Quentin Tarantino is back with his latest big budget flock, Django Unchained.
This has a huge cast, with Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and a nice array of fun cameos, and a strong supporting cast. With this being a major Tarantino release, you can be assured this is way adult, highly violent, and to many will be very offensive. So the word is, if you are offended by harsh language, and almost three hours of unrefined racial slurs that were of the era, this is not your movie and see something else.
This story is shot in old the Spaghetti Western style of the Clint Eastwood era. It is set in the mid 1800's at the height of slavery in the deep south. Basically, this is the story of a character named Django (Foxx), who is a slave purchased by a German-born, turned American bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Waltz). He needs Django to locate some of the criminals he is looking for because of the plantations that Django has worked on. What Schultz finds out, is that Django is a remarkable man, who becomes the "fastest gun in the south."
The two pair up and spend a year or so going throughout Texas collecting wanted criminals for the money. Although the Dr., is not very fond of the "alive" part of dead or alive in bounty hunting. Their agreement is, is Django helps Schultz find many of this bounties, and he will help Django rescue Django's wife who is still a slave at a plantation run by Calvin Candie (DiCaprio) and his assistant Stephen, (Jackson.) This being a Tarantino flick, this is far more complicated than simply this, but it is far too deep to be explained in detail here. But those are the basics. As most of his flicks, there are many surprises and turns.
First off, this is a very intense movie, that has an almost genius hint of comedy and irony mixed in. Tarantino is a master of this. This also has an eclectic musical soundtrack that is very well used. There is the typical over the top violence that is tough to watch sometimes, with tons of gun play, and graphic numerous bloody scenes that are typical Tarantino fashion. Many could find this offensive with the dialogue and stereotypes of the era. So this is clearly not for everyone. This pulls no punches. At times this can make you wince.
But there is a ton to like in this movie. This movie makes you feel many emotions and that is a Tarantino signature. Whether you like what you're feeling or not is for you to decide, but you can't deny the depth of the work and writing. This also has the "slow burn" approach to many scenes as he lets you simmer a while as you wait for the inevitable. Skilled movie making to be sure. Tarantino movie are seldom short because of his style, but he keeps you locked in. This is two hours and forty minutes.
Waltz is simply sensational as the ruthless, cunning, yet very gentlemanly Schultz, who goes through all emotions humans can on his strange journey. He is an Oscar winner from another Tarantino movie Inglorious Basterds, and I think he wins another here. Foxx is terrific again as the torn Django, and looks great as a southern gunfighter. They lead the entire cast all who are really great. Interesting, both Waltz and Foxx have Oscars, Dicaprio is a three-time Oscar nominee, and so is Jackson - a nominee with one. So the pedigree here is strong.
Django Unchained. Although a bit controversial, and not everyone's cup of tea, this is simply one of the best movies of the year.
Friday, December 28, 2012
MOVIE REVIEWS - Parental Guidance
Well the Christmas comedies keep on coming out, and this time it's Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal, and Bette Midler.
PG is an old school versus new school comedy where the older generation meets Gen X. With all of the other comedies this holiday tanking with both critics, and movie goers, Hollywood needs a comedic hit. Well this may not be a huge box office smash, or the funniest movie in years, PG has its moments. But don't believe the one quote I heard, that this is one of the best movies of the year. Immensely overstated.
Crystal stars as Artie. He is married to Diane (Midler). He is a sportscaster for a minor league baseball team in Fresno. He gets fired from his long time job, and has to deal with that heartbreak at 59 years old. Diane is a retired TV weather girl, and they both are looking for the next big challenge in their lives. Well, bring in the 3 grand kids they have in Atlanta that are the children of their only daughter, Alice (Marissa Tomei). Artie and Diane travel across country to baby sit for a week for their daughter and you can see quickly this is not going to go well.
The children Harper, Turner, and Barker are being raised by Gen-Xers that are really out there. Of course this is all very much parody of the modern parent with just as much being completely over the top. But as in all good comedy, a certain amount of this is based on truth, and that makes it funny. Artie and Diane can not understand any of the weirdness. From the way the kids are talked to, fed, and the games they play and lives they lead. Artie is old school, and this world that his grand kids live in is new school. And the battle is on. Can they develop a good relationship with the three kids, and start over again?
