Ice Cube Doesn't Care About Oscar Snub

My favourite quote from Ice Cube pertaining to the fact that Straight Outta Compton "only" got nominated for best screenplay at this year's Oscars is this one: "You can't boycott something you never went to". The rest of his pearls of wisdom are here, including descriptions on how fan and critical reaction was more important than a statuette.

In my mind, there isn't really a snub because it's not like it would have won Best Picture - it wasn't. It was the best biopic of the year, sure, by a long stretch, but biopics by their very definition usually sacrifice artistry and imagination in the name of telling the most accurate story or character personalization possible.

Was F. Gary Gray's (of Friday fame) work as a director worthy of being compared to that of Alejandro G. Innaritu (The Revenant), or even Ridley Scott (The Martian) or Steven Spielberg (Bridge Of Spies), who weren't even nominated themselves? No, absolutely not.

And though he was terrific as Eazy-E, Jason Mitchell's performance wasn't in the same league as that of Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), who, himself, was leagues ahead of Matt Damon (The Martian), Bryan Cranston (Trumbo) and Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl) this year. Or even of Johnny Depp, whose performance in Black Mass was ignored, probably exactly for the sake of not letting voters hesitate between that performance and DiCaprio's.

There weren't many female parts in the film, let alone any stand-outs that deserved to take on the likes of Cate Blanchett (Carol), Jennifer Lawrence (Joy) or Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn) for Best Actress, nor to challenge Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Rooney Mara (Carol), Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), or Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs) in a supporting role.

Which leaves Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr. playing his father, who may have had a shot against Tom Hardy (The Revenant), Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), and Sylvester Stallone (Creed). Hardy could also have been nominated for Best Actor and Supporting Actor for the same film - British picture Legend. So the younger Cube is the only one who can be deemed a snub - and his own father's like, "fuck it".

Which didn't stop the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to over-react and change its whole voting system to "increase diversity", which could very well prove to be a huge mistake later when less deserving films get awards just so that every shade of the colour and rainbow palette are represented.

Oh, wait, it's the fucking Oscars, the institution that gave Denzel Washington a trophy for the piece of shit that was Training Day instead of Malcolm X; the institution that gave Russell Crowe an award for wearing a skirt in Gladiator instead of his tour-de-force performance in The Insider; the institution that waited until Scent Of A Woman to give Al Pacino the recognition he derserved; the institution that thought Titanic was the best film of 1997 and that Forrest Gump was better in any way than Pulp Fiction in 1994. Oh, yeah, the fucking Oscars. Not rewarding the best piece of art is what they do (see: Birdman last year instead of Boyhood).

They were NEVER about rewarding the best of the indusry, but always about rewarding The Industry.

Cube knows. Cube speaks wisdom. Listen to Cube. Still, it'll be funny to hear Chris Rock tear the Academy a new one for 10 minutes.

What Colour Dressed Him Best?

Blue and black, or gold and white?

(yes, that's a dress joke).

But it leads me to Leonard Nimoy, who died today due to complications from COPD (chronic pulmonary disease, something that runs the gamut between severe asthma and lung cancer).

He was an actor, of course, but also a writer, poet, film director (including two of the Star Trek series and Three Men And A Baby), and an inspiration to many. He struggled with his Spock character for a long time, but seemed to come to terms with it in the 1990s, concluding decades of soul-searching with his second autobiography, 1995's I Am Spock (after 1975's I Am Not Spock).

I'll watch Galaxy Quest (in which Alan Rickman's character is a clear homage to Nimoy himself) tonight, to mix some laughs with my sadness.

Live Long And Prosper, concluded the 83-year-old man, in his final tweet earlier this week, publishing his last poem at the same time, for the whole world to ponder:

A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.  LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015

A Tim Curry Time Warp

 The are ''cult movies'', then there is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the longest-running (consecutive) theatrical feature of all time. And because of its cult following, all speaking parts in it (and some silent ones, including even a stuffed bird) are well-known and all actors recognized and worshiped, but none more so than Tim Curry, Frank-N-Furter himself in both the film and the stage show before it.

Here he is in a rare interview about the film, a topic he usually avoids nowadays. Notice how he looks like a humble Freddie Mercury in it (it's the mustache)!

