You might have thought I was gone, never to post Oscar predictions again. But much like Josh Hartnett in "Oppenheimer," I am BACK! Predicting the correct winners in all 23 categories. And—also like Josh Hartnett—I am always 100% right.*
Best Picture: It's an upside down world, where up is down and boy bands play instruments: a Christopher Nolan film is going to win the top honor at the Academy Awards! As a longtime Chris Nolan girlie, I couldn't be more pleased for him—"Oppenheimer" is gonna win Best Picture!
Best Director: And the gold won't stop there... Christopher Nolan will hear his named called in this category as well! Oppenhomies, we ride at dawn.
Best Actor: I am fairly confident, though not certain, that Cillian Murphy will take this one home. His portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer was masterful and haunting and cerebral, and he deserves to get the gold. If it's not him, look for Paul Giamatti to be the one to swoop in and take it.
Best Actress: Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone are in a virtual dead heat here. There's a part of me that thinks it really might be Emma, but I'm going with Lily Gladstone.
Best Supporting Actor: I'm just going to get this out of the way real, real quick: Charles Melton's name should be here in this category. (Side note: I'm a firm believer that if you think someone's been snubbed, you've gotta say who you think should come out of the list instead. So, sorry Sterling K. Brown—I think they should have given this spot to Charles over you.) But anyway, the winner will be Robert Downey Jr.
Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph was absolutely BRILLIANT in "The Holdovers." If it can't be Rachel McAdams for "Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret," I'm happy it'll be Da'Vine.
Animated Feature: I think there's a world where "The Boy and the Heron" wins because of the film community's love for Hayao Miyazaki. However, when I close my eyes and picture this category's envelope being opened on Sunday, I can only imagine hearing Anya Taylor-Joy or Dwayne Johnson or whoever saying "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse."
Production Design: The production design for "Barbie" is truly incredible—if you haven't seen the behind-the-scenes walk-throughs of the sets, you've gotta seek those out. However, I think the team behind "Poor Things" will nab this one.
Cinematography: I think "Oppenheimer" will win this one, and I'm not mad about that, but man if "Killers of the Flower Moon" doesn't feel equally deserving. Tough category.
Costume Design: History tells me to pick the quirky historical costumes from "Poor Things." My heart tells me to go for "Barbie."
Film Editing: I'm between "Oppenheimer" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" on this one, but when in doubt, the tie goes to the runner—aka the Best Picture winner. "Oppenheimer" it is!
Makeup and Hairstyling: First of all, JAIL to the Academy members who failed to nominate "Barbie" in this category. They toned my girl Margot's hair on the DAILY to make sure her locks were the perfect shade of blonde for her costume. Every! Day! Sigh. Anyway. I guess it could be "Maestro," but there doesn't seem to be a lot of passion for that film as a whole, so I'm picking "Poor Things" here.
Original Score: My jaw will be on the FLOOR if anything other than "Oppenheimer" wins this category.
Original Song: Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell have this one in the bag for "What Was I Made For?"—the duo's second win in this category in two years after 2022's "No Time to Die!"
Original Screenplay: This category could be where the Academy shows "Past Lives" some love. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Alexander Payne pick up his third Oscar for best screenplay, this time for "The Holdovers." But if I have to pick just one (and clearly I do), I'm going with "Anatomy of a Fall."
Adapted Screenplay: There's a lot of love for "American Fiction" in this category, but don't count out Christopher Nolan and his adaptation of a 700-page tome. I've gotta pick "Oppenheimer" here.
Sound: Another one for "Oppenheimer!" You go, "Oppenheimer."
Visual Effects: Without an "Avatar" or a "Dune" in this category, it kind of feels like anyone's game. There's a ton of stacked talent here, without a real heavyweight to pull all the votes. That being said, I can't shake the feeling that it's going to be "The Creator."
Documentary Feature: "20 Days in Mariupol" is about Russia's attack on Ukraine, and I can't see voters picking something else over that one.
Documentary Short: The choice here seems to be coming down to a film about book banning, and a film about a repair shop for kids' instruments. So tough! But I think the latter will have a bigger impact on voters, so I'll go with "The Last Repair Shop."
International Feature Film: I'm feelin' REAL confident with this one, so please don't embarrass me, Academy! It's "The Zone of Interest."
Animated Short: Did I pick "Letter to a Pig" based solely on the title? I didn't NOT do that...
Live Action Short: Netflix has been pushing "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" hard, and the industry loves them some Wes Anderson, so I'm inclined to think they'll give him the gold here.
*Okay, so I'm not ALWAYS right. But I'm ALWAYS in love with Josh Hartnett, and that's the truth.
3. Love, Theoretically, Ali Hazelwood This wouldn't be a complete "Val's list of top reads" without an Ali Hazelwood STEM-centric rom-com on the list, now would it? Exactly. As per usual, we have a male main character who is an absolute fool for the female lead. Plus he's so caring, so soft, so gentle, so capable. And Elsie, said female lead, was such a fun character to follow—teaching college courses, loving Twilight, striving after her dreams... we love to see it! Overall, I don't know what it was about this one—the chemistry between our leads? The fun and cheesy humor? The smarty pants science talk? I'm not sure, but I bet a second (or a third) read-through will help me decide!
“He studies my face for several moments, like he cannot stop on the cover or the first page, like he needs to read the whole book every time.”
2. The Right Move, Liz Tomforde Listen, if you have ALSO
read this book, I only need to say two words for you to understand this
book's high position in my ranking: Ryan. Shay. RYAN SHAY! Sigh. But to expand a little bit more... In the
romance book-readers world, "tropes" are everything, and this one
delivered SO MANY of my favorite tropes: grumpy
sunshine. Best friend's brother. Opposites attract. Fake dating. Pro athlete. Like, hi, I am SOLD. Plus, the number of 😍
emojis Ellie and I sent back and forth while reading this? THE LIMIT
DOES NOT EXIST. Give me a caring and protective male main character and I
am absolutely here for it, always and forever. Tears were streaming
down my face by the end of this book, and I just thought to myself,
'Thank you, Lord, for Ryan Shay.'
