FLIX!
Interstellar is a film that requires a lot out of the audience member. It requires that you have a rudimentary understanding of astrophysics. It requires that you stay focused and do your best to follow it. And it requires the stamina to sit through 3 hours of staying focused and utilizing your rudimentary understanding of astrophysics.
I predict that these factors will lose a majority of viewers. But for the few that can pass that test, I think this film is worth the effort.
It begins sometime in the future. The climate change thing is affected more than we initially thought. The earth's atmosphere is beginning to change and we ultimately will run out of oxygen. It is time to search for another planet like ours that we can colonize.
Act one of this movie happens while Mr. Cooper's daughter complains of a ghost, or weird phenomenon in her bedroom. She is a gifted little girl who has a bedroom that looks like a library. Mr. Cooper is a farmer, and because of conditions - wheat, rice, barley, potatoes...well, the bottom line is that the only thing that can be grown is corn. And soon that will no longer be viable.
There are often dust storms. And the people have kind of learned to cope, at least deal with them. Mr. Cooper's family (deceased wife's father, son, and daughter), routinely keep breathing masks in the car. Cooper (Matthew McCanahey-hey-hey! as all the ladies know him) discovers some validity to his daughters claims and realizes that the dust patterns on her floor are binary code, and he ascertains they are GPS coordinates. They go to the spot and find that they are at a secret government facility planning a launch in search of an planet where upon human life could flourish.
Act two, literally hour two, Cooper is solicited to head the mission to go through the worm hole south-west of Saturn to look for the info predecessors have gained about the planets they've investigated. His daughter begs him not to go. He promises her he will come back. He promises he'll see her again. A lot of drama takes place on these planets, and in one they spend 7 years of Earth time for every hour they spend here, so they need to get in and get out. But nothing's ever that simple.
On the next planet, in between getting messages from home that people have died and that his children have grown up, met others, now have children, etc., they encounter the person sent to this world who reveals that they have been duped. They are never to return. He is a warped person whose over-zealous, and tries to kill Cooper to save what he believes is his mission.
The third act/hour is where is gets weird and really hard to follow. There are a few questions that are never answered but if you just go with it, it maybe kind of works. The bottom line is, Cooper finally gets to see his daughter again. Sadly he's about the same youthful age he was when he left, and she is a very old woman, on her death bed, who gets to say, "I knew I'd see you again." He asks how she knows. She says " My daddy told me so."
My wife kept mumbling in the last hour "I'm lost." I kind of followed it, but honestly, this film asks you to accept a lot that really doesn't add up. Nevertheless, it is one of those movies that will have you thinking about it for 3 days after.
And it will certainly make you pray Republicans at least admit there's a Climate Change (global warming) problem soon. We can still fix this. And I'm glad that "Interstellar" made me think about that.
Grade: B
Sunday, December 7, 2014
The Judge
FLIX!
In a small town in Indiana there is a judge who is not afraid to be harsh with the people who come before his court. He is a staple in his small town, albeit not always well liked.
Far away in Chicago there is a hot-shot lawyer who just happens to be the middle son of this Judge back here in Nowheresville, Indiana.
And then the Judge's wife and the estranged son-hot-shot lawyer's mother dies. The son returns home to attend his mother's funeral and it becomes clear that the Judge and this son are way, way less than close. They are very, very estranged. The can't wait to get this over with and get back to Chicago, but he has just left his wife and they are battling over their daughter and then there is the old girlfriend who owns the local restaurant and has a hot daughter. Yep. There's a lot going on in this movie, but the meat of it is that it appears the Judge went out and got in an accident and killed a local villain. Or was it an accident? And therein lies the meat of this movie.
The Judge is played by the masterful Robert DuVall. The hot shot lawyer son is played by Robert Downey Jr. Both incredibly gifted actors. The prosecutor is played by Billy Bob Thorton. Another gifted talent. Toss in a fine supporting cast and you have all the makings of an interesting piece of movie making. There are scenes that are heart wrenching. Such as when the Judge who is suffering from cancer and can't make it to the bathroom in time and the son forces the old man to let him help. They want to connect. They almost connect. But it never seems to hit.
And then the son's daughter arrives for a visit. And the whole "Grandpa" thing kicks in. But the hot-shot lawyer is still faced with trying to get off a client (his dad, the Judge), who refuses to cooperate, even a little bit. Pride stands in the way. And Billy Bob Thorton is a skilled prosecutor. So that is where the drama really happens.
I have a feeling this film will get some mention at Oscar time. But then again, this time of year we are going to get buried in Oscar fodder. "Selma", and on and on.....
I don't think you can see this anymore in the theater. But go for it on DVD. I think it's worth the time.
B+
In a small town in Indiana there is a judge who is not afraid to be harsh with the people who come before his court. He is a staple in his small town, albeit not always well liked.
Far away in Chicago there is a hot-shot lawyer who just happens to be the middle son of this Judge back here in Nowheresville, Indiana.
And then the Judge's wife and the estranged son-hot-shot lawyer's mother dies. The son returns home to attend his mother's funeral and it becomes clear that the Judge and this son are way, way less than close. They are very, very estranged. The can't wait to get this over with and get back to Chicago, but he has just left his wife and they are battling over their daughter and then there is the old girlfriend who owns the local restaurant and has a hot daughter. Yep. There's a lot going on in this movie, but the meat of it is that it appears the Judge went out and got in an accident and killed a local villain. Or was it an accident? And therein lies the meat of this movie.
The Judge is played by the masterful Robert DuVall. The hot shot lawyer son is played by Robert Downey Jr. Both incredibly gifted actors. The prosecutor is played by Billy Bob Thorton. Another gifted talent. Toss in a fine supporting cast and you have all the makings of an interesting piece of movie making. There are scenes that are heart wrenching. Such as when the Judge who is suffering from cancer and can't make it to the bathroom in time and the son forces the old man to let him help. They want to connect. They almost connect. But it never seems to hit.
And then the son's daughter arrives for a visit. And the whole "Grandpa" thing kicks in. But the hot-shot lawyer is still faced with trying to get off a client (his dad, the Judge), who refuses to cooperate, even a little bit. Pride stands in the way. And Billy Bob Thorton is a skilled prosecutor. So that is where the drama really happens.
I have a feeling this film will get some mention at Oscar time. But then again, this time of year we are going to get buried in Oscar fodder. "Selma", and on and on.....
I don't think you can see this anymore in the theater. But go for it on DVD. I think it's worth the time.
B+
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Friday Night Lights
TUBE!
Friday Night Lights was a TV show that I started watching enthusiastically. Some of my very favorite TV critics rave about this show, and so I started watching with high hopes.
But after a couple of episodes of this hand-held mess (yes, viewer, all they think you're worth is hand-held), I just couldn't take it anymore. It came off in 3 episodes as a kind of soap opera, but because of the low budget hand-held shakiness I gave up. It might be the best of the soap operas critics love (behind Mad Men), but I'll never know. I want more than hand-held trash. Take the Blair Witch Project and shove it. It has no place in serious television.
Friday Night Lights was a TV show that I started watching enthusiastically. Some of my very favorite TV critics rave about this show, and so I started watching with high hopes.
But after a couple of episodes of this hand-held mess (yes, viewer, all they think you're worth is hand-held), I just couldn't take it anymore. It came off in 3 episodes as a kind of soap opera, but because of the low budget hand-held shakiness I gave up. It might be the best of the soap operas critics love (behind Mad Men), but I'll never know. I want more than hand-held trash. Take the Blair Witch Project and shove it. It has no place in serious television.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
The 100 Foot Journey
An Indian Family from Mumbai owned a restaurant that was lost in a fire. They ended up moving to England to start over. But according to the son and cook of the family, they had to leave their home in England's Heathrow flight path, because the vegetables in England have no soul. So they end up in France. And through a mishap, they end up in a small village.
In this village the father, Papa Kadam (played by Om Puri) spots a decrepit old building and has a vision of it being a restaurant. What he soon finds out is that a Michelen 1 star restaurant is across the street, owned by a driven and obsessed owner, Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren). Madam Mallory is disgusted by Indians opening a restaurant across the street. She hates their music and the smell of curry in the air. The two owners declare war on each other, and a lot of trouble ensues. And as you might suspect it is exactly 100 feet from their door to hers.
The "Maison Mumbai" has as it's primary cook (chef actually), son Hassan. One of Madam Mallory's up and coming chefs is a young woman Margurite (Charlottes Le Bon) who first befriended the family when their van broke down...(the aforementioned mishap). Young Hassan can prepare magical meals as he was taught by his mother to not just cook the meals but to feel it and feel the ghosts in those that came before it. Sadly, Mom died in the fire that destroyed the family restaurant in Mumbai.
Eventually to seek peace, and because he yearns to learn about all cooking, Hassan asks to prepare a omelet for Madam Mallory. He has learned that this is how Madam Mallory judges potential chefs. She has him prepare an omelet, and then takes a single bite. She can tell by that single bite whether the chef has what it takes. The problem is that Hassan has had his hands burnt in a vandal set fire, and he cannot hold a utensil. So he instructs Madam Mallory on the exact way to prepare it; how to whip the eggs, how much of each ingredient and so on. Finally as it is ready, Madam Mallory takes that first bite, and in true acting genius, done entirely with the eyes Helen Mirren lets the audience know that this is one of the most extraordinary things she's ever put in her mouth. She ends up - after spending a night sleeping in Maison Mumbai - convincing Papa Kadam to let her help train his son.
He does go to her posh restaurant, and in a year, not only does he get her another Michelin Star, but Papa and Madam Mallory become friends. And of course Chef Hassan is taken to Paris, hired by a 2 star that wants to become a 3 star (which is the top). In the ensuing year, he becomes the star of the Paris cooking world, and achieves great success. But something is missing, and it is mostly Margurite. So Hassan returns to the small village, determined to get the third star there.
This was a light hearted, fun, family-friendly movie that left us feeling good. Papa and Madam Mallory ended up being close friends. Hassan and Margurite acted as if they were on their way to the altar. Both restaurants seemed to have a niche.
This was a great cast directed by Swedish Director Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules). This movie had a lot of heart, and we had a genuine care about the characters. The bad guys get fired, the good guys get hired and go on to achieve great things, and it all works out in the end.
Disney has embraced the idea of doing Indian friendly movies (The Million Dollar Arm and this to mention a couple) because they understand that the film will do well here, but will be explosive in the huge huge huge Indian market. This wonderful film will probably make more money for Disney there than it will in the good old USA. And that's okay. Indian actors maybe could use more exposure. My wife couldn't get over how handsome Hassan (Manish Dayal) is, and I thought the actress playing his sister Mahira (Farzana Dua Elahe) was a babe beyond belief. Indians are such good looking people after all.
This is a no brainer. Is it The Godfather or Citizen Kane? No. But it is a fun, nice, and entertaining reason to spring for some over-priced popcorn. If you decide to check it out, I can't believe you'd be disappointed.
GRADE: B+
In this village the father, Papa Kadam (played by Om Puri) spots a decrepit old building and has a vision of it being a restaurant. What he soon finds out is that a Michelen 1 star restaurant is across the street, owned by a driven and obsessed owner, Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren). Madam Mallory is disgusted by Indians opening a restaurant across the street. She hates their music and the smell of curry in the air. The two owners declare war on each other, and a lot of trouble ensues. And as you might suspect it is exactly 100 feet from their door to hers.
The "Maison Mumbai" has as it's primary cook (chef actually), son Hassan. One of Madam Mallory's up and coming chefs is a young woman Margurite (Charlottes Le Bon) who first befriended the family when their van broke down...(the aforementioned mishap). Young Hassan can prepare magical meals as he was taught by his mother to not just cook the meals but to feel it and feel the ghosts in those that came before it. Sadly, Mom died in the fire that destroyed the family restaurant in Mumbai.
Eventually to seek peace, and because he yearns to learn about all cooking, Hassan asks to prepare a omelet for Madam Mallory. He has learned that this is how Madam Mallory judges potential chefs. She has him prepare an omelet, and then takes a single bite. She can tell by that single bite whether the chef has what it takes. The problem is that Hassan has had his hands burnt in a vandal set fire, and he cannot hold a utensil. So he instructs Madam Mallory on the exact way to prepare it; how to whip the eggs, how much of each ingredient and so on. Finally as it is ready, Madam Mallory takes that first bite, and in true acting genius, done entirely with the eyes Helen Mirren lets the audience know that this is one of the most extraordinary things she's ever put in her mouth. She ends up - after spending a night sleeping in Maison Mumbai - convincing Papa Kadam to let her help train his son.
He does go to her posh restaurant, and in a year, not only does he get her another Michelin Star, but Papa and Madam Mallory become friends. And of course Chef Hassan is taken to Paris, hired by a 2 star that wants to become a 3 star (which is the top). In the ensuing year, he becomes the star of the Paris cooking world, and achieves great success. But something is missing, and it is mostly Margurite. So Hassan returns to the small village, determined to get the third star there.
This was a light hearted, fun, family-friendly movie that left us feeling good. Papa and Madam Mallory ended up being close friends. Hassan and Margurite acted as if they were on their way to the altar. Both restaurants seemed to have a niche.
This was a great cast directed by Swedish Director Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules). This movie had a lot of heart, and we had a genuine care about the characters. The bad guys get fired, the good guys get hired and go on to achieve great things, and it all works out in the end.
Disney has embraced the idea of doing Indian friendly movies (The Million Dollar Arm and this to mention a couple) because they understand that the film will do well here, but will be explosive in the huge huge huge Indian market. This wonderful film will probably make more money for Disney there than it will in the good old USA. And that's okay. Indian actors maybe could use more exposure. My wife couldn't get over how handsome Hassan (Manish Dayal) is, and I thought the actress playing his sister Mahira (Farzana Dua Elahe) was a babe beyond belief. Indians are such good looking people after all.
This is a no brainer. Is it The Godfather or Citizen Kane? No. But it is a fun, nice, and entertaining reason to spring for some over-priced popcorn. If you decide to check it out, I can't believe you'd be disappointed.
GRADE: B+
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Get On Up
Okay right from the get-go I have to admit that "A CD of JB" has always been in every vehicle I've owned since who knows when? It is one of 5 discs* I never go anywhere without. So I know this music. I've listened to it a lot. And, I'm proud to say I have the 45's "Please Please Please" and "Try Me" on the Federal Label.
I finally got to see this film, and because-it's-about-a-black-guy-flick, it ain't gonna be in Greenville, Michigan long. And I am grateful for local Cinemas so I attempt to support them when I can.
Okay, time to get down to business. Time to get on the good foot.
"Get On Up" is the James Brown biopic. Chadwick Bodwin is the lead here. Coming off last year's amazing "42" wherein he portrayed Jackie Robinson. ("42" was truly was the best picture of last year, but it was ignored by the Oscars.) Whenever the Oscars get it right, it seems like it's a total accident.
This guy is the real deal. I really hope Chadwick Bodwin gets the credit he deserves. This performance is astounding to say the least. And this starts to beg the question: How many astounding performances is an actor required to turn in before they start to get Denzel/Tom Hanks-like cred? But I digress.
Bodwin turns in one of the most amazing performances I have seen not only this year but in many years. He comes as close as anyone could ever hope to come in capturing the persona of this complex, bigger-than-life, pitiful childhood, Godfather of Soul, Super Funk, innovative genius, confused and at times deluded, hardest working man in show business, mysterious and at times lonely and confused man. And Chadwick had the voice down! The voice alone was incredible.
But this film is not great. Although the lead is great and there are a lot of great elements, this film lacks real cohesion. I know showing a life chronologically is Hollywood is verboten, but I think shooting a end-of-life moment and then going back to tell us the whole life in order would have served this film well.
James Brown would have been an amazing person for surviving his childhood alone. A dirt-poor, beaten, and ultimately abandoned child would have pretty much did a lot of people in. But not this guy. He sustained. He hung in there. He stayed on the good foot.
He busted into a car and stole a suit. He was sentenced to 14 years. Fourteen. (Most white guys now get about a 2-4, if they are chronic offenders). There I go digressing again. Anyhow, by a quirk of fate he meets a guy that gives him a place to parole to, and the story goes from there. (He actually only did about 3 years of his sentence). This guy goes on to be his bandleader and long time compatriot... the guy that always patted him on the back and put the robe on him....
James Brown, James Brown. You had such a complex, bigger-than-life quality, how is any actor supposed to play you? Well this guy did you proud. But this Director didn't. He shot all of the stuff with you as a kid, you in your early career, you in the super-funk era, and you near the end, and this director didn't have a clue what to do with it. He just flipped coins and strung it all together in the most of slipshod methods. The continuity here totally sucked.
I couldn't love this movie. The lack of any sense of continuity killed it from being great. Chadwick Bodwin is fabulous. Some of the supporters too. But even Chadwick's performance can't out-do horrible director choices.
The only thing that keeps me from totally hating this is Chadwick. He has garnered this flick a C+ from me. Mr. Director, you owe a lot to Chadwick. You might actually get another shot because of him, you hack.
Grade: Okay, Okay, A Reluctant B-. You convinced me Chadwick.....but all others, be warned.
I finally got to see this film, and because-it's-about-a-black-guy-flick, it ain't gonna be in Greenville, Michigan long. And I am grateful for local Cinemas so I attempt to support them when I can.
Okay, time to get down to business. Time to get on the good foot.
"Get On Up" is the James Brown biopic. Chadwick Bodwin is the lead here. Coming off last year's amazing "42" wherein he portrayed Jackie Robinson. ("42" was truly was the best picture of last year, but it was ignored by the Oscars.) Whenever the Oscars get it right, it seems like it's a total accident.
This guy is the real deal. I really hope Chadwick Bodwin gets the credit he deserves. This performance is astounding to say the least. And this starts to beg the question: How many astounding performances is an actor required to turn in before they start to get Denzel/Tom Hanks-like cred? But I digress.
Bodwin turns in one of the most amazing performances I have seen not only this year but in many years. He comes as close as anyone could ever hope to come in capturing the persona of this complex, bigger-than-life, pitiful childhood, Godfather of Soul, Super Funk, innovative genius, confused and at times deluded, hardest working man in show business, mysterious and at times lonely and confused man. And Chadwick had the voice down! The voice alone was incredible.
