Film More casting news for the film version of Hitchhikers. The suitably whooshily named Zooey Deschanel will be essaying the underwritten role of Trillian (previously seen as William Miller's sister in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous and Mos Def who has an equally spacey name turns up as Ford Prefect (sorry Jeff Goldbloom). With Bill Nighy playing Zaphod (as previously reported by the BBC no less) this may not be too bad. No really. Listen ... [via sore eyes]
Quote! I was watching BBC News 24 before I left for work. Some young correspondent had been plonked in front of Downing Street to describe how nothing was happening and after the introductory question from the studio without a hint of irony he answered, "Well they say that revenge is a dish best served cold." No actually, Klingons say that. Didn't you see Kill Bill? Just look at this discussion of how it's supposed to be translated -- "bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay" apparently. Possibly the subtlest outing of a sci-fi fan on live tv I've seen since the Sky News reader who suddenly developed an encyclopedic knowledge of Doctor Who when the new series was announced. Unless like me he's served his time in Starfleet then moved on to pastures new. Or he actually thought it was a traditional phrase which kind of makes you wonder about who is actually going to be replacing Andrew Gilligan...
Records According to Newsnight tonight Greg Dyke might not look for another job, which means he'll have plenty of time for a bath. So he might want to look up Charlotte Lee and take advantage of her collection of rubber ducks. "I don't have a favorite duck," says Charlotte when asked. "I love them all! They're all unique and wonderful in different ways." How many of us have been able to say that about something?
Life A man passing heard the following, my side of a conversation I was having with my Mum on my mobile phone:
"What? Aaah no. Bastard."
"Uh, uh"
"It's a bloodbath. An utter bloodbath. It's like Watergate if Nixon was made to look whiter than white and Woodward and Bernstein had been fired from the Washington Post."
"Yes. Yes."
"Good. I would have gone with them. And cheered him."
"[[Deleted because it's potentially libelous...]]"
"Well they can just go to hell..."
"[[Deleted because it's a family weblog...]]"
"Oh well he just deserves a good slapping around the face."
At which point the man's eyes popped out of his head and he walked away. The best piece I read today about recent events was Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian as he sketched the reaction in the press gallery during Hutton's reading of the report:
Essentially it's impossible for any journalist with a story about the government and its accountabilty to the people will think twice about using the story, no matter which media organisation they work for. There are still too many unanswered questions and I can't wait for the moment in ten years when something approaching the actual truth about what happened with the dossier, the BBC, the government and Lord Hutton comes to light.
"What? Aaah no. Bastard."
"Uh, uh"
"It's a bloodbath. An utter bloodbath. It's like Watergate if Nixon was made to look whiter than white and Woodward and Bernstein had been fired from the Washington Post."
"Yes. Yes."
"Good. I would have gone with them. And cheered him."
"[[Deleted because it's potentially libelous...]]"
"Well they can just go to hell..."
"[[Deleted because it's a family weblog...]]"
"Oh well he just deserves a good slapping around the face."
At which point the man's eyes popped out of his head and he walked away. The best piece I read today about recent events was Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian as he sketched the reaction in the press gallery during Hutton's reading of the report:
"For the press benches, this was all too much. Several journalists began first to sniff, then to snort and finally to chuckle their derision. Jeremy Paxman, for once barred from asking questions, was shaking his head in bemusement as each new finding in favour of the government came down from the bench. When Mr Scarlett's subconscious was introduced, the room seemed to vibrate with mockery."Today made me very angry. I love the BBC and I love the things the BBC has done under Greg Dyke. Under his guidance the corporation has become the most coherent media organisation it's been in years and if I'd been working there I would have been standing outside with the rest of BBC Online.
Essentially it's impossible for any journalist with a story about the government and its accountabilty to the people will think twice about using the story, no matter which media organisation they work for. There are still too many unanswered questions and I can't wait for the moment in ten years when something approaching the actual truth about what happened with the dossier, the BBC, the government and Lord Hutton comes to light.
