What I Like About 2009 - Movies

I saw a lot of movies this year. Well, more than I normally would see in a year. I saw:

Star Trek
The Hangover
District 9
Inglorious Basterds
Extract
The Informant!
9
The Damned United
The Men Who Stare At Goats
The Road

Yes. That's a lot for me. Let's talk about the favorites.

Favorite Sci-Fi Movie Of The Year and Favorite Movie Of The Year
District 9

This movie turned me on my head when I saw it. The effects were phenomenal. The story fascinating. The acting spectacular. A spaceship stalls over a town in South Africa. The inhabitants are then forced to live in a refugee camp. After many years the South Africans grow tired of having these aliens invade their space and a relocation program is set into place. The Aliens do not want to leave because they want to stay near their ship. A fight ensues and a scientist is caught in the middle. The story is heartbreaking and left me shaking when it ended.

Favorite Comedy Of The Year
The Hangover

Who knew this movie would be so damn funny? I mean, really, it was supposed to be a stupid summer comedy. But thanks to it, I will never pronounce 'retard' the same way again. Non stop laughs. Perfect casting. Babies, Tigers, Mike Tyson, and a photo gallery during the credits that is truly inspired. I'm almost scared to see it again for fear that it won't be as good and it will then be ruined.

Favorite Inaccurate Historical Movie Of The Year
Inglorious Basterds

I did not like this movie as I watched it, though the first scene is fucking brilliant and should get an Oscar all of its own. But the days following after I saw it, I liked it more and more. It really stuck with me and I found myself thinking back on it fondly. Christoph Waltz is a shoo-in for the Oscar, and he should be. He was so amazing. But, I also think Denis Menochet, the poor French Farmer from that first brilliant scene, should also get a nod. He drew me in with his quiet pain. Love Love Love.

Favorite George Clooney Movie Of The Year
The Men Who Stare At Goats

This was another comedy that I had no idea would bowl me over like it did. I thought it was hilarious. Though it seemed like it was written as an inside joke about Ewan McGregor playing Obi-Wan Kenobi. So, if you don't get those references, you might not find it as hilarious. I find it hard not to like a George Clooney movie. I don't know if it's him or the movies he chooses to be in, but they are usually quite good. I am (hopefully) seeing Up In The Air this weekend, so maybe this category will change, but for now, The Men Who Stare At Goats is the winner.

Favorite Matt Damon Movie Of The Year
The Informant!

Yet another movie that I did not think would be as funny as it was. Matt Damon deserves an Oscar nod for this performance. A very stylized comedy about a corporate cog who finds himself caught up in an international business scandal. The humor is subtle, the look very retro. A highly enjoyable movie.

Favorite Depressing Movie Of The Year
The Road

Oh, The Road. How you made me want to crawl into a bomb shelter and cry out the rest of my days. I finished the book just hours before seeing the movie and it was almost too much emotional heartache to take in one day. It's the story of a man and his son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. A most depressing, gut wrenching book and film. But fantastic nonetheless.

Other Movie Highlights

- As someone who never watched Star Trek the TV show in any of its generations, I really enjoyed this movie. I think Star Trek is enough of a pop culture icon that the references were funny to everyone.

- I'm not much for sport movies and I don't know much about Soccer, but The Damned United was a great movie anyway. It had a lot of my favorite "That Guy" British actors and the Soccer talk was easy to understand. Maybe it helped that my husband is Soccer obsessed and so some of the references were familiar.

That's it for movies. I'm not much of a film buff, so it's not all that extensive.

What I Like About 2009 - TV

It seemed to really ramp it up this year. There was so much worth watching. I found my schedule completely taken over by TV. Even with DVR it was difficult to keep it up. Let's take a look at what aided in my lack of a social life in 2009:

Favorite New Sitcom
Modern Family

Modern Family is a show about 3 different sections in one fairly well off family. There's the Patriarch (played by former Al Bundy, Ed O'Neil) and his new, much younger Columbian wife and her young son from a former relationship. There is the daughter and her husband and three kids: The popular 15 year old daughter, the nerdy 12 year old daughter, and the strange young son) Then there is the gay son and his partner and their new adopted Chinese baby.

The show is done documentary style, much like The Office. I love the characters. Ed O'Neil always has held a soft spot in my heart. I don't know why. It's funny, it's sweet, it's clever. It's must watch.

Favorite Comedy That I'm Just Rediscovering This Year
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Oh dear lord this show is fantastic. I remember watching the first season when it first aired and really enjoying it. Then they brought in Danny Devito and I stopped. Funny now that Mr. Devito is one of my favorite parts of the show. Actually, all 5 main characters are equally favorited. Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Frank all make me laugh like no other. If you are easily offended, stay away. For everyone else, start watching. You will not be disappointed.



