There is a God, part 2

Here is proof.

Best of 2008: Theater/Shows

Broadway/Off-Broadway
Equus
Originally billed just as Harry Potter naked, live on stage, I actually really enjoyed the actual play. Daniel Radcliffe has definitely (ahem) matured as an actor and it was really exciting to see him in something so completely removed from Harry. Richard Griffiths was incredible and I liked the story way more than I thought I would. Money WELL spent.

The Seagull
Starring Peter Sarsgaard and Kristin Scott Thomas, this was another great chance to see amazing actors live on stage. An ensemble piece that deals with love, family, etc, it also starred MacKenzie Crook, better known as Gareth from the British Office or the pirate with the wooden eye in Pirates of the Caribbean. He was the one that most impressed me.

Shakespeare in the Park: Hamlet
My feelings on this have already been chronicled here.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
As have my feelings on this one.

Comedy
Asssscat (Thanks Dan)
I saw two performance of this Upright Citizens Brigade show, originally created by SNL's Amy Poehler. The first one was far funnier than the second one, mostly because Rob Riggle formerly of The Daily Show was in attendance and he could make me laugh just standing there. However, it did introduce me to my favorite new addition to SNL before he made it there: Bobby Moynihan

Stella
Although a big fan of Wet Hot American Summer I hadn't seen much Stella before this show. Until my good friend Dan had me watch some over Thanksgiving break, which I was thankful for. It was all solid, especially when Paul Rudd showed up to "stand in" for David Wain while he went to the bathroom. Hey, Paul . . . Shawnee Mission West!

Late Night With Conan O'Brien
This was a fun one, mostly because we thought it would be kind of lame since the guest was Martin Short, but he turned out to be very funny. One thing to complain was the people in charge of the line. We were directed to the wrong one and ended up way in the back. This upset me, not so much the rest of my party. Conan, however, was his usual charming and funny self. Don't go to L.A., they'll ruin you!

Other
Times Talks: Sarah Jessica Parker
See here.

Times Talks: Ellen Page, Amy Ryan and Jason Reitman
Ditto.

Best of 2008: Music

I have never been the person to "discover" new bands. I always catch on way too late for that, mostly after I've heard a song in a movie trailer, T.V. show, commercial or movie. Otherwise, my good friends Alison or Adrienne Aggen usually make me fun mix CDs that brighten my musical horizons. So here are the bands/albums/songs that I listened to and enjoyed the most in 2008.

Listened Obsessively
Bon Iver, For Emma Forever Ago
Choice track: "Skinny Love, "Flume" and "The Wolves"

Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
Choice track: "Your Protector" and "Blue Ridge Mountains"

Okkervil River, The Stand Ins
Choice track: "Calling and Not Calling My Ex" and "Lost Coastlines"

The Virgins, The Virgins
Choice track:"Fernando Pando" and "Teen Lovers"

Superb
The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing
Choice track: "We Walk" and "Great DJ"

Radiohead, In Rainbows
Choice track: All except "House of Cards," which is just ok.
Update: Upon further reflection, and a very persuasive video produced by Adrienne and Jared starring Jared, Adrienne's voice and one ugly doll with a Thom Yourke "lazy eye," I've come to have a new appreciation for the song. Well done, team.

Kings of Leon, Only By the Night
Choice track: "Sex On Fire" and "Revelry"

Deserves to be listened to more
Bloc Party, Intimacy
Choice track: "Signs" (acoustic)

Coldplay, Viva la Vida
Choice track:"Lost?" and "42"

You can do better
Ben Folds, Way to Normal
Choice tracks: "Cologne," "You Don't Know Me" and "Bitch Went Nuts" (only because it gets stuck in my head for days and the first line is hilarious "The bitch went nuts, she stabbed my basketball." What the?

Concerts

Amazing
Radiohead, All Points West Festival
Bon Iver, Town Hall
Okkervil River, Webster Hall
The Swell Season, Radio City Music Hall
Tilly and the Wall, The Knitting Factory (Thanks Dan!)


