Martha's Top Ten: Christmas Movie Edition

I'll readily admit that I'm not a die-hard Christmas fan. It was never much fun since both my parents worked in churches. We usually ended up celebrating at some weird time and it always seemed like a job. But I still have a place in my heart for Christmas movies. Here are my favorites:

10) White Christmas - yes, it's old, but the music is great. Reflects what Christmas should be about rather than what it's become.

9) Jingle All the Way - argue with me if you want, but I think this one falls into a "so bad it's good" category.

8) Miracle on 34th Street - the original with a young Natalie Wood. I think we all want to believe in Santa in some way.

7) Bad Santa - on the other hand... not if he's Billy Bob Thornton. This movie is more like an anti-Christmas movie but it's still great.

6) The Santa Clause - but not the twelve awful sequels it spawned (ok, so it was two.) I admit I might like this movie so much because of the hot head elf, Bernard:



5) Home Alone - aaaaaaah! Such a classic - bumbling bad guys get bested by an 8-year old. The first sequel was pretty good too. The second, notsomuch.

4) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - it wouldn't be Christmas if Clark didn't wreck something. Or a lot of things.

3) Mixed Nuts - this movie doesn't get the love it deserves. It's got a great cast and is a wonderful film.

2) Elf - Will Ferrell is kind of like Adam Sandler - most of the time he's too over the top, but every once in a while he really nails it. This movie is a perfect example of that.

1) The Muppet Christmas Carol - Love, love, love! this movie. I have been listening to the soundtrack pretty much non-stop in my car. I always watch it at least once a year. So many things to love about this one: the music, Gonzo and Rizzo, the Marley brothers... If you don't watch any other movie this Christmas, watch this one.

Now, you might notice that A Christmas Story is nowhere on my list. It was #1 on EW's list. I don't get it. It's a dumb movie. I can't stand it.

So there you go. My picks. Merry Christmas!

Martha's Top Ten: John Irving Edition

I admit I'm still working my way (albeit very slowly) through Last Night in Twisted River so this list might not be totally accurate. I also seem to remember I couldn't bring myself to read all of Setting Free the Bears so perhaps that's a little unfair as well. But oh well. This is my list.

10) A Son of the Circus

9) The Water-Method Man

8) The 158-Pound Marriage

7) Until I Find You

6) The Hotel New Hampshire

5) The Fourth Hand

4) A Prayer for Owen Meany

3) The World According to Garp

2) The Cider House Rules

1) A Widow for One Year

I don't have a lot to say about many of these individually. John Irving's style and subject matter is divisive at times and it's a matter of taste as to who likes him and who doesn't. All of his books touch on many of the same themes and I enjoy reading and re-reading them. He makes up a good percentage of my home libary.

Martha's Top Ten: John Cusack Edition

10) Say Anything (1989)



Classic 80s movie or what? Beautiful girl - geeky guy. And Peter Gabriel.

9) Martian Child (2007)



A beautiful film about acceptance and how genes don't make a family a family.

8) The Sure Thing (1985)



Another 80s classic. Cross-country trek for sex when what you're really after is right beside you the whole way. Daphne Zuniga is great in this too.

7) Money for Nothing (1993)



What else are you going to do with a million dollars that you find laying in the street? I mean, come on!

6) The Ice Harvest (1995)



Creepy in a Bad Santa kind of way - I think it's a Billy Bob Thornton thing. Kind of over-the-top violent (see also: Grosse Pointe Blank), but not bad. Good ending.

5) Serendipity (2001)



Sappy, "it must be fate" plot, but it totally draws you in.

4) Must Love Dogs (2005)



Another sappy movie, but full of fun moments and a great supporting cast. Also, wins "best, most hilarious race for protection", hands down.

3) Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)



Wonderfully violent plot, great soundtrack, also love Minnie Driver and Dan Aykroyd.

2) High Fidelity (2000)



Another great soundtrack (see what I mean about John Cusack choosing his films for their music?), Jack Black, some great meltdowns. Kind of like Broken Flowers, but, you know, a good movie.

