Sad Love Story

Which sad love story left the deepest impression on you? DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, THE WAY WE WERE... TITANIC are three that deeply affected me.

Why is that? Why do some books/movies tug harder at our heartstrings than others? I believe it is because they involve us until we absorb the characters - in a sense becoming them, thinking their thoughts, feeling their anguish.

Drawn into their world, we forget our own for a while and live in another's skin. This has especial potency if their life is colorful and exciting, as fictional lives tend to be. And if that is true for the reader, how much more true might it be for the writer?

Many authors have described reaching the end of a manuscript as a kind of bereavement. Suddenly, the characters exist in their own right. Their story is told and they can now stand alone, abandoning their creator.

A sad day, but also a happy one, for the work is done. The romantic novel has at last been written. No longer a work in progress, it has taken on a life of its own. Where will it go? Who will find it and read it... and share in the feelings of the people populating its pages?

Of course the hope is that it will reach a wide audience and that the enforced isolation of the writing process has been in a good cause. Otherwise, why write? Then again, it sometimes seems as if there is no option but to release the plot churning round and round in one's head!

Where does the plot come from? That depends of course on who the author is and where they look for inspiration. Victoria Wood, true genius that she is with words - whether these be written, spoken or sung - seems to find hers everywhere. She writes from life as she sees it and while her work is usually funny it can also be very poignant and moving.

Joanna Trollope is such a wonderful observer of human behavior that her 'aga sagas' give a great insight into contemporary life, and when she writes as Caroline Harvey her historical novels too have the absolute ring of truth. Joanna's plots are found in the present, Caroline's in the past, yet both are essentially from the same source! One can only marvel at such versatility.

While writing recently with a sad love story theme, I had the strange experience of the characters totally taking over from me. I had created them (or so I believed) and yet from a fairly early stage they seemed to be making their own choices and leaving me simply to record these! At times I was even shocked by their wayward behavior and felt I should perhaps rein them in...

I wondered whether my grandmother was in any sense responsible for this phenomenon. You see, back when I was a child at her knee she told me that some day she'd like me to write her life story. Long after she had died I recalled her wish and set out to fulfill it. But having too vivid an imagination to be a biographer (and in any event she was no longer there to answer my questions), I decided to take a tiny thread from her life and embroider it lavishly into a work of pure fiction.

So did she help me from beyond the grave while I was writing about a charismatic actress who had inexplicably abandoned the London stage for a bizarre castle in Czechoslovakia? My firm belief is that she did.

READ MORE - Sad Love Story

Facts About Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton's full name is: Paris Whitney Hilton.

Paris Hilton is the oldest child of four. Paris Hilton has a sister Nicky Hilton, a brother Barron Hilton and another brother Conrad Hilton.

Paris Hilton was born on the 17th of February 1981 (placing her under the star sign of Aquarius) - she was born in New York City in the United States of America.

Incredibly Paris Hilton's natural eye colour is brown. Paris Hilton actually wears contact lenses to change her natural eye colour of brown to blue.

Paris Hilton had her own reality tv show with on/off best friend Nicole Ritchie. Paris Hilton's reality tv show "The Simple Life" has so far produced five season's. It is believed at this stage there will be another season of "The Simple Life".

Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail for driving under the influence and driving on a suspended licence (from a previous driving under the influence charge) but Paris's jail sentence was later reduced to just 23 days in jail. Paris Hilton served 3 days of her 23 day jail sentence under home arrest.

While Paris Hilton was in jail it was estimated that she received over 20,000 fan mail letters. Paris Hilton was quick to respond to her fan base with a handwritten photocopied letter and sent each fan an autographed photo of herself.

Paris Hilton's mother Kathy Richards was an actress.

Paris Hilton has starred in movies such as: The House of Wax, Pledge This and Zoolander.

Paris Hilton is well known for her saying "That's Hot". In the year 2004 Paris Hilton trademarked her saying "That's hot".

Paris Hilton has also begun her own singing career. Some of her tracks include: Turn It Up, Fightin' Over Me, Stars are Blind, I Want You, Turn You On, Do You Think I'm Sexy, Screwed, Nothing In This World and Heartbeat.

Paris Hilton is the daughter of Rick Hilton - from "Hilton" hotels.

READ MORE - Facts About Paris Hilton

Child's Play (1988)

The killer doll subgenre was rejuvenated in 1988 when Tom Holland (Fright Night) and United Artists unleashed sneering, red-headed Good Guy doll Chucky upon the world in Child's Play. The film reteams director Holland (whose direction here is very solid and stylish) with Fright Night star Chris Sarandon and is based on a Don Mancini script that, like Fright Night's, is scary and funny at the same time and pokes some good-natured fun at '80s horror films in general.

