It's been a long time coming, but finally the new drug law movie, Snitch is out this week. This film has been under construction in some way since about 2004.
Snitch stars Dewayne Johnson (The Rock) as John, a young father who is in his second marriage. He has a son from a first marriage who is18 years old. His son, who is a good kid, makes a bone-headed decision to accept a UPS delivery of a shipment of drugs for sale one of his friends is shipping home. After his son signs for the package, his house is raided and he is now up on drug charges. And the sentence is really stiff. He could face 10 years minimum or up to 30 years if he doesn't play ball with the Feds.
John is remarried and has a little girl and a huge house as his construction company has done well. John is a suburban guy with no knowledge of the real trouble his son is in. He goes to the U.S Attorney (Susan Sarandon), to see what can be done. She states that if her son could turn over other drug dealers, his sentence could be reduced. He knows none. So John decides to go out and enter the drug world as an informant. Problem is he is way over his head. He enters into agreements with local drug dealers and eventually the Mexican Cartel to drive tractor-trailer loads of drugs, and money, and be used as a mule.
Then John is double crossed by the Feds, as his agreement is not really held up on their end. So he gets in even deeper and his entire family is now in danger and the cartel is weaving their web around his entire life. Can he eventually make it right, and help his son? And will the Feds finally cooperate? That is Snitch!
First off, this is based on actual events, and is not a true story. And this movie has an obvious agenda convincing us that the drug laws and sentences at the time were probably a bit out of focus, especially for first time offenders. But even if it's completely fiction, and even if it subtracted the attempted college lesson, this is a good story. Darn good. Behind all the bells, whistles, action and underlying message, this is compelling stuff of a father going to no limits to save his son from a lifetime of jail that he doesn't deserve.
This also has a nice cast with not only Johnson and Sarandon, but also Barry Pepper, Benjamin Bratt, and others. Johnson is not the greatest actor on earth, but he is likable, and is an imposing figure on screen. The big flaw in this movie is it may be a bit over cast. There just isn't enough movie to go around for Bratt, Pepper, or Sarandon to shine properly. This is Johnson's movie.
But this is a nice combination of drama and action. There is enough story here to keep you into it, and enough action to make it exciting. It suffers some from poor writing and a few holes here and there, but I'm willing to give it a pass on that. Sometimes with these kinds of movies it's best to move it along. These movies have a time limit to be effective for the audience, and this does clip along nicely. No sense dragging a movie like this out.
One thing really done well here, the action is not way over the top. They remember that John is not an action hero, he is a suburban dad, who is way over his head. I have to admit, I was worried the whole movie they were going to turn him into Rambo at any minute, but they don't, because they can't. It would have killed the movie, but that hasn't stopped movie makers before.
Snitch. For a February release, I liked this movie. This will not change cinematic movie making for generations to come, but this is entertaining.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Refreshing
In the news it's not often that you hear something that's truly refreshing, easy and fun to listen to. Well today, there was one.
I am as sick of winter, snow and the wind as you, and I am ready for spring. There are few signs more absolute that spring is on the way than the Indians opening spring training this week. Be it in Arizona. But I wouldn't care if it was at Firestone Stadium at this stage of the game, lets get on with it.
The new look Tribe had a real nice off season with the centerpiece being the signing of Ohio native, Nick Swisher. An Ohio State grad, and long time productive major league ball player, it's been hard not to get caught up in his smile and enthusiasm for the game and being and Indian for the next 4 or 5 years. But how about these comments?
Swisher through his warm and infectious smile, acknowledged this week that he felt to blessed to be a major league ball player, and he couldn't be happier to be with the Tribe. He went on to say that there are only about 750 people on earth lucky enough to call themselves major league ball players and that he felt lucky to be one of them. How can you not love that guy? When was the last time you heard a ball player say that? Me? Never. But man, is he telling the truth.
Yeah I know, ball players make too much money. But it's not our money, it's the owners money. And those saying that money is better spent on something more "worthwhile" is mute. Ball team owners are in a business of winning the World Series, not running a charity or a governmental agency. Funny, does anyone complain about George Clooney making 20 million per picture? Same thing, it's the studio's money, whose job it is to put people in theater seats. But to hear a ball player loaded with cash, say something like this? Refreshing to say the least, whether you are any professional athlete anywhere or a Hollywood icon.
