Hollywood Bracket

I'm just realizing now that 1.) March is almost over (2012 is flying by) and 2.) I have yet to supply you with a bracket. Clearly I was a little too caught up in the actual bracket with Syracuse being a pre-tournament favorite. Now that Syracuse has lost, let's get to a bracket.

As some of you may know, I was essentially the committee chairman of this bracket. What you probably don't know is that because of my lunch routine I was a member of the committee for this bracket. It's the second bracket that I'd like to focus on. For those of you that are too lazy to click on my links it's a bracket of actors. The goal of this so-called "Hollywood Bracket" is to find out who the best actor is. The criteria is a bit hazy because it's not the best actor of all time. And it's not the best actor of this very moment. For my purposes, I will make it the best living actor. I've re-seeded the bracket, adjusted the name of one of the regions, and here's what I've come up with.


Marlon Brando Region

1- Jack Nicholson
16- Scarlet Johansson

8- Robin Williams
9- Warren Beatty

5- Sean Penn
12- Angelina Jolie

4- Johnny Depp
13- Jeff Bridges

6- Glenn Close
11- Edward Norton

3- George Clooney
14- Michael Caine

7- Tim Robbins
10- Mark Wahlberg

2- Morgan Freeman
15- Reese Witherspoon


The Humphrey Bogart Region

1- Meryl Streep
16- Kevin Costner

8- Philip Seymour Hoffman
9- Colin Firth

5- Will Smith
12- Ryan Gosling

4- Kevin Spacey
13- Jamie Foxx

6- Gene Hackman
11- Julianne Moore

3- Al Pacino
14- Judi Dench

7- Michael Douglas
10- Russell Crowe

2- Leonardo DiCaprio
15- Natalie Portman


The John Wayne Region

1- Denzel Washington
16- Kevin Bacon

8- Javier Bardem
9- Halle Berry

5- Julia Roberts
12- Paul Giamatti

4- Brad Pitt
13- Hilary Swank

6- Anthony Hopkins
11- Tommy Lee Jones

3- Matt Damon
14- Ben Affleck

7- Harrison Ford
10- Christian Bale

2- Clint Eastwood
15- Michelle Williams


The Jimmy Stewart Region

1- Tom Hanks
16- Anne Hathaway

8- Samuel L. Jackson
9- Bruce Willis

5- Daniel Day-Lewis
12- Daniel Craig

4- Tom Cruise
13- Nicole Kidman

6- Robert Redford
11- John Malkovich

3- Kate Winslet
14- Liam Neeson

7- Dustin Hoffman
10- Penelope Cruz

2- Robert Deniro
15- Benicio Del Toro

I'm sure there were plenty of snubs (some were probably egregious). Feel free to let me know who I unintentionally slighted. I skew young and towards actors instead of actresses. Deal with it. Either way, it's now time for my picks. In some matchups I attempted to briefly explain why one actor/actress should advance. In others I simply used a famous movie quote from either participant. Hopefully you'll be able to follow along.


Marlon Brando Region



First Round

1- Jack Nicholson over 16- Scarlet Johansson- Jack’s taking ScarJo down to Chinatown (1975)

8- Robin Williams over 9- Warren Beatty- Williams’ non comedy acting career is wildly underrated (4 Oscar noms, 1 win).

5- Sean Penn over 12- Angelina Jolie- Jolie might outdo him when it comes to humanitarian efforts (although then again she might not) and media fanfare, but Penn has a lot more range and more accolades. Speaking of humanitarian efforts, if they made a movie about U2 Penn would be a lock to play Bono, right?

4- Johnny Depp over 13- Jeff Bridges- Bridges has been better of late (back to back Best Actor noms in 2010-11), but Depp will Blow (2001) by him.

11- Edward Norton over 6- Glenn Close- They both have outstanding performances, but I like Norton’s (Primal Fear (1996)) more than Close’s (Fatal Attraction (1987).

3- George Clooney over 14- Michael Caine- Caine has the edge in credentials, experience, and longevity, but Clooney has the star power that Caine’s never possessed.

7- Tim Robbins over 10- Mark Wahlberg- Wahlberg is a very successful producer as well as a respected actor, but at his core he’s a wanna be rapper from Boston. Guess what Tim Robbins was doing when he was young? Acting.

2- Morgan Freeman over 15- Reese Witherspoon- Witherspoon has one great performance (Walk the Line), but Freeman has more depth and experience.

Second Round

1- Jack Nicholson over 8- Robin Williams- Closer match up than you’d think, but, “Heeeeerrrrre’s Johnny!” is a little more iconic than, “Gooooooooood Morninggg Vietnam!”

5- Sean Penn over 4- Johnny Depp- Since 1995 Sean Penn is the only man to win Best Actor twice (Mystic River, Milk) and he leads all actors with 5 nominations.

3- George Clooney over 11- Edward Norton- I love me some Ed Norton, but Clooney was outstanding in The Descendants, Up in the Air, and Michael Clayton. How he didn’t win Best Actor for any of those roles just baffles me.

2- Morgan Freeman over 7- Tim Robbins- I have to give Freeman the edge in the Shawshank showdown because not only was he the one nominated for Best Actor, but I think it also launched his voice-over career.

Regional Semi-Finals

1- Jack Nicholson over 5- Sean Penn- Penn is outstanding, but Nicholson is a legend and he delivered one of my favorite lines in the history of cinema. In As Good as it Gets (1997) Nicholson plays a writer suffering from a severe case of OCD. He’s asked how he writes women so well and he says, “I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability.”

3- George Clooney over 2- Morgan Freeman- You could argue that Freeman has been the better actor (I’d still lean toward Clooney), but Clooney gets the edge because of how well he’s taken to writing/directing. Need evidence? Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and The Ides of March (2011) both garnered Oscar recognition.

Regional Finals

1- Jack Nicholson over 3- George Clooney- You’re God damn right he ordered the Code Red!


The Humphrey Bogart Region



First Round

1- Meryl Streep over 16- Kevin Costner- She has the most Academy Award nominations of all time. Plain and simple.

8- Philip Seymour Hoffman over 9- Colin Firth- They both have Best Actors Oscars, but Hoffman steals the show in just about everything else that he’s in.

12- Ryan Gosling over 5- Will Smith- Will Smith is definitely a more talented entertainer, but Gosling is clearly the better actor.

4- Kevin Spacey over 13- Jamie Foxx- Spacey was the suave badass in LA Confidential (1997) long before Jamie Foxx came around.

6- Gene Hackman over 11- Julianne Moore- Julianne Moore doesn’t get the credit she deserves, but there’s no way that she’s knocking out Norman Dale.

3- Al Pacino over 14- Judi Dench- Dench actually has a great resume, but I know her best as M in James Bond films. Pacino is best known as Michael Corleone and Tony Montana. Simple as that.

7- Michael Douglas over 10- Russell Crowe- “The point is ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for the lack of a better word, is good,” against, “What we do in life echoes in eternity,” and “Are you not entertained?” Close, but I have to go with Douglas.

2- Leonardo DiCaprio over 15- Natalie Portman- Portman is an Israeli minx with a Best Actress Oscar on her resume, but I like Leo in a rout. Do you concur?

