JustOneMinute At The Oscars

Having wrapped up a two week movie binge, Mrs. JOM and I have now seen eight of the nine films nominated for Best Picture. The bonus wrinkle is that most of the Best Actor, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor/Actress nominations come from those same nine films. So, what did we like?

Arrival: Amy Adams earns a Best Actress nod and is excellent in a tedious sci-fi drama. Superficially, the plot is that extra-terrestials have landed and Ms. Adams is a linguistic expert attempting to communicate with them to learn their intentions. This is a transparent Hollywood metaphor for the election of Trump by his mysterious supporters from  flyover country (the ETs land in Montana. Too subtle!)

Hell or High Water: Set in the stark midlands of Texas, this follows two brothers engaged in a bank robbing spree and the crusty Texas ranger (Jeff Bridges, Best Supporting Actor) out to catch them. They should have stuck with the original title, "No Country For Young Men Behind On The Mortgage". The movie was Eerily White one year after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy but is obviously meant as outreach to the flyover victims of Big Banking. Hollywood feels the Bern!

Fences: If you like Denzel Washington you'll like this, but... it is a movie adapted from a play, but little attempt was made to change it to a movie form. This left me pondering the many differences between those two styles pf presentation. For example, people talk about the "intimacy" of the theatre but in fact, the audience is quite separated from the performer, so loud word and big movements work fine - one might even say, they are theatrical. On screen, the same presentation intonations and gestures would seem overdone and melodramatic. Whatever. I passed the time comparing "Fences" to "A Few Good Men", a play that became a movie but seems totally like a movie.

Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress nominee, was extraordinary. Denzel (Best Actor) was fine, but I have seem him better.

Moonlight: Missed this one.

Manchester By The Sea: More working class outreach by Hollywood in another all-white movie, but... Casey Affleck (Best Actor) was incredible and the rest of the cast was brilliant. Michelle Williams (Best Supporting Actress) and Lucas Hedges (Best Supporting Actor) deserve their nods. Tremendous (and tremendously sad) film well worth a watch.

Hidden Figures: Two Rockets UP! La La Land is the Best Pic favorite but I am rooting for this well-received feel-good film about the early days of the NASA program. The focus is on the (mostly black) woman who man the adding machines and slide rules in support of the (mostly/all) white male engineers trying to get a man into space and back again. Kevin Costner is the NASA honcho, Jim Parsons (better known as Dr. Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory) plays it straight as an engineer and several women, including Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress) help John Glenn become a hero. Great archival footage of the early launches and a totally enjoyable film.

Lion: Ok but slow.

Hacksaw Ridge: A story far too heroic and implausible to be sold as fiction. Andrew Garfield is excellent as a Desmond Doss, a religious pacifist and patriot desperate to serve his country as a medic in WWII. The battle scenes at Okinawa verge towards unwatchable (I blame Spielberg and 'Saving Private Ryan') but it does set the stage for the Doss's incredible feats, for which he won a Congressional Medal of Honor.

La La Land: Who doesn't love Emma Stone, who has been great before with Ryan Gosling (Crazy Stupid Love, Gangster Squad). Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood, but this one was slow and had an annoying ending.

Comments

[lyle]

Really hard for me to boycott the Oscars since I haven't watched them in three decades...

[Jim Eagle]

Only saw Arrival and I thought it was at least a 4 on a scale of 5. But as an engineer I loved the abstraction of linguistic formulation and calculation. A very interesting concept.

I guess "A Dog's Purpose" isn't eligible since it premiered in late January.

If "Hidden Figures" is still here in Southampton, I want to see it with Frederick.

[lyle]

But I do feel for all those brace, courageous actors risking it all to...bash Trump. Be Strong, Actorpeeps!

[Beasts of England]

Shh. Don't tell 'em we're over here...

[narciso]

From the previous thread

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/24/517097745/criticized-by-peers-white-house-counterterror-adviser-returns-fire?

New America fundation, snorfle

[Thomas Collins]

The idiotic political speeches will probably be the most entertaining part of the Oscars. But I can get clips of those on YouTube. Thus, I'll be otherwise occupied this evening.

[henry]

I have seen 0 of 9. I'm sure I have something John Wayne to toss in the DVD player.

[Fortunate son]

If you an Arrival metaphor in Trump you should watch HBOS The Pope for the fantasy in pure fiction.

