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 BOYD'S BEST BETS
by Boyd Jones
Past Articles:
2008 has been a VERY good year for movies.!!!
There have really been many enjoyable and excellent films and it was harder than usual to pick my favorites… but here goes:
BJ's Best of 2008 (in alphabetical order..not ranked)
- "Benjamin Button".. a good story well spun that is original, unique, and spellbinding.. great performances throughout
- "Dark Knight".. best comic book movie ever.. Heath Ledger's "Joker" will stand the test of time as one of the great villains of movie history
- "Defiance".. a very compelling true tale that really makes you care about all the characters and while action packed, never loses its human focus
- "Doubt".. a movie that will make you think, discuss, debate, and marvel at the screenplay as well as applaud all 4 major actors in the film for a job well done
- "frost/nixon".. I love politics so this movie just makes me smile as it gives you all the background info on the infamous interview and Sheen/Langella could not be better
- "Gran Torino".. If this is Clint Eastwood's last acting gig, he goes out in style.. a movie w/ characters you can root for and care for .. interesting story
- "Iron Man".. Robert Downey, Jr, Gweneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard..in a classy comic book movie.. They do it right. Loved this movie!
- "Milk".. Sean Penn and a great cast of supporting characters relive the true story of Harvey Milk and make us feel as if we were there during this historic time.
- "Slumdog Millionaire".. my favorite film of the year.. It's a one of a kind.. Just go.. You'll thank me later.. Stay for the credits.. they also made me smile!
- "Wall-E".. I love Pixar movies and they just continue to out do themselves. I'm not a robot person and was not sure if this would work..but "Wall-E" warms your heart.
BJ's 11-20 ..( in alphabetical order, not ranked )
- "Appaloosa" .. love westerns and this one w/ Ed Harris, Viggo M, Renee Zellwigger, and Jeremy Irons brings back the genre and makes me wish for more !
- "The Bank Job"..takes the typical heist movie and moves it up a notch.. very smart script.. good cast… quite suspenseful.
- "In Bruges".. Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleason star as 2 hit men hiding out "In Bruges"... great little film that got lost at box-office but definitely one to see!
- "Quantum of Solace".. Daniel Craig's 2nd Bond film.. not as good as "Casino Royale" but has several sequences of brilliance.. Judi Dench is also great .
- "The Reader" ..Kate Winslet is superb in this interesting story of a young boy's first love and reconnecting w/ her later in life and what occurred during the years between.
- "Revolutionary Road" ..Kate W and Leo reunite in this drama that brings them back together .. 2 of our finest actors. who both do the difficult material proud…
- "Secret Life of Bees" … I had heard great things about the book but the trailer for film didn't entice me but I went anyway.. glad I did.. very interesting / moving story.
- "Tropic Thunder" .. A very witty, well written , campy send up of Hollywood and the action film genre. Downey, Stiller, Black , Cruise… a must see !
- "The Visitor".. the little movie that could.. This is a little indie movie starring Richard Jenkins ( "6 Ft. Under") about a man's unexpected friendship w/ an
illegal immigrant.
- "The Wrestler" ..a powerful film about a washed up wrestler making a comeback in the ring and in life..starring Mickey Rourke whose own story mirrors his character
- Others I enjoyed …(may not be great films but had something worthwhile for me to recommend.. in random order..not ranked)
- "Mamma Mia".. great movie…no.. Was I smiling and singing along during some of the fun songs? You bet..one of the very few movies I saw more than once.
- "Definitely, Maybe"… Probably my favorite romantic comedy of the year
- "Stop/Loss".. powerful .. thought –provoking drama about what happens when our vets come home and get called back to service
- "21".. True story about some smart college students who go to Vegas and try to beat the system
- "Forgetting Sarah Marshall".. very funny film about a guy trying to get over being dumped..has several laugh out loud moments
- "Flawless".. Michael Caine and Demi Moore in a well crafter, interesting, superbly acted diamond heist flick…
- "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" .. is it as good as the first 3? No.. Will you still enjoy it ? Yes..
- "Kung Fu Panda" .. one of the best animated movies of the year.. fun story, great characters, good for adults/kids.
- "Wanted".. Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman as assassins .. I'm there… Interesting cinematography and an above average action flick.
- "Pineapple Express".. Judd Apatow just puts out funny movies and who knew James Franco could be so good as a pothead, but he's hilarious!
- "Burn After Reading".. Brad Pitt will have you howling and this Coen Brothers flick, while not living up to their best, is quirky enough to recommend.
- "Eagle Eye".. Shia LeBouf in an interesting thriller that shows how technology is taking over our lives… and not in a good way.
