Happy Birthday, John Turturro!

Today we're celebrating the 55th birthday of actor John Turturro. Turturro made his first appearance in a feature film in an uncredited role in 1980's Raging Bull, but it wasn't until the 1984 film The Flamingo Kid that he played a credited and named character. He worked consistently through the 1980s, appearing in such iconic films as Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Do the Right Thing (1989), but it wasn't until the early 1990s that he truly started to gain recognition. Turturro starred in two Coen brothers films - 1990's Miller's Crossing and 1991's Barton Fink - and these collaborations started a great relationship between the actor and the directing brothers, who have re-cast him in some of their other films, including 1998's The Big Lebowski and 2000's O Brother, Where Art Thou? Since then, Turturro has made appearances in films like 2003's Anger Management opposite Adam Sandler and 2004's Secret Window opposite Johnny Depp, as well as having a recurring supporting role in the Transformers trilogy. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2011's Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and they'll next be able to see him in 2012's Gods Behaving Badly. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of John Turturro's performances. I hope you enjoy the list! Once again, happy birthday, John Turturro!

5. Chuck
Anger Management (2003)


***

4. Jesus Quintana
The Big Lebowski (1998)


***

3. Pete
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)


***

2. Barton Fink
Barton Fink (1991)


***

1. John Shooter
Secret Window (2004)

Reaction: The 84th Academy Awards Winners

And now, the Academy Awards have ended, leaving the public applauding some winners and scratching their heads over others. And so, I've taken the time to break down each of the categories, talking about who won and why. I did not watch the ceremony on television, so I can't necessarily speak about Billy Crystal's performance as host or for the dresses or anything like that. I just know the winners, and that's what I'll be talking about. For those of you who were following along with my Oscar predictions, you might be happy to know that I correctly predicted sixteen of the twenty-one categories where I made picks.

(Also, for your viewing pleasure, don't forget to check out my "Top 10 Films of 2011" list as well as my personal "Best of 2011" awards.)

*****

Best Short Film, Live Action: The Shore
Because I'm not familiar with the short films, I did not make a prediction as to which of them would win; I also don't really have anything to say about them.

Best Short Film, Animated: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
(See: Best Short Film, Live Action.)

Best Documentary, Short Subjects: Saving Face
(See: Best Short Film, Live Action.)

Best Documentary, Features: Undefeated
I went into this category a little blind, having not seen any of the nominated films, so I took a wild guess and went with Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory based on the fact that the Producers Guild had nominated it at their awards ceremony. What I didn't take into account was the fact that the Academy is a sucker for underdog stories, which is exactly what Undefeated is. It was critically acclaimed, but audiences have been less than thrilled by the film, but I guess the Academy decided to side with the critics here.

Best Visual Effects: Hugo
This might be the biggest surprise of the night, for me. I fully expected the Academy to honor the motion capture technology that brought Caesar to life in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, especially after the massive push to get Andy Serkis an acting nomination for his work on the role. Still, I have to applaud Hugo, my personal top film of the year, for taking another award, but I am still a bit flabbergasted.

Best Sound Editing: Hugo
I had this one pegged from the start. Hugo had been cleaning up in this category at previous awards ceremonies, so there was no reason to think the Academy wouldn't salute it here as well.

Best Sound Mixing: Hugo
(See: Sound Editing.)

Best Original Song: "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets
This is probably the category I was most excited to see, if only because I was a little sad that The Muppets didn't receive more than just its one nomination here. Still, I'm glad to see it take the award, even if it was in an incredibly easy category.

Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource for The Artist
Taking on big-time composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer couldn't have been easy, but Bource has already received quite a bit of praise for his score for The Artist. Would I have liked to see someone else win? Sure, but I can applaud Bource for his effort.

Best Makeup: The Iron Lady
After picking up a couple wins here and there, I thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 might take home the award, but I was also very wary of The Iron Lady's ability to steal this one as well. If anything, I think the fact that Harry Potter, a well-received audience pleaser, lost to a sub-par drama goes to show that the Academy is still a bit set in their ways. It might be a few years before they'll actually start to recognize big-budget flicks, no matter how good they might be.

Best Costume Design: The Artist
This category is generally dominated by British period pieces, but it might have been a little too muddled with them this year. After Jane Eyre, Anonymous and W.E. all received nominations int this category, I had a feeling The Artist would swoop in and steal the award. And that's exactly what happened.

