Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans
This video is absolutely hypnotizing. Now I know why everyone is obsessed with her.
40Diplo remains to be the most innovative producer around right now…
One Week Later
Hey guys, remember Kony?
Oh yea, that’s what I thought…..
I’m not against the movement, I’m just against the sensationalism of it. Not many people who posted that video last week seem to care passed a superficial lever.
Happy Sweet Sixteen Jerry Gergich!
“I’m a renaissance man, but like, at heart, to the bone, I’m rock and roll.”
-Cee Lo Green, my hero.
A Note on Rihanna/Chris Brown
Remember when Rihanna got beat up by her boyfriend and then a couple of years later released a song with him in which he explicitly talks about her like an object? I wish we could all do something as brave as that.
[Note: I am not a fan of Rihanna’s music. But I have had nothing against her until now.]
I’m not saying it was wrong for Rihanna to forgive Chris Brown, but I do think collaborating on two songs with him is literally spitting in the face of all women affected by domestic violence and all of her supporters. She is in the public eye and is setting a bad example for young girls who idolize her. I could probably forgive Chris Brown, but based on his public outrages it seems like he hasn’t changed one bit. He’s a vile human being and, like Oprah once warned Rihanna, I can imagine he is capable of inflicting violence on her again. It seems that the only reason she has worked on two songs with him is a money making publicity stunt.
Please stop using the defense “she deserved to get hit.” No one EVER deserves to be hit like that.
And please stop using the defense “he’s an artist.” Yes, Chris Brown has some talent. But lip syncing other people’s lyrics on other people’s house songs while recycling Michael Jackson’s dance moves doesn’t make you an artist.
Kristen Wiig imitating Taylor Swift on Saturday Night Live (02/18/2012).
Simple yet brilliant.
If I Could Choose The Oscars
When the Oscar nominations came out not too long ago I had the immediate reaction of disgust. They suck! But is it that much of a surprise? The Academy always favored movies that never really challenge the viewer. They often choose ones that are overly feel good and sappy. War Horse? Extremely Loud? Really?
Really.
I have to admit I did like some of their best picture nods (and the announcement of the nominations by the beautiful Jennifer Lawerence aka Katiness Everdeen really did ease the blow). I’m a big fan of The Help, and the movie version really did justice to the wonderful book. And Tree of Life moved me like no other movie this year, so much that its nomination gives me hope for the Academy. Although Bridesmaids didn’t get a best picture nomination, I’m glad its writers (Kristen Wiig and Annie Muolo) and its shining star (Melissa McCarthy) were nominated.
But let’s be honest. The snubs were pretty bad. If I had to choose the Oscars, things would be much different.
First Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Hunter McKracken – Tree of Life
Really.
I have to admit I did like some of their best picture nods (and the announcement of the nominations by the beautiful Jennifer Lawerence aka Katiness Everdeen really did ease the blow). I’m a big fan of The Help, and the movie version really did justice to the wonderful book. And Tree of Life moved me like no other movie this year, so much that its nomination gives me hope for the Academy. Although Bridesmaids didn’t get a best picture nomination, I’m glad its writers (Kristen Wiig and Annie Muolo) and its shining star (Melissa McCarthy) were nominated.
But let’s be honest. The snubs were pretty bad. If I had to choose the Oscars, things would be much different.
First Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Hunter McKracken – Tree of Life
I know I’m stretching the definition of ‘Supporting Role,’ but the kid can act. I don’t know where Terrence Malick found this kid but he conveyed the complexities of childhood emotion with ease.
Runner up: Viggo Mortensen – A Dangerous Method
I don’t have much to say except that Mortensen has been constantly overlooked by the Academy. He’s one of those rare types of actor that goes above and beyond in the role he’s playing just to capture to the audience.
Second Runner Up: Corey Stoll - Midnight In Paris
Second Runner Up: Corey Stoll - Midnight In Paris
Can’t say I’ve actually attempted to see this movie (I heard somewhere that it’s super elitist), but dude should get a nom’ just for that ‘stache.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jessica Chastain – Tree of Life
Chastain had a whopping six movies come out in 2011, when previously we never even heard of her. Not bad for a new comer. Chastain is great in literally every single one of them. And that alone earned her a nomination this year. But it shouldn’t have been for The Help. In Tree of Life, Chastain gives a reserved, graceful, yet powerful performance as a mother in Texas dealing with her children’s feelings towards their emotionally absentee father. She’s honest, believable, and I found myself wanting to see more and more of her. In a movie where the audience is confused just as much as they’re entranced, Chastain makes everything feel like it’s going to be alright.
