Jack-O-Linkin'

<-- Ooh look The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo poster. There are so many posters for every movie nowadays that I think the word "official" has lost all meaning. But I like it. The tag line sounds artier than most

"what is hidden in snow comes forth in the thaw"

Slant has a strong piece on the 25 best horror films of the Aughts. Some truly surprising but gratifying inclusions.
Film Buff On Demand has a fun post about Halloween treats you can make for your party like brain cupcakes and such. 
The Movie 411 has a nomination round in which you can submit your favorite blog articles or movies blogs in various categories. 
IndieWire considers the many way's this year's Oscar race might mirror 1998's: Brothers Weinsteins comedy vs. Steven Spielberg war epic with a little Terrence Malick on the side. And that's not all.
The Movie 411 has a nomination round in which you can submit your favorite blog articles or movies blogs in various categories. 
Michael Musto's choice of the two best lines in The Descendants 

I hadn't seen this so maybe you haven't either but delicious devil Colin Farrel presented Robert Downey Jr with the "Hero" award at the recent Scream Awards. Like so...

That is one gawdy-ass awards show!

Grantland Mark Harris on the writers branch of the Academy. Which causes will they take up this year?
Movie|Line speaks with Sean Durkin, the writer/director of Martha Marca May Marlene
IndieWire speaking of... how about a double feature with a previously disturbing cult movie The Rapture. Let's call it Martha Marcy Mimi Michael
Boy Culture shares an awesome Elizabeth Taylor photo and Richard Burton poem. I can never get enough of Liz & Dick.
Towleroad Gareth Thomas, who came out of the closet two years ago, is retiring from rugby. I wonder if his biopic is still on... it's SO weird that Mickey Rourke is supposed to play him because they look nothing alike and Jason Statham would be so so perfect. 

 

Pajiba "the superhot women of old timey westerns"
HitFix Eddie Murphy speaks about his Oscar hosting gig. 

March of the (Oscar) Penguins

Oscar binge posting. Let's get it out of our systems. No thought must go unuttered. (Oh dear*) Well, until Sunday's podcast. You get it out of your system, too, in the comments!

Hulk and Puny Humans

I selected 9 men for display. You'll have to tell me who you think is best dresed as there's a dizzying amount of variation in men's formal wear. Would you like black with a blueish tint, black with a grayish tint, bow tie, white tie? Long tie? vest? The possibillites are ENDLESS.

Today Mark Ruffalo tweeted...

Hulk Smash. Hulk Destroy. Hulk Cuddle.

He's the only actor I can think of that would convince me to watch The Hulk again onscreen. But we're poll happy lately so let's convert it to suit (haha) this post.

poll by twiigs.com

Mr Penélope Cruz, Peter Parker, The King, Jude Law

So who do you think was best dressed: the Ruffster, Jakey, Armie Hammer, Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr, Javi, Spider-Man, Jude Law or Colin Firth?

Before you decide try not to let that gold shiny accessory of Colin's sway your vote. That accessory always puts people on best dressed lists. Totally unfair advantage.

Yes, there were more men than this at the Oscars but I had to disqualify a few people right up front: Justin Timberlake because his suit looked too big on him; Jesse Eisenberg because he didn't step it up not one notch from previous awards shows; Christian Bale because of the beard; and Jeff Bridges because he's looking more and more like a muppet version of Jeff Bridges*

* There's almost nothing we love more than Muppets but we don't generally think of them as fashionistas. Also: if there is anything we love more than Muppets it is probably Jeff Bridges. Also and: perhaps Nathaniel is taking too many cold/flu medicines?

Robert Downey Jr... 'Giving It To All of You'

I'm wondering what y'all made of this Golden Globes bit? Robert Downey Jr (or as we like to call him for brevity, RDJ) comes out to present the Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical bit which went to Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right (Go Bening!). He begins by correctly identifying the mood of the evening as "mean spirited with strangely sinister undertones" due to Ricky Gervais  comedy which would have been okay had it been a bit funnier but it just felt rude, right?

RDJ's presentation went like so.

"I consider myself a veteran of sorts and I have made somewhat of a study of this. Tell me if I'm wrong. I don't know if an actress can do her best work until I've slept with her

... Julianne.

 

Told her that I was working with strange new feelings that were confusing me... Angie.

Only to have her blow me off halfway through the shoot like it never happened... Annette.

Or casually mention that her boyfriend is coming for a location visit because he misses her. And what they have is real. Then have the gall to invite me to join them in a threetop for dinner? Anne! WHY?.

Now i'm not trying to creep anyone out but where is Emma?

I think I've got something for us it's kind of like a Blue Valentine thing but not age appropriate. Now, I'm not saying that my theory doesn't hold water but somehow all of these women rendered exquisite performances without a shred of help from me.

So I guess I'm just saying... if I could, I'd give it to all five of you. At once. The award. Right here center stage in front of my wife, the audience, and millions of viewers."

Kind of a complicated long joke.

Maybe it doesn't work at all if you don't have RDJ's Schmarm™. (That's smarm cut with charm) But I thought it was totally funny. Nick* correctly observes that Emma Stone actually makes the penultimate punchline work with her on-the-spot reaction shot, all good sport guilt and carnal complicity.

Your verdict?

*Related reading: Nick's live blog is a treat. As a special bonus before the show kicked off he even reviewed the Original Song contenders including a hilariously astute song swap suggestion for Mandy Moore and XTina.