And the winners are…

Digital Ink L.A.’s 82nd Annual Academy Awards picks:

-Adapted Screenplay-
“Up in the Air”
(Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

-Original Screenplay-
“Inglourious Basterds”
(The Weinstein Company) Written by Quentin Tarantino

-Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role-
Jeff Bridges
“Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)

-Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role-
Christoph Waltz
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)

-Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-
Carey Mulligan
“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)

-Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role-
Mo’Nique
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)

-Best Animated Feature Film of the Year-
“Up”
(Walt Disney) Pete Docter

-Achievement in Art Direction-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg
Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

-Achievement in Cinematography-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) Mauro Fiore

-Achievement in Costume Design-
“Coco before Chanel”
(Sony Pictures Classics) Catherine Leterrier

-Achievement in Directing-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) James Cameron

-Best Documentary Feature-
“The Cove”
(Roadside Attractions)
An Oceanic Preservation Society Production

-Achievement in Film Editing-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron

-Best Foreign Language Film of the Year-
“Un Prophète” (Sony Pictures Classics)
A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production France

-Best Motion Picture of the Year-
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)
Voltage Pictures Production

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake in the film. Bridges has achieved mastery of his craft.

Check out the trailer:

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What causes us to search for a New World?

A new route to the Far East spice trade? Nah.

Desire to spread the word of God, like the Dominican and Jesuit missionaries of the 18th Century? Not likely.

Escape from nuclear Armageddon or biological malaise? Maybe.

Discovery of raw materials and new water sources? More than likely.

The recent opening of the billion-dollar CityCenter in Las Vegas is a boastful nod to New World capitalism and its achievements, with the tagline: “Capital of the New World.”

What gives? Films like The Road, Armageddon, Cloverfield, and WALL-E portend the destruction of Earth.

Does Hollywood know something we don’t? One thing for certain, James Cameron won’t be directing my escape ship. And it’ll probably be pretty obvious we’re “not in Kansas anymore.”

Remember that song from the 70s, Children of the Sun?

“‘People of the earth can you hear me?’
came a voice from the sky on that magical night.
And in the colors of a thousand sunsets,
they traveled to the world on a silvery light…”

In 3-D, of course.

Why does Charlie Brown pick the ugliest, scrawniest tree in the lot?

What does he imagine this sad tree will give him?

Well, he’s asking for something simple — the true meaning of Christmas.

According to the original two-buck Chuck, Charles Schultz’s, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965):

[first lines of story]
Charlie Brown: [Charlie Brown and Linus stop at a wall on their trip to the pond for ice skating] I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.
[begins to walk with Linus again]
I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Linus Van Pelt: Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy’s right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Well, Linus defines the literal Christmas with his recounting of the Three Kings and Baby in a Manger story of Jesus Christ’s birth.

But, more to the figurative meaning of Christmas, Linus offers this idea regarding Charlie Brown’s little tree:

Linus Van Pelt: I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

Can’t buy that at a Christmas sale.

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Roald Dahl’s book, Fantastic Mr. Fox, is now a major motion picture produced by Fox Searchlight.

Wes Anderson has written, produced, and directed films like Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and the recently released Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is indescribable except to say it’s worth seeing on the big-screen. Much like Where the Wild Things Are, the Fantastic Mr. Fox film is a children’s narrative told for adults.

The man, the myth, the hero...

The irascible Peter Griffin lives in Quahog, married to saintly Lois, with three kids — Chris, Meg, and Stewie — and a talking dog, Brian.

He eats way too much. He lies, cheats, and steals. He is a pandering retard with a taste for bad beer, worse television, and an eye for self-indulging, quick-fix pleasure in lieu of hard work or commitment. He’s also ignorant, biased, silly, immature, and delusional.

And Peter Griffin has no shame. As the leader and father-figure for “Family Guy,” he leads weekly viewers on the comedic escapades of a family lost in their own American madness.

In different ways than the obvious comedy of the sit-com might, the subtleties of creator Seth McFarlane’s writing provokes and engenders a deeper understanding from a shrewd viewing audience.

Peter Griffin’s character challenges the audience to see their own idiocy. Family values, patriotism, religion, celebrity, politics, gender, sexuality, history, and many more cultural issues are placed in the frame of topical parody. And each is shown for its pathos and rigid cultural hypocrisy.

What makes Peter Griffin a hero? Because he’s able to give voice to concerns in society — global and domestic — that are deemed touchstone for hatred and vitriolic debate. And he calls it like he sees it. Except when he’s lying.

Like any good comedian, the pain and fear are turned inside out. The shame of human foibles is given a chance to shine in all its dysfunctional and embarrassing glory. And the audience eats it up.

Thank you, Peter Griffin, for being an American idiot with so much to say and do. For that, you’re a hero.

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Wolfmother’s got big, bold stadium rock for the masses. Some might call it Stoner Rock, but it gets the job done , whatever it’s called.

Wolfmother’s debut album, Wolfmother, reached multi-platinum status in 2006, becoming a big hit with the West Coast music aficionados before emerging as a global sensation.

Wolfmother’s new album, Cosmic Egg, is out on Tuesday, October 27th. The band’s changed — with drummer Myles Heskett and bassist Chris Ross leaving the band in 2008 — but the man-in-charge, Andrew Stockdale, still seems to get it done.

This link is the first full-release single from Cosmic Egg:

“New Moon Rising“

Enjoy.