Google Doodle Today : GMMXIe

Google Doodle today is an image GMMXIe. Let's take off the G and e, left is MMXI which stands for 2011. It's a roman numeral number, I don't know anyone who doesn't know anything about roman numerals.

Happy new year everyone. The Google doodle today actually went out yesterday but I haven't got the chance to post it here. Anyways, hope you have all celebrated a great New Year's Eve last night and for those who are yet to celebrate like in US, Happy New year to all of you.

Let's party party.

Foto Bugil Cheryl Cole Sangat Hot


After his divorce is quite depressing with British footballer, Ashley Cole, it seems that the beautiful singer Cheryl Cole has got a new liver moorings. And the lucky guy is none other than Derek Hough, one of the contestants Dancing with the Stars.

Although already very widely heard about her relationship with the professional dancers, but this relationship is reportedly still not 'perfect' like a dating partner.

This was disclosed by an old friend of Cole, Corky Ballas, who called it a relationship that 'is not disclosed and no boyfriend status'. This relationship itself has begun to braided since divorced with her ex-husband Cole.

In fact, some newspapers claimed that Cheryl and Derek going to spend New Year's Eve together. Congrats!

Foto Bugil Cheryl Cole Sangat Hot


After his divorce is quite depressing with British footballer, Ashley Cole, it seems that the beautiful singer Cheryl Cole has got a new liver moorings. And the lucky guy is none other than Derek Hough, one of the contestants Dancing with the Stars.

Although already very widely heard about her relationship with the professional dancers, but this relationship is reportedly still not 'perfect' like a dating partner.

This was disclosed by an old friend of Cole, Corky Ballas, who called it a relationship that 'is not disclosed and no boyfriend status'. This relationship itself has begun to braided since divorced with her ex-husband Cole.

In fact, some newspapers claimed that Cheryl and Derek going to spend New Year's Eve together. Congrats!

Foto Bugil Pamela Anderson Sexy Hot


Because deemed too 'hot' ad, starring Pamela Anderson can not enter Hong Kong airport. This is not the first time, Pamela Anderson 'forbidden' entered the airport, some airports had previously expressed their objection if the ad is to appear at their airport.

Hong Kong airport Party considers ads PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), starring Pamela Anderson is too 'risky' when aired on the airport which in fact is not only visited by those who have grown up. In addition to Hong Kong airport, Logan International Airport in Boston had also rejected the ad was deemed too vulgar.

In ad anti use of goods made from animal body parts that Pamela Anderson is depicted as airline personnel who wore uniform super sexy. In the ad, Pamela seen was checking the passengers and asked them to remove all the accessories made of leather and other animal limbs.

In addition to install the Pamela Anderson, PETA ad that also stars Steve-O and Andy Dick.

Foto Bugil Pamela Anderson Sexy Hot


Because deemed too 'hot' ad, starring Pamela Anderson can not enter Hong Kong airport. This is not the first time, Pamela Anderson 'forbidden' entered the airport, some airports had previously expressed their objection if the ad is to appear at their airport.

Hong Kong airport Party considers ads PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), starring Pamela Anderson is too 'risky' when aired on the airport which in fact is not only visited by those who have grown up. In addition to Hong Kong airport, Logan International Airport in Boston had also rejected the ad was deemed too vulgar.

In ad anti use of goods made from animal body parts that Pamela Anderson is depicted as airline personnel who wore uniform super sexy. In the ad, Pamela seen was checking the passengers and asked them to remove all the accessories made of leather and other animal limbs.

In addition to install the Pamela Anderson, PETA ad that also stars Steve-O and Andy Dick.

Bobby Farrell dead

Bobby Farrell, the lead vocals of the 1970's disco band Boney M died Thursday (December 30) in his hotel room in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the age of 61.

Check out Rivers of Babylon at Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm1g8FFRArc

Here's an information about Bobby Farrell from Wikipedia.

