2013 Entertainers of the Year

Entertainment Weekly has done this list for years, and I try to create my own list without looking at their list, and I do not know their list sans Sandra Bullock as the "Entertainer of the Year" because the cover was everywhere on twitter.  With that said I have to agree with her as Entertainer of the Year, and here is the rest of my list.

1-Sandra Bullock-"Box Office Powerhouse/Great Actress"

Bullock made everyone laugh, and maybe cry this year in two of the biggest films of the year, The Heat and Gravity.  Bullock is one of the few actresses working today who can always draw a crowd.  Big studios always seen to want to use men or male oriented themes to make money, but over the years they have been proven wrong by women like Julia Roberts, and Sandra Bullock.  Bullock is a bit different from Roberts; she has had the romantic comedy mode, but Bullock has a charisma to her which is not only like able, but can carry a variety of films.  This year Bullock helped turn the buddy cop film into more than just a guy thing in The Heat.  Bullock showed everyone this is not always a mans game, this was also true with Gravity.  Bullock carries the film or floats through the film on her own two legs.  Sandra Bullock is the entertainer of the year, because she is a box office power house; she is funny, a good actress, and states simply with her presence the power women can and should have in film.

2-Vince Gilligan, and the creative team behind Breaking Bad-"The Men who made Television Magic"

Can you believe this happened?  This was a statement uttered at work every  Monday after an episode of Breaking Bad.  Twitter and Facebook were a buzz talking about a show about to end, and the way it was ending.  Vince Gilligan and the team behind all of the seasons of Breaking Bad crafted a beginning, middle, and end to Walter White, and Co, that some are calling the most flawless from start to finish.  The reason this show had people hooked was because week after was because something "real" and dark was happening on a weekly basis for a man who started at a desperate place.  The entire run of this show was great, but the final season was an edge of your seat ride that may never be matched.  Hell Anthony Hopkin wrote a letter to Bryan Cranston saying it was some the best work he'd ever seen.

3-Justin Timberlake "He Brought Sexy Back with his 20/20 Experience"

Over the last seven years Justin Timberlake has focused more on his acting career, and while his movie has not taken off, his role as a variety performer on Saturday Night Live has been triumphant.  Yet JT is the most successful through his music, with two albums one released in March, the other September, which complete the 20/20 Experience, and sold out concerts all over the country Timberlake has soul, and boy does this guy shine on stage.  The man is unstoppable selling about 3 million albums.  While Timberlake has not done as great at the movies this year he also starred in Runner Runner along side Ben Affleck, and stars in the critical darling Inside Llewyn Davis.  What a guy!

4-Netflix "It's Not TV it's Binge Watching at its Best"

I remember about 7 or 8 years ago when Netflix was all the rage because they would send you DVDs in the mail.  After this novelty wore off the company seemed to be in a little bit of trouble, but this past year marked the biggest turn-around I have seen in a while.  Netflix created a partnership with Disney, and other companies, and now the amount of first run movies and television series on their Instant feature is incredible.  Netflix did not make the list for this fact, Netflix made the list for their original and revitalized programming.  House of Cards was the first, and with Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Corey Stoll and Kate Mara this show was an Emmy winner, and all around great series.  Netflix brought back the cancelled series Arrested Development, and fans rejoiced.  Netflix also has partnered with Weeds creator Jenji Kohan on Orange is the New Black, which in my opinion surpassed the buzz on House of Cards.  This service is unstoppable. Every year a network makes my list, well Netflix is not a network, but they have revolutionized the way television series are consumed.

5-Jennifer Lawrence "The Girl on Fire with our Hearts"



Lawrence stole our hearts when she tripped, and stepped up to the podium in February to win her Best Actress.  Jennifer Lawrence is an "every girl" she is honest, upfront, and never seems to let go of herself for Hollywood.  Lawrence has two movies this year, one The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which on pace to give Iron Man a run for his money at the top of the box office this year.  Films centered around a strong female character rarely do well, and it could be in part because of the popularity of the books, but people who are not fans of the series are showing up to see Lawrence; she is a star on the rise, and great in this film.  Lawrence has already claimed another acting prize just this week for her other film American Hustle, Best Supporting Actress from the New York Film Critics Circle.  While I think Lawrence is a bit miscast in the role she certainly is a presence, and will most likely score her third Oscar nomination at the young age of 23, what a talent!

