Oscar, Oscar, Oscar....

What do these films have in common? I haven't seen a damn one!

For those not familiar with the motion picture industry, today marks the first official day of the Oscar race. This morning, Mira Sorvino came out of her cocoon from Mimic to announce the nominations for this year's best films. Starting tomorrow, every Hollywood studio in the 'race' will begin pouring millions of ad dollars in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter to convince a bunch of old crusty Academy farts to vote their way. In turn, they hope this will result in selling a few more movie tickets, getting some bragging rights, and earning industry 'cred' in 'tha wood.'

Having seen most of the films nominated in the major categories (Crash, Munich, Hustle & Flow, Cinderella Man, History of Violence, North Country, Syriana), I can honestly say that I'm a little disappointed.

All I can keep asking myself is, where the hell is this guy?


I think the academy dropped the ball big time. The big hubbub immediately after the nominations was that Russell Crowe was robbed for not being recognized for his performance in Cinderella Man. Piss on this tantrum throwing, phone hurling Aussie. What about ol' Bale? This dude went from a walking skeleton in The Machinist to a jacked up badass mofo in a few months for Batman Begins, totally invigorating and saving an otherwise dead Batman franchise. His performance embodied Bruce Wayne and his transformation into the Dark Knight, giving hope to millions that the Batman legacy wouldn't end with George "Nipple Armor" Clooney and Arnold "Governator" as Mr. Freeze.

Booooo! Bad Academy, BAD!

Year of the Dog, biatch.

Happy Lunar New Year! And yes, it is indeed the year of the dog. Randy Jackson, it's your year. DMX, I predict great things for you. I can see it now, hip hop artists everywhere are scrambling to get a new hook that incorporates 'year of the dog' into the next top hit, though it'll probably spell dog "dawg", yaheard!

To quote the Chinese Cultural Center of San Francisco:
Born in the year: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit.

Where my dawg's at motherf_#%$!

The Snapshot, vol.1

Every few weeks I'll be posting a snapshot of what I'm currently 'feelin' at the moment, whether it be the latest book, movie, game, etc. You feelin it? No? FO!

What I'm reading: Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War

A powerful read from an embedded journalist's perspective of Desert Storm 2, as he follows Marines' First Recon platoon, the tip of the spear of US operations in Iraq, through its drive to Baghdad. Talk about FUBAR.

What I'm hearing: Neil Young

Sadly, I've up til now only 'heard' of his music, but never 'listened' to it. I'm finally catching up to what the baby boomers have been proclaiming for years- probably the only guy who can sound like he has his testicles in a vice, yet still rocks, and rocketh hard he does.

What I'm watching on TV: 24

Keifer Sutherland continues to raise his stock price to levels not seen since his days dating Julia Roberts and for his role in The Lost Boys. Although he was robbed at the Golden Globes by that english asshole on 'House', he's vindicated at the SAG Awards tonight taking the best actor for a TV drama.

Latest film seen: Munich

Decent flick, but dragged on a bit. Not the high caliber thriller drama I was anticipating. Eric Bana has still yet to pull himself out of the manure pit he dug for himself with Hulk and Troy.

Current game playing: Far Cry: Instincts

Fun FPS, although not very challenging- feral skills are immensely satisfying, but I think it makes you ridiculously unstoppable. Any game than enables you at anytime to swat the enemy 100 feet is bound to have game balance issues.

Current guilty pleasure: Project Runway

Fashion, drama queens, Heidi Klum (albeit pregnant), and gays- what's not to love! Sut up!

Nice Guy Deaddie

Chris, Chris, Chris...what the hell happened? 40 years old! Dead. I'll always remember you acting in two of my favorite films, Reservoir Dogs and True Romance. Who could forget Nice Guy Eddie. Even though you were probably known as the less successful, slightly plumper brother of Sean Penn, I think I'd still rather hang with you with you. No question...well, not now of course, since your dead and all...that would be odd....slightly creepy...lots of awkward silences in the conversation. But even sitting next to a corpse would be a more pleasant experience than listening to Sean droll on about his personal missions to save the world. It seems like Mr. Spicoli has gotten too big for his britches these past few years. Just because he nailed Forest Gump's wife, bought a plane ticket to Iraq, and swam around in the bayou with a shotgun after Katrina, and have that renaissance pirate look about you now ta boot, I don't think his poop has stopped stinking. Never forget Shanhai Surprise!

RIP Chris.

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Welcome to the first entry of The Flagrant Bowel, where you will find my personal perspective on TV, video games, movies, sports, books and other fun human distractions that occupy my time.

I plan to update this blog on a regular basis, so stay tuned and give me your thoughts- I love thoughts.