We are living in a digital world...

This is an earlier entry that I forgot to "publish", so it has been sitting in limbo.

Some interesting news from the Syfy Channel and it's new show 12 Monkeys.  Syfy includes information on their Syfy Sync app that  "is an app for your tablet or phone that delivers contextual "extras" that directly relate to what you are watching. It may be a behind-the-scenes video of the scene you just watched, a trivia quiz based on what you've seen, fun facts about the program or never before seen photos. Plus, it connects with your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you can chat about the show all the while."

But that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Syfy and Philips have partnered to create the first ever program synchronized lighting experience with the pairing of Syfy Sync and the Philips hue connected lighting system for the home. If you have the Phillips hue lighting system, the lights will change color and intensity based upon what is happening on the TV show.  I find this to be a cool idea, although maybe a bit too "geeky" for most people.  The advantage of the digital systems we now have is that we can create a virtual interactive environment. By controlling the room lighting to match the show, this seems like a cool first step. Of course you will need the Phillips system, which costs $199.00 for the "Starter Kit" that includes:

1 hue bridge & 3 light bulbs.

The system works with an app (download required) that lets you link and control up to 50 compatible wireless light bulbs (3 BR-30 light bulbs included) using an enabled mobile device.  3 included wireless, Internet-enabled LED light bulbs Display up to 16 million colors, from warm yellow-white to vibrant blue-white, so you can create an ideal lighting mood for a variety of scenarios. 

Each additional light bulb costs $59.99, so it may take some time to get up to that 50 controlled light bulbs system, not to mention the $2,819.00!

The show itself is actually pretty good. 

OSCAR Nominations are in!

The nominations were announced this morning. Here are some general observations and then a comparison with my predictions.

In no particular order, here is my list of "surprises" from the nominations:

1. The Lego Movie was not nominated for Best Animated Feature?! It went from front runner to loser.
2. Birdman NOT nominated for Best Film Editing... whaaattt? That's just wrong!
3. Best Documentary Feature doesn't include Life Itself or Jodorowsky's Dune. I expected both to be in this category. Life Itself was a great look at Roger Ebert's life.
4. No Foxcatcher for Best Picture despite getting 5 noms including Best Director.  How can a movie with the a best director not be nominated for Best Picture? Wasn't the expansion of the Best Picture category done to avoid this?
5. No Best Visual Effects nomination for the last Hobbit movie?
6. Bradley Cooper nominated for Best Actor for American Sniper... this is the 3rd consecutive nomination for him. He was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actor for American Hustle (2014) and Best Actor for Silver Linings Playbook (2013). He’s now one nomination away from tying Marlon Brando for the most consecutive acting noms. Perhaps his next film should have the word "American" in the title?
7. Nomination number 19 for Meryl Streep! Perhaps she should just have her own category? "And the Oscar for Best Meryl Streep Performance this year is for her film... and the winner is, Meryl Streep!" Jack Nicholson trails her with the second most at 12 nominations.

 Here is the comparison of my predictions versus the actual nominations:

My Predictions (BOLD = Golden Globe Winner)

BEST PICTURE: "Birdman," "Boyhood", "Foxcatcher," "The Imitation Game", "Gone Girl", "Selma," "The Theory of Everything", "Whiplash," "Unbroken," "Nightcrawler" - This is assuming a list of 10.  I would take "Unbroken" off the list first.

***Add "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "American Sniper". There were only 8 films nominated for Best Picture. Missed 2, had 2 extra films on my list>

BEST DIRECTOR: A.G. Iñárritu ("Birdman"), Richard Linklater ("Boyhood"), Wes Anderson ("The Grand Budapest Hotel") , David Fincher (“Gone Girl"),  Ava DuVernay ("Selma")

***Add Bennett Miller, "Foxcatcher" and Morten Tyldum, "The Imitation Game". Missed 2.

BEST ACTOR: Michael Keaton ("Birdman"), Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Imitation Game"), David Oyelowo ("Selma"), Steve Carell ("Foxcatcher"), Eddie Redmayne  ("The Theory of Everything") - I am adding 2 alternates to this list: Bill Murray ("St. Vincent), Miles Teller ("Whiplash")

***Add Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper". Missed 1.

BEST ACTRESS: Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”),  Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl"),  Reese Witherspoon ("Wild"),  Marion Cotillard ("Two Days, One Night"),  Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything")

***Got this one 100%!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:  JK Simmons ("Whiplash"),  Edward Norton ("Birdman"), Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”),  Robert Duvall ("The Judge"),  Ethan Hawke ("Boyhood") - I have a personal wish addition: Andy Serkis ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") - it is about time he got some recognition for the digital characters he has brought to life.