- "Zack and Miri Make a Porno".. Kevin Smith films are almost always worth seeing and this one has some hysterical parts (and of course some that were over the line)
- "Role Models".. Sean William Scott and Paul Rudd play 2 losers who get assigned mentoring duty and have some funny scenes as they try to connect w/ the 2 kids.
- "Get Smart".. Steven Carrell, Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin, and The Rock do a good job of bringing the classic goofy TV detective show to life..not great, but fun
- "Australia".. This movie has a lot of heart and Hugh Jackman is fantastic and the cinematography is gorgeous, especially the cattle journeys..script needs some work…
- "Cadillac Records".. interesting movie about some of the early pioneers of music…starring Jeffrey Wright, Adrian Brody, Beyonce, Mos Def.. great soundtrack
- "Bolt"..one of the better animated movies w/ Travolta and Cyrus doing primary voice work.. love the hamster in a ball who steals movie whenever on screen..
- "Marley and Me".. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson are perfectly cast in this film about a dog who'll steal your heart.. and anything laying around…
- "Valkyre" A really good movie that details a true conspiracy among some German officers to kill Hitler.. Unfortunately you know how it will end, but still quite interesting
- "Last Chance Harvey"… great to have a romantic movie w/ middle aged vs. younger actors.. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson make this immensely watchable.
- " Seven Pounds".. A jigsaw puzzle of a movie that has you continuously trying to figure it all out. Will Smith and Rosario Dawson were good..but in the end, is it worth it?
- "Hellboy 2".. some of the most unusual and interesting special effects and deadpan humor you'll find.. If you liked "Hellboy" , the second one does not disappoint.
- "Body of Lies".. a complex well acted spy tale w/ Leo and Russell Crowe in a confusing movie that shows you the connections between informants and CIA.
- "Nights in Rodanthe".. It has Diane Lane and Richard Gere back together for 3rd movie and they work very well together.. not great, but worth your time.
- "What Happens in Vegas".. I am an Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz fan… Seeing them together made me laugh. A fun time even if it's predictable at times.
- "Pride"… Terrance Howard is quite good in this true story of him coaching a black swim team that is way more than about swimming…
- "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".. VCB is on my list for 1 reason ..When Penelope Cruz enters pic halfway through, this goes from OK to va va voom ! Great role for her!
BJ's BEST BETS for TV
- Friday Night Lights … Best show on TV to me … Best ensemble on TV
- The Office… it makes me laugh
- Brothers and Sisters.. As an only child, I watch this show and lament what I'm missing ( but I've adopted many friends as B & S in my world)
- Two and a Half Men… you would think it would be getting old by now, but they have found a way to keep this comedy funny and fresh
- Chuck… I think this is one of those shows that has an interesting premise, is very well cast, and is entertaining on many different levels.
- Smallville… That this show has been around for quite some time and lost some major characters and is still interesting and fun says a lot.
- Desperate Housewives.. Great cast and this season has been one of its best.. Moving the series up 5 years in a snap was risky, but it worked.
- Scrubs… wacky, unique, makes me laugh
- Boston Legal.. I'm a David E. Kelly fan ( the writer) and am sad it is gone. Shatner, Spader, Bergen.. what fun it was to watch them together!
- Talent Reality Shows --- I am not into Reality TV but do enjoy the talent searches such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, &Nashville Star.(could care less about Bachelors/Bachelorettes,Survivor, Apprentice, Wife Swap, Momma's Boy, Supernanny, etc)
BJ's Favorite Cable Shows
- Entourage… This show is well written, well cast and acted, and simply fun
- Damages… Best cable drama .. Glenn Close was so deserving of her Emmy as Best Actress on TV.. this is a MUST SEE !!!
- Weeds.. Very funny , well written, off the wall comedy about a housewife w/ an non traditional way of earning a living.
- True Blood… What an alluring, sexy, intriguing tale of how Louisiana reacts when vampires move to their community.
- Rescue Me.. Denis Leary and his castmates make me appreciate life in a firehouse while caring and laughing at the same time.
- Raising the Bar… Mark-Paul Gossler stars in a legal drama from the creator of NYPD Blue ..this time , it's about public defenders.. good new show!
- Greek.. good show about collegiate greek life w/ interesting characters and situations .. a show about young people but both young and old will enjoy.
- Brotherhood.. interesting drama about a family where one brother is a Rhode Island community leader/politician and other a gangster.. love the dynamics of it all.
- Big Love…never thought a drama about polygamy would be interesting, but it is.. a lot going on in this series but it definitely brings to life situations I've only read about .
