I'll edit this post later to include some commentary. But for now, here is a list of my favorite performances of the year as well as my top 10 for television.
Top 10 of 2012 for Television:
1. Homeland
2. The Walking Dead
3. Fringe
4. Justified
5. Breaking Bad
6. Arrow
7. Person of Interest
8. Revenge
9. Parks and Recreation
10. Supernatural
Honorable mentions: House, Revolution.
Best Lead Actor:
Stephen Amell, Arrow
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Hugh Laurie, House
Damien Lewis, Homeland
Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead
Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Best Lead Actress:
Claire Danes, Homeland
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Madeline Stowe, Revenge
Ana Torv, Fringe
Emily Van Camp, Revenge
Best Supporting Actor:
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad
Jim Beaver, Supernatural
Jon Bernthal, The Walking Dead
Neal McDonough, Justified
John Noble, Fringe
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Best Supporting Actress:
Morena Baccarin, Homeland
Sarah Wayne Callies, The Walking Dead
Anna Gun, Breaking Bad
Morgan Saylor, Homeland
Susanna Thompson, Arrow
I'll edit this later not only with comments, but may change some things as I continue to get caught up on other television shows. I'll pick winners, though that probably won't be until right around the Golden Globe Awards air.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Life of Pi review
Wow! I went in this movie with low expectations because the trailers and commercials failed to grab me. Sure the movie looked neat visually, but otherwise, I just couldn't muster any excitement for the movie. Well now that I've seen it I can say: this movie blew me away! There are some scenes that are truly stunning. Some scenes that just take your breath away. Some scenes that are so beautiful, so majestic, so haunting and some scenes that just damn near moved me to tears. And I'm not even a very religious person. I've always considered myself to be agnostic. The truth is, I don't care for religion. I don't think about it. It rarely ever, if ever, occupies time in my head. Is there are a god? I don't know and I just don't care. All I care about is the here and now. But this movie actually made me caught up on this journey the lead character goes to. A journey that is equally spiritual as it is physical.
The lead performance from Suraj Sharma is absolutely incredible. This is a performance so amazing that it actually rivals Daniel Day Lewis's work in Lincoln and Liam Neeson's work in The Grey as among the very best of the year. It will be an absolute crime if he doesn't get an Academy Award nomination, even though his chances appear to be iffy right now. Irrfan Khan, who plays the lead character as an adult, is wonderful as well, but it is Sharma who truly carries the movie on his little shoulders.
Then there is the ending. The ending appears to have been met with mixed reaction but I personally loved it. Admittedly, I wasn't really sure at first what to think, but what I loved about it is that it makes you think back at the movie and look at it differently. It made me want to see the movie again just view it from that point of view.
Ang Lee has made some very fine films in the past, but this is, without a doubt, his best one yet. The movie also contains the best use of 3D I have ever seen, even surpassing Avatar. The scene where the ship sinks is truly a sight to behold. And there are several other gorgeous images throughout the movie. In fact, it's a testament to how enraptured I was at the movie that there were a few times where I even forgot I was wearing those damn glasses. That NEVER happens. Not even with Avatar. But Life of Pi is a different beast altogether. And I can't wait to see the movie again. It's unlike any movie I have ever seen and probably ever will see. It is easily one of the year's best films. There is no doubt that this movie will make my top 10 list. In fact, it'll probably be in my top 5.
Grade: A
The lead performance from Suraj Sharma is absolutely incredible. This is a performance so amazing that it actually rivals Daniel Day Lewis's work in Lincoln and Liam Neeson's work in The Grey as among the very best of the year. It will be an absolute crime if he doesn't get an Academy Award nomination, even though his chances appear to be iffy right now. Irrfan Khan, who plays the lead character as an adult, is wonderful as well, but it is Sharma who truly carries the movie on his little shoulders.
Then there is the ending. The ending appears to have been met with mixed reaction but I personally loved it. Admittedly, I wasn't really sure at first what to think, but what I loved about it is that it makes you think back at the movie and look at it differently. It made me want to see the movie again just view it from that point of view.
Ang Lee has made some very fine films in the past, but this is, without a doubt, his best one yet. The movie also contains the best use of 3D I have ever seen, even surpassing Avatar. The scene where the ship sinks is truly a sight to behold. And there are several other gorgeous images throughout the movie. In fact, it's a testament to how enraptured I was at the movie that there were a few times where I even forgot I was wearing those damn glasses. That NEVER happens. Not even with Avatar. But Life of Pi is a different beast altogether. And I can't wait to see the movie again. It's unlike any movie I have ever seen and probably ever will see. It is easily one of the year's best films. There is no doubt that this movie will make my top 10 list. In fact, it'll probably be in my top 5.
Grade: A
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