2014 Excellence Awards: Acting in a Motion Picture

Obviously it goes to Jake Gyllenhaal in "Nightcrawler"! If you've not seen it I don't even want to talk. Jake is a crazy, cookoo freelance video journalist with no scruples! 

How many Oscars should Jake win for "Nightcrawler"? 

Halloween Movie Countdown! #1-3

#1. "It's not easy having a good time. Even smiling makes my face ache."

#2. "Oh look, another glorious morning. Makes me SICK!"

#3. "Oh, I sure hope you're from Keebler!"

Halloween Movie Countdown! #4 Elvira Mistress of the Dark

Elvira is not only the Mistress of the Dark, she's also the Queen of Halloween! That title alone makes this movie a Halloween classic! On another note: This movie is 25 years old!! OMG! It's also streaming on Netflix! 

Elvira's first movie displays her ample talents nicely and is the perfect boiling cauldron bubbling over with silliness and spookiness and boobiness. Fun for most of the family! 

But wait- there's more . . . 

Halloween Movie Countdown! #5 The Nightmare Before Christmas

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" was very controversial in 1993. My family felt any movie that dared allow Halloween and Christmas to co-exist must have been co-produced by the Devil. Go figure! It's of course become a classic and needs no explanation or persuasion on my part, as to why it's on this list of Halloween MUSTS! 

It's also okay if you forget to watch it before Halloween, as it has so many Christmas parts it's the perfect "bridge movie" to watch in November! (Other bridge movies include: "The Bridges of Madison County" and "Love Can Build a Bridge: The True Story of the Judds.")

Sad Part: What if I worked at a Disney Park and they said I was too fat to play Jack Skellington?? "You can play the really fat Oogie Boogie," they'd say, "or the really fat Santa, or the really fat two-faced Mayor, but Jack can't be played by someone who is morbidly obese! It's called staying true to the character!" You can't argue with reason. 

Halloween Movie Countdown #6! Halloween

How could any Halloween movie countdown (even one as negligible as this one) leave out the original "Halloween"? The music, the pumpkins, that blessed atmosphere of dread, and Jamie Lee Curtis shines in a rare non-yogurt related role! 

I love how Michael's always standing behind a bush or a telephone pole or something. For the kiddies out there who've only seen Rob Zombie's remake, I don't know anything about that one, but this is a classic! 

I WOULD KILL FOR THAT MUCH CLOSET SPACE!!!

I WOULD KILL FOR THAT MUCH CLOSET SPACE!!!

I WOULD KILL FOR THAT MUCH CLOSET SPACE!!! 

Halloween Movie Countdown! #7 Trick 'r Treat

If you need a shot of Halloween cheer, look no further than "Trick 'r Treat"! One might come very near saying this is the ultimate Halloween movie, and if not the ultimate, it's pretty damn close. Unfolding in grand "Creepshow" tradition, the movie features several intertwining stories all set on Halloween night. I cannot oversell the very Halloweeniness of it all- if there are any scenes without at least one pumpkin I don't remember them. 

Are you beginning to understand? Pumpkins are not the only joys to be found however! The film blends comedy and horror and manages to remain unpredictable right up until the end. It also gave birth to Sam (up top) one of the up and coming new faces of Halloween! I give it 5 Pumpkins Up (out of 5). 

Halloween Movie Countdown! #8 Psycho

Halloween is the perfect time to enjoy original nutjob Norman Bates! His mother is a little demanding and things aren't looking good for Marion Crane. See, Marion's got a folded newspaper full of cash that seems to be eating at her. Is that what will do her in?

If you've never seen the original "Psycho" (where have you been since 1960?) make this Halloween count and watch the classic whose score alone would terrify you! You'll never shower alone again!

There's my friend Norman (above) named after Mr. Bates (of Motel fame). He's hanging with me this Halloween (and probably far after) and is now sitting with our pumpkin friends.