Ben Stiller and his crew are back again and this time it's The Watch. His latest sophomoric summer comedy, that's missing only one element - the comedy.
The Watch stars Stiller, Jonah Hill, and Vince Vaughn. These suburban dudes form a neighborhood watch program in small town Ohio after there is murder in this sleepy town. Evan (Stiller) is the manager of the local Costco Store where the murder takes place, and he forms the watch program with his new friends Bob (Vaughn) and Franklyn (Hill). And strangely enough, they find out that the murderer is actually a space alien. They then discover that there is a planned alien invasion and they of course are determained to stop it. And they do, gosh what a surprise!
Now I know that doesn't sound all that funny, and it's not. But there is a lot of attempted humor throughout this movie, and little of it works. The majority of this 90 minute mess is mired in sinking to the very lowest common denominator humor, and can never pick itself up. And after about 20 minutes you realize it doesn't want to. It wants to be the funny guy snapping towels in the junior high locker room at shower time, and that's exactly what it is. This is rated R,and deservedly so. But it wouldn't matter what it's rated. It's simply not funny. Oh, there's a moment or two here and there, but let's not get carried away.
Truth is, for the most past if you've seen one Ben Stiller movie, you've seen them all. He's the same character, so is Vaughn and the rest of these guys. And it's all the same. Bad language, constant references and obsession with body parts and even some straight forward humor that is old, stale and tired. This movie with a few new wrinkles, looks just like all the others. But don't just take my word for it, ask the half full theater I saw the film with today. None of them laughed, and if they did, I or anyone else didn't hear it. Maybe everyone went home and rolled on the floor uncontrollably. Possible I guess.
The Watch. Little of this works, and the parts that do work are forgettable. Much better choices at the movies right now.
Friday, July 27, 2012
LOCAL GOLF - Back to Vegas for Charity
Last week the Dewsweepers flew out to Las Vegas and played in a charity golf tourney at the beautiful Summerlin Golf Club. The event is hosted every year by Dewsweeper friends that have NEO roots, and relocated to Vegas a few years ago. Al and Tammi DelSangro own a fantastic Italian themed restaurant in Vegas called Giuseppe's, and this is their annual outing.
It was played again Summerlin, which is a really great golf course set in a housing community that is a joy to play. This is the 3rd time I've played this course, the second time I've played a scramble there. Summerlin is a typical desert course. It is relatively open with generous fairways, and reasonable amount of sand protecting the greens. There is a small "lake" or two, they are really just retention ponds,. but your ball can get just as lost in there as an actual lake.
This is always a nice tourney that locals, and many peeps from out of town come into play. We came into town and our team featured Dewsweepers me, Beef, Dirk and B-Roz. The 4 man scramble event does tee off early about 730, and wrapped up around 1pm. Which is a good thing because that particular Saturday the temp was 107 when we had a few holes to play. Good thing we ran across our friend Dr. Drey on the course who is a Vegas dentist and he suggested "The Dr. Drey Cooling System." Which included pouring ice and ice water down our backs. You kind of had to bear down and get through it, but it did work, and helped get through the last few holes.
Our team finished 11 under par for the day, good enough for second place in the outing, 13 under ruled the day. But Beef did win long drive for the day, and picked up a new golf bag - nice job!
Summerlin is another course that is totally worth putting on your list when you make a Vegas desert golf run. Located in the Sun City Center. Always in good shape, and always a fun time. Always feels good too, to help support charity nand tee itup at the same time!
Scores
Dewsweepers - 11 under.
It was played again Summerlin, which is a really great golf course set in a housing community that is a joy to play. This is the 3rd time I've played this course, the second time I've played a scramble there. Summerlin is a typical desert course. It is relatively open with generous fairways, and reasonable amount of sand protecting the greens. There is a small "lake" or two, they are really just retention ponds,. but your ball can get just as lost in there as an actual lake.
This is always a nice tourney that locals, and many peeps from out of town come into play. We came into town and our team featured Dewsweepers me, Beef, Dirk and B-Roz. The 4 man scramble event does tee off early about 730, and wrapped up around 1pm. Which is a good thing because that particular Saturday the temp was 107 when we had a few holes to play. Good thing we ran across our friend Dr. Drey on the course who is a Vegas dentist and he suggested "The Dr. Drey Cooling System." Which included pouring ice and ice water down our backs. You kind of had to bear down and get through it, but it did work, and helped get through the last few holes.
Our team finished 11 under par for the day, good enough for second place in the outing, 13 under ruled the day. But Beef did win long drive for the day, and picked up a new golf bag - nice job!
Summerlin is another course that is totally worth putting on your list when you make a Vegas desert golf run. Located in the Sun City Center. Always in good shape, and always a fun time. Always feels good too, to help support charity nand tee itup at the same time!
Scores
Dewsweepers - 11 under.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
LOCAL GOLF - Vegas Bound!
This week, fellow Dewsweeper Beef, and I flew out to Las Vegas where we have friends who put on a real fun charity golf event every summer. We played in that scramble event, but first we tee'd it up at the beautiful Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas the day before. What a great place.
For you golfers who have never played desert golf, you should sometime soon. It is a very different game overall, and although we prefer the beauty of northern golf, desert golf has its advantages. As you can see, we were in the shadows of beautiful mountains all morning long, and that makes for a fantastic backdrop. Also, the course was in great shape, with nice greens, and tight fairways. Needless to say, there is not much water to hit into on desert courses, but there are other challenges.
It's best to keep it in the fairway, as generally a few yards off it, is desert, or houses. There was plenty of sand too on this course protecting the greens that generally were very large. We also found that the thin air was giving way to extra length, especially with iron play so we had to adjust that part of our game as well.
I came out firing, parring the first three holes and looking like I knew what I was doing. But then a penalty stroke induced triple bogey on the 200 yard number 4 par 3. I hit someones roof, lost ball, and a hack stroke, 2-putt. Yikes. And for good measure I took another triple on number 8, penalty stroke, 3-putt - sheesh! For a 45 on the front. But 6 over on two holes, so the rest I shot well. I can ususally stay away from big numbers.
Beef shot a 46 on the front with just overall more consistent play with no real blow-ups like me, but a few doubles hurt. ths is a very different gajme out here, so there is an adjustment period. But he parred the difficult number 9, and turned the corner. In fact,we both did.
We both got our desert feet underneath us and both shot a nice 40 on the back. Beef also hit one of the best 3-woods I have ever seen on the green after an errant tee shot on number 10. It was from about 275 yards to about 10 feet from the hole. We figured out the adjusted club selection, and the greens for a strong back 9.
Aliante is a wonderful course that you should consider if you make a Vegas golf trip. It has 4 sets of tees, Dove, Hawk, Falcon, and Eagle. We played the Falcon tees that were about 6,700 yards. The Eagles tip out at about 7100. Hawk plays about 6,200, and dove (women's) about 5,300. This is a very scenic course that is just trimmed out perfectly. The off-season rates wee great, and the service was fantastic too. Plus they served one of the best breakdfast sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. - Legit sandwich, weighed about 3 pounds!
We beat the heat too, by playing early, but it was still 101 when we finished up at about 11 am. As you can see we cooled off. Think about desert golf if you've never tried it. This was my fourth time to the desert for golf, and I love it. Every golfer should do it at least once just for the difference.
Scores
Wynn - 85
Beef - 86
For you golfers who have never played desert golf, you should sometime soon. It is a very different game overall, and although we prefer the beauty of northern golf, desert golf has its advantages. As you can see, we were in the shadows of beautiful mountains all morning long, and that makes for a fantastic backdrop. Also, the course was in great shape, with nice greens, and tight fairways. Needless to say, there is not much water to hit into on desert courses, but there are other challenges.
It's best to keep it in the fairway, as generally a few yards off it, is desert, or houses. There was plenty of sand too on this course protecting the greens that generally were very large. We also found that the thin air was giving way to extra length, especially with iron play so we had to adjust that part of our game as well.