***Got this one 100%! Still no love for Andy Serkis! :(

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  Patricia Arquette ("Boyhood"),  Laura Dern ("Wild"),  Meryl Streep ("Into the Woods"),  Emma Stone, (“Birdman”),  Tilda Swinton (“Snowpiercer”) 

***Add Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game". Missed 1.

Best Cinematography included my pick of Emmanuel Lubezki for "Birdman". I still pick him as the winner.

Film Nomination Totals:

• "Birdman" & "Grand Budapest Hotel" = 9
• "The Imitation Game"  = 8
• "Boyhood" and "American Sniper" = 6
• "Foxcatcher" = 5

Facebook, Privacy, and You...

I have been watching another round of people posting copyright and privacy statements. In order to have an account in Facebook, everyone agreed to Facebook's terms. Posting some "statement" does not change that. If you don't want Facebook to have access to what you post on your account, don't have an account!

But fear not, a report on ABC News stated "[Users worried that] Facebook will own their photos or other media are posting [a frightful message] — unaware that it is a hoax. Here's the truth: Facebook doesn't own your media."

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/computer/facebook/privacy.asp

Happy New Year and My OSCAR Nominations 2015 Predictions

 It's that time again... we have turned the page to a new year, and that means it's awards season! The Golden Globes are January 11, and the OSCAR nominations are announced on January 15.  The following are my predictions based upon the films I have seen, the things I have read, and past years experience.  Like I said last year, I admit I have not seen all the films yet, so some of this is based only on other information I have read about these films.  If I had to rank the movies I have seen so far in a list of my top 5 films of 2015, they would be as follows:

1. Birdman
2. Whiplash
3. The Imitation Game
4. Foxcatcher
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel 

 

My Predictions:

BEST PICTURE: "Birdman," "Boyhood," "Foxcatcher," "The Imitation Game", "Gone Girl", "Selma," "The Theory of Everything", "Whiplash," "Unbroken," "Nightcrawler" - This is assuming a list of 10.  I would take "Unbroken" off the list first.

BEST DIRECTOR: A.G. Iñárritu ("Birdman"), Richard Linklater ("Boyhood"), Wes Anderson ("The Grand Budapest Hotel") , David Fincher (“Gone Girl"),  Ava DuVernay ("Selma")

BEST ACTOR: Michael Keaton ("Birdman"), Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Imitation Game"), David Oyelowo ("Selma"), Steve Carell ("Foxcatcher"), Eddie Redmayne  ("The Theory of Everything") - I am adding 2 alternates to this list: Bill Murray ("St. Vincent), Miles Teller ("Whiplash")

BEST ACTRESS: Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”),  Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl"),  Reese Witherspoon ("Wild"),  Marion Cotillard ("Two Days, One Night"),  Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything")

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:  JK Simmons ("Whiplash"),  Edward Norton ("Birdman"), Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”),  Robert Duvall ("The Judge"),  Ethan Hawke ("Boyhood") - I have a personal wish addition: Andy Serkis ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") - it is about time he got some recognition for the digital characters he has brought to life.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  Patricia Arquette ("Boyhood"),  Laura Dern ("Wild"),  Meryl Streep ("Into the Woods"),  Emma Stone, (“Birdman”),  Tilda Swinton (“Snowpiercer”)

One additional Prediction, I will go out on the limb early and predict both a nomination and a WIN for Emmanuel Lubezki (“Birdman”) for Cinematography.  He was the winner of this category last year for "Gravity"  If you haven't seen "Birdman" yet,  GO!

Of all the films I saw in 2014, the one not on this list that has stayed in my head the most is "Under the Skin" with Scarlett Johansson. It was disturbing and fascinating.  It was also the only movie that I went to that people walked out during.  I think it's a "love it or hate it" experience. Not sure I "love it", but I am glad I saw it.

Do you agree?  Leave comments...