Favorite Christmas Movies

Ahhh, Christmas. A time for family, worship, gorging, music, parties, and debt. Where children's faces beam waiting for their new toy to jump out from under the tree on Christmas morning. A time where, for whatever reason, we get presents because of Jesus' birth, as South Park's Cartman so eloquently put it.

Seriously though, this is my favorite holiday. (Real original, right?) And part of the wonder and excitement of Christmas for me is annual viewing of Christmas movie classics. In recent years, Hollywood has been spitting out four or five Christmas movies every year around this time, and all of them follow the same formula: Something bad is happening/someone hates Christmas, something good happens, person thanks "Spirit of Christmas"; all the while, Chuck Berry's "Run Run Rudolph" plays during opening scenes of running around fighting with loved ones and Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" fills the silence of the redeemed sitting around a fireplace/Christmas tree with his loved ones. While these formulas begin to wain over the years, the films which serve as influence hold enough power to still bring us a new seasonal classic to view with friends and family each year. So snuggle up, turn on Harry Connick Jr.'s When My Heart Finds Christmas (still the best Holiday album ever, in my opinion), and enjoy this list of my favorite Christmas films, past and present.

NOTE: I am going to start putting the results from the previous poll at the bottom of each new blog.

10. SCROOGE (1951) (Brian Desmond Hurst) - The classic Christmas tale of money-grubbing, Christmas-hating Ebeneezer Scrooge (Alistair Sim) and his ghostly visits that change his life forever...PLEASE TELL ME YOU KNOW THIS STORY! Just to warn you, this is only the first of three very different versions of Charles Dickens classic story. However, it is the only one that is purely a retelling of the book and not some new-fangled, high-falutin' modern version of it (you will see what I mean). Anyways, I watched a total of SEVEN DIFFERENT VERSIONS of this story, and this is by far the...third best. And while the Ghost of Christmas Future is the most terrifying in the 1984 version with George C. Scott, Sim is the all time best Scrooge ever, and Glyn Dearman is untouched as Tiny Tim. This usually comes on every year as some point on the old boob-tube, so look out for it. FAVORITE SCENE: I can't get Sim's portrayal of Scrooge's transformation out of my mind. When he is asking a young boy on the street to pick up a goose for the Cratchit's Christmas dinner, their banter is absolutely perfect. CAUTION: There are some scary images of ghosts throughout, but nothing serious.

9. ELF (2003) (Jon Favreau) - A human who has been raised as an elf (Will Ferrell) eventually ends up in New York City on a quest to find is real father (James Caan) and spread Christmas cheer. One of very few good Christmas movies to come out since the new millennium, and the only one in my top ten. Ferrell is hilarious as always, playing a similar type role as Tom Hanks in Big to equal effect. Although not actually mentally young, the boyishness and naivety of Buddy the Elf is funny and endearing. FAVORITE SCENE: When Buddy, who is told to sit still while his father works in his office, answers an important phone call by saying "Buddy the Elf! What's your favorite color?" CAUTION: PG for a couple of mild cuss words and some accidental, humorous drunkenness. Probably okay for the wee ones.

8. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) (George Seaton) - A man, who claims to be Santa Claus (Edmund Gwenn), renews the faith of an uptight business woman (Maureen O'Hara), a skeptical little girl (Natalie Wood), and the rest of New York City. Oscar nomination for Best Picture and a win for Gwenn as Kris Kringle. This year was the first time I saw this version of this story (the '94 version with the guy from Jurassic Park is a nightmare) and I was surprised at how well it stood the test of time (which I cannot say for White Christmas or Christmas in Connecticut). Gwenn and Wood are spectacular and it is so fun to watch their relationship grow. FAVORITE SCENE: I am a sucker for courtroom dramas so I loved the scenes where Kris is fighting for his freedom, chuckling the whole way there.

7. THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992) (Brian Henson) - The Muppets take on the yuletide classic...by the way, what does 'yuletide' mean? Okay, so this may be a sentimental pick more than anything since I grew up with it, but watching it again I stilled laughed out loud. Michael Caine gives a brilliant take on Scrooge and plays it with realism that the older ones didn't quite get (although Sim's is still my favorite). Also, Gonzo as "Charles Dickens" narrating, and Rizzo the Rat as his partner, steal the show for me. And the songs are catchy and fun. FAVORITE SCENE: I love the "Marley and Marley" song, played by the two hecklers, Statler and Waldorf ("Doh, ho ho ho!") CAUTION: Again, just some mildly scary images of the Marley brothers and the Ghost of Christmas Future.

6. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993) (Henry Selick) - A stop-motion animated musical about Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who tries to take over the festivities of Christmas...but his old habits of spooking and scaring come back to haunt him and the children of Earth. Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Visual Effects and Best Score. For years I wasn't allowed to watch this movie, and that was probably a wise decision on my parents half. Having said that, this is NOT a horror film. Okay, so it's filled with goblins, ghouls, and ghosts, but it isn't scary or gory in anyway. The music, composed by the wonderful Danny Elfman, who is also the singing voice of Jack, is gorgeous, hearkening back to movie scores and classic symphonies of the past. The stop-motion visuals are stunning; you should probably see it twice, since the first viewing you mostly spend marveling at how tedious everything must have been. FAVORITE SCENE: "What's This?", a song of Jack's initial encounter with Christmastown, has become one of my favorite Holiday songs. CAUTION: PG - Like I said, there are some scary images. Probably too much for kids younger than 10.

5. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1945) (Vincente Minnelli) - Set in 1904, this is a musical capturing a year in the life of a big family as they prepare to move from their beloved hometown of St. Louis. Multiple Oscar nominations for Music, Cinematography, and Writing. Ok, so this is barely a Christmas movie, but an important part of it does revolve around the family's struggle with leaving during the holidays. Not to mention the perennial classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was written for this film and sung by the amazing Judy Garland. By the way, that song is wicked sad. Having said that, the movie is actually really funny. The youngest daughter, Tootie (Margaret O'Brien), is completely irreverent and hilarious, and the rest of the ensemble act as if they really have been a family for years. FAVORITE SCENE: Six-year-old Tootie singing a song for a big family party ("I was drunk last night, dear Mother; I was drunk the night before. But if you forgive me Mother, I'll never get drunk anymore.")

4. DIE HARD (1988) (John McTiernan) - John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to LA to visit his wife at her Christmas Eve office party when a group of terrorists take over the building and their only hope is McClane and his "yip-ing" and "kayay-ing". Four Oscar nominations for Sound and Visual Achievements. This is the man movie to end all man movies. If you are a guy and you do not love this movie, go check and make sure you've got your gender right. Freakin' hairs bears! Hanging in elevator shafts from machine guns?! Jumping from exploding buildings?! One man taking down an entire terrorist group?! Not to mention Alan Rickman is the man. Oh, and it all happens at Christmas. What I want for Christmas? A shirt that says, "Now I have a machine gun. Ho, ho, ho." FAVORITE SCENE: Rickman's character tricking McClane into thinking he is one of the hostages. The tension is crazy awesome! CAUTION: R - pretty strong R. Some unnecessary nudity, lots of violence, and some harsh language.

3. SCROOGED (1988) (Richard Donner) - ANOTHER version of Christmas Carol starring Bill Murray as a television producer who needs to rethink his...thoughts...on Christmas. Oscar nomination for Best Makeup. It's really hard for me to put this as number 3 because it is probably one of my favorite comedies of all time. So really this is the first of three number one's. This is by far Murray's best 80's performance and captures his pitch-perfect sarcasm to great effect, giving me, my brother, and my aunt and uncle quote upon quote to claim as our own so people will think we are funny. ("Would you please, for the love of God, and your own body, hold the hammering!" "Right. It's crap. Lose it, I don't want it on the walls." "It's a bone, ya lucky dawg!") Find it! Watch it! It's funny! FAVORITE SCENE: The opening scene of all the different Christmas specials and Murray's reaction to them is classic. CAUTION: PG-13 for some bad language, mild sexual innuendo's, and some scary images.

2. HOME ALONE (1990) (Chris Columbus) - Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is left home alone on Christmas to defend himself and his home from two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) while his family is on vacation in Paris. Golden Globe nominations for Best Comedic Movie and Best Actor (Culkin). They just don't make kids' movies like this anymore. One of the unsung heroes in this (an many other films including Waiting for Guffman and Orange County) is Catherine O'Hara, who is phenomenal as Kevin's mom. But John Candy, John Hurt, Pesci, and Stern all turn out great performances to make this the "second of my number ones." What is there to say? You've probably seen this already, so I will shut up about it. FAVORITE SCENE: The pizza dinner scenario is perfectly chaotic and captures the craziness of big families in one house amidst the fun of Christmas. ("Fuller! Go easy on the Pepsi!") CAUTION: PG for Some language and mildly troubling scenes involving a little kid.

1. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) (Frank Capra) - Everyone knows the "I wish I was never born" part of this Christmas classic, but most of this PERFECT slice of Americana is about George Bailey (James Stewart) trying to find a purpose in his life. Multiple Oscar Nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor (Stewart), and Best Director. What can I say about this that hasn't already been said? Unfortunately, the more I talk to people, the more I encounter those that have never seen it. Stewart is, as always, a flawless symbol of humanity and never shows that he is acting. The screenplay is heartbreaking and redemptive, and Capra's execution is flawless. What is Christmas without this movie? "Oh, daddy?!" FAVORITE SCENE: The scene that always makes my mom cry...and me too when no one is looking: "A toast to my big brother George: the richest man in town."

RUNNER'S UP:
A Christmas Story (1983), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Christmas Vacation (1989), The Santa Clause (1994), Holiday Inn (1942)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Pick the Funniest Christmas Movie!
Christmas Vacation - 9 (47%)
Scrooged - 5 (26%)
Home Alone - 2 (10%)
Elf - 2 (10%)
A Christmas Story - 1 (5%)
Bad Santa - 0 (0%)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - 0 (0%)
Eight Crazy Nights - 0 (0%)

Movies I Saw in November, 2008

So after a slow month in October, I finally got back to my old friend the silver screen for some good old-fashioned Hollywood entertainment. Nothing great, but definitely nothing terrible either. November definitely presented some easy ways to be entertained. Having only seen two movies, I missed some sequels that I'm sure will be classics (Madagascar 2, Transporter 3), and there were some critical and box-office successes that I wished I could see (Quantum of Solace, even Bolt got good reviews). So I will continue adding some movies that you should throw on your Netflix queue or pick up at Blockbuster.

