It's Only Cody

Cody's Top 20 Movies of 2010

2011-01-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

So here we are with the final day of my Best of 2010 lists, and my personal favorite: my favorite movies of the year. 2010 was an interesting year for film. The first half of the year was rough, and I mean rough. From January to June, I saw less than 10 new releases, which is rare for me. A lot of the early releases were just really standard-looking forgettable movies. Thankfully, there were a few great releases throughout the summer, and some phenomenal ones in the fall. As always, there are movies I didn't get to see before I came up with my list; I'm really disappointed 127 Hours didn't ever play in a theater close enough. However, I'm still very happy with the 20 I have here, as I felt a pretty strong connection to all of them in different ways. First, I'll give a few honorable mentions to Get Him To The Greek, which was yet another hilariously funny film in the Apatow universe, Splice, which had the balls to just be completely bizarre, Batman: Under The Red Hood, which managed to be the best animated Batman film in over a decade, and The A-Team & Piranha, which were both knowingly dumb, but so much fun in how they revelled in it. With those mentions, it's time to move on to my favorite movies of the year.

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20. The Fighter

Aside from baseball, I've never been a huge fan of sports. Admittedly, it's partially due to a lack of athleticism, but I generally just don't see the appeal. Having said that, if a director and cast manage to portray a sport in the right way, I can be drawn in. I didn't think I'd ever really enjoy a boxing movie. I've never even seen Rocky, generally considered to be one of the best movies of all time, due to a general disinterest in the sport. The Fighter piqued my interest for two reasons; one being the involvement of director David O. Russell, who usually has more small, odd sensibilities in film. The other was the presence of Christian Bale, who I've greatly admired as an actor for years now. Needless to say, these two elements are what make The Fighter so good. Russell gives the film a really scrappy feel to it and really makes the town of Lowell, Massachusetts and it's inhabitants come to life. There's a definite authenticity to the town that adds a lot. He makes the boxing scenes equally interesting by making the unique choice to present them in the style that they would appear on television. It's a subtle choice, but it works. However, the true heart of the story comes with the characters, specifically Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund. Bale has always been one to fully commit to a role and his portrayal of Eklund is no exception. Aside from his physical transformation, the performance itself is one of his best. There is a moment at the end of the film where Dicky talks about the pride he feels for his brother, and Bale makes a very subtle choice in the way he delivers this speech that is very impressive and quite moving. It makes the story less about boxing and more about family, which gives it an almost universal appeal.

19. Paranormal Activity 2

Last year, I talked about how 2009 was a great year for horror and a step in the right direction. Sadly, 2010 didn't really follow up on that promise, but the few horror films I enjoyed worked really well. Oddly enough, one of my two favorite horror films of the year was a sequel. Not only that, but a sequel to a highly effective first film, and one that was made pretty quickly. It had all the elements to potentially fail. Surprisingly, Paranormal Activity 2 ended up being just as good as it's predecessor (if not more so), and ended up giving the original a new layer as a result. The movie makes a smart choice by making the film part prequel/part sequel, so instead of being a simple rehash of the first film, it works as a companion to it. With the presence of a baby and a dog in the trailers, there was a lot of concern that the film would go for cheap scares by putting obvious sympathetic targets in danger. Thankfully, the film continues to build it's scares from tension and atmosphere. Every scene plays in a gradually increasing pace, so that when the truly scary stuff happens, it hits you even harder because of the build-up.

18. Let Me In

As much as Paranormal Activity 2 had the potential to be a disappointment, this one had the potential to be a disaster. Not only was it remake, but it was a remake of one of the best horror films in years, the brilliant Swedish film, Let The Right One In. I was as hesitant as anyone over how the quality of the film would be, but director Matt Reeves ends up keeping what made the original so great but adds some new interesting elements, a strong visual style and two remarkable lead performers. Kodi Smit-McPhee gives such a quiet sadness as the lonely, bullied Owen. He has to play a very troubled child who has nobody in the world and he really sells it. Even better is Chloe Grace Moretz as Abby. Considering that Moret was only 11 or 12 years old when she made this, it's astonishing to see what an adult presence she has as an actor, and how she can control any scene she's in. The very bleak style also adds to the story, and it acts as a perfect antidote to that other story of the relationship between a human and a vampire. Let Me In understands that what makes the vampire story interesting is the fact that it's somebody dealing with a curse, not a social disorder, and the pain that these characters go through is translated wonderfully on film.

17. Easy A

Ever since John Hughes stopping making teen movies, it seemed like the genre has been pretty hollow and empty. Sure every decade or so, we get one that's a worthy entry in the genre; a Can't Hardly Wait here, a Mean Girls there, but the results are few and far between. So it was quite a treat to see Easy A swoop in and show that a good high school movie can still be made. I won't lie; the film does seem to exist in a heightened reality where parents and teachers are uber-hip and the kids can talk to them on a real level. However, the film would work for no other reason than the presence of Emma Stone. I've enjoyed in her in everything I've seen her in before, but the performance she gives here is one that is guaranteed to make her a star. The movie itself is very clever and funny, and makes a smart move by both embracing the cliches of the high school genre and subverting them, but the one thing that truly keeps you invested in the film is watching Emma Stone become a modern day Molly Ringwald right before your eyes.

16. The Kids Are All Right

This is a film that is exceptional for both the wonderful cast and how it portrays a pretty conventional family drama in a way that feels new and progressive. First off, the entire cast is amazing and works perfectly together. Annette Bening is wonderful as a strong, work-driven woman who struggles not to let her weaknesses show, Julianne Moore has a natural charm that shines through constantly, Mark Ruffalo gives a friendly, laid-back approach to his role and Mia Wasikowska & Josh Hutcherson are very strong at playing two young teenagers trying to find their place in the world. As I said the film has a relatively simply, almost sitcom-like setup; Bening and Moore are a lesbian couple, raising a family, when their children suddenly show an interest in meeting their biological father. The film succeeds though in not making the same-sex coupling seem that abnormal; despite the problems they face in the movie, they are universal problems that any family could relate to. It's a really mature way to present the family and the movie excels other family dramas because of it.

15. Exit Through The Gift Shop/Catfish

The best documentaries are the ones that not only give us a look into a world that we're either not familiar with or don't pay enough attention to, but at the same time, manage to tell a compelling story in the process. However, when the story becomes such a big part, one starts to question how much of what we are seeing is actually real. That was the controversy surrounding these two documentaries this past year. Exit Through The Gift Shop starts out as a look at the street-art movement through the eyes of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in LA who constantly carries a camera around with him, documenting everything he sees. That story is interesting enough, but when the infamous street-artist Banksy gets involved, the film reaches a whole new level. Banksy takes Thierry under his wing and, after a certain amount of time, Thierry decides to try and enter the street-art scene himself. The film then transforms into a look at what art actually is and what defines an artist. As Thierry ego begins to grow, Banksy subtly presents some very interesting points about the state of art in our world today and it's fascinating to watch. Catfish focuses on a subject most of us are more familiar with; that is, the digital world we live in, and how easily we make friends online without really knowing who they are. The film follows Nev Schulman, a New York photographer, who begins talking to Abby, an 8 year old painter in Michigan who painted a picture of one of Nev's photos, and her mother. They develop a friendship that eventually extends to Nev talking to Abby's older sister, Megan, which in turn develops into a romantic relationship. However, as time goes on, Nev notices some odd discrepancies in what Megan is telling him. I'll leave it at that, because the movie plays best as a surprise, but what follows is both shocking, scary and heartbreaking. The questionable reality in both documentaries adds a lot to the overall experience. The entire experience of art is meant to be debated, so the question of how much Banksy is presenting is genuine is all too appropriate. Likewise, the idea that we're not sure how honest the people we talk to online are being is one that is definitely worth exploring, as it can affect us in profound ways. These two movies manage to give us insights into endlessly fascinating, important topics while presenting a terrific story at the same time, which is what the best documentaries are made of.

14. Mother

It's kind of sad that foreign films go so relatively unnoticed in the United States. For the sole fact that most people don't want to read subtitles, they miss out on some amazing films, such as Mother. The film follows the titular unnamed Mother, played brilliantly by Kim Hye-ja, as she tries to prove that her mentally slow son is innocent of a horrible crime. I'll leave it at that, because this is another film that plays best knowing as little as possible going in, but the events that transpire are gripping, and make for one of the best mystery dramas of the year.

13. Louis C.K.: Hilarious

All I really have to say about this movie and Louis C.K. in general was pretty much summed up yesterday while talking about his TV show, Louie. Simply put, this stand-up film is the funniest movie of the year, as C.K. tackles a wide range of topics with brutal honesty and hysterical insight. Please, please check him out. He is one of the best stand-up comedians working today and deserves the attention.

12. The Town

Ben Affleck has truly proved himself as a great director. With Gone Baby Gone, he managed to take a standard procedural story and turn it into a gritty, heartbreaking drama. Now with his follow-up, he turns what could have been a standard heist movie into one of the best crime dramas in recent memory. Most of this is due to the cast; Affleck himself manages to give a very thoughtful quiet performance as a man trying to get away from the life he's become accustomed to, and Jeremy Renner builds on the great impression he made with The Hurt Locker by giving a seering performance as the loose cannon of the heist crew. It's a fairly conventional crime story, but the strong cast and astute style & attention to detail that Affleck puts into his direction really raises it to something more.

11. Greenberg

Every year, there tends to be a movie that just speaks to me on a personal level that is hard to describe. I just feel a strong sense of connection with the movie and immediately gain a strong fondness for it. In 2010, that movie was Greenberg. Noah Baumbach is infamous for making his films uncomfortable and awkward, almost unbearably so at times. It's still here this time, but definitely pulled back a bit. Ben Stiller gives one of the best performances of his career as Roger Greenberg, a man who's recovering from a mental breakdown and struggles to socialize with anyone on even the most basic of levels. He attempts to open up when he meets Florence, the personal assistant of his brother, but it's not easy. Greta Gerwig is equally excellent as Florence. She has a very natural style to her acting that's immediately likeable. Much as she enchants and draws in Roger over the course of the film, she does the same to the audience. It's also interesting to note that this is yet another film that I can connect with that involves a socially awkward man being bettered by a quirky, endearing girl, also known by Nathan Rabin as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. One has to wonder what that says about me.