Second Round

1- Meryl Streep over 8- Philip Seymour Hoffman- I was rooting for the upset here, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger on it. I hate Streep (she’s very pretentious) and love Hoffman, but it’s really not even close.

4- Kevin Spacey over 12- Ryan Gosling- “What sick ridiculous puppets we are / and what gross little stage we dance on / What fun we have dancing and fucking / Not a care in the world / Not knowing that we are nothing / We are not what was intended”

3- Al Pacino over 6- Gene Hackman- “Hooah!”

2- Leonardo DiCaprio over 7- Michael Douglas- “When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die.”

Regional Semi-Finals

4- Kevin Spacey over 1- Meryl Streep- Sorry Meryl, but Keyser Soze isn’t going down to a female.

2- Leonardo DiCaprio over 3- Al Pacino- I’m obviously biased because I’m only 26 and didn’t get to enjoy Pacino in his prime, but Leo’s performance as Billy Costigan in The Departed (2005) is legendary.

Regional Finals

2- Leonardo DiCaprio over 4- Kevin Spacey- “Well dreams, they feel real while we're in them, right? It's only when we wake up that we realize how things are actually strange. Let me ask you a question, you, you never really remember the beginning of a dream do you? You always wind up right in the middle of what's going on.”


The John Wayne Region



First Round

1- Denzel Washington over 16- Kevin Bacon- “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!”

9- Halle Berry over 8- Javier Bardem- All she wants is someone that can “make me feel good.”

5- Julia Roberts over 12- Paul Giamatti- Paul Giamatti is brilliant, but he can’t hang with this Pretty Woman.

4- Brad Pitt over 13- Hilary Swank- “Fight Club was the beginning, now it's moved out of the basement, it's called Project Mayhem.”

6- Anthony Hopkins over 11- Tommy Lee Jones- Hopkins polishes him off with “some fava beans and a nice chianti.”

3- Matt Damon over 14- Ben Affleck- Just like in Good Will Hunting (1997), Damon is the one with all the talent.

10- Christian Bale over 7- Harrison Ford- I'm already bracing myself for some venom coming from my friend Frank, but let me attempt to explain. This is clearly an upset. If logic prevailed Ford would advance in a heartbeat. Here's the thing though, logic doesn't always prevail in the NCAA Tournament. That's why they play the games. Harrison Ford has had a much better career (I mean, he’s Indiana Jones and Han Solo), but he’s never had a performance like Bale’s in The Fighter (2010).

2- Clint Eastwood over 15- Michelle Williams- “Get off my lawn.”

Second Round

1- Denzel Washington over 9- Halle Berry- The first African-American male to win Best Actor against the first African-American female to win Best Actress? I gotta go with “My man.”

4- Brad Pitt over 5- Julia Roberts- She was good in Ocean’s 11, but he was better. “You look down, they know you're lying and up, they know you don't know the truth. Don't use seven words when four will do. Don't shift your weight, look always at your mark but don't stare, be specific but not memorable, be funny but don't make him laugh. He's got to like you then forget you the moment you've left his side.”

3- Matt Damon over 6- Anthony Hopkins- “You’re right Teddy. The ace didn’t help. I flopped the nut straight.”

2- Clint Eastwood over 10- Christian Bale- “You’ve got to ask yourself one question. “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk?”

Regional Semi-Finals

1- Denzel Washington over 4- Brad Pitt- “We the only two people up. Me, you and Michael Jordan. That's the only people. Everybody else in the world is asleep.”

2- Clint Eastwood over 3- Matt Damon- “Go ahead. Make my day.”

Regional Finals

1- Denzel Washington over 2- Clint Eastwood




The Jimmy Stewart Region



First Round

1- Tom Hanks over 16- Anne Hathaway- “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” Well, in this matchup Hanks got a cupcake.

9- Bruce Willis over 8- Samuel L. Jackson- Who’s the one that figured out the water puzzle in DieHard with a Vengeance? That’s right, John McClain.

5- Daniel Day-Lewis over 12- Daniel Craig- Day-Lewis’ (My) Left Foot (1989) is a better actor than the current version of everyone’s favorite British agent.

4- Tom Cruise over 13- Nicole Kidman- Ah, the battle of the exes. Kidman is taller and more talented, but Cruise has a better track record and puts the fannies in the seats.

6- Robert Redford over 11- John Malkovich- Hard to compete with Redford who played the Sundance Kid, started the Sundance Film Festival, and starred in two of my favorite movies of the 2000s (Spy Game (2001), The Last Castle (2001).

3- Kate Winslet over 14- Liam Neeson- Liam Neeson plays the same character in every movie that he’s in. Sure he’s a bad ass, but Winslet is extraordinarily gifted.

10- Penelope Cruz over 7- Dustin Hoffman- Hoffman’s most famous role is in The Graduate (1967) where he has an affair with his neighbor and then falls in love with her daughter. The notion that a girl would run off with a guy that had an affair with her mother is so incomprehensible to me that I’m giving the nod to Cruz.

2- Robert De Niro over 15- Benicio Del Toro- In case you were wondering, De Niro improvised one of his most famous lines (from Taxi Driver (1976), "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin' to? You talkin' to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?"

Second Round

1- Tom Hanks over 9- Bruce Willis- Hanks knows the tournament motto. Survive and advance, “I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that’s what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing.”

5- Daniel Day-Lewis over 4- Tom Cruise- You “want the truth”? There Will Be Blood (2007) in this one because Day-Lewis slaughters Cruise in a Best Actor competition.

3- Kate Winslet over 6- Robert Redford- “Too many guys think I'm a concept, or I complete them, or I'm gonna make them alive. But I'm just a fucked-up girl who's lookin' for my own peace of mind; don't assign me yours.”

2- Robert De Niro over 10- Penelope Cruz- “Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.”

Regional Semi-Finals

5- Daniel Day-Lewis over 1- Tom Hanks- “Houston, we have a problem.” They don’t call him “The Butcher” (Gangs of New York) for nothing.

2- Robert De Niro over 3- Kate Winslet- If you mess with the (Raging) Bull (1980) you get the horns.

Regional Finals

2- Robert De Niro over 5- Daniel Day-Lewis- They are both supremely gifted actors, but Day-Lewis can’t touch De Niro’s portrayal of a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather II.


Final Four

2- Leonardo DiCaprio over 1- Jack Nicholson- I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't think I've seen a better acted scene than this one. I'm not sure how much credit goes to Leo and Vera Farmiga, how much credit goes to Scorsese, and how much credit goes to whoever chose the absolute perfect song to complement it all, but it's outstanding.



2- Robert De Niro over 1- Denzel Washington- They've both played a boxer (Raging Bull/The Hurricane), a gangster (Good Fellas (to pick one)/American Gangster), a concerned father (A Bronx Tale/John Q), and a neurotic, self-possesed man who thinks he's invincible (Taxi Driver/Training Day). De Niro was better in all of them.


Finals

2- Robert De Niro over 2- Leonardo DiCaprio- "Every man... every man has to go through hell to reach paradise." De Niro's just been through the wars and Leo hasn't. Guess how many Oscars Leo's has? Zero. De Niro has endured the snubs by the academy (Taxi Driver being the most notable) and has persevered. We're still waiting for Leo to completely break through.

