Two unfinishable films

There's a momentum to movies, a momentum that if lost bears the movies unfinishable. This happened to me twice in the last few weeks. I stepped away, paused the movie, and then decided they couldn't be finished. This is a pretty huge occurrence. I almost always finish movie to a fault. But let's be honest, I'm pretty sure I'll never regret not finishing Green Lantern and Water for Elephants.

And what is with this fish guy's rib cage?

Green Lantern seemed to sap all charisma out of Ryan "charisma is what I bring to the table" Reynolds during its paint-by-numbers origin. I've said it several times, I'll say it for eternity: superhero origin stories are boring. Like, I realize every does a superhero nowadays, but they could at least sometimes be interesting. Please? Plus, the premise of will/green vs. fear/yellow comes off as obtuse on film. And why does every speak English in space if Reyrey is the first human on the Green Lantern team? And why is Blake Lively cast in everything? Guess I'll never know because I walked away.

Honestly, the elephant was probably the most compelling character in the film.

Water for Elephants proved that Robert Pattinson is pretty good looking when he's not wearing 10 pounds of pale white foundation. Reese Witherspoon's costumes were pretty, and Christoph Waltz is a good creepy man. Too bad it was mostly bland, although not terrible. Mostly, the movie got paused, and my g-friend and I decided life coaching each other was a better idea than finishing the movie.

So tell me friends, what movies have been unfinishable for you lately?

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10: Week of February 4, 2012

Another month and only a few new songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. Let's take a look-see.

10. "Domino" by Jessie J

Apparently this Jessie J thing is happening no matter what, so congratulations world, one more song for large dance camp numbers.

9. "Niggas in Paris" by Jay-Z and Kanye West

(via occupypawnee)

'Nuff said.

8. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" by Kelly Clarkson

I kind of like Kelly Clarkson despite the fact that each of her songs sounds the same/are about deadbeat exes. At least she usually has an empowering message?

7. "Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO

Please let this fall in the charts mean that this song will soon fade from the radio waves.

6. "It Will Rain" by Bruno Mars
This song gets more hilariously mopey with each listen.

5. "The One that Got Away" by Katy Perry

I've become obsessed with how K. Per says "meh" (met) and "Radioheah" (Radiohead) during the first verse of this song. Needless to say, I'm over it.

4. "Turn Me On" by David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj

David Guetta has been turning out some good dance hits lately, this time with Nicki Minaj who is singing and limiting her crazy rap style. Thanks for importing M. Guetta, France!

3. "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida

Over it. Flo Rida's douchiness is finally overwhelming every listen to this song.

2. "We Found Love" by Rihanna
Still happening.

1. "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Stop it. Just stop releasing these horrible songs. You're a talented girl, so stop being so obnoxious. And take some Prozac.

2011 Movie Roundup: 109-129

Last chunk of the movies I saw in 2011 for the first time. See also: 1-21, 22-42, 43-64, 65-86, 87-108.

109. Paris is Burning (1990)-- Another one of my favorite films I saw in 2011. Fascinating look at drag culture in New York in the late 80s. I adore every personality in this film. Just delightful.

110. Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)-- This documentary actually gave me some respect for the mythical Madonna. As much as the voiceover narration sounds contrived or as needy for attention (theater kid-level neediness) as Madonna acted, I could appreciate that what she was doing on this tour was hard work. It also gave me a glimpse of Madonna before the pretentiousness/fake British accent.

111. The Thin Blue Line (1988)-- Another haunting documentary from Errol Morris, this time involving a murder.

112. Girl, Interrupted (1999)-- Remember when Angelina Jolie was super weird and Winona Ryder was relevant? I enjoyed this look at 1960s mental hospitals quite a bit.

113. Breaking Dawn: Part 1 (2011)-- Wedding porn and terrible relationships. Billy Burke's Charlie continues to be the best character in these films.

114. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)-- It was fine. I've lost steam with this franchise. Good thing it's over.

115. Hugo (2011)-- Absolutely delightful. Even Sacha Baron Cohen captured my heart.

116. Larry Crowne (2011)-- Meh.

117. Network (1976)-- A satire that works just as well today as it did in 1976.

118. Babes in Toyland (1961)-- Very 1960s Disney.

119. Boys Don’t Cry (1999)-- Impressed by the performances in this film.

120. The Bounty Hunter (2010)-- I can't really say I disliked this movie. It was amusing enough for a Saturday afternoon.

121. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)-- Enchanting. Great visuals, fun horror story.

122. Come Early Morning (2006)-- I adore Ashley Judd, and I enjoyed watching her in a sweet, small scale film.

123. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1990)-- Delightful, funny, great small humorous moments. Gary Oldman and Tim Roth play off each other well.

124. The Piano Teacher (2001)-- Sexual repression and piano playing. Really depressing.

125. Weekend (2011)-- LOVE. An indie romance that felt honest.

126. Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011)-- Fun, more coherent than the first Guy Ritchie take on Sherlock Holmes. Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law are a pleasure to watch.

127. Tangled (2010)-- Decent animated musical, although it's still harping on the "revised humor fairytale" genre that's been ubiquitous for the last decade. However, I am obsessed with the sidekick chameleon and his cute little chameleon hands/feet.

128. Algiers (1938)-- Love this film and the doomed romance between a hidden criminal and an engaged French woman. Apparently this film was inspiration for both Casablanca and Pepé Le Pew.

129. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)-- Surprisingly fun gnome version of Romeo and Juliet. Using James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as voice talents doesn't hurt.

THE END.

2011 Movie Roundup: 87-108

Movies 2011, y'all. See also: 1-21, 22-42, 43-64, 65-86.

87. Unknown (2011)-- Liam Neeson: badass action star. January Jones: beautiful blank slate.

88. Year of the Carnivore (2009)-- Indie comedy(?) that gets real weird about sex.

89. 8: The Mormon Proposition (2010)-- A little too blatantly biased, but some good information and questions about Mormon involvement in Proposition 8.

90. I Don’t Know How She Does It (2011)-- Being rich is so hard.

91. Do the Right Thing (1989)-- It's more stage play than cinematic, but everything about this film just works. In addition, "Fight the Power" will be stuck in your head for about a week after watching this.

92. Hunger (2008)-- So very bleak, but Steve McQueen puts an impressive amount of trust in his actors to create the atmosphere of this film.

93. Arranged (2007)-- Cute film about an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman becoming friends and seeking husbands in their respective cultures.

94. Drive (2011)-- Pretty damn cool.

95. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)-- Fairly amusing Sherlock Holmes mystery that is far more coherent than the recent Guy Ritchie takes on the character.

96. White Palace (1990)-- Alright, I was on a sexual James Spader kick in 2011, and this time in a May-December romance with Susan Sarandon. Kind of a mediocre film, but enough interesting character development to be engaging.

97. Marie Antoinette (2006)-- Fun blend of modern music and color palette with 18th Century costuming and politics. For me, it works.

98. Footloose (2011)-- Just as corny as the original but without the nostalgia. I would love to see Miles Teller (the dance impaired sidekick) in more films.

99. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)-- It's a 90s action movie. Not much more.

100. Source Code (2011)-- More engaging than I thought it would be.

101. The Ides of March (2011)-- Serviceable, but ultimately nothing more than a film pandering to a middle-aged, liberal, white audience.

102. Thirteen (2003)-- Watching this film is when I learned that Evan Rachel Wood has played the same obnoxious character since 2003. It worked well for this film, although can't say the same about The Ides of March. Holly Hunter is pretty great though.

103. Dogville (2003)-- Still don't know what to do with this film, but I appreciate a good allegory I also liked that the gimmicky stage-like sets paid off well in several scenes juxtaposing what was said and what was actually being done.

104. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)-- Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway make a beautiful couple that helps perpetuate the myth of Bonnie and Clyde.

105. The Exorcist (1973)-- I was thoroughly impressed by this film. I haven't enjoyed a horror film this much since I saw Rosemary's Baby. The slow pace built up effective suspense, and Ellen Burstyn sold me on the fright.

106. Scream (1996)-- Fun slasher pic. Enjoyed it more than I expected.

107. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)-- Appreciated Chris Evans' low-key performance, Stanley Tucci being Stanley Tucci, and the 1940s art design and costuming. Overall, kind of dull. Also, STOP WITH THE ORIGIN STORIES, PLEASE.

108. The 39 Steps (1935)-- Absolutely charming thriller.

2011 Movie Roundup: 65-86

More movies I saw in 2011. See also: 1-21, 22-42, 43-64.

65. Friends with Benefits (2011)-- Can't decide how much I like this movie, but I was charmed but some of the more genuine moments (i.e., those that didn't involve flash mobs or pretending Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are employable for anything other than hotness).

66. X-Men: First Class (2011)-- I could watch James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender do anything. However, if I never watch another superhero origin story, I'll die happy.

67. Walking and Talking (1996)-- Introduced me to Billy Bragg. Worth it.

68. Starter for 10 (2006)-- James McAvoy and Rebecca Hall are charming.

69. Becoming Jane (2007)-- I'm embarrassed for myself for watching this film, and for Anne Hathaway's terrible English accent.

70. Reality Bites (1994)-- Eeeh, not as bad I thought it would be. Pretty watchable. Ethan Hawke makes a good douchebag.

71. Horrible Bosses (2011)-- One of those movies you see because you don't really want to watch anything else in the theaters and you need something to do. Charlie Day manages to made me laugh at least once.

72. Dangerous Beauty (1998)-- Watched this for Rufus Sewell. Kind of a terrible, soft focus, historical drama.

73. Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter Jr. (1999)-- Fascinating documentary about a man claimed to be an execution device expert and how he turns into a Holocaust denier. Officially love Errol Morris.

74. Empire Records (1995)-- I'm about ten years older than I should have been to truly enjoy this film. However, Ethan Embry forever.

75. Wishful Thinking (1996)-- Did I even watch this movie? It stars Jon Stewart, Drew Barrymore, and Jennifer Beale?

76. Trollhunter (2010)-- Finally, someone takes the found footage genre and makes it fun and Norwegian.

77. 30 Minutes or Less (2011)-- Danny McBride is the worst. Jesse Eisenberg is wonderful when he's frantic.

78. Adam (2009)-- Hugh Dancy puts a good effort into playing a man with Asperger's. Rose Byrne puts in a mediocre effort into playing a human being.

79. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)-- Finally saw the whole thing. I'm probably way too young to really appreciate the film, but I enjoy its portrayal of teenagers since it seems a lot more honest than most teen films today.

80. The Usual Suspects (1995)-- Kind of like that time I finally saw A Beautiful Mind, and I already knew the twist and the experience was less than mind blowing. Except The Usual Suspects is actually interesting/well-crafted/suspenseful/engaging/any positive adjective.

81. Love Jones (1997)-- Charming. Makes me wonder whatever happened to spoken word, Nia Long, and Bill Bellamy.

82. One Day (2011)-- The return of Anne Hathaway's awful English accent, although there was still enough charm to make it enjoyable (think The Lake House). I'm kind of pissed they relegated Romola Garai to a minor role.

83. Staying Alive (1983)-- John Travolta plays an asshole and a mediocre dancer in this poorly scripted sequel to Saturday Night Fever. Cynthia Rhodes and Frank Stallone's smooth grooves were clearly the best part of the film.

84. 50/50 (2011)-- Confused why this is so praised. Anna Kendrick and Seth Rogen play the same characters they always do (it's getting old), and Bryce Dallas Howard is the shrewish girlfriend (a more nuanced look at this character would have GREAT to see). Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Anjelica Huston however hold the thing together enough to make it worth it.

85. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)-- Mainstream clever. Wish I could box up Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's relationship for sad, depressing, rainy days.

86. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)-- John Malkovich is my favorite creepy seducer. He's equal parts repulsive and humorous, and I can never get over how that sweet sounding lisp of his sounds like pure evil. Also, remember how Keanu Reeves kept getting cast in period pieces?

2011 Movie Roundup: 43-64

More movies I saw for the first time in 2011. See also: 1-21, 22-42.

43. Y Tu Mama, Tambien (2001)-- Cute boys, beautiful woman, sexy times.

44. Secretary (2002)-- James Spader, once again being emotionally damaged and creepily alluring, this time with Maggie Gyllenhaal being adorably submissive.

45. Bridesmaids (2011)-- One of the few Apatow produced movies that I actually found funny. Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig can sell me on anything.

46. High Road (2011)-- I saw this at SIFF. It's more proof that improvised movies are exceedingly dull (except for the Lizzy Caplan parts, of course).

47. Lust, Caution (2007)-- INTENSE. One of the better films about the toll of the spying life.

48. Dan in Real Life (2007)-- Why would Juliette Binoche date Dane Cook?

49. Teeth (2007)-- Apparently I went through a 2007 phase this spring. Anyway, great premise that allows the myth of vagina dentata to shine light on abstinence and religion. Too bad the third act falls apart.

50. The New World (2005)-- Not without its flaws, but it makes up for it by being so beautiful and meditative. I'd say it's heavy competition for Bright Star in its representation of young love, but manages to do it in a way that actually moves me.

51. Easier with Practice (2009)-- Late night Netflix choice that is a decent movie about loneliness. And by "decent," I mean less painful than most indie movies.

52. Killing Bono (2011)-- It's about the band that was almost U2. It never leaves "sad sack" territory, so the laughs never really come.

53. The Piano (1993)-- Speaking of Jane Campion, I wanted so badly to be taken into this film, but it stopped short. It's like listening to someone play a piano sonatina with a heavy hand--it's just not quite right. However, there's beautiful cinematography and a brilliant Holly Hunter.

54. Humpday (2009)-- Interesting indie movie about straight, male friends who try to sleep together for an amateur porn festival. It's better than it sounds, I swear. Smartly written.

55. Super 8 (2011)-- Fun and instantly forgettable summer adventure film. Loved the kids' zombie film.

56. The Muppet Movie (1979)-- I can't believe I never seen this movie before, but it showed me why muppet movies are such a big deal in the first place.

57. Anyone and Everyone (2007)-- This documentary depicts families dealing with a son or daughter coming out as gay. Sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, I was an emotional wreck after watching this film. The Mormon family was especially touching because the they were so supportive. Recommended for anyone trying to reconcile homosexuality and religion.

58. Attack the Block (2011)-- British street kids and aliens. 'nuff said.

59. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)-- This movie wasn't nearly as funny as I had heard. Christopher Meloni was best in show as the crazy Vietnam vet.

60. Muriel’s Wedding (1994)-- I don't really think I get Australian comedy, but I always enjoy Toni Collette.

61. The Tree of Life (2011)-- The most spiritual moment of my year was seeing this film. Beautiful and transcendent with a gorgeous soundtrack.

62. Planet Terror/Death Proof (2007)-- I'm just lumping these two together. I enjoyed the gross-out horror style of Planet Terror much more than the loooooong buildup of Death Proof, although Death Proof has a great car chase scene in the end.

63. The Waiting Room (2007)-- I vaguely remember watching this movie. Another mediocre indie.

64. Half Nelson (2006)-- This film and Ryan Gosling's acting were just as good as I had heard. An indie movie that does well at developing characters and character arcs.