"The Hurt Locker" Review

I had been eager to see The Hurt Locker for a few months now and finally got the chance to on Saturady night, and it was better than I thought it would be. I've actually spent the past few days trying to think of an eloquent and concise way to write a review that does this marvelous movie justice, without giving too much away, but still aren't too sure of how, & apparently I'm not the only one who's had some difficulty.

One of the reasons I've had some trouble is because I'm still trying to process and digest everything that happened. There's no opening credit sequence or even a title card, the movie just begins with a quote from from former New York Times Iraq expert Christopher Hedges that says, "...War is a drug," & we encounter a U.S. Army bomb disposal unit made up of 3 guys - an intelligence officer, the specialist who covers the scene with his rifle and the staff sergeant who walks up to the device and tries to defuse it, in an incredibly uncomfortable-looking heavily insulated "space suit," so you are immediately thrust into a real scenario you would never think about. We're informed that these men have 45 days left on their rotation and you soon realize that one of them is probably not going to make it through the next few weeks let alone,to the end of the day. Soon after that realization the spaceman, gets caught in the "kill zone" as the bomb is detonated (it even looks like he's being detonated) and is soon replaced by Sgt James, played with subtle bravado and tender gravitas by Jeremy Renner. A sort of modern cowboy who's sanity you question, as you witness his calm, controlled yet chaotic approach to the harrowing task he's incredibly good at (he's defused 847 bombs so far.) I have to quote from the TIME Magazine review of this film from November while referring to Renner because I'm a bit biased (I've been hoping this guy would be huge since S.W.A.T & Dahmer):

It's a creepy marvel to watch James in action. He has the cool aplomb, analytical acumen and attention to detail of a great athlete, or a master psychopath, maybe both. A quote Movies often editorialize on this theme: the man who's a misfit back home but an efficient, imaginative killing machine on the battlefield. Bigelow and Boal aren't after that. They're saying that, in a hellish peace-keeping operation like the U.S. deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan (James' previous assignment), the Army needs guys like James.

Directed by the bold and beautiful Kathryn Bigelow (who also directed the ultimate surfer heist movie Point Break and the ultimate Y2K thriller Strange Days) this movie had me on the edge of my seat, as I eagerly waited to find out what would happen next. As a girl who goes gaga for war flicks (I was up way past my bedtime watching Saving Private Ryan the night after I saw THL) this movie is the tops, it made me want to watch Generation Kill & Jarhead just to appreciate the subtle nuances and profound relevancy of the wars the US Government has fought and is fighting in the Middle East. It was riveting, exhilirating and gets under your skin when you least expect it, to the point where while standing in the cereal aisle at the supermarket the next day, I appreciated this movie and people like Sgt. James so much more.

My rating: 9.9/10

Here's part of the opening sequence thanks to Film School Rejects.

2009 Emmy Nominations

While most people don't care about the Emmy's (The TV Oscars,) they're one of my favorite awards ceremonies of the year, mainly because the actors who spend all year portraying the characters we hate to love, love to hate and try their best to entertain us, finally get their due, like Neil Patrick Harris who will be hosting (and hopefully winning an Emmy this year.) I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of the nominees, (HIMYM finally getting a Best Comedy nod & Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad,) but you don't really know how it'll turn out til the night of, so congrats to all the nominees and thanks for keeping us glued to our couches for a reason.

Winners to be announced on Sunday, September 20th.

Outstanding Comedy Series
"Entourage" (2004)
"Family Guy" (1999)
"The Flight of the Conchords" (2007)
"How I Met Your Mother" (2005)
"The Office" (2005)
"30 Rock" (2006)
"Weeds" (2005)
I'm hoping HIMYM wins, but 30 Rock's most likely got it under lock for the 4th year in a row

Outstanding Drama Series
"Big Love" (2006)
"Breaking Bad" (2008)
"Damages" (2007)
"Dexter" (2006)
"House M.D." (2004)
"Lost" (2004)
"Mad Men" (2007)
I'm really torn here, considering each show is stellar, & I'm still thinking about the Lost and House finales, but Mad Men is head & shoulders above everyone else.

