BEHIND THE SCREEN: 93rd Annual Academy Awards – A Night to (NOT) Remember

Well, thank God that’s over. The final film award ceremony of 2021 is over, and not a minute too soon.

Viewers who tuned in to the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony (guilty, but I have a website. What’s your excuse?) were treated to un-enthusiastic presenters, amazingly long speeches (I’m guessing Questlove wasn’t told he could play people off) and an “In Memoriam” segment that looks like it was thrown together at the last minute. And can someone tell me how a show with no host, opening monologue and zero musical numbers – unless you count the embarrassing “Oscar Music Trivia” game that featured Glenn Close shaking her ass to E.U.’s “Da Butt” – ran almost 3 1/2 hours??

On a positive note, there were some great achievements rewarded. A woman of color (Chloe Zhao) was named Best Director, only the second time a woman has won that Award. Think about that. Out of 465 nominees only SEVEN women have been nominated: Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, Sophia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow (who won), Greta Gerwig, Ms. Zhao and Emerald Fennell, who with Ms. Zhao was nominated this year. Which means such female directors, like Penny Marshall and Barbra Streisand, have been totally ignored, even though in the past they had directed films nominated for Best Picture!

Daniel Kaluuya and Youn Yuh-jing took home the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, respectively, putting a slight dent into the #OscarSoWhite reputation.

Frances McDormand became the second actress to receive (3) Best Actress awards when her name was announced last night, putting her right behind the immortal Katherine Hepburn, who won (4). Meryl Streep does have (3) Oscars, but one was for Best Supporting Actress. Ms. McDormand picked up a 4th Oscar as one of the producers of the evening’s Best Picture, “Nomadland.” And whose idea was it to give the Best Picture award out early? Normally it’s the last award of the night, but on this night it was awarded before Best Actress and Actor were named. My hunch is that the producers assumed the late Chadwick Boseman, who was nominated for his final performance in the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” would win, which would have made for a nice emotional way to end the evening. Instead, Joaquin Phoenix sheepishly announced Anthony Hopkins as the winner of the Best Actor award, and that was a wrap!

My beef with the “In Memoriam” segment was that, for some reason, the Academy figured if you were watching you knew who everyone was and what they did. An introduction that took u 1/3 of the segment, no film clips and, while known talents like Christopher Plummer, George Segal and Wilford Brimley got a few seconds of screen time each, others – among them Marge Champion (a great dancer), Shirley Knight (a fine actress), Kelly Preston (same) and Michael Chapman (an amazing cinematographer whose credits include “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and “The Fugitive”) whizzed by in a blink.

The fact that only nominees and presenters were allowed to be in the venue also made for dull television. Smatterings of applause signaled that the guests in the theatre were apparently as bored as the ones at my house.

Blame it on COVID. Blame it on the fact that none of the films nominated were “NAME” films – no “Titanic,” “Avatar” or “Lord of the Rings” in the bunch. Blame it on bad television. There’s plenty of blame to go around.

For those of you who went to bed early, here is a list of the winners:

Best Picture – Nomadland 

Best Actor in a Leading Role– Anthony Hopkins (The Father)

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Frances McDormand (Nomadland)

Best Director – Chloé Zhao (Nomadland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Youn Yuh-jung (Minari)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Adapted Screenplay – The Father, Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller

Best Original Screenplay – Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell

Best Animated Feature Film – Soul 

Best International Feature Film – Another Round (Denmark)

Best Sound – Sound of Metal, Phillip Bladh, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Carolina Santana

Best Costume Design – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth

Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Matiki Anoff, Mia Neal, Larry M. Cherry

Best Live Action Short Film – Two Distant Strangers

Best Animated Short Film – If Anything Happens I Love You 

Best Documentary Feature – My Octopus Teacher 

Best Documentary Short Subject – Colette 

Best Original Song – ‘Fight for You,’ (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Visual Effects – Tenet, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott R. Fisher, Mike Chambers

Best Cinematography – Mank, Erik Messerschmidt

Best Production Design – Mank, Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale

Best Film Editing – Sound of Metal, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Best Original Score – Mank, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

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Filed Under: Commentary, Film Headlines, TV Headlines Tagged With: 93rd, academy, annual, awards, night, remember, ...

