A brainstorm of the year behind and the year ahead.

2008
-my first jury duty
-went back to my old department at work
-had a date on Valentines day for the first time in eight years
-bought a new (old) bicycle
-won the southwest regional prize in Apartment Therapy's Small Cool contest
-my first freelance illustration job
-Non-Gravity fell apart
-my daily meditation practice fell apart
-bought a vespa
-crashed a vespa and got my first scar since i was a kid
-got my motorcycle license
-rode my bicycle more than i ever have
-used Los Angeles public transportation
-started reading comics again in a big way
-got a library card for the first time in my adult life
-switched back to film
-used my passport for the first time
-went to Paris
-made a few new friends
-had two brief relationships
-a few scattered first dates
-too many crushes
-a LA Derby Doll told my friend she thought I was cute
-resented my friends for a little while for not introducing me to said Derby Doll
-learned a lot of Dharma
-was depressed
-lost interest in making ice cream
-only really wanted to bake chocolate chip cookies
-spent too much time online
-started two new blogs
-let two new blogs fall apart
-fell into old isolation habits after a year or so of being relatively social

2009
-learn more Dharma
-apply more Dharma
-be of more benefit to others
-be happy
-be more social
-draw again
-write again
-expand my baking repertoire
-drive my car less
-ride my bicycle more
-learn to ride my vespa with a passenger
-continue my music history education
-finally start watching Mad Men (so behind the times)
-have a date that doesn't originate online?
-have a relationship that lasts longer than a month?

My Favorite Movies of 2008
-The Fall
-Synecdoche, New York
-The Dark Knight
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Pineapple Express
-Happy-Go-Lucky
-Man On Wire
-Wendy & Lucy
-Wall-E (the first 45 minutes)
-Iron Man
-Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
-Justice League: The New Frontier
-Vicky Christina Barcelona
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Be Kind Rewind
-The Wrestler
-Doubt
-Kung Fu Panda
-Milk
-Forgetting Sarah Marshall
-Baby Mama
-Tropic Thunder

My Favorite TV Shows of 2008
-Pushing Daisies
-Heroes (by default)
-i stopped watching The Office and 30 Rock this fall, but for no real reason, I still like both.

My Favorite Albums of 2008
-She And Him: Volume One
-Inara George & Van Dyke Parks: An Invitation
-Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend
-Beck: Modern Guilt
-The Dresden Dolls: No, Virginia
-Amanda Palmer: Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
-Emiliana Torrini: Me And Armini
-Jon Brion: Syncdoche, New York
-The Fireman: Electric Argument
-Monkey: Journey To The West
-Adele: 19
-Suzanna Choffel: Brown Bag Special
-Sondre Lerche: Polaroid Pool Party EP
-The Bird And The Bee: One Too Many Hearts EP
-Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak
-Hearts Of Palm UK: For Life
-Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard: The Dark Knight
-Various Artists: Nightmare Revisited

Old Music I "Discovered" or Discovered More Of In 2008
-Carole King
-Van Dyke Parks
-Brian Wilson's Smile
-Vince Guaraldi (his non-Peanuts work)
-Raymond Scott (already loved him, but been buying more and more)
-Piero Umiliani (ditto)
-Tom Waits
-Django Reinhardt

Live Stuff I Had Fun At In 2008
-Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (they opened for Feist, and she was good too, but Sharon stole the show)
-Inara George & Van Dyke Parks
-Sondre Lerche
-Jon Brion
-RideArc (monthly night cycling group that explores LA architecture)

Webthings I Got Addicted To In 2008
-Girls With Slingshots
-Racialicious
-Shapely Prose
-Big Fat Deal

My Favorite Books Of 2008 (I don't think any of these came out in 2008)
-It's Superman by Tom De Haven
-Wonder Woman Archives Volume 1
-Will Eisner's The Spirit Archive Volume 1
-X-Men Marvel Masterworks Volume 1
-The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke
-Catwoman: The Dark End Of The Street by Darwyn Cooke
-The Spirit by Darwyn Cooke
-Astro City (all of them)
-Silver Surfer: Requiem
-Daredevil by Frank Miller
-Batman: Detective by Paul Dini
-Kevin Smith's Green Arrow and Daredevil books
-Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters by Mike Grell
-The Watchmen by Alan Moore
-The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1 & 2 by Alan Moore
-V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
-The Killing Joke by Alan Moore
-Sin City book 1 by Frank Miller
-Hellboy Volume 1 by Mike Mignola
-Kraven's Last Hunt by J.M. DeMatteis

