By CJ Tiernan When watching a movie, which is done in pursuit of entertainment, I often try to get lost in the world of the film. Sometimes, the acting is so compelling it's almost impossible to fathom. What a joy to get so lost in the character and absorbed by the plot that it's tough to decipher where the actor ends and the character begins. If that happens, you can feel it while watching the movie. And it's incredible! Below is a list of the Top 11 Acting Performances that were so captivating and unexpected they stopped me in my tracks and were difficult to shake well after the credits rolled. 1. Brie Larson - Room (2015) Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Brie Larson plays a kidnapping victim who has been held captive in a single room for seven years and has a 5-year-old son living in the room with her (run the math on the backstory there). She runs the gamut of emotional range in this one in such a powerful way. The performances are impressive all around (including a 7-year-old Jacob Tremblay), but Brie stole the show. Academy Award? - Yes, Best Actress 2. Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds (2009) Philipp von Ostau, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons The opening scene of this movie is the first time I ever saw Christoph Waltz. The beginning of the movie was haunting and enduring and his performance was a big reason why. Playing "The Jew Hunter," Hans Landa, Waltz was able to utilize his multilingual skills to steal the show. Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino worried that he had written a "part that was un-playable" until Christoph Waltz entered the chat. His performance was unforgettable. Academy Award? - Yes, Best Supporting Actor 3. Dev Patel - Lion (2016) Ariela Ortiz Barrantes, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Lion is a harrowing and heartbreaking story. It follows a young boy in India who is accidentally separated from his family. Dev plays the adult version of this boy, and doesn't show up on screen until about an hour in. His performance was so impressive I couldn't look away. The movie was based on a true story, and it's an incredible tale. Academy Award? - No, but Nominated for Best Supporting Actor 4. Heath Ledger - Dark Knight (2008) Howie, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Other than maybe "10 Things I Hate About You," I don't believe I had ever seen a Health Ledger performance before his untimely demise. He seemed like an odd choice for the role, until, of course, we saw him in action. You couldn't take eyes off of him. He transformed so completely, from the Rom-Com pretty-boy to a terror-inducing comic book villain, that he was down-right unrecognizable. His performance is so rewatchable and so intense. I really wish he hadn't died (I mean, obviously), because after this performance, the world was gonna be his oyster. Academy Award? - Yes, Best Supporting Actor 5. Elle Fanning - Super 8 (2011) Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Elle is the youngest person on my list. She was only 12 when she started filming this movie. Obviously she came from child acting royalty, as she is the younger sister of Dakota Fanning. In a movie that mostly follows a group of kids, her performance stood out heads and tails above the rest of them. Her performance in the film within the film is so impressive and nuanced. Academy Award? - No, Not Nominated 6. Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) Genevieve, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This was the first time I ever saw Taraji P. Henson on screen. She played a mother of sorts to the elderly infant that ages backwards. Her charisma and layered performance really ground the movie which has a crazy premise and some distracting CGI. The type of performance that makes you whisper "wow" whilst among strangers in a theater. Academy Award? - No, but Nominated for Best Supporting Actress 7. Mahershala Ali - Moonlight (2016) Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons The movie "Moonlight" is very cleanly broken into three acts. Act I is my favorite, and Mahershala Ali is the reason why. He plays a drug dealer and, in my mind, that means he's supposed to be a bad guy. But not only is he drenched in charisma throughout, but he serves as a mentor to the main character. He brings such a humanity to an otherwise marginalized role in society that you can't take your eyes off him. Academy Award? - Yes, Best Supporting Actor 8. Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men (2007) Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Javier Bardem burst on the scene in a Beatles wig as a psychopathic killer. His actions are so understated in this movie, not over the top and zany like Christian "Batman" Bale in "American Psycho," that you're drawn in. The tension that he wrings out of the coin flip scene is borderline untouchable. "I'm not putting it any way." It's a great movie and he's the best part of it. Academy Award? - Yes, Best Supporting Actor 9. Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea (2016) Bex Walton from London, England, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This movie is emotionally devastating. Having seen Casey Affleck play a goofball in "Tower Heist," I don't think I was ready for how great he was in this movie. He is a broken human being, who suffered an unimaginable tragedy, and you believe it all. He and Michelle Williams are both so great in this movie. It's the type of movie that clings to you after it's over and you just keep thinking back to it. It's unshakeable. Academy Award? - Yes, Best Actor 10. Lady Gaga - A Star is Born (2018) John Bauld from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This was the fourth time that "A Star is Born" was made, dating all the way back to 1937. If you're gonna remake a movie that has already been remade twice, you need an ace up your sleeve. Lady Gaga is that ace. The "Poker Face" singer absolutely steals the show. It's a musical, and the music is incredible, but the music isn't the only stunning part of her performance. Her work is breathtaking in this movie from beginning to end. Academy Award? - No, but Nominated for Best Actress 11. Janelle Monáe - Hidden Figures (2016) Myles Kalus Anak Jihem, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons I was under the impression that Janelle was more of a musical artist than an actor. Then I saw Hidden Figures. She exhibits such an intensity and a humanity that I couldn't look away. The movie as a whole is a beautiful story highlighting a slew of unsung heroes. Octavia Spencer was deservingly nominated for this movie, but it was Janelle Monáe that stopped me in my tracks. Academy Award? - No, Not Nominated Final Thoughts My dad always says the casting director is the unsung hero of a great movie. These 11 performances are absolutely proof-positive for that sentiment. In many cases, they wouldn't have been the most obvious or heralded of choices, but in each and every case they stole the show. I'm sure your list would look a lot different than mine, as preconceived expectations are a factor in making a list like this. How fun is it that? We're different and bring our own opinions to this discussion. Please include your favorites in the comments below. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan The song that kicks off an animated show is often the baited hook that brings you into the episode. Back in the day of live television, a show would attempt to ensnare you (or, as it the case on this list: an unsuspecting child) immediately after whatever previous show you just watched, so you didn't change the channel. They come on loud and strong and typically offer an extremely abbreviated sense of the plot and/or characters. I love the energy of a TV show theme song. Below is a list of my 11 favorite TV show theme songs for animated shows that I've ever heard. 1. Phineas and Ferb (2007-2015, 2025-?) "Today is Gonna Be a Great Day" by Bowling for Soup is the theme song for Phineas and Ferb. It not only perfectly encapsulates the joy of summer vacation and months without school, it also maintains the comedy of the show. The title sequence ends with Candice shouting "Mom! Phineas and Ferb are making a title sequence!" which establishes the meta vibe of the show at the top of every half hour. 2. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-?) This theme song conjures the quality of a sea shanty, utilizing call and response. It perfectly warns the audience of the oddities ahead. The animation styling choice of starting with an animated photo of a pirate with live-action lips is disturbing and delightful and advertises the choppy seas ahead. 3. DuckTales (1987-1990) Rosnicka132, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This theme song again paints the scene for possible plot points. The 2 big takeaways are 1: I, too, would like a vault of gold coins so that I may put on my old-timey bathing suit and dive into money. And 2: the "Woo-oo" is so catchy. Go on, try it. I'll wait. "Woo-oo!" 4. Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (1989-1990) The "Rescue Rangers Theme" is so great, I can't believe it didn't find a home on the pop charts in the late 1980s. "Ch-ch-ch-Chip 'n Dale, Rescue Rangers!" is eminently re-singable. The verses help paint the picture of both Chip and Dale as members of a detective agency, but I just want to sing along. You know, get up and boogie. 5. Doug (1991-1999) The Doug theme song! Just those words conjure up the little ditty in your head. Cmon, you know the one even before clicking on the link. There are not really any real words, it's just a real catchy tune you can't shake. The opening also showcases the main characters and the imagination of Doug Funnie by turning a single line into a litany of different things. 6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is such a rocking theme song. In addition to awesome lines like "heroes in a half shell, turtle power," it actually straight-up gives the personality of each ninja turtle in the tightest of blurbs. "Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines (That's a fact, jack!), Raphael is cool but rude, Michelangelo is a party dude!" A neat little summation of their vibe (I was a Leonardo guy as a kid, by the way). 