Oscar 2010

The biggest night in movies is finally here! Oscar night, honoring the very best of 2010, will begin in less than five hours and I can't tell you enough how excited I am. Here are the nominees in tonight's major categories, along with my favorites to win.

Best Picture
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
True Grit
Winter's Bone

This one's an easy choice for me, I have to say. I am not one to copy critics and hop on their sometimes ridiculous band wagon so I'll go ahead and say that although The Social Network is projected to win, I really do think it doesn't even deserve its nomination. The film is good but was it outstanding? Not for me. My choice is Black Swan. It's a well acted, incredibly directed, and truly gritty movie that moved me to pieces. It's a perfect film through and through. It probably won't win, as it's a mostly female driven film but in a perfect world, the Oscars will call Black Swan 2010s best picture. Honorable Mentions: The Kids Are All Right or The King's Speech.

Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem - Biutiful
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours

This is Colin Firth's award. Honorable Mentions: James Franco or Javier Bardem.

Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

Natalie Portman. She is the one to beat. Her performance impressed me and really moved me. I was never a fan of hers and didn't really consider her a good actress until this movie. The only competition here is Annette Bening and that's only because she's an industry veteran who has been overlooked many times before. Still, I don't think that's a reason to give her the award. If she wins, it won't be because her performance is better than Natalie's. It'll be Hollywood's way of rewarding a stellar career and not a stellar performance. Of course, this isn't to say that Annette isn't amazing in The Kids Are All Right. She is. She just isn't as amazing as Natalie.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale - The Fighter
John Hawkes - Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner - The Town
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Oh, Christian Bale - you really did nail it here. That last scene in The Fighter is reason enough to name you an Oscar victor. Period. I believed every word and emotion coming from him. It'll be a grave travesty if he isn't called tonight. There's speculation that The King's Speech will sweep and win all of the major awards so I think Geoffrey Rush is Christian's only competition.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom

Wouldn't it be absolutely amazing if Jacki Weaver were tonight's surprise upset win? Her dark role as the matriarch of a family of criminals in Animal Kingdom is insanely creepy. It isn't the best of all of these on the list but I do think she poses a real threat. Melissa Leo has won practically every award leading up to the Oscars but with the recent controversy surrounding her campaigning for the award and the fact that she's nominated with another actress from the same movie (something that may lead the ladies to cancel each other out), I'm going to guess that the award will go to Helena Bonham Carter or Hailee Steinfeld. Hailee's garnered a lot of attention for her role in True Grit. Lots of people have said she should have been nominated as a lead actress. That definitely gives her points here. But I have a problem with a young actress (14!) coming from nowhere and taking home the most prestigious award in show business. You've got to really earn that Oscar and I wonder if she's really paid her dues. Of course, if her performance in True Grit is stellar, she ought to be awarded accordingly. (I haven't seen True Grit just yet so I can't really judge.) In the end, if it isn't Hailee Steinfeld or Melissa Leo, Helena Bonham Carter should win. She is absolutely fabulous and she's a really great actress. She should have gotten an Oscar ages ago (Sweeney Todd and Harry Potter, anyone!?)

I'm Still Here

Yes, I've been absent from this
I don't know what to say anymore
this happens
because words - they come and go
start and stop
involuntarily

Writing is a force I cannot control
It doesn't matter how hard I try to come up with something
if I've got nothing to say
or if I can't articulate what's going on in my head,
then, I'm sorry but I can't force myself
and come up with something
Not even if I pray
I've tried
but I'm still stuck

I will come back though
I always do
I just hope it's soon

So, dear readers - or reader...
be patient
because I'm still here

Googleness

My Music Awards III

It's here again -- and so fast! Grammy nominations will be announced live Wednesday night on CBS. Take a look at who I think will be nominated and who should actually win. These are my choices.

Record of the Year:
"Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga.
Was there a bigger song out there this year? Probably not. I'm hoping and praying that this is the song Lady Gaga get's nominated for in this category. Hopefully it won't be "Alejandro" or "Telephone" with Beyoncé. While both of those other songs rock too, Lady Gaga will have a better shot at winning with "Bad Romance." Unless of course the other big songs of 2010 don't knock her down. Namely, Jay-Z's two huge hits "Empire State of Mind" with Alicia Keys and/or "Run This Town" with Rihanna and Kanye West. His two songs might cancel each other out though and that's going to mean good news for Lady Gaga.