This is an interesting movie. Some of this is extremely well done. There are real heartfelt moments, and a bit of this will bring a small tear to the eyes. Some of this is really targeted at the heart, and speaks equally well to both generations. That's why it's really hard to believe that some of this is so bad, and sophomoric. And that's a shame. There's a bunch of sellout moments in this picture that could have been reworked to make this really solid.
Crystal is who he is. Over the years, he kind of does one kind of East Coast shtick in most of his movies. Midler is fun to watch, and is pretty funny at times. I really liked the character they wrote for her, and she ran well with it. They are clearly the stars of this movie and at times show nice chemistry, when the writing allows it.
But there's just too much temptation to show grown men getting hit in the groin, singing toilet songs, and of course people peeing. Oh, and don't forget the numerous scenes where these kids are shown in a really horrible light. But the movie does bring the blame back from them, to the overprotective parents. But the ratio of really good, funny, and nice moments is about square with the tasteless ones. That equates to a slightly tolerable movie
Parental Guidance. 50/50.
PG is an old school versus new school comedy where the older generation meets Gen X. With all of the other comedies this holiday tanking with both critics, and movie goers, Hollywood needs a comedic hit. Well this may not be a huge box office smash, or the funniest movie in years, PG has its moments. But don't believe the one quote I heard, that this is one of the best movies of the year. Immensely overstated.
Crystal stars as Artie. He is married to Diane (Midler). He is a sportscaster for a minor league baseball team in Fresno. He gets fired from his long time job, and has to deal with that heartbreak at 59 years old. Diane is a retired TV weather girl, and they both are looking for the next big challenge in their lives. Well, bring in the 3 grand kids they have in Atlanta that are the children of their only daughter, Alice (Marissa Tomei). Artie and Diane travel across country to baby sit for a week for their daughter and you can see quickly this is not going to go well.
The children Harper, Turner, and Barker are being raised by Gen-Xers that are really out there. Of course this is all very much parody of the modern parent with just as much being completely over the top. But as in all good comedy, a certain amount of this is based on truth, and that makes it funny. Artie and Diane can not understand any of the weirdness. From the way the kids are talked to, fed, and the games they play and lives they lead. Artie is old school, and this world that his grand kids live in is new school. And the battle is on. Can they develop a good relationship with the three kids, and start over again?
This is an interesting movie. Some of this is extremely well done. There are real heartfelt moments, and a bit of this will bring a small tear to the eyes. Some of this is really targeted at the heart, and speaks equally well to both generations. That's why it's really hard to believe that some of this is so bad, and sophomoric. And that's a shame. There's a bunch of sellout moments in this picture that could have been reworked to make this really solid.
Crystal is who he is. Over the years, he kind of does one kind of East Coast shtick in most of his movies. Midler is fun to watch, and is pretty funny at times. I really liked the character they wrote for her, and she ran well with it. They are clearly the stars of this movie and at times show nice chemistry, when the writing allows it.
But there's just too much temptation to show grown men getting hit in the groin, singing toilet songs, and of course people peeing. Oh, and don't forget the numerous scenes where these kids are shown in a really horrible light. But the movie does bring the blame back from them, to the overprotective parents. But the ratio of really good, funny, and nice moments is about square with the tasteless ones. That equates to a slightly tolerable movie
Parental Guidance. 50/50.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW - This Is 40
Movie maker Judd Apatow has been making edgy comedies for a long time now with great success. This Is 40 is his latest project, a sort of sequel to his Knocked Up years ago.
This brings back some of the characters from Knocked Up, and introduces us to some new ones too. This is a look at the challenges and facts to a degree, about turning 40 in today's world. Some of this is laugh out loud funny. But I emphasize some. But above all, what this really is, is 2 hours and 15 minutes of really not funny. Also tasteless, or nothing resembling original. This is supposed to be Apatow's most heartfelt comedy yet. There is not one moment here that is anywhere near engaging or heartfelt. Just distant, self-indulgent, and "I'm making the movie, so I'll do what I want."
