I do a lot of interviews. So when looking back on my favorite stories of 2010, sure, I live blogged seven Harry Potter movies over the course of 36 hours and, yes, I somehow had the time to watch five seasons of Lost in three weeks, but, interviews -- indeed, people -- are what I remember the most.
In our valiant quest to review everything notable from the past year in television -- from the best episodes, the worst failures and the naughtiest characters -- Movieline continues today by examining another theme on the small screen in 2010: Television subplots that brilliantly toed the line between the not-so-politically correct and downright offensive. Below, our own list of envelope-pushing subplots and sequences, that in some instances, even made viewers recoil in disgust. As always, feel free to suggest your own faves in the space below.
You don't necessarily have to be an East Coaster to suffer the repercussions of yesterday's great Holiday Blizzard of 2010. Much of your Movieline staff is scattered and/or stranded in various corners of the United States -- in the slowest news week in human history to boot -- which has us in full-on resourceful mode. Here are a few things that might help us all get through the wait to get home (and/or leave the house); let's hear yours in the comments.
As 2010 shambles to its snowy end, many of us will take stock in our actions over the past year. What we achieved, what we failed to do and how we might take those lessons to build a brighter new year. Or, in my case, how I can hopefully write an article next year about Jake Gyllenhaal's penis being cast in a role traditionally held by an Asian penis, and how the resultant movie made me cry no less than 5 times. Here in no particular order are my favorite ten stories from 2010. Enjoy!
I was hesitant to make a top 10 movie list this year because, really, who cares what I have to say? But then I started thinking, Yeah... who cares what I have to say? Without the title of "movie critic," I can just choose whatever movies I want -- the ones that I truly enjoyed the most -- as opposed to movies that I know are technically great or that any film fan should definitely see, but may not be as emotionally pleasing to my Big 12-school-educated mind. I know that a "favorite movie list" from an Internet writer my age is supposed to include Inception and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it's almost blasphemy for it not to, but mine doesn't.
Optimism for 2011's film culture will only get you so far. That's the enduring lesson of IMDB's perennial spirit bludgeon also known as 50 Most Popular Feature Films, which, in the last week of any given year, provides as explicit a reminder as any of what Hollywood will soon shovel into multiplexes. Here's your top 10 at the moment: Pirates of the Caribbean 4; Fast Five; Transformers 3; Thor; The Green Hornet; Twilight Part 4, Part 1; Harry Potter Part 7, Part 2; Captain America; Hanna; and The Hangover 2. Get me rewrite, Brooks Barnes. [IMDB via @ebertchicago]
Who's excited for 2011? I said, who's excited for 2011?? Oh. Well, maybe this list of dates, designations, and not just few fearless predictions for the next year in culture might help stimulate your interest. Failing that, there's always the rest of Movieline's future-positive anticipations to get you through. Onward!
Assuming that Santa Claus really is always watching, there are quite a few television characters whose behavior this year would certainly qualify them for the naughty list. Herewith, the TV personalities who would get coal in their stocking on Christmas morning if their religion permitted and Santa really did exist.
As the year closes and I recover from yet another staggeringly bad movie we love, I'm happy to share my dreams for a brighter tomorrow. 2010 was tolerable, but 2011 is poised to give us a Neve Campbell revival, more Logo Network supremacy, and the Oprahcalypse. I'm game.
Movieline HQ has been abuzz this week with year-end celebrations. The best of the best culture had to offer in this year has all been accounted for, and we've even offered you some picks for the (hopefully) best entertainment options on the horizon in 2011. With the New Year in mind, here's a monthly breakdown of twelve movies that should definitely be on your radar in the next 365 days.
There's probably no good reason to read any movie critic's Top 10 list, but lots of people -- including myself -- read them anyway. Let's not be falsely modest about it: It's an honor to be able to compile a list and to have a place, online or otherwise, to moor it. But everyone who cares about movies has his or her own private list, posted online or not, which may include some or all of the usual suspects in a given year (like The Social Network or The King's Speech, pictures which lots of people, though not all people, seem to love) as well as a selection of fiercely protected personal favorites.
Asking what films I've seen recently is a good way to wipe my brain clean. Once, in a job interview where it was clear the answer would determine my fate, all I could come up with was Calendar Girls, which would have been a poor choice even as a recent release, which it was not. Tabulation is not a strong suit. Rubrics wear me out. A recent report on people with brains like databases with total recall made me itch, and yet the chemistry made sense: An abundance of adrenaline caused ordinary events to imprint in their memories the way only extraordinary events -- or even amazing shots, bravura scenes, and other bits of movie magic -- do for the rest of us.
Ah, another year, another series of enigmatic clues as to how the MPAA ratings board actually makes its decisions. And then an equal number of films try to challenge the mystifying organization to gain free publicity. 2010 was no exception, with a wide variety of contradictions, exceptions and just completely baffling decisions, and so in our grand year-end tradition, let's take a look at the 10 biggest MPAA debacles of 2010.
December is drawing to a close which means that it is time to stop dwelling on this year's deluge of disappointing entertainment and look forward to the most promising television and film projects of 2011. Herewith, the big and small screen moments I am genuinely excited about in the coming year. As always, I'd love to hear about yours in the comments below.
To be honest, I hadn't given a lot of thought to anything coming up in 2011. Usually, I wait until the last minute to think about anything -- Christmas gifts? That's Thursday's problem! -- let alone a movie that might still be twelve months away. Now, being forced at gunpoint (figuratively; a literal description would be more my Gchat being on a constant loop with the words, "Where's your list?!"), to look ahead to 2011, there are quite a few things that I'm excited about for the New Year. Admittedly, I'd like to throw on a few movies that you've never heard of -- just to create the illusion that I possess some sort of eclectic knowledge to make myself feel better -- but that would be lying. So here's my actual, make-fun-of-it-if-you-want list.
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