The Cinefile: 2006 Wrap Up

What a year, what a year! I somehow feel that 2006 will go down as a good year in the short, short history of cinema; there were so many good movies this year it seemed almost anything had a shot to be nominated for Best Picture. Unfortunately, I didn't get to watch the Oscars for the third year running (no TV this time) but believe me when I tell you that I followed them as closely as I could via oscar.com. I probably refreshed that page 1000 times last night.

And before I go any further I just want to say: Marty, Marty, Marty...I am so happy for you! I can only imagine what it must have been like to finally hear your name called and to raise that golden statue after such a long and amazing career in the "pictures". Maybe winning an Oscar doesn't necessarily reflect what you have given us for so many years; for God's sake I hope you know you were beyond Oscars before the Eighties, but know how important is was to you and to us fans of yours. You have made kids like me realize that working in film is not only a viable way to make a living, but that it's possible to be GREAT at it. You help build dreams and that is a beautiful thing; if I had my way, you would have 5 or 6 Oscars. Please don't ever stop, don't Ever STOP.

I have to say that Oscar night left me pretty happy. I wish that Peter O'Toole would have finally won that acting award he so deserves, but Forrest Whitaker is a phenomenal alternative. Seeing Scorcese win made me eternally happy and Alan Arkin coming out of nowhere to win over Eddie Murphy was a huge bonus. Some other Oscar thoughts:

- I'm sorry, maybe it makes me weird or perverted, but Helen Mirren is a beautiful, beautiful woman. If I reach the age of 60 (God be good) and my wife looks that good I will be more than thankful.

- Hey Reese...congratulations on making my power rankings.

- I don't really understand why everyone was making such a big deal about the black actors and actresses nominated. I could see why it was big when Denzel and Halle won a few years ago, but all I see now is great performers being rewarded for their achievements. Between this and the Super Bowl, I think the media needs to give the American populace a little credit.

- I somehow get the feeling that Leo is going to be the new Peter O'Toole. A lot of nominations, but for some reason no one feels fit to give him the win.

- I hate to say it, but I guess American Idol works.

- These are my guys. MY GUYS! Well, actually go ahead and take out Coppola and put in Jim Cameron and then we'll be good. Still, what a great picture. The best of their generation.

2006 was a good movie year. I hope it continues and we have a good one coming for 2007 (even though I doubt that with shit like Ghost Rider and The Number 23). No matter that a lot of critics have decried that this will be the worst movie year in ages, I think we have a lot of promise. For God's sake, you have to optimistic about a year that includes a new 'Spider-Man' movie! These were my favorites from last year, Academy Awards or not:

My favorites from 2006:

• The Departed
• Pan's Labyrinth
• Little Miss Sunshine
• Casino Royale
• The Prestige
• United 93
• Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
• The Proposition (2005)
• Brick (2005)

Beer Water Ink

THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, & DISCOVERIES DURING MY SATURDAY ERRANDS
- Tad Williams is the writer for the new Aquaman series that starts in March. The trend of NY Times Bestselling authors and mainstream comics is continuing. Also, is Thomas Jane supposed to be the basis for the look of Steve Niles' Cal McDonald character? ( it would appear after later research that, yes, he is)

- I am deep in the swoon of baseball fever. Spring Training is here and we are gearing up for fantasy baseball at work. My outlook for the Reds is high; they have so much competition in a good division but I honestly think the pitching staff will perform like no one is expecting them to and carry them to the playoffs. I am so excited to see Homer Bailey pitch!

- After winter temperatures in the teens and wind chills in the single digits, a sunny 35 degree day with a slight breeze feels like summer. I'm walking down the waterfront in just a pair of jeans and a hooded pullover and I couldn't be more comfortable. I can't imagine why so many people bitch about the cold; half of the time it's all just in your head.

- Is suicide still a sin against God if a single bullet in the head is your only option against being attacked by a horde of flesh-eating zombies and coming back as one of them?

- My last few months here have made me realize how much I missed living by the sea. Watching boats come and go from harbor, the rays of sunlight glancing off the water, the horizon that seemingly stretches to infinity and nowhere, the salt breeze filling your nostrils. Even the annoying flocks of dirty seagulls have been welcoming. How did I stay away from the ocean for so long?

How I spent my long weekend or why non-rev travel can ruin your day

Hello Dearest Readers. Sorry I've been away so long; February has been a beast of a month and it has taken a lot out of me in the past weeks. The Big D keeps threatening to beat me down and I have been stressed out by about 97 things this side of next Tuesday. In order to take a little break from my life and the aching miasma that is my brain I decided to take a couple of vacation days, add them to the holiday weekend (thanks George, Abe...sorry Mr. Harrison), and go visit lada in her palmetto paradise. CUE THE HAZARD CARD!

I spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday in Logan Airport (not again!) bumped, stuck, passed over, and left behind. It was a complete clusterfuck. I don't know if it was the fault of Midwestern storms, JetBlue, or the terrorists, but everything was a mess and I never had a shot of getting out of Boston until Tuesday at the earliest. I waved my no-longer relaxing, now-a-complete failure of a vacation goodbye and came home and cracked a beer. I ended up just staying home on Tuesday and Wednesday anyway, partly because I need to use the vacation days before April and mostly because I was strung out and wanted to sleep in.

OTHER RANDOM DELIGHTS
I thought this vid was fabulously entertaining and good for a laugh. lada wasn't as enthralled; she must not be of the Lean/Python epic nonsense set.



This guy is wicked awesome. I breezily thought about doing something like this a few years ago. Not to say that I came up with the idea independently; I probably had seen something like this that resurfaced from my subconscious. Regardless, I don't have the discipline or unyielding ambition for something like this. I hope I'm able to watch it all the way to its ending.

My porn star name is Inky Hardy (childhood pet + current street name). That gave me a laugh. What's yours?