New newness on the way.
Stuff coming soon. Including a short weekend getaway to NYC. So expect a little something something Sunday night.
Etc. Finally watching The Wire.
Holy shite. And I’m in love with the black, lesbian detective.
Sonja Sohn is Det. Kima Greggs.
Kima Greggs
The flip-off, hot detective style
HBO has a lot of channels. HBO “1” for example, will show a first-run episode of a series or film. Then HBO “2” will repeat it. Then HBO “3” will repeat that. Not to mention HBO “1” will also repeat it, at some time. It can get rather confusing.
I’m not sure how it would work financially and all, but how awesome would it be if they could designate one of those channels as HBO Independent, or HBOI.
HBO needs to have an independent film channel. What’s on HBO Go doesn’t count. Currently included in the seven or eight films there are 28 Days Later, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and Anything Else. Huh?
HBOI would show films like Walking and Talking, The Brothers McMullen, Rodger Dodger, The Guard, Submarine, Monsters, Newlyweds, etc.
I don’t need three or four HBO channels giving me countless screenings of Get Him to the Greek, Leap Year, or Couples Retreat.
I want some Parker Posey, Noah Baumbach, Ed Burns, Nicole Holofcener, Catherine Keener, Brit Marling.
And how about a little Dinner for Five? I miss that IFC vehicle with Jon Favreau drinking, eating, and bullshitting with fellow cinema folks. I’d love to see that on HBOI, and Favreau wouldn’t even have to host all the time if he’s busy directing and all. Have a guest host. Kevin Smith? I never get tired of hearing him speak. Make him a part of HBOI in some way.
Newlyweds - Ed Burns
A few ideas…
1. Award the Oscar for Best Picture BEFORE the one for Best Director.
With few exceptions, it’s pretty much the norm that once the award is given for best director, that his/her film will then win best picture, subsequently removing any suspense and surprise out of the equation. Think about it. Imagine it. Love it.
2. Stop nominating 9 or 10 films for Best Picture and go back to five. Any idiot knows half of those selected films have no chance. The only thing it does is allow films like “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Shite” to put a “best picture nominee” in its publicity materials.
3. Allow six films to be nominated in the best picture category. That way you can still get something like The Dark Knight in there and know it has a reasonable chance to win.
4. Then do the same for the acting categories – go six. It will cut down on some of the bitching on who got left out. If there was a sixth nomination, say, for best supporting actor it could have gone to Albert Brooks from Drive. And you’d believe he’d have a good chance to win.
5. Consider splitting the best picture nominees into “drama” and “comedy or musical” categories, a la the Golden Globes. The only issue with that is some pics sorta fall into the “dramedy” realm.
6. Dump the “In Memoriam” segment.
7. Show more behind-the-scenes material like backstage goings-on and green rooms and the sort. As a viewer I find that interesting.
8. Have the nomination announcements on prime-time television, not 5 in the morning or whenever that is.
The Dodgy 