With a $9,000,000 budget, the film was anything but cheap to make but grossed an impressive $44,000,000 theatrically worldwide, marking it as a huge success that has spawned (to date) four direct sequels and a number of imitators like Dolly Dearest, Puppet Master, Demonic Toys and Pinocchio's Revenge. The terrific Stuart Gordon film Dolls actually preceeded the release of Child's Play by about a year and wasn't a success with mainstream audiences, but I imagine both Dolls and Child's Play (which are rather different from each other in tone and thematically) nonetheless helped to usher in the popularity of the evil doll subgenre during the late '80s and early '90s.

Child's Play opens with late-night chase and shootout down an empty Chicago alley, with serial strangler Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) being pursued on foot by armed cop Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), who tries valiantly to pump a few bullets into the notorious murderer from afar and misses at first, but finally manages to lodge one into Ray's back, mortally wounding him. Bleeding Ray shoots through the door of a closed toy store with his own weapon and ducks into the building, weaving surreptitiously between the aisles of merchandise as Norris follows him inside.

Knowing he's dying, Ray grabs the nearest Good Guy doll, a popular talking battery-powered kids doll, and by reciting a macabre incantation transfers his soul into that of the plastic toy just seconds before the occult ritual causes a massive explosion in the store strong enough to bust out the windows and send toys flying in every direction. Norris is unhurt and soon finds Ray's lifeless human body lying next to the cute doll and thinks that the so-called Lakeshore Strangler's reign of murder has been put to rest.

Soon after Ray's "death", hard-working single mom Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) buys the very same doll -- from a peddler in an alley behind the mall where she works -- as a birthday present for her 6-year-old son Andy (Alex Vincent), who couldn't be happier when he tears open the wrapped gift and discovers he now has the fantasy of every boy in America -- a Good Guy named "Chucky", a doll with a shock of fire engine red hair and clad in blue overalls that can walk and talk and provide hours of enjoyment for a lonely child. But after Karen has to work late one night and has friend and coworker Maggie (Dinah Manoff) babysit Andy, who winds up mysteriously falling to her death from the top-floor window of the apartment, Andy informs his worried mother and -- by sheer coincidence -- investigating cop Mike Norris that Chucky is alive and capable of human thought.

No one believes him, of course, and the very day after Maggie dies, Andy skips school under the direction of his new plastic friend and takes the city bus into the Chicago ghetto, to an abandoned house where Chucky knows double-crossing ex-cronie Eddie Caputo (Neil Giuntoli) squats. Andy waits outside while Chucky sneaks into the house and turns on the curiously working gas oven on in the rat-infested kitchen while Caputo sleeps upstairs... and next thing you know, the house is in flames with the homeless Caputo roasted inside.

The cops find Andy and his creepy doll at the scene of the fire and take him into custody, and the boy continues babbling his mad stories about Chucky being alive and threatening to kill him if he ever tells anyone the doll is alive. Karen is devastated when Andy is promptly thrown into a psychiatric children's hospital for observation, but she soon discovers for herself when she brings the doll home that Chucky is indeed alive... and to make matters worse, the plastic fiend is determined to transfer his soul into Andy's body before he is trapped in the body of a Good Guy doll forever.

Veteran actress Catherine Hicks makes a smashing horror film debut as sacrificing mom Karen Barclay, and Chris Sarandon is likewise very strong as determined cop Mike Norris. Dinah Manoff proves once again she's a great character actress playing the spirited but ill-fated Maggie. Brad Dourif was already regarded as a terrific actor by the time the film was made, but Chucky became his most famous role nevertheless. Apart from the opening scene, his performance is delivered off-screen, and his work remains some of the most impassioned voice acting in film history right up there with Mercedes McCambridge's stunning voice work on The Exorcist. Jack Colvin of TV's incredible Hulk fame plays Dr. Ardmore, the head psychiatrist at the mental institution where Andy is detained and gets his brains fried by Chucky via electric shock. Kevin Yagher's puppet effects are very cutting edge for their day and breathe life into the frightening Chucky.

READ MORE - Child's Play (1988)

nterview With Comedienne Fran Capo

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel & Bookpleasures is delighted to have as a guest, Fran Capo.

Fran is quite a "cool person," as she is an eight-time author, humorist, voiceover artist, comedienne, adventurer, actress, freelance writer and keynote motivational speaker. She also holds the Guinness Book Worlds Record for the Fastest Talking Female.

