My Top 10 Films of 2010 - Finally

Black Swan - Natalie Portman absolutely deserves the Oscar she will most likely get.

Shutter Island - I think Shutter Island actually did a MUCH better job at what Inception was TRYING to do. If that makes any sense. Plus the art direction and score are phenomenal.

The Kids Are All Right - Annette Bening is getting all the raves for this one, but can we please talk about Julianne Moore? For me her performance was the much more heartbreaking and honest of the two.

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part One - I'm dreading saying goodbye to Harry, Hermione, and Ron. This film has perfectly set us up for the final film and showed us what's really at stake in their world. Oh, and the animation sequence that explained the Deathly Hallows was gorgeous.

True Grit - I didn't care much for No Country For Old Men so was leery about seeing another Coen Brothers film but I'm sure glad I didn't miss this. Roger Deakins is a brilliant cinematographer and this film is like a showcase of everything he can do. And how fantastic was Barry Pepper??? Despite the upper echelon of actors in this film, Barry was able to steal every scene in which he appeared, which was unfortunately too few. And I can't wait to see what that Hailee Steinfeld does next.

The King's Speech - Colin Firth is doing some of the best work of his life. I wanted him to win the Oscar last year for A Single Man. He just might take it this year. What truly amazed me about this film is that director Tom Hooper was able to garner so much tension and anticipation on the simple act of a man giving a speech.

Never Let Me Go - I'm saddened by how much Mark Romanek's film was overlooked by the general public. It's a devastatingly beautiful and intellectually profound piece of art.

Nowhere Boy - Another overlooked gem. Who da thunk that boy from Kick Ass could exhibit a range that would include this searing portrait of the young John Lennon?

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - This is the one movie this year that I've found myself watching over and over and over again. It was practically ignored in the theaters but is destined to be a cult classic on DVD. Funny, clever, rocking. I love it.

The Social Network - Yes, yes Jesse Eisenberg (and his penetrating stare) was excellent in this fine Fincher film, but how about that Andrew Garfield? He was the heart of this heartless story and between his performance in this and in Never Let Me Go, I can't wait to see his Spiderman!

My 10 Most Favoritest Christmas Movies

It's a Wonderful Life
I fell in love with Jimmy Stewart quite young in life and I must have watched the scene where he as George Bailey and Donna Reed as Mary walk home from the dance and throw rocks at the Old Granville House a bazillion times.  I adore that scene.  It's so sweet and romantic and goofy and perfect. I know that once upon a time this film was played nearly non-stop on TV during the holidays, but now that they only play it once a year it has recaptured it's specialness.  It should be watched as a family event.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
I love when Charlie Brown and Linus go pick out a Christmas tree.  "I suggest we try those searchlights, Charlie Brown."  Yes, Linus, you're so smart.

Little Women (1994)
Some years ago watching this film together became a sorta Christmas tradition for me and my best friend Jen. I always moon over Christian Bale as Laurie, and she moons over Gabriel Byrne as Professer Bhaer.  It's gotten harder in recent years because we no longer live in the same city.  But I can always watch this film if I want to feel like she's near and it's great at Christmas.

Elf
I love how quickly this film has become a Christmas classic.  Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Buddy the Elf.

The Family Stone
This film got terrible reviews when it came out in 2005 but I love it and now I watch it every year at Christmas.  The cast is fantastic and it's such a great mix of comedy, drama, and romance.

While You Were Sleeping
I don't know why people don't think of this movie when it comes to the best Christmas movies of all time.  It's perfect.  Funny, sweet, romantic, and charming.  I love the scene when Sandra Bullock as Lucy is at the Callaghan house while they open presents.  She has no family and here she is thrust into this boisterous bunch and she gets quiet and wistful as she watches them interact and exclaim in delight and surprise over their gifts.  And they give her a gift too!  So sweet.  Love it.

The Ref
Judy Davis is genius.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Boris Karloff.  That's all that needs to be said about this classic. 

A Christmas Story
There is a reason TBS plays this for 24 hours straight on Christmas.  No one ever gets sick of it!  Personally I love the quiet scenes, like the opening one with all the kids looking in the toy store window and the parade, or the final scene when mom and dad pour themselves some champagne, sit by the light of the Christmas tree and watch the snow falling outside.  I think I would love a Christmas in the 1940s.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Maureen O'Hara was definitely one of the most beautiful women ever. She's an uptight mother in this one, but she comes around.  Who wouldn't with the wonderful Edmund Gwenn around?