Reader's Letters New reader Kirsten Pike from Australia offers the following pithy response to my Oscar predictons yesterday ...
How strange - I always thought Australia was behind with release but it's all over the place. I have seen heaps of these films you say aren't out yet but then we haven't had Pearl Earring yet and I am dying to see that. It's LOTRs year - the poor bastards have to reap the rewards sometime. Go and see Mystic River for goodness sake - you have to be able to make a judgement on Sean Penn's performance - he really is pretty amazing. I would wait for Seabiscuit on DVD, though I did enjoy it, I don't think it's up there with the rest of these. It would be fascinating to see Bill Murray win the Oscar - I don't mind if Bill or Sean get it but Sean will doubtless get another change while Bill....who knows.That's why there are big boxes. I really would like Bill to win Best Actor. It's a lifetime achievement award to be sure, but if he was to win for something it has to be something as excellent as this.
I got A Mighty Wind out on DVD last week - it's not Best In Show - but it is brilliant. I watched it once, then watched my fave scenes again, then watched the whole thing again with the commentary.
Triv: if Keisha Castle-Hughes takes out best actress I think it will be the youngest ever- that would be noteworthy. Oh. I am guessing comments aren't supposed to be essays. Sorry.
Life Here I am mid week and the late finishes are really beginning to stick. Apart from the freezing weather when I left work it's the fact I missed the Hutton Enquiry unfold. Apart from Alistair Campbell on Newsnight tonight offering an encore to his Channel 4 News appearance some months previously, complete with actual swearing and shouting. Emma Kennedy has said some useful things on this:
"Now, I know that the BBC are one of my employers but heebie jeebies - they didn't deserve the roasting they got today. What happened to the devastating evidence that I remember of Alastair Campbell's diaries that screamed "Get the name out" and the fact that Tony Blair oversaw a meeting where they "discussed the strategy of naming David Kelly"?Dearnt ask anyone in the government (or who used to be) about anything now -- they'll just plonk The Hutton Report on the desk and tell them to read that. It's amazing how opposition can crumble in a day isn't?
Film So here we are again. Oscar 2004. I couldn't let it slip by without giving my punts for the various awards.
---
Best picture
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Lost in Translation,
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Mystic River, Seabiscuit
What a wierd list. I didn't expect to see Seabiscuit in there, certainly didn't expect Master and Commander (but I've seen neither). Haven't seen Mystic River. So I am torn between Translation (which I'm utterly chuffed is nominated) and Rings. I think it's probably their year, especially after the Golden Globes ...
---
Best director
Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation, Fernando Meirelles - City of God, Peter Weir - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Clint Eastwood - Mystic River
Looking forward to the 'so Seabiscuit directed itself'? jibes. Peter Jackson should get it simply for the sheer scale of the work he did on those films. Seven years. Seven.
---
Best actor
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Sir Ben Kingsley - House of Sand and Fog, Jude Law - Cold Mountain, Bill Murray - Lost in Translation, Sean Penn - Mystic River
I'm saying Bill Murray because again it's the only one I've seen. If Depp wins wouldn't it be funny if he sent Keith Richards up to accept it ala Brando and the Native American girl?
---
Best actress
Keisha Castle-Hughes - Whale Rider, Diane Keaton - Something's Gotta Give, Samantha Morton - In America, Charlize Theron - Monster, Naomi Watts - 21 Grams
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence only two of them have been out here. So they can give it to any of them.
---
Best supporting actor
Alec Baldwin - The Cooler, Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams, Djimon Hounsou - In America, Tim Robbins - Mystic River, Ken Watanabe - The Last Samurai
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence only three of them have been out here. So they can give it to any of them.
---
Best supporting actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo - House of Sand and Fog, Patricia Clarkson - Pieces of April, Marcia Gay Harden - Mystic River, Holly Hunter - Thirteen, Renee Zellweger - Cold Mountain
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence only four of them have been out here. Oh.
