Best of Everything: Entertainment

Part Three in today's Best of Series caps off with Entertainment . . .music at bottom of post as well.

Best Film of 2005: Good Night, and Good Luck



With GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, George Clooney delivers a riveting account of a crucial chapter in 20th Century American history and, in the process, firmly establishes himself as a major force behind the camera as well. The crisply paced, tautly scripted docudrama recounts the events of the mid-1950s leading up to acclaimed CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow’s (David Strathairn) decision to stand up against fiery Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was out to rid the country of communism. McCarthy’s seemingly reckless behavior, in which he condemned individuals without giving them a fair trial, angered Murrow and his producer Fried Friendly (Clooney) into action. The resulting few episodes of Murrow’s show, “See it Now,” found Murrow on a personal, patriotic crusade to challenge McCarthy and rid America of his callous persecution.

Set almost entirely inside the smoke-filled, pressurized newsrooms at CBS, Clooney’s assured picture moves at a breakneck pace. Cinematographer Robert Elswit miraculously recreates the black-and-white look of that era, giving the film an added air of legitimacy. And while Clooney and co-screenwriter/producer Grant Heslov wisely chose to use stock footage of McCarthy instead of finding an actor to fill his shoes, they couldn’t have found a better Murrow than in Strathairn, who delivers his lines with heroic conviction. Clooney’s stellar ensemble cast also includes Ray Wise, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, and Frank Langella.

"Masterfully crafted, wonderfully acted, and an undeniably cutting commentary on fear in the 50s that resonates even louder today."
-- John Venable, SUPERCALA.COM

"The best film of the year. More important, it's one of the most patriotic movies ever made."
-- Joe Williams, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Runner Up: Capote

Philip Seymore Hoffman is the shit. Enough said.

Must See: Brokeback Mountain, The Chronicles of Narnia, Syriana, Munich (might be spectacular), The Squid and the Whale, Crash, King Kong, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Memoirs of a Geisha

Underdog pick for Best of 2006: Manderlay

Lars Von Trier, who directed one of the best movies I've ever seen, Dogville, is back with a film called Manderlay. It is 1933, in Alabama. Manderlay is a plantation where a group of people are living as if slavery hadn't been abolished 70 years earlier. Upon leaving Dogville in 1933, Grace and her father head far south to the state of Alabama where they arrive upon the bizarre place.

Best Television Show of 2005: The Office

Without a doubt The Office was my hands down favorite of 2005 for its sheer witty humor and extreme awkwardness that really captured everyone's hearts, including ours here at Veritas Lux Mea. I just have one question though, will Pam and Jim every hook up, and would it ruin the show if they did?

A fly-on-the-wall “docu-reality” parody about modern American office life, “The Office” delves into the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell, “The Daily Show,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Bruce Almighty”) is a single, middle-aged man who is the boastful tour guide for the documentary.

With unshaken enthusiasm, Michael believes he is the office funnyman, a fountain of business wisdom and his employees’ cool friend. He has no clue that his employees tolerate his inappropriate behavior only because he signs their paychecks. Painstakingly trying to be liked and look cool, Michael comes off alternately absurd and pathetic. His prize possession is his “World’s Greatest Boss” mug -- which he had to buy for himself.

Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer, “Miss Match”) is the reasonable and friendly office receptionist who bears the brunt of Michael’s routines. The bright spots in Pam’s day are her conversations with Jim Halpert (John Krasinski, “Kinsey”), a likable sales rep with a good sense of humor who should have found a better job years ago, but is too comfortable with his office mates and routine to leave.

Jim shares his working space with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson, “Six Feet Under”), the arrogant assistant to the regional manager. Dwight is intensely irritating to normal people while Jim spends a lot of time finding new, interesting ways to drive Dwight crazy.

Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak, “Punk’d”) is a young, smart, self-possessed temp, who quickly figures out the real office politics despite Michael’s attempts to instill the official point-of-view.

“The Office” is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein.

Runner up: Arrested Development









It was really hard for me to choose between The Office and Arrested Development, but because I've managed to catch all of The Office episodes and it's not being canceled, I had to give it the nudge this year.

Arrested Development is another show that really captures the whole awkward comedy niche that The Office and shows like Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm play into.

