Top Ten 2009 Movies - Which One You Should Watch

Entertainment is a lifestyle that has been there with us since time immemorial and has only been made better in the present age as a result of technological development in information and communication technology. A majority of movie production houses have managed to incorporate the use of computer technology that has enabled them to simulate moves and other effects that would have otherwise been impossible in real life. In addition, distribution and access has been simplified by internet technology which facilitates download of newly released movies from the web.

Discussed herein are top ten 2009 movies that not only raked in billions of dollars in box office earnings but also left memories that would last a lifetime.

Top ten 2009 movies

a. The side of truth: Directed by Ricky Gervais and Mather Roinson: Written by Ricky Gervais and Mathew Robinson: Cast Ricky Gervais, Jenifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Jason Bateman, Christopher Guest, Tina Fey, Louis C.K., Jonah Hill and Jeffery Tambor.

For those who are not well versed with Ricky Gervais, he is a talented film maker cum actor. He is the person who created Office and Extras and has managed to star alongside other leading Hollywood movie stars. This is the first film that he has had a hand in directing, writing and staring.

b. State of play: Directors: Kevin Macdonald: Writters: Mathew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy and Peter Morgan: Cast: Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel Adams, Helen Mirren and Jason Bateman.

We are all familiar with works by Russel Crowe and Ben Affleck. They have acted in some of the best box office movies and a movie that combines the two actors is just mind blowing. The story line is based on the mini series State of Play that features in BBC. The story line os about a high flying senator with presidential ambitions (Ben Affleck) who finds himself on the receiving end of reporters (Russel Crowe) and his political nemesis as soon as his mistress is found dead, a mirror of today's political landscape. To get a better view of what the movie has to offer, get a copy of State of Play DVD.

c. Up: Directors: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson: Writer: Bob Peterson: Cast: (voices) Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer an John Ratzenberger.

It was unlikely to have Ed Asner play the lead role in the movie but some how Up managed to gross more at the Box Office than other movies. Moreover, it won nominations at the Oscars. Up is a story line that revolves on a 78-year man, Carl Fredricksen who in his bid to evade being sent to a nursing home tethers his house to thousands of balloons.

d. Nine.

e. The informant.

f. Shutter Island

g. The lovely bones.

h. The road.

i. Watchmen.

j. Avatar.

Dish Network Verses DirecTV - Which Is Better in Adult Programming?

The two satellite TV service providers, Dish Network and DirecTV delivers a wide range of programming that includes Movies, Music, Sports and many more to their valuable subscribers. Adult programming is one such programming with lots of adult channels, adult TV shows and movies that will quench the thirst of adult subscribers. Subscribers can subscribe to the Adult programming package on monthly basis. Besides monthly packages, subscribers can order for limited hours of Adult Programming via the amazing Pay per view option also. Through this pay per view, Adult subscribers can enjoy their favorite programming without subscribing to any monthly package and they can pay less to watch what they wish, only for limited hours. This article guides the reader to know more about Adult Pay per view events in both Dish Network and DirecTV and the Comparison between them.

Adult Pay Per view in Dish Network

Dish Network delivers a wide range of the hottest adult programming via Dish Network Pay Per View. Adult Pay Per View option in Dish Network allows subscribers to purchase Adult programming only for limited hours without subscribing to any monthly package. Playboy TV, XTSY, fresh!, Hustler HD, Hustler TV SD, JUICY, Real, Reality Kings TV and Adult Showcase are the Adult channels delivered via Dish Network Pay Per View to adult subscribers.

Playboy TV is a X service channel that allows subscribers to engage in all passion and fun of playboy brand that includes late night movies, wild reality shows and late night specials. Subscribers can enjoy all these programming for just $9.99 in Dish Network.

Xtsy is a XXX adult channel that features top stars showcasing the newest talent. It also delivers adult movies without censor. This XXX channel can be ordered via pay per view for $13.99.

Hustler TV is a XX.5 service channel that delivers the hottest adult entertainment with most exclusive movies from big stars to fresh amateurs. Subscribers can experience the total reality and hilarious porn parodies in amazing high definition.

Hustler TV can be enjoyed by subscribers in both HD and SD just for $13.99. fresh! is a XX.5 service channel that focuses mainly on fresh girls and fresh themes. Newest performers in the business, groundbreaking series, casting calls and much more can be enjoyed for $13.99.

Real takes adult subscribers to a new level where they will experience real scenarios and real content without scripts and setups. It is a XX.5 service channel provided for just $13.99. With XX.5 service channel Reality Kings TV, subscribers can enjoy the new adult TV experience with variety of wild, fun sexual situations for just $13.99.

For $13.99, Juicy, the XX.5 service channel shows lots of fascinating fantasies from all around the globe. It delivers the hottest scenes from movies that cannot be enjoyed anywhere by subscribers. Adult showcase is a XX.5 and XXX service pack that delivers adult channels namely Xtsy, Hustler HD, Hustler TV, Reality kings, Juicy, Fresh and Real for about 3 hours for $17.99 only.

