Best Actress of the Decade Tournament

Top 32 - Round 1

Helen Mirren vs. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Quantity: Gyllenhaal beats out Mirren, 22 to 17. Round - Gyllenhaal.
Quality: Gyllenhaal has been great in Secretary and Sherrybaby. Meanwhile, Mirren's best work has been in The Pledge, Gosford Park, Calendar Girls, State of Play and, especially, The Queen. Round - Mirren.
Oscar Nominations: Gyllenhaal has never been nominated. Mirren was nominated for Gosford Park and won for The Queen. Round - Mirren.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Mirren is a Dame! Round - Mirren.
Winner = Mirren.

Patricia Clarkson vs. Judi Dench
Quantity: Clarkson's 26 films destroys Dench's 13. Round - Clarkson.
Quality: Dench was great in Chocolat, Iris and Notes on a Scandal. However, I love Clarkson and just about everything she's done especially in the films The Pledge, All the Real Girls, Pieces of April, The Station Agent, Lars and the Real Girl, Elegy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Whatever Works. Round - Clarkson.
Oscar Nominations: Clarkson was nominated for Pieces of April. Dench was nominated four times for Chocolat, Iris, Mrs. Henderson Presents and Notes on a Scandal. Round - Dench.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Dench is a Dame! Round - Dench.
Tie Breaker: Dench may be a dame, but I've been on a huge Patricia Clarkson kick lately so... Round - Clarkson.
Winner = Clarkson.

Amanda Peet vs. Julia Roberts
Quantity: Peet's done 10 more films than Roberts so her 23 films beats out Roberts' 13. Round - Peet.
Quality: Peet was solid in Igby Goes Down and Identity but she really can't compare to Roberts' work in Erin Brokovich, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Closer and Duplicity. Round - Roberts.
Oscar Nominations: Peet has never been nominated. Roberts won for Erin Brokovich. Round - Roberts.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Roberts did the voice of Charlotte in Charlotte's Web. Round - Roberts.
Winner = Roberts.

Emma Thompson vs. Meryl Streep
Quantity: Thompson can't even beat Streep here. Her 10 films loses out to Streep's 16. Round - Streep.
Quality: Thompson was great in Stranger Than Fiction, Love Actually and Last Chance Harvey. Meanwhile, Meryl is Meryl and was amazing in Adaptation, The Hours, A Prarie Home Companion, The Devil Wears Prada, Evening, Mamma Mia and Doubt. Round - Streep.
Oscar Nominations: Thompson hasn't been nominated this decade. Meanwhile, Streep was nominated for Adaptation, The Devil Wears Prada and Doubt. Round - Streep.
Shared Screen: They both appeared together in the TV movie Angels in America. Both were great but Meryl is Meryl. Round - Streep.
Extra Curriculars: Both appeared in the TV movie Angels in America. Round - TIE.
Winner = Streep.

Halle Berry vs. Joan Allen
Quantity: Allen's 11 films just barely beats out Berry's 10. Round - Allen.
Quality: Berry was best in Monster's Ball. Allen was great in The Contender and solid in The Notebook and The Upside of Anger. Round - Allen.
Oscar Nominations: Allen was nominated for The Contender but Berry won for Monster's Ball. Round - Berry.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Berry was great in the TV movie Their Eyes Were Watching God. Round - Berry.
Tie Breaker: Berry's acting just doesn't do it for me. Round - Allen.
Winner = Allen.

Jennifer Garner vs. Hilary Swank
Quantity: Swank's 24 films just barely beats out Garner's 11. Round - Swank.
Quality: Garner was adorable and fantastic in Juno, but Swank was amazing in Million Dollar Baby. Round - Swank.
Oscar Nominations: Garner was never nominated. Swank won for Million Dollar Baby. Round - Swank.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: I really want Garner to win. =( Round - Garner.
Winner = Swank.

Rosario Dawson vs. Susan Sarandon
Quantity: Dawson's 28 films beats out Sarandon's 20. Round - Dawson.
Quality: Dawson was kind of a bad ass in Sin City and great in Rent but Sarandon was amazing in Igby Goes Down, In the Valley of Elah and Enchanted. Round - Sarandon.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated this decade.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Sarandon did a hilarious guest spot on Friend a few years back. Round - Sarandon.
Winner = Sarandon.

Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Renee Zellweger
Quantity: Paltrow's 17 films beats out Zellweger's 14. Round - Paltrow.
Quality: Paltrow was great in The Royal Tenenbaums, Sylvia and Two Lovers. Zellweger USED TO BE AWESOME as evidenced in Bridget Jones' Diary, White Oleander, Chicago, Cold Mountain and Bridget Jones 2. Round - Zellweger.
Oscar Nominations: Paltrow hasn't been nominated this decade. Zellweger was nominated for Bridget Jones' Diary and Chicago before winning for Cold Mountain. Round - Zellweger.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Zellweger does a lot of voice work in movies like Monsters vs. Aliens, Bee Movie and Shark Tale. Round - Zellweger.
Winner = Zellweger.

On Sunday, heavyweights like Cate Blanchett, Marcia Gay Harden, Frances McDormand and Kate Winslet go head to head.

Best Actress of the Decade Tournament

Top 64 - Round 4

Robin Wright vs. Kate Hudson
Quantity: Wright's 18 films just beats out Hudson's 14. Round - Wright.
Quality: Hudson hasn't made a good movie since Almost Famous. Meanwhile, Wright was solid in The Pledge, White Oleander and A Home at the End of the World. Round - Wright.
Oscar Nominations: Penn has never been nominated. Hudson was nominated for Almost Famous, which was the last good movie she made. Round - Hudson.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen since Robin Wright makes good career decisions more often than not.
Extra Curriculars: Wright was in Empire Falls. She also has this crazy on-off relationship with my love Sean Penn. Round - Wright.
Winner = Wright.

Natalie Portman vs. Parker Posey
Quantity: Portman's 19 is just enough to beat Posey's 18. Round - Portman.
Quality: Portman was great in Cold Mountain, Garden State, The Other Boelyn Girl and especially Closer. Meanwhile, Posey did better work in the 90s but was still solid in A Mighty Wind and Fay Grim. Round - Portman.
Oscar Nominations: Posey has never been nominated. Portman was nominated for Closer. Round - Portman.
Shared Screen: They have never shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Posey was once considered the indie queen. Portman was HYSTERICAL when she rapped in an SNL Digital Short. Round - Portman.
Winner = Portman.

Angelina Jolie vs. Catherine Keener
Quantity: Keener's 18 films beats out Jolie's 16. Round - Keener.
Quality: Jolie was impressive in A Mighty Heart and Changeling but Keener is arguably one of the best actresses working today and she is always great especially in Lovely and Amazing, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Capote, An American Crime, Into the Wild, Hamlet 2, Synecdoche New York and Where the Wild Things Are. Round - Keener.
Oscar Nominations: Both have recieved a nomination this decade - Jolie for Changeling and Keener for Capote. Round - TIE.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Somewhere between wearing a vile of Billy Bob's blood and talking about playing with knives, Jolie became the Hollywood equivalent of Mother Theresa. Round - Jolie.
Winner = Keener.

Rachel Weisz vs. Emily Blunt
Quantity: Weisz was in 18 films which wins out over Blunt's 12. Round - Weisz.
Quality: Blunt was so great in The Devil Wears Prada. Weisz was fantastic in The Fountain and The Brothers Bloom. Round - Weisz.
Oscar Nominations: Blunt has never been nominated. Weisz won for The Constant Gardener. Round - Weisz.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Blunt was in the great TV movie Gideon's Daughter. Round - Blunt.
Winner = Weisz.

Nicole Kidman vs. Laura Linney
Quantity: Linney's 21 films beats out Kidman's 16. Round - Linney.
Quality: Both women have been great in a number of different films so it's going to come down to their best works. Kidman in Moulin Rouge! vs. Linney in The Savages. Round = Kidman.
Oscar Nominations: Linney has more nominations (3 for You Can Count on Me, Kinsey and The Savages). Kidman only has two (Moulin Rouge! and The Hours). However, Kidman won for The Hours so she wins here too. Round - Kidman.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Two words: John Adams. Round - Linney.
Tie Breaker: This is a tough one but Kidman in the later part of this decade just isn't the same as Kidman back in 2001 / 2002 / 2003. Linney just keeps getting better and more interesting. Round - Linney.
Winner = Linney.

Frances McDormand vs. Sienna Miller
Quantity: Both ladies have done 13 films this decade. Round - Tie.
Quality: Let's face it, McDormand is just way better as proven in films like Wonder Boys, Almost Famous, Laurel Canyon, North Country and Burn After Reading. Meanwhile, Miller was kind of a bad ass in G.I. Joe. Not exactly the same playing field. Round - McDormand.
Oscar Nominations: Miller has never been nominated. McDormand was nominated for Almost Famous and North Country. Round - McDormand.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: McDormand is married to the less hot Coen brother. Round - McDormand.
Winner = McDormand.

