Oh Goodness

Where does the time go? I must post more on this blog! All's well, I just get caught up in other things. So I figured I might as well return to blogging with a bang (just as Robert Downey Jr. returned to relevance with a bang in Iron Man, or Lisa Kudrow returned to TV with a bang in the short-lived-but-brilliant The Comeback). What I mean by a "bang" is my top ten list for 2010, which is as follows (acting awards to follow):

1. The Fighter
2. The Social Network
3. The Kids Are All Right
4. Black Swan
5. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
6. Inception
7. Blue Valentine
8. Solitary Man
9. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
10. Tangled

What are your favorites of 2010? Please comment!

Music Video

If I were to start a meme, it would be one where everybody embeds what they consider to be the best music video onto their blog. Not necessarily their favorite, but the actual "best," according to them. If anybody wants to participate, do! Just post what you consider to be the best music video. (I repeat, not your favorite. Unless you're favorite is the best. Fancy taste!)

Here's my pick for the best music video. Keep in mind this is subject to change, but at this moment, on this day, at this hour, I am choosing:

Oi

Sorry about the follow-up to those Oscar predictions. I won't be able to complete those (junior year at school keeps me busy with other things, whether they be academic or social) I do have another list for you. My favorite celebrities. Not actors or actresses or auteurs (though maybe they are on the list). But those celebrities who, for whatever inexplicable reason, you can't get enough of. Those stars who, if they're on a magazine you buy it, or if they're on a talk show you just have to watch it. Here are my three Tiers of favorite celebrities.

Tier One (Alphabetical)
Jennifer Aniston - It's probably my intense Friends devotion or my belief that she could somehow wow everyone one day if given the right script that leads me to obsess over Miss Aniston.

Penelope Cruz - It's got to be the Spanish accent and the inherent Euro-sexiness.

Andrew Garfield - I've been referring to him as my "new Anna Kendrick" for the awards season, or rather that person who I will cling to during the entire awards season because of their charms, talents, and I just always need somebody to root for (even if they don't usually win, much like Miss Kendrick last year). It's an awards season ritual of mine. In 2007, it was Ellen Page fandom. In 2008, Penelope Cruz. Then Anna and now Andrew.

Neil Patrick Harris - The hottest triple threat ever. He's, like, a 108 threat.

Anna Kendrick - The fast-talking charms of Anna Kendrick make me melt every single time. I could root for her forever.

Nicole Kidman - I have a thing for ridiculously gorgeous and talented actresses with porcelain skin, Amazonian height, delicate features, and Australian accents. What can I say?

Madonna - Nobody has shaped me pop-culturally as much as Madonna has. I made my own Madonna "discovery" in 9th grade. Last year (10th grade), sometime before that "eh" Glee episode devoted to Madge, I became slightly more obsessive and dipped much more extensively into her catalog, but still only scratching the surface of her work and her persona. This past summer, I threw myself completely into Madonna, and now it's October and I still can't get enough. This obsession is here to stay.

(Of course, in the late category, one Katharine Hepburn.)

Tier Two (The people I love but only border on "obsession" with.. alphabetical order.)

Kristin Chenoweth - Pint size fun.
Marion Cotillard - French, and crazy/repressed wife staple.
Courteney Cox - Monica! (And Gale!)
Matthew Fox - One of the few Jack fans out there.
Lisa Kudrow - Phoebe! (And Michele!)
Carey Mulligan - So close to tier one that it actually seems unfair that she's in this tier.
Evangeline Lilly - Kate Kate Kate Kate Kate.
Britney Spears - Bitch.

This is off the top of my head. Which celebrities do you just go gaga for? (Perhaps Gaga herself?)

