Oscars 2017: who should win

Best Picture - Arrival, for being a transcendent film. La La Land, a very good film, would be deserving too. i totally didn't get Moonlight.

Best Director - Damien Chazelle is fully deserving if he wins. there were so many things happening in La La Land it's hard to question his brilliance. but Denis Villeneuve is his equal, while Mel Gibson directed some of the greatest war scenes ever in Hacksaw Ridge.

Best Actor - Denzel Washington in a weak field. his role is an awards bait. Andrew Garfield deserves credit for an eye-catching performance. i wasn't won over by Casey Affleck, Viggo Mortensen didn't do much behind those facial hair, and Ryan Gosling was just Ryan Gosling.

Best Actress - based on performance, Meryl Streep -- and Isabelle Huppert close behind. based on buzz, Emma Stone. Natalie Portman was underwhelming and Ruth Negga was average.

Best Supporting Actor - Jeff Bridges or Michael Shannon (shame about Aaron Taylor-Johnson). i love Mahershala Ali but he barely appeared. Dev Patel is overrated.

Best Supporting Actress - Viola Davis is too strong here, although i really enjoyed Michelle Williams' and Nicole Kidman's performances.

Best Cinematography - Silence, Lion and La La Land had nice shots periodically but Arrival was the most consistently auteurist whose cinematography was a key element of its success. Moonlight is a close second.

Best Original Screenplay - gonna play devil's advocate here and say i enjoyed the writing of the four others more than La La Land. Hell or High Water or The Lobster for me.

Best Adapted Screenplay - i didn't enjoy Moonlight but it's a fine piece of art. Hidden Figures and Lion had strong source material, Arrival was a victory of direction more than writing, and Fences was simply a play plastered on screen.

an objective sack

Leicester sacked the manager who pulled off not just their greatest achievement, but the greatest feat in sports. now move on. i don't completely agree with the criticism. it's not like the club will forget him. they'll still build him the statue. critics say he's earned immunity. those critics don't acknowledge he's facing relegation with pretty much the same squad. that's a major step backwards. should the owners watch the club relegate and bask in the past?

Where To Invade Next

Italy, 8 weeks of annual leave, 2 hours of lunch.

 

Finland, no homework, no standardised testing, no streamed schools.

 

Slovenia, university is free.

 

Germany, half of company boards are employees, employees cannot be contacted outside office hours.

选贤能 修信用 贼不作 谋不用

Here's to the hearts that ache,
Here's to the mess we make.

"我景仰先生并不是因为先生的革命，而是先生坚持到底的精神。"

It's just enough glitter amongst the chickenfeed.

原来当爱放下防备后的这些那些 都有个期限

You will see me one more time if you do good. You will see me two more times if you do bad.

"People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance. I'm sure the people in group number two are looking at those fourteen lights in a very suspicious way. For them, the situation is a fifty-fifty. Could be bad, could be good. But deep down, they feel that whatever happens, they're on their own. And that fills them with fear. Yeah, there are those people. But there's a whole lot of people in group number one. When they see those fourteen lights, they're looking at a miracle. And deep down, they feel that whatever's going to happen, there will be someone there to help them. And that fills them with hope."

partial judges

there are many things about the American political system that are complex yet sensible. the one thing i don't get is why Supreme Court justices can be left or right and affect the appointments. yes humans have ideologies but shouldn't the judicial branch be impartial?

"I encourage you from time to time, and always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. If you're unconvinced that a particular plan of action I've decided is the wisest, tell me so, but allow me to convince you and I promise you right here and now, no subject will ever be taboo. Except, of course, the subject that was just under discussion."