I'm a child of music videos. I grew up and came of age all while watching music videos. In high school, when I couldn't sleep I would put on CMT and watch country music videos because there was always a story being shown and it always lulled me to sleep. I'm not a big lover of country music, but music videos still reign supreme. So, as I countdown the best music videos, keep in mind, it's not always about the song!
10. Adele "Someone Like You" and "Rolling in the Deep" She gave us two amazing songs and two amazing videos.
7. Kanye West "Monster" This is the song that finally turned me on to Kanye. Might be my most obsessive song of the year. And when I try to sing Nicki's part, I just get happy. "I'm a motherfuckin' Monster!"
6. Kesha "Blow" This video 'blew' my mind. Unicorns and Dawson Leery? Yes, please!
5. Robyn "Call Your Girlfriend" This video is absolutely incredible. It's one long take.
4. The Lonely Island "Jack Sparrow" Two words: Michael Bolton
3. Rihanna "We found a love" I just love this drug induced love affair gone bad music video. It's seductive and bad for me. :)
2. Rachael Yamagata "Even If I don't" Rachael's best video thus far. Cheeky, sad, happy. Everything the song is.
1. Beastie Boys "Make Some Noise" !!!!!!So many Cameos!!!! and the Delorean! Sold. Also, Fight for your Right video was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. I thought it was hands down the coolest thing ever.
As it has been read throughout this blog, I love movies. I watch alot of movies. I write screenplays. I daydream that my life is a movie. So, it should be no surprise that I have tons to say about the 2011 movie year. To start with, my tiny anger/pet peeve: the movies that I don't have access to. You know what I'm talking about. Those small movies that are released on Decemeber 29 but to only two theaters in America. Of course those theaters aren't in Shreveport, so I'm left alone, crying, b/c some Entertainment Weekly writer gets to see the films and write their reviews and I'm left stranded in the Port wondering if the movies will ever make it here. That's my sad story. So, for 2011 here are the movies I feel that I've missed.
1. The Iron Lady 2. Martha Marcy May Marlene (which actually showed in Shreveport, but while I was out of town!!!!) 3. Pariah 4. We need to Talk about Kevin 5. Shame 6. The Artist 7. Carnage 8. A Dangerous Method
Only 8 movies, so, not too bad. Obviously, those movies will be excluded from my list. And I'm only doing top 5 and worst 5. This was a hard task for me. It was a good year in movies.
Best Movies 1. Drive 2. The Descendants 3. Young Adult 4. Midnight in Paris 5. Bridesmaids
My top movies all have 1 thing in common: re-watchablity!
Worst Movies 1. Shark Night 3D 2. Hangover II 3. In Time 4. Immortals 5. How Do You Know (technically, I think this film came out in 2010, but I saw it in 2011 so in my mind it counts. If you ask me about this movie, you will literally see rage leak from my ears.)
Mindy's Most Conflicted (these are movies that are suppose to be great, but left me blah.) 1. Hugo 2. Tree of Life 3. Rango 4. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (David Fincher fans don't hate on me, I still love me some Fincher, I just thought this movie was fine. Not fantastic. Rooney Mara, yes. The film, just okay.) 5. Super 8
Extra note to my conflicted list: *Moneyball - I liked this movie. I did. I thought Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, AND Phillip Seymour Hoffman did great acting jobs. It was a good film. Great? Mind blowing cinema? A film that changes the landscape of films? No.
There you have it. Mindy's thoughts on the good and bad movies of 2011. What are your thoughts? got any? let me hear them!!!
The end of 2011 is near and reliving the best and worst moments makes me squeal like a 5 year old gay boy listening to Babs. Here's my take on stuff. Please keep in your head that "my best/worst" isn't based on anything but my feelings. That's it. There's no science, just my little ole opinion.