6-Tom Hanks "How Tom got his Groove Back"



For most of the 2000s Tom Hanks has been more of a behind the scenes guy, sure he took on roles in the Dan Brown adapted films, and Charlie Wilson's War, but Castaway was his last "great" role way back in 2000.  Since this time Hanks was producer extraordinaire. This year two roles seem to be knocking people out of the water, critics and audiences are saying he is "back."  In Captain Phillips the last five minutes will break your heart, Hanks has never been better, and the film made 100 million domestic, and incredible feat for an adult drama.  Look out for Tom Hanks as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks; he is getting a lot of buzz for this role from early screenings.  With both of these roles he may even be a double nominee at the Oscars this year.

7-Matthew McConaughey "Pretty Boy turned Go to Actor"



While Tom Hanks got his groove back Matthew McConaughey started to find his last year with Magic Mike, Bernie, Killer Joe, and The Paperboy.  McConaughey was a great in each one of those films.  This year McConaughey has only two performances but they are the best of his career.  McConaughey takes more of a supporting role in the Jeff Nichols film Mud where he plays a man looking to get the love of his life back.  McConaughey's acting within this film is so natural, but brazen its fun to see him play vulnerable; he does it well.  McConaughey's other role is bit showier, but boy is it jaw dropping.  In Dallas Buyers Club McConaughey lost tons of weight to play a man diagnosed with AIDs; he was a bigot, a kind of bad guy, but he fights hard to survive, and this performance is the most raw performance of his career.

8-Macklemore and Ryan Lewis "Music with a Message Never Sounded Better"



While this group has been met with a myriad of emotions, I think what they have done for music this year is great. They have three massive hits on the charts "Thrift Shop" "Can't Hold Us" and "Same Love."  This duo who avoided major labels is proof that the music game can, and should be done in a less corporate way.  There is something to be said for the way they sky rocketed to success, and the way they have incorporated meaningful messages into their music.  I think rap has started to go back to including deeper meaning into their music, but I like the message these two men present, and I think they are proof in the "Cinderella story" effect of entertainment.

9-Michelle and Robert King "Saviors of  Quality Network Television"



If you are not watching The Good Wife, or if you have never seen an episode its time to go back to the beginning and play catch-up.  The ensemble acting which goes on within this show is like a perfect well oiled machine, and they were almost picked, but the credit has to go with the shows creators, who write and direct for the show, Michelle and Robert King.  The way they have constructed the humor and drama within the show reminds of the way this was done on The West Wing.  There is something special about a show that can take the "procedural" of weekly cases, intertwine them to the emotional wellness of the cast, and never make you feel as though the story is forced.  The Kings are my favorite duo working today, they know how to build genuine non soapy drama, their is a humanity to this show, and they proven that networks can step up their game.  They have in fact just look at the slate of this year's new dramas on network television.  This credit is largely due to this show.

10-Allison Janney-"The Queen of Scene Stealing"



Allison Janney has made a name for herself and to many as CJ Cregg from The West Wing, but prior to this role she was one of the great character actresses who would show up in small roles, and steal scenes, see 10 Things I Hate About You, or Primary Colors and tell me I am wrong.  Janney is at it again this year in both films and television.  This summer she starred in the indie film The Way Way Back where she played a hilariously obnoxious neighbor, Janney's lines stole most of the film proving her comedic genius. Janney is also stealing the show Mom on a weekly basis as Bonnie a grandmother, mother, and recovering alcohol and drug addict.  Janney's timing is perfect, and she makes this show better week after week.  Janney is not just about the laughs her recurring guest role on Masters of Sex has provided a richer context to show, and the development of a woman's sexual awakening in the 1960s.  This woman is a chameleon, and its hard to ignore her greatness.

American Hustle Leads New York Film Critics Awards with 3 wins-Most Controversial Winner in Years!

Last year at this time the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) picked another film, which was seen by only limited critics/audiences, and that was Zero Dark Thirty.  History has repeated itself here, and this year's big winner was the David O. Russell film American Hustle.  Hustle (which I saw last night) won Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Jennifer Lawrence won Best Supporting Actress.  There are always some grumbles about who wins the big awards here, but I have never seen so many critics/pundits/bloggers deride a critics organization as much as this year.  I will go on record stating I liked American Hustle, one of the more entertaining films of the year, but not a Best Film of the year.  Lawrence was also miscast, and how she won this award with her terrible New York accent is beyond me, but many of these critics are elites who do not interact with people who talk like she does, so I guess I understand.

