Thursday, January 31, 2008
Lawrence of Arabia
I need a break. The recap of honorable mention films of 2007 will be delayed by at least a day. I really didn’t know how daunting this task would be. I really wish I had prewritten some of these summaries. As it is I have written a line or two on 45 films in the last three days. Even though I’m only writing a sentence or two on each film, it is still a lot of work. And with 19 films in the honorable mention list, I think my head is going to explode.
Tonight I took a break from things and took in Lawrence of Arabia at the Angelika Plano. Lawrence is one of my favorite films of all time and have now seen in on the big screen twice. This is the one film that needs to be scene on the big screen and everyone should see at least once.
It was also very exciting to see a good turnout for a 45-year-old film. It was also a treat that is was a film print of the original release. The drawback was the print showed its age a bit and had some fairly significant sound problems. But I have now seen all three major versions of Lawrence. In the 80s I watched on VHS the heavily cut 1971 version. In 1989, I was there on opening day in Dallas to see the extended director’s cut, the one I now have on DVD. And now I’ve seen the earliest version.
Now in a couple of more weeks I might sit through all of Ben-Hur to finally see the chariot race on the big screen for the first time.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Portia de Rossi, 35, possibily the best looking lesbian in Hollywood
Minnie Driver, 38, first noticed in Big Night, she's always had an exotic, someone different look that is pretty sexy
Tonight I took a break from things and took in Lawrence of Arabia at the Angelika Plano. Lawrence is one of my favorite films of all time and have now seen in on the big screen twice. This is the one film that needs to be scene on the big screen and everyone should see at least once.
It was also very exciting to see a good turnout for a 45-year-old film. It was also a treat that is was a film print of the original release. The drawback was the print showed its age a bit and had some fairly significant sound problems. But I have now seen all three major versions of Lawrence. In the 80s I watched on VHS the heavily cut 1971 version. In 1989, I was there on opening day in Dallas to see the extended director’s cut, the one I now have on DVD. And now I’ve seen the earliest version.
Now in a couple of more weeks I might sit through all of Ben-Hur to finally see the chariot race on the big screen for the first time.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Portia de Rossi, 35, possibily the best looking lesbian in Hollywood
Minnie Driver, 38, first noticed in Big Night, she's always had an exotic, someone different look that is pretty sexy
Labels: Film
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Films of 2007 - The Above Average
I watched 21 films released in 2007 that I would consider to be pretty good films. All of these are definitely worth seeing in either the theater or at home on DVD.
American Gangster - A well made film that perfectly captures New York in the pre-cleaned up 1970s. Russell Crowe and Josh Brolin give very strong performance but I wasn’t thrilled by Denzel’s performance and I felt I had seen this before.
Avenue Montaigne - A light, comedy of manners that you rarely see today. Cècile de France is charming as a socially awkward waitress from the country. She is the link between three stories involving a concert pianist, aging art dealer, and demanding actress. It could easily become annoying if Danièle Thompson stayed on one character too long and she uses the beautiful sights of Paris to keeps things light.
Away from Her - A very ambitious subject for the young Sarah Polly to tackle with her first feature. She hits all the right notes to bring what could have been a very depressing film to the screen. It helps when you have Julie Christie giving her best performance in years. But while she’s getting all the press, Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent does an even better job playing her husband who has to live with his wife not recognizing him.
Bug - A horrible title caused me to avoid this in the theater thinking it was a horror film. Instead it’s an interesting psychological thriller of two people that when put together allow their craziness to become destructive. Adapted from a play with the claustrophobia of basically one set and four speaking roles works to this films advantage.
Deep Water - A very interesting and disturbing account of the true story of a man, who obsessed with making a name for himself back in 1968, enters a solo, non-stop, around-the-world yacht competition. This race is difficult for world class yachtsmen but this weekend sailor either due to honor or loss of income refuses to admit defeat to disastrous results.
Hairspray - This turned out far more enjoyable than I thought it would be. This is mainly due to the performances of the younger actors. Nikki Blonsky is perfect for the lead, Amanda Bynes is too cute as the best friend, and Elijah Kelly is a real find. I wish the film had handled the adult side as well. Travolta and Latifah never seemed right for the roles. While Pfeiffer and Walken were good their one scene together went on far too long. And Janney who might have been the most enjoyable needed more screen time.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - One of the better entries in this series. The film flowed rather well and it seems like each successive film is less constrained by the source material. Some of the problems in the book worked out better on film. One example is Harry being both a hero and petulant teenager. For once I wished one of the Harry Potter films would have been longer.
The Hoax - Thoroughly enjoyable comedy, satire on a little known story from the 1970s. Helping things out is Alfred Molena as the nervous best friend. He gives a great Oscar caliber performance that sadly was completely forgotten by the end of the year.
The Host - Korea’s take on the Godzilla theme. This time it’s a giant mutant fish. While they make the mistake of showing the monster too early and too often it has a very refreshing un-Hollywood feel.
Into the Wild - Beautifully photographed, nice soundtrack, and extremely well acted by every single major actor. But like the book, Sean Penn has a bit too much reverence for Christopher McCandless and at 140 minutes it is far too long. That is one reason Hal Holbrook really earned his Oscar nomination. As the last major person to see McCandless alive, he doesn’t appear until the final quarter of the film. However he injects much needed life in a film that at that point sorely needed it.
La Vie en Rose - As biopics go this film has its problems. If you are not familiar with Edith Piaf’s life, you might be rather lost through much of this film. I count myself in that group so I just went with it and found a not by-the-numbers bio refreshing. But the real treat is Marion Cotillard. She gives the performance of the year in fully embracing a role that at times is very unglamorous. I can’t believe she is the same actress in Love Me If You Dare.
Live Free or Die Hard - I'll admit that if you dissect the plot it completely falls apart due to the number of implausible scenes. But the basic story of misdirection is fairly interesting; John McClane is easily the best action, hero character of all-time; and favorite Timothy Olyphant makes a pretty good villain.
Lust, Caution - Visually amazing, emotional telling of espionage and the mixed loyalties that can occur in occupied Shanghai. It’s a little underwhelming on a first viewing. I’m not really sure why a 54-page short story needed to be stretched into a 150-minute film.
A Mighty Heart - First off, I was not distracted by the casting of Angelika Jolie. She puts in an one of the best performances of the year. But, while a solid film, favorite Michael Winterbottom directs a film that seems too slick and has less emotion than some of his earlier, better, and smaller, films.
Paprika - My main complaint of anime is that the story rarely lives up to the animation. This is no exception. The visuals are some of the best ever. I got lost in them taking in all the detail. It’s a good thing since the story blurs the line between dreams and reality, making this extremely hard to follow by the end.
Severance - I love the concept of a corporate outing mixed with Battle Royale. British humor is mixed with the right amount of gore to create a highly entertaining film. Helped along by Tim McInnerny playing an upper-management twit as only he can.
Smiley Face - The always interesting but hit-or-miss Gregg Araki tackles the stoner comedy. A surprisingly funny film moves along rather nicely populated by a very interesting cast. However, I would not recommend this to anyone that finds Anna Faris any bit annoying.
Superbad - An extremely hyped comedy that actually delivered the laughs. This film was made by the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. Nice editing between sequences keeps this film from dragging and McLovin is a great supporting character.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - As with many Tim Burton films, the premise is better than the execution. Johnny Depp is excellent and the early part of the film is wonderful. But the downside is Helena Bonham Carter’s performance and a last half that dragged a bit too much.
28 Weeks Later - While it doesn’t have the freshness of the first film and the political allegory seems heavy-handed, it is still a pretty good zombie film.
The Valet - For some reason the French can do something that Hollywood can’t: the lighthearted comedy. I think this is due the to no matter how absurd the plot is the French play it fairly straight while a American film would go straight for the slapstick. Daniel Auteuil, as the rich jerk, once again displays his comic timing that was seen in The Closet while relative newcomer Gad Elmaleh is very good in the title role.
American Gangster - A well made film that perfectly captures New York in the pre-cleaned up 1970s. Russell Crowe and Josh Brolin give very strong performance but I wasn’t thrilled by Denzel’s performance and I felt I had seen this before.
Avenue Montaigne - A light, comedy of manners that you rarely see today. Cècile de France is charming as a socially awkward waitress from the country. She is the link between three stories involving a concert pianist, aging art dealer, and demanding actress. It could easily become annoying if Danièle Thompson stayed on one character too long and she uses the beautiful sights of Paris to keeps things light.
Away from Her - A very ambitious subject for the young Sarah Polly to tackle with her first feature. She hits all the right notes to bring what could have been a very depressing film to the screen. It helps when you have Julie Christie giving her best performance in years. But while she’s getting all the press, Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent does an even better job playing her husband who has to live with his wife not recognizing him.
Bug - A horrible title caused me to avoid this in the theater thinking it was a horror film. Instead it’s an interesting psychological thriller of two people that when put together allow their craziness to become destructive. Adapted from a play with the claustrophobia of basically one set and four speaking roles works to this films advantage.
Deep Water - A very interesting and disturbing account of the true story of a man, who obsessed with making a name for himself back in 1968, enters a solo, non-stop, around-the-world yacht competition. This race is difficult for world class yachtsmen but this weekend sailor either due to honor or loss of income refuses to admit defeat to disastrous results.
Hairspray - This turned out far more enjoyable than I thought it would be. This is mainly due to the performances of the younger actors. Nikki Blonsky is perfect for the lead, Amanda Bynes is too cute as the best friend, and Elijah Kelly is a real find. I wish the film had handled the adult side as well. Travolta and Latifah never seemed right for the roles. While Pfeiffer and Walken were good their one scene together went on far too long. And Janney who might have been the most enjoyable needed more screen time.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - One of the better entries in this series. The film flowed rather well and it seems like each successive film is less constrained by the source material. Some of the problems in the book worked out better on film. One example is Harry being both a hero and petulant teenager. For once I wished one of the Harry Potter films would have been longer.
The Hoax - Thoroughly enjoyable comedy, satire on a little known story from the 1970s. Helping things out is Alfred Molena as the nervous best friend. He gives a great Oscar caliber performance that sadly was completely forgotten by the end of the year.
The Host - Korea’s take on the Godzilla theme. This time it’s a giant mutant fish. While they make the mistake of showing the monster too early and too often it has a very refreshing un-Hollywood feel.
Into the Wild - Beautifully photographed, nice soundtrack, and extremely well acted by every single major actor. But like the book, Sean Penn has a bit too much reverence for Christopher McCandless and at 140 minutes it is far too long. That is one reason Hal Holbrook really earned his Oscar nomination. As the last major person to see McCandless alive, he doesn’t appear until the final quarter of the film. However he injects much needed life in a film that at that point sorely needed it.
La Vie en Rose - As biopics go this film has its problems. If you are not familiar with Edith Piaf’s life, you might be rather lost through much of this film. I count myself in that group so I just went with it and found a not by-the-numbers bio refreshing. But the real treat is Marion Cotillard. She gives the performance of the year in fully embracing a role that at times is very unglamorous. I can’t believe she is the same actress in Love Me If You Dare.
