All Together Now

Oscar season is in full swing, and as a result, I've seen a lot of movies, but if I am going to blog about every movie I see before Oscar nominations in January, I have a lot of work to do. Even though these films deserve more than a paragraph long analysis, that's all they're going to get.

Avatar: James Cameron knows spectacle. Twelve years after Titantic became King of the (box office) World, Cameron is back with a jaw-dropping 3-D thrill ride. The premise of Avatar is simple -- it's the story of humans attempting to take over the world of Pandora, currently inhabited by 10-foot-tall fluorescent blue natives. Basically, it's Dances with Wolves meets Fern Gully. The story may not be revolutionary, but the images and action sequences are so mind-blowing that similarities to any other story are bowled aside. Grade: A

Fantastic Mr. Fox: George Clooney and Meryl Streep are two of the biggest stars in the business, but not even their voices (as Mr. and Mrs. Fox) can outshine the clever and detailed animation in the Fantastic Mr. Fox. The animation combined with a wry script (adapted from Roald Dahl's children's book) written by Hollywood's oddball, Wes Anderson, make the Fantastic Mr. Fox an exuberant celebration of film-making. Grade: A-

Invictus: The biggest disappoint of the year. Clint Eastwood made a living this decade by releasing last-minute films that took the box office and/or the Academy Awards by storm (see: Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, and Letters from Iwo Jima). Invictus isn't a bad film, but it doesn't live up to Eastwood's previous work. The story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team after the fall of apartheid is buoyed by Morgan Freeman's best performance in years and a impressively subtle turn from Matt Damon. However, the dialogue is preachy and Eastwood, who usually uses music to perfection in his films, allows his son to create a score that is sappy and heavy-handed. Better luck next time Clint. Grade: B

The Princess & the Frog: This year is a banner year for animation. With great films like Up, Fantastic Mr. Fox, 9, Coraline, and now The Princess & the Frog, 2009 has more than one film that could be considered one of the year's 10 best. With Disney returning to it's 2-D roots, The Princess & the Frog came with a lot of expectations, and (almost) lives up to them. The movie has all the ingredients for success: an endearing heroine, wonderful music, impeccable animation, but there's just not enough of it. The film would be an instant classic if had more character development and plot. The Princess & the Frog doesn't live up to the brilliance of The Beauty & the Beast or The Lion King, but it more than holds its own with Disney musicals like Mulan and Tarzan. Grade: B+

"Instead of Just This Song, You Have My Heart"

In lieu of a quote for the week, more new acoustic songs from Ms. Clarkson. It's definitely not bubblegum pop, but I love it - especially "Song To You."

"Song To You:"


"Hand-Me-Downs:"


"White Horse" (Taylor Swift cover):

Unreleased (Live) Kelly: "Poison Candy," "Far From Home," and "Don't"

Two new songs from VIP shows of Kelly Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted tour leaked this week, and I am obsessed. Singer/songwriter Kelly is back in full force with these songs, and I love it. Then again, I love anything she does.

"Poison Candy:"


"Far From Home:"


And just for old times sake, my all-time favorite unreleased Kelly song, "Don't."

Top 10 Movies of the Decade

1. Crash (2005)
Many critics lament Crash as one of the worst film's ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. I couldn't disagree more. It's one of the few times the Academy actually got it right. Paul Haggis' directorial debut is simultaneously exhilarating, depressing, and disturbing. It's a rare film that will cause you to think and question your own behavior.

2. United 93 (2006)
The decade's hardest movie to watch was one of its best. Paul Greengrass' examination of the doomed United flight 93 plays like an impeccable documentary. I've never had a more powerful reaction to a film than I did to United 93. Sure, the subject matter had something to do with the raging emotions, but the superb way in which Greengrass examines human nature will stir even the most stone-faced movie-goer.

3. Big Fish (2003)
The best movies are the ones that make you feel. They're not the films with splashy performances, the impeccable one-liners, or the out-of-this-world special effects. They're the movies that "speak to you." Maybe they're not critically-acclaimed, but that's no what matters. For me, that movie is Big Fish. Often overlooked by many when discussing Tim Burton's best work, Big Fish is an imaginative experience full of heart.

4. In America (2003)
It's impossible not to love this story about an Irish family immigrating to America. The story brims with sadness, but director Jim Sheridan's subtle sense of humor makes the experience joyous. Real-life sisters, Emma and Sarah Bolger, steal the show with their d0e-eyed innocence and insatiable exuberance. In America is a film about what truly matters in America -- family.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Michael Gondry's one-of-a-kind style paired with unforgettable performances from Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey made Eternal Sunshine 2004's most original and best flick. Eternal Sunshine is a movie about the true meaning of love, and it's love's flaws that will leave you enamored with this quirky and tragic story of fate, hope, and adoration.

6. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)
It's quite difficult to make adaptations of famous literature. Audiences and critics usually agree, "the book was better than the movie." That can't be said of Peter Jackson's take on J.R. Tolkien's famous fantasy adventures. As Gollem would say, Jackson's masterpiece is our precioussss.

7. Slumdog Millionaire / The Dark Knight (2008)
The timing of a film's release can determine its success and how its viewed critically. That's true of both Slumdog Millionaire and The Dark Knight. They're two movies that perfectly capture the mood of society at a specific point in time. Not only are both movies impeccably made, acted, and directed, but they're perfect descriptors of life in 2008.

8. Up (2009)
Pixar had a great decade. Each of the studio's films was practically better than the last. That must be why Up makes this list. Up is the best animated movie to hit the big screen since The Beauty and the Beast. It's full of pathos, humor, and sentiment. During Up, children watch their wildest imaginations play out on the big screen, and adults simply remember the joy of being young while celebrating the beauty in growing old.