- MSNBC political shows… always enjoy "Morning Joe", " 1600 Pennsylvania Ave", "Hardball", " Rachel Maddow" as they are interesting as well as informative.
Favorite CD's I bought last year
I obviously can't listen to or purchase all the CD's that come out each year and while I am so looking forward to the 2009 releases soon of the new Bruce Springsteen ,U2, Wynonna, and Keith Urban cds.. the following cds were my favorites that I heard last year…
- Coldplay
- Sugarland
- Brad Paisley
- Jason Mraz
- Darius Rucker ( my surprise favorite cd of the year)
- John Mellencamp
- Adele
- Alicia Keys
- Emmylou Harris
- Dolly Parton
- Jennifer Hudson
- Sheryl Crow
- John Mayer ( best live cd of the year)
- Dwight Yoakam
- Trisha Yearwood
- Patty Loveless
Best independent CD I heard … Lloyd Dobler Effect… great guys.. great sound.. great live !!!
Best Broadway shows I saw last year… Wicked / Doubt / Avenue Q
Best concerts I saw .. .larger – Brad Paisley w/ Jewel….. Reba McIntire & Kelly Clarkson… Dolly Parton …
Smaller – Ellis Paul , Bonepony, David Lamotte, Chris Cauley & Chinua Hawk
Just my thoughts..
Have an awesome 2009 !!!
bj
BJ's Best of 2007
MOVIES
Top 10 (in ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
- Atonement
- The Bourne Ultimatum
- Charlie Wilson's War
- Gone, Baby, Gone
- Hairspray
- Into the Wild
- Juno
- No Country for Old Men
- Ratatouille
- 3:10 to Yuma
MOVIES # 11-20 ( in ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
- American Gangster
- Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
- Dan in Real Life
- Eastern Promises
- Michael Clayton
- Stardust
- Sweeny Todd
- There Will Be Blood
- Waitress
- Zodiac
OTHERS I ENJOYED AND RECOMMEND ( in no particular order)
- Transformers
- Across the Universe
- Amazing Grace
- Once
- Black Snake Moan
- We Own the Night
- Breach
- The Great Debaters
- Disturbia
- I Am Legend
- The Lookout
- The Mist
- The Hoax
- Enchanted
- Knocked Up T
- his Christmas
- Live Free or Die Hard
- Lions for Lambs
- Sicko
- The Bucket List
- Talk to Me
- The Savages
- Superbad
- Spiderman 3
- In the Valley of Elah
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
TELEVISION
My top 10 shows (in alphabetical order)
- Brothers and Sisters
- Damages
- Desperate Housewives
- Entourage
- Friday Night Lights (best show on TV that no one watches)
- Heroes
- The Office
- Smallville
- Two and a Half Men
- Weeds
Favorite New Shows
- Chuck
- Moonlight
- Big Shots (don't think it 's going to last)
Not in Top 10, but still enjoy when I can
- Boston Legal
- Big Love
- Shark
- Without A Trace
- Scrubs
- Nip/Tuck
- Til Death
And the Talent shows (American Idol/ Nashville Star/ America's Got Talent/ Last Comic Standing).. as well as good political commentary shows like Chris
Matthews/ Tim Russert / Bill Mahr, etc…(such an exciting year for these shows w/ this historical election)
MUSIC
Favorite CD's I was playing at home and in my car this year…
Male Singers
Latest by Vince Gill , Michael Buble, Bruce Springsteen, Marty Stuart, John Fogerty, Prince, John Mellencamp, Josh Turner, Dwight Yoakum, Rob Thomas, Brad
Paisley…. Collections by Garth Brooks, Luther Vandross, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Stevie Wonder,Tim McGraw, and you can't beat Mellencamp or Prince's Greatest Hits.
Favorite CD I got last year by male singer… ELLIS PAUL 's "Essentials"…( www.ellispaul.com)-independent singer whose voice moves me.
Female Singers
Latest by Trisha Yearwood, Aretha Franklin, Allison Kraus, LeAnne Rimes, Wynonna, Alicia Keys , Carrie Underwood, anything by Dolly, and I keep going
back to the great collections of Melissa Ethridge, Roberta Flack, Faith Hill, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, and Amy Grant.. Looking forward to new Dolly and
Sheryl Crow soon and think my favorite cd by female this year was Reba's Duet cd.. just wonderful.
Groups
Latest by Bon Jovi, Daugherty, the Eagles, Sugarland, Dixie Chicks, Lloyd Dobler Effect, Volatile Baby and the great collections put out by Matchbox 20, U2,
Dave Matthews Band, Nickel Creek, Santana, and the J. Geils Band ( too much fun) and if I want to put a smile on my face,just put in Queen's Greatest Hits.. what a great cd!
