Gripe of the week
The Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday, and it's time to drop some knowledge on the old dudes who vote on this shit: "Crash" sucks. Best picture? Best director? Guys, "Crash" sucks. Seriously, it's not an original take on racism in our modern age like you might think. It might be a failed attempt at something like that, ruined by a screenplay that doesn't connect the multiple storylines by a director who is about as subtle as a Hummer H2. Also Tuesday, the lineup for the greatest festival in America was announced. Coachella - which takes place April 29 and 30 in Indio, Calif. - has tons of great bands coming, including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolf Parade and Lady Sovereign. Unfortunately, the headliner for day two of the festival is none other than Tool. Headliner? Prog metal? Guys, Tool sucks.
Random review
Tucson is a real winter wonderland: T-shirts during the day and maybe a hoodie or light jacket at night. Snow is wet and cold, and we don't need it around these parts. Let's all take a moment to thank Zeus for giving us the kind of weather that makes winter softball a reasonable proposition.
Images
Cat Power's new video for first single "Living Proof" off The Greatest is a bizarre track race, loaded with symbolism - I'm sure - by indie auteur Harmony Korine. Dressed in Britney Spears' old costume from "Oops, I Did It Again," singer Chan Marshall runs hurdles against a group of women, each wearing some kind of burqa. Also, Marshall is carrying a huge wooden cross, Kanye-style. www.mtv.com
Words
There's been a long history of the public wanting to get a taste of the sneakers they see made especially for the movies. For example, I want the Team Zissou Adidas from "The Life Aquatic." Despite my best efforts, Adidas will not manufacture me a single size-12 pair. Now, somebody has found a second shoe from the big screen that I'd gladly sport: the Marty McFly 2015 automatic strap Nike hightop from "Back to the Future II." The online petition for Nike to manufacture the McFly shoe - which is great for riding hoverboards - was created by a shoe activist and has more than 4,200 signatures. Sign it. www.petitiononline.com/future2
Newsworthy
Our favorite gossip fodder got some love when the nominees for the Razzie Awards - celebrating the worst filmmaking of the year - were announced this week. For best actor, our favorite scientologist, Tom Cruise, picked up a nod for his turn in "War of the Worlds." Girlfriend Katie Holmes picked up a supporting actress nomination for her work in "Batman Begins," as did Paris Hilton for her big debut in "House of Wax" - although this critic found her previous performances to be night-visionriffic. It's a word, folks. Look it up.