Unabashed love... for a movie

I'll come right out and say it -- I loved "Juno". Hell, I knew I would love the movie when I saw a trailer for it late last summer. I knew it would be a hit not because the screenwriter, Diablo Cody, called the Twin Cities her home but because it's the best example of stellar writing I've seen in a long time.

This is one movie whose buzz stand up after watching it. The characters feel real, the dialogue flows effortlessly and the setting of the Minneapolis metro area rings true to me because I call it home as well. The location-dropping with mentions of Mankato, St. Cloud and Ridgedale perked my ears up because I can relate personally to those locales.

All home-town rooting aside, "Juno" is the best movie of 2007. Its roots are in the comedy genre but it touches on the full range of emotions. The scene in which lead character Juno brushes off her baby-daddy, Bleeker, shows that actor Michael Cera can display a multitude of feelings. He shows in that one scene that the one-time encounter with Juno, played by Ellen Page, truly meant something to him. That feeling of intense teenage romance comes to the surface in the post-birth scene where the once-rejected Bleeker comforts Juno. From there, with the movie nearing its final minutes, you can sense what sort of conclusion the film will have.
I won't give any more tidbits away but the selection of the actors including such big names as Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman plays well and to think that it all started with a chair...

What matters my opinion though, what movies, current or further back, from 2007 made an indelible impression on you?

The best and worst of TV in 2007

If you aren't totally immersed in my life, you probably don't know that I also write a periodical "column" about television and because of that I rarely mention the idiot box 'round these parts. But today I'm bending that rule all in the name of synergy and for the simple fact that I dodn't do any year-end list about television yet.

The last half of 2007 for TV professional viewers has sucked. For me, though, the Writers Guild strike has freed me from the shackles of the remote control and the amount of tasks I have done in the past month where primetime viewing would have been the norm is astounding. I don't miss TV much at all. It will make next summer easier when I seriously consider cancelling my cable all together and force us to venture -- GASP -- outdoors!

But 2007, in TV land, wasn't all bad. 2007 was the year when the sci-fi drama "Lost" revived itself. Seriously, after that poorly concepted six-episode mini-season in October/November 2006 cost the show big time. When it came back in early 2007, it was a whole new ballgame.

Of course, 2007 had its moments of complete sucktitude. American Idol. See, two words CAN be a sentence. It's everything that's wrong with TV. It's snark, douchebags in front of a microphone that have no business singing in their own shower and "judges" who have less musical experience that that damned lawn gnome urging me to travel.

Without further ado, though, my list of the best and the worst in completely random order.

BEST
1. 30 Rock
2. The Office
3. Chuck
I haven't watched much of "Chuck" but the missus does and because of that, I have begun to be sucked into this odd mish-mash of a comedy and spy thriller. It has the romance component that is a prerequisite for any show's longevity and it has the sunny locale of the L.A. area.
4. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Straight up filth is this show's strongest point. It has no redeeming value and most people, if given the choice, would run down the characters with a flaming Winnebago RV. But it's full of gut-busting humor so that cancels out the despicable behavior of the main characters that some folks with a conscience would hate. I, however, must be totally devoid of a soul because I love it all!
5. Lost
I have waited through three agonizing seasons for a resolution in just 3 more seasons. Don't let me down.
6. How I Met Your Mother
It has made it three season and it has Doogie Howser in its cast. That alone makes it a winner for me but add in the smoking hot Cobie Smulders and, BAM, gold!
7. Kid Nation
No, I'm not ashamed.

WORST
1. American Idol
2. Big Shots
3. Cavemen
4. Deal or No Deal
5. Drive
6. K-Ville

Wrapping up early

What can I say? It's that oft-dreaded time of year when everyone comes up with some assinine year-end list of the "best of", "worst of" or "best of the worst of" as well as hundreds of other variations of the same. The fact is that they all end up sounding exactly the same.

I could promise to be different but I thrive on sameness because America is, after all, one large strip mall following the equation of Starbucks, Applebee's, T-Mobile store... repeat. Seriously, look around you. But in the meantime, direct your miniscule attention spans here and pay some attention to my 2007 music wrap up.

Face it, 2007 sucked musically. Sure, summer had the Live Earth concerts around the world which were televised by NBC so poorly that I almost wished that MTV had televised them instead but quickly came back to earth and remembered that MTV and music don't go together any more.