“You can’t stop being who you are because someone else thinks it’s too much, Ind. He can go find less."
1. The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Elizabeth O'Roark When
international pop star Drew Wilson needs a break from her grueling tour
schedule, she ends up in Hawaii with the family of her ex-boyfriend.
Along for the ride? His dashing but grumpy older brother Joshua, a tall,
'Doctors Without Borders' type who soon develops a soft spot for Drew. I
gobbled up the entire "Devil" series in a flash, and seriously considered just
making three of them my top picks of the year, but this second entry was
the one to capture my heart along with the top spot. (It must be said, though, that the first book in the series, "A Deal with the Devil" is also great and I loved it SO MUCH.) But anyway—the Hawaiian
mountains, globe-trotting story, deep feelings, and sprinkling of
heart-sparkling moments (the pastry! at her door! I. DIE.) were just
exactly the perfect formula to make this a favorite all-time read for
me.
“It takes so little to make her happy and I wonder if anyone in her life even tries.”
Honorable Mention
Flawless by Elsie Silver (Never thought I needed a professional bull rider in my life, but then I read about Rhett Eaton.) Caught Up, Liz Tomforde (The third book in the Mile High/Right Move series. I'm thoroughly obsessed with these books, and this is another series that easily could have just taken up the top three spots on my list.) Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television, Thea Glassman (If you're a pop culture/television fan, or if you loved any of these shows, this book is for you!) Kiss My Cupcake, Helena Hunting (He owns the axe-throwing pub next door to her bakery. What more do you need to know?) Murder for the Modern Girl, Kendall Kulper (A fun and interesting read, with a smart and inventive plot. Loved the main characters!) Say You Swear, Meagan Brandy (I read a lot of romance books this year—obviously—but Noah Riley was one of my FAVORITE 'book boyfriends.') I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (This girl has been THROUGH IT, but she wrote a beautiful, smart, and heartbreaking memoir about it all.) Always Mine / Ever Mine, Laura Pavlov (The first two books in the Honey Mountain series were my favorite, but they're all worth reading!) Done and Dusted, Lyla Sage (I need the sequel to this book to come out YESTERDAY. But I'll settle for March!) Bookworm, Cookie O'Gorman (Cookie O'Gorman is my GIRL, and I will read her sweet, soft YA romances as long as she keeps putting them out.)
I read 98 books this year, and the only people who would have been interested in that information are my grandparents. They aren't here anymore, so I'm telling you. Is 100 in my future? Come back next year...
My Three Favorite Movies of 2023
Runner-Up: Oppenheimer "Oppenheimer" is an outstanding film. The cast, score, direction, structure... it just all works for me. It's absolutely top tier. Nevermind that it's a "who's who" of fiercely talented Hollywood actors (including my first true movie love Josh Hartnett), it's also a fascinating story that sweeps its way through time and across the world, and I just really loved the whole experience.
3. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 "Dead Reckoning" is a smart, twisty, clever blast. These movies always strike the right balance between humor and tension, and "Dead Reckoning" is no different. It has a unique and inventive plot, some great character development, and, of course, more than a few jaw-dropping stunts and set pieces—plus a ton of laugh-out-loud moments! I love that they brought Hayley Atwell (forever my Agent Carter!) and Pom Klementieff (who was awesome formidable and... kinda scary!) into the fold—those two combined with the return of Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby created a formidable line-up of strong female characters, and we really love to see it. It's a shame that "Dead Reckoning's" release got eclipsed by Barbenheimer, because it deserved more time in the theatrical spotlight, so to speak. Please see it if you missed it—if not for me, do it for Shea Whigham. That guy's awesome.
2. Barbie It makes little to no sense, but part of me wanted to NOT rank "Barbie" super high? Just because it got SO popular, you know? But that's not really fair to Greta Gerwig, and it's really not fair to one Barbara Millicent Roberts. And it's also just not the truth, because "Barbie" was insanely fun, creative, smart, heartfelt, and hilarious, and man was it a great time at the theater! I mean I was literally pointing at the screen when I saw Barbie clothes I used to own. I had a blast spotting so many people in the audience dressed up in pink (I honestly had to stop myself from yelling "Hi Barbie!" to my fellow Barbies). Also I laughed probably a little too much (it had my favorite joke of the entire year!*). I truly think it's the funniest movie I've seen in the last few years. The whole experience was so nostalgic and refreshing and positive and FUN (I know, I keep using that word), and... I don't know. I just wish more movies could be like that.
*“It’s like I’ve been in a dream where I was really invested in the Zack Snyder Cut of Justice League!”
1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret This. Movie. Is. Wonderful. My gosh. I already love coming-of-age films, but this one was so smartly, delightfully, and reverently crafted, I found it impossible not to immediately deem it a favorite. The cast is pitch perfect, the script is both funny and touching, and the direction is flawless. Abby Ryder Fortson did a fantastic job anchoring the film, but Rachel McAdams (playing Margaret's mom) nearly stole the whole movie. I love Rachel in everything, but she was so magnetic and sensitive and relatable and dynamic in this, I found myself in awe of her talents all over again. The whole viewing experience was outstanding—I laughed, hid my face in embarrassed amusement, and teared up throughout. I didn't want it to end! It's as close to perfect as a movie came for me this year, and I can't encourage you enough to check out this sweet, poignant, funny, relatable gem of a movie.
Honorable Mention: The Holdovers, The Color Purple, Missing, Joy Ride, A Haunting in Venice, No Hard Feelings, Guy Ritchie's The Covenant
My Three Favorite TV Shows of 2023
Favorite shows I started watching this year:
3. Photo/Title Not Found
Here's the (very strange) deal: I only started—and finished—two new (to me) shows this year. I started several other good ones, but for whatever reason just haven't managed to make it to the end yet. That being said, at this point finishing all available episodes of a series is a big compliment from me, so with that in mind... Here are my top two new shows I stuck with this year!
2. Reacher I didn't initially jump at the chance to check out "Reacher." Mostly because, to be honest? It seemed like the epitome of a "dad show." (Not my dad, but you know... DADS.) However, I saw a couple clips online, didn't have anything else to watch (clearly), and decided to give it a whirl. Okay so, to get it out of the way, yes: a lot of it is just a very (very) big guy punching and shooting people. And giving people the stink eye, and spouting off some pretttttty cheesy dialogue. BUT. But. "Reacher" also has a compelling season-long mystery, some fun twists and turns, and a few actors I loved in other shows (Hi, Clive from "iZombie!"). It's a little gory and sometimes pretty brutal, but overall I had a great time traversing rural Georgia with a 6'5" dude who can snap his way out of zip-tie handcuffs and kick a car hard enough to deploy an airbag.
1. Poker Face File this one under "S" for "Shows That Feel Like They Were Made Just For Me." I mean—a witty, sprawling mystery that unfurls over the course of ten tight and highly entertaining episodes? This has VALERIE written all over it! Natasha Lyonne is perfect in the lead role of Charlie Cale, a smart and compassionate gal-on-the-run who can always tell when someone is lying (it's a feeling, you see). As she makes her way across the country trying to stay one step ahead of bodyguard/bad guy Benjamin Bratt, she finds herself solving mysteries in a myriad of different venues—a barbecue joint, a race track, a retirement home, and more. Along the way, we are treated to a series of iconic guest actors like Judith Light, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephanie Hsu, Charles Melton, Tim Meadows, and Cherry Jones. It's absolutely outstanding, and I cannot wait for season 2.
My Three Favorite Events of 2023
3. Summer + Christmas Family Time Our family's annual Galveston vacation is always one of my favorite weeks of the year! Going out on the boat, eating ice cream on the Strand, building sand castles, playing games, driving the golf cart, throwing water balloons, celebrating birthdays, fishing in the ocean... what's not to love? Wish I could play this week on repeat a few more times!
We got together again at Christmas, but why tell you about it when I can just SHOW you? Press play to see our December fun:
2. Morby Family Reunion The reason we got together—my grandfather's memorial service—was less than fun. But everything that came with my entire extended family gathering together for it was pure magic. We took all the little kids to a trampoline park, spent time out at "Morbyland" (my nieces' first time ever!), laughed a ton, played board games, and just enjoyed all being in the same place. It was more fun than it should have been, and I am so, so incredibly thankful for this group of people.
1. Ciminellos and Morbys in New York All my favorite people in one of my favorite places? IF I'M DREAMING PLEASE DON'T WAKE ME UP 'CAUSE BABY I CAN'T GET ENOUGH. My parents took me, my brother, and my sister and her family to New York City this October, and it was amazing! I loved getting to see the Big Apple through my nieces eyes—it was their first time up there, and it was SO fun getting to show them around! We ate fantastic food (family-style dining is my new favorite and I firmly believe more restaurants should be like this), got to experience so many iconic NYC landmarks/attractions together (Broadway Museum where have you been all my life??), and saw incredible shows ("Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" was a
mind-meltingly incredible experience and I will never be over how
astounding it was). It felt like the trip of a lifetime and I am so, so grateful that we got to do that together. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Honorable Mention: Girls trip to Kentucky, SMG movie club, Galveston weekend with Ellie, celebrating 15 years at my job (!), Ciminellos at family camp, old media team reunion at Melissa's anniversary party, celebrating Dad's 70th birthday, sweet surprise gifts from co-workers, celebrating Kristen's time at Pine Cove, and Thanksgiving in Galveston.
Lastly, I can't end this entry without talking about the other big thing that happened this year. After nearly 93 years living, laughing, and working (Lord, how he worked) on this earth, Grandpa Glenn finally went to his rest. If we're honest I'm still wrestling and reconciling with this one, but I'm left with the sweetest memories of him and the legacy he left behind. Nothing is the same without him here, but oh—how grateful am I that I got to have Glenn Morby as my grandfather. Rest well, Grandpa, and enjoy eating some nachos, watching the Nicholas brothers dance, and making malts with Grandma. Love you.
Grab your googly eyes and throw some confetti in the air—it's Oscar prediction time! If you're looking for totally and completely correct predictions in all 23 Oscar categories, you've come to the right place. Because I never get it wrong.*
Best Picture: "All Quiet on the Western Front" is pushing hard, and "The Fabelmans," "Tar," and even "Top Gun: Maverick" all have a fighting shot at the top prize. But with big wins at all major guild ceremonies (Screen Actors Guild, Writers Guild, Producers Guild, etc.), I just don't see anybody but "Everything Everywhere All At Once" going home with this award. (Rightfully so! I'd hand the Daniels the gold for the scene with those two rocks alone.)
Best Director: You may think he already has too many awards in this category already, but believe it or not, Steven Spielberg hasn't won the Best Director prize since 1998's "Saving Private Ryan"—TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. So while there's more than a solid chance the Daniels will grab this one, I think the Academy will find a way to honor "The Fabelmans" with a win in this category.
Best Actor: The only surprise here will be if someone besides Brendan Fraser or Austin Butler wins. And as cool as it would be to see Fraser's "comeback" continue with a win on Sunday, I'm giving the edge to Austin Butler.
Best Actress: The only surprise here will be if someone besides Cate Blanchett or Michelle Yeoh wins. And just like above, although I would love to call this one for Yeoh, I think Cate Blanchett is an unstoppable force.
Best Supporting Actor: I suppose there's a parallel universe out there where someone other than Ke Huy Quan wins this one. But it's not ours! Grab your fanny pack and get your speech ready, Ke—you're up!