10. Kick-Ass

Superhero films have become huge over the past decade, so it's inevitable that there would be movies to come along that deconstruct them. Kick-Ass does so in a brilliant way by first poking fun at the logic of superhero movies, and then fully embracing them in a very smart way. There have been many complaints about the sudden shift in tone halfway through the movie, but upon closer look, it couldn't be more appropriate. Kick-Ass certainly revels in the glorious violence of it's story, but eventually it shows that these violent acts have consequences and one must be willing to face them. Among this message, the film is just plain fun; it has a madcap energy to it that's addictive, which is best represented by Hit Girl, yet another fantastic performance by Chloe Grace Moretz. Sure, the film wants to have it's cake and eat it too, but it fully acknowledges that.

9. How To Train Your Dragon

Dreamworks Animation has long seemed like the ugly stepsister to Pixar. While Pixar makes animated films that are beautiful both visually and thematically, Dreamworks has worked more as a pop culture joke factory, making movies where the characters constantly spout off one-liners and act too cool for the room (with the exception of the highly enjoyable Kung Fu Panda). That all changed with How To Train Your Dragon, a movie that both presents a very creative world and features a really strong, uplifting story with great characters. The scenes of flying with the dragons are so easy to get lost in with the sense of wonder presented, but at it's heart, the story is one of a young man who feels like an outcast, then finally finding someone to bond with. The film takes this trope and does it in a way that feels refreshing and new, leading to one of the most joyous movie experiences of the year.

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

For the longest time, I was Anti-Harry Potter. I saw the first 2 films when they first came out, and through some stupid sense of teenage self-superiority, I thought I was too cool for it. Despite the glowing praise from people I highly respected, I still resisted. When I saw the trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I was actually really intrigued, but still didn't give in. Finally, the trailers for the final 2 installments in the film franchise drew me in; during a marathon of the first 5 films, I decided to finally give it another shot. It only took about halfway through the 3rd movie for me to be won over; by the end of the 5the film, I was officially obsessed and a full-fledged new fan. I now have the first 6 movies on Blu-Ray and the entire book series in a nice box set waiting to be read. Having said all that, the most recent installment is a extremely entertaining film and one of the best in the franchise. The films have become more and more mature with each installment and Part 1 of the finale is the darkest yet. There is a constant sense of fear and dread as our heroes get chased and watch their comrades die in front of them. There have been complaints about the first part being too slow and featuring too much in the woods, but I think it's a really nice way to spend some with these characters before they enter the sure to be epic final battle. I've held back from reading the books until after I've seen all the movies and I've managed to avoid a good deal of spoilers, so needless to say, I'm filled with the anticipation for Part 2. Sure, Part 1 is technically only half of a movie, but it's a damn good half that leaves you desperate for more.

7. Shutter Island

In the hands of the right director, any story can become a great film. Shutter Island is a film that initially plays as a mystery, one in which the ending is not hard to guess. However, under the genius eye of Scorsese, it still remains riveting, and the story becomes much more focused on the journey rather than the end result. This shines even truer upon repeated viewings, as the film changes from a standard mystery into a brilliant character drama with plenty of suspense and thrills. Leonardo DiCaprio is better than ever in the lead role, giving a lot of weight and pathos to a role that could have easily been played as overly aggresive. Aside from being possibly the most visually beautiful film of the year, it's also one that ends up having layers, thanks to Scorsese's direction and DiCaprio's captivating performance.

6. True Grit

The Coen Brothers are two of the best filmmakers working today. They have such a unique voice & style, and each of their films beg to be discussed & analyed immediately after you finish watching them. True Grit is surprising in that it's fairly straight-forward in it's storytelling. Despite being known for the complex themes, with this movie, the Coens simply present a classic Western. However, the Coens being as smart as they are, it's a fantastic Western. The duo knows how to present great characters onscreen and this is no exception. Jeff Bridges is perfect as Rooster Cogburn, giving him the right mix of toughness, humor and heart. Matt Damon is hilarious as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, giving his character an arrogance that manages to not be offputting. The real find though is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as lead character, Mattie Ross; realizing that this was the young girl's first leading role is astonishing. She has such a strong, confident presence, managing to hold her own among people who have been acting for years without breaking a sweat. It's the type of movie that's so good, you immediately want to watch it again as soon as it's over, and would probably enjoy it even more.

5. Toy Story 3

I've spoken a great deal about my love of Pixar in the past (as recently as this post actually). They are just the masters of their work, and Toy Story 3 continues that trend. The film manages to be welcoming to younger viewers while still holding a deeper resonance for the older audience who have followed these characters since they were children. The film is very mature in the way it tackles themes such as moving on and letting go of the past. There are some sequences in this film that moved to me tears with the amount of emotion they present in very simple ways. It's a movie that has a message that also applies to itself; it deals with remembering the good times of your past and realizing what was important, but also giving it to a new generation to love.

4. Inception

What else can one say about Inception? It was one of the biggest movie of the year, and almost universally loved by all. The epic scope of the film is simply awe-inspiring. Christopher Nolan is a brilliant director, and the dream world he presents in the movie is just breathtaking. It's such an inspiration to see a filmmaker who makes film in such a big way but with such a master touch of class. On top of that, the film still manages to have an intimacy to it, as Leonardo DiCaprio gives yet another terrific performance as a man haunted by his past. The balance between the epic dream journey and the more personal journey that Cobb goes on throughout the film is what makes the film work as well it does. Also, when you have a final shot that inspires that big of a response from an audience, how can you not love the movie?

3. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

I've spoken endlessly about my love for this film, so I'll try to keep it short. Everything I've said about it still holds true today; Edgar Wright made a movie that is unlike anything I've ever seen before. The visual style is simply brilliant, giving a heightened reality that's part video game, part comic book and all pure awesome. The cast is perfect, with every one of the many characters adding something to the movie. Most importantly, the film actually has a good story and makes some very thoughtful points about how the baggage we bring with us to a new relationship can affect things in a very drastic way. The movie takes the personal problems young adults face and blows them up into a burst of imagination. For this reason and many others, my love for this film knows no bounds.

2. Black Swan

It's not very often that I have a strong visceral reaction to a film. Yet, during almost the entirety of Black Swan, I had knots in my stomach and my fists clenched tight. There is such a palpable sense of tension and dread present throughout the film that it's nearly impossible not to get lost in it. However, the ballet setting also gives the film a strong sense of beauty as well. As much as I love Natalie Portman, she's at her absolute best here, completely committing to the performance of Nina Sayers, a girl who wants to be perfect. There is such a strong sense of physicality to the film, and Portman displays it wonderfully, both emotionally and physically. The film constantly has you questioning what is really happening and what will transpire next, which is enough to keep you invested, but the thing that really kept me wrapped up was the journey that Nina was going through. That journey is simultaneously beautiful and horrifying, and becomes an undeniably moving experience while watching it.

1. The Social Network

Everybody laughed it off at first. The idea of a movie about Facebook seemed like a joke. Then it was revealed that Aaron Sorkin was writing the screenplay and David Fincher was directing and suddenly, the movie became a lot more intriguing. What would a movie about Facebook made by one of the best directors and screenwriters working today look like? It turns out, it's an expert piece of filmmaking that is very, very important. I can't stress enough what an important film The Social Network is. It uses the very interesting story about the invention of Facebook as a gateway to show how one person completely changed not only the way we communicate with each other, but the way we make friends. Jesse Eisenberg gives an extremely impressive performance as Mark Zuckerberg. He plays him as a very smart, ruthless young man but still with a strong underlying sense of sadness and humanity. Zuckerberg creates Facebook in a spur of the drunken moment after he is dumped by his girlfriend. What starts out as a therapeutic act of revenge ends up spreading throughout the school, then further and further beyond that into the site we all have become very familiar with. With Zuckerberg, we witness how the rise of the internet and social profiling has led to our obsession with status; We are at the point where we can shape our identity online to let others see us the way we really wish we could be seen. Zuckerberg does some truly petty things throughout the movie, all in the name of status and perception. The film also has some very insightful things to say about how almost nothing can remain private in our world anymore; how our constant need to share everything keeps us from connecting with people on a real level, and can even end up alienating those who we actually could connect with. This is best personified by Andrew Garfield's terrific performance as Eduardo Saverin, who is truly the heart of the movie. Eduardo's story is extremely moving and Garfield proves that he has a long career ahead of him with the gravitas he gives the character. The cast really brings Sorkin's trademark rapid-fire dialogue to life, making every conversation in the film feel both exciting and crucial. Meanwhile, David Fincher continues his consistently great work as a director by holding everything together with a dark & moody yet very sophisticated and intriguing style. Facebook changed the way people communicate; The Social Network questions whether or not this is for the better or worse while presenting a near perfect film with a story of friendship, betrayal and social change.
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And that's it for my Best of 2010! If you actually took the time to read all of my lists, I very much appreciate it and hope you take the time to seek out what I've talked about here. I could talk about movies endlessly, so it's really nice to be able to share the movies that spoke to me in some way or another on here. 2011 is looking to be a great year for film. Whether it's here or somewhere else, I'm going to make sure to find some way to talk about them and share it with everybody.

Cody's Top 10 TV Shows of 2010

2011-01-11T12:16:00.001-08:00

I truly believe we're in a new golden age of television. The quality of many television shows today, both in content and style, could rival any number of films. There was so much I enjoyed on television last year that I originally had 20 shows on my list. However, while there was much to love on some of the shows I had, there was still several frustrating moments, be it with lots of running in place (sorry, Sons of Anarchy, I still love you, but finding Abel took much longer than necessary) or plots that are completely aimless (I'm looking at you, True Blood). Before I start, I'd like to give some honorable mentions to The League and United States of Tara, both of which had great second seasons that figured out what worked in the first seasons and expanded on it while mostly dropping what didn't work. I also need to acknowledge Supernatural; while I've had some issues with Season 6 thus far, 2010 had some amazing episodes, including the brilliance of "The Song Remains The Same", where Sam & Dean travel back in time and spend time with their parents, the long overdue Bobby-centric episode, "Weekend at Bobby's", and the Season 5 finale, "Swan Song", which was so epic and moving, that I almost wish it had been the series finale.

