Post Oscar Day blues...

The Oscars are over. We have to wait another 364 days until Oscar Day 2012. Sigh...

We'll be blogging some thoughts about the show and the fashion later in the day, but for now I hope this recap of the year in film musicals helps you get over your case of the Oscar Day blues:

Today's the day!!!

Happy Oscar Day!!!

venn diagrams and the oscars

If you answered "What are two things Jessica loves?" (why would you answer that? it was simply a statement) then you win!

(though, as a person who loved The King's Speech, I have to disagree with its classification)

well said

adios asshole! now get your ass to REHAB!

GET PUMPED: it's kim's top ten movies of 2010!!

THE LIST:

1. the fighter
2. exit through the gift shop
3. blue valentine
4. import/export
5. winter's bone
6. brotherhood
7. the missing person
8. another year
9. gasland & true grit (tie)
10. harry potter & the deathly hollows, part 1

IF ONLY THERE WAS A TOP 15: as if...

WITH HONORS: 127 hours, the a-team, the art of the steal, believe: the eddie izzard story, black swan, date night, due date, greenberg, hipsters, i am an animal: the story of ingrid newkirk & PETA, inception, joan rivers: a piece of work, the king's speech, mary & max, my son my son what have ye done, no impact man, the other guys, rabbit hole, ready, set, bag, shutter island, the social network, strange powers: stephen merritt & the magnetic fields, tattooed under fire, the town, toy story 3 & waiting for superman

THE PEEPS:

best female actor: ekateryna rak, import/export & michelle williams, blue valentine (tie)
best male actor: ryan gosling, blue valentine

best female actor in a supporting role: amy adams, the fighter
runner-up: dianne wiest, rabbit hole
best male actor in a supporting role: christian bale, the fighter

best direction: ulrich seidl, import/export
(very, very close) runner-up: debra granik, winter's bone

best cinematography: enrique chediak & anthony dod mantle, 127 hours & michael mcdonough, winter's bone (tie)
best score: trent reznor and atticus ross, the social network
best use of a song: "how you like me now?" by the heavy, the fighter & "lovely day" by bill withers, 127 hours (tie)

THE EXTRAS, YO!

best thing about the movies in 2010: nanc, jess & this!!
worst thing about the movies in 2010: not enough good ones! fail.

best trailer: the social network
best use of music in a trailer: "creep" covered by the scala and kolacny brothers choir, the social network

dude i fell in love with in 2010: geoffrey rush!
gal i fell in love with in 2010: hailee steinfield!

movie i really wanted to love but just liked: the social network
movies that i really wanted to see but didn't get around to it: animal kingdom & my dog tulip

movie i tried to watch, but it was too depressing, so i turned it off after only 10 minutes: dogtooth
movie i didn't see because, let's be honest, who cares? burlesque

252 minutes that i'm never getting back: the kids are all right & sex & the city 2. GET BENT, both of you!

most insanely overrated movie of 2010: the kids are all right
most forgettable: waiting for superman

movie i think will be on my 2011 top ten: biutiful
movie that i am most looking forward to (in the coming years): broken kingdom

movies!!!

Top That! Nancy’s top TEN movies of 2010!

hi there!

let's start off this time by agreeing that overall this was a pretty crap year for movies (as evidenced by the fact that this list has ONLY ten movies rather than the allowed eleven (see the bylaws bitches! one tie is allowed)). even so, movies still rule and there were a handful of good/entertaining ones out there this year. so, without further ado, i present Nancy's Top Ten Movies of 2010!



THE LIST:

1. Exit Through the Gift Shop
2. 127 Hours
3. Winter's Bone
4. The King's Speech
5. The Town
6. The Fighter
7. Blue Valentine
8. How to Train Your Dragon
9. The Social Network
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1



HONORABLE MENTION:
A-Team, Another Year, Catfish, Easy A, Fair Game, Hot Tub Time Machine, Inception, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, Just Wright, Red, The Other Guys, The Tillman Story, Toy Story 3, True Grit.

