The Best and the Worst of 2009

Looking back at the 2009 year, we had a fantastic year for movies. But just like any other year, we had some real bombs to sit through. We watched some super heroes and child hood toys finally hit the big screen, several types of alien forms and who could forget the Bear Jew?

With the myriad of films to choose from, it was hard to put these films in any type of order, but it's done. It was a bit easier for the not so good films, as those stand out pretty well. So, to start things off, here are the ten worst films of 2009:

10. White Out- The graphic novel this film is based on is actually pretty cool and unique, but they deviated so far from that story that it was the same in name only. Bad story and badly executed.

9. 2012- Just because a film is full of CGI doesn't make it an instant blockbuster film. A rehashed storyline and characters couldn't save this film from being an overly long film that will send your senses into over load.

8. The Surrogates- If you can get past the image of Bruce Willis with no wrinkles (has he ever not had wrinkles?), then you are able to sit back and watch a completely pointless movie. It's hard not to notice the similarities between this film and "I, Robot."

7. Twilight Saga: New Moon- While this film was better than the first by a long shot, the lagging story and lack of action pulls this one down. Acting was better, but there is still much room for improvement.

6. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li- I think it's time for Hollywood to realize that even though video games have great stories, they just don't translate well to films. I will say that this was much better than the first attempt that was made. Hopefully "Prince of Persia" will change this trend.

5. Knowing- I don't like Nicolas Cage. There, I feel better. This film could have been so much better, but the ending did this film in. It was just way too over the top. Cage was actually tolerable in this film and the CGI work was incredible, but those aspects couldn't quite complete this film.

4. Dragonball Evolution- This film was just a bad idea for live-action. Anime needs to stay that way. The acting was horrific and the CGI work was very underwhelming.

3. Halloween II- This film should not have been allowed to even be associated with the iconic film series. Rob Zombie's first "Halloween" film was actually quite good, but this one came out of left field and it just did not work well. The characters were changed to the point that they were unrecognizable.

2. G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra- When I first heard about this film, I knew the quality was going to come down to the script...and it was BAD! When you have an actor like Dennis Quaid, you'd expect that he'd be able to make it work, but even he was lack-luster and unimpressive. I had to do my best to not walk out of this one.

1. Land of the Lost- I don't even know where to begin with this film. I guess they just figured since Will Farrell was starring, the film would just make money. Turns out that this film is one of the worst film flops in history. The story was weak and the acting was just embarrassing. If Farrell was smart, he'd disappear for a while and let this film be erased from peoples memories.

Now, on to the films that really impressed me this year, which was quite a few, but I think I did pretty well here.

10. The Hurt Locker- Jeremy Renner made this film what it was. His work in the lead role was amazing. The movie had some very intense moments, but they didn't quite last through out the film. This easily could have been the best film of the year had the intensity continued, but it is still worth the watch.

9. Avatar- James Cameron's latest film is a visual masterpiece and can't be missed. Zoe Saldana is amazing to watch and I can't wait to see her continue her career. The story is the only thing I didn't like about this movie, as it could have been a bit more original, but I enjoyed it none the less.

8. Watchmen- Zack Snyder's adaptation of this award winning graphic novel is visually stunning, in a way that only Snyder can do it. However, the lack of a wider audience appeal keeps me from ranking this one higher. If you are not familiar with the novel, then there is a lot of confusion and questions that arise. Still, a fantastic movie.

7. Brothers- I was thrilled by Tobey MacGuire's performance in this film. He tapped into a corner of his being that we have never seen. Natalie Portman proved that she can dance with the big girls with this film and Gyllenhaal just continues to show that he is an amazing actor. The story is touching and sad, but is done with tact.

6. Fantastic Mr. Fox- Although I am not a huge fan of Wes Anderson, Mr. Fox is a film that can't be missed. It's a good change from the computer animation that we've been force fed for so long. Not to mention the best voice over work in any film I've ever seen.

5. The Messenger- As with Brothers, this film touches on a subject that is very emotional, but it is done in a way as to not press on the issue or feed an agenda. Fantastic acting and a great story make this a film that needs to be watched.

