Tower Wrap-Up : 2008 Academy Awards
February 27, 2008 by Romy
No one was sure if the 80th edition of the Academy Awards would happen this year because of the Writer’s Strike. It seemed as if the milestone 80th year would come and go without a celebration…
And just like in the movies, we had a surprise happy ending! The strike ended two weeks before the ceremony, so the show would go on. Jon Stewart hosted (his second year in this role) and was arguably a funnier host this second time around.
The unpredictability of this year’s Academy Awards was further showcased by the fact that there were no blockbusters competing for best picture. It felt as if all films had a fair chance at winning, and perhaps it is no surprise that the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men walked away with Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor in Supporting Role with Javier Bardem’s very creepy role as a ruthless serial killer. Interestingly, the Coen Brothers film Fargo won 2 Oscars in 1996, and the film followed a similar plotline – ruthless killer being chased by a quirky cop in a remote and desolate location in the US. Other films they’ve written or directed that were nominated for Oscars include: O Brother Where Art Thou? and The Man Who Wasn’t There. Of course, my favorite Coen brothers’ film will always be The Big Lebowski.
Other winner’s this year included everyone’s favorite ‘Indie’ film Juno – which walked away with Best Original Screenplay (check out the soundtrack).
The stunning Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress in Michael Clayton, this year’s law firm drama-thriller. While Marion Cotillard walked away with Best Actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf’s biopic La Vie en Rose.
Of course, no Academy Award celebration seems complete without a film about oil and greed winning at least one Oscar. This year’s There Will Be Blood won Best Cinematography and Best Actor going to Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of a merciless oil prospector.
I must admit that I was very pleased to see Once win Best Song (Music) because I’ve been listening to that album on repeat for months! Meanwhile the Bourne Ultimatum soundtrack won both Best Sound Mixing AND Sound Editing. The incredible Atonement score by Dario Marianelli won Best Music (Score).
All in all, this year’s 80th edition of the Academy Awards was a success and a pleasure to watch. And I hope Jon Stewart returns next year – and of course he’ll have a bunch of new political satire to work with as 2008 will see a new president in the White House.
The Power Of Now - Eckhart Tolle
February 27, 2008 by S C
The Power Of Now
Eckhart Tolle
One of the hardest tasks on a spiritual journey is letting go of ingrained thought processes, beliefs, opinions, and obsessions in order to plunge directly into the reality of the moment. And yet Eckhart Tolle believes this is the key to transformation. THE POWER OF NOW is a direct, simple, and highly readable explication of this powerful principle. Written in a Socratic question-and-answer form, Tolle describes the process of letting go of our ego-identified selves, our “pain bodies,” and embracing the present moment. He outlines the pitfalls that sabotage our attempts to change our lives, and gently leads the reader to discover the incorruptible joy that resides within all of us. While Tolle’s approach is certainly not new–it revisits the basic tenets of Buddhism and several mystical schools–its fresh and non-dogmatic presentation gives new life to a worthwhile message.
Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
February 27, 2008 by S C
Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
Emotionally wrung-out from her divorce, the painful ending of a subsequent love affair, and a general, long-standing feeling of malaise, novelist and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert decides to recharge herself through a yearÆs worth of travel, believing that her return to happiness could be found through exploring both physical gratification and spiritual peace and then determining an appropriate balance between the two. She pursues the first part of her program (eating, drinking, and talking) in Italy, the second in India (joining an ashram), and the third in Bali (studying with a medicine man).
A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
February 27, 2008 by S C
A New Earth
Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle is a gentle guide for change, first in ourselves and then in the world. Addressing the dysfunction all around us, he encourages us to see the source–our egos, which he explains in some depth but also puts simply as “the voices in our head.” Letting go of our egos, we will let go of much of our pain, and will be able to embark on a journey of discovery and “re-creation.” There is much of the natural world in his argument, as he encourages us to connect to the things in the earth and sky that can bring enlightenment. Tolle reflects that we are microcosms of the larger universe, and that human consciousness and the physical world are connected. If we break free from old ways of thinking and seeing, we can change ourselves, individually and collectively. We can, in his view, create a “new species,” one more fully awakened, that can then “re-create” Earth.
Escape the Winter Blues with March Essentials
February 27, 2008 by Romy
This month’s Essentials sale is all about satisfying your inner spring season and escaping the blues that the last months of winter can bring! For those of us who are looking for some great reasons to indulge ourselves this March, Tower.com offers the follow 5 “essential” options:
1. Build your DVD Collection with Must Have New Releases
For those who prefer to hibernate, stay warm with these great new releases, including the hilarious King of California starring Michael Douglas, Suburban Girl featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the amazing new Criterion Collection release, Two-Lane Blacktop.
2. Relax and Unwind with Beautiful Classical Music
Our friends at Naxos know Classical – we are proud to present the latest and greatest in Naxos releases, from their American Classics series to the impeccable cross-genre new release by Lise de la Salle.
3. Re-live the best of the past year by celebrating the 2008 Grammys
This year marked the 50th Anniversary of the Grammy Awards. Sony BMG celebrated some amazing releases this year and, among their group of nominees, they achieved big victories with artists Bruce Springsteen and the Foo Fighters.
4. Discover New Music – CDs for Everyone’s Tastes
Spend the month of March experiencing the best in new music, with styles and artists for every music fan. Our recommendations include new music by rockers Eyes Set to Kill, Bernard Allison and our favorite new find – Spirits in the Material World: A Reggae Tribute to the Police!
5. Lose Yourself with these new Travel Books
There is no better time than the winter to plan your next get-a-way - from trips to some of the most beautiful cities in America to exotic and exciting destinations far away, these newly released travel guides will provide the right inspiration.
