Random Factoid #403

4 09 2010

This factoid is about 175 too late, but better late that never, right?

I made my first “Marshall and the Movies” licensed product back in March as a thank you to someone who saved my hide during a performance by finding a misplaced prop.  My thank you was two CDs featuring my picks of the best movie music of 2009, both songs and score.  I won’t be making you all one because that would be piracy, but I’d be happy to share my selections with you all and link to any YouTube videos I can.

Have any other bloggers made unofficially licensed gear?  Or am I some sort of pioneer?  While you ponder those two questions, let me lay out my lineup for you below.

Best of 2009 – Songs

  1. This Land Is Your Land (Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings) – “Up in the Air”
  2. Us (Regina Spektor) – “(500) Days of Summer”
  3. Fallin’ and Flyin’ (Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell) – “Crazy Heart”
  4. Almost There (Anika Noni Rose) – “The Princess and the Frog”
  5. You’ve Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger (Beth Rowley) – “An Education”
  6. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths) – “(500) Days of Summer”
  7. Stu’s Song (Ed Helms) – “The Hangover”
  8. Angel in the Snow (Elliott Smith) – “Up in the Air”
  9. All Is Love (Karen O and the Kids) – “Where the Wild Things Are”
  10. Cinema Italiano (Kate Hudson) – “Nine”
  11. All My Days (Alexi Murdoch) – “Away We Go”
  12. Hold On You (Jeff Bridges) – “Crazy Heart”
  13. You Make My Dreams (Hall & Oates) – “(500) Days of Summer”
  14. Help Yourself (Sad Brad Smith) – “Up in the Air”
  15. Three Best Friends (Zach Galifianakis) – “The Hangover”
  16. Cat People (David Bowie) – “Inglourious Basterds”
  17. Smoke Without Fire (Duffy) – “An Education”
  18. I Can See In Color (Mary J. Blige) – “Precious”
  19. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (She & Him) – “(500) Days of Summer”
  20. The Weary Kind (Ryan Bingham) – “Crazy Heart”
  21. I See You (Leona Lewis) – “Avatar”
  22. Candy Shop (The Dan Band) – “The Hangover”
  23. Up in the Air (Kevin Renick) – “Up in the Air”

Best of 2009 – Score

  1. The Green Leaves of Summer – “Inglourious Basterds”
  2. Waltz in the Street – “An Education”
  3. You Don’t Dream in Cryo – “Avatar”
  4. Stillness of the Mind – “A Single Man”
  5. High-Speed French Train – “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
  6. Married Life – “Up”
  7. Discombobulate – “Sherlock Holmes”
  8. Jake’s First Flight – “Avatar”
  9. Jenny’s Theme – “An Education”
  10. Enterprising Young Men – “Star Trek”
  11. Carlos – “A Single Man”
  12. Carl Goes Up – “Up”
  13. Rabbia E Tarantella – “Inglourious Basterds”
  14. Finale – “Nine”

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The Pushback

19 08 2010

"His last words to me ... disappointed."

It’s simply superhuman to meet every expectation that you set for yourself.  Eventually, we all come up short in some aspect.  Today, I have to inform you that I will not be meeting the deadline for some of the plans I laid out at the beginning of the month.

I said that in the first half of the month, I would post this month’s edition of “Classics Corner.”  But seeing as how that time has come and passed, I obviously already missed that.  It will be up soon, obviously sometime before the end of the month.

I also promised the premiere of my podcast towards the end of the month.  Unfortunately, due to the schedule of school and college application deadlines, that’s just not possible this month.  I hope to get started on recording them within the next week or two, maybe to get them up online by the end of September but hopefully October at the very latest.  For those who were holding their breath for that … well, hold a little longer.  It’s coming.  (And for those of you who replied to my email about participation in the podcast, I haven’t forgotten about you.  Anyone else interested can let me know … I still have plenty of open slots.)

And another pushback that is not my own fault – Warner Bros. moved “Going the Distance” back to September 3, a full week later than its original scheduled release date.  Since Hollywood marks Labor Day weekend as the official end of summer (although by that point, I will have been in school for three weeks), I figured I’ll push back my “Comedy Week” along with “Going the Distance.”  So rather than starting this Saturday, it will actually begin on Friday, August 27 with the “F.I.L.M.” highlighting an underrated comedy gem.

