Best of 2018 (Unabridged)

I'm posting this here for my own archives.  If you want to help me out - make sure to go click and read it over at Cinema Sentries broken into three parts.  If you need it all in one sitting - this is what I wrote.

BEST OF 2018

From 2005 through 2012 I pretty consistently wrote my Sunday Morning Tuneage blog. It continued inconsistently through 2013 before being abandoned.  Each year was punctuated with a series of Best Of . . .  lists.  While the blog still remains retired, I'm revived it last year for a Best Of 2017.  The feedback was enough for me to compile it again this year.

BEST OF FILM 2018

No other blogger is brave enough to pick their favorites before they see them.  Here's what I boldly thought I'd be writing about in December 2018.

PREDICTED BEST MOVIES OF 2018 (Dec.2017)

1.  READY PLAYER ONE
2.  THE NEW MUTANTS
3.  JURASSIC PARK:  FALLEN KINGDOM
4.  SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
5.  ISLE OF DOGS
6.  FANTASTIC BEASTS:  THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD
7.  ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
8.  THE PREDATOR 
9.  VENOM 
10.  RAMPAGE
11-13.  AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, BLACK PANTHER, DEADPOOL 2.

BEST MOVIES OF 2018 (Seen in theaters)

1.  WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR.  This wasn't even on my radar until I saw the trailer a week or two before it came out.  Like any good doc, it gave me information I didn't know at the time it occurred, it reminded me of pleasant memories and it reflected upon current times.
2.  BLACK PANTHER.  I thought this was very possibly where the MCU films would end their streak. But it might be among the top two or three in the final judgement.  Mostly because this film exists both for fans who have never watched any of the other films and at the same time is a reward for those who have kept up.
3.  A QUIET PLACE.  You don't have to reinvent the wheel to make a good film.  Complete commitment to your premise will usually be enough.  See last year's "Get Out".
4.  SUMMER OF 84.  Early Spielberg filtered through "Stranger Things".  Should have been a wider release.
5.  AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR.  Much like the later "Harry Potter" or "Lord of the Rings", this is as much a Lifetime Achievement ranking as anything else.
6.  SPIDER-MAN:  INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.
7.  READY PLAYER ONE.  Not a great example of book to screen adaptation.  But as far as Spielberg goes, this fits right in the mode.
8.  SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
9.  JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM
10.  FANTASTIC BEASTS 2.  Although you need a quick Harry Potter cheat sheet to remember who will be who in the future.

HONORABLE MENTION:  LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY.  Three movies, three weeks and what feels like maybe 12 hours of screen time.  It still plays better on the big screen no matter how many times you've seen it at home.

BEST MOVIES I DIDN'T SEE IN 2018

This list leaves off the few films that I didn't see in theaters but did see through other sources in 2018.  So that means that very worthy films that might make the actual Best Movies that I saw at home like "Isle of Dogs" and "Three Identical Strangers" don't make a list.

1. INCREDIBLES 2.  It's a sad year when I miss a Pixar film in theaters.
2.  SCIENCE FAIR.  I always enjoy seeing documentaries in the theaters and yet it's always easy to say I'll catch it at home later.  This one really caught my attention but never saw it listed.
3.  MIRAI.  It was only in theaters here three days.  Sigh.
4.  THE OLD MAN & THE GUN.  You will be missed, Mr. Redford.
5.  MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT.  
6.  RBG.
7.  ROMA.  I love the work that Alfonso Cuaron is doing the past decade.
8.  BLACKKKLANSMAN.  Because I want to believe in Spike Lee still.
9.  ROBIN WILLIAMS: COME INSIDE MY MIND.
10.  BLAZE.  Ethan Hawke makes my list as a director!


BEST OF SPIELBERG PART ONE (1971-2004)

I was only able to watch 75 films that Steven Spielberg directed, produced, executive produced or had an acting role in to start this project.  This felt like the best sequel to the Hitchcock project of 2017.  And I'm happy to say that it does feel like he picked up most of that torch that was passed on.  Steven's attention to character and his love of making films as a craft not necessarily art puts him in that company.  These are the best films that he has been involved in from the 2018 perspective.

1.  JAWS.  The least surprising result ever.  If you know me, this has been a Top Three movie for me since I knew there was such a thing as movies.  It still is a twice a year watch for me.
2.  CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.  This is a film that you must see on the big screen to really appreciate.
3.  EMPIRE OF THE SUN.  I love this film more with each viewing.
4.  RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.   It's an amazing lesson in pacing a film.
5.  1941.  My love for this might be more than the average folk.  If you want to hear my laugh, put this film on.
6.  POLTERGEIST.  Writer or producer, you can say what you want, but this has his fingerprints all over it.
7.  E.T.: THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL.  
8.  JURASSIC PARK.  As time passes it falls down the list mostly for technology issues.
9.  THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS.  Funny that this doesn't get more love.
10. DUEL.  

BEST MOVIES OF 1988

I started a 1988 project based on an opinion I've espoused for at least 20 years.  I've claimed that 1988 was the worst year for pop culture since the mid-1960s.  I decided that I better back up that claim and test the waters.  And the verdict?  I was right.  1988 is the terrible death throes of the Eighties.  It's the end of all that was the Me Generation - Disco, New Wave, Hair Metal, Reagan, Cold War.  It's the last hurrah for a wave of old directors and actors trying to release movies like it is still 1973 or trying to figure out how to appeal to a new generation.  There are some outliers - there will be in every year - they are here to set the table for what will be an explosion of great movies for the next five years.  Here's the best of what I saw as filtered through the past 30 years.

