anyone i suppose. the working towards that "better" self..it's pretty funny. but i can say that everyday i keep the memory of what i look like in my head the moe in someway i'm not surprised by what i see in the mirror. and i'm becoming to associate myself with "myself" more and find that self to be the self that i imagine to be.
so i suppose every morning i wake up.. thinking 95%- 98% on my purpose and what is that is....i guess sooner or later who i am on't be in the conversation.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH DISNEY????!!!
WOW... you wuldn't believe it!! freakin' mickey mouse was able to con the x-men out of their institution?! hahaha...
Disney is a MONSTER! They buy up Marvel for 4 billion, which is an insult considering they bought Pixar for 7.2 billion in 2006, and hopefully won't burn the characters to the ground!! i mean really Disney's had a nice run...with their fairy tales but don't go around messing with comics books because your craetors have ran out of juice. I mean really they haven't came out with a aniamted movie in years they just got this one " The Princess and the Frog" coming out. Disney has been running on the success of Pixar films for almost over a decade now....and ofcourse the likes of the Disney Channel machines like Hanna Montana, HSM, AND The Jonas Brothers. THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE!!!
how about you get some more creative people on your staff and leave comics alone...I'm not all that confident that they can handle material such as comics. they might desensitise the edge that is a fine comic...like the Marvel characters.
and i'll be ...a money's uncle if they try to do some Disney/ Marvel cross over like Kingdom Hearts. hahahaha.... Nightcrawler and Donald must take on Dr.DOOM and Apocalypse to save Minnie and Daisey....hahahaahahaa. you've got to be freakin' kidding me.
If Disney can't attract young boys then what's the big deal....girls buy more stuff than boys anyways. I think it's a lame excuse to buy out or....merge(yeah whatever) with Marvel. Disney just doesn't want to admit that they're some money hungry no imagination having bussinessmen who saw a glimer of hope in Marvel and decided to takeover. all i hope is that the characters i love don't pay for it...and that Disney dosesn't completely dominate all of Marvels interests and bussiness ventures cause they probably will.
uh....this is terrible...atleast in my opinion.
Disney is a MONSTER! They buy up Marvel for 4 billion, which is an insult considering they bought Pixar for 7.2 billion in 2006, and hopefully won't burn the characters to the ground!! i mean really Disney's had a nice run...with their fairy tales but don't go around messing with comics books because your craetors have ran out of juice. I mean really they haven't came out with a aniamted movie in years they just got this one " The Princess and the Frog" coming out. Disney has been running on the success of Pixar films for almost over a decade now....and ofcourse the likes of the Disney Channel machines like Hanna Montana, HSM, AND The Jonas Brothers. THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE!!!
how about you get some more creative people on your staff and leave comics alone...I'm not all that confident that they can handle material such as comics. they might desensitise the edge that is a fine comic...like the Marvel characters.
and i'll be ...a money's uncle if they try to do some Disney/ Marvel cross over like Kingdom Hearts. hahahaha.... Nightcrawler and Donald must take on Dr.DOOM and Apocalypse to save Minnie and Daisey....hahahaahahaa. you've got to be freakin' kidding me.
If Disney can't attract young boys then what's the big deal....girls buy more stuff than boys anyways. I think it's a lame excuse to buy out or....merge(yeah whatever) with Marvel. Disney just doesn't want to admit that they're some money hungry no imagination having bussinessmen who saw a glimer of hope in Marvel and decided to takeover. all i hope is that the characters i love don't pay for it...and that Disney dosesn't completely dominate all of Marvels interests and bussiness ventures cause they probably will.
uh....this is terrible...atleast in my opinion.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Real Future Cabbage Patch Kids
NOTE: i wrote this paer last year for my advanced world literature class; it was inreflection to the book "Frankenstien".
