Away We Go is the 5th film from Director Sam Mendes. Known for American Beauty, Road to Perdition and last years Revolutionary Road which are very dark in tone and content, this is a step away from the norm from him and frankly is a breath of fresh air. Away We Go is the story of Burt, played by John Krasinski (The Office, Leatherheads) and Verona, who are a mid-thirties couple who find out they are going to have their first child. Burt’s parents played by Jeff Daniels (Gettysburg, Speed) and Catherine O’hara (Best in Show, Beetlejuice) decide to move to Belgium a month before the baby is born. Burt and Verona, having no ties to their home town any more, go exploring for the perfect place to raise a family. visiting lots of friends and family across  the country, it is a fun adventure of possibilities.

The performances in the film are all pretty good, but the one surprise performance that stands out is that of Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary). She plays Burt’s cousin and takes the idea of being close as a family to a whole new level, to the point of being creepy. Her performance is spot on as she delivers her lines with complete confidence without batting and eye as she talks about sharing a bed with her husband….and her kids! She is so good in this role, I could see her getting a Supporting Actress nomination.

Overall I don’t think this is Sam Mendes best film as the movies mentioned previously are very powerful films, but this is a very light, intelligent and delightful film. I would recommend seeing this movie, it is something fresh and not the usual rehashing of a story line you have seen twenty times already. Worth watching for sure!

Cuando uno piensa en George Clooney generalmente uno piensa en actor, sin emabrgo si uno es atento y revisa bien los créditos de las pelis se puede dar uno cuenta que Clooney igualmente es productor, generalmente, de las pelis en las que él actúa y una que otra peli independiente (generalmente son pelis bien entretenidas), es escritor de una (Good Night, and Good Luck) y también es director.

Hoy estuve revisando y resulta ser que me he visto las tres pelis de Clooney y en su orden cronológico. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind de 2002 basada en la novela de Chuck Barris y con el guión de Charlie Kaufman, Good Night, and Good Luck de 2005 que lo llevó incluso a varias nominaciones al Oscar de La Academia y Leatherheads de 2008.

Como actor es garantía de una peli entretenida, a veces con humor fino y otras veces con dramas bastante crudos. Como escritor se toma demasiado serio las cosas y no lo hace naturalmente entonces se siente un poco acartonanado o ladrilludo y como director pues ha sido una loma en bajada. Su primera peli, de la mano de Kaufman me pareció un éxito como producto, su segunda es interesante, es contestataria pero repito un poco muy seria y acartonada. En esta su tercera, vuelve a relajarse un poco, haciendo comedia junto Renée Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce y John Krasinski pero no es una peli que uno vaya a destacar mucho en el futuro.

La banda sonora es impecable, así como el vestuario y los parlamentos que hacen una ambientación de excelente factura. Un detalle de fina coquetería fue usar la marca de Universal Pictures de la época, sin embargo los créditos estuvieron más bien mediocres.

La peli aguanta un domingo pero seguro Clooney es mejor actor y productor ejecutivo que director hasta ahora con lo que ha venido mostrando. No conozco más proyectos en el futuro que no sean actorales. Yo le pongo fé para que ojalá le vuelva a sonar la flauta.

I had the distinct honor and pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Marian Seldes after seeing her in “Persistence of Memory” this past Sunday. Miss Seldes has been delighting audiences for more than six decades from theatre to film to radio and television. She made her Broadway debut in 1947 alongside Judith Anderson in “Medea.” Miss Seldes has been nominated for four Tony Awards and won in 1967 for her role in Edward Albee’s “A Delicate Balance.” She also starred with Angela Lansbury in Terrance McNally’s “Deuce” in 2007.  In 1996, Miss Seldes was elected into the Theater Hall of Fame. Her film credits include “Leatherheads,” “August Rush,” and “The Visitor.” She is also the author of two books: a novel, “Time Together” and her memoir, “The Bright Lights.” Being a performer is a true labor of love for Miss Seldes and is evident in the way her face lights up when talking about her life in front of an audience.  That love and enthusiasm was demonstrated time and time again while interviewing her. Below is my unique and privileged experience:

1. Who inspired you to become a performer? Seeing theatre and watching other actors on stage.

2. What has been your best and worst experience in a show? I have had no worst experience. The best experience is when the play goes beautifully and the audience loves it.

3. Who is the one person you haven’t worked with that you would like to? I feel so lucky to have worked with so many great people already.

4. Out of all the people you’ve worked with, who did you learn the most from? I learned the most from when I was young, but if I had to chose, I would say Katherine Cornell and Judith Anderson.

5. What is the best advice you’ve given someone, but not taken for yourself? I don’t advise people. I don’t believe that just because you are a teacher, you are given the right to counsel others.

6. Is there ever a time you thought about quitting? Never! Why would I quit?

7. Favorite pastime? I like to read, but I don’t consider that a pastime because a pastime is something that passes time and I don’t feel that one should read just to pass time.

