21

So I thought I’d write this review a little differently. I don’t feel like writing really long paragraphs today. Instead I’m going to go with some observances while watching 21 this past Friday. While I’m writing down the times, don’t take them seriously because I really didn’t even look at my watch during the screening.

10:25pm Wow, there’s a lot of people here for a late show on Friday night. The place is packed. People are sitting in my black-railing seats. Crap. I’ll sit in front of them so I can stretch my legs into the walkway. At least I’m not in very front like those poor saps who got in just as the lights were dimming.

10:35pm No Stella Atrois ad. Hallelujah!

10:40pm Some of these previews aren’t bad. I was worried about one with Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz but I found myself laughing by the end of the preview. Same goes for Adam Sandler as a hair-dresser. Are they piping laughing gas into this theatre?

10:48pm Okay, the movie is starting. It’s based on a true story. Is it supposed to be taking place in the past or in the present? Can’t tell by the music. No obvious references to the past that I can see. I guess it’s present day.

10:55pm Hey, Jim Sturgess is speaking American. I keep expecting him to belt out a Beatles tune in his British accent.

11:00pm Jim’s character, Ben Campbell, just turned 21. Soon, he’s going to learn how to get 21 in Blackjack. Wow, maybe he lives on the 21st floor of a building or something.

11:01pm I recognize Josh Gad, who plays best friend Miles. He’s on that show Back to You with Kelsey Grammar. He plays a similar role. He’ll probably be typecast forever.

11:06pm When’s the last time I saw Kevin Spacey in a movie? I should look that up on IMDb when I get home.

11:15pm Now we’re getting into Blackjack and counting cards. This movie reminds me an awful lot of Rounders with Matt Damon. Guy trying to do the right thing gets pulled into gambling and ruins his life in the process.

11:30pm Check that, this is more a mix of Rounders and Swingers. You’re so money and you don’t even know it.

11:35pm Ben is denied a kiss in the subway. The whole audience feels his pain and embarrassment. I guess more than one person can relate. I’m thinking Ben will get some action soon.

11:44pm Is it just me or is Laurence Fishburne looking a little chunky in this film?

11:53pm Finally, Aaron Yoo was in Disturbia. I just saw the movie last week. Boy, that was bugging me.

12:01am Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth are making out. I heard they both were completely hammered when they shot this scene. Some guy with a telescope is having a good night in Vegas.

12:12am Okay, if they kick you out of Vegas, why not just go to Atlantic City? It’s even closer. I thought this kid was smart.

12:16am Just tripped a person walking back to their seats. Oops.

12:22am Spacey has a sweet “Bono from Across the Universe” costume. Nice diguise.

12:45am Okay, that was really similar to Rounders. Good thing I liked Rounders. 21 wasn’t the greatest movie ever, but it was a fun ride. Could've waited for the DVD.

12:49am I have this urge to go to a casino. Maybe I could be like Ben Campbell. After talking it over with my friend, I realize that I would suck at counting cards because I’d have to use my fingers. Oh well, better head home.

Semi-Pro

I think I laughed about ten times. Don’t ask me how many times I cringed. And the cringing wasn’t even for grossness (well, sometimes), it was for the sheer patheticness of the film. I kept wondering who greenlit Semi-Pro in the first place? Is it because it’s Will Ferrell in a sports comedy? Okay, it worked in Talladega Nights and maybe Blades of Glory, but have you seen Kicking & Screaming? Is it too much to ask for fresh material?

So Semi-Pro using the seventies as its backdrop for a struggling basketball franchise that longs to break into the NBA. That means we get loads of afros and loud clothing patterns. Am I supposed to find that funny? Maybe I’ll give it a mild chuckle, but only once. Will Ferrell plays singer/owner/coach/player Jackie Moon as a man about town with an overconfidence that usually gets him in trouble. Hmmm. Sounds a lot like his previous roles in Talladega and Blades. And that cockiness just screams Ron Burgundy; which already nailed the 70s machismo. Now that was funny. Will Ferrell shouldn’t be rerunning his old stuff already. Don’t get me wrong, I like Will Ferrell and I think he is a very funny man but he has made some poor decisions in his movie roles lately. Maybe I just like him better in small spurts, check out his work on funnyordie.com and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

And what’s up with Woody Harrelson? Why is he in this movie? He plays Monix, a tough-guy ‘pro’ who tries to turn the team around. He’s not tough. I’ll always remember him as the sweet lunkhead Woody Boyd from Cheers. That was his masterpiece. Okay, he was good in Natural Born Killers and he did a fine small role in No Country for Old Men, but did you see the atrocity that is Kingpin? There goes my gag reflex. Didn’t like him in White Men Can’t Jump, Money Train, The Cowboy Way, Indecent Proposal, Doc Hollywood, Will & Grace, shall I go on? I don’t think Harrelson plays the jerk all that well. It’s sad. So very sad.

Like Pepper and Cotton’s commentary in Dodgeball, I did enjoy the banter of Will Arnett and Andrew Daly as the Tropics colourmen. They played well off each other and added some much needed laughs into this ‘comedy.’ I also thought Andre Benjamin (of Outkast fame) did an okay job as Black Coffee, the only player who knows how to dunk a ball. Most of the rest of the cast were useless. Rob Corddry was a waste of screentime. I have no idea what Andy Richter’s position on the team was. Jackie Earle Haley as Dukes the stoner was funny but the joke got old pretty fast.

The biggest confusion when it came to casting was Maura Tierney as Lynn, the love interest for Monix. Why was there even a love story? It didn’t work at all! It seemed tacked on so that they could have a female in the cast. Monix is still in love with Lynn who is married to an oblivious Monix-fan loser played by Corddry. I wanted to cry when these scenes were getting played out. But that’s not the only part of the story that sucked. The basketball playing is pathetic and cliché. I got more enjoyment from The Mighty Ducks. The only thing that seems to work in this film is the outrageous promotional ideas submitted by Jackie Moon. Bear wrestling was funny. Sabotaging his own teammates so he doesn’t have to buy the sold-out crowd corndogs was funny. But that’s about it.

This movie would have been better served as a series of short skits on SNL not as a slapped together ninety-minute movie. You’ll probably laugh at some of the ideas and one-liners but not much else. Avoid the theatre. Even avoid the DVD. I would wait until they play this on TBS. You know you can watch it while you’re working on something else. Yep, it’s just that bad.

