The past is gone, but...

Here's what I want to know. When did Leonardo DiCaprio become such a fantastic actor? I mean, he's, like, really good. I have recently been impressed by his performances in both The Departed and Blood Diamond. To the point that I can understand his two-fer nomination and everything!
(For those who haven't been paying close attention, Leo was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe for both of those films, so he's competing against himself.)

I guess personally I would choose the Blood Diamond performance, but that might be biased because I liked that movie better overall. I saw The Departed tonight and I had the same problem with it I have with most action-cops-mob-informant-violence etc. movies, even when they're really good like L.A. Confidential, or The Godfather, and that is that it's really hard for me to keep everyone straight and after the inevitable Big Reveal (or two or three) I'm like, wait, what about so-and-so? It's as if there's one last detail I haven't quite solidified in my mind before we're racing off to the next scene with yet another twist. Ugh. I won't spoil the ending here, but if anyone saw that movie and wants to discuss, let me know. Did I mention Leo was great? Seriously. Plus I got to reminisce about Boston while watching it.

So, yeah, I've been trying to catch up on my Golden Globe-nominated films. I am very much enjoying awards season and anticipating the upcoming Oscar nominations. The only problem is that I'm currently hanging out in middle America. This whole plan to see a movie a day for 21 days while here in Arizona on winter break is great, except that Phoenix is regrettably not L.A. or New York, so the movies that aren't in nationwide release yet are not here. Bummer.

But I've seen quite a few, including Babel, which still has a hold on me in some weird way. It was an astounding viewing experience around which I have yet to completely wrap my mind. I really want to discuss that movie, but first I have to sort it out in my head.

Another great thing (ahem) about being in Arizona is the radio station selection. Good thing I like the new "95.1 Latino Vibe" and the country, or I'd be hurting. Even with the country, it's hilarious because it's seriously all like Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, and George Strait, and not their new stuff. They're going through the same playlists as when I was in high school. These Phoenix radio stations never change. Except for the alternative stations, which shrivel up and die (KUKQ...KZON...even The Edge...) Of course, the country stations do manage to throw in a few of the recent crop of "God told me to be a Republican" songs, and then I can't hit the button fast enough.

Speaking of high school, some of the "mix of the 80s and 90s" and such like stations have this tendency to play the hell out of the Gin Blossoms. That's no surprise really as they hail from these parts and are about the biggest act to do so since Alice Cooper, and this time around it is clearly the turn of "Hey Jealousy." If I don't hear it at least once when I borrow my mom's car to go somewhere then something is amiss. The good thing is, I really really like singing along to that song, and so I do, and this trip I'm making it to an empowering New-Year-New-You kind of thing as I belt out, "The past is gone but something might be found to take its place!"

Now, if the radio stations could just get the hang of that concept we'd be all set.