Saints Report #2 - September 18, 2022

Someday, when Tom Brady is finally forced to retire by his wife, he will begin a series of shows with Peyton Manning where they reminisce about their rivalry and friendly competition.  They’ll probably go game by game easily, because they were never on the field at the same time.

None of those things apply to Marshawn Lattimore and Mike Evans.  Their battles are classics, where neither backs down, before or after the whistle.  I haven’t been able to attend a game at the dome in a while but the last few Bucs/Saints contests that I was able to attend, I just watched them when the Bucs had the ball, even before Brady came along.  Now that’s a rivalry.

Unfortunately, Lattimore can never turn the other cheek.  It almost cost the Saints in week 1, and probably cost them in week 2.  The brawl got all the headlines, as once again Evans, frustrated with the lockdown of Lattimore, flew off the bench and cheap shotted Lattimore.  This is the reason I thought the Saints were going to miss Chauncy Gardner-Johnson.  He could bait the other team into penalties, but refrain from retaliation.  If only Lattimore would set the trap, but not take the bait.  Too Much to ask.

Sunday, the Saints lost to the Bucs 20-10.  After seeing Fournette run in week 1 and the Saints get mauled on the line, I was not optimistic going in.  But, for 3 quarters, the defense held, putting Brady into one of his temper tantrum phases. 

Never, never, never, have I ever wanted a microphone on the field more than Sunday.  Wouldn’t you have loved to hear the talk leading up to the “brawl” which really wasn’t much of a brawl?

Anyway, concerns are many.  The Saints staged a miracle 4^th quarter in week 1, and fell apart in the 4^th quarter of week 2.  Let’s start with Quarterback play.  I think Winston is going to be the QB for 2 years.  I think the Saints will pull out all the stops to draft one (hopefully Bryce Young) and let him sit for a year behind Winston.

The Saints will not win many games passing for 100 yards and scoring 3 points in the first 3 quarters.  Why can’t they score early?  Winston’s mobility in the pocket is just poor.  He has what I would generously call heavy feet.  And I’m not one of those guys who wants a running quarterback, just a mobile one.  Playing QB is dangerous enough without racing around like a gazelle.  But it just doesn’t appear that Winston can see the field.  He can zip it to a wide open man, and he has good arm strength.  But reading defenses, checking out of plays, throwing a man open, and quick releases are just not there.  He is a mid to low tier NFL QB and I just don’t see that changing.

Don’t believe me?  Well, it was Sean Payton who tipped his hand last week as he was making the talk show rounds.  When asked who the best QB in the NFL was, he answered “Patrick Mahomes, and it’s not close.”  Then he would go into the story of how close the Saints came to drafting Mahomes, and it was obvious that had they done so, he’d still be coaching and racking up the win meter.  One year of the quarterbacks he had to work with last year was enough.  Brees to Mahomes would have been epic.  Brees to Field, not so much.

On Sunday, the game dissolved when Ingram capped off the Saints best drive of the game with another fumble.  Not sure how long this will go on.  Dwayne Washington looks great every time he carries the ball.  I’m betting 15 carries a game nets 100 yards if we’ll just give him a chance.  I haven’t even mentioned the two ridiculous calls against the Saints to sustain the Brady drive he needed the most.  The Penalty “unnecessary roughness” needs to be changed to “Insufficient softness.”  I officiated a long time, and now I sit in the recliner watching all 3 sports, and the officiating is terrible, and it’s been made worse by replay.  I get a kick out of baseball’s coming rule changes meant to speed up the game.  Ha, get rid of the 45 minutes or replays a game. 

So, the Saints are in trouble.  The return of Adebo will help, but when?  Not another high ankle sprain, I hope?  The defense is playing well enough to win, but changes have to made on offense.  Didn’t take me long to go from optimistic to pessimistic about this season. Dennis Allen is about to get tested.

Saints Report #1 - 9/11/2022

The Strange Case of Dr. Jameis and Mr. Hyde

The Saints first game was like some streaming mystery.  You’re going to have to watch several episodes before all the characters are introduced.  In this case, the characters would be the Saints.

Had it not been for 2 runs by Taysom Hill in the first half, it could be said that the Saints took the first half of their initial game of the year off.  QB Jameis Winston had completed only 3 passes, and the passing yardage, after factoring in sacks, was barely positive.  Every facet of the Saints play was awful.  The third quarter was much the same.  Winston looked uncomfortable in the pocket, and for good reason.  The pocket was crowded.  His protection was awful.

Then a couple of things happened.  It must be said that the Falcons woke up to who they are.  A dedicated Saints fan knows who they are, because we’ve seen the enemy and they are us.  For most of their history the Saints have been that team:  That team that could always find a way to lose.  Misuse the clock, turnovers, penalties.  We could always find a way to lose.   The Falcons are now that team.  They can always blow a lead.  Don’t count them in.

As the 4^th quarter began, the Saints fell further behind.  With 80% of the game played, could the Saints overcome their biggest 4^th quarter deficit ever?  I was there the day Brees brought the Saints back from 15 to beat Washington.  But this wasn’t Brees.  This was Winston, and he looked dazed and confused.    He had paid a visit to the injury tent.  Dalton was warming up.  With 12 minutes left they fell behind 26-10. but still within 2 scores.  With 12:41 on the clock, and 2 and a half hours into their first game of the year, Dr. Jameis disappeared, and Mr. Hyde took the field.  In fact 22 Hydes suddenly emerged. In just 4 plays, 1:29, crisp passes to Juwan Johnson, Alvin Kamara, Jarvis Landry, and Michael Thomas in the end zone, followed by a two point conversion pass to Chris Olave brought the Saints within 8.  It was almost too easy.

The Saints held and got the ball back on their own 16 with 7:00 left.  Passes to Olave, Landry, Thomas twice, and Landry, followed by a bb throw to Thomas in the end zone, brought the Saints within two.  Unfortunately, the two point conversion failed, a run by Ingram on a direct snap, which given the ease with which Winston was shredding the defense, seemed to be an odd call.

Then, one last drive, a most memorable one.  After Mariotta fumbled on 3^rd and 1 and the Falcons had to punt, the Saints started their drive with 48 seconds left from their own 20.   The next pass by Winston was one of the prettiest in Saints history, as he arched the ball to Landry 40 yards downfield on the far sideline.  Landry made a great catch, and it gave me flashbacks to the Minneapolis miracle when Stefon Diggs caught the improbable bomb.  Except Landry caught it and stepped out of bounds at the 40, stopping the clock.  But nobody on the Saints sideline knew it.  Thus, when Winston stepped up to spike the ball to kill what he thought was a running clock, it instead became an unnecessary intentional grounding – 10 yard penalty and loss of down.  So, on 2^nd down, Winston’s dart to Juwan Johnson on the 34, which would have been a first down on a 1^st and 10, but not on a 1^st and 20, necessitated another spike by Winston.  Which meant it’s now 4^th down and no choice but to try a 51 yard field goal.