Oscars Oscars Oscars

The Oscars seem to be on everybody's minds, from Luke at www.lukecurtis.blogspot.com to Nathaniel at www.filmexperience.blogspot.com. I thought I'd offer my two cents in more than just comment form for who I predict being nominated. These early predictions (no precursors!) are fun. Some may come true, most probably won't. That's the best thing about the pre-precursor season: nothing is set in stone. So be prepared for a lot of text and, without further ado, here they are:

Best Picture (ranked from most likely to least likely):
Toy Story 3
The Kids Are All Right
The Social Network
Inception
The King's Speech
(Tier one above, tier two below)
The Fighter
Black Swan
Love and Other Drugs
Never Let Me Go
Somewhere

We know Toy Story 3 is in if they let Up in last year. Inception I have reservations about, if only because better films may come along, but it definitely captured the zeitgeist this summer, and it is Christopher Nolan's "time." The Academy felt so bad about The Dark Knight snub that they made the field ten-wide. They aren't ignoring Nolan again. The Kids Are All Right has probably had "front-runner" status for awhile (live-action films category) and I don't see any reason why it would lose its heat. The Social Network has gotten very positive early buzz, and its director (David Fincher) has been quite the news item because of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo business. He's safe. The King's Speech is the definition of Oscar bait. Royals, Geoffrey Rush, a true story, and royals. Lots of royals. I've only heard positive things, so I think it can pull off a nomination in a ten-wide field (I mean, An Education did last year and that was certainly less bait-y.)
The Fighter depends on the reviews. With good/great reviews, then the topic (boxer! inspirational!) it's in. Black Swan is probably the most potentially polarizing film on this list, but with ardent supporters (which it seems to have, are they Academy members?) it could break through. Love and Other Drugs feels like that Chocolat nom. waiting to happen. Except Chocolat was in the top 5, so why can't Love and Other Drugs be in the top 10? Never Let Me Go is the film I actually might have the least faith in for Oscar love, but Somewhere also seems iffy, but for different reasons. I give Never Let Me Go the edge because of the cast and that haunting trailer.

Best Director
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David Fincher, The Social Network
David O. Russell, The Fighter
Mike Leigh, Another Year
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

Nolan has the whole "it's his time," as does Aronofsky. Nolan is probably the safer bet because his film has been released, grossed close to $700 million, and permeated pop culture. Black Swan probably won't come anywhere near $700 million (ah, in a perfect world!), but Darren Aronofsky can't be denied this many times.. can he? David Fincher seems to be a no-brainer, but Mike Leigh and David O. Russell are more long shots. Mike Leigh has pulled off this feat before (Vera Drake) where he gets nominated but his film doesn't, and given the warm reception Another Year has received, he might be safer than the film itself. And David O. Russell soars or sinks based on the reviews of The Fighter. Positive, he's probably in, negative, he's probably out.

More predictions in the coming days. What are your thoughts on my predictions so far?

Catching Up

So remember that "most anticipated of 2010" list I made? Here's a round-up of the films I've seen, and the new order for "most anticipated" now that I have seen some of the films and my opinions have changed due to trailers, buzz, etc.

Eat Pray Love - B (Tied for number 10 on the former list) A solid Julia Roberts vehicle, but doesn't scratch the surface of the psychological problems and inner journey author Elizabeth Gilbert took to emerge a new woman.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World - A- (Number 9) A smart and eye-poppingly fresh take on a graphic novel I never had the fortune of reading. Cera is stellar as he tries to play against type as a womanizer, and the supporting cast (Culkin, Kendrick, etc.) is killer.Inception - B+ (Number 3) A big concept that isn't always as stable as Nolan would want it to be, but can't-miss-cinema nonetheless. Cotillard is radiant in her ever-growing niche of an abused wife, Mal.

The Kids Are All Right - A (Number 2) A film I went into with high expectations, and it didn't disappoint at all. Career best work from Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, and Josh Hutcherson. It treats what could have been trivial plot points with unmatched sincerity and originality.

