Last year I did my best movies of the decade. This year I will not be so grandiose, but I'll take a look back the year of 2010. As per usual, I will look at movies, sports, and a few other things and let you know my best of 2010.
Best Movies - as you will see, these are not necessarily movies that came out in 2010, as I don't often actually go to the movie theater, just movies I saw in 2010.
First a few honorable mentions: Lawrence of Arabia - well this obviously is an old movie, and it wasn't even the first time I saw it, but upon re-viewing it, it is a pretty amazing movie. Check it out again or for the first time. Couples Retreat - Yeah, I watched this movie as part of the free HBO preview. It wasn't too great, but not too bad either. I like Vince Vaughan and it had a pretty attractive female cast. Dan in Real Life - This is one I saw randomly on TBS or something. It was one of those movies they play back to back and I saw the second half and then watched it again to see the first half. I couldn't change the channel. A great movie, check it out. Steve Carrell was brilliant. Legion - I know lots of people hate this movie, and although it didn't really make any sense, I did enjoy watching it.
Now on to our Worst Movies of the Year
Valentines Day - Another HBO free preview film. Pretty weak, though the Ashton Kutcher/ Jennifer Garner storyline did rope me in. The Other Guys - I think I legitimately laughed out loud once during this movie Robin Hood - I had high hopes, but was disappointed Angels and Demons - A great book (for the first 4/5), but a pretty disappointing movie. The Hangover - Not a bad movie, but highly over-rated.
And the winner for Worst Movie of the Year:
The Other Guys - It looked bad from the previews, but I watched it anyways. Don't make the same mistake I did.
Best Movies of the Year
Up - Great from start to finish
Hurt Locker - Very intense throughout. Characterization was a little generic, but you could not take your eyes off the screen.
Near Dark - Finally saw this "vampire" movie strongly recommended from a friend. It was one of those movies that started pretty slow, but by the end, you are glued to the screen and do not want the movie to end.
Up in the Air - George Clooney at his best. This one was much funnier than expected and the serious side worked too. I actually liked Clooney's interplay with Anna Kendrick much better than Vera Farmiga.
Drag Me to Hell - Another HBO free preview movie, but his one was a quality surprise. Some really sick stuff, some kind of fun stuff, not super scary, but definitely entertaining.
And the Winner is:
Up in the Air - it is the only movie on the list I would recommend to everyone.
Best Books of 2010
Again, this is books I have read during 2010, not new books. I don't know if I've ever read a new book before. Also, I'm not a huge reader. I like to re-read old books. Of the 10 or so books I've read this year, I'd say 70% of them I have read before.
I've reread Timothy Zahn's Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy, a must for Star Wars fans. Harry Potter 7 was better the 2nd time I read it.
I've reread 100 years of Solitude and The Silmarillion, both of which now claim a place in my all-time top 10. I would love to have read 100 Years in Spanish (but I don't know Spanish). Garcia Marquez's work is so poetic (almost too much at times at expense of the actually momentum of the story) I can't imagine it in its original language. The Silmarillion to me, maybe because of my history background is better than the Lord of the Rings. It takes a while to get into, and through, but is worth it, much better after the second read.
Any my best new read of 2010:
A Canticle for Leibowitz - Not in my top 10, and not an easy read at first, but definitely entertaining and thought provoking. It's a post-apocalyptic tale of an abbey that preserves all history. If you like Sci-Fi, check it out.
Best Music of 2010:
Ok, some I'm pretty late on the music scene. My stereo got jacked over a year ago, not that KISSfm plays good music anyways. Well here are my picks for music I got into this year.
Regina Spector and from her to a slighter extend Nellie McKay just for this song
B.O.B. - great stuff with Bruno Mars, Rivers Cuomo, Hayley Williams, and his ESPN bowl song. Yes.
Adam Lambert - Ok, this might be odd, but his music is tight. No homo.
Best Sports Moments
Landon Donovan against Algeria
Michael Bradley and the US against Slovenia
Ghana/Uruguay ending
Badgers wins vs. OSU and Iowa
Favre's Int vs Saints
Everton's 2-goal injury time comeback vs. Man U
And the winner is:
Donovan vs Algeria - no doubt. This one should be the top moment of the decade.
Oh, and the Worst Sports Moment of the Year: Wisconsin vs. Cornell in the 2nd round of the NCAA, total torture watching that thing. Argghh.
