Overture Films just provided IR with this new still from director Antoine Fuqua’s new film “Brooklyn’s Finest” starring Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke along with Wesley Snipes and Don Cheadle pictured above. The film releases March 5, 2010.

First of all, for all the readers out there, happy holidays. 

For all you Christmas celebrators, your time is now. As much as I want to direct this post to you all, I am too lazy to do so, considering you have 12 days and all. 

With that said, in the spirit of my choice of celebratory holiday Hanukkah, and being the baseball writer for the Philly Phour, here a list that all you sports, and especially baseball fans should take very, very seriously.

Here is a perfect compilation of baseball movies you should ask for or have bought for you for each of the eight days of Hanukkah.

1. Rookie of the Year:  The storyline of a 12 year-old kid pitching for his hometown baseball team is a dream that I’m pretty sure every baseball fan has at some point of their childhood. That’s not the point.  When you see this movie, you will see why the name “Rowengardner” lives on and witness the man, the myth, and the legend that they call Gary Busey.

2. Major League Trilogy: Made a trilogy for a reason. While the third one was subpar in its own right (like almost every third movie in a trilogy), this is a must have for a three reasons. One, it has an element of foreshadowing, as Charlie Sheen plays ex-convict pitcher almost a decade before he actually became a convict in real life. Second of all, it started a trend, as Wesley Snipes was able to act in other sports movies such as White Men Can’t Jump and The Fan due to his portrayal as an athletic specimen in his character Willie Mays Hayes. Lastly, the soundtrack can be simplified into two words: WILD THING.

3. The Sandlot: If you want proof on why baseball is, and will always be, America’s pastime, watch this movie. Not only does it teach people the importance of baseball, it also shows us alpha males how to get the attention of the woman you love, in which pretending to drown in order to get CPR and mouth-to-mouth is your best bet. Also, lost between the famous fictional characters such as “The Beast”, Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez and Wendy Peffercorn, those who watch this movie sometimes forget that some surprise REAL actors such James Earl Jones and Denis Leary make cameo’s in this movie. 

4. Bull Durham:  Before I wrote my list, I told myself that I could only choose one Kevin Costner baseball movie. Field of Dreams and For Love Of The Game were also in close consideration, but ultimately you can’t go against choosing a baseball movie who’s two central characters are named “Nuke” and “Crash”.

5. A League of Their Own:  Some people think Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks’s best performance was in Philadelphia, Forrest Gump or Cast Away. However, after you witness him say the inspirational line of “There’s no crying in baseball” in this film, you may think otherwise.  The concept of women playing baseball in skirts also adds appealing element to this movie compilation. 

6. Bad News Bears: Instead of a triliogy, this director went a bit further, and made a handful of these movies. The ladder four are mediocre, but after you see the first, you will always wonder what your life would be like if your had a raging alcoholic as your coach. 

7. The Rookie: A story of a family man living his dream as a baseball player later in life. Doesn’t seem realistic, but yet it based on a true story. All I know is that because of this movie, my goal is to go out on the mound in my 40’s, 20 years removed from playing competitive baseball, and throw 96 mph. Hey, if Dennis Quaid can do it in this movie, than so can I. 

8. The Natural: While this is rated as the #1 baseball movie of all-time on some lists, I put this last because I’m personally not a huge fan of this movie. However, when you are putting together a compilation of movies, at least one classic is a must. A classic can be defined as an older, or aged movie, with a distinct characteristic or scene of the movie that enables it to withstand the test of time. This movie, from a baseball standpoint, is a classic.

Honorable Mention (movies that should be considered if doing this for the 12 Days of Christmas): For Love Of The Game, Field of Dreams, Little Big League, Angels in the Outfield, Hardball, The Rookie, 61, Eight Men Out

Happy Holidays.

Federal prosecutors sentenced Wesley Snipes, the “A-List” actor most notably known for his role in the “Blade” trilogy, to three years in prison (the maximum requested) on April 24, 2008, for three misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns.  Snipes was later released on bail in April of 2009, and continues to work while appealing his conviction.

Snipes allegedly had his taxes prepared by accountants with “a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients,” according to an article from the Associated Press. American Rights Litigators, the firm under investigation for the indictment, would receive an alleged 20% of the tax refunds from clients.

Billy Martin, Snipes’ defense lawyer working on the case, claimed that Wesley had fallen victim of “unscrupulous tax advice” and that “the trial should clear his name.”