Best New TV Shows 1. Homeland. 2. Revenge 3. American Horror Story 4. Suburgatory 5. Up all Night 6. 2 Broke Girls (it grew on me)
Worst New TV 1. H8R 2. Playboy Club 3. Charlie's Angels 4. Pan Am 5. Terra Nova
Best TV All around 1. Community (Please Come Back!!!!!!!!!) 2. Homeland 3. Dexter 4. Parks & Recreation 5. Revenge 6. The League 7. True Blood 8. It's Always Sunny 9. Cougar Town
Best Guilty Pleasures 1. Gossip Girl 2. Bad Girls Club 3. Ringer 4. Project Accessory 5. Pretty Little Liars 6. Vampire Diaries 7. Platinum Hit 8. America's Next Top Model: All Stars 9. One Tree Hill 10. Jersey Shore
As we can all see, I enjoy 'Guilty Pleasures' above all. That's because I like smiling and laughing and not taking it all too seriously. TV is meant to entertain. All my favorites, be it, guilty or best, entertain. And to each their own. Right? I mean, I can't explain how or why Jersey Shore entertains me. Wait, I can. They make me laugh! Their dumb, drunken antics make my jaw hang open just before it begins to vibrate with laughter. And thus, joy spreads through my body. Best medicine ever. I'm sure I could add lots of shows to my lists, but I really only have so much TV viewing time in a week. One day, I'll watch Game of Thrones and begin to understand why everyone is loving it. I attempted The Walking Dead, but became bored after 4 episodes. It happens. Not all TV is meant for everyone. Heavy dramas can be too exhausting for me. I'm hoping that the forthcoming seasons of Homeland don't turn into a 24. Meaning, I get bored and stop watching. The 2011 Fall TV line up was the best in years. And I would like to thank networks, writers, creators for bringing TV back to awesome. Even though Michael Scott left me, I still feel safe in NBC's Thursday night line-up. MidSeason shows are looking very promising too and I know I'll have plenty to say on those soon. As an added bonus, my husband has a few categories.
Rob's Favorite New Reboot Show 1. Thundercats
Rob's Most Disappointing Reboot Show 1. Transformers Prime
Rob's Favorite TV of the Year 1. Community 2. It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia 3. The League 4. Thundercats 5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars 6. Big Bang Theory 7. The Office 8. Up all Night 9. Cougar Town 10.How I Met Your Mother
How bout your thoughts. I'd love to read them. Bring it on. Also, check back soon to hear my scathing Best/Worst Movies of the Year!!!! I'm sure it will spark debate.
I miss double headers. Committing the whole day to a movie theater, eating theater food (nachos!) and drinking too much soda while I flit from movie to movie; those were the days.
However, Rob and I recently saw 2 movies in the same day! It wasn't really a double header cause we actually left the theater in between movies (he had some work and we have animals that need to potty). But damn, it was still fun especially cause we saw two good movies. The first was Mission Impossible 4 on the IMAX screen. This is such a "theater" movie. This movie should only exist in theaters. Bringing it down to your "home theater" is just wrong and indirectly abusive to the filmmakers. You just won't be experiencing the movie as it was intended! Which is in a Huge theater with a 1,000 story IMAX screen (I'm exaggerating). MI: 4 was such a fun roller coaster movie of action, wit, and Tom Cruise showing how amazingly well his body works at the age of 49! Say what you will about Tom, but when you enter the movie, let it go and just enjoy what that man has to offer: charisma, athletic prowess, and an ass made from the Greek Gods. He's perfect action, leading man material. All in all, the movie was down right fun. As my husband would say, "you don't order pizza and expect a steak." It is what it is.
The second movie of the day was Young Adult. Written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, which is the team that brought you Juno. Also, I just know that Diablo and I would make great friends. We would gossip about 90210 and the 80's and 90's while we drank too much and then we'd write a script about a murderous socialite named Bambie. *sigh* Young Adult is a movie that will be highly overlooked because its too much like real life that it's uncomfortable. Everything about it was a direct juxtapose to my MI:4 experience, right down to theater size. Charlize Theron stars in what I say is her career best performance (yes, better than Monster) as the completely unlikeable character Mavis Gary. Diablo Cody has written such a beautifully complex female character that my insides seer with pure envy and jealously. And like real life, the movie ends with no real convenient wrap up. There is no forced character moment of self revelations that makes the audience comfortable with the choices the character has made during the previous 90 minutes. It just is. The movie is a wonderful voyeuristic viewing into a life of a mid western 30 something woman who is unhappy with her life and with herself. I don't want to give you a plot point analysis of this movie, I just want you all to see it.