First Runner Up: Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
The Oscars pretty much got it right with this one. Octavia Spencer is a lock for this win (and she deserves it) but there’s something about Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids that isn’t just hilarious. Somehow McCarthy plays that person we all know; she’s that person that society overlooks because of his/her appearance. Okay, let’s not over think it, she’s just awesome in every scene. And I’m happy the academy recognized a comedic performance, for once.
Second Runner Up: Melanie Laurent – Beginners
Can someone get nominated based on pure charm? Somehow George Clooney does it, ALL THE TIME. But I digress. In beginners, Laurent is the girlfriend everyone wants. She’s funny, pretty, but more than that, she knows exactly how to talk to the audience without saying too much (she’s mute for the beginning part of the movie).
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Michael Fassbender – Shame
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jessica Chastain – Tree of Life
Chastain had a whopping six movies come out in 2011, when previously we never even heard of her. Not bad for a new comer. Chastain is great in literally every single one of them. And that alone earned her a nomination this year. But it shouldn’t have been for The Help. In Tree of Life, Chastain gives a reserved, graceful, yet powerful performance as a mother in Texas dealing with her children’s feelings towards their emotionally absentee father. She’s honest, believable, and I found myself wanting to see more and more of her. In a movie where the audience is confused just as much as they’re entranced, Chastain makes everything feel like it’s going to be alright.
First Runner Up: Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
The Oscars pretty much got it right with this one. Octavia Spencer is a lock for this win (and she deserves it) but there’s something about Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids that isn’t just hilarious. Somehow McCarthy plays that person we all know; she’s that person that society overlooks because of his/her appearance. Okay, let’s not over think it, she’s just awesome in every scene. And I’m happy the academy recognized a comedic performance, for once.
Second Runner Up: Melanie Laurent – Beginners
Can someone get nominated based on pure charm? Somehow George Clooney does it, ALL THE TIME. But I digress. In beginners, Laurent is the girlfriend everyone wants. She’s funny, pretty, but more than that, she knows exactly how to talk to the audience without saying too much (she’s mute for the beginning part of the movie).
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Michael Fassbender – Shame
The biggest snub this year goes to Michael Fassbender. No other actor this year impressed me more than Fassbender. He’s been in four movies and acted amazing in every single one of them (you can call me biased if you want, ‘cause Fassbender is currently my favorite actor). But his full frontal in Shame unfortunately cost him a nomination. The Academy just can’t deal with anything controversial (a penis, in this case), so therefore Fassbender is out of the loop. But that isn’t a reason ignore his work. He gives it his all in every single film he’s been in — see Hunger, Fish Tank, Inglorious Basterds… I could go on…
First Runner Up: Kermit the Frog - The Muppets
Let’s be honest with ourselves. Kermit can make you feel every emotion in the book.
AND THE MUPPETS ARE EVERYTHING.
Second Runner Up: Tom Hardy or Joel Edgerton - Warrior
AND THE MUPPETS ARE EVERYTHING.
Second Runner Up: Tom Hardy or Joel Edgerton - Warrior
Because I’m scared of them.
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia
The Academy kind of got this category right. KIND OF. The voters have a soft spot for flashy performances (see: Christian Bale in the Fighter) and a weird love for Meryl Streep and that explains her nomination. But this year it’s all about Dunst. Forget for a second how beautiful and grand Melancholia was (and also for get Lars Von Trier’s Nazi comments). Dunst gives a dark, subtle, and real life performance, portraying a woman dealing with depression while the world is ending. It is the best of her career. And everyone loves a comeback.
First Runner Up: Viola Davis - The Help
First Runner Up: Viola Davis - The Help
Bam. Nailed it. Davis is that rare type of actress that portrays characters like real life people, and, for a movie like The Help, that was absolutely necessary. As a person, she’s extremely inspiring. Speech after speech I’m inspired and impressed by her.
Second Runner Up: Miss Piggy - The Muppets
THE BITCH IS BACK.
