Source Code – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Cool Science Fiction
b. Time travel
c. Ground Hog Day
Easily the best movie so far this year, which is not yet saying much, Source Code is the story of a supposedly dead soldier who is sent back in time to inhabit a man’s DNA right before a terrorist attack. The story becomes Inception meets Ground Hog Day as he must go back over and over to learn who the terrorist is and then prevent the destruction. It’s the bland Jake Gyllenhaal in the Bill Murray role here.
The best thing about this movie is the pace. There’s no dawdling in needless detail. The action and the revelations come quickly and there’s no wasted action. If, like me, your patience with two and a half hour blockbusters has worn thin, this is the movie for you. It’s wham, bam, boom, then do it again, with steroids. Cool stuff.
Hanna – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Foreign movies
b. Cate Blanchett out of character
c. A new star
Hanna – no sisters, thank goodness. Sequels, yes. Sisters, no.
This is a mildly interesting movie shot in a Euro style at a much slower pace than the previews would suggest. Some shots linger strangely, almost laboriously, and the pace of the movie is just odd. At times it slows to such a crawl that you want to doze off. Then suddenly the action breaks out. Strangely edited.
The story is about a young woman, played convincingly by Saorise Ronan, raised in the wild by her mysterious father, apparently an in-hiding former CIA agent. He teaches her survival and assassin skills as she grows up, and when she’s ready she’s on a mission to kill Cate Blanchett. Wait. Cate Blanchett? Seems there’s all kinds of unfinished business between the three of them and let’s just say that things end in a sequel-worthy fashion, and my guess is that a female action series is Bourne.
Water for Elephants – 5
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. The Circus
b. Snoring
c. Love Stories
I’ll admit it. I was really tired when I slumped into my front row seat. However, this movie did nothing to keep me awake. The most entertaining part of this movie is trying to guess Reese Witherspoon’s body fat count. I didn’t think people were this skinny in the thirties, even during the depression. Girl, Please. Have a donut.
This is a slow paced love story. Now I’m all for character development, but Reese’s love interest, as played by Robert Pattinson, comes off as such a wimp that he sucks the life out of the movie, as if he were a camera vampire. He’s un-heroic to say the least, boring to say the most.
As much as I like Reese, the best acting in the movie is done by the circus animals. The whole story is telegraphed, and while I’m sure it was a good book, it should have been a lifetime movie, then I could have slept on the couch.
Christoph Walz solidifies his role as a baddie, lighting up the screen with his cruelty. Unfortunately, there are parts of the story that are so foreign to us (throwing people off trains) that even though they may have occurred in the depression, we just can’t relate. I guess it’s one of those movies you’ll either love it or hate it, and you’ll probably know that before you hand over your cash.
The Lincoln Lawyer – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Legal drama
b. Matthew McConaughey
c. Bad guys
This is a better-than-expected legal drama. Matthew McConaughey, (shirt off count – once) operates out of his Lincoln as an ambulance chaser of sorts. He finds himself over his head in one case.
This is one of those movies where if you saw the previews, they gave too much away, like who the bad guys are. Too bad, because it’s nicely done and could have yielded some nice surprises, if they’d been a surprise to me. Maybe you will be surprised. Don’t watch any previews, just the movie.
SCANNING THE SATELLITE
Rarely get involved in TV series anymore, they’re just too time consuming. But, if you like legal drama, here’s a Tip of the hat to a great one. If you’re not watching The Good Wife on CBS, you’re missing some great television. WAIT - don’t start watching now. The season is ending.
The story is set in Chicago. The Good Wife, Alicia, played incredibly by Julianna Marguilles (some people are just made for the small screen) has to go back to work as a lawyer after raising a family because her husband, a district attorney, has been caught up in a political scandal.
Turns out she’s a brilliant lawyer.
The behind the scenes legal drama, generally a case a week, is fascinating. Not just a courtroom drama, it’s often a deposition drama – and that’s new to me.
Some shows are so well-written they're stunning. The "Facebook" episode this year was in my top ten of all time. Can't wait to see it again.
The on-going political drama, this is Chicago after all, is equally riveting. The secondary characters, Kalinda the investigator, and Carey the prosecutor have emerged as two of the most enthralling on television. Even the kids and their problems are unique. Stars are being born.