The Best of 2011

As 2011 comes to a close it’s only appropriate for a “Best of” blog post to end the year. Not a “Best of” the blog (although that’d be awesome), but a best of the year in pop culture and to be honest with you, I don’t think 2011 was that great for entertainment. Below are a few bright spots in what I think was a rather disappointing year.


Best Movie of the Year that I saw- The Adjustment Bureau



A political figure (Matt Damon) is destined for greatness until he meets a woman (Emily Blunt) in a men’s bathroom who will throw him off track. The Adjustment Bureau, or angels behind the scenes that serve the world’s best interest, get him back on the righteous path (I didn’t notice the religious undertones until just now), but he can’t forget her. Matt Damon’s character eventually becomes aware of The Bureau and does everything he can to reunite with Blunt. That’s probably not the best endorsement for something that I’ve billed as the best movie of the year, but once you accept the plot (there are hats, doors, maps, etc.) you’ll notice that Damon and Blunt are truly fantastic together. Their on screen chemistry was off the charts. Blunt was also sneaky hot in that I don't remember her from anything else. I’m admittedly a sucker for movies that involve powerful political figures, but The Adjustment Bureau is a great film and I would recommend it to anyone.

I also enjoyed- Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Descendants, The Ides of March

I want to see- Drive, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Moneyball, The Artist


Best TV Show of the Year- Parks and Recreation



I used to watch every show on NBC’s Thursday night comedy lineup except for Parks and Recreation. For some reason Amy Poehler didn’t strike me as all that funny. However, two years ago a buddy at work repeatedly told me that Parks and Rec is the funniest show on television. It took about a year and a half, but I finally gave it a chance and it’s now one of my favorite shows of all time.

Here is Newsweek’s recap of what Parks and Rec did in 2011:

Parks and Recreation captures the spirit of optimism and hope, embodied by the dynamic and determined Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who found herself tiptoeing into an illicit relationship with her boss, Ben (Adam Scott), and running for local political office. With wit and intelligence, Parks and Recreation painted a Springfieldian portrait of fictional small-town Americana—the Harvest Festival, anyone?—with incredible nuance, offering up a series of characters that are endearingly flawed and adorably sympathetic. In a season overflowing with “manxiety” comedy, there’s something refreshing about a show whose central relationship is between two female friends (Poehler and Rashida Jones), a will-they-won’t-they couple who unexpectedly tie the knot, an unrepentant libertarian (in Nick Offerman’s beloved Ron Swanson), and a protagonist who longs for the rewards of public service. Add in sex scandals, allusions to birthers, and Li’l Sebastian, and you have the makings of a show that’s perfection on a weekly basis. There’s a sweetness and energizing spirit to Parks and Recreation—and to Leslie herself—that sets it apart from the more darker, sarcastic shows in the current television landscape, offering an oasis that feels, remarkably, like coming home.

I also enjoyed- Friday Night Lights, Community, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boardwalk Empire

I want to see- Homeland, Breaking Bad (Season 4)


Best Song of the Year

For help in determining the best song of the year I will consult three reputable sources. Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, and Rolling Stone because I’ve been out of tune with the music industry for a while. Plus I was recently in Texas and the only thing I’ve listened to since is Country.

Entertainment Weekly's Best Singles of 2011

1. Nicki Minaj -- "Super Bass"
2. Foster the People -- "Pumped Up Kicks"
3. The Throne feat. Frank Ocean -- "No Church in the Wild"
4. Lana Del Rey -- "Video Games"
5. Beyoncé -- "Countdown"
6. Wild Flag -- "Romance"
7. Britney Spears -- "I Wanna Go"
8. Colbie Caillat -- "Brighter Than the Sun"
9. Foo Fighters -- "Walk"
10. Kelly Clarkson -- "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"

Billboard's 10 Best Songs of 2011

1. Nicki Minaj -- "Super Bass"
2. Adele -- "Someone Like You"
3. Britney Spears -- "Till the World Ends"
4. The Throne -- "N----s in Paris"
5. Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne -- "Motivation"
6. Frank Ocean -- "Novacane"
7. Bon Iver -- "Holocene"
8. Lady Gaga -- "The Edge of Glory"
9. Chris Brown -- "Look at Me Now"
10. Adele -- "Rolling in the Deep"

Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Singles of 2011

1. Adele -- “Rolling in the Deep”
2. Jay-Z and Kanye West -- “Ni**as in Paris”
3. Britney Spears -- “Till the World Ends”
4. Foo Fighters -- “These Days”
5. Paul Simon -- “Rewrite”
6. Radiohead -- “Lotus Flower”
7. Lady Gaga -- “The Edge of Glory”
8. Beyonce -- “Countdown”
9. Lil Wayne feat. Cory Gunz -- “Six Foot Seven Foot”
10. The Decemberists -- “Don’t Carry it All”

I like Nicki Minaj, but I have a hard time giving the award to “Super Bass” after an 8 year old white girl performed it virtually on repeat for a month (this clip was everywhere). I’m not a fan of this Adele chick even though girls cream themselves to her. I can’t give the award to Jay-Z and Kanye after they decided to remove the letter “z” from the word crazy. I like the Foo Fighters song “These Days”, but I’ve only heard it 2-3 times. Feel free to judge me, but I think Lady Gaga was the artist of the year. She must be putting crack in her songs or something because they are catchy as hell. I actually enjoy most of her songs, so I’ll give “The Edge of Glory” my song of the year honors because it seems to be her most critically acclaimed hit of 2011.

I also enjoyed- Chris Young- “Home”, Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter- “You and Tequila”, Coldplay- “Paradise”


Best Book I read - “a visit from the goon squad” by Jennifer Egan



In case you’re keeping track at home this is two years in a row that my favorite book of the year has been written by a woman. I can’t point to 2-3 reasons why I enjoyed the book so much. I just did. I bought it because the back of the book said it was an inside look at the music industry. It’s not, but the writing is tremendous. It’s a hard book to sum up, so I found a review online and within the first paragraph the reviewer wrote, “This is a difficult book to summarize.” It’s basically about a big shot record producer who used to be in a punk rock band as a twentysomething and all the people around him at various points in his life. The book is not linear. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It jumps around from decade to decade. Each chapter is like its own story, but it’s tangentially related to the previous one. The discontinuity does not hinder the overall narrative. I would argue that it actually enhances it.

Here is a portion of the review from The Observer:

Goon Squad is a book about memory and kinship, time and narrative, continuity and disconnection, in which relationships shift and recombine kaleidoscopically. It is neither a novel nor a collection of short stories, but something in between: a series of chapters featuring interlocking characters at different points in their lives, whose individual voices combine to a create a symphonic work that uses its interconnected form to explore ideas about human interconnectedness. This is a difficult book to summarize, but a delight to read, gradually distilling a medley out of its polyphonic, sometimes deliberately cacophonous voices.

