2012 Oscars: The Best Actress Race Starts Early

Meryl Streep (left) has 2 Oscars (1979 Best Supporting Actress, Kramer v Kramer;
 1982 Best Actress, Sophie's Choice) and 16 nominations. Glenn Close (right) has
5 nominations and no wins (but 3 Emmys and 3 Tonys).

Ever since it was released that Glenn Close was playing a man in a film called Albert Nobbs she was producing and had co-written the screenplay for tongues have been wagging about her as the one to beat for the 2012 Best Actress Oscar. I have a sweet spot in my heart for Ms. Glenn Close because she is the best thing in one of my favourite movies of all time: Dangerous Liaisons.

Check this scene out and ask yourself why the Best Actress Oscar went to Cher that year!

However, now comes word that Meryl Streep, the most nominated actress of all time, is set to play former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in an upcoming film called The Iron Lady. The trailer for the latter has been released and La Streep has done one of her famous accents and incredible transformations:

Most people give the edge to Glenn because her film also has her brandishing an accent (19th century Irish), has a better director (Directed by Rodrigo Garcia, a well-known director of episodes of HBO series like Six Feet Under, Carnivale and In Treatment), a better cast (Oscar-winner Brenda Fricker, up-and-comer Mia Wasikowski (The Kids Are All Right, Alice in Wonderland), Jonathan Rhys Myers), and Glenn co-wrote the freaking screenplay and has been trying to get the movie made for 15 years! She also played the role on stage and won a Canadian Tony award (called an Obie). However, don't count out Ms. Streep either. The Iron Lady is directed by Phyllida Lloyd who directed her in her biggest box-office smash, the execrable Mamma Mia! and stars Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent and the always good Richard E. Grant.

If the movie is even half-way good, there's no question in my mind that the Academy will want to reward Glenn with atleast one Oscar (Anyone remember Emma Thompson's Oscar for Adapted Screenplay of Sense and Sensibility?) Also, Glenn currently has no Oscars on her mantel while Meryl has two.

I really don't know who I will be cheering for, I really really want Meryl to win her 3rd Oscar, but I also think Glenn Close was robbed decades ago so I really really want her to win as well.

FOOD REVIEW: Go Burger (Hollywood, Los Angeles)

Exterior of Go Burger at Sunset & Vine

Vidalia onion rings

"duck fat fries"

my burger, with the lovely slaw and superfluous pickle

inside of my burger, with delightful bits of bacon showing

My ongoing quest to find the best burgers in Los Angeles lead me to Go Burger in Hollywood, recently. This is actually the second time I am writing this review. My first review was lost in the great Blog apocalypse of May12, 2011 which initially deleted my published review of Lazy Ox Canteen and erased my draft review of Go Burger.

 Go Burger resembles Juicy Burger (see review) and The Counter (see review) in that it is the kind of place where they have a number of set burgers but you can also select your own ingredients and design your own.

I decided to have the BLT (Double Smoked Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, BLT Burger Sauce, $11) and splurge on the fries cooked in duck fat. The person I was eating lunch with had the "Make it a Philly!" Smashed Burger (with Griddled Onions, Peppers, Pickled Jalapeños and Melted Provolone, $12) and the Vidalia Onion Rings. On the advice of the LA Weekly article "30 Burgers in 30 Days" I purposefully selected a relatively simple burger and was interested in the duck-fat fries.

It turned out that the burger was excellent, while the fries were disappointing. The onion rings were also incredible. The fries sounded better than they tasted. They ended up being somewhat soggy and not very flavorful while the onion rings were delightfully crunchy with and  relatively sweet. Another surprise was the cole slaw that was delivered with the burgers--it was also excellent. I am never fan of something other than ketchup being used to dip onion rings or fries into, but the buttermilk ranch dressing on the side was pretty good, especially with the onion rings!

The price point of Go Burger appears to be slightly higher than either Juicy Burger or The Counter but the burger seemed to also be of higher quality. It was still not as flawless as the Lazy Ox Canteen burger but I would rank it a close second to all the burgers I have eaten recently. I would definitely go back to Go Burger, to order the onion rings and try out one of their other burgers or put together one of my own design realizing that this could end up pretty pricey when cheese toppings (Vermont cheddar, American, Provolone, Monterey Jack) are $1 each and premium toppings (Blue cheese Gruyere, grilled onions, Bacon, sliced avocado, madeira mushrooms, fried egg, homemade chili, grilled red peppers) are $1.50.

Overall, Go Burger well deserves its place on the list of outstanding burgers in Los Angeles.

Name: Go Burger.

Location: 6290 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

Contact: 323-327-9355.

Visit: May 9, 2011.

AMBIANCE: A-.

SERVICE: A-.

