So I watched the Kids are Alright with some great acting. Annette Benning did a great job as the masculine, bread-winning lesbian, which was a HUGE departure from what I recognize her as. Julienne Moore was same as usual, solid and pasty white. The kids do a decent job to bring it along and show emotion. I am a huge Mark Ruffalo fan, probably because he's from Kenosha and AWESOME, but he's amazing in the film as a sperm donor who has two children with the lesbian couple of Moore and Benning. They reach out to him and he accepts and genuinely strives to be part of their lives. He gains immediate acceptance from Moore, Benning is slower to jump on the bandwagon. He does eventually win everyone over, especially Moore, who he start banging while she works to landscape the backyard of his restaurant. I ended up feeling pretty bad for Ruffalo's character who realizes how much he yearns for a family, but has never put in the effort, but DID like having two pretty cool teenage kids hang out with him and look up to him. He "falls" for Moore, who really was just looking for someone to fuck and not a real relationship, which was exactly who Ruffalo was looking for. Ruffalo is displayed as the villain and gets shut-out, which is unfair. Good acting, fairly regular and unspectacular slice of life film.
Bottom Line: 7.2 out of 10. Good for when you're sitting around doing nothing on a Sat. morning, but I wouldn't actively search it out.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Salt of the earth and some random thoughts
Salt was a movie where Angelina Jolie is a CIA spy who may or may not be a Soviet double agent. The movie moves quickly along through more and more insane stunts and bullshit until you arrive at the sort-of end. They clearly wanted this to be like a Bourne movie, but you just don't really give a damn throughout. Liev Schreiber is in it as well and does a solid job as always. I just don't buy a lot of the insane stunts and bullshit Jolie pulls off with ease. Why we love the Bourne movies is that they don't get Commando out of control with insanity. He does really cool shit, but you buy into the fact that it is possible. Jolie rolls through and kills 12 Russian super-agents herself. She's a woman, so fist-fights with men aren't going to go in her favor in real life, since any dude would just throw her into a wall until she stopped moving, she seriously weights like 130 pounds. It has entertaining parts, and actually the plot holds together pretty well, I just didn't buy into it.
Bottom line: 6.2 out of 10. If you want to see an action movie with a decent plot, give it a shot.
NBA playoffs- It is an absolute privilege to watch Chris Paul play right now. He is playing at a different level than everyone else on the court, including Kobe Bryant. He's simply unstoppable. The Lakers throw different looks at him, or double him, and he always finds the open man, or simply makes them pay for leaving him defended by a mere mortal man like Kobe Bryant. CP3 is shooting 57% and put up an insane triple-double of 35, 15 assists, 12 boards (I think, too lazy to fact-check). The Hornets don't have David West, that would be the dude who scores most of their points, but they are right with the Lakers. The Grizzlies are looking like beasts against the Spurs. I'm taking the Heat over the Celtics, and whoever wins that series will take it to the Bulls in the Eastern conference final. I would like to think whoever comes out of the Magic/Hawks series can beat the Bulls, but neither team is putting it together enough to beat the Bulls, and nobody on either team can guard Rose. The West is a lot more interesting anyway with upsets and close games everywhere. They are looking at war in every series out West. I'm really starting to think Nene would be a great pick-up for a real contender next year with another decent big man. He defends 4's and 5's, shoots 62%, can pass well, and hustles hard. He really needs a change of venue where he could be the #2 big man and a guaranteed mismatch every night (Get him Bucks, get him).
The Brewers pissed away a possible sweep of the Astros in fantastic fashion on Saturday with a complete lack of judgment by all baserunners in the 8th inning where they had 0 outs and men on 2nd and 3rd, but managed to shit the bed into a near triple-play. They pitch Kintzler entirely too much for such a young kid. It'll be nice to get Saito back, but they need to throw Mitre more in the short-term. Maybe Hawkins is still serviceable as well when he returns, but I think they can make a run at it even if he isn't. I keep holding out for a healthy Greinke, Hart, and Morgan to alleviate all our ills, but we will still have an enormous hole at shortstop and wherever Bettancourt hits. He has not impressed me at all and calling him a power-hitting shortstop is like calling Kyle Fransworth a finesse pitcher. At least he normally makes contact with the ball and puts it in play, but besides that I can't say many nice things about him. The real question will be how the Fielder situation heats up, because even if they are playing well the questions will only intensify as the season progresses. Re-signing Braun will go a long way in pushing Fielder to ink a deal, but with Boras as an agent, he's looking to cake up, not play for a small market team.