Paul Rudd is Pete, and Leslie Mann is Debbie. They are both having birthdays in the same week and turning 40. She is panicked by it, and he is sort of disconnected. They have two teen girls, and have their hands full with that. Pete owns a struggling record company, and Debbie owns a small clothing store. They have enormous financial problems, they lie to each other, and live sort of separate lives - married. Their kids are obnoxious, so are their friends. Plus their extended families are amazingly dysfunctional.
To be fair, a lot of this really speaks to the target audience. Much of this is a mirror image of what young couples have gone through and are going through. And there are a few moments that are poignant and funny. But far too few. This is simply not very funny. I was in a full theater today, and many of the moments designed for big laughs, got none.
Trouble here is this. It's the same formula that Apatow has been using for years. Lot's of terrible language, an obsession with body parts and sounds, drug use, and a 7th grade level of humor all the way around. Only this time we get to see such lovely things as a mammogram, a colonoscopy, a prostate exam, and a visit to the gynecologist. That's on top watching Pete sit on the john for minutes on end while he has a fight with Debbie, not once but twice. The formula is old, tired and been done. He invented a formula that for himself and now he has worn out his own welcome. Although this time he does toss in, a parent bullying and threatening a buck-tooth little kid, and a different mother ripping into a school principal about her husband who recently died.
I do like Rudd. Only if he could decide if he's really an original funny man, or if he's just another guy on screen. I wish he would choose more wisely. There are times though he really makes me laugh. Leslie Mann (Apatow's real-life wife) is a pretty funny lady. She always seems to have that glazed, dazed look on her face, and is sort of a not plugged in self that is charming at times, and completely original and hers alone. The supporting cast is big with names, Jason Segel, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Melissa McCarthy, Albert Brooks and others. All small roles, all over casted, and most are unnecessary.
This goes in way too many directions, with a total loss of focus for the most part. Almost all the characters you don't really like, or worse care about. Biggest trouble here? This is way too long. How no one involved with this doesn't know that is beyond me. This is 2 hours and 15 minutes. More than likely movie makers ego run amok.
This Is 40. This is mostly 40 minutes too long, and nearly all of it is just a mess.
This brings back some of the characters from Knocked Up, and introduces us to some new ones too. This is a look at the challenges and facts to a degree, about turning 40 in today's world. Some of this is laugh out loud funny. But I emphasize some. But above all, what this really is, is 2 hours and 15 minutes of really not funny. Also tasteless, or nothing resembling original. This is supposed to be Apatow's most heartfelt comedy yet. There is not one moment here that is anywhere near engaging or heartfelt. Just distant, self-indulgent, and "I'm making the movie, so I'll do what I want."
Paul Rudd is Pete, and Leslie Mann is Debbie. They are both having birthdays in the same week and turning 40. She is panicked by it, and he is sort of disconnected. They have two teen girls, and have their hands full with that. Pete owns a struggling record company, and Debbie owns a small clothing store. They have enormous financial problems, they lie to each other, and live sort of separate lives - married. Their kids are obnoxious, so are their friends. Plus their extended families are amazingly dysfunctional.
To be fair, a lot of this really speaks to the target audience. Much of this is a mirror image of what young couples have gone through and are going through. And there are a few moments that are poignant and funny. But far too few. This is simply not very funny. I was in a full theater today, and many of the moments designed for big laughs, got none.
Trouble here is this. It's the same formula that Apatow has been using for years. Lot's of terrible language, an obsession with body parts and sounds, drug use, and a 7th grade level of humor all the way around. Only this time we get to see such lovely things as a mammogram, a colonoscopy, a prostate exam, and a visit to the gynecologist. That's on top watching Pete sit on the john for minutes on end while he has a fight with Debbie, not once but twice. The formula is old, tired and been done. He invented a formula that for himself and now he has worn out his own welcome. Although this time he does toss in, a parent bullying and threatening a buck-tooth little kid, and a different mother ripping into a school principal about her husband who recently died.