1.  BIG.  I've seen this probably every couple years since 1988.  It's got it's share of jokes that haven't aged well with technology.  But the basic premise is solid and reminds us all that as grown-ups we need to just say "I don't get it . . ." sometimes.
2.  MISSISSIPPI BURNING.  This movie feels like something HBO would have on as a mini-series this year.  Powerful and timely.
3.  THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST.  Sometimes it's just a cast that make a movie irresistible.  William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis chew up scenery and make this a really enjoyable film.  It helps to be on the other side of 50 when you watch this.
4.  RUNNING ON EMPTY.  River Phoenix should have been a huge star.
5.  RAIN MAN. Oscar winner for a good reason.  I like this better now than if I had actually watched it in 1988 - which I didn't.
6.  DIE HARD.  Why isn't this the best of the year?  It started a genre.  But when judged against current films, it has pacing problems.  Watch those first thirty minutes and wonder if you couldn't find some plot shortcuts.
7.  THEY LIVE.  
8.  WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?   I feel like new generations don't get most of the references and that really takes away much of the appreciation for this film.
9.  A FISH CALLED WANDA.  Still makes me laugh like the first time.
10.  BEETLEJUICE.


I only watched 75 films from 1988 this year.  From memory, this is probably the best of what I didn't see this year . . . . Bull Durham, Red Heat, Dangerous Liasons, Cinema Paradiso (one of my Top Ten films!) and Eight Men Out


I would have a hard time ranking some of the worst of the year but it would look something like this . . .  18 AGAIN / VICE VERSA / BIG BUSINESS (the body double/body changing films of the year that weren't BIG), RAMBO III, POLTERGEIST III and CROCODILE DUNDEE II.

BEST TRAILERS OF 2018

1. THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN.  I love that an icon of the 70s has a trailer for his last film that feels like a film from the Seventies.

2.  FIRST MAN.  Space!!!

3.  GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS.  The monster reveal alone in tune with the music is as exciting a moment as I saw this year.

4.  MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT.  Nothing groundbreaking - just a combination of exciting scenes and a cool song.

5.  BLACKKKLANSMAN.  Spike movies make excellent trailers.

6.  HEREDITARY.  Kudos to a trailer not giving away the plot but still making me want to see the film.

7.  VICE

8.  SUSPIRIA.  I am guessing this film is a mess.  The trailer almost makes me want to try to power through it.

9.  HALLOWEEN.  I haven't seen the film yet but this feels like it gives away all the kills.  And there's something about seeing the trailer in theaters that gives me chills.

10.  SHAZAM!  I may never see this film.  But showing me "Big" reimagined as a superhero film is pretty entertaining.  And if DC needs something, it's a sense of humor.

This is my most uninformed list of the year.  I don't read many magazines or watch TV shows about upcoming films anymore.  I tend to find out through osmosis and YouTube telling me I might like a trailer.  I lean on the comfort of favorite directors, favorite actors, franchises and sequels.  Here's what is on my radar for next year.

BEST MOVIES OF 2019

1.  AVENGERS:  ENDGAME (Apr)  It feels like the end of an era as the dawn of the reboots are on the horizon.
2.  ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (Jul)  It's hard not to envision a Tarantino take on Charles Manson not being one of my favorites of the year.
3.  X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (Jun)  How close will they play it to the comic books and how far do they want to drive the franchise.  This could be a very key moment going forward.
4.  MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL (Jun)  I have lots of love for this franchise and faith in this next entry.
5.  ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (Feb)  Let's try this again another year.  Hollywood doesn't do Anime adaptations very well but at some point they will break that streak.
6.  CAPTAIN MARVEL (Mar)  I've always been hit and miss on Carol Danvers as a character.  The trailer has me convinced this can work.
7.  THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (Feb)  I was surprised how much I liked and still watch over again the first entry of this franchise.
8.  PET SEMETARY (Apr)  This King story needed a reboot with more gore to really capture how disturbing the book is in parts.
9.  TOY STORY 4 (June).  My heart wants me to move this further up the list.  My brain tells me that the story ended in the last movie.
10.  GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS (May)

BEST OF TV 2018

We live in a very high quality TV show era now.  Maybe the top end isn't as strong as a decade ago but the number of very good shows is amazing.  It's hard to even keep up with shows that aren't on your sourcing radar - HBO, Showtime, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, etc. This list is as fluid as any here - ask me tomorrow and it might be different - but here it is at this time and place.

BEST TV SHOWS OF 2018

1.  BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)  The ability to not just rely on being related to "Breaking Bad" but also telling a complex character study of Jimmy McGill that overshadows the references to the other show.  The final episode to this past season was heartbreaking.
2.  SILICON VALLEY (HBO)  In a year without "Veep", this becomes by default the best comedy around.
3.  DOCTOR WHO (BBC)  The female Doctor was an interesting transition.  In some ways it feels like a complete reboot, but it was a fun season really meant to attract new viewers more than give us older ones a pay off.
4.  LEGION (FX)  I barely understood any episode this season.  It feels like a long psychology lecture followed by philosophy class.  Yet I looked forward to it all season.
5.  BOB'S BURGERS (FOX)  I should only have to tell you that for the Halloween episode, Gene was Andre 3000 the Giant.  And I knew when I saw his costume before he said it.
6.  WESTWORLD (HBO)  I'm still not sure I understand everything that happened last season but I love looking at it and guessing who is or isn't a robot.
7.  AMERICAN HORROR STORY: APOCALYPSE (FX)  A nice comeback for the series this year.
8.  THE X-FILES (FOX)  Still some pretty magic moments.  They have become better at dry humor than crime solving.
9.  LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (CW)  This has become the craziest and funniest superhero show on TV.  The "unicorn" clinched it for me to start the season.
10.  RIVERDALE (CW)  Just pure guilty pleasure week after week.

