Pop culture couch potato

I watched the Golden Globes award show on Sunday night, mostly because it's fun to critique the crazy wardrobe choices some stars make (I'm talking to you, Drew Barrymore. You thought that that Drunken Marilyn hairdo was a good choice? Really?).

Rather more to the point of the awards show, though, is the fact that I have seen very few of the nominated films. Since most of the films were released in the last part of 2008, and I live in an culturally quiet corner of the Upper Midwest, it takes a little longer for these movies to make their way to the local theater (or theatre, as the local movie chain grandly calls it).

Surprisingly, I have watched quite a few movies (mostly on DVD) since the start of the New Year. Can't say why...usually it's a struggle for me to get through one DVD in a weekend. Maybe it's because it's so cold out. Maybe it's because there's nothing good on TV right now (Lost premieres a week from today!!). Maybe I'm just in more of a movie watching mood. Anyway, in no particular orer, here's a recap of some of the movies I've seen recently:

Mad Men, season 1 (on DVD): I've fallen hard for this TV show. The acting and writing are outstanding, and the time period of the early 1960s is recreated with absolute faithfulness. Since I'm one of those cheapskates who doesn't subscribe to cable or satellite TV, I just might break down and subscribe to Netflix to keep up with this series.

Australia (at the theater): Baz Luhrmann's sweeping story of Australia right before WWII. Part comedy, part western, part war movie, part love story, this is an epic in an old-school way, like Gone With the Wind or The Ten Commandments. Hugh Jackman is definitely a plus, but this was ultimately a disappointment for me. The story was predictable (when I can guess the dialog in advance, that's bad) and there were plot holes you could drive a herd of cattle through. Hugh Jackman (did I mention him?) is pretty, though.

Leatherheads (on DVD): Cute comedy with George Clooney about the early days of football. Goofy fun in the style of His Girl Friday.

The Fall (on DVD): This one stuck with me long after I watched it. It is visually stunning, and the acting between the two leads is wonderful. At its core, the movie is about the relationship between a young man and a little girl who meet in the hospital. The plot cuts back and forth between their developing friendship and the adventure story he tells her to entertain her. I loved the contrast between the naturalism of the hospital scenes and the fantasy segments of the adventure story. Incredible scenery and awesome art direction. The story of how the movie was made is nearly as interesting as the movie itself!

Deception (on DVD): Suspense thriller starring Hugh Jackman (again) and Ewan McGregor. It wasn't bad, reminding me of Derailed. Like that movie, though, the cast was better than the movie itself.

Sweeney Todd (on DVD): Too grisly for my taste.

Slumdog Millionaire (at the theater): Well, when I see a Golden Globe winner, I pick a good one! A must-see movie.