I do like Rudd. Only if he could decide if he's really an original funny man, or if he's just another guy on screen. I wish he would choose more wisely. There are times though he really makes me laugh. Leslie Mann (Apatow's real-life wife) is a pretty funny lady. She always seems to have that glazed, dazed look on her face, and is sort of a not plugged in self that is charming at times, and completely original and hers alone. The supporting cast is big with names, Jason Segel, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Melissa McCarthy, Albert Brooks and others. All small roles, all over casted, and most are unnecessary.
This goes in way too many directions, with a total loss of focus for the most part. Almost all the characters you don't really like, or worse care about. Biggest trouble here? This is way too long. How no one involved with this doesn't know that is beyond me. This is 2 hours and 15 minutes. More than likely movie makers ego run amok.
This Is 40. This is mostly 40 minutes too long, and nearly all of it is just a mess.
Friday, December 21, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW - Jack Reacher
One of the more eyebrow raising movies of the Christmas season is out this week, as Tom Cruise stars in Jack Reacher.
Jack Reacher is a series of books that many have read, and now have come to the big screen. There has been a ton of "are you kidding me's", with the casting of Cruise as the lead character. Purists will be quick to point out that Reacher in the books, is a hulking 6'4" ex-military cop. Cruise of course is about a foot shorter than that. But when you produce this movie as Cruise did here, you can cast yourself. And he did. That's been said.
Reacher is a very interesting character in his development. Reacher is ex-army. He has been decorated with about every single award you can think of. He did about everything in the army that one could, include being a military cop. Now, Reacher is a ghost of a man, who has left the army, and dropped off the radar socially in about every way possible. Reacher does not care about the law, or pretty much anything else, except what is right.
He is an interesting mix vigilante, genius detective, but is still military tough. He is James Bond-ish of sorts as he is good at about everything, but does not wear a tux while doing it. In this movie, he whisks in from out of nowhere, to help a beautiful young attorney Helen (Rosamund Pike) solve a crime. Seems an army veteran sniper shot a bunch of people in broad daylight in Pittsburgh, and Reacher starts to dig deep to see what really happened and who really did it. And why. The police investigation has been far too tidy, and easy. Reacher hears of the story, and moves in to find out the real truth.
This movie is proof positive that Hollywood can make a very good action flick, that deals with some tough subject matter and not make it go over the top. There is violence here, but it's tempered and all of it is central to the story. There is humor, and there is some real nice irony, and a few really solid plot twists that make this entertaining. Toss in a dynamite chase scene and Jack Reacher is pretty darn good. This movie also turns into sort of a "damsel in distress" movie, that turns Reacher into a hero, and that's hard not to like. But you've got to be able to get past Cruise in this role. If you can't, you may be dismissing this out-of-hand, and not going anyway.
Despite how you may feel about Cruise in this kind of role, where he beats up 5 guys at at time in one scene, 3 in another, and is not the Reacher that the fans know, he does hold his own. I am not a huge Cruise fan, but I will give him props when it's deserved. After a couple of decades of overacting and being a parody of himself on and off the set, Cruise has become far more tolerable on screen lately.
But as big of a role as this is for him, the real story here is Rosamund Pike. She is terrific as the buxom beauty, Helen who is an aggressive attorney and at times owns the screen. She is so very different than many other leading women, she was brilliantly cast. They did not need a household name as Helen, but someone of this ilk. And she is great. She is a star on the rise with countless projects in the works well into 2014. She could be the next big deal. Her style is very different than most, she really cuts through. I first saw here in the ill-conceived, Wrath Of the Titans, but everyone's got to get noticed. Better things are head for her.
Jack Reacher. Overall, this is a holiday hit. And there will be more of them.
Jack Reacher is a series of books that many have read, and now have come to the big screen. There has been a ton of "are you kidding me's", with the casting of Cruise as the lead character. Purists will be quick to point out that Reacher in the books, is a hulking 6'4" ex-military cop. Cruise of course is about a foot shorter than that. But when you produce this movie as Cruise did here, you can cast yourself. And he did. That's been said.
Reacher is a very interesting character in his development. Reacher is ex-army. He has been decorated with about every single award you can think of. He did about everything in the army that one could, include being a military cop. Now, Reacher is a ghost of a man, who has left the army, and dropped off the radar socially in about every way possible. Reacher does not care about the law, or pretty much anything else, except what is right.
