2011 Movie Rundown

It's been too long friends but, fear not, I haven't been idle. I've done well seeing the best of the season's films. My best of the year can be gleaned from this. My post diving deeper just isn't coming together in a timely fashion, so my apologies. 

This year’s total was 42, up three from last year. What did I miss? Where did I go wrong? Speak now...

Perfection

Bridesmaids

The Muppets

Excellent

50/50

The Artist

Crazy Stupid Love

Drive

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Hanna

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

Midnight in Paris

Shame

Super 8

Solid

Captain America: The First Avenger

A Dangerous Method

The Descendants

The Help
Hugo

The Ides of March

Like Crazy

Moneyball

Paul

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Thor

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

X Men: First Class

Perfectly Fine

The Adjustment Bureau

The Adventures of Tintin

Contagion

Friends With Benefits

Horrible Bosses

Our Idiot Brother

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Eh

The Guard

No Strings Attached

One Day

Young Adult

Your Highness

Just Silly

Bad Teacher

Scream 4

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part I

Just Bad

The Hangover Part II

Water for Elephants

Modern Family: Phil on Wire

Season 3, Episode 3: Someone is snoring at the Delgado-Pritchett house. While Gloria thinks it is Jay, the camera pulls back to reveal that the family has gotten a dog that snores loud enough to wake Gloria. Jay is clearly smitten with Stella, enough to allow her to sleep in the bed when he won't let Manny, who we see is sleeping on the floor. ("Answer the question, Jay")

The newest addition to the family likes to spend time chewing on Gloria's shoes and taking all of Jay's affection, including Gloria's place in the shower with him.

At Cam and Mitchell's, Cam decides he wants to go on a juice fast. Mitchell fears a hungry Cam will disrupt a dinner at his boss's house, especially since Cam goes through six stages when he is on a diet:
 
1. The Clean Sweep—Cam throws out all junk food in the house.
2. Attack Mitchell—Mitchell tries to avoid this by joining in the juice fast. It's them versus food.
3. Soap Actress—Cam becomes incredibly emotional, distraught that his sister just can't put herself out there more. Why ARE men so superficial?
4. A Rush of Epiphanies—Cam doesn't need food. Architecture is EVERYWHERE! And true, Spaniards DO make amazing athletes.
5. Despair—Cam can't even bring himself to seek when Lily hides.
6. Rage—The kitchen cabinets never stood a chance.

Mitchell does admit he is proud that Cam has made it farther in a diet than he ever has before. Though he fears what stage comes next.

Over at the Dunphy's Phil and Luke are watching Man On Wire and marveling at how awesome people are. Cam stops by to drop off the junk food from their house. Luke quickly commandeers it and hides it in his room. Watching the film inspires Phil to fulfill his dream of walking on a tightrope. He and Luke set up a test run in the yard and Luke's enthusiasm, while appreciated by Phil, is really the result of way too much chocolate.

Alex is being placed in a higher math course, the same course Haley is taking, and has been at least once before. Distraught that the girls will be in the same class, Haley spells out some ground rules: No looking at Haley in class and no texting Haley in class. Claire lectures the girls that sometimes they need to just rise above the small stuff as a school cop comes buy to lecture her about stopping in a loading/unloading zone. Claire, sensing this was a time for a lesson, politely "rises above" an unpleasant situation. She naturally thinks of a great comeback line after driving away.

When the girls return from their first day in the same class, it was obviously a disaster. Haley thought 8 was a prime number and Alex reminded the teacher to give the class homework. Claire tries a "subtle" manipulation ("The two of you could have been super Dunphys") to get the girls to help each other out: Haley helps Alex with her social standing and Alex helps Haley with her schoolwork. However, the girls take this to mean Alex helps Haley cheat if she gets a seat at the cool table at lunch.

Phil continues his quest to be a tightrope walker in the yard but is having trouble, complete with awesome "swear" phrases such as "Chicken and a biscuit!" and "Bartles and Jaymes!"

Gloria, frustrated with Cam's call asking to describe all her meals for the day, stumbles across Stella caught in the act of chewing on her clothes. Gloria offers up one of Jay's shoes and tries to get Stella to chew on it to give him a taste of the dog's show-induced wrath.  Stella is not interested so Gloria manages to show the dog how it's done by eating the shoe herself while promptly discovered by Jay and Manny. Note: This is as ridiculous as it sounds. It does allow for a patented "animal reaction shot" that TV shows think never fail. They are right.

The next day when Claire is picking up the girls from school she gets a call that they are in the principal's office for cheating. While on the phone, school cop comes over to give her another parking lecture (and a ticket). This time Claire does not rise above. She lashes out and rips up the ticket and throws it in the cop's face. The girls emerge from the principal's office to find mom lecturing them while handcuffed. None of the ladies can be considered Super Dunphys today.

Phil picks up Luke from school after Luke throws up. Luke confesses saying he doesn't need a doctor. he ate all the junk food Mitch brought over because of their "Jew Fast." Phil tells Luke it's OK, as long as he learned a lesson and ruminates that he too learned a lesson about his ability as a tightrope walker. Luke mentions perhaps the problem is that the rope was only six inches off the ground, where Phil knew he could fall. If the rope was higher, Phil would have to stay on it. "Genius!" Phil exclaims. And yes you can have a donut!

At Mitch's boss's party, which is a fundraiser for sea life, the juice fast is weighing on both the men. As Mitch's boss tells a story about a sea lion (Snorkles) who he befriended and then who died because of a plastic bag, Mitch and Cam lose it and run out into the water. Mitch admits he is starving was only doing the fast for Cam. Cam admits he was only doing the fast for Mitch. I love you the way you are, etc. Cue embrace (I think a kiss would have been appropriate here. It would have felt more natural than just a hug. I still think the show is avoiding the kissing thing too much, even after the beautiful kiss episode of last season. Have we seen Cam and Mitch kiss since?)

As the Dunphy ladies return home, the girls apologize for their behavior. The arrive in time to see Phil walking a tightrope seven feet in the air. "Don't even bother, he's in the zone. He can't hear you," Luke warns them. Phil putting his dream into action instead of just talking the talk wraps the episode up in a nice little saccharine-filled bow. It's sweet and only truly cringe-inducing when Claire utters the line: "Turns out I've had my Super Dunphy all along." (Shudder)

Kind of a meh episode for me, but what did you guys think? Did the end segment make your eye twitch with cute overload?

Great lines and observations: 

Claire: "Right now our daughters are upstairs making a decision they think is their own but really was an idea that was skillfully implanted by me." Phil: "Inception, Claire. Dangerous game but I like it."

