Academy Award predictions

Academy Award Nominations came out today. This year I am resuming an old tradition of making Oscar picks. my choices are highlighted in blue.

Actor in a Leading Role -- This is a hard choice, I'm torn between Colin FIrth or a repeat by Jeff Bridges, but I'm gonna call it for Colin

• Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
• Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
• Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
• Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
• James Franco in “127 Hours”

Actor in a Supporting Role --I have seen none of these performances, I'm picking Geoffrey, because this film looks amazing to me.

• Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
• John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
• Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
• Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
• Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role --Okay, Natalie is the only performance I've seen here, and she was so amazing, I gotta give it to her.

• Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
• Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
• Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
• Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
• Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actress in a Supporting Role -- Again, haven't seen anything but the previews, but I'm giving it to the kid.

• Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
• Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
• Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
• Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
• Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Animated Feature Film --No Contest here, come on!

• “How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
• “The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet
• “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Directing --Tough call, I would have liked to Chris Nolan for INCEPTION, and BlackSwan and Social Network were great, but the Oscars love the Coen brothers.

• “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
• “The Fighter” David O. Russell
• “The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
• “The Social Network” David Fincher
• “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Music (Original Score) --I saw Social Network, and remember the music in no way, but Zimmer's score drove the action along so amazingly in INCEPTION, he has to win this.

• “How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell
• “Inception” Hans Zimmer
• “The King's Speech” Alexandre Desplat
• “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
• “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song) --I am protesting this category and not making a pick because Carrie Underwood's A Place For Us from Voyage of the Dawn Treader is way better tan any of these.

• “Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
• “I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
• “If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
• “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Best Picture --Tough category since they made it 10 nominees, if I had my way it would be Inception, but I'm thinking the academy will pick King's Speech.

• “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
• “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
• “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
• “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
• “The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
• “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
• “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
• “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
• “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
• “Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Check back after the awards, and we'll see how I did.

Black Swan, Little Fockers, The Dilemma, Country Strong 4 Mini-reviews

Okay, welcome to 2011, and seeing we are in the middle of January already, I am hear by foregoing my New Years Resolutions. I'm going to be my same old rotten nasty self all year.

Moving on, I'm now going to give you my review of the 4 movies I've seen so far this year. SPOILER ALERT: If you are planning to see any of the four movies named in the title, you may want to stop now, I might give away plot elements you don't want to know. In particular, Black Swan and Country Strong. If you continue now, don't be mad at me for giving things away.

I'll start with LITTLE FOCKERS-- For the third installment in this series Ben Stiller sticks with the familiar. There is really nothing new or surprising here. If Stiller's comedy is something you enjoy, you won't be disappointed. If your tastes run in different circles, stay away. The addition of Jessica Alba is nice for the men, sorry girls, no real eye candy for you, unless you're into Owen Wilson. 2 1/2 stars on a 4 star scale

BLACK SWAN-- Natalie Portman is amazing in this film, as is Mila Kunis. All the praise for the acting is well deserved. Given that, it is a very dark film, with a tragic ending. I think Portman's character could have been just as strong even if the film had had a happier ending. I was not disappointed with the film, until the ending. I was however a bit freaked out at parts of it. NOT a family film, and not for the fain of heart. 3 1/2 stars.

THE DILEMMA-- The movie, out of all 4, perhaps confused me the most. With a cast featuring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James and Queen Latifah you would expect a film full of laughs, and probably a lot of slapstick; a light fluffy film. This movie is surprisingly much heavier than that. There are funny moments, mostly when Latifah is on the screen. But for the most part it is a kind of serious film. And this is my problem...I don't think Vaughn or James are good enough actors to pull off a heavy film. I know Steve Martin, and Robin Williams have been able to tackle more serious roles, but Vaughn and James just aren't ready for it. I would have enjoyed this more if they had stuck to their comedy guns, and just made this a funny film, forget the heavy message. Or conversely, if you want to handle the topics of this film seriously, get Tom Hanks and George Clooney, or even Matt and Ben, and make it a straight out serious film. Either way, it would have been a better film. 2 Stars.

COUNTRY STRONG-- A movie about an alcoholic country singer trying to make a comeback is bound to be a bit heavy, but the ads do not prepare you for the very unhappy ending. The ads show Gwyneth Paltrow giving a strong performance and strutting off stage...happy ending right?..No, she goes back stage and has a bad mix of drugs and alcohol...sad ending. Cheers to Paltrow for becoming a decent country singer. But overall, a very depressing movie. 2 1/2 stars.