Live Free or Die Hard - I'll admit that if you dissect the plot it completely falls apart due to the number of implausible scenes. But the basic story of misdirection is fairly interesting; John McClane is easily the best action, hero character of all-time; and favorite Timothy Olyphant makes a pretty good villain.
Lust, Caution - Visually amazing, emotional telling of espionage and the mixed loyalties that can occur in occupied Shanghai. It’s a little underwhelming on a first viewing. I’m not really sure why a 54-page short story needed to be stretched into a 150-minute film.
A Mighty Heart - First off, I was not distracted by the casting of Angelika Jolie. She puts in an one of the best performances of the year. But, while a solid film, favorite Michael Winterbottom directs a film that seems too slick and has less emotion than some of his earlier, better, and smaller, films.
Paprika - My main complaint of anime is that the story rarely lives up to the animation. This is no exception. The visuals are some of the best ever. I got lost in them taking in all the detail. It’s a good thing since the story blurs the line between dreams and reality, making this extremely hard to follow by the end.
Severance - I love the concept of a corporate outing mixed with Battle Royale. British humor is mixed with the right amount of gore to create a highly entertaining film. Helped along by Tim McInnerny playing an upper-management twit as only he can.
Smiley Face - The always interesting but hit-or-miss Gregg Araki tackles the stoner comedy. A surprisingly funny film moves along rather nicely populated by a very interesting cast. However, I would not recommend this to anyone that finds Anna Faris any bit annoying.
Superbad - An extremely hyped comedy that actually delivered the laughs. This film was made by the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. Nice editing between sequences keeps this film from dragging and McLovin is a great supporting character.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - As with many Tim Burton films, the premise is better than the execution. Johnny Depp is excellent and the early part of the film is wonderful. But the downside is Helena Bonham Carter’s performance and a last half that dragged a bit too much.
28 Weeks Later - While it doesn’t have the freshness of the first film and the political allegory seems heavy-handed, it is still a pretty good zombie film.
The Valet - For some reason the French can do something that Hollywood can’t: the lighthearted comedy. I think this is due the to no matter how absurd the plot is the French play it fairly straight while a American film would go straight for the slapstick. Daniel Auteuil, as the rich jerk, once again displays his comic timing that was seen in The Closet while relative newcomer Gad Elmaleh is very good in the title role.
Labels: FilmReview
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Films of 2007 - The Average
These are the hardest films to write about. It’s easy to trash a film and to go on about a film you enjoy. But what can you say about these films that have little impact besides, "t killed a couple of hours?" I mean, Roger Ebert isn’t selling any books titled, "This is a Very, Very, Very Average Film."
But here goes. The 17 films from last year I considered neither good or bad and a line or two as to what either elevated the up from the dregs or kept them at mediocrity.
Alpha Dog - While some think this film is a comment on society, it’s really only another good looking actors committing crimes that seems done before.
Black Snake Moan - A couple of nice performances, Samuel L. Jackson in his best role in quite some time, are negated in B-level southern gothic melodrama.
Breach - Well acted and enjoyable but very predictable.
Color Me Kubrick - I so wanted to love this with the cast but it seemed more of the same Malkovich and this film really goes nowhere.
The Condemned - This action genre was moderately enjoyable as a rental.
Disturbia - Good and likable actors helps save this pedestrian remake of Rear Window, but boy is everyone super dumb in this film.
Epic Movie - Aother one of those endless spoof films, saved from the bad pile due to a couple of good laughs, one being a funny Crispin Glover as a Willy Wonka knockoff, and starring favorites Jennifer Coolidge and Kal Penn.
Grindhouse - Bggest disappointment of the year, way too much down time and we have now learned that Tarantino can not write for hot 20-something girls.
Hot Fuzz - Lst me when it morphed from a spoof of an action film to an actual action film.
The Kingdom - Another barely passable effort from Hollywood to comment on a current political situation. It seems they haven’t gotten any right since the 70s.
Knocked Up - A disappointment due to all of the hype. I just never found it all that funny and I’m a little sick of seeing Katherine Heigl everywhere.
The Lookout - Joseph Gordon-Levitt puts in another fine effort but this film can’t decide what it wants to be: character study or crime film.
Sicko - I’m probably a little too critical of Michael Moore’s methods but usually really enjoy his films. However for more this half of the time this film is very unfocused.
Stardust - Much like The Princess Bride of the 1980s, this should be a huge chick-flick. The earlier film was enjoyable for me due to the humor that Stardust seemed lacking.
Talk to Me - Another film I wanted to like but became extremely bored when Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character became the main focus.
Vacancy - This horror film works a bit due to the characters actually not being total idiots.
Waitress - Much like Greek Wedding, it’s hard to hate this film but it plays way too much like a cutesy sit-com for my tastes.
But here goes. The 17 films from last year I considered neither good or bad and a line or two as to what either elevated the up from the dregs or kept them at mediocrity.
Alpha Dog - While some think this film is a comment on society, it’s really only another good looking actors committing crimes that seems done before.
Black Snake Moan - A couple of nice performances, Samuel L. Jackson in his best role in quite some time, are negated in B-level southern gothic melodrama.
Breach - Well acted and enjoyable but very predictable.
Color Me Kubrick - I so wanted to love this with the cast but it seemed more of the same Malkovich and this film really goes nowhere.
The Condemned - This action genre was moderately enjoyable as a rental.
Disturbia - Good and likable actors helps save this pedestrian remake of Rear Window, but boy is everyone super dumb in this film.
Epic Movie - Aother one of those endless spoof films, saved from the bad pile due to a couple of good laughs, one being a funny Crispin Glover as a Willy Wonka knockoff, and starring favorites Jennifer Coolidge and Kal Penn.
Grindhouse - Bggest disappointment of the year, way too much down time and we have now learned that Tarantino can not write for hot 20-something girls.
Hot Fuzz - Lst me when it morphed from a spoof of an action film to an actual action film.
The Kingdom - Another barely passable effort from Hollywood to comment on a current political situation. It seems they haven’t gotten any right since the 70s.
Knocked Up - A disappointment due to all of the hype. I just never found it all that funny and I’m a little sick of seeing Katherine Heigl everywhere.
The Lookout - Joseph Gordon-Levitt puts in another fine effort but this film can’t decide what it wants to be: character study or crime film.
Sicko - I’m probably a little too critical of Michael Moore’s methods but usually really enjoy his films. However for more this half of the time this film is very unfocused.
Stardust - Much like The Princess Bride of the 1980s, this should be a huge chick-flick. The earlier film was enjoyable for me due to the humor that Stardust seemed lacking.
Talk to Me - Another film I wanted to like but became extremely bored when Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character became the main focus.
Vacancy - This horror film works a bit due to the characters actually not being total idiots.
Waitress - Much like Greek Wedding, it’s hard to hate this film but it plays way too much like a cutesy sit-com for my tastes.
Labels: FilmReview
Monday, January 28, 2008
Films of 2007 - The Bad
Today begins a week long review of the films of 2007.
The schedule for the next seven days is as follows:
Today will be the smallest list. Since I am not paid to see films I have no incentive to see films such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. If I had to there would be more films for today. As it is, only one of these films was seen in the theater.
Fay Grim - It pains me to put independent films on this list since I can usually find something to like. Hal Hartley is a bit of paradox. I’ll see all of his films but rarely either like them or hate them. When he connects he really hits a home run. He connected with Henry Fool and I thought this sequel would be close. Sadly this film degenerates into a narrative mess that I didn’t care about and even the likeable Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum could not save. (This was the film seen in the theater.)
Interview - Another independent film that generates quickly into a who cares mess. The opening scene in the restaurant sets up the whole premise. She is a pampered star who wishes she could be taken seriously, he’s a grumpy journalist who finds entertainment so beneath him he can’t even bother to read the press material. Once it moves to her loft it seems contrived and doesn’t give any reason why these two would speak to each other.
The Nanny Diaries - A decent book with edge is reduced to no edge with bad casting and an unnecessary happy ending.
The Reaping - Another bad film with Hilary Swank. A total southern gothic mess that tries to mix horror. God, and Hurricane Katrina with is a C-level version of The Omen.
Smokin' Aces - Remember post 1994 when we all of these Tarantino wannabes thought any movie with referential dialogue, wacky gangsters, and lots of characters that intersect would make a good film. Well most didn’t and this seems worst that most of those.
Since today was a small post with only 5 bad films, I thought I would discuss the two films I saw in theaters last year that were rereleases.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut - I didn’t like Blade Runner on first viewing but have since grown to love it. This new print, thankfully, didn’t add more to the plot, since the last cut, but it looks better than in did in 1982.
Killer of Sheep - Some critics put this in last year’s top 10. Disregarding the discussing of putting a 30 year old film on the list, it probably would only be in my honorable mention. A bit too experimental and a historical document to be truly enjoyed. But it is a powerful film that should be seen by all and I look forward to another viewing on DVD.
Tomorrow... 18 average films of 2007.
Hot Chick Born Today
Barbi Benton, 58, growing up in the 70s her many appearances on TV were only enhanced because she posed in Playboy, it would be years later until I would finally see those shots
The schedule for the next seven days is as follows:
- Monday (today) - The Bad Films. These are either a chore to get through or extremely annoyed me in some way.
- Tuesday - The Average Films. These are decent films that are an acceptable way to spend a couple of hour but were forgotten rather quickly. Probably worth a rental.
- Wednesday - The Above Average Films. Pretty good films that are well worth seeing in the theater but not greatness material.
- Thursday - Honorable Mention. These made the cut in the first draft of possible Top 20 films and some could easily be in the Top 20 if I made the list on another day.
- Friday - The Top 20, films 11 to 20 in alphabetical order.
- Saturday - The Top 10, films 6 to 10 in ranked order.
- Sunday - The Top 10, films 1 to 5 in ranked order.
Today will be the smallest list. Since I am not paid to see films I have no incentive to see films such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. If I had to there would be more films for today. As it is, only one of these films was seen in the theater.
Fay Grim - It pains me to put independent films on this list since I can usually find something to like. Hal Hartley is a bit of paradox. I’ll see all of his films but rarely either like them or hate them. When he connects he really hits a home run. He connected with Henry Fool and I thought this sequel would be close. Sadly this film degenerates into a narrative mess that I didn’t care about and even the likeable Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum could not save. (This was the film seen in the theater.)
Interview - Another independent film that generates quickly into a who cares mess. The opening scene in the restaurant sets up the whole premise. She is a pampered star who wishes she could be taken seriously, he’s a grumpy journalist who finds entertainment so beneath him he can’t even bother to read the press material. Once it moves to her loft it seems contrived and doesn’t give any reason why these two would speak to each other.
The Nanny Diaries - A decent book with edge is reduced to no edge with bad casting and an unnecessary happy ending.
The Reaping - Another bad film with Hilary Swank. A total southern gothic mess that tries to mix horror. God, and Hurricane Katrina with is a C-level version of The Omen.