Farrell left Aruba at age 15 to become a sailor. He lived in Norway and the Netherlands before moving to Germany. There, he worked mostly as a DJ until producer Frank Farian spotted him for his new Boney M. group. He became the sole male singer in the group, although Farian later revealed that Bobby made almost no vocal contributions to the group's records, with Farian himself performing the male parts on the songs in the studio. Liz Mitchell claimed that only she and Farian had sung on the hit recordings. Farrell did, however, perform live in some of the various incarnations of 'Boney M

Agent of Farrell named John Seine told Reuters,

"He did a show last night as part of Bobby Farrell's Boney M and they found him this morning dead in his hotel room," "He did not feel well last night and was having problems with his breathing, but he did the show anyway."

Watch Bobby Farrell, Rivers of Babylon video, one of the songs popularized by Boney M. Rivers of Babylon was also covered by a Punk-Reggae band Sublime.


The death of Bobby Farrell is now under investigation of the Russian policemen, the cause of death was not immediately released.

Lily Shang on Leak S*x tape

Lily shang
A Canadian citizen named Lily Shang is having trouble leaving her husband David Rucker. According to news, Rucker was threatening Lily Shang to release their s*x tape scandal if she wouldn't fix their divorce.

To counter soon to be ex-husband, Lily Shang filed asked the judge to block the said video tape particularly the steamy scenes as she is also the co-owner of the copyrights as a "joint author."

Also from the news, the couple who have been married April 2009 in Toronto filed for divorce 18 months later.

Read on more here.

New Year Quotes funny

Some say, when you're sad during year end season, chances are you'll be starting your new year sadly too. You better start your year with a happy thoughts in mind thinking away the problems as you welcome the year of the rabbit. I think New Year quotes funny will do. 
Anyway, here are some New Year Quotes funny
“NEW YEAR’S DAY IS EVERY MAN’S BIRTHDAY.” – CHARLES LAMB
“NEW YEAR’S DAY… NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME TO MAKE YOUR REGULAR ANNUAL GOOD RESOLUTIONS. NEXT WEEK YOU CAN BEGIN PAVING HELL WITH THEM AS USUAL.” – MARK TWAIN
“MANY PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR FOR A NEW START ON OLD HABITS.” –ANONYMOUS
“GOOD RESOLUTIONS ARE SIMPLY CHECKS THAT MEN DRAW ON A BANK WHERE THEY HAVE NO ACCOUNT.” – OSCAR WILDE
Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.” – Bill Vaughn
“NEW YEAR’S IS A HARMLESS ANNUAL INSTITUTION, OF NO PARTICULAR USE TO ANYBODY SAVE AS A SCAPEGOAT FOR PROMISCUOUS DRUNKS, AND FRIENDLY CALLS AND HUMBUG RESOLUTIONS.” –MARK TWAIN
“A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION IS SOMETHING THAT GOES IN ONE YEAR AND OUT THE OTHER.”  -ANONYMOUS
“NOW THERE ARE MORE OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE IN AMERICA THAN AVERAGE-WEIGHT PEOPLE. SO OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE ARE NOW AVERAGE… WHICH MEANS, YOU HAVE MET YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION.” – JAY LENO
“THE PROPER BEHAVIOR ALL THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS TO BE DRUNK. THIS DRUNKENNESS CULMINATES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, WHEN YOU GET SO DRUNK YOU KISS THE PERSON YOU’RE MARRIED TO.” – P.J. O’ROURKE
“MAKING RESOLUTIONS IS A CLEANSING RITUAL OF SELF ASSESSMENT AND REPENTANCE THAT DEMANDS PERSONAL HONESTY AND, ULTIMATELY, REINFORCES HUMILITY. BREAKING THEM IS PART OF THE CYCLE.” – ERIC ZORN

Year-End Post

It's second year of this blog after being actively posting (though not that regular). For this year 2010, I have posted a total of 335 articles with the following breakdown by month:

► December (22)
► November (21)
► October (25)
► September (31)
► August (64)
► July (41)
► June (46)
► May (16)
► April (34)
► March (20)
► February (14)
► January (1)

With motivation of Ark (one of the successful blogger I personally know), I continued updating this blog with tons of hints and techniques from him. Patiently and disregarding the amount of money I will be earning, I posted at least once a day.

