The Ninth Circle of Link (+ Oscar Talk)

All bloggers are going to hell! That's the latest stupidity oozing out of yet another repressed hatemonger who masquerades as a Jesus lover. So today's (nine) links are coming at you in this train of thought form, as we circle down into the inferno. I discovered that article through Badtux the Snarky Penguin, one of my fav political blogs and the penguin's take is, true to form, priceless.

It's really cold outside today so I don't even mind imagining the devil's flames consuming me. It's so cold that I'm planning to stay in this weekend and watch some new shows I like, get ahead of important things rather than play catch up, and dream about seeing Marie-Antoinette next week. I will however venture out to see The Departed with Marty, Jack, Leo, and Matt (hmmmm, Matt).

And because Oscar obsessions are as consuming as damnations flames, I thought I'd check in with the competition to see what people are goin' on about. Wells thinks that 2006 will stay a weak year (my personal feeling is lots of good but no great. But lots of good is enjoyable). I agree with Poland that Flags of Our Fathers is not a winner and could easily come up short of a nomination (but I've said that the whole year). I don't see why people are so surprised that the film isn't a slam dunk --who gets nominated every single time they make a movie let alone leads the race each time? I saw the movie last night and unless the audience turns out in droves or the other movies are equally shaky, I think it's in trouble. Tapley liked it better than I, but he's lukewarm, too. I'm personally more confident in The Queen as a major player at this point.

Before I wrap this post up, I have to address one clip from Poland's article:

Movies that happen in the now are rare commodities. The Departed, Little Children, Babel, Little Miss Sunshine and Stranger Than Fiction make up most of the list.

I'm not exactly sure what he means... but either way I disagree. Some of you may recall that I covered the "contemporary picture" in Oscar MythBusting. Contemporary features (The Queen should also be considered here --that's very recent history) are more frequent Oscar players than perception indicates and they're probably on their way back to dominance, all things being cyclical ... or circular, like our eternal homes.

Oh, you're going to hell, too! Don't think that reading blogs isn't also inviting Satan into your home. To quote Shortbus, "Voyeurism is participation."