Sorry for the tardiness.  I hold myself to high standards, and it’s hard for me not to meet them.


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Marshall & Julie: Day 5

1 08 2010

Another reminder (mainly so the “Marshall and Julie” graphic will fit nicely into the post): these posts are not in real time.  They were all written at a previous date.  So there.  Now, enjoy.

Day 5: “…To Make An Omelette” / “…To Maintain a Blog”

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Origins: Marshall and the Movies

30 07 2010

Here it is, folks.  The Project that is perhaps the most responsible for making July 2010 the biggest month in my history comes to a close with a look at my own origins.  I’ll answer my own questionnaire, which has taken some people minutes and others days.  Then tomorrow, expect a wrap-up of the entire project, sharing what I’ve learned from everyone’s unique responses.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?
I don’t know if I can point to one specific movie.  I talked to the director of my nursery, and she said that even at three years old, I could name directors, producers, and writers of movies.  So to start at 1997, when my memory of movies really begins, would be cheating.  A lot of those Disney movies were my favorites growing up, such as “Hercules” and “Mulan.”  And gosh, I sure did love “George of the Jungle,” which may be why I still love Leslie Mann so much.

When did you start blogging?
July 28, 2009 – a year and two days ago!

Why did you start blogging?
I saw the movie “Julie & Julia” and was inspired by Julie Powell. She turned what she loved into something that would ultimately become her career. I wasn’t exactly thinking about a career when I started blogging, but something about the line, “I can write a blog. I have thoughts!” resonated deeply with me. So that’s the spark that lit the fire, and it’s been ablaze ever since.

What has kept you going?
Christopher McCandless, the subject of the book and subsequent movie “Into the Wild,” wrote this profound statement before dying: “Happiness only real when shared.”  I feel such a bliss watching movies, and it wasn’t until someone came up to me a few weeks after I had started and said, “I saw The Hurt Locker after reading your review and it was AMAZING!” that I realized that my joy could be spread to other people through this blog.  I began writing a weekly series, the “F.I.L.M. of the Week,” that suggests a great movie for the average reader that they might not have known about.  My hope is not necessarily that they will scorn watching corny and contrived movies (because I sure haven’t!) but that they might find the same happiness that I get from watching movies.  Ever since that day, I guess you could say I’ve kept blogging for other people to experience movies like I do.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?
I didn’t get into blogging for the community, and it took me a long time to realize how strong it was and also how much I needed them to make my site more widely read.  I definitely had some reluctance, thinking I could do it on my own, but eventually I was set straight.  Thanks to everyone who read me during this obstinate phase, particularly M. Carter, who has been my oldest consistent reader.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?
The best? Every time someone tells me that I’ve influenced them in some way, be it that they have seen a movie I recommended or seriously reconsidered a philosophy that I’ve examined.  Everyone wants to feel important, and I get that feeling every time someone comments here on the site or tells me in person.  Thank you, everyone who does so.  Without you, I’d only be serving myself here.  I love knowing that I can be a part of your life, no matter how small.

The worst?  I can’t count the number of times I’d rather watch a movie that write a review or a factoid.  There really is no rest for bloggers because we always have to stay on top of our game.  We’re either writing our own content or looking at other people’s to see how we can improve our own.  Internal improvements are never-ending.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?
It has for sure increased my passion. I had worried at the outset that moviewatching would become something so routine that it might become monotonous, but that has absolutely not happened.  Without blogging and finding these other incredible sites, I never would have seen some of the movies I’ve seen this year.

Although I will say, at the same time, blogging has increased my distaste of bad movies. Knowing that I’m throwing away two hours of my life to watch a horrible movie stings even more now because that time could have been used to write a blog post..

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?
The single proudest moment is still getting the nod from Ebert. But I get a kick out of every time someone pings back to one of my posts, someone adds me to their blogroll, someone mentions that my opinions matter to them, and someone considers me in the same league as these extraordinary writers out there.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?
Do it! Blogging may not be your thing, but find some way to share your passion with others. While we are still seeing what’s going to come out of “Marshall and the Movies,” you never know what your outcome will be.  Maybe it connects with a new career, or with people who share your interest, or perhaps it’s just an outlet for you to share everything that’s going on in your life.  But there’s something so exhilarating about blogging, not knowing where you’ll end up.  It’s fun to be along for the ride.


