Sand box

The recess staff takes on the best of 2005

Jacko danced atop a car while another Jack (of The White Stripes) sold out to Coca-Cola. Bonus: Johnny Depp impersonated MJ spot-on in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. In a purple leotard, Madonna sought to reconquer the world (again) and J.K. Rowling already accomplished that feat with the latest installment of Harry Potter. And in the most surprising turn of events, Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah's couch. Repeatedly. recess covers the year in entertainment that was.

Film

Best sex scene: On the stairs in A History of Violence.

Best comeback of film genre: R-rated comedies with The Wedding Crashers and 40 Year Old Virgin.

Best cinematic animals: The emperor penguin and to a lesser extent, the grizzly bear.

Best Woody Allen comeback vehicle: Match Point.

Best new cult figure: River in Serenity.

Best graphic-novel-turned-film: Sin City.

Music

Best dance move: Shakira's gyrations in the "La Tortura" video.

Best video/song: Hilary Duff's "Beat of My Own Heart."

Best breakup lyric: "You looked as sincere as a dog/ Just as sincere as a dog does/ When it's the food on your lips with which it's in love" in Fiona Apple's "Parting Gift."

Best live album: Green Day's Bullet in a Bible.

Best Comeback Album by an R&B Legend-Turned-Preacher: The Reverend Al Green with Everything's OK.

Best Comeback Album by an R&B Legend-Not-Turned-Preacher: Stevie Wonder with A Time 2 Love.

Miscellanea

Best infant animals: Baby pandas (We love you, Butterstick and Su Lin!)

Best book to read and realize that exam week is not so bad: Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking.

Best celebrity meltdown: Dave Chapelle.

Best guilty pleasure: America's Next Top Model

Best reason to stay in touch with your childhood friends: Entourage

Best reason to get through med school: Grey's Anatomy

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