Oscar Watch: Part Four

Crazy Heart tells the story of down-and-out country music singer/songwriter Bad Blake. Bad, who we later find out is really named Otis, is a 57 year old alcoholic He’s had four failed marriages and is estranged from his only child. His life consists of making a modest living playing in venues like bowling alleys and small town bars, having one-night stands, eating bad food and living in cheap motels.

Until he met Jean and her son, Buddy.

Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a young reporter who interviews him. In doing so, she begins to see the man behind the musician. They soon become attracted to each other and become involved. Jean and Buddy become the catalysts for Bad getting his life together, both personally and professionally. He also renews his relationship with Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), a successful country music star he’d once mentored.

Sadly, his relationship with Jean does not last... Jean leaves him after he loses her son in a mall because he stopped to have a drink. After losing Jean, he turns to his friend Wayne (Robert Duvall) who helps him get into Alcoholics Anonymous.

Bad, now sober, turns up on Jean’s doorstep. While she is happy that he’s gotten his life on the right track, she finds she could never forgive him for his irresponsible behavior with Buddy. Inspired by Jean, despite her turning him away, Bad begins writing songs again, most notably “The Weary Kind” (which he sells to Tommy who makes it a big hit.)



Crazy Heart is based on the 1987 novel (of the same name) by Thomas Cobb. The character of Otis “Bad” Blake is based on a combination of Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard.

While the movie itself tends to be somewhat awkward and wander off in its own directions from time to time, Jeff Bridges performance is nothing less than exceptional. Bridges does his own singing in the film and is totally believable as Bad Blake. His captivating portrayal will beg you to stick with him to the film’s completion. I think it might be the most outstanding performance of his life, and judging from his nomination as Best Actor in a Leading Role, I’m inclined to believe the Academy agrees with me.

Maggie Gyllenhaal has also been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category, which is also well deserved. She comes across as both strong and tender, and her character is quite endearing.

Oscar Watch: Part Three

I watched Up In The Air a few weeks back, and to tell you the truth, I’m still not quite sure what I think about..one might even say my opinion about this film is still Up in the Air.

It’s the story of Ryan Bingham who makes a living traveling all over the country firing people who have bosses who are too cowardly to do it themselves. Ryan (played by George Clooney) also delivers motivational speeches to extol the virtues of a life free of relationships with people and things. He spends most of his life traveling, and collecting frequent flyer miles (his life’s ambition is to obtain 10 million frequent flyer miles).



But when a new hot shot ambitious coworker named Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) devises a plan which will allow him to do his job via web-cam over the internet, he’s suddenly is in jeopardy of losing the on-the-go unencumbered lifestyle he treasures.

Ryan convinces his boss (Jason Bateman) to allow him to take Natalie on the road with him to show her there is more to the job than just telling someone they are “fired”. Meanwhile, Ryan becomes involved in a casual relationship with fellow frequent flyer Alex (Vera Farmiga).



Over the course of their travels, Natalie discovers there is a great deal more involved in this job - it changes people’s lives forever. Ryan learns how completely empty his life really is without committed relationships with family, friends and someone to love.

This film is directed by Jason Reitman (son of famed director Ivan Reitman) and has been nominated for Best Picture and Reitman as Best Director (Reitman’s second directorial nomination).

Also nominated are: George Clooney for Best Actor in a leading role; and Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick both for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Clooney, Farmiga and Kendrick all give great, believable nomination worthy performances.

All in all (though it probably will never been one of my “I’d watch that over and over again” choices) it has a good plot, great acting and was worth (at least) a one-time viewing.

Oscar Watch: Part Two

Well I did it. I broke down today and (finally) watched Avatar. I realize how blasé that must sound – but I was not really even sure I wanted to see this film. There has been much ado about it since the week it first hit the theaters, and even much more since it was nominated for Best Picture… but Sci-Fi isn’t exactly my cup o’ tea. I’m the person who couldn’t sit through even the first ten minutes of the first Lord of the Rings movie, and may be, quite possibly, the only person on the planet who never understood the world’s fascination with that particular trilogy.