He is an interesting mix vigilante, genius detective, but is still military tough. He is James Bond-ish of sorts as he is good at about everything, but does not wear a tux while doing it. In this movie, he whisks in from out of nowhere, to help a beautiful young attorney Helen (Rosamund Pike) solve a crime. Seems an army veteran sniper shot a bunch of people in broad daylight in Pittsburgh, and Reacher starts to dig deep to see what really happened and who really did it. And why. The police investigation has been far too tidy, and easy. Reacher hears of the story, and moves in to find out the real truth.
This movie is proof positive that Hollywood can make a very good action flick, that deals with some tough subject matter and not make it go over the top. There is violence here, but it's tempered and all of it is central to the story. There is humor, and there is some real nice irony, and a few really solid plot twists that make this entertaining. Toss in a dynamite chase scene and Jack Reacher is pretty darn good. This movie also turns into sort of a "damsel in distress" movie, that turns Reacher into a hero, and that's hard not to like. But you've got to be able to get past Cruise in this role. If you can't, you may be dismissing this out-of-hand, and not going anyway.
Despite how you may feel about Cruise in this kind of role, where he beats up 5 guys at at time in one scene, 3 in another, and is not the Reacher that the fans know, he does hold his own. I am not a huge Cruise fan, but I will give him props when it's deserved. After a couple of decades of overacting and being a parody of himself on and off the set, Cruise has become far more tolerable on screen lately.
But as big of a role as this is for him, the real story here is Rosamund Pike. She is terrific as the buxom beauty, Helen who is an aggressive attorney and at times owns the screen. She is so very different than many other leading women, she was brilliantly cast. They did not need a household name as Helen, but someone of this ilk. And she is great. She is a star on the rise with countless projects in the works well into 2014. She could be the next big deal. Her style is very different than most, she really cuts through. I first saw here in the ill-conceived, Wrath Of the Titans, but everyone's got to get noticed. Better things are head for her.
Jack Reacher. Overall, this is a holiday hit. And there will be more of them.
MOVIE REVIEW - The Guilt Trip
Seth Rogan and Barbra Streisand star together in the new "comedy," The Guilt Trip. The word "comedy" is being used here only by intended definition.
It has certainly been a long time since Streisand has been on the screen in a starring role. Here she plays an overprotective ethnic mother, Joyce of her only son Andy (Rogen) who is now about 35 years old. Andy is a highly educated inventor who has invented a new organic household cleaner. He is trying to pitch it to large companies for distribution with no luck at all. Andy is sort of awkward, and not overly skilled at the spoken art. Joyce, does not have that problem.
So Andy is going on a coast-to coast driving trip with meetings and pitches along the way, and for reasons that are so ridiculous, he decides to take his non-stop talking mother with him. And so they strike out on this adventure in a compact car, and they start talking. And talking, and talking and talking....my gosh make this stop!!!!
This is essentially a two person movie with Rogen and Streisand and you get so sick of listening to these two yammer on about nothing for a thousand miles or so. These two have no real chemistry, but not all of this is not their fault. The writing on this picture is putrid. And if they let these two improvise much of this, that too was a bad decision. Much of this is really hard to sit through and walking out might cross your mind. This is really not funny, and there is no pace to speak of. Just constant bickering between these two clowns, and even though it may speak to some in it's authenticity, this is really irritating after about 15 minutes.
Then The Guilt Trip tries to grow a heart in the last 10 minutes or so, and actually does. The final few scenes are easily the movies best. But it is way too late, and you are too fatigued to really care about anything that happens to these two at the end. There is just far too much of these two. Observation - a packed theater laughed out loud - once.
Rogen can do good work, and at times I like him. He does have a certain style that in the right role is pretty entertaining. I like him far more as side dish as opposed to main course. Streisand is who she is. She is possibly the greatest pure singer of our time, and has been for a generation or two. She has been great in many movies, but not here. She is so grating, that all you do is wish she would just shut up, and maybe break into a song, so we could here that magical voice sing, and not speak another single word. You actually find yourself wishing you could hear the gentle, soothing voice Fran Drescher made while starring on The Nanny.