Recently, Fran accomplished another amazing feat as the first and only author to ever do a book signing on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa with the release of her book "Adrenaline Adventures: Dream it, Read it, Do it!"

Good day Fran and thank you for agreeing to participate in our interview for Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com.

Norm:

Could you tell our audience something about yourself and how you became involved in your various occupations?

Fran:

Sure Norm, first let me say its great to be here, and I thank you for having me on as a guest.

Since you mentioned a bunch of the things I did up front, I guess I'll start with how I became a stand up comic, as this was my first entry into the entertainment world.

In school I was known for my sense of humor and some of my classmates suggested a career as a stand-up comic. This had me thinking as to how life would be as a stand-up comic, and I started to watch comics on TV, comedy clubs, listening to comedy albums, etc. I said to myself, I could do this. I asked God to give me the right sign if I should do comedy.

Two occurrences happened that were my go ahead signs. One, when someone turned around in a movie lineup and complimented me on my sense of humor, after hearing me crack jokes to my friends. He suggested I audition for the Comic Strip. Another happened at a car convention, where a fortune- teller analyzed my handwriting and told me I had a good sense of humor and use it to make money.

I eventually did audition at a club called Creighton and Gray's Comedy Room that was very near my home, with material given to me by my friend Barry, who was in my acting class at the time. This was my first success as a stand up comedienne and I received a standing ovation as well as $10. I was a mini-local celebrity, with rave press reviews. I spent the next 15 years of my career figuring out ways to get in print, on radio and television.

Norm:

What is this about- the holding of the "Guinness Book Worlds Record for the Fastest Talking Female?"

Fran:

Well the stand-up comedy gig lead to my fast-talking by accident. My philosophy is just always say yes and figure it out after how I am going to do something.

My stand up landed me a job doing weather and traffic at a radio station WBLS-FM in New York. I was doing it as this comedy character June East (Mae West's long-lost sister). One day, Dinah Prince, a reporter from the Daily News called and said she wanted to do an article on me. When she had finished interviewing me for the article, she asked-What are you planning to do next?

Next? Well at the time there was nothing I was planning on doing next, so I asked her what she meant, stalling for time. She said she really wanted to follow my career. Here was a woman from The Daily News telling me she was interested in me! So I thought I'd better tell her something.

What came out was, "I'm thinking about breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for the Fastest Talking Female." The newspaper article came out the next day, and she included my parting remarks about trying to break the world's Fastest-Talking Female record. At about 5:00 P.M. that afternoon, I received a call from CNN asking me to go on the Larry King Live Show. They wanted me to try to break the record. They told me they would send a limo to pick me up at 8:00. That was only three hours. Talk about pressure!

I had never heard of Larry King Live, and when I heard the woman say she was from a Manhattan Channel, I thought, "Hmmm that's a porn channel, right?" She patiently assured me that it was a respectable national television show and that this was a one-time offer and opportunity - it was either that night or not at all.

I managed to find a replacement for a gig I had in New Jersey. I next sat down to figure out what on earth I was going to do on the show. I called Guinness to find out what the rules were to break a fast-talking record. They told me I would have to recite something from either Shakespeare or the Bible. Suddenly, I started saying the ninety-first Psalm, a prayer for protection that my mom had taught me. Shakespeare and I had never really gotten along, so I figured the Bible was my only hope. I practiced over and over again, timing myself with a stop- watch to see how fast I could do it. I was both nervous and excited at the same time.

At 8:00, the limousine picked me up. I practiced the entire way there, and by the time I reached the New York studio I felt as if my tongue was going to fall off. I asked the producer, "What happens if I don't break the record?' She replied, "Larry doesn't care if you break it or not. He just cares that you try it on his show first." So I asked myself, What's the worst thing that can happen? I'd look like a fool on national television! A minor thing, I could live through that. Then I asked myself , And what happens if I break the record?" Now that would be great.

I decided just to give it my best shot, and I did. I broke the record, becoming the World's Fastest Talking Female by speaking 585 words in one minute in front of a national television audience. (I broke it again two years later at the Guinness Museum in Vegas with 603 words per minute.) My career took off.

Norm:

Why did you want to have a book signing on Mount Kilimanjaro, and could you describe to us a little about your experience, particularly your voyage up to its summit, and how did you plan for it? Were you ever afraid?

Fran:

Again, it goes back to my basic philosophy's...of seize the day...and just going after things with a passion. I was actually researching a chapter in my book Adrenaline Adventures: Dream it, Read it, Do it. I read that an 83- year old women climbed Kilimanjaro. So I figured if she could do it, so could I.

