The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I read this book a while back, but I just bought the sequel last week. Now, I am not much of a myster guy, but I was hooked pretty quick on this book. It is the story of a recently disgraced journalist in Sweden who gets sucked into investigating an old missing persons case by a millionarre. The family who he is looking into is big and complicated and wealthy and old...and confusing at first to keep their Swedish names in order. A female computer hacker gets sucked into the whole thing.

Anyway, crazy stuff happens, the mystery gets solved, and I get super excited to read the other two books from Stieg Larsson who passed away before the US release of these books. Good stuff!

Grade: A

2010 most anticipated movies list

1. The Social Network (October 15) – Directed by David Fincher. Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Max Minghella. Movie about Facebook founders.
   


2. Rabbit Hole (TBD) – Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart directed by John Cameron Mitchell who did Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I predict great things! Also Sandra Oh, Dianne Wiest. Wow!
   


3. Alice in Wonderland (March 5) – Tim Burton, Johnny Depp…you have all seen the previews.
   
   
4. Green Hornet (December 22) – Michel Gondry. Seth Rogen in what will be an off-the-wall take on a super hero movie.
   


5. The Kids Are All Right – Starring Julianne Moore and Anette Benning as two lesbians bringing up their sons. I keep hoping that Julianne Moore stops making crap and has a huge come-back! A Sundance hit.



6. Please Give (April 23) – Nicole Holofcener (Lovely & Amazing) starring Catherine Keener.
   
   
7. Clash of the Titans (March 26) – I loved this old movie! I can’t wait to see Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson tackle it!
   


8. Inception (July 16) – Christopher Nolan directs - Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page in this sci-fi movie. Also starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, and Tom Berenger.
   
   
9. Black Swan – Darren Aronofsky directs – Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder and Mila Kunis. Interesting cast and a story about a verteran ballet dancer.
   
   
10. Somewhere (TBD) – Sofia Coppola directs – Stephen Dorff, about a guy living at a hotel in Hollywood. That’s all I know.
    
    
11. Chloe - Atom Egoyan’s new movie (The Sweet Hereafter), erotic thriller stars Julianne Moore as a doctor who tests her husband’s fidelity by hiring a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him.
    
    
12. The Tempest (TBD) – Julie Taymor directs Helen Mirren as “Prospera” in this Shakespeare classic.
    


13. Date Night (April 9) – Tina Fey and Steve Carrell comedy.
    


14. Shutter Island (February 19) – Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese. Some are already saying they can see why this release was delayed.
    
    
15. Howl (TBD) – James Franco as beat poet Alan Ginsberg. Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm and Jeff Daniels also star.
    


16. Never Let Me Go (TBD) – Based on the novel about something sinister going on at a British boarding school, and penned by Danny Boyle, it could be good. I didn’t like the book I can see it making a pretty good movie. Kiera Knighly, Carrey Mulligan.
    


17. Footloose (June 18) – Chace Crawford in this musical remake.,
    
    


18. I Love You Phillip Morris (March 26) – Jim Carrey in a gay storyline…should be interesting.
    
    
19. Biutiful – Alejandro Gonzalez Innaratu’s movie staring Javier Bardem about a guy’s shady dealings who gets involved with a cop friend.
    
    
20. Tron Legacy (December 17) – The Daft Punk score is really the reason that I think this could be a fun movie.
    
    
21. Green Zone (March 12) – Paul Greengrass, Amy Ryan, Matt Damon. Iraq movie.
    
    
22. The Tree of Life (TBD) – Directed by Terrence Malick. Brad Pitt and Sean Penn.
    
    
23. Nightmare on Elm Street (April 30) – Here is hoping that this horror remake is a hit. Yeah, they usually aren’t, but I remember being terrified by these movies when I was younger.
    
    
24. Love and Other Drugs - (Nov. 24) - stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. It marks the first comedy for director Edward Zwick since 1986’s About Last Night….
    
    
25. Greenberg (March 12) – Noah Baumbach – Ben Stiller. I like Noah Baumbach, but not a big Stiller fan. Just will have to wait and see.
    


26. The Ghost Writer – Roman Polanksi directs Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrell in this thriller about a man hired to pen the memoirs of a British prime minister, and the secrets he uncovers whilst writing it.
    
    
27. Robin Hood (May 14) – Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe. Ridley Scott. Not too excited by the idea or concept. Just excited about Cate.

