When I made my top 10 list, there were still a few year-end releases I hadn't yet seen. I've pretty much made my way through them now, so here's a final top 20 of 2006:
1. The Queen
2. Babel
3. Flags of Our Fathers
4. Little Children
5. The Departed
6. Casino Royale
7. United 93
8. Letters from Iwo Jima
9. Dreamgirls
10. Little Miss Sunshine
11. Half Nelson
12. Volver
13. Children of Men
14. Pan's Labyrinth
15. The Painted Veil
16. Notes on a Scandal
17. Blood Diamond
18. The Devil Wears Prada
19. The Last King of Scotland
20. An Inconvenient Truth
Biggest disappointments: Bobby, The Good German, A Prairie Home Companion, The Good Shepherd, Venus
Showing posts with label Best of 2006. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best of 2006. Show all posts
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Best Films of 2006
Here's my list of the 10 best films of 2006, plus some runners up. As a caveat, I haven't yet seen Letters From Iwo Jima, which has not been released in my city yet, and I have a hunch it could fit in here. I'll amend as needed and repost. Until then...
1. The Queen
This was a brilliant film, well acted and lean (it clocks in well under 2 hours). Helen Mirren is amazing as Queen Elizabeth II, but I also really liked Michael Sheen as Tony Blair. She makes you understand what a completely unique person the Queen of England is, while he makes you feel the exuberance of an exciting change-oriented government leader--both exhibit how larger than life figures are human too. I can't say enough good things about it.
2. Babel
This was a hard choice between film #3, as both, along with The Queen, rate as "5 star" films in my mind. In the end Babel wins out, as it haunted me for weeks. The best thing about the film is Adriana Barraza as an illegal immigrant maid who risks everything to attend her son's wedding, something that wouldn't have been a risk at all had the wedding been held in San Diego instead of Mexico. Amazing how much difference a border makes. There's also this truly amazing film sequence where a deaf Japanese teenage girl (Rinko Kicuchi, also quite good) gets stoned and goes clubbing--a dazzling composition of image and sound. As hard as this film is to watch (nobody comes out happy), I'd gladly see it again.
3. Flags of Our Fathers
I almost cried after seeing this film, as I thought the final images really drove home the point that the people who fight our wars--wars in which countless lives, dollars, resources, etc. are wasted--are really just children (Blood Diamond, another great movie, makes this point too, pointing out that the word "infantry" has "infant" as its root). Clint Eastwood's war film is gripping, visually stunning, and completely relevant to modern times, which is perhaps why it didn't do that well at the box-office, as it is serious reminder of the grimness of war.
4. Little Children
In the Bedroom was one of my favorite movies of 2001, and director Todd Field didn't let me down with this scathing portrait of suburban life, a study of how we "other" those whose sins are on the outside to better cover the sins we keep hidden. Kate Winslet was, as usual, amazing and perfect, and Jackie Earle Haley was completely creepy, yet worthy of compassion too. It didn't hurt that Patrick Wilson was really really hot too.
5. The Departed
Yes, this movies lets you down a bit at the end, but ignore that and enjoy the rest, a tightly-woven, intricately plotted gangster/spy thriller that plays circles in your mind as you think about cop DiCaprio pretending to be a gangster to spy on Nicholson and uncover who in the force is the mole giving him information, while Nicholson finds out through gangster Damon pretending to be a cop that he has a mole in his organization. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. DiCaprio, Damon, and Nicholson are stellar here. Scorsese famously hasn't won a Best Director Oscar yet, but this will be his year. Another gem in his recent line of brilliance that includes such a variety of films such as The Aviator, Gangs of New York, The Age of Innocence, and Goodfellas.
6. Casino Royale
I adore James Bond--I just got the previous 20 films for Christmas--and this is hands down the best James Bond movie yet. Yes, better than The Spy Who Loved Me, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and all the other classics. It's action-packed, exciting, funny, thrilling, and shows an awareness of the human side of Bond never before seen. Yes, Bond screws up, bleeds, cries, and sometimes fails, even though he is Bond...James Bond. Daniel Craig is superb as Bond too; I hope he makes many more.
7. United 93
Going into this movie, I knew it would be hard to watch, and it was, since its documentary style and attention to detail perfectly capture what the morning of September 11, 2001 was like. Credit it for showing the facts without sentimentality and for pulling together a compelling ensemble cast who completely melt into their roles. The best part though was despite its grim nature, when the passengers rise up against the terrorists it is perhaps the most moving display of raw courage in a film ever. It warms your heart, providing hope among all the terror--very powerful.
8. Little Miss Sunshine
The summer's best movie was another entry in the expanding line of quirky comedies, bearing easy comparison to films like The Royal Tennenbaums and I Heart Huckabees. This film far surpasses those effforts though, by showing us a family that is completely believable as a family and drawing quirky characters that stand by themselves as well-rounded, true-to-life people rather than archetypes. Little Abigail Breslin also delivers the goods in the funniest scene of the year when she performs at the child beauty contest the title refers to.
9. Half Nelson
Ryan Gosling is amazing here, and I certainly hopes Oscar doesn't overlook his commanding performance of a do-gooder inner city middle school teacher who so badly wants to be a role model for his kids but just can't be because he hides a terrible secret (he's a crack addict). Shareeka Epps as the student he befriends and tries to help is really good too. Heartbreaking movie.
10. Volver
Think Penelope Cruz can't act? Think again, she delivers a stunning, soulful performance here as a headstrong daughter doing what she can to make ends meet while dealing with her crazy sister who thinks their dead mother has returned ("volver" means "to return"). Carmen Maura, who you might remember from Almodovar's '80s classic Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, is great too as the mother.
Honorable mentions: Children of Men (includes two thrilling single-take action sequences not to be missed), Notes on a Scandal (Judi Dench delivers the best lines of the year), Blood Diamond (thrilling drama and Leonardo DiCaprio's other brilliant performance), The Devil Wears Prada (Meryl Streep can do so much with just a look, can't she?), and The Last King of Scotland (Forest Whitaker was totally scary, and James McAvoy was underrated).
1. The Queen
This was a brilliant film, well acted and lean (it clocks in well under 2 hours). Helen Mirren is amazing as Queen Elizabeth II, but I also really liked Michael Sheen as Tony Blair. She makes you understand what a completely unique person the Queen of England is, while he makes you feel the exuberance of an exciting change-oriented government leader--both exhibit how larger than life figures are human too. I can't say enough good things about it.
2. Babel
This was a hard choice between film #3, as both, along with The Queen, rate as "5 star" films in my mind. In the end Babel wins out, as it haunted me for weeks. The best thing about the film is Adriana Barraza as an illegal immigrant maid who risks everything to attend her son's wedding, something that wouldn't have been a risk at all had the wedding been held in San Diego instead of Mexico. Amazing how much difference a border makes. There's also this truly amazing film sequence where a deaf Japanese teenage girl (Rinko Kicuchi, also quite good) gets stoned and goes clubbing--a dazzling composition of image and sound. As hard as this film is to watch (nobody comes out happy), I'd gladly see it again.
3. Flags of Our Fathers
I almost cried after seeing this film, as I thought the final images really drove home the point that the people who fight our wars--wars in which countless lives, dollars, resources, etc. are wasted--are really just children (Blood Diamond, another great movie, makes this point too, pointing out that the word "infantry" has "infant" as its root). Clint Eastwood's war film is gripping, visually stunning, and completely relevant to modern times, which is perhaps why it didn't do that well at the box-office, as it is serious reminder of the grimness of war.
4. Little Children
In the Bedroom was one of my favorite movies of 2001, and director Todd Field didn't let me down with this scathing portrait of suburban life, a study of how we "other" those whose sins are on the outside to better cover the sins we keep hidden. Kate Winslet was, as usual, amazing and perfect, and Jackie Earle Haley was completely creepy, yet worthy of compassion too. It didn't hurt that Patrick Wilson was really really hot too.
5. The Departed
Yes, this movies lets you down a bit at the end, but ignore that and enjoy the rest, a tightly-woven, intricately plotted gangster/spy thriller that plays circles in your mind as you think about cop DiCaprio pretending to be a gangster to spy on Nicholson and uncover who in the force is the mole giving him information, while Nicholson finds out through gangster Damon pretending to be a cop that he has a mole in his organization. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. DiCaprio, Damon, and Nicholson are stellar here. Scorsese famously hasn't won a Best Director Oscar yet, but this will be his year. Another gem in his recent line of brilliance that includes such a variety of films such as The Aviator, Gangs of New York, The Age of Innocence, and Goodfellas.