Stuff That Wasn't What I Wanted It To Be In 2008
-Leatherheads
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army
-Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
-Bolt
-The Happening
-Baby Mama
-The Incredible Hulk
-Get Smart
-Wall-E (everything that wasn't robots)
-Heroes (when you start to watch a show more as a train wreck than a show, it's got problems)
-Milk (loved the acting, but felt too watered down from the documentary)
-Be Kind Rewind (could have been so much more)
-Tropic Thunder (i guess i didn't find it as funny as everyone else did)
-The Spirit (didn't actually see it)
-Gran Tarino (didn't see it)
-Twilight (didn't see it)
-Sex In The City (didn't see it)
-Cloverfield (for some reason there's a lot of movies i avoided, but they still bugged me)

Stuff I'm Looking Forward To In 2009
-Where The Wild Things Are
-The Brother's Bloom
-Lily Allen: It’s Not Me, It’s You
-Coraline
-Watchmen
-Monsters Vs Aliens
-The Bad Plus: For All I Care
-The Bird and the Bee: Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future
-Land Of The Lost
-Year One
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Stuff That Scares Me In 2009
-Watchmen (i've got this nagging feeling they missed the mark)
-Avatar
-Terminator 4
-Transformers 2
-X-Men Origins: Wolverine
-The Princess and the Frog

Movies I Missed In 2008 And Need To Catch Up On In 2009
-Zach & Miri Make A Porno
-Quantum Of Solace
-Revolutionary Road
-Rachel Getting Married
-I've Loved You So Long
-Yes Man (I'm sorry, Zooey is in it)
-The Dark Knight in IMAX
-Nights And Weekends

Labels: listy

There's no order to this, just a mess of things that happened last year. I'll update as I think of more (or see more movies).

2007
-Penny passed away
-I moved into a smaller apartment.
-A new position at work.
-Old teachers leaving and new teachers arriving at the Buddhist center
-Living without a television (but not "TV" though it's been much reduced)
-a lot more baking
-a lot more Dharma
-some dates, but no second dates
-too many crushes and a few obsessions
-increased Non-Gravity readership
-a new iMac and fancy poster printer
-I got a passport
-I learned how to use TXT messages like a proper citizen

2008?
-more advanced Dharma
-more advanced baking?
-a second date?
-Entering my apartment into Apartment Therapy's smallest-coolest contest?
-a fictional comic?
-posters?
-use my passport?

My Favorite Movies of 2007
-Superbad
-Juno
-No Country For Old Men
-Away From Her
-Margot At The Wedding
-Tideland (what year did this come out?)
-3:10 To Yuma
-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
-Sweeny Todd
-the end credits of Ratatouille
-the first 4/5ths of Rescue Dawn
-Grindhouse
-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
-Stardust
-The Darjeeling Limited

My Favorite TV Shows of 2007
-Pushing Daisies
-Clark And Michael
-Reaper
-30 Rock
-The Office
-Heroes
-Chuck

My Favorite Albums of 2007
-Feist: The Remainder
-Charlotte Gainsbourg: 5:55
-Nellie McKay: Obligatory Villagers
-The Polyphonic Spree: The Fragile Army
-Coconut Records: Nighttimming
-Sondre Lerche: Phantom Punch
-Au Revoir Simone: The Bird Of Music
-Walk Hard Soundtrack
- Juno Sountrack
-Darjeeling Limited Soundtrack
-Sweeny Todd Sountrack
-Radiohead: In Rainbows
-Jens Lekman: Night Falls Over Kortedala
-Mark Ronson: Version
-Bjork: Volta

Live Stuff I Had Fun At in 2007
-Nellie McKay (twice!)
-Air (with Sondre Lerche and Sea Wolf)
-Regina Spektor
-Feist (with Spoon)
-Bjork
-Jon Brion (twice!)

Webthings I Got Addicted To in 2007
-Fart Party
-Kate Beaton
-fucking Jezebel
-Facebook

Stuff That Wasn't What I Wanted It To Be in 2007
-Spider-Man 3 (not only did they ruin the great step forward they took with #2, but they killed any chance of Topher and Bryce stepping and taking over the roles in #4)
-Transformers (I thought I'd lowered my expectations enough, but nope)
-Knocked Up (so funny...but not all there)
-Across The Universe
-Heroes
-Superman Doomsday
-Walk Hard (some good gags and great songs...but barely a movie?)
-Ratatouille
-Hairspray
-Hot Fuzz
-Sicko
-Simpsons Movie
-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
-Beuwolf (I didn't actually see it)
-300 (didn't see it either)
-Jon Brion at the Largo...as much as I love him and the venue, maybe he's outgrown it to the point where it's starting to ruin the fun of going? I love that Jon is experimental and weird sometimes, but it makes it hard to fight for seats and convince friends to come to a pain-in-the-ass venue for an hour of guitar solos.

Stuff I'm Looking Forward To in 2008
-Zooey Deschanel's debut album!
-The Dark Knight
-Where The Wild Things Are
-Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut)!
-Wall-E
-Iron Man
-Justice League: The New Frontier
-A Radiohead tour?

