My Emi Lenox Sketch is in!

Emi Lenox is not a super well known comic creator, but she's rapidly leaping up the ranks in my book because her artistic ability and her incredibly charming work that she does on a constant basis. I love everything she does it seems, so when it came time to donate to help her make mini-comics for Con season, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to help.

Plus, you get a sketch for your donation! Totally worth it!

So in between my gallant attempts at making her cry at Emerald City ComiCon, I requested her to make a Pixar/Up! illustration for me as my sketch, and I got it today! To say I am enthused with it is to understate things dramatically...I <3 it like Russell <3's Kevin.

That's a lot of freaking <3 my friends.

Anyways, I highly recommend checking her out and supporting her. Not only is she an awesome cartoonist, but she is a cool person. My Portland friends (that means you Erik, Katie, Sheri and Kim!) should all go visit her at Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend. It's going to be a be a heck of a time, and it's only $6! Screaming deal I say.

Favorite Films of 2009

I always try to write my favorite films list last simply because most of the prestige pictures don't come out until after the year is out. It's a sad fact of movies, especially to us Alaskans. We're subjected to delays upon the already delayed nature of those movies.

What does that mean for my list? Well, before I get to my favorite films of 2009 list I'll list out the movies that would likely be contenders for my list. Also, the movies that just missed the cut are below.

Note: This was a weird year for movies. It seems like there weren't as many movies later on in the year that blew me away like last year with Let the Right One In and Slumdog Millionaire. No less, it was a good one, just weird.

Haven't Watched Yet: The Road, The White Ribbon, The Lovely Bones, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, The Informant!, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, In the Loop, Precious, Invictus, A Single Man

Missed the Cut: A Serious Man, Coraline, Zombieland

Best Documentary of the Year: The Cove

Why it's the best: I won't go into any details because a lot of this movie is based off the shock value and going in blind, but I can tell you this: when I was little I wanted to be a Marine Biologist because my affinity for Cetaceans (whales and dolphins, essentially). This movie is essentially a look into their treatment by certain communities in Japan and what the world is doing to confront these travesties.

What goes on in this hour and a half long documentary is horrific and heartwrenching, and really deserves to be watched. Some have called this film manipulative and even propaganda, but I disagree. It is an often beautiful film with a very important message. Highly recommended by yours truly.

15. Where The Wild Things Are (Directed by Spike Jonze, Written by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers)

14. I Love You, Man (Directed by John Hamburg, Written by John Hamburg and Larry Levin)

13. Moon (Directed by Duncan Jones, Written by Duncan Jones and Nathan Parker)

12. The Hangover (Directed by Todd Phillips, Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore)

11. The Brothers Bloom (Written and directed by Rian Johnson)

10. An Education (Directed by Lone Scherfig, Written by Nick Hornby)

9. Star Trek (Directed by JJ Abrams, Written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman)

8. Avatar (Written and directed by James Cameron)

7. The Hurt Locker (Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Written by Mark Boal)

6. District 9 (Directed by Neill Blomkamp, Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell)

5. Away We Go (Directed by Sam Mendes, Written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida)

Why It's #5: This film didn't get the esteem that it deserved in my mind. It shouldn't be surprising that this film could be a success given that it is co-written by literary giant Dave Eggers and directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes, but I think some discount it because of the rather unassuming leads in The Office's John Krasinski and Saturday Night Live's Maya Rudolph and the fact it is perhaps a bit twee.

One way or another, it is a movie to me that feels very real and easy to relate to. This film finds Rudolph five and a half months pregnant (but looking VERY close to labor) and Kransinski perpetually jovial as they are faced with the reality of starting a family without really having a home. Not a home in the sense of a having a house, but in having a place that emotionally and spiritually feels like the place they belong. What transpires in the length of this film is a journey from location to location to find the right place for themselves, and it is often hilarious and touching.

It also features an exceptional supporting cast, as we're given appearances from Jeff Daniels, Catherine O'Hara, Allison Janney, Paul Schneider, Jim Gaffigan, Melanie Lynskey, and more, all of whom do their jobs just as well as you expect them to. The soundtrack is mostly Alexi Murdoch, and his Nick Drake like sound really connects with the central themes of the movie.