6. Casino Royale
I adore James Bond--I just got the previous 20 films for Christmas--and this is hands down the best James Bond movie yet. Yes, better than The Spy Who Loved Me, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and all the other classics. It's action-packed, exciting, funny, thrilling, and shows an awareness of the human side of Bond never before seen. Yes, Bond screws up, bleeds, cries, and sometimes fails, even though he is Bond...James Bond. Daniel Craig is superb as Bond too; I hope he makes many more.
7. United 93
Going into this movie, I knew it would be hard to watch, and it was, since its documentary style and attention to detail perfectly capture what the morning of September 11, 2001 was like. Credit it for showing the facts without sentimentality and for pulling together a compelling ensemble cast who completely melt into their roles. The best part though was despite its grim nature, when the passengers rise up against the terrorists it is perhaps the most moving display of raw courage in a film ever. It warms your heart, providing hope among all the terror--very powerful.
8. Little Miss Sunshine
The summer's best movie was another entry in the expanding line of quirky comedies, bearing easy comparison to films like The Royal Tennenbaums and I Heart Huckabees. This film far surpasses those effforts though, by showing us a family that is completely believable as a family and drawing quirky characters that stand by themselves as well-rounded, true-to-life people rather than archetypes. Little Abigail Breslin also delivers the goods in the funniest scene of the year when she performs at the child beauty contest the title refers to.
9. Half Nelson
Ryan Gosling is amazing here, and I certainly hopes Oscar doesn't overlook his commanding performance of a do-gooder inner city middle school teacher who so badly wants to be a role model for his kids but just can't be because he hides a terrible secret (he's a crack addict). Shareeka Epps as the student he befriends and tries to help is really good too. Heartbreaking movie.
10. Volver
Think Penelope Cruz can't act? Think again, she delivers a stunning, soulful performance here as a headstrong daughter doing what she can to make ends meet while dealing with her crazy sister who thinks their dead mother has returned ("volver" means "to return"). Carmen Maura, who you might remember from Almodovar's '80s classic Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, is great too as the mother.
Honorable mentions: Children of Men (includes two thrilling single-take action sequences not to be missed), Notes on a Scandal (Judi Dench delivers the best lines of the year), Blood Diamond (thrilling drama and Leonardo DiCaprio's other brilliant performance), The Devil Wears Prada (Meryl Streep can do so much with just a look, can't she?), and The Last King of Scotland (Forest Whitaker was totally scary, and James McAvoy was underrated).
UK Charts of 2006
The UK year-end charts are out. Unlike Billboard, the UK Official Chart Company bases their year-end charts on the calendar year, and singles charts are based solely on sales (no airplay). Here are Britain's best-selling singles and albums for 2006:
Top 10 Singles of 2006:
1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (9 weeks @ #1)
2. A Moment Like This - Leona Lewis (2 wks @ #1)
3. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (5 wks @ #1)
4. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters (4 wks @ #1)
5. I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair) - Sandi Thom (1 wk @ #1)
6. From Paris to Berlin - Infernal (1 wk @ #2)
7. Maneater - Nelly Furtado (3 wks @ #1)
8. Patience - Take That (4 wks @ #1)
9. SOS - Rihanna (2 wks @ #2)
10. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake (1 wk @ #1)
Gnarls Barkley has the year's biggest hit with "Crazy," a single that topped the UK chart for 9 weeks, the longest stay at the top in 12 years. Sadly, the act couldn't find another hit this year; "Smiley Faces" hit #10, "Who Cares" a lousy #60. X Factor winner Leona Lewis comes at #2 with her debut, a remake of "A Moment Like This." The single had the year's best one-week sales figure, moving 572,000 copies its debut week. Ultimately, the single will likely eclipse the sales of "Crazy" as it continues to sell into the new year.
"Crazy," along with "SOS," "Sexyback," and "Hips Don't Lie" were also big hits in the US this year. "Maneater," however, was a huge hit in Britain, but peaked at only #16 in the US, while "Promiscuous" was the third biggest hit of the year on Billboard. Take That lands their first single on the year-end top 10 list since 1995, when "Back For Good" was #4 for the year.
Top 10 Albums of 2006:
1. Eyes Open - Snow Patrol (3 wks @ #1)
2. Beautiful World - Take That (4 wks @ #1)
3. Ta-Dah - Scissor Sisters (2 wks @ #1)
4. Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys (4 wks @ #1)
5. Inside In / Inside Out - The Kooks (#2)
6. Razorlight - Razorlight (2 wks @ #1)
7. Stop the Clocks - Oasis (#2)
8. The Love Album - Westlife (1 wk @ #1)
9. I'm Not Dead - Pink (#3)
10. Undiscovered - James Morrison (2 wks @ #1)
Snow Patrol has the top-selling album in the UK for 2006. A bit of a surprise to me, as I expected Arctic Monkeys to have the year's #1 album, but they are down at #4. Snow Patrol last album, Final Straw, was #9 for the year in 2004. Scissor Sisters, who had the #1 album of 2005 with their eponymous debut, land at #3. Their sales competitor in 2004, Keane (#2 that year with Hopes and Fears), lands outside the top 10 at #14.
Pink returns to the year-end top 10 this year with her fourth album. Her second album, M!ssundaztood, was #2 for 2002. Oasis and Westlife, two acts that are no strangers to the year-end albums top 10, land at #7 and #8 respectively. This is the fifth appearance for both acts in the year-end top 10. Westlife's previous appeances were Face-to-Face (#7, 2005), Unbreakable (#8, 2002), Coast to Coast (#4, 2000), and Westlife (#9, 1999); Oasis's were Heathen Chemistry (#10, 2002), Be Here Now (#1, 1997), and What's the Story Morning Glory (#3, 1996 and #2, 1995),
Top 10 Singles of 2006:
1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (9 weeks @ #1)
2. A Moment Like This - Leona Lewis (2 wks @ #1)
3. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (5 wks @ #1)
4. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters (4 wks @ #1)
5. I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair) - Sandi Thom (1 wk @ #1)
6. From Paris to Berlin - Infernal (1 wk @ #2)
7. Maneater - Nelly Furtado (3 wks @ #1)
8. Patience - Take That (4 wks @ #1)
9. SOS - Rihanna (2 wks @ #2)
10. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake (1 wk @ #1)
Gnarls Barkley has the year's biggest hit with "Crazy," a single that topped the UK chart for 9 weeks, the longest stay at the top in 12 years. Sadly, the act couldn't find another hit this year; "Smiley Faces" hit #10, "Who Cares" a lousy #60. X Factor winner Leona Lewis comes at #2 with her debut, a remake of "A Moment Like This." The single had the year's best one-week sales figure, moving 572,000 copies its debut week. Ultimately, the single will likely eclipse the sales of "Crazy" as it continues to sell into the new year.
"Crazy," along with "SOS," "Sexyback," and "Hips Don't Lie" were also big hits in the US this year. "Maneater," however, was a huge hit in Britain, but peaked at only #16 in the US, while "Promiscuous" was the third biggest hit of the year on Billboard. Take That lands their first single on the year-end top 10 list since 1995, when "Back For Good" was #4 for the year.
Top 10 Albums of 2006:
1. Eyes Open - Snow Patrol (3 wks @ #1)
2. Beautiful World - Take That (4 wks @ #1)
3. Ta-Dah - Scissor Sisters (2 wks @ #1)
4. Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys (4 wks @ #1)
5. Inside In / Inside Out - The Kooks (#2)
6. Razorlight - Razorlight (2 wks @ #1)
7. Stop the Clocks - Oasis (#2)
8. The Love Album - Westlife (1 wk @ #1)
9. I'm Not Dead - Pink (#3)
10. Undiscovered - James Morrison (2 wks @ #1)
Snow Patrol has the top-selling album in the UK for 2006. A bit of a surprise to me, as I expected Arctic Monkeys to have the year's #1 album, but they are down at #4. Snow Patrol last album, Final Straw, was #9 for the year in 2004. Scissor Sisters, who had the #1 album of 2005 with their eponymous debut, land at #3. Their sales competitor in 2004, Keane (#2 that year with Hopes and Fears), lands outside the top 10 at #14.
