My blogging habits stink.  I don’t blog.  I start posts and never finish them.  I see tons of movies that never even get mentioned here.  I’m bringing shame to the domain.

So am I giving up?  Finally putting FilmFemme on the shelf?  Not yet!  Instead, I decided that starting today, February 1st, 2010, I will blog about every movie that I see this month.  At least 300 words.  It might not end up being that many movies (especially since my Netflix queue is populated with the final season of The Wire right now), but if I see a movie, it is going on this blog.  Today is also a great day to start it since I actually watched three movies   yesterday (Mr. Mom, Jennifer 8 and In the Line of Fire, since I know you were dying of curiosity), so I can slack off and not include those since they were all before midnight!  Yes!

If I actually manage to do this, I will reassess the State of the Blog.  If it goes well, I might actually get around to doing a redesign and some other boring backend stuff like I’ve been meaning to do just about forever.

Wish me luck.

It’s funny, last year I probably saw more movies at the theatre than in any other year of my life.  For only the second time in my life (the first time being last year), I’ve see all of the Best Picture nominees well before the ceremony.  The result of all this?  I really truly do not care who wins Oscars.  Not at all.  Not in the least.  I plan to watch the show, and I’ll give you my opinions, but the fact that some of these trainwrecks masquerading as movies even got nominations boggles my mind  and…well, I plan on formulating or appropriating an Oscar night drinking game to drown my disappointment.  So, check out my picks after the jump.

The should wins are in bold, the will wins are italic, the winners are *d.  It’s only a “win” for me if the “will win” is right.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

• Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor”
• Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon”
• *Sean Penn in “Milk”
• Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

• Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
• Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder”
• Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt”
• *Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”
• Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road”

Performance by an actress in a leading role

• Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married”
• Angelina Jolie in “Changeling”
• Melissa Leo in “Frozen River”
• Meryl Streep in “Doubt”
• *Kate Winslet in “The Reader”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

• Amy Adams in “Doubt”
• *Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
• Viola Davis in “Doubt”
• Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler”

Best animated feature film of the year

• “Bolt”
• “Kung Fu Panda”
• *”WALL-E”

Achievement in art direction

• “Changeling”
• *”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• “The Duchess”
• “Revolutionary Road”

Achievement in cinematography

• “Changeling”
• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• “The Reader”
• *”Slumdog Millionaire”

Achievement in costume design

• “Australia”
• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• *”The Duchess”
• “Milk”
• “Revolutionary Road”

Achievement in directing

• David Fincher for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• Ron Howard for “Frost/Nixon”
• Gus Van Sant for “Milk”
• Stephen Daldry for “The Reader”
• *Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire”

Achievement in film editing

• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• “Frost/Nixon”
• “Milk”
• *”Slumdog Millionaire”

Achievement in makeup

• *”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “Defiance”
• “Milk”
• *”Slumdog Millionaire”
• “WALL-E”

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

• “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E”
• *”Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
• “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
• I refuse to choose from these songs because Bruce Springsteen’s The Wrestler should have been here.  I feel very strongly about this.

Best motion picture of the year

• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “Frost/Nixon”
• “Milk”
• “The Reader”
• *”Slumdog Millionaire”

Achievement in sound editing

• *”The Dark Knight”
• “Iron Man”
• “Slumdog Millionaire”
• “WALL-E”
• “Wanted”

Achievement in sound mixing

• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• *”Slumdog Millionaire”
• “WALL-E”
• “Wanted”

Achievement in visual effects

• *”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• “Iron Man”

Adapted screenplay

• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “Doubt”
• “Frost/Nixon”
• “The Reader”
• *”Slumdog Millionaire”

Original Screenplay

• “Frozen River”
• “Happy-Go-Lucky”
• “In Bruges”
• *”Milk”
• “WALL-E”

You might notice (you won’t) that I skipped a few categories — this is because I have no business commenting on who might win Best Animated Short, etc.  So there you have it.  Check back on Monday to see how I did.

UPDATE: I went 13/19, which is not too shabby, in my opinion.  I knew that Slumdog was going to clean up.  I guess that’s OK…I mean, at least it’s not about the Holocaust or Hobbits.

Apart from that, here are my other predictions, keeping in mind that I haven’t actually seen all the nominees….actually, I don’t think that is an important part of predicting winners at all.

