pop culture, reviewed

I think this Oscar season has finally done it.  I think the nominees might have finally ruined depressing movies for me forever.  I can’t handle anymore.  I saw Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen too long ago for those to help me with the despair that the others have caused more recently.  Please, please, can I go see a double-feature of that new Jennifer Garner movie and the new Mandy Moore movie?  Followed by the Drew Barrymore/Hugh Grant vehicle?  Anything heavier and I will have to be committed. 

Let’s review:

The Departed — No spoilers here but it’s, um,  a wee bit bloody.  Lots of casualties.

Blood Diamond — No need to revisit.  We already know that this one almost put me in the hospital. 

Letters from Iwo Jima — There was totally one scene where I think I saw intestines on the outside of someone’s body.

Babel — Again, no spoilers, but I’ll just say it’s pretty harrowing. 

Children of Men — I was so desensitized by the time I saw this one that the pre-apocalyptic nature of it almost didn’t bother me.

Notes on a Scandal — Not as physically gruesome as the others but just as emotionally taxing.  This one’s no romp in the park.

Even The Pursuit of Happyness [sic] focuses way more on the “pursuit” (that is, the miserable part).  As soon as you get to the happiness part, the credits start rolling.

 And I just saw Venus, which I loved, and which I would almost categorize as a feel-good movie (especially within this crop), but you know, it’s not really a picnic either, what with being about an elderly lech and the vulnerable young girl with whom he becomes besotted.

So, I am very, very sorry, Forest Whitaker, but I am not sure whether I am going to be able to see you in The Last King of Scotland.  I believe that Ugandan dictator movies are not really what I am looking for right now.  Thank you for understanding.