When I share my favorite movies of the year, the list may include an older movie or two. My rankings are for movies that I saw for the first time in the calendar year regardless of the release date.
With that being said, my most anticipated movie that’s getting a lot of love on the awards circuit and I hope Oscar love when the announcements come out in January 23, 2018, is “Call Me By Your Name”.
Since it was only in limited release in late 2017, it won’t make my list until I count down my favorites of 2018.
So, before I share my 20 favorites of this year, here’s a quick recap.
My favorites over the past few years have been “The Kids Are All Right” (2010), “Children of God” (2011), “Weekend” (2012), “Out in the Dark” (2013), “Bridegroom” (2014), “Lilting” (2015), and “Goodnight Mommy” (2016).
“MUDBOUND”
(Netflix Release)
“RULES DON’T APPLY”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $3.9 MILLION
“VIVA”
DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: $178,000
“CHRISTINE”
DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: $298,525
“A UNITED KINGDOM”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $13.8 MILLION
“GIRLS TRIP”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $139 MILLION
“DUNKIRK”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $525.6 MILLION
“ELLE”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $12.5 MILLION
“FENCES”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $64.4 MILLION
“MOONLIGHT”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $65 MILLION
“PATTI CAKE$”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $1.5 MILLION
“CHELY WRIGHT: WISH ME AWAY”
DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: $18,618
“THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $23.2 MILLION
“THE BIG SICK”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $55.3 MILLION
“MISS SLOANE”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $9.1 MILLION
“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $1.26 BILLION (WITH A “B”)
“DETROIT”
DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: $16.8 MILLION
“BEACH RATS”
DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: $473,771
WORST MOVIES I SAW IN 2017!
Worst: “A Dog’s Purpose”
Runner-ups: “Bad Santa 2” and “3 Generations”.
“HIDDEN FIGURES”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $235.6 MILLION
“LION”
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $140.3 MILLION
How many of these have you seen? What were your favorites of the year?
The weekend is here and I hope you have a great one planned! Thank you for checking out my “Random Friday Thoughts”.
ACTION, NOT SUBMISSIVE REACTION
This thought is not about the Second Amendment, gun laws, gun control, bad cops, etc. It’s about the lack of respect for human life these days.
There’s so much going on in the U.S. and around the world. It saddens me to think that it’s easier for people to shoot or kill someone rather than to talk things out or just mind their own business.
When these senseless acts of violence happen, with no justification, it’s heartbreaking.
When Matthew Shepard was beaten, tortured and left for dead on a fence in Wyoming in October 1998 and James Byrd Jr., was dragged behind a pickup truck for three miles on an asphalt road by three white supremacists four months earlier, we were horrified.
One was killed because he was gay and the other because he was black. Yet, it took 11 years before the “Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act” was signed into law.
Still today, it’s a joke how many people commit hate crimes and don’t get charged with it.
When something like the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the Sandy Hook school massacre, or the bombing outside the Manchester Ariana Grande concert happens, we’re shocked for a few days before the news cycle moves on to the next story.
People go crazy on Facebook sharing “Remember <insert city>” or “Pray for <insert city>. And, then we move on, too!
I commend the three ladies that started a movement in 2013 with just a hashtag — #BlackLivesMatter — after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Since then, it’s been directed at law enforcement in the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, and many more — unarmed black people — that died by the guns or hands of white police officers.
I know it’s wishful thinking, but I’d love it if we’d talk more instead of resorting to violence! I wish we could “Give Peace a Chance”! 😦
GOODBYE LAYAFETTE
Nelsan Ellis, who played Lafayette Reynolds, on HBO’s “True Blood”, died last weekend of complications of heart failure. He was 39.
“True Blood” creator, Alan Ball said, “Nelsan was a singular talent whose creativity never ceased to amaze me. Working with him was a privilege.”
While there was Sookie and the sexy men of “True Blood” (Jason, Eric, and Sam), Lafayette was my favorite character. He was a proud, flamboyant, and out gay black man in the backwoods of Louisiana.
Here’s a compilation of some of Reynolds’ best scenes as Lafayette. (Contains adult language and situations!)
