Academy Award Nominations 2010- my Oscar thoughts

The 2010 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Oscar nominations earlier today. See here.

If I did not give you my thoughts on the Academy Awards, the only major award I feel has any credence, you would be disappointed. While the Grammy’s have become a complete joke over the years, only propping up the fading music industry’s few remaining top-sellers, with an occasional original artist relegated to winning in something as obscure as the “best contemporary folk” or “best alternative,” the Oscars still have some credibility.

Sure, more often than not the best film of the year does not win. However, the independent cinema does get noticed regularly, especially in screenwriting and acting categories and the film industry does not need a referral to hospice like the music industry which is simultaneously suffering from brain cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

Yes, there are the travesties of tripe like Crash, American Beauty, Chicago, Braveheart and A Beautiful Mind winning best picture during the last decade-and-a-half or Ron Howard winning best director for being a nice guy. Sure, it is stupid to expand the Best Picture nominations to 10 films, thereby disallowing my grouse about the 2-3 superior films left out (while simultaneously allowing me to complain about the lack of others).

I have seen most of the major motion pictures in contention this year.

So, here are my initial complaints and praises as a guy that thinks he knows a lot about film:

1. 1. Where the heck is Where the Wild Things Are? I understand that many people did not get its genius, but leaving it out of technical categories like Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Cinematography is a miscarriage of justice on all accounts. Aside from Avatar, it was the most visually stunning film of the year. Arrgh.

2. I enjoy seeing District 9 as a Best picture nominee, even if it does not deserve inclusion. If you are going to slum, where is The Hangover? What about small gems like Moon (not one nomination), Sugar and In the Loop? I am glad to see In the Lop included for screenplay, which is deserved (but cannot believe there is no acting supporting nomination for Peter Capaldi). With 10 nominees it seems this year’s bridesmaid is The Messenger which got great early buzz, but was forgotten. Seriously, Blind Side? C’mon, Bush is no longer in office.

3. After being shut out of the Golden Globes, I was pleased to see Jeremy Renner nominated for Best Actor in my favorite film of the year, The Hurt Locker (not even close). His performance is so natural it can be missed, which leads me to Jeff Bridges, the most underrated actor in cinematic history. Crazy Heart has not made it to Tampa, but I don’t care. Put the Oscar in bubble wrap and send it to him today. He is one of the top 3 actors in the world and it is about time he finally gets the love he has always deserved. Oh yeah, where was Sam Rockwell? Duh.

4. As usual Screenplay has the most interesting and edgy nominees. It is always the place Oscar gives love to those it ignores at other times. However, this year Up In the Air wins for adapted since the logjam is too big for it to push through for Best Picture. Inglourious Basterds gives Quentin his second pseudo-best picture statuette. Oscar was smart to stay away from Avatar in these categories, unless they put it in Adapted Screenplay and mention Pocahontas or Dances with Wolves.

5. I will be rooting hard for Kathryn Bigelow and Hurt Locker all night. While I think the best director category is strong, it is her time. Tarantino has grown up, but the ending of IB left me cold and showed weakness. Reitman will get an Oscar soon enough (and in many other years it would be his- plus he gets one for screenplay), while Cameron can never be dismissed (plus Avatar is a bigger achievement in directing than Titanic). Lee Daniels is the “happy to be here” nominee that they always have.

6. Best Supporting Actress is the toughest of all to gauge. That category has no weakness. Best Supporting Actor forgot some better performances, but Waltz was great. I wish Oscar had remembered others from The Hurt Locker in this category. Give Bullock her Julia Roberts memorial playing-against-type statue. Whatever.

7. In other news, I love that there were at least 5 animated films worthy of inclusion (but, where is Ponyo?). We know what wins though. Glad to see The Cove and Food, Inc. as best docs. I hated a couple of the scores included and could give you my treatise on why they always screw up on the technical awards, but I have already ranted (see #1) a bit. Plus, I don’t want to put you to sleep. By the way, it doesn’t matter since Avatar wins all of them (besides Cinematography- I don’t see how it is special there?).

I will try a running commentary of complaints, snark and praise on Oscar night if you care.

By the way, here is my list of the Top Films of the Year. I still stand by it.

I care deeply about Social Justice, except when it comes to my computer

VS

This is possibly the most controversial blog posting I have created. It is not particularly poignant or well written. But, in some ways I hope it gets traction to further a conversation not happening. Of course, I can imagine the reaction, even from some of my progressive social justice oriented friends. Why? Because I am questioning one of their first loves and a VERY SACRED COW in the world in which I reside, something that (from tweets and facebook statuses) seems to take precedence over every other issue in their lives.

In fact, regarding this subject I was going to do one of my typically sardonic and immature satirical pieces in which I have Steve Jobs introducing the iPad to a pastor's conference saying it will cause people to read the Bible and do more for Christianity that anything since the printing press and Gutenberg Bible. But, I changed my mind and decided to be more pointed. It all came down this week because everyone was talking about Steve Jobs and his introduction of another gadget, as Bill Gates got no traction for his announcement of the aims of his foundation for 2010. Of course, while one will let us read books and surf the web in cool new ways, it won't save the life of a damn soul. The other just might.