Test 1-2-3

If I started to write on here again would anyone who used to read it notice?

2009 Oscar Predictions - Year in Advance

Best Picture:

1. Revolutionary Road
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Australia
4. Blindness
5. Milk
   
   Other Chances:
   Changeling
   The Reader
   Doubt
   Synecdoche, New York
   Brothers
   Frost/Nixon
   Defiance
   Body of Lies
   Appaloosa
   Burn After Reading
   

Best Director:

1. Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road
2. Baz Luhrman – Australia
3. David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Fernando Meirelles – Blindness
5. Gus Van Sant – Milk
   
   Other Chances:
   Clint Eastwood – Changeling
   Jim Sheridan – Brothers
   Stephen Daldry – The Reader
   John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
   Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
   Charlie Kaufman – Synecdoche, New York
   Joe Wright – The Soloist
   Ed Harris – Appaloosa
   Coen Brothers – Burn After Reading
   Ridley Scott – Body of Lies
   

Best Actor

1. Sean Penn – Milk
2. Leonardo DiCaprio – Revolutionary Road
3. Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
4. Benecio Del Toro – The Argentine
5. Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
   
   Other Chances:
   Hugh Jackman – Australia
   Ralph Fiennes – The Reader
   Eric Bana – The Time Traveller’s Wife
   Sam Rockwell – Choke
   Jamie Foxx – The Soloist
   Jake Gyllenhall – Brothers
   Leonardo DiCaprio – Body of Lies
   

Best Actress:

1. Kate Winslett – Revolutionary Road
2. Nicole Kidman – Australia
3. Julianne Moore – Blindness
4. Meryl Streep – Doubt
5. Rachel McAdams – The Time Traveller’s Wife
   

Other Choices:
Angelina Jolie – Changeling'

Keira Knightly – The Duchess

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Meryl Streep – Mama Mia
Natalie Portman – Brothers
Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria


Best Supporting Actress

1. Cate Blanchett – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Amy Adams - Doubt
3. Anjelica Houston – Choke
4. Kate Winslett – The Reader
5. Kathy Bates – Revolutionary Road
   
   Other Chances:
   Sandra Oh – Blindness
   Amy Ryan – Changeling
   Catherine Keener – The Soloist
   Tilda Swinton – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
   Catherine Keener – Synedoche, New York or Soloist
   Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading
   Scarlett Johansson - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
   Samantha Morton - Synecdoche, New York
   Dianne Weist - Synecdoche, New York
   Raches Weisz – My Blueberry Nights
   

Best Supporting Actor

1. Josh Brolin – Milk
2. Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
3. Mark Ruffalo – Blindness
4. Emille Hirsch – Milk
5. Michael Sheen – Frost/Nixon
   
   Other Choices:
   Gael Garcia Bernal – Blindness
   Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
   James Franco – Milk
   David Strathairn – My Blueberry Nights
   Tobey Maguire – Brothers
   Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road
   Russell Crow – Body of Lies
   Robert Downy Jr. – The Soloist
   
   

21 Most Antipicated Movies of 2008

Blindness (August) - Fernando Mierrelles (Constant Gardner, City of God) directs this cast that has me all a-twitter. Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Danny Glover, Gael Garcia Bernal star in the movie based on the Jose Saragamo story of a town that all suddenly becomes blind.

The Lovely Bones (TBA – could be 09) – Peter Jackson will direct this literary blockbuster’s adaptation. Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (November) - David Fincher directs Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt in this retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story about a man who starts aging backwards. Tilda Swinton also is in this.

The Time Travellers Wife (June) – Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams bring this story to the screen. Please let it be fun and good and not some summer sappy romantic fluff thing.

Mamma Mia (July) – Meryl Streep is the lead in Mamma Mia. Need I say more!

Australia (September) - Baz Luhrman’s epic with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Where the Wild Things Are (October) – Spike Jonez directs Paul Dano, Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, Lauren Ambrose and Catherine Keener in this childrens’ story favorite. Screenplay was written by hip lit guy, David Eggers.

The Reader (December) - In postwar Germany, a young man’s decades-long obsession with an older woman runs headlong into a war crimes trial, where he learns an awful truth. Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Directed by Stephen Daldry

The Dark Knight (July) – RIP Heath, RIP….

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (November) - I could see a Wes Anderson come-back with this animated film based on the Roald Dahl story. Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Bill Murray and Anjelica Houston all do voice-overs.

