Trying to recapture a little of the glory of

Bruce captures his glory days – and ignites them – in his autobiography Born To Run. Ever the craftsman, the lyricist, the poet, the storyteller, the everyman, Bruce Springsteen pens in his memoirs in an enlightening, entertaining way that anyone from the hardcore fan who knows every song by heart to the casual listener who thinks “Born In The U.S.A” is a patriotic foot-tapper will find enjoyable and, believe it or not, relatable.

I waited until this book was available on Audible for the sole purpose of getting the chance to listen to Bruce, to the Boss, to have him tell his story directly to me. His book is not only full of tales from his life, but his philosophy on rock music; his responsibilities to his fans, his band, and his family; how weakness can make one stronger; and how to be an inspiration. 

For over 18 hours, I got to listen to one of my heroes talk to me. I heard intimate stories, rowdy bar tales, rock’n roll hobnobbing, and the fears that most every father has. Bruce talked - to me - about all these and more for over eighteen hours. And I cannot wait to listen to it all again.

As Always

theJOE

Academy Awards - 2017

No rant this year; just a quick rundown of my guesses on how Sunday’s Academy Awards show will go. And with La La Land set to win it all – or most anyway – why bother with analysis. Right?

But, this is my digital stage and would like to point out one observation. I don’t think the rolling number of Best Picture selections is working as it was intended to do, at least for this year. The idea behind the concept was to allow more mainstream, if not, gasp and shock, critically-achieved blockbusters, into the mix allowing a more open and fun debate. This year, all nine films, with the exception of Hacksaw Ridge – and maybe Arrival – are essentially the same: art-house awards fodder or select genre niches (one western, one musical). This year lacks that Mad Max: Fury Road or Martian or American Sniper. That one dark horse contender people smile about. Then again, maybe 2016 didn’t have the chance to present such a film. Except for seeing Captain America and Iron Man go all fisticuffs on each other and a CG Princess Leia, perhaps smiles were at a minimum this past year, meaning the movie-making business on a whole is failing at its one cultural responsibility.

My entries below are who I think will win, along with a very few comments. Before that, some quick analytics based on those choices. I have La La Land set to win 9 of its 14 noms. Fences gets two, both acting. Disney family films = 3. Films set in space (Star Trek Beyond) and Iran (The Salesman) will each get one. But, alas, no Oscar gold for The Lobster, regardless how original the story.

As Always,

theJOE

PICTURE / ACTING CATEGORIES

Best Picture: La La Land

Best Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Actor: Denzel Washington, Fences

Best Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell Or High Water (Mahershala Ali, from Luke Cage, I mean, Moonlight, is the favorite to win, and very well could, but Bridges is Hollywood royalty and with La La Land set to win, I think the Academy will maintain that “awarding Hollywood” sensability)

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

SCRIPTING / MUSIC CATEGORIES

Best Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight (but really, Arrival should win)

Best Original Screenplay: Manchester By The Sea

Best Original Score: La La Land

Best Original Song: “City of Stars,” from La La Land

OTHER RACES

Best Cinematography: La La Land

Best Film Editing: La La Land

Best Animated Feature: Zootopia

Best Costume Design: Jackie

Best Documentary: O.J.: Made In America

Best Foreign Film: The Salesman

Best Makeup: Star Trek Beyond

Best Production Design: La La Land

Best Sound Editing: Arrival (although La La Land could win this one)

Best Sound Mixing: La La Land (although Hacksaw Ridge could win)

Best Visual Effects: Jungle Book

Best Documentary Short Subject: Joe’s Violin

Best Animated Short: Piper

Best Live Action Short: Sing

Far Out Cosmic Fun –or– A Surfboard is way cooler than a Police Call Box

Fun.

Pure, undiluted, make-you-smile fun. How’s that for a review on Dan Slott and Mike Allred’s Silver Surfer: New Dawn graphic novel?

The Surfer has always been a personal favorite. Be it Stan “The Man” Lee and Big John Buscema’s angst-ridden late sixties run, or the Jim Starlin-Ron Marz-Ron Lim galaxy-crushing saga from the eighties/nineties. But many times, the Surfer’s stories can be heavy, both emotionally and thematically, with deep ties to back-story and cosmic ramifications involving the greater Marvel Universe. Not so here. Seen through the wide-and-accepting eyes of Dawn Greenwood, Slott’s clever scripting has the reader jump into the action with catch-up-as-you-go dialogue as Allred’s visuals hearken back to a Kirby-infused style yet retain his trademark pop-culture feel. The result is a lighthearted, fast-and-fun romp that ends much too soon.

Although Slott unabashedly steals the concept and motif for these stories from Doctor Who, the format works. The Silver Surfer, as a former herald of the world-devourer Galactus and now wielder of the power cosmic, makes for a great master with Dawn as a completely-likable and understanding companion. Yeah, his surfboard is not bigger on the inside, but it does respond to vocal commands. And Dawn? She actually makes the Surfer laugh. Which then makes me laugh.

So yeah, fun. Cosmic style.

As Always,

theJOE