Best Supporting Actress: Man, talk about a toss-up. Sometimes this category is all sewn up (like last year with our queen, Ariana DeBose), but this time around it's truly anyone's guess! I want to say Stephanie Hsu because she's phenomenal (and also because I like bragging that I saw her on Broadway in "Be More Chill" back in 2019), but Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Bassett, and Kerry Condon seem to have the best chances here. It's truly anyone's guess, and mine is Angela Bassett.
Animated Feature: As fantastic as all of these nominees are, I think this one belongs to "Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio."
Production Design: Man—talk about a stacked category! It's definitely possible "Babylon" or "All Quiet on the Western Front" could sneak in here, but I don't think it's wise to count a Baz Luhrmann movie out in this category. So I'm going with "Elvis!"
Cinematography: I think this one will either go to "All Quiet on the Western Front" or "Elvis," and it's difficult to predict which direction the Academy will lean. "AQotWF" has picked up several precursor awards for this category, though, so while I wouldn't be at all surprised to see "Elvis" grab this one, I'm still going with "All Quiet on the Western Front."
Costume Design: Right this way, Mr. Presley—"Elvis" has this one in the bag.
Film Editing: It's possible that "Top Gun: Maverick" scoops this one up, but I tend to like to go with my Best Picture pick, so my money's on "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
Makeup and Hairstyling: I could pretend to be waffling between a couple of these, but come on. It's gonna be "The Whale."
Original Score: Okay NOW I'm waffling. (And I want waffles.) It's down to "The Fabelmans," "Babylon," and "All Quiet on the Western Front" for me—although I suppose "Everything Everywhere" could grab this as well. (Or even "Banshees," wow! I didn't realize Carter Burwell composed that one!) Man this is tough. With minimal confidence and pretty much only a gut feeling to go on, I'm picking "All Quiet on the Western Front." (Although I would be delighted to hear John Williams' name being called for "The Fabelmans" come Sunday!)
Original Song: I know it's not wise to bet against Rihanna or Lady Gaga. But I'm going to—I'm picking Naatu Naatu from "RRR."
Original Screenplay: "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is so creative and inventive and well crafted, I have to believe it's going to win this award.
Adapted Screenplay: A lot of people seem to think this one will go to "Women Talking," but I just can't envision it happening. Plan on seeing "All Quiet on the Western Front" pick this one up too.
Sound: While this could be another category clinched by "All Quiet on the Western Front," I think the Academy will be looking for ways to give a nod to "Top Gun: Maverick." So in a tight race, I'm giving the edge to "Top Gun: Maverick."
Visual Effects: I can't imagine "Avatar: The Way of Water" not winning this one. This is probably THE lock of the night.
Documentary Feature: Truly, truly I say to you: I have never heard of ANY of these movies. (Some film fan I am!) But most prognosticators seem to think it's gonna be "Navalny," and I'm a very agreeable person (obviously), so I'm checking that box as well!
Documentary Short: This could very well go to "Stranger at the Gate," but if I learned anything from "My Octopus Teacher," it's to never count an animal film out. I'm going with "The Elephant Whisperers."
International Feature Film: Just going to pause here and acknowledge once again how insane it is that "RRR" was not nominated in this category. So without that competition, the way is clear for "All Quiet on the Western Front," a very deserving film.
Animated Short: My very informed and uh... confident... prediction is that the winner will be... "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse."
Live Action Short: It looks to me to be down to "An Irish Goodbye," "The Red Suitcase," and "Le Pupill." "An Irish Goodbye" won the BAFTA, so I'm going with that one!
*Hey so... I don't know how to tell you this, but... I actually do get it wrong pretty frequently. Like, a lot a lot. I'm sorry I lied. I'll work on it.
3. Love on the Brain Look, we're all familiar with the fact that my final rating of a book will, in many ways, correlate directly to the number of Heart Sparkles (TM) it gave me. And much like its STEM/rom-com predecessor, "The Love Hypothesis," "Love on the Brain" delivered on Heart Sparkles. Dr. Bee Königswasser finds herself transferred to NASA to work on a dream project... with her nemesis. Luckily for us (the readers), her nemesis just happens to be tall, dark, and handsome. And secretly soft, caring, and filled to the brim with heart eyes for Bee. "Love on the Brain" was sweet, clever, and even a little mysterious, and I can't wait to jump back in for a re-read.
“She’s everything I ever wanted and I want to inject her into my veins and also to never see her again.”
2. The Do-Over From Lynn Painter, author of my #1 read from last year, "Better Than the Movies," comes "The Do-Over," another clean dive into a high school rom-com pool filled with heart-shaped sprinkles and a dash of impossible magic. Emilie Hornby is fully prepared to have the best Valentine's Day ever, but instead it turns out to be... the worst. She sets out to fix everything the next day, but finds herself somehow reliving Valentine's Day again. It's Groundhog Day by way of enemies-to-lovers, but better, because "The Do-Over" has broody Nick Stark, sarcasm-laced banter, and a dark ribbon of melancholy running throughout. It's a quick, easy read, one that will leave you eager to find a way to step back into the same day over and over again—if only a Nick Stark is waiting on the other side.
"And as we ran over the snow-packed pavement, I felt magically, wonderfully, not like myself. I was the manic pixie dream girl in a movie, a character created solely to be uncomplicated, unexpected, and utterly unpredictable."
1. The Replacement Crush After her summer fling turns out to be a not-so-great guy, Vivian Galdi decides she needs someone else to swing her heart-eyed gaze onto. Enter her idea for a "replacement crush"—a new guy she can fixate on without risking heartache. It's a concept easier said than done, especially with new "McNerd" Dallas Lang on the scene, a Clark Kent-lookalike who ends up working side-by-side with Vivian at her mother's bookstore. There's a ton to love about "The Replacement Crush," including the delightful small coastal town setting, tons of book talk, and some excellent character growth. What tips this one into the #1 slot, though, is the Grand Gesture at the end of the book. I was sitting on my couch listening to the audiobook, and I was so delighted by the unexpected surprise awaiting me that I literally stood up in excitement and pumped my fists in the air. Who could literally ask for anything more? "It's like a bad movie, watching you pretend you don't like him."