Adult Pay Per View in DirecTV

DirecTV is the abode for the hottest adult entertainment that delivers lots of movies and adult shows to their subscribers via Pay Per View. There is no monthly subscription is needed to view Pay Per view events. Adult Pay per view events can be viewed only for limited hours. Playboy TV, Reality Kings, Real, Juicy, fresh!, Spice: Access, Hustler TV and All Access Pass are the adult channels delivered by DirecTV via Pay Per View.

The Sensual channel that provides adult programming round the clock is Playboy TV. Programming consists of late night shows, adult movies and wild reality shows and subscribers can subscribe to this channel via pay per view for limited hours for just $9.99.

"Milf Hunter", "In the VIP" and "Money Talks" are the shows delivered by the adult channel Reality Kings TV who are the creators of "Reality" content on Internet. Subscribers can experience a new adult programming in Reality Kings for $10.99.

Real channel showcases lots of reality shows with no scripts, no setups and no pretending shows. Subscribers can enjoy real people in real scenario with raw and uncut action for just $10.99.

The hottest sensual channel that shows lots of Eastern European hotties, Latin Ladies, Asian dolls and some other unique faces from all around the globe is the Juicy. In Juicy, Subscribers can enjoy the hottest scenes from movies for $10.99.

fresh! is the sensual weekend adult premier with fresh faces and fresh content in the business. The groundbreaking series, casting calls, reality programming and theme auditions can be enjoyed by subscribers in fresh! for $10.99.

Spice: Xcess is an exclusive and exciting weekend premier with varieties of performers and specialised content. This channel can be ordered for $10.99. Hustler TV satisfies adult subscribers by providing hottest action, new adult movies and the hottest talent round for $10.99. All Access Pass is an three hour block adult pay per view package where subscribers can enjoy 6 channels for one low price. Subscribers can subscribe to this 3 hour block package with the help of their remote for $14.99.

Comparison

Adult Pay Per view of both Dish Network and DirecTV, the two satellite TV providers delivers almost same kind of programming to their subscribers. Though the programming remains the same in many aspects but differs slightly when compared with each other. Playboy TV, Reality Kings Tv, Real, fresh!, Juicy are the adult channels available in both Dish Network and DirecTV with same programming.

Even though, they are delivering same adult channels and programming, they vary in their pricing. Dish Network provides these adult channels for $13.99 whereas DirecTV offers less than Dish Network ie $10.99. Hustler TV in Dish Network allows subscribers to experience the adult programming in both HD and SD. On the other hand, in DirecTV Hustler TV can be enjoyed only in SD. Xtsy is an adult channel that delivers adult movies without censor is available in Dish Network and not available in DirecTV. On Contrary, Spice: Xcess, the weekend adult premier is available with DirecTV and not in Dish Network. All Access Pass is a three hour block adult pay per view package with 6 channels for one lower price $14.99 is accessible in DirecTV while Dish Network delivers Adult Showcase pay per view package that also delivers three hour block adult pay per view package with 6 channels for $17.99. When comparing the adult pay per view of both Dish Network and DirecTV, they resembles the same in many aspects and differs in Pricing.

In terms of pricing, DirecTV provides adult pay per view programming for less amount than Dish Network.

Oscar Predictions 2011: Which Movie Will Win the Best Picture Award?

The question of the year in the movie industry: Who will win the Best Picture award? Who will take another Academy Award home as winner and who will just spend the night applauding others? As no one knows for sure yet, let's take a look at the list of the Best Picture Nominees and try to come up with some system to make predictions.

Best Picture Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards:

Black Swan -- director: Darren Aronofsky; writers: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz; stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel;

The Fighter -- director: David O. Russell; writers: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams

Inception -- Director: Christopher Nolan; Writer: Christopher Nolan; Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page

The Kids Are All Right -- director: Lisa Cholodenko; writers: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg; stars: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore vand Mark Ruffalo

The King's Speech -- director: Tom Hooper; writer: David Seidler; stars: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter

127 Hours -- director: Danny Boyle; writers: Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, stars: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara

The Social Network -- director: David Fincher; writers: Aaron Sorkin, Ben Mezrich; stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake

Toy Story 3 -- director: Lee Unkrich; writers: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack

True Grit -- directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen; writers: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen; stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld

Winter's Bone -- director: Debra Granik; writers: Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini, stars: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes and Garret Dillahunt

Hm, now that's a list of some pretty good movies, how are these guys in Academy Awards supposed to decide, who is better? Whom they should give the Oscar statue? Oh the tension... Maybe we can help out by comparing them -- how they were created, how they did in theaters and awards? Maybe we can develop some kind of system for determining the most likely winners...

You can see that most of them have really big names in cast and crew. Thought celebrity pressure can come from any of these movies; it's not clear how to evaluate one or another star's influence for popularity of the movie. Also, one should not forget that we all have our favorites, which is not good for making objective predictions. So we have to take some other, measurable and comparable things into account when deciding.