So are my questions (and I say this as a household in which 3 iPods, 1 iPhone and an older Mac Book reside).

sure I am setting up a bit of a false dichotomy for my own selfish purposes

Why does our love of technology trump our love of Social justice? Why do we still vilify (to an extent) Bill Gates, going out of our way to dismiss him while treating Steve Jobs as the second coming of Jesus and every product he sells us for an inflated price as Gifts from the Magi?

Why do we skewer consumerism, especially in the church and amongst those we disagree with while acting like children following the Pied Piper of hyper-consumerism when it comes to technology?

Why do we hand our money to Steve Jobs and ask nothing about what he does with said money? Why don't we rush out to buy Microsoft products, even if they are not superior (and less cool) to Apple products? Have you seen how Bill Gates chooses to spend his money? Have you seen another person so hellbent on spending every penny he has for the betterment of the world around him?

So many people that talk about how america spends its money, how churches and corporations pend their money fall silent when the conversation turns to Apple vs. Microsoft. Why is that?

I heard an interview with Bill Gates from a few years ago in which he calls himself a "steward" over and over again, in which he said he plans to leave $100 million for each of his children and will spend the rest on trying to save the world from poverty, malnutrition, disease and lack for education. Sure, leaving his kids $100 million apiece sounds ridiculous to us, until we realize that is like a millionaire leaving each kid $10K.

In my search for Steve Jobs and Apple's charitable contributions I found very little. It is my hope that it is because he is a notoriously private man that gives away millions of dollars per year behind the scenes. Sadly, he has a reputation for giving very little away. Of course, Bill Gates reputation for giving is well deserved.

Look at this book of Steve Job's philanthropy (it is a joke, but there may be some reason it is out there)

Here is an article from 4 years ago asking which one should be the bigger star

Here is Bill Gates latest letter from his foundation, along with an interview

Again, I am not questioning Steve Jobs, as much as I am asking which company deserves a little less grief from supporters of Social Justice issues that tell everyone to put their money where their mouth is in every area... besides the cool stuff we buy. I am questioning our commitment to put our money where our mouth is and to ask some questions of the maker of our most precious products.

I must say, in the end one will be remembered for what he did with what he was given more than he will be remembered for all the cool things he made (sounds almost Biblical). I have no idea about the other guy. But, I know which one I will be telling my grandkids about and hoping they emulate.

more on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Press Statement from Mark Driscoll concerning his Steroid Usage

I have just intercepted this press release from 2015.

Statement to Members of the Press

From Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Washington. (January 12, 2015).

Due to rumors surrounding the use of performance enhancing drugs among pastors during the past 2 decades, the elders of Mars Hill Church, including Pastor Emeritus Mark Driscoll, have chosen to address this issue at this time.

From Pastor Mark:

“Now that I have retired from the pastorate to become Commissioner of Ultimate Christian Fighting®, an organization I started with the leaders of Acts 29 in 2011 to introduce young men to a more muscular version of Christianity, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do a few years ago.

I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my preaching career and I apologize. Now, understand, I never used steroids personally and never consumed them in my body. My body is the product of good genes, hours in a gym, beer and naturally high levels of testosterone (I have stated before and will continue to state that Jesus had the highest levels of testosterone in human history). The steroids I used were injected directly into 3 areas; 1) My Bible, 2) The Gospel itself, 3) My preaching and writing.

I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1996 church planting assessments in my preaching only and then after I saw how disturbingly wimpy emerging Christianity was becoming in 1999, I used steroids again, this time directly infusing my Bible with them. I used them on regularly throughout the Aughts, including during the days surrounding controversies with other preachers when I questioned their sexuality. My statement surrounding the fact that I could not follow a Jesus I could beat up was influenced by a steroid influenced Gospel, as was my preaching, teaching and commentary related to sex, sexuality and women’s issues. My Bible was completely addicted to these unnaturally high levels of testosterone.

While steroids have been rumored in the areas of my preaching directly related to my usage of harsh language and profanity before my repentance of such childishness, I would like to remind readers of this statement I am Irish and I did watch a lot of Chris Rock.

I wish I had never preached a steroid influenced Gospel. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never pastored during the steroid era. I watched as many good pastors and theologians decided to emasculate Jesus and turn him into our sissified best friend. I saw liberal theology seeping into the pores of our schools and the young men becoming preachers. I saw God turned into a servant for our desires and a Gospel that no longer took sin seriously. Because of that, I turned to steroids. I am embarrassed for what I did, but my heart was as pure as the heart of a reformed person, sinful at birth and dead in that sin, although saved by grace alone can be (TULIP still rocks!).

Preaching is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. God and the theological unions implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did. I'm grateful to the elders of Mars Hill and the board of directors at Ultimate Christian Fighting® for testing my Gospel and Biblical understanding, as well as my old sermon streams (can you believe people still use youtube?) before confronting me. Yes, there was outside pressure, which I usually ignore. But, my mentors would not let it go. It is nice, as I get older to walk into a church and not need to worry about the language of the pastor, whether or not he will goop (so much better than tweeting, hah) in 25 characters some insult towards others, and not have the ladies of my life insulted.

I do need to apologize to many of the young men that followed me on twitter, watched and listened to my sermons, came to Acts 29 events and worshiped my church and its teachings. They decided that they could do everything that I did. I truly believe that many people were hurt by their reckless usage of a steroid influenced gospel. In fact, I did not know that these followers were so immature that they would merely copy me without using their own brains. I should have been a better role model. They should have not been working their own anger issues out in front of their churches. This morning via conference tweet I spoke to many of those young men I have influenced throughout the years through my preaching and teaching of a steroid influenced Gospel. They were noticeably upset. As they are tested, please be gentler on them than they were on their congregations.