Sandra Bullock vs. Charlize Theron
Quantity: Theron's 21 films crushes Bullock's 13. Round - Theron.
Quality: Theron was great in Monster, North Country and Battle in Seattle. Bullock is always endearing but was most enjoyable in Miss Congeniality. Round - Theron.
Oscar Nominations: Bullock has never been nominated. Theron won for Monster and was nominated a second time for North Country. Round - Theron.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Theron did a hilarious five episode arc on the single greatest TV show of all time - Arrested Development. And she got to make out with Jason Bateman (No fair)! Round - Theron.
Winner = Theron.

Drew Barrymore vs. Kate Winslet
Quantity: Barrymore's 14 films just barely beats out Winslet's 13. Round - Barrymore.
Quality: Winslet just always knocks it out of the park in films like Iris, The Life of David Gale, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Finding Neverland, Little Children, The Holiday, The Reader and Revolutionary Road. Meanwhile, Barrymore is always adorable in movies like Fever Pitch. Round - Winslet.
Oscar Nominations: Barrymore has never been nominated. Winslet was nominated for Iris, Eternal Sunshine, and Little Children before FINALLY winning for The Reader. Round - Winslet.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: I love Kate but I have to give it up to Barrymore and her amazing performance in HBO's Grey Gardens movie. It was really the performance of her life. Round - Barrymore.
Tie Breaker: Sorry, Drew, you just aren't in Kate's league. Round - Winslet.
Winner = Winslet.

On Wednesday, the top 36 kicks off with a couple of dames (Mirren and Dench) and we'll see if anyone can beat Meryl.

Best Actress of the Decade Tournament

Top 64 - Round 3

Winona Ryder vs. Leslie Mann
Quantity: Ryder doesn't seem like she works much these days but her 15 films still beats out Mann's 11. Round - Ryder.
Quality: Ryder has been doing a lot of great work in small films like A Scanner Darkly and The Ten while Mann has been stealing scenes in bigger films like The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Funny People. Round - Mann.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Ryder guest starred on friends and is just all around awesome. However, Mann guest starred on my second favorite TV show of all time - Freaks and Geeks. Round - Mann.
Winner = Mann.

Cate Blanchett vs. Scarlett Johansson
Quantity: These ladies both work a lot and Blanchett's 24 films beats out Johansson's 20. Round - Blanchett.
Quality: Even Johansson's best work in films like Lost in Translation and Match Point pales in comparison to Blanchett in The Gift, Life Aquatic, The Aviator, Notes on a Scandal, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and, especially I'm Not There where she played a version of Bob Dylan (!!!!). Round - Blanchett.
Oscar Nominations: Johansson has never been nominated. Blanchett picked up nominations for Notes on a Scandal, I'm Not There, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. She also won for The Aviator. Round - Blanchett.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Johansson just released a pretty awesome album with Pete Yorn. But Blanchett played Bob Dylan and that trumps just about everything. Ever. Round - Blanchett.
Winner = Blanchett.

Amy Adams vs. Evan Rachel Wood
Quantity: It doesn't seem like Adams works as much as she does but her 23 films beats out Wood's 14. Round - Adams.
Quality: Wood may have been good in Thirteen and Pretty Persuasion but Adams was phenomenal in Junebug, Doubt and Enchanted, the latter of which put her on the list of cuteness right behind bunnies. Round - Adams.
Oscar Nominations: Wood has never been nominated while Adams ws nominated for Junebug and Doubt. Round - Adams.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Adams may have guested on The West Wing, Buffy and The Office but Wood plays the lesbian vampire queen of New Orleans on True Blood. Round - Wood.
Winner = Adams.

Penelope Cruz vs. Taraji P. Henson
Quantity: Cruz's 23 films wins out over Henson's 14. Round - Cruz.
Quality: They've both done their good and bad films. If I match up their best work - Henson's sweet hooker in Hustle and Flow vs. Cruz's feisty / crazy artist in Vicky Cristina Barcelona - well, Cruz wins. Round - Cruz.
Oscar Nominations: Henson was nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Meanwhile, Cruz was nominated for Volver before winning for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Round - Cruz.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Cruz may have a hot boyfriend (Javier Bardem) but Henson sang the female vocals on "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp." Round - Henson.
Winner = Cruz.