The second season is about to end. Don’t watch or you’ll ruin an incredible story line. You’ve got the summer to crank up the DVD player and catch up before the third season begins. This has slowly evolved into a great show.
Next. Why has American Idol been so good this year? First, the talent. All the singers have been great, although America’s voting doesn’t always parallel what’s on the screen. Who cares? The production values show off each song to the hilt, and the rehearsals aptly nail each song down, resulting in some great renditions.
Secondly, the Judges. Stephen Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were great casting decisions. Who’d a thunk it? The absence of Simon Cowell has turned out to be a plus, as he worn thin in the last few years. Don’t miss him one bit. If you haven’t been watching it, just DVR it. Our DVR is a Secrest-eliminator. Takes you right to the singing.
Finally, cool movie on HBO. Cinema Verite is the story of the Louds, the subject of the first reality show. Ground-breaking in the early 70’s, the Louds and their 5 kids provided more drama than was expected when their son came out of the closet and they broke up. All on camera. Well done, with great use of 70’s music. Any time a movie uses Blind Faith, I’m all in.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
At the Cinema - February 2011
The Mechanic – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Jason Statham
b. Mindless Action
c. New Orleans’ locales
This movie is a remake of an old Charles Bronson flick, and it’s not bad. It’s diversionary action on a Saturday afternoon.
A Mechanic is a killer for hire. When mechanic Statham takes on a protégé, the son of his mentor whom he had to murder, the inevitable conclusion is that one is going to have to kill the other. There’s proper mayhem in between and as long as you don’t take it too seriously, you’ll have some fun.
The Adjustment Bureau – 2
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Matt Damon
b. Emily Blunt
c. Romantic chemistry
Unfortunately, the charisma and chemistry of the two stars can’t save this silly whisp of a movie.
What could have been an interesting premise falls flat. The premise is that there is a higher power mapping out everyone’s lives and when love upsets the apple cart it’s time to send in the adjusters. This dilemma gets resolved when the stars run from the adjusters (identified by the hats they wear) and everyone gets transported all over Manhattan by running through doors that open to unexpected places. Sorry, it gets laughable after awhile and the pearly whites of the stars can’t save the script. This might have been a better TV show, just get rid of the “door” concept. Captain Kirk can give you some “transporter” alternatives.
Conviction – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Stories of persistence
b. Hillary Swank
c. Lawyer stuff
This is a better story than it is a movie. Hillary plays real-life heroine Betty Anne Waters who obsessively spends 18 years going to college, then law school to fight the unjust murder conviction of her brother, played by Sam Rockwell. They’re both compelling and convincing as the outcasts of another dysfunctional family.
People have fundamental fears. One of them has to be a wrongful conviction. You’re thrown in jail. Who on the outside is going to work hard to save you? Or would you just rot? Imagine.
Great question, but here it seems hard for two hours to cover and condense the 18 years. There seems to be a lot left out, like where’s the rest of the family? Why does Betty Anne get divorced? Why are those pesky Boston accents so distracting?
Google it all and you’ll find that the movie bales on “the rest of the story” and I’ll just let you be the judge. It’s an earnest depiction, but it’s just not as compelling as the real story is. Probably a good book, not a great movie.
SCANNING THE SATELLITE
Prompted by this Rotten Tomatoes Ranking:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_of_the_best_pictures/
I’m determined to catch all the Best Picture Winners I’ve missed. The Oscars were pretty boring this year. In the same way that scientific polling has taken the mystery out of most elections, the Oscars have become too predictable thanks to all the surveying they do of the membership. Casting an Oscar nominee as a host who appeared to still be stuck in his movie, didn’t help. Oh well. Time to check out past winners.
First Up:
On The Waterfront – 10
No matter how many times I’ve seen the ending, and the famous “coulda been a contender” taxi cab scene I’d never seen the whole movie. I recently caught it on the new SONY HD channel on Directv. It lives up to its billing, first for the amazing performance of Marlon Brando, secondly for great raw story telling. Now it stands as a historical document of how hard some Americans, in this case dock workers, had to fight for the worker’s rights we take for granted now. Great stuff.
Some day I’ll get to do my ranking.
