The Deuce Club, 2.20

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By Jackie, TW Social Director

Good evening, TWibe! Today's Deuce Club includes a preview to a special event ... so make sure to read 'til the end.

I've heard from some of you that the old DC time works better for you (Thursday at 5 PM TW), but I'd like to continue to give this new time a try. Please bookmark this new time and try to stop by on Friday or sometime during the weekend - the DC's always up and running! f you have any thoughts about this or anything else DC-related, feel free to contact me at my Tennis.com e-mail here. You can also find me on Facebook if you're a member of our TennisWorld > Real World group (join if you haven't already!).

Without further ado, today's DC is all about ... the Oscars!

I watch the Oscars every year, from start to finish - ironic considering I'm not a big movie person. Sure, when I'm channel-surfing and My Best Friend's Wedding flashes across my screen, I'll watch a few scenes, but I don't usually go out of my way to check out what's opening at the theater every week. This year, though, I decided to switch things up and take the time to watch some of the Oscar-nominated flicks. After all, it's not much fun rooting for a film when you haven't even seen it, right?

One film I didn't hesitate for a moment to drop some dollars for was The Wrestler. For those of you who don't know, I've been a devoted wrestling fan for over 15 years, so I was chomping at the bit to see it. Finally we wrestling fans had a film that didn't depict wrestling as pure buffoonery (Ready to Rumble, anyone?). Plus, it featured a performance many critics were touting as the best of the year - whodathunkit?

I saw The Wrestler for the first time in December, during limited release, then again just a couple of weeks ago. It is, in a word, fantastic. (It must've been if I paid to see the thing twice in a couple of months, right?) Mickey Rourke stars as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a wrestler past his prime, struggling to come to terms with life in the real world. The critics weren't wrong - Rourke gives a stunning performance.

You know how you can sometimes acknowledge an impressive performance by an actor, but the entire time you're still aware that the actor is playing the character? This movie was different - you didn't see Mickey Rourke doing his best impression of a wrestler. You saw Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an aging wrestler who sort of resembled that Rourke guy.

In that sense, it had almost a documentary feel to it, and director Darren Aronofsky (of Requiem for a Dream fame) was wise to ensure that the only thing over-the-top about the movie was the wrestling itself. Indeed, while most of the acclaim is being attributed to the acting (Rourke's, as well as that of supporting actors Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood), I'd argue that the film itself is a brilliant work. It is at turns gripping, tear-jerking, shocking, funny, and achingly touching. Great music, too. (Springsteen fans, stick around for the credits. You won't be sorry.)

Still, no one's naming The Wrestler as the best film of the year (well, no one except me) ... that honor has gone to Slumdog Millionaire. Of course, I had to see that one, considering it's swept all the awards this season. Just like The Wrestler, I give the film a thumbs up, though I don't think I can ever watch it again. It totally stressed me out - in the best possible way, of course! It's one of those films that's so penetrating you find yourself cringing during even the stillest scene or crying at a moment that's not the least bit "sad" ... so intense you're certain your heart is about to break. Despite all the trauma(!), I can't deny that Slumdog Millionaire is a fine work - visually astounding, cleverly written, artfully directed - and deserving of the coveted "Best Picture" Oscar.

Finally, I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which hasn't done so badly this awards season, either - and is actually nominated for the most Oscars (13). Not surprisingly, I also enjoyed this film, albeit at a much different level than the other two (more on that in a bit). My friend Lynn liked it, too, though she felt as though she'd seen it before - or parts of it, anyway. She likened it to Forrest Gump, Fried Green Tomatoes, and maybe even Meet Joe Black (I'll throw in Legends of the Fall because of the Brad Pitt-Julia Ormond connection!).

I couldn't altogether disagree; still, where it lacks in originality, it makes up in storytelling. And while it has a Forrest Gump feel to it - not a bad movie to be compared to, incidentally - it does possess a singular charm. I wasn't as moved by it as I was The Wrestler or Slumdog Millionaire, but I found this viewing experience to be the ... easiest. But don't let that fool you - Benjamin Button isn't mere fluff. It's a luxurious epic, dripping with drama (and major Pitt/Cate Blanchett hottness).

I don't claim to be a movie expert by any means, so please take my "reviews" with a grain of salt. I'm wondering what everyone else thought of these flicks (if you've seen them, of course): What were your impressions and how many stars/thumbs would you give them? What other films, Oscar-nominated or not, have you seen this year and would you recommend them to the TWibe?

Let the Oscar talk flow! Oh, one more thing ...

I'd like to invite you all to join me for a virtual Oscar party right here on Sunday night! Remember the virtual holiday fete we hosted in December? This'll be just like that ... 'cept with no mistletoe. (Unless Gilles decides to show.)

Here are the details: Again, the party is on Sunday, and we'll be starting at 8 PM TW time. I'll be here a lil' early, though, running back and forth from the kitchen and the TV, setting up snacks and checking out who's wearing what (or who, I should say) on the red carpet. Feel free to stop by then or at any point during the broadcast. We can share predictions, calm each other's nerves (Mickey Rourke must win!), keep each other awake when the show starts to drag, gossip about who's hott and who's not, and just revel in each other's company. I hope you can all make it!