There are party essentials like BBD “Poison,” Frankie Beverly & Maze “Before I Let Go” and Cameo “Candy”—the Holy trinity—that will never be frowned upon by 98% of Earth, unlike every song on this list. Lifetimes past their play-by date, these expired party favorites belong in memories, not active DJ playlists. DJs, just let these songs die. PLEASE.
It’s that time, folks! Kick off the end-of-year deluge of Top 10 lists with the best films of the year, as selected by Cahiers du Cinema . Because why bother waiting for the rest of 2012’s Oscar hopefuls to screen when you’ve already had your mind blown by Leos Carax’s wondrously WTF Holy Motors ? Cahiers du Cinema ‘s Top 10 of 2012 (via MUBI / TOFilmReview ): 1. Holy Motors (Leos Carax) 2. Cosmopolis (David Cronenberg) 3. Twixt (Francis Ford Coppola) 4. 4:44 Last Day On Earth (Abel Ferrara) 4. In Another Country (Hong Sang-Soo) 4. Take Shelter (Jeff Nichols) 7. Go Go Tales (Abel Ferrara) 8. Tabu (Miguel Gomes) 8. Faust (Alexadre Sokourov) 10. Keep The Lights On (Ira Sachs) Of the honorees on the arthouse-centric list, Carax’s Holy Motors , a transfixing ode to cinema and performance anchored by Denis Lavant’s lead performance, should be the one to pop up elsewhere most frequently this season on critics’ lists. Abel Ferrara makes the list twice — not too shabby considering that both 4:44 Last Day On Earth and Go Go Tales earned mixed acclaim from critics. And who would’ve thought, four years ago when the first Twilight movie launched him into the teen idol stratosphere, that Robert Pattinson would not only make the Cahiers du Cinema Top 10 but come in with a film in the #2 slot? Looks like teaming up with Cronenberg was RPattz’s best career move , after all. The Google translation of the Cahiers du Cinema December 2012 issue is rough, to say the least, but Stéphane Delorme’s editorial (located online here ) states, among other agendas of the issue (translated from French: “Rather than commenting on Tops, we prefer to dwell on the failings of contemporary cinema copyright”) that the publication’s Top 10 selection “shows that we expect from cinema audacity and heart.” And who can argue with that? Sound off with your thoughts below. [ Cahiers du Cinema / MUBI / TO Film Review via The Playlist ] Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
America is rapidly approaching the so-called Fiscal Cliff. Maybe you heard. Sign the secession petitions , because this is going to be an epic disaster. Or is it? That, obviously, depends on the outcome … and who you ask. The so-called “Fiscal Cliff” comes on January 1, when several tax cuts expire, and severe cuts to government spending are automatically triggered. It’s also been called “taxmageddon,” with the average American family set to see their taxes increase $3,700 in 2013 unless a new budget deal is stuck. The sticking point to solve the stand-off is what President Barack Obama calls a “balanced approach” of spending cuts and increased revenues. The president campaigned on the pledge to allow the tax rates for the rich to rise, while keeping middle class tax rates where they are currently. Obviously, Obama claims the 2012 election results are proof that the public agrees with him. Just as obviously, plenty of Republicans disagree. The GOP has called for the extension of all Bush-era tax cuts, along with massive spending cuts, in order to reduce the federal budget deficit. Will there be a “grand bargain” in which the two camps essentially split the difference and move on? Or would either side actually prefer the Cliff? The two sides have a few more days to make their cases to the public before Congressional leaders are called to the White House on Friday. That’s when negotiations start in earnest and we learn if the 2012 election made a difference in relations between the two parties. Don’t bet on it. Hopefully, clearer heads will prevail in the end and we will avoid the consequences that economists say could plunge the U.S. back into recession. Then again, this is D.C. How many clear heads even exist there?
