The Used
"All That I've Got"

So deep that it didn't even bleed and catch me
off guard' red handed
now im far from lonely
Asleep I still see you lying next to me,
So deep that it didn't even bleed & catch me.

Aah Aah
I need something else
would someone please just give me.
Hit me & knock me out & let me go back to sleep.
I can laugh all I want,
Inside I still am empty.
So deep that it didn't even bleed & catch me,
Aah Aah.

I'll be just fine pretending I'm not,
I'm far from lonely & it's all that I've got.(2x)

I guess I remember every glance you shot me.
Unharmed, I'm losing weight & somebody heat.
Eyes closed so hard I stopped your heart from beating,
So deep that I didn't even scream, "Fuck me".

Aah Aah
I'll be just fine pretending I'm not,
I'm far from lonly & it's all that I've got.(2x)

It's all that I've got.(6x)

So deep that it didn't even bleed & catch me,
So deep that I didn't even scream "Fuck me."

I'll be just fine pretending I'm not,
I'm far from lonly & it's all that I've got.(2x)

And it's all that I've got.(3x)

Quick movie review

Assault on Precinct 13
2005
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, Maria Bello, Jeffrey Atkins

An extremely entertaining, well-made American action film. 'Nuff said.

Grade: A-

Maria Full of Grace
2004
Director: Joshua Marston
Starring: Catalina Sandino Moreno, Yenny Paola Vega, and Guilied Lopez.

I forgot to mention that I saw this film a few days ago on DVD and was completely astounded by it. The story is simple, girl needs money, decides to become drug mule, is pregnant, swallows some heroin pellets, goes to the US to get the money and shit the pellets, done. But the execution is more complex than that. Shit happens and the intensity starts to build. Honestly, my heart was pounding during many scenes of this film. But the film could not be excellent without the beautiful Catalina Sandino Moreno as Maria, our heroine. She truly deserves her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. This film is as simple as films get but it is also what makes it great.

Grade: A

Last year, the films "The Passion of the Christ" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" had so much controversy that it made people want to see it. Now, Clint Eastwood's recent film, "Million Dollar Baby," is now causing controversy because of its ending. Here is the article. I don't know why people keep on fucking slamming a film because of its content and the problem is they don't even fucking see the film before they fucking slam it. The ending of MDB is powerful, poignant, and incredibly poetic.

Take me quiz suckas!

Quick movie reviews and something else.....

Cellular
2004
Cellular is a highly enjoyable movie if you turn your brain off for a couple of hours. I enjoyed it a bit. Grade: B

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
2004
This is undoubtedly the best documentary I have ever seen about a rock band. You see Metallica at their most vulnerable and at their strongest. This could win Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards if only they would fucking nominate it. Grade: A

Hotel Rwanda
2004
One question: Why the fuck wasn't this nominated for Best Picture? Don Cheadle, one of the most underrated actors in the world, gives his best performance yet as Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager. Sophie Okenedo also has a great performance as Paul's wife, Tatiana. From beginning to end, this is truly one of the best pictures of last year. This should have been nominated instead of Finding Neverland or Ray. Grade: A
-----------------------------------------
Yes, Jet Li's next film, "Unleashed," is going to be rated R for "Strong brutal violence!" HOORAY!

The nominations for the 77th Academy Awards. My opinions are placed beneath each category.

Best Picture
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) A Forward Pass Appian Way/IMFIMF Production

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, A FilmColony Production

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) A Warner Bros. Pictures Production

"Ray" (Universal) Universal Pictures/Bristol Bay Production

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox) Michael London, Producer, A Sideways Productions, Inc. Production

I expect "The Aviator" to take the cake this year but it would be great to see either "Sideways" or "Million Dollar Baby" taking it. If I was voting though, it would be "Million Dollar Baby" all the way. One thing that bugs me though is that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" wasn't even nominated in this category. What a travesty!