But this film is not great. Although the lead is great and there are a lot of great elements, this film lacks real cohesion. I know showing a life chronologically is Hollywood is verboten, but I think shooting a end-of-life moment and then going back to tell us the whole life in order would have served this film well.
James Brown would have been an amazing person for surviving his childhood alone. A dirt-poor, beaten, and ultimately abandoned child would have pretty much did a lot of people in. But not this guy. He sustained. He hung in there. He stayed on the good foot.
He busted into a car and stole a suit. He was sentenced to 14 years. Fourteen. (Most white guys now get about a 2-4, if they are chronic offenders). There I go digressing again. Anyhow, by a quirk of fate he meets a guy that gives him a place to parole to, and the story goes from there. (He actually only did about 3 years of his sentence). This guy goes on to be his bandleader and long time compatriot... the guy that always patted him on the back and put the robe on him....
James Brown, James Brown. You had such a complex, bigger-than-life quality, how is any actor supposed to play you? Well this guy did you proud. But this Director didn't. He shot all of the stuff with you as a kid, you in your early career, you in the super-funk era, and you near the end, and this director didn't have a clue what to do with it. He just flipped coins and strung it all together in the most of slipshod methods. The continuity here totally sucked.
I couldn't love this movie. The lack of any sense of continuity killed it from being great. Chadwick Bodwin is fabulous. Some of the supporters too. But even Chadwick's performance can't out-do horrible director choices.
The only thing that keeps me from totally hating this is Chadwick. He has garnered this flick a C+ from me. Mr. Director, you owe a lot to Chadwick. You might actually get another shot because of him, you hack.
Grade: Okay, Okay, A Reluctant B-. You convinced me Chadwick.....but all others, be warned.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
TAMMY
FLIX!
I saw this movie shortly after it opened, and I deliberately waited to get a feel of what everyone else, critics included, thought about it. I know what I thought and you're going to see that here, but I wanted to see if I was going to be going along with everyone else or be the lone voice crying in the wilderness. Turns out I'm neither.
What is it about Melissa McCarthy that is so darned lovable? Well for one thing, she's an enormous talent. And before any of you snicker at the use of the word enormous in regard to her, think about how much more of a struggle her career has been for her. As a person that is overweight too, I know how difficult it sometimes is. When you're "fat" your opinion doesn't matter. People don't see you. At the mall, you get looked through, you don't count. When you sit down at a job interview, you'd better be pretty spectacular, because you automatically have to overcome "slob and lazy" whereas other thin interviewees don't. So this has been a struggle that she has somehow overcome. I say Brava, Missy! In Hollywood, thin is an unspoken must.
Like I said, she's still lovable. There is a sincerity in what she does that comes through. But let's get back to TAMMY.
Tammy was written by Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone who is also the director on this project. Tammy is a hard working middle class woman who has had to work in a fast food restaurant. One day on her way to work she is in an accident and hits a deer and her head on the windshield. Her car is seriously damaged, but still she somehow gets to work, and comes in with blood still trickling down her forehead. The restaurant manager, usually a person who couldn't be successful in any other environment, calls her in to his office/condiment storage area, to fire her because she's late. She goes home and discovers her husband has cooked a meal for the neighbor woman who he's having an affair with. In a huff, Tammy packs a few things, and enraged, leaves. She goes two doors down to her parents house. One thing leads to another and this turns into a "buddy picture." Tammy somehow agrees to drive her Grandma (Susan Sarandon) to see Niagara Falls. And here we go.
Tammy and Grandma stop somewhere in Louisville, Kentucky and end up in a bar. Grandma likes to hit the bottle. In the course of this, they pick up a couple of guys. Grandma picks up Earl (Gary Cole) and Tammy doesn't really pick up Bobby (Mark Duplass) because it turns out, he is a legit gentleman.
Unfortunately Tammy has to sleep outside of the motel room because Earl and Granny are on the inside of the room. And the story goes from there. They meet up with a lesbian couple and at a party at the lesbian's house, everything comes to a head.
There are those that will dis this movie because "all the best parts were in the trailer." I don't agree.
I liked this movie. It was real. It nailed the life of the middle class in a way that the snobby Hollywood elite will never understand. The whole Tammy character was way over the heads of most Hollywood execs and every other rich-ass movie critic, over 40K a year snob. It's only because they've never been there is that they don't get it. This was great stuff.....okay good stuff.
What can I tell you that was good about this movie? Tammy, Granny, Bobby, Earl, Cheating Husband, Cheating Neighbor, Mother of Tammy (Allison Janney), and lesbian Lenore (Kathy Bates) are all terrific. It's hard to beat terrific. And and a big part of that folks is the direction they were given. Ben Falcone, being a film director is like being a sports coach. When they win, that team was great!, when they lose, the coach was a moron! So you are bound to suffer here.
But why? Why other critics? What was so bad about this? Please enlighten me. Please overcome your weight prejudice for a minute and enlighten me. Did this movie hit it out of the park? Not even close. Did it break new ground and box office records? No. But was it the horrible picture you all described? No.
This was fun and entertaining for however long it ran, and whenever that happens I call that a success. I can't say that about the last three pieces of crap Star Wars pictures all the other critics gratuitously drooled over. And people lined up then to subjected to unabashed marketing. But I digress.
This was not the best comedy I saw this summer, but it wasn't the worst thing ever either. Give Melissa a break fat haters. She's funny. She's talented. She has amazing feel and delivery. And she got Bobby in the end.
Grade: C+
I saw this movie shortly after it opened, and I deliberately waited to get a feel of what everyone else, critics included, thought about it. I know what I thought and you're going to see that here, but I wanted to see if I was going to be going along with everyone else or be the lone voice crying in the wilderness. Turns out I'm neither.
What is it about Melissa McCarthy that is so darned lovable? Well for one thing, she's an enormous talent. And before any of you snicker at the use of the word enormous in regard to her, think about how much more of a struggle her career has been for her. As a person that is overweight too, I know how difficult it sometimes is. When you're "fat" your opinion doesn't matter. People don't see you. At the mall, you get looked through, you don't count. When you sit down at a job interview, you'd better be pretty spectacular, because you automatically have to overcome "slob and lazy" whereas other thin interviewees don't. So this has been a struggle that she has somehow overcome. I say Brava, Missy! In Hollywood, thin is an unspoken must.
Like I said, she's still lovable. There is a sincerity in what she does that comes through. But let's get back to TAMMY.
Tammy was written by Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone who is also the director on this project. Tammy is a hard working middle class woman who has had to work in a fast food restaurant. One day on her way to work she is in an accident and hits a deer and her head on the windshield. Her car is seriously damaged, but still she somehow gets to work, and comes in with blood still trickling down her forehead. The restaurant manager, usually a person who couldn't be successful in any other environment, calls her in to his office/condiment storage area, to fire her because she's late. She goes home and discovers her husband has cooked a meal for the neighbor woman who he's having an affair with. In a huff, Tammy packs a few things, and enraged, leaves. She goes two doors down to her parents house. One thing leads to another and this turns into a "buddy picture." Tammy somehow agrees to drive her Grandma (Susan Sarandon) to see Niagara Falls. And here we go.
Tammy and Grandma stop somewhere in Louisville, Kentucky and end up in a bar. Grandma likes to hit the bottle. In the course of this, they pick up a couple of guys. Grandma picks up Earl (Gary Cole) and Tammy doesn't really pick up Bobby (Mark Duplass) because it turns out, he is a legit gentleman.
Unfortunately Tammy has to sleep outside of the motel room because Earl and Granny are on the inside of the room. And the story goes from there. They meet up with a lesbian couple and at a party at the lesbian's house, everything comes to a head.
There are those that will dis this movie because "all the best parts were in the trailer." I don't agree.
I liked this movie. It was real. It nailed the life of the middle class in a way that the snobby Hollywood elite will never understand. The whole Tammy character was way over the heads of most Hollywood execs and every other rich-ass movie critic, over 40K a year snob. It's only because they've never been there is that they don't get it. This was great stuff.....okay good stuff.
What can I tell you that was good about this movie? Tammy, Granny, Bobby, Earl, Cheating Husband, Cheating Neighbor, Mother of Tammy (Allison Janney), and lesbian Lenore (Kathy Bates) are all terrific. It's hard to beat terrific. And and a big part of that folks is the direction they were given. Ben Falcone, being a film director is like being a sports coach. When they win, that team was great!, when they lose, the coach was a moron! So you are bound to suffer here.
But why? Why other critics? What was so bad about this? Please enlighten me. Please overcome your weight prejudice for a minute and enlighten me. Did this movie hit it out of the park? Not even close. Did it break new ground and box office records? No. But was it the horrible picture you all described? No.
This was fun and entertaining for however long it ran, and whenever that happens I call that a success. I can't say that about the last three pieces of crap Star Wars pictures all the other critics gratuitously drooled over. And people lined up then to subjected to unabashed marketing. But I digress.
This was not the best comedy I saw this summer, but it wasn't the worst thing ever either. Give Melissa a break fat haters. She's funny. She's talented. She has amazing feel and delivery. And she got Bobby in the end.
Grade: C+
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Jersey Boys
FLIX!
After the Clint Eastwood stunt at the Republican National Convention in 2012 (remember, him talking to an empty chair?) I vowed that Clint Eastwood had gotten the last dime of mine he'd ever get - and I collect Cowboy movies, so he's made quite a bit off me. But then, I kept thinking, would I want my Republican friends to never want to go see Bruce Springsteen, and miss the opportunity to tell their wide-eyed grandchildren that they had once seen The Boss in concert? So, I want to put it out there Repub pals, I made the first effort. And if you get a chance to see Bruce, go.
So here I am in a theater seeing Jersey Boys. A film made of the Broadway show about a band I never really liked. And a director I'm ticked at. But I should back up a little.
In 1959, as most will acknowledge, the Music died. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash. Elvis got drafted. Duane Eddy got killed in a car accident. Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin and was ostracized. Gene Vincent got into a crippling accident. And Little Richard was in an airplane when an engine failed. He got on his knees and told God that if God will spare him he would stop playing the "Devil's Music". He lived and he did. So there becomes this musical void.
What filled it? Novelty songs like "Beep Beep", "The Monster Mash", and "Purple People Eater." And songs in Japanese - "Sukiyaki", not to mention Singing Nuns. Only about five good things came out of this 5 year period werein all sat in Rock and Roll purgatory twiddling our thumbs and waiting for The Beatles. They were Dion, Girl Groups, Berry Gordy and the beginnings of what would become Motown Records, The Beach Boys and Surf Rock, and The Four Seasons.
Like I said right up front I was never a big Four Seasons fan. They were, to me, an off-shoot of do-wop and that era had gone by. If I said otherwise, my close friends would know I'm lying. But time has a way of mellowing everything. I was never a big Beach Boys fan either, but springtime sure seems a lot better when I catch "Be True To Your School", Help Me Rhonda", or "Surfer Girl" on the oldies dial. Reagan is starting to get a pass. I'm mellowing to the point wherein I can at least say "Laugh-In" was funny at the time, and that maybe wishing Nixon would have been buried with a wooden stake through his heart was a bit extreme.
So now there's Jersey Boys. Clint Eastwood directs and does a masterful job here. The time period sets and props are a thing of beauty. But more than that, there is the story of four guys from the wrong side of the tracks in Newark, New Jersey, who didn't just make music, but have a story to tell. The story begins in 1951 and Frankie is about 16. Right off the bat we are introduced to elements that would allow these guys to go wrong. But watching the elements that gradually and actually come together is a lot of fun.
The boys have come to become a trio, headed by Tommy DeVito, and for some reason trios are out. So they need to add a fourth. While talking to their pal Joey (who turns out to become the real-life actor Joe Pesci) they get introduced to Bob Gaudio and this is the moment. This guy is the writer and piano player. And the band starts to gel, and end up in New York.
There is a great back story here how Tommy bankrolls the groups first New York Recording sessions, and the consequences of that. But along the way we are treated to the music. Their first big session? "Sherry." I'd forgotten how sweet and magical this simple song is. And Gaudio wrote it, and these guys played the instruments. And Frankie Valli killed it (although I always thought his falsetto was contrived and that anyone could do that) it still works. On and on we go through hit after hit, and trial, and tragedy, and misery, and success, and ups and downs.
The film finally works its way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions of 1990, when the Four Seasons are inducted and the originals all sing together one last time. Complete with each "Season" looking into the camera and talking about what they do now. Ironically, Tommy DeVito now works for Joe Pesci, the kid he used to slap around in the old neighborhood.
Frankie Valli is played magnificently by John Lloyd Young and this is only like his 7th film credit (very cool, Clint). Tommy DeVito was played superbly by Vincent Piazza. I love this guy as Lucky Luciano in "Boardwalk Empire". Let's break this guy to the big screen already! (Okay, cool again, Clint), Bob Gaudio is played by Erich Bergan. I don't know either, but he's fabulous!!, as Mike Doyle's Bob Crewe character would say. (Nice going Clint). And finally, Nicky, played by Michael Lomenda (this is like his first big gig...kudo's again you aging Repub!), and he knocks it out of the park.
Others? Joseph Russo as Joey. Remember how I said he was actually the real life Joe Pesci? And hats off to the writers on this one: they sneaked in other Pesci references..... "Funny? Funny how?" - (Goodfellas), and "Okay, Okay Okay!" - (Lethal Weapon)..... And then there is the amazing Christopher Walken. He never disappoints me. He took me back to "True Romance" wherein he and an unknown James Gandofini interrogate Dennis Hopper.
I liked this film a lot. Maybe it made me nostalgic. Maybe it made me homesick for those times when these songs were on the radio and my garage band "The Lemon Fog" was playing our first original "I Really Care" at Sheri Orcutt's 16th birthday party. Maybe, just maybe, these tunes weren't that bad after all.
I have a different feel for these Jersey Boys now. And guys, even with all the moles, scars, and warts, I like you better. This film gives you heart. And Character. What else could you have wanted or hoped for?
My only regret is that Pat McBain didn't see this. Sorry readers....permit me the occasional personal digression.....
After the Clint Eastwood stunt at the Republican National Convention in 2012 (remember, him talking to an empty chair?) I vowed that Clint Eastwood had gotten the last dime of mine he'd ever get - and I collect Cowboy movies, so he's made quite a bit off me. But then, I kept thinking, would I want my Republican friends to never want to go see Bruce Springsteen, and miss the opportunity to tell their wide-eyed grandchildren that they had once seen The Boss in concert? So, I want to put it out there Repub pals, I made the first effort. And if you get a chance to see Bruce, go.
So here I am in a theater seeing Jersey Boys. A film made of the Broadway show about a band I never really liked. And a director I'm ticked at. But I should back up a little.
In 1959, as most will acknowledge, the Music died. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash. Elvis got drafted. Duane Eddy got killed in a car accident. Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin and was ostracized. Gene Vincent got into a crippling accident. And Little Richard was in an airplane when an engine failed. He got on his knees and told God that if God will spare him he would stop playing the "Devil's Music". He lived and he did. So there becomes this musical void.
What filled it? Novelty songs like "Beep Beep", "The Monster Mash", and "Purple People Eater." And songs in Japanese - "Sukiyaki", not to mention Singing Nuns. Only about five good things came out of this 5 year period werein all sat in Rock and Roll purgatory twiddling our thumbs and waiting for The Beatles. They were Dion, Girl Groups, Berry Gordy and the beginnings of what would become Motown Records, The Beach Boys and Surf Rock, and The Four Seasons.
Like I said right up front I was never a big Four Seasons fan. They were, to me, an off-shoot of do-wop and that era had gone by. If I said otherwise, my close friends would know I'm lying. But time has a way of mellowing everything. I was never a big Beach Boys fan either, but springtime sure seems a lot better when I catch "Be True To Your School", Help Me Rhonda", or "Surfer Girl" on the oldies dial. Reagan is starting to get a pass. I'm mellowing to the point wherein I can at least say "Laugh-In" was funny at the time, and that maybe wishing Nixon would have been buried with a wooden stake through his heart was a bit extreme.
So now there's Jersey Boys. Clint Eastwood directs and does a masterful job here. The time period sets and props are a thing of beauty. But more than that, there is the story of four guys from the wrong side of the tracks in Newark, New Jersey, who didn't just make music, but have a story to tell. The story begins in 1951 and Frankie is about 16. Right off the bat we are introduced to elements that would allow these guys to go wrong. But watching the elements that gradually and actually come together is a lot of fun.
The boys have come to become a trio, headed by Tommy DeVito, and for some reason trios are out. So they need to add a fourth. While talking to their pal Joey (who turns out to become the real-life actor Joe Pesci) they get introduced to Bob Gaudio and this is the moment. This guy is the writer and piano player. And the band starts to gel, and end up in New York.
There is a great back story here how Tommy bankrolls the groups first New York Recording sessions, and the consequences of that. But along the way we are treated to the music. Their first big session? "Sherry." I'd forgotten how sweet and magical this simple song is. And Gaudio wrote it, and these guys played the instruments. And Frankie Valli killed it (although I always thought his falsetto was contrived and that anyone could do that) it still works. On and on we go through hit after hit, and trial, and tragedy, and misery, and success, and ups and downs.
The film finally works its way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions of 1990, when the Four Seasons are inducted and the originals all sing together one last time. Complete with each "Season" looking into the camera and talking about what they do now. Ironically, Tommy DeVito now works for Joe Pesci, the kid he used to slap around in the old neighborhood.
Frankie Valli is played magnificently by John Lloyd Young and this is only like his 7th film credit (very cool, Clint). Tommy DeVito was played superbly by Vincent Piazza. I love this guy as Lucky Luciano in "Boardwalk Empire". Let's break this guy to the big screen already! (Okay, cool again, Clint), Bob Gaudio is played by Erich Bergan. I don't know either, but he's fabulous!!, as Mike Doyle's Bob Crewe character would say. (Nice going Clint). And finally, Nicky, played by Michael Lomenda (this is like his first big gig...kudo's again you aging Repub!), and he knocks it out of the park.
