Instead, it just sits there. It’s such an odd list that I’m not even sure when or how it was calculated. Just look …

The movies here range from 2005-2009. I’ve seen all of them except The Hurt Locker (which you can see is in my queue). The only ones I’d actually call good are The Blind Side and Gran Torino. At least Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes are the sort of blockbusters that I would expect to be highly ranked on a Netflix list, most everyone at least checks them out. Of course, that popularity would have faded. Iron Man 2 isn’t even in the Top 100.

Forget it, no more analyzing. Just observe the ridiculousness.

I avoided seeing it on Blu-Ray, waiting for some way to see it in 3D. Likely with a 3D TV in a few years. So imagine my excitement a few months ago when I heard that a Director’s Cut would be coming to theaters. Who cares about the extra footage, I just want to see it in 3D in a theater. Also, I figured it wouldn’t be too hard to find a few people at Penn State who would want to go.

This morning I went to check out the times at the local theaters only to find that it’s not playing in State College! What?!? Of course it’s at a few theaters back home. I had to expand my search to 100 miles before finding 3 theaters. That kills my opportunity to get anyone to go. I could talk someone in to a 5 minute drive to the theater. No one is going to go for a 4-hour round trip to see a 3-hour movie.

Carolla back with the Sports Guy. Just an incredible show from start to finish. Carolla shines as usual with some made up movies.

The BS Report is IDM with a budget, and talent.

ESPN has a new podcast player. I wonder how that design meeting went. How did they decide on 3 bottom lines?!? Was it a compromise? Did someone suggest 10?

The Critics Choice awards had it right. They gave Avatar best action movie, best cinematography (although I don’t totally agree wit this, but I’ll survive), best art direction, best editing, best visual effects, and best sound. those were exactly the things that were great about Avatar, but those were the only things that were great about Avatar.

Okay, enough about Avatar.

So, when I first read about The Lovely Bones I was pretty stoked. I was excited to see Peter Jackson and his writing team step away from their usual fare of epics, and go into something smaller. The movie itself was a bit of a disappointment, but I can understand why Stanley Tucci is getting all the attention for it. Hell, if I hadn’t known he was in it, I never would have guessed. He did a great job at transforming into the character. Whenever he spoke it seemed a bit forced, but a majority of his part was without dialogue.

Tarantino has gotten completely shafted this year. He must be used to that by now.

I think one of the biggest surprises from 2009 would have to be Mo’Nique’s role in Precious, the awards seem to agree. I’ve never been a fan of hers, probably because she has only been in in awful movies. It’s clear now that given real content she’s a rock star. I hope she lands more quality stuff in the future.

Up in the Air was probably my favorite movie of 2009, It wasn’t just great at a few elements that make up film (I’m glaring at you Avatar), but everything was balanced beautifully. I’m glad it’s getting all it’s nominations, but I can understand why it’s being beaten out. Anna Kendrick was especially fantastic, and I hope she doesn’t get typecasted with her role in the Twilight Saga. After Up in the Air that would be a serious shame.

In my opinion Christoph Waltz had the most impressive performance of 2009. His part in Inglorious Basterds was legendary in a role that Tarantino thought was impossible to cast. I’m so glad he’s getting the attention he deserves. It’s a shame that it has taken this long for him to be seriously discovered.

I think Pixar is going to implode the first time another animated movie beats out one of their flicks. It should be alright though, because that probably will never happen.

Oscar nominations were just announced. Usually if you pay attention to award shows leading up to the Oscars you can make a pretty good guess at what will be nominated, and usually you can guess pretty accurately what will win. I’m glad that District 9 got a nomination for best picture, but it doesn’t need to win. I also hope Tarantino gets more from the Oscars then what he has gotten from the other awards. If Avatar wins best picture at the Oscars I’ll probably have a seizure.

List of nominees

…I guess you have to hand it to Cameron, he knows what the world wants… I guess… I’m not bitter at all I swear.