Lastly, we'll take a look at the best 2010 post by Big Dunc. It wasn't necessarily a banner year for Big Dunc, but looking back it was pretty substantial - we had great World Cup Coverage, our Comic Book Bracket, Survivor Week, and awesome reviews of Lost seasons 1-4. It looks like going for quality over quantity paid off. So without further ado, here are my posts of 2010.
Star Wars Trilogy World Cup Wrap Up - Definitely my best picture finds of the year. Check it out for a super hot Australian chick and Bill Clinton drinking a beer Big Dunc's Survivor All-Stars - The definitive list of the best players and characters in Survivor History. This is a must see for Survivor fans and I think my best of the year, and also my Hottest Women of Survivor wasn't bad either. Comic Book Bracket - I think this one of the Negative Zone region was the best of the bunch. Best of Lost - Some great reviews of all the seasons, but I enjoy season 2 the best.
Enjoy, and look forward to more in 2011, or '11 as I will call it.
Unemployment has its perks. Last week I watched the 3 original Indiana Jones movies in two days. Nice. It got me thinking about a few things - how much the new one sucked, how long its been since I've seen Temple of Doom, and how the Indiana Jones trilogy had many scenes that scared me as a child. But before I get into that, here are a few more Indiana Jones observations.
Films in order of greatness:
1. The Last Crusade - Sean Connery puts this one on top, but just barely.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Temple of Doom - can't really compare some lost Indian stones against the Holy Grail and Ark of the Covenant
Leading Women in order of Attractiveness:
1. Dr. Elsa Schneider - Alison Doody - Last Crusade
2. Willie Scott - Kate Capshaw - Temple of Doom
3. Marion Ravenwood - Karen Allen - Raiders of the Lost Ark
Leading Female Characters in order of likability:
1. Marion - She out drank a large Nepalese man, tried to get the French guy drunk to escape, and did the damn thing with Indy in the snake room. I like her style.
2. Willie Scott - She was often times annoying, but came through a few times in the end. She was a good damsel in distress. The scene with her and Indy in opposite rooms waiting each other out was pretty great.
3. Elsa - Well, you have the fact that she was a traitor for the Nazis, but she also sucked as character. She really did very little in the film and just provided all the female stereotypes.
We live in a great age for being a dork, geek, nerd, weirdo, or whatever you want to title someone who is less than cool.
It's definitely a great time to acknowledge and claim your dorkiness.Be loud.Be proud.It's ok to be different and not fit in.It's obvious, as you can see from this blog that I'm an advocate of this dorkdom. But, I must warn you that these things move in cycles.By the time that you are confident enough with yourself to not hide your dorkiness, it may no longer be the case that geek is chic.
Let's take a closer look at this phenomenon.
1980s –The 80's were a good time for being a geek.Seriously, there were loads of movies about the geeks and nerds overcoming the cool kids – Revenge of the Nerds, The Karate Kid, Meatballs, The Never Ending Story - or the weird kids doing awesome stuff – Goonies, Stand By Me, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters – or the dorky guy getting the girl – Can't Buy Me Love, Loverboy, Pretty in Pink.
You also have the freaks, dorky kids, and jocks coming together in The Breakfast Club and the awesomeness of Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties, Punky Brewster, the kids in Mr. Belvedere (wow), and c'mon the Cosby family is pretty dorky.
All these movies, shows, characters are embraced and some loved and looked up to.
The 80s, though, are far from devoid of coolness – just check out popular music at the time.And, would you rather be Johnny or Daniel, Emilio Estevez or Anthony Michael Hall, Ferris Bueller or Cameron Frye?Cool is still number one, but the weird kids are getting a lot more cred.
Fast forward to the 1990's
Wow, maybe it’s the fact that I grew up in the 90s, but being cool was everything.
I would like to attribute the downfall of the dork genre of the 1980s to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.How cool where they?Shit.They were animated, lived in the sewer, and some weird anthropomorphic turtles, but they were miles cooler than me.Weapons, partying, pizza, saving the world, movies, music- they had it all.
Other coolness of the late 80s/90s – things we aspired to be like:
Kids would adorn all their possessions with New Kids on the Block pins.
Top Gun
Quentin Tarentino movies
Die Hard – just a regular cab driver, sure.