I came out firing, parring the first three holes and looking like I knew what I was doing. But then a penalty stroke induced triple bogey on the 200 yard number 4 par 3. I hit someones roof, lost ball, and a hack stroke, 2-putt. Yikes. And for good measure I took another triple on number 8, penalty stroke, 3-putt - sheesh! For a 45 on the front. But 6 over on two holes, so the rest I shot well. I can ususally stay away from big numbers.
Beef shot a 46 on the front with just overall more consistent play with no real blow-ups like me, but a few doubles hurt. ths is a very different gajme out here, so there is an adjustment period. But he parred the difficult number 9, and turned the corner. In fact,we both did.
We both got our desert feet underneath us and both shot a nice 40 on the back. Beef also hit one of the best 3-woods I have ever seen on the green after an errant tee shot on number 10. It was from about 275 yards to about 10 feet from the hole. We figured out the adjusted club selection, and the greens for a strong back 9.
Aliante is a wonderful course that you should consider if you make a Vegas golf trip. It has 4 sets of tees, Dove, Hawk, Falcon, and Eagle. We played the Falcon tees that were about 6,700 yards. The Eagles tip out at about 7100. Hawk plays about 6,200, and dove (women's) about 5,300. This is a very scenic course that is just trimmed out perfectly. The off-season rates wee great, and the service was fantastic too. Plus they served one of the best breakdfast sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. - Legit sandwich, weighed about 3 pounds!
We beat the heat too, by playing early, but it was still 101 when we finished up at about 11 am. As you can see we cooled off. Think about desert golf if you've never tried it. This was my fourth time to the desert for golf, and I love it. Every golfer should do it at least once just for the difference.
Scores
Wynn - 85
Beef - 86
MOVIE REVIEW - The Dark Knight Rises
Well the summers big blockbuster Batman's Dark Knight Rises is in theaters this week. This is supposedly the final in this series of Batman flicks, but don't believe it. There's simply too much money to be made in the future.
DKR is again a very dark, and almost disturbing story of Batman, and his relationship with Gotham City, and his attempt to save it. To be honest, you have to have seen the first two in this particular trilogy to understand all that is going on. And there is plenty going on. This very well written story takes us through Batman's life in these movies, and pretty much brings full circle the ramifications of all of Batman's decisions in the first two. This is a very complicated, political, and statement making script that quite frankly is very adult. And it is far too difficult to understand in writing here, but if you are up on this series, you will jump right in and hang on.
This movie is so deep, and woven, that young kids will not get it. It's just too intense, and complicated for a child to comprehend. And some of this is very intense and very dark and borderline disturbing. In this, they bring to life and develop a great villain, Bain (Tom Hardy.) Hardy is fantastic as the physically imposing, highly intelligent, and scary terrorist who has brought his wrath down on Gotham. Can Batman save Gotham from a long planned invasion? And will Batman go down in history with the people of Gotham as a hero or villain? His eternal question.
Christian Bale is back again as Batman, and probably gives the best performance of the three he has made. Although, he spends more time as Bruce Wayne rather than Batman here, and that is one of the movies weak links. Anne Hathaway is new here as Catwoman, and the regulars Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Micheal Caine are back again and all give nice performances.
This is a big movie. Everything about this is big. Big music, big effects, sets, costumes, sound the whole thing. This cann be said that this is almost an experience rather than a movie. But pull back all the wrapping paper, and that's what it is... a movie. It is long at 2:50, but it moves along well. This is a big hit with Batman fans, and it does live up to the hype as best it can. Even though for me, there was far too much Bruce Wayne and not enough Batman begin Batman, and that was hard to get past.
The Dark Knight Rises. Moments of average, good, great and brilliant, all about evenly matched. Very good summer movie escape.
DKR is again a very dark, and almost disturbing story of Batman, and his relationship with Gotham City, and his attempt to save it. To be honest, you have to have seen the first two in this particular trilogy to understand all that is going on. And there is plenty going on. This very well written story takes us through Batman's life in these movies, and pretty much brings full circle the ramifications of all of Batman's decisions in the first two. This is a very complicated, political, and statement making script that quite frankly is very adult. And it is far too difficult to understand in writing here, but if you are up on this series, you will jump right in and hang on.
This movie is so deep, and woven, that young kids will not get it. It's just too intense, and complicated for a child to comprehend. And some of this is very intense and very dark and borderline disturbing. In this, they bring to life and develop a great villain, Bain (Tom Hardy.) Hardy is fantastic as the physically imposing, highly intelligent, and scary terrorist who has brought his wrath down on Gotham. Can Batman save Gotham from a long planned invasion? And will Batman go down in history with the people of Gotham as a hero or villain? His eternal question.
Christian Bale is back again as Batman, and probably gives the best performance of the three he has made. Although, he spends more time as Bruce Wayne rather than Batman here, and that is one of the movies weak links. Anne Hathaway is new here as Catwoman, and the regulars Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Micheal Caine are back again and all give nice performances.
This is a big movie. Everything about this is big. Big music, big effects, sets, costumes, sound the whole thing. This cann be said that this is almost an experience rather than a movie. But pull back all the wrapping paper, and that's what it is... a movie. It is long at 2:50, but it moves along well. This is a big hit with Batman fans, and it does live up to the hype as best it can. Even though for me, there was far too much Bruce Wayne and not enough Batman begin Batman, and that was hard to get past.
The Dark Knight Rises. Moments of average, good, great and brilliant, all about evenly matched. Very good summer movie escape.
Monday, July 16, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW - Savages
The latest movie from Oliver Stone is out, Savages. It's another drug-dealing movie that deals with his view of the industry at large and how it works.
Savages has a pretty good cast with newcomers Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, and Aaron Johnson. Also oldcomers too like Salma Heyek, Benicio Del Toro and John Travolta. It's a good mix of the new and the not so new as far as casting is concerned. But one thing that isn't new is Stone's view on the world and how he tends to portray events within our society.
Savages is a pretty good story about these two young guys Ben (Johnson) and Chon (Kitsch). Ben is highly educated from Berkly with double majors in Botany and Business. And Chon is a former soldier from the Gulf War. They are in the marijuana business, and are highly successful. They make the greatest weed on the planet in their small operation. They are both sleeping with and in love with O (Lively). She is a beautiful young woman with a ton of troubles, and she has been swept up in their lives by living with them and lying to her parents about it.
Well, the Mexican drug cartels are unhappy about this business and they want to go into partnership with them. The refuse, and that's a big mistake. They kidnap O, and the demands become larger and more unreasonable. So our characters fight back and take on the cartel as best they can. Will they get O back?
Savages has an agenda without question. Stone attempts to glorify the small marijuana business as a very good, successful business that "takes all the violence out of the drug business." Ben especially is created very sympathetically as a genius that takes his drug money and goes all over the world creating charity missions in under developed nations. He is a man of peace that only wants to sell his weed and live a happy life. Chon is portrayed as a sort of out of control ex-soldier who needs Ben to stay focused. They are both in love with O and both alright with each other sleeping with her in the same house.
The cartels of course are horrible and violent and they indeed are. The leader Elena (Hayek) is a ruthless kingpin who orders murder after murder. Her second in command Lado (Del Toro) is terribly brutal. Del Toro won and Oscar for Traffic, and he is superb here. He one of Hollywood's best horrible character actors. He is the shining star of this movie.
Savages has it's moments of being really good, and that's fine. But there is just such a bad approach to this story from Stone that I have a feeling it's actually a much better story than shown here. It's hard to take a lot of this story seriously At times this is almost cartoonish especially the scenes within the "good drug business," although there are some compelling scenes here. Travolta as the "on the take" government agent is pretty good, even though it's a small role.
Savages. Moments here and there good. But overall, too long, and too laden with Stone. Wish this was in the hands of another.
Savages has a pretty good cast with newcomers Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, and Aaron Johnson. Also oldcomers too like Salma Heyek, Benicio Del Toro and John Travolta. It's a good mix of the new and the not so new as far as casting is concerned. But one thing that isn't new is Stone's view on the world and how he tends to portray events within our society.
