Irish Song Mix for St. Patrick's Day

A list of my current favorite Irish songs for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow (some like Breakeven have some smouth in it).

:-)

...still determining the order. Cannot wait to see the soundtrack for the upcoming Brave Pixar/Disney film.

• Shipping Up To Boston - Dropkick Murphys
• Whiskey In A Jar - The Dubliners
• Danny Boy –Frank Patterson (sorry Harry Connick Jr, I like this version better)
• Fairytale of New York (The Pogues with Kristy MacColl)
• The Fields of Athenry – Dropkick Murphys 
• When Irish Eyes are Smiling – Frank Patterson
• Be Thou My Vision - Jars of Clay
• Death to my Hometown – Bruce Springsteen
• Come on Eileen-Dexys Midnight Runners
• Mummer’s Dance-Loreena McKennitt
• Dreaming my Dreams – Cranberries
• Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

The Ides of March

Yes, I’m writing about the movie appropriately today. George Clooney directed a modern day masterpiece full of great filmmaking (sound in particular) and an amazing cast (Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, etc.) that actually got me thinking even more about the political process.  Likely rooted from memories of his father's 2004 campaign for the House of Representatives (he did not get in), Clooney created a masterful work. Gosling plays a specialized aide in a presidential campaign who gets in-depth involvement on both sides.

This morality tale digs deeper as Clooney makes good use of his specialized experience including K Street, the 2003 HBO documentary series about lobbying in Washington DC. Documentaries are a great way to anchor Hollywood treatments. Take the 1992 Clinton campaign for example, after watching Primary Colors as was even more impressed with the 1992 documentary The War Room. It works beyond political films too (e.g. Ali with the documentary When We Were Kings; Coach Carter-Hoop Dreams, etc.). Elements of sabotage, deceit, desires, and ideology all boil down to morality and how far we go to get what we want. The Ides of March is an adaption of the play Farragut North by former political aide Beau Willimon. Highly recommended.

Now the Academy Awards for 2012 Films...so far

If the Academy Awards were this weekend, then I think the winners would be:

Best Picture

Haywire

Best Director

(tie) Steven Soderbergh – Haywire and Lasse Hallstrom - Salmon Fishing in Yemen

Best Actor

Liam Neeson – The Gray

Best Actress

Gina Carano – Haywire

Best Supporting Actor

Ewan McGregor - Haywire

Best Supporting Actress

Samantha Morton – John Carter

Best Original Screenplay

David Guggenheim – Safe House

Best Adapted Screenplay

Simon Beaufoy - Salmon Fishing in Yemen

Best Animated Feature

Dr Suess’ The Lorax

Best Editing

Haywire

Best Cinematography

Safe House

Best Makeup

John Carter

Best Visual Effects

(tie) Chronicle and Red Tails

Best Original Score

Michael Giacchino – John Carter

Best Makeup

Underworld: Awakening

Best Stunts (if it was a category)

Act of Valor

Stream of Consciousness Jukebox, session five

• God is God – Steven Curtis Chapman
• My Iron Lung-Radiohead
• Satisfied – Jewel
• Everything I Am (edited)-Kanye West
• Won’t Back Down (edited)—Eminem
• I Feel It All – Feist
• Death to My Hometown – Bruce Springsteen
• Bring the Pain / Gossip Folks (edited)– Missy Elliott
• Try a Little Tendernes – Otis Redding

What Made Luc Besson direct again?

Director, adept producer, writer and even actor...French filmmaker Luc Besson has done it all with great success all over the world. Lately the 52 year old Besson did an animated film series of Arthur and the Invisibles, but had not directed a live action, full feature film since 1999s The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. Besson's latest film, The Lady, tells the story of Aung San Suu Kyi as she becomes the core of Burma's democracy movement, and her relationship with her husband, writer Michael Aris. Michelle Yoeh and David Thewlis star in the main roles and the film is slated for an April 13 limited release in the U.S. Yes, Michelle Yoeh and Luc Besson initially sounds like the formula for one of his many action films like The Professional or The Fifth Element.