Bill and Ted – they were idiots, but that didn't matter.
Tim Burton Batman movies
And even seemingly dorky characters like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Harry and Lloyd are cool.
The best examples from the changes of the 80s geek heyday would be the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Saved by the Bell.Here the dorky characters – Carleton and Screech – are superdorks, there to be laughed and shown what not to be.You want to be like Will, Slater, and Zach.They get the girls, get the laughs, and win the games.It's pretty simple.
And I think the high point of this Coolness is also its downfall, which will also be the downfall of 2000s geek culture as you will soon see.I'm talking about Clueless.It was just too cool for normal people.Do people really act like that?
One last thing about the 90s, even movies about dorks like She's All That, are more about the dork becoming cool than the dork being cool.
On to the 2000s – I think the marked difference here is unlike the 80s when dorks and geeks were embraced and underdogs became winners, I think in the 2000s, especially at the end, it is actually cool to be a dork.Geeks are cool. Much of this has to do with new technology and ways of sharing information.You have blogs where it's not just the magazine editors and journalists sharing what is cool, what is in.You have facebook and twitter where one person's opinion is just as important as the next.
The biggest examples of the embracing and celebration of geekdom would have to be Harry Potter, Lost, and Lord of the Rings.It not only allowed, but expected that you follow these things to a level beyond dedication.It's cool to know Harry Potter's home address and the House ghost of Hufflepuff and the name of Desmond's boat and Driveshaft's hit single, and the father of Gimli and the seven sons of Feanor.We have LOTRs trivial pursuit and Harry Potter Scene it.
Another great example of how geek is now chic is Judd Apatow.Freaks and Geeks was a bit too much for people in 2000, but in the second half of the decade, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Superbad (and Michael Cera in general) are loved.
You got movies like Napoleon Dynamite and pretty much any Wes Anderson movie
Look at TV too – full of geeks.The Office, Chuck (more of the 80s brand of geekdom), Arrested Development, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, well at least her friends, quiz shows, heck Glee, a show about a high school glee club won the Golden Globe. The whole premise of The Big Bang Theory is being dorks and being weird.
Even in music it's ok to not be cool.American Idol and youtube has a lot to do with this.Normal people like Kelly Clarkson and straight up nerds like Clay Aiken are adored by all.
It's clear that geeks and dorks and weirdos are loved and embraced.It's ok to be yourself.It's cool to be smart.It’s alright to not fit in, in fact it's cool.
But, don't get too excited fellow people lacking coolness, they trend will soon be changing. The time for geekiness will soon be on its way out.And like Clueless was the apex for the coolness of the 90s, Juno is the apex and downfall for the dorkiness of the 2000s.Lots of people loved Juno.It brought this not fitting in, being different, being a nerd to a much wider number of people.I'm not really one for thinking that once underground stuff gets exposed it is not longer relevant and loses something.I'm more thinking that Juno was just too weird for its one good.It was cute, but really, who talks like that?
It went too far, beyond being cool to being forced and dumb. People like people they identify with, which is why shows like American Idol and reality tv are so popular, but how much will be too much? Soon there will be a reaction to this geeky coolness.Watch out.
Oh, and I'm writing this because I'm going to stick out the dorky wave as long as I can and have some real dorky brackets coming up in March, not as dorky as the LOTR/Star Wars bracket, but what can be that utterly dorky?
Time for another guest blogger. I wanted to make a list of the best Christmas movie, but then I realized I really don't like Christmas movies and I was so exhausted after writing my epic movies of the decade post, so I went back to my friend Amy, who has previously graciously supplied us with best horror movies and best vampire movies lists. Here is her list of Best Christmas Movies, and I have to say this is a tough task because there are so many horrible Christmas movies. Enjoy. (My comments will be in italics)
Ok. So here goes.After much debate with nick I think that I have come up with a list for you.
Honorable Mention: The Polar Express: The animation irritates me in some parts of the film which is why it's not on the list. It is a good holiday movie. But that hot chocolate song is soooo annoying Black Christmas: The original mind you, not that shitty remake. It's a creppy horror film. Enough said. The Santa Claus: Tim Allen is funny. The movie is Funny. The sequels are not White Christmas: I wanted to put this on the list but the Boyfriend insists that is not a Christmas film. I digress.