Directing
Martin Scorsese, "The Aviator"
Clint Eastwood, "Million Dollar Baby"
Taylor Hackford, "Ray"
Alexander Payne, "Sideways"
Mike Leigh, "Vera Drake"

Again, Scorsese is going to win this one because of his almost impeccable body of work. But again, they're awarding not the best. I'd choose Clint Eastwood as best director because his direction in "Million Dollar Baby" is just simply brilliant. Michel Gondry's exasperating work from "Eternal Sunshine" has been snubbed for Taylor Hackford. What another travesty? Gondry's work totally made "Eternal Sunshine" into the film it is!

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Don Cheadle, "Hotel Rwanda"
Johnny Depp, "Finding Neverland"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Aviator"
Clint Eastwood, "Million Dollar Baby"
Jamie Foxx, "Ray"

Jamie Foxx is no doubt going to win the Oscar for his role as Ray Charles. It would be nice to Leonardo DiCaprio win an Oscar for "The Aviator" as his performance is absolutely flawless BUT if I was voting I'd vote for Clint Eastwood because his final scene is just incredibly heartbreaking. I'm disappointed to not see Paul Giamatti on this list. Seeing Johnny Depp on this list makes me wonder if the Academy nominated him for his performance or merely his Irish accent. The best actors never win, right?

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening, "Being Julia"
Catalina Sandino Moreno, in "Maria Full of Grace"
Imelda Staunton, "Vera Drake"
Hilary Swank, "Million Dollar Baby"
Kate Winslet, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

Hilary Swank all the way, baby. Her role as Maggie Fitzgerald is just perfection (confirming that "Boys Don't Cry" wasn't a fluke). It would be nice though for Kate Winslet to win for her role as Clementine. Annette Bening doesn't even deserve to be in here. Uma Thurman and her performance in Kill Bill: Volume 2 was much better. Again, girls who kill people don't warm up to the Academy.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Alda, "The Aviator"
Thomas Haden Church, "Sideways"
Jamie Foxx, "Collateral"
Morgan Freeman, "Million Dollar Baby"
Clive Owen, "Closer"

Thomas Haden Church is still the frontrunner on this list despite Clive Owen taking the Golden Globe. I'd pick Church for the Oscar but if Freeman takes this, I won't be disappointed. It's nice to see Alan Alda to be nominated for his great work as the sinister Senator from "The Aviator."

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett, "The Aviator"
Laura Linney, "Kinsey"
Virginia Madsen, "Sideways"
Sophie Okonedo, "Hotel Rwanda"
Natalie Portman, "Closer"

It would be an injustice if Virginia Madsen loses this Oscar. Sure, Natalie Portman was hot in Closer but we award the performance not the hotness. It's great to see a surprise pick here with Sophie Okonedo from "Hotel Rwanda." Madsen for the Oscar with Blanchett as the subsitute.

Animated Feature Film
"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Brad Bird

"Shark Tale" (DreamWorks) Bill Damaschka

"Shrek 2" (DreamWorks) Andrew Adamson

If "The Incredibles" doesn't win this, I'm going to shoot myself in the head. I don't know what the hell "Shark Tale" is doing here. "The Polar Express" was decent and much better than "Shark Tale." Why wasn't that nominated?

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
"Before Sunset" (Warner Independent PicturesWarner Independent Pictures) Screenplay by Richard Linklater& Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke - Story by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Screenplay by David Magee

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) Screenplay by Paul Haggis

"The Motorcycle Diaries" Screenplay by José Rivera (Focus Features and Film Four)

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox) Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

Why is "Before Sunset" nominated for best adapted screenplay? I thought this was an original work? Choosing "Sideways" is definitely enticing but most of the performances in the film were mostly improvised. "Million Dollar Baby" again for this one.

Writing (Original Screenplay)
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Written by John Logan

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman (Focus Features) Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth

"Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists in association with Written by Keir Pearson & Terry George, Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.)