I enlisted my son, Spencer into the effort, contacted a top outfit, CorbetBishopsafaris.com in Africa (the same guy that lead the IMAX movie team up the mountain.)

Then I figured if I was going to train, climb and do this feat, I might as well make it memorable at the top. So I decided to do a book signing up there, I managed to get two sponsors, my publisher Authorhouse and Snickers Marathon Energy Bars.

It took us 7 days to summit, going through 5 climate zones. The night of summit we were woken up at 11 PM, it was unseasonably cold. Minus 15 degrees and 45 mph winds, our camelbacks froze, and you felt like sleeping while standing up.

It took us 18 hours to get up over and down to camp. It was the hardest thing I've ever done (and this is coming from someone who has run the marathon, flown combat aircraft, rode a bike non stop for 100 miles, driven race car, dove with sharks etc...(all of which are talked about in Adrenaline Adventures of course.)

But after Spencer and I climbed it was such a feeling of accomplishment. Plus I had wanted to do it now, since global warming will melt the ice caps by 2015 if not sooner.

The picture of me doing the book signing circulated around the world, and it led to Brian Day O'Conner (Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Conner's son) contacting me.

I am now raising sponsorship money to go down in a two-person submersible to the Titanic with Mr. O'Conner. My publisher, Authorhouse, Ripley's Believe it or Not (Planet Eccentric) and GoldenPalace.com the #1 online casino, so far have jumped on board as sponsors. (You can read all about it on my website under sponsorship.)

While down there I am going to be doing a memorial service for the titanic passengers, saying a non-denominational maritime prayer direct from a Navy Chaplain. Did I mention I am also an ordained minister? Yup, became one so I could do this the right way.

Norm:

Which one of your occupations do you find the most enjoyable and why?

Fran:

Wow, that's a hard one, because I really enjoy all that I do. I love making people laugh, so stand up feels great. I hopefully make people forget their problems at least for that night.

I love inspiring people, so I get a real kick out of doing my keynote motivational talk for people called, "Dare to Do it!" Especially when they come up to me and hug me, or when I get an email that they went out and did something they've always wanted to do because they, "Dared to do it."

I love doing my adventures, because it challenges me personally and makes life exciting.

I love writing, so nine books later it feels awesome to see my books in store windows, on websites, and especially when I catch someone reading it on the bus or subway.

I just love communicating with people. As long as I am making them laugh or inspiring them, I'm happy.

Norm:

Please tell us something about your most recent book Hopeville: the City of Light.

Fran:

The Hopeville book, came to me in a strange way, just like the comedy did. It's a story about four people that on the same night pray for light in the world, because they are discouraged. An angel of light appears to each of them and tells them a secret of how to change their town. Each of them does it in his/her own way...and finally after the people see the light, the town is forever changed. It's a book of hope, light and following your dreams. But like I said the book came to me in a very strange way.

Norm:

Could you tell our audience about some of your other travel adventures? Which one up to now has been the most exciting, and why?

Fran:

Well, I've done 50 different adventures, ranging from mild to wild; I mentioned some before but others like flying a helicopter, doing the luge, the polar bear plunge, rock repelling, biking down a volcano, going in a deprivation tank etc.

They all give you an adrenaline rush in a different way. Mind you, I'm usually scared when I do all of them...its just that I have a philosophy of "FEAR NOTHING, but if you do, do it anyway." See all of us have fear, the key is some of us let it paralyse us, while others use it as the spark for the engine. As far as hardest it was definitely climbing Kilimanjaro. As far as a rush; my four favorites Skydiving, driving racecars, cavern diving and snorkeling with manatees. Okay who am I kidding, I really love them all, except maybe the glass blowing...I wasn't too thrilled with that. But my fiancée loved it...so everybody's different.

The cool thing about the book though is it has adventures that you can't find in other travel books. Plus it has 50 motivational quotes, 50 funny adventure stories, and 50 "Adventure at a glance" pages that tell you all the details so you can do the adventure if you are so inspired.

Norm:

Could you tell us how you go about marketing your books?

Fran: I do many things. First, realize that writing the book is usually the easiest part. Getting people to know about it is the real challenge. And the key is YOU as the writer needs to do most of the legwork.

· Okay, so I send out galley copies to newspapers before the book comes out.

· I send press releases to radio stations, mag. Etc. Using my hook as a fast talker to catch their attention.

· I set up some kind of publicity event so that my book stands out.

· I have a bookstore on my website.

