For Blake

     My best friend, one of my only two subscibers (and my heartiest supporter), died a year ago today. He enjoyed the few posts I made and always encouraged me to write more. A lot has happened since his passing. And even more since I wrote my last post here. So today, on the day he went Home to Jesus, I sit down at this keyboard and type a blog entry in his honor, and in hopes of keeping up with it (for real) this time.

     Blake was a fighter. He fought three battles against cancer. And though he lost the last, he won the war. He never quit, and he finished what he started. In my last post I said that I had a hand written review for Following (a film Roger never reviewed). I still do indeed have it, but in lieu of my recent move to a lovely apartment where I live with my partner, it is boxed up somewhere. Frett not, it will be posted when I fish it out of its box. But for now I wanted to post something else...

     In many reviews and blog-posts past, Roger has expressed a sentiment that I want to echo (in paraphrase): It is not just the story that is told, but the way in which it is told. "The way in which" lies almost primarily in the hands of a films' director.

An Apology & Globe Predictions

     I must start with an apology. In spite of my unsure purpose and desperately undefined goals for this blog, my going an entire month (it's been way more than that now but what-the-hay...)without posting to it is unacceptable. I site as an excuse that I've been busy at dinner with Roger (the link elaborates). Apologies completed, there is much business to attend to: The Globes air Sunday night and I have yet to share my opinions and predictions! But that's about to change...

     On the Globes' official site (available on my Important Links posting), the Motion Picture nomination categories are listed from the most important (Best Picture -Drama) to the least (Best Original Song). I shall start with the least and work my way up:

Best Original Song:

"Cinema Italiano" -Nine

     This song was written just for the film version of this broadway hit. It has a different sound than the other, less "pop-y" songs in the film and that somewhat hurts the flow and continuity of the film. The song itself is fun but doesn't have any highs and lows and plays rather monotone (depriving Kate Hudson of the chance to truly wow us with her singing debut in a movie).

Important Links

     As promised, here are some links to help enhance your reading of this blog:

     First off, Roger's website:

     http://www.rogerebert.com

     Second, his blog (be sure to check out the top 10 lists he just published):

     http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert

     Thirdly, the official website for the Academy Awards (or "The Oscars"):

     http://www.oscars.org

     And lastly, the official site for the Golden Globes:

     http://www.goldenglobes.org

Junior Year History Class & A Ground Rule

     My Junior Year at Venice High School in sunny Venice, FL, I was blessed to have an enchanting American History teacher by the name of Ms. Simmons. I doubt that she will ever read this, but I would be remiss not to thank her for allowing me to learn through my beloved medium of film. 23 films were shown over the duration of Ms. Simmons' one-semester class, and each helped to further illuminate the dark coves and corners of history.

     After graduating from her class, I was dismayed to find that the public school board found her film-infused teaching methods undesireable and thus forced her to greatly reduce and alter her tried and proven curriculum. Censored by a misguided and presumptuous system, Ms. Simmons is now retired, hopefully still enjoying films in the company of her beloved cats (all named after presidents and their first ladies, mind you).

     The first week of Ms. Simmons' class structure was such that it was designed to come full circle. The very first week of her class was identical to that of the last. The 1st and last week were about the decades that formed the country that we (the class of '08) were born into. This week-long unit began post-WWII and continued on through 1989. The film shown to embody these deacades was Forrest Gump.

Kindred Spirits & Underdeveloped Purpose Statements

     I recently saw the heartwarming and inspiring film Julie & Julia. I saw it at Parkway Cinemas 8, or as I affectionately refer to it: the Dollar Theater. It is where I saw my very first movie, Pinocchio, with my father when I was only 3. It is one of the nearest and dearest locations to my heart. I have laughed my "unfortunate" laugh there so frequently and loudly that I have had multiple occasions (the last I remember being Robots) to reconnect with school-age friends through the post-film comment, "I knew that was you I heard in there". I have cried enough there to garner comments of concern from my mother (after seeing Million Dollar Baby) when she insisted that I call her to check in between films during the Saturday double features of my Middle School days. And I have been so transfixed by films there as to be told that I watch them with a focus like no other (as was said to me by a close friend right after watching P.S. I Love You) . It's a very special theater to me. And one that is no stranger to the highs, lows, and new beginnings of my life. So that Julie & Julia affected me as it did as it watched it in that theater, my theater, is no surprise.

     The film is all about passion, doing things that other can't or won't understand, kindred spirits, and just doing something! It made me think of my passions, my own un-understandable desires, those with whom I have "kindred" connections , and it inspired me to the action of this blog as a way for me to do something about all of my aforementioned thoughts.