The silly season is over

From new Year's Eve to Valentine's Day to Carnaval - this silly season, when one needs to be merry by decree, while the real rites and traditions are forgotten.

OK, New Year is a moment of passage, in our part of the world and this version of calendar, but who said it requires doing stupid things like getting wasted, jumping up and down and dancing to bad music?
The day of mandatory "romance" is even worse - how bloody romantic it is to dine in a crowded restaurant because all the other romantic sheep had the same brilliant idea? Not to mention that one dinner changes nothing if the relationship is not going well, and it's meaningless for a true union. Real love needs no dates or overpriced teddy bears, if it's real it just is.
Carnaval, Mardi Gras - has deeper roots, but alas almost forgotten. The authenticity and cultural/anthropological meaning of putting a mask on to expell the last winter deamons and keep them at bay untill spring is nowhere to be seen in Rio's Sambodrome.

Life according to the ancient rhythm of the earth, festivals as old as maknind, the magic, the seasons - all these make more sense than we care to remember. It's so much easier to buy a pink teddy bear and get it done with.

Slumdogs and us

This is not a film-critic-cultural-event blog, but this time I have to.

I am disappointed with Bollywood "poor boy meets girl and wins lottery because he's nice" story getting 8 Oscars, I really am. The Academy took the feel good route and seriously overdid it with all the cheerful spirit for the times of crisis.
Best song? WTF?

"Milk" and "The Reader" were much more movie movies, "Benjamin Button" was not bad either, but nooo... the happy beggar wins. Bleh. I'm disappointed "Changeling" and "Revolutionary Road" didn't get the recognition they deserved.

As much as I loved Heath Ledger - enough is enough, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Michael Shannon were as good if not better, but alas, they are still alive. Extraordinary crop in secondary actress category - any one of them could have won.

Sean Penn was totally awesome in "Milk", no questions there (haven't seen "The Wrestler" yet, I admit). Between Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep - tough choice, everyone else was a class below at least, although Angelina in Changeling was surprisingly good (Mr. Eastwood has a hand for directing women, he really does).

"The Duchess" winning costume award was more than deserved as was makeup for "Benjamin Button", cinematography and art direction are debatable, as all nominated movies were great.
Editing could have gone to "Milk" or "Dark Knight", but in this case I'm OK with Slumdog winning - they were equals. For best score I was sort of rooting for "Defiance", but Mumbai folclore was the flavour of the day (night).

The "commie homo-loving sons of guns" must think that the right message for the tough times is that the kids in the slums are happy and lovely (unless someone takes their eyes or legs to make them more efficient beggars), when they grow up - despite malnutrition, lack of hygiene and dental/medical care of any sort - they will have lovely faces, clear skin, good hair and teeth, they will also learn good English and manners while stealing from tourists. And of course, life will reward them with the girl of their dreams (second-hand but still) and a significant monetary prize. Let's hold hands and do the happy Bollywood dance. Yay. Meanwhile, Obama will fix the world for us.

PS. Hugh Jackman can sing!