· I carry a box of books in my car at all times. I once sold a book on top of the Sydney Bridge in Australia, thus getting the phrase from my fiancée, "No one's safe."

· I set up book signings. · I contact local media.

· I mention the books at all my speaking engagements and comedy gigs.

· I do interviews like this to let people know about my books · I link with other sites that have readers that may be interested in my books.

· I offer my books to charity's for fundraising events.

Norm:

Has the Internet boosted your career and if so, how?

Fran:

Absolutely. I'd say 90% of my speaking engagements come to me from my website. Usually people will be searching comedian, fast talker, or motivational speaker and my name pops up.

Also, I notice when I do radio shows and mention the website I get a lot of requests that way as well. I think it is essential for every business person these days to have a easily navigatable website.

Norm:

How do you want the world to remember Fran Capo? (I know you are not leaving us just now!)

Fran:

She lived life the way she wanted to...with love, with laughter, with passion and never took no for an answer. She used up all God gave her, and tried to inspire people to do the same.

Norm:

Is there anything else you care to add that we have not covered?

Fran:

Yes, remember-Live everyday as if it's your last, and one day you'll be right.

And of course what kind of marketing author would I be if I did not mention the following: I have a newsletter that keeps people updated on the Capo happenings, simply called, CAPO UPDATES. Anyone interested can go to my website and ask to be on the list.

And of course if you would like to be part of the world record event at the titanic...the sponsorship information is available at my website. Thanks so much Norm, I hope your readers enjoy the interview.

Norm Goldman is the Editor of bookpleasures.com & sketchandtravel.com. The former is a book reviewing site comprising over 25 international prestigious reviewers. The latter is a travel site where Norm and his artist wife, Lily, meld words with art.

READ MORE - nterview With Comedienne Fran Capo

Books That Became Great Movies And Vice Versa

Who does not love a great movie? These days movies are probably more popular as a form of entertainment than reading (I say probably because I still want to believe that the world chooses reading first!). At least us book lovers out there can rest assured that the stories, the really good ones that we could not put down, are often being turned into equally great movies! For example, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood written by Rebecca Wells is charming, funny, and devastatingly honest about alcoholism and how it affects a childs life all the way into adulthood. Sidda and Vivis tumultuous relationship is easy to imagine and easier to root for a happy ending. This is a book worth reading as well as continuing on to read the titles spun off of it (Little Altars Everywhere and Ya-Yas in Bloom).

The movie is just as good. Of course, as any true Harry Potter fan will tell you, it is IMPOSSIBLE to include all the good parts of book in the movie version. The best we can hope for is a good rendition of our beloved story. Well, the Ya-Ya movie does its mother creation justice! Sandra Bullock is perfectly cast as Sidda, the jaded but good natured daughter. And never was there a better Vivi than Ashley Judd (young woman) and Ellen Burstyn. These two actresses flawlessly turn Vivi into a loveable, horrible mother whom we cheer on till the very end. Finally the movie would not be complete without James Garners sweet portrayal of Shep Walker.

So you see, it is possible. Great books CAN turn into great movies! Of course, there are the times where a great book is totally butchered (A Series of Unfortunate Events anyone?) but that is a conversation for another time.

READ MORE - Books That Became Great Movies And Vice Versa

Stacy Dillsen From Zoey 101 And Her Lisping Followers

Abby Wilde's real name is Miriam Dauermann (aka Stacy Dillsen of Zoey 101), and is an American actress and singer. She was born on in San Francisco, California. When she was six years old, she became interested in acting, and enrolled in an acting class, together with her brothers at their local YMCA.

Abby Wilde is well known for her role as Stacy Dillsen on the popular show Zoey 101. She appeared in seasons three and four of the show. Stacy Dillsen appeared in 31 of the 39 episodes of seasons three and four combined. Stacy Dillsen has a very pronounced lisp, meaning she struggles with s's. Kids worldwide love to imitate her lisp. In Zoey 101, she is always haunted by bad luck. Some of her famous quotes/songs/noises are...

1. She counts out 10 cotton swabs as "one Mississippi, two Mississippi, etc all the way up to 10 Mississippi" with her lisp exaggerated.

2. She makes a strange sort of "grunting" noise when something happens to her

3. Her character is famous for short song about sassafras tea which goes "You can sip it in the morning, sip it in the evening, even at a quarter to three, cause I like sassafras, you like sassafras, we all like sassafras tea".

Zoey 101 is an American tv series. It stars Jamie Lynn Spears who plays a teenager by the name of Zoey Brooks. It was produced for Nickelodeon. It ran from January 2005 to May 2008. The show received a nomination for an "Outstanding Children's Program" Emmy in 2005.