Definitely, Maybe

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen an all-out chick flick. Maybe years. I have seen ones that have been aimed at mostly female audiences like Atonement and Hairspray but not a pithy romantic comedy like Definitely, Maybe. So what made me turn to this film? First, the films I was anticipating this spring have come up with the worst ratings ever. Be Kind, Rewind, Semi-Pro and Vantage Point have all come up critically short. Surprising enough, Definitely, Maybe had the highest ranking of the four. And second, well, let’s just say I have my reasons.

Definitely, Maybe was definitely not bad. Granted I was going in with pretty low expectations. Ryan Reynolds does not inspire quality. Sure, I enjoyed his work in Van Wilder but Waiting and Just Friends were dreadful. In this film, Reynolds pulls out the charm and does a fine job playing Will Hayes, an ad-exec with a precocious daughter. He is endearing as a father and is puppy-doggish lovesick when it comes to his interactions with his multiple lovers. As the only male that didn’t fall into an annoying stereotype, I found myself able to relate to Reynolds a bit more. I didn’t think Van Wilder had it in him.

The scene-stealer award of Definitely, Maybe can be given to Little Miss Sunshine herself, Abigail Breslin. As inquisitive daughter, Maya, Breslin gives each scene heart. Maya spends the movie trying to piece together who her real mom is by listening to her dad’s recounting of three significant women in his life. Her early interruptions in the story were fun and cute. In fact, my biggest complaint of this film is that these interruptions/commentaries didn’t happen more in the film; after a few comments, the flashbacks take over and last too long. I enjoyed the optimism Breslin gives to her character and let’s face it, she’s too adorable to ignore.

Of three main women in this film, only one sticks out. It’s not Elizabeth Banks. I find her annoying. She reminds me of a poor-man’s Rachel McAdams but with added dullness. She was also a terrible addition to Scrubs last year. Maybe that’s why I don’t like her. It’s also not Rachel Weisz. While I do like a lot of her work but she doesn’t seem to fit into this type of film. I expect more drama from her, not some sugary love story. The one that makes the material work is Isla Fisher. She not as crazy as her role in Wedding Crashers and not as unbelievable as she is in Hot Rod but she plays it perfectly in between. She has a spark. Fisher brings energy to the screen and there is obvious chemistry between her and Reynolds. She’s the one I was rooting for in the film.

I’m not going to tell you who Maya’s mom is. Not that I think you’re spending sleepless nights wondering. The story, written and directed by Adam Brooks, is interesting but not compelling. The mystery element may draw you in but it doesn’t keep your attention throughout the film. One of the major flaws in this film has to do with its pacing. Too much time is spent on each of the women, which doesn’t leave us wanting much more. Also some of the dialogue is pretty syrupy, but I wouldn’t expect much more from a chick flick like this.

So should you see Definitely, Maybe in the theatre? Well it might have already left the theatre a couple of weeks ago. (Sorry, the review is so late. Been busy with school and such for the past month.) In any case, this is one for video. I’m not going to say you should see it definitely, maybe. Instead I’ll say: “Should you see it? Sure, Why Not?”

Oscar 2008 Wrap-Up

So I did worse this year. Last year I got 15 out of 24, this year I got 13. I did very poorly on the short films and I was pretty shocked with Bourne Ultimatum’s three wins, as were most people. The award ceremony was nothing really to write home about. Jon Stewart did a fine job at keeping the show moving but there wasn’t too much comedy to be had. There were some nice scarastic comments but there wasn’t much of a entrance this year; he just showed up and talked. I guess with less writing-time, that’s what you get. Thankfully the stars were all there and some of the banter was adequate. Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen’s Halle Berry fight was pretty good. I did enjoy the quickly thrown together binocular & awakened by nightmare montages. It just goes to show how many montages they make for this very-long award show. Notably absent were the long drawn-out clips for the best picture nominees, I guess that saved some time. Also with the large number of international winners this year, the acceptance speeches were relatively short. There were no Cuba Gooding Jr or Roberto Benigni moments this year. Not surprisingly, this was one of the least-viewed Oscars ever, but that’s because most people hadn’t seen the five movies nomintated for best picture. This says to me that America needs to get out more and experience all the good stuff modern cinema has to offer instead of seeing the cookie-cutter blockbusters plaguing the screens. Oh well. Here is a list of the winners. (right=yellow, wrong=red)

Live Action Short Film: Le Mozart Des Pickpockets
(Way off. The clips looked entertaining though)
Animated Short Film: Peter & the Wolf
(Okay, I was way off with my short film guessing this year)
Documentary Short: Freeheld
(I guess lesbian rights trumps Iraq kid with AIDS.)
Sound Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
(Okay, I didn’t see that coming.)
Sound Mixing: The Bourne Ultimatum
(I was right the sound editing and mixing was a two-fer this year.)
Original Score: Atonement
(Finally, something I got right. Thank you Mr. Typewriter.)
Original Song: “Falling Slowly” (Once)
(Loved Jon Stewart mocking their ‘arrogantly’ gracious acceptance speech.)
Visual Effects: The Golden Compass
(Seriously? A polar bear beats a transforming robot. C’mon people!)
Make Up: La Vie En Rose
(Thank goodness Norbit didn’t win. The world is right again.)
Costume Design: Elizabeth: The Golden Age
(I guess colourful beats dark and dismal)
Art Direction: Sweeny Todd
(Another correct guess, yippee!)
Film Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
(C’mon, no one predicted Ultimatum would win 3 awards!)
Cinematography: There Will Be Blood
(Roger Deakins was robbed. I guess his two films cancelled him out.)
Documentary Feature: Taxi to the Dark Side
(Is this a Star Wars parody? Just kidding. It’s supposed to be good.)
Animated Feature: Ratatouille
(Liked Brad Bird’s ‘unhelpful guidance counsellor’ acceptance speech)
Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters
(It’s about the Holocaust. Pretty hands down.How right I was.)
Adapted Screenplay: No Country for Old Men
(Okay, now the predictions are going my way.)
Original Screenplay: Juno
(Glad they won best picture at the Spirit Awards the night before.)
Best Director: Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)
(A well-deserved win.)
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
(Is it just me, or does she look creepy. Her skin looks fake. Scary eyes too!)
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
(Loved his touching address to his mother. I assume it was touching.)
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose)
(Lot of people were surprised. Many critics picked her to win. As did I.)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
(No shock there. It’s amazing how soft-spoken he is. What a great actor!)
Picture: No Country for Old Men
(This movie had it all: great acting, story, editing, cinematography, sound and more. I think it deserved more than four awards but I’m very happy it won the big prize.)