Best Art Direction: Hugo
(See: Best Sound Editing.)

Best Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I would have been shocked had they not thrown this one to David Fincher's film, even if there were some fantastic films nominated against it. This just seemed like the right choice from the start, and you knew it had to win an award somewhere.

Best Cinematography: Hugo
I'm a little miffed by this one, to be honest. Hugo hadn't won this category at any of the major awards, and I personally thought it would get thrown to either The Tree of Life, War Horse or The Artist. I can see where the merit lies, but I don't know whether this was the right decision by the Academy. Still, it gave Hugo five Oscar statuettes, so that's gotta count for something.

Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
A Separation was nominated in other categories as well as this one, making it the front-runner. This one's no surprise.

Best Animated Film: Rango
With the omission of The Adventures of Tintin from this category's list of nominees, this was Rango's award to lose. That being said, I still think Rango might have taken the award even if Tintin had been included. But that's just me.

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Despite stiff competition, I figured this category - not Best Actor - was the best chance The Descendants had to take home an Oscar statuette. And the fact that it beat out Hugo here helped spell Hugo's doom in the larger categories.

Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
You can never count Woody Allen out of any Oscar race, and the fact that Midnight in Paris had been dominating in this category at previous awards only helped cement its chances of taking home the Academy Award as well. Still, it had to beat out The Artist, so that has to be commended.

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
When Hazanavicius took the award for Best Director, it all but sealed The Artist's fate to take home Best Picture. Had Martin Scorsese managed to steal this award, we might have had a bit of drama going into the final award announcement, but alas, it didn't happen.

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer for The Help
Despite doing battle against co-star Jessica Chastain, Spencer managed to receive enough votes to win in a category that was lacking in real depth. Still, that can't take away from her fantastic performance in one of the more moving films of the year.

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer for Beginners
I called my prediction of Christopher Plummer in this category the safest bet at this year's Academy Award, and it did not disappoint. To see anyone else take home the award would have been the biggest upset of the night.

Best Actress: Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady
I honestly thought Viola Davis would find a way to take home this award, but the star power of Meryl Streep is just too strong. Even though she starred in a film that was lightyears behind The Help, her performance was strong enough to sway Academy voters. Still, I couldnt't help but whisper favoritism through the halls after this one was announced.

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin for The Artist
At the end of the night, I thought this category would be the biggest predictor as to what film might win Best Picture. If George Clooney managed to nab this award, I think it would have opened the way for Hugo to take the Best Picture steal. However, when Dujardin rightfully won Best Actor, it was essentially guaranteed that The Artist would walk home with Best Picture.

Best Picture: The Artist
And it did. Although I personally don't think it was the best film of the year, I have to applaud The Artist for all of the accolades it has managed to win this year.

*****

I'd like to congratulate all of the winners and all of the nominees as well. I can't wait for next year's Academy Awards!

Top 10 Films of 2011

The year is 2011, and a lot has happened in the movie world. To help take you back in time, here's a look back at some of the film-related events that took place:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 becomes the year's highest-grossing film, earning over $1.32 billion at the worldwide box office.

The world loses the likes of Anne Francis, Pete Postlethwaite, Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Lumet and Frances Bay.

I've been able to see 101 films released in 2011, and from those, I've compiled my own top ten list. As one can imagine, some great films had to be left off the final list. Here's a look at some of the movies (listed alphabetically) that just missed the cut:

Crazy, Stupid, Love.
The Descendants
The Help
The Ides of March
Warrior

But enough about the runners-up; here's the list you've been waiting to see! Counting down from number ten to number one, I've listed each film and have given the principal cast list as well as if and how fared at the Academy Awards. Also, I've listed the film's rank on my "Best Films of All-Time" list, if applicable. So without any further delay, here's my top ten movies of 2011!

*****

10. The Muppets
Rated: PG
Directed by: James Bobin
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
All-Time Ranking: 123
***
I remember watching some of the older Muppets films as a child, but it wasn't until I started to grow in my Disney fanaticism that I truly began to enjoy all the Muppets had to offer. So when a new Muppets film was announced and slated for release, I knew I had to see it as soon as I could. We're getting a story about reunions and about fighting to reclaim something once held dear in the past, and the film manages to bring back the magic of the old with the social issues of today. And, with dozens of familiar faces along the way, the film holds a true sentimentality that makes it easy to love.