Golden Globes Nominations are out. What makes me happy? Madeline Stowe nominated for Revenge! And Homeland's nominations. (Expected, but it still pleases me!) What makes me ANgry? The complete LACK of nominations for Community. What confuses me? My Week with Marilyn is a Musical/Comedy??!!!?? What missed the mark? Ryan Gosling should be nominated for Drive. Instead he is nominated for Ides of March AND Crazy, Stupid, Love. WTF moment? Where are The Muppets?
Best Television Series Drama AMERICAN HORROR STORY
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
BOSS
GAME OF THRONES
HOMELAND
Best Television Series – Comedy/Musical NEW GIRL
ENLIGHTENED
EPISODES GLEE
MODERN FAMILY
Best Television Series – Miniseries/Movie CINEMA VERITE
DOWNTON ABBEY
THE HOUR
MILDRED PIERCE
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy/Musical Laura Dern, ENLIGHTENED Tina Fey, 30 ROCK
Laura Linney, THE BIG C Amy Poehler, PARKS AND RECREATION Zooey Deschanel, NEW GIRL
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy/Musical Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK
David Duchovny, CALIFORNICATION
Johnny Galecki, THE BIG BANG THEORY
Thomas Jane, HUNG
Matt LeBlanc, EPISODES
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama Claire Danes, HOMELAND
Mireille Enos, THE KILLING
Julianna Margulies, THE GOOD WIFE
Madeleine Stowe, REVENGE
Callie Thorne, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama Steve Buscemi, BOARDWALK EMPIRE
Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD
Kelsey Grammer, BOSS
Jeremy Irons, THE BORGIAS
Damian Lewis, HOMELAND
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Jessica Lange, AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Kelly MacDonald, BOARDWALK EMPIRE
Maggie Smith, DOWNTON ABBEY Sofia Vergara, MODERN FAMILY Evan Rachel Wood, MILDRED PIERCE
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Peter Dinklage, GAME OF THRONES Paul Giamatti, TOO BIG TO FAIL
Guy Pearce, MILDRED PIERCE
Tim Robbins, CINEMA VERITE
Eric Stonestreet, MODERN FAMILY
Best Drama The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse
Best Comedy/Musical 50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn
Best Animated Film Rango
The Adventures of Tintin
Puss in Boots
Winnie the Pooh
Arthur Christmas
Best Actor in a Drama George Clooney, The Descendants
Brad Pitt, Money Ball Ryan Gosling, The IDes of March
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris
Best Supporting Actor Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Best Actress in a Drama Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Jodie Foster, Carnage Charlize Theron, Young Adult Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn Kate Winslet, Carnage
Best Director Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Yes, I maybe the only person to say it, I hated Hugo. Rage against me, but hear my thoughts. In what is an ode to the original film making/filmmaker became a disjointedly long and boring film that is NOT for the young in heart or age. Earlier this year Woody Allen released Midnight in Paris, which is an ode to Paris and storytelling through literature. I smiled the entire movie. I left the theater feeling inspired and a need to create and write and move to Paris! It's a refreshing film. Hugo did none of this. It made me uncomfortably angry and bored. I ask those who have 'enjoyed' this film if you could actually sit through it again? Could you? COULD you really? The first half of Hugo is about a boy who fixes clocks. Put me alone in a room with only the ticking of a clock and insanity will consume me. But, I digress. The last part of Hugo is about George Melies, one of the original film makers. How do the two halves combine? Um. Well, by a robot made of clock pieces that when wound up draws Melies' Trip to the Moon. example here :
Also, Hugo takes place in Paris. And there's two kids and some dogs. And a train station. My discombobulated sentences and thoughts mirror that of the movie. Hugo was masturbatory and pretentious and again, Boring. I can't imagine a kid actually sitting through this PG rated movie. I could hardly sit through this movie and I LOVE films!
