There's a scene with Kiefer in the bath, and he's splashing about in a paranoid way while Mr. Hand lurks in the darkness. It always reminds me of the scene in Cat People where Alice is in the swimming pool. Which could just be me making weird associations, I dunno.

No, that sounds very Cat People.

I read an interview with Simone Simon recently. She's still alive and rather wicked and kittenish. Which couldn't be more appropriate.

I do still want to know if the Cat People homage was intentional or all in my head.

I figured, but I wanted to be sure.

There's a scene with Kiefer in the bath, and he's splashing about in a paranoid way while Mr. Hand lurks in the darkness. It always reminds me of the scene in Cat People where Alice is in the swimming pool.

Could be weird associations, but I could see it being intentional.

I read an interview with Simone Simon recently. She's still alive and rather wicked and kittenish.

Aw. I really need to get that Val Lewton DVD set. Oooh, Netflix has them now! I win. I particularly love "Curse of the Cat People" because it's so very peculiar.

Oscar Nominations. Highlights:

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Philip Seymour Hoffman - CAPOTE
Terrence Howard - HUSTLE & FLOW
Heath Ledger - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Joaquin Phoenix - WALK THE LINE
David Strathairn - GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
George Clooney - SYRIANA
Matt Dillon - CRASH
Paul Giamatti - CINDERELLA MAN
Jake Gyllenhaal - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
William Hurt - A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Judi Dench - MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
Felicity Huffman - TRANSAMERICA
Keira Knightley - PRIDE & PREJUDICE
Charlize Theron - NORTH COUNTRY
Reese Witherspoon - WALK THE LINE

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams - JUNEBUG
Catherine Keener - CAPOTE
Frances McDormand - NORTH COUNTRY
Rachel Weisz - THE CONSTANT GARDENER
Michelle Williams - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MUNICH

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MUNICH

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
MUNICH

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MATCH POINT
THE SQUID AND THE WHALE
SYRIANA

William Hurt - A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

????

The hell? I liked the movie, a lot, but Hurt was by far the least convincing thing in it.

Other than that, no serious surprises. I'm a little suprised North Country got that much play, but the actress categories always seem to have to grasp at straws anyway.

The really shocking part of this year's nominations is that I've seen four of the five best picture candidates. That never happens! Of course, the five titles are Weepy, Downer, More-Complicated Downer, Dour Lesson, and Depressive Thriller.

Says something about this year's crop in movies, you think?

I suppose it wouldn't do to point out that of the three female acting nods that overlap title with male acting nods, all three of the women are playing foils to male counterparts. I think June Carter Cash is pretty much on a par with Johnny Cash (although Walk the Line is his song, not hers), but the other two -- it's like, to be a main character, a woman's got to seek out a whole genre of movies where men don't go.

The hell? I liked the movie, a lot, but Hurt was by far the least convincing thing in it.

TOTALLY AGREE. He was the worst part of that film for me.

TOTALLY AGREE. He was the worst part of that film for me.

He did have my favorite line in the movie - "How do you fuck that up!??!?" - but the beard alone was enough to throw me out of the movie.

William Hurt - A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

That's utter crazytalk.

No big surprises, though. (Which is good for me, because our Oscar Reel went out yesterday, and if we'd guessed wrong, it'd already be too late!)

Keira fucking Knightley?