Pink returns to the year-end top 10 this year with her fourth album. Her second album, M!ssundaztood, was #2 for 2002. Oasis and Westlife, two acts that are no strangers to the year-end albums top 10, land at #7 and #8 respectively. This is the fifth appearance for both acts in the year-end top 10. Westlife's previous appeances were Face-to-Face (#7, 2005), Unbreakable (#8, 2002), Coast to Coast (#4, 2000), and Westlife (#9, 1999); Oasis's were Heathen Chemistry (#10, 2002), Be Here Now (#1, 1997), and What's the Story Morning Glory (#3, 1996 and #2, 1995),
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Personal Chart: Top 50 of 2006
Tabulated from my weekly charts throughout the year, here is my top 50 singles of 2006. Singles peaking at #1 or #2 have their weeks at their peak in parentheses, video links included for the top 10:
Rank....Peak.....Title - Artist
1 .... 1(3) .... Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
2 .... 1(4) .... Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado (featuring Timbaland)
3 ... 1(10) ... I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
4 .... 2(2) .... Get Together - Madonna
5 .... 1(2) .... Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
6 .... 1(1) .... SOS - Rihanna
7 .... 5 .... Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
8 .... 1(2) .... Too Little, Too Late - Jojo
9 .... 4 .... Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson
10 .... 3 .... My Love - Justin Timberlake (featuring T.I.)
11 .... 1(3) .... Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
12 .... 1(3) .... All Time Love - Will Young
13 .... 2(2) .... Maneater - Nelly Furtado
14 .... 2(2) .... Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
15 .... 4 .... Unfaithful - Rihanna
16 .... 2(2) .... When You Were Young - The Killers
17 .... 2(2) .... Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
18 .... 1(2) .... You're All I Have - Snow Patrol
19 .... 1(4) .... Sorry - Madonna
20 .... 1(2) .... Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
21 .... 2(2) .... Never Be Lonely - The Feeling
22 .... 3 .... No Tomorrow - Orson
23 .... 1(2) .... Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (featuring Wyclef Jean)
24 .... 8 .... Be Without You - Mary J Blige
25 .... 1(2) .... Stickwitu - The Pussycat Dolls
26 .... 3 .... Buttons - The Pussycat Dolls
27 ... 11 ... What's Left of Me - Nick Lachey
28 .... 2(1) .... Fill My Little World - The Feeling
29 .... 4 .... Check On It - Beyonce (featuring Slim Thug)
30 .... 1(2) .... Sewn - The Feeling
31 .... 4 .... Who Am I - Will Young
32 .... 8 .... Hurt - Christina Aguilera
33 .... 5 .... You're Beautiful - James Blunt
34 .... 1(1) .... Smile - Lily Allen
35 .... 2(2) .... Nature's Law - Embrace
36 .... 5 .... Who Knew - Pink
37 .... 1(1) .... Fergalicious - Fergie
38 .... 4 .... You Give Me Something - James Morrison
39 .... 2(1) .... It's Not That Easy - Lemar
40 .... 2(2) .... Red Dress - Sugababes
41 .... 3 .... Jump - Madonna
42 .... 2(1) .... The Hardest Part - Coldplay
43 .... 2(2) .... Ugly - Sugababes
44 .... 2(3) .... Easy - Sugababes
45 .... 4 .... Stupid Girls - Pink
46 .... 3 .... She Moves in Her Own Way - The Kooks
47 .... 4 .... Lovelight - Robbie Williams
48 .... 2(1) .... Irreplaceable - Beyonce
49 .... 2(2) .... Push the Button - Sugababes
50 .... 6 .... In the Morning - Razorlight
Rank....Peak.....Title - Artist
1 .... 1(3) .... Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
2 .... 1(4) .... Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado (featuring Timbaland)
3 ... 1(10) ... I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
4 .... 2(2) .... Get Together - Madonna
5 .... 1(2) .... Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
6 .... 1(1) .... SOS - Rihanna
7 .... 5 .... Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
8 .... 1(2) .... Too Little, Too Late - Jojo
9 .... 4 .... Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson
10 .... 3 .... My Love - Justin Timberlake (featuring T.I.)
11 .... 1(3) .... Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
12 .... 1(3) .... All Time Love - Will Young
13 .... 2(2) .... Maneater - Nelly Furtado
14 .... 2(2) .... Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
15 .... 4 .... Unfaithful - Rihanna
16 .... 2(2) .... When You Were Young - The Killers
17 .... 2(2) .... Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
18 .... 1(2) .... You're All I Have - Snow Patrol
19 .... 1(4) .... Sorry - Madonna
20 .... 1(2) .... Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
21 .... 2(2) .... Never Be Lonely - The Feeling
22 .... 3 .... No Tomorrow - Orson
23 .... 1(2) .... Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (featuring Wyclef Jean)
24 .... 8 .... Be Without You - Mary J Blige
25 .... 1(2) .... Stickwitu - The Pussycat Dolls
26 .... 3 .... Buttons - The Pussycat Dolls
27 ... 11 ... What's Left of Me - Nick Lachey
28 .... 2(1) .... Fill My Little World - The Feeling
29 .... 4 .... Check On It - Beyonce (featuring Slim Thug)
30 .... 1(2) .... Sewn - The Feeling
31 .... 4 .... Who Am I - Will Young
32 .... 8 .... Hurt - Christina Aguilera
33 .... 5 .... You're Beautiful - James Blunt
34 .... 1(1) .... Smile - Lily Allen
35 .... 2(2) .... Nature's Law - Embrace
36 .... 5 .... Who Knew - Pink
37 .... 1(1) .... Fergalicious - Fergie
38 .... 4 .... You Give Me Something - James Morrison
39 .... 2(1) .... It's Not That Easy - Lemar
40 .... 2(2) .... Red Dress - Sugababes
41 .... 3 .... Jump - Madonna
42 .... 2(1) .... The Hardest Part - Coldplay
43 .... 2(2) .... Ugly - Sugababes
44 .... 2(3) .... Easy - Sugababes
45 .... 4 .... Stupid Girls - Pink
46 .... 3 .... She Moves in Her Own Way - The Kooks
47 .... 4 .... Lovelight - Robbie Williams
48 .... 2(1) .... Irreplaceable - Beyonce
49 .... 2(2) .... Push the Button - Sugababes
50 .... 6 .... In the Morning - Razorlight
Disappointments of 2006
Briefly, here are my biggest disappointments from the entertainment industry. I won't brand these the "worst" of the year, since I try to be pretty selective in what I watch and buy, so hopefully I've avoided the real crap.
Disappointing album and single: Janet Jackson - 20 Y.O. and "So Excited."
I used to love Janet Jackson. Rhythm Nation 1814 was my favorite album for a long time, and I loved Janet, especially "If." Even The Velvet Rope was a favorite, but her career has been in a decline now for years. All For You was a commercial success, but not as compelling as her earlier stuff. Damito Jo was a real disappointment, but it at least had a handful of good tracks. Sadly, I could find only one worthy song on 20 Y.O. ("Enjoy" - should be a single, it's fantastic). Everything else sounded so tepid, especially "So Excited," where she sounds...so bored.
Disappointing new TV show: Ugly Betty
Admittedly, there were surely far worse shows that I completely avoided, but I was really excited about Ugly Betty, and it let me down. It played out like a TV version of The Devil Wears Prada, but without Meryl Streep. The same thing again and again, eventually I quit watching.
Disappointing movie: Bobby
It's got an A-list cast including Oscar winners (Anthony Hopkins, Helen Hunt) Oscar nominees (William H Macy, Laurence Fishburne, Sharon Stone), and lots of other big names, including Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher along with Lindsay Lohan, Joshua Jackson, Martin Sheen, Freddy Rodriguez, Heather Graham, Elijah Wood... I could go on and on. And its an interesting subject--what happened the day Bobby Kennedy was killed. But with too many characters and meaningless subplots, the movie completely lacks focus and provides little reason to care about most of the stories. Too ambitious for Emilio Estevez's first major outing as director.
Disappointing album and single: Janet Jackson - 20 Y.O. and "So Excited."
I used to love Janet Jackson. Rhythm Nation 1814 was my favorite album for a long time, and I loved Janet, especially "If." Even The Velvet Rope was a favorite, but her career has been in a decline now for years. All For You was a commercial success, but not as compelling as her earlier stuff. Damito Jo was a real disappointment, but it at least had a handful of good tracks. Sadly, I could find only one worthy song on 20 Y.O. ("Enjoy" - should be a single, it's fantastic). Everything else sounded so tepid, especially "So Excited," where she sounds...so bored.