4. Up- Easily Disney/Pixar's best film. They added a new level of emotion to the film and I think it worked out pretty well. It has comedy for both young and old as well as some fun action and hilarious characters. It's the best family film of the year, if not the decade.

3. Inglorious Basterds- Tarantino films aren't for everybody and this is no exception. I can't think of another director/writer who can include a scene in a film that for nearly 45 minutes, the actors do nothing but talk and it still holds your attention and is entertaining! One of Brad Pitt's most unique roles, but it is amazing and Christoph Waltz was stellar. I'd say this might be Tarantino's best work...so far.

2.(500) Days of Summer- This unique twist on a love story, a film is created that is a one of a kind. Joseph Gordon Leavitt has cemented his status as a legit actor. Add to that the quirkiness of Zooey Deschanel and you have quite the pairing. The story is not your typical love story, which disappointed some, but it's nice to see something different.

1. District 9- With a budget of about $30 million, this film proved that you don't need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars likes some of the other "blockbusters" we see. A fantastic and unique story combined with some incredible CGI work makes this film a must see. It is not at all what you'd expect to see, so keep an open mind.

There you have it! I know some of you will disagree with this list (Seth and wife...) but I'd love to get some feedback from you. What would you add or take away? I can't wait to get going on the 2010 film year as it's looking to be a fantastic year for films!

I'd also like to wish you all a happy and prosperous new year!

Sherlock Holmes

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong

Rated PG-13

Grade: B

For the most part, we all have a pre-conceived idea of who or what Sherlock Holmes should be: a pipe-smoking, tweed-wearing old man that uses big words. One thing is for sure, Guy Ritchie's version of the iconic literary character is anything but your grandpa's old familiar. This film is a main stream attempt from Ritchie, who typically serves up a quirky, unique style that is all his own. Not to say this is a bad thing, but his true style still eeks it's way to the surface just enough to let you know that he is still there.

From the get go, the film is quite action packed and offers up something a bit different than the martial arts laden films we've been inundated with recently. It has a raw and natural feel to it, helping to pull you into the story, even though it delves into the "magic" world. There is the usual action film fodder, with explosions and hand to hand battles, but there is a bit of the standard Ritchie fare, including some comedy moments that only Mr. Downey could pull off.

On the topic of RDJ, he is on top of his game in this film. His delivery of lines is impeccable. He's the type of actor that you can have him read the phone book and you could be entertained for hours. The pairing of Downey and Jude Law is one that can put a confused look on your face and make you wonder how that'll work out. It's a great combination and it's nice to see Law step out of his box and try something new. Rachel McAdams leaves something to be desired. She can be good, but her character in this film not written well. Although pertinent to the Sherlock Holmes story, at least in this version, and in future films, she could easily have been a lesser character; it's rather odd to me.

The story itself is an original if I remember correctly and it deals with the subject of black magic, which to me is something you wouldn't really expect from a Holmes story. It is a believable idea, but I had a hard time getting into it, just not quite enough to really pull you in.

Guy Ritchie continues to utilize the camera to make his movies entertaining. With many unique angles and the use of different lens types, it adds a new element to the film. There are several amazing slow-motion scenes that are very well done, to the point where it just makes you smile in awe.

With all these outstanding elements, you would think this formula would add up, but it simply doesn't connect. The film has its entertaining moments and is fun to watch, it should have been more than it was. Being that this is Rithchie's first attempt at a more "main-stream" film, he has room to grow with the next installment to this series, which I hope he learns from the little things that don't add up.

In Rememberence...

As the 2009 year comes to a close, I'd like to take a few moments to remember some of the actors, actresses, musicians and other icons who have passed on this year. I'd like to send out my thank you to all of these people and to all the others who have passed on. They have left us a legacy that will never be forgotten, whether it be iconic characters or guilty pleasure songs, we will remember.

