2011 Movies I Loved

Tattoo Girl Rooney Mara

Some say I see every movie released. Not true. But I do see most of them.  This year-end list is compiled of "Movies I Loved," meaning, it was worth my time and money and was everything it was hyped-up to be.  


MOVIES I LOVED - in no real order / (*= DVD)
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - I didn't read the book, so the who-done-it aspect was exciting. Fincher's graphic, violent, harrowing film-making combined with Rooney Mara's powerful performance makes me want to see it again.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - I knew it'd be a fun action flick, but it was over the top, edge of your seat excitement. No denying, Cruise is a bona fide movie star - and at 49, very hot.
The Skin I Live In - Among Pedro Almodovar's best; creepy, twisted with twists, thrilling, telenovela-like. Pretty perfect.
The Help* - an instant classic with wonderful performances
Bridemaids* - the best comedy I've seen in years; Melissa McCarthy is a force.
Crazy Stupid Love* - a lil' sleeper gem
Warrior* - great reviews and no one saw it! It came after the Wrestler and Fighter, but Warrior is damn good
The Artist - beautiful, lil' love note to film making
Super 8* - fun, JJ Abrams flick that was ET meets Stand By Me
Harry Potter* - a great finale to a wonderfully entertaining series.
Being Elmo - inspiring documentary on the guy who is Elmo.


THESE WERE ALSO FUN:
X-Men First Class, Thor, Insidious, The Muppets, Ides of March, Young Adult and Beginners (with Christopher Plummer sure to win an Oscar).


DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE:
Hugo and The Descendants were two big let-downs for me. Hugo is not what the previews are and Clooney's film is not the warm-comedy it's previews are.


I'VE YET TO SEE:
War Horse, Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Carnage... but I don't think they'll end up on my BEST list.


So, buy a ticket and be Just Like Jerry!

The Best TV of 2011

I'm so thankful I discovered this
Emmy-winning piece of brilliance

Yes, I'm a TV junkie. And so I offer you my Best and Not-So-Great TV Choices for 2011.


The 15 Best (in no real order):

• Downton Abbey - It is simply brilliant. (Season 1 - 7 eps - airs again 12/18 on PBS or on DVD/Netflix; Season 2 Jan 8 on PBS)
• Homeland - Thrilling, smart, top-notch cast
• Revenge - The best p.m. soap since Knots

• Breaking Bad - Rough, edgy, killer acting
• The Good Wife - Best net drama
• American Horror Story - Twisted, dark, scary, Jessica Lange (!)
• Friday Night Lights - wrongly under rated but perfect slice of Americana family
• Grey's Anatomy - Yes, I'm still invested in these characters
• Modern Family - dialogue so fast, you must watch twice
• Happy Endings - the best "Friends" since "Friends"
• Cougar Town - too under rated; very bright w/ great dialogue and wine!
• Nurse Jackie - such a cast w/ great twists
• Weeds - see Grey's above
• Shameless - a dark, out-there, comedy-soap of a "welfare" family
• *Haven't seen the recent "Damages" on DirectTV (but I bet it's great!)

Honorable mention:

• Hung
• The Middle
• X Factor / Idol
• Parks & Rec
• Parenthood
• Oprah: Behind the Scenes
• Killing - a cheap finale and that damn rain?! Enough!

Holds promise:

• Up All Night - aka "The Maya Rudolph Show"
• Grimm - could be better as a 10-12 week summer series
• Once Upon A Time - ditto

Guilty Pleasures: 

• Gossip Girl - outlandish, unrealistic, overacted, but still...
• Ringer - see above
• Real Housewives of NY NJ BH - a bit waning but still here
• Big Brother - best summer TV
• Tabitha's Salon Takeover - formulaic, but I luv her
• Desperate Housewives - I can't quit you!
• A List NY & Dallas - a train-wreck of icky people and I can't look away

Not great this season:

• The Walking Dead - yawn
• True Blood - had better seasons
• Dexter - only as good as it's serial-killer-case
• Glee - too many characters, stretched thin, over-the-top Lynch

Lost potential:

• Terra Nova - all the hype, none of the excitement
• The Secret Circle - witches showing no powers?
• Harry's Law - shoulda been "The Practice," became "Boston Legal"

Looking forward to:

• Girls (HBO)
• Luck (HBO) - Dustin Hoffman
• The River (ABC) - "Lost" on the water?
• GCB (ABC) - Kristin Chenoweth & Annie Potts, a female heavy hour comedy soap
• Missing (ABC) - Ashley Judd (!)
• Smash (NBC) - my most anticipated; starts Feb 6!