I have no idea if Swisher will hit 30 home runs this year, or lead the Tribe to the pennant. But what I do know is that I will be rooting for him, and the Tribe. He is their new leader, new face, and new identity. And he's the kind of guy you want to cheer for. A helping of humility knowing he is making a great living, by living out a dream. Good for him.
Making it to the Major Leagues is about the hardest thing on earth. You start in t-ball, little league, and pony league. Move on to assorted travel leagues, eventually college, then to tons of levels of minor league baseball, if you are lucky enough to get noticed and drafted. This takes place over many years, and you must be the best at every level to move on the the next. If not, you are out - period. Additionally, you must stay healthy the whole time, and be in the right organization. The odds are so stacked against you all the way, and not by a little.
Making it onto baseball's biggest stage is brutally hard. The only thing that gets you there is being among the best in the world. You can't smoke and mirror this one. Good looks, a great figure, washboard abs, or being a child of someone famous doesn't matter in baseball. It can't be faked. You can either hit, throw, and/or catch a 100 mph ball or you can't.
And it's great to hear Swisher, heck any ball player playing any game for a living to get the totality of it all. His comments went down smoother than an Arnold Palmer in the shade on a hot summer day, and is possibly more refreshing. Forget that he's rich and wake up to the fact that all of our favorite players, singers, actors, TV idols and the Kardashians are stinking rich. Root for Swisher because he gets it, in the entertainment arena where so many don't...or won't.
Go Nick and Go Tribe!
I am as sick of winter, snow and the wind as you, and I am ready for spring. There are few signs more absolute that spring is on the way than the Indians opening spring training this week. Be it in Arizona. But I wouldn't care if it was at Firestone Stadium at this stage of the game, lets get on with it.
The new look Tribe had a real nice off season with the centerpiece being the signing of Ohio native, Nick Swisher. An Ohio State grad, and long time productive major league ball player, it's been hard not to get caught up in his smile and enthusiasm for the game and being and Indian for the next 4 or 5 years. But how about these comments?
Swisher through his warm and infectious smile, acknowledged this week that he felt to blessed to be a major league ball player, and he couldn't be happier to be with the Tribe. He went on to say that there are only about 750 people on earth lucky enough to call themselves major league ball players and that he felt lucky to be one of them. How can you not love that guy? When was the last time you heard a ball player say that? Me? Never. But man, is he telling the truth.
Yeah I know, ball players make too much money. But it's not our money, it's the owners money. And those saying that money is better spent on something more "worthwhile" is mute. Ball team owners are in a business of winning the World Series, not running a charity or a governmental agency. Funny, does anyone complain about George Clooney making 20 million per picture? Same thing, it's the studio's money, whose job it is to put people in theater seats. But to hear a ball player loaded with cash, say something like this? Refreshing to say the least, whether you are any professional athlete anywhere or a Hollywood icon.
I have no idea if Swisher will hit 30 home runs this year, or lead the Tribe to the pennant. But what I do know is that I will be rooting for him, and the Tribe. He is their new leader, new face, and new identity. And he's the kind of guy you want to cheer for. A helping of humility knowing he is making a great living, by living out a dream. Good for him.
Making it to the Major Leagues is about the hardest thing on earth. You start in t-ball, little league, and pony league. Move on to assorted travel leagues, eventually college, then to tons of levels of minor league baseball, if you are lucky enough to get noticed and drafted. This takes place over many years, and you must be the best at every level to move on the the next. If not, you are out - period. Additionally, you must stay healthy the whole time, and be in the right organization. The odds are so stacked against you all the way, and not by a little.
Making it onto baseball's biggest stage is brutally hard. The only thing that gets you there is being among the best in the world. You can't smoke and mirror this one. Good looks, a great figure, washboard abs, or being a child of someone famous doesn't matter in baseball. It can't be faked. You can either hit, throw, and/or catch a 100 mph ball or you can't.