12 Years a Slave the early favorite only took home one trophy for Best Director, Steve McQueen. Cate Blanchett won Best Actress for Blue Jasmine, Jared Leto won Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club, Robert Redford won Best Actor for All is Lost, and Inside Llewyn Davis won Best Cinematography. While Hustle took home 3 every other film just got one win, making this an interesting start to the award season, and shaking things up a bit.  See the full winners list down below.

2000s (source Wikipedia)

Year	Winner	Director(s)
2000	Traffic	Steven Soderbergh
2001	Mulholland Drive	David Lynch
2002	Far from Heaven	Todd Haynes
2003	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King *	Peter Jackson
2004	Sideways	Alexander Payne
2005	Brokeback Mountain	Ang Lee
2006	United 93	Paul Greengrass
2007	No Country for Old Men *	Joel and Ethan Coen
2008	Milk	Gus Van Sant
2009	The Hurt Locker *	Kathryn Bigelow

2010s

Year	Winner	Director(s)
2010	The Social Network	David Fincher
2011	The Artist *	Michel Hazanavicius
2012	Zero Dark Thirty	Kathryn Bigelow
2013	American Hustle	David O. Russell

Over the last 13 years, the 2000s only 4 films have won this awards, and won Best Picture at the Oscar, they have * next to their names above.  The NYFCC pushed to be first award last year, and it may back fire on their winner in several ways.  Zero Dark Thirty was hit with tons of torture controversy.  American Hustle is being hit with the "it was great but not the best," which is accurate!  Ironically both of these films were produced by Meaghan Ellison.  How will Hustle fair?  Only time will tell.  As the first winner I think it has more of a mountain to climb.

This was a big boost for Robert Redford; he was flat lining a little bit, but this win puts him in good company. Only one man who won here in the 2000s and was not not nominated for Oscar, Paul Giamatti for Sideways.

Cate Blanchett has the nomination, but does she have the win?  Only three women have won at NYFCC and Oscar within the last 12 years:  Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line (2005)Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006), and Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady (2011).  Will Cate be a steam roller?

Steve McQueen has the most to cheer about, well statistically speaking. 7 of the last 12 winners in the Best Director category have won at Oscar, and impressive statistic.  Although 3 of those 12 missed out on a nomination.

As the first critics group of the season there is a long way to go, but today certainly got my blood going in many different directions, so let the excitement begin.

Full list of winners (will be updated with Runners-Up)

Best Picture: American Hustle
Best Actor: Robert Redford, All Is Lost
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Best Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Best Foreign Language Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Animated Film: The Wind Rises
Best Screenplay: American Hustle
Best Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Best First Film: Fruitvale Station
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

American Hustle is an Entertaining Story about ABSCAM and the Con Game with a Great Ensemble

American Hustle (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook)

Written by: Eric Singer (The International), David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook)

Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence

American Hustle starts out with a warning saying "These events happened" but maybe not exactly this way.  In the late 1970s and early 1980s the FBI ran stings they code named ABSCAM, short for Abdul Scam, the name of their front company.  This film takes these real life events, throws in their con men and women, and the game begins.

Hustle centers around Irving Rosenfield (Bale) and Edith or well Sydney Prosser (Adams) both of whom never wanted to be the victim in their lives.  Irving grew up watching his old man get pushed around with his window business, but as a young kid began the con breaking other people's windows so his dad would succeed.  Sydney, or Edith charmed her way into a job at Cosmo, and never looked back.  When the two meet at a party they fall madly in love with one another, and soon begin to run cons on people through their fake business.

While working one of their latest victims Richie DiMaso (Cooper) the two find out that he is an FBI agent, and instead of going to jail they get brought into this ABSCAM business with the FBI trying to catch other people in the con game.  What happens next is to fun to spoil, but needless to say this ensemble works so well together its hard to not smile as each aspect of the story unfolds.

Over the years David O. Russell has been a master at creating films centered around great ensembles from 1996's Flirting with Disaster all the way to this film.  Within this film their an ease to his direction, something more whimsical like his early work.  Within his last two films there was always something missing, the ensemble worked, but his direction did not feel cohesive enough or felt manipulative.  In this film O. Russell who directed and wrote the script with Eric Singer has created a much more balanced experienced that is more whimsical, and entertaining.  

