Emmy Contenders: Best TV Movie/Miniseries

Possible Contenders
Cinema Verite
Mildred Pierce
Too Big to Fail

The Sunset Limited

Carlos

Downtown Abbey
Luther
Thurgood
Upstairs, Downstairs
The Kennedys
Any Human Heart
Wallander II
Pillars of the Earth
Ben-Hur
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
The Client List
Sherlock: A Study in Pink

Commentary
Combining the Miniseries and TV Movies together was a smart idea considering how few miniseries were made in the last couple of years. That being said, it means that this category's competition has increased tremendously. Cinema Verite and Mildred Pierce, HBO's pet projects are sure to get in and will probably be the frontrunners, unless the Brits come to town and Upstairs, Downstairs or Downtown Abbey steals the prize. The acting in Carlos and The Sunset Limited is sure to be nominated (particularly the three lead actors), but I'm not sure if they can get nominated for the big prize (although they deserve to). Finally, there are a few question marks such as The Kennedys and Pillars of Earth, and whether the Academy will embrace them. Finally, the talented efforts of Luther and Too Big to Fail are going to be strong contenders, and will most likely get nominated on talent alone.

If I Were An Academy Voter: 1996 Part 1

Best Picture
Academy Winner - The English Patient
My Pick - Fargo
Commentary - The English Patient was long and weepy and boring, and was probably the worst film of the five. That being said, I would have gone with the Coens' magnificent dark crime comedy Fargo, an underappreciated gem of the 1990's.

Best Director

Academy Winner - Anthony Minghella "The English Patient"

My Pick - Mike Leigh "Secrets & Lies"

Commentary - I also really loved Secrets & Lies, and Mike Leigh deserves an Oscar for making one great film after another. Plus, hindsight tells me that the Coens win in 2007 (I know that really is not allowed, but my game = my rules), so I went with Leigh.

Best Actor

Academy Winner/My Pick - Geoffrey Rush "Shine"

Commentary - This over-the-top performance may have turned off some, but Rush has a knack for the big performances, and Shine was his shining moment.

Best Actress

Academy Winner/My Pick - Frances McDormand "Fargo"

Commentary - God I love the Academy for making this choice. McDormand is incredible in everything, but Fargo was her crowning moment, combining strength, humor, and toughness and creating an unforgettable character.

Best Supporting Actor
Academy Winner - Cuba Gooding Jr. "Jerry Maguire"
My Pick - William H. Macy "Fargo"
Commentary - Gooding was great in Jerry Maguire, but he did very little in the aftermath. Instead, I would have gone with the always underrated William H. Macy, whose long steady career went far beyond this wonderful performance.

Best Supporting Actress

Academy Winner - Juliette Binoche "The English Patient"

My Pick - Lauren Bacall "The Mirror Has Two Faces"

Commentary - In her acceptance speech, Binoche said that she thought Lauren was going to win. So did we all, and she probably should of. Lauren Bacall not winning an Academy Award is a travesty, and the Academy missed this perfect opportunity.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Winner/My Pick - Joel and Ethan Coen "Fargo"
Commentary - The sharpest screenplay of 1996. Period.

Best Original Screenplay
Academy Winner - Billy Bob Thornton "Sling Blade"
My Pick - John Hodge "Trainspotting"
Commentary - Sling Blade was great, but no film was more original than Danny Boyle's underrated gem Trainspotting. Since Boyle was not nominated, the screenwriter who brought that imaginative film to life deserves some credit, and in my opinion, an Oscar.

Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a Drama Series

Possible Contenders
Steve Buscemi "Boardwalk Empire"
Michael C. Hall "Dexter"
Hugh Laurie "House"
Kyle Chandler "Friday Night Lights"
Jon Hamm "Mad Men"
Tom Selleck "Blue Bloods"
Bill Paxton "Big Love"
Jeremy Irons "The Borgias"
Gabriel Byrne "In Treatment"
Peter Krause "Parenthood"
William H. Macy "Shameless"
Sean Bean "Game of Thrones"
Timothy Olyphant "Justified"
Ray Romano "Men of a Certain Age"
Denis Leary "Rescue Me"
Joseph Fiennes "Camelot"
Wendell Pierce "Treme"
Patrick Dempsey "Grey's Anatomy"
Andrew Lincoln "The Walking Dead"
Simon Baker "The Mentalist"
Charlie Hunnam "Sons of Anarchy"

Commentary
This is a tough race, with old timers and newcomers battling it out for only six or seven spots. Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie, Michael C. Hall, Bill Paxton, Gabriel Byrne, and Kyle Chandler, all are returning to the race, but not all of them will make the cut. Not with the likes of Steve Buscemi and William H. Macy whose showy cable roles will most likely get nods for their new series. Jeremy Irons could also get in with his Oscar-winning status and popular The Borgias. Tom Selleck is no stranger to this category going back to his Magnum, P.I. days, but the competition looks to be a lot stiffer this time around. On a personal note, I would like to plug the great performances of Peter Krause, Timothy Olyphant, and Wendell Pierce, which will most likely be overlooked.

If I Were An Academy Voter: 1997 Part 2

Best Art Direction

Academy Winner/My Pick - Titanic
Commentary - This one was tough, but some of the sets (and those that were destroyed), were magnificent, and captured the grandeur of the ill-fated ship.

Best Cinematography
Academy Winner - Titanic
My Pick - L.A. Confidential
Commentary - Titanic was beautifully shot, but I prefer the dark, sensous hues of L.A. Confidential, as the cinematography did a tremendous amount to set the entire mood of the film.

Best Costume Design
Academy Winner/My Pick - Titanic
Commentary - From the flashy costumes of the wealthy to the rags of the poor, no costume designer had to design as many and as many different costumes as those that worked on Titanic, and some of those costumes really were stunning.

Best Film Editing
Academy Winner - Titanic
My Pick - Air Force One
Commentary - Why oh why would you give this to Titanic? Epic? Yes. But long as hell. Instead, I would have gone with the terse and tense Air Force One, which was edited perfectly to have the most suspenseful impact.

Best Makeup
Academy Winner/My Pick - Men in Black
Commentary - I have a secret love of this movie, as it was hilarious and fun. Oh the makeup design was pretty damn good as well.