And now to revise the list.. the previous list looked like:

10. Never Let Me Go / Eat, Pray, Love
9. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
8. My Own Love Song
7. How Do You Know
6. The Social Network
5. Burlesque
4. Rabbit Hole
3. Inception
2. The Kids Are All Right
1. Love and Other Drugs

And the new list looks like:

10. 127 Hours
9. Fair Game
8. How Do You Know
7. Somewhere
6. Burlesque
5. Love and Other Drugs
4. Rabbit Hole
3. Black Swan
2. The Social Network
1. Never Let Me Go

Agree or disagree? Sound off in the comments, please!

Susan Sarandon... EO?

The EGOT, the combination of having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. This Sunday, Susan Sarandon may be one step closer to completing her EGOT, as she's nominated for an Emmy in a little-buzzed-about category, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for the HBO telefilm You Don't Know Jack. Her competition includes Brenda Vaccaro (randomly an Oscar nominee) also for You Don't Know Jack, Catherine O'Hara and Julia Ormond for Temple Grandin, and Kathy Bates for Alice. Assuming Syfy doesn't win acting awards, it's a four-way race between the You Don't Know Jack girls and the Temple Grandin girls who aren't Claire Danes.
I haven't seen either movie (no HBO!), but they were both supposed to be pretty good. Susan has the edge here because Catherine and Julia probably play second and third fiddle to Claire Danes, who the movie (presumably) showcases. And while You Don't Know Jack presumably showcases Al Pacino, we all know what Susan Sarandon can do in limited roles. Also, she's been nominated for multiple Emmys before and she has never won, and these kinds of things do factor in (unless you're, say, Richard Burton at the Oscars). She's been a revered, hard working actress for decades now.. surely an Emmy cannot be that hard to take?

And the "G" and the "T" shouldn't be that hard for her to win, either. Her stage work on Broadway is limited. Granted she didn't get a Tony nomination for last season's Exit the King, it's not much to fret over. If supplied with the proper vehicle, a Tony could be hers in no time. And winning a Grammy means doing an audiobook (easier if it's for the kiddies). So, by Sunday, Susan should be halfway through her EGOT.

What do you think of Susan's chances at the Emmys? Please be kind, we're big fans over here.

Black Swan

Black Swan may or may not be a major Oscar contender.. You can never tell with Darren Aronofsky. It's probably obvious that, if the ten-wide field had existed, The Wrestler would have been included in the line-up, but it's harder to say if Requiem for a Dream would have made it on Oscar's short(but a little bit longer)list of 10 nominees. I mean, Chocolat was in their top five, so...

What do you think of the trailer? I haven't really been looking forward to this, but due to the "eh" trailer of Love and Other Drugs (previously named my "Most Anticipated of 2010") and this much more awesome and intriguing trailer for Black Swan (missing from my most anticipated list), I'm sad that this wasn't previously on my radar! I'm looking forward to it now (Ballerinas! Natalie! Insanity! Mila!?), are you?

Madonna Day 10

Happy Birthday, Queen of Pop! That's right, Madonna turns 52 today, which also means the end of my countdown of the ten best Madonna songs!

And number 1 is...

1. Ray of Light, Ray of Light



Yes, this is the song that beat Like a Prayer. Its charms are boundless. Every day in the shower I always sing Ray of Light at the top of my lungs. And then when I'm out of the shower, it continues. It starts out so calmly, "Zephyr in the sky at night, I wonder, do my tears of mourning, sink beneath the sun?" And then it's off! Who doesn't have the urge to sing along with Madonna at the top of their lungs when she's singing "And I feel! Like I just got home!" "Quicker than a ray of light!"




And the music video is perfect for this song. Zero controversy (sorry, Like a Prayer), and eye-catching.

It's my favorite Madonna song. Hell, it's my favorite song by anyone.

What are your thoughts on Ray of Light? The countdown? What are your favorite Madonna songs? Agree/disagree with me? Please, stop thinking it and write it down in the comments!

Madonna Days 7, 8, 9

Of course I haven't been posting daily, so I have to squeeze in the best Madonna songs (#4-#2) in one post! Oh well, nothing to cry over.