Sure, this isn't a movie that is going to earn any nominations come Oscar time, but it is the type of movie that will connect with you as a viewer if you find yourself at the right point in your life. For myself, it is something that resonates.

4. Up in the Air (Directed by Jason Reitman, Written by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner)

Why It's #4: I wrote a more extensive review in December of this film, but I can summarize my feelings pretty well: this is a movie that finds writer/director Jason Reitman building on the considerable abilities he has demonstrated so far in Thank You For Smoking and Juno. The skills he shows within this film are of a master storyteller, ably handling the pacing and the look of the film to perfectly convey the emotion and power of the story on screen.

George Clooney gives another patented Clooney performance, although this time he mixes a bit of vulnerability into his concoction of effortless charm and complete self control. However, he is possibly overshadowed by his supporting cast, as the ridiculously sexy Vera Farmiga and the incredible Anna Kendrick frequently steal scene after scene. Kendrick in particular is excellent, as she manages to create a character that is a know-it-all on the surface and filled with regret and doubt internally. She wears it on her face like a seasoned veteran, and she has a hell of a future as an actress - not just in the Twilight films.

As I said to close my previous review, "This film is poignant, hopeful, funny, touching, and occasionally devestating. While it is predictable at times, I think that stems greatly from Reitman's naturalistic storytelling ability. It is a movie that demands you as a viewer to reassess your life and to think about what you want in your backpack. Powerful stuff, and in my mind is deserving of every accolade it has received so far."

3. Inglourious Basterds (Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino)

Why It's #3: If you've seen this movie you know why it deserves to be near the top of everyone's Best of 2009 list. This is Quentin Tarantino at his very best, as he manages to make a film that doesn't fall in love with its own voice and is incredible assured, yet is still incredibly cool and badass. I mean come on, this movie features a number of different stories at the beginning (the Basterds, Hans Landa and his quest to be the biggest badass ever, Shosanna and her revenge, Frederick Zoller and his quest to make Shosanna love him) that all converge at the end for a completely awesome finale. Even the chapter's name is fantastic - Revenge of the Giant Face. How is that not awesome?

I do want to note: while everyone in the cast is great, from Brad Pitt to Diane Kruger to Daniel Bruhl to Michael Fassbender to Mélanie Laurent, they are all greatly overshadowed. Christoph Waltz dominates this film as Hans Landa in a way that is rarely thought possible. His creation is one of the greatest villains I've ever seen, as he is fiercely intelligent, wildly unpredictable, despicable, and strangely hilarious. Every scene he is in is appreciably better than the ones that surround it, and to me, if he doesn't win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar they might as well simply stop the festivities because that would delegitimize the whole experience.

Amazingly enough too, this movie gets better every time I watch it. And I LOVED it the first time. To quote Tony Shalhoub in Galaxy Quest, that's a hell of a thing.

1 (tie). Up (Written and directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson)

Why It's Co #1: You can read my full review here, but really, if you've seen Up or know me, you know why it is finishing at the top of my list. Up is perhaps Pixar's finest hour, taking maybe their most outlandish plot yet (yes more so than talking cars) and turning it into something that is quotable, touching, hilarious, action packed, and incredibly rewatchable.

Better yet, they managed to create some of the best characters in their history. Whether you're talking about Kevin, Dug, Russell, or Carl Fredricksen, you have four characters who are on par with Woody and Buzz, Wall-E, Mike Wazowski, Remy, and all of their other masterful creations. Their relationships form the backbone of this film, and if this isn't the year Pixar finally earns their Best Picture nomination, I'll just assume it's never going to come.

In short, I hid under Up's porch because I love it. If you've seen the movie you know what I mean.

1 (tie). (500) Days of Summer (Directed by Marc Webb, Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber)

Why It's Co #1: Every year there is a movie that comes out of nowhere that I connect with entirely. It's always a quirky, charming romantic comedy with leads I've previously liked and it always features an awesome soundtrack. This year? It's (500) Days of Summer, and unlike previous years this movie has managed to have legs for me and hasn't fallen off the face of the Earth upon further viewings.

I think one of the main reasons is because unlike previous quirky romcoms that have sucked me in, this one has a strangely universal feel to it. Who hasn't found that one girl who when you think of her, you can't think of anyone else? That one girl who has no flaws and only stunning positives? That one girl who makes everything else go away? This movie captures that feeling, and the feeling of how you feel when she's no longer in your life.