Revolutionary Road (December) - Sam Mendes directs Kate Winlset and Leonardo DiCaprio (together again), also has Kathy Bates. A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Bring on the Oscars!

Doubt (December) - Playwright John Patrick Shanley tries his hand at directing his original work with all-star cast Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, and Amy Adams.

Spring Breakdown (March?) – Despite being held off from 2007, I still might love this. Amy Poehler and Parker Posey together?!

Baby Mamma (April) – More Amy Poehler! A successful, single businesswoman who dreams of having a baby discovers she is infertile and hires a working class woman to be her unlikely surrogate. Amy Poehler, Tina Fey.

The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspien (May) – I loved the books growning up and sort of dug the first movie. Bring on number two…

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May) – Yo Shia, take it highah!

He’s Just Not that Into You (August) – Based on the book, this Baltimore set movie has a great line up of stars. Ginnefer Goodwin (who I love from Big Love), Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connolly, Scarlett Johnanson, Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck and Wilson Cruz.

The Box (TBA) – Richard Kelly, who directed Donnie Darko tells this story staring James Marsden and Cameron Diaz about a couple who discover a box that when opened gives them wealth, but also kills.

The Argentine/Guerrera (TBA) - Benecio Del Torro. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Story of Che Guerrera

Silence (TBA) - Martin Scorsese directs this castless movies. No clue about any details, but I like Scorsese again after The Departed.

Body of Lies (October) – Ridley Scott directs Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Get ready for a lot of Leo next year.

Headed to Dubai!

I am headed to Dubai tomorrow.

Bitches who flip their hair onto me on the train

If one more woman gets onto a crowded train and stand behind me and keeps flipping her hair and flinging it over her shoulder, I might lose it and cut the bitch. Every damn day some girls nasty hair ends up on my arm or on my bare skin, and I cant' take it any more.

flipping hair on busy trains: F

2008 Year in Advace Oscar Predictions

Best Picture:
The Golden Age
Charlie Wilson’s War
Reservation Road
There Will Be Blood
I’m Not There

Other chances, in order:
My Blueberry Nights
Rendition
The Kite Runner
In the Valley of Elah
Lust, Caution
No Country for Old Men
Eastern Promises
Sweeney Todd
American Gangster
Michael Clayton

Best Director
Shekhar Kapur – The Golden Age
Mike Nichols – Charlie Wilson’s War
Terry George – Reservation Road
Todd Haynes – I’m Not There
PT Anderson – There Will Be Blood

Kar Wai Wong - My Blueberry Nights
Marc Forster – The Kite Runner
Ang Lee – Lust, Caution
Gavin Hood – Rendition
The Coen Borthers - No Country for Old Men
David Conenberg, Eastern Promises
Tim Burton - Sweeney Todd
Paul Haggis – In the Valley of Elah

Best Actor:
Tom Hanks – Charlie Wilson’s War
Tommy Lee Jones – No Country for Old Men or In the Valley of Elah
Joaquin Phoenix – Reservation Road
Daniel Day Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Khalid Abdalia – The Kite Runner

George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Jake Gyllenhall - Rendition
Denzel Washington – American Gangster
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, The Golden Age
Jennifer Connolly – Reservation Road
Norah Jones - My Blueberry Nights
Joan Chen – Lust, Caution
Evan Rachel Wood – Across the Universe

Meryl Streep – Evening or Lions for Lambs
Reese Witherspoon – Rendition
Kiera Knightly – Atonement
Julia Roberts – Charlie Wilson’s War
Naomi Watts – Eastern Promises

Best Supporting Actor
Mark Ruffalo - Reservation Road
Clive Owen – The Golden Age
Ed Harris - My Blueberry Nights
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson’s War
Adrien Brody – I’m Not There

Woody Harrelson – No Country for Old Men
Javier Bardem – No Country for Old Men
Christian Bale – I’m Not There
Paul Dano – There Will Be Blood
Jude Law – My Blueberry Nights
Peter Saarsgaard - Rendition
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton
James Franco – In the Valley of Elah
Geoffrey Rush – The Golden Age
David Strathairn – My Blueberry Nights

Best Supporting Actress
Julia Roberts – Charlie Wilson’s War
Amy Adams - Charlie Wilson’s War
Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There
Samantha Morton - The Golden Age
Natalie Portman - My Blueberry Nights

Venessa Redgrave – Evening or Atonement
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd
Julianne Moore – I’m Not There
Rachel Weisz – My Blueberry Nights
Meryl Streep – Rendition
Toni Colette – Evening
Claire Daines – Evening
Charlize Theron – In the Valley of Elah

RIP Meff

This isn't really a picture of my kitty, but close enough.

