2014 Year in Review

Not a best of, not a worst of... just the things I feel like talking at you about in this year's Pop Culture wrap-up.

And, as always, all red links lead to good things!

AT THE MOVIES:

• Gone Girl: The year's most thrilling, mind-bending, titillating mystery that I really wish I hadn't brought my mother along to see.

• John Wick: A most welcome return to the gratuitous action genre. The body count, innumerable. I literally left the theater exhausted. And, if Keanu Reeves can keep up with that much cardio at the age of 50, I have absolutely no excuse for skipping my evening walk.

• Birdman: Michael Keaton's back! Michael Keaton is BACK!! And, he's going to win an Oscar! Although, I'm in the minority by having my critiques of some of the directing choices in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's stunner/comeback vehicle for Keaton, I cannot deny the flawless acting from each and every one of its stars and costars. If this film does not win the prize for Outstanding Cast at this year's SAG Awards, I completely give up on Hollywood.

• The Interview: So, I'm not much a fan of stoner comedies, or graphic vulgarity, or needlessly explicit language in film. I am pretty much immune to James Franco's smarm. I hated The 40-Year Old Virgin. I thought Knocked Up was good in concept, but veered off into bad taste once played out. That said, I'm a fan of Seth Rogen as a person (ie. talk show guest) and, potentially, a writer (if he'd put down that bong for five seconds.) I loved Freaks and Geeks. I liked Funny People. But, was I willing to risk terrorist threat to be "in on" his latest endeavor? Apparently so, because I did. And lived to tell about it. Was there drugs? Some. Was it vulgar? Yeah. Was there a needless amount of explicit language? Of course. But, did I laugh? Yes! Surprisingly, alot. I rank it on the same level as Tropic Thunder. If you did not like Tropic Thunder, you will not like this. If you're still not sure if it's not for you, check out Eminem's hilarious cameo and then decide.

• Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I: I am so unbelievably hooked on the Hunger Games series for someone who had avoided it for a whole year, based on the mere concept alone. And, as if Jennifer Lawrence wasn't perfect enough with her flawless hair, flawless face, flawless body and hysterical sense of humor. Now we find out she can sing pretty amazingly in a minor key as well. Oh well! It's impossible to hate her. You can only wish to grow up to be just like her. (Even if you're practically twice her age.) 

• Big Hero 6: I call this the animated movie that offers the perfect segue for kids approaching PG-13 territory. There were explosions, action, drama, laughter and tears. (So many tears! I literally cried a contact lens right out of my eye!) I did have to warn a few younger viewers away from seeing it, though. That villain was a little too creepy for the Disney princess set. (Click here for some images to decide for yourself.)

And, Let's Talk About This: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. One of the worst movies my nephews dragged me to this year, that ended with the most unexpected and heartbreaking goodbye from Robin Williams. (This year's award season In Memoriam is going to be a rough one!)

I Missed It! Whiplash. Damn you, metro-Detroit theaters and your minuscule window for seeing anything that's not a blockbuster. This one is on the grab-it-as-soon-as-it-comes-to-DVD list.

Can't Wait for in 2015: A Most Violent Year, American Sniper, Pitch Perfect 2, Inherent Vice, Black Mass and... okay, fine, let's finish it off... Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II.

IN MUSIC:

• There were many mentions of butts.

   Moving on...

ON TV:

• Gotham (Fox): This prequel to all things Batman had me a little nervous at first. How are they going to drag out the legacy of Batman in the twenty or so years it is going to take for young Bruce Wayne to become the Caped Crusader? So many characters crossing paths so soon! But then I simply sat back, relaxed, and learned to enjoy the ride. P.S. Middle-aged Alfred Pennyworth is a total badass.

• Gracepoint (Fox): The American remake of the UK's Broadchurch miniseries was the biggest nail-biter on the small screen this year. The coastal smalltown murder mystery kept me guessing and defending my case for its entire ten episode duration and provided that best water-cooler talk of 2014. (It's still playing On Demand if you missed it!)

• Drunk History (Comedy Central): The biggest belly laughs I had while watching TV this year were while sitting sober and watching drunk people try to explain (in great detail!) some of the biggest historical events in America. Check it out on YouTube, Comedy Central and full episodes now on DVD. 

• The Mindy Project (Fox): I couldn't get into The Mindy Project in its first season. I felt like it was trying too hard to be the next Ally McBeal or something. But, in its second season, I gave it another chance, once it became more character-centric and less wannabe-chick flick. By Season Three, the show has really hit its stride. And, what?!  Danny Castellano is dancing out of nowhere! What's going on? And, why do I like it so much?!

• Wahlburgers (A&E): When Donnie and Mark Wahlberg were growing up in Dorchester, MA, the neighborhood taunters used to call them the "Wahlburgers". So, they grew up, became multi-kazillionaires, then opened a successful chain of burger joints with their older brother Paul. They call the chain Wahlburgers. You may also call it the last laugh. Now A&E has decided the Wahlberg clan of nine siblings, led by matriarch Alma, are entertaining enough to have their own reality show. I agree. Last last laugh. (Also, keep an eye out for the real Entourage.)

• The Little Couple (TLC): Still my vote for the most perfect family on the planet Earth. The 2014 season of The Little Couple led Bill and Jen through the highs of adoption and the lows of Jen's battle with cancer. Your heart will melt for these two (now, four.) And, if I ever met someone who is half the man Bill Klein is, I would consider myself the luckiest woman in the world.

• Every Simpsons Ever (FXX): FXX has found a cure for the Nothing-Is-On blues that can strike at any given time with their seemingly-endless running Every Simpsons Ever marathon.

• Eaten Alive (Discovery): Did you miss the Discovery Channel's Eaten Alive special? The one where idiot "scientist", Paul Rosolie, volunteers to be "eaten alive" by the largest anaconda on earth, all in the name of conservation and research? Count your blessings. I sat through the two hour ordeal just for you! Read about it here.

And, Let's Talk About This: Duggars getting married left and right. Never before did long skirts and chastity make a spinster feel so... spinstery.

And, What About That: 

The Most Entertaining Academy Award Show Ever!

I Missed It! True Detective and Fargo. Come on, Netflix! Bring me up to speed already!

Can't Wait for in 2015: Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul.

ON THE WEB:

• Listen Linda... just listen! I can't decide if little Mateo will be going into politics or sales one day. I do know that he will surely find a way to make more money (and cupcakes) than the rest of us, though. 

• Little Girl Picks a Fight With Gaston at Disney World. Because that's what you do when you wait in line for over an hour for an autograph!

• This meme.

• These foreign Doritos with "kick".

OVER-HYPED in 2014 (and so, I refuse to add images):

• Ice Bucket Challenge: Newsflash! You can donate money to charity without risking hypothermia.
• Shia LeBeouf and all his self-produced drama: You're "not famous anymore". So, go away already.
• Jaden and Willow Smith: They're so much smarter than us all now. Didn't you hear?
• George Clooney Wedding: He's found love and is happy. Scandalous!
• Kimye Wedding: I threw up in my mouth a little, then forgot about it.

Speaking of throwing up...

• Bill Cosby: What is up with you?! I am in mourning for the loss of my TVland reruns. I am also mad on behalf of Cockroach, for you taking away from him the only royalties he makes these days.

I am now extremely tired and will lazily conclude with Funny Spellchecks Suggested in the Making of this Post (that, at least, were funny to me at 1:00 am): Birdman = Batman (go figure!); Stoner = stonier; Inarritu's = linearity's; Mockingjay = Mackinac; Gracepoint = grease paint;  Wahlberg = wallboard; Wahlburgers = vegeburger; Dorchester = chestier; Netflix = Norfolk; Shia = Shiva; LeBeouf = beef.

See you in 2015!

2013 Year in Review

Best Of, Worst Of... what's the diff?  

This is An Aunt's Life's 2013 year in review!

(Click links for more)

IN MUSIC:

• Macklemore (and that guy he hangs out with) winning up a storm at this year's awards circuit. The music world was primed and ready for a fresh-voiced M.C. who treasures his thrift shop wares over the other guys' iced-out bling. (Did you catch the E! special featuring another peek at the rapper with the softer side?  In it, Mackelmore treats his future mother-in-law to a surprise home makeover. Adorable!)
• 2013 was my introduction to the always suave Robin Thicke (Also the world's introduction to Blurred Lines: Cosby Edition.) Hey hey hey!
• Miley Cyrus helped us all sharpen our comedy skills while she poked out our eyes with her tail bone. Simultaneously, she managed to leave a snail trail of saliva across the nation to which a large enough stockpile of Clorox wipes has not yet been found to reverse the effects. (Maybe they'll work on my eyes, though...)
• Justin Bieber finally jumped the shark. (Oh great! I just gave him another idea, didn't I?)
• Jared Leto's (sorry... Thirty Seconds to Mars') cover of Rihanna's "Stay".  A great way to listen to a good Rihanna song without having to actually listen to Rihanna. (Alright, you caught me. I liked her version too.)
• Will.i.am sues Pharrell Williams over his "i am Other" brand. I picture next year's turf battle to be Marshall Mathers vs the "My Name Is" badges at Office Max. Stickers, you're going DOWN!

ON TV:

• Always late to the party, I finally got into Breaking Bad during its final season. I thought it was on HBO! I don't have HBO! I finished up season five with the rest of the planet (leading into what was, arguably, the best series finale in television history) and I've enjoyed binge-watching its past seasons ever since.  Yes! I fit five seasons of TV-watching into one calendar year. What did you do?
• After a growing annoyance over the terms "granite countertops" and "stainless steel appliances", I finally managed to find a group of women snobbier than the young housewives on House Hunters. The middle-aged housewives buying vacation homes on House Hunters International! Quit looking for an American kitchen in a non-American home! Like you're really going to be cooking a full Thanksgiving dinner once a week in the Caribbean!
• Bates Motel was a perfect mesh of creepy, intrigue, drama and fabulous acting. And I don't even like scary stuff!  Catch up on season one before the next season begins in 2014. (P.S. Wahoo to Vera Farmiga and her Emmy nomination!)
• I got conned into watching David Blaine: Real or Magic? in which he pierced a knitting needle clean through his own tricep and threw up a belly full of water. Thus, answering the title's pressing question.
• Cell phone advertisers stepped it up a notch this year with hilarious bits from the kiddies pushing AT&T. (In my opinion, the red-headed kid from the turtle one and the young lass whom I'm deemed Werewolf Girl should start traveling with an entourage. Of adoption agents. Because I want to own them!) The James Earl Jones and Malcolm McDowell spots for Sprint also scored big with me. Totes magotes.
• Glee's farewell to Finn episode nearly killed me. Providing me with instant onset depression and a crying headache that lasted for days!

• I'm not much a fan of country music or soap operas, yet Nashville managed to still get me thoroughly hooked. Besides. Who can resist the real-life Stella sisters!
• Louie C.K.'s hilariously truthful rant on cell phones (and kids, and life, etc.) on Conan was worth staying up late for.
• Under the Dome won me over just in time for the Time Warner/CBS dispute that took it off the air. (Thanks to modern technology, we could still watch it here!) If you can't get into the plot, you can at least play my Spot the Killed Off/Canceled Actor game. (Head start: Hank from Breaking Bad, Deputy Shelby from Bates Motel, Lt. Mason from Detroit 187, the original Victoria from Twilight...)
• ABC Family canceled Bunheads, whose young dancers decided to handle it like the pros that they are.
• And, for the Detroit locals, Ben Bailey left the Fox 2 morning team. Leaving me still longing for my forecasts, handsome with a chance of dimples.

IN MOVIES:

• Frozen. So, I may be a little behind on my yearly Oscar nominee binge. Maybe, all the way behind.  As in, I haven't seen much (any) grown-up stuff (like, at all!) this year, but have caught plenty of cartoons with my nephews. Either way, I would still highly recommend Disney's newest animated film Frozen to anyone. I loved it. Little girls all fell in love with the newest princess characters. My nephews loved the humor and bits of action. It was a win-win-win all around. BEST Disney animated princess movie since Beauty and the Beast. I'll stand by that, too!

CAST REUNIONS THAT MADE US FEEL OLD:

School of Rock (10 years! Really?!)

Mystic Pizza

Boy Meets World

Freaks and Geeks

The Sandlot 

Wayne's World

Full House.  Not just here, but...

...Kimmy Gibler and D.J. Tanner were also spotted at a NKOTB concert together!

And then there's also the complete possibility that this is going to happen!