*****

9. 50/50
Rated: R
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston
All-Time Ranking: 88
***
As Joseph Gordon-Levitt slowly makes his way further into the limelight, I am pleased to see that the general public is learning something I've known for years: he's an absolutely brilliant actor. With a desirable acting range, Gordon-Levitt is starting to become a big-time Hollywood force, and 50/50 marks the next step on his path. He takes the dramatic comedy genre and runs with it, offering a slew of laughs with his comedy but also breaking our hearts with deep, emotional scenes that cut us to the core. While the rest of the cast fills out wonderfully, this is really Gordon-Levitt's film, and boy does he do a fantastic job.

*****

8. Carnage
Rated: R
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Starring: Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet
All-Time Ranking: 87
***
I saw Carnage on a bit of a whim, having only heard little bits about it in the months leading up to its release. With a main cast of only four individuals, the film manages to create a legitimate amount of tension as it takes us through a roller coaster of emotions, all while remaining bitingly hilarious. Foster and Winslet are at the top of their games, and Waltz does well in his performance, too. Reilly is a little bit of an odd choice here, but he manages to at least keep up with the rest of the Academy Award-winning cast, so I suppose that says a lot. Polanski does a fine job directing, and although this film won't be for everyone, I personally thought it was the funnier movies I'd seen in recent years.

*****

7. The Tree of Life
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Terrence Malick
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Sean Penn
Academy Awards: 3 nominations
***
It took me two viewings, but I finally found a way to garner a bit of respect for - and understanding of - this film. My first time through, all I could do was sit and scratch my head, wondering exactly what was going on. It took that second viewing to let the film sink into my head, and what I found was a beautiful piece about growing up with two drastically different forces driving you in different directions. We're getting parallel stories of the creation of life on Earth and the formation of a teenage boy being raised in the 1950s, and once it all comes together, there's something majestic and mysterious about this film that only heightens its beauty. This film probably stands the most chance to become a classic.

*****

6. Super 8
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths
All-Time Ranking: 86
***
When I walked out of the movie theater after watching Super 8, all I could think was, "This is what movies are all about." Abrams thrust his audience back into a 1980s-type sci-fi adventure that hearkens quite a bit to E.T. more than anything else. However, he found a way to make Super 8 its own film, and although there are some holes and flaws here and there, it still manages to be something truly fantastic. Cemented by a strong cast, including an exceptional Elle Fanning, this movie manages to soar.

*****

5. Drive
Rated: R
Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
All-Time Ranking: 83
***
It takes a little while for this movie to get to you, but once it finally grabs hold, it's not going to let go. It's effectively an action film, but it's an arthouse film as well, and the blend of the two is going to turn a lot of people away. It has action, but it's not action in the manner of these big budget, over-the-top adventures where everything blows up and shoot-outs last for ages. Instead, Drive is real-world and gritty and offers a believable story that's executed perfectly. Gosling is a revelation in the lead, and how he hasn't received more accolades for the performance is a travesty. The rest of the cast fills out nicely, with special mention of Brooks and Cranston who both steal every scene in which they appear.

*****

4. The Adventures of Tintin
Rated: PG
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
***
Since I saw and reviewed Tintin, I've been swaying back and forth as to whether it's really this good, but for the time being, it's going to stay in its number four slot. Spielberg takes his audience back into 1930s serial mode, so it's no wonder that this film feels like an animated incarnation of an Indiana Jones flick. We're getting a decent mystery from the screenplay, and the animation is so stellar that it's going to suck in you in from the start. At the very least, The Adventures of Tintin is a beautifully-crafted film that's going to wow you visually regardless of how you feel about the rest of the film.

*****

3. Rango
Rated: PG
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant, Ray Winstone
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
All-Time Ranking: 66
***
I had been excited to see the first reunion of Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp since 2007's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, even if it going to be an animated film. The trailers made Rango look trippier than it actually was, but the final result of a film is something truly outstanding. I remember seeing a billboard for the film with the review, "Some kind of miracle," and I couldn't agree more. It brings a bit of twenty-first century ideology to the classic westerns of years past, mashing them together in a brilliant display of animation.

