2013 Emmy Predictions

    2013 Emmy Predictions

The Emmy's are coming soon, and the competition this year is tough. From American Horror Story with a total of 17 nominations, to the fan-favorite medieval drama Game of Thrones with 16 nominations, to the soon-ending Breaking Bad holding a total of 13 nominations. Not just past winners are the favored party, Netflix's first high-profile drama House of Cards racked in 9 Emmy nominations, unprecedented for a show not to air on broadcast or cable television. Cards isn't the only Netflix show to score big. Netflix's revised and incredibly-loved series Arrested Development received 3 Emmy's, including Best Actor Jason Bateman. All of the nominees this year are superb, but, obviously, there can only be one winner in each category. Will Breaking Bad finally win best drama? Will Modern Family reclaim it's position as Best Comedy? Here are my predictions for this year's Emmy's awards.

DRAMA

Best Drama Series: Breaking Bad

With Breaking Bad ending this year, it seems fitting to send it off with the Emmy the show has deserved for the past 5 years. Seeing as how Homeland was a big, messy disappointment this season, it seems likely it won't be the victor. The acting, writing, and directing this season and every other season have been phenomenal, the Emmy should go to the show that is consistently mesmerizing. My pick is Breaking Bad this year.

Best Actor: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

"You asked me if I'm in the meth business or the money business. I'm in neither. I'm in the Empire business."-Walter White. Words spoken by the greatest drama television character ever. For the past 5 years now, Cranston has delivered performances unmatched by anyone, television and film. Even though Damian Lewis did win last year (which I disagree with), the very poor, unrealistic second season will likely cause Homeland to leave empty handed. Like I said, this season was superb and with the series ending soon, it would be preferable to end with Cranston in his proper place, at the podium accepting his fourth Emmy as the Scarface of television. However, if Cranston does not bring home the prize, I would prefer Kevin Spacey's amazing performance in House of Cards to get the golden statue.

Best Actress: Claire Danes (Homeland) 

As I've said before a couple times, I was thoroughly disappointed with the second season of Homeland. That being said, these are predictions, not hopes. If I had my way, I would have given the Emmy to Robin Wright for her captivating, manipulative performance in Netflix's House of Cards. But, it's not my choice. Claire Dane's performance was probably the only good thing about Homeland this season. It may not have been as electrifying (pun intended, pun always intended) as it was in the first season, but it was still exemplar. Claire is my prediction, and one I would be surprised but defiantly not disappointed if proven incorrect.

Best Supporting Actor: Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)

A repeated victory from Aaron Paul seems very likely. These past three years Aaron has added such incredible layers to the character of Jesse Pinkman, so much so that he has become a fan favorite. Going from an immature, pot dealer with an over-fondness of the word meaning "female dog" to practically becoming the morale compass of the show is not an simple task, but Paul and the writers have done it with such realism and grace. The series is ending soon, the season was phenomenal, and the character of Jesse Pinkman is almost as interesting as the character of Walter White. I would only be okay if Aaron Paul lost to co-star Jonathan Banks, who too had a great year.

Best Supporting Actress: Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)

Not all of the Breaking Bad actors deserve to win just because it is their last year, all of the Breaking Bad Actors deserve to win because this was their best year. This statement definitely does not exclude Anna Gunn. Skylar White used to be one of the most annoying character on Breaking Bad or any other show. In the fifth season, she is still very annoying, but Anna Gunn and the writers add plenty of new layers to the character that don't just make her more bearable, but made her more sympathetic. Her performance this year was phenomenal. For the first time in Breaking Bad history, Skylar proved herself to be almost as smart and manipulative as her drug-dealing husband. She began putting her foot down and wanting to protect her children, which made her not just a character who stood in the way, but one who was pushing back, which is immensely more entertaining.

Comedy

Best Comedy Series: Modern Family

Let's be honest here, chances are very good that Modern Family will bring home the award again for the fourth time. I can not explain in words how happy I will be if Louie finally won. Well, actually I can put it in words: Very, very happy. This was a great season of Louie and C.K. gave one of the best performances I've ever seen. Still, the academy are real suckers when it comes to this family comedy. This season was an average year in Modern Family terms, which still means pretty good. This ensemble is still very funny and they work well together. Even though I would avidly prefer Louie to win, chances are that Modern Family will win again. As long as The Big Band Theory doesn't win, I think I'll be fine.

