March Movie Madness 2009 - The Actors & Actresses

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March Movie Madness 2009 - The Category

ACTORS & ACTRESSES

(or male and female actors, if you get uptight about stuff like that)

Brackets will be released Monday over at Film Freaks Film Club.

March Movie Madness 2009

Yup, it's almost that time again! I may have been virtually nonexistent in the blog world, but March Movie Madness is most definitely alive and well.

This year's category...

is up for debate.

Here are the choices:

• Actors and Actresses. For this I'd do actors all on one side, actresses on the other. So the championship would pit one actor against one actress.

• Movie Characters. Think Hannibal Lechter vs. Fanny Brice. The Wicked Witch of the West vs. Austin Powers.

• Action/Adventure Movies. 

Discuss. I'll make the decision by this Saturday.

Some clarification, for the uninformed.

so·cial·ism (sō'shə-lĭz'əm), n. -- Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.*

Obama's tax proposal calls for progressive taxation, which simply means that people in higher income brackets pay a higher percentage of taxes than those in lower income brackets.

The United States has always had a progressive tax code. Republicans and Democrats alike have supported a progressive tax code.

This is still a capitalist society, and will continue to be under Obama. As a matter of fact, as you can see in this Washington Post summation of the two candidates' tax proposals, the only people actually getting a tax increase under Obama's plan are those making $600,000 or more. 

People who believe this to be socialism are ill-informed. And when I say ill-informed, I really want to say big fucking no-nothings, but I'm not that crass.

These people, rather than even doing the most basic of google searches, get their information from talk-radio buffoons and campaign-rally sound bites. 

What's most mind-boggling to me is that we actually do have a pretty good example of socialism that just took place right under our noses. It was a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, in which the government took over Fanny and Freddy. That's a hell of a lot closer to socialism than an increase to the upper end of the pre-existing progressive tax. And it just so happens it was supported by a whole lot of Republicans.

*From the American Heritage Dictionary, which is the most patriotic of all dictionaries.

Hey Prop 8 Supporters:

YES WE DID

What I've been listening to.

Kings of Leon

The Hold Steady

Citizen Cope

Cold War Kids

22-20s (even though they just split up, the assholes)

The Datsuns

How about you?

Have we progressed?

The fact that we have a mixed-race man — a man with skin dark enough to be commonly referred to as black — knocking on the doorstep of the Unites States Presidency says that, as a nation, we've come a long way, baby.

It was only 40-some years ago that people were marching in the streets to obtain the most basic of civil rights for anyone of color. Now, Barack Obama might just be our next President.

That's progress, plain and simple.

But don't fool yourself. There's still a shitload of bigots in this country. I'm talking about deep-seeded hatred of black folks for no other reason than the fact that they're black folks. And those racist parents are making damn sure their kids keep the faith.

This is video taken in Denver a few days ago from outside a McCain/Palin rally. A group of Obama supporters (some friends of ours included) lined up along the sidewalk in the designated "protest zone," holding Obama signs. Someone even had a life-sized Obama cardboard cutout. Listen to the pure hatred coming from those in line to enter the rally. Pay close attention to the little girl at the beginning saying Obama is a monkey from Tarzan.

This video was posted on the liberal site Progress Now Action. Go there and read the comments. Of particular interest are the ones justifying the behavior because, "They went trolling for hate…what did they expect?"

I knew. I mean, deep down, I knew we still had our fair share of back-woods bigots in this country. But I admit, I was shocked when I watched this. The ignorance on display is truly frightening.

I do want to point out that I don't think this has anything to do with John McCain. I think McCain is a good man, though I disagree with a good chunk of his politics. No, the reality is it wouldn't matter if it were Romney or Huckabee or Paul or any other Republican. It has everything to do with Obama. He has brought out the worst in our country, not by his actions or his words, but by his skin color. The cries of "socialist" are yawners -- that's the standard retort of most hard-core right-wingers to any Democrat (even when their candidate is approving Wall Street bailouts and saying the government should take over people's mortgages). But the bigotry, that's serious. 

That's what scares me.

It's a hell of a thing.

That's what my Uncle Doug always says when something unexplainably bad happens.

It's a hell of a thing.

He said that when his brother – my Dad – died, and he said it when his other brother – my Uncle Ray – died.

It's a hell of a thing.

I've always just thought it was one of his charming quirks. He wants to say something, but can't think of anything, so he just says that.

But for the past two-plus weeks, every since the bizarre plane crash in Oregon that took the lives of five people, I've found myself saying it a lot. Because really, it is a hell of a thing.

The plane hit one house. A house with one adult and five children inside. All the houses adjacent to this one were vacant, and this is the one the plane hit.

It's a hell of a thing.

Inside the house were two of the children from our neighborhood. Two children with whom my girls and I had gone camping only a year ago. Two children at whose house my son and I had eaten a fabulous dinner only a month and a half ago, laughing our asses off with their parents.

It's a hell of a thing.