---
Best foreign language film
The Barbarian Invasions, Evil, The Twilight Samurai, Twin Sisters, Zelary
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence none of them have been out here. So nyer. I saw a trailer for Barbarians other night though. That looked quite good. Give it to them.
---
Best animated feature film
Brother Bear, Finding Nemo, The Triplets of Belleville
Wierd seeing Belleville Rendevue on the list when it was on TV here the other night (so that's waiting to be watched). What the hell's Brother Bear doing there? Give it to Nemo for goodness sake.
---
Best adapted screenplay
American Splendor, City of God, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Mystic River, Seabiscuit
Quite how you compare the work which must have happened on Splendor to Rings I'm not sure. But they should give it to the latter simply for managing not to piss off the Tolkein purists too much whilst also having a comprehensible and entertaining film.
---
Best original screenplay
The Barbarian Invasions, Dirty Pretty Things, Finding Nemo, In America, Lost in Translation
Always an odd catagory because what makes these scripts any better or worse than anything else which has been out this year? Plus the script for Translation repuledly featured scenes which said things like 'Bill says something funny here'.
---
Best music (score)
Big Fish, Cold Mountain, Finding Nemo, House of Sand and Fog, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Rings. Howard Shore is a genius.
---
Best music (song)
'Into the West' - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 'A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow' - A Mighty Wind, 'Scarlet Tide' - Cold Mountain, 'The Triplets of Belleville' - The Triplets of Belleville, 'You Will Be My Ain True Love' - Cold Mountain
I'm seeing it next week but I suspect they should give it to A Might Wind.
---
Best documentary feature
Balseros, Capturing the Friedmans, The Fog of War, My Architect, The Weather Underground
Lots of good stuff appearing on BBC Four next year then...
---
Best documentary short subject
Asylum, Chernobyl Heart, Ferry Tales
How do the Academy vote for these? Do they have special screens, do they appear before other films? How does this work?
---
Best visual effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rings. They really are snubbing The Matrix aren't they?
---
Best cinematography
City of God, Cold Mountain, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
What no Rings? Earing did some excellent work with evoking a time and Vermeer's paintings so I'll choose that.
---
Best art direction
Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
Rings.
---
Best animated short film
Boundin', Destino, Gone Nutty, Harvie Krumpet, Nibbles
Rings. Oh it's not nominated. How do the Academy vote for these? Do they have special screens, do they appear before other films? How does this work?
---
Best short film
Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket), Most (The Bridge), Squash, Torrzija, Two Soldiers
How do the Academy vote for these? Do they have special screens, do they appear before other films? How does this work?
---
Best costume design
Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
I know it seems very unfair saying Rings all the time, but frankly there was so much in here which hadn't been done before, so innovative in so many places that it doesn't compare to the period details elsewhere. Although Earring was magical.
---
Best make-up
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rings. Again.
---
Best sound
The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Seabiscuit
Rings. Again. The olyphants made the cinema shake as they stomped about.
---
Sound editing
Finding Nemo, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Nemo.
---
Film Editing
City of God, Cold Mountain, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
Rings. New Zealand should declare war on the US if Lord of the Rings doesn't win everything basically.
---
Best picture
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Lost in Translation,
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Mystic River, Seabiscuit
What a wierd list. I didn't expect to see Seabiscuit in there, certainly didn't expect Master and Commander (but I've seen neither). Haven't seen Mystic River. So I am torn between Translation (which I'm utterly chuffed is nominated) and Rings. I think it's probably their year, especially after the Golden Globes ...
---
Best director
Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation, Fernando Meirelles - City of God, Peter Weir - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Clint Eastwood - Mystic River
Looking forward to the 'so Seabiscuit directed itself'? jibes. Peter Jackson should get it simply for the sheer scale of the work he did on those films. Seven years. Seven.
---
Best actor
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Sir Ben Kingsley - House of Sand and Fog, Jude Law - Cold Mountain, Bill Murray - Lost in Translation, Sean Penn - Mystic River
I'm saying Bill Murray because again it's the only one I've seen. If Depp wins wouldn't it be funny if he sent Keith Richards up to accept it ala Brando and the Native American girl?