Disappointing new TV show: Ugly Betty
Admittedly, there were surely far worse shows that I completely avoided, but I was really excited about Ugly Betty, and it let me down. It played out like a TV version of The Devil Wears Prada, but without Meryl Streep. The same thing again and again, eventually I quit watching.
Disappointing movie: Bobby
It's got an A-list cast including Oscar winners (Anthony Hopkins, Helen Hunt) Oscar nominees (William H Macy, Laurence Fishburne, Sharon Stone), and lots of other big names, including Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher along with Lindsay Lohan, Joshua Jackson, Martin Sheen, Freddy Rodriguez, Heather Graham, Elijah Wood... I could go on and on. And its an interesting subject--what happened the day Bobby Kennedy was killed. But with too many characters and meaningless subplots, the movie completely lacks focus and provides little reason to care about most of the stories. Too ambitious for Emilio Estevez's first major outing as director.
Best TV of 2006
1. Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)
I hadn't watched this show until this year; what was I thinking? This is fantastic television: thought-provoking stories with parallels to current global events, well-drawn characters, superb acting from a uniformly good cast. It doesn't get better than this.
2. Project Runway (Bravo)
What does it say that my two favorite shows of the year were from cable networks? Project Runway really hit its stride in its third season. It's the most compelling "reality" TV because it blends creativity and goes easy on the fake drama. Tim Gunn provides a warm presence, and Heidi Klum is a real ham ("You're Aut!").
3. 24 (Fox)
24 had a watershed year in its fourth season and managed to keep it up for season five. The only downer was the last 2 minutes--can't Jack get a break?
4. Lost (ABC)
In its third season now, Lost is sadly waning, but still manages to be pretty good. We just need something to happen.
5. 30 Rock (NBC)
I watched the pilot and didn't think much of it. Then my partner had me watch another episode, and I thought it was hilarious, and every other episode I've watched since then has been too. Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski are particularly funny.
6. The Sopranos (HBO)
This season was a sharp fall off in quality for the Sopranos, but when it's starting point is so high, even a so-so season of the Sopranos is better than the majority of other TV shows.
7. The Office (NBC)
Last season of the office was great; this season hasn't been that good, and I can't quite put my finger on why. Still worth watching.
8. The West Wing (NBC)
Prior to this year, I'd watched maybe one or two episodes of this, but my partner was really into it, so I started watching it, and it was actually pretty good, due to the election story with Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits.
9. Arrested Development (ABC)
What a tragedy this show didn't make it. So offbeat and fun.
10. 30 Minute Meals (Food Network)
I got into this while working out at our former gym, and I love it. Rachael Ray has a great approach to food: no snobbery, top quality ingredients, and a willingness to experiment. Credit her for taking a winning approach to get people back in the kitchen.
I hadn't watched this show until this year; what was I thinking? This is fantastic television: thought-provoking stories with parallels to current global events, well-drawn characters, superb acting from a uniformly good cast. It doesn't get better than this.
2. Project Runway (Bravo)
What does it say that my two favorite shows of the year were from cable networks? Project Runway really hit its stride in its third season. It's the most compelling "reality" TV because it blends creativity and goes easy on the fake drama. Tim Gunn provides a warm presence, and Heidi Klum is a real ham ("You're Aut!").
3. 24 (Fox)
24 had a watershed year in its fourth season and managed to keep it up for season five. The only downer was the last 2 minutes--can't Jack get a break?
4. Lost (ABC)
In its third season now, Lost is sadly waning, but still manages to be pretty good. We just need something to happen.
5. 30 Rock (NBC)
I watched the pilot and didn't think much of it. Then my partner had me watch another episode, and I thought it was hilarious, and every other episode I've watched since then has been too. Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski are particularly funny.
6. The Sopranos (HBO)
This season was a sharp fall off in quality for the Sopranos, but when it's starting point is so high, even a so-so season of the Sopranos is better than the majority of other TV shows.
7. The Office (NBC)
Last season of the office was great; this season hasn't been that good, and I can't quite put my finger on why. Still worth watching.
8. The West Wing (NBC)
Prior to this year, I'd watched maybe one or two episodes of this, but my partner was really into it, so I started watching it, and it was actually pretty good, due to the election story with Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits.
9. Arrested Development (ABC)
What a tragedy this show didn't make it. So offbeat and fun.
10. 30 Minute Meals (Food Network)
I got into this while working out at our former gym, and I love it. Rachael Ray has a great approach to food: no snobbery, top quality ingredients, and a willingness to experiment. Credit her for taking a winning approach to get people back in the kitchen.
Friday, December 29, 2006
2006 Breakthough Artists
The Feeling
I had a hunch early on that British band The Feeling would be something special, and I wasn't disappointed. Their debut single, "Sewn," however, didn't at all indicate the direction most of the band's music would take. While "Sewn's" piano balladry evoked Coldplay and Keane, the rest of the band's 2006 singles, "Fill My Little World," "Never Be Lonely," and "Love It When You Call" showcased the band's knack for catcy, joyful retro pop/rock. They're my pick for best new artist of 2006.
Orson
Orson was the other hot new band of the year. Despite being quite popular in the UK and still unheard in the US, they hail from Hollywood California. "No Tomorrow" remains their best release, but "Bright Idea" and "Happiness" weren't bad. Like The Feeling, Orson never heard a pop hook they didn't like.
Lily Allen
Lily Allen was this year's hottest new solo artist. She burst on the scene during the summer with #1 hit "Smile," about taking pleasure in an ex's folly, followed quickly by "LDN," her ode to London.
James Morrison
I had a hunch early on that British band The Feeling would be something special, and I wasn't disappointed. Their debut single, "Sewn," however, didn't at all indicate the direction most of the band's music would take. While "Sewn's" piano balladry evoked Coldplay and Keane, the rest of the band's 2006 singles, "Fill My Little World," "Never Be Lonely," and "Love It When You Call" showcased the band's knack for catcy, joyful retro pop/rock. They're my pick for best new artist of 2006.
Orson
Orson was the other hot new band of the year. Despite being quite popular in the UK and still unheard in the US, they hail from Hollywood California. "No Tomorrow" remains their best release, but "Bright Idea" and "Happiness" weren't bad. Like The Feeling, Orson never heard a pop hook they didn't like.
Lily Allen
Lily Allen was this year's hottest new solo artist. She burst on the scene during the summer with #1 hit "Smile," about taking pleasure in an ex's folly, followed quickly by "LDN," her ode to London.
James Morrison
James Morrison and Paolo Nutini were the male troubadour singers duking it out this year for James Blunt's crown. James Morrison won, at least in my book. "You Give Me Something," "Wonderful World" and "The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore" were all great soulful pop singles, each one better than the next. I almost bought his album...almost.
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley
The Danger Mouse / Ceee-Lo combination was this year's Gorillaz; the alt pop/rock/rap group that defied genre categorization while delivering the critics' favorite track of the year in "Crazy," (this year's "Feel Good Inc.") also the biggest selling single in the UK of the year. I guess it comes as no surprise that Danger Mouse was also the producer of Gorillaz's 2005 album, Demon Days.
Corinne Bailey Rae
The other fresh female voice from Britain was far more sincere, and garned a lot of attention for her breezy debut single, "Put Your Records On," which received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.
The Kooks
The Kooks
UK rock band The Kooks had big hits this year with "She Moves in Her Own Way" and "Naive," both great tracks. Another act whose album I was this close to purchasing.
Arctic Monkeys
Admittedly, the Arctic Monkeys' debut album just didn't do it for me, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize they were an important force this year, picking up the Mercury Music Prize and landing on a slew of critics' year-end lists. My favorite release from them so far was the post-album (non-album) summer hit, "Leave Before the Lights Come On," so perhaps they're second album will be even better.