4. Like a Virgin, Like a Virgin





3. Material Girl, Like a Virgin





2. Like a Prayer, Like a Prayer





What's that you say? You thought Like a Prayer was going to be number 1!? Well, anybody reading a Madonna countdown expects Like a Prayer to be named her greatest song, but there's one more that I very narrowly love more.

And Material Girl is my favorite Madonna music video. Like a Virgin's music video isn't so great, but the song is just so catchy and iconic.

What are your thoughts on these songs? The countdown? Any guesses for what song is number 1? Sound off, in the comments below!

Madonna Day 6

5. Borderline, Madonna




Even anti-Madonna people (blasphemy!) have to agree that Borderline is a solid song. And it's probably the song of hers that never gets old, in terms of listening to over and over again consecutively. Love it! That's why it's number 5.

What are your thoughts on Borderline? The countdown? Madonna?

Madonna Day 5

6. Vogue, I'm Breathless





Don't even get me started on that horrendous, jaw-droppingly bad Sue Sylvester cover version of Vogue that is going to win Jane Lynch her one-note Emmy. Instead, let's focus on the positive. This song is the ultimate feel-good song. My friend and I once agreed that it should play over the credits of every movie, just because it'll allow you to leave feeling good inside even if what you just saw was Precious, Terms of Endearment, A Nightmare on Elm Street, or anything else just shy of "feel good."And the name dropping of all the celebrities? Currently my ringtone... It's probably Madonna's best song for singing along in your bedroom (with the door hopefully closed!). And for these reasons, it lands at spot number 6 on this countdown.

What are your thoughts on Vogue and its ability to make anybody feel amazing?

Madonna Days 3 and 4, Anna Kendrick

Lack of posting yesterday makes this days 3 and 4...

8. Human Nature, Bedtime Stories



Did I say something true? Did I have a point of view? Did I talk about sex? Did I talk about you? Yes to all of the above! And when you say "yes" to all of the above, you get Human Nature.

7. Frozen, Ray of Light

I wasn't a huge fan of Frozen the first time I heard it. And I don't think many people are, it takes a few times listening to it to understand why it's so amazing. It's the song that gets better and better with repeat listening, and that's why it earns spot 7 (ask me tomorrow and maybe even higher) on this list.


Also...

Happy Birthday Anna Kendrick, winner of the 2009 ATF Award for Best Supporting Actress, comedic and dramatic actress extraordinaire, song and dance gal, and fun media personality.

Madonna Day 2

A little late for those of us on the East Coast, but for West Coast readers this is still "day 2." And better late than never, so, without further ado...

9. Papa Don't Preach, True Blue





Surprisingly politically right for Madonna, Papa Don't Preach made it's way onto the list because of those almost haunting notes at the beginning, followed by a very solid Madonna song. I think, though everybody may not end up accidentally pregnant, it's a very easy song to relate to. "Mom/dad, I'm in trouble, I need help. Not a lesson."

And that's what earns Papa Don't Preach its spot on this list. What are your thoughts on Madonna's pregnancy anthem?

Madonna Day 1

I'm counting down the ten best Madonna songs each day until her birthday on August 16th. So let's kick off today with a few honorable mentions...

Of course there are many, many, many honorable mentions, but I narrowed it down to five.

The runners-up (in chronological order...)

Erotica, Erotica
Deeper and Deeper, Erotica
Music, Music
Hung Up, Confessions on a Dance Floor
She's Not Me, Hard Candy

10. Cherish, Like a Prayer, and True Blue, True Blue

Yes, I realize that I already have a tie! You might be asking me, "Why not put one of these in the honorable mentions?" But it's because these songs are so equally feel good, that it's hard to choose which one would make the list and which one wouldn't make the cut. Just listen to Cherish...




It's so sweet. But not to be outdone, here's 1986's True Blue...




