After finishing runner-up the past two years, forward Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team was named the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year. The top individual honor in the world's most popular sport--and more than a week after being announced, it has still received little attention in the U.S. media.
Well, I care.
The 22-year-old Messi led Barça to an incredible six titles this year -- the UEFA Champions League, Spain's La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup -- scoring 38 goals along the way.
He defeated last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo by a vote of 1,073-352, with voting coming from captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams.
At the beginning of the month, Messi beat Ronaldo for the European Footballer of the Year award by a massive margin -- 473 points to 233 -- and has now succeeded Ronaldo to win the FIFA award.
So while not many in the U.S. pay attention to one of the best athletes in the world, there are definitely some of us who recognize a phenomenal talent in the prime of his career.
Here's to you, Messi.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Avatar: Best Picture of 2009
Holy F*cking Sh*t!
Those were the first three words that came to mind as I exited the theater. "Avatar" is essentially everything I want in a movie. The pro-environment, anti-war message only adds to the incredible technology that was invented to create the world of Pandora. It is incredibly entertaining, and even with a running time of 160 minutes it doesn't drag at any point. The only people who may be disappointed are the ones that don't care for Science Fiction, or the people that will buy the 7th "American Pie" movie just to see the boobs.
I thought "The Dark Knight" was the best film I saw in 2008, though there were others that were close behind. "Avatar" is far and away the best I've seen this year. Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is a distant second, followed by the rest.
Sam Worthington reminds me a lot of Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg. He does a good job portraying the film's protagonist, Jake Sully, who is a paraplegic that cuts a deal with Col. Miles Quaritch. Sully must reveal information about the Na'vi people in exchange for an expensive surgery to repair his legs. The conflict revolves around Quaritch who is hell-bent on destroying the land of Pandora in order to dig up its resources.
Seeing this film in IMAX 3-D was definitely the way to go. Probably the best part was that it didn't have the feel of a regular 3-D movie. Writer/Director James Cameron didn't abuse the capabilities. Usually, there are at least a couple times an object is seen flying toward the screen just to show the audience that their glasses actually work. Cameron doesn't do this. He used the 3-D technology just for the audience to get closer to the action and experience the breathtaking colors and complexity of Pandora.
This film is unlike any I've ever seen. It works as a dramatic film and action/adventure. It is no doubt the best 3-D film ever. The innovation of this technology raises the bar for anyone trying to make a film of this caliber. And James Cameron is once again "King of the World."
Those were the first three words that came to mind as I exited the theater. "Avatar" is essentially everything I want in a movie. The pro-environment, anti-war message only adds to the incredible technology that was invented to create the world of Pandora. It is incredibly entertaining, and even with a running time of 160 minutes it doesn't drag at any point. The only people who may be disappointed are the ones that don't care for Science Fiction, or the people that will buy the 7th "American Pie" movie just to see the boobs.
I thought "The Dark Knight" was the best film I saw in 2008, though there were others that were close behind. "Avatar" is far and away the best I've seen this year. Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is a distant second, followed by the rest.
Sam Worthington reminds me a lot of Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg. He does a good job portraying the film's protagonist, Jake Sully, who is a paraplegic that cuts a deal with Col. Miles Quaritch. Sully must reveal information about the Na'vi people in exchange for an expensive surgery to repair his legs. The conflict revolves around Quaritch who is hell-bent on destroying the land of Pandora in order to dig up its resources.
Seeing this film in IMAX 3-D was definitely the way to go. Probably the best part was that it didn't have the feel of a regular 3-D movie. Writer/Director James Cameron didn't abuse the capabilities. Usually, there are at least a couple times an object is seen flying toward the screen just to show the audience that their glasses actually work. Cameron doesn't do this. He used the 3-D technology just for the audience to get closer to the action and experience the breathtaking colors and complexity of Pandora.
This film is unlike any I've ever seen. It works as a dramatic film and action/adventure. It is no doubt the best 3-D film ever. The innovation of this technology raises the bar for anyone trying to make a film of this caliber. And James Cameron is once again "King of the World."