Favorite Show That Ended This Year (2 way tie)
Prison Break and Monk

Prison Break may be the most ridiculous show I have ever watched and loved with every ounce of my being. The plot never made sense. The dialogue was cheesy and forced. The acting was subpar. But it was always the most intense 44 minutes I've ever watched on television. An episode would be just moving along and always at the 30 minute mark, things would kick into high gear and I would have to watch hiding behind a pillow.

Monk may be the most docile, feel good show I have ever watched and loved with every ounce of my being. Each mystery was always easily solved. Mr. Monk would always stumble across something completely random that would solve the case. I feel I truly cared for each character. My only issue was that Lieutenant Disher ended up with Sharona, Monk's old assistant. She is so not his type.


Favorite New Show I Hope Returns Next Year As Good As It Started
V

After only 4 episodes, V went on hiatus and is returning in March. My hope is that they tweak out all the issues and it comes back stronger because it has a lot of potential. I was a big V fan when the mini-series originally aired, so it's return was welcomed. With Juliette from Lost (sorry, I don't know her real name and am too lazy to look it up) at the helm, I was sure to watch it. The head Visitor, Anna, has kept me hooked in. What fantastic casting. She is incredibly intriguing. Please come back and be good and not be cancelled.

Favorite Show That Will End Next Year
Lost

Since I just started my blog a year ago, this year was the first year I did my recaps, and it was so much fun, yet so difficult. There is always so much going on that it is hard to capture it all. I love this show so much and I will be so sad to see it end next year. But it is right that it is ending and will not go on to rot away like so many shows do.

Other TV Highlights

-How I Met Your Mother continues to be a steady and reliable show to watch every Monday night. I always know I will laugh. I'm relieved they broke Barney and Robin up. I wasn't feeling that relationship.

-Community is another new show that is grabbing my attention. Joel McHale is one of my favorite people so I'm happy to see him on another show each week. The writing has really tightened up and the characters are developing well. I'm glad NBC is giving it a chance.

-Another season of American Idol came and went with a winner I can deal with. Kris Allen may not be the Next Big Thing, but I think he'll have a nice career full of easy breezy adult contemporary mini-hits.

-I'm back on the Survivor train after a crazy season led by the scheming Russel. If it wasn't for him, this season would have been a real drag as it seems no one else was playing the game. I'm happy to hear that he will be a part of the All Star season starting in February. Now I'm going to have to watch that.

-Unfortunately, there are only two good things I can say about this season of Project Runway. 1. I won the office pool. 2. Tim Gunn wore and apron and made cookies. But next year they are back in New York with Nina Garcia and Michael Kohrs at the judges table every episode. That can only mean good things.

Which shows had you glued to the TV this year?

What I Like About 2009 - Music

On this, the last day of 2009, I present my favorite things of the past year (in no particular order). I'm going to break it up into different posts. Music, TV, Movies.

Normally, I would just do a Top Ten Albums of the year list. But since I could not find 10 albums that I purchased this year that came out this year that I truly loved, I'm changing things up.

Favorite Album Released in 2009
Yeah Yeah Yeah's: It's Blitz

From start to finish, this album is a goldmine. The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have taken a real departure from their usual rock and roll fare, choosing to go the dance route. It works. Karen's voice was made for this style. The songs are fun to sing along with and to dance to. And, like the Lykke Li album that made my Top Ten last year, it's a dance album that does not just throw away the lyrics. Listen to "Hysteric" and tell me if it doesn't warm your heart. 'You suddenly complete me' is right. I can't believe at one time "Hysteric" didn't exist.

Another notable tracks you must download if you are too cheap to buy the whole album: "Zero", "Runaway", "Little Shadow", and "Faces". Oh, screw it. Just buy the whole album!

Favorite Album That Came Out Last Year But I Just Discovered This Year
Amanda Palmer: Who Killed Amanda Palmer?

After only buying this album a couple of months ago, I can't believe I lived a whole year without hearing it. Amanda has the voice of a drunk singing karaoke at a piano bar, but she has the attitude and lyrics to make you shut up and listen. An album that seems to revolve around two things: A friend dealing with a drug addiction and a difficult break up (maybe they are one and the same?) is hardly the album that you would think would make you so happy upon each listen. I guess I just feel so relieved every time I hear it that there are still people like Amanda out there making genuine, raw music and hold nothing back.