Others? Joseph Russo as Joey. Remember how I said he was actually the real life Joe Pesci? And hats off to the writers on this one: they sneaked in other Pesci references..... "Funny? Funny how?" - (Goodfellas), and "Okay, Okay Okay!" - (Lethal Weapon)..... And then there is the amazing Christopher Walken. He never disappoints me. He took me back to "True Romance" wherein he and an unknown James Gandofini interrogate Dennis Hopper.
I liked this film a lot. Maybe it made me nostalgic. Maybe it made me homesick for those times when these songs were on the radio and my garage band "The Lemon Fog" was playing our first original "I Really Care" at Sheri Orcutt's 16th birthday party. Maybe, just maybe, these tunes weren't that bad after all.
I have a different feel for these Jersey Boys now. And guys, even with all the moles, scars, and warts, I like you better. This film gives you heart. And Character. What else could you have wanted or hoped for?
My only regret is that Pat McBain didn't see this. Sorry readers....permit me the occasional personal digression.....
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Blended
FLIX!
I must admit something right up front. This was the first time I ever saw an Adam Sandler movie. Now, a lot of people would be shocked at that. I know lots of folks that love this guy and have seen all of his movies. And these are people whose opinion I respect. But, I just never was drawn to the guy. His Saturday Night Live sketches wherein he sang songs with nonsensical rhymes just left me flat. I never thought he was that funny.
And then there is Drew Barrymore. I will never forget that at a very young age when she was in "ET" how she would look at the camera and almost laugh, being totally out of character. Okay, I guess I have to forgive that in a kid. But I'm not going to give her a free pass because she's part of the renowned Hollywood Barrymore family. But I will acknowledge her because she has not always done great work, at least darn it, she's trying. And in some cases she's turning in some darned nice performances. See "Riding In Cars With Boys". It's not her fault she's not offered things of much substance. And she appreciates film ala Turner Classic Movies.
The Sandler/Barrymore onscreen thing started with "The Wedding Singer." And then there was "50 First Dates."And now this. "Blended."
So the story goes like this: Drew Barrymore (Lauren) is a recent divorcee who agrees to go on a blind date with Adam Sandler (Jim). Jim takes her to a Hooters for their date. She is a little put-off by this and it goes down-hill from there. Her wings are too hot and she does spit takes all over herself, and Sandler is phoning this scene in, and I thought, "yep, this is exactly why I have never gone to an Adam Sandler movie."
But then the story starts to shape up. We find out that Lauren is stuck raising two total misfit boys (who honestly could make a case for retro-abortion), and Jim has lost his wife to cancer. Jim also has three daughters, each with her own special set of challenges.
The date does not go well, and understandably each vows to never to see the other again. But then, the waitress went and mixed up their credit cards.....
Through a weird turn of events, both families end up being able to get a discounted vacation to a resort in Africa. And they run into each other. And because they each bought pieces of the same vacation, they have to share the dining table, and rooms etc.
Slowly the families warm up to each other and we slowly begin rooting for the two parents to get together. And slowly they begin to. Even to the point of a kiss, and then Jim just can't because he isn't ready.
Upon the return to the US, Jim finally decides that he's been foolish and that he loves Lauren. He goes to see her, but her ex is there creating mayhem. Soon enough though Jim can't stay away and of course there is a great ending.
Involved in all this is one of Jim's daughter's who can't let her mother go. There is a scene when she decides it's time because "Mom says she has lots of stuff to do" that had my wife in tears. His oldest is becoming a young woman with help from Lauren who is allowing and helping this daughter's feminine self to emerge. Jim meanwhile is helping one of the boys improve his baseball skills. Essentially being the father that the kid is lacking.
Overall I did like the movie. It had it's faults. A lot of them for my money. For instance, at the resort there is a singer with his back-up guys that are waayyyy over used and aren't funny, and still we see them time and time again. Some of the jokes try too hard and are predictable. (The kid in the petting zoo with a stuffed animal). The old guy that always falls asleep. Stupid, crummy, and is what makes for awful movies.
But there is the chemistry between Barrymore and Sandler that helps pull this out of the dumpster. I know the Producers thought they could save this by having all of the African shots to keep it interesting, and that might be so, but I think the casting here - and I don't mean just the adult leads, I mean Jim's daughters, was tremendous. Lauren's sons were hacks and terribly written. I hope they never work again. Well maybe I have to forgive that in a kid (again) and blame it on the writers. But still the girls were all good.
So overall a nice romantic comedy. My wife will want to buy the DVD. I might even watch it.
Grade: B-
I must admit something right up front. This was the first time I ever saw an Adam Sandler movie. Now, a lot of people would be shocked at that. I know lots of folks that love this guy and have seen all of his movies. And these are people whose opinion I respect. But, I just never was drawn to the guy. His Saturday Night Live sketches wherein he sang songs with nonsensical rhymes just left me flat. I never thought he was that funny.
And then there is Drew Barrymore. I will never forget that at a very young age when she was in "ET" how she would look at the camera and almost laugh, being totally out of character. Okay, I guess I have to forgive that in a kid. But I'm not going to give her a free pass because she's part of the renowned Hollywood Barrymore family. But I will acknowledge her because she has not always done great work, at least darn it, she's trying. And in some cases she's turning in some darned nice performances. See "Riding In Cars With Boys". It's not her fault she's not offered things of much substance. And she appreciates film ala Turner Classic Movies.
The Sandler/Barrymore onscreen thing started with "The Wedding Singer." And then there was "50 First Dates."And now this. "Blended."
So the story goes like this: Drew Barrymore (Lauren) is a recent divorcee who agrees to go on a blind date with Adam Sandler (Jim). Jim takes her to a Hooters for their date. She is a little put-off by this and it goes down-hill from there. Her wings are too hot and she does spit takes all over herself, and Sandler is phoning this scene in, and I thought, "yep, this is exactly why I have never gone to an Adam Sandler movie."
But then the story starts to shape up. We find out that Lauren is stuck raising two total misfit boys (who honestly could make a case for retro-abortion), and Jim has lost his wife to cancer. Jim also has three daughters, each with her own special set of challenges.
The date does not go well, and understandably each vows to never to see the other again. But then, the waitress went and mixed up their credit cards.....
Through a weird turn of events, both families end up being able to get a discounted vacation to a resort in Africa. And they run into each other. And because they each bought pieces of the same vacation, they have to share the dining table, and rooms etc.
Slowly the families warm up to each other and we slowly begin rooting for the two parents to get together. And slowly they begin to. Even to the point of a kiss, and then Jim just can't because he isn't ready.
Upon the return to the US, Jim finally decides that he's been foolish and that he loves Lauren. He goes to see her, but her ex is there creating mayhem. Soon enough though Jim can't stay away and of course there is a great ending.
Involved in all this is one of Jim's daughter's who can't let her mother go. There is a scene when she decides it's time because "Mom says she has lots of stuff to do" that had my wife in tears. His oldest is becoming a young woman with help from Lauren who is allowing and helping this daughter's feminine self to emerge. Jim meanwhile is helping one of the boys improve his baseball skills. Essentially being the father that the kid is lacking.
Overall I did like the movie. It had it's faults. A lot of them for my money. For instance, at the resort there is a singer with his back-up guys that are waayyyy over used and aren't funny, and still we see them time and time again. Some of the jokes try too hard and are predictable. (The kid in the petting zoo with a stuffed animal). The old guy that always falls asleep. Stupid, crummy, and is what makes for awful movies.
But there is the chemistry between Barrymore and Sandler that helps pull this out of the dumpster. I know the Producers thought they could save this by having all of the African shots to keep it interesting, and that might be so, but I think the casting here - and I don't mean just the adult leads, I mean Jim's daughters, was tremendous. Lauren's sons were hacks and terribly written. I hope they never work again. Well maybe I have to forgive that in a kid (again) and blame it on the writers. But still the girls were all good.
So overall a nice romantic comedy. My wife will want to buy the DVD. I might even watch it.
Grade: B-
Friday, May 30, 2014
Godzilla
FLIX!
Okay, saw it and gotta do it.
I never really got the whole Godzilla/Mothra thing. So my older daughter wanted to see this tonight, so hey, I don't get to see her that much, ....so I guess!
I have never seen a real Godzilla movie before. I mean think I saw the cheap Japanese stuff on the "Creature Feature" on late night TV in the early 70's, but I have never laid down cash to go see a Godzilla movie.
My son complained that you have to wait too long to see Godzilla. I disagree. I thought he was placed perfectly. First the story line had to secure the fact that Godzilla is really on our side and that laying total waste to San Francisco was because he was helping us!
Two Giant Moth Creatures are brought to life, because one of them was waiting for the other to mature in Yucca Mountain. One starts from Japan on it's journey to the west coast of the US. The other leaves Yucca Mountain and heads to San Francisco to begin a new race of giant Praying Mantis's with the guy heading in from Japan. And cool, the males can fly.
But see, Godzilla, for some reason, hates Moth creatures. So he is our Bud for going after these two giant destructive awful expectant parents. A lesser critic would suggest a Pro-choice agenda. But you won't get that from me.
I really liked this movie. If you went to a "Godzilla" to see a Godzilla movie you won't be disappointed. I thought the final sequences were superb. If I were a Godzilla Fan, I would be totally satisfied.
And isn't that the mark of any fan-based movie?
Grade: B-
Okay, saw it and gotta do it.
I never really got the whole Godzilla/Mothra thing. So my older daughter wanted to see this tonight, so hey, I don't get to see her that much, ....so I guess!
I have never seen a real Godzilla movie before. I mean think I saw the cheap Japanese stuff on the "Creature Feature" on late night TV in the early 70's, but I have never laid down cash to go see a Godzilla movie.
My son complained that you have to wait too long to see Godzilla. I disagree. I thought he was placed perfectly. First the story line had to secure the fact that Godzilla is really on our side and that laying total waste to San Francisco was because he was helping us!
Two Giant Moth Creatures are brought to life, because one of them was waiting for the other to mature in Yucca Mountain. One starts from Japan on it's journey to the west coast of the US. The other leaves Yucca Mountain and heads to San Francisco to begin a new race of giant Praying Mantis's with the guy heading in from Japan. And cool, the males can fly.
But see, Godzilla, for some reason, hates Moth creatures. So he is our Bud for going after these two giant destructive awful expectant parents. A lesser critic would suggest a Pro-choice agenda. But you won't get that from me.
I really liked this movie. If you went to a "Godzilla" to see a Godzilla movie you won't be disappointed. I thought the final sequences were superb. If I were a Godzilla Fan, I would be totally satisfied.
And isn't that the mark of any fan-based movie?
Grade: B-
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Million Dollar Arm
FLIX!
When considering what to see at the movies last night there were some interesting choices. We could opt for Spiderman 2 (in 3-D if we wanted), the new X-Men, among others. My wife let me choose and I chose "Million Dollar Arm."
Disney has a knack of doing the feel-good sports stories very well, ala "Tiger Town", "The Rookie", and "Miracle" and that's just the tip of the ice berg.
This movie centers around JB Bernstein played aptly by John Hamm of "Madmen" fame. Bernstein is a sports agent and he is falling on hard times. He needs a real good deal to keep he and his company (a partner Ash Vasudevan - played by Aasif Mandvi, and an assistant Theresa played by Allyn Rachel) afloat. His one great hope is waffling on him, and he is at his wits end. He is at home one night and he is watching TV switching between "Britain's Got Talent" and a cricket match on ESPN and inspiration hits. What if he sponsors a talent competition in India to find a Cricket pitcher, correction Bowler, that can throw fast enough for a major league baseball tryout? He could sign them, and maybe salvage his career.
They go to India and conditions are not much like America. I was reminded a lot of a trip I took to Haiti. But the tryouts are scheduled all over India, and Bernstein is hopeful, because if he discovers a major leaguer in India there are a billion built-in potential fans. Who wouldn't want to sell a billion caps or T-Shirts? He goes all around the country with his entourage and manages to come up with a nerdy little Indian who claims to know everything about baseball but knows nothing, Arnit Rohan (played by Pitobash) and wouldn't even be there as a translator except he agreed to work for free. Also with him is former sports scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin) who hates being there and sleeps through a lot of the tryouts, but he's "listening". And after all is said and done, in a talent contest show format, they actually managed to come up with two guys who can throw in the mid-80's range. Miles Per Hour for you non-baseball fans. But remember these guys have never picked up a baseball before.
Bernstein lives in a nice southern California residence that offers a little bungalow out back that he rents out to a medical student, Brenda, played by Lake Bell. When Bernstein's two prospects, with Arnit in tow, end up staying at his place, Brenda becomes a stabilizing influence that JB, under so much pressure, is unable to be able to do. Meanwhile, JB sends the two recruits to be coached by USC's pitching coach Tom House, played by Bill Paxton (who coincidently directed a Disney sports movie "The Greatest Game Ever Played").
This might be a good time to mention the actual recruits. They are/were Rinku Singh, played by Suraj Sharma, and Dinesh Patel, played by Madhur Mittai. Fine performances to be sure.
Without giving to much away, but let this be a spoiler alert, they don't do so well at one try-out, but after Brenda's insistence that JB just let it be fun they do much better at the second. At the end of the movie, they both get signed to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and JB is saved and all is well with the world, and my wife announced 'we will own this movie'. It was a great movie. Entertaining and uplifting with a lot of comedy mixed in.
It is worth the price of admission, and these days, that says a lot. I will recommend it. I don't think anyone could go wrong putting down hard earned bucks to see this. Go for it. Be uplifted. And enjoy the wonderful real life photos shown at the end of the real life guys, one of whom gets to meet President Obama, and photos of the real life JB and how he eventually married Brenda and they have a family. But please if you love all this just read my grade and click out.
Grade: B.
Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel were indeed both signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. The combined total signing bonus amounted to about $8000. They both ended up in the Pirates farm system. Dinesh pitched about 7 innings, and although 1-0 for the 2009 season, was released and he returned to India where he remains involved in baseball. Rinku is still in baseball bouncing between the Pirates farm system and leagues in Australia and the Dominican Republic...here there and everywhere. But neither ever made it to the Bigs.
I hope that JB was able to remain viable, but I doubt if it was off signing these two guys. And so there's that.
When considering what to see at the movies last night there were some interesting choices. We could opt for Spiderman 2 (in 3-D if we wanted), the new X-Men, among others. My wife let me choose and I chose "Million Dollar Arm."
Disney has a knack of doing the feel-good sports stories very well, ala "Tiger Town", "The Rookie", and "Miracle" and that's just the tip of the ice berg.
This movie centers around JB Bernstein played aptly by John Hamm of "Madmen" fame. Bernstein is a sports agent and he is falling on hard times. He needs a real good deal to keep he and his company (a partner Ash Vasudevan - played by Aasif Mandvi, and an assistant Theresa played by Allyn Rachel) afloat. His one great hope is waffling on him, and he is at his wits end. He is at home one night and he is watching TV switching between "Britain's Got Talent" and a cricket match on ESPN and inspiration hits. What if he sponsors a talent competition in India to find a Cricket pitcher, correction Bowler, that can throw fast enough for a major league baseball tryout? He could sign them, and maybe salvage his career.
They go to India and conditions are not much like America. I was reminded a lot of a trip I took to Haiti. But the tryouts are scheduled all over India, and Bernstein is hopeful, because if he discovers a major leaguer in India there are a billion built-in potential fans. Who wouldn't want to sell a billion caps or T-Shirts? He goes all around the country with his entourage and manages to come up with a nerdy little Indian who claims to know everything about baseball but knows nothing, Arnit Rohan (played by Pitobash) and wouldn't even be there as a translator except he agreed to work for free. Also with him is former sports scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin) who hates being there and sleeps through a lot of the tryouts, but he's "listening". And after all is said and done, in a talent contest show format, they actually managed to come up with two guys who can throw in the mid-80's range. Miles Per Hour for you non-baseball fans. But remember these guys have never picked up a baseball before.
Bernstein lives in a nice southern California residence that offers a little bungalow out back that he rents out to a medical student, Brenda, played by Lake Bell. When Bernstein's two prospects, with Arnit in tow, end up staying at his place, Brenda becomes a stabilizing influence that JB, under so much pressure, is unable to be able to do. Meanwhile, JB sends the two recruits to be coached by USC's pitching coach Tom House, played by Bill Paxton (who coincidently directed a Disney sports movie "The Greatest Game Ever Played").
This might be a good time to mention the actual recruits. They are/were Rinku Singh, played by Suraj Sharma, and Dinesh Patel, played by Madhur Mittai. Fine performances to be sure.
Without giving to much away, but let this be a spoiler alert, they don't do so well at one try-out, but after Brenda's insistence that JB just let it be fun they do much better at the second. At the end of the movie, they both get signed to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and JB is saved and all is well with the world, and my wife announced 'we will own this movie'. It was a great movie. Entertaining and uplifting with a lot of comedy mixed in.
It is worth the price of admission, and these days, that says a lot. I will recommend it. I don't think anyone could go wrong putting down hard earned bucks to see this. Go for it. Be uplifted. And enjoy the wonderful real life photos shown at the end of the real life guys, one of whom gets to meet President Obama, and photos of the real life JB and how he eventually married Brenda and they have a family. But please if you love all this just read my grade and click out.
Grade: B.
Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel were indeed both signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. The combined total signing bonus amounted to about $8000. They both ended up in the Pirates farm system. Dinesh pitched about 7 innings, and although 1-0 for the 2009 season, was released and he returned to India where he remains involved in baseball. Rinku is still in baseball bouncing between the Pirates farm system and leagues in Australia and the Dominican Republic...here there and everywhere. But neither ever made it to the Bigs.
I hope that JB was able to remain viable, but I doubt if it was off signing these two guys. And so there's that.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Pittsburgh PA
STAGE TUNES!
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Consol Energy Arena
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
April 22, 2014
In my 12th visit to Rock and Roll Mecca, thanks to a caring and thoughtful wife and an upcoming birthday, we traveled to Pittsburgh PA. The Consol Energy Arena to be exact. Although 12 are all of the shows I can remember, this was the first for my wife, and it's always a lot of fun to go with a Bruce first-timer, and to watch the magic take over.
To be honest we were a bit far away for her to truly get the whole impact. All of the other times I've seen him I've always been fairly close, but as both Bruce and I age, it gets more and more difficult to be down front. When I last saw him in Detroit with my sister, I was standing on a hard surface - never sitting down - for a full 8 hours. I hobbled my way back to the car. So although for this show we were farther away, I appreciated having a chair that I could sit down in when I wanted to. And we were able to sit for most of the 3 hour show.
When Bruce and the E Streeters hit the stage, an electricity happens. I have experienced it many times. Not only in the times I've seen Bruce, but when I saw Sinatra. McCartney. The MC5. And to a slightly lesser degree Dylan and Waits. Something happens in the air. And in the case of Sinatra, the room just got a lot classier. In the case of Bruce, the biggest block party you'll ever attend just started.
I have seen the E Street Band in it's many incarnations. Yes, there was something about a simpler time with a healthy Danny and a vibrant Clarence that cannot be replaced, but still without missing a beat, Bruce did the right thing. Instead of simply trying to replace Danny and Clarence, which honestly couldn't really be done, he decided to re-tool the whole band. He brought in the horn section from the Seeger Sessions, and others from other moments in the E Street history. The E Street Band (recent inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), continue to rumble on as the machine they have become. A rock and roll zamboni. Solid. Heavy. Relentless is its path.
This Tuesday night in Pittsburgh exploded with a cover of the Clash's "Clampdown". An interesting beginning I thought. But I was waiting for more familiar material. I didn't have to wait long. The refrains of Clampdown were begging for a chance to die down but it was Bruce with the nearly signature "ONE-TWO-ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR! And the wonderful and familiar refrain from "Badlands" rang out. And from there it never let up. The Zamboni just kept on rolling. "Johnny 99", "Stand On it", and "Seven Nights To Rock." And on and on.
For me, it's not just the music. Or the fact that Bruce knocks himself out gig after gig, playing each song like it's the last time he ever gets to play a song. For me, he represents me and a hundred thousand guys like me. We wanted it. We all tried. But Bruce made it. He's doing it for all of us.
But yeah Bruce has now with age cleverly built "breaks' into his set. He virtually lets the audience sing entire verses of "Hungry Heart", and different choruses of "Badlands" and "The Promised Land". And now the shows last only around 3 hours. This one was 3 hours and 3 minutes. In the old days he was just getting warmed up. Four or Four and a half hour concerts were never unusual. But still, three hours does not disappoint. Not even close. This was a great and wonderful three hours.
He pleased the crowd with a wonderful "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", and an obligatory "Dancing in the Dark" wherein he invites lots of girls up on stage to dance while attempting selfie's with Bruce in the frame. In one case a rather butch looking woman even asked if she could play with the band and was given a guitar.
And there was the collection of signs from the audience wherein Bruce body-surfed back to the stage, delivered a soulful "Back in Your Arms." And the particularly fun rendition of "Mary's Place" whereby Bruce allowed a lot of audience members the chance to sing along with him. And the raucous guitar antics of Tom Morello on a rave-up version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad." More show than go, it was still a show stopper for sure.
And then he does a fun, raucous version of "Shout." Although by The Isley Brothers, it was made more famous by Otis Day and the Knights in the movie "Animal House." And he does it to perfection, having the audience join in where the audience should obviously join in. He tried to end the show there, and rightfully should have, but the audience wasn't ready to let him go just yet, so he finished out the set with a sullen, slow, "Dream, Baby, Dream." It was sort of the equivalent of "cool-down exercises" in the gym. The crowd was then satisfied. And the show was over.
And two nights later it began all over again. Somewhere.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Consol Energy Arena
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
April 22, 2014
In my 12th visit to Rock and Roll Mecca, thanks to a caring and thoughtful wife and an upcoming birthday, we traveled to Pittsburgh PA. The Consol Energy Arena to be exact. Although 12 are all of the shows I can remember, this was the first for my wife, and it's always a lot of fun to go with a Bruce first-timer, and to watch the magic take over.
To be honest we were a bit far away for her to truly get the whole impact. All of the other times I've seen him I've always been fairly close, but as both Bruce and I age, it gets more and more difficult to be down front. When I last saw him in Detroit with my sister, I was standing on a hard surface - never sitting down - for a full 8 hours. I hobbled my way back to the car. So although for this show we were farther away, I appreciated having a chair that I could sit down in when I wanted to. And we were able to sit for most of the 3 hour show.
When Bruce and the E Streeters hit the stage, an electricity happens. I have experienced it many times. Not only in the times I've seen Bruce, but when I saw Sinatra. McCartney. The MC5. And to a slightly lesser degree Dylan and Waits. Something happens in the air. And in the case of Sinatra, the room just got a lot classier. In the case of Bruce, the biggest block party you'll ever attend just started.
I have seen the E Street Band in it's many incarnations. Yes, there was something about a simpler time with a healthy Danny and a vibrant Clarence that cannot be replaced, but still without missing a beat, Bruce did the right thing. Instead of simply trying to replace Danny and Clarence, which honestly couldn't really be done, he decided to re-tool the whole band. He brought in the horn section from the Seeger Sessions, and others from other moments in the E Street history. The E Street Band (recent inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), continue to rumble on as the machine they have become. A rock and roll zamboni. Solid. Heavy. Relentless is its path.
This Tuesday night in Pittsburgh exploded with a cover of the Clash's "Clampdown". An interesting beginning I thought. But I was waiting for more familiar material. I didn't have to wait long. The refrains of Clampdown were begging for a chance to die down but it was Bruce with the nearly signature "ONE-TWO-ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR! And the wonderful and familiar refrain from "Badlands" rang out. And from there it never let up. The Zamboni just kept on rolling. "Johnny 99", "Stand On it", and "Seven Nights To Rock." And on and on.
For me, it's not just the music. Or the fact that Bruce knocks himself out gig after gig, playing each song like it's the last time he ever gets to play a song. For me, he represents me and a hundred thousand guys like me. We wanted it. We all tried. But Bruce made it. He's doing it for all of us.
But yeah Bruce has now with age cleverly built "breaks' into his set. He virtually lets the audience sing entire verses of "Hungry Heart", and different choruses of "Badlands" and "The Promised Land". And now the shows last only around 3 hours. This one was 3 hours and 3 minutes. In the old days he was just getting warmed up. Four or Four and a half hour concerts were never unusual. But still, three hours does not disappoint. Not even close. This was a great and wonderful three hours.
He pleased the crowd with a wonderful "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", and an obligatory "Dancing in the Dark" wherein he invites lots of girls up on stage to dance while attempting selfie's with Bruce in the frame. In one case a rather butch looking woman even asked if she could play with the band and was given a guitar.
And there was the collection of signs from the audience wherein Bruce body-surfed back to the stage, delivered a soulful "Back in Your Arms." And the particularly fun rendition of "Mary's Place" whereby Bruce allowed a lot of audience members the chance to sing along with him. And the raucous guitar antics of Tom Morello on a rave-up version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad." More show than go, it was still a show stopper for sure.
And then he does a fun, raucous version of "Shout." Although by The Isley Brothers, it was made more famous by Otis Day and the Knights in the movie "Animal House." And he does it to perfection, having the audience join in where the audience should obviously join in. He tried to end the show there, and rightfully should have, but the audience wasn't ready to let him go just yet, so he finished out the set with a sullen, slow, "Dream, Baby, Dream." It was sort of the equivalent of "cool-down exercises" in the gym. The crowd was then satisfied. And the show was over.
And two nights later it began all over again. Somewhere.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
The Other Woman
FLIX!
Okay, fellas, it's alright. A chick-flick once in a while is okay. A Joyful Noise turned out to be fun, didn't it? And Pitch Perfect? Admit it, you loved the cup/song thing. Well along comes The Other Woman.
It stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton (who is truly funny and the best thing about the movie), and newcomer Leslie Mann. Newcomer Leslie Mann is here for her exquisite body, but I saw more than hints of talent popping out.
The premise is this: a wife discovers her husband (Zac Efron) is cheating, and when she confronts the mistress discovers that she's not really a mistress because he said he was single. And in a weird twisted way, they become friends. And as they together spy on the guy, they discover that he is actually with another girl too. He has told her he is in the midst of a divorce. The new girl is also somehow brought into the "angry-women-fold", and they begin plotting on how to get even. And the things these women came up with were mind boggling. I hate infidelity. I would never cheat anyway, but after seeing this with my wife.... I would never cheat. Ever. Not even let it cross my mind, honey......
This movie is laugh out loud funny. It lost a little umph for us because we saw it at 11:30 in the morning with four other people. So there wasn't exactly uproarious laughter. But it was funny. I laughed out loud even when I was the only one. Hey, funny is funny.
I liked this flick a lot. The final scenes are well worth the price of admission. I don't like these hound-dogs that make my gender look awful, and I was cheering when the pay-backs were happening. And those scenes are hysterical by the way. You go girls!
This is the movie that toppled "Captain America" at the Box Office last week, so there's that guys!
Check this out.
Grade: Strong B+
Okay, fellas, it's alright. A chick-flick once in a while is okay. A Joyful Noise turned out to be fun, didn't it? And Pitch Perfect? Admit it, you loved the cup/song thing. Well along comes The Other Woman.
It stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton (who is truly funny and the best thing about the movie), and newcomer Leslie Mann. Newcomer Leslie Mann is here for her exquisite body, but I saw more than hints of talent popping out.
The premise is this: a wife discovers her husband (Zac Efron) is cheating, and when she confronts the mistress discovers that she's not really a mistress because he said he was single. And in a weird twisted way, they become friends. And as they together spy on the guy, they discover that he is actually with another girl too. He has told her he is in the midst of a divorce. The new girl is also somehow brought into the "angry-women-fold", and they begin plotting on how to get even. And the things these women came up with were mind boggling. I hate infidelity. I would never cheat anyway, but after seeing this with my wife.... I would never cheat. Ever. Not even let it cross my mind, honey......
This movie is laugh out loud funny. It lost a little umph for us because we saw it at 11:30 in the morning with four other people. So there wasn't exactly uproarious laughter. But it was funny. I laughed out loud even when I was the only one. Hey, funny is funny.
I liked this flick a lot. The final scenes are well worth the price of admission. I don't like these hound-dogs that make my gender look awful, and I was cheering when the pay-backs were happening. And those scenes are hysterical by the way. You go girls!
This is the movie that toppled "Captain America" at the Box Office last week, so there's that guys!
Check this out.
Grade: Strong B+
Monday, April 21, 2014
Draft Day
FLIX!
This film is exactly what the title says it is. It occurs on Draft Day. The NFL Draft Day to be exact. It starts in the morning as Kevin Costner (the supposed General Manager of the Cleveland Browns) is off to work. This is an important day for GMs as one might suspect. Along the course of this day we learn that this GMs dad had been the former coach, and that his son had fired him. An Accounting executive who watches the whole salary cap thing (Jennifer Garner) has been sleeping with the boss and the day before Draft Day is the day she decides to let him know she's pregnant. On top of all this, the Kevin Costner GMs father, who he recently fired, has died, and his mother decides today is the day there is an ash spreading ceremony.
Costner wants to make a great Ohio State Defensive linebacker pick that will truly help the team win, but the owner interferes and wants him to take the rock star of the day Quarterback. Costner agrees to save his job. But as the day progresses, many things happen, and the tension builds. The final scene of trading and finagling is worth the price of admission. That scene is a thing of beauty.
I can't say any more about the film's story-line. But I must say right up front, I am not a Kevin Costner fan. Unless he's in a Western. I think he is the greatest Western star of our generation. I like him even more than Eastwood. So there's that. I loved seeing Jennifer Garner back in the biz. She and her husband have started a family and she took some totally understandable time off, but now she's poking back into the biz and that's great. All at your pace, Jennifer. Even a little is better than none at all. Ellen Burstyn as the mother was wonderful and even the one-day shoot with Rosanna Arquette as the ex-wife was fun.
I liked this film but didn't love it. I loved the whole build up to the Draft Night wheeling and dealing, and that was great, but I don't know.....was there enough meat in the story?
So I am going to recommend you to go see it. I liked it at least that much. But don't rush out to buy it on Blue-Ray. I am glad I saw this movie. But if I see it one or two more times in my life, that's enough.
GRADE: C+
You know what? I've thought about it a long time and I have decided to own this on Blu-Ray. And I am going to make my wife pay for it at Christmastime. This was a wonderful movie. It was a while ago, but I'm upping my grade to a B-.
This film is exactly what the title says it is. It occurs on Draft Day. The NFL Draft Day to be exact. It starts in the morning as Kevin Costner (the supposed General Manager of the Cleveland Browns) is off to work. This is an important day for GMs as one might suspect. Along the course of this day we learn that this GMs dad had been the former coach, and that his son had fired him. An Accounting executive who watches the whole salary cap thing (Jennifer Garner) has been sleeping with the boss and the day before Draft Day is the day she decides to let him know she's pregnant. On top of all this, the Kevin Costner GMs father, who he recently fired, has died, and his mother decides today is the day there is an ash spreading ceremony.
Costner wants to make a great Ohio State Defensive linebacker pick that will truly help the team win, but the owner interferes and wants him to take the rock star of the day Quarterback. Costner agrees to save his job. But as the day progresses, many things happen, and the tension builds. The final scene of trading and finagling is worth the price of admission. That scene is a thing of beauty.
I can't say any more about the film's story-line. But I must say right up front, I am not a Kevin Costner fan. Unless he's in a Western. I think he is the greatest Western star of our generation. I like him even more than Eastwood. So there's that. I loved seeing Jennifer Garner back in the biz. She and her husband have started a family and she took some totally understandable time off, but now she's poking back into the biz and that's great. All at your pace, Jennifer. Even a little is better than none at all. Ellen Burstyn as the mother was wonderful and even the one-day shoot with Rosanna Arquette as the ex-wife was fun.
I liked this film but didn't love it. I loved the whole build up to the Draft Night wheeling and dealing, and that was great, but I don't know.....was there enough meat in the story?
So I am going to recommend you to go see it. I liked it at least that much. But don't rush out to buy it on Blue-Ray. I am glad I saw this movie. But if I see it one or two more times in my life, that's enough.
GRADE: C+
You know what? I've thought about it a long time and I have decided to own this on Blu-Ray. And I am going to make my wife pay for it at Christmastime. This was a wonderful movie. It was a while ago, but I'm upping my grade to a B-.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
TV Is The New Place To Find Art.
There was a time in the moving picture art world when movies reigned supreme. There were motion pictures being cranked out like "The Godfather", "Citizen Kane", "To Kill A Mockingbird", and on and on. All masterful works of art. And then cable TV happened. And somehow the archaic rules about TV that kept it limited to favorite martians, talking horses, and how funny WWII prisoner of war camps were, seemed to begin to be stretched. And over the years progressively, albeit sometimes too slowly, things have been changing. TV has become the new black, to coin an incidental phrase.
The Networks are still hopelessly caught in the deer-in-the-headlights-not-getting-it -full-of-crap tie downs that keep them limited by sensibilities of a by-gone era. Good. Keep thinking that losers. Because nobody cares anymore. The Networks are so yesterday's papers, that I can't imagine why anyone goes there. Okay I liked "The Blacklist" but the idiots at the network only bought 10 episodes. When it was a hit, they hurriedly bought 10 more, but hey, it's been a while and my patience grows thin. It wasn't THAT great, after all. Your colon looks fine NBC, pull your head out and see some sunlight.
Okay, Modern Family is brilliant, but after the first two seasons what the?.....
But let's look at what else has been going on. Oh, let's see.....can you say 'everywhere else on the dial' brilliant?
Let's start with the Premium channels. HBO: There are some I didn't like (Okay, they were The Sopranos, (the most over-blown piece of shit ever), Deadwood, and Entourage. ) But I loved The Wire, Homeland, True Detective, The Newsroom, and The Extras.)
On SHOWTIME: There was one of the greatest shows ever: Weeds. Then followed Dexter, and one of my personal Favorites: Californication. Hey, Networks, starting to feel it yet? No, you dummies are probably still scratching your heads wondering why you're tanking. So, let me continue.....
AMC: The biggest show on cable: The Walking Dead. Zombies apparently rule over CSI crapola. Mad Men. The darling of reviewers everywhere, but is in reality only slightly above average.
And there's Justified. Great show, and not just because of the great Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins.
I'll add more as it occurs to me.
The Networks are still hopelessly caught in the deer-in-the-headlights-not-getting-it -full-of-crap tie downs that keep them limited by sensibilities of a by-gone era. Good. Keep thinking that losers. Because nobody cares anymore. The Networks are so yesterday's papers, that I can't imagine why anyone goes there. Okay I liked "The Blacklist" but the idiots at the network only bought 10 episodes. When it was a hit, they hurriedly bought 10 more, but hey, it's been a while and my patience grows thin. It wasn't THAT great, after all. Your colon looks fine NBC, pull your head out and see some sunlight.
Okay, Modern Family is brilliant, but after the first two seasons what the?.....
But let's look at what else has been going on. Oh, let's see.....can you say 'everywhere else on the dial' brilliant?
Let's start with the Premium channels. HBO: There are some I didn't like (Okay, they were The Sopranos, (the most over-blown piece of shit ever), Deadwood, and Entourage. ) But I loved The Wire, Homeland, True Detective, The Newsroom, and The Extras.)
On SHOWTIME: There was one of the greatest shows ever: Weeds. Then followed Dexter, and one of my personal Favorites: Californication. Hey, Networks, starting to feel it yet? No, you dummies are probably still scratching your heads wondering why you're tanking. So, let me continue.....
AMC: The biggest show on cable: The Walking Dead. Zombies apparently rule over CSI crapola. Mad Men. The darling of reviewers everywhere, but is in reality only slightly above average.
And there's Justified. Great show, and not just because of the great Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins.
I'll add more as it occurs to me.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Steve Jobs
PAGES!