Stats

Day
Date
Page Loads
Unique Visitors
First Time Visitors
Returning Visitors
Thursday
30th December 2010
594
472
450
22
Wednesday
29th December 2010
937
784
767
17
Tuesday
28th December 2010
2,341
1,985
1,977
8
Monday
27th December 2010
1,595
1,355
1,341
14
Sunday
26th December 2010
520
434
426
8
Saturday
25th December 2010
393
346
336
10



The stats above presents the typical traffic of this blog.

Keywords & Traffic Source

The Facbook, Fcebook, Faceboook and Faceboo keywords were actually the reason this started to gain a regular traffic of not less than 300 hits.

Since I have posted about celebrities, artists like Justin Bieber, Jennifer Grey and Alanis Morissette brought traffic here.

I think everyday Justin Bieber has been attacked by hoax and some maliciously created rumors like Justin Bieber imprenated his mother, Justin Bieber dead, Justin Bieber kissing a boy and few to mention.

Jennifer Grey searches increased this blog's traffic into not less than 1000 hits. That was then Dancing with the Stars season 10 about to end. If you would Google for Jennifer Grey, you will see an images and one of those  will lead to this blogsite.

Aside from the keywords mentioned above, most of the time I blogged about trending topics of the day which sometimes give an instant traffic of not less than 10 hits, at least. If I get lucky with the trending topic I chose, I'll be able to have a thousand hits and sometime lasts for about two to three days.

To give an example, check the stats above, as you can see on Saturday, this blog just have 336 First Time visitors. On Sunday, I got lucky I have posted about Did Teena Marie Die, in which I instantly gained a traffic. The following day, Monday, the hits grew even more until it peaked to Tuesday in which I hit 1,977 first time visitors. Wow, that was awesome. It was also my highest earning in Google Adsense amounting $16.94.

Achievements

First is traffic and second of course Adsense earnings. It was August of this year when I got my first Adsense payout, which you can check to my post Making Money Online can be frustrating. It really takes patience and dedication to taste money online.

New Blog.  Just last month, I bought a new webhosting plan. Since it includes a new domain name, I registered an official address of sharedcorner.com and named the site Shared Corner 2.0.

Earnings. 

For this year, the total earnings roughly about $836.35 (that includes this December which have already reached $100 minimum threshold ). It's just a fraction of what other bloggers are earning, but I'm already happy with that of course.

Google Trends Screenshots

Check out the screenshots I took when my blogposts got featured from Google Trends. There were actually many times I got featured just for a few minutes after publishing but being featured is not an assurance of huge traffic.

Click the images to enlarge.







Plans.

As for plans about this blog, I actually decided to stop updating this and focus on my new blog but I held up since Shared Corner 2.0 is still in its inception.

So, there goes my Year-end post.

To my fellow bloggers, thank you for exchanging links with me, commenting and dropping by.

Of course, I wouldn't be more inspired if I didn't make money out of this blogging, so I huge thanks to first time visitors who have clicked ads. I hope you have found what you were looking for the days when you are in the middle of difficulties searching for answer.