Because there are 391 TV shows across the networks, cable, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and your favorites.  I'm not even sure the term TV Show is correct anymore.  Maybe it's just Show.  And you know those people who say "It's on my list" but they don't even have a list?  Well, I actually have a list and it might be ten years from now but I seem to get to all of these eventually.

BEST SHOWS THAT I DON'T WATCH (yet) (or have just started)

1.  THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (NETFLIX)  Just haven't taken the time yet.
2.  THE GOOD PLACE (NBC)  Too many people I respect have told me I'd like this.  I like the few scenes that I've seen too.
3.  KILLING EVE (BBC)
4.  BARRY (HBO)  How did I not hit this up on Tivo when it aired?
5.  THE AMERICANS (FX)  At some point I'll start to slog my way through this - I've heard enough to know it will amaze me.
6.  HOMECOMING (AMAZON)
7.  GLOW (NETFLIX)  
8.  CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (NETFLIX)  To compliment my love of "Riverdale".
9.  ATLANTA (FX)  I know I'll love it.
10.  OZARK (NETFLIX)

You remember the way I like trailers almost as much as movies?   Ads are even more intriguing.  One, there are fewer actual old time commercials anymore and for fewer and fewer products.  Two, where do you even sit still for them anymore?  For me it's mostly during sporting events but even then I usually have to see them in another setting to know to watch them.  It has turned into the Internet showing me these fine little movies.

BEST TV ADS OF 2018

1.  ERSTE BANK - HEDGEHOG CHRISTMAS.  This ninety second movies stars the cutest dang animals and you're the one crying.

2.  BOUYGUES - DANCING DAD. Because at some point these children are going to appreciate my sweet dance moves.  And once again . . .  tears.

3.  DARE ICED COFFEE - CALLUM MURRAY.  Because a great ad isn't always some long thought out character development and pay off.  Sometimes it's just a funny pun for 30 seconds.

BONUS:  HP SPROCKET - LITTLE MOMENTS.  I don't remember if I put this on last year's list and even if I did, it's worth revisiting again.  Always.

BEST TV OF 1988

Want to really feel like 1988 was a long time ago?  Watch some of the TV from that era.  It was a relatively dark period for shows as we waded through a rough patch until the 1990s saw an upswing that would blossom around 2002 into where we find ourselves today.   It's hard to even fathom that ABC showed movies five nights a week and ABC, NBC and CBS all programmed films on Sunday nights.

1.  THE WONDER YEARS (ABC - Wednesday)  Still one of my favorites.
2.  CHEERS (NBC - Thursday)  I was always a big fan through the whole run.
3.  ROSEANNE (ABC - Tuesday)  These first couple seasons are really tremendous.
4.  IT'S GARY SHANDLING'S SHOW  (FOX - Sunday)
5.  CHINA BEACH (ABC - Wednesday)  In a year dominated by sitcoms, this drama separated itself by not being the typical soap opera or mystery of the other non-sitcoms.
6.  THE COSBY SHOW (NBC - Thursday)
7.  ALF (NBC - Monday)
8.  DEAR JOHN (NBC - Thursday)  An underrated entry in the "Must See" NBC lineup.
9.  NIGHT COURT (NBC - Wednesday)
10.  KATE & ALLIE (CBS - Monday)






BEST OF THE REST 2018

BY THE NUMBERS

4,722,870 steps taken this year (2290 miles)
365 Days walking over 5 miles in 2018
3  Days NOT walking over 5 miles since 1/1/15.
84 beers logged that were new to me this year.
0 times with the hiccups
26 books read (3rd year in a row of meeting 25 book goal)
0 concerts attended
75 movies related to Steven Spielberg watched
75 films released in 1988 watched
102 unique wines consumed in 2018.
20 movies seen in theaters (short of 25 goal)
3 States visited (lowest number in probably 20 years)
271 albums released in 1988 listened to in 2018
3  Bourbon steaks from Applebee's consumed.
4  Major League Ballparks visited.
300  levels of Candy Crushed.
1450 Consecutive Days logging my meals on MyFitnessPal



BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2018

1.  GAIMAN - THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE.  A story so beautifully imagined that I don't want to see it adapted in any other format for a long time.
2.  GAIMAN -  NORSE MYTHOLOGY
3.  STEIFVATER - LINGER.
4.  RIBON - MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR
5.  RUSSELL - GOD IS DISAPPOINTED IN YOU


FAVORITE WINES OF 2018
This year's alcohol project was to sample wines.  I have enjoyed a few wines over the years but my knowledge of wine was limited.  In fact, until I started to learn more about it this year, I didn't know how limited.  I've enjoyed learning some of the basic differences and more I've learned what I like and don't like.  I like a few red wines but mostly I seem drawn to white wines.  I mostly sampled wines between $8 and $20 - so I can't talk to more expensive varieties.  Here's a list of the ones I'll seek out in future years.