My Top 10 Albums of 2010

Volume Two by She & Him

I think I like Volume Two by She & Him even better than Volume One! Zooey Deschanel seems more confident as a songwriter with this second album and much more confident in her singing voice.  It's still bright, bubbly, sunshiney throwback pop music just with a little more ooomph.

Contra by Vampire Weekend

Those "Ivy League" boys have done it again. I listened to this album non-stop for at least a month when it was first released.  These are perfect pop songs with that strange yet satisfying world music edge, like some sort of Paul Simon afterthought. 

Infinite Arms by Band of Horses

I love Ben Bridwell's voice. This album is super laid back and dreamy. Although Band of Horses do not push the envelope from album to album they do consistently make good music.

I'm Having Fun Now by Jenny and Johnny

I'd never heard of Jonathan Rice before he became Jenny Lewis' boyfriend and they started making music together, but I've loved Jenny in all her incarnations: Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lews & the Watson Twins, back up vocalist for The Postal Service, or just plain Jenny Lewis.  This album does not make me want to run out and buy all Jonathan Rice's previous work, because Jenny is the star of this show.  She's just got magic in her, you know?  This is pure California pop music and they seem to make a good pair.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

A masterpiece.  That is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know.

The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit

Another voice that I love.  I also love that you can hear Scott Hutchinson's Scottish accent when he sings.  It's adds an authenticity to his singing.  With this album Frightened Rabbit is definitely aiming to break through to the mainstream and there are some great singles here that could help them do that.

The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) by Janelle Monáe

Wowza.  This girl has IT.  You know what I mean?  IT.  This girl is 5'3" of pure rock and soul.  And man does she have great personal style!  This album is eclectic and conceptual and awesome.

Have One on Me by Joanna Newsom

This album is over two hours long and came on three discs.  Yep.  And guess what?  Every minute of it is exceptional.  No one makes music like Joanna.  She weaves elaborate tapestries of song that you will always be finding new and wonderful things within on every listen.

Release Me by The Like

The Like seemingly reinvented themselves with this, their second album.  Their lineup changed and so did their sound.  But you know what?  I love it.  Their 60s girl group, British invasion-inspired sound is fun and flirty and catchy and addictive.

White Mystery by White Mystery

Thank goodness someone out there is still making straight up Rock n' Roll music!  This Chicago band is a refreshing blast of loud, crunchy guitar and drums.  You can't listen to this brother and sister outfit without tapping your feet or banging your hands on the steering wheel.  Plus, they're REDHEADS! 

And five honorable mentions:

Destroyer of the Void by Blitzen Trapper

Wreckorder by Fran Healy

Gorilla Manor by Local Natives

Write About Love by Belle and Sebastian

A Single Man Soundtrack score by Abel Korzeniowski

My Top 10 Films of 2009

There are so many films from this year that I haven't seen yet (Up in the Air, Avatar, The Young Victoria, The Hurt Locker, Precious, Nine, A Single Man) that it almost seems pointless to do a Top 10 list. But I'm going to do one anyway. . .

Without further ado, here is the list of my Top 10 films (that I HAVE seen) from 2009:
Bright Star
Jane Campion has made the best film of the year and her best film since 1996's The Portrait of a Lady. Passionate, breathtakingly beautiful, with a surprisingly serene quietness about it, this film is everything I want filmmaking to be. I'm shocked by the lack of attention this film is getting so far during this awards season. Abbie Cornish deserves every Best Actress award out there!

Up
Pixar does it again. Are we surprised? I cried tears of sorrow and tears of laughter during this film. There is no better review than that.

The Brothers Bloom
This is my biggest surprise of the year. Charming, silly, romantic, with that wonderfully modern yet retro feel that Rian Johnson is becoming known for, this is an overlooked gem.

An Education
Carey Mulligan is getting the attention that I think really deserves to be foisted upon Abbie Cornish, but that doesn't mean she didn't put in a lovely breakthrough performance in this film. The entire cast is great in this one. Alfred Molina elevates any film he's in and Peter Sarsgaard deftly plays a character that in the hands of a lesser actor would come off as smarmy. Peter makes him charming and even sympathetic.

Coraline
Henry Selick is an amazing artist. What he has done with stop motion animation in this film is nothing short of astonishing. It took years to make, and you can see it in every lovingly framed image. Every time I watch it, I catch something new.

