2012 has ended, and guess what? Some of us are still alive. So, now that we all feel like we got a (nice enough) chance of continuing our lives (unless those Mayans were only mistaken by a month or so), it’s time to look forward to 2013 and guess which movies and TV shows will be the very best of this upcoming year:

10. Peaky Blinders

An epic, gangster saga, this series is produced by the BBC, starring Cillian Murphy and Sam Neill. It takes place around 1919 and deals with gangs fighting each other for survival.

Best case scenario: It will be Britain’s improved version of Boardwalk Empire.

Worst case scenario: It will be extremely slow and boring.

9. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The first movie was smart and fascinating, and not only for a teen-oriented audience.

Best case scenario: It will be as suspenseful, clever and exciting.

Worst case scenario: It will be more teen-oriented (or dumbed down, if you prefer).

8. Da Vinci’s Demons

Judging from the trailer, Starz’ new series looks like a blast. It’s visually impressive, with some exciting action scenes, though I’m not really sure if it’s truly loyal to anything that could have happened in reality (it’s supposed to be about Leonardo Da Vinci’s life, not a hybridization of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons…)

Best case scenario: It will be as genius as its main protagonist.

Worst case scenario: It will suck more badly than The Da Vinci Code.

7. Man of Steel

Probably the most anticipated movie of 2013, millions (billions?) are crossing their fingers, hoping that this Superman movie will meet its great expectations. Zack Snyder is the director and Christopher Nolan is involved, so we can at least be sure it will be dark & visually stunning.

Best case scenario: It will be better than Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies.

Worst case scenario: It will be as good as Zack Snyder’s latest film – Sucker Punch.

6. The Americans

Keri Russell stars in FX’s new series that takes place during the 80’s when the Cold War was still going on. It’s about Soviet KGB officers functioning as a sleeper cell, while living undercover as American citizens. Guest appearance by Anna Chapman. Not really…

Best case scenario: It will be a new & improved Homeland.

Worst case scenario: It will be as suspenseful as Felicity.

5. Gangster Squad

Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling play two law enforcers from the LAPD, trying to bring down some tough gangsters, including Mickey Cohen (portrayed by Sean Penn). For the movie’s director, Ruben Fleischer, this will be the first serious movie he makes (both in tone and in quality I hope), after the amusing Zombieland and the terrible 30 Minutes or Less.

Best case scenario: It will be better than The Untouchables.

Worst case scenario: It will be on par with the dull Public Enemies.

4. House of Cards

After Lilyhammer, comes Netflix’s second original series and it sure looks impressive. Created by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey, this series has a lot of star power behind it. It’s based on a critically acclaimed, award winning British TV show of the same title from 1990.

Best case scenario: It will be better than the original House of Cards.

Worst case scenario: It will remind us of the last time Kevin Spacey was involved in something related to cards (21).

3. Oz: The Great and the Powerful

James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz star in what seems to be an unconventional take on The Wizard of Oz - focusing on the wizard this time. The trailer looks beautiful, as well as the cast.

Best case scenario: It will be the best Wizard of Oz adaptation.

Worst case scenario: It will be like a family friendly version of HBO’s Oz.

2. Zero Dark Thirty

Kathryn Bigelow must be the manliest female director that ever existed (including the Wachowski brother turned sister). Following her nail-biting of a movie about a bomb squad, The Hurt Locker, this movie deals with the manhunt after Osama Bin-Laden.

Best case scenario: It will be better than The Hurt Locker.

Worst case scenario: Its 2.5 hours duration will make the viewers’ feel like they too were hunting him for 10 years.

1. Anchorman 2

Most of the cast from the hilarious previous film will return for the sequel, but there’s at least one major addition to the cast: The funniest woman in the world, Kristen Wiig! What can you expect from a movie with the funniest woman and man (Will Ferrell of course) in the world? You can expect it to be the funniest movie in the world (ever)!

Best case scenario: The Godfather and Casablanca will be regarded as only decent movies in comparison to Anchorman 2.

Worst case scenario: It will be established as the second best movie ever made, after Anchorman of course.