What you should be listening to: "Ampersand", "Runs in the Family", "Blake Says", "Oasis", and "Point of it All"

I'm Gonna Let You Finish, But Beyonce Made The Best Video Of The Year

So yes, Kanye, you were right. There probably could have been a better place or time to make your statement, but she did make the best video of the year. It was simple concept for a fantastic pop song that made you want to watch it over and over again. I don't know how many times I've tried to emulate it - or at least parts of it. It made thousands of YouTuber's put on their stilettos and leotards and strut around their living rooms. Did Taylor Swift's video have the same impact?

(On a side note, I know it's not okay to like Kanye West for making a teen girl cry, but "Heartless" is a fantastic song)

Favorite Concert Of The Year (3 way tie)
The National at First Avenue, Jenny Lewis at Fine Line, Soul Asylum at First Avenue

Before seeing The National in concert, I had only heard their album The Boxer and had no idea what they looked like or what their shows were like. They could have come out as 60 year old men in clown suits and I probably would have gone with it. But they didn't. They were just a bunch of dudes led by a charismatic frontman in a skinny tie and olive suit. They ran through every song I knew and played with an energy and urgency I did not expect. When lead singer Matt Berninger climbed the staircase, leaned over the railing, and shouted "I am the great white hope!", I declared him my god.

The Jenny Lewis show was a surprise. I had already seen her at First Avenue early in the summer and it was very enjoyable. But then she did a private show at the Fine Line that I somehow managed to score a bunch of tickets to. She played acoustically with her boyfriend and bandmate, Johnathan Rice. These two folkies owned the room. Also, I got to go on stage during the final song and sing back up to "Acid Tongue". It was awesome.

Soul Asylum was a recent show. I've always really liked this band and grew to truly respect them after seeing them at a festival a few years back. But after the First Avenue show, my love for them grew leaps and bounds. They are not against playing all the hits, they are still writing great new material, they played for so long and kept the energy up the whole time. It was just a fun fun concert.

Favorite Regina Spektor Songs From An Album I Didn't Really Care For

Regina Spektor released a new album this year titled Far that I was really looking forward to, only to be extremely let down. Since it's now had time to sink in a bit, some songs have grown on me. They are: "Folding Chair", "Machine", "Dance Anthem of the 80's", and "Eet". So go get those.

Musical Guilty Pleasure Of The Year
David Cook

Oh, dear. I feel terrible for putting him under guilty pleasure, because I do love him so, but I know that people will (and do) give me crap for liking him, so I guess I should feel guilty? He put on a great show back in July. His album is a big anthemic rock album that is fun to sing along to and blast in the car. He seems like an incredibly likable, humble guy who you want to support. He does great things for cancer charities. His voice is like having your ear drums nuzzled. Sorry. No guilt here.

Other Music Highlights

- I like that it's okay to listen to Michael Jackson again. It's unfortunate that he had to die to make that so.

- The Killers' Day and Age is another album that came out late in 2008 that I didn't really grow to appreciate until this year. It's a fantastic album in that same new wave vein as Yeah Yeah Yeah's. They really go hand in hand quite well. Top tracks: "A Dustland Fairytale", "Spaceman", "Human", "Joyride".

- Chairlift's "Bruises" and Blitzen Trapper's "Furr" are probably my two favorite future one hit wonder songs of the year - if you can really call them hits. More like indie sleeper hits.

- Thank goodness Ingrid Michaelson released a bunch of singles leading up to her latest album's release, or she might have completely fallen off my radar. But songs like "Turn to Stone" and "All Love" will keep me satisfied.

- I got to see Britney Spears live this year. At least I think it was her. It could have just been a dancer in a blonde wig. But it was entertaining.

That's my music round up for 2009. What did you enjoy musically this past year?

I Wish...

I wish I was there for this...



Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Ramblings, Part 1

Happy Christmas Eve! I'm sitting at work in a dead office. I think I'm leaving at noon. I don't think I can physically withstand to stay any longer.
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I went to the ER last Friday for chest pains. As a healthy 30 year old, this scared the crap out of me. The doctor said it was inflamed cartilage in my rib cage egged on by my panic attack. How does that happen?
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Speaking of panic attacks, I think I'm prone to them. I've gone to urgent care a couple of times because of them. Now it's in my medical records. Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine tries to steal her medical file back to see why she is considered difficult? I want to do the same. It seems every time I go to the doctor now, they just say I had a panic attack. Something caused me to panic in the first place, Doc.
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The world seems to stand still during the holidays. All of my TV shows are on hiatus. No concerts are coming to town. Businesses are closed. It doesn't help that Minnesota is in the middle of a "snowpocolypse" or "snowgasm" or "snow-m-g" or whatever you want to call it.
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I'm hoping this snow doesn't ruin my Christmas plans. I need to get to the location that holds my presents and mashed potatoes.
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In honor of Christmas Eve, I leave you with this video of one of the great songs of all time. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.