Side note: Angelina Jolie could never hide in disguise. She has WAYYYY too distinctive features for that bullshit. They dress her as a dude and it is utterly ridiculous.
Bottom line: 6.2 out of 10. If you want to see an action movie with a decent plot, give it a shot.
NBA playoffs- It is an absolute privilege to watch Chris Paul play right now. He is playing at a different level than everyone else on the court, including Kobe Bryant. He's simply unstoppable. The Lakers throw different looks at him, or double him, and he always finds the open man, or simply makes them pay for leaving him defended by a mere mortal man like Kobe Bryant. CP3 is shooting 57% and put up an insane triple-double of 35, 15 assists, 12 boards (I think, too lazy to fact-check). The Hornets don't have David West, that would be the dude who scores most of their points, but they are right with the Lakers. The Grizzlies are looking like beasts against the Spurs. I'm taking the Heat over the Celtics, and whoever wins that series will take it to the Bulls in the Eastern conference final. I would like to think whoever comes out of the Magic/Hawks series can beat the Bulls, but neither team is putting it together enough to beat the Bulls, and nobody on either team can guard Rose. The West is a lot more interesting anyway with upsets and close games everywhere. They are looking at war in every series out West. I'm really starting to think Nene would be a great pick-up for a real contender next year with another decent big man. He defends 4's and 5's, shoots 62%, can pass well, and hustles hard. He really needs a change of venue where he could be the #2 big man and a guaranteed mismatch every night (Get him Bucks, get him).
The Brewers pissed away a possible sweep of the Astros in fantastic fashion on Saturday with a complete lack of judgment by all baserunners in the 8th inning where they had 0 outs and men on 2nd and 3rd, but managed to shit the bed into a near triple-play. They pitch Kintzler entirely too much for such a young kid. It'll be nice to get Saito back, but they need to throw Mitre more in the short-term. Maybe Hawkins is still serviceable as well when he returns, but I think they can make a run at it even if he isn't. I keep holding out for a healthy Greinke, Hart, and Morgan to alleviate all our ills, but we will still have an enormous hole at shortstop and wherever Bettancourt hits. He has not impressed me at all and calling him a power-hitting shortstop is like calling Kyle Fransworth a finesse pitcher. At least he normally makes contact with the ball and puts it in play, but besides that I can't say many nice things about him. The real question will be how the Fielder situation heats up, because even if they are playing well the questions will only intensify as the season progresses. Re-signing Braun will go a long way in pushing Fielder to ink a deal, but with Boras as an agent, he's looking to cake up, not play for a small market team.
Side note: Angelina Jolie could never hide in disguise. She has WAYYYY too distinctive features for that bullshit. They dress her as a dude and it is utterly ridiculous.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Random Thoughts
The Brewers/Cubs "rivalry" is out of hand. Proximity makes it certain that there will always be enough fans of both teams at either game to create problems. The hatred makes no sense. We don't knock each other out of the playoffs year after year, or really have anything to be proud of in the last 1/4 century that we should feel special about. Instead of watching in peace, alcohol fueled stupidity wins out. One fan from a team will say something, then the response from the slighted teams fan, wash, rinse repeat. I fell into this after seeing a facebook post talking about how the Brewers, 155 games out from a meaningful game, had to be feeling the pressure of a slow start, and it would CERTAINLY effect their play. I responded immediately with a simple, concise, "Fuck you". Stupidity kept after it as there were posts back and forth which I reminded said individual that the Brewers have some serious injuries, but more importantly THERE ARE 155 MORE GAMES IN THE BASEBALL SEASON. I just don't get where this hatred comes from, we should hate the Cardinals more since they walk away with the NL Central instead of our respective teams.
The Masters coverage is doing a great job of having different experts chime in, and great coverage of ALL the players within a few strokes, but commercials this close to the end is simply unacceptable. I hate the fact that Tiger Woods was in contention. That man is a fucking piece of shit. We can say classier words, but anybody who is out banging whores and prostitutes at EVERY turn while his gorgeous wife raises children is a fucking piece of shit. I don't care what profession you are in, if you live your life like this I hope you get gang raped by a roaming pack of gorillas, or wildebeests, or anything capable of delivering a savage raping.
