The Hollywood

I grew up a block away from The Hollywood Theatre, a once glamorous art deco movie house. The Hollywood opened in 1935 closing 52 years later in 1987. I was 9 years old when it closed, but remember the theatre vividly and fondly.

A few weeks ago, The Hollywood was open to the public. My friends Meg & Mark were with me and I likely bored them as I excitedly exclaimed, "I remember watching E.T. up there!" and "Over there was a Pac-Man video game table. Remember those? Oh all the big kids got to play on that, they were so cool." Amazingly, despite all of the decay from being closed for 22 years I could still see what it once was and it remarkably felt the same.

It was phenomenal to be inside the theatre and to have all those old memories jogged. But more striking was all the memories people shared while walking through. We ran into my grandpa there. He was with 2 friends who he grew up with blocks away from the theatre. The three of them strolled around reminscing over movies they'd seen there the pennies they saved for admission, and the sodas they'd shared at the drugstore on the corner after. I overheard people talking about seeing Star Wars, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf & Splash. It was a little bit moving.

I lingered in the theatre for a while, not feeling quite ready to leave. There is no set future for the Hollywood and a lot of talk of what should or shouldn't happen with it. So, I just wanted to savor it a little longer and try to memorize details of what was left. When I walked out the door, I looked back & made a wish that the next time I enter those doors it will be to see a film inside an again glamorous movie house.

xoxx

I liked 'Benjamin Button'

I didn't want to. I didn't even want to see it.

A few friends have seen it & had nothing good to say...but it was nominated for an Oscar so I had to & I did & I liked it.

So, you should go see it too..those 3 hours will fly by. I promise.
xoxx

re: Oscar Night!

Wow! No Country For Old Men kinda swept: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay & Supporting Actor! Cheers to my fellow Minnesotans, Joel & Ethan Coen! Thanks for reviving and modernizing the beloved genre of Western.

I was happy with all the winners. Javier Bardem & Marion Cotilliard's speeches made me cry and Tilda Swinton's made me laugh. As far as dresses go, Helen Miren & Hillary Swank get my vote for Best Dresses with Jessica Alba as runner up. But Handsome Randy & I kicked ourselves when Jon Stewart mentioned Jessica Alba's pregnancy just as we finished commenting that her dress wasn't very flattering because it made her look pregnant. Oops, I guess it looks lovely.

Regarding Diablo Cody's win for Best Original Screenplay for Juno: "HOLY SHIT!!" was my response. I am sincerely happy & feel that it's deserved. As for my comments in my last posting regarding Juno, well, I stand behind them. I would have been disappointed if the film would have won for Best Picture, Director, or if Ellen Page would have won for Best Actress. The film was not Oscar worthy for those categories. But for Screenplay, that's were it should win and I'm glad it did.

Happy Oscars!

xoxx

Oscar Night!

I enjoy Oscar night to the point that I'm kind of a nerd about it. I used to go to Oscar parties but I always got frustrated when people talked during the speeches. so, tonight Handsome Randy & I are going to make a nice dinner and sit on our sofa oohing and aahing over the dresses (okay, that will probably be just me) and cheer for faves.

I try to see all the nominated films before the program, and this year I did a pretty good job, 11 out of 19. The 8 that I didn't get to see were no longer in the theatres by the time the nominations were announced. Sadly, I only saw 2 of 5 films that hold Best Actress nominations and 2 of the 5 that hold Supporting Actress nominations. These are my two favorite categories probably due to my own acting background. I digress.

Here are my picks* for the categories which I was able to see all the nominated films.
Picture: There Will Be Blood or No Country for Old Men
Director: Diving Bell and The Butterfly or There Will Be Blood
Cinematography: Diving Bell and The Butterfly
Supporting Actor: Hal Holbrook, Into The Wild

*My picks do not equal predictions, they are the films that I would vote for if I were a member of The Academy.

On Juno
There a lot of peeps out there rooting for Juno. I loved Juno. But I don't think it was an especially intricate film and I suppose I'm a little elitist in that I feel Oscar Wins should be intricate and challenging projects executed perfectly.
Yes, it was funny, of course it was. I laughed the whole way through. But I put it in the same place as Superbad and Napoleon Dynamite and I don't think those are Oscar worthy films either, though they do have a special place in my heart. This film just had good timing in that it was light, refreshing and in the genre of quirky/funny/nerdy-hipster that has finally warmed into the mainstream. And for that it highly deserves credit.

xoxx

one more motion picture to see

Charlie Wilson's War.

check it out, I think you'll be glad you did.

xoxx

motion picture recommendation

Juno.

so funny & so good.

go see it & tell me what you think.

xoxx

Here's to Hattie

Tonight, Handsome Randy & I were lying on the sofa flipping through cable channels & stumbled upon the last hour of Gone With the Wind. We watched sort of half giggling at various film elements especially the gender roles. Rhett Butler was a "Man's Man" without any question and as a person who holds a degree in Women's Studies Scarlet O'Hara/Butler gives me many reasons to shake my head.

That aside, the progressiveness of the film was not lost on us. The role of "Mammy" played by Hattie McDaniel lead to the first Oscar nomination and win of an African American. As we watched the conclusion of this landmark film we marveled at her and her role.

xoxx