That being said, Avatar was good. As promised, both the graphics and special FX were mind boggling – truly outstanding use of technology. The sheer craftsmanship it took to put it all together into this neat little 162 minute package, simply phenomenal.

Avatar is the age-old story about one race of people wanting the precious resources another race of people has. They will do anything, including trying to exterminate an entire race of people, to get it. (Actually, it’s rather like Disney’s Pocahontas set on a futuristic planet… I’m just sayin’.)

But to me, neither the story–line nor the actor’s performances were enough to merit a nomination for Best Picture. Those were not outstanding, just “okay”.



By the same token, James Cameron has broken new ground with this film, much the same way that Orson Welles did with Citizen Kane. In Avatar, Cameron pioneered a specially designed camera built into a 6 inch boom that allowed the facial expressions of the actors to be captured and digitally recorded for later use by animators. He also used his own virtual camera system, which displays augmented reality on a monitor, placing the actor’s visual counterparts into their digital surroundings in real time, allowing the director to adjust and direct scenes just as if shooting live action. James Cameron earned his nomination for Best Director, no doubt about that.

Oh yeah nearly forgot to mention - the James Horner composed score is quite good, both haunting and powerful.

So, if you like special effects, CGI graphics and action-packed Sci–Fi, Avatar is something you’ll wanna see.

Tomato Bruschetta

Here is a great light-but-filling recipe perfect for summer – but ya don’t have to wait till then… make it anytime you need a reminder of summertime!

Tomato Bruschetta

Here’s the low-down on this easy-as-pie recipe:

You’ll need a few thick-ish slices of good rustic bread (½ inch should do the trick): something with a great crust but is still softly chewy on the inside – like French or sourdough (or any of a number of “artesian” style breads that are readily available today. Don’t be hasty in your selection though, as the bread is the key to a great bruschetta.

Next you’ll need some good extra virgin olive oil. Fry bread until light golden brown and crispy. You don’t want a soggy base to your dish. If you prefer going “lighter”, you can toast the bread in a hot oven (400°) until desired crispiness.

After frying (or toasting) rub each slice of bread with a whole clove of garlic (however much your taste buds prefer). Drizzle some good extra virgin olive oil on it at this time (if you toasted in oven) and sprinkle with sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Cut fresh tomatoes into chunks (any variety you like it fine – I prefer a nice selection of Heirloom tomatoes, which come in a rainbow of colors now-a-days), tear fresh basil leaves into medium sized pieces (to taste, but more is better) and toss with olive oil. Let this marinate for a while (10 minutes is good) and then season with salt and pepper. (Only add salt about ½ hour before serving, as it makes the tomatoes release their juices more rapidly… you want some juiciness, just not too much.)

Now, pile your lovely tomato/basil mixture onto the crispy bread, serve and enjoy.

This dish is a snap to make, appealing to the eye, easy on the waistline and oh so Yummmmy! Enjoy this taste of summer any time of year!

Is it summer yet?

Ahhhhhhhhhh summer! Hurry pleaseeeeeeeee?!?!?!?!

Sade

Sade, English R & B band, is back on the charts after nearly 10 years. Soldier of Love was released worldwide on February 8, 2010. The title cut was release as a single in December 2009.

The group is famous for the silky smooth voice of is lead singer and name-sake Sade Abu (pronounced Shah Day, in case you didn’t know). They had major success in the 80’s with such chart toppers as Your Love Is King, Smooth Operator and The Sweetest Taboo.

Those of you who were fans then will be glad to hear this new album is just as good as their previous offerings - filled with deep, rich harmonies and soulfully sexy- sweet music.

Below are a souple of my favorite cuts from Solider of Love

For My Valentine

I Love You, Robert.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Me