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Technorati Tags: Peaky Blinders, BBC, Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Boardwalk Empire, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Da Vinci’s Demons, Leonardo Da Vinci, The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Man of Steel, Superman, Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, Christopher Reeve, Sucker Punch, The Americans, Keri Russell, Cold War, Anna Chapman, Homeland, Felicity, Gangster Squad, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Mickey Cohen, Sean Penn, Ruben Fleischer, Zombieland, 30 Minutes or Less, The Untouchables, Public Enemies, House of Cards, Lilyhammer, David Fincher, Kevin Spacey, Likewise, Oz: The Great and the Powerful, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, The Wizard of Oz, Oz, Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker, Osama Bin-Laden, Anchorman 2, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, The Godfather, Casablanca, Anchorman

Popularity: 2% [?]

After last year’s huge success of the Jinni Mood/Movie/TV Awards (think Golden Globes and then multiply it by a thousand, then add the Oscars and multiply that by a million. Is it too soon for self-deprecation? I have to check with my superiors) we decided to make a tradition out of it and choose our award-winning titles for 2012. So, which was the roughest movie or TV series of 2012? Which was the most exciting?  No need to open any envelopes, you can just read below:

Atmospheric: Game of Thrones – When you watch Game of Thrones, you really enter the world of Game of Thrones. And it’s a world in which a Hobbit won’t survive for more than a minute. “Winter is coming” (it’s here already.)

Biting: 30 Rock – Feeling very self-confident, the show allowed itself to bite whoever it wanted.  Politicians, competing shows, and even NBC, the hand that feeds them - all were in the line of biting.

Bittersweet: The Giant Mechanical Man – this movie is about two lonely people who find each other. It’s one of the most goodhearted movies I’ve seen in a while. If you like charming and sensitive movies – watch it. If you’re a douche – don’t.

Bleak: Breaking Bad – Sometimes you just feel too darn happy. But fear not, there is a solution – all you need to do is watch Breaking Bad; the critically acclaimed feel-bad TV show was at its bleakest during the first half of the 5th and final season. I can’t wait for the 2nd half of the season to wipe that grin off my face.

Captivating: End of Watch – I consider it to be the best movie of the year. It’s fascinating; there isn’t one dull moment in it. It’s not always easy to watch, there are some very harsh scenes, but if you have the stomach and the tissues for it, this movie is a must-see for you.

Clever: Argo – This is no less a sharp satire about Hollywood than it is a suspenseful spy thriller, even more I guess. What makes it a great movie despite its tonal shifts is that it remains extremely clever throughout its entire length.

Contemplative: Blackthorn – This western is beautifully shot, the Bolivian locations in which the movie takes place are unbelievable. Straying very far from Michael Bay territory, this gem of a movie is basically about a person (an older Butch Cassidy) reflecting about his own life. I know it sounds boring, but it isn’t. And if you think so, maybe you are.

Cynical: A Touch of Cloth – Can the guy (the genius, the king) who wrote Black Mirror come up with something that doesn’t have a cynical world view? Probably not; A Touch of Cloth is Charlie Brooker’s spoof of more or less every cop crime drama ever made and it shows complete contempt towards every accepted standard of such shows.

Disturbing: Dexter – Fans of the show don’t really find this glimpse into the mind of a psychopath disturbing anymore. What they do find disturbing is the suggested romance (siblings with benefits, is that a thing?) between Dexter and his step sister. Maybe the sister is the only one with the forbidden crush, but it’s disturbing nonetheless. The bad writing that is.

Emotional: House M.D – Dr. Gregory House was the most fascinating, complex, well written character ever seen on TV. I think that more than a few people would agree with me. The final season of the hit series was probably its most emotional one. The only thing that prevented me from crying was/is that I’m a man.

Exciting: The Expendables 2 – This movie was a blast. Explosions, cheesy lines, completely over the top action; what can be more exciting than that?

Feel Good: New Girl – An upbeat and optimistic series with eccentric characters and a charming Zooey Deschanel (although not half as charming as Aubrey Plaza. See below).