Best Actor: Louie C.K. (Louie)

Louie probably won't win best Comedy, despite it now being the best comedy on television, but my money is on Louie C.K. bringing home the Emmy. This was an excellent season for Louie C.K. Not only was his writing and directing great, but his acting was superb. Louie has always brought an honest, brutal display of life after the age 40. Louie is now not only one of, if not the, best stand-up comedians I've ever seen, but he is also one of the best comedy television actors I've ever seen. He does so much for this fantastic, hilarious show. I would completely lose my faith in the academy if they snub him and give the award to Alec Baldwin or worse, Jim Parsons.

  Best Actress: Julie Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

Let's face it, Julie is a tremendous comedic actress. Veep may not be my favorite comedy on television, but her performance really makes the show. I actually wouldn't mind Tina Fey winning the Emmy this year. 30 Rock is definitely not my favorite comedy on television, nor has it ever been. But Tina does so much for the show the whole 8 years it's been on, just like Breaking Bad, it might be nice for it to leave on a high note for Tina. Who I also would like Amy Poehler to win. She has never brought home the Emmy and she is great in Parks and Rec. I don't really care for any of the other actresses nominated. As much as I enjoy the three actresses I mentioned, I still stick with my first choice, Julie. Even though I like Parks and Rec more than Veep, something about Julie's performance really intrigues and entertains me. I'm putting my money on Dreyfus.

  

Best Supporting Actor: Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Definitely in my top five comedy TV actors of the year. All of the actors on Modern Family are extremely gifted and Ty is no exception. He really pulls off the dad trying to too hard to be cool, almost like a dad version of Michael Scott. All of the actors from Modern Family who are nominated have a good chance of winning, and so does extremely talented Bill Hader, especially seeing as how this was his last year on SNL. Even though Burrell is competing against 4 very talented comedy actors, I still think he has the best shot. A lot of people, including the academy, really like Phil Dunphy. Ty has already won one Emmy for his role and it seems very likely this year he will win his second.          

 

Best Supporting Actress: Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Julie is going to win, no doubt about it. She has already won before for her role, it seems as if the academy will never give Sofia Vergara a break, Julie is our best bet, and rightfully so. She does an incredible job playing the over-protective, controlling mother without overdoing it, she does a really, really good job. Besides Sofia, Julie's Modern Family co-star, I don't really care for any of the other nominees. I can't stand The Big Bang Theory, so I don't want Mayim Bialik winning, I don't like Nurse Jackie so I don't care for whatever her name is to win. It just comes down to the Modern Family girls, so my money is on Julie.                                         

5 Actresses Who Could Play Wonder Woman

 

My Top 5 Choices for the Role of Wonder Woman

                   

#1.) Gemma Arterton (27)

Gemma Arterton was, without a doubt, born for the role of Wonder Woman (and Lara Croft). Her career so far has been...very interesting. From small independent let-downs like Tamara Drewe, to big-budget disappointments like Clash of the Titans and Quantum of Solace. However, just because her movie choices haven't been great, doesn't mean she is a bad actress. She recently starred along side Saoirse Ronan in the vampire flick Byzantium, in which Arterton effectively proved that she truly is an amazing actress with an incredible range. If given the right script, director, and opportunity, Arterton can really prove to the world how good she really is. The only downside I could possible think of with Gemma is the lack of blue eyes, but if they can cast Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury, a WHITE comic book character, then I think we can let a change in eye color slide. Gemma is my number one choice for Wonder Woman. 

#2.) Hayley Atwell (31)

Hayley has earned her place in comic book lore after portraying the strong and independent Peggy Carter in Captain America: First Avenger. Seeing as how modern day Marvel movies are taking place in, well, modern day times, I doubt we will be seeing much of Peggy or Hayley in Captain America; except if she is in an old woman costume, of course. Which means she will probably not have her hands full of other obligations. Even though I've only seen a few things she's in, I can already tell she is a decent actor. However, I've yet to see her in a movie in which she is an American. I'd like to think she could pull it off as well as Gemma, but there's no way to tell. If she can manage pulling off the same sense of control, strength, and independence as she did in Captain America, then I think the world will be in for a quite a ride as the Amazing Amazon reclaims her relevance in today's superhero craze.

#3.) Odette Yustman (28)

Unfortunately, Gemma Arterton and Hayley Atwell are not yet household names. However, due to their roles in Captain American (Hayley) and Prince of Persia (Gemma), they both hold a small cult following. Odette Yustman does not have that luxury. She proved to be a good actress in her leading role in Cloverfield and delivered a surprisingly decent performance in The Unborn along with her great recurring performance on House M.D. It feels like, just like Gemma, if she were given the right opportunity she could achieve greatness. She may not have the muscle tone of other potential candidates like Gina Carano, but I believe she has the talent necessary to get the job done. Shae may not have the best track record when it comes to her movie choices, but look on the bright side, at least she's better than Megan Fox.