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Jason Statham
b. Mindless Action
c. New Orleans’ locales
This movie is a remake of an old Charles Bronson flick, and it’s not bad. It’s diversionary action on a Saturday afternoon.
A Mechanic is a killer for hire. When mechanic Statham takes on a protégé, the son of his mentor whom he had to murder, the inevitable conclusion is that one is going to have to kill the other. There’s proper mayhem in between and as long as you don’t take it too seriously, you’ll have some fun.
The Adjustment Bureau – 2
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Matt Damon
b. Emily Blunt
c. Romantic chemistry
Unfortunately, the charisma and chemistry of the two stars can’t save this silly whisp of a movie.
What could have been an interesting premise falls flat. The premise is that there is a higher power mapping out everyone’s lives and when love upsets the apple cart it’s time to send in the adjusters. This dilemma gets resolved when the stars run from the adjusters (identified by the hats they wear) and everyone gets transported all over Manhattan by running through doors that open to unexpected places. Sorry, it gets laughable after awhile and the pearly whites of the stars can’t save the script. This might have been a better TV show, just get rid of the “door” concept. Captain Kirk can give you some “transporter” alternatives.
Conviction – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Stories of persistence
b. Hillary Swank
c. Lawyer stuff
This is a better story than it is a movie. Hillary plays real-life heroine Betty Anne Waters who obsessively spends 18 years going to college, then law school to fight the unjust murder conviction of her brother, played by Sam Rockwell. They’re both compelling and convincing as the outcasts of another dysfunctional family.
People have fundamental fears. One of them has to be a wrongful conviction. You’re thrown in jail. Who on the outside is going to work hard to save you? Or would you just rot? Imagine.
Great question, but here it seems hard for two hours to cover and condense the 18 years. There seems to be a lot left out, like where’s the rest of the family? Why does Betty Anne get divorced? Why are those pesky Boston accents so distracting?
Google it all and you’ll find that the movie bales on “the rest of the story” and I’ll just let you be the judge. It’s an earnest depiction, but it’s just not as compelling as the real story is. Probably a good book, not a great movie.
SCANNING THE SATELLITE
Prompted by this Rotten Tomatoes Ranking:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_of_the_best_pictures/
I’m determined to catch all the Best Picture Winners I’ve missed. The Oscars were pretty boring this year. In the same way that scientific polling has taken the mystery out of most elections, the Oscars have become too predictable thanks to all the surveying they do of the membership. Casting an Oscar nominee as a host who appeared to still be stuck in his movie, didn’t help. Oh well. Time to check out past winners.
First Up:
On The Waterfront – 10
No matter how many times I’ve seen the ending, and the famous “coulda been a contender” taxi cab scene I’d never seen the whole movie. I recently caught it on the new SONY HD channel on Directv. It lives up to its billing, first for the amazing performance of Marlon Brando, secondly for great raw story telling. Now it stands as a historical document of how hard some Americans, in this case dock workers, had to fight for the worker’s rights we take for granted now. Great stuff.
Some day I’ll get to do my ranking.
Monday, January 31, 2011
At The Cinema - January 2011
The Kings Speech – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Great Acting
b. British dramas
c. History
The King’s Speech is the current darling of the awards circuit.
It is one of those British productions that feature great acting, terrific writing, incredible sets, historical detail, and wonderful direction. It is about as well done as you can do a movie.
So, why didn’t I like it more?
It never fired.
That’s a description you see in The Racing form for a horse that never engages in the race.
To me, as well done as the movie is, it just kind of sits there. I doubt that I could sit through it again. I love being transported to a different place and time, but this trip is like visiting Bellingrath Gardens. You know it’s beautiful, but you’d rather be home watching the game. Any Game.
I guess one of my problems with it is that it reveals how stupid the idea of a British Monarchy is. I know the British love their royalty, but why? Colin Firth, who is a lock, deservedly, to win every Best Actor award given this year, shows that his King Edward was so out of touch with the people, he makes U.S. politicians look totally engaged. Remember when George H. W. Bush didn’t know the price of milk. Believe me, that’s nothing. British royalty has probably never seen a milk carton. Milk is poured for them from the day they’re born from some crystal piece probably worth more than my house. I couldn’t help but wonder how a country puts up with leaders that are born to their role, rather than earn it. While we’re bitching about expensive trips our President takes, Prince Charles has 200 servants, and he’s not even King yet. He’s King in Waiting, for 60 pampered years now. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are. How and when Great Britain transitioned to a parliament, reducing the role of the monarchy – that’s a movie I’d like to see.
