If we're friends on facebook you more than likely saw my post a couple of weeks ago where I was so excited to have been drawn as Grand Prize winner for this year's Outguess Ebert contest! The goal was to outguess Mr. Ebert in 10 Oscar categories. (Mr. Ebert was 8 out of 10, he was right on in his picks this year.)
As all good stories must have, there is a twist. I went back and forth between Meryl Streep and Viola Davis for best actress. And if you read my last couple of posts, I picked Viola Davis to win, but I forgot to change my vote in the online contest from Streep to Davis before the deadline was up. When I double checked online to make sure I hadn't marked anything incorrectly, I told my husband that I messed up and if Davis won, I might lose. However I had to X one out, on my at home ballot instead and as luck would have it, I went 10 for 10 in the Ebert contest.
The grand prize was round-trip airfare for 2 to LA, two nights hotel stay and two tickets to the world premier of Universal Pictures "The Bourne Legacy."
Unfortunately, the cost to get to Chicago and back from Austin (the winner was required to depart on their trip from Chicago) and all the other little things not covered by the contest, like transportation to and from the airport, hotel, etc. was too much for us to pay for right now, so I had to decline the grand prize. I won't lie and say I did it gracefully. Well... I did the actual declining gracefully, I didn't yell at the lady on the phone or some such thing. But I was sorely disappointed that I couldn't go and I did complain to the husband that it's unfair they had the departure requirements set like that. If "they" (the sponsor) had let you fly out of any airport and we could have left from Austin, I definitely would have accepted.
Since I couldn't however, I was moved to the list of 10 first-prize winners and that made me very happy! Instead of the trip and premier tickets, I will receive an autographed copy of Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2012 and an Academy Award-nominated Home Entertainment DVD Library, featuring a random selection of 18 titles.
Oh wait. Did I say will? I meant HAVE! I hop, skipped and jumped my way from the mailbox to the car this afternoon with my bundle of movies! I have in my possession 7 of the 18 titles and a complete list of what I will be receiving.
Since I am getting 18 "random" titles there are a few that I am not so sure about. But mostly I can't wait to start watching films!
I am getting:
Beginners
A Better Life*
The Descendants
RIO*
Bridesmaids
The Help*
The Ides of March
War Horse
Jane Eyre*
Margin Call
The Iron Lady
The Muppets*
Hugo*
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Warrior
My Week With Marilyn
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Tree of Life*
*in my possession
If you click here you can see the official online article in the Sun-Times, Roger Ebert section. (Yes, they spelled my name incorrectly. I'm used to it.)