Smokin' Aces - Remember post 1994 when we all of these Tarantino wannabes thought any movie with referential dialogue, wacky gangsters, and lots of characters that intersect would make a good film. Well most didn’t and this seems worst that most of those.
Since today was a small post with only 5 bad films, I thought I would discuss the two films I saw in theaters last year that were rereleases.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut - I didn’t like Blade Runner on first viewing but have since grown to love it. This new print, thankfully, didn’t add more to the plot, since the last cut, but it looks better than in did in 1982.
Killer of Sheep - Some critics put this in last year’s top 10. Disregarding the discussing of putting a 30 year old film on the list, it probably would only be in my honorable mention. A bit too experimental and a historical document to be truly enjoyed. But it is a powerful film that should be seen by all and I look forward to another viewing on DVD.
Tomorrow... 18 average films of 2007.
Hot Chick Born Today
Barbi Benton, 58, growing up in the 70s her many appearances on TV were only enhanced because she posed in Playboy, it would be years later until I would finally see those shots
Labels: FilmReview
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Doggie Graduate
So today was going to be the beginning of the one week countdown of 2007 films. This is why I've refrained, for the most part, in discussing the films I've seen this year. Most of the films I've watched have been 2007 releases and I planned on this week long countdown to my Top 10 List so I did not want to repeat myself.
So beginning tomorrow I will comment on the 2007 released I watched that I considered bad films and will end with my top 5 films next Sunday. I'm packaging until tomorrow to say more.
So instead, today I present a picture of my dog, Goblin, as he graduates from Beginner class at Petsmart. The final class was yesterday and he is wearing his mortarboard.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Bridget Fonda, 44, was very hot in 1992 with Singles and Single White Female
Mimi Rogers, 52, very sexy in two great independent films: the 1991's The Rapture & 1997's Bulletproof Heart
Rosamund Pike, 29, a nice Bond Girl addition with 2002's Die Another Day
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Obama Wins South Carolina
Good news in South Carolina. It wasn’t a big surprise that Obama won today but I don’t think anyone predicted such a rout. Obama got 55 percent of the vote while Clinton has only 27 percent. A 28 point victory, more than double Clinton’s take, has to exceed anyone’s expectations. Now if he can only sustain some of this momentum into the next couple of week in states he is not the favorite.
However a couple of things from the Clinton camp over the last couple of days have bothered me.
Today Bill Clinton, when asked about is it fair that Obama is running against two people, didn’t even try to answer the question but offered that Obama is running a good race and that even Jessie Jackson won South Carolina. I’m sure that the Clinton spin-doctors will clarify that he didn’t say that he only won the state because he was black but that is how a few commentators took it tonight.
A couple of days ago Hillary Clinton came out and said that the results in Michigan should stand for delegate allocation using the disenfranchisement card if these votes don’t count. I’m sorry if the rules are annoying but Michigan and Florida pissed off the DNC. Even better is she was the only person on the ballot. I’m sure if Obama had been the only one on the ballot she would be screaming to not count the votes. The funny thing is she barely beat undecided and lost to undecided in many cities including Ann Arbor.
Hot Chick Born Today
Sarah Hughes, 19, I'll admit she is a weak entry, but she gets points because I will watch her skate, and there's few of those, and she looks like the very hot Alyson Hannigan
However a couple of things from the Clinton camp over the last couple of days have bothered me.
Today Bill Clinton, when asked about is it fair that Obama is running against two people, didn’t even try to answer the question but offered that Obama is running a good race and that even Jessie Jackson won South Carolina. I’m sure that the Clinton spin-doctors will clarify that he didn’t say that he only won the state because he was black but that is how a few commentators took it tonight.
A couple of days ago Hillary Clinton came out and said that the results in Michigan should stand for delegate allocation using the disenfranchisement card if these votes don’t count. I’m sorry if the rules are annoying but Michigan and Florida pissed off the DNC. Even better is she was the only person on the ballot. I’m sure if Obama had been the only one on the ballot she would be screaming to not count the votes. The funny thing is she barely beat undecided and lost to undecided in many cities including Ann Arbor.
Hot Chick Born Today
Sarah Hughes, 19, I'll admit she is a weak entry, but she gets points because I will watch her skate, and there's few of those, and she looks like the very hot Alyson Hannigan
Labels: Politics
Friday, January 25, 2008
Dinner at the Modern
There are a couple of luxuries that I consider essential to keeping yourself sane. One is a good massage. The other is a really good meal. Tonight I partook of the meal. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth hosted a multi-course dinner prepared by their executive chief to celebrate the release of the second edition of The Texas Cowboy Kitchen cookbook.
The food was amazing and well worth the effort.
Appetizers
Sliders with goat cheese (I could have made a meal of these) Country fried oysters with cream pico sauce Bread and Butter Jalapenos (possibly the hottest thing I’ve ever eaten)
Starter
Smoky Caesar Salad with BBQ Quail
Entrée a combo plate of:
Beef Short Ribs Braised in Port Wine Catfish Cakes with Chipotle Remoulade (a Texas version of crab-cakes) Chile-Cheese Grits (not breakfast grits, more of a stuffing consistency) Green Bean-Chayote Casserole (very good but very cheesy and filling)
Dessert
Butterscotch Pie (not too butterscotch tasting, was very soft with pecans and real whipped cream)
Hot Chicks Born Today
Mia Kirshner, 33, a fan since she was 19 and played a in Erotica
The food was amazing and well worth the effort.
Appetizers
Starter
Entrée a combo plate of:
Dessert
Hot Chicks Born Today
Mia Kirshner, 33, a fan since she was 19 and played a in Erotica
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Random Thoughts
Well, I guess it was a bit premature of me getting upset at A&M basketball losing its first conference game. We are officially in free fall with a 0-3 conference record. The latest loss was an epic 5 OT game at home against Baylor. In a span of a week this has gone from the dream season to just trying to salvage a postseason bid.
Well at least one of my teams is doing well. Tottenham has clinched a spot in the league cup final with a huge win against Arsenal. The dominating 5-1 home victory led to a 6-2 aggregate and a first trip to Wembley since 1999. That was the last time we won the league cup by beating Leicester City. It is also the first victory over hated Arse since 1999. Now all that stands between securing a third trip to Europe is a 24 February tie against Chelsea. COYS!
I really think people are idiots. I got home to watch the last hour of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. The contestant did not know who wrote Gulliver’s Travels and he was a middle school principal for god’s sake. That is really embarrassing. If I was his boss I would really question his ability.
The big news tonight is the "doom & gloomers" are having their first night of jollies with reporting of us being under icy conditions. It’s fun to watch the entire city in a panic. People begin discussing it the afternoon before to get home before the streets get slick and set things up for tomorrow when they have already decided to figure out how not to come into work. And I bet that it completely misses Dallas proper.
Four weeks into Celebrity Apprentice and the men have defeated the women every single week. Unfuckingbelieveable! What are the odds?
Hot Chicks Born Today
Nastassja Kinski, 49, her role in Cat People and Richard Avedon's snake photo (the greatest celebrity photo ever, click on link to see) made her the hottest female around in the early 80s
Mischa Barton, 22, I've been a fan of acting since Once and Again and Lost and Delirious when she was 15, now that she's a beautiful woman she needs to concentrate on her talent instead of her partying
Well at least one of my teams is doing well. Tottenham has clinched a spot in the league cup final with a huge win against Arsenal. The dominating 5-1 home victory led to a 6-2 aggregate and a first trip to Wembley since 1999. That was the last time we won the league cup by beating Leicester City. It is also the first victory over hated Arse since 1999. Now all that stands between securing a third trip to Europe is a 24 February tie against Chelsea. COYS!
I really think people are idiots. I got home to watch the last hour of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. The contestant did not know who wrote Gulliver’s Travels and he was a middle school principal for god’s sake. That is really embarrassing. If I was his boss I would really question his ability.
The big news tonight is the "doom & gloomers" are having their first night of jollies with reporting of us being under icy conditions. It’s fun to watch the entire city in a panic. People begin discussing it the afternoon before to get home before the streets get slick and set things up for tomorrow when they have already decided to figure out how not to come into work. And I bet that it completely misses Dallas proper.
Four weeks into Celebrity Apprentice and the men have defeated the women every single week. Unfuckingbelieveable! What are the odds?
Hot Chicks Born Today
Nastassja Kinski, 49, her role in Cat People and Richard Avedon's snake photo (the greatest celebrity photo ever, click on link to see) made her the hottest female around in the early 80s
Mischa Barton, 22, I've been a fan of acting since Once and Again and Lost and Delirious when she was 15, now that she's a beautiful woman she needs to concentrate on her talent instead of her partying
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Heath Ledger 1979-2008
It’s been almost a full 24 hours since I first heard the shocking news of Heath Ledger’s death. It’s always a time of reflection when someone dies. Sadly, with Heath it is not only a look back at his work but you can ponder about the performances he would never give and where his potential would take him.
He leaves behind a very solid resume where he usually received better reviews than the films did. He took chances with the films he picked. His two best received films are no exceptions. His first foray into critical success was in the sexually charged Monster’s Ball playing the son of Billy Bob Thornton who was both similar and dissimilar to the father. He took his acting to a new level, earning an Oscar nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain. Playing the “gay cowboy” was a risky move but he brought Ennis Del Mar to life that surpassed what was in the original short story.
He has been compared to James Dean as a possible major talent struck down in their move to superstardom. In many ways it is valid. He even has a major film that will be released after his death. It will certainly be the biggest moneymaker of his career and a role that also has a certain degree of risk.
I don’t know if I’d call myself a big fan of his. It looked like he was going to be a major talent for years to come. I also respected his choice of roles. He wasn’t working in any Michael Bay films. He was one of the 20ish actors that included Ryan Gosling and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (a former co-star) who were choosing quality of huge paychecks. That’s what is so depressing about his death. A talent who seemed more interested in the work then the partying.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Mariska Hargitay, 44, enjoy her greatly on L&O: SVU
Tiffani Thiessen, 34, watched her in both Saved By the Bell and 90210
He leaves behind a very solid resume where he usually received better reviews than the films did. He took chances with the films he picked. His two best received films are no exceptions. His first foray into critical success was in the sexually charged Monster’s Ball playing the son of Billy Bob Thornton who was both similar and dissimilar to the father. He took his acting to a new level, earning an Oscar nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain. Playing the “gay cowboy” was a risky move but he brought Ennis Del Mar to life that surpassed what was in the original short story.
He has been compared to James Dean as a possible major talent struck down in their move to superstardom. In many ways it is valid. He even has a major film that will be released after his death. It will certainly be the biggest moneymaker of his career and a role that also has a certain degree of risk.