Gloomy: This is England 88′ – After the movie This is England and the series This is England 86′ came This is England 88′ which dealt with more or less the same issues from the previous 2 entries – people whose lives are pretty shitty. Leave some room on you TV screens for some more sad faces, because This is England 90′ is coming up in 2013!

Humorous: Parks and Recreation – With every passing season this series just becomes funnier and funnier. April (Aubrey Plaza - marry me today. Is 7:30 good for you?) and Andy are the best onscreen couple by far, and Ron Swanson is just the best. The picture below says everything; and also nothing.

Offbeat: Moonrise Kingdom – Wes Anderson is more or less synonymous with the terms offbeat and quirky, and Moonrise Kingdom doesn’t ruin that reputation for the director.

Mind Bending: The Booth at the End – A mysterious man sits at a booth at the end of a diner. People come to him because they heard he has a gift and can solve their problems. But there’s a price… All is very mysterious in Hulu’s 1st original series that leaves you wondering.

Rough: Dredd – The movie takes place in a rough and tough world, in which Judge Dredd serves some very rough justice. You don’t have to go all the way to Indonesia in order to find this year’s best action film. Dredd is similar to The Raid only way better and in English, not that the dialogue is important.

Scary: Cabin in the Woods – This movie was extreme in every sense. I expected something light when I heard it was a horror comedy, but it’s much more shocking than it is light. It’s a funny and disturbing film, but first and foremost – a scary one.

Sentimental: Big Miracle – A nice old fashioned movie, with likable characters; especially the whales. It’s a pleasant film and although sentimental, you don’t overdose on its sentimentality.

Sexual: Californication – Season 5 continued being groundbreaking in terms of onscreen boobs and sex (I only watch the show for its wit and dark humor though.)

Sexy: Magic City – Starz’ attempt at making a “Boardwalk Empire meets Mad Men” type of show failed in many aspects, maybe in all aspects but one. It’s obviously not nearly as smart or captivating as the other two, but it’s definitely sexier. It’s like soft-core porn made for fans of periodic reconstruction.

Sincere: Louie – Usually when we describe a movie or a show as sincere we mean a certain kind of a drama. We rarely describe a comedy as sincere, but Louie is just so open and revealing that you get a sense that he’s showing you the real him. I believe him.

Stylized: The Man with the Iron Fists – I’ll start by saying that there’s nothing good about violence. Usually people get hurt when there’s violence involved. But when it’s in the movies, and it’s so over the top, extremely gory and super stylized then it’s just great.

Suspenseful: Sherlock – Each 90-minute mystery leaves you absolutely breathless. Not only the setting, but also the pace was adapted to fit the 21st century and the result is a masterfully suspenseful series.

Tense: Homeland – This paranoid psychological thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to guess what will be the next plot twist.  Many critics say that the first half of the second season was much better than the second one. They could have been right if it wasn’t for that amazing episode that concluded the season. Homeland is must-see TV.

Thought Provoking: Game Change – This movie made me think about something that made be both happy and sad at the same time (I’m hoping more sad than happy): being especially smart is not a requirement for a person who wants to go far in life. Not at all; dumb people - the world is yours to take!

Touching: Trouble with the Curve – The movie itself is definitely touching, but what gives the movie this Mood Award is the fact that it was the last time we will see the legendary Clint Eastwood acting. And that’s even more emotional than it is touching.

Uplifting: Intouchables – You can’t remain cynical when it comes to this movie. It will definitely raise your spirits, at least for its duration + 1 hour; maybe 1 month, or year if you’re lucky.

Witty: 21 Jump Street – Don’t let the fact that it’s incredibly silly confuse you – 21 Jump Street enjoys a quick and smart dialogue with some brilliant tongue-in-cheek moments. Unlike many other movies, and people, 21 Jump Street is very self-aware.