The NBA and NHL playoffs are soon to be underway, marking a great period in time for sports. Baseball is fresh and relevant, NHL suddenly becomes relevant and the quality of play increases, same goes the the pumpkin-pushers of the NBA. There will be great nights of TV, and the DVR will be expected to work OT to keep me happy. I will be flipping channels like a madman in between pitches, faceoffs, and free throws to keep updated on live action as much as possible. I am pretty excited to get into hockey and basketball for the first time this year. I find out things that real fans have known the whole year, like Derrick Rose is unstoppable. I love to see the teams that coast through the regular season and NOW start playing team defense and offense. This is basketball at the highest possible level.
The Masters coverage is doing a great job of having different experts chime in, and great coverage of ALL the players within a few strokes, but commercials this close to the end is simply unacceptable. I hate the fact that Tiger Woods was in contention. That man is a fucking piece of shit. We can say classier words, but anybody who is out banging whores and prostitutes at EVERY turn while his gorgeous wife raises children is a fucking piece of shit. I don't care what profession you are in, if you live your life like this I hope you get gang raped by a roaming pack of gorillas, or wildebeests, or anything capable of delivering a savage raping.
The NBA and NHL playoffs are soon to be underway, marking a great period in time for sports. Baseball is fresh and relevant, NHL suddenly becomes relevant and the quality of play increases, same goes the the pumpkin-pushers of the NBA. There will be great nights of TV, and the DVR will be expected to work OT to keep me happy. I will be flipping channels like a madman in between pitches, faceoffs, and free throws to keep updated on live action as much as possible. I am pretty excited to get into hockey and basketball for the first time this year. I find out things that real fans have known the whole year, like Derrick Rose is unstoppable. I love to see the teams that coast through the regular season and NOW start playing team defense and offense. This is basketball at the highest possible level.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Brewers?
I was incredibly frustrated to see the Brewers get swept by the Reds, especially because two of the games were winnable. Watching Will Nieves fail twice to hit important sac flies cost the Brewers the home opener. Failures to manufacture runs and hit situationally is a plague on the Brewers. Hope has flashed the last couple of games, and the returns of Greinke, Lucroix, and Hart all will be BIG upgrades to those positions. It's easy to be down-trodden seeing Neives fail so brutally, it made me realize it's a different manager inheriting the same players who can't drive in a run when it absolutely HAS to happen. Axford seems to have it figured out, meaning leaving 93MPH fastballs belt high is UNACCEPTABLE. I'm liking this team, even the late additions of Mitre and Morgan seem to be likely to pay dividends. Another glaring weakness is the inability to work a count and take pitches and walks. That will need to change to reach the playoffs I feel. It's a hell of a ride, and there's plenty of time to flip-flop. I'm just happy I'm excited to watch games again. I got to heckle Linebrink, Heyward, and the Braves bullpen last night as I was the first row in the bleachers above the bullpen in right field. WHAT A GREAT TIME, though they frown on heckling WAYYYY too much. I also have tickets on Friday, meaning I have to wash the lucky Turnbow shirt and warm-up the vocal cords, and possibly the fists for the Cubs.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Brewers SOUL CRUSH
Great opening day for 8 innings. Brewers looked as good as advertised, but the weaknesses that everyone was talking about reared their HIDEOUS head. Suspect defense, an unproven bullpen, a serious lack of depth. The golden child of last years disappointing season John "Stash" Axford shit the bed hanging a 93MPH fastball waist high in the 9th inning with two on. Shit decision by Lucroix, unless Axford just missed the pitch that badly. It sucked to watch a possible HUGE win to start the year get destroyed by one awful moment. Why couldn't the ball drift foul? Why couldn't the 3rd base ump give McGahee the tag-out call? It's little things that lose one game, but possibly, if it continues, ruin a very good, young team with little depth. You just have to hope Marcum and Greinke come back healthy and better than ever, but the bullpen absolutely HAS to improve. Who is going to come in and be untouchable for one inning a game? It seems like a painful season may be upon us, but maybe, just maybe they can hit their way through some rough patches and the group of starters can hide the bullpens inadequacies for awhile longer. Axford can't hang 93mph shit gut-high anymore, that I know is a fact.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Joe Louis, I had no idea
Two posts in one day, I clearly have very little going on today.