Lutz pounded it through, taking out a year of sideline frustration, and giving the Saints a 27-26 lead.

But it wasn’t over.

The Falcons actually got themselves into position to try a 63 yard field goal as time expired, only because a sure interception went through the arms of Marcus Maye, and Marshawn Lattimore, who has all the self-discipline of a puppy looking for a treat, got baited into a personal foul penalty, bait he was happy to take.  This forced the game down to one final field goal attempt and the one thing lacking so far in a Falcons-Saints game.

A Blocked kick. 

So, the Saints start a most difficult 1-0.  Let’s hope it gets easier.  But it won’t.

Media Captures - August 2022

DOCUMENTARIES

The Captain – 10

The sports documentaries just keep getting better and better. I can’t name anything new on TV right now that's better than this inspection of Derek Jeter’s career.  There’s no better fairy tale on Disney, no better sports doc on Netflix, no better biography on Hulu, and no better leadership lesson on you tube.

All Derek Jeter ever wanted to do was play shortstop for the New York Yankees, a dream I’m sure many a youngster has had about their favorite team.  Nowadays, the odds of staying with one team, even if you could make it to the majors is slim.  In my youth, when my dream was to play for the Pirates, there were fewer trades, less competition and almost no free agency.  I faced only that one little obstacle, lack of talent.  When Jeter miraculously falls in the draft to the Yankees, the ride begins. Not only did Derek’s dream come true, but his impact went way beyond just that.  With clutch performances within a new dynasty he went straight to the Hall of Fame.  You can’t make this up. 

But what this 7 part documentary on ESPN+ does best is serve as a master class on leadership.  Jeter, throughout his 19-year major league career, has to navigate the pressures of working for George Steinbrenner, in the media capital of the world.  He has to deal with teammates, competitors, and other leaders with massive egos.  Fortunately, the answer for every problem is the same – winning.  I learned early in my career (the one I actually had – not baseball) that the keys were preparation, focus, and intensity.  Jeter sits down and takes on every question head on.  He explains it all.  If you’ve every played a minute of a sport – you owe yourself to watch this.

Untold:  The Story of the Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist - 9

Like no one has ever fallen in love over the phone before.

Netflix’s Untold series, which is very good, takes up the story of Manti Te’o, the Notre Dame linebacker who was actually in the running for the Heisman.  Then, it was revealed that Te’o had never actually met his girlfriend and there was a good reason.  She didn’t really exist and so her reported death should have been easy to verify. 

Once this catfishing was revealed, I didn’t know what to think.  But apparently, and this is going to shock you, a lot of people did and were willing to express themselves.  Was this a hoax? Was he in on it? Ready, Set, Speculate.  

Well, the documentary leaves no doubt that a guy named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo had nothing better to do than really mess with someone in the public eye.  Te'o was from Hawaii and had unexpectantly chosen Notre Dame, a devil of an isolation.  Tuiasopos is the villain and he’s pretty easy to hate. Oh, and in the meantime, he has transitioned to a female named Naya (way easier to pronounce), so there’s an awful lot going on in his psyche.

"Transitioning” is a really hot topic these days, and both sides are vehement, and very sure of themselves.  Imagine that. I’ve always felt sorry for people that I could see were “gender-confused” as I put it.  And I’m not belittling that.  I can’t imagine what it’s like to get up and look in the mirror every morning and not understand who I am, and why I felt so wrong and why I’m so uncomfortable in my own skin.  It’s a feeling I wouldn’t want and wouldn’t understand.  All the discomfort I ever had to face was the visual – that if I looked more like Brad Pitt than Patton Oswalt with acne, I’d have had more fun.  The mirror can be tough.

Anyway, Manti comes off clean, and while he’s out of football for now, he’s a sympathetic figure, thanks to this excellent documentary.  He hung on with the Saints for a couple of seasons, and I don’t think we’ll see him again.  He got married in 2020 and hopefully the only catfish that comes his way has Mississippi on the box.

One Final note:  I don't like The Yankees or Notre Dame, just so you know.

Lucy and Desi – 9

Director Amy Poehler put together a wonderful documentary on these two early TV icons.  I think it’s a little bit better than the dramatization written and directed by Aaron Sorkin.  No fan of Lucille Ball should miss it.  We think success is easy and lucky.  Sometimes it's not and this is a great story of chemistry, then break-up. Excellent. 

STREAMING:

Surface – 6

Apple+ sucked me in with this high gloss, low energy, overly dramatic story that goes nowhere and takes its time getting there.  The pace is horrible, and I can’t believe I stuck with all 7 episodes.  When you’ve waited a week for the next episode, you feel obligated to watch.  Apple+ shares this approach with HBO and sometimes it works.  This time it was just another aggravation.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who appears destined for stardom, plays Sophie, a lady who may have jumped off a boat to commit suicide.  Or she may have been pushed.  Or she may have staged it.  There may have been a reason. 

I don’t care. By the end, I just wanted out.

The 355 – 7

While I was intrigued with the cast, the initial reviews were horrible and kept me from going to see this in the theaters.  I’m not going to say the reviews were wrong, but all action flicks considered, this ain’t a bad way to spend 2 hours. Jessica Chastain is spreading her wings.  I think that’s a good thing.

The Gray Man - 6 

I understand that Netflix wants to make a franchise out of this Jason Bourne type treatment.  Just like Bourne, they got the casting right when they pegged Ryan Gosling.   The other thing I understand is that it’s based on what many of my friends think is an excellent book series.

Unfortunately, the movie didn’t work for me, other than Ana Armas as The Gray Man’s friendly spy, coming on the heels of her like role in the latest Bond epic, and her next role as Marilyn Monroe.  She’s got all the required charisma.  Will she emerge from this 18 month stretch a star, or never be heard from again?  I think she’s a star.  Yep, that's me going out on a limb.