(Above) Okkervil River's Will Scheff. My god that is good hair.

Solid
Built to Spill, Terminal 5
Fleet Foxes, Webster Hall
Kings of Leon, All Points West Festival
Old Springs Pike, Rockwood Music Hall
Spoon, Terminal 5
The Ting Tings, McCarren Park Pool (Even though we only saw the last half of it. Poor crowd management.)
The Virgins, All Points West Festival

Eh
The Mountain Goats, Webster Hall (This is probably not their fault. I think was so tired that I was sleeping standing up, however, the fact that they couldn't wake me up probably says something about them.)

Best Opening Band
Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears, opened for Okkervil River

Singles
Making its way to 25 Most Played (may not be new, but I discovered it during the past year)
"Almost Lover," A Fine Frenzy
"Apologize," Timbaland featuring One Republic-featured during a hot scene on Gossip Girl
"Ca Plane Pour Moi," Plastic Bertrand
"Circus," Britney Spears
"Disturbia," Rihanna
"Hard to Live in the City," Albert Hammond Jr.
"Paper Planes," MI.A.
"Sour Cherry," The Kills
"The Way I Are,"Timbaland
"Three Wishes," The Pierces
"With Me," Sun 41-ditto
"Womanizer," Britney Spears

And many of the above choice tracks.

Golden Globes

Best part of the night.



This and Kate Winslet talking more about her love of Leonardo DiCaprio than her husband. For which, I do not blame her.

Best of 2008: Movies

I'm late to the list-making party but, inspired by Dan, I wanted to share my feelings on the year's entertainment offerings, if only to invite spirited debate. I decided to do it in installments. Movies, Music and Theater. First up, my favorite, movies!

By my count, I saw 33 movies in the theater this year. Pas mal, but there was still plenty I wanted to see that I didn't. (movies are in alphabetical order)

Perfection
Milk (Tears and lots of them)
Rachel Getting Married (I heart Anne Hathaway!)
Slumdog Millionaire (Possibly my favorite movie of the year)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Whoa! Brad Pitt . . . I remember you.)
The Dark Knight (The only movie that when it was over, I instantly wanted to watch it again . . . and again . . . and again)
Wall-E (Waaaalllleeeee! tee hee!)

Excellent
Burn After Reading (this has been moved up due to a second viewing)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (on second viewing, this moved up to excellent)
Frost/Nixon
Iron Man
Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist
Revolutionary Road (Kate! Leo! Fighting!)

Solid
American Teen
Doubt
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (A sweet little movie, see it)
Role Models
Pineapple Express (James Franco, even with that hair, anytime...)
Tropic Thunder (on second viewing, this moved down to solid, except RDJ deserves perfection)
Young @ Heart (Tee hee, old people!)

Decent
Baby Mama
Body of Lies
Kung Fu Panda

Dumb but Enjoyable
Definitely, Maybe (I liked this too much and it doesn't deserve it
Hancock (Funniest first half, followed by a train wreck of a second)
Mamma Mia
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (What the random?)
Pride and Glory (Oh hey Edward Norton)
Sex and the City (See here)
The Incredible Hulk (Again, Edward Norton thank you)
Twlight (My favorite part of this, is when Alison and I were both doubting Robert Pattinson's attractiveness, and then he showed up in a suit . . . sold.)
W

Eh
Changeling (Ok, Angelina, you can cry, what else can you do?)

Bad
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Ugh, Shia LeBeouf, get the hell out of Hollywood)

Wanted to See, But Didn't, Be They Good Or Bad (hello, Netflix)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
A Christmas Tale
Australia
Be Kind Rewind
Choke
Funny Games
Ghost Town
Gran Torino
Hamlet 2
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
I've Loved You So Long
Man On Wire
Marley and Me
Quantum of Solace
Religulous
Smart People
Synecdoche, New York
The Class
The Duchess
The Reader
The Visitor
The Wackness
The Wrestler
Vicky Christina Barcelona

Any I should skip? Disagree with picks above? Let's hear it.

Who said New York City smells bad?