My Top Films of the Decade

As a professed Film Girl, I had to have an obligatory post stating my top films of not the year, but the whole DECADE. It was a difficult task, mainly because I barely remember the last three movies I saw this year. But with the help of some late night chats with friends and some deep soul searching, I’ve compiled a list of films that may not be the best (though some are), but have influenced popular culture…and some just make me feel good. Comments are appreciated! And in no particular order, they are:

The Dark Knight (2008) – When it comes to superheroes, Batman probably wouldn’t be considered the best. But what makes him shine are his complex adversaries and Heath Ledger’s transformation into The Joker was nothing less than amazing. Complete with director Christopher Nolan’s intricate script and nuanced direction, the movie stands out as one of the best film projects of the decade.

Brokeback Mountain (2005) – “I wish I knew how to quit you.” And we still can’t get enough of the romance between Ennis and Jack that stood the test of time.

Mean Girls (2004) – The Clueless of the Millenium, thanks to one of the entertainers of the decade, the lovely Miss Tina Fey.

There Will Be Blood (2007) – Paul Thomas Anderson’s exploration into the life and mind of one oil man in the early 20^th century as he goes morally bankrupt should be considered one of the greatest American films of all time.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – The little film that could…sweet and simple, it captured hearts one Superfreak dance at a time.

Meet the Parents (2000) – Ben Stiller and his gang at their best. And without this movie, we wouldn’t have…

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) – If comedy of the early 2000s was controlled by the Frat Pack , the late years of the Millenium were all about Judd Apatow and his crew of merry men.

The Notebook (2004) – C’mon, who doesn’t love a romantic drama? I could have chosen Love Actually, but Nicholas Sparks’ tale of enduring love was made into a solid film thanks to a great emerging director (Nick Cassevetes) and actors (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams). It made me swoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) – The movie was so-so, at best. But the electrifying chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie couldn’t be denied to audiences or Jennifer Aniston, apparently.

Memento (2000) – We may have had to watch it a few times, but Christopher Nolan’s exercise in the deconstruction of time through film is a memorable addition to the decade.

Final Destination (2000) – How many ways can you kill a person? Apparently the options are endless! In the first installment of the franchise, audiences waited with bated breath on how Death would end another person’s life. This movie’s interesting premise ushered in a whole slew of torture porn films that included Saw and Hostel.

WALL-E (2008) – Let’s face it, Pixar has never really had a misstep. And this decade (from Finding Nemo to The Incredibles) was no exception. But WALL-E ‘s story and execution go unrivaled in animated film.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Quirkiness at its best that managed to explain love and heartache in a way that was palpable, thought-provoking, and genuine.

The Lord of the Rings/Harry Potter/Twilight – What happens when beloved book series turn into enormous film franchises? I think we know the answer.

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) – Johnny Depp is back!

Moulin Rouge (2001) – All the excess and singing that a girl could ever want.

Shrek (2001) – This family flick deconstructed the fairytale in a way that was smart and funny to audiences of all ages.

Cloverfield (2008) – JJ Abrams’ monster movie may not have made a huge splash at the box office, but its advertising campaign made viral marketing the new face of promotion.

Madea’s Family Reunion (2006) – Don’t hate the player, hate the game. The Tyler Perry empire grew exponentially this decade when his church plays turned into high grossing theatrical releases. Though we might gremise at Perry’s stereotypical representation of African-American culture, a new audience of black filmgoers rushed into theaters to see Madea’s antics.

Kill Bill, Vol. I &II (2003,2004) – Quentin Tarantino is back!

The Ring (2002) – The first movie to be released in the American love affair with contemporary Japanese horror flicks. If we had forgotten after Poltergeist, The Ring reminded us of why we’re scared of little children and television sets.

Remember the Titans (2000) – Audiences suffered through multiple reincarnations of this movie, but none could replicate the racially charged/divided community/sports unites us all feel that Remember the Titans perfected.

Love and Basketball (2000) – Gina Prince Bythewood’s tender tale of post-soul black love is a narrative we don’t see often in theaters and this film is one of the best depictions of it.

Cast Away (2000) – Very few individuals can keep you captivated single-handedly for 2 ½ hours, with hardly any dialogue, and Tom Hanks did it effortlessly. Well…with a little help from Wilson too.