8. Best holiday gift ever? Hugs from my grandchildren.

9. Superman or Wonder Woman? I don’t know because I don’t think there are men and women really like that in the world.

10. Favorite Play/Musical? They are all my favorite.

11. What is it about the color purple that makes it your favorite color? I just like the look and fit of it and I feel comfortable in it.

To be honest, when I saw this in the theatre, I was on the fence about liking this film. After watching this again on bluray, I certainly enjoyed it more the second time around. Maybe because my expectations are were lowered a bit since going into it the first time, I really was wanting laugh out loud funny, and it didn’t deliver on that. Seeing it for what it is now, it is a light-hearted film with pleasantly funny scenes.

George Clooney (Oceans 11, Best Supporting actor for Syriana, Michael Clayton) directs and stars as “Dodge” Connelly, one of the veteran players in a dying professional football league. Clooney is adequate in this movie, but doesn’t deliver on the funny lines like O Brother Where art Thou. He still has some good chemistry going with Renee Zellweger (Chicago, Bridget Jones Diary), especially in the scene when they first meet. Trading one liners back and  forth was great and could almost used a few more of those type of quick witted fast talking scenes in the movie. The Film also stars The Office regular, John Krasinski (Away We Go) who is nicely cast as the young college super star.

Ok, would I recommend it to people, yes. Not to mention enjoying period pieces, especially from the roaring 20’s era, this film is solid, and enjoyable from start to finish. It is a lot of fun seeing the old-time football, leather helmets, wooden scoreboards, very few rules and half empty stands. Nothing groundbreaking or innovative from this film, but it is film that is well done in all areas. Just sit back and enjoy this easy-going and lighthearted journey about the beginning of professional football.

well, for grown people go on spring break it was kinda tame i thought.  i see this movie with younger folks.  like early to mid twenties.  with the dude from the office that everyone loves so much.  he was also in a really bad movie with george clooney about football in the 30’s or something.

john krasinski.  that’s the guy.

but as it was, i guess this film wasn’t  too terrible.  the funniest stuff you’ve already seen in the trailers.  and it tends to drag a bit at times.  and it takes them too long to get to the island in the first place.  they coulda shaved a good ten minutes off the front of the movie so we could get more bikini action.

but no.

it’s an enjoyable chick flick though.  i’m not gonna run out and buy it or anything, but it’s a good date movie.  it’s got some intimate scenes, but nothing too racy or provocative.

i find it incredibly ironic that the creators of swingers are starring together in a movie about relationships.  but then again, aren’t most movies about relationships?

it’s probably the best date movie out in a while though.  it’s way better than love happens.  or what was that one with gerard butler?  the ugly truth.  it’s better than that one too.  that one sucked.  so did love happens.

so there you go.  couples retreat.  not terrible.  but decent.  i enjoyed sitting next to long, lean and sexy much more than anything on screen.  well, there’s some terrific eye candy.  kristin bell might be the most exciting thing i’ve seen on screen since..since…i can’t remember.  i freaking love kristin bell.  go check out a film called reefer madness.  just do it.

and i love malin ackerman as well.  and i love that her hair is a different color in every movie she does.  and she looks great in any hair color!

So I am changing my costume again…. Alexander Wang’s Spring 2010 collection was inspired by old-school football days and it was so chic!

I am going to put a costume together to be an Alexander Wang Footballer!!

All I need is a french terry sweatshirt (or red and white striped shirt) with shoulder pads, tube socks and a leather headband!  Super excited to pull this look together!

It made me think of Leatherheads…

The following video game reviews have been added: Shadow Complex (Xbox Live Arcade).

The following movie reviews have been added: Coraline, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Duplicity, Leatherheads, Sunshine Cleaning.

Expect a lot more reviews on movies and games, new and old, in the coming days and months. Feel free to let us know what else you would like us to review. If you’d like to offer second opinions about our reviews, you can do so in the comments sections of the appropriate pages, or you could even be a guest blogger or staff writer. We still have positions we need to fill, so head over to the contributors page if you think you could volunteer anything from a few minutes to a few hours a week to help us out!

— JD

August 5, 2009

Dear readers,

My mood has improved remarkably since yesterday morning.

Last night I watched “Shine”, the movie that apparently made Geoffrey Rush famous. He is brilliant, and that is why he’s one of my favorite actors. Ah, Geoffrey Rush. It always brings up that conversation in biology two years ago. Well, bad biological choice or not I have only admiration for him. Nowadays it has less to do with the fact that he is Barbossa. Progress!

The movie was a little painful to watch, for two reasons. I wanted to punch David Helfgott’s father in the face, and movies about music always bring up blarghness.

For a moment the movie bordered on becoming the usual biopic, but then it got a lot better once adult David appeared. Although Noah Taylor was excellent too. Finally he is more to me than “Mr. Bucket”.

“Leatherheads”, on the other hand, was almost unbearable. I was literally squirming during one of the verbal jousting scenes between George Clooney and Renee Zellweger. I never saw it before, but he does bear a resemblance to Cary Grant, and in today’s cinema I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Watching “North by Northwest” I couldn’t see the appeal of Cary Grant, but I’m sure it’s a generational thing. It was like watching “CSI: Miami”, just taking turns spouting one-liners one after the other. They took the old movie style even to the unbelievability of the actors.

No doubt with the beginning of the school year everyone will be speculating about how time has gone by. I can still remember being in seventh grade, looking up at the posters lining the halls, wondering how I was going to survive six years in this little place.

Change of plans: birthday party looks to be this Saturday. Hectic planning is a go!

The other day I was in the car with my mom listening to the radio when this 80’s song comes on and my mom says she used to love that song. Shocked, I was, because my mom’s from Taiwan and it’s just weird when your immigrant parents know this stuff. Then we listened to it together. In awkward silence.

Off I go then, because this post is starting to sound forced.

Love,
Grapes

P.S. For a great imitation of Cary Grant, watch “Arizona Dream”.

Snowbombing in Style

The Leatherhead DJ’s at the Arctic Disco

Claude Von Stroke

Alex Metric

The Loose Cannons

2ManyDjs at the Forrest Stage

My brother Ben is a FOOL. He won’t mind me saying that because FOOL stands for Fraternal Order of Leatherheads. This is an organization of firefighters who find a common identity in excellence. They emphasize training and safety, finding and insisting on the right way to do things as opposed to doing things the way things have always been done for the sake of not rocking boats. Their trademarks are bushy moustaches (firemen can’t wear beards because beards catch fire) and traditional leather helmets, which are heavy, rather than the lighter plastic modern ones. They are rowdy, and they are mawkishly emotional about each other and about their brotherhood.

They are a brotherhood in the true sense. Almost a cult. These are not the firefighters, my brother says, who fight fires to collect a paycheck, and are really working on some other career on the side more interesting to them. They are not even the very good professional firefighters who are competent in every way and reliable at all times but who leave the job behind them when they go home. The Fools are men (and women, I think, technically, if not actually) who eat, sleep and breathe fire. Ben says that for Fools, firefighting is not their job, it’s their life.

When I think I've had a rough day at work, I picture my brother. On the other hand, he doesn't consider this work.

My brother, who is president of the Alaska chapter, admits the Fools are a controversial organization within the firefighting community. Not everyone appreciates being forced to be either a firefighting maniac or looked down upon as not really a firefighter’s firefighter. Also, the Fools tend to cause trouble because they question the way things are done. An example, Ben tells me, is the issue of “pushing air”. It used to be that getting on the roof and chopping a hole in it was one of the first things you did in attacking a fire, but this practice has been supplanted in recent years by pushing air and using foam. In this method, firefighters put huge fans at the door of a building to pressurize the space, then pop a window in the back, and the flames get pushed out the window. Then you go in and put the fire out with foam. At least that’s the theory. But the Fools here in Washington State started pushing back that the problem with pushing air is that it doesn’t let the heat out of the building, and you can’t successfully or safely fight a fire without getting the heat out of the building. Firefighters were getting burned because they went into a space that may have temporarily had the flames blown out of it but was still a ly oven. Ben tells me that his colleagues here in Washington have successfully turned things around to where they are now “getting back on the roof” in every situation that allows it and they are back to using good old water instead of foam. I don’t know if this is true — you could look it up — but that’s an example my brother gave.

Ben was here Monday with his buddy Brent, who is also an Alaska Fool and also a large, jolly, mustachioed firefighter. They were on a layover on their way home from Portland, Maine, where they’d just had their annual convention. They ate a lot of lobster, held training competitions, speechified about the need to reduce firefighter deaths through training and discipline, and many got drunk and pillaged the town (“pillage” may be a strong term, but they’re mainly there to meet each other and party). Firefighters are beloved everywhere, and I think a lot of it has to do with their temperament. They generally have good energy. I would think a man as large as Brent with a horseshoe moustache cascading down both sides of his mouth would scare a little kid quite into the coat closet, but he got down on the floor, asked Mara about her princess dolls, and they were soon playing together. 

I love my brother, and I admire him as I admire all firefighters and soldiers and others who don’t seem to be adversely affected by the knowledge that once you’re dead, that’s it. Game. They seem to be able to “spend” their lives in the service of an ideal, truly spend their lives — even if it means crossing that threshhold and spending all of it, forever — as opposed to “hoarding” their lives.

I have a lot of ideals, drawers full of them. I don’t know any that I would die for. I think sometimes that I’ve been hoarding my life all my life, that I have yet to find the thing for which I would spend it. I believe — hope — that if someone I love was threatened with danger, and risking my life could ensure their safety, or even provide a chance for  their safety, I would be able to lay it down, spend it. I hope so. At least I FEEL that way about my family, my friends.