10. A Christmas Story: Here is the reason why this one is number 10. OVEREXPOSURE!!! This IS a really great Christmas movie but it is played to death around the week of and on Christmas Day. Leg Lamp
9. Bad Santa: Ok, ok I know that this may not be considered a Christmas movie to some but I think that it is one of the funniest movies out there that happens to be about a Bad Santa (pun intended) who has a heart of gold (well kinda).
8. Muppet Christmas Carol: Muppets + Michael Caine = Holiday classic gold. I too love the Muppets and enjoy Michael Caine, but I feel the use of Muppets is kinda poor here. They aren't as funny as they could be. For classic Muppets Christmas, look no further than The Muppets and John Denver Christmas Special - the best ones here and here
7. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: Based on the popular song, this animated classic from the sixties is an original that has withstood the test of time. An Elf that wants to be a dentist, Yukon Cornelius, a squirt gun that shoots Jelly, Yeti, I love it
6. Miracle On 34th Street: A little girl is raised to believe there is no Santa Clause. This charming film brings out the child in everyone and makes us believe that maybe there still is a Santa Clause
5. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation:My favorite scene is when they bring back the tree and cut in open and it breaks every freaking window in the living room. Oh and when they turn on the Christmas lights and blind the neighbors. Chevy Chase at the top of his game. This is probably the only one that is Christmas tradition. It will be watched every year.
4. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Sold Christmas: No not that crap movie with Jim Carey. I'm talking about the animated one that comes on Cartoon Network every year. What better way to teach us about the real meaning of Christmas then a Dr. Seuss story?
3. Elf: Oh god do I love this movie. Will Ferrell is at his comedic best. Funny, cute, and happy this movie is a must to put you in the holiday spirit. Pretty Great - SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!
2. It's a Wonderful Life: Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart at his best. A film that shows us how important we are to people around us.
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas: What can I say that hasn't already been said about this made for tv classic. With an awesome soundtrack and a great message who doesn't love them some Charlie Brown?
Thanks Amy, quality list. I would definitely include Home Alone, and another family favorite A Garfield Christmas
Quite an ambitious post here, but you know, go big or go home.
There have been lots of Best of the Decade lists coming out recently. Check out Time, or SI, or the AV club if you want some. They are pretty fun to look at. This is the first decade that is truly in the Internet Age, so lists like this lend themselves pretty well to blogs and other forms of online media.Also, it was quite a decade for me – last years of high school, college, Philadelphia, Montana, months on a bus.
I decided to compose my own. It is my list of favorite movies of the decade, not necessarily the best movies of the decade. Enjoy.
Purposeful omissions: I wanted to start off with a few movies very high on most people's list, but which will be missing from mine.
25th Hour - I liked it, but didn't love it. Spike Lee too full of himself and his craft
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - wasn't really blown away by this film, not something I want to see again.
Lost in Translation - I liked this one, but couldn't identify with anyone or anything
Honorable Mention: A.I. - interesting composition, almost 3 separate movies. Beautiful and thought provoking, though part Kubrick, Spielberg's best work of the decade.
City of God - great, powerful. I know lots of people that love it much more than me.
Requiem for a Dream - Man, depressing, but greatly acted and made, ditto to other people loving it more than me
Return of the King - Loved the Speech by Theoden, amazing special effects, and some awesome parts, but I just didn't like it as much as the other two
Collateral - just a great entertaining movie
Training Day- seems to be a movie people forget about, maybe it loses allure after seeing it the first time, but it holds up for me
Role Models - Hilarious. See it if you haven't already. Better than Knocked up and Superbad, but those and Forgetting Sarah Marshall are great too.
Hustle & Flow - Whomp that Trick!
Love Actually - number one chick flick
The Dark Knight Spider-Man 2 - This is THE comic book movie. It stays true to the character as well as creating new visual elements. Great special effects, but what makes the movie stand out is the Peter Parker/Spider-Man dynamic
Top 20
20a: Capturing the Friedmans - I don't really want to say that this is one of my favorite movies, but I think it was more captivating than anything else on the list. I could not take my eyes off it.
20. Billy Elliot - Showing my varied tastes right off the bat here. I remember seeing this movie in high school at the Oriental back when I used to go on dates, so maybe that's why it holds a high place for me. It is a great, fun, uplifting movie. I'm not much for ballet, but I'm not ashamed to have this in my top 20.