Everybody I know loves this movie, so don’t let me discourage you. It really is well done. It’s on a roll, picking up “Best Picture” steam approaching the Oscars. It looks like it’s going to overtake The Social Network, which has been the favorite since the day it came out.
So, here’s my prediction. The King’s Speech will win, then it will join such movies as Out of Africa, The English Patient, and The Last Emperor, never to be heard from again.
Red – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Bruce Willis
b. Old farts like Bruce Willis
c. Neat action
As far fetched as most action movies are, this one is better than I expected. The CIA decides to eliminate its retired assassins for reasons that don’t really matter, and fun and games begin. Filled with old pros, the movie moves along briskly and smartly and you’ll have fun, as long as you take it about as seriously as Bruce Willis takes it.
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Great Acting
b. British dramas
c. History
The King’s Speech is the current darling of the awards circuit.
It is one of those British productions that feature great acting, terrific writing, incredible sets, historical detail, and wonderful direction. It is about as well done as you can do a movie.
So, why didn’t I like it more?
It never fired.
That’s a description you see in The Racing form for a horse that never engages in the race.
To me, as well done as the movie is, it just kind of sits there. I doubt that I could sit through it again. I love being transported to a different place and time, but this trip is like visiting Bellingrath Gardens. You know it’s beautiful, but you’d rather be home watching the game. Any Game.
I guess one of my problems with it is that it reveals how stupid the idea of a British Monarchy is. I know the British love their royalty, but why? Colin Firth, who is a lock, deservedly, to win every Best Actor award given this year, shows that his King Edward was so out of touch with the people, he makes U.S. politicians look totally engaged. Remember when George H. W. Bush didn’t know the price of milk. Believe me, that’s nothing. British royalty has probably never seen a milk carton. Milk is poured for them from the day they’re born from some crystal piece probably worth more than my house. I couldn’t help but wonder how a country puts up with leaders that are born to their role, rather than earn it. While we’re bitching about expensive trips our President takes, Prince Charles has 200 servants, and he’s not even King yet. He’s King in Waiting, for 60 pampered years now. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are. How and when Great Britain transitioned to a parliament, reducing the role of the monarchy – that’s a movie I’d like to see.
Everybody I know loves this movie, so don’t let me discourage you. It really is well done. It’s on a roll, picking up “Best Picture” steam approaching the Oscars. It looks like it’s going to overtake The Social Network, which has been the favorite since the day it came out.
So, here’s my prediction. The King’s Speech will win, then it will join such movies as Out of Africa, The English Patient, and The Last Emperor, never to be heard from again.
Red – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Bruce Willis
b. Old farts like Bruce Willis
c. Neat action
As far fetched as most action movies are, this one is better than I expected. The CIA decides to eliminate its retired assassins for reasons that don’t really matter, and fun and games begin. Filled with old pros, the movie moves along briskly and smartly and you’ll have fun, as long as you take it about as seriously as Bruce Willis takes it.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Saints Report # 17 - January 8, 2011
If there is one thing Saints fans weren't accustomed to it was January fun.
Last year they got spoiled during the Saints' magical season
This year they had a mystical season and it came to an end abruptly when they traveled to Seattle and got trounced by what many thought was the worst NFL playoff team ever. The Seahawks 41 – 36 victory was a shocker to many, but not to those who watched this Saints team struggle all year to find last year’s formula.
Other than the fact that Reggie Bush failed to show up when the Saints needed him most, the offense held up its end of the bargain. Scoring 36 points when you’re essentially down to your eighth running back of the year and he just got off the bus should be enough to win. Drew Brees made a valiant effort, throwing a ridiculous 60 passes, completing 39 for 404 yards. Some strange play calls on short yardage short circuited the point production, but the bottom line is that when your quarterback sets a post season record for completions, you should win.
Which brings us to the defense. They didn’t make the trip.
Start with the play of the two safeties. Roman Harper had a horrible game. He was out of position most of the time. Darren Sharper was two steps slow the whole game and never provided the help that was needed. Retirement, and hopefully the Hall of Fame await Darren after an awesome career.