Stuff That Scares Me in 2008
-Iron Man
-The Dark Knight (I want it to be so good...but I have issues with "Begins")

Movies I'm Bummed I Missed In 2007 But I'll See In 2008
-Grace Is Gone
-Youth Without Youth
-Charlie Wilson's War
-I Am Legend
-Black Sheep
-Persepolis
-Zodiac
-Bourne Ultimatum
-There Will Be Blood
-Once
-Waitress
-The Host
-Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
-Enchanted
-King Of Kong
-Lars & The Real Girl
-My Kid Could Paint That
-The Savages
-I'm Not There
-Lust Caution
-Paris, Je T'Aime
-Paprika

Shit I missed a lot of movies.

Labels: listy

Expectation is the mother of disappointment.

I tried really hard not to inflate my expectations. It's Pixar, it's Brad Bird, The Iron Giant and The Incredibles are two of my favorite films of all time...but I was trying to stay grounded, "remember Cars" I said to myself, "remember A Bug's Life."

The ads and the trailers were awkward, like they didn't know how to pitch it. That's the sign of a great film isn't it? Great films usually stump the advertising departments.

Well there is greatness in Ratatouille, but sadly, it is not a great film. I was really rooting for it to be, but it isn't. Spoilers ahead.

Things start off clunky with unnecessary narration and a "how did I get here?" freeze frame. But then immediately it's followed by a bit of brilliance with a stylized rat, eyes glowing in the dusk light. I guess that sums up the movie. Hit and miss. The narration probably bothered me the most in the film. Cut that out and the film would have taken a great leap forward. It feels like it was either a remnant of an older version of the film or a last minute addition tacked on in fear that there would be too many confused kids in the audience without someone to help them along. Scenes that would have played out as beautiful moody montages instead have Remy telling us EXACTLY what's happening AS it's happening.

After the clunky start and flirtations with brilliance the movie builds. It continually improves with every scene and by the time we get to the final act I was really swept up in it, even as the film repeatedly tried to kick me out with it's grating narration.

But even as it got better and better there were still too many disjointed scenes and leaps in the story to really hold the film up. It's often the films that are so close to greatness that bother me the most. I know this film has a history with a previous filmmaker and even a version of the film that was thrown out when Brad Bird came on board. But that's no excuse cause they proved throughout the movie they could reach those high points, they just kept slipping.

Then, as the movie has me all sorts of torn, really excited by the last act, really bothered by the narration, the credits start...and suddenly it happened. A great film. A brilliant film. A film that does not exist. It's rare that a credit sequence is better than the movie itself. It happened in Lemony Snicket and it ALMOST happened in Ratatouille. The only reason I say almost is because the Lemony Snicket end credit actually told a story, where as the Ratatouille end credit was just a series of playful gags. The end credit is 2d (or 3d using 2d shading?) in the "Art Of Ratatouille" 50's modern style.

It was so so beautiful. And so so frustrating. I'm used to seeing concept art that blows away the finished product, but it's not often you see it so fully realized. It's like they were mocking me "yeah, we could have made a beautiful, groundbreaking 2d film, but we didn't."

*sigh*

The other major missed opportunity in the film was the hints of Fantasia-esque color/music sequences as they show visually what "taste" is like. That cried out for a full blown jazz routine, and I thought it would happen in the end with the critic, but instead they opted for the flashback, which while it made me giddy I think they could have done both.

I'm not very good at structured reviews but I enjoy lists. So here's what I liked:
-The moments of "evil" glowing rat eyes.
-Rat poison smell tester.
-The musical "taste" sequences.
-The roof collapse.
-Alone in the sewer.
-The couple with the gun.
-"Hell"
-The puppet master animations.
-The rat corpse scene.
-Colette.
-Drunkenness.
-The walk out.
-Anton Ego.
-The rats running the kitchen. I was waiting the WHOLE movie for this scene.
-The flashback.
-The closing montage.
-The end credits.
-The overall classic/older feel of the film. Removed from pop culture and songs and parody.

The other side of the coin:
-The narration.
-The false start freeze frame.
-Slow first act.
-Clunky pacing.
-A kitchen full of rich character designs and archetypes...wasted?
-Underdeveloped romance.
-The movie mostly runs on light conflict, where's the heavy, story driving conflict?
-Dropped/fumbled plot elements, the ominous rat corpse scene set up...nothing?
-Confusion as to who the protagonist is? Remy or Linquini?
-Remy's story arch was unfulfilling? There was almost a connection between him and Anton Ego...but it could have been built up more? Even so, their quiet moment between creator and critic was ruined by narration.
-Having the ending TOLD to me, when it could have easily been SHOWN.
-"Our Quality Assurance Guaratee: 100% Genuine Animation! No motion capture or any other performance shortcuts were used in the production of this film." I guess it was meant to be lighthearted, but it makes Pixar sound like a bunch of dicks. Did they forget the "shortcuts" they used in The Incredibles? Live action water splashes and what not? Or the rich history of rotoscope animation used since the beginning of film?