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Technorati Tags: Oscars, Golden Globes, Jinni Mood Awards, Game of Thrones, Hobbit, 30 Rock, NBC, The Giant Mechanical Man, Breaking Bad, End of Watch, Argo, Blackthorn, Michael Bay, Butch Cassidy, A Touch of Cloth, Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker, Dexter, House M.D, Gregory House, The Expendables 2, New Girl, Zooey Deschanel, This is England, This is England 86, This is England 88, Parks and Recreation, Aubrey Plaza, Ron Swanson, Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson, The Booth at the End, Hulu, Dredd, The Raid, Cabin in the Woods, Big Miracle, Californication, Magic City, Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Louie, The Man with the Iron Fists, Sherlock, Homeland, Game Change, Trouble with Curve, Clint Eastwood, Intouchables, 21 Jump Street

Popularity: 2% [?]

“Age ain’t nothing but a number,” such are the words of one of my personal heroes, Andre 3000 from Outkast. It means not to judge a person by his or her age. A young kid could be acting mature for his age, and some elderly person could be acting like a teen. It’s an argument around the world whether you tend to act your age, or your mind stays young while the rest of you ages.  Makes you wonder though, is growing up fun? Is it worth it? Or are our best moments in life our earliest ones? I can tell you that this humble blogger is 28 years old, and I’m loving life just as it is right now. In my own mind, I feel like I’m still 20. 

So come on, let’s review the different decades of a lifetime and see which has the upper-hand:

The Youngster Take

Juno (2007)

You can’t talk about teenage life without talking about Juno. This relatively recent addition to the movie-verse talks about a young girl who becomes pregnant and decides to have the baby and give it up for adoption. It is probably one of the sweetest movies of recent years. It’s clever, it makes you feel good and it lifts your spirits. Directed by Jason Reitman – son of long time director Ivan Reitman. If you never saw this one, do yourself a huge favor and see it.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air (1990)

Most of the people I know (including myself) grew up watching this witty and humorous TV show. Nothing better defines a stereotypical teenager than a teen that’s rebellious. Having said that, you get Will Smith with his portrayal of a teen from Philadelphia, best known as the Fresh Prince. Will is a street kid who was sent to his relatives in California in order to learn some respectable manners; of course Will has different plans in mind. Having a natural social difference creates a large variety of gags and mishaps. Check it out here to feel a surge of nostalgia run through your veins.

The Young Adult Take

Friends (1994)

One of the most defining sitcoms of the 90s. From Rachel’s haircuts that all women went crazy for, to Chandler’s clever, cynical jokes. The show revolved around six twenty-something close friends living in Manhattan, dealing with life’s trials and tribulations and solving them through the best way they know – sitting at Central Perk and drinking coffee. I believe that one of the elements that made this show so successful was that it felt completely authentic. You weren’t watching actors reading lines out from a script, you saw real friends on the screen, and THAT’s what good television is all about.

How I Met Your Mother (2005)

This is THE trending show of the current decade. Much like ‘Friends’, this is yet another show about five friends, instead of six, dealing with life’s problems in New York City, the best way they know how - by drinking beer at McLarens Pub below their house. Barney Stinson is basically a role model for awesomeness for any type of single-dating men. The above clip can show you a fine example of what he calls “The Bro Code” on how he and his friends pick up chicks. Moreover, I have to admit that even I have a pub called McLarens next to my house, whose name and menu were inspired by the pub in the show. This show has set the bar on being young, free and experiencing life to it’s fullest.

Being an Adult – The Thirties Take

Seinfeld (1990)

This critically acclaimed sitcom is the most famous and known TV show of the 90s; the show that really is about nothing, as seen in the above clip. The show is about comedian Jerry Seinfeld as a fictional spin on himself, and how he spends his thirty-something life in New York with his unforgettable quirky and whacky friends – George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Kramer. One of the things that I found to be so great about this show was the over-analyzing of almost every small detail and situation in life, whether it was dating, job interviews/meetings with certain people or just off-beat habits that people have. Whatever it was, it simply showed the true nature of people and how sometimes you are what you are without any good reason, except for the fact that “you’re just wired that way.”