And it's great to hear Swisher, heck any ball player playing any game for a living to get the totality of it all. His comments went down smoother than an Arnold Palmer in the shade on a hot summer day, and is possibly more refreshing. Forget that he's rich and wake up to the fact that all of our favorite players, singers, actors, TV idols and the Kardashians are stinking rich. Root for Swisher because he gets it, in the entertainment arena where so many don't...or won't.
Go Nick and Go Tribe!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Beautiful Creatures
Here comes one of the biggest surprises you'll see at the movies in a while. A star is born with 19 year old Alice Englert in the new Beautiful Creatures.
I love having virtually no expectations when going to the movies. Many times it opens your mind a bit further than normal. When you see the trailer for this movie, you feel that it's going to be yet another witchy-supernatural movie loaded with special effects and a bunch of bloody violence. But not here.
This is a real good story, that yes deals with witches or "casters" as they are called here. But it's also a young love story, and one that pits real good against real evil. Set in today's world and dealing with real people. This story although not hugely original, is told very well, at a very nice pace, all delivered by a very good cast, lead by a new star I feel, in Alice Englert.
She is Lena, who is a high school kid in a new school in rural South Carolina. There she meets Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich). She also meets a ton of closed minds, religious intolerance and prejudice. She is from an outcast family that the locals think are cursed and witches. So she is not excepted, except by Ethan. Turns out that they are correct, Lena is a caster, who is about 100 days away from her 16th birthday. On that day it will be determined if she will be a caster swayed to "the evil and dark side" or not. Seems that her young love with Ethan holds the key as to what side she will be swayed to. And many in her family are trying to get Ethan out of her life. Will they survive? And will Lena end up as a caster for good, or will she lead the other casters to the ultimate goal of replacing mortals as the leaders of the world?
This is a very entertaining movie that relies on wonderful storytelling and not special effects for the bang. This movie also boasts a huge cast, that is perfectly assembled. Joining our two leads are Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson. All very good in their supporting roles really bringing great credibility to this smart and fresh script.
But let's get down to it. Alice Englert is fantastic as the complicated Lena. She has to play Lena in many different lights, and really pulls it off well. She at times is very loving, caring and vulnerable. And aggressive, and assertive in others. This is a very large role that needed a strong, young actress to pull it off. Also the fact that she is a relative unknown is a huge plus for her, and this movie. She is spectacular.
Beautiful Creatures. Low expectations, big return. This is very good.
I love having virtually no expectations when going to the movies. Many times it opens your mind a bit further than normal. When you see the trailer for this movie, you feel that it's going to be yet another witchy-supernatural movie loaded with special effects and a bunch of bloody violence. But not here.
This is a real good story, that yes deals with witches or "casters" as they are called here. But it's also a young love story, and one that pits real good against real evil. Set in today's world and dealing with real people. This story although not hugely original, is told very well, at a very nice pace, all delivered by a very good cast, lead by a new star I feel, in Alice Englert.
She is Lena, who is a high school kid in a new school in rural South Carolina. There she meets Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich). She also meets a ton of closed minds, religious intolerance and prejudice. She is from an outcast family that the locals think are cursed and witches. So she is not excepted, except by Ethan. Turns out that they are correct, Lena is a caster, who is about 100 days away from her 16th birthday. On that day it will be determined if she will be a caster swayed to "the evil and dark side" or not. Seems that her young love with Ethan holds the key as to what side she will be swayed to. And many in her family are trying to get Ethan out of her life. Will they survive? And will Lena end up as a caster for good, or will she lead the other casters to the ultimate goal of replacing mortals as the leaders of the world?
This is a very entertaining movie that relies on wonderful storytelling and not special effects for the bang. This movie also boasts a huge cast, that is perfectly assembled. Joining our two leads are Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson. All very good in their supporting roles really bringing great credibility to this smart and fresh script.
But let's get down to it. Alice Englert is fantastic as the complicated Lena. She has to play Lena in many different lights, and really pulls it off well. She at times is very loving, caring and vulnerable. And aggressive, and assertive in others. This is a very large role that needed a strong, young actress to pull it off. Also the fact that she is a relative unknown is a huge plus for her, and this movie. She is spectacular.