Adventureland
This is another film that I think was overlooked this year. It's one of those sweet, nostalgic, coming of age films that although get made all the time, do not usually get made well. This is a smart and funny film and although it's set in the late 80s it has a real lived in feeling; the 80s details never feel gimmicky or forced. Every character is fully drawn, not just the leads, which again, lends to the authenticity of this film. Oh and it shows once more that Kristen Stewart can be more than Bella Swan.

Star Trek
Yep, Star Trek is on my list. For tongue-in-cheek, action filled, adrenaline rushing good fun. Oh and Karl Urban can examine me any time he wants.

(500) Days of Summer
I liked Joseph Gordon-Levitt before I saw this film, but now I love him. Some people felt this film was trying too hard to be quirky, but I think therein lies its charm. JGL and Zooey Deschanel together rise above the obvious quirkiness to create a surprisingly realistic romance. And they are just fun to watch!

Inglourious Basterds
I can't wait to watch this film again and catch all the bits of dialogue that I missed the first time around. Yes, Tarantino is wordy, but I revel in his wordiness! Who knew a WWII film could be this fun?

Fantastic Mr. Fox
I've always kind of wanted to be a character in a Wes Anderson film. Or at least to live for a time inside the world of a Wes Anderson film, which is always so meticulously crafted. With this animated flick, Wes Anderson has found the medium that will allow him to create his worlds with absolutely no limitations. This is unlike any animated film I've seen before and that includes Coraline. Although stop motion animated, the word "stop" never applies. It's constantly moving, dynamic and vibrant. I love that Wes didn't use sound booths to record the dialogue. Instead he had the actors work together and act out the scenes like they were in a play. If the scene was set outdoors, the actors acted outdoors; if their character was running, the actor ran; for the motorcycle scenes, the actors rode motorcycles! At first it sounds kind of strange, but ultimately it just makes it all the more real. I look forward to more animated films from Wes Anderson.

My Top 10 (11) Albums of 2009

I tried to narrow my list down to 10 but I just couldn't do it! So without further ado and in no particular order, here are my top 11 albums of 2009:

Wilco (The Album) by Wilco
I enjoy the band that Wilco has become. Tweedy seems to have finally settled down and settled in with his current bandmates for what could be a long haul. Two albums in a row without a change in lineup is a good sign!

Now We Can See by The Thermals
This band is great at creating weird and wonderful concept albums like this one which seems to be told entirely from the perspective of the dead. For such a negative theme, it's an incredibly hopeful record.

Revolution by Miranda Lambert
I fell in love with this spitfire of a girl after hearing her last album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This time around she is no less sassy, but she is showing more growth and maturity as a songwriter. Makin' Plans is a simple and beautiful love song.

Middle Cyclone by Neko Case
If I had placed these albums in a numerical order, this one would have taken the number one spot. This is definitely my most listened to album of the year and Neko's best yet. Her lyrics are startling and unique. Who else could write a song from the literal perspective of a tornado and make it work as one of the most purely passionate love songs ever? I adore Neko.

Where The Wild Things Are - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Karen O and The Kids
Anyone who read my review of this film knows that I was a bit disappointed by it. But that disappointment has nothing to do with the sublime music that Karen O and her "kids" created. This music gives me the joyous feeling that ultimately the film failed to deliver.

Music For Men by The Gossip
Beth Ditto rocks my socks. This album is more polished and produced (by Rick Rubin of all people) than their previous works which I was worried might be a bad thing. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that The Gossip were able to retain their rawness despite the polish. What's more? This is a pure dance record! You can't listen to this album without itching to get your groove on.

Only Way to Be Alone by Good Old War
I think this album actually came out in 2008, but I just discovered it a few months ago, so I'm going to cheat a little and include it in my list. This album is lovely, infectious, harmony filled, indie pop gloriousness. The vocals soar and the mainly acoustic guitar riffs are strummingly divine. I dare you to listen to this band and not feel happy.

The Ruminant Band by Fruit Bats
I've been enjoying Fruit Bats' romantic brand of retro pop for years and this album is a welcome addition to their oevre.

Fever Ray by Fever Ray
Of all the albums on my list this one is the biggest departure from my usual tastes. It's weird, synth and drum filled, out of this world, ethereal rock n' roll. The layers of sound are astonishing, all the more for the clarity of the vocals. It's a kind of dark and scary world that I enjoy visiting through the music, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Coraline - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Bruno Calais
Whimsical, delightful, charming music that perfectly suits the film.

Rearrange Beds by An Horse
There is something about this album that reminds me of the 90s rock of my high school years. I can't put my finger on it exactly or even name a band that they totally remind me of, but they induce an odd nostalgia for me. And I'm a sucker for nostalgia.