Best Original Musical or Comedy Score
Academy Winner - Anne Dudley "The Full Monty"
My Pick - Hans Zimmer "As Good As It Gets"
Commentary - I found Hans Zimmer sprightly and pitch perfect in capturing the mood and the tone of the dramedy As Good As It Gets.

Best Original Dramatic Score
Academy Winner/My Pick - James Horner "Titanic"
Commentary - A wonderfully dramatic and hauntingly beautiful score.

Best Original Song
Academy Winner/My Pick - James Horner "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic"
Commentary - One of the greatest and most epic songs of all time.

Best Sound Mixing
Academy Winner - Titanic
My Pick - Air Force One
Commentary - I know this one should probably go to Titanic, but I felt that Air Force One was much more tightly edited in terms of its sound than Titanic, and since it wasn't nominated for Sound Editing, I would have voted for it here instead.

Best Sound Editing
Academy Winner/My Pick - Titanic
Commentary - Since it probably should have won Sound Mixing.

Best Visual Effects
Academy Winner/My Pick - Titanic
Commentary - Out of the nominees, it was the only one worth winning an Academy Award, plus those ship shots are were fantastic.

Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a Drama Series

Possible Contenders
Kyra Sedgwick "The Closer"
Mariska Hargitay "Law & Order: SVU"
Elisabeth Moss "Mad Men"
January Jones "Mad Men"
Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife"
Connie Britton "Friday Night Lights"
Katey Sagal "Sons of Anarchy"
Mireille Enos "The Killing"
Kathy Bates "Harry's Law"
Piper Perabo "Covert Affairs"
Jeanne Tripplehorn "Big Love"
Emmy Rossum "Shameless"
Lauren Graham "Parenthood"
Ellen Pompeo "Grey's Anatomy"
Dana Delaney "Body of Proof"
Sally Field "Brothers & Sisters"
Calista Flockhart "Brothers & Sisters"
Anna Paquin "True Blood"
Melissa Leo "Treme"
Anna Torv "Fringe"
Lena Headey "Game of Thrones"
Angie Harmon "Rizzoli & Isles"

Commentary
Last year Kyra Sedgwick finally won her long awaited Emmy, and should be back again this year. As should last year's runner up, Julianna Margulies, who just gets better and better on The Good Wife. The Mad Men girls should return, and Elisabeth Moss could be a winner with some of her excellent episodes, but Jones might not have enough screen time. I would love to see Connie Britton return for FNL, and Golden Globe Winner Katey Sagal, might get a nod as well. Newcomers Kathy Bates and Dana Delaney would have had better shots if their shows had been better overall, but their good performances and name recognition could make them contenders ala Holly Hunter for Saving Grace. Mariska Hargitay is no stranger to the Emmys, and keeps getting in, so I have no reason not to believe she won't make the cut. Also newcomers Piper Perabo, Emmy Rossum and Mirielle Enos had strong seasons and cold be dark horse contenders. Finally I would like to make a plug for the always Lauren Graham, I hope the Emmys take notice.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Red Band Trailer

This is a shaky, camcorder shot preview, that will most likely be taken down quickly, but if it is still working, her is a look at what is sure to be a fascinating remake this year:

Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Possible Contenders
Steve Carrell "The Office"
Alec Baldwin "30 Rock"
Joel McHale "Community"
Jim Parsons "The Big Bang Theory"
Matt LeBlanc "Episodes"
Matthew Morrison "Glee"
Danny McBride "Eastbound & Down"
Matthew Perry "Mr. Sunshine"
Louis CK "Louie"
Johnny Galecki "The Big Bang Theory"
David Duchovny "Californication"
Rob Lowe "Parks & Recreation"
Zachary Levi "Chuck"
Jason Schwartzman "Bored to Death"
Kevin Connelly "Entourage"
Josh Radnor "How I Met Your Mother"
Billy Gardell "Mike & Molly"
Thomas Jane "Hung"
Neil Flynn "The Middle"
Lucas Neff "Raising Hope"
Charlie Sheen "Two and a Half Men"
William Shatner "$#!+ My Dad Says"

Possibilities
Despite this long long list of potential contenders, this really is a weak category. Some of the old favorites such as Jim Parsons, Steve Carrell, and Alec Baldwin will return, and are still the top contenders for the prize, especially Carrell who hopefully will win his elusive Emmy. From those three on it is anyone's guess. Matthew Perry should have been a shoo-in, but Mr. Sunshine was a bomb, although is former Friends co-star Matt Leblanc will probably get in for Episodes. Joel McHale finally has a decent shot for Community, as does Rob Lowe for Parks & Recreation. Normally Matthew Morrison would not get in, despite the fact he is good, because his role is not showy or comedic enough. But the Academy loves Glee, and this category is so weak, so I think he will get his second Emmy nod. Finally, don't forget about Zachary Levi and Danny McBride who could surprise many and take the sixth spot.

Alexander Payne's The Descendants Trailer and Poster

The Trailer and poster for The Descendants, make me super excited to see it. Anything Payne does is worth my time, and this one is sure to be a winner (at least I hope so).

Here is the trailer:

Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Possible Contenders
Laura Linney "The Big C"
Edie Falco "Nurse Jackie"
Amy Poehler "Parks & Recreation"
Tina Fey "30 Rock"
Courtney Cox "Cougar Town"
Toni Collette "The United States of Tara"
Mary-Louise Parker "Weeds"
Lea Michele "Glee"
Melissa McCarthy "Mike & Molly"
Patricia Heaton "The Middle"
Kaley Cuoco "The Big Bang Theory"
Martha Plimpton "Raising Hope"
Teri Hatcher "Desperate Housewives"
Marcia Cross "Desperate Housewives"
Eva Longoria "Desperate Housewives"
Felicity Huffman "Desperate Housewives"
Elisha Cuthbert "Happy Endings"
Sarah Chalke "Mad Love"
Joanna Garcia "Better With You"

Commentary
There has been a curse of previous winners, as they have not won again in so long. This race has plenty of past winners that are sure to get in such as Tina Fey, Toni Collette, and last year's winner Edie Falco, although they will most likely take a back seat to Laura Linney in Showtime's dramedy The Big C. There are some new contenders such as Melissa McCarthy and Martha Plimpton, but they may have to wait their turns at glory. Previous nominees Lea Michele, Mary-Louise Parker, and Amy Poehler are all big contenders, and with Parks & Recreation getting better and better, Poehler could be a contender for the win. The DH ladies, Patricia Heaton, Kaley Cuoco, and Joanna Garcia are all excellent, but will most likely miss the cut. The one that should get in, but will most likely keep being snubbed is the always-superb Courtney Cox, but maybe the Academy will finally wise up and get her that nod.

