Top 10 Moments of the 87th Academy Awards

/
Top 10 Moments of the 87th Academy Awards

And that's a wrap!

A truly unpredictable awards season boiled down to two seemingly atypical choices for the Academy in Birdman and Boyhood, and, in the end, it was the film that most spoke to artists and those in the industry that prevailed, as Birdman was selected best of the year. Much like last year, most of the front-runners walked away victorious, but that didn't seem to help us with our predictions. Matt went 17/24 while Nathan ended with 13/24.

It was an inflated telecast that certainly dragged in spots (who on Earth only scheduled the show to take three hours? They had to know that was never going to happen), but many of the winners (and even some of the presenters - not sure what was up with Terrence Howard) gave emotional, candid speeches that enlivened the proceedings. And our Oscar menu never let us down. Never have we been happier to have three drink options. 

Before we put the 2014 film year to bed for good, let's count down our top ten favorite moments from the 87th Annual Academy Awards.

Read More

Matt's Top 10 Films of 2014

/
Matt's Top 10 Films of 2014

For a while it looked like 2014 would go down as a very weak year in cinema. It took time for me to come down from the high of Gravity the year before, and the first half of the year didn't impress (save for a few sprinkles of quality here and there). Thankfully, the second half of 2014 offered up a feast of treats that were varied in flavor--some as nuanced as a bite of small-batch cheese, others as satisfying as chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven (this is CineMunch, we're allowed to use food imagery as often as we'd like). 

As is always the case, this list is incomplete and in flux (I just finished my 2013 list after all). I average 100 or so films any given calendar year, and, as you can see from our current list of films screened, I'm sitting at a (relatively paltry) 65. Simple statistics say that I have yet to see one or two films that will weasel their way into this top tier, but for now (or as of January 26th when we recorded our end-of-the-year podcast) these were the final ten.

But first, some necessary Honorable Mentions! 

Read More

Nathan's Top 10 Movies of 2014

/
Nathan's Top 10 Movies of 2014

It's that time. What were my top ten movies of 2014? Truthfully, I could use another few weeks to see some key titles and second-guess my opinions, but that's not going to happen. Plus, in two weeks we'll be out of the country celebrating Matt's 30th birthday. (Don't tell him I told you his age.)

So, now? Yes, now's a good time.

Overall, 2014 was full of solid movies, some that pushed the boundaries of the craft and many that stuck with me for other reasons. We saw Lupita Nyong'o and Julianne Moore fly non-stop, CGI apes give new meaning to the term emotional resonance, and a reclusive nanny gain posthumous fame.

Not surprising, then, that my second tier films for 2014 included scores of titles deserving of a shout out. For my own sanity I've whittled them down to just seven honorable mentions in addition to my top ten, but I'll never forget you, The Babadook, Edge of Tomorrow, and Obvious Child (among others).

Shall we begin?

Read More

The 1st Annual CineMunchies: Honoring the Best of 2014 in Cinema

/
The 1st Annual CineMunchies: Honoring the Best of 2014 in Cinema

You heard us chat away on our CineDrunk end-of-the-year podcast, but here, collected in one place, is another look at the winners of the first annual CineMunchies. Do you agree with our picks? Anything we left out? Let us know what you think!

Read More

CineDrunk: The CineMunchies and Our Favorite Movies of 2014

/

We know you love lists. We know we love lists. You know you love lists. It's time to roll out the lists.

Drink(s) in hand(s), we celebrate 2014 in our latest podcast, and a stellar year at the cinema it was. Each of your hosts has a Top 10, which we count down in Part 1 of our show. In Part 2, we award the first annual CineMunchies, our end-of-the-year superlatives featuring such categories as Best Performance by an Elderly British Person and The "I Wasn't Sure You Had That in You" Award.

Leading up to this recording, the anticipation had us on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

But we managed to keep the conversation civil and the drinks simple. After all, it's a celebration of our individual favorites, not a debate.

A special shout out to our Best Wine of 2014 (which is another way of saying Best Wine Under $20 That Tastes Good With Cheese): the 2013 Celler Bàrbara Forés Blanc. And our drink of choice for the evening? Boozy hot cocoa.

Peppermint-Spiked Hot Chocolate
Here's a drink even your teenager can make! Er... Step 1: Make the best hot chocolate you know how to make. Step 2: Add several generous shots of the cheapest peppermint schnapps you can buy. Step 3: Enjoy!

Thanks for joining us to look back on Film Year 2014! Cheers!

2015 Golden Globe Awards Predictions

/
2015 Golden Globe Awards Predictions

Fill your ice cube trays and get out your cheese boards; the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards are here! Airing Sunday on NBC at 8pm ET and handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Globes mix movie stars, TV actors, and a healthy dose of drunkenness in what usually amounts to the year's most enjoyable night of live television. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (hooray!) return as hosts for the third (and likely final) time, and George Clooney will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award from Julianna Margulies (ER reunion!) and Don Cheadle.

For the more studious ones in our readership (you're show-offs, but we love you), there's still time to listen to our latest podcast, featuring a detailed analysis of the film categories. Then shake up a cocktail and enjoy the main event, and follow along with us all evening on Twitter @CineMunch. Matt's final predictions in all fields are after the jump.

Read More

CineDrunk Episode 10: Holiday Film Showdown

/

Happy Christmas (2014)

Oh, is it the holiday season? We're told that it is, which means another movie showdown is in order! In this installment, we pit our favorite holiday screen stories against each other in a battle to the death. Because, you know, the season of candles and trees and reindeer is also the season of family meals and frostbite and the Snowman House of Horror.