The Emmy Award-winning comedy series ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT revolves around MICHAEL BLUTH (Jason Bateman), the “normal” one in a family of crazies, who is forced to stay in Orange County and run the family real estate business after his father, GEORGE BLUTH SR. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for shifty accounting practices. While George Sr. spent the last year in the slammer discovering his newfound Judaism and recording inspirational tapes, Michael spent it picking up the pieces and trying to teach his offbeat family how to live without an endless expense account. All the while, Michael has also been trying to do right by his 14-year-old son, GEORGE MICHAEL (Michael Cera), an earnest kid who works diligently at the family’s frozen banana stand.

The Bluths are led by manipulative matriarch LUCILLE BLUTH (Jessica Walter), a socialite who is as icy as her martinis. Then there’s the oldest son, GOB (Will Arnett), a womanizer and struggling magician (sorry, “illusionist”) whose biggest trick will be to make a real job appear. The youngest brother is BUSTER (Tony Hale), a neurotic professional grad student and glorified mama’s boy (he spent 11 months in the womb).
The Bluth siblings are rounded out by cause-obsessed sister LINDSAY (Portia de Rossi), who is married to the hapless TOBIAS (David Cross), a doctor-turned-actor who might get more work if he wasn’t a self-proclaimed “never-nude.” Lindsay and Tobias are the ultra-permissive parents of MAEBY (Alia Shawkat), a 14-year-old who loves finding unique ways to rebel against their overindulgence.

Luckily, it looks like Arrested Development might find a new, better home.

Honorable Mention: The Daily Show

Best Sports Show: Pardon the Interruption

Best Cooking Show: Food 911 with Tyler Florence

Suffering from food dilemmas? Food 911 to the rescue. From kitchen chaos to deflated souffle from lacking time to lacking thyme, each week chef Tyler Florence has an easy and enjoyable solution. So the next time your turkey catches fire, tune your television dial to Food 911.

Best Show of 2006: Scrubs

My nomination for Best Show of '06 is Scrubs, which comes back January 3rd with new episodes that are sure to be blockbusters. Here's what's on tap:

MY INTERN'S EYES
9pm 2006-01-03 ALL NEW!

DR. COX PUTS J.D.'S SKILLS AS AN ATTENDING TO THE TEST- J.D. (Zach Braff) struggles with decision-making and responsibility now that he is an attending physician, all the while Dr. Cox (John McGinley) is testing his skills. And while Elliot (Sarah Chalke) is learning the ropes in her new hospital, she still feels more comfortable hanging out at Sacred Heart. Meanwhile, Carla (Judi Reyes) is ready to have a baby, but Turk (Donald Faison) afraid of moving forward continues to slip her birth control pills. Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn also star. TV-14

MY RITE OF PASSAGE
9:30pm 2006-01-03

SECRETS AND LIES - J.D. (Zach Braff) questions the bond he has with his interns when Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) tells him that inevitably he will begin treating them badly, as it has been throughout history at the hospital. The Janitor (Neil Flynn) further complicates matters by telling J.D. that his interns only laugh at his jokes to suck up to him. Meanwhile, Carla (Judy Reyes) visits Elliot (Sarah Chalke) at her new job and inadvertently creates an awkward new nickname for her friend when she tells her colleagues an embarrassing story. Elsewhere, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) prevents Turk (Donald Faison) from warning Jordan (Christa Miller) about a notorious con man patient (guest star Alexander Chaplin) in hopes that she’ll be mortified and quit.

Music

Veritas Lux Mea's Buildup to the Falldown Mix

Stereolab - "Lo Boob Oscillator" (French)
The Faint - "Agenda Suicide"
Elliott Smith - "Georgia"
Neutral Milk Hotel - "Oh Comely"
The Killers - "Everything Will Be Alright"
System of a Down - "Kill Rock and Roll"
Scissor Sisters - "Mary" (Junkie XL Radio Edit)
Calexico - "Black Heart"
Babyshambles - "Killamangiro"
Supergrass - "Moving"
Jamiroquai - "Love Blind"
The White Stripes - "Blue Orchid"
Royksopp - "Only This Moment"

Some PANIC! At the Disco:

PANIC! At the Disco - "It's Time to Dance"
PANIC! At the Disco - "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage"
PANIC! At the Disco - "Build God, and Then We'll Talk"
PANIC! At the Disco - "Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking off Her Clothes"
PANIC! At the Disco - "Relax, Relapse"

See you tomorrow for the Best Of Everything Series Finale: Music and Best of 2005