Life's our oyster and we're gonna suck that bitch down with a champagne chaser.



  • Behavioral Therapist
  • MA Developmental Psychology, Columbia
  • BS Psychobiology/ French, UCLA




  • Movies to See:
    Mission Impossible
    Haywire
    Shame
    A Dangerous Method
    Underworld:Awakening


  • TV Shows to Watch:
    Portlandia
    The Life & Times of Tim


  • Book to Read:
    Game of Thrones
    by George R.R. Martin


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    The Black Keys
    El Camino


  • Person to Hate:
    Newt Gingrich


  • Group of People to Despise:
    Fox & Friends




 

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Monday, January 08, 2007  
The Top Tens of 2006
As I sit here wisdom toothless, storing chestnuts in my cheeks for the long winter ahead, I feel it is time to finally put to rest the absolutely miserable year that was 2006, by reminiscing about the high points in the entertainment realm of last year. Here are, in my humble opinion, the best movies and TV shows of 2006.

Some movies like Blood Diamond and Children of Men that may have made this list are missing because I simply haven't seen them. Other movies which I thought would make the list which I saw at the very end of the year, like The Good Shepherd, didn't make the list because I hated it. I've also come to realize that while I generally have good taste in films, I'm not very good at these lists. So take them with a grain of salt...as well as the fact that I'm a pop culture guru.

Top Ten Movies of 2006

10. SUPERMAN RETURNS and V FOR VENDETTA

It's almost a prerequisite for my lists that I have at least one geek-tastic movie on my list. Ok so I'm cheating and putting two at the number 10 spot. Superhero films just seem to invigorate the imagination and spirit of when we were children. That sounds unbelievably hokey and cheesy but for a guy who refuses to part with the immature kid in him, these comic book films are pure nirvana. And sometimes they can take the comic book movie thing and take it a step further. Superman is a deity come to earth to save its helpless people and V is a psychopath who believes that to do civic and political good, he must blow up lots of things, but his idealogies aren't that insane when you take out the blowing up stuff part. Long live geekdom.

9. A SCANNER DARKLY

I didn't really understand what the hell was going on in this movie when I was watching it. I was pretty much just mesmorized by its insanely unique visual style. For those who haven't seen it, it'll bluntly obvious what I'm talking about when you see it. This is a sci-fi movie set in the approximate modern day and asks what several depressing movies ask. They ask us the existential questions of our existence. I can't really describe this movie very well so I'll just leave a poingnant quote read by the brilliant actor Keanu Reeves that had me questioning, well...life.

"What does a scanner see? Into the head? Down into the heart? Does it see into me? Into us? Clearly or darkly? I hope it sees clearly because I can't any longer see into myself. I see only murk. I hope for everyone's sake the scanners do better, because if the scanner sees only darkly the way I do, then I'm cursed and cursed again and like we have been continually, and we'll wind up dead this way, knowing very little and getting that little fragment wrong too. "

8. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

If the Al Gore from this movie was the same Al Gore who ran for president in 2000...the world would be a very different place. In any case, this movie is scary as all hell but is one of the most important movies that everyone has to see. Hey Bill O'Reilly, weather isn't cyclical. Hey Rush Limbaugh, the earth doesn't renew itself if the disgusting humans keep destroying it. What it will do to renew itself is rid itself of the plague of humans. Yeah. It sucks. But mother earth giveth life and it taketh away.

7. CASINO ROYALE

This movie did for the Bond franchise what Batman Begins did for the Batman franchise. I was expecting this movie to be entertaining but it goes above and beyond pure entertainment and revitatlizes a beloved character from the movie and book franchise. Who knew Bond bled? You can't go to this movie and not have a blast. Daniel Craig is James Bond.

6. BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN

I have never laughed so hard in any movie nor have I been so grossed out in any movie...ever. I take an ounce of pride in knowing who Borat, Ali G and Bruno were way before the masses did but having seen the original series on HBO in no way prepared me for what I was gonna see in this movie. It was brilliant social commentary as well as sheer ingenius comedy. See it. Laugh. Maybe throw up. Maybe walk out of the room. But more importantly. See it. VERRRY NIIICCEE.

5. UNITED 93

This is one of the most powerful movies that I never want to see again. I've never felt so tense and nervous watching a DVD but this movie is very affecting in that way. It's tough to watch at some points but is a fantastic piece of filmmaking. It's not biased in any way politically or otherwise, it's just about the people on that flight.

4. VOLVER

American audiences don't really know that Penelope Cruz is actually a good actress. But in her native tongue she really is. This movie has comedy, drama, ghosts, murder, some incest and is just a beautiful film to look at. Pedro Almodovar never disappoints and continues his streak in this emotionally engaging Spanish number.

3. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

I originally saw this movie for Steve Carrell, but came out of it loving the entire cast. This movie is about the type of people I love to hear stories about: losers. But these are losers who figure out, in those 2 days in that dysfunctional van, that each of them are hiding behind something and trying to be something they're not. It's funny, heartbreaking and charming and deserves to be loved by all who see it.

2. PAN'S LABYRINTH

This movie is one of the most haunting and spectacular movies that I've seen in the last few years. Who knew that a cute fairytale about a little girl encountering fairies, fauns and monsters could be seemlessly juxtaposed with the jarring wartime environment of post-Civil War Spain. Between the sadistic general who she lives with and the hands-for-eyes Pale Man, the audience doesn't really know which monsters are worse. The images will follow you long after you see leave the theater and its storytelling style will stay with you for even longer.