Katherine Heigl vs. Anne Hathaway
Quantity: Heigl's 10 films loses out to Hathaway's 14. Round - Hathaway.
Quality: Honestly, I don't like either of these actresses but Hathaway was nothing short of amazing in Rachel Getting Married. Round - Hathaway.
Oscar Nominations: Heigl has never been nominated. Hathaway was nominated for Rachel Getting Married. Round - Hathaway.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen (although that's a terrible romantic comedy waiting to happen).
Extra Curriculars: Heigl is on Grey's Anatomy although I wish her character would succumb to brain cancer already. Round - Heigl.
Winner = Hathaway.

Marcia Gay Harden vs. Christina Ricci
Quantity: Harden's 22 films beats out Ricci's 17. Round - Harden.
Quality: Ricci was great in Prozac Nation, Monster and Black Snake Moan. However, there is a reason Harden is my very favorite actress. She's been incredible in Mystic River, Mona Lisa Smile, American Gun, The Dead Girl, Into the Wild, Rails and Ties, The Mist and even the lackluster Whip It. Round - Harden.
Oscar Nominations: Ricci has never been nominated (although she should be). Meanwhile, Harden won for Pollack and was also nominated for Mystic River. Round - Harden.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Ricci has guested on Grey's Anatomy and Ally McBeal. Harden was on last season's Damages. She's also my very favorite actress of all time! Round - Harden.
Winner = Harden.

Anna Paquin vs. Kerry Washington
Quantity: Paquin has done only 11 films in the last ten years while Washington has done 25. Round - Washington.
Quality: Paquin's impressive performances in Almost Famous and The Squid and the Whale were good but supporting and don't leave the lasting impression that Washington's unbelievable turn in The Dead Girl does. Round - Washington.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Paquin is the ever-loveable Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood! Round - Paquin.
Winner = Washington.

Kate Beckinsale vs. Zooey Deschannel
Quantity: Deschannel's 27 films easily beats out Beckinsale's 16. Round - Deschannel.
Quality: Beckinsale does have the auspicious honor of appearing in one of the worst movies I've ever seen called Tiptoes. Seriously, youtube that crap. It's terrible!! Still, she was great in Laurel Canyon and Snow Angels but Deschannel is an indie goddess and is great in Almost Famous, Manic, The Good Girl, All the Real Girls, Winter Passing and (500) Days of Summer. Round - Deschannel.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Three words - She and Him. Round - Deschannel.
Winner = Deschannel

On Sunday, the top 64 finishes with Keener, Kidman and that OTHER great Kate (not Hudson).

Best Actress of the Decade Tournament

Top 64 - Round 2

Demi Moore vs. Halle Berry
Quantity: Moore has done 9 films while Berry just beats her out with 10. Round - Berry.
Quality: Moore sure looked hot in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Berry was good (although not Oscar worthy) in Monster's Ball. Round - Berry.
Oscar Nominations: Moore has never been nominated. Berry won an Oscar for Monster's Ball. Round - Berry.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Demi Moore keeps getting hotter... Round - Moore.
Winner = Berry.

Joan Allen vs. Glenn Close
Quantity: Allen's 11 barely beats out Close's 10. Round - Allen.
Quality: Allen was top notch in The Contender, The Notebook and The Upside of Anger. Meanwhile, Close has been great in Chumscrubber and Evening. Round - Allen.
Oscar Nominations: Close hasn't been nominated this decade. Allen was nominated for The Contender. Round - Allen.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: One word - Damages. Round - Close.
Winner = Allen.

Jennifer Garner vs. Rachel McAdams
Quantity: Another close one - Garner's 11 just loses out to McAdams' 12. Round - McAdams.
Quality: McAdams was pretty fricking fantastic in Mean Girls. Garner was adorable in 13 Going on 30 but she really surprised me with her range in Juno. Round - Garner.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated (although I will argue Garner should have been for Juno).
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Garner kicked so much ass on Alias. Round - Garner.
Winner = Garner.

Alison Lohman vs. Hilary Swank
Quantity: Lohman's 15 films just beats out Swank's 14. Round - Lohman.
Quality: Lohman was good in White Oleander and Matchstick Men. Swank was amazing in Million Dollar Baby. Round - Swank.
Oscar Nominations: Lohman was never nominated. Swank won an Oscar for Million Dollar Baby. (Just to reiterate, she had two Oscars before Scorsese or Winslet even had one. DiCaprio still doesn't have an Oscar and Swank has two. I'm not bitter about it though.) Round - Swank.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Lohman was on one of my favorite guilty pleasure TV shows of the decade - Pasadena! Round - Lohman.
Tie Breaker: Honestly, I like Lohman better. But I'm trying to be fair here so... Round - Swank.
Winner = Swank.