Best Motion Picture – Drama: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Winner: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture  – Drama: Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Winner: Kate Winslet!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Sean Penn, Milk

Winner: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Happy-Go-Lucky

Winner: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Winner: Sally Hawkins!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

Winner: Colin Farrell, In Bruges (WTF?  Really?  A funny little picture, but still quite surprising…)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Winner: Kate Winslet!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Winner: Heath Ledger!

Best Animated Feature Film:   Wall-E

Winner: Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film: I’ve Loved You So Long

Winner: Waltz with Bashir (Vals im Bashir)

Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Winner: Danny Boyle!

Best Screenplay:  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by Eric Roth

Winner: Slumdog Millionaire by Simon Beaufoy

Best Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire, Compose by A.R. Rahman

Winner: Slumdog Millionaire by A.R. Rahman!

Best Original Song: The Wrestler from The Wrestler, Bruce Springsteen

Winner: The Wrestler! (I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this song).

If I’m right about any of these, I’m going to be pretty pleased with myself.

Winner: FilmFemme, who was 8/14 in predicting the awards.  Maybe not so impressive, but over 50% which is pretty good in terms of my history of predicting things.

But when I heard the news, besides the tinge of grief and “Oh, no ” that always comes when someone that you have identified with or admired dies, I felt a sense of indignation.  Besides all of the greatness that will be exalted for the next week or so, with pointless interviews and maybe a marathon of his movies on TCM, Paul Newman, to me, always represented an unerring bastion of class.  Behind his mischievous and sexy grin, you never suspected anything sinister.  He was wholesome, devoted, honest, funny, charming and talented.  And I’m left wondering — who is taking his place?  Is there anyone left in Hollywood without sordid pasts to hide, paralyzing insecurities, a complete lack of restraint or impulse control?  Who sees their work as an actor as a job – a good job – but not a right, not a means to fame and fortune and a golden ticket to bypass shame or decency?  With these celebrated stars dying, to whom are they leaving their legacy?

The “giants” of today’s Hollywood are people that mean box-office.  Obnoxious starlets like Scarlett Johannsen and their male counterparts like Shia LeBeouf.  The slightly older stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, proclaimed class acts like Kate Winslet or Charlize Theron are still susceptible to being perturbed by their fame.  Surely it’s true that they are subjected to more scrutiny than Newman ever was, but I don’t know — isn’t there some way for them to maintain sophistication?  Mystery?  Charm?

Maybe the state of the movie business is even to blame.  With so much dreck, it’s probably difficult to be excited about your job all of the time.  To not just see it as an empty paycheck.  It makes me almost nauseous to think that Renee Zellweger has the same number of Oscars as Paul Newman (1).

This is making me depressed.  I’m going to watch a (good) movie.

My President

Young Jeezy feat. Nas 

Yeah Be The Realest Shit I Never Wrote
I Aint Write This Shit By The Way Nigga
Some Real Shit Right Here Nigga
This Will Be The Realest Shit You Ever Quote
Lets Go!

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Momma Aint At Home & Daddy Still In Jail
Tryna Make A Plate Anybody Seen The Scale
Lets Go!

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Money’s Light Green And My Jordans Light Grey
And They Love To See White Now How Much You Tryna Pay
Lets Go!

{Verse 1}

Today Was A Good Day Hope I Have Me A Great Night
I Dunno What You Fishin For Hope You Catch You A Great White
Me I See Great White Heavy As Killer Whales
I Cannot Believe This Who Knew It Came In Bails
Who Knew It Came With Jail Who Knew It Came With Prison
Jus Cuz You Got An Opinion Does That Make You A Politician
Bush Robbed All Of Us Would That Make Him A Criminal
& Den He Cheated In Florida Would Dat Make Him a Seminal
I Say And I Quote “We Need A Miracle”
And I Say A Miracle Cuz This Shit Is Histerical
By My Nephews And Nieces I Will Email Jesus
Tell Him Forward To Moses And CC Allah
Mr. Soul Survivor Does That Make Me A Konvict
Be All U Can Be Now Dont Dat Sound Like Some Dumb Shit
When You Die Over Crude Oil As Black As My Nigga Boo
It’s Really A Desert Storm Thats Word To My Nigga Clue
Catch Me In Las Vegas, A.R. Arizona
Rep For Them Real Niggaz Im Winnin In California
Winnin In Tennessee Hands Down Atlanta
Landslide Alabama On My Way To Sevana

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Momma Aint At Home & Daddy Still In Jail
Tryna Make A Plate Anybody Seen The Scale
Lets Go!

