Who’s going to win big at the Academy Awards? The HSX knows.

The HSX (Hollywood Stock Exchange) is a market which trades in movies. Every year around Oscar time they put out options on the nominees; the market has been exceedingly good at predicting winners.

This year, the HSX predicts:

* Best picture: Million Dollar Baby

*Best adapted screenplay: Sideways

If you’re in an Oscar pool, I wouldn’t bet against these picks.

On today’s Daily Kos, Armando writes, “I don’t use the word fascist lightly – but what else can you call this?”

I’m not familiar with Armando’s ouevre, so maybe this is true. But the idea of a Kossack saying he doesn’t use the word fascist lightly strikes me as being a little funny. Kind of like a Freeper beginning with “I don’t like to obsess about MSM bias . . .”

In reference to an earlier post about Ridley Scott’s upcoming Kingdom of Heaven, a reader points us to the site Dhimmi Watch, which charges that the movie’s script “panders to Osama bin Laden.”

That’s a pretty stiff charge (made originally by the London Telegraph, which Dhimmi Watch is quoting), which is backed up by this story:

The film, which began shooting last week in Spain, is set in the time of King Baldwin IV (1161-1185), leading up to the Battle of Hattin in 1187 when Saladin conquered Jerusalem for the Muslims.

The script depicts Baldwin’s brother-in-law, Guy de Lusignan, who succeeds him as King of Jerusalem, as “the arch-villain”. A further group, “the Brotherhood of Muslims, Jews and Christians”, is introduced, promoting an image of cross-faith kinship.

“They were working together,” the film’s spokesman said. “It was a strong bond until the Knights Templar cause friction between them.”

The Knights Templar, the warrior monks, are portrayed as “the baddies” while Saladin, the Muslim leader, is a “a hero of the piece”, Sir Ridley’s spokesman said. “At the end of our picture, our heroes defend the Muslims, which was historically correct.”

Scott’s spokesman adds, “It’s trying to be fair and we hope that the Muslim world sees the rectification of history.”

Historians, of course, call this “rectification of history” rubbish.

But now we know why CAIR and the other Muslim grievance groups have been silent about Kingdom of Heaven.

Captain Ed has a post about Howard Dean’s visit to Kansas, where the Democratic governor refused to be seen with him. If the Democratic party is to remain a viable national party, expect to see more of this type of thing.

These past three days I have been sick with the flu, ratcheting temperatures over 100 degrees, and coughing uncontrollably like Edward “Longshanks” from Braveheart. The good news is I’ve had time to catch up on some movies, namely: Ransom, An Officer and a Gentleman, Maid in Manhattan, The Comancheros, and My Bodyguard.

Just a few thoughts:

Ransom: Perhaps because I am now married and may one day be a father (not any time soon mind you), the plot of child abduction and psychological torture was more disturbing to me than the first time I saw this movie. Who knew director Ron Howard could be so dark? The film’s tension, however, stems not from the actual kidnapping, but from the dilemma of what to do. Dad (Mel Gibson) is convinced paying the kidnappers won’t save his son while Mom (Rene Russo) believes in the exact opposite. The outcome is nothing you would expect.

An Officer and a Gentleman: Where are the tough guys like Drill Sergeant Foley these days? Perhaps a better question is Where is Oscar-winner Lou Gossett Jr. these days? Or Debra Winger for that matter? Or David Keith?

Maid in Manhattan: I must have been delirious when I decided to watch this cute love story starring J. Lo and Ralph Fiennes. But I will say this: It isn’t often that Hollywood decides to portray a New York rising politician (Fiennes) in the handsome and dashing mold of JFK Jr. as a Republican. And having been accustomed to so much GOP-bashing on film these days, I expected him to switch parties at the last minute. He doesn’t. He gets the girl and becomes the next Republican senator from New York. That said, any maid who tries on a guest’s clothes deserves to be fired.

The Comancheros: I must be getting really bored because I’m watching Westerns, which I rarely do. Yet this one, starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman, isn’t half-bad. And Jack Elam plays a Comanchero called Horseface. (Remember Elam as the alcoholic doctor in Cannonball Run?)

My Bodyguard: No, this is not a movie starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. This is a 1980 classic about a rich kid (Chris Makepeace) who transfers to a gritty Chicago public school, is harassed by a young ruffian (Matt Dillon) and his crew of extortionists, and seeks the employ of a large and angry-looking loner (Adam Baldwin) to serve as his bodyguard. (I wonder how much of this film, directed by Tony Bill, influenced the likes of John Hughes.) Performances across the board, as Variety would put it, are stellar, including Martin Mull as the single parent, the wonderful Ruth Gordon as the slightly senile grandmother, and a braces-wearing Joan Cusack in her film debut. The score is mostly classical and, at least for me, nostalgic. If you haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend it.

Time to take my temperature.

Blogger WillyShake’s Unconsidered Trifles points to an interesting column in the Philadelphia Daily News where Michael Smerconish writes about Michael Tuohey.

Tuohey is a US Air employee who worked at the ticket counter in Portland. He handled Mohamed Atta’s check in on September 11. His story is worth reading.

In an otherwise interesting item about Soprano-like activities in parts of New Jersey, my fellow Galley Slave Jonathan V. Last mistook me to hail from Monmouth County. I am actually from Toms River in nearby Ocean County. That said, Monmouth is a beautifully rustic region with towns such as Colts Neck, which is not a part of the above-mentioned scandal. Monmouth is also home to the legendary Golden Bell Diner.

And while I am at it, let me reassure our readers that there are no obvious signs of corruption in Toms River–at least not that I am aware of under the sturdy leadership of Republican enforcer Carmine Inteso.

Crew Chief Quarters has a picture of the Citizens United billboard. It will make your day.