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Marshall & Julie: Day 1

28 07 2010

Here we are, ladies and gentlemen.  The main event.  “The Marshall & Julie Project.”

I’ll only give the series a brief introduction before I just let my words speak for themselves.  There are thirteen entries with a fourteenth, a reflective piece, to air at a later date to be determined.  I’ll run one entry per day for the next thirteen days.  Since they are fairly sizable posts, I’ll put all the text after the “see more” jump in the interest of not having a mile-long front page.  The “Marshall & Julie” graphic, which I reserve the right to change very soon, and the title will run before the jump, however.

So sit back, relax, and read.  Hopefully you’ll enjoy, too.

Day 1: “The Road to Hell Is Paved With Leeks and Potatoes” / “The Road to Hell Is Paved With Horror and Romantic Comedies”

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Reviewing My Review

24 07 2010

Back in June, I was treated to a blog review over at Anomalous Material, the spoils of placing in their commenting contest.  I’ve allowed comments to flow without too much intervention, planning on addressing them all here in one post.  This is that post.

Design – Divisive

… [I like the site because of] its simplicity. Not weighed down with a lot of gadgets, and such. You got what you need, and nothing more. But I also think that’s most effective because your site is set perfectly for that. Any more and it would just look cluttered.
… nice clean site that’s easy to navigate.
It’s clean and crisp.
I don’t think Marshall’s site design boring, though – clean and simple, as others have stated.

  • Well, that’s definitely the point.  I haven’t messed around too much with design, largely because I’ve decided to focus more on content.  I’ve definitely been more committed to providing writing because I assume most people come to read instead of look.

Clean albeit generic looking blog. Loads quickly.
The only problem with your site is the aesthetic but that is solely the fault of wordpress’s boring templates.

  • Again, I’ve been looking for ways to add some flair, and I might invest more heavily in researching that coming soon.  It’s just that giant pile of reviews that I can’t ever seem to finish…

… Reorganize your side bar a bit. Categories down, latest posts/comments up.

  • I’ve always been kind of clueless as to how to organize it.  I’ve taken my best stab at it, so maybe it’s time to experiment a little bit.

I kind of love … the header …

  • I try to do the best I can with what I’ve got.  I wonder if it isn’t stubborn refusal to change my design/theme that’s keeping me grounded.  I try to change it out thematically now, and it’s due for a change in the coming weeks.

Your site is a lot better since you removed The Blind Side from your banner.

  • Couldn’t agree more!

Your blog has a banner which is good. I do think however that so many bloggers use the “collection of movie posters” banner that you might consider brainstorming and making a new one that is more original.

  • I have been thinking about it, and I think I’m going to see about designing a logo of some sort with a friend of mine who dabbles in graphic design.  Win-win for all, right?

I wouldn’t mind it nearly as much were the images at least high res enough to be able to see them clearly. The double whammy of the “collection of posters” and out-of-focus pics (even weirder given their size) is probably my least favorite thing about your site.

  • I have a very strange way of making the banner and resolution was never really a priority for me.  But clearly I can see that it is for many people, so it will definitely be a consideration from now on.

I see you use pages and categories, have a review index, a search box etc…

  • I try to make the site user-friendly and am hoping to soon figure out a better way to catalogue all my reviews and such.  It may constitute a massive reworking and redesign of my system, but whatever is best must be done.

… not a fan of the justified text.

  • Justified frustrates me at times, but I’ve looked at posts with other alignment options, and nothing else looks any better.  So the text stays as it is for now.

Content – Good

I also love the content. Great writing, to the point, but amusing all the same.

  • I definitely don’t want to waste your time by bogging you down with verbose wordiness, so I’m glad that’s working.  And I always aim to amuse, and it makes me especially glad to hear that!

Excellent reviews, polls…

  • Glad to hear from someone who votes in the polls!  I’ve been trying to incorporate them more, although I can’t seem to get them into the sidebar where they belong.  Sigh.

… sharp, concise content, with a nice combination of honest reviews and random comment on obscure facts which always seems to work on nearly any medium.

  • I love to dabble in the obscure on occasion, and I’m glad you all are willing to go there with me.  Also like to hear people think I’m honest – because I’m definitely not in the blogging world to conform.

