Rumours of my Death have been Greatly Exaggerated

Happy Easter Everybody!!!

I take this time to say that I am not dead, I have simply been in blogging hibernation. I do hope to be back blogging regularly in a few days, I have so much to catch up on. I haven't even seen any of the new movies that have come out recently. I've been rather busy with my play, we opened three days ago and are having a rather successful run. Once again I invite you guys who live near by to come and see it, it's quite the crowd pleaser.

My Month of Billy Wilder will probably be held over to next month to give the great director the respect he deserves. It's hard to believe it's already been a month since "No Country for Old Men" walked off with the oscar, I got my copy the day it was released on DVD, but I haven't even had time to watch it or any of the other movies I've gotten since either. Today is my breather. I hope you are all good, I accidentally erased my all my favorite link pages so don't fret I will repost them soon!!!

I hope all you movie fans are doing well, and sure hope to be back in the blogging circuit with you soon. See ya!!!

Movies as a Comfort food

So today basically was a sucky day for the most part. The only part of it that did not remain sucky was when I was on stage rehearsing for my play, at least for the moment I was caught up in a fantasy world where I was playing the guy that gets the girl and I'm getting paid to do it. But of course reality sinks in soon after and the day you are having remains sucky.

But thankfully movies come to the rescue. I haven't been able to sit down and watch one of my favorites in a long time. Tonight in honor of my sucky day I am watching "Late Spring" which may seem like a weird film to put me in a good mood, but it does. It's about a father who must let go of her daughter to marriage, and it's heartbreaking, but what makes me feel good about the film is the characters are so real and I love them, it's like hanging out with people you just really enjoy.

There is probably a movie for every occasion depending on what kind of a day I'm having, but today is definitely an Ozu day, so bring on "Late Spring".

What are some of your movies you like to watch when your day sucks?

Billy Wilder on writing

Plans for March: Billy Wilder and More

Well now that those pesky Oscars are gone and done with for yet another year, it's time to get down to business as usual here at "Jeremy and the Movies". However I will probably not be able to pound out the entries as often this month as I am gearing up for my return to the stage and as the date for opening night inches closer and closer my attention must be drawn away from my beloved blog. However do not fear, I will be present this month in minimal capacity especially to continue my "Director of the Month" series. This month I'm pleased to announce we'll be shooting the spotlight on the master of the acid tongue, the sardonic wit himself Billy Wilder, so stay tuned for entries on that. Hope you'll have a hoot of fun this month!!!

Final Thoughts on The Oscars

Well another year has come and gone. In my opinion this Oscar telecast was much more low key than past years, which probably has something to do with the writer's strike. The only time it seemed out of place was when it tried to go big ie. those terribly awkward "Enchanted" musical numbers (I still love you Kristen Chenoweth).

There wasn't much of a sweep with every single best picture nominee winning at least one award, but as predicted by many "No Country for Old Men" took the Best Picture prize. I was pretty happy the film won, I do think it is a masterpiece and the Coen Brothers made very funny minimal acceptance speeches for their best adapted screenplay and best director wins.

My favorite moment was of course Glan Hansard and Marketa Irglova winning for "Falling Slowly", I almost didn't care about any other nomination. They were probably the most down to earth people there that night, and Hansard's speech about "make art, make art" was very touching to me, then there was the classy move by Jon Stewart to bring Irglova back after she was cut off.

Speaking of Jon Stewart, I thought he did a solid job making his usual edgy political jokes with some cheery cynicism towards Hollywood, I hope he's back next year, or perhaps they might go with Stewart's right hand man Stephen Colbert wouldn't that be great?

All in all I very much enjoyed last nights show, it seemed to move along and I didn't really have any major problems with who won so good on you Academy see ya next year!!!

Best Picture

Well I don't know how successful my polls were since this time I only got 2 votes. (Thanks to those two who voted.) What seems to be happening is that there is a "No Country for Old Men" camp and a "There Will Be Blood" camp building up between bloggers. Unfortunately there has to be one winner. If you saw my Top Ten list, you probably see that I am siding for "No Country for Old Men". I just saw the film for the third time yesterday, it has a certain quiet power I didn't get from the other four nominated films.

Perhaps I was a little too harsh with "There Will Be Blood" in my review, I want to see it a second time because I do respect the opinions of others who think of it as a masterpiece, as a whole it didn't work for me as well as "No Country". "Juno" would probably be my runner up choice for best picture and the one film I wish had more nominations in the acting categories. "Michael Clayton" and "Atonement" both have there merits but neither I thought were Best Picture contenders. When all is said and done, "No Country for Old Men" should take the prize and in my opinion deserves to.

Polls Pick: TIE: (THERE WILL BE BLOOD, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN)

JEREMY'S PICK: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

JEREMY'S PREDICTION: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

OTHER NOMINEE PREDICTIONS:

Best Supporting Actor:

Jeremy's Pick: Javier Bardem (With a soft spot for Hal Holbrook)

Jeremy's Prediction: Javier Bardem

Best Supporting Actress

Jeremy's Pick: Cate Blanchett (for the coolest performance of the year)

Jeremy's Prediction: This is the one category that's up in the air for me but I'm thinking Amy Ryan since "I'm Not There" may be too out there for Academy members and although they may want to honor Ruby Dee, they have to see that her performance was just too small

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jeremy's Pick: Joel and Ethan Coen (With a soft spot for Sarah Polley)

Jeremy's Prediction: Joel and Ethan Coen

Best Original Screenplay

Jeremy's Pick: Diablo Cody (With a soft spot for Brad Bird)

Jeremy's Prediction: Diablo Cody

Best Director:

Jeremy's Pick: The Coen Brothers

Jeremy's Prediction: The Coen Brothers

Best Song

Jeremy's Pick: "Falling Slowly"

Jeremy's Prediction: "Falling Slowly" since the "Enchanted" songs will split the vote.

What Jeremy wants to see most.

I would love to see "Falling Slowly" win for best song since it's the only think "Once" was nominated for, I would also love to see "No Country" win in the best sound category since that was such a big element for telling the story.

And the Number One absolutely, Positively, No Doubt About it Best Film of 2007 (No matter What the Oscar Voters tell you) Is...

Was there any doubt? For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know I have loved this film since it was released. Very few films have the power to make me feel the way this film does, it's an inspiring love story that comes around once in a blue moon. It's a love story set to music but stripped down to give us the bare essentials, it's only 80 minutes long and at the end we feel no two people belong together more than this guy and this girl.

Here is my complete list...

1. Once
2. No Country for Old Men
3. I'm Not There
4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
5. Away From Her
6. The Bourne Ultimatum
7. Knocked Up, Juno, and Waitress
8. La Vie En Rose
9. The Simpsons Movie
10. 3:10 to Yuma

Thanks everybody, let me know what you think of my list, agree, disagree let me know.