The Town | Review

Who the hell would have thought Daredevil would direct one of the best films of the year?
The man has really risen from the ashes of being a joke of an actor to being this phenomenal director. With Gone Baby Gone and now The Town, Ben Affleck continues to solidify his talents in front of, and behind the camera.
The film takes place in Charlestown which the movie would have you believe is like the epicenter of crime in the United States. Criminal-ism is literally a profession passed from father to son. We follow a group of bank robbers led by Ben Affleck's character who at the beginning of the film robs a bank and takes Rebecca Hall as hostage. But in it's aftermath, Ben Affleck begins having a relationship with his hostage unbeknownst to her that h was her robber as dynamics in the group spiral out of control with the FBI closing in on them.
The Town is an electric heist film played out with an impressive ensemble cast, and grounded in a believably earnest sense of place. It portrays bank robbers in a way not many people will see, that beneath their twisted profession and violent nature, they are actually nice people who just chose the wrong profession.
All that applies except for Jeremy Renner who continues to amaze me. I didn't care so much for him in The Hurt Locker but he delivers a no holds barred, fuck-the-world, volatile insane character that was a joy to watch. I'd go as far as to compare him with Joe Pesci from Goodfellas. He walks that fine line as John Hawkes character did in Winter's Bone as in being an anti-hero type character where the audience loves him but is still afraid of him. Oh and he has one of the best end scenes I have ever seen a bank robber has. If I'm gonna go out, I'm going out like THAT. Minus the trashy drink.
However Renner's best scenes were always with Ben Affleck. These two have 3 really big bank robbery scenes in this and they play off each other so well, especially to the end. It's almost an orchestra in a way these two handle their heist scenes with great tension, build and clever but almost always gruesome conclusions.
But with all the hype surrounding the two, I feel it's also adequate I mention the great performances John Hamm, Rebecca Hall and Blake Lively gave as the film's supporting cast. I mean, it takes a hell lot to make Blake Lively look trashy but hell if they didn't do it. Still hot though. This is the first time I really saw Blake Lively act, and she's good! Really good. Jon Hamm is wonderful as an incorruptible cop as well as Rebecca Hall who plays a really torn up woman of conflicts and trauma because of her experiences in the film.
Some reviewers are dissing the climax of the film calling it misplaced and sluggish. But I wouldn't have had it play out any other way. The final shootout scene in the film is one of the absolute best I have ever seen since Michael Man's Heat. And I have also got to mention a brilliantly shot and edited car chase scene that is on par with The Dark Knight.
This is still far from a perfect film but it is one of the best I have seen all year long. The Town is a sharp heist film cum crime drama that will leave it's audience breathless.

RATING: 8/10

Billy The Kid : To be pardoned?

Billy the Kid will be pardoned? According to CNN news today,New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will issue a decision by Friday if he will pardon the outlaw Billy the Kid in the killing of a sheriff.

Billy The Kid

Just when the crime happened? Well, it was long ago, I swear it's really long ago. Here's a news excerpt about Billy the Kid's case.

He eventually was convicted in Brady's death and was sentenced to death, but he escaped from jail April 28, 1881, killing two deputies. Sheriff Pat Garrett shot Bonney dead July 14, 1881, weeks after the escape.

For a non-resident of New Mexico, this is non-sense at all but for the descendant of Billy the Kid and his victims, perhaps it's really a huge issue that needs to be ended once and for all.

Here's the argument of the Garrett family's as to why Gov. Richardson should not pardon Billy the Kid despite the crime happened long time ago.

"If Billy the Kid was living amongst us now, would you issue a pardon for someone who made his living as a thief and, more egregiously, who killed four law enforcement officers and numerous others?" the Garrett family wrote Richardson last fall.

Tablet LG Optimus New Version


Not only Motorola is pleased to bring Android-based tablet 3.0 or Honeycomb, LG did not wait to introduce it. Even the tablets reportedly named Optimus Pad will be available in time soon.

This issue itself emerged after a source close to LG said that the International Consumer Electronics Show 2011 to be the right time to introduce Optimus Pad. Just as tablets Motorola, LG also will carry the design thinner, lighter, and more of the first owned this tablet compared to other competitors tablets.

According to a report from the Korea Times, which quoted Tuesday (28/12/2010), LG Optimus Pad Honeycomb will be equipped with the Android OS, 8.9 inch touch screen, and Nvidia's Tegra processor 2 dual core processors.