The problem with the movie is it’s another example of what I call Violence Porn.  Let’s see how many people we can kill in as many unique ways as we can think of.  They might as well put a counter in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.  And some of them are pretty inventive, but geez, how about a little subtlety now and then. That “there will be none of that” is obvious 10 minutes in.  The Bourne movies were restrained at first.  Couldn’t we have at least kicked it off that way?  Wham Bam No Thank you ma'm.  Shoot ‘em up.  Better yet, send some of this frenetic energy over to Surface.
 

Inside Man:  Most Wanted – 7

What in the world was I doing watching this sequel that probably went straight to video?  Simple.  Rhee Seehorn, the breakout star of Better Call Saul.  She’s been a working actress on the Hollywood fringes for a long time, and I thought I’d go back and check out one of her few starring roles prior to BCS.  The verdict is in, and I would have never seen her breakout coming. 

The original Inside Man was a very heavy story of a bank robbery to get to a Nazi artifact in a safety deposit bank, and I remember it being overly long and complicated, starring Denzel Washington, Jodi Foster, and Clive Owen, and not making much of an impression as evidenced by the fact that I have no remembrance of what the artifact was. So, maybe I should've rewatched the original.  Or, I should have just started something else.  But, I was curious. Still a fan.

NFL 2022 Preview

February 12, 2023:  Super Bowl Sunday

After the NFL reluctantly turned down a two billion dollar offer by the Saudi’s to rename the game from Super Bowl LVII to Super Bowl LIV, the game went on in Glendale, Arizona after much confusion about Daily Savings Time.

Aaron Rodgers lost his final game of the year again, this time when NFL MVP Josh Allen led the Bills demolition of the Packers 44 – 21.  Allen threw for a record 494 yards after throwing for 6001 during the regular season.  Afterwards Rodgers claimed that he hallucinated the second quarter and he thought he had duplicated Doug Williams' Super Bowl performance, but in fact admitted his fingers were still numb from the NFC championship game played in -10 degrees and snow at Green Bay.  The Packers had defeated the Saints 14-7 when Roger Goodell had invoked the little used “climate change” rule and allowed the Packers to have side-line heaters, but not the Saints, thus melting the 4-foot drifts on the sideline for the Packers.  The Saints coaching staff, forced to wear white by the NFL was rarely visible.

It was the surprising Saints. who finished the regular season 10-6-1 (and rode a six game unbeaten streak with Andy Dalton at the controls to the NFC championship game,) who had played the two most exciting games of the season.  The first was the 0-0 tie with the Bucs, that prompted a December retirement by a play-off eliminated Tom Brady. 

The second was their surprising upset of the Rams in the playoffs.

Here's what happened.  The Saints’ Deonte Harty ran back the most famous Louisiana punt return since Billy Cannon’s to upset the Rams 21-17 in the Superdome.  Harty ignored official Bill Vinovich who inexplicably called “infield fly rule” on the punt, freezing almost everyone.  But Harty persevered, running down the Saints sideline and picking up a Mike-Tomlin like block of Jalen Ramsay by a spectator with his toes just off the sideline – Zion Williamson.  Ramsay hit Williamson and crumbled like he’d hit the Rock of Gibraltar as Harty raced to the score.  What ensued was the longest replay review, 23 minutes, in NFL history that only ended when NFL Line judge Sarah Thomas leveled Vinovich for his incompetence.  This followed a week of protests where Saints fans insisted Vinovich shouldn’t be allowed in the Dome, much less referee. 

Meanwhile in the AFC, Josh Allen dominated.  In the AFC Championship game the Bills beat the Broncos when Russell Wilson threw an end-zone interception on first and goal from the one, admitting later he had called an audible and didn’t really believe in running backs.  The ramifications of this were felt far and wide as Fox’s Colin Cowherd had to take a leave of absence after guaranteeing Wilson would win the Super Bowl, NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and NBA MVP.  Cowherd also made Vegas headlines when an unidentified bettor won a long-shot million-dollar bet - an “over” bet that Cowherd would say “Russell Wilson” over 100 times in one broadcast.  This was expertly predicted by Adam Schefter two weeks after the bet was cashed.     

The mid-season trade of the Cowboys’ three number one picks and Jerry Jones’ wine collection (not his whine collection) to the Saints for the rights to Sean Payton appeared to set the Saints up to package the picks for a shot a Bryce Young.  Payton, who also got ownership options of the Cowboys, took over for Mike McCarthy at midseason despite the Cowboys 7-1 record when Jones admitted he a) just couldn’t’ wait any longer, and b) had cataracts that had prevented him from actually seeing a game for 3 years.  The stunned Cowboys promptly lost 5 straight and limped to the playoffs where they were ousted by the Packers.

So, that’s what’s going to happen.  I’ll be watching, but to be honest, I’m just as excited about the Pelicans, whom I predict will win 50 games for the first time in their history.  Stay tuned, and know that the number of times the Saints and Pelicans will get even mentioned by the Cowherds of the world is an over/under of about 4.  Which is where Colin is wrong.  

Media Captures - July 2022

Nope - 6

Ventured out to see Jordan Peele’s latest.  It’s about UFO’s.  And it self-propelled itself right over my head.

There are brilliant sequences in the movie.  There are some incomprehensible ones.  There’s a lot of explaining of the symbolism in the movie floating around the internet, and I guess I may change my mind about the movie after I read it all.
But I shouldn’t have to.
The good:  The sound in this movie may have been the best I’ve ever heard in a movie.  It envelopes the theater in a way I’ve never experienced. 
The bad:  Almost everything else.  Daniel Kaluaha, whom I normally think is great, moves like a tortoise throughout the movie, slowing it to a crawl.  The other characters were irritating at worst, and uninteresting at best.  I didn’t buy any of the characters.

There’s an interesting back story to the family who trains and provides animals for the movies, and I actually think that would have been an interesting non-sci-fi plot. 

I’m not going to give up on Jordan Peele (not that he would care) but I fear he is on an M.Night trajectory.  The good news for Peele fans is that I’m probably the only person on the planet that feels that way, but I was really disappointed.

STREAMING

Better Call Saul – 10

Hook, line, and sinker I fell for this prequel to Breaking Bad.  It’s not as ground-breaking or as shocking as BB, but it’s more enjoyable.  Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman is riveting as the con man turned lawyer, but it is Rhee Seehorn as Kim Wexler who breaks bad and steals the series.  Seehorn, who finally just got an Emmy nomination, does a slow steady burn from straight law-lover to a bend-the-rules attorney, and it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time.  I remember when Jodie Comer stunned me in Killing Eve.  I got that same feeling, but more slowly as Seehorn took over the show. 

