SPECIAL ACADAMY AWARDS EDITION

MILK (DVD SCREENER)
I’m sure it’s all been said about this film, but I just got to see it the other day. Sean Penn is completely transformed into Harvey Milk, the San Francisco politician who inspired both love and hate and brought many gay issues to the light of day. While Harvey Milk is pretty much portrayed lovingly, Penn brings some real life pathos to the guy, and Josh Brolin is dynamite as the politician who feels out of place in the new political climate. Good film, epic in scale, but never really gets down to a human level. Milk is never shown to have any serious personal problems. When one boyfriend leaves, another one is around the corner. Because he’s portrayed as so very saintly with not one single negative aspect, I think the film never truly takes off and instead of any kind of character study, it’s just about this movement, which is important, but not as dramatic had a real live person inhabited the role. Penn makes the very most of what’s on the page, but there isn’t much. Gus Van Zandt, one of my favorite directors, shoots a very watchable and important film but one that's not terribly dramatic. It just never really takes off as the epic it so badly wants to be.
Grade: B


PAUL BLART: MALL COP (In Theaters)
Very funny movie with Kevin James taking center stage as a mall security cop who had aspirations of being a real cop – but his various sicknesses have kept him out of that game. Kevin James in his macho mustache and sweet demeanor is simply hilarious – he takes a thin premise and a “Die Hard” structure and turns it into something completely hilarious just by way of his comic take on situations and his great line readings. He’s in on the joke, and it shows. Highly recommended for some low-brow laughs.
Grade: B +

VALKERIE (IN THEATERS)
Tom Cruise takes on Hitler! This is not an epic, but a down and dirty conspiracy film with Cruise standing tall as the Nazi who wants Hitler dead so that future generations of the world can know that not every German believed in Hitler’s bullshit. This is an exciting film, well directed by Bryan Singer and very well acted by Mister Cruise.
Grade: B


THE READER (In Theaters)
Kate Winslett plays a sexually charged German woman who finds herself in a hot and heavy romance with a 16 year old boy. Later, as that boy moves on to college and starts taking law classes, he finds out quite a bit more about “Hanna.” No spoilers here, but suffice it to say that Kate Winslet is perfection in this amazing role about a woman who is capable of the worst kinds of atrocities, yet Winset’s performance makes us feel compassion for her. The movie itself is wonderfully shot and directed, and this is a major piece of filmmaking.
Grade: A


RESERVATION ROAD (HBO)
A really diverting drama/thriller about a car wreck that involves Joaquin Pheonix’s son and Mark Ruffalo. It’s not over the top, it’s just a solid, conveniatnely plotted movie with great performances from Ruffalo and Phoenix. Jennifer Connely, as Phoenix’s wife, is dead on arrival in her nothing role, but otherwise, this is a highly recommended film that ratchets up the intensity with every scene.
Grade: B


GONE COUNTRY (CMT)
Getting a little boring. Not only that – this week they had a new wonderful game for the contestants that involved abusing chickens. Not only was I unamused, but completely offended and now wondering if I’ll ever tune in again. This used to be one of the better reality shows, it’s now sunk to the bottom.
Grade: F


AMERICAN IDOL (HOLLYWOOD ROUNDS) Fox
Jimmy Kimmel had it right the other day, when during his monologue, he pointed out that every single person who got through always got sidetracked by one of the judges saying something like “we don’t have good news for you….we have FANTASTIC news – you’re going to Hollywood, DAWG!!!!!” It’s really getting a little old. They did this every single time, by the way. Anyway, I think the people who got through seem great, let the competition begin and let’s face it – nothing is better than seeing someone get up and not knowing how they’re going to sound. I can’t wait.

UPDATE: AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
Let the games begin. So far, my money is pretty much on that Danny guy who sang HERO at the end of last week. Still, I can’t believe that weak voiced dude who sang the Gavin McGraw song is still around.

Speaking of Kimmel, Danny McBride killed on the show the other day.

And R.I.P. for the mighty Adam Carolla's morning radio show, since 97.1 has abandoned their all-talk format. Carolla's show was the only solid thing on the morning dial that you didn't have to pay for - and his show and voice will be sorely missed.


DOUBT (DVD)
A total knockout. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep are about as good as it gets in this Catholic Church drama set in the early 90s. Streep and Hoffman are just so good in this – it’s like a master class in acting. Just as good is John Patrick Shanley’s script an direction. A completely captivating stunner.
Grade: A +


NIP/TUCK (F/X)
This episode was penned by none other than series creator Ryan Murphy.
There is something still watchable about this show, but it’s really ready for the TV graveyward. A good barometer of the show is the question: Whatever happened to Kimber? During the first season or two she was realistic. Then in the 3rd season Christian was going to marry her – now she’s slept with Christian, Sean, married the son, Matt, starred and produced thousands of pornos, was captured by the Carver and tortured for months, and is now injecting botox into the lips of her baby so she can get a good modeling contract. At least they kept her realistic.
Ridiculous.
And un-gradable.