Honorable Mention
Cupcake, Cookie O'Gorman (This one NARROWLY missed being in my top three—it made me grin and sigh and swoon.) The Bookworm Crush,Lisa Brown Roberts (A worthy follow-up to "The Replacement Crush!") The Body in the Garden, Katharine Schellman (A solid mystery.) When You Get the Chance, Emma Lord (Entertaining and fun—and packed with tons of Broadway references!) Moment of Truth, Kasie West (Another heart-swooping story from my girl Kasie.) Just Haven't Met You Yet, Sophie Cousens (Well-written and super sweet.) The Wrong Prom Date, Alexandra Moody (Adorable! It had shades of "A Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad," another fave of mine.) Reluctantly Yours, Erin Hawkins (Fun, sweet, cute. The ending made me cry—in a good way!) Blind Side, Kandi Steiner (Sweet (and spicy) and made me tear up!) Get a Life, Chloe Brown, Talia Hibbert (Hibbert's use of similes and metaphors—stars streaming
across the sky and camera pops behind eyelids—is incredible.)
I was going to try to read 80 books this year but I only read 67. Oh well! Who cares! Full list here.
My Three Favorite Movies of 2022
3. (tie) Bullet Train What an absolute blast. Every actor riding the "Bullet Train" seems to be having the time of their life—including those popping up in the handful of surprise cameos I had no idea were coming. It was a highly entertaining mix of hilarious jokes, sly references, fun characters, and tons of bloody mayhem—almost like a Guy Ritchie or Quentin Tarantino joint. I mean, any movie that introduces each new character with a splashy, stylized title graphic automatically wins extra points in my book. The whole thing is crazy, twisty, and surprising—just so much fun. Come for Brad Pitt, stay for Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s over-the-top “Fanks but it's a Bullet Train, innit?” accent.
3. (tie) Vengeance Continuing our run of excellent late-summer movies: "Vengeance." Smart storytelling, unique characters, and a solid (and satisfying!) mystery all added up to make up a brilliant and incredibly entertaining film. BJ Novak turned his sharp and observant eye on Texas, and the result is a hilarious, familiar, and spot-on portrait of the Lone Star State. From the characters' use of phrases like "fixin' to" to their fierce love of Whataburger, everything that ribbed them about their "Texan-ness" felt like it came from a place of love. And even though Novak's character clearly came to the state to make fun of the "local yokels," they often make him the butt of the joke and roll their eyes at what he THINKS he knows about them ("I know what South By is!"). Can't recommend this one highly enough.
2. Matilda the Musical "Matilda the Musical" is one of my favorite Broadway shows. Seeing it felt like experiencing lightning in a bottle, so I was delighted to discover it was being adapted for the screen. And while the stage version still reigns supreme, Netflix certainly created a worthy film adaptation. The story remains inventive and heartbreaking, the casting was top notch, and elements like the production design and costuming dazzled. The breakout, though, is the music and choreography. From our sweet lead actress Alisha Weir doing handstands on her roof as she sang her heart out about being naughty to a group of children dreaming and singing about what it will be like to be grown up to the iconicred beret girl dancing fiercely down the school hallways, it's all magic. If you're a musical fan at all, this one is not to be missed!
1. Top Gun: Maverick Part of me is convinced that I'll never have a movie theater experience like "Top Gun: Maverick" again. How could anything surpass it? It had so many things working in its favor: nostalgia, adrenaline, humor, pathos... it's movie magic at its finest! Everything in this movie works: the tight, straight-forward plot, the mix of old and new characters (all perfectly cast, although the standouts are Glen Powell and Miles Teller), the music, the cinematography, and, of course, those adrenaline-inducing stunts. Seeing it in a packed theater of people who were all genuinely pumped to be there—everyone laughing, clapping, and cheering (yes, CHEERING!)—felt absolutely electric. By the end I felt like I was levitating in my seat, and I couldn't wait to go see it again. (And again.) (And again.) I just hope we don't have to wait another 30+ years for the next one.
Honorable Mention: Apollo 10 1/2, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Gray Man, Nope, Ticket to Paradise, She Said, The Menu, The Fabelmans
My Three Favorite TV Shows of 2022
Favorite shows I started watching this year:
3. Bridgerton Okay, right off the bat let me just come clean and admit that I never watched season 1 of "Bridgerton." I just wasn't interested, for whatever reason. But when I saw a few clips and pictures from season 2, I was intrigued and decided to check it out. (Apparently I wasn't the only one to do this—bff Julie admitted she did the exact same thing!) I love an enemies-to-lovers romance, and "Bridgerton" delivered that in spades. The show is far from perfect, and at times it's downright silly, but Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, and the chemistry between my favorite pair, Eloise and Theo, went a long way in endearing the 'ton to me. Bring on that Colin + Penelope pairing, season 3! Stream it onNetflix
2. Players I absolutely adore mockumentary series with high production values that balance humor with real drama. Off the top of my head, this list includes "American Vandal" one of my top shows of 2017, and now "Players," a new series from the creators of... "American Vandal."Taking you behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of professional e-sports, "Players" rides the line between the ridiculous (the main character's gamer name is "Creamcheese") and the believable extremely well, whipping the audience between poignancy and hilarity at breakneck speeds. It kept me on my toes, made me laugh out loud, and left me wondering what Cream, Organizm, and the rest of the Fugitive gamers would be up to now. Stream it on Paramount+
1. The Bear "The Bear" is one giant ball of tense, anxiety-inducing excellence. And I loved it.From the opening scene to that final surprising, promising shot, "The Bear" was an absolute ride. The story of a world-class chef who finds himself back at his family's local Chicago Italian beef sandwich shop unfolded in exhilarating sequences of beautiful food preparation, stressful business-ownership, and sharply realistic characters—mostly fighting with and yelling at each other. At the center of it all is Jeremy Allen White's Carmy, an expert chef setting out to prove himself, lead his kitchen, and process some heavy grief. It all culminates in a series of smart revelations and one of the best television monologues I've ever seen, delivered deftly and emotionally by Jeremy Allen White. Stream it on Hulu
Honorable Mention: Murderville, Starstruck, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window
I just want to add a note that many of the shows I watched and ranked as favorites in previous years are still releasing new episodes—namely Cobra Kai (Netflix), Girls 5Eva (Netflix), Never Have I Ever (Netflix), and Only Murders in the Building (Hulu). These shows are still killing the game, and if you didn't take me up on it before, go check them out now!