There’s so much entertainment in this show, from the cons to the law, it will keep you guessing.  Just a great show.  By watching Netflix I’ve caught up to the present, and there are two episodes left. 
I’m on the edge of my recliner.

 

The Old Man – 7

Far-fetched in its premise, that a 72 year old man who has been “out of the game” for 30 years still has those killer CIA skills, there’s not as much action as you would think.  To make matters worse, Jeff Bridges seems to play older than his actual 72.  Along comes Amy Brenneman, 58 in real life, and she’s attracted to him.  For some reason.

There are a few nice twists over the course of the 7 episodes, and John Lithgow and Bridges are terrific as usual.  Here’s what’s totally unique to me:  The flashbacks of Bridges as a young operative, played by John Heck, are more interesting than the main story.  I usually hate flashbacks.  Here, they were far more interesting than the present.  And the ending is such that there’s no doubt there will be a season two.  It wasn’t great, but I’ll probably watch, and wish my 69 year old body was as nimble as Bridges.  I guess I could use some movie magic.

Black Bird - 10

The writer Dennis Lehane first caught my attention as the writer of Gone, Baby, Gone.  Here he’s adapted a pulse-pounding true story.  He may be the best crime writer out there today.  And Paul Walter Hauser may be the best actor on the planet.  Hauser plays a schlub.  Nobody plays a schlub better than he does.  I first saw him in I Tonya, and he played Richard Jewell, and he is as anti-movie star as you can get.  The schlub is Larry, who may or may not be a serial killer. 

Jimmy, an equally spectacular Taron Edgerton, is the fellow con who has been recruited to try to get some info out of Larry as to where he may have buried the bodies.  The clock is ticking in that Larry has an appeal pending and the other inmates are suspicious of Jimmy.  Five of the Six episodes have aired.  This is some disturbing subject matter involving the disappearance of over a dozen young girls.  Enter these prison walls with caution.

The Bear – 9

Eight episodes of restaurant chaos that brought back memories of my 5-year adventure in restaurant ownership.  This is probably the most realistic depiction of a restaurant kitchen you’ll ever see.  Jeremy Allen White (of Shameless) is the James Beard award-winning chef from The French Laundry (on my bucket list) who has come home to Chicago to take over his brother’s hole in the wall restaurant that was left to him when his brother died.  He has to improve the food and change the culture, neither of which is as easy as it sounds.  It’s a good story, and the ending, although far-fetched, really makes me look forward to season two.

Mind over Murder – 9

There’s a rape and murder in the small town of Beatrice, Nebraska.
A private investigator solves the crime and gets 6 suspects to confess.
They are convicted and go to jail.
Years later DNA clears them all.
How can this happen?  Well, this HBO documentary delves into this incredible story, and when I say incredible, that’s what I mean.
No reason for me to spoil it, because this may be the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.
Six suspects confess and five recant.  What the hell?

Dark Wind – 10,9,8,7,6,2

AMC’s heist and murder mystery takes place on an Indian Reservation, where the police chief has many puzzles to solve.  This series started out as enthralling, and fell flatter than a pancake in the final episode.  They say it will be back for season two.  I won’t be.

Street Food: USA - Incomplete

A nice Netflix documentary accompaniment to The Bear.  I’ve only watched the New Orleans and New York episodes so far, and they could be a little more emphasis on the food and less on the people, but it’s still pretty good.

After Life – Season 3 – 9

Ricky Gervais, never shies away from stretching the envelope and he concludes his three-season examination of grief with what I thought was a perfect tone.  It’s crude and funny, but mostly it’s heart wrenching as Gervais flounders through life without his late wife.  He won’t even cash the life insurance check because he doesn’t feel good about profiting from the death of his beloved. He struggles, really struggles to put his grief behind him.

This is not easy viewing, but it’s worthwhile.
 

The Tinder Swindler – 9

This is supposedly Netflix’s most watched documentary ever, and it’s not hard to see why.  An Israeli man spends money prolifically to romance women.  Then when he’s got them on the hook, starts to ask them for money.  Why?  To fund dating the next mark and his extravagant lifestyle. Several women come forward to tell the story of how they got charmed and swindled and are still trying to pay it back.  It’s compelling, but I kept asking “how could you fall for this?”

Toscana – 4

A silly, not remotely believable, romance movie set in Italy.  Worse than the Hallmark channel, and a bad ending to boot.

Laurel Canyon – 8

Right before I cancelled Epix on Directv (my bill is coming down), I watched this documentary about the music makers near LA in the 60’s.  Nostalgic and moving, it made me miss the great music that emerged from the likes of Jackson Browne, the Mamas and Papas, and CSN&Y just to name a few.  Great trip down memory lane.

Blue Bayou – 8

Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander somehow picked this story to bring to life.  She is married to a Korean immigrant who came to this country at 3, was adopted, and now, with a young daughter and another child on the way is arrested and could be deported.  The drama and the heart string pulling is just what you would expect, plus I never miss a New Orleans movie.

Justin Cho wrote, directed, and stars as Antonio LeBlanc the Korean-American who is trying to make his way with his family in Louisiana and he doesn’t provide any easy answers, just a glimpse into what can happen.

 

The Last Movie Stars – 9

Ethan Hawke takes the director’s chair for this HBO Max deep, very deep dive into the career and marriage of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.  Event by event, movie by movie no stone is left unturned in their relationship and their family life.  This documentary was made during covid so Hawke had to get the participants to testify and reenact by zoom, and it takes awhile to get used to that.  The production values of those interviews can be off-putting, but it ends up being enthralling.  For a movie buff, it couldn’t be better.  When I saw that his was 6 episodes I never thought it would hold my interest that long, but it did.

And the answer to your question is “Cool Hand Luke.”

 

CLASSICS

Red River – 10

One of those Howard Hawks directed John Wayne westerns that will stick to your ribs if you let it.  John Wayne plays Thomas Dunson whose cattle ranch is on the ropes after the Civil War, so he undertakes a massive cattle drive with his protégé Matt Garth (Montgomery Clift) to Missouri to get the best price for his herd.  The drive doesn’t go well, and the hands get restless.  Soon, Garth and Dunson are at each other’s throat.  Will the drive fall apart?  Who will win the battle of wills? 

The more I see of these old westerns, the more I like them, and this one’s a good one.   