BONUS FEATURES:

Movie that can GET BENT: The Kids are All Right (romantic comedy my ass!)

What I want to see at the Oscars: Five monkey mask wearing Banksy's accepting the award.

Movie I wanted to love but just didn't: Black Swan & Due Date (tie)

The thing is: HP7 is actually the first Harry Potter movie I've really enjoyed but holy cow did I enjoy it!

Best movie recaps: Those kids say the darndest things!

Jessica's Top Ten Movies of 2010

We've reached that magical day - one week to Oscar Day! Time for 3pies4rolls' Top Ten lists! I must preface this all with the statement that I think it has been a pretty weak year overall for movies, and I never really felt myself blown away the way I was by my top 3 or 4 movies from last year. But while the wind was taken out of my sails early in the year, it came back with a few pretty great late releases. Without further ado...

Jessica's Top Ten Movies of 2010!
(Also check out the fabulous lists of Nancy and Kim when you're done!)

1. 127 Hours
Unlike last year, there wasn't a movie that just grabbed my top spot and never let go. This year involved a lot more thinking about what had stuck with me over the course of my movie watching. And, ultimately, it had to go to 127 Hours. James Franco is just incredible in this movie (sorry, Colin Firth, while I wanted you to win the Oscar so badly last year for A Single Man [seriously, go watch that movie], this year I think it should go to Franco). I expected this to be one of those films that I have to make myself get through (stories of people fainting and vomiting didn't help my expectations), but I found it to be completely engaging and overwhelmingly moving. Franco carries the film beautifully. This should have been an impossible story to adapt- if people think Tom Hanks' performance acting against a volleyball on a desert island in Castaway is impressive they should check out the film about being trapped in a ravine for 5 days. Sadly, it looks like Franco will go home without the statue, but at least we get to see him host.

2. The King's Speech
I just loved this movie. One of the few actual feel-good movies of this year. It's such a compelling story that it's amazing it took this long for Hollywood to try to tell it. Everyone in it is great, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush especially so. The scenes between the two of them are just wonderful- the script is fantastic and they pull it off beautifully.

3. Blue Valentine
The piecing together of this puzzle of a relationship falling apart is uniquely shown with leaps in time and great performances from both Ryan Gosling (who was cheated out of an Oscar nomination) and Michelle Williams (who I would give the Best Actress statue to in a minute). Not exactly an uplifting movie, but it will stick with you, and in a good way.

4. Winter's Bone
Emotionally powerful, non-judgmental, and beautiful. Jennifer Lawrence is a revelation as an Ozark teenager caring for her kid siblings and mentally troubled mother who must find her meth-cooking father or lose possession of their home. Sounds overly dramatic, but plays out as a subtle personal story.

5. Exit Through the Gift Shop
How much do I hope Banksy wins the Oscar for Best Documentary with this movie? While the Academy is trying to prevent the potential hijinks that could ensue with the famously elusive and anti-establishment Banksy accepting an award, how can you not root for the man that says this: “I don’t agree with the concept of award ceremonies, but I’m prepared to make an exception for the ones I’m nominated for. The last time there was a naked man covered in gold paint in my house, it was me.”?? Was it a true documentary or a giant trick played on the audience? I don't really care, either way it was fantastic.

6. The Fighter
You know me. I love a good inspirational sports movie. But throw in some great writing and unbelievable performances and you've got a top ten-ner in the making. Christian Bale is just fabulous, and it's nice to have someone long-deserving of an Oscar win it for the right role (yes, I'm making an assumption there, but i think it's a pretty safe one). And you've come a long way, Marky Mark.