Bea Arthur- Actress, "Golden Girls"
Billy Mays- Pitch Man
Danny Gans- Las Vegas Entertainer
David Carradine- Actor, "Kung Fu" and "Kill Bill Vol. 1&2"
Dom DeLuise- Actor/Comedian, "Cannonball Run" & "Blazing Saddles"
Ed McMahon- Television Personality, "The Tonight Show"
Alaina Reed Hall- Actress, "Sesame Street" and "227"
Farrah Fawcett- Actress, "Charlie's Angels"
Henry Gibson- Actor, "The Burbs"
John Hughes- Director, "The Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
Les Paul- Guitar/Music Legend
Michael Jackson- Musician
Patrick Swayze- Actor, "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost"
Walter Cronkite- News Anchor
Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein- DJ
Ted Kennedy- Politician
Ricardo Montalban- Actor, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and "Fantasy Island"
Brittany Murphey- Actress, "Clueless" and "Sin City"
Jeremy Lusk- Motocross Racer
Steve McNair- Former NFL Quarterback
Natasha Richardson- Actress, "Blow Dry." Wife of actor Liam Neeson.

Random Movie News: Marvin the Martian, Bond 23, 21 Jumpstreet, Venom Spin-off & More

Alex Zamm, director of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2" has been asked to direct an upcoming film based on the Looney Tunes character Marvin the Martian for Warner Brothers. The story will follow Marvin as he comes to Earth to destroy Christmas, but finds himself getting stuck in a gift box. It looks as though the film will be a CGI/Live-Action combo, similar to "Alvin and the Chipmunks." It is being rumored that Mike Myers of "Shrek" fame could be voicing the character. This sounds like a really bad idea to me...on several levels.

Bloodydisgusting.com recently posted an interview with Robert Rodriguez, director of "Sin City," in which he talks about the status of the sequel to the aforementioned film: "We still talk about doing that as early/later next year, but I haven’t gotten into that yet," Rodriguez told us. "I know Frank [Miller] wants to do it I know I wanna do it and its always sort of time permitting kind of thing but its not like I can tell you definitely we’re starting…its not my next picture I know that. Doesn’t mean that its not the picture right after because that’s still a possibility." The sooner the better, says this geek!

On a related note, for those that were unaware, Brittany Murphey passes away this past Sunday. Murphey was known for her roles in "Clueless" and "8 Mile" but also starred in "Sin City" among other films. RIP Brittany.

Topher Grace, who played the simbiote Venom in "Spiderman 3" has stated that he has not been approached to reprise the role in the 2012 spin-off film "Venom." This geek thinks that this is great news. Anything that can separate this film from that debauchery is a good thing. Thanks to movieweb.com for the info!

The scribe for the "Bond 23" film, Peter Morgan, has said that his script for the upcoming film is "shocking" states MI6 (a website devoted to the Bond films and books). Morgan has written for such films as "The Queen" and "The Last King of Scotland." Pre-production for the film has been put on hold until February, but is still scheduled for release fall of 2011. I'm still hoping for Muse to perform the next Bond theme song... They'd be perfect!

Variety is reporting that "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller will be helming the big screen adaptation of "21 Jump Street." The film, based on the TV series that helped launch Johnny Depp to the film world. The script was co-written by Jonah Hill of "Superbad" stardom, he will also star and executive produce the film.

Variety is also reporting that Paramount Pictures is planning a film franchise based on the Doc Holliday character. The series will have a "Pirates of the Caribbean" feel to it and will follow the sickened Holliday gun-fighter, who also formed a strong friendship with lawman Wyatt Earp. No word on who will take the role, but the character has been portrayed by Dennis Quaid in "Wyatt Earp" as well as Val Kilmer in "Tombstone," which by the way is one of the greatest acting jobs in history...according to me.

Laurence Fishburne has been cast in a pivotal role in the new "Predators" film, being produced by Robert Rodriguez. The film is a direct sequel to the original Arnold Schwarzenegger film and will by pass the the stories of the "Aliens vs. Predators" films. Fishburne joins Adrien Brody, Topher Grace and Danny Trejo on the the film.

Thanks to darkhorizons.com, comicbookmovie.com and the above mentioned websites for the info!

Avatar

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Steven Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder

Rated PG-13

Grade: B+

I apologize for the delay on the review for this film, but I really had to process this one for some reason, as there were several aspects of the film that are absolutely stunning, others that were not so much. Over the past year or so, there has been a lot of buzz over this film; with the talk of the $300 million budget, the "ground-breaking" filming technology, etc., I couldn't help but think that this film was going to be absolutely stunning. Then September 2009 hits and we see the first trailer for "Avatar" and a resounding "What the hell?" came from the sci-fi and film world. While the film was astounding to watch, I couldn't help but feel that something was not right or missing. More on that later.

