At the Cinema - September 2012

Looper – 10

You’ll like this movie if you like

a. Movies
Now this is why I go to movies.  Most movies seek to entertain you, and if they accomplish their mission, you leave the theater satisfied.  But if you’re a movie lover, you want more, but at the same time you know it’s oh, maybe one out of twenty that delivers that “more” that you’re looking for.  It’s a movie that challenges you to keep up, to go on a new ride to a place you’ve never seen before.  This is such a movie, an ingenious science fiction tale with heart and depth.

It’s not an easy movie, and it’s not what you’re used to.  Looper is the story of Joe, a professional hit man, or “Looper” in 2044.  His is an easy job.  You see 30 years later they’ve invented time travel and it has been properly declared illegal because of the paradoxical danger of tampering with events that have already transpired.

But a crime syndicate, run by Abe (Jeff Daniels) in the present and The Rainmaker in the future, finds it perfect for killing and disposing of the bodies.  So, they send their targets back to the Loopers and they do the deed.

There’s just one problem – isn’t there always - Inevitably every looper has got to be sent back for disposal, and the looper has to kill his older self.  It’s called “closing the loop” and as you would expect loopers have a history of balking at the assignment, and all hell breaks loose when they do.

So young Joe (Joseph Gordon-Leavitt) hesitates when his older self (Bruce Willis) shows up and all hell breaks loose.  This is further complicated by the fact old Joe has come back with a specific “save his future” mission.  It isn’t easy to keep up with all this, but it’s worth the ride as the Joe’s world unravels.  This movie has so many discussable layers, I could easily talk about them for a week.

I love the feeling of walking out of a movie having been wowed.  I remember that feeling in Minority Report and Inception.  I also admit I love time travel movies, from Time After Time, to Back to the Future. 

So, without giving away too much, let me say, go see director Rian Johnson's potential classic.  Hope you’re up for the challenge.

The Master – 6

You’ll like this movie if you like

1. Confusion
2. Cult movies
3. Great Acting

Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix go toe to toe as a cult leader and his disciple in this interesting but ultimately unsatisfying story, allegedly based on L Ron Hubbard and Scientology.  That their acting is exceptional is no surprise.  That Amy Adams is their equal, as Hoffman’s wife (and master) is a revelation. 

Director Paul Thomas Anderson seems to have intentionally created a movie as strange as Scientology.  The movie starts after World War II when drifter Freddie Quell (Phoenix) falls under the spell of Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman) who is founding “the Cause” and developing a cult like following.  Freddie never really gets control of his life, despite Dodd’s best efforts, and his loyalty to Dodd ebbs and flows along with his doubts as the years go on.  It’s not as interesting as Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” but there’s no denying the movie’s ambitions.  It just didn’t work for me.  Maybe it will for you.

 

End of Watch – 7

You’ll like this movie if you like

1. Cop Buddy Movies
2. Hand held Cameras
3. Loud, profane soundtracks

The excuse for the frenetic camera here is that Jake Gyllenhaal’s cop character is going to film school, so he’s constantly filming what happens.  This movie has been widely acclaimed as the best cop buddy movie in a long while.  It may be, but that ain’t saying much.  There are some loud and effective shootouts, particularly the first one, but they can be drowned out by the louder hip-hop soundtrack.  It comes off like an MTV movie of the week.  I suspect many will love this movie.  In movies, there’s often that magical moment that I think they call suspension of disbelief.  It’s when you forget you’re watching actors, and begin to believe you’re watching real-life.  That moment never happened for me.  I never bought it.

Sparkle – 6

You’ll like this movie if you like

1. Jordin Sparks
2. Motown
3. Dreamgirls

I couldn’t tell if this was a remake of the first Sparkle, or Dreamgirls.  No matter.  There’s some good music, particularly at the end when Sparkle, the character played by Jordin Sparks, suddenly becomes a Motown Alicia Keyes.  The script is retro and dated, and the movie will probably be remembered as Whitney Houston’s last screen appearance.  I went to this by myself (and I mean by myself – I was alone in the theater) so I really don’t know if the movie moves an audience, but it didn’t move me.  I went mainly to see Sparks, whom I kind of think of as the last real American Idol, before they started letting the singers play instruments, ensuring that white guys with guitars would win.  (This will of course change this year, and they’ve hired the judges to change the dynamic.)  Sparks sparkles as Sparkle, and the other singers are good too.  I liked the music ok, but can’t say I liked it $10 worth.

Arbitrage – 7

You’ll like this movie if you like

1. Richard Gere
2. Crime Thrillers
3. Financial Thrillers

Gere plays a Bernie Madhoff type financial tycoon whose deceptions are unraveling. I was expecting, and wanted, a financial thriller like Margin Call or Too Big to Fail.  I figured giving the financial fiascos of the last decade a big time Hollywood treatment would be interesting, but I should have known better.  The financial thriller wasn’t enough, so they had to make it a crime thriller as well.  Too bad.  Missed Opportunity.  There was plenty of thriller to be made here.  The two movies I mentioned do a terrific job of building the tension surrounding real events – no fictional additions needed.

Gere may finally get his Oscar nomination, and the supporting task, including Susan Sarandon, are up to the task as well.  Could’ve been a great movie.

Interestingly, I didn’t see this in the theater.  It was simultaneously released on pay per view and theater, so we plucked down $7.99 to watch it on Directv.  Pretty cool 

Premium Rush – 8

You’ll like this movie if you like:

1. Athletic action
2. Genuine emotion
3. New York City

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is becoming a star, and one of the reasons is that he seems to know how to pick a script.  Who’d have thought that an adventure movie about bicycle couriers could be this good?  Now don’t mistake this for high art.  Like all action movies, the action is ridiculous, but with a few neat visual tricks by director David Koepp, the whole thing comes together way better than we have any right to expect.

The messenger must deliver a ticket across Manhattan.  He ends up being chased by good cops, bad cops, and other couriers.  Don’t think too much, just enjoy.

Sleep Walk With Me – 6

You’ll like this movie if you like:

1. Offbeat comedy
2. Breakout performances
3. Lauren Ambrose

This is the slightest of relationship comedies.  It’s short and to the point, and the point seems to be that if you’re in a bad relationship, and you walk in your sleep¸ you have enough material right there to be a stand up comedian.  Maybe.  The breakout performance here is by Mike Birbiglia, who apparently has filmed an autobiography.  His sleep walking scenes are hysterical, but the rest of the movie is a low-key chucklefest at best.  It’s mildly amusing as Mike finds his comedy falling flat until he starts talking about his girlfriend (a terrific Lauren Ambrose, whom I’ve loved since HBO’s Six Feet Under).  This is good for his career, but not his relationship.  Oh well, he got a movie out of it, and I suspect he’ll do another one.  With a little help, he may become an important film-maker.

Scanning the Satellite

Homeland, fresh off an Emmy sweep of best actor, actress, and drama resumes tonight, and it appears this is the show that has pulled Showtime into the pantheon with HBO.

Martha Marcy May Marlene is another cult related movie currently on satellite and it’s way more enthralling than The Master.  Elizabeth Olsen is the lead character with multiple names and Elizabeth begins a trek to stardom as she nails the conflicts of someone trying to break free of a cult.  Great stuff.   

Saints Report # 3 - September 23, 2012

Once upon a time in football you had to be able to run the ball.

It seems to

• demoralize your opponent
• break their will
• establish physical superiority
• control the clock
• allow your defense to rest
• keep the opposing offense off the field
• keep the opposing offense from getting in rhythm
• protect your quarterback
• help you win the time of possession

Also, it helps if you can stop the run.

Right now the Saints can’t run the ball, and the defense needs a jolt of Imodium.   The Saints have always been pass oriented, but this year, with no protection, no running game, no general manager, no head coach in sight, and a case of pass dropping thrown in, it appears the Saints can’t wait to get off the field.  Control the clock?  Forget it.

The Kansas City Chiefs came to the dome and from the point where they fell behind 24-6, totally dominated the Saints in the second half in a way we haven’t seen in many years, and came all the way back to win 27 – 24 on an overtime field goal.  Questions abound, from why the Saints are so bad when backed up to their own end zone (killer safety this week, killer interception last week) to where’s the fire, where’s the passion, where's the speed, where’s the character, where’s the conditioning, but mostly, where’s the tackling?  In the NFL the teams with the best records are winning a few games every year that they don’t deserve.  So far the Saints have lost 3 games that they deserved to lose.  The miracles are happening on the other sideline.

Time and magic are running short, and a trip to Lambeau is the last thing the Saints need right now, but that’s next up, and it’s the first of 4 straight road games.   Time to panic?

Saints report # 2 - September 16, 2012

This is what we couldn’t wait for?

After the Carolina Panthers pasted the Saints 35 - 27 to drop them to 0-2 (and 0-2 by more than a touchdown each game) to start the season for the first time since 2007, I think I’m ready to draw 10 conclusions:

1. The worst off-season an NFL team has ever had has morphed into what may be an equally disastrous regular season.
2. Sean Payton must be feeling pretty good about his self-worth right now.  Rightly or wrongly, most Saints fans do not believe the Saints would be 0-2 if he were on the sidelines.
3. Thus Roger God-dell’s punishment, as I’ve said all along, was a punishment leveled against a fan base, particularly season ticket holders.  He essentially punished us for pre-game rhetorical bullshit.  Some people should have been punished, but I didn’t see (and I suspect the Judges involved didn’t see) the on-field manifestation under which he has jurisdiction.  Where were the cart-offs?  Hell, where were the tackles?  Where was the money trail?  And most importantly, are you sure every other team wasn’t doing the same thing?  Can I go on strike?
4. The Saints have several problems.  The biggest one so far is that they don’t match up well against speedy quarterbacks (and I suspect most teams won’t.)  The Saints linebackers in particular are just too slow, as they have been for years.  Do you remember an outside linebacker making a tackle so far in two games?  If they did, I must have had my head in the refrigerator digging for dip at that moment.  Come to think of it, we can’t catch anybody running the ball, much less option quarterbacks. 
5. Our two safeties are clones.  Good in run support, but can’t cover a bed with a sheet.  I like them both, but as tacklers, not in coverage.  I actually think the defensive line is improving, but they still can’t seem to pressure the quarterback without blitz help.  Can’t judge Spagnulo’s defense yet, but I don’t think he can teach speed, and we just don’t have enough, particularly at outside linebacker.
6. The Saints offensive line is not giving Drew Brees the protection he’s used to.  Since I’m not an offensive line expert, I have no clue why, unless Carl Nicks was really that good.
7. I don’t think the offense has played very well either, but I actually liked their running game against Carolina.  I only screamed once – you see I think it is ridiculous to line up in a shotgun on 2^nd and 1, so I scream.  I scream even louder if it’s an empty backfield, which they did twice against the Redskins.  Just run the ball and take the first down already.  Anyway, the Saints two best players on the field were Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles, but whether or not they’re being handed the ball, or Drew is dinking and dunking it to them – you can’t do that for a whole game, because:
8. When your deep threat is your tight end, you’re in trouble.  I think the biggest problem on offense is the wide receivers.  For several years now, we’ve had two field stretchers (Henderson and Meachem) and two possession guys (Moore and Colston).  Last week, with Meachem still playing for San Diego, and Henderson on the sideline with a concussion, the deep threat became Joe Morgan who looks like a great pre-season player whose hands have turned to stone.  Meanwhile Colston has dropped several passes to go with a critical fumble, and he’s either hurt or we’re in big trouble.  Lance Moore has been consistent, but even he dropped one last week.  So, now Jimmy Graham is our big receiving threat, and teams know it and are covering him, and he’s dropped a few as well.  Is it just me, or are the windows to throw into a little tighter this year?    
9. Then there’s Drew, who is being asked to come from behind multiple scores in the fourth quarter.  Now he’s thrown some horrendous interceptions, but he’s always done that, and that’s part of the reason we’ve been behind.  He’ll be fine if the receivers start catching the ball, and the offensive line gets their act together.  But there’s no question he misses Sean Payton’s adjustments that he would be making about now.
10. Finally, this week KC comes to town with their traditional pocket quarterback Matt Cassell.  Matt, buddy, please stand still.  Stay in the pocket.  Right there, where we can find you.  Don’t be moving around.  I know you’ll be tempted to add some college run options after you see the film, but don’t do it.  Just stay still.  Don’t move.  Stay where we can find you.

If the Saints don’t right the ship against KC, it’s going to be a long season. 

This is what we waited 6 months for?

Saints Report # 1 - September 9, 2012

During the Sean Payton era, Saints fans have developed high expectations that are usually rewarded with excellent performance. Now I’m not sure if we can consider this game and this season part of the Sean Payton era, as he is in bounty exile, but this performance most certainly did not meet his standards.

The Washington Redskins came to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and spanked the Saints 40 – 32. No, it wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. A furious late rally fell short. The Saints didn’t deserve to win.

Drew Brees started out 0 for 3 on his first series and ended the game throwing his 52^nd pass, and that pretty much tells the story. In between, he was rarely precise. Jim Haslett’s defense put him under constant duress. The Saints once again over-emphasized the pass, and never tried to establish any running game. Basically the Saints looked like a run of the mill NFL team, not the disciplined machine of the last few years. Brees made a few spectacular throws, but also had numerous passes dropped. The Saints were penalized 12 times, including a critical 12^th man on the field during a punt that cost them a possession. These are mistakes we're not used to seeing.
In the meantime they were upholding a long-standing Saints tradition of making a star out of a new NFL Quarterback. Actually that’s a little unfair. Robert Griffin III, the Redskins rookie QB was spectacular. He froze the defense repeatedly with college-like play-action options. The Saints defense did not have the speed to keep up, and it’s doubtful any NFL defense will. He appears to be a prudent Michael Vick type talent, with a much better passing touch. He may finally be the pass/run QB to revolutionize the position. His accuracy was Brees-like. NFL watch out.

Meanwhile the Saints must now re-synch. They’re down to their 3^rd string coach, and they looked like it. The new Spags led defense got lit up so badly, that it’s hard to tell if they’ve improved. Of course last year, the Saints lost their first game, and then went on a season-long roll.

I have only one suggestion for the Saints. The threat of a running game wouldn’t hurt. One dimensional in a league where there’s two ways to make yardage just isn’t going to get it done, not when your defense needs help, not to mention a little time off the field.

Game 2 of the Payton in Exile Era next Sunday in Carolina.

Are you Ready for Some Chips?

It’s that time of year again. 

Potato Chip time. 

Time to throw caution to the wind and see how much chip and dip we can stuff down our gullet in the name of football.

I was reminded of this recently on an airplane flight when I sat down next to the largest woman in America, one whom should have been declared “too big to fly.”   Now I’m used to doing the elbow room dance on flights, so I was ready to tangle.  But she wasn’t.  She was ready to eat.  So, she pulled out a king size bag of potato chips.  Right before my eyes, she began to devour an entire bag like it was the Super Bowl, and never offered me a single one. A good 60 minutes of crackling and snapping, soon I was ready for some football. 

Off to the first Saints game Sunday, and I’m not feeling too confident.  Have the Saints really changed into a perennial contender?  Will they revert to their days of making stars out of new quarterbacks?  Could they possibly be good enough to win while a GM, Head Coach, and Interim Head Coach serve various suspensions?  Can Brees carry the load he will be asked to carry this year?  Could any team survive the kind of turmoil that the Saints have endured this off-season, and make it to the first ever home team Super Bowl? 

Call me about 4 pm Sunday and I’ll have a better answer. 

It was revealed in the off-season that Head Coach Sean Payton was a cocky, arrogant, control freak, who disregarded NFL admonitions in his quest to build an empire.  He’s a real prick to the media, and generous to Hurricane Victims.  In other words, the perfect NFL head coach.  His innovative offense is hard to stop, but in reading his book, it becomes clear that during the Saints Super Season he pushed every button to perfection.  In fairness, he’s also lost 3 playoff games because a) he couldn’t or wouldn’t run the ball, and b) Gregg Williams was playing macho intimidation man to man war games.  

 

The NFL is not an easy place to make a living.  Last year should have been Super Bowl number 2 for the Saints, but Williams was too busy trying to “affect the head” instead of trying to “tackle.”  Oh well, disappointing, but not the end of the world.  Sure is fun to watch, especially in a league where defenders aren’t allowed to defend. 

 

Which brings me to new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnolo, who has a history of stopping great offenses, but stumbling against good ones.  You’ve got to give the Saints credit, they don’t stand pat in the off-season.  Along with him, they brought in some great free agents on defense, most of whom are already injured.  Now, that’s life in the NFL.  My hope is that with a running coach at the controls for the first 6 games, the Saints may establish a nice rotation of their running backs and ground and pound a little more. 
So, can the Saints overcome all this adversity?  I just don’t think so, unless come playoff time, they don’t have to leave the friendly Super-confines.  That’s their only hope, and I’m sure they’ll be playing for it, but the division is stronger, the 49ers, Packers, Bears, and Lions all figure to improve.  What to do, what to do?

My predictions for the year:  The Jets will not Tebow their way into the playoffs.  The Broncos will have early success, until Manning gets a load of December in the Rockies.  The Ravens and Houston will be the class of the AFC, but they’ll have to outplay the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, which thus far they haven't been up to.  The Eagles will start off hot but fade because Vick won’t be able to stay on the field.  The NFC Central will be thrilling as the Bears, Packers, and Lions could all be great.

Because the NFL is such a quarterback driven league I’m tempted to say the Super Bowl will again be Brady, Manning, or Roethlisberger  vs. Rodgers, Brees, or Eli Manning. 

But, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that teams and quarterbacks ready to take the next step, will take it.  Thus, I add the the group Flaco, Ryan, Schaub, Cutler, and Stafford to the contenders.  The Lions remind me of the Saints of 2008 – desperately trying to get a defense worthy of their offense.  I think they will. 
My Super Bowl predictions are
1) I won’t get tickets, and  
2) Detroit beats Houston 28 – 24 

Sunday, I look for the Saints to beat the Redskins 35 – 31.
RGIII will run for about 150 and pass for 180, and give me a lot of chills in section 116.  With the Saints receivers a little nicked up, I look for Joe Morgan to emerge from the pack and have a big game. 

Yep, take those predictions right to Vegas.