How did you do this year? Did you beat my piddly 13 correct predictions?

Oscar Predictions 2008

Time for the fearless Oscar predictions. Last year, I only got 15 out of the 24 categories right (I thought Babel would get some love). This year, I’m banking on the Coen brothers. By the way, I'm relieved that the writers' strike is over, so we can have a proper awards show. The Golden Globes sucked! Anyway, I assume you know the nominees already, so I’ll just predict who I think will win. (Remember, it’s not who I necessarily want to win, but who I think the Academy will vote for) Here goes from smaller awards to the bigger ones.

Live Action Short Film: At Night
(Three women in a cancer ward. Sounds moving. Haven’t seen it.)
Animated Short Film: Madame Tutli-Putli
(It’s Canadian. It’s on a train. It has interesting animation apparently)
Documentary Short: Sari’s Mother
(About a kid in Iraq with AIDS. Seriously, these short films are a crap-shoot.)
Sound Editing: No Country for Old Men
(Most are going for Transformers, I think the mix of silence & sound should win.)
Sound Mixing: No Country for Old Men
(More often than not, the film that wins best sound editing, wins this one too.)
Original Score: Atonement
(Love me some typewriter sounds.Gotta girl Atonement something.)
Original Song: “Falling Slowly” (Once)
(Enchanted songs cancel each other out. This one is supposed to be moving.)
Visual Effects: Transformers
(Those Transformers looked kick-ass! Pirates got their award last year.)
Make Up: La Vie En Rose
(The aging of Marion Cotillard is supposed to be amazing. Norbit better not win.)
Costume Design: Sweeny Todd
(I was gonna go with Atonement, but why play safe?)
Art Direction: Sweeny Todd
(Go, Tim Burton, go!)
Film Editing: No Country for Old Men
(It’ll be funny giving this award to a person who doesn’t exist.)
Cinematography: No Country for Old Men
(I really hope his double nomination doesn’t cancel him out; he so deserves it.)
Documentary Feature: No End in Sight
(Hollywood don’t like Bush. This doc gets the story straight without bias.)
Animated Feature: Ratatouille
(After the Happy Feet surprise last year, it’s back to the Pixar films for me.)
Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters
(It’s about the Holocaust. Seems pretty hands down.)
Adapted Screenplay: No Country for Old Men
(Imagine the Coen brothers getting three awards on Oscar night.)
Original Screenplay: Juno
(I really don’t think I need to explain this one. It’s a lock.)
Best Director: Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)
(It’s about time they got some credit for their wide body of work.)
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There)
(This is the hardest one to predict. She played a guy really well. Why not?)
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
(Creepiest villain since Hannibal Lechter, give him a prize.)
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose)
(Would love Ellen Page to win but apparently this woman is amazing.)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
(I’ll eat my hat if he loses this one. Luckily, I don’t wear hats, but still.)
Best Picture: No Country for Old Men
(Atonement is a little too safe for the Academy. Michael Clayton has great acting but not much else. Would love to see a comedy like Juno win, but that’ll never happen. There Will Be Blood is gaining momentum but it still seems a little too overshadowed by Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance. No Country for Old Men has it all: great acting, story, editing, cinematography, sound and more. I really hope this one wins.)

So let’s see how I do on Sunday. Who are you predicting? Feel free to comment and laugh if you think I’m way off.

There Will Be Blood

Looking at my last post, it has been awhile since I reviewed a movie, my excuse is that it’s been crazy busy and I was still a little woozy from Cloverfield. Anyway, I was finally able to see the last best picture contender in There Will Be Blood. I’ve heard and read all the reviews and this latest offering from Paul Thomas Anderson matched all the hoopla that has surrounded this dark picture centered on oil and religion.

Daniel Day-Lewis is an acting god! He is truly one of the great actors of this and any generation. He is the one you can watch in order to study true character development. While I enjoyed his work in My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father, I was simply blown away by Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York. It was the first time, I concentrated on a character’s breathing pattern. I think it’s utterly fascinating that this brilliant actor takes longs breaks between projects and then comes out swinging in new fresh roles that challenge every actor around him. The reason to watch There Will Be Blood is to see Daniel Day-Lewis take on the role of Daniel Plainview, a greedy oil tycoon. The way he caters to his public, the way he shows his son his true priorities, the way he demeans the local pastor is nothing short of inspired. The ‘baptism’ scene in the church is pure Oscar gold. If Daniel Day-Lewis doesn’t win the Best Actor trophy, I will be spending days trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. I’ve been correct with some of my nominations (George Clooney, Javier Bardem) and some have been surprisingly overlooked (Christian Bale, Denzel Washington), but Day-Lewis is a definite win in his category.

My only complaint against Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance in There Will Be Blood is the fact that his mere presence overshadows the rest of the film. The story still works, the plot is intriguing, but I found myself just waiting to hear the next line come out of Plainview’s mouth. “Bastard in a Basket” “Drainage” “I drink your milkshake” I can still here the cadence and intensity surrounding these phrases. The milkshake line is absurd yet Day-Lewis pulls it off brilliantly. See, I was going to talk about the plot and here I am praising Daniel Day-Lewis again. I guess some credit can go to director PT Anderson who has a remarkable resume with films like Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love. There Will Be Blood does run a bit long but just like American Gangster, it doesn’t wear out its welcome because the final scenes in the bowling alley are some of the best scene work found in the film. In fact, all three memorable phrases come from those last twenty minutes. Of course, Daniel Day-Lewis needs someone to play off of and I think some more credit needs to be given to Paul Dano.

It’s hard to believe this fiery, yet scared, preacher is played by the same actor who remained silent for much of Little Miss Sunshine last year. I think Paul Dano was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor nomination this year. Dano plays with fire and brimstone energy then is able to subtly show his hurt at Plainview’s mockery of his calling. And while Dano is able to hold his own with Day-Lewis in some key scenes, it seems fitting to watch his character crumble against the sheer madness and magnitude of the slick oil man. It seems unfair. Give that kid some credit.

