billy in the back

1. WEDDINGS!

Not only are two of my best friends getting married this year, but I have another three weddings to attend (one of which I am performing). I love weddings. They’re the best. It’s a great time to get back together with people you haven’t seen in awhile and then party all night with them.And there’s cake. 

2. CAMP

I may only do one camp this summer because of the way schedules are working out, but that’ll be enough. I love camp dearly, and the fact that someone would invite my to counsel a camp blows my mind each time. It’s always my favorite week of the year.

3. BABIES!

I have a few friends with buns in their ovens, and I can’t wait to meet these little ones. I love babies, I think there adorable (but who doesn’t, amiright!), but also I love the look they have on their faces. The look that every second is something totally new to see.

4. General Assembly in Orlando

I’m very excited about this. I’ve never been to Orlando, but furthermore I have friends in the area that I will hopefully have a chance to see while I’m down there. And if it’s not too taxing on me, I may just venture in the Magic Kingdom.

5. New Digs

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love where I live now, but it’s just a tensy-bit too small for me. I’m doing to be very diligent in finding a new place, especially since once my lease is up, I’m month-to-month where I am, so there’s no rush. If I can find a house, that’d be great.

6. Shows!

Two types of shows here, playing a show (with the Mighty Ohio) and going to shows. The Mighty Ohio haven’t played since May 2012, so I’m really itchin’ to get out there and play. I thin I really need that again. Secondly, as far as going to shows, you never know what’s going to come up. If you told me in January I would be seeing Springsteen, I’d have laughed in your face, but that totally happened.

7. Fulfilling another New Year’s Resolution

I felt so good when I got my New Year’s Resolution resolved last year. This year, I plan to be better at keeping in touch with friends and family. I already have plans for how to do this, so hopefully I can make it happen this year!

8. Church

I’m joining First Christian in Jeffersonville in couple weeks (mostly I’m waiting for the next time I feel moved/compelled to do so). I’m excited and nervous about it. I haven’t done this before like this. The last time I joined a church I was baptised in as a 6th grader. This is will be a new (and great) experience for me.

9. New Movies/TV/Music

Entertainment is a big part of my life (duh). I’ll cover this in another post.

10. The Unexpected

There’s always something that happens each year that blind-sides me. I have no idea what form it will come in, but it always comes. I’m very excited about what it could be in 2013.

Happy New Years to Everyone!

This posted with an asterisk. There are 3 movies I did not see this year, that had potential to make this list (at least from what I saw in their respective trailers). The exclusion of those movies (Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, and Les Miserables) is a result of my lack of understanding of the concept of time. Without further ado…

10. Beasts of the Southern Wild/The Impossible (tie)

Both of these movies had great performances, but because of theit nature, they were hard to sit through. I wasn’t comfortable with excluding them (the acting performances were really top notch), so I slotted them here at #10.

9. 21 Jump Street

2012 was a great year for film comedy, there were several straight forward comedies that could’ve made my list (Ted, for example), but 21 Jump Street, in my opinion was the funniest of all. Channing Tatum was surprisingly hilarious, and every supporting role was perfect (especially Dave Franco, and Ice Cube). 

8. The Dark Knight Rises/Skyfall (tie)

I know, another tie?! Hear me out. My interest in seeing either of these was pretty low going in, but I came out of both, surprised and pleased with what I saw. I know TDKR rubbed some people wrong, but I was invested in it the whole time. As for Skyfall, I am not a big James Bond fan, but this was just a great movie, period. Both of these characters are iconic, and both of these movies added a great new wrinkle to each of their stories.

7. Liberal Arts

I love Josh Radnor. He’s my favorite part of How I Met Your Mother, so this instantly appealed to me. It did not disappoint.  It’s a great story that I relate to. I often think about going back to my alma mater and reliving college at the age I am now. This movie pretty much spells out the outcome of that experiment. It’s well written and acted, and the soundtrack is superb.

6. Cabin in the Woods

This movie is amazing. It’s a psuedo-horror/comedy that tip-toes the line of being way too in on the joke. But this Joss-Whedon written gem is marvelous. Every actor is perfectly cast, and the jokes are spot on. Even further, it can be legitimately terrifying. It’s one of my new go-to scary movies.

