mixtapes & cupcakes

Every year I pretty much make a “Top 10″ list.  The year is nearing an end and I feel like I can’t quite do this list justice, seeing how I separated myself from the media world for 7 months.  But I’m trying to catch up and this is what I have.  A list of the Top 10 Best Movies and Albums this year.  In a nutshell, and in my opinion.  Enjoy!!!

TOP 10 Movies of the Year

#10- The Fall: Starring Lee Pace: Directed by Tarsem

Okay, so the acting from the child actress is awful and annoying and makes the movie go incredibly slow.  The story is average.  The script is average.  The acting is average.  So why is it on my list?  Because it is visually, THE MOST beautiful film I’ve ever watched.  The colours blend together with the location of exotic landscapes.  The costumes are beautiful, the scenery is beautiful, the camera angles are beautiful.  Definitely worth seeing.  Maybe just mute it and put a good record on and it might be the best film ever.  A hospitalized man tells a magic fable to a young girl also in the hospital.  The fable parallels their life and unfolds secrets.  

# 9- Vicky Christina Barcelona: Starring Scarlett Johanson, Penelope Cruise: Directed by Woody Allen

I really love the past few movies Woody Allen has directed (Scoop, Match Point, Cassandra’s Dream) and this just adds to the list.  Set in the beautiful land of Barcelona.  The acting is great, the scenery is great, the script is clever and smart.  Lovely.  2 best friends decide to take a vacation before they go separate ways in their lives, however the vacation changes their wants and desires.

#8- Son of Rambow: Starring Child Actors (lol): Directed by Garth Jennings

Fuck Juno.  The Indie award goes to Son of Rambow.  Cute Kids, Great Music, and Creative.  This movie is about 2 young boys who form a friendship while trying to recreate the film “Rambow.”  This film has heart, laughs, and tells a great story of friendship.

#7- 27 Dresses: Starring Kathrine Heigl: Directed by Anne Fletcher

When I saw the trailer for this I had no desire to see it.  Granite, Romantic Comedies are my favourite, I already knew what would happen before I saw the movie.  It came out, everyone told me to see it.  I flew to France, there was nothing else on the plane, so I watched it.  And yes, although everything I knew would happen, did indeed happen, it was still cute.  It’s a cute idea, so it gets my award for Romantic Comedy of the year.  After being a bridesmaid for 27 times, a woman realizes what she’s looking for in a relationship and finds it in an unusual way.

#6- Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Starring Jason Segel: Directed by Nicholas Stoller 

Jason Segel.  Not as handsome as any other actor such as Brad Pitt or George Clooney.  But he’s witty.  So he decided to write a script about an average guy dating a beautiful celebrity, only to be dumped.  Not only did he write it, but he had the balls to say “You know what, I can play the lead” and he did a WONDERFUL job at it.  This film is smart, funny, has a great cast, and leaves you throwing lines around with your friends.  IE: “You sound like you’re from London!!!” BTW: Russell Brand is genius.  

#5- Revolutionary Road: Starring Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio: Directed by Sam Mendes

I know what you’re thinking.  ”This film comes out in a week, how the hell is it on your list??”  Ohhhhhh the perks of working for producers.  Advanced screeners my friend.  I watched this 2 weeks ago on dvd, and for it to be on my list and me not to have the “theater experience” that means it’s one hell of a movie.  And BTW, I am going to pay to see it again in theaters when it comes out.  It’s just THAT good.  Thomas Newman does a GREAT score.  And yes, the whole movie is dialogue, but the acting is amazing and real and just wonderful.  ”The Perfect Couple” invites us into their home and relationship, only to find that they are both on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  

#4- Tropic Thunder: Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black: Directed by Ben Stiller

I don’t like Ben Stiller at all.  However he wrote, directed, and starred in the movie, and I have to say, did one hell of a job at it.  The script is SO FUNNY.  The “fake trailers” are amazing.  And Robert Downey Jr. deserves an Oscar Nomination for this film, he is THAT brilliant in it.  I think if Ben Stiller keeps writing and directing he can go very far.  3 actors film a war movie in Vietnam, only to find out that it’s not a movie but a real war they are in.  