VALUE: B+.

FOOD: A-. 

OVERALL: A- (3.583/4.0). 

FOOD REVIEW: Juicy Burger (Los Feliz/Griffith Park in Los Angeles)

The exterior of Juicy Burger, at 1820 N. Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90027

interior of Griffith Park/Los Feliz Juicy Burger

burger and fries

Not on many lists of the best burgers in Los Angeles is Juicy Burger. However, it is often mentioned in the list of good late night dining spots in the Hollywood area. MadProfessah has long been interested in exploring excellent burgers in multiple cities, and I have taken a position (in favor of the latter) in the forthcoming In-N-Out versus Five Guys burger wars.

Juicy Burger has a very similar approach to burgers as The Counter (see MadProfessah review); you get to select the size of your burger (1/3 lb. or 1/2 lb.), then select your bun (lettuce, ciabatta bread, fresh bun), select free toppings (mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, red onions, mayonnaise, 1000 island dressing and dill pickles) and then add cheese (American cheese, cheddar, Monterey jack, blue cheese) for $.75 and premium toppings (caramelized onions, fried egg, sliced jalapenos, green chile, guacamole, onion strings, bacon strips, grilled pineapple, grilled spinach, sauteed mushrooms). You can also add premium sauces (buttermilk ranch, chipotle mayo, chipotle ketchup, garlic mayo, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce) for $.50.
You can also get fries (with one free sauce) for $2.50. The place is very small, not much more than a counter, but there is whole seating section outside if you want to eat your burger right there.

Overall, I was somewhat disappointed with Juicy Burger. The fries were more remarkable than the burger. I ordered the 1/3 burger with a regular bun with the free toppings of lettuce, tomato and dill pickles, cheddar cheese and two premium toppings of bacon and caramelized onions I ordered it medium-rare but it appeared to be closer to medium-well (no pink left at all). It was also sort of dry and the bun seemed a bit excessive so I took off one half of it. The bacon was well-done (how can bacon ever be bad?) and the onions were excellent but overall the burger seemed excessive, and not well-balanced like the almost-identical burger I ordered at The Counter a few weeks before. However, unlike at The Counter, Juicy Burger's fries were excellent! Very crunchy, and not overly salty. For $2.50, the "small fries" were a decent portion. However, it is always my position that the best topping for fries is plain, simple ketchup (or catsup) and the chipotle ketchup was the closest option but this is still an inferior option (plus I had to go back to the store to pick up my sauce because I had ordered take-out and the first time they gave me my food without a sauce.

I would strongly recommend going to The Counter for their burgers but definitely check out Juicy Burger for their fries. Even though the burger at The Counter was more expensive, I felt that it was a better value and a higher quality dining experience. It's possible that some of Juicy Burger's classic burgers might be a better deal, but there a lot more burgers I want to try first before I give Juicy Burger a second chance.

Name: Juicy Burger.

Location: 1820 N. Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

Contact: 323-660-1211.

Visit: April 27, 2011.

AMBIANCE: B-.

SERVICE: A-.

VALUE: B+.

FOOD: A-.

OVERALL: A- (3.417/4.0). 

Review of 2011 LGBT POC Film Festival: Fusion Shorts

I attended the Fusion LGBT POC Film festival yesterday and checked out the Fusion Shorts program. Here are my reviews.

STOP IT - ALMA 

Dir: Mike Rose

A spoof on intervention reality shows that features a woman, who compulsively cooks to the dismay of her family who just wants her to Stop It! This is a very clever spoof of reality shows whose comic appeal is based on the sheer ridiculousness of the "addiction" it depicts as well as the gender-bending nature of the lead character. The person  I saw the films with was curious whether the laughs would have started so quickly if the drag element was removed. I think probably not, but even without that, this short would be a funny hit. GRADE: B+.

REVOLUTION  

Dir: Abdi Nazemian

A coming-of-age story about Jack, a 16-year old Iranian boy growing up in 1989 Los Angeles. (In Farsi, Tagalog with English subtitles). This is a lush, dramatic film with a haunting score and an emotionally complicated plot. Unfortunately, the numerous, various pieces (cultural assimilation difficulties, teenage homosexual experimentation, father-son tension, the AIDS tragedy, mother-son angst and a too-cute  small dog) fail to really coalesce into a whole which matches the components. The central metaphor is flawed and the acting of several of the characters is unconvincing. GRADE: B-.

TIME AFTER TIME 

Dir: Laurie Thomas

The unspoken dance of a love triangle unfolds in the time it takes to sing this song. My first response is that this is a curious choice for an inclusion in a collection of shorts in an LGBT people of color film festival. On the surface it appears to be a dialogue-free depiction of a complicated moment between the red-haired, female singer of the classic Cyndi Lauper song and the two people who are interested in her affections: a laughing, smiling dark-haired white guy and a presumably multiracial dark-haired gal who is ultimately disappointed by whatever she sees in object of affection's eyes. GRADE: C+.