Top 100 Movies of the Last 50 Years (1960-2010): 2000's and 2010

Here is the final short list, starting next week hopefully the countdown will begin.

Gladiator
Traffic
Erin Brockovich
Requiem for a Dream
Almost Famous
Billy Elliot
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Memento
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring
Gosford Park
Moulin Rouge
Shrek
Black Hawk Down
Mulholland Drive
The Pianist
Adaptation
Gangs of New York
Chicago
Spirited Away
Far From Heaven
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
LOTR: The Two Towers
POTC: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Lost in Translation
X2: X-Men United
Finding Nemo
City of God
LOTR: The Return of the King
American Splendor
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Ray
Sideways
Million Dollar Baby
The Aviator
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Incredibles
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Capote
Brokeback Mountain
Crash
Walk the Line
Good Night and Good Luck
A History of Violence
The Constant Gardener
King Kong
Munich
The Squid and the Whale
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Little Miss Sunshine
Dreamgirls
The Departed
The Queen
Pan’s Labyrinth
Children of Men
Letters From Iwo Jima
United 93
An Inconvenient Truth
There Will Be Blood
No Country For Old Men
Charlie Wilson’s War
The Savages
Juno
Into the Wild
Ratatouille
The Simpson’s Movie
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Bourne Ultimatum
Once
Hairspray
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Zodiac
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Wrestler
The Dark Knight
Wall-E
Slumdog Millionaire
Crazy Heart
Up
Up in the Air
A Single Man
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Avatar
District 9
(500) Days of Summer
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Social Network
The King’s Speech
Black Swan
The Kids Are All Right
The Fighter
Toy Story 3
Inception
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

If I Were An Academy Voter: 1997 Part 1

Best Picture

Academy Winner - Titanic
My Pick - As Good As It Gets
Commentary - Ok, so this one may shock and surprise some people, but remember, Academy voters vote with their hearts, not their heads, and for me As Good As It Gets is still a personal favorite. You probably won't find it on my Top 100 list, but out of these five nominees, my heart skips a beat for Jim Brooks' hilarious, heartful dramedy, that was filled with some great writing, and sharp performances from all of the performers, especially the always excellent Jack Nicholson. There is no way this film would have won, but it would have gotten my vote.

Best Director
Academy Winner/My Pick - James Cameron "Titanic"
Commentary - That being said, Jim Brooks got is Oscar for Terms of Endearment, and while I was not the biggest fan of Titanic (a little too mushy gushy for me, and yes I just said mushy gushy), I can appreciate the art, and Cameron pours his heart and soul into every movie he makes, and they really are his pet projects. The other nominees just had to point the camera and let the actors go, but Cameron turned what could have been a so-so sinking ship into a timeless epic. He deserved this Oscar.

Best Actor
Academy Winner/My Pick - Jack Nicholson "As Good As It Gets"
Commentary - Jack was back, and his Melvin was one of his great creations. The OCD, the humor, the crankiness, all signature Jack. Sorry to the rest of those incredible folks, but there was no other choice for me.

Best Actress
Academy Winner - Helen Hunt "As Good As It Gets"
My Pick - Kate Winslet "Titanic"
Commentary - Unlike some people, I actually liked Helen Hunt, and wasn't infuriated that she won. That being said, Kate was simply stunning in Titanic, and probably should have taken home the gold instead.

Best Supporting Actor
Academy Winner/My Pick - Robin Williams "Good Will Hunting"
Commentary - I'm sure some will scoff at this pcik, but in the 90's, Williams gave good performance after good performance, and although a Burt Reynolds win would have been nice, I think the Academy made the right choice, with this subtle and emotional performance.

Best Supporting Actress
Academy Winner/My Pick - Kim Basinger "L.A. Confidential"
Commentary - Basinger still turns me on in that sleek white dress (sorry for the graphic), and her sexiness and sultriness was simply unmatchable.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Winner - Brian Helgeland & Curtis Hanson "L.A. Confidential"
My Pick - David Mamet & Hilary Henkin "Wag the Dog"
Commentary - I liked both films so this was a tough one, but the sharp and hilarious political satire of Wag the Dog won the day.

Best Original Screenplay
Academy Winner - Matt Damon and Ben Affleck "Good Will Hunting"
My Pick - Paul Thomas Anderson "Boogie Nights"
Commentary - I like Matt Damon, but something about Academy Award Winner Ben Affleck still bugs me (Although his recent work has started to change my mind). Instead, I would have gone with the smart, sexy, and dark look at the porn industry in Paul Thomas Anderson's cult classic Boogie Nights.

Top 100 Movies of the Last 50 Years (1960-2010): 1990's Short List

1990's Short List:

Dances with Wolves

Awakenings

The Godfather Part III

Dick Tracy

Goodfellas

Misery

The Grifters

Pretty Woman

Ghost

Bugsy

Cape Fear

The Silence of the Lambs

The Fisher King

JFK

Barton Fink

Thelma & Louise

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Boyz N the Hood

Beauty and the Beast

Unforgiven

Scent of a Woman

The Crying Game

A Few Good Men

Malcolm X

Howard’s End

The Player

Aladdin

Sister Act

A League of Their Own

In the Name of the Father

Philadelphia

The Remains of the Day

Schindler’s List

The Fugitive

The Piano

Short Cuts

Mrs. Doubtfire

Sleepless in Seattle

Jurassic Park

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Dazed and Confused

Forrest Gump

The Shawshank Redemption

Pulp Fiction

Ed Wood

Bullets Over Broadway

Quiz Show

Speed

The Lion King

Four Weddings and Funeral

Nixon

Dead Man Walking

Babe

Apollo 13

The Usual Suspects

Sense and Sensibility

12 Monkeys

Se7en

The American President

Toy Story

Get Shorty

Heat

Jerry Maguire

The English Patient

The People vs. Larry Flynt

Shine

Sling Blade

Fargo

Waiting for Guffman

Good Will Hunting

Wag the Dog

As Good As It Gets

Jackie Brown

Boogie Nights

L.A. Confidential

Titanic

The Sweet Hereafter

The Full Monty

Saving Private Ryan

Gods and Monsters

American History X

The Truman Show

Elizabeth

Plesantville

The Thin Red Line

Out of Sight

There’s Something About Mary

Rushmore

The Insider

The Matrix

American Beauty

The Sixth Sense

Fight Club

Election

Toy Story 2

Being John Malkovich

Scream

Scream 2

Miller’s Crossing

The Iron Giant

Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a TV Movie/Miniseries

Possible Contenders
Samuel L. Jackson "The Sunset Limited"
Tommy Lee Jones "The Sunset Limited"
William Hurt "Too Big to Fail"
Jim Broadbent "Any Human Heart"
Idris Elba "Luther"
Laurence Fishburne "Thurgood"
Patrick Stewart "Macbeth"
Hugh Bonneville "Downtown Abbey"
Tom Selleck "Jesse Stone"
Greg Kinner "The Kennedys"
Kenneth Branagh "Wallander"
Ed Stoppard "Upstairs, Downstairs"
Ian McShane "Pillars of the Earth"
Joseph Morgan "Ben-Hur"
Edgar Ramirez "Carlos"

Commentary
In my personal opinion, the performances of Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson in The Sunset Limited were the best of the year, Jackson slighty ahead in my vote. But they may split each other's votes, leading the way for another actor to get in. One of these could be William Hurt, former Oscar winner, in the politically charged To Big to Fail. Another possibility could be the always incredible Jim Broadbent for Any Human Heart. I defnitely think that last year's breakout performance Edgar Ramirez for Carlos is a contender, as is the underratedc Idris Elba. Finally, Greg Kinner would have easily gotten in if The Kennedys had not stirred up controversy. If for some reason, the Academy likes the miniseries, then Kinnear could still get in.

Top 100 Movies of the Last 50 Years (1960-2010): 1980's Short List

Here is the short list for the 1980's. The final list is really starting to shape up, and I cannot wait to start the countdown!

Raging Bull

Ordinary People

The Elephant Man

Private Benjamin

Coal Miner’s Daughter

Tess

The Empire Strikes Back

Airplane!

The Shining

Caddyshack

Reds

On Golden Pond

Atlantic City

Chariots of Fire

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Body Heat

Missing

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

Sophie’s Choice

An Officer and a Gentleman

The Verdict

Tootsie

Blade Runner

Diner

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn

Terms of Endearment

Tender Mercies

Silkwood

The Big Chill

Fanny and Alexander

Return of the Jedi

Scarface

Amadeus

The Killing Fields

A Soldier’s Heart

Places in the Heart

A Passage to India

Romancing the Stone

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Ghostbusters

Beverly Hills Cop

Once Upon a Time in America

The Terminator

This is Spinal Tap

Witness

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Out of Africa

The Color Purple

Brazil

Back to the Future

The Trip to Bountiful

The Breakfast Club

Children of a Lesser God

The Color of Money

A Room with a View

Hannah and Her Sisters

Platoon

Aliens

Blue Velvet

Top Gun

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Wall Street

Broadcast News

The Untouchables

Ironweed

Good Morning, Vietnam

Moonstruck

Fatal Attraction

Hope and Glory

The Last Emperor

The Princess Bride

Full Metal Jacket

Raising Arizona

Mississippi Burning

Rain Man

Big

A Fish Called Wanda

Working Girl

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Die Hard

Bull Durham

Driving Miss Daisy

Born on the Fourth of July

Do the Right Thing

My Left Foot

Steel Magnolias

The Little Mermaid

Field of Dreams

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

sex, lies & videotape

When Harry Met Sally

2011 Billboard Music Awards

I don't really care about these awards, and neither should you, but nonetheless, here are the winners:

Top Album Artist: Taylor Swift
Top New Artist: Justin Bieber
Country Song of the Year: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Millenium Award: Beyoncé
Top Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas
Radio Artist of the Year: Rihanna
Hot 100 Song of the Year: Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart”
Digital Artist of the Year: Justin Bieber
Country Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist: U2
Fan Favorite: Justin Bieber
Female Artist of the Year: Rihanna
Icon Award: Neil Diamond

Cannes 2011: The Palme D'or and Awards

Probably no surprise, despite the audience boos (those French, what do you expect?), Terrence Malick's latest, which is receiving rave reviews, won the Palme d'Or. Also not much of surprise, but the widely praised performances of Jean Dujardin and Kirsten Dunst won Actor and Actress. Woody Allen's latest Midnight in Paris went home empty handed, but its stellar Friday night debut in limited release is award enough.

Palme d’Or: The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)
Grand Prix (a tie): Le Gaumin au Velo (Dardennes brothers) & Once Upon a Time in Anataolia (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)Best Director: Nicholas Winding Refn (Drive)
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin "The Artist"
Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia)
Prix du Jury: Polisse (Maïwenn)
Prix du scènario : Footnote
Best Screenplay: Hearat Shulayim (Joseph Cedar)
Camera d’Or (Best First Film): Las Acacias (Pablo Giorgelli)
Un Certain Regard : Prix Spécial du Jury / Special Jury Prize : Elena (Andrey Zvyagintsev)
Best Short Film: Cross Country

Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries

Possible Contenders
Kate Winslet "Mildred Pierce"
Diane Lane "Cinema Verite"

Taraji P. Henson "Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story"

Jean Marsh "Upstairs, Downstairs"

Keeley Hawes "Upstairs, Downstairs"

Elizabeth McGovern "Downtown Abbey"

Jennifer Love Hewitt "The Client List"

Katie Holmes "The Kennedys"

Kim Raver "Bond of Silence"

Chyler Leigh "The 19th Wife"

Hayley Atwell "Pillars of the Earth"

Anna Maxwell Martin "South Riding"

Kate Fleetwood "Macbeth"

Hayden Panettiere "Amanda Know: Murder on Trial in Italy"

Commentary

There are a lot of contenders but the consensus among pundits seems to be colluding around five solid nominees, with a handful of others who could fill the last spot. Kate Winslet is a shoo-in for Mildred Pierce, even if it had been crap, she still would have gotten in. I also think that Diane Lane is a lock, and the race is probably between her and Winslet. The two contenders from British productions, Elizabeth McGovern and Jean Marsh should also be in without much fuss. The final slot looks to be Taraji P. Henson's role in Taken From Me. Although the film was so-so, Henson is always fantastic, and will most likely get the final nod. For the potential sixth spot, Hewitt, Atwell, and Raver could compete. Katie Holmes is a wildcard, although I think that, like critics, the Emmys will avoid The Kennedys.