Inside the plane was a passenger named Frank Toohey, who just so happens to be the uncle of my buddy Looney. Uncle Frank died in the crash.

It's a hell of a thing.

The nurse in the Flight for Life helicopter that flew one of my friends' children, their son Sam, out of the scene is the sister of a pal here in Denver.

It's a hell of a thing.

And the whole tragic crash happened on my and my wife's 5th anniversary.

It's a hell of a thing.

The memorial service was Wednesday. I'd spent most every spare waking moment going through thousands of photos to put together a video slide show of the kids and their incredibly full but horribly short lives. It was an honor, being entrusted with this task, and I did my damnest to give the family something that celebrates their children. Something that they will be able to watch time and time again, remembering and reliving their time together. I'm proud of that.

But I spent two weeks looking at thousands of photos of beautiful children who aren't around anymore. I cut the video to five tracks of music: Down to the River to Pray by Alison Krauss, Ordinary Miracle by Sarah McLachlan, Viva la Vida by Coldplay, Better Days by Goo Goo Dolls, and I Know You're Out There Somewhere by the Moody Blues. I can't get those songs out of my head, and whatever verse I hear, I see the corresponding pictures.

It's a hell of a thing.

I can't comprehend it. Can't explain it to myself, let al0ne my kids. Typically, when something bad happens, a parent can find some explanation for the children. But not with this one. It's awfully hard to sooth the fears of a 12-year-old girl who's petrified that, if it can happen to them, it can happen to us. Because, shit, she's right. Anything can happen. Anytime, anywhere. There are no guarantees.

Which is why there really is something to the idea of living like there's no tomorrow. Making friends. Loving those around you. Focusing on relationships. Savoring the time you get with your kids, or your folks, or your family, or your friends.

One thing was abundantly clear to me as I went through all the photos. At 12 and 7, Sam and Grace had led fuller lives than many adults I know. Their lives were full of love, family, friends and happiness. They taught me a profound lesson, those two beautiful kids.

It's a hell of a thing.

In Memory of Grace and Sam Masoudi

Grace is the little one in the front wearing the pink shirt in the top photo. Sam is the dark-haired boy in the gray sports camp shirt in the bottom photo.

They were killed Monday morning when a small plane crashed into the house they were renting with their family on the Oregon coast. Grace was 8. Sam was 12. They were beautiful, wonderful children from one of the most incredible families I've ever known.

We'll miss them terribly.

ADDENDUM: I just learned that this incomprehensible tragedy has also affected the family of one of my dear blog friends, Looney. Please go lend him your support.

Are the worms all gone?

March Movie Madness 2008: It's Finally Here

Get yourself over to Film Freaks Film Club and start filling out your bracket.

Now.

March Movie Madness: The Comedies

So it begins...

Get over to Film Freaks Film Club and start talking! If you didn't participate in the 1st Annual March Movie Madness last year and you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, go here and read all the posts from the bottom up.

Once the Madness is over, I might just revive this blog thingie.

March Movie Madness, 2008

This year: Comedies

10 Things

I've been crazy busy lately, but I had a spare moment so I thought I'd do the 10 Things You Don't Know About Me thing I've seen around Blogtown. (yeah, that's right, I just made up Blogtown). Some of you may actually know some of these things, but oh well, I can't be expected to keep up with all that shit.

10. I'm an incessant fingernail biter. I've blogged about it before, but even if you knew I bit my nails, you didn't know I bite them as often as I do. I'm seriously messed up when it comes to nail biting. One of these days I'm just not going to stop and I'll gnaw my fingers down to nubs. THEN YOU'LL BE SORRY!

9. I am perpetual motion. I never stop moving. I'm one fidgety son of a bitch. Especially my leg. I bounce my leg continuously.

8. I can do tons of different character voices. I can sound old, young, harsh, gentle, masculine or feminine. I can imitate many different accents and dialects too. This ability has helped me get some nice voiceover work over the years, but mostly it just entertains my kids.

7. I have a loud, powerful and contagious laugh. No wimpy laugh from me. For me, laughter is damn near orgasmic, and I like 'em loud.

6. No matter what conversation I'm involved in, no matter what the topic, no matter what the mood, I always think of something witty to say. Always. And multiple times during the conversation. The magic is in knowing when to say it out loud, and when to keep it to myself. Luckily, I'm pretty good at that too.

5. I have an irrational fear of cockroaches. I'm not really afraid of anything else, but those little bastards I want extinct.

4. The older I get, the much less concerned I am with what other people think about my tastes. I used to care. I used to want people to think I was cool because I listened to this band or wore these clothes or knew the films of this director. If I like a band that wasn't deemed "cool," I'd keep it in the closet. Not anymore. I don't care. I like the Little River Band and I don't care who knows.

3. I have car apnea. Sometimes while driving I'll suddenly realize I haven't breathed in about 90 seconds. No idea why.

2. I really like red wine. I don't know much about it, and I don't care. I know what I like when I taste it, and that's good enough for me.

1. I had laser eye surgery more than six years ago. It's amazing. I can practically see through walls.