AFI Movies of the Year -- 2007

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
Into the Wild
Juno
Knocked Up
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
The Savages
There Will Be Blood

Season is closing in

The Golden Globe awards were announced on December 13th. I have them copied in a spreadsheet on my documents. 34 different movies are nominated (compared to 36 last year). I look forward to the holiday moving coming up and preparing for the oscar movie marathon!

Esovik's 2007 Oscar Picks

Best Actor -- Peter O'Toole. I think O'Toole will get the death vote. He's not dead yet, but will he ever get another great role? He's NEVER won an Oscar and I think the voters will give him the Oscar he so aptly deserves.

Best Supporting Actor -- My own vote would go to Mark Wahlberg, but I think Eddie Murphy has the momentum and will go home with Mr. Oscar.

Best Actress -- Helen Mirren absolutely deserves this award for her portrayal of Elizabeth in The Queen. It was a great movie and she transformed herself into the monarch.

Best Supporting Actress -- I think I would personally vote for Adriana Barraza in Babel but again, Jennifer Hudson will likely win it.

Best Animated Feature -- For some crazy, inexplicable reason Happy Feet is apparently a favorite. The best animated film is probably Monster House.

Best Art Direction -- Dreamgirls. Great sets that take us through the ages.

Best Cinematography -- Children of Men. The only redeeming feature of that film.

Best Costume Design -- Dreamgirls. The costumes had to go from the 60's to the 90's from performance gowns to the poor and unemployed in Detroit.

Best Director -- Martin Scorsese for The Departed. I didn't see United 93, but I think Scorsese put together another masterpiece and I think he'll finally get his statuette.

Best Documentary Feature -- An Inconvenient Truth. Because it could make a statement to the current administration.

Best Documentary Short Subject -- The Blood of Yingzhou District. Apparently this film is very good and heart-wrenching.

Best Film Editing -- The Departed. I don't know much about film editing and I frequently try to over-guess this category. But, I thought The Departed was a good film overall, so why not.

Best Foreign Language Film -- Pan's Labyrinth because Volver wasn't nominated.

Best Makeup -- Pan's Labyrinth. This ones easy... Click? give me a break... and the voters will not want Apocalypto to win out of principle.

Best Original Score -- Babel. Amazing score that captures the mood of Morocco, Japan and Mexico!

Best Original Song -- The three songs from Dreamgirls may cancel each other out and Our Town may be the winner; but I really did like Listen and Love You I Do. So, perhaps one of those will win -- I'll go with Listen because it's truly the one original of the Dreamgirls nominees.

Best Animated Short -- No Time For Nuts. Because I'd heard of it before the nominees came out.

Best Live Action Short -- West Bank Story for political reasons. Plus, it's another one I'd heard of before the nominations came out.

Best Sound Editing -- I trust the experts on this category and they say Pirates.

Best Sound Mixing -- Does anyone really know why there are two categories? I must find out. I'll go with Dreamgirls.

Best Visual Effects -- I didn't see Poseidon or Superman Returns, but I did see Pirates and I thought Captain Snake-Face was fabulously done!

Best Adapted Screenplay -- The Departed. This is a tough one, but I think adapting the screenplay from the original that was made in Hong Kong for a completely different culture must be pretty remarkable.

Best Original Screenplay -- A tough one. I'm impressed that two foreign language films were nominated, which must say something about what makes a good screenplay. But I'm going to go with Little Miss Sunshine. Although now that I've seen it, I'm not sure.

Best Picture -- A very interesting group of nominations.
It used to be that whomever won Best Director would get Best Picture, but that trend has not held the last several years. The Departed might get it due to the great acting performances from those whom you expect to get good acting from and a few surprises.
Letters From Iwo Jima was a very good film, but it lacked something that I can't quite put my finger on. Emotion, maybe, and that's one of the reasons it's such a good film; but for that reason, I don't think it will win.
Some people think Little Miss Sunshine will win because it's that one film that stands out from the rest. But comparing it to the rest of the nominees, I don't see that happening.
The Queen is probably the best overall film. So many things were done well in this film and it was enjoyable to watch and to discuss. It could win but...
Highly over-rated films frequently win Best Picture. And this year will not disappoint. I think Babel will get the award.

