Fake Reading, What Fun!

A book just waiting to be written: How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read?, by Pierre Bayard. This French author’s previous book, Who killed Roger Ackroyd, was an examination of Agatha Christie’s crime novels. Now, he’s written a book on talking about the must-read book, even if you haven’t read it, thus removing any opportunity to be embarrassed in an important social setting. Bah, spoilsport. The practice of exposing a fraud is immensely satisfying, if only to prove to oneself how extremely well read one is, and to even attempt to dilute this experience is rather perverse of Bayard.

Most of us, of course, if we are honest at least with ourselves, claim to have read many more books than we actually have. Life expectancy may have gone up considerably since James Joyce wrote Ulysses, but it is still not long enough to have actually read it. Bayard makes the point that it is possible to have an informed literary opinion of a book without having read it cover to cover. It takes little more than one page to determine an author’s writing style, after all. Certainly enough to gather whether or not one needs to bother with the rest of it.

The core of Bayard’s thesis is that there is no obligation to read, and that his book will help free people of the psychological guilt of not having read, say, Remembrance of Things Past or Middlemarch. According to Bayard, ambiguity is the key when talking about things one doesn’t know in detail. A reader’s “personal relationship” should come through when talking about the book. A confession here. Bayard’s book is only available in French. I don’t speak that language. But Bayard can hardly fault me for not reading his book, can he? Even his publishers understand the inherent paradox in his book. So is it smarter to read it, or not? That, fellow bibliophiles, is the big question.

Hero

Today is the 40th anniversary of Che Guevara's death. All over the world, his life, his contribution are being debated, largely because he achieved iconic status through a photograph. A photograph which has been used in ways so out of sync with what Che believed in, that is almost a mockery of his ideals and what he stood for. Many people have asked me why Che appeals to me, why I think he was a Great Man. He was, after all, pretty vicious and killed and tortured many people simply because he was suspicious of them. He believed that violence could achieve real change, and in nationalisation. His economics are far removed from what my personal beliefs, and my anti-America days are long gone.

But Che is still relevant. To me, he exemplifies what youth can do, if it wants to. Here was this man, with his whole future ahead of him, a bright one at that - a paying career, a pretty fiance - and he gave it all up because he believed in something. He believed, passionately, that he could change things for the better in Latin America. He did truly want to help the poor and disenfranchised. He was a real activist, someone who practiced what he preached. I suppose one could say he had purity of belief.

I know Guevara wasn't perfect. I know he was brutal. But he had the courage to try and change the system. He didn't become a part of it while whining about it. What he saw on that trip affected him, moved him and he didn't lose sight of that, not really. How many of us care enough to give up rewarding careers to help affect change?

Is it Christmas? Sure feels like it.

Wow. A good weekend, and a mostly good week, and then yesterday's football results. Could a girl ask for more? (Well, other than a vat of chocolate sauce and Jamie Bamber and/or Jason Dohring).

My new job goes well, and it has so far stimulated more brain cells than the last six months combined. For some strange reason India has started winning cricket matches again, and even though I profess not to care, it is nigh impossible not to. I have been managed to get my hands on most of the Oscar nominated films and I am looking forward to my choc-a-bloc movie-watching schedule. Social life continues to flourish thanks to friends at work.

And then, I am gifted with superb football results! It was almost perfect - Manchester United win. Real Madrid win (and people die of shock). Arsenal lose. The 'almost' is only because Milan only managed a draw, but anything that's not a loss for Milan is good these days.

It gets better and better. There are rumours that Schumi is being groomed for the top job at Ferrari. A so-so episode of Battlestar Galactica is mitigated by lots of Lee Adama. And there is a fantastic episode of Veronica Mars.

Beware of the Linkspam

Note: This list has been in development for nearly 3 weeks now, so really, the warning in title? Is very meant.

This isn't even the worst of it. In anticipation of how sour this could get, let me just say that my new TV boyfriend is Jamie Bamber. (and bombard you with picspam to complement the linkspam coming your way) *sigh....* I do NOT understand how I missed him before. Not only does he have, you know, the body (I am shallow) and the bluest eyes, like, ever, he's also got a FIRST CLASS degree with HONOURS from CAMBRIDGE.

Another bit of absolutely unbelievable news is how Joss Whedon (OMG) and JJ Abrams (OMG) are directing consecutive episodes of The Office. I do not kid.