7. Inspector Gadget (1982-1986) The Inspector Gadget Theme is one of the most iconic theme songs ever. Each and every time a glockenspiel makes an appearance in a theme song, you can't help but stand up and take notice. The opening sequence helps paint the picture of Inspector Gadget as a bit of bumbling detective (wait, is that different than an inspector?) with a bunch of, you know, gadgets. However, the music tells you that even if the main character isn't cool, the show is. When I was a kid, I used to wake up before everyone else in my house and watch reruns of this show. It's so great I set an alarm. In elementary school! 8. Pinky and the Brain (1995-1998) "Gee, Brain, what do you wanna do tonight?" asks Pinky. Brain responds ominously, "The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world!" Following two lab mice as they take over the world has never been so fun. The theme song walks you through their personalities (as if their names didn't hint at that for you). I love the ending. "They're Pinky, they're Pinky and the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain...Narf!" 9. Dilbert (1999-2000) The theme song for Dilbert, "The Dilbert Zone," is a weird song for a weird show. The instrument that plays at the beginning sounds like if you rubbed the disposable plastic straw back and forth again and again inside the lid of a fast food cup. It was created by Danny Elfman, as many good (and weird) things are. The show was based on the comic strip and had some fun voice talents like Daniel Stern, Larry Miller, and Chris Elliott. 10. Animaniacs (1993-1998) Of all the loud and in your face songs to kick off a cartoon episode, this might be the loudest and brashest. The Animaniacs theme song features the main characters, The Warner Siblings (Yakko, Wakko, Dot), singing about themselves and the show. They helpfully reveal, among other things, that they are "zany to the max." Also, Bill Clinton plays the sax, so you know you're in for '90s celebrity caricatures. 11. Rocko's Modern Life (1993-1996) This theme song is a hoot! After season 1, the song was performed by The B-52s (of "Rock Lobster" fame). The opening gives you a great sense of the animation and the weird vibes associated with this show. It was another show whose reruns I would enjoy early in the morning before shipping off to school. I highly recommend a dose of weirdness in the morning ("we're all mad down here"). Final Thoughts As someone born in the late '80s, you can see my sensibilities for animated shows largely linger in the era in which I was a child. I will not apologize for that. There are so many great animated show theme songs that I left off my list. The Simpsons is a classic. So is Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! These are the ones that just missed my list. If I missed one of your faves, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan First off, I want to clarify that this list covers movies that contain extra-terrestrial beings, whether in space or on Earth. It is not limited exclusively to the Xenomorph-littered series that began with Ridley Scott and Sigourney Weaver back in the '70s. Both Alien and Aliens are in my Top 400 Movies of all time (but unfortunately don't make the cut for this list), but I haven't seen all of the Alien movies and I'm not even sure there are 11 to create an entire list. This list is about movies with aliens. We love alien movies. Whether they're scary or funny, they challenge our reality in a really fundamental way. Regardless of whether they have come to meet our leader or just want to hang out, their very existence shatters the world as it was before. I love that as a theme. I also enjoy watching humanity rally as an entire species to take on an impossible threat. Below is a list of my Top 11 favorite Alien Movies of all time that I've ever seen. Joe Wos, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons 1. Super 8 (2011) This movie is a J.J Abrams homage to Steven Spielberg. Apart from the lens flares, it is designed to conjure the vibe of '80s movies. Spielberg created a couple of very famous alien movies in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. He actually produced this movie. Super 8 is the story of a group of kids hanging out and filming their own movie (on a Super 8 film camera, if you can believe it. I mean what are the odds?) at a train station when they see a car driving the wrong way on the tracks and collide with the train, derailing it. They then watch as something escapes from one of the train cars. The military (always a classic bad guy in these types of movies) descends upon the town. The kids aren't taken serious by the adults (another classic trope) and are forced to solve this pesky alien problem all on their own. All in all, a perfect movie. 2. Men in Black (1997) Men in Black is awesome. Will Smith is fantastic as the "new hotness" and Tommy Lee Jones plays the jaded straight-man to perfection. Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub, and Vincent D'Onofrio round out a fantastic cast. I love action movies with comedy. This movie oozes cool while being very funny. The test-taking scene where everyone is quiet while Will Smith can't get comfortable in his chair and then loudly scoots the table across the room to help him is hysterical, and lives rent-free in my head. Also, the "aliens among us" vibe and the "neuralyzer" (the mind-wiping gadget that we've all prayed was real a time or two in our lives whilst our mouth was full of toes) have gone on to be lasting elements and references in society. If you can believe it, Spielberg was a producer on this one too. 3. Galaxy Quest (1999) Galaxy Quest is my kind of movie. Actors who played roles on a TV Show that was very Star Trekian are abducted by actual aliens in an attempt to save their people from a more sinister alien race. It taps into all sorts of various emotions and is just a really fun, really cool flick. It stars Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub (again!), and Sam Rockwell in delightful roles. It is one of Tim Allen's very best acting performances. And while Galaxy Quest wasn't produced by Steven Spielberg, it was released by Dreamworks, which is the company he created. He did visit the set and allegedly suggested a romantic sub-plot. This guy is everywhere. 4. Independence Day (1996) The speech given by the president (Bill Pullman, in his best role since Spaceballs) is one of the greatest moments in movie history. I listen to it every Fourth of July. It is one of those beautiful, humanity-over-everything moments that also feels wildly patriotic. The movie, which again stars Will Smith, is a classic alien invasion movie. Some of the effects are really cool and, because they were done practically, hold up really well. The fire crawling sideways along the city is such a cool visual. Spoiler Alert: Will Smith saves the day and pops a cigar in his mouth (he just bites it, it's for the look, he doesn't light it), Randy Quaid dies a hero, and Judd Hirsch and Jeff Goldblum trojan-horse their way to victory. Human life, uh, finds a way. 5a. Toy Story (1995) Yep, I cheated again. Well, kinda. This is not an alien movie in typical fashion. The aliens in this movie are toy aliens inside of a claw machine. "The claw, it moves. It chooses who will stay and who will go." I love this movie and the aliens in it do talk and move so, you know, it counts I think. The Aliens aren't totally central to the plot of the movie (though they have their moment in the sun, I mean at Pizza Planet) so I included an extra film on the list to sate your hunger for alien movies. Seriously though, Toy Story is a fantastic movie and reigns as my top Pixar movie of all time (How about that? Two Tim Allen movies in the Top 5(a)? I didn't think of him as an alien movie guy). 5b. Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Tom Cruise dipped his toes into the Sci-Fi waters on several occasions. Vanilla Sky, Oblivion, and War of the Worlds were all solid movies. Some may argue that Minority Report was Tom Cruise's best Sci-Fi flick, but (even though I love that one) I believe it was Edge of Tomorrow (or "Live, Die, Repeat" as it is sometimes called, as that was the tag line of the movie). It is both an alien movie and a time-loop movie, as Tom Cruise dies on the battlefield after accidentally absorbing an alien power. He is forced to continually live out (and thus die) the same battle until he can progress far enough to save humanity from aliens. It is an awesome action movie and Emily Blunt's performance is equally outstanding. 6. District 9 (2009) This one is an alien movie that makes several satisfying and unique changes to the typical format. For one, it's largely shot in mocumentary format. That alone presents its own unique style. Secondly, the alien invasion is seemingly less successful than in most other movies. The aliens are kept in cages, in a concentration camp-esque manner. They are treated poorly. Lastly, the story takes place in South Africa, as opposed to setting it in the U.S. like most other stories (although Edge of Tomorrow was in Europe). Themes of segregation (especially relevant to South Africa) and xenophobia are prevalent. Sharlito Copley's performance as the main character, Wikus (pronounced Vickis), is marvelous. This might be the movie that creates the most sympathy for aliens (which is hard to do when they don't look very human). 7. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) A superhero movie! Thor is from another planet and so is almost every single character in this movie, so I believe the alien movie concept is apt. In this movie, Thor is forced to fight "a friend from work" in an arena battle after being captured by the Grandmaster (another Jeff Goldblum sighting! That guy sometimes seems part alien himself, doesn't he?). This is one of the funniest and most fun superhero movies of all time. In addition to Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, and Idris Elba are all excellent. This is the third (and best) Thor movie. 