Savages is a pretty good story about these two young guys Ben (Johnson) and Chon (Kitsch). Ben is highly educated from Berkly with double majors in Botany and Business. And Chon is a former soldier from the Gulf War. They are in the marijuana business, and are highly successful. They make the greatest weed on the planet in their small operation. They are both sleeping with and in love with O (Lively). She is a beautiful young woman with a ton of troubles, and she has been swept up in their lives by living with them and lying to her parents about it.
Well, the Mexican drug cartels are unhappy about this business and they want to go into partnership with them. The refuse, and that's a big mistake. They kidnap O, and the demands become larger and more unreasonable. So our characters fight back and take on the cartel as best they can. Will they get O back?
Savages has an agenda without question. Stone attempts to glorify the small marijuana business as a very good, successful business that "takes all the violence out of the drug business." Ben especially is created very sympathetically as a genius that takes his drug money and goes all over the world creating charity missions in under developed nations. He is a man of peace that only wants to sell his weed and live a happy life. Chon is portrayed as a sort of out of control ex-soldier who needs Ben to stay focused. They are both in love with O and both alright with each other sleeping with her in the same house.
The cartels of course are horrible and violent and they indeed are. The leader Elena (Hayek) is a ruthless kingpin who orders murder after murder. Her second in command Lado (Del Toro) is terribly brutal. Del Toro won and Oscar for Traffic, and he is superb here. He one of Hollywood's best horrible character actors. He is the shining star of this movie.
Savages has it's moments of being really good, and that's fine. But there is just such a bad approach to this story from Stone that I have a feeling it's actually a much better story than shown here. It's hard to take a lot of this story seriously At times this is almost cartoonish especially the scenes within the "good drug business," although there are some compelling scenes here. Travolta as the "on the take" government agent is pretty good, even though it's a small role.
Savages. Moments here and there good. But overall, too long, and too laden with Stone. Wish this was in the hands of another.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review
This Sunday The Dewsweepers drove up early to Huron and took on a real nice course, Thunderbird Hills South. We reviewed the North Course a few months ago, and both of them are extremely nice. The North, older more traditional, The South newer, and very different in it's design. But really, really nice.
T-Bird South is set in some gently rolling hills on the south side of Route 2, with some sand, and very strategically placed water. Also the greens are great, fast, true and very nice. In fact, this complex is always in such fantastic shape, even in the midst of this bad drought we've been having. This entire course was very green, and in unbelievable shape. The rough is tough, and the fairways are great. The trees are getting taller and thicker by the year, and in years to come this course will shrink down even more.
Tex was back from vacation this week, and low and behold had a free round of golf, since his T-Bird card was full. It's a nice thing they have there, you can earn free rounds. It was good to have him back, and watch him do something you seldom see any golfer do. He 2 putted every single hole for the exception for number 16 in which he had NO putts as he chipped one in from the fringe. He even had the highly confident walk after it, as the ball was dead in halfway to the hole. Tex had a tough front, with a bunch of doubles, but rebounded on the back shaving off 4 strokes from front to back.
Joe Red is back in form with a real nice 39 on the front. No double bogey's on the day, or birdies, but 11 solid pars gave him a slick 79 on the day. Joe hit the ball very consistently, and kept it in play. Red's putter was hot from long range, and cold from short range. Strange situation on the greens but 5 - 1 putts don't lie, and that's how you break 80. No big mistakes, and solid play. Well done!
Beef didn't get off to his usual hot start this week like he has the past number of weeks. And that kind of hung around the rest of the round. Beef didn't play badly at all, just never go on a roll that you need to go on to score really well. He kept damage minimal, and had three really nice pars in a row on the back to steady the ship. Even tough Beef never really got in he zone, he shot an 87. Not bad when you don't really have your best game. And have a couple tough breaks, like a cart path bounce OB and hitting a hanging pine cone on an approach shot. (Pine cone didn't even fall off the tree.)
I had the story of 2 9's. The front I was solid and tidy, hit the driver well, and shot a 39 including a birdie on number 2. The back the driver left me with a few snap hooks, but my irons were good, and was able to smoke and mirror things including another birdie on number 14, for a 41 on he back for a tidy 80 on the day. 3 terrible 3 putts killed me from going real low - inexcusable.
Course highlights? The whole thing, this is flat out a nice place to play golf. But number 3 is one of the hardest holes we play anywhere on any course. 180 yards with water all down the right. Skinny green that rolls, huge bunkers left, and anything long is gone. Very difficult to hit the green, and then the fun begins as this green is very tough to read and to putt well on. BRUTAL! Great starting hole number 1, 500 yard par 5, uphill, downhill. Number 9, really tough par 4 with a creek at the landing area. 10, same creek at landing area, par 5, long and uphill. Number 11, difficult par 4, over same creek again at landing area, up hill, hard green to hit, 400 yards. And 18, 435 par 4, with the creek, sand, trees, and always plays into the wind. Very tough golf hole.
Great experience again, and well worth a drive from anywhere to play. Friendly staff at both North and South Courses. It you are a player, and are making a drive up there sometime, this would be a a nice day. You could even do a North/South 36 hole day of it. Rates are very fair, and both courses are totally worth playing. We had fun, and look forward to going back there again late this summer or early fall.
Scores
Joe Red - 79
Wynn - 80
Beef - 87
Tex - 100+
T-Bird South is set in some gently rolling hills on the south side of Route 2, with some sand, and very strategically placed water. Also the greens are great, fast, true and very nice. In fact, this complex is always in such fantastic shape, even in the midst of this bad drought we've been having. This entire course was very green, and in unbelievable shape. The rough is tough, and the fairways are great. The trees are getting taller and thicker by the year, and in years to come this course will shrink down even more.
Tex was back from vacation this week, and low and behold had a free round of golf, since his T-Bird card was full. It's a nice thing they have there, you can earn free rounds. It was good to have him back, and watch him do something you seldom see any golfer do. He 2 putted every single hole for the exception for number 16 in which he had NO putts as he chipped one in from the fringe. He even had the highly confident walk after it, as the ball was dead in halfway to the hole. Tex had a tough front, with a bunch of doubles, but rebounded on the back shaving off 4 strokes from front to back.
Joe Red is back in form with a real nice 39 on the front. No double bogey's on the day, or birdies, but 11 solid pars gave him a slick 79 on the day. Joe hit the ball very consistently, and kept it in play. Red's putter was hot from long range, and cold from short range. Strange situation on the greens but 5 - 1 putts don't lie, and that's how you break 80. No big mistakes, and solid play. Well done!
Beef didn't get off to his usual hot start this week like he has the past number of weeks. And that kind of hung around the rest of the round. Beef didn't play badly at all, just never go on a roll that you need to go on to score really well. He kept damage minimal, and had three really nice pars in a row on the back to steady the ship. Even tough Beef never really got in he zone, he shot an 87. Not bad when you don't really have your best game. And have a couple tough breaks, like a cart path bounce OB and hitting a hanging pine cone on an approach shot. (Pine cone didn't even fall off the tree.)
I had the story of 2 9's. The front I was solid and tidy, hit the driver well, and shot a 39 including a birdie on number 2. The back the driver left me with a few snap hooks, but my irons were good, and was able to smoke and mirror things including another birdie on number 14, for a 41 on he back for a tidy 80 on the day. 3 terrible 3 putts killed me from going real low - inexcusable.
Course highlights? The whole thing, this is flat out a nice place to play golf. But number 3 is one of the hardest holes we play anywhere on any course. 180 yards with water all down the right. Skinny green that rolls, huge bunkers left, and anything long is gone. Very difficult to hit the green, and then the fun begins as this green is very tough to read and to putt well on. BRUTAL! Great starting hole number 1, 500 yard par 5, uphill, downhill. Number 9, really tough par 4 with a creek at the landing area. 10, same creek at landing area, par 5, long and uphill. Number 11, difficult par 4, over same creek again at landing area, up hill, hard green to hit, 400 yards. And 18, 435 par 4, with the creek, sand, trees, and always plays into the wind. Very tough golf hole.
Great experience again, and well worth a drive from anywhere to play. Friendly staff at both North and South Courses. It you are a player, and are making a drive up there sometime, this would be a a nice day. You could even do a North/South 36 hole day of it. Rates are very fair, and both courses are totally worth playing. We had fun, and look forward to going back there again late this summer or early fall.