19. No Country for Old Men - One of two best picture winners on the list. Quality from start to finish.
18. 21 Grams - I have only seen this movie once, but it was pretty intense. It's weird movies people remember and forget. I feel this movie is awesome and super dramatic and amazingly acted, but it is rarely mentioned when talking about great movies of the decade. Maybe it is over shadowed by other similar intense, lifelike dramas like Mystic River and Traffic and Crash.
17. Spirited Away - This is probably my most pretentious pick on the list, but at least I didn't call it Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi. Not really my genre, and I'm sure there were things I didn't totally get, but it was pretty addictive.
15. Spellbound - Yes, a spelling bee documentary. Love it! You cannot make this shit up. It is hilarious. You got the super hard immigrant parents driving their kids to succeed, the rural shy kid, the black girl from DC, and a few others who are beyond intense about spelling words. A great movie.
14. Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers: Why is this movie better than The Return of the King? Ents. Why is this movie #14? Angry Ents. Lots of great visual elements here - Helm's Deep, the transformation of Theoden, Gollum vs. Smegol, Uruk-hai vs. Orcs, and of course the Storming of Orthanc. Surprisingly, this was the only LOTRs movie I saw in the theater.
13. Casino Royale -If this isn't the best Bond movie it is sure very close. A great combination of the classic dramatic, spy thriller Bond and the newer special effects, crazy action Bond. This movie is awesome starting from the beginning foot chase scene (I forget what that is called despite Dwight's love for it in The Office) to the meeting of Bond and Eva Green to the Casino scenes (Hold 'em instead of Baccarat) to the epic betrayal ending. Couldn't ask for more from a Bond movie.
12. Kill Bill - Ok this might be cheating, but I'm not choosing between vol 1 or vol 2. If I could choose the second half of vol 1 and the first half of vol 2, that could be a top 5 movie, but as a whole we'll go with 12. Highlights - the cartoon about O-Ren, the wedding flashbacks, Hattori Hanzo, any scene with Michael Madsen (who was also the father in Free Willie and according to IMDB has 26 movies filming, in post-production, or in pre-production. Wow), and the Pei Mai scene. Already planning on my next Halloween Costume to either be Pei Mai or the Shower from Karate Kid
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - This is the movie that made me get into Harry Potter. I was very intrigued by the tournament and the other wizarding schools. My favorite book among the 7 by far and my favorite HP movie. Everything builds upon everything else. The action and mystery builds to a great conclusion. Even the stuff that is not part of the main story line, like Harry trying to get a date for the Ball and Rita Skeeter is excellent. Also, my favorite part of the series may be Dumbledore's speech after Cedric Diggory has been killed. 10. Batman Begins - Might have a little controversy here by having this and not Dark Knight on the list, and though I really like Dark Knight, I like this one a little better. It's a more simple movie. The background with Ra's Al Ghul is incredible. Plus it helps that I love Ra's and Liam Neeson. Katie Holmes is a much better Rachel than Maggie Gllynehaal. The origin is great. I guess I just love all the beginnings of Batman Begins. It stays true to the character, updates the story and makes Dark Knight possible. This movie is more about who is Bruce Wayne than who is Batman.
Bruce: Rachel, all of….All this...It's... It's not me.
Inside, I am...I am more.
Racehl: Bruce......deep down you may still be
that same great kid you used to be.
But it's not who you are underneath...
...it's what you do that defines you.
9. Little Miss Sunshine - This is probably the most unlikely movie on the list. I think I saw it on HBO randomly. I knew people were touting it as a real good movie, but it didn't really attract me as something I would enjoy. But then I saw it and realized I was wrong. I think it is the amazingly complex, varied characters that make this movie so great. Again, it is like Garden State, making the most of what we are given. The actual premise of the movie is pretty ridiculous, as is the dance scene which most people remember the movie by. But I love the combination of the poignant with the inappropriate, the sad with the funny, much like The World According to Garp, Little Miss Sunshine has lots of that.
8. Gladiator - "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
I had a friend in high school who would always recite this speech. He continued to do so in college and after. It is a pretty bad ass speech. The entire movie is pretty bad-ass for that matter. Even the beginning war scenes are great, as well as the performance of Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius. The meat of the movie though is obviously the Coliseum fight scenes, especially the first one with the recreation of the 2nd battle of Carthage. Yes. You got Russell Crowe, Djimon Hounsou, and the big German guy. And Commadus (Joaquin Phoenix) is a pretty great bad guy. He is pretty messed up and you pretty much hate him strongly by the end of the movie. Oh, and the Jay-Z What More Can I Say? sample "Are you not entertained?" gets me going too. One of two Oscar Best Picture winner's on the list.