Personal Airplay 2006
This is my personal airplay chart for 2006, based on my iTunes play count. I had to do some estimating for tracks purchased in 2005 that I listened to a little bit that year, but this is probably pretty close (spins in parenthesis, ties broken because I said so):
1. Sorry - Madonna (47)
2. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters (45)
3. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera (45)
4. Get Together - Madonna (41)
5. Nature's Law - Embrace (40)
6. SOS - Rihanna (38)
7. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield (36)
8. All Time Love - Will Young (36)
9. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (36)
10. Promiscuous - Nelly Furatdo (34)
11. No Tomorrow - Orson (34)
12. You're All I Have - Snow Patrol (33)
13. Who Am I - Will Young (33)
14. Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae (32)
15. It's Not That Easy - Lemar (32)
16. You Got the Love (New Voyagers Remix) - The Source Feat. Candi Staton (30)
17. Sewn - The Feeling (30)
18. Red Dress - Sugababes (28)
19. Is It Any Wonder? - Keane (27)
20. Never Be Lonely - The Feeling (27)
21. A Bad Dream - Keane (26)
22. Easy - Sugababes (26)
23. Jump - Madonna (26)
24. Ugly - Sugababes (26)
25. Maneater - Nelly Furtado (26)
26. My Love - Justin Timberlake (26)
27. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol (25)
28. Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson (25)
29. Land of a Thousand Words - Scissor Sisters (25)
30. In the Morning - Razorlight (24)
31. The Hardest Part - Coldplay (24)
32. Nothing in My Way - Keane (24)
33. Stupid Girls - Pink (24)
34. Bright Idea - Orson (24)
35. When You Were Young - The Killers (23)
36. Lovelight - Robbie Williams (23)
37. Rock Steady - All Saints (23)
38. Fergalicious - Fergie (23)
39. Hung Up - Madonna (23)
40. Crystal Ball - Keane (23)
1. Sorry - Madonna (47)
2. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters (45)
3. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera (45)
4. Get Together - Madonna (41)
5. Nature's Law - Embrace (40)
6. SOS - Rihanna (38)
7. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield (36)
8. All Time Love - Will Young (36)
9. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (36)
10. Promiscuous - Nelly Furatdo (34)
11. No Tomorrow - Orson (34)
12. You're All I Have - Snow Patrol (33)
13. Who Am I - Will Young (33)
14. Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae (32)
15. It's Not That Easy - Lemar (32)
16. You Got the Love (New Voyagers Remix) - The Source Feat. Candi Staton (30)
17. Sewn - The Feeling (30)
18. Red Dress - Sugababes (28)
19. Is It Any Wonder? - Keane (27)
20. Never Be Lonely - The Feeling (27)
21. A Bad Dream - Keane (26)
22. Easy - Sugababes (26)
23. Jump - Madonna (26)
24. Ugly - Sugababes (26)
25. Maneater - Nelly Furtado (26)
26. My Love - Justin Timberlake (26)
27. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol (25)
28. Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson (25)
29. Land of a Thousand Words - Scissor Sisters (25)
30. In the Morning - Razorlight (24)
31. The Hardest Part - Coldplay (24)
32. Nothing in My Way - Keane (24)
33. Stupid Girls - Pink (24)
34. Bright Idea - Orson (24)
35. When You Were Young - The Killers (23)
36. Lovelight - Robbie Williams (23)
37. Rock Steady - All Saints (23)
38. Fergalicious - Fergie (23)
39. Hung Up - Madonna (23)
40. Crystal Ball - Keane (23)
Monday, December 25, 2006
Best Books of 2006
Best books lists are always the hardest, simply because unlike albums, movies, and TV shows, it's harder to consume them in mass quantities, especially just ones that came out this year. So my best books list are the best books I read in 2006, not necessarily released in 2006.
Unfortunately, my reading volume was significantly down this year, probably because I spent so much time writing on my blog. No regrets there though, as I love writing and I love getting a chance to express myself.
Four books elevated themselves above the pack this year. My favorite was Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. Released in 2005 and a Booker Prize finalist, it is a magnificent book that crosses genres traditionally out-of-sync with literary fiction, namely sci-fi and boarding school melodrama, to tell a touching yet unsentimental story about a mysterious group of youngsters growing into adulthood. To say their youth is the best time of their lives is an understatement, as these youngsters are "special," and doomed to a cruel, unthinkable fate I won't give away here. At times charming, twisted, and ultimately heartbreaking, it's a thoroughly enjoyable read.
In second place was David Mitchell's Black Swan Green, a portrait of a year in the life of a boy (I think he was 12) on the brink of becoming a teenager. The book perfectly captures what a tumultuous time that is--struggling with burgeoning adult feelings and sexuality like a man, while still wanting to run, play, and explore like a boy. The book has genuinely funny and also quite sad moments too, sometimes coming at almost the same time, just like the flood of mixed emotions experienced by a pre-teen boy. Excellent book set in 1980s English small town.
2004's Booker Prize winner, Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty is also set in 1980s England, but centers not around common countryfolk but the posh people of London--the gays, the rich, the powerful--and finds them perfectly pleasant on the surface while all harboring a tragic level of selfishness and compulsions of betrayal. All expect for main character Nick Guest. Just graduated from college and from a squarely middle-class background, Nick moves in with his friend Toby's family, wealthy Londoners with an MP (Tory) father, and is instantly seduced by the glamour, wealth, and power that surrounds them. At odds with this bourgeois lifestyles is his gay life, which they don't mind as long as it stays mostly closeted, as well as his naivety that he's entirely dispensibe at the first sign of trouble. Well-written and thoughtful.
Finally, the best non-fiction book I read this year, Joan Didion's memoir about the loss of her husband (author John Gregory Dunne), The Year of Magical Thinking, is an unbelievably naked portrait of loss and grief, made even sadder by the fact that her daughter, who is ill throughout the story, died subsequently as well.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Best Albums of 2006
Here's my annual round up of this year's albums. It's most of the albums I got this year, except Arctic Monkeys and Tiga, which I found too disappointing to review. I still might look into getting Justin Timberlake's or the Dixie Chicks' albums, so this list is subject to change. I was worried I wouldn't find a true standout album--many of my reviews were 4.5 out of 5--but I finally found a 5-star album this month in Muse. Click on the links to read my original reviews:
1. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
British rock band Muse delivered the year's best, most consistent album. A gothic journey of war, aliens, Mars, and love built on influences ranging from classical music and Mexican folk to Depeche Mode, Queen, and Radiohead. Nothing was more flawlessly executed this year.
(Best: "Map of the Problematique," "Starlight," "Take a Bow," "Invincible," "Supermassive Black Hole," "Assassin," "Knights of Cydonia")
Scissor Sisters returned with another dose of solid, campy pop, although with a darker lyrical undercurrent. This time with Elton John in tow, the band touched on themes of loneliness, anger, and even Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans.
(Best: "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'," "She's My Man," "Land of a Thousand Words," "Kiss You Off," "The Other Side")
3. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - Ballad of the Broken Seas
Belle and Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and former Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan blended her angelic voice with his raspy one, together crafting a haunting and surprisingly beautiful collection of country and '60s-influenced dark pop.
(Best: "The False Husband," "Black Mountain," "Deus Ibi Est," "Honey Child What Can I Do," "Revolver")
Like the Scissor Sisters, 2004 breakout band Keane returned this year to deliver it's "difficult" second album. Exploring similar, but darker and more experimental territory, the album delivered my favorite song of the year, the stunning "A Bad Dream," slated as the album's fourth single early next year.
(Best: "A Bad Dream," "Is It Any Wonder?," "Nothing in My Way," "Atlantic," "Leaving So Soon")
British singer Jamelia delivered this year's best pure pop album, an ode to melodic '90s pop and R&B, with apparent influences from En Vogue to Depeche Mode, that stands refreshingly in sharp contrast to the beat-driven pop/R&B that's so fashionable these days.
(Best: "Beware of the Dog," "Something About You," "Do Me Right," "Window Shopping," "Ain't a Love")
Mercury Prize-nominated Editors album The Back Room is good, technically-proficient rock music in the best traditional sense: dark, insistent melodies, dueling guitars, and a lead singer that can actually sing.
(Best: "Munich," "All Sparks," "Bullets," "Lights," "Camera")
Breaking from the quiet tedium of their last album, Final Straw, Snow Patrol this year delivered a great set chronicling a relationship journey from love through dysfunction to ultimate resolution that really rocks.
(Best: "You're All I Have," "Hands Open," "Chasing Cars," "Set the Fire to the Third Bar")
8. The Feeling - Twelve Stops and Home
"Retro" to most artists this year meant the '80s, but British pop/rock band The Feeling went even further back to the '60s and '70s exploring those eras feel-good pop delivered by acts like Supertramp, 10cc, and Electric Light Orchestra.
(Best: "Never Be Lonely," "Love It When You Call," "Fill My Little World," "Sewn")
The Killers moved in a new direction for their second album, taking on the challenge of aping U2 and Bruce Springsteen for a broader rock canvas than they delivered with their '80s-influenced debut Hot Fuss, although thankfully some of that New Wave influence lives on here too.
(Best: "When You Were Young," "Bling (Confessions of a King),"Read My Mind," "Bones")
10. Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5.55
The better of the two Air side projects this year finds them crafting lovely electronic melodies for French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of one of the band's favorite musical influences.
(Best: "The Songs That We Sing," "5.55," "Everything I Cannot See," "Tel Que Tu Es")
11. Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
After some disappointing efforts, Pet Shop Boys were firmly back on track this year, with a moody synth-driven collection taking them back to their ‘80s roots.
(Best: "I'm With Stupid," "I Made My Excuses and Left," "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show," "Psychological")
Robbie's best album since Sing When You're Winning is a campy collection of electro, dance-pop, and remakes so loaded with cheekiness it almost lacks any seriousness at all, which makes it Williams’ most honest album yet.
(Best: "Lovelight," "She's Madonna," "We're the Pet Shop Boys," "Viva Life on Mars")
13. Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape
Critics were too kind to Stefani's messy first album, but may be too harsh to this one, a fun collection of Gwen's now signature '80s-style pop and hip-hop lite, that's more consistently good than Love.Angel.Music.Baby.
(Best: "4 in the Morning," "Fluorescent," "Early Winter")
14. Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Like a more accessible Mike Skinner or a more mainstream Nellie McKay, Lily Allen uses her sweet voice and dirty mouth to tell stories about her life as a young Londonite chased by dirty men, dining al fresco, and partying, all while taking note of the stories that unfold around her as well.
(Best: "LDN," "Smile," "Littlest Things")
As improbably as it sounds, Embrace delivered a bigger, grander, more epic sound than an any previous album, channeling U2 now more than Coldplay to deliver anthemic, stadium-ready rock.
(Best: "Nature's Law," "I Can't Come Down," "Target")
Timbaland gave a much-needed jump start to Nelly Furtado's career this year, giving her huge international smash hits with "Promiscuous" and "Maneater." While some of the R&B/pop doesn't work, much of it does, and when it's on, it's on.
(Best: "Promiscuous," "Afraid," "Maneater," "All Good Things")
17. Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera went really high-concept this time with her double album that's at first an ode to soul and later a mish-mash of Linda Perry-produced oddities. It's ambitious, has some great moments, but could use some cutting.
(Best: "Ain't No Other Man," "Hurt," "Back in the Day")
18. Shiny Toy Guns - We Are Pilots
I haven't written a full review for this, but trust me, it's good. Male and female voices weave over electronica and dark retro-'80s dance/pop.
(Best: "You Are the One," "Le Disko," "Don't Cry Out," "Rainy Monday")
19. Darkel - Darkel
The other Air project, Jean-Benoît Dunckel's solo project under the pseudonym "Darkel," isn't as satisfying as the Gainsbourg set, but it's still pretty good, and even gets more experimental, sometimes moving beyond the "Air" sound of many of its tracks.
(Best: "At the End of the Sky," "Be My Friend," "Bunny Girl")
Hollywood-based Orson made a big splash in Britain this year, hitting #1 with debut single "No Tomorrow." Their debut album delivers what you’d expect—a 10-song collection of the kind of retro/funk/pop/rock reminiscent of Maroon 5 or the Killers, although not quite up to par with those bands, at least not yet.
(Best: "No Tomorrow," "Bright Idea," "Happiness")
After losing her momentum with third album Trouble, Pink regains some ground with her fourth album, hitting the right blend of pop, rock, and R&B that made her second album such a hit, while managing to make quite a few statements about politics and deadbeat guys.
(Best: "Stupid Girls," "Who Knew," "Dear Mr. President")
Razorlight's album was a disappointment for me, but still had some great moments. Their problem is the lead singer--he just can't sing that well--but sometimes he manages to sound okay, so when the rest of the band really soars, such as on "In the Morning," they work great.
(Best: "In the Morning," "America," "Who Needs Love?")
Friday, December 15, 2006
Billboard Hot 100, 2006
Billboard's Year-End Charts are here. The #1 single of 2006 is....Daniel Powter's "Bad Day." A huge hit in the UK in 2005, "Bad Day" was released in the US in February, and climbed to #1, where it spent 5 weeks.
Canadian Daniel Powter is the first non-American act to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Nickelback, also Canadian, topped the chart in 2002 with "How You Remind Me." Interestingly, the top 6 spots are held by foreigners this year, which is a Hot 100 first. In 1988, non-US acts held the top 4 slots--George Michael, George Harrison, and Rick Astley from the UK and INXS from Australia--but this year, the top 6 slots go respectively to a Canadian, a Jamaican, another Canadian, a Brit, a Colombian, and another Brit.
The top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles of 2006 are:
1. Bad Day - Daniel Powter (5 weeks @ #1)
2. Temperature - Sean Paul (1 wk @ #1)
3. Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado (featuring Timbaland) (6 wks @ #1)
4. You're Beautiful - James Blunt (1 wk @ #1)
5. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (featuring Wyclef Jean) (2 wks @ #1)
6. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield (#5)
7. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (7 wks @ #2)
8. Ridin' - Chamillionaire (featuring Kayzie Bone) (2 wks @ #1)
9. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake (7 wks @ #1)
10. Check On It - Beyonce (featuring Slim Thug) (5 wks @ #1)
Canadian Daniel Powter is the first non-American act to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Nickelback, also Canadian, topped the chart in 2002 with "How You Remind Me." Interestingly, the top 6 spots are held by foreigners this year, which is a Hot 100 first. In 1988, non-US acts held the top 4 slots--George Michael, George Harrison, and Rick Astley from the UK and INXS from Australia--but this year, the top 6 slots go respectively to a Canadian, a Jamaican, another Canadian, a Brit, a Colombian, and another Brit.
The top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles of 2006 are:
1. Bad Day - Daniel Powter (5 weeks @ #1)
2. Temperature - Sean Paul (1 wk @ #1)
3. Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado (featuring Timbaland) (6 wks @ #1)
4. You're Beautiful - James Blunt (1 wk @ #1)
5. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (featuring Wyclef Jean) (2 wks @ #1)
6. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield (#5)
7. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (7 wks @ #2)
8. Ridin' - Chamillionaire (featuring Kayzie Bone) (2 wks @ #1)
9. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake (7 wks @ #1)
10. Check On It - Beyonce (featuring Slim Thug) (5 wks @ #1)
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Golden Globe Nominations
The Oscar Race is officially on with today's announcement of the Golden Globe Awards. Given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press (whoever that is), the Globes are the most recognized pre-Oscars indicator of who might be nominated. Although admittedly an imperfect indicator (major awards are split into drama and comedy/musical categories, and foreign-language films don't qualify for Best Drama or Best Comedy/Musical), it's still quite fun. Six of the last 10 Best Drama winners went on to win the Best Picture Oscar. Two of the four that won the Globe but not the Oscar were the victims of the biggest recent upsets: Brokeback Mountain and Saving Private Ryan, although perhaps it was their Globe wins that unnecessarily raised expectations.
Babel led this year's nominees with 7 nods, including 3 in supporting acting categories. The Departed got 6 nominations and Dreamgirls came in with 5, both of which got 3 acting nods. The Queen received 4. Here are the nominees with my observations; I bolded ones I didn't predict from yesterday.
Best Picture (Drama)
Babel, The Departed, and The Queen were the three obvious nominees, so I'm glad they all got it. Little Children is a pleasant surprise, as I loved that film. Bobby is just plain a surprise. Bobby?! Really?! It's gotten mixed reviews. It's the only one I haven't seen here, but based on what I've read, I think there were more deserving films, most notably Flags of Our Fathers, which I'm disappointed and surprised didn't get it, particularly since Clint Eastwood was nominated for it for director (see below). Interesting that United 93 isn't in there. It's been getting a lot of critics list buzz, much more than I remember it getting critical buzz at the time it was released.
Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)
Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Thank You For Smoking
That fifth slot was the toughie here, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see the inventive Thank You For Smoking get it. Dreamgirls is the obvious frontrunner here, since it's the most talked about for getting a Best Picture Oscar nomination, which usually go to dramas. The only other one that may have a shot is Little Miss Sunshine.