The most successful thing about the film/script is defined by Bale's character himself, who defines morality as neither black and white, but rather grey.  Within this film O. Russell and Singer create more dense characters who live within the grey.  None of these characters are heroic nor do they fit within the cookie cutter modules O. Russell defined within his last two pictures, hence creating a much more rich ensemble piece.

Bale's performance was the strongest in the film, every time I watch him act I lose myself in his performances this has happened in almost every role he has taken on from The Machinist to his other film with O. Russell The Fighter.  You have to wonder if you are always being played by Irving, or where the vulnerability lies, but Bale is so convincing you can't see through the character. 

The rest of the ensemble is good, Cooper is hilarious, playing to his strength of comedic timing as an actor.  Adams is both striking to look at, but is better than I expected she plays the game as well as Irving, and there is so much strength within her performance.  The one person who did not fit into the ensemble as well was Jennifer Lawrence.  Critics have been singing her praises within this role, and she is funny, and does not do a bad job, but there is something lacking within this performance.  First and formost Lawrence's spotty New York accent is distracting; she could not pull it off.  Lawrence has always exuded maturity within her roles like Winter's Bone, and Silver Linings Playbook, but in this film she was playing a an immature person trying to be mature, and it did not work.

At the end of the day American Hustle is an entertaining film, with a great ensemble, solid direction, and great costume design.   

The Odds are in Favor of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (4 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: Francis Lawrence (I am Legend, Water for Elephants)

Written by: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire), Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine)

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson

There are only two recent series of young adult books, which are loved by both audiences, and critics, and they are the Harry Potter series, and this one.  The first in this series was decent, Academy Award nominated writer Gary Ross, directed and wrote the first film.  Ross directed and wrote Seabiscuit, Big, and Dave.  Ross and his shaky camera had about half the budget of Catching Fire, and created a solid start to this series.  With double the budget and the charisma of Jennifer Lawrence there is a reason this film franchise works for everyone.

 Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson) won the 74th Hunger Games, an unprecedented task.  As the two make their victory lap they realize their rebellious win has started an uprising in many of the districts causing people to stand up to President Snow played with maliciousness by Donald Southerland.  As President Snow notices this rebellion begin he enlists his new games master Plutarch Heavensbee (Hoffman) to put the girl on fire in her place.  A year after the 74th games happen it announced that during the 75th year, or the Quarter Quell, contestants for this Game will be picked from past winners, and Peeta and Katniss end up in the arena again.

What makes the sequel better?  The direction, and style of film making has improved.  The first film was criticized for its use of shaky camera style to give the Games that realistic feeling, it only made people nauseous.   This time director Francis Lawrence who will return for the next two films (the third book is being broken down into two films) maintains some of the guerrilla style directing with close ups, but loses the off putting camera work of the first.  I think Lawrence's extreme close-ups on the emotion of the characters is a bit forced at times, let the action and emotion of the characters speak for themselves.

The second film also sharper more emotionally impactful writing.  Take away one Oscar nominated screenwriter (Ross) and add two winners Simon Beaufoy, and Michael Arndt, and you get a deeper connection with every character.  This film is better at connecting you to everyone rather than a surface-level connections to the tributes, and supporting characters in the first film.  At the moment my only complaint with the script is the explanation of the lore of District 13, the land demolished by the Capitol, the book explains this well, and builds up the lore while the film misses the mark on the set-up.  Arndt and Beaufoy still improve upon the nature of the first script.

While there are still minor hiccups with the directing, and writing, the film is massively emotional, and entertaining.  Most of that entertainment comes from the films star Jennifer Lawrence, who is a beacon for younger actresses working today.  Lawrence is a natural; she fits so well within the role of Katniss, and it is nice to see a different type of women represented on film.  Lawrence has a magnetism in this role, and is the glue to the success of this franchise.

Catching Fire is a great sequel, the script advances the character development, the increased budget has allowed for better visual effects, the new writers and directors have patched up the flaws of the first, but at the center is an interesting character, who is both strong and vulnerable.  Katniss/Lawrence is a force, and I wish all audiences a "Happy Hunger Games."