Everyone in the book is pushed around by time, circumstance and, occasionally, the ones they love, as Egan reveals with great elegance and economy the wobbly arcs of her characters' lives, their painful pasts and future disappointments. Characters who are marginal in one chapter become the focus of the next; the narrative alternates not only between first-person and third-person accounts, but – perhaps just because she can – Egan throws in a virtuosic second-person story as well, in which a suicidal young man tells his tale to a colloquial "you". She also shifts dramatically across times and places: punk teenagers in 1970s San Francisco become disillusioned adults in the suburbs of 1990s New York; their children grow up in an imagined, slightly dystopic future in the California desert, or attend a legendary concert at "The Footprint", where the Twin Towers used to be, sometime in the 2020s.

I also enjoyed- Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and 20 Under 40: Stories From The New Yorker

*None of the books I mentioned were published in 2011, although 2 were published in 2010. I just read them in 2011.

Top 25- Actors

I always used to say that Denzel Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio were 1 and 1A when it comes to male actors. I still think the world of them both, but I don’t think it’s accurate to put them on that kind of pedestal. Case in point, Denzel hasn’t been in a good movie since Dejavu (2007) and that’s a stretch and DiCaprio has never, I repeat never, won an Academy Award. That said, I think it’s time that I accurately rank the best actors in Hollywood much like I’ve ranked the best actresses twice.

Here are the criteria that I will use:

-Talent- How good of an actor are you? Can you play multiple roles? Have you been typecast? Do your performances stand out and have a lasting impact?
-Prestige- Is your name big enough to sell a movie? Does your acting resume stack up? Have you been nominated for, or won, big time awards?
-Exposure- Do I know who your wife/girlfriend is? If so, how hot is she? Are you all over the tabloid magazines? How much are you in the public eye?
-Wealth- What kind of price tag do you have on you? What do you make per movie?
-Recent Activity- What have you done for me lately? When I hear your name can I easily recall the most recent movie that you've been in? If so, was that movie successful?

Top 25

1.) George Clooney- I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone that doesn’t like Clooney. He’s as big of a big wig as there is in Hollywood. He’s all over the news whenever it comes to actors contributing to disaster relief efforts. It’s almost unfathomable because he’s been around for so long, but I would argue that Clooney is still in his prime. His acting resume just keeps getting better. He’s been nominated for Best Actor twice (Michael Clayton (2008), Up in the Air (2010) and should garner another nom for The Descendants (2011), he’s won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (Syriana (2005)), and he’s directed some quality films in Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and this year’s political thriller The Ides of March (2011).

Clooney also deserves a lot of credit for his dating resume. He wisely dates attractive women that are only tangibly famous. He’s always the more famous one in the relationship, so when he runs through girlfriend after girlfriend there is no sob story from the ex because people only her as the girl that dated Clooney.



The perfect illustration of Clooney’s power and fame involves his new girlfriend and former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler. Kebiler, who I want to say was also on Dancing With The Stars, has an appearance fee of $10,000 (absurd, I know). Basically she gets paid 10 large to show up to events and be hot (she has legs for days). Since she started dating Clooney her attendance fee has increased to $25,000. That means that Stacy Keibler became 150% more famous only because Clooney’s taking her to Pound Town.

2.) Leonardo DiCaprio- Not exactly a huge drop from 1 or 1A, but as I noted earlier, Leo’s biggest weakness is that he’s never taken home the hardware at The Oscars. He’s been nominated twice for Best Actor and once for Best Supporting Actor, but has never really been in the discussion to win. It’s almost hard to believe because DiCaprio rarely swings and misses. He once ran off the following stretch in consecutive order.

Gangs of New York (2002)- nominated for Best Picture
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
The Aviator (2004)- Best Actor nomination
The Departed (2006)- won Best Picture
Blood Diamond (2006)- Best Actor nomination

His only real flop was Revolutionary Road (2008) in which he starred alongside Kate Winslet, and I actually thought it was a pretty good movie. He should garner another Best Actor nom for his portrayal of the first director of the FBI in the biopic J. Edgar (2011), but I don’t think that he’ll win. Leo is like the Indianapolis Colts from 1999-2006. They were always good, sometimes dominant, but they could never win the big one.

While Leo has never won the big one for his work on the silver screen he’s more than made up for it with his work off of the screen. He dated various models and actresses in the 90’s, but what he’s done in the past 10 years is virtually unprecedented. He dated supermodel and current Mrs. Tom Brady Giselle Bundchen from 2001-2005 when she was probably the most attractive woman in the world, then moved on to the woman that took her place in supermodel Bar Refaeli and dated her from 2005 until May of this year.



Since May Leo reportedly dated up and coming smokeshow actress Blake Lively.

3.) Brad Pitt- First and foremost, he was married to the woman that’s #2 on my list of actresses, but he upgraded and he’s now married to the woman that’s #1. Pitt has mellowed in the past few years, but he’s often thought of as one of the rock star actors. His celebrity has been off the charts for years. What gets lost in the shuffle of Pitt’s good looks and female conquests is that he’s actually a pretty good actor. He’s not great or transcendent by any means, but he’s certainly above average. He’s been nominated for two Oscars, most recently for Best Actor for his role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), and he’ll most likely be nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Billy Beane in Moneyball (2011).

4.) Sean Penn- Penn is a polished actor who’s seemingly done it all over the course of his career. From comedy (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) to mentally challenged (I Am Sam) to high drama (Mystic River) his range is just incredible. He’s the only man to win Best Actor more than once since Tom Hanks in the mid 90’s.

He’s also been married to Madonna and Robin Wright (Jenny in Forrest Gump), he’s dated Jewel, and he’s been spotted with Scarlett Johanssen. On top of all of that Penn is like the Bono of actors when it comes to political and social causes.

5.) Matt Damon- Damon is just incredibly likeable. He was the bad guy in The Departed (2006) and the first time I saw the movie I found myself rooting for him. He’s perhaps best known for his breakout performance in Good Will Hunting (1998) and The Bourne trilogy, but he’s been in plenty of other quality films. For example, Ocean’s Eleven (2001) Syriana (2005), True Grit (2010), and I really liked his performance in The Adjustment Bureau (2011).

6.) Colin Firth- His name doesn’t carry a lot of cachet, but the good natured Brit has been nominated for Best Actor in back to back years including a win for his role in The King’s Speech last year.

7.) Denzel Washington- My man. Denzel, where have you been lately? His work in Training Day (2001) and Man on Fire (2004) is iconic, but the best African American actor of all time will continue to slide down these ranking unless he gets it going again.

8.) Ryan Gosling- He’s come a long way since The Notebook (2004). You know that Gosling’s acting ability is legitimate because he’s gotten recognition for his work in indie films. He’s never really had a huge production firm totting his work. He was nominated for Best Actor in 2007 for playing a high school teacher who smokes pot in Half Nelson and he was one of the biggest Oscar snubs last year for playing a deadbeat husband opposite Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine (2010). He’s also having a great 2011 starring in the critically acclaimed action film Drive as well as playing the lead in George Clooney’s political thriller The Ides of March.



To top it all off he's reportedly been dating the sultry Eva Mendes.

9.) Javier Bardem- Bardem seemingly came out of nowhere, but it doesn’t look like he’s going away anytime soon.