ROLE MODELS (David Wain) - Crude and politically incorrect, yet hilarious and (gasp!)heartwarming. To keep from going to jail, friends Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) must act as "big brothers" to two troubled youth (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb'e J. Thompson). One of the few movies I paid to see twice in a long while. Quite possibly the funniest movie of I've seen this year, although it is NOT for everyone. Wain makes his major-studio-directorial debut with this, previously making the now cult classics Wet Hot American Summer and The Ten. He also happens to be one of the creators of an extremely underrated and short-lived Comedy Central show, Stella, which you should leave this blog to look up RIGHT NOW! Moving on, Thompson absolutely steals the show upon first viewing as a foul-mouthed 10 year old. However, the relationship between Rudd and Mintz-Plasse, of McLovin fame from Superbad (which was highly overrated in my humble opinion), is so genuine and funny that you forget you are watching an R-rated "shcoker"-comedy. Also, Jane Lynch as the manager of the big brother program grabs more of the limelight that she usually gets, and hopefully will get a vehicle to show off more of her dry wit. Some of the gross-out stuff was stupid and unnecessary, but a great rental for sure. FAVORITE SCENE: The film ends with a giant, medieval role-playing game called LAIRE...Simultaneously hilarious and engaging. CAUTION: Fairly strong R: Two scenes of nudity (go with a girlfriend and stare at her during the morning-after scene in a tent and the party scene in a bedroom...thanks Jake and Julie!), and tons of bad words...definitely not for kids. Kind of a shame since it's so good.

AUSTRALIA (Baz Luhrmann) - Entertaining enough for 2 hours and forty minutes, although not short on the "gag-me"-factor. During World War II and Japan's attacks on Australia, a woman (Nicole Kidman) is trying to save her deceased husbands cattle ranch and help the people living and working there accompanied by the help of a wild cattle-wrangler (Hugh Jackman). Luhrmann, best known for his visually stunning films Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, takes a more mainstream turn in this obvious love letter to his homeland. I went into this one skeptically, and came out...surprisingly pleased. It features one of the best "you-love-to-hate-him" villains since Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus in Gladiator. Sure, the romance between Jackman and Kidman begins somewhat hastily. Okay, so the romantic dialogue between the two of them hinges on idiotic. And maybe parts of the story are so sappy and fairy-tale-ish that it loses some realism. However, it is a fun throwback to epics of 30's and 40's era cinema. Not nearly as bad as many of the reviewers out there would have you believe. FAVORITE SCENE: An amazing scenic shot of a stampede of 2,000 precious cattle about run off a cliff. Luhrmann's cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. CAUTION: Fairly mild PG-13. There is one quick and discreet scene of seex (I know how I spelled it!), and one F-word, used to good effect. The rating seems to mainly be based on a few scenes of tasteful, violent images.

RENTALS!

Stevie (2003) - A documentary of a filmmaker going back to visit a troubled man who used to be his "little brother". Not the most pleasant of stories, but extremely intriguing.

High Fidelity (2000) - A comedy starring John Cusack and Jack Black about a record store owner and his trouble with women. A favorite for any musician or rock-n-roll lover.

Being There (1979) - Peter Seller's last film. A naive and kind gardener is released into the world for the first time in his fifty years of life, and his simple ways are considered so profound that he eventually becomes an advisor to the president.

Favorites of 2003 (having not seen Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)

For those of you that are still reading this blog after the confession I made in the title, God Bless You. You are probably confused as to how I could list my favorite movies of 2003 without having seen LOTRTROTK (that was supposed to shorten it), but never fear! Just assume that I would have put it at number one and that this is really just my 2-11 picks for 2003 . Sounds good? Good. Now get off my back!

Hardest year yet to pick only ten. It has been awhile since I have done one of these, so here goes nothing!

Always changing: I am going to start adding a CAUTION section for each movie so that you will know which parts may be offensive, or at least were to me.

10. THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE (Sylvain Chomet) - A woman's bicycling grandson is kidnapped by the mafia, and she and her dog, with the help of an old sing-and-dance trio called the Triplets of Belleville, must try and save him. Two Oscar nominations including Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song ("Belleville Rendez-Vous": Benoit Charest, Sylvain Chomet). Almost no dialogue for the 80 minutes of run-time, with the little bit that was there being mostly in French with no subtitles. While this made it drag a bit in parts, the story was so universal yet so quirky that you can't keep your eyes off the screen. The music was gorgeous (the soundtrack consisting of mainly one song), and the animation is beyond words. FAVORITE SCENE: Every time the dog is barking at passing trains and the time is slowed down to show facial contortions. Indescribably intricate animation. CAUTION: PG-13 for Overly exaggerated, animated belly dancer at beginning. While funny it may be slightly off-putting. Not for kids.