#4.) Rhona Mitra (37)

While she may not be "too" old, she does rest on the boarder. At 37, she may be the best choice for Wonder Woman if the intent is to make the Amazon more mature and serious. After watching Rise of the Lycans and her character in the deliciously shady Nip/Tuck,  it's fair to say Rhona can convey a tremendous amount of emotion. She has the right look for the character, she has the necessary build and facial features. If she's not too busy hopefully starring in Dean Koontz's Frankentein TV series, then I believe she would make a great addition to the DC universe. However, if there is a Wonder Woman movie being made, she would be right on the edge of 40. With Henry Cavill being only 30, and with DC looking for a more youthful Batman, a 40 year old woman may not be what they are looking for, despite the talent she can bring to the character. However, if I had a time machine, I would make 30-year old Rhona Wonder Woman in a heartbeat.

#5.) Zoey Duetch (19)

This is the choice that excites me the most. Being a big fan of the unfairly cancelled Ringer, Zoey was an actress that really caught my attention. Yes, right now, she is a teenager, and the youngest candidate on my list and probably any other list. However, as I said with Rhona, the movie won't happen for the next several years. Lynda Carter was 25 years old, in 4 years, all other candidates on my list would be over the age of 30. However, in Zoey's case, she would be 23, the closest to Lynda's age, and I think it is safe to say that Zoey looks a few years over 20 already. With the upcoming movie Vampire Academy hitting theaters in 2014, the first of a potential franchise, Zoey is getting her name out there. If Vampire Academy blows up as large as Twilight flabbergastingly did, then she will soon become a household name, making her a great candidate for a more relatable, youthful Wonder Woman. Fingers crossed for her over Kristen Stewart. Yeesh.

5 Actors Who Can Play The Next Batman

  For the past 25 years now, 4 different actors have portrayed the brooding billionaire Bruce Wayne in 7 different Movies. Some of them, such as Michael Keaton and especially American Psycho star Christian Bale, have done a great job bringing the masked crusader to the big screen. However, the other actors -George Clooney and Val Kilmer- were unable to do such an exemplar job with the task. After wrapping up The Dark Knight Rises last year, Christian Bale put up his cape and utility belt after three motion pictures, and according to him, it would stay that way. However, at Comic-Con this year, Zack Snyder, the director of Man of Steel and the upcoming sequel, dropped a bombshell about the plot of the next Superman movie. He implied with the help of actor Harry Lennix and an amazing visual, that the next Man of Steel will revolve around Superman fighting BATMAN! Of course, the inner nerd in me squealed with delight. Even though the first Man of Steel didn't met my expectations, this news excited me. Then quickly horrified me. First of all, it feels like DC is rushing into this idea. The biggest complaint about Man of Steel was that it was too dark. Now that they got rid of Zod and Clark finally joined the Daily Planet, Superman can begin to retreat into more familiar and friendly territory like in Donner's adaptation. By adding the Dark Knight, the movie promises to continue being dark and depressing. Secondly, The Dark Knight Rises ended implying that Batman (Christian Bale) was retiring and passing the torch to Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). This means that Bale would not be reprising his role as Batman, and Levitt may take his place. However, the Man of Steel movie appeared to not be in the same cinematic universe as the Dark Knight Trilogy, meaning they can cast anyone they want and almost start from scratch. Since this announcement, names have been thrown around about who should play the new bamtan in Man of Steel 2. Keeping in mind that the actor would not only have to be in the Superman sequel, but will also likely be in the Justice League movie(s?), I compiled a 5-Actor list of who should put on the rubber suit and fight crime.

- Michael Fassbender (35): 

Yes, I know, he is magneto. But if Ryan Reynolds can be both Deadpool and Green Lantern, and a horrible one on both accounts, I think we can let this one slide. Michael Fassbender can perfectly embody the character of Bruce Wayne. He has proved time and time again to be a great actor. In X-Men: First Class, Fassbender brilliantly portrayed a powerful man whose childhood tragedy shaped who he is today and uses that tragedy as motivation instead of letting it hold him back. Sound familiar? The character of Bruce Wayne is a deep and complex character, and Michael's acting skills could more than pull it off. This is a doubtful outcome however, seeing as how he will likely be extremely busy with all the upcoming X-Men movies being released. Hopefully he can fit it in his schedule to play the good guy.

