First Post

Welcome!

This is my initial post on my second blog. I abandoned my first blog a few years ago. I'm looking forward to starting anew, writing, as always, about pop culture (films, books, TV), art, life, travel, writing, or whatever else entrances my fancy.

So how to start this thing off? Well, about me: I'm thirty, married to a brilliant woman, father to an adorably great two-year old, living in Columbus, Ohio for a few more months. Currently, I work at a bookstore, but I'm thankful that I won't be making a career of it.

We're moving to Georgia in July, to Statesboro, as Julia got a job at Georgia Southern University teaching art history. We're all looking forward to the move.

My brain's a bit rusty at the moment, and I can't think of too much more to say as far as introducing myself.

What's new today? Well, the Oscar nominations are out. I won't list the Oscar nominees for you since there are numerous websites where such information can be found - and I'm sure anyone who's interested in the Oscars already knows who has been nominated.

Best Picture: No surprises here, although of course there were gripes (as ever) about what films were left out in the cold, such as Ben Affleck's The Town, Shutter Island, The Ghost Writer, among others.

I think The Social Network is going to win this one, due to its popularity, its complete, utter domination of every single critics circle, and the fact that it's David Fincher's finest film. It's timely, it's of-the-moment, gorgeously written, impeccably acted, masterfully scored, exciting, tense, smart.

The King's Speech, which I haven't seen, could be primed to de-throne the Facebook crowd, but I think that will win in at least one other category...

Best Actor: I think this is Colin Firth's year, guys. He's won all the crucial awards so far and his part hits all the Academy's beloved tropes: a real-life historical figure, a royal figure no less, with a disability, during a war...

I don't think Jeff Bridges or Javier Bardem have much of a shot, nor does James Franco, although his rich performance was a revelation. That leaves Jesse Eisenberg as the probable bridesmaid. He's ruthlessly, magnetically unsympathetic, but he's up against Colin Firth. Incidentally, Eisenberg's good movie/bad movie ratio at this point in his career is remarakably high (The Squid and the Whale, Zombieland, The Emperor's Club, Adventureland, Roger Dodger, The Hunting Party...)

Best Actress:

This really is Natalie Portman's to win. Her no-holds-barred performance in Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan is a high-wire act, both overwrought and nimble.

Annette Bening's masterful turn in The Kids are Alright is really superb, deserving of the win, and she's Portman's stiffest competition. Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole) earned her third career nomination, but she has no chance, since hardly anyone's seen the film. Jennifer Lawrence might be a dark horse candidate for Winter's Bone, but she's too much of an unknown, and her steady, raw portrayal struck too much amateurish notes (for me, anyway).

Other predictions:

Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Director: David Fincher, The Social Network

Original Screenplay: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blomberg, The Kids Are Alright

Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

In other news, it's Gabriel's second birthday this Saturday. Happy birthday, big boy. On Friday, he'll be going to COSI, the bakery, the toy store, and then he'll feast on some pizza. Saturday, he'll be in Cincinnati for a birthday party.

What I've finished reading: Ken Follett's Fall of Giants, a big, juicy epic (part 1 of a trilogy) that features dozens of characters loving and fighting through World War 1. Follet's style has an easy, accessible malleability. He's melodramatic, for sure, but that's the fun of it, and he has a suave, assured way with history, both barreling through all the moments most of us have forgotten from history (the Russian Revolution, the defining years of the Labour Party, the Battle of Somme, the suffrage movement) and explaining it lucidly and entertainingly.

Our first word of the day: hebetude : stupidity, dull-wittedness

Stay in touch, guys. I'll be back every couple days for more opinions, goings-on, words and facts of the day, recommendations, tidbits...