Beautiful Creatures. Low expectations, big return. This is very good.
MOVIE REVIEW - A Good Day To Die Hard
Here we go again, the Die Hard movie express has pulled out of the station with A Good Day To Die Hard. 25 years later, still making these flicks.
Bruce Willis is back as John McClane. This time he accidentally teams up with his son Jack (Jai Courtney) who is now a CIA operative working in Russia. The premise of this movie is not really all that difficult to convey. These two are up against rogue aspects of the Russian Government, and organized crime. This bunch is bent on stealing secrets, and nuclear materials to either build a terrible weapon or sell for gigantic profit to those who will. This would effect the balance of world power. Good thing we have these two on the job.
But that's where I'll stop the bashing. This movie is what it is, What they all are. It's an over-the-top action series, that has a bit of fun, and sarcasm mixed in. There is no shortage of long, and drawn out action sequences here. Some are really kind of fun, and all are too long. But that's what they've got. That's who they are. Yes, there is some really marginal acting here, and some really lousy dialogue and a bunch of eye rolling by us in the audience. But, if you don't know that going in, you need to join the 21st century, and bone up on a franchise that began in the 20th century.
This movie does something really smart though in the end. They borrow a page from Taken a couple of years ago with Liam Neeson. The strength, charm, and best part of that movie was the timeless fact that this father was going after the guys who took his daughter. Classic plot. Dad avenging thugs who did his daughter wrong. And that transfers here. This is a story of a father, reuniting with his estranged son, and living every fathers dream of working side by side with his only son to finish a job that needs to be done. In this case save the world. Smart.
Is this whole thing over the top? Yes! If it can blow up, catch on fire, crash, or be shot out of something, it's here. It's convenient, and yes there are holes in this whole thing. But who cares. This is essentially mindless "It's 20 degrees outside so lets go to the movies" stuff.
A Good Day To Die Hard. It is what it is. If you're expecting anything else. Keep on going.
Bruce Willis is back as John McClane. This time he accidentally teams up with his son Jack (Jai Courtney) who is now a CIA operative working in Russia. The premise of this movie is not really all that difficult to convey. These two are up against rogue aspects of the Russian Government, and organized crime. This bunch is bent on stealing secrets, and nuclear materials to either build a terrible weapon or sell for gigantic profit to those who will. This would effect the balance of world power. Good thing we have these two on the job.
But that's where I'll stop the bashing. This movie is what it is, What they all are. It's an over-the-top action series, that has a bit of fun, and sarcasm mixed in. There is no shortage of long, and drawn out action sequences here. Some are really kind of fun, and all are too long. But that's what they've got. That's who they are. Yes, there is some really marginal acting here, and some really lousy dialogue and a bunch of eye rolling by us in the audience. But, if you don't know that going in, you need to join the 21st century, and bone up on a franchise that began in the 20th century.
This movie does something really smart though in the end. They borrow a page from Taken a couple of years ago with Liam Neeson. The strength, charm, and best part of that movie was the timeless fact that this father was going after the guys who took his daughter. Classic plot. Dad avenging thugs who did his daughter wrong. And that transfers here. This is a story of a father, reuniting with his estranged son, and living every fathers dream of working side by side with his only son to finish a job that needs to be done. In this case save the world. Smart.
Is this whole thing over the top? Yes! If it can blow up, catch on fire, crash, or be shot out of something, it's here. It's convenient, and yes there are holes in this whole thing. But who cares. This is essentially mindless "It's 20 degrees outside so lets go to the movies" stuff.
A Good Day To Die Hard. It is what it is. If you're expecting anything else. Keep on going.
MOVIE REVIEW - Safe Haven
Nicholas Sparks romance novel, Safe Haven is new this week, and I hope you have a big stack of pancakes for the amount of sappy syrup they are serving up.
This predictable Sparks story and movie, stars the lovely Julianne Hough, and the equally beautiful Josh Duhamel. And there lies some of the problem from a movie stand point, but more on that in a minute. It's another woman in distress movie, where she meets a tortured man, and somehow they will work it all out so they can be together. Now that we are way into the Sparks string of the same movie, it's clear that the only challenge is to find new faces that play the same characters. These are now firmly established as romance novels come to life and not actually real movies.
