Top 10 actors to look out for in 2012

It's been a while since I've made a list, and a longer while since I've written about something mindless. So here's my end-of-year contribution. A list of 10 amazing and not-too-shabby-looking actors  (ok fine, really hot and moderately talented actors) whom I'd like to see more of in 2012, because they made my 2011 that little bit more enjoyable. And I will start with the most obvious:

1. Ryan Gosling

I first saw Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson. Good movie. Good acting. Nothing to write home about. Lars and the Real Girl was original, funny and sweet. But he was a an awkward little thing. Then came Blue Valentine, in which the guy showed us some amazing talent. It was only until Drive and Ides of March though that I started to see something more. And the moment he took that shirt off in Crazy, Stupid, Love... it was all over. Watch and judge for yourselves.



2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Who remembers that scrawny teenager in 3rd Rock from the Sun? Here he is.

Who knew this kid was gonna grow into a bold young actor, undertaking challenging roles in indie movies like Brick, The Lookout and Mysterious Skin? His recent flicks (500) Days of Summer and Inception has given him mainstream recognition. But be on the "look out" as he blossoms into a star in this new hit 50/50.



3. James McAvoy

Maybe James McAvoy is less known for his role as Mr. Tumnus, the faun, in The Chronicles of Narnia, but this is where I first met him. Soon after he was cast in The Last King of Scotland and the underrated comedy, Penelope. His big break was surely Atonement, in which he made his mark on the soft-hearted of us - and whoever said they didn't at least hold back a tear are simply lying! Less impressive, for me at least, was X-Men: First Class - though to be honest his presence in that film made it more palatable. But seriously, look into his eyes. Don't you see a bright future that wants to just suck you in?

4. Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis started off as a silly little girl in That 70s Show. I'm not sure how much further she's ventured away from that, either as Meg Griffin in Family Guy or alongside Justin Timberlake in Friends with Benefits. However, I still think that she is a talented young actress, whose role, to be honest, was one of the few things I enjoyed in Black Swan (Yes. Natalie Portman drives me crazy).

5. Neil Patrick Harris

What can we say about Neil Patrick Harris? Teenage doctor in Doogie Houser turned serial womanizer in How I Met Your Mother turned gay in real life turned singer on Broadway. Here he is doing the  opening number at the 2011 Tony Awards. The guy's pretty funny, and he actually has talent.



6. Olivia Wilde


It's a shame that I can't watch Olivia Wilde every week as House's Thirteen anymore. She's moved on to bigger things. Guess I'm gonna have to catch up.

7. Hunter Parrish

Isn't it nice when you watch an 18-year-old become an adult right in front of your eyes? OK I sound kinda creepy but hey, everything about Weeds was kinda creepy. So, yeah, I enjoyed it. And one season I woke up, and Hunter Parrish was hot.

8. Marion Cotillard


Man. I feel like this is the only serious actor on my list... But she's not done yet.

Marion Cotillard Oscar De La Meilleure Actrice. Watch more top selected videos about: Academy Awards, Marion Cotillard

9. Darren Criss

Darren Criss, as Blaine Anderson, is the best thing that happened to Glee. After a disastrous ending for the first season, I was ready to stop. But then came this highly talented, up-beat and gorgeous yet boy-next-door-looking character, and I was back. We have caught him at the very start of his career. Let's hope there's a lot more to come.


Glee - Baby, It's Cold Outside por pedrinhorafa no Videolog.tv.

10. Emma Stone

We've been through this before and she already has a clip at the beginning of this post (with Ryan Gosling). But here she is again. Though you know what? With all her and Gosling's charm combined, they couldn't save that lame ass movie called Crazy, Stupid, Love. It was just a stupid film with only one super cool scene.

Labaki's Ou Hala La Wein: Form without content?

Is it finally here? The film that will get the international recognition that Lebanon has been waiting for? Ou Hala La Wein (Where Do We Go Now) has it all. It's got a rustic feel with a modern look. It's got an excellent cast, who can also sing. It's got drama and tragedy, with some pretty witty comedy. It touches upon, but never really gets into, a war that baffled many, enough to intrigue but not too much so as to take away from the drama. It's directed by a strong, confident, young woman who can also perform. I can't imagine how this film could possibly go unrecognized.

Rom coms of the decade

A few nights ago, I had a rare experience. I went to the movies to watch a romantic comedy, and I enjoyed it. I was so excited that I wanted to write a review but to be honest there wasn't that much to write about. So I thought "Hey. Maybe I'll make a list of 5 fun rom coms of the year!" It took me a day to figure out that such a list does not exist. So I thought, "OK. Let's do Top 10 of 2005 - 2010". Yep... A weekend later and I barely had a handful of movies to consider. Here's the best I could come up with: 15 rom coms of the decade (2001 until 2010).

My take on The Social Network

*Spoiler alert*-ish

Can anyone finally sense the birth of a new genre in the film industry? Are you all, like me, surprised that it took so long? Online social networking! Of course. All the stories you can come up with. Sure, there's been a few movies here and there: You've Got Mail, Julie and Julia… I can't think of any more. OK, maybe less than a few. But The Social Network is not just a movie about social networking. It is THE movie that pushed the genre into the limelight. And if you have any interest in its history (I'm talking 7 seven years here), then this is a must. The producers will tell you it's a movie about betrayal and enemies, about good guys and bad guys. They want to get you interested. But they don't need to do that. We are already interested because we are all living it. This film is about our era. An era where a woman from Lebanon can write a film review that a guy from Brazil may read and think, "I can do better than that." Think of the possibilities.