OSCAR PREDICTIONS!

So everyone my Oscar predictions, and picks. I have to be honest with you all though - I'm a bad movie blogger...I won't be watching the Oscars until tomorrow night because I have a majorly humongous audition in the morning and I can't afford to lose sleep. SO I shall refrain from looking at blogs until tomorrow night. Hehe.

Best Picture

Prediction: The King's Speech

My Pick: The Social Network

Best Director

Prediction: David Fincher

My Pick: David Fincher

Best Actor

Prediction: Colin Firth

My Pick: Jesse Eisenberg

Best Actress

Prediction: Natalie Portman

My Pick: Natalie Portman

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Christian Bale

My Pick: Geoffrey Rush

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Helena Bonham Carter (seriously)

My Pick: Jacki Weaver

Best Original Screenplay

Prediction: The King's Speech

My Pick: The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay

Prediction: The Social Network

My Pick: The Social Network

Best Animated Film

Prediction: Toy Story 3

My Pick: How to Train Your Dragon

Best Foreign Film

Prediction: Biutiful

My Pick: Dogtooth

Cinematography

Prediction: True Grit

My Pick: Black Swan

Editing

Prediction: The Social Network?

My Pick: The Social Network

Art Direction

Prediction: The King's Speech

My Pick: The King's Speech

Costume Design

Prediction: The King's Speech

My Pick: I Am Love

Makeup

Prediction: Barney's Version

My Pick: I have seen none of these films so I have no pick.

Original Score

Prediction: The King's Speech (though I feel this could go to any of the nominees, honestly.)

My Pick: The Social Network

Original Song

Prediction: "If I Rise"

My Pick: Ugh. "If I Rise" I suppose. I can't wait to see Florence Welch sing it!

Sound Mixing

Prediction: Inception

My Pick: The Social Network

Sound Editing

Prediction: Inception

My Pick: Inception

Visual Effects

Prediction: Inception

My Pick: Scott Pilgrim Vs the...oh wait. Inception.

Documentary

Prediction: Exit Through the Gift Shop

My Pick: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Documentary Short

Prediction: Poster Girl

Live Action Short

Prediction: God of Love

My Pick: Wish 143

Animated Short

Prediction: Madagascar, A Journey Diary

My Pick: It'd probably be Madagascar if I'd seen it but I liked Day & Night just fine.

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Top 10

And now, the moment for which you all have been waiting so fervently (ahem), my top ten films of the year. As should go without saying, this is my top ten right now - things can change over time. For example, I included "Avatar" at number 5 when I first made my list for last year, but then when I revisited recently it didn't even make the top ten. So! Anyway. Enough babble, on with the list!

10. How to Train Your Dragon

Ever since I first fell in love with this surprising movie when I first saw it, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Its story line may be a bit cliche, sure, but it still manages to defy convention nonetheless. It's so sensitive and I fell in love with it despite its imperfections. And that score? It's just so wonderful. And, it's my current ringtone. Hahaha

9. Animal Kingdom

You all should know by now how much I adore Jacki Weaver, but there's more to this film than just her. It's masterfully written, frightening and intense and yet there's this heart to it all - a bizarre, slightly dysfunctional heart, but it's there nonetheless. The performances from the rest of the cast are great and Michod's subtle directorial work leaves you wanting more and more.

8. Dogtooth

I'll freely admit that its off putting subject matter is what's keeping this film from being higher on the list, but there is absolutely no denying how bizarrely brilliant it is. It's fascinatingly shot, with perfectly mysterious performances from the entire cast - and while so many movies force messages with cliches and manipulation "Dogtooth" tackles so many themes and lets the screenplay speak for itself. Shocking, but fascinating.

7. Mother

This movie should have been just another crime drama. Instead, it's a provocative, tense, fascinating and often beautiful portrait of a mother's unyielding love for her son. Bong Joon-Ho plots every frame with so much detail and thought, allowing Kim Hye-Ja to work her wonders.

6. True Grit

From the opening shot to the closing narration, "True Grit" is a surprisingly riveting tale that deals perfectly with the implications of redemption. The Coen Brothers totally turn what could have been an ordinary western into an extraordinary journey told through the eyes of a young fourteen year old girl. Surprisingly funny and extraordinarily grandiose, it's just another amazing movie from the Coens.