These songs are like sugar in song form. That's pretty much all I can say to describe them. Who ever thought a song describing Sean Penn would be so cute? "True blue, baby, I love you."

What are your thoughts on any of the aforementioned Madonna songs?

Ingmar Bergman

I just saw one of the most disturbing scenes of all time. Actually, a few of the most disturbing scenes the movies have ever brought us. But not "disturbing" in a bad, Hostel Part II way. No, what I just watched was Ingmar Bergman's Cries and Whispers.

And, to be honest, Harriet Andersson's portrayal of a cancer-stricken woman is more unsettling than any horror movie could ever be. How anybody could go there (the breathing, the confused looks of "I don't want to die, or live like this," the constant melancholy) in acting? And how can a director possibly push an actor to those frighteningly realistic places?




The red, the close-ups of each sister (and, of course, loyal, loyal Anna), it's all so memorable and... creepy. But once again not bad creepy. The good kind of creepy.

Have you seen Cries and Whispers? If not, did this encourage or discourage you to see it? I mean, I am trying to recommend it but it's hard to flat out say "you'll love it!"

Also, tomorrow begins a new brief feature.. "The Ten Days of Madonna," where I'll give you my ten favorite Madonna singles up until her 52nd birthday, August 16th!

Cameos

I've been shifting towards a TV blog recently, so I'm turning back to film!

I've been thinking of how great cameos can be. To the attentive viewer, cameos can be those few moments when the viewer feels that he or she is in on the joke the director is going at. Here's a clip of one my favorite cameos, Francis Ford Coppola in his own movie, Apocalypse Now.




What are some of your favorite cameos? I wouldn't be surprised to see some Alfred Hitchcock mentions, because he just always pops up in his own films.

Days 11-30: Tv Meme

This is taking longer than I had anticipated, so here comes one big old post:

A Show That Disappointed Me - Glee
An Episode I've Watched More Than Five Times - "The One with the Red Sweater," Friends
Favorite Childhood Show - Arthur
Favorite Male Character(s) - Charlie Pace, Lost, Chandler Bing, Friends
Favorite Female Character(s) - Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Friends, Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock, Juliet Burke, Lost
Guilty Pleasure Show - Desperate Housewives
Favorite TV Movie - Grey Gardens
Favorite Title Sequence - Friends
Best TV Ensemble - Friends, Lost
Favorite Kiss - Claire and Charlie's first kiss, Lost
Favorite Relationship - Monica and Chandler, Friends, Charlie and Claire, Lost, Jack and Kate, Lost
Favorite Series Finale - Friends
Most Annoying Character - Mike Delfino, Desperate Housewives, Michael, Lost, Nikki and Paolo, Lost
Best Quote - "Don't tell me what I can't do!" "Live together, die alone." - Lost
A Show I Plan on Watching - Mr. Sunshine
OMG Wtf? Season Finale - "Exodus," Lost
Best Pilot Episode - Lost
First TV Show Obsession - Survivor
Current TV Show Obsession - Cougar Town, The Office, 30 Rock
Saddest Character Death -

[spoiler!]

Charlie, Juliet, Lost





DONE!

Day 10: Television Meme

A Show That I Thought I Wouldn't Like But Ended Up Loving

Not to sound like a broken record, but...


And here's one that might surprise you more frequent readers...

Yes, my favorite drama and my favorite series of all time (Friends!). I did not think I would like either, having seen an episode here or there and not thinking they were either funny (in the case of Friends) or worthwhile (in the cast of Lost). Boy am I glad I decided to revisit both!

Day 9: Television Meme

Best Scene Ever

If you haven't watched Lost and are planning on watching it, then do not watch the following scene. It's a spoiler and it's from the season 5 finale, "The Incident." The scene is so emotional and important.






Here's a less spoiler-filled favorite scene.. the beginning of Desperate Housewives. It's stumbled a bit recently, but it would be very hard to regain the magic of this opening scene for anyone.

Day 8: Television Meme

A Show Everybody Should Watch