With this launch LG tries to jump into the tablet PC market is growing increasingly crowded with companies like Samsung Electronics, Research In Motion and Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell.

LG device will be a tablet PC to come first for South Korean firms. After previously canceling plans to introduce Android operating system-based tablet 2.2, also known as 'Froyo', but canceled.

Other newspapers also said Motorola will deliver a Windows-based tablet 7. But just as tablets LG Android, Windows Tablet news presence is also not clear

Tablet LG Optimus New Version


Not only Motorola is pleased to bring Android-based tablet 3.0 or Honeycomb, LG did not wait to introduce it. Even the tablets reportedly named Optimus Pad will be available in time soon.

This issue itself emerged after a source close to LG said that the International Consumer Electronics Show 2011 to be the right time to introduce Optimus Pad. Just as tablets Motorola, LG also will carry the design thinner, lighter, and more of the first owned this tablet compared to other competitors tablets.

According to a report from the Korea Times, which quoted Tuesday (28/12/2010), LG Optimus Pad Honeycomb will be equipped with the Android OS, 8.9 inch touch screen, and Nvidia's Tegra processor 2 dual core processors.

With this launch LG tries to jump into the tablet PC market is growing increasingly crowded with companies like Samsung Electronics, Research In Motion and Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell.

LG device will be a tablet PC to come first for South Korean firms. After previously canceling plans to introduce Android operating system-based tablet 2.2, also known as 'Froyo', but canceled.

Other newspapers also said Motorola will deliver a Windows-based tablet 7. But just as tablets LG Android, Windows Tablet news presence is also not clear

Sony Playstation Cell Phone


English edition of the daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun said that the Playstation smart phone may be made based on designs and features contained in the PSP game console.

Although not yet known the truth, this phone is rumored to be manufactured by Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications and is run by Google's Android OS.

The Sony hopes to be able to compete with Apple's iPhone, Research in Motion's Blackberry and Nokia, to offer the first smart phone based on console games, with a set of controls that offer a more sophisticated gaming experiences. Similarly, as quoted from Physorg, Wednesday (29/12/2010).

Go PSP, which launched in November 2009, was introduced first download the software via a wireless connection, which allows gamers to browse the Internet, watch movies, play music, and reading books and comics

The new Playstation handset can work on online media platform for Sony, which Sony says is a response to Apple's iTunes.

"Sony hopes that the phone will boost sales of the Playstation video game consoles that are slow,"wrote the Asahi newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Sony mentions that the report of the newspaper is a speculation and they refused to comment on.

Sony Playstation Cell Phone


English edition of the daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun said that the Playstation smart phone may be made based on designs and features contained in the PSP game console.

Although not yet known the truth, this phone is rumored to be manufactured by Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications and is run by Google's Android OS.

The Sony hopes to be able to compete with Apple's iPhone, Research in Motion's Blackberry and Nokia, to offer the first smart phone based on console games, with a set of controls that offer a more sophisticated gaming experiences. Similarly, as quoted from Physorg, Wednesday (29/12/2010).

Go PSP, which launched in November 2009, was introduced first download the software via a wireless connection, which allows gamers to browse the Internet, watch movies, play music, and reading books and comics

The new Playstation handset can work on online media platform for Sony, which Sony says is a response to Apple's iTunes.

"Sony hopes that the phone will boost sales of the Playstation video game consoles that are slow,"wrote the Asahi newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Sony mentions that the report of the newspaper is a speculation and they refused to comment on.

Reese Witherspoon engaged to Jim Toth

How sweet it is for Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth?

The Legally Blonde star is on the hunt today, most are confirming if Reese Witherspoon is engaged with Jim Toth. Well, if you're not yet aware you came to the right place. It has been confirmed today that the ex-wife of Jake is now engaged with Jim Toth, her agent actually.

According to news, the two has been dating for the past year. Well that was after Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal ended their relationship.