[Fortunate son]

If you see..

[DrJ]

The blocks work across threads. Yay!

[Beasts of England]

Hidden Figures advances the narrative. Just sayin'...

[narciso]

That tartan film. From last weekend was wonderfully photographed and well paced.

[lyle]

Is there anything one can use on an iPhone to get rid of this rash?

[jimmyk]

The only one I've seen is "Lion," and I also posted here a couple weeks ago that I thought was slow. Still good, just found myself looking at my watch a couple of times.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Hey, is that app only workable in Chrome?

[Porchlight]

I am the dumbest person on earth. I just mentioned to my husband that traffic was light tonight because everyone was watching the Oscars. He said "oh yeah, I want to watch those."

I self-exiled myself to the deck with my kindle and beer.

[Porchlight]

What, there's not an app for that, lyle?

[DrJ]

lyle,

As far as I can tell, the plugin works for Chrome and Firefox and no others.

But why use an iPhone instead of a desktop, laptop, or tablet? Maybe I'm spoiled, but but it is rare for me to be more than ten feet from a "real" computer of some sort.

[narciso]

Yes, they went a 'little fake but accurate' as they did with a beautiful mind and other films of that genre.

That's a very inventive use of time, in arrival.

[DrJ]

Chrome:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/blog-comment-killfile/kpoilnkelonbaapoapibddjaojohnpjf?hl=en-US

Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-s/firefox/addon/blog-killfile/

[jimmyk]

DrJ, I do a fair amount of my JOM reading on the subway, so I'm stuck with the iPhone. There is some kind of Chrome app for the iPhone but I have no idea if the extras like the killfile will work with it.

[DrJ]

Well, I just tried the Firefox plugin and it didn't work out-of-the-box. I'm not going to debug it.

jimmyk, while I have an iPhone, it would be very generous to call me a rookie with the software environment and plugins.

[narciso]

Its kind of a remarkable story, but then they had to embellish it.

[The B's, Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, Borough Park.]

No subway in Brooklyn, even if underground. There are trains.

[narciso]

I first heard the story in the timeless series.

[Thomas Collins]

Did you instigate this, jimmyk?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOxTHUs_iBE

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

DrJ.

Thanks for letting me know that it doesn't work on Firefox. I was just about to try to install it.

[Fortunate son]

Jeez..

Disturbing..Trump likes his steak burnt served with ketchup.

[Jim Eagle]

DrJ,
r
Took some science project materials down to Florida and Frederick ran his first two experiments on the Gel Electropherisis using food dyes. Measured and recorded the results of the macromolecture structure. Started his Lab Book and started his plan for the triptych presentation board.

We may have time now to do a DNA of an onion which seems simple eneough to do within the 2 or more weeks left. Thanks for all your advice and direction. He really appreciates it.

[Fortunate son]

I had a chef who threatened the manager with a cleaver over ketchup on his filet

[narciso]

Hope springs eternal:
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-02-23/ecuador-s-voters-turn-back-latin-america-s-pink-tide

[windansea]

I watching the pre oscars so you don't have too

so far lots of black actors getting interviewed, Hollywood making up for oscarsowhite in 15 and 16

gold dresses are in...Trump effect?

lots of boring movie stars trying to be cool

[jimmyk]

TC, my lawyers have asked me not to comment.

[Porchlight]

TEH PLAYGROUND WATCHER changed his handle.

Killfile shoots, it scores!

[Jim Eagle]

narc,

Does this mean Assaunge's days are numbered in the London hideyspace?

[lyle]

I read JOM about two thirds of the time on my iPhone.

[narciso]

It may be, the tally dropped a little through the next day.

[windansea]

Nicole Kidman likes short guys, Keith Urban is same as Tom Cruise

[lyle]

Snowing like a sumbitch. Like we haven't had enough of that.

[lyle]

Always thought Nicole was a beard.

[henry]

Is Al Gore trapped in Idaho somewhere?

[windansea]

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, both very good looking normally, have have hairdos that manage to make them look fugly

[Porchlight]

Trump was taken, windansea.

[lyle]

Watching for the first time ever The Thin Man. Did any actors circa 1935 collect their Oscars bash FDR?

[Threadkiller]

The obscure Form N-648 requires a doctor to list any physical or mental ailment that would prevent a patient from meeting the language requirements of citizenship.

https://youtu.be/bNr66HHhMjs

[Porchlight]

Wow, first time, lyle. I'm envious.