From the moment Malcolm Jenkins went out with a knee injury early in the Tampa loss in the last regular season game, the Saints tackling turned to mush. Marshawn Lynch’s classic 4th quarter run was symptomatic of the way the Saints played for the last eight quarters of the season. The defense had been stellar for the most part all year until it disappeared in January.
Covering people in the NFL is difficult for even the best defensive backs. But there was little coverage in evidence Saturday. Receivers were so wide open that they could have called for a fair catch on some of Matt Hasselback’s throws.
Is Malcolm Jenkins really that good?
We knew going in the Saints would miss Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas, but Brees compensated for them. No such luck on defense. The Saints didn’t blitz and didn’t appear to have the right game plan to slow down the Seahawks. Worse, they never seemed to adjust.
Is Courtney Roby really that good?
Did the Saints ever make it to the 20 with a kick return? Other than after the first kick went out of bounds, Brees never got much in the way of field position. News flash – Devery Henderson and Robert Meachum aren’t kick returners. They looked scared to death.
So, the Saints go down to an embarrassing defeat. Let the shopping begin.
There are many priorities going into the off-season, but here are just a few.
1. Pass Rush – The Saints rely on the blitz to pressure quarterbacks, and pressure from the front four would be nice for a change. Most teams have defensive ends with 12.5 sacks – ours have 4. A pass-rushing end would be huge.
2. Running Backs – Versatile Pierre Thomas will be a free agent. Chris Ivory hasn’t proven he can stay on the field. Reggie Bush will be released if he won’t renegotiate. The Saints desperately need, and have needed for years, a big bruising short yardage back like a Brandon Jacobs. It’s obvious that you can’t have enough running backs and the proposed 18 game schedule is only going to make things worse.
3. Outside Linebackers – The Saints missed Scott Fujita more than they ever would have dreamed. Speed needed desperately. The Saints couldn’t cover tight ends and backs (just like most teams). Could we order up a superstar outside linebacker please?
4. Defensive Backs – Just like running backs, you can’t have too many, not in the pass-happy NFL. Greer and Porter were victimized by big, physical receivers, so a little height in the secondary would be welcome.
The good news for the Saints is that they have one thing only about 10 teams have – a proven quarterback. They need to go all out to reload around him. The window of opportunity will close in a few years, and only one trip to the Super Bowl with a QB the caliber of Brees would be a shame.
So no wasted draft picks this year. (Sean Canfield?). Shore up the defense and special teams and make another run next year. The division is going to get even tougher, as Tampa Bay improves and Carolina picks a quarterback.
Saints fans want January to be fun again.
Last year they got spoiled during the Saints' magical season
This year they had a mystical season and it came to an end abruptly when they traveled to Seattle and got trounced by what many thought was the worst NFL playoff team ever. The Seahawks 41 – 36 victory was a shocker to many, but not to those who watched this Saints team struggle all year to find last year’s formula.
Other than the fact that Reggie Bush failed to show up when the Saints needed him most, the offense held up its end of the bargain. Scoring 36 points when you’re essentially down to your eighth running back of the year and he just got off the bus should be enough to win. Drew Brees made a valiant effort, throwing a ridiculous 60 passes, completing 39 for 404 yards. Some strange play calls on short yardage short circuited the point production, but the bottom line is that when your quarterback sets a post season record for completions, you should win.
Which brings us to the defense. They didn’t make the trip.
Start with the play of the two safeties. Roman Harper had a horrible game. He was out of position most of the time. Darren Sharper was two steps slow the whole game and never provided the help that was needed. Retirement, and hopefully the Hall of Fame await Darren after an awesome career.
From the moment Malcolm Jenkins went out with a knee injury early in the Tampa loss in the last regular season game, the Saints tackling turned to mush. Marshawn Lynch’s classic 4th quarter run was symptomatic of the way the Saints played for the last eight quarters of the season. The defense had been stellar for the most part all year until it disappeared in January.
Covering people in the NFL is difficult for even the best defensive backs. But there was little coverage in evidence Saturday. Receivers were so wide open that they could have called for a fair catch on some of Matt Hasselback’s throws.
Is Malcolm Jenkins really that good?
