Santino could be a World Champion by the end of the year

Santino could be a World Champion by the end of the year

Right, I’m already going to accept my fate of being called every slur under the son and the probable cyber-beating that I will receive for this article. But, I’m going to write it anyway. Why? Because that’s the way I role Mother-farmers. 

In the midst of this Wrestlemania season, where The WWE throws it’s big stars into the mix in the desperate hope to create a positive reaction in the fans, there has been one performer that has bowled me over. Sure, I’m excited over the big matches, but not much in the booking of them has really made me stand up and go ‘wow’. One man has though. That man is our cobra donning friend, Santino Marella. 

I can already here you groan already, but just here me out. Santino has accomplished something in recent weeks that not many superstars can do in their whole career. He has managed to get them rooting for them. In the Battle Royal and Elimination Chamber, Santino was the fan favourite. He was the one that everybody wanted to win. Creating almost an unprecedented atmosphere. 

The reason for this almost epic like reaction? It’s down to character investment. The Santino story is an easy one to tell. He’s a loveable loser. Yes, he’s geeky and yes, he can sometimes be annoying. But, he’s himself and he gives whatever he does a 100%. The years of not achieving have made the crowd invest in Santino, meaning whenever he exceeds our low expectations, we want him to win. 

It’s this connection that has gained Santino the respect of the crowd. A respect that many of the baby faces in the locker room fail to get. It’s this connection that makes me believe that Santino will become a World Champion by the end of the year.

We’ve not had an underdog success story for a few years. Not since Rey Mysterio at Wrestlemania 22. I’m of the honest belief that Santino could be the next one. Since the WWE has teased Santino winning the big one several times now and he has failed each time, I would continue with the trend. 

Over the next twelve months I would have Santino face off in a few Number 1 contender matches.  Each time Santino would come pretty close to winning, but falling at the last hurdle. Each time he loses like this, the crowd will want him to win more and more. After a few months of this I would have Santino winning to become number 1 contender. The pop for that alone would be nuts. 

Santino would go into the match as a huge fan favourite, but no one deep down, would expect him to win. A true element of surprise would be achieved if Santino won and I’m sure the crowd would explode. The celebration alone would be worth the effort put in. 

He doesn’t need to have a long title run, I’d just judge it on how behind him the crowd actually are, but I would at least try it, you never know, it might just be crazy enough to work. 

Until next time, enjoy the show.

Follow me on Twitter @glamgrunge

Or email me at cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Daniel Morris.

Night at the Oscars

Night at the Oscars

It's the season to watch the Oscars, and where the A-list, elite get excited in the vain hope they win a statue of a gold, bald little man. Since it’s the biggest night on the film calendar the Sunday lister will once again be postponed. My apologies. However, this week I will run down the top categories at the Academy Awards, who I think will win and who I want to win. So sit back and enjoy Dan’s night at the Oscars. 

Best Supporting Actor

Who I think will win: Christopher Plummer Who I want to Win: Nick Nolte.

Best supporting Actor is one of the few categories where I haven’t seen all the nominees. But, I have seen Moneyball, Beginners and Warrior. Out of these three, my personal choice would have to be Nick Nolte. I thought Nolte was an absolute tour de’ force in Warrior, throwing his heart and soul into every scene.

However, I can’t see anybody but Plummer winning. He’s British, he’s respected and his character in Beginners is a pretty good one. Not to mention that Plummer has practically won every award under the son. I preferred Nolte, but I can’t complain if Plummer does win. 

Best Supporting Actress

Who I think will win: Octavia Spencer Who I want to Win: Jessica Chastain

Spencer like Plummer has won most awards under the son. And she looks to be a shoe in for this year. I thought Spencer was good, but not great. Sure her performance is fine and somewhat compelling, but she doesn’t grab me completely.

Her Help counterpart Jessica Chastain on the other hand, offers up a charming, compelling and routable character Celia Foote who is definitely my favourite thing in The help. 

Best Original Screenplay

Who I think will win: The Artist Who I want to Win: Midnight in Paris

I’m not a Woody Allen fan. That may be pretty blasphemous to some, but I’m not. I like his ‘classics’, but the majority of the stuff he’s done in the last decade or so has been mediocre at best. Then comes Midnight in Paris. I was taken aback by how much I enjoyed Midnight in Paris. It smacked of charm and quick, something refreshing and reminiscent of classic Allen.