So should you see There Will Be Blood in the theatres? Well, if you want to watch the five Oscar nominated films, you kinda have to. The basic elements are there, but nothing to write home about. The cinematography is well done but not too artistic, the story is engaging but drags at times, the original music, in my opinion, is God-awful and annoying with its unnecessary striking tones. Maybe the best way to view this film is as an actor’s handbook. Just watch Daniel Day-Lewis do his stuff and marvel at his brilliance. This film is a must-see for any aspiring actor. The rest should wait for DVD.

Upcoming Blogs: My Oscar Picks (this Wednesday)

Cloverfield

Let me just say that even though I left the theatre completely nauseous, Cloverfield was still an enjoyable thrill-ride experience. I really only have myself to blame for arriving at the theatre too late, thus missing the opportunity to sit far away from the screen and be relegated to the front rows of the Silver City cinema. I knew there was going to be shaky camera work but I thought I would be able to handle it. I thought wrong. It took about twenty minutes for the sickness to kick in. I was feeling hot in the air-conditioned theatre and my head was feeling light-headed. So for the rest of the 64 minutes I focused my eyes on the bottom of the screen and watched the plot unfold with my pupils extremely close to my top eyelids. Thankfully, this movie was short. And thankfully it was fantastic enough for me to put my eyes through the strain.

Normally, I am not a fan of shaky camera-work. I am aware that the filmmakers are trying to evoke a sense of urgency, but I usually feel they go overboard. I always mock the jittery camera motion found when Jason Bourne is writing a letter in The Bourne Supremacy. Oooo, look at him write that letter; it’s so intense. Now, I am aware that many people will compare Cloverfield to The Blair Witch Project with its real time digital filming. Luckily, Cloverfield justifies its camera work while Blair Witch does not. In Blair Witch, the kids are supposedly documentary filmmakers. What, they can’t afford a decent steady cam? Aren’t they professional enough not to run with the camera on? And if someone goes missing, shouldn’t you put down the camera and start looking for them? It didn’t work for me. In Cloverfield, they explain that it’s just a regular video camera used to tape some farewell speeches. They give the camera to a dude who doesn’t know how to use it properly, therefore leaves it on when walking and running. And finally, the guy filming clearly states that he needs to document everything, thus explaining why he doesn’t turn the camera off at any point. See? Justified.

But enough about shaky cameras, let’s talk about this wonderful concept concocted by JJ Abrams. It’s funny that his name is all over the project even though he didn’t technically write or direct it. That credit goes to Drew Goddard (Alias, Lost) and Matt Reeves (Felicity, The Pallbearer) respectively. Granted it was Abrams idea and boy was it a doozy. I love the fact that this monster movie is taken from one point of view. The audience only gets to see what the protagonists’ see. It makes for a wonderfully disorienting time of piecing things together and ramping up the suspense of the unknown. Even though, the film was shot under thirty million, it still has enough special effects to amaze audiences with spectacle and grossness. The glimpses of the big beastie does look a little to CGI’d but the creepy offshoots still make my skin crawl. And off course, the Statue of Liberty head was a great way to get the ball rolling, sort to speak.

I also appreciated the predominately no-name cast. This non-recognition allows you to be sucked into their story a little easier without having a “name-their-previous-movie” game playing in the back of your head. These actors are great at showing their emotions and fear and do their job well. The stand-out for me was the running commentary provided by the film’s inexperienced cameraman Hud, played by TJ Miller. Goddard gives Miller the perfectly dark one-liners to give the audience moments of comic relief. All the characters seem relatable in a hip sort of way; they are the kind of people you wouldn’t mind partying with on a Saturday night. But maybe that’s just me.

So, should you see the Cloverfield in the theatres? If you have an iron stomach, by all the means, enjoy. If you are like me and get a little queasy, I’m thinking you should rent it on DVD and be ready to pause when the camera motions get out of hand. Either way, you should definitely give Cloverfield a try; it’s wonderfully original and a great way to start the 2008 movie year.

Oscar Nomination Predictions 2008

Wow, did those Golden Globes suck. I miss the drunken acceptance speeches. Let’s only hope that the Oscars don’t fall victim to the same fate. Gil Cates, the producer, swears the show will go on, but that’s what they said about the Globes a week before the disastrous press conference format. In any case, I’m going to live in denial and assume that the Oscars will go according to plan. Last year, I tried to predict the Oscar nominees before they were announced (this year we’ll know on January 22), and I thought I would do it again this year. Bear in mind that this list is not based on my wishes but what I actually think will go down on Tuesday morning. I’ve also included my own pick if I could squeeze my own vote among the nominees. Here goes:

Best Picture
No Country For Old Men / Atonement / There Will Be Blood / Michael Clayton /
Sweeny Todd
For Your Consideration: Juno

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) / George Clooney (Michael Clayton) / Johnny Depp (Sweeny Todd) / Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) / Denzel Washington (American Gangster)
For Your Consideration: Christian Bale (Rescue Dawn)

Best Actress
Julie Christie (Away From Her) / Ellen Page (Juno) / Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) / Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart) / Keira Knightley (Atonement)
For Your Consideration: Meryl Streep (Lions for Lambs)

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) / Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War) / Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) / Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild) / Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)
For Your Consideration: Steve Zahn (Rescue Dawn)

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) / Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There) / Tilda Swinton (Micahel Clayton) / Ruby Dee (American Gangster) / Saoirse Ronan (Atonement)
For Your Consideration: Jennifer Garner (Juno)

Best Director
Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men) / Joe Wright (Atonement) / Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) / Tim Burton (Sweeny Todd) / Sean Penn (Into the Wild)
For Your Consideration: Jason Reitman (Juno)

Best Original Screenplay
Juno / Michael Clayton / Ratatouille / I’m Not There / 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
For Your Consideration: Hot Fuzz

Best Adapted Screenplay
No Country for Old Men / Atonement / The Diving Bell and the Butterfly /
Charlie Wilson’s War / There Will Be Blood
For Your Consideration: 1408

Best Foreign Film
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days / The Kite Runner / Persepolis /
Lust, Caution / Paris Je T’aime
For Your Consideration: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (apparently not eligible)