Oh, there's a laugh or two, but that's it. This just lays there, and finds your spinal column, grabs it with both hands and twists - hard. This is two hours of your life that will come and go, and you can never get back.
The Guilt Trip. Annoying and flat - would be kind.
It has certainly been a long time since Streisand has been on the screen in a starring role. Here she plays an overprotective ethnic mother, Joyce of her only son Andy (Rogen) who is now about 35 years old. Andy is a highly educated inventor who has invented a new organic household cleaner. He is trying to pitch it to large companies for distribution with no luck at all. Andy is sort of awkward, and not overly skilled at the spoken art. Joyce, does not have that problem.
So Andy is going on a coast-to coast driving trip with meetings and pitches along the way, and for reasons that are so ridiculous, he decides to take his non-stop talking mother with him. And so they strike out on this adventure in a compact car, and they start talking. And talking, and talking and talking....my gosh make this stop!!!!
This is essentially a two person movie with Rogen and Streisand and you get so sick of listening to these two yammer on about nothing for a thousand miles or so. These two have no real chemistry, but not all of this is not their fault. The writing on this picture is putrid. And if they let these two improvise much of this, that too was a bad decision. Much of this is really hard to sit through and walking out might cross your mind. This is really not funny, and there is no pace to speak of. Just constant bickering between these two clowns, and even though it may speak to some in it's authenticity, this is really irritating after about 15 minutes.
Then The Guilt Trip tries to grow a heart in the last 10 minutes or so, and actually does. The final few scenes are easily the movies best. But it is way too late, and you are too fatigued to really care about anything that happens to these two at the end. There is just far too much of these two. Observation - a packed theater laughed out loud - once.
Rogen can do good work, and at times I like him. He does have a certain style that in the right role is pretty entertaining. I like him far more as side dish as opposed to main course. Streisand is who she is. She is possibly the greatest pure singer of our time, and has been for a generation or two. She has been great in many movies, but not here. She is so grating, that all you do is wish she would just shut up, and maybe break into a song, so we could here that magical voice sing, and not speak another single word. You actually find yourself wishing you could hear the gentle, soothing voice Fran Drescher made while starring on The Nanny.
Oh, there's a laugh or two, but that's it. This just lays there, and finds your spinal column, grabs it with both hands and twists - hard. This is two hours of your life that will come and go, and you can never get back.
The Guilt Trip. Annoying and flat - would be kind.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
LOCAL GOLF - Belly Butter Ban? - Yay or Nay?
With all of us being golfers, we have heard about the proposed new rule change taking place in 2016. The change to the "Belly Putter." I took some time to think it over.
Golf's leading governing powers actually didn't go all out and "ban" the club. Just the way that that club, like any other club can be swung. The rule is that no club can be anchored to your body when you swing it. It steadies the club, and gives it a "pivot point" per say, thus making that particular swing easier. Look at it anyway you want, pro or con. That's the reality of the anchoring of the club. It makes it easier. Many of the pro's wouldn't do it if it wasn't.
Since about 47 percent of our strokes are on the green, this is a significant amount of the game. Perspective - golf has been around for 600 years. Many equipment improvements have been made, courses are better and longer, and greens smoother and faster. But none of that makes the game easier. In fact, just the opposite. Not that golf is ever easy. But an anchored club is simply that. Steadied, when the nerves and skill level may not be so much.
Better equipment has made the game more mass appeal. Drivers made out of space age materials are longer, and supposedly straighter. But there's still plenty of hacks out there with 500 dollar drivers and 1,000 dollar irons. Most of them are just hitting the ball deeper and faster into the woods or water. Because in the end, it's the swing that matters. Holding the club out at bay, in your hands and doing all that is required to make good shots is harder than you might think.
Golf and baseball are probably as tough as any game there is to play well. Both require the most skill overall. Taking nothing away from basketball or football. But in those sports, it is possible to "out-athlete" people, and overpower the opposition. In baseball, amazing hand-eye coordination is key to hit or catch a 100 mph ball. In golf the opposition is the course and of course yourself trying to get the lowest score you can with the allure being that this is an incredibly difficult game. Make it easier, and you remove some of the allure.