Top 10s This Week

Top 10 Songs:

10. THE DISTRICT SLEEPS ALONE TONIGHT, The Postal Service (2003)
9. LOVE BITES, Def Leppard (1987)
8. WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (Lou Reed cover), Joseph Arthur (2014)
7. NOT UP TO ME, Kandle (2014)
6. ALL THE RAGE BACK HOME, Interpol (2014)
5. LAZARETTO, Jack White (2014)
4. SWEATPANTS, Childish Gambino (feat. Problem) (2014)
3. RIGHT TIME, Nikki Lane (2014)
2. SMOOTH SAILING, Queens Of The Stone Age (2014)
1. RED LIGHT, Eddie Murphy (feat. Snoop Lion) (2013)

Top 10 Robin Williams Films:

10. MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON, Paul Mazursky (1984)  
9. DEATH TO SMOOCHY, Danny De Vito (2002)
8. AWAKENINGS, Penny Marshall (1990)
7. ONE HOUR PHOTO, Mark Romanek (2002)
6. DEAD POETS SOCIETY, Peter Weir (1989)
5. GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM, Barry Levinson (1987)
4. DECONSTRUCTING HARRY, Woody Allen (1997)
3. WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, Vincent Ward (1999)
2. INSOMNIA, Christopher Nolan (2002)
1. THE FISHER KING, Terry Gilliam (1991)

Top 10 Robin Williams Performances In Film:

10. HOOK, Steven Spielberg (1991)  
9. DEATH TO SMOOCHY, Danny De Vito (2002)
8. MRS. DOUBTFIRE, Chris Columbus (1993)
7. GOOD WILL HUNTING, Gus Van Sant (1997)
6. INSOMNIA, Christopher Nolan (2002)
5. ONE HOUR PHOTO, Mark Romanek (2002)
4. PATCH ADAMS, Tom Shadyac (1998)
3. THE FINAL CUT, Omar Naim (2004)
2. DEAD POETS SOCIETY, Peter Weir (1989)
1. THE BIRDCAGE, Mike Nichols (1996)

Top 10s Of The Week

Top 10 Songs:

10. WE EXIST, Arcade Fire (2014)
9. SHARP, Red Mass (2014)
8. NOT UP TO ME, Kandle (2014)
7. WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (Lou Reed cover), Joseph Arthur (2014)
6. LAZARETTO, Jack White (2014)
5. RIGHT TIME, Nikki Lane (2014)
4. SWEATPANTS, Childish Gambino (feat. Problem) (2014)
3. ALL THE RAGE BACK HOME, Interpol (2014)
2. SMOOTH SAILING, Queens Of The Stone Age (2014)
1. RED LIGHT, Eddie Murphy (feat. Snoop Lion) (2013)

Top 10 Eddie Murphy Movies:

10. SHREK 2, Andrew Adamson & Kelly Asbury & Conrad Vernon (2004)  
9. DREAMGIRLS, Bill Condon (2006)
8. THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, Tom Shadyac (1996)
7. MULAN, Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook (1998)
6. 48 HRS., Walter Hill (1982)
5. BOWFINGER, Frank Oz (1999)
4. BEVERLY HILLS COP, Martin Brest (1984)
3. COMING TO AMERICA, John Landis (1988)
2. TRADING PLACES, John Landis (1983)
1. SHREK, Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson (2001)

From memory, I was expecting more movies I liked, and more quality movies from Eddie Murphy's filmography. The fact that two animated films where he voices a supporting character cracked the top-7 says a lot, in retrospect. Although, honestly, 48 Hrs probably should have taken that #5 spot.

Top 10s This Week

Top 10 Songs:

10. WE EXIST, Arcade Fire (2014)
9. RED LIGHT, Eddie Murphy (feat. Snoop Lion) (2013)
8. NOT UP TO ME, Kandle (2014)
7. SHARP, Red Mass (2014)
6. ALL THE RAGE BACK HOME, Interpol (2014)
5. LAZARETTO, Jack White (2014)
4. SWEATPANTS, Childish Gambino (feat. Problem) (2014)
3. WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (Lou Reed cover), Joseph Arthur (2014)
2. RIGHT TIME, Nikki Lane (2014)
1. SMOOTH SAILING, Queens Of The Stone Age (2014)

Top 10 Favourite Actors At The Moment:

10. BOB ODENKIRK
9. JAY BARUSCHEL
8. STEVE CARELL
7. KEVIN NEALON
6. GEORGE CLOONEY
5. LEONARDO DICAPRIO
4. DEMIAN BICHIR
3. GUY PEARCE
2. PAUL GIAMATTI
1. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS

Video Of The Week: Childish Gambino (Feat. Problem)

Childish Gambino, a.k.a. the musician personae of actor (Community) / writer (30 Rock) Donald Glover, is one insanely talented creator and performer. He's already an award-nomination-producing machine and, at barely 30 years of age, is doing it all his own way, at his own pace, in the medium he chooses, in the vehicle he decides to board.