I don’t know if I’d call myself a big fan of his. It looked like he was going to be a major talent for years to come. I also respected his choice of roles. He wasn’t working in any Michael Bay films. He was one of the 20ish actors that included Ryan Gosling and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (a former co-star) who were choosing quality of huge paychecks. That’s what is so depressing about his death. A talent who seemed more interested in the work then the partying.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Mariska Hargitay, 44, enjoy her greatly on L&O: SVU
Tiffani Thiessen, 34, watched her in both Saved By the Bell and 90210
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
2007 Academy Award Nominations
The nominations for the 80th Academy Awards came out today and brought very little surprises but still many wide open categories.
The biggest surprise nomination is for Sarah Polley for writing. While she has no chance in winning it was a very welcome announcement.
The big loser has to be Atonement. While it has 7 noms, being shut out of direction and editing severely limits its chances for a picture win. Of the other four films I would not bet against any of them. Blood and No Country are critic’s favorites but will the Academy honor another bloody film, Michael Clayton is obviously loved given its seven noms, and Juno will be the big momentum gainer over the next few weeks.
That might also put a damper on the Julie Christie juggernaut. Ellen Page can only be helped by Juno peaking at the right time and a slightly unexpected nom for its director.
Supporting Women is wide open with any of those five having a legitimate shot at winning. Blanchett has to be a slight favorite due to her two noms and the Golden Globe.
The men’s side is a little easier. Lead is still a two person race with Day-Lewis having a slight edge over Depp and Barden is the biggest sure thing of the entire list. Well, except for Ratatouille for animated film.
Some mild surprises were the nominations for Jason Reitman, Tommy Lee Jones, Blanchett (lead), and Ratatouille (screenplay). For films, I figured that Into the Wild would have received a few more noms. Two oversights was Zodiac being completely shut out and Sunshine not getting either a sound or visual effect nod. While not unexpected, it would have made me very happy if either film could have snagged a nomination.
One difference this year is that for the first time in probably ever, I have no rooting interest in the major categories. There is no one who I either want to win or will be annoyed if they win. No Chicago, The Departed, or The Insider to root for. Conversely there is no Babel, Crash, or The Hours to root against. Of the films I’ve seen that have received major categories almost every one is deserving in some way.
This leaves five films that received major nods that I still need to see. Two are still in theaters and I plan to catch this week: Charlie Wilson’s War, & The Savages. While I missed Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There, & In the Valley of Elah and can only hope for a re-release to see them before the ceremony.
Now there just better be a ceremony or I’ll really be pissed.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Diane Lane, 43, was amazing looking in Streets of Fire and only gotten hotter over the years
Olivia d’Abo, 39, she makes a very hot femme fatal in a recurring part on L&O: CI.
Jaden, 24, a very cute adult film star
The biggest surprise nomination is for Sarah Polley for writing. While she has no chance in winning it was a very welcome announcement.
The big loser has to be Atonement. While it has 7 noms, being shut out of direction and editing severely limits its chances for a picture win. Of the other four films I would not bet against any of them. Blood and No Country are critic’s favorites but will the Academy honor another bloody film, Michael Clayton is obviously loved given its seven noms, and Juno will be the big momentum gainer over the next few weeks.
That might also put a damper on the Julie Christie juggernaut. Ellen Page can only be helped by Juno peaking at the right time and a slightly unexpected nom for its director.
Supporting Women is wide open with any of those five having a legitimate shot at winning. Blanchett has to be a slight favorite due to her two noms and the Golden Globe.
The men’s side is a little easier. Lead is still a two person race with Day-Lewis having a slight edge over Depp and Barden is the biggest sure thing of the entire list. Well, except for Ratatouille for animated film.
Some mild surprises were the nominations for Jason Reitman, Tommy Lee Jones, Blanchett (lead), and Ratatouille (screenplay). For films, I figured that Into the Wild would have received a few more noms. Two oversights was Zodiac being completely shut out and Sunshine not getting either a sound or visual effect nod. While not unexpected, it would have made me very happy if either film could have snagged a nomination.
One difference this year is that for the first time in probably ever, I have no rooting interest in the major categories. There is no one who I either want to win or will be annoyed if they win. No Chicago, The Departed, or The Insider to root for. Conversely there is no Babel, Crash, or The Hours to root against. Of the films I’ve seen that have received major categories almost every one is deserving in some way.
This leaves five films that received major nods that I still need to see. Two are still in theaters and I plan to catch this week: Charlie Wilson’s War, & The Savages. While I missed Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There, & In the Valley of Elah and can only hope for a re-release to see them before the ceremony.
Now there just better be a ceremony or I’ll really be pissed.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Diane Lane, 43, was amazing looking in Streets of Fire and only gotten hotter over the years
Olivia d’Abo, 39, she makes a very hot femme fatal in a recurring part on L&O: CI.
Jaden, 24, a very cute adult film star
Labels: Film
Monday, January 21, 2008
Cloverfield
The most anticipated January release ever has now become the largest opening January weekend ever and probably the best film ever released in January. But is that saying much? Not that Cloverfield is bad film, it’s not, but not a particularly memorable film. I mostly enjoyed my time in the theater but had a tough time thinking about the film afterwards.
The genre of character filmed movies is severely limited. Much like the Dogma films, they can be interesting experiments but rarely rise above the genre. Cloverfield is probably about as good as you can get with this gimmick.
The film does a number of things well. The look and special effects is top notch I also enjoy that the film is completely seen from the p.o.v. of four people. We only know what they see from passing television report and pedestrians. There are no long drawn out scenes of scientists discussing the what, where, & why of this creature. There are a number of very good scenes by themselves: the Brooklyn Bridge, walking the subway, and Columbus Circle. And with only 73 minutes of actual action the film moves fast.
However my mind fixated on the negatives while the film was rolling. Of those 73 minutes the first 20 involve a party for the main character as he’s moving to Japan. I became very bored, very quickly as this played like a home movie. A very bad one at that. This sequence does set up the relationships up the characters but ultimately I didn’t care as I was just waiting for them to die and felt no empathy when they went, except a moment’s loss when the cute girl exploded.
My other problem is the “quest for the one-night stand” sub-plot. This really didn’t interest me in the least. If it had been 100% save ourselves I probably would have enjoyed it more. Hence my love of the Brooklyn Bridge scene, the best in the movie. But as our four head off for this girl it makes them look like idiots, and they seem to have good jobs and apartments so they can’t be that dumb. As there is no character development you have to just accept that they will follow Rob in search of the girl, even cute girl who has no connection to any of them. And the only reason I know Rob’s name is from the worst scene in the film. Much like “where’s the fucking map” from Blair Witch, camera dude spends 3 to 4 minutes screaming Rob’s name to get him to come to his senses and escape Manhattan. Thankfully Rob didn't have to scream anything to get them to join him.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Charlotte Ross, 40, the only performer to do a full frontal nude scene on NYPD Blue, albeit with strategically placed hands
Emma Bunton, 32, a toss up with Ginger for best looking Spice Girl
Genna Davis, 52, was extremely hot when she did The Fly now she's just annoying
The genre of character filmed movies is severely limited. Much like the Dogma films, they can be interesting experiments but rarely rise above the genre. Cloverfield is probably about as good as you can get with this gimmick.
The film does a number of things well. The look and special effects is top notch I also enjoy that the film is completely seen from the p.o.v. of four people. We only know what they see from passing television report and pedestrians. There are no long drawn out scenes of scientists discussing the what, where, & why of this creature. There are a number of very good scenes by themselves: the Brooklyn Bridge, walking the subway, and Columbus Circle. And with only 73 minutes of actual action the film moves fast.
However my mind fixated on the negatives while the film was rolling. Of those 73 minutes the first 20 involve a party for the main character as he’s moving to Japan. I became very bored, very quickly as this played like a home movie. A very bad one at that. This sequence does set up the relationships up the characters but ultimately I didn’t care as I was just waiting for them to die and felt no empathy when they went, except a moment’s loss when the cute girl exploded.
My other problem is the “quest for the one-night stand” sub-plot. This really didn’t interest me in the least. If it had been 100% save ourselves I probably would have enjoyed it more. Hence my love of the Brooklyn Bridge scene, the best in the movie. But as our four head off for this girl it makes them look like idiots, and they seem to have good jobs and apartments so they can’t be that dumb. As there is no character development you have to just accept that they will follow Rob in search of the girl, even cute girl who has no connection to any of them. And the only reason I know Rob’s name is from the worst scene in the film. Much like “where’s the fucking map” from Blair Witch, camera dude spends 3 to 4 minutes screaming Rob’s name to get him to come to his senses and escape Manhattan. Thankfully Rob didn't have to scream anything to get them to join him.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Charlotte Ross, 40, the only performer to do a full frontal nude scene on NYPD Blue, albeit with strategically placed hands
Emma Bunton, 32, a toss up with Ginger for best looking Spice Girl
Genna Davis, 52, was extremely hot when she did The Fly now she's just annoying
Labels: FilmReview
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Recent Deaths
It's odd we went 9 full days of the year before a celebrity passed away that I knew. But starting on the 10th it has been a near daily occurrence. In the last 10 days, I identified 10 celebrities that passed away. Three of them are easily major names that almost every American would recognize. While only 2 or 3 are fairly obscure names that probably only a few people would notice.
The full list
1/10 - Christopher Bowman, 40, figure skater, drug overdose
1/11 - Sir Edmund Hillary, 88, first to reach summit of Mount Everest, heart failure
1/13 - Johnny Podres, 75, 1st world series MVP for 1955 Dodgers, possible kidney failure
1/15 - Brad Renfro, 25, actor in Bully among others, possible drug overdose
1/17 - Bobby Fischer, 64, only American chess world champion, kidney failure
1/17 - Ernie Holmes, 59, Steeler DT 72-77 played on 2 Super Bowls, car accident
1/17 - Allan Melvin, 84, Sam the butcher on The Brady Bunch, cancer
1/18 - Georgia Frontiere, 80, owner of NFL's Rams since 1979, breast cancer
1/18 - Ugo Pirro, 87, screenwriter of Navaho Joe, and the Oscar winning films: Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion & The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
1/19 - Suzanne Pleshette, 70, The Bob Newhart Show. respiratory failure
I want to comment on two of the names.
Suzanne Pleshette will always be a favorite. I was a big fan of The Bob Newhart Show. She is probably the only female that I ever thought was attractive who was around the same age as my mother. And she gets major points for being part of the greatest ending to a television show with her cameo on Newhart.
I will always think of Georgia Frontiere from when she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with my cousin Bert Jones. It's a pity that, due to injuries, he was only able to last one season in L.A. It would have been interesting to see if he could have produced.
Hot Chick Born Today
Claire Robbins, 22, a very cute adult film star
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
I finally pumped myself up to see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Come to find out there was no need. In spite of the subject matter of a man with the condition of Locked-In syndrome, it is, overall, not a depressing movie. It makes you feel good about life, probably better than the Hollywood film The Bucket List.
It’s hard to rank films when one is fresh in your mind but this film put me on a high that I haven’t felt in recent viewings except for The Assassination of Jesse James & Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. Julian Schnabel gets full credit for this success. I don’t know if there is a wrong note in the film. His previous film, Before Night Falls, became the film that would never end. This film moves at a very quick pace and the 112 minutes are up before you know it.