The biggest technological breakthrough in the history of mankind has taken place; people are cheering in the streets al over the world. While a woman enters a clinic where she and her husband along with a physician have been planning every detail of their child for the last two months will be “born”. Humanity’s obsession with bettering themselves with cell phones, artificially inseminated births, inducing labor to prevent further weight gain, vaccines for diseases and unnecessary testing, has already and will eventually lead to selection on certain genes and an entirely different kind of genocide. Through technological advancements such as cloning, genetic manipulation, and selection these serve as the ground work for the branches that will be the downfall of humanity.
The Commercial in Cloning:
Various organizations and society itself are trying to use cloning as a means of making massive profit. The pharmaceuticals love the idea of cloning; they could create the clone or exact fragments they need and it would have the same blood type, which would make it easier to do blood transfusions especially for those with rare blood types (Genetic Engineering2). This would make people live longer, which would lead to an all time high purchase of cosmetic surgery packages. Imagine the world in which a customer could design the perfect nose, chin, even cheekbones to enhance the beauty that they believe will last forever. However, this is Orange County, Silicon Valley talk; the prices for these “upgrades” will be pricey, because after all it is a business. So, one can only conclude that only the rich and famous will afford this or those folk who are foolish enough to spend what little money they have on cosmetic surgery. “ It needs to be kept in mind that if the practice became wide spread human eggs would be in demand and greater pressure would be placed upon their commercialization leading to sale for profit”(Pike1). So, it could be supposed that woman would either be one of two things: one, their value would increase and they will be praised as women want to be, or be even further unvalued and in some way put as slaves or “cash crops” of the sexist America and then, soon the world. However, it could happen in third world nations first due to their already low respect and treatment of women.
Ethics:
In many circles it is said that cloning will lead to a further and more biological extent of discrimination. Clones are in a more literal way ”copies” of a human biologically; however religiously speaking many say that if a “person” is not born then they are not human.(CloningEthics-ABiblicalView1). Therefore, they can not be included in the human race, and if this is the case, then would not it be impossible to have slavery come back into society. Human rights are for those who are considered human. If the “person” is not considered human. The natural rights are not “born” to them of course it is expected to have advocates of those who are not considered humans; as can be also expected, laws will be slow to establish if any are at all.
As technological advancements come forward it will also fast ward man’s extinction. Cloning is creating and or exacerbating already dire predicaments, such as the artificiality and vanity that is already running rapid around the world, the environment, which has been recently has been advocated so fervently due to new additions to the endangered species list. Tensions would continue to rise in the circles of religious affiliations and moral virtues because of whether or not clones are human; also the tensions of preexisting racism. With the success of cloning, this breakthrough breathes life and branches out to another phenomenon-----genetic manipulation.
Genetics:
Perfect offspring-----a fantasy of the parental mind; of course this is not only a parents dream. Little children, while playing with their dolls or action figures describe the characteristics they desire for their future wee ones. Matter of fact, today’s world has made it possible for people to do just that. As started in the continuation of commercialization in Cloning, news of utilizing the genes of the talented and “desirable” to create perfect children has lead to the conduction of genetic manipulation and ultimately selection.
History of Genetics:
Through history men and women have done odd ball procedures to get the desired sex of their child. “In the 18th century in Greece, men would lie on their right side during sex to guarantee a boy; on a contrary, in France the men would lie on their left for the same result. The German people put a hammer under their mattress if they wanted a boy and the Danish people placed a pair of scissors under their bed to produce a girl” (Genetic Engineering1).
A Vision of Making Babies: Designing Offspring
“What are the moral objectives to design offspring that are most useful in initiating public conversation?”(McGee2). In a world in which people pay thousands of dollars and collectively billions to perfect “imperfections”. The idea of making the being perfect from the day it is “born” would save that individual money in the future.