Have you ever been in an Art class room setting where the professor loves an advance student's piece of work so much, but you don't understand the brilliance or beauty what so ever? But, the professor goes on and on about this student's work as a whole, but not about the actual piece that sits in front of you. This is how I feel. Reviews about Hugo honor Scorese for his ode to film preservation through 3D and other technical aspects. But I ask this, "Where's the interesting story that moves each scene along and keeps me fascinated by character's choices?" I mentioned Allen's Midnight in Paris earlier because I think these two film's should be compared to each other for the sole reason that they are both in honor of storytelling; one in literature, one in film. I believe Allen far exceeded Scorese. And I make this statement, "If Hugo wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards, I will Never Ever watch or believe in the merit of the Academy." Hugo isn't a bad technical piece of movie making. No. It shows advances, like that of Melies. I always ask myself, " In ten years, will this movie live up to the hype? Will it still be great? Will it still move me?" I answered NO. Midnight in Paris will be available on DVD December 20. Save your money and just go buy that DVD, I promise that you'll have more fun.
as quoted from the very reliable source of wikipedia:
In late 2010, Billboard published an article stating that Apple was planning on releasing a new album in spring 2011, with musician Michelle Branch having claimed to have heard some of the new tracks by Apple.[30] As of November 2011, the fourth album had yet to be released.[30]
On November 23, 2011, an online article from a well known blogger
quoted an exchange between Apple and Jon Brion during a show at the
Largo Coronet in Los Angeles. When a member of the audience requested
Apple to perform new material, the singer announced to the crowd, "I
can't remember [how to play] any of my new songs because they've been
done for a fucking year," to which Brion was quoted as replying, "[It's]
not her fault!"[31]
There once was a Canadian TV show called Instant Star. The show revolved around Jude Harrison, a young teenager who wins an American Idol - like show. She becomes an 'Instant Star'. The show follows her as she makes albums and grows up, falls in and out of love, etc. Every episode had lots of singing. It lasted 4 glorious seasons before getting the axe, but it stole my heart for eternity. From that show emerged Alexz Johnson aka Jude Harrison. I'm deeply in love with Alexz's voice. She has released a couple of albums, but never truly found commercial success. She has just released a new song and a new video. This song, if marketed right, could be huge. It's a sweet, sad ballad that pulls at the tear strings and emotional baggage that we all carry about. The video is almost great. The low production cost is very noticeable, but Alexz carries the song. I especially love music videos in which the artist sings the lyrics as if it were real words. I know that at least my BFF, Nic will love this song. Cause damn it, "my hearts not a skipping stone." (those are lyrics :)) Here's a link to the video. Or you can listen to the song below :) Check out her YouTube Page Or her Home Page to download the song for FREE!!
Here the lyrics :)
Skipping Stone
I took in the most that I could
I never imagined that I would be feeling so misunderstood
I’m just following lines
You race in my mind like a car
You’ve beaten my heart so damn farther
And now I’ve been pacing the wall
You’re under my hood
Never thought I could love you no never
Never thought that I would
Ever try to be anything better
My heart’s beating better alone
And if it is broke why let you know?
This heart’s not your skipping stone
If I’m sinking water than why even bother
Just leave it alone
This heart’s not your skipping stone
So maybe I should settle down
Find a new man let him throw my whole world around
All his blueberry lies
I know there isn’t a rule
Was left in the dust never taught in school
I’m a lovesick fool
Never knew that you could just hold me hostage
I’m losing my cool
Through the pain somehow don’t want you to stop it
My heart’s beating better alone
And if it is broke why let you know?
This heart’s not your skipping stone
If I’m sinking water than why even bother
Leave it alone
This hearts not your skipping stone
All the time
I never let you in
Was a lie
I wasn’t letting you win
And all the days
You let me cry
Was a lie
My heart’s beating better alone
And if it is broke why let you know?
This heart’s not your skipping stone
If I’m sinking water than why even bother
Just leave it alone
And if it is broke why let you know?
This heart’s not your skipping stone
If I’m sinking water why even bother?
Just leave me alone
This hearts not your skipping stone
The very long awaited trailer for Cabin in the Woods. I've anxiously been awaiting this movie and I have no idea what has taken so long for release, but by God, I'm happy it's near. (release date is April 2012). Written by the Genius minds of Joss Wheadon (Buffy!!!) and Drew Goddard (Buffy, Angel, Lost) this movie is sure to be unabashedly Awesome. Watch the trailer. Also, watch the WHOLE trailer. This is NOT your typical dumb horror movie.
