Monday, February 7, 2011

Tear to Your Eye

Is there a song that never ceases to make you cry?

Mine is "Make You Feel My Love" (written by Bob Dylan from 1997's Time Out of Mind).  I've heard versions by Adele, Billy Joel, Joan Osborne, Bryan Ferry, Garth Brooks...and it doesn't matter.  That song gets me every time.

Monday, January 31, 2011

SAG Awards

The awards ceremony was quite staid and the winners were predictable.

With that said, the winners were gracious and gave heartfelt speeches.  Colin Firth won Best Actor for The King's Speech and at this point, this man can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned.  He is charm personified and I'm happy to see him getting accolades and awards, building upon his breathtaking performance in last year's A Single Man.

Natalie Portman seems to have the momentum to take home the Oscar with yet another win for Best Actress for Black Swan.  At one point this year, I predicted that the award would go to perennial bridesmaid, Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right).  I admit that I'm much more of a Bening fan, but Portman is most likely a lock now.

Supporting Actor and Actress awards went to Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, both from The Fighter.  Bale and Leo have consistently picked up trophies for their performances this season and have consistently shown feisty and sincere gratitude at the podium.

My favorite moment of the night belonged to the TV categories when the cast of Modern Family won the award for Best Ensemble Cast in a Comedy.  I let out a hearty hooray as the cast made its way to the stage.  If you haven't checked it out, that is one gem of a show.

Best Actor, TV Drama:  Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Best Actress, TV Drama:  Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Best Actor, TV Comedy:  Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Best Actress, TV Comedy:  Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Best Cast, TV Drama:  Boardwalk Empire
Best Cast, Motion Picture:  The King's Speech

Friday, December 31, 2010

Favorite Moments of 2010

An early morning boat ride off the Gulf coast of Florida with Mom, Pseudo Pop, the W's, and a Bloody Mary.  Oh, and dolphins too.

Celebrating Valentine's Day with G at a palm tree shrouded pool in Las Vegas.

Taking the train through upstate NY for our first visit to Montreal.  And then meeting new friends Liz and Victor while we were there.

Learning more about tea, drinking tea, shopping for tea related items, and having a tea party.

Watching the beautiful final episode of Lost and going through lots of tissues.

Starbucks moments in downtown Ann Arbor.  Just me, my iPod, and a book.

"Hey, Mom!  Feel like going to Chicago tomorrow?"  And we did.

Seeing Harry Potter 7.1 in New Orleans with friends Mark and Andrea at an adults only showing at a theater that serves food and cocktails during the film.

Visits from fab family and super friends, Venessa and Courtney.

Learning how to properly play golf and loving it.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Favorite Reads of 2010

 I read many books this year but these are the ones that have stayed with me.

longislandpress.com


tvtropes.org

elizabethstrout.com




bookeg.com

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Favorite Films of 2010

So not all of these films came out this year, but I did see them in 2010.

The Ghost Writer (starring Ewan McGregor)
I was wowed while watching it and I'm still wowed just thinking about it.  In fact, I think I'm going to place it in my Netflix queue after writing this post.

Inception (starring Leonardo DiCaprio)
Mind blowing, visually stunning, superbly acted...a puzzle within a puzzle within a puzzle (courtesy of puzzlemaster/director Christopher Nolan).

Miss Marples (starring Margaret Rutherford)
I read a handful of Agatha Christie novels this year and did some research about film versions.  I discovered a series of Miss Marple films from the early sixties and was completely charmed.  Rutherford IS Miss Jane Marple and she's a delight to watch.  I wish they'd made more.
(Murder, She Said, Murder at the Gallop, Murder Most Foul, Murder Ahoy!)

The Other Guys
I loved the sendup of cop buddy movies and I loved Mark Wahlberg in a comedy.  The movie theater's sound system stopped working about 3/4 of the way into the movie.  I didn't get to see the ending, but this still made my list.

Toy Story 3
Just under the wire.  G gave me this for Christmas and we watched it this week.  It's always fun to see these characters again, it's a fantastic story, and it made me cry like a baby.  Pixar can do no wrong.