Best Documentary
Sicko / The King of Kong / No End in Sight /
My Kid Could Paint That / What Would Jesus Buy
For Your Consideration: No idea

Best Animated Film
Bee Movie / Ratatouille / The Simpsons Movie
For Your Consideration: Anything but Shrek 3

Best Song
Despedida (Love in the Time of Cholera) / Grace is Gone (Grace is Gone) / Guaranteed (Into the Wild) / That’s How You Know (Enchanted) / Walk Hard (Walk Hard)
For Your Consideration: Tire Swing (Juno)

Best Score
The Kite Runner / Grace is Gone / Atonement / Into the Wild / Sweeny Todd
For Your Consideration: The Darjeeling Limited

Best Art Direction
Atonement / Sweeny Todd / Hairspray / Across the Universe / Zodiac
For Your Consideration: The Darjeeling Limited

Best Cinematography
Atonement / No Country for Old Men / Sweeny Todd /
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly / Into the Wild
For Your Consideration: Across the Universe

Best Costume
Atonement / Sweeny Todd / American Gangster / Pirates III / Hairspray
For Your Consideration: Juno

Best Make-Up
Sweeny Todd / Pirates III / Walk Hard / I’m Not There / Hairspray
For Your Consideration: Grindhouse

Best Editing
Atonement / The Diving Bell and the Butterfly / No Country for Old Men / There Will Be Blood / Michael Clayton
For Your Consideration: Hot Fuzz

Best Sound Editing
Pirates III / Atonement / No Country for Old Men
For Your Consideration: 300

Best Sound Mixing
Sweeny Todd / Hairspray / Across the Universe / Atonement / Transformers
For Your Consideration: 300

Best Visual Effects
300 / Pirates III / Transformers
For Your Consideration: 1408

So there you have it. Let’s see how close I am on January 22
(my birthday incidentally).

Golden Globe Picks 2008

The Golden Globes are pretty useless. These awards are given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press, which is comprised of about 90 entertainment journalists from around the world. So, in other words, less people than a Family Feud survey. They used to be the predictors for the Oscars but lately they’ve been all over the place. I don’t take my predictions all that seriously for this award show. Actually, the only reason to watch is to see drunken celebrities make funny speeches. It’s a lot more casual than the Oscars or Emmys. And because of the cursed writers strike, there won't even be a ceremony this year, only a measly press conference. And this is the year that Steven Spielberg was getting a special award, so that kinda sucks. Oh yeah, one cool thing about the Golden Globes is that it seems to be the only award show that gives a damn about motion picture comedies. You hear that Oscar? Anyway, here’s my picks (not predictions) for the Golden Globes. (If you care.)

Best Motion Picture – Drama
American Gangster / Atonement / Eastern Promises / The Great Debaters / Michael Clayton / No Country for Old Men / There Will Be Blood
My Pick: No Country for Old Men

Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Across the Universe / Charlie Wilson’s War / Hairspray / Juno / Sweeny Todd
My Pick: Juno

Best Actor – Drama
George Clooney (Michael Clayton) / Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood) / James McAvoy (Atonement) / Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) / Denzel Washington (American Gangster)
My Pick: Denzel Washington

Best Actress – Drama
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) / Julie Christie (Away From Her) / Jodie Foster (The Brave One) / Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart) / Keira Knightley (Atonement)
My Pick: Julie Christie

Best Actor – Comedy/Musical
Johnny Depp (Sweeny Todd) / Ryan Gosling (Lars and the Real Girl) / Tom Hanks (Charlie Wilson’s War) / Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Savages) / John C Reilly (Walk Hard)
My Pick: Johnny Depp

Best Actress – Comedy/Musical
Amy Adams (Enchanted) / Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) / Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeny Todd) / Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) / Ellen Page (Juno)
My Pick: Tie - Ellen Page and Nikki Blonsky

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James) / Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) / Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War) / John Travolta (Hairspray) /
Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)
My Pick: Tie – Javier Bardem and Philip Seymour Hoffman

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There) / Julia Roberts (Charlie Wilson’s War) / Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) / Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) / Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
My Pick: Cate Blanchett

Best Animated Film
Bee Movie / Ratatouille / The Simpsons Movie
My Pick: Ratatouille

Best Foreign Language Film
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days / The Diving Bell and the Butterfly / The Kite Runner / Lust, Caution / Persepolis
My Pick: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Director
Tim Burton (Sweeny Todd) / Ethan & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men) / Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) / Ridley Scott (American Gangster) / Joe Wright (Atonement)
My Pick: Ethan & Joel Coen

Best Screenplay
Christopher Hampton (Atonement) / Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson’s War) / Ronald Harwood (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) / Diablo Cody (Juno) / Ethan & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
My Pick: Diablo Cody

Best Original Score
Grace is Gone / The Kite Runner / Atonement / Eastern Promises / Into the Wild
My Pick: Atonement

Best Original Song
“Despedida” (Love in the Time of Cholera) / “Grace is Gone” (Grace is Gone) / “Guaranteed” (Into the Wild) / “That’s How You Know” (Enchanted) /
“Walk Hard” (Walk Hard)
My Pick: "Walk Hard"

Best TV Series – Drama
Big Love / Damages / Grey’s Anatomy / House / Mad Men / The Tudors
My Pick: Damages

Best TV Series – Comedy
30 Rock / Californication / Entourage / Extras / Pushing Daisies
My Pick: Pushing Daisies

Best TV Actress – Drama
Patricia Arquette (Medium) / Glenn Close (Damages) / Minnie Driver (The Riches) / Edie Falco (The Sopranos) / Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) / Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) /
Kyra Sedwick (The Closer)
My Pick: Glenn Close

Best TV Actor – Drama
Michael C Hall (Dexter) / Jon Hamm (Mad Men) / Hugh Laurie (House) / Bill Paxton (Big Love) / Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors)
My Pick: Michael C Hall

Best TV Actress – Comedy
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?) / America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) / Tina Fey (30 Rock) / Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) / Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)
My Pick: Tina Fey

Best TV Actor – Comedy
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) / Steve Carell (The Office) / David Duchovny (Californication) / Ricky Gervais (Extras) / Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies)
My Pick: Steve Carell

