Movie watched: Synecdoche, NY

Connection to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Charlie Kaufman wrote the screenplay for both films. On a related note, Amy Wright, who played the Burning House Realtor in Synecdoche, NY also played a Bridesmaid in The Deer Hunter - which brings us full circle to the movie that started the year.

And that is a Year of Movie Connections. Sixty-six movies watched over the course of 2009 (on DVD or Blu-ray - new movies in theatres were not included unless they did connect).

Stay tuned to this blog and YouTube for a special round-up of the Year of Movie Connections.

And what's ahead for 2010? Inspired by the book Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris, we'll be selecting 12 groups of films from various prizes/years and see if each - especially the winner - stands the test of time.

Happy New Year everyone!

Movie watched: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Connection to Shakespeare in Love: Tom Wikinson was in both films.

Movie watched: Shakespeare in Love

Connection to Bug: Brian F. O'Byrne, who was featured in Bug, stars with Joseph Fiennes (who stars in SIL) in the current TV series Flash Forward.

Movie watched: Bug

Connection to Frida: Ashley Judd starred in both films.

Movie watched: Frida

Connection to An Education: Alfred Molina was in both films.

Movie watched

An Education, which – owing to it being a new movie in theatres – does not have to connect to the last film but does anyway: Carey Mulligan AND Matthew Beard were in both films AND they played almost-love interests in both.

Everyone has been raving about Carey Mulligan in this and she was good; however, I'd also like to mention that Rosamund Pike (who played her old sister in 2005's Pride & Prejudice) was fantastic in a very small role. And not just because she looked like Catherine Deneuve. Peter Sarsgaard and Alfred Molina were also excellent.

Movie watched: And When Did You Last See Your Father?

Connection to Pride & Prejudice: Even though Colin Firth might first spring to mind (at least for the women out there), the P&P watched last time was the Keira Knightley version which stars Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy instead of Colin Firth. That's close enough for me to call it a connection; however, Carey Mulligan, who played Kitty Bennet (in her debut role) also happens to be in And When Did You Last See Your Father?

Bookshelf - Stop-motion animation

Gina and I inherited a bookshelf, which made room for more books! In the process of re-arranging them, I thought we might as well make it into a film project. This is our first attempt at stop motion animation (using photography).

Movie watched: Pride & Prejudice

Connection to Edward Scissorhands: Both films' main characters only kiss each other once and virtually not until the final scene.

Movie watched: Edward Scissorhands

Connection to La Promesse: Thematcially, both films feature "illegal aliens" coming to a new world and trying to get by just making a living. Scissorhands is not technically an alien in the immigration or even interstellar sense; however, he is an inventor's creation (NOT like the rest of us!) and thus has no Social Security Number, etc. putting him in the same boat (as it were) as one.

Movie watched: La promesse

Connection to Before Sunset: Louise Lemoine Torres, who played Journalist #1 in Before Sunset, was in an episode of the long-running French television show Commisssaire Moulin entitled "La promesse".

Movie watched: Before Sunset

Connection to Flags of our Fathers: Mo Henry was the Negative Cutter for both films.

Movie watched: Flags of our Fathers

Connection to Family Plot: Henry Bumstead was Production Designer on both films. Check out his résumé - quite impressive as both Art Director and Production Designer.

Movie watched: Family Plot

Connection to Time Bandits: Katherine Helmond starred in both films.

Movie watched: Time Bandits

Connection to Garden State: Ian Holm stars in both films.

Movie watched: Garden State

Connection to Mean Girls: Neil Flynn, who played Cady's dad, was in the TV show Scrubs with Zach Braff, who directed and stars in Garden State.

Movie watched

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. As this is still in cinemas, no connection is required.

Movie watched: Mean Girls

Connection to Saved!: thematically, both films follow a gaggle of high school girls' zany hijinks.