Source: http://www.hypable.com/2013/09/12/hunger-games-catching-fire-us-premiere-date-location-win-tickets/

Argo Wins Best Ensemble at SAG, Downton Abbey and Modern Family win on Television Side

Tonight Argo stepped even closer to a Best Picture win at the Academy Awards.  Argo has now won Best Picture at the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Golden Globes, Producer's Guild Awards, and here.  At this very moment I can feel many film critics and Oscar pundits switching their Lincoln Best Picture win to Argo.  One of the most intriguing things to me is if Argo wins Best Picture who wins Best Director?  I will be theorizing that one for a while.

In the other film categories Lincoln picked up two trophies one for Best Lead Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), and one for Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones).  Day-Lewis has the Best Actor prize in the bag, and Tommy Lee Jones has a strong shot at the Best Supporting Actor award, but he was not there to accept, so look for missing Christoph Waltz to be a spoiler.

Jennifer Lawrence made the Best Actress category more interesting tonight beating Jessica Chastain, this puts Lawrence out front, but never count out any surprises although with Harvey Weinstein behind her campaign she has the best chance.  Anne Hathaway further proved that her dream she dreamt will come true winning Best Supporting Actress, and I like that she thanked her Dark Knight cast; she gave a much better speech.

On the television side the Comedy Winners remained as stale as day old bread.  Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey whom I love won for Best Actor and Actress, and obviously it was as a parting gift for their great work on 30 Rock.  Modern Family also won for a third year in a row, and while I love their ensemble there are so many other great ensembles out there.  I guess I am just glad Betty White did not win this year or else they would have been the exact same winners as last year.  Baldwin and Modern Family have won together for the last three years, sloppy!

In the mini-series or movie category rubber stamped winner Kevin Costner and Julianne Moore won.  Costner was not present, but neither were any of his competition.  I think this is the first time in all my years of watching award shows where not a single nominee in a category has shown up.

The drama categories finally shook things up for the television world.  Best Actor went to Bryan Cranston he beat out front runner Damien Lewis.  Claire Danes was not nominated last year, but won Best Actress last year.  Downton Abbey won Best Ensemble, and I loved watching the actress who plays Mrs. Hughes accept for the cast; she was too precious.

One of the highlights of the evening was watching Dick Van Dyke get his lifetime achievement award. In watching his film reel, and hearing beautiful but brief acceptance of the award it was a great moment in one of the more boring award shows.

LA Film Critics Changes Things Up, Picking Amour for Best Pic, and Many New Acting Winners!

If you thought the critics group winners had become stale and boring, then you thought wrong.  Most of the critics groups have anointed Zero Dark Thirty and helmer Kathryn Bigelow as the winners, but LA went with a different track.

LA picked the French film Amour, which is a favorite in the Best Foreign Language category at this oscars.  The big question on the table is does this film stand a chance in the Best Picture race?  Over the last twelve years (starting in 2000) 9 of the 12 films were nominated for Best Picture.  The films that missed out were About Schmidt (2002), American Splendor (2003), and Wall-E (2008).  Splendor is the only film that did not, or was not ever taken seriously for an Oscar.  Splendor was obviously in consideration, but was not an "Academy" film.  Does this bode well for Amour, or because the Academy sees it as a genre picture will they keep it out of top ten, and give it a bunch of other nominations?  This helps get the film more attention, but does not guarantee a nomination.

Paul Thomas Anderson won his first critics award this year (although Bigelow was the runner up).  Anderson's The Master, which was seen as early threat at the critics awards, finally made it to the big show.  The film won for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), and Best Production Design.  The film was a runner up in many other categories including Best Picture.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman being left off the proves that many critics may not be fooled into thinking he is a supporting player.  

jennifer Lawrence finally won her first award this year, for Best Actress.  I am a bit surprised she bested Emmanuelle Riva, who starred in the Best Picture winner Amour, but this win proves how disjointed opinions are within this category this year.  The critics are all over the map with this category, proving that this award can go to anyone, although my money is on Jessica Chastain.

Beasts of the Souther Wild did quite well her also, winning three prizes including Best Supporting Actor (Dwight Henry), Best Score, and the New Generation Award for director/composer Benh Zeitlin.

Skyfall's win in Cinematography can't be ignored, and shows Roger Deakins may finally get that unattainable Oscar win, which I hope he does.

Three things to take stock of Zero Dark Thirty only had one win, Best Editing, Lincoln was nowhere to be found, and Argo claimed its first victory at critics awards with Best Screenplay.  LA certainly shook things up and made this race a little more interesting.