Phil: "Luke, grab your camera." Luke pops up from couch: "I was just sleeping." Pops handful of candy in his mouth.

Phil: "If I had a nickel for every time I puked in school do you know how much money I'd have? Luke: "35 cents?" Phil: "Exactly."

Mitch: "It's tough enough to deal with Cam when I'm at full strength, but I have been fasting just as long as he has and I do not have the energy to deal with a big, needy brisketcase . . . basketcase."

Mitch: I really think you need to eat something." Cam: "What? You are supposed to be my support! Away from me temptress. And I never thought I'd call you that in a negative way."

Gloria to Jay: "You used to put me first. You used to want me in that shower." Manny: "Should I be here for this?" Gloria: No Manny it's OK, I go. I want you to know this, where I come from men cherish woman. It goes wife, mistress, dog, dog always at the bottom.

Cam as Mitch is crying: "I think he just needs a little air." Mitch: "You know who else needed air, SNORKELS!"

Summer Movie Recap

Summer is officially over. During the past four months (I'm counting from the beginning of May) I saw 17 movies, some more than once. Overall, I'd say about five of them could count as memorable. Most are middling. However, middling is still worth discussing so now a rundown...

Thor
Who would have thought five months ago that Thor wouldn't be a complete mess? It's got its flaws for sure and I couldn't tell you at this point what the central conflict was about beyond Thor is banished to Earth, is a fish out of water and makes Natalie Portman swoon, but its sense of humor and dazzling visuals elevate it beyond the usual superhero nonsense. It is still nonsense, of course, but when Thor finishes his drink and promptly throws it on the ground it sure was fun.



Bridesmaids
Five viewings later I still laughed out loud, teared up and yearned for my best friends.


Midnight in Paris
Escapism the Woody Allen way. Allen takes my decade-long desire to move to Paris and personifies it on screen.


The Hangover Part II
Why was this made? It was better the first time, and even then, not the best comedy I've ever seen.

X Men: First Class
A duet between greats. I hadn't seen Michael Fassbender in anything before this

Super 8
Nostalgia for a time in movies that i didn't get to experience first hand. All the kids' performances in this are great. The movie is pure popcorn fun the way it ought to be for summer movies. Yes, the creature at the end is somewhat disappointing but who cares when it was so much fun to watch the lead up to its reveal?

Bad Teacher
Biggest wasted potential. The trailer made me laugh every time I watched it. I don't think I laughed out loud once during the actual movie.

Horrible Bosses
It's officially time for Charlie Day to be in more movies. This was fun enough, if not especially memorable for anything except Jennifer Aniston doing her best to play against type. it worked for me,  but now, a few months later, I can't seem to muster up any great enthusiasm for it. Worth a Netflix for sure.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Two hours of pure payoff is reason enough to understand why they split the last Harry Potter novel in half. Yes, anyone who hasn't been paying attention would be hopelessly lost watching this, but I judge them for trying to watch it without any other context. And true, I have some quibbles about things that were changed, etc, but in the end, it didn't really matter.  Everyone in the cast is in top form—especially Alan Rickman and Ralph Fiennes. It was exciting from beginning to end. and oh what an ending. So. Much. Crying.

Captain America: The First Avenger
The best word I can use is classic. Captain America felt old-fashioned in the best sense of the word. 


Friends With Benefits
Way better than the same movie from earlier this year, but still, the exact same movie from earlier this year. This time it takes place in New York, has leads with actual chemistry but still manages to indulge plenty of the cliches of the romantic comedies it claims to abhor.


Crazy, Stupid, Love
I loved everyone involved. The (mostly improvised) pillow talk between Stone and Gosling ranks up there with some of the best scenes in modern romantic comedies.  Their chemistry crackles throughout the movie but the more important chemistry is the surprising one between Gosling and Steve Carrell. Funny, charming and lovely.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
While the trailer made my eyes roll once I started reading reviews, I was so confused. How could it possibly be good? The answer is Andy Serkis. His Ceasar is a fully formed character and he outpaces every "human" actor in the film. I actually felt myself get excited for a possible sequel. That's rare when something isn't named Harry Potter or Batman.

The Help
Don't overreact! Yes, the performance of Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer (and Jessica Chastain belongs in with them) are superb. Emma Stone is her usual husky-voiced, adorable self. But calm down people. It's just a regular, serviceable feel-good movie.


One Day
After reading too much about people harping on Anne Hathaway's accent and the TWIST ending, I still gave One Day a chance. The accent didn't bother me and the twist I could see coming but I still reluctantly enjoyed this in spite of my better judgment. It's no masterpiece but the chemistry between Hathaway and Jim Sturgess worked for me. I still swooned and cried like a girl. So mission accomplished, One Day.

Our Idiot Brother
It's the Paul Rudd is charming show! Watch Paul Rudd have long hair and a beard! Watch Paul Rudd's great chemistry with a dog named Willie Nelson! Watch Paul Rudd make silly mistakes and be almost instantly forgiven! It's perfectly fine. 

Modern Family: When Good Kids Go Bad

Season 3, Episode 2: Though this aired directly after "Dude Ranch," I'm just getting around to recapping it. Deal.


The episode opens with Claire shopping with the "mad fun" Phil. When he gets distracted by an attractive woman, Claire ends up falling into a display of canned peaches. Claire insists that Phil pushed the cart, which pushed her into the display, but Phil denies any wrongdoing. Later, when Phil is recounting the story to the kids and Claire insists that it was Phil who pushed her, the family gangs up on her to make fun of her need to always be right. This inspires one of the most realistic exchanges this family has had in awhile, with all the kids (and Phil) chiming in with placating asides about Claire being right all the time. Families do this and it's nice to see something that is grounded in reality, especially in an episode when Claire moves from pleasantly neurotic into shrill territory.


Meanwhile, Cam and Mitchell are planning to announce to the family that they are going to adopt a baby boy but are having trouble with Lily's proclamation that she hates the idea of a baby. She also mentions that she "wants the baby dead." In an effort to warm Lily to the idea of a baby, the men host a play date where Lily promptly pushes the baby out of Cam's arms with a cry of "My daddy!" Clearly concerned, Mitch thinks her attitude stems from her dependence on Cam—a result of Cam's coddling nature.  Cam can't even take Lily to preschool, opting to take her shopping to buy matching hats. Cam also allows Lily to hang from his neck like a stuffed monkey with Velcro hands and holds her hand even when he's in the shower. OK, he realizes, maybe he does coddle her.

