Sports Movie Rankings

With the US Open crowning its new champions, football season starting to bombard us with its inescapable presence, and baseball heading into its month-long play-off race, sports has been on the mind as of late. Kacey over at Pop Culture Crazy was in the same mindset when she decided to poll as many people as she could to come up with a Sports Movie Ranking. She asked people to send in their top/favorite 5 sports films and to rank them. She received over 50 submissions with over 90 different films. Check out her great site for the full results including the Top 25 as well as her methodology.

Below are the five films I submitted for the poll as ranked by me. How they were ranked in the final Sports Movie Ranking is in parenthesis:

1. BRING IT ON (#3)

As soon as I heard about the sports film poll, this was the first and second film I thought of. So many people think cheer-leading is not a sport, but I still remember just being in awe at the level of athleticism displayed in the film. Of course the film is more than just a cheerleading film. It's incredibly fun, addictively quotable, and the trio of Dunst, Dushku, and Union is just the best. A few years ago, I briefly talked about the film during it's 10th year anniversary.

2. WIMBLEDON (#16)

If you know me at all, then you know that tennis is my absolute favorite sport. So putting this on my list was a no-brainer even though its presence is less about its quality and more about how few tennis films there actually are. With that said, I saw this on opening weekend and even got a poster of it. Dunst (she's my sporting muse apparently) and Bettany had fun chemistry with each other. So while this is more a guilty pleasure, I don't really care, especially since this is also the very first film I saw with James McAvoy.

3. SUMMER STORM (Unranked)

This German film about rowing teams preparing for a rowing regatta is a must-see especially if you like to watch good gay films. It's sexy, gorgeously shot, and just an affecting coming-of-age coming-out film.

4. WHIP IT (#7)

The year this film came out I dubbed it "like Juno but not annoying." It was fun and energetic and in the heart of it was Page kicking ass in roller derby with Wiig and Barrymore. How could anyone say no to that? Saw it at a special screening and was rewarded with swag, a shirt that says Whip It: Be Your Own Hero. I still cherish it so.

5. MILLION DOLLAR BABY (#25)

I was one of the few people rooting for this film during the Oscars over The Aviator and I don't regret it one bit after all of these years. Eastwood's aesthetics matched this particular story and with Swank's Oscar-winning powerhouse performance, it was clear cut for me. Her death scene is still one of the saddest for me.

Wow, my list began quite happily then ended in such a depressing way. That sounds about right. Looking over my list now, it's not really surprising that the majority of them are girl-led and the two that aren't directly speaks to my interests (tennis and pretty gay boys). A few of the other films I considered included A Knight's Tale (jousting fun!), The Cutting Edge (Romeo and Juliet on ice!), and Space Jam (fly you fools!). Then there's the trio of The Mighty Ducks, Angels in the Outfield, and Remember the Titans with young Joshua Jackson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ryan Gosling starring respectively.

Again, don't forget to go to Pop Culture Crazy to see the full list of Top 25 Sports Films (as polled) as well as other cool stuff.

Top Ten Performers of 2014 (So Far)

With summer movie season coming to a close this past weekend and the fall movie season already ramping up, it's the perfect time to take stock at my top 10 favorite performances of the year (so far). These would only be coming from the 37 theatrical releases that I have seen, which is much less than last year, but more than the year prior so go figure. A few 2014 films still on my to-watch list include Obvious Child, Lucy, Chef, The Immigrant, Maleficent, Frank, What If, etc. I've been known to "cheat" with my numbering in the past, but other than my top pick, I kept it pretty narrow this time around.

1. The cast of Boyhood - And I do mean the entire cast of this 12-year in the making intimate epic of a film from Ellar Coltrane to "No Obama Man." Of course I'd be remiss to not call out the three principal actors along for the ride with Coltrane--Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, and Lorelei Linklater--as they all quite literally lived into their roles for more than a decade. Seeing them all age is quite a novelty and yet they all were able to develop all of these characters so organically and genuinely that in the end you realize you've watched something special.

2. Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff (Winter Soldier) and as Alien (Under the Skin) - Johansson seemed like she was born to play Black Widow and even though it's her third time in the role, it almost feels like she's slowly taking ownership of it in her own kick-ass way. Then of course there's her striking turn in Under the Skin, which I briefly talked about here. She's equal parts seductive, dangerous, alien, and human all at once. As I said above, I didn't get to see Lucy, but she's apparently quite fun in it and its success is making me side-eye Marvel's indecision regarding a stand-alone Black Widow film.

3. Tom Hardy as Ivan Locke (Locke) - The entire film is just Hardy inside a car talking on the phone with a bunch of unseen people. The script does a lot of the heavy lifting, but if Hardy wasn't as good as he was (and with his glorious accent to boot), the movie would've completely missed the mark. It's also refreshing to see him in a more subdued role that still manages to convey the intensity he brings to many of his roles.

4. Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido Elizabeth Belle (Belle) - The movie was a breath of fresh air this summer movie season as was Mbatha-Raw's performance. What I love most about what she did with her role was that her main character could've easily been one-note or overplayed, but instead she showed great complexity and tremendous restraint in portraying Dido's fascinating life story.

5. Chris Pratt as Peter Quill (Guardians of the Galaxy) and as Emmet Brickowoski (The LEGO Movie) - Sweet, affable Andy Dwyer is now a Hollywood super star and I'm just so happy for him! He's just fine in the voiceover work in The LEGO Movie, but he just absolutely shined as Star Lord in Marvel's latest film which highlighted his penchant to play brodude characters with immense heart and humor. He's obviously buoyed by one of the most fun scripts of the year as well as a fantastic ensemble which includes a talking tree (Vin Diesel) and a gun-toting raccoon (Bradley Cooper) who were also *this* close to making my shortlist.

6. Andy Serkis as Caesar (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) - I've called him out before for the exact same role and if it's possible, he seems to have gotten even better that last time. Certainly the character has much more to do this time around and Serkis is up to the task in delivering such a heartfelt performance in collaboration with the many people involved in bringing Caesar and the other apes to life. Shout out to Toby Kebbell, who played Koba, who really went toe to toe with Serkis' Caesar.

7. Tilda Swinton as Mason (Snowpiercer) and as Eve (Only Lovers Left Alive) - The best quality of being an actor is excelling in many different kinds of roles and Swinton is a master at this especially in offbeat roles as evident by what she has done this year not only in the two films I've cited here, but also in her brief cameo as an old lady in The Grand Budapest Hotel. She was obviously perfectly cast as a vampire in Only Lovers Left Alive and brought just the right amount of anime villain quality in Snowpiercer that made her character so memorable.

8. Emily Blunt as Rita (Edge of Tomorrow) - When I think of a kick-ass heroine, my mind doesn't immediately think Emily Blunt, that is until I saw this film and now I'm a lifetime convert. The film is more fun that it had any right to be and Cruise still has enough star power to headline this sort of movie, but Blunt to me was the film's MVP as she took the title "Full Metal Bitch" and owned it completely.

9. Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave (The Grand Budapest Hotel) - It's almost always a treat when Fiennes tries his hands in comedy, especially ones that has a bit of an edge or in this case, whimsical edge that only Wes Anderson can deliver. Even though this is the first time the two have collaborated, Fiennes seemed perfectly at home in Anderson's world delivering an energetic and sometimes even campy performance that's thoroughly entertaining and dare I say one of his best.

10. Chris Evans as Curtis (Snowpiercer) and as Steve Rogers (Winter Soldier) - He beat out James McAvoy for this final spot, but both hit it out of the park this year headlining a superhero film with gusto as well as appearing in indie films that not many may have seen, but showcased their versatility as actors. Like many of his Marvel colleagues, Evans was perfectly cast as Captain America and he has just gotten better in the role with every film. But it's in Snowpiercer, playing the reluctant hero with a very dark burden, where he showed he could also deliver a quiet heart-wrenching performance.

Honorable Mentions: James McAvoy (Filth, X-Men: Days of Future Past), John Lithgow and Alfred Molina (Love is Strange), Shailenne Woodley (Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars), Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill (22 Jump Street), Pierre Deladonchamps (Strangers by the Lake), Rose Byrne (Neighbors), James Corden (Begin Again), and Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield* (Amazing Spider-Man 2)

*Almost didn't include these two, because the majority of the film that didn't include the two of them together were really not good. But then I keep remembering how fun and full of chemistry they had with each other whenever they shared screen. If the entire movie was just them going on a date, it would be one of my favorite movies of the year probably.