Casting is perfect. Mathieu Amalric is very good as the main character. (Johnny Depp was scheduled to play his part but had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts with Pirates. At least that film was good for something as I don’t think he would have been as good.) The very beautiful Marie-Josée Croze, who was in Munich with Amalric, is equally good as his speech therapist. Also outstanding are Emmanuelle Seigner, Isaach De Bankolé, Marina Hands, and two legendary figures: Max von Sydow & Jean-Pierre Cassel. Sadly Cassel died last April and this is one of his final film appearances.
The music cues are another high point. Sometimes people overrate music in film but Schnabel uses it perfectly to enhance the film without being redundant. He has an eclectic mix using established rock acts: Tom Waits, U2, & Velvet Underground. It is the most I’ve ever enjoyed Tom Waits in a soundtrack. The two most effective songs are the ones heard in the trailer: a Dirtbombs’ cover of Chains of Love and Don’t Kiss Me Goodbye sung by co-star Emmanuelle Seigner. There is also Charles Trenet singing La Mer and good use of music from other films: Lolita and Quatre Cents Coup. The latter appears at the right moment to evoke the French New Wave.
Julian Schnabel is probably a very odd person, check out his interview sequence in Sketches of Frank Gehry for confirmation, but he has put together one of the best films of the year.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Katey Sagal, 54, get past the Peg Bundy character and she's quite good looking
Dolly Parton, 62, another favorite from childhood, who wasn't fascinated by her two "attributes" back then
It’s hard to rank films when one is fresh in your mind but this film put me on a high that I haven’t felt in recent viewings except for The Assassination of Jesse James & Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. Julian Schnabel gets full credit for this success. I don’t know if there is a wrong note in the film. His previous film, Before Night Falls, became the film that would never end. This film moves at a very quick pace and the 112 minutes are up before you know it.
Casting is perfect. Mathieu Amalric is very good as the main character. (Johnny Depp was scheduled to play his part but had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts with Pirates. At least that film was good for something as I don’t think he would have been as good.) The very beautiful Marie-Josée Croze, who was in Munich with Amalric, is equally good as his speech therapist. Also outstanding are Emmanuelle Seigner, Isaach De Bankolé, Marina Hands, and two legendary figures: Max von Sydow & Jean-Pierre Cassel. Sadly Cassel died last April and this is one of his final film appearances.
The music cues are another high point. Sometimes people overrate music in film but Schnabel uses it perfectly to enhance the film without being redundant. He has an eclectic mix using established rock acts: Tom Waits, U2, & Velvet Underground. It is the most I’ve ever enjoyed Tom Waits in a soundtrack. The two most effective songs are the ones heard in the trailer: a Dirtbombs’ cover of Chains of Love and Don’t Kiss Me Goodbye sung by co-star Emmanuelle Seigner. There is also Charles Trenet singing La Mer and good use of music from other films: Lolita and Quatre Cents Coup. The latter appears at the right moment to evoke the French New Wave.
Julian Schnabel is probably a very odd person, check out his interview sequence in Sketches of Frank Gehry for confirmation, but he has put together one of the best films of the year.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Katey Sagal, 54, get past the Peg Bundy character and she's quite good looking
Dolly Parton, 62, another favorite from childhood, who wasn't fascinated by her two "attributes" back then
Labels: FilmReview
Friday, January 18, 2008
Bringing Down the House
The New Year always brings a number of challenges and resolutions. I’m trying to do reasonably well with my resolutions and I joined the Blog365 challenge. (I finally officially joined it today, I am member number #1155.) Another challenge that I know about is 50/08. This is to read 50 books in 08. I really respect anyone who can achieve that but I have no realistic chance of completing it so I’m not even trying. But I am always reading and hopefully can finish a number of quality books this year.
This week I finished my first book of the year: Bringing Down the House. This is a non-fiction book about a blackjack card-counting team from M.I.T that took Vegas and other casinos for millions. The MIT blackjack team traces it origins back to 1980 but the book focuses on the, probable, end of the team in the time span of 1994-1998.
The book is a great and very quick read. Anyone who finds the world of gambling would find this a page turner. The process that the team employees to use spotters, card counters, and big players to beat the system is explained well. Much like the James Bond novels there are liberal amounts of gambling, tense setting, and women who love men with money.
But while an interesting read you have to question how much of it is non-fiction. The book comes entirely from author interview with principle players. The reader will probably question a number of facts that are sometimes glossed over. My biggest question is why they kept moving money on the flights to Vegas like drug mules when they were there every month. I suggest you enjoy the read and don’t bog down trying to determine if it is fiction or non-fiction.
The reason I read the book is it is being loosely adapted into the movie 21. I am pretty sure that they will screw it up. That said I will probably go see it just to see Jim Sturgess, who was so good in Across the Universe in the lead role. Laurence Fishburne also looks promising as the casino security man. Kevin Spacey as the team leader will probably be good, it's his kinda part, but I'm kind of bummed that the team isn't mostly Asian. That seemed to fit in with the whole geek, math, MIT, gambling team that was such a big part of the book.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Alison Arngrim, 46, that little bitch Nellie Oleson was by far the best looking girl on Little House, I was never a fan of the show but if I was at someone's house and had to watch it I rooted for her to be in the storyline
Devon Odessa, 34, I was a big fan of My So-Called Life and while there were hotter girls on the show, Devon was still very attractive
This week I finished my first book of the year: Bringing Down the House. This is a non-fiction book about a blackjack card-counting team from M.I.T that took Vegas and other casinos for millions. The MIT blackjack team traces it origins back to 1980 but the book focuses on the, probable, end of the team in the time span of 1994-1998.
The book is a great and very quick read. Anyone who finds the world of gambling would find this a page turner. The process that the team employees to use spotters, card counters, and big players to beat the system is explained well. Much like the James Bond novels there are liberal amounts of gambling, tense setting, and women who love men with money.
But while an interesting read you have to question how much of it is non-fiction. The book comes entirely from author interview with principle players. The reader will probably question a number of facts that are sometimes glossed over. My biggest question is why they kept moving money on the flights to Vegas like drug mules when they were there every month. I suggest you enjoy the read and don’t bog down trying to determine if it is fiction or non-fiction.
The reason I read the book is it is being loosely adapted into the movie 21. I am pretty sure that they will screw it up. That said I will probably go see it just to see Jim Sturgess, who was so good in Across the Universe in the lead role. Laurence Fishburne also looks promising as the casino security man. Kevin Spacey as the team leader will probably be good, it's his kinda part, but I'm kind of bummed that the team isn't mostly Asian. That seemed to fit in with the whole geek, math, MIT, gambling team that was such a big part of the book.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Alison Arngrim, 46, that little bitch Nellie Oleson was by far the best looking girl on Little House, I was never a fan of the show but if I was at someone's house and had to watch it I rooted for her to be in the storyline
Devon Odessa, 34, I was a big fan of My So-Called Life and while there were hotter girls on the show, Devon was still very attractive
Labels: Books
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Another Loss in Lubbock
So we go into Lubbock with the Men's basketball team ranked 9th nationally, on an 8 game winning streak, looking to extend things and we get embarrassed in a 53-68 loss. And it wasn't even that close. With 5:29 left Tech was up 37-60 then coasted to an easy victory.
To make things worse, it was Bob Knight's 900th victory. He was very classy after the game but that meant that the loss made national headlines.
Now I am sick of losing to fucking Tech. This is the one team in the conference that I wish total destruction on. Not Texas (I actually want them to be good when we beat them) but I don't care about those drunks in Lubbock.
Out recent record in Lubbock has been atrocious in the big 3 men's sports.
Football: 0-7, last win there was in 1993
Basketball: 1-6 last 7 years, we were swept by them last year and down 0-1 this year
Baseball: last series win 1997, 3-10 in last five trips out there
Hot Chicks Born Today
Zooey Deschanel, 28, "Top 5" material right now. Noticed her in Almost Famous, only increased in The Good Girl and All the Real Girls.
Susanna Hoffs, 49, top 10 back in 1987 with The Bangles. Sexiest eyes in rock music.
To make things worse, it was Bob Knight's 900th victory. He was very classy after the game but that meant that the loss made national headlines.
Now I am sick of losing to fucking Tech. This is the one team in the conference that I wish total destruction on. Not Texas (I actually want them to be good when we beat them) but I don't care about those drunks in Lubbock.
Out recent record in Lubbock has been atrocious in the big 3 men's sports.
Football: 0-7, last win there was in 1993
Basketball: 1-6 last 7 years, we were swept by them last year and down 0-1 this year
Baseball: last series win 1997, 3-10 in last five trips out there
Hot Chicks Born Today
Zooey Deschanel, 28, "Top 5" material right now. Noticed her in Almost Famous, only increased in The Good Girl and All the Real Girls.
Susanna Hoffs, 49, top 10 back in 1987 with The Bangles. Sexiest eyes in rock music.
Labels: AggieSports
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
High School Reunion
Sadly another reality show is coming that I will be watching. Continuing the trend of Dallas being the Land of the Reality Contestant, TV Land’s new season of High School Reunion will feature alumni of my high school, J.J. Pearce.
This is the show where they take 20 people who graduated 20 years ago and put them in Hawaii and let them reconnect or apologize for past deeds. I saw an episode from a previous season and didn’t think much since the geek in school is now hot and the jocks and cheerleaders are still hot but are sorry for being assholes and bitches back then. They needed people that are still assholes for conflict.
Still, it will be interesting to see people from the school that Jessica Simpson went to. Sadly, they picked people that graduated in 1987. Since Pearce is a 3-year school, I won’t know any of them as I graduated in 1984.
The show premiers March 5.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Josie Davis, 35, the other, and cuter, sister from Charles in Charge
Kate Moss, 34, I might be in the minority, but I've always really liked her
This is the show where they take 20 people who graduated 20 years ago and put them in Hawaii and let them reconnect or apologize for past deeds. I saw an episode from a previous season and didn’t think much since the geek in school is now hot and the jocks and cheerleaders are still hot but are sorry for being assholes and bitches back then. They needed people that are still assholes for conflict.
Still, it will be interesting to see people from the school that Jessica Simpson went to. Sadly, they picked people that graduated in 1987. Since Pearce is a 3-year school, I won’t know any of them as I graduated in 1984.
The show premiers March 5.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Josie Davis, 35, the other, and cuter, sister from Charles in Charge
Kate Moss, 34, I might be in the minority, but I've always really liked her
Labels: TV
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Dallas and Pritzker Winners
Last week, it was announced that Thom Mayne will be the designer of the the new Museum of Nature and Science. This new building will be in the Victory Park section just north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Mayne won the 2005 Pritzker Prize for Architecture. Some of his notable buildings are the San Francisco Federal Building, the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, and the Sun Tower in Korea. Dallas will now have structures designed by six Pritzker winners in the Art's District or within short walking distance.
The first prize was awarded to Philip Johnson in 1979 has a number of structures in the downtown area. These include: the JFK Memorial, 1970; Thanksgiving Square, 1977; the Crescent Court, 1985; & the Chase Center, 1987.
I.M. Pei, winner in 1983, also has a number of buildings in Dallas: City Hall, 1978; Energy Plaza, 1986; Fountain Place, 1986; & the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 1989.
Renzo Piano, winner in 1998, designed the Nasher Sculpture Center, 2003.
Norman Foster, winner in 1999, and Rem Koolhaas, winner in 2000, have combined to design the new Dallas Center for Performing Arts that should be completed next year.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Mary Pierce, 33, got to see her play on a side court at the 1998 US Open, what a body
Charo, 57, growing up in the 70s she was on every talk show and seeing her do the "cuchi-cuchi" in her 20s is still memorable
The first prize was awarded to Philip Johnson in 1979 has a number of structures in the downtown area. These include: the JFK Memorial, 1970; Thanksgiving Square, 1977; the Crescent Court, 1985; & the Chase Center, 1987.
I.M. Pei, winner in 1983, also has a number of buildings in Dallas: City Hall, 1978; Energy Plaza, 1986; Fountain Place, 1986; & the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 1989.
Renzo Piano, winner in 1998, designed the Nasher Sculpture Center, 2003.
Norman Foster, winner in 1999, and Rem Koolhaas, winner in 2000, have combined to design the new Dallas Center for Performing Arts that should be completed next year.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Mary Pierce, 33, got to see her play on a side court at the 1998 US Open, what a body
Charo, 57, growing up in the 70s she was on every talk show and seeing her do the "cuchi-cuchi" in her 20s is still memorable
Labels: Dallas
Monday, January 14, 2008
Golden Globes...yawn...
Actually watched the 1-hour press conference, there was nothing else on. Billy Bush and the blond have to be two of the dumbest people on the planet. I think my dog could give more insightful commentary.
So what did we get from the Golden Globes. It is important to know that nominations for the Oscars were due on Saturday at 5pm. One day before the Globes were announced. So these winners won't see any effect on the nominations. This realistically only affects Julian Schnabel as all the other winners should be locks to be nominated.
The Globes only cement my prediction from a couple of months ago that Atonement and Coen's will split Picture and Director. I just can't see the Academy honoring "bloody" films two years in a row but it is time to honor the Coen's and it is a very worthy picture. A win for Atonement will be the first time the Globes have picked the Oscar winner in 4 years (LotR:TRotK).
Leads are, and probably always have been, a 2 person race between the two winners. Personally I would vote for the Comedy/Musical winners. Cotillard is amazing but Christie probably has the momentum and will win. I have no idea between Day-Lewis/Depp. Both are equally great but DD-L already has a statue and this seems to be Depp's year with critical and popular films.
In supporting, Javier has had this locked up for a couple of months. But female could go anywhere. This is always the category where the Academy goes wild (remember Marisa Tomei, Mira Sorvino, & Anna Paquin) and likes to honor young and/or first time. This benefits Ronan, Ryan & Swinton over Blanchett. And the Oscars have to deviate from the Globes somewhere, don't they?
Hot Chicks Born Today
Emily Watson, 41, a big movie draw for me, favorites are: Breaking the Waves & Gosford Park
Angela Lindvall, 29, She was smoking hot in the film CQ, but for some reason she rarely looks that good in her modeling, one can still hope
So what did we get from the Golden Globes. It is important to know that nominations for the Oscars were due on Saturday at 5pm. One day before the Globes were announced. So these winners won't see any effect on the nominations. This realistically only affects Julian Schnabel as all the other winners should be locks to be nominated.
The Globes only cement my prediction from a couple of months ago that Atonement and Coen's will split Picture and Director. I just can't see the Academy honoring "bloody" films two years in a row but it is time to honor the Coen's and it is a very worthy picture. A win for Atonement will be the first time the Globes have picked the Oscar winner in 4 years (LotR:TRotK).
Leads are, and probably always have been, a 2 person race between the two winners. Personally I would vote for the Comedy/Musical winners. Cotillard is amazing but Christie probably has the momentum and will win. I have no idea between Day-Lewis/Depp. Both are equally great but DD-L already has a statue and this seems to be Depp's year with critical and popular films.
In supporting, Javier has had this locked up for a couple of months. But female could go anywhere. This is always the category where the Academy goes wild (remember Marisa Tomei, Mira Sorvino, & Anna Paquin) and likes to honor young and/or first time. This benefits Ronan, Ryan & Swinton over Blanchett. And the Oscars have to deviate from the Globes somewhere, don't they?
Hot Chicks Born Today
Emily Watson, 41, a big movie draw for me, favorites are: Breaking the Waves & Gosford Park
Angela Lindvall, 29, She was smoking hot in the film CQ, but for some reason she rarely looks that good in her modeling, one can still hope
Labels: Film
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The World Has Come To an End...
at least for many people in Dallas. I thought both games today were prime for upsets but watching the Cowboys in the first half I thought they would pull it out. But with less than a minute to go in the half, the game, and the dream season, turned.
So now Cowboy fans have 7 months to pass out blame until next season. So which will be the reason:
Hot Chicks Born Today
Nicole Eggert, 36, she looks amazing in Blown Away, one of my guilty pleasures, but you have to get past the creepy two Coreys
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 47, looks great for her age, heck, looks great for any age
So now Cowboy fans have 7 months to pass out blame until next season. So which will be the reason:
- Wade Phillips - he chokes and can't win a playoff game and he didn't get the team prepared as they committed 11 penalties, many of them stupid
- Tony Romo - also chokes and can't win a playoff game. Threw only 50% with not a single pass over 20 yards
- Jessica Simpson - the Yoko of football. She appeared only a couple of weeks before the downfall and she dragged Tony off to Mexico when he should have been concentrating on football.
- Patrick Crayton - needs to stop running his mouth and learn to catch, his pulling up on a go route resulted in another incomplete pass but it should have been a long gain, maybe even a touchdown
- Jason Garrett - the boy genius is finally showing his true level as teams have been able to stop the Cowboy offense the last few weeks after seeing more of his coaching style
- Jerry Jones - he still hasn't done anything as a GM. The last Cowboy playoff win was in 1996 when they were still playing with Jimmy Johnson's players, who, as everyone knows, was the true GM when he was around
Hot Chicks Born Today
Nicole Eggert, 36, she looks amazing in Blown Away, one of my guilty pleasures, but you have to get past the creepy two Coreys
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 47, looks great for her age, heck, looks great for any age
Labels: Sports
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Movies with Plot Twists
Premiere Magazine has a current feature: 20 Big Time Plot Twists. It includes some of the usual suspects (groan!): The Sixth Sense, Psycho, The Crying Game & (of course) The Usual Suspects. Some that I went who cares: Friday the 13th & Eddie & the Cruisers. And a nice surprises I probably woundn't have thought of: Oldboy.
So what did they forget? Here are 7 that come to mind that not only have good twists but are really good films.
The Red Violin - a favorite since the reveal completely blew me away. Also since there is a 2nd plot twist with the present day story
Diabolique - probably the best non-Hitchcock, Hitchcock film
The Prestige - one of the best films of 2006
Charade - another film that could have easily been directed by Hitchcock
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - a wonderful comedy that everyone I know loves but still seem underrated
eXistenZ - this film plays with itself a bit too much but an underrated Cronenberg film
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - this 1978 version has one of the ultimate twists that leaves you reeling
Hot Chicks Born Today
Kirstie Alley, 57, was great looking went she burst on the scene in Star Trek II and through the 80s, still I find something about her fairly interesting
Blanchard Ryan, 41, have only seen her in Open Water, where she was not shy about revealing her nice body, would like to see more of her (working, not necessarly the body)
So what did they forget? Here are 7 that come to mind that not only have good twists but are really good films.
The Red Violin - a favorite since the reveal completely blew me away. Also since there is a 2nd plot twist with the present day story
Diabolique - probably the best non-Hitchcock, Hitchcock film
The Prestige - one of the best films of 2006
Charade - another film that could have easily been directed by Hitchcock
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - a wonderful comedy that everyone I know loves but still seem underrated
eXistenZ - this film plays with itself a bit too much but an underrated Cronenberg film
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - this 1978 version has one of the ultimate twists that leaves you reeling
Hot Chicks Born Today
Kirstie Alley, 57, was great looking went she burst on the scene in Star Trek II and through the 80s, still I find something about her fairly interesting
Blanchard Ryan, 41, have only seen her in Open Water, where she was not shy about revealing her nice body, would like to see more of her (working, not necessarly the body)
Labels: Film
Friday, January 11, 2008
Photo Contest
I like to go through the newspaper throughly but I end up with a stack of unread papers that I go through in one sitting, usually on the weekend. Tonight was my catchup while watching the very average film The Kingdom. I'm probably being kind since the script was fairly stupid with a few holes in it but it was well acted and director Peter Berg has a great visual flair. Check out the superior Friday Night Lights for confirmation.
But while going through the papers I found that Richardson has an annual photo contest. Photos for the 2008 contest will be accepted from the 14th to the 26th. So I need to get busy, go through the pictures I've taken in the last few years, and print and mount a few to enter.
Hot Chick Born Today
Amanda Peet, 36, at first I thought she had a bit of a horse-face but I've have been warming up to her since her performance in Igby Goes Down, and she does have a nice "upper body"
But while going through the papers I found that Richardson has an annual photo contest. Photos for the 2008 contest will be accepted from the 14th to the 26th. So I need to get busy, go through the pictures I've taken in the last few years, and print and mount a few to enter.
Hot Chick Born Today
Amanda Peet, 36, at first I thought she had a bit of a horse-face but I've have been warming up to her since her performance in Igby Goes Down, and she does have a nice "upper body"
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Celebrity Apprentice
I can't believe I'm hooked on this show. I really don't watch reality shows and I can not stand Donald Trump. He stands for everything I am against. He is a bully who doesn't care what happens as long as he comes out on top and is the poster child of someone who no one would give the time of day if he wasn't rich.
But my fascination of celebrity meltdowns trumps my hatred of Trump. (sorry about that) Just like the early seasons of Surreal Life this mix of B-list celebrities make for fun tv. Tonight had some great scenes.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Sarah Shahi, 28, a DFW native first noticed last year on The Sopranos
Janet Jones, 48, very hot in The Flamingo Kid and I watched the awful A Chorus Line because she was in it
Pat Benatar, 55, I loved in when her videos were in heavy rotation on MTV, also loved her songs
But my fascination of celebrity meltdowns trumps my hatred of Trump. (sorry about that) Just like the early seasons of Surreal Life this mix of B-list celebrities make for fun tv. Tonight had some great scenes.
- Ivanka getting bent out of shape when Gene Simmons slights her. O.K. he is a bit abrasive, but seeing a Trump spawn not have someone jump when she requests was too entertaining
- The lost irony when Omarosa questions Gene Simmons' integrity
- Omarosa getting emotionally involved in the guy's commercial when watching it in the boardroom. Didn't you watch The Godfather, "Never let someone outside the family know what you are thinking."