High Fidelity (2000)

Rob is a thirty-something record store owner that has everything going on for him except for one thing – you guessed it – romance. Throughout the story, Rob introspects and tries to understand what’s wrong in his relationships and looks for answers. But this is not a movie about just one person. Rob also hires two clerks (one of them is the notoriously funny Jack Black) to work part time in his store, though both of them are at the store 6 days a week, most likely because they have nowhere else to go. This film reflects the all-too-well-known problems of ordinary people that are just “stuck” in life and don’t know how to move forward. It is probably John Cusack’s best performance, known for breaking the fourth wall and talking to the viewer on several occasions.

Middle of the Road – Middle Age Take

A Serious Man (2009)

If you are up to date on current TV Shows, then you are probably watching ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and you’re familiar with the name Arnold Rothstein. You’ll be surprised to look back a few years and see him starring in this Coen brothers drama about a middle aged man called Larry Gopnik who is completely down on his luck - his wife is divorcing him, his brother is an uninvited guest in his house, his son gets high on his own bar-mitzva, and much more. It is a very different type of movie from what you’re used to seeing. It’s highly cynical and atmospheric, so you must proceed with caution; it requires quite a bit of patience to take in such a movie.

This is 40 (2012)

Judd Apatow takes us a few years later in life, to tell the story of Pete and Debby, who appeared in its predecessor ‘Knocked Up’ (also by the same director.) The movie deals with the various conflicts of married life, and the difficulty in balancing relationships, parenthood and self-fulfillment while making it all work out for the best. I really liked Knocked Up, amongst other reasons mainly because I like Judd’s gang, which he uses frequently in his productions, but I believe that Seth and Katherine weren’t as funny as the rest of the cast in the first movie so I am looking forward to the sequel’s release to see those funny familiar faces.

Towards Retirement – The Elderly Take

Something’s Gotta Give (2003)

You can’t address the Golden Age without mentioning Jack Nicholson at least once. In this romantic comedy, Harry avoids dating women his own age, and Erica (Diane Keaton) gave up on finding a fulfilling relationship. Despite them being initially antagonists, as the saying goes “opposites attract” and they become drawn to each other, developing a relationship that neither of them expected could actually happen. My personal take: It’s one of those movies that are so sweet and make you feel so good, it’s really a shame to miss it. Watch it and understand that getting older may not be as bad as it’s made out to be.

The Bucket List (2007)

Before we “kick the bucket” as the movie says, let’s join Jack once again with Morgan Freeman and take a journey around the world, to see its great wonders and cherish every moment that’s left for us, instead of being grumpy and disgruntled over our inevitable deaths. Both Edward and Carter have to fight terminal illness, but as stated above, the way they deal with their health situation is far from standard.

So in conclusion, what’s the best decade to live in? The answer is none! As it is with everything in life, it is all a matter of perspective, not to mention that everything is in the eye of the beholder. It is my humble opinion that it’s not about being (or acting) a certain age, it’s about the journey itself through all those ages that makes life worth living. It’s the sum of all the experiences and the knowledge you acquire that makes you appreciate everything you have, and everything you did.

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Technorati Tags: Juno, teens, teenagers, Jason Reitman, Ivan Reitman, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith, Friends, Rachel, Chandler, How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson, Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, George Costanza, Elaine Benes, Kramer,  High Fidelity, Jack Black, John Cusack, A Serious Man, Boardwalk Empire, Arnold Rothstein, Coen Brothers, This is 40, Judd Apatow, Knocked Up,  Somethings Gotta Give, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, The Bucket List, Morgan Freeman, 20-Something, 30-Something, Middle Aged 

Popularity: 1% [?]

This Thanksgiving we are grateful for our wonderful families, for our friends, for very nice coworkers, for the food on our tables, for the birds, for the trees, for the sky, for the sun, and for god not destroying us. But since this blog is about movies and TV shows, here are 10 things from the big and the small screen that we are thankful for:

10. Thanks for stylized TV shows about gangsters

Boardwalk Empire, Lilyhammer and Vegas

I think it’s very nice that cool, charismatic gangsters visit your living room (or wherever you watch TV at home) every week and instead of blackmailing you or making you offers you can’t refuse, all they do is entertain you. Boardwalk Empire was already established by Barack Obama as one as the best series on TV today, Vegas is one of the best new Fall shows, and Lilyhammer is a fantastic debut for Netflix, being their 1st original series.