Trading App Guide – 5 Things to Remember

Some people like the idea of investing in an asset and letting it simmer for quite a while. Others prefer to take a hands-on approach and trade every day. If you belong to the latter group, you know how important it is to be able to make moves at all times. Luckily, if you use a trading app, you can have access to the trade market 24/7. While these apps have been around for a while, they’re still a relatively new concept and some traders are yet to adapt. In case you’re looking for some help, here are five key things to remember when using a trading app.

You can trade the news

Trading is all about making use of momentum. The best time to buy or sell assets is right after an economic event has taken place. With trading apps, news trading has never been easier. All you need to do is make sure you stay up-to-date and you’ll know exactly what kind of moves to make. Another great thing about it is that all economic releases are scheduled. This means that if you’re able to come up with a schedule similar to those of trading tycoons, making profit from news trading shouldn’t be tough. This is because you can learn everything you’re supposed to know about inflation rate releases and trade balance reports right on your mobile device. Make it a habit of checking all announcements once they’ve been made and go on to trade on your app right away. As long as you make trades on your app in a timely fashion, this strategy will prove to be effective.

Getting assistance is easy

There’s a chance you still haven’t tried trading on an app because the entire process seems a bit complicated and you’re used to trading the old way. This makes sense but once you give trading on an app a go, you’ll see that this type of trading is even easier. Once you get used to it, there will be absolutely no reason not to make moves from your mobile device. Even if there’s something you don’t understand about it, there’s no need to panic. People behind these apps know how important it is for traders to have someone who can help them with the technical side of it all. This is why they offer quick and efficient customer support. Some of them even offer multilingual customer support, something traders from across the world will like. Opt for the right app and you’ll know you’ll get top-notch customer support whenever you need help.

You don’t need money to get started

The amount of money you need if you want to start trading from an app is zero. Most of the time, trading on your mobile device is absolutely free. In other words, you don’t have to worry about any hidden fees when making a switch to a trading app. However, keep in mind that some apps require payments if you want extended functionality. So, if you’re just entering the world of trading, all you need to do is find the right app and identify the type of asset you want to trade with. Finding the best stock trading app for beginners shouldn’t be tough, especially if you know where to find out more about them. When starting out, it’s usually a good idea to opt for an app with no fees. That way, the amount of money you need to start trading on your app is only determined by the asset you want to trade with.

Setting stop losses has never been easier

Did you ever wonder why mobile apps in general are so popular? It’s just that the convenience these things offer is unmatched by computer programs. Well, now you can enjoy such convenience when trading. You probably already know how important it is for traders to set the stop-loss order. When markets go down, they go down fast and dealing with it is a must. Not so long ago, if you wanted to set stop losses, you had to do it manually. Now, the app can serve as your defensive mechanism and help you avoid margin closeouts. Let’s say you decided to go at $12,750 Bitcoin and you want you stop loss to be at $12,250. All you have to do is set the amount on your app and once the price reaches $12,250, your position will close automatically.

You can use any device you want

Some investors are yet to transit to trading on an app simply because they believe mobile trading works only on some devices. This couldn’t be any further from the truth and it shouldn’t stop you from trading on an app. Of course, there are some trading apps that only support IOS and Android devices. While that may be enough, some traders prefer apps that are also compatible with Windows. The good news is that such apps exist and if you want to have an option to trade on your desktop, there are apps you can opt for. With one of these apps in your arsenal, you can trade on your mobile device when you’re not home and still make all your major moves on your desktop. It might take you some time to find the right app but once you do, being able to trade from any device you want will definitely be worth it.