Most fun movie and CD of the year : "HAIRSPRAY " movie and soundtrack .
Favorite script of the year: "Charlie Wilson's War"
Can't wait to see the movie version of "Mamma Mia" and the new "Batman: The Dark Knight "this summer and I have tickets for "Wicked", "Twelve Angry
Men" and "Avenue Q" when they come to Charlotte.
Can't wait!
Hope life is treating you well,
bj
"BOYD'S BEST BETS" … Summer 2007
It's hard for me to believe that it is that time of year again, but this is the week that students return to campus here at Winthrop University so while the calendar
may say that summer is still around for a while, as far as I'm concerned, summer is over. I wanted to look back over the summer and give you my favorites as I reflect on my best bets of Summer 2007.
Movies : It's been a pretty good summer overall as there have been several flicks I've enjoyed. It's been mainly a summer of sequels and most have been worth
catching (Spiderman 3, Ocean's 13, Fantastic Four 2, Shrek 3, Harry Potter 5, Pirates 3, but only 2 sequels are going to make my "Best Bets" of the summer). My
two "honorable mentions" for Boyd's Top 10 for the summer are little movies that came and left theatres quickly but you should check out upon DVD release.
One is Angelina Jolie in "A Mighty Heart" ( yes, you may know how it ends depressingly but her performance was so powerful and I found all the police work
quite involving) and the other is the independent film "Once" about a street performer in Dublin… Both are must see flicks for true moviegoers and while not in
my "Best Bets" of summer, I definitely recommend both to you. Here goes, BJ's Best Bets for Summer 2007 :
In Alphabetical Order…
- The Bourne Ultimatum
.. I loved the books and consider this the thinking man's action series. I've been a Matt Damon / Joan Allen fan for years and
they play off each other so well in this series. I think they have all been well written, acted, and directed and have not gone down in quality as some sequels do,but get better and better each time.
- B ) Hairspray
.. Loved the original 1988 movie , really enjoyed the Broadway production, and was so hoping they'd do it right as this piece has a great
message , great characters, awesome songs, and was hoping this would land in the "Chicago", "Dreamgirls" , "Moulin Rouge" category and it does.
John Travolta had me laughing out loud and the young star playing Tracy is a revelation . Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Amanda
Bynes, Queen Latifih, Brittany Snow, Elijah Kelley, James Marsden, Allison Janey, and the entire cast deserve a standing ovation as this movie is pure
fun from beginning to end while still delivering a very important message about self acceptance as well as challenging society's views of dealing with
people different from the mainstream. I got the soundtrack and it puts a smile on my face every time I hear the songs .. especially " You Can't Stop the Beat !"
- Knocked Up
.. Judd Apatow 's script is a bit crass at times and goes over the line every now and then but this is a funny flick and one that shows a
developing talent that will continually get better w/ time. Not for everyone but it did make me laugh!
- Live Free or Die Hard… This is the second best sequel of the summer as when I saw the previews that Bruce was doing Die Hard 4, I just was not
excited at all. I loved the original but the last 2 installments fell short. This one brings back all the excitement, delivers some unbelievable moments that
are just so out there you applaud their brazenness for attempting it, and it really had an interesting concept. It's about the internet and how much it can /
does control us and what damage could be done if someone took control of it and used it for their own vile interests.
- Ratatouille
… Disney/Pixar does it again.. Great imagry, great characters (especially the food critic) and while I'm not a cook and cannot relate to chefs in a kitchen at all, I found this movie about rats in the kitchen …delightful !!!
- Sicko …
Can't say that I'm a Michael Moore fan but do find his film work thought provoking and worth checking out. I really liked "Bowling for
Columbine" while thought "Farenheit 9/11" was too partisan and one sided. This examination of our health care system is one that I hope many of
America's leaders will watch and respond to as it brings up some good questions for us all. I also like the fact that it is about an issue , not a party, or a
candidate and I hope people on both sides of the aisle will take the time to examine this important issue / film as it will affect us all .
- Stardust
… I loved "The Princess Bride" several years ago and while I won't say this new film is as good as that one, it comes very close. It takes you to
a far away land and introduces us to some memorable characters, takes us on an adventure, throws in some humor, a bit of romance, some suspense, and
is a fun way to spend a couple of hours. This movie is well cast ( Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, Peter O'Toole, Charlie Cox, Rupert
Everett) and very well conceived as there are several stories going on and the way they intersect is quite amusing, original, and fun to see how it will all
play out. Don't miss this film as Hollywood needs quality , unique films like this to succeed so that more of these are made vs. continually being served up sequels all the time.
