Ben's 2008 Movies By the Numbers + Golden Globe Predictions

Not only do I see a hell of a lot of movies on the big screen every year, I also keep pretty detailed records about everything I see. Yes, my dorkiness extends THAT far. I have a spreadsheet that contains a year-by-year ranked list of every movie I've seen since 1994. I have albums filled with every ticket stub from every movie I've seen since '94. In my daily planner, I record every movie I see, where & when I see it, and with whom. My friend Suzanne calls this the most harmless and endearing case of OCD she's ever seen, and I like to think that's true, heh. And now, because I am bored and curious, let's take a look at some of the stats from my 2008 moviegoing experiences. I know you're excited!

I saw 104 different movies in theatres in 2008. But I actually went to the movies 106 times, because I saw WALL-E and THE DARK KNIGHT twice each. This is, believe it or not, my second-LOWEST total since my eight-year 100+ streak began. (The lowest was when I went to the movies 101 times in 2006; the highest was an astounding 120 in 2001.)

• Full price admissions: 61
• Free advance screenings: 11
• Free passes/awards programs/gift cards/etc.: 34

DAILY BREAKDOWN:
Monday: 13
Tuesday: 10
Wednesday: 14
Thursday: 16
Friday: 21
Saturday: 13
Sunday: 19

MY VARIOUS HOMES AWAY FROM HOME:
AMC Empire 25: 38
Loews Lincoln Square: 17
Regal 42nd St. E-Walk: 13
Regal Union Square: 6
Lincoln Plaza Cinema: 5
Loews 34th Street: 5
Ziegfeld Theatre: 3
Landmark Sunshine Cinema: 3
Regal South Plainfield (NJ): 3
IFC Center: 2
Clearview Chelsea Cinema: 2
Tompkins Square Park: 2
Village East Cinema: 1
Loews Orpheum: 1
Angelika Film Center: 1
Regal Kaufman Astoria: 1
Loews 84th Street: 1
Regal 64th & 2nd: 1
Loews New Brunswick (NJ): 1

I saw 14 double-features during the year, some of which contained some unusual pairings (and some of which were paired by design):

• Cassandra's Dream & Cloverfield
• 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days & Rambo
• Funny Games & The Counterfeiters
• Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay & Baby Mama
• Son of Rambow & Red Belt
• The Foot Fist Way & The Strangers
• The Incredible Hulk & The Happening
• Star Wars: Clone Wars & Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Hamlet 2 & In Search of a Midnight Kiss
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist & How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
• Religulous & Choke
• Changeling & Role Models
• The Reader & Revolutionary Road
• Waltz With Bashir & Seven Pounds

I was also a little more social this year, attending 32 movies with someone, and 74 by myself. Normally, I see far more by myself, but having a girlfriend gives me a built-in movie buddy -- in fact, I saw 20 movies with her alone! Awwww! :)

Ummm, okay, that's enough of that. Now let's take a look at some quick, explanation-free predictions for tonight's annual Hollywood self-fellating ceremony, aka THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS!

• Best Picture (Drama): Slumdog Millionaire
• Best Actor (Drama): Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
• Best Actress (Drama): Meryl Streep, Doubt
• Best Picture (Musical/Comedy): Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Best Actor (Musical/Comedy): Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Best Actress (Musical/Comedy): Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
• Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
• Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
• Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
• Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
• Best Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz with Bashir
• Best Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best Original Song: "Down to Earth," WALL-E

I have no interest in the TV awards, but if THE OFFICE is nominated for anything, I hope it wins!