Nickelodeon has released boxed sets of all four seasons dvds, as well as other merchandise around the tv series.

Abby Wilde's interests/hobbies include making films, doing charity work, making YouTube videos of herself playing ukulele/ranting about not getting a part in a Noel Coward play. She also enjoys include knitting, gardening, Shakespeare, improv comedy, thunderstorms, yoga, reading, Greek mythology and musical theatre.

Many people ask her if she talks like Stacy Dillsen from Zoey 101 in real life. She explains she does not talk like that in real life, that she was asked to put on a lisp to play her character, so she found someone with a lisp and copied them. She says speaking with a lisp is easy. Videos of her can be found on the internet speaking as she does in real life, proving her lisp is only part of her Stacy Dillsen character.

READ MORE - Stacy Dillsen From Zoey 101 And Her Lisping Followers

My 2010 Movie Awards

So, we have finally closed the book on 2010. Now, as we transition into the new year, this is when most people reflect back on the year before. In the movie world, this is also when critics and movie lovers take the time to review the past year. Not to mention, this is awards season. With the Critics' Choice Awards in just a couple of weeks and the Oscars less than two months ago, suffice to say the red carpet is officially out.

Today, I'm going to throw myself into that very ring as we bring you Couch Potato Club's 2010 Movie Awards. Up front, though, I would like to go ahead and say, I'm going to do this different than those big award shows. For one, you'll see some of the typical categories, but likewise there will be some off-beat ones. Also, call me crazy, but I believe the biggest factor in judging a movie is its entertainment value. Granted all of the other little facets of making a movie help to make a movie better, however I believe entertainment succeeds a movie's technical prowess in order to define whether it is good or not. So, you won't be seeing me awarding these "artsy" movies just because of their "cinematic achievement" (whatever the hell that is). Instead, I'll be judging on good ole entertainment value (with acting, story, etc. playing factors).

So, without further ado, here are the winners of the first annual Couch Potato Club Movie Awards.

Best Film: Inception

For me this came down to Inception and Black Swan. I've honestly spent days mulling it over in my head which would be my movie of the year. However, in the end, Inception wins out. Inceptionwas also perfect in a sense. With intelligent writing, good acting, fun action, great cinematography and so on and so on, the movie proved to be awesome style with great substance. Nolan proved once again here why he is one of (if not THE) most sought after filmmakers today. A narrative genius. After watching this movie, it made me realize what a god-send Nolan is to Hollywood really. Everybody in Hollywood should be taking notes. This is exactly how a blockbuster movie should be done. Let's not kid ourselves, blockbuster action movies will continue to be the bread and butter of Hollywood for some time to come. While this is alright, the problem usually lies in that they're so shallow and cliche and just "eh". They usually just rely on cool action sequences and awesome looking special effects. Not Inception, though. This movie provides all that, but then actually brings substance to that style giving us an engaging and mind-bending/intelligent storyline to go with it. This perfect blend makes Inception my movie of the year.

Best Actor: James Franco - 127 Hours

I've said it before and I'll say it again: you want to test the merit of an actor? Throw him in a movie where he is pretty much the only one ever on-screen and he has to carry the entire movie himself. Where the whole weight of the entire movie rests most assuredly on his shoulders. Will he shine? Will he crumble? This is the test. Others have proven themselves in the same way (Will Smith, Tom Hanks). And truly I believe this (and the "retard role") is one of the biggest ways to test an actor and see if he's one of the greats. So, enter James Franco and 127 Hours. Playing a mountain climber that gets trapped under a boulder and is all alone, Franco is left to carry an entire film on his own. Does he succeed? Damn right he does. With flying colors at that. Keeping it interesting, conveying a range of emotions throughout the film and sucking you in all on his own, Franco clearly shows he had the mettle to tackle such a daunting task and come out on top. For that reason, he's my actor of the year.

Best Actress: Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Natalie's performance in the Aronofsky psychological thriller is absolutely brilliant. Her best work to-date in my opinion. Playing a role that requires her to eventually transition from sweet little naive princess girl to girl-gone-wild (in a dark side kinda way), she hits every beat without missing a step. I believe the biggest factor for a good actor/actress is range. Anybody can shine in a part that was just made for them (in line with their natural persona), but range and playing different personas/characters is where an actor/actress can show their true prowess. In Black Swanalone, Natalie Portman has shown, in just the 2 hours, that she has more range than most actresses around. She exhibited more range in one performance than most do in their entire career. For such a brilliant performance Natalie Portman gets my vote as actress of the year. I don't think this is even up for debate.

