Heaven Hosts the Oscars

Katie loves the Oscars. Katie loves the often-berated award show so much that she talks in 3rd person. Katie couldn’t love the Oscars anymore unless they did something so wonderful, so out-of-this-world terrific that…

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are hosting the Oscars.

WSSSW? (AKA What Should ShowShow Watch?)

Hey everyone,

I’ve been asking this question on the Popsyndicate forums for about a week now, but I’ll try it again here for those you of who listen to the show but don’t feel like registering on the boards: What do you want us to watch in the month of November?

We’ve gotten a lot of great suggestions from our listeners, but only 8 slots to fill, so we’re narrowing that down with the poll you see below you. Vote for the movie you love/want to hear us talk about/hate/want to hear us bitch about. Whatever, you get the idea.

Oh, and you can vote as often as you want this time twice, meaning that if there’s more than one movie that you want us to review, you can vote for both of them.

Thank God for Disasters

“We were warned…Roland Emmerich is about to blow up in our faces!” – Educated American Man

If you know me, and some of you do fairly well, then you know that I am head-over-heels in superlove (it’s a new type of extreme love) with disaster movies: Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Armageddon, Deep Impact (guh, I know), Volcano…

Listen, I know they’re not the most perfectly made films of all time, so let’s get that straight. However, if you can’t sit back and enjoy watching the White House get exploded, crunched, zapped, lasered or whatever else(d), well then you have no sense of humor.

Disaster movies are what make humanity great. I just can’t get enough of them and I know I’m not alone. You better believe that on Friday, November 13, I’m going to feel like the luckiest woman in the world when those curtains part to reveal the masterpiece that I have been waiting for all my life – the ultimate disaster, captured on film for all to enjoy. The luckiest woman in the world.

I refuse to make a shudder pun here – refuse.

I didn’t read Lehane’s Mystic River prior to seeing the film adaptation. The movie was good, but it never really charmed me the way it did others (Academy included). That said, when Leonardo DiCaprio is in a Scorsese movie, I will gladly make the effort to do some prefatory work/research. Besides, I heard some good things about Shutter Island and Dennis Lehane, so why not?

Why not is right. This was such a fun read. In fact, it was so fun that I couldn’t stop telling everyone around me how much fun it was with every passing chapter. “Oh jeeze, then the doctor was telling Teddy that he can’t leave the Island!” It was probably really annoying, and my apologies go out to the folks that had to suffer through my giddy, nerdy moments of lameness. The thing is though, I have no regrets! I want to encourage all of you to read it before seeing the movie. Why? Well, if the movie is bad (it could happen) then you will probably never be inspired to pick up the book.

Concerning the upcoming movie, the casting is seemingly perfect. Teddy Daniels was written for someone like Leo. And, my undying love for him aside, Mark Ruffalo will surely be a loveable Chuck Aule. I’m extremely excited to see how this plays out on film. If you’ve seen the trailer – and I’m sure most of you have by now – you may be discouraged because you feel as though you already know the ending. To that I say, “PFFFF!” There is much more going on here than some mere search for a missing patient—much more.

Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Folds ‘Em

By Ryan Thies – HodgeBlodge 4^th Husband

I have a friend who once raised his glass and toasted: “If we play our cards right, our second wives haven’t even been born yet.”  We were 22 at the time.  I thought he was kidding, but now, years (and many relationships) later, I’m beginning to suspect that he wasn’t.

Time passes and circumstances evolve and when they do they change the way we view everything that was said and done prior.  This is especially true in politics–think: Congressman Mark Foley ranting against homosexuality now that you know he was sexting his young, male interns- but it’s also true in pop culture–doesn’t Michael Jackson’s unraveling ultimately change the way we all view Thriller?  My point is this:  I will never look at Ben Folds’ album, Songs for Silverman, the same way.

The Unnecessaries

[They took down the Expendables trailer - cause it was so bad probably:)]

A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator. Also, it’s dumb probably. Sorry guys, I know a lot of you are stoked on this.

With a Little You on Your Shoulders: Arrrrroooooo!

The Wild Things by Dave Eggers

I didn’t want to wait for the Reviews in Review: October Books Edish post to mention this little wonder. Why? Well, that should be obvious for a couple of reasons: 1) The movie is coming out in two weeks and 2) there is no way that I can walk around living life without saying word-one about this story.

Okay, now that my face has adequately dried from the damp and pathetic red mess that it was five minutes ago…

…don’t worry. I would never spoil anything for you. Some of you may even be thinking, “Pffff, what’s she going to spoil? I was reading this book when I was four years old. Come on!” Well, jerk, that is certainly not the attitude you’re going to want to have while reading this or seeing the film. I hope that you won’t act that way at least. I hope that you’ll dig down deep – or not so deep for those like myself – and find that little you, and put them on your shoulders and take them along for this wonderful journey.

Now, I want to address some basic questions.

Happy Howl-O-Ween Spooktacular!