9. Thanks for fun, mindless action

The Expendables 2 and Strike Back

Thinking about the meaning of life, death and love, contemplating the past and planning the future are all pretty important activities, but sometimes you just want to see tough guys blowing stuff up and killing some bad guys while you think about… well, absolutely nothing.

8. Thanks for romantic indie movies about nice people

The Giant Mechanical Man

I can’t recall when I last saw a movie with two nicer characters than the two leads in this lovely movie. If you want to see a romantic comedy with Ashton Kutcher, go ahead, it’s your time that you’re wasting. But if you want to see a romantic comedy about people you can actually relate to, then this is just the right movie for you.

7. Thanks for silly and witty parodies

21 Jump Street and A Touch of Cloth

21 Jump Street was the funniest movie of the year, and surprisingly, it also won the critical acclaim, and I say surprisingly because usually critics don’t really have a sense of humor.

A Touch of Cloth, written by Charlie Brooker (the man behind Black Mirror), has so many gags that are delivered in such a fast pace that it manages to make fun of every cop crime drama ever made (well, almost).

6. Thanks for offbeat comedies about eccentric women

Damsels in Distress

I went to see this movie with no expectations whatsoever, and it absolutely da(m)zzled me. I think it’s one of the movies with the best dialogue I have ever seen/heard. But this movie is not for everyone; first, because the humor in it is drier than the desert, and second, because it’s just weird - weird in a very good sort of way, in my opinion.

5. Thanks for clever foreign thrillers

Headhunters

This Tarantinoesque crime thriller is violent, suspenseful, darkly funny and also a bit strange (or completely insane, depends on how open you are to certain things). There are a lot of unexpected moments in the movie that will leave you with your mouth open and at the edge of your seat.

4. Thanks for TV series about obsession

Homeland and Dexter

It seems that obsessions make really good, quality TV. In Homeland, Carrie’s obsession is the most interesting thing about the series and also what drives it (watch The Bridge if you want to see the closest thing there is to Carrie on TV). As for Dexter, the nice killer who has to kill so he kills only bad guys, season 6 was its worst by far, but season 7 is definitely making it up to the show’s viewers.

3. Thanks for captivating dramas about fatherhood

Wild Bill

I don’t have any kids, but I do have parents, and one of them is my father, so this movie really did it for me. This crime drama takes its time; the first hour is just sort of a preparation to the amazing last half hour and to the moving ending that really manages to define what it means to be a father. If you’re a father and you’re not sure what it all means, child care should force you to watch this movie.

2. Thanks for comedies about goodhearted idiots

Goon

I consider this to be the funniest sports movie since Happy Gilmore. It’s not only funny, but also surprisingly heartwarming and upbeat. Sean W. Scott was never as likable as he is in this role as a violent hockey player with a heart of gold.

1. Thanks for movies about friendship

End of Watch

With all due respect to The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers, End of Watch is without a shadow of a doubt (at least in my book) the best movie of the year. You want romance? You got it. You want suspense? There’s plenty. You want witty dialogue? It’s also there. But End of Watch is first and foremost a movie about friendship. Good friends are hard to come by, at least as good as in End of Watch.

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Technorati Tags:   End of Watch,  The Dark Knight Rises,  The Avengers,  Happy Gilmore,  Sean William Scott,  Goon,  Wild Bill,  The Bridge,  Homeland,  Dexter,  Head Hunters,  Damsels in Distress,  Charlie Brooker,  A Touch of Cloth,  21 Jump Street,  Ashton Kutcher,  The Giant Mechanical Man,  The Expendables 2,  Strike Back,  Boardwalk Empire,  Barak Obama,  Netflix,  Lilyhammer,  Vegas,  Thanksgiving

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Emmy Awards winners have been announced and I am absolutely outraged by the results. Jon Cryer wins best comic actor for the lousy Two and a Half Men?! Julia Luis-Dreyfus wins best comic actress for the equally lousy Veep?! Aren’t you supposed to present that award to someone who was actually funny? Here are this year’s picks and our take on them:

Drama

Best Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire – When it was publicly known that Scorsese was making a TV series for HBO, it was obvious that it was going to win a lot of awards. But they will still have to wait at least until next year to win in this category.