He fathered a child this year with his smoking hot wife Penelope Cruz, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2008 (No Country for Old Men), and he was nominated for Best Actor for his work in a film that not many people, including me, have seen (Biutiful).

10.) Johnny Depp- People love Johnny Depp. I am not one of them. Either way he gets paid a boatload of money for every movie he stars in and the public remains fascinated with him regardless of the quality of his work. He is unquestionably one of the most elite actors in Hollywood.

11.) Christian Bale- He can be the lead in a movie (American Pscyho), he can serve his purpose in a movie (The Dark Knight), and he can steal a movie with one of the best performances that I’ve ever seen (The Fighter). He’s also a hot head that I often forget is from across the pond.

12.) Jeff Bridges- What a resurgence for the dude. Bridges won Best Actor in 2010 for his role in Crazy Heart and followed it up with another Oscar nomination for Best Actor this year for his role in True Grit.

13.) Philip Seymour Hoffman- He’s won an Oscar for Best Actor (Capote), but he’s at his best in a supporting role. He was hysterical in Along Came Polly (2004), great in Oscar nominated roles in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) and Doubt (2008), and I expect him to be fantastic in Moneyball (2011) and The Ides of March (2011).

14.) Joseph Gordon-Levitt- I hatttted him when he was on 3rd Rock From the Sun. In fact, I hated 3rd Rock From the Sun. Gordon-Levitt has come a long way since then, though. He was outstanding in (500) Days of Summer and Inception and I’ve heard nothing but positives from 50/50.

15.) Jeremy Renner- I can’t say that I’m a big fan of Renner. It’s not that I don’t like him, but the Academy seems to love him and I can’t figure it out. He was nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Hurt Locker (2009) and nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Town (2010).

16.) Robert Downey, Jr.- The only member of the Brat Pack that’s still relevant. Downey, Jr. partied hard through the 80’s, got hooked on drugs in the 90’s, and now he’s back and better than ever.

17.) Mark Wahlberg- I still can’t get over the fact that he originally broke onto the scene as a rapper, but Wahlberg has worked tirelessly to reinvent himself on multiple occasions.

18.) Ben Affleck- Don’t ask me why, but I’ve always been a huge fan of Affleck. He also gets bonus points for being married to Jennifer Garner.

19.) Viggo Mortensen- Easily the most underrated actor in Hollywood. He was awesome as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, amazing in A History of Violence (2005), and electric in his Oscar nominated role in Eastern Promises (2008).

20.) James Franco- Franco has some serious talent and he’s driven to excel across multiple platforms. He was horrendous as a co-host of The Oscars, but his future is still bright.

21.) Liam Neeson- He’s 59 years old and I think it’s safe to say that he’s the best action star going right now.

22.) Bradley Cooper- He’s been everywhere since his breakout performance as Sack in Wedding Crashers (2005).

23.) Jamie Foxx- No, there isn’t a quota that requires me to include more than one African American on this list. Foxx is a badass. Not only is he cool, but he’s won an Oscar and he has a rap career.

24.) Ryan Reynolds- He’s funny, attractive (don’t judge me), and he’s all over People magazine and US Weekly. Reynolds makes these rankings based solely on his history with other actresses. He married Scarlet Johannssen and has been linked to Sandra Bullock and Blake Lively.

25.) Daniel Craig- This list wouldn't be complete without James Bond. That role has enough cachet to almost guarantee cultural relevance.
Others receiving votes: Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Josh Brolin, Andrew Garfield, Jake Gyllenahll, Will Smith, James McAvoy, Jude Law, Gerard Butler, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Bateman, Edward Norton, Shia LeBouf, Daniel Dey-Lewis, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe

Oscars 2010

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be held this Sunday, which means that it's time for me to handicap the year's best in film. In case you haven't been paying attention, and I assume that most of you haven't, the major storyline this year is the much hyped rivalry between James Cameron's Avatar and Kathyrn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker. Entering the home stretch these two films seem to be the frontrunners for Best Picture and their respective directors seem to be the frontrunners for Best Director. Now what makes this plot so interesting is that Cameron and Bigelow were married from 1989-1991. They claim to be on amicable terms, but I don't buy it. Bigelow has not re-married, nor had she wed anyone prior to Cameron, whereas Cameron is currently on wife #5 (Bigelow was #3). Call me crazy, but I think that there's definitely some deep felt bitterness/tension there.

So am I on Team Cameron or Team Kathryn? Well, normally in these situations I side with the man, but he's Canadian and she's American and I'm still bitter about the gold medal hockey game. I actually don't really want either of their movies to win Best Picture (although I think one of them will), so I'll go ahead and give Bigelow my support in the Best Director category. Also, if she wins, she'll be the first female to take home Uncle Oscar in that category(assuming I did my research properly). Who said I wasn't for the societal advancement of women?

Now for my Best Picture/Best Actor/Actress/Best Supporting Actor/Actress picks and breakdown. In case you're a gambler, remember that I went 4/5 on my picks last year. There's gotta be a way to gamble on this, right?


Best Picture

Avatar

As I wrote last month, this movie was made for 13 year old boys and has no business being considered for Best Picture.

The Blind Side

If you don’t at least choke up while reading this article about the true story behind this movie then feel free to never talk to me again.

District 9

This is a joke, right? I blame all of the supporters of The Dark Knight that pissed and moaned when the Academy snubbed Christopher Nolan's film. Is this really what you wanted? A sci-fi movie about aliens living in Africa? I'm going to stop before I get even more angry.

An Education

Probably a benficiary of the expansion to 10 nominees, but I can see why people liked this coming of age story. Also, I think the Academy gives bonus points for films that primarily use English actors.

The Hurt Locker

One of the three nominees that I've actually seen (I'm a fake ass movie buff). It was definitely a good and entertaining movie, but I wasn’t wild about it. Maybe it was that I had high expectations or that I didn't get something that the critics did (both distinct possibilities), but I gave it about a 3.7 out of 5.

Inglourious Basterds

Really? This movie was good? I thought it was supposed to be a slapstick comedy. That being said, it’s currently sitting atop my Netflix queue.

Precious

A poor, fat black girl, who at 15 (I think) is pregnant with her second child, gets inspired to turn her life around by a few teachers at a new, special school. I'm sure the movie is very good, but the plot seems like it's been done a million times.

A Serious Man

Are there special rules for movies written or produced by the Coen brothers like there are for Notre Dame in the BCS?

Up

You mean to tell me that someone with an Oscar vote chose this animated work as their favorite film of the year (one of the requisites to earn a nomination)? I'm sure that this movie has a nice message and all, but there's no chance that it's deserving of an Oscar nomination.

And why isn't it deserving of such an honor? Simple. Because it has its own category. Based on this nomination, Up is now a lock to win the Oscar for Best Animated Film (which is sort of was anyway, but you get my point).

Up in the Air

I think that this film was the best of the year. Hands down. The movie not only has the right blend of romance, drama, and comedy, but it also makes you think as you're walking out of the theater. Simply put, the movie has a moral message.