… you don’t f**k around or make posts for posting sake.

  • I try not to make the so-called “filler” posts, but some have accused the factoids of being just that.  Glad to know I have a fan there.

There is some good content to read as of late. In the past, one of the main complaint I had was the large amount of “filler” content such as “Random Factoids”, trailers and other short posts that most people don’t really actively seek.

  • I’ve definitely tried to step up my effort to provide substantive content every day, particularly recently.  Sometimes in the school year, though, it would be so much easier to post a trailer or a quickie factoid and be done.  I’ll try to keep that up this year, but there will be significantly less time available to work on the blog.

Great content too, I absolutely love … the reviews, movie previews, etc.

  • Hooray!  Happy to hear someone likes the previews.

Random Factoids – Divisive

Though at times I am left scratching my head after a few Random Factoids.

  • If only I knew which kinds you were referring to.  The factoid has definitely undergone a metamorphosis over the past year, going from me spewing details of my movie obsession to me postulating about all things cinematical.  They have definitely become more about moviegoing in general, and I often leave them very open to discussion.  I’ve tried to cut down on the obsession factoids, and I might understand if you scratch your head after a few of those.

Excellent … factoids.
I absolutely love the Random Factoids … always interesting to read.
I too love the way that they are offered as “Random Factoids”. There’s something wonderfully personal to that sort of style and structure.

  • I try to make them fun to read!  I’ve really started using them more as an open forum, and I think it makes it more fun for everyone.  Plus, I feel like everyone deep down inside has to love something random.

Personality – Good

You have a nice distinct voice and sense of humor.

  • I try to be witty, so glad that’s working!  Also happy to hear that I’m “distinct,” not just one in the crowd.

I’m liking it more the more I read and get to know you, so that’s a good thing.

  • I like to hear that there’s more to me than meets the eye!

Watch for excessive amount of the first person “I”, “my” etc… What can you do for me? Most visitors (who don’t know you) are not interested in personal diaries and accounts unless it can be immediately helpful in their own lives.

  • I do get conscious about first person (in fact, I almost considered using third person in the sentence), and it’s something I’m trying to work on.  But I do call the site “Marshall AND the Movies,” so readers should expect a great deal of me along with the movies.  I separate myself from the equation when it’s necessary, but since movies are such a very personal thing for me, it’s impossible to take myself out entirely.

Community – Room for Improvement

I haven’t seen you being very active in terms of commenting in the movie blog community as a whole so I guess you could do a better job at that (we all could) as it drives good traffic to your own site.

  • For a long time, I foolishly assumed that good writing would bring visitors.  But it doesn’t – you have to sell yourself.  Your writing, your design, your personality, everything.  You have to put yourself out there.  And I hope I have improved.  To everyone out there who comments on my blog and I don’t do my part to reciprocate, know that I am sorry and intend to go crazy commenting on your site.  I’m trying to widen my scope, but that’s taken longer than I expected.

I know you have been working hard to get a little community started with mixed success. Keep plugging at it and try different things: Discussion worthy content, less emphasis on personal accounts, engaging the reader. Contests are good ideas but they only have a temporary effect especially if the community and reader-base is small to begin with.

  • I think it’s the double-whammy of “Inception” and my series “The Origins Project” that has made July such a viewing and commenting bonanza.  But before that, things were often very slow.  I’ve been trying to build a community because it’s no fun for me just sitting here and writing to my computer.  I get so much pleasure out of knowing someone reads or knowing that someone sees a movie because of my review, and when I don’t hear that, I begin to feel that blogging is a very self-serving thing.  So thanks to everyone who has participated in July, and I sure hope I have earned your readership in the months (and years, I guess) that follow!

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Two HUGE Milestones!

21 07 2010

Well, folks, as I approach the big day (in a week! ahh!), I’ve hit two big milestones that I have to thank all my readers for helping me achieve.  I don’t like to use statistical benchmarks to measure success, but these are HUGE.

In the past week, I have hit 20,000 views and 1,000 comments!!  It’s a concrete reminder of all the people that I am reaching, and all the people who feel compelled to share their opinions with me.