When Cam is struggling with his new no-coddling policy, Mitchell is enjoying the fact that (for once) a parenting issue isn't his fault—previous issues that were his fault include being distant, working too much and messy french braids. To ease Cam's suffering, Mitchell decides to take Lily to school where he learns from Ms. Elaine (amazing teacher name) that the real trouble is that Lily has trouble sharing, a trait Mitch confesses she probably got from him.


Over at the Delgado-Pritchett residence, Gloria is letting Manny's principal have it after he accuses Manny of stealing a locket. "What do you think all Colombians are criminals because the Colombian necktie is a symbol of violence all around the world?" Gloria yells through the phone. Later, Jay confronts Manny about the stolen necklace and eventually breaks him by making him sweat under the lights in the garage. Manny says he took the necklace as a token from one of his crushes, and Jay insists Manny confess to Gloria, after ensuring that Manny doesn't actually want to wear the locket. The next morning, Manny comes clean and Jay suggests that Gloria make Manny confess to the principal, though she worries that he'll be labeled as the "jewelry thief" along with his other titles such as "the boy with the pan flute," and "the boy with the puffy shirt."


At school, Manny is expressing his fears about confessing when Gloria decides to let him off the hook and breaks into the owner's locker to return the locket, only after making Manny promise to never do anything dishonest again. On the way to Cam and Mitchell's, Jay asks Manny how his confession to the principal went and Gloria tries to steer the conversation elsewhere before Manny can give himself away.


I don't even want to get into a relatively pointless C-storyline about the girls tricking Luke into moving into the attic in order to not share a room. It mostly serves the "Claire is always right" storyline. Though, man, I love Luke.



Prepared for the adoption announcement with an "It's Gonna Be A Boy" banner, sparklers and Footloose's "Let's Hear It For the Boy" at the ready, the family gathers at Cam and Mitchell's. While Luke is talking to Cam, Lily pushes him with another cry of, "My daddy!" "This isn't over," sneers Luke. Mitch admits that Ms. Elaine told him that Lily has a problem with sharing, which she might have gotten from him. Cam, angry that Mitchell let him suffer all day, says they are not making the adoption announcement because he's not feeling joyful, a sentiment Mitch says he shares (finally).


Jay confronts Gloria about Manny's confession and says he knows she she never took him to the principal. Gloria's poker face doesn't crack. "You'd be surprised what people can live with, Jay," she says like a stone cold fox.


Angry that no one in her family believes her about Phil pushing her in the market, Claire pulls out a security video she got from the grocery store to prove she is right. It's at this point where we start to hate Claire instead of laugh with her. She puts the video on. She was right! "Suck it!" she tells her family. When Gloria points out she shouldn't tell her children to suck it, Cam agrees and points out that you never no what kids will pick up. Mitch vehemently apologizes and says they both need to examine their actions if they are going to adopt another baby. With the cat out of the bag, Cam hurries to unfurl his banner, queue up his song and light his sparklers. Jay says no kid wants a sibling and Claire hated Mitch so much that she put him in the dryer.

"I didn't do it because I hated you. I did it because my friend Marcy said it wouldn't run with a kid inside and I knew it would. I was right." Claire admits she has a sickness. Jay tries to diffuse the situation by proposing a toast to Manny, celebrating the fact that he was someone who stood up and admitted he was wrong. Of course, Manny can't handle the guilt and confesses to Jay that Gloria broke into the locker and had them run away. Jay relishes the fact that he was right and it's clear where Claire got her sickness from.

Not as successful for me as "Dude Ranch" what with all the annoying Claire bits and the Dunphy kids non-storyline, but still had some solid laughs. The show needs to tone it down on the "Claire is uptight" stuff and make us like her again after two episodes where she has played overbearing and insufferable. Otherwise, I always love to see Manny cracking under guilt and Phil cracking everyone up.

Great lines and observations: 

"Freestyle sandwich rap: Tucked in between  two whole wheat slices, pastrami and Swiss are my only vices." Phil's market sandwich rap.


Cam: "My sister was born with a full set of teeth." Mitch: "That's not true." Cam: "You should have seen her crib. It looked like beavers lived there."

Gloria: "My cousin Rosamarina when she was 14 she stole something and after that everyone thinks of her as the girl who steals cars. Jay: "She stole a car?" Gloria: "Cars. But after she got that label, what else could she do?"


Claire: "I'm going to skip this meeting of the 'Pile on Claire Club." Phil:"I guess I pushed her into that pile too."


Luke: "Do you have any furniture? I'm moving into the attic." Mitch: "The attic?" Luke: "Yeah, at least it's big. Grandpa said you used to live in the closet."

"Great Governor!" Phil's reaction to the realization that Claire has needed to be right since she was a child.

Modern Family: Dude Ranch

Season 3, Episode 1: They're back! After (somewhat annoyingly) dominating the Emmys on Sunday, the Delgado-Pritchetts (plus Dylan) are heading to a dude ranch. Last year Hawaii, this year a dude ranch? Downgrade, family.

At least Cameron and Mitchell can use the opportunity to butch up their pop-up, musical photo book in their quest to to adopt a (domestic) baby boy. Phil wants to use the dude ranch experience to prove his manhood as well. He's been practicing his cowboy skills—shootin', ropin' and pancake eatin'—for weeks to impress Jay. Jay has other things to worry about, like Cowboy Hank who, while adept at giving nicknames (Bossy for Claire, Hollywood for Manny), is less skilled when it comes to flirting with Gloria. Luckily, she can't hear most of it since she can't seem to pop her ears from the plane, and therefore, is speaking even louder than usual. For some reason the horses seem skittish around her, despite her self-proclaimed horse whisperer skills.

Later at the pool, Alex is trying to get some reading done ("Freakanomics," ha!) and Luke is showing Manny his German firecracker. A tween Italian stallion named Jimmy makes Alex's acquaintance by soaking her with a cannonball and insulting her by calling her gorgeous. As the adults go for a horse ride, Jay's horse veers left, just like his uncle who had a stroke; Mitchell is riding side saddle to protect against a potential cow bite; and Gloria, aka Cactus Flower, rides like a beautiful conquistador per pervy Hank.

Alex has another encounter with Jimmy who steals a kiss—her first kiss. Claire, unhappy that Dylan had to come along, vows to make more of an effort to welcome him after Phil points out he knows how it feels to fall for a girl who's dad thinks he's not good enough. She goes to Dylan's tent to apologize and inadvertently makes him think she's coming on to him. While Dylan admits that if things were different he'd gladly share Claire's bed and raise Haley, Alex and Luke, he loves Haley and declines Claire's non-advances.