1. THE DEPARTED

In the past few years, gangland dramas have been shoved down America's throat. From The Sopranos to Goodfellas, it seems like we've seen all there is to see about those gun-toting, no-goodnicks from the east side. This movie is a ride from the very beginning following the Bostonian Irish gangsters with Jack Nicholson at the helm, Matt Damon as a crooked cop and Leonardo DiCaprio as a guy caught in the middle. And I can't neglect my favorite character in any film from recent memory and that's Mark Wahlberg. I will be quoting his foulmouthed quips for a long time to come. I'm seldom surprised by movie twists but this movie did deal some surprising blows to me, and I loved watching it happen.


While it's somewhat more difficult to select the ten best films in any given year, it is way more difficult to pick the best TV shows. It's like picking a favorite child. I spend so much time and energy with each of them that to rank them is tough. But there has been some quality television this past year, as in every year.

Top Ten TV Shows of 2006

10. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

I'm somewhat hesitant to put "new" shows on these lists because we haven't been able to see a full season before being able to properly judge it...but I make exceptions. This show isn't about football. It's not really about Texas either. (Thank god). It's about highschool, sex, sports and hardships outside of academia that kids go through in highschool. This is a gritty version of The OC without the gay...not that there's anything wrong with that.

9. THE SHIELD

I'm not ashamed to admit that I can't always follow this show's storylines or dialogue. I just don't know what these crooked cops are talking about most of the time. But it doesn't really matter because all we need to see is that douchebag Vic Mackey being a slimy cop with his cronies, backstabbing his friends, stealing money, drugs, and all the while...the audience is kinda rooting for him. The next season is supposed to be its last and Vic has just gotta go down in flames.

8. SCRUBS

This show has been around for a long while and I hope it stays around even more. It never fails to make me giggle or smile and at the same time be sweet at the same time. It's just an enjoyable show to watch. I remember I was supposed to intern for this show...that never came to fruition. (See Last Post: Will Work for Job).

7. WEEDS

Put down your hammer Parent Television Council. This show isn't for the young ones but it doesn't change the fact that this is one of the most innovative and hilarious shows on TV. I am told that watching this show on weed is a lot better than when not...I wouldn't know....but I'll take your word for it...

6. RESCUE ME

Tommy Gavin is SO ANNOYING. He basically sucks at everything in life except being a firefighter. He gets better then he gets worst then he gets better then he gets worst. Two steps forward, five steps back. When last we left him, he was caught in a burning house. He'll probably get out of it only to screw something else up again. You can't help but watch this alcoholic son of a bitch week to week though.

5. LOST

Ok so after the season premiere this season, it was a huge letdown. But you know what? We're still gonna watch. You know why? Cause we have to know what the HELL IS GOING ON ON THIS DAMN ISLAND. You know why? Cause we're stupid. And you know what? I don't think the writers know what the hell is going on on the DAMN ISLAND. Why? Because they know we're stupid.

4. GREY'S ANATOMY

Ok so like...I really hate this show. Ok I don't hate the show. I hate Meredith Grey. No, you don't understand...I hate Meredith Grey. So why do I watch it? Cause it's so god damn addictive and every other character except for Meredith is such a good character. Except for that Mexican bear. She friggin scares me. I don't know about you but I think a show that annoys me but still gets me to watch deserves to be on this list.

3. 24

Did any other show grab your attention last year and seize it without letting go until its insane season finale!? We just cannot get enough of Jack Bauer and his suicidal attempts to save, like, the world. But seriously. WHAT'D THE CHINESE DO WITH JACK!?!?

2. THE OFFICE

No show makes me laugh more and at the same time makes me care about the characters more than this show. Who wasn't rooting for Jim and Pam at the end of last season? And who wasn't totally heartbroken when Jim transferred out of Scranton? If you didn't, you have no soul. Oh and also, Steve Carrell is a genius.

1. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Are you really surprised? PEOPLE! THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW ON TELEVISION!! This show may be set on a spaceship but it conveys powerful human emotions and situations that affect its audience like no other show. The show took a huge gamble by leaping forward one year after settling on a new planet but the gamble totally paid off. This show displays real-world problems like war, torture, ethic and religion in its sci-fi/drama setting but they are virtually inseparable from the ones from our own universe. Watch it on TV. Netflix it. Anything. Give it a chance and you will fall in love.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

I would've put this show on the regular list but it deserves to be placed above all the rest. It was taken away from us way too soon but while it was on, it was, and is, the most innovative and best comedy on television. Period. I will miss the Bluth family for a long time to come but it was sweet while they were around.

Honorable Mentions

HEROES - I really want to find out why the hell we have to save the cheerleader and save the world.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER - This may be the most quotable show on TV right now. It's legen...wait for it...and I hope you're not lactose-intolerant 'cause the second half of that word is...dary!

HOUSE - Dr. House is one of the best characters on TV. The show is formulaic but it serves a purpose.

VENTURE BROS. - This show always makes me laugh, no exception. It's pure genius, I tell you.


Here's to hoping that this year will be way better than the last and be as good in terms of entertainment options.

You can never go wrong with picks from The Jazzy Bahsoun, so please. Heed my recommendations. Update your Netflix Queue. You'll thank me later.
6:23 PM
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