My Three Favorite Events of 2022
3. August Galveston Trip At the beginning of August, I escaped the confines of my house (I'd recently gotten over Covid) and enjoyed the best, most leisurely long weekend at the beach house. For a few days it was just me, my stack of books, coffee and cinnamon rolls, and easygoing trips to the beach. Then I was joined by my parents and brother, and Dad treated the four of us to a delicious, fancy dinner at a restaurant overlooking Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn. It was fun and special and delightful and I am more than ready to go back. (How 'bout it, Dad?)
2. Oregon College Friends Trip Last spring, Julie and I flew up to Oregon to see Dani and get away for a girls trip in Bend! It was so fun not only to get some face time with two of the best, but to do it in such a cool, tourist-y setting! We shopped at cute stores, ate amazing food, hiked the gorgeous Deschutes river trail, saw Dani's home/family/horses, watched "West Side Story" (😏), and talked non-stop. It was good for my soul, and I can't wait to Girls Trip again with them soon!
1. Family Time in Galveston + Christmas There's truly nothing better in the world to me than being with all of my people, relaxing and enjoying time together at the beach house. This year we rode the ferry, sang karaoke, went go carting, swam in the canal, took the boat out, threw all the water balloons, ate ice cream on the Strand, went to see the peacocks, and took many, many trips to the beach. It was heaven on earth.
Then in December, the whole family got together again to celebrate Christmas in Houston! I could write a whole paragraph about it, or you could just press play on this video:
Honorable Mention: Dallas Fan Expo/Hobbit reunion with Lara, Clay singing "Red and Black" from Les Miserables AT KARAOKE, March trip to Phoenix, Dani's book "Buzz the Not-So-Brave" finally releasing, Austin pool day with Ellie, double feature movie day with Stacy, and Taco Club!
If I were an Academy voter, I'd be ticking the box next to "West Side Story" all the way down the ballot. Unfortunately they still haven't invited me to be a member (crazy, right?), so it's not up to me. Instead, these are my predictions of what I think Academy voters will do. And I know I'm 100% right, as I have never been wrong before. What's that like?*
Best Picture: For the longest time, all anyone was predicting for this category was "The Power of the Dog." Then "CODA" won the SAG and the PGA, and the tide turned its favor: everyone seems to be forecasting a "CODA" win. But I've got to go with my gut—I'm sticking with "The Power of the Dog." It's got a pile of awards on its side, plus a slew of the right Oscar nominations like director and editing, and I just don't think it's enough for "CODA" to overcome. (Side note: if anything other than those two wins, I will be truly shocked.)
Best Director: I'm pairing this category with Best Picture: I think it's going to Jane Campion. What's cool is that a win for Campion would mean back-to-back female winners in this category after Chloe Zhao's took home the prize last year!
Best Actor: The name I wish I was writing here: Andrew Garfield for "tick, tick...BOOM!" The name I am writing: Will Smith.
Best Actress: This is the rare category where almost anyone could walk away with the prize. It makes it super tough to predict, but I think Jessica Chastain might finally pull out a win after two previous nominations.
Best Supporting Actor: I mean, the SHOCK I will feel if anybody but Troy Kotsur gets this one. I will be ON THE FLOOR.
Best Supporting Actress: Let's hear it for our girl, Ariana DeBose! She has danced her way through this awards season scooping up every prize on her way to the Oscars, and I can't wait to see her smiling face shining on the stage of the Dolby Theatre.
Animated Feature: Listen, this one may very well go to "Encanto." Which is... fine. But I just don't see how a kind of lackluster film (granted, with great songs) gets more love than the supremely well-crafted and insanely creative "The Mitchells vs the Machines." I'm praying for an 11th hour miracle and hoping the Academy shows up for the Mitchell family.
Production Design: I kind of want to be controversial and pick "West Side Story" or "Nightmare Alley." But—despite how not great I may be doing so far—I actually want to pick the most winners. And in this case, the winds seem to be blowing in the direction of "Dune."
Cinematography: There are a few indicators out there that point to a win for "Power of the Dog," but the American Society of Cinematographers gave their top prize to "Dune." So I think it'll be "Dune."
Costume Design: If Paul Tazwell were to win for "West Side Story" (which I think would definitely be deserved), he would be the first Black male to win in this category! But "Cruella" has this one in the bag.
Film Editing: Feels like it could really be anyone! (Wouldn't it be cool if it was "tick, tick...BOOM!" though?) I kind of think it comes down to "Power of the Dog" and "Dune," though, so eeny, meeny, miny, "Dune."
Makeup and Hairstyling: I won't be surprised if "Cruella" picks this one up, but I'm putting my fictional money behind "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."
Original Score: If there's a lock on this ballot, it's gotta be "Dune" winning Best Score, right?
Original Song: I think it's more than possible that Billie Eilish will scoop this one up for "No Time to Die." But I can't shake the feeling that Academy voters will be looking for a way to award the whole "Encanto" soundtrack (most notably "We Don't Talk About Bruno") when they select "Dos Oruguitas" to win this category, so let's go with "Encanto."
Original Screenplay: This will probably the only award of the evening that "Belfast" goes home with.