Joe Louis was a HUGE star, probably the first African-American celebrity, check that, probably second behind Jesse Owens. He knocked out Max Scherzer, probably got the name wrong, but he was the glowing vision of Hitler's Aryan race, Louis floored him in the first round and became an overnight sensation. He had 25 heavyweight title defenses, a feat that probably won't be equaled since now there's MAYBE 2 defenses in a year. The part that's awful: He signed up for the military, donated two $100,000 purses to the war effort, spent four years visiting troops while being enlisted, and through that time the IRS got after him for $500,000 in back taxes that they never forgave and forced him to pay until the day he died in 1981. He fought for WAY too long, had to do embarrassing public displays with his name, like a stint in pro wrestling and pimping ALL kinds of products, that really ruined his life. It was a SUPER sad story of how someone who would be a multi-millionaire today and widely praised by pretty much everyone was allowed to suffer for so many years. The IRS took away his kids' trust fund he set-up, would take entire purses from events he would do without telling him, they'd just show up and take the money. It was a brutal story of someone who was almost universally loved, but his personal sacrifices for the country he loved cost him greatly personally and financially.
The Brown Bomber, I'm glad to have learned more about you.
Joe Louis was a HUGE star, probably the first African-American celebrity, check that, probably second behind Jesse Owens. He knocked out Max Scherzer, probably got the name wrong, but he was the glowing vision of Hitler's Aryan race, Louis floored him in the first round and became an overnight sensation. He had 25 heavyweight title defenses, a feat that probably won't be equaled since now there's MAYBE 2 defenses in a year. The part that's awful: He signed up for the military, donated two $100,000 purses to the war effort, spent four years visiting troops while being enlisted, and through that time the IRS got after him for $500,000 in back taxes that they never forgave and forced him to pay until the day he died in 1981. He fought for WAY too long, had to do embarrassing public displays with his name, like a stint in pro wrestling and pimping ALL kinds of products, that really ruined his life. It was a SUPER sad story of how someone who would be a multi-millionaire today and widely praised by pretty much everyone was allowed to suffer for so many years. The IRS took away his kids' trust fund he set-up, would take entire purses from events he would do without telling him, they'd just show up and take the money. It was a brutal story of someone who was almost universally loved, but his personal sacrifices for the country he loved cost him greatly personally and financially.
The Brown Bomber, I'm glad to have learned more about you.
NCAA heartbreak
I'm watching the Kansas game absolutely beside myself with confusion on how Kansas can play so badly against an inferior team. 2/18 for 3's? What the fuck is going on here? FT's were just an abomination as well. The Morris brother's played as bad as possible. The only reason I care is I just noticed in at least one of my brackets I'd win big money with KU winning the national title. I had UCONN, Kansas, UNC, and Pitt, with UNC vs. Kansas, painfully Kansas beating the Tar Heels because I try my best to not let emotions get in the way of picking. I thought I was on the road to cash money, but now I noticed I'm dicked because Kansas can't do SHIT. If anyone gets a perfect bracket this year, it's from smoking meth for several hours before filling out a bracket. You may remember VCU from the play-in game, normally an afterthought after that team gets the shit kicked out of them in the first round game. You may remember Butler as the team that UW-Milwaukee beat twice this year. What in the fuck is going on?
Side note: If they use the Jennifer Hudson "One Shining Moment" instead of Luther Vandross, I will break something, I have yet to determine what, but remote control, or PS3 controller are currently the front-runners.
To answer a question, I can praise the Fab Five while being disappointed with the Heat because college kids playing with their friends at a school is a little different than getting paid millions to do it. Kid playing together on a college team they all grew up idolizing is different than crushing your entire home state. It's a totally different situation, under totally different circumstances.
Side note: If they use the Jennifer Hudson "One Shining Moment" instead of Luther Vandross, I will break something, I have yet to determine what, but remote control, or PS3 controller are currently the front-runners.
To answer a question, I can praise the Fab Five while being disappointed with the Heat because college kids playing with their friends at a school is a little different than getting paid millions to do it. Kid playing together on a college team they all grew up idolizing is different than crushing your entire home state. It's a totally different situation, under totally different circumstances.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Midnight Cowboy
The best picture of 1969 was a strange slice of life picture depicting a naive, way too nice, wanna-be gigolo from TX who moves to New York to become a hustler, a man of the night. He thinks old women beg to have sex with young, cowboy-looking studs. Dustin Hoffman does an amazing job as a crippled hustler with whooping cough. He has a limp and sleezes through life without a job or purpose of any kind other than making it another day. It's really sad to see Voight getting crushed by New York. He is the farthest from smart that he can be. Hoffman originally tricks Voight, then becomes his only friend and roommate. They live in squalor together squatting in an abandoned building without heat or water. Small victories include donating blood for money and stealing a hat. It is a series of punches to the groin. It was groundbreaking at the time, splicing memories and trippy moments together. I really wasn't a fan, but I guess 42 years after the fact can age a movie.