However, sadly Midnight in Paris will undoubtedly be overshadowed by The Artist, which will most likely pick up this award and every other award available to it tonight. 

Best Adapted Screenplay

Who I think will win: The Descendants Who I want to Win: The Descendants

Four categories in and we have come to the point where what I think will win and what I want to win are one and the same. I know it’s now been thrust out of the loop in Oscar contentions, but I really enjoyed Alexander Payne’s The Descendants. There is no doubt that Payne is a genius for creating story conflict out of almost nothing and is rapidly becoming one of my favourite modern day screenwriters.

Thankfully, I have high hopes for Payne getting his second screenwriting gong this year. That being said, I wouldn’t complain if Ides of March picked up the Golden Baldie either. 

Best Actor in a leading Role

Who I think Will Win: Jean Dujardin Who I want to win: George Clooney

I haven’t seen all of these nominations either, with me not getting round to Birchir’s performance in A Better Life. However, no disrespect to Birchir, but it does seem to be Dujardin vs. Clooney in this category. I thought Dujardin’s performance was comical and fresh. However, it lacked the real passion that Clooney’s did.

That being said, I’ve got a feeling that Mr Clooney will not win his second acting Oscar this year and it will go to Mr Dujardin. 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Who I think will win: Meryl Streep Who I want to win: Rooney Mara

I didn’t love The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I know a lot of people did and I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t love it. For me it was far too long, with the really good bits coming to few and far between. With that in mind, Mara would definitely my pick for the Academy Award this year. No it wasn’t an original role, but Mara’s Salander was so strong, that it’s hard not to be impressed.

Alas, it will not be Salander’s year. Miss Streep is far and away the clear favourite to win this year, and to be fair to her, you can’t really argue it. Her performance as Thatcher is impressive as it is bold. Also, Lisbeth Salander is probably too hardcore of a character for the academy to really appreciate it. 

Best Director

Who I think will win: Michael Hazanavicius Who I want to win: Michael Hazanavicius  

This one’s a close one for me. Whereas I prefer Paris as a film, I think The Artist’s strongest point is Hazanvicius’ directing. The Artist is clearly his brain child, and his passion comes through in abundance, breathing life in what could become an over-the-top farce.

I think Hazanvicius will be the second one where my picks align as it looks like he’s a shoe in for this award. However, I don’t think everybody will be utterly surprised if Scorsese doesn’t win. 

Best Film

Who I think will win: The Artist Who I want to win: Midnight in Paris/ The Descendants

I’d be happy for either Midnight in Paris or The Descendants winning this year’s best film title. I love both projects, more so than I ever thought I would, both managing to entertain me and emotionally connect me as an audience member. Albeit, in two very different ways.

However, when it comes down to it, I have no doubt in my mind that The Artist is going to walk away with the Best Film award at this year’s Academy Awards. Does it deserve it? Maybe. There is no doubt that The Artist is a bold movie. I just prefer the other two. But, I know I’m the minority. 

So there my picks. Let me know what you think.

Either email me at cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter @glamgrunge

Until next time, enjoy the show.

Well, that didn't last long.

Well, that didn't last long.

So two weeks ago, I wrote about how the WWE have actually impressed me with their build to the HHH and Undertaker feud. Well this week I’m back to my old self. By that I obviously mean, I’m going to call the WWE on their booking decision. I’m sure there are probably a few bad decisions, but the one I’m talking about is CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the Wrestlemania match. Not only do I think it should happen, I think it needs to happen. John Cena vs. The Rock is going to be electrifying, The Undertaker vs. HHH is going to be memorable, but Jericho vs. Punk has the potential to be match of the year, if not the decade. 

However, the way the WWE have gone about booking the match annoys me. It all started back when Jericho came back; already the Internet Wrestling Community was talking about the possibility of a dream match between Jericho vs. Punk. If they started to book it then, then fair enough. But, they didn’t Jericho became the Jeric-troll and threatened to change the industry as we know it. Great.

I was excited, as I’m sure you were. However, Jericho didn’t win the 2012 Royal Rumble as many had predicted. So the industry hadn’t changed, like we were told. But instead everything stayed the same. Then the chamber was next. Jericho had turned full fledge heal and had already started a program with Punk. Brilliant. 

Surely, Jericho was going to walk into the Elimination Chamber and screw Punk for the title. I could just see it, Jericho is last to enter, but just before he does Punk is attacked. Jericho gets the cheap pin and becomes the champion. 

Alas, we didn’t get that either. Instead Jericho got kicked in the head, fell out of the chamber and became ‘concussed’. Punk won the elimination chamber and retained the belt. 

So last night on Raw there was a battle royal to see who would face Punk at Mania. Jericho, once again entered the main event as favourite. Finally, he won the battle royal. How did he win it you ask? By being very dominate? Well, no. He did eliminate The Big Show though. Did he do it impressively? Well no, Cody Rhodes helped. 

So let me get this straight. The WWE championship is your main prize. You have a hugely popular Champion and your number one challenger for the biggest show of the year taken three chances to fight the champion? Yes. 

Jericho finished second in the Rumble, got another chance, where he finished 3^rd in the chamber, then in his final chance, he managed to win. Doesn’t really make him look credible does it? Well no. 

But, let’s focus on the positives, the match is finally happening. Let’s hope that they make Jericho look credible before the two fight at ‘Mania. Even if worse comes to worse, they’ll still give us a good match. Creative can’t screw that up. Well hopefully not. 

Until next time, enjoy the show

Feel free to comment below. Email me at cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

The Sunday Lister: Top 5 Toy Story Characters

The Sunday Lister: Top 5 Toy Story Characters

Howdy folks, good Sunday to you. I have had quite a stressful weekend, with a few things going wrong. So I may try and keep this short and sweet this week. I have decided to cheer myself up by writing about something close to my childhood. Yes, of course It’s Toy Story. If you guessed correctly, you win A Cookie (lies!). 

Ahem, moving on. Here is this week’s Sunday Lister. 

5 The Character: Ken (Michael Keaton) From: Toy Story 3

The only character in my top five that hasn’t appeared in every Toy Story film. So what does Ken have in one film, that some of the other characters don’t over all three? Well the answer is simple: Ken has depth. We know he’s an ass, but yet we feel for him. We sympathise with him when the other toys make fun of him and that’s a sign of a good character. Plus, I secretly want his wardrobe. 

4. The Character: Sarge (R. Lee Ermey) From: Toy Story 1,2,3

Sarge and his boys are the unsung heroes of the Toy Story world. They do all the dirty work, without getting any of the praise the other characters do. Sarge is the bravest toy there is. He’s commanding and a great leader should be. Also, he’s cool as a cucumber to boot. So, this is me giving Sarge his dues. He deserves it. 

3. The Character: Woody (Tom Hanks) From: Toy Story 1,2,3

‘Woody at Three?’  How could I do that? He’s the main character. Am I out of my mind? Well yes I am, but here me out. Yes Woody is a great character. He’s got emotional depth in abundance. We empathise with everything he does, because we know that deep down we’d feel exactly the same. Why he isn’t higher? Well the other two are better, in my opinion. 

2. The Character: Hamm (John Ratzenberger) From: Toy Story 1,2,3

John Ratzenberger is Pixar’s good luck charm. But, not just that. He’s also a great voice actor. With such a warm and hearty voice, it’s hard not to be pulled into whatever voice Ratzenberger does. None more than Hamm. Hamm is the Toys mouth piece. Whatever the others are thinking, Hamm says. And he’s a hoot to boot. That Musical hog. 

1. The Character: Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) From: Toy Story 1,2,3

I imagine this one surprised very little of you. I love Buzz Lightyear I do. If it was socially acceptable to buy an adults sized Buzz costume and wear it as everyday clothes. I would do. I’d never wash it. What I love about Buzz is he’s a dreamer. He doesn’t let anyone stop him. He believes in what he believes and reaches for those stars. If normal Buzz wasn’t enough. I have just two more words: Spanish Buzz.

So there are my top 5 Toy Story characters. I hope you enjoyed reading it 

Feel free to agree or disagree in the comment box below. 

Email me at cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Or follow me on Twitter @glamgrunge

Until next time, enjoy the show

Daniel Morris.