Harsh sounding I know, but true. As where these movies are only talked about in the same light as other Sparks movies, and not other movies. James Bond flicks have the same syndrome. Difference is, those are not the same story over and over again. Oh yeah, and they are good.
This is the story of Katie (Hough). She flees a terribly abusive marriage in the middle of the night and jumps a bus to the North Carolina Coast. Her husband is a drunken Boston police detective who is out of his mind, and sets out to find Katie using horribly unprofessional methods to to so. Katie meets Alex (Duhamel). He is a general store owner in the town Katie ends up in. His wife died of cancer a few years ago, and he is a single father of two amazingly beautiful children. A boy and a girl, about 10 and 6. They of course, go through the same courting scenes used in every Sparks film. Then they fall in love.
But will Katie's husband find her? And will he do them harm? Will Katie tell Alex the truth about who she really is? And is she really Katie? Burning questions I know, but that's where we are. Will it work out? I don't know about you, but I have a guess.
OK, enough sarcasm, this is the same movie all over again, from...you take your pick, any Sparks movie. Same basic plot, same area of the country and same premise all the way around, with the same characters. There is nothing wrong with Hough here. This is not challenging stuff to do. She is cute, wieghs 100 pounds, and wears incredibly short shorts all movie long. Certainly likable on screen, but no different than she was on Dancing With The Stars. Dumamel is amazingly handsome, and somewhat charming, and there is the obligatory no shirt scene or two. All he really has to do is act smitten all movie and he does it. It's real romance novel stuff. Part of the charm for teenagers I know. But not really good, or enduring movie making.
Seriously, who looks like these two anyway? And that's part of the problem. There is no real level of believability here at all. And I get it too. It's supposed to be a fantasy, a romance novel. And that's my point. This is not a movie, it's a book come to the screen as an escape, a fantasy. But it's the same fantasy that's been had a dozen times before, and that's boring. How about a new setting, how about some new characters, and maybe a different premise, and a real story and not some plot you pour into the "plot mold" and spit out the same old thing. At least the Sparks book The Notebook from years ago dared to be different in many ways and was. And think about it, that's the only one that everyone talks about years later.
Oh yeah, with these movies it's not about being good. It's not about making a real movie, it's about what may be the monetary gain only? Starting to look that way. Or maybe continuing to look that way. How about something new next time? Just to humor us.
Safe Haven. New faces. Same thing - again.
This predictable Sparks story and movie, stars the lovely Julianne Hough, and the equally beautiful Josh Duhamel. And there lies some of the problem from a movie stand point, but more on that in a minute. It's another woman in distress movie, where she meets a tortured man, and somehow they will work it all out so they can be together. Now that we are way into the Sparks string of the same movie, it's clear that the only challenge is to find new faces that play the same characters. These are now firmly established as romance novels come to life and not actually real movies.
Harsh sounding I know, but true. As where these movies are only talked about in the same light as other Sparks movies, and not other movies. James Bond flicks have the same syndrome. Difference is, those are not the same story over and over again. Oh yeah, and they are good.
This is the story of Katie (Hough). She flees a terribly abusive marriage in the middle of the night and jumps a bus to the North Carolina Coast. Her husband is a drunken Boston police detective who is out of his mind, and sets out to find Katie using horribly unprofessional methods to to so. Katie meets Alex (Duhamel). He is a general store owner in the town Katie ends up in. His wife died of cancer a few years ago, and he is a single father of two amazingly beautiful children. A boy and a girl, about 10 and 6. They of course, go through the same courting scenes used in every Sparks film. Then they fall in love.
But will Katie's husband find her? And will he do them harm? Will Katie tell Alex the truth about who she really is? And is she really Katie? Burning questions I know, but that's where we are. Will it work out? I don't know about you, but I have a guess.