Vision of Making Babies: the Selection of it All
“Pediatric care of young children has similarly advanced dramatically, so that in the 20th century a physician can define the “normal” child in terms of some more or les fulsome body of epidemiological data about whether a particular child s’ traits that are typical of the last 100,000 or so children seen by the physician”(McGee2). As in the movie “300”, it was tradition that all the newborn sons are inspected for weakness to see whether or not the child was fit. If the child was misshapen or has signs of deficiency; the boy would be discarded, thrown down a cliff where others lie and left if not already dead to die). Man will soon be able to define a “normal” child, which can only leave one to think about those children who are considered not within the “norm”. Where shall they be? Discarded or released? As in the dystopian society within The Giver. Would this not be an example of extreme discrimination against those with disabilities or disabilities as society describes them as? How would the government rewrite this in law? Considering the fact that there are laws against the discrimination of disability and since there is no clear defined idea of what is actually “normal”; besides, what society has mapped out as the average behaviors that have come to be acceptable. Would this not be genocide?
“Cloning is the technological of narcissism and nothing satisfies narcissism like immortality. Self-love is deeply gratified by the prospect of living forever, even as a clone” (Pike1). Genetic manipulation is the process to move closer to creating the Superman and selection, the glorification of vanity and superficiality. While unconsciously destroying future generations with immoral and vain behavior and ideology. Through cloning, genetic manipulation and selection mankind will bring itself to an inevitable end.
Work Cited
CloningEthics-ABiblicalView.http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/cloning-ethics.htm
GeneticEngineering.http://www.onlineessays.com/essays/tech/tech01.php
Geneticengineering.EngineeringonHumans.http.//www.aurora.komvux.nonsmoking.se/hetland/evir/facts.htm
Genetic Manipulation. http://www.cogforlife.org/cloning.htm
Henig,Robin Marantz.Pandoras’ baby: how the first test babies sparked the reproductive.Boston:Houghton Mufflin;2004.
Mahowald, May B. Reproductive Genetics and Gender Justice, 8 Nov 2002.Published in Women and Prenatal Testing: Facing the Challenges of Genetic Technology Coumbus: Ohio State University Press, 1994,67-87. 12 April 2008.http://www.bioethics.net
McGee, Glenn.Ehtical Issues in Genetics in the Next 100 years.8 Nov 2002.12 Apr 2008.http.//www.bioethics.net
Pike, Gregory K. www.bioehtics.org.au/docs/
Stock, Gregory. RedesigningHumans:Our Inevitable Genetic Future.Boston:Houghton Mufflin, 2002.
ThePerfectChild:http://www.megaessays.com/essay_search/idea_designing_children.html
Kahane, David. “300 Shocker: Hollywood takes a detour to reality.” National Review Online April 2007.
Lowry,Louis. The Giver.1993.Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 1003.
The biggest technological breakthrough in the history of mankind has taken place; people are cheering in the streets al over the world. While a woman enters a clinic where she and her husband along with a physician have been planning every detail of their child for the last two months will be “born”. Humanity’s obsession with bettering themselves with cell phones, artificially inseminated births, inducing labor to prevent further weight gain, vaccines for diseases and unnecessary testing, has already and will eventually lead to selection on certain genes and an entirely different kind of genocide. Through technological advancements such as cloning, genetic manipulation, and selection these serve as the ground work for the branches that will be the downfall of humanity.
The Commercial in Cloning:
Various organizations and society itself are trying to use cloning as a means of making massive profit. The pharmaceuticals love the idea of cloning; they could create the clone or exact fragments they need and it would have the same blood type, which would make it easier to do blood transfusions especially for those with rare blood types (Genetic Engineering2). This would make people live longer, which would lead to an all time high purchase of cosmetic surgery packages. Imagine the world in which a customer could design the perfect nose, chin, even cheekbones to enhance the beauty that they believe will last forever. However, this is Orange County, Silicon Valley talk; the prices for these “upgrades” will be pricey, because after all it is a business. So, one can only conclude that only the rich and famous will afford this or those folk who are foolish enough to spend what little money they have on cosmetic surgery. “ It needs to be kept in mind that if the practice became wide spread human eggs would be in demand and greater pressure would be placed upon their commercialization leading to sale for profit”(Pike1). So, it could be supposed that woman would either be one of two things: one, their value would increase and they will be praised as women want to be, or be even further unvalued and in some way put as slaves or “cash crops” of the sexist America and then, soon the world. However, it could happen in third world nations first due to their already low respect and treatment of women.
