Trilogy Diversion
(02/18/09 11:52pm)
This is great. But pertaining to most of these blockbusters, were any of them that good? Probably not. The graph speaks for itself, but if you want more on it, click here.
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This is great. But pertaining to most of these blockbusters, were any of them that good? Probably not. The graph speaks for itself, but if you want more on it, click here.
The Award
As we prepare for our LIVE BLOG of the 81st Academy Awards, our attention seems to be falling almost exclusively on the Oscars. And this post fits the bill. But it is an especially exciting awards season post. As a huge fan of Mr. Fivethirtyeight (and his Esquire column), I am delighted to have reason to bring his writing to this arts-focused blog. Nate Silver used his fancy statistics to predict the winners in the four acting categories as well as Best Picture and Best Director. His predictions make for an interesting read and, with the exception of Taraji P. Henson upseting Penelope Cruz (and Mickey Rourke beating Sean Penn, if you fall into the Milk camp like me), they are largely unsurprising. Nonetheless, here's a snippet of the whole article, which you can read over at New York Magazine.
Esquire's March 2009 issue has 16 pages dedicated to breakfast. The magazine offers 11 recipes and highlights 59 eateries in the United States worth checking out. The places you would expect--San Francisco, LA, Chicago, New York City--all grabbed multiple spots on the list but Chapel Hill's Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe also made it on the list. The Franklin Street diner is standard fare for hungover Carolina kids (just trying going there on a Saturday) and is barebones, but certainly a staple of the Chapel Hill scene. It's only open in the morning and early afternoon, but it's worth a trip if only because Esquire mentioned it. They write:
With the Oscars (and our LIVE BLOG) less than a week away, we'll be treating you to three installments of Oscar Predictions this week. Don't forget to read our earlier predictions and check back in the week for more. But for today, the post is on those other categories.
We love Jens Lekman. He is at the forefront of an unusually rich musical front coming out of Sweden. He is cold, ironic, lovelorn and charming. So when he posted some angrier thoughts on his not-blog Smalltalk last year, I was worried about Rocky Dennis. After a long break in posting, Jens has returned to Smalltalk with one of the most beautiful posts I have ever read. On Feb. 10, he called the site,
In the grand tradition of high art mocking wealth, the ad for "Greed by Francesco Vezzoli" has just launched on the internet. Vezzoli, a Milan-based artist, conceived the idea as a way to mock the hype and ad campaigns surrounding luxury perfumes. Directed by Roman Polanski and featuring Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman, it feels a little low art (that's inherent whenever two pretty women in a cat fight over perfume) and a little high art. But it must be said--if only because it show Natalie Portman in a hotel room--that it feels a little bit like Wes Anderson's Hotel Chevalier. And because two pretty young ladies are showing palpable sexual tension, the Vicky Cristina Barcelona comparison is inevitable.
Here is round five in our coverage of the major Oscar categories. Today, we tackle one of the most competitive races: Best Actress in a Leading Role. For older posts, check here. And don't forget to check back Thursday for our Best Actor predictions.
Perhaps Durham's best food blog, Carpe Durham is having its first birthday this week. To celebrate, the food-loving bloggers will be hosting the Pinhook with special Durham-themed drinks and their favorite taco truck parked right outside. It's from 6-9 p.m. at the Pinhook (117 W. Main St, in downtown Durham). For their post, click here.
Every year, the (Raleigh) News & Observer publishes its "Great Eight," highlighting eight local acts to pay attention to in the coming year. This year's list crosses many genre and ages, listing:
Duke's Campus Concert Series has been garnering some press of late, so we should have posted this calendar a while ago. It's a mix of campus and local bands but it's a good way to check out the local sound. All concerts begin at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Armadillo Grill at Duke's Bryan Center, unless otherwise noted.
Black History Month is great. But why is "World's Best Tasting Vodka," a product distilled in France, sponsoring the month on YouTube? Whatever. Happy February three days late.
Groundhog Day is one of the dumbest premises for a movie I've ever heard of. A "Pygmalion tale," it is equally absurd that someone decided to name a movie after a made-up holiday in honor of a rodent in Pennsylvania. Brilliantly released Feb. 12--10 days after the titular holiday, it is one of the 10 best American films. And it is horribly cliche to watch it on Feb. 2, but it must be done. It must. So watch it and revel in the Stanley Fish-approved goodness and forget about what's happening in Punxsutawney c. 2009. 1993 is the year that matters.
Cross-posted at Nasher Museum Blogs
(Via BCR) Those still mourning the passing of Erwin Terrace's Shade Tree Cafe have reason for joy. Copa Vida, another coffee shop, is holding its grand opening in the space previously occupied by Shade Tree, which closed in August leaving Dunkin Donuts as the only choose for coffee near the Duke medical campus. The grand opening features free Counter Culture coffee and Guglhupf pastries, plus the musical stylings of Patrick Phelan, a Duke alum and member of Luego who will also be working as a barista. The venue will be hosting music the last Saturday of every month.
Even though every one is saying Slumdog Millionaire is a lock for Best Picture, Variety is reporting that Slumdog and Benjamin Button could split the vote, leaving room for Milk to take the top prize. They interview Dan Jinks, producer for Milk and 1999's out-of-nowhere Best Picture American Beauty, who addresses Milk's grassroots campaign. After a November release and lots of buzz, the film is finally getting a wide release. Money quote:
The Nasher is already flowing with energy from their new exhibits Escultura Social and A Room of Their Own. But they've also thrown in a dash of especially historic art into the museums gallery with some illuminate manuscripts. "Sacred Beauty: Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts from the Collection of Robert J. Parsons" is a set of religious manuscripts mostly from the 1600s and 1700s. According to the press release, the manuscripts, collected by Parsons (English PhD '80) are set against religous works from the same period. From the press release:
(Via Triangle Music Blog) After a strange decision to play at the seated Carolina Theatre last autumn, Of Montreal will be making a return to the Cat's Cradle Monday, April 13. Swedes Peter, Bjorn, and John will also stop by Carrboro's favorite venue Monday, May 4. Ticket information on both shows is TBA.
Every day, I strive to be a better person and a better journalist. And today, Paris Hilton showed me how to do that. At the launch party for the Nokia 5800, once-pop star Paris Hilton interviews likely future icon Lady Gaga. The path to a great interview, it seems, is letting questions dissolve into obsequious, empty comments. It also helps if you slutted around at the same coked-out UES prep school.
Downtown Durham's Through This Lens photography gallery will be holding its opening of its new show Sunday, Feb. 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The show, on display until April 11, is called Natural Forms featuring works Caroline Vaughan and Wojtek Wojdynski. The show features prints of nudes and nature.