Media Captures - June 2022

Elvis - 9

Packed away in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is a great movie trying to get out.  There are some truly remarkable and wonderful musical moments, almost all of which feature Austin Butler as Elvis.  There have been a lot of movies about Elvis over the years, with some good-to-bad impersonations of Elvis.  None compare.  Butler so perfectly captures Presley’s on-stage persona that he will probably replace the real Elvis in my mind’s eye when I think of Elvis.  It’s the same way I now picture Gary Busey when I hear Buddy Holly.  It should easily be the best performance of the year. 

Anytime you have to condense a life down to a movie, there are going to be gaps and misses, and complaints, not to mention exaggerations for effect.  Baz’s comic-book style of frenetic pacing and music video type production can be a little over the top, but when he slows it down and lets the music breathe a little, it’s pretty special.  I liked this movie way more than I thought I would, and in fact, way more than I liked Elvis himself.  Pleasantly surprised. Viva!

Jazz Fest:  A New Orleans Story (PPV)– 9
The Patron Saint of Jazz Fest (Vimeo)– 9

Finally, a good documentary about my favorite event.  I’ve been going to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival since the early 80’s and as a result have seen more great musical acts than I can count, and believe me, I’ve tried.  By highlighting the 50^th anniversary festival of 2019, the producers capture some great pieces of the experience, but it’s almost impossible to capture its unique appeal.  Those of us who are “die-hards” know there’s a spiritual aspect to it that can’t be put into words.  Stars like Jimmy Buffett, Bruce Springsteen, and Irma Thomas try their best, and that’s going to have to do.

The Patron Saint is just a little 17-minute film on the on-line streaming service Vimeo, which is an app that can be downloaded.  It may capture the joy and soul of Jazz Fest just as well as the 2-hour documentary.  It chronicles a lawyer who hasn’t missed a single day of Jazz Fest for many years.  I have to admit, he’s really got me thinking.  Could I go every day?  Could I see 100 different bands in the the two weekends?  This is such a wonderful little feature, I’d watch it first, an appetizer to the longer film.

Train to Busan – 10

This is a 2016 thriller from South Korea that can be found in a couple of different streaming services.  One has it dubbed, the other uses sub-titles.  I watched the sub-tilted one, and now I know why this has become somewhat of a classic.  The storyline is basically “zombies on a train.”  Much like World War Z in its intensity, the strong suit of this movie is giving you some characters that you care about as they try to get from Seoul to Busan on a high-speed train to escape the apocalypse.  If you’re a Walking Dead fan, this is your movie.

Hustle (Netflix) – 8
Rising (Disney) – 9

Two basketball movies dot the streaming landscape after an entertaining NBA playoff.
In Hustle, Adam Sandler plays a Boston Celtics scout who scours the earth looking for the next great prospect.  The organization is a mess, and all Stanley Sugarman wants is a chance at coaching, which is finally offered to him by the owner. But, the owner (Robert Duvall) dies leaving his son, played by Ben Foster, as the heir-incompetent, and soon Sugarman is back in hotel rooms searching, searching.

He soon finds a prospect, played realistically by Juancho Hernangomez (since he is an actual NBA player) and Sugarman brings him to the US.  Soon after, you will be treated to the longest training montage in movie history.  Real NBA Players and former players play themselves, and some play fictional players.  It’s odd, but it’s as about as good as a movie with Sandler in it can get.

Rising, on the Disney channel, is the life story of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers.  It actually deemphasizes the basketball and concentrates on the family story of being illegal and desperate immigrants in Greece.  Incredibly gifted athletes that tower over their playmates, the family falls in love with basketball, and realizes it could be a ticket out of poverty.  It’s a pretty amazing story and well worth watching.

Cha Cha Real Smooth (Apple TV)– 8

Even the beautiful and understated charm of Dakota Johnson wears thin in this tale of a young man who is trying to find his way in life by being a “party-starter” through a series of bar mitzvahs.  The director and star of the movie is Cooper Raiff, who shows a lot of promise and should be commended for telling a gentle and empathetic story, especially when it comes to the autistic daughter of Dakota’s character, whom he baby sits.  The camera loves the stars.  A better script would have helped, but I would never discourage anyone from watching this.  It’s the kind of movie that might be somebody’s favorite of all time. 

The Card Counter (HBO) – 2

I saw no point.  Imagine a movie that cuts away from the big poker game and never goes back to it so there’s no big payoff.  Imagine a movie that has no payoff.

 

Documentaries

Brian Wilson:  Long Promised Road (PBS) – 8

Part of the American Masters Series on PBS, this is an examination of one of the most talented and troubled musicians of the 20^th century.  In reptrospect the genius behind the Beach Boys wasn’t particularly prolific, but his catalog is pretty spectacular for it’s harmonies.  There’s no doubt he elevated rock and roll, but fought through mental health demons. 

A Crime on the Bayou (PPV)– 10

Growing up in South Mississippi in the 60’s we often heard the name of Judge Leander Perez, a politician in Plaquemines Parish Louisiana.  I didn’t really know where that was, but I knew a parish was the equivalent of a county in every other state.  This movie exposes the corruption and racism in the parish through a single case that goes on to change the laws of the land.  It became major case law, and that’s the surprise gravity of this documentary.

Binge Report

The Blacklist (Netflix) – 10

I’ve never watched an original NBC airing of this, but started it on Netflix and couldn’t stop through all 177 episodes available there.  (The 10^th season on NBC I’ll have to wait on it to hit Netflix.)  I haven’t watched a whole series start to finish on the networks since The Good Wife, and this one caught me by surprise.  It’s terrific, or I wouldn’t have spent 5 full days of my life on it.

It starts when the most wanted man in the world turns himself into the FBI and in exchange for immunity agrees to help the FBI capture criminals on his Blacklist.  His name is Red Reddington and there are two caveats.  He will always have an ulterior motive, and he will only work with one person, Elizabeth Keen, a young FBI profiler.  Great writing and great acting as there are enough twists and turns to float down a river.  This is good stuff.  One season to go.

Justified (FX)– 9

We finished binging the 78 episodes of this FX series.  The chemistry of the cast and the witty writing elevated this beyond its somewhat repetitive story line. US Deputy Marshall Raylinn Givens, played with gusto by Timothy Olyphant and villain Boyd Crowder, (Walter Coggins) match wits and witticism throughout.  Great Characters that get a chance to develop and there’s no wonder there’s a sequel movie on the way.

The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix) – 6

We slogged through this Neflix hit in 2 nights, but it should have taken only one, as it’s 5 episodes worth of story spread out over 10.  Actually, it’s 3 stories, which is part of the problem, as two of them aren’t worth the attention. They feel like filler, and every time there is a pivot away from the main story of a high-profile murder, the story drags.