Best TV Supporting Actress
Rose Byrne (Damages) / Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters) / Katherine Heigle (Grey’s Anatomy) / Samantha Morton (Longford) / Anna Paquin (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) / Jamie Pressly (My Name is Earl)
My Pick: Jamie Pressly

Best TV Supporing Actor
Ted Danson (Damages) / Kevin Dillon (Entourage) / Jeremy Piven (Entourage) / Andy Serkis (Longford) / William Shatner (Boston Legal) / Donald Sutherland (Dirty Sexy Money)
My Pick: Ted Danson

Best TV Mini-Series
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee / The Company / Five Days / Longford /
The State Within
My Pick: The Company

Best TV Mini-Series Actress
Bryce Dallas Howard (As You Like It) / Queen Latifah (Life Support) / Debra Messing (The Starter Wife) / Sissy Spacek (Pictures of Hollis Woods) / Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre)
My Pick: Bryce Dallas Howard

Best TV Mini-Series Actor
Adam Beach (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) / Ernest Borgnine (A Grandpa for Christmas) / Jim Broadbent (Longford) / Jason Isaacs (The State Within) / James Nesbitt (Jekyll)
My Pick: Jim Broadbent

I’m assuming the press conference will still be shown on NBC on Sunday, January 13. If not, we’ll see the results in Monday’s newspaper. Yipee.

The Strike Continues

As I stated in an earlier blog, let the panic begin this January. Well, the time has come. For a refresher on what the strike is all about, just refer to this previous blog:
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/11/strike.html
As for the other questions I get asked about the strike . . .

What’s the deal with the late night talk shows? David Letterman is back on the air with his writers. Because he owns his own show (through Worldwide Pants Inc.), he was able to make an independent deal with the WGA (Writers Guild of America). Letterman, therefore, is able to do monologues, written material and book big name guests who don’t have to cross the picket lines as scabs. The same goes for Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson since this show is also owned by Worldwide Pants. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, on the other hand, are owned by NBC-Universal who are too big to make a separate arrangement with the WGA. Therefore, Leno and O’Brien are not allowed to do monologue material (since they are WGA members as well), written material and should have a harder time booking guests as those who appear on their shows will be looked down upon by the WGA. Leno and O’Brien don’t want to go back to work but their contracts forces them to. Leno has made monologue jokes but the WGA is pretty ticked about it. O’Brien has been killing time by spinning his wedding ring and drinking water. Kind of funny is you ask me. Jimmy Kimmel and Carson Daly are also back at work and they are in the same boat as Leno and O’Brien. What’s interesting is that Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert return on Monday. Now, WGA rules stipulate that a writer cannot perform as previously written characters, so how is this going to affect Stephen Colbert who does his entire show in character? We’ll have to wait and see.

How many episodes are left of my favourite shows? Well, I’m not going to list all of them, but I will name the ones that I’m currently watching.
Finished Shows
These shows have no more episodes and will probably be off the air until next fall assuming that the strike ends in the next couple of months. Heroes, The Office, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, 2½ Men & How I Met Your Mother
One Episode Left
30 Rock (airing Jan 10), CSI (airing Jan 10), Family Guy (airing Jan 13)
Chuck & My Name is Earl (sometime in early 2008)
Two Episodes Left
Back to You (airing in March) & Reaper (early 2008)
Three Episodes Left
House (airing in Feb) & Samantha Who? (ending Feb 18)
Five Episodes Left
Prison Break (ending Feb 18) & sadly Scrubs (ending Feb 14)
Six Episodes Left
Smallville (airing in early 2008)
Ten Episodes Left
Simpsons (animation scripts are written really early)
Pushed Back until the strike is over
24, Entourage, Mad Men

So what am I going to watch in the meantime? You mean other than the crappy reality shows that will infest the tube in the next months? Here are some scripted ones to watch for.

Lost – The season returns Jan 31 with eight new episodes. Unfortunately, it’s only half of the original episode order but the eighth episode is supposed to be a doozy. Looking at the trailers on the internet, it looks like a lot of great action coming our way. The season will end on March 20.

Battlestar Galactica – The fourth season returns soon with 10 episodes to show us. Now that we know who four or the five remaining Cylons are, things should get pretty interesting. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see episode 11 which was going to directed by series creator Ronald D. Moore (the episodes made by the creators are always full of new information and twisting plot developments).

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – This new series takes place between T2 and T3. It looks pretty action-packed and they also have an attractive cast to work with. The series stars Lena Headey (300’s queen) as Sarah Connor, Thomas Dekker (Claire’s season one boyfriend on Heroes) as John Connor, and Summer Glau (Firefly’s River) as a terminator sent to protect the Connor clan. They have their complete order of 9 episodes and it starts Jan 13.

Eli Stone – This new series gets the advantage of premiering right after Lost. The story revolves around a lawyer who suddenly receives prophetic powers and decides to use them for good. John Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Smith) stars as Eli Stone but it’s Victor Garber (Alias, Justice) that will keep me coming back. They will be showing all of their 13 ordered episodes.

The Return of Jezebel James – This is the new series created by the people behind Gilmore Girls. Not that I watched that show. This one intrigues me because it stars Parker Posey (Christopher Guest mockumentaries) and Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) and it should be fun to hear them talk really really fast. They only have 7 episodes and will be premiering in March.

That’s all I have on the TV front concerning the strike. Consider yourself informed.

2008 Movie Preview

It’s the new year which means a new crop of movies. And if the writers strike continues, this may be the last batch of movie for a while. Anyway, I did some research and came up with a list of 25 films that I’m interested in seeing in 2008. My quick opinions are based solely on trailers, plot descriptions and director/actor pedigree. (All dates are tentative, especially the later ones). Looking at last year, I watched 20 of the 25 listed. (TV Set and Fan Boys didn’t come to my theatre, Chuck & Larry and Fred Claus looked too dumb up close, and Beowulf looked too CGI for my taste.) Let’s see what happens this year.