#3- There Will Be Blood: Starring Daniel Day Lewis: Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

I forget that this film is part of 2008 because it came out the first weekend of 2008.  None-the-less, it is amazing.  Fuck No Country for Old Men, this film deserved best picture, and Daniel Day Lewis very much deserved his Academy Award.  It’s over 3 hours, it has the creepiest score you’ve ever heard, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole fucking time.  An oil driller tries to drill on land owned by a young priest (Paul Dano, Little Miss Sunshine) It sounds boring, and its amazing as hell.

#2- Penelope: Starring Christina Ricci, James McAvoy: Directed by Mark Palansky

I have been waiting for 2 years to see this film.  2 YEARSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!  I was afraid after waiting for so long i would get my hopes up.  I kind of forgot about it, and then it came, and it restored my belief and imagination.  It’s a magical film, and beautiful.  And it’s films like this is the reason I want to go in the business.  I want to create this film.  A Young woman with the nose of a pig, tries to find true love, and does, but with someone that has a secret of his own.  

#1- The Reader: Starring Kate Winslet: Directed by Stephan Daldry

I just saw this last weekend, and it’s a very bold statement to put it as number 1, but IMO it fully deserves it.  This movie is beyond words.  It’s about a young boy who has an affair with an older woman, only to fall in love with her and later to find out she is an ex-Nazi soldier who put hundreds of people to death.  This movie plays with your emotions, it makes you think about what is right and what is wrong, and it has you feeling for both of the characters.  I find this movie lovely and amazing.  Kate Winslet is AMAZING in it, and David Kross (age 17) who plays the young boy is equally as fantastic.  You feel for these characters and it definitely makes you rethink what you believe in.  Wonderful, wonderful, and wonderful.  Absolutely go see it.  

Now onto a few short things about the WORST films of 2008.

-Austraila:  Baz Lurhmann is my hero.  He is who I want to be as a director.  He makes movies about love that are beautiful.  I’ve been waiting for this film for a long time.  And WHAT a disappointment.  Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are AWFUL.  The script is AWFUL.  The story is AWFUL.  There is not a single good thing about this 3 hour film, except when Hugh Jackman walk’s in all “clean-shaved” in a scene and the entire theater busted out laughing.  

-Cloverfield:  J.J Abhrams.  WHAT THE HELL.  Felicity?  AMAZING.  Alias?  AMAZING.  Lost? AMAZING (for the 1st season) What the hell happened with Cloverfield?  I admit, the exploding girl was kind of cool, but other than that, WHAT a disappointment.

-The Duchess:  I admit it, I had no desire to see this.  Ever.  But it was Friday night and Sherra and I had nothing to do and we thought “Well maybe the costumes and scenery will be pretty.”  The movie was so horrible those things didn’t matter and Ralph Fiennes is officially a creeper.  

-WALL E: Ask any guy, he liked it.  Ask any girl, she hated it.  Why?  It’s the most depressing film ever.  It’s basically saying that our world is going to pot, and fuck WALL E and Ever when they miss each other.  I hate this film, and now I’m mad just writing about it.

TOP 10 Best Albums of 2008

#10- High School Musical 3 Soundtrack

I know the thought of this might scare you about my other choices, but believe me, nothing else on my list is like this, and let me explain why this is here.  High School Musical.  A living Nightmare.  It sucks people in.  I was guilted into watching the first one and I do admit it, if I were 13 it would be my favourite movie ever.  It’s that clever.  So I guiltedly snuck into HSM3 and when the whole entire theater cheers, you know a movie is doing something right.  I’m not saying I want to make HSM, but I want something with that much impact on an audience.  And for 13 year old teeny boppers who love Zac Efron, it’s brilliant.  I guess I’m just channeling my inner-Peter Pan here.  

Listen to: “Scream” “Can I Have This Dance” “The Boys Are Back”

#9- Cut Copy “In Ghost Colours”

This album is just energetic and fun and electronic.  They remind me of a modern “The Cure” or something.  I just put this record on and imagine strobe lights and a good dance floor.  I just recently started to listen to this a lot so I can’t give much input, but it’s a lot of fucking fun.

Listen to: “Nobody Lost, Nobody Found” “Lights and Music” “Strangers In The Wind”

#8- Yeasayer “All Hour Cymbals”

This is one of those albums you remember the first time you heard it.  It was late at night and I was coming back from a concert in Jacksonville and this album just made the moment and blew my mind.  I’m really not too sure who to compare them too.  It’s just a nice, smooth ride from start to finish.  Every song is enjoyable, with chanting melodies and catchy beats.