We knew going in the Saints would miss Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas, but Brees compensated for them. No such luck on defense. The Saints didn’t blitz and didn’t appear to have the right game plan to slow down the Seahawks. Worse, they never seemed to adjust.
Is Courtney Roby really that good?
Did the Saints ever make it to the 20 with a kick return? Other than after the first kick went out of bounds, Brees never got much in the way of field position. News flash – Devery Henderson and Robert Meachum aren’t kick returners. They looked scared to death.
So, the Saints go down to an embarrassing defeat. Let the shopping begin.
There are many priorities going into the off-season, but here are just a few.
1. Pass Rush – The Saints rely on the blitz to pressure quarterbacks, and pressure from the front four would be nice for a change. Most teams have defensive ends with 12.5 sacks – ours have 4. A pass-rushing end would be huge.
2. Running Backs – Versatile Pierre Thomas will be a free agent. Chris Ivory hasn’t proven he can stay on the field. Reggie Bush will be released if he won’t renegotiate. The Saints desperately need, and have needed for years, a big bruising short yardage back like a Brandon Jacobs. It’s obvious that you can’t have enough running backs and the proposed 18 game schedule is only going to make things worse.
3. Outside Linebackers – The Saints missed Scott Fujita more than they ever would have dreamed. Speed needed desperately. The Saints couldn’t cover tight ends and backs (just like most teams). Could we order up a superstar outside linebacker please?
4. Defensive Backs – Just like running backs, you can’t have too many, not in the pass-happy NFL. Greer and Porter were victimized by big, physical receivers, so a little height in the secondary would be welcome.
The good news for the Saints is that they have one thing only about 10 teams have – a proven quarterback. They need to go all out to reload around him. The window of opportunity will close in a few years, and only one trip to the Super Bowl with a QB the caliber of Brees would be a shame.
So no wasted draft picks this year. (Sean Canfield?). Shore up the defense and special teams and make another run next year. The division is going to get even tougher, as Tampa Bay improves and Carolina picks a quarterback.
Saints fans want January to be fun again.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saints Report # 16 - January 2, 2011
They say that if you get in a fight hit the other guy in the nose with your first punch. If the nose is broken and bloodied, you’ll quickly find out if your opponent has a taste for further combat. Sunday the New Orleans Saints came into their game with the Tampa Bay Bucs already bloodied. When two of their young stars, Jimmy Graham and Malcolm Jenkins, went down with injuries, the Saints began to realize that with the playoffs ahead, discretion was the better part of valor, and they had no taste for unnecessary combat. They didn’t lie down, but they certainly began to take their foot off the gas, although make no mistake; they weren’t exactly hitting on eight cylinders.
The Bucs continued to show development. With a very young team, Josh Freeman is now the third fine quarterback in the NFC South. With Carolina poised to draft Andrew Luck of Stanford, if he goes into the draft, the NFC South could soon be the best QB conference in the NFL.
The Saints started off fast with an opening touchdown drive culminating in a short pass to Graham which turned out to be his last play of the game. Julius Jones let a fumble and momentum slip away deep in the red zone on a subsequent drive, then a Lance Moore slip on a pass route resulted in a Brees interception on another foray into the red zone. Not exactly the “finishing” that was so prevalent last year. They threw in the towel in the 4th quarter bringing down the curtain on the Superdome (probably) for 2010 with a lackluster 23-13 loss to Tampa Bay.
It was déjà vu all over again as the Saints game 16 performance was a near repeat of their game 15 performance of last year, when, after having spanked Tampa Bay decisively earlier in the year in Tampa, they stunk it up in the dome.
Here’s the good news for the Saints:
Reggie Bush began to show signs of life, rushing for 70 yards and catching passes for 55.
Adrian Arrington showed the promise that fans have been hearing about for years, catching everything thrown his way and filling in capably for Marques Colston.
Junior Galette, and Chase Daniel finally saw some action as well.
Here’s the bad news:
Bush got so many carries because Chris Ivory again failed to stay on the field, getting hurt early, joining Pierre Thomas on the sideline.
Jimmy Graham got hurt early, after a touchdown catch, joining Jeremy Shockley and David Thomas on the sidelines. Suddenly the Saints are short at tight end.
