From political drama thrillers to biographies to action films, 2011 offered memorable and fascinating entries in numerous movie genres. In Shockya’s new mini-series, your favorite writers will countdown their Top 10 favorite films of the past year. With award season quickly approaching and the nominees for several ceremonies already announced, including the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards and the 18th Annual SAG Awards, listed below are some of the best movies of 2011. Whether the films feature believable acting, realistic storytelling, perfectly guided direction or a combination of all three, the following ten movies will definitely stand out as the best of the best in the years to come. 1….

Ever wonder how many projects go into development only to never see a green light? Well, there’s a lot, but that doesn’t stop studios from announcing potential projects. Not only do we have a Farmville movie in the works, but one about Steve Jobs and one about Dr. Seuss, too. Of the bunch, the latter two are the most likely to come to fruition while Farmville could be a ways away. Then again, even if a Farmville movie does happen, how much of the narrative could really be based on the game? Also in the development stage is the big screen version of the TV show Friday Night Lights. While…

I am a big proponent of not entering the Uncanny Valley when it comes to technology, however, in my opinion, the new Dior ad not only travels through the Uncanny Valley, but goes into unprecedented territory. I don’t even know what to call that territory–the Uncanny City? I don’t know. What I do know is that the ad creeps me out. In the ad, Charlize Theron, the face of Dior since 2004, is late for a couture show at the Galerie des Glaces. She runs through the building to backstage, where she kisses Grace Kelly on the cheeks, passes Marlene Dietrich, who’s modeling for the cameras, and gives Marilyn Monroe…

Several New York personalities, including talk show host Robin Byrd, Academy Award-nominated actress Sylvia Miles and Andy Warhol’s nephew James, have been invited to participate in a celebrity seance being held at Serendipity 3, the Huffington Post is reporting. They were invited by the famous ice cream parlor to possibly contact such deceased celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Warhol, who used to trade paintings for desserts, with the help of well-known psychic medium Char Margolis. Though Margolis isn’t promising that she can contact any particular celebrity. “It depends on who has something to say,” she added. But Byrd is hoping to contact Monroe, as she wants to ask…

Stamp collectors should start making room for the 2012 “Great Directors” commemorative Forever stamp set, which will include a Billy Wilder stamp featuring the iconic Marilyn Monroe. These Forever stamps, which are always equal in vale to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate, will include dedications to Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, and of course, Wilder. “These extraordinary directors…created some of the most iconic scenes in American cinema,” states the press release. “They gave audiences an unforgettable (and in some cases, deeply personal) vision of life.” Customers can preview the stamps on Facebook, through Twitter or on the Postal Service’s website Beyond the Perf. You can also preview the…

Title: The Misfits Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Thelma Ritter “The Misfits” stands as the last completed film for both Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, but its value and engagement extends well beyond that trivia question value, or any of the other salacious stories behind its troubled production. An unusual and illuminating ensemble drama from director John Huston and screenwriter Arthur Miller, the 1961 film is long on color and a bit short on plot, but so striking for the empathy it radiates for its fringe-dwelling, booze-happy characters. Set in Reno, the story centers around Roslyn Tabor (Monroe), a freshly divorced but still downhearted woman who, with her landlady Isabelle Steers…

The crushing ambivalence of young adulthood is often lost under the thick glaze of hormonal revelry typically applied to teenage and twentysomething coming-of-age tales. But “Take Me Home Tonight” — an in many respects pedestrian comedy that otherwise coasts along on its energy and the winning appeal of its cast — gets this crucial detail of feeling right, which helps mitigate direction that often lacks a sense of snappishness, and a second and third act that don’t emotionally resonate as much as they could or should. The film, co-written by director Michael Dowse, from a story co-conceived by star Topher Grace, unfolds in 1988 and centers on a recent MIT…

Title: Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff Director: Craig McCall Featuring: Jack Cardiff, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Martin Scorsese, Lauren Bacall, Kim Hunter, Thelma Schoonmaker, Freddie Francis and more Above-the-line stars get most of the credit and glory for Hollywood successes, but dozens if not hundreds of other specially gifted artisans labor on most big-budget productions, often going their entire careers without so much as an acknowledged tip of the proverbial cap from the moviegoing public at large. Director Craig McCall’s fascinating documentary ‘Cameraman’, then, attempts to right this wrong, shining a light on Jack Cardiff, who on March 25, 2001 — more than five decades after winning…

Liz Taylor, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Barbra Streisand, Tom Cruise, The Beatles, Princess Diana, Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy Among the Stars, Athletes and Historical Figures To Be Offered to the Public for the First Time. Calabasas, CA, April 2, 2009 – For the first time in its 44-year history, the world-famous Hollywood Wax Museum is offering hand-sculpted wax figures and original costumes for auction. Over 200 figures, including top stars, musicians, athletes, and historical individuals that have been seen by millions of visitors in Hollywood, CA and Branson, MO from the 1970s to present will be sold by Profiles in History, the world’s…

Did the well-known household detergent, Ivory Snow, feature a young Marilyn Chambers on their box prior to her rise to fame as an adult film actress? Did Mars Inc. – makers of M&M’s – really turn down product placement in the 1982 hit film “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial,” paving the way for Reese’s Pieces to cash in on E.T.’s success? Was Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones murdered? Is the famous grainy footage of “Bigfoot” a hoax? “Bigfoot Phone Home” airs tonight Wednesday November 19th at 10 pm only on TV Land. Stay tuned to Toxic Shock for the latest “Myths and Legends” news and more.