9. FINDING NEMO (Andrew Stanton) - A clown fish, Marlin (Albert Brooks), is on the search for his son, Nemo, who was taken by fishermen and placed in a tank at a dentist's office. Along the way, he meets a forgetful fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a group of sharks in FA (Fishaholics Anonymous), a surfing turtle, and many other sea creatures. Oscar win for Best Animated Feature. I am assuming most of you have already seen this movie. Very funny, stunning computer animation (as Pixar always is), classic father-son story. Seriously, go see this movie. Sam likes it. FAVORITE SCENE: The scene with Dory and Marlin looking for the human mask in the deepest parts of the sea, encountering some rather terrifying fish.

8. IDENTITY (James Mangold) - A group of ten very different people are stranded at a small motel in the middle of nowhere when, one-by-one, they start being killed off. By now, we have gotten tired of these kind of twist-ending thriller. (The ending in this in one, in particular, has been so over done that I can't help but think of Robot Chicken: "What a twist!".) At the time this came came out, it was shocking. It is also one of the few movies with a surprise ending that I can enjoy even after knowing the ending. John Cusack, Ray Liotta, and Amanda Peet are all great. FAVORITE SCENE: Creepy scene in the laundry room...that's all I will say. CAUTION: R for violent and disturbing images, but tame when compared to the likes of Saw or Hostel. Also, Peet plays a prostitute. Nothing explicit, but there is talk.

7. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (Gore Verbinski) - The epic story of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he tries to capture back his now cursed ship, the Black Pearl, from Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and his crew of undead. Five Oscar nominations including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Johnny Depp). Johnny Depp is brilliant. There, it's out of the way. And while Rush is just as good, if not better, than Depp, most of the other actors are wimpy and annoying (ahem...Orlando Bloom, Kiera Knightley). Also, the series should've ended here; the sequels were confusing and stupid. However, this was maybe the most fun I had going to the movie's in 2003. Perfect mixture of action, adventure, comedy, and even some mild horror. FAVORITE SCENE: "You best star believing in ghost stories, Ms. Turner...YOU'RE IN ONE!" Love it! CAUTION: PG-13 for mild language (maybe), some images of zombie/ghost-like creatures, and mainly swashbuckling.

6. THE STATION AGENT (Thomas McCarthy) - A train-loving dwarf (Peter Dinklage) inherits an old train station and decides to live their in order to get away from society, but a hot dog vendor and a troubled woman (Patricia Clarkson) can't help themselves but befriend him. Multiple Independent Spirit Awards including Best Screenplay. It's a bummer that Dinklage can't logistically be in more roles because he is brilliant in his portrayal in this. Julie thought it was slow in parts, but she is wrong. The relationship between Joe, the hot dog guy, and Fionn, the dwarf, is so funny and so real. If you like movies that are true slices of life, check his one out. FAVORITE SCENE: Any scene where Joe is trying to get Fionn to hang out. CAUTION: R but really only for language.

5. CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS (Andrew Jarecki) - The documentary of a seemingly normal family whose life is destroyed by an accusation of child molestation on the father and one of his sons. Sundance winner under Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary. Not the happiest movie on Earth; in fact, it is extremely sad and disturbing. The brilliance of the movie is how Jarecki leaves you guessing from scene to scene as to whether this father and son actually are guilty of the crime. By the end, the verdict is very clear. Forget horror movies; this is one of the few movies of recent years that gave me nightmares. Haunting. FAVORITE SCENE: Hard to call any a "favorite", but the home video footage of the family in distress during the trials is extremely captivating. CAUTION: NOT RATED but would be R, I'm sure. Language is bad, but the worst is the descriptions some of the victims gave.

4. SCHOOL OF ROCK (Richard Linklater) - Jack Black has a field day in this story about a substitute teacher who decides to scratch the curriculum and teach the the ways of Rock n Roll. Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Jack Black). As soon as I walked out of the theatre, I wanted to quit school and play wicked licks on my guitar forever. This role was written specifically for Black by his neighbor, Mike White, and it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. Not to mention the kids are prodigies, especially the guitar player. Very funny. FAVORITE SCENE: When Jack is singing his song for the kids, explaining flourishes and stage effects while singing. CAUTION: PG-13, but barely. Some bad language, but would have been PG in the early nineties. Watch the freakin' Sandlot: they swear through the whole movie!

3. A MIGHTY WIND (Christopher Guest) - Three popular, sixties folk groups reunite in the new millennium to commemorate the death of their manager by putting on a publicly broadcasted concert. Oscar nomination for Best Original Song ("A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow": Michael McKean, Annette O'Toole). Another movie about music, but not a musical (they don't randomly get up and start singing about what they're doing). The last of Guest's (good) mockumentaries. Like most of his films, I didn't quite get the joke upon first viewing, but was excited to watch it again. Extremely quotable. Hilarious songs. McKean, Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, John Michael Higgins....need I say more? FAVORITE SCENE: Without question, Fred Willard's small role as a local failed-actor-turned-radio-dj has some of the best one-liners: "Hey, Wha' Happened?!"...I guess you gotta see it, and you should! CAUTION: PG-13 for language perhaps. Also, a couple sexual references and situations, but nothing real explicit. Not too bad for most.