More year-end "Best of" lists are now out. I will link to them, and discuss some of the more (to me, anyway) annoying aspects. Oh, the WGA nominees are also out, and lets just say that I have some issues.

TELEVISION NOMINEES

DRAMATIC SERIES

24
DEADWOOD
GREY’S ANATOMY
LOST
THE SOPRANOS

The unimaginativeness gets to me, no The Wire, no BSG, no VM, same old Lost and same old Sopranos. Grey's has hardly had a stellar creative year either.

COMEDY SERIES

30 ROCK
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
ENTOURAGE
THE OFFICE

30 Rock is funny but uneven - and Curb Your Enthusiasm is again a symptom of going with the familiar. Where is My Name is Earl? And what about Ugly Betty?

NEW SERIES

30 ROCK
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
HEROES
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
UGLY BETTY

No Dexter. And if they've nominated the pilot of Big Love, that could've been on here as well.

EPISODIC DRAMA — any length — one airing time

ELECTION DAY, PART II (The West Wing)
OCCUPATION/PRECIPICE (Battlestar Galactica)
TWO FOR THE ROAD (Lost)
THE END OF THE WHOLE MESS(Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King)
PILOT (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip)
PILOT (Big Love)

Really, Really hope BSG takes this one.

EPISODIC COMEDY — any length — one airing time

IT TAKES TWO (Desperate Housewives)
DON'T LOOK AT ME (Desperate Housewives)
BOMB SHELTER (Malcolm in the Middle)
CASINO NIGHT (The Office)
THE COUP (The Office)
UMP FOR JOY (My Name is Earl)

Desperate Housewives. Just.. Guh.

****************

Also, yet another screening of Volver and yet another time I am not going to watch it, because my buddies are a big pile of ditchers.

The SAG nominations were announced, and Oh God, they're even more unimaginative than the Globes. Grrrr.

13TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS


THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Leonardo DiCaprio / BLOOD DIAMOND – Archer - Warner Bros. Pictures
Ryan Gosling / HALF NELSON – Dan Dunne - THINKFilm
Peter O’Toole / VENUS – Maurice - Miramax Films
Will Smith / THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS – Chris Gardner - Sony Pictures
Forest Whitaker / THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND – Idi Amin - Fox Searchlight Pictures

What's with the Will Smith nomination? And, please, a nom for Blood Diamond? For what, the worst accent in history? (Okay, I exaggerate).

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Penelope Cruz / VOLVER – Raimunda - Sony Pictures Classics
Judi Dench / NOTES ON A SCANDAL – Barbara Covett - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Helen Mirren / THE QUEEN – The Queen - Miramax Films.
Meryl Streep / THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA – Miranda Priestly - 20th Century Fox
Kate Winslet / LITTLE CHILDREN – Sarah Pierce - New Line Cinema

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin / LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE – Grandpa Fox Searchlight Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio / THE DEPARTED – Billy Warner Bros. Pictures
Jackie Earle Haley / LITTLE CHILDREN – Ronnie J. McGorvey New Line Cinema
Djimon Hounsou / BLOOD DIAMOND – Solomon Warner Bros. Pictures
Eddie Murphy / DREAMGIRLS – James “Thunder” Early Paramount Pictures

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Adriana Barraza / BABEL – Amelia - Paramount Vantage
Cate Blanchett / NOTES ON A SCANDAL – Sheba Hart - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Abigail Breslin / LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE – Olive - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Jennifer Hudson / DREAMGIRLS – Effie White - Paramount Pictures
Rinko Kikuchi / BABEL – Chieko - Paramount Vantage

I'm very happy with both noms for Babel.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BABEL
BOBBY
THE DEPARTED
DREAMGIRLS
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Thomas Haden Church / BROKEN TRAIL – Tom Harte - AMC
Robert Duvall / BROKEN TRAIL – Print Ritter - AMC
Jeremy Irons / ELIZABETH I – Earl of Leicester - HBO
William H. Macy / NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES – Clyde Umney - TNT
Matthew Perry / THE RON CLARK STORY – Ron Clark - TNT

