2011 Ralphies Are Here!!
Hollywood has the Oscars (and the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards and a number of other self-congratulatory trophies).
The music industry has the Grammys.
Broadway has the Tonys and the Gospel Music Association has the Doves.
None compare, however, to the honor bestowed every year at MattDanTodd.com. Well…almost every year…
The 2011 Ralphies!!
In case you don’t remember what the Ralphies are, or want to see the past winners, you can refresh your memory here. And you may be wondering why I keep naming the award after a professor that I’ve never met. Well…it’s become tradition. And some traditions are not meant to be broken.
Or something like that.
Anyway, enough of the delay. Let’s end the suspense and see who this year’s winners are. I’m sure you’re about to fall out of your seat in anticipation. So in order to save you from potentially breaking your collar bone when you slip off the edge of your seat and ultimately try to sue me for causing you personal bodily harm (good luck with that…you might be able to get the Dallas Clark jersey from off my back cuz that’s about all I have), I now present to you the winners of the 2011 Ralphies:
Best Movie
The Help
This was one of the most powerful films I’ve seen in a long, long time. I laughed. I cried (well…almost). I found myself getting extremely angry at the ignorance that was accepted as the norm and found myself quite angry at the ignorance that continues to be accepted as the norm. This was not a fun film, but it was definitely thought-provoking and conversation-starting. That’s one of the purposes of art and film, and The Help is certainly a powerful piece of art.
Honorable Mention:
The Way
I have a soft spot in my heart for this movie. Don’t get me wrong, it was a very well done film. But Christy and I saw this at the opening night of the Heartland Film Festival, with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez in attendance. I still need to write that blog post about it (and update my 100(ish) Things), but The Way certainly needs to be mentioned in this year’s awards list. Any other year, I think it would have won the Ralphie. Yes – The Help is that good.
Best Album
With the arrival of Spotify into my life, I have been able to rediscover all kinds of music that had fallen by the wayside in my life. I don’t think I’ve purchased a single album this year, but I did listen to a lot of new-to-me music thanks to Spotify! In thinking about what I’d name the Best Album of 2011, I had to consider what I found myself listening to whenever I had the opportunity. So, it really should come as no surprise that I’ve rediscovered my love for John Williams by listening to a soundtrack that I never owned. And I have listened to it over and over and over again. After all, John Williams is a genius (and the MAN).
Revenge of the Sith Soundtrack
Best Song
Hold Me by Jamie Grace
I’ll have to find the video of Mihret singing this song, then you’ll understand why this just might be the best song ever.
Best Book (Fiction)
The Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson
It’s no secret that I love the Wingfeather Saga. It’s no secret that Aiden does, too. We love talking about the story with each other. Of course, we still have to talk in code when we’re around other family members because they haven’t read the books yet. I’m not sure what they’re waiting for!
Monster in the Hollows is a definite page-turner. I could not put the book down or read it fast enough – especially the last 150 pages or so. Of course, you can’t read the third book without reading the other two. I highly recommend you go out and read them right now before the final installment is published.
Unfortunately, that won’t be until 2013.
Yes. I said 2013. I’m not sure what Aiden and I are going to do with ourselves while we wait to find out what happens to the Wingfeathers! I guess we’ll have to find out, huh?
Best Book (Nonfiction)
No Biking in the House Without a Helmet by Melissa Fay Greene
There isn’t much to say about this book that hasn’t already been said in reviews about this book. It’s a great book and should be read by anyone who is considering adoption and by families already touched by adoption.
Best TV Show
Breaking In on Fox
It seems that TV execs still don’t understand me, as this is the 2nd year in a row that they’ve canceled the show that has won a Ralphie from me.
Maybe I’m the kiss of death.
If that’s the case, then I’m putting the cast of The Big Bang Theory on notice: You’d better watch out and start dusting off your resumes because that show is a close second for a Ralphie. It’s already in the running for the 2012 Ralphies.
You’ve been warned.
Best Sports Moment
I’ve added a new category this year. I thought long and hard about this one. I considered Shelvin Mack and the ending to the Butler vs. Pitt game in the tournament. I also thought about Dan Orlovsky’s first win as a starter in the NFL.
But they don’t measure up to this…
Really…are you surprised? I didn’t think so. And if you were, then you need to visit MattDanTodd a little bit more often. 😀
So, that wraps up another round of Ralphies. I’d love to hear your choices for Best of 2011!
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