Honorable Mentions: Casino Royale (2006), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Children of Men (2006), Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001), Far From Heaven (2002), Precious (2009)

Another One Bites the Dust...

It's the end of an era for daytime television. The CBS program, As the World Turns, has officially been canceled after 54 years on air. The soap opera garnered many dedicated fans in the last five decades, but is another casualty in the waning spotlight of the television genre that once conquered daytime television viewership. Budget cuts and poor ratings have led to drastic changes in how soaps function. While some have been unable to weather the storm (Guiding Light aired its final episode in September), others have tried to adapt to the changing climate of the industry by altering production value, cutting cast members, decreasing pay, and even moving studios clear across the country, such as All My Children's move to Los Angeles from its original NYC home.

Still, the imminent question remains: Is the end of the soap opera genre near? In her seminal book, Reading the Romance, Janice Radway qualitatively analyzes the female audience of popular culture, and in particular, the romance novel. Many of her observations on the reception of this literary genre applies to the female viewership of soap operas. Yet, the continual decline in soap ratings is a prime indicator that women's relationship to daytime television is rapidly changing.

First, is the obvious: More women are joining the workforce. And while TiVo and DVR have replaced antiquated methods of recording television programs, and SoapNet has made it easy to watch your daytime soaps during the night, none of this makes up for the lack of interest or time in committing to a year-long serial drama. An older generation of female fans also may not be as technologically advanced to utilize these new methods of viewing, which include online streaming of the latest episodes.

Second: Less new female viewers. Soap operas are traditionally known for their intergenerational appeal. Communal watching existed between generations, from grandmother to mother to daughter. However, with the influx of teen soaps/dramas, such as Gossip Girl and reality television programming like The Hills, it could be inferred that young women are finding other, more "hip" ways to fulfill their melodramatic desires.

Third: Stilted program content. While soaps are advancing in their storylines to include more diversity, they are still far behind the gap in progressive narratives. The genre has a notoriously difficult time with sustaining change--for example, storylines that include gay characters are often introduced and quickly brushed aside for lack of innovation in content. In addition, the programs still have a hard time bringing people of color on board in consistent narratives.

Fourth: In general, daytime television programming is changing. With shows like The View blowing full steam ahead with their biting socio-cultural commentary shtick, it is difficult for soaps to remain relevant and entertaining in the contemporary (and dare I say, post-Obama) America. Perhaps a new format is needed to revitalize the genre.

Needless to say, it'll be interesting when Oprah leaves her position as daytime TV legend. Where will female audiences who remained so dedicated to daytime television for 50 years turn?

The Trouble with Tiger

In the aftermath of Tiger Woods' bizarre car accident and amidst reports of infidelity, the pro-golfer's star scandal is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. The barrage of media reports on Tiger's private life in less than a week is staggering, as Woods tries to navigate his new position as a tabloid staple.

In this short amount of time, Tiger has received criticism for his handling of the scandal, which has led me to wonder, what is effective celebrity crisis management? Is it silence, waiting for the media frenzy to hopefully run its course? Is it public confession of transgressive behavior...and through what medium--via tweet, PR rep, print or televised interview? Do you sit down with Oprah, Barbara, or Diane? Shed tears? Show any type of remorse or guilt? There are many options for atonement and celebrities have utilized them all, for better or for worse. Indeed, measuring the efficacy of the crisis management seems to correlate with the authenticity by which it is presented. Let's take a few examples:

1.) David Letterman
Letterman's admission of affairs with female employees on his late night talk show was the perfect atmosphere for the public to learn of his behavior because of its lighter tone. Audiences were able to identify with his narrative and thus, Letterman completely side swept any type of indictment to become simply, the victim of extortion and blackmail. The early bird catches the worm in this case...admit your deed before someone else does.

2.) Kanye West
I don't think Kanye could have predicted how huge the public fallout would be after he made a stink when angelic Taylor Swift won a MTV Video Music Award. His public apology on Jay Leno's new talk show was initially conventional until Leno shockingly reached for the jugular and prompted Kanye to speak on how his deceased mother would have reacted to his behavior. Regardless of whether West knew that Leno would ask him such a question, it clearly made an impact on him. Kanye's pause of the century made him sound sincere in his apology. I even felt kind of bad for the guy!