Best Film: Amour
(runner-up:  The Master )
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
(runner-up: Kathryn Bigelow)
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
(runner-up: Emmanuelle Riva)
Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
(runner-up: Denis Lavant, Holy Motors
Best Supporting Actor: Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild
(runner-up: Christof Waltz, Django Unchained)
Best Supporting Actress:  Amy Adams, The Master
(runner-up: Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises and Les Miserables)
Best Editing: Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg, Zero Dark Thirty
(runner-up: William Goldenberg, Argo)
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins, Skyfall
(runner-up: Mihai Malaimare Jr., The Master)
Best Score:  Benh Zeitlin & Dan Romer, Beasts of the Southern Wild
(runner-up: Jonny Greenwood, The Master)
Best Screenplay: Chris Terrio, Argo
(runner-up: David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook)
Best Production Design: Jack Fisk, The Master
(runner-up: Adam Stockhausen, Moonrise Kingdom)
Best Animated Film: Frankenweenie
(runner-up: It’s Such a Beautiful Day)
Best Documentary: The Gatekeepers
(runner-up: Searching for Sugar Man)
Best Foreign Language Film: Holy Motors
(runner-up:  Footnote)
New Generation Award: Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

2012 Entertainer(s) of the Year

Although we are only in the last week of November, this year's entertainers of the year would be hard to topple.  Here is my list of entertainers of the year (2012): 

1-The Avengers

The biggest box office hit of the year, was the product of numerous contingencies, including Disney, Marvel, the cast, the crew behind the scenes, and of course the ensemble.  Let’s start with the master behind the marketing, Disney.  Disney did an amazing job making sure that everyone of these films connected at the end, and the story tied together to make sure this built up to one large scale event, and the event will continue. 

Enter the comic genius/director Joss Whedon.  Whedon who has written for Marvel before (Astonishing X-Men), was the perfect choice to direct this film; he loves the comic world and transformed the Marvel world’s greatest heroes into tangible well made film.  This man’s vision along with people who worked behind the scenes on the visual effects, sound, and editing constructed one power house action flick!

Once you have a great marketing strategy, an amazing director, and creative team, it’s time for the actual Avengers to Asemble!  Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man (Tony Stark), Chris Evans as Captain America (Steve Rogers), Chris Hemsworth as Thor,  new addition Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk (Bruce Baner), through is Scar Johannsen as the Black Widow, and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeyes, and you have one solid team.  Then bring back Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, the man behind SHIELD, and Tom Hiddleston as the mischievous villain Loki, and you have one great ensemble.

Bringing all of these elements created one of the most entertaining films of the year, and brought a comic book fan’s dreams come true.

2-HBO

HBO has had some good/great years, and depending on their new programming  slate that can push them over the top.  This year HBO also had some of the best original films along with their original series putting this network miles above the rest (as usual).

Game Change, which won the Best Movie/Mini-Series at the Emmy Awards, and also took home the Lead Actress Award (Julianne Moore) and Writing, and Directing prizes.  The film centered around John McCain, and Sarah Palin’s bid for the White House in 2008, and of the all the of all the television films this one was truly the best of the year.

HBO has been focused on successful Drama’s for most of its time, and they have been the most successful for the network aside from Sex and the City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.  This year HBO proved they can be the king/queen of comedy.  HBO had two hits with audiences, and critics, the shows Veep and Girls.  One of the best parts about these shows being solid for the network is that they are female driven, which is also rare for HBO.

Along with these two new brilliant shows, HBO still has Game of Thrones, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, and Enlightened to help make this one of the best networks on the air because of its wide array of programming.  This may be the best line-up the network has ever had!

3-Channing Tatum

 

The man was a beast at the box office this year, and had three films: 21 Jump Street made 138 million, The Vow made 125 million, and Magic Mike made 113 million.  This is a rare feet, there are no longer stars that bring people to the box office the way they did in the past (or well as many).  Having three films make over 100 million, and be based on the popularity of a star does not happen as often either.  Channing Tatum is one popular guy, with whom both the ladies and men swoon over; he is the leading man of the year.  Tatum was also voted the sexiest man alive by People Magazine, and star of the year by GQ, with all these accolades this guy is unstoppable. 