7. Gangs of New York - Speaking of Best Picture winners, Chicago is better than this movie? Shit. Besides the great acting and directing, this movie has a very cool visual element. Bill the Butcher looks giant and intimidating. The city looks great too. I even wanted to read more about the Five Points, so if a movie makes you want to read, it must be good.
6. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters -Wow, I really can't impart to you how much I love this movie. Like my other documentaries on the list, this movie shows that truth is much stranger than fiction, that some stuff is so crazy you can't make it up. This movie is about someone trying to break the Donkey Kong record and it is super addictive! I think I watched twice in two days. That is how good it is.
Steve Wiebe vs. Billy Mitchell. Humilty vs. Pride David vs. Goliath Good vs. Evil I feel that these are not hyperbole. Watch the movie and see if you disagree. So much great stuff in this movie. You got the video game dorks that worship Billy Mitchell. You got the video game record establishment that Steve Wiebe is up against. You have the official scorer who insists on wearing a referee jersey to ever event. You have Steve's wife crying because he can never catch a break. You have a video game player with the self proclaimed name of Mr. Awesome. You have Steve's kid literally popping his pants while Steve is breaking the top score. Wow. When I was looking for a picture to include here there was so much I wanted to include. Watch this movie if you have not already seen it!
5. The 40 Year Old Virgin - This is the movie that all comedies since try to emulate. It started an entire genre. I think it is better than the other Apatow movies because the story is better. Despite the subject and sometimes extreme raunchiness, there is a cuteness to the plot. You really want Andy to succeed and in the right way. It is also more simple than the later ones. The dialogue seems much less forced, though it is a bit too much at times. Oh, and you got Steve Carrel, comic genius. Plus Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan, the funny Indian guy and my first introductions to Elizabeth Banks, Jonah Hill, and Jane Lynch.
You know what? I respect women! I love women! I respect them so much that I completely stay away from them!
All you got to do is use your instincts. How do you think a lion knows to tackle a gazelle? It's written, it's a code written in his DNA, says, "Tackle the gazelle." And believe it or not, in every man there's a code written that says, "Tackle drunk bitches."
Oh man, Friday, I really wanted an egg salad sandwich and I was just obsessing about it and I was like, 'Man, I'm gonna make one of those.' So Saturday, I went out and got, like, a dozen eggs and then I boiled them all and I just, I spent, I dunno, probably three hours, like three and a half hours making, you know, the mayonnaise, and the onions and paprika and, you know, the necessary accoutrement. And then, by the time I was done, I didn't really feel like eating it.
[cuts to Andy painting one of his soldier toy figures] Now, I'm going to make your silver pants, blue!
Paula: Andy. Have you ever heard of the term... 'Fuck Buddy?'
Andy Stitzer: No... What's that?
Paula: Well, it's a special... friend... who you fuck.
You know what my problem is? I am not interesting. What am I supposed to say? I went to magic camp? That I'm an accomplished ventriloquist? Oh, I *am* the Seventh Degree Imperial Yo-Yo Master. "Ooh, do me, Yo-Yo Master, I want you to do me cause you're the yo-yo guy!"
I dated this girl for a while. She was really a... nasty freak. She just loved to get down with sex all the time. It was like... anytime of day, she was like, "Yeah, let's go! I'm so nasty!" And I'd be nailing her and she'd be like, "Oh, you're nailing me! Cool!"
Wow. This is graphic.
4. Amelie -Here is my token foreign film, but seriously, I really like this movie. Some may think it is too quirky and too positive and has too neat of an ending, but not me. There are two types of love story movie people - the optimists who identify with Amelie, believing that love on conquer all and the right people will get together in the end and the pessimists - people who identify with Closer, believing that pretty much everyone is selfish and wants to use everything they have against someone else and hurt them as much as possible. I'm definitely glad to be the Amelie type and not the jaded Closer type. I like the humor as well and the great color of the film.