Babel Thoughts

When the lights went up in the theater after the movie "Babel" I wondered if the last 2 hours and 22 minutes had been well spent. I felt that the movie tried to make a statement, but that statement was allusive, not well thought out, poorly executed... it really bothered me. Movies tend to have a point or a lesson and this one didn't.

We discussed what that point was: consequences of choices, diversity in cultures. None of those explanations resonated with me.

Then, Saturday night, I awoke with a start. I had missed the most obvious clue to figuring out that movie. At once I felt awed and stupid for not noticing it previously.

The movie is called "Babel" duh. The movie is set in Morocco, Japan, U.S., Mexico, and consists of numerous incidents of mishaps due to communication and culture.

In Genesis, the people of Babel join together and build an enormous structure, known as the "tower of babel." This was their joint effort to reach the kingdom of heaven. God didn't like this idea, and destroyed the tower... creating multiple languages and cultures in the process.

So, essentially, I think the point of the movie is just to show us a representation of the various ways that communication and cultures clash. Simple.

The Pursuit of Happyness haiku

life in transition
suffering and beatitude
one happy ending.

Children of Men haiku

biblical likeness
consequences of choices
is this our future?

Notes on a Scandal haiku

greedy scheming plan
despicable behavior
deception with class

Letters from Iwo Jima haiku

allegiance collides
failure intolerable
cultural contrast

The Departed haiku

paranoid carnage
undercover uncovered
who wins in the end?

Babel haiku

ripples in a pond
four families intertwined
result of choices?

The Queen haiku

the masses despond
monarchy in a pickle
tony saves the day

The Good German haiku

black and white genre
Casablanca wanna-be
doesn't deliver

Pan's Labyrinth Haiku

tyranny abounds
is it real or fantasy?
absolution found

Oscar Movie Marathon ~ The Debrief

The annual Oscar Movie Marathon completed this past weekend, although this does by no means imply that we've viewed all the movies we intend to between now and the actual culmination of the High Holy Season of Cinema, which occurs on February 25th, 2007 during the Academy Awards program. Quite the contrary. We were scheduled to view 12 movies from the evening of Thursday, February 8th through Sunday, February 11th, as has been posted on this site. I will confess I opted out of two of the flicks and I am vaguely ashamed to have done so. I am only slightly redeemed by the group decision to skip the very last movie on Sunday night, amending my record to 10 of 11 possible movies viewed.

The marathon is not for the faint of heart or head. It takes a strong constitution, a deep commitment and a large piece of luggage carefully loaded with tools to be able to prevail over the (sometimes) unrelenting hours of dark, flickering lights, sudden loud noises and often traumatic epic unfolding all about you. The baggage we carry into the movie cave has a motley assortment of items, often personalized to the owner's specific needs. But, without exception the following are always present:

• The Oscar Movie Marathon Program - this is a gift that Esoterica authors and provides each year and each year it becomes an even more comprehensive, useful and valued souvenir to those of us marathoning.
• Pen or Pencil & Notepad - for notations about the movie, ideas about the food to be served at the Oscar party, jotting down the names of movie trailers seen & which we wish to remember to go and see later.
• Kleenex - for the emotionally charged movie's impact, unexpected spills, sneezing fits and a make-shift napkin
• Hand lotion - it is winter, after all. . . a small comfort and luxury during a 12-14 hour day spent in the movie cave
• Lip Balm - Salted popcorn and pretzels can do dreadful, painful damage and as already mentioned, it is winter.
• Small flashlight - for studying the Oscar Movie Marathon Program after the lights go out; we learned the lesson of the flashlight several years ago whilst in a dingy, frighteningly dark and hazardous theatre in Council-tucky. . . my knees have never fully recovered from the tumble I took that day. By the time we finally left that theater, the only thing that hurt worse than my bruised and contused knees was the knowledge that I could never get the hours back from the dreadful viewing we'd just suffered.
• Money
• Blanket - for the chilly theatre, for comfort, to hide beneath, to muffle sounds, to silently weep into
• Health(ier) snacks - movie theatres do not serve a lot of vegetables or lean meats and it is best to pack a few items which will protect our health and complexion from several days of eating nothing but pretzels, popcorn, sugar, fat, salt and preservatives.
• Water/Juice - for healthier drinking
• Painkillers - this is a marathon, there is pain sometimes and one must do whatever necessary to plan for mitigating its effects on the overall experience.