3.) Rihanna
Domestic abuse is always a tough crisis to maneuver publicly. As the media and public constructed her in both a positive and negative light due to her relationship with Chris Brown, Rihanna for the most part sat in silence as the gossip mill continued to run. Her public confession through a special interview with Diane Sawyer was both simple and straight-to-the point. While some criticized the timing of the interview--right before her new album's release--the conversation's candid and mature quality seemed to quell the thirst for more information on the story.

4.) Jon and Kate
Reality TV celebrities Jon and Kate have spent the last year in the thick of public scrutiny as their marriage, family, and television show, crumbled to a screeching halt upon accusations of Jon's infidelity. Both Jon and Kate's multiple confessions through multiple delivery channels (tabloid magazine exclusives, daytime television talk shows, and even their own TLC program) was ultimately too rehearsed and constructed for anyone to gain empathy for either party.

Now back to Tiger. In his second website posting, Woods comments that:

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means.

It is interesting that Woods does not define himself in this context as a celebrity or even famous, but rather as a "well-known person." It is true that in his many years of international stardom, insights into his personal life have been generally benign, his image well-contained by both his minders and Tiger himself, who is known for privileging his privacy. One might ascertain that if we define contemporary celebrity by tabloid media image circulation, he never reached that level until the current debacle. Therefore, he literally doesn't know how to deal with such intense and invasive conversation about the rupture within his domestic life. What Tiger doesn't realize is that in the 21st century, celebrity gossip is not about morality. Though some may be indicting him under the guise of his departure from role-model status, this media circus is really about entertainment. In many ways, the shattering of Tiger's empire was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The tabloid frenzy about his adultery is less about the actual act and more about unearthing some semblance of the "truth" of Tiger, something that has escaped the public since his foray into superstardom. So don't take it personal, Tiger. What really matters is how well you play the game. In the end, it's all a performance. And we are all waiting for the final act!

For Your Entertainment

Last Sunday at the American Music Awards, America got a taste of the "real" Adam Lambert, uninhibited, confident, and ready to shock audiences with his sexually charged performance. Everything about the performance was constructed... complete with its placement at the end of the show, and CBS' feigned lack of knowledge about the content of the piece when faced with many audience complaints in the aftermath. Lambert was also clearly in on the joke--his new single, "For Your Entertainment," can be seen as a self-reflexive, tongue-in-cheek commentary on his visibility in the public sphere as spectacle. And his performance provided plenty of spectacle. With pole dancers, men on leashes, simulations of oral sex, and a male/male kiss, Lambert sauntered across the stage completely owning it all. Was it excessive? Yes. Was it exhibitionist? Clearly. But since when has entertainment ever not been preoccupied with spectacle, especially of a sexual nature?

Don't we all remember Britney's striptease? Madonna's unholy writhing on the floor with a wedding dress? Janet's breast? All examples of women who have utilized their (hetero)sexuality to create controversy. Lambert's performance was no different from these overt displays of sexuality, except in its queering of conventions. His (homo)sexual behavior on the public stage becomes, well, freakish. The hyper-visibility of his queer desire is in contestation with the public's desire to see a very heteronormative display of sexuality. So why is the general public still so unnverved by gay male performers that break convention? I've observed that in the music industry, this attitude is incredibly pervasive. Not since Ricky Martin has a male musical artist received so much attention based on his questionable sexuality. It seems that not winning American Idol was the best thing that could have happened to Adam Lambert. Unlike his counterpart Kris Allen, he can fully explore his aesthetic without the strict regime that AI status brings with it.

Precious

My roommate and I went to see Precious, which is now in limited release across the country. The theater was packed with brown folk, which excited me because this is a film that everyone should see and support.

Precious is based on the novel, Push, by poet and singer Sapphire. It explores the interiority of an illiterate black teen, Claireece “Precious” Jones, who goes through just about every imaginable hardship one could imagine. Verbally and physically abused by her mother and raped by her father (who in turn fathers her own two children), Precious enrolls in alternative school and begins to find self-worth despite her circumstances. The film is directed and produced by Lee Daniels, of Monster’s Ball and The Woodsman (one of my favorite films) fame. All of his films examine subjects on the fringes of society through themes of love, struggle, and ultimately redemption.