Yippee!

If you’d like to follow along with the ShowShow crew, please feel free to check out the complete calendar (click on the tab at the top of the site)! Or, if you’d rather just listen to the stupid garbage we have to say, you can download the show at showshow.podomatic.com or find us on iTunes. While you’re there, please take a minute it write us a short review. We’d love that. Really.

Happy Spooktacular, Everyone!

~Wynne

RoboCrap: Surrogates Is Really Bad. So Bad I Couldn’t Even Think Of A Creative Headline…

In Jonathan Mostow’s new movie starring Bruce Willis, Surrogates were created to help those less capable to live fuller lives. For example, if you were unable to walk, you could jack into a Surrogate and be on your merry way – skipping, running, par-quoring, jumping up walls and onto cars and other general Spiderman verbs. Surrogates allow you to live a life without pain or risk of dismemberment.

However, even if you were jacked into a beautiful (or handsome) Surrogate, dressed to the nines, happy as a clam, and you walked into the theater to watch this movie, you would STILL feel the brutal force of awfulness hit you at every receptor. The pain would be great, the effect permanent – a catatonic state of “why, oh why!?” wherein you wander the planet alone, aloof and soulless.

Ahem, Surrogates was bad. Real bad. I was hoping that at the very least I would be able to laugh through it and cheer each time Willis picked up a gun. I was wrong. Instead, I was angry, bored, angry, frustrated, confused, bored again and then just sort of baffled. James Cromwell, why do you insist on creating evil future doom all the time? Why do you do it? You know how it will end for cryin’ out loud. You were in I, Robot weren’t you. Okay then, come on!

Before I cease this rant I want to leave you with a final thought. Surrogates can do everything. They run, smile, drive, eat, drink, ski – you name it. Oh wait, there is one thing they can’t do – dance. Yes, apparently the systematic testing of the Surrogates fell short of Dancing 101. In one of the first scenes you are introduced to a Surrogate dance club, and guess what, they are all dancing the robot. Yep, this is that kind of bad.

There, I’m done. If I had a Surrogate right now I would skydive into Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato’s homes (they were the screenwriters) and shake them into submission, all the while screaming “You actually achieved what I once thought was unachievable! You made a bad movie despite the fact that Bruce Willis has a gun in it! How did you do it? How and why?!”

Reviews in Review – September Books Edition

Weed Man: The Remarkable Journey of Jimmy Divine
By John McCaslin
An account of the unbelievable exploits of a Jimmy Moree – a law-abiding citizen turned million-dollar drug trafficker, who, amidst sometimes unbelievable, hilarious and escalating circumstances, risked life and limb to both make – and give away – a fortune.

I can’t say that I read this book by choice. It was recommended to me by a friend. I also can’t say that I enjoyed it. Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I’ve already watched so many drug-smuggling-themed movies, so this offered me nothing new. A mellow guy starts running drugs, gets rich, gets over it, quits and now lives his life. Okay, anything else you’d like to add? No? Sigh.

A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father
By Augusten Burroughs

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I say that because after reading and watching the film adaption of Running with Scissors, I decided that Burroughs wasn’t for me – I guess I just don’t dig his style. However, the extremely dark nature of WATT pulled me in almost immediately and in the end the creepy and sometimes horrifying father figure changed my opinion of the author (slightly). It’s quick, it’s scary – it’d be a great October read.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment
By Steve Harvey

“Women should listen to Steve Harvey when it comes to what a good man is about. Steve Harvey dispenses a lot of fabulous information about men. It’s more than the average man will usually tell you. Steve Harvey will give it up.” — Aretha Franklin

Jessica read this book to me and since then I have referenced it almost once a day. Not only are there some incredible quotes, but Harvey has some pretty practical things to say. I know, I know. Look at the cover – you’re not going to pick this one up, are you? Well fine, but know that you are missing out on some great memories.

For example, a few of us brought this book to Mimi’s Café and read it while enjoying a light dinner. The waiter – was his name Joe? – overheard us and couldn’t help but join in the conversation. The result: a close look into the life of our waiter, a lesson learned about why women shouldn’t have to pay for things and an understanding of the “Three P’s.” It’s actually really great.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog
By Muriel Barbey

I came across this book while blindly searching for a new read. I needed something and I needed it fast. So, I looked at some best-seller lists online, walked to Borders on my lunch break and – VOILA! – there it was. The Elegance of the Hedgehog. When I reached for it I had no idea that this book…this book with its awful cover, this book about two women, this book that became a publishing sensation in France, this book that I never wanted to end, this book that has already passed its fiftieth reprint, this book that did end, this book that has been adapted for film with a release date of 2008/2009, this book that was written with the beauty of a camellia… I had no idea that this book would change my life.

As soon as I turned the final page I wanted to begin again. I could honestly talk about TEOTHH all day long. So, if you’re interested please, please, PLEASE go pick up a copy and let’s talk. Everyone deserves to read this. Everyone.