Skip to main content

Mike Ryan's Ten Favorite Movies From 2011

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 27th 2011 3:10PM
Filed under: Movie News, Best and Worst


Last week -- while saddled with flu-like symptoms -- I made a list of eleven movies from 2011 that I didn't particularly enjoy. Thankfully, it's a new week, and my flu-like symptoms have subsided. (I'm going to live!) In celebration of my second lease on life (and the fact that I'm currently on vacation in the Midwest and -- even though I grew up here -- I forgot just how nice people are; it's contagious) here is a list of my ten favorite movies from 2011.
Continue Reading

10 Things That Confuse Me About 'A Christmas Story'

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 25th 2011 3:40PM
Filed under: Movie News


Due to some scheduling snafus on my part, I'm stuck in New York on Christmas Day instead of being miserable with my family in St. Louis. Oh, woe is me! With absolutely nothing to do, I had assumed, like any normal human being, that I'd turn to booze to keep me company. Instead, I find myself absolutely transfixed by the 'A Christmas Story' marathon currently airing on TBS. As I type this, I'm starting my fifth viewing. No matter how much I try, I cannot turn it off! It's not even so much that I'm enjoying watching this movie -- I'm just so fascinated and perplexed. So much so that, to pass the time, I'm creating a list of the ten things that confuse me about 'A Christmas Story.' (Also: Please help me.)
Continue Reading

Happy Holidays, From Moviefone

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 23rd 2011 6:00PM
Filed under: Movie News


As I type this, it's Hanukkah. On Sunday, it's Christmas. I'm sure there are many more wonderful holidays, too, that I'm too lazy to look up. But, if I missed one, happy that too. We at Moviefone will still be around over the next few days in case some sort of Earth-shattering movie news happens (which we can only assume will be George Lucas making us mad about something or other), but, at least until Tuesday, it will be a lighter schedule than normal -- but we do have a few surprises!
Continue Reading

Our Q&A with the Horse from 'War Horse'

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 23rd 2011 4:10PM
Filed under: Movie News


Hello. It's the Friday afternoon before Christmas and if my office is anything like your office, it's pretty empty right now. Chances are, you're not even in the office. Chances are you will never read this because you're on a plane or train to somewhere that you either love (or despise) for the holiday weekend. But if you are at your office, you may be struggling to find something that makes it look like you are keeping busy. Hey, me too! No need to piss off the boss right before a long weekend, right? With that, I wrote a piece in which I pretend to interview Joey, the horse from 'War Horse.' Because even though this is utter nonsense, it appears to everyone else around my desk like I'm doing actual work. So, happy holidays, no one that's reading this.
Continue Reading

11 Movies From 2011 That Pissed Me Off

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 23rd 2011 2:10PM
Filed under: Movie News


The following eleven films are not the worst films of the year. Well, a few of them are. One, at least, may be one of the best films of the year. No matter. What these eleven films do have in common is that every single one of them pissed me off in one way or another. Some looked promising and disappointed me, others turned out to be even more terrible than I'd imagined. So, in the spirit of Christmas (I should clarify: a Christmas week in which I've been sick and, as a result, in a terrible mood), here are the top eleven films of 2011 that pissed me off.
Continue Reading

Is 'We Bought a Zoo' So Sappy It's Good? (And 24 Other Urgent Questions)

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 22nd 2011 3:30PM
Filed under: Movie News


On Friday, a story about a family purchasing a zoo arrives in theaters with the daring and bold title of 'We Bought a Zoo.' Matt Damon ('The Rainmaker') stars as Benjamin Mee, a father of two who buys the titular zoo. Is 'We Bought a Zoo' so sappy that it's good? Or will you drown in the sap and die? As a service, we answer every question that you could possibly have about 'We Bought a Zoo.'
Continue Reading

Stellan Skarsgard on 'Dragon Tattoo,' Not Being Satisfied with 'The Avengers' and His 'Good Will Hunting' Scarf

By Mike Ryan (Subscribe to Mike Ryan's posts), Posted Dec 21st 2011 5:00PM
Filed under: Celebrity Interviews, Movie News, Awards


There are certain actors that you meet during interview sessions that aren't concerned with "staying on message." Stellan Skarsgard is one of those actors. For example: Skarsgard openly admits that he's not satisfied with his role in 'The Avengers.' Then there's his relationship with his son, Alexander, of 'True Blood' fame: "I never help my kids and I never encourage them and I never give them any advice." So, yes, that's interesting.
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Hot Topics

From Our Partners