Move over, Los Angeles Lakers. I'm the new back-to-back champion of the world...for Oscar picks. I took home the trophy (at my yearly Oscar party) last night with 19 correct selections - my best performance to date.
Oddly, I did zero research this year. I usually see what all of the experts have to say, and it just screws me up. This time, I watched most of the movies, made some gut picks, and called it a day.
Boom! This is both the proudest and most pathetic I've felt in awhile.
As far as trailers are concerned, it's a little disappointing. It shows both too much and too little at the same time. Make up your mind, trailer editor.
I'm heading out of town for my first Bachelor Party weekend experience. It's not in Sin City. It's in Lincoln City. That's when you know you and your friends are getting older. The venues for your debauchery start reflecting the level of debauchery that probably won't be taking place.
And while my craziest days are far behind me, I fear most of my friends can't make that claim. I don't know if I have it in me to keep up with them. Moreover, I don't know if I want to even try.
Regardless, it should be fun. I would love to say that there will be pics coming, but I don't that would be a good idea.
It hasn't been determined whether or not Serene Branson had a stroke or just a meltdown. Regardless, I will think it's funny until it's proven medical.
Repo Men - Jude Law and Forest Whitaker are the repo men of the future. But instead of reclaiming your car for late payments, they will cut out the artificial organs keeping you alive. This movie largely sucked. I did love the ending, even though it, too, could have been stronger. It's not worth the time invested, unless you like graphic violence, a thin plot, and characters who don't actually go through a complete emotional transformation.
The American - George Clooney eludes me. I would say he's a good actor, but it seems like he only plays himself. The American follows an assassin as he hides out before doing one last job. His secluded surroundings are supposed to trigger some philosophical change inside him. Instead, there's just a lot of quiet retrospective scenes. The acting is good but nothing really happens. The only thing I took from the movie is that Violante Placido has near perfect breasts.
HBO's Reagan - This was a great look at one of the country's most beloved presidents. I like it's impartial take on what made Reagan both a good and bad president. It left me wanting to learn more. It also solidified my thoughts on what the president is...a person; someone who has to make difficult and trying decisions. Some of them work and some don't. And the best we can hope for is that he's making them with our nation's best interest at heart.
I don't know if there's ever been a more depressing team in sports than the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lions were close a couple of years ago. But really, the Cavs were on top of the food chain when they had LeBron. They didn't win it all, but they consistently won 60+ games a year. They sold out arenas. People took notice. Now, they are breaking the record for the most consecutive losses every time they get on the court.
Not only does this make the case that LeBron was the ultimate MVP, but it goes to show how much that city needed him. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the man. But when a team literally goes from consistently first (more or less) to the worst of the worst, you can't help but reason why.
What makes it even more depressing is that they tried to keep him. They tried to make their team better. They tried to sign more talent. They tried not to suck. But he left and they do. If I were a Cleveland fan, I would be bitter. I don't know if I've ever seen a collapse of this magnitude from one season to the next. Sure, the Blazers lost Oden before he had time to shine, but at least the fans didn't get a taste of the nectar before the flower died.
There are moments in life that determine who we will become. Moreover, there are moments that solidfiy what we will never be. Sometimes, they are one in the same.
Like the rest of the blog-o-sphere I, too, have an opinion on this year's crop of Super Bowl Ads. I will keep my thoughts short and sweet.
Winners: VW: Both the Darth Vader spot and the new Beetle spot were great. The Darth ad was cute, inexpensive to make, and shows that a grand idea doesn't always need a grand budget. The Beetle ad was fast, fun, and a great teaser at what's to come for the car brand.
Chrysler: While the Imported from Detroit ad was emotional and epic, I can't help but feel like most people aren't going to remember it as Chrysler's. But the execution was strong enough to earn top marks in my mind.
Runner Up - Groupon for making fun of Tibet. But they should have said, "Tibet isn't free. Either is their food. But with Groupon I can at least get it for half price."
Losers: Doritos: Despite some funny ideas, I really think Doritos fell short on all of its spots. Either the production value lacked or the jokes were too thin to really make them epic enough for the Super Bowl. Yes, the dude sucking his co-worker's thumb caught me off guard, but I was completely let down by the follow-up pant smelling gag. And the pug jumping through the door could have been 25 seconds shorter.
Sketchers: Could an ad try any harder to be sexual without hitting the mark. Kim Kardashian's monotone delivery completely negated her sexiness. Some people shouldn't have lines, plain and simple. Fortunately for her, she can share the blame with the lifeless script.
I had a dream last night that I got in a knife fight, and there was no defense to be had. Me and this dude stabbed each other like 100 times. It hurt. Then I woke up.
Who doesn't love winning? I'll tell ya who, those who don't. No one loves a dynasty, a know-it-all, a cold-stone winner. It puts a target on your back. It labels you. It traps you in an ivory tower. I like winning as much as the next guy, but I'm slowly learning the art of losing.
Don't get me wrong; I can't win whenever I want to. But that's not the trick. The trick is winning only when you want to. You see, there's a simple beauty in the hustle. If they're always suprised when you come out on top, you've got 'em. Because you determine the emotional investment.
This watch is sweet. It has a classic appeal that's both manly and sleek. It's an accessory that will stand out in your Agency's war room or, quite literally, the war room. Boom! have some.