LG(BISEXUAL)T
I’m always open to learning new things and thinking outside of the box. I’m still evolving, too.
Bisexuality comes to mind.
With the acronym LGBT, I never bought into the “B” for bisexual. I always thought bisexuals were gay people afraid to admit it because of family, religion, or the fear of homophobia.
You often hear certain celebrities come out as “bisexual”, but I’ve never had a friend tell me they’re “bi”.
However, looking back to my early years in the gay community, I recall a friend that was lesbian that went on to marry a man and have children and another woman that was married to a man, but also took on a lesbian lover with her husband’s knowledge.
So, I’ve evolved to believe that there are true “bisexuals”.
“CHIPS” & HOMOPHOBIA ACCUSATIONS
The theatrical update of the NBC television hit series, “Chips” (1977-1983), starring Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox bombed at the box office.
Interestingly enough, while no one really went to see it (it broke even if you just compare the cost to make it and box office receipts), some accused the movie as being homophobic. I didn’t see that.
In one scene, it shows non-sexual man-to-man contact in the locker room (a bro-hug).
In that same scene, “Ponch” asks Jon not to give him a welcome hug now that they’re partners since Jon is only wearing underwear.
As a matter of fact, there are discussions in the movie debating what is and what isn’t “homophobia”.
While I didn’t see anything in the movie as homophobic, I was wishing midway through the movie that it was like the television series — only an hour long! However, at that point, it went off the rails and the second half was very entertaining. 🙂
Warning: This is the “Red Band Trailer” and it’s for mature audiences only. (Translation: very adult!)
I watched the innocent trailer and there was a scene that added clothes to Jon when he was naked in the movie. Lame!
So, proceed with caution with this trailer!
GRADE: B
Honestly, it deserves a B-, but with Shepard’s lanky body on display out of uniform in a few scenes and Adam Brody looking so adorable in this movie with his porn star ‘stache, there was a grade curve! 🙂
POWERFUL KESHA COMEBACK
In the past couple of years, when you heard Kesha’s name in the news, it wasn’t about chart-topping hits.
She was in a bitter lawsuit with her former producer, Dr. Luke. She accused him of sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, emotional abuse, and more.
It looked like it might be years before we’d hear any new music from her, but last week, she released the powerful new single, “Praying”.
Kesha also announced “Rainbow”, the new album, would arrive August 11th!
Her last album, “Warrior”, was my favorite album of 2013!
WALKING JUST TO EAT
Since moving here with no friends and my family a thousand miles away, I’ve been walking and reading outdoors — a lot.
Back in the Midwest, I’d walk an hour on the treadmill. Here, I’ve only gotten on the treadmill twice when it was pouring down rain, but I just wasn’t into it.
I’m still getting in more than 25,000 steps a day. But, since I’m a little OCD, some days that number tops 30,000 and even 40,000!
Why? Because it gives me less time to think about why I’m here and the future and because I like to eat and not worry about weight gain.
Here’s a test for you. I could live off three of these, but I gave the other up years ago! Do you know which one is no longer part of my “well-rounded diet”?
“THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE”
This must be the summer of Jessica Chastain for me.
Just last week, I featured her performance in “Miss Sloane” and gave the movie an “A”. While the movie was a box office bomb, it was spectacular and her icy performance was incredible.
“The Zookeeper’s Wife”, a movie that barely made its money back at the theaters, is powerful and heartbreaking. It’s based on a true story.
It takes place in Poland just as the Germans invade at the start of World War 2.
Chastain’s character and her husband run the Warsaw Zoo. When the air strikes commence, many of the zoo’s animals are killed and the Germans take the most prized survivors for “protection”.
They learn of Hitler’s attacks and the treatment of Jews and decide to start a “human zoo” — hiding Jewish men, women, and children.
It’s hard to relive this dark chapter in world history, but the story is rewarding at the same time.
A must-see!
GRADE: A-
“HOUSE OF VERSACE”
This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the shooting death of Italian designer Gianni Versace outside his Miami Beach mansion on July 15, 1997, by spree killer Andrew Cunanan.