The light unites them as the darkness surely envelopes them. The man on the left was Ben's battalion chief, who died of cancer some months ago. This image takes my breath away because it registers absolutely no barrier between the two men. It has to be that way when you trust someone with your one and only life. (Photo by Jerry Carpenter.)

But at that point it’s not even an ideal anymore. That’s just love. These Fools run into burning buildings because they see it as their moral duty to protect not only people’s lives but their property, too. It seems crazy to me. Crazy in a way I really look up to. Not because I believe someone’s car or piano is worth my brother’s life, but because our lives are all being spent, right now, all the time, and it might as well be FOR something. The one who hoards his life, as the master said, really loses it, because he doesn’t see that ultimately there is no hoard. The coin can’t be kept. So the question becomes, what am I trading it for?

Football. It doesn’t have to be all about just football with all the rules and everything perfect. It doesn’t have to be perfectly safe, having all the top of the line pad, etc, but remember, always be safe! It could just be a fun game with lets say 5-20 friends on each team, tackle football, with no pads, on grass. Most of you have experienced this, and it is so much fun, almost no rules, you can do whatever you want, while still keeping up the fun. This may even be more fun than real football at times! You get to socialize, do what position you want, be all over the field, play offense and defense. Whatever you want.
This is a completely different perspective than football; it might be more dangerous at times, maybe more fun could be perfect for everyone. But also it could always be the opposite.
Whoever plays football, always has to try both perspectives, if not, you are not a true football player. Both will always make you better and better, no matter how you play, it is just drills with all the fun in it! Its just like the olden days when they had almost no protection, brings all the more fun into it, mud football, grass football, just all fun times!

This isn’t a what we loved/what we hated list. I have a lot of hate for a certain show which is dead to me (DEAD TO ME FOREVER, and no, I don’t want to talk about it), and I wanted to focus on the happy. So this is a Weekly Wrap-Up of the stuff we liked, with a few criticisms thrown in, just because. –ab

TV:

The Office
amelie: I kind of adored this episode. It was light and fun and there was no real drama. I agree with Michael–Cafe Disco is a magical place. I think Erin, the new receptionist, is adorable. She fits in well with the Scranton crew without trying too hard. And she has fun in the office, you can tell. I still can’t figure out why Dwight had to take his shirt off to give Phyllis a horse massage, though…

Favorite Moment: Kelly and Andy’s dance-off.

kegger:  At the beginning of this episode, I was thinking, man, Michael’s REALLY having a hard time getting back into the groove of things at Dunder Mifflin.  But THEN, he invented Cafe Disco.  And then I was like, oh, Michael, you’re awesome.  Loved it!  [Completely Unrelated Side note:  Does anyone else think think that Ryan's next issue is going to be an eating disorder?  Since he was all like, "I've discovered since becoming a temp again that food is the only thing I can control."?  Thoughts?]

amelie: He’s totally going to get an eating disorder. And Kelly and Andy’s new friendship is going to exacerbate things.

How I Met Your Mother

amelie: Stella is not the mother. Let me say that one more time. Stella is not the mother. She’s integral to Ted finding the mother, but she ain’t it. $5 says I’m right. In other news, Barney is a man whore, and, oh yeah, Barney loves Robin.

I have to say, as much as I enjoyed this week’s episode (the non-linear explanation of Ted getting to that particular corner at that particular time was brilliant, vintage HIMYM funnage), I miss Lily so much. There was this gaping hole in the Intervention scene, and it hurt. Come back, Lilypad. The gang needs you. (Slightly off topic, but kegger, if you ever need a cheap gift for me, I wouldn’t say no to an Intervention banner.)

Favorite Moment: Marshall’s Venn diagram of Cecilia (people who are breaking my heart/people who are shaking my confidence daily. Oh, Cecilia. I’m down on my knees. From laughter.)

kegger:  I’m going to seriously be pissed if Stella is the mother (which she’s totally not) because I hold grudges and that bitch left Ted at the altar.  That’s all I have to say about that.  And omg, LOVE Marshall and his charts!  But yeah.  I, too, miss Lily.

Pushing Daisies

amelie: Man. Just, man. You know who sucks? ABC. ABC is a bunch of rat bastards from hell and I hope they suffer. I managed to get my hands on the final three episodes (I have kickass friends) and they were awesomely bittersweet. I appreciate Bryan Fuller and how he wrapped everything up, but I want more. There’s this rule of good writing: show, don’t tell. I know the constraints of a short season and getting the can made this difficult, but I want to SEE how it plays out. I mean, I’m glad I was told how it goes down, but it’s not the same. I’m really going to miss the Pie Hole and all its peeps.