ON THE WEB

• This year I quit Candy Crush. Cold turkey.  (But, may find myself in need of a Papa Pear Saga support group in 2014.)
• Pinterest. Where had you been all my life while I busied myself on Facebook? Sorry to have ignored you for so long. Equally inspiring and enabling. I demand that you all now follow me here.
• Two words. Christmas Jammies. Love it or hate it, it happened and it's stuck in your head now, isn't it? Mwah-ha-ha-HA!!!

• Dance battle in Detroit. 
• Dinovember. Read it. Live it. Be it!
• Best reasons for detention. They really are.
• What did the fox say? Certainly not that!
• This blog brought in new readership with the continuously curious mix of search words including "Charlie Brown Violet Brat", "Fancy Comforters", "Garfield Halloween Cartoon Scary" and the ever popular "Meth Mouth" still being used. (I also hit over 7,600 page views and counting this year. Thank you muchly!)

LET'S LEAVE IT BEHIND IN 2013:

• Hot Dog Leg pics. Let's pretend these never happened.
• Twerking.  Saying it, watching it on YouTube and, for heaven's sake, actually doing it! Let's just stop all of the above in 2014.
• Michael Bolton hustling for Honda. At first, I was like "Awww... I didn't realize that I'd missed Michael Bolton." Then after hearing it air every 20 minutes or so, non-stop, I decided that maybe I was just thinking about Office Space.  (Okay, fine. This one is better than that one if I have to choose.)
• Real Housewives. All of them!  Bravo has created a monster and now that monster must be slain.
• The Harlem Shake. It doesn't even have moves! C'mon on now. Learn to dance a little bit next year. Especially if you're going to record yourself doing it and post it everywhere. Even if it's just a little left-together, right-together. If that's the best you can muster, I'll take it over a Harlem Shake!
• Celebrating train wrecks. Miley, Lindsey, Amanda Bynes, Kardshian marriages... let's stop looking at them. Let's revere the nice people instead of the shallow, and encourage the struggling instead gawking at them.
• Kardashian overload. Take your Kanye and go!
• Saying "totes" instead of "totally", unless you're a distinguished man over the age of 70.
• Every word that my spellcheck did not accept from this post: "bling", "twerking", "Miley", "Bieber", "Kanye", "countertops"... huh?... wait, "Macklemore", "Facebook", "NKOTB". Maybe I should rethink this last bulletpoint.

Have a happy, healthy and safe New Year!  If you need a ride home tonight CLICK HERE and request one. Please don't drink and drive! It's just not cool.

2013 Oscar Picks

Sunday night is the biggest night of the awards season, which means it's time for my annual Oscar picks.  Not my predictions, but the pick of my personal favorites for each of the major voting categories.  (ie. I'll only mention the categories I actually care about.  Sorry, no technical award picks!)

Here we go:

Best Animated Feature: (contenders: Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Wreck-it Ralph.)  Now, to be honest, I've only seen two of these nominees.  But, lets break this down logically.  Frankenweenie is a Tim Burton remake of a Tim Burton film, which no one seems to recall its existence in its original form.  Remakes don't fair well at awards time, or usually even get recognized as nominees.  But, again, since I didn't see it... I'm crossing it off of my list. Same goes for The Pirates! and ParaNorman.  Brave and Wreck-It Ralph were both enjoyable films, full of laughs and heart.  It's a close race for me but, being a sucker for all things Disney, I'll have to give my winner by a nudge to Brave.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: (contenders: Hitchcock, Les Miserables, The Hobbit.) I'm not voting in this category because Lincoln wasn't nominated.  I can't believe the academy thinks that Daniel Day-Lewis is such an incredible actor that he physically willed himself into looking like a five dollar bill.  Marvelous acting, yes.  But, why not a shout out to the hair and makeup team for their bit of the credit?  No vote here. Well, fine... one vote for Les Mis.  Especially for Hugh Jackson's practically unrecognizable opening look.

Best Costume Design: (contenders: Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Huntsman.)  The two Snow White movies negate each other, so that narrows things down.  Yes, Mirror Mirror was colorful and memorably costumed, but I can't give any vote in any category for a film that was such a stinker.  (Except, for maybe "Least Believable Action Sequence".)  Period pieces always bode well in this category, which means good news for the other contenders.  I personally feel an extra edge should always go to anyone who gets to dress Helena Bonham Carter.  So, my pick, again, goes to Les Mis.