I want to say thank you to John Piper for always giving me a hard time about my Gospel testosterone levels, to my children (girls included), wife, and to my Acts 29 teammates. I want to make sure wives know that they do not need to be hot and keep up to magazine standards to keep their husbands from straying (although it does help) and you don’t have to do absolutely anything your husband wants you to do sexually. I also want people to know Jesus does have a sensitive side also. However, it is still a sin to drink lite beer.

After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my interviews with Christianity Today, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it.

I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: XXXXXXXXXXXXX

PHONE: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Date of release: January 12, 2015

Caveat: note to followers of Mark Driscoll and others that take themselves and their fiefdoms way too seriously, please note that I just made fun of your enemy (the Emerging Church). I make fun of things. It is what I do. I know Mark. We have had good times together in the past, usually surrounding mutual loves of Jesus, baseball, cigars and beer. I doubt he would be offended by my gentle poking.

Best Albums of 2009 (25-6)

I hope you are enjoying my Top 50 albums, or pre-fabricated music experiences of the year (as opposed to live music). Here is 25-6:

25. Manners by Passion Pit- More white Indie Rock kids try their hand at dance music. What’s so special about that? I mean MGMT did it last year and we have all listened to LCD Sound System, Daft Punk and others. Right? True, but this is ridiculously infectious music that will make your body move if you allow it to infiltrate your corridors of coolness and detachment (if it worked on me, it can work on you). The highlights are Little Secret, Sleepyhead and To the Kingdom Come, all of which will be heard on soundtracks, commercials pretty much everywhere pretty soon.

24. Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective- I suppose my credibility card will be revoked for having this album outside the Top 10. It is a good album trying to walk the line between dance rock like the aforementioned Passion Pit and MGMT on one side and the forward thinking rock of Radiohead on the other. Sometime is works wonderfully, while at times it still leaves me cold (like Vampire Weekend). Technically it is probably a perfect album, but I miss the heart. I still think Panda Bear’s solo stuff is better.

23. Wilco (the album) by Wilco- At times I think this return to Wilco-ness should be higher. While it does not reach the heights of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or A Ghost is Born, it is light years ahead of Sky Blue Sky. Instead of denying its journey while calling it a return, as Wilco did on Sky Blue Sky, Wilco (the album) ventures through the experimentalism of YHF and AGIB in its return to the simplicity of previous incarnations. Plus, the lightness of touch is a pleasant surprise. Kudos for the best self referential lyric of the year, and the best ever by a non-rap artist, “Wilco- a sonic shoulder to cry On, Wilco.” Thanks for being a sonic shoulder, Mr. Tweedy.

22. Far by Regina Spektor- Paste magazine missed the boat on this album. It gets a lot of airplay in my household, even if it does not hold up to the perfection of Begin to Hope. It is sweet, strange and you can dance to it, plus she is one of the best lyricists/ pianists/ songwriters working today, like Tori Amos or Fiona Apple with a happy home life. While some dismiss the album due to the inclusion of the song Machine, I will not disparage an album for an unfortunate chorus that should have been edited out of the final product.

21. Welcome to Mali by Amadou and Miriam- African music is becoming more musically and practically accessible for Americans. Therefore, any list of great albums of the year that does not include African artists is incomplete. If you want authentically African music you can groove to in a club, music that is at once traditional and modern, check into this album with the Damon Albarn produced gem Sabali. I guarantee you will love that song.

20. The Ecstatic by Mos Def- After his last disappointing turn behind the mic, Mos Def is back reminding us why he was a premier hip hop artist before turning his attention to acting (he is a wonderfully appealing screen presence). This is a smooth, funny, deep album full of lightening fast rhymes and music slightly less ordinary.

19. Troubadour by K'naan- I know, I know. I talk too much about K’naan (I am working on a piece for a magazine just to increase the obnoxious obsession). But, besides the guys at NPR’s All Songs Considered, I don’t hear anyone giving him the love he deserves. First of all, this album is not in the league of his debut. Of course, I think The Dusty Foot Philosopher is the best album of the decade bar none, so this was bound to be a disappointment after hearing a man turn such pain into art, like a rapping African Van Gogh. Aside from the unfortunate remake of Rap Gets Jealous (buy his first album and listen to the power of that song and ignore the crass commercialism of the new version), this is a great album giving us pop hits (Bang Bang), stories of Africa we never hear in the popular media (Somolia, T.I.A.) and the emotionally charged and bring you to tears Bob Marley-esque anthems like Waving Flag, a reminder of his 1^st album.

18. A Brief History of the Big Pink by The Big Pink- I have a belief that music perfection must include inordinate amounts feedback, distortion and reverb. In fact, if there is such thing as “too much feedback” I am not aware of this phenomenon. That said, I love BRMC, Spiritualized, Jesus and the Mary Chain and The Verve. Add to the mix a bit of pop song structure and the formula completes itself for a guy like me. Solid album that was my soundtrack for an overcast day walking around NYC.

