2017: The Year in Review

It is the end of 2017, but it may as well be not be, for this year – even on the heels of last year – has felt beyond-interminable, this in spite of its many ferocious pulls in pretty much every single f---in’ direction.

That’s part of the reason I took a sabbatical from this non-sense about which, yes, I have been known to be quite serious, to become much more of aware of the world beyond the movies.

To keep tabs on the real world.

To try and keep up not only with the Kardashians, for a change, but with the people who are supposed to be representing and leading this country and, closer to the ground and to home, with my community.

Still had time to watch some films, though. Some movies and some flicks, too.

Most of ’em were good and fun, although a few were fairly awful. Not as terrible as...you know what? He’s not worth it. He is not me, he is not us; he’s got zero to do with this, and he certainly doesn’t deserve any more attention.

So here’s to the year that was, and to 2018, which, IMHO, is already full of promise.

I tell ya, it’s gonna be a good one.

Because woof.

Now, without further ado, my picks with a little silliness thrown back in for good measure.

10 Best Films of the Year (in alphabetical order):

Battle of the Sexes
The Big Sick
Call Me by Your Name
Dunkirk
The Florida Project
Get Out
Kedi
Lady Bird
Logan
The Shape of Water

Honorable Mention (tie): Beach Rats and Beatriz at Dinner

Best Directors: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water), Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), Jordan Peele (Get Out)

Best Look: Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde

Best Makeover: Chris Hemsworth’s in Thor: Ragnarok

Best Props: It’s myriad red balloons

Best Setting: Call Me by Your Name’s Italian countryside

Best Switcheroo: Allison Williams’ in Get Out

Best Supporting Actors: Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project), Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name), Andy Serkis (War for the Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Patrick Stewart (Logan) Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me by Your Name)

Most Welcome to the A-List: Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman)

Most Ready to Channel Ivanka Trump for a Remake of Single White Female That Ought to Be Titled Single White Nationalist: Unforgettable’s Katherine Heigl

Most Surprising: The Foreigner’s Jackie Chan (Jackie Chan!)

Best Supporting Actresses: Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Holly Hunter (The Big Sick), Tatiana Maslany (Stronger), Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird), Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water)

Can’t Wait to See More of – Female: Danielle Macdonald and Bridget Everett, from Patty Cake$

Can’t Wait to See More of – Male: Kumail Nanjiani, from The Big Sick

Best Actors: Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name), Jake Gyllenhaal (Stronger), Hugh Jackman (Logan), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), James McAvoy (Split)

Best Actresses: Halle Berry (Kidnap), Cate Blanchett (Manifesto), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), Saiorse Ronan (Lady Bird)

Photos: Universal Pictures (Get Out); ScreenFellows.com (Call Me by Your Name); Warner Bros. (Unforgettable); Variety.com (Stronger).

2016: The Year in Review

A wallflower 2016 certainly was not, wouldn’t you agree.

But it was a most interesting and intriguing year, one in which new voices were heard, and quieter stories triumphantly bubbled up to the surface, and, for that matter, not a minute too soon or too late, too.

So here’s to that – to that, at the very least – and to 2017.

10 Best Films of the Year (in alphabetical order):

13th
Captain America: Civil War
Eye in the Sky
Hacksaw Ridge
The Invitation
Jackie
Loving
Moonlight
O.J.: Made in America
Swiss Army Man

Honorable Mention (tie): Lion and Queen of Katwe

Best Directors: Ava DuVernay (13th), Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Pablo Larraín (Jackie), Jeff Nichols (Loving)

Best Supporting Actors: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Ralph Fiennes (A Bigger Splash), John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane), Dev Patel (Lion) Daniel Radcliffe (Swiss Army Man)

Best Supporting Actresses: Viola Davis (Fences), Naomie Harris (Moonlight), Margo Martindale (The Hollars), Helen Mirren (Eye in the Sky), Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad)

Best Actors: Paul Dano (Swiss Army Man), Joel Edgerton (Loving), Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Denzel Washington (Fences)

Best Actresses: Kate Beckinsale (Love & Friendship), Jessica Chastain (Miss Sloane), Gillian Jacobs (Don’t Think Twice), Ruth Negga (Loving), Natalie Portman (Jackie)

Photos: Focus Features (Loving); Fox Searchlight Pictures (A Bigger Splash); Fox Searchlight Pictures (Jackie).

The Song of 2016

The song of 2016, obviously, necessarily, powerfully is...Beyoncé’s “Formation.”

The surprise single – which dropped the day before last winter’s Super Bowl and which Queen B defiantly and confidently performed at the big game before dropping her latest game elevator, LEMONADE, in the spring – had it all:

A bold feministic message.

