This is the runway version of Marisa Tomei’s dress from the Oscars:

And I stared at it for about thirty seconds before I finally figured out what it reminded me of!

It reminds me of a very sharp-edged and postmodern take on Mina’s red dinner dress from Dracula, which I saw recently at the Gothic exhibit at FIT.

Man, do I love pleats.

So, Melissa Leo Day (otherwise known as the Oscars) happened last night! Let’s get right to the fashion.

Melissa Leo did not win. This was not a surprise (it was Winslet’s year and everyone knew it), but by the time it happened I felt like it was for the best, because as awesome as I think Melissa Leo is, I did not necessarily want to see her dress again.

Young lady, what are you WEARING?
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Last night at KGB Liz busted out her poll about underrated genre films and asked for everyone’s must-underrated genre movie.

Since this is like asking me which oxygen particle is my favorite, I tried to narrow things down. It went like this:

G: “What are other people saying?”
L: “I can’t tell you.”
G: “But my choices might not even be considered genre!”
L: “They’re fine. Just tell me.”
G: “Whale Rider.”
L: “…but that’s not really genre, is i?”
G: *sobs quietly*

Many people mentioned previous Questionable Taste Theatre movies, which makes me feel less alone in a cruel and empty world, etc. etc., even though I spent half the night reviewing my DVD collection in my mind trying to decide which ones I would consider underrated, since clearly some geek classics were well represented. I mean, underrated in the sci-fi community? At the Oscars? Box office? Enduring legacy? Forgotten influence? This question is going to drive me up a wall, is what I’m saying.

(No, seriously, she summons whales with the power of her mind! Come on!)

Christopher Nolan delivered the world’s coyest announcement about his new movie a few days ago. I waited for details, then gave up and wrote about it on Tor.com without knowing what the hell he’s even planning, NOLAN.

I’m not sure if he just wants to keep this on the down-low, or if he was ready to release more information and the studio was like, “This…smells like old fish. We will give them something vaguer.” (Though, not quite sure how it could be vaguer, unless the press release read only, “Christopher Nolan will be directing a movie.”)

This is the first time we haven’t known the basic idea of the movie he was going for, since Memento built on word of mouth, Insomnia was a remake, Batman is Batman, and The Prestige was a novel adaptation. I don’t know how this will go, frankly. I mean, I’d like to have faith that he’s not going to do something nutball. On the other hand, I’m not joking that I would shove all those movies in a Warning Basket and send them to him as a constant reminder of what can happen to someone who’s like, “Let’s set a movie in the architecture of the mind!”

Okay, seriously, I bet he had a big long thing and the studio was like, “Chris Nolan is directing a sci-fi movie about the architecture of the mine!” and bolted before anyone could realize that was word salad and start asking questions.

Disclaimer: I don’t care about Valentine’s Day except that it gives me a chance to make a list post. I am the Switzerland of Valentine’s day. (Unless people ask me if I’m excited for my “name day,” and then I sigh, because seriously, that joke was old in fourth grade, it’s old now.)

- Michael Fassbender. You inexplicably turn me all caps, big guy. Can’t wait to see you in your disastrous Wuthering Heights next year.

- Star Fleet wallets. I am the bird! (God, did I ever leave the house as an adolescent? Don’t answer that.)

- Family and friends. Dear Mom, I love you so much. Sorry I’m not changing my name. Apologize to Grandma for me.

- Fassbender, my portable computer. It allows me to be rude in public whenever I want.

- My TV. It took away the dialogue track for this week’s Eleventh Hour. It was amazing. Graeme Revell, one of my favorite composers, gave me a little concert, and I got to see the worst arch-enemy arc in recent memory. See for yourself at Tor.com!

ETA: And I never have to watch another episode of Dollhouse now that I turned in my opinion piece to Fantasy, which makes this day practically Thanksgiving!