You may also check my other blog for some details about the two here.

The Top 25 Films of 2010

It's that time of year again baby! Let just first say that 2010 has been one of the best years for me. When I first started the blog back in 2008, I would never imagine the site would reach up to 1,000 daily visitors per day. I have made great friends with people all over the world who share my love for film and I am truly humbled by all your support.

But enough of all this emo crap. You want my top 25 movie list, well here it is. As a disclaimer, I would like to note that yes, I have seen all these films and picked them after careful consideration because that's just the way I roll. For the films that don;t have a review yet, they will be up next year when I have time to write them. Some of these film, you may agree with, some you may not. Let me just say, that this is my list.. so go fuck yourself if you don't like it. Okay. Thanks. Bye.

25. SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD

Edgar Wright delivers yet another fantastic comedy in the style of a flashy video game come to life, featuring a fantastic string of memorable villains and a not so stoic Michael Cera.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World is the perfect geekgasm for comic book and video game lovers and also a fun popcorn flick for those who are just into watching a really good teen action cum comedy movie.

This is by no means Edgar Wright's masterpiece but it is a very entertaining, endearing, lo-fi mess that understands it's genres and makes no apologies for it. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World is lunacy with flash and noise but ultimately delivers heart.
24. WAITING FOR SUPERMAN

This is a daring documentary film of the degenerating American intellect under the failing U.S education.

I love it's almost satirical commentary and narrative, following the lives of three kids as they hope to get picked to attend a prestigious school through a lottery draft.

The film did leave me somewhat depressed but does plant an empowering message about the importance of real education.
23. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Without a doubt, this was the best 3D experience post-Avatar.

A typical Dreamworks animation story that is set against amazing visuals, beautiful scores and great voice acting by Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson and Gerard Butler.

The flying sequences in Dragon were amazing, never had I had that feeling of flying or falling in a cinema for the longest time.
 22. BLUE VALENTINE

Ryan Gosling is literally on the cusp of becoming one of the best young actors of his generation.

The film weaves a dramatic love story of a married couple in non-linear motion, juxtaposing their happy times together with the not so great times.  

Blue Valentine is the darker, married version of (500) Days of Summer, featuring stellar performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

21. FLIPPED

The feel good movie of 2010.

Rob Reiner, director of Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally and The Bucket List captures the story of a boy's first love perfectly.

Madeline Carroll gives a stand-out performance as the story effortlessly switches from her point of view to Callan McAuliffe's.

Flipped has all of the comedy, naiveté and bewilderment of first love. It's a cute film for anyone who fondly remembers the first time they fell in love.
20. RABBIT'S HOLE

It's films like these that reminds me that Nicole Kidman is an amazing actress. This film is also really fucked up.

Rabbit Hole isn't an original story and it does suffer for having many similarities to other films with the same plot but Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart saved this film with absolutely stellar performances.

It is however, still very depressing and might not be for everybody.
19. THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

"Yeah.. that's great.. I... I love lesbians......... Great."

Finally, a gay movie where it's not so much about flashing out gayness all over the place and just portraying them as normal everyday people.

The entire cast here is gut bustingly hilarious. Anette Benning  and Mark Ruffalo were particularly good and Mia Wasikowska who redeemed herself from the rubbles of Alice in Wonderland.

Great story, great writing, great characters, good acting, wonderful direction, everything I love about indie comedies.
18. KICK-ASS

Director Matthew Vaughn is 3 for 3 after making this instant classic of a comic book film combining the gritty violence of Layer Cake and the spectacle of Stardust.

Featuring a literally bloodfilled stand-out performance by Chloe Moretz as Hit-Girl who will soon be a guaranteed cult character.

The film's over-the-top inclusion of violence, gore and profanities may make some uncomfortable but does offer it's fair share amount of fun and lunacy.
17. BURIED

Easily one of the most suspenseful, creative, thrilling films ever to take place in one location.