Breaking Bad - Season 4 brought Breaking Bad to a near status of a modern classic and masterpiece. The conflict between Walt and Gus brought the very best out of both of them. The 4th season had some scenes that will definitely stay with the show’s viewers for a very long time. The first 8 episodes of the 5^th season maintained the quality of the 4^th season. After getting used to losing to Mad Men every year, this time it was Homeland who defeated them in the Best Drama Series category.

Downton Abbey – This complex and clever period drama, which deals with social classes in early 20^th century Britain, is quite different from the rest of its competitors, but still deserved to be here.

Game of Thrones - Adam Scott from the brilliant Parks and Recreation described it best: “Game of Thrones tells human stories in a fantasy world” (and it manages to do it all while using the traditional HBO trademarks of female nudity and bursts of violence.) Unfortunately for them, they competed with Homeland.

Homeland - This excellent paranoid psychological thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to guess what the next plot twist will be. You can cut the tension with a bomb, and that’s why the Emmy decision makers decided to go with Homeland as this year’s winner.

Mad Men – Apart from solid acting and wonderful set and costume designs, I have to be blasphemous and say that Mad Men is the weakest show between the 6 nominated in this category. I’m pleased it’s unjust reign of wins in this category (4 years in a row) came to an end.

Best Dramatic Actor

Steve Buscemi – 2 years in a row, Nucky Thompson gets nominated. And loses… If I were one of the guys who make the decisions at the Emmy’s I’d start being very afraid.

Hugh Bonneville – Even among the great cast of Downton Abbey, Bonneville manages to stand out. He doesn’t demonstrate the best acting skills of all these nominees, but his character is definitely the nicest.

Bryan Cranston – After 3 wins over the last 5 years, Bryan Cranston shouldn’t feel too disappointed for returning home empty handed.

Michael C. Hall – Dexter’s last season was probably its worst, so Michael C. Hall didn’t deserve the award this time, he did deserve it a few years back though. Hugh Laurie did 8 seasons of House and didn’t get an Emmy for his terrific acting; I hope they won’t repeat their injustice with Dexter and Michael C. Hall.

Jon Hamm – I know that 90% of the population (all the women and 80% of the men) think Jon Hamm is great, and that the character he portrays, Don Draper, is one of the most fascinating characters ever. I think he’s pompous and boring (at least the character he plays is.)

Damian Lewis – Is Damien Lewis going to be the next Bryan Cranston? Both of them won after only 1 season of their shows, will Lewis also complete 3 consecutive wins? We’ll have to wait two more years to find out…

Best Dramatic Actress

Kathy Bates – Harry’s Law is a terrible show. Maybe even worse than Two and a Half Men!

Glenn Close – I’ll start by saying that Glenn Close is always great; she’s one of the best actresses alive. Damages was intriguing for a season or two but then it really became tiresome; even she can’t save this amazingly confusing series.

Claire Danes – Clearly there was no competition for Claire, her portrayal of a troubled CIA agent is nothing less than mesmerizing. At least the Emmys got it right in this category.

Michelle Dockery – Another fantastic Briton from Downton Abbey, who could have won, if she wasn’t running against Claire Danes in her role of a lifetime.

Julianna Margulies – She’s consistently good in the consistently good The Good Wife, but she’s not the best of the category.

Elisabeth Moss – We saw her character come of age, from a naïve and weak young woman she became a strong woman with principles. It would be interesting to see where the upcoming seasons will take her.

Comedy

Best Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory – Sorry, I really don’t get it. Many people love this show, I agree it’s nice and occasionally funny, but why does such a mediocre sitcom earn so many Emmy nominations?! Louie should have been nominated instead (1).