A declarative and definitive acknowledgement of self.

And a contagiously sick beat.

It was a long-con rally cry for a year that’s not yet over and, best of all, for a story – a history...a herstory – that’s yet to be fully written.

“Formation” is not only the song of the year. It is the song of the future.

Time to get, ladies people everyone. Time to get.

Indeed, time to slay:

It’s Showtime for Madonna

Guess I was onto something when I chose Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” as the Song of 2015, huh.

The Queen of Pop is among the hit-writing artists nominated to the 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside an old collaborator, Babyface, Jay Z, Max Martin (Britney Spears’ go-to guy), Bryan Adams, George Michael, and Kool & the Gang, among others.

M FTW, though! Especially since she was previously nominated in 2013. 

So sit down, Lady GaGa. (There we were, doing so well for a bit, she and I....)

For someone so intent on standing apart from Madonna – btw, you know the Queen does write her own songs, alone or with collaborators (always has, always will), that is, of course, when she doesn’t quote-unquote take one from another artist, like Björk (who co-wrote “Bedtime Story” with two other talents), y’ know, just like just about everyone under the sun does – Mother Monster sure was happy to step on her elder a few days ago, to build herself up...and on the week her new record was due, no less.

Girl.

But back to Madonna.

Her latest tour doc, Madonna: Rebel Heart Tour will premiere on Showtime on Dec. 9 – on the same night M will be honored as the Woman of the Year at the 11th annual Billboard Women in Music event in New York City.

Check out the trailer for the televised tour now.

All together now: Long live the Queen of Pop!

Jackie Chan’s Big Oscar Moment

And how’s this for diversity?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that legendary Hong Kongese action star Jackie Chan will be among the honorees at this fall’s 2016 Governors Awards.

Academy Award-winning film editor Anne V Coates (Erin Brockovich, Lawrence of Arabia), casting director Lynn Stalmaster (TV’s Gunsmoke, Deliverance, Superman, Mommie Dearest, Tootsie), and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman also will receive honorary Oscars during a gala held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland on Nov. 12.

Chan – who has more than 130 acting credits on IMDb (and, yes, that’s just for acting) – will be honored for his extraordinary achievements in film.

Rush Hour 4ever!

Photo: StarAdvertiser.com.

Jimmy’s Got Dem Globes

Mmm. OK?

Jimmy Fallon has been tapped to host the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards come Jan. 8. The Tonight Show host takes over hosting the NBC telecast for Ricky Gervais, who last had a fourth go earlier this year. The former SNLer looks “forward to spending time with the Hollywood Foreign Press [the body that awards the Golden Globes] before Donald Trump has them all deported.”

Alright. That was good.

Next, though, you should expect further 2017 Golden Globes announcements – like just who will take home the Cecil B. DeMille Award and, of course, the actual nominations; those are coming in December. Bot for now go start prepping yourself: You know Fallon’s gonna strain for maximum viralability at the show, and you’re gonna wanna be ready for that noise.

I am sure of it.

Photo: Celebuzz.com.

Transcending Progress

While Fifty Shades of Grey got Razzied last night, the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards were making a little history by honoring Tangerine.

Specifically, the powers that be awarded that film’s Mya Taylor the Best Supporting Female award, thus marking the first time a transgender performer has been honored during a major awards ceremony.

In accepting her hardware, the actress said, “There is transgender talent. There’s very beautiful transgender talent. So, you better get it out there and put it in your next movie.”

Loves it! Everyone has a story, and everyone should see his or her story reflected up on that gorgeous silver screen.

Here’s to more inclusion in the years ahead. We need it.

Photo: EW.com.

The Era of Oscar Nominee Lady GaGa Begins

Congratulations, Earth.

You know exist in a form in which Lady GaGa is an Academy Award-nominated artist and Madonna is not.

You did it, girl. (No, not you, M. You screwed the pooch by placing “Masterpiece” where you did in W.E., and you know it.

;)

Mother Monster was nominated in the Best Music - Original Song category, with Diane Warren, for “Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground, an exposé, per IMDb, of rape crimes on U.S. college campuses, their institutional cover-ups, and the devastating toll they take on students and their families. All kidding aside, the song is good, and she will make for another great performance at the Oscars this year.

Meanwhile, in the race for Best Picture this year are...The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room, and Spotlight.

The Oscars will be handed out on Feb. 28 live on ABC during a ceremony hosted by Chris Rock.

But back to the music. What do you mean “See You Again” from Furious Seven was not worthy of a nomination?

