Basketball Boner

I got super excited about basketball this season. I jumped into two fantasy basketball leagues, and am actively watching the Wizards play the Cavaliers. I get a full week of NBA League Pass and fully plan to take advantage of it to the fullest. It also makes me pissed off about the absence of hockey this season. Things are clearly fucked when Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman square off and shit all over hockey. Players got a bum deal after the strike last time, which shouldn't surprise anyone. They want some power back, some salary restrictions loosened, which seems to make sense. Bettman made his only push when he put a 50/50 revenue split in place that I expected would get things done, but it didn't. Now talks have stalled and two hard-headed fucks are leading the movement. This should be a great time in sports where football is still around, the NBA & the NHL get started and NASCAR is in the "Sprint", which I couldn't care less about, but a lot of people do. Playoff hockey, and people who have never watched it should keep their fucking mouths shut, is amazing. The quality of play elevates perhaps even more than in the NBA, which I know seems almost impossible to believe. The NHL really bridged the gap in hatred this last season, pushed new faces and more games for the casual fan, and is currently figure out ways to get more shit on all these good feelings. I'm amazed the NHLPA hired Donald Fehr to head negotiations for the players Union (NHLPA). It's also alarming how quickly star players have run across the pond to get paychecks the only way they know how. It's fucking ridiculous to think they can have another strike, but it's clearly looking like that's how the chips are falling on this one and I fucking hate everyone involved. Back to basketball... Before the Harden trade I was REALLY looking forward to this season because the West should've been a war-zone that's a little softer at the top now. You have the re-tooled Lakers who pulled another coup in getting Steve Nash & Dwight Howard to make a few more runs with Kobe (Rapist Fuckface) Bryant. There's not way of knowing how that's going to shake out, but Nash can make a bunch of 6 year-olds look like they run a great offense, so I'm thinking that part is set and with Howard and Gasol on the interior things are looking up on defense as well. OKC was the solid favorite with Harden, but now they are trying to patch his spot up with Kevin Martin, who isn't the same player, especially on defense as Harden. That team is still very impressive, but now how far they go is based solely upon the growth of Durant, Ibaka, and Westbrook because they've gotten weaker than last year now. I doubt Jeremy Lamb is going to be contributing anything and they shipped sharpshooter Daquan Cook, though seldom used, served A purpose on that team. The Nuggets added Igoudala, who is supremely underrated, but they are still just a bunch of REALLY good players sans a true Superstar. I don't think anyone else can compete, but I wouldn't like to play the Clippers, Spurs or Grizzlies in a playoff series. By the way I'm not saying the Nuggets are better than the other teams I listed, I'm just interested in a healthy team that's legitimately 10 deep, I hope George Karl presses all fucking game. The East is really the Heat and the JV squads. I really doubt the Celtics can make a run at them, or anyone else for that matter. Maybe the Pacers can push again? Seriously, if Danny Granger shows up on offense that series could've been REALLY interesting for the Heat. I like the new Nets, maybe the Hawks can make some waves by finding a balanced offense like the circa 1977 Blazers with Walton? Horford can play and certainly pass for a big, Josh Smith is insanely talented (but lost), Korver can shoot (that's it) Jeff Teague, Devin Harris, and Lou Williams provide scoring and defensive question marks, but you never know. The Bulls are an outside shot as well depending on how Rose heals up. Needless to say I'm going to be watching this shit. NBA TV generally has a game a night on at least, TNT & ESPN provide another per night, & OL' FSN will have the Bucks on for our entertainment/ horror. Prediction: OKC vs. Heat, Heat in 5. I'm feeling the Lakers show their age and fall off, plus Westbrook and Durant will again prove simply unstoppable for the defensively poor Lakers. The Heat won't be challenged, making the road much easier than the Thunder. Bold Predictions: Nets win a playoff series, Bucks MAKE the playoffs after trading Monte Ellis, someone besides the Lakers will push OKC to seven, The Heat will never have to play more than 5 games in a series. I will place in fantasy B-ball. Chauncey Billups will be named Player/coach of the Clippers at some point. No playoffs for the Chicago Bulls (that's just knee-jerk and dumb, but whatever) Awards: ROY will be Damian Lillard, not El Unibrow. MVP- Lebron (not bold, but I'm not dumb), Sixth Man- Lou Williams (not a clue on this one) NBA Defensive POY- Serge Ibaka, basically a walk-over if he's healthy.