Girls - More similar to Dunham’s film Tiny Furniture (which showcased a bunch of obnoxious and self-involved twentysomethings) than to Judd Apatow’s (who produces this show) previous work; it also borrows a little bit from Sex and the City which is obviously not a positive thing. Louie should have been nominated instead (2).

Veep - We hoped it would be a clever, witty and most importantly hilarious political satire. What we got instead was a silly (stupid would be a more appropriate word) series that doesn’t offer many laughs (if any) and shouldn’t have been nominated. Louie should have been nominated instead (3).

30 Rock – The show keeps being funny, it already has more award trophies on its cabinet than Michael Phelps and Michael Jordan put together, so I guess it’s okay it didn’t win anything this time around.

Modern Family –The winner of this category is a very good show with moments of brilliance, but a bit overrated. The show dominates awards shows, especially the Emmys – it’s good, but not that good…

Curb Your Enthusiasm – After quite a long hiatus, came a great season with some unforgettable episodes (Palestinian Chicken!), which was more deserving to win in this category.

Best Comic Actor

Alec Baldwin – He’s won more than once in the past, but still would have been a much better choice than Jon Cryer (1).

Don Cheadle – I don’t know if Cheadle’s attempt to imitate Hank Moody (David Duchovny’s character from Californication) is worthy of an Emmy nomination, but still would have been a much better choice than Jon Cryer (2).

Louis C.K – The only thing that could have saved the Emmys from the shameful exclusion of the best comedy series today, Louie, was to give the award for Best Comic Actor to Louis C.K. They failed to do even that. Where’s your sense of humor??

Jon Cryer – What the hell were they thinking giving him the award?! Two and a Half Men is a below average sitcom, nobody there should even be invited to major award ceremonies.

Larry David –After 8 seasons of the brilliant show Curb Your Enthusiasm, it should be about time for Larry David to get his Best Comic Actor award… I guess there’s always next year.

Jim Parsons – It’s astonishing that he won 2 consecutive Emmy Awards, when he shouldn’t have been nominated in the first place! Still, he would have been a much better choice than Jon Cryer (3).

Best Comic Actress

Zooey Deschanel – You can love her and you can hate her, but if you hate her, there’s something seriously wrong with you.

Lena Dunham – She’s been called the voice of a generation; they said she’s uncompromising and brutally honest… I say she’s obnoxious and not particularly funny.

Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie is much more dramatic than comic, so this isn’t the category Falco should have been nominated in…

Tina Fey – Along with Zooey Deschanel and Amy Poehler she was the most worthy candidate in this category.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus – By choosing her as the winner in this category I need no further proof that The Emmys suck! Just to emphasize how bad I think Veep is, I’ll say that even The Old Adventures of New Christine is better than Veep.

Melissa McCarthy – Mike and Molly is a sweet sitcom, but not Emmys material.

Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation is fantastic, and Poehler is great there. The only bad thing I can say about her is that she’s not even among the 3 funniest characters in this show (Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt’s characters are all funnier.)

TV Movie/Mini Series

American Horror Story – Since it’s not a TV movie or a mini-series, I don’t know why it’s even nominated in this category… But the opening credits alone are enough to scare you, so you’re actually scared before you even start watching the show.

Game Change –This HBO TV movie was really good and deserved the win, Julianne Moore did a fantastic job in her portrayal of Sarah Palin (although Palin herself, who was portrayed as an imbecile, would probably disagree.)

Hemingway & Gellhorn - This HBO TV movie was a huge disappointment – it dealt with the fascinating characters in its title, and had an impressive cast that included Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman, but it was too long and poorly done.

Hatfields & McCoys - The History Channel’s Western mini-series that starred Kevin Costner was extremely long, but also extremely captivating and intense.

Luther –A worthy candidate, this detective series is one of the best shows shown on BBC America, and might have deserved the win a bit more than Game Change.

Sherlock –If Sherlock’s complete 2^nd season would have been nominated as a mini-series, it could have been the winner, but since only the 1^st episode of the 2^nd season received a nomination as a TV movie (once again, the logic of the Emmys baffles me) it’s understandable that it didn’t.

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