*****

2. The Artist
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Missi Pyle
Academy Awards: 10 nominations
***
The Artist has been the awards darling over the past month, and it looks like it should fare well at this year's Academy Awards. Director Hazanavicius does well with the silent film, bringing the best out of his cast while maintaining the tone and feel of a silent film. Dujardin is simply fantastic as our lead, showing why silent film actors had such a difficult job of "acting" when they were not allowed to be heard. The Artist is a timely film, but can we already call it "timeless?" I think the jury's still a bit out on that one, but one thing's for sure: it's definitely a very strong film that's worthy of your attention.

*****

1. Hugo
Rated: PG
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Helen McCrory, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Blunt
Academy Awards: 11 nominations
All-Time Ranking: 27
***
If any film completely blew me out of the water in 2011, it was Hugo. The trailers purport a story of a boy who is trying to find his place in the world, all the while struggling to find someone who will love him and care for him. What the trailers don't tell you is that they only really give you the first half of the film. Right around the midway point, the storyline shifts from the boy and starts to focus on an old man named Georges Méliès, one of the grandfathers of cinema. We're then whisked through the man's life, showing a number of his former creations as he himself starts to re-live those past memories. One of the people following this page called Hugo "a love letter to cinema," and I couldn't agree more. This is a film that any cinephile absolutely needs to see. Simply beautiful.

Movie Awards: BEST OF 2011

And so, after quite a bit of deliberation, I am able to bring you my nominees for the "Best of 2011" Awards. Below, you'll find thirty separate categories encompassing a broad spectrum of films. The nominees have been taken from the 101 films released in 2011 that I've been able to see thus far.

And so, I present to you my personal "Best of 2011" award nominations. The winners will be announced this Saturday, February 25, so be on the watch!

*****

Best Animation
Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Puss in Boots
Rango
Winnie the Pooh

Winner: The Adventures of Tintin

*****

Best Visual Effects
Nominees:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Winner: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

*****

Best Original Song
Nominees:
Jamie Foxx for "Fly Love," Rio
Jason Segel & Peter Linz for "Man or Muppet," The Muppets
Los Lobos for "Rango Theme Song," Rango
Mary J. Blige for "The Living Proof," The Help
Zooey Deschanel for "So Long," Winnie the Pooh

Winner: Jason Segel & Peter Linz

*****

Best Original Score
Nominees:
Alexandre Desplat, The Tree of Life
Hans Zimmer, Rango
John Williams, War Horse
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Thomas Newman, The Help

Winner: Alexandre Desplat

*****

Best Cameo or Brief Appearance
Nominees:
Adrien Brody, Midnight in Paris
Jim Parsons, The Muppets
Jude Law, Hugo
Kristen Bell, Scream 4
Sean Penn, The Tree of Life

Winner: Adrien Brody

*****

Best Young Actor
Nominees:
Alex Shaffer, Win Win
Amara Miller, The Descendants
Elle Fanning, Super 8
Hunter McCracken, The Tree of Life
Saoirse Ronan, Hanna

Winner: Elle Fanning

*****

Best Villain
Nominees:
Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help
Chris Cooper, The Muppets
David Hyde Pierce, The Perfect Host
Kevin Spacey, Horrible Bosses
Stellan Skarsgård, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Winner: David Hyde Pierce

*****

Best Vocal Performance
Nominees:
Andy Serkis, The Adventures of Tintin
Bill Nighy, Arthur Christmas
John Cleese, Winnie the Pooh
Johnny Depp, Rango
Seth Rogen, Paul 

Winner: Johnny Depp


*****

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy
Nominees:
Analeigh Tipton, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Anjelica Huston, 50/50
Jennifer Aniston, Horrible Bosses
Marion Cotillard, Midnight in Paris
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids 

Winner: Jennifer Aniston


*****

Best Supporting Actress, Drama
Nominees:
Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life
Judi Dench, Jane Eyre
Judy Greer, The Descendants
Mélanie Laurent, Beginners
Octavia Spencer, The Help 

Winner: Octavia Spencer


*****

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy
Nominees:
Alex Shaffer, Win Win
Chris Cooper, The Muppets
Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris
John Goodman, The Artist
Kevin Spacey, Horrible Bosses 

Winner: Chris Cooper


*****

Best Supporting Actor, Drama
Nominees:
Albert Brooks, Drive
Ben Kingsley, Hugo
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Paul Giamatti, The Ides of March

Winner: Brad Pitt


*****

Best Actress, Comedy
Nominees:
Amy Adams, The Muppets
Anna Kendrick, 50/50
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Emma Stone, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Kate Winslet, Carnage 

Winner: Kate Winslet


*****

Best Actress, Drama
Nominees:
Carey Mulligan, Drive
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Viola Davis, The Help 

Winner: Viola Davis


*****

Best Actor, Comedy
Nominees:
Charlie Day, Horrible Bosses
Christoph Waltz, Carnage
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love. 