Bottom Line: 6.7 out of 10. Strong acting and cinematography, but I really don't like a two hour series of punches to the gut.
Bottom Line: 6.7 out of 10. Strong acting and cinematography, but I really don't like a two hour series of punches to the gut.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Fab Five, I FINALLY SAW IT
What a terrific documentary about what has to be one of the most influential and incredible teams ever. A group of 18 year old kids, 4 top-11 recruits, another the #46 ranked player in the nation. Not only was it incredible for any recruiting class, but a class with SO much talent. The ability of that team, highlighted by Chris Webber, a once in a lifetime talent, to end up together was such an accomplishment for Michigan, and Juwan Howard, the guy who brought everyone else together. It's unfathomable to think of another Fab Five. A cultural revolution of teenagers who refused to be anyone but themselves. It makes me want to read the novel Fab Five again, to soak in all the significance and to further honor what five best friends accomplished, not only in the basketball world, but in our culture. Can anyone else remember who wore baggy shorts before the Fab Five? Or who had black socks and shoes before the Fab Five? It didn't happen before they blew it up. My brother was ALL OVER the Fab Five. Black Nike socks and shoes, that was all that was acceptable. Shorts a minimum of 2 sizes too big, which was great for me growing up knowing I was bigger as an 8th grader than my brother as a senior.
What's also incredible is the closeness and pain they suffered together at such a young age. I can't imagine what would have happened if I would have lost at team state as a senior when we clearly had the best team. My last football game ever was lost to a better team, something you never want to admit, but you accept a LOT easier than losing to someone you KNOW you should beat. It is a haunting I thank God I don't know the feeling of. Twice they made the Finals, twice they lost. The Buffalo Bills, arguably the Atlanta Braves, though they did win one, are the only situations I can compare to that situation where they return to a title game as favorites, only to lose painfully. I also have to mention how pissed off I am to notice that the Fab Five has been interrupted by the fucking NIT and I can hardly see the screen due to blinding rage.
Wrapping things up: If you liked the documentary, read the book Fab Five (I think it's by Mitch Albom), it's a great, in depth look at someone who spent a lot of time with that special team.
What's also incredible is the closeness and pain they suffered together at such a young age. I can't imagine what would have happened if I would have lost at team state as a senior when we clearly had the best team. My last football game ever was lost to a better team, something you never want to admit, but you accept a LOT easier than losing to someone you KNOW you should beat. It is a haunting I thank God I don't know the feeling of. Twice they made the Finals, twice they lost. The Buffalo Bills, arguably the Atlanta Braves, though they did win one, are the only situations I can compare to that situation where they return to a title game as favorites, only to lose painfully. I also have to mention how pissed off I am to notice that the Fab Five has been interrupted by the fucking NIT and I can hardly see the screen due to blinding rage.
Wrapping things up: If you liked the documentary, read the book Fab Five (I think it's by Mitch Albom), it's a great, in depth look at someone who spent a lot of time with that special team.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Philadelphia
I sat around after college basketball and decided to soak in a heavy, emotional movie showcasing two young superstars at their best in Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. The movie is the soul-crushing story of Tom Hanks, a young-gun star attorney who contracts AIDS and is fired for his troubles. Denzel Washington comes in as the only lawyer who will take his case because his virus scares everyone else away. Hanks is simply amazing, as is the backdrop of Philadelphia, Bruce Springsteen's beautiful song that starts the film entitled "The Streets of Philadelphia, the backdrop of Philadelphia itself, and the other performances, especially Antonio Banderas and Denzel Washington. Washington's dislike, sometimes borderline hatred of homosexuals is confirmed, and evaporated all in the same film. The incredibly complex issue of homosexuality and AIDS is thrown to the forefront and examined through different viewpoints. The movie is a powerhouse of emotion and great acting throughout. A movie that earned Oscar nods for song, film, and acting is clearly worth seeing. Nothing is as painful as watching Hanks deteriorate, or his family support him throughout and make their last good-byes through the hospital. It's a must-see film for all the right reasons, just keep your kleenex handy.
Bottom Line: 9.8 out of 10. It is simply amazing in all aspects. A must-see film, even though it isn't going to entertain you all the time, the emotion and talent on display is some of the best you'll ever see in your lifetime.
Bottom Line: 9.8 out of 10. It is simply amazing in all aspects. A must-see film, even though it isn't going to entertain you all the time, the emotion and talent on display is some of the best you'll ever see in your lifetime.
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