Annie Hall

I decided to watch Annie Hall, which I think is my first Woody Allen film. I really don't enjoy his nervous jittery acting and humor. I'm kind of surprised this thing tracks at %98 on Rotten Tomatoes. It's not really that funny or much else. Diane Keaton does a pretty good job, Woody Allen is himself, but I suppose the writing is pretty decent. I don't know if it's outdated, or if I just can't get behind Woody Allen at all. Maybe the romantic comedy bone I don't have is an issue, but I just wasn't impressed on really any level. It won a slew of awards, I just don't understand how other than the fact that it came out in 1977 and it was unique and groundbreaking at the time. Getting to the actually film it is Allen's struggle with his relationship with Keaton's character. Bottom Line: 6.6 out of 10. Lacks humor and punch for my liking, but maybe it's because of a general disdain for romantic comedies, so this probably isn't accurate, so there's the disclaimer. I wasn't a fan of anything, but found Keaton's acting to be strong, but that's about all I can say I was impressed by. Random Fact: This was my 300th post, and that just seems crazy to me.

The Descendants

Now that eight movies get nominated for Best Picture every year, it's perhaps lost it's luster, but I still felt like it meant something. I'm a George Clooney fan and figured it was on HBO, so why the hell not? This was a 1.75 hour long stomach punch, only the pain was slow release. It was simply unimpressive for the most part. They have the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii to rely on, but that's about the only part that I enjoyed. There's a great cast of people you'll recognize, but I found it unspectacular. Matt Lillard, Clooney, and Shailene Woodley (the real star of this) carry it, but only so far. The story is Clooney's wife gets in a boating accident that causes her to be in a coma. Clooney is forced to face the reality that he isn't very close to his daughter's and knows very little about their lives, or his wife's. He attempts to carry everyone through the tragedy as it a lot of things unfold all around him. It really missed me on all levels, but apparently other people like it. Bottom Line: 6.6 out of 10. Saved by a good cast, I really felt no connection to the story.

In Bruges

I heard a lot of good things about In Bruges, but never really actively pursued it until it was on one of the movie channels. It's the very unique story of two hitmen who have been sent away to Bruges, Belgium to hide-out after committing a murder. The story slowly releases itself as a few more characters are released, but it's a very small, good cast. Headlined by Colin Farrell in a role he's very good at, playboy hitman smart-ass. The best performance is from Brendan Gleeson and it's not even close. Forever endeared to me by being Hamish in Braveheart, he excels as the gay, sensitive hitman enjoying his mini-vacation in Bruges. Ralph Fiennes rounds out the cast as the boss of the hitmen and a few other minor characters arise, but I digress. The two hitmen (Farrell & Gleeson) have two extremely different views of Bruges. Farrell detests it, likening it to purgatory, where Gleeson enjoys the majestic archetecture and rich history. They sight-see, tour a little, Farrell meets a local girl he likes because she's hot and it's like they are the odd couple and hilarity ensues. I don't want to reveal anymore of the plot, but it gets dark and serious in a hurry. Excellent, unique story and a great cast are plenty to carry this. Amazing cinematography using the natural and historical beauty of Bruges tops it all off nicely. Bottom Line: 8.2 out of 10. Well done all the way around and I'd recommend spending a couple bucks and renting this one. It's a quick 1.5 hours and certainly worth watching to a movie fan.

Looper

I was really happy to see Looper this weekend because originality is severely lacking in Hollywod these days. The premise is that around 2070 time travel is invented, but illegal and very limited. Powerful crime syndicates use time travel to send criminals and whoever else back to 2038 to be killed by "Loopers". They know the time & place, they shoot the person and dispose of them. In the future you can't dispose of bodies. In any case the looper gets paid and goes about their business until they shoot themselves and "close the loop", then they have 30 years to live a priviliged life of wealth and happiness. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has his future self come back, Bruce Willis, to try to change the future by assassinating a mysterious "Rainmaker" while he's a child, it gets dark and ugly in a hurry. Willis has limited information to go on, but will save his wife if he finds and kills this kid, so he's focused. Excellent acting, a very good story, and violence normally makes for a good movie, this is no different. DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM IF THE THOUGHT OF DEAD CHILDREN IS CRIPPLING AND EXTREMELY BAD FOR YOU. It's awful, but a part of the story. Friendly head's up, but if you gut it out it's a very solid film. Bottom Line: 8.2 out of 10. It hits some slow parts, child murder is a horrific thing, but the strong story and cast make for an excellent overall film.