7. (tie) Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon
Yes, it's a little cheap having the two animated movies tie. But I honestly couldn't decide. Toy Story 3 is the film that makes grown men and women cry (unless you're my sister's fiance, whose emotional relationship with toys more resembled that of Sid from the first Toy Story movie :) ). Super dark for a supposed "kids" film, yet somehow appeals to children and adults. Pixar can pretty much do no wrong. On the other side, How to Train Your Dragon was simply one of the best experiences I had at the movie theater this year. Charming, engrossing, and really funny. There just aren't many movies more enjoyable than that one.

8. The Social Network
I really did love this movie. I just didn't think it was the best film of the year, as it was immediately proclaimed by critics and early awards shows. So there was a bit of an internal backlash there. The script is fantastic, and Aaron Sorkin will win in a walk. The acting is all good- Jesse Eisenberg in particular is pretty fabulous, and they sell lines that lesser actors might not have been able to pull off. Plus, for those of us who have been with "The Facebook" from the beginning (or at least very early on), it was a weird fun sort of nostalgia to remember what it used to be like (back in the days before Mark Zuckerberg took over the world).

9. The Town
How did Ben Affleck turn out to be such a good director? Did anyone see that coming? This was my favorite action movie of the year. Jeremy Renner and Affleck both carry the movie, and the late, great Pete Postlethwaite shines in one of his last performances (RIP Kobayashi). I never thought when Affleck was making things like Forces of Nature and Gigli that he would have this kind of comeback in him.

10. Easy A
My favorite comedy of the year. Just super charming, well-written and likable. Based on the number of movies she's lined up after this one, you might think that we could get sick of Emma Stone, but after this performance I'm not sure it's possible.

Honorable mentions: The A-Team, Another Year, Biutiful, Black Swan, Brotherhood, Buried, Catfish, Day and Night, Due Date, The Gruffalo, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, Hot Tub Time Machine, Hubble 3D, Inception, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, Let's Pollute, Megamind, Rabbit Hole, Secretariat, Shutter Island, Tangled, True Grit, Waiting For Superman

Number of Eligible Movies Seen: 59 (significantly lower than last year, but honestly, there wasn't really much else that I wanted to see. What's up with this year, movies?)

Performances of the Year: James Franco in 127 Hours and Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine
Runners Up: Christian Bale in The Fighter and Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone
(sadly, it looks like only one of the four will walk away with an Oscar)

Stupidest Oscar Snub: Christopher Nolan for Inception. My expectations were just too high for this movie so when it didn't live up to them it got knocked off of the top ten list. But Nolan's directing is stellar. Should have been in there instead of the Coen brothers (whom I adore).

Genre of the Year: Animated films. I had not been disappointed once in this genre (which was unique for movies this year), until I the last one I saw, which was Oscar-nominated The Illusionist (I found it highly disappointing). But the genre that gave us Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, Tangled, Megamind, and Despicable Me was still strong enough to beat long-time winner Documentaries.

Most Claustrophobic Experience at the Movies: You would think that 127 Hours would have won this one with a movie about a man that gets trapped in a ravine, but then Buried came along. While 127 Hours utilizes flashbacks and hallucinations (not to mention the opening explanation of how he ended up where he did) to fill time, Buried is the story of a man buried alive that takes place ENTIRELY within the coffin he is trapped in. And somehow it works.

Best Facebook Movie Not Named "The Social Network": Catfish. Seriously, check this one out. You're in for a crazy ride.

Best Re-make of an Old Movie I Love: Clash of the Titans. Yes, I just gave an award to Clash of the Titans. Ok, it was a bit of a mess, and the 3D was terrible. But it had Liam Neeson! Releasing the Kraken!! What more do you want from a summer blockbuster??
Note: if this category (that I totally just made up) had included TV shows that I didn't actually watch but others loved, the award would have gone to The A-Team. Because that is exactly what I want from my dumb action movies.

Worst Re-make of an Old Movie I Love: Robin Hood. To be fair, this was less a re-make of an old movie and more a re-telling of a classic old stor... I'm sorry, did you just fall asleep in the middle of my post? Then you know how I felt at Robin Hood.

The "Up in the Air" Award for Critically Acclaimed Movie That Can Suck It:
The Kids Are All Right. I have to say it, I hated this movie. And even more I hated people's response to this movie. It is not a "smart, sexy comedy." It is not "uproariously funny." It's a movie about miserable people struggling to make a family work. That's not funny. I also found it offensive at times, which hurt everyone calling it a forward-thinking look at a modern family. I thought the acting in it was great, but I was so angry at it when I left the theater that I just couldn't find any enjoyment. It was Up in the Air all over again.

Worst Thing About the Movies This Year: Melissa Leo's self-funded Oscar-promotion campaign

Best Thing About the Movies This Year: As always, watching them with nanc, kt, and frozen junior mints! and, of course, blogging for you fine people! Thanks for reading!

Counting down to Top Ten o'clock!

With our Top Tens only days away (cue Bieber-esque pre-teen girl squeals), I thought it was time to re-release the official bylaws for 3pies4rolls' ladies' top tens. Without further ado...

Official Top Ten Bylaws
for nancy, kt, and jess's lists

*in order for a movie to be eligible for a particular year's top 10 list, it must have been released in that year (Oscar eligible). exceptions are as follows:

a) if a movie is released somewhere before December 31st in a particular year, but we are not able to see it in seattle until the following year (but before our Top Tens are due), then it can be included on the previous year's top 10 (eg, a movie released in august 2009, that we couldn't see it until january 2010 is eligible for 2009's list). this is where the critics come in handy - if they're reviewing it in a particular year, we can include it.

b) if the film was released in the previous year, but we were not able to see it because it wasn't released in the theaters or on video in seattle until the following year, then we can include it on the following year's top 10 (eg, a movie that came out in november 2009 in select areas, but not in Seattle, and doesn't come out on video until march 2010 (which is after Top Tens are due) is eligible for 2010 lists).

c) if a movie plays for less than two weeks in seattle, and then doesn't come out on video until the following year, we can include it on the following year's top 10 (i mean, come on, we have lives here. a movie that's in the theater for less than two weeks ... what the hell?).

d) if one of us in a part of the world where we can see a movie in time for that year's top 10, fine, put that sucker on there. (eg, if one of us were to visit NY or attend a film festival, we would probably have been able to see movies that the others couldn't. thus a movie that is eligible in a given year for one person's top ten might not be the same for another. the same movie could theoretically appear on different top ten lists in different years).

These rules can be most simply thought of as "If it's Oscar eligible for a particular year and we had the ability to see it before our Top Tens are due, then it is eligible in that year."

*top 10s are due exactly one week before the oscars
(amended february 2, 2009)

*any film is eligible for the top 10

*only one tie may be used for every ten films. additional ties will result in the loss of a "numbered slot" (eg, if your list has 3 ties, you only get to number your list to 8)

*as many "honorable mentions" as we damn well please can be included on the list

*these rules are subject to change at the complete whim and mood of nancy, kt, and jessica

we, kt, nancy and jess, declare that the making of the top 10 (including, but not limited to, viewing the movies, eating the popcorn, watching the Oscars and discussing the nuances) will be FUCKING FUN and to that end promise to not take ourselves or our list too damn seriously.

can't wait for the movies?

Tired of release dates for next year or the popularly vague "coming soon"? Then do what these guys do, just make your own version! Bonus points if you can get Jaleel White to play Martin Lawrence.

Can't Wait for the Movies: Big Mommas Like Father Like Son from Jaleel White

yes, this really happened

James Earl Jones/Darth Vader/Mufasa reads... Justin Bieber.

Happier Valentine's Day!!

The Axis of Awesome (who previously showed us that the key to writing a great pop song) now provides clear instructions on writing your heartfelt R&B love song (that may or may not sound like every other love song).

