When I see this commercial, I always feel the need to throw on the "Complete Clapton" double-LP. It was released at the same time as his kick-ass auto-biography, Clapton. The book is definitely worth checking out if your a fan, or enjoy a good read. And the 2-disc album is great if you want an overview of his career. They don't call him "God' for nothing you know...
This random Hipster Artist owner/dog comb from 101 Dalmatians was absolutely made for this. Expect more memes to pop up during my fits of boredom this week.
Take a look at the trailers for the 10 Films Nominated for the Top Prize tonight, in the order I'd like to see them finish. (I do think The Social Network is gonna take it home tonight.)
#10- 127 Hours - "Ooops! ... oops..."
#9- The Kids Are All Right - "I love lesbians."
#8- Winter's Bone- "You was warned nice and you didn’t listen. Why didn’t you listen?”
#7- True Grit - "I'm too old and too fat.... You are not LaBoeuf."
#6- The King's Speech - "In this grave hour fuck fuck fuck perhaps the most fateful in our history bugger shit shit (singing)"
#5- The Fighter - "That guy did not just get off the fuckin' couch. If he did, I'm gonna get a couch like that."
#4- The Social Network- "I'm 6'5", 220 and there's two of me."
#3- Toy Story 3 - "The thing that makes Woody special is: he’ll never give up on you. Ever.”
#2- Inception - "You Musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling."
Now for the Big 6 (Thats Best Picture, Director, and the 4 Acting Categories)
Best Supporting Actress
Should Win-- Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Will Win-- Melissa Leo, The Fighter
I am not in the least bit upset that Melissa Leo is finally getting her due. And this Oscar isn't undeserved by any stretch of the imagination-- she is fantastic playing the mother of Mickey Ward and Dicky Eklund. Completely believable as the strong matriarch of the Lowell family. That said, I think Steinfeld kept True Grit moving. Her part was strong-willed and hard-headed, and outwit just about everybody she butted heads with. Great performance by a young talent. Amy Adams was awesome and it was impressive to see her flip the switch from good-girl to tough-girl. I didn't see Animal Kingdom so I can't have an opinion on Jacki Weaver. And if Helena Bonham-Carter actually wins, I will be super pissed. She was okay at best. Her character didn't display as much depth as the other nominees, and her performance simply didn't impress me. Sorry...
Best Supporting Actor
Should Win-- Christian Bale/Geoffrey Rush, The Fighter/The King's Speech
Will Win-- Christian Bale, The Fighter
This is usually my favorite category of the night and I don't really know why. There's something intriguing about supporting characters. You don't follow them as intently as the lead and their development usually isn't as complete either-- but their incredibly interesting (see recent winners Bardem from No Country, Ledger from Dark Knight and Waltz from Basterds).
And I'm not cheating with my should win-- The Academy has had a few ties before, and it should happen again this year. Both Rush and Bale completely absorb their characters (both based on real people) and sell them masterfully. Bale transforms himself into drugged out Dicky Eklund, completely different from that bulky Batman he was a mere summer ago. Rush's performance is more soft spoken, but no less masterful. Both are the true highlights of their films. Mark Ruffalo is a hilarious sperm-donor/homewrecker in The Kids Are All Right. Jeremy Renner is brutal as Ben Affleck's best friend in The Town. And John Hawkes is the mysterious uncle in Winter's Bone, a character I was surprised I could was rooting for as the film went on.
Best Actress, Leading Role
Should Win-- Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Will Win--
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Just a tour de force performance by Natalie as Nina, the troubled/coming-of-age dancer. If you haven't seen it, can't really tell you a whole lot besides 1.) Go See It Now. 2.) Natalie's character evolves throughout the film, drives it forward in a way you can't take your eyes off her.
Annette Bening's gay mother was so annoying to me in The Kids Are All Right, but I guess that just illustrates how well she played the part. Kidman and William's performances were similar, both very well done as heartbroken/worn-down women. And Jennifer Lawrence gained a fan with her awesome work in Winter's Bone as a teenager struggling to care for her family, keep her home, and find her missing father. But bottom line- this award has been Portman's for a long time.
Best Actor, Leading Role
Should Win-- Colin Firth, King's Speech
Will Win-- Colin Firth, King's Speech
Like Portman, this has been Firth's trophy for a long time at this point. Unlike Portman, he's had far less competition. And while I don't believe Firth even gave the best performance inThe King's Speech, he gave the best lead performance (well, maybe Gosling did, but whatever). I had seen Jesse Eisenberg play "Mark Zuckerberg" before in a movie called The Education of Charlie Banks, so that didn't exactly blow me away. Franco was practically the only character in his film outside the rock, so I will give him credit for keeping that film going. Jeff Bridge's Rooster was entertaining, but hardly a role I would have considered a top 5 of the year. As for Bardem, haven't seen Biutiful, so I reserve judgement.
Best Director
Should Win-- Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Will Win-- David Fincher, The Social Network.
Black Swan was so complex, had so much to absorb, so much to overlook. For that, Aronofsky's my pick, though I expect Fincher to pull out the win for the film that captures our generation strikingly well.