Ethics:
In many circles it is said that cloning will lead to a further and more biological extent of discrimination. Clones are in a more literal way ”copies” of a human biologically; however religiously speaking many say that if a “person” is not born then they are not human.(CloningEthics-ABiblicalView1). Therefore, they can not be included in the human race, and if this is the case, then would not it be impossible to have slavery come back into society. Human rights are for those who are considered human. If the “person” is not considered human. The natural rights are not “born” to them of course it is expected to have advocates of those who are not considered humans; as can be also expected, laws will be slow to establish if any are at all.
As technological advancements come forward it will also fast ward man’s extinction. Cloning is creating and or exacerbating already dire predicaments, such as the artificiality and vanity that is already running rapid around the world, the environment, which has been recently has been advocated so fervently due to new additions to the endangered species list. Tensions would continue to rise in the circles of religious affiliations and moral virtues because of whether or not clones are human; also the tensions of preexisting racism. With the success of cloning, this breakthrough breathes life and branches out to another phenomenon-----genetic manipulation.
Genetics:
Perfect offspring-----a fantasy of the parental mind; of course this is not only a parents dream. Little children, while playing with their dolls or action figures describe the characteristics they desire for their future wee ones. Matter of fact, today’s world has made it possible for people to do just that. As started in the continuation of commercialization in Cloning, news of utilizing the genes of the talented and “desirable” to create perfect children has lead to the conduction of genetic manipulation and ultimately selection.
History of Genetics:
Through history men and women have done odd ball procedures to get the desired sex of their child. “In the 18th century in Greece, men would lie on their right side during sex to guarantee a boy; on a contrary, in France the men would lie on their left for the same result. The German people put a hammer under their mattress if they wanted a boy and the Danish people placed a pair of scissors under their bed to produce a girl” (Genetic Engineering1).
A Vision of Making Babies: Designing Offspring
“What are the moral objectives to design offspring that are most useful in initiating public conversation?”(McGee2). In a world in which people pay thousands of dollars and collectively billions to perfect “imperfections”. The idea of making the being perfect from the day it is “born” would save that individual money in the future.
Vision of Making Babies: the Selection of it All
“Pediatric care of young children has similarly advanced dramatically, so that in the 20th century a physician can define the “normal” child in terms of some more or les fulsome body of epidemiological data about whether a particular child s’ traits that are typical of the last 100,000 or so children seen by the physician”(McGee2). As in the movie “300”, it was tradition that all the newborn sons are inspected for weakness to see whether or not the child was fit. If the child was misshapen or has signs of deficiency; the boy would be discarded, thrown down a cliff where others lie and left if not already dead to die). Man will soon be able to define a “normal” child, which can only leave one to think about those children who are considered not within the “norm”. Where shall they be? Discarded or released? As in the dystopian society within The Giver. Would this not be an example of extreme discrimination against those with disabilities or disabilities as society describes them as? How would the government rewrite this in law? Considering the fact that there are laws against the discrimination of disability and since there is no clear defined idea of what is actually “normal”; besides, what society has mapped out as the average behaviors that have come to be acceptable. Would this not be genocide?
“Cloning is the technological of narcissism and nothing satisfies narcissism like immortality. Self-love is deeply gratified by the prospect of living forever, even as a clone” (Pike1). Genetic manipulation is the process to move closer to creating the Superman and selection, the glorification of vanity and superficiality. While unconsciously destroying future generations with immoral and vain behavior and ideology. Through cloning, genetic manipulation and selection mankind will bring itself to an inevitable end.
Work Cited
CloningEthics-ABiblicalView.http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/cloning-ethics.htm
GeneticEngineering.http://www.onlineessays.com/essays/tech/tech01.php
Geneticengineering.EngineeringonHumans.http.//www.aurora.komvux.nonsmoking.se/hetland/evir/facts.htm
Genetic Manipulation. http://www.cogforlife.org/cloning.htm
Henig,Robin Marantz.Pandoras’ baby: how the first test babies sparked the reproductive.Boston:Houghton Mufflin;2004.
Mahowald, May B. Reproductive Genetics and Gender Justice, 8 Nov 2002.Published in Women and Prenatal Testing: Facing the Challenges of Genetic Technology Coumbus: Ohio State University Press, 1994,67-87. 12 April 2008.http://www.bioethics.net
McGee, Glenn.Ehtical Issues in Genetics in the Next 100 years.8 Nov 2002.12 Apr 2008.http.//www.bioethics.net
Pike, Gregory K. www.bioehtics.org.au/docs/
Stock, Gregory. RedesigningHumans:Our Inevitable Genetic Future.Boston:Houghton Mufflin, 2002.
ThePerfectChild:http://www.megaessays.com/essay_search/idea_designing_children.html
Kahane, David. “300 Shocker: Hollywood takes a detour to reality.” National Review Online April 2007.
Lowry,Louis. The Giver.1993.Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 1003.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Movie Awards and Nominations
Everyone knows that towards the end of December you can expect to hear the announcements for award ceremonies and their fantastic nominees. Last year, 2008 in my opinion was a great year for movies. The flicks at the beginning of the year such as “Iron Man” and the “Incredible Hulk” showed the audience that there will be many films both visually stunning and plot driven in the months ahead. The much anticipated “Dark Knight” hit the Box Office hard and smacked any competition for 4 months since its release July 18. It was great to be a film connoisseur; in the fall leading up to winter, movies exploded into theatres. The Coen Brothers’ “Burn After Reading” and then late bloomers Director Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road” Clint Eastwood’s”Gran Torino, Darren Aronofsky’s “ The Wrestler”, Danny Boyle’s “ Slumdog Millionaire” and David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. All of these films received at least 4 nominations at both the People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice Awards.
Danny Boyle’s Indie film “Slumdog Millionaire” has won Best Picture at both of these ceremonies and the Screen Actors’ Guild. It also, has received 10 Academy Award nominations tying with “Dark Knight” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” takes the lead with 13 Academy Award nominations. At these same award ceremonies Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the sadistic and charismatic Joker. Director Christopher Nolan received his awards at both the People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice Awards and co-star Gary Oldman received the award at the Screen Actors’ Guild after standing ovations by the crowd full of Ledger’s colleges. Kate Winslet won Best Supporting Actress for “Revolutionary Road” and Best Actress for “The Reader”, all in the same night at the Critic’s Choice Awards. The music legend Bruce” The Boss” Springsteen won a Critic’s Choice award for Best Soundtrack in Mickey Rourke’s comeback film” The Wrestler”. The excitement is building for the 81st Academy Awards on February 22nd. This year’s host for the event is none other than People’s Magazine Sexiest Man Alive Hugh Jackman.
