A Look Back at 2011's 'Take Shelter' ***1/2stars

2011 gave us two apocolyptic films. the brilliant 'melancholia' and it's extremely close runnerup 'take shelter'. a man on the verge of a breakdown as he has visions, dreams, of the impending end of the world. michael shannon who stole 'revolutionary road' from kate winslet, leonardo decaprio and kathy bates, turns in one of the best performances of the decade. he is up and coming and oneday will have an oscar on his mantle. he is simply put brilliant. jessica chastain gives another great performance which is one of many she showed in 2011.

althugh i believe 'melancholia' is the better 2011 apocalyptic films of 2011 his is the more accessible to a wider audience. i can't recommend them enough if you love film.

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'Les Miserables' Send Up Features Broadway Stars Urging Voters to Back Obama

as you may already know i am a crazed 'les miserable' fan. so to see one of it's best songs used to bolster the reelection of barack obama is pure joy as well as magical. i need say no more as the new lyrics say it all.

'Revenge' Returns September 30

Josh's Juke Box: 'Talkig' in Your Sleep' and 'Don't It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue''

the soundtrack of my Life

crystal gayle

This Woman Is a Snide Self Serving Arrogant Bitch

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Michelle My Belle

as i await season 3 of 'downton abbey' and awaiting michelle dockery in 'anna karenina' and thus being in withdrawal here's a bit of a michelle interview. i love this actress.

'Margaret' ****stars

about a week ago i wrote that 'last night' was a lost gem of 2011. 'margaret' turns out to be the lost masterpiece of 2011. originally scheduled for release in 2007 but held back due to lawsuits and other studio nonesense with the director it was finally unveiled with little fanfare or sceenings in september of 2011. that's the pity. this is a brilliant film about a girl, a bus driver, her mother, her guilt, her conscience. sounds simple? it's not. it's a complex drama that weaves a dramatic spell. and who knew anna paquin was such a great actress. oscar or not for the deadly dull 'the piano' at ten years old who knew. good yes but great? yes! she gives an amazing performance and one of the best of this young century. the rest of the cast delivers. all of them. 

i can't recommend this film enough especially if you are a true fan of the art of film. i would revise my top ten of 2011 and put this in the #1 spot.

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Paul Ryan's Love Affair with Ayn Rand

well now he denies it! surprise surprise

Quote of the Week: Paul Ryan: ‘Our Rights Come From Nature And God, Not From Government’

‘Our Rights Come From Nature And God, Not From Government’

i'd like him to explain this to those who lived under josef stalin or adolf hitler. i guess they just didn't have god on their side. what an idiot!

'360' *1/2stars

'360' is currently in limited engagements but is available on vod. it aspires to 'babel'esque storytelling but fails miserably. although rachel weisz, jude law and anthony hopkins give good performances they can't save this meandering and boring tale. and the 360 doesn't really work as there is no 'center' to connect the disparate tales. rent 'babel' instead which is brilliant.

2006 academy award nominee 'babel' and one of the best of the decade so far is the real deal.

What's on His Mind?

Josh's Juke Box

the still brilliant queen with 'bohemian rhapsody'

'Homeland' Season 2 Poster

premiers september 30th on showtime

European Truck Art

'Major Crimes' Premiers Tonight on TNT

the 'sequel' to 'the closer' premiers after it's final episode tonight starring mary mcdonnell

Conservatives Get the Hard-On They've Waited for Since Miiwitt Got the Nod

Back to Failed Politics

your vote counts...

Josh's Jukebox: 'They're Playing Our Song'

 just wanted to remember marvin hamlish again. i loved 'they're playing our song'. lucie arnaz gave a star performance but was sadly and disgustingly denied a tony nomination. shame  shame!

from the soundtrack of my life

'they're playing our song'

You Just Gotta Love the Catholics

With the Mittwitt and the Medicare Killer Taking Over the Headlines This Morning I Need a Little Levity

i take this as seriously as the gop presidential  and vice presidential candidates!

Say Goodbye to Medicare as We Know It

Mitt Romney Might Have Paid Nothing In Taxes

'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' ***stars

'salmon fishing in the yemen' opened earlier this year without much fanfare. it's a shame. despite having one of the worst titles of the year it's a good film. it's a nice accessible film with wonderful performances by emily blunt and ewan mcgregor and a rare comedic turn from the great kristen scott thomas. so don't let the title fool you. sure there is salmon fishing but that's only the starting point for this heartwarming film and romance. rent this charmer, sit back and enjoy a film aimed at grownup audiences.

available at amazon. see sidebar.

Josh's Jukebox: Aiden James Covers "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

i just heard this and thought it more than worth sharing. and the legs on the cover ain't bad either!

the soundtrack of my life

'i wanna dance with somebody'

'Last Night': A Lost Gem From 2011 ***stars

 'last night' is a universal slice of life story. i can only imagine we have all had a 'last night'. i certainly have. a couple is separated for 24 hours, in this case because of a business trip, and events just unfold. the events being people. one a business associate: the other a former lover. temptation and old feelings surface. different decisions are made. the overriding consequences not immediately known. 

keira knightley shines. sam worthington and guillaume canet are more than effective in their respective roles. the only weak link is eva mendes. really, would anyone cheat on keira with eva? it's like beauty vs a second hand rose. a better looking actress, or at the very least a better actress, would have made a temptation more plausible. but as we all know most men do not think with their heads but rather think from below our waists. that's a fact! 

this one bit of miscasting does not diminish the whole however. this is definitely worth a viewing or two. you may relate. i sure did.

'The Bourne Legacy' Opens Wide Today

Josh's Juke Box: 'White Rabbit'

Beauty and the Beast

First Look at Daniel Day Lewis as 'Lincoln'

coming this winter from steven spielberg

A Look Back At: 'Shame' ***stars

 so i just wrote about what seemed to be michael fassbender's valium induced role in 'a dangerous method'. but i want to give him his due and kudos for his amazing performance in 2011's psycho sexual drama 'shame'. he gives a truly daring performance in a daring film. mr fassbender plays brandon a successful new yorker in a moving intense film. he could be any new yorker you pass on the street. see on the subway. work with. you just don't know the secrets they have. the lonliness they live in. the sexual drama they deal with alone or with others. i saw a lot of myself in the character of brandon. he played me and all the other brandon's well. he gives a grand performance in a tricky art house film. he plays it unashamedly. i believed him. it's not for everyone but i can't rave enough about the film or michael's performance. and he does not mind being totally, yes totally, nude on screen which is just fine by me!