ANDY

Dir: Andrew Ahn

A six-year old boy discovers what it means to be a man. (In Korean with English subtitles). This is a too-short meditation on father-son dynamics by considering the ways in which gender roles are performed and policed by little boys and adult men with the complicated cross-cultural (mis)interpretations of same-sex interaction thrown in for good measure. The film definitely leaves it up to the viewer to interpret  nuanced reactions of a Korean father to a lipstick-wearing six-year old as well as the problematic depiction of an adult male stranger interacting with the child in a public men's room. GRADE: B+.

REMEMBER ME IN RED 

Dir: Hector Ceballos

Fidelia must find a way to honor what would have been her friend’s wishes before it is too late. (In Spanish with English subtitles). One of the highlights of the 2011 Fusion Shorts was this beautifully shot, tautly written depiction of the real deprivation(s) of the life and death of transgender individuals. The complicated ways that family ties can constrict and limit an individual's potential as well as the ways that they can be recreated in a more authentic way among a family of choice are the main themes here. The acting is particular strong, although some may feel that the storyline veers perilously close to telenovela melodrama. GRADE: A.

FAMILY IN THE FRAME 

Dir: Neelu Bhuman

Accentuated by voices of family members, this short film is an honest portrayal of the experience of bisexuality (English subtitles). A rather experimental short film which attempts to show the dilemmas of a bisexual, Indian immigrant and the tensions her identities produce within those around her. Generally, I found the film to be visually uninteresting and dramatically obtuse; it's differences from the other films are so extreme it was ill-served to be included in this collection. GRADE: D.

THE QUEEN 

Dir: Christina Choe

Bobby, a Korean-American teenage outcast, is working at his parents’ dry cleaners on prom weekend. When the prom queen and her boyfriend, stop by with their dress and tuxedo, Bobby has his own prom to remember. A near-perfect short film for any LGBT film festival. Almost any gay man can identify with the lead character of Bobby and his desire to be the consort to the Prom King, which is realized in a thrilling, pitch-perfect, well-choreographed crescendo and a surprise ending which is sure to generate squeals of delight from even the most jaded "queen." GRADE: A.

CHANGE 

Dir: Melissa Osborne & Jeff McCutcheon

A gay African-American teenager grapples with his young identity on the night Obama was elected. This is a well-produced short which tries to depict and (possibly defuse?) the complex emotions surrounding the inextricably coupled events of the passage of Proposition 8 and the election of Barack Obama in the African-American, LGBT and African-American LGBT communities. Happily, the directors have chosen to tell the story through a closeted Black teenager played by a young actor with a handsome, expressive face. It is thrilling to recall the historic events of Election Night 2008 and devastating to be reminded of the day after when the implications of California's passage of a ban on same-sex marriage began to sink in. The short film is engrossing but has some slightly odd pacing problems. The person I saw the film with was very disappointed in the very final scene; we both wanted more explanation of the motivations of the main characters' reactions to the Election Day events. GRADE: A-.

Overall, I'm very glad that I went but felt that this collection was slightly weaker than last year's, but just barely. If you see The Queen, Remember Me in Red or Change at a film festival near you, I strongly urge you to check them out!

OSCARS 2011: Nominations Announced

The 83rd Academy Award nominations were announced this morning. The King's Speech leads with 12, followed by True Grit with 10 and The Social Network and Inception with 8 and The Fighter with 7. More analysis later on. but for now here are the top 8 categories:

Best Picture
“Black Swan”
“The Fighter”
“Inception”
“The Kids Are All Right ”
“The King’s Speech”
“127 Hours”
“The Social Network”
“Toy Story 3″
“True Grit”
“Winter’s Bone”

Best Direction
Darren Aronofsky for “Black Swan”
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for “True Grit”
David Fincher for “The Social Network”
Tom Hooper for “The King’s Speech”
David O. Russell for “The Fighter”

Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
James Franco in “127 Hours”
Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone”
Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
John Hawkes in “Winter’s Bone”
Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech”

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech”
Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Adapted Screenplay
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy for “127 Hours”
Aaron Sorkin for “The Social Network”
Michael Arndt, story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich for “Toy Story 3″
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for “True Grit”
Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini for “Winter’s Bone”

Original Screenplay
Mike Leigh for “Another Year”
Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson. Story by Keith Dorrington and Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson for “The Fighter”
Christopher Nolan for “Inception”
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg for “The Kids Are All Right”
David Seidler for “The King’s Speech”