Song of the Year:
"Soldier of Love" - Sade.
Sade is a beating heart personified.

Best New Arist:
Florence + the Machine.
After last year's boring list, this will be the category to watch. We'll see Drake here. Sadly, I'm sure Justin Beiber will be nominated as well. Hopefully, Florence + the Machine too. For me, I'm going to go with the unpopular choice and say that Florence + the Machine is the best new artist of 2010. Ke$ha is my second choice. She's actually a very, very, very close second because she's definitely proven to be the breakthrough artist of the year. With a bunch of top ten hits and a number 1 album, she may very well win this award at the Grammys in February. Last year I was probably the only one in the world to say that the Glee cast should be nominated as a group here too. Will they get a nomination this year? They surely deserve it so if they're nominated, it's going to be a whole different ballgame altogether.

Album of the Year:
"The Fame Monster" - Lady Gaga.
Hello?! Goodbye.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
"Alejandro," or "Bad Romance."
Katy Perry, STFU and STFD.

Best Pop Vocal Album:
"The Fame Monster" - Lady Gaga.
Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" is a great pop album too but she's no Lady Gaga whatsoever.

Best R&B Album
"Element of Freedom" - Alicia Keys.
I'm sure Usher is going to be in the mix here but Usher ain't no Alicia.

Best Dance Recording:
"Dancing on my Own" - Robyn.
The first time I listened to this song, I cried. I was sitting at home watching the music video and the tears just came down. There's a scene towards the end of the video when Robyn's dancing alone in the dark - her moves are fierce and that part really gets me going. The song makes feeling alone bearable.

Best Electronic/Dance Album:
"Body Talk, Pt. 1" - Robyn.

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal:
"The End" - Kings of Leon.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:
"Everything to Me" - Monica.
This is probably the most underrated gem of the year.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
"White Liar" - Miranda Lambert.
It's going to be this one or "The House That Built Me." Miranda has had a great year career-wise and both songs are worth the award. I love "White Liar" the most.

My Radio: What I'm Listening To

"It's been a while but I always dance."

We R Who We R - Ke$ha
Unstoppable - Kat DeLuna
Grenade - Bruno Mars
F**ckin' Perfect - P!nk
Coyotes (Live) - Jason Mraz
Superman - Taylor Swift
Somebody to Love Me - Mark Ronson (w/ Boy George)
Stand Up - Sugarland
Goodbye Game - Chrisette Michele
Check it Out - Nicki Minaj (w/ will.i.am)
Lo Que Más - Shakira
White Liar - Miranda Lambert
Man Down - Rihanna
Endlessly - Duffy
Happy Days Are Here Again / Get Happy - Glee Cast
Hacer y Deshacer - Koko

"Honey, I'm home!" ::silence::

i come home alone
to a house alone
empty inside
i turn on the lights
start the candles and incense
i put the radio on low
turn a little slow and grind the air
no one's here and i don't care

but then i do
after the first shoe is off
i sit on my bed and stare at the walls
remember the him's
and wonder if any of 'em coulda been the one
to help these damn shoes off!
did i let the wrong man go?

i take the second one off
and throw it by the first
my feet dangle along
and dance to the song
black socks
dirty and moist with the sweat of isolation and that nine-to-five hydration
what am i saying?
some jazz is playing
i can act this crazy now
here that sound?
it's my permission.

the damn song stops!
the lights go out
i'm a man by all means but my manual got lost sometime ago
i can't touch no fuse!
i wouldn't even know how to begin,
or what to do

so i guess i'll sit here and wait
maybe if god sees this he'll get bored and send me my missing half

Adele Again

She came and knocked us out a couple years ago and now she's set to knock us out again next year. Check out Adele's new song "Rolling in the Deep" from her forthcoming second album "21" out in February.

Mighty Mouse

The little muscleman
could try and woo you in his sleep
if he wanted
‘cause he’s that good

He’ll start off real slow
little mentions here and there
and then a ton once you’re hooked

What’s your name?
Where you from?
How old are you?
Are you a top or bottom?
He’ll ask
and you’ll provide
all giddy and hopeful.

But, if at anytime an answer doesn’t coincide
with what he wants,
he’ll drop you.

Forget the sparks
Forget the compliments
Forget the silly little time you wasted trying oh so hard to come up with something clever to say to sweep him off his feet
Because he won't want to hear a damn thing you’ve got to say anymore

And that's the way these men are.