The Road

I recently finished the book The Road. If you feel like being depressed for a week, read this book.

I shouldn't say that. It's an excellent, excellent book. I highly recommend it.

It's the story of a man and his son trying to make their way through a post-apocolyptic world.

It makes you think, it makes you cry, it makes you shudder at the horror of it all.

Starvation, cold, cannibals, suicide. Not exactly holiday fare.

I saw the movie about an hour after finishing it and I would suggest reading the book before seeing the film. I think I would have been a bit lost if I had not read it.

It was cool to see the landscape visualized. But some of the horrors described in the book were more horrific on screen than my mind imagined.

This books is still in the front of my mind 2 days after finishing it. I think that makes it worth the read.

Keep It To Yourself

Why is it that sick people feel the need to tell the world how sick they are?

I just overheard a conversation between two co-workers. One just got over H1N1 and a myriad of other illnesses. She went into detail about all that ailed her over the past couple of weeks. The body aches, the cough, the fever. What is someone supposed to do with this information? Geez, sorry you were sick. Please stay away from me because you still sound terrible.

Maybe it's a psychological thing. Sick people need others to feel sympathy for them so they will be cared for and not abandoned by the pack. A means to survival. I don't know. It just bothers me.

In other news, I'm not feeling well ; ) But I'm not going to go into the details of my under-the-weatherness. Instead, I will continue on with the bi-monthly tradition I have started of playing the 25 songs that play on my iPod while I'm at work and not feeling well.
So here we go:

1. "Inspiration Information" Shuggie Otis
2. "Lucky Day" - Erin McKeown
3. "Un-Named" - Leona Naess
4. "Fools Gold" - Michael Johns
5. "Joan Jett of Arc" - Clem Snide
6. "Slide Away" - Oasis
7. "With Arms Outstretched" - Rilo Kiley
8. "Underground" - Ben Folds Five
9. "Up to the Mountain" - Patty Griffin
10. "The Opposite of Hallelujah" - Jens Lekman
11. "A Daily Anthem" - David Cook
12. "A Spade" - Ani Difranco
13. "Grey" (live from Hamburg, Germany - Offical Boot) - Ani Difranco
14. "Capturing Moods" - Rilo Kiley
15. "Talk Tonight" (live) - Noel Gallagher
16. "Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel
17. "Acid Tongue" - Jenny Lewis
18. "See Fernando" - Jenny Lewis
19. "Single Ladies" - Beyonce
20. "Runs in the Family" - Amanda Palmer
21. "Changer" - Anais Mitchell
22. "Breakin' Up" - Rilo Kiley
23. "Silver Lining" - Rilo Kiley
24. "I Did It For You" - David Cook
25. "Glendora" - Rilo Kiley

Hmmm...my iPod is looking a little lazy today. Lots of repeat artists. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

A Ringing In My Ears That's Heaven Sent

I need to give a shout out to Soul Asylum, who rocked my socks off at First Avenue last Friday. This was my third time seeing them and they have never disappointed. They played for a long time, ran through all their hits, played all the songs I wanted to hear. They were energized and seemed genuinely happy to be there. They've been creeping into my top 10 list for a while now and they may have just shot up to top 5 status with their performance on Friday.

Soul Asylum Rules.

A Kiss Could've Killed Me

This is my most favorite music video ever. It makes me smile. As today is just as chaotic as ever, I needed to take a moment to watch.

Enjoy!

Save Cody!

This makes me so sad.

Cody, the convenience store working dog I mentioned earlier, is being forced to quit his job of greeting customers. Health Inspectors have decided he is unsanitary. How a dog that sits behind the counter is bad for the closed bag of Doritos I'll never understand.

A link to this story is here.

It just breaks my heart. Dogs get so stuck on their routines. I bet every morning Cody gets so excited when his owner puts his work shirt on him. What will he think when his owner has to leave him home on Friday? Poor dog.

Look at him!

Uke'd

I bought a ukukele!



It is so much fun. I'm slowly learning how to play. It's pretty simple, yet difficult as the fret board is so tiny and my fingers are not.

I'm also giving the piano another go. It finally makes sense to me. Now I just need to get my hands and fingers to do what I want them to.