Which movie will win? The Hurt Locker
Which movie should win/am I rooting for? Up in the Air
Which movie am I rooting against? Avatar/Up


Best Actor

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart- In this film, Bridges plays a rundown, alcoholic country singer, who is inspired to turn things around by a female reporter. I haven’t seen it yet, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s a better version of The Wrestler (2009). Bridges pretty much has this award in the bag and, of course, the dude abides.

George Clooney in Up in the Air- Clooney is very good in this film, but probably not good enough to win. This role isn’t Clooney’s best (Michael Clayton is), but it’s certainly Oscar worthy, although his performance gets a bit overshadowed by Anna Kendrick's.

Colin Firth in A Single Man- No real surprise to see that Firth got nominated for playing a gay man who plans on committing suicide to cope with the loss of his partner of 16 years who died in a car accident 8 months earlier.

Morgan Freeman in Invictus- When you’re handpicked by a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize to portray him on the silver screen you’re going to get nominated for an Oscar.

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker- In this film Renner plays an American soldier in Iraq who seems de-sensitized to war despite his high pressure job of disarming bombs. His even keel, almost light-hearted way of going about him job is a bit perplexing, but it’s what gives the character depth. If I was Renner I’d probably write an acceptance speech, but I wouldn’t plan on giving it.

Which actor will win? Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Which actor should win/am I rooting for? Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Which actor am I rooting against? n/a


Best Actress

Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side- I’ve always had a thing for Sandra and I’m glad to see that she finally earned an Oscar nomination. How she wasn’t nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Speed (1994) is beyond me. Come Sunday, you can bet your bottom dollar that the 45 year old starlet will join the sacred sorority of Best Actress winners.

Helen Mirren in The Last Station- Mirren won this award for her role in The Queen (2006), so she shouldn’t expect to return to the podium anytime soon. In the past 40 years only Jodie Foster (’88 and ’91) and Hilary Swank (’99 and ’04) have won the award twice.

Carey Mulligan in An Education- I’m officially rooting against the 24 year old Mulligan solely based on the fact that she dates Shia LeBouf. I don’t want him to get anywhere near an Academy Award.

Gabourey Sidibe in Precious- If she wins (and she won’t), Sidibe would be only the second woman of African American descent to take home the prize. This means that Halle Berry, for her role in Monster’s Ball (2000), is the Jackie Robinson/Barack Obama of the award.

Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia- Is the Academy giving out legacy nominations now? This is kind of like Derek Jeter winning the AL Gold Glove last year even though he was nowhere close to being the best defensive shortstop in the American League.

Which actress will win? Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Which actress should win/am I rooting for? Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Which actress am I rooting against? Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia/Carey Mulligan in An Education


Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon in Invictus- I like Damon and have not seen the movie, but this is what ESPN.Com’s Bill Simmons wrote about it back in December.

"While watching Invictus, I had an idea during one of the few moments when I wasn't obsessing over the insanity of Matt Damon being cast as 6-foot-3 South African rugby legend Francois Pienaar. You know how Dwight Howard stands out on a basketball court? That was Pienaar on a rugby field. Six-3, built like granite, bowled over guys like Brandon Jacobs. Since Damon can't be taller than 5-9, they took one of the most imposing physical specimens in rugby history and eliminated the quality that made him memorable. It made as much sense as casting Damon as Dirk Nowitzki. Ah, screw it, he's an A-lister, we need him. ... We'll just make Nowitzki a point guard, nobody will notice. Sorry. I noticed. And couldn't get past it."

No way he wins, right?

Woody Harrelson in The Messenger- In this film, Harrelson plays an army officer who is responsible for notifying family members of those that have died in service to our country. I don’t think he’s going to win, but I’d definitely be okay with it if he did.

Christopher Plummer in The Last Station- The 80 year old Plummer garnered his first Academy Award nomination for his role as the Russian literary giant Leo Tolstoy in this film. In case you didn’t know (although you should), Tolstoy wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones- Apparently Tucci gives a stirring performance as the neighborhood serial killer in The Lovely Bones, but his chances of winning are slim because the critics considered Peter Jackson’s film a flop.

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds- Waltz has received rave reviews for his role as the terrifying and hilarious Col. Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino's summer blockbuster and just about everybody projects him to win the award on Sunday.

Which actor will win? Christopher Waltz in Inglorious Basterds
Which actor should win/am I rooting for? Christopher Waltz in Inglorious Basterds
Which actor am I rooting against? Matt Damon in Invictus


Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz in Nine- Cruz won this award last year for her role in Woody Allen’s Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona (2008), but I don’t think she has much of a chance to repeat. This seems more like a token nomination to me.

Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air- She was good, but if she didn’t get a nomination in this category for her role in The Departed (2006) then she certainly doesn’t deserve one here.

Maggie Gyllenhall in Crazy Heart- Gyllenhall is slowly working her way into Drew Barrymore (a staple of my Hate List) territory. She’s unattractive and borderline annoying.

Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air- The best thing to come out of the teenager vampire craze was fantastic in this film. I literally couldn’t get enough of her performance, but I unfortunately don’t think the first time nominee is going to win.

Mo’Nique in Precious- I haven’t seen the movie, but apparently this comic turned actress was so awesomely destructive in this role that she pretty much already has this award on her mantel.

Which actress will win? Mo'Nique in Precious
Which actress should win? Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air
Which actress am I rooting against? Maggie Gyllenhall in Crazy Heart

Best of the Decade: Movies

As 2009 winds down so too does the decade. These past 10 years have been a trying time in the land of the free. In fact, because of 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the financial meltdown Time Magazine has called the 00's the "worst decade ever" (Surely, the 1930's were worse, right?) It's a bit weird to think that, for all intents and purposes, I grew up in this decade. My entire high school career, my entire college career, and the beginning of my actual career all took place in this ten year stretch. In 50 years people might look back on the 00's as a decade of turmoil, but I'll look back on them as some of the best years of my life.

I mean, let's be honest, the 00's were filled with some great moments. During this final month of the decade, I will compile various "Best of the decade" lists for your viewing pleasure. Each list has been compiled under the same set of criteria.

- Did I enjoy it? Did the movie/song/moment/etc. resonate with me personally?
- Did the people who's opinions really matter like it?
- How much does it typify the decade? In 20-30 years will people think of it when they think of the 00's?

First up, the best movies of the decade.


10.) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)


Although I'm a sucker for closure the first film of this trilogy, based on the volumes written by J.R.R Tolkien, was clearly the best. I was interested in the trilogy from the get go because my dad read the prequel, "The Hobbit" (a chapter a night before we went to bed), to my brother and I when we were little (Do parents still do that?).

That being said, the film presents the entire premise in a way that is easy to understand even for those not familiar with Tolkien's "middle earth". Peter Jackson's direction of this film was not only incredible from an effects/scenery standpoint, but also for it's accuracy in regards to the original work.

One thing I liked about the movie was that Tolkien's fantasy tale is not overshadowed by any particular actor or actress. The story of the ring is what's most memorable and that's not to say that the cast was mediocre because that couldn't be further from the truth. Viggo Mortenson was incredibly badass as Aragorn, Sir Ian McKellan was terrific as Gandalf, Orlando Bloom was on the mark (no pun intended) as Legalos, and how could I not love Sean Astin (Rudy) as Sam? Hell, Liv Tyler was even pretty good as Arwen. I also must give some props to the character Gimli, the dwarf with the battle axe, because my oldest brother and his girlfriend named their new dog after him.