Best Supporting Actress: (contenders: Amy Adams, The Master; Sally Field, Lincoln; Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables; Helen Hunt, The Sessions; Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook.)  I swear, this isn't leading into a total Les Miserables sweep.  Amy Adams should, no questions asked, win an Oscar one day.  Just not this Sunday.  Jacki Weaver's nomination made me nostalgic for Melissa Leo's win for The Fighter. (There's just something about the family dynamic that David O. Russell films have the magic of creating. Sidenote: There needs to be an award for best casting.)  Nudity never seems to hurt a nominee.  Heck, it won Halle Berry an Academy Award! But, it's not Helen Hunt's year either.  Sally Field... ugh, I'm about to say something totally controversial here... but Sally Field, in every film I see her in, is just Sally Field in costume. There are certain actresses that have such a distinguishable speaking voice, that it's impossible for the audience to completely buy them as immersed into a character. No matter what period their character, no matter what accent they try coat over that voice, it's always just, "Oh, it's Sally Field on a surf board. Oh, it's Sally Field down South. Oh, it's Sally Field standing next to Spiderman. Oh, it's Sally Field in a very large dress in the 1860's."  Sorry, Sally Field!  (And, Winona Ryder, who also falls under this curse.) Which means, the Oscar goes to... Anne Hathaway in Les Mis! Anne risks the curse of being the obvious vote, causing voters to cast seemingly safe ballots for the underdogs, giving her an American Idol-style accidental upheaval.  But, c'mon... Have you seen her Fantine?  What a great example of a Disney kid gone right.

Best Supporting Actor: (contenders: Alan Arkin, Argo; Robert DeNiro, Silver Linings Playbook; Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master; Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln; Christoph Walz, Django Unchained.)  Alan Arkin is one of the greatest living actors.  I haven't seen Argo yet, though, so I'm not going to throw him any freebies.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman is your go-to indie guy, but he always seems to creep me out a little.  Acting, or just a natural trait fortunate for his craft? Christoph Walz is our latest imported award season darling, but he had his moment with Inglourious Basterds (my spell check hates that movie title!)... and I haven't caught Django yet, either. No freebies! I'll admit, Tommy Lee Jones had my vote locked after watching him Tommy-Lee-Jones all over the movie Lincoln. But, then I saw Silver Linings Playbook.  It's been so long since I've seen DeNiro play vulnerable, play tearful, play hysterical, play neurotic yet totally unaware of it.  Play real. This may be my vote for favorite DeNiro performance of all time.  In which, he also plays a thief... because he totally stole my vote from Tommy Lee Jones.

Best Actress: (contenders: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty; Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook; Emmanuelle Riva, Amour; Quvenzhane' Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild; Naomi Watts, The Impossible.) Jessica Chastain is a great actress, but her acting in The Help was superior to what she did with her role in Zero Dark Thirty. If she couldn't pull off the gold for her superior supporting role, I don't think she should get the booby prize in a higher category.  Like, Amy Adams, I really believe Jessica will have her day. Again, just not this Sunday. I didn't see Amour, and sometimes age gets rewarded in itself.  That said, I honestly have a hunch that at least 50% of the Academy voters didn't actually watch every film sent to them.  If my hunch is correct, Ms. Riva (and her film) is out of the running.  It'd be fun to see little Quvenzhane' win, for novelty alone.  Maybe they can dig up a miniature Shirley Temple statuette to, at least, reward her yipping skills. ("BEAST it, Hushpuppy!" "Yip! Yip!") I've been yearning to see The Impossible all award season, but haven't had the chance yet due to its limited release in the Detroit area.  I won't be mad if Naomi wins, because the trailer alone sent my skin to goose-pimpling.  But, my official vote goes to Jennifer Lawrence.  Her "He's harassing me! He's harassing me!" scene alone is sure to be her official Oscar clip.  And, how many people can go toe-to-toe with DeNiro and make it look effortless?

