Mike Browne’s Blog

As well as the Oscars this weekedn I think I’ll take in the IFCTV.com ‘Indie Spirit Awards 05’. It’s also known as the awards show for the cool kids. Fun! I like IFC, but I’m not to sure about Henry Rollins and his Film Corner. Might be funny, but why do I have the urge to punch him (and then run away squeeling of course)?

Jan from CFJC TV sent along this link to a mughot of Christian Slater’s wife on Mugshots.com, the biggest Directory of Mug shots on the internet. Very timely as Christian Slater has filed for divorce due in part to the violent outburst mentioned in the mugshot link I’m sure. Here’s a PDF of the divorce petition (371 kb). I usually go to the standards like The Smoking Gun or Celebrity Justice for my fix of whacky celebrity baddies, but this will come in handy too. Thanks Jan.

Touching Poo at Kontraband … yep … just what it says

From IMdb Pro and Hollwywood Reporter:
Call it Kill Gil. Quentin Tarantino has signed to direct the season-finale episode of primetime’s most-watched series, CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Tarantino also has come up with an original story for the episode, which is expected to shoot in early April and air May 19, according to CSI executive producer Carol Mendelsohn. Tarantino has long been a fan of the stylish forensic drama as series creator/executive producer Anthony Zuiker learned when he bumped into Tarantino at an awards show during CSI’s first season. They have pursued him to direct an episode for some time, and after members of the CSI crew ran into Tarantino a few weeks ago while the show was doing some location shooting in Las Vegas, the stars finally aligned for him to helm the show’s fifth-season closer, Mendelsohn said.

Tarantino’s official site: A Band Apart

I don’t normally watch this show, but I’ll watch this one. If this is a test to see whether or not Hollywood directors will make an impact on veiwership I think the folks behind it will be pleased with the result. I love the novelty of the idea for sure. It could get a little tiring though. Imagine it being an ordinary thing to see a Scorsese directed toilet paper commercial. Would sort of take the shine off the whole turd.

CBC News: Ailing Pope undergoes tracheotomy
I sense that the end is near. The Pope is an 84 year old man after all.

This gentleman has done a lot to serve as long as he has. The dedication to his work is inspiring. I’m not Catholic, so I’m not sure I understand the idea of having a Pope or why it’s necessary. I’m not saying it’s good or bad, I’m just uneducated in that regard.

Now John and Jackie Knill’s story is showing up on more global news sites like:
CNN.com – Recovered digital photos show tsunami wave
and BBC.co.uk – Tsunami couple’s last moments.

Here’s the gallery alone from CBC.

It’s such a terrifyingly tragic twist to the end of their story. Carol and I talked about them when we first heard that they were missing. They were last seen drinking coffee at a small beach front café so we had fantasized that the Knills hadn’t seen it coming. The fact that they had just makes me feel sick. Having had no experience with a Tsunami who knows to run?

Thanks to Monkeeboy and Moselle for the links.

Check out the dj! Thanks Graham!

According to Variety.com’s Award Central section as of this writing this is how Variety readers are voting for the big 6 Oscar categories. This is a fairly good indicator of what we may see on Sunday night at the big show. No big suprises so far.

Best Picture

• Aviator, The (40%)
• Million Dollar Baby (24%)
• *Undecided (20%)
• Sideways (9%)
• Finding Neverland (6%)
• Ray (1%)

Best Actor

• Jamie Foxx (Ray) (59%)
• *Undecided (16%)
• Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator) (9%)
• Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland) (9%)
• Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) (5%)
• Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby) (3%)

Best Actress

• Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) (46%)
• Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) (17%)
• Annette Bening (Being Julia) (14%)
• *Undecided (12%)
• Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine) (9%)
• C. Sandino Moreno (Maria…Grace) (3%)

Best Supporting Actor

• Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) (41%)
• Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) (22%)
• *Undecided (16%)
• Clive Owen (Closer) (10%)
• Alan Alda (The Aviator) (6%)
• Jamie Foxx (Collateral) (5%)

Best Supporting Actress

• Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) (46%)
• Virginia Madsen (Sideways) (20%)
• *Undecided (17%)
• Laura Linney (Kinsey) (8%)
• Natalie Portman (Closer) (7%)
• Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) (3%)

Best Director

• Martin Scorsese (The Aviator) (41%)
• Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby) (29%)
• *Undecided (19%)
• Alexander Payne (Sideways) (9%)
• Taylor Hackford (Ray) (<1%)
• Mike Leigh (Vera Drake) (<1%)

I wish I could be there. Some people from our company are in LA this week and are partcipating in Oscar related events, so you never know what will happen in the future. Anything’s possible…

Now the Wall Street Journal:
WSJ.com – Online Gambling Sites Get Creative To Beat Advertising Restrictions
What’s next? The World! Muhahahaha! Nicely done Todd.