The Oscar this Sunday inspires this post. Below are a list of nominated movies or movies where the nominated actors came from that I either liked a lot (2 thumbs up), like a little but not crazy about (half a thumb), or didn't like too much (where my thumbs couldn't be found) :-)
Nominated movies that were 2 thumbs up for me:
1) Slumdog Millionaire: very original storyline and authentic scenery from Mumbai
2) Frost/Nixon: really good performance by the nominated actor who played Nixon. It makes me want to buy the original 70-something Frost-Nixon interviews from Amazon.
3) Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Breathtaking sceneries. Fast paced. Good acting. It's quirky but the storyline was kind of original and so it's very entertaining. It is still not my favorite movie though.
Nominated movies that were half a thumb up:
1) The Visitor: Most people would probably love this movie and so I might be an exception for not completely loving it. I liked the actor and the storyline idea (a change in the monotony of life, diversity, etc) but there were parts of the movie that were boring for me.
2) In Bruges: I love the dreamy quality of Bruges and the scenery. Liked the acting too. However, the storyline can be a little looney but this is probably because it's a comedy.
Nominated movies where my thumbs couldn't be found:
1) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: At 3 hours, it was too long and it made me wonder if the Editing team went on strike. Sure, I was impressed with the movie's central idea and the technology. But in the end, both my neighbors and I thought it dragged.
2) Frozen River: I liked how the lives (and poverty) in the movie were depicted very realistically. The ending wasn't expected which was good. Overall, it was just too much chasing around and a bit of stretched storyline.
3) The Duchess: I completely do NOT like this movie. It has well-known actors in it but it's too predictable. I have seen these types of movies a gizzillion times over and it's just not new.
4) Man on Wire: My husband loves this movie. I think it's a guy movie and there must be something in the adventurous nature of crossing a wire that appeals to guys. I didn't like it because I find the whole process a bit tedious. However, it was put together well.
Movies that were not nominated that I really liked (at least 1 or 2 thumbs up):
1) Burn After Reading: I love the Cohen brothers ever since O Brother Where Art Thou (they also make No Country for Old Men last year). It has a huge star-studded cast. It's very fast-paced and unpredictable. Brad Pitt is kind of funny in it.
2) Miss Pettigrew for the Day: Great actresses (McDormand from Fargo and Amy Adams). Fast paced. Just a lovely chick flick with a Victorian feel even though it wasn't during Victorian time.
3) Mamma Mia: Love the sceneries. Much better than the stage version...and how can you go wrong with any Abba songs?
4) Wanted: OK, I am not going to say that this is my favorite movie because it is not but it's an entertaining action-packed movie. What I liked most was that I didn't see the twist coming until it was there.
Nominated or non-nominated movies I have yet to see and I am dying to see in the next couple weeks:
1) The Wrestler
2) Milk
3) Gran Torino
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
My Dog Oscar
I am a huge dog lover. Now that I have our dog, Oscar, every time I see a dog while I am out walking or going to places, I have to stop and fawn over the dog. There is a vitamin store in our downtown area with a beautiful white Siberian husky with pale blue eyes (Max) -- the eyes are a bit intimidating but such a sweet dog otherwise. But at the end of the day, I always think that none of the other dogs are as precious as my Oscar :-)
What I love about Oscar is that he is so quirky and interesting. Right now, Oscar is passed out sleeping next to my chair with all 4 legs pointed toward the ceiling. In fact, I don't think I realize how much dogs sleep until we had Oscar. He probably sleeps anywhere betweeen 16-20 hours per day. Must be a nice life being able to nap all the time! When Oscar dreams, he makes this hiccup sound or a low growling sound -- it makes me laugh every time -- but then I am easily amused!