So with that introduction, it's time to move on to my favorite shows of 2010:
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10. Fringe

I was a casual fan of Fringe throughout it's first season. It worked just fine as a freak-of-the-week sci-fi show. However, my interest gradually waned as, despite the fun tone, highly interesting mythology and great performance by John Noble, the show couldn't really decide whether it wanted to be a flat-out genre mythology show, or a sci-fi procedural. That all changed with the episode "Peter"; taking place almost entirely in 1985, the episode gives the tragic backstory of Walter and what made him the man we know him as now. From that episode on, the writers seemed to find their true voice; the show fully embraced the mythology, and explored the endlessly fascinating world of the alternate universes. What was once a simple, entertaining procedural with a twist has now become one of the best sci-fi shows on television. And the true sign that it has become a great genre show? It is now moving to Fridays on FOX, the time slot where all great genre shows go to be ignored.

9. Being Human

Stop me if you've heard this one: a vampire, a werewolf,and a ghost get an apartment together. That premise alone was enough to turn me off of this British horror-drama. However, once I actually watched the show, I found it had much more weight than that. Filled with terrific performances and a dark yet funny tone, the show really found it's voice in Season 2, where the characters' lives were put in danger by the presence of a professor whose goal is to experiment and eventually eliminate supernatural beings. As fun as the big story-arc stuff is, the show really works on it's basic character drama; Mitchell, George and Annie are all people who can't fit in with the world, and only have each other to get by. The show becomes their constant struggle just to survive in the world. The horror, drama and comedy only enhances that. As these characters have grown and the story & world expanded, the show has become the better for it. I may be speaking too soon, but at this rate, the show has the potential to be the next Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Sad to think the greatness of the original will most likely be ignored thanks to the American remake about to begin on Syfy.

8. Eastbound & Down

It's really hard to believe this show is on the air, let alone one that has had 2 seasons. Kenny Powers is such a despicable character, it's amazing that the show makes you like him. The dark comedy works in favor of the show, as the viewer often ends up staring at the screen in shock. This is one of the only comedies I can think of where there are scenes of tension in which I worried someone may actually end up getting severely hurt. Season 2 went deeper into the character of Kenny by sending him to Mexico. The result was hilarious, surprising and, most unexpectedly, moving and poignant. Jody Hill and Danny McBride are such unique voices in comedy today, and I can't wait to see what else they have in store for the world.

7. Terriers

Oh Terriers, yet another one season wonder. A brilliant show that never got the chance to spread it's wings. I can't complain too much though, because we still have one great season of a truly enjoyable show. If nothing else, the show works because of the amazing chemistry between Donal Logue and Michael-Raymond James. You truly believe these two are best friends and need each other to get by. On top of that, the show has a really smart, funny style and the P.I. storyline manages to feel fresh and new. I'll miss Terriers very much, but I'm glad it stopped by in my life just for a little while.

6. Louie

Louis C.K. is one of the very best stand-up comedians working today. He has a bluntly sharp voice and isn't afraid to offend, which is what makes the greatest stand-ups so memorable. With his FX show, he takes an interesting approach by not making a narrative, but rather filling each episodes with a couple short films that show him in his everday life as a recently divorced comedian in New York, trying to deal with the world around him. The show is hilariously funny, shockingly vulgar, and more often than you'd think, very poignant. He tackles many broad topics, such as dating, fatherhood, religion, sex and getting old, but does so in such a way that's rare in it's honesty.

5. Party Down

Another show that is gone too soon, Party Down had a fantastic second season that really fleshed out the characters. The cast is funny enough where they could have just kept the basic tone of the first season, and focused on the caterers working a different party every week and dealing with the odd guests. That definitely is still the general drive of the show, but the second season focuses much more on the main characters and how they handle the failures and disappointments in their life. Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan are brilliantly deadpan in the lead roles while Ken Marino manages to be very broad, yet remain believable. Party Down is a show about failure, and dealing with the fact that you can't achieve your dreams or reach your potential. As much as I'll miss the show, the fact that it's gone so soon seems all too appropriate.

4. LOST

The final season of any show with a cult following is bound to be polarizing; it's inevitable. LOST fans are so devoted and diehard, that there was no way that the end could satisfy everyone. Needless to say, the final season, and in particular the final episode, completely split fans, enraging many for the lack of answers to some of the show's mysteries. For others though, like me, the answers didn't matter so much as the characters and the journey they went on. I won't deny that there were a few elements in the final season that were misleading and kind of went nowhere, but in the end, it didn't matter. The thing that made me love the show was following these characters on this epic journey and growing attached to them. Both times I've watched the finale, I cried for the last 10 minutes; I was with these people on an emotional arc and it was both heartbreaking yet satisfying to see how their story ended. There was no way it could please anyone, but for me, I enjoyed the journey, and LOST will remain one of my absolute favorite shows of all time because of it.

3. Parks and Recreation

It had a very rough first season and then really started finding it's voice in the beginning of it's second season, but in the second half, Parks and Recreation completely found it's voice and became one of the best comedies on television. Every single member of the cast adds a lot to the show and no matter what the story of an episode will be, I enjoy it because I love the characters. In under a year, they developed so strongly. One great example is with April and Andy and their budding romance. What could have easily ended up being a rip-off of Jim & Pam turned into it's own unique thing; the roadblocks their relationship hit feel believable and just makes you root for them harder to get together. Amy Poehler is wonderful in the lead role of Leslie Knope. What started off as a female Michael Scott eventually turned into a truly original female character, one who lets her motivation and love for her work take control, and the result is both hilarious and leaving you always wanting more, just like the show itself.

2. Community

As impressive as the rise in quality of Parks and Recreation was, the rise in quality for Community is astonishing. It got off to a better start, but I never thought that in such short time, it would become as creative and unique a comedy as it ended up being. The show embraces pop culture in such a smart way, instead of just simple name-checking, the show makes pop culture part of it's DNA, and certain episodes such as the action movies homage, "Modern Warfare", the zombie movie homage, "Epidemiology", or the stop-motion Christmas episode "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas". Even when it's not doing brilliant homages, the show works because of it's core group of characters and the rapport they have built with one another. In just a season, these characters already feel like a family. They've become some of the most fully-realized, well-developed characters on television and I look forward to spending time with them every week, which is what the best television shows are built on.

1. Mad Men/Breaking Bad

Despite all the respect HBO gets for being the go-to channel for quality programming, I truly believe AMC has now taken the crown. Mad Men and Breaking Bad have become two of the best shows of all time, and it's fantastic that AMC has given them time to grow. Mad Men had what may have been it's best season by showing the breakdown of Don Draper. By showing Don's gradual descent into alcoholism after his divorce, Jon Hamm does some of his very best work, very subtly giving us the contrast between the slick, charming man we've seen for years and the broken, sad man he's been trying to hide. The other MVP of the season is Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson. Peggy has grown with each season, but Season 4 really highlighted how much she has changed; Peggy is great at her job and becoming less afraid to get what she wants. These two highlights come full force in "The Suitcase", an episode which is basically just Don and Peggy stuck in the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce for a full episode, working out their issues, and the result is possibly the best episode of television this past year. Breaking Bad took an interesing deviation in Season 3; after the action-packed Season 2, they changed things up by having a season that was very methodical and quiet. It seemed an odd choice at first, but as the season unfolded, it became hard to see things any other way. Bryan Cranson continues to be brilliant in showing the moral decay of Walter White, but the true standout of the season is Aaron Paul as Jesse; the Emmy he won could not have been more deserved as Paul gives everything to show both the torment that Jesse is going through after losing Jane at the end of last season and his quiet acceptance in his belief that he is a bad person. The story of Walter White has become a fascinating one, as we watch how the poor choice a man made to initially help his family causes the world around him to crumble. The style and story of these AMC shows are the quality of classic, award-winning films. The fact that we get to see them on a weekly basis is almost too good to be true.

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That's it for TV. I'm really looking forward to see what these shows and others I didn't have room to mention have in store for 2011. Tomorrow is the final installment of my Best of 2010 lists with the big one, the one I look forward to talking about the most: my favorite movies of 2010.

Cody's Top 15 Albums of 2010

2011-01-10T12:23:00.000-08:00

So, here I am again, 7 months after my last post, again failing to live up to my empty promises of posting frequently. What can I say? School and social life ends up taking more time than one would expect, and knowing almost nobody reads these posts, it's hard to put in too much work to post. However, if there's one thing I love to post, even if I know it will remain largely unseen, it's my Best of the Year lists. I put a lot of thought into them year round and it's always fun to share with friends. This time, I'm going to try to keep things shorter and not go too far into short essay mode, but we'll see how that pans out.

As usual, I'm going to start with music. After a very lackluster year of music in 2009, in which I could only muster up 10 albums to put on my list (with even that seeming like a stretch), I was very pleased to see that 2010 was much more exciting for music. Artists I've loved for a while offered great releases and I also found several new artists who gave me some hope for the future of music. So let's dive right into it.

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15. She & Him-Volume Two/Belle & Sebasatian-Write About Love

It's hard for a modern band to successfully recreate the sound of a previous generation. There are several bands now who think that recreating an '80s feel simply means putting on makeup and putting some synths on your songs. So when a band understands that recreating an old sound has more to do with recapturing mood and style, the result is much more enjoyable. That's the case with these two albums. She & Him, aside from being proof that Zooey Deschanel's skills extend beyond acting and looking good, just captures a strong '60s feel. The songs have a nostalgic, innocent style that transports one to a time when listening to music wasn't about clicking a few tracks on an iPod, but putting the needle down on the record player and getting lost. Similarly, Belle & Sebastian's first album in 4 years, continues the band's tradition of nostalgic minimalism, using subtle touches such as strings, horns or a specific kind of harmonizing to just create a feeling of being back in a previous era.

KEY TRACKS:
She & Him-"Over It Over Again"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfScLmVkJNs

Belle & Sebastian-"Write About Love" (featuring Carey Mulligan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDTUAgMu6VU

14. Rogue Wave-Permalight

I was very disappointed in Rogue Wave's previous album, Asleep At Heaven's Gate. It wasn't bad, it just seemed a little aimless, with no unifying sound to the album. Thankfully, the band's newest album is a wonderful return to form, managing to capture the quiet acoustic beauty of Descended Like Vultures, while adding a new poppy element that, while turning off some fans, adds a lot to the overall tone of the album.