Malcolm Jenkins went down early with a knee injury, and he’s been a bright spot all year on defense.
A special team’s breakdown on a kick return was again of vital importance.
The injury list grew substantially and the Saints don’t have a bye weak to get healthy.
Jabari Greer continues to struggle, as he got out-jumped for both of the Bucs’ touchdown passes.
The Juicy Fruit Genius still operates with a few illusions:
1) No respect for running backs. He thinks he can take a back and just throw him in any time. Julius Jones fumbled on his first carry as the Saints were closing in on a touchdown, and it’s asking an awful lot for a back’s first hit to come at the goal line.
2) That the Saints can throw it constantly, and win any game by flinging it all over the lot. Brees set an NFL record with 448 completions in a season. The question is, why? Why was it necessary?
The Saints finish at 11 – 5, two games worse than last year.
Playoff outlook? The Saints will get their depth tested when they travel to Seattle next Saturday. The Saints have more injuries than at any time in the last few years. By record this shouldn’t be much of a contest, but Saints fans know better. Quest field is a tough place to play, it’s a short week, and nobody expects much from the Seahawks. The Saints have never won a road playoff game. It’s survival week. They’re in the final 12 teams, and have a chance to move to the final 8. It’s quite an achievement, but there’s no way they can be as confident as they were at this time last year.
The Bucs continued to show development. With a very young team, Josh Freeman is now the third fine quarterback in the NFC South. With Carolina poised to draft Andrew Luck of Stanford, if he goes into the draft, the NFC South could soon be the best QB conference in the NFL.
The Saints started off fast with an opening touchdown drive culminating in a short pass to Graham which turned out to be his last play of the game. Julius Jones let a fumble and momentum slip away deep in the red zone on a subsequent drive, then a Lance Moore slip on a pass route resulted in a Brees interception on another foray into the red zone. Not exactly the “finishing” that was so prevalent last year. They threw in the towel in the 4th quarter bringing down the curtain on the Superdome (probably) for 2010 with a lackluster 23-13 loss to Tampa Bay.
It was déjà vu all over again as the Saints game 16 performance was a near repeat of their game 15 performance of last year, when, after having spanked Tampa Bay decisively earlier in the year in Tampa, they stunk it up in the dome.
Here’s the good news for the Saints:
Reggie Bush began to show signs of life, rushing for 70 yards and catching passes for 55.
Adrian Arrington showed the promise that fans have been hearing about for years, catching everything thrown his way and filling in capably for Marques Colston.
Junior Galette, and Chase Daniel finally saw some action as well.
Here’s the bad news:
Bush got so many carries because Chris Ivory again failed to stay on the field, getting hurt early, joining Pierre Thomas on the sideline.
Jimmy Graham got hurt early, after a touchdown catch, joining Jeremy Shockley and David Thomas on the sidelines. Suddenly the Saints are short at tight end.
Malcolm Jenkins went down early with a knee injury, and he’s been a bright spot all year on defense.
A special team’s breakdown on a kick return was again of vital importance.
The injury list grew substantially and the Saints don’t have a bye weak to get healthy.
Jabari Greer continues to struggle, as he got out-jumped for both of the Bucs’ touchdown passes.
The Juicy Fruit Genius still operates with a few illusions:
1) No respect for running backs. He thinks he can take a back and just throw him in any time. Julius Jones fumbled on his first carry as the Saints were closing in on a touchdown, and it’s asking an awful lot for a back’s first hit to come at the goal line.
2) That the Saints can throw it constantly, and win any game by flinging it all over the lot. Brees set an NFL record with 448 completions in a season. The question is, why? Why was it necessary?
The Saints finish at 11 – 5, two games worse than last year.
Playoff outlook? The Saints will get their depth tested when they travel to Seattle next Saturday. The Saints have more injuries than at any time in the last few years. By record this shouldn’t be much of a contest, but Saints fans know better. Quest field is a tough place to play, it’s a short week, and nobody expects much from the Seahawks. The Saints have never won a road playoff game. It’s survival week. They’re in the final 12 teams, and have a chance to move to the final 8. It’s quite an achievement, but there’s no way they can be as confident as they were at this time last year.
Friday, December 31, 2010
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
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
Thursday, December 30, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
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.
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.
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