The weekend was fully successful, although we did sport weary countenances by the end of both Saturday and Sunday. We decided to end our Sunday night a bit early after having seen The Pursuit of Happyness because it left us with a smile on our face and a hopeful feeling in the cockles of our heart. This was such a blessing after the arduous, violent, and sometimes difficult to watch panoply of cinema we'd experienced. Our original schedule had us bookending our week in Africa, i.e. Sierra Leone on Thursday (Blood Diamond) and Uganda on Sunday evening (The Last King of Scotland), but instead we finished in San Francisco with Will & Jaden Smith's performances.

The best part of the weekend was far and away the comradery of truly beloved friends, enjoyment of the occasional clever witticisms ("team urination"?) and enjoying our traditions from both the past and adding new ones for our future. The worst part of the weekend, for me, was insomnia after having viewed Pan's Labyrinth. Yeesh.

My own personal quick & dirty review of each movie follows under cover of another article on this blog. . . so stay tuned.

Venus haiku

depressed, dying man
life review, pleasure, venus
final redemption

Blood Diamond Haiku

bloody blood diamond
leonardo can't act, but
solomon was hot!

Oscar Movie Marathon 2007 Schedule

This was a difficult schedule to work out. I didn't want to end up spending two whole days in the AMC theater, but I could not get the schedule worked out to split the movies between the AMC and another theater. The movie on Friday may be in Lincoln or Omaha, I need the input of a few others before making a final decision. If you have a preference, comment now!

See you on Friday!



Friday, Feb. 9
Venus
either at the Grand in Lincoln or Village Point in Omaha
21:50 or 19:05 respectfully

Saturday, Feb. 10
11:45 -- The Good German
13:50 -- The Queen
16:00 -- Babel
19:50 -- Pan's Labyrinth
22:05 -- The Departed

Sunday, Feb. 11
10:00 -- Letters From Iwo Jima
12:35 -- Notes on a Scandal
14:25 -- Children of Men
19:40 -- The Pursuit of Happyness
21:45 -- The Last King of Scotland

The First Marathon, 2004

Shortly after I moved to Omaha, I decided to take advantage of the movie megaplex in town. Once football was over, there just wasn't much going on and the dreary sky, arctic winds and lack of entertainment was forcing me into hibernation.

Shortly before moving to Omaha I had completed my goal to see every film that won an Oscar for Best Picture. I decided there had to be a good way to stay on top of watching all the best pictures. I had lived in Omaha for just about a year and hadn't gotten out much to see many movies. So, I decided I would have a marathon day when I would see as many movies that were showing at the AMC megaplex that were nominated for an Oscar.

I carefully planned out my schedule and invited anyone who wanted to participate in this adventure with me. As it turned out, only two people were able to withstand the movies that started at 10:00 a.m. until the last movie let out after midnight. It was a fantastic day!

That first year, it was just one day. Included in the marathon was a movie that wasn't nominated for any Oscars, but was one that fit the schedule. The schedule, in order, can be viewed here (click on 2004).

Of course the group of gals who invited me to my first Oscar party continued the tradition of a party after our move to Omaha. We started a tradition of making chocolate fondue for the event. Highlights from that first year include me burning my tongue on VERY hot fondue chocolate and getting carrots thrown at me.

