Just Another Pop Culture Post

Okay, so I've calmed down a lot, thanks mostly to all the support I've received from all of you - thank you! I'm ready to have a new post up, yet I can't think of much to say.

Except that I neglected to mention that I saw Minsky's last week at the Ahmanson, and had a great time. It's sheer musical comedy, and it doesn't try to be anything more than what it is, and yet still manages to comment on our times (given the play's time period of the Depression). There's a love song to the theatre, which you know I completely bawled through! The plot is fairly predictable, but I didn't care. It was a fun ride. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Minsky's up for some Tony Awards.

Also, the Oscars. I actually loved the Oscars this year. Hugh Jackman is so incredibly talented! And I loved the way that each acting nominee was truly acknowledged this year by the past winners. There were some moments in those presentations where I was teary-eyed.

It was also fun because Sylvia got into it this year with me. Even though the only nominated film she's seen is Wall-E, she still had fun watching the show (especially the musical numbers). I'd seen just one more movie (Vicky Christina Barcelona) so I didn't have my heart set on anyone or any movie winning, either. I was surprised Sean Penn won over Mickey Rourke, but very pleased that both Penn and the screenwriter of Milk had an opportunity to speak to the global community about the importance of equality for all.

I'm also enjoying Big Love being back; I LOVE this show. The female actors on Big Love are phenomenal powerhouses.

My friends, L & J (the ones I went on the cruise ship with), and I just got our tickets for Dirty Dancing. I hope it's fun. We're already quoting it to each other. Of course, we all remember that nobody puts Baby in a corner. I'll let you know how it is after I see it in May.

I'm half-heartedly watching American Idol, but I've been very disappointed so far. Adam Lambert is definitely the best singer we've seen yet, but he needs to fix some performance quirks before he can be called amazing. I'm nervous about the Wild Card night. Must we see all those tedious singers once more?!? How's that going to work?

I've found some long-lost relatives on Facebook, which is pretty cool. Well, they weren't so much "lost," but I still have not seen a lot of them since I was in high school, maybe?

Oh, and speaking of Lost, I'm not so much liking this watching it on real TV thing. Not that I want to miss it, but I preferred being able to see multiple episodes in one or two viewings via Netflix. This one-episode-at-a-time thing is just frustrating.

So I'm watching another show via Netflix. Weeds. Because I don't get Showtime, I've never watched this show, even though I love Mary Louise Parker. It's great to see her in this! And Elizabeth Perkins - how great is she? I just finished the first season. This show cracks me up. I'm glad I've got a ways to go before I'm all caught up. I just hope it doesn't make me want to subscribe to Showtime.

So that's my pop culture post for ya!

Political Fatigue

I really, really can't talk about Super Tuesday anymore.

And now for something lighter: Oscars! (With the writers and producers expected to reach a deal tomorrow, I think it's safe to say the Oscars will go on.)

I've just seen a few of the Oscar-nominated movies ('cause, you know, I'm a single mom that doesn't get out much), but here's what I've seen and thought so far.

Juno: So far, my favorite movie of the year. Yes, it is this year's Little Miss Sunshine - surprisingly not controversial, really funny with rich characters. Ellen Page deserves the Oscar nod, and the movie deserves all the others. Oh, and the soundtrack is really good, too!

La Vie En Rose: I may have missed some of the greatness of this movie by (a) watching it at home via Netflix, (b) trying to knit and read subtitles at the same time (don't try that at home), and (c) not being a big Edith Piaf fan. But Marion Cotillard really was very good. I'm just kind of tired of watching movies about famous people that, sure, have some troubles, but really, just don't let it go already!

Eastern Promises: I can see why the only Oscar nod this one has is for Viggo Mortenson. Not really a spectacular movie by any means. He is good, but I liked him better in A History of Violence (and the movie better as well).

Away From Her: I won't blame the voters one bit if they give the Best Leading Actress Oscar to Julie Christie for her work in this depressing, but really good movie. However, I feel like Gordon Pinsent got sorely overlooked for an impressive performance.

Sweeney Todd: One of my favorite musicals starring one of my favorite actors. I missed the chorus and some of the cuts from the original Broadway production, but Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tim Burton are all to be commended for this wonderful adaptation of Sondheim's most thrilling musical. (And for anyone who doesn't believe that Johnny Depp is our generation's Marlon Brando, rent Guys & Dolls.)

Ratatouille: Not my favorite Pixar movie (Finding Nemo still holds that title), but beautiful, and very well done.

Enchanted: Having not seen the other movies nominated for Best Song, of the three from Enchanted, I'd have to go with "That's How You Know." That was my favorite moment in this really fun film (Amy Adams rocked it!).

Sicko: I can't claim to be a Moore-lover or hater - sometimes, he really annoys me. But this film, I embarrassed myself by sobbing all over the place. Although, from what I hear, No End in Sight is pretty amazing, so he doesn't have it locked up this year.

And that's it. I don't think there's any way I'll be able to see all the Oscar-nominated films before the big night. Anyone with Oscar screeners? Anyone? Anyone?

For more info: go to Oscars.com.

Edited: This weekend, I watched Elizabeth: The Golden Years, for which Cate Blanchett is nominated. And I don't get that. Yeah, she was good, but there was nothing about her performance which I found remarkable. I'm not a fan of costume dramas anyway. After seeing this, I'm reminded of why. Much ado about nothing, IMO.