Hot Chicks Born Today
Sarah Shahi, 28, a DFW native first noticed last year on The Sopranos
Janet Jones, 48, very hot in The Flamingo Kid and I watched the awful A Chorus Line because she was in it
Pat Benatar, 55, I loved in when her videos were in heavy rotation on MTV, also loved her songs
Labels: TV
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Hot Girl Born Today
The debut of a regular feature. The Hot Chick Born Today. I've always wanted to put this together in a "page-a-day" calender. Each day would be a photo of a female whose birthday is that day.
So here it goes. Each day at the end of the post I'll be posting a few females who deserve attention. I'll have a link to a picture of them. As a rule, unless I absolutely can't find anything else, there will be no nudity. And admit it, clothes (or something else covering things up) make for a far sexier picture. I'll also indicate their age and include one or two comments as to why they stand out and are included over someone who might be your favorite but not listed.
So who will be listed? It will be anyone since the mid-70s who was so stunning that just the mention of her in a movie or tv show would be enough for me to watch. Of course, anyone who ever would have made my "laminated 5" will be included. (Watch this Friends episode if you don't get the reference.) Since this goes back over 30 years, there will be a number of people that haven't been seen in awhile or might seem "over the hill" now.
This won't be the only topic of the day unless I'm really mailing it in but for today I have nine days to catch up with. And really, are you surprised it took 9 days for me to mention hot actresses. [NOTE: While originally I listed the hot chick for January 1 to 9 all in this post, I have edited things to place each list on there respective day.]
Hot Chicks Born Today
Kate Middleton, 26, very attractive and possibly the future Queen of England?
Crystal Gayle, 56, probably the first female that I would watch perform country music on tv and I really don't like country music
So here it goes. Each day at the end of the post I'll be posting a few females who deserve attention. I'll have a link to a picture of them. As a rule, unless I absolutely can't find anything else, there will be no nudity. And admit it, clothes (or something else covering things up) make for a far sexier picture. I'll also indicate their age and include one or two comments as to why they stand out and are included over someone who might be your favorite but not listed.
So who will be listed? It will be anyone since the mid-70s who was so stunning that just the mention of her in a movie or tv show would be enough for me to watch. Of course, anyone who ever would have made my "laminated 5" will be included. (Watch this Friends episode if you don't get the reference.) Since this goes back over 30 years, there will be a number of people that haven't been seen in awhile or might seem "over the hill" now.
This won't be the only topic of the day unless I'm really mailing it in but for today I have nine days to catch up with. And really, are you surprised it took 9 days for me to mention hot actresses. [NOTE: While originally I listed the hot chick for January 1 to 9 all in this post, I have edited things to place each list on there respective day.]
Hot Chicks Born Today
Kate Middleton, 26, very attractive and possibly the future Queen of England?
Crystal Gayle, 56, probably the first female that I would watch perform country music on tv and I really don't like country music
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Interesting Results in N.H.
I have no idea what to make of the results tonight. All it has lead to more questions:
How did Obama supposably have a 10 point lead yesterday and lose?
The experts on the news tonight said Hillary won due to the high female turnout. That seems rather demeaning to women and are they that shallow that the female candidate automatically gets their vote?
As the Democrat race looks to be a 2 person race, how long will Edwards and Richardson stay around? And what will happen when they drop out?
Is McCain now the front runner?
Can Huckabee fight back when with the more religious states?
Has anyone had bigger swings from up to down than Rudy?
Hot Chicks Born Today
Sarah Polley, 29, currently one of the hottest females, top 5 material right now
Michelle Forbes, 43, she was top 10 material back when she was on Homicide
Gaby Hoffman, 26, she needs to work more, outside of a Law & Order episode hasn't been seen since 2000
How did Obama supposably have a 10 point lead yesterday and lose?
The experts on the news tonight said Hillary won due to the high female turnout. That seems rather demeaning to women and are they that shallow that the female candidate automatically gets their vote?
As the Democrat race looks to be a 2 person race, how long will Edwards and Richardson stay around? And what will happen when they drop out?
Is McCain now the front runner?
Can Huckabee fight back when with the more religious states?
Has anyone had bigger swings from up to down than Rudy?
Hot Chicks Born Today
Sarah Polley, 29, currently one of the hottest females, top 5 material right now
Michelle Forbes, 43, she was top 10 material back when she was on Homicide
Gaby Hoffman, 26, she needs to work more, outside of a Law & Order episode hasn't been seen since 2000
Labels: Politics
Monday, January 07, 2008
Should critics have their credentials revoked?
One interesting part of the end of the film year are all of the year-end awards and top 10 film lists. indieWIRE has an interesting compilation of top 10 lists. It combines 106 critics.
I'm really surprised, and happy, about the strong showing of Zodiac. This has a real chance to be in my top 10. I also question the inclusion of Killer of Sheep. Granted this film didn't get a wide distribution until this year but it was first released in 1977. There needs to be a statue of limitations on this. A fine film but will not be considered in my list.
But the main thing that jumped out is 2 critics put I Know Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. These two are Nathan Lee of The Village Voice who put it 10th & Armond White of the New York Press who listed it 5th.
I admit I have not seen the film but I have seen enough Adam Sandler films and the trailer to reasonably guess I won't like the film and really don't need to waste two hours of my life to prove this. But really! How can a critic put this in their top 10. I guess I can understand liking this as a guilty pleasure but rating this film that high should put you on some sort of critic probation at the very least.
This film is sitting at 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. This puts it as the 2nd worst film of 2007 for films with 100 or more reviews. Only Halle Berry's Perfect Stranger scored worse with 10%. But that brings up another discussion. Former Oscar winners who should be put on probation for choosing bad films.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Natalie Gulbis, 25, at least she has a tournament win so there is more to her than her looks which puts her ahead of Anna Kournikova
Katie Couric, 51, a little past her prime but she was very hot around 2000
Erin Gray, 58, one of the biggest reasons I watched Buck Rogers
I'm really surprised, and happy, about the strong showing of Zodiac. This has a real chance to be in my top 10. I also question the inclusion of Killer of Sheep. Granted this film didn't get a wide distribution until this year but it was first released in 1977. There needs to be a statue of limitations on this. A fine film but will not be considered in my list.
But the main thing that jumped out is 2 critics put I Know Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. These two are Nathan Lee of The Village Voice who put it 10th & Armond White of the New York Press who listed it 5th.
I admit I have not seen the film but I have seen enough Adam Sandler films and the trailer to reasonably guess I won't like the film and really don't need to waste two hours of my life to prove this. But really! How can a critic put this in their top 10. I guess I can understand liking this as a guilty pleasure but rating this film that high should put you on some sort of critic probation at the very least.
This film is sitting at 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. This puts it as the 2nd worst film of 2007 for films with 100 or more reviews. Only Halle Berry's Perfect Stranger scored worse with 10%. But that brings up another discussion. Former Oscar winners who should be put on probation for choosing bad films.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Natalie Gulbis, 25, at least she has a tournament win so there is more to her than her looks which puts her ahead of Anna Kournikova
Katie Couric, 51, a little past her prime but she was very hot around 2000
Erin Gray, 58, one of the biggest reasons I watched Buck Rogers
Labels: Film
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Twin Peaks
Do you watch the DVDs you own?
I have all of these DVDs and never seem to watch any of them. At least I've made the smart decision to quit buying so many. I probably made less than 10 purchases this year. The ones I did buy are films I really wanted to own and usually have extras I'm interested in seeing. Recent buys included the Stanley Kubrick set, the Sergio Leone set, and Twin Peaks.
I watched the first two Leone westerns the last week of the year, in prep for the midnight showing of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I own all of his films so I plan on going through them in order once (next being Once Upon a Time in the West) then again with commentary.
This weekend I began going through Twin Peaks. Now I'm a pilot and 2 episodes in and two things come to mind. The transfer looks amazing, especially when you compare with the log lady intros that have not been enhances. 2nd, I forgot how great the early part of this series was. So revolutionary for television in terms of story development, camera work, and tone.
It should be a pleasure revisiting this series, since I really haven't watched it since it was first on 18 years ago, and seeing all of the actors, who are now household names, at the beginning of their careers.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Rinko Kikuchi, 27, who can forget her role in Babel but I don't like her blond.
Gabrielle Reece, 38, a little overrated but still very hot.
Andrea Thompson, 48, I was a big fan of her in Babylon 5 and NYPD Blue but since then she has had a very strange career
I have all of these DVDs and never seem to watch any of them. At least I've made the smart decision to quit buying so many. I probably made less than 10 purchases this year. The ones I did buy are films I really wanted to own and usually have extras I'm interested in seeing. Recent buys included the Stanley Kubrick set, the Sergio Leone set, and Twin Peaks.
I watched the first two Leone westerns the last week of the year, in prep for the midnight showing of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I own all of his films so I plan on going through them in order once (next being Once Upon a Time in the West) then again with commentary.
This weekend I began going through Twin Peaks. Now I'm a pilot and 2 episodes in and two things come to mind. The transfer looks amazing, especially when you compare with the log lady intros that have not been enhances. 2nd, I forgot how great the early part of this series was. So revolutionary for television in terms of story development, camera work, and tone.
It should be a pleasure revisiting this series, since I really haven't watched it since it was first on 18 years ago, and seeing all of the actors, who are now household names, at the beginning of their careers.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Rinko Kikuchi, 27, who can forget her role in Babel but I don't like her blond.
Gabrielle Reece, 38, a little overrated but still very hot.
Andrea Thompson, 48, I was a big fan of her in Babylon 5 and NYPD Blue but since then she has had a very strange career
Labels: TV
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Debate vs. Football
Spent the evening switching back and forth between NFL and the Dems, mostly on the game. I probably should have watched the debate more but it gives me tired head and it turned out to be a really good game.
Why tired head? No one really says anything specific, they would be a fool to. They are basically selling themselves and I like Obama and dislike Hillary. I question if Hillary can win in November. If the Republicans put Rudy or McCain up then Hillary will be in a fight. I think she is derisive enough that she will lose the moderates if the Reps don't go with the religious candidates.
I do have one question for Hillary. She keeps touting her experience meaning Obama is not experienced enough. But in 1992 we elected her husband who had less national experience than this man, and he went on to be a pretty decent president. So why should we care?
Hot Chicks Born Today
January Jones, 30, a risings star who isn't probably too well known yet but should be due to her fine work in the series Mad Men and the film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Pamela Sue Martin, 55, why else would a 12-year-old boy watch the tv show Nancy Drew and who can forget her as a 19-year-old in wet hot pants in The Poseidon Adventure
Why tired head? No one really says anything specific, they would be a fool to. They are basically selling themselves and I like Obama and dislike Hillary. I question if Hillary can win in November. If the Republicans put Rudy or McCain up then Hillary will be in a fight. I think she is derisive enough that she will lose the moderates if the Reps don't go with the religious candidates.