Cruel Intentions Turns 15

With all the films I've seen, it's pretty much impossible for me to have a number one film of all time. But if you had asked me what it was back in 1999 then I would've said Cruel Intentions without any hesitation. If you didn't already know, the film is a modern re-telling of Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe playing a couple of rich Manhattanites who also happen to be step-siblings. They play a twisted game of manipulation and seduction on everyone including each other.

Well the movie turns 15 today so to celebrate my one-time number one film of all time, here are 10 random things I remember loving about it (and I have the worst memory so this is going to not be as comprehensive as I would have liked):

1. Sarah Michelle Gellar as a brunette. I mean I had always known her as Buffy Summers. Suddenly with dark hair she was a completely different, but equally awesome, character. Her Kathryn Merteuil remains one of my favorite movie villains.

2. Joshua Jackson as an adorable gay blond boy. Same as above except Pacey Witter went blond and had sex with guys. I could've watched a whole movie with him. Also, I would never think of "HOOVER" the same way ever again.

3. Ryan Phillippe's butt. The whole film was quite formative, but this scene in particular made me realize I preferred certain kinds of people over others. Ryan is still hot, but Sebastian was my ideal movie boyfriend. I know I have issues.

4. Reese Witherspoon's demon face. Though they're no longer together, I like to imagine that she makes this same face whenever she sees Ryan.

5. That kick-ass cross pendant. I want one. I probably wouldn't put coke in mine. Maybe chocolate.


6. "Colorblind" by the Counting Crows. Yeah, that music always, always reminds me of that airport scene. Also... sex. Hot, hot sex.

7. Christine Baranski as Bunny Caldwell. Okay, I actually don't remember her much, which is a crime into itself, but I bet she was fantastic. And all the other random people in the film. Eric Mabius as a hot closeted jock! Swoosie Kurtz as Sebastian's therapist! Sean Patrick Thomas as the sexy violin teacher!

8. Kathryn on top of Sebastian. And sexually teasing him as if his life depended on it. Then she takes it all away. "Down boy."

9. That kiss. You know the one. It was hot and uncomfortable and sexy and terrible and hilarious and disgusting all at the same time.

10. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve . Great final song to end the film. Plus if you were a certain age at the time, that song was everything. Plus Reese looked pretty bad ass.

Top Ten Performers of 2013 (So Far)

Every end of August, I try to take stock of the films I have seen so far in the year by picking my top 10 favorite performances. Unfortunately I haven't been able to see a few films that I really wanted to see such as Frances Ha, Short Term 12, Upstream Color, The Kings of Summer, The Spectacular Now, etc.. So if I don't list any year-best performances from those films, don't be shocked! Though in making this list I realized that I've apparently seen 43 theatrical releases from 2013, which is the most number of movies I've seen at this point in the year. As you would expect, narrowing down to my "10" wasn't easy so like in year's past, there may be a couple of cheats.

1. Julie Delpy as Céline Wallace and Ethan Hawke as Jesse Wallace (Before Midnight) - Already starting with my first cheat, but really it just makes sense to combine the dual powerhouse performances from these two actors who have been playing these characters together for nearly two decades. Individually they are fantastic of course, but the film is at its best when it's just the two of them interacting with one another. Simultaneously funny and poignant, their performances will be something that'll stay with me for quite some time.

2. Amy Acker as Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing) - Yes, I'm a Whedon fanboy, but I've also been a fan of Acker since her days on Angel and she just absolutely shines as the MVP in this small charming Whedon adaptation of Shakespeare's play. The cast is full of Whedon alums like Fran Kranz and Nathan Fillion who, like Acker, still seemed perfectly cast in their roles. Acker's performance just stuck with me more as she was able to show great depth at comedy, both physical and through the Bard's words, as well as the perfect balance of strength and vulnerability the role calls for. Someone make her a huge star already!