8. Signs (2002) Signs is my favorite M. Night Shyamalan movie (man, that plural makes the verb tense feel off. Signs is... Hmm. Weird.). I know most people will pick The Sixth Sense, but I don't think I properly appreciated that one when I first saw it. I was like 12. The idea of a twist wasn't really in my consciousness so it didn't blow my mind the way it did some others. And now the twist has become the most ubiquitous twist in film history, so it wouldn't hit the same on a repeat viewing. Anyway, Signs is awesome. A pastor who has quit pasting (or whatever a pastor does) after his wife dies, lives with his two kids and his younger brother. Joaquin Phoenix as the younger brother is my favorite part, although the two young kids (played by Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin to perfection) are phenomenal. They live on a farm, notice a crop circle, and then follow along on the news as more and more show up across the world. When they finally encounter an alien, they vanquish it with the power of (Spoiler Alert!) water. It is such a fun ride. I highly recommend it. 9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) In my travels, I've come to find that not very many people liked the movie more than the book. I saw the movie years before I ever read the book so maybe my issue is order-of-operations related, but I truly love this movie. It is weird. I'm big on weird. From Sam Rockwell as a character with two heads to Alan Rickman playing the voice of a depressed robot (hey, how about that! A Galaxy Quest mini-reunion in a movie with "galaxy" in the title), this movie just oozes weird. Including a narrator (Stephen Fry, who also did the reading for the audiobooks in the series) was a great source of comedy that helped to keep some semblance of the tone of the book. Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Bill Nighy, and John Malkovich are also a joy in this. 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) This is the other superhero movie on this list. Everyone but the main character, Peter Quill, is an alien (that's not, like, the plot, just an observation). In the movie, a group of misfits band together to steal an object (that turns out to be an infinity stone). It is funny (as most James Gunn vehicles are) and full of action and needle drops (as most James Gunn vehicles are). It is my third favorite movie in the MCU and is a smackerel of visual delight (Smackerel of Visual Delight - dibs on that as my band name). 11. Cloverfield (2008) This was the first found footage movie I ever saw. It was a real treat. At a going away party in New York, a group of friends hang out until the city is attacked by a giant monster. Although the mythos behind the monster is basically not revealed at all, we do see what we are led to believe is the alien crashing into the ocean at the start of the movie. Because of the origin as an extra-terrestrial, this is an alien movie. T.J. Miller, Odette Yustman, and Lizzy Caplan are the stand-outs in this cast. This is my second favorite found footage movie of all time (behind Late Night with the Devil) and a real stand-out in the alien/monster/horror genre all together. No recollection of how the name ties in, though. Final Thoughts Alien movies are so engaging. They force us to put ourselves in that "what-if" mindset. They play with our emotions and our expectations. I have loved so many different ones it was hard to pare-down this list. I will leave a small list of movies that just missed the cut down below. Please let me know in the comments if I missed any of your favorite alien movies. Thanks! Transformers (2007) Evolution (2001) The Iron Giant (1999) Bumblebee (2018) Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Spaceballs (1987) The Avengers (2012) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Space Jam (1996) Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017) Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candice Against the Universe (2020) Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001) Avatar (2009)

By CJ Tiernan You know that feeling you get when you’re watching a movie and your empathy senses are triggered to such a degree that you feel a visceral response? The hairs on the nape of the neck stand on end and you feel flushed, full of adrenaline and flooded with energy. Those are aesthetic chills and man alive can they feel powerful. I often find that if a movie triggers that response in me, I like the movie a lot and weigh it heavily in my rankings. Below is a cultivated list of my Top 11 Most Aesthetic Chills-Inducing Moments in Movies I’ve ever seen. 1. Whiplash (2014) - Ending The about-face at the end of this movie wherein two guys are just pursuing excellence is nothing short of incredible. Imagine being one of the other musicians in this scene looking around and going, “Wait. We rehearsed this. Like, kind of a lot and now this joker that wasn’t at practice is just riffing?” J.K. Simmons earned his Oscar throughout the movie but oh man, his work at the end brought the house down. 2. Independence Day (1996) - Presidential Speech Every July 4th I make an effort to play this speech. It hits every time. While I hope our president is never forced to deliver this speech to the nation, if the speech writers churn out a banger like this one (in that unlikely event), then I’m kind of okay with an alien invasion. To be fair, it seems like UFOs (now called UAPs – Unidentified Aerial Anomalous Phenomena) are real so maybe we’re close. 3. It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) - Under Pressure It’s Kind of a Funny Story is kind of a serious story. A young man is depressed to the point of suicidal contemplation and checks himself into a clinic that doesn’t meet his age group. The movie as a whole is understated and personal but this scene is the belle of the ball and a tonal departure with its surrealism. The denizens of the psych ward break into song in a phantasmagoric manner in this scene that warms the cockles of the heart. 