Misc. + Oscars

I had not been rollerskating since the 8th grade, so it was not surprising that I was not extremely sure on my feet at a roller skating birthday party Friday night. But I never fell down, I had fun, I did the Hokey Pokey, and that's what it's all about.

I've been enjoying my documentaries lately. The Jewish Americans is really good, and the end of last week's installment made me weep ... when the [graphic video] rabbi talked about how he doesn't want to lay a stone on the heart of his people when they look back on the Holocaust ... how we must "look hard for the sparks of divinity in the ashes of atrocity" ... the way he said it got to me. It was beautiful. This series is allegedly narrated by Liev Schreiber, but to me it sounds nothing like him. Anyway, it's still good. I had no idea that Henry Ford was such a hateful, incurable asshole. And I loved seeing old Mandy Patinkin talking about Irving Berlin. Awesome.

I watched The Fog of War this weekend. I knew nothing of Robert McNamara, which makes me feel like an utter ignoramus. I liked it; it was pretty fascinating.

As for the Oscar nominations, I don't really feel like doing a whole entry about them this year, so I'll just say this. The best nomination on the list is the one for Hal Holbrook. I think Keri Russell should have gotten Ellen Page's place. Is that mean? I like Ellen Page, but I think Keri Russell was better in the indie chick-flick slot. I'm thrilled that "Falling Slowly" from Once was nominated for original song, and the main reason I hope the show actually occurs this year is so I can see Hansard and Irglova perform it live. The rest of it? I don't really care about. I haven't seen any of the nominations for best picture except for Juno. I've seen none of the best actor nominees. I've seen none of the best actress nominees except for Ellen Page (best in the crying alone in the mini-van scene, I think) and Marion Cotillard (good in a pretty good but depressing movie). I've seen none of the supporting actress nominees except for Ruby Dee in American Gangster, and while she was very good in it, her part might have been even smaller than Judi Dench's in Shakespeare in Love, and I find that irritating. The whole thing is irritating because it makes me feel like I saw no movies last year when I totally saw many and loved several. Anyway, it seems very white male-dominated, somehow, the whole thing. And excuse me, but where is Hairspray? WHATEVER.

But go, Hal Holbrook, go! You totally deserve to win.