Besson answers the question why he directed again in a recent interview from The Guardian here:
"I said if I made 10 films in my life, I would be very lucky. That's how I meant it. My fear after my first one was whether they would let me make another one, so I had this goal in my head. After six, seven films, I started to get a little tired. Shooting takes a lot out of you. You finish a film and most of the time you're half-dead. I was happy to finish after 10....I regain my appetite film by film," he says. "I have a couple of things, maybe. I'm waiting to fall in love...It's not so much about the film, I just feel so proud that the story is told. You're just not going to believe the story of this woman [Aung San Suu Kyi]. I'm crying even in the editing room."

Filmmaking requires so much personal investment that perceived personal project like this one can seem like career changers, but filmmaking eventually comes down to personal decisions from filmmakers. How do I use my power/influence? Do I want to please the audience more or convey messages I feel are important to them? Do I plan to make money on this film? Besson certainly has the power to get his films made, but this scenario made me think about the overall process and how each title Besson has had fits into this process.

Stream of Consciousness Jukebox, session four

• Lingering Still-She & Him
• Missionary Man-Eurythmics
• Nowhere Man – Beatles
• Silver Springs – Fleetwood Mac
• Indescribable – Chris Tomlin
• Livin’ in the Future- Bruce Springsteen
• King of Anything-Sara Bareilles
• Dear Mama – 2Pac
• You Give Love a Bad Name-Bon Jovi

My Oscar Picks and Wishes

Would love to see a best stunts category in the Oscars and another category for comedy with fewer Best Picture nominees. Here are my picks for the Oscars this year (deserved names not included in all):

Best Picture: The Artist 
Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants

Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Adapted Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Original Screenplay: The Descendants
Animated Feature: Rango 
Documentary Feature: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Costume Design: The Artist
Makeup: The Iron Lady 
Editing: The Artist
Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Sound Mixing: Hugo
Sound Editing: Hugo
Original Song: "Man or Muppet", The Muppets
Cinematography: The Tree of Life
Art Direction: Hugo
Animated Short La Luna
Live-Action Short: Raju
Documentary Short: The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
Original Score: The Artist
Foreign Language Film: A Separation 

Oscar parties featured for Oscar Week!

I missed having Oscar parties a lot. My sister just reminded me about the great events we've had. One year everyone dressed up. Always good food and good people. It's those little, unique touches that make it special. Giving each entering guest a special slip with an Oscar nominee on it and if their nominee wins then they get a special prizes. Playing movie trivia was always fun too. Scene It Movies on the PlayStation 3 (through PlayStation Network) has been one of my recent favorites. No big party this year. Just the family celebrating the craft, wonder, and world of movies.

Gary Oldman featured for Oscar Week!

Gary Oldman received a much deserved Best Actor Oscar nomination (his first) for his role as George Smiley in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Oldman’s amazing career still astounds me. He has portrayed several famous/historical people (Lee Harvey Oswald, Albert Milo, Sid Vicious, and Ludwig van Beethoven) and figures/characters including Lt. Jim Gordon, Rosencrantz, Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, Dr. Zachary Smith, Sirius Black, Bob Cratchit, Marley, Tiny Tim, and the mythical count Dracula, which he won an MTV award for best kiss with Winona Ryder. Here are more facts you might not know about one of my favorite actors.

•  Frequently collaborated with French filmmaker Luc Besson (Fifth Element, Nil by Mouth, The Professional (a.k.a. Leon)
•  His first name is Leonard
•  Directed and wrote the 1997 film Nil by Mouth, which was loosely based upon his own life growing up in London, England
•  Performed a vocal duet with David Bowie for the song "You've Been Around" on Reeves Gabrels’ 1995 album "The Sacred Squall of Now"
•  Won a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Cast (Dark Knight)
•  Oldman lives in Los Angeles, California
•  Has already won a best ensemble award for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy from the Central Ohio Film Critics Association

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