From the reviews I've seen, it looks like most people are loving Ratatouille. Yes it's probably the best American animated film this year, yes it's better than Cars. But it didn't reach it's full potential.

Labels: critiqua, listy

I'm moving in a few weeks. Here's what won't fit in my new apartment:

More pics and details on my Flickr.

*SOLD* Yellow Diner Table *SOLD*


*SOLD* Set of 4 Red Diner Chairs *SOLD*


Ikea Allerum Sofa Bed


*SOLD* Ikea Imfors Coffee Table *SOLD*


*SOLD* Ikea Patrik Desk Chair *SOLD*


*SOLD* Target Mission Set *SOLD*


*SOLD* Large Bird / Small Animal Cage *SOLD*


*SOLD* Space Age Record Player *SOLD*


*SOLD* Retro Fan *SOLD*

Labels: listy, snappy

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black This album just blows me away. She should have done the Casino Royale song. The Bond producers better nab her for the next.
Air - Pocket Symphony I've listened to this album twice today and both times it sort of passed me by. Like it got to the end and I barely realized I'd been listening to it. That's good and bad.
Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit My friend turned me on to her. Pretty pretty.

My friend gave me a 3 disc mix tape of 2006 music, so I might be making a second music trip soon to pick up stuff that's catching my ear in the mix.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

My thoughts in italics

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond"
Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson"
Peter O’Toole in "Venus"
Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness"
Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland"

I didn't see any of these. From the trailers I'd pick Forest. MIA: Joseph Gordan-Levitt in "Brick" Will Farrell in "Stranger Than Fiction" and someone else I'm forgetting

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine"
Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children"
Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond"
Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls"
Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed"

Tough choice between Jackie Earle and Alan Arkin (loved Wahlberg but his role had less screentime). Jackie was more of a surprise, I'll say Jackie.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz in "Volver"
Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal"
Helen Mirren in "The Queen"
Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada"
Kate Winslet in "Little Children"

Kate was the only one I saw, none of these really leap out at me, they all seem obvious. MIA: Catherine O'Hara in "For Your Consideration" Cate Blanchet in "The Good German"

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza in "Babel"
Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal"
Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine"
Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls"
Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel"

Another tough one between Abigail and Jennifer. I think despite Jennifer's awesomeness, my distaste for Dreamgirls would give it to Abigail.

Best animated feature film of the year
"Cars"
"Happy Feet"
"Monster House"

Monster House please. Happy Feet would be ok. Dear God not Cars.

Achievement in art direction
"Dreamgirls" Art Direction: John Myhre Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
"The Good Shepherd" Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau and Leslie E. Rollins
"Pan’s Labyrinth" Art Direction: Eugenio Caballero Set Decoration: Pilar Revuelta
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs Set Decoration: Cheryl A. Carasik
"The Prestige" Art Direction: Nathan Crowley Set Decoration: Julie Ochipinti

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm pretty confident it's "Pan's Labyrinth." MIA: "Children Of Men" "The Science Of Sleep" "Stranger Than Fiction" "Brick" "Idiocracy" "V For Vendetta" "The Good German" and "Little Children" (it was a good year for art direction)

Achievement in cinematography
"The Black Dahlia" Vilmos Zsigmond
"Children of Men" Emmanuel Lubezki
"The Illusionist" Dick Pope
"Pan’s Labyrinth" Guillermo Navarro
"The Prestige" Wally Pfister

I want to say "Prestige" for some reason...maybe because it was so dark. MIA: "The Good German" "Brick" "Little Children" "The Science Of Sleep"

Achievement in costume design
"Curse of the Golden Flower" Yee Chung Man
"The Devil Wears Prada" Patricia Field
"Dreamgirls" Sharen Davis
"Marie Antoinette" Milena Canonero
"The Queen" Consolata Boyle

I only saw "Dreamgirls" but give it to "Marie" MIA: "Nacho Libre" but I feel like a more subtle movie should be here, like "Stranger Than Fiction" "Brick" or "Little Miss Sunshine" movies that used simple iconic costumes instead of just parading a bunch of outfits around.

Achievement in directing
"Babel" Alejandro González Iñárritu
"The Departed" Martin Scorsese
"Letters from Iwo Jima" Clint Eastwood
"The Queen" Stephen Frears
"United 93" Paul Greengrass

Boring. Give it to Scorsese. MIA: "The Good German" Steven Soderbergh "Brick" Rian Johnson "Stranger Than Fiction" Mark Forster

Best documentary feature
"Deliver Us from Evil" Amy Berg and Frank Donner
"An Inconvenient Truth" Davis Guggenheim
"Iraq in Fragments" James Longley and John Sinno
"Jesus Camp" Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
"My Country, My Country" Laura Poitras and Jocelyn Glatzer

I only saw "Truth" but "Camp" looked the most intriguing.