1.  KUNG FU GIRL RIESLING.  Amazingly, what I would have considered my favorite wine when I started is still my favorite after a hundred more tries.  I don't know that my taste in wine expanded as much as I learned more about the market.
2.  POULLY-FUISSE LES GALOPIERES WHITE BURGUNDY.  A late entry with great taste.
3.  DELLATORI PINOT GRIGIO.  Having this later in the year convinced me that this cheaper grigio was well worth the cost.
4.  FRANCIS COPPOLA SAUVIGNON BLANC
5.  PACIFIC RIM RIESLING.  A little sweet but great with food.
6.  PROPHECY PINOT GRIGIO
7.  LOS PINOS RANCH PINKY TUSCANDERO WHITE ZINFANDEL.  Great label to boot.
8.  ODD LOT PETITE SIRAH.  A good single glass option.
9.  LOS PINOS RANCH COLIBRI SWEET BLUSH.  One of the few reds on the list.
10.  DOUBLE DECKER PINOT GRIGIO.  Loved the label and the wine.


BEST PIZZAS OF 2018
The eating project of 2018 was to get pizza and a beer at as many places as I could.  It's hard to get out of the rut of going to the same pizza joints around here.  So this project gave me the "excuse" to sample more places in the area and on vacation.  Having it with a beer because who doesn't have a beer with their pizza.  There are as many variations of pizza as there are beers.  The combination of crust, cheese, sauce and toppings can make or break the pizza.  What I determined is that crust and sauce are what determines my enjoyment of a pizza.  These top 'zas have good crust and sauce in common.  Expensive doesn't always equal good in pizzaland. That's the good news.

1.  ROTOLO'S CRAFT & CRUST.  This new place was in danger of failure.  There was slow service, a wrong order and generally chaotic environment.  But management admitted their error and gave me a free beer and covered our bread.  The pizza was our reward for waiting it out.  This deep dish was the best of the year and reminded me that a good Midwestern pizza is as good as they get.  I will be back here even when it isn't a pizza year.
2.  CANE ROSSO.  My note on this was that it's the best cheese I had this year.
3.  CAVALLI PIZZA.  Nice location and tasty pizza.
4.  J&J's PIZZA.  I miss working near this Denton joint.
5.  iFRATELLI PIZZA.  Some of the best sausage this year.
6.  CADILLAC PIZZA & PUB.  Great pizza but I do wish the space was bigger.
7.  DEL PIETRO'S.  A local place that I might have missed if I wasn't on this quest.
8.  JOE'S PIZZA.  Our quirky local place doesn't go crazy with options.  But as far as a local places go - this is a solid entry.
9.  CRUISER'S PIZZA BAR & GRILL.  Sometimes the setting and company - Balboa Beach with your eldest son on a July day make it even better.
10.  MARCO'S PIZZA.  This makes the list because my main pizza partner, Caleb (15), loved this one the most.

MOST MISSED OF 2018

1.  STAN LEE.  Contributed to so many aspects of my life, I can't even sum it up.
2.  BURT REYNOLDS.  Smokey.
3.  PENNY MARSHALL.  Loved her as an actress and even more as a director.
4.  STEVEN BOCHCO. Responsible for so many hours of TV entertainment.
5.  KEITH JACKSON.  The "voice" of college football for so much of my life.  Hard to watch a game played in the "Big House" and not hear his voice.
6.  KEN BERRY.  More people need to find love for "F Troop".
7.  ARETHA FRANKLIN
8.  NICOLAS ROEG.  I love his quirky films but "Don't Look Now" the most.
9.  STEPHEN HILLENBURG.  Love me some SpongeBob.
10.  RINGO LAM.  One of the best action directors to come out of Hong Kong.

THINGS FROM 2018 THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY OTHER LISTS

1.  THE WINTER OLYMPICS.  With my niece in the Bronze position after the first night of Ice Dance competition and eventual fourth place finish - it made for the most exciting two days of the year.
2.  PETCO PARK.  My son, Christian, and I did three ballparks in three days in Southern California earlier this year.  We were both most impressed with the whole presentation of this park and witnessed a very exciting game.
3.  PET DEATHS.  It was a very hard, emotional year in regards to pets here.  We lost beloved Miles in February and that led to a rough time for Desmond who was lost to us just weeks ago.  Both held important places in my heart and the house is very quiet without them.
4.  MARS LANDING.  Hell yeah.
5.  WILDFIRES.  The worst of the disasters of the year.  Also fire just scares me.
6.  2018 FIFA WORLD CUP.
7.  MICHIGAN WOLVERINE BASKETBALL.  As amazing and fun a run in the NCAA Tournament as I ever could have imagined.  
8.  THAI BOYS SOCCER TEAM.  Trapped in a cave and it has a happy ending!
9.  SELF DRIVING CARS.  They appear a step closer to happening in more of a mass rollout.
10. IHOB.  I never made it to a House of Burgers before it changed back.


I used to have lists on here about DVD's I purchased and music I bought.  Those days seem quaint now.  I still listen to music but in ways that are less easy to quantify.  I listen to XM and CDs in the car and working out, walking and at work I listen to Amazon and Spotify.  Thank you Spotify for keep stats for me.  This proves my reliance on 1988 songs all year.

MOST PLAYED SONGS FROM SPOTIFY IN 2018

1. ROB BASE & DJ EZ ROCK - IT TAKES TWO.  No surprise at the top.  It's been towards the top of my playlists for 30 years.