They've tried hard to make baseball easier at the professional level for decades to please the fans. Lowered the mound, added too many teams and watered the talent pool. Invented the designated hitter so pitchers don't have to bat. Made new stadiums band-box style where home runs fly out at breakneck pace. Plus, the umpires no longer call high strikes. And it hasn't made the game better, just longer.
This change to the belly putter basically will only affect the various professional tours at this point. Weekend hacks like us for the most part will still be able to do what they want if they wish. Only they can make that individual choice. But the best players on earth, playing the hardest game on earth should have to play it without violating one of its basic premises. PGA pro's should play it all the way out, the hard way. In fact, the courses they play by and large should be set up even tougher for them. Golf's intention is to challenge par, and for par to challenge you. At tour events, professional players shouldn't be shooting 20 or 25 under par. That's too easy, but they get their feelings and egos hurt to quickly playing par golf. As will many pros about this belly putter business.
Golf is hard. Plenty hard. Subliminally that's the reason most of us love to play it. It's the hard, that makes it the great game that it is.
Golf's leading governing powers actually didn't go all out and "ban" the club. Just the way that that club, like any other club can be swung. The rule is that no club can be anchored to your body when you swing it. It steadies the club, and gives it a "pivot point" per say, thus making that particular swing easier. Look at it anyway you want, pro or con. That's the reality of the anchoring of the club. It makes it easier. Many of the pro's wouldn't do it if it wasn't.
Since about 47 percent of our strokes are on the green, this is a significant amount of the game. Perspective - golf has been around for 600 years. Many equipment improvements have been made, courses are better and longer, and greens smoother and faster. But none of that makes the game easier. In fact, just the opposite. Not that golf is ever easy. But an anchored club is simply that. Steadied, when the nerves and skill level may not be so much.
Better equipment has made the game more mass appeal. Drivers made out of space age materials are longer, and supposedly straighter. But there's still plenty of hacks out there with 500 dollar drivers and 1,000 dollar irons. Most of them are just hitting the ball deeper and faster into the woods or water. Because in the end, it's the swing that matters. Holding the club out at bay, in your hands and doing all that is required to make good shots is harder than you might think.
Golf and baseball are probably as tough as any game there is to play well. Both require the most skill overall. Taking nothing away from basketball or football. But in those sports, it is possible to "out-athlete" people, and overpower the opposition. In baseball, amazing hand-eye coordination is key to hit or catch a 100 mph ball. In golf the opposition is the course and of course yourself trying to get the lowest score you can with the allure being that this is an incredibly difficult game. Make it easier, and you remove some of the allure.
They've tried hard to make baseball easier at the professional level for decades to please the fans. Lowered the mound, added too many teams and watered the talent pool. Invented the designated hitter so pitchers don't have to bat. Made new stadiums band-box style where home runs fly out at breakneck pace. Plus, the umpires no longer call high strikes. And it hasn't made the game better, just longer.
This change to the belly putter basically will only affect the various professional tours at this point. Weekend hacks like us for the most part will still be able to do what they want if they wish. Only they can make that individual choice. But the best players on earth, playing the hardest game on earth should have to play it without violating one of its basic premises. PGA pro's should play it all the way out, the hard way. In fact, the courses they play by and large should be set up even tougher for them. Golf's intention is to challenge par, and for par to challenge you. At tour events, professional players shouldn't be shooting 20 or 25 under par. That's too easy, but they get their feelings and egos hurt to quickly playing par golf. As will many pros about this belly putter business.
Golf is hard. Plenty hard. Subliminally that's the reason most of us love to play it. It's the hard, that makes it the great game that it is.
MOVIE REVIEW - Hitchcock
In limited release is the new Anthony Hopkins flick, Hitchcock. It as it would be, this is a story about film making great Alfred Hitchcock at the time he was making his classic, Psycho in 1959 and 1960.
This film deals with Hitchcock's absolute obsession with making what would become the groundbreaking horror flick. Psycho of course, was a different kind of movie for the era, basically becoming the first "slasher" flick. Although it is incredibly tame by today's standards, it was huge at the time and scared people to death. But the classic shower scene still holds up well as far as begin scary is concerned. Psycho changed movies forever in numerous ways, and Hitchcock was the one bold enough to know that this was to become more than just a movie.