KEY TRACK:
"Good Morning (The Future)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhZEoNWZ5fU

13. Vampire Weekend-Contra

It's hard to find bands these days who are relatively unique in their sound; that is, a band that isn't either a cookie-cutter of several other bands out there, or one that is just copying an older sound. While you can definitely find influences from older music in Vampire Weekend's music, more than anything, they feel like a breath of fresh air for music. As enjoyable as their self-titled debut was, their sophomore album is a huge step-up, really solidifying their sound with a very cool mix of world music, indie, pop and some electronic. The final result is just a bright, feel-good album that really lifts the spirit.

KEY TRACK:
"Giving Up The Gun"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bccKotFwzoY

12. OK Go-Of The Blue Colour of the Sky

I've been a huge fan of OK Go since their self-titled debut in 2002. With their first two albums, they built themselves as a very creative guitar driven pop-rock band. Then they disappeared for five years, leaving me wondering what their next album would sound like. The result was something that couldn't be further removed from their old sound, but all the more satisfying because of it. OK Go more or less ditches their rock sounds and instead tackles Prince-like R&B and funk. This could have easily gone very wrong, but instead ended up being an album that I've revisited nonstop throughout the year. The band retains their fun style and creativity while evolving and showing off their amazing instrumentation.

KEY TRACK:
"Before The Earth Was Round"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7frEFnt9CKU

11. Childish Gambino-Culdesac/Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

I'll be honest; I'm not a huge rap fan. I understand the appeal and certainly appreciate the talent it takes to do it, but I've just never been able to connect with any rap, aside from on a level of novelty. This changed in 2010 with these two releases. I got into Childish Gambino first through the intrigue of hearing Donald Glover, a comedian I'm a huge fan of, do a rap album, and then hearing his two I Am Just A Rapper mixtapes early in the year, in which he raps over indie songs. I enjoyed Glover's unique perspective of what he rapped about; I hadn't really heard his point of view in rap before. When his full-length album was released, complete with original music, I was blown away and knew that Childish Gambino was a legitimate rap act. Glover not only creates some amazing backing music and beats, but has extremely clever raps and rhymes that cover everything from growing up a nerd to writing for 30 Rock. In the case of Kanye West, I hated him for years. Aside from the obvious complaints about him being an egotistical douchebag, I didn't think his music lived up the constant praise he received. That all changed with his new album. Every single track matches fantastic samples, beats and music with brilliant lyrics and guest appearances. West is nothing but open on the album and there's a raw honesty present that just draws you in. Say what you will about his public persona, but anyone denying the epic ambition of the album is really missing out .

KEY TRACKS:
Childish Gambino-"Hero"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPmA6u-3Rt0

Kanye West-"All of the Lights"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uayey2PSGpA

10. Brandon Flowers-Flamingo: Deluxe Edition

For some reason, The Killers have received a fair amount of scorn from critics in the past few years for their bombast. Brandon Flowers has always believed in the "go big or go home" approach to music, so it's only appropriate that he'd fully embrace this on his first solo album. He manages to carry over the grand sound he has with The Killers while still forming his own unique sound to differentiate his solo work from his band work. The album becomes a great epic of storytelling through songs as Flowers uses his ambitious sound to tell stories of sad, broken people. It's also worth nothing that the Deluxe Edition of the album is one of the only instances where the bonus tracks don't feel like tacked on studio extras, but essential songs to the full experience of the album.

KEY TRACK:
"Hard Enough" (featuring Jenny Lewis)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiazd3YJldY

9. Motion City Soundtrack-My Dinosaur Life

I've always felt a strong connection to Motion City Soundtrack. Justin Pierre has such a specific, honest writing style that I can really relate to. He deals with very universal topics (heartbreak, feeling like an outcast), but does so with such a smart, cynical yet funny point of view. On top of that, the band just creates fun, energetic music. But honestly, the second the band made a reference to Veronica Mars, I knew there was no way this album wouldn't be a favorite of the year.

KEY TRACK:
"Her Words Destroyed My Planet"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC_HwM5nSYU

8. Weezer-Hurley

If there's one thing that's inevitable with me and music, it's that if Weezer ends up releasing an album, I will end up loving it. No matter what they do, I am an unapologetic fan. Their music just speaks to me on a very deep level that's hard to explain. Everybody has an artist for whom they feel presents a musical equivalent of how they feel and view the world. Weezer is that band for me. Having said that and presenting my obvious bias, I do believe that Hurley is Weezer's best album since Pinkerton, which is generally considered to be their masterpiece. There is just an undeniable raw energy that Rivers Cuomo seems to have reclaimed while making this album that shines through on every track. He is still doing what he has done on all of his albums; great hooks and melodies, clever yet self-deprecating lyrics, yet it just seems stronger than it has on years on this album. The key example comes with Rivers' voice; on nearly every track, you can almost hear his voice crack with the amount of power he puts behind it, which is something I personally was thrilled to hear the return of.

KEY TRACK:
"Ruling Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1u10XiwwI4

7. My Chemical Romance-Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Following up a hugely ambitious, successful album is always difficult. There is an extremely intimidating amount of expectations that the band must meet. As good an album as Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown is, it's hard to deny that it's essentially American Idiot 2. My Chemical Romance faced a similar challenge in having to follow-up The Black Parade. They took the smart approach by taking a few years to make the album they wanted to make, even going so far as to dump an entire album's worth of songs when they weren't completely happy with them. The final result is the most fun, energetic album I heard in 2010, and one that couldn't be more different than it's predecessor. The dark, gothic Queen-style rock of The Black Parade is replaced with a fast, furious energy that is an absolute blast to listen to countless times. The band digs into what worked on their previous albums, while adding a bunch of new elements that prove how talented they truly are.

KEY TRACK:
"Planetary (GO!)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBBDuIpct5o

6. Sleigh Bells-Treats

This one is hard to describe in why I love it so much. It's even hard to describe what their "sound" would classify as. Noise punk? Garage dance rock? It's hard to say. All that I know is that at only 32 minutes, the album acts like a fantastic sonic assault, full of speaker bursting drums, screeching guitars and distorted vocals. It's unlike anything I've ever heard and I love it more and more because of it.

KEY TRACK:
"Crown On The Ground"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViBt55HRkXw

5. Marina & The Diamonds-The Family Jewels

Despite the enormous popularity of Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift or countless others, it seems like real female performers are really underrepresented in music today. There are tons of talented female singer/songwriters working, but they are largely overlooked outside of the indie scene. The times this frustrates me the most is when I hear someone like Marina & The Diamonds, the musical project of London singer/songwriter Marina Diamindis. She has such a creative, unique voice and musical style, a mix of Sparks meets Kate Bush with a good dose of '80s pop, yet she remains largely unknown. The album sticks with you and stays in your head the more you listen to it. Marina & The Diamonds should be huge. Let's hope this change soons.

KEY TRACK:
"Are You Satisfied?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h4dGDtanio

4. The New Pornographers-Together

The New Pornographers is a band I got into in a big, bad way this year, and their newest album was my introduction to their endlessly satisfying brand of power-pop. I just love everything about the band and this album is a great representation of why. Whether it's the insanely catchy melodies, the expert musicianship or the strong appeal of all four of the band members who sing on the album (A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Dan Bejar and Kathryn Calder). This is the album that introduced me to what is now one of my absolute favorite bands and I will forever love it for that.

KEY TRACK:
"Crash Years"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KZANuDcRO4

3. Ben Folds & Nick Hornby-Lonely Avenue

When I first heard that Ben Folds would be collaborating with author Nick Hornby on his latest album, I was intrigued, yet a little disappointed. I'm a big fan of Hornby's writing, but Folds has such a great lyrical style, that it was hard to imagine him singing anyone else's words. Turns out, my concerns were unnecessary as the two are a perfect match. Hornby crafts wonderful lyrics, focusing on different characters, while Folds writes the perfect melodies and brings them to life. When put together, it becomes the musical equivalent of sitting down with a terrific book of short stories.

KEY TRACK:
"Doc Pomus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3WWnpfcYhE

2. Arcade Fire-The Suburbs

If I had it my way, Arcade Fire would be the biggest band in the world. Their huge, epic sound, injecting a filmlike orchestra sound with indie rock gives the band a sound that's simply astonishing to listen to. Every single member of the large ensemble adds to the overall experience of listening to Arcade Fire's music. It doesn't have the intimate appeal of Funeral, but that's because the band has grown beyond that; they've evolved into something completely different and rare, a band that is instantly recognizable and impossible to replicate. With 16 tracks and a running time over an hour, The Suburbs is certainly long, but in the process, it becomes an experience while listening to the album. It becomes more than an album you can just pick random tracks from; it becomes like a movie, demanding you sit down and enjoy the whole experience from start to finish.

KEY TRACKS (couldn't pick just one):
"Rococo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az_2oiccZNo

"Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH_7_XRfTMs

1. Steel Train-Steel Train

It was hard to choose what my #1 would be, and while I think Arcade Fire might actually be the best album of the year, Steel Train released what is my personal favorite album of the year; an album that connected with me instantly and just continued to speak to me and grow on me every single time I revisited it. Steel Train have figured out the way to write a perfect pop rock song. It has to be both small and intimate, yet big and epic, and they achieve it. All of the songs have a huge sound to them, yet maintain a very welcoming sound with great energy and wonderful melodies. Opening with the grand "Bullet" and ending with the achingly beautiful "Fall Asleep", Steel Train's self-titled album that never fails to transport me and let me get completely lost in the music, which is what music is really all about.

KEY TRACKS (again, couldn't pick one):
"You and I Undercover"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0qNKxqVkBw

"Fall Asleep"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9reoq82ZWg

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And with that, my Best of 2010 is underway. Tomorrow I'll be sharing my favorite television of last year. I highly recommend you seek out the albums I've mentioned here. They all spoke to me in different ways and I'd love to share that with anyone reading.