It's not about a huge film opening, or signing with the biggest label, or appearing on every possible late-night and early-morning talk show, it's about taking full charge of every step of the creation process.

As a matter of fact, on his recent tour, though he contracted Montréal super-effects team Moment Factory to design and execute the stage and props, he wanted full input on everything created, and over 80% o the end result came from his unique vision and storyboards.

I saw him perform last year and he just blew me away; with an extra year of experience and a whole new visual experience, it can only be even better.

In this Hiro Murai-directed video for the song Sweatpants, he uses the type of visual storytelling of repetition and looping often found in Michel Gondry's video work - possibly the best reference to have when filming a music video, in my opinion, apologies to John Landis. He has the sensibility of a true indie rock songwriter, but the mental strength of a hardcore rapper - and references that could make Kevin Smith piss his pants; he is the complete package.

Celebrities That Look Like Mattresses

Oh God. So good.

Is Sad And Useless the best website at the moment? If not, they're damn close, and their Celebrities That Look Like Matresses (sic) post is the best page I've seen all year...

Here's a sample:

However, their Metal Albums With Googly Eyes post is almost just as good...

Video Of The Week: Corey Feldman

No, that's not a typo. No, it doesn't make any sense. Yes, it's beyond ridiculous.

In this video - apparently the second off his 1st Glimpse of Heaven EP - Corey Feldman (yes, that Corey Feldman) tries to channel Crispin Glover (his overall appearance and demeanor), Michael Jackson (Bad, Man In the Mirror, the song's melody) and the ''Winning-era'' Charlie Sheen (the angels/hookers), references I Love Lucy, pretend-raps and just brings out a general feeling of discomfort to any viewer with a pulse. (Therefore, Corey Haim might be a fan.)

The star of The Goonies, The Gremlins, Stand By Me, The Lost Boys and The 'Burbs needs to stop basing his public personae on 30-year-old work, and perhaps try to get serious about his art. Or not. But I really don't see this ending well.



The video was directed by actress Tanna Fredrick, who plays Feldman's wife throughout the 4 minutes you'll never get back yet may inexplicably want to go through again.

I apologize in advance.

R.I.P. Harold Ramis

A very good comedy director passed away today, as Harold Ramis finally lost a battle with an autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis that had gone on since 2010; he had even lost motor function in his legs for a while.

While folks my age will remember his writing and acting credits at SCTV and his performance as Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989), his better credits are no doubt his work as a director:

Caddyshack (1980)
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Club Paradise (1986)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Stuart Saves His Family (1995)
Multiplicity (1996)
Analyze This (1999)
Bedazzled (2000)
Analyze That (2002)
The Ice Harvest (2005)
The Office (2006) (TV)
Year One (2009)

One could argue against Stuart Saves His Family and Year One (I do, and I'd add the Analyze films as disappointments as well), but the body of work as a whole represents some of the best smart-funny films in the years they were made.

R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman

Heeeeerrrooooooiiiinnnnnn
Be the death of me
Heeeeerrrooooooiiiinnnnnn
It's my life (...)
- Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground's Heroin

Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hofman - a perennial favourite of mine as can be attested in my ''best-of'' lists - died today of an apparent heroin overdose at age 46 in his Manhattan apartment.

The hype machine will likely go nuts - and if it does, it will be more deserved than when it hit Heath Ledger, for sure - but while I don't think he qualifies for the moniker of ''greatest actor of his generation'', he surely ranks among the most consistent, and constantly original ones.

Like William H. Macy, he was as good as the seventh-role in a blockbuster as he was starring in an indie character-driven picture, and my favourite performance of his remains the scene-stealing sexually deranged obscene phone caller in Happiness:

He could be at turns nerdy, shy, subdued, over-the-top, depressed, strong, conniving, lost... always on point.

He will be missed.

Defending Batfleck, Part 2

Instead of writing a full column about Ben Affleck being chosen to be the next Batman and the internet going aflame, I half-assed included it in my Top 10s last week. I threw Christian Bale a (well-deserved) sucker punch while I was at it, because the most-overrated actor of his generation always should take hits.

Jordan Walter at FHM went all-out, though, as you can see here.

A few highlights:

On Daredevil:

But look at it from his point of view. He was paid a ton of money to dress up, fight crime and get it on with Jennifer Garner – nobody in the world would turn that down. 

Yes, it was bad but, it was probably loads of fun to do.

Don’t hate the playa.

On Gigli:

If your superhot girlfriend asks you to star in a film opposite her, you do it. No matter how shit the film is.

He didn’t make this for us. End of argument.