Most people point to the The Return of the King as the best of the three films and it won 11 Oscars including Best Picture, but not me. That movie was good, but it was literally a full hour too long. Five different times in theater I thought the movie was over before it actually ended.


9.) Walk the Line (2005)

Vivian Cash: You can't wear black. It looks like you're going to a funeral.
Johnny Cash: Maybe I am...

Other biopics in the decade were more hyped (Ray, The Aviator), but none were as succuessful as Walk the Line. Maybe Johnny Cash's life was just more suitable for such a film, but that doesn't change the fact that Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of the American icon was electric. Now as good as he was and he was very good, Reese Witherspoon's performance as June Carter was even more remarkable. So remarkable that I would not hesistate to say that it was head and shoulders above any other female performance of the decade.

I liked Walk the Line because it was filled with real, raw human emotion. We saw the extreme highs and extreme lows of a rock star. Cash loved being on the road, but it led him to rampant drug abuse and away from his family.

Something should also be said about the scene where Cash and his band perform in front of the record producer. It was truly an inspirational moment. After they play a few songs, the producer stops them and says, "If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing *one* song. One song that people would remember before you're dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin' me that's the song you'd sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it's real, and how you're gonna shout it? Or... would you sing somethin' different. Somethin' real. Somethin' *you* felt. Cause I'm telling you right now, that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothin to do with believin' in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin' in yourself."


8.) Blood Diamond (2006)


My buddy Glancy took a film class in college because he, like myself, is a big movie buff. On the first day of class the professor went around the room and asked everyone what they thought the best film of all time was. All of the film geeks that took the class because they had unrealistic goals of becoming the next Spielberg said movies like Rear Window (1954), Citizen Kane (1941), and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Glancy said Top Gun (1986). As soon as he said it all of the film majors laughed in that snarky "we're smarter than you" way, but Glancy went on to defend his choice by saying, "It has everything you could want in a film. There's action, adventure, drama, and romance. It's got it all."

That's how I feel about Blood Diamond. Leonardo DiCaprio (whether you liked his accent or not) was extraordinary, as usual. My buddy Matty K's favorite actor Djimon Hounsou pulled off his dramatic scenes well enough to make the audience sympathize with him as a father/husband desperate to get his family back and he was obviously perfect in all of the action scenes because of his physicality. Jennifer Connolly, as I believe I have said in the past, was sneaky hot in this film. At first she's a good looking 35-year old, but you aren't blown away. Then as the plot develops, so to does her character. Then towards the end of the film she suddenly seems incredibly hot.


7.) The Dark Knight (2008)


When I initially compiled these rankings The Dark Knight came in around 12 or 13. There was no questioning the film's captivating nature, but it wasn't nominated for Best Picture, it's about 20-25 minutes too long, and Maggie Gyllenhaal lacks any sort of sex appeal (she's a bad projection for what Amanda Bynes will look like in 10 years). How could I seriously suggest that a summer blockbuster, and one based on a comic book no less, was one of the 10 best movies of the decade? Then, as I thought more about it I realized that there were plenty more arguments to be made as to why it should make the top 10 as opposed to why it shouldn't.

1.) My buddy Frank would probably murder me if I didn't include it. In fact, he'll probably complain that I didn't have it in my top 5.
2.) In a decade that was rife with superhero films this one was better than all of the others by leaps and bounds.
3.) Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker might be the defining role of the decade and would have been even if he didn't tragically die because he snorted more coke than the Olsen twins. By the way, talk about high risk/high reward. Ledger's drug use simultaneously led to one of the most memorable acting performances of our day and to his untimely demise.
4.) Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, who've both won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, gave stellar performances without stealing the show.
5.) The special effects were amazing.
6.) The film contained undertones about the goodness of human nature. For example, the boat scene. Would that have happened in real life? I'm not so sure, but it evoked positive message nonetheless.


6.) Crash (2005)


In today's world it seems as if the only purpose of film, literature, television, etc. is to entertain, but this film reminded us that these creative outlets can do much more. At it's core Crash was a social commentary about our modern culture. It tapped into the everyday disconnect that is felt throughout our diverse society. The film's message was that we are all in this life together and that we all go through the same struggles, but for whatever reason we all put up fences in order to shield ourselves from others.

Orchestrating a film with multiple storylines that work in and out and blend together in order to demonstrate a singular message is a very delicate task. Films of this nature usually fail (see Bobby, Vantage Point), but when they are done successfully they can be very powerful. Another film that successfully employed this narrative style is Love Actually (2003), which I'm not ashamed to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed.


5.) The Departed (2006)


The film featured two of the best actors of our generation (Damon and DiCaprio) as cops that worked on both sides of the law with a big shot criminal played by one of the best actors of all time (Jack Nicholson). One cop (Damon) was dirty and helped the crime boss avoid the swift arm of the law. The other cop (DiCaprio) went undercover and tried to bring down the crime boss from the inside by infiltrating his crew. When you break it all down, that's the gist of the plot and even at it's simplest level the duality is pretty awesome.

The rest of the cast was brilliant as well. Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin both deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominations (Wahlberg got one, Baldwin didn't). Martin Sheen was great and Vera Farmiga was sneaky hot.

The best scene from the entire movie (from an acting perspective) was definitely when DiCaprio shows up at Farmiga's apartment. The sexual tension combined with the anxiety, nervousness, longing, and vulnerability that they both show in the scene is perfectly complimented by Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". The scene is just amazing. DiCaprio is at one of his lowest moments and desperately wants to feel something that is real. Farmiga, who's sneaky hotness is at an all time high in this scene, is questioning her decision to move in with Damon and in this moment senses more of a connection with a man that she knows only as her patient with a criminal record.

Another great part about this movie is that it has rewatchability. If it's on TV, I'm watching it (Only 4-5 other movies have this power over me). Also, I think I've said this before, but the first time I watched the movie for some reason I was pulling for Matt Damon. I didn't want him to get caught. Everytime I've seen it since I've been all about DiCaprio's character. Seriously, outside of Denzel, who is even on his level as an actor?


4.) Finding Neverland (2004)


Simply a touching film. I had a few reservations about seeing it at first because on the surface it seems a little feminine and it's only rated PG, but it's now one of the first films that I recommend to others. The film really puts the power of belief and imagination on display. Seriously, watch it and then try to tell me you didn't absolutely love everything about it.

In case you didn't watch the trailer (I could watch these ten trailers all day), this film is about the author J.M Barrie's inspiration for his materpiece; Peter Pan. It features a very good Johnny Depp and the best actress of our generation, Kate Winslet.


3.) Gone Baby Gone (2007)

He lied to me. I can't think of one reason big enough for him to lie that's small enough not to matter.

During my senior year of college I had strong feelings for a young dame. Let's call her Tristen. As I've previously mentioned Tristen reciprocated those feelings, but also had strong feelings for someone else. Let's call him Lyle. A few months into the year Tristen (perhaps wisely) chose to be with Lyle. Let the record show that they have now been engaged for more than a year. My feelings for Tristen did not subside overnight, but I knew that I had to move on. In the weeks that followed I began hooking up with another girl. Let's call her Melissa.