So tune-in and be Just Like Jerry!

DVDS, Holiday Music, TV 2 Watch:

Buble's Gift For Your Ears

DVD WATCH: If you missed these, catch up on DVD or PPV - The Help, Super 8, Crazy Stupid Love (one of my top 10 faves of the year) and The Debt (with my "movie wife" Jessica Chastaine & Helen Mirren). Speaking of catching-up, the PBS/BBC mini-series, "Downton Abbey" is streaming for free on Netflix - just in time for part 2, which will run on PBS Jan 8th.  Check-out that preview. It swept the Emmy's and co-stars Dame Maggie Smith.  Netflix is cool way to watch old TV.  Greg's nightly ritual is a "Roseanne" episode on his iPad before bed, which prompted my recent dream where my parents hosted a party in her honor and Greg met her and cried.  The most astounding part of that dream: Greg crying....  TABLET READING: Didja know that if you subscribe to physical magazine, most are then available for free downloading onto your iPad?  You get the app, put in the subscription number then "bam," they're there!  I do this with GQ, Vanity Fair and now - just debuted - Entertainment Weekly!...  Wednesday night TV: It's an embarrassment of riches for TV watching on Weds.  On HGTV they do their "guys" line up with Income Property w/ cutie Scott, Property Brothers and the uber hot Kitchen Cousins.  Then the ABC line-up is pretty perfect: the underrated The Middle, the new (and so-so so far) Suburgatory, Modern Fam, and the brilliant Happy Endings - then the irresistible Revenge at 10pm.  Also at 10 on FX, the erie, creepy, thriller American Horror Story - expect Emmy love for 2x Oscar winner Jessica Lange in May.  Also on Weds is the X Factor, which I record and fast-forward through much of it.  I watch this as a TV show - not a "star-making" show.  Idol hasn't made a true star since Carrie Underwood - in 2005 - almost 7 years ago.  Quick - name the last two Idol winners - The Voice winner...?  Anyone?  Didn't think so....  MOVIE WATCH: I was upset with "Hugo." It was just such a let-down.  It gets a "C" from me.  I had fun, of course, at "The Muppets," and give "The Artist" an "A-," with a great score.  New ones: "Young Adult," is getting great reviews, as is "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."  I'll see 'em both.  And my guilty, cheesy pleasure "New Years Eve," is on my list too....  CHRISTMAS ALBUMS: the best are from the Carpenters, Phil Spector, Manilow's "Gift," and Mariah's 1st one.  Of course, any holiday recording by Sinatra is on the best-list - and I'm adding the brilliant, new Michael Buble set to this "best" along with his great TV special....  "GLEE" is certainly not what it promised to be in season one, but for the most part, their song choices and mash-up medleys are pretty damn good. (The "I Will Survive/Survivor" is great for the gym.)  Their biggest sellers this season? An Adele mash-up, which included a dance version of "Someone Like You," and a song no one knew, called "We Are Young." Recorded and released by NY-based indy band "fun," the Glee version is atop the iTunes chart and putting a spotlight on fun!  Another minor hit of theirs, "All the Pretty Girls," is worth a download too....  HIP HOP GOLD: Will we hear, "And the Oscar goes to Mary J Blige?"  Likely!  If all goes well, she be nom'd for her theme from The Help - and could go up against two tunes from Twilight (from Bruno Mars and Christina Perri) as well as the Muppets and, yes, Sinead O'Connor for "Albert Nobbs."  All of which will prove to be a nice performance seg on the telecast.  And if the Academy wants her there, Madonna could get a nod for her "W.E." theme....  PERFORMANCE VIDEO: Wanna watch the opening numbers from my recent concert with Randall? Here it is!... YES, THESE WORK: When weather shifts faster than a light switch and allergies arise, Breathe Right Strips are perfect for bedtime!  Love love love 'em!...  So breathe in and be Just Like Jerry!