Best Actor: (contenders: Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook; Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln; Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables; Joaquin Phoenix, The Master; Denzel Washington, Flight.)  This category is tearing me up inside!  I'll have to navigate this category by process of elimination.  Flight was released too early for award season, so it's the forgotten choice in all of its categories.  Sorry Denzel!  Joaquin is one of the greatest actors of my generation, but his disdain for awards shows likely causes disdain for the voters who want to reward someone who would actually appreciate a win.  Plus, his small film is likely one of the ones that those 50% of Academy voters didn't bother checking out. Leaving me with the trifecta that is currently giving me new stress lines on my brow.  Ugh!  My three favorite movies of the season and their lead actors that all impressed me with their new levels of talents revealed in 2012.  If I vote with my head, I'd go for Daniel Day-Lewis for doing something that no actor has ever been able to do, and what may never be able to be equally done again.  If I vote with my gut, I'd have to go with Hugh Jackman, who tore my innards to shreds with his portrayal of Jean Valjean.  Every beat, every syllable of his performance, flawless and drenched in raw emotion.  If I vote with my heart, come on...  Bradley Cooper as the emotionally unstable Pat Solitano.  I was left stunned by this, previously untapped, expression of his talent.  Raw, hilarious, emotionally bare... the most unstable character you'll ever find yourself rooting for.  Unhinged, pathetic and, yet at the same time, laser-sharp focused.  (Yes, we know you're contractually obligated to The Hangover III.  But after that, Bradley Cooper, we're now officially expecting more!) Ugh!  My head!  If they were all nominated in separate years, all three performances would be taking home the top prize.  But, since I'm not going with predictions, but my personal choices... I guess I'd have to vote with my heart on this one and go with the underdog.  Go Pat!  Er, uh.. Bradley!  I love that he made me leave the theater thinking, "I didn't know he could do that!"

Best Director: (contenders: Michael Heneke, Amour; Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild; Ang Lee, Life of Pi; Steven Spielberg, Lincoln; David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook.)  Beasts of the Southern Wild was an interesting film full or great imagery and art.  But, way too many up-the-nose shots, which immediately took Benh Zeitlin out of my Best Director running.  (Oh, the little things that turn off a voter!)  I've already expressed my indifference towards Amour. A great film, I gather, but too depressing a subject matter for me to bear watching.  The remaining three all well-deserving in three different ways.  Ang Lee has found so many different ways define his role as film director.  You can't look at The Ice Storm, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi and say, "Oh, that's stylistically so Ang Lee."  In fact, I'll bet many didn't realize that all four of those films even had the same director!  There's something to be said about pushing the limits of what can be done on film.  And so, there's got to be at least a mention for what was cinematically pulled off with this film. (Oops. Did I mention that, after The Impossible, Pi was my second biggest regret for not having seen it in time for awards season.  But, I've seen enough clips to know that there's no way this movie could have been pulled off in lesser hands.)  David O. Russell has certainly proved to have a way with family-strong dramedy that is becoming its own niche in his own rite, finding perfect balance in his ever-careful and tender hands. And, then we have Spielberg.  It's hard for me to go with the obvious choice in this category, but Spielberg is the king of creating Celluloid Wonderland. Largeness and intimacy somehow married together with perfect light.  Perfect color.  Perfect framing.  When Lincoln dons a blanket on his shoulders, I get cold.  When he crawls to the ground to scoop his son up, my knees creak.  On the battlefield I fear the saber, the rifle, the bowie knife.  I cringe in the theater (not this theater, that theater.)  I feel I too have a vote to cast in Congress.  How does he do this?  I don't know and neither do you.  So, we shower him with trophies.

Best Picture: (contenders: Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty.) It's another toss up for my top three here. Les Miserable, Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook.  I'll be equally satisfied if any of these win.  I'm just glad that 2012 had such high caliber films made that I've actually seen five of the top nominees and ran out of time to try and cram in the rest.  (Usually, I'm not even interested in five nominated titles!) It's nice to enjoy this awards season by having actual favorites to root for. What a great year for movies!  That said, I won't reiterate my praise that's already been mentioned in the categories above. I'll just blurt out the title of the movie I most enjoyed this year and that I'm most anticipating its arrival on DVD, so I can watch it over and over again.  My winner is...  Silver Linings Playbook. 

See you on the couch Sunday!

Lincoln

I just returned from seeing the critically lauded new biopic about our sweet sixteenth (president, that is) and am riding the goose-pimply emotional swell of seeing and hearing a good story told well.

This is not a movie review, however... although the pic is sure to see Academy nominations for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Actress (Sally Field), Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones) and maybe even a long shot Supporting Actor nom for the very entertaining James Spader.  Not to mention, Best Costuming and a slew of technical nods, as well.  But, this is not a review!  (Although, I must also note: At 180 minutes, empty your bladders before or during the previews, because there are no boring lulls in the film to designate as a potty break.)