I can tell you that there is some tough competition. So, here are some of my predictions for the Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Nominees: “Gran Torino” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “Revolutionary Road” “The Wrestler” “The Reader” “Dark Knight” “Slumdog Millionaire” “Milk”
I am absolutely baffled as to who will win. I would like “Benjamin Button” to win but as a hard core Clint Eastwood admirer; it is impossible not to want “Gran Torino” to get the honors. “The Wrestler” actor Mickey Rourke’s comeback film is also in the running. I am thoroughly happy about Rourke’s comeback and his amazingly heartfelt performance on the screen; he has enormous talent. I find it amazing how in a matter of 2 months the fantastic Kate Winslet managed to release 2 films; one of which being very provocative indeed and the other with “Titanic” co-star Leonardo Dicaprio. There are, however, 3 secret weapons “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Milk” and “Dark Knight” each has an individual quality which can make them win the award. “Slumdog Millionaire“, the Indie film favorite for this year’s awards has gotten the Best Picture awards at every ceremonies so far but “Dark Knight” the much anticipated film of 2008 holds captive the marvelous performance of Heath Ledger, it’s a hard thing to imagine but it is possible for them to get the award. Last but certainly not least “Milk” everyone; I don’t care how great a movie is. If you talk about homosexuality people get skittish. Although, the film is about a real life person, the film may not get its full recognition about of its topic but “hey!” the awards love films based on true stories. So they do have a fighting chance.
Best Actor
Nominees: Leonardo Dicaprio (“Revolutionary Road”) Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”) Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) Sean Penn (“Milk”)
Honestly, I don’t see how there can be a best….there are too many greats here. However, I do believe that Leonardo’s performance was not as powerful as the other actors that are nominated for this category but he is there because there is always that one that is good but really isn’t better that gets the award.
Best Actress
Nominees: Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”), Meryl Streep (“Doubt”), Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Kate Winslet (“ Revolutionary Road or “ The Reader”)
Towards the end of the year there were lots of dramatic roles. As we all know the Academy Awards always appreciates a good drama. The brilliant actresses are all in dramatic movies; I can honestly say that I’m in a toss up between Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. However, I really want Winslet to win for either one of her performances in “Revolutionary Road” or “The Reader”. I’m very fond of her and she completely deserves it. It is only fair that for hard work you get some kind of deserved appreciation…and why can’t that be in the form of a miniature man.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”) Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”) Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Penélope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)
I’m rooting for Kate Winslet and Penélope Cruz; Kate is a treat as always in her role. Penélope Cruz is wonderfully sassy in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Heath Ledger (“Dark Knight”) Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”) Josh Brolin (“Milk”)
Certainly I am practically 99.99% sure that Ledger has this one in the bag. However, Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” was hilarious and you couldn’t help but crack a smile. So there is definitely a chance for funny to win because everyone loves to laugh, whether your face is too tight or not.
Best Director
Nominees: Christopher Nolan (“Dark Knight”) Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) Danny Boyle (“SlumDog Millionaire”) Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Gus Van Sant (“Milk”) Ron Howard (“Frost/ Nixon”)
Ok here are the big boys, Best Director, there are definitely heavy weights and all are over some of the best films of the year. Clint Eastwood is veteran at everything film, Gus Van Sant is world renown and Ron Howard is brilliant with the exception of “The Di Vinci Code”.
Best Score
Nominees: Alexandre Desplat (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) James Newton Howard (“Defiance) Danny Elfman (“Milk”) A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
Thomas Newman (“WALL-E”)
One of my favorite composers ever Danny Elfman, who usually does the music for every wacky Tim Burton film is nominated for his work in “Milk” but everyone of the nominees have the chance to win. Each composer of these movies gives a personality to the movie in a unique and specific way. So, it’s a toss up but I love Pixar.
Best in Cinematography
Nominees: (“Changeling”) (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”) (“Australia”)
All these flicks are masterly beautiful in either a darkly sinister way, poignant and thoughtful or completely on earth and yet still somewhere else. These films have that. The landscapes in “Australia” are captivating and spell bounding in the immensity of lush earth.
Best Visual Effects
Nominees: (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”) (“Iron Man”)
In both “Dark Knight” and “Iron Man” crazy stunts that we all know are computerized fill the screen yet do not over exaggerate the story being told. The effects add character to the actors and help it move along from sequence to sequence. In “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” the effects backdrop a love story and fill out a journey of self realization. Also, the crazy scene in “Dark Knight” when the Joker rams the thugs head into the pencil is a great way to express his insanity and imagination with visual effects.
Best Art Direction
Nominees: (“Changeling”) (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”)
(“The Duchess”) (“Revolutionary Road”)
The magnificence of each of these films is unparallel; I love the elegance of a good period piece and “The Duchess” delivers. The art direction in the films brings out the essence of both the story and the characters. The grittiness of the graphic novel comes through clearly in “Dark Knight”; the suburban life and restlessness is clear and present in “Revolutionary Road”. The documentation of Benjamin’s aging is precise and wonderfully gradual to the point of reality. It also posses great angles and paneling.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button“)
John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” has been in the making for 18 years and is called one of the best films of the decade. It certainly showed that hard work, faith and dedication went into the production of this film. The works of John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) and Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) are definitely in the running. Although, I believe that “Slumdog Millionaire” will win for Best Original Screenplay. So, it is only to “Doubt” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for this award.
Best Animated Feature
The movie “WALL-E” has wonderfully imaginative, heart-warming and everyone at any age can enjoy the simplistic characters with their complicated emotions and levels of affection. Also, it isn’t bad that it is beautifully animated. Hurray for Pixar!!!
Danny Boyle’s Indie film “Slumdog Millionaire” has won Best Picture at both of these ceremonies and the Screen Actors’ Guild. It also, has received 10 Academy Award nominations tying with “Dark Knight” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” takes the lead with 13 Academy Award nominations. At these same award ceremonies Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the sadistic and charismatic Joker. Director Christopher Nolan received his awards at both the People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice Awards and co-star Gary Oldman received the award at the Screen Actors’ Guild after standing ovations by the crowd full of Ledger’s colleges. Kate Winslet won Best Supporting Actress for “Revolutionary Road” and Best Actress for “The Reader”, all in the same night at the Critic’s Choice Awards. The music legend Bruce” The Boss” Springsteen won a Critic’s Choice award for Best Soundtrack in Mickey Rourke’s comeback film” The Wrestler”. The excitement is building for the 81st Academy Awards on February 22nd. This year’s host for the event is none other than People’s Magazine Sexiest Man Alive Hugh Jackman.
I can tell you that there is some tough competition. So, here are some of my predictions for the Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Nominees: “Gran Torino” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “Revolutionary Road” “The Wrestler” “The Reader” “Dark Knight” “Slumdog Millionaire” “Milk”
I am absolutely baffled as to who will win. I would like “Benjamin Button” to win but as a hard core Clint Eastwood admirer; it is impossible not to want “Gran Torino” to get the honors. “The Wrestler” actor Mickey Rourke’s comeback film is also in the running. I am thoroughly happy about Rourke’s comeback and his amazingly heartfelt performance on the screen; he has enormous talent. I find it amazing how in a matter of 2 months the fantastic Kate Winslet managed to release 2 films; one of which being very provocative indeed and the other with “Titanic” co-star Leonardo Dicaprio. There are, however, 3 secret weapons “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Milk” and “Dark Knight” each has an individual quality which can make them win the award. “Slumdog Millionaire“, the Indie film favorite for this year’s awards has gotten the Best Picture awards at every ceremonies so far but “Dark Knight” the much anticipated film of 2008 holds captive the marvelous performance of Heath Ledger, it’s a hard thing to imagine but it is possible for them to get the award. Last but certainly not least “Milk” everyone; I don’t care how great a movie is. If you talk about homosexuality people get skittish. Although, the film is about a real life person, the film may not get its full recognition about of its topic but “hey!” the awards love films based on true stories. So they do have a fighting chance.
Best Actor
Nominees: Leonardo Dicaprio (“Revolutionary Road”) Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”) Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) Sean Penn (“Milk”)
Honestly, I don’t see how there can be a best….there are too many greats here. However, I do believe that Leonardo’s performance was not as powerful as the other actors that are nominated for this category but he is there because there is always that one that is good but really isn’t better that gets the award.