Like many others have stated in their reviews, the technology used to film this movie is incredible and pretty much seamless, which pulls you into the film's world like no other film has been able to do. The colors, the movement, the detail, all were just stunning to watch. When "Transformers" came out a few years back, I was amazed at the CG work in that film, but this...this is unparalleled and will change how movies are filmed. Cameron's mind was somewhere else when he envisioned Pandora, and it paid off, big time.

While I don't think he was horrible, Sam Worthington as Jake Sulley was tolerable. He is still lacking the raw emotion that many great actors have. That and the fact that his Aussie accent kept sneaking in here and there. The real star of this one was Zoe Saldana; she blew the rest of the cast out of the water. She showed such emotion through out the film and we never even get to see her face really, only that of her alien character. Stephen Lang's character was easily the most annoying and cliched in any film this year. I don't think it was possible for him to chew any harder on the scenery. Sigourney Weaver...enough said. Few really remember CCH Pounder from films, but she is one of the great co-stars out there and doesn't get enough credit for her roles.

Now on to the bad part of the film for me: the story. At the surface, the story seems something original and deep, with the "man vs. nature" theme going on, but if you break it down, the story actually follows a pretty standard idea. To put it simply, if you've seen "Dances with Wolves" or "Pocahontas," then you know the story here. The problem you ask? Well, with all the hype that James Cameron put out there on this film, basically saying this film was going to change films as we know it and the like, I feel let down by such a simple story. I don't think we needed to see any too deep as that would distract you from the world he created, but something a bit more original would have bumped this film to a whole new level.

So, with all of that said, this film is definitely one you need to watch and I highly suggest you go the 3D route if possible, it adds such a new element to the film. You will experience a new type of filming. But the lack of unique story holds me back from giving this a higher grade. Let the bashing begin...

Top 50 Films of the Past Decade

Believe it or not, another decade has come and gone. It seems like only yesterday that the world was in turmoil over the "Y2K" issue and preparing for the worse. Here we are 10 years later, getting ready for the potential "End of Days" with the 2012 speculations! Over the past 10 years, we have seen a variety of films come and go. Some good and some bad, others really bad (G.I. Joe anyone?). I felt it necessary to compile a list of my favorite films of the past decade. Keep in mind that I don't pretend to have seen every movie ever made, and I know that I have missed some fantastic movies (feel free to suggest them to me), but this list includes quite a variety of films. I tried to keep it closer to 25, but alas, I have too many that I could not leave out. So...on with the show! Enjoy!

50- Bourne Trilogy (Doug Liman, Paul Greengrass) 2002, 2004, 2007
49- Hotel Rwanda (Terry George) 2004
48- The Hangover (Todd Phillips) 2009
47- Finding Nemo (Andrew Stinton, Lee Unkrich) 2003
46- Erin Brockovich (Steven Soderbergh) 2000
45- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee) 2000
44- Gladiator (Ridley Scott) 2000
43- Enemy at the Gates (Jeann-Jaques Annaud) 2001
42- Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Peter Jackson) 2001, 2002, 2003
41- A History of Violence (David Cronenberg) 2005
40- Alpha Dog (Nick Cassavetes) 2006
39- Watchmen (Zack Snyder) 2009
38- The Black Dahlia (Brian de Palma) 2006
37- 28 Days Later...(Danny Boyle) 2002
36- The Beach (Danny Boyle) 2000
35- Road to Perdition (Sam Mendes) 2002
34- The Orphanage (Juan Antonio Bayona) 2007
33- Best in Show (Christopher Guest) 2000
32- Napoleon Dynamite (Jared Hess) 2004
31- Catch Me if You Can (Steven Spielberg) 2003
30- Gangs of New York (Martin Scorsese) 2000
29- Moulin Rouge (Baz Luhrman) 2002
28- Juno (Jason Reitman) 2007
27- Memento (Christopher Nolan) 2000
26- No Country for Old Men (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) 2007
25- O Brother, Where Art Thou (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) 2000
24- Crash (Paul Haggis) 2005
23- American Psycho (Mary Harron) 2002
22- X-Men (Bryan Singer) 2000
21- 300 (Zack Snyder) 2007
20- Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright) 2004
19- Big Fish (Tim Burton) 2003
18- Batman Begins (Christopher Nolan) 2005
17- Into the Wild (Sean Penn) 2008
16- X2: X-Men United (Bryan Singer) 2003
15- The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow) 2009
14- Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly) 2001
13- Pineapple Express (David Gordon Green) 2008
12- Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredson) 2008
11- (500) Days of Summer (Marc Webb) 2008
10- Superbad (Greg Mattola) 2007
9- Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson) 2009
8- District 9 (Neill Blomkamp) 2009
7- The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan) 2008
6- Gone Baby Gone (Ben Affleck) 2007
5- Up (Pete Docter, Bob Peterson) 2009
4- Inglorious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino) 2009
3- Snatch (Guy Ritchie) 2000
2- Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro) 2006
1- The Departed ( Martin Scorsese) 2006