The bottom line

Trading with stocks using an app comes with a number of benefits. What’s more, adjusting to trading on an app isn’t tough and it’ll make the entire process even easier. Learn more about the apps available right now, find the one that suits all your needs and you can begin trading more than ever.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 5, app, guide, remember, trading

Film Review: “David Crosby: Remember My Name”

  • DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME
  • Starring:  David Crosby, Cameron Crowe, Graham Nash
  • Directed by: A.J. Eaton
  • Rated:  R
  • Running time:  1 hr 35 mins
  • SONY Picture Classics

I met David Crosby in 1987.  He was backstage getting ready to perform on a Vietnam Veteran’s concert being taped for HBO.  I accidentally walked into what I thought was the bathroom only to find out it was his dressing room.  He was very nice and we talked for a few minutes.  Later that afternoon he, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash performed in (as always) perfect harmony.

Today, at age 72, Crosby is still on the road.  He has to be.  Though he was very successful during his time with The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash (CSN) and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (CSNY), he is quick to point out that he is the only member of those bands who never had a solo hit record.  The new film, “David Crosby: Remember My Name” finds Crosby about to head out for a six week tour.  This saddens him, as he would rather stay home with his wife, Jan.  This saddens Jan, as she is aware of Crosby’s health problems and always fears that when he leaves for a show he will never return home.  But if there is one thing Crosby loves as much as his family, it is to sing.  So out on the road he goes.

An excellent combination of archive footage and interviews, “David Crosby: Remember My Names” is an outstanding film which reminds me, in style, of another documentary, “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.”  This could be because the director of the Campbell doc, James Keach, is an executive producer here.  The film covers almost every aspect of Crosby’s life, both the highs (no pun intended) and the lows.

The son of an Academy Award winning cinematographer (Crosby’s father, Floyd, won the award for his work on the film “Tabu”), Crosby listened to his mother’s records and soon began playing the guitar.  When he got older, he became a co-founder of The Byrds, a very successful group.  However, due to some of his antics – including telling a concert audience that President Kennedy was killed as a result of a conspiracy – he was booted from the band.  He then teamed up with Stills and Nash to form one of the biggest super groups in music history.   We are shown a

Montage of drug fueled images from the period, including one with my friend Carl Gottlieb expounding on them.  (NOTE:  Carl helped David Crosby write his two volume autobiography, “Long Time Gone” and “Since Then”)  We also learn that Dennis Hopper based his character in the film “Easy Rider” on Crosby.  However, things begin going bad when Crosby’s 21 year old girlfriend, Christine Hinton, is killed when a bus hits her van head-on.  Heartbroken, Crosby finds solace in sailing – and drugs.   Later in his life, his addiction will send him to prison.

The film also allows Crosby to take the audience to Kent State University, where 4 students were killed on May 4, 1970 when members of the Ohio National Guard fired their weapons into a group of students who were protesting the war in Vietnam.  There is a cultural center on campus now, a museum dedicated to the images of that tragic day.  The emotion still wells up in Crosby’s voice as he describes how one leader in the National Guard swore he’d never fired his weapon, when a photo on the wall captures him doing just that.  Within a month of the shootings, CSNY release their song “OHIO,” which Neil Young wrote after seeing a LIFE magazine cover story on the shootings.  Neil Young has said that the event was so emotional that David Crosby wept while recording the song.  That emotion, almost 50 years later, is still obvious. 

The film also includes footage of Crosby on tour, and his voice is just as sweet as it was in the 1960s.  He also shares some personal stories about such fellow musical icons as Cass Elliott, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia and Bob Dylan.  If you’re a fan of Crosby, or just the music of the period, this film is a must see!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: crosby, david, film, remember, review

Remember the Monsters Debut New Single “Romeo & Juliet”

ARIZONA ROCK BAND REMEMBER THE MONSTERS DEBUT
NEW SINGLE “ROMEO & JULIET” AT NEWNOISEMAGAZINE.COM
New Album, The Pieces Remain, Out March 16th!