[Porchlight]

I believe The Third Man is scheduled on TCM after The Thin Man. Even better.

[DrJ]

The Thin Man

What a great movie series -- Powell and Loy-- what's not to like? There is no way it could get made today.

[Frau Klein aber O-ho!]

The goracle is trapped all right--in his own mind where he is Mr. Fabulous Stud Muffin.

Don't you know Tipper counts her blessings every night that she is free?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

windansea,

Thanks for the info on the gold! I was talking to my friend Jan the other day and we predicted this, based on what we were seeing in some fashion ads.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Frau,

Never, ever will I forget the "Meet Al Gore" video shown at the 2000 DNC. Gore made a point of showing a nude self porttraitof Tipper that she did while she was 8 months pregnant.

Hanging in the hallway of their home where the kids could see it.

She didn't want to show it but he insisted.

Totally creepy.

[Threadkiller]

Here is the link daddy posted on the last thread:

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/doctors-gave-fake-medical-opinions-to-help-win-citizenship/amp/

Everyone of these "citizens" needs their voting turnout exposed.

[GUS]

Miss Marple, after the divorce, I believe Al "the kiddies Pal" Gore donated Titter errrr Tippers' portrait to COMET PING PONG.

[windansea]

Emma Stone in pretty gold dress, but she looks kinda old and stiff, not very smooth on her answers. The film camera must like her cuz she looks 10 years older on TV

[narciso]

Rocket surgery happening across the pond

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4261334/Chakrabarti-blames-Copeland-loss-carless-Labour-voters.html

[Beasts of England]

I remember watching that with the ex, Miss Marple. She said 'What the...?' She'd never drop the F-bomb, but she was close.

[windansea]

Havent seen Meryl Creep yet, that's a plus.

[windansea]

ok here we go, Justin Timberlake in opening song

[windansea]

Justin sporting a buzz cut and beard, not a good luck bro

[Beasts of England]

I'm interested to know how Justin Timberlake resonates with the JOM ladies. Any takers? :)

[windansea]

Kimmel burms Mel in opening monologue

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Beasts,

Thank goodness you saw it! I was watching and posting on Free Republic at the time, but over the years have lost track with those people and didn't have anyone to verify what I saw!

Was that not the creepiest thing ever?

I have never looked at Al Gore as anything but a really horrible person since then.

Why did she paint the picture?

Why nude?

Why hang it in the hall where her children could see it?

Why insist on showing it on national TV?

Why didn't the DNC say no?

Lots of bad stuff behind the answers to these questions.

[windansea]

Now he burns Matt Damon hahaa

[Porchlight]

Not my type and sucky politics, Beasts. However, as pop singers/dancers/actors go (a low bar), he's much more likable than most.

[GUS]

Do they have
Best Male, Best Female and Best Trannie categories this year??

And.

Where are ABC,NBC,MSNBC,CNBC,CNN etc's transgendered reporters???

[windansea]

standing ovation for Meryl Creep

[Threadkiller]

Why did she paint the picture?

Golddiggers from unstable upbringings do odd things.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Cary Grant. Clark Gable. Justin Timberlake?
One of these things is not like the others.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Can confirm the killfile does not work on Firefox.

[Beasts of England]

Chick's dig him, Porch - I can't explain it.

[sbw]

[OT] Just tried to get telephone service for a Verizon land line. Their website sucks as do their diagnostics and their non-contacting means of contact.

Has anyone used any of the use-your-cellphone-as-a-home-phone?

The other alternative would be to go to an ugh cable phone.

P.S. Sell your Verizon shares.[/OT]

[Porchlight]

Well, you're comparing the very best to....not the very best.

Incidentally, Grant and Gable were also Republican.

[windansea]

1st oscar supporting actor to a black guy nobody ever heard of

blackoscarsmatter#

[Jane]

TM,

You watch more movies in two weeks then I have watched in 10 years. I'm impressed.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Picked this link up over on Sundance's site.

It's a fascinating look at President Trump's dinner last night. Lots of pictures.

http://ijr.com/2017/02/810965-trump-ditched-the-press-to-have-dinner-heres-how-the-president-acts-when-no-one-is-watching/

By the way, I eat my steak well done, too. I think it's cause I grew up on a farm and got spooked by all the disease talk in health class.