Friday, December 18, 2009
Top 50 Songs of the Decade
Last week I came across a special section on Rolling Stone magazine's website that had several artists list their top 25 albums and songs of the decade. I disagreed and came up with two lists on my own: Yesterday, I released my top 25 albums--today, here are my top 50 songs. And this is my opinion, so if you disagree let me know why.
Top 50 Songs of the Decade
1. “Jesus of Suburbia” by Green Day
2. “Time to Pretend” by MGMT
3. “Stronger” by Kanye West
4. “Renegade” by Jay-Z featuring Eminem
5. “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance
6. “Papercut” by Linkin Park
7. “Stan” by Eminem featuring Dido
8. “Clocks” by Coldplay
9. “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre featuring Eminem
10. “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around” by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland
11. “Flake” by Jack Johnson
12. “Nude” by Radiohead
13. “Beautiful Day” by U2
14. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
15. “Only” by Nine Inch Nails
16. "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
17. “Four Winds” by Bright Eyes
18. “Better Day” by STS9
19. “Yeah!” by Usher featuring Lil’ John and Ludacris
20. “Underneath It All” by No Doubt featuring Lady Saw
21. “21 Guns” by Green Day
22. “Hey Ya!” by Outkast
23. “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5
24. “Int’l Player’s Anthem” by UGK featuring Outkast
25. “Paper Planes” by M.I.A.
26. "99 Problems" by Jay-Z
27. “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake
28. “The Space Between” by Dave Matthews Band
29. “Float On” by Modest Mouse
30. "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
31. “Hip Hop Is Dead” by Nas featuring will.i.am
32. “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” by Jay-Z
33. “Kids” by MGMT
34. “Daydreamin’” by Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott
35. “Yellow” by Coldplay
36. “Fall to Pieces” by Velvet Revolver
37. “I Miss You” by Blink-182
38. “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service
39. “B.Y.O.B.” by System of a Down
40. “In Da Club” by 50 Cent
41. “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
42. “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” by Eminem
43. “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
44. “Ordinary People” by John Legend
45. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
46. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z
47. “South Side” by Moby featuring Gwen Stefani
48. “City of Blinding Lights” by U2
49. “One More Time” by Daft Punk
50. “Umbrella” by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Top 50 Songs of the Decade
1. “Jesus of Suburbia” by Green Day
2. “Time to Pretend” by MGMT
3. “Stronger” by Kanye West
4. “Renegade” by Jay-Z featuring Eminem
5. “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance
6. “Papercut” by Linkin Park
7. “Stan” by Eminem featuring Dido
8. “Clocks” by Coldplay
9. “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre featuring Eminem
10. “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around” by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland
11. “Flake” by Jack Johnson
12. “Nude” by Radiohead
13. “Beautiful Day” by U2
14. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
15. “Only” by Nine Inch Nails
16. "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
17. “Four Winds” by Bright Eyes
18. “Better Day” by STS9
19. “Yeah!” by Usher featuring Lil’ John and Ludacris
20. “Underneath It All” by No Doubt featuring Lady Saw
21. “21 Guns” by Green Day
22. “Hey Ya!” by Outkast
23. “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5
24. “Int’l Player’s Anthem” by UGK featuring Outkast
25. “Paper Planes” by M.I.A.
26. "99 Problems" by Jay-Z
27. “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake
28. “The Space Between” by Dave Matthews Band
29. “Float On” by Modest Mouse
30. "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
31. “Hip Hop Is Dead” by Nas featuring will.i.am
32. “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” by Jay-Z
33. “Kids” by MGMT
34. “Daydreamin’” by Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott
35. “Yellow” by Coldplay
36. “Fall to Pieces” by Velvet Revolver
37. “I Miss You” by Blink-182
38. “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service
39. “B.Y.O.B.” by System of a Down
40. “In Da Club” by 50 Cent
41. “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
42. “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” by Eminem
43. “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
44. “Ordinary People” by John Legend
45. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
46. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z
47. “South Side” by Moby featuring Gwen Stefani
48. “City of Blinding Lights” by U2
49. “One More Time” by Daft Punk
50. “Umbrella” by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Top 25 Albums of the Decade
Last week I came across a special section on Rolling Stone magazine's website that had several artists list their top 25 albums and songs of the decade. I disagreed and came up with two lists on my own: The first one for my top 25 albums of the last 10 years and the second for the top 50 songs.
Top 25 Albums from 2000-2009
1. American Idiot by Green Day
2. Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
3. The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
4. Graduation by Kanye West
5. The Blueprint by Jay-Z
6. In Rainbows by Radiohead
7. A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay
8. Future Sex/Love Sounds by Justin Timberlake
9. Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
10. 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day
11. Morning View by Incubus
12. Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor by Lupe Fiasco
13. Kid A by Radiohead
14. 2001 by Dr. Dre
15. Stadium Arcadium by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
16. Z by My Morning Jacket
17. The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
18. Everyday by Dave Matthews Band
19. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast
20. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
21. With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails
22. Elephant by The White Stripes
23. Hot Fuss by The Killers
24. Continuum by John Mayer
25. Born to Do It by Craig David
Top 25 Albums from 2000-2009
1. American Idiot by Green Day
2. Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
3. The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
4. Graduation by Kanye West
5. The Blueprint by Jay-Z
6. In Rainbows by Radiohead
7. A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay
8. Future Sex/Love Sounds by Justin Timberlake
9. Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
10. 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day
11. Morning View by Incubus
12. Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor by Lupe Fiasco
13. Kid A by Radiohead
14. 2001 by Dr. Dre
15. Stadium Arcadium by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
16. Z by My Morning Jacket
17. The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
18. Everyday by Dave Matthews Band
19. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast
20. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
21. With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails
22. Elephant by The White Stripes
23. Hot Fuss by The Killers
24. Continuum by John Mayer
25. Born to Do It by Craig David
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Golden Globe Nominations: Just Slightly Better than the Grammys
What They Got Right:
Best Performance by an Actor in A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:
Christoph Waltz should win this category for his performance as Col. Hans Landa in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said this about Waltz: "He creates a character unlike any Nazi — indeed, anyone at all — I’ve seen in a movie: evil, sardonic, ironic, mannered, absurd." It was the perfect antagonist in the best movie I've seen this year.
Best Performance by an Actor in A Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Both Jeremy Piven of "Entourage" and Neil Patrick Harris of "How I Met Your Mother" were nominated, and Jon Cryer of "Two And A Half Men" was not. Sounds like a successful category to me.
What They Got Wrong:
Brad Pitt:
One of the top five actors in the world dishes out one of the best performances in his career as Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds and gets snubbed. Tarantino wrote this role specifically for Pitt, and he nailed it. Yet he still got looked over.
Best Performance by an Actor in A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:
Christoph Waltz should win this category for his performance as Col. Hans Landa in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said this about Waltz: "He creates a character unlike any Nazi — indeed, anyone at all — I’ve seen in a movie: evil, sardonic, ironic, mannered, absurd." It was the perfect antagonist in the best movie I've seen this year.
Best Performance by an Actor in A Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Both Jeremy Piven of "Entourage" and Neil Patrick Harris of "How I Met Your Mother" were nominated, and Jon Cryer of "Two And A Half Men" was not. Sounds like a successful category to me.
What They Got Wrong:
Brad Pitt:
One of the top five actors in the world dishes out one of the best performances in his career as Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds and gets snubbed. Tarantino wrote this role specifically for Pitt, and he nailed it. Yet he still got looked over.
Sandra Bullock:
She got nominated in two categories: Best Actress in both the comedy/musical and drama categories. This shows exactly how shallow the talent pool is for female actors in Hollywood. She reaps the benefits of appearing in a movie with a heart-warming story (The Blind Side) as well as starring alongside Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal. While she should be punished for agreeing to star in All About Steve this year, instead she's rewarded with two Best Actress nominations. This is why the Golden Globes have become even more irrelevant.
She got nominated in two categories: Best Actress in both the comedy/musical and drama categories. This shows exactly how shallow the talent pool is for female actors in Hollywood. She reaps the benefits of appearing in a movie with a heart-warming story (The Blind Side) as well as starring alongside Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal. While she should be punished for agreeing to star in All About Steve this year, instead she's rewarded with two Best Actress nominations. This is why the Golden Globes have become even more irrelevant.
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