2.  MEGADETH - INTO THE LUNGS OF HELL.  Another no surprise.  The best of late 80s Heavy Metal.
3. a-ha - STAY ON THESE ROADS.
4.  JOY DIVISION - WARSAW.  Love this tune as much as some of the bigger hits.
5.  STEVE EARLE - COPPERHEAD ROAD.   A jukebox favorite for the year too.
6.  THOMPSON TWINS - IN THE NAME OF LOVE.  
7.  SMITHEREENS, THE - ONLY A MEMORY
8.  PET SHOP BOYS - LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES.
9.  TOM WAITS - 16 SHELLS FROM A 30.6
10.  EPMD - STRICTLY BUSINESS
Thanks for all the time you've given me.  I appreciate your patience with me through the year with my silly little projects.  I hope to meet up with even more of you this year to accompany me with these shenanigans.

  Stay hard.

sb

Best of 2017 (Unabridged)

I'm posting this here for my own archives.  If you want to help me out - make sure to go click and read it over at Cinema Sentries broken into three parts.  If you need it all in one sitting - this is what I wrote.

BEST OF 2017

From 2005 through 2012 I pretty consistently wrote my Sunday Morning Tuneage blog. It continued inconsistently through 2013 before being abandoned.  Each year was punctuated with a series of Best Of . . .  lists.  While the blog still remains retired, I'm reviving the year end summary.  So here's your 2017 in convenient list form.

BY THE NUMBERS

4,216,588 steps (that is less the 4 weeks in June that I went without a FitBit)
246 beers logged - 130 that were new to me this year.
0 times with the hiccups
25 books read (2nd year in a row of meeting 25 book goal)
0 concerts attended
55 films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.  All the films from Silents to 1976.
24 movies seen in theaters (best year in a decade but one short of goal)
14 States visited
60 unique Bloody Marys and a Bloody Mary Convention.
9 games played before abandoning the project because it was hard to find the time.
100 unique bags of potato chips
45 Peanuts TV Specials watched.  All the specials and four of the movies.
1 - 1st place Crafthouse Trivia (of less than 5 attempts)

BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2017
1.  Weir - The Martian
2.  King - The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
3.  Willingham - Fables: Camelot (V.20)

With 100 options to choose from, many of them get blended together.  My overall observations aren't too different than cereals.  The best are the basics.  Those are the ones that will invariably be your favorites over time.  There are interesting one off flavors that are good for a bag but won't ever replace a classic.  Here's the best I had during this project.

BEST POTATO CHIPS OF 2017
1.  KETTLE BRAND BACKYARD BARBEQUE.  This is the most consistent brand out there and they do barbeque really well.  This could easily be my every day chip.
2.  ZAPP'S NEW ORLEANS KETTLE VOODOO CHIPS.  Like bbq and vinegar had some kind of love baby.  I really like this brand.  It's probably at your local store, just hidden.
3.  RUFFLE'S ALL DRESSED.  I wouldn't make them my only chip but they are by far one of the best additions of the recent years.  Maybe I should be moving to Canada.
4.  LAY'S FLAMIN' HOT.  I love my spicy.
5.  RUFFLES JALAPENO RANCH.  This is the best sandwich friend out there.
6.  KETTLE BRAND TROPICAL SALSA.  Tastes like a flavor that should have been around for years.
7.  BOULDER CANYON RED CHILI.  I want more of this right now.  
8.  RUFFLES ORIGINAL. Easily my favorite chip for over 40 years.
9.  LAY'S LIMON.  
10. ZAPP'S HOTTER 'N HOT JALAPENO.  Another spicy entry that goes great with beer.


MOST PLAYED JUKEBOX TUNES IN 2017 
It's hard for me to not become jukebox DJ at a bar.  Thanks to modern technology I can pull up the history of what I've played in 2017.
1.  SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS - 100 DAYS / 100 NIGHTS.  This will improve the night of every drinker at the bar.
2.  THE BROTHERS JOHNSON - STRAWBERRY LETTER #23
3.  TOM PETTY - BREAKDOWN.  For obvious reasons this has been on extra play the past few months.
4.  GEORGE MICHAEL - CARELESS WHISPER.  One of the best bar sing-a-long songs out there.
5.  AL GREEN - LOVE & HAPPINESS.  I play Al at almost every stop, this one just happened to make the top five.

BEST PEANUTS SPECIALS
1.  IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (1966)
2.  A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965)
3.  IT'S A MYSTERY CHARLIE BROWN (1974)
4.  A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING (1973)
5.  YOU'RE IN LOVE, CHARLIE BROWN (1967)

BEST MOVIES OF 2017 (Seen in theaters)

1.  LADY BIRD.  Maybe because it was just different than I usually see or that it was seriously well written but it was funny and touching in a way that I just don't take time to go see enough.
2.  GET OUT.  I went in with very few preconceptions.  Symbolic and surprising.  I was transfixed.
3.  IT.  I've been waiting for an adaptation like this for years.  Different than the mini-series in just enough ways to stand on its own.  Looking forward to the sequel most of all.
4.  WONDER WOMAN.  The Year of the Woman really found a voice with this fresh take on the character.  It is easily DC's best movie since the Nolan Batman films.
5.  STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI.  Not the best and not the worst.  I like my Star Wars franchise but just not the level of obsession I had in my youth.
6.  THOR: RAGNORAK.  I actually was surprised that I liked this more humorous take on the Thor character.  Well played.
7.  SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING.  I wish this had come out before the last Captain America but I get the timing.  A fun but meaningless addition to the Marvel Universe - perfect July release.
8.  GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2.  See THOR, humorous but not as consequential as I might have wanted.
9.  LEGO: BATMAN.  
10. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.  This film was beautiful to look at.  It also proves that we need more mysteries. 