Best documentary short subject
"The Blood of Yingzhou District" Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon
"Recycled Life" Leslie Iwerks and Mike Glad
"Rehearsing a Dream" Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
"Two Hands" Nathaniel Kahn and Susan Rose Behr

shrug?

Achievement in film editing
"Babel" Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise
"Blood Diamond" Steven Rosenblum
"Children of Men" Alex Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón
"The Departed" Thelma Schoonmaker
"United 93" Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson

I've only seen two of these. I'll say "Departed" MIA: "The Prestige" "Stranger Than Fiction" "The Science Of Sleep"

Best foreign language film of the year
"After the Wedding" Denmark
"Days of Glory (Indigènes)" Algeria
"The Lives of Others" Germany
"Pan’s Labyrinth" Mexico
"Water" Canada

Lets say "Labyrinth" since I haven't seen any.

Achievement in makeup
"Apocalypto" Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
"Click" Kazuhiro Tsuji and Bill Corso
"Pan’s Labyrinth" David Marti and Montse Ribe

"Click" ...really? Go "Labyrinth"

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Babel" Gustavo Santaolalla
"The Good German" Thomas Newman
"Notes on a Scandal" Philip Glass
"Pan’s Labyrinth" Javier Navarrete
"The Queen" Alexandre Desplat

Some composers I like, but I haven't heard any of these. MIA: "Little Children" Thomas Newman "Little Miss Sunshine" Mychael Danna & Devotchka "Brick" Nathan Johnson "The Science Of Sleep" Jean-Michel Bernard

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth" Music and Lyric by Melissa Etheridge
"Listen" from "Dreamgirls" Music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler Lyric by Anne Preven
"Love You I Do" from "Dreamgirls" Music by Henry Krieger Lyric by Siedah Garrett
"Our Town" from "Cars" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Patience” from "Dreamgirls" Music by Henry Krieger Lyric by Willie Reale

Lame. MIA: "Kikapoo" from "The Pick Of Destiny" by Tenacious D "Til The End Of Time" from "Little Miss Sunshine" by DeVotchka "Golden The Pony Boy" Jean-Michel Bernard & Kimiko Ono

Best motion picture of the year
"Babel" Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik and Steve Golin, Producers
"The Departed" Nominees to be determined
"Letters from Iwo Jima" Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz, Producers
"Little Miss Sunshine" Nominees to be determined
"The Queen" Andy Harries, Christine Langan and Tracey Seaward, Producers

Mostly boring and obvious. I'm rooting for "Sunshine" or "Departed" MIA: "The Good German" "Brick" "Stranger Than Fiction" "The Science Of Sleep" "Monster House"

Best animated short film
"The Danish Poet" Torill Kove
"Lifted" Gary Rydstrom
"The Little Matchgirl" Roger Allers and Don Hahn
"Maestro" Geza M. Toth
"No Time for Nuts" Chris Renaud and Michael Thurmeier

Wish I'd seen some of them.

Best live action short film
"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)" Javier Fesser and Luis Manso
"Éramos Pocos (One Too Many)" Borja Cobeaga
"Helmer & Son" Soren Pilmark and Kim Magnusson
"The Saviour" Peter Templeman and Stuart Parkyn
"West Bank Story" Ari Sandel

Ditto

Achievement in sound editing
"Apocalypto" Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar
"Blood Diamond" Lon Bender
"Flags of Our Fathers" Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
"Letters from Iwo Jima" Alan Robert Murray
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" Christopher Boyes and George Watters II

I don't understand these categories, the "loud noises go boom" categories. MIA: "Brick" (that awesome footstep chase)

Achievement in sound mixing
"Apocalypto" Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Camara
"Blood Diamond" Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ivan Sharrock
"Dreamgirls" Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer and Willie Burton
"Flags of Our Fathers" John Reitz, Dave Campbell, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes and Lee Orloff

what?

Achievement in visual effects
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall
"Poseidon" Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chaz Jarrett and John Frazier
"Superman Returns" Mark Stetson, Neil Corbould, Richard R. Hoover and Jon Thum

Boring. Go "Pirates" I guess. MIA: "The Fountain" "The Science Of Sleep" "Stranger Than Fiction"

Adapted screenplay
"Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips
"Children of Men" Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby
"The Departed" Screenplay by William Monahan
"Little Children" Screenplay by Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
"Notes on a Scandal" Screenplay by Patrick Marber

"Notes" is the only one I haven't seen. But I'd be cool with any of these. MIA: "The Good German" "The Prestige" "V For Vendetta"

Original screenplay
"Babel" Written by Guillermo Arriaga
"Letters from Iwo Jima" Screenplay by Iris Yamashita Story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis
"Little Miss Sunshine" Written by Michael Arndt
"Pan’s Labyrinth" Written by Guillermo del Toro
"The Queen" Written by Peter Morgan

"Sunshine" or "Labyrinth" MIA: "Brick" "Science Of Sleep" "Stranger Than Fiction" "Inside Man" "The Oh In Ohio" "For Your Consideration"

Phew.