Steve Jobs
by Walter Issacson
Simon & Schuster
2011
I read a lot of biographies. But I don't usually get to read a biography about someone two years younger than me. That means I can remember everything in it and put it in my own time perspective. Steve Jobs was two years younger than me and in a very real way helped shape what others will someday look back on and credit my generation with. My generation was the dawn of the digital age. We brought computing into everyone's home. We made animation seem three dimensional. We now carry thousands of songs around with us in a device not much bigger than a credit card. My generation, a generation that decided we could all walk around with an actual telephone on us, and it would also store our music, and take pictures, and scan the web. And who was deeply imbedded in the midst of all of this? Steve Jobs. In many ways, and in a real sense, the Thomas Edison of our times.
Walter Isaacson has done meticulous research and has put together a biography that was well organized, fair, was true to who Jobs was, and gave us a real insight into the workings of a very complex person.
It all started when Steve was adopted by the Jobs' in 1955. And his father Paul Jobs did what many men of the era did; he bought cars, fixed them up, and sold them to make a few bucks. That's what my dad did, that's what Paul Jobs did. But Paul Jobs taught young Steve that one should never skimp on what's under the hood, what's not seen. It is a matter of pride.
Some might say the real story starts when Steve Jobs met Steve Wozniak. Maybe. But there was also the episode wherein Steve Jobs needed a part for some gadget he was working on and he looked up the number of Mr. Hewlett of Hewlett/Packard (a local company in the area) called him and asked him to help get the part. Mr. Hewlett gave young Steve a job and he got to be around some very smart electronics guys.
But when Steve Jobs met Steve Wozniak was truly one of the pivotal moments in 20th century history. Like when Lennon met McCartney, but on a computing level. Wozniak was the electronics wizard of the team that began humbly enough in the Jobs family garage. "Woz" was a shy, introverted electronics mastermind, who seemingly to this day has no idea what a genius he is. And if it weren't for the brash Steve Jobs we would never have heard of Steve Wozniak.
Jobs was the driving force, the visionary who knew what to do with the cool stuff Woz could do. And they started Apple in a garage but they wouldn't be there long.
Apple began making exciting computing equipment for the everyday user that looked great and was fun to use. When the Apple II came out, it shook the world. I could go on and on about Apple's accomplishments so I must warn you from the start that I am an "Apple worm" as I prefer to call myself. I started when I ventured to get one and have since converted my whole family. My dad is 86 years old and goes nowhere without his iPad.
The story of Steve Jobs is like a roller coaster ride. He builds this great company, he gets pushed out, he starts another company NeXT, it's crummy, he gets in and makes a company out of Pixar and makes movie history time and again, gets Apple back, and although it's on the brink of folding, brings it back bigger and badder than ever.
Where do we start? I guess logically, the iMac. The first computer that had that Jolly Rancher coloring and the looks of the Jetsons. That assures Apple is coming back in a big way. Now, it should be known that they had struck a deal with Xerox who had developed the technology of the digital interface, but didn't know what to do with it. It is pretty much acknowledged that left in the hands of Xerox, nothing would have ever come of it. Then the "sunflower" iMac, still my very favorite of all Apple products. I told my Dad to buy Apple computer at this time, at $35 a share. He didn't listen. Wish he would have because then came the iPod. Not only did this become the biggest product Apple offered, but it spurned the sales of iMacs. Others rushed to catch up, but Microsoft among others were caught with their pants down. Next Jobs saves the music industry that was dying a quick death because of pirating, and comes up with the iTunes store. The music companies that signed on, although understandably wary, flourished again. And then it was another idea that Bill Gates said wouldn't work, the Apple Store. (The Apple store in New York has more shoppers in a week than Macy's has in a month). Never ceasing to be amazing Jobs presents the iPhone. It is still the Rolls-Royce of cellular devices. Do you know why I once owned an Android? Because I couldn't afford an iPhone. Thankfully I have an iPhone now. But Android is cool. Those weird people in Wal-Mart need to feel like they have a cellular device too. (See? I said I was an 'Apple worm').
After the iPhone, and although it was actually way into the works before the iPhone, came the iPad. This again was revolutionary. It is so minimalistic and streamlined and beautiful. And so very functional. (Okay, at this point I need to be fair and mention that although my wife has an iPad, I have only a Kindle Fire, but that's okay. It does what I need. Netflix, HBO, Spider Solitaire....)
And let us not forget the Apps Store. Jobs railed against outsiders being allowed to create apps for his device, he was outvoted. Apps were just part of the logical next step in the digital revolution.
Jobs was a visionary. He saw ahead of time the "Digital Hub", that all of our devices should work in conjunction with each other. The iCloud - I still maintain it should have been called "locker room" a place where we can all keep our stuff in our "locker, but nevertheless Jobs saw this ahead of time. He got it.
What he never got was how to eat properly. I'm not trying to start a war with vegans, because honestly, y'all won't be around long enough to finish the battle. But he stayed true to his vegetarian beliefs and it cost him his life. Jobs was told he needed surgery. Instead he spent 9 months in a health food store instead of his Doctor's office. Those nine months were critical. Yes, he finally agreed to the pancreas surgery...too late....and then the liver transplant....a short lease on life... Eventually he began eating omelets as a feeble attempt to get the valuable protein his body required.
At the end of his life Jobs had a three hour visit with Bill Gates. Two of the most important men of the 20th century, and they made amends. They finally were just two guys that did their best. And they both changed the world.
Dear Dad: Apple now trades at over $600 a share.
Grade: A.
Steve Jobs
by Walter Issacson
Simon & Schuster
2011
I read a lot of biographies. But I don't usually get to read a biography about someone two years younger than me. That means I can remember everything in it and put it in my own time perspective. Steve Jobs was two years younger than me and in a very real way helped shape what others will someday look back on and credit my generation with. My generation was the dawn of the digital age. We brought computing into everyone's home. We made animation seem three dimensional. We now carry thousands of songs around with us in a device not much bigger than a credit card. My generation, a generation that decided we could all walk around with an actual telephone on us, and it would also store our music, and take pictures, and scan the web. And who was deeply imbedded in the midst of all of this? Steve Jobs. In many ways, and in a real sense, the Thomas Edison of our times.
Walter Isaacson has done meticulous research and has put together a biography that was well organized, fair, was true to who Jobs was, and gave us a real insight into the workings of a very complex person.
It all started when Steve was adopted by the Jobs' in 1955. And his father Paul Jobs did what many men of the era did; he bought cars, fixed them up, and sold them to make a few bucks. That's what my dad did, that's what Paul Jobs did. But Paul Jobs taught young Steve that one should never skimp on what's under the hood, what's not seen. It is a matter of pride.
Some might say the real story starts when Steve Jobs met Steve Wozniak. Maybe. But there was also the episode wherein Steve Jobs needed a part for some gadget he was working on and he looked up the number of Mr. Hewlett of Hewlett/Packard (a local company in the area) called him and asked him to help get the part. Mr. Hewlett gave young Steve a job and he got to be around some very smart electronics guys.
But when Steve Jobs met Steve Wozniak was truly one of the pivotal moments in 20th century history. Like when Lennon met McCartney, but on a computing level. Wozniak was the electronics wizard of the team that began humbly enough in the Jobs family garage. "Woz" was a shy, introverted electronics mastermind, who seemingly to this day has no idea what a genius he is. And if it weren't for the brash Steve Jobs we would never have heard of Steve Wozniak.
Jobs was the driving force, the visionary who knew what to do with the cool stuff Woz could do. And they started Apple in a garage but they wouldn't be there long.
Apple began making exciting computing equipment for the everyday user that looked great and was fun to use. When the Apple II came out, it shook the world. I could go on and on about Apple's accomplishments so I must warn you from the start that I am an "Apple worm" as I prefer to call myself. I started when I ventured to get one and have since converted my whole family. My dad is 86 years old and goes nowhere without his iPad.
The story of Steve Jobs is like a roller coaster ride. He builds this great company, he gets pushed out, he starts another company NeXT, it's crummy, he gets in and makes a company out of Pixar and makes movie history time and again, gets Apple back, and although it's on the brink of folding, brings it back bigger and badder than ever.
Where do we start? I guess logically, the iMac. The first computer that had that Jolly Rancher coloring and the looks of the Jetsons. That assures Apple is coming back in a big way. Now, it should be known that they had struck a deal with Xerox who had developed the technology of the digital interface, but didn't know what to do with it. It is pretty much acknowledged that left in the hands of Xerox, nothing would have ever come of it. Then the "sunflower" iMac, still my very favorite of all Apple products. I told my Dad to buy Apple computer at this time, at $35 a share. He didn't listen. Wish he would have because then came the iPod. Not only did this become the biggest product Apple offered, but it spurned the sales of iMacs. Others rushed to catch up, but Microsoft among others were caught with their pants down. Next Jobs saves the music industry that was dying a quick death because of pirating, and comes up with the iTunes store. The music companies that signed on, although understandably wary, flourished again. And then it was another idea that Bill Gates said wouldn't work, the Apple Store. (The Apple store in New York has more shoppers in a week than Macy's has in a month). Never ceasing to be amazing Jobs presents the iPhone. It is still the Rolls-Royce of cellular devices. Do you know why I once owned an Android? Because I couldn't afford an iPhone. Thankfully I have an iPhone now. But Android is cool. Those weird people in Wal-Mart need to feel like they have a cellular device too. (See? I said I was an 'Apple worm').
After the iPhone, and although it was actually way into the works before the iPhone, came the iPad. This again was revolutionary. It is so minimalistic and streamlined and beautiful. And so very functional. (Okay, at this point I need to be fair and mention that although my wife has an iPad, I have only a Kindle Fire, but that's okay. It does what I need. Netflix, HBO, Spider Solitaire....)
And let us not forget the Apps Store. Jobs railed against outsiders being allowed to create apps for his device, he was outvoted. Apps were just part of the logical next step in the digital revolution.
Jobs was a visionary. He saw ahead of time the "Digital Hub", that all of our devices should work in conjunction with each other. The iCloud - I still maintain it should have been called "locker room" a place where we can all keep our stuff in our "locker, but nevertheless Jobs saw this ahead of time. He got it.
What he never got was how to eat properly. I'm not trying to start a war with vegans, because honestly, y'all won't be around long enough to finish the battle. But he stayed true to his vegetarian beliefs and it cost him his life. Jobs was told he needed surgery. Instead he spent 9 months in a health food store instead of his Doctor's office. Those nine months were critical. Yes, he finally agreed to the pancreas surgery...too late....and then the liver transplant....a short lease on life... Eventually he began eating omelets as a feeble attempt to get the valuable protein his body required.
At the end of his life Jobs had a three hour visit with Bill Gates. Two of the most important men of the 20th century, and they made amends. They finally were just two guys that did their best. And they both changed the world.
Dear Dad: Apple now trades at over $600 a share.
Grade: A.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Pompeii
FLIX!
Since I don't believe one should only review things they liked, I will review this.
This film was one long gladiator fight interrupted only occasionally by a tremor, and then the volcano erupted.
The End.
Grade: E
Since I don't believe one should only review things they liked, I will review this.
This film was one long gladiator fight interrupted only occasionally by a tremor, and then the volcano erupted.
The End.
Grade: E
Saturday, February 15, 2014
The Patriarch
PAGES!
The Patriarch - The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy
David Nasaw
The Penguin Press 2012
There is something strangely compelling about the Kennedy family. And it all begins with the Patriarch of the family, Joseph P. Kennedy. Since I have read so much about this family in the past, I could not wait to read yet another account with a new emphasis. This one focused on the father Joe instead of the other family members.
David Nasaw was very thorough in his research and did something that many biographers cannot do. He did a complete research and wrote it out and yet made it a compelling read.
I think the single most interesting thing I learned from this book is that Joe Kennedy never took part in any form of boot-legging. By the time Prohibition happened he's already made the Lion's share of his fortune and had no need to dabble in anything nefarious. But the "Joe Kennedy was a boot-legger" mythology is so absorbed in the American back-story that it is difficult to adjust to, when one realizes that some of what we've always believed is myth.
That is not to say he did not have his own troubling personality problems. First of all, throughout his life he made money. Lots of it. He made it primarily in the Stock Market and in Hollywood. He was eventually asked to do some work for the Maritime Commission and he did such an excellent job, that later he was brought in as the very first head of what was being called the Security Exchange Commission. While there he tightened up loopholes and questionable practices that many deemed unethical. Ironically many of these questionable practices were the very thing Mr. Kennedy had exploited to make his fortune. But Mr. Kennedy was not crooked; not a gangster in a tuxedo. Throughout his life, although he was never afraid to frequent the same night clubs, or restaurants frequented by mobsters and other questionable characters, he never needed to interact with them. Whatever he needed he could get from others.
When Mr. Kennedy became a big player in the Roosevelt election campaign, he did it in the belief that there would be a big prize in it for him. He longed to be the Treasury Secretary. Instead he was given the Ambassadorship to England - a plush assignment to anyone's mind, but still one that Kennedy deemed beneath his level. As a war with Germany became more and more a possibility, Kennedy kept preaching appeasement, that it stay out of war at any cost, even if it meant giving the Nazis everything they wanted. He would officially declare it was for the good of Britain and that he could not bear the thought of young men dying in battle if a solution could be found to prevent it. But the reality is that deep in his psyche, maybe even unconsciously, he thought it was a threat to his fortune. He made it known many times that he thought a world war would cause a depression like the world had never seen and that money would be worthless. He could not bear the thought of his fortune, and the fortune he's acquired for his family (he had large trusts for each of his children) becoming non-existant.
But if ever anyone brought to life the old saying "money can't buy happiness", it was Joe Kennedy. Yes, he accumulated unbridled wealth. But along the way there seemed that the money brought with it a curse. First his oldest, and most beloved son, Joe Jr., in an attempt to be a war hero like his younger brother Jack [Jack Kennedy had done remarkable feats saving fellow crew members when his PT-109 was rammed], wanted some glory too. So he volunteered for an extremely dangerous mission and was killed during it. Next, one of his older daughters Kathleen was married in London, with her husband a month when he was sent to the front and he was killed three months later. Following that the oldest daughter Rosemary's doctors were given the go-ahead by Joe to do a lobotomy in order to make her less "slow." Instead the reverse happened and she became the next thing to a vegetable. Then Kathleen, nick-named "Kick", was killed in a plane crash.
And later still after John Kennedy had become President, he was assassinated. Then Ted's disastrous events at Chappiquidick. And finally Joe lived long enough to learn that Bobby too, had been assassinated. And curse seemingly continued. Grandchildren killed in skiing accidents, grandsons accused of rape, and most sadly of all John Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law perished in a plane crash.
Joseph Kennedy had suffered a stroke years before, but died in 1969, long before any of his grandchildren could get into trouble or be killed. He spent his last years in a wheelchair, with a gnarled up fist at the end of a useless hand, unable to speak. But still, what a life. What a life indeed.
David Nasaw was given access to everything he needed and free rein to do any research he needed to make this book as historically accurate as possible. And although it is nearly 800 pages, it was what it took to tell this story. Like I said, I happen to be intrigued by this family, but I believe anyone seriously interested in the history of 20th century America owes it to themselves to read this book. It is a beauty, and a thing of wonder. Thank you Mr. Nasaw, and thank you Mr. Kennedy.
Grade: A
The Patriarch - The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy
David Nasaw
The Penguin Press 2012
There is something strangely compelling about the Kennedy family. And it all begins with the Patriarch of the family, Joseph P. Kennedy. Since I have read so much about this family in the past, I could not wait to read yet another account with a new emphasis. This one focused on the father Joe instead of the other family members.
David Nasaw was very thorough in his research and did something that many biographers cannot do. He did a complete research and wrote it out and yet made it a compelling read.
I think the single most interesting thing I learned from this book is that Joe Kennedy never took part in any form of boot-legging. By the time Prohibition happened he's already made the Lion's share of his fortune and had no need to dabble in anything nefarious. But the "Joe Kennedy was a boot-legger" mythology is so absorbed in the American back-story that it is difficult to adjust to, when one realizes that some of what we've always believed is myth.
That is not to say he did not have his own troubling personality problems. First of all, throughout his life he made money. Lots of it. He made it primarily in the Stock Market and in Hollywood. He was eventually asked to do some work for the Maritime Commission and he did such an excellent job, that later he was brought in as the very first head of what was being called the Security Exchange Commission. While there he tightened up loopholes and questionable practices that many deemed unethical. Ironically many of these questionable practices were the very thing Mr. Kennedy had exploited to make his fortune. But Mr. Kennedy was not crooked; not a gangster in a tuxedo. Throughout his life, although he was never afraid to frequent the same night clubs, or restaurants frequented by mobsters and other questionable characters, he never needed to interact with them. Whatever he needed he could get from others.
When Mr. Kennedy became a big player in the Roosevelt election campaign, he did it in the belief that there would be a big prize in it for him. He longed to be the Treasury Secretary. Instead he was given the Ambassadorship to England - a plush assignment to anyone's mind, but still one that Kennedy deemed beneath his level. As a war with Germany became more and more a possibility, Kennedy kept preaching appeasement, that it stay out of war at any cost, even if it meant giving the Nazis everything they wanted. He would officially declare it was for the good of Britain and that he could not bear the thought of young men dying in battle if a solution could be found to prevent it. But the reality is that deep in his psyche, maybe even unconsciously, he thought it was a threat to his fortune. He made it known many times that he thought a world war would cause a depression like the world had never seen and that money would be worthless. He could not bear the thought of his fortune, and the fortune he's acquired for his family (he had large trusts for each of his children) becoming non-existant.
But if ever anyone brought to life the old saying "money can't buy happiness", it was Joe Kennedy. Yes, he accumulated unbridled wealth. But along the way there seemed that the money brought with it a curse. First his oldest, and most beloved son, Joe Jr., in an attempt to be a war hero like his younger brother Jack [Jack Kennedy had done remarkable feats saving fellow crew members when his PT-109 was rammed], wanted some glory too. So he volunteered for an extremely dangerous mission and was killed during it. Next, one of his older daughters Kathleen was married in London, with her husband a month when he was sent to the front and he was killed three months later. Following that the oldest daughter Rosemary's doctors were given the go-ahead by Joe to do a lobotomy in order to make her less "slow." Instead the reverse happened and she became the next thing to a vegetable. Then Kathleen, nick-named "Kick", was killed in a plane crash.
And later still after John Kennedy had become President, he was assassinated. Then Ted's disastrous events at Chappiquidick. And finally Joe lived long enough to learn that Bobby too, had been assassinated. And curse seemingly continued. Grandchildren killed in skiing accidents, grandsons accused of rape, and most sadly of all John Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law perished in a plane crash.
Joseph Kennedy had suffered a stroke years before, but died in 1969, long before any of his grandchildren could get into trouble or be killed. He spent his last years in a wheelchair, with a gnarled up fist at the end of a useless hand, unable to speak. But still, what a life. What a life indeed.
David Nasaw was given access to everything he needed and free rein to do any research he needed to make this book as historically accurate as possible. And although it is nearly 800 pages, it was what it took to tell this story. Like I said, I happen to be intrigued by this family, but I believe anyone seriously interested in the history of 20th century America owes it to themselves to read this book. It is a beauty, and a thing of wonder. Thank you Mr. Nasaw, and thank you Mr. Kennedy.
Grade: A
Friday, February 7, 2014
Frozen
Flix!
My wife saw this before I did and she was really impressed. She kept walking around, professing how doggone cute it was, and so when she suggested a few nights later that we go, I agreed.
Frozen is loosely adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Snow Queen." It involves the story of two sisters, one of which has extraordinary powers to freeze everything. Although her power is almost beyond her control. As she is crowned Queen of her country, she ends up sending her nation into a deep-freeze, an eternal winter, that keeps getting colder.
Her younger sister sets out on a journey to find her, and along the way enlists the help of a young man and his faithful sidekick reindeer. So off they go, but before they get there they meet a little snowman, who is a stitch and is a great comic element to the rest of the story. The younger sister is convinced that her Snow Queen sister can reverse what's happened in their town and make it summer again.
There is a lot of music in this film and the songs are all pretty wonderful. I kept thinking that if I had to vote on best song in a film for the Oscar, I wouldn't know which one to pick.
I haven't been to a Disney animated film in quite awhile, but I must say I did enjoy this. The cast was made up of virtual unknowns to us regular folks, although they are probably big stars on Broadway. Great vocals.
This is a wonderful film that had my wife tearing up at the end the first time she saw it. I liked it very much too. If I were to do a top ten movies of 2013, this would be in my top ten.
I recommend this film, and doggone it, it is cute. And fun. And my only regret about it is that Walt Disney didn't live to see this. He would have loved it and all the computer generated stuff. And if there were any justice he would have....he'd only be in his 80's now.....
Grade: B+
My wife saw this before I did and she was really impressed. She kept walking around, professing how doggone cute it was, and so when she suggested a few nights later that we go, I agreed.
Frozen is loosely adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Snow Queen." It involves the story of two sisters, one of which has extraordinary powers to freeze everything. Although her power is almost beyond her control. As she is crowned Queen of her country, she ends up sending her nation into a deep-freeze, an eternal winter, that keeps getting colder.
Her younger sister sets out on a journey to find her, and along the way enlists the help of a young man and his faithful sidekick reindeer. So off they go, but before they get there they meet a little snowman, who is a stitch and is a great comic element to the rest of the story. The younger sister is convinced that her Snow Queen sister can reverse what's happened in their town and make it summer again.
There is a lot of music in this film and the songs are all pretty wonderful. I kept thinking that if I had to vote on best song in a film for the Oscar, I wouldn't know which one to pick.
I haven't been to a Disney animated film in quite awhile, but I must say I did enjoy this. The cast was made up of virtual unknowns to us regular folks, although they are probably big stars on Broadway. Great vocals.
This is a wonderful film that had my wife tearing up at the end the first time she saw it. I liked it very much too. If I were to do a top ten movies of 2013, this would be in my top ten.
I recommend this film, and doggone it, it is cute. And fun. And my only regret about it is that Walt Disney didn't live to see this. He would have loved it and all the computer generated stuff. And if there were any justice he would have....he'd only be in his 80's now.....
Grade: B+
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Cheers!
Classic Tube!
There are certain sit-coms that will endure forever. "I Love Lucy". "The Andy Griffith Show". "The Honeymooners." And I hope we never forget "The Dick Van Dyke Show." But on anybody's top ten list, there better be the name "Cheers."
I just went through the entire series so that I could accurately do this review. This took me quite awhile - thanks Netflix - because there were 11 seasons of this wonderful show. And back then folks, a season consisted of about 26 episodes. At any rate it was a wonderful journey, and one I'm glad I made.
'Cheers' was a mythical bar that existed in Boston Mass., (inspired by the Bull and Finch) owned by a former Red Sox relief pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson), who was a recovering alcoholic and ironically owned the bar. In the pilot episode, a aspiring writer graduate student named Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) wanders in with her fiance, and he ultimately jilts her and leaves her stranded. She ends up being a bar maid at Cheers, much to the chagrin of the caustic bar maid Carla Tortelli/LaVec (Rhea Pearlman). The fun starts from there. There is a sexual tension between Sam and Diane that goes on for the first 2 or 3 seasons. Finally they are going together by the fourth season, and Diane stays with us through Season 5. The final episode of Season 5 is one of the finest single episodes of a sitcom ever.
Because Diane leaves, we are introduced to Rebecca (Kirstie Alley). Rebecca represents a corporation that purchased Cheers from Sam after his break-up with Diane. He had sold the bar and gone on a sail around the world. But now he's back and he ends up bar tending at Cheers.
Initially, Sam's fellow bartender is Coach. Coach (Nick Colasanto). Coach was lovable, but not the brightest bulb on the porch. After Season 3 he disappears, because sadly, Mr. Costalano had a heart attack and passed away. How did they deal with that? They talked about the fact that Coach passed away. I liked the fact that they didn't come up with a lame excuse for his absence. And then a new bartender comes on the scene....a Hanover, Indiana farm boy named Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson). Woody is a naive young man, but he adds to the merriment and fills in nicely for Coach.
Other regulars include postman Cliff Claven (John Ratzenberger), and Norm Peterson (George Wendt). Norm was the only character that appeared in every episode. Whenever he entered the whole place yelled "Norm!" and he also came back with a smart retort. Sam: "How are things, Norm?" Norm: "It's a dog-eat-dog world and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear." There was also Al (Al Rosen) Mr. Rosen passed away too in 1990. And then they made more use of Phil. Phil rarely had a line, but when he did it was funny. (As an aside, he was the real life father of Rhea Perlman). And then there was the terribly underutilized Paul (Paul Wilson). They started to use him more at the end, and a little is better than none. He was good. But sadly, I haven't seen him since.
Our journey with these characters is a wondrous journey indeed. We are taken through the ultimate love of the all-time great playboy Sam Malone, and how he tries to steal Diane from another regular, Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammar). Love almost prevails.
And then (in Season 6) we are introduced to Rebecca. She is a girl that is a social climber and one who wants to marry big money - a gold-digger - And her attempts to do that never fail to entertain. Ironically she in the last few episodes actually falls for and gets married to an ordinary plumber.
Along the way there are other characters that deserve mention. There was corporate head, Evan Drake (Tom Skerritt). Another big money guy that Rebecca tried to hook was Robin Colcord (Roger Rees). He came in and out of the show many times. Woody eventally gets a girlfriend, Kelly (Jackie Swanson) and in the final season they get married. Along the way Frasier also gets married, to a fellow psychiatrist, and cold fish Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth). In fact Ms. Neuwirth was considered a regular in a couple of the seasons and got star billing with the other primary characters. There was Kelly's father Mr. Walter Gaines (Richard Doyle), and Cliff's Mother (Frances Sterhagen). And I rightfully should mention the miserable John Allen Hill (Keene Curtis) who became the owner of Melville's Restaurant upstairs, and a pain in the neck to Sam downstairs. There was Dan Hedaya and Jean Kasem as Nick and Loretta Tortelli. ("The Tortellis" was the first spin off of Cheers). Nick was Carla's first husband. She takes another husband during the show - Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas) a hockey player who ends up in the ice shows. Eddie eventually slips on the ice somewhere and dies. Another often talked about but never seen character was Norm's wife Vera. She was only physically in two episodes - first a Thanksgiving episode. During a food fight, a pie was thrown off stage and then Vera came on, her face completely hidden in pie. Interestingly enough, when Vera was seen in "Thanksgiving's Orphans", and later when we see her legs as she sits on the steps outside crying over losing a job, she was actually Bernadette Birket- George Wendt's real life wife).
Speaking of the episode "Thanksgiving's Orphans", it along with an episode called "Home is The Sailor" both originally aired in 1987, were named #7 and #45 respectively in TV Guides "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" in 1997. In 2002 Cheers was named #18 in "TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time."
The journey through the bar known as "Cheers" is a wonderful one. It is humorous and witty, and yet there is a hint of "bittersweet". And bittersweet is a tone that goes on throughout. All of the things we hope for are never realized.
The end of Season 5 was very touching. The 3-part end of the series was too. I think it was because Cheers had become so much a part of our lives by then. It was sad to see them go. And as I watched the final episode, I felt a kind of loss. Like I was saying goodbye to many of my old friends. I miss those goofy folks......
And in a way they were saying goodbye too. Diane had returned and said goodbye, Lilith had returned and in a way said goodbye, and in particular, after Mr. Colasanto passed away, they took the giant picture of Geronimo that had been in his dressing room and placed it prominently in the bar. So that he would always sort of be there. In the final episode Sam goes over and spends a moment at it, adjusting it and unbeknownst to the viewer, saying a silent goodbye.
I loved this place, was always glad I came, and I long to go back - back where everybody knows my name.
GRADE: A+
There are certain sit-coms that will endure forever. "I Love Lucy". "The Andy Griffith Show". "The Honeymooners." And I hope we never forget "The Dick Van Dyke Show." But on anybody's top ten list, there better be the name "Cheers."
I just went through the entire series so that I could accurately do this review. This took me quite awhile - thanks Netflix - because there were 11 seasons of this wonderful show. And back then folks, a season consisted of about 26 episodes. At any rate it was a wonderful journey, and one I'm glad I made.
'Cheers' was a mythical bar that existed in Boston Mass., (inspired by the Bull and Finch) owned by a former Red Sox relief pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson), who was a recovering alcoholic and ironically owned the bar. In the pilot episode, a aspiring writer graduate student named Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) wanders in with her fiance, and he ultimately jilts her and leaves her stranded. She ends up being a bar maid at Cheers, much to the chagrin of the caustic bar maid Carla Tortelli/LaVec (Rhea Pearlman). The fun starts from there. There is a sexual tension between Sam and Diane that goes on for the first 2 or 3 seasons. Finally they are going together by the fourth season, and Diane stays with us through Season 5. The final episode of Season 5 is one of the finest single episodes of a sitcom ever.
Because Diane leaves, we are introduced to Rebecca (Kirstie Alley). Rebecca represents a corporation that purchased Cheers from Sam after his break-up with Diane. He had sold the bar and gone on a sail around the world. But now he's back and he ends up bar tending at Cheers.
Initially, Sam's fellow bartender is Coach. Coach (Nick Colasanto). Coach was lovable, but not the brightest bulb on the porch. After Season 3 he disappears, because sadly, Mr. Costalano had a heart attack and passed away. How did they deal with that? They talked about the fact that Coach passed away. I liked the fact that they didn't come up with a lame excuse for his absence. And then a new bartender comes on the scene....a Hanover, Indiana farm boy named Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson). Woody is a naive young man, but he adds to the merriment and fills in nicely for Coach.
Other regulars include postman Cliff Claven (John Ratzenberger), and Norm Peterson (George Wendt). Norm was the only character that appeared in every episode. Whenever he entered the whole place yelled "Norm!" and he also came back with a smart retort. Sam: "How are things, Norm?" Norm: "It's a dog-eat-dog world and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear." There was also Al (Al Rosen) Mr. Rosen passed away too in 1990. And then they made more use of Phil. Phil rarely had a line, but when he did it was funny. (As an aside, he was the real life father of Rhea Perlman). And then there was the terribly underutilized Paul (Paul Wilson). They started to use him more at the end, and a little is better than none. He was good. But sadly, I haven't seen him since.
Our journey with these characters is a wondrous journey indeed. We are taken through the ultimate love of the all-time great playboy Sam Malone, and how he tries to steal Diane from another regular, Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammar). Love almost prevails.
And then (in Season 6) we are introduced to Rebecca. She is a girl that is a social climber and one who wants to marry big money - a gold-digger - And her attempts to do that never fail to entertain. Ironically she in the last few episodes actually falls for and gets married to an ordinary plumber.
Along the way there are other characters that deserve mention. There was corporate head, Evan Drake (Tom Skerritt). Another big money guy that Rebecca tried to hook was Robin Colcord (Roger Rees). He came in and out of the show many times. Woody eventally gets a girlfriend, Kelly (Jackie Swanson) and in the final season they get married. Along the way Frasier also gets married, to a fellow psychiatrist, and cold fish Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth). In fact Ms. Neuwirth was considered a regular in a couple of the seasons and got star billing with the other primary characters. There was Kelly's father Mr. Walter Gaines (Richard Doyle), and Cliff's Mother (Frances Sterhagen). And I rightfully should mention the miserable John Allen Hill (Keene Curtis) who became the owner of Melville's Restaurant upstairs, and a pain in the neck to Sam downstairs. There was Dan Hedaya and Jean Kasem as Nick and Loretta Tortelli. ("The Tortellis" was the first spin off of Cheers). Nick was Carla's first husband. She takes another husband during the show - Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas) a hockey player who ends up in the ice shows. Eddie eventually slips on the ice somewhere and dies. Another often talked about but never seen character was Norm's wife Vera. She was only physically in two episodes - first a Thanksgiving episode. During a food fight, a pie was thrown off stage and then Vera came on, her face completely hidden in pie. Interestingly enough, when Vera was seen in "Thanksgiving's Orphans", and later when we see her legs as she sits on the steps outside crying over losing a job, she was actually Bernadette Birket- George Wendt's real life wife).
Speaking of the episode "Thanksgiving's Orphans", it along with an episode called "Home is The Sailor" both originally aired in 1987, were named #7 and #45 respectively in TV Guides "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" in 1997. In 2002 Cheers was named #18 in "TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time."
The journey through the bar known as "Cheers" is a wonderful one. It is humorous and witty, and yet there is a hint of "bittersweet". And bittersweet is a tone that goes on throughout. All of the things we hope for are never realized.
The end of Season 5 was very touching. The 3-part end of the series was too. I think it was because Cheers had become so much a part of our lives by then. It was sad to see them go. And as I watched the final episode, I felt a kind of loss. Like I was saying goodbye to many of my old friends. I miss those goofy folks......
And in a way they were saying goodbye too. Diane had returned and said goodbye, Lilith had returned and in a way said goodbye, and in particular, after Mr. Colasanto passed away, they took the giant picture of Geronimo that had been in his dressing room and placed it prominently in the bar. So that he would always sort of be there. In the final episode Sam goes over and spends a moment at it, adjusting it and unbeknownst to the viewer, saying a silent goodbye.
I loved this place, was always glad I came, and I long to go back - back where everybody knows my name.
GRADE: A+
Friday, January 10, 2014
HER
FLIX!
During the Christmas Holiday, my daughters were home from college. As young people do, they had to be on their phones nearly all the time. The older daughter cannot sit through a meal in a restaurant without going to her phone every 4 minutes. That's a lot, but when I say nearly all the time, my younger, Samantha, has to have hers in her hand every moment of everyday. If she lays it down it will be right in front of her. I timed her while they were home and the longest Sami ever went without referring to her phone was seven and a half minutes. In fact once in the car she dropped it down between the seats in my car, and went into total and complete junkie panic until I could stop the car and she could retrieve it via the back seat. It was 10 minutes of nothing for me, but living Hell for her. I reckon she spends, bare bones minimum 2 or so hours everyday with her face in her phone. After 10 and a half days, she's lost a day of her life.
I have seen people so busy texting about an event they were at, that for the most part they didn't actually see the event. My daughter Sam is not alone. Most kids and a majority of adults probably do the same thing. They spend an inordinate amount of time in their device while the most precious gift they'll ever get, their life, is spinning on by. So what if someone told a story about taking what's happening now to the next logical step? I think it would be this film, Her.
This film takes place in the not distant future. Theodore was a man in his own private crisis. His wife had recently left him and divorce was imminent. He goes through his day at work by dictating letters into software that write it for people who order them through "Beautiful Handwritten Letters.Com" and then walks home with an earpiece in his ear, verbally telling his hand held computer (in his pocket), to "check my email" and the then commands "delete" to what he doesn't want or lets it read the message to him if he's interested. At home at night he plays holographic video games that swear at him, and confront him.
And then one day, he passes by a display, and on a whim buys an operating system. It is "the first operating system to incorporate artificial intelligence." He goes home and as he is installing it, it asks him questions about himself, but cuts him off when he gets too "wordy". I think it's because that was getting too human, but that's unimportant.
He opts for a female voice and during the first conversation he asks her to tell him her name. She comes right back with "Samantha". (Of course this blows me away....reference my daughter in the first couple paragraphs.) He asks why Samantha and she says that she'd scanned 850,000 names in one eighth of a second and liked that one the best.
As time goes on, Theodore grows closer and closer to Samantha, and they share things as friends that peak his interest. So much so, that when he goes on a date with a beautiful actual real live gorgeous woman, and she asks, (paraphrasing here) "you're not just going to use me, and then never call again, are you?", Theodore hesitates, blowing that real life thing. But as time goes on, Samantha is his lover, his friend, his confidant, everything he ever wanted. And finally, he even lets people know that he has a girlfriend. He will drop in "she's nice, she's an operating system, she's funny...." This grows to the point that his friends actually wear ear-pieces and they all double date.
As they are meeting to sign divorce papers, there is a brief moment when he hopes his estranged wife won't sign, and she seems to hesitate, but then she signs. He's sad, but it's okay, he still has Samantha. He's glad that the complicated human thing is out of the way.
Theodore is friends with a couple down the hall, and during the course of events, they split and the wife also gets the operating system, and it becomes her very best friend. So this is beginning to go on with a lot of people.
Whenever Theodore is on the street, every person appears to be talking to themselves or looking into a device. If they aren't I assumed they were listening to their device. So Theo isn't an out of the ordinary guy.
Theodore goes on vacations with Samantha and is totally in love. And then, besides making a publishing deal for him without his knowledge, she introduces him to another "male" operating system. This is where things start to go awry. Without being a total spoiler, let's just say, even in cyberspace, love hurts. He asks, "Do you talk to other people?". She answers yes, 8,543." He asks, "Are you in love with any of them?" She replies, "Yes, 649." This breaks Theodore's heart and he begins his tailspin.
This is a powerful movie. It is a not-so-subtle look at today; it shows us how we act, and how we will act in the future. It is a perfect picture of today in a way, even of how we are all in this "alone together". But it extends it to the next level....to a very short time from now, when we abhor human interaction and where we will actually pay a company to write a personal letter to a loved one.
Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely incredible as always. I know he was upset about being robbed of the Oscar that was rightfully his for "Walk The Line", but I was with you pal. You owned it then, and you own it now. And an amazing part of this is that the voice of Samantha (Scarlett Johansen) wasn't dubbed in until after the movie was entirely shot. So Joaquin was playing off either nothing, or a grip reading the line. C'mon Academy, give it up. He is the man.
But the bigger picture is an intelligent look at a society gone crazy. I watched someone at a recent event so focused entirely on taking a picture every 7 seconds that he totally missed the event. He gave up real life for a look at what he might have seen. It was wondrous, right in front of him, but he gave that up for technology.
Her chickens out at the end, or lets say you can draw your own conclusions.
This is not on my list of Best Movies I Saw This Year for 2013, but since this is 2014, it will be next time.
This is one of those films I will be thinking about for a long, long time.
And you should too. Go see this.
Grade: A
Disclaimer: My wife saw this film and absolutely hated it, calling one of the most boring quiet films she's ever seen and was tempted to walk out. So there you go.
During the Christmas Holiday, my daughters were home from college. As young people do, they had to be on their phones nearly all the time. The older daughter cannot sit through a meal in a restaurant without going to her phone every 4 minutes. That's a lot, but when I say nearly all the time, my younger, Samantha, has to have hers in her hand every moment of everyday. If she lays it down it will be right in front of her. I timed her while they were home and the longest Sami ever went without referring to her phone was seven and a half minutes. In fact once in the car she dropped it down between the seats in my car, and went into total and complete junkie panic until I could stop the car and she could retrieve it via the back seat. It was 10 minutes of nothing for me, but living Hell for her. I reckon she spends, bare bones minimum 2 or so hours everyday with her face in her phone. After 10 and a half days, she's lost a day of her life.
I have seen people so busy texting about an event they were at, that for the most part they didn't actually see the event. My daughter Sam is not alone. Most kids and a majority of adults probably do the same thing. They spend an inordinate amount of time in their device while the most precious gift they'll ever get, their life, is spinning on by. So what if someone told a story about taking what's happening now to the next logical step? I think it would be this film, Her.
This film takes place in the not distant future. Theodore was a man in his own private crisis. His wife had recently left him and divorce was imminent. He goes through his day at work by dictating letters into software that write it for people who order them through "Beautiful Handwritten Letters.Com" and then walks home with an earpiece in his ear, verbally telling his hand held computer (in his pocket), to "check my email" and the then commands "delete" to what he doesn't want or lets it read the message to him if he's interested. At home at night he plays holographic video games that swear at him, and confront him.
And then one day, he passes by a display, and on a whim buys an operating system. It is "the first operating system to incorporate artificial intelligence." He goes home and as he is installing it, it asks him questions about himself, but cuts him off when he gets too "wordy". I think it's because that was getting too human, but that's unimportant.
He opts for a female voice and during the first conversation he asks her to tell him her name. She comes right back with "Samantha". (Of course this blows me away....reference my daughter in the first couple paragraphs.) He asks why Samantha and she says that she'd scanned 850,000 names in one eighth of a second and liked that one the best.
As time goes on, Theodore grows closer and closer to Samantha, and they share things as friends that peak his interest. So much so, that when he goes on a date with a beautiful actual real live gorgeous woman, and she asks, (paraphrasing here) "you're not just going to use me, and then never call again, are you?", Theodore hesitates, blowing that real life thing. But as time goes on, Samantha is his lover, his friend, his confidant, everything he ever wanted. And finally, he even lets people know that he has a girlfriend. He will drop in "she's nice, she's an operating system, she's funny...." This grows to the point that his friends actually wear ear-pieces and they all double date.
As they are meeting to sign divorce papers, there is a brief moment when he hopes his estranged wife won't sign, and she seems to hesitate, but then she signs. He's sad, but it's okay, he still has Samantha. He's glad that the complicated human thing is out of the way.
Theodore is friends with a couple down the hall, and during the course of events, they split and the wife also gets the operating system, and it becomes her very best friend. So this is beginning to go on with a lot of people.
Whenever Theodore is on the street, every person appears to be talking to themselves or looking into a device. If they aren't I assumed they were listening to their device. So Theo isn't an out of the ordinary guy.
Theodore goes on vacations with Samantha and is totally in love. And then, besides making a publishing deal for him without his knowledge, she introduces him to another "male" operating system. This is where things start to go awry. Without being a total spoiler, let's just say, even in cyberspace, love hurts. He asks, "Do you talk to other people?". She answers yes, 8,543." He asks, "Are you in love with any of them?" She replies, "Yes, 649." This breaks Theodore's heart and he begins his tailspin.
This is a powerful movie. It is a not-so-subtle look at today; it shows us how we act, and how we will act in the future. It is a perfect picture of today in a way, even of how we are all in this "alone together". But it extends it to the next level....to a very short time from now, when we abhor human interaction and where we will actually pay a company to write a personal letter to a loved one.
Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely incredible as always. I know he was upset about being robbed of the Oscar that was rightfully his for "Walk The Line", but I was with you pal. You owned it then, and you own it now. And an amazing part of this is that the voice of Samantha (Scarlett Johansen) wasn't dubbed in until after the movie was entirely shot. So Joaquin was playing off either nothing, or a grip reading the line. C'mon Academy, give it up. He is the man.
But the bigger picture is an intelligent look at a society gone crazy. I watched someone at a recent event so focused entirely on taking a picture every 7 seconds that he totally missed the event. He gave up real life for a look at what he might have seen. It was wondrous, right in front of him, but he gave that up for technology.
Her chickens out at the end, or lets say you can draw your own conclusions.
This is not on my list of Best Movies I Saw This Year for 2013, but since this is 2014, it will be next time.
This is one of those films I will be thinking about for a long, long time.
And you should too. Go see this.
Grade: A
Disclaimer: My wife saw this film and absolutely hated it, calling one of the most boring quiet films she's ever seen and was tempted to walk out. So there you go.
Monday, January 6, 2014
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
FLIX!
Ben Stiller directs and stars in this updated fine adaptation of a James Thurber short story.
Walter Mitty is one of those transparent men that seem to blend into the woodwork. He occupies an office space deep in the bowels of the Time-Life Building in New York, and he has an over-active imagination because he's never really done anything in life. He one of those little guys who goes to work and goes home, with a weekly trip to the grocery store and that is the essence of his entire life.
And then an odd set of circumstances occur and Walter finds himself in a series of real life adventures taking him to Greenland, Iceland, the Himalayas and beyond. Even LA! During the course of trying to track down exotic photographer Sean O'Connell, Walter gets flown in a helicopter with a seriously drunk pilot, dropped in the ocean, nearly gets eaten by sharks, and on and on it goes. (And by the way the scenery in this movie is stunningly beautiful.) Walter is on a quest, and all the while he pines for a woman he works with. In fact in Iceland, a flock of birds form her face in the sky as they fly away.
Discretion won't allow me to reveal lots of details about this wonderful, exquisite film, but let me just say this. I didn't want to like this movie. I didn't really want to even go to the movies tonight. For my money there was nothing to see. But my wife was insistent so always one to want to keep her happy, we narrowed it down to '47 Ronin' or 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.' Out of respect for James Thurber, I pushed for the latter. Man, I'm glad I did. This was a treat.
If you are expecting a whacky, screwball comedy because of the name Ben Stiller, boy are you gonna be disappointed. But if you have half a brain, you'll be delighted and pleasantly surprised. This is a terrific, smart movie that I hope Ben Stiller will be judged by way beyond 'Dodgeball' 'Zoolander' and such. Not that those weren't good for what they were, but this is a special film and it tells me that Ben Stiller wants to sit at the grown-ups table. Ben pull up a chair....right over there between Ron Howard and Woody Allen.
Grade: A
Ben Stiller directs and stars in this updated fine adaptation of a James Thurber short story.
Walter Mitty is one of those transparent men that seem to blend into the woodwork. He occupies an office space deep in the bowels of the Time-Life Building in New York, and he has an over-active imagination because he's never really done anything in life. He one of those little guys who goes to work and goes home, with a weekly trip to the grocery store and that is the essence of his entire life.
And then an odd set of circumstances occur and Walter finds himself in a series of real life adventures taking him to Greenland, Iceland, the Himalayas and beyond. Even LA! During the course of trying to track down exotic photographer Sean O'Connell, Walter gets flown in a helicopter with a seriously drunk pilot, dropped in the ocean, nearly gets eaten by sharks, and on and on it goes. (And by the way the scenery in this movie is stunningly beautiful.) Walter is on a quest, and all the while he pines for a woman he works with. In fact in Iceland, a flock of birds form her face in the sky as they fly away.
Discretion won't allow me to reveal lots of details about this wonderful, exquisite film, but let me just say this. I didn't want to like this movie. I didn't really want to even go to the movies tonight. For my money there was nothing to see. But my wife was insistent so always one to want to keep her happy, we narrowed it down to '47 Ronin' or 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.' Out of respect for James Thurber, I pushed for the latter. Man, I'm glad I did. This was a treat.
If you are expecting a whacky, screwball comedy because of the name Ben Stiller, boy are you gonna be disappointed. But if you have half a brain, you'll be delighted and pleasantly surprised. This is a terrific, smart movie that I hope Ben Stiller will be judged by way beyond 'Dodgeball' 'Zoolander' and such. Not that those weren't good for what they were, but this is a special film and it tells me that Ben Stiller wants to sit at the grown-ups table. Ben pull up a chair....right over there between Ron Howard and Woody Allen.
Grade: A
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Music From 2013.....and Probably None of it From 2013.....
TUNES!
I didn't hear a lot of music in 2013 that excited me much, so this entry should be short and sweet.
Just to make any kind of list at all, I'll put down the best CDs I got this year, regardless of when they were made. Or else there won't be anything.
Best Live Act I Saw In 2013: The Vincent Hayes Project (featuring Doc Yankee). Saw them in Lowell and was blown away. A terrific blues ensemble. I bugged them to let me join the band, to no avail.
3. Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen
Songs about togetherness and unity, and caring about each other. Oh my gosh, you don't suppose there of thread of that dirty word "liberal" in his blood do you? With songs like "We Take Care of Our Own", it gets mighty suspicious.....great record, and I haven't gotten a Springsteen record since "Lonesome Town". Okay, maybe I have "Radio Nowhere."
2. From The Ground Up - John Fullbright
I heard a track by chance on a summer night, and liked it alot. I bought the song on iTunes and got the whole CD for Christmas. This guy reminds me that there are still guys out there that want to write and play good songs, and even though main-stream radio is owned by women (Miley, Kelly, Taylor, Katie, and even Britney) guys like John Fullbright still are willing to shine like a beacon in the night and say "there is hope." This young man probably wouldn't let me in his band either, but since they already sound like The Band, they don't need a lug like me. This is like the sweet voice of Don McLean singing Bob Dylan songs. "Jericho" is a treasure. If you don't want to commit to the whole record, at least buy "Jericho" on iTunes.
1. Allen Stone - Allen Stone
This wonderful, fun, blue-eyed soulful, record is the best thing I've stumbled on in years. My pal Jerry told me to check it out, knowing full well I'd love it. It turns out that Mr. Stone was raised in a strict Christian home and was not allowed to listen to secular music. While in high school, a friend gave him a Stevie Wonder album that he sneaked into the house, and Stevie Wonder is how Allen gauges all secular music. So when he decided to do his own songs, naturally they have a soulful flavor. Very good stuff from a very fun guy. Go to YouTube and witness him on "Live From Daryl's House." You won't believe this it the guy singing all of these delicious soul tunes.
I didn't hear a lot of music in 2013 that excited me much, so this entry should be short and sweet.
Just to make any kind of list at all, I'll put down the best CDs I got this year, regardless of when they were made. Or else there won't be anything.
Best Live Act I Saw In 2013: The Vincent Hayes Project (featuring Doc Yankee). Saw them in Lowell and was blown away. A terrific blues ensemble. I bugged them to let me join the band, to no avail.
3. Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen
Songs about togetherness and unity, and caring about each other. Oh my gosh, you don't suppose there of thread of that dirty word "liberal" in his blood do you? With songs like "We Take Care of Our Own", it gets mighty suspicious.....great record, and I haven't gotten a Springsteen record since "Lonesome Town". Okay, maybe I have "Radio Nowhere."
2. From The Ground Up - John Fullbright
I heard a track by chance on a summer night, and liked it alot. I bought the song on iTunes and got the whole CD for Christmas. This guy reminds me that there are still guys out there that want to write and play good songs, and even though main-stream radio is owned by women (Miley, Kelly, Taylor, Katie, and even Britney) guys like John Fullbright still are willing to shine like a beacon in the night and say "there is hope." This young man probably wouldn't let me in his band either, but since they already sound like The Band, they don't need a lug like me. This is like the sweet voice of Don McLean singing Bob Dylan songs. "Jericho" is a treasure. If you don't want to commit to the whole record, at least buy "Jericho" on iTunes.
1. Allen Stone - Allen Stone
This wonderful, fun, blue-eyed soulful, record is the best thing I've stumbled on in years. My pal Jerry told me to check it out, knowing full well I'd love it. It turns out that Mr. Stone was raised in a strict Christian home and was not allowed to listen to secular music. While in high school, a friend gave him a Stevie Wonder album that he sneaked into the house, and Stevie Wonder is how Allen gauges all secular music. So when he decided to do his own songs, naturally they have a soulful flavor. Very good stuff from a very fun guy. Go to YouTube and witness him on "Live From Daryl's House." You won't believe this it the guy singing all of these delicious soul tunes.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
The Best Movies I Saw in 2013
FLIX!
I know that at this time of year there are a flurry of movies that screen in "selected cities"; translation: New York and LA, just so they can make it under the deadline and qualify for this year's Oscars. And sure, I'm dying to see "Her", and "American Hustle". But for now, I will just have to go with what I saw on the big screen this past year and tell you that these were the best I saw. In reverse order they are:
5. THE LONE RANGER
Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp make this happen. It was a fine movie that delivered exactly what it promised. It was accurate to the original story line, was fun, and even included the obligatory "Hi-O Silver, and Away!!" To which Tonto begs: "Don't ever do that again."
4. Lee Phillips' THE BUTLER
Forrest Whitaker delivers another of his astounding performances playing a man who was a Butler in the White House from Dwight Eisenhower through Ronald Reagan. This includes all the strife of the 60's and his son who breaks away and sees the future, much to his father's chagrin and disapproval.
3. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Tom Hanks as the Captain on a shipping vessel that is ultimately over-run by pirates, is superb. This guy still has his chops. In my opinion this was his greatest performance since "The Green Mile". The supporting cast not so much, but Tom and the Pirates were uncanny. And hats off to the Navy nurse who stepped up to help Tom in one of his final scenes. This was good stuff.
2. DJANGO UNCHAINED
Quentin Tarantino is at it again. Using his new-found friend Gustav Waltz and the pretty darned great Jamie Foxx, created a new western with the Tarantino twist. Quentin has begged time and time again, to remember that Slavery was a thousand times worse than this, but his critics, continue to assail him for not being sensitive enough. Especially the very jealous Spike Lee, who wishes he could make a movie like this. The script uses the "N", which is crazy I guess because everybody knows no-one in the pre-Civil War South ever called black people the "N" word. Please critics, screw you heads on right. If you want to criticize a few of the costumes or Tarantino's laughable attempt at an accent, okay. This was a look at a black man who really wanted his wife back. Mark Twain would have been proud, because he alludes in "Huckleberry Finn" Huck was amazed when he heard Jim crying, missing his wife and children. Huck had never realized that blacks loved their families too. Anyway, Django is a partner of a bounty hunter who gives Django his freedom and is determined to help him achieve his goal. It isn't an easy goal, folks. But it is wonderful.
1. 42
Not only was this one of the greatest films I saw this year, it is one of the greatest films I ever saw. Certainly circumventing "Field of Dreams" as the best baseball movie ever. I knew that Jackie Robinson "broke the color barrier" and that he was the first black player in the Major Leagues, but I really had no idea what this man went through. And what his wife in the stands went through. And the fans weren't the only ones. There were the newspapers and team-mates. Jackie Robinson was a man of outstanding character, perseverance, determination, and talent. It takes a special person to break a color barrior, and Jackie Robinson was the right man at the right time. And let's not forget this would never happened if it weren't for the vision of Branch Rickey, (played by Harrison Ford) owner and manager of The Brooklyn Dodgers. This was a tremendous movie, and I urge you all to not only see it, but to own it.
I know that at this time of year there are a flurry of movies that screen in "selected cities"; translation: New York and LA, just so they can make it under the deadline and qualify for this year's Oscars. And sure, I'm dying to see "Her", and "American Hustle". But for now, I will just have to go with what I saw on the big screen this past year and tell you that these were the best I saw. In reverse order they are:
5. THE LONE RANGER
Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp make this happen. It was a fine movie that delivered exactly what it promised. It was accurate to the original story line, was fun, and even included the obligatory "Hi-O Silver, and Away!!" To which Tonto begs: "Don't ever do that again."