"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Written by Brad Bird

"Vera Drake" (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Written by Mike Leigh Council in association with Inside Track Films)

Oh my God. Thank God I'm not voting. "The Incredibles" or "Eternal Sunshine?" What a dilemma. I'd give "The Incredibles" the edge though.

Art Direction
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Art Direction: Gemma Jackson, Set Decoration: Trisha Edwards

"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount and DreamWorks) Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs, Set Decoration: Cheryl A. Carasik

"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Anthony Pratt, Set Decoration: Celia Bobak

"A Very Long Engagement" (Warner Independent Pictures) Art Direction: Aline Bonetto

"The Aviator" hands down.

Cinematography
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Robert Richardson

"House of Flying Daggers" (Sony Pictures Classics) Zhao Xiaoding

"The Passion of the Christ" (Icon and Newmarket) Caleb Deschanel

"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.) John Mathieson

"A Very Long Engagement" Bruno Delbonnel (Warner Independent Pictures)

It's nice to see "The Passion of the Christ" being nominated but it won't win here. Robert Richardson's work on "The Aviator" is phenomenal but first timer Zhao Xiaoding's work on "House of Flying Daggers" was out of this world. "House of Flying Daggers" for me.

Costume Design
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Sandy Powell

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Alexandra Byrne

"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount and DreamWorks) Colleen Atwood

"Ray" (Universal) Sharen Davis

"Troy" (Warner Bros.) Bob Ringwood

Where's the nomination for Edna Mode for "The Incredibles?!" Hehe, just kidding. Sad to see Emi Wada for her work in "House of Flying Daggers" being snubbed in favor of the piece of shit "Troy." I'll be picking "The Aviator."

Documentary Feature
"Born into Brothels" (THINKFilm) Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski - A Red Light Films, Inc. Production

"The Story of the Weeping Camel" (THINKFilm) Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa - A Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München Production

"Super Size Me" (Roadside Attractions/Samuel Morgan Spurlock Goldwyn Films) A Kathbur Productions/The Con Production

"Tupac: Resurrection" (Paramount) Lauren Lazin and Karolyn Ali An MTV - Amaru Entertainment, Inc. Production

"Twist of Faith" Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt - A Chain Camera Pictures Production

It's Tupac vs. the Big Mac. One's dead. One is delicious. "Super Size Me" all the way, baby.

Editing
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Thelma Schoonmaker

"Collateral" (DreamWorks and Paramount) Jim Miller and Paul Rubell

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Matt Chesse

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) Joel Cox

"Ray" (Universal) Paul Hirsch

The editing has to go to "The Aviator." This is one category where "The Aviator" triumphs over "Million Dollar Baby."

Foreign Language Film
"As It Is in Heaven" Sweden, A GF Studios Production

"The Chorus (Les Choristes)" France, A Galatée Films/Pathé Renn/France 2, Cinema/Novo Arturo Films/Vega Film AG Production

"Downfall" Germany, A Constantin Film Production

"The Sea Inside" Spain, A Sogecine and Himenóptero Production

"Yesterday" South Africa, A Videovision Entertainment Production

This category has caused a shitstorm of controversy due to the fact that "House of Flying Daggers" wasn't even nominated in this category. And the other fact that "The Chorus" took it's place (it's a shitty film). Everyone thought that "House of Flying Daggers" was a lock at least for a nomination. This category is also missing "A Very Long Engagement," "Tae Guk Gi," "The Motorcycle Diaries," because of the idiotic rules the Academy has on foreign films.

Makeup
"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount and DreamWorks) Valli O’Reilly and Bill Corso

"The Passion of the Christ" (Icon and Newmarket) Keith Vanderlaan and Christien Tinsley

"The Sea Inside" (Fine Line Features and Sogepaq) Jo Allen and Manuel García

This is hard. Jesus looking like shit or Jim Carrey looking weird? I'm going for "The Passion of the Christ." It won't win though.