2. MY FLESH AND BLOOD (Jonathan Karsh) - A year in the life of real-life mother Susan Tom and her 14 children, 11 of which are adopted special needs kids. Sundance Awards including the Audience Award for Best Documentary. Okay, so most of the documentaries I seem to like are somewhat depressing, but this is an exception to the rule. There are definitely parts that are very sad, but the love of this woman for her kids is inspiring. She has adopted kids with extreme burns, rare skin disorders, mental retardation, and a couple of girls with no legs. While life their is often difficult, the laughter and happiness in this house overpowers any of the disorders. FAVORITE SCENE: When one of the girls brings a boy home, who is obviously overwhelmed by the family he is meeting. CAUTION: Not Rated, but would be R. One of the kids has breathing problems, a.d.d., and is extremely bipolar, which leads him to swear and make threat towards his mom and the other kids one minute, and tell them he loves them the next. These moments are fairly intense.

1. AMERICAN SPLENDOR (Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini) - A truly unique depiction of the life of underground comic book artist Harvey Pekar (played in part by Paul Giamatti), told through his own narration, actual reproductions of his comics, and old-fashion movie story telling. Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Quite possibly the most original film I have ever seen that doesn't lose the story behind the movie making. Giamatti is perfect as the disgruntled yet relate-able Pekar, who is like a Holden Caufield for the graphic novel generation. The cutbacks between the real Pekar and his real friends and the reenactments portrayed by the actors is funny and poignant. I only got to see this once and can't wait to see it again. FAVORITE SCENE: I love the actual footage of Pekar on Letterman calling him out for using him to get better ratings. CAUTION: R purely for bad language, but it is throughout.

RUNNER'S UP:
X2: X-Men United, Stevie, Chicago, The Pianist, Holes

OVERRATED:
Big Fish, The Italian Job, 28 Days Later..., OPEN RANGE (Woodrums, are you kidding me?!), Lost in Translation, Elephant

Favorites of 2004

So 2005 wasn't really the greatest year for the silver screen, but 2004 more than made up for it! I really had a hard time picking my favorites for this year, with some of my favorite "classic" films fighting for a spot against some that I have just gotten around to seeing. So, HERE YA GO!

10. THE INCREDIBLES (Brad Bird) - Pixar creates a family of superheroes who, after trying to lead a "normal" suburban life and having a couple of kids (with their own powers), are forced back into action when arch-nemesis Syndrome (Jason Lee) tries to take over the world. Two Oscar wins, including Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. Until a recent surge of great movies this past summer starring people with extra abilities, this was possibly my favorite superhero movie of all time. Despite the absolutely beautiful animation, Pixar once again does not let the story get lost while making a visually stunning piece of work. Think Alan Moore's classic graphic novel Watchmen mixed with the fresh humor of a Christopher Guest mocumentary. BEST SCENE: The opening sequence with the different superheroes, including Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), giving interviews during their hay-day. Hilarious!

9. VERA DRAKE (Mike Leigh) - A loving mother/wife (Imelda Staunton) is sent to prison in 1950's England for illegally assisting young women in home-spun abortions. Nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best Achievement in Directing, Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Staunton), Best Original Screenplay. Everyone has their own opinions on abortion rights, but I don't think anyone loves the act in and of itself. This film brilliantly portrays the intricate and divisive issue as it effects a small family directly. Staunton is perfect for the role, along with the rest of the cast, who lead their lives in such a quaint and loving way that makes the ending that much more heartbreaking. BEST SCENE: The family's awkward Christmas party right before Vera's final judgement.

8. I HEART HUCKABEES (David O. Russell) - Environmental activist Albert (Jason Schwartzman) seeks professional help from two existentialist detectives (Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin) who help Albert figure out why his life isn't perfect and how he can learn to except it...by laying in a body bag. The cast, which also includes such top-billing names as Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts, and Jude Law, doesn't quite scream quirky, philosophically challenging comedy. While the plot is sometimes hard to follow, especially on first viewing, the trippy hallucinations and abnormal methods of psychology are hysterical. My favorite Schwartzman role to date. BEST SCENE: Albert and Tommy (Wahlberg) hitting each other in the face with a giant red ball in order to reach tranquility.

7. SAW (James Wan) - Two men are put through a series of horrific tests by a crazy man, and in order to save themselves, their loved ones, and their own sanity, they must play by his rules. Hahaha, oh man! I can't wait to hear the backlash from this one! This movie makes my list, and makes it this far up the list, because it has the most shocking ending I have ever seen. If any of you that naysayers tell me you saw it coming, I know for a fact that you are lying. Shame, shame. Don't let the long, unending line of sequels lead you to think this is mindless schlock. Very gory, somewhat demented, totally terrifying. BEST SCENE: THE ENDING! Oh man, I wish I could just say it...but it's too good to ruin!

6. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Jared Hess) - Napoleon (Jon Heder) is a dork, his uncle (Jon Gries) is a jerk, his brother is a nerd, his best-friend is an outsider, and his love interest (Tina Majorino) is adoringly clueless....and they just want get through the next few months. Two Independent Spirit Awards, including Best First Feature, Best Supporting Male (Gries). If you don't relate to these people at all, then you and I have very little to talk about. While this was extremely over-quoted for a while ("Tina, come eat some ham!" "A freakin' twelve-gauge, what do ya think?!"), to the point that I actually couldn't watch it for a while, I can't help but love the awkward pauses and the uproarious performances (especially Gries and Heder) that carry this modern-cult-classic-turned-cultural-phenomenon. BEST SCENE: Uncle Rico throwing his steak at Napoleon, making him crash his bike.

5. HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (Alfonso Cuaron) - In the series first truly dark turn, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and co. are trying to keep Harry safe from convicted murderer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who has escaped from Azkaban prison to find the boy who put him there. Two Oscar Nominations, including Best Original Score, Best Achievement in Visual Effects. Cuaron's vision for the boy wizard is my personal favorite, although the new director has picked it up again with Order of the Phoenix after the disappointing Goblet of Fire. Oldman gives the series the class and sophistication it needed to push it through to the darker final chapters. BEST SCENE: The time-space continuum theories that hold the final scenes of the movie in tension are much more refined than would be expected from a children's series.

4. HERO (Yimou Zhang) - An encounter between a nameless warrior (Jet Li) and a conquering king (Daoming Chen) of pre-unified China unravels a series of events that leads the two men to their ultimate battle between each other. Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film (China). When I was 14, I saw Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the movie that kick started martial arts back into the movies. It bored me to tears. This, however, was basically flawless. The star of the film is the fight scenes, most of which play more like choreographed dance scenes than action sequences. Mixing unnoticeable special effects with pure unbiased talent, Hero is tragic, thrilling, and purely gorgeous. BEST SCENE: It's hard to choose between the different fight scenes, but the one between Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Moon (Ziyi Zhang) is breathtaking.

3. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry) - When Joel Barish finds out his ex-girlfriend has gone through a procedure to erase him from her memory, he decides to do the same thing, but during the process, he changes his mind and tries to hide her within in his own memories. Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay (Charlie Kaufman). Not as complicated as it sounds, just a pure and perfect love story. Jim Carrey should have won the Academy Award for such a subtle and heartfelt performance. Kaufman's script is brilliant, Gondry's vision is different and inviting (much better than the disappointing Science of Sleep and Be Kind, Rewind)...just go rent the movie, sit with a loved one, and enjoy! BEST SCENE: Actually, it's one of my favorite love story lines in all of cinema because its simply perfect: "Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?"

2. SHAUN OF THE DEAD (Edgar Wright) - Instead of writing my own description, I will just tell you the tagline on the poster which, I think, pretty much sums it up: "A Romantic Comedy. With Zombies." (Almost) the funniest movie of the year, and the best zombie movie since George Romero's pivotal Night of the Living Dead. More than purely a spoof, this is a loving, comedic embrace of the zombie genre. It's truly as scary as it is hilarious. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, as "flat-mates" Shaun and Ed, create one of Hollywood's funniest and most unlikely of comic duos. BEST SCENE: The final battle between the living and the dead in the local pub, which is soundtracked to Queen's classic "Don't Stop Me Now" playing on the jukebox.

1. ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (Adam McKay) - Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and the Channel 4 News Team (Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner) are thrown a curve ball when the world's first woman anchor (Christina Applegate) is brought into their mix. Okay, so it's by no means the most thought-provoking movie of the year, or even of Mr. Ferrell's career. But it will, or at least should, go down in cinematic history as the critical comedy of the first decade of the 2000's. This was before Ferrell became obsessed with sports and when he searched out more innovative fields to parody. Carell, Rudd, and Koechner all got their real boost to fame here, and well-deserved. Now, BRING ON THE INSULTS! I am sure some of you are perturbed by this choice, so have it! BEST SCENE: Oh, how can one pick! It's like choosing between your kids. I guess it would have to be when Ron and the new girl are making fun of each other while the credits role at the end of a news report.

RUNNER'S UP:

Finding Neverland, Friday Night Lights, The Bourne Supremacy, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, I Robot

OVERRATED:

Hellboy, Man On Fire, Shrek 2, Garden State (gasp!), Saved!

Movies I Saw in September, 2008

Wow! I really slacked off this month! School and Money are destroying my movie-going abilities. I only saw ONE movie in September! I missed some classics (Lakeview Terrace...oh, Mr. Jackson, how you never fail to amaze me!)and there were some indie movies playing at Beach Regal that I missed (Transsiberian, Tell No One), so I am going to add something new (SURPRISE) that hopefully become a staple: I am going to list some random movies that you should rent, some of which you may not be familiar with, so you can have some ideas the next time you are at your movie renting place of choice.

BURN AFTER READING (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) Very funny, Oddly violent, Supremely Coen-esque! A computer disk containing the memoirs of an ex-CIA agent (John Malkovich) is left at a small gym, where two employees (Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand) think they have found a top-secret government item, leading them to make failed attempts of bribery and espionage. This is a multi-layered satire on CIA thrillers and the people who get too involved. Brad Pitt is getting a lot of well-deserved praise for his role as Chad Feldheimer, a goof-ball health nut who thinks life is one big game, but everyone in this is perfectly cast. McDormand is an hilariously self-conscious female body-builder, and Malkovich is as good as ever as a foul-mouthed agent who has nothing left to lose. Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, and Richard Jenkins are also very good in a film that hearkens back to Coen Brothers classics Fargo, Lebowski, and even No Country. It's not for everyone (parts of the violence will immediately ruin the movie for some), but if you like quirky, slightly complex plots shown in a surprisingly light manner, then see it! FAVORITE SCENE: The ending of the movie is perfect. I won't tell you why, but I will say that some I talked with hated the ending. The Coen Brothers have a knack for polarizing people at the end of their films.

RENTALS!

Grace is Gone (2008)- John Cusack plays a man who loses his wife to the Iraq war, and takes his daughters on a road trip to cope.

A Few Good Men (1992)- A classic court-room drama, starring Tom Cruise (before he went crazy) and Jack Nicholson (who has always been crazy), with impeccable acting and a brilliant script.

Fletch (1985)- Chevy Chase's best movie, in my opinion, in which he plays Fletch, a journalist who has a knack for creating secret identities.

Favorites of 2005

You know the drill. Read this and then leave me a comment with what you think I got right and, more importantly, what I got wrong.

I am going to add something new at the bottom after the "Runner's Up" list called the "Overrated" list. This will give you a better idea of some of the movies that didn't make my yearly list that you might think should have made it.

2005 was a pretty terrible year for movies. Don't get me wrong; a couple of really amazing films came out in 2005, but some of the movie's on this list are simply on it from a lack of truly brilliant choices. Having said that, I still thought these were the best of the year, but I also think some of these choices will surprise some people.

10. HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (Mike Newell) - Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is selected to be the first underage participant in the Triwizard Tournament which pits students from three different schools against one another in complex and extremely dangerous events; meanwhile, Harry's dreams lead him to believe that his connections with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) may be stronger than he imagined. Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Art Direction (Stuart Craig, Stephanie McMillan). This is the first proof that 2005 was a crap year on the silver screen. Not that this wasn't a decent movie, but it is by far the worst Potter film to date. Newell as the new director seemed as if he couldn't decide to make it dark like Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban or more child-friendly like Colombus's first two films. Still, the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, portrayed brilliantly by Fiennes, and the death of a key character does give the series the push it needed for the outstanding Order of the Phoenix to be as great as it was. FAVORITE SCENE: Potter and Voldemort finally meeting and having their wands crossed in an epic battle for good over evil.

9. SAW II (Darren Lynn Bousman) - A group of people locked in an abandoned and dangerous house are put through some tortuous tests in order to secure their freedom. Exhibit b as to why this wasn't a great year in movies. I am sure some of you are looking at my list of "Overrated" films and thinking that I should just stop talking about movies altogether for put this piece of disgusting, shock horror on my favorites instead of some of those, but too bad! Write your own blog if you care so much! Anyways, despite some questionable acting performances, this sequel to the mind-boggling original is actually pretty good. And it has an ending that has surprised me both times I saw it. So... whatever to the naysayers. Horror films can be good too! FAVORITE SCENE: The officers on the case for the missing people opening a safe to discover something that changes their whole perspective on what - and who - they are searching for...

8. CINDERELLA MAN (Ron Howard) - The true story of boxing legend James Braddock (Russell Crowe) as he goes from being a boxing world champion to the unlikely underdog, all the while trying to survive the depression of the 1930's. Oscar nominations for Best Achievement in Editing, Best Achievement in Makeup, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Paul Giamatti). Ok, so it was no Rocky, but this completely uplifting story has some of the finest performances of the year, including Renee Zellweger as Mrs. Braddock. But the man who steals the show is Giamatti as Joe Gould, Braddock's manager and coach. Howard truly captures the heartache and the triumph of a determined athlete to inspire a nation of troubled people. FAVORITE SCENE: Mrs. Braddock going to Gould's house to complain about her family's finances just to see that he is struggling just as much as they are.

7. THE COMEDIANS OF COMEDY (Michael Blieden) - A documentary of four somewhat popular "alternative" comedians (Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, Zach Galifianakis) as they tour the States. Like The Original Kings of Comedy for nerdy white kids. Some of the stand-up isn't hilarious, but it is worth seeing just to watch Galifianakis in his natural habitat ("I don't mean to be gross, but the only time it's ok to say, 'I have diarrhea,' is when you're playing Scrabble....... because it's worth a $&%*load of points.") Also, it's fun to see struggling comedians tour like an indie band in the backs of vans and staying in sketchy hotel rooms. FAVORITE SCENE: Oswalt and Posehn flaunting their fat, naked bodies at the end. Innapropriate, but for a guy who wonders whether he will ever grow out of thinking the male body is funny, it works.

6. ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW (Miranda July) - A newly single dad (John Hawkes) must learn to balance parenthood, work, and social-life, while his kids, his new love interest (July), and everyone else around him tries to simply do the right thing in their consistently flawed human forms. Multiple independent film award wins and nominations, including a win at Sundance for Special Jury Prize - Dramatic. Like Napoleon Dynamite on Prozac...but for adults. So quirky and funny that the awkward moments are almost forgettable. July's script is right on point for what life honestly feels like at times, where nothing goes quite how you thought it would, and you don't always understand why you do the things you do. FAVORITE SCENE: The opening scene where Hawkes' character, in a last ditch effort of trying to impress his kids in front of his ex-wife to show he is a good dad, lights his hand on fire.

5. BATMAN BEGINS (Christopher Nolan) - The account of millionaire-entrepeneur-orphan Bruce Wayne's (Christian Bale) rise to become Gotham City's terrifying masked-savior: Batman. Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Cinematography (Wally Pfister). Anyone who is a fan of the true, classic Batman knows that this is how he was meant to be: dark, frustrated, imperfect, and deep-voiced. Ok, Bale's Batman voice is slightly off-putting at first, but that is one of the few qualms of this superhero masterpiece. Not to mention that it leads into what is probably the best superhero movie, if not action movie in general, of the past twenty or thirty years starring possibly the greatest villain of all time....But I will talk more about that at the end of this year. FAVORITE SCENE: I love the juxtaposition of a noble Batman against Bruce Wayne as an almost unlikeable playboy in Gotham City's elite, shown by his swim in a hotel pond with two young women in the middle of a fancy dinner.

4. THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE (Scott Derrickson) - A priest (Tom Wilkinson) and his agnostic lawyer (Laura Linney) are vainly fighting for his freedom as he is being prosecuted for the death of Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter), a young girl who died while he was performing exorcisms on her. The scariest part of this movie is the fact that it is a true story. This young woman, according to a letter signed by Emily herself and the account of her priest, gave up her life in order to spread a message of hope to the world. Now, whether you believe in possession or deliverance thereof, this is still a terrifying film. The flashbacks of the exorcisms and Emily's life up to her death are not only scary, but cautionary in our pursuit of worldly and other-worldly comfort. FAVORITE SCENE: Emily's first exorcism in which she ends up in a barn speaking in seven different voices at the same time. In the scene, she speaks in Aramaic and Hebrew, neither of which she actually knew how to speak.

3. WALK THE LINE (James Mangold) - A biopic of the legendary Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), chronicling his tough childhood, his unlikely rise to fame, his eventual descent into drug-abuse, and the woman, June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), who stayed with him until the end. Oscar win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Witherspoon). First of all, the music is incredible! I was only a casual fan of Cash before the movie, and since then I can't get enough of it. Phoenix is amazing as the man in black, capturing the moodiness and the sadness perfectly. And Witherspoon is not only a perfect love interest for Phoenix's Cash, but her singing voice is outstanding, arguably a better singer than June Carter herself. FAVORITE SCENE: The musicians on tour, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley, all shooting off fireworks in the back of their motel.

2. WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT (Steve Box, Nick Park) - The man and dog dynamic duo have a pest-control company that has met its match during the annual giant vegetable contest when an otherworldly, overgrown bunny threatens to destroy all of their towns crops. Oscar win for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. I did not grow up watching the TV show or videos of Wallace and Gromit, but this was still the funniest movie of all 2005. The clay-animation was gorgeous, and the rabbits throughout the movie are cute and absolutely hilarious. Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter both lend their voices to great effect, reading Park and Bob Baker's fantastic script with the greatest of comic-ease. And of course the chemistry of Wallace and Gromit is so endearing that you just wanna grab some Play-Doh and hug it!....or something. FAVORITE SCENE: Wallace is having a conversation with Carter's character, while in the background a multitude of bunnies are gently being sucked into their rabbit holes to enventually end up in a giant glass ball.

1. HOTEL RWANDA (Terry George) - The amazing true story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a hotel owner in Rwanda who houses thousands of Tutsi refugees to keep them safe of the Hutu militia. 3 Oscar nominations, including Best Actor (Don Cheadle), Best Supporting Actress (Spohie Okonedo), Best Original Screenplay. Why this movie didn't win more awards, I don't know. It could be that it was almost too similar a story to Spielberg's masterpiece Schindler's List, but that shouldn't matter. If you don't know much about the genocide that is going on in places like Darfur, watch this film. If you have become numb to the idea of second and third world countries killing each other, watch this film. If you just wanna see brilliant acting and a simultaneously sad and enriching movie, watch this film. Cheadle is a revelation and should be slapped for being so good. FAVORITE SCENE: Paul having to make the tough decision to leave with his family to safety or stay behind to help keep the hotel and it's residents up and running.

RUNNER'S UP:

The Aristocrats, Good Night, and Good Luck, The Batman Vs. Dracula: The Animated Movie, The Squid and the Whale, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

OVERRATED:

Sideways, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, The Constant Gardener, Corpse Bride