Paula Patton was completely believable as a teacher who takes Precious and her classmates under her wing. Her understated performance was a breath of fresh air amidst superficial portrayals of the Educator who Saves the Children character type. Mariah Carey’s role as a social worker was brilliant in its subtlety and Lenny Kravitz also held his own with a bit part as a male nurse. Mo’Nique completely transformed for her role as Precious’ mother and her sheer intensity on screen is something to be reckoned with (ahem, Oscar nod!), and the entire movie is held up by the charisma that newcomer Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe’s brings to such a heavy movie.

Watching Precious was a very visceral experience for me and the harsh realties of Precious’ existence juxtaposed with interstitial imaginative fantasy sequences that displayed her hopes and dreams were a clever device to use in a film that would be completely devoid of lightness without them. I most enjoyed the school scenes with Precious and her classmates, which provided a necessary change of pace from the largely pejorative tone of the film.

The film achieved gritty realism through its unwillingness to sugarcoat the very authentic experience of a young black girl’s struggle with her identity. I don’t think I’ve seen a movie about the “black experience” that has done this so successfully since John Singleton’s Boyz in the Hood. I recommend everyone see it and hopefully it will be receiving much Academy Award buzz in the coming weeks!

Remembering Michael, 1958-2009

When I bought tickets to the Michael Jackson concert in London, I was incredibly excited because I was going to be in the midst of a cultural icon, a world-wide legend, The Man and probably most important, The Myth. As we remember Michael Jackson on this day and in the future, I can't help but emphasize how the idea of memory is so crucial to our conception of star identity and ultimately how timelessness can be used a signifer of stardom.

In many ways, Jackson existed outside of time and within the cultural imagination of society. The Michael that has passed on today is not the Michael that we are mourning. We feel an incredible loss of the young and vibrant boy on the Ed Sullivan show singing and dancing with the Jackson Five, the innovative dance moves, Thriller, the essence of a global entertainer. We also remember the scandal...the whirlwind erratic behavior, the lawsuits, the courtrooms, a tragic star's Peter Pan syndrome.

In the midst of all of this, we are left with an unfinished picture of Jackson--his life gone, but his narrative still very much alive. There will be stories, many stories, written about the media talent, anecdotes shared, but we will never know his "truth." Fragments of his self will tried to be pieced together but Jackson will remain an enigma, a star whose celebrity and fame is so surreal that any authentic image of him will always seem to escape our grasp.

The Sweet Little Film that Could

I wanted to see Away We Go for two main reasons: 1.) I'm a sucker for movies about babies and/or pregnancy and 2.) I'm a sucker for the rom-com genre. And the film did not disappoint me on either front. Think of it as the adult version of Juno without the witty Diablo Cody dialogue. Director Sam Mendes leaves behind the kind of suburban dysfunction that makes you want to kill yourself (found in Revolutionary Road and American Beauty) to take on the more whimsical side of family and romance. In a surprisingly heartfelt and honest turn, Maya Rudolph shined as Verona, a woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and on a (mis)adventure to find a place called home with her adorably dorky boyfriend, Burt (John Krasinski). The couple galavant around the country--and even to Canada--trying on different cities to find the right fit. Along the way, they connect with old friends and family that are just off kilter enough to make you want to hightail it to the next destination. A particularly entertaining vignette highlights Maggie Gyllenhaal as a hippie professor who has a strong aversion to strollers.

In some ways, the film's destination-framed narrative makes it seem a little stilted. Cuts to text on a black screen signaling a location change ("Away to Phoenix", "Away to Miami") get old pretty quickly. It also makes the ending incredibly anti-climatic. But what we're really supposed to get out of the film is a couple's love for each other despite future uncertainty and it has that in spades. Verona and Burt are not only believable characters, but Maya and John have great on-camera chemistry. Though the film reads through its marketing as a pretentious indie flick, it is only half that. The rest is a slightly slow-paced, enjoyable drama about life and love.