---
Best actress
Keisha Castle-Hughes - Whale Rider, Diane Keaton - Something's Gotta Give, Samantha Morton - In America, Charlize Theron - Monster, Naomi Watts - 21 Grams
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence only two of them have been out here. So they can give it to any of them.
---
Best supporting actor
Alec Baldwin - The Cooler, Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams, Djimon Hounsou - In America, Tim Robbins - Mystic River, Ken Watanabe - The Last Samurai
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence only three of them have been out here. So they can give it to any of them.
---
Best supporting actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo - House of Sand and Fog, Patricia Clarkson - Pieces of April, Marcia Gay Harden - Mystic River, Holly Hunter - Thirteen, Renee Zellweger - Cold Mountain
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence only four of them have been out here. Oh.
---
Best foreign language film
The Barbarian Invasions, Evil, The Twilight Samurai, Twin Sisters, Zelary
This is making me look really bad. I haven't seen any of the films in this category, but in my defence none of them have been out here. So nyer. I saw a trailer for Barbarians other night though. That looked quite good. Give it to them.
---
Best animated feature film
Brother Bear, Finding Nemo, The Triplets of Belleville
Wierd seeing Belleville Rendevue on the list when it was on TV here the other night (so that's waiting to be watched). What the hell's Brother Bear doing there? Give it to Nemo for goodness sake.
---
Best adapted screenplay
American Splendor, City of God, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Mystic River, Seabiscuit
Quite how you compare the work which must have happened on Splendor to Rings I'm not sure. But they should give it to the latter simply for managing not to piss off the Tolkein purists too much whilst also having a comprehensible and entertaining film.
---
Best original screenplay
The Barbarian Invasions, Dirty Pretty Things, Finding Nemo, In America, Lost in Translation
Always an odd catagory because what makes these scripts any better or worse than anything else which has been out this year? Plus the script for Translation repuledly featured scenes which said things like 'Bill says something funny here'.
---
Best music (score)
Big Fish, Cold Mountain, Finding Nemo, House of Sand and Fog, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Rings. Howard Shore is a genius.
---
Best music (song)
'Into the West' - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 'A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow' - A Mighty Wind, 'Scarlet Tide' - Cold Mountain, 'The Triplets of Belleville' - The Triplets of Belleville, 'You Will Be My Ain True Love' - Cold Mountain
I'm seeing it next week but I suspect they should give it to A Might Wind.
---
Best documentary feature
Balseros, Capturing the Friedmans, The Fog of War, My Architect, The Weather Underground
Lots of good stuff appearing on BBC Four next year then...
---
Best documentary short subject
Asylum, Chernobyl Heart, Ferry Tales
How do the Academy vote for these? Do they have special screens, do they appear before other films? How does this work?
---
Best visual effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rings. They really are snubbing The Matrix aren't they?
---
Best cinematography
City of God, Cold Mountain, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
What no Rings? Earing did some excellent work with evoking a time and Vermeer's paintings so I'll choose that.
---
Best art direction
Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
Rings.
---
Best animated short film
Boundin', Destino, Gone Nutty, Harvie Krumpet, Nibbles
Rings. Oh it's not nominated. How do the Academy vote for these? Do they have special screens, do they appear before other films? How does this work?
---
Best short film
Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket), Most (The Bridge), Squash, Torrzija, Two Soldiers
How do the Academy vote for these? Do they have special screens, do they appear before other films? How does this work?
---
Best costume design
Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
I know it seems very unfair saying Rings all the time, but frankly there was so much in here which hadn't been done before, so innovative in so many places that it doesn't compare to the period details elsewhere. Although Earring was magical.
---
Best make-up
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rings. Again.
---
Best sound
The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Seabiscuit
Rings. Again. The olyphants made the cinema shake as they stomped about.
---
Sound editing
Finding Nemo, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Nemo.