5. 127 Hours

Okay, Danny Boyle's sometimes erratic choices may not have always been good choices, but the overall film ends up being such a success that it's possible to overlook the mistakes - and then some. No film affected me as emotionally as "127 Hours" did - James Franco's fantastic performance takes the viewer on such a powerful journey. Inspiring and emotional, the power of this film cannot be understated.

4. Rabbit Hole

"Rabbit Hole" isn't necessarily sad - more like poignant and seeing grief treated in such a way is so refreshing and, ultimately affecting. The myriad of great performances from Kidman, Eckhart, Teller, Weist and Oh enhance the already gorgeous script, which is all put together by the tender hand of John Cameron Mitchell. This film never forces you to feel, it just allows itself to be so real that you can't help but be devastated, and yet, filled with hope.

3. Black Swan

My excitement for this film went down a wee bit since I first saw it (on opening day which is something I will be eternally proud of) but I still adore it so. Watching it was such a thrill ride that after I left the theater I was just speechless. It's scary, it's gorgeous, and it's thought provoking, featuring a career-best performance from Portman...and honestly, everyone else in the cast too. As the woman behind me in the theater put it, "WHAT THE HELLLLL WAS THAT?!", in the good way of course.

2. The Social Network

I'd be hard pressed to find as intelligent a film as "The Social Network" that also has such an emotional core. To quote everybody in the world, it's not about Facebook, it's about friendship. Fincher's direction brilliantly brings together such fantastic technical achievments (the score! the cinematography!) and though this may not win Best Picture tomorrow night, this will be the film that stands the test of time.

1. Scott Pilgrim Vs the World

Okay. It may not be the genius instant-classic that "The Social Network" is, nor is it perhaps the beautiful masterpiece that "Black Swan" is, but I did not fall in lesbians so hard with any film as hard as I fell for "Scott Pilgrim". My nerdier side loved the video game references and the 8-bit soundtrack but my intelligent side adored the perfect acting and creative filmmaking style. Behind all of the amazing visual effects it's still just a story of a rather imperfect relationship and what we all go through to be with the ones we love, and it's just so perfect. I simply couldn't not call it my favorite of the year.

Ah, so there you have it everyone! My favorites. I hope you've all enjoyed the Golden Corneas - what did you think of my choices? Surprised? Angry? Sad? The comment box is like a therapy session - all feelings welcome without judgment so sound off below!

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Honorable Mentions

And now, for seven films (because seven is a magical number) that I really loved but just didn't quite make it to the top 10.

Toy Story 3 - Both unbelievably touching and thoroughly hilarious, this was the perfect end to a brilliant trilogy.

Please Give - Gently self conscious, Holofcener's cleverly biting film is a wonderful portrait of a bunch of messed up people who you can't help but fall in love with.

The King's Speech - Gorgeous and inspiring, this film defies the laws of period epics and ends up being a fascinating story well told.

Mother and Child - Manipulative? Perhaps a bit. But there's no denying how moving and poignant this film is, as it balances three wonderful stories buoyed by three amazing performances from Bening, Watts and Washington.

Winter's Bone - Thrilling and memorable, Lawrence's star turn is impressive but it's Granik, Dickey and Hawkes that really make this movie as unforgettable as it is.

Blue Valentine - I didn't love it as much as most but I can't deny the impact that it had - Williams and Gosling give beautiful performances and that ending is marvelous.

Morning Glory - I'll go ahead and give this movie the guilty pleasure slot on the list, but it was really a surprisingly lovely and enjoyable little gem. The trio of McAdams, Keaton and Ford is so fun to watch.

***

And I also must mention another amazing film that I didn't include in my top ten because I exclude documentaries but if I did include documentaries it totally would have made it - Exit Through the Gift Shop, which is a fascinating and fast paced look at the world of underground art. So interesting and so well made.

***

Other films that I really liked this year, and will remember for a long time include..."I Am Love", "The Kids Are All Right", "Greenberg", "Date Night", "Easy A", and "The Runaways". I've got to say, despite popular opinion, I really think it's been a good year for film.

So thre you have it! Top ten of the year coming very soon - are you surprised at any of my choices? Sound off below!

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Directors

We're nearing the end of the Golden Corneas! Next well be the reveal of the top 10 of the year. I've had to majorly speed up since I realized it will all become irrelevant after Sunday. ;) So now the directors.

5. Bong Joon-Ho - "Mother"

Bong totally fixes some of the problems that appeared in his earlier work and skillfully crafts a masterpiece of tone, suspense, and emotion, without ever losing focus on his magnificent leading lady.

4. Edgar Wright - "Scott Pilgrim vs the World"

"Scott Pilgrim" would never have worked without as skillful a director as Wright at the helm. His fast paced direction fuses brilliant video game references, comic book styling and exciting visual effects to create a hilarious, amazing and epic film that also has a great heart.

3. Giorgos Lanthimos - "Dogtooth"

Lanthimos creates his own frightening world in "Dogtooth", the most subtle of touches accentuating his unfathomable vision. His lingering eye and genius touch on the themes of the piece enhance his disturbingly original, absorbing and memorable film.

2. Darren Aronofsky - "Black Swan"

Aronofsky is unforgiving in his direction of "Black Swan". It's extremely scary, wickedly funny and at the same time, lushly beautiful. The mix of all of this film's great elements enhances what Aronofsky truly wants to emphasize - Natalie Portman's performance, one that would surely have been nowhere near as phenomenal without such a great director to guide it.

1. David Fincher - "The Social Network"

I don't think anyone thought that a movie about the creation of Facebook would end up becoming one of the best films of the year. But, thanks almost completely to Fincher's genius, the film became not about Facebook, but about friendship. Fincher's direction is sharp, precise and yet, completely human, never letting the film's marvelous technical achievements drown out its heart.

Honorable Mentions:

David Michod's debut work in "Animal Kingdom" is really stunning - it'll be fantastic to see what he does next; "Winter's Bone" is marvelously directed by Debra Granik, who fills every scene with remarkable tone and tension; John Cameron Mitchell's quiet work on "Rabbit Hole" is marvelous in that it never takes the easy way out in resorting to histrionics; Tom Hooper has a unique visual style that also achieves three fantastic performances from the actors.

Just Missed It:

Luca Guadagnino, "I Am Love"; Coen Bros, "True Grit"; Lisa Cholodenko, "The Kids Are All Right"; Roger Michell, "Morning Glory"

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Screenplays

Screenplays are the basis of the film - without a good screenplay, there's really nothing that can redeem a film. This year was full of really good writing, so now a few of my faves.

Adapted

5. True Grit - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

The Coen Brothers consistently bring great writing to the screen. "True Grit" is not only rife with great period language and dialogue but it's also chock full with great characters and trademark Coen Brothers humor. Not to mention the perfect structure.

4. Winter's Bone - Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini

Similarly to "True Grit", "Winter's Bone" is full of colloquial dialogue and terminology which is an accomplishment on its own. But the script's greatest accomplishment is its minimalist structure which allows the emotional shocks in the arc to stand out shockingly and perfectly.

3. Rabbit Hole - David Lindsay-Abaire

Grief is such a difficult theme for the movies to get right - but "Rabbit Hole" is pretty much perfect. Lindsay-Abaire never lets his characters wallow in their situati

on, instead treating them like the real people that they are. The script also finds unexpected humor that makes the emotional parts so much more painful. The seamless transition from stage to screen is also a great accomplishment.

2. Scott Pilgrim VS The World - Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright

It's no easy feat to get a successful, memorable one-liner into a screenplay. However, Bacall and Wright were able to make almost every single line in "Scott Pilgrim" into one that you can quote innumerable times after the credits roll. However, the quirky and amazingly funny dialogue is just the icing on the cake that is the simple, adorable and timeless story of a boy who will do anything to be with the girl he loves.

1. The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin

There's not much I can say about this script that hasn't already been said - the dialogue is brilliant, the characters are fantastically fleshed out and the structure is simply perfect. Sorkin's script will assure this film's status as an instant classic.

Honorable Mentions: "127 Hours"'s screenplay balances Ralston in and out of the pit perfectly; "How to Train Your Dragon" might be a bit cliche but it still never takes the easy way out.

Original

5. The Kids Are All Right - Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg

Cholodenko and Blumberg craft a touching, creative and unique portrait of an alternative family, perhaps most effectively by treating them like any other family. Not to mention that the film is so funny.

4. The King's Speech - David Seidler

David Seidler's captivating screenplay is just another one of the reasons that "The King's Speech" defies some of the convention that it could have easily fallen into. Seidler humanizes each character and never loses an opportunity for humor, pathos or an appropriately timed zinger of dialogue.

3. Please Give - Nicole Holofcener

"Please Give" could so easily have come off annoying or too quirky for its own good. However, Holofcener's genius script avoids these possible pitfalls by thoroughly developing and shaping each character so well, and never losing anyone's plotline in this truly ensemble film. The dialogue is impeccably funny and smart, and the sensitive heart at the film's center is unflinchingly real.

2. Animal Kingdom - David Michod

Obviously my favorite thing about "Animal Kingdom" is Jacki Weaver but had David Michod not crafted such a fascinating, layered, and complex screenplay for her to work with, "Animal Kingdom" would not have been as successful or as fantastic as it was. Michod's crime drama tackles so many themes with passionate energy and underneath it all is a fantastic and rare emotional core.

1. Dogtooth - Giorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou

Based purely on creativity, "Dogtooth" is already one of the best films of the year. But not only does it have a ridiculously interesting concept, it totally delivers on that concept without ever alienating the viewer. Lanthimos and Filippou's bizarre (in the best sense of the word) work succeeds as satire, horror, and family relationship drama equally well and will surely last the test of time.

Honorable Mentions: "Greenberg" is so well written and it just nearly missed the top 5, but even the film's nearly unlikeable characters are portrayed so sympathetically; "Toy Story 3" relies on the first two films for a lot but it's still an original and creative piece of work with the perfect ending; "Solitary Man" has some amazing dialogue, along with some really interesting characters; I know a lot of people despise it and even though it really seems inconsequential, "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" is still a really well-written and funny piece by Allen; "Morning Glory" is more adorable, funny and emotionally engrossing than it had any right to be thanks to its screenplay.

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Supporting Actors

Gosh, this was tough. I kept rearranging and rearranging - needless to say it was a good year. My honorable mentions might have found their way into my top 5 on any other day, it was just so competitive.

5. Andrew Garfield - "The Social Network"

As the heart of the film, Garfield is a revelation. He gives Eduardo so much charisma and heart, but he's not afraid to bring out the flaws in his character as well. He's sympathetic but not pathetic, and that's Garfield's greatest achievement.

4. John Hawkes - "Winter's Bone"

Hawkes is frighteningly good as Teardrop in "Winter's Bone". There is no Hawkes, there is only Teardrop and he is a force of nature without ever stealing the spotlight from Jennifer Lawrence. The amount of expression in his eyes is breathtaking.

3. Won Bin - "Mother"

As Mother's criminally accused son, Won Bin is perfect at being slightly off, yet still so sympathetic. Do-Joon is definitely hiding something but Bin keeps us guessing until the very end. A surprising and memorable performance.

2. Mark Ruffalo - "The Kids Are All Right"

It's really quite remarkable, what Mark Ruffalo did in "Kids". Ruffalo effortlessly turns Paul into such a complex character - he's the definition of a man child, and yet he's not immature. His arc is absolutely perfect and his chemistry with every member of the cast is such a joy to watch.

1. Geoffrey Rush - "The King's Speech"

I was truly awed by Rush's fantastic work in "Speech". Rush is usually known for being crazily over the top but as Lionel Logue, he's remarkably subtle. His audition scene near the beginning of the movie is simply brilliant and it defines his character - a man who has to help others in order to help himself. Remarkable.

Honorable Mentions:

Oh, how it kills me to not be able to mention these guys! Kieran Culkin is hilarious and yet, so sensitive in "Scott Pilgrim"; Samuel L. Jackson gives an uncharacteristically emotive and human performance in "Mother and Child"; Matt Damon is so funny, but also so endearing in "True Grit"; Michael Shannon is so full of sleazy, over-the-top goodness in "The Runaways".

Just Missed It:

Mark Webber in "Scott Pilgrim", Vincent Cassell in "Black Swan", Luke Ford in "Animal Kingdom"

What are your thoughts on this category? It was a fantastic year for supporting men, eh? Comments are welcome as always! :)

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Ensembles

There's nothing like a great cast to make a movie wonderful. This year was full of fantastic feats of ensemble acting, so without further ado, my favorites from 2010.

5. The Concert

Though the advertising campaign will have you believe that this movie is all about Melanie Laurent, tis not the case - though she's lovely in her small role, it's the rest of the cast that breathes such a whimsical life into the film. Be it the goofy Valeri Barinov as the Communist sympathizing manager or the entire crowd of gypsy musicians this wonderful group had a lot of fun, and thus, so did the audience.

4. Mother and Child

The script may have been a bit contrived but thanks to the wonderful performances by the whole cast, "Mother and Child" excels. Bening, Watts and Washington make for great leads but Samuel L. Jackson, Shareeka Epps and Cherry Jones, along with the rest of the supporting players, all give their parts so much more depth than expected.

3. Please Give

This cast of droll and almost unanimously unlikable characters could have been ridiculous or grating. Intsead, Keener, Hall, Platt, Peet, Guilbert and Steele are funny, lovable and work off of each other so remarkably well.

2. The Social Network

Sorkin's dialogue is brilliant, yes, but without the fantastic delivery by every member of the cast, there would not have been the fireworks that there were. And not only do Eisenberg and Garfield do well, but so do the smaller players - Timberlake is surprisingly good, Jones and Song make the most out of their small roles, Hammer is fantastic and Mara is a raw emotional turning point. Simply marvelous.

1. Scott Pilgrim VS The World

Well of COURSE! There's just too much brilliance in every moment of every scene thanks to this amazing cast to be written down in words. I could easily write a paragraph about how great every member of the cast is - Cera, Winstead, Kulkin, Wong, Pill, Plaza, Kendrick, Larson, Whitman...ahhhh. This cast is teh epic.

Honorable Mentions: I do think that Jacki Weaver unabashedly steals the show in Animal Kingdom but the rest of the cast is really quite fantastic as well; Dogtooth's ensemble is marvelous at being both creepy yet surprisingly sympathetic; Winter's Bone is a great spotlight for Jennifer Lawrence but the supporting players hold up remarkably; Greenberg's main trio of Stiller, Gerwig and Ifans is great and it's supported well; Black Swan belongs to Portman but her costars surround her brilliantly; The Fighter is an ensemble piece at its best and those sisters are irresistible!

This was a tough one! What were your favorite ensembles this year?

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Art Direction

To finish out the technical categories, I bring you the art direction.

5. David Stein - "Black Swan"

Goodness, is there any single set more brilliantly designed than the Sayers's apartment? It's so claustrophobic, sickeningly pink and uneasily scary. The more subtle designs, such as the ballet company and those stairwells, are subtly marvelous as well but that apartment is just...amazing.

4. Dante Ferretti - "Shutter Island"

Designing a mental institution must be such a fun assignment for any art director. "Shutter Island"'s castle is epic and frightening, but the smaller sets work too - don't those prisons just feel endless? - and even the interiors are gaudy and brilliant.

3. Elli Papageorgakopoulou - "Dogtooth"

Wow, what a name. Anyway! It's one location for almost the entire film, but what a perfect location it is. The walls are just a bit too white, the grass is just slightly too green, the ceiling just a little bit too high - everything is "perfect", yet at the same time, so frighteningly off. It's just a regular house, but there's a marvelous unease.

2. Nadine Herrmann - "I Am Love"

Those lush country vineyards, those spiraling staircases and those lush mansions...every single set piece in this film is a beauty as intricate and carefully designed as the costumes. It's just another piece of Guadagnino's marvelous aesthetic.

1. Eve Stewart and Judy Farr - "The King's Speech"

Yes, I went for the predictable choice - but it is deserving. Everyone keeps mentioning "the wall" in Logue's office and it totally deserves to be mentioned. In fact, that and the rest of the sets in the film are all so wonderful and interesting it's impossible to look away.

Honorable Mentions: Scott Pilgrim Vs the World's art direction gracefully captured the spirit of its characters, especially in that Chaos Theatre; I'm not sure if it counts as "art direction" but Summer Wars was such a visual feast that I had to mention it somewhere; True Grit's old-west landscapes are so, so solid; I didn't love Inception but it definitely deserves praise in the art direction department.

What were the most well designed films in your opinion? Comment!

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Cinematography

The awardage continues! Now one of my favorite categories, cinematography. I'm telling you, if a sucky movie has amazing cinematography, I'll love it. ;)

5. Bill Pope - "Scott Pilgrim Vs the World"

I know it seems like "Scott" has shown up everywhere but it does deserve it, haha. Pope's work is fun and colorful but also surprisingly sensitive (that shot of Scott and Ramona on the swings, for example) and the action sequences are perfectly absorbing thanks to his focused camerawork.

4. Anthony Dod Mantle - "127 Hours"

"127 Hours" was no easy feat for a cinematographer - after all, you're trapped in a small crevasse for most of the movie. Yet, Mantle rises and surpasses this challenge. We feel just as trapped as Ralston - and when the sunlight touches his foot, we feel it too. Also, notice how the beautiful colors begin to fade as the hours pass...a subtle but wonderful touch.

3. Kyung-Pyo Hong - "Mother"

What I love most about Hong's work on "Mother" is how perfect his color scheme is. The monochromatic tones allow the frightening injections of red (blood, Mother's clothing) to stand out beautifully. The closing shot and opening shots are especially unbelievable.

2. Yorick le Saux - "I Am Love"

There's no questioning the artistic merit of "I Am Love" and the cinematography is one of its greatest assets. Every scene is so gorgeously lit and shot that it's impossible to look away - Le Saux knows what beauty is and works it in so well.

1. Matthew Libatique - "Black Swan"

Libatique masterfully frames every shot of "Black Swan" with beauty and power. We swirl with Nina while she dances, stalk her as she walks, and descend into madness just as she does because of the camera's absorbing lens.

Honorable Mentions: It was such a good year for cinematography, that it's actually sad that I couldn't include the wonderful work on True Grit, Shutter Island or The Social Network, all three of which might have made this list on any other day! Other notable efforts include The King's Speech and Greenberg.

What movies were your cinematographic favorites this year? Let me know in the comments! :)

Golden Cornea Awards 2011: The Scores

Well hello everyone, and welcome to the first ever Golden Cornea Awards! My personal favorites in the year of film. I'm going to start with my favorite scores from the year. I've separated them into two categories in order for it to make more sense. Sorry, I know I'm a bit long-winded. :)

Best Adapted Score

5. Armand Amar - "The Concert"

"The Concert" mixes great classical works with the beautiful score by Amar to such great effect, using the works of masters like Tchaikovsky and Mahler beautifully.

4. Carter Burwell - "True Grit"

The use of hymns is simply perfect and Burwell's arrangements are stellar. A simply gorgeous score that works solely for the movie's benefit.

3. Grizzly Bear - "Blue Valentine"

Grizzly Bear's poignant arrangements may have been slightly overemphasized in the sound mix but nonetheless are a perfect backing track to the emotions taking place on screen - neither aiming to dominate or change the tone but simply to accentuate the work of Williams and Gosling.

2. Clint Mansell - "Black Swan"

It's almost impossible to tell where Mansell begins and Tchaikovsky ends but the use of both of their music intensifies and scares, creating a Classically Romantic score unlike that of any other horror movie.

1. John Adams - "I Am Love"

The use of John Adams's unbelievable music in this film is absolutely perfect. It's gorgeous and lush but there's that sinister underbelly that lies just beneath the surface, just like the characters in the film, and it's impossible to deny the music's intensifying of that last scene.

Best Original Score

5. Akihiko Matsumoso - "Summer Wars"

Just like the movie, Matsumoso's score is whimsical and fun, and it makes a more-than-perfect companion to the eye-popping visuals.

4. Anton Sanko - "Rabbit Hole"

It's so subtle, you nearly forget it's there - and yet, the simple and the innocent instrumentation led by piano and clarinet creates a heartwrenching accompaniment to the poignant film.

3. Nigel Godrich - "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World"

The song soundtrack is amazing but when it's not playing Godrich's hyperactive 8-bit rock score makes for a fun and frenetic musical soundscape that perfectly embodies the film and its characters. And, even when things get a little bit more sensitive, the score rises to the challenge with soft, Pitchfork-friendly atmospheres.

2. John Powell - "How to Train Your Dragon"

Seeing "How to Train Your Dragon" for the first time, the thing that jumped out at me the most was John Powell's sweeping, moving and epic score. Sure, it's very conventional compared to the other scores I've singled out but that doesn't mean it's any less. With a theme that is orchestrated perfectly so many times throughout, I get goosebumps every time I hear it.

1. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - "The Social Network"

No score this year has had the power to affect its movie as much as the score for "The Social Network" has. The main theme, though ridiculously simple, is so ridiculously perfect - the organic sound of piano over electronic textures is a remarkable combo that adds a whole other level of emotion each time it is played. And, the rest of the score doesn't fall short - it can be quiet, exciting, subtle or suspenseful, sometimes all within a single track. A simply perfect score.

Honorable Mentions: Edward Shearmur's score for "Mother and Child" is simple, poignant and beautiful, if not a bit unfocused; there's not much there but Byeung Woo Lee's score for "Mother" frames the film perfectly; I'm not a huge fan of Hans Zimmer and I do think it's a bit too loud but "Inception"'s score is still worthy of recognition; it's lesser Desplat but it's still Desplat - "The King's Speech" is lovely.

***

So there you have it. What were your favorite scores of the year? Since music is so subjective, it's a lot of fun to hear everyone's opinions. Sound off below!

2010 in Albums

Since I am sooooooooo not ready to review the past year in film (there are so many more movies I have to see, it's ridiculous), but I'm jealous of everyone else's nostalgia, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite albums from this past year, along with some of the best songs from said albums. I mean, music, it's what I do, so why not? Haha. In no particular order, here you go!

Sia - "We Are Born"

Sia's remarkably uplifting album is almost completely perfect - even the "weaker" songs (like "Cloud") are a ton of fun. And though there's nary a song on the album that you can't dance to, Sia's soulful vocals and poignant lyrics keep the songs from becoming mundane or superficial. It's pop music with major heart.

Sufjan Stevens - "The Age of Adz"

Such a moving album, the transformation from beginning to end is simply remarkable. Every single tiny layer is so meticulously placed and yet everything feels so ridiculously spontaneous that even the 25 minute closer to the album, "Impossible Soul", doesn't drag on. And even though this is the album where "Sufjan goes electronic" he doesn't lose any of his original personal emotion. For proof, just listen to "Want to Be Well" or "Vesuvius".

Best Coast- "Crazy For You"

The classic, summery emotions, beats and rhymes prevalent on each track of "Crazy For You" may seem, at the surface, to be a gimmick repeated to the point of unimportance. However, when you listen to each little gem (some not even two minutes long) you realize how perfectly fun and unique they all are. Majorly addicting, this album will make you feel like you're on a beach in California, no matter what time of the year it is.

The National - "High Violet"

While "Crazy for You" and "We Are Born" are a couple of the most fun albums of the year, "High Violet" is by a mile the most moving. Each song is complex, never too long and yet ultimately satisfying. When the album reaches its highest emotional point at "England", an indescribable feeling of bittersweet has taken hold and doesn't let go for days after you finish the rest of the album.

Little Boots - "Hands"

Quite a different style from The National, newcomer Little Boots is totally a guilty, sugary pleasure. This dance album almost evokes the early aughts and though the two standout tracks "New in Town" and "Remedy" completely outshine the other tracks, it is still, as a whole, perfectly addicting.

Crystal Castles - "Crystal Castles (II)"

Crystal Castles's second album was my introduction to this electronic duo and what an introduction it was. It's unlike anything else - atmospheric, exhilarating, and sometimes, even frightening. It disregards the rules in a way Ke$ha could only dream of doing. Plus, all those crunched 8-bit sounds totally cater to my nerdier side. Which is like, most of me, so, there you go.

Rihanna - "Loud"

I swear, I've had "Only Girl (In the World)" stuck in my head since the first time I heard it. I've never really cared much about Rihanna until "Loud" and it's fitting that this album is the one that finally caught my attention. I also give Rihanna props for performing on SNL and actually sounding decent. I'm not sure what it is about perfoming on SNL, but it seems like nobody sounds good on that show. So, congrats Ri ri. Haha.

Well, there you have it - and that's just a small portion of all the great music that was released this year (not even counting film soundtracks!). What were some of your favorite albums/singles from 2010? Share below!