The other awards:
Best Film: Beginners / Drive
Best Director: Terrence Malick
Best Soundtrack: Drive
Best Song: The Muppets
Best Visual Effects: Harry Potter
Second Runner Up: Miss Piggy - The Muppets
THE BITCH IS BACK.
The other awards:
Best Film: Beginners / Drive
Best Director: Terrence Malick
Best Soundtrack: Drive
Best Song: The Muppets
Best Visual Effects: Harry Potter
Honorable Mentions: Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants), Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin), Ewan McGregor (Beginners)
Someone hook it up with this sweater.
Now.
……and maybe throw in the shoes too.
(Jeremy Scott New York Fashion Week 2012)
Ranting: Hollywood Loves George Clooney, And I Don’t Get It
*NOTE: I wrote this without back checking my grammar or sentence structure.
I’m furious. I know I shouldn’t be, and I know it’s silly to be angry at something that doesn’t directly affect me, but I can’t help it. George Clooney sucks.
At the 2012 Critics Choice Awards, Viola Davis was named Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in The Help and shortly after George Clooney was named Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Descendants. Now I’m saying George Clooney didn’t deserve a nomination (cough, cough) but he definitely did not deserve to win.
But that’s not what makes me angry.
When Viola Davis won her award she gave the classiest speech about how she found her purpose in life when she found acting. To sum it up: When she was young she basically lived in poverty, and she used to take five hour bus rides just to get to acting class. She also mentioned that she was thankful for her ancestors and how The Help was something beautiful that came out of, and shed light on, the atrocities that occurred in our very country. Previously she gave a longer, more insightful, unplanned speech at the ELLE Magazine Women in Hollywood awards describing her life and what acting has done for her. (LINK: http://www.5min.com/Video/Viola-Davis-Women-in-Hollywood-Speech-517183460) It’s perfect. I’m not even African American or a woman and she inspires me.
Anyway, during and after her speech the camera pans to her fellow nominees and producers. Meryl Streep, overjoyed. Cherlize Theron, in tears. Michelle Williams (aka Marilyn Monroe 2.0), in tears. And Steven Speilberg mouths the word “WOW” with such exuberance I thought the camera would explode.
When George Clooney wins, he gets up on stage, makes a couple jokes, and the crowd bursts wildly with laughter. He continues to make a speech about his family. To sum it up: Clooney complains to his Dad about not getting the acting roles he wants, his father tells him “we were farmers from the depression, and if you don’t like how you’re acting be better or quit,” Clooney basically tells the crowd, “I GOT BETTER AND NOW I GET THESE AWARDS.”
Um, WHAT?!
Let’s take a second to ignore two very important facts:
- George Clooney can act, but acts in variations of himself. I call it “half-acting”. (GET IT? It’s a pun! A play on the phrase “half-assing”.)
- His fellow nominees killed it in the movies they made, not not to mention their multiple other roles this year. (Other than flashing his dong in Shame, Michael Fassbender was in A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, and played MAGNETO in X-Men: FIrst Class. He was Mothafuckin’ Magneto and we took him seriously!)
Like, right after Viola Davis made a speech about a movie where rich, white farm owners mistreated black women, and also working her ass off just to do something she loved (5-hour bus rides; that’s cray), Clooney tries to top her speech and just shits on her life. Clooney’s parents could have performed the very same atrocities The Help portrayed!
(*Note: I have no knowledge of George Clooney’s family life. But, for real, dude!)
It was incredibly disrespectful! George Clooney can do no wrong! It’s like he makes a couple not-very-funny jokes and Hollywood hands him awards. And I guess it wouldn’t of mattered as much if he deserved the award, but he truly didn’t!
At the Golden Globes this past Sunday, Meryl Streep unjustly won for Best Actress in a Leading Role (that’s a whole ‘nother rant), and Clooney won again for Best Actor. But Streep, recognized all the great female performances (including Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre, who wasn’t even nominated) this year (what a classy bitch), and (I assume) knowing that Davis should have won gave her a special shout out at the end (“You my girl, Viola!”).
Clooney recognizes Fassbender by making a dick joke. The room bursts wildly with laughter.
Funny. Cough, Cough.
I truly hope he doesn’t win the Oscar.
(Doesn’t he know that’s mothafuckin’ MAGNETO!?)
[Photo Credit: Aceshowbiz]
