The Most Honorable Honoree

Even though I don't have a vote in this year's T-Giving nomination, I would like to use my first official blog to endorse Bruce Springsteen as this year's Guest of Honor. I was going to suggest The Boss as the actual Nomination, but I don't think he has enough quality film titles to carry the entire weekend.



Now, there have been over 60 films that have used a Springsteen song on its soundtrack, many of which suck (i.e. Canadian Bacon or Night at the Roxbury). Therefore, the films that should be used for T-Giving are those that I would call "Springsteenian". In order to be "Springsteenian", a film must meet the following criteria: a) Bruce wrote a song specifically for the film; b) The film popularized a Springsteen song, therefore making the two synonymous with each other; or c) Bruce actually makes an appearance on-screen.

Through this filter, we have four movies: 1) Dead Man Walking; 2) Philadelphia; 3) Jerry MacGuire; 4) High Fidelity. Collectively, the first three of these films were nominated for 13 Academy Awards (two of which were won by Bruce, for Original Music). The fourth -- High Fidelity -- should have garnered Bruce a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In addition to the accolades, these films have a variety of genre (comedy, romance, drama) and can provoke intellectual/ethical debates about topics such as the death penalty, homosexuality, love, music, etc. Best of all, making Bruce the Guest of Honor would ensure Joey and Lauren get at least one Cusack movie to watch.

If you make Bruce the Guest of Honor and add these films to the T-Giving lineup, it will not only pay homage to the greatest song-writer of all-time, but it will free you up to take a risk with the actual nomination ... if the nominee fails, Bruce can salvage the weekend by giving you at least four quality films to enjoy.