Of course, we were a bit drunk on saki. Always being a sucker for themes, I suggested we prepare foods for the Oscar party that had some association with the movies that were up for Best Picture. This is a tradition that has continued.

In 2005, I decided it would be fun to go to as many different theaters as possible during the marathon, which meant it lasted nearly a week. The high-holy priestesses and I ventured to Council Bluffs for OMM II, the first multi-state marathon(and very likely the last).

The Oscar Movie Marathon is a lot of fun and not for those who despise sitting for long periods of time; nor for those who get tired of seeing the same movie-theater commercials and previews over and over and over....

Part 2: 52 weeks=52 movies

In the year 2000, there were 53 weeks in the year. I started my quest to watch 53 movies in a theater sometime in March--although the exact date wasn't recorded. I remember I was visiting my parents in Grand Island and we went to the Grand Island Mall to see Hanging Up. I felt bad about going to see that particular movie since it was about a distant, not-so-good, dying father and his daughters dealing with his imminent death. I think my mother felt that the movie struck too close to home and she didn't enjoy it so much. It wasn't that good of a movie anyway, but it was an interesting outing for me and my folks as I don't recall ever going to a movie with them before. It was like a new venture into the adult relationship that I had relatively recently entered into with my parents. Little did I know at the time, but nearly all of the movies I would see that year I would attend alone.

Y2K was a turning point year for me in many respects. I look back at 1999 with fond, happy memories, and 2000 with angst. You see, part of what motivated me to go to the movies was escape. I was able to spend hours and hours alone on the weekend in someone else's world--out of reach of the telephone, radio, newspapers, internet--a safe-haven where no one could find me. Year 2000 was the start of my descent into depression, a hole that my brain dug for me and in which I would eventually feel most comfortable.

I met some interesting (fictional) characters that year, saw the movie that still makes my "worst movies ever" list and realized a few things about movies. Primarily, not all movies suck. In fact, just about every movie has a redeeming quality that makes it worth seeing. Take Final Destiny as an example. This movie seems to have little to offer the casual movie-goer. However, I thought that the CONCEPT of Final Destiny was brilliant. It's a slasher film where the villain is death itself. The whole idea behind the movie is that a group of teens have "accidentally" cheated death, and now death is out to get them. After Jason, Freddy, et al, this was definitely a creative approach to slasher movies.

I saw fantastic acting in movies like Erin Brockovich, classic comedies like Meet the Parents and some rare, delicious indy films like The Big Kahuna. See the full list here.

My 52nd movie of the year was in Grand Island. The Grand Theatre had been renovated and was showing first-run movies. Just before Christmas I again attended the movies with my folks. We went to the Grand and saw Cast Away. The Grand is the ultimate, small-town, downtown movie theater. My siblings and I spent our Summer Wednesday afternoons there attending "Summer Movies;" the theater owner would come on-stage before the movie began and direct us through a rousing chorus of "God Bless America." If we weren't enthusiastic enough, we would have to sing it twice. The theater had hardly changed in the year 2000... the clock above the screen with the neon blue light around it was still there, I think the curtain was the same one from 20 years prior. We didn't have to sing "God Bless America" but I still felt pretty patriotic before the movie. Just as I had started the year of 52 movies, I ended it in Grand Island with my parents. There's probably something profound to be said about that...

Overall it was an eye-opening year and I did find the time to see a 53rd film before year-end. Ever since then, I have made a goal to see a certain number of movies in a theater each year which I firmly believe enriches my life. I may not read a lot of fiction, but I love to watch movies.

In three years' time, the first Movie Marathon will make an appearance...

The Emergence of the Oscar Movie Marathon, Part 1

I think it's only appropriate to lay out the path that led to the Oscar Movie Marathon. It's perhaps an interesting journey, and is worth tracing for posterity.