Best Picture (Foreign Language)
Apocalypto
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Lives of Others
Pan's Labyrinth
Volver
I didn't predcit Apolcalypto because I wasn't sure how the Globes would react to it, being as it is controversial, but there it is. No other surprises. Letters from Iwo Jima is the clear frontrunnter, as it is quickly emerging as a strong Oscar contender, stronger even than Eastwood's other film, Flags of Our Fathers. Interestingly, Letters won't get a foreign film Oscar nomination, since, as an American film, it doesn't qualify. For the Globes, a film has to be a in a foreign language; for the Oscars, a film has to be produced in a foreign country and submitted by some official entity in that country to be considered.
Best Actor (Drama)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed
Peter O'Tool, Venus
Will Smith, Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker, Last King of Scotland
Forest Whitaker is the frontrunner to win, but look at Leo go with two lead nominations, something else that won't happen at the Oscars, as it's not allowed. Peter O'Tool seems like a really out there nomination to me, as I only vaguely remember Venus coming out. Too bad Ryan Gosling from Half Nelson didn't make the list, I still think he'll be an Oscar contender, given that only 4 of these nominations are.
Best Actor (Comedy/Musical)
Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Aaron Eckhart, Thank You For Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kinky Boots
Will Ferrell, Stranger Than Fiction
The comedy acting categories can be tough to predict, as awards always focus more on dramas. Chiwetel Ejiofor is an interesting choice. I honestly haven't even heard of Kinky Boots, but he was great in 2002's Dirty Pretty Things. Johnny Depp for Pirates is a lame nomination though. Sure he got an Oscar nomination for playing this role two years ago, but this is the big-budget, less-regarded sequel. Come on.
Best Actress (Drama)
Penelope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sherrybaby
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Kate Winslet, Little Children
I was 5 for 5 here; glad I went on a limb for Maggie Gyllenhaal. Although, sadly, I can think of few other performances worth highlighting. Maybe Cate Blanchett in The Good German? Helen Mirren has it in the bad though, she's been voted best actress among all of the critics groups so far, not even sharing the honors with anyone. The nice part is that she completely deserves it too.
Best Actress (Comedy/Musical)
Annette Bening, Running With Scissors
Toni Collette, Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles, Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zellweger, Miss Potter
Again, I nailed it 5 for 5. I must know my actresses. Or again, who else would you put up? Hollywood's sexism for lack of good female parts is really showing this year. My money's on Streep as the frontrunner here--she'll probably take Gyllenhaal's spot among the Best Actress nominees come Oscar time.
Best Supporting Actor
Ben Affleck, Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson, The Departed
Brad Pitt, Babel
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed
This is a really tight race. With all these ensemble pictures this year (Babel, Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, Flags of Our Fathers) there's lots of smaller roles with actors that really shine. Ben Affleck is a surprise, but I didn't see Hollywoodland, so I can't judge if it's fair. Mark Wahlberg is a surprise too, although he did get at least one critics' group nod. Although I'm upset not to see the other three I predicted here, particularly Michael Sheen for The Queen, I can't really complain, as there are so many performances worth recognizing here. Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond is supposed to be fantastic, and he's been getting critics nods, so I expect he'll still get an Oscar nod. Jackie Earle Haley was fantastically creepy and complex in Little Children. Steve Carell was amazing against type in Little Miss Sunshine. Adam Beach was phenominal as an honored yet disenfranchised American Indian soldier in Flags of Our Fathers. Tough tough category.
Best Supporting Actress
Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
Again, like the supporting actors, there's a lot of good performances that could have been recognized, so it's a tough call. I'm really glad Adriana Barraza got it for Babel. She was so good in that movie, and I felt that her performance was the most moving of any in the film. Emily Blunt is a nice surprise. I'd forgotten about her, and she was a lot of fun as a catty assistant in The Devil Wears Prada. I must say though that Anne Hathaway is probably tired of starring in films where all the other main players get awards recognition but her. Rinko Kikuchi is a nice surprise for Babel, who's character was probably the most unusual of any in that movie. Too bad that little Abigail Breslin from Little Miss Sunshine didn't make the cut. Her scene-stealing performance near the end of the film (you know what I'm talking about if you've seen it) is the funniest thing ever in a movie.
Best Director
Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima
Clint Eastwood, Flags of Our Fathers
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel
Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Martin Scorsese is probably the frontrunner, as he is getting his due this year for The Departed, having played bridesmaid the last few years despite some amazing films (Gangs of New York, The Aviator). The double nomination for Eastwood is awesome. At age 76 he's become a directing powerhouse, making consistently honest, thought-provoking films. His two this year join the ranks of Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, and Unforgiven as some of the best films of the last 20 years. I'm glad Inarritu made it here too. No love for the comedies directors, but oh well, they know they're playing second fiddle to the dramas anyway. And of course there's always that question mark when a movie gets nominated for best picture, but it's director doesn't get recognized, in this case Bobby's Emilio Estevez. To me, it looks like the snub is Eastwood's lack of Best Picture recognition for Flags of Our Fathers.
Babel led this year's nominees with 7 nods, including 3 in supporting acting categories. The Departed got 6 nominations and Dreamgirls came in with 5, both of which got 3 acting nods. The Queen received 4. Here are the nominees with my observations; I bolded ones I didn't predict from yesterday.
Best Picture (Drama)
Babel
Bobby
The Departed
Little Children
The Queen
Babel, The Departed, and The Queen were the three obvious nominees, so I'm glad they all got it. Little Children is a pleasant surprise, as I loved that film. Bobby is just plain a surprise. Bobby?! Really?! It's gotten mixed reviews. It's the only one I haven't seen here, but based on what I've read, I think there were more deserving films, most notably Flags of Our Fathers, which I'm disappointed and surprised didn't get it, particularly since Clint Eastwood was nominated for it for director (see below). Interesting that United 93 isn't in there. It's been getting a lot of critics list buzz, much more than I remember it getting critical buzz at the time it was released.
Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)
Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Thank You For Smoking
That fifth slot was the toughie here, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see the inventive Thank You For Smoking get it. Dreamgirls is the obvious frontrunner here, since it's the most talked about for getting a Best Picture Oscar nomination, which usually go to dramas. The only other one that may have a shot is Little Miss Sunshine.
Best Picture (Foreign Language)
Apocalypto
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Lives of Others
Pan's Labyrinth
Volver
I didn't predcit Apolcalypto because I wasn't sure how the Globes would react to it, being as it is controversial, but there it is. No other surprises. Letters from Iwo Jima is the clear frontrunnter, as it is quickly emerging as a strong Oscar contender, stronger even than Eastwood's other film, Flags of Our Fathers. Interestingly, Letters won't get a foreign film Oscar nomination, since, as an American film, it doesn't qualify. For the Globes, a film has to be a in a foreign language; for the Oscars, a film has to be produced in a foreign country and submitted by some official entity in that country to be considered.
Best Actor (Drama)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed
Peter O'Tool, Venus
Will Smith, Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker, Last King of Scotland
Forest Whitaker is the frontrunner to win, but look at Leo go with two lead nominations, something else that won't happen at the Oscars, as it's not allowed. Peter O'Tool seems like a really out there nomination to me, as I only vaguely remember Venus coming out. Too bad Ryan Gosling from Half Nelson didn't make the list, I still think he'll be an Oscar contender, given that only 4 of these nominations are.
Best Actor (Comedy/Musical)
Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Aaron Eckhart, Thank You For Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kinky Boots
Will Ferrell, Stranger Than Fiction
The comedy acting categories can be tough to predict, as awards always focus more on dramas. Chiwetel Ejiofor is an interesting choice. I honestly haven't even heard of Kinky Boots, but he was great in 2002's Dirty Pretty Things. Johnny Depp for Pirates is a lame nomination though. Sure he got an Oscar nomination for playing this role two years ago, but this is the big-budget, less-regarded sequel. Come on.
Best Actress (Drama)
Penelope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sherrybaby
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Kate Winslet, Little Children
I was 5 for 5 here; glad I went on a limb for Maggie Gyllenhaal. Although, sadly, I can think of few other performances worth highlighting. Maybe Cate Blanchett in The Good German? Helen Mirren has it in the bad though, she's been voted best actress among all of the critics groups so far, not even sharing the honors with anyone. The nice part is that she completely deserves it too.
Best Actress (Comedy/Musical)
Annette Bening, Running With Scissors
Toni Collette, Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles, Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zellweger, Miss Potter
Again, I nailed it 5 for 5. I must know my actresses. Or again, who else would you put up? Hollywood's sexism for lack of good female parts is really showing this year. My money's on Streep as the frontrunner here--she'll probably take Gyllenhaal's spot among the Best Actress nominees come Oscar time.