I’m not complaining. I’m really not. I was satisfied and happy with how it ended. I’m just frustrated that it had to end at all, I guess.

kegger:  Haven’t seen it yet.    One day….

Music

Metric, Fantasies

amelie: This is a fun, kind of mellow, kind of weird album, and I like it.
Favorite Song: “Twilight Galaxy”

kegger:  I freaking love this entire album.  It makes me bounce my head.
Favorite Songs:  “Blindness,” “Help I’m Alive,” and “Twilight Galaxy”

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, It’s Blitz!

kegger:  I haven’t listened to it quite as much as I’ve listened to the Metric album, but I still love it so far.
Favorite Songs:  “Heads Will Roll” and “Hysteria”

amelie: I’ve been listening to this one, too, but I haven’t heard enough of it to have a favorite song.

The Clash, London Calling

amelie: I’ve been going through an old-school phase lately, and this has been on heavy rotation on my iPod. I really enjoy this album. I don’t have any concrete reason, I just think it’s awesome.
Favorite Song: “Lost in the Supermarket”

Books

amelie: I still haven’t read anything worth talking about. I really need to look into that.

kegger: I’m currently in a YA phase.  I just finished reading The Summoning by um… Kelley Armstrong, I think?  Not bad.  Very quick read (as in, I started and finished it on the same night).  I’m also reading Jesus for President, by Shane Clairborne.  It’s a very pretty book.  You should totally go look at it in a bookstore, because it’s pretty and artistic and fun.

Movies

Leatherheads

amelie: Eh. It was okay. John Krasinski is adorable, and George Clooney is still one of the most handsome men ever. But I felt like this movie was trying too hard. It wanted to capture the sparkle and fun of the Katharine Hepburn/Carey Grant movies like “Bringing Up Baby” and “Philadelphia Story”, but it failed spectacularly. The convoluted war story tied in with professional football…I didn’t get it. And, honestly, I’d rather watch Katharine Hepburn eat kitty litter than just about anything Renee Zellwegger has done lately. Um. Was that mean?

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

kegger:  It’s about what you’d expect, being a Kevin Smith movie and all.  But I DO have to say that while I’m a fan of Seth Rogen, he’s beginning to seem like the same character in every single movie he’s been in lately.  Anyway, it’s a pretty good movie.  Lots of boobs.  Lots of ass.  We even see a wang, and some balls.  The only thing I was slightly dissatisfied with was the ending.  It was a happy ending, but the whole point of the movie was that Zack and Miri were making a porno, right?  Well, I won’t ruin it, but I’ll just say that the movie seemed slightly unfinished.  But it was decent, and good for a laugh.

Quantum of Solace

kegger:  It was TOTALLY not a James Bond movie.  He only got one girl (he’s at LEAST supposed to bang two girls per movie!  That’s like, a rule or something!), he had NO cool, fancy gadgets, and he was dark and broody.  I’m sorry, but James Bond is NOT dark and broody.  He’s a man whore who likes cool gadgets and Aston Martin cars.  Jason Bourne is dark and broody.  Not James Bond.  But, if you pretend that it’s not a James Bond movie, it’s not bad, I guess.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

kegger:  (I know, I know, I’ve watched an assload of movies this week.  Sue me.  It was rainy, and I couldn’t go outside!)  Meh.  That’s all I have to say.  The movie was just meh.  First off, Keaun Reeve’s character is coming to earth to kill humanity because we’re killing the planet.  But then he goes and saves people and stuff.  Why, if you’re just going to off them, anyway?  It was stupid, and it didn’t add up.  And that’s all I have to say about that.

amelie: Where did you find time to watch all those movies?!

kegger: I watched ALL of those movies on Sunday afternoon.  You know, since it was raining all freaking day.  And also because we’d been sitting on 3 Netflix rentals for over a week.  So… yeah.  We just got rid of them all at once.

—

&  

Quote of the Day:     –“The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius.”      –Oliver Wendell Holmes

According to a source who must remain anonymous, we’ll call him anono-baen, TB has emerged as a finalist for the Supreme Court position being vacated by Justice Souter. The following interview, an idea semi-stolen inspired by a recent Daily Wit post, was conducted over the weekend at TB’s home in Ridgeland, MS. If at some point the conversation seems to lose its focus please be aware that while both asking and answering the questions, TB was concurrently trying to keep up with Leatherheads the latest uh, developments in the legal world, studious and dextrous, as usual.

Bloggin-baen–So TB, this might be a little awkward, but hey, its a big scoop so I can work with you if you can work with me.

Nominee-baen–Well, self, workin with me isn’t so bad, but sometimes I do find it hard to live with myself.

BB–Let’s get to the important questions. You’ve put the word out The word is out that you are a good bet to be President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court opening. Can you confirm or deny this rumor?

NB–Let me put it this way. If the rumors are true, it would showcase the judgment, character and political acumen of the President and his staff. In spite of that, I would be an excellent Justice.

