Seventh Tree

Being a huge fan of Goldfrapp's Black Cherry and Supernature albums and accustomed to their high energy, I had a few seconds of numb sadness, even disappointment, after my first pass at Seventh Tree.

Then I listened to it again.

To date I haven't skipped to any particular track. And the more I listen the more this album is growing on me. It feels as though Seventh Tree is one long and epic track. At some point I'm sure I'll begin to recognize individual tracks...

Right now I think it will be Road to Somewhere for a while.

Am I really getting anywhere? :)

Message in a CyberBottle?

More 08 Oscars

Behold, the best actress: Actor/presenter Forest Whitaker holds a tearful Marion Cotillard backstage after announcing her win for La Vie en Rose.



"George Clooney, you know, the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber batsuit from 'Batman & Robin' -- the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch -- you rock man." -- Tilda Swinton, thanking "Michael Clayton" co-star George Clooney after winning best supporting actress trophy.

(pics and notes from usatoday.com)

2008 Oscars

Marion Cotillard won. Amen :)

More notes:

1. - Amy Adams' singing on stage was magnificent. She even stayed to perform with other stage performers for the other nominated song (why didn't Patrick Dempsey do the same?)

- Damn I really regret having not taken my Spanish elective classes in college...otherwise I could have understood Javier Bardem's last sentences for his mother.

Again it's a struggle with time, but the montages gave me an idea...why not show as much only to fill time and give the award winners a little more time. Still, some montages could have been omitted and some sections like how the votes are tallied. Really, you can just post all the incformation in the website for full disclosure...

Teleprompter - these are actors, don't you think they can remember a few sentences?

I wish they'd stop saying how many times someone has won or been nominated for an award.

Joel and Ethan Coen either showed us what these award shows mean to them or they just are not known for openly expressing gratitude...maybe both (not that there's anything wrong with either one).

Best Speech: Tilda Swinton (and she finished it even before the music started)

Next year's host should be: Jack Nicholson :)

Juno

There's just something about Ellen Page that annoys me the first time I see her portray a role, and yet I can't turn away, and by the end of the film I've pretty much been won over. It's like the reaction that couple had with Kramer's potrait in Seinfeld.

It's not the first time that a movie has been made about teenage pregnancy, but this one feels really fresh and suited for today's time. JK Simmons also plays a great father role in this one.

Numero Uno

Anytime someone "from the streets" makes it in the "big world", everyone takes notice. Who is to say it only applies to humans :) .....congratulations to Uno for surprising all those tricked out poodles at Westiminster. ...dare I call him an underdog ? :)

SFGate article

My fate at the ICU and the Warriors

Hey first of all, I aint complainin'...am really happy the Warriors have won the last three games (Kings, Wizards, and Suns) and to my utmost enjoyment...but all three have been such heart attack finishes I'm probably headed for the Intensive Care Unit :). Ellis has really developed into a great player and I just hope the Warriors can keep him (and that he reciprocates with the team that gave him his chance)...same goes for Andris Biedrins. These two guys were question marks for me in the past and I wondered why Chris Mullin spoke so highly of them back then...now I know (and I will trust you more, sir ;) ).

The 08 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards has never really been the same for me and I can't even remember when that "magic" was lost. My last happy memory was when Stevie Wonder did a joke on stage trying to raise his glasses to read the nomination card...when was that? sometime in the 90's, right?

Alas, this years Grammy would have been just another one passing by for me had it not been for....yes, honestly......Stevie Wonder! I think it was a great advantage for him to not be at the mercy of the teleprompter. Having been introduced as a 25-time Grammy winner, he certainly was the most comfortable on stage. And did you hear him sing the chorus line from Alicia Keys' "no one"? He can still hit the high notes...as only a 25-time Grammy winner can.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but Herbie Hancock's Gershwin tribute was the performance highlight for me and made me feel really glad to have not missed this year's show. And yes, I truly enjoyed Amy Winehouse.....she even brought the beehive back!

Capote

Just watching Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener's exchanges makes it for me for this film. Right now, I just can't think of anybody else who could have played Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee the way these two did...(yes, I know there was another one...and nope, not interested in seeing it :) ).