- Talk to Me…I"ve been a Don Cheadle fan since TV's "Picket Fences" and I think he is one of the more underrated actors as I think he makes any
project he undertakes better by just being in the cast. He plays Petey Greene, the original shock jock, and does it masterfully. He is funny, he is touching
, he is out there, and he is always watchable.. Hopefully this film will find an audience as it is really well done and Don Cheadle shows another side to his amazing talents.
- Transformers…
If you had told me this would be on my list this Spring, I would have bet you money that you were wrong. I didn't grow up in the era
where these toys were popular and I didn't have any desire to see this picture. .. Then I saw the previews and they were much better than expected.. and
then I saw the name .. Steven Spielberg..on the screen as Executive Producer and knew this would be worth my time.. and it was.. From the cast to the
story to the effects to the music, this movie had me in its grips.. It rocks! I know many of my movie fans are probably checking to see what site they are
reading as BJ endorsing "Transformers" doesn't really fit ..but this movie is better than you think it will be and you will be glad you gave it a chance.
- Waitress…
My favorite independent film of the year so far.. Maybe because I didn't have any expectations for this film but went to see because I am an
Andy Griffith fan and was excited to hear he was back working and in this movie. I just loved the quirkiness , the characters, the cinematography, the
music, the cast, the writing, and the unpredictability of the story. I have not spoken to anyone who has given this film a chance that didn't enjoy
themselves. If afterwards, you are not wanting a fresh piece of homemade pie, then we're just not made of the same stuff as this movie should do wonders for local diners that serve delicious homemade desserts.
TV:
This summer , I've enjoyed the 3 talent shows on " America's Got Talent" ( enjoyed last summer more as I knew 3 of the finalists, but there are some worthwhile acts this year as well) and "
So You Think You Can Dance" ( this show just gets better and better each year ) as I am just blown away by the quality and talent of the competitors and wish for all of them a career in dance. I also watch "Last Comic Standing
" but have not been as impressed by the comics this year but still enjoy the show..miss Anthony Clark as MC. As far as scripted series go, the ones I'm watching and enjoying this summer are " Entourage" ( just
gets better and better) , "Big Love" ( I can't believe that a show about pologomy can be so entertaining. A great new show is "Damages" with Glenn Close and
Ted Danson ..very compelling and Denis Leary on "Rescue Me" is one I can't miss . The writing, the characters, the storylines, are so well conceived and it is one of the best ensemble casts on TV. On the BBC, " The Graham Norton Show
" is hysterical and I also enjoy "Inside the Actor's Studio" on Bravo. Looking forward to the return of Showtime's "Weeds" and F/X's "nip/tuck".
MUSIC
: CD's I've been listening to this summer are the latest by Prince, Brad Paisley, Bucky Covington, Volatile Baby, Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Bruce
Springsteen, Wynonna, John Mellencamp, Allison Krauss, Stevie Nicks, Christine Kane, David Lamotte, Daugherty, Dixie Chicks, anything by Dolly, Little Big
Town, Lloyd Dobler Effect, Gwen Stefani, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Elton John, Keith Urban, Bonepony, Chris Young, Sugarland, John Mayer, Billy McLaughlin, and I love the soundtrack to "Hairspray" .
THEATRE :
I have not seen much this summer but did see a revival of "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at Flat Rock Playhouse and really
enjoyed two productions about the Carter family and their effect on music . One was "Wildwood Flowers" in Charlotte at the Performing Arts Center ( just a
blast) and the other was "Keep On the Sunny Side" which played at the Blowing Rock Stage Company. Both were excellent and my good friends in the musical
group Volatile Baby had major roles in each and really did superb jobs in both. Next year, "Wicked" and "Avenue Q" as well as "Twelve Angry Men" are
coming to Charlotte and I am very excited about seeing each of these when they come our way.
ON CAMPUS: We have a great mixture of returning acts that always deliver a great show mixed with some very talented rising stars coming Winthrop's way this fall.
Check out www.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/dsu periodically to see who is coming our way and come visit us and enjoy what we offer the Winthrop community
when you can.
You'll be glad you did. I am fortunate to work with some outstanding student programmers who really strive to produce a quality and entertaining series each year .
I am proud to be a part of the Winthrop community and love being able to present such diverse, entertaining, & educational shows each week. Check out the
site from time to time as it is continuously updated , click on the various links and come join us when you can.
Time to get out of here and get things ready for beginning of the upcoming school year.