Labels: critiqua, listy

Just like last year, only it's this year. In no particular order:

My Favorite Movies of 2006
-Brick
-The Science Of Sleep
-Stranger Than Fiction
-The Departed
-The Prestige
-Monster House
-The Oh In Ohio
-Little Miss Sunshine
-The Inside Man
-Superman Returns
-Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
-Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
-V For Vendetta
-Idiocracy
-Happy Feet
-An Inconvenient Truth
-Who Killed The Electric Car?
-Tenacious D: The Pick Of Destiny (the first and last song)
-The Good German
-Scoop

My Favorite TV Shows of 2006
-The Office
-Heroes
-Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
-The Class
-Sex Hospital

My Favorite Albums of 2006
-Regina Spektor: Begin To Hope
-Joanna Newsom: Ys
-Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Show Your Bones
-Nellie McKay: Pretty Little Head
-Beck: The Information
-Suzanna Choffel: Shudders & Rings
-Cat Power: The Greatest
-Thom York: The Eraser
-Lily Allen: Alright Still

Non-New Bands I Discovered and/or Started Buying A Lot Of in 2006
-Broken Social Scene
-The Dresden Dolls
-Serge Gainsbourg

Live Stuff I Had Fun At in 2006
-Jon Brion (twice!)
-826 Benefits (twice!)
-The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
-The Polyphonic Spree
-Sondre Lerche
-Fiona Apple

Stuff That Bugged Me in 2006
-Casino Royale
-X-Men 3
-Superman Returns
-Cars
-A Scanner Darkly
-Art School Confidential
-Idiocracy
-Tenacious D & The Pick Of Destiny (everything else)
-Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
-Sex Hospital
-Dreamgirls
-A Prairie Home Companion
-United Flight 93 (I didn't actually see it)
-HD
-My Super Ex-Girlfriend
-The Last Kiss

Stuff I'm Looking Forward To in 2007
-Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York
-a new album from Jon Brion?
-more shows at the Largo with Jon Brion?
-a new movie score by Jon Brion?
-Spider-Man 3
-a new Feist album?
-The Polyphonic Spree: The Fragile Army
-Sondre Lerche: Phantom Punch
-Tideland
-The Wendell Baker Story
-a new Postal Service album?
-Caótica Ana
-The Shins: Wincing The Night Away
-Sicko
-Fantastic Four 2: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
-There Will Be Blood
-a new Bjork album?
-the return of Futurama!
-Knocked Up
-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Stuff That Scares Me in 2007
-The Transformers
-Fantastic Four 2: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
-Spider-Man 3

Movies I'm Bummed I Missed In 2006 But I'll See In 2007
-Little Children
-The Fountain
-Pan's Labyrinth
-The Secret Life Of Words
-Shortbus
-Come Early Morning
-Dixie Chicks: Shut Up & Sing
-Fast Food Nation
-Children Of Men

This is totally incomplete. I'll update as I go.

Labels: critiqua, listy

I feel like there were other purchases between that last one and this one, but I can't remember...

Lewis Black - The Carnegie Hall Performance A little looser than his other stuff, like he's just coming on stage and talking. Still hilarious.
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs I actually haven't given this a proper end to end listen yet, I bought it before my Mother's Day flight and then slept the whole time. But it's Bowie, so I'm probably safe.
The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics Almost sounds a little hip-hoppy, just bought it today so I haven't heard it all yet. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song is such a fun opener.
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People I'm really getting into these guys. I can't wait to listen to this one.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

Sondre Lerche - Duper Sessions My reason for going to the store. He really nailed the quartet/lounge/jazz vibe, there's a few covers on the album, but he emulated the style so well that even the originals sound like covers. That may not be an entirely good thing though.
Ms. Dynamite - Judgment Day Not as instantly catchy as "A Little Deeper" but I haven't listened to everything yet. I do admire the way she wears her politics on her sleeve.
The Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe / All Summer Long I think I'm about done with the Beach Boys now.
Steve Martin - Comedy Is Not Pretty I have this on vinyl, I should really sell all my vinyl, I never listen to it.
William Shatner & Leonard Nemoy - Spaced Out I don't know where this desire for camp came from, but it isn't healthy.
David Bowie - Space Oddity Now that I wrapped up Simon and Garfunkel and the Beach Boys I needed a new artist to obsess over. Picking up original albums after only having Best Of's is extremely satisfying, so many little nuggets that I'd never hear until Wes Anderson decides to include them in a soundtrack.
David Bowie - Hunky Dory For example...