I do have one question for Hillary. She keeps touting her experience meaning Obama is not experienced enough. But in 1992 we elected her husband who had less national experience than this man, and he went on to be a pretty decent president. So why should we care?
Hot Chicks Born Today
January Jones, 30, a risings star who isn't probably too well known yet but should be due to her fine work in the series Mad Men and the film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Pamela Sue Martin, 55, why else would a 12-year-old boy watch the tv show Nancy Drew and who can forget her as a 19-year-old in wet hot pants in The Poseidon Adventure
Labels: Politics
Friday, January 04, 2008
Calendars
As I was cleaning up my desk, as I always try and do on Friday before I leave work, I was taking a good look at the calender I purchased this year. I love calenders for the art and interesting stuff of the page a day calendars. I try and mix it up each year, but there are always my standbys, and usually have a hard time deciding. If I don't find one that blows me away I'll wait until they go on sale and grab what's left.
This year I went with:
Hot Chicks Born Today
Julia Ormond, 43, a wonderful actress who hasn't worked enough but it is well worth checking out the original Traffik to see her at 24 playing a drug addict
This year I went with:
- Antique Map wall calendar for work. What sold me on it is that it has vintage maps of New York, San Francisco, London, and Paris. All cities I enjoy visiting and have been to all of them since November 2006.
- William Wegman Puppies wall calendar for home. This is an old standby. I love his work and probably get one every other year and well worth it for half-price.
- Schott's Almanac Page-A-Day calendar for work. I discovered Schott's Miscellany when I first went to England and enjoy this offbeat collection of trivia and facts. This is also the only one I paid full price for.
- Brain Teasers Page-A-Day by email. By buying the above I was able to sign up for another free online.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Julia Ormond, 43, a wonderful actress who hasn't worked enough but it is well worth checking out the original Traffik to see her at 24 playing a drug addict
Thursday, January 03, 2008
There Will Be Blood
2007 is a weird year for film. Each top film seems to have its fair share of both champions and detractors. PT Anderson, no stranger to producing polarizing films (Magnolia), has put together another one with There Will Be Blood.
I just watched it last night and I’m still trying to process everything so this might be rambling.
I enjoyed the film and while I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, I would recommend it to film lovers. However, I didn’t connect with the film and love it as much as many critics do.
There is a lot to enjoy about the film. The first half is brilliant. Here the story is more focused and Daniel Day-Lewis gives the performance of a career. Throughout the film the photography is majestic and does justice to west Texas, filling in for Arizona and California. Paul Dano and Dillon Freasier give excellent performances throughout.
Now to the flaws in the films. Anderson has always referenced his film idols. This film seems to have Stanley Kubrick written all over it. In tone, composition and even music I was reminded of 2001, Barry Lyndon, and The Shining. His allusions to Scorsese and Altman in Boogie Nights and Magnolia seemed to enhance those films but here I was distracted. Especially when you add allusions to Citizen Kane and Chinatown.
My biggest problem is in the second half of the film. Here the films begins go all over the map and I began to wonder what its focus is. Is it a political film or an anti-oil industry film? It leans that way for much of the film. It is about a father-son oil team and the son has the initials H.W. But in the end, Daniel Plainview succeeds. He is a miserable human being but he makes money and defeats his rivals. The film even pulls back on the industry when the son and his wife, the only two sympathetic characters at all, leave to start an oil business in Mexico.
A bigger theme is man vs. religion. Here it succeeds a little better. However, Daniel and Eli are both totally unlikable characters so what does it accomplish when the businessman who calls God a superstition defeats the hypocritical faith healer. This brings up the final scene. It was so over-the-top it was almost laughable and by now Daniel Day-Lewis’ acting has also gone over-the-top in a number of scenes.
At the end, I was left with complete indifference. I think this was due to not having a single character to care about or slightly root for. As mentioned above, the son is the only half way decent character but he is tied to his father for most of the film so you can’t separate the two. Every character in the film is somewhat shady. This includes the wildcatters exploiting the people, people working for established oil companies, religious nuts, to the people being exploited themselves. Now films don’t have to be "Oprah inspiring" for me to enjoy them. But you have to give me something to latch onto. Even with crime films like The Godfather, I can live vicariously through the characters. But here I just wanted to get away from all of them.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Danica McKellar, 33, hot and smart, weird to think we've known her since she was 12
Victoria Principal, 58, she was one of the hottest around in the early 80s when she was Pam Ewing
I just watched it last night and I’m still trying to process everything so this might be rambling.
I enjoyed the film and while I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, I would recommend it to film lovers. However, I didn’t connect with the film and love it as much as many critics do.
There is a lot to enjoy about the film. The first half is brilliant. Here the story is more focused and Daniel Day-Lewis gives the performance of a career. Throughout the film the photography is majestic and does justice to west Texas, filling in for Arizona and California. Paul Dano and Dillon Freasier give excellent performances throughout.
Now to the flaws in the films. Anderson has always referenced his film idols. This film seems to have Stanley Kubrick written all over it. In tone, composition and even music I was reminded of 2001, Barry Lyndon, and The Shining. His allusions to Scorsese and Altman in Boogie Nights and Magnolia seemed to enhance those films but here I was distracted. Especially when you add allusions to Citizen Kane and Chinatown.
My biggest problem is in the second half of the film. Here the films begins go all over the map and I began to wonder what its focus is. Is it a political film or an anti-oil industry film? It leans that way for much of the film. It is about a father-son oil team and the son has the initials H.W. But in the end, Daniel Plainview succeeds. He is a miserable human being but he makes money and defeats his rivals. The film even pulls back on the industry when the son and his wife, the only two sympathetic characters at all, leave to start an oil business in Mexico.
A bigger theme is man vs. religion. Here it succeeds a little better. However, Daniel and Eli are both totally unlikable characters so what does it accomplish when the businessman who calls God a superstition defeats the hypocritical faith healer. This brings up the final scene. It was so over-the-top it was almost laughable and by now Daniel Day-Lewis’ acting has also gone over-the-top in a number of scenes.
At the end, I was left with complete indifference. I think this was due to not having a single character to care about or slightly root for. As mentioned above, the son is the only half way decent character but he is tied to his father for most of the film so you can’t separate the two. Every character in the film is somewhat shady. This includes the wildcatters exploiting the people, people working for established oil companies, religious nuts, to the people being exploited themselves. Now films don’t have to be "Oprah inspiring" for me to enjoy them. But you have to give me something to latch onto. Even with crime films like The Godfather, I can live vicariously through the characters. But here I just wanted to get away from all of them.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Danica McKellar, 33, hot and smart, weird to think we've known her since she was 12
Victoria Principal, 58, she was one of the hottest around in the early 80s when she was Pam Ewing
Labels: FilmReview
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The Lookout
The first film I watched of the year is The Lookout. Given the talent involved in this film this can only be described as a major disappointment.
This film is saved by two wonderful performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniels. The film is more character study than crime drama and they do a wonderful job with the material they are given. This is good since it takes the film over 30 minuted to introduce the bad guys.
I was beginning to wonder if the film would get going and then I wish it hadn't. The plot is very derived from other films, this includes the high school car ride prologue. Characters appear and disappear at random. They are almost all one-dimensional. Isla Fisher's acting is god-awful.
This is quite surprising since it was directed and written by Scott Frank who translated Out of Sight to the screen.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Gabrielle Carteris, 47, I'm embarrassed to admit I've seen every 90210 episode and at the time she was top 10 material
Paz Vega, very hot in Sex and Lucia, Talk to Her, & Spanglish
This film is saved by two wonderful performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniels. The film is more character study than crime drama and they do a wonderful job with the material they are given. This is good since it takes the film over 30 minuted to introduce the bad guys.
I was beginning to wonder if the film would get going and then I wish it hadn't. The plot is very derived from other films, this includes the high school car ride prologue. Characters appear and disappear at random. They are almost all one-dimensional. Isla Fisher's acting is god-awful.
This is quite surprising since it was directed and written by Scott Frank who translated Out of Sight to the screen.
Hot Chicks Born Today
Gabrielle Carteris, 47, I'm embarrassed to admit I've seen every 90210 episode and at the time she was top 10 material
Paz Vega, very hot in Sex and Lucia, Talk to Her, & Spanglish
Labels: FilmReview
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year
Blog365! Yeah, right, I'll probably be lucky to make it a week but here goes. I have less than an hour left in day 1 so, have to make it quick.
I've spent the entire day watching college football. It would be an interesting project to know how many games I saw at least 1 play of live this year. The number could easily be over 200.
Maybe I'll do that this year. The count for today was 5. (Somehow I completely missed the Outback Bowl.)
Watching these games, I was thinking about the teams I root for and against and who would be at the top and bottom.
Generally, I root for land-grant, state, then private. Big 10 and northeast teams rank at the bottom. Established teams over Cinderella teams. I was glad that Georgia is crushing Hawaii even though I could care less about most SEC teams.
It's pretty much follows that pattern, unless one of these teams are playing:
Top 10 Favorite Teams
1. Texas A&M
2. Clemson
3. TCU
4. Georgia Tech
5. Purdue
6. Oklahoma
7. Rice
8. Missouri
9. Utah
10. California
10 Least Favorite Programs
1. Ohio St
2. Texas Tech
3. BYU
4. Notre Dame
5. Wisconsin
6. Texas
7. Florida
7. Florida St
7. Miami
10. LSU
Hot Chicks Born Today
Keeley Hawes, 31, great in Spooks, I wonder how she will be in Ashes to Ashes
Catherine McCormack, 36, burst on the scene in Braveheart, still hot in last years 28 Weeks Later
Dedee Pfeiffer, 44, the other Pfeiffer sister who played the other sister on Cybil
I've spent the entire day watching college football. It would be an interesting project to know how many games I saw at least 1 play of live this year. The number could easily be over 200.
Maybe I'll do that this year. The count for today was 5. (Somehow I completely missed the Outback Bowl.)
Watching these games, I was thinking about the teams I root for and against and who would be at the top and bottom.
Generally, I root for land-grant, state, then private. Big 10 and northeast teams rank at the bottom. Established teams over Cinderella teams. I was glad that Georgia is crushing Hawaii even though I could care less about most SEC teams.
It's pretty much follows that pattern, unless one of these teams are playing:
Top 10 Favorite Teams
1. Texas A&M
2. Clemson
3. TCU
4. Georgia Tech
5. Purdue
6. Oklahoma
7. Rice
8. Missouri
9. Utah
10. California
10 Least Favorite Programs
1. Ohio St
2. Texas Tech
3. BYU
4. Notre Dame
5. Wisconsin
6. Texas
7. Florida
7. Florida St
7. Miami
10. LSU
Hot Chicks Born Today
Keeley Hawes, 31, great in Spooks, I wonder how she will be in Ashes to Ashes
Catherine McCormack, 36, burst on the scene in Braveheart, still hot in last years 28 Weeks Later
Dedee Pfeiffer, 44, the other Pfeiffer sister who played the other sister on Cybil
Labels: CollegeSports