In the year 2000, I was invited to an Oscar party. This was apparently a tradition held by some friends of mine but was one which I had not taken part of up to this point. I arrived, in the snow, to a house that still SMELLED new! My friend (now known as "Quippage") had just moved into her new home and was hosting the Oscar party. I was invited to accompany a friend of mine who was a good friend of Quippage; I felt I was a mere acquaintance. When we arrived, late as is customary of my friend, one guest had already arrived: my friend later known as Reckless.

At the time, Reckless and I were acquaintances, had been seen in the same bar with each other, but had not yet realized the full potential of our friendship. Before the ceremonies began I, as is sometimes the case, felt the need to hop up on my soapbox and throw a nugget into the room to see where it would land. The nugget on this particular evening was "All movies suck."

The nugget barely hit the air when Reckless gobbled it up, turned to me and said something to the effect of, "what the HELL? How can you say that?" The conversation that ensued changed the trajectory of my life and earned me a good friend.

At the time, I felt that movies had shifted in their purpose. They used to be a vessel to distribute opinions of all sorts, to help the public keep their thumb on the pulse of society; and even to expand horizons a bit. But lately, they were a huge disappointment. They had become drivel, a mass of self-serving, self-promoting old-white men who had lost the ability to formulate an opinion let along pass along a fresh idea or viewpoint of the world. I had decided it was not worth my money going to movies.

AAH, but Reckless challenged me on this opinion. Her argumentative nature is perhaps something of legend. We discussed my "all movies suck" notion throughout the Oscars broadcast. She pointed out that since I hadn't actually SEEN many movies, that I didn't really have the first-hand evidence to make such a proclamation. That was certainly an argument that I couldn't refute.

I made two goals that night.

First, I decided that I would go to a movie in a theater for every weekend that there was in the year; I swore to see 52 movies in 2000. Since the Oscars were in March, I was behind about 10 movies already.

Secondly, I decided to watch every movie that had ever won an Oscar for Best Picture. I figured this would be a more challenging feat, so I gave myself until I turned 35 to do so. I turned 33 in the year 2000 so that gave me 2.5 years to watch all 75 movies that had been given the Best Picture statuette.

As I went to movies, I recorded the movie, the date seen, and a general rating of the movie in a notebook that I carried with me. I've since made this list electronic and added to it the Oscar movies that I watched that year. I had a process: On Friday's, I'd make a list of the movies showing over the weekend. I'd decide which movies to see when I arose on Saturday and typically saw two movies each weekend. On Sunday, I'd look at the TV Guide from the paper and find the Oscar Best Pictures that were showing on TV during the next week. Then I would either watch or record them.

I learned a lot that year; about myself, movies, The Oscars. The Oscar Movie Marathon at the end of 2000 was just a grain of sand in the oyster of my movie-watching adventures. Over the next 3 years it will grow into the pearl we celebrate today....

The Nominees Are...

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio - BLOOD DIAMOND
Ryan Gosling - HALF NELSON
Peter O'Toole - VENUS
Will Smith - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Forest Whitaker - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN
Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND
Eddie Murphy - DREAMGIRLS
Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz - VOLVER
Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN
Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza - BABEL
Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jennifer Hudson - DREAMGIRLS
Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL

Best animated feature film of the year
CARS
HAPPY FEET
MONSTER HOUSE

Achievement in art direction
DREAMGIRLS
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
PAN'S LABYRINTH
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in cinematography
THE BLACK DAHLIA
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE ILLUSIONIST
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in costume design
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
DREAMGIRLS
MARIE ANTOINETTE
THE QUEEN

Achievement in directing
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
THE QUEEN
UNITED 93

Best documentary feature
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
JESUS CAMP
MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY

Best documentary short subject
THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT
RECYCLED LIFE
REHEARSING A DREAM
TWO HANDS

Achievement in film editing
BABEL
BLOOD DIAMOND
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
UNITED 93