Top 100 Movies of the Last 50 Years (1960-2010): 1970's Short List

Here is my short list (aka first elimination) for the 1970's:

The Last House on the Left

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Hills Have Eyes

Five Easy Pieces

Love Story

Patton

Airport

M*A*S*H

Sunday Bloody Sunday

The French Connection

Bananas

The Last Picture Show

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Klute

Dirty Harry

A Clockwork Orange

Shaft

Harold & Maude

The Godfather

Sounder

The Heartbreak Kid

Cabaret

The Emigrants

Deliverance

Last Tango in Paris

Save the Tiger

The Last Detail

Serpico

The Sting

Bang the Drum Slowly

The Exorcist

The Paper Chase

The Way We Were

Touch of Class

Cries and Whispers

American Graffiti

Badlands

Mean Streets

The Godfather Part II

Murder on the Orient Express

Lenny
Chinatown

The Towering Inferno

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

A Woman Under the Influence

Blazing Saddles

The Conversation

Young Frankenstein

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Shampoo

Tommy

Dog Day Afternoon

Nashville

Barry Lyndon

The Man Who Would Be King

Jaws

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Taxi Driver

Network

Rocky

Marathon Man

All the President’s Men

Carrie

The Last Tycoon

Silent Movie

Annie Hall

The Goodbye Girl

Saturday Night Fever

Star Wars

Julia

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Airport ‘77

The Spy Who Loved Me

Halloween

Dawn of the Dead

Heaven Can Wait

The Deer Hunter

Coming Home

Same Time, Next Year

California Suite

Superman

Grease

National Lampoon’s Animal House

Kramer vs. Kramer

All that Jazz

Apocalypse Now

Alien

Norma Rae

Manhattan

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The Wanderers

Emmy Contenders: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Possible Contenders
Michael J. Fox "The Good Wife"
Scott Porter "The Good Wife"
Titus Welliver "The Good Wife"
Jeremy Irons "Law & Order: SVU"
Henry Ian Cusick "Law & Order: SVU"
Robert Morse "Mad Men"
Mark Moses "Mad Men"
Christopher Stanley "Mad Men"
Bob Newhart "NCIS"
Bruce Dern "Big Love"
Hal Holbrook "Sons of Anarchy"
Jack Huston "Boardwalk Empire"
Greg Antonacci "Boardwalk Empire"
Jonny Lee Miller "Dexter"
Peter Weller "Dexter"
Peter Gallagher "Rescue Me"
Richard Dreyfuss "Parenthood"
Michael Emerson "Parenthood"
John Corbett "Parenthood"
Beau Bridges "Brothers & Sisters"
Tim Matheson "Burn Notice"
Robert Patrick "Burn Notice"
Burt Reynolds "Burn Notice"
Ken Howard "Fairly Legal"
Gerald McRaney "Fairly Legal"
Brian Dennehy "Rizzoli & Isles"
Donnie Wahlberg "Rizzoli & Isles"
Henry Winkler "Royal Pains"
John Larroquette "White Collar"
Richard Schiff "White Collar"
Lennie James "The Walking Dead"
Norman Reedus "The Walking Dead"
Michael Rooker "The Walking Dead"
James Frain "True Blood"
Joe Manganiello "True Blood"

Commentary
Robert Morse was nominated last year for Mad Men, and should get in again, as should veteran Bruce Dern in his stunning role in Big Love. I also think veterans Bob Newhart and Hal Holbrook will get in on name recognition for NCIS and Sons of Anarchy respectively. SVU has some nice potentials, with Irons having the most potential. I could also see some of the Parenthood guys getting in, if and only if the Emmy voters would recognize its brilliance (in all categories). Peter Weller and Jonny Lee Miller of Dexter were fantastic, were some of the guest stars of Burn Notice, especially good old Burt Reynolds. I also watch out for Emmy fave Beau Bridges, who was good the recently cancelled Brothers & Sisters.

Top 100 Movies of the Last 50 Years (1960-2010): 1960's Short List

Now that I have given you all the long lists for each decade, I wanted to give you the first set of eliminations, aka the short lists. The next stop will be the actual list, so we are on our way! So here is the short list for the 1960's:

The Apartment

Sons & Lovers

Elmer Gantry

The Entertainer

Inherit the Wind

The Sundowners

Spartacus

Psycho

One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Fanny

Judgment at Nuremberg

Splendor in the Grass

West Side Story

Two Women

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Yojimbo

A Raisin in the Sun

Birdman of Alcatraz

Days of Wines and Roses

To Kill a Mockingbird

Lawrence of Arabia

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

The Miracle Worker

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

The Manchurian Candidate

The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance

Through a Glass Darkly

The Sword and the Stone

Tom Jones

Hud

Lilies of the Field

The Birds

Federico Fellini’s 8 ½

How the West Was Won

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

The Great Escape

Bye Bye Birdie

Becket

My Fair Lady

Dr. Strangelove

Mary Poppins

The Americanization of Emily

Goldfinger

A Hard Day’s Night

The Pink Panther

From Russia with Love

A Patch of Blue

The Sound of Music

Cat Ballou

A Thousand Clowns

Doctor Zhivago

Darling

The Agony and the Ecstasy

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Alfie

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The Cincinnati Kid

A Man for All Seasons

Georgy Girl

The Fortune Cookie

Gambit

Bonnie and Clyde

The Graduate

In the Heat of the Night

Cool Hand Luke

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

The Dirty Dozen

Doctor Doolittle

Thoroughly Modern Millie

In Cold Blood

The Jungle Book

Oliver

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Producers

The Lion in Winter

Funny Girl

Rosemary’s Baby

2001: A Space Odyssey

Once Upon a Time in the West

Night of the Living Dead

Goodbye Mr. Chips

Midnight Cowboy

True Grit

Easy Rider

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Cactus Flower

Z

The Wild Bunch

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Cannes 2011: The Skin I Live In Reviews

Pedro Almodovar's latest film starring Antonio Banderas, seems to be even stranger than his previous efforts, although despite its weirdness, it also seems as if they are mostly good reviews as well.