BB–Even though a Justice’s position on abortion is one of the least important indicators, make that a completely irrelevant indicator, of a candidate’s potential as a jurist, we have seen through the years that to many it is a litmus test. Can you pass such a test?

NB–I have always been a good test taker. Except in law school. But I can never remember if the litmus turns red or blue. Besides, I’m color blind, which parenthetically is a condition that can serve you well in charming the ladies. This one time…

BB–Excuse me–Why don’t you just tell us how you feel about abortion?

NB–(chuckling heartily) Hahahahahahahaha

BB–You do realize that might be offensive to some?

NB–Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t listening. Clooney just got punched out by that guy from The Office. I never saw that coming.

BB–You never saw that coming yet you think you are qualified to sit on the highest court in the land?

NB–(blank stare) <you knew that was coming>

BB–Let’s move on. How would you describe your judicial temperament?

NB and BB together–98.6 degrees.  High Five!

BB–Well, I’m satisfied. And I think it should be clear to anyone reading the transcript of our conversation that you are a natural for handling the kind of inanity back and forth necessary for surviving the judicial committee hearings. But the issue of filibuster is ever present. We can assume the Democrats will largely support anyone President Obama nominates. Arlen Specter for instance has already talked about how if he was willing to support Clarence Thomas that should show everyone how little he gives a damn who sits on the Court after all. But how about the Republicans? You’ve gone on record with some pretty harsh criticism of them over the last year.

NB–It only takes one, baby. Or I could send over male prostitutes pages to all their offices. The results of that should yield at least ten votes in exchange for my legendary, um, discretion.

BB–That’s pretty low NB. And I must say, out of character for you.

NB–Dude, its a life time job. And think of the money I’ll save on work clothes.

BB–Good point. Do what you gotta do, man. It sounds like you’ve got all the bases covered. Is there anything that could possibly derail your nomination.

NB–Yes, one thing. If it got out I think it could really damage my credibility.

BB–(leaning in, hushed tone) It’s just between you and me.

NB–Sometimes I talk to myself.

BB–Aw, hell, I do that too. You’re a shoo-in.

Bonus Quote of the Day:     –”The world’s great men have not commonly been great scholars, nor its great scholars great men.”     –Oliver Wendell Holmes

George Clooney made a mis-step and Renee’ Zellweger failed to get a decent make-up artist, leaving the world with a lousy film product called “Leatherheads.”

John Krasinski apparently doesn’t know who he is as an actor. This leaves us with a mush-faced character in need of a backbone and a story line.

Maybe Clooney thought he could pull the “Leatherheads” project off with some cinematography reminiscent of the Coen Brothers “Oh Brother” effort.  He couldn’t. Rather than an authentic production design this film looks like Hollywood dress-up.

Even the mud in the football scenes looks fake.

The entire film “Leatherheads” is a project conceived by agents and money-men.

____________________________________________

When the hell are some real men going to find their way to Hollywood?

I was sick with the flu a few weeks back, and so I spent a LOT of time on the couch watching movies recently, so we are going to call this week, “MOVIE REVIEW CATCH-UP” Week!

Premise: A romantic comedy set against the backdrop of America’s nascent pro-football league in 1925. Dodge Connolly (Clooney), a charming, brash football hero, is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country’s attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford (Krasinski), America’s favorite son. A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field.

This new champ is almost too good to be true, and Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) aims to prove that’s the case. A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter’s war story. But while she digs, the two teammates start to become serious off-field rivals for her fickle affections. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams. Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, however, he has one maneuver he will save just for the fourth quarter…

Analysis:  When I saw who was in the movie, I knew I had to see it.  George Clooney, (of whom I was no fan of UNTIL “O’ Brother Where Art Thou“, one of the greatest movies of all time, imho), and John Krasinski, (you know! Jim from “The Office”).  HOWEVER, as with many of my film undertakings, I went in without knowing all the details of the movie in question, (i.e. “The Legends of the Fall” is NOT a movie about baseball playoffs?!), and this turns out to be mostly a ROMANTIC COMEDY, (ominous music, dum dum DUM!) –> not a big fan here, so I was already pretty slighted to the idea, but overall, the movie was not too shabby… more comedy than romantic luckily.

I wasn’t much for the relational portrayal between the Carter and Lexie, but the back and forth between Dodge and Lexie was humorous, but got old kinda quick… the best parts of the movie are when Carter and Dodge, no longer “friends” begin to rival back and forth, both on the football field and for Ms. Littleton’s affections, hilarious insults and physical comedy made this a tolerable experience.

I’ll be honest though, this would have been a 2 Star for me if it wasn’t for the arm fire and the fight that followed, (parts you can see in the trailer below)… so this was a very weak 3 Star, a bit of a disappointment

Best Quote(s):

Jimmy ‘Dodge’ Connelly: [as they prepare to fight] I just want to say, stay away from my right knee.