This is " BOYD'S BEST BETS" for SUMMER 2007…" FOR WHAT ITS WORTH "
Hope each of you have had a wonderful first few months of 2007.
I know I am really looking forward to this summer's movies as it looks to be one of the best yet. First , let us look back at an overview of Jan-April 2007 and
see what some of the highlights have been so far this year. There have been flicks out that make you laugh ( "Wild Hogs" / "Blades of Glory"), some that were
decent action flicks ( "Shooter"/ " Alpha Dog" / "Smokin' Aces" ) , some that while not awful by any means, I had higher aspirations for considering the talent
within ( "Reign Over Me", " Fracture", " Ghost Rider") and we've had two feel-good movies that probably won't be on any "Best of " lists at end of year but I
enjoyed and came out with that "all is not lost" feeling ( " Pride" , " Freedom Writers"). Two movies that I have yet had chance to see of the first 4 months are "
The Namesake" and " Grindhouse". I hope to catch these before they leave theatre if I can.
My favorites for the first few months of 2007 are : "Amazing Grace" the story behind the anti-slavery movement in Great Britain and also you get a chance to
understand more of the history of the classic hymn and its author... " "Black Snake Moan", a must see for its originality and for an incredible performance by
Samuel L. Jackson and Cristina Ricci..."Breach" .. the true story of the greatest security breach in US history...excellent performances by Chris Cooper and Ryan
Phillipe..."Disturbia", a hip version of the Hitchcock classic "Rear Window" with a star making performance by Shia LeBeouf..."The Lookout" which stars
Joesph Gordon-Levitt who shows us all that he was not just the kid from "3rd Rock from the Sun". His post 3rd Rock films ( "Mysterious Skin", "Latter Days",
"Brick" and now "The Lookout" ) shows he has the chops to be around for quite some time... "The Hoax" , a very enjoyable true story about the scam that
author Clifford Irving pulled on the public as well as the publishers when he got millions for supposedly writing an approved version of Howard Hughes
autobiography. Richard Gere is terrific in lead role... "Miss Potter" is a nice , little, movie about the author of the "Peter Rabbit" tales. Renee Zellwigger and
Ewan McGregor are quite good in this small , interesting movie that unfortunately failed to find its niche at the box-office. Last , but not least this Spring is
"Zodiac" where Robert Downey, Jr, Mark Ruffalo, and Jake Gyenhall all are terrific in this detailed flick showing how the press and law enforcement worked
together and separately to arrest and unveil the infamous Zodiac killer.
I haven't had the chance to see many plays this Spring but was lucky enough to catch " Doubt" on its national tour. What an interesting story and one that
makes you think about it long after you leave theatre. I was also lucky enough to be able to go and enjoy the national tours of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Mamma Mia".
Both were just a great deal of fun and both leaves you smiling big-time when you leave theatre. Coming our way soon to the Charlotte area is " Wicked" ,
"Avenue Q" and the "Sweet Charity" tour with Molly Ringwald. I'm looking forward to all three. A local Charlotte company is presenting presently " The Great
American Trailer Park Musical" which sounds like a hoot. Hoping to catch it very soon as the premise had me laughing out loud. Also being presented in May
is " Wildwood Flowers: The June Carter Cash Musical" which I think will be a good time for all. I am friends with some of the cast members and I look forward to being in audience and enjoying the show.
Musically, these past 4 months, I've been listening to all sorts of cds. Not that they came out during this past Spring but the cds that have most often been in
my cd player at home, work, or in car have been the latest from the following... Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Prince, Teddy Geiger, Marty Stuart, Keith Anderson,
Faith Hill, Travis Tritt, John Mellencamp, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, John Mayer, John Mayer Trio, Little Big Town, Tony Bennett, Vince Gill, Sam Moore, Tim McGraw,
Dolly Parton, Bruce Hornsby, Alison Kraus, Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews Band, Daugherty, Volatile Baby, Sugarland, Bon Jovi, India.Arie, Kellie Pickler, KT
Turnstall, Aaron Neville, Chris Young, Keith Urban, Phil Vassar, and I still am playing Bruce Springsteen's "The Seeger Sessions".
TV has seen a resurgence of good shows as new shows " Brothers and Sisters", "Heroes", " Friday Night Lights" ( which may be the best show on TV that
not enough people are watching) , and "Shark" have all become " must see" shows and get better as time goes on. " The Riches" on F/X has possibilities and of
course great shows such as " Entourage" " 2 1/2 Men" , " Boston Legal", "American Idol", "The Office" , "Scrubs" , "Without a Trace" , "Smallville" and
"Desperate Housewives" are definitely worth keeping up with for sure. I really enjoyed " The Class" on CBS but am afraid it is history but it was a new series
with a shaky start that improved continuously during the course of its run. Looking forward to return of "Weeds" and "nip/tuck" in summer. It will be
interesting to see which shows get saved and which get the ax when fall schedules are announced .