At the campfire, Mitchell admits he thinks he and Cam might be rushing into adopting another baby. Before he can explain, he is interrupted by Dylan who is down on one knee proposing to Haley. He barely gets the words out before he is interrupted by Claire refusing to even entertain the idea of Haley settling for Dylan. Distraught, Dylan goes to his room where he warns that there might be a fan that sounds likes someone crying.

The next morning Mitchell expresses his fear of being a father to a boy because of his lack of machismo. Jay advises Claire to stop interfering with Dylan and Haley or she'll end up with a boob for a son-in-law, which Phil rightly takes personally. Haley shows up to declare Dylan missing and the whole group saddles up to find him before he gets spacey from not eating every few hours. Alex confronts Jimmy about stealing her first kiss, telling him it wasn't supposed to be from a Mario Brother and he takes it "back" by kissing her again. In no time, they are making out. Cowboy Hank splits up the group—Claire and Haley, Buffalo Phil and Jay and himself and Gloria—to look for Dylan.

Luke approaches Mitch to tell him how he, as a boy, thinks Mitch is a great uncle. Mitch, realizing Luke has been sent by Cameron, quickly breaks him. Luke tells Mitchell about the firework and Mitchel, horrified by boys obsession with destroying stuff, takes it away. When Luke stalks off saying Mitch isn't fun Mitch caves and says they'll set the firework off together. "You just made the best decision of your life," Luke tells Mitchell. They stick the firecracker in a birdhouse and run like mad before being disappointed when it seems not to work. Naturally, it blows up the birdhouse seconds later and both are in awe of the explosion. Mitchell realizes he can handle being a father to a son after all!

While Phil and Jay search for Dylan, Phil confronts Jay about his crack about son-in-laws. Jay considers asking Phil "man to man" if he thinks Cowboy Hank is hitting on Gloria apology enough and they ride off to confront the villain. Claire and Haley have it out over Dylan with Haley telling her mother she said no to the proposal and that Claire needs to allow her to act like an adult. She's not a baby anymore, Mom! Who hasn't said these words to their mother? They find Dylan and he says he's taken a job at the ranch and him and Haley are over. "We're from different worlds. She's in high school, he's a ranch hand," Dylan says.

When Gloria is screaming for Dylan, Cowboy Hank gets a little too handsy and Phil and Jay arrive just in time. Cowboy Hank says it was an all act so Jay could be the hero and rescue his wife. Phil lets Cowboy Hank know he will only be checking somewhat satisfied on his comment card, because, well, he was still great with the kids. As everyone says farewell to the ranch, Alex and Jimmy get some last minute making out in; Haley says goodbye to Dylan, as Phil weeps in the background; and Cam and Mitch have some butch photos for the photo book, which Cam promptly improves with glitter.

All in all a satisfying episode reacquainting us with why we love this family to begin with. I realized how much I'd missed Phil all summer. Though last season was uneven compared to the first, this episode shows promise that all wrongs have been corrected.

Great lines and observations:

New baby Lily looks remarkably like old Lily, only a little more lively. Her playing with Cam and swinging with Alex was very cute. Her teeth upset me, but I guess kids have bad teeth. I sure did—ahem—headgear.

Gloria "I want my ears to pop." Manny: "Try putting a little rouge on them. (pause) Nobody gets me."

Mitchell: "I want to teach my son all the things my dad taught Claire."

Dylan's horse song: "I rode a horse for the first time today. Wasn't a surprise when it went neigh."

Luke explaining how Manny will know when the firecracker has gone off: "First all the electronics will go out. Then comes the heat flash. Afterwards, the living will envy the dead."

Phil on his nickname from cowboy Hank: "Buffalo Phil. Worth the wait."

What Looks Good: 2011 Upfronts

This has been sitting in drafts for awhile. Apologies.

For the uninitiated, what is an upfront?

From Wikipedia:
In the North American television industry, an upfront is a meeting hosted at the start of important advertising sales periods by television network executives, attended by the press and major advertisers. It is so named because of its main purpose, to allow marketers to buy commercial airtime "up front", or several months before the television season begins.

I've been following all the upfront coverage all week. Here are the shows that on first glance, make me most excited for next season (or mid-season in some cases).

ABC
Apartment 23
Note: I will always love Dawson Leery.


FOX
Alcatraz


Terra Nova


New Girl


CBS
2Broke Girls
Note: The laugh track in this turns me off. But my love of Kat Dennings is making me curious.


Person of Interest
Note: I will watch anything Benjamin Linus is in from this day forward.

Casting Couch: John Holloway & Viggo Mortensen

I flipped by Hidalgo on TV this weekend and voiced something to my roommate that I've thought for some time, so I thought I'd share. After watching Josh Holloway (Lost's Sawyer) be hilarious on Community and then happening to flip the channel to Hidalgo starring everyone's favorite King of Gondor, Viggo Mortensen, I decided my inner casting genius needed to break free.

Cast these men in a project together! Preferably as brothers. Preferably as dueling brothers of some kind so we can watch them kick each other's ass and make snarky quips back and forth. Both are obviously incredibly attractive. Both can play badass and funny. I think they deserve a Fincher, the Coens, Tarantino or perhaps even Nolan. Someone make this happen!

Now to you. Leave your suggestions for a plot, a director and/or writer in the comments.

Summer Movie Picks

Apparently summer movie season "officially" beings this weekend with the release of Thor. Some might say it began last weekend with the surprising success of Fast Five. I cannot in good faith accept that Paul Walker had anything to do with the start of the summer movie season. With that in mind, there are plenty of movies to get excited about this summer. Here are 10 (in order of release date) that are on my radar.