- Idris Elba (40): 

Yes, Idris Elba is a black man. It may be a little odd to have our new Batman be played by the actor who played Nelson Mandela the year before. Bruce Wayne has always been portrayed by a Caucasian, but now is a good time as any to make a change. Idris Elba is a fantastic actor. Having enjoyed watching and completing BBC's Luther and loving his incredible apocalypse-cancelling in the sci-fi action-fest Pacific Rim, Elba quickly went from being "that one guy from The Losers", to becoming one of my favorite working actors today. The thing that really made me give this man respect is the fact that he is English. I have seen a lot of movies, one could say too many movies, and whenever I see or hear an English actor faking an American accent, I can tell very quickly. Idris is the only actor that thoroughly convinced me that he was American, I still can't even believe it. Idris, at 40, may be a little too old to be playing Batman, but I have a feeling that if he played Justin Beiber in a Bio-flick, I would still be fooled.

- Joe Mangeniello (37):

I have never seen True Blood before hearing the news of the new Superman movie. After the announcement, I scoured through the internet to see who people wanted to play Batman. Everywhere I went, I kept seeing this unfamiliar name "Joe Manganiello". Everyone kept praising him for True Blood, so I decided if he was to be the new Batman then I would give it a shot. Joe can definitely give off a menacing, powerful vibe. He definitely packs enough muscle to make it believable he is out every night fighting against evil single-handedly. However, I'm still not entirely certain that he has the acting skills necessary to play such a deep, psychological character. Christian Bale, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, and even Val Kilmer were all excellent actors when they played Batman. He will defiantly have to step it up if he wants to play the masked vigilante. He has the right look, and he may hopefully prove to have the right acting chops to go along with it. Either that, or we will have another Vin Diesel on our hands.                              

- Jensen Ackles (35)

If DC is attempting to make Batman a younger, more relatable character, I think Jensen may be their best bet. Jensen Ackles proved he is a decent enough actor by his past 8 years on Supernatural. Compared to all of the other choices, Ackles is probably the one who will have the most free time on his hands. With Supernatural undoubtedly being over and done with by 2015, and with his movie career not being extremely demanding, he appears to be a good, available option. Although Jensen is not yet a household name, he has enough of a cult following to get butts in seats. 

Josh Brolin (45):

Josh Brolin would be my choice for Bruce Wayne only if DC wants Batman to be an older and more mature character. After watching his great performances in films such as MIB 3 and No Country for Old Men, it has become apparent that he has a very wide range as an actor. Like I has said before, he would be my first choice for an older, more mature Batman, he and Idris would be my top two choices. However, Brolin may just be too old for the role as Batman. And seeing as how the second Man of Steel is going to be Superman fighting Batman, it may be odd to watch 45 year old Brolin in an intense battle with high-flying 30 year old Henry Cavill.

The Wolverine Review

Hugh Jackman clearly has the character of Wolverine down, and James Mangold directs this feature that revives the hope for future X-Men associated productions.

The X-Men series has taken a beating lately. From Wolverine's first solo film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, to the huge Brett Ratner disappointment X-Men: The Last Stand, audiences and critics alike have been let down by the quality of X-Men movies being released. Luckily, Hugh Jackman has better material to work with this time around. It's fair to say, Brett Ratner is no James Mangold. The Wolverine finally shows audiences that Wolverine can carry his own motion picture and keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish. With X-Men: Days of Future Past coming to theaters in early 2014, it was extremely important to leave off the X-Men franchise with a movie that would make you want to come back for more, and that is what this does. The story is very interesting and lets you know enough to keep you invested. It doesn't let you know too much about what's really going on under the surface, just the right amount to keep you interested and in the end, surprised. Wolverine as a character has always been extremely tough, vulnerability was never really shown in his character, or at least not well. Finally, Wolverine's vulnerability is portrayed realistically and tragically, making his character have more depth than ever before. The Wolverine has a much different feel than the previous X-Men movies, mostly due to the heavy Japanese influence throughout the movie. Fortunately, a change of pace proved to be what this series truly needed. The cast, with the exception of Hugh, Famke Janssen, and two special cameos shown in the middle of the credits, are mostly unknowns. However, their performances give the impression they have been in this business for a while now. The final fight scene in this film was perhaps the scene that "jumped the shark". Without giving away any spoilers, we'll just say the film takes a turn for the worst and wounders into cartoony and campy territory. Overall, in comparison to the last couple Wolverine films, this is far superior and restrained. Jackman and the rest of the cast give good performances, and while the final fight scene was a bit silly, the action was well done.  Final Rating- B