Honorable Mentions:
- Casino Royale (Martin Campbell) 2006
- V for Vendetta (James McTeigue) 2005
- Sin City (Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino) 2005
- Grindhouse (Robert Rodriguz, Eli Roth) 2007
- Brothers (Jim Sheridan) 2009
- 3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold) 2007
- Royal Tennenbaums (Wes Anderson) 2001
- Mulholland Drive (David Lynch) 2001
- The Messenger (Oren Moverman) 2009
- Across the Universe (Julie Taymor) 2007

Feel free to leave some feedback!

2010 Golden Globe Nominees

It's that time of year when we see the "award" movies hit the screens and the expectations for films sky rockets to a new level. Just today, to kick things off, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association released its nominations for the 2010 Golden Globe Awards. These awards celebrates achievements in both film and television and also provide a hint as to how the Academy Awards (Oscars) will turn out. So, without further ado, here are the nominations, I have bolded the selection that I feel will be the winner:

1.BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Up in the Air

2.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Emily Blunt- The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock- The Blind Side
Helen Mirren- The Last Station
Carey Mulligan- An Education
Gabourey Sidibe- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

3.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Jeff Bridges- Crazy Heart
George Clooney- Up in the Air
Colin Firth- A Single Man
Morgan Freeman- Invictus
Tobey Maguire- Brothers

4.BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

5.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR
MUSICAL
Sandra Bullock- The Proposal
Marion Cotillard- Nine
Julia Roberts- Duplicity
Meryl Streep- It's Complicated
Meryl Streep- Julie & Julia

6.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY
OR MUSICAL
Matt Damon- The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis- Nine
Robert Downey, Jr.- Sherlocke Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt- (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg- A Serious Man

7.BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

8.BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Baaria (Italy)
Broken Embraces (Spain)
The Maid (Chile)
A Prophet (France)
The White Ribbon (Germany)

9.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A
MOTION PICTURE
Penelope Cruz- Nine
vera Farmiga- Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick- Up in the Air
Mo'Nique- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Julianne Moore- A Single Man

10.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A
MOTION PICTURE
Matt Damon- Invictus
Woody Harrelson- The Messenger
Christopher Plummer- The Last Station
Stanley Tucci- The Lovely Bones
Chritoph Waltz- Inglorious Basterds

11.BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Kathryn Bigelow- The Hurt Locker
James Cameron- Avatar
Clint Eastwood- Invictus
Jason Reitman- Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino- Inglorious Basterds

12.BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell- District 9
Mark Boal- The Hurt Locker
Nancy Meyers- It's Comlicated
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner- Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino- Inglorious Basterds

13.BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
Michael Giacchino- Up
Marvin Hamlisch- The Informant!
James Horner- Avatar
Abel Korzeniowski- A Single Man
Karen O, Carter Burwell- Where the Wild Things Are

14.BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
"Cinema Italiano"- Nine, Mary Yeston
"I Want to Come Home"- Everybody's Fine, Paul McCartney
"I See You"- Avatar, James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell
"The Weary Kind"- Crazy Heart, Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
"Winter"- Brothers, U2, Bono