I wish I was kidding when I say that at that point Melissa had only seen about 10 movies in her entire life. Knowing this, I decided to expand her horizons a bit, so for our first official date I took her to see Gone Baby Gone. As we walked into the theater on that fateful Wednesday night we noticed that only two other people were there; Tristen and Lyle. Now I've had some pretty awkward moments in my life, but none were even in the same ball park as that one. I was literally stunned. They were in the middle of the second to last row so we were relegated to sitting about 4-5 rows in front of them, but a little to the left (facing the screen). I think Tristen and I exchanged a quick wave, but I was so overcome with emotions that I honestly don't even remember. I'm not sure if Melissa or Lyle even knew the entire story, but Tristen and I later discussed how we've both never felt an awkward moment quite like that in our entire lives.

That all being said, I loved the movie. I had never seen a film in which Casey Affleck was the leading character and I must say that I was thoroughly impressed. Ed Harris and Amy Ryan were also outstanding. The movie had me hooked from the opening voice over.

"I always believed it was the things you don't choose that makes you who you are. Your city, your neighborhood, your family. People here take pride in these things, like it was something they'd accomplished. The bodies around their souls, the cities wrapped around those. I lived on this block my whole life; most of these people have. When your job is to find people who are missing, it helps to know where they started. I find the people who started in the cracks and then fell through. This city can be hard. When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God said to His children. "You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves."

Although you got the feeling that the movie might end about half way through it, the actual ending was the definition of thought provoking. The decision that Casey Affleck's character faces is one that I have had hour long arguments with my friends and family members about. If I've said it once I'll say it 1000 times, you could teach an entire ethics course based solely on this film. The ending is so controversial that I bet plenty of couples have broken up because of this movie. There are arguments to be made for both sides, but there is no gray area.


2.) Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

LATIKA!

Slumdog is a heartwarming, uplifting tale. Director Danny Boyle's recreation of Vikas Swarup's novel "Q & A" is magnificent. In case you haven't seen it, the movie is about a poor boy from the slums who goes on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and knows the answers to all of the 15 questions because of his incredible life experiences. The plot construction is both simple and genius. The main character, Jamal, is presented with a question on the game show and then the audience is shown a poignant story from his childhood where he has learned the answer to the question. Now it's not that cut and dry, but that's the premise. There is also a love story that develops from the childhood stories and comes to fruition because of the game show experience. If you haven't seen the film, drop what you're doing right now and go see it. It's that good.

A few weeks ago I was working on a four hour radio show (Football Tonight) and inbetween segments the host and I were talking about movies. What we liked. What we didn't. What our producer needed to see. Now the host has had two children in the past 20 months and hasn't seen many movies in that time, so he asked me what movies he needed to see. Without hesitation the first movie out of my mouth was Slumdog. At the end of the show he referred to me on air, as "the movie guy." I really believe that Slumdog will be one of the movies that people still talk about in 30 years.


1.) Mystic River (2003)


Mystic River is a raw, gripping, emotional crime thriller. The film is equally dark and powerful. A man's daughter is murdered and he and his friends perform their own investigation, often interviewing witnessess before the police do. As the clues are pieced together the audience is forced to wonder what will come first, justice by way of the law or vengeance by the girl's father? Let's jut say that in an intriguing plot twist author Dennis Lehane, who also wrote Gone Baby Gone, gives us both.

The cast of the best movie of the decade is, of course, extraordinary. Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, and Tim "Andy Dufresne" Robbins play childhood friends that have taken different paths in life, but are all brought back together by this murder. Penn, in an Oscar winning role plays the murdered girl's father, Bacon plays the detective investigating the murder, and Robbins in an Oscar winning role plays an aloof man who becomes a prime suspect in the murder investigation. I also must give some love to The Sandlot's Scott Smalls, who plays the boyfriend of the murdered girl.

The end of the film provides one of the best lines of the decade. Of course, if you haven't seen the movie this will mean nothing to you.

Sean: So Jimmy, when was the last time you saw Dave?
Jimmy: The last time I saw Dave...
Sean: Yeah, Dave Boyle.
Jimmy: Dave Boyle...
Sean: Yeah Jimmy, Dave Boyle.
Jimmy: That was twenty-five years ago, going up this street, in the back of that car.


The best of the rest:

’00- Gladiator, Traffic, Castaway, Almost Famous
’01- A Beautiful Mind
’02- Gangs of New York, Catch Me If You Can
’03- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
’04- Million Dollar Baby, Man on Fire, Collateral, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
’05- V for Vendetta
’06- Inside Man, The Prestige
’07- Michael Clayton, Juno
’08- Iron Man

Affleckted (I know it's terrible)

Even though the media and all of these so-called critics bag on him for being a terrible actor, I'll be honest with you, I'm a Ben Affleck fan.



Here are the three reasons that I am a fan

1.) He's a hunk

Sure he's suffered through some tough times, but in true college dude form he essentially puked and rallied his way through it. After splitting with that lucious Latina, Affleck was brilliant in choosing his next fiance (this one would actually go on to marry him and bear his child) in that he was able to successfully dodge any sort of media scrutiny (which of course was the downfall of his relationship with J Lo) by employing the old Double Jeopardy tactic. As you all should know, the paparazzi had dubbed he and Jennifer Lopez 'Bennifer'. By hooking up with another Hollywood Celebrity named Jennifer (Garner), Affleck assured himself much less media coverage because (to finish the metaphor) he had already been convicted of that crime. I'm sure it also helped that Garner is one of those lovable women that has the "it" factor. The unexplainable girl next door/something about her/marriage material quality.

2.) He has a little bit of talent

Despite all the media criticism (everyone knows Matt Damon is the better actor, Ben's over it), Affleck has still managed to have a very good Hollywood career. Obviously we all know who Ben is because of the 1997 classic Good Will Hunting that he and Damon co-wrote and starred in. Affleck actually has the best line of the entire movie (starts at the 2:15 mark), although some would argue that this line is better. A few of his other career highlights include playing the badass Fred O'Bannion in Dazed and Confused, showing his romantic side in Armageddon, delivering what I thought was a very good performance in an underrated movie in Paycheck (his next film after the disaster that was Gigli), and who can forget this scene from Boiler Room.



"Ear to ear, baby"

Not to mention that one of my favorite movies Gone Baby Gone was his directorial debut. I swear you could teach an entire Ethics course based solely on that movie. I was sold on it before I even saw it because the book was written by the same guy that wrote Mystic River, Dennis Lehane.

3.) He's funny

Surprisingly, Affleck is has a knack for being hysterical. Just a few weeks ago, Affleck delivered a pretty good impersonation of former Sportscenter anchor and current MSNBC bleeding heart liberal host Keith Olbermann. That clip is a little long, but if you've ever watched a minute of Countdown you will appreciate it. This impersonation is actually more spot on. You might also remember that Affleck teamed up with Jimmy Kimmel in one of the best retorts of all time.



How either one of them was able to keep a straight face, I will never know.