I watched the 81st Academy Awards last night, which really wasn’t one of the most satisfying ceremonies I can recall seeing. I’ve been watching them consistently for about seven years and off and on before that and I’ll admit it has it’s “on” years and “off” years” in my opinion. There were a few high notes last night and some definite laughs, but the ceremony was not without it’s disappointments, so let’s take a look back at the 81st Academy Awards.

The Host
Hugh “Wolverine ” Jackman joined the list of entertainers to host the prestigious event and definitely started out with a bang. I’d forgotten about his extensive background in musical theater, so the opening number really caught me off guard. For those who didn’t watch the ceremony, Hugh lead a song and dance number through cheap sets singing about various nominees. He had some silly lyrics, did a duet with Anne Hathaway (being the Nixon to his Frost) and even did an interpretive techno infused portion about how he didn’t see The Reader. It was funny, but after that I really didn’t feel Hugh having much of a presence for the rest of the evening. He came back later to a fairly lame song and dance number tribute to musicals (not sure why, there were no musicals nominated) but aside from that it’s like they didn’t even have a host. I think it goes to show that you really should go with a comedian to host if you want consistency

The Ceremony
I can’t remember who planned, or directed, or was the head honcho behind this year’s ceremony but it was a mess. I mean having all the acting categories presented by five actor groups giving long, drawn out, awkward tributes to each performer was so incredibly tedious. It felt phony too, I mean Adrien Brody talking about Richard Jenkins as if he’s one of the greatest living actors, I was just ready for him to say “I love you” it didn’t work at all and really tried my patience. The pairings of presenters didn’t seem to fit either, Daniel Craig and Sarah Jessica Parker? Yeah they really had chemistry. I also had a problem with the sets looking like makeup or supplies rooms. Some of these technical nominees probably get pretty excited attending the most glamourous night in industry and you’re gonna make em stand in front of a bunch of junk?

Though I was disappointed by the show’s arrangement, I did like band leader/composer Michael Giacchino’s more swing oriented musical approach. I’ve liked the guy ever since he made that sweet ending theme for Cloverfield and I think he did a pretty good job.

The Awards
Most of the awards weren’t much of a surprise. I did pretty good on my Oscar scorecard cruising along through most of the night. I think most people, myself included, were pretty touched by Heath Ledger’s family accepting his award so that was a nice highlight. The only thing that really steamed my potatoes (and I’m sure all my close friends and associates know what I’m about to say) is denying Mickey Rourke of his first and probably only chance to ever win an Oscar. Sure Sean Penn was good but it was just as good as any other performance he’s ever done (I think it mostly got a boost due to the film’s issues and political relevance) but Penn will probably get plenty of other chances to win or get nominated. I mean 56 year old Mickey “The Comeback Kid” Rourke was outstanding in his strikingly genuine performance and although it’s apparent that he’s an amazing actor, he may never get this perfect of a role ever again. Personally, Sean Penn’s not even my second pick that would be Frank Langella (Who is as well unlikely to get another shot for an Oscar) but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Screenplays, Director, the other Acting Nominees, Best Picture, didn’t really surprise me. I wasn’t particularly excited going into the ceremony (aside from the possible Rourke victory) and wasn’t very excited after the ceremony. A definite weak year for the Oscars if you ask me, but it could always be better next year, I mean 2007 was awesome.

We waited on this for a long time, I’m not sure why. That’s right, it’s Oscar pick time. Frankly, I was never too thrilled with the nominations this year, and I’m not even sure if I’m going to watch this year. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to give you readers what you deserve. And that means my picks. So, here they are:

I’m just going to do the big awards, because I don’t think anyone really cares what I think about the other awards anyway.

Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz
This is always the hardest category to call. I mean, Viola Davis was great but was only in the film for a scene. Taraji P. Henson was good in Benjamin Button, the only best picture nom. out of these women. But Penelope Cruz has gotten a lot of praise for her work and even won the BAFTA. I think it’s going to her.

Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger
Duh. I do think it’s nice that Robert Downey Jr. got himself a nomination, but this is in the bag for Ledger.

Lead Actress – Kate Winslet
She’s due, right? That’s what they say. Meryl Streep gets nominated for every role she takes, and Anne Hathaway got plenty of praise for her performance, but I think it’s got to be Winselt.

Lead Actor – Mickey Rourke
So this is the big award of the night. Sean Penn v. Mickey Rourke. Neither of them have done much to win over the Academy. Now I respect what Penn did in Milk, but I still truly believe that Mickey Rourke was miles beyond what everyone else was doing this year. Most years. If he doesn’t win this award, I’m going to be quite disappointed.

Best Director – Gus Van Sant
Uh, I’m pretty much flipping a coin here. It’s going to be GVS or Danny Boyle. I choose Van Sant because, well, I liked Milk more than I liked Slumdog Millionaire. But I could easily got either way.

Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire
I firmly believe Milk is the best film out of all these nominees. But Slumdog, now this is a film that has a strong enough following behind it to take the win. Everyone thinks it’s the greatest thing ever.

I’m sure everybody’s already heard, but I just wanted to show that Cat Fancy acknowledges this historic reunion. The last few days have been as tense as an episode of Kenan and Kel with all this Braves/Mariners controversy, especially when that one Atlanta newspaper had said Junior had decided to sign with the braves, even though he hadn’t (I hear Junior was not about that). I had actually somewhat given up on the idea of Junior coming back, that was until I got a call from my dad at about 6:00pm today. I can’t believe it, it’s an indescribable feeling. Why I remember the day Griffey left I said to my dad “I’ll never watch baseball again.” That’s how big of a deal Griffey was to me back in the day but now it’s all good. So since then I’ve just been watching FSN as they’ve been airing a “Best of Griffey Night” by airing old M’s games (right now I’m watching the game where Griffey hit 3 home runs including his 250th career homer). That’s all I got to say for now, except that the Braves can suck it… Yeah they’re cool on a scale of about 1 to 1.

Well Spring training is upon us and I thought I would take this opportunity to start a new tradition here at Cat Fancy. From now on every Sunday (I was going to do it yesterday but my internet would not let me log in) I will do a wrap up the past weeks events in the world of Mariner baseball. Everything from minor acquisitions and blockbuster trades to clubhouse quarrels and how the team is doing at the present moment.

Griffey

Well this topic just will not seem to go away. At the end of last week it seemed to be a done deal and all of the major news sources were reporting the deal as good as done. But right at the last minute The Atlanta Braves stepped into the mix and Junior is supposed to make his decision Tuesday. This really sucks for those of us that wanted the Kid to return because how can we beat Atlanta geographically. With such proximity to his house in Orlando and their Spring training facility being IN Orlando I feel that all of that outweighs the nostalgia factor in Griffey’s mind. I have yet to remove my number 24 jersey this week and am keeping hope alive.

Ryan Rowland-Smith’s Decision

The southpaw from the southern hemisphere has decided he will stay with the Mariner camp in hope to secure a spot in the M’s five man rotation and not pitch for his country of Australia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He has been wrestling with the decision for a while and has finally made up his mind after Wak told him he could not do both. In my opinion he has no chance to make the rotation because of Jarrod Washburn being the number one priority to trade come the July 31st deadline and we need to strut him out with and improved defense and hope some sucker of a team will give up something for him down the road. I love RRS and he has proven that he deserves to start, but he is not going anywhere and we need to get value for these pieces before we can let the kids start.

Josh Fields Finally Signs

Josh Fields was our first-round pick in the amateur draft last year and FINALLY signed. He and his agent demanded a $2 million signing bonus while the Mariner’s were sticking firm to the MLB recommended $1.5 million slot bonus. They finally met in the middle and he is expected to start workouts with the team tomorrow.

Fields was a closer at the University of Georgia and was said by many Major League scouts to be MLB ready. He hits the high 90’s on the radar gun and has a devistating curve ball. A lot of people questioned the M’s front office for taking a reliever so high in the draft, but if Dr. Zoinks thinks it is a good pick than I am on board.

Beltre/Putz Don’t Like Ichiro

There has been a flurry of reports across the Seattle newspapers over the last couple of days regarding the clubhouse chemistry and how it has to change this year. For me personally I am sick of these story lines and am ready for the “New Day, New Way” stuff to begin. Larry Stone and Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times both have their prospectives and I guess it is interesting but I think players should be blaming people like Yuni and Cairo, not the best player on the team.

Well that is all I can think of for now. Keep on the lookout tomorrow morning for where Griffey is going.

It’s been a nice little holiday weekend enjoying Valentine’s Day and President’s Day and what not. Though I hadn’t really been inspired to write much of anything on the blog lately, until today. I was doing my daily browsing on Yahoo News and was quite shocked to find that legendary mockumentary rockers Spinal Tap have headed back into the studio. With plans to release a new album this year, this will be the groups first studio album since 1992’s “Break Like the Wind”. Rumored tracks are a successor to “Gimme Some Money” titled “Gimme Some More Money” and possibly a recording of “Warmer than Well” which Tap performed at 2007’s Live Earth. Being that This is Spinal Tap is one of my favorite comedies of all time, I’ll definitely check this out when this rock and roll creation hits the shelves.

For your amusement here’s a video depicting Spinal Tap’s 2007 reunion for Live Earth

It’s Friday, the 13th of February. Normally, people are afraid of this accursed date, this month it is a day of celebration, as this blog has turned a whole year old.

So, good people, rejoice and bask in the glory of the blog today, and how far we have come.

That’s all.