Splice, The State of Horror and The Modern Day Movie-Going Experience

2010-06-17T12:40:00.001-07:00

The horror genre has become kind of sad to look at these days. Sure, it's primarily been just a fun way to scare people, but there's definitely some horror movies out there that are genuinely good movies; The Thing, The Exorcist, George A. Romero's early "Dead" films; these are just a few examples of many. Last year showed a slight step up in terms of horror. We got such movies as Trick 'r Treat, The House of the Devil, Drag Me To Hell and Paranormal Activity, which all were a very breath of fresh air in a genre that mainly now consists of remakes, sequels or tonal copies of more popular films.

In my opinion, the best kind of horror can be achieved in a few different ways.

1. Providing an atmosphere in your movie that puts the audience on edge and puts them in some state of fear, unease or even making them feel slightly creeped out. If you can present some images that makes the viewer nervous to walk around their house in the dark that night, you've done your job well.

2. Using certain horror tropes in order to tell an original, compelling story with realistic, believable characters.

3. Just having balls-out fun and adding a lot of crazy elements in order to let your audience just have a great time.

4. If nothing else, horror can work if you're showing your audience something very dark and fucked up.

Splice works heavily in that last one. It's not very scary, but in terms of showing you very bizarre, fucked up things, Splice works in spades.

The movie follows Clive and Elsa (Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley), two genetic engineers who have become the equivalent of rock-stars in their field with their work involving splicing together the DNA of different animals in order to create new creatures. They want their next step to involve introducing human DNA into the mix, but when their funders forbid it, the two decide to take the next step in secret. Soon they're responsible for the creation of a creature that they end up naming Dren. Needless to say, things soon go very wrong.

The way the trailers are selling the movie, you would think that what follows is your standard monster movie, and while monster movies do play a definite influence on Splice, the majority of the film seems to take more from David Cronenberg. Instead of having Dren responsible for a bunch of death and destruction for the majority of the film, the movie goes a different route and instead has Dren become a catalyst for the slow destruction of Clive and Elsa's relationship. Elsa, whom we learn vague hints about an abusive childhood, forms a strong, maternal bond with Dren, while Clive, realizing that they crossed a line in creating Dren, wants nothing to do with her.

The movie kept me engaged for the majority of the film because the relationship between the characters worked so well. Sure, the two aren't deeply complex but I bought their relationship and that kept me interested until the films goes into it's more bizarre territory. The best performance by far goes to Delphine Chaneac as Dren. She has no real dialogue, mainly communicating in odd chirps, but Chaneac gives the character so much life and really drew me in and made me sympathize for her.

While the first half of the movie works well, the second half is what most people will focus on. That is where things take a very bizarre turn and also where the movie seems to lose a lot of people. Without spoiling much, instead of letting the dark elements focus on violence, director Vincenzo Natali takes a different turn and has the dark elements intertwine with sexuality. You can have buckets of gore and people will be all for it, but introduce sex and for some reason, they can't handle it. Moments that are meant to be shocking and disturbing are instead met with mocking laughter. Don't get me wrong, there's definitely a lot of great dark humor in the film, but with my audience, it was clearly a case of an audience being presented with something weird and different and thinking that meant it was bad. Natali has defended these moments in the film by saying that good horror involves showing an audience things they haven't seen before. He definitely succeeded with this and the fact that it's being met with so much disdain is very disappointing.

Which leads me to my next point, involving what a pain in the ass movie audiences can be these days. The laughter was a mild problem. It's just a case of the movie not working people. What annoyed me was the majority of the theater acting like they were in their home. Sitting in front of me were a group of guys who were constantly looking at their cell phones, causing a bright light to glare out. Behind me was a girl commenting on every development with "What the fuck?" or "This is nasty". Near the back of the theater was a group of teenagers who, during the last half hour, just started making stupid wisecracks towards everything that happened. Call me old-fashioned but if I'm paying money to see a movie in the theater, I shouldn't have to put up with that shit. I don't know how the social mores have fallen to the point where it's okay to be completely rude and disrespectful to a theater full of people who paid money to (shocker) actually watch and enjoy a movie. I have no problem with an audience getting into and having fun with a comedy or horror movie, but when people start acting the same way in the theater as they would if they were watching the movie at home with their friends, there's something wrong. It makes me feel like an old man at only 24 to say I don't understand the younger generation, but that definitely seems to be the case.

All audience issues aside, it didn't change the fact that I really enjoyed Splice. It's not a new classic or anything but gives us something that's rare with movies today in giving us an original story that isn't afraid to take risks and shows us things we haven't seen before. The dismal box office performance seems to suggest that's not what audiences are looking for, which kind of sucks, but just being able to find a movie that's as odd and creative as Splice is a definite plus.

A Lapse in Content

2010-05-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

So after my big statement that I was going to fill my new blog with all sorts of movie and TV reviews and posts. As you can see from the previous post from January, that hasn't been the case. I just happened to get caught up in school. Now that summer is near and I'll have a lot more free time (and I mean a LOT more seeing as I have almost no social life outside of Indiana), I'm making it my goal to write on here a lot more. It shouldn't be that difficult as not only have I seen a lot of great movies lately and plan to see a lot more over the summer, but I've also really been getting into music again lately, so I'll be able to have a variety of subjects to talk about. So for anyone who may be reading this (probably not many), stay tuned and hopefully I'll be able to provide some moderately entertaining and informative insight.

Top 20 Movies of 2009

2010-01-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

So we now reach the end of my Best of 2009 lists, finishing with my favorite medium, movies. Going to school, it's tougher for me to see as many movies as I would like. There is only one theater near my school and it sucks; we're talking a 4 screen theater attached to a mall, that seems to mostly screen family films and mindless mainstream horror movies. Needless to say, most of the movies on my list were ones I caught in the second half of the year, either on DVD or in theaters when I was visiting home. There were some really terrific movies this year. My top 3 are pretty much interchangeable, with me loving each an equal amount, but for different reasons. With that being said, let's get to it.

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20. The Road

The Road is a powerful film. It's depressing as all hell, but powerful nonetheless. I'll admit up front that I haven't read Cormac McCarthy's widely acclaimed novel on which the movie is based, but based on what I've heard about it, I think the movie gets across the main ideas of the story. It's hard to really recommend the movie to everyone, because it's such a draining, dismal experience both emotionally and visually. The wasteland that the two main characters (simply named Man and Boy) make their way through over the course of the film is stunning in it's dreariness. The sky is constantly filled with dark, smog-like clouds and the ground is constantly littered with all sorts of debris. The most noteable thing in this movie, and the thing that makes it all worthwhile, is the relationship between Man and Boy, a really touching father/son relationship that is fully realized with a great performance by Viggo Mortensen. It's definitely a downer for the most part, but still worth checking out.

19. Zombieland

The perfect antidote to The Road in terms of movies set in a post-apocalyptic world. This movie is an absolute blast with nearly every scene having laugh-out-loud lines and great action set-pieces. I'll admit, I was a bit leary of Zombieland when I first saw the trailer. It didn't look bad per se, but I could only think that after Shaun of the Dead, another zombie comedy would just be pointless. I was happy to be proved wrong, as this movie definitely has it's own sharp sense of humor. The world that the movie creates is a very clever one, with Jesse Eisenberg acting as our link to it, constantly there to explain the rules of survival. Woody Harrelson is also really strong in the movie, looking like he's having a ball as the redneck, zombie killing machine known as Tallahassee. However, the film keeps him from being a cartoon by giving him a lot of charisma and even a good dramatic moment late in the film. The movie also has one of the best cameos of all time, which shouldn't be spoiled in order to truly enjoy it.

18. World's Greatest Dad

It's really hard to talk about this movie without spoiling a pretty big surprise that happens fairly early on in the movie. All I'll say is that it's a very smart, very dark comedy that is a great satire on how tragedy can manipulate everyone's perception of a person. Robin Williams is at his best in this movie. I've always liked him most when he downplays his persona, going more for the quiet, beaten-down man, rather than the overgrown child he tends to frequently play, and the performance he gives in this movie is very subtle, but also full of depth.

17. Observe and Report

I already touched upon in my mention of Eastbound & Down how much I appreciate Jody Hill's dark, cynical sense of humor. His style is fully realized in Observe and Report. The film had the misfortune of being released shortly after Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a movie with a similar premise on the surface, but couldn't be more different. What we're treated to here is a pitch-black look at how a troubled man can misinterpret the American dream. Ronnie Barnhardt is an interesting character; he takes his job as head of mall security much too seriously, to the point that it causes physical harm to others. Seth Rogen's portrayal of him is wonderful in that Rogen isn't afraid to make the character completely despicable, yet still giving him a sympathetic side.

16. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

2009 was an amazing year for animated films. People finally started figuring out what Pixar does right and found out how to make an animated film that both children and adults can enjoy, without making blatant, tongue-in-cheek pop culture references. Based on the trailer, I didn't think that this movie has much to offer, but upon actually seeing it, I was pleased to find an extremely funny and overall fun movie. Bill Hader finally gets a lead role (albeit in animated form) as Flint Lockwood, who immediately becomes one of the best geek characters in recent memory. The movie uses the often seen story of a character who can't relate to his father, but this movie does it in a very refreshing, and actually touching way. The animation is also really solid, going less for the more realistic style and just going for pure cartoon, which becomes a treat for the eyes. Also, Neil Patrick Harris does the voice of Flint's assistant monkey, Steve, who just needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.

15. Paranormal Activity

2009 was also a great year for horror. There were a few shining examples of what has been missing in horror films lately. With Paranormal Activity, it's an example of a horror film actually being scary. Granted, the movie seems to divide people in their reaction to it, but I found it terrifying. The movie does so much with so little, wringing tension from the simplest of scenes. Everytime the repeated night-vision shot of Katie & Micah lying in bed came up, my stomach immediately went into knots, waiting to see what would happen next. The film is a slow burn, slowly upping the stakes until it almost becomes unbearable at the end. Aside from this, the film works because the two leads have such strong chemistry. It's really hard not to sympathize with Katie. Katie Featherson gives so much sweetness and fear in her performance that your heart really breaks for her as you witness her slow mental and physical torture and realize her inevitable fate.