Shimbalaiê

Maria Gadú is a 22 year old singer-songwriter from Brazil who is up for a couple Latin Grammy awards this year, including Best New Artist. Check out this song from her self-titled album.

I have absolutely no idea what this woman is saying, but I know this much is true: I can't help but feel really emotional as I listen to this here. She's got such a soothing and beautiful voice.

Listen loudly.

Me Who Gets Slapped

I refuse to get on your sinking ship!

There you have it
and even if i understand every bit of the pain you feel
I won't deal
because it's not my fault
I am not your punching bag
I didn't do anything to you
and I shouldn't have to feel guilty for absolutely no reason at all

So,
when you're done blaming me for something you can't settle,
let me know
when you're finished
tell me
and I'll be here
just like yesterday

Until then, mister man.

go figure.

he texts me:

"definitely had a sex dream about you last night... it was good times."

funny thing is
he could have me in real life
but he won't come

Who's Your "Superman"?

This will probably go unnoticed because it's a bonus track off her new album, Speak Now. I think that's a damned shame because this ought to blast out of every lover's radio. If you love like I often do, this will rock your boots.

Who?

She speaks now
and I can't help but give attention to the things she has to say
and even if I think half the shit she has to say makes very little sense
(at times I feel as if my cat could do so much better!)
I am enchanted.

I sit and listen
because I know deep down inside no one can do it like she does it, really
and I'm just jealous
because she can say exactly what I want to say
but even better.

I was never her supporter
and I'll never, ever wear a t-shirt with her name on it
but frankly I'd be willing to wear her socks
I can support her quietly
because she really is quite good.

But, I will tell no one I said that.

Start Here.

The day I posted my rant on being single and loving it, I saw the following ad* on a website.

It seems there's no way to escape this love thing. There are companies spending millions to make us spend our own dollars to find love. It's so easy nowadays too, so they say. You don't even have to go to a bar anymore. Just answer a couple questions and BOOM - your match will appear. It's like a game! And, apparently, all you have to do is rollover to play.

* this is a photo of a video link. do not attempt to click the 'play' icon.

Dancing On My Own

Being single is a choice for some. I never understood that before but it’s quite clear to me now. I’m single and it’s totally because I want to be. To be honest, it’s probably more because I need to be too.

I can’t lie though – I do crave those moments that occur while in a relationship. Random hugs, his hands around my hips, gentle kisses on the neck. “I love you so much, Pa.” Those things. But, I don’t miss it enough to want it right now. I’m sure that’ll change someday. There’s no rush though, right? I’m fine without it.

The other day I got a text from a friend I hadn’t heard from in a while.

“How’s your love life!?” she asked.

“Null. For now.” I responded.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be! It’s OK. I’m fine. It’s totally by choice.”

“Well, don’t wait until you’re 40 to find someone!”

I’m not even 30 yet. I’m not sure why finding a partner is so important for some. I mean, it’s a beautiful thing but it shouldn’t be a priority, right? I know a lot of people in relationships who are totally unhappy. I know a lot more people who are single and very, very happy. So, I’m not scared when I tell people that yes, I am very much unattached.

“Why are you single!?” People always ask with that tone that’s almost sympathetic or pitiful. I hate that question so much! Finding love is a goal I’ll concentrate on in the future, but for right now, there’s so much work that needs to be done on myself. Does this make sense? All you single people must know what I mean.

Maybe it’s complete fear. Perhaps deep down inside, I don’t have the faith or the bravado. After the experiences I've had with the men I've dated in the past, who can blame me? Maybe I’m just way too insecure. I don’t even love myself enough. How on earth can I love someone else? Or maybe, just maybe, I haven’t met the one – that magic man who’ll sweep me off my feet and make me stutter-er-er. They say once I meet him, he’ll help erase all my fears, all my insecurities, and all the pain that I’ve dealt with in the past. That seems a bit profound and I’ll tell you, the man I love is going to have to have one hell of a wand to erase all my mental shit. But hey, let’s see what happens. Who knows what'll transpire as I get older. In fact, who know's what's to come tomorrow? Maybe then, I'll feel ready. Who knows, really? That's the thing about love. You can't really plan it. It's going to happen when it's supposed to. So, if I say I'm single, don't ask me why and please don't feel sorry for me. I'm OK.

I’m young and being single is a fabulous thing! As long as my dick can still get hard and as long as I’m not totally unattractive, I’ve got time. One day my prince will come and I will be ready. Until then, I thank the heavens for pornography.