blowing out the candles, flying overseas

I woke up with a totally horrid summer cold ~ happy birthday to me! But I can't let that stop me. Due to a manic expediting of an expired passport, and an otherwise stressful week, I haven't prepared anything fancy to say goodbye with and haven't curated a selection of guest bloggers (whoops) as is my normal way since I'm always afraid you'll leave me if the blog is empty for a week... but flights wait for no blog! I'm off for a week overseas.

The blog isn't quite 'going dark' -- that's too dramatic and technically complicated -- but will return to full glory starting on Monday the 17th.

We'll call this a Summer Hiatus though there might be a surprise post or two  - no promises. Much Ado About Nothing, Violet & Daisy, Man of Steel, and The Bling Ring are all opening while I'm away damnit

But sometimes you just gotta unplug. We'll catch up when I get back and am creatively recharged for another great film year and Oscar race!

Open Thread

I'm hard at work on the new Oscar charts hence the lack of new posts. Do you like the new color scheme? Banner? Do you have anything to add to that huge list of upcoming movies I posted yesterday. That's the list I'm working from for the new Oscar charts though I'll have to take a two hour break when my beloved Mad Men returns tonight. What's going on in your cinematic world? What did you see this weekend? I caught Jurassic Park (in 3D) with a friend earlier today to prep for Hit Me With Your Best Shot on Wednesday. Are you joining us for that episode?

Film Bitch Awards: Best Actor, Best Actress, Medal Ceremony!

I hate to ask anyone to pay attention to this site's own infamous Film Bitch Awards on the same night as the Indie Spirits (we'll discuss very soon) and the day before the Oscars (so late I am!). I'll get hoarse from the look-at-me shouting. But here, finally, is my Best Actress and Best Actor list, the latter of which is remarkably like Oscar's best actor list, with only Bradley Cooper missing the cut... though I think he's the best thing in Silver Linings Playbook and a worthy Oscar nominee. This rarely happens so it's a kind of a special treat for me. Actress, our marquee category each year, is always trickier. I wanted to name seven nominees but even then only two of the Oscar nominees  (Emmanuelle Riva and Jessica Chastain) make the cut. 

These nominations complete this year's traditional category Film Bitch Awards, so while we're at it, start playing those national anthems film scores for the medal ceremony. I've named gold, silver and bronze medalists in (almost) all of the Oscar-mirror categories. It has to be done before the Oscars! The "extras" like Best Scene, Diva of the Year, and Best Cameo and more are still to come but I promise they're already partially written. I realize that that smells of danger for those of you with long memories (what about 2011 for f***'s sake) but I shall prevail and find a third wind next week and try to wrap up before March. I can already feel that 2013 will be kinder to The Film Experience. I'm finding the faith after a difficult year.

But until we get to the 2013 film year, celebrate these great films and performances in the comments. Or, you know, bitch about them with "agree to disagree" tact. 

Talking "Amour" on CNN

Look how happy I was guaranteeing Ralitsa that Michael Haneke is going to win an Oscar tomorrow on CNN International's World Report! 

I will always discuss Best Foreign Film if people will listen. Also, I desperately had to pee. 

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

Click to read more ...

The Film Experience. Where To Now?

Running a niche blog is tough business. It doesn't pay the bills. Traffic peaked in 2011 (I was unemployed and had more time to write) and though we held steady in 2012, more or less, no growth *sniffle*. Is the plateau a sign that I should close up shop? More corporate blogs emerge with big paid teams devoted to Oscar coverage each year.

The existental and practical question: how to compete?

But after a decade of writing for the internet, it's actually my life so I have no desire to quit. I fear becoming the boy who cried wolf since I've freaked out publicly before a few times about quitting but always kept writing.  "People" tell me that traffic is noteworthy but ads are still had to come by so I have to beg for donations / subscriptions (see righthand sidebar - if everyone who read gave a nickel a day I could do this full time!). I'll be brainstorming about how to make this work in 2013 and by June, I'll make decisions. So don't go anywhere post Oscar - Give me hope for the future. I'll sing for my supper. What would keep you coming back post-Oscar? 

I may even try a weekly Podcast though that would surely have to involve a rotating panel of guests instead of the regulars. ANYWAY. There's more to come before a possible summer hiatus (we'll see how the next two months go)...  

Reader Appreciation Month
Quentin Tarantino Week (March 25-30)
April Showers
Spring-Long Pedro Almódovar Retrospective

Meanwhile if you can contribute in any way (maybe you're a personal publicist? an interactive web designer? a brilliant emerging writer who doesn't want to run his/her own blog? a movie star or connected character actor who reads silently? a massage therapist? a personal trainer? a life coach?) towards boosting the site's profile let me know with a private email or with a comment.