Winner: Jean Dujardin


*****

Best Actor, Drama
Nominees:
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Clooney, The Descendants
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Tom Hardy, Warrior 

Winner: Ryan Gosling


*****

Best Director
Nominees:
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Roman Polanski, Carnage
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life 

Winner: Nicolas Winding Refn


*****

Best Screenplay, Comedy
Nominees:
Dan Fogelman, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Jason Segel & Nicholas Stoller, The Muppets
John Logan, Rango
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Roman Polanski & Yasmina Reza, Carnage 

Winner: Michel Hazanavicius


*****

Best Screenplay, Drama
Nominees:
Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish & Steven Moffat, The Adventures of Tintin
Hossein Amini, Drive
J.J. Abrams, Super 8
John Logan, Hugo
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Winner: John Logan


*****

Best Cast, Vocal
Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Rango
Rio
Winnie the Pooh 

Winner: Rango


*****

Best Cast, Comedy

Nominees:
50/50
The Artist
Carnage
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
The Muppets

Winner: Carnage


*****

Best Cast, Drama

Nominees:
Drive
Hugo
Super 8
The Tree of Life
Warrior

Winner: Drive


*****

Best Documentary

Nominees:
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
Conan O'Brien Can't Stop
Project Nim

Winner: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey


*****

Best Foreign Film

Nominees:
13 Assassins
Winner: 13 Assassins


*****

Best Animated Film

Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Puss in Boots
Rango
Winnie the Pooh

Winner: Rango


*****

Best Horror/Thriller

Nominees:
Attack the Block
Rubber
Scream 4
Super 8
Tucker and Dale vs Evil

Winner: Super 8


*****

Best Action/Adventure

Nominees:
Hanna
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Source Code
X-Men: First Class

Winner: Hanna


*****

Best Comedy

Nominees:
50/50
The Artist
Carnage
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
The Muppets

Winner: The Artist


*****

Best Drama

Nominees:
The Descendants
Drive
Hugo
The Tree of Life
Warrior

Winner: Hugo


*****

Best Picture of the Year

Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
Rango

Winner: Hugo

Top 10 Films of 2010

The year is 2010, and a lot has happened in the movie world. To help take you back in time, here's a look back at some of the film-related events that took place:

Toy Story 3 becomes the year's highest-grossing film, earning over $1.06 billion at the worldwide box office.
The King's Speech wins the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as three other awards, including Best Director (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth) and Best Original Screenplay.

The world loses the likes of Zelda Rubinstein, Peter Graves, John Forsythe, Gary Coleman, Dennis Hopper, Rue McClanahan and Leslie Nielsen.

I've been able to see 132 films released in 2010, and from those, I've compiled my own top ten list. As one can imagine, some great films had to be left off the final list. Here's a look at some of the movies (listed alphabetically) that just missed the cut:

Easy A
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Nowhere Boy
The Town
Toy Story 3

But enough about the runners-up; here's the list you've been waiting to see! Counting down from number ten to number one, I've listed each film and have given the principal cast list as well as if and how fared at the Academy Awards. Also, I've listed the film's rank on my "Best Films of All-Time" list, if applicable. So without any further delay, here's my top ten movies of 2010!

*****

10. Blue Valentine
Rated: R
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Faith Wladyka, John Doman
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
All-Time Ranking: 132
***
Originally rated NC-17, Blue Valentine gained some much-desired publicity after a very public effort to reduce the rating down to a more reasonable R. As a result, I was able to see the film in theaters, and I was thoroughly surprised by just how good it was. It's a strange film that leaves you feeling a little bit strange and a lotta bit dirty, but the performances by Gosling and Williams, who received an Academy Award nomination for her work, as so darn good that it's hard not to like this movie to some degree. You're not going to like the story, and you're probably not going to like the characters, but you can easily appreciate the talent level of the actors bringing those characters to life. Just be ready for a very awkward film that proves to be brilliantly beautiful at the same time.