Just as Stephenie Meyer says goodbye to one franchise – check out our album of photos now from the Breaking Dawn 2 premiere – the author will say hello to another big screen adaption of a best-seller. The Host centers on the fight for survival by the few humans remaining on Earth, following an attack by a species that wiped out the minds of all other inhabitants. It opens on March 29 and stars Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons and Jake Abel. Check out the first official trailer now: The Host Trailer We’ve also included a poster for the movie, which is based on Meyer’s thrilling novel. Peep it below:
Listen up, white voters of America. Chris Rock is sending you a message. Are you looking for a Presidential candidate that shares your values, hobbies and… well… skin color? If so, the name on your ballot this Tuesday should be obvious: Barack Obama! The man was known as Barry for much of his life (“the third whitest name on Earth!”); he bowls; he dances with Ellen; he wears mom jeans. And, unlike Mitt Romney , his family doesn’t have more members in it than a Tyler Perry movie. Watch this hilarious endorsement now: Chris Rock: Vote for “White” Barack Obama! So, who are you voting for? Obama-Biden Romney-Ryan View Poll »
Happy Halloween! This week we have only the tastiest of treats and biggest bags of candy from the horror honeys on Netflix Instant. Scare your pants off with the feral full frontal of Pollyanna McIntosh in The Woman (2011), and say nice BOO-bies to Carice van Houten in Intruders (2012). Then have no fear because there are plenty of French funbags in Sheitan (2006) and House of Voices (2004), and there’s a heaping of Hong Kong hoots in Dream Home (2010). Finally, see bumps in the night from Traci Lords in Not of This Earth (1988), and doomed dame danglers in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986). See pics after the jump!
Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian daredevil, completed the highest and fastest skydive in world history today, successfully free falling to Earth from 128,100 feet. Felix Baumgartner Space Jump With millions around the world watching, he stepped out of a space capsule into OUTER FREAKING SPACE and plunged downward to the planet we call home. Felix reached a maximum speed of 833.9 miles per hour. The 43-year-old Austrian therefore broke the sound barrier, or Mach 1, measured at 761.2 mph, becoming the first man to do so without the aid of a machine. Baumgartner broke records set half a century ago by Joe Kittinger, 84, a retired Air Force colonel who guided him throughout the ordeal from mission control. Baumgartner’s space jump set records for speed and distance, however the elapsed time, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, was 16 seconds short of Kittinger’s 1960 record. He ascended with the aid of a helium balloon and landed safe and sound in Roswell, N.M. An estimated 300 engineers and scientists were involved with the mission sponsored by Red Bull Stratos. Congrats to Felix and everyone involved on an exhilarating job well done.
Justin Bieber is a distant cousin of several other celebs you are quite familiar with. Call it a Canadian dynasty of music (and a little acting) stardom. According to Ancestry (dot) com, Biebs is related to … … Celine Dion, Ryan Gosling and Avril Lavigne! Wow! We’re talking 10th, 11th and 12th cousins, but still. Researchers begun tracing Bieber’s family lineage about a year ago by paging through teen celebrity gossip magazines to find biographical tidbits from the pop star. “The great thing about family history is that you never know what you’re going to find,” said Ancestry’s Michelle Ercanback. “It was a very pleasant surprise.” Bieber, Gosling and Lavigne share common relatives Mathurin Roy and Marguerite Bire, born in France in the early 1600s. They later moved to Quebec. JB and Celine are 10th cousins three times removed because they’re linked to French couple Jacques Vezina and Marie Boisdon, also from the 1600s. They moved to Quebec, where they died in 1687. Ercanback said she didn’t know if these celebrity links are “sufficient to point to the existence of a superstar gene.” Either way, it’s pretty cool.
Move over, Ian Somerhalder. There’s a new CW hottie in town. With The Vampire Diaries Season 4 set to debut this evening, Stephen Amell introduced network viewers to a new brand of hero last night, as well as the most ridiculous six-pack on television. Arrow opened to huge numbers, for The CW at least. Over four million viewers tuned in, meaning folks in Mystic Falls suddenly have competition for most popular teenage show. And Somerhalder has competition for hottest network hunk. Drool over both actors below and decide which you most like to ride: