2010 Movie Ranking

Here it is, my ranking best to worst of every new movie I saw this year.

Inception
The Social Network
Secretariat
Inside Job
True Grit
Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work
Fair Game
The Kids Are All Right
Black Swan
The Fighter
The Secret In Their Eyes
Salt
Shutter Island
Waiting for Superman
Easy A
Burlesque
Unstoppable
Date Night
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
The Town
Get Low
The Next Three Days
Crazy Heart
Ghost Writer
Dinner for Schmucks
127 Hours
She's Out of My League
Exit Through the Gift Shop
The Expendables
Sherlock Holmes
The Other Guys
Book of Eli
Edge of Darkness
The American
Knight & Day
Hot Tub Time Machine
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

The 2010 Ozzie's....
Best Picture: Inception
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Best Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Best Supporting Actress: Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Screeplay: Christopher Nolan, Inception
Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Inception

Movies I haven't seen yet that might have been high:
Blue Valentine
The King's Speech
Toy Story 3
Restrepo
Rabbit Hole
The Tillman Story
Casino Jack

At The Cinema - December 2010

Fair Game – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Naomi Watts
b. Historical drama
c. Sean Penn chewing scenery.
This is a terrific movie that opens the old wounds of the Valerie Plame affair.
When history documents the questionable moments of the George Bush Presidency, Scooter Libby’s outing of CIA agent Plame for revenge against her husband, Iraq-war-critic Joe Wilson will surely rank as one of the worst.
Sit back and absorb most of what we didn’t know.
For example, I pictured Plame as a paper pusher at the CIA, not a real, active agent. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She was involved in many covert operations of some importance, all of which blew up upon the outing, resulting in loss of life. Some of the most fascinating parts of the movie reveal the inner workings of the CIA, as well as its role in the build up to the Iraq war.
Naomi Watts has some great scenes and continues to show why she’s one of the best actresses working today. This is an important movie, entertaining, and like so many docudramas today, a little infuriating.

True Grit – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Great Dialogue
b. The Coen Brothers
c. Jeff Bridges
This movie has a cadence to its dialogue that elevates it to a level of wonder. It is so rhapsodic in its writing I think it would have made a great radio serial. Someday I hope to test my theory by just listening to it. I remember how people would talk about listening to the old radio shows and having to imagine the visuals. While the visuals are terrific here as well, it’s the rarest of movies where the audio stands on its own.

Jeff Bridges takes on the role of Rooster Cogburn, a marshal for hire. John Wayne won his only Oscar in the 1969 version, which bears little resemblance to this film, largely because movie-making has advanced a long way in 40 years. Not only is Bridges better than Wayne, I think he’s better than he was in his Oscar-winning role last year in Crazy Heart.

The 1969 version was essentially a vehicle. It was a way to get budding music superstar Glen Campbell into a movie, and give Wayne a showy role. Acting next to Campbell would have made any actor look great, and Wayne extended the tradition (later example – Paul Newman) of giving a career-Oscar for a body of work.

The 2010 acting is terrific, as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Hailee Steinfeld are every bit the match for Bridges.

Thank-you to the Coen brothers. As much as I liked No Country for Old Men, this one reminds me more of Fargo in its originality, stunning violence, and the way it transports you to a magical place and time – the fun, fun, fun wild, wild west.


The Fighter – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Boxing
b. Christian Bale
c. Mark Wahlberg
In the clearing stands another boxing movie. I have always wanted to see a boxing movie where the boxing is realistic. The best thing I can say here is that they got close. They have the obligatory glove-to-face slow motion, blood and sweat-spraying shots. They have the boxers whaling on each other with no defense. All close but no cigar, in this story of Micky Ward, a Massachusetts boxer known for his participation in some historic fights.

The story here isn’t really about boxing anyway. It’s about a dysfunctional family of 2 half-brothers, a gaggle of sisters, and a domineering mother who is trying to keep the family meal ticket in the ring. Dysfunctional doesn’t begin to describe this crew. You know a movie is working when you want to reach onto the screen and choke the characters.

Christian Bale will certain pick up some award hardware as the crack-addicted half-brother Dicky Ecklund. It’s a harrowing portrayal and a showy role. Likewise, Melissa Leo shines as the mother. Once again Mark Wahlberg will get overlooked for his work, but make no mistake, besides having put this project together, he is the glue that holds the movie together. Amy Adams steps out of her dainty-shoes as Micky's tough, bartender girlfriend.

The movie doesn’t cover this, but to get a flavor of the real Micky Ward, check out his fight with the late Arturo Gatti. The 9th round of their 1st fight is considered one of the greatest of all time. Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZP-IfSZxl0


Black Swan – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Oscar worthy performances
b. To talk about a movie a lot
c. Trying to figure out what’s real
There’s a movie equivalent to literary license. I call it cinematic license, and it occurs in a movie when the director begins to represent things that may or may not be happening.
In The Black Swan it happens when Natalie Portman’s character Nina begins to descend into madness as she tries to bring the required split personality to her lead role in Swan Lake. Apparently, and I would never have known this before this movie, the White Swan becomes the Black Swan in that ballet.

I love it when movies take you somewhere you’ve never been before, and as you can tell, I didn’t know anything about ballet, except what I saw in The Turning Point many years ago. Director Darren Aronofsky, as he did with The Wrestler, takes us into another world that seems to be rife with self-abuse. The movie could have just focused on the sacrifices that artists like this make and it would have been fascinating.

Nina has a just a few problems that slowly reveal themselves. She lives at home with her mother, played by Barbara Hershey, an artist who is a nightmare of a stage mother. Nina is sexually repressed, self-mutilating, sexually confused, self-destructive, neurotic, paranoid, tortured, tormented, jealous – and that’s before she lands her dream role. This is a graphic thriller where you may want to avert your eyes a few times. Who knew ballet could be so bloody and brutal?

Mila Kunis plays Nina’s potential rival and eventual seducer Lily and she’s always been a wonderful actress, but here she kicks it up a notch and sets herself up for even greater things to come.

However, it is Natalie Portman who blows up the screen here. She’s in almost every scene and carries the movie on her back. It only works because she’s so great in conveying the exquisite pain she is going through. I was a little sad because I thought this would finally be the year Annette Bening gets her Oscar, but this is the kind of performance that brings awards in droves.

Here's the bad news, the previews show her getting started on her post-Oscar swoon by starring in an upcoming movie with Ashton Kutcher. In my dream world, Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher would be sentenced to starring together forever in useless movies that no one sees. Say it ain't so, Natalie.

Burlesque – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Glitz and glamour
b. Christina Aguilera
c. Musicals
My favorite part of movies like this is the “star is born” moment. In this one it’s when Christina’s lip-sync soundtrack is cut off and she gets to belt out a song. Gotta love it.
This is the story of Iowa girl Ali (Aguilera) who lands in a Los Angeles Burlesque club. No, I didn’t know they had them anymore either. But, it will be up to Ali to eventually save the club from foreclosure. Can she do it?

What’s cool about this movie is it’s purely original. It didn’t get a test run on Broadway, and it wasn’t a previous production. Sure, it’s 42nd Street all over, but who remembers that movie? One gets the feeling that if Busby Berkeley were alive today, this is what he’d be doing. This is singing and dancing done in 2010 style. Cher, whom I’ve never considered a serious actress, does a pretty good job here portraying one of the most obstinate characters ever, club owner Tess who doesn’t plan on losing her club through sheer will, but no plan. She belts out a couple of songs, including what may become a signature anthem that attests to her longevity.

But it’s Christina Aguilera who carries the movie, and she’s up to the task. She’s cute, believable, and has the pipes to become the star of the club. If you like musicals, this one’s worth your time. That girl can sing!


127 Hours – 7
You’ll like this movie if you’re
a. An adventurer
b. Of strong stomach
c. A fan of Director Danny Boyle.

Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire makes a movie that couldn’t be more unlike that one. This is a graphic recounting of real life explorer Aron Ralston who gets trapped in a canyon and has to amputate his right arm to get free.

This movie tells the story of the entire ordeal in bloody detail and complete with hallucinations. It’s well done, riveting, but ultimately not as engaging as one would think.

SATELLITE SCANNING - picking up movies I missed in the theater, or TV Movies

Temple Grandin – 10
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. movies
This is one of those movies that remind me why I love movies. It is the story of an autistic woman, Temple Grandin, and how she attains great success in animal husbandry, after many struggles. This inspirational movie won an Emmy for Best TV Movie and Claire Danes won as Best actress as the title character. The movie won five other Emmys so, although I had no idea what it was about I figured I would check it out. It was a thrill to have done so. Don’t miss it. It’s on HBO.

Edge of Darkness – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. revenge movies
b. Mel Gibson
c. Government conspiracies
While the conspiracy is farfetched and Mel’s rage is a little too close to his alleged real life demons for comfort, this is riveting in a Charles Bronson kind of way. Mel, as Boston police detective Thomas Craven goes about investigating the brutal shooting of his daughter. That assassination scene is a blockbuster. At first it’s believed Mel was the target of this murder when it takes place on his front porch. As Mel investigates he realizes his daughter was involved in something way beyond an internship as a defense contractor. Mel has a lot of figuring out and paying back to do, and it’s all done very realistically. If you liked Death Wish, you’ll like this.

The Book of Eli – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. post apocalyptic movies
b. Denzil Washington
c. Mila Kunis
This is the story of the man who walks across country for 30 years carrying the last remaining King James Bible after the apocalypse. It is his hope to save civilization
In case you haven’t figured this out, after the bomb wipes most of us out, it will be bleak and dreary, and we’ll be walking a lot. If you’ve got something other people want, you’re going to be in a lot of fights. If you’re lucky, you’ll pick up Mila Kunis for company. If you have a decent script, they’ll be some nice twists and turns.
But, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

Saints Report # 15 - December 27, 2010

The kitchen sink came flying at Drew Brees Monday night in the Georgia Dome and while it made things interesting, in the end it didn’t matter. He threw it right back. Brees gave one of those resilient performances that only champion quarterbacks can deliver. After throwing two 4th quarter interceptions, one of which was returned for an easy touchdown, Brees led a game winning 90 yard touchdown drive, as well as a game preserving drive to run out the clock in the 17 - 14 victory.

Don’t think that Brees was the only hero. The defense rebounded from taking the week off against Baltimore. They iced Matt Ryan, slowed the running game, and allowed only 7 offensive points. They forced a fumble at the goal line. Unlike last week, the defensive line was up to the challenge of stopping the run, often stuffing it at the line of scrimmage. This was another dominating performance by the swarming Saints defense. The Saints had twice the passing yardage as the Falcons, 302 to 149, and a total yardage advantage of 368 to 215. Falcon star offensive players Roddy White, Michael Turner, and Tony Gonzalez, who had all been unstoppable in the first meeting between these teams, were not factors.

The national media continually stresses that the Saints’ defense is not creating the turnovers they did last year. What they don’t realize is that the Saints’ offense last year was a primary cause. Great offense leads to big margins, which cause the team that is behind to try to play catch up, leading to turnovers. This year the balance of power on the Saints has shifted. The offense has not been as good, but the defense has been better. The games are tighter, and this was typical.

Don’t think the Saints missed Pierre Thomas while he was out? While Brees got all the post-game attention, Thomas was probably the MVP of this one. With over 100 yards running and receiving, Thomas seemed to make a big play whenever it was needed. He made great plays on each touchdown drive and terrific ones in the final drive. He contributed stellar blitz pickup blocks during the kitchen sink phase of the game. When you look at the Falcons defensive game plan of blitzing so much, it was amazing they didn’t wreak more havoc than the two defensive line interceptions. All in all, the Saints offense held their ground and Thomas was a big part of this.

Let me make sure I understand this. Reggie Bush is under contract for $11.3 million next year, and Pierre Thomas is not under contract. Please, Mickey Loomis, don’t let this guy test the market. He’s a rare commodity, a fundamentally sound running back that can run, catch, and block. He hits the right hole, makes tacklers miss, and will even run back kicks effectively. In other words, we want to play with him – not against him.

What’s next? Tampa comes to town and will try to repeat what they did at the last regular season Superdome game last year. They fought back from a 10 point deficit to win. The Saints need to prevent that. If, by the longest of shots, Carolina were to beat Atlanta, with a victory the Saints would rocket up to the top seed in the NFC. It would be nice, but it’s a long shot.

The slight hope for Saints fans is that John Fox, in what will surely be his last game as Carolina coach, will throw everything he’s got at the Falcons. You know, the kitchen sink.

Saints Report # 14 - December 19, 2010

Since 2009 “Glee” has been a TV show.
Prior to that “glee” was what NFL teams felt when they heard the sentence, “next week the New Orleans Saints come to town.”
But, in the last two years the Saints have become a formidable road team, no longer an easy win.

There is however, a consistent formula that gives the Saints fits no matter where they play, and the hosting Baltimore Ravens used it to perfection Sunday, ground chucking the Saints into submission, 30 – 24. Ray Rice was the principal grinder.

Although the Saints were in their usual position, with a chance for a miracle drive at the end, the Ravens were having none of it, and their interception of a Brees 4th down pass deep in Raven’s territory sealed the deal. The Ravens, much like the Falcons earlier this year, pounded the Saints on the ground and controlled the clock. The Saints never got the tempo going that they’ve displayed throughout their 6 game winning streak. Pierre Thomas never got the Saints running game going, and “Run-around” Reggie Bush continued to be ineffective unless he gets the ball downfield.

It didn’t take a schedule savant to see how important this game was going to be for the Saints. In their matchup with the AFC North, they beat the Steelers at home, and the Steelers were unkind hosts to the Falcons. Check. The Falcons handled the Ravens at home, but the Saints had to go to Baltimore in December, and it was easy to see that it would be a monster game for both teams. The Ravens were up to the challenge. The Saints weren’t.

The long-awaited rematch with the Falcons next week is now anticlimactic as the Falcons took care of business against the Seahawks. Relegated to wild card status, don’t look for Sean Payton to show much in Atlanta next week, as he knows the road to the Super Bowl now probably goes through the Georgia Dome, and if the Saints are fortunate enough to return in a playoff game, they’ll have to bring a formula for stopping a running game. That seems to be a task for which the Saint's linebackers are over-matched.

It’s a dangerous road, as a loss to Atlanta could elevate the importance of the closing game against Tampa Bay. In a late-year game against the Bucs last year, the Saints laid a second-half egg.

The Saints hope it doesn’t come to that.

Guts

Stop the Insanity.

You know the situation. You spend 50% more than you take in.
This year your income is $60,000, but you will spend $90,000.
Your family is entitled to it.
You can’t deprive them!
Plus, your creditors are cooperative.
They understand, and they encourage you to use your good credit to borrow the one third of your expenditures that you can’t cover.
No problem.
Just wish you didn’t do it year after year. The debt is mounting.
In fact it’s now almost 6 times your yearly revenue.
You know in your heart you’ll never dig out, but you just can’t help yourself.
You know it’s insane, but you just can’t quit.
You’ve got to keep your family happy.

You are the US Government.

You heard it right. The plan this year is for roughly $3.5 trillion in expenditures on $2.5 trillion in revenue. The debt will climb to $14 trillion, or 6 times revenue.
I’m not making this up.

In the recent election, the tidal wave was for “reducing the deficit.” We’re all concerned. Congress is concerned so it looks like the last thing the lame ducks will do is pass a tax reduction that will INCREASE the deficit another trillion or so.
Do you get the feeling they throw around a trillion like you throw around a ten?

But taxes aren’t the problem. It’s how they’re assessed.
Here’s my proposal to fix it once and for all, forever.

A Flat tax that is assessed on all income at a rate that will equal the projected yearly budgeted outlay.

Now, we hear about flat taxes all the time, but they’re always full of the same BS. My proposal is pure as the driven snow in the Metrodome.

Every single American Wage Earner will pay the same income tax rate.
Every single corporation doing business will pay that same rate.
Every dollar of income is taxable.
No exemptions
No deductions.
No graduated rates
No excise tax
No payroll tax
No estate tax
No health expense deductions
No mortgage deduction.
No marriage penalty.
No earned income tax credit.
No alternative minimum tax.
No capital gains tax.
No income tax dodges at all
No trying to figure out what’s fair.
No incentivizing behavior,
No rewarding investment.
No complicated tax returns
No lobbying. There’s no tax breaks to lobby for.

We tax income once.

Taxes are there to provide revenue for the government, period.

It was the 16th amendment to the constitution that started us down this road. It’s commonly believed to have allowed income tax. But what it really did was allow the government to do it anyway it wanted – which the constitution had prevented. Thus, the government has constantly changed the tax code, chasing concepts like fairness, investment, home ownership, conservation, and whatever the whim of the decade was.

My proposal: All Men are created equal.
Every one pays the same rate.
Doesn’t matter if you make $10 a year or $10 billion.
All men are created equal.
That’s what this nation was founded on, so everyone pays the same.
But what rate?
Simple, the rate that puts revenue equal to our projected expenditure.

So, every year the tax rate would be predicated on balancing the budget.
For example, (and these numbers are very rough):
2010
Total personal income in the US is estimated at 13 trillion dollars.
Total corporate income in the US is estimated at 2 trillion dollars.
The budget was $3.5 trillion, so the tax rate would be 23%, and that includes everything – social security, medicare, everything.

Flat tax.

Look at your paycheck. You probably take home about 70% of your gross – so not that much really would change for most of us, even after all of our deductions and games we play.
It just eliminates every single tax dodge on the books.
This year the government will collect only $2.5 trillion and just borrow the rest.
It’s called the deficit, and it amounts to a third of what the government will spend.
Again.
It will bring our deficit to $14 trillion.
It’s got to stop.
It’s ridiculous. Who among us can spend 50% more than we bring in?
What company could do this year after year?
There’s only one way to eliminate this idiocy and this is it.
A Flat tax that brings the budget into balance.

Our tax code has morphed into this giant animal that no one understands, volumes and volumes of it. It’s an accountant's dream but it's a national nightmare.


I’ll take questions:
But Rick, what about the mortgage deduction? The housing market will collapse.
No it won’t. They’ll be an adjustment period, but a homeowner’s taxes probably won’t increase much if at all.

But Rick, how do we get people to do things, like go green, go to college, go exploring, go to war, etc.
Simple. Vote on it.
If we want to incentivize something, give them a grant.
It will be up front, transparent, voted on, and visible, not hidden in a tax code too complicated for anyone to understand.
If people see it up front, they can judge it. Right now we don’t know what the government is doing, we just know they spend too much money.

But Rick, what happens if the economy improves?
Great, the income increases and the tax rate goes down, as long as we hold government expenditures in line – which there will be tremendous pressure to do.

So, let’s say in 2011, the incomes go up from $15 to $16 trillion, but we can hold the government line at $3.5 trillion. Great – a real tax decrease from 23% to 22% - which should further stimulate the economy and encourage job growth.

But Rick, what if we go to war?
Here’s a novel concept – we pay for it. The tax rate will go up. Let’s say we were going to declare war, and it was going to require another 1 point increase to fund it. Every American would pay. Think we’d have a real debate on the need for war at that point?

But Rick, What about millionaires? Shouldn’t they pay more?
Why? Because they’ve been successful? Look, I wouldn’t mind a surcharge on high incomes, like an extra point on every million dollars, but it should go to retire our debt. I also wouldn’t mind a surcharge on non-citizens working in the country. But, that’s an argument for another day, once we get the fundamentals in place.

But, Rick, What about poor people?
They pay. Everyone pays. A flat tax that makes everyone pay may encourage people to become participants in the American dream instead of observers.

It will probably require an amendment like this:

The Congress shall levy a uniform tax on all personal and corporate incomes at a yearly rate that projects to meet the budget of the U.S. government, and the balancing of the budget is mandatory.

Everyone will hate this idea because it's so simple we may not even need tax returns.
Every now and then someone brings up a flat tax, but not like this one.
This is simple, fair, easy, and direct.

Think about it.
Isn’t this way better than what’s going on now?
I know no one likes taxes, but why are we all whining about taxes all the time and how the government spends borrowed money?

What if you owed 6 times your yearly income?
You’d be a gone pecan. People have been abandoning houses because they were under water, but that’s small potatoes compared to where our government is, and they will continue it, no matter what the tea party says, unless we put a stop to it - and this is the way to do it.
The flat tax would eliminate every conceivable tax break (dodge) there is and put us back on a path to national solvency. It’s tough medicine, but all men are created equal, and would share the pain in relative equality.

If you think I’m crazy, take a number.
If not, let’s get this ball rolling. Forward a link to this blog to everyone you know, including your congressman with one simple sentence – “I agree with this.”
I call it the National Guts Campaign for a Flat Tax.

Saints Report # 13 - December 12, 2010

The Saints improved their record to 1 – 2 against rookie quarterbacks by throttling Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams 31 – 13. Having made Colt McCoy look like Bernie Kosar and Max Hall look like Kurt Warner, they made probable offensive rookie of the year Sam Bradford look very average.

Bradford’s most impressive play was running down Roman Harper who was carrying a refrigerator on his back after a long run with an alleged loose ball. His worst plays were two red-zone throws that Malcolm Jenkins found to his liking. Jenkins returned one 96 yards for a touchdown, and the other was an end zone, drive-killing pick. Jenkins appears headed for stardom.

Meanwhile Marquis Colston and Lance Moore continued their strong play, while Robert Meachem made some uncharacteristic drops. Colston scored twice and Moore once as Drew Brees was workmanlike in a 221 yard performance. Pierre Thomas returned and looked sharp, Reggie Bush ran around as usual, and Chris Ivory retired early with hamstring tightness.

The second season definitely starts next week when the Saints travel to Baltimore in an attempt to keep pace with Atlanta. The Saints desperately need Seattle to come out of its lethargy and beat Atlanta next week. This would set up a momentous December 27th showdown for the division title. The Saints have no room for error and are running out of runway. It’s about to get tense.

Saints Report # 12 - December 5, 2010

Anybody who thinks there’s no inflation hasn’t been to Popeye’s lately.
Anybody who thinks the Saints can’t find a way to win, just isn’t paying attention.

The New Orleans Saints pulled another escape act Sunday 34-30 over the Bengals.
The NFL is going to have to change another rule.

After last year the NFL was so upset that Brett Favre didn’t get the ball in the Saints’ overtime playoff win that they changed the overtime rule starting in this year’s postseason. Can’t win with a one possession field goal anymore.

This week it was guard Carl Nicks who knew the rules and played the role perfectly.
The Saints weekly last minute drive had stalled at the 4 yard line, and an impending field goal would send the game into overtime. But first, the Saints called a time out and lined up as if to go for it, obviously intending to try to draw the Bengals offside, although that never works, right?

Well, the Bengals bungled. A lineman jumped into the neutral zone and Carl Nicks wisely reacted, making it a penalty. Seconds later, it’s Brees to Colston for another winning score. Glad that rule's in there, for now.

Gone in 60 seconds. Meachem and Brees were 4th quarter heroes again, Chris Ivory pounded the Bengals to the tune of 116 yards on the ground – including a 55 yard td run, and Reggie Bush still looked rusty.

The defense saved their best for last. After probably their least effective 59 minutes this year, and the Bengals threatening from midfield, every team in the world drops back and plays pass defense. But every team doesn’t have Gregg Williams, who dialed up a devastating blitz that snowed Carson Palmer under to end the game. Escape.

The Saints just know how to win.
But there’s bad news.
The Saints didn’t get the expected help from Tampa Bay. The Bucs blew a lead largely because of a clutch kick off return for a TD by Atlanta, kind of the way the Saints did things last year. Atlanta looks good.
And the Saints’ special teams look horrible. They consistently put the Saints in field position holes all day long. Penalized heavily, and even outgained, the Saints can’t continue to rely on last minute drives.
The good news is that if Pierre Thomas returns, maybe he can help out on special teams.
Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush would appear to be a three-headed running back monster for the stretch run, if the JFG can keep it unpredictable.
Around the league:
The Rams come to town next, riding the best rookie QB the league has seen in awhile.
The Vikings got a look at their future (and their past) with Tavaris Jackson and he looked pretty good.
The Bears have an offense to compliment their defense, which goes from good to great when Urlacher is on the field. But, how does the NFL let them get away with that field?
That place seems to get re-sodded every time there’s a big game. Hope the playoffs don’t go thru Chicago.
Everyone’s talking about Peyton Manning struggling. The Saints kind of exposed him in the Super Bowl by just ignoring the run but now he legitimately has no running game and everyone’s hurt. I find it interesting that he’s taking all the blame. Where’s the coach?
Speaking of coaches, the Cowboys may have found one. Too bad.
San Diego still needs one. Norv Turner may be a terrific play caller, but it takes more.
Tampa Bay looks like they’re a year away.
The Ravens continue to play great defense and while the Saints did pretty well in the cold in Cincy, don’t look for the Ravens to hand anything over when the Saints come to town.
I predicted that the Chiefs would be the surprise team in the NFL this year because you have to love their coaching staff, and I thought their draft was great. I’ve got them going all the way to the AFC championship game, but I didn’t think the Jets would live up to the hype. I now think the Patriots, although awfully young on defense, will prove to be the class of the AFC. Houston has been disappointing, Jacksonville surprising, Tennessee tumultuous, and the Dolphins DOA. Managing your injury list is probably the top skill you need to survive.
It’s something the Saints do very well. Although depleted at linebacker, and weak on special teams, they continue to plug and play. It would be nice to spend a Sunday watching an easy win instead of The Great Escape. It would be nice to get some cheap chicken too.

Drew

 

Just a few words about Drew Brees being named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year for 2010. I've been a subscriber to Sports Illustrated for over 40 years. Still have most of them in fact. I never dreamed there would ever be a New Orleans Saint to receive this award, but from the moment the Saints won the Super Bowl, I thought this was a possibility. Many athletes do great things on and off the field and never get recognized, but I'll never forget how the Saints, led by their QB, elevated us all well above sea level for a time. Congratulations Drew and thanks for the memories.

At the Cinema - November 2010

Inside Job – 10
You’ll like this documentary if you
a. Didn’t like TARP or the Bailout
b. Want to be infuriated
c. Just want to know more about what happened.
In the first ten minutes, as this well-made documentary picks apart the fall of Iceland’s financial system, you’ll begin to recognize the symptoms. As the filmmakers delve into the events leading up to the crash of 2008, one can’t help but be infuriated about the actions of the banks, and the lack of government oversight. It is educational to say the least.
Going into the movie, I had my own viewpoints, but this movie puts your blood pressure on a roller coaster as it reveals the market manipulation and how the American taxpayer had to pick up the bill. There are no hero’s here, and you can play pick-a-villain for 2 hours.

The Next Three Days – 8
You’ll like this movie if you
a. like Russell Crowe
b. like Elizabeth Banks
c. like some credible twists and turns.
So, we’d just been to the big wedding in Pittsburgh and thought it would be a good idea to go see a rare movie set in this highly picturesque city. Lara Brennan (Banks) has been convicted of murder. Her husband believes she is innocent, and after all legal remedies fail, her husband, college professor John Brennan (Crowe), begins to consider non-legal ones. He sets up a careful plan to break her out of the county jail before she is transferred to the state prison. Its fun to watch the plan fall into place, helped along by some lucky breaks and geographies that are a little stretchy. The pace quickens nicely when the escape begins and Brennan’s ingenuity is on display. While the outcome is never really in doubt, it’s the trip that’s fun.

Unstoppable – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Denzel Washington, old star
b. Chris Pine, new star
c. Action
We often lament in America that we don’t export anything anymore. Well, one of our few remaining exports is the over-the-top action movie, done only the way we Americans can finance and execute them. Director Tony Scott specializes in telling these types of fast-paced stories, and this one is typical.

It’s elevated because it’s allegedly based on a true story, it’s well acted, and it’s actually believable. Denzel and Chris are properly heroic and the action moves crisply.
The problem is that for me at least, for some reason I just didn’t get involved until the last 20 minutes. But, it could just be me. The audience was definitely into the “based on a true story” aspect, and it’s a very good action piece.

Saints Report # 11 - November 25. 2010

Motoring to a 2009 championship, the New Orleans Saints paid a preliminary visit to the Super Bowl site to play the Miami Dolphins and won in the most improbable fashion. They came back from a 24-3 deficit, cementing their credentials as real contenders.

On Thanksgiving Day in 2010, the Saints visited the site of this year’s Super Bowl and made last year’s preliminary trip look almost boring by comparison. The Saints charged out to a 17-0 lead. They came out in the 2nd half as if they’d just eaten Thanksgiving dinner and slowly gave up the lead, allowing 3 touchdowns.

Reggie Bush giveth, Malcolm Jenkins taketh away. Reggie was rusty, dropping a probable touchdown pass that could’ve iced the game. However he was not too rusty to dance around on his one punt return long enough to cough up the football, handing the Cowboys a touchdown. That 11 point swing put the Saints on the verge of a disastrous loss.

In steps Malcolm Jenkins. With Dallas only having to run the clock out, QB Kitna connected on a short pass with Roy Williams, beating rookie first round draft pick Patrick Robinson, who had slipped. Williams is off to the races, with Tracy Porter and Jenkins in hot pursuit. As they converge on Williams, Jenkins wrestles the ball out, and the Saints have the ball, down 4 with 3 minutes left.

In the NFL, if you have an elite Quarterback, your strategy is to be close enough for him to pull the game out on your last drive, so thanks Malcolm, Drew will take it from here.
Taking all of 5 plays, the big one being a 55 yarder to Robert Meachum, zip, zip, zip down the field and the Saints end the Dallas Jason Garrett euphoria.

Malcolm Jenkins may have saved the season, as the Saints move to 8-3 and await a little help from Green Bay and Baltimore this weekend.

The Saints are not without their problems, but after 43 years of victimization at the hands of some star quarterback who snatches victory from us, it’s kind of fun to pull a rabbit out of the hat as often as Drew does. We sure know how it feels from the other side.

Now comes that part of the schedule where the Saints have to prove they can produce in the cold weather. Trips to Cincy and Baltimore loom large. To win the division the Saints almost have to match last year’s 13 – 3 record. Wouldn’t that be something?

Saints Report # 10 - November 21, 2010

Sh!
Quiet!
Don’t tell anybody, but the Saints moved to 7-3 with a workmanlike win over the Seattle Seahawks in the dome.
Each team scored 5 times.
The difference?
The Saints scored 5 touchdowns and the Seahawks only 1, adding 4 field goals as the depleted Saints’ defense did a little bending in the 34-19 victory. Short of safeties this time with both Malcolm Jenkins and Darren Sharper, as well as rookie cornerback Patrick Robinson on the injury shelf, the defense continues to play exceptionally well.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t look like the Saints themselves will be adding any field goals anytime soon as Garrett Hartley is hooking his tea shots into the woods on every drive. He’s yanking it so badly, his extra points are barely sneaking through. His Atlanta miss still haunts the season. There’ll be a whole lotta finger crossing going on if he’s called on to win a game for the Saints.

With Reggie Bush a probable return in time for the Thanksgiving Day matchup with Dallas, it’s unfortunate that the Cowboys are turning professional at just the wrong time.
Jerry Jones finally got the memo on Bum Jr., the Vikings have jettisoned Childress for the Favre/Moss debacle of a season, and only Norv Turner of the Inadequates maintains his job.

Let’s give Thanks.
Thanks for Sean Payton and his full throttle style.
Thanks for Drew Brees and his amazing accuracy.
Thanks for Marques Colston and the glue on his gloves.
Thanks for Lance Moore and his elusiveness.
Thanks for Mickey Loomis and his drafting prowess.
Thanks for Jimmy Graham, star in training.
Thanks for Jonathan Vilma and his intelligence.
Thanks for Gregg Williams and his many defenses.
Thanks for Will Smith and his constant presence.
Thanks for only 6 losses in 20 months
Thanks for the offensive line that is rounding into 09 form.
Thanks for the Who Dat Nation, which is growing faster than the TSA.
Thanks for turkeys, the edibles ones, not the electable ones.
Thanks for tryptophan naps followed by the treat of
Saints Football on Thanksgiving Day.
Get ready for your stomach to rumble.

Saints Report # 9 - November 7, 2010

Don’t look now, but the New Orleans Saints are one of 6 teams with 6 victories in the National Parity League. The Steelers could become the 7th with a victory over the CincyBungles Monday Night. The Saints defense continued their stellar play, shutting down Carolina’s hapless offense. The Saints have only given up 3 touchdowns in the last 3 games, and only 12 through 9 games.

Check it out:

Vikings offense – 1 TD
49’ers offense - 3 TD
Falcon’s offense – 3 TD
Panther’s offense – 2 TD
Cardinal’s offense – 0 TD
Buc’s offense – 1 TD
Brown’s offense – 1 TD
Steeler’s offense – 1 TD
Panther’s offense – 0 TD

Jabari Greer even pitched in with the first defensive touchdown of the year on a interception return.

The Saints have moved right back under the radar, as the media focuses on the Rolling Moss gathering a team, and various diva quarterbacks and wide receivers, as well as the disaster in Dallas.

Meanwhile the Baltimore Ravens look like they hold the key to the division as they host the Falcons Thursday night and the Saints in December.
With a perfectly timed bye week, the Saints can look forward to Reggie Bush’s return against the Seahawks on Nov 21. If the Saints can get Pierre Thomas of the mysterious ankle injury back as well, the Saints have every opportunity to get on a roll for the 2nd half. One of the most impressive things about the team is that they have become a plug and play team. Their depth of players who are good enough and know their exact assignment is impressive.

In 2009 the Saints won with their offense. This is the Year of the Defense. Wouldn’t it be cool if the D carried the Saints to another Super Bowl? It would be Way Cool.

Saints Report # 8 - October 31, 2010

So we travelled to the dome hoping that the Saints would show up.

Not only did they show up dressed as Super Bowl re-contenders, but their new personality began to show through in a defensive display that had to stun the pundits who have been calling the Steelers the best NFL team for the last few weeks. The Saints won a 20-10 trench battle on Halloween and it was a revelation.

Understand this, the 2010 Saints are not the offensive juggernaut they were a year ago. Part of that is because of injuries to Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. Part of it is the way they are being defended. Part of it is that the offensive line has not played to last year’s standard. Part of it is the absence of a running game.

Thus, Reggie Bush was not the only one with a broken leg, as fans around the region got injured jumping off the bandwagon.

Let me be the first to say it. The Saints defense is better than last year. Gregg Williams has got players understanding his schemes and their virtual lockdown of the Steelers gave them 4 straight games in which they’ve given up only one touchdown. And all of this comes with Porter and Greer, two shutdown corners, on the shelf with injuries.

Turnovers are not coming in bunches like last year, so the defense hasn’t lit up the scoreboard. Big deficits force teams into gambling and carelessness, and the Saints haven’t had big leads to work with this year. But two turnovers in the 4th quarter Sunday night were a reminder of what this defense can do when playing with a lead.

On Halloween night, Brees, Vilma, Shanle, and Lance Moore in particular played great and showed promise that if they can put together two good games in a row by beating Carolina next Sunday they will improve to 6 – 3 going into the bye week, when they can hopefully replenish two backfields.

This was a must win, as the Saints joined the other 9 teams with 5 wins. Only the Patriots have 6 wins. In Section 116 we’ve returned all our starters and look forward to the Saints doing the same. Now comes the second half of the season. This is going to be fun. Break a leg.

At the Cinema - October 2010

The Social Network – 10
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Great Acting
b. Aaron Sorkin’s writing
c. Social significance

This is an amazing movie about the creation of Facebook. It’s relevance to Facebook devotees is unquestioned, and the story is fascinating. A brilliant script by Sorkin is the backbone here, and he pulls together the legal maneuvers so that we can understand them. The revelation is how nasty software development can get, and Facebook creater Marc Zuckerburg doesn’t come off as the purest character.

It’s Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerburg that elevates this movie to magical. He is flawless and fascinating in a truly original performance.


Secretariat – 10
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Sports Movies
b. Inspirational Stuff
c. Crowd Pleasers

In the 70’s I was in to horse racing. I’ve never forgotten watching Secretariat, especially that unbelievable run in the Belmont Stakes. Any sports fan who saw it probably hasn’t forgotten it either.

This exciting movie provides the backstory to Secretariat’s life, including the story of the female owner who survived the male-dominated world of horse racing.

Every time Secretariat comes from behind to win a race the theatre crowd cheered. This is one of those thrilling, crowd-pleasing, tear-jerking Disney movies that inspires Rudy-like applause.

It’s Diane Lane’s turn for the Sandra Bullock-type role of Peggy Chenery Tweedy. She shines in a role that will surely get her some recognition. She brings a realism and maturity to the role that we don’t often see in the movies. Bravo.


Wall Street – Money Never Sleeps – 8

Oliver Stone returns to the Gordon Gecko world of Greed with way more flash and dash than the first time. He tells his story like a multi-media presentation to keep the audience informed of the complex financial maneuvers. The story proceeds through the meltdown events of recent years, and it’s actually pretty informative.

But, when it’s all said and done, this is not so much a financial drama as it is a family drama. Gordon’s only family when he gets out of prison is his estranged daughter, beautifully played by the talented Cary Mulligan. Shia Lebouef is the moral center of the story. Surprisingly well done and enjoyable.


Easy A - 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Hip, witty movies
b. High School drama
c. Seeing a star born

This is a pleasant little puff of a movie, and it’s carried by rising star Emma Stone. Her character, Olive Penderghast, is going through the usual high school drama when she is forced to make up a story of a sexual encounter. The rumors run wild throughout the twist and turns of the movie, and it’s like watching a good John Hughes movie. That Emma happens to be studying The Scarlett Letter gives her guidance.

The movie is racy, funny, pleasing and just plain entertaining. John Hughes would be proud.


Waiting for Superman – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. documentaries
b. revealing information on school systems
c. the gamut of emotions

This is an often depressing indictment of America’s schools. By the time the filmmakers are done ripping the teacher’s unions and the malaise that has set in at underperforming schools you’ll wonder where America is going. Among others Bill Gates makes an impressive case for how we need to improve in Math and Science to remain globally competitive. It’s frightening and it’s important.

Saints Report # 7 - October 24, 2010

In a performance laced with mediocrity the Saints raised the ghosts of seasons past with a lethargic loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns 30 – 17. It wasn’t as close as the score would indicate, and it even occurred in the Superdome. Outperformed in all 3 phases (particularly special teams) the Saints seem well on their way to being the .500 team they are playing like. With a record at 4-3 and the hot Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town, the Saints face the distinct probability that they will be 4 – 4 at the halfway point of a season that could soon be a lost cause.

The Saints are playing like the 8 – 8 Saints of 2008. There are a couple of disturbing trends. The most disturbing one is that the opponents are finding and exploiting weaknesses – outcoaching the Saints. This week, the Browns pulled off some special team trickery that shouldn't work against a high school team. An across the field lateral on a punt return and a fake punt run of 68 yards, highlighted by Lance Moore's flailing attempt at tackling a sprinting punter, were both key plays.

Secondly, the offense effectively allowed more points than the defense, for the second time this season. This is role reversal of the highest order. Last season the Saints excelled at take aways they converted into points. This year the cleats are on the other foot and the Saints offense can't score fast enough to keep up with the points they give away.

Lastly, the Saints continue to ignore the ground game, failing to establish the run. Payton came out with Brees chucking the ball, although with defenses geared to stop the long passes, much of the Saints passing game is virtually laterals. Three screen passes after disastrous penalties put the Saints in first and 35 only underscored the problem – they can't get the ball downfield. Brees' 4 interceptions are symptomatic of the lack of rhythm. Brees threw the ball 56 times, usually a number that just won't work in the NFL.

The Saints loss total now equals the whole of last year. The plethora of injuries, the exploitation of weaknesses, and the failure to run the ball add up to a season that is on the brink. The Saints main competition to win the division, the Atlanta Falcon, are now a game ahead. The key matchups against the Steelers and Ravens outside the division now loom large.

I'm not ready to call it a Super Bowl hangover, but a little Hair of the Dog might be in order.

Saints Report # 6 - October 17, 2010

Now we know. Since that wonderful night in February, the Saints magical mojo was apparently retired to a condo in Boca. Sunday afternoon, they caravanned over to Florida and talked it out of retirement, at least for now.

The Saints dominated the Bucs 31-6 very similarly to last year’s game in Tampa. They sure do play well in Florida.

The Juicy Fruit Genius went back to the ground game that served him so well last year, and Chris Ivory sliced through the defense for over 150 yards rushing. His quickness and power were evident and it looks like the Saints have uncovered another free agent gem that should give them a 3 headed monster when Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas return.

Brees connected on two long touchdown passes and looked spry in the pocket, spreading the wealth all over the field.

Saints fans are in uncharted territory. Talk shows have been lit up with fans lamenting that the Super Bowl Champs were underachieving. Some even suggested Brees was off his game. Doesn’t take long to get spoiled does it?
While a lot of chatter was about the offense, everyone is failing to recognize how well the defense is playing depite an incredible run of injuries. The defense has given up some yardage, and isn’t getting the turnovers they did last year, but is playing as well as all but the most dominant defenses. They shut down Phoenix last week and Tampa Bay this week. The prospect of getting injured starters back in coming weeks is pretty exciting.

Well we’ll see next week if the Saints have truly returned to form. The Cleveland Browns, Scott Fujita, and Mike Bell come calling at the Superdome. Here’s hoping that Fujita and Bell get a rousing welcome. The Browns, not so much.

Saints Report # 5 - October 10, 2010

The Saints continued to look lethargic in their loss to the Phoenix Cardinals Sunday. With the Falcons and Bucs winning earlier in the day, this was the Saints’ first loss in a must-win situation in over a year.

With a banged up Saints defense playing well enough to win, the Saints offense continued its mistake-prone ways, especially around the goal line. I just read an article stating that the Saints best player is Drew Brees and then it ranked the rest of the players. It put Pierre Thomas 9th. Bullshit. It’s obvious to me how valuable Pierre is and maybe these games will prompt the Saints to sign him to the contract he deserves. When he is the game, the Saints are a different team.

First, take Ladell Betts. Please. At times he looks functional, but on Sunday he cost the Saints dearly with a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, a mishandled pass that got intercepted and returned to inside the 5, and appeared to cost the Saints 2 timeouts when he didn’t know where to stand with the Saints inside the 5. These are mistakes that Pierre doesn’t make. It was a team loss, but Betts was a personal 14 point swing at minimum.

Take Chris Ivory. He shows flashes of potential, but he now occupies the Aaron Stecker role in the offense. When he goes in the game, everyone in the stadium knows he’s running the ball, because he can’t do anything else. Again, not the case with Pierre Thomas.

Plus, the Saints miss Reggie Bush. The defenses are definitely game planning to stop the vertical attack. But, even then – the Saints are moving the ball pretty well. It’s just that they are settling for field goal attempts when they used to get 7. Why is this happening? Strange personnel and play calling for one. The Saints tried to throw the ball with Jimmy Graham split wide down at the goal line, and Colston and Shockey on the sidelines. Just don’t get it. If all I had was the Red Zone channel, I’d go crazy watching the Saints stumbling when they get close to the goal line.

Having said all this, the ball kept bouncing the Cardinals way Sunday at just the right moment. The Cards ran in 2 fumbles and an interception – that’s 21 of their 30 points right there. That mystical magic is gone and the Saints need to find it quickly. Tampa Bay is next and if they’re not licking their chops, they will be after watching the game film. I have no doubt that the Saints will get hot about the time they get healthy, but if they leave themselves too much ground in the standings to make up, it could make for a pretty boring January for Saints Fans. Having to win divisional games on the road to stay in the race is not generally a recipe for success in the NFL.

Saints Report # 4 - October 3rd, 2010

The Saints beat the Carolina Panthers Sunday, getting 3 field goals from their “everything old is new again” kicker, John Carney, while future all-pro Garrett Hartley cools his heels contemplating his shakiness. Carney, destined to be on the Saints’ speed dial until Hartley gets over his yips, came through to lead the Saints to a 16-14 victory over the team that Sean Payton seems to have the toughest time with.

So, what’s the situation?
Drew Brees, despite a banged-up left knee, is still deadly accurate, although the long passes haven’t been as easy to come by.
The receivers are dropping the ball some.
There are a ton of injuries, with the team a long way from being healthy.
Brees, Sharper, Bush, Thomas, Gay, Prioleau, Harper, Reis, and now Porter.
The Saints have been losing the turnover battle.
The defense has been unsteady against the run.
Teams are learning how to slow down the offense.
Great Consternation among the faithful.

Yet, the Saints are 3-1, one of the best records in a parity-league. If not for the yips, they could be 4-0, albeit an ugly 4-0. Of course, they could be 0-4 pretty easily. But, that’s the NFL – the league where star quarterbacks pull out close games. That’s why everyone should just relax (after the game – it’s impossible to relax during these nail-biters.) We got used to winning pretty, now we need to enjoy winning ugly – they all count the same, and this is the way dynasties get built – winning no matter what the adversity.

Here are some observations. The Saints believe they have a plug and play running back offense, where they can pull a running back off the street and he’ll do fine – thus their reluctance to do a deal with Pierre Thomas while Reggie Bush gets hugely overpaid (it’s a draft position thing.) Unfortunately, the performance of Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory (despite his fumbling problems – 2 in 2 games) may validate their position. Too bad.

The injury bug is hitting hard. If the Saints can withstand this onslaught and get healthy in the 2nd half of the season, they’ll be fine.
Sunday they face the Arizona Cardinals – a desperate team that has to be revenge-minded thinking about last year’s playoff game, even if their best quarterback is dancing with the stars.
The Cardinals have looked terrible this year, so it should be a mismatch, right?
Wrong.
Expect a close game, a nail biter.
It’s a new year baby.

At The Cinema - September 2010

The American – 4
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. George Clooney
b. Slow moving action movies
c. Great Scenery

The American is a character study of a man with no character. That makes for an empty movie. George Cooney as Jack the assassin accurately portrays this blank slate of a man. The problem is that it’s just boring. The movie is shot in a stark European style with little music and none of the special effects we’ve all overdosed on. So while the nicely realistic action scenes are interesting, they are few and far between. The beauty of the Italian scenery and the prostitute with a heart of gold cliché can’t hold the audience interest. The audience clapped when the movie was over, because it was over. Even Clooney is flat and boring. Skip it.

The Town – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Bank Robbery movies
b. Ben Affleck
c. Boston

Ben Affleck flexes the promising directorial muscles he first displayed in the fantastic Gone Baby Gone in this bank robbery film. The personal relationships and dramas are more fleshed out than usual, adding some heft to what is a simple, albeit farfetched story.

I had two major quibbles with the plot points, but I won’t reveal them. Affleck the director outperforms Affleck the actor here. Jeremy Renner, who was so terrific in The Hurt Locker, shows that it was no fluke. He’s electrifying again as the chaotic center of the film. There’s some interesting stuff here, especially that fascinating Boston atmosphere.

Get Low – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Robert Duvall
b. Bill Murray
c. Old Time movie-making

They don’t make movies like this anymore. Tell a simple story, Tell it well.
This is a slow, beautifully acted period piece set in the 1930’s in rural Tennessee. Robert Duvall as the main character Felix Bush, Bill Murray, and Sissy Spacek demonstrate why they’re acting stars. Not movie stars, real actors. They inhabit these 3 strange characters who come together as Bush winds his life down and decides to throw his own funeral ahead of time. Since he is the town’s misunderstood hermit, he wants everyone to speak at his funeral, and tell what they think they know, an interesting premise for sure.

But it is Bush who comes clean at the event and his big reveal is an acting class. The “reveal” didn’t blow me away, but it’s the getting there that’s the fun. If you long for the days of old, nice deliberate movies, this is the one for you.

Saints Report # 3 - September 26, 2010

The Atlanta Falcons are the Saints’ worst nightmare. A power-running, ball-control team that is also just efficient enough in the passing game to keep the ball out of Drew Brees’ hands.

Today, the Saints lost their first standings-meaningful game in a year in overtime to the Falcons, wasting a career best game from Lance Moore. The Saints were lucky they could extend the game to overtime.

After hitting a clutch kick to send the game into overtime, Garrett Hartley missed a short field goal in overtime that would have won it for the Saints. The Falcons methodically took advantage with their grind it out game plan until Matt Bryant took aim from 46 yards. He didn’t miss and the Saints lost 27-24.

Sean Payton, the Juicy Fruit Genius, made a couple of errors. Chris Ivory fumbled on his first official NFL carry, on 4th and 1 – not exactly an ideal intro play for a rookie. The decision to kick on first down after the Saints smartly moved the ball to the 11 in overtime was another rare mistake by Payton. After 12 quarters of football this season, it looked like the Saints finally developed a rhythm on offense in the overtime. They moved the ball easily and seemed destined for the end zone when Payton pulled the plug on the drive to let Hartley chip it through. Except he didn’t.

But, no matter. The Saints got pushed around all day as they do from time to time, and dropped passes as they do from time to time, and Drew threw a couple of interceptions, which he does every 6 games or so. The Falcons deserved the win because they are the Saints' worst nightmare. The Saints aren't known for their run defense, and Sunday they scared no one. It is often said that you can’t win in the NFL with the power running game anymore. I’ve got a feeling we’re about to find out. The Falcons are a throwback team on their way back.

Meanwhile, what is of more concern is that the Saints are beginning to look depleted in two backfields. Tracy Porter went out early, and first round draft pick Patrick Robinson looked bewildered. Look for him to get picked on in upcoming games. Roman Harper spent time on the sideline and the subs that seem to get waived from week to week weren't up to the task. On offense, neither Chris Ivory nor Ladell Betts look healthy enough to give Pierre Thomas a break. Look for Adrian Arrington to make an entrance next week, as Payton can’t be happy with his receivers’ drops. Time to reload. Wonder what Damion Fletcher is doing? Wonder what John Carney is up to?

Saints Report # 2 - September 20, 2010

Ringo said it best.
It Don’t Come Easy.

That will probably be the theme for the year.
Defensive coordinators had the whole off season to study the Saints’ offense and if there’s one law in the NFL it’s that defenses catch up with offenses.

Two games in, and it’s obvious that defenses are stoking up to slow down the Juicy Fruit Genius. Success changes the landscape, starting with when you get to play.

Two prime-time games in, defenses seem to be taking away the 20 and 30 yard passes, and conceding the dump-off. If you’re going to move the ball down the field on us, you’re going to do it in 5 yard chunks, not 15 yard ones. It also forces the Saints to run the ball, which they stuck with despite limited success. I was kind of impressed with this.

When the Garrett Hartley’s field goal as time expired gave the Saints a hard-earned, nail-biting, pulse-pounding 25-22 victory over the hated 49’ers (yes I still hate them) it signaled a don’t-come-easy, grind-it-out pattern that we may see more of, rather than less. Wonder how 49er fans felt losing in the final seconds after playing so well?

Reggie Bush now has to live without his Heisman and the Saints have to live without Reggie for at least 6 weeks due to the broken leg suffered Monday night at Candlestick Park.

Can’t help but comment on Reggie. He apparently broke the rules and has been deemed ineligible for his last year at USC, causing forfeiture of their season and erasing from the record books (if not our memory) that exciting National Championship Game with Texas.

I’d have made them come pry if from cold dead fingers.
For whatever he did wrong, let’s call it borrowing against future earnings, let me just mention what he hasn’t done. He hasn’t fathered a bunch of children. He hasn’t had any DUI’s. He hasn’t used performance enhancing drugs. He hasn’t complained about how he’s utilized. He hasn’t made too many headlines off the field, save Kim Kardashian.

He’s apparently a great teammate who focuses on winning rather than personal stats. He has no problem serving as a decoy. He’s involved in the community and has been generous with his time and money. He’s beloved in New Orleans and the Saints are a different team when he’s on the field. Lately, he’s improved as a runner and should have a long productive career. In all likelihood, had he gone to any other team he would have been a bust. But the JFG has figured out how to maximize his talents, and he’s a vital cog for the Saints. We’re about to find out how important he is.

I'm not condoning his breaking the rules. I'm just lamenting what other athletes get away with. Or didn't you catch the "Hard Knocks" clip where Antonio Cromartie (26 years old) struggled to name his 8 children by 6 different women in 5 states?
Ho Hum. You've heard the stories. So, while I haven't always been a fan of his play, I'm a fan of Reggie.

The hated Falcons come to town on Sunday, and their approach won’t be a surprise. They’ll run Michael Turner so much he’ll be trying to burrow under the Superdome. The Saints will need to score more than their first 2 games. Points in the Teens won’t win this one.

Time to Crunk it up.

Saints Report # 1 - September 9, 2010

Man, my time at the University of Southern Mississippi seems so long ago.
I was young, and spry, and could move around a lot more easily.

Yesterday was a long day. I took another pounding in New Orleans. We left early and the build up to the game seemed to go on forever. To be honest, I was a little drained from the hoopla. Could my enthusiasm be waning? Or is it just harder to concentrate at my age? Maybe I should have taken my off season conditioning a little more seriously.

By game time, my feet hurt, and that was just from the pre-game walk through. In the heat, I had trouble staying hydrated. After the game, my legs felt a hundred years old. My joints feel like they needed lubricant. I remember that one hit I took. Wow. It was a long walk to the car and an even longer drive home. Maybe I should have stayed in Mississippi.

No, my name is not Brett Favre.
And that hit I took was from a huge guy as I was leaving the concession stand.

Now, about the game.
Well the game wasn’t pretty. But if the Saints defense plays like that all year the whole NFL has to be worried. Yes, the offense didn’t do great. Dropped passes and missed field goals are not a good sign. But grinding out a 14-9 victory Rickey Jackson-style is a W and we’ll take it. This was an old fashioned defensive whipping. It wasn’t turnover dominated, like last year. It was just good ole stifling defense. Impressive.

The thing I thought about during the game was the incredible job that the Saints have done on free agents. The quarterbacks of the offense and defense – Brees and Vilma were cast off from teams. How different things could have been.

I can only wonder what the offensive meetings must have been like this week. “We’re going to throw the ball the first half, and run it the second half.” I’m sure I’ve seen stranger game plans, but I don’t know when. The Juicy Fruit Genius did it again, so you’ve got to hand it to him.

The pre-game hype, the unfurling of the Championship Banner, the incredible atmosphere around the dome was what will be unforgettable about last night. I can remember just 10 years ago. Few came early, few came dressed, few tailgated. Now it’s a zoo. Champions Square has to be seen to be believed.

Glad I didn’t stay in Mississippi

2DAT

Well it’s over.
The most enjoyable “wait” til next year in the history of civilization will come to an end with the kickoff Thursday night against the Vikings.
The world is now educated on how to celebrate a sports victory.
Thank the who dat nation.
We parade, we tour, we banner, we dress, we take pictures with the Lombardi trophy. And we do it for 7 months almost to the day. We’re crazy.

Time to start the craziness all over.
Thursday night the geezer express comes to town along with the type of overblown glitz only the NFL can throw together. Here’s the good news – I didn’t think it was possible but the Saints are starting this year right where they started last year.
Under the radar, under respected, and under appreciated.
The talking head consensus is that it was a fluke.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
The first game will be fun, but it really is just one game. Expect the refs to put a dress on Favre, Adrian Peterson to run hard, the Vikings to be fired up for a half, but the Saints to separate themselves in the 2nd half. The Saints are better.

So, my annual prediction.

Will the Saints repeat?
Yes.
Will it be easy?
No

It won’t be like last year.
There are many different ways to win a championship.
1. Euphoric year
Last year was one of Euphoria. From the first game, you could just feel the Magic. When I saw the Saints destroy the Lions in game 1, I just knew. It had all the earmarks.
Everything was set up for it.
The toughest opponents came calling at the Superdome - Jets, Giants, Patriots, Cowboys. Magical comebacks on the road – Miami, Washington.
Eventually wore down worthy divisional opponents.
The injuries in the defensive backfield came when the playoffs had essentially been sealed.
Home Field Advantage.
All-time great quarterbacks threw critical interceptions.
The dominoes fell perfectly.

We’ve seen Euphoria years before.
Remember the 1999 St. Louis Rams in Kurt Warner’s first year and their greatest show on turf?
Remember the 1984 Detroit Tigers who started the season by winning 35 of 40 and then breezed through the whole year?
Remember the 1986 Chicago Bears and their famed 46 defense?
These teams, like the Saints, had euphoric, invincible years.

2. Steady Eddy
A good team plays well all year and fights its way to the title, sometimes as an underdog.
The New England Patriots have excelled at this.

3. Hot finish
A team gets hot and healthy as the playoffs begin and streak through. This is really the most common NFL path.
The New York Giants of 2007 come to mind.

If it truly is “our time” and we want to become a dynasty, we now have to get on the Steady Eddy path. This Steeler/Patriot/49er type of path usually centers around the one absolutely essential piece.
The Quarterback.

We’ve got one.

So, my predictions for this year:
A solid, steady year.
The Saints will get off to a fast start, probably 5 – 1, then go through a 3 – 3 stretch in midseason as they adjust to what teams are doing to them. Then, a strong finish will boost them into the playoffs.
A breakout year by Reggie Bush
The defense will be better. Fewer turnovers, but much less yardage allowed, and fewer points.
Drew Brees will get the NFL MVP he deserved last year.
Colston, Pierre Thomas, and Lance Moore will excel.
We’ll beat the Packers in the NFC Championship game after beating the Vikings in the first round. The Lions will be the surprise playoff team in the NFC.
We’ll have our pre-Super Bowl meal at Steve Fields Steak House in Plano.
We’ll beat the Houston Texans 34 – 31 in the Super Bowl. The Texans will have beaten the Kansas City Chiefs (the surprise team of the year) in the AFC Championship.
Drew Brees will be the Super Bowl MVP again.
Any questions?

Jerry Jones will fire Bum Phillips
The Chargers will fire Norv Turner
The Giants will fire Tom Coughlin

We’ll fire up a parade. It’s what we do.

At the Cinema - August 2010

The Kids Are All Right – 9

You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Annette Bening
b. Family comedy
c. Family drama

I’m not quite sure of the significance of the last part of the title – “All Right” instead of “alright,” but I’m sure of this – Annette Bening will rack up another Oscar nomination for playing Nic, the dominating mother in a long-time lesbian marriage.

I don’t know if Annette is our greatest actress, but watching this movie confirms what I first saw in “The American President.” She can convey more in a facial close-up than any other actor working. She is simply riveting and she can occupy the whole screen. It’s not so much that the camera loves her – it’s that she has an incredible gift for conveying every single emotion and thought and putting it right in front of you. It’s an amazing talent and it’s fully on display here as one of the great performances. See this movie for no other reason than that. I hope she gets her long overdue Oscar. What’s Meryl doing this year?

Julianne Moore holds her own as the other half of the couple struggling to raise two curious teenagers who are on that teen roller coaster we’ve all seen and experienced before. They’re experimenting, they’re curious, and they don’t find all the answers.
The parents, as it turns out, are fumbling along as well.

When the kids go hunting for their dad – sperm donor, family chaos ensues particularly when Julianne’s character “Jules” strikes up a sexual relationship with him (Mark Ruffalo as Paul.) It’s all well-played and groan-worthy in its familiarity.

Two quibbles with this film. It wants to be groundbreaking but as a bonafide R rated film shows very graphic heterosexual sex, but bales out when given the chance to show lesbian sex (although the lesbians in the theater sitting behind me found the under-cover, appliance-assisted scene hysterical.) When was the last time you saw slow, passionate, loving sex in a movie? Now, that would have been shocking.

And quibble number two is when they stoop to using the crutch of showing a woman smoking. Jules hasn’t smoked in 20 years, but as soon as she gets stressed, she’s got to re-start. It’s an acting shortcut that she’s unworthy of.

But, other than that, the real story here, and I’m not the first to say this, is that it’s a shame that this movie so accurately portrays the family dynamic – the ups and downs, the compromises and lulls, and when was the last “straight” movie to do that? Kramer vs. Kramer?

See it. It’s enlightening and engaging.

Dinner For Schmucks – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. to be surprised
b. Steve Carell
c. Screwball comedy.

The surprising part is that this movie is actually as good as it is. When Paul Rudd has to recruit a nitwit to be made fun of, and bring him to dinner, well let’s face it – that sounds pretty thin. So, I walked in not expecting much. I didn’t expect liftoff.

In the hands of Rudd and Steve Carell what emerges here is near genius. Pure comedy acting almost never gets award-recognition, but here Steve Carell does the impossible – screwball with heart. Just go with the flow. It’s outrageous and over the top, so don’t expect Shakespeare. I heard mixed reactions as I exited the theatre. Maybe you won’t get it, maybe you won’t like it. Comedy is always personal and a matter of taste, but I laughed way more than I thought I would. Good stuff.

The Other Guys – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Cop buddy movies
b. Will Ferrell
c. Mark Wahlberg
I went to this one with higher expectations, and you guessed it – found it a little flat. It makes great fun of cop buddy movies – you know the kind, where someone has to be suspended before they can solve the crime. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg do credible work and most of the movie is amusing, but it just never quite caught me.
However, I will say this. There is one absolutely hysterical scene which I will add to my “favorite scenes” reel, you know, the “You can’t handle the truth” tape.
The hero cops at the beginning played by The Rock and Samuel L Jackson are so over the top they are incredible. Their scene chasing some robbers off of a roof top is an instant classic. Duck in for the first 20 minutes – the set up. Call me and tell me how they filmed it.

The Expendables – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. digital blood
b. mindless violence
c. over the top action heroes.
And who doesn’t? Sylvester Stallone, who directed this blastathon, is launching another franchise. Shot like a video game, heads get blown off, knives fly through necks, and guns go boom boom boom. What’s not to love? Most action movies are ridiculous, but you know you’re in rarefied air when 5 guys kill hundreds while suffering nary a scratch. Why? Well, you’ll want them back for the sequel. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis make only token appearances, but with Arnold out of job soon, expect him to assume the position in the next one. All in all, not a terrible way to exorcise any testosterone demons. Bring your video game controller and you’ll feel right at home.

At the Cinema - July 2010

Inception – 10
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Seeing a classic
b. Christopher Nolan’s imagination
c. Seeing something you’ve never seen before

The blockbuster summer of 2010 finally got kicked off, just when it seemed like it wasn’t going to happen. It supposedly took Christopher Nolan 20 years to conceive this story and I’m sure glad it wasn’t 21. In Inception, he lifts the constraints that the real world provides and enters the world of dreams, and this opens up his moviemaking to a vista beyond the worldly boundaries we’re used to.

This starts as the story of a professional thief named Dom, played vigorously by Leonardo Dicaprio, who does his thieving within the dreams of his victims. He has demons both while he’s awake and while he’s asleep, and it’s those demons that provide just one of the obstacles as he accepts his latest dream job.

He may be able to gain some freedom from his demons if he can do an Inception – plant the seed of a dream in the target. How do you do an inception? Well, first you assemble a dream team – an architect, a forger, and a chemist. Don’t ask – you’ll understand it when you see it.

Christopher Nolan showed promise with his Memento, then he got carried away with The Dark Knight, which seemed to go on forever. Here, he has no such problem. At the 2 and a half hours that blockbusters require these days, they zip by like you’re in the dream. It’s a magical time, and the scene of his partner (Joseph Gordon-Leavitt in another resume-builder) in a hall \way dream fight is one of those draw-dropping scenes that make us love the movies – you ain’t seen nothing like it.
How did they do this scene? In a free falling aircraft, like Apollo 13, to simulate weightlessness? There seems to be little CGI here, and a lot of cool execution.

This is the movie of the year so far. Go See It.

Salt – 9

You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Angelina Jolie
b. The Bourne Trilogy
c. The idea of a female James Bond
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Angelina Jolie is our movie star. She is pure charisma and screen presence like no one else working today. There is a scene early in Salt where she is interrogating a suspect and she just stares at him, and she holds your eyes like she is pulling your eyelids open.

Then, it’s off on one amazing adventurous chase after another as she tries to prove her innocence, or is it avenge her guilt?

This is Saturday Matinee Adventure – 2010 style. The action is often ridiculous of course, but Angelina commits to it with such verve, you just have to laugh and stay engrossed.

My only quibble, much like with the Bourne movies, is that there is an awful lot of blurry action, where Salt is kicking a lot of male ass and we’re never really sure how she does it because the camera’s jumping faster than she is. But, the story is all the more fun the more farfetched it gets, and one cringes to think of a male in the role of Salt, as it was originally intended for Tom Cruise. No, No – but the thought of Angie and Tom swapping roles and Angie appearing as Cameron Diaz’s love interest in Knight & Day – now we’d have lined up for that lip fest. Can you imagine? You can? Get your mind out of the gutter.


Joan Rivers – A Piece of Work – 9

The camera followed Joan Rivers for a year of her life, and that couldn’t have been easy on anyone. But when they spliced the footage together, along with historical footage what emerged was a fascinating show business biography – probably more real than any other movie ever made about show business.

Joan is shown in all her insecure, obsessive glory. Famous for her plastic surgery, this is a revealing portrayal of what it takes to be successful on the roller coaster of show business, and her total obsession with filling her calendar with billable dates is a revelation in motivation.

Today we hear about people who aren’t willing to work for a living. Here’s the other side of the coin.

I always found Joan Rivers to be a little on the crude side – not witty humor, just shocking. But watching how she plies her craft and takes every funny day seriously, earns respect. Fascinating piece of film.

At the Cinema - June 2010

Knight & Day – 4 out of 10
You’ll like this movie if you
a. Like Tom Cruise
b. Like Cameron Diaz
c. Like cartoons

There are moments of magic in Knight & Day. They come when the two talented leads are interacting calmly and peacefully, showing off their pearly whites and their ample charisma. Unfortunately, those moments are few and far between. Maybe someday Tom will make a nice little quiet movie and show off those acting skills that were present in movies like A Few Good Men or Born on the Fourth of July.

But, more than likely, because of the blockbuster necessity of Hollywood, Tom’s movies will just fall into two categories from now on, Mission Impossible and Mission Ridiculous. This one is certainly ridiculous. One of my pet peeves is how movies always seem to culminate in a famous event. For example, every New Orleans film seems to end up on Bourbon St. on Mardi Gras day. In this one, a chase scene just happens to take place at the exact moment of the Running of the Bulls in Spain. Ridiculous.

As are most of the action scenes. It’s ludicrous and so driven by outlandish special effects and stunts, I kept wanting to scream, “Please, just one shred of believability.” But no, it seems that movies just have to push the boundaries to the point of sacrificing any plausibility. They are just cartoons, painted with computer-generated action.

I guess it didn’t help that I re-watched The Hurt Locker on blu-ray the night before. Its action is real, surprising, and heart-breaking. You care, and you feel the blood.

Bad Lieutenant – 2

Finally caught this on blu-ray as for some reason it never quite made it to the local theatres. Now I know why. When the plot is more over the top than Nicholas Cage’s acting you know you’re in trouble. I thought I knew a good movie when I saw it. Now I'm not so sure. Roger Ebert said this was the best movie of 2009. I wish he could explain that one. This movie reeked. I should’ve waited another year. There’s not a believable or realistic moment in this, another cartoon.


With a dismal box-office summer upon us, it seems that the small screen is more satisfying so let me sing the praises of some small screen alternatives.

Glee

Now the first season is over, and maybe you didn’t catch it. Maybe you’re too cool, or not cool enough, or it just doesn’t interest you.

Too bad. You’re missing some special moments. What is Glee? Glee is basically what happens when you enlist a bunch of Broadway caliber musical talent and slap a story around their renditions of a wide variety of popular music. Just my opinion, but I think Glee will be to the 10’s what American Idol was to the 00’s. In other words we’ll be watching these kids for a long time. Stars are being made, and it’s fun to watch them blossom. And this is real talent, not Saved by the Bell.

Ever gone to see a musical group or show where one person sparkles and you can’t take your eyes off of them? Well this show is full of such people. They all sparkle. As the season unfolded around some wobbly story-telling (they call it bad Glee) the singing and dancing talent began to enthrall us (good Glee).

The final episode was a terrific culmination of the season. I’ve been a couch potato for a long time, but I can’t recall seeing anything on television like their final performance - the Journey medley. The choreography, the singing, the editing, the dancing, the camerawork, and the production values were as good as anything I can ever remember seeing on the small screen.

At least that’s what I think after replaying it on DVR about 20 times.

We’re lucky in that, along with Treme, that make’s two golden musical television shows airing right now – with great music built into the plot.

Copycats can’t be far behind, and that’s ok with me. I say more Music, less doctors, lawyers, and policemen on TV. Can you dig it?

If you can, there’s still time – both series are in reruns. It’s either that or cinema ridiculous.

Ricknuggets

Things I’ve learned lately:

FROM THE NEWS:
Apparently, even after 40 years there’s a point at which a marriage can go bad.
It’s called “The Tipper Point.”

What living person affects the most people on a daily basis?
As a frequent flyer, I vote for the shoe bomber.

BP Sure does have a lot of money. However, if this oil slick heads up the east coast, it won’t be enough.

Just because you’re not part of the problem doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the solution. Where are all the other oil companies? Don’t they have some suggestions? Isn’t this going to affect them in the future? Aren’t there some long term ramifications here for the whole industry?

The Governor of Mississippi went to a picnic rather than meet with President Obama, blowing off a crisis meeting for the second time. Agree or not, wonder what that’s going to cost us?

In fact, our state leaders seem to be downplaying the urgency of this situation which could wipe out half of our coastal economy.
But, we’ll still have the other half. Roulette anyone?

FROM SPORTS:
You know you are a beloved coach when your former players visit you on your deathbed one after another, the way it happened with John Wooden.
Name another coach that this would happen to. Bobby Knight?

Sometime good sportsmanship is more memorable than a perfect game.

The young pitching prospects just keep on coming in baseball.

The Saints’ draft, mini-camps, and upcoming training camp are getting more press than the 5th game of the season. Wonder why?

Six. That’s how many times I’ve watched it.

I learned Saints cornerback Jabari Greer, on why he chose the New Orleans Saints in free agency said, “Frenchman Street.”
On Treme, I learned why.

FROM THE LAST SEASON OF 24:
There is apparently some new way to shave out there. Must involve 10 blades.
I’ve never seen anyone stay as clean shaven for 24 hours as Jack Bauer did.
Now that was amazing!

I also learned that wounds heal extremely fast on television.

Also, there are a lot more people out there who can work for 24 hours without taking a break, or even yawning, than I would have suspected.

In fact, have you ever seen anyone yawn on TV?

And finally, I learned that Big Brother is always watching, and her name is Chloe.

FROM GLEE:

It’s ok to break into song anytime you want.

The High School drama of today is a lot different than the high school drama of 40 years ago.

FROM AMERICAN IDOL:

I learned that when in the audience listening to music you should scream constantly.
If it’s a slow song, sway. You can’t listen sitting still using only your ears. You must participate, no matter how much it irritates couch potatoes.

Randy Jackson personally got on the shark and made it jump when he complained that Crystal’s performance of “Me and Bobbie Magee” started “a little slow.” No shit, American Idiot. One of the greatest songs in rock n roll history starts a little slow. Maybe he should’ve stayed busted flat in Baton Rouge.

No surprise that for the 3rd straight year a cute guy playing a guitar won, in an upset over a (slightly) more talented performer.

How to fix AI:
Ban the professionals
Ban the instruments
Ban the audience
Ban the judges
Ban the performers.
There, that should about do it.

FROM ABC:
Not every personnel move works out the way it should. As comfortable as George Stephenopoulas was on “This Week” is how uncomfortable he looks on Good Morning America. Apparently it’s easier to interrogate George Will than Lady Gaga.

AND, the worst thing I learned, was that T Boone Pickens said there was a well like this in Mexico once and it took them 290 days to cap it.
It was in 200 feet of water.

At The Cinema - May 2010

The Secret in Their Eyes – 9

I admit it, I came late to foreign films. Maybe it was Pan’s Labyrinth that convinced me I could watch subtitles and still enjoy a movie. Maybe it was Run Lola Run. I don’t know.

I was stunned when Pan’s Labyrinth didn’t win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 2006. But, the Academy put in a rule that if you didn’t see all the foreign films you couldn’t vote. So, I had to go see the winner – The Lives of Others, and it was dynamite.

Last year it was The Secret In Their Eyes, an Argentina film, albeit directed by Law & Order veteran Juan Rose Campenella that upset heavy favorite White Ribbon. So, I thought I’d check it out.

Good decision. The Secret In Their Eyes is a love story/murder mystery that goes back and forth in time (like so many movies do now) and weaves a slow hypnotic spell, before culminating in an ending that surprised me. Endings rarely surprise me anymore – but this one got me. Filled with humor, some very minor but realistic action, and most importantly quiet passion, it is the story of a brutal rape and murder that haunts a retired investigator into writing a novel based on the crime. As he writes he begins to question his life, the investigation, and most importantly his choices of the heart.

In retrospect, the title gives too much away, as Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil’s faces speak knowing volumes of the case and the feelings they’ve never forgotten and what could have been – should have been as the killer and their feelings got away.

Subtitles are almost unnecessary. This is a marvelous, riveting film. If you get the chance – guess the secret.


Exit Through The Gift Shop – 7

Here’s the hot documentary of the moment. For me, this is a tale of 2 movies. The first hour is a riveting tale of a compulsive filmographer. Thierry Guetta spent many years filming street artists at work around the world. His fascinating footage has been spliced together by Banksy, a legendary and unfilmed street graffiti artist himself. I didn’t know much about this subject - now I know too much. The first hour is funny and enthralling.

Unfortunately, the last 40 minutes or so, when Guetta becomes an artist himself, is not only less interesting, but less entertaining, and ultimately less believable. As I left the theater I wasn’t sure if I’d just been manipulated, or someone was pulling my leg – Hard.

If you see it, you decide. Then let me know. Not a great film, but the kind you’ll be talking about for a week. Especially if you're trying to figure out the title.

One in Half a Million

Suddenly, he’s gone.
Our good friend Frank Kennedy passed away Friday Night after a 2 month battle with lung cancer. Our thoughts go out to his wife Annette and their family.

You probably didn’t know Frank. If not, you missed knowing one unique individual.
We loved being around Frank and Annette. Frank was a big man with an even bigger heart. I know that’s a cliché, but I’ll defend its use in this case. When he was one of the Ford Dealers I serviced, I spent many hours with him learning and listening. He was a great story teller, whether it was about his days as a policeman in the DC area, or his many years in the car business. I will always remember the 10 year battle he fought trying to thrive and survive as a car dealer in a small wonderful community in Maryland that he and Annette had made their home. He was a short distance from a huge dealership, but through legendary perseverance he carved out a respectable business against the odds. How many people still get up and go to work at 5:30 every morning? Well Frank did, every day. And he loved it.

What made Frank a great salesperson was something you don’t see anymore. He would look you in the eye and absolutely absorb what you were saying. His smile would light up when yours did. His eyes would sparkle when yours did. He was just a joy to be around. He listened to you and you listened to him.

We know how much his family is hurting today because Frank was a person that enjoyed life to the fullest, and you just came along for the ride. I could tell all the stories about going out to eat with Frank where he inevitably ended up in the kitchen talking to the chefs about how great the food was and how much he enjoyed it. We would be standing at the front door, going "where's Frank?" When we left the restaurant we had eaten great food. Frank had made new friends.

I remember after taking Frank to Il Mulino in New York City, we were having a discussion about where we'd like to eat our last meal. I was so proud that Frank said Il Mulino - that was the ultimate, that he had enjoyed that meal so much. I'd have given anything to take Frank there one more time, for one more ride.

I often hear the term “wrongful death.” It makes me wonder, what death isn’t? Someone hurts and misses with every passing.
But, what makes this one hurt so much to me is that it was preventable.

Like most who die of lung cancer, Frank was a smoker.

We’ve all lost someone to cancer, and we know how horrible it is.
Breast cancer is an epidemic of the last 100 years.
We’re not sure what causes it.
Colon cancer is reaching epidemic proportions.
We’re not sure what causes it.

Lung cancer?
Well, we’ve figured out what causes it.
Not everyone who smokes gets it, but almost all who get it smoke.

Everyone who knows me knows how much I despise this product. I don’t blame those who smoke. If you’re hooked, you’re hooked, and we know how hard it is to quit.

It is the peddlers who should be ashamed. This is a product solely designed to get you to “have” to use it, not choose to use it. It is chemically enhanced to increase its addictive properties. It is a product that were it presented for market today, would never get approved. They stack the deck to their advantage like no other business in America.
Yet it lives on.

How long?

In the recent health care debate, through all the noise I kept thinking, “Hey – wait a minute, here’s an answer for you – how about let’s stop this tobacco insanity? It would save billions in health care costs.”

We’ve made incredible progress in reducing the effects of smoking, but it lives on as a legal product, that kills an estimated half million people a year in the US, and accounts for 30% of cancer deaths. 30%! Half a Million! That's 1369 a day! I used my calculator.

I have lost friends to cancer. I have friends battling it right now. You do too. For many, it's nothing that they did.
But, to put it in “hurricane” parlance, if you smoke, you’re choosing not to evacuate. Or, to put in in "local" parlance, guns don't kill people, smoking kills people.

It’s a helluva risk, and one that will some day affect people you love and who love you.

So today I rant because I’m devastated that I have lost another friend to this horrible disease. On this day, I apologize if it seems inappropriate, but once again in my life I’m mad and sad.

Good bye Frank. We will miss you like you’d never believe. But I’m also going to wonder about those days we could have spent shooting the bull on your beautiful back porch overlooking that valley.
I’m going to wonder what could have been if there wasn’t really an evil empire.

How Long? How Long?

At The Cinema - April 2010

Hot Tub Time Machine – 2
You’ll like this movie if
a. You’re easily amused
b. You like John Cusack
c. You think it’s a great concept

I give this a 2 for the 2 times I laughed.
Some movies are great scripts, with great titles. With this one, they should’ve stopped right there, kind of like Snakes on a Plane. Better to imagine it than actually sit through it.
Look, I like raunchy comedy as much as anyone. But, there’s one key element that should be present. It should be funny. This movie just falls flat. The main characters are so broad and boring that the only spark to the film is in the females who apparently inhabited the 80’s. They’re genuinely likeable, interesting, and well-acted. Other than that, not much works. Maybe the 80’s that the protags travel back to just weren’t that funny. The movie just never engaged for me.
The plot telegraphs itself like a hanging curveball, and yet it is so full of holes it’s borderline ridiculous. I could give it away, but why spoil the lack of fun? Let’s just say that in Back to the Future, hair growth ability wasn’t one of the things that changed as people vaulted back and forth through time. So, all in all, a huge disappointment. I went looking to be entertained and should have stayed home. I’d have laughed more at one of those Jimmy Kimmel short films he’s doing these days. In the best spirit of the 80’s I wanted to just yell, “Engage, Maverick, engage.” It never did.

Date Night – 8
You’ll like this movie if
a. You like Tina Fey
b. You like Steve Carrel
c. You like to laugh

This movie is Shakespeare by comparison. First and foremost the stars of this lightweight froth, Tina Fey and Steve Carrell are today’s comedy royalty. Their timing, rapport and delivery are a pleasure to watch, and it’s nice to see stardom deserved for a change.

It’s also nice to see a realistic portrayal of a married couple that actually seem committed to each other. Sure, they’re thrust into an unrealistic story, but it’s their skill that makes the ridiculous believable. Nice can be funny – what a revelation.

What’s really cool is that the movie gets funnier as it progresses. Instead of fizzling out early like so many comedies the movie builds to a hilarious climax. Nice work, and a nice way to spend an hour and a half. That’s right, short and sweet too.

Here’s hoping the two stars make more movies together. We could use a Tracy and Hepburn.