I’ve always been a fan of David E. Kelley’s law shows like The Practice, Boston Legal, and Ally McBeal, but when challenged with the longer form, (see Goliath, which is better than this one) he seems to have to stretch his story out.  That’s fine when you’ve got great acting (see Billy Bob Thornton) building a compelling character, but here there’s a lack of charisma.  In other words, Matthew McConaughey ain’t walking through those courtroom doors.  Slow, plodding, and deliberate. and just not paced for my taste.

Media Captures - April/May

Top Gun:  Maverick – 10

I’ve probably hired close to a thousand people as a manager.  Maybe 10 or 15 delivered the total package of commitment.  They gave everything they had to their job.  They brought focus and intensity every single day to the task at hand.  You didn’t have to give them much direction.  You knew, and they knew what they were there for.  Those people are too-rare treasures.

Which brings me to Tom Cruise.  I just laugh at the on-line hatred I see.  Yes, he’s made some very public missteps.  He’s got three ex-wives out there.  His religion is a little kooky, but aren’t they all?  He has a problem with couches, jumping on them, or ridiculing a profession that uses a couch as an analysis tool.  Didn’t like Matt Lauer (who’s sorry now?)  So, he’s made some missteps.  But man does he commit to his profession.  Nine out of ten times he delivers an incredible movie.  (Yea, The Mummy was a disaster.)  He’s a real movie star, maybe the last we’ll ever see like this.  His preparation, his stunts, his treatment of co-workers, his thoroughness, are all legendary.  He is praised through-out the industry.  His commitment to his craft is evident in every frame of his new movie.

In Top Gun:  Maverick, he resurrects his character from 36 years ago, Pete Mitchell, a Navy pilot who is way more comfortable in the air than on the ground.  He is still just a Captain because of a little problem with authority. Ok, he couldn’t follow directions to get across the street.

So, by now you’re wondering, is this movie any good?  It’s terrific.  It uses all the tools in 21^st century movie making that are available.  It packs the screen with action, movement, personality, and humor.  I saw it in Imax, and I’d like to go back to see it twice more there.  Once in the front row, and once farther back and higher.  If you’re going to wait to see it streaming, you’re making a big mistake.  Not only is it good to be back in a theater.  It’s essential for this.  Cruise isn’t just resurrecting a character here.  He may be saving movie theaters.

Mav is now a test pilot for the Navy.  He starts off pushing a new fighter jet, and the movie is off and running.  Yes, it gets a little hokey at times, (that Top Gun dong) and they go out of their way with flashbacks to make sure you’re up to speed if you didn’t see the original.  Go back and watch it first if you haven’t.  You probably have though, since if you didn’t see it, you’re probably pretty young, and unlikely to be reading this.

Pete has a multitude of ground relationships that are troubled.  First, there’s the son of his late navigator, call-sign “Goose”.  Miles Teller is perfect as “Rooster” and presumably will someday be the father of “Duckling.”  Then there’s the radiant Jennifer Connolly as the radiant Penny Benjamin, who fortunately for the writers, has had a previous relationship with Mitchell, and appears to be waiting for his return, because she owns “the bar” and conveniently has no love interest when Pete walks into her gin joint.  Her lack of a boyfriend is probably the most unrealistic part of the movie, but there’s only so much you can cram into an action picture, so the rekindling is pretty easy, and let’s face it, they are easy on the eyes,

Maverick has been called back to train some previous Top Guns for an impossible mission.  No one thinks he can do it, and yet “Ice,” his former rival, now Admiral Ice, played by Val Kilmer, knows he’s the only one that can.  We’re in the cockpit for thrilling training sequences and a mission that will require a series of miracles.  For the final miracle Mav has to tap his inner Ethan Hunt, but I quibble.  This is just great movie making. It’s immersive and enthralling.

So, is this movie Oscar-worthy?  Absolutely, and if theater owners had the vote, it would be a slam dunk. 

Go.

Some Ancillary Comments:

This was released fittingly for Memorial Day Weekend.  Goose may have been a fictional character, but you can let him represent the many who have died furthering the American ideal, some even in training exercises.

Also, we don’t often get a glimpse of where our tax dollars go in the military.  If you hate paying taxes, at least appreciate that it gets us moving toward Mach 10, if we ever need to go.

Lastly, if you have been a boycotter/hater of Tom Cruise and this has maybe opened your mind a little, check out the Mission Impossible Movies.  They get better and better, and the last one, Fallout, is in my opinion, the best action film ever.  Tom Cruise is our biggest action star, and it’s not special effects where he shoots rays out of his hand.  He makes movie magic almost believable.  I don’t know anybody who isn’t a little kooky, so its just my opinion but his dedication to movie making should be celebrated.  I love movies, and I’m a big fan of his team and their commitment to entertaining us.

Wind River – 10

Every once in a while, a movie that you know nothing about sneaks up on you and sucker punches you.  Wind River is such a movie.  In retrospect, it shouldn’t have.  It was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, now the showrunner of Yellowstone, so if you are a fan of that series, you’ll love this movie.  But even if you’re not, get ready.  How did I find it?  I was reading a movie blog talking about great movies of the past few years, and there was a guy listing all these movies I like, and he then says his favorite movie of the last 20 years was Wind River.  So, I bit.

Jeremy Renner plays a game tracker for US Fish & Wildlife in Wyoming who finds a dead body that he recognizes.  A rookie FBI agent played by Elizabeth Olson flies in from Las Vegas to investigate.  Their relationship as they investigate is the centerpiece of the movie.  It’s real and honest.  She knows she is out of her depth and needs his help.  There’s none of that artificial friction that you see so often.  It soon becomes apparent that there’s going to be a showdown, and let’s just say that when it comes, it makes the gunfight at the OK Corral look like child’s play.  What a simple, direct, terrific movie.  I can’t wait to watch it again.

The Worst Person in the World – 9

This is a subtitled Norwegian movie that somehow got itself nominated for a screenplay Oscar last year.  So, the script has to be special, right?  Well, it is brilliant in that it examines a young lady, Julie played by an amazing Renate Reinsve, and doesn’t make it obvious why she’s the title character.  It sinks in slowly.  So, for me the script was brilliant, the acting was phenomenal, and the execution was flawless.  The comedy as she bounces from job to job and lover to lover, never happy with her circumstance in either, perfectly captures the central dilemma that many have in life.  

Be warned, this is not an easy watch as Julie's actions at time are difficult to stomach.  It's like watching a friend make mistake after mistake, leaving hurt in their wake.  