4. Good Will Hunting (1997) – I Had to Go See About a Girl “I had to go see about a girl.” “Son of a bitch. He stole my line.” One of the greatest movie endings of all time. It is simultaneously telegraphed and perfect. Throw in a Robin Williams improv and now you’re just showing off. Good stuff. 5. Braveheart (1995) - FREEDOM! You know what I like about torture… Nope. Withdrawn! I will not be starting that way. The scene is really remarkable, though. Some may quibble with the reality of the story portrayed in the film but I don’t care. If you want history, read a book. If you want to be entertained, go to the movies. 6. My Cousin Vinny (1992) - The Defense is Wrong The defense calls to the stand an expert that negates the story of the defense. “It’s a bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for ‘em.” It pays off in a huge way. It is so satisfying because the expert is the fiancée of the defense lawyer and she is discovering in real time while on the stand why she is there even though she is mad at a never-funnier Joe Pesci. The whole movie is incredible (and quotable – “no self-respecting Southerner uses instant grits”) and endlessly rewatchable. This ending is a big reason why. 7. Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Heist Reveal Photo by Airman 1st Class Tanaya M. Harms, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons When Clue ends the movie in multiple ways and says, “Here’s how it could have happened,” you are just along for the wild, wild ride. Much is the case in Ocean’s Eleven. We spend the whole movie hinting at who and what is required to pull off the heist but when we get to see what just happened all pieced together: wow! Satisfying on the highest of levels. Everyone has their role and nails it. Plus, the cast is as stacked as it gets outside of an MCU joint. 8. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - Bifrost Bridge Speaking of the MCU, I give you this iconic scene. When the Immigrant Song blares as the God of Thunder rains down lightning on the rainbow bridge, it’s incredible. If you freeze it, the resulting snapshot feels like an Iron Maiden album cover (or one of those 90s shirts with a wolf and lightning). Epic levels of cool. 9. Rounders (1998) - He Beat Me, Straight Up 90s Matt Damon, man. He always hits (poker pun alert!). This is another movie that is wildly quotable. “Pay him. Pay that man his money.” My freshman year of High School, my best friend had me watch this movie and I’ve never been the same. We played poker with a bunch of friends all the time back then. I firmly believe this movie to be the reason why (coupled with the surge of coverage on ESPN). Even though, most of the time we see the main character play poker, he loses, it still seems so grand and tantalizing. 10. Signs (2002) - Swing Away, Merrill That’s right. There are two emotionally powerful moments in alien movies on my list. How many does yours have? I can’t get enough of this movie. When the movie cuts to Joaquin Phoenix in the closet with a tin foil hat on, I lose it. So great! But this moment toward the end, which feels like a culmination and satisfying loop-closing, of character quirks, is the best. I know some have quibbled with the decision by the aliens to invade a planet covered by water (which, Spoiler Alert!, is toxic to them), but space is toxic to humans and we keep sending dudes (and dudettes) back up there. Exploration involves risk (although you’d think they’d have brought, like, galoshes or something). 11. A Star is Born (2018) - Shallow Surprise-attacking someone with a live performance of a song they wrote in front of a large crowd really straddles the line between malevolence and benevolence. The thing is: Lady Gaga is always ready. Her voice is incredible and on full display in this song. This song is the moving moment where her character goes from waitress/singer to singer/superstar. We feel the pop from the audience immediately and she subsequently sees her career explode (while Bradley Cooper’s character trends the other way due to self-destructive actions). The song may be called Shallow, but this moment is deep (Sorry. I’m not mad at me, I’m just disappointed). Final Thoughts What makes the chills aesthetic? They feel good. I didn't include jump scares and heartbreak, or any moments in movies that may make you feel something negative. Aesthetic chills: positive vibes only. I’m sure there are some great ones that I left off the list so please let me know in the comments which ones give you all the feels. Thanks! Have a great day!

By CJ Tiernan Before the ubiquity of the smartphone, Sportscenter was the one. It was THE way to get your sports highlights. Even the tiny little strip along the bottom line was essential to find scores and other important sports tidbits. When I was in High School, Sportscenter anchors were deified and revered. Sportscenter has lost a bit of its charm in the intervening decades, but going back and watching old "This is Sportscenter" commercials never gets old. They would place athletes and anchors in an office setting on the ESPN campus in Bristol, CT, as though that was where they spent all of their time, creating comedy gold. Thank you to the ad agency "Wieden+Kennedy" for creating such a beautiful and comical swath of commercials from 1995 to 2017. Below is a list of my 11 favorites I've ever