January 19, 2018 – Los Angeles, CA – Arizona’s next, breakout rock act Remember The Monsters have announced today plans to release their debut, full-length album, The Pieces Remain, on March 16th. Gearing up for the record’s unveiling, the band has partnered with NewNoiseMagazine.com to premiere the record’s first new track, “Romeo & Juliet.”

Stream “Romeo & Juliet” here

Commenting on the new song, the record’s producer Cameron Mizell (Sleeping With Sirens, Danny Worsnop) says, “This song makes me feel all of the feelings all at once, intensely, and when the song is over I feel as if I was just beaten senselessly in a masochistic fashion. It’s fucking bizarre in the best way.”

Remember The Monsters’ vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ashten Banks add’s the song is “my sick and twisted take on a literary classic.”

Blending the wide range and dynamic sounds of their many influences, Remember the Monsters combines the sleazy glam and soaring melodic hooks of Rock N’ Roll (think Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses) with the hard-hitting edge and soulful introspection of their modern contemporaries. Genre defying and passionately driven, the band delivers a listening experience unlike any other.

Fans can also stream “Romeo & Juliet” at the locations below:
Spotify – http://spoti.fi/2FTUGZg
Apple Music – https://apple.co/2Ds3w2A
Google Play – http://bit.ly/2Be5JJb

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: debut, juliet, monsters, remember, romeo, single, ...

Tips to Remember While Playing Scratch Card Games Online

Scratch card games are the easiest games available on the online space. There are no strategies involved in playing them. The rules are simple and the gameplay is quite easy and interesting. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to match at least three identical symbols by scratching the cards.

Each scratch card game offers a distinct payout and the highest payout is being awarded for scratching and matching the symbols. The important thing before you get started is to make sure you have placed the betting amount/ wagering money.

Tips

  • Identify an online or Mobile casino that offers the best collection of scratch cards. This makes sure that you get entertainment along with lucrative wins.
  • There are some fantastic welcome bonus packages offered by the casinos, so claim your welcome bonus and spend it on the scratch card games. You can go for themed scratch cards, be more precise and clear, and check the software developer’s name before you choose to play.
  • Select the scratch card game which offers huge wins or rather have won huge money for players in the past. On any casino’s website, the names of the winners are always mentioned.
  • Scratch card games have to be played with an intention of winning some multipliers and not losing. As many of the scratches have smaller wins they also get you the huge jackpot wins. So remember that you are playing them to win so spend the betting money wisely.
  • The wins are also determined on the money that you have placed. If you have wagered £10 and you match the symbols which give you x7, then you win £70.
  • All the scratch card games have a demo mode. Make sure you practice the game first and then go on to play in a real money mode.
  • Play with a clear intention of fun and entertainment and hence spend smaller betting amounts. This will ensure that you are gambling safely.

Some of the Renowned Scratch Card Games

Some of the top-most scratch card games that are worth trying for are:

  • Germinator
  • Doctor Love
  • Doctor Love on Vacation
  • Foxin Wins
  • Emperor’s Garden
  • The Codfather Scratch

Summary

Scratch Card games are simply fun to play and are entertaining. Make sure you play them and win fantastic cash awards. Make sure you gamble responsibly by placing smaller bets first and then go for betting on the higher amounts.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: card, games, online, playing, remember, scratch, ...

CD Review: A Day To Remember “Common Courtesy”

A Day To Remember
“Common Courtesy”
Producer: Jeremy McKinnon, Andrew Wade, Chad Gilbert
Tracks: 16

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Ocala, FL natives A Day To Remember are back with their 5th studio album titled “Common Courtesy”. The album which is being self-released consists of 13 all new tracks which run the gambit of sounds and styles which have made the band popular across multiple genres. Produced by vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, Andrew Wade (Close To Home) and New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert “Common Courtesy” could be the bands strongest effort yet.