Old – 7

M. Night Shyamalan is at it again.  This time fascinating and aggravating me at the same time, as he often does.  A pretty cool story of tourists gathering on a beach that are suddenly aging at an alarming rate, and some of the things that entails.  There are interesting developments, but unfortunately M has to come up with an ending, which ends up being a blatant rip-off of another movie, which I won’t mention here.  It’s one you probably haven’t seen, so you may find this fascinating.  I didn’t.  The Journey proved better than the destination but isn’t that fairly common?

KIMI – 6

Director Steven Soderbergh has taken to shooting and editing films with an iphone, and sometimes the material deserves better.  Zoe Kravitz, whom I now love because of the series High Fidelity, deserves better.  Watch that, not this.

Kravitz plays an agoraphobic with a very cool Seattle apartment who works from home listening in on Alexa-like misfires (we’ve been there, and there usually pretty funny) and thinks she’s heard some foul play.  So, it’s like an audio Rear Window.  Soderbergh runs the Hitchcock playbook and seriously, can’t he be a little more creative?  Oh, well.  Misfire.  They can’t all be great.

Ricky Gervais:  Supernature - 8

I don’t think anyone pushes the boundaries of comedy as far as Ricky Gervais, and his latest stand up special on Netflix has him in all kinds of hot water with the LGBTQ community and I can assure you he doesn’t care.  I doubt we’ll see any apologies. 

After the recent Dave Chappell flap over similar subjects, and protests from Netflix employees, Netlflix management (in what may have been a cost-cutting move) told their employees, “if you don’t like it, quit.”  So much for corporate censorship. 

Thus, this one-hour special is more gasp-inducing, than laugh inducing.  Proceed with caution.  I liked it.  You may not. 

We Own This City – 10

It’s not a sequel to the Wire (maybe the greatest series ever) but it sure feels like one for HBO.

I fell in love with Baltimore during my 8 years there, but then I didn’t go where the police have to go in this drama that takes place after The Freddy Gray incident.  This series tears apart the corruption and brutality of law enforcement in this city and weighs it against those who are trying to check it. 

This is enthralling, heart breaking television.  And they nail the accents.  Is this all true?  It seems to be. The names aren’t changed to protect anybody. Jon Bernthal gives an incredible performance as Wayne Jenkins, the policeman running The Gun Trace Task Force for his personal gain.  This will entertain and appall you while inducing more gasps than Ricky Gervais could ever hope to do.  

 

All the Old Knives – 5

Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton are CIA agents and former lovers trying to dissect a day in the life of being a spy, when somebody betrayed somebody in their past.    Frankly, this movie kept putting me to sleep.  Didn’t buy it, didn’t care.  

DOCUMENTARIES

George Carlin’s American Dream – 10

I have been a monster fan of George Carlin since his very first album and probably memorized his first four or five albums completely, while you just memorized the 7 words you can never say on television. 

You didn’t get arrested for saying them, and you didn’t lose at the Supreme Court level.  George did and boundaries were pushed. 

His insightful comedy has held up very well over the years.  Clips dot the internet as do quotes, some not really his.  There’s just no comedian that has ever had the impact he had.  He loved words.  He knew how to dissect them, and make fun of them.

This documentary is nearly 4 hours over 2 parts on HBO.  My pet peeve with Director Judd Apatow is usually that he doesn't know when to stop.  His movies are usually an hour too long. But his thoroughness here merits the 4, as he digs into George''s life, habits, and drug use in great detail. And toward the end he doesn’t dodge the central question that many ask.  What would George say about the world today?  He answers it with a brilliant montage of events.  It elevates what has been an outstanding portrait to high achievement.  The way George would have wanted it.

Like A Rolling Stone:  The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres – 8

For someone who loves rock n roll as much as I do, you’d think I’d have read Rolling Stone religiously.  I haven’t.  Very rarely in fact.  That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the magazine’s  place in history.  I do.

Ben Fong-Torres was their famous writer/editor whom I know best from his cameo in “Almost Famous.”  Shame on me.  But, now I know much more about him and his famous interviews, how he is revered in the rock community, and most interestingly about the lives of his family as Chinese immigrants and their journey.  This in not a thrilling documentary, but it sure is revealing. 

Hemingway - 10

In the face of surgical recuperation, I finally finished the Ken Burns examination of Ernest Hemingway.  Wouldn’t expect anything less than excellence from Ken and once again, he delivers an intimate and thorough portrait.  Made me wish I substituted great books for great movies in my late-night, can’t sleep activities.  Maybe someday.


Sheryl – 9

Just when I was about to cancel Showtime, they roll out a nice documentary recap of the life and career of Sheryl Crow.  Love her, love her music, love her story.  Got to see her at Jazz Fest once, and thoroughly enjoyed her performance. She’s one of those people I’d like to have dinner with (3 hours at Arnaud’s please) where I could first pepper her with questions, then thank her for doing her part to keep rock from dying.

From her growing up in a loving household that loved music, to her battles with her first group, there’s little left out.  Crow is such a willing participant it sometimes feels like a whitewash.  But, I’m so grateful for her, I can live with that.

The Way Down:  Part Two - 9

Speaking of kooky religions, HBO was forced to commission a follow-up documentary when the first examination of a cult was punctuated by the death of the founder in a mysterious plane crash.  So, upon further examination of the crash, and the subsequent tenuous continuation of the cult, let's freak everybody out some more.  No surprises here.  Cults are here.  They’re not going anywhere.

 
CLASSICS/OLDIES

The 400 Blows – 9

Perched at # 39 on Sight and Sounds top films, for some reason this is a movie I have put off seeing for probably 40 years.  I shouldn’t have.  It’s a Fellini classic about a young street urchin, whose life spirals downward.  A straightforward story, there’s no happy ending here.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - 9

This is # 177 on the Sight And Sound poll.  It's a wonderful, colorful musical, that is very hard to appreciate.  The movie is in French, every word is sung, and thus it's all subtitled.  Imagine if you only spoke spanish and were watching The Sound of Music.  It's a tough watch because you are not able to understand the melody of the lyrics.  But, its greatness is obvious and I wished I'd taken my French class more seriously. 

Black Narcissus – 2

This is # 163 on Sight and Sound’s Top 250 movies of all time.  I have to confess, I have no idea why.  Yes the sets are stunning.  Beyond that I have no idea what this is about.  I didn’t get it.  I didn’t like it.  I don’t know what the movie was trying to tell me.  I didn’t understand the story.  I didn’t like much of anything about it.  The directors Michael Powell and Eric Pressburg have several entries in the top 250, and The Red Shoes was stunning, so I’ll try them again.  But this movie went farther over my head that Elon Musk does.  No, just no.