Scores
Joe Red - 79
Wynn - 80
Beef - 87
Tex - 100+
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW - To Rome With Love
It's summer in the 21st century and that must mean another light comedy from Woody Allen. And this summer it's, To Rome With Love. A title that Woody Allen hates, as the studio renamed it, the original title was Rome.
The past couple of summers have Allen bringing us Midnight In Paris, and Victoria Cristina Barcelona both wonderfully enchanting flicks that brought huge critical acclaim. This summer the European Allen Tour continues to Rome.
This is a very strange movie, but still Allen fun. It's the story of 4 separate stories set in the wonderful backdrop of Rome. These are for the most part young love stories told through a great ensemble cast, the somehow connect, but not in the nice little bow that many would like. But for those who love Allen movies, they won't care. This has all the charm, wit and look of modern Allen comedies. Allen is an acquired taste to be sure, and real Allen fans will get a jolt out of actually seeing Woody on screen this time in a small role. His first screen appearance since 2006. And he is still the same guy on camera. And it still works.
Being fair, this is not Midnight In Paris, which was simply a gem. But this is still fun with young Jessie Eisenberg stepping in to be the new Allen much as Owen Wilson was in Midnight In Paris. You know the confused, babbling, insecure young male character that never really seems to get it right till the very end. Eisenberg is great. The cast goes on to boast, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page, and Penelope Cruz who is brilliant in her role as a high prices call girl. And also fine performances by a real nice supporting cast.
Again, a zippy and fun musical soundtrack, wonderful backdrops from beautiful Rome. A fine and funny script, and a story that you have not really seen before give this wings. Plus, this movie makes a loud, yet subtle social statement about the foreign press, society's obsession with fame, and young adults perceived sense of entitlement and selfishness. It's so "out there" it won't be for everyone, but for Allen fans it's right on the money. Should be noted, some of this is subtitled, but not all. Much Italian spoken in this flick.
To Rome With Love. For me, I have found Allen's last few flicks mandatory viewing, and I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan. But he is making maybe the best movies of his career off camera. And this is again a nice summer getaway, and relief from all the superheros and action at the movies. Well done.
The past couple of summers have Allen bringing us Midnight In Paris, and Victoria Cristina Barcelona both wonderfully enchanting flicks that brought huge critical acclaim. This summer the European Allen Tour continues to Rome.
This is a very strange movie, but still Allen fun. It's the story of 4 separate stories set in the wonderful backdrop of Rome. These are for the most part young love stories told through a great ensemble cast, the somehow connect, but not in the nice little bow that many would like. But for those who love Allen movies, they won't care. This has all the charm, wit and look of modern Allen comedies. Allen is an acquired taste to be sure, and real Allen fans will get a jolt out of actually seeing Woody on screen this time in a small role. His first screen appearance since 2006. And he is still the same guy on camera. And it still works.
Being fair, this is not Midnight In Paris, which was simply a gem. But this is still fun with young Jessie Eisenberg stepping in to be the new Allen much as Owen Wilson was in Midnight In Paris. You know the confused, babbling, insecure young male character that never really seems to get it right till the very end. Eisenberg is great. The cast goes on to boast, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page, and Penelope Cruz who is brilliant in her role as a high prices call girl. And also fine performances by a real nice supporting cast.
Again, a zippy and fun musical soundtrack, wonderful backdrops from beautiful Rome. A fine and funny script, and a story that you have not really seen before give this wings. Plus, this movie makes a loud, yet subtle social statement about the foreign press, society's obsession with fame, and young adults perceived sense of entitlement and selfishness. It's so "out there" it won't be for everyone, but for Allen fans it's right on the money. Should be noted, some of this is subtitled, but not all. Much Italian spoken in this flick.
To Rome With Love. For me, I have found Allen's last few flicks mandatory viewing, and I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan. But he is making maybe the best movies of his career off camera. And this is again a nice summer getaway, and relief from all the superheros and action at the movies. Well done.
Monday, July 9, 2012
LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review
This week the Dewsweepers loaded up and went off into a place we have never been before. We played beautiful Brookledge in Cuyahoga Falls. How is it all the years we've been playing Sunday Morning Golf, and we have never played here? Our oversight!
Fantastic place to play. Brookledge is the city owned course in The Falls, and now that there has been a ton of behind the scenes, and in front of the scenes improvements to the course it is nothing short of terrific. It is lush and green.
Brookledge checks in at about 6,400 total yards, but there are three sets of tee's that can get it down to about 5,400 if you wish. We played it about about 6,200 yards. A wonderfully designed course with plenty of character, sand, a bit of water, fabulous rolling hills, dog-legs, and greens that would be the envy of many other courses. The greens were fast, fair, with plenty of undulation, with few flat putts. Ohyeah, very true rolls and sweeping breaks that you could see. The pins were placed very difficult on Sunday, and it was really challenging.
This is a thinking mans course. Position play is really smart here. It starts off simply enough, a short par 5, that Beef promptly birdied for another hot start. Beef kept is going through the front posting a nice 40 there. But Beef ran into the dreaded "back 9 blues" and had to settle for 88 on the day. Although we all marveled at his chip in birdie with a hybrid on number 17 par 4.
Joe Red hit the ball well and hung in there with a 43 on the front, even though not playing his best golf. His double on number 2 a very tricky par 4, 335 yards doggie left. We all chunked that one up with bad numbers including Red's son Bryan who sat in for vacationing Tex this week, taking a rough 8 on that hole. I doubled it with a perfect drive. - Oh yeah...Beef parred it. Tough green to hit. Red hung around and posted 45 on the back giving him too 88 on the day. Red still getting back in the groove after not playing much the past few weeks, you can see he's gaining on it.
Bryan recovered from his 8 on number 2, and then salvaged a nice 44 on the front. Not bad after an awful number on a single hole. But the back caught up with him, and he ended up with 97 on the day, with 4 7's on the back. Those hurt, we've all been there. But to his credit kept his head up, laughed and had fun and that's the only reason we are there anyway. Plus, e did what yuo always seemed to to. He took a great par on number 18, par 4 356 yards, that seems to bring you back.
I played a solid round edging out Beef with a 39 on the front to his 40. Then I seemed to survive the back with a 41 there for an 80 on the day. 9 over for he round with 3 double bogie's, and a single birdie on the par 3 number 6. The goal for me here today was as many pars as possible, and that helped me play conservatively and kept the ball in front of me. Although I was nervous as we turned with a penalty stroke double on 9, and a 3 putt double on 10. BTW - number 10 par 4, 325 yards up hill to a hard breaking green, we all took 6's and 7's. Sheesh!
Course highlights? The whole thing. It's simply a beautiful golf course with no two holes the same. We talked about it on the way home, and all agreed it is one of the best public courses we have played in a while. It's in great shape, well taken care of, fair, and flat out fun to play. Note though. the greens are very tricky and younger or new players may find that very frustrating. You must be able to read greens well to score here.
Kudos too for the wonderful staff there. Extremely friendly, helpful organized and awake. We loved Jennifer who worked in the snack area. She was amazingly nice, and exceedingly friendly and wide awake at 6AM when we rolled in. At the turn, plenty of food ready, and smiles to go around. We are big on really nice people and service. She was, and is great.
Brookledge. Wonderful, play it! Really, really nice public golf!
Fantastic place to play. Brookledge is the city owned course in The Falls, and now that there has been a ton of behind the scenes, and in front of the scenes improvements to the course it is nothing short of terrific. It is lush and green.
Brookledge checks in at about 6,400 total yards, but there are three sets of tee's that can get it down to about 5,400 if you wish. We played it about about 6,200 yards. A wonderfully designed course with plenty of character, sand, a bit of water, fabulous rolling hills, dog-legs, and greens that would be the envy of many other courses. The greens were fast, fair, with plenty of undulation, with few flat putts. Ohyeah, very true rolls and sweeping breaks that you could see. The pins were placed very difficult on Sunday, and it was really challenging.
This is a thinking mans course. Position play is really smart here. It starts off simply enough, a short par 5, that Beef promptly birdied for another hot start. Beef kept is going through the front posting a nice 40 there. But Beef ran into the dreaded "back 9 blues" and had to settle for 88 on the day. Although we all marveled at his chip in birdie with a hybrid on number 17 par 4.
Joe Red hit the ball well and hung in there with a 43 on the front, even though not playing his best golf. His double on number 2 a very tricky par 4, 335 yards doggie left. We all chunked that one up with bad numbers including Red's son Bryan who sat in for vacationing Tex this week, taking a rough 8 on that hole. I doubled it with a perfect drive. - Oh yeah...Beef parred it. Tough green to hit. Red hung around and posted 45 on the back giving him too 88 on the day. Red still getting back in the groove after not playing much the past few weeks, you can see he's gaining on it.
Bryan recovered from his 8 on number 2, and then salvaged a nice 44 on the front. Not bad after an awful number on a single hole. But the back caught up with him, and he ended up with 97 on the day, with 4 7's on the back. Those hurt, we've all been there. But to his credit kept his head up, laughed and had fun and that's the only reason we are there anyway. Plus, e did what yuo always seemed to to. He took a great par on number 18, par 4 356 yards, that seems to bring you back.
I played a solid round edging out Beef with a 39 on the front to his 40. Then I seemed to survive the back with a 41 there for an 80 on the day. 9 over for he round with 3 double bogie's, and a single birdie on the par 3 number 6. The goal for me here today was as many pars as possible, and that helped me play conservatively and kept the ball in front of me. Although I was nervous as we turned with a penalty stroke double on 9, and a 3 putt double on 10. BTW - number 10 par 4, 325 yards up hill to a hard breaking green, we all took 6's and 7's. Sheesh!
Course highlights? The whole thing. It's simply a beautiful golf course with no two holes the same. We talked about it on the way home, and all agreed it is one of the best public courses we have played in a while. It's in great shape, well taken care of, fair, and flat out fun to play. Note though. the greens are very tricky and younger or new players may find that very frustrating. You must be able to read greens well to score here.
Kudos too for the wonderful staff there. Extremely friendly, helpful organized and awake. We loved Jennifer who worked in the snack area. She was amazingly nice, and exceedingly friendly and wide awake at 6AM when we rolled in. At the turn, plenty of food ready, and smiles to go around. We are big on really nice people and service. She was, and is great.
Brookledge. Wonderful, play it! Really, really nice public golf!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW - The Amazing Spiderman
New this week, The Amazing Spider-Man going to challenge a ton of box office records.
I, like you am having a little trouble keeping up on who is playing Spider Man these days, what Spidey is up to, where we are in the saga, and is this a remake, or.....well....you know. This has been made for a few reasons. One, there's this new 3-D now, and IMAX 3-D. And the studio wants to make a ton of money. Both good reasons.
The Amazing Spider Man stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and a real nice supporting cast in a pretty good story, going back to the origins of Spider-Man. How Peter Parker becomes the vigilante folk hero, and how he balances that secret life with his real life. This story has been told in various forms before at the movies, and this is not a continuation of the previous flicks. It in essence is starting over.
Of course the new 3-D and serious special effects will thrill millions of fans who will flock to this over the weekend and in the weeks ahead. The recasting will help introduce the character to a whole new generation of fans, and keep this franchise going. Some of this is very well done, and some of this is monotonous, and slow to develop. As fantastic as some of the special effects with Spider-Man are, it's a whole lot of the same thing over and over again. Although, there is some fun here, and they didn't lose Spidey's sense of humor.
Garfield is fins at Spider-Man, and the rest of the cast is fine including Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, and Rhys Ifans. Emma Stone is strangely cast. Stone was brought on board to sell tickets and she will. I am a HUGE Stone fan as well. But Stone is 24 years old, and a real, grown woman. She has taken on a nice string of adult roles lately in The Help, Crazy, Stupid Love, Friends With Benefits, and the soon to be released Gangster Squad. Here we are supposed to believe she is a 17 year old high school kid. I'm not buying it. She looks way down the maturity track as opposed to Garfield. She is supposed to be his girlfriend, when she looks way more like his student teacher, or his big sister. Not her fault. Too much money to pass up. This role is also way beneath her. She has far outgrown these kind of non-challenging juvenile roles. As lovely as she is, she looks wildly out of place here.
There is nothing really wrong with this movie. It is somewhat fun, but this is ground traveled before. Many of these movie s really look the same, and this does too. New cast, new effects, and music and you can breathe life into an old franchise.
The Amazing Spider-Man. Fun for new fans, and more of the same for old ones.
I, like you am having a little trouble keeping up on who is playing Spider Man these days, what Spidey is up to, where we are in the saga, and is this a remake, or.....well....you know. This has been made for a few reasons. One, there's this new 3-D now, and IMAX 3-D. And the studio wants to make a ton of money. Both good reasons.
The Amazing Spider Man stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and a real nice supporting cast in a pretty good story, going back to the origins of Spider-Man. How Peter Parker becomes the vigilante folk hero, and how he balances that secret life with his real life. This story has been told in various forms before at the movies, and this is not a continuation of the previous flicks. It in essence is starting over.
Of course the new 3-D and serious special effects will thrill millions of fans who will flock to this over the weekend and in the weeks ahead. The recasting will help introduce the character to a whole new generation of fans, and keep this franchise going. Some of this is very well done, and some of this is monotonous, and slow to develop. As fantastic as some of the special effects with Spider-Man are, it's a whole lot of the same thing over and over again. Although, there is some fun here, and they didn't lose Spidey's sense of humor.
Garfield is fins at Spider-Man, and the rest of the cast is fine including Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, and Rhys Ifans. Emma Stone is strangely cast. Stone was brought on board to sell tickets and she will. I am a HUGE Stone fan as well. But Stone is 24 years old, and a real, grown woman. She has taken on a nice string of adult roles lately in The Help, Crazy, Stupid Love, Friends With Benefits, and the soon to be released Gangster Squad. Here we are supposed to believe she is a 17 year old high school kid. I'm not buying it. She looks way down the maturity track as opposed to Garfield. She is supposed to be his girlfriend, when she looks way more like his student teacher, or his big sister. Not her fault. Too much money to pass up. This role is also way beneath her. She has far outgrown these kind of non-challenging juvenile roles. As lovely as she is, she looks wildly out of place here.
There is nothing really wrong with this movie. It is somewhat fun, but this is ground traveled before. Many of these movie s really look the same, and this does too. New cast, new effects, and music and you can breathe life into an old franchise.
The Amazing Spider-Man. Fun for new fans, and more of the same for old ones.
MOVIE REVIEW - Moonrise Kingdom
In very limited release it's the new strange Indy piece Moonrise Kingdom. There is a bunch of talk about this being the best movie this year. Well, not true, but it is fun.
Moonrise Kingdom is a very "out there" flick about life in the mid 1960's. It's a super parody on young life, love, parenting, civic duty and social attitudes. It's about being young in a time when life was very different than it is today for young people. But before we move on, as silly as this can be listen to this cast. Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Francis MacDormand, Harvey Keitel, and Tilda Swinton.
MK is the story of Sam and Suzi in 1965. Sam and Suzi are both very troubled young people about 12 years old. Sam is a "scout" and Suzi lives at home with her very goofy parents. Sam is an orphan and Suzi wishes she was. They become pen pals for a year and plan to run away with each other on a vacation island where Sam's scout troop is camping, and she lives in the summer.
They do run away, and then the search is on. With the local cop, the parents, the scout team leaders and social services all looking for our youth.m All this as they make their way to nowhere learning about themselves as only a 12 year old can. That is a simple synopsis of a very strange movie that will not be every fans cup of tea. If you like silly, quirky independent flicks, with that silly feel, that this could be for you. This is the movie at that end of the hall where you have to turn the projector on as you enter. But it is worth a ticket if that's your kind of movie.
MK will take you back to your youth if you ever felt like, or did "run away" from home, in a time when it's not as serious as it is and can be today. It may also take you back to your first kiss, and your very first "love" as it did me. There is a silliness about this movie that gives it charm and sass, but there is a story here. There are plenty of silly laughs, and some outright roars from the theater that are fun. Also be advised, it's very tidy at about 90 minutes, and you are ready for resolution then.