I've been told by others that it is a kind of depressing movie, but I disagree entirely. I think it's an extremely hopeful movie in fact. By the end, you really get the feeling that all involved really are telling you that no matter what happens, the one for you could easily be right around the corner. There's something magical about that, and I think this movie does that and captures the wonders of love (like dance sequences the day after you first sleep with someone or IKEA ridiculousness) as well as any movie in recent memory.

While the cast is across the board great, this movie wouldn't be the same with a different lead. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has long been a very underrated actor (possibly because he started with 3rd Rock From the Sun), as he has blown people away throughout the years in under the radar films like Brick, Mysterious Skin, and The Lookout. This film earned him the spotlight for once, not to mention a Golden Globe nomination. He carries this movie on his back, selling every scene from an emotional standpoint as well as any male lead this year in my mind.

While he almost certainly won't earn an Oscar nomination this year, his performance helped make this my co-favorite film this year. Well done sir, and here's hoping DJ Caruso stops taking crazy pills and casts you as Yorick Brown in his adaptation of Y the Last Man.

Best. Christmas Present. Ever.

As I've mentioned before, I am Facebook married to my friend Joanne Ballagh. It's a very modern thing and was mostly based around us being ridiculous and also trying to blow our friends minds via Facebook, but it has kind of stuck because we oddly like it.

While we've been friends for over a decade now, Joanne and I have an extra connection that works for us based around a movie: Pixar's Up. We saw the movie twice together in theaters and have since watched in on Blu Ray as well, and we quote the movie incessantly back and forth to each other. If you've seen it, one of the primary plot drivers is a book the main character's wife kept from childhood - her adventure book.

Well, when Joanne said she made me something for Christmas, I had no idea what it could be. She was worried I wouldn't like it, but when I opened it I immediately fell in love with it. She made me my own adventure book! It looked exactly like the one from Up and inside its pages were pictures of things we've done together along with quotes from the movie printed and pictures from the movie. The last pages were blank for me to fill in myself, which I cannot wait to do.

To say I was enthused with it is an understatement - this was without a doubt one of my favorite presents I've ever received. See below for pictures from it.

Thank you so much Joanne Ballagh. You put the Jo Lagh in Jovid Harplagh, and I love you for it my dear.

Favorite Movies of the Decade: 25 - 21

For my second run of my Slices of Fried Gold: The Decade Edition special, I'm now onto Favorite Movies of the Decade - note the usage of "favorite" instead of "best" here. As some have discussed, this was not the strongest decade of movies, as in many ways it was surpassed by television in terms of being a dramatic visual medium. Yet, there is still a ton of good that came from this decade and it was a unique one (at least for me) in that animated film was the dominant genre for the decade. In fact, between Studio Ghibli and Pixar, you could make a pretty damn amazing top 10 for the decade.

No less, before we get started there are a few notes I want to make. As with the music list I did recently, there is weighting towards those that exhibit longevity. In fact, movies are something I really add value to if it stands up when I watch it again. Sadly, this works both ways as a number of movies that I loved at first don't work as well on later viewings. With all that said, onto the just missed list and then on to numbers 25 to 21.

Last cuts: Gladiator, Monsters Inc., Super Troopers, No Country for Old Men, Signs, Spirited Away, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Serenity, Goodbye Lenin!, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


25. Up (Written and directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson – 2009)

The last spot was down to Up and The Big Lebowski, and it was a tough decision. Given my emphasis on rewatchability, the fact that I put a movie from 2009 on the list is kind of crazy. How am I supposed to know whether or not this movie is rewatchable eternally, even if I have seen it three times in theaters, especially given the fact that it is up against the fearsome competition of Lebowski, which features one of the all time greatest protagonist in Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski. It’s pretty easy actually…Up is just so damn uplifting, funny and emotionally resonant that it is impossible to ignore. If I was going just off how I feel now, I would likely put this near the top. However, film is a medium that demands time to marinate. Sometimes you love movies at first (Slumdog Millionaire, Garden State) to find out later that they simply do not compute as well on later viewings.

