OSCARS 2009

Yes, the Bear is back! It's Oscar time and tomorrow evening, along with other Academy voters, the Bear will be watching in earnest not just the "Red" Carpet, prior to the festivities getting started and hoping that your favorites and mine will be glamorous and not give in to the pundits who want them to dress like it's Lent already, because of the economy. Remember FDR: "THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF!" To quote the Bear: "Quit feeling sorry for yourselves and go get em!" "I've lost a bundle in this Bush Depression" but a good looking doll, being interviewed by an "E" reporter, fires the old Bear up! Lets celebrate Oscar night!

Here are the Bear's Oscar picks for tomorrow evening (not all but the main ones). This will be followed by my rankings for 2009 moviewise which are quite different than what should happen when we Academicians vote.

Best Movie: Slumdog Millionaire Best Actor: Mickey Rourke The Wrestler: Best Actress: Kate Winslet: The Reader Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger The Dark Knight Best Documentary: Man On A Wire

LETS TALK MOVIES 2008:

The Bear today, Saturday, February 21st has completed his run on the movies.

Only Ann Hathaway escaped his viewing at this writing. Today, Micky Rourke leaped into the picture with his fine performance in "The Wrestler." It was a fun, sad, educational (on wrestling) movie. Since my dad took me to see the likes of Lou Thesz, the Sweedish Angel, Gorgeous George, Wild Bill Longdsen, the Mighty Atlas and others, I have been at least aware of these mighty warriors of the ring and although I'm not a strong TV Wrestling fan today, they have my respect and this movie opened my eyes even more to their training, pill popping and other facets of this "sport."

Bear Talk's Rankings For 2008 are as follows: 1. Frost/Nixon 2. Grand Torino 3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 4. Doubt 5. The Appocolapse 6. Milk 7. Man On A Wire 8. The Wrestler 9. The Changeling 10. Slumdog Millionaire

The Bear really was stunned by the eloquence and great acting exhibited by Frank Longella and Michael Sheen. Almost forgotten was the hubbub created by this interview of yesteryear but these two fine actors create an almost explosive relationship, but what is even neater, the atmosphere created is so creative and exciting (maybe its just me) that you have a thriller on your hands. The Bear loved this movie!

Now lets talk Clint! The Bear is tired of people berating his heroes like Clint and the Duke, "They play the same roles. Aw, its just Clint playing "Dirty Harry!" Enough! These are great actors and Clint once again in Grand Torino, not only directs but is once again the great one dealing with the problems of immigration, Chinese style and his sidekicks in the flick are so outstanding they remind me of the "Juno" crowd of a year ago. What a fine movie! How could my collegues in the Acadamy be so "caddy".

Oh, yea, and "Doubt" has to be mentioned with the best this year as Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams etc (can't think of the other lady's name) all lent their talents to a magnifico movie concerning a Parish Pastor and his Principal Sister of his school. Very well done and wait a minute, you tell me "Slumdog" is better? No way!

Now, for the final act, if you want to have fun, fun, fun, just try to name you're TOP TEN for all time:
Now some of you young whippersnappers don't go back too far but the Bear started going to movies, courtesy of his wonderful momma about 1941, just about every Friday when we would head downtown, via the streetcar and bus system of St. Louis to the Loew's, Loew's Orpheum, Ambassador and take in a movie and then meet my dad at the Bowling Allies where he was usually turning in respectable scores, (think his all time average was around 182) and then home.
Yep, I saw some movies I didn't particularly enjoy, being a boy, not a girl, into Cowboys, not Bette Davis pictures but mom dragged me along.

Here are my Top Ten as of Friday night February 20th, 2009: (all time): 1. Lawrence of Arabia 2. Schindler's List 3. Bridge Over The River Kwai 4. Patton 5. North By Northwest 6. Witness For the Prosecution 7. Casablanca 8. The Robe 9. High Noon 10. Judgement At Nurenberg

Now my movie friends, after further review this could change as other movies pop into my head but that being said the films listed above sure are winners all!

Thats it, the Bear is returning to the airwaves and more will be forthcoming as the Hockey Season is near an end: (Love these Blues: So Young, So Strong, So Feisty, Oshie, Bergland, Boyes, etc etc etc. What a team not just today, but in the future. The Redbirds better correct their second base and third base problem. They have a winner in Khalel Greene! St. Louis U. is coming on strong! ENOUGH!