First thing we could look at is a) how much was invested in creating these movies b) how much they earned from them. In short -- were they successful and the effort worth the money?

List no. 1: 'Budget size vs. success'
Black Swan -- budget: 13,000,000; earnings: 83,250,375; ROI: 5.4The Kids Are All Right -- budget: 4,000,000; earnings: 20,803,237; ROI: 4.2The King's Speech -- budget: 15,000,000; earnings: 57,313,881; ROI: 2.8True Grit -- budget: 38,000,000; earnings: 137,963,519; ROI: 2.6Winter's Bone -- budget: 2,000,000; earnings: 6,271,086; ROI: 2.1The Fighter -- budget: 25,000,000; earnings: 72,680,740; ROI: 1.9The Social Network -- budget: 40,000,000; earnings: 95,408,473; ROI: 1.4Toy Story 3 -- budget: 200,000,000; earnings: 415,004,880; ROI: 1.1Inception -- budget: 160,000,000; earnings: 292,568,851; ROI: 0.8127 Hours -- budget: 18,000,000; earnings: 11,296,805; ROI: -0.4

What we get here is a very simple list of the Best Picture nominees according to return on investment [ROI] made in making them. The biggest return taking the first place, when going down to the smallest in the bottom. Basically, it shows how much money oscar nominees made in US from premier till January, divided by their estimated budget ($ numbers from IMDB and boxofficemojo.com). Conclusion - big budget is not everything you need for a blockbuster - "Black Swan" and "The Kids Are All Right" budgets were more than 10 times smaller compared to Inception, but they managed to make around 4 - 5 times more from one dollar invested. The biggest loser so far "127 Hours", which haven't managed to earn enough to cover costs yet. I didn't rank them according to gross earnings, as popular opinion and sales can easily be manipulated by increasing spending on advertising, ROI shows a lot more in this case.

Secondly, we could consider how have these movies done in professional competitions?

List no. 2: 'What do the pros think?"
The Social Network -- nominations: 55; Wins: 49; Oscar nom.:8; Total: 112The King's Speech -- nominations: 73; Wins: 16; Oscar nom.: 12; Total: 101Black Swan -- nominations: 71; Wins: 21; Oscar nom.: 5; Total: 97Inception -- nominations: 57; Wins: 27; Oscar nom.: 8; Total: 92True Grit -- nominations: 55; Wins: 12; Oscar nom.: 10; Total: 77127 Hours -- nominations: 55; Wins: 4; Oscar nom.: 6; Total: 65Winter's Bone -- nominations: 42; Wins: 19; Oscar nom.: 4; Total: 65The Fighter -- nominations: 32; Wins: 23; Oscar nom.: 7; Total: 62The Kids Are All Right -- nominations: 51; Wins: 3; Oscar nom.: 4; Total: 58Toy Story 3 -- nominations: 18; Wins: 18; Oscar nom.: 5; Total: 41

Here I added up all nominations with wins to see which movies were noticed the most in different awards. Here "The Social Network" takes lead, with "The King's Speech" and "Black Swan" still in top three before the big spenders "Inception" and others. Hmm do we see a trend here already?

Thirdly, it's very important to compare how viewers and critics evaluate these movies:

List no. 3: 'A, B, C... or F?'
Toy Story 3 -- IMDB: 8.7; metacritics.com: 92; average: 9.0The Social Network -- IMDB: 8.2; metacritics.com: 95; average: 8.9The King's Speech -- IMDB: 8.5; metacritics.com: 88; average: 8.7Winter's Bone -- IMDB: 7.5; metacritics.com: 90; average: 8.3Black Swan -- IMDB: 8.6; metacritics.com: 79; average: 8.3127 Hours -- IMDB: 8.2; metacritics.com: 82; average: 8.2Inception -- IMDB: 9.0; metacritics.com: 74; average: 8.2True Grit -- IMDB: 8.2; metacritics.com: 80; average: 8.1The Fighter -- IMDB: 8.2; metacritics.com: 79; average: 8.1The Kids Are All Right -- IMDB: 7.4; metacritics.com: 86; average: 8.0

I ranked these movies according to IMDB and metacritic.com rankings average. "Toy story 3" does very well here, by both viewers in IMDB and critics in metacritic.com. Some of the previous leaders spatter across the list giving an interesting perspective for possible Oscar evening winners.

And finally, to get the result we need to sum up all previous scores - from 1 to 10, the smallest score being the best:

List no. 4: 'The Grande Finale'
The King's Speech 8 Black Swan 9 The Social Network 10 Winter's Bone 16 True Grit 17 Toy Story 3 19 Inception 20 The Kids Are All Right 21 127 Hours 22 The Fighter 23

So here you go! Top 3 most possible Oscar winners according to our little calculation are: leader "The King's Speech", followed by "Black Swan" and "The Social Network". I guess this not a big surprise as "The King's Speech" already boast 16 wins in such awards as Golden Globes, British Independent Films and others. Let's not forget 12 Oscar nominations, which is a great accomplishment by itself.