While I’m at it, I figured I might as well talk about what’s coming up.  The unexpectedly popular “The Origins Project” will run until the end of the month when I will wrap it up with my own answers and a general overview of what we can learn from everyone’s responses.  The Christopher Nolan extravaganza has come and gone, but you can look forward to a lot of reviews from Julianne Moore’s repertoire that I will contribute to the LAMB Acting School on her.

The commenting contest is still going on for the month, and I’m really encouraged to see how many people have commented even though I haven’t played that up very much.  For those who might not have read the announcement back in June, it’s a contest for the top two commenters.  First gets a poster for a Nolan movie; second gets an Amazon.com gift card.  Maybe later I’ll get an early count for those curious…

And beginning on the anniversary is the “Marshall and Julie Project,” a very in-depth reflection on what really got me started blogging: Julie Powell and “Julie & Julia.”  That will run for two weeks or so, and I really hope everyone enjoys it.  It’s definitely going to be very personal and introspective.

Thanks for making July 2010 my biggest month – in TWENTY DAYS!


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ANNOUNCEMENT: Anniversary Month Festivities

23 06 2010

I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but around this time next month, I will be celebrating my first anniversary as a member of the blogosphere.  That’s right, about 11 months ago, “Marshall and the Movies” breathed its first.

So in honor of the big day, I want to throw a LAVISH, OVER-THE-TOP, BLOGGING EXTRAVAGANZA OF AN ANNIVERSARY MONTH PARTY. Yes, bold was completely necessary.

Here’s what you can look forward to in July, which will hereby be known as “Anniversary Month” on “Marshall and the Movies.”

  • A new monthly series called “The Classics Corner,” where I will discuss a movie considered a classic, share my thoughts, and postulate what has made it such an endearing movie.
  • A giant week of posts to celebrate Christopher Nolan in honor of the release of “Inception,” beginning July 9.
  • Another commenting contest, although this time it will not be random.  The person who comments the most will get their choice of a poster of a movie directed by Christopher Nolan.  The second highest commenter will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.  I’m working on getting something to keep tally in the sidebar, but in the meantime, just comment often!
  • An ambitious series I’m calling “The Origins Project.”  I will need the help of other bloggers to get this series off the ground, but I think it will be a rewarding endeavor for all who choose to participate.  We spend most of our time celebrating what we blog and occasionally celebrate the fact that we blog.  What I want to do is celebrate why we blog.  “The Origins Project” will be a small questionnaire sent to some of my consistent companions in the blogosphere.  The questions will try to get at what got these bloggers started and why they have chosen to keep going.
  • On the big day, July 28, I will be launching a series that is, in a sense, an in-depth look at my own origins.  As you may or may not know, I started blogging after I saw the movie “Julie & Julia” and was inspired by Julie Powell’s quest to find a more purposeful life by writing a blog.  The project consist of my journey through the book “Julie & Julia,” the Bible of blogging, and my responses to the reading.  I hope it provides entertainment and insight into myself because it has certainly proved very worthwhile for me.

And all of these festivities are just the gravy on top of the normal reviews, factoids, Oscar Moments, and other posts.

So who’s ready for an awesome month?!  (And fellow bloggers, I’m going to need at least two sites that can quickly turn around the questionnaire – sorry for the ultra-late notice!)


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I’m on the LAMBcast!

20 06 2010

For those of you that have ever wondered what I sound like, wonder no more. I have ventured into the world of podcasting on the Large Association of Movie Blogs’ “LAMBcast.” Three short weeks ago, I was a neophyte who had no idea how the LAMBcast worked. Now, I have gone from a participant to a discussion leader.

On LAMBcast #24, the topic on hand was film adaptations of video games in the wake of the release of “Prince of Persia.” The conversation was lively with plenty of poking fun at Hollywood’s less than stellar output in the genre. I thought I had little to contribute because I have (wisely) steered clear of video game movies, but I was surprised at how much I had to say.

On LAMBcast #25, I had a great time talking about the movies I’d seen on DVD in recent weeks. Unfortunately, technology backfired and the discussion didn’t record in a way that would be pleasant to listen to. So if you want to hear me play “Last LAMB Standing,” feel free to spend your 12 minutes doing so.

On LAMBcast #26, I led a discussion on comedies tying into the release of “Get Him to the Greek,” a movie which I gave a solid A.  First, we talked about the movie and then went into discussion about what makes a successful comedy, both at the box office and with audiences.