But Up, of all films, is one that I feel confidently in the fact that it will stand up to the test of time. Pete Docter and Bob Peterson craft a truly original film that creates some of the all time greatest characters in the pantheon of Pixar. In fact, that helps greatly in my confidence that this will be rewatchable – as you will see on this list, Pixar defined this decade greater than any other creator(s) out there. They are the gold standard of film today, and as it stands right now I’d be hard pressed to pick a better movie in their history than Up.


24. In Good Company (Written and directed by Paul Weitz - 2004)

In Good Company is not going to go down as one of the best movies of the decade on nearly any list out there. Thankfully this is a favorite movie list, not a best movie list, so that factor never comes into play. I think the biggest reason why I love this movie so much is the fact that it is completely rewatchable (its strange charm never wears thin), the soundtrack is incredibly underrated (the Shins are repeatedly featured, including my favorite track by them), and, most of all, Topher Grace’s performance as Carter Duryea is fantastic. Not only that, but I see a lot of myself in Carter, as he is a young marketing professional struggling to find his identity in life and to figure out what he really wants, not just what he should want. Just like me.

Grace does a wonderful job of making the corporate latter climbing and somewhat toolish Duryea not just likeable, but relatable. In many ways, it’s like seeing myself up on the screen, as I am torn by a dichotomy of life goals – standard, career oriented success or finding happiness in life itself. Throw in the fact that I also hooked up with my older subordinate’s busty college age daughter, and it’s like David Harper: Biography on screen. Okay, maybe that last part is untrue, but I can say besides that aspect, I’ve connected with very few roles as well as I have this one. A unique trait to be had, and something that really takes this movie to the next level for me.


23. In Bruges (Written and directed by Martin McDonagh - 2008)

Discussions about when you can punch women. Insulting hefty American tourists. Karate chopping little people that are under the influence of cocaine. Debates about the value of visiting a place such as Bruges. Shootouts in European cities. Figuring out whether or not alcoves is the word you are ooking for. Settling the debate as to who would win in a fight: the blacks or the whites.

These are but a few of the things that take place within Martin McDonagh’s film In Bruges, which is an uproarious and incredibly touching film that came out of nowhere to become an absolute powerhouse favorite of mine. I loved it when I first saw it, but now that it’s come onto cable I’ve made the realization that this is one of the most bizarrely quotable movies of the decade, mostly thanks to McDonagh’s script and bravura performances from Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. In fact, you could make the argument that this is far and away the best performance of Farrell’s career, as he not only delivers some of the most hilarious lines with uncanny timing and glee, but he also provides the emotional core of the film as the haunted hitman coming off a botched first job. Surprisingly powerful and entertaining throughout, In Bruges is one of the more underrated gems of the 00’s.


22. Everything is Illuminated (Written and directed by Liev Schreiber) - 2005

Before this film, Liev Schreiber had existed eternally as one of the most recognizable “that guy’s” out there (to take a play from Bill Simmons’ extensive book). When he took the leap to writer/director with this adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s memoir, it was with much uncertainty. Yet he proved that we had little to fear, as his deft direction makes this as beautiful a film visually as it is emotionally, depicting how the past in all forms is not something we can hide from and the unique bond that could form between a trio of very disparate people and a dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr.

While the performance of Elijah Wood as Foer is very strong for what it is (reserved, meek outsider who is searching for something), the true powerhouse performances in this are from Gogol Bordello’s lead singer Eugene Hutz as the freshest guy in Ukraine Alex and Boris Leskin as his grandfather. These two performances cover opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, with the former performance being a textured and very funny comedic performance, and the latter being a quietly eccentric and deeply affecting emotional performance. Both are extremely unique performances, and in many ways ascend to the levels of lead by the very end. While it starts out as a journey for Foer, what this film ends up being is something entirely different. A beautiful, charming, and emotional film that is very underrated.


21. The Departed (Directed by Martin Scorcese, written by William Monahan - 2006)

Oddly enough the only Best Picture Oscar winner on my entire list and one of only two nominees for that illustrious category that make my top 25, but this was one that was very difficult to ignore. This film found legendary director Martin Scorcese on his A game, an incredibly talented and deep cast (when Jack Nicholson is your weakest link, you know it’s a pretty strong cast), and a script that is laden with intrigue and double crosses at every corner.