Meff, my cat of 10 years, died at the age of 16 on Sunday. It was sad stuff.

You and your thumbs will be missed Meffers!

Grade: A for his life, F for dying on me.

# 1 - The Golden Age

The Golden Age (October 5)
Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen star in the sequel to Elizabeth, one of my favorite movies ever. Also stars Samantha Morton and Shekhar Kapur once again directs. This gives the Oscars a chance to give Cate the award for a role she should have won for the first time around. I am peeing my pants with excitement over this one! Cate deserves spots in my number 1 and 2 movies.

# 2 - I'm Not There

I’m Not There (TBA)
Todd Haynes directs Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Julianne Moore, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere and Adrian Brody, each who play Bob Dylan. No joke. How cool is this project? Couldn't be a more amazing cast and a more amazing direct. This will either sink or soar, who knows which...

Oh, and this is Cate Blachett herself in this photo.

# 3 - Charlie Wilson's War

Charlie Wilson’s War (Dec 25)
Director Mike Nichols works with Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymor Hoffman, Emily Blunt and Amy Adams in this true story about the congressman from Texas and his shady deals with Afghanistan.

# 4 - There Will be Blood (December)

There Will Be Blood (December)
PT Anderson directs Daniel Day-Lewis in the movie based on the Upton Sinclair novel, Oil. Also stars Paul Dano from Little Miss Sunshine. Believe it or not this, this is Daniel Day-Lewis on the set in this photo. I smell an Oscar nomination!

# 5 - Zodiac

Zodiac (March 2)
David Fincher returns with this scary crime drima ala Seven starring Jake Gyllenhall. It comes out this Friday and reviews have been pretty favorable so far.

# 6 - Spring Breakdown

Spring Breakdown (April 13)
Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Parker Posey try to relive their college years when they go away on Spring Break. I love these three ladies so hard and am way excited about this one. I mean, just looking at this photo makes me giggle bunches.

# 7 - Reservation Road

Reservation Road (November 9)
Terry George who wrote/directed hotel Rwanda tells this story, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connoly, about two families whose lives becomes intertwined when the father from one kills the son of the other in a hit-and-run.

#8 - Lust, Caution

Lust, Caution (September 28)
Ang Lee’s next movie about espionage, set in World War Two Shanghai. That's really all I know about it, but looks like he is going back to the foreign language thing. Oh, and Joan Chen is in this, who I love from Twin Peaks days.

#9 - Lovely Bones

Lovely Bones (TBA, maybe pushed to 2008)
How can you not be excited about Peter Jackson taking on a more intimate story that still has a bit of a fantasy level to it. This is the story about a 14 year old girl working to solve her own murder.

#10 - My Blueberry Nights

My Blueberry Nights (TBA)
Kar Wai Wong directs Norah Jones, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, David Straithairnn and Ed Harris in his first English language film. I love the potential for celebrated foreign directors who go all Hollywood, but that often backfires.

#11 - Rendition

Rendition (End of 2007)
Gavin Hood is another foreign guy crossing over into Hollywood after his Oscar for Tsotsi. Jake Gyllenhal, Reese Withespoon, Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin join the cast of this CIA story. This looks like an amazing cast and the potential for an amazing movie. Lots of Oscar bait!

#12 - Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd (End of 2007)
Tim Burton is so hit or miss these days, but his projects always sound super cool. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter star, shocker, is this adaptation of the musical. Could be really fun! Sacha Baron Cohen also joins the cast.

#13 Spiderman 3

Spider Man 3 (May 4)
I don’t need to say much about this. Just hope it rocks as much as 2 did.

#14 - Evening

Evening (June 15)
Written by Michael Cunningham and starring Meryl Streep as a dying woman and how it is impacting her daughts, Toni Colette and Clair Daines. Patrick Wilson co-stars.

#15 - The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner (November 2)
Marc Foster (Finding Neverland) takes this wildly popular novel about a man’s return to Afghanastan and turns it into what could be a hit or miss movie and give us a break-out star in Shaun Toab.

#16 - Eastern Promises

Eastern Promises (Fall 2007)
Viggo Mortenson, Naomi Watts in this David Cronenberg film about organized crime in London.