Andrew O'Hehir from Salon

"It's less a film you'll fall in love with than a film you'll tell your friends they absolutely must see, and that should be enough to make it a hit around the world."

Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian

"For those who would like Almodóvar to do something radical – and this was rather how this movie had been misleadingly billed here in Cannes – then The Skin I Live In might try the patience. But I can only say that it kept me gripped from first to last. The sheer muscular confidence of Almodóvar’s film-making language gives it force, and co-exists with a dancer’s elegance and grace."

Even Eric Kohn at Indiewire, who was not that fond of the film, still gave it a B-:

"Almodóvar takes this material in several directions, sometimes toying with horror pastiche, and occasionally simply ramping up the suspense. The result is an inventive set-up that wanders around, as if Almodóvar just wanted the opportunity to move away from the dramatic turf where he has resided of late. If nothing else, “Skin” illustrates that a throwback doesn’t necessarily equate with a return to form."

So the jury is still out, and like Melancholia, this one could have trouble finding an American audience. But the Academy has always liked Almodovar, and with Antonio Banderas in the lead, a niche audience could help it survive through the brutal Oscar season.

2011 BET Awards Nominees

Best Female R&B Artist
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyoncé
Keri Hilson
Jennifer Hudson
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Cee-Lo Green
Bruno Mars
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Group
Diddy Dirty Money
Cali Swag District
N.E.R.D.
New Boyz
Travis Porter

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Diamond
Cymphonique
Lola Monroe
Nicki Minaj

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
B.o.B
Drake
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Kanye West

Best Collaboration
B.o.B ft. Haley Williams of Paramore, "Airplanes"
Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, "Look At Me Now"
Kanye West ft. Rihanna, "All of the Lights"
Chris Brown ft. Tyga & Kevin McCall, "Deuces"
Waka Flocka Flame ft. Roscoe Dash & Wale, "No Hands"
Rihanna ft. Drake, "What's My Name"

Best New Artist
J. Cole
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Willow Smith
Wiz Khalifa

YoungStars Award
Shenell Edmonds
Keke Palmer
Diggy Simmons
Jaden Smith
Willow Smith

Video of the Year
"Far Away" Marsha Ambrosius
"Airplanes" B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams of Paramore
"Look At Me Now" Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
"Pretty Girl Rock", Keri Hilson
"Whip My Hair" Willow Smith
"Runaway" Kanye West ft. Pusha T

Best Gospel
Byron Cage
Deitrick Haddon
Mary Mary
Karen Clark Sheard
BeBe & CeCe Winans

Centric Award
Marsha Ambrosius
Eric Benét
Cee-Lo Green
R. Kelly
Kem

Best International Act (Africa)
2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
D' Banj (Nigeria)
D-Black (Ghana)
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
Teargas (South Africa)

Best International Act (UK)
VV Brown
Chipmunk
Laura Izibor
Skepta
Tinchy Stryder
Tinie Tempah

Best Actress
Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoë Saldana
Kerry Washington

Best Actor
Laz Alonso
Chris Brown
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx

Best Movie
Death at a Funeral
For Colored Girls
Takers
The Book of Eli
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married, Too?

Sportswoman of the Year
Tamika Catchings
Candice Dupree
Maya Moore
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Derrick Rose
Michael Vick

Emmy Contenders: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Possible Contenders
Julia Stiles "Dexter"
Joan Cusack "Shameless"
Shohreh Aghdashloo "Law & Order: SVU"
Christine Lahti "Law & Order: SVU"
Debra Messing "Law & Order: SVU"
Jennifer Love Hewitt "Law & Order: SVU"
Marcia Gay Harden "Law & Order: SVU"
Joan Cusack "Law & Order: SVU"
Cara Buono "Mad Men"
Randee Heller "Mad Men"
Jessica Pare "Mad Men"
American Ferrera "The Good Wife"
Anika Noni Rose "The Good Wife"
Sarah Silverman "The Good Wife"
Jane Alexander "The Good Wife"
Martha Plimpton "The Good Wife"
Rita Wilson "The Good Wife"
Candice Bergen "House"
Sharon Lawrence "Drop Dead Diva"
Cybil Sheperd "Drop Dead Diva"
Rosie O'Donnell "Drop Dead Diva"
Laura San Giacomo "In Plain Sight"
Lesley Ann Warren "In Plain Sight"
Mary McDonnell "The Closer"
Gretchen Mol "Boardwalk Empire"
Jennifer Esposito "Blue Bloods"
Ellen Burstyn "Big Love"
Penelope Ann Miller "Men of a Certain Age"
Evan Rachel Wood "True Blood"
Alfre Woodard "True Blood"
Diahann Carroll "White Collar"

Commentary

This category has too many people to choose. Here is what I can discern. Ellen Burstyn in Big Love and Julia Stiles in Dexter are definite contenders. SVU has too many contenders to count, but my guess is that Messing, Aghdashloo, Cusack, and Lahti being the top of the bunch. The Good Wife is also stacked with contenders, with Fererra adn Rose probably being the best bets. There are many other loose contenders that could populate the top six. Candice Bergen, Gretchen Mol, Esposito, McDonnell, and others being a possibility. I think this category needs to be looked at more closely later on once we start to weed out some of these performances. There are simply too many at this point to really narrow it down to even ten contenders let alone six.

Cannes 2011: Melancholia Reviews

Lars van Trier's latest Melancholia released a weird, and uninteresting trailer not too long ago. However, not neccessarily dreadful, it is already dividing critics, with some saying it is incredible, and others simply not buying into it.