1. Cloverfield (Jan 18) – JJ Abrams action film shot ony from the video camera POV
2. Be Kind Rewind (Jan 25) – Michael Gondry of Eternal Sunshine fame, looks funny
3. Drillbit Taylor (Mar 21) – Judd Apatow comedy with Owen Wilson as a bodyguard
4. Leatherheads (Apr 4) – George Clooney & John Kransinski in football comedy
5. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo (Apr 25) – Loved the first one.
6. Iron Man (May 2) – Comic-fan Jon Favreau directs. Comic-Con went nuts over this.
7. Speed Racer (May 9) – Only because it’s a Wachowski Brothers film.
8. Prince Caspian (May 16) – Love the trailer. Let’s go back to Narnia.
9. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22) – Duh!
10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (May 30) – Apatow again. Veronica Mars stars.
11. The Happening (June 13) – I like M. Night Shyamalan. So sue me.
12. Get Smart (June 20) – This role fits Steve Carrell like a glove. Love the trailer.
13. The Love Guru (June 20) – Another Mike Meyers creation. I’m intrigued.
14. Wall-E (June 27) – It’s Pixar. Need I say more?
15. Hancock (July 2) – Will Smith as a loser superhero. Check out the trailer.
16. The Dark Knight (July 18) – Heath Ledger as Joker is creepy. (I just shivered)
17. The X-Files 2 (July 25) – I like the show. The gang is back in Vancouver.
18. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer (Aug 1) – Hi Brendan Fraser.
19. The Pineappple Express (Aug 8) – Apatow and Seth Rogen. C’mon.
20. Valkyrie (Oct 3) – Made by The Usual Suspects team. Plus Tom Cruise
21. Bond 22 (Nov 7) – Daniel Craig is back? Then so am I
22. Harry Potter VI (Nov 21) – Why stop now? Just a couple more to go.
23. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Nov 26) – Fincher/Pitt reunion
24. Yes Man (Dec 19) – Jim Carrey says yes to everything. Sounds Liar Liar worthy.
25. Star Trek (Dec 25) – JJ Abrams relaunches the franchise with new actors. Neat.

Of course, I’ll update my personal viewing season to season, based more on reviews, buzz and trailers, but for now, this will have to do. From a distance, it’s looks like another fine year of cinema. Let’s hope they stand up to the hype.

Top 10 of 2007

I love lists. I always look forward to making my end of the year top ten lists. This year, like most years, has been difficult when narrowing down my choices. So many good films and television shows, so few slots. My biggest regret is leaving Children of Men off the list. It technically came out in 2006. I didn't watch it until 2007 but if I went by that reasoning, any 1990s video I watched would be eligible. So unfortuntely Children of Men is absent (it would have scored pretty high on the list, incidently). I added a new list this year, hope you like 'em. And if you don't, feel free to argue.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2007
I don't want to repeat myself. Just click on the links for the full reviews.




1. Juno
"I’ll just say it has everything: a great story that knows when to wrap up, wonderful quirky characters who aren’t quirky for quirky sake, clever lines that are filled with creative slang and punchy sarcasm, dramatic moments that still move me think about them, an original soundtrack with music that your head unconsciously bops to, beautifully cinematic close-ups of hands, feet and stomachs, and a conclusion that makes you happy to be alive."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/12/juno.html

2. No Country For Old Men
"No Country for Old Men has everything going for it: acting, script, cinematography, lighting and even sound design. This is a must see movie, assuming you can stand some brutally violent scenes. I’m thinking that No Country for Old Men is the current benchmark for how a suspense film should be done. This is a movie that will definitely stick with you long after the silent credits roll."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/11/no-country-for-old-men.html

3. 300
"Some critics say they could have simply watched the trailer, but then they’d miss out on some great scenes like the one involving philosophy while eating an apple. If you think this movie will be like Brad Pitt’s clunker, Troy, you are greatly mistaken. In my opinion, 300 is a mixture of Sin City’s graphic images, Gladiator’s wheat scenes, and Lord of the Rings epic battle sequences. And a mixture of those three films is not too shabby."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/03/movie-onslaught-part-iv.html

4. The Darjeeling Limited
"The Darjeeling Limited uses metaphor, quirks, clever one-liners and fascinating characters to tell his story. I do find it interesting how most of his stories deal with rich individuals who have a hard time expressing themselves. While the spiritual journey begins on the train, it doesn’t truly get started until long afterwards. Even when you think they have learned all there is to know, Anderson takes you even further."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/11/darjeeling-limited.html

5. Across the Universe
"Of course, the main reason to see Across the Universe is the beautiful cinematography created by the brilliant Julie Taymor (Lion King Musical, Titus). Mixing psychedelic, symbolic, fantastic and epic images together, Taymor interprets the Beatles tunes in a fresh way. Lighter songs are mixed with darker images and vice versa, while some songs just seem to fit; “With a Little Help From My Friends” is done is a dorm room filled with guys being guys. It works for me. "
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/09/across-universe.html

6. American Gangster
"Of course, the reason to watch American Gangster is to see the powerhouse performances of two Hollywood heavyweights. While they both are captivating whenever they are on the screen, I think Denzel comes out as the winner. Maybe it’s because Washington’s portrayal of real-life Harlem druglord, Frank Lucas, is so finely tuned. Washington commands the screen every time he is on it. There’s a level of strength, confidence and preciseness that is almost mesmerizing. "
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/11/american-gangster.html

7. Charlie Wilson's War
"I didn’t need to view any footage to make me eager to see it, I only had to look at the three names attached: Hanks, Roberts, Sorkin. Add in Philip Seymour Hoffman and the fine directing of Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Closer) and you’ve got the makings of a can’t-lose picture. Of course, the subject matter has to do with war in Afghanistan but who cares when these phenomenal artists are involved."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/12/charlie-wilsons-war.html

8. Knocked Up
"You can thank writer/director/producer Judd Apatow for giving this movie a strong base. It’s kinda like Apatow bakes the cake and the actors add all the frosting and sprinkles on it to make it even more delectable. I’ve been watching Apatow’s earlier TV work on The Larry Sanders Show and have found that this writer/director knows how to perfectly mix the crass, the realistic and the heart."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/07/knocked-up.html

9. 1408
"'It’s an evil fucking room'. And that it is. The room has a mind of its own as it gives Cusack’s Mike Enslin one hour to live. Now in case you’re wondering, this movie isn’t torture porn like Saw and Hostel; it isn’t gory and there is only a little blood. What this film does have is suspense and disturbing images. It’s a psychological thriller. I would say it’s like The Shining with a much faster pulse."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/07/1408.html

10. Live Free or Die Hard
"When you go into a Die Hard film you need to expect the following: taunting comments from Willis’ John McClane, stunts that are way beyond the realm of possibility, and a “yippee-ki-yay motherfucker.” Check. Check. And Check (even though it’s muffled due to its first PG rating). Live Free or Die Hard has all that you should expect in a summer big-budget action flick. I walked out of the theatre entertained and a little deaf from the sound. Good times."
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2007/07/live-free-or-die-hard.html

TOP 10 FILM SCENES OF 2007
This is a new list. While some films are just great all around, there are some scenes in both great and average movies that still stick with you long after the film is done. Here are my favourites of the year.