17. Fantasies by Metric- An album I think got lost in the shuffle when it came to making lists of the best albums of the year, this is apparently an under-heard and underappreciated jewel that is at once aggressive female-voiced led rock and roll and modern pop that is wonderfully open. My entire family loves this album, with smart lyrics dealing with gender issues, power and inner struggles, but in a very singable manner. As you may have noticed I love it when the music is sugar, while the lyrics are bitter. If I can pick one album on this list I can guarantee everyone (besides the snobbish wimpy folkies) will like, this is it.

16. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix- The dance pop album of the year, I dare you to dislike this infectious musical equivalent of Crème Brulee, another irresistible French dessert.

15. Get Guilty by A.C. Newman- The undisputed leader of one of the great power pop bands, the New Pornographers releases his best album and it gets forgotten by everyone. What is wrong with everyone? A.C. Newman is one of the smartest pop songwriters around, like Ben Folds with a guitar and more lyrical discipline.

14. Middle Cyclone by Neko Case- A.C. Newman’s muse released another superb collection of 70s era country songs that my parents would love if country music stations played the good stuff anymore. While not my favorite Case album (it may be #3), even an average work by Neko is going to make everyone’s list.

13. Veckatimist by Grizzly Bear- I acknowledge the greatness of this work, even if it is not my 13^th favorite of the year. I am beginning to like it beyond the “hits” and considering the Brian Wilson worship Grizzly Bear live out, I eventually will love this album on a daily basis, as opposed to the present love of it sonically but not personally. It may be the best sounding album of 2009.

12. I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers- Produced by the incomparable Rick Rubin, The Brothers head away from the rave ups of the past towards a soulful sweetness. It is not the direction I had expected or wanted. In fact, I was disappointed they left much of the bluegrass on steroids and/or acid approach of previous incarnations. But, I need to acknowledge its subtle beauty. It is a gorgeous work, even if I was hoping for something different (not better, though).

11. It’s Blitz by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Given a choice, I would choose Metric’s latest, a similar album by a similar band. However, this effort is a little “more” than Metric’s. It is louder, rowdier, better produced, cooler and showier. But in this case, this is all a good thing. Also, check out leader Karen O’s soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are. It is much more acceptable music for kids to parents that have discerning ears.

10. Elephants by Aaron Strumpell- One of 3 overtly spiritual albums in my Top 10, this is the only one that is expressly “Christian.” A thoroughly original work holding little in common with any other Christian artist (closest thing is Strumple’s work on Enter the Worship Circle projects, Waterdeep, mellow mewithoutyou, Sufjan’s weirdest flourishes and Rich Mullins’ more esoteric stuff), this rumination on the Psalms takes a few dedicated listens and a good set of speakers to allow to grab hold of you. Some say this album wails, which I would agree with and think is good company for Aaron to keep, considering the history of the Psalms and Israel.

9. Reservoir by Fanfarlo- “Belle and Sebastian, I would like to introduce you to The Arcade Fire.” Fanfarlo fits into the sub-genre of literary chamber pop, but with a bit of the cacophonous leaning of Devotchka and Beirut. This is another album I dare you to not like. The moment I heard the opening melodies on their myspace page, I stopped, went directly to song #2, listened for a few seconds and bought the album. Less than 30 seconds in, I knew I would love this album. That happens very seldom.

8. Actor by St. Vincent-Annie Erin Clark used to be part of Sufjan Stevens’ band and the Polyphonic Spree. She has moved beyond their conventions to create something wholly earthy and other, while still reminding most listeners of past musical heroines like Kate Bush and Bjork. While still mellow, there is a focused drive to this album built around tasteful, but intense guitar work (and dark lyrics- imagine that).

7. XX by The XX- Descriptions of this band and album tend to make people run screaming before giving it a listen. I know I ignored it for a while, even though the reviews were great. I gave it a quick listen and found it uninspiring. Then I gave it another chance and noticed that this quiet, 70s inspired male/ female duo was everything I wish Mates of State were. If you like simple, interesting music with little flourish, you may like The XX.

6. The Life of The World to Come by The Mountain Goats- Like Bill Mallonee or Bob Dylan, John Darnielle has a voice for those that like unvarnished, Auto-Tune free, slightly nasally singers that try to stay out of the way, so you can focus on the ridiculously poetic stories in which highly flawed people try to attain their salvation through whatever means they can find, sacred or secular. Unlike many Christian musicians that would take a passage of Scripture and regurgitate whatever their pastor or John Piper told them, Danielle takes a different approach on this album, in which he meditates on specific passages, using them as jumping off points for hard lessons, seekers of salvation and agnostic observations. It is compelling stuff with great lyrics like the prayer ‘send me a mechanic if I’m not beyond repair.” Amen to that. With albums like this I question the need for anything considered “Christian music (of course, I have questioned that for a decade or so).”

Top Film Experiences

As you will note, I am entitling this grouping of posts, "Top Experiences" because I understand that one guy with very specific tastes cannot truly see or judge the quality of every piece of culture for any year, even if he is a pretty discerning film watcher or music listener. It is impossible to properly judge the movie of the year, unless he is paid to see each and every film (and actually sees them). Of course, sometimes it is impossible to judge which is better between such disparate genres as we saw in 2007 (is Ratatouille superior to There Will be Blood? Is No Country for Old Men better made or more artful than The Bourne Ultimatum? How can one compare The Diving Bell and The Butterfly to Knocked Up or King of Kong? They are each singularly brilliant, but radically different usages of lighting, script, camera and editing equipment). To be sure bias creeps in, as it does with music (my specialty), drink, literature and food. I fully acknowledge this while still assuming my superior opinion on most things.