Listen to: “Sunrise” “Forgiveness” “2080″

#7- Born Ruffians “Red, Yellow and Blue”

Talk about a great album from start to finish.  The leads voice is a little whiny, and once you get past that it’s SO MUCH FUN to sing along.  This album is perfect for driving to the beach for out with your friends.  Every song makes you want to hop up and down and once again, I’m not too sure of what to say except LISTEN TO IT.

Listen to: “Foxes Mate for Life” “Badonkadonkey” “Barnacle Goose”

#6- Alphabeat “This Is Alphabeat”

Every time I listen to this record I would be tempted to put it as number 1.  This pop band from Holland (I think) are AMAZING.  The first time I heard them Ben told me it reminded him of the Duck Tales Theme song, and I’ve looked at it as that from then on.  Just a bottle of sunshine that explodes.  Cute lyrics, Awesome Beats, and Amazing Fun Times!!!!

Listen to: “Fascination” “10,000 Nights of Thunder” “Into the Jungle”

#5- Santogold “Santogold”

I’ve never heard of her until I started to do research for the Hydro Connect Festival in Scotland.  Apparently she was already huge in England and being compared to MIA.  ”Cool” I thought.  So Rhys and I went to the show to check it out, and I think this album needs to be renamed “Fuckingold” because it’s BRILLIANT.  Screw MIA.  This girl has her shit together.  AMAZING band.  AMAZING dancers.  AMAZING blue shiny jumpsuit.  It’s like “Indian, Rap, Electronic” and It’s FREAKIN AWESOME.  If you take my advice, listen to this cd above the others on my list.

Listen to: “Lights Out” “ L.E.S. Artistes” “You’ll Find A Way” “Say Aha” Fuck It, just listen to the whole album.  

#4 Kaskade “Strobelite Seduction”  

Trance music is cool.  It’s nice to chill out to it.  But THIS album, isn’t just cool, it’s HOT.  And you don’t just chill out, you groove out.  I think out of all the music I walked around NYC too, this one was most used.  It’s just AMAZING in every situation.  Chilling out in Hawaii?  Amazing.  Driving the car with the midnight air in France?  Amazing.  Walking around NYC in the fall?  Amazing.  And that’s my word because I’ve listened to this album doing all of those things.  If you like Trance, this is one NOT to pass up!

Listen to: “Back On You” “Your Love is Black” “One Heart”

#3-Radiohead “In Rainbows”

So this was released December 28, 2007.  But I don’t care, it’s going on my 2008 list.  Everyone likes Radiohead.  Everyone.  And In Rainbows is maybe 1 step away from Radiohead’s usual experimental electro, but in good pursuit.  Every song is clever, well thought out, placed well, has a catchy beat, a catchy meaning, and a fucking awesome dance your body will go into.  This album is HOT.  And I mean it.  I can’t really explain it, but it’s fun, it flows well, and it’s great for any occasion.  

Listen to: “Bodysnatchers” “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” “15 Step”

#2- My Morning Jacket “Evil Urges”

Bonnaroo.  2008.  Midnight.  Pouring Rain.  Front Row.  Every time I listen to this album I go back to that place.  THIS IS MY MORNING JACKET.  The first time I listened to this album I said “What the hell MMJ.  This album SUCKS” The second time I listened to this album I said “What the hell Lindsay.  This album is FUCKING BRILLIANT”  It’s just………………………..good.  That’s all I’m going to say.  Listen to it 1 or 2 times.  It’ll all make since.  And DEFINITELY check the songs below out.  

Listen to: “Thank You Too!” “Highly Suspicious” “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 1″

#1- Goldfrapp “Seventh Tree”

Where do I begin on this album?  It’s beautiful.  It’s fragile.  It’s like porcelain.  It’s a white feather blowing in the wind.  It’s the sun rising at dawn.  It’s warmth.  It’s birds chirping.  Are you starting to get my picture?  This album takes me to a peaceful, restful, happy place.  Just happy happy happy happy happy happy.  Alison Goldfrapps voice is like velvet and this album is satin sheets.  This is number 1 on my list because this album, unlike almost any other album, transports me to a place in my mind that sends positive ion’s floating through my world.  Wow.  I’m hypnotized right now.  Listen to the whole thing.

Listen to: “Happiness” “A&E” “Road to Somewhere”

Thanks for reading my list!  Let’s hope 2009 produces some kick ass stuff for my next list!!!!  Happy Holidays!

-Lindsay