Outstanding Made for Television Movie
Coco Chanel (2008) (TV)
Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)
Into the Storm (2009) (TV)
Prayers for Bobby (2009) (TV)
Taking Chance (2009)

Outstanding Miniseries
"Generation Kill" (2008)
"Little Dorrit" (2008)
I heart PBS Masterpieces/most Dickens adaptations/Matthew MacFayden, but if Generation Kill doesn't win I'm going to be livid.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock" (2006)
Steve Carell for "The Office" (2005)
Jemaine Clement for "The Flight of the Conchords" (2007)
Jim Parsons for "The Big Bang Theory" (2007)
Tony Shalhoub for "Monk" (2002)
Charlie Sheen for "Two and a Half Men" (2003)
I would love to see Jemaine win, since he's my favorite Conchord...& he makes me want to get Garfunkled

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Simon Baker for "The Mentalist" (2008)
Gabriel Byrne for "In Treatment" (2008)
Bryan Cranston for "Breaking Bad" (2008)
Michael C. Hall for "Dexter" (2006)
Jon Hamm for "Mad Men" (2007)
Hugh Laurie for "House M.D." (2004)
I want to make out with all of them, but am rooting for Hugh Laurie... I mean Jon Hamm...I mean...

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Kevin Bacon for Taking Chance (2009)
Kenneth Branagh for "Wallander" (2008)
Brendan Gleeson for Into the Storm (2009) (TV)
Kevin Kline for "Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac (#37.8)" (2008)
Ian McKellen for King Lear (2008) (TV)
Kiefer Sutherland for 24: Redemption (2008) (TV)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate for "Samantha Who?" (2007)
Toni Collette for "United States of Tara" (2009)
Tina Fey for "30 Rock" (2006)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus for "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (2006)
Mary-Louise Parker for "Weeds" (2005)
Sarah Silverman for "The Sarah Silverman Program." (2007)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Glenn Close for "Damages" (2007)
Sally Field for "Brothers & Sisters" (2006)
Mariska Hargitay for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)
Holly Hunter for "Saving Grace" (2007)
Elisabeth Moss for "Mad Men" (2007)
Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer" (2005)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Drew Barrymore for Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)
Jessica Lange for Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)
Shirley MacLaine for Coco Chanel (2008) (TV)
Sigourney Weaver for Prayers for Bobby (2009) (TV)
Chandra Wilson for Accidental Friendship (2008) (TV)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jon Cryer for "Two and a Half Men" (2003)
Kevin Dillon for "Entourage" (2004)
Neil Patrick Harris for "How I Met Your Mother" (2005)
Jack McBrayer for "30 Rock" (2006)
Tracy Morgan for "30 Rock" (2006)
Rainn Wilson for "The Office" (2005)
While I'm a huge fan of NPH & think he was robbed last year, I want Tracy Morgan to win just to hear his acceptance speech. & I'd like to take this opportunity to say I'm glad Jeremy Piven wasn't nominated this year, because he stopped playing Ari Gold and became him 2 seasons ago, but after the first time he won I just wished they gave it to Kevin Dillon.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Christian Clemenson for "Boston Legal" (2004)
Michael Emerson for "Lost" (2004)
William Hurt for "Damages" (2007)
Aaron Paul for "Breaking Bad" (2008)
William Shatner for "Boston Legal" (2004)
John Slattery for "Mad Men" (2007)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Len Cariou for Into the Storm (2009) (TV)
Tom Courtenay for "Little Dorrit" (2008)
Ken Howard for Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)
Bob Newhart for The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008) (TV)
Andy Serkis for "Little Dorrit" (2008)


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth for "Pushing Daisies" (2007)
Jane Krakowski for "30 Rock" (2006)
Elizabeth Perkins for "Weeds" (2005)
Amy Poehler for "Saturday Night Live" (1975)
Kristen Wiig for "Saturday Night Live" (1975)
Vanessa Williams for "Ugly Betty" (2006)
There's soooooo much talent in this category it's ridiculous. Especially since I'm in love with everyone of these incredibly beautiful and hilarious women...

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Rose Byrne for "Damages" (2007)
Hope Davis for "In Treatment" (2008)
Cherry Jones for "24" (2001)
Sandra Oh for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)
Dianne Wiest for "In Treatment" (2008)
Chandra Wilson for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Shohreh Aghdashloo for "House of Saddam" (2008)
Marcia Gay Harden for The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009) (TV)
Janet McTeer for Into the Storm (2009) (TV)
Jeanne Tripplehorn for Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)
Cicely Tyson for Relative Stranger (2009) (TV)

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
"The Colbert Report" (2005)
"The Daily Show" (1996)
"Late Show with David Letterman" (1993)
"Real Time with Bill Maher" (2003)
"Saturday Night Live" (1975)
Um wow, just thinking about each of these shows makes me chuckle...too close to call.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program
"The Amazing Race" (2001)
"American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)
"Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I)
"Project Runway" (2005)
"Top Chef" (2006)
All great shows though I live and die for Project Runway & Top Chef

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality - Competition Program
Tom Bergeron for "Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I)
Phil Keoghan for "The Amazing Race" (2001)
Heidi Klum for "Project Runway" (2005)
Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio for "Top Chef" (2006)
Jeff Probst for "Survivor" (2000)
Ryan Seacrest for "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