Jennifer Lopez vs. Rosario Dawson
Quantity: Dawson works A LOT so her 28 films crushes Lopez's 12. Round - Dawson.
Quality: Lopez was cute in The Wedding Planner. Dawson was bad ass in Sin City, fantastic in Rent and heartbreaking in Seven Pounds. Round - Dawson.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Well, Dawson is pretty bad ass. Round - Dawson.
Winner = Dawson.

Ellen Page vs. Susan Sarandon
Quantity: Page's 13 films loses out to Sarandon's 20. Round - Sarandon.
Quality: They've both been great in a lot of movies. If I put their best performances [Sarandon in Igby Goes Down and Page in Hard Candy] head to head then I'd have to go with... Round - Page.
Oscar Nominations: Sarandon hasn't been nominated this decade. Page got her first for Juno. Round - Page.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Sarandon did a hilarious cameo on Friends a few years back. Round - Sarandon.
Tie Breaker: This is tough. Page is the future, for sure. She's incredible and there's no arguing that. Sarandon hasn't necessarily done her best work this decade. However, she's still got The Lovely Bones coming out before the end of the year and I don't think we should count her out as a has-been just yet. Round - Sarandon.
Winner = Sarandon.

Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Joan Cusack
Quantity: Paltrow has done 17 films in the last ten years while Cusack has done 13. Round - Paltrow.
Quality: Cusack was hilarious in Friends with Money. Paltrow was so fantastic in The Royal Tenenbaums. She was also pretty damn good in Sylvia and Two Lovers. Round - Paltrow.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated this decade.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Joan's brother is really hot... Round - Cusack.
Winner = Paltrow.

Renee Zellweger vs. Jennifer Aniston
Quantity: Zellweger's 14 films just beats out Aniston's 12. Round - Zellweger.
Quality: Hey, remember when Renee Zellweger used to be awesome? When I usually say that I'm talking about Empire Records but now, if I could, I'd just take her back in the earlier part of this decade when she rocked in movies like Bridget Jones's Diary, White Oleander, Chicago and Cold Mountain. Meanwhile, Aniston was pretty great in The Good Girl. Round - Zellweger.
Oscar Nominations: Aniston has never been nominated. Zellweger was nominated for Bridget Jones's Diary and Chicago before finally winning for Cold Mountain. And if she keeps making movies like she has been the last few years, she'll never be nominated again. Round - Zellweger.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Zellweger does a lot of voice work but Aniston was Rachel Green on Friends. Round - Aniston.
Winner = Zellweger.

On Wednesday... Winona, Scarlett, Penelope, and two of my personal favorites - Marcia and Cate (not going against each other... yet... thank goodness)!

The Brothers Bloom and Where the Wild Things Are

The Brothers Bloom - Rian Johnson had a lot to live up to for me. His debut film, the unbelievably brilliant Brick, is one of my favorite movies of all time. How can one person possibly surpass that or even live up to it? I don't think The Brothers Bloom surpasses Brick, but it sure doesn't disappoint. Johnson's second film - still clever, still smart as hell, still funny and strange and unique - follows two brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) who are con men about to embark on their final mark. Said mark is Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz), an eccentric multi-millionaire hermit who collects hobbies and can do everything from break dance to ride a unicycle while juggling chainsaws. Penelope's entrance in the film is probably one of the best character entrances in recent memory. Along for the ride is Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi) who barely says a word but conveys so much with so little dialogue. This movie is spectacular and not at all disappointing to Brick fans (check out cameos from Brick stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Noah Segan and Nora Zehetner). Johnson has so many great shots in this movie and style too spare. One of my very few complaints may be that the movie almost has too much style but that's hardly something I'm going to dwell on. It's definitely not a case of style over substance, that's too be sure. The substance is most definitely there as well. There are so many con-man movie plot twists and you can tell Johnson is paying homage to the classics. While doing this, and creating a completely original, unique film, he makes his own instant classic. The characters are charming, the actors are all superb, the sets and locations are beautiful and most importantly? Johnson doesn't look down at his audience. He respects the intelligence of the audience and while doing so makes a classy, well told story that manages to entertain from beginning to end. Kudos to Johnson, one of the most interesting and exciting young directors around today.
Grade: A-

Where the Wild Things Are - I had my doubts. How can you possibly take, arguably, the greatest children's book of all time, something that has only a handful of sentences and turn it into a feature length film that can stand on its own while still staying true to the Maurice Sendak book? Well if anyone can do it, it's Spike Jonze. And he pulls it off. The whole movie is pretty damn great but the first five minutes (leading up to the title card) are damn near perfection. We're introduced to our protagonist Max (Max Records, who sets some kind of new bar for child actors with his incredibly moving performance) wearing the wolf costume chasing his dog with a fork. It's chaotic, it's hilarious, it's perfectly done. Max is lonely, of course. He has no friends, no one to play with. After having a fight with his mom (the always enchanting Catherine Keener), he runs away (there are some differences from the book here, but I enjoyed the changes), finds a boat and sails to a far away island inhabited by the wild things. The wild things are voiced by James Gandolfini (temperamental Carol), Catherine O'Hara (sassy Judith), Lauren Ambrose (sweet loner KW), Paul Dano (hilarious Alexander), Forest Whitaker (Judith's love Ira) and Chris Cooper (dependable Douglas) and all of those actors do wonders with the job they have to do. Max becomes king of the wild things and thinks all of his problems are fixed. They aren't, of course, because Where the Wild Things Are is largely a story about being independent and finding a way to fix your faults and grow up. The film is just plain beautiful and a joy to watch. It's funny and touching and fun and sweet and just great. The locations are gorgeous, the hand held camera work is fantastic, the songs from Karen O are just right for the film. Jonze does a great job creating the complex relationships between these people and wild things and that's no small task when half of your cast are nine foot tall muppets. It's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't condescend to children but instead is intelligent and witty. I highly recommend the film and in the words of Max, "Let the wild rumpus start!"
Grade: B+

Best Actress of the Decade Tournament

Top 64 - Round 1

Diane Keaton vs. Helen Mirren
Quantity: Keaton has done 10 films in 10 years while Mirren has done 17. Round - Mirren.
Quality: There was a time not too long ago when I would have considered Diane Keaton one of my favorite actresses. And her old stuff is amazing. Unfortunately, she's done only two really good roles in the last decade. She was great in Something's Gotta Give (also a good movie) and The Family Stone (not such a good movie). Meanwhile, Mirren has been killing it in The Pledge, Gosford Park, Calendar Girls, The Queen and State of Play. Round - Mirren.
Oscar Nominations: Keaton was nominated for Something's Gotta Give. Mirren was nominated for Gosford Park and won for her amazing transformation in The Queen. Round - Mirren.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Mirren is a Dame. And a super hot one at that. Probably the hottest Dame ever. Round - Mirren.
Winner = Mirren.

Julianne Moore vs. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Quantity: Both of these ladies work a lot. Gyllenhaal's 22 films just barely beats out Moore's 20. Round - Gyllenhaal.
Quality: Gyllenhaal was great in Secretary, Sherrybaby and Stranger Than Fiction. Meanwhile, Moore has been stellar in Far From Heaven, The Hours, Children of Men, Savage Grace and I'm Not There. Round - Moore.
Oscar Nominations: Gyllenhaal has never been nominated. Moore was nominated twice (in the same year) for Far From Heaven and The Hours. Round - Moore.
Shared Screen: Both ladies appeared in the film Trust the Man. Both ladies were great in the film. Gyllenhaal stole every scene she was in, however. Round - Gyllenhaal.
Extra Curriculars: Gyllenhaal has great family ties and she's one half of one of my favorite Hollywood couples. Round - Gyllenhaal.
Winner = Gyllenhaal. [First shocker of the competition!]

Michelle Williams vs. Patricia Clarkson
Quantity: Williams' has done 17 films in the last ten years while Clarkson has done 26. Round - Clarkson.
Quality: Williams was great in Brokeback Mountain, I'm Not There, Incendiary, Deception, Wendy and Lucy and Synecdoche, New York. Meanwhile, Clarkson was amazing in The Pledge, All the Real Girls, Pieces of April, The Station Agent, Lars and the Real Girl, Elegy and Whatever Works. Round - Clarkson.
Oscar Nominations: Both women have been nominated once in the past decade - Williams for Brokeback Mountain and Clarkson for Pieces of April. TIE.
Shared Screen: Both ladies appeared in the lovely indie film The Station Agent. Williams and Clarkson were both great in the film but Clarkson had the bigger role and, hence, much more to work with. Round - Clarkson.
Extra Curriculars: Williams was the best damn thing about the sometimes grating Dawson's Creek. Clarkson was great on the amazing Six Feet Under. Round - Clarkson.
Winner = Clarkson.

Chloe Sevigny vs. Judi Dench
Quantity: Dench has only done 13 films in the past ten years while Sevigny has managed to do 16. Round - Sevingy.
Quality: Sevigny has never been as good as she was in Boys Don't Cry but she was still impressive in Party Monster, Melinda and Melinda and Zodiac. Meanwhile, Dench was great in Chocolat, Iris, Mrs. Henderson Presents and Notes on a Scandal. Round - Dench.
Oscar Nominations: Sevingy hasn't been nominated this decade. Dench was nominated four times for Chocolat, Iris, Mrs. Henderson Presents, and Notes on a Scandal. Round - Dench.
Shared Screen: They have never shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Sevigny is on Big Love... but Dench is a Dame and Dame's trump all (just about). Round - Dench.
Winner = Dench.

Kirsten Dunst vs. Amanda Peet
Quantity: Dunst has done 18 films in the past ten years while Peet has done 23. Round - Peet.
Quality: I'm not Kirsten Dunst's biggest fan but she was still great in Bring It On, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Marie Antoinette. Peet was great in Igby Goes Down and Identity. Round - Dunst.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Peet was on the short lived (but much loved BY ME) series Jack and Jill! Round - Peet.
Winner = Peet.

Julia Roberts vs. Catherine Zeta Jones
Quantity: Roberts hasn't done much in the past decade, but her 13 films still beats out Zeta Jones' 11. Round - Roberts.
Quantity: Roberts was great in Erin Brokovich, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Duplicity and especially Closer. Meanwhile, Zeta Jones has been great in Traffic and Chicago. Round - Roberts.
Oscar Nominations: Both ladies won an Oscar - Roberts for Erin Brokovich and Zeta Jones for Chicago. TIE.
Shared Screen: They shared the screen twice. They both appeared in America's Sweethearts. Unfortunately, the only thing I remember is John Cusack's adorableness so I can't say who was better. Next, they both appeared in the AWFUL, TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE Ocean's 12. Roberts part in the film contained my single most hated part in any movie ever. Hence... Round - Zeta Jones.
Extra Curriculars: Roberts was the voice of Charlotte in Charlotte's Web. She also gave Natalie Portman a necklace that says "Lil' Cunt." Round - Roberts.
Winner = Roberts.

Claire Danes vs. Emma Thompson
Quantity: Danes has done 12 films in the past decade which just beats out Thompson's 10. Round - Danes.
Quality: There's something about Danes that has always sort of grated on my nerves. I like her though, as well, and she was spectacular in Shopgirl. Thompson was great in Love Actually, Stranger Than Fiction and Last Chance Harvey. Round - Thompson.
Oscar Nominations: Neither have been nominated.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Thompson appeared in the great mini-series Angels in America. Round - Thompson.
Winner = Thompson.

Liv Tyler vs. Meryl Streep
Quantity: Tyler's 11 films loses out to Streep's 16. Funny, this is the one category I thought Tyler would stand a chance against the great Meryl! Round - Streep.
Quality: Tyler was great in Lonesome Jim and The Strangers. Still, nothing really compares to Streep who is just great in everything, especially Adaptation, The Hours, A Prairie Home Companion, The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt and even Mamma Mia! Round - Streep.
Oscar Nominations: Tyler has never been nominated. Streep was nominated three times this decade, for Adaptation, The Devil Wears Prada and Doubt. Round - Streep.
Shared Screen: They have not shared the screen.
Extra Curriculars: Liv Tyler is my girl crush. But Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep, the greatest living actress. Round - Streep.
Winner = Streep.

On Sunday, icons like Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon vs. hot young things like Halle Berry and Ellen Page.

The Informant!, Pandorum, Whip It, Zombieland

The Informant - The problem with The Informant is NOT Matt Damon's stellar performance. In fact, it just may be the best performance of his career (or second to his subtlety in The Departed). Damon manages to portray the self-obsessed Whitacre with the right amounts of "Hey, I'm a jackass" and "I'm a martyr doing the right thing." No, the problem with The Informant is mostly it's glacial pace. The story is interesting, sure (a man makes $300,000 a year at a company but turns informant instead), and it's true. Still, it takes about 3/4 of the movie until the pace starts to pick up to an enjoyable level. Steven Soderbergh does a great job and The Informant sure is interesting if it's not successful and I'm not sure it is. Also, it's trying to do too many things at once. Is it a wacky, zany comedy? Well, it's not funny enough. Is it a corporate thriller about embezzlement? Well, it's not nearly exciting enough. Damon's performance is enough for me to recommend the film but I wouldn't say it's necessarily good, just average.
Grade: C

Pandorum - Let's get this out of the way - Ben Foster is incredible. Dennis Quaid is incredible. The twist at the end is pretty damn great (you can predict it, but it's still done well enough that I didn't even care). The critics bashed it. Sci-fi fans are heralding it as the best sci-fi movie in a long time. I fall somewhere in the middle. It's an exciting film and it's a little horrifying. Foster and Quaid wake up on a ship that seems abandoned. They are locked in a room on a space ship and they've been in hyper sleep way longer than they should. Foster tries to escape the room through the ventillation system while Quaid guides him. Foster finds help... and some major problems while Quaid meets another young member of the crew who is going off the deep end (played by Twilight hottie Cam Gigandet). My major problem with the film is the crappy camera work. I know it's supposed to be exciting but there's a fine line between hand held exciting camera work and not having any idea what the hell is happening to your characters. Also, at times, it's just a little gross for gross' sake. Being disgusting doesn't further the film in any way. Also, it seems a little convenient that a side effect of hyper sleep is temporary memory loss. However, Foster and Quaid's characters remember just enough when they need to. And while their characters are in different parts of the ship for most of the movie, it allows the screenwriter to fill a ridiculous amount of time with the two trying to contact each other via radio. Basically, the film has its problems but it's also good enough to merit a recommendation. Again, not good, merely average.
Grade: C

Whip It - Whip It is cute. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes, well, not so much. Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut and any shortcomings this movie has aren't necessarily her fault. She does a pretty good job at directing. Sometimes, it's very basic. Nothing she's doing is groundbreaking. But there are some pretty great scenes, very well directed (especially the pool scene near the end... just beautiful). Whip It follows a reluctant beauty queen named Bliss (Ellen Page) who is basically only doing beauty pageants to appease her mom (the amazing / wonderful / fantastic / goddesss of the world Marcia Gay Harden). On a shopping trip to Austin, Bliss discovers a flyer for roller derby. She and best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat a.k.a. Maeby Funke from the greatest show ever to be on TV Arrested Development) go to the derby exhibition game and Bliss is impressed. Soon, she is lying about her age and trying out for the Hurl Scouts team. She changes her name to Babe Ruthless and joins the team alongside Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) and Smashely Simpson (Barrymore). There are a few things that endear this movie to me. 1. Har Mar Superstar has a little cameo. 2. Tilly and the Wall is on the soundtrack. 3. I was at some of the places they filmed in Austin. Then, of course, there is the predictibility. This script is paint-by-numbers, cliched and totally predictable. That makes parts of it boring. Then there is the cuteness factor. Some of the cute stuff is just that - cute. Some of it (like a showdown with rival Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis) that turns into a silly food fight) is just dumb. Also, Jimmy Fallon just needs to stop acting. He needs to stick to late night and he's not even good at that (just not as bad as acting). All in all, Whip It is a little too cutesy at times although Barrymore does a fine job presenting a kick ass girl power story. See it for the great cast and the cool soundtrack, just don't expect too much.
Grade: C+ (B- on a good day... if I'm feeling nice... which I'm not today).

Zombieland - Zombieland is excatly what it needed to be. I was expecting a ridiculous, off beat, fun horror flick and that's exactly what it is. There is no subtle build up to Zombieland. You are dropped right in (it's complete with flashy, great opening credits). First, you meet Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg who is like Michael Cera although maybe funnier?), a college kid who has a lot of ticks and fears and a lot of rules for surviving Zombieland. Always shoot the zombie twice to make sure it's dead, Beware of bathrooms, Always wear your seatbelt, etc. He is one of five (ha!) surviving humans in Zombieland. Along the way he meets Tallahassee, a totally bad ass Woody Harrelson who just seems to have been born for this role. He's hilarious and bad ass and just all kinds of perfect for this role. All he really wants to do is find a Twinkie and kick zombie ass. They team up and eventually meet Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), a sister con-artist duo who dupe our heroes before eventually teaming up with them. Their plan is the head west to Pacific Playland, an amusement park outside of Los Angeles which they believe is zombie free. Along the way, they make a pit stop at a Beverly Hills home where there is the most perfect cameo in cameo history. I won't ruin it (although I'm sure you can find out) but it's pretty freaking great. Anyway, of course, they eventually get to their destination and guess what? There are TONS of zombies including a really freaky clown zombie. Overall, Zombieland is a whole lot of fun and that's all I really wanted out of it.
Grade: B