Though the album was initially slated for release back in October it has basically been in somewhat of a holding pattern due to the logistics of a messy split from the bands previous label Victory records. Well it is finally available and I am pretty confident in saying that it was well worth the wait. Not only does the album include some really great songs such as the explosive opening track “City of Ocala” and the emotional rollercoaster titled “End of Me” but it also include some great artwork created by Mike Cortada along with a bonus DVD containing the bands recent webisodes. Even though I could have done without some of the albums dialogue and the questionable cohesiveness of the albums tracks I found the music contained on “Common Courtesy” to be spot on and I think each piece is more than capable of standing on its own as prospective singles.

The latest from A Day To Remember is more than just another album. “Common Courtesy” is a testament to the DIY attitude which has been present since the early days of Rock and Roll and only further proves that you don’t need a big label to make a great sounding record. Whether you are a hardcore fan, a punk fan or just a music fan in general do yourself and your ears a favor by picking up a copy of this album.

Track Listing:
1.) City of Ocala
2.) Right Back at it Again
3.) Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometimes You’re the Nail
4.) Dead and Buried
5.) Best of Me
6.) I’m Already Gone
7.) Violence
8.) Life @ 11
9.) I Surrender
10.) Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way
11.) End of Me
12.) The Document Speaks for Itself
13.) I Remember
Bonus Tracks:
14.) Leave All the Lights On
15.) Good Things
16.) Same Book But Never the Same Page

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, common, courtesy, day, remember, review, ...

Concert Review: “End Game Tour 2012” Rise Against, A Day To Remember &Title Fight

“End Game Tour 2012”
Rise Against, A Day To Remember, Title Fight
Date: Tuesday, May 8th 2012
Venue: New York State Fairgrounds

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Rise Against played the Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds on Tuesday, May 8th as part of the bands “End Game 2012 Tour” The tour is in support of the band’s latest album of the same name which was release earlier this year. The tour line-up also featured Title Fight and the always entertaining A Day To Remember. Even though the weather at times was not the best causing a number of giant mud pits each of the three bands put on a solid performance for the assembled crowd.

Title Fight from Kingston, PA kicked off the show and received a warm reception from the crowd which was a mixture of styles and ages. Crowd favorite A Day To Remember were up next and once the band hit the stage the energy level went through the roof. The bands set featured flying beach balls, toilet paper and a giant hamster ball which singer Jeremy McKinnon used to walk over the top of the crowd. The later part of the bands set featured some of the bands more popular songs such as “Better Off This Way” and “All I Want”. As the storm clouds began to move in and day shifted to night headliner Rise Against would take the stage. After a brief intro taken from the 1970 film “Catch-22” the band launched into a thought provoking, energy filled set. The band wasted no time and played song after song. Though the band sounded muffled at time their set was still very tight. The set featured a number of Rise Against staples as well as some new songs off of the “End game” album. Later in the set fans were treated to an acoustic performance of “Swing Life Away” and a few other acoustic numbers. The band closed out the night with an extended version of the hit song “Savior” which left the muddy masses tired but still had them begging for more.

A Day to Remember Set List:
1.) The Downfall Of Us All
2.) A Shot in the Dark
3.) I’m Made of Wax Larry, What Are You Made Of?
4.) My Life For Hire
5.) All Signs Point to Lauderdale
6.) 2nd Sucks
7.) You Be Tails, I’ll Be Sonic
8.) It’s Complicated
9.) Homesick
10.) Better Off This Way
11.) Have Faith In Me
12.) All I Want
13.) The Plot to Bomb The Panhandle
Rise Against Set List:
1.) Survivor Guilt
2.) Ready to Fall
3.) Collapse (Post-Amerika)
4.) The Good Left Undone
5.) Broken English
6.) Help Is on the Way
7.) Disparity by Design
8.) Drones
9.) Re-Education (Through Labor)
10.) Blood to Bleed
11.) Satellite
12.) Paper Wings
13.) Prayer of the Refugee
14.) Audience of One
15.) Swing Life Away
16.) Make It Stop
17.) Give It All
18.) Midnight Hands
19.) The Strength to Go On
20.) Savior

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: 2012, concert, day, fight, game, remember, ...
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