Everyone needs to be watching The Sound of Music right now. And it's on basic cable so no excuses.

Why Love Actually is actually good

I don’t care what you say about the corniness, but Love Actually is one of the best things about Christmas. There’s laughing, crying, Andrew Lincoln not killing zombies. And awesome British actors. Nothing beats it.

The world better not end before I have a chance to see these movies

Les Miserables
This is 40
Django Unchained
Star Trek Into Darkness
The Master
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Zero Dark Thirty
The Hobbit (all of them)
Amour
Iron Man 3 (and really any Marvel sequel)
The Great Gatsby
Despicable Me 2
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Mockingjay

Movie Review: Silver Linings Playbook

This is a story of boy meets girl. Of course, in this case, it’s more about boy gets out of an eight month stint in a mental hospital and meets a girl who is also her own type of type of crazy since the death of her husband. It could be the crazy at brings them together and heals them.

This movie is all about the characters. While you hear about Jennifer Lawrence and how she is going to be nominated for all the awards, Bradley Cooper should be talked about as well. He brings so much truth to the protagonist, and makes us all think we are a little crazy as well, and that may not be a bad thing after all. Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver shine as Cooper’s parents trying to come to terms with their son’s bipolar disorder and violent outbursts. Really, the entire cast list is amazing. And it’s no wonder this movie is beginning to haul in the awards it most definitely deserves.

Grade: A+

There is hardly a show I laugh harder per episode than FX's The League

Movie Review: The Puffy Chair

This movie has a small premise: going to pick up a burgundy chair for a birthday present to a father. Josh, played by Mark Duplass, brings his girlfriend and brother on the journey with him.

For such a small movie, this film has big heart. After watching, I was impressed to find out this was the Duplass brothers first film. And, as always, Duplass’ acting is spot on and truthful.

Grade: B+

Me watching tonight's How I Met Your Mother

I am still hoping beyond hope that the Barney/Patrice romance is just an elaborate ruse to get Robin to realize she wants Barney. And Patrice just wants Robin to be happy so she’s going along with it. Otherwise, I’ll be pissed.

Movie Review: Hope Springs

Centered on a couple (Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones) going through their share of marital problems, Hope Springs shows the complexity of romance after that happily ever after you see in so many films. Seeing her relationship failing, Kay (Streep), decides that she needs to be the one to change things around, hopefully for the better. To do this, she suggests an intensive couples counseling session with Dr. Feld (Steve Carell), and, of course, all sorts of drama and funnies occur.

While I am much younger than the characters in this film, I still can appreciate the troubles that go along with this long marriage, and that is mostly thanks to the great acting. Streep and Jones breath life into this couple and make the conversations with the good doctor seems extra believable. And seriously, I do not now how Carell got through some of that dialogue. I would be bursting out laughing. It really is a testament to these actors how they made these intimate conversations so so honest and real, and not as awkward and horrifying to watch as lesser actors would have done.

I’m sure if I were at this stage of my life, I would appreciate this film more. But it was still a joy to watch.

Grade: B

Why I'm excited for the Homeland season finale

This penultimate episode contained a lot of relief. SPOILER. What with Abu Nazir getting offed, the Brody’s finally admitting to the end of their marriage, and what seems like smooth sailing for Nick and Carrie.

You just know all hell is gonna break loose. I can’t wait until it happens.

I don't normally hope for adultery, but when I do, it's during Homeland.

The Magic of Safety Not Guaranteed

This is truly one of the most surprising and great movies of 2012. Going in, I wasn’t sure how well Aubrey Plaza would be able to carry a movie as a leading role. Thanks to outstanding writing and acting, however, this film proves me wrong.

I’ve said it and other posts and I’ll say it again, Mark Duplass is truly an incredible talent and I am so glad the world is figuring it out this year. His portrayal as the awkward Kenneth that believes in time travel is spot on and completely believable. And his chemistry with Plaza is perfection. The other performances all work to the films benefit, including the supporting Mark Jake Johnson.

I really could watch this movie over and over. The wit is true and the writing is amazing. This really is a film both small in scale and epic in execution.

Grade: A+

Movie Review: You Sister's Sister

What an interesting, quirky, and moving movie we have here.

Centered on Jack (Mark Duplass), Iris (Emily Blunt), and Hannah (Rosemarie Dewitt), this is a movie about a group of people trying to get over loss of love and loss of life. Set one year after the death of his brother, Jack is sent by his best friend Iris on a retreat to think about his life. Who does he meet at the family cabin but Hannah, Iris’ lesbian half-sister. After a round of miscommunications and bad behavior, everything blows up. And the ending… It is not often you see a successful cliffhanger in a small, indie movie. But here we have one, and it is magnificent.

One of the most surprising aspects of the film was the caliber of acting. While Dewitt and Blunt have been known for their dramatic turns, Duplass steals the show. Maybe it’s just because I do not know all of his work, but this is far more dramatic than I am used to seeing him. I’m used to the dumb guy from FX’s The League, or just the talented writer of such awesome films as Jeff, Who Lives at Home and Safety Not Guaranteed. I guess after having seen Safety I should not be surprised, but this film came with a whole lot of other acting challenges, and Duplass pulled them off to a tee.

One of the year’s most underrated films, Your Sister’s Sister is one that everybody should see at least once, if only to know that small and dramatic films can be heartwarming, surprising, funny, and sweet. And, of course, to witness some of the most incredible acting and writing I have seen in any of the movies of 2012.

Grade: A+

Quick Movie Reviews: Pitch Perfect and Breaking Dawn Part 2

Pitch Perfect: Now this was a movie that was one of the biggest surprises of 2012. I remember seeing the trailer and thinking to myself “now this will probably be dumb, but I’ll see it anyway.” Then it came out and got decent reviews and I didn’t get a chance to see it. You can imagine my happiness when it came out on DVD. The movie was hilarious, mostly because of Rebel Wilson. And the singing. Oh the singing. The mash-ups were fantastic and made me want to just get up and sing along. And of course the guy from Spring Awakening and Hamlet 2 was amazing. Down in its heart, this is a sweet coming of age and love story. Just sprinkled with songs and hilarity.

Breaking Dawn Part 2: Another surprising one. Now that doesn’t mean good. Just means better than I expected. And I like the twist that wasn’t really a twist at the end. Almost made me sad for some of the characters. But really, I still just felt bad for Rob Pattinson sitting through all the premieres having to watch him and that cheating lady make googly eyes at each other. But anyway bottom line: better than I thought, still not great.

American Horror Story: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

• Well that is just about the creepiest Santa ever.
• Exactly what I’ve always wanted: hair ornaments for my Christmas tree from the heads of mentally insane people.
• How in the world is Sister Jude not dead after last week?
• Well that was a horrifying and depressing Nazi death camp story. I cannot wait unti Dr. Arden meets his death.
• I didn’t realize how offensive Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer was to Catholics until today.
• You know it’s a good episode when Joseph Fiennes is in it.
• Now there are teeth in the tree?!?!?!
• Oh yes, it makes perfect sense to make the deranged murderous Santa the Santa for the insane asylum.
• Well at least two outside people know who the real Bloody Face is.
• Well I could’ve told you that Santa was a bad idea.
• Oh shit Threadson is back! Not that I’m all that surprised at all.
• Just what I wanted to happen: the introduction of an all new Bloody Face.
• Just when I was about to forget about the aliens….