When you see fewer than 25 new releases in a year at the theaters and even fewer at home, the list of movie you didn't see is usually more impressive than the ones you did.  This list becomes my new to-do list for the next year although I'm lucky to knock 2-3 off the list.

BEST MOVIES I DIDN'T SEE IN 2017

1.  DUNKIRK.  Two simple reasons here.  One it's Christopher Nolan.  Two is that war films rarely translate well to the small screen.  Hoping it gets nominated for awards so it plays again.
2.  BABY DRIVER.  How did I not go see this Edgar Wright film?  I'm a loser.
3.  BLADE RUNNER 2049.  Another shameful development that most people who know me can't believe I missed this one.  I was the biggest advocate of the original for decades.
4.  WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES.  Maybe not the best movie I missed this year but I have seen the past 50 years of them so this seemed like a natural.
5.  THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.  Been an advocate of this movie since the trailer dropped at the beginning of the year.
6.  ALIEN: COVENANT.  In a year of sequels, what happened that I missed this.
7.  ATOMIC BLONDE.
8.  OKJA.  I know I can watch it on Netflix now but this looks like a big screen view.
9.  LADY MACBETH
10.  WORMWOOD.  Errol Morris is always going to challenge me as a viewer - this looks like he's on top of that game.

I ask your forgiveness for being temporarily fooled that I wanted to see THE MUMMY, KONG: SKULL ISLAND and THE DARK TOWER.  But I'm a sucker for trailers. (See below)

I read reviews (on this site for example) but the ultimate selling point of a movie for me is the trailer.  The art of the trailer is generally dead.  There are still a few that play out like mini-movies.  Here are a few of the best this year.

BEST TRAILERS OF 2017

1.  DEADPOOL 2.  This is how you make me want to see your movie and not feel like I've seen the best scenes from your film.  Original content in a trailer rules.  Brilliant.

2.  BABY DRIVER.  I'm pretty sure this ruin the movie but it plays like a shorter version of the film.  I kinda like revisiting these trailers after seeing the movie as a reminder of the highlights.

3.  ATOMIC BLONDE.  Once again, probably gives away some important scenes from the film but bonus points for a great soundtrack.  Tunes are a key function in a trailer.

4.  BLADE RUNNER 2049.  Trailers for sequels are tricky.  This one does a great job of selling this as its own separate film that doesn't require the viewer to remember important details from the 80s.

5.  BLACK PANTHER.  Even more than the AVENGERS trailer, this trailer raises my expectations beyond what this movie can possibly meet.  Marvel has perfected the art of the superhero trailer but over the years that's all they are doing is following a formula.  This is guilty of some of the same beats as every other trailer but unlike the THOR trailer it doesn't feel like it gives away the best comedic moments.

This is my most uninformed list of the year.  I don't read many magazines or watch TV shows about upcoming films anymore.  I tend to find out through osmosis and YouTube telling me I might like a trailer.  I lean on the comfort of favorite directors, favorite actors, franchises and sequels.  Here's what is on my radar for next year.

BEST MOVIES OF 2018

1.  READY PLAYER ONE (March).  I have a few pages left to finish the book.  On the surface this book is a natural for a mini-series instead of a film adaptation.  But leaving it to Spielberg makes sense and the trailer fits the words I read.
2.  THE NEW MUTANTS (April)  After exploring every other genre from within the superhero genre, I've been waiting for a journey into horror.  From what I've seen, this plays much more from the horror than superhero genre and that's fine with me.
3.  JURASSIC PARK:  FALLEN KINGDOM (June)  I was surprised by the previous film.  This has the warnings of just repeating the previous film but I'm still down.
4.  SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (May)  The one thing that makes me happy here is the move to May.  STAR WARS have always felt misplaced in December.  They belong right here before Memorial Day.
5.  ISLE OF DOGS (March)  A Wes Anderson trailer is always unique too.  I thought of including this above but I'm not sure it explains much.  I just see lots of dogs.
6.  FANTASTIC BEASTS:  THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (Nov)  Some franchises have me for life.  
7.  ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (JULY)  I loved the manga but never really had much hope for an adaptation.  For years we heard it would be Cameron but Rodriguez is a decent fit to direct.  I still don't hold out much hope because I heard they ruined GHOST IN THE SHELL.
8.  THE PREDATOR (AUG)  Shane Black helms what could be very fun but as you saw, I missed an ALIEN film this past year.
9.  VENOM (Oct)  Other than a few pictures, I have no idea what they are doing with this character.  If they stay close to the original comics there could be something here.
10.  RAMPAGE (April)  Monster movie, yo.
11-13.  AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, BLACK PANTHER, DEADPOOL 2.  One of these may break the MU success streak.  Not likely but they are way past due for a real stinker.

Last year was a harsh year for celebrity deaths (Bowie, Prince, etc), so this year was going to have a hard time living up to the taking out of icons.  Well, 2017 took a good run at it.  Here's the deaths of the most influential to my life this year.