Bridesmaids (May 13)
Trailer
This is a bit of a cheat since I've already seen Bridesmaids twice (what up, sneak previews!). But I'll still see it again once it's actually released because every time I see a trailer, I see new lines I didn't see in either screening. This tells me that the filmmakers had enough funny material to warrant a lot of jokes that are getting cut, so I'm still in for surprises. I won't go into spoiler mode but what I can say is this movie is hilarious, touching and a refreshingly real look at women friendships—not seen through the ridiculous fantasy lens of Sex and the City and other rom-com drivel. Kristen Wiig is Annie, a down-on-her-luck (but she's still banging Jon Hamm, so not too shabby) singleton who agrees to be maid of honor for her childhood friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). She joins the other bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, The Office's Ellie Kemper and scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy) and the inevitable hijinks ensue. It's definitely worth an RSVP for ladies (and, yes, gentlemen too).
Note: My friend Stephen rightly pointed out that the movie has even more cred because it was directed by Paul Feig, creator of the brilliant Freaks and Geeks and director of many amazing Arrested Development episodes.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (May 20)
Trailer
I gave up on Pirates of the Caribbean after the second one. What a terrible movie. I didn't even know what happened in the third until I read a summary on Wikipedia a few months ago. Johnny Depp agrees with me. So the news that a fourth was even made didn't excite me—until I saw the trailer. It could be because I did skip three that I'm wistful for some Captain Jack Sparrow. It could be my unabashed love for Geoffrey Rush in everything the man does. It could be Ian McShane as Blackbeard or Penélope Cruz as his daughter who shares a past with Jack. But it's most likely because summer is the time for fun at the movies. And what's more fun than Johnny Depp in full Jack Sparrow mode? (crickets)

The Hangover Part II (May 26)
Trailer
The Wolf Pack is back. Despite not remembering that these boys were known as the Wolf Pack, back they are and this time in Bangkok. Gathered for Stu's (Ed Helms) nuptials, the gentlemen once again have too much fun and lose someone important in the process. Instead of a baby, there's a monkey. Instead of missing teeth, there's a Mike Tyson-inspired tattoo. Instead of Ken Jeong as crazy criminal Mr. Chow, there's oh wait . . . Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow. With all the key players and plots in place, anticipation runs high. Let's hope The Wolf Pack lives up to their name (and makes me remember it this time).

The Tree of Life (May 27)
Trailer
There is a shot of a dinosaur on the poster! There are shots of space in the trailer! I have no idea what this movie is about and I've already exceeded my limit of exclamation points in one paragraph! What I do know is Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain are the mother and father of a boy who grows up to be Sean Penn. Too. Much. Excitement. For. No. Concrete. Reason!


X Men: First Class (June 3)
Trailer
Impeccable casting is the key to this X Men. James McAvoy as a young Patrick Stewart is inspired. First Class tells the story of how Charles became Professor X and came to lead his band of merry mutants. We'll also see how Erik aka Magneto (Michael Fassbender) became Prof X's eventual adversary. We also meet Mystique (Oscar-nominee Jennifer Lawrence), Dr. Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne), Emma Frost (January Jones) and Beast (About A Boy's kid all grown up Nicholas Hoult). I think its safe to say that this group will prove that origin stories really are more fun.

Super 8 (June 10)
Trailer
J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg together on paper looks like the new spaghetti and meatballs. With Super 8 we have the whimsy, coming-of-age feeling of E.T. combined with the monster movie fun of Jaws (and to a lesser extent Abrams' Cloverfield). While filming a zombie movie one night in 1979, 14-year-old Charles and his friends witness a train crash that unleashes something en route from Area 51. Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler plays the town's deputy who leads the hunt for what's making animals and humans disappear. With '70s nostalgia in full swing paired with creepy alien invasion, Abrams and Spielberg appear to have made old school meets new school movie magic.

Bad Teacher (June 24)
Trailer
Cameron Diaz returns to her raunchy comedic roots as a teacher who drinks, smokes, curses and is determined to get into sweet substitute Justin Timberlake's pants. Now, on paper, this doesn't seem like a good idea. But the trailer is surprisingly effective. It could be the kids getting repeatedly hit with balls. Or it could be that surrounded by Jason Segal, Phyllis and a bespectacled JT Cameron Diaz looks palatable even, dare I say, funny—something she hasn't been in a very. long. time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (July 15)
Trailer
This should be painfully obvious but I'll recap. Payoff. Payoff. Payoff. I was honestly surprised how good Part I was with so little to work with. Every scene needed to be there but there was relatively little action compared to what's in store for the second part. Not to mention emotion galore! The trio are at their best, a whole bunch of Snape, an amazing walk in the woods, a detour in King's Cross—so many reasons to be counting down (and dreading) the days until July 15th.

Cowboys & Aliens (July 29)
Trailer
Summer blockbusters don’t take risks. Hence all the superheroes, sequels and boy wizards ruling screens this summer. Here is one that features the explosions, aliens and movie stars of traditional summer fare with a decidedly original mash-up of genres that should keep things fresh. Daniel Craig plays an 1870s gunslinger with a mysterious bracelet and a bad case of amnesia. Harrison Ford is an old enemy Craig has forgotten. They team up with House’s Olivia Wilde to battle aliens who start attacking their sleepy Western town. I read reports of the trailer eliciting laughs when it was first shown to theaters, but this movie plays it straight, despite its Snakes-on-Plane-type title. The real question is can they avoid camp to stifle the laughs without removing all the fun? With Ford and Craig in front of the camera and Jon Favreau, Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard behind, I’d say we’re in good hands to find out.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (July 29)
Trailer
This is a late addition to my radar as I didn't know a thing about it until I saw the trailer. Steve Carrell's wife (Julienne Moore) cheats on him, thus thrusting him back into a dating world that has changed considerably since the last time he visited. Helping along the way is dreamy, possibly photoshopped, Ryan Gosling, who in the meantime is falling for adorable Emma Stone. Noteworthy mostly for being a trailer for a romantic comedy that didn't make me roll my eyes, I have faith in the cast (and director John Requa, who did I Love You Phillip Morris, which was vastly underrated) to make this a romantic comedy that actually achieves its two goals: romance and comedy with a dash of a actual charm.

Honorable Mentions
The Art of Getting By: Trailer
Green Lantern: Trailer
Larry Crowne: Trailer
Horrible Bosses: Trailer: Trailer
Captain America: The First Avenger: Trailer
Friends With Benefits: Trailer
30 Minutes Or Less: Trailer
Our Idiot Brother: Trailer

Quick Catch Up

I've been MIA. Apologies. Here's a movie catch up for those who care.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (Netflix): Surprisingly moving and genuinely funny, this documentary chronicles a year in the life of Joan Rivers. I found it fascinating to hear about Rivers early days in Hollywood and just to hear how long she's been around. Also, interesting is to watch this woman, who is nearing 80, refuse to give up. She literally can. not. stop. Still willing to do anything for a laugh, it is a joy to watch Rivers and realize that she really was a trailblazer for so many women comedians. I also enjoyed the quasi-rivalry with Kathy Griffin, who definitely owes a few of her Emmys to Rivers' influence.

The Adjustment Bureau: I actually really enjoyed this. Perhaps it wasn't the mind bending experience promised by the trailer but it was fun and surprisingly touching, if a little schmaltzy. Love the fedoras gentlemen.