Music (Score)
"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" John Williams (Warner Bros.)

"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" Thomas Newman (Paramount and DreamWorks)

"The Passion of the Christ" (Icon and Newmarket) John Debney

"The Village" (Buena Vista) James Newton Howard

I'm amazed that Michael Giacchino's work here for "The Incredibles" wasn't even nominated. That film certainly had the best score of the year. It's nice to see James Newton Howard's great score being nominated for "The Village" (the only thing in the film that didn't suck). I'd pick James Newton Howard.

Music (Song)
"Accidentally In Love" from Music by Adam Duritz, Charles Gillingham,
"Shrek 2" (DreamWorks) Jim Bogios, David Immergluck, Matthew Mallery and David Bryson, Lyric by Adam Duritz and Daniel Vickrey

"Al Otro Lado Del Río" from Music and Lyric by Jorge Drexler
"The Motorcycle Diaries" (Focus Features and Film Four)

"Believe" from Music and Lyric by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.)

"Learn To Be Lonely" from Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.) Lyric by Charles Hart

"Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" from Music by Bruno Coulais
"The Chorus (Les Choristes)" (Miramax) Lyric by Christophe Barratier

Eh. That's all I have to say. "Accidentally in Love" and "Believe" are corny as hell. Two, I don't even understand and the Phantom of the Opera one is just plain laughable. Where's Matt Stone and Trey Parker's "America, Fuck Yeah!"

Sound Editing
"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Michael Silvers and Randy Thom

"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.) Randy Thom and Dennis Leonard

"Spider-Man 2" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Paul N.J. Ottosson

"Incredibles" hands down. All the way.

Sound Mixing
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Tom Fleischman and Petur Hliddal

"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Randy Thom, Gary A. Rizzo and Doc Kane

"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.) Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis Sands and William B. Kaplan

"Ray" (Universal) Scott Millan, Greg Orloff, Bob Beemer and Steve Cantamessa

"Spider-Man 2" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Joseph Geisinger

Again, "The Incredibles" must win this.

Visual Effects
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (Warner Bros.) Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, John Richardson and Bill George

"I, Robot" (20th Century Fox) John Nelson, Andrew R. Jones, Erik Nash and Joe Letteri

"Spider-Man 2" (Sony Pictures Releasing) John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara and John Frazier

All I can say is: Where the fuck is the nomination for "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"?

Here's a song I recommend to everyone:

"Walking With a Ghost" - Tegan and Sara

I can't get this freaking song out of my head!!!!!!!

Forgot to mention this in my last post.

Ever since Jay-Z and Linkin Park have been collaborating for mash ups, mash up songs have been a hot commodity and Party Ben has done some amazing things.

http://www.partyben.com/

His "Boulevard of Broken Songs" mash up of Green Day, Travis, Oasis, and Aerosmith is completely amazing. His mash ups of Daft Punk/Queen, Incubus/No Doubt, U2/Way Out West, and The Hives/The Prodigy are also worth of mention.

I'm wondering why Blogger is suddenly going SO slow today.
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The 2005 Academy Award Nominations will be presented tomorrow and I'm expecting the Aviator, Sideways, and Million Dollar Baby to have numerous nominations. The Aviator is expectedly going to have the most nominations and hopefully Zhang Yimou will be nominated for best director for his incredible job for House of Flying Daggers.
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There are a shitload of movies I'm anticipating in 2005 and here are a few choice favorites:

Constantine (dir. Francis Lawrence, star. Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz) The teaser trailer for this film looks stupid but the much cooler and edgier THEATRICAL trailer made me want to watch this film. Can Keanu get out of his Neo persona to portray the dark and emotionally tortured John Constantine? Only watching this film will tell.

Batman Begins (dir. Christopher Nolan, star. Christian Bale, Ken Watanabe) Yes, the last Batman film sucked major ass and only director Nolan can bring Batman back from the dead. The cast is among the best ever assembled for a comic book film (Bale, Watanabe, Neeson, Oldman, Freeman. NEED I SAY MORE?)