That...is just whack.

Photo: YouTube.com.

2015: The Year in Review, Pt. 2

And here is my more serious list, dahling – my list of the actors and actresses and films I liked best in 2015 (click here for the fun list).

Here’s to an awesome new year!

10 Best Films of the Year (in alphabetical order):

Brooklyn
Inside Out
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Room
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Straight Outta Compton
Tangerine
Trainwreck

Honorable Mention: Furious Seven

Best Directors: Lenny Abrahamson (Room), J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Pete Docter (Inside Out), George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Ridley Scott (The Martian)

Best Supporting Actors: Benicio Del Toro (Sicario), Sam Elliott (I’ll See Your in My Dreams, Grandma), Harrison Ford (The Age of Adaline, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road), Jacob Tremblay (Room)

Best Supporting Actresses: Joan Allen (Room), Helen Mirren (Trumbo), Phyllis Smith (Inside Out), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)

Best Actors: Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Bill Hader (Trainwreck), Matt Damon (The Martian), Michael Fassbender (Macbeth), Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)

Best Actresses: Emily Blunt (Sicario), Blythe Danner (I’ll See Your in My Dreams), Brie Larson (Room), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Lily Tomlin (Grandma), Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Photos: BerlinFilmJournal (Tangerine); TheFilmExperience.net (Room); LAWeekly.com (Grandma).

2015: The Year in Review, Pt. 1

Who knew!

Certainly not me, that 2015 was going to go down as the year in which I didn’t, in which I couldn’t.

I didn’t watch all the films and movies in a timely, efficient fashion – because I couldn’t. Madonna occupied more head space than ever, and rightfully so (long live the Queen!). The competition from live music (Taylor Swift! Janet Jackson!) was fierce, but not as fierce as that of TV, which offered a whopping 21,000 options, the lot of which did draw my curious attention (alright, so I am exaggerating on that number, but, then again, there was a heckuva lot of s--- to watch on the tube and beyond this past year...).

And I, honestly, had better, cuter, realer entertainment in my life this year, so there: No regrets at all that I haven’t yet seen Carol.

Here’s the first part of what I thought stood out in the year that almost was. Merry Christmas, everybody!

Best Duo: Mistress America’s Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke

Best Hair: Rose Byrne’s in Spy

Best Line: “Chewie...we’re home,” said by Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Look: Blake Lively’s in The Age of Adaline

Best Presence: Sam Elliott in I’ll See Your in My Dreams and Grandma

Best Trend: Female directors doing it for themselves (Pitch Perfect 2’s Elizabeth Banks, By the Sea’s Angelina Jolie Pitt)

Worst Trend: Bypassing theatrical releases in favor of iTunes or On Demand. Hollywood, if a movie gets made, release it how it’s meant to be seen, at least for two weeks to give us ample opportunity to see it

Best Use of Amber Heard: The Danish Girl

Most Eh Use of Amber Heard: Magic Mike XXL

Cutest: BB-8 (#obvs)

Let’s: Keep featuring minorities in leading or featured roles!

Let’s Not: Have Emma Stone play a minority she has no business playing, like in Aloha

Most C’mon!: Biopics that skimp on the bio parts (Steve Jobs)

Most Confounding, Yet Eye-catching: The heels Bryce Dallas Howard wears in Jurassic World

Most Disappointing: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Most Surprising (tie): Room’s Jacob Tremblay and women of a certain age (I’ll See Your in My Dreams’ Blythe Danner, Grandma’s Lily Tomlin)

Most Ubiquitous: San Francisco (really, the City by the Bay was in just about every other movie this year – and last, if ya think about it)

Most Welcome to the A-List: Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, The Danish Girl)

Most Welcome: Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man

Most Welcome Back: Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa

Most Come Back to Us, Honey: Jennifer Lopez (The Boy Next Door was totally beneath her)

Most Who Knew He Could Act: Trainwreck’s LeBron James

Most Who Knew He Was So Funny: John Cena (Trainwreck, Sisters)

Most Whoa!: Chris Hemsworth’s...big contribution to Vacation

Should’ve Had a Better Year: Chris Hemsworth (Blackhat, Vacation, and In the Heart of the Sea did not work)

Can’t Wait to See More of – Female (tie): Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) and Daisy Ridley, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Can’t Wait to See More of – Male: John Boyega, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Worst Movie (tie): Hot Pursuit (for being patently bad) and Aloha (for not being better)

Photos: NewYorker.com (Mistress America); Collider.com (Pitch Perfect 2); Universal Pictures (Steve Jobs); Fandango.com (Ant-Man); Sony Pictures (Aloha).