4- The Ensemble from Homeland

Homeland’s season one had strong popularity, and the ensemble worked well together.  In September Homeland won 4 key Emmy awards including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama (Damien Lewis), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (Claire Danes), and Outstanding Writing.  While Danes and Lewis, and the creative team were singled out for their contributions the who ensemble is what makes this show tick.  Brody and Carrie would be nothing without their counterparts.  Brody’s wife (while grating sometimes) plays Jessica well, and she balances out much of the show.  Carrie finds her stability with Saul Berenson a co-worker played by Mandy Patinkin, Hollah!  These four folks along with David Harewood, keep the energy going within this show.  I have to exclude Brody’s children, as they drive me nuts!

 5- Taylor Swift

She may be never getting back together, with whoever she dated :cough Jake Gyllenhaal cough: and he single is one of the catchiest I have ever heard.  Taylor Swift may have to realize that one of these days these break-ups is about her,  but for now as long as she keeps getting dumped, that’s right dumped, she is going to be making lots and lots of money.

Taylor Swift’s album Red sold 1,280,000 copies in its first week, artists do not accomplish these anymore, there are very few who succeed as much as this young lady does on the album sales charts.  Sift has also sold 623,000 digital downloads from itunes of her single “We are Never Getting Back Together.”  These two numbers make her the most entertaining musician of the year!

6- Jennifer Lawrence

From The Hunger Games to Silver Linings Playbook this girl has it all the box office power, and the ability to act circles around everyone.  The Hunger Games was no Twilight, the film was much better, and let Lawrence turn in a great/convincing portrait as one of the most memorable characters in recent films/literature Katniss Everdeen.  After re-watching the Hunger Games again recently I was blown away even in this film that Lawrence gave a solid performance.

Yet she will be recognized for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook come award season, and rightfully.  Lawrence is funny, and heartbreaking within this film, and you feel for her as she finds companionship in a man who is lost within his life, like her.  The award season has not started but Lawrence is an early favorite to win at the Globes, and even to be a favorite in the Lead Actress category at the Oscars.  Lawrence is force to be reckoned with, and there is no stopping this woman!

7- James Bond

This was the 50^th anniversary of this character in film, and there was a special edition box set released, which has been flying off the shelves like gang busters.  Along with this special edition box set, there was of course the main reason this character made the list this year, and that is release of the 23^rd film, entitled Skyfall.  Skyfall, is now the highest grossing bond movie of all time, the film is incredible, and it has taken the character along with his current portrayer Daniel Craig.  During Thanksgiving weekend, Skyfall was going toe to toe with the box office powerhouse Twilight.  The quality of the film along with the strong support has brought this character back on top, metaphorically speaking.

8- Ben Affleck

This was a tough call between Steven Spielberg, and Ben Affleck.  Spielberg’s Lincoln is taking off bigger than anyone would have expected, but it’s this younger director/actor/writer who has captured audiences across the globe with his film Argo.  Affleck is one of the most talented men working today, and Argo is one the best/most entertaining films of the year.  In front of the camera Affleck gave one of the best performances of his career (too bad in this crowded category he will get lost) he was subtle, and yet unnerving with his actions as the CIA agent turned fake producer.  Behind the lens Affleck’s direction was brilliant; he was able to make a film that was thrilling, captivating, and hilarious, three hard elements to achieve within one film, bravo!

9-Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe, and Even Peters

While the first edition of American Horror Story aired in 2011, and the cast was brilliant then, but Ryan Murphy brought back a few of the best from season one, proving five folks to be some of the most entertaining folks of 2012.

Together Lange, Quinto , Paulson, Rabe, and Peters and fiercely wonderful as the have taken on new personas in this second mini-series from Murphy.  These are the folks who will most likely return for part III next year, and entertain television audiences once again.  Ryan Murphy has a knack for finding good talent, and using them well amongst his ensemble, and these five actors are some of television’s hardest working folks, proving scary works even on the small screen.

10-Seth MacFarlene and Ted

Raunchy comedies do well these days, and MacFarlene who brings the raunch to television on a weekly basis with Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show is the man to fill these shoes.  MacFarlene has humor, which many would call crude, but he is one of the funniest, and most talented men working today.

MacFarlene toppled the myths that R rated films can’t do well (once again, although people keep forgetting).  Ted the talking bear himself may get more credit than MacFarlene, but the two are one in the same (obviously) and they bring the laughs all the time. 

MacFarlene also took to the stage at Studio 6H with SNL, and was season’s best host thus far; he can sing, dance, and do great impersonations.  With all of these things going for him MacFarlene was asked to be the host of the Academy Awards next year, and incredible honor.  This made me a thunder buddy for life!