the pod bay door

:: I run Norton Internet Security, and it detects incoming UDP packets, and warns that someone is trying to access a port on your computer. The warning lists the IP address from where the attempt originates. I found a good freeware program called WhoIs View, which lets you see full details of the IP address, including the range of IP addresses if applicable. Plugging in the range into the Personal Firewall settings is made easy as a result.

:: I saw The Good Thief tonight, and it’s a marvelous movie, very stylish, with great performances from Nick Nolte, Tchéky Karyo, and a newcomer, Nutsa Kukhianidze, as Anne. This review is accurate in its observations, including noting the brilliant cinematography of two-time Oscar winner Chris Menges.

I know…in my dreams, flyboy. But for a fleeting moment in time recently, I was able to spend five minutes with the amazing Molly Parker. *sigh* How did this happen?

Well, it took place at the recent Edmonton International Film Festival, and you can read all about it here, in case you missed the entry last month. Suffice it to say, I attended a gala screening of a film in which she is the star, and arrived knowing full well that the chances of her appearing were slim to none. While waiting for the film to start, I asked an usher which actor would be in attendance, and he said, “Molly Parker”, and I went, like, “Oh really?”, and he said, “Yep”, to which I replied, “Cool.”

Please try to see her new movie, Marion Bridge, it’s worth the effort. Also watch for her supporting role in Max, the disturbing new movie starring John Cusack and Noah Taylor.

¦¦ Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) is the recent full-length Academy award-winning animated feature from legendary Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki, creator of the critically acclaimed Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke. It tells the story of a little girl named Chihiro, who enters what appears to be a deserted theme park with her parents after they become lost while driving to their new home in a new city. While her parents take a break to eat, she wanders off and is discovered by a boy named Haku, who tells her she must leave the area. She runs back to her parents, only to discover that they are still eating, and have morphed into giant pigs. Thus begins an adventure that features the some of the oddest characters and weirdest twists I’ve ever seen in a full-length cartoon.
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¦¦ I know I said I wouldn’t post anything else until I switch providers, but…

As if free speech isn’t under enough attack in the USA, Warner Bros has decided to remove the peace sign being flashed by Amanda Bynes on the poster for the movie, What A Girl Wants. WB fears that the “peace sign would be viewed as a political message.” Well, gosh, yes, the message being that peace is a good thing. It’s not surprising that the poster, revised or otherwise, is nowhere to be found on the movie’s official site.

Hollywood has lost its balls. A peace sign will offend someone? How much more ridiculous is it going to get in the USA?????

¦¦ An interesting take on what might happen in the documentary industry in the wake of both Michael Moore’s acceptance speech at the Oscars, and the success financially of Bowling for Columbine. Has the door been opened for a wave of feature-length documentaries?

The reaction to Moore’s speech has its contrarians, of course. BTW, for the week ending March 25, 2003, Moore was #7 in the Top 10 Gaining Queries list from Google.

Moore is not losing any momentum. His next film, Farenheit 911, will examine the link between Al Qaeda and Dubya Sr.

¦¦ This article pretty much sums up the insanity regarding the Oscar nominations – old news, perhaps, but it’s infuriating to be reminded that Peter Jackson wasn’t nominated for Best Director for Lord of the Rings: TTT. (The error in Devin Gordon’s article appears when he points out that Jackson had been snubbed for the 2002 nomination for Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, as well – he wasn’t, he did receive a nomination for that 2001 Oscar.) Also, consider that in 2002, LOTR:TFOTR won Oscars for Best Makeup and Original Score, and LOTR:TTT wasn’t nominated in either category for 2003. Eh??? As David Gordon points out in the article, the work is essentially the same. A backlash against TTT? Duh.

¦¦ Yesterday in Sydney, Australia, there was a huge protest against the war in Iraq. A participant videotaped some of the march, it’s mostly raw footage with some short interviews interspersed throughout. (Note: an ad plays before you can watch the video.)

¦¦ The only film nominated in one of the major Oscar categories that I did not see in 2002 was Y Tu Mama Tambien. I hope to rectify that soon. In the meantime, read this fascinating short interview with the director, Alfonso Cuarón, from last Sunday’s NYT Magazine. Chances are you won’t guess what film he’s now directing.

¦¦ On March 25th in Toronto, Paul Cellucci, the US Ambassador to Canada, spanked our national ass and sent us to bed without supper.

¦¦ The Book-Film-TV-Video Critiquees are the awards voted on by members of Blogcritics (of which I am one – but didn’t vote, this happened before I was invited to join.)

¦¦ Many reviews of the Oscars have been written this week, and my favorite was in Michael Musto’s column in The Village Voice. His take on Jennifer Connelly is too good.

¦¦ “Should Celebrity Activists Shut Up for Now?” This piece appeared on Salon.com, and is “reprinted” on Bill Maher’s site, featuring interviews with two of my favorite entertainers, Maher, and Janeane Garofalo. (I saw both of them in NYC in November 2002)

¦¦ Did you hear that the Boeing 777 carrying Tony Blair to the USA to meet with Dubya was struck by lightning? A message from God, perhaps?