SNL (NBC)
Two weeks ago, hosted by a guy I can’t seem to recall in any movie I’ve ever seen. The next week hosted by Alec Baldwin. Pretty much, both episodes unwatchable. This last week started with a sketch where a bunch of the players and a confused Dan Ackeroyd sat around pretending to be Republicans and making fun of Obama (but REALLY – it was how GREAT Obama was.) That was about the most unsophisticated piece of comedy I’ve ever seen. They would’ve done a better job on HANNA MONTANA.


GIRLS OF WINDSOR HALL (MTV)
First of all, this shows owes a huge debt to VH1’s CHARM SCHOOL. And maybe not a creative debt – maybe an actual amount. But who am I to say? In the meantime, I’ll review the show that not only ripped off CHARM SCHOOL, but also goes a bit further with the premise. This one takes not girls from previous shows, but girls we haven’t met – girls who frankly, are really rough. One girl looks like she’s ready to kill everyone there, another runs a raunchy adult web site that stars her having sex with strangers, another strips when she wants to buy something – you get the idea. And the house mothers are really really strict – I mean, you kind of know the premise already – but this is a pretty fun show.
Grade: B -


THE VISITOR (DVD SCREENER)
I have to say – I was really looking forward to this – but the story itself is a bit of a bore. Richard Jenkins saves the day with his completely moving performance, but the film lacks and real energy.
Grade: C


THE ICE PAN (PAN ICE CREAM) (TARGET/BLOCKBUSTER ON LA BREA)
THE ICE PAN is probably the best ice cream I’ve ever had in recent memory. It’s in that little strip mall where Target and Best Buy are on La Brea and Melrose. The ice cream is uniquely healthy – in that you choose the type of milk – regular, non fat, low fat and soy. Soy milk means lactose intolerants can have Ice Cream. I prefer the low fat but it all tastes vaguely the same. You order what you want, and the toppings and they actually put the toppings in the ice cream. They make the ice cream in front of you on this sub-zero pan. They pour it on the pan and it’s liquid, then it starts to thicken and they add the toppings – I prefer chocolate with almonds and bananas. It’s amazing to watch them make your ice cream in minutes, but it tastes even more amazing. It’s kind of like the Benihana of Ice Cream. I can’t say enough good things about this place, but if you’re interested – go here:
http://www.icepanusa.com/ice_cream.html


IF I PICKED THE ACADAMY AWARDS
By the Digital Couch

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger probably will and should win – but if there is to be an upset, it should be with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who was superb in DOUBT. However, if I was voting I, too would probably pull the lever for Heath, whose turn as THE JOKER will go down in the books as one of the most original takes on a known character ever.


BEST ACTOR
If it’s a dogfight between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke – Mickey gets my vote. Penn was great, but he played a character that had no flaws and no real doubts about anything. He affected a voice that sounded like Harvey Milk and just played in these wonderful scenes where he was always the sweetest funniest and smartest guy in the room. My vote goes straight to Mickey Rourke.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz is unusually good in VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA, but it’s Marissa Tomei who I thought gave the most lived in performance. My vote goes to Marissa.

BEST SONG
Should’ve been THE WRESTLER by Bruce Springsteen – somehow he got locked out of the category.

BEST ACTRESS
I didn’t see RACHEL GETTING MARRIED yet, nor CHANGELING or FROZEN RIVER – however – based on what I did see it’s between Meryl Streep for DOUBT and Kate Winslet of THE READER. My vote – Winslet for THE READER.

BEST DIRECTOR
Chris Nolan should’ve owned this, but as it is, I assume SLUMDOG’s Danny Boyle will walk away with the award. If I were picking, I would give it to Ron Howard’s measured rhythms of FROST/NIXON.

BEST SCREENPLAY (ADAPTED)
For me it would be THE READER or DOUBT – with the award probably going to DOUBT. Again, THE DARK KNIGHT got screwed here.

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL)
The fantastic screenplay of THE WRESTLER got screwed on this, but if I’m too believe the hype, MILK will probably walk away with this.

BEST FILM
Because of the screwings THE DARK KNIGHT, THE WRESTLER and yes – even FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (the best 3 films of the year) – I’m going to have to guess the award goes to MILK, or SLUMDOG, but if THE READER walked away with it, that would be a moral victory for storytelling, as the main story point to MILK seemed to be “Isn’t Harver Milk fucking wonderful?”