The Hangover or Why White Boys Rule

Credit: themovingpicture.net

Yesterday I went to the movies to see Disney Pixar's latest achievement, Up. It was a great film albeit a tad depressing--in only a Pixar project can a story about a lonely curmudgeon's search for life after the death of his wife, be woven into a delightful tale of fun and adventure complete with robotic talking dogs and a loud and colorful bird.

But I digress.

After the movie, my friends and I snuck into The Hangover. Directed by Todd Phillips of Old School and Road Trip fame, the film focuses on the same subject: reckless white boys doing...well nothing actually. It follows engaged Doug (Justin Bartha) who ventures to Las Vegas for the bachelor party of a lifetime with his pals Alpha-Male Phil (Bradley Cooper), geeky Stu (Ed Helms) and his fiance's stoner brother, Alan (Zach Galifianakis). However, when they accidentally take Rohypnol and wake up the next morning in their lavish Las Vegas pad, it is trashed complete with a crying baby, tiger, and a missing groom-to-be. The movie proceeds to use all of the conventions of a road trip/buddy film as the friends laughably attempt to retrace the steps of their eventful night to find Doug.

So that's the plot. And as far as plots go for gross-out guy comedies, it was engaging and I lost the right amount of brain cells while viewing. But as I sat there with my two black male friends in the darkened theater, I realized why I was simultaneously completely entertained yet disgusted with this film and others like it. I call it the effect of the Ethnography of the White Male: See White Boy jump. See White Boy run. See him completely screw up and spend lots of money because White Boy doesn't have a care in the world. See all of this to the soundtrack of Kanye, Usher, and other Hip Hop/RnB tunes. To be the token Angry Black Female, it irked me that the movie transposed urban culture onto the narrative of these overprivileged white boys. It also irked me that every supporting character on their hapless adventure was a minority (whether it be by race or gender) that was completely Other-ed against the frat boy smiles and antics of the white male leading characters. True to patriarchal form, nothing is ever their fault really...it is stupid black drug dealer who inadvertently gives them roofies. A stripper who accidentally marries one of our heroes. And a queered Asian guy that turns their life into a living hell because he wants his "purse" back. In the end, our lovable white boys save the day and equilibrium is restored into their lives.

Am I completely over-analyzing all of this? Of course. But that's what I do. And the degree to which everything was so blatant in this particular movie actually amazed me--so much that the movie was actually hilarious. I'm not going to recommend paying money to see it though. Wait for the DVD where there is sure to be an extra-extra special uncut version.  

Last night I saw the much-anticipated Watchmen with friends. The lines were super long and there was even a guy there dressed up as one of the masked (anti)heroes. Needless to say, anticipation to see the film adaptation of the beloved graphic novel was high. And the verdict?

I didn't get it. Now I'm prefacing this review by saying that I have not read the graphic novel and had no background knowledge about the movie except for the fact that Billy Crudup plays a naked blue guy. What I'm told is that the film follows its written counterpart soundly except for a couple of changes. Director Zack Snyder (of 300 fame) used the same type of aesthetics he is known for--elongated fight sequences coupled with slow-motion movements. Some of the scenes were unnecessary...in particular the sex scene needed much work and was laughable at best. But the movie seemed to drag on and at some points the action seemed stilted.

But let's back up to the actual narrative. Who are the elusive Watchmen? Well basically they are fractured superheroes who are caught up in the ambiguity of their individual moral compasses. Then there's the political issues...war, poverty, corrupt government, revolution--you get the point. I could textually analyze the film to pieces but I'm not that invested. The fact is, this was a complete fanboy movie, only meant to satisfy the desires of those (including the director) who have waited years for a film adaptation of this written work to debut. Judging by people I've talked to, it seems to have done the job.

A Book for Hannah Montana

So Miley Cyrus' much-anticipated autobiography, Miles to Go, comes out this month. Aside from the awful title pun, the book is said to delve into her first love and being bullied in middle school. Kind of like Ophelia Speaks for the Disney crowd. My question is, who is the audience for this book? How many Hannah Montana fans are going to go out and buy a book that completely disrupts the image that she has helped to construct of herself? A part of me really wants to read it (I got through Lynne Spears' memoir!). Then the other part of me sees pictures like this:


And then I want to shoot myself.