3. Cate Blanchett as Jasmine (Blue Jasmine) - Even prior to seeing the film, I had already heard from many people how great she was in Woody Allen's latest. I believed them since Blanchett is just that sort of actress, but I still was wary that it was all over-hype. Thankfully it wasn't because as the sharply acerbic Jasmine she really does put forth a performance for the ages. The ensemble deserves some praise as well, but it's Blanchett that dominate every scene she's in. That final shot in the film still haunts me.

4. Ryan Gosling as Luke (The Place Beyond the Pines) - My favorite part of this triptychcally structured film was the first part and not just because it was the more interesting story, but because it also featured Gosling at his quiet brooding best. People may be tired of this particular schtick from the actor, but there really is something to be said about being able to convey as much through silence. His performance also provided the much-needed emotional through-line for the film that made most of the third act, at least the part that had to do with Dane DeHaan's character, work for me.

5. Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant (Fruitvale Station) - The way the audience perceives Oscar as a real character is monumentally important to the success of the film and Jordan is able to achieve this even as his film comes close to sanctifying his character a bit. Mostly I'm just thrilled that more people are getting to see how talented he is, especially since he showed great promise on Friday Night Lights.

6. Onata Aprile as Maisie (What Maisie Knew) - I'm not really qualified to judge child actors, so I really just go by gut feelings, but I think Aprile has given one of the best performances for me so far this year. The film itself is such a delicate portrait of a girl being pulled in so many directions and while the adults and a few details of the plot could sometimes be all over the place, the wonderful constant is Aprile's ability to generate just the right amount of chemistry with everyone in the cast. Without that, the film would've fallen apart. I'd be hardpress though not to mention the other child actors like Tye Sheridan (Mud) and Liam James (The Way, Way Back) who impressed me this year.

7. The cast of Now You See Me - One of the more pleasant surprises for me this summer was this film and while some of that had to do with their refreshing take on the heist genre, most of it was definitely due to the chemistry of the ensemble containing a mix of few A-listers and those not-so-much. I think the one weak link, and this is more a fault of the script rather than the actor, was Mélanie Laurent whose character seemed almost like an afterthought. But a definite yes on Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Common, and Michael Kelly for a job well done.

8. Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby) - Before I talk about how great I thought DiCaprio was, can I just say something really superficial i.e. how good he looked? I feel like it's been forever since DiCaprio has played someone so glamorous and attractive and by doing so here helped me to see DiCaprio with new eyes. Yes, as Gatsby he is still playing a tortured man, but he infuses the character with just the right amount of charm and quirks that worked well with the film's boisterous visual and aural elements.

9. David Oyelowo as Louis Gaines (Lee Daniels' The Butler) - First things first, the ensemble of this film was quite solid even the parade of celebrities doing their best imitations of presidents and first ladies, but to me the film shines when it focuses on the dynamics of the Gaines family. To me, that's where Forest Whitaker did his best work and Oprah Winfrey shined as the matriarch (almost made my list; such a hoot to watch). But for me, it's Oyelowo and his journey from doted eldest son to disappointing dark sheep to respected adult that left a lasting impression with me and wished more of the film was devoted to him.

10. Melissa McCarthy as Diana (Identity Thief) and as Mullins (The Heat) - While neither film is exactly Oscar material (though I'd argue The Heat deserves a few Golden Globe nominations), McCarthy's hilarious performance in both shows why she deserves all of the accolades she has and is currently getting. The first film is rather crude and one-dimensional in its humor, but McCarthy's character arc still managed to touch me. The second film does a much better job in utilizing McCarthy's skills especially in a fantastic tag-team effort with another gifted actress/comedienne Sandra Bullock. Really I just love how easily McCarthy is able to make you laugh in one scene and cry in the next.

Honorable Mentions: Rinko Kikuchi in Pacific Rim, Gael García Bernal in No, Matthew McConaughey in Mud, Melonie Diaz in Fruitvale Station, Nicole Kidman in Stoker, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg in The World's End, Sandra Bullock in The Heat, James Franco in Spring Breakers, and the cast of The Way Way Back.

My Favorite Posters of 2012

Hoping to catch a couple more films before I post my year-end film lists and nominations, but until then I wanted to start it all of by talking about some of my favorite film posters from last year. I had about 50 posters in my longlist, but I managed to narrow it down to the ones below...