*****

9. Tangled
Rated: PG
Directed by: Byron Howard, Nathan Greno
Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, Jeffrey Tambor, Brad Garrett
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
All-Time Ranking: 130
***
I'm going to get a lot of grief about placing Tangled ahead of Toy Story 3, but I had to go with the original fare over another sequel, no matter how good it might have been (I scored the films in the same way). Disney's first foray into the concept of a three-dimensional princess tale proved to be much better than anyone probably expected, and although it may take a little time for it to turn into a Disney classic, it's still offered quite a few memorable moments, like the song "I See the Light." It's a magical tale and deserves recognition alongside the former Disney princess tales.

*****

8. The King's Speech
Rated: R
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce
Academy Awards: 12 nominations, 4 wins
All-Time Ranking: 129
***
The eventual Best Picture winner, there truly was a lot to like about The King's Speech. From the moment I saw the film's first trailer the summer before its release, I was calling it the front-runner in the Best Picture race, and it offered everything necessary to win the award. It has a great screenplay, and it's cemented by stellar acting performances from Firth and Rush, and even Bonham Carter manages to make a few memorable moments. Although I don't agree that it was the best film of 2010, I still highly recommend this film and think it should be seen by any cinephile.

*****

7. The Social Network
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara, Armie Hammer
Academy Awards: 8 nominations, 3 wins
All-Time Ranking: 128
***
The Social Network was the film that gave The King's Speech the biggest run for its money, and I personally thought it was a better film, if only slightly better. I thought Eisenberg did a great job as the lead, and I was blown away by Armie Hammer's dual portrayal of the antagonistic twins, but it really came down to Fincher's direction that made this film so great. He was able to establish a specific tone and feel from the outset, and it carries through the entire film. It's this tone that truly makes the film something special; the acting and all that is ancillary in comparison.

*****

6. Get Low
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Aaron Schneider
Starring: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black
All-Time Ranking: 126
***
Get Low was a little film released over the summer that I'm sure not many people had the opportunity to see. It featured a stellar performance by Robert Duvall as an old hermit who was well-feared around the nearby communities. As he finds himself approaching his death, the hermit enlists an undertaker to set up a living funeral for him so that he can hear the stories that people tell as well as give his own life story in the hopes that those who have feared him for years will finally be able to understand him. It's a quiet and beautifully-crafted tale, and Duvall's character's final story of his life is heart-wrenching, to say the least. This one's going to pull at the heartstrings.

*****

5. The Kids Are All Right
Rated: R
Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko
Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Ruffalo
Academy Awards: 4 nominations
All-Time Ranking: 113
***
A quirky, offbeat dramatic comedy centered around a lesbian couple and their children, The Kids Are All Right offers quite the character study of a number of characters throughout the course of the film. The central two arcs lie with Bening and Moore's characters, but we're also getting some interesting arcs from the supporting actors in Wasikowska and Hutcherson, who simply want to have some sort of relationship with their biological father. It's a strange tale fueled by a strange familial situation, but for whatever reason, the film works and proves to be both funny and heart-warming.

*****

4. Waking Sleeping Beauty
Rated: PG
Directed by: Don Hahn
All-Time Ranking: 70
***
This one is probably more of a personal pleasure than anything else, but I found it to be a well-crafted documentary that was able to stir my emotions. It tells the story of Disney Animation from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, showing how the studio was able to break out of a slump and enter into their "Renaissance" period with films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. It's an impassioned story about the men and women who worked day and night to bring Disney animation back to its former glory, and you get a real sense of accomplishment as you watch them work. This is an absolute must-see for any Disney fan.


*****

3. 127 Hours
Rated: R
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Franco, Clémence Poésy
Academy Awards: 6 nominations
All-Time Ranking: 51
***
I actually saw this film at an advance screening a few months before it was released to the public, and I was absolutely blown away by the power that the film held. Franco gives a tour-de-force performance as Aron Ralston, the man who's arm became trapped underneath a rock as he hiked in Utah. Anyone familiar with Ralston's story will know how the film will end, and yet, there's still no way to prepare yourself for this climactic moments. However, it's the time Ralston spends stuck in the canyon that really makes this film, as we see Franco slowly drift into delirium and madness. A truly remarkable spectacle.

