Top Eleven Films of 2010

I’m no film critic but each year I like to combine my love for movies and lists for anyone that might be interested. I’ve made a point to keep my thoughts brief for those that have already stopped reading this sentence.

I saw “The King’s Speech” today and didn’t have the heart to bump “Fair Game” out of the top ten so it will have to be my eleven favorite films of the year.

11. Fair Game

This movie is super entertaining for those that may have known the Plame story but didn’t follow it when it was a headline (me).

10. Waiting for Superman

Controversial. As it should be. Very well made.

9. The Ghost Writer

A modern day Hitchcock film.

8. The King’s Speech

Surprisingly funny. Great story.

7. The Fighter

I was disappointed with the fight scenes (they didn’t look real to me) but Christian Bale’s acting and the story of these brothers was enough to bump this one to number seven for me.

6. True Grit

True Great. My favorite Coen Bros. movie to date? Probably.

5. Restrepo/The Tillman Story

Both are important war documentaries. The Tillman Story may be the best argument for Wikileaks. Restrepo makes no argument at all and that’s what’s great about it.

4. 127 Hours

I imagine the pitch for this film went something like this:

Danny: I wanna make a movie about a trapped hiker that cuts his own arm off. Oh, and the camera will be in a tight canyon space for most of the hour and half movie.

Studio: No.

Danny: But people will cry and probably pass out or have seizures in the theatre.

Studio: Okay. Here’s a lot of money. Give most of it to James Franco.

However it happened, I’m glad this movie was made. No seizures for me. Mostly heavy sweating (and maybe a little bit of water in my eyeballs).

3. The Town

Not many entertaining action movies have the quality of acting, writing, and suspense this did.

2. Black Swan

“What the *%#@?!?!” This is how I felt for most of this movie. Still not sure what to say except that I’m still thinking about it.

1. Inception

It stopped spinning. Right?

I still need to see: Somewhere, Inside Job, Toy Story 3, Winter’s Bone, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Carlos, I Am Love

*Side Note: I can’t wait to see who wins best director this year. Danny Boyle, Christopher Nolan, and Darren Aronofsky all deserve it. I love David Fincher but I hope he doesn’t steal it.

Top Ten T.V. Shows of 2010

10. Louie

9. U.S. of Tara

8. Boardwalk Empire

7. Modern Family

6. 60 Minutes

5. Parks and Rec

4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

3. Parenthood

2. Sherlock (BBC)

1. Mad Men

Almost Made The List: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, 30 for 30

On the Queue: Breaking Bad, Party Down, Friday Night Lights, Men of a Certain Age, Terriers

Please email me or comment here with your thoughts. I’d love to hear why you agree or disagree with this list.

Again...Great Minds

I Wish I Made This:

Am I dreaming?

From the upcoming season of Curb.

Great Minds...

Take My Hand

Just Go!

The cat's out of the bag. Next invention-

2. The Intra-Mattress Toilet: Tired of the waking up in the middle of the night to relieve yourself? Sick of the stubbing of your toe in the dark on the way to the toilet? Can't stand the turning on of the bathroom light that's so bright you want to hurt someone? There's got to be a better way!

Well now there is. Justin's "Intra-Matress Toilet" (©grayplayer) is the answer to all your late night urinating problems. On the top of these specially crafted mattresses is a sliding door. This opening is in the middle portion of the bed in the region of one's pelvis. Simply push the activating button at the headboard and the mattress door slides open. Inside is a steal basin with piping that leads directly to the house plumbing. This allows the user to roll over and urinate freely whenever the urge hits them. The opening is the size of a toilet seat and for ladies it's padded for extra comfort. After finishing your business, simply push the activating button to seal the opening, let it flush and continue your restful sleep. Now you can skip the inner-monologue debate about if you have to go bad enough to get out of bed. Don't think. Don't move. Just Go!

Idea Man

As one of the least handy guys I know, I like to come up with inventions in my head and hope that will somehow save me from ever having to actually fix something. Often times when I share these bits of brilliance with friends the ideas are shot down and laughed at, but I won't let that phase me. In the next few posts I will describe some of these life-changing innovations.