Carter Rutherford: Watch my left shoulder.

Jimmy ‘Dodge’ Connelly: I will. Also, my right hindquarter. Behind my right thigh, but really, the *whole* hindquarter.

Carter Rutherford: Well, you wouldn’t punch me in the back, would you? Because I got a bad back.

Jimmy ‘Dodge’ Connelly: No, never. Let’s just go for the face.

Carter Rutherford: Me too, just hit me in the face.

Official Trailer:

IMDB Website: Click here

IMDB Rating: 6.2 out of 10

My Netflix Rating: 3 stars out of 5

From/De: Xbox Press

The game clock only lasts 60 minutes, but we all know the big game is a day-long affair. That’s why all day Sunday, Xbox LIVE will feature a special “Football Fanfare” channel, featuring dozens of the hottest football-themed movies, TV shows and more.

With favorites like Any Given Sunday and Leatherheads, NBC’s hit series Friday Night Lights, and the latest tips and tricks for “Madden NFL ‘09,” Xbox LIVE has you everything you need to create your own pre-game, post-game, and half-time shows – right in your living room! So dish up the hot wings and nachos, and meet your friends on Xbox LIVE this Sunday.

What started out as “a hobby that kind of got bigger than [he] expected” has made one man an integral part of the Canton Legends. Chances are, if you’ve been to a game at the Memorial Civic Center, you’ve noticed among the usual suspects a photographer. Tim Smith is that photographer, and has been since the Legends inception in 2005. Smith has photographed all of the Legends’ home games and over half of the Legends’ away games. Read on to learn more about Smith – a great photographer and a die-hard Legends fan.

Around the Turf: What is the most rewarding part of being the Legends’ photographer?
Smith: That’s a hard question; I guess it’s being able to interact with the fans and the players. To be honest I’m kind of a shy guy until I get that camera in my hand, it brings out a whole different side of me that I didn’t know was there.
Around the Turf:What are some special challenges posed when taking photos of indoor football games that wouldn’t be posed by other subjects?
Smith: The biggest problem is lighting of the arena. Most of them are too dark for sharp pictures…also the speed of the game, you always have to be ready or you miss a great play.
Around the Turf: What has been your most exciting moment on the field?
Smith: That an easy one: when we won the championship in Rome.
Around the Turf: Disappointing moment?

Smith: My most disappointing moment was a picture that I missed because a guy walked in front of me as I was taking it. It happened in the first season when Dan Larlham was our QB and we lost in the playoffs at Erie. Danny was walking back to the locker room with a towel over his head totally dejected and as I was focusing it this guy comes out of a doorway and stepped in between us and ruined the shot.

Around the Turf: What AIFA arenas are the best for photography? Worst? Why?
Smith: As far as what arena is best with all the changes the only places that I’ve been to that are left are Erie and Reading:  first of all the teams are very nice to me and give all the access that I need.  Reading has the best lighting, but they don’t have a place set up for the photographers where you can set your equipment down and not have to worry about somebody walking off with it.  Erie [has] probably the worst lighting of the three but they let me into the area where the dance team stands so that’s nice, plus I have lots of room to move around.  Canton is right in the middle on both lighting and room; I would like the legends to do a better job of keeping people out of the area behind the end zone so I can move around and get be angles for better pics.

Around the Turf: What are your hopes for the upcoming season, as a photographer and as a fan?
Smith: As a photographer it’s the same every year to give the fans the best pics that I can. As a fan it’s to the Legends win another championship also I would like the league to start getting stronger so we don’t have to worry every year whether there is going to be a league.
Around the Turf: You were also the team photographer for the Ohio Aviators of the ABA during their short-lived foray into the pro basketball world. What was that experience like?
Smith: It was great, I loved the Aviators. The owners were great people, but I think they were a little naive on the business side.
Around the Turf: Do you have any closing thoughts?
Smith: It’s just hard to believe that it’s the start of the 5th year already. Go Legends!

For more of Smith’s work, visit his website at http://www.printroom.com/pro/tmsmithphotography. Thanks again to Smith for his participation!

]]> http://runningdownhill.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/reviews-haikus-volume-2/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:22:43 +0000 Benjamin Kumming http://runningdownhill.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/reviews-haikus-volume-2/ http://bienvenuechezcarol.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/jeux-de-dupes-leatherheads/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:03:08 +0000 carol http://bienvenuechezcarol.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/jeux-de-dupes-leatherheads/

Réalisé par George Clooney ; écrit par Duncan Brantley & Rick Reilly. Avec George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski. Année : 2008