I would strongly recommend listening to them, not only because I am on them but also because they are fun and informative to listen to.

There are four ways to listen to the LAMBcast; unfortunately, none of them are on “Marshall and the Movies.”

1. Listen on Podomatic, the site where the podcast is hosted
2. Find the LAMBcast on iTunes
3. Listen on the embedded player on the LAMB
4. Listen on the embedded player on Blog Cabins

I’m sorry I can’t figure out a way to get WordPress to embed that darned thing, but I’ll work on it for future podcasts.  Click on any of the links above for some good listening!


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Categories : Blogosphere, Marshall and the Movies

Review Me on ANOMALOUS MATERIAL!

16 06 2010

The perks of a commitment to constant commenting (alliteration fully intended) are manifold, and this is my hard work manifested.

After placing second in Anomalous Material’s May commenting contests (to none other than the winner of my own commenting contest in April, Ripley from “Four of Them”), I was given a choice of many prizes.  I chose a blog review on the site, similar to the LAMB’s Brutally Blunt Blog Blustering.

I really want your honest opinion on how to change it – from bloggers and normal moviegoers.  CLICK THE PICTURE BELOW to be taken to Anomalous Material where the blog review is taking place.  Leave your honest thoughts, no matter how cruel they may be.  If you absolutely hate my blog and want me to stop immediately, phrase it nicely and leave it as a comment.  I asked for this, so I’m prepared to hear whatever you think.

Head on over to Anomalous Material and review me!

And while you are at it, check out the “Greatest Comedy of All-Time Tournament.”  It’s a massive, 128-movie bracket to ultimately determine what blog readers think is the funniest movie ever.  Basically, it’s like March Madness for moviegoers on steroids.  It’s a pretty massive undertaking, so go give Red and Castor your votes and time.

What an ambitious project. Do yourself a favor and participate.


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First Poll Results Post!

28 05 2010

I’m trying out some restructuring of the site, particularly in the sidebar and in the categories column.  In respect to the former, I’m working on reordering the boxes.  I moved the subscription box to the bottom of the sidebar and the LAMB logo to the middle.  As always, feedback is appreciated.

But this post concerns itself with the latter of my concerns, the categories.  I’ve made the first big move already; I took the “Marshall and the Movies” category and removed it as a sub-category of “About Me.”  Now, I’m using the category as an umbrella for all the activity on the site that pertains to the blogosphere as a whole.

One sub-category of “Marshall and the Movies” is dedicated to polls.  I run them fairly often but don’t post the results (with the exception of the monthly most anticipated poll).  Since they are a fairly big part of gauging the opinion of my readers, I decided it was time for me to start sharing them more often.

So here goes nothing!  The first polls ran during the Oscar Moment about “Toy Story 3.”  Using the success of last year’s “Up” as a talking point, I posed two poll questions wondering if Pixar could carve a niche for themselves in the Best Picture race.  The results were fairly definitive.

The polls show that most people think “Toy Story 3” will be nominated for Best Picture, and most people think Pixar’s movies always deserve a Best Picture spot (although by a smaller margin).

Onto the next poll, which was on the Oscar Moment for “How to Train Your Dragon.”  After the unexpected box office and critical success, I wanted to see if people thought it had a chance at winning Pixar’s category.  The results gave little to work with.

As you can see, the same amount of people think that it can win Best Animated Picture as think that it can’t.

The next poll ran with the Oscar Moment on “Robin Hood.”  At the time the post ran, a Ridley Scott-Rusell Crowe combination and a Cannes opening seemed to bode well for its Oscar chances.  Clearly you all weren’t fooled by my writing and saw the writing on the wall.

And you all are 99.9% right, barring some sort of a miracle.

You fell for it in the next poll.  In the poll on the “Iron Man 2” Oscar Moment, I suggested that Mickey Rourke could be a contender for Best Supporting Actor.

And you are very, very wrong.  If Mickey Rourke is nominated for an Oscar for this role, the world will come to an end.

I’ll save the “Get Low” results for another post, but in the meantime, vote on the June poll!  2 votes are unacceptable, people!


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, Polls

LAMB Alert: “Virginia Woolf” Casting

23 05 2010

Another day, another blogging event.  A few days ago, I told you I was committed to being more involved in the blogging community.  In the words of Horton, “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.  An elephant’s faithful, 100% percent!”