Tough Times for Chris Breezy

Oh Chris Brown...your charisma and boyish good looks won't get you out of this one. Brown was slapped with two felony charges today, felony assault and making a criminal threat. If convicted he could face up to four years in prison--and in teen girl fantasy world, that's like, a REALLY long time.

Suffice it to say, the young pop star had to cut his jet-skiing reunion with Rihanna in Miami short to appear in court today. Times is hard, yo! There have been many reports about what actually went down before the Grammy's and who knows what to believe. It's a pretty sad situation for everyone involved. I will say that when Usher of all people publicly reprimands your actions and the aftermath, you've pretty much fallen to scum status (though he later apologized for giving Chris such a hard time...boys will be boys!).

Now many have asked how Chris Breezy can ever come back from this blip on his superstar record. I have one word for you: OPRAH. If she can find child molesters, she can revitalize a tainted career or two. All Mr. Brown needs is an exclusive interview. Shed some tears. Bring his mother out and discuss the effects of domestic violence. And bonus points will be awarded if RiRi appears with him on the program. Manipulative? Yes. Will it work? Of course!

Guys Who Suck and the Women Who Date, Get Engaged, Dumped, and Publicly Humiliated by Them

Otherwise known as The Bachelor. Meet Jason Mesnick. He's a 32-year-old single father to an adorable 3-year-old boy named Ty who likes to play golf. Jason may seem like he has the charmed life but in reality, after two failed romances, his heart has been broken way too many times and thus is looking for love on a reality television show. The 13th season of The Bachelor ended on Monday and of course, (melo)drama ensued. I tried to keep track of the number of shots of Jason staring aimlessly out into the New Zealand sunset, but alas, lost count.

As a former employee/intern of The Mouse, I have to give ABC/the producers credit...they sure know how to extend a narrative. Did you think it was over once Jason dumped Molly and proposed to a joyful Melissa? Oh no. There was much more. The show reached new depths of messy reality splendor during the After the Final Rose special. Turns out, Jason made a mistake. He's actually--GASP--in love with Molly instead! And what better way to tell Melissa how he's feeling than on national television! I felt like I was watching that scene in Hope Floats only without good actors like Sandra Bullock. Here's how it basically went down:

Chris Harrison: Tonight on a very special After the Final Rose we have closed the set down from an audience out of respect for all persons involved in this situation.

(Chris says this as he proceeds to intently stare awkwardly at Jason break up with Melissa)

Jason: You know things have been different between us since the end of the show.

Melissa: .....

Jason: And I just feel like we're not right for each other.

Melissa: .....

Chris (For clarification purposes): So Jason what you're saying is that you want to break up with Melissa and try to build a relationship with Molly.

Jason: Yes.

Melissa: ......

(Chris finally excuses himself to "let them talk alone.")

So then like any woman would, Melissa gets angry and wants to know what happened and why Jason won't "fight" for her and their relationship to which Jason gives no semblance of a lucid response. She stalks off to the limo waiting for her and breaks down crying, convinced that something is "wrong" with her. Back in the studio, Molly and Jason reunite for supposedly the first time since he dumped her.

Jason: I made a mistake. I should have chosen you. Wanna go out for coffee sometime?

Molly (feigning awe at this sudden turn of events): Ummm...I guess that would be ok? Okay!

And everyone lets out a romantic sigh because ya know, Jason was following his heart. Or not. I tried to find some type of silver lining in my obsession with this show but then realized that I, like the 25 girls who thought they would find love on television, am a masochist. In what bizarre world do we live in (besides the one where the Crocodile Hunter gets killed by a stingray) where women continually humiliate themselves in the name of "love" for a man? Don't answer that. It happens to the best of us but it still baffles me. Now 24-year-old Molly will uproot her life and career to play husband and stepmom in a relationship that will most likely end very quickly and badly. Maybe I'm being a pessimist. But ask yourself why a good-looking real estate agent with a son would go on a show to find love when he could probably find it in the Starbucks around the corner and your answer might be 1.)He's a fame-whore 2.)He's an idiot or 3.) He's an idiot fame-whore.

I'm going with #3. Melissa--even though the show and Jason screwed you over, your freedom was the best prize you could've received. Congratulations!