*****

2. Inception
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine
Academy Awards: 8 nominations, 4 wins
All-Time Ranking: 42
***
I had been waiting for Inception since I first heard bits and pieces of the cast list over a year prior, and when I finally sat down and watched it on opening day, I thought it was the greatest film I had ever seen. I loved it so much that I went to see it again the following day, and I was further impressed by the screenplay and storyline. A few months later, I purchased the DVD and watched the film a third time, and I started to see a few holes here and there, but Inception still has enough bravado and originality to keep it as one of the better films released in the past few years. Nolan cements himself as a creative genius with this one.

*****

1. Black Swan
Rated: R
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder
Academy Awards: 5 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 23
***
In my movie-watching lifetime, I have only been rendered speechless by three films. The first was the iconic 1972 film, The Godfather, the second was 2007's No Country for Old Men and the third was Black Swan. Everything about the film was firing on all cylinders, from the pitch-perfect acting to the perfectly-crafted screenplay that parallels the storyline of Swan Lake with the story that Portman's character is living. It's this parallel that makes the film all the more powerful, and when the film's final credits began to roll, I simply couldn't find the words to express how I felt. This is Aronofsky's masterpiece.

Top 10 Films of 2009

The year is 2009, and a lot has happened in the movie world. To help take you back in time, here's a look back at some of the film-related events that took place:

The Academy announces that their Best Picture field will now hold ten nominees, marking the first time the category has had more than five nominees since 1943.

Avatar becomes the year's highest-grossing film, earning over $2.78 billion at the worldwide box office.
The Hurt Locker wins the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as five other awards, including Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow) and Best Original Screenplay.

The world loses the likes of Patrick McGoohan, Natasha Richardson, Bea Arthur, Dom DeLuise, David Carradine, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, John Hughes, Patrick Swayze and Brittany Murphy.

I've been able to see 130 films released in 2009, and from those, I've compiled my own top ten list. As one can imagine, some great films had to be left off the final list. Here's a look at some of the movies (listed alphabetically) that just missed the cut:

Away We Go
The Hurt Locker
Mary and Max
Paranormal Activity
Zombieland

But enough about the runners-up; here's the list you've been waiting to see! Counting down from number ten to number one, I've listed each film and have given the principal cast list as well as if and how fared at the Academy Awards. Also, I've listed the film's rank on my "Best Films of All-Time" list, if applicable. So without any further delay, here's my top ten movies of 2009!

*****

10. The Secret of Kells
Rated: Not Rated
Directed by: Nora Twomey, Tomm Moore
Starring: Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally
Academy Awards: 1 nomination
***
It took me a while to see this little Irish gem, but I have to say that it completely blew me away. From the highly original story to the beautifully-crafted animation, there's quite a bit to like about this film. We also get a clear sense of right versus wrong and good versus evil, and although this film does manage to delve into the darkness from time to time, there's always that beacon of light shining at the end of the tunnel. It's as emotionally and spiritually pleasing as it is visually astounding, and it's definitely worth a watch if you have the time.

*****

9. Up in the Air
Rated: R
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott, Danny McBride
Academy Awards: 6 nominations
***
While many people were citing the social issues that Up in the Air posed to its audiences, I was getting lost in the spellbinding performance by Mr. George Clooney. For the first time that I could remember, he was shedding that oh-so-famous Clooney bravado, instead offering a more sensitive and vulnerable character to whom we could actually relate. It started a trend that's carried over to his work since, and although he's complemented well by great turns from Farmiga and Kendrick - as well as spot-on cameos from Zach Galifianakis and J.K. Simmons - it's Clooney's performance that really makes this one worth watching.

*****

8. Up
Rated: PG
Directed by: Bob Peterson, Pete Docter
Starring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger
Academy Awards: 5 nominations, 2 wins
All-Time Ranking: 84
***
You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that leaves this sentimental Pixar classic off any top ten list, but I'm sure that I'm leaving a bit lower than most might expect. While I do accept its merit as a fantastic film, I don't think it's quite as good as other Pixar fare as WALL-E or Finding Nemo. The montage of Carl and Ellie's married life together is utterly spectacular, though, and it will always manage to bring tears to my eyes. It's arguably one of the greatest sequences of cinema I've ever seen, and I don't know whether that will change any time soon.

