In other news:
Well before the federal government bailed out A.I.G. in September 2008, Goldman’s demands for billions of dollars from the insurer helped put it in a precarious financial position by bleeding much-needed cash. That ultimately provoked the government to step in.
You have to appreciate the utterly unironic and non-self-aware nature of the tea-party movement. (via NYT)
For such cynical comedians, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant love schmaltz. Sometimes it works (The Office Christmas Special may be the most romantic piece of pop art from the last decade); sometimes it doesn’t (The Extras Christmas Special drowns in unwarranted and unwanted syrup). There’s a lot of syrupy nostalgia and worn-out “coming-of-ageness” in this trailer for the duo’s writing/directing debut, Cemetery Junction. Judging by the trailer, the guy gets the girl, the friend gets his hand cut off at the mill, and River Phoenix gets run over by a train.
Then again, An Education also has the most shopworn of premises but really works (until the last ten minutes). (via CHUD)
“Who cares about the past?” suggested another, prompting the angry riposte, “Are you for real? WHO CARES ABOUT THE PAST????? Are you sane???? The past is a VITAL PART of what we are, who we are.” Then the discussion turned to the demerits of slavery, as these things do, and all hope of a consensus was lost.
A discussion of Avatar’s grosses and what records they are. (via Vulture)
If these were the only five Best Picture nominees, 2009 would be a banner Oscar year.
Still, five solid to great to classic contenders out of 10 would win the batting crown any year. Not a lot of surprises, aside from Cinematography, where Avatar and Harry Potter nabbed some spots that could have gone to the more deserving A Single/Serious Man. Interesting as well that two of the Best Score nominees are animated features, and that Up and Fantastic Mr. Fox may have the best scores of the year. (Full list)
FYI: Flight of the Conchords co-creator James Bobin has signed on to direct the Jason Segel/Nick Stoller-scripted Untitled Muppet Movie. His hire not only signals that the Muppets should retain their trademark droll humor and smarts, it means you can expect awesome musical numbers and maybe even Jermaine as a waiter in shorts. (via CHUD)
And justice.
A Kansas jury today convicted Scott Roeder of the first-degree murder of Dr. George Tiller. Roeder attempted to justify the murder by claiming he was protecting unborn fetuses from Tiller, one of the few doctors in the nation to perform late-term abortion. Thankfully, the tactic will go down as another Twinkie defense, and the court ruled on law rather than politics.
Everyone in LA & NY: Do yourself a favor and get to the NuArt or Museum of the Moving Image, respectively, some time this week and see A Town Called Panic. Hilarious, wacky, and brilliant, this Belgian stop-animated fable weaves an engaging story with great characters out of childhood toys and some cardboard. The closest point of comparison may be South Park for its manic yet sharp writing and cartoonish eccentricities. There’s more to this movie than its surface, and its surface is awfully delightful.
It’s the type of movie that makes you feel like a kid yet love being old enough to get it all.
To call this the anti-thesis of law (appealing to one’s emotions and politics over any form of objective judicial system) only begins to speak to the frightening depths of that one sentence.