5. Perks of Being a Wallflower

Every once in a while a high school movie comes out of nowhere and makes you actually remember your own adolescent memories. This movie is so deep and connective that I think many (if not most) people can relate to it. This movie also makes you fall in love with Emma Watson (if you weren’t already). You connect with the characters. You feel for them. You want the best for them. It’s a beautiful movie.

4. Argo

Argo is a great film. It’s tense, it’s emotional, it’s oddly relevant. Ben Affleck does a great job making the story work, and Alan Arkin proved to me once again that he is an acting genius. People say “I was on the edge of my seat” all the time, but really was. I was not relaxed the whole time I was in the theater. It’s one of the best thrillers I’ve ever seen.

3. The Avengers

If anyone other than Joss Whedon was behind this, it probably would have been a mess. Whedon struck the perfect balance with all these characters, you couldn’t pick out who was the leader unless you kept a log of on-screen time. On top of that, there is some great use of humor in this too, especially from the Hulk, a character who finally found the right actor in Mark Ruffalo.

2. Moonrise Kindgom

It’s possibly the sweetest love story I’ve ever seen. Two kids run away from home to be outcasts together. It’s so “Wes Anderson”-y that it almost seems like a parody at times, but beyond all that lies a great story and great performances (Bruce Willis and Edward Norton are fantastic). Check this out if you haven’t, even if you dislike Wes Anderson’s style, this is a honest and beautiful piece of cinema.

1. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

I did not see this coming at the beginning of the year. I knew I wanted to see this, but after watching it after it’s DVD release, it’s undeniably my favorite of 2012. It’s the only movie I saw this year that had me in tears (and not at the end, either). Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightley have oddly fantastic chemistry together. All the supporting characters are out of this world funny. Trust me on this. It’s great.

Favorite Performances

Again this is incomplete, a couple great performances I heard about, I didn’t get to see (Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Smashed), but from what I saw these were my favorites.

Daniel Day Lewis - Lincoln

Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

Denzel Washington - Flight

Bruce Willis - Moonrise Kingdom

Mark Ruffalo - The Avengers

Television has always been hard for me to quantify year after year, so I’ve decided just to inform those interested on my favorite show by genre. Granted there’s a lot out there I’m not interested in that’s probably pretty great (Homeland, Downton Abbey, anything on CBS), but this is a FAVORITES list.

Favorite Sitcom

If you aren’t watching this show, your life isn’t complete. It’s formulaic to be sure, but it’s rapid-fire and originality make up for it corny plot-lines. I could argue that Parks and Recreation may have been better, but week after week Happy Endings delivers each time. I miss it when it’s not on, until other shows. That’s why this one wins out. 

Favorite Drama (tie)

I really can’t choose. When I discovered Touch, I was so enthralled in it. I watched every episode in 2 days. It’s an insanely well made show. The Newsroom likewise is well done. The twist in the first episode sold me on the series, and I stuck around for the writing and humor they shove into this awesome show. Both shows have characters you care about, and people you want to root for. That’s the best kind of drama to me.

Favorite Action

It’s the most emotionally draining show I’ve ever watched. Sometimes I swear I’ll never watch again, and then I do it anyways, because I’m so drawn to it. You never know what to expect. A major character seems to die monthly, and they keep refreshing the cast. Speaking of the cast, they’re all perfect for their role, it’s almost like a reality show, except if it was, I’d be holding a shot gun the whole time.

Favorite Reality

Oh, Top Chef, I just can’t quit you. To be totally fair, Undercover Boss  and Shark Tank are hot on this one’s heels, and if this season slips downhill (and I could), Top Chef may lose me. But the best thing is they always refresh with new and interesting chefs. I always find a great chef to root for, and then some of my favorite come as the seasons progress. In his first season, I hated Stefon, but now in this season, he’s fantastic. And so is this show, even in season 10.

Favorite Animated Show

It’s quite possibly the dumbest thing on TV, but it’s so fun to watch. The plot always ends in a train wreck of ridiculousness. The animation is silly, a mixture of 3D, 2D, claymation, etc. At it’s best, it’s a great story about family sticking together, which is ultimately what wins me over every time.