Michael Janairo

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Author: Michael Janairo

  • Oscar season in upstate NY

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    The Spectrum 8 Theater in Albany on Jan, 29, 2018. (Image from Instagram)

    This time of year—after the Oscar nominations are announced and before they awards are given out—is often called by those in the movie press as a bleak time for new releases. Some say this is why the Jumanji reboot has been able to be the number one movie at the box office after so many weeks after its initial release.

    But, living as I do in upstate New York, I’m not where most of the movie press lives—LA and NYC. Instead, I’m where most of the movie-going public lives. That means that for us this is the time when many of the prestige movies are finally available for us to see in a nearby theater. In fact, the closest theater to where I live, which is known for running independent and foreign films (the Spectrum 8 theater in Albany) is showing seven of the nine best picture nominees (Get Out and Dunkirk already played there) and I, Tonya (which is nominated for three Oscars—actress, supporting actress, and film editing).

    Are you one of those people who tries to see all the best picture nominees before the awards are given out? If the snows hold off, and thanks to my local movie theater, I just might be able to do it. Join me on my journey.

     

  • ‘Spiritual Puppy Cosplay Kills Cancer’

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    This is making the rounds on the Internet. Anyone know the source?

    ‘Spiritual Puppy Cosplay Kills Cancer’ is based on my workphone.

    For my landline and my cellphone I get these stories:

    • “Holistic Yoga Vibrators Is as Magical as it Sounds”
    • “Holistic Vegan Shaming Is the New Feminist Battle Against Trump”

    What did you get?

     

     

  • Friday Photo: House Finch

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    A male House Finch, winter 2018.

  • Today’s Earworm: ‘Royals’ by Lorde

  • Movie Review: ‘Bright’

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    In “Bright,” Joel Edgerton plays Jakoby, the first Orc in the Los Angeles Police Department.

    “Bright” isn’t a bad movie.

    The reviews haven’t been kind. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 26%. New York Times: “a loud, ungainly hybrid”; CNN: “a bloated, expensive mess“; Chicago Sun Times: “a tired buddy-cop movie dressed up in bizarre trappings.” Ouch.

    Sure, the world-building could’ve been stronger (more on that later), and it would’ve been nice to see more of Jacoby’s back story, but there’s a lot of good in the movie. Great performances by Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, and, yes, that it is a loud, ungainly, expensive, bizarre buddy-cop movie. For an escapist flick, it is different and an altogether enjoyable ride.

    What drives the story isn’t so much the buddy-cop angle with wondering if an Orc can get along as the first Orc in the Los Angeles Police Department; rather, it is the presence of terrorists, a rogue Elf, the hunt for a powerful wand, and the possible return of The Dark Lord. If you don’t think too much about it, and let the movie’s strangeness wash over you, it is a fine cinematic time.

    The problem with the movie is that it is both too much and not enough. Perhaps this is a fault of marketing that foregrounded the Orc-Human buddy-cop angle, and not enough of how it is really a chase movie through a world that is both familiar and strange.

    ***Spoilers ahead.***

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  • Friday Photo: Winter Fog

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  • Gif test: A Cardinal calls

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  • Today’s Earworm: ‘Rip it Up’ by Orange Juice

     

     

  • National Book Critics Circle Announces Finalists for 2017 Awards

    IMG_8528.jpgThe National Book Critics Circle has announced today winners of three prestigious prizes and nominees in nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poetry, criticism and fiction. The awards will be announced on March 15.

    • Carmen Maria Machado’s debut story collection, Her Body and Other Parties (Graywolf), is being honored with the John Leonard Prize, which recognizes an outstanding first book in any genre. It is named in honor of founding NBCC member John Leonard.
    • Charles Finch is being awarded the 2017 Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing.
    • The Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award will go to John McPhee.
    Here is the complete list of NBCC Award finalists:

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