The top experience is even more apropos when speaking of films. Unlike music or television, I am unable to experience everything put out within that calendar year. If I live in any city not named New York or Los Angeles, many of the best films of the year will not be seen until January or February, so I am unable to judge, as a Tampanian movies like The Messenger, A Serious Man or Crazy Heart. If I take my task as an unpaid critic with less than 100 readers seriously I cannot compile my list until I have seen at least what is available for the year, which is why I am running to the Redbox and Blockbuster for last minute screenings and trying to schedule times to see Up in the Air and Avatar before the year runs out. Still, since I am not a professional I do not have to feel any guilt that I have not built up the intestinal fortitude to sit through Precious or The Road (I will, but not yet. I am still recovering from Dexter’s season finale).

But since this is about experience, I am comfortable with my present list. it is all about how these films affected me. It is why my #1 is #1. It is the best film of the year, plus it is entertaining and a great film experience. It is also why Zombieland makes my list. Sure, it is not one of the best films of the year, but it is one of the best film experiences of the year (same with The Hangover). So, here is the list.

20. Away We Go- First of all, I must admit my disdain for Sam Mendes, the director of this flick. The maker of a number of overrated pieces of supercilious treacle, I only ventured into this experience because I love my wife and like Dave Eggars, the writer. I enjoyed it, even though it was mired in cliché and stereotypes in a way James Cameron would have been embarrassed by. Very seldom am I drawn to a film that is so flawed and has such an arrogance of the natural superiority of its main characters to all others that orbit around them in a film. It was enjoyable because Kristi and I saw ourselves throughout the film and the acting is top notch.

19. It Might Get Loud- While I would have picked Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead or Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine over Jack White, I will not fault the filmmaker for his oversight of my generation (I guess there is about 15-16 years between each guitarist). I love watching these guys talking about the craft of music making and letting us in the creative process more than Behind The Music ever did.

18. Star Trek- Compared to most reviewers and fans, I had major problems with the film, finding it terribly flawed and a little too enamored with its own special effects. However, Chris Pine captures Capt. Kirk with such ease that even Shatner could not do, even though he created the role. I felt it was a disservice to Zachary Quinto, the new Spock, to have him share time with Leonard Nimoy. It was a reminder that Quinto was playing Spock, while Nimoy is Spock. The plot was convoluted and broke cardinal SciFi/ time travel rules, but it was terribly entertaining when it wasn't trying to impress you.

17. Ponyo- The prettiest animated film of the year.

16. Food, Inc.- Not an enjoyable experience to watch America's animals, food and people(consumers and producers/ farmers) treated with such disregard by major corporations, but enlightening even to those of us that have been involved in the fight for a number of years. The interview with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms is worth the price of the DVD.

15. (500) Days of Summer- I hate rom coms and did find a few too many avoidable clichés apparent, but it is fresh and I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a force to be reckoned with for years to come. I think his time with John Lithgow on 3^rd Rock was instrumental to his maturity as an actor at such a young age.

14. Coraline- There were a lot of really good animated films for adults this year, huh? I like that.

13. Zombieland- It is basically the same film as The Road, but funnier. It was no Shaun of the Dead, but this was the second most fun thing to sit through in a theater after #3. The performances were pitch perfect, especially Woody Harrelson and the "cameo that cannot be named." Do not dismiss this flick, especially if you have an even slightly demented sense of humor. The zombies are really just a conceit for a Road-Based Buddy Comedy.

12. Sugar- Second best "little" movie of the year, Sugar catches you off guard and becomes the ant-sports film, throwing aside classic clichés of movies like Blindside, the Rookie and Remember the Titans, going for universal and realism instead. I applaud a sports film that sports fans and non fans can enjoy and think on. It is the ying for a perfect chick flick's yang.

11. Avatar- Dumb plot. Imbecilic dialog. Too preachy. Very ,very cool.

10. Inglourious Basterds- Did I spell it right? Not the masterpiece Tarantino promised us and still well short of Pulp Fiction, but it is a Top 3 by him and he is finally showing a bit (just a bit) of maturity, holding back on some of his excesses for to move the story forward. I had hoped this would be much better and the ending did leave me terribly cold (the last act in general). That said, the acting is top notch with the most appealingly repulsive Nazi since Schindler's List.

9. Fantastic Mr. Fox- A slight disappointment due to my love of Wes Anderson, but still masterful. What have we learned from Anderson's children's flick? What we already knew. Anderson's visual sense and framing of shots has found its perfect format. Each of Anderson's films feels a bit animated, so this is a natural progression for him. The highlight of the film is the use of "cuss' for actual cuss words, as in "clustercuss" which should become the word of the year.

8. Up!- I don't think the guys at Pixar like girls (they have never had one as a lead), but they seem to like really old men and talking dogs (best talking dogs in a film ever- is there an Oscar for this?). The opening scene is my kind of melancholy, like what Watchmen was trying to accomplish with its opener (but ultimately failing at), telling an entire history in depth in under 5 minutes with little dialog. Our kids liked it, but less than us. When is Pixar gonna admit they make adult movies and hand us something PG-13 or R?