3. Memento - Another one that goes back to high school. This was before the internet days. I think I read about this movie in Entertainment Weekly or something like that and knew I needed to see it. I'm pretty sure it was another of those Oriental or Downer movies, back when it was cool to go to the indie theaters. Quite a novel concept, which isn't just a gage, but a clever story telling device. If it wasn't done well, it would have sucked, but Christopher Nolan makes it work. So much is unveiled in just the right way at just the right time. Great acting. Great ending (or beginning?). Oh, and Guy Pearce's character would actually be my ultimate Halloween costume. I just need to get ripped and find a fake tattoo artist.
Remember Sammy Jankis
2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Much like the original Star Wars, I like the first movie the best. It just introduces so much - characters, story, magic, motifs, and possibilities. This is why I like Fellowship best out of the three LOTR movies. It opens up an amazing world. This actually the first DVD I ever purchased. Pretty much you need not look past the opening origin of the rings scene when talking about the greatness of this movie. Plus loads of amazing scenes - The Council of Elrond, Gandalf vs. Saruman, the flight to the Ford, the Mines of Moria, Lothlorian, the giant statues on the River, the Final Battle scene, the Death of Boromir, and the amazing Bridge of Khazad-Dum. This one sets up more greatness to come.
Boromir: [holding the ring after Frodo has lost it] It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing.
I made a promise, Mr Frodo. A promise. "Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee." And I don't mean to. I don't mean to.
"One Ring to Rule Them All. One Ring to Find Them. One Ring to Bring Them All and In The Darkness Bind Them."
Our people, our people. I would have would have followed you, my brother... my captain... my king
Boromir: What is this new devilry?
Gandalf: A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!
Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.
They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums... drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow lurks in the dark. We cannot get out... they are coming
Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.
You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun! Go back to the shadow. You shall not pass!
1. In America - This may be a surprising pick, but it is definitely number one for me. It may not have action like Gladiator, great quotes like The 40 Year Old Virgin, or amaze like Fellowship. What makes it so great for me is that it just feels so real. I don't have kids, I'm not an immigrant, I don't have AIDS, I don't live in Hell's Kitchen, but this movie still really speaks to me. It is about America. It is about making the most of what we have. It's about what pain does to our lives, how it makes us miss out on it. The two girls are great as is my man Djimon Hounsou and a great performance by Paddy Considine. Incidentally, director Jim Sheridan's next movie was Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Pretty much every scene evokes some emotion and empathy for the characters - from the arrival at the border to the air conditioner scene to the ET ball game scene to the Halloween scene to the snowball fight to the final saying goodbye to Frankie. And my favorite is Christy's speech in the hospital.
Maybe a surprise choice for number one, but I find the movie seamless.
Johnny: Are you in love with her?
Mateo: No... I'm in love with you. And I'm in love with your beautiful woman. And I'm in love with your kids. And I'm even in love with your unborn child. I'm even in love with your anger! I'm in love with anything that lives!
Ariel: Cool!
Christy: Cool? Where'd you hear that?
Ariel: I don't know, I just heard it.
Christy: Ugh, you're already American, it's disgusting!
Ariel: What are transvestites?
Christy: A man who dresses up as a woman.
Ariel: For Halloween?
Christy: No, all the time. All the time.
Ariel: Why?
Christy: It's just what they do here, OK?
And here is the scene I mentioned earlier.
Johnny: Are you okay little girl?
Christy: Don't "little girl" me. I've been carrying this family on my back for over a year, ever since Frankie died. He was my brother too. It's not my fault that he's dead. It's not my fault that I'm still alive.
Johnny: Ah, Christy.
Christy: Mom was always crying because he was her son. But he was my brother too. I cried too... when no one was looking. I talked to him every night.
Ariel: She did, Dad.
Christy: I talked to him every night, until...
Johnny: ...until when?
Christy: Until I realized I was talking to myself.
There you go. A pretty nice list if I say so myself.
According to this, my favorite actors (multiple appearances on the list) are everyone from Lord of the Rings, Steve Carell, Liam Neeson, and a bit of a surprise Brendan Gleeson.
Hope you enjoyed. A fun decade. Let me know any picks you got.
I'm pretty much ballin' an all accounts- unemployed, live with my sister, I read comic books and Harry Potter, and wake up at 5:30 AM on the weekends to watch English football. Yes! Pretty much anything I have to say is the truth.