OK, enough sarcasm, this is the same movie all over again, from...you take your pick, any Sparks movie. Same basic plot, same area of the country and same premise all the way around, with the same characters. There is nothing wrong with Hough here. This is not challenging stuff to do. She is cute, wieghs 100 pounds, and wears incredibly short shorts all movie long. Certainly likable on screen, but no different than she was on Dancing With The Stars. Dumamel is amazingly handsome, and somewhat charming, and there is the obligatory no shirt scene or two. All he really has to do is act smitten all movie and he does it. It's real romance novel stuff. Part of the charm for teenagers I know. But not really good, or enduring movie making.
Seriously, who looks like these two anyway? And that's part of the problem. There is no real level of believability here at all. And I get it too. It's supposed to be a fantasy, a romance novel. And that's my point. This is not a movie, it's a book come to the screen as an escape, a fantasy. But it's the same fantasy that's been had a dozen times before, and that's boring. How about a new setting, how about some new characters, and maybe a different premise, and a real story and not some plot you pour into the "plot mold" and spit out the same old thing. At least the Sparks book The Notebook from years ago dared to be different in many ways and was. And think about it, that's the only one that everyone talks about years later.
Oh yeah, with these movies it's not about being good. It's not about making a real movie, it's about what may be the monetary gain only? Starting to look that way. Or maybe continuing to look that way. How about something new next time? Just to humor us.
Safe Haven. New faces. Same thing - again.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Dewsweeper Golf Course Review - Mountain Lake (Florida)
As golfers we have a tendency to instinctively know when we are playing somewhere that is special, a treat, or possibly hallowed golf grounds.
That happened to us a few days ago, when the Dewsweepers Southern Division played an incredibly private golf course in Central Florida, Mountain Lake. Mountain Lake is in Lake Wales, Florida in the heart of Polk County. About the center of the state. It's a course and community that is off the radar, and lucky for us, we were privileged to play it. Our friend Ray works for Mountain Lake Corporation and he was the one that put the wheels in motion for all of us to step onto this work of art. An honor.
Mountain Lake, we decided as a group, may be the best golf course any of us have ever played. We have all played a lot of golf over 35 years, and we all were hard pressed to think of a better one. The weather was perfect, and the conditions were same. Mountain Lake is a magnificently designed and cared for course that has the feel of something more than golf. It's an experience as opposed to a round of golf. Golf Digest recently ranked private courses nationally. Mountain Lake came in number 8, Augusta National came in number 9.
Mountain Lake has a very interesting story. Built in 1916 and designed by a world renowned golf course designer named Seth Raynor. Raynor built some of the best golf courses in the country over a very short time, as he died at 51 years old in 1926. About a decade ago, Mountain Lake was redone to a degree, but was returned to he original specs taken from Raynor's own blueprints. With square tee boxes, and the greens made original again. In essence redoing some of the modifications made over the decades.
Mountain Lake is not a hugely long golf course, checking in about 6,300 yards and it can tip out about 6,700. It is not loaded with a huge amount of sand, but there is plenty, and it's placed perfectly for challenge. There is some water, but not a ton. The course is relatively driver friendly, and to stand on many tees you might be wondering how it is this course is so difficult. Because it's designed to perfection. Sand and water in just the right places. Greens that are sloped, and shaped by an artist, and rolling this day at about a 12.5. Lightning quick, fair, and fabulous. PGA quality, maybe beyond if that's possible. This place is perfectly pristine. From my view it is a second shot golf course. Approach shots are the key to scoring. Something most golfers have trouble with.
Fairways are generous, and manicured in an almost unbelievable fashion. There is nothing out of place ever. No cart paths, just a few Florida clay paths that actually add to the beauty of this place. Tight grass, with great give on the fairways, and tough Bermuda rough if you are off of them. On the fairways perfect lies every time. Like many great courses, if you drive it in the fairway, you are rewarded, if not, you pay. You can also leave yourself insanely hard short shots if you miss the green on many of these holes. These shots on public courses are generally not difficult. At Mountain Lake with the speed and slope of most greens and the way they are protected, short shots are really tough. Makes more sense to hit the greens in regulation. But we are amateurs. I hit more 60 degree wedges there than any round in my life, trying to get it stopped on short shots.