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

The Beach Boys - Sunflower / Surfs Up These last two Beach Boy's purchases have taken a turn for the bizarre. The songs I've liked are more for camp-value then anything else, and the idea that I could use them ironically in a movie or TV show.
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends This finishes off my S&G collection. "Old Friends" makes me want to crawl into a fetal position.
Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions I'm so happy they released this.
Bob Marley - Exodus I'm not sure if I agree with the "remastering" of this album. They cleaned it too much, it doesn't sound like music from 1977.
Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost Haven't given it a full listen yet, but I like what I've heard so far. Oddly enough I'm not really in the mood for ambient instrumentals (ten years ago you'd be hard pressed to get me to listen to anything with words).
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene Wooo Feist! Sounds more like Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs on this album, but easier on the ears.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

They Might Be Giants - Then, The Early Years Good God what a lot of songs. Favorite right now has to be Kiss Me, Son Of God.
Paul McCartney & Wings - Wings Wild Life I wasn't into this one right away, but like Red Rose Speedway it's growing on me more and more.
Stereolab - Sound-Dust More haunting then their other stuff. I like.
Stereolab - Mars Audiac Quintet Bummer, I bought it used and the CD inside was Transient Random-Noise Bursts, so I returned it when I got off work. Guess it wasn't meant to be.
Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage Rosemary & Thyme I've only got "Bookends" to buy to complete my little S&G collection. Good stuff. And now I know where that "Hey there lamp-post, whatcha knowing? I come to watch your power flowing" bit by Mr. Burns came from (I knew it was a song reference but I could never remember).
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water Feuilles-O.
The Beach Boys - Carl & The Passions "So Tough" / Holland This is another one that's growing on me. I find myself oddly drawn to the fairy tale EP included as bonus tracks.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

Babilonia - Readymade FC I went ahead and bought it on iTunes for $10. I don't usually buy anything but singles on iTunes but I really wanted this album and didn't want to wait for the price to come down (or a used copy to show up). Such a great album.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

So I went to Amoeba to buy Babilonia by Readymade FC...but it was 20 bucks! I don't know why it's so expensive, maybe it's an import? Anyway, as much as I adore the CD, I decided to wait until it comes down a few bucks. Of course I couldn't leave without buying something:

John Lennon - Mind Games I was pretty turned off by the production on RockNRoll and that bled into my thoughts on all of John's solo albums. But I'm starting to come around now. Still don't really like R'N'R, but I'm really digging the rest now.
John Lennon - Double Fantasy Yoko rocks.
Paul McCartney & Wings - Red Rose Speedway Hmmm, I'll need to give it another listen or two, but it didn't grab me.
The Beach Boys - Today! / Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) I prefer post-Pet Beach Boys to pre-Pet Beach Boys, but this stuff is just classic, you can't fight it.
Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds Of Silence Continuing my "best of" replacements.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

First impressions of my latest lunch break purchases:

Rick Moranis - Agoraphobic Cowboy After two weeks was it all I hoped for and more? Yes. Musically, it sounds like a country album, for better or worse, but the lyrics make me smile every time. When I'm in a Mighty Wind mood this will do nicely.
Cat Power - Moon Pix I just found out she cancelled her US tour due to illness. :(
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun A little more energetic and melodic then "()" so it'll probably spend more time in my rotation.
John Lennon - Walls And Bridges I like the production more then Rock'N'Roll and Milk And Honey, but my favorite track is the stripped down acoustic "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)" bonus track included with the remaster.
Paul Simon - The Paul Simon Songbook Down and dirty Simon, I like.
They Might Be Giants - John Henry I didn't recognize any of the song titles when I picked this one up, but once I listened to it I was all like "hey, I know these songs!" True story.
Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress This was the wild card purchase. I heard it on someone's iTunes at work and sort of dug the sarcastic lyrics with the sunny-pop sound of the first few songs so I went ahead and bought it. But I'm not sure if it's an album I love, at least on first listen. We'll see.
Simon & Garfunkel - Wednesday Morning, 3AM I have a "best of" SiGa CD that I plan on replacing with all the real albums cause I'm anal like that.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

I was very disappointed to find out that even though "Agoraphobic Cowboy" is on iTunes, it won't be in stores till February 7th. I still came out on top yesterday I think:

Cat Power - The Greatest It's toe tappin. Not as hypnotic as "You Are Free" but the Memphis band clicks with her voice. "Willie" is my favorite track right now.
Sigur Ros - () I haven't given this CD a proper chance yet since it's sort of a ambient, concept album. It makes me want to move my stereo into my bedroom cause I imagine it would be great to fall asleep to.
John Lennon - Rock 'N' Roll I can't stand the production of the album, but it's still cool to hear "Come Together" in "You Can't Catch Me."
Gorillaz - G-Sides This was finally in the used section after wanting to buy it forever. Mostly for "12d3" which I could just loop forever.
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited All these remastered Dylan CD's are cheap right now so I've been picking one up every visit since I've never listened to Dylan and I'm slowly filling the gaps in my musical education. What's up with "Ballad Of A Thin Man?" Someone explain this song to me.
Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans This guy sure does love the Jebus. It would turn me off except his music is so darn catchy. This one's more quiet-banjo-picking then the others.
They Might Be Giants - No! The cleanest sound of any TMBG albums I have, which is good cause I can slip a few tracks into mix CDs without breaking he flow. "Where Do They Make Balloons?" "The House At The Top Of The Tree" "I Am Not Your Broom" and "Sleepwalkers" are my favorites.
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass I have this on vinyl but my record player is in my bedroom and I don't really listen to it enough. Great to finally have "My Sweet Lord" and "I Dig Love" on my iPod and at work.

Labels: amoebaeats, critiqua, listy

Since this is the season for lists I thought I'd sloppily sum up the year behind and the year ahead. Actually, these are more piles then lists since there's no particular order.

My Favorite Movies of 2005:
-Brokeback Mountain
-Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of The WereRabbit
-Mirror Mask
-King Kong
-Shopgirl
-Off The Map
-Yes
-The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
-Batman Begins
-The Brothers Grimm
-The Squid And The Whale
-Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire
-Sin City ("The Hard Goodbye" segment)

My Favorite Albums of 2005:
-Fiona Apple: Extraordinary Machine
-Beck: Guero
-Fruit Bats: Spelled In Bones
-Sufjan Stevens: Illionois
-Maude Maggart: Sings Irving Berlin
-Emiliana Torrini: Fisherman's Woman
-Sigur Rós: Takk
-Feist: Let It Die
-Gorillaz: Demon Days
-The Polyphonic Spree: Thumbsucker
-The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan

Non-New Bands I Discovered and/or Started Buying A Lot Of in 2005:
-The Shins
-Iron & Wine
-Cat Power
-Air
-Tom Waits
-The Zombies
-They Might Be Giants (yeah...I was mostly absent from the 90's musically)
-Yo La Tengo (see above)
-The Flaming Lips (ditto)
-The Beach Boys
-Solo Beatles stuff (how the fuck did I go 25 years without owning Ram or Plastic Ono Band?)

Concerts (and one play) I Had Fun At in 2005:
-The Polyphonic Spree with Jon Brion opening
-Beck (twice!) with Cat Power opening the first time and La Tigre the second time
-Sondre Lerche
-Nellie McKay (three times!)
-Tenacious D & Friends (Fiona Apple, David Cross, Sarah Silverman and some other dudes)
-Ryan Adams (actually I've bitched and moaned about this concert a lot, he's a real asshole...but in retrospect it was a fun show to mock for months afterwards)
-Theater of the New Ear: Anomolisa & Hope Leaves The Theater by Charlie Kaufman and Carter Burwell
-Dave Matthews Band (barely, I think my love for the band is finally wearing off, but it was the second row seat that got me)

Stuff That Bugged Me in 2005:
-Sin City (the other segments)
-Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
-Corpse Bride
-Fantastic Four
-Elizabethtown
-Crash (why is everyone praising this awful movie?)
-War Of The Worlds
-Munich
-Dave Matthews Band: Stand Up (it gets harder and harder to like a band that's hasn't had a good album since '98)
-Ben Folds: Songs For Silverman
-Rilo Kiley's Sunset Junction concert

Movies I'm Looking Forward To in 2006:
-Superman Returns
-A Scanner Darkly
-The Fountain
-Tideland
-The Inside Man
-The Wendell Baker Story
-Idiocracy
-Art School Confidential
-Lady In The Water
-Caótica Ana
-The OH In Ohio
-For Your Consideration
-The Film Is Not Yet Rated
-Sicko

Music I'm Looking Forward To in 2006:
-Radiohead's got a new album this year AND might be scoring "A Scanner Darkly" !!
-Sondre Lerche is releasing TWO new albums
-Nellie McKay left Sony which delayed her album "Pretty Little Head" (original release date: Jan 3rd) but hopefully it will be out in a few months
-Suzanna Choffel's "Shudders & Rings"
-Polyphonic Spree's "The Fragile Army"
-Cat Power's "The Greatest" (and she'll be in LA February 22nd)

Stuff That Scares Me in 2006
-Cars (I love Pixar...and the new trailer is better...but I just don't know)
-X-Men 3 (the trailer looks like kids playing make-believe in the backyard and the Beast make up looks LAUGHABLE...and Brett Ratner)

I can't think of anything else...what did I miss?

Labels: critiqua, listy