Also huge kudos to young actors Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward who are Sam and Suzi. These are huge roles in this flick and they are simply terrific. Both are very peculiar kids and they give command performances. Acting out a stage in life that they both are currently in. Quite a challenge.
Moonrise Kingdom. Not for all movie goers. Strange, fun, and fresh this summer.
Moonrise Kingdom is a very "out there" flick about life in the mid 1960's. It's a super parody on young life, love, parenting, civic duty and social attitudes. It's about being young in a time when life was very different than it is today for young people. But before we move on, as silly as this can be listen to this cast. Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Francis MacDormand, Harvey Keitel, and Tilda Swinton.
MK is the story of Sam and Suzi in 1965. Sam and Suzi are both very troubled young people about 12 years old. Sam is a "scout" and Suzi lives at home with her very goofy parents. Sam is an orphan and Suzi wishes she was. They become pen pals for a year and plan to run away with each other on a vacation island where Sam's scout troop is camping, and she lives in the summer.
They do run away, and then the search is on. With the local cop, the parents, the scout team leaders and social services all looking for our youth.m All this as they make their way to nowhere learning about themselves as only a 12 year old can. That is a simple synopsis of a very strange movie that will not be every fans cup of tea. If you like silly, quirky independent flicks, with that silly feel, that this could be for you. This is the movie at that end of the hall where you have to turn the projector on as you enter. But it is worth a ticket if that's your kind of movie.
MK will take you back to your youth if you ever felt like, or did "run away" from home, in a time when it's not as serious as it is and can be today. It may also take you back to your first kiss, and your very first "love" as it did me. There is a silliness about this movie that gives it charm and sass, but there is a story here. There are plenty of silly laughs, and some outright roars from the theater that are fun. Also be advised, it's very tidy at about 90 minutes, and you are ready for resolution then.
Also huge kudos to young actors Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward who are Sam and Suzi. These are huge roles in this flick and they are simply terrific. Both are very peculiar kids and they give command performances. Acting out a stage in life that they both are currently in. Quite a challenge.
Moonrise Kingdom. Not for all movie goers. Strange, fun, and fresh this summer.
MOVIE REVIEW - Magic Mike
It's time for a huge girls night out, and this time it's Channing Tatum and Mathew McConaughey in the male stripper flick, Magic Mike.
Truth is, for all the hype and sex-selling Hollywood has been doing with this flick, it actually is much more than Chan and Matt taking their clothes off onstage. Magic Mike is a pretty good overall movie, but don't panic ladies. There is plenty of male stripping.
This is the story of Mike (Tatum). Mike is about 30 and has made his living for the past number of years as a male stripper in Tampa, Florida. He also moonlights (excuse the pun), as a construction worker, and a sort of furniture maker. He seems to be at a crossroads in life. He still strips and makes tons of cash, but he seems to be ready to cross over and finally be an adult.
Me meets Adam, (Alex Pettyfer) on a job site. Alex is 19 and a complete loser. He has no motivation, no ambition, and no plan on growing up. He lives with his sister, Brooke (Cody Horn) and sleeps on her couch. Adam and Mike become fast friends, and Adam is introduced to the stripping life, and indeed becomes a male stripper with Mike and works at the club owned by Dallas (McConaughey). Adam becomes eaten up with the success, the wine, women and song of the business. He also falls into the wrong crowd and delves into drugs, and illegal activities.
Mike, now is interested in Adam's straight laced sister Brooke vows to her to take care of Adam, but can't as Adam is his own worst enemy. Will Adam fall too far to catch? Will Brooke and Mike finally find each other, and will Mike ever really grow up, and quit a young mans gig and become a man? That is Magic Mike.
First off, I am not a big fan of Tatum, but I did like him a lot in 21 Jump Street where he was really funny as a stoner dude-cop. And here, this is a role he seemed born to play. He is very good as the wildly popular Magic Mike. Although his actual past really helps him out here, as being a male dancer was a part of his young past.
McConaughey is always great, and is here too as the fun, but trashy club owner Dallas. But Magic Mike needed real balance, and got it with Cody Horn. She is perfectly, and I mean perfectly cast as Brooke. She is understated, and made to look plain-Janey here, and provides a real dose of real to this movie. Will Mike leave his very "glamorous" life for a "regular" girl. She is simply fantastic as the grounded Brooke. Her casting saved this movie from a sheer movie perspective, and gave it credibility. Mike leaving the business for a supermodel type, would have been a real train wreck, and laughable.
Magic Mike has a huge musical soundtrack that really sails along nicely, and compliments the dance scenes well. And trust me, there is no shortage of dance scenes. The scenes with a full club of fanatical women are very real, and very well done. Magic Mike is also a bit deeper than you might think. There is a story, and it becomes almost dark at times showing you the ugly underbelly of a seedy business.
Magic Mike. This summers "girls night out" at the movies. Guys, go to an Indians game.
Truth is, for all the hype and sex-selling Hollywood has been doing with this flick, it actually is much more than Chan and Matt taking their clothes off onstage. Magic Mike is a pretty good overall movie, but don't panic ladies. There is plenty of male stripping.
This is the story of Mike (Tatum). Mike is about 30 and has made his living for the past number of years as a male stripper in Tampa, Florida. He also moonlights (excuse the pun), as a construction worker, and a sort of furniture maker. He seems to be at a crossroads in life. He still strips and makes tons of cash, but he seems to be ready to cross over and finally be an adult.
Me meets Adam, (Alex Pettyfer) on a job site. Alex is 19 and a complete loser. He has no motivation, no ambition, and no plan on growing up. He lives with his sister, Brooke (Cody Horn) and sleeps on her couch. Adam and Mike become fast friends, and Adam is introduced to the stripping life, and indeed becomes a male stripper with Mike and works at the club owned by Dallas (McConaughey). Adam becomes eaten up with the success, the wine, women and song of the business. He also falls into the wrong crowd and delves into drugs, and illegal activities.
Mike, now is interested in Adam's straight laced sister Brooke vows to her to take care of Adam, but can't as Adam is his own worst enemy. Will Adam fall too far to catch? Will Brooke and Mike finally find each other, and will Mike ever really grow up, and quit a young mans gig and become a man? That is Magic Mike.
First off, I am not a big fan of Tatum, but I did like him a lot in 21 Jump Street where he was really funny as a stoner dude-cop. And here, this is a role he seemed born to play. He is very good as the wildly popular Magic Mike. Although his actual past really helps him out here, as being a male dancer was a part of his young past.
McConaughey is always great, and is here too as the fun, but trashy club owner Dallas. But Magic Mike needed real balance, and got it with Cody Horn. She is perfectly, and I mean perfectly cast as Brooke. She is understated, and made to look plain-Janey here, and provides a real dose of real to this movie. Will Mike leave his very "glamorous" life for a "regular" girl. She is simply fantastic as the grounded Brooke. Her casting saved this movie from a sheer movie perspective, and gave it credibility. Mike leaving the business for a supermodel type, would have been a real train wreck, and laughable.
Magic Mike has a huge musical soundtrack that really sails along nicely, and compliments the dance scenes well. And trust me, there is no shortage of dance scenes. The scenes with a full club of fanatical women are very real, and very well done. Magic Mike is also a bit deeper than you might think. There is a story, and it becomes almost dark at times showing you the ugly underbelly of a seedy business.
Magic Mike. This summers "girls night out" at the movies. Guys, go to an Indians game.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review
This week The Dewsweepers packed up and drove out to a course we have played a number of times before, but not in a while. Hickory Nut in Columbia Station, as we continue and complete our swing through Lorain county.
First, and right up front. Tex and Joe Red have had issues with this course over the years. Tex has never really embraced HN, and it has become his number one nemisis course. And we golfers get it. We all have one of those courses that no matter what the weather, the condition of the course, or how our game is rolling, we just don't play well. And Tex hasn't and didn't, and we shared his pain. We have all been there. Someplaces just have bad karma for some golfers.