14. Drag Me To Hell

This is an example of how horror can be fun. Sam Raimi proves he still has it by making one of the most insane, fun horror movies of all time. We're given the relatively simple set-up of a girl being cursed by a gypsy and Raimi just lets loose for the next hour and a half. Despite having a PG-13, the movie has some genuinely gross moments. All sorts of fluids end up being sprayed on the heroine, usually in her mouth. Raimi isn't afraid to take things to a silly place; the movie features an anvil being dropped on a someone's head and a talking goat, but it just works in it's sheer ridiculousness. Alison Lohman does a good job in the leading role of Christnie, making you care about what she's going through, and Justin Long actually does an admirable job of what is usually the thankless boyfriend role. Overall, if you're willing to embrace the lunacy, it's a hell of a fun time.

13. The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker is the movie I've seen most recently (as in last night), so it's hard to fairly assess it with such little retrospect. However, upon initial viewing, it's safe to say it's one of the most intense movies I've ever seen in my life. It follows a group of soldiers in Baghdad, whose job it is to defuse roadside bombs. The group is led by Sgt. Will James, brilliantly played by Jeremy Renner, who does his work in such a reckless fashion that for a good deal of the movie, I just want to yell at him "Be careful, dammit!". Director Kathryn Bigelow does a wonderful job of displaying just how dangerous the job these men do every day is. Among the tense set pieces though is a good look at how the dedication these men give to their job affects their normal lives. The final moments of the film with Sgt. James are very haunting and say a lot by saying very little.

12. Star Trek

I'm not a huge Star Trek fan. I haven't seen a single episode of any of the series and haven't seen one of the movies. My only knowledge of the universe and characters are through pop culture references and bits of information from my roommate. So the fact that I enjoyed this movie as much as I did speaks volume for how well it works and what a phenomenal job J.J. Abrams does. This is, simply put, Star Trek for beginners. You're able to learn about all of the essential characters and really feel for them. There are some really great action scenes, a lot of emotion, tons of genuinely funny moments and a wonderful cast. My only complaint...not enough Simon Pegg.

11. Fantastic Mr. Fox

This was quite the pleasant surprise. I'm a fan of Wes Anderson, but I know his style can be offputting to others, and even I'll attest to the fact that the trailer left a lot of questions to the quality of the movie. So I was very pleased to find that this movie was nothing but pure charm. Charming is really the best way to describe the movie; from the hand-crafted feel of the stop-motion animation to the very subtle voicework to the extremely dry sense of humor, the movie just won me over. I loved spending time with all of these characters. I'd love to see them in future adventures. It's just a case of an already talented director maintaining his trademark style while reaching out to a wider audience.

10. Up

It's Pixar. What else can you say? They are inarguably the masters of animation right now and don't seem to be losing that title anytime soon. They manage to keep challenging themselves narratively as well. With WALL-E, they made their protagonist a robot, now it's a cranky old man; not exactly the best draw for people. But Pixar makes it work. The opening 10 minutes are some of their best work ever. If you don't get a bit choked up throughout this movie, you may not have a soul.

9. Trick 'r Treat

By far, one of the best horror movies I've ever seen. It was horribly mistreated by Warner Brothers, having been finished about 3 years ago, constantly being pushed back, only to eventually be dumped straight-to-DVD. But the wait was definitely worth it. The final result is a brilliant mix of Halloween and Pulp Fiction, presenting four interweaving stories all taking place on Halloween night and dealing with the rules of Halloween. The movie manages to be both creepy and fun. It also gives one of the best portrayals of the holiday on film. The less known about this film before going in, the better, so I'll just say that if you miss creative horror, give Trick 'r Treat a watch.

8. I Love You, Man

Probably the funniest movie of last year, in my opinion. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel work together perfectly and all of the supporting cast has something to offer. Overall, the movie had a very relatable theme for me. For some people, like me and Paul Rudd's character, it's simply difficult to try and make male friends. Rudd perfectly displays the awkwardness of trying to socialize with people and it leads to moments both hilarious and cringe-inducing. Among anything else, it's simply just a funny movie.

7. Funny People

My love for the work of Judd Apatow is no secret. Since Freaks and Geeks, I've really connected with his stories and characters. Funny People is a step in a different direction compared to his past work and the result is his most mature work. The performances are really strong. Adam Sandler gives his best work to date, completely dissecting his past career and Seth Rogen shows a subtle new side to his usual on-screen persona. There have been many complaints about the structure of the film and it's 2 and a half hour length, specifically on the detour the film makes in it's final third, but I think it works. Apatow and the cast create such strong characters that I was willing to spend as much as time as possible with all of them.

6. Coraline

The biggest surprise of last year for me. I was expecting a lightweight animated movie, but was treated to a film that was thrilling, frightening, funny, enchanting and honest. The character of Coraline is one of the truest portrayals of a kid in a movie since Monster House. She acts like a real kid, from the way she gets frustated with her parents to the way she acts when she's alone, trying to keep herself entertained. The best part of this movie, however, is the gorgeous visual style brought to life by Henry Selick. The stop-motion animation works perfectly and all of the sets have a wonderful depth to them. I was also surprised at how effective the scary moments in this movie are. It doesn't disrespect children by making things light; the stakes Coraline faces are real and you are right there with her in her fear and sense of wonder.

5. Adventureland

This is one that grew on me over time. I enjoyed it upon first viewing, but it wasn't until thinking back on it and then eventually seeing it again where I realized what a strong movie it actually is. It's a wonderful comedy-drama where the emotions the characters are going through translate really well to the viewer. Jesse Eisenberg continues his line of solid work as the shy, nervous James, Kristen Stewart takes a step-up from those other movies by playing a flawed, deeply troubled girl and Martin Starr does solid work as James' bitter friend at the titular amusement park. If I had to find any comparison, it would be with that of the late, great John Hughes; that is, a movie that portrays teenagers in an honest light by making their stories equal in humor, humiliation and heart.

4. District 9

District 9 gave me hope. It's proof that there are still new filmmakers out there with original ideas and a unique vision. Neill Blomkamp managed to make a truly stunning debut film. It's the type of film that reminds me of the endless limitations of filmmaking. Blomkamp creates a fascinating world in District 9, a world in which aliens co-exist with humans, but are treated as low-class citizens and branded with the derogarty term "prawns". Aliens are certainly not a new territory in film, but the movie presents them in a new, fresh way. They're not here to destroy the world, they're just trying to survive and make it back home. One of the main characters is an prawn given the name Christopher, and despite being a mostly CG creation and not speaking any English, he becomes the most genuine, sympathetic character in the film. However, the true shining performance goes to newcomer Sharlto Copley as Wikus Van De Merwe. The transformation that Wikus goes through in the movie is extremely engaging and it's almost impossible not to feel for him. In the end, we're given a movie that manages to have both awesome action sequences and a strong message brought to life with strong characters.

3. Up In The Air

Jason Reitman has proved himself to be one of the strongest young filmmakers working today. As much as I loved Thank You For Smoking and Juno, I found his latest film to be his strongest work yet. George Clooney gives his best performance to date as Ryan Bingham, a man who spends a good deal of his life traveling from city to city by plane for his job, which is firing people for companies who are too afraid to do so themselves. Reitman made a great choice by having the majority of the people that Ryan fires be portrayed by people who actually lost their jobs. He simply told them to react how they wish they would have reacted in the moment and the results are truly moving. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga both do wonderful work as the female leads, each displaying a wide range of emotions. The film works as well as it does because it doesn't take the expected routes you're used to. There are some genuinely surprising developments in the final third of the film, but they work so well because it gives a great portrayal of the way life can surprise you.

2. (500) Days of Summer

I really connected with this one. As flawed and neurotic as Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Tom Hansen is, I related to him more than I have with a movie character in a long, long time. Tom is a character who has crafted his ideas about love from movies and pop songs. He takes the smallest cues from Zooey Deschanel's Summer as life-changing events and believes that they are perfect for each other based on very vague details. When it all starts to fall apart, he immediately blames her without looking at himself. I'm embarrased to admit, it's a situation I've been in many times before. But that's why the movie works as well as it does. We're not used to seeing a main character who's so delusional and is so influenced by pop culture. It made the lessons he learns throughout the film all the more effective as it was something different yet relatable. Aside from the strong characterwork, the film also has an extremely unique and creative visual and narrative style. All of these details mixed together makes for one of the most original movies I've seen in a long time.

1. Inglourious Basterds

Man, did I love this movie. I could go on and on about why I love it. There are just so many details that make it work perfectly. As much as I love Kill Bill, I think this is Quentin Tarantino's best work since Pulp Fiction, and with repeat viewing, it's totally possible it could surpass that classic in my mind. Tarantino takes the war genre and completely turns it on his head, in his own specific way. The film is made up largely of scenes featuring people sitting at a table and talking, and yet, these scenes are some of the most brilliant and tense ever put to film. The cast is fantastic. Brad Pitt completely chews the scenery in the best way possible as Lt. Aldo Raine, giving a hilarious performance. Melanie Laurent is enchanting as Shosanna Dreyfus, the heroine of the film, who it's impossible not to be won over by and fall in love with just a little. All of the supporting characters work well too, from Eli Roth's cocky Sgt. Donny Donowitz to Daniel Bruhl's layered performance as Nazi war hero Fredrick Zoller. And then there's Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa. Holy shit. If Waltz doesn't get an Oscar for his performance, there's something severely wrong with Hollywood. From his very first moment on screen, Waltz creates an iconic character and one of the best villains of all time. He has been given the nickname "The Jew Hunter" and his known for his keen interrogation skills. Any scene featuring Landa is filled with tension and Waltz completely brings all attention to his character. Tarantino again splits the film up into chapters and they work perfectly here. From the quiet menace of the first chapter, "Once upon a time...in Nazi-Occupied France" to the edge-of-your-seat tension of the fourth chapter, "Operation Kino" to the astonishing action of the final chapter, "Revenge of the Giant Face", Tarantino simply knows how to tell the story. When everything comes together and we're treated to the climax of the film, it completely pulls you in; it gave me one of the most visceral reactions to a film I've ever had. The movie is also a celebration of film itself in a way. By having Shosanna work at a movie theatre, we are treated to several film references and the culmination of the story relies completely on film itself. It fully displays why film is such an art to be appreciated and it's just one of the many reasons I thought Inglourious Basterds was not only the best film of 2009, but one of the best films of all time.

