Oscars 2009

This year's Oscar show was pretty much dominated by Slumdog Millionaire and rightfully so. Winner of 8 Academy Awards for Best Motion Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Original Song, Editing, Director, Cinematography, and Sound mixing.

Kudos to Danny Boyle. His smile was a refreshing sight during all of the press events leading up the ceremony. I've been a fan of his since I saw Trainspotting many years ago.

Unfortunately this was another year of weak films considering the other nominations in the Best Motion Picture category (Milk, The Reader, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

It's just too bad that Wall-E wasn't nominated in the Best Motion Picture category. Such a shame.

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards

Philippe Claudel's "I've Loved You So Long" won the Best Film Not in the English Language at last night's BAFTA awards in London.  

It's hard to believe that it was only a year ago this month that our jury chose this for our top prize at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival.

A most worthy film receives further recognition.

Well-deserved and congratulations... 

Art

Having just spent much quality time in some of the world's greatest museums (something I have not done since last summer) -- I've been pondering what art truly means to me and why I'm drawn to particular artists and specific works of art...

... I will post some more extensive thoughts on this at a later time but for now, while I'm on the subject, let me share with you a few of my favorite artists... 

Edward Hopper

... for making me more interested in what's happening off the canvas (i.e. the invisible)...

Vincent Van Gogh

... for his passion and allowing me to experience it...

Francis Bacon

... for keeping Freud alive and relevant...

Alexej von Jawlensky

... for his use of color (there's nothing comparable; must be seen to truly appreciate)...