Kung Fu Hustle (dir. Stephen Chow, star. Yuen Wah, Stephen Chow) Watching this film on a bootleg just sucks. Hopefully, Sony Pictures Classics will do this film justice and release it WIDE.

Kingdom of Heaven (dir. Ridley Scott, star. Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons) The trailer for this film looks amazing and no doubt will this film be nominated for a few Academy Awards in 2006.

War of the Worlds (dir. Steven Spielberg, star. Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins) Spielberg has said that this film will be the costliest ever and here's hoping that the film will as good.

Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (dir. George Lucas, star. Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christiansen) Okay, okay. I hated Episode II (I actually liked Episode I) with a passion but here's hoping Lucas can pull a monkey out of his ass for this one. Can the third time be a charm or mostly a dud?

The Jacket (dir. John Maybury, star. Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley) This film looks fucked up PERIOD.

Films I'm LEAST ANTICIPATING in 2005:

The Dukes of Hazzard (dir. Jay Chandrasekhar, star. Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott)
It looked okay with Knoxville and Scott in the lead roles but then Miss Suck herself, Jessica Simpson, had to spoil it. Why are so many music stars suddenly all these film roles?

Fantastic Four (dir. Tim Story, star. Michael Chiklis, Jessica Alba) Jessica Alba looks so hot in this film it makes me want to just rip off all her clothes and fuck her six ways til' Sunday. BUT, the trailer makes the movie look like shit and the last line of the trailer is really corny ("you know that looked cool") Eh? I thought that looked lame!

Here's what has been happening the past couple of days:

- sprained my knee on Wednesday from slipping on some black ice.
- found out that Jorge is getting free Stuff Magazine (and he doesn't want it. Who doesn't want free semi-porn? :)
- freaked out earlier this morning because the wireless internet was working (don't worry I fixed it)
- began ripping songs from my CDs to my hard drive with Exact Audio Copy (complete with AccurateRip for best possible quality)
- found out I'm getting A's for Freshman Seminar and Development & Pre-Production class.

My picks for the Golden Globes later tonight on who should win and who will win.

Updated: The Golden Globes was very predictable with a couple of surprises for Clive Owen for Best Supporting Actor, Natalie Portman for Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director for Clint Eastwood. I don't know why Desperate Housewives won for best TV Comedy series though. Expect the Academy Awards to be way different though. Supporting may go to Church and Madsen, screenplay may go to Kaufman for Eternal Sunshine, and director is may inevitably go to Scorsese.

Score:
Million Dollar Baby
Finding Neverland
Sideways
The Aviator
Spanglish
What should win: Million Dollar Baby
What will win: The Aviator
What did win: The Aviator (1 for 1)

Foreign Language Film:
The Chorus
House of Flying Daggers
The Motorcycle Diaries
The Sea Inside
A Very Long Engagement
What should win: House of Flying Daggers
What will win: The Sea Inside
What did win: The Sea Inside (2 for 2)

Song:
Shrek 2
Polar Express
The Phantom of the Opera
Hotel Rwanda
Alfie
What should win: I don't really care, all the choices stink.
What will win: Hotel Rwanda
What did win: Alfie (2 for 3)

Screenplay:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Closer
Sideways
What should win: Sideways
What will win: Sideways
What did win: Sideways (3 for 4)

Actor - Supporting Role
David Carradine, Kill Bill: Volume 2
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Jamie Foxx, Collateral
Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Clive Owen, Closer
Who should win: Thomas Haden Church
Who will win: Thomas Haden Church
Who did win: Clive Owen (3 for 5)

Actress - Supporting role:
Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
Laura Linney, Kinsey
Virginia Madsen, Sideways
Natalie Portman, Closer
Meryl Streep, The Manchurian Candidate
Who should win: Virginia Madsen
Who will win: Virginia Madsen
Who did win: Natalie Portman (3 for 6) Man, was she hot tonight.