Adapted Screenplay: It's a showdown between the two top Best Picture contenders—if it's not "CODA" it'll be "The Power of the Dog."
Sound: It's gotta be "Dune," right? I feel pretty comfortable saying no other movie has a chance here.
Visual Effects: I don't think the Academy is ready to give Marvel the gold in this category, so count on "Dune" grabbing this one too.
Documentary Feature: It's going to be fun seeing Questlove accept the award for "Summer of Soul!"
Documentary Short: We're going with "The Queen of Basketball" for this one, folks!
International Feature Film: I can't envision a future where "Drive My Car" doesn't win here.
Animated Short: "Robin Robin" is the only one of the nominees I've even heard of, and it seems to have some steam behind it, so that's going to be my pick!
Live Action Short: This is me spinning a giant wheel with all five potential winners on it and landing on... "The Long Goodbye!"
3.The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, Mariana Zapata As many books as I read in a year, I still don't come across many that I would consider "un-put-down-able." This one definitely qualifies. I stayed up way too late immersed in this sweet, warm blanket of a romance leaving me heart-eyed and daydreaming of a gruff and caring Aiden of my own. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, and it doesn't feature the most beautiful writing I've ever experienced. It does, however, constantly invoke a slow, dopey grin at the push-pull of Aiden and Vanessa's love/hate relationship, and sometimes that's all we're looking for in our comfort books.
“You haven’t
left me when I needed you. Why wouldn’t I do the same for you?”
2. More Than Maybe, Erin Hahn I literally read a dozen books last year before I made it to a five-star read: "More Than Maybe." And I fell hard and fast for this sweet gem! An intelligent and passionate female lead? Check. A dashing yet uncertain (and British!) male lead? Check! Erin
Hahn truly has a gift for romance writing—her descriptions of the thoughts you
have when you have a crush on someone... like, GET OUT OF MY BRAIN! This
was fun and lovely and tinged with sadness—I cried my way through the
end. And even though I'm not much of a popular music fan, I still found myself admiring and respecting Luke and Vada's zeal for it. "More Than Maybe" is a book that feels alive with passion and anticipation, and Hahn really seems excited to be telling this story. It's absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to read it again.
"We want to be moved and changed and knocked over and pieced back
together. We want to swoon and taste and cry and scream to the sky, yes,
Yes, this."
1. Better Than the Movies, Lynn Painter Oh my heart! It's pretty rare that you read a book that feels like it was written just. For. YOU. But that was "Better Than the Movies" for me! A high school-set rom com? With an enemies-to-lovers story? And endless film and song references? Sign me UP! This is the kind of book that I found myself truly losing myself in. I would listen to it in my car, and then arrive somewhere and then just sit in the front seat staring out at the middle distance and smiling as I listened to Liz and Wes banter their way to their happily-ever-after. I love this book. I want to listen to it a hundred more times. If you love a sweet young adult rom com as much as I do, you owe it to yourself to hunt down a copy of "Better Than the Movies."
“She. Isn’t. You. When I see her, I don’t feel like I have to talk to her or mess up her hair or do something – anything – to get her to swing that gaze on me.”
Honorable Mention
The Bookshop on the Corner, Jenny Colgan (This will make you want to move to Scotland and fall in love with a farmer.) Frankly in Love, David Yoon (I couldn't read this one fast enough!) Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, Erik Larson (Our research king strikes again!) The Love Hypothesis,Ali Hazelwood (Ridiculous and cliche and SO MUCH FUN.) Well Met, Jen DeLuca (I'm in love with Simon Graham and I don't care who knows it!) The Cheat Sheet, Sarah Adams (So, so cute! I had a lot of fun reading this one.) New Morning Mercies, Paul David Trip (Precious and holy, full of reminders of the gift of grace.) If I Never Met You, Mhairi McFarlane (What an author! Can't wait to read more by Mhairi McFarlane.) Wallflower, Cookie O'Gorman (A book as sweet as the author's name!) The Tourist Attraction, Sarah Morgenthaler (Absolutely delightful. Alaska, here I come!) A Very Punchable Face, Colin Jost (Super entertaining. I laughed out loud multiple times!) Don't You Forget About Me, Mhairi McFarlane (The final "declaration of love" speech was one of the best I've ever read!)
I ended up reading about 77 books, and I feel like you can sense a theme as to the category most of them fell into! If you're interested, you can view my full list here.
My Three Favorite Movies of 2021
Runner-Up: Even though it feels like I hear a lot of people talking about "The Mitchells vs. the Machines," I still find myself thinking, "Why aren't more people talking about 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines?'" It is the most hilarious, most creative film of the year, and you owe it to yourself to check it out as soon as possible! You will laugh out loud and probably cry (I certainly did!), and I really can't imagine anyone not enjoying it.
3. Kid Detective I don't think I could describe this movie any better than Kevin Smith did on his podcast when he said, "What if 'Brick' was funny?" And I don't mean funny like "parody" funny or "silly" funny, I just mean layered, deadpan, noir humor embedded into the DNA of this script and all of the performances. It's definitely got a "Veronica Mars" flair, but also a dash of something Jason Reitman-y and maybe Edgar Wright-y. If any of those references piqued your interest, then I cannot encourage you enough to check it out. Adam Brody is perfect as a private detective trying to live up to his former glory days as a young Encyclopedia Brown-type who gets served up an intriguing and twisty case. I promise you will not see the ending coming in any way, shape, or form. Please watch this movie—it's amazing.
2. Tick, Tick... Boom! If you're envisioning a dry or hard-to-follow or rote, uninspired movie musical whenever you hear about "Tick, Tick... Boom," you need to take a giant eraser to your brain and replace those misconceptions with the reality of this vibrant, sparkling film full of swirling songs, breathless storytelling, and performances that will make your hair stand on end. The entire film, to borrow a phrase, "crackles and pops with incendiary wit." Andrew Garfield is a musical revelation and he infuses every frame with the jittery time-is-running-out creative spark that the real-life Jonathan Larson exuded every day of his too-short life. Garfield dances, sings, smiles, and cries out in such desperation that it's hard to believe the Oscar doesn't already have his name engraved on it. He takes viewers on such a personal, complete journey of emotions that by the time he's raw and pouring out his heart on a stage in Central Park wailing "Why?", our hearts are raw and yearning right along with him. "Tick, Tick... Boom" is an incredible piece of art, and you owe it to your heart, your soul, and your ears to check it out.