Eric Cohn at Indiewire calls it "Dark Apocalyptic Masterpiece". and goes on further to say:

"The greatest possible expression of Von Trier’s recent “no more happy endings” edict, “Melancholia” is supremely operatic, enlivened by its cosmic sensibility, and yet amazingly rendered on an intimate scale. Beyond its opening and closing minutes, the movie’s appeal mainly comes from its fine-tuned performances, each of which adds to the developing sense of dread."

Lisa Schwarzbaum  from Entertainment Weekly

"Although Melancholia, by its very title, declares a mournful state of mind, the movie is, in fact, the work of a man whose slow emergence from personal crisis has resulted in a moving masterpiece, marked by an astonishing profundity of vision."
 
But others are not so smitten with this film:
 
Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian writes,
 
"If Melancholia had been conceived with real passion or imagination, or if it had been well written or convincingly acted in any way at all, it might have been a loopy masterpiece."
 
It seems that while some will not take to the film (maybe a lot like last year's Black Swan), that enough cirtics will like it, and many will be insanely passionate about it, to push it to indie box office success, and maybe awards success as well. In this case, it will take more reviews, and American audience reaction to see if it has legs for the long Oscar season.

The Top 100 Movies of the Last 50 Years (1960-2010): 2000's and 2010 Long List

Broken Record Alert - As always, let me know of any glaring exclusions!

Before Night Falls
Gladiator
Cast Away
Pollock
Quills
The Contender
Shadow of the Vampire
Traffic
Erin Brockovich
Chocolat
Requiem for a Dream
You Can Count On Me
Almost Famous
Billy Elliot
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Vatel
Malena
O Brother Where Art Thou?
The Patriot
Wonder Boys
Dancer in the Dark
Meet the Parents
The Emperor’s New Groove
The Perfect Storm
U-571
Chicken Run
Best in Show
Saving Grace
Miss Congeniality
Small Time Crooks
Nurse Betty
High Fidelity
What Women Want
X-Men
American Psycho
The Original Kings of Comedy
Pitch Black
Memento
The Whole Nine Yards
A Beautiful Mind
Ali
I Am Sam
Training Day
In the Bedroom
Iris
LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring
Sexy Beast
Monster’s Ball
Moulin Rouge
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Gosford Park
Monsters Inc.
Shrek
Amelie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Black Hawk Down
The Affair of the Necklace
The Man Who Wasn’t There
Mulholland Drive
Memento
Ghost World
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Deep End
The Others
The Shipping News
Legally Blonde
Bandits
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Life as a House
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
No Man’s Land
Ocean’s Eleven
Donnie Darko
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion
Lovely & Amazing
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Zoolander
The Pianist
Adaptation
The Quiet American
Gangs of New York
About Schmidt
The Hours
Road to Perdition
Catch Me If You Can
Chicago
Spirited Away
Frida
Unfaithful
Far From Heaven
Ice Age
Lilo & Stitch
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Treasure Planet
Talk to Her
Spellbound
Bowling for Columbine
Hero
Nowhere in Africa
8 Mile
Spider-Man
About a Boy
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Minority Report
Signs
LOTR: The Two Towers
Secretary
Igby Goes Down
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Rabbit-Proof Fence
28 Days Later
Antwone Fisher
All or Nothing
The Bourne Identity
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
The Good Girl
Laurel Canyon
Barbershop
One Hour Photo
Punch-Drunk Love
The Ring
POTC: The Curse of the Black Pearl
House of Sand and Fog
Cold Mountain
Lost in Translation
Mystic River
The Cooler
21 Grams
In America
The Last Samurai
Whale Rider
Something’s Gotta Give
Monster
Pieces of April
Thirteen
X2: X-Men United
Finding Nemo
The Triplets of Belleville
Girl with a Pearl Earring
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander: FSOTW
Seabiscuit
City of God
The Fog of War
Evil
The Barbarian Invasions
Big Fish
A Mighty Wind
American Splendor
Dirty Pretty Things
Veronica Guerin
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Love Actually
Bend it Like Beckham
Freaky Friday
The School of Rock
Calendar Girls
Bad Santa
Shattered Glass
Coffee and Cigarettes
Elephant
Holes
The Missing
Secondhand Lions
Hotel Rwanda
Closer
Ray
Sideways
Million Dollar Baby
Collateral
Finding Neverland
The Aviator
Being Julia
Maria Full of Grace
Vera Drake
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kinsey
The Incredibles
Shark Tale
Shrek 2
The Phantom of the Opera
A Very Long Engagement
House of Flying Daggers
The Passion of the Christ
Troy
Born Into Brothels
Garden State
Super Size Me
The Chorus
The Sea Inside
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Motorcycle Diaries
The Village
Spider-Man 2
Before Sunset
I, Robot
A Love Song for Bobby Long
Birth
Kill Bill Vol. 2
De-Lovely
Beyond the Sea
The Manchurian Candidate
Spanglish
Dawn of the Dead
Hellboy
Shaun of the Dead
13 Going on 30
Mean Girls
Fahrenheit 9/11
The Notebook
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
The Bourne Supremacy
Saw
Friday Night Lights
In Good Company
Capote
Hustle & Flow
Brokeback Mountain
Crash
Walk the Line
Good Night and Good Luck
Syriana
Cinderella Man
A History of Violence
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Transamerica
Pride & Prejudice
Junebug
North Country
The Constant Gardener
Howl’s Moving Castle
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
Wallace & Gromit
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Batman Begins
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The New World
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Munich
Tsotsi
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
War of the Worlds
Match Point
The Squid and the Whale
Proof
The Producers
Breakfast on Pluto
The Matador
In Her Shoes
Madagascar
Hitch
March of the Penguins
The Upside of Anger
Sin City
Fever Pitch
Wedding Crashers
The Devil’s Rejects
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Red Eye
Blood Diamond
Half Nelson
Venus
The Pursuit of Happyness
The Last King of Scotland
Little Miss Sunshine
Little Children
Dreamgirls
The Departed
Volver
Notes on a Scandal
The Queen
The Devil Wears Prada
Babel
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House
The Good Shepherd
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Prestige
POTC: Dead Man’s Chest
The Black Dahlia
Children of Men
The Illusionist
Curse of the Golden Flower
Marie Antoinette
Letters from Iwo Jima
United 93
An Inconvenient Truth
The Lives of Others
Apocalypto
The Good German
Flags of Our Fathers
Superman Returns
Borat
Bobby
Sherrybaby
Thank You For Smoking
Running with Scissors
Miss Potter
Kinky Boots
Stranger Than Fiction
Hollywoodland
Nomad
The Fountain
Casino Royale
The Da Vinci Code
Nanny McPhee
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party
16 Blocks
Inside Man
Friends with Money
A Prairie Home Companion
The Descent
For Your Consideration
Michael Clayton
There Will Be Blood
Sweeney Todd
In the Valley of Elah
Eastern Promises
No Country For Old Men
The Assassination of Jesse James…
Charlie Wilson’s War
Into the Wild
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Away From Her
La Vie En Rose
The Savages
Juno
I’m Not There
American Gangster
Atonement
Gone Baby Gone
Persepolis
Ratatouille
The Simpson’s Movie
The Golden Compass
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Across The Universe
Sicko
The Bourne Ultimatum
POTC: At World’s End
The Kite Runner
The Counterfeiters
3:10 to Yuma
Once
Enchanted
Transformers
Lars and the Real Girl
The Great Debaters
The Brave One
A Mighty Heart
Hairspray
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Lust, Caution
Grace is Gone
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
300
Breach
Black Snake Moan
Zodiac
Grindhouse
Hot Fuzz
Waitress
Ocean’s Thirteen
Live Free or Die Hard
Rescue Dawn
Sunshine
Halloween
Things We Lost in the Fire
Dan in Real Life
The Orphanage
The Visitor
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Wrestler
Tropic Thunder
Doubt
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road
Rachel Getting Married
Changeling
Gran Torino
Frozen River
The Reader
Let the Right One In
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Bolt
Kung-Fu Panda
Wall-E
The Duchess
Australia
Slumdog Millionaire
Man on Wire
Waltz with Bashir
The Class
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Defiance
Iron Man
Wanted
In Bruges
Happy-Go-Lucky
I’ve Loved You So Long
Burn After Reading
Mamma Mia!
Last Chance Harvey
Pineapple Express
Cadillac Records
IJ: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Quantum of Solace
Cloverfield
Be Kind Rewind
Baby Mama
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Strangers
Sex and the City
Religulous
W.
Role Models
Che
Marley & Me
Crazy Heart
Up
Up in the Air
A Single Man
Invictus
The Hurt Locker
The Messenger
The Last Station
The Lovely Bones
Inglorious Basterds
The Blind Side
An Education
Julie & Julia
Precious
Nine
Coraline
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Secret of Kells
The Princess and the Frog
Sherlock Holmes
Avatar
The While Ribbon
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Bright Star
Coco avant Chanel
The Young Victoria
The Cove
Food, Inc.
District 9
Un Prophet
Los Secreto De Sus Ojos
Star Trek
In the Loop
A Serious Man
Brothers
The Proposal
Duplicity
It’s Complicated
The Informant!
(500) Days of Summer
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
The Maid
Where the Wild Things Are
The Hangover
Watchmen
Sunshine Cleaning
Adventureland
State of Play
American Violet
Julia
Drag Me to Hell
Away We Go
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Cold Souls
I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Capitalism
The Damned United
Good Hair
Trucker
This is It
Pirate Radio
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
The Road
Biutiful
Alice in Wonderland
True Grit
The Social Network
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Kids Are All Right
Rabbit Hole
Winter’s Bone
Blue Valentine
The Fighter
Animal Kingdom
The Illusionist
How to Train Your Dragon
Toy Story 3
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
I Am Love
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Dogtooth
In a Better World
The Way Back
Barney’s Version
Tangled
TRON: Legacy
Salt
Hereafter
Iron Man 2
Another Year
Mother
Red
Love & Other Drugs
Easy A
The Town
Despicable Me
Megamind
Fish Tank
Shutter Island
The Ghost Writer
The Crazies
Greenburg
City Island
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Kick-Ass
Please Give
Mother and Child
Solitary Man
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Get Low
Never Let Me Go
The Milk of Sorrow
Let Me In
Made in Dagenham
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Night Catches Us
I Love You Phillip Morris
Somewhere