15.BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Big Love (HBO)
Dexter (Showtime)
House (FOX)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
DRAMA
Glenn Close- Damages
January Jones- Mad Men
Juliana Margulies- The Good Wife
Anna Paquin- True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick- The Closer

17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Simon Baker- The Menatlist
Michael C. Hall- Dexter
Jon Hamm- Mad Men
Hugh Laurie- House
Bill Paxton- Big Love

18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 Rock (NBC)
Entourage (HBO)
Glee (FOX)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Office (NBC)

19. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Toni Collette- United States of Tara
Courtney Cox- Cougar Town
Edie Falco- Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey- 30 Rock
Lea Michele- Glee

20.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock
Steve Carrell- The Office
David Duchovny- Californication
Thomas Jane- Hung
Matthew Morrison- Glee

21.BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Georgia O'Keeffe (Lifetime)
Grey Gardens (HBO)
Into the Storm (HBO)
Little Dorrit (PBS)
Taking Chance (HBO)

22.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Joan Allen- Georgia O'Keeffe
Drew Barrymore- Grey Gardens
Jessica Lange- Grey Gardens
Anna Paquin- The Courageous Heart if Irena Sendler
Sigourney Weaver- Prayers for Bobby

23.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Bacon- Taking Chance
Kenneth Branagh- Wallander: One Step Behind
Chitwell Ejifor- Endgame
Brendan Gleeson- Into the Storm
Jeremy Irons- Georgia O'Keeffe

24.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A
SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jane Adams-Hung
Rose Byrne- Damages
Jane Lynch- Glee
Janet McTeer- Into the Storm
Chloe Sevigny- Big Love

25.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES,
MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Micheal Emerson- Lost
Neil Patrick Harris- How I Met Your Mother
William Hurt- Damages
Joh Lithgow- Dexter
Jeremy Piven- Entourage

The Golden Globe Awards will air on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 on NBC.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson

Rated PG

Grade: A-

Wes Anderson is a director that definitely has his own style, and it's not for everyone to be honest. They are a bit quirky and "off," so to speak, so why not throw in a stop-motion animation film into his unique repertoire? This is a fun and smart film. There are some laugh-out-loud moments and dialogue this is incredible. Add to that some of the best voice over work I've ever heard and you have a "Fantastic" (pun intended) film!

First, I'd like to say that this film is proof that Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks do not have the animation genre monopolized. It is refreshing to see something other than computer animation or motion-cap hit the big screen. My only real experience with stop motion is Tim Burton and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," in this film far exceeds those. It is really quite cool how it is filmed, the amount of detail that is in place. It's simply incredible.

The story here is rather simple, but it is very entertaining. We follow Mr. Fox and his family, as well as a slew of other woodland creatures, as they battle against 3 local farmers, Boggins, Bunce and Bean. Fox decides he'd like to relive his days as a chicken thief and in the process, endangers his family and friends. Wes Anderson and his writers have done an amazing job with this script, creating dialogue that is intelligent, yet includes a witty humor. There is no cussing involved here, save for the word itself, cuss. Every time a cuss word could be used, the actual word, cuss, is placed. My personal favorite...cluster cuss!

I mentioned the awesome voice-over work for this film and it's no exaggeration. It is so hard to select actors to do this type of work, as they need to be able to tell a story using only their voice. Yes, you have an animated story to go with that, but if you use actors who are unable to provide the depth needed, you will lose your audience. As much as I'm not a fan of George Clooney, he was stellar in his role as Fox. Meryl Streep need not convince me that she is one of the best actresses of our time; she is simply amazing to watch (or listen, as the case may be).

As I said, Anderson's movies are not for everyone, but I think this is easily his best film yet. Despite its unique look, it's a film that more of the general public can enjoy. I wouldn't exactly say this is a family film, just due to the type of humor it involves, it's not a silly, slap-stick style, so the kids might get a bit bored. Add this to list of my favorite films of the year! Great work Mr. Anderson!

Keep an eye out for the Best and Worst films of 2009, coming in the next few weeks!