Actress - Musical/Comedy:
Annette Bening, Being Julia
Ashley Judd, De-Lovely
Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera
Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Renee Zellweger, Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason
Who should win: Kate Winslet
Who will win: Annette Bening
Who did win: Annette Bening (4 for 7)

Actress - Drama:
Scarlett Johansson, A Love Song for Bobby Long
Nicole Kidman, Birth
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: Volume 2
Who should win: Hilary Swank
Who will win: Imelda Staunton
Who did win: Hilary Swank (4 for 8)

Best Director:
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Marc Forster, Finding Neverland
Mike Nichols, Closer
Alexander Payne, Sideways
Martin Scorsese, The Aviator
Who should win: Clint Eastwood
Who will win: Martin Scorsese
Who did win: Clint Eastwood (4 for 9)

Actor - Musical/Comedy
Jim Carrey, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jamie Foxx, Ray
Paul Giamatti, Sideways
Kevin Kline, De-Lovely
Kevin Spacey, Beyond the Sea
Who should win: Jim Carrey
Who will win: Jamie Foxx (no doubt)
Who did win: Jamie Foxx (5 for 10)

Actor - Drama
Javier Bardem, The Sea Inside
Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda
Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland
Leo Dicaprio, The Aviator
Liam Neeson, Kinsey
Who should win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Who will win: Johnny Depp
Who did win: Leonardo DiCaprio (5 for 11)

Motion Picture - Musical Comedy:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Incredibles
The Phantom of the Opera
Ray
Sideways
What should win: The Incredibles
What will win: Sideways
What did win: Sideways (6 for 12)

Motion Picture, Drama
The Aviator
Closer
Finding Neverland
Hotel Rwanda
Kinsey
Million Dollar Baby
What should win: Million Dollar Baby
What will win: The Aviator
What did win: The Aviator (7 for 13)

My accuracy rate: 53.85%

Ugh.

Feng Shui was fucking horrible. The acting was horrible, the story was horrible, and so-called "twist" ending was horrible. The cinematography was pretty good but that's all I can say. The music was pretty bad as well.

What's so funny is that on the BTS feature on the DVD, Kris Aquino (star of the film) has the audacity to say that the film is just as good as the horror films from Korea and Japan. You gotta me kidding me, Kris. "The script was so good I couldn't put it down." Oh my God, I think I'm gonna die from laughter. What are you? On crack?

As I was watching the movie, all I could do is laugh. And laugh. AND LAUGH. Yes folks, it was that bad.

And this film made over 100 million pesos in the Philippines.

I received an e-mail from someone (most likely a Filipino) a few days ago who told me that I was too harsh on Filipino films, that they're that way because they don't have enough money. Dude, Blair Witch Project was shot for only $2,500 and the ending was fucking scary. Sure, the film made me want to throw up BUT it was scary.

I'll post more on this shit later....

Million Dollar Baby
2004
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman.

I expected this movie to be good but not this good. Wow. What a film. This review is going to be short because the less you know about this film, the better it truly is. I love this film. Too bad, I saw this in 2005 because it really beats the Aviator is almost every aspect (except cinematography and costume design, of course). The ending of this film still haunts me, it is poetic, poignant, and deeply emotional. I almost cried at the end, for sure. Roger Ebert has said, "Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true." This is a sentence that really defines this film. I felt that Eastwood previous film, Mystic River, was too overrated for its own good but here, Million Dollar Baby is truly great. The perfect American film.

Grade: A+

The shit hit the ceiling fan....literally.
Had quite a shitty day. Dad screamed at me for leaving my ceiling fan on. I felt like shit after that. My brother laughed, then I laughed....and Maggie cried. My brother wanted to laugh as my dad was scolding me. I couldn't blame him, whenever my Dad scolds me, it's pretty funny. I wish my bro could have a hidden camera to tape my dad whenever he scolds me. Then we could watch it over and over again. And laugh. And laugh. And laugh some more.