7. Where the Wild things Are- You either "get" this movie or you don't. There seems to be little in between. If you don't "get it" don't worry. It is more about how you look at the world than intelligence or taste. Very seldom have I seen such an original vision from a "mainstream" movie, fully realized and unlike anything else I have seen. It deserves an extra star or two for that alone. I loved the performances, especially Max and visually it is the most stunning work I have seen since There Will be Blood. It better get the Oscar for Cinematography or at least a nomination. Plus, as the parent of kids around Max's age, this movie (which is NOT a kids movie- too long and existential), I feel confident that I have never seen another film EMBODY a 9 year old boy so perfectly.

6. In the Loop- I start giggling when I think of this movie. It has the most inventive use of offensive language ever. Imagine Oscar Wilde with a potty mouth. The plot centers around England drumming up ‘intelligence” to enter an international conflict at the behest of the United States in the early 21^st Century, but the country to be invaded, the Prime Minister and The President don’t matter. What matter is the inanity of the main characters and the insults hurled at them by the Prime Minister’s Director of Communication. Brilliant!

5. District 9- Wow! I am sure this is what it felt like to watch The Terminator in 1984, before it was The Terminator, you know when it was just a movie by an unknown director coming out of nowhere to blow people away. This is what science fiction was built for (and only the 2^nd best scifi flick of the year), to ask big questions and to have really cool special effects. This is everything Transformers and the like are not. It is in the same league as the original Matrix and a half step below Star Wars as an action sci fi.

4. The Hangover- The funniest film I have seen in years and the most fun I have had in a theater in ages, even if I could have done without the final credits. I laughed so much I missed crucial scenes. I hope with 10 movies nominated for best film, the Oscars get brave and nominate it. In fact, I will assure you it will be nominated for screenplay.

3. Moon- This could be the long lost sister to the film Gattaca, asking the most basic question of all, "what makes us human?" with a sense of melancholic humanism that has been lost among the blow-em-up action that masquerades as Science Fiction in modern cinema. The perpetually underrated Sam Rockwell mines the depths of his psyche in a role reminiscent of Tom Hanks inCastaway only far superior in carrying a movie with no other actors onscreen, with Kevin Spacey playing the role of "Wilson' as the creepiest computer this side of Hal from 2001. This is the little film that could and should be seen (like Once 2 years ago).

2. Up In The Air- I am so predictable with my top 2. Huh? As Dennis Green, former coach of the Cardinals kind of said, "It is what we thought it is."

1. The Hurt Locker- The critics that are calling it the best of the year are not exaggerating. I am sure, even after seeing everything else on my list, it will not fall below 2 or 3. The tension builds in the first 5 minutes and never relents in this movie that takes us into the heart of the adrenaline addiction many soldiers experience. It takes no sides on war issues (which I appreciate), instead taking us into the darkness and light that makes up a soldier's life, why a young man would risk his life and that of his buddies, and how hard it is to fit into a nice society once you have been taught to live on the edge in wartime. Jeremy Renner is scary good as the leader of a bomb squad in Iraq circa 2004 and Kathryn Bigelow's direction better get serious love at Oscar time. She has done something many men have not been able to do, take us to Iraq and back without making us feel dirty or preached at. Don't be scared though. This movie does not sensationalize war or bloody the screen. It is more Jarhead with heightened anxiety and less Platoon, Private Ryan or Flags of Our Fathers which fits the war being fought.

Year End Lists- Worst TV experience of the Year!

As we wrap up the year, I will be sharing some of my “Best of” and “Worst Of” selections for the arbitrary designated year end, as well as a few things for the decade. First of all, I will be doing television. Tomorrow is my “Best Television Experience of the Year,” while today is the “Worst Television Experience of the Year.”

Unlike critics I am not paid to watch crappy television. Unlike many people I am too busy to veg in front of the television watching whatever drivel is passing for reality TV at this moment. So, while I am sure I would be begging for hours of my life back if I watched Jersey Shore or Real Housewives of Lancaster County, PA, I must be more discerning. Because of this, I have very few television experiences this year that are truly miserable (besides the conspiracy to give the Steelers another championship last January).

I have a restricted television diet, consisting of the 4 comedies on Thursday night’s NBC, Modern Family on Wednesday (yes, life is serious enough that I like funny shows that make me laugh to relax) and Dexter. We also watched the seven episodes of the first season of HBO’s Bored To Death. It is a great show, very funny.

We don’t do Mad Men because we missed the first season. It is on our to watch queue along with Breaking Bad, Friday Night Lights and Battlestar Galactica. We don’t do Heroes or Lost (went down the rabbit hole with X Files and don’t want to return to the law of diminishing TV returns- I plan on marathoning LOST once it is over and I can watch it all on DVD) and decided against Glee because, even if it has an edge, I really don’t like musicals. I always forget Curb Your Enthusiasm, even though I think it is the funniest thing on television (it is a bit too cringe worthy to watch regularly).

Needless to say, my Television diet is not very caloric, so I am have huge holes in it and don't know the best and worst beyond my little telescope. When I veg out, I like sports, Comedy Central’s late night staples and No Reservations. Kristi likes to veg to What Not to Wear reruns and Project Runway, two of the more tolerable reality shows. I get the appeal of Top Chef and anything cooking related, but just don’t get around to very much Appointment Television.