The plot of the film is incredibly compact, weaving narrative with breakneck suspense.

Buried goes against all rules of filmmaking, backed by a visionary young director, a daring actor and a zero budget to produce one of the finest films to come out of 2010. Hitchcock would have been proud. Very proud.
16. BIUTIFUL

The celebrated director of Babel and Javier Bardem of No Country For Old Men fame comes together to bring you a moving drama of a man conflicted between love for his children and his dedication to crime.

Bardem's performance presents a heavyweight menace for Best Actor come Oscar time and  Inarritu poised for his second directorial nomination.

Biutiful is a gritty, slowburner film that captivates it's audience with it's dark melodrama descent into Bardem's character's purgatory.
15. NEVER LET ME GO

The film everyone except Michael Bay would like.

Taking place in a dystopian future that follows three teenagers who grow up in a seemingly idyllic boarding school only to discover a horrifying secret about themselves.

Never Let Me Go strikes a mournful chord and is one of the most haunting sci-fi films I have seen since Moon.

It boasts amazing British cinematography not to mention astounding performances from Carrie Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightley.
14. THE KING'S SPEECH

Those Brits can make a fine film out of literally anything with royalty in it, even with something as trivial as a 15 minute war speech.

The King's Speech at it's very element is a buddy comedy film set within the precincts of a historical drama.

I appreciate the film's direction of being whimsical yet still having wit and flair.

The film has wonderful dialog and story, brought to life stupendously by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.
13. MIRAL

At anytime if someone were to say Freida Pinto was the weakest link in Slumdog Millionaire, just utter the word "Miral"

Julian Schnabel returns with an fantastic drama centered on an orphaned girl in war ridden Israel.

This is by far Freida Pinto's best work as an actress, playing a strong, hardened teenager who is still a little girl inside as she is torn between the future of her people and love.

Miral is the foreign Deer Hunter. An excellent window into the Israel-Arab war with an endearing message from a strong heroine.
12. SOMEWHERE

This is not a better film than Lost In Translation but I loved it nonetheless.

Somewhere is a sort of coming-of-age film about a bad boy actor who begins to reexamine his lifestyle after his estranged daughter  enters his life.

This is one beautiful film. A quiet film, a slow film, but a beautiful film.

Somewhere is a hypnotic, seductively pensive meditation on the nature of celebrity, anchored by a charming performance from Stephen Dorff and a starmaking one by Elle Fanning.
 11. THE FIGHTER

The most amazing thing about this movie is that Christian Bale and David O Russell didn't blow up on each other during shooting.

A lot of people are comparing this to Raging Bull and I disagree with them. But The Fighter is by far one of the closest a boxing film has ever been on par with Raging Bull.

Christian Bale steals the film with his best performance in his career, a true dedicated method actor who's poised to win his first Oscar.

The story is simple and predictable yet engaging and gritty under the direction of O Russell. Wonderful performances. Wonderful direction. I say bravo.
 10. 127 HOURS

The best movie to ever be based on a dumbass.

Danny Boyle truly shines as a director in turning a one man show into a strong internal drama of survival.

James Franco gives an amazing performance that is as gut-wrenching as it is inspirational, worthy of accolades.

The film is beautifully and creatively shot, astounding cinematography with one of the most disturbing amputation scenes in the history of film.
9. THE TOWN

Who would have thought that Daredevil would direct one of the best films of the year.

This is one heck of a thriller. Affleck really knows how to direct great crime cum heist cum action movies. There was not a moment in this film were I wasn't at the edge of my seat.

The film has wonderful acting from Jeremy Renner, John Hamm, Rebecca Hall and Blake Lively. And one of the best cat chase and shoot out scenes I have seen since The Dark Knight.

The Town is a very satisfying crime thriller that I would love to see get nominated for Best Picture.
8. BLACK SWAN

There are not enough words in the English language to describe the praise Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman deserves for Black Swan.