The Axis of Awesome: How to Write a Love Song - watch more funny videos

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oscar nominees luncheon!

one of our favorite fashion events of the awards show season! All of the nominees hanging out together (often awkwardly) in their last big outfit choice before the oscars. As has been the theme this year, not all that much to blow me away (though the men do look rather dashing), but some nice looks.

but first, oh melissa leo, why did you have to buy a one-way ticket to crazytown?


Amy Adams looks adorable (as per usual)


I heart Helena Bonham-Carter, and somehow she totally pulls off all the crazy shit she wears...


BFFs Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth lead the dashing gentlemen...


a clean shaven Franco has far more work to do than these other nominees as he prepares to host...


Is it just me, or does Jesse Eisenberg always look exactly like this?

Annette Bening looks great with her arm candy, Warren Beatty

One of the newer faces at the luncheon, Jennifer Lawrence looks charming

After the Golden Globes mess, which I pretty much hated, Portman has come through with this and her great SAG dress

Michelle Williams almost always looks fabulous (exception: this year's Golden Globes)

Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld look adorable (I think hers might be my favorite look)

Aaaaaaaand the awkward. Everyone but Jennifer Lawrence looks super unhappy to be in this picture.

also, check out the panoramic shot of the whole group here! (non-famous people to the back)

internet memes and JGL

What's not to like?



and also, damn.

see some more here!

this is both awesome and makes me a little sad

when did Wayne get so old (and Canadian)? and how does Garth look exactly the same?

any surprise on which of the movies gets their pick for the 2011 Oscars? hint: only one of the nominees has "Bone" in the name.

Head exploding

So I was reading a "Where are they now?" article about old hosts of Nickelodeon game shows (like you do), finding out what ever happened to that guy who hosted Legends of the Hidden Temple (not much, though he did guest star in the first episode of Veronica Mars, which makes him cool in my eyes) or Marc Summers from Double Dare (wrote a book about dealing with OCD, which is pretty impressive given that the man was on a show that did everything it could to throw slime and other crap on people) when I came across the former host of G.U.T.S. You know, this guy:



other than the childhood nostalgia, you might recognize him more now:



Yeah, that's my favorite character on Glee, and the former host of my favorite Nickelodeon game show. Am I the only one who finds this awesome??

become wise through movies

Movie wisdom (most of it coming through Star Wars and/or the philosopher Keanu Reeves)



warning, this video, while awesome, does contain some strange sources of "wisdom", including ghost rider (though I often look to nic cage for advice in my life, this even manages to include a part that he's not in. amazing) Full list of movies (in order) can be found on the youtube page.

Don't play with my emotions...

Word on the street is that not only is the Arrested Development movie happening, it could be coming out as soon as this year (the street in question being, of course, EW.com)

There is only one way to properly express my excitement...


Arrested Development Chicken Dances - Watch more Funny Videos


thanks, bruns!

MST3K salutes the Packers' victory...

Thanks to The Daily What for reminding me this exists (and to the person who mashed them all into one convenient YouTube video).

Is it nancy's birthday or something??

More Nic Cage!!!

Introducing, the Nic Cage matrix (if you need explanation of a matrix of nic cage movies (really?) you can get it here).


Click on the image for a bigger version!

If my sister ran the Department of Homeland Security...

Happy Groundhog Day!

This one might just have to go out to my father:



Stephen Tobolowsky for the win!

pleeeeeease make this now!!!

Also, GOB, with the Segway, in Wee Britain.

more on it here!

Thanks to hot tipper, V-dawg!

another amazing version of the best picture nominees

Yesterday we gave you the incredible re-interpretations of 5 of the best pic nominees by adorable children. Today your present is all ten in lego format...

127 hours


Inception


Black Swan


check out the rest of them here!

tip of the hat to bruns for the link!!

rad

not sure why some of these people get to be included with a headline of "Oscar Contenders," but it's still awesome. Hello, JGL.



click on the picture to actually see it better...