This time, it’s over at the Large Association of Movie Blogs (LAMB).  Every once in a while, Andrew at “Encore Entertainment” does a little event he calls “LAMB Casting.”  I find the idea fascinating: he takes a classic movie from decades ago and then asks us to recast a present-day remake.  People can submit their own casts, and then those casts are presented to the public for voting.

The latest edition of “LAMB Casting” dealt with Mike Nichols’ 1966 film “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” At the time, the movie was incredibly controversial due to its sexual content and language, pushing the boundaries of censorship to their breaking point.  But there was more to the movie than just history being made, as I saw when I watched the movie several months ago.  There is an incredible screenplay based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by one of my favorite playwrights, Edward Albee.  Perhaps above all, there are fabulous performances by all four leads.  Everyone earned an Oscar nomination; Elizabeth Taylor won Best Actress, and Sandy Dennis won Best Supporting Actress.

Knowing “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” fairly well, I felt compelled to submit a cast to the event.  Now, it is one of the six that you can vote for in the poll.  In the spirit of voting for truly the best cast, I can’t reveal which of the six is mine.  But I encourage you to go and vote.  Perhaps you will agree with my casting.

Let the games begin.


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Blogathon Alert: He Shot Cyrus’ “Best Post”

22 05 2010

Hello all.  Hope this post finds you in good cheer.  It most certainly does for me, seeing as this is my 500th POST!!!

Anyways, enough with the pretenses and onto the main event.  I’ve got a stake in a big blogathon over at “He Shot Cyrus;” it’s the first time I’ve ever really gotten involved in one of these things.  Fellow bloggers are submitting a piece that they believe to be either their best or their most underrated.

It’s definitely worth a look; after all, it’s all your favorite bloggers (including myself) presenting their best work.  What’s not to love?

The piece I chose to submit was my feature from a few weeks ago “More Reflections on Avatar.”  I spent a lot of time writing it, and I do think it has a lot of good analysis and some of my deepest thinking yet.  I’d love for you to give it a second glance.  It may not be the best thing I’ve ever written, but I’m sure it’s one of my most underrated.

And don’t just go and look at my piece.  Look at everyone’s stuff because it’s all phenomenal.  It’s a great way to remind yourself of all the talent there really is out there, and I’m proud to cohabit the web with them.  Today is the second day of the three day event, so be sure to head over and do some great reading.  You might wind up discovering some new sites, much like I did.

And a big thank you (or perhaps “muchas gracias” is better) to El Gringo, who wrote some very nice comments about the post and the site in his write-up.


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You like me! You really li – oh, wait.

20 05 2010

I had prepared something like the speech the title referenced (when Sally Field screamed “You like me!  You really like me!” after winning her second Oscar) had I been nominated for any LAMMYs, the awards given through the Large Association of Movie Blogs to exemplary movie bloggers.  Unfortunately, that speech won’t be necessary.

I don’t want to revel in sorrow or even make a scene out of not being nominated (honestly, I can’t because I have finals right now).  Like I said, I don’t blog to get recognition or awards.  I blog because I love to write about movies.

And so, I leave you dedicated readers with this, which will set the tone for the next year of “Marshall and the Movies.”

I am going to strive to do my best, to continue to provide you with what I believe to be exemplary content.  I will fight to keep your readership even harder than I have in the 9 months that I have been blogging.  With your help, “Marshall and the Movies” will continue to soar to new heights.  You will never see a movie blogger work harder (except when he has school, and then he will channel his energies there).

So thanks again for reading, because I think you do deserve a pat on the back every once in a while.  And congratulations to my deserving friends and fellow bloggers who have been nominated.  Give yourselves an especially large pat on the back.


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For Your Consideration: The LAMMYs

4 05 2010

This post is geared more towards my fellow bloggers, but this post will be of interest to any old reader as well!

The big-a$$ movie blog conglomerate that I am a part of, the Large Association of Movie Blogs (LAMB), is hosting awards for the best movie bloggers in multiple categories.  You know me; I love Hollywood’s awards season, so I’m very into the LAMMYs, as they are calling it.