seen (and in many cases, seen over and over again). Tommy Gilligan/Pointer View, uploaded to Flickr by West Point Public Affairs, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons 1. Jimmy Rollins/SVP - "It's Not Good" This is my favorite one of all time. Not only does it feature Scott Van Pelt, my favorite anchor of all time, but it has such a fun twist on the broadcast dynamic. SVP is breaking down tape of his Sportscenter telecast with Philadelphia Phillies MVP Jimmy Rollins. The way they break down film (like a baseball player does) to improve is hilarious enough, but it is coupled with the fact that SVP is doing terribly on the tape they are breaking down. 2. John Clayton - "Mom I'm Done with my Segment" This one is so wonderful because it plays against type. It stars John Clayton, who is always so buttoned up on his ESPN hits, as a Slayer fan who lives with his mom. The framing, the surprise ponytail, and the signature line "hey mom, I'm done with my segment" all play to perfect effect in this one. I'm also a sucker for a tear-away suit. 3. Jay Harris/New Jersey Devil - "Going Up?" In this one, Jay Harris is waiting for an elevator. When the elevator opens, the mascot for the New Jersey Devils NHL team is waiting. He looks like the devil. Jay asks "going up?" and the mascot just slowly, dare I say ominously, shakes its head no. Jay quickly jumps out of the elevator. Hilarious every time. 4. Usain Bolt/John Andersen/Jay Harris - "Man I'd Kill for that Schedule" Olympic champion Usain Bolt using a time clock. What's not to like about this one? He punches in while John Andersen and Jay Harris just engage in inane water-cooler talk. Bolt comes rushing back to clock out and the camera pans up to showcase his world-record time. Everything in this tableau is just perfect. 5. LeBron/SVP - "Good Luck Finding your Chair LeBron" This is another play on interoffice dynamics. The old chair switcheroo. Only in a typical office setting, all the chairs look more or less the same. Not so much here. 6. Andrew McCutchen - "Plunder the Lox" There are kinda a lot of teams that use pirates as mascots. 4 of them burst into a meeting and steal a whole bunch of supplies while the people in the meeting just sit there stoically and take it, almost like it happens all the time. Then Andrew McCutchen, longtime Pittsburgh Pirate, bursts in and says "The lox. Plunder the lox." He he. Delightful. 7. Arnold Palmer - Makes Arnold Palmer in the Cafeteria The cafeteria is another great setting for Sportscenter commercials. Stuart Scott and Scott Van Pelt stare in awe as golfer Arnold Palmer, with his caddy in tow, makes the drink that is named after him. Perfection. 8. Peyton/Eli Manning - Tour The Manning family is on a tour of the ESPN campus, and Peyton and Eli (2 NFL quarterbacks at the time, Hall of Fame quarterbacks when it's all said and done) are behaving like children. They are messing with each other just like siblings/kids. Also there is a Cooper Manning sighting! 9. Clayton Kershaw/Jay Harris - "What's Taupe now?" Clayton Kershaw, future Hall of Famer for the LA Dodgers, is on the phone in the office. He is idly flipping pencils at the ceiling. But he is an MLB pitcher, so he is whipping them right through the ceiling, repeatedly just missing a terrified Jay Harris. Man, Jay Harris is in a ton of these. He's awesome! 10. Roger Federer/Neil Everett - "I'm in the top 10, Roger" Tennis player Roger Federer hanging around the office with Sportscenter anchor Neil Everett. Neil mentions how he appreciates always knowing where you stand as a tennis player because of the rankings. He challenges Roger to give him a rating of Sportscenter anchors and gets a disappointing and dismissive answer from Roger. 11. Albert Pujols/Steve Levy/John Anderson - "I'm not a machine, okay. I'm just Albert" This one plays on a nickname that a player has. It is another recurring trope in the "This is Sportscenter" commercials. He was named "The Machine" because of his consistency at the plate, especially early on in his career. Here, thanks to some POV shots, we see he is actually a machine. "Why didn't you eliminate them, Albert?" is such a funny way to close the commercial out. Final Thoughts These commercials were on over and over again when I was younger. When looking back on them, I miss them. That is high praise, because it doesn't happen very often. That's never happened to me with a political ad or a toothpaste commercial. These short commercials were so much fun and there were countless great ones. There are a few that just missed the list: Chargers RB Ladianian Tomlinson is in the mailroom, but he wears a dark visor so he can't read any of the names, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has a secretary that is an actual viking, the cafeteria has the Swedish Chef Muppet (famously unintelligible) being translated by hockey player Henrik Lundqvist, and Jay Harris comes into the break room to play on the "days since last injury" trope by changing "years since last Cubs' World Series" from 108 to 0, only to be followed immediately by the UConn Huskies mascot wearing a cone on his head changing the "days since last injury" sign to 0 as well. There are countless great ones. Please let me know in the comments if I missed one of your favorites. Thanks!