1. West Side Story If you're surprised by this pick, you haven't been paying attention. I've been looking forward to "West Side Story" since 2019 (its released was delayed to 2021 due to you-know-what) and proceeded to see it five times in the theater. I absolutely could not get enough! Suffice it to say, Steven Spielberg and company more than met my expectations. Rachel Zegler, David Alvarez, Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist and the entire cast burst onto screen with style and flair and soul and passion that I haven't seen on screen since... I don't know when. Justin Peck's choreography is mindblowing, and watching the Jets dance together is like watching a grown-up cast of "Newsies" roam the streets (mostly because half the Jets are literal former members of the cast of "Newsies"). "West Side Story" paints the story of Romeo and Juliet in bold, beautiful strokes, and it pushes one of my all-time favorite stage actors into the spotlight he's always deserved. As Tony's right-hand man Riff, Mike Faist grabbed the camera with both hands and wouldn't let go until... well. You know. If you haven't seen this one yet, run to the theater as soon as you can so you don't miss this incredible, heartfelt movie musical on the biggest screen possible.
Honorable Mention: Free Guy, Black Widow, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Finding 'Ohana, Last Night in Soho, Always and Forever
My Three Favorite TV Shows of 2021
Favorite shows I started watching this year:
3. Girls 5eva Busy Philipps, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, and two of Broadway's "Mean Girls" (Erika Henningsen and Ashley Park) were always going to be a winning combination. So we're not surprised this show was a WIN! Whip-smart writing, memorable songs, and countless all-star cameos add up to one intensely fun and funny show, one I am thrilled to know is getting a second season. It harnesses early-2000's nostalgia, hilarious song lyrics, and unexpectedly silly sight gags into an unstoppable joyride that will have you laughing out loud and seeking out the music to listen to on repeat. Stream it on Peacock
2. WandaVision By the end of episode one I was intrigued. After episode two, I was hooked. By episode three my mind was blown, I was all in, and I'd bought the t-shirt. (Sweatshirt, actually, but you get the idea. I literally bought the shirt.) "WandaVision" is the perfect bridge between Wanda's experiences in "Infinity War" and "Endgame" to her next adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What's amazing is that they could have used "WandaVision" to tell a relatively straightforward story about Wanda's grief and introduce a new adversary for her. Instead, they placed the characters and elements of the show into a kaleidoscope, spun it, and held it up to the light of a television screen playing famous sitcoms from throughout television history. The result is an imaginative and affecting journey that kept me guessing the entire way. Stream it on Disney+
1. Only Murders in the Building I love this show. I love the opening credits, I love the cast, I love the writing, I love the cinematography, I love the jokes, I love the costumes, I love the twists, I love the cameos, I love the music, I love the references. I just love it all. A murder mystery with comedic elements? Set in New York City? Featuring tons of Broadway favorites (not to mention Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as pitch-perfect trio of amateur detectives slash podcasters)? Sign. Me. UP. Was this made for me? I was hopeful that I'd like it, but from the moment the murder victim broke the fourth wall and looked at me and told me that he would be dead in approximately 12 minutes, I was hooked. It's brilliant and unpredictable and fascinating, and the second season just cannot come soon enough. Stream it on Hulu
Honorable Mention: Schmigadoon, Loki, Reservation Dogs, One of Us is Lying
My Three Favorite Events of 2021
3. Vaccination Station Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in March truly felt like a miracle. After I received in my first dose I sat in my car and just felt a sense of awe and thankfulness that a year into the pandemic, I had finally received protection against the worst affects of Covid. Thank you, Lord, for creating the incredibly smart researchers and doctors and systems that led to my first dose, second dose, and booster shot. All glory to God!
2. Summer Family Time + Christmas My sister and nieces were in Texas for the entire month of June this year—thanks, home renovations! I got to soak up time with them in Houston and Tyler, and then for an entire week in Galveston when we were joined by my brother-in-law (and my parents and brother, of course). During these four weeks we went to the pool, picked blueberries, surfed in the ocean, played games, collected seashells, went on boat rides, visited the zoo, and so much more! It was amazing and my favorite and I wish I could relive it all again now.
Christmas? You know I have a video for that!
1. Morby Madness in Virginia My babiest cousin Dawson got married to his bride Hannah in Virginia this past November, and their wedding was lovely. What was really memorable for me, though, was seeing family members stretching from 12-year-old Lexi to my 92-year-old grandparents make the trek to the east coast to celebrate the new couple. Consistently showing up for family members is one of my favorite parts of being a Morby, and all of us coming together to dance, laugh, toast, and honor Dawson and Hannah filled my heart with enough joy to tide me into the new year.
Honorable Mention: Really fun office shenanigans, Maddy starring as Cruella in her elementary school's production of "101 Dalmatians," Dani surprising me in Galveston for my birthday, seeing some of my articles published in Pine Cove's magazines, celebrating Ellie's 30th birthday in Austin with an amazing rom-com themed bash, and seeing my neighborhood blanketed in snow.
I feel like I can't close out any sort of summary about my year without mentioning the passing of one of my closest friends, Grandma Doris. She stepped out the door of this life and into her new body and new life with Jesus on Christmas Eve. While it still feels surreal and I'll never stop missing her, I'm also at peace knowing she was more than ready to go, and got to do it on her own terms—at home, surrounded by loved ones, and with the promise that we'll all see her again one day. I love you, Grandma.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehn good night! I hate to go and leave this pretty sight...
.jpg)