Black Swan is an enthralling and visceral experience from beginning to end. Aronofsky has used what he has learned from making the raw and unflinching The Wrestler and the cerebral horror and incredibly disturbing Requiem for a Dream, and has crafted a film that you will simply not be able to take your eyes off of.

A beautiful and nightmarish masterpiece.
 7. WINTER'S BONE

Neo noir with a twist of Southern culture.

On surface, Winter's Bone moves at snail pace but underneath it is a character study that is borderline volatile and horrific with unblinking ferocity and emotions.

Jennifer Lawrence gives a star-making performance. Her acting is depressing & bleak yet somewhat hopeful. Lawrence has created a modern day heroine which is definitely going to land her a nomination for Best Lead Actress come Oscar time.

John Hawkes was also a standout. His character is menacing yet endearing, walking that very brittle wall between scum and hero.
  6. PIANO FINGERS

With the exception of Toy Story 3, Piano Fingers is probably my favorite movie of the year.

The story of an aging musical couple whom were once famous back in the day, who have entombed themselves in their rotting house filled with memorabilia of their musical careers. When the wife begins losing her memory to Alzheimer, the husband tries to rekindle their marriage by taking her down a nostalgic trip of their life together.

In every way, Piano Fingers is as sweet and heartfelt as it is crushing of a film. Nancy Linehan Charles and Steve Vinovich were stunning to watch in this. A definite must see.

5. THE SOCIAL NETWORK

David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin pulls out a winner with one of the best courtroom drama ala documentaries I have seen in years.

The Social Network is engaging from start to finish, sucking in it's audience with it's brilliant writing and stunning performances.

Jesse Eissenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake were a joy to watch as their characters claw their way through a very intense narrative of a story.

High praise to David Fincher for directing a masterpiece out of one of the most common human things. His Oscar is long overdue.
 4. TRUE GRIT

Not since Unforgiven have I seen a ballsy western such as this masterpiece.

We are presented here with a beautiful, frightening, amusing piece of 'Americana. A reincarnation of a film classic that blows John Wayne with extreme bravura and real grit.

Hailee Steinfeld steals the show and that's saying a lot since that show also stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. A performance well beyond her age with grace, ferocity and also vulnerability. Oscar nom? Yes.

The Coen brothers have proven they are one of the best directors in Hollywood today. True Grit comes so close to greatness it blows my mind.
3. THE WAY BACK

I call this the epic of the year.

A true story of a group of escapees who trek 4000 miles over deserts, oceans and mountains to their freedom. Directed by Peter Weir, The Way Back has every ingredient of an epic on the scale of Lawrence of Arabia and delivers in fine form.

Breathtaking vistas that serve as the backdrop to the cast's efforts lend The Way Back an epic feel, echoed by mature editing & marvelously restrained use of music.

This is the best film of the year from a film making standpoint, whether the mainstream public recognizes it or not.
2. TOY STORY 3

What kind of radioactive performance enhancing drug are the people in Pixar taking? These people just can't make a bad movie. I don't think it even computes for them.

Toy Story 3 is Pixar's crowning glory. The film is much darker than the previous two, he way it is written is so much more mature and yet it never loses the original flavor of Toy Story.

Never has a film made me cry my eyes out then laugh my ass off within a span of a minute. Toy Story 3 is the perfect ending to a long, melancholy meditation on loss, impermanence and that noble, stubborn, foolish thing called love.
 1. INCEPTION

Really? Was there any surprise this is No. 1?

Christopher Nolan along with an elite cast of actors spins a dark tapestry of visceral action and intellectual mind fucks.

This film is so complex, so deep, delving deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of the mind. The pace moves break neck fast I could barely catch my breath.

Inception is every sense of the word storytelling brilliance and it's beginning, build, climax and ambiguous ending is going to be the subject of many discussions for years to come.

Now let's kill that third Batman movie! Muahahahaha.
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