1. Tear-Away Popcorn Bags: What is the best part about eating movie theatre popcorn? You guessed it-being able to eat the top bits of popcorn without your hands as you walk from the counter to the theatre. Tonguing (sorry) the first bit of popcorn saves you from needing napkins, finding stray kernels on your lap, and having to share with friends. So my invention is a tear away bag that allows you to tear along perforated lines as you get deeper into the bag. Thus allowing you to always use your tongue. Picture the technique of peeling away the aluminum foil around a Qdoba burrito.

Briliant Too

I love these things. Just another example of how the NBA is exciting again.

Larry, Moe, Curling

I've learned a lot about myself by watching the Olympics. Mostly what a girl I am. It all started during the summer Olympics in Beijing. I found myself glued to the TV for synchronized swimming. It quickly became my second favorite summer sport behind basketball. Girly? Maybe. The most incredibly difficult of all summer sports? Definitely!

I thought for sure my secret love for synchronized swimming could be kept under wraps, but now that I have a new fave, I'm ready to shout it from the blogotops. WOMEN'S CURLING. Yep, curling. My love for curling is similar to my love for Miley Cyrus songs-I can't explain it, I won't defend it, but I'm not afraid to admit it.

Give it a shot. Two days left.

Brilliant

What does my family do when we are snowed in?

Tosco Idol auditions.

I'm Not A Sore Loser

The Dookies were the better team last night and the Heels just aren't good this year.

But this is still hilarious:

SNL Can Still Be Awesome

Predictions

Category	Will Win	Should Win
Picture	The Hurt Locker	Precious
Director	James Cameron	Kathryn Bigelow
Actor	Jeff Bridges	Have to see Crazy Heart first
Actress	Sandra Bullock	Gabby Sidibe
Supporting Actor	Christoph Waltz	Christoph Waltz
Supporting Actress	Mo’Nique	Mo’Nique
Original Writing	Up	Inglourious Basterds
Adapted Writing	Up in the Air	Precious

Last list, I promise.

Maybe.

C'mon. Lists are awesome. Especially a list from the greatest comedy writer/comedian of thelast decade. That's right...I said it!

Le list a la Ricky Gervais:

Best things of...		The Year		The Decade
Single		Empire State of Mind (Jay Z)		Hurt (Johnny Cash)
Runner up		Wheels (Foo Fighters)		If I were a boy (Beyonce)
Film		Up		City of God
Runner up		Up in the air		This is England
TV Drama		Dexter		The Sopranos
Runner up		Damages		The Wire
TV Comedy		Family Guy		Arrested Development
Runner up		Curb Your Enthusiasm		Curb Your Enthusiasm
Stand Up		Louis C.K.		Chris Rock
Runner up		Todd Barry		Dave Chapelle

Another Decade List

Thanks to K.J. for pointing me towards this awesome interactive list of best films/directors of the decade. This website pools a number of lists from various e-zines, assigns points to films and directors that make the list, and synthesizes it into a single database.

CLICK HERE

Ricky

Obviously I've got a slight obsession with Ricky Gervais (see main picture above...Ricky as David Brent on the original and better-of-the-two British Office). I was glued to the Golden Globes Sunday night because I love movies and tv, but mostly because he was hosting. If you didn't watch, it was a no holds barred comical attack on star power and the worship of Hollywood actors. Well played Ricky.

Case in point:

Best Films of '09

1. (500) Days of Summer-Best romantic comedy since "When Harry Met Sally".

2. Away We Go-Funniest movie of '09 (including The Hangover).

3. The Hurt Locker-Wheew. Intense.

4. Precious-See my earlier review.

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox-Best animated movie last year (way better than Up), and my favorite

Wes Anderson film yet.

6. District 9-Beats out Avatar and Invictus for best movie about aliens and best movie set in

South Africa.

7. Up In the Air-I was unimpressed with his first two, but now I get the Jason Reitman hype.

8. Star Trek-If I were making a movie Casey Affleck would be my first choice for leading male. Second choice-Chris Pine.

9. Sherlock Holmes-14 year old Justin would have gone crazy for this movie. 26 year old Justin did too.

10. In the Loop-I give this movie the highest compliment...it was Gervais-like.

Nearly made the list:

Inglourious Basterds

I Love You Man

Goodbye Solo

Most overrated film last year:

Up

Still need to see:

The White Ribbon

Broken Embraces

Me and Orson Welles

Sugar

Summer Hours