Paul: As a stereotypical "geek" guy trapped in 5'1 girl's body I loved Paul. All the little sci-fi references hit every mark for me. I won't spoil them but man, I love a good meta reference. From the duo who brought us Shaun of the Dead, one of the few zombie movies I can tolerate, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are great as best friends on a tour of America's greatest UFO sites. They meet Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) and embark on adventure running from the men in black (a fantastic Jason Bateman). For more, I wholeheartedly agree with my friend Stephen.

Bridesmaids (sneak preview): I'm not technically allowed to review this as it was still a work in progress. I will write more when it's actually released. What I will say now is even with the editing it still needs, as all Apatow produced movies do, I was highly satisfied with this "Knocked Up" for girls. Also, Jon Hamm!

Rango is meh

Is Rango weird in a good way or a bad way? It's difficult to decide.

Rango is a little lizard who has a big imagination. We meet him in his terrarium with his only friends: a wind-up fish that channels Nemo and the torso of a Barbie doll. When his home falls out of the back of a truck and lands in the desert, Rango finds himself friendless and alone in a strange world. He stumbles into the town of Dirt. A town with serious water shortage issues. Rango's tall tales get him elected sheriff. He defeats the town hawk. He encounters town intrigue. He does it all with a truly odd sensibility that is definitely wasted on children.

There are dozens of winks and homages to lot of other films (oh hey Hunter S. Thompson), especially Westerns (I knew you'd show up Clint!). It's fun to look for them and smile to yourself when you figure them out. The cast is full of fun characters that reference others you know. The story itself is missing . . . something. I've thought about it and thought about it and the only thing I’ve come up with is the fact that I think the movie expects you to root for Rango on principle (or the fact that he sounds like Johnny Depp). I enjoyed watching his adventures but unlike Woody and buzz and the old man from Up, I didn't really care where it was going.

Why is that? It could be because Rango himself looks odd. He's not your cuddly character like so many animated films. Even the supervillian in Despicable Me is cute in his own way. Rango is animated beautifully. The level of detail put into him and his cast mates is nothing short of remarkable. It makes complete sense once you realize the movie is the first animated movie to come out of Industrial Light & Magic, the place where Yoda learned to fight. But by the end, I liked the way Rango looked. I couldn't take my eyes off of his, small and beady as they were.

So what was it? If anyone can help me out, I'd love to hear it. Perhaps a second viewing will help me. Overall, Rango is fun. I just can't muster much passion about it. Good review, eh?

Oscar Picks 2011

This will be the first year in six years that I will not be able to watch the Oscars live. Only the second time I'll miss them since I can remember. This is especially upsetting because this year I actually saw all 10 nominees for Best Picture. I will be in New Orleans at a conference for work. I will attempt to keep myself in the dark until I can watch on Tuesday, so please, do not text, e-mail or call me to discuss it. I will publish my thoughts after I watch and digest.

For now, here are my picks. I decided to do more categories than usual to see how good I really am. As always, I accept gifts if I get 100%.

Best Picture
Black Swan
Inception
The Kids Are Alright
The King's Speech
The Fighter
The Social Network
True Grit
Toy Story 3
Winter's Bone
127 Hours

You can see (in a nutshell) what I thought of most of these on my "best of" list and my year recap. This is the first year in awhile where the winner is somewhat of mystery. 127 Hours is a phenomenal movie—every time I think about it I like to more and more. In a weaker year, I think it would have blown the competition out of the water. And Inception, well it is still my favorite movie of the year, but I get that the oldies in the Academy didn't quite understand it, though I judge them. It's really a two-horse race this year. The Social Network won most of the critics’ awards this season; The King's Speech most of the guild awards. The guilds have a lot of overlap with Academy voters so most seem to think that gives The King's Speech the edge. I'm not as sure. I feel like come voting time, people may think they've awarded The King's Speech enough. They will vote for The Social Network, a film that truly speaks for this year and this time. The film that was derided when it was announced and immediately praised on its release. Do I have that much faith in the Academy to reward the actual Best Picture? Eh, probably not.
Should Win: The Social NetworkWill Win: The King's Speech

Best DirectorDarren Aronofsky, Black SwanJoel and Ethan Coen, True GritDavid Fincher, The Social NetworkTom Hooper, The King's SpeechDavid O. Russell, The Fighter
Here is where I think The Social Network will be rewarded. The Coens just won, Tom Hooper managed to get amazing performances out of his actors, a job well done, but those actors could have done just as well under another director. I think the only one besides David Fincher who would really deserve it is Darren Aronofsky and I think Black Swan may be a little too weird for some Academy members. Plus, Fincher has been nominated before so some will consider this his "time." Fincher for the win.
Will Win: David Fincher
Should Win: David Fincher

Best Actor
Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King's Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Jeff Bridges, True Grit

Now this is a race that was over early. Colin Firth, my pick for should win last year will get his will win this year. I'm OK with that. I did love him and was very impressed with his performance in The King's Speech. But it didn't blow me away like Eisenberg, or even more so, Franco. Those were roles they disappeared into. I noticed it even more this weekend when on Friday I watched Zombieland and then Sunday rewatched The Social Network. Zombieland is what people mean when they say Eisenberg plays the same character over and over. I love that character and am completely fine with seeing him play it. He does something completely different in The Social Network. His normally emotive eyes are dead—so smug with the knowledge that even though friends and enemies may have sued him, he's already won. Then there is James Franco. He does something else. He carries the entire movie completely by himself. Not only does he make it entertaining, as much as such a terrible situation can be made entertaining, but also he elicited such a strong reaction from me. One I wasn't expecting and can say with confidence I had never experienced in a movie theater. He won't win but damn does he deserve to.

Will Win: Colin Firth
Should Win: (tie) James Franco or Jesse Eisenberg

Best Actress
Annette Bening, The Kids are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Now here I agree with the general consensus. No disrespect to the other ladies. Michelle, I adore you. I enjoyed your movie. You made me cry. Haven't seen Rabbit Hole, but Nicole, you've had your turn. Jennifer, your movie really upset me, and not in a good way. Annette, I know everyone says it is your time but you really can't hold a candle this year. I have long been a fan of Natalie Portman. She is one of my ultimate girl crushes. I went and saw Black Swan alone and I remember just sitting and being in awe and looking at those around me thinking, "are you guys seeing this too?" The moment she won the Oscar is the second she steps on stage as the black swan. It's like the first half of the movie didn't happen. She transforms in front of you and it is nothing short of incredible.

Will Win: Natalie Portman
Should Win: Natalie Portman

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Fighter
John Hawkes, Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

Christian Bale is the only thing that elevated The Fighter from your standard boxing movie to something else. It's still not one of my favorite movies this year and that's not a knock against it by any means. There are just movies I enjoyed way more. I just felt like, overall, I'd seen it before—except Christian Bale. How can Batman turn himself so completely into someone else? He does it and makes it look so effortless. Note: I do love Geoffrey Rush!

