Oh, even worse (for loudness and yelling).

Made a lot of progress on the Oscar blitz this week. In addition to Wanted and The Reader, I have now seen Frost/Nixon, The Duchess, and Man on Wire.

The Duchess was a travesty of history but had pretty, pretty costumes. It was a bit disconcerting to see Charles Grey played by Willoughby though.

Man on Wire was just such an amazing story I can't honestly say whether it was a "good" documentary. I pratically had vertigo watching it though.

I enjoyed Frost/Nixon more than I thought I would. I've never seen the full interviews, so I've Netflixed them.

I must admit that I'm sort of bummed that 2 of the BP nominees are run-of-the-mill biopics. The acting in both is great, but I just can't get thrilled about either one. If I had to vote (not having seen Benjamin Button because it's too damn long), I would probably pick Slumdog over The Reader, but barely.

Wait, Wanted has an Oscar nomination for something? What, most egregious use of slow motion effects in an action movie?

Sound editing, I believe.

A little late for this, but I'm totally on the "loving Ladyhawke" bandwagon!! There are so many quotable lines (mostly by Phillipe) that are roaringly hilarious after you take them in.

Although one of my favorite little bits is when he distracts some kids to steal shoes, and as he walks away, you hear the little girl saying "He's taking Daddy's shoes!" in this "I can't believe he's doing that" tone of voice that's so adorable and cracks me up every time.

Phillipe and Navarre have a great rapport, and having Leo McKern as the monk is brilliant casting--he hits every note of his performance perfectly. Michelle Pfeiffer is suitably gorgeous and ingenue-y in the role that you think any beautiful woman could play Isabeau, but then you see her confront the bishop, and she is also perfect.

Wait, Wanted has an Oscar nomination for something? What, most egregious use of slow motion effects in an action movie?

Sound and sound editing. Watching it knowing that one totally sees why. There are lots of cool uses of sound in that movie.

then you see her confront the bishop, and she is also perfect.

"You contemptuous worm. I am so done with you."

And then she turns her back on him because he's no longer of any concern to her--the biggest insult possible to him, I think.

Michelle Pfeiffer is suitably gorgeous and ingenue-y in the role that you think any beautiful woman could play Isabeau, but then you see her confront the bishop, and she is also perfect.

I just love that her name is Isabeau. So medieval.

I just love that her name is Isabeau. So medieval

I always hear it as John Wood says it as the bishop--that flat, inflectionless tone that somehow conveys his lust and envy of Navarre.

There's a children's fable that uses the name, presumably because it's both pretty and evocative.

Alfred Molina was wonderful in his tiny role as the wolfhunter, too. There was nobody bad in Ladyhawke. Even the horse was splendid.

Even the horse was splendid.

Prancing showily through the nave . . . though the less said about Navarre's armor the better.