I absolutely love the Oscars and all the buzz that leads up to them. They inspire the December-Rush, when the studios push out their best films instead of the regular crap.
This is also the first year for which i have seen all of the Best Picture nominees before the awards,which was harder to do with the recent expansion to 10 Nominees. And I must admit, they were all awesome in their own rights. I'll run threw them, as well as my personal picks and the snubs I was most peeved by.
You Can Find A Full List Of All The Nominees Here.
My Snubs
I want to get these out of the way so this post's tone stays light.
Waiting For Supermanwas the best documentary I saw over the past year, and I saw 4 of the 5 nominees, so I feel with some certainty I can say this was a snub. As was Shine, the original song by John Legend & The Roots written for the same doc.
Ryan Gosling was my biggest snub of the year, who should have gotten a nod for Blue Valentine with his co-star Michelle Williams. I thought he was the true rival to Colin Firth this year.
Most people have argued for Andrew Garfieldbeing snubbed for The Social Network, but I'm just not buying it-- I can't in good conscious take any of the Supporting-Actor-Nominees out for him to have a spot.
Christopher Nolan was a huge snub for me-- I get the sense the Academy just doesn't like him at this point. His track record is pure gold (Batman Franchise, Memento, Prestige), and he has the uncanny ability to serve up a blockbuster that is also a great film. I'm mystified at this
point as to what he actually has to do to get a nod.
I would have liked to see The Town, Another Year or Blue Valentinemake the cut over 127 Hours, but had there been only 5 nominees like in past years, I wouldn't argue either to have been snubbed.
Heading into the Weekend and I have some tracks for you, as promised...
"All Black Everything"- Lupe Fiasco (Hip-Hop)
LASERS (Love Always Shines Everytime Remember 2 Smile), my most anticipated album, possibly ever, is creeping closer and closer each day. This track, "All Black Everything," is rumored to be Lupe's favorite track off the album, and also his favorite he's ever done. I'm not sure thats true, but I wouldn't be surprised. The lyrics are doper than hell. Just unreal. This is why he's the Beat Rapper Alive, and Top 5 Ever.
"Cause racism has no context
Hip hop ain’t got a section called conscious
Everybody rappin’ like crack never happened
Crips never occurred no Bloods to attack them
Matter of fact no hood to attack in
Somalia is a great place to relax in
Fred Astaire was the first to do a backspin
The Rat Pack was cool group of black men
That inspired five white guys called The Jacksons
Eminem fitted in but then again he inspired a black rapper tryin' to mimic him
And that’s what really rose up out of Michigan,
the sign of white rapper by the name of 50 Cent, ha!"
"Instant Karma!" - John Lennon (Rock)
My favorite fact about this track- On its side of the 45-Single, it says, "Play Loud." On the reverse side, a single by Yoko about the wind, it asks the listener to "Play Soft." Classic Lennon. Guy was miles ahead of everyone else.
"Green Light" - John Legend feat. Andre 3000 (R&B)
This was originally going to be a song from Wake Up!, the album Legend did with the Roots this past year. Odds on favorite was the song I thought should have been the Oscar Winner of Best Original Song, Shine. BUT... Andre 3000 is just too damn cool. And Andre appearances are as rare as they are breathtaking-- so its essential to enjoy them to their fullest. Oh, and John Legend's kind of a good singer...
Saw this photo on my favorite blog to read in the morning, TheHighDefinite, and just had to share it. Toooo funny. If you're ever bored and aren't in the mood for some StumbleUpon, check out The High Definite. Its Gold.
The newest Meme to obtain popularity appears to be Disney characters, as if they were hipsters. I suspect Scumbag Disney may not be far behind (possibly Sad-Keanu-Disney?).
For the time being, I've put a few together in Paint. For some I used characters I haven't seen used before (ahh to make hipster comments about Hipster Memes is so sweet).
Let Me Know What You Think, and Be Sure to checkout Hell Yes Hipster Disney for tons of other great ones. Props to Harper for running an awesome site (and for having a Typewriter... very cool).
I didn't forget today- I just had what might have been the longest Academic Day at UNH. Regardless, the time it took me to sit down to write this allowed for the release of the music video I'm about to share with you. (Also in that time frame, the Boston Celtics did a bunch of shit that I'm not 100% behind, but I'll likely address that tomorrow).
Dre announcing Detox "Coming this Winter," several winters ago.
"I Need A Doctor" - Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey.
The visuals for this video are pretty awesome-- that's why I picked it (I was initially leaning towards an all Slaughterhouse Thursday, but...). I tried to find the video footage of Dr. Dre saying "Detox" is coming back in 2009. And 2008. And again in 2005. And again on The Game's debut album. However I came up empty handed on the interwebs of YouTube. But it appears as though "Detox" may actually come out this decade-- which is good because 30-something's get more close-minded music-wise and long for those olden days.
Me, about 3 years after Detox was originally announced.
So after countless mis-leaks, release dates, and a whole lotta B.S. here's the second single off the mythical album. Em's right-- We Need You Dre.
point as to what he actually has to do to get a nod. 