Will Win: Christian Bale
Should Win: Christian Bale

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

This is a category I find myself not that excited about. Not quite sure why because all these ladies deserve to be here. I think I just really wanted Mila Kunis in the mix. My vote would go to Hailee Steinfeld and it just might happen. She holds her own against all those boys. Melissa Leo has been the front-runner, with good reason. But she just kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. In fact, I think this is where I'll pick the upset. There's always one and True Grit isn't going to win many of its nominated 10 Oscars. I say go Hailee!

Will Win: Hailee Steinfeld
Should Win: Hailee Steinfeld

Best Animated Film
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

This needs no explanation. Toy Story 3 deserves to be Best Picture period, so this award is a gimmie at this point.

Will Win: Toy Story 3
Should Win: Toy Story 3

Best Adapted Screenplay
127 HoursThe Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

This is a tough one. The Social Network will win but I'm struggling with should it? Creating drama out of a situation that mostly took place in front of a computer is a feat to be sure. The dialogue crackles so much it feels like you can't even take it all in at once. OK, it should. But I have to tip my hat to 127 Hours again and Toy Story 3. Both completely worthy.

Will Win: The Social Network
Should Win: The Social Network

Original Screenplay
Another Year
The FighterInception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech

Now in my opinion Original Screenplay should go to the most original screenplay. If that was the case there would be no debate because Inception would win. But the dumb old Academy is going to give it to The King's Speech. It's a good movie but come on! It's a British drama. They've won before. It doesn't reek of originality. You screwed Christopher Nolan out of a director's nomination—AGAIN! This is where he should win. But he won't. Because the Academy is old and can't pay attention and understand movies more complicated than ones where a major part of the action requires a cup of tea. But here is where I hope I'm wrong.

Will Win: The King's Speech
Should Win: Inception

Art Direction
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

Will Win: Inception
Should Win: Inception

Best Cinematography
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit

Will Win: The Social Network
Should Win: Inception

Achievement in Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland
I Am Love
The King's Speech
The Tempest
True Grit

Will Win: Alice in Wonderland
Should Win: Alice in Wonderland

Makeup
Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman

Will Win: The Wolfman

Editing
Black Swan
The Fighter
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

Will Win: The Social Network
Should Win: Black Swan

Best Original Score
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

Will Win: The Social Network
Should Win: (tie) The Social Network & Inception

Sound Editing
Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

Will Win: Inception

Sound Mixing
Inception
The King's Speech Salt
The Social NetworkTrue Grit

Will Win: Inception

Visual Effects
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2

Will Win: Inception
Should Win: Inception (next year Harry!)

Best of the Decade Challenge

My friend Mike challenged me to give him my best movies of all time list. This seems an impossible task to me. So he said he'd settle for a best of the decade list. This was still difficult but I narrowed it down to my 30 favorite films of the past 10 years, 2000-2009. I put them alphabetically because it's just too time consuming to try and rank them. The list still feels incomplete at 30 but hopefully your Netflix queues will thank me. Or you can judge me—that's equally as fun.

Almost Famous
Amélie
The Aviator
Before Sunset
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Closer
The Dark Knight
The Departed

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Finding Nemo
Garden State
Good Night and Good Luck
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Inglourious Basterds
Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (I'm counting as one movie)
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (I'm counting as one movie)
Lost in Translation
Match Point
Memento
Minority Report
Moulin Rouge!
Munich
The Royal Tenenbaums
Snatch
Slumdog Millionaire
There Will Be Blood
Wet Hot American Summer
Zodiac
500 Days of Summer

2010 Movie Rundown

This is my last post about 2010, which comes almost a month into 2011, but I wanted to share my movie rundown for this year like the last two years. Same categories. Somehow I saw 39 movies this year, as opposed to 41 last year. I need to step up my game clearly. But I am confident that I will have seen all 10 nominees for Best Picture when they are announced next week, after I watch Winter's Bone. So here we go...

Perfection
Inception
The Social Network
Toy Story 3

Excellent
127 Hours
Black Swan
Blue Valentine
Easy A
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World
The King’s Speech

Solid
Cyrus
Cemetery Junction (Netflix)
Despicable Me
Hot Tub Time Machine
How to Train Your Dragon (Netflix)
I Love You Phillip Morris
The Fighter
The Kids are Alright
The Town
True Grit
Waking Sleeping Beauty

Decent
Get Him to the Greek
Shutter Island
The Runaways

Dumb but enjoyable
Due Date
Eat Pray Love
Going the Distance
The Other Guys
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

Eh
Iron Man 2

Bad
Alice in Wonderland
Death at a Funeral
The Tourist

Shame on me
Burlesque
Frozen (Netflix)
Remember Me (Netflix)
Sex and the City 2
The Wolfman

Wanted to see but didn't be they good or bad
Catfish
Client 9
Hereafter
Howl
I’m Still Here
Love and Other Drugs
Megamind
Never Let Me Go
Nowhere Boy
Please Give
Rabbit Hole
Salt
Somewhere
The American
The Romantics
Rabbit Hole
The Tempest
Waiting for Superman
Winter’s Bone-Watching this weekend. Once I have I'll put it in its rightful place.

Best of 2010: Films

I've struggled with ranking a few of these. I even toyed with the idea of not ranking this year but decided that was a cop out. If everyone else can, so can I. So I give you my ranked list, as much as the ranking part kills me this year. Same rules as last year:

1. The feeling I left the theater with.
2. The film's watchability—would I want to watch it again and again?

Top 10 movies of 2010

Inception
I think Inception got the top spot in this list because of No. 1 there—the feeling I left the theater with. I remember feeling like I had to scoop myself out of the seat and re-enter a world that was different from the one I'd started watching the movie in. Dramatic? Yes. But when was the last time you saw a movie that completely and utterly blew you away? Not just with special effects, that's easy, but with an idea executed so beautifully and that was actually saying something, all the while being incredibly entertaining. After watching this movie I just wanted to shout, "see this is what happens when Hollywood gives money to actual talent!" Debate all you want about if the top stops spinning at the end. The point is, it doesn't matter and Cobb doesn't care. He is where he wants to be. I guess I can relate to that part. In dreams we can be with the people we love. And when in them, it doesn't matter that they aren't real. Kind of like movies.

The Social Network
Here's another one that had my mind reeling after leaving the theater, but for very different reasons. Five powerhouse performances make love to whip smart writing. The actors just destroy the script. I've heard people say Jesse Eisneberg and Michael Cera suffer from the same one-note, one-character sickness. I can't disagree more with that assessment of Eisenberg's performance as Zuckerburg. You can't even compare that deadeye defiant stare he wears throughout this movie with the mawkish, sweet guy he plays in Adventureland. There are also larger issues at work with all the praise the film has garnered. This is a movie completely of our time. Not just society's time as a whole but of my own. Zuckerberg is my age. There are scenes in the movie that show how Facebook spread from college to college. I vividly remember when Facebook hit KU. How it felt to start using it and the obsession it started for so many. It's so rare to see a film that feels so of its moment when you hear Justin . . . er Sean Parker plead with Mark during that scene at the club, "This is OUR time," you know he's talking to our section of the audience. And he is right.

Black Swan
I feel like Black Swan kind of sneaked up on me. I had read very little about it, which is becoming increasingly rare for me. The trailer really did its job this time and, somehow, I ended up excited to go on opening night. After it was over, this was a film that was hard to shake. Natalie Portman absolutely transforms on screen. During the finale, when she finally embodies the Black Swan, you feel like you are watching a completely different person. Despite its moments of cringe-worthy violence, the film is achingly beautiful and not just because of the dances, the costumes or the actors because as bat-shit crazy as it can be, you can still identify with that feeling of wanting to be perfect at any cost.

Toy Story 3
I declare a blanket ban on any more entertainment writers/bloggers being surprised that animation can actually be an effective medium for adults. I have seen Toy Story 3 at least three times and I cried each time. There is something so moving about it, especially the end of the movie. Throughout the film our beloved toys are struggling with their place in the world. Should they accept their time is over and retreat? Should they hope for something more? Who hasn't felt that way? The real piece de resistance is after the toys have made their way back to Andy's, ready to accept their destiny in the attic, they are saved by the boy who they thought had forgotten them. If you can watch that scene when Andy passes his toys on to the next generation without welling up, you are dead inside. It just illustrates so well how growing up is about letting go, and how bittersweet that can be.

127 Hours
I love when movies produce unexpected reactions. I expected to be horrified by the much-discussed arm amputation scene. Would I close my eyes? Would I pass out? Would anyone around me get sick? But when I think back at the movie now, having seen it, it's not the gruesome maybe 15-20 minutes of that moment that I focus on. It's the feeling that washed over me when it was over. But first, let's rewind—the film is a fantastic exercise in the term one-man show. James Franco, as Aron Ralston (a real person who, while mountain climbing in Utah, became trapped when a boulder falls on his hand), holds the whole film on his very attractive shoulders. The drama unfolds as he slowly comes to the realization of what he must do to survive. We watch him wrestle with it, reject it and then come around to it and we as an audience struggle as well. We know what's going to happen but that doesn't make the decision any less fascinating to watch. When he finally musters the resolve, we do too and we watch, and urge the scene to move faster, for him to finally get free and when he does, an incredible feeling washed over me. A feeling that brought me instantly to tears like no other movie I saw this year, tears of pure joy, sadness and relief. Franco's acting has never been more beautiful than in that moment and you've never seen anything like it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Those that have read this book know there is a section in the middle that is a slog. It makes sense why it is in there but it was frustrating for many readers. Our trio is increasingly isolated from everything they know, including each other, and the chapters that detail this massive road trip serve to showcase just how insurmountable their task is. When they announced they were splitting the book into two, there was relief because it meant we knew we were in for an incredible Part 2 because they'd have a whole movie to spend time on the Battle of Hogwarts. But we knew getting through Part 1 was going to be tough. How do you make this part of the book into a compelling movie? Moving the slow parts by as fast as possible and focusing on our characters, that's how. Has the relationship between these three ever been such a showpiece of these movies? Not until this film and it is completely better for it. These kids can finally act and the film lets them. It's a dark, bleak movie but one that is impossible to take your eyes off of.

The King’s Speech
I was of the opinion that Colin Firth was robbed last year. Yes, I did not see Crazy Heart but come on! I love The Dude as much as the next guy but Colin Firth gave the performance of his career in A Single Man. Until now. The King's Speech, on the surface, seems like a traditionalist in a year of movies that threw abandon to what makes traditional Oscar bait. That doesn't make it any less fantastic. Firth just melts into this character. The relationship between Bertie and his speech therapist is as dynamic as any other couple on screen this year. They meet. They find their rapport. They fight. They make up. It's so refreshing to see a film about male friendship that doesn't rest on child-male humor to get the point across. By the end when title cards tell you about how their friendship progressed as King George's reign, you've just witnessed something truly inspiring and original.

Blue Valentine
This is the movie I was waiting for before making my top 10 for this year. I knew from the moment I read about the casting that this would be something special. I don't think I realized just how awful that something special would make me feel. The "something special" is these two actors (Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling) and their performances. The movie itself examines the destruction of a marriage, pieced together by glimpses of their meet-cute and when reality settled in. I think some pieces are missing in their story but at the end it doesn't matter. It's like a boxing match between them as they tear each other apart. What they create is just so beautiful, so heart breaking and so unabashedly real.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Speaking of original, this one may take the cake for the year. It shares something with The Social Network for me, and it isn’t the “similarity” of the two leading men. Note: I’ll put Michael Cera in this movie up against any moment of Michael Cera in his other movies as an example that though he’s always awkward that doesn’t mean he’s not talented. It’s that those films were made with my generation in mind. When you see the film, its not surprising that some critics felt it was too spastic, unfocused and erratic. I loved every minute of it. I think most people my age did. It just felt like it was made just for us. So when it didn’t do well, we could feel superior in that those stuffy critics and older movie watchers just didn’t “get it.” But fine, it’s not for everyone, and we’ll take it for our own.

Easy A
I struggled with picking the final addition here. I had The Fighter in this spot but I decided what I like about The Fighter wasn't strong enough to push Easy A off this list. The movie itself is pretty standard sports/boxing movie stuff with some drug abuse thrown in. I chose to go with Easy A because, while based on The Scarlet Letter, it is still one of the most original films that was released this year. As I said in a previous post, when I saw the trailer for this, it felt like a breath of fresh air, and the film followed through on that promise. Yes, Emma Stone is the reason this is not your average "teen" comedy. In lesser mortals' hands, say a Hayden Panettiere, the film wouldn't be nearly as fun, funny or even interesting. Although an incredible supporting cast of Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Hayden Church, Lisa Kudrow and Penn Badgley buoys her, Stone owns the movie and you can't take your eyes off her.