9. Chicago (2002)
The musical is cool again, thanks to Chicago. Rob Marshall's glitz-filled musical is elevated by career-best performances from Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Renée Zellweger. The movie helped inspire a bevy of stage-to-screen adaptations -- from Rent and Sweeney Todd to Dreamgirls and Phantom of the Opera. However, one of the decade's first musical was its best. Thanks to Chicago, the silver screen now has a little more razzle dazzle.

10. Million Dollar Baby / Letters From Iwo Jima (2004 / 2006)
Clint Eastwood had an amazing decade, and his work couldn't go unrecognized. I couldn't choose just one. Million Dollar Baby and Letters from Iwo Jima are two of the best of their respective "film genres," sports and war. Each takes its genre's respective clichés, throws them out the window, and focuses on good, old-fashioned storytelling. Now going on 79-years-old, Mr. Eastwood keeps getting better with age.

Top 10 (Mainstream) Songs of the Decade (Sorta)

1. " Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson (2004)
This should be no surprise. "Since U Been Gone" is pop rock perfection. From the opening guitar riffs to Clarkson's gale-force vocals to the in-your-face lyrics, "Since U Been Gone" is irresistible. The ranking wasn't even a contest. The "Since U Been Gone" play count on Jason's iTunes: 450. The next closest song? 295. Enough said.

2. "So What" - P!nk (2008)
Max Martin is a pop God. Afterall, he did write the two best pop songs of the 2000's. Like Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," "So What" is a massive hit that will define P!nk's career. The lyrics are simple, yet the singer's matter-of-fact attitude matched with the fist-pumping chorus prove that P!nk is still a rockstar.

3. "Single Ladies" - Beyoncé (2008)
Beyoncé could've dominated this list with songs like "Crazy in Love," "Irreplaceable," "If I Were A Boy," and "Halo." However none of those hits meets the cultural significance of "Single Ladies." Paired with a flawless video, "Single Ladies" is still being parodied more than a year after its release. Everyone agrees, Sasha is fierce.

4. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake (2006)
The 2000's were good to Mr. Timberlake. Not only did he launch a successful solo career, but he helped pen and produce songs for artists like Madonna and Nelly Furtado. However, none of those efforts were as good as Timberlake's own "SexyBack." The pulse pounding beat and stylized vocals truly do make FutureSex/LoveSounds.

5. "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey (2005)
Comebacks don't get better than this. Mariah may be known for her pop ballads, but she stormed back on the scene in 2005 with this R&B jam. The quickfire verses combined with Carey's subdued delivery made for the biggest gamble of the singer's career. The calculated risk paid off, as she made the best R&B song of the decade.

6. "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks (2006)
The best thing George W. Bush did as president was piss off the Dixie Chicks. Had Natalie Maines not openly dissed the president and faced the backlash of Middle America, we would've never been graced with "Not Ready to Make Nice." Performed with authentic heartbreak and anger, "Not Ready to Make Nice" is the best song to come from country's preeminent girl group.

7. "Gold Digger" - Kanye West (2005)
He has the biggest ego in Hollywood, but Kanye West knows how to make music. Few artists know how to stay as fresh, current, and original as Kanye, and "Gold Digger" is his best song. With the opening line of, "She take my money, well I'm in need" to the chorus shouting of, "We want pre-nup!," "Gold Digger" will be stuck in your head for days.

8. "This Love" - Maroon 5 (2002)
Adam Levine's voice is one of the most distinctive voices to rise from the 2000's and "This Love" serves as a showcase for his trademark falsetto. The rest of the band isn't too shabby either, with the guitars and piano providing a sublime, sexy background for Levine's voice.

9. The Breakaway Trifecta - "Breakaway" / "Behind These Hazel Eyes" / "Because of You" Kelly Clarkson (2004/2005)
"My Life Would Suck Without You" or "Already Gone" could have filled Kelly slot number two on my list. However, 2004 was the year that Ms. Clarkson took the world by storm, and I could not ignore singles one, three, and four from one of pop music's best albums. Each song showed a different side of the original American Idol's voice, and each was a raging success both in America and across the globe.

10. The 2009 Trio - "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift / "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon / "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga (2009)
I am aware that I've cheated and included more that ten songs on this list, but there were too many options. The decade's final year included career-making songs from Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, and Lady Gaga. Taylor's simple and piercing voice worked flawlessly with the lyrics on "You Belong With Me," the indie group Kings of Leon finally went mainstream with the monster hit "Use Somebody," and Lady Gaga made dance music cool again with "Poker Face." Now, as we enter a new decade, hopefully each artist can continue to redefine themselves and make music that matters.

"Hello You Long Shots"

This week's quote comes in the form of lyrics, and is stolen from one of my best friends, Elizabeth.

"Some dreams stay with you forever
drag you around and lead you back to where you were
Some dreams keep on getting better
Gotta keep believing if you wanna know for sure

Oh oh, I can hear them playing
I can hear the ringing of a beat up ol’ guitar
oh oh, I can hear them saying
Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart"

-Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"

Video:

Will You Be My Valentine?

A few months ago I blogged about how trite and cliche the new movie Valentine's Day looked. A new (and better) trailer premiered here today. Now, I am excited to see the movie. Bizarre, I know, since Valentine's Day doesn't actually look good or particularly original. Maybe I am looking forward to it because I really want to see Jennifer Garner go ape-crazy on a pinata (awesome!), or maybe I am turning into a softie who can actually enjoy awful rom-coms (yuck!). Whatever the reason, I think I know where I'll be spending my Single's Awareness Day in 2010 - with my butt in the seat of a movie theater, right where I belong. Who's with me?