Hopkins is great as Hitchcock in about every way. He looks like the icon, and sounds like him too. In this picture he is in conflict with his wife Alma (Helen Mirren). They have been married for decades, and she of course is a screenwriter in Hollywood too. There are years of resentment, and jealousy coming to a head as Alfred becomes incredibly obsessed with this picture and it's young and beautiful star, Janet Leigh (Scarlett Johansson).
Even though they let us in on some of the nuances behind the making of Psycho, this movie is generally about how making this movie affected his personal life with Alma. This is not a "trivia" movie. Yes, they address some of the roadblocks and secrets associated with Psycho. One slight bombshell for some may be that the book Psycho was actually based in part, on a true story from Wisconsin. But Psycho was not completely true, but based on real a real guy arrested by terrible crimes named Ed Gein.
This is a very nice picture that hopefully will find some success. It boasts a great cast that also has Jessica Biel as Vera Miles (also in Psycho) and Toni Collette as Hitchcock's trusted assistant, Peggy. Collette is terrific in her small role, as are Johansson and Biel. Through the magic of makeup and costuming, these women are transported back in time and look stunningly authentic as 1960 ish Hollywood beauties. They each own small roles that they really took charge of. All very good. Johansson and Biel both look amazingly like Leigh and Miles.
I can't think of a movie that Helen Mirren has made lately that she hasn't been great in. She and Hopkins give command performances here and develop a wonderful chemistry that is palpable. Both are outstanding. This move also sports a respectable supporting cast, and really terrific sets and costuming. I always think it's fun to be sent back to the golden Hollywood age in movies when done well, and this is. This movie is quick and tidy at 95 minutes and very well conceived and edited. Just like a real Hitchcock movie from his era.
Hitchcock. There is nothing not to love about this movie.
This film deals with Hitchcock's absolute obsession with making what would become the groundbreaking horror flick. Psycho of course, was a different kind of movie for the era, basically becoming the first "slasher" flick. Although it is incredibly tame by today's standards, it was huge at the time and scared people to death. But the classic shower scene still holds up well as far as begin scary is concerned. Psycho changed movies forever in numerous ways, and Hitchcock was the one bold enough to know that this was to become more than just a movie.
Hopkins is great as Hitchcock in about every way. He looks like the icon, and sounds like him too. In this picture he is in conflict with his wife Alma (Helen Mirren). They have been married for decades, and she of course is a screenwriter in Hollywood too. There are years of resentment, and jealousy coming to a head as Alfred becomes incredibly obsessed with this picture and it's young and beautiful star, Janet Leigh (Scarlett Johansson).
Even though they let us in on some of the nuances behind the making of Psycho, this movie is generally about how making this movie affected his personal life with Alma. This is not a "trivia" movie. Yes, they address some of the roadblocks and secrets associated with Psycho. One slight bombshell for some may be that the book Psycho was actually based in part, on a true story from Wisconsin. But Psycho was not completely true, but based on real a real guy arrested by terrible crimes named Ed Gein.
This is a very nice picture that hopefully will find some success. It boasts a great cast that also has Jessica Biel as Vera Miles (also in Psycho) and Toni Collette as Hitchcock's trusted assistant, Peggy. Collette is terrific in her small role, as are Johansson and Biel. Through the magic of makeup and costuming, these women are transported back in time and look stunningly authentic as 1960 ish Hollywood beauties. They each own small roles that they really took charge of. All very good. Johansson and Biel both look amazingly like Leigh and Miles.
I can't think of a movie that Helen Mirren has made lately that she hasn't been great in. She and Hopkins give command performances here and develop a wonderful chemistry that is palpable. Both are outstanding. This move also sports a respectable supporting cast, and really terrific sets and costuming. I always think it's fun to be sent back to the golden Hollywood age in movies when done well, and this is. This movie is quick and tidy at 95 minutes and very well conceived and edited. Just like a real Hitchcock movie from his era.
Hitchcock. There is nothing not to love about this movie.
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