As a gesture of good will, the 44-year-old actor offered three checks totaling $5 million to federal prosecutors, pleading for mercy on the alleged charges.  The U.S. Treasury later accepted the payment, claiming that it is “a mere fraction of what he owes.”

In response to the case, Assistant Attorney General Nathan J. Hochman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division stated, “Snipes’ long prison sentence should send a loud and crystal clear message to all tax defiers that if they engage in similar tax defier conduct, they face joining him.”

Douglas Shulman, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner, also stated that “the law is clear on taxes,” and that “there is no secret formula that eliminates a person’s tax obligations, nor are there any special exceptions.”

Snipes also faced up to 16 years in prison for felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy for falsely claiming nearly $12 million in tax refunds in 1996 and 1997 – the exact amount owed under dispute.  The court, however, acquitted the actor of his felony charges after a jury accepted his plea that he was “innocently duped by errant tax advisers.” Prosecutors, on the other hand, claim that the decision of the jury instilled a message in the mainstream media that Snipes had “gotten away with it,” and that “his criminal conduct must not be seen in such a light.”

Fellow actors and friends Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson submitted letters to the judge, portraying the depth of Snipes’ honorable character.

Snipes remains silent regarding the case while the courts consider his appeal, and stated that he “looks forward to clearing his name and resolving this issue posthaste.”

I was watching E!’s show 10 Vampires We Love shortly after I came home from watching New Moon. The show was a countdown of the vampires that the people of E! like. I’ll include the list at the end of this post. Anyway, I have a bone to pick with who they chose to be on the list. I noticed that the list didn’t include, in my opinion, a variety of vampires, and the fact that all, except one, of the vampires are from movies or tv shows that came out within the last ten years. Anyway, what I mean by the lack of variety is that four of the vampires came from two different sources. I find it biased like how this post is. The reason that I have a problem is that they didn’t include other vampires like Henry Fitzpatrick from Blood Ties, Mick St. John from Moonlight or any of the vampires from the Vampire Chronicles or The Lost Boys. I don’t think it’s right to put a relatively unknown vampire like Santinico Pandemonium or Dracula from Dracula 2000 on a list like 10 Vampires We Love when there are better qualified vampires out there.

10. Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore
9. Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen
8. David Boreanaz as Angel
7. Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton
6. Selma Hayek as Santanico Pandemonium
5. Gerard Butler as Dracula in Dracula 2000
4. Wesley Snipes as Blade
3. Kate Beckinsale as Selene
2. Alexander Skarsgaard as Eric Northman
1. Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

Someone always gets fucked. And I think it is the Yankees. If you didn’t hear, the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Tigers completed a 3-way (7 player) trade. The logistics of the trade went:

New York Yankees: Get CF Curtis Granderson from Detroit

Arizona Diamondbacks: Get SP Ian Kennedy from New York and SP Edwin Jackson from Detroit

Detroit Tigers: Get SP Max Scherzer and LHP pitching prospect (and ESPN analyst and former Bronco’s offensive lineman, Mark Schlereth’s son) Daniel Schlereth from Arizona and RP Phil Coke and CF Austin Jackson from New York

I think the Yankees got the shit end of the stick. Definitely in sheer numbers and potential of the future. Now, this article will be exclusively from the Yankees point of view, so if you don’t want to hear it… Click one of our sponsors or PLAY SOME PARTY POKER! I hear it’s super fun.

Now, the Yankees don’t have much to worry about from a line up’s stand point. They reinforced the best line up in baseball. No doubt. Curtis Granderson is coming off of a down year in which he stole 20+ bases, hit 30+ home runs, scored 100 runs and hit around 90 RBIs. But I’m pretty sure he was 6th in the MLB in strike outs and bat .240 which is horrible for a lead off hitter. Not to mention that he is the worst in the MLB against left hand pitchers. He has a mediocre throwing arm (9 assists in last 2 years) but can cover good ground with his speed. He is fairly young at 28 years old (turning 29 before the season).

Ok, so he’s basically the black Nick Swisher. Whatever. I guess his fielding is better, but Swisher has a better arm. Is it safe to say that the Yankees just traded for Black Thunder Willie Mays Hayes from Major League? As a Yankees fan, we know that every fly ball to the outfield is an adventure with Damon and Swisher out there. I guess defensively its a huge upgrade because that pushes Melky to LF by default. Not bad, but my point was… if you re-signed Damon, this was a non-issue. What is it that they say…”Why fix it, if it ain’t broke”?. They say that, right?