Best Supporting Actor
Ben Affleck, Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson, The Departed
Brad Pitt, Babel
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed
This is a really tight race. With all these ensemble pictures this year (Babel, Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, Flags of Our Fathers) there's lots of smaller roles with actors that really shine. Ben Affleck is a surprise, but I didn't see Hollywoodland, so I can't judge if it's fair. Mark Wahlberg is a surprise too, although he did get at least one critics' group nod. Although I'm upset not to see the other three I predicted here, particularly Michael Sheen for The Queen, I can't really complain, as there are so many performances worth recognizing here. Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond is supposed to be fantastic, and he's been getting critics nods, so I expect he'll still get an Oscar nod. Jackie Earle Haley was fantastically creepy and complex in Little Children. Steve Carell was amazing against type in Little Miss Sunshine. Adam Beach was phenominal as an honored yet disenfranchised American Indian soldier in Flags of Our Fathers. Tough tough category.
Best Supporting Actress
Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
Again, like the supporting actors, there's a lot of good performances that could have been recognized, so it's a tough call. I'm really glad Adriana Barraza got it for Babel. She was so good in that movie, and I felt that her performance was the most moving of any in the film. Emily Blunt is a nice surprise. I'd forgotten about her, and she was a lot of fun as a catty assistant in The Devil Wears Prada. I must say though that Anne Hathaway is probably tired of starring in films where all the other main players get awards recognition but her. Rinko Kikuchi is a nice surprise for Babel, who's character was probably the most unusual of any in that movie. Too bad that little Abigail Breslin from Little Miss Sunshine didn't make the cut. Her scene-stealing performance near the end of the film (you know what I'm talking about if you've seen it) is the funniest thing ever in a movie.
Best Director
Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima
Clint Eastwood, Flags of Our Fathers
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel
Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Martin Scorsese is probably the frontrunner, as he is getting his due this year for The Departed, having played bridesmaid the last few years despite some amazing films (Gangs of New York, The Aviator). The double nomination for Eastwood is awesome. At age 76 he's become a directing powerhouse, making consistently honest, thought-provoking films. His two this year join the ranks of Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, and Unforgiven as some of the best films of the last 20 years. I'm glad Inarritu made it here too. No love for the comedies directors, but oh well, they know they're playing second fiddle to the dramas anyway. And of course there's always that question mark when a movie gets nominated for best picture, but it's director doesn't get recognized, in this case Bobby's Emilio Estevez. To me, it looks like the snub is Eastwood's lack of Best Picture recognition for Flags of Our Fathers.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Grammy Nominations Announced
Nominations for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today. I'm going to go category by category and talk about them. First though, some overall observations. Mary J. Blige got the most nominations (eight), although surprisingly not the expected one for Album of the Year, although The Breakthrough was nominated for R&B Album of the Year. "Be Without You" was nominated for Record and Song of the Year, Female R&B Vocal, and Best R&B Song. "One," her collaboration with Bono and remake of the U2 hit was nominated in the Pop Collaboration category, "I Found My Everything," which features Raphael Saadiq, was nominated for Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. Blige was also nominated along Jamie Foxx in the R&B Duo/Group with Vocals category for appearing on his "Love Changes."
The most interesting story was the industry's great show of support for the Dixie Chicks, who earned five nominations including Album of the Year and Country Album for Taking the Long Way and Record and Song of the Year for "Not Ready to Make Nice." These accolades come despite the rather public manner in which country radio has turned its back on the band during the last two years, despite the girls having been one of the biggest things in country music prior to that. Taking the Long Way is considered more of a rock/AC-oriented album than country, so it's nomination for Country Album of the Year is a surprise. Their previous three albums, Home, Fly, and Wide Open Spaces all won the Country Album grammy, while Home and Fly were nominated for Album of the Year. This is the group's first year being nominated in the song and record categories.
British pop artists fared quite well this year. James Blunt and Corinne Bailey Rae were both nominated from Record and Song of the Year for "You're Beautiful" and "Put Your Records On." Both were also nominated for Best New Artist, as was British singer Imogen Heap. Blunt was also nominated for Male Pop Performance for "You're Beautiful," and his album Back to Bedlam was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album. Natasha Bedingfield and KT Tunstall picked up nominations for Female Pop Performance for "Unwritten" and "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." I was surprised Tunstall didn't receive more nominations. Finally it was nice to see Keane nominated for Duo/Group Pop Performance for "Is It Any Wonder?" Last year they were a New Artist nominee.
Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds was nominated for Best Album and Best Pop Album. He was nominated in both categories 3 years ago for Justified, winning the latter award. Although "Sexyback" wasn't nominated for Record of the Year, it was nominated in the Dance category. His other recent hit, "My Love," was nominated for Rap/Sung Collaboration with Vocal. He's the only other veteran Album of the Year nominee, besides the Dixie Chicks. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who have previously won only one Grammy (for "Give It Away") were nominated for Album of the Year for Stadium Arcadium.
Largely overlooked this year were Nelly Furtado, whose megahit "Promiscuous" was honored only with a Pop Collaboration nomination, and Bob Dylan, whose Modern Times had been expected to be nominated for Album of the Year, but has to settle for a nomination for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album. His song "Someday Baby" was nominated for Solo Rock Performance and Rock Song.
Last year's American Idol winner Carrie Underwood scored an impressive 4 nominations, including Best Female Country Vocal, Song of the Year, and Best Country song for "Jesus, Take the Wheel," and Best New Artist. That puts her one nomination ahead of the three earned so far by American Idol goddess Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson received her first nomination in 2003, forFemale Pop Vocal nomination for "Miss Independent." Last year she was nominated twice and won both awards, Best Pop Album for Breakaway and Female Pop Vocal for "Since U Been Gone."
The most interesting story was the industry's great show of support for the Dixie Chicks, who earned five nominations including Album of the Year and Country Album for Taking the Long Way and Record and Song of the Year for "Not Ready to Make Nice." These accolades come despite the rather public manner in which country radio has turned its back on the band during the last two years, despite the girls having been one of the biggest things in country music prior to that. Taking the Long Way is considered more of a rock/AC-oriented album than country, so it's nomination for Country Album of the Year is a surprise. Their previous three albums, Home, Fly, and Wide Open Spaces all won the Country Album grammy, while Home and Fly were nominated for Album of the Year. This is the group's first year being nominated in the song and record categories.
British pop artists fared quite well this year. James Blunt and Corinne Bailey Rae were both nominated from Record and Song of the Year for "You're Beautiful" and "Put Your Records On." Both were also nominated for Best New Artist, as was British singer Imogen Heap. Blunt was also nominated for Male Pop Performance for "You're Beautiful," and his album Back to Bedlam was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album. Natasha Bedingfield and KT Tunstall picked up nominations for Female Pop Performance for "Unwritten" and "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." I was surprised Tunstall didn't receive more nominations. Finally it was nice to see Keane nominated for Duo/Group Pop Performance for "Is It Any Wonder?" Last year they were a New Artist nominee.
Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds was nominated for Best Album and Best Pop Album. He was nominated in both categories 3 years ago for Justified, winning the latter award. Although "Sexyback" wasn't nominated for Record of the Year, it was nominated in the Dance category. His other recent hit, "My Love," was nominated for Rap/Sung Collaboration with Vocal. He's the only other veteran Album of the Year nominee, besides the Dixie Chicks. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who have previously won only one Grammy (for "Give It Away") were nominated for Album of the Year for Stadium Arcadium.
Largely overlooked this year were Nelly Furtado, whose megahit "Promiscuous" was honored only with a Pop Collaboration nomination, and Bob Dylan, whose Modern Times had been expected to be nominated for Album of the Year, but has to settle for a nomination for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album. His song "Someday Baby" was nominated for Solo Rock Performance and Rock Song.
Last year's American Idol winner Carrie Underwood scored an impressive 4 nominations, including Best Female Country Vocal, Song of the Year, and Best Country song for "Jesus, Take the Wheel," and Best New Artist. That puts her one nomination ahead of the three earned so far by American Idol goddess Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson received her first nomination in 2003, forFemale Pop Vocal nomination for "Miss Independent." Last year she was nominated twice and won both awards, Best Pop Album for Breakaway and Female Pop Vocal for "Since U Been Gone."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)