At work, it has been a very very busy year here at Winthrop,and the DSU Program Board I work with has really brought some excellent talent to the Winthrop
community this year. If you are interested in checking out the acts we've presented and also see which the DSU students have voted as their respective favorites, check out www.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/dsu.
Can't wait for summer as the line up of what 's coming between first week of May and Labor Day is just amazing and I'll report back later with my favorites of the summer season.
BOYD'S BEST BETS… BJ'S BEST OF 2006
2006 was a year where there was some really excellent films released. Of the films I saw last year, these were the ones that were my favorites. For
those of you who enjoy films, this might be a good list to keep and check out some of these when they appear on cable, Netflix, at video rental stores, etc.
I'm excited already about 2007 as we get the latest installments of Spider Man, Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Rush Hour, Fantastic
Four, the new Jason Bourne thriller, Oceans 13 as well as getting psyched from previews already playing such as "Across the Universe", "Fracture"
, "The Breach", "Zodiac", "Wild Hogs" , "Shooter", "Reign Over Me", "Grindhouse", "Black Snake Moan".. and the movie adaptation of the Broadway hit " Hairspray" (hoping it will be as good as "Chicago" and "Dreamgirls").
Well, here goes.. Here's my thoughts looking back on the 2006 releases I've enjoyed…
BJ's TOP 5 (in alphabetical order)
- The Departed
- Dreamgirls
- Letters from Iwo Jima
- Little Miss Sunshine
- The Queen
Rounding out my Top 10 (in alphabetical order)
- Babel
- Casino Royale
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Notes on a Scandal
- Thank You For Smoking
Rounding out my Top 20 (# 11-20 in alphabetical order )
- Akeelah and the Bee
- Children of Men
- Clerks 2
- The Illusionist
- Last King of Scotland
- Mission Impossible III
- Monster House
- The Prestige
- The Pursuit of Happyness
- V for Vendetta
Others I enjoyed and worth checking out (in alphabetical order)
- Blood Diamond
- Borat
- Cars
- Down in the Valley
- Eight Below
- Flags of our Fathers
- The Good Shepherd
- The Groomsmen
- The Guardian
- The History Boys
- Idlewild
- An Inconvenient Truth
- Inside Man
- Invincible
- Little Children
- Miami Vice
- The Painted Veil
- The Pink Panther
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- Prairie Home Companion
- United 93
- We Are Marshall
- World Trade Center
- X Men III: The Last Stand
Acclaimed movies that I have not seen that may/may not have made list
- Venus
- Miss Potter
- Pan's Labyrinth
- Sherrybaby
- Volver
Hope you will check out some of these titles and that list might prove useful in some way.
Take care and have a wonderful 2007.
Looking forward to watching Ellen DeGeneres hosting the Academy Awards the night of February 25th !!!
BOYD's BEST BETS… Fall 2007
Fall 2007 has been a really good one in many ways as there have been some quality offerings in a variety of genres. The holiday season always sees many
options coming our way but wanted to look back over the past few months to point out a few of my favorites.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!!
MOVIES
My top ten favorites for the fall were: (in alphabetical order)
- 3:10 to Yuma.. The western is back … Russell Crowe and Christian Bale both are excellent in this throwback to another era. Ben Foster is also quite good
in supporting role. This is a movie that reminds you of the old time Saturday matinees and is one I think people would enjoy if they would just give it a chance.
- Across the Universe.. This is a movie that has inspired moments and some that make you scratch your head, but definitely one to see. It has 33 Beatles
songs within and how they use those to complement the story is very unique and interesting. This is from Julie Taymor who was force behind Broadway's "The Lion King."
- American Gangster… Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, a wonderful supporting cast of characters, and director Ridley Scott... a must see film with a
lot of style and one that does a great job of recreating the era. All the performances are first rate, but Denzel is just terrific as Frank Lucas.
- Dan in Real Life.. When you see an ad for this film and you see that Steve Carrell and Dane Cook are together in a film, you will expect to come and see a
film that will have you laughing out loud repeatedly.. That is not what you get w/ Dan in Real Life. You get a very well thought out story and subdued
performances that feel just right for this script. It will sneak up on you and be a movie that you'll be glad you went to. This movie is a little gem just waiting for folks to discover it.
- Eastern Promises.. This is a really good movie from director David Cronenberg about the Russian mob and has excellent performances by Naomi Watts,
Viggo Mortensen and Armin Mueller-Stahl... Has some scenes where you might need to look away as it can be violent at times, but an interesting story and one of the more interesting films of the year.
- Gone, Baby, Gone... If you say Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris, I'll go to a movie as these two usually make any movie worth watching. This film is Ben
Affleck's debut as a director and you can tell that he has the gift and the touch to be an excellent director. This movie was written by the author of
"Mystic River". Give this movie a chance. You'll be glad you did
- In the Valley of Elah… This movie is worth seeing for the performance by Tommy Lee Jones as the father of an Iraq soldier gone missing. The movie
shows the heartache of the loved ones back home and also contains a brief but effective supporting performance by Susan Sarandon as the soldier's
mother. Not a fun night out on the town, but one that is important to see and experience.
- Into the Wild.. I was wondering how this book would translate into a film and am proud to say, a great deal of care was taken into the making of this
adventure. Emile Hersch is excellent as Chris McCandless and the supporting characters are quite good, especially Hal Holbrook. The cinematography
of this film is outstanding and the way they blended his journal, his adventures, the back story , etc. together to create the film shows it was done w/ a lot of care .
- Lions for Lambs.. Now I know most reviewers did not like this film but I thought it was well cast, had very interesting dialog, brought up many
worthwhile issues, presented various sides of the story, and I think more should give it a chance . I know it may be too much like watching the news but
if you put Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise in a movie, I'm there…and I'm glad I went.. I think it is not a movie for the masses, but for
certain types, you'll eat it up! Give it a try! (I know it is not everyone's kind of film, but I found it mesmerizing)
- We Own the Night.. Another great cast… as I'm fans of Mark Wahlberg, Joacquin Phoenix, and Robert Duvall. It's an interesting story of a police chief
and his 2 sons who have taken different paths in life and while it may be a bit melodramatic and there may be nothing new to the tale, it was one I
enjoyed and was so well written/cast/acted so I definitely think it's a good choice when it comes out for DVD rental!
TV
Haven't been able to check out all the new shows but my favorite is definitely "Chuck" on NBC on Monday nights. It has gotten better and better each week. I
also am enjoying "Moonlight" (CBS Fridays) more than I expected. The one getting all the press is "Pushing Daisies" and I applaud its uniqueness, creativity,
and originality but I 'm not as involved with the premise, storyline, or characters as I am with the others yet. The other one I've been giving a chance is "Big
Shots" as I'm a fan of all 4 of the major characters. It's a bit uneven but I am hoping it gets better as I'd like for it to succeed. Another in this category is "Back to
You"… being a big Kelsey Grammer & Patricia Heaton fan, I just keep wanting this to be better ( they are great, the supporting characters are just not that funny and need pruning or better writing).
My favorite returning shows are still "Friday Night Lights" , "Heroes" (although the second year has not been as strong as the first), " Brothers and Sisters" ,
"Boston Legal", "Desperate Housewives" (much better than past 2 seasons), "The Office", "Scrubs", " Shark", "Til Death", "Without a Trace", and " 2 ˝ Men"
.
On cable, we had the excellent "Damages", "Entourage" , and "Weeds" and still have "nip/tuck" and 'Brotherhood" . If not checking out the great offerings not
on major networks, you are missing some of the best TV out there, so check these shows out when you can.
Broadway
This fall has seen "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "The Rat Pack is Back" come Charlotte's way. Both were better than I was expecting. Looking forward to rest of
our series when "Wicked" makes its Charlotte debut and I'll also get to see "Twelve Angry Men", "Wedding Singer" , "Avenue Q" and the return of "Stomp".
Music
Many great CDs are out there and you know whether it's recent or not, I've always got a Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, or John Mellecamp cd close by. But
those I've gotten in past several months that I've really enjoyed are the latest by Josh Turner, Trisha Yearwood, Dwight Yoakam, Eagles, Martin Sexton, Ellis Paul, Sugarland, Bon Jovi,
Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley, Reba ( duets), Marty Stuart, Annie Lenox, Sam Moore, John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, and still playing latest by John Mayer.
Some wonderful Greatest Hits have come out in past year by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, J. Geils Band, Garth Brooks, Santana, Nickel Creek, Allison
Krauss, Kim Richey, Alanis Morisette, Amy Grant, Matchbox 20, Sara Evans, and Eric Clapton.
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and I 'll return early 2008 to give you my thoughts on the latest offerings.
Take care…
"For What's It's Worth" – Boyd Jones
Check out what DSU is bringing to Winthrop by linking to www.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/dsu
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