My top 25 most played songs for 2010

2010 marked the year my music listening changed. I got my iPod, and things will never be the same. At midnight on Dec. 31 I reset the count for all the songs on the iPod, but not before printing the list of my 25 most played songs. I will not explain the songs, just list title, artist and # of plays. They are listed from 1-25. (Don't laugh at all the GLEE music, I love that show,)

1. Jar Of Hearts / Christina Perri / 103
2. To Sir With Love/ Glee Cast / 38
3. Any Way You Want It,Lovin' Touchin' squeezin' / Glee Cast / 34
4. Run Joey Run/ Glee Cast/ 33
5. Is That So Wrong / Julianne Hough/ 33
6. Don't Stop Believin' (regionals version) / Glee Cast / 32
7. Mine / Taylor Swift / 31
8. Total Eclipse of The Heart / Glee Cast / 30
9. Faithfully / Glee Cast / 30
10. Comfortably Numb/ Pink Floyd / 30
11. Bohemiam Rhapsody / Glee Cast / 29
12. Over The Rainbow / Glee Cast / 29
13. Highly Strung (video version) / Orianthi & Steve Vai /29
14. Right / The Weekend Forecast / 29
15. Dream On / Glee Cast /28
16. I Dreamed A Dream / Glee Cast/ 28
17. Love Reign O'er Me / The Who /28
18. 40 Dogs (Like Romeo & Juliet) / Bob Schneider / 27
19. Sometimes A Beggar / Caedmon's Call / 27
20. She / Caedmon's Call / 27
21. Notice Me / Alexa Ray Joel / 26
22. Another One Bites The Dust / Glee Cast / 25
23. Feeling Good / Katie Stevens / 25
24. Wild Horses / Katie Stevens / 25
25. Circle the Drain / Katy Perry / 25

2010 Year End Top 5s

So sorry to be late on all my year end and New Year blogs, but they are coming now!!! I blame Verizon, and pre-Christmas storms for the lack of internet access, but I am back. Today I will present you with my top 5 Movies, albums, and songs of 2010. Enjoy, comment, let me know what you think. (please note, I am counting down from 5 to 1 in each category)

MOVIES:
5) The Runaways-- A dark biopic of the 70's girls group that gave us Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, and Lita Ford. Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning shine as Jett & Currie respectively. You don't really get much of Ford's story, due to an ongoing rift between Jett & Ford. You do see the dark side of the music industry and how people hungry for money play on the dreams of young musical hopefuls. Well worth the rental money, but NOT a family film.
4) Voyage of the Dawn Treader-- The third installment of C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles is a beautiful adaptation of my favorite of the books. I hope it does well enough to keep the series going. It would be a shame to stop them here. Oh, and even the 3D is pretty cool, and I am not a 3D fan.
3) Secretariat-- Incredible acting by Diane Lane and John Malkovich make this real life story a must see film. Hoping the Academy gives it a chance. A great family film (as is Dawn Treader if I forgot to say so).
2) Social Network-- Another real life story of the founding of Facebook. Not a family film, but excellent acting, and a must see for all us Facebook junkies.
1) Inception-- After three viewings, I may be beginning to really get what's going on...or I might be totally off. The idea is amazing, the acting is great, and neat effects... You gotta see it more than once just to catch all the twists.

ALBUMS:
5) Katy Perry: Teenage Dream-- Katy's sophomore pop outing is good fun pop. While most critics are liking the first half, the more bubble gum half, and not embracing the deeper songs of the second half, I am the opposite. I like it when Katy puts a little thought into the lyrics. Favorite songs are Circle the Drain (foul language aside, it is a dark look at dealing with a drug addict as a boyfriend and very well done song) and Who Are You Living For?... a good question for Miss Perry.
4) Santana: Guitar Heaven-- Carlos and the band cover many rock classics, joined by some of today's top rock vocalists. Almost every song is amazing, I especially like Riders on the Storm, featuring the original Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, with vocals by Chester Bennington.
3) Jars of Clay: The Shelter-- Jars is easily the most consistently great band in Christian music, and on this release they are joined by many other great artists. Get on your headphones, put the album on and be ready to be blessed.
2) Still Running: One-- This is my friend Jenna Reed's band, but it really has earned this spot. a great indie feast of magically tunes that will stick in your head, and make you think. Check my older blogs fo a full review. Everyone I've played it for agrees it's amazing.
1) Taylor Swift: Speak Now-- Over 1 million copies sold in the first week, it has to have something going for it. Great melodies, well sculpted lyrics, and a performer who will wrap you around her finger...unless of course you prefer Kanya...to each his own, I loved this album.

SONGS:
5) Crystal Bowersox: Mason-- American Idol runner-up released her debut just 11 days before Christmas. This love song caught my attention, and bumped She & Him right off my top 5. I love the image "I want to be your mason, baby, I want to build a lie with you" Crystal is gonna go somewhere.
4) Katy Perry: Who Are You Living For?-- Katy looks at priorities, and who or what is important to you. Always a good question, not sure Katy has the right answer at the moment, but still agood song.
3) Taylor Swift: Back to December-- Instead of the typical "The guy dumped me & messed me up" this is a "oops, I hurt the guy I really liked & now I'm sorry". If a girl had written this for me, I'd take her back.
2) Still Running: Robert Immolation-- A beautiful, yet darkly disturbing song, and one of 11 great songs on his album. Again, check out my older blog for the review of the album, and where to order it.
1) Christina Perri: Jar of Hearts-- This song invaded my iPod after it was featured on So You Think You Can dance this summer, and it would not let go. As you will see in a future blog, it held the top plays on my iPod last year. It is now getting airplay, and is sure to be the start of a huge career as Christina is recording her first full album even now.