Hickory Nut is an 18 hole course off Route 82 that has an interesting past. Many years ago it was a very nice place to play. Back in the trees, with a cool design, and plenty of interesting position golf holes. Then it fell into a bad state of disrepair for a long period of time. It has been improving over the past few years. Then last years relentless rains came, and it went to dispair. (But they were not alone) But now, there's a new attitude, a new super on duty, a motivated owner, and this course is really on the way back. And it looks like things could eventually be better than ever. It's in very good shape, with greens that hold and roll true, and fairways that are improved greatly. and some very good decisions are being made on the setup and improvements to the course in general.
Hickory nut is blessed with brutal par 3's. Three of the par 3's are simply monsters, but fun. Number 3 is the easy one of the bunch, a 135 yard over bunker 3. So easy that I promptly double-bogied it. Number 6 is 185 yards to a slanted green that I 3 putted for a bogey. Number 11 is 220 yards, with water left at the green and trees right. And number 16, is about 180, with every kind of trouble you can have. Water and trees left, sand front, mush-mash left, and trees right, with a kidney shaped green. Very tough. Hickory Nut plays par 71 with only 3 par 5's so you better be a par 4 player.
Today was a day for some good golf. Beef kept things rolling on his game by shooting 39 on the front, even with a missed 2 foot bunny on number one. And Beef turned in a real nice 40 on the back with a double mixed in there too. But Beef scrambled and really saved his round by saving par on at least 5 holes that were really great saves. Including pars on number 8, a long par 5 that he made an impossible shot to get on the green out of the trees, and number 12, with almost the exact same shot.
Joe Red was back from his Canada vacation, and he had the self proclaimed "two week touch." You know, when you haven't touched a club or putter in two weeks and you just don't have the feel you need to play well. Red didn't really play poorly today, he just hasn't played, and his short game let him down, but mostly the putter. He hung in with a 43 on the front. But just getting back in the country yesterday caught up with him on the back, along with a sore back from driving 12 hours, and 3 doubles there led to a 48 to grand out at 91. Not bad for two weeks rust.
Despite my forementioned blunders, I did hit the ball well today. I felt that I managed the course well and shot one of my best rounds in a while, a very tidy 78, going 39/39. My approach today was safey first and keep the ball in front of me, out of trouble, and make smart shots.
Course highlights? In addition to the par 3's, number 1 is a super long par 4, 430 starting hole. Other great par 4's are, number 4, a postition 4, where accuracy is mandatory. Number 13, a skinny down hill 4 to a slanted green, and number 17 a 275 yard scoring hole you can drive if you kill one. Number 18 is also a terrific par 5 dog leg left, with a huge oak tree protecting the green. Beef reached this in two today, not to bad from 530 yards. Birdie, well done.
Hickory Nut is a course on the rise and we are hoping that good things continue to happen there. Much improved and fun to play.
Next week the Dewsweepers head to Cuyahoga Falls for our first ever trip to Brookledge! We tee it up there at 652 AM! We are ready to go!
Scores
Wynn - 78
Beef - 79
Joe Red - 91
Tex - 100+
First, and right up front. Tex and Joe Red have had issues with this course over the years. Tex has never really embraced HN, and it has become his number one nemisis course. And we golfers get it. We all have one of those courses that no matter what the weather, the condition of the course, or how our game is rolling, we just don't play well. And Tex hasn't and didn't, and we shared his pain. We have all been there. Someplaces just have bad karma for some golfers.
Hickory Nut is an 18 hole course off Route 82 that has an interesting past. Many years ago it was a very nice place to play. Back in the trees, with a cool design, and plenty of interesting position golf holes. Then it fell into a bad state of disrepair for a long period of time. It has been improving over the past few years. Then last years relentless rains came, and it went to dispair. (But they were not alone) But now, there's a new attitude, a new super on duty, a motivated owner, and this course is really on the way back. And it looks like things could eventually be better than ever. It's in very good shape, with greens that hold and roll true, and fairways that are improved greatly. and some very good decisions are being made on the setup and improvements to the course in general.
Hickory nut is blessed with brutal par 3's. Three of the par 3's are simply monsters, but fun. Number 3 is the easy one of the bunch, a 135 yard over bunker 3. So easy that I promptly double-bogied it. Number 6 is 185 yards to a slanted green that I 3 putted for a bogey. Number 11 is 220 yards, with water left at the green and trees right. And number 16, is about 180, with every kind of trouble you can have. Water and trees left, sand front, mush-mash left, and trees right, with a kidney shaped green. Very tough. Hickory Nut plays par 71 with only 3 par 5's so you better be a par 4 player.
Today was a day for some good golf. Beef kept things rolling on his game by shooting 39 on the front, even with a missed 2 foot bunny on number one. And Beef turned in a real nice 40 on the back with a double mixed in there too. But Beef scrambled and really saved his round by saving par on at least 5 holes that were really great saves. Including pars on number 8, a long par 5 that he made an impossible shot to get on the green out of the trees, and number 12, with almost the exact same shot.
Joe Red was back from his Canada vacation, and he had the self proclaimed "two week touch." You know, when you haven't touched a club or putter in two weeks and you just don't have the feel you need to play well. Red didn't really play poorly today, he just hasn't played, and his short game let him down, but mostly the putter. He hung in with a 43 on the front. But just getting back in the country yesterday caught up with him on the back, along with a sore back from driving 12 hours, and 3 doubles there led to a 48 to grand out at 91. Not bad for two weeks rust.
Despite my forementioned blunders, I did hit the ball well today. I felt that I managed the course well and shot one of my best rounds in a while, a very tidy 78, going 39/39. My approach today was safey first and keep the ball in front of me, out of trouble, and make smart shots.
Course highlights? In addition to the par 3's, number 1 is a super long par 4, 430 starting hole. Other great par 4's are, number 4, a postition 4, where accuracy is mandatory. Number 13, a skinny down hill 4 to a slanted green, and number 17 a 275 yard scoring hole you can drive if you kill one. Number 18 is also a terrific par 5 dog leg left, with a huge oak tree protecting the green. Beef reached this in two today, not to bad from 530 yards. Birdie, well done.
Hickory Nut is a course on the rise and we are hoping that good things continue to happen there. Much improved and fun to play.
Next week the Dewsweepers head to Cuyahoga Falls for our first ever trip to Brookledge! We tee it up there at 652 AM! We are ready to go!
Scores
Wynn - 78
Beef - 79
Joe Red - 91
Tex - 100+
MOVIE REVIEW - Ted
The hit of the weekend, is going to be the R-rated comedy from the mind of Seth MacFarlane, Ted.
Ted is the story of 35 year-old John (Mark Wahlberg) and his talking teddy bear Ted (voiced by MacFarlane). It all goes back to 1985, when 8 year old John gets a stuffed teddy bear for Christmas. He wishes on a shooting star that the bear could talk and be his friend for real. Well, the dream comes true, and Ted comes to life in every way. The two then take a vow to be friends for life, and do so.
Flash forward 27 years. John is all grown up and so is Ted. The live together, and basically sit around all day long drinking beer, and smoking dope together while wasting John's like away. John has this smokin' hot girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis). She is in love with John big time, but has mixed feelings abour Ted. Ted is a constant source of problems between them, and evenutally John is going to have to make the choice between Lori, or Ted.
Ted also became a national icon in the 1980's as a talking teddy bear, but that star has faded. But there are those who remember him and are out to capture Ted and make him thier own. That is just one of he side plot Ted has, but the main focus is on Ted, John and Lori. Can they work this whole thing out?
I have to admit, I was very surprised by many things about this movie. What I was not suprised with was the horrible language that infiltrates the entire movie, but really dominated it in the first 45 minutes. There is constant recreational drug usage, and for a bunch of this has a general feeling of lowest common denominator humor. And some of it is guilty pleasurable funny. There is also a ton of pop-culture humor here that can get tedious, but you are able to overlook it. Overused, some of that was pretty funny.
What did suprise me was this. There are some pretty funny parts of this movie that have little to do with the forementioned. Outside of the vile language there is some pretty funny dialogue here. Plus, after they clear a bunch of language, and overall tastelessness, Ted actually grows a heart. There are some nice moments in this movie that you are not expecting, and are not advertised in the trailers. Plus, the character Ted, the actual bear talking and moving on screen is exceptionally well done, and that decserves real kudo's.