Last weekend, I caught the 2013 Lifetime movie, “House of Versace”.
It covered the relationship between Gianni and his sister Donatella before his murder and how she ran the company after his death.
Gina Gershon is intriguing to watch as Donatella and the soundtrack to the movie was fantastic with Snap, Technotronic, and Deee-Lite (“Groove is in the Heart”).
On 2013’s “Artpop”, Lady Gaga paid tribute to Donatella.
NEW GUILTY PLEASURE
I know Niecy Nash from her hilarious turn on the painful to watch Ryan Murphy rare misfire, “Scream Queens”.
But, she does dramedy (drama-comedy) very well on her new TNT series, “Claws”.
She owns a nail salon in Palmetto, Florida, and is laundering money for the local crime/drug king (or “queen”), “Uncle Daddy”, flamboyantly played by Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad” and “Under The Dome”).
It airs on Sunday nights and you still have time to catch up. Only five episodes have aired and the season finale is August 13th.
Earlier this week, it was renewed for a second season to air in 2018!
LEFTOVER RED WINE?
I get several recipes emailed to me.
This one is from myrecipe. Check out the story headline.
Excuse me, but leftover and wine in the same sentence???
I like telling the story of my single days when I had my golden retriever, ABBA, and I’d make shrimp scampi.
She’d always get the shrimp tails as a tasty, crunchy treat to compliment her dry dog food.
And, after using the one-quarter of a cup of white wine for the scampi, I always felt it’d be sacrilegious to the “grape Gods” to not finish the 750 ml bottle of wine with dinner!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
So, I’ll still stick to saying very little about #45.
However, I’m going to comment on the disgusting Twitter tirade of Donald Trump toward Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”.
I don’t watch their show, so I’m have no loyalty for them in that sense.
However, there are so many things going on in this country and the world that needs the undivided attention of a leader and this isn’t one of them.
Neither is Twitter. I know it’s the electronic age and Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or whatever social media you use gives you access to express your feelings with immediacy. But, maybe some just need to think before they speak.
The bottom line is that there isn’t a politician in this country EVER that hasn’t been criticized by the news media.
Look at all that was said about Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan in the 1970s and 1980s. Did you see them personally attack news anchors or reporters with such vile?
No, they were gentlemen.
This is a disgrace!
#Resistance
FOURTH OF JULYS
I worked until noon this Fourth of July and chilled out the rest of the day in the Florida heat and humidity.
For those of you that have followed me for years, you may already know this.
My favorite Independence Day was 1976 when America celebrated its 200th birthday, our bicentennial.
This is what I wrote on July 4, 2012: “As a kid, I was mesmerized with the sight of hundreds of boats from the U.S. and other countries filling New York Harbor and with the sound of “Fernando” by ABBA blasting on the radio. (It’s hard to believe that just one month later, ABBA would release “Dancing Queen”!)”
Meanwhile, July 4, 2007, will go down as the worst Fourth of July ever for me (hopefully).
I was working the morning show and I went in at 1:45 a.m. Rain was coming down in buckets. As I was running toward the door, my keys went flying out of my hand and were submerged underwater. By the time I found my spare keys in my bag, I was soaked from head to toe.
I told the producer that I had to go home and get another suit. On the three-minute drive to my house, the torrential rains continued to fall and all of a sudden, a wall of water flooded into the intersection.
In a matter of seconds (real-time seconds), my car stalled and the motor died as water quickly came up to the door. At the same time, three other cars met the same fate that mine did!
I quickly thought about the power locks in the car and if it shorted out, I’d be locked inside with no way out. I’d drown getting trapped in my car on a busy street in town!
I had a Jessica Savitch flashback moment. For those of you that don’t know who her, she is/was one of my idols. She was a news anchor, the “Golden Girl” of NBC news, back in the late 1970s. She drowned in an overturned car in a flooded ravine back in 1983!
As I took off my shoes and socks and opened the door, I stepped out into the raging waters as three intoxicated teenagers came running over and helped me push my car into an alley.
At this time, I was soaked and water had already risen into the intersection up to my knees. I went back and helped the kids push the other three cars to safety.
I walked the fifteen blocks to my house dressed in a suit, soaking wet, and bare-footed.
The car’s engine was hydro-locked and had to be replaced!
That was ten years ago and I hope that goes down as the worst Fourth of July in my lifetime!
“MASTER OF NONE”
While a little “Netflix and chill” soundS good, it’s just “Netflix” for me this summer. 🙂
I finished season five of “House of Cards” and just started watching “Master of None”.
The Emmy Award-winning show features comedian Aziz Ansari in the lead role.
He plays a 30-year-old actor working toward his big break while navigating single life in New York City.
My favorite episodes of season one: “Indians on TV”, “Old People”, and “Hot Ticket” .
While Ansari is funny and I love the conversations he has with his three best friends, my favorite character on the show is his lesbian friend Denise.
Her dry, dead-pan delivery just cracks me up. Denise is played by out Chicago-born actress Lena Waithe.
FELL IN LOVE WITH FATHER JOHN MISTY
After seeing the “Hot Ticket” episode of “Master of None”, which partly took place at a private Father John Misty show, I fell in love with the song “Chateau Lobby #5 (in C for Two Virgins)” from his “I Love You, Honeybear” album (and he’s cute, too).
The scene gets rather raunchy so I’ll share this BBC Two performance.
By the way, Father John Misty is 36-year-old Josh Tillman, the drummer for the rock folk band, Fleet Foxes.
His new solo album is “Pure Comedy”.
“I LOVE DICK”
Okay, I bet that got your attention! 🙂 It’s a bold statement that probably comes only as a surprise to you that I typed it.
Now, get your mind out of the gutter! If you have Amazon Prime, you might not have gasped out loud seeing that headline.
It’s a new series co-created by Jill Soloway (“Transparent”). I haven’t seen it and I’m only writing about it to share a line of the funny review by “Entertainment Weekly” (June 23, 2017): “She becomes obsessed with Kevin Bacon’s Dick, a fine artist whose withering judgement and sex-cowboy cool threatens to unravel her.”
Seriously, I read the first seven words and smiled, laughed, and saw “blah blah blah” after that.
Creative writing is so much better than angry, immature, and insensitive tweets in the middle of the night!
#Resistance
MISSING “HOUSE OF CARDS”?
Are you like me and you’ve already binge-watched the fifth season of “House of Cards” and you already miss the iciness of Claire Underwood (Robin Wright)?
Then you have to check out “Miss Sloane” with two-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Jesssica Chastain!
She’s incredible as always!
GRADE: A
DONUT DELIGHT!
Once I moved to Panama City, Florida, two months ago, I got to shop at Piggly Wiggly again. If you’re from the South (or you’ve seen “Steel Magnolias”), you know it’s a staple here.
One my first visit, I found a bag of “Peach Cobbler” limited edition mini donuts from Tastykake. They were so good.
I then tried the “Key Lime”, which were just okay.
But, I just found my new favorite (so far) — Birthday Kake!
I can’t wait to see what seasonal flavors arrive this fall and winter!
However, a quick Google search shows they’ve sold Pumpkin Spice, Karrot Kake, Caramel Apple, Gingerbread, Salted Caramel, and Red Velvet in the past! 🙂
‘Tis the season!
“MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS”
I’ve only been to the theater once this year to see “Beauty and the Beast”. I’m still thinking of going to see “Wonder Woman”.
Otherwise, there’s only three other movies that I want to see this year: “The Beguiled” with my girl crush Nicole Kidman, “The Snowman” with my boy crush Michael Fassbender (no official trailer yet — in theaters October 20th), and this interesting remake of the Agatha Christie classic, “Murder on the Orient Express”.
It opens November 10th.
FLASHBACK TO KICK OFF WEEKEND
As crazy as it may seem, Ylvis’ “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)” was my #3 song of 2013.
Since its release, the video has been viewed almost 680 million times on YouTube!
So, here’s to the weekend. Enjoy. 🙂
By the way, the song hit #1 in the duo’s native Norway.
It also hit the Top Ten here in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100, along with Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, South Korea, Scotland, and Sweden!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 