The Bad?
It's December. Oscar movies are making the rounds. Great movies are just waiting to be seen, such as: My Week with Marilyn, Young Adult, A Dangerous Method, The Artist, The Descendants, We Need to Talk about Kevin, Shame. What's playing at my local cineplex?None of the above. I've had a little free time, but have I gone to the theater? NO. Why? Cause I don't want to see family friendly happy holidays penguins vampires sitting on New Year's Eve part 2. Disappointment abounds.
The Ugly?
Some nitwit has decided because of Occupy Wall Street that it's a great idea to remake American Psycho and set it in present day. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. Oh! And for the microbudget of $2 million. I can already say it will suck. Stop fucking with Classics! I don't see painter's re-making the Mona Lisa. Studio's should stop. Become original. Hire new people. Like me :)
Mtv has a new show premiering in January called Caged. I was lucky enough to work on the show for a few days, but my husband worked the entire show. It looks pretty damn good.
Click here to watch the trailer! I hope you all tune in on January 9th to watch. It should be drama filled and just dang interesting! Below is a still photo. HERE is trailer.
I'm about to talk about last night's episode of Glee. If you have not watched it yet, then stop reading now. SPOILERS ahead. The episode was filled with so much sugar that it made me a little nauseous. This first half of season 3 has had its up and downs for me. Mostly ups. But this episode.... Let's start with why New Directions won over the other two glee clubs. Ready. New Directions sang 3 songs to the others 1 song. Makes no sense. Mike Chang's father finally sees his sons potential through those performances and miraculously changes his point of view, allowing his child to pursue his dream. Very Hallmark moment. Barf moment. That story line has repeatedly made me tear up and then they go and wrap it up so nice and tidy and blah blah blah.... Quinn finally showed some singing sass with the opening of Janet Jackson's Control, but then only sang back up. Lame. If that song is to represent her change, then let her damn well sing it. The ending was a bad Fame moment of hugging and laughing and singing, which generally I love, but this felt strangely forced and like an over sweetened chocolate pie that is inedible. There is another episode before Christmas break, but damn it, it's a Christmas episode. I'm sure only Christmas songs will be sang and I'm sorry world, not a huge fan of Christmas songs. All in all, I was left unsatisfied and feeling guilty, and not the kinda of lovely guilt that accompanies such programs as Gossip Girl. (Which, bravo GG, you are rocking this season out! Love you)
Anybody else feeling a little empty from last night's episode? Bah humbug.
Anybody watch Lady Gaga's 14 minute long music video for Marry the Night?It's directed by Gaga I do believe and its.....14 minutes long. I watched it all. I like the subtle nods to Flashdance and Madonna. And the opening monologue. Besides that, I get a bit lost. It's like being privy to somebodies fucked up dream. Nobody really wants to hear about dreams over lunch or a cocktail much less see it, right? Evidently I'm wrong, cause the video has almost 10 million hits. So be a sheep and watch it too, I guess. OH. I'm hoping the video is Gaga's way of killing her latest persona and allowing space for something new. But, I'm probably just hoping for simple. I wonder if Lady Gaga can give us simple. There is often beauty in simplicity.
Once upon a time I had a stick up my ass about Coldplay and Rihanna. I just deeply disliked both. Chris Martin was a whiny Brit and Rihanna was too pretty to look at. Then life and love happened and I'm currently obsessed with two songs. 1. Princess of China by Coldplay ft. Rihanna 2. We Found a Love by Rihanna
Crazy how what we hated eventually turns into love. It's a thin red line between the two, right? But, what do I know? I used to hate sunny days and long for only rain. Now, I prefer the sun. I blame age and the loss of teenage angst. Back to my obsessive song loves. You should check out Rihanna's video for We Found a Love. I found a love when I watched it. I'm always happy when a music video features a strong story line. This does and I think it's all pretty. p.s. the video has over 67 million views on youtube. Damn.
My other momentary love I mentioned doesn't have a video, but it should. Check out the song though!