I find it fascinating that dogs always know who the pack leader is and how they act differently with different people. Oscar has different cuddling habits that he does with each of us that he doesn't do it with the other person. He also knows who to listen to and who he can ignore. Apparently, I am the alpha dog and my husband is just another dog friend :-)
Another thing Oscar does that I think is so funny is that he knows how to open doors. Since some of the doors inside our home don't all stay snapped in the lock, they can be easily opened with a gentle push. So if we try to leave Oscar in the front part of the house at night so that he doesn't roam the hardwood floor and keep us up with his walking "clogs", he'll push open the hallway door and come waltzing in anyway :-)
Oscar is 5 now and I find myself sometimes realizing that the 5 years have passed by too quickly. Once in a while it makes me momentarily sad that he is getting older and that I might have only X number of years with him. I know it's silly since he still has close to 2/3 more of his life to live, but the thought does sometimes cross my mind. Watching Maley and Me at the theater recently about the life of another dog really didn't help. It got me a bit sensitive about Oscar's mortality for a couple days :-) When Oscar was a pup, he was just this cute little teddy bear. One of my fondest memories of Oscar as a pup was about me having to carry him up the stairs in our previous him when he was too young to climb...and then slowing teaching him to climb the stairs because he got too heavy for me to cary. Another fond memory captured in photos was when a friend of mine managed to get Oscar to sit still as a slightly ADHD pup and took this beautifully chorographed picture of Oscar against a red blanket background.
It is true what they say in literature about how your pets are a good way to de-stress. I always find after a long day of work that it is soothing to hang out with Oscar watching TV or playing fetch with him. As someone who doesn't really care to be home alone when my husband occasionally goes on business trips, Oscar gives me this peace that makes being home alone not so bad.
Speaking of which, I am going to go and hang out with Oscar now. Up for a movie tonight might be Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I am sure Oscar will enjoy the international sceneries :-)
What I love about Oscar is that he is so quirky and interesting. Right now, Oscar is passed out sleeping next to my chair with all 4 legs pointed toward the ceiling. In fact, I don't think I realize how much dogs sleep until we had Oscar. He probably sleeps anywhere betweeen 16-20 hours per day. Must be a nice life being able to nap all the time! When Oscar dreams, he makes this hiccup sound or a low growling sound -- it makes me laugh every time -- but then I am easily amused!
I find it fascinating that dogs always know who the pack leader is and how they act differently with different people. Oscar has different cuddling habits that he does with each of us that he doesn't do it with the other person. He also knows who to listen to and who he can ignore. Apparently, I am the alpha dog and my husband is just another dog friend :-)
Another thing Oscar does that I think is so funny is that he knows how to open doors. Since some of the doors inside our home don't all stay snapped in the lock, they can be easily opened with a gentle push. So if we try to leave Oscar in the front part of the house at night so that he doesn't roam the hardwood floor and keep us up with his walking "clogs", he'll push open the hallway door and come waltzing in anyway :-)
Oscar is 5 now and I find myself sometimes realizing that the 5 years have passed by too quickly. Once in a while it makes me momentarily sad that he is getting older and that I might have only X number of years with him. I know it's silly since he still has close to 2/3 more of his life to live, but the thought does sometimes cross my mind. Watching Maley and Me at the theater recently about the life of another dog really didn't help. It got me a bit sensitive about Oscar's mortality for a couple days :-) When Oscar was a pup, he was just this cute little teddy bear. One of my fondest memories of Oscar as a pup was about me having to carry him up the stairs in our previous him when he was too young to climb...and then slowing teaching him to climb the stairs because he got too heavy for me to cary. Another fond memory captured in photos was when a friend of mine managed to get Oscar to sit still as a slightly ADHD pup and took this beautifully chorographed picture of Oscar against a red blanket background.
It is true what they say in literature about how your pets are a good way to de-stress. I always find after a long day of work that it is soothing to hang out with Oscar watching TV or playing fetch with him. As someone who doesn't really care to be home alone when my husband occasionally goes on business trips, Oscar gives me this peace that makes being home alone not so bad.
Speaking of which, I am going to go and hang out with Oscar now. Up for a movie tonight might be Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I am sure Oscar will enjoy the international sceneries :-)
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