The Frayed Velvet Chair: Twigman Awards

We are proud to announce the winners of this years Twigman Awards. This year we had some interesting films put out, and we were delightfully surprised by some we'd initially written off. To be honest, most of my favorite films were too obscure to qualify for the Twigmans, but this year we did have some of the better animated films in recent years.

Best Picture How To Train Your Dragon

I know that Toy Story 3 has gotten most of the attention this year in terms of best animated film, but I think that How To Train Your Dragon is every bit as magical. This film was a sheer delight. The dynamic dialogue, the well written characters, and the stunning animation set this film apart. Even the Academy was smart enough to recognize this film's brilliance in their nominations this year. I think it's fair to say that it doesn't stand a chance at the Oscars, but here we salute this film's excellence.

Best Director Christopher Nolan, Inception

Nolan's vision in Inception was breathtaking. He transported us into a new world. He brought together some of the most talented actors and actresses in the business and dazzled us with his vision. We watched Paris get folded onto itself, a man redefine his life, and a widower come to terms with his grief. Without Nolan this film would have never worked.

Best Actor Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Eisenberg nailed his performance of computer wiz Mark Zuckerberg. He was the socially awkward genius we all loved to hate, but he also managed to make something about Zuckerberg pitiable, and for that I say we should salute him.

Best Actress Emma Stone, Easy A

Emma Stone's performance in Easy A was an unexpected delight. Her turn as Olive was refreshing and enjoyable. I was ready to write this film off, but Emma Stone made Easy A fantastic. Her Olive was relatable and lovable, something rare in the days of High School Musical.

Best Supporting Actor Nicolas Cage, Kick Ass/The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Runner's up: John Malkovich in RED, Sharlto Copley in The A-Team

This was a particularly difficult choice this year, but no one is going to deny this was a good year for Nick Cage in supporting roles. His Big Daddy in Kick Ass was one of the greatest action heroes of the year, and his turn as a wizard in The Sorcerer's Apprentice was the best part of that film. While both Malkovich and Copley did great supporting roles, Cage did it twice.

Best Supporting Actress Chloe Moretz, Kick Ass

Watching Hit Girl kick ass to "Bad Reputation" was one of the most enjoyable moments of cinema in 2010. Her highly watchable performance was one of the most memorable roles of the year, if not one of the most controversial. While this year included several other roles for her in films such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, it was Kick Ass she'll be remembered most for.

Best Use of a Previously Written Song in a Movie "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien," Inception

I love Edith Piaf. I was a little hesitant when I first heard this song played in Inception, but I quickly got on board. Most people don't think much about this musical indicator that the dream is about to end, but the song adds a deeper meaning to the film that I'm not sure most people realize at first viewing. Next time you watch this film, keep in mind that Edith is saying that after a tumultuous and tragic life she has no regrets, and her life is starting anew.

Best Screenplay Toy Story 3

This script was brilliant. It had one of the best openings ever, and it stayed true to the tone of the previous two movies. We were introduced to a whole host of new characters, each more marvelous than the last. I was worried that this sequel would go the way of so many others and suck, but by the time we got to Buzz Lightyear's spanish mode no one had any doubts that this film surpassed Toy Story 2.

Best Costuming The Sorcerer's Apprentice

This year's costuming was kind of weak, but Nick Cage's getup in this film is worth remembering, if only for the importance of the pointy shoes.

Best Visual Effects Inception

Tron did a great job creating a new tech world for us to enjoy, but Inception turned a city onto itself. Besides, the zero gravity scenes were amazing in their simplicity.

Best Technical Explosion The Expendables

Sadly, the mushroom cloud of monkeys in Toy Story 3 does not count as a technical explosion, so I can't give that the Twigman this year, even if it was awesome. Still, we had several explosions this year in films ranging from Inception to Kick Ass. But let's face it, this clip is just awesome.