There is this really disturbing plot line though where Ted is stalked and kidnapped by this extremely disturbed father and son team. This really fell flat with the patrons today, and really is a turn this movie didn't need to take. It's not funny, and is sore thumby. Another rewrite would have been in order here. This part, though central was not pulled off well at all.
Wahlberg is funny, MacFarlane is as well, and Kunis is very well cast, and pulls off a real nice performace as the dedicated girfriend trying to cope with this childish situation. Should be noted too. Ted is highly adult. It is R-rated, and as cute as this bear is, what happens on screen is not appropriate in any way for young kids. In fact, it's way over the top the other way.
Ted. Surprising at times, funny at times, creative at times, and fun at times. But adult ALL the time.
Ted is the story of 35 year-old John (Mark Wahlberg) and his talking teddy bear Ted (voiced by MacFarlane). It all goes back to 1985, when 8 year old John gets a stuffed teddy bear for Christmas. He wishes on a shooting star that the bear could talk and be his friend for real. Well, the dream comes true, and Ted comes to life in every way. The two then take a vow to be friends for life, and do so.
Flash forward 27 years. John is all grown up and so is Ted. The live together, and basically sit around all day long drinking beer, and smoking dope together while wasting John's like away. John has this smokin' hot girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis). She is in love with John big time, but has mixed feelings abour Ted. Ted is a constant source of problems between them, and evenutally John is going to have to make the choice between Lori, or Ted.
Ted also became a national icon in the 1980's as a talking teddy bear, but that star has faded. But there are those who remember him and are out to capture Ted and make him thier own. That is just one of he side plot Ted has, but the main focus is on Ted, John and Lori. Can they work this whole thing out?
I have to admit, I was very surprised by many things about this movie. What I was not suprised with was the horrible language that infiltrates the entire movie, but really dominated it in the first 45 minutes. There is constant recreational drug usage, and for a bunch of this has a general feeling of lowest common denominator humor. And some of it is guilty pleasurable funny. There is also a ton of pop-culture humor here that can get tedious, but you are able to overlook it. Overused, some of that was pretty funny.
What did suprise me was this. There are some pretty funny parts of this movie that have little to do with the forementioned. Outside of the vile language there is some pretty funny dialogue here. Plus, after they clear a bunch of language, and overall tastelessness, Ted actually grows a heart. There are some nice moments in this movie that you are not expecting, and are not advertised in the trailers. Plus, the character Ted, the actual bear talking and moving on screen is exceptionally well done, and that decserves real kudo's.
There is this really disturbing plot line though where Ted is stalked and kidnapped by this extremely disturbed father and son team. This really fell flat with the patrons today, and really is a turn this movie didn't need to take. It's not funny, and is sore thumby. Another rewrite would have been in order here. This part, though central was not pulled off well at all.
Wahlberg is funny, MacFarlane is as well, and Kunis is very well cast, and pulls off a real nice performace as the dedicated girfriend trying to cope with this childish situation. Should be noted too. Ted is highly adult. It is R-rated, and as cute as this bear is, what happens on screen is not appropriate in any way for young kids. In fact, it's way over the top the other way.
Ted. Surprising at times, funny at times, creative at times, and fun at times. But adult ALL the time.
MOVIE REVIEW - People Like Us
From a distance, People Like Us looks like a lot of other movies. A bunch of mid-level stars, with a seemingly sappy script and nothing really new to offer. Looks can be deceiving.
People Like Us stars Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Harmless enough on the surface. These are all mid-range actors, or slightly past the best work stage of thier respective careers actors. But the real star of this movie is the movie. A really good script, and an original idea that doesn't go too far off the trail, and stay centered and on point.
Meet Sam (Pine). He is a 30ish wheeler-dealer of a salesman who is so busy trying to score his next dollar, he forgets that life is more than just a paycheck. He has horrible people and relationship skills He is dating Hannah (Wilde) and living in New York City. His hippie-musician father dies in Los Angeles, leaving his wife (Pfeiffer) behind. Sam tries hard not to go to the funeral, but does. There he again botches his meeting with his mom, who has problems of her own.
He then learns from his late-fathers lawyer that his dad has left $150,000 in cash for a sister Sam has from another woman that he doesn't know. The sister, Frankie (Banks) is about the same age as Sam, and she is a total mess. She is a single-mother of an 11 year old boy. She is also a recovering alchoholic, a bartender, and way down on her luck with has a very checkered past, and a difficult son. But she is very fun, and funny, and wants better for herself. But she constantly gets in her own way.
How will Sam track her down, and how will he tell her that he is her brother? And how will he tell her that the father that abandoned her when she was just a little girl, has come back from the dead and drop this huge money on her? And can Sam and Frankie have a relationhip out of the blue? That's People Like Us.
Elizabeth Banks has been getting a whole lot of work lately. Some good roles, some not so much. I loved her in Man On A Ledge, but she was miscast and misused in The Hunger Games. But here she is spot on, and gives the performace of her career thus far. She is terrific as the troubled Frankie. Although Pine is fine here, and so is the rest of the cast, this is Banks' movie. One bit of fumbling though, I am a big Olivia Wilde fan, but here she is probably overcasted. Hannah is an important, but small role, and it seems that Wilde is shoved to the side for much of this flick. It's no ones fault, just overcasted.
There is a fantastic soundtrack in this movie that isn't overdone, but used very creatively, and helps create the character of Sams father without him being in the movie. Kudos too to young Michael Hall D'Addario. He plays the young 11-year old son of Frankie, Josh, and is very very good as this strange but likeable kid.
People Like Us. Good script and a good diversion right now at the movies. Go see Elizabeth Banks own this movie. Well worth a ticket or two.
People Like Us stars Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Harmless enough on the surface. These are all mid-range actors, or slightly past the best work stage of thier respective careers actors. But the real star of this movie is the movie. A really good script, and an original idea that doesn't go too far off the trail, and stay centered and on point.
Meet Sam (Pine). He is a 30ish wheeler-dealer of a salesman who is so busy trying to score his next dollar, he forgets that life is more than just a paycheck. He has horrible people and relationship skills He is dating Hannah (Wilde) and living in New York City. His hippie-musician father dies in Los Angeles, leaving his wife (Pfeiffer) behind. Sam tries hard not to go to the funeral, but does. There he again botches his meeting with his mom, who has problems of her own.
He then learns from his late-fathers lawyer that his dad has left $150,000 in cash for a sister Sam has from another woman that he doesn't know. The sister, Frankie (Banks) is about the same age as Sam, and she is a total mess. She is a single-mother of an 11 year old boy. She is also a recovering alchoholic, a bartender, and way down on her luck with has a very checkered past, and a difficult son. But she is very fun, and funny, and wants better for herself. But she constantly gets in her own way.
How will Sam track her down, and how will he tell her that he is her brother? And how will he tell her that the father that abandoned her when she was just a little girl, has come back from the dead and drop this huge money on her? And can Sam and Frankie have a relationhip out of the blue? That's People Like Us.
Elizabeth Banks has been getting a whole lot of work lately. Some good roles, some not so much. I loved her in Man On A Ledge, but she was miscast and misused in The Hunger Games. But here she is spot on, and gives the performace of her career thus far. She is terrific as the troubled Frankie. Although Pine is fine here, and so is the rest of the cast, this is Banks' movie. One bit of fumbling though, I am a big Olivia Wilde fan, but here she is probably overcasted. Hannah is an important, but small role, and it seems that Wilde is shoved to the side for much of this flick. It's no ones fault, just overcasted.
There is a fantastic soundtrack in this movie that isn't overdone, but used very creatively, and helps create the character of Sams father without him being in the movie. Kudos too to young Michael Hall D'Addario. He plays the young 11-year old son of Frankie, Josh, and is very very good as this strange but likeable kid.
People Like Us. Good script and a good diversion right now at the movies. Go see Elizabeth Banks own this movie. Well worth a ticket or two.
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