It was nice to see so many fossil fuel guzzling musicians come together for a legitimate cause and some of the music -- yes even Kanye West -- was a refreshing break from the 90-plus degree temperatures that enveloped Minnesota that particular Saturday afternoon.

Having reminisced, now it's time for the awards. No rambling acceptance speeches. No list of nominees. Just awards.

Best Year:
Justin Timberlake
JT is a legitimate talent. I say that without having to hold back any bile. Sure, he was in a boy band but he's shed that horrid image and become someone whose music I can admit that I listen to. He's been everywhere including in Cameron Diaz's pants.

Biggest Makeover:
Nelly Furtado
Sure, Furtado's older tunes always had a hint of hip-hop in them but her music was always more instrument oriented as oppose to her most recent reinvention as a singer belting out ass-shaking rhythms. Her move to hip-hop from her former style of folksy-alternative-singer/songwriter style may have alienated her fans but those thirteen Canadians will move on.

Biggest Douchebag:
Akon
I hate rap/hip-hop and this piece of crap pisses me off. He prides himself on parlaying a music career out of his time spent behind bars -- hence the clever play on words as Akon. Staying true to his roots, earlier this year at one of his shows he pulled a girl up on stage and dry-humped her. The problem being that she was 14. He has refused to take responsibility for incorporating that move into his show and went as far as to write a song which recounts his terrible ordeal. Boo-frickin'-hoo. He lost his sponsorship deal because he's a dipshit who thought it would be entertaining to clothes-fuck a 14 year old.

Moving on...

Biggest Comeback:
Pink (P!nk)
Pink came back from a rather long hiatus as well as a somewhat meager debut and follow-ups to release an actual great pop disc (her 4th) in a year where pop music seems to be nothing but hip-hop. She's got a diverse sound that ranges from softer-edged hip-hop to full on rocking pop. Her latest single is the political anthem "Dear Mr. President" which should carry over in terms of popularity to 2008 and make for another mildly charged year.

Biggest Hype:
iPod Touch
Not everyone is an "early adopter" of technology but this thing is damn cool. If we didn't already each have an iPod and had a few hundred bucks lying around, we'd already have one. Plus it doesn't hurt that Apples' commercials are as cool as, possibly cooler, than their products and I'm all about the cool -- especially with my earlier confession of liking Fall Out Boy.

Biggest Album:
It's impossible to name just one so why not name five of the best albums instead?!?
Tegan and Sara - The Con
Wow. This disc just proves that these Canadian twins can hold their own against anything made here in the states. Each track is single-worthy and while the latest offerings are more "polished" and produced than their earlier stuff, it's easy to tell that the sisters still share writing duties and haven't lost their indie roots.

Feist - The Reminder
Another Canadian -- maybe they are plotting something or maybe America is just discovering that there are other things outside of hockey and maple syrup that come from north of the border. Seriously, though, check out her live performance from Jimmy Kimmel, watch the director's cut of "1,2,3,4" and listen to the whole disc straight through and soak in the wide variety of tunes that Leslie Feist can create.

Against Me! - New Wave
These Florida punk-rockers hit it big this year with the amazing single "Thrash Unreal". Not too shabby for a major label debut but the years of polishing their craft truly show when compared against some of their earlier tunes. The vocal are crisper and the chorus of "Thrash Unreal", well any tune featuring the phrase 'junkie' gets my stamp of approval because 'junkie' on the radio=pure gold.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Weird, more Canadians. After reading the back and forth interview in Spin featuring lead singer Winn Butler and legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen, I have a newfound appreciation for Arcade Fire. At first listen, they may seen rather eclectic based on the instruments used and the sounds created (listen very closely where the audio will be crisp and clean - not in your car) but pair this disc with their freshman release - Funeral - and you'll see the progression and the maturity. Will they be the next Springsteen? Settle in and find out.

Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Alright, first and foremost, The Boss is a damn legend. Sometimes legends show their age and mellow out as their careers progress. Springsteen doesn't fit this particular mold. The anti-corporate anthem "Radio Nowhere" vocalizes his disdain for the very industry which made him who he is and the remainder of the disc is just as powerful. It won't be a breakout album that is widely remembered but for the lucky ones who caught "Radio Nowhere" on the radio and to his die-hard fans, this disc is a must-have.

There you have it, my lengthy as hell recap of 2007's tunes. Enjoy it, listen to the tunes I recapped and soak it in. I'm not quite sure if this feature will make a return for 2008 as I am exploring some other options so voice your opinion if I should keep Tuned In around!