That said, the worst television experience of the year happened last night on my (and Kristi’s) favorite show, Dexter. The season 4 finale was so disturbing and without precedent that Kristi declared she was done with the show, unfollowed Dexter on twitter and did not want to speak of the show ever again (It is Dead to Me). Of course, she needed to process it quite a bit. I was that "OMG" or "WTF."

For me, I could not believe the show went “there.” I cannot tell you where “there” is, but I can tell you that I am sorry if you are one of the masses I have gotten into the show. I can tell you to stop at Season 3 and act like the happy endings after the wrap up are the show's ending. Now, does this say Season 4 wasn’t good? No. It was truly masterful with twists and turns unlike any I have seen in television. It is one of the better seasons of television ever made, superior to anything the Sopranos ever threw at us (I will never watch harry and the Hendersons again thanks to John Lithgow's performance as the Trinity Killer). But, it was too dark, too visually disturbing, too unrelenting and without the pay off a show like this demands. In fact, while I think the writers are brilliant, they do not understand that an audience has needs beyond being messed with because the story arc demands something new.

Also, this is television. It is not a novel. Because of the image that gets seared into the brain of the viewer, there are some rules that need not be broken. You can describe something on the written page that furthers the story and damages the reader, but to show it is quite another thing. Dexter does and Dexter did. Because of it, I could not sleep last night. I was disturbed, pissed, totally impressed while playing every possible scenario in my brain realizing that “going there” demanded me to make leaps I am not interested in making and damaging the all important plausibility of the show (note: plausibility which is needed in all fiction, not possibility). Just like with The Wire, I become frustrated when the show becomes lazy, easy or a character acts in a way that seems contrived for plot furtherance more than development of the character in a psychologically realistic manner (within the rules of the show). Of course, this is the mark of a great show, when it causes such a visceral reaction from its audience.

Plus, whether it is season 2 of The Wire or the season 4 finale of Dexter, timeline is important folks!!!! You cannot stretch the coincidences beyond recognition to further a plot, so every twist and tangle is justified by a timeline that demands 346 things to happen in sequence, most of which are coincidental, for the ending to be accomplished (see episode 11, season 2 of the Wire and the death of Frank Sobotka).

Why am I angry? Because shows of this caliber are few. I trust them and I trust their writers, so make sure the timeline works and there are no obvious contrivances. While I will not notice a contrivance on most drivel that is on the tube, these shows are better than that…

Or so I hope.

Tomorrow, we will reflect on the best TV experiences of the year, many of which were not fun from a show mentioned on this post.

In Praise of Brad Paisley: Subverting the Form for Impact

First of all I must declare my lack of love for contemporary country music of the Nashville variety.

Don't get this Southern Boy wrong. I do love other forms of country music: Traditional Country and Western (ala George Jones, Marty Robbins and Loretta Lynn), Outlaw Country (Waylon, Kris and Merle), Bluegrass (Allison Krauss, Ralph Stanley), Texas Country (Robert Earle Keen, Lyle Lovett), Alternative Country (see Drive-By truckers, Wilco, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Uncle Tupelo) and those which expand country in new directions (Cash and Lucinda). When I hear a country song, I want steel guitar, energy, ragged production, edge and twang. I love it when the wheels are about to come of. I don’t want auto-tune, faux nostalgia, obvious rhymes, maudlin sentimentality and pop beats. I guess it is because I grew up in a farm house 11 miles outside of a small Southern town before moving to a trailer 3 miles from the same town. Either that or as a music snob, I think I know authenticity.

I hold contemporary preaching with the same disdain. Don’t get me wrong; I love good story telling, humor, the prophetic tradition, brave insights and eloquence. However, like my music tastes, I run screaming from arrogance, judgment, lack of Biblical insight, shallowness, theological punditry, politics disguised as Gospel, self-help and the same old thing. My least favorite thing about country songs is that I know exactly where they are going before they get there. I hate the same thing in many sermons. If I can guess where you are going, then I don’t need you. True art keeps me guessing.

So what does this have to do with the biggest country singer of the decade not named Taylor Swift?

Brad Paisley is a guy I just started listening to… because, like any well informed city folk I allowed the mainstream media to influence me. Jody Rosen, the quintessential New York Jewish rock critic loves Paisley and stated so on Slate. So, I decided to open my mind up to something I had dismissed. I am glad I did.

You see, Brad Paisley subverts the country genre and its cliches in the same manner that someone like Tim Keller subverts reformed preaching. Paisley is not an edgy preacher, like Rob Bell or Mark Driscoll. He is like Rick Warren if Rick were subversive in his message. Paisley wears the uniform of country music like a pair of weathered cowboy boots. He sings of trucks, alcohol, nostalgia, religion and sexual relations like any topical country singer/ preacher. He wears the cowboy hat, plays the guitar and has the same drawl of any number of hatted singers. In fact, he can be as trite, predictable, smatlzy and musically pedestrian as your typical country musician. But within that similar style, something special happens.

He turns the conventional country subject matter on its head, praising the election of President Obama, the future of humanity (as opposed to the "remember the good ole' days" shtick of most country music in which someone name calls a bunch of things from the 50s that nobody under 70 remembers), multiculturalism and empowering women in ways that would make the Dixie Chicks proud. Sure, he is not doing it in a way that would make a Liberal feminist from Greenwich proud, but these ideas seem to be very Blue State in a red state genre. But since he is seemingly conventional, he gets away with it. He gives people want they want and sneaks in a twist they can hear if they are listening (kinda like the parables of a guy I follow). In fact, he reminds me of the Christian writer Philip Yancy in this regard. Yancy would write for Christianity Today and bestsellers on subjects like non-Christians that saved his faith, anti-consumerism, pain and suffering with depth that would make any mainline theologian proud, but he communicated it in a manner that seemed safe (until you subtly started to agree with him). And I cannot believe Yancy can get away with some of the things he says in his books.