1. Cabin in the Woods - This homage to Escher delights me to no end especially with the twists and turns the narrative of the film takes. I also love its woodsy-vintage-comic-book hybrid feel with a touch of horror the perfectly encapsulates the movie.

2. Zero Dark Thirty - No doubt in my mind that this was the best teaser poster for a film that was both highly anticipated and highly guarded. It's bold, stark and really demands a double take.

3. ParaNorman - I actually love all of the posters done for this film so it was difficult to choose my favorite, but the one I ultimately picked is at both simple in its design as well as being visually interesting. The horrified looks of the characters are bonus.

4. The Paperboy - Like the film, this poster really sells the humidity ever present within. The color palette is warm and sensuous and the poster is able to have its main stars on the poster without making them feel like floating heads.

5. The Loneliest Planet - Just beautifully designed with the greenery of the surroundings dominating the poster as it does so in the film. The placement of the actors forces you to take a second look.

6. Safety Not Guaranteed - Not only is this poster hilarious, but it pretty much lays out what the movie is about in such a creative way that should've made more people seek it out to learn more.

7. John Carter - Say what you will about the film (which wasn't as awful as I had expected), but this poster is damn gorgeous. I love showing off the planet as well as the space above and I definitely love how everything feels epic especially with the lead roughly shown to scale.

8. Chronicle - This did its job as a teaser poster making me very curious as to what the film could be about. It even works retroactively after you've seen the film and realized how clever this poster really was.

9. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Just think about to before everyone complained about how long the movie is and how unnecessary a third film would be. Didn't your heart just jump with joy as did mine when this poster came out? I instantly heard Howard Shore's score in my head and I wanted to cry.

10. Beasts of the Southern Wild - I love how confident this feels especially for a smaller film. It's like they knew they needed a poster that demanded attention and I think they succeeded. Just wished they did more posters featuring other equally visually arresting moments in the movie.

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):

• Ai Weiwei - Appropriately cheeky and strong.
• The Amazing Spider-man - Love the play on imagery and shadow.
• Django Unchained - Visually bold and striking in its simplicity.
• Gayby - Highlights the drama and the comedy within.
• The House I Live In - Love the interplay between text and image.

• The Hunger Games - Instantly iconic and feels alive.
• Life of Pi - Collage technique done beautifully.
• Magic Mike - Already used cheeky, but perfect adjective to use here, no?
• The Master - Unexpected, but executed perfectly.
• Prometheus - Foreboding; love the use of darkness and light.

What about you? What were some of your favorite posters of the past year? Do you think I overlooked a particularly awesome poster? Feel free to share!

Top Ten Performers of 2012 (So Far)

The end of August means it's time for me to pick my top 10 favorite performances of the year so far. Of course I haven't seen every film released nor have I even seen films I wanted to see such as Moonrise Kingdom and Take This Waltz so this list is ridiculously incomplete. With that said, out of the 32 theatrical releases of 2012 I did see, here are the ten performances I have loved:

1. The entire cast of The Avengers - I know I'm starting out with a cheat, but it'll be my only one on the list. Now it's no secret how much I loved this film and most of that had to do with the kick-ass ensemble that Marvel assembled and that Joss Whedon made work. As great as Robert Downey Jr. was as Tony Stark, I truly feared from the first trailers that the film was going to be Iron Man and His Posse. Thankfully the film really felt like a true ensemble with some fantastic work from Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson... taking another breath... Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, Gwyneth Paltrow, et. al. Special commendation to those aforementioned actors who either didn't get a stand-alone film for their characters nor were given much to do here and still kicking ass.

2. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) - Weirdly enough I was one of the few people who thought her Oscar-nominated performance in Winter's Bone was a bit over-hyped and yet I just loved her here as the bow-wielding heroine of this dystopian film. Even though she didn't match who I imagined Katniss to be in my head, she was magnificent all her own making me really believe the character. Her ability to convey so much without words is a true talent.

3. Tommy Lee Jones as Arnold (Hope Springs) - One of the reasons he's in this list and so highly ranked is because I just found this performance so delightfully surprising. I would never in a million years think to cast Jones in this kind of role and yet there he was as open and honest as an actor I have ever seen him and it was truly refreshing. In fact, he practically stole Meryl Streep's thunder in the film and anyone who can do that must deliver one hell of a performance.

4. Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket (The Hunger Games) and Frankie (People Like Us) - Like Lawrence, Banks really didn't fit who I had in mind for that particular Hunger Games role and yet she was just fabulous. In fact, even though she had very little to do in the film, she still gave the most memorable movie moment for me this year so far ("That is mahogany!"). Though as much as I love her Effie, her dramatic turn in People Like Us really needs to be more widely seen and praised. Banks can do comedy easily, but this was the first time I had seen her tackle drama and it was pretty revelatory. Hope to see her more in these kinds of roles. And soon!

5. Quvenzhané Wallis as Hushpuppy (Beasts of the Southern Wild) - Is she really acting or is she just lucky to have a really good director? Why can't it be both? Yes, she's so very young, but I feel that made her performance have that much more impact for me. She's definitely a bright star in the making so evident in my complete enthrallment of her whenever she was on screen.

6. Michael Fassbender as David (Prometheus) - This guy is just too damn talented. He was in this same list last year for two performances. This year, it's just the lone performance of an android gone mad. I couldn't really tell you why I loved him here. Perhaps it's how he somehow pulled off being eerie and charming at the same time. Or perhaps it was how he was able to balance the humanity and inhumanity of his character. Whatever the reason, he definitely stood out for me as the MVP of that cluttered film.

7. Dane DeHaan as Andrew Detmer (Chronicle) - I think this was one of the first films I saw this year and it's a testament to DeHaan that his brutal performance here still registers in my mind. I've seen him in a couple TV shows where he plays the angst-ridden teen so in a way this film role wasn't that different from those other than him having superpowers. With that said, he is just so effective in expressing first the joy and then then pain and anger his powers and actions give him. He helped ground the super-naturalness of the film with his powerful performance.

8. Ewan McGregor as Michael (Perfect Sense) -  In retrospect, it's insane for me to list McGregor for this film without also citing his wonderful co-star played by Eva Green. Both of them together in this film devastated me with their performances as two lovers who grow closer as the world falls deeper into chaos. The film itself left me catatonic in the end and I'm pretty sure most of that has to do with how attached I became with the characters. McGregor especially showed a vulnerability that he has shown in other films, but somehow felt more real here.

9. Rachel Weisz as Hester Collyer (The Deep Blue Sea) - I only saw this film this past week and while the film itself doesn't rate too highly for me, Weisz performance is undeniably excellent. There has been many films where the lead is torn between a life of leisure and a life of passion, but Weisz's particular melancholy was on a whole other level that reminded me of Kirsten Dunst's performance in Melancholia and Michelle Williams' in My Week with Marilyn and y'all know how much I loved those as well.

10. Channing Tatum as Jenko (21 Jump Street) and Magic Mike (Magic Mike) - You guys have no idea how painful it is to put Tatum on any kind of positive top 10 lists, but with these two performances I finally couldn't ignore him. In the former, he's HILARIOUS and has fantastic chemistry with co-star Jonah Hill and in the latter, he's a natural, a charmer, and just have an easy presence. Of course for the latter it helps that he's practically acting out his life story, but you'd think that would make it harder. And yet he just damn won me over. For now. FOR NOW.

Honorable Mentions: Matthew McConaughey in Magic Mike, the cast of Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Fran Kranz in Cabin in the Woods, Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises, Luke Treadaway and Natalia Tena in Tonight You're Mine, Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man, and Keira Knightley and Steve Carell in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

Birthday Boy and Killer: Joss Whedon

Joss Whedon turns 48 today and do we even need to mention what an insane year or so it's been for him? Let's just spew out some key numbers here: $1.4 billion worldwide, $591.2 million domestic, $200+ million opening weekend, 93% Rotten Tomatoes ratings. Yeah, suffice it to say whedon is on top of the Hollywood world right now and as happy as I am for him obviously I'm not ready for him to become "Joss Whedon, the director of The Avengers" as opposed to "Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That may have sounded a little hipterish of me, but not really since I don't at all begrudge him his mainstream success (just the opposite) and I don't regard myself a truer fan of Whedon since I was a fan long before The Avengers. Whedon is for all and may he have many, many more opportunities to show us his mad genius.

