43 - The Black Dahlia

As far as I'm concerned, the unsung hero of this movie was Mia Kirshner. I really admired her portrayal of Elizabeth Short.

42 - Ice Age: The Meltdown

Possums Rule!

If the penguins in Madagascar had the penguins, Ice Age (2) has the possums. Like the first one, a great script complemented the excellent animation and effects.

41 - The Descent

Shoot me now. I ain't goin' down that cave! Hahahha! It was really good I have to say. While it may have been a suspense-horror, it also exposed a lot about what such an extreme event brings out in people. I had memories of first blood with John Rambo pushing through the cave, using fire to find an air vent :) Once the creatures were exposed, the strength of the story moved to the characters and I think that attributed to the success of this film. Still. I ain't goin' in that friggin' cave. Go ahead, shoot me.

40 - Prime Suspect (ep. 1 & 2)

Don't you just hate it when you enter a room knowing everyone pretty much hates you? Such is the predicament of DCI Jane Tennison as a lone female lead investigator during a male-dominant time of law enforcement.

While Helen Mirren's character is as tough as nails, Prime Suspect doesn't hide the human side of her momentary bouts of weakness or confusion. But alas, she is always able to regroup and move forward. Just watch Helen's eyes and see how easily she switches from despair to tenacity.

It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of today's shows in criminology took notes from this series.

39 - Little Miss Sunshine

Just when you think the concept of a movie about a dysfunctional family had been truly exhausted, along comes Little Miss Sunshine! The characters are very interesting and well played to the point that everyone's got their own shining moments and no single person holds all the best lines.

Great moments include Abigail's reception to news of the Little Miss Sunshine contest, Steve Carrell's blunt comments, Toni Collette's dining table management, Alan Arkin's advice - both serious or otherwise, Paul Dano's breakdown, Greg Kinnear's ongoing "steps" philosophy, and the finale (of course).

I wasn't kidding when I told you all these characters shined very bright!

38 - Tales of the City (ep. 1 & 2)

Tales of the City
(episodes 1 & 2)

Woohoo! What a way to start 2007 than to watch the city I left behind....sorry, I just got back from San Francisco, you know!

Olympia Dukakis will always be Rose Castorini from Moonstruck in my eyes. But alas, she will now be Anna Madrigal as well :). It's very easy to see her as the "mother" of this story, but I would like to think that she's the "grandmother". The one person who can spoil you, be your confidant, and give you advice that only an elder can. In a way, it's weird that this found me, given that I'm in a new city myself (as Laura Linney did here as Mary Ann). Who knows what tales I'll run into :).