The 168 Turnaround: Pull Start Your Rockets, Friendo

THIS WEEK:  Jan 23 – Jan 29, 2011

PULL START ROCKETS: Pop rock group Pull Start Rockets have released the video for “Leave Out,” the first single from their upcoming debut record.  The Hamilton based band landed a sponsorship with Yamaha, and then made their way to Nashville, TN, where this album was recorded.  I’ve been following these guys for awhile now, and can’t wait for their new record to hit the charts.  If you like what you see and hear, head over to their MySpace page (my favourite tracks include, “What Ever Happened To Love” and “Fool Me Once”).

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: The nominations for the 2011 Academy Awards were announced this past Tuesday (for the full list, click here).  There were some surprises (who’d have guessed the Coen Brother’s True Grit would be nominated in ten categories?), but most of the nominations were as expected (the big players, of course, being The King’s Speech, True Grit, Black Swan, The Social Network, and The Fighter).  As far as I’m concerned, Best Picture should go to either Black Swan or The Social Network; other than that, I’m torn.

RAZZIE NOMINATIONS: Speaking of film awards, the nominations for the 2011 Golden Raspberry Awards were also announced this week.  Surprise, surprise, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Last Airbender are the two films to beat this year, both with nine nominations (for the full list, click here).  The Razzies, an award ceremony showcasing the worst in the past year of filmmaking, is celebrating its 31st anniversary.  Perhaps the most topical and relevant category (and my personal favourite) is Worst Misuse of 3D—I vote for Clash of the Titans.

THE PINKERTON DIARIES: As any of their long time fans will attest, Weezer’s first two albums were their best.  And maybe frontman Rivers Cuomo realizes this, as he is set to release The Pinkerton Diaries, a collection of his writings from 1994 through 1997 (the years between Weezer’s debut album and the release of their second album, Pinkerton).  This past Thursday, Cuomo posted a video to his YouTube channel, giving fans a quick look at the proof copy of the book, which is set to be released in March.  This smells like a cash grab, but maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe The Pinkerton Diaries will be to Pinkerton what a director’s commentary is to a film.  Or maybe not.

DARK TOWER CASTING: Fans of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series have had a lot to think about, what with Ron Howard recently announcing that he would adapt the novels into three movies and two seasons of a television show (with the tv show airing before and after the second film).  Now comes news that the role of the main character, Roland Deschain, has been officially offered to none other than our old friendo, Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men).  No final negotiations have been made, but it seems as if the titular gunslinger has finally been cast.  What I want to know is who they’ll cast to play Stephen King (that’s right, the author himself becomes a pivotal character in the series’ final two novels).

WIN OF THE WEEK: Mini Golf Win
This is a small win, but the best part of the video is the slow motion replay—sounds like a handful of demons have been loosed on the world, only they’re all dumber than a bag of hammers.

FAIL OF THE WEEK: Safe Driving Fail
This is terrifying, but what amuses me most is how the man driving seems upset that his wife asks if he’s okay.  Come on ladies, never question a guy’s manliness.

The 168 Turnaround is a week-in-review column, a place for me to reflect on the week’s most interesting pop culture news items.  If it mattered to me or I think it might matter to you, then it will be here.  If I’ve overlooked an important news item, or if you have a comment or question, please leave a response below.  Thank you for reading.