On Bale:

Sorry? Christian Bale was the worst thing about the recent Batman movies. He was overacting, didn’t look like he was having fun and had the most continuity defying yet consistently annoying voice ever committed to celluloid.

The great thing about those Batman movies were Christopher Nolan’s jawdropping set-pieces, Anne Hathaway and awesome people like Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. And the Bat Pod.
Never the Bale-meister.

 I'd substitute Gordon-Levitt for Gary Oldman, but that's just because I'm a man of taste.

Walter also goes on about how Ledger was also decried by the internets when he was picked to be the Joker. Good stuff.

R.I.P. Dennis Farina

As fate would have it, within hours of Kate Middleton, Duchess Of Cambridge giving birth to England's newest member of the Freeloader Family (and owner of Canada), the (rest of the) world lost one of the acting world's most precious actors, Dennis Farina.

The irony wasn't lost on me, as the very first thing that came into my mind upon learning this news was this clip from Snatch:



Farina died of a blood clot in the lung, at age 69. If you wonder why he was so good at playing cops, detectives, or hardened criminal bosses, he spent 18 years as a police officer in Chicago, of all places.

Good actor deaths often come in threes. First James Gandolfini (heart attack), now Dennis Farina. The following actors who specialize in ''tough guy'' roles should check into a hospital immediately for a preemptive check-up: Harvey Keitel, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Madsen, Clint Eastwood, Steve Buscemi, Mickey Rourke, Danny Trejo, Sam Elliott, Jean Reno, Robert Forster and Christopher Walken.

Ryan Gosling Backstreet Boy?

Pretty-boy actor Ryan Gosling was almost in the Backstreet Boys.

I'll let you process that for a moment.

Now, think about this: had he joined, no guy would have ever been forced to watch The Notebook. The world would have been a better place. Maybe wars could have been avoided, the Raiders would have won a Super Bowl, moon would be colonized, Dick Cheney would be dead.

Hey, It's ''That Guy''

We've all done it while watching a movie - ''Hey, it's that guy, I love him''! I studied in film (3 goddamn degrees from 4 different schools!) and sometimes can't remember some of the best supporting actors' names...

Lucky for us, someone at BuzzFeed made a list (you know how lists go, they're imperfect by nature) of the 25 best ''that guy'' actors...


Some freakiness is contained, as there are lookalikes in the bunch (24 and 25, 18 and 19 with maybe 16 although he looks more like 6, 7 usually plays roles meant for Andy Garcia.. you get the idea), and I'd say I'd take Tom Wilkinson out of the list because when you're nominated for Oscars, you're no longer a nobody.

Then again, I'd take Mark Pellegrino off the list because he's too much of a nobody. I've seen a lot of his work and have never noticed him. Ok, fine, The Big Lebowski, but he's the 55th most memorable thing in there, and it's mainly the ''suit'' he's wearing and the way he's running...

Someone Please Explain To Me...

Who the fuck is Courtney Stodden? And why does it matter what she wears?

I should have left it alone, I really should have... but here is what I've learned through 5 seconds of Google:

Alright. So she’s a 17 year-old aspiring model/actress/singer. Like so many others.

Except she’s been married to small-time actor Doug Hutchison (small roles in The Green Mile and 24, played ''plane door opener'' in the 2000 remake of Shaft…), who is 51. since she was 16. Uh-huh, yeah: gross.

But the dude has morals: he refused to play in a movie that would cast him as a director who starts banging his underage actress in The Genesis Of Lincoln. Classy move, no?

But at least Courtney looks 37.

Still, a nobody actor and a nobody actress walk down a street, and people are focusing on what they’re wearing? Why? Who gives a fuck? And why does it make it onto the fucking news?

Where is this world headed, and how can we make the extinction of mankind happen any faster?

Karma Hits Me And Steven Seagal

I just had to be writing about a puppy killer one day and dumb criminals the next, and now it's come to bite me in the ass. Well, Steven Seagal more than me, considering he killed a puppy when the tank (!) he was driving through a suspected cock-fighting den's owner's house as he was accompanying the town sheriff for the benefit of a (possibly failed) reality TV show.

And now the Arizona resident is suing the cop, the actor and the show.

Gotta love these plot twists where the alleged criminal ends up turning the tables around, forgetting he's the one that started it all...

Double-twist: Seagal and sheriff Joe Arpaio refute the dog owner's claim.

This can only go to amazing places...

When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go...

They call it ''Pee Gate''. Well, they don't, but they could have. If the news were consistent.

This article right here says in the picture caption that when French actor Gérard Depardieu was told he had to wait and he couldn't keep it in, he peed in a bottle. But the article itself says he pissed on the floor.

Who knows.