We all played pretty well, and showed amazing respect to the course all day long. Tim went 45/39 for a nice 84. Ray shot the best all day long, really locked in posting 41/42 for a real nice 83. I shot 44/42 for an 86 even with a terrible triple on number 10. And Beef rolled in a 47/47 for 94. Ray highlighted the round with 2 birdies on the front 9 on 3, and 7. Well done. Ray challenged the course more than the rest of us this day, and he was rewarded for it as he was hitting the ball well. Scores were fine, but secondary. The experience was rewarding in itself.
We always have a great time playing golf with whomever we play with, up north or down south. But after we added it all up, with the weather being perfect in February, and the shape of this magnificent course this may have been the best 18 holes of golf we have ever played. Not from a scoring standpoint, but a golfer standpoint. This is an incredible place. Quiet, serene, established, mature and so immensely private, you can't help but recognize you are doing something that all golfers wish they could. Play a course this good.
Mountain Lake. Astounding. Everything that is good about golf.
That happened to us a few days ago, when the Dewsweepers Southern Division played an incredibly private golf course in Central Florida, Mountain Lake. Mountain Lake is in Lake Wales, Florida in the heart of Polk County. About the center of the state. It's a course and community that is off the radar, and lucky for us, we were privileged to play it. Our friend Ray works for Mountain Lake Corporation and he was the one that put the wheels in motion for all of us to step onto this work of art. An honor.
Mountain Lake, we decided as a group, may be the best golf course any of us have ever played. We have all played a lot of golf over 35 years, and we all were hard pressed to think of a better one. The weather was perfect, and the conditions were same. Mountain Lake is a magnificently designed and cared for course that has the feel of something more than golf. It's an experience as opposed to a round of golf. Golf Digest recently ranked private courses nationally. Mountain Lake came in number 8, Augusta National came in number 9.
Mountain Lake has a very interesting story. Built in 1916 and designed by a world renowned golf course designer named Seth Raynor. Raynor built some of the best golf courses in the country over a very short time, as he died at 51 years old in 1926. About a decade ago, Mountain Lake was redone to a degree, but was returned to he original specs taken from Raynor's own blueprints. With square tee boxes, and the greens made original again. In essence redoing some of the modifications made over the decades.
Mountain Lake is not a hugely long golf course, checking in about 6,300 yards and it can tip out about 6,700. It is not loaded with a huge amount of sand, but there is plenty, and it's placed perfectly for challenge. There is some water, but not a ton. The course is relatively driver friendly, and to stand on many tees you might be wondering how it is this course is so difficult. Because it's designed to perfection. Sand and water in just the right places. Greens that are sloped, and shaped by an artist, and rolling this day at about a 12.5. Lightning quick, fair, and fabulous. PGA quality, maybe beyond if that's possible. This place is perfectly pristine. From my view it is a second shot golf course. Approach shots are the key to scoring. Something most golfers have trouble with.
Fairways are generous, and manicured in an almost unbelievable fashion. There is nothing out of place ever. No cart paths, just a few Florida clay paths that actually add to the beauty of this place. Tight grass, with great give on the fairways, and tough Bermuda rough if you are off of them. On the fairways perfect lies every time. Like many great courses, if you drive it in the fairway, you are rewarded, if not, you pay. You can also leave yourself insanely hard short shots if you miss the green on many of these holes. These shots on public courses are generally not difficult. At Mountain Lake with the speed and slope of most greens and the way they are protected, short shots are really tough. Makes more sense to hit the greens in regulation. But we are amateurs. I hit more 60 degree wedges there than any round in my life, trying to get it stopped on short shots.
We all played pretty well, and showed amazing respect to the course all day long. Tim went 45/39 for a nice 84. Ray shot the best all day long, really locked in posting 41/42 for a real nice 83. I shot 44/42 for an 86 even with a terrible triple on number 10. And Beef rolled in a 47/47 for 94. Ray highlighted the round with 2 birdies on the front 9 on 3, and 7. Well done. Ray challenged the course more than the rest of us this day, and he was rewarded for it as he was hitting the ball well. Scores were fine, but secondary. The experience was rewarding in itself.