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And there we have it, my best of 2009. There were still a lot of movies in 2009 that I would have loved to see but didn't get a chance to; I'm still kicking myself for not getting a chance to see Where The Wild Things Are. But overall, it was a really solid year for film. It brought movies that would usually be ignored to a wider audience and really helped remind me why I love movies so much. I hope anyone who actually read this enjoyed it. I'm going to try to update this somewhat frequently with my thoughts on movies and television. Stay tuned!

Top 15 TV Shows of 2009

2010-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

In the way that 2009 was the year I paid less attention to music, it was also the year I paid much more attention to television. Over the summer, I made it a point to watch some of the cable shows that I was either behind on, or were getting huge critical acclaim, but I hadn't yet seen. By doing so, I discovered some fantastic shows, while still enjoying some old favorites.

15. How I Met Your Mother

This has become quite the comfort show for me. Even when it's not at it's best (which isn't often), it still just makes me feel good and makes me laugh. Despite having a laugh track, it manages to be one of the most clever sitcoms on television with a great small ensemble. Last year's episodes actually featured some big shake-ups storywise, with Ted losing his job and becoming a teacher, and more importantly, Barney & Robin becoming a couple. Among this, there was the return of some great recurring gags, such as Slapsgiving, and some hilarious comedy segments, such as Marshall's slideshow songs in "The Sexless Innkeeper".

14. Eastbound & Down

It's hard to find a comedy this bitter and dark on TV these days. The main character, Kenny Powers (brilliantly played by Danny McBride) is foul-mothed, sexist, racist and an all-around asshole. However, McBride has enough charisma to make him hilarious. In a very short season (6 episodes), the show manages to pack in a quick but fulfilling story about Kenny attempting to redeem himself in his hometown. The supporting cast is just as good from John Hawkes' quiet performance as Kenny's brother to the hilarious oddity that is Steve Little's performance as Stevie Janowski, a band teacher obsessed with Kenny. The season ends on a perfect note by finally giving Kenny some triumph, only to take it all away.

13. Community/Modern Family

These are both new comedies that are just getting started and finding their style, but are both off to a very funny start. They both take a very simple concept and add something fresh to the genre. Community does so by adding a very self-aware, clever sense of humor and Modern Family does so by just being very smart and genuinely funny. The two shows also both have fantastic ensembles that work together perfectly, the two notable stand-outs being Community's Danny Pudi as the pop-culture obsessed Abed, and Modern Family's Ty Burrell as the desperate-to-be-hip father Phil. While the two are still finding their footing, I can't wait to see what else they have to offer.

12. Flight of the Conchords

A couple months ago, Flight of the Conchords announced that they wouldn't be bringing their show back for a third season. It's a shame, because the second season displayed how great the show could be. As great as the songs were in the first season, a lot of the comedy in between fell flat. They really stepped things up this season, with the in-between comedy being just as good as the songs, if not better in some cases. Having said that, there were some fantastic songs in this season from the super-catchy "Sugalumps" to the awesome rap "Hurt Feelings" to my personal favorite, Jemaine's ode to ex-girlfriends, "Carol Brown". It's sad that the show won't come back, but they definently ended things on a strong note.

11. 30 Rock

What can you say about 30 Rock that hasn't already been said? It's one of the smartest, funniest shows on television and last year was no exception. Whereas the beginning of Season 3 really fumbled the use of guest stars, the rest of the season found a way to use them with hilarious turns by Jon Hamm as Liz's naive, doctor boyfriend and Salma Hayek as Jack's feisty girlfriend. The show also managed to fit in some pretty good small story arcs, with the appearance of Jack's father at the end of Season 3, and the search for a new cast member at the beginning of this season. Tina Fey is one of the strongest voices in comedy right now and 30 Rock continues to be as strong as ever.

10. Dexter

Dexter has a difficult task in that the weight of the show rests on Michael C. Hall's shoulders. His performance as Dexter Morgan is so entrancing that any scene without him has a chance to fall flat. While Season 3 had it's moments, it really didn't live up to the epicness of Seasons 1 and 2, and the way Jimmy Smits' Miguel Prado left the show was really anti-climactic. Thankfully, the show stepped up this year in giving Dexter a new opponent with John Lithgow's Arthur Mitchell a.k.a. The Trinity Killer. Lithgow gives an absolutely terrifying performance, completely erasing any notions one would have of him previously. The season gets off to a slow start, with Lithgow's short scenes being one of the few highlights, but once Arthur and Dexter meet, the season just gets better and better. The side characters are more of a mixed bag. While Debra's story is very interesting and leads to some of Jennifer Carpenter's best work, the season-long arc involving Angel and LaGuerta's relationship is awful, and probably the worst thing the show has ever done. However, the Trinity storyline is so good that most of the faults can be forgiven. It all leads up to the absolutely stunning final, tragic moments of the season, which promise to take the show in an interesting new direction.

9. Supernatural

Supernatural is an interesting creature. It gets written off a lot for being on the CW. The fact that a good portion of the fans are girls constantly saying how hot the leads are doesn't help matters either. But if you can get past all that you'll find one of the most compelling dramas on television right now. As good as the show was in it's first 3 seasons, Seasons 4 and 5 really changed things and made it into a very, dark mature show. It's evolved from a show about two brothers hunting monsters every week into an epic story about two brothers stuck in the middle of a war between God and Lucifer. On top of that, we find out that Dean and Sam are the vessels for the angel Michael and Lucifer, respetively. That's some heavy shit to dive into for a show on the same network that houses Gossip Girl. One of the best things the show has done is introduce the character of angel Castiel. It really brought a great new dynamic to the show and Misha Collins' performance never fails to impress. Castiel is also the focus of two very dark episodes in Season 4, "The Rapture" which shows his tragic backstory and "On The Head Of A Pin", which might be the best episode of the show ever. It's not all doom and gloom though. Supernatural has a great sense of humor about itself. The writers are very well aware about their fandom, and while they poked at the fourth wall in the past, they broke right through it last year when Sam & Dean discovered a book series called "Supernatural", about two demon hunting brothers named Sam & Dean. While this story development could have easily been mishandled, it actually led to some very important story developments, some very clever comedy, and a great new character in the form of Chuck Shurley. It's always great to see a show change and develop into something great and Supernatural has done so in a way that really deserves to be noticed.

8. Chuck

This is an example of a show that really stepped things up in it's second season. The first season was fun, but nothing really stood out. In Season 2, everything just began to click better. The cast became more comfortable with each other and the writers just made the stories more and more exciting and fun. It all culminated with the arrival of Chuck's father, played by Scott Bakula, which led to a few season-ending episodes that are just as fun and impressive as any action movie.

7. Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation suffered from numerous comparisons to The Office from the very beginning and they were true to a degree. The 6 episode first season was amusing, but not very funny or interesting. The first season ended on a hopeful note with "Rock Show" which finally began to give the show more emotion and give the characters some depth. The second season was almost like watching a different show. Much like The Office, the writers found a tone that worked and it led to a very funny show with a lot of heart. However, P&R has managed to find it's own tone and kept it from being a carbon copy of it's predecessor. Each cast member has something to offer, right down to minor supporting characters such as the constantly down on his luck, Jerry. It's become a show that works because it's simply watching a group of people you love to spend time with.

6. Sons of Anarchy

I had no interest in this show when I first saw the ads for it. The idea of watching the trials and tribulations of a biker gang every week held no interest for me. However, as the second season progressed, I kept hearing how amazing the show was, so I decided to give it a shot. I was surprised to find that the biker angle was a very small part of the show, and at it's heart, it's a extremely well-written drama about family. The second season took things to a very dark place and each episode just built the tension to an almost unbearable point, with each viewer just waiting for everything to snap. The show takes big risks by consistently killing off important characters and having their characters do very bad things, despite it being for somewhat good intentions. It all led to an extremely intense finale, full of death, excitement and tragedy, which has me highly anticipating Season 3.

5. Dollhouse

Ah, Joss Whedon. Despite being one of the most talented and loved writers of this generation, he just can't seem to catch a break. First, the brilliant Firefly was horribly mishandled and quickly dumped by FOX, then Angel got cancelled far too early. When Dollhouse was announced to air on FOX, fans instantly banded together to try and save the show. When the show finally debuted, it had a rocky start. It was good, but the first 5 episodes just weren't living up to the Whedon name. With the much-lauded 6th episode, the show took a noticeable step-up and continued to get better and better. The second season took things to a whole new level with some of the episodes becoming just as good as the best episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. The story and character developments and overall increase in quality in the past few episodes just makes it more and more heartbreaking that the show is about to end. Regardless, it's a miracle that the show got a second season at all and a few months from now, we'll have the entire series on DVD as a great 26 episode reminder of the talent of Joss Whedon.

4. The Office

I don't have a lot to say about why I love The Office. I think it is probably (along with the UK original) the best television comedy of all time. It is uniquely hilarious while also having a great deal of drama and heart. Last year kept up that tradition while also adding a new depth by making some reflections on the current economy. With the Michael Scott Paper Company and bankruptcy arcs, we really got a good look at how the economy is affecting failing businesses, yet the show did it in a very funny, approachable way. Despite anything else, the show is known for it's relationships. We got another chapter in the surprisingly touching story of Michael & Holly. We also got the long-awaited wedding of Jim & Pam, which was handled in a terrific fashion and made it almost impossible to not get a little teary-eyed.

3. LOST

I could go on and on about how much I love LOST. I have spent countless hours analyzing the show through books and on the internet and it is by far one of my favorite shows of all time. Season 5 just continued this by making a very bold choice in embracing the idea of time travel. It had touched upon it before in Desmond-centric episodes, but it took things to a whole new level to have the on-island Losties hopping through different decades and spending the second half of the season in 1977. I never would have thought from the first season that the show would be telling the stories and the season ends on a note where I have no idea what to expect in the final season. It's very rare for a show to constantly keep you guessing, which is why LOST is such a fantastic, important show.

