The Oscar nominees have been announced and though I haven’t had a chance to look at every category, I was really pleased that Elling, one of my favourite films from the Toronto International Film Festival, has been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Of course, it will lose to Amelie, but still, it’s a nice honour, and hopefully it means the film will be available for more people to see.
Category: Film
Air Bud
Just finished watching Air Bud (1997). I got the DVD free inside a box of Frosted Flakes™. Pretty cool, eh? And boy, that dog sure could shoot hoops!
Balaban On Balaban
Liane Balaban, the Natalie Portman-esque (my oblique way of saying gorgeous) actress who starred in New Waterford Girl, is studying journalism at Brooke’s alma mater, Ryerson Polytechnic University. This article brings together her acting, her journalism, and, well, her famous non-relative Bob.
Raptors/Hedwig
In typical fashion, the Raptors ended the Knicks’ eight-game losing streak last night. The Toronto Raptors are a talented and likeable bunch of guys who simply do not possess the aggressiveness needed to be a really successful franchise. They simply cannot lose to a team like the Knicks, at home, when just a few short weeks ago, they beat the Lakers on the road. And you know what? ESPN’s Jeffrey Denberg agrees with me. (End sports rant)
Last night, I watched Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Apart from some (regrettably predictable) gibes at one character’s paper-thin Christian faith*, I loved everything about it. Great music, funny, even romantic. I especially liked the use of animation in places. Though probably not for everyone, this is a completely unique film which grew out of an off-Broadway show which grew out of a karaoke routine. The writer, director and star is John Cameron Mitchell, who should be given licence now to do whatever he wants to do in Hollywood.
*Remarkably similar to another portrayal in another otherwise smart movie, The Opposite of Sex (1998).
Watching Movies With…
Watching Truffaut’s “Small Change” with Wes Anderson (NYT site registration required). (via Caterina)