The Messenger

Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Samantha Morton

Rated R (Language, Sexual content/nudity)

Grade: A-

If you read my review on "Brothers," then you probably saw that movies about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are a bit of a touchy subject. While this movie isn't a war movie, it deals with the sad and upsetting part of the war. This is a very good film, but it is a gut-wrenching topic. It is a simple film about a heavy topic, but it is done with tact and skill. It doesn't take a side or preach a an ideal, it is just a film that is amazing to watch unfold.

The story follows Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Foster) and Captain Tony Stone (Harrelson) who are assigned to the Casualty Notification Team of the Army. They are assigned the unfortunate task of tell family members that their soldier had been killed in action. There are some very touching and sad moments, as you can imagine. However, it is done in a tactful manner to not preach one side or the other of the wars our country is engaged in. While the film is not the most fast paced film, but the skill of the actors make it a film you want to watch. It is an emotional ride, but well worth it.

Woody Harrelson had a few years a while back when he could do no wrong, with films like "White Men Can't Jump" and "Indecent Proposal," he really made a name for himself. He kind of disappeared from the main stream for a while and this year he has made quite the come-back and has not missed a step. He is an incredible actor and has an ability to show true emotion without really trying. Add to this the acting chops of Ben Foster, who has starred in "3:10 to Yuma" and "Alpha Dog," and you have quite the pair. He is a rare talent and highly under-rated in my eyes. The two are paired perfectly in this film. The others in the cast are just as good and help add to the emotion that was needed to carry this film.

This is a film that is a must-see for this year. It is extremely well done and not over-produced like a lot of Hollywood films are now days. It is a simple, straight forward film that takes on a heavy topic, but is not meant to anger or take sides. Go watch this film, it is well worth it.

Brothers

Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sam Shepard, Bailee Madison, Taylor Geare, Mare Winningham

Rated R (Language, violent content)

Grade: A-

Recent film history has shown that films about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan tend to not do very well at the box office, some will even say that it's a taboo subject to portray. No matter what side of that argument you fall on, you have to agree that it brings up a lot of feelings. I think this film does a fantastic job of portraying some of what happens after someone has returned home. Having said that, I do not personally know someone who has been through this situation and my heart goes out to those who have.

Now, on to the film. This is easily one of the best films I have seen this year. Every aspect of this film just stands out to me: the acting, filming, the story. While these actors have been around for quite some time and they have all played a variety of character, this film is a best for all of them.

The story follows the family of a marine (Maguire) who is sent back to Afghanastan. Just before that happens, his brother (Gyllenhaal) is released from prison. After the marine's helicopter is shot down, his family tries to move on, having been told that he is dead. Brother steps in to help the family to cope with his and their loss. The story is actually a remake of a Danish film of the same name. The story seems quite simple, but it also has a depth that is rare these days. I hate to use such a cliche word to describe a film, but the film is really quite moving, in many ways.

As I stated earlier, this film is acted incredibly well. Tobey Maguire seems to have tapped into a dark corner of his being; his portrayal of Sam is disturbing and emotional. For those that are used to seeing him as the dorky Peter Parker and Spiderman, this is a whole new person. It really shows his abilities that he has been hiding away from us apparently. I've always known that Jake Gyllenhaal was talented, but this role allows him to show it off. His transition from the hard prisoner to loving family member is incredible and seamless. Natalie Portman has cemented her position as one of the top female actors of our time. She is stellar in her role. I can't leave out the two little girls, as they held their own in this group of actors, especially Bailee Madison. She has a scene that is one of the most moving scenes in the film.

Technically speaking, the movie is rather simple, which is perfect for this situation. The simplicity keeps the story in the fore front and doesn't distract you at all and allows the realism to take place. I have a tendency to notice music in films (not sure why, it just stands out to me) and the music that was selected here was a perfect fit for the story and the characters.

I love this time of year, as it is a time when some of the best movies are released and this is no exception. All the pieces come together in unique fashion to give us glimpse into the scattered world of war veterans and their families. I can't stress enough the gratitude I have for the men and women of the armed forces and their sacrifice. This film is simply amazing and I'd suggest that you check this one out.