I didn’t like that they gave up Austin Jackson for him. I think that was a mistake. I could eat my words in a few years. You don’t know. Austin Jackson can turn out to be Daryl Strawberry or Willie Mays. Who knows? The rule of thumb says that you always trade potential for talent. It’s not always the case (see: Mark Sanchez v. Jay Cutler pre-2009 season debate). I think this was one of the cases where you save the younger talent. Jackson is 23 years old and getting to be MLB ready, Granderson has declined in the last 3 years. It’s much more probable that a CF prospect will turn out to be Curtis Granderson than it is a SP prospect will turn out to be Roy Halladay. Which brings me to my next point. Why didn’t they just pull the trigger on the Halladay deal for the same players? That was a hefty package, the Blue Jays really wouldn’t accept that? It’s much more difficult for Joba or Phil Hughes and definitely Ian Kennedy to become what Roy Halladay already is than it is for Austin Jackson to become Curtis “.240″ Granderson. Anyway, did anyone else notice the piles of shit next to Joba and Hughes during the playoffs? They buckled like Perez Hilton’s knees when he saw Gerard Butler’s ass in Law Abiding Citizen.

I think the cause for concerns in the Yankees off season was starting pitching (#1), LF (#2), the bullpen (#3) and DH (#4). Yeah I know, they just got CC and AJ. They have the unproven bullpen allstars of Joba and Hughes coming into the rotation. Also, they have Wang in the back end (Ed. Note: OMG!). Girardi is now saying Aceves will get spot starts. Andy Pettite was the big question but he was just signed to a 1 year deal. I don’t know how Edwin Jackson at 26 and Max Scherzer at 25 (Ian Kennedy at 25) are all moved around and the Yankees don’t get any of them. Instead, they sign Andy Pettite the 37 year old, who pitched almost 200 innings last season, to an $11.75 million (1 year, no incentives) contract. Did I tell you that he practically needs the iRobot arm to pitch? Especially when the two young guys out pitched Pettite. Maybe he did have a better record, but he also played on the best team in baseball. Pettite had a higher ERA and the least amount of strikeouts amongst the 3.

Edwin Jackson and Max Scherzer are both MLB ready pitchers that would’ve made great #3 or #4 starters. Then, Pettite has no leverage. Kind of like “The Fuck You” tactic that Cashman did to Damon and Matsui who will probably would have been more essential to this year’s Yankee team.

And I didn’t even get into the bull pen. Apparently the rotation will be CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettite, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes (with Aceves getting spot starts and an untrustworthy Wang due to over-exertion). So after the trade of Phil Coke to Detroit and the trade of Brian Bruney to the Nationals (for next to nothing) that leaves the Yankees bullpen with Robertson, Marte and Mariano Rivera and long relievers of Chad Gonad and Sergio Mitre if they are even alive. They could have Cory Lidle’d themselves and I wouldn’t care.

Sorry for ranting but I think the Yankees filled a pretend void that Brian Cashman made up. They had Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardener and Austin Jackson that could have filled that pretend void. Instead they neglected Matsui, Damon, their aging catcher, aging shortstop, rotation issues, lack of bullpen and making Logic happy. That last one is like a cardinal sin. Now if you excuse me, I have a jersey to buy.

p.s. Wtf is Max Scherzer, like, an Alaskan Husky or something?

This movie is going to be, BAWSE!

Via Social Writers Blog

Film synopsis

Burned out veteran Eddie Duga (Richard Gere) is just one week away from his pension and a fishing cabin in Connecticut. Narcotics officer Sal Procida (Ethan Hawke) has discovered there’s no line he won’t cross to provide a better life for his long-suffering wife and seven children. And Clarence “Tango” Butler (Don Cheadle) has been undercover so long his loyalties have started to shift from his fellow police officers to his prison buddy Caz (Wesley Snipes), one of Brooklyn’s most infamous drug dealers. With personal and work pressures bearing down on them, each man faces daily tests of judgment and honor in one of the world’s most difficult jobs. When NYPD’s Operation Clean Up targets the notoriously drug-ridden BK housing project, all three officers find themselves swept away by the violence and corruption of Brooklyn’s gritty 65th Precinct and its most treacherous criminals. During seven fateful days, Eddie, Sal and Tango find themselves hurtling inextricably toward the same fatal crime scene and a shattering collision with destiny. The film captures the volatile and deadly world of one of New York’s most dangerous precincts through the eyes of the men and women pledged to protect and serve, as they face the wrenching choices that make them Brooklyn’s Finest.