Moon (2009)

This was writer/director Duncan Jones’s first major film, and a very ambitious one. It saw mild international success with little in the states. It’s likened to Kubrik’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, but it stands on it’s own. It’s difficult to make a movie like this and have it be original, I basically felt I knew what to expect getting into it. I was thrown for a loop when I found out the plot was not to be expected. Sam Rockwell was given a roll that really would be difficult for any actor to pull off, and did it in a way that really lets the audience buy into it. This is important because his role gets very surreal and at points it would be easy to loose the audience. Moon is a great movie, and it is a shame that it saw as little success as it did. In 15 years I see it being one of the huge cult science fiction classics. Maybe it is just a little before it’s time.

Public Enemies (2009)

The main criticism of Public Enemies is it’s style. I have to say that I’m inclined to agree, at first. It doesn’t take long for you to get used to it’s style, and once you do it works well. Public Enemies is the story of the cat and mouse game  between the notorious gangster John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and the cop that is trying to catch him. As usual Johnny Depp manages to completely transform into his character, and it’s a nice departure from his usual role. Public Enemies tries to show the no holds barred lifestyle of John Dillinger, and what it takes to maintain. I will warn you, Christian Bale is frustratingly awful in this, but he does get better through the duration of the movie.

Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

This is a quirky little project that is playfully charming and over the top all at the same time. It makes the viewer completely uncomfortable but laugh hysterically. It’s basically just the day in the life of simple people, and their odd lives. It somehow delivers risky and disturbing content in a way that it seems neither risky nor disturbing. There is not much more to say about it, except that you should see it. You will be pleased, and probably a little stunned.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

This is a movie that was hugely successful with critics, but just didn’t grab a large audience. It’s a gangster movie with a different approach and completely authentic feel. We watch as Jesse James observes, with much amusement, what he thinks is his biggest fan. We watch as Robert Ford comes to realize that reality the Jesse James mythology in which he has come to love, isn’t quite what he had hoped. Unlike your usual gangster movie, this glorifies nothing. We don’t think Jesse James is cool, or that the lifestyle is full of fame and riches. When we see Jesse ride off into the sunset on horseback, we only feel sympathy. This is just a movie about a kid with unrealistic desires, in a glorified lifestyle that he is unprepared for. A neat thing about this movie, is that there are distinct undertones that can potentially change the way you see the movie. I won’t explain these because I think they are interesting to discover on your own, I just want to point out that they are there. This is a long movie, and pretty slow, so it does take a level of patience to watch, but it is well worth it.

Primer (2004)

Primer is probably the most obscure movie on this list, and the most difficult. With a budget of only $7000 an incredible script is virtually the only trick they had in their bag. Luckily the script for this is incredible. This movie re-defines the idea of time travel in a way that confuses as well as leaves the audience in awe. One of the things I look for in a great movie, is that it has re-watch-ability, as in, if I watch it more then once, will I get more out of it, or do I get it all in the first go around. If this movie has anything, it has re-watch-ability. In fact, it’s required. I guarantee you will not completely grasp the intricate twists and turns that they have constructed on the first or even third watch. It’s a movie that will leave you completely unsatisfied because of how little you will understand, but it will leave you with a strange curiosity to watch it again. That is so unique to this film, it is completely unsatisfying, but you need more of it. This is really a movie that needs to be committed to, and studied, in order to understand, and it is great for that.

On a side note, I swear it’s purely coincidental that there are two gangster movies, as well as two Sam Rockwell movies on this list.

A must see.

When I saw the first ad for Post Grad, I knew I was going to go see it. Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) and Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) sounded like an unstoppable combo. Actually they sounded entirely stoppable. However, I love their characters from the shows they are most known for. Kelli came to town to see it with me, she is also a big fan of both shows.

It was pretty awful, but I don’t blame either of them. I don’t think the writers ever decided if they were making a movie about the family or the relationship. It’s not a tv show, it’s really hard to do both in a movie. Especially when I didn’t like any of the characters in the family.

Here is the trailer, which is much better than the movie …

Even for Alexis Bledel I’m not getting this unless I find the blu-ray for under $5. Here is the imdb.

Amazon: Blu-ray DVD