[windansea]

sbw, there is no need for a land line anymore

[DrJ]

there is no need for a land line anymore

There is, if one values tone quality and conversation length.

[GUS]

The VIRTUE SIGNALLING OSCAR goes to...........................

[Jim Eagle]

windansea,

So are you a sadist or masochist for watching these phonies act like phonies?:)

Soon off to bed but think I'll watch the 2nd half of the Atletico Madrid V. Barcelona replay. Very entertaining match and no Meryl Streep involved.

[Porchlight]

We keep the landline for the kids to be able to call out no matter what. Also handy to always be able to get a phone to ring audibly when calling home.

[sbw]

there is no need for a land line anymore

My wife disagrees with you.

[narciso]

Maherbashi Ali, yes he's,been mostly a supporting player in shows like house of cards (underwood's chief of staff.

On the 'you lost another one' the brits say there's another one of those detainees freed and paid up, Abu mugheera, over in Syria, he was probably following his interest in urban planning.

[windansea]

JIB

from White Hunter Black Heart

Don't contradict me, Ralph. I've heard it all before. In the Army, in New York in the theater. Hell, l've heard it everywhere. People say Hollywood when they want to insult you. Well, really Hollywood is just a place where they make a profit. It's a factory town like Detroit or Birmingham or Schaffhausen.

I love movies, always have, studied film at UCLA. If a lefty ahole like Damon or Baldwin or Streep puts in a good performance (and they have) I applaud them for their art. Their politics are a separate deal and not relevant to how I rate the film or their performance.

[Jim Eagle]

We have our cells bluetoothed to our land line. Most of my land line calls are junk, no matter how many times I register the phone. So, we only answer our cell phones. And every form I fill out I us lee the cell as the main number.

But I am getting at least 3 to 5 junk calls a day on my cell.

These people are qualified for JamesD's house fire.

[windansea]

If you like robocalls and such keep your landline, I have great sound quality on my cell and also use a voip service. Lately I call international friends using whatsapp, it's free and works great.

[narciso]

Mahershala sorry and he's an ahmadi.

[Threadkiller]

https://offgridweb.com/survival/diy-emergency-power-from-a-phone-line/

#MakeLandlinesGreatAgain

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

TK,

Now the furnace is working. Maybe it's possessed.

[Jim Eagle]

windansea,

Well at least you have a legitimate reason. I use to love movies when they were well done but lately its really hit and miss and the actors are not like the classic ones of th

[windansea]

PS Whatsapp is encrypted :)

[Jim Eagle]

...of the 40's-70's. The Gables, Waynes, Fondas, Eastwoods, Stewarts, et. al.

[windansea]

Yes JIB but there are still good movies today and lots of the old ones were utter bombs.

Actually I think Hollywood has had far more effect on America's image than all the politicians and state departments combined, for good and for worse.

[narciso]

There's only a few possible candidates

https://www.google.com/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4261004/amp/Freed-British-Gitmo-inmate-fighting-jihad-Syria.html386-257-5404

[Threadkiller]

All furnaces are possessed, MM. It is a heat thing. ;-)

What you need is a 7 iron. My dad fixed possessed furnaces, TVs, and a dishwasher with his.

[Captain Hate]

By the way, I eat my steak well done, too. I think it's cause I grew up on a farm and got spooked by all the disease talk in health class.

That's Mrs H's line also although I've shamed her to medium-well.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Captain Hate,

No one will shame me! NO PINK!!

[Jim Eagle]

My favorite steak is ala tartare with an egg but at Cafe de Artiste it was a quail egg. My food mission in life is to find the best Steak Tartare around the world.

So far a non-discrept restaurant near the Antwerp Central Station has first place but Pierre's in Bridgehampton may be second so far.

[windansea]

Anyway so far no big political statements, maybe the bosses told their stars dissing Trump equals a 50% loss in market share. Jimmy Kimmel is kind of bombing, they are laughing but they don't really feel it.

[Captain Hate]

Golddiggers from unstable upbringings do odd things.

I thought Tipper came from a reasonably well off family.

[Jim Eagle]

Oh, BTW, if you want to help write the Joint Address by POTUS Trump. Here is where you can help.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/joint-address-issues-survey?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20170226_ADM_JSOC_pre-issues-survey#page