*****

7. Dark and Stormy Night
Rated: Larry Blamire
Directed by: Not Rated
Starring: Jim Beaver, Jennifer Blaire, Larry Blamire, Dan Conroy, Robert Deveau, Bruce French, Betty Garrett, Brian Howe, James Karen, Alison Martin, Fay Masterson, Susan McConnell, Kevin Quinn, Daniel Roebuck, Christine Romeo
All-Time Ranking: 72
***
From the people that brought us The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra comes a murder mystery in the same vein as 1985's Clue. Most of the cast from Cadavra is back, along with plenty of new faces to boot. Dark and Stormy Night offers a laugh a minute, and the pitch-perfect acting in this low-budget comedy only enhances the overall appeal. It's dorky in its own fantastic way, but it still manages to offer a decent, albeit rather predictable, twist.

*****

6. Brothers
Rated: R
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bailee Madison, Carey Mulligan
All-Time Ranking: 71
***
A few people may end up scratching their heads about the inclusion of this film, but let me explain. While it may not have been terribly well-received by the critic community as a whole, I personally found Brothers to be a very honest look at post-traumatic stress. Tobey Maguire gives the best performance of his career, and it's frightening how good he actually is. When his character finally cracks and he lets loose, it's a devastating sight to behold, and I have never felt emotions during a movie like the ones I felt while I watched Brothers. It's that good. Also be on the watch for the young Bailee Madison and her great supporting role.

*****

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Rated: PG
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson
Academy Awards: 2 nominations
All-Time Ranking: 63
***
Wes Anderson's first foray into the realm of animated cinema was a "fantastic" success. His stop-motion adaptation of the children's novel of the same name offers laugh after laugh while keeping that quirky tone and feel that all of Anderson's previous films have held. Aided by a stellar vocal cast, Fantastic Mr. Fox is definitely not a film anyone should miss. It was vastly underrated when it first hit theaters and was overshadowed by the computer-generated efforts released around it.

*****

4. Moon
Rated: R
Directed by: Duncan Jones
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey
All-Time Ranking: 41
***
I've been a fan of Sam Rockwell since I first saw him in 1999's Galaxy Quest, but he had never produced a performance that stood out as his best, or even one that could be considered career-defining. All that changed with Moon, a dramatic sci-fi flick that featured him and him alone. It tells the story of a man who works for a company that drills on the moon, but his solitary existence has finally gotten the best of him. We see the man delve into the depths of madness, and it's quite a sight to behold. Rockwell is utterly brilliant in the role, and he's aided by fantastic direction from first-time director Duncan Jones. Be on the watch for both of them in the future.

*****

3. Inglourious Basterds
Rated: R
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl
Academy Awards: 8 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 35
***
I had never been much a fan of Tarantino's work. I had seen Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill films, but none of them had ever truly moved me or stuck with me. And I don't want to say that all that changed with Inglourious Basterds, but this film was so damn good that it at least made me want to go back and re-watch Tarantino's previous efforts to see if I could earn a better understanding and respect for them. This screenplay is absolutely exceptional, and when you have actors like Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender bringing some of their finest work, you'll be hard-pressed not to find this one enjoyable.

*****

2. The Cove
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Louie Psihoyos
Academy Awards: 1 nomination, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 26
***
If there were ever a film that I think everyone should see, it would be The Cove. Easily one of the most brutal films I've ever seen, it's also one of the most honest and sincere stories about a group of people doing everything they can to stop something they find unjust and inhumane. The film talks about the dolphin slaughters that take place in Taiji, Japan, and the group of people involved are essentially working towards proving that these alleged slaughters are actually happening. Even though you know where you're headed, you're never really ready for what's going to take place on-screen, and if you're a lover of animals, it's going to destroy you. All that being said, however, I hold the fervent belief that everyone should see this film and be educated about the atrocities taking place. It may be a devastating experience to watch this film, but it's a necessary evil if it's going to call people to action.

*****

1. (500) Days of Summer
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz, Clark Gregg
All-Time Ranking: 25
***
When I first heard about (500) Days of Summer, the main draw point for me was the reunion of Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel on-screen for the first time since they had appeared in 2003's Manic together. What I actually got was one of the best romantic comedies I had ever seen, and I feel like it was geared more towards men than women. Because we're getting most of our information from the male perspective, the film offers a storyline opposite that of most rom-coms, and I think that's what made it so appealing to me. I've talked to many an individual about this film, and the overarching idea I've gotten is that guys liked (500) Days of Summer a lot more than girls did, and I'm almost positive it's for the same reasons that girls will like your average romantic comedy more than a guy will. Still, this one's brilliant - and it offers an "Expectation vs. Reality" scene that's simply superb - from the writing to the acting to everything else as a whole.