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale - The Fighter

Here's another that I feel is just a given and isn't up for debate. Bale absolutely stole the show in every scene he appeared in The Fighter. The weight loss alone shows Bale's dedication to his craft. Furthermore, the way he was able to lose himself in that crackhead persona and into the role of Dicky Eklund just further proved what an amazing actor Bale is. To really show you how brilliant his performance was, the video clip of real-life Dicky during the credits showed you just how well Bale nailed that performance. It had to almost be like looking in a mirror for Dicky.

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Yes, the supporting cast of The Fighter was just great. They're the ones that kept this movie afloat. Leo's turn as the "white trash" overbearing mother was great and was another (along with Bale's performance) that really helped this movie shine. Without these two, The Fighter bombs.

Best Director: Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan

Like I said, best film was down to Black Swan and Inception for me. Aronofsky's work here was damn near perfect. This was a brilliantly directed movie. From the camera shots to the music to the story-telling to what he got out of his cast, Aronofsky did a great job in conveying this thriller story very aptly on all levels. As one of my favorite modern directors, it's no surprise that Aronofsky continues to impress year after year.

Best Screenplay: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin - Black Swan

For me, screenplay/story is probably the biggest factor in determining whether a movie is entertaining. Afterall, without an intriguing and entertaining story, then your movie is just going to suck. That being said, it's no surprise that this, for me, came down to Black Swan and Inceptionagain; the two movies vying for my Best Film award. However, in the end I have to go with Black Swan edging out in this category. The story was great in my opinion. Very thrilling and intriguing story that left you on your seat the whole while through. To top it off, though, was all the subtext present throughout the film. From the "life imitates art" to the "greed can consume us all" to the commentary of how much pressure can be put on an entertainer and the risks they ensue when losing themselves in a performance in order to be "perfect". This script had it all and fired on so many cylinders. Truly was a great story and I loved how the main character's life began to mirror the very character she was attempting to play on stage.

Best Ensemble Cast: The Fighter

I guess after the previous supporting awards, this should come as no surprise. However, I will say I was also seriously considering The Town for this award which had a very good all-around performance from its entire cast. However, the cast of The Fighter performed well in all areas. Even Mark Wahlberg was decent enough (and I don't particularly care for him). Though, he was the weak link and his actual character was boring. However, everyone else turned in fine performances that, as a whole, really pulled you into the family in the film. Then the performances of Bale and Leo really just pushed the overall ensemble over the top. Meanwhile, Amy Adams delivered a very good performance as well standing out.

Breakout Performance of the Year: Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

The movie itself, I found was fairly overrated. However, Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone did an absolutely wonderful job of playing the role of Ree Dolly. If not for her, the entire movie would have been a wash. However, her performance was very nice to watch. It made it even more worthwhile as I got to witness that this girl is actually a very adept actress. Before this, I had only seen her in 'The Bill Engvall Show' where she plays the typical cliche ditzy teenage girl. Which, honestly, there are a million and one girls in the nation that could pull that off. Watching her go from that ditzy teenager to this gritty and convincing performance was definitely a treat for me and showed me her worth. For that, she receives my Breakout Performance of the Year award.

Best Action Movie: Inception

Inception wins here. Of course being my Best Film of the Year, it's going to also win in its specific genre category. The movie fires on all cylinders for an almost nonstop joyride, especially for the last half of the film. The last half especially, with the gun fights and chases and fights, etc. prove to be an adrenalin rush of action. Again, this is pretty much the Hollywood-action-blockbuster film perfected.

Best Comedy: Get Him to the Greek

Ok, here's where some might disagree with me (if they haven't already). However, it's my belief that Best Comedy movie should mainly be based on which movie was the funniest. Granted, there were movies I liked better overall that fall into the comedy category (Scott Pilgrim), but on the laugh scale they didn't touch Get Him to the Greek. Russell Brand is just hilarious. And his part as the typical rock star was great and hilarious. Even "P Diddy" (who I hate) had me cracking up during this movie. For me, it really was the funniest movie of the year.

Best Animated Movie: How to Train Your Dragon

Yep, I'm doing it. I'm kicking Pixar to the curb this year and letting someone else have Best Animated prize. Granted, I really enjoyed Toy Story 3, but for me How to Train Your Dragon was just the better movie and was more fun. It was cute, funny, inspiring in its own way and refreshing. I really enjoyed the movie. How to Train Your Dragon was one of those that had heart and depth and was really beautiful (both story-wise and animation). One that truly appeals to both adults and kids alike.