This time around we had a little help from our friends gin and tonic, along with a merry drink you can call on for those times when you just want to say "I've given up" without actually saying "I've given up." Behold, the power of Irish cream:

Bailey's Chocolate Cherry Martini

1.5 oz Vodka
2 oz Bailey's Chocolate Cherry

Measure ingredients, or don't. Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a martini glass. Start political arguments with fringe relatives about fringe issues.

Happy holidays, and happy listening!

ROUND ONE (Winners in bold)

#1: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) vs. #32: Happy Christmas (2014)

#16: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) vs. #17: The Santa Clause (1994)

#9: Die Hard (1988) vs. #24: About a Boy (2002)

#8: Gremlins (1988) vs. #25: Elf (2003)

#4: White Christmas (1954) vs. #29: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005)

#13: Home Alone (1990) vs. #20: Jingle All the Way (1996)

#12: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) vs. #21: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

#5: A Christmas Story (1983) vs. #28: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

#2: It's a Wonderful Life (1946) vs. #31: The Holiday (2006)

#15: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) vs. #18: Little Women (1994)

#10: Scrooged (1988) vs. #23: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

#7: Muppet Family Christmas (1987) vs. #26: Love Actually (2003)

#3: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) vs. #30: The Family Stone (2005)

#14: Batman Returns (1992) vs. #19: While You Were Sleeping (1995)

#11: When Harry Met Sally (1989) vs. #22: The Family Man (2000)

#6: Lethal Weapon (1987) vs. #27: Bad Santa (2003)

Also listen and subscribe via iTunes.

CineDrunk Episode 8: Horror Movie Showdown

/

Not-So-Bloody Orange Cocktail

It may not be March but we're entrenched in our own brand of madness here at CineMunch. That's right, it's time for another movie bracket blowout. This time we sent to battle the greatest horror movies of all time (as judged by three 20-somethings and two 4-month-old felines).

Of course a battle of the spooks requires spooky drinks:

Bloody Orange Cocktail
(Adapted from Sam Henderson of Today's Nest, as posted on HGTV.com)
Yield: 4 servings

4 oz vodka
2 oz orange bitters
8 oz Orange Crush
2 cups fresh raspberries
1/4 cup sugar
Orange wedges for garnish

1. Puree 2 cups of fresh raspberries in a food processor. Press the puree through a fine mesh strainer. Discard seeds and any remaining pulp.

2. Place the puree in a small saucepan with sugar. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until thick and dark (about 10 minutes) and let cool.

3. Add vodka and bitters to a shaker with ice, and shake until very cold (about 20 seconds). Add Orange Crush and stir. Pour into iced glasses.

4. Artfully drizzle the raspberry syrup atop each drink and garnish with an orange wedge.


Liquefied Ghost (aka Hellacious Ghost)
(Adapted from Janelle Maiocco of TalkOfTomatoes.com, as posted at the Cooking Channel)
Yield: 4 servings

8 oz vodka
4 oz vanilla simple syrup
4 oz half and half
8 oz cream soda

1. Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, then serve in chilled martini glasses.


After you mix your drinks, check out the Round One match-ups below, and listen to the full podcast to find out which was crowned greatest horror movie of all time!

ROUND ONE (Winners in bold)

#1: Psycho (1960) vs. #32: The Conjuring (2013)

#16: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) vs. #17: April Fool's Day (1986)

#9: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) vs. #24: The Others (2001)

#8: Halloween (1978) vs. #25: The Ring (2002)

#4: The Exorcist (1973) vs. #29: Drag Me to Hell (2009)

#13: Poltergeist (1982) vs. #20: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

#12: The Shining (1980) vs. #21: Urban Legend (1998)

#5: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) vs. #28: Saw (2004)

#2: The Birds (1963) vs. #31: Insidious (2011)

#15: Children of the Corn (1984) vs. #18: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

#10: Alien (1979) vs. #23: The Sixth Sense (1999)

#7: Carrie (1976) vs. #26: 28 Days Later... (2003)

#3: Rosemary's Baby (1968) vs. #30: Paranormal Activity (2009)

#14: Sleepaway Camp (1983) vs. #19: Scream (1996)

#11: Friday the 13th (1980) vs. #22: The Blair Witch Project (1999)

#6: The Omen (1976) vs. #27: Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Also listen and subscribe via iTunes.

Fall Movie Preview: Our Most Anticipated Films

/
Fall Movie Preview: Our Most Anticipated Films

Now that we've returned from a little post-Labor Day getaway, it's time to accept that facts are facts. It's fall, y'all, and summer's not coming back.

While we may miss the sunny weather, carefree spirit, and hot garbage smells of the past few months, we're entering an even more exciting time for cinephiles: prestige film season! It's a problem that seems to get worse every year: studios release their awards ponies later and later in the year, until the last trimester is so full of must-sees that no one has time to see or make sense of them all. And when it comes time for awards voters to vote? It's that much harder to remember anything before early September. Final trimester films get the votes, and the cycle continues.

Despite our qualms about studios' release date shenanigans, a bevy of (mostly) quality movies is a bevy of (mostly) quality movies. AND WE SHALL SEE THEM ALL.

After the jump, check out our most-anticipated films for the remainder of 2014, and let us know what films are on your list!

Read More

2014 Emmy Awards Predictions

/
2014 Emmy Awards Predictions

Television's best will be celebrated tonight at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (8pm ET on NBC). Below you'll find my predictions (in the probable order they'll be announced). The Emmys can either award the same performers and shows relentlessly for years on end or it can be notoriously difficult to predict just what they might like in any given year, so take these with a grain of salt (or several grains of salt surrounding a margarita glass filled with tequila). 

CineMunch will be live-tweeting our thoughts throughout the evening, so don't forget to follow along with us on Twitter @CineMunch.

Read More