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Annette Bening / MRS. HARRIS – Jean Harris - HBO
Shirley Jones / HIDDEN PLACES – Aunt Batty - Hallmark Channel
Cloris Leachman / MRS. HARRIS – Tarnower’s Sister - HBO
Helen Mirren / ELIZABETH I – Elizabeth I - HBO
Greta Scacchi / BROKEN TRAIL – Nola Johns - AMC

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
James Gandolfini / THE SOPRANOS – Tony Soprano - HBO
Michael C. Hall / DEXTER – Dexter Morgan - Showtime
Hugh Laurie / HOUSE – Dr. Gregory House - FOX
James Spader / BOSTON LEGAL – Alan Shore - ABC
Kiefer Sutherland / 24 – Jack Bauer - FOX

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette / MEDIUM – Allison Dubois - NBC
Edie Falco / THE SOPRANOS – Carmela Soprano - HBO
Mariska Hargitay / LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT – Det. Olivia Benson - NBC
Kyra Sedgwick / THE CLOSER – Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson - TNT
Chandra Wilson / GREY’S ANATOMY – Dr. Miranda Bailey - ABC

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin / 30 ROCK – Jack Donaghy - NBC
Steve Carell / THE OFFICE – Michael Scott - NBC
Jason Lee / MY NAME IS EARL – Earl Hicke - NBC
Jeremy Piven / ENTOURAGE – Ari Gold - HBO
Tony Shalhoub / MONK – Adrian Monk - USA

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
America Ferrera / UGLY BETTY – Betty Suarez - ABC
Felicity Huffman / DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES – Lynette - ABC
Julia Louis-Dreyfus / THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE – Christine Campbell -
Megan Mullally / WILL & GRACE – Karen Walker - NBC
Mary-Louise Parker / WEEDS – Nancy Botwin - Showtime
Jaime Pressly / MY NAME IS EARL – Joy - NBC

Default setting: Megan Mullally for Will and Grace. How about a side order of some IMAGINATION guys. Oh, well.... atleast Jaime Pressly wasn't ignored.

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

24
BOSTON LEGAL
DEADWOOD
GREY’S ANATOMY
THE SOPRANOS

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
ENTOURAGE
THE OFFICE
UGLY BETTY
WEEDS

I should probably just give up on expecting decent stuff from television awards. Having watched most of the things they nominate, and a LOT of the things they didn't I have to say that these awards are a joke. The Wire, Battlestar Galactica AND Veronica Mars are snubbed in every category, and they are actually pretty much the best things on TV. And where does Boston Legal get all this love?? Like someone suggested on a rant, David E. Kelley must have a good many photos of a good many people in extremely compromising positions to get nominated. Award-whore-bitch-man. [/rant] I'm also not thrilled about continued recognition for Desperate Housewives, especially after its super-sucky Season Deux.

Much love for the Empire's end-of-year movie list though. While I don't agree with some choices (especially the COMPLETELY misplaced love for Superman Returns: for more on my opinion on that film see this post.) I love them for including atleast 5 films from my own best of year list, and not having much that I disagree with. Though I do disagree with their best film of the year, which is United 93. I also *love* that they put The Prestige on the list, and so high up as well. And its looking more and more likely that the best-film-I-haven't-seen-yet is Pan's Labyrinth.

The Producer's Guild Awards and Director's Guild have also announced nominees, but I can't be arsed to hunt links and post them here, because they will disappoint me anyway.

Anyway, here are the end-of-year lists that are (IMO) important, or atleast the opinions of these publications are considered important.

Time says these (or these) are the best films of the year. But their choice in TV sucks, because a) no Veronica Mars and b) no Battlestar Galactica.

The New York Times movie critics' choices for this year can be found here, here and here. Among them, they have a pretty good list going, though I will never agree with any list that has Miami Vice on it. Though that could just be all my Colin Farrell hate.

A blogger has compiled a list of the best TV based on other best-of lists:

1. 24 (80)
2. The Wire (77)
3. The Office (76)
4. Battlestar Galactica (69)
5. Friday Night Lights (62)
6. Heroes (60)
7. Lost (49)
8. Grey's Anatomy (48)
9. Rescue Me (34)
10. Veronica Mars (33)

I'm a little amazed by all the appreciation for Heroes. I really, really like and enjoy the show, and don't miss an episode, but it is hardly the best-written or best-paced dramas. The plot points leave a lot to be desired, and the acting is good, but not mind-blowing. I'm surprised, for example, that Dexter didn't make it on this list.