Best Horror Movie: Paranormal Activity 2

I loved the first one and the sequel proves no different. Paranormal Activity has been something of a savior for the horror genre I believe. And part 2 makes it a saving grace for Hollywood as the franchise goes mainstream. With good pacing and 'storytelling', Paranormal Activity 2, like its predecessor, brings the art of tension and suspense back to a seemingly hollowed out genre. It does a great job of really getting into your imagination and letting it run wild, in turn terrorizing yourself. Really a refreshing movie in the genre, I can't wait for part 3 this fall.

Best Thriller: The Town

Yes, I realize Black Swan is a thriller, and I absolutely agree that it's the better movie. However, like the comedy movie, I feel the Best Thriller movie should be judged pretty much solely on the "thrill" aspect. And while Black Swan did engulf me and keep in thrilled, The Town pulled that aspect off a bit better. Maybe because the action of it catered to that, I don't know. However, The Town just had me really on the edge of my seat from start to finish pretty much. The action was good, the movie was so intense and the whole of it just never let up once it took off running, that I couldn't help but be enthralled as I went on that thrill ride.

Best Docudrama: The Social Network

Social Networking has been spreading like wildfire in the past years, so it comes as no surprise that it would eventually become the basis of a film. The Social Network isn't just any film though. Becoming one of the most talked about movies of the year and making a real movie to be movie of the year, the movie is a great all-around film that everybody should see. And it might be one of the most significant films of modern day (that or its counterpart 'Catfish').

Best Indie Film: Buried

Another thriller that just keeps you enthralled throughout (yes it seems I have a thing for thriller type movies). With such a minimal set and minimal story and cast, Buried just seems like it's set to disappoint. Despite all these risks though it manages to succeed and become a very thrilling and captivating movie, with Reynolds carrying it well.

Best Fight: Zero-Gravity Hallway Fight - Inception

The visuals and special effects was just one facet of what made Inception so awesome for me. And this fight scene was one of those that stood out above the rest. Creative, cool to watch, action-packed, it really was just a really fun fight and pretty awesome.

Tearjerker of the Year: Toy Story 3

Did I personally cry? No. However, Toy Story 3 I feel is the movie of the year that will most likely make someone cry. Maybe it's the connection after having grown up with the series. Maybe it's just the depth of emotion created in some scenes that hit home for most people in a real-life way. Whatever it is, Toy Story 3 is sure to get the waterworks running for quite a few people. With scenes like the incinerator scene and Andy's final time with the toys (especially when he realizes Woody is in there and he ends up parting with the toy that started it all), Toy Story 3 definitely has its moments that truly tug on those heart-strings.

Best On-Screen Couple: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

Both of these actors are some of the better young actors around today (Gosling being my choice for best actor under 30 even). They really show their worth here in this movie as well. Giving great and powerful performances the two shine on the screen together. The chemistry between them is absolutely marvelous and the genuine/real emotion they convey over the course of the movie provides for a good watch.

Best Villain: Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) - Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Jason Schwartzman is just unconventionally hilarious most every time I see him. His appearance in Scott Pilgrim was just icing on the cake for a very good movie. Classic Schwartzman provided humor and intelligence to the role, standing out as my favorite villain of a movie filled with villains.

Worst Movie of the Year: The Last Airbender

I'm not even going to say anything. Everybody knows it sucks. Shyamalan again proves, that despite his last movie (The Happening being horrible) that he can still outdo himself and make a surprisingly worse film than he ever has. The guy is spiraling out of control straight down the drain.

Most Overrated Movie of the Year: The Kids Are All Right

I'm sorry. It wasn't that good. The acting was decent. Mark Ruffalo was pretty much the saving grace of the movie. Other than that the movie was so pretentious and contrived and just flat out boring. Not nearly as good as people made it out to be (not even the performances). Wasn't funny or humorous at all. And the movie definitely does not deserve even being considered as a Best Film nominee.

Most Underrated Movie of the Year: Kick-Ass

Sure, the movie got decent reviews, even did moderately well in its opening weekend. However, I feel Kick-Ass was just underappreciated for the year. Quite frankly, the movie, well....kicked ass. In fact, it may go down as one of my Top 10 or 15 favorite movies of the year. It's one of the best comic book adaptations I've seen in a long while. For me, it was even better than it's competitorScott Pilgrim. A truly awesome and fun movie that should have been given more credit. Very entertaining and more people should give it a shot.

READ MORE - My 2010 Movie Awards