Outstanding Reality Program
"Antiques Roadshow" (1997)
"Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan" (2004)
"Dirty Jobs" (2005)
"Intervention" (2005)
"Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" (2005)
"MythBusters" (2003)
I can't believe Antiques Roadshow is still on! I'm not hatin' just statin'

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special
Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger - London, New York, Johannesburg (2008) (TV)
Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch (2009) (TV)
Ricky Gervais: Out of England - The Stand-Up Special (2008) (TV)
The 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors (2008) (TV)
Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W Bush (2009) (TV)
Give it to Chris!

trailer trash - The Hurt Locker

This movie looks absolutely incredible, and is the only film to come out that focuses on what's happening in the war in Iraq right now. If this movie (which opens tomorrow) plays in my area I'm definitely going to check it out. I have a deep fascination with the armed services and after catching Generation Kill last summer I'm ready for more. Thankfully the reviews are stellar [TIME stated it's a "near perfect war film"] so hopefully that will garner it some attention and people will go see it.

it is my pleasure to introduce you to Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Skarsgård is an actor you need to take notice of now! not only is he incredibly talented, and captivating to watch on screen, but he was born to act (his father is Sweden's most famous actor ever Stellan Skarsgard.) if you have HBO you've probably seen him in the previews for "Generation Kill" where he played Brad"Iceman" Colbert, to amazing effect and even better reviews. he's also in the new Alan Ball show "True Blood." though his most famous role for American audiences is Meekus in "Zoolander".
anyway Alexander is definitely an actor to look out for in the coming years. he was fantastic in "Generation Kill" and will most likely be just as great or better in "True Blood" once his episodes start to air this Sunday.

this is an HBO interview with Alexander on the set of "Generation Kill" and with the real Brad Colbert. if you listen closely you can hear his English slip a little, which would be the only giveaway that he's actually Swedish.

i wish i spoke Swedish so i knew wtf was going on in this scene, that lead to him getting on stage and singing like Barry Gibb. it's pretty ridiculous and entertaining, and the highlight of it all is at 3:21.

oh and did i mention he was voted the sexiest man in Sweden in 1999. that's completely irrelevant but very entertaining...and believable.

OH MY WOW GENERATION KILL IS FANTASTIC!

i did it! i watched the first episode...ok well i watched most of it and fell asleep but Generation Kill is incredible! once tennis is over, and hopefully before the Canes game i'll be able to watch some more, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this mini-series. there were so many aspects that were reminiscent of Band of Brothers, The Wire, Three Kings and Jarhead, but the show and it's characters maintain an identity, plot and focus like no other program i've seen before it and loved every second of it. the entire show -well the 50 of the 68 minutes i saw- were unbelievably funny, probably because the shocking and bitter truth of what these men "went" through was unbelievable. i commend David Simon, the cast and crew and HBO for bringing stories like these to light. but more than anything i am thankful, grateful and honored to have actual men and women dedicating their time, skills and most importantly their lives to the service and protection of the United States of America. politics is a messy business, but the protection of freedom is even messier and i'm glad that every division of our armed forces is doing what they can to help clean up that mess.

Generation Kill is incredible...and I haven't even seen it yet

9.3.08 7:30 pm
so i'm writing this post without having fully watched the HBO mini series "Generation Kill," but i am going to already claim that is it amazing! you may be wondering how i could make a statement like that without ever having watched a full episode. this article backs my insanity because i could/should have written it, here's how it starts:

I was a huge fan of David Simon's HBO series The Wire. I never missed an episode. You probably read about The Wire, since it was the kind of show that caused 1 million journalists to write 1 million articles complaining that only 1 million people were watching. (Hey, we tried.) So when HBO scheduled Generation Kill, Simon's seven-part miniseries about the members of a Marine platoon during the early weeks of the Iraq war, it went straight to the top of my must-watch list. And stayed there. For a really long time. Unwatched.

I don't remember why I missed the first episode, but I get credit — don't I? — because I DVR'd it. In fact, I DVR'd all of them. They sat in an orderly list on my ''My Recordings'' screen, glowering at me, reproachfully saying, ''You must watch me. I must be watched. Man up!'' I confessed this to a
friend via e-mail, and she wrote back, ''I know just what you mean. This show is constipating my DVR!''

by the time i actually post this i will have finally given "Generation Kill" the focus it deserves. David Simon is truly brilliant and i'm really excited to dive into this show before i get carried away by the tidle wave that is the Fall TV season. (to be honest i think i kind of forgot how to watch network TV since the writer's strike; i'm so used to watching the shows i truly enjoy On Demand. which is how i was able to get into one of the most outstanding shows on television "Mad Men.") i'll make sure to report back from the front lines.