Math is a sickness.
It's nice to hear that I won't be having math class later today due to my teacher's illness. At last, she had the time to tell us that she was getting sick before class even began. This is the first time in the last four times she's been sick that she e-mailed. My teacher's nice and quite attractive but man, you gotta tell your students whether you're coming to school or not.

Brad & Jen.....or should it be Daniel and Jen??????
Sad to hear that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are getting separated. Thought that one was gonna go all the way but alas, it didn't. I think it's the ego thing. I heard that Pitt was having phone sex calls with Angelina Jolie. If I was married and was having phone sex calls with Angelina Jolie, I'd divorce my wife too. Heh heh. I think Marc Antony and Jennifer Lopez are going to be next.

Another bitch who rightly deserves eating her cake and throwing it up too!
Anyone see that thing last week when Ashlee Simpson was booed off the stage at the Orange Bowl. Wow, that was horrible......for her, but hilarious for me. To be honest, she sings like a whore who has sucked too many cocks or smoked 25 packs of cigarettes in one hour. The only reason why she's getting all this shit is because she's Jessica Simpson's sister.

Sister, Sister...remember that TV show? Oh yeah, it was cancelled.
What's up with all this shit with the sibling thing? Now Britney Spears's sister is going to be on a show on her own. It looks fucked up and it is fucked up. Why do they keep on giving these siblings shit of their own when the people around them know they suck? It's like people smelling shit around that particular person and all that person can smell is Calvin Klein's Obsession.

Rap's rare delicious delights.
I don't really like rap.....Eminem's stuff can be over the top (I still consider his "Stan" to be a modern masterpiece, though) and 50 Cent's shit is just plain stupid. Pimp this and pimp that. But there's some shit I like. I still remember the first rap album I bought and it was Jay-Z's Volume 2: Hard Knock Life. I don't listen to it anymore as my hatred for rap increased since it's been killing rock the past few years. But the collaboration between Linkin Park/Jay-Z is mighty delicious. I admit, these tracks have made my head bob up and down. Jorge, I need to rip these tracks for me hard drive yo.

As for rock, what happened to it? I mean, there's still rock but what happened to the head banging rock genre? Like Foo Fighters, Audioslave, or Rage Against the Machine? The shit that Q101 has been playing is no longer rock ROCK but punk rock, emo, or progressive rock. I do like these new types of rock but the only right now is Velvet Revolver? Come on man, Velvet Revolver truly is the shit but that's it?! What happened to the bands I mentioned? Are they on hiatus?

Ah, the days when the Real World, Road Rules, and Daria were the only shows on MTV.
I still remember the good old days when MTV and VH1 still played music videos 15 hours a day. I still remember the amazing Radiohead music video of "Paranoid Android," the thrashing intensity mini-masterpiece of Blur's "Song 2," the insanity that is Prodigy's "Breathe," or the oddball but yet spectacular music vid of Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity." Don't studios make anymore great music videos? Remember the Cardigan's when their music video "Lovefool" or the simplicity of the vids of Oasis? I still remember Paula Cole's armpit hairs and when she would raise her arms hell would freeze over. The music video that really is imprinted in my mind is the Verve Pipe's "The Freshman." It's remarkable complex lyrics with the indefinite simplicity of the music video made me love the song even more. Reading this list made me want to download some vids off the net. I still remember that Spice Girls music video "2 Become 1." Or the manic perfection that is Alanis Morissette's "Ironic." The George Melies-inspired work of art that is Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight."

Right now, the only music videos that truly capture the mind is Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For" an intense, vibrant explosion of colors and images fused with the dizzying array of Stefani's tones and melodies. The originality and vibrancy of Incubus' "Megalomaniac," another music video with a reason to have MTV.

I realized now that between 1995-1999 that music videos were definite pieces of art compared to the hunks of shit spoon-fed to us. It seems that only 1 out of 50 music videos are considered good and with good reason have a part in the film world that truly means something. Where the hell are the Radiohead music videos when you need them?

Quick movie reviews

Meet the Fockers
Just as funny as the first. 'Nuff said. Why do so many critics hate this film? B+

Kung Fu Hustle
From the bootleg I saw, the film was really hilarious and the fight scenes were jaw dropping, to say the least. Not as funny as Shaolin Soccer but a little bit more entertaining. A

Napoleon Dynamite
I've said that this film is stupid and it looks stupid. It's supposed to be a comedy but I didn't laugh. Sure, I grinned at a few scenes but the film IS entertaining, well made, and well shot. I just still don't get why so many people find this film funny. B

Songs that I loved in 2004:

Slipknot - Duality, Before I Forget
Franz Ferdinand - This Fire, Take Me Out
Jimmy Eat World - Pain, Work, Drugs For Me, 23
Green Day - American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me When September Ends
Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For
Morrissey - First of the Gang to Die
Jem - They
Interpol - Slow Hands
Jamie Cullum - All at Sea
Matt Stone & Trey Parker - America, Fuck Yeah!, Montage
Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty & Float On
My Chemical Romance - I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
Papa Roach - Not Listening
U2 - Vertigo, All Because of You
Sum 41 - We're All to Blame
The Killers - Mr. Brightside, Andy You're a Star, Somebody Told Me
Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man
Cake - No Phone
Chris Botti - Time to Say Goodbye
Fatboy Slim - Wonderful Night
Chevelle - Vitamin R (Leaving Us All Along)
The Crystal Method - Legion of Boom
Ben Jelen - Come On, Setting of the Sun
Snow Patrol - Run, Chocolate
Velvet Revolver - Slither, Fall to Pieces, Dirty Pretty Things
The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know, This is the Last Time, She Has No Time, We Might As Well Be Strangers
Switchfoot - Meant to Live, Dare You to Move, On Fire, Twenty-Four

Even though this is belated, I'd like to say happy 21st birthday to my cousin, Felice (aka Maria Felicia, aka Felicia, aka Fifi, aka the bassist). As a Japanese guy would say: You are super cool hero girl!

I hope everyone had a great new year. I hope to have a great 2005 ahead of me. I hope to get faster, stronger, slimmer, smarter in 2005. I also hope to get scholarships for Columbia next year. I hope to make some enemies into friends (or probably vice versa?). 2004 was a great and horrible year for me but fortunately most of the former.

In 2004, here are my favorites:

Song I'll remember of 2004: Usher - "Yeah" (I don't know. I don't really like Usher but his song just got into my head this past year.)

Favorite album of 2004: Keane - Hopes and Fears (Absolutely the best album of the year with succulent melodies and beautiful harmonies).

Favorite TV show of 2004: "Lost" (I loved this TV show and it's getting better and better with each subsequent episode).

Favorite DVD of 2004: The Simpsons - The Complete Fifth Season (I've never watched a DVD set more than this).

Favorite band(s) of 2004: (tie) Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, and the Killers (these bands just gave rock a new and astonishingly great sound).

Favorite song of 2004: Snow Patrol - Run (Loved the lyrics and the beautiful string arrangements at the end of the piece. Beautiful is one word to describe this song.)

Favorite film of 2004: The Aviator - Martin Scorsese (A director and his crew at its peak. The best American film of the year).

Song that annoyed me the most in 2004: Jojo - Get Out & Baby It's You (Nothing's more disgusting than a 13-year old trying to be a slut and singing about it).

Movie that annoyed me in 2004: Alexander - Oliver Stone (Stone said that people just don't get his film. Get a clue, Oliver, we get your film but it just sucks).

Funniest line(s) in a movie in 2004: Anchorman - "I'm in a glass case of emotion!" "It works 60% of the time, all the time." "No commercials! No mercy!"

Best scene in a film in 2004: Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen talking about wine in "Sideways."