1) Better Off Dead (1985)



Totally stuntperson performed skiing sequences aside, this movie is my most favorite John Cusack film for so many reasons. Classic 80s music (and a Claymation Van Halen video? yes please!):



Hilarious "suicide" attempts, bad French accents, crazy parental antics, and the best little brother character EVER. Oh, and I want my two dollars!!!

Seriously people - go watch this movie. It's wonderful.

Martha's Top Ten: TV Chef Edition

10)Bobby Flay

Iron Chef, Throwdown! champ, but still airs episodes of Boy Meets Grill from back in 2002 in which he's not so perfect. He's got a great sense of humor, is very successful, and just happens to be married to my favorite L&O ADA, Stephanie March.

And they're so cute together!


9) Guy Fieri

Half creative genius, half insane nutsoid. His energy is contagious, his hair is blinding, and he's got the most adorable family.



8) Giada De Laurentiis

One look at her and you're convinced she's a stuck-up food snob who can't possibly eat the stuff she makes. Watch just one episode of any of her shows and you'll know you're so wrong. She's fun to watch, makes really good stuff, and has helped the image of chefs 'round the world. Can't hurt that her wardrobe department is partial to really low-cut tops...


7) Ellie Krieger

Eating well can suck, but Ellie tries to make it as painless as possible. As a chef/nutritionist, she gives tips for logical swaps to make traditionally taboo favorites ok for those of us who are looking to lighten things up. It's a lot easier to cook healthfully when you see someone doing it and liking it so much.


6) Nigella Lawson

On the other end of the spectrum... Nigella likes her fats, her naughty foods, and isn't ashamed to flaunt it. Not so much a butter fiend as Paula Deen, Nigella still cooks real food, unapologetically. And every single episode of Nigella Feasts ends with her sneaking into the fridge for a midnight snack. My kind of gal!


5) Jamie Oliver

His first US cooking show was The Naked Chef. Who wouldn't watch that? Of course he wasn't naked (stupid false advertising) but he was still adorable. Now he's gone on a crusade to make school lunches healthier.


4) Sandra Lee

She's kind of a whack job when it comes to the color-coordinated kitchen stuff and tablescapes, but her recipes aren't bad. She came under a lot of attack because she uses so much pre-packaged food that people say are full of sodium and preservatives. Dude - her show is called SEMI HOMEMADE. It's going to use prefab stuff. You want totally home-cooked, organic stuff? Watch something else. This is the niche she's chosen to inhabit and she does a great job.


3) Rachael Ray

Another chef who has taken quite a beating from her critics. But I still have many of her cookbooks on my shelves and I use them all the time. She's not a culinary genius, but she took advantage of her ability to know what people are looking for - time-saving tips, easy recipes. She's ridiculously successful and it can't be too tough to be one of Oprah's BFFs.


2) Ina Garten

While Ina strikes me somewhat as a food snob, she creates such wonderful recipes it's easy to forgive the pretentious vibes she gives off. I love that she films in her own home, involves so many of her friends, and has her husband pop up all the time. They've been married for a long time and it's obvious he adores her. It's so cute.



1) Alton Brown

I *heart* Alton Brown. He's a dork. He's got a great sense of humor. He's a food nerd and knows all kinds of random food facts. His Spinach Artichoke dip is a staple at our parties. Good Eats is one of the best food shows on television and his commentary on Iron Chef America is witty and entertaining.

Martha's Top Ten: U2 Version

I love U2. (Although, what the hell was Discotheque?) It was really hard to choose my ten favorite songs. So hard in fact that I've listed some "just missed it"s at the end.

10) New Year's Day



Political, yes, but not obnoxiously so. And Bono's hair in the video? Classic.

9) Stuck in a Moment That You Can't Get Out Of



Great lyrics.

8) Pride



Great lyrics with a timeless message. Good guitar playing too! (And Bono's hair is just out of control in this video!)

7) When Love Comes to Town



This song is so catchy and sing-a-long-able. Not your typical U2 sound, but it totally works.

6) Dancing Barefoot



Aah, how I love the movie Threesome. (Although you may notice it was not on my top ten last week - just barely got beaten out on that list.) This song was in that movie and I instantly loved it.

5) Elevation



Classic U2 sound with some oddly catchy rhyming.

4) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me



Aside from the awesome music video and the fact that this was the last decent Batman movie until the whole franchise was revamped by Christopher Nolan... I just love this song. Great chorus, great overall sound. I had this song on a cassette single that I'm pretty sure was my first U2 purchase!

3) Mysterious Ways



This song sounded totally awesome in the Celica with the big bass speakers in the back. Video's kind of trippy, but the song itself is pretty good.

2) With or Without You



The Joshua Tree has been my favorite album for a long time. This song epitomizes the U2 sound.

1) Electrical Storm



The original, not the remix which is what all the videos seem to be. Love the beginning, love the bridge and all the key changes. All around my favorite U2 song. To date. :-)

And now, the "Missed it by a nose" entries:

Martha's Top Ten: Movie Edition

It's hard to narrow the massive field of film down to ten and these choices change constantly, but this is what I'm feeling like today...

10) A Simple Twist of Fate
Year: 1994
Starring: Steve Martin, Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney, Stephen Baldwin
Why I Love It: This is one of the few movies featuring Steve Martin that I can stand him in. He's a lot like Adam Sandler. Most of the time I find both of these men completely obnoxious. But every once in a while they make a film that's wonderful. This movie is one of them for Steve Martin. Great plot, right balance of humor and heartbreak. Good music too.

9) William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Year: 1996
Starring: Clare Danes, Leonardo DiCaprio
Why I Love It: Unlike his most recent release, this is one of Baz Luhrman's movies I like. (Australia, *shudder*...) Great semi-modernization of the classic story with some interesting music choices and camera work.

8) Benny & Joon
Year: 1993
Starring: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aiden Quinn
Why I Love It: Well, aside from the obvious Johnny Depp thing... His character in this movie is such a great one. From the Charlie Chaplin moves to his interaction with both Joon and Benny. Great music again. Seems to be a theme...

7) How to Make an American Quilt and The Joy Luck Club
Year: 1995/1993
Starring: Winona Ryder/Ming-Na
Why I Love It: I'm counting these two films as one choice here because the similarity between them is so strong. They're both about young women facing an important choice and how women from the older generation impart the knowledge they've gained through their life experiences to help them with their decision. Both are wonderfully made, and while I don't really like Winona Ryder much, the other actresses in her film are so strong (it's really an impressive cast) it makes up for her inability to be anyone other than herself.

6) Clueless
Year: 1995
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd
Why I Love It: This is a movie I could watch over and over again and never get tired of it. It's a silly movie, full of cliches and catch phrases (as if!) but it makes me smile.

5) To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
Year: 1995
Starring: Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Wesley Snipes
Why I Love It: Three very masculine guys in drag - what's not to like? They're all very convincing as ladies and the underlying message of acceptance is uplifting. Bit parts for Robin Williams and RuPaul are great too.

4) A Beautiful Mind
Year: 2001
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly
Why I Love It: It took me awhile to watch this movie, but once I did I loved it. Interesting plot, good acting, great score. And while it's not exactly true to life (as in, lots of creative liberties were taken in the character of John Nash since the real man is apparently quite a piece of work) it's still one of my favorites.

3) Thelma & Louise
Year: 1991
Starring: Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon
Why I Love It: Girl Power! I always identified with Geena Davis' character. It would have been fun to have a best friend to run away and drive off a cliff with. Of course, this is a movie, so real life isn't that...glamorous? In any case, a wonderful journey through a friendship with some hot, young, Brad Pitt thrown in for fun.

2) Sliding Doors
Year: 1998
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah
Why I Love It: Bad English accents aside, this is an all-around winner. What a great plot - who wouldn't want to be able to see what might have happened if one thing in your life had changed? And I do love John Hannah and his cute (and REAL, ahem) accent.

1) When Harry Met Sally...
Year: 1989
Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
Why I Love It: This movie has consistently been at the top of my list for years now. There's nothing I can find to not like. The actors are great, it's fun, it's serious, it's so true. It's a perfectly made romantic comedy with great supporting cast members and many quotable lines. My favorite?

"Had my dream again where I'm making love, and the Olympic judges are watching. I'd nailed the compulsories, so this is it, the finals. I got a 9.8 from the Canadians, a perfect 10 from the Americans, and my mother, disguised as an East German judge, gave me a 5.6. Must have been the dismount. "