Best foreign language film of the year
AFTER THE WEDDING
DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS
PAN'S LABYRINTH
WATER

Achievement in makeup
APOCALYPTO
CLICK
PAN'S LABYRINTH

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
BABEL
THE GOOD GERMAN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
"Listen" - DREAMGIRLS
"Love You I Do" - DREAMGIRLS
"Our Town" - CARS
"Patience" - DREAMGIRLS

Best motion picture of the year
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN

Best animated short film
THE DANISH POET
LIFTED
THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL
MAESTRO
NO TIME FOR NUTS

Best live action short film
BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA (BINTA Y LA GRAN IDEA)
ÉRAMOS POCOS (ONE TOO MANY)
HELMER & SON
THE SAVIOUR
WEST BANK STORY

Achievement in sound editing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in sound mixing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
DREAMGIRLS
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in visual effects
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
POSEIDON
SUPERMAN RETURNS

Adapted screenplay
BORAT CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
LITTLE CHILDREN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Original screenplay
BABEL
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

Marathon Dates Announcement

Reserve the dates, the Marathon Weekend has been chosen!

FEBRUARY 9 - 11, 2007.

For those of you who wish to join the ranks as an elite member of the Marathon clan, there will be an early showing on Feb 8.

The actual schedule and marathon program will be released soon. Keep checking back for information.

Warm Up to the Oscars - GG Tonight

As the High Holy Season of Cinema progresses and the High Priestesses (HP) become more and more giddy, it is worth noting that there are two other awards shows which can temporarily satiate the eager and incontinent avid Oscar anticipater: the Golden Globes and the SAG awards.

The GG's air tonight, January 15th, at 7 pm central. The SAGs air on January 28th.

Nominees for the GG's can be viewed at www.thegoldenglobes.com. In addition to all the usual awards, this evening will also feature Warren Beatty being honored with the Cecil B. DeMille award for Lifetime Achievement.

In another interesting tribute, this year's Miss Golden Globe will be Jack Nicholson's daughter, Lorraine. It seems wholly fitting that a man who has ogled, admired and handled his fair share of golden globes now has a daughter who will be forever anointed with such a title.

Hopefully, Miss GG will not have to fend off the advances of the Cecil B. DeMille award winner backstage. Mr Beatty has enjoyed a reputation for most of his life as a bit of a rake; although he seems to have been well tamed since his wedding to Annette Bening. Nonetheless, on wonders if Mr Nicholson will keep a golf club handy while his daughter shuttles her golden globes and the golden awards to and from the stage.

High Holy Season - 2007

We kicked off the High Holy Season on Friday with "Dream Girls" at Village Point Douglas Theatres. We couldn't wait for the Oscar nominations to come out, so we selected a movie that was nominated for Golden Globe and SAG awards.

This first movie of the season went much better than the 2005 season, when we ventured to Council Bluffs for "Vera Wang." We should have known we were in for something... here the boy who sold us our tickets came out of the booth to sell us popcorn; where the theater lights were off as we entered the theater and Reckless (as she was then known) sustained an injury on the back row of seats; upon finding a seat and finally feeling safe, I turned to speak to Johna Crybaby, our 6-foot tall Croatian friend, to find her head about even with my elbow having found her seat to have a rather obvious spring problem. We did eventually get situated with our popcorn (a replacement for real dinner) our sodas (without cup holders) and new seats only to have to sit through a very painful movie which we later coined "Vera Wanker." If we had to sit through one more minute of tear-strewn close-ups of Ms. Wanker we might have welled up ourselves!

Yes, Dream Girls was entertaining, only dragged occasionally, displayed some very crafty acting and superb singing performances. Afterwards, we decided to go somewhere for a drink. After ruling out several options we ended up at a place aptly named "Oscars." We explained to our waitress, on the verge of her 21st birthday, the coincidence that brought us to that particular bar and she promptly aided our cause by getting us a clean Oscar's beer glass to steal.

And so it begins...