MOST MISSED OF 2017

1. TOM PETTY.  Musically if we are going to pull from the Rock n Roll genre, this is one of the biggest for me.  He's been a fixture in my music life since the early 80s.  It hurts that I never got a chance to see him in concert.
2.  HUGH HEFNER.  Good or bad or as uncomfortable as his legacy might be in today's standards, the man defined a certain lifestyle, published some great authors and got the conversation about sexuality going.
3.  DICK ENBERG.  "Oh my" this voice is one of the top three voices of MLB and NFL for me.
4.  WALTER BECKER.  Always a Steely Dan fan, this is a guy that did fame his own way and I respect that.
5.  ROSE MARIE.  Sally from the "Dick Van Dyke Show" is still one of the cleverest and sassy characters of all-time.
6.  JERRY LEWIS.  I always feel for actors that outlast their fandom.  By the time he passed, his brilliant comedic routines with Dean Martin were largely forgotten.  There was more to Lewis than the "Nutty" guy we saw in the 60s.
7.  HEATHER NORTH.  Maybe a surprise to the list but not is you know me.  She was the original voice of "Daphne" on Scooby-Doo for the first twenty years.
8.  GLEN CAMPBELL.  If for no other reason than the brilliant "Gentle On My Mind".
9.  SUE GRAFTON.  This author is a late addition the realm of the dead this year.  I'm always supportive of people with lifelong projects.  Her Alphabet series will end with Y because of her death.  I'm on Q now.  Her mysteries are fun at best but I respect her commitment to the characters.
10.  GEORGE ROMERO.  The man who created a genre.  People had heard of zombies before "Night of the Living Dead" but c'mon, they had never visualized it like this.  My obsession with shows like "The Walking Dead" are because this man and "Dawn of the Dead".

I spent the year on an Alfred Hitchcock project of watching all his films - almost all for at least the second time.  I was interested in how my perception of them might have changed over the years.  In a year of viewing all of them here they are in order of how much I enjoyed them.

BEST HITCHCOCK FILMS OF THE 2017 PROJECT
1.  THE BIRDS (1963)   For at least the 10th time I started seeing shots and symbols I had not noticed before.
2.  FRENZY (1972)  I think I had dismissed this after one viewing years ago but it is a classic worthy of his best.
3.  FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940)  Much more here than I originally gave it credit for.  Realize it's in the very middle of World War II.  
4.  NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)  It really only gets better.
5.  PSYCHO (1960)  
6.  THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS (1935)  plays very well in the theater.
7.  STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)
8.  MR & MRS SMITH (1941)  I don't think I knew this was Hitchcock the first time I saw it.
9.  NOTORIOUS (1946)  This film might actually be the one that has moved up the most in my mind since before this project started.  This should be where you start if you know very little about his films.
10. VERTIGO (1958)  It's here only because I've seen and analyzed it so many times.


We live in a very high quality TV show era now.  Maybe the top end isn't as strong as a decade ago but the number of very good shows is amazing.  It's hard to even keep up with shows that aren't on your sourcing radar - HBO, Showtime, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, etc. This list is as fluid as any here - ask me tomorrow and it might be different - but here it is at this time and place.

BEST TV SHOWS OF 2017

1.  TWIN PEAKS (SHOW)  I don't know that I was completely in love with this show as it aired.  It's one that really ages well though.  The more I watch other shows, the more I'm impressed that Showtime gave David Lynch so much room to tell his story at his pace.
2.  HALT & CATCH FIRE (AMC)  "I have an idea".  This show had the most consistently great run of any show of recent times.  It's a love story to the 80s and 90s that used computer culture as a background to tell some really powerful stories.
3.  PREACHER (AMC)  It's been a fun ride so far.  This season in New Orleans was a bit uneven but in the end I can't compare it to any other show out there.
4.  BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)  Easily just the most fun, you don't have to think too hard about it, show on my list.  A fun ride that plays well to non-"Breaking Bad" fans too.
5.  RIVERDALE (CW)  Comfort food alert - this show is just fun.  Beautiful cast and a level of mystery that is original "Twin Peaks" meets "90210" with interesting results.  
6.  LEGION (FX)  There are almost too many traditional superhero shows around these days.  It's hard to follow the normal rules and make it interesting.  This show throws out most of the traditions of the genre.  It's frustrating at times but so unique that it still sticks with me.
7.  SILICON VALLEY / VEEP (HBO)  If you had the app you'd know it's "not hot dog" but these two are Sunday night linked in my mind and both the best comedies running. 1A/1B
8.  TABOO (FX)  It was a show that took me a long time to figure out and I'm still not sure of most of the details but dark and wrong is always good in my book.  Also Tom Hardy!
9.  FARGO (FX)  Not as strong as the first couple seasons but Carrie Coon and Ewan MacGregor  are hard to take your eyes off of.  Compelling characters made this fun.
10. LEFTOVERS (HBO)  This final season wasn't what I thought they would do to end the show.  It was better.  You don't always get all the answers in life - sometimes the questions you get are better.

Because of all the choices, some get pushed off to be binge watched at a future date.  Some will just fall off my radar until one of you reminds me to start them up again.  

BEST TV THAT I DON'T WATCH (yet) (or have just started)

1.  MINDHUNTER (Netflix)  Everything about this show looks like a Shawn show.
2.  STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)  I'm two episodes in and it's brilliant and I have to have it done by Comic Con in July.
3.  THE HANDMAID'S TALE (Hulu)
4.  BIG LITTLE LIES (HBO)  I should read the book first?
5.  UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT (Netflix)  Just never started it - I know it's good.
6.  THE DEUCE (HBO)  From "The Wire" creators - how did I miss this?
7.  SANTA CLARITA DIET (Netflix)  Always been a Drew Barrymore fan.
8.  MASTER OF NONE (Netflix)  Another Netflix addition that needs my attention.
9.  BASKETS (FX)  
10. AMERICAN VANDAL (Netflix)  Have you seen the previews???  Holy crap.

