Tagged: Slumdog Millionaire
The Day After….
Luckily, I didn’t have to sit around moping about the Yankees and what might have been. I had a full plate of previously scheduled activities, thanks to my membership in the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Cinema Society. This morning’s screening was “127 Hours,” the forthcoming film from Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle. Opening next month, it’s based on the book by Aron Ralston.
You know. The guy who was trapped by a boulder while hiking in Utah and had to amputate his own arm? Not a very uplifting story, you’re thinking, but think again. Boyle has taken Ralston’s harrowing experience and, while preserving the suspense and drama of the ordeal, actually manages to find humor in it and force you to come away feeling that life is worth living! Here’s the trailer.
James Franco gives a performance that’s sure to get him nominated for an Oscar. So unless you have a wicked case of claustrophobia watching people in tight spaces or can’t deal with one very graphic scene (you can always hide your eyes during it), I highly recommend the movie.
Afterwards, there was a reception for Danny Boyle. So I spent the afternoon mingling, eating tasty hors d’oeuvres and trying to forget that my team would not be playing Game 7 tonight.
I was doing fine until someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, “So much for your Yankees. May they rest in peace.”
I whirled around and said, “They’re not DEAD. They just lost.”
I must have put some serious attitude on my response because the person moved away very quickly and started talking to another guest. Obviously, I need to do a better job of getting a life than I thought.
Tonight is a friend’s birthday dinner. I had told her I couldn’t come, thinking there would be a Game 7, but now I’ll be in attendance. I will try to smile a lot and not snap at anybody. I really will.
Saturday’s Yankees Headline: CC Hurls
I’m not talking about pitching. Apparently, Sabathia was taken down by a case of stomach flu and couldn’t complete his workout.
(Here’s an AP photo of Nick Swisher doing his best imitation of CC driving the porcelain bus.)I sincerely hope the bug isn’t contagious, because the very last thing the Yankees need right now is a clubhouse full of upchuckers.
On to a more pleasant subject: the Academy Awards.
I’m excited about tomorrow night’s show (I’ll be live blogging), even though it’ll probably last for hours and people will make boring speeches and Hugh Jackman isn’t my idea of an A-list host – plus I’m still miffed that Clint Eastwood/Gran Torino and Bruce Springsteen/The Wrestler weren’t nominated. On Oscars eve, here are my predictions.
The nominees are:
Best Actor
Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button)
Richard Jenkins (The Visitor)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Who should win: Sean Penn
Who will win: Mickey Rourke
(Sean has already been nominated five times and won once, so I pick Mickey to take the prize. Hollywood loves a comeback story, and he’s sure to say something odd and endearing up at the podium.)
Best Actress
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Melissa Leo (Frozen River)
Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Who should win: Melissa Leo
Who will win: Kate Winslet
(Kate is the new Meryl and it’s her year. As amazing as Melissa Leo was, nobody saw Frozen River; she’s lucky to have been nominated.)
Best Picture
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Frost/Nixon
Benjamin Button
Who should win: Slumdog Millionaire
Who will win: Slumdog Millionaire
(I started to get Slumdog Fatigue a few weeks ago when the movie won all the run-up awards, but I still think it’ll bring home the gold.)
The only remaining question is….Which of these should I wear?
I really like the gown in the bottom row, second from the right, but who am I kidding. I’ll end up wearing this.
Movie Break – “Slumdog Millionaire”
Do yourself a favor. Go see this movie.
“Slumdog Millionaire” has been in theaters for a few weeks, so maybe you’ve already had the pleasure. But I finally got around to seeing it this afternoon – my husband and I always try to sneak in a film on Christmas Day – and now I understand why all the reviewers have been raving. It’s amazing – my personal “Best Picture of the Year.”It’s the story of an orphaned boy from the slums of Mumbai who survives unimaginable poverty and cruelty and somehow manages to enjoy life.
His fortunes change when he grows up and becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” to attract the attention of the girl he loves.
British director Danny Boyle (“Transpotting”) has created a movie that explodes with color and passion and always keeps you guessing. I’m not surprised that he’s been nominated for a Golden Globe; so has the movie and the screenplay. Shot on the streets of India with unknown actors, “Slumdog” is so worth your time. Unlike most of the other Oscar contenders, this one will have you leaving the theater with a smile.
Here’s the trailer. Back to baseball tomorrow.
Confessions of a She-Fan 