I think there are 3 kinds of preachers out there. The ones that beat you up, that do nothing, or the ones that tweak you. Guess which kind of preaching I like?

Paisley and Yancy, like the brilliant preachers, are the guys that wrap an arm around you, make you very comfortable and then kick you in the butt with a new idea or a hard truth (whispering it in your ear is another metaphor). Next thing you notice, you are agreeing with an idea you had previously missed. This is unlike most seeker preachers who wrap their arms around you, make you laugh and never get around to telling you anything controversial, or the Neo-orthodox young edgy preacher that walks up to you, tells you a joke and then, while you are laughing, punches you in the face (sometime laughing while you are bleeding).

Does this make Paisley the next Johnny Cash or the savior of an important genre? No. He is still a conventional country singer, but his subversion of the medium is refreshing. Just like some preachers that are changing the tide and allowing for people to think for themselves or giving a fresh perspective on the Christian faith through story and listening to other voices than what they were taught in seminary, Paisley gives hope to a genre lacking relevance beyond nostalgia. I hope he is only the beginning in a genre I love and I hope his example is followed by preachers, politicians and writers with traditional/ popular voices and pulpits.

For examples, check out these songs:

Welcome to The Future

American Saturday Night

Waiting On a Woman

less successful the "Gospel and..." television shows

I just saw online that Chris Seay, who I used to work with, is writing a new book on how the Gospel interacts with something in popular culture. Taking a cue from the "What Would Jesus Tell (name a famous person- real or fiction from pop culture)" sermon series popularized by Willow Creek Church and numerous seeker churches world-wide or the ubiquitous "God and the Movies" pretty much every church preaches during the dreary summer days to gather attention, Chris has added to his repertoire the ABC series LOST (in the past he has written critically acclaimed books about The Sopranos, The Matrix films and Enron).

When I was preaching regularly I, too, would pick artifacts of popular culture for sermons based on the interactions between that subject and the Bible (or Gospel, in Christian vernacular). Some of my favorites were the television shows The X Files and Millennium, the films Jerry Maguire, Magnolia or Dead Man Walking and musicians like Ben Folds, Pearl Jam and Lauren Hill. Needless to say, besides The X-Files I did not have Chris' propensity to pick up on cultural phenomena, usually picking things regulated to a niche very quickly (or at least a select audience).

My love of the grays and the margins usually leads me to popular culture that does not translate as well to mass audiences (any reader of this blog knows that). Sure, a series on the Gospel According to Coldplay would draw a slightly larger audience than the Gospel According to Frightened Rabbit (okay, no one would be interested in the treatment of Frightened Rabbit), but I don't like Coldplay. And who cares about Jesus and the television show Chuck, one of the better shows on television (but with no cultural resonance for some reason) or Dexter.

Now here is where I am going with this... Chris has picked some things that translate well to his idea (The Sopranos work like a warped Davidic kingdom and the Matrix threw every religious idea in history at us). But, there are many things out there that are probably left outside of the "Gospel and..." treatment (many of which have been preached less successfully in churches). I have seen pastors try to use modern classics like the Scooby Do movies, The Fast and The Furious, GI Joe, Transformers 2 and Night at the Museum 2, stretching the film (sometimes they haven't even seen it) and Gospel to a breaking point.

There are many films that just don't fit, especially some of the stuff I like. And the television shows I love would either not translate to a "Gospel and..." book or 3 people would buy it. Here are my favorites shows. Imagine a book entitled:

The Gospel and Dexter (exploring Dexter's relationship to Deuteronomic and Levitical law)

The Gospel and Chuck (Chuck saving the world as metaphor for evangelism)

The Gospel and 30 Rock (Liz as Moses leading her people to the promised land, Jack as Yahweh, Tracy as Aaron and Kenneth as the 10 Commandments)

The Gospel and The Wire (a 2000 page exploration of conflict between the differing branches within the Davidic Kingdom at the time of Solomon, with McNulty and Omar as competing Jesus figures... or something like that)

The Gospel and Pushing Daisies (about how even God cannot resurrect an under appreciated quirky series on broadcast television that is too smart for its own good)

Sure some shows would be easy, The Gospel and the Office (trivial, but sells well), The Gospel and My Name is Earl (written by an 8th grader) and The Gospel and The Simpsons (D'oh).

Some other less-than-classics could include The Gospel and Mad Men (just wait, it is coming), The Gospel and Weeds (hmmmm, what is this one about?), The Gospel and CSI (We dodged that bullet) and The Gospel and Grey's Anatomy. I am sure someone has written the Gospel and American Idol or Survivor.

So, share with me either 1) the worst "Gospel and..." thing you have ever seen/ heard/ read or (God forbid) done

and

2) The darkest or worst idea for such a book or series (no "Gospel according to Saw" types- too easy), or that thing that would stretch The Gospel or bible beyond imagination to fit. Justify it if possible.

by the way, I would buy a book called The Gospel According to District 9!