Pastime Productions

In case you haven't noticed....I like lists. Since the decade has come to an end I think it's appropriate that I post my 10 most favorite films of the past ten years. It took some thinking, and yes it was close, but to be fair to the films that just missed the cut, I've added a few extra flicks at the end because picking just 10 was too hard. So here are my 10 best films of the decade:

10) Mulholland Dr. (2001)
9) Traffic (2000)
8) A Mighty Wind (2003)
7) Mystic River (2003)
6) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
5) The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
4) The Wrestler (2008)
3) The Departed (2006)
2) The Dark Knight (2008)
1) Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

And here are a few that just missed the cut, but are worth a watch none-the-less:

- Hot Fuzz (2007)
- Requiem for a Dream (2000)
- In Bruges (2008)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

That's right it's awards season which means I get to play 'professional film picker' again. Without wasting more of your time here's who I think is going to go home with a Golden Globe in the movie categories.

Best Motion Picture - Drama: Up in the Air
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Nine
Best Actor - Drama: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart
Best Actress - Drama: Helen Mirren for The Last Station
Best Actor - Musical or Comedy: Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes
Best Actress - Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air
Best Director: Jason Reitman for Up in the Air
Best Screenplay: Up in the Air by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Best Original Song: Brothers by Bono
Best Original Score: Avatar by James Horner
Best Animated Film: Up
Best Foreign Language Film: The White Ribbon

Even though the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has decided to raise the number of Best Picture nominees to 10, that doesn't mean many of the 'early contenders' are still a given to be nominated. To see which films had high expectations come Oscar time, but will probably be disappointed just click here.

Just released are this year's Golden Globe nominations. I wasn't shocked by any of the nominations, but if I had to pick one it's Tobey Maguire for Brothers in the Best Actor - Drama category. I'm going to try and see more of the films nominated before making my choices so stay tuned. For a complete list of the 2010 Golden Globe nominations just click here.

These days filmmaker Tim Burton is a really busy man. With his next film Alice in Wonderland in heavy post-production, Tim somehow found time to lend some of his other art to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). To find out what Tim Burton thinks about the birth of Edward Scissorhands, the rise of 3-D, and anthropomorphic coffee pots just click here.

Arguably one of the more recognizable movie studios, Warner Bros. has just released its 2010 movie lineup. I've heard of many of the projects coming out under Warner next year, but there are a few I've only just heard of. For instance Clint Eastwood's next project, Todd Philips next comedy and Ben Affleck's second attempt at directing. It should be noted that I was a huge fan of Gone Baby Gone so that is not a low blow to Ben Affleck. To see which Warner Bros. movies you'll be going to next year just click here.

This year Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison will receive the lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of America. Jewison has been nominated for three DGA Awards and for four Oscars and his films have received a dozen Academy Awards. In 1999, Jewison received the Irving Thalberg Award. Read more on this outstanding news right here.

I think it's safe to say that Jason Reitman has become one of Hollywood's A-List directors. Up in the Air is only his third film, but his previous two efforts; Thank you for Smoking & Juno, made him a household name. In Up in the Air Jason Reitman directs probably his biggest actor to date George Clooney and to find out what it was like working with George, or how it was shooting in actual airports, or even to find out what it's like to be the son of a Hollywood legend just click here.

Though Paranormal Activity cost only $11,000 to make it brought in an astounding $107 million domestically. That's bang for your buck! Paramount therefore was quick to join (and eventually win) the bidding war for Oren Peli's next flick Area 51. The $5 million budget for Area 51 is much larger than the budget for Paranormal Activity, but $5 million is still extremely low for a studio film.

Not much is known about Area 51, but what is for certain is that it will still use the "found footage" technique which worked wonders in Paranormal Activity. A release date has not been set, but a Summer 2010 release is likely. Read a bit more on Area 51 right here.

When did Joss Whedon suddenly become the toast of mainstream award-givers? Just months after receiving an Emmy for "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," the "Dollhouse" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator has been tapped to received the 2010 Vanguard Award from the Producers Guild of America. Read more on this right here.