No, this blog entry is designated to that 10-15 minute adjustment it took for me to adapt to the fact that Abraham Lincoln was appearing before me in motion and speaking.

You'll hear Daniel Day-Lewis's voice speaking as Lincoln moments before the camera pans to his wonderful and accurately made-up face.  And, it's quite the unexpected jolt!  I don't know how the actor chose the voice he decided to use to represent our 16th president, but it's definitely not as booming and authoritative as I obviously must have expected.

Then he moved.  Which is also quite a startle.  For all of our lives, we've seen Abraham Lincoln as still life.  Faded and photographed, sketched, oil-painted, crumpled up on our five dollar bills and frozen in marble for all of eternity at the foot of our capital's reflecting pool.

But, for the first time in our lifetime, he moves.  He ambles rigidly, clumsily, oddly moose-like.  He folds his stature practically in half and creakily crawls across the floor.

I watched, amazed.  I'm not sure what I had expected to see.  I'm not sure if Day-Lewis's choices in tone and cadence were artistic choices or historical fact.

Then it dawned on me!  My generation's ideals of this president's motion, voice and natural demeanor weren't based on film or recordings... the technology didn't exist in his time.  We're familiar with his face and stature from the aforementioned photographs and artwork we've familiarized ourselves with over time.  We're comfortable and confident in the depiction of his looks.

But, the only reference we've had to his speech and his movement, up until the release of this marvelous film came in the form of a Disney animatronic.

Ha, yes!  Mystery solved!  Hopefully, you may now spare yourselves the jolt at the theater.  Besides, it only took about 15 minutes for the unfamiliarity to pass.  Go see Lincoln, cheer on the 13th Amendment and enjoy!

Comfort Viewing

After a stressful day, my favorite way to unwind is in a pair of flannel jammies, cocooned by a favorite blankie and lying in front of some comfort tv.

 

Yes, any other day I might enjoy the drama of Mad Men, the shenanigans of the Real Housewives of anywhere or the suspense of whichever portion of the Bourne trilogy is playing on an endless movie channel loop at the moment.

 

But, certain days don't call for any more drama, shenanigans or suspense.  Here is some of my  favorite foolproof decompression viewing:

 

The Cosby Show:  Reruns are on TVland almost every night!  Choose episodes where Denise is still in high school and Rudy still in braids for maximum decompression.

 

The Brady Bunch:  Nobody but the Brady's could make parenting look easier, teen woes look a cinch and the workplace seem so rewarding.

 

19 Kids and Counting:  There's something incredibly calming about Michelle Duggar's voice that sooths away even the most persistent tension headache.  I don't think she's raised her decibel level above a bird's peep since her high school cheerleading days.  And, what cooperative and obedient children she's raised!

 

United Bates of America: That's right!  The Duggars have best friends in Tennessee who now have their own show.  The Bates have proven to be even more upbeat, cheerful, silly and twangy!  Bring on the home schoolin'!

 

This is Spinal Tap:  Tap is probably my favorite movie comedy of all time.  It is such good comfort viewing that I've deemed it my official "flu movie".  Every time I'm sick in bed with the flu, I pop it in the DVD player to cheer me up.  Nothing cures like a good laugh.  (And, nothing distracts from your own vomit than hearing of someone choking on another's.)

 

Bewitched (the movie): I don't care if nobody else has seen it or that it was deemed one of the biggest missteps in Hollywood remake history... I LOVE THE BEWITCHED MOVIE!  Nicole Kidman is adorable in it, Will Ferrell is silly as can be, Michael Caine is dapper, Shirley Maclaine is perfectly cast and Kristin Chenoweth is on-point quirky.  It's colorful, it's fun and it's stress-free viewing!

 

Classic Disney cartoons:  If a giggle cures a headache, Chip and Dale will give you a double dose of healing.

A Hard Day's Night:  If you're so stressed out you can't even make a selection, The Beatles have made it easy for you by planting a "hard day" right into its title.  I'm relaxing by the time they board the opening scene's train and any knots in my tummy are untied by the time Ringo barely recites the line, "Well, if he's your grandfather, who knows!  Hahahaha...."

Let me know your favorite comfort viewing by leaving a comment below.  Stressed out right now?  Here's a freebie: