Whooooooosh! (yes, it's still not space agey so I have to do my own sound effects)
Let's start with the failed book challenge.
I had challenged myself to read 12 books in 2009 and to be honest I thought it would have been a disaster because frankly I don't think I've read that many books. In the end I was 3 books short of meeting the challenge which is amazing all things considered. These were the books I read this year.
I bought this book in Chicago at Borders, a bookshop near this very famous department store that Oprah always mentions on her show. I could get lost in a phone booth so I wouldn't know where exactly it was. There was another Borders bookshop on Michigan Ave. I went there too, but didn't buy anything for myself in there.
To be honest I bought the book because of the title. How could you not? Also it was on the bestseller rack and I'd heard the name Chelsea Handler on TV a couple of times. Still, I had no expectations at all going into this. I read it in one sitting and had fabulous roomservice delivered in order to finish it in time to go shopping again the next day. It was, in my opinion, funny and maybe slightly over the top but it also had heart. Even if some of the stories did portray her family and ex boyfriends as a fairly unpleasant crowd. Still, anyone who went to jail because of their own sister and lived to tell about it in a funny way is kool in my book.
Read about it here
Read about them here
Read about them here
A story that was fairly brutal but also a little out there, with UFOs and sticking hands inside dead cows. However it was a good book, a little exhausting to get through because it was a bit heart wrenching.
I've read all her other books, and that was because Dinah mentioned one or two of her books in one of her 50+ book updates. The titles were just too clever to pass up, I suppose. This was her third book and it's still entertaining to read about her, now, fairly disheveled life with her dogs, cats and once upon a time (at least in my mind) hot boyfriend (now husband). The everyday struggles of someone who thinks she's somebody kool and happening but really is neither kool nor happening. She is fabulous though. Tongue like a viper and well, a determination one can only admire. Train Jen just keeps on going.
On a side note, I bought this book in the city where she lives, Chicago. Which, to me, is a fun fact. Love Borders!
There is not much to add to the title. It's a game guide for Sims 3, which I'm fairly addicted to. I love playing with other peoples lives and this is the healthiest outlet. The guide is pretty good and there are delightful brownie (teee-hee geddit? Cathrine Browne - brownie. hah!) bites.
What's my favorite book of 2009? It's between Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, Such a Pretty Fat and The Tin Star (the gay erotica book, niiiiice!)
The winner is
Yay for Jen Lancaster (who has a new book out now)!
So I didn't make the 12 books in my challenge, but I tell you, in space age 2010 I will read 12 books. And I may start today, that is, if I will ever finish this review thing.Pheeeeew, can we go on? We must, right. We must, since we did all that whoooshing earlier.
Now on to the movies
I can't remember which movies I watched in 2009. I found a few old movie stubs but in order to find out what movies that came out in 2009, that I watched I had to go through my book cases. I found 9 DVDs that were released in 2009. Here they are
Starring Zac Efron, Matthew Perry and Michelle Trachtenberg.
I must bow my head in shame and admit I liked it enough to buy it. I bought it in Chicago. Maybe it was because I was on holiday or it could be because I kept missing the beginning on the plane to Las Vegas. It could also be because I adore Matthew Perry and hoped he'd join in on a song and dance number with Zac Efron. Alas, it didn't happen. Still a fairly alright teenage comedy. PS I don't like Michelle Trachtenberg.
Starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Zlatko Buric and Johann Urb to name a few.
Disaster movie. Read my review here.
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper (HOT!), Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly and Drew Barrymore
Total chick flick and not a good one. So disappointing. Too many big names, fabulous title and a dull story.
Starring Bradley Cooper (HOT!), Heather Graham, Mike Tyson and Bryan Callen
Hilarious movie about a bachelor party gone completely haywire in Las Vegas. I can't say it's an intelligent movie, but it sure was entertaining. Of course it added to it, that I've been there and (if not experienced all the stuff, then at least some of it).
Starring a lot of Danish actors who are quite the A-listers in Denmark.
It's about a lot of different people who live not very far from each other, and their lives entertwine and good and bad stuff happens. It's very realistic, a bit crude in places. Social realism if you like. A real commentary on the way we live our lives these days. I don't really like Danish movies, but it wasn't a bad movie. Just not really to my taste.
Starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor (Nice!), Stellan Skarsgård, Nikolaj Lie Kaas (Danish, Thure Lindhardt (Danish, and gay I believe)
Such an average, overrated movie. Based on a book by Dan Brown (I didn't like the book), so the movie alright. Still, any movie that showcases Tom Hanks in nothing but a blue speedo in the first part of the movie gets my thumbs down. I don't like Tom Hanks in general, so this may be unfair judgement.
Starring Hugh Jackman (HOT!), Nicole Kidman, Ben Mendelsohn (starred in Sample People alongside Kylie Minogue)
A gorgeous, well I would call it an epic, movie about a shameful part of the history of Australia. The story was great, the acting fabulous and I LOVED it. I cried, I smiled and well...
It was not just that one time. The camera did that twice.
Starring Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway (we ADORE her), Bryan Greenberg, Steve Howey and Miss Candice Bergen
Another very disappointing chick flick. I adore Anne Hathaway and Miss Candice Bergen, so I just knew it was going to be a good movie. It was however, a real stinker. Mostly because they just never took that whole bridezilla thing to heart. They didn't really bring it. It was dainty and nice. AND BRIDES ARE N*E*V*E*R NICE! Weak. Really weak.
We know who's in it, after watching the previous 5 movies. We love it, we can't wait for the next one. Still, you also get this "is it over soon" feeling. There's just a limit to how much more we can take. Then again, I'll never get enough of Dame Maggie Smith and Julie Walters. Emma Watson is becoming too Hollywood pretty to be Hermoine.
Starring Sandra Bullock (LOVE her!), Ryan Reynolds (HOT!), Mary Steenburgen (FAB!), Craig T. Nelson, Miss Betty White (ADORE her!)
This is a beautifully made comedy, that references the physical comedy and has the heart of the Doris Day comedies. With the contemporary touch. Fantastic cast, and the comedic timing and foul mouth of Miss Betty White is spectacular. It may have been over exposed but it deserved every bit of attention it got. Love it.
Check these two specials from the movie
Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock naked in The Proposal
Starring Isla Fisher, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lynn Redgrave and Julie Hagerty
Light fluffy chick flick. Mildly amusing movie about a girl who shops too much and gets a job at a financial magazine. A paradox as she is heaviely in debt. I liked it because I love fashion and can identify with the lust for designer stuff.
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Winona Ryder
I would say anything that gives Winona Ryder yet another chance to prove herself is good in my book, or anything with a Chris Pine in his underoos. Still, the movie really IS good. Even for a guy such as myself who wasn't really a Trekkie. I mean, I used to watch TNG every week but I had never watched a Star Trek movie before. So for a first, this is damn spectacular. I liked it. A lot.
Starring Amy Adams (LOVE her!), Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn
Now what a delightful movie this was. A movie about biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up. Never thought I'd actually watch a movie about that, even though the TV series are packed with it these days. This has heart though, and a wonderful story. Amy Adams is always a star, and she is fantastic in this, as is Emily Blunt (who was also brilliant in The Devil Wears Prada). There is comedy, tragedy, real life and love (as far as I remember). Who knew, Steve Zahn would fit into a movie like this. Strange.
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel (HOT!), Tyrese Gibson (HOT!), John Turturro, Kevin Dunn
This was unintentionally funny. I watched it with friends and we were laughing through most of it. Most of the time we had no clue what was going on, and there seemed to not be a script this time 'round. I liked it as an action movie where you didn't have to think about what was going on, and just watch and relax your brain after a tough day at work. Which is why I bought it. That and Josh Duhamel.
OK, so maybe Josh Duhamel didn't get his kit off in the movie, but he did do this pictorial before he got famous.
On that note, we have to find a winner for best movie of 2009. It's between Sunshine Cleaning, Australia and The Proposal. Tough choice.
The winner is..
With honourable mention to the other nominated movies, because it was a very difficult choice. Love them all dearly.
Are we done yet? I think not. We still need a few more categories. Best hunk, best TV series and biggest disappointment.
Let's start with the TV Series I've followed this year
Starring Ll Cool J, Chris O'Donnell and Miss Linda Hunt
I like Ll Cool J, Miss Linda Hunt and Chris O'Donnell has grown into a total hottie. That combined with an action series placed in a fabulous city with gorgeous sun and sand, what's not to like? Well, it just doesn't work. I don't know why. I really, really want to love it. I do. I've given it every opportunity, but it's just not catching on. Why, oh why. I want it to, I really do. The teaser is fantastic and the show just isn't.
Starring Milo Venticafalatte (HOT!), Jack Coleman, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Pasdar, Zachary Quinto, Cristine Rose (LOVE her)
I sort of lost interest after an abysmal season 2, but I thought season 3 really shaped up to be pretty good. Granted, I can't remember much of it, and I haven't bothered getting the DVD yet. I hope they won't fuck it up, because season 1 was AWESOME and season 3 was pretty good.
Starring
I'm so behind on Gossip Girl. I love it though. It's the kind of show that will eventually die out like the original Beverly Hills 90210 did when the kids (I use the term loosely) went to college. The story is good, and at times a bit saucy. I like that. Daring to push the boundaries of mainstream TV. It doesn't all have to be so prim and proper.
Starring Teri Hatcher (HATE her), Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross (LOVE her!), Eva Longoria Parker (FAB!), James Denton (HOT!), Doug Savant (cute - he buffed up this season), Nicollette Sheridan, Dana Delany and Kathryn Joosten (comedic genius)
This was the season where Edie died. I was shocked, and I did have to take a moment before I could go on because that was huge. It was a great season though with many entanglements and it's still a bang up show. The gals are still game, and you can all look forward to season 6 if you haven't started that yet.
Starring Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin (wow two Baldwin brothers on TV at the same time), Sarah Lancaster, Yvonne Strahovski, Ryan McPartlin (HOT!)
I must admit I didn't watch a lot of this show. Only a few full episodes but it seems great, and I have high hopes for it and plan to watch it a lot in 2010.
Starring Tom Sellec, Josh Duhamel (HOT!), Molly Sims (the guys seem to love her), Vanessa Marcil, James Lesure, Mitch Longley
Season 4 of this show was terrible, at that point I just wanted it to end. Then as season 5 picked up again it was axed. It was a shame because I really liked it. The show was amusing, sexy and action'ish and the stories (personal and otherwise) happened in a casino in Las Vegas (love that) so it was astonishing it kept going for 5 seasons. I had given it 2 seasons, but it came back and season 5 was worth watching. Tom Selleck took over after James Caan and he did a good job, you just had to get used to his style though.
Starring Tracy Scoggins, William Gregory Lee, Gregory Michael, Charlie David and Thea Gill (Queer As Folk - US edition)
Any show that gives Tracy Scoggins (Dynasty and The Colbys) another chance, eh? It doesn't actually have any business of being in this, because the latest season is from 2007. I discovered it earlier this year. The fact that it's a supernatural show with witchcraft and half naked men and women, does cement the fact that the acting on a TV show doesn't have to be brilliant. As long as they have cute butts. And they do. I quite like it, and although it's not eligible for winning, it's still worth mentioning.
This was easy. Hands down, the winner is...
Now onto best hunk..
Milo Venticafalatta
Hugh Jackman
Bradley Cooper
Robbie Williams
Josh Duhamel
George Clooney
Chris Pine
Brad Pitt
Ryan Reynolds
So which one is your favorite? I say put them all together.
Biggest disappointment? Hmmmm.. Well it's not that difficult really. I can only be
So that's about it! Let's slip back into 2010 again.
Whooooooooooosh!
Let's hope there'll be more wonderful entertainment this year. I sure will keep better track of what movies I watch.
And honourable mention to Kylie Minogue who toured selected cities in the US in 2009 (and released a live album available on iTunes).