Emmy Contenders: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Possible Contenders
Carl Reiner "Hot in Cleveland"
Tim Conway "Hot in Cleveland"
Nathan Lane "Modern Family"
Matt Dillon "Modern Family"
James Marsden "Modern Family"
John Lithgow "How I Met Your Mother"
Liam Neeson "The Big C"
Idris Elba "The Big C"
Darren Criss "Glee"
John Stamos "Glee"
Matt Damon "30 Rock"
John Slattery "30 Rock"
Paul Giamatti "30 Rock"
Alan Alda "30 Rock"
Will Ferrell "The Office"
Jim Carey "SNL"
Timothy Olyphant "The Office"
James Spader "The Office"
Jon Hamm "SNL"
Elton John "SNL"
Justin Timberlake "SNL"
Dana Carvey "SNL"
Eddie Izzard "The United States of Tara"
Rob Lowe "Californication"
Richard Dreyfuss "Weeds"
Keith Carradine "The Big Bang Theory"

Commentary
This race, like most guest acting ones, is packed with plenty of stars, the question is, which ones will make the cut? The two veterans, Tim Conway and Carl Reiner, are sure to get in on name recognition alone, plus I think people are underestimating the Emmy potential of Hot In Cleveland. The Office is sure to get some slots, Will Ferrell probably being the best bet. SNL and 30 Rock have done well in this category before, and with names like Jon Hamm, Matt Damon, Justin Timberlake, Alan Alda, Paul Giamatti, John Slattery, and Elton John, there are sure to be some spots available. One of the big mysteries to this season is how The Big C will play out. I think that both Neeson and Elba could get in, but it just depends on Emmy voters' views of the show. Modern Family is definitely popular, and Nathan Lane looks to be its best shot at a nod. Darren Criss has been a sensation on Glee, and will probably get some recognition, as could longtime Emmy favorite John Lithgow.