Speaking of his mad genius, I think it's common knowledge how much Whedon enjoys putting his characters (and fans) through a ringer including killing off beloved characters and breaking off relationships. You see that in The Avengers where 70% of the plot includes Loki trying to break the superheroes up and of course that one death which I won't spoil for the 3 people in the world who hasn't seen the movie yet. And so with that said, as I promised last year, here's my list of Top 10 Whedon Deaths. Spoiler Alert... obviously.

First, just want to list some honorable mentions. Penny's demise in Dr. Horrible makes you wonder how they'll do a sequel. Jesse's death in episode 2 of Buffy should've clued us in on the depths of Whedon's sadism. Book, Wesley, and Topher's deaths in Serenity, Angel, and Dollhouse respectively made my heart hurt considering I actually thought they'd make it out alive somehow. And of course that one Avengers death that made me shake my head. See the entire list after the jump...

My Top Ten Favorite Posters of 2011

Still trying to catch up on a few 2011 films so my year-end film lists and nominations are on hold, but I did want to share with you guys some of my favorite posters from the past year. My longlist was about 36 posters, but I narrowed it down below to my top ten, five honorable mentions, and a poster that should've been in my top 10 but I forgot.


1. Martha Marcy May Marlene - This is just such a beautifully composed poster. From the colors to the overlapping images, it creates a sense of ethereal beauty as well as a sense of chaos and danger. Positioning her lips in the center right next to her "names" is an inspired choice.


2. Tree of Life - For a teaser poster of a most anticipated film that no one knew anything about, this was tops them all. And it really was the best way to advertise Malick's visually arresting film seemingly showing us everything and yet telling us nothing. My favorite part is of course the dinosaur.


3. One Day - It seems fitting that this poster for a love story was love at first sight for me. While the movie itself was less than I expected, this poster is just perfect in its romanticism. The color treatment is gorgeous and the image used just lovely.


4. Shame - The unkempt and empty bed is such an interesting and bold image and yet it really is such a fitting image for the film hinting at the sexually charge nature of the film, but being subtle about it. There's also a sense of lonliness that is conveyed here.


5. Ides of March - Not gonna lie, I think this poster was particularly creative. It's a wholly imaginative way to have your two stars on the poster without doing the tired designs of floating heads. The TIME Magazine motif as well as the tagline tells you a lot about the film.


6. Jane Eyre - Reminds me a bit of my #1 choice though this came out first. It's simultaneously romantic and haunting. Plus this poster is multipurpose--can work as a Criterion DVD cover or a book cover!


7. Drive - Yes, I questioned this poster a few months back saying it wasn't particularly doing a good job marketing the film. With that said, I want to own it so badly. Basically how can you go wrong with Ryan Gosling wearing a henley? The white space and bold pink font are icing.


8. Cowboys & Aliens - The movie may have disappointed, but this teaser poster was well done. It was really the only poster in their marketing campaign that adequately mixed the brown earthy tones of Western films with the blue cool colors in sci-fi films. Plus it highlighted the best feature of the film: Daniel Craig's leather-chaps framed backside.


9. The Iron Lady - I love this poster, I'm not even kidding. It's grotesque, bold, hilarious, ridiculous, and eye catching. It's also very polarizing. Sounds like Margaret Thatcher herself, doesn't it? The tagline for the film is "Never Compromise" and they certainly didn't at least with this poster. Also love Streep's Giaconda-like smile.


10. In the Land of Blood and Honey - Haven't seen the film, but this poster is able to highlight the love story and the violence contained in the film. The font is a bit curious, but the map graphic background is a nice touch.

Honorable Mentions

• Carnage - Goofy, brash, memorable, and eye-catching.
• The Girl with Dragon Tattoo - Elegant and appropriately chilly.
• MI4: Ghost Protocol - Wonderful and exciting perspective.
• Moneyball - Great use of color, text, and space.
• Submarine - Confident, fresh, and quirky concept.

I forgot to include this poster from Weekend in my original post so instead of changing my list above and figuring out where it'll rank, I'll just mention it here to end the post. So romantic. So mysterious. The font/text design is just so pretty. And with that said, what were some of your favorite posters of the past year?