4. Lee Phillips' THE BUTLER
Forrest Whitaker delivers another of his astounding performances playing a man who was a Butler in the White House from Dwight Eisenhower through Ronald Reagan. This includes all the strife of the 60's and his son who breaks away and sees the future, much to his father's chagrin and disapproval.
3. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Tom Hanks as the Captain on a shipping vessel that is ultimately over-run by pirates, is superb. This guy still has his chops. In my opinion this was his greatest performance since "The Green Mile". The supporting cast not so much, but Tom and the Pirates were uncanny. And hats off to the Navy nurse who stepped up to help Tom in one of his final scenes. This was good stuff.
2. DJANGO UNCHAINED
Quentin Tarantino is at it again. Using his new-found friend Gustav Waltz and the pretty darned great Jamie Foxx, created a new western with the Tarantino twist. Quentin has begged time and time again, to remember that Slavery was a thousand times worse than this, but his critics, continue to assail him for not being sensitive enough. Especially the very jealous Spike Lee, who wishes he could make a movie like this. The script uses the "N", which is crazy I guess because everybody knows no-one in the pre-Civil War South ever called black people the "N" word. Please critics, screw you heads on right. If you want to criticize a few of the costumes or Tarantino's laughable attempt at an accent, okay. This was a look at a black man who really wanted his wife back. Mark Twain would have been proud, because he alludes in "Huckleberry Finn" Huck was amazed when he heard Jim crying, missing his wife and children. Huck had never realized that blacks loved their families too. Anyway, Django is a partner of a bounty hunter who gives Django his freedom and is determined to help him achieve his goal. It isn't an easy goal, folks. But it is wonderful.
1. 42
Not only was this one of the greatest films I saw this year, it is one of the greatest films I ever saw. Certainly circumventing "Field of Dreams" as the best baseball movie ever. I knew that Jackie Robinson "broke the color barrier" and that he was the first black player in the Major Leagues, but I really had no idea what this man went through. And what his wife in the stands went through. And the fans weren't the only ones. There were the newspapers and team-mates. Jackie Robinson was a man of outstanding character, perseverance, determination, and talent. It takes a special person to break a color barrior, and Jackie Robinson was the right man at the right time. And let's not forget this would never happened if it weren't for the vision of Branch Rickey, (played by Harrison Ford) owner and manager of The Brooklyn Dodgers. This was a tremendous movie, and I urge you all to not only see it, but to own it.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Year End TV This and That. The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly.
TUBE!
I just posted (see the post after this) my favorite TV for the last year. But my favorite stuff doesn't cover everything I want to say about TV. So here are a few random categories I want to toss out there.
The TV Thing I Most Wanted to See But Missed: The 2013 Inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Coolest Non-Fiction Thing I Saw: The Led Zeppelin tribute folks honoring LZ as the band received Kennedy Center Honors. The "Stairway to Heaven" bit was remarkable. If you haven't seen it, please watch this on YouTube. Now.
Best Reality Show: "Pawn Stars." But keep in mind, that saying "best reality show" is like saying, "The Freshest and Shiniest Turd." Runner Up? "Naked Vegas". Just because it's so different.
Worst Reality Show: In the land of Honey Boo-Boo, all the rest. Including the God-awful Cake-Boss, Project Runway, Hells Kitchen and any other show that takes a respectable profession and makes a crummy game show out of it.
Worst TV in 2013: The Oscars hosted by Seth McFarland. What a putz. Terrible. Just God-Awful.
Best Just Out There Fun Current Events Thing: Bill Maher on "Real Time."
Where else are you going to get to see Ann Colter and Ben Affleck yelling at each other while Michael Moore chuckles at them both?
Best Old Time Sit-Com I Watched that Still Holds Up: "The Andy Griffith Show", "Cheers", and "I Love Lucy."
I just posted (see the post after this) my favorite TV for the last year. But my favorite stuff doesn't cover everything I want to say about TV. So here are a few random categories I want to toss out there.
The TV Thing I Most Wanted to See But Missed: The 2013 Inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Coolest Non-Fiction Thing I Saw: The Led Zeppelin tribute folks honoring LZ as the band received Kennedy Center Honors. The "Stairway to Heaven" bit was remarkable. If you haven't seen it, please watch this on YouTube. Now.
Best Reality Show: "Pawn Stars." But keep in mind, that saying "best reality show" is like saying, "The Freshest and Shiniest Turd." Runner Up? "Naked Vegas". Just because it's so different.
Worst Reality Show: In the land of Honey Boo-Boo, all the rest. Including the God-awful Cake-Boss, Project Runway, Hells Kitchen and any other show that takes a respectable profession and makes a crummy game show out of it.
Worst TV in 2013: The Oscars hosted by Seth McFarland. What a putz. Terrible. Just God-Awful.
Best Just Out There Fun Current Events Thing: Bill Maher on "Real Time."
Where else are you going to get to see Ann Colter and Ben Affleck yelling at each other while Michael Moore chuckles at them both?
Best Old Time Sit-Com I Watched that Still Holds Up: "The Andy Griffith Show", "Cheers", and "I Love Lucy."
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Year End List- Television- the 12 Best I Saw
TUBE!
Some people hate end-of-the-year lists, but I love them. So, you are about to get mine about TV. But I have a couple of disclaimers. First, this is a list of the best things I watched this year, although they may haven't technically occurred this year. Secondly, don't worry, the fact that I am currently reviewing the entire STAR TREK franchise and am going through "CHEERS" all over again will not count. The things here will be a little bit more relevant to the current times. In other words, should something have been aired at the end of 2012, it might be on my list here. I guess I will start with number 12 and work may way to number 1. Because if I start with Number 1, it kind of becomes anti-climatic...one pick after another.
So here we go:
HONORABLE MENTION: LIVE FROM DARYL'S HOUSE - Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates fame invites different performers to his home to just jam with him. He normally does one of their songs and they do one of his. My favorite episode? The one featuring Allen Stone. (Can be seen on Youtube, as many episodes can be)
12. THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE FOR HUMOR: 2013, Carol Burnett
This broadcast from the Kennedy Center is always a delight, but the 16th winner being Carol Burnett was something special. She is a mega-talented American Institution - to comedy what John Wayne was to westerns. (might be seen, in part anyway, on YouTube)
11: LILLYHAMMER - season 1 & 2.
Steven Van Zant plays a New York "goodfella" who needs to be in the witness relocation program. Instead of the usual tropical choice, he opts for Lillehammer, Norway. He sets up his own "Flamingo" nightclub, and there the fun ensues. Season 2 introduces a wider cast of misfits and overall is better than the 1st, but I miss the use of his love interest in Season 1. (Stream on Netflix)
10. LONGMIRE - season 1 & 2
A wonderful show about Walt Longmire, [Robert Taylor] a Sheriff in Wyoming, who has taken his job back after his wife's death, and has a task each episode. In other words, you can tune into any episode and be satisfied - although there are ongoing plot-lines. (Stream on Netflix)
9. ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
An original NETFLIX production, (btw, I love how Netflix is redefining how we watch TV), and this is one of those shows you can binge-watch in a weekend. A woman makes some bad choices in her girlfriend relationship, and ends up in prison, entirely out of her element. Has a boyfriend, but has tendencies......(of course stream on Netflix...it's their show after all)
8. HOMELAND - Season 1
An HBO series focused around a returned POW held in the middle east, Nicholas Brody [Damien Lewis] for years and the CIA agent Carrie Matheson [Claire Danes] who's obsessed that he has been "turned" and that he is a danger. Nevertheless, she sleeps with him. So there's that. Also features the most over-rated guy in the world, Mandy Patikin, as Saul Berenson.
7. SONS OF ANARCHY - seasons 4 & 5
Once again America's favorite despicable band of outlaw bikers and their "old ladies" continue to stay fascinating in a sick, looking-at-the-train-wreck kind of way. The plots remain interesting and besides Jimmy Smits being introduced into the mix, more of "The Shield" cast filter through. (Now must be steamed through Netflix or maybe Hulu)
6. BOARDWALK EMPIRE - Season 2
Steve Buschemi as a mobster in prohibition 1920's in Atlantic City is as interesting as the decision to cast Steve Buschemi. But he is magnificent as is everyone in the cast. And that includes the band in the speakeasy nightclub, Dafney Coleman, and Stephan Graham- playing a young green Al Capone. There is way too much to say about this, [ala Michael Kenneth White] so I'd better let you find out for yourself. (I got it through CDs on Netflix)
5. THE WALKING DEAD - Season 3
Many fans weren't fond of Season 2. I was. No problem. Season 3 took turns I wouldn't have taken as a writer, but sometimes different isn't worse, it's just different. The gang that continues to try to survive hold up in a prison, after fighting their way in and leaving the obligatory leaks for dramatic effect in the fence. They hold up in cell-blocks and have to deal with the "Governor" a egocentric maniac who oversees another survival group nearby. A couple characters we've grown to love end up dying but that is the nature of this show. Worthwhile nevertheless. (Stream on Demand, Netflix, Hulu maybe)
4. THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS
Kevin Costner as Hatfield and Bill Paxton as McCoy, as well as an astounding cast of principles, are mind blowing. Kostner was born to play westerns. This a wonderful, and as it turns out, a historically accurate account of America's longest and most painful family feud. Intriguing does not do it justice. (can be streamed on Netflix)
3. THE BLACK LIST
Who would ever imagine Network TV could remotely churn out anything to make this list? But NBC did. And at Number 3. That's how good this is. James Spader is a jewel and here he plays a great character who turns himself into the FBI, and in turn works with only one agent and helps them eliminate people that are on his "Black List." Turns out they are on their lists too, so it's win/win. And it is implied that the agent is his daughter. There were only about 10 initial episodes, but it was enough of a hit that they -NBC- have renewed (translation: ordered another 10 episodes - anybody remember when a season meant 23 episodes?) (This can be streamed ON DEMAND or HULU, but episodes 2 through 5 are not available)
2. HOUSE OF CARDS
This just might be Kevin Spacey's best work ever. He plays the minority whip in the House of Representatives and as I said in my review, takes us through the dark underbelly of what really happens inside the beltway. If it weren't for the next entry, I might say this was the best TV I ever saw, but can't say that. But please don't miss this experience. Robin Wright, you are wonderful. It's a Netflix original, so subscribe, watch this, and cancel. But really I think even better things are coming. So you might want to just bite the bullet and enjoy quality TV.
1. BREAKING BAD - season 5
This final season came in two 8 episode installments. That was almost a blessing. I needed a breather in between. This was the finale season in the greatest TV experience I've ever had the pleasure to watch. Bryan Cranston as Walter White, and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman were one on the greatest TV one-two punches since Andy and Barney. And a supporting cast that would make any producer envious. There was Anna Gunn as Walt's wife, Dean Norris as his DEA agent brother-in-law, and many more that all deserve mention. This was fantastic, and solidly deserves my number 1 slot. Please, if you haven't seen it, start from the beginning and witness this work of TV art. And for my money, TV is where the real art is being made these days.
So here you go. This was the best TV I witnessed this year. I hope you too have had the pleasure of witnessing some or all of the things I talked about here. I do believe that in this world of Super-hero, blow-up stuff, movies, that TV has stepped up and become where it's at for true artists. And in the last couple years it appears that way....
And although I'm not paid to say it, you might want to think about streaming Netflix....there is a lot of cool stuff happening there, and they don't play the feed-you-one-episode at a time thing. I love how they have redefined TV and you can binge watch a series in a weekend, or however it fits you. To me, Netflix is making that defiant, snot-nosed, shout in the face of Network TV. Please reference the beginning of "Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" by The Young Rascals. Seriously, do it. It's the same wonderful thing.
2013 was all in all, a good TV year.
Some people hate end-of-the-year lists, but I love them. So, you are about to get mine about TV. But I have a couple of disclaimers. First, this is a list of the best things I watched this year, although they may haven't technically occurred this year. Secondly, don't worry, the fact that I am currently reviewing the entire STAR TREK franchise and am going through "CHEERS" all over again will not count. The things here will be a little bit more relevant to the current times. In other words, should something have been aired at the end of 2012, it might be on my list here. I guess I will start with number 12 and work may way to number 1. Because if I start with Number 1, it kind of becomes anti-climatic...one pick after another.
So here we go:
HONORABLE MENTION: LIVE FROM DARYL'S HOUSE - Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates fame invites different performers to his home to just jam with him. He normally does one of their songs and they do one of his. My favorite episode? The one featuring Allen Stone. (Can be seen on Youtube, as many episodes can be)
12. THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE FOR HUMOR: 2013, Carol Burnett
This broadcast from the Kennedy Center is always a delight, but the 16th winner being Carol Burnett was something special. She is a mega-talented American Institution - to comedy what John Wayne was to westerns. (might be seen, in part anyway, on YouTube)
11: LILLYHAMMER - season 1 & 2.
Steven Van Zant plays a New York "goodfella" who needs to be in the witness relocation program. Instead of the usual tropical choice, he opts for Lillehammer, Norway. He sets up his own "Flamingo" nightclub, and there the fun ensues. Season 2 introduces a wider cast of misfits and overall is better than the 1st, but I miss the use of his love interest in Season 1. (Stream on Netflix)
10. LONGMIRE - season 1 & 2
A wonderful show about Walt Longmire, [Robert Taylor] a Sheriff in Wyoming, who has taken his job back after his wife's death, and has a task each episode. In other words, you can tune into any episode and be satisfied - although there are ongoing plot-lines. (Stream on Netflix)
9. ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
An original NETFLIX production, (btw, I love how Netflix is redefining how we watch TV), and this is one of those shows you can binge-watch in a weekend. A woman makes some bad choices in her girlfriend relationship, and ends up in prison, entirely out of her element. Has a boyfriend, but has tendencies......(of course stream on Netflix...it's their show after all)
8. HOMELAND - Season 1
An HBO series focused around a returned POW held in the middle east, Nicholas Brody [Damien Lewis] for years and the CIA agent Carrie Matheson [Claire Danes] who's obsessed that he has been "turned" and that he is a danger. Nevertheless, she sleeps with him. So there's that. Also features the most over-rated guy in the world, Mandy Patikin, as Saul Berenson.
7. SONS OF ANARCHY - seasons 4 & 5
Once again America's favorite despicable band of outlaw bikers and their "old ladies" continue to stay fascinating in a sick, looking-at-the-train-wreck kind of way. The plots remain interesting and besides Jimmy Smits being introduced into the mix, more of "The Shield" cast filter through. (Now must be steamed through Netflix or maybe Hulu)
6. BOARDWALK EMPIRE - Season 2
Steve Buschemi as a mobster in prohibition 1920's in Atlantic City is as interesting as the decision to cast Steve Buschemi. But he is magnificent as is everyone in the cast. And that includes the band in the speakeasy nightclub, Dafney Coleman, and Stephan Graham- playing a young green Al Capone. There is way too much to say about this, [ala Michael Kenneth White] so I'd better let you find out for yourself. (I got it through CDs on Netflix)
5. THE WALKING DEAD - Season 3
Many fans weren't fond of Season 2. I was. No problem. Season 3 took turns I wouldn't have taken as a writer, but sometimes different isn't worse, it's just different. The gang that continues to try to survive hold up in a prison, after fighting their way in and leaving the obligatory leaks for dramatic effect in the fence. They hold up in cell-blocks and have to deal with the "Governor" a egocentric maniac who oversees another survival group nearby. A couple characters we've grown to love end up dying but that is the nature of this show. Worthwhile nevertheless. (Stream on Demand, Netflix, Hulu maybe)
4. THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS
Kevin Costner as Hatfield and Bill Paxton as McCoy, as well as an astounding cast of principles, are mind blowing. Kostner was born to play westerns. This a wonderful, and as it turns out, a historically accurate account of America's longest and most painful family feud. Intriguing does not do it justice. (can be streamed on Netflix)
3. THE BLACK LIST
Who would ever imagine Network TV could remotely churn out anything to make this list? But NBC did. And at Number 3. That's how good this is. James Spader is a jewel and here he plays a great character who turns himself into the FBI, and in turn works with only one agent and helps them eliminate people that are on his "Black List." Turns out they are on their lists too, so it's win/win. And it is implied that the agent is his daughter. There were only about 10 initial episodes, but it was enough of a hit that they -NBC- have renewed (translation: ordered another 10 episodes - anybody remember when a season meant 23 episodes?) (This can be streamed ON DEMAND or HULU, but episodes 2 through 5 are not available)
2. HOUSE OF CARDS
This just might be Kevin Spacey's best work ever. He plays the minority whip in the House of Representatives and as I said in my review, takes us through the dark underbelly of what really happens inside the beltway. If it weren't for the next entry, I might say this was the best TV I ever saw, but can't say that. But please don't miss this experience. Robin Wright, you are wonderful. It's a Netflix original, so subscribe, watch this, and cancel. But really I think even better things are coming. So you might want to just bite the bullet and enjoy quality TV.
1. BREAKING BAD - season 5
This final season came in two 8 episode installments. That was almost a blessing. I needed a breather in between. This was the finale season in the greatest TV experience I've ever had the pleasure to watch. Bryan Cranston as Walter White, and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman were one on the greatest TV one-two punches since Andy and Barney. And a supporting cast that would make any producer envious. There was Anna Gunn as Walt's wife, Dean Norris as his DEA agent brother-in-law, and many more that all deserve mention. This was fantastic, and solidly deserves my number 1 slot. Please, if you haven't seen it, start from the beginning and witness this work of TV art. And for my money, TV is where the real art is being made these days.
So here you go. This was the best TV I witnessed this year. I hope you too have had the pleasure of witnessing some or all of the things I talked about here. I do believe that in this world of Super-hero, blow-up stuff, movies, that TV has stepped up and become where it's at for true artists. And in the last couple years it appears that way....
And although I'm not paid to say it, you might want to think about streaming Netflix....there is a lot of cool stuff happening there, and they don't play the feed-you-one-episode at a time thing. I love how they have redefined TV and you can binge watch a series in a weekend, or however it fits you. To me, Netflix is making that defiant, snot-nosed, shout in the face of Network TV. Please reference the beginning of "Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" by The Young Rascals. Seriously, do it. It's the same wonderful thing.
2013 was all in all, a good TV year.
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