1. Ratatouille - Anton Ego's bite of ratatouille
How else can you show the impact of deliciousness? Brad Bird pulls this off brilliantly with the quick cuts to Anton as a sniffling boy and then the dropping of the pen.
2. Grindhouse - The climactic missing reel in Planet Terror
Just before a quiet sex scene, the film disintegrates and then the film continues in the midst of climactic battle against zombies where secrets have already been revealed.
3. Charlie Wilson's War - Gust Avrakotos meets Charlie Wilson
Avrakotos (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) keeps entering and exiting Wilson (Tom Hanks)'s office while Charlie's attractive assistants try to squash a tabloid rumour. Funny.
4. Hot Rod - Rod Kimble falls down a very high mountain
Rod completes a Footloose routine in the forest that ends up catapulting him down a mountain side. There is no end to the tumbling. Great physical humour.
5. Live Free or Die Hard - The dark tunnel sequence
With the lights turned off, cars crash and almost squish Bruce Willis and Justin Long. It ends with Willis propelling a car into a flying helicopter. Unbelievable but great fun.
6. The Bourne Ultimatum - The Waterloo Station sequence
Jason Bourne guides journalist Simon Ross through the busy Waterloo station while he is under surveillance by the CIA. Now we know what goes on in Bourne's head.
7. Across the Universe - I've Just Seen a Face
Jim Sturgess' Jude fancies Lucy and begins to sing 'I've Just Seen a Face' while the crowd of young people dance among psychedelic lights in a bowling alley. Fun stuff.
8. Transformers - Hiding in the garden
Optimus Prime and the Autobots clumsily hide in Sam's backyard while he's getting a talking to from his parents. This scene also has Prime's "my bad" line.
9. Blades of Glory - The skating chase
Stranz (Will Arnett) chases Chazz (Will Ferrell) through a building while wearing figure skates. Slipping ensues. Also getting stuck on an escalator and Snowflake's demise.
10. The Simpsons Movie - Spiderpig
"Spiderpig, Spiderpig, does whatever a Spiderpig does. Can he swing from a web? No he can't he's a pig. Lookout, he is a Spiderpig." Genius.

TOP 10 TV SHOWS OF 2007
I've talked about most of these shows before. I'll just list some of the my highlights of the year.




1. Lost (Last year: 1)
What this year had going for it: Locke’s big fall, Desmond’s disturbing gift, the true Sawyer, the awful death of minor characters, Ben’s creepy eyes, Charlie’s list, Hurley’s daring rescue, Sayid’s foot trick, and the mind-blowing flash-forward. It doesn’t get better than this.

2. Pushing Daisies
What I like about this new show: beautiful cinematography; likeable characters; Jim Dale’s voice over, Kristin Chenoweth singing, Digby the dog, Paul Reubens cameos, the fascinating premise, the music cues, quirky dialogue and pie. It’s the most clever, imaginative thing on television right now.

3. The Office (Last year: 4)
What this year had going for it: Jim and Pam’s romance; guest directors; the outrageous and quotable talking head interviews; the twist of a finale with Ryan taking corporate to a whole new level, Kelly’s rebound; Angela’s cat; Moes creepiness and Jan’s boob job. This is unmissable television.

4. Damages
What I like about this new show: the suspenseful plot that is full of clever twists and turns; the evilness of both Glenn Close and Ted Danson; the tragic Ray Fiske; the colour-coded editing; the constant time-jumping; the still-unanswered quetsions; the fast pace and the condensed time frame. This tided me over during Lost's absence.

5. Battlestar Galactica
What this year had going for it: the reveal of the final five; Tyrol and Cally stuck in the airlock; Baltar’s treason trial and the reappearance of Starbuck. To be honest, I started watching Galactica this summer, so the whole series is fresh in my mind. If I watched it when it came out, I’m sure it would have been on previous lists.

6. How I Met Your Mother (Last Year: 8)
What this year had going for it: The slap bet; the summer-long legendary ‘wait for it’ pause; Robin’s older date; the deflowering of Barney; every word out of Neil Patrick Harris’s mouth; the small reveal of the mother; Wayne Brady as Barney’s gay brother; the platinum rule; the Fiero and Bob Barker. This show is awesome.

7. Dexter
What I like about this new show: Dexter’s inner monlogue; the dark humour; the season long arcs of The Ice Cream Truck Killer and The Bay Harbor Butcher; the close calls, the final moments of Sgt. Doakes; the blood splatters; the eventual pay-offs and Michael C Hall’s fantastic acting; Talk about a tour-de-force performance.

8. 30 Rock
What this year had going for it: The Isabella Rossellini fight; Liz plays hard ball with Josh; Will Arnett as Jack’s whispering rival; Seinfeldvision; David Schwimmer as Greenzo;Jack portraying all of Tracey’s family; fat Jenna; Tracey's ankle bling and the wonderful Tina Fey. This show has finally hit its stride.

9. Dirty Sexy Money
What I like about this new show: Peter Krause’s mix of self-righteousness and utter shock; Samaire Armstrong and Seth Gabel as the bratty teens; Karen’s outrageous flirting with Nick; the bitter pettiness of Brian; the cat fights and the fun ring tones. It’s Dynasty meets Arrested Development.

10. Chuck
What I like about this new show: Chuck’s sheer innocence; the sexy Yvonne Strzechowski; the comic timing of Adam Baldwin; Captain Awesome ; CS Lee as the villainous Harry Tang; the Nerd Herd and the use of the Buy More store to stop crime. It’s Lone Gunmen meets Andy Barker PI meets Alias.

So there you go. Hope you enjoyed the lists. Feel free to tell me your favourites. What's in your top ten?