The way it works is that any member of the association gets to nominate whoever they like in the categories.  But here’s my problem with that – we each have our own little sphere in blogger world.  There are over 500 members, but I maybe visit 20 or 30 of them with any sort of frequency.  We are each going to naturally choose among our sphere, and that’s no real way to choose the BEST.  It’s a popularity contest, where the blogs with the biggest readerships will most likely win out.

But I don’t write to win awards, just as filmmakers don’t make movies to win Oscars.  I write because I love movies and love connecting with people over them.  Awards are just a nice bonus (and think how interesting they might be to bring up in a college interview or essay).

This is my FYC ad; yes, I even made one of them.  Just call me Harvey Weinstein – except don’t.  Now let me run you through the categories where I would appreciate your consideration and lay out my case.

Best Movie Reviewer

I didn’t want to become predominantly a movie reviewer, but I see so many of them that it’s hard not to review them.  I review a vast quantity of movies, including every movie I see in theaters and recent releases on DVD.  In addition to both of those, I provide a weekly column designed to promote little-known movies for great moviegoing, the “F.I.L.M. of the Week” series.  I have begun a companion series as well, movies that no one deserves to watch; the series is called “Save Yourself!”

If my sheer amount of reviews or my range of content doesn’t impress you, check out some of what I consider to be my best reviews so far.

Read my review of “Clash of the Titans.”

Read my review of “Avatar.”

Read my review of “An Education.”

Read my review of “Paranormal Activity.”

Read my first review, about the movie “Julie & Julia.”

Best Awards Coverage

Like I said, I love Oscar season.  I still religiously read awards blogs even in dry April and May.  I draw on what I hear and what I know about what has happened in the past to write the periodical “Oscar Moment.”  This year, having the benefit of blogging from the very beginning of the season, I can do more comprehensive coverage.

But last year, I took the frontrunners, analyzed them, and made predictions.  Some of them were right, but the biggest success was that they sparked discussion.  Not to mention I live blogged the 2009 Oscars.  For all those who wonder what runs through my mind on the biggest night of the year, wonder no longer.

Here’s a sampling of some of my best Oscar Moments, both this year and last.

Read my Oscar Moment on “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Read my live blog from Oscar night.

Read my Oscar Moment on “Nine.”

Read my Oscar Moment on “Up in the Air.”

Read my first Oscar Moment, about the movie “Precious.”

Braniac Award

I mean, I figure that I might as well try to thrust myself into contention here.  I try to write smart, thought-provoking pieces when I have the time.  My smartest posts probably come in the “Features” category (although I think I draw on a lot of intellect in the Oscar Moments too).

Read “Adjusted vs. Unadjusted Box Office.”

Read “Define Best Picture.”

Funniest Writer

I’m no comedian, but I let a whole lot of humor seep through into my posts.  At least I think it’s funny – you may not feel the same way.

If I had to pick the most humorous section of my blog, I would have to say the random factoids.  I’m often a very trite person, making something out of nothing.  If my life were a TV show, it might be “Seinfeld.”

But anyways, I let my funny flag fly in the random factoids.  I don’t have time to go through all 280 and find the funniest, but here are some that I remember off the top of my head as being particularly funny.

Read about what could have been a heated verbal exchanged with a theater employee in Random Factoid #255.

Read about a particular Sandra Bullock monologue that sticks with me in Random Factoid #239.

Read my rant on cramped theaters in Random Factoid #143.

Read about a caper of mistaken age in Random Factoid #135.

Read my rant on my broken DVD player in Random Factoid #85.

Best Post

Because there are some posts that I really think are THAT good.  These are the posts that I put my heart and soul into, and they get an exceptional reaction because of it.  These are the posts that stand out among the others on my blog.

You may have your own favorites, and I invite you to share them with me.  But here are the posts which I, the author, think are the most exceptional.  My top pick would have to be the first.

My review of “Up in the Air.”

My reflections on “Avatar.”

My interview with Kevin Renick.

My pondering on the importance of the acceptance speech.

My opinion piece “Mindless Moviegoing.”

Best New LAMB / Best Blog

If any or all of this has impressed you, fellow bloggers, I encourage you to remember “Marshall and the Movies” when you are filling out your LAMMY ballot in all categories including Best New LAMB and Best Blog.  But again, my greatest accomplishment would come not from winning these awards.  It comes from knowing that my voice is heard in the moviegoing community and that people accept my insights as valid.


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