Best Actress
Nominees: Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”), Meryl Streep (“Doubt”), Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Kate Winslet (“ Revolutionary Road or “ The Reader”)
Towards the end of the year there were lots of dramatic roles. As we all know the Academy Awards always appreciates a good drama. The brilliant actresses are all in dramatic movies; I can honestly say that I’m in a toss up between Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. However, I really want Winslet to win for either one of her performances in “Revolutionary Road” or “The Reader”. I’m very fond of her and she completely deserves it. It is only fair that for hard work you get some kind of deserved appreciation…and why can’t that be in the form of a miniature man.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”) Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”) Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Penélope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)
I’m rooting for Kate Winslet and Penélope Cruz; Kate is a treat as always in her role. Penélope Cruz is wonderfully sassy in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Heath Ledger (“Dark Knight”) Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”) Josh Brolin (“Milk”)
Certainly I am practically 99.99% sure that Ledger has this one in the bag. However, Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” was hilarious and you couldn’t help but crack a smile. So there is definitely a chance for funny to win because everyone loves to laugh, whether your face is too tight or not.
Best Director
Nominees: Christopher Nolan (“Dark Knight”) Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) Danny Boyle (“SlumDog Millionaire”) Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Gus Van Sant (“Milk”) Ron Howard (“Frost/ Nixon”)
Ok here are the big boys, Best Director, there are definitely heavy weights and all are over some of the best films of the year. Clint Eastwood is veteran at everything film, Gus Van Sant is world renown and Ron Howard is brilliant with the exception of “The Di Vinci Code”.
Best Score
Nominees: Alexandre Desplat (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) James Newton Howard (“Defiance) Danny Elfman (“Milk”) A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
Thomas Newman (“WALL-E”)
One of my favorite composers ever Danny Elfman, who usually does the music for every wacky Tim Burton film is nominated for his work in “Milk” but everyone of the nominees have the chance to win. Each composer of these movies gives a personality to the movie in a unique and specific way. So, it’s a toss up but I love Pixar.
Best in Cinematography
Nominees: (“Changeling”) (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”) (“Australia”)
All these flicks are masterly beautiful in either a darkly sinister way, poignant and thoughtful or completely on earth and yet still somewhere else. These films have that. The landscapes in “Australia” are captivating and spell bounding in the immensity of lush earth.
Best Visual Effects
Nominees: (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”) (“Iron Man”)
In both “Dark Knight” and “Iron Man” crazy stunts that we all know are computerized fill the screen yet do not over exaggerate the story being told. The effects add character to the actors and help it move along from sequence to sequence. In “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” the effects backdrop a love story and fill out a journey of self realization. Also, the crazy scene in “Dark Knight” when the Joker rams the thugs head into the pencil is a great way to express his insanity and imagination with visual effects.
Best Art Direction
Nominees: (“Changeling”) (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”)
(“The Duchess”) (“Revolutionary Road”)
The magnificence of each of these films is unparallel; I love the elegance of a good period piece and “The Duchess” delivers. The art direction in the films brings out the essence of both the story and the characters. The grittiness of the graphic novel comes through clearly in “Dark Knight”; the suburban life and restlessness is clear and present in “Revolutionary Road”. The documentation of Benjamin’s aging is precise and wonderfully gradual to the point of reality. It also posses great angles and paneling.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button“)
John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” has been in the making for 18 years and is called one of the best films of the decade. It certainly showed that hard work, faith and dedication went into the production of this film. The works of John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) and Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) are definitely in the running. Although, I believe that “Slumdog Millionaire” will win for Best Original Screenplay. So, it is only to “Doubt” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for this award.
Best Animated Feature
The movie “WALL-E” has wonderfully imaginative, heart-warming and everyone at any age can enjoy the simplistic characters with their complicated emotions and levels of affection. Also, it isn’t bad that it is beautifully animated. Hurray for Pixar!!!
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