You remember the way I like trailers almost as much as movies?   Ads are even more intriguing.  One, there are fewer actual old time commercials anymore and for fewer and fewer products.  Two, where do you even sit still for them anymore?  For me it's mostly during sporting events but even then I usually have to see them in another setting to know to watch them.  No Dilly Dilly here . . . 

BEST TV ADS OF 2017

1.  FEARLESS GIRL.  It kind of says about 2017 what I can't find the proper words.

2.  MCDONALDS.  Mindy Kaling does the unheard of - she doesn't mention the product in the ad.  But gets people to Google it.  I like clever.

3.  NESPRESSO.  "I'm coming home" takes some of my favorite movies and seamlessly puts Clooney in the middle with hilarious results.

4.  SQUARESOFT.  The best Super Bowl ad.  John Malkovich is hilarious "There is a film about me being me."

5.  INSTAGRAM.  Stories are everywhere is inspired and makes you feel like dang it you can make something interesting.  I take pictures of Bloody Marys.  So I'm out.

6. BURGER KING.  Powerful shit.  A way to call out the people who don't do anything.

7.  ANOMALY.  Girl accidentally addresses her letter to Santa as Satan.  It's a real 6 minute movie actually more than an ad.  Patrick Stewart narrates. 

8.  SHEBA.  I love me some cats.  This "Hungry Eyes" parody had me from the start.

9.  MICROSOFT.  A sweet holiday ad about inclusion.

10.  HALO TOP.  Everyone you love is gone. There is only ice cream.  

I chose to explore the world of Bloody Marys this year.  The project got me to to some bars and restaurants that I would not have made it to otherwise this year.  It's a drink that I only kinda liked before this year.  Now it's something that I seek out.  The secret is in the mix and in the garnish.  I prefer at the very least three olives and bacon is a nice touch.

BEST BLOODY MARYS OF 2017
1.  POTATO SHACK.  This was a total surprise.  A potato restaurant in Huntsville served up a perfectly spicy Bloody Mary.  So good that I went back later in the year for another.
2.  GUY FIERI'S VEGAS KITCHEN & BAR.  A little crazy with the garnish.  Essentially it's a meal on your drink.  But it's a crazy good drink.
3.  ROCKIN BAJA LOBSTER.  Maybe I'm biased because I love this San Diego taco joint.  But this went very well with brunch.
4.  BUFFALO WILD WINGS.  As far as chains go, they didn't always live up to the hype.  This one comes through in spades.  A wonderful addition.
5.  TEQUILA BAR & GRILLE.  Another San Diego entry shows that atmosphere also goes a long way.
6.  WITHERSPOON DISTILLERY.  The vodka is important too.  This craft liquor bar made me a little work of art that was really good.
7.  BANG BANG BAR.  Cute dive bar in San Antonio wins for out of the way trip for a Bloody Mary and excellent juke box.
8.  PLUCKERS.  
9.  3 STACKS
10.  CHILI'S.  Including this since I never have anything nice to say about the place.  I was surprised to find that they have a really decent mix.

THINGS FROM 2017 THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY OTHER LISTS
1.  THE ECLIPSE.   A very memorable few minutes of the year when people stopped being upset about everything else. Also the picture of Trump staring directly into the eclipse.
2.  PEGGY WHITSON.  She commanded the International Space Station and last year set the record for the most days in space by an U.S. astronaut.
3.  HOUSTON ASTROS.  Considering the hurricane circumstances, this was more rewarding than a Cubs victory again.
4.  FIONA THE HIPPO.  Baby hippos rule.
5.  COLLEGE GRADUATION.  So proud of Christian for getting it done early and without debt.
6.  LITTLE ELM CRAFTHOUSE.  Friday's book/beer/patio is the best way to end a week and even though it's not every week, it's often enough to give me peace.
7.  TACOS.  Just need to remind you that they are still awesome.
8.  CAJUN NAVY.  Hurricane Harvey brought out country folk in their own boats who had themselves been rescued in Katrina.
9.   BASKETBALL.  My son plays basketball 12 months out of the year and I haven't grown tired of watching him play yet.
10. CRAFT LIQUOR.  I hope this trend of local small batch whiskey and vodka continues into the new year.

Speaking of 2018 - THE WINTER OLYMPICS may provide extra interest this year in the Ice Dance competition as my niece looks to qualify next week.


I used to have lists on here about DVD's I purchased and music I bought.  Those days seem quaint now.  I still listen to music but in ways that are less easy to quantify.  I listen to XM and CDs in the car and working out, walking and at work I listen to Amazon and Spotify.  Thank you Spotify for keep stats for me.

MOST PLAYED SONGS FROM SPOTIFY IN 2017
1. A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

2.  Jurrasic 5 - Juarass Finish First
3.  William Bell - I Forgot To Be Your Lover
4.  The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By
5.  Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
6.  Nappy Roots - Po' Folks
7.  Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
8.  Jurrasic 5 - Quality Control
9.  Heavy D & The Boyz - Now That We Found Love

10. Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize

Thanks for all the time you've given me.  I appreciate your patience with me through the year with my silly little projects.  I hope to meet up with even more of you this year to accompany me with these shenanigans.

"What are we gonna do
Roses are red and violets are blue
Love is good and plenty if you get plenty good lovin'
Kiss you where you're hot to what I got to keep you bubblin'"  - Heavy D

 What are we going to do with it in 2018.  Stay hard.

sb