2. Breaking Bad

This is another one of the critically acclaimed shows I decided to check out and, man, am I glad I did. By doing so I was treated into a piece of brilliant dark comedy and drama in the story of Walter White. While the first season wasn't able to fully display the greatness of the show due to a shortened season, the second season more than made up for it. From the haunting opening, featuring a charred teddy bear in a pool, Season 2 of Breaking Bad displayed that great drama means taking risks. The show goes down some dark roads but remains all the while fascinating. The thing most worth mentioning though is Bryan Cranston's performance as Walter White. He erases any thoughts of Malcolm's dad by playing a once quiet, meek man who slowly transforms into a monster. Breaking Bad has much in common with the movies of The Coen Brothers, in that it features very troubled characters doing questionable things, but done so in a brilliant form of storytelling. The third season begins in about 2 months and I, for one, can't wait.

1. Mad Men

Mad Men is a show that's kind of difficult to describe in terms of what makes it so great. It's just something that needs to be experienced. Everything about it is just perfection from the portrayal of the '60s to the dialogue to the music to the visual style to the brilliant cast, with Jon Hamm in particular giving an iconic performance as Don Draper. The third season made a big shift in focus, giving much more attention to the home life of Don and his wife, Betty. While taking some focus away from Sterling Cooper could have been a risk, the writers managed to pull it off with some brilliant story developments. There are a number of stand-out episodes from the haunting dreamlike state of "The Fog" to the dark comedy of "Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency" to flat-out awesomeness that is the season finale, "Shut The Door. Have A Seat". Mad Men is definitely revolutionary television, it is giving us something we haven't ever seen before and doing so in a way that is endlessly engaging.

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So that's it for television. I'd also like to give notice to It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Party Down, which all had very funny seasons and United States of Tara, which showed a lot of potential in it's debut season. I should hopefully have my Best Movies of 2009 up by the end of the week!

Top 10 Albums of 2009

2010-01-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

2009 was an interesting year for me in terms of music. In past years, I consistently got a lot of albums. Not only would I buy a new album from any band I liked even slightly, I'd be more than willing to pick up an album from a new band that just looked like they could have potential. This could often lead to disappointment, but then there were the times where I would discover a great new band, which made it all worth it. 2009 was different though. I don't want to go so far as to say I started caring about music less, but I just wasn't as active in finding new music. The majority of new bands I saw were simply either hopping on what was currently popular, or just aping bands who did a certain style years ago, and in a much better way. Needless to say, I started listening to older music in 2009. I FINALLY got around to listening to the full catalogue of The Beatles. I know, I know, what took me so long? Don't get me wrong, I was a familiar with a great deal of their work, but 2009 was the year when I actually went down and listened to all of their albums from start to finish. I'm not going to go into too much detail right now; I only want to repeat what many other people have said before me in that music would not be what it is today if it weren't for them.

So while I wasn't as strongly drawn to music in 2009 as I had been in previous years, the albums I did connect to, I did so in a very strong way. Some of them were just on a base level of audible enjoyment, and some of them were on a deeper level. So here they are...

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10. Weezer-Raditude

People have gotten way too harsh on Weezer. You can't read a review of any of their new albums without hearing some variation of "They're not as good as they were on The Blue Album or Pinkerton" or "When is Rivers Cuomo going to start writing songs like he used to?". It not only gets tedious to hear, but it's basically the "fans" saying that they want Rivers Cuomo to be miserable. As fantastic as their first 2 albums are, there's a lot of reports that say that Rivers wasn't exactly the happiest person to be around at the time; he was full of angst, secluded, and was more or less a dick to the people around him. The fact that he's now enjoying life should be seen a good thing. It would be one thing if the music was bland as a result, but the band is still full of melodic energy. And while the lyrics may not be as honest as they once were, they're just fun. Raditude seems to just be a celebration of good times. "I'm Your Daddy" is right up there with some of the bands work in terms of raw energy, the dance anthem "Can't Stop Partying" with Lil' Wayne could be a huge hit if given the right attention, and anyone who thinks that Rivers can't make a closing number full of power and emotion only need listen to "The Underdogs", the closing track on the deluxe version. Sure, Weezer may not be the same as they used to be, but they're still making powerful songs and are having fun doing so.

9. Muse-The Resistance

Despite getting a huge profile boost in the past year thanks to exposure on the soundtrack to a certain movie (that will remain unnamed), Muse is still one of the most underrated bands in the world right now. The musical talent these 3 guys have is outstanding, particularly with frontman Matt Bellamy. Muse has always had traces in both electronic music and classical music. While their last album, Black Holes and Revelations tended to dabble more in the electronic side of things, The Resistance embraces a classical style. From the Queen like chanting on "United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)" to the French bridge in "I Belong To You", the album really displays Matt Bellamy's talent on the piano. The album finishes off with the 3-part, mostly instrumental "Exogenesis: Symphony", which just furthers my belief that Matt Bellamy needs to compose the score to a film.

8. Death Cab For Cutie-The Open Door EP

It might seem an odd choice to place on my list a collection of 4 songs left off the band's previous album and one alternate version of a song on the album, but the songs on this EP are perhaps stronger than the majority of the songs on the still very good album, Narrow Stairs. The EP really displays everything that Death Cab For Cutie does best. "Little Bribes" is a bluesy opener with a good sense of melody, "A Diamond and a Tether" is a melancholy but powerful song, "My Mirror Speaks" features some of the strong guitar work the band is known for, and "I Was Once A Loyal Lover" is just all-out fantastic power pop song, brought together with crunchy guitars and a pulsing drumbeat. Even the alternate version of "My Talking Bird" stands out, with only Ben Gibbard's voice and a ukulele giving a new haunting take on the song.

7. I Give Up-Nobody Cares

Over the past few years, Get Set Go has become one of my favorite bands, and Mike TV has become one of my favorite songwriters, so it's needless to say that I would enjoy the debut album by I Give Up, Mike TV's side project. While the album maintains some of the songwriting and musical styles established by Get Set Go, it also adds new elements. Piano is much more prominent (with the extremely talented Shmedly) and the songs just have a certain feel to them that seperate them from the work of Get Set Go. It's also a very dark album, as the always honest Mike TV touches upon several problems he deals with, both personal and on a wider scale. I'm all for a songwriter wearing their heart on their sleeve, which is why Nobody Cares is another fantastic, honest work by Mike TV.

6. Relient K-Forget and Not Slow Down

It's really stunning to hear how much Relient K has changed their style in less than a decade. Who would have thought that the fun pop-punk band singing about the Sadie Hawkins Dance would turn into a piano-heavy pop-rock band singing about hope, faith and all other sorts of deep emotions. The band's sixth official album took me by surprise on first listen and I wasn't sure what to make of it. The band's sly sense of humor was gone and even the pop-punk style was virtually absent. But after repeated listenings, I really got to appreciate the musical and lyrical depth of the album. Singer/songwriter Matthew Thiessen wrote the album after breaking up with his fiancee and the lyrics are some of his most painfully honest. The music truly stands out as well, with several tracks blending seamlessly into creative and inspiring outros and bridges to the next tracks. All in all, it's just a case of a talented band continuing to show their true potential.

5. Say Anything-Say Anything

My love for the music of Say Anything and the lyrics of Max Bemis is no secret. I feel Bemis is one of the most overlooked, talented songwriters in the world right now. His words have a terrific mix of honesty, humor, biting cynicism and hopeful romanticism. The self-titled album is a culmination of everything the band has done up to this point. It manages to maintain a very subtle narrative, while also letting the songs feature strongly on their own from the fun energy of the first single "Hate Everyone", to the orchestral pop of "Do Better", to the anthemic closer, "Ahhh...Men". Say Anything should be huge as the music they are making definitely has something to say.

4. Regina Spektor-Far

Regina Spektor is probably my favorite female singer/songwriter right now. She can do both beautiful ballads and fun, upbeat songs. She also has a certain quirkiness to her, specifically in her voice, putting on a thick accent in "Machine" and imitating a dolphin in "Folding Chair". On Far, Spektor tells small slice-of-life stories with nearly every song. She creates characters and, through song, relates stories about everyday life that anyone can enjoy.

3. The Decemberists-The Hazards of Love

I'm a sucker for concept albums. I love the idea of telling a story through song as it is, so telling a story over the course of an entire album is a dream come true to me. The Decemberists have always been a very narrative, literary band, but The Hazards of Love has them fully embracing it, as we hear the the tragic, mythical love story of William and Margaret. As great as the story is, the music is just as strong with the band trying a bit of a heavier tone along with their trademark sound they've developed over their strong career.

2. God Help The Girl-God Help The Girl

It was extremely hard not to place this at #1. I absolutely fell in love with this album the instant I heard it. The soundtrack to an in-development film project by Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, God Help The Girl features some of the best melodies and most beautiful female vocals I've heard in years. Lead female vocalist, Catherine Ireton, has a very specific style of singing that won me over immediately and the lush, orchestral pop sound that Murdoch places along with it is a perfect fit. This too is a narrative album, and the story, the lyrics, the music and the vocals all blend together to make a perfect pop album.

1. Manchester Orchestra-Mean Everything To Nothing

I firmly believe that the sophomore album by Manchester Orchestra is one of the most important rock albums of all time. You know how Nevermind and OK Computer are revered? That's the attention this album should be getting. Each of the 11 songs on this album are perfect rock anthems, full of passion and energy. Andy Hull's vocals are raw and real, so refreshing in this era of Autotune. The guitars, whether soft or loud, work perfectly. The band manages to mix several different rock styles while still maintaining a consistent, original sound that I don't think I can even compare to any other band. Mean Everything To Nothing is indie rock in it's purest form and if you don't give it a chance, you're truly missing out.

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So that's it for music. While I didn't listen to as much as in past years, the albums I did enjoy really stood out and spoke to me on a strong, personal level. Stay tuned for more of my Best Of 2009!

Introduction

2010-01-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

Just a brief introduction as to what this blog will be about. I previously had a LiveJournal page, and while I did talk about movies and television every now and then, I also talked a lot about the mundane details of my everyday life, which I realized nobody probably cared about and even I got bored reading in retrospect. So I decided to make a blog solely devoted to movies and television, which is what I really love writing about. Occasionally, I might write about other somewhat related things, such as music or pop culture, but it will mainly be movies and TV. I hope to get a lot of people to read this, so here goes nothing. My first blog posts will be my Best of 2009 lists for music, television and movies, which I hope to have it the next week or so.