The Great Meals

After almost 40 years of serious restaurant eating, thought it might be time to name our all-time favorites.  And I'll be updating this page from time to time.  Here goes:

Top 10 Favorite Meals (alphabetically):

Arnaud’s, New Orleans
Brigtsen’s, New Orleans
Carnegie Deli, NYC (closed)
Il Mulino’s – NYC
Inn at Little Washington, Virginia
Galatoire’s, New Orleans
LeRuth’s, Gretna LA (closed)
Le Bernadin, NYC
The Prime Rib - Baltimore
Tra Vigne, Napa Valley (closed)

 

 

Favorite Restaurant Dish:

Italian Oysters, Mosca’s, Westwego LA
Roast Duck, Brigtsen’s NOLA
Paneed Trout Eatery, Trapani's Bay St Louis MS

Favorite Restaurant Dish (Chain):
Veal Copeland and Shrimp Ducky, Copelands
Pollo Rosa Maria, Carrabba's

 

Favorite Appetizer:

Smoked Pompano, Arnaud’s
Shrimp Remoulade, Galatoire's
Butternut Shrimp Bisque, Brigtsen's
Turtle Soup, and Gumbo, many locations

 

Favorite Pizza:

Mama Rosa’s, NOLA (closed)
Gino’s East - Chicago
Any by the slice – NYC
Tony’s Brick Oven Pizza, Gulfport MS

Favorite Roast Beef Po-Boy:

The French Loaf, Houma LA (Closed)
Liuzza’s by the Track, NOLA
Mother’s NOLA
Parkway Tavern NOLA

All my favorite Roast Beef Po-Boys, ranked 

FAVORITE OYSTERS

Fried Oysters:
Bozo’s, Metairie (Closed)
Crabby Jacks NOLA
Hook, Pass Christian MS

Grilled Oysters
Drago’s, Metairie, LA
Half Shell Oyster House, Gulfport

Raw Oysters
Bozo’s, Metairie LA (closed)
Drago’s, Metairie LA

FAVORITE SHRIMP

Fried Shrimp

The Front Porch, Pass Christian MS
Dempsey's, Kiln MS
The Friendship House Biloxi (Closed)
Bozo's, Metairie (Closed)
Hook, Pass Christian MS

Fried Shrimp Po-boy:

Galley Seafood, Metairie
Parkway Tavern, New Orleans
Peck’s Seafood, Slidell

BBQ Shrimp

Hook, Pass Christian MS

Rosedale, NOLA
Mr. B’s NOLA
Pascal Manale’s NOLA
Ye Old College Inn  NOLA

Shrimp Remoulade

Galatoire’s NOLA
Arnaud’s NOLA
Mandina’s NOLA
Deanie’s on Haynes NOLA

STEAK

Steak House:

The Prime Rib, Baltimore
Charlie’s Steak House NOLA
Steve Fields, Plano TX
The Palm
Bones, Atlanta

Steak Au Poivre:
The Prime Rib
Capital Grill, Washington DC

Prime Rib:
The Prime Rib, Baltimore/Washington
Victoria Station (closed)
The Rib Room, NOLA

 

Favorite Salad:

Sabatino’s, Baltimore
Charlie’s Steak House, NOLA
Tony’s Brick Oven Pizza, Gulfport
Bywater American Bistro, NOLA

CR Sarducci, Gulfport

The Chimneys, Gulfport

Favorite Veal Parmigiana:
Brigtsen’s, NOLA
Sabatino’s, Baltimore
Adolfo’s NOLA

Favorite Fried Chicken:

Annie’s, Pass Christian, MS (closed)
Willie Mae’s Scotch House. NOLA
Mr. Ed’s. Metairie LA
Popeye’s

Favorite Onion Rings:

Charlie’s Steak House NOLA
Red Hot & Blue
Rivershack Tavern, NOLA
Peck’s Seafood, Slidell
Russell's Marina Grill, NOLA

Favorite Turtle Soup:
Commander’s Palace NOLA
The Bon Ton, NOLA (closed)
Mandina’s. NOLA

Favorite Trout:
Paneed Trout Eatery, Trapani’s, Bay St. Louis MS
Trout Almondine, Mandina’s NOLA
Trout Almondine, Arnaud’s NOLA
Trout Almondine, Galatoire’s NOLA
 

 

Favorite French Fries:

Liuzza’s by the Track, NOLA

Favorite Bread Pudding:

The Bon Ton Café (closed)
Commander’s Palace NOLA
Mulates, NOLA

Favorite Traditional Italian:
Il Mulino NYC
Sabatino’s Baltimore
Impastato’s Metairie
Perry’s, Ft Walton (closed)
Gio's Chicken Amalfitano (Atlanta)

Favorite Jambalaya

K-Paul’s (Closed)
Mother’s, NOLA
Coop’s, NOLA

Favorite Gumbo

Station 6, NOLA
Brigtsen's, NOLA
The Gumbo Shop. NOLA
Mary Mahoney’s, Biloxi
Beau Rivage, Biloxi

Favorite Sandwich

Ferdi, Mother’s NOLA
Cheesesteak, Pat’s King of Steaks Philadelphia
Muffaletta, Central Grocery NOLA
Rare Roast Beef, Carnegie Deli, NYC

Favorite Hamburger
The Company Burger, NOLA
In N Out Burger, Los Angeles
The Project Lounge, Biloxi

Favorite Jazz Fest Eats:
Soft-Shell Crab Po-Boy
Crawfish Monica
Couchon De Lait Po-Boy
Quail & Pheasant Gumbo

All My Favorite New Orleans Dinner Restaurants, ranked
a work in progress.

Favorite Crabcake:
Angelina’s, Baltimore (closed)
Clyde's, Washington

Favorite MS Gulf Coast Restaurants:
Hook, Pass Christian
Vestige, Ocean Springs
Trapani's, Bay St. Louis
Sicilian II, Biloxi
The Chimneys, Gulfport

Favorite Dessert:|

Cherries Jubilee, anytime it’s available
Bananas Foster, Brennan’s, NOLA
Cannoli, Angelo Brocato’s, NOLA
Bread Puddling Souffle, Commander’s Palace, NOLA
Ice Cream, Creole Creamery, NOLA & Bay St. Louis MS