US release date: March 2010

UK release date: To be confirmed

Actor Wesley Snipes may have just put down a lump sum towards his tax arrears, as he’s landed a role in new movie Brooklyn’s Finest, which hits theatres Spring 2010. The movie which also stars Don Cheadle, Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke, is about 3 cops who wind up at the same deadly location, despite enduring vastly different career paths. Doesn’t sound too original, but the Trailer aint that bad [special thanks to the dope track in the background]!

In other movie news, serious congrats are in order for Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe…

… who’ve both been nominated for a Golden Globe for their roles in Precious. Whilst Gab’s been nominated for Best Actress [not bad for her first ever movie huh?], Mo’Nique is up for Best Supporting Actress. And the film itself has been nominated for a Best Picture award in the Drama category. Brap brap brap!

Like another wannabe Training Day (same director, it seems), Brooklyn’s Finest looks well-cast (with everyone from Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke to Richard Gere and Wesley Snipes– welcome back), but we’ll see if it lives up to the name, and to the streets.

Release Date: 5 March 2010
Cast: Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes
Genre: Action | Crime
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Michael C. Martin
Studio: Overture Films

Burned out veteran Eddie Dugan (Golden Globe®-winner Richard Gere) is just one week away from his pension and a fishing cabin in Connecticut. Narcotics officer Sal Procida (Oscar® nominee Ethan Hawke) has discovered there’s no line he won’t cross to provide a better life for his long-suffering wife and seven children. And Clarence “Tango” Butler (Oscar® nominee Don Cheadle) has been undercover so long his loyalties have started to shift from his fellow police officers to his prison buddy Caz (Wesley Snipes), one of Brooklyn’s most infamous drug dealers. With personal and work pressures bearing down on them, each man faces daily tests of judgment and honor in one of the world’s most difficult jobs. When NYPD’s Operation Clean Up targets the notoriously drug-ridden BK housing project, all three officers find themselves swept away by the violence and corruption of Brooklyn’s gritty 65th Precinct and its most treacherous criminals. During seven fateful days, Eddie, Sal and Tango find themselves hurtling inextricably toward the same fatal crime scene and a shattering collision with destiny. The film captures the volatile and deadly world of one of New York’s most dangerous precincts through the eyes of the men and women pledged to protect and serve, as they face the wrenching choices that make them Brooklyn’s Finest.

RICHARD Gere heads up the cast in an exciting new cop drama from the man who brought us Training Day.

Antoine Fuqua’s Brookyln Finest stars Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawk and none other than ‘tax dodger’ Wesley Snipes.

The all-star cast play cops and gangsters in Brooklyn and the film explores the struggles they endure.

Anyone else spot Omar from The Wire in the trailer?

Looking at the scenes of this trailer I am at the conclusion that 2010 is gonna be a awesome year for movie goers.  This one in itself is gonna be dope, I know it, so be on the lookout!  Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes just to name a few of its actors…yup yup!

For some reason I find posters which have half the actor’s faces on in a diagonal line quite attention grabbing . . . I know that might seem strange but I do find this one to have the same type of draw. Good leading cast for this movie! Plus I do love Richard Gere.

Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Overture Films has debuted a trailer for Antoine Fuqua’s Brooklyn’s Finest starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Wesley ‘Capone’ Snipes. The film looks interesting; certainly one worth keeping an eye on. I must warn you, this trailer might contain a few spoilers; if your the type who doesn’t like a taster- then I suggest you give this one a miss. Anyway, the film is a multi-strand of three stories: Gere is the cop with seven days left before retirement (stay with me), who gets saddled with the newest recruit in his last week. Hawke is the financially crippled husband and father; who considers pinching drug money to ease the troubles. Cheadle is the deep undercover cop assigned the task of taking down head thug (Snipes) with whom he has history. The three stories meet in a climactic event with hilarious consequences (okay, scrap the last part). The film definitely looks like the bastard child of Fuqua’s previous work Training Day and Scorsese’s The Departed: two solid flicks- hopefully this one will be too.

Here the trailer; Wire fans can look out for Mr Omar:

Dré