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Oscarpalooza – If A Tree Falls

Apparently there’s a thing called “eco-terrorism.” Apparently in the early 2000s, a bunch of hippies in the pacific northwest, thought it would be awesome to burn shit. This documentary is about a bunch of these assholes who think the way to affect change is to burn shit. They’re morons. A group of them were arrested years later, and this documentary covers them. The main terrorist is not remorseful of what he’s done, and doesn’t seem to see the gravity of his crimes. Perhaps the liberal use of “terrorist” by the US Government is overkill, but my god, these people really have no idea of the impact of what they did,… Read More »Oscarpalooza – If A Tree Falls

Kiddie porn or privacy

Dear Mr. Harper, It’s very disappointing to hear that you one of your cabinet ministers is bandying about names as horrible as “child pornographer” to those who are campaigning for something as simple and respectable as privacy. You have respectable civil servants1 who are outspoken against this piece of legislation, and yet your Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews call anyone who is against a piece of legislation which could allow government and police access one’s online footprint warrantless to be on the side of child pornographers. This is disgusting. Mr. Harper, the government of Canada must stand apart from comments from this minister. Yours, Adam Linky Privacy Commissioners [↩]

Oscarpalooza – Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Apparently in 1993, in the United States, three young boys were murdered. Shortly afterward, three teenagers were arrested, tried, and convicted of these murders. One of whom was sentenced to lethal injection1. Back then, apparently an HBO documentary was made, and questioned the trial, and the guilt of the teenagers. It got a lot of attention. Then they made a follow up. I didn’t see either of these films, but since the third one was nominated for an Oscar, here we go… 17 years later, they’re still in prison. They’ve been appealing and appealing to no end. The same judge is still overseeing, and he won’t reopen the case. It goes on… Read More »Oscarpalooza – Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Oscarpalooza – Hell And Back Again

Ugh. This is a documentary about American soldiers in Afghanistan. I’ve heard some stories that don’t leave me with a high impression of US soldiers, and this documentary did little to help that. This soldier was shot a few days before his tour of duty ended. The film documents his time in Afghanistan and his time recovering at home with his wife. He’s a psychopath. He proudly proclaims that the reason he joined the US Marines was that he wanted to kill people. He also claims that the recruiters told him that was the best reason. Personally if I were a recruiting officer for my country’s forces, I would have… Read More »Oscarpalooza – Hell And Back Again

What Toronto City Council taught me

So it seems that if you’ve been found to be in breach of the city’s code of ethics for abusing your influence, the solution is to bide your time until you have greater influence and then you can walk away scot-free.

Oscarpalooza – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

I’d love to have insight into this film, but I don’t. I decided to watch it after getting rather upset, and hoped it would distract me, it didn’t. I had trouble following the plot and no desire to invest the energy into paying attention.

Oscarpalooza – Monsieur Lazhar

Monsieur Lazhar is nominated for Best Foreign Language film. In my country, it’s a domestic language. It was even made in my country. It’s the Canadian entry to to The Oscars. Last year, Canada’s entry was a film called Incendies. Both these films are about immigrants in Montreal. Both these films are depressing. However, beyond that, both these films are completely different. In a Montreal elementary school, a student is heading to class ahead of his classmates, finds the door locked, peaks in to find his teacher’s corpse hanging from the ceiling. Not a happy start. I hope to never work with elementary teachers who would do that to their… Read More »Oscarpalooza – Monsieur Lazhar

Oscarpalooza – Beginners

Watching his father die, and live his last years out of the closet, Ewan McGregor plays a man who sees love for the first time through his septuagenarian father’s eyes. As a child he was close to his mother, and saw her loneliness, this shaped his life view, and how he experienced love. After his father dies of cancer, he meets an actress at a party, and his mentality and attitudes towards his own future and how he lets others into his life. It has Christopher Plummer being FABULOUS as a gay and out man in his seventies. It also has this line, “Jewish girls are not pretty. They can be interesting… Read More »Oscarpalooza – Beginners

Andrew In Drag

The Magnetic Fields have released what’s probably their first video since 1995’s “With Whom To Dance.” It’s for the lead single to their upcoming album Love at the Bottom of the Sea. The description for the video at The Magnetic Fields’ website, The House of Tomorrow says… Our music video for ‘Andrew in Drag’ premiered today on NPR’s ‘All Songs Considered.’ Watch Claudia and Stephin rotate on a lazy Susan while Darrell Thorne and Stormy Leather transform themselves with lipstick and pomade. Scott Valins directed, and the video is NSFW, if your workplace doesn’t appreciate nudity. I like that they capitalized “Susan” as now I’m picturing them rotating on a lazy Susan Anway1.… Read More »Andrew In Drag

Oscarpalooza – The Artist

I’ve seen films about the silent era before, but never before have I seen a film so wonderfully done, nor have I seen a silent film about the silent era. The Artist is an absolutely fantastic love story about a rising star and a falling star. I honestly don’t think I should say anymore except go watch it. Now.