It is fairly evident from its pedigree as to why it could have been a good movie, but the fact that everyone involved actually managed to pull it together to bring put together a cohesive narrative that is filled with enough tension to stress out the most calm and collected of viewers is pretty damn incredible. While everyone is superb in this film, the best two performances in this film come from Leonardo DiCaprio as undercover cop Billy Costigan (always in too deep but perpetually maintaining his cover against the greatest of odds) and Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg in particular does a lot with his limited amount of time, being the right hand man to Martin Sheen’s Captain Queenan, a perpetual thorn in the side of both DiCaprio and Matt Damon’s characters sides, and basically the most badass character ever simultaneously. A great performance in a film filled with them.

Sunday Recommendations: Movies

Up (Co-directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, written by Bob Peterson)

It seems like every time Pixar releases a new movie, I have to carefully consider two things: where this ranks in Pixar's library of classics, and where it ranks in my list of all time favorite movies. With Wall-E and Ratatouille, both lists faced seismic changes, and with the release of Up, Pixar has predictably done it again.

Up is so much more than the previews let you imagine, and it once again shows the brilliance of Pixar as a whole. It's part comedy, part adventure, part action, part drama, part romance, and all totally life affirming and fun for everyone. It's not even just the completely obvious sections of genius, such as the creation of the brilliant comedic character of Doug the talking dog or the completely charming (and silent besides music) montage of Carl and Ellie's life together, but in the details as well. Watching what the dogs are doing in the background on the Spirit of Adventure. Catching pop culture references anywhere and everywhere on the screen. Non-verbal bits of communication amongst characters. Up tells a better tale with what it doesn't say than most movies do with entire screenplays.

Every character in the movie is on par with the best Pixar has created, but Carl, Russell and Doug are every bit as brilliant as the cream of the crop characters. Peterson's inclusion of intelligent dogs who could speak via a special collar was a truly inspired decision, allowing for endless opportunities in terms of hilariousness and a strangely touching look at the relationship between a dog and his master, with Doug and Carl's relationship being impossible not to love especially if you have ever owned a dog.

I could go on and on about this movie, from the better than ever animation to the once again brilliant score by Michael Giacchino to the superb voice acting, but there is no reason you shouldn't just see it. It's far and away the best movie of the year so far. Also, make sure you show up early as the short before the movie is hilarious and strangely touching as well - the perfect pair to the movie that follows it.

Up: A

Good Bye Lenin! (Directed by Wolfgang Becker, written by Wolfgang Becker and Bernd Lichtenberg)

As a person who doesn't necessarily go out of his way to see foreign film, I have to admit the reason I saw this was entirely because of my current obsession with composer Yann Tiersen. Having listened to the score numerous times over the past few weeks, the movie had a head start in terms of developing emotional resonance with me.

The mere fact that this German film is a remarkable one helped quite a bit as well.

It's about a family torn apart by the divide created by the Berlin Wall after World War II, and what happens when the matriarch of the family (a big figure in the world of Socialist Berlin) goes into a coma and misses the fall of the wall and Germany's speedy transition into a western influenced country. The main character is the woman's son Alex, who does everything he can to extend her life by convincing her that nothing has changed and that the wall never fell. A lofty and difficult premise, but one that works incredibly well and does a lot (through humor and very well done dramatic scenes) to demonstrate what it was like for Germans when the wall fell, and the unsaid longing for things to stay the way they were.

Daniel Bruhl, the actor who portrays Alex, is just an impossibly good actor. His performance in the movie is the backbone of the entire film. Swiftly alternating between bringing a levity to tough situations, exhibiting inhuman amounts of patience to scenes, displaying what it is like to be young and in love, and seeming real in his ability to genuinely care for everyone, the guy is a revelation. The fact that Hollywood hasn't attempted to bring him over and force him to act in nearly everything is ridiculous to me.

This film is also quite brilliant visually, with Wolfgang Becker creating some truly dynamic images throughout the film. Between Becker, Bruhl and Tiersen, I am just completely perplexed how this was not a launching pad for some elite careers in Hollywood. Of course, that's probably why I am writing a blog instead of running a movie studio, but that's neither here nor there.

If you have no interest in foreign film, don't see this movie. It's fully subtitled and in German, so if you are unwilling to go that route, skip it. But if you are open-minded when it comes to that and want to see a wonderful little movie, check this out.

Good Bye Lenin!: A-