Thank you, Julie Powell

I finally got around to watching JULIE & JULIA, because I didn't feel like paying $14 to see it at the Arclight when it was in theaters and it was the next movie on my blockbuster.com cue. I was mixed about the movie overall. I thought it was pumped with a little too much estrogen - and I'm very estrogen-friendly. In fact, I probably have more estrogen than some of my female friends. Not to be crude, but I felt like Nora Ephron was rubbing her vagina in my face in some parts. I thought Julie was a little too whiny and both male romantic leads were a little too "sensitive". But on the bright side, Meryl Streep is an absolute revelation. President Obama should name her a national treasure and we should have annual Meryl Streep appreciation days. It sometimes shocks me how well she can act - her intonation, her reflection - it's all perfection.

Also on the bright side, I walked away from this movie with something very important. Inspiration. Julie Powell has inspired me to also write a blog, because I've also been bored and stagnant lately. But my passion is not food - it's movies. I've loved movies ever since I was very young. My father is a conservative, Republican, stoic Asian man - so you can guess that we pretty much have nothing in common. But I remember one day, I think I was about 10 years old, we sat down one weekend afternoon and watched HIGH NOON together. My father loves old westerns, especially ones with John Wayne in them. I remember watching the scene where the clock strikes noon, and Gary Cooper is all alone. After everything he had done for that town to keep it safe, how could none of them come to his aid? My father and I bonded for the first time over that powerful moment and I've loved movies ever since. Not to sound cheesy, but I think film has the power to get people together who think very differently.

I have to think of something clever like Julie to blog about in relation to film, but in the meantime I can blog about Hollywood's biggest event - the Oscars. Here are my predictions for tomorrow's announcement of this year's nominations. I'm in a bitter competition with my archenemy Cinescapist, who is also a cinephile. We've been betting on the predictions with a small tracking board we're both on for the last 3 years, and although it's been very close I've lost to him all 3 years. This will be my year of redemption!

Best Picture

AVATAR

CRAZY HEART

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

INVICTUS

NINE

PRECIOUS

A SERIOUS MAN

UP

UP IN THE AIR

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges, CRAZY HEART

George Clooney, UP IN THE AIR

Colin Firth, A SINGLE MAN

Morgan Freeman, INVICTUS

Viggo Mortensen, THE ROAD

Best Actress

Emily Blunt, THE YOUNG VICTORIA

Sandra Bullock, THE BLIND SIDE

Helen Mirren, THE LAST STATION

Carey Mulligan, AN EDUCATION

Meryl Streep, JULIE & JULIA

Best Supporting Actor:

Woody Harrelson, THE MESSENGER

Anthony Mackie, THE HURT LOCKER

Christopher Plummer, THE LAST STATION

Stanley Tucci, THE LOVELY BONES

Christoph Waltz, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz, NINE

Vera Farmiga, UP IN THE AIR

Anna Kendrick, UP IN THE AIR

Diane Kruger, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Mo'Nique, PRECIOUS

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow, THE HURT LOCKER

James Cameron, AVATAR

Clint Eastwood, INVICTUS

Jason Reitman, UP IN THE AIR

Quentin Tarantino, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Best Original Screenplay

THE HANGOVER

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

A SERIOUS MAN

UP

Best Adapted Screenplay

CRAZY HEART

DISTRICT 9

AN EDUCATION

INVICTUS

UP IN THE AIR