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Money’s Light Green And My Jordans Light Grey
And They Love To See White Now How Much You Tryna Pay

{Verse 2}

I Said I Woke Up This Morning Headache THIS BIG!
Pay All These Damn Bills Feed All These Damn Kids
Buy All These School Shoes Buy All These School Clothes
For Some Strange Reason My Son Addicted To Polos
Love Me Some Spinach Dip Im Addicted To Houston’s
And If The Numbers Is Right I Take A Trip Out To Houston
A Earthquake Out In China A Hurricane In New Orleans
Street Dreams Tour I Showed My Ass In New Orleans
Did It For Soulja Slim Brought Out B.G.
Its All Love Bun, I’m Forgiving You Pimp C
You Know How The Pimp Be
That Nigga Go’n Speak His Mind
If He Could Speak Down From Heaven
He Tell Me Stay On My Grind
Tell Him Im Doin Fine Obama For Mankind
We Ready For Damn Change So Ya’ll Let The Man Shine
Stuntin On Martin Luther Feelin Just Like A King
Guess Dis Is What He Meant When He Said Dat He Had A Dream

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Momma Aint At Home & Daddy Still In Jail
Tryna Make A Plate Anybody Seen The Scale
Lets Go!

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Money’s Light Green And My Jordans Light Grey
And They Love To See White Now How Much You Tryna Pay

{Nas}

YeaH!
History, Black History
No President Ever Did Shit For Me
Had To Hit The Streets Try To Flip Some Keys
So A Nigga Wont Go Broke
Then They Put Us In Jail Now A Nigga Cant Go Vote
So I Spend Dough All These Hoes Is Trippin
She Aint A Politician Honeys A Polotician
My President Is Black Rolls Golden Charms
22 Inch Rims Like Hulk Hogans Arms
When Thousands Of People Is Riled Up To See You
That Can Arouse Ya Ego You Got Mouths To Feed So
Gotta Stay True To Who You Are And Where You Came From
Cuz At The Top Will Be The Same Place You Hang From
No Matter How Big You Can Ever Be
For Whatever Fee Or Publicity Never Lose Your Integrity
For Years Theres Been Surprise Horses In This Stable
Just Two Albums In I’m The Realest Nigga On This Label
Mr Black President Yeah Obama Fa Real
They Gotta Put Ya Face On The $5000 Dollar Bill

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Momma Aint At Home & Daddy Still In Jail
Tryna Make A Plate Anybody Seen The Scale
Lets Go!

My President Is Black, My Lambo’s Blue
And I Be God Damn If My Rims Aint Too
My Money’s Light Green And My Jordans Light Grey
And They Love To See White Now How Much You Tryna Pay

(Outro}

So Im Sittin Here Right Now Man
(How Much You Tryna Pay)
Its June 3rd Haha 2:08 Am
Nigga I Wont Say Win, Lose Or Draw
Man We Congratulate You Already Homie
See I Motivate The Thugs Right
You Motivate Us Homie
Thats What It Is, This A Hands On Policy
Ya’ll Touchin Me Right
Yeah 1st Black President
Win, Lose Or Draw Nigga Haha
Matta Fact You Know What It Is Man
Shouts Out Jackie Robinson
Booker T Washington Homie
Oh Y’all Aint Think I Knew That Shit!
Sydney Portea What Dey Do
My President Is Black
I’m Important Too Though!
Lambos Blue
I’m Was The First Nigga To Ride Through My Hood In A Lamborghini Yeah Haha

(1) Elation? Michael Cera in a movie directed by Edgar Wright in which “a young slacker [...]meets the woman of his dreams but finds that he can only win her heart by battling and defeating her seven evil ex-boyfriends. ” Oh yes, tell me more, Hollywood Reporter!

(2) Confusion? Anton Yelchin in the new Terminator movie opposite Christian Bale? Why put so much sexy oppposite so much mediocre? Why why why?

(3) Trepidation? Michael Cera is also slated to be in Youth in Revolt, directed by Chuck & Buck/The Good Girl’s Miguel Arteta, but written by the awfully untalented Gustin Nash who wrote the truly horrible Charlie Bartlett starring the way overhyped Anton Yelchin! Will it be good? Can Mikey save it? Why isn’t it written by Mike White so I can be truly excited about it??

This is why I don’t read the trades anymore…I’m just not cut out for these kinds of emotional rollercoasters.