En 1925, Dodge Connolly, capitaine d’une équipe de football américain, convainc une star de l’équipe universitaire de se joindre à eux, dans l’espoir de faire de ce sport une activité populaire aux Etats-Unis. Mais la nouvelle recrue, héros de la Première Guerre Mondiale, cache peut-être des secrets. Lexie Littleton, une journaliste engagée, décide de les découvrir. Pendant son enquête, elle est courtisée par le capitaine et son joueur, instaurant une rivalité dangereuse pour l’équipe. Estimant que les règles de l’amour ressemblent à celles du football américain, Dodge va tenter de sauver don équipe et de séduire la femme de ses rêves. (Premiere)

Dernière réalisation de George Clooney, le film est arrivé avec une presse plus que moyenne, ce qui fait que, contrairement à d’habitude, ma curiosité n’était pas à son comble, j’avais même perdu mon enthousiasme. Pour l’occasion, George s’essaie à la comédie romantique sportive, va-t-on dire, car il ne faudrait pas aller chercher trop loin la profondeur, ou la pseudo analyse du jeu que le film peut offrir. Tout – ou presque – est basé sur le couple Clooney-Zellweger et Krasinski est totalement invisible, bouffé par les deux acteurs principaux, qui pourtant, ne sont pas au sommet de leur art, tout particulièrement pour la partie féminine.

De la bonne répartie, des scènes old school comme les aiment tant les américains, des clichés, de la baston dans les bars, en fait, Leatherheads possède la naïveté et la simplicité de l’ancien temps, nous plongeant dans une histoire gentillette qui ne décolle pas, la faute en partie au duo, justement, pas si convaincant que cela, et à la réalisation. Eh oui, qui aurait cru que j’allais écrire cela un jour ? Le film manque de dynamisme, et la difficulté de filmer le sport s’impose définitivement ici, car Clooney a bien évidemment encore beaucoup à apprendre, et disons-le, ses maitres ne jouent pas dans ce registre là. C’est un exercice de style loin d’être facile, contrairement à ce qu’on pourrait imaginer, et s’il n’échoue pas complètement, il ne réussit pas à insuffler un brin de créativité, et sans aller aussi loin, l’énergie nécessaire. Ce point là manque d’ailleurs beaucoup au film, un peu mou. En définitive, plus que dispensable.

Verdict :

Sur le web : un bonne moyenne de tomates fraiches, la critique de dvdrama, et la classique page Imdb.

I don’t know about you, but I was disappointed.

If the question is, “What did I expect from the films of 2008?” my answer would be, “A better film year than 2007.” Not to say that 2007 was bad; the tail-end of it made up for most of that year. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of 2008.

“Indiana Jones 4” (aka “Indy Gets an X-File”) was ludicrous if not insulting. And speaking of “X-Files” the return of Mulder and Scully to the screen was warranted, but the story wasn’t. “Speed Racer” could’ve been more fun, “Prince Caspian” could’ve used more characterization and plot. “Untraceable” was among those movies that couldn’t have been saved, period.

However, it wasn’t all bad. “Iron Man” and “The Dark Knight” proved that superheroes can rule the day, if not the box office (although “Hellboy 2” was underrated). Pixar pixel pixies made mechanics emotional with “Wall*E.” Robert Downey, Jr. didn’t just make “Iron Man,” he made “Tropic Thunder” as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method-actor who undergoes pigmentation-surgery to portray a black Sergeant in Vietnam. And “City of Ember” was the best and most-overlooked kids’ movie.

In alphabetical order, here are my Ten Faves from ’08.

“The Bank Job” – I caught this one on DVD. After I finished watching it, I kicked myself. This movie was interesting, fun, and a great throwback to the Seventies.

“City of Ember” – Thoughtful, well-made post-apocalyptic kids’ movie. I was surprised.

“The Dark Knight” – This movie is entirely on a different plain of filmmaking. Kudos to Christopher Nolan on doing such a great job and to Heath Ledger, who gave one of his best performances ever (and his last).

“Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” – Fun fantasy film from Guillermo del Toro. I really enjoyed this one. “Hellboy” is beginning to grow on me.

“Iron Man” – A great popcorn blockbuster movie to begin the summer with. Robert Downey Jr. was nothing less than perfectly casted. Jeff Bridges had fun being the bad guy.

“Leatherheads” – Another overlooked movie. George Clooney spent years trying to bring this one to light. It’s funny, quirky, zany, screwball… and made football interesting.

“Son of Rambow” – British indie about kids who learn to make film, not war. Great fun and a tribute to filmmaking (moreso than “Zack and Miri”).

“Transsiberian” – Emily Mortimer steals this movie from Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley. A great follow-up to “Session 9” and “The Machinist,” also directed by Brad Anderson.

“Tropic Thunder” – I initially thought this was shallow at first, but repeated viewings on DVD make this one even better.” “I’m the dude playin’ the dude, disguised as another dude!”

“Wall*E” – Wall*E is the story of the little robot that fell in love. Environmental and biological themes abound but don’t get too preachy.

That’s all, folks. See ya at the movies in 2009!

-Chas