---
Film Editing
City of God, Cold Mountain, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Seabiscuit
Rings. New Zealand should declare war on the US if Lord of the Rings doesn't win everything basically.
Film
Frame one:
Stuart doesn't like waiting in line for films. He goes to the cinema on his own a lot and never knows what to do while he waits.
Frame two:
There is always some other single person there and Stuart always feels like he should start talking to them.
Frame three:
Clerk: .... the screen should be ready in a minute.
Frame four:
Stuart leans forward into the girl's earshot.
Stuart: He keeps saying that, I don't mind either way.
Frame five:
She's smiling at him. Is that a good sign?
Frame six:
Stuart: Have you seen Lost In Translation?
Single Girl: Yes.
Frame seven:
Stuart: Isn't it great?
Single Girl: Yes. Have you seen Big Fish?
Frame eight:
This is going well. She seems nervous though.
Stuart: I've seen all of the films on here at the moment.
Frame nine:
Stuart: (thinking) Why did I say that?
Stuart: Although not all here. I'm not obsessive.
Frame ten:
Stuart: (thinking) And that? What's wrong with me?.
Single Girl: Have you seen Touching The Void?
Frame eleven:
Stuart: Yes it ... err ... umm ... different ...
Frame twelve:
Babbling.
Stuart: ... there's another documentary on the DVD about the making of ....
Frame thirteen:
Stuart: (thinking) She doesn't care. And yet I can't stop speaking.
Stuart: .... all of the films which were nominated for an Oscar last year have been distributed ... Winged Migration which I saw the other night ...
Frame forteen:
Stuart: (thinking) I'm the most boring man alive.
Clerk: Screen three?
Frame fifteen:
Stuart stops speaking and dashes foward like someone dodging a bullet.
Frame sixteen:
Stuart: Here's my ticket
Frame seventeen:
She sits right behind him in the auditorium. Stuart tries to make eye contact but she looks away.
Frame eighteen:
Stuart: (thinking) Will this kind of thing happen to everyone who goes to see the film American Splendor?
Frame one:
Stuart doesn't like waiting in line for films. He goes to the cinema on his own a lot and never knows what to do while he waits.
Frame two:
There is always some other single person there and Stuart always feels like he should start talking to them.
Frame three:
Clerk: .... the screen should be ready in a minute.
Frame four:
Stuart leans forward into the girl's earshot.
Stuart: He keeps saying that, I don't mind either way.
Frame five:
She's smiling at him. Is that a good sign?
Frame six:
Stuart: Have you seen Lost In Translation?
Single Girl: Yes.
Frame seven:
Stuart: Isn't it great?
Single Girl: Yes. Have you seen Big Fish?
Frame eight:
This is going well. She seems nervous though.
Stuart: I've seen all of the films on here at the moment.
Frame nine:
Stuart: (thinking) Why did I say that?
Stuart: Although not all here. I'm not obsessive.
Frame ten:
Stuart: (thinking) And that? What's wrong with me?.
Single Girl: Have you seen Touching The Void?
Frame eleven:
Stuart: Yes it ... err ... umm ... different ...
Frame twelve:
Babbling.
Stuart: ... there's another documentary on the DVD about the making of ....
Frame thirteen:
Stuart: (thinking) She doesn't care. And yet I can't stop speaking.
Stuart: .... all of the films which were nominated for an Oscar last year have been distributed ... Winged Migration which I saw the other night ...
Frame forteen:
Stuart: (thinking) I'm the most boring man alive.
Clerk: Screen three?
Frame fifteen:
Stuart stops speaking and dashes foward like someone dodging a bullet.
Frame sixteen:
Stuart: Here's my ticket
Frame seventeen:
She sits right behind him in the auditorium. Stuart tries to make eye contact but she looks away.
Frame eighteen:
Stuart: (thinking) Will this kind of thing happen to everyone who goes to see the film American Splendor?
Photography Aerial shots of my friend Fani's village Vavdos ... taken from a hand glider! How did that happen? Perhaps these people know ....