We always have a great time playing golf with whomever we play with, up north or down south. But after we added it all up, with the weather being perfect in February, and the shape of this magnificent course this may have been the best 18 holes of golf we have ever played. Not from a scoring standpoint, but a golfer standpoint. This is an incredible place. Quiet, serene, established, mature and so immensely private, you can't help but recognize you are doing something that all golfers wish they could. Play a course this good.
Mountain Lake. Astounding. Everything that is good about golf.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
2013 Oscar Preview and Picks
The Academy Awards will be here soon. And now it's time to sit down and think about who is going to win the coveted awards this year. After reviewing over 140 movies in 2012, the thing that really struck me is the lack of the clear runaway favorites in virtually any category. In a year that there may not have been the one or two movies that were clearly above the rest, there a few that are neck and neck. It will be interesting what kind of mood Oscar will be in this year.
So on this list, we'll look at 6 major categories and make three picks. First my pick is for who I would pick in that category. Second, who I think will win, and third, the "dark horse." The one to watch who may be off the radar. We'll look at Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Actress, and Director. So let's go.
Best Picture
My Pick Would Be - Zero Dark Thirty. This movie is probably the best movie of the year, but it more than likely will have problems with the Academy. Much of this is not the kind of political correctness for Hollywood Academy voters, and that will more than likely keep it out of the big winners circle. But this is sensational movie making in every regard. This movie is brilliantly told, well acted and exceedingly interesting.
The Winner Will Be - Les Miserables. Hollywood loves to pat itself on the back sometimes, and loves honoring art, with more art. They did is last year, and got it right with the silent gem The Artist. This of course is long time play, now a big time movie. In a year where many of the nominees are controversial for various reasons, this is not. This is groundbreaking and very fresh in its approach. Les Miz, has a ton of nominations, and should win a few.
The Dark Horse - Silver Linings Playbook. If Oscar is in the right mood, this movie could be a big story this year. It's the first movie in 40 years that is nominated in the Best Picture category, and all four acting categories. This movie seems to have some momentum at the right time. Under the right circumstances this movie could really make a lot of noise.
Best Actor
My Pick Would Be - Daniel Day Lewis for Lincoln. I can't see any reason why he shouldn't win his third Oscar. He is brilliant in every single facet and this performance will be talked about for years to come. Incredibly prepared and done to perfection, in a movie that had to have it. The whole movie, every frame depended on Lewis. He was amazing.
The Winner Will Be - Daniel Day Lewis. For all the reasons mentioned.
The Dark Horse - Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook. If Oscar is feeling younger and feels a need to usher in a new era of Hollywood star, Cooper could be the guy to lead the charge. He is terrific in this movie and is a big Hollywood draw. It has he potential, be it small, to be the upset of the night. I would have little problem seeing him win as I am a big fan of this movie.
Best Actress
My Pick Would Be - Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings Playbook. She was fantastic in this movie and really showed what she could do in the presence of a great script and strong actors around her. This is long way from The Hunger Games. She was the real separator for this movie, as she elevated it to a higher level that it would have been without her in her vital role. This is a great performance.
The Winner Will Be - Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty. This may be the bone that this brilliant movie gets from the Academy. It is undeniable that this is a huge role, and she is great. This is by far the largest female role in any movie this year, and Chastain delivers. This way Zero Dark Thirty can be honored, without being honored. She is great. She would deserve it.
The Dark Horse - Quvenzahane Wallis for Beasts Of The Southern Wild. Hollywood might really like to have this completely charming 9 year old win for buzz, and what would be unprecedented press coverage, in a movie that was universally loved by the Academy that no one else saw.
Supporting Actor
My Pick Would Be - Christoph Waltz from Django Unchained. I think this is the second best performance of the year in any category behind Lewis. Waltz is simply brilliant in this role as a polite, but diabolical bounty hunter in the Tarantino smash hit. With events in the real world, this movie is too incorrect to be honored this year I feel, and that is his biggest hurdle. He already has an Oscar from Inglorious Basterds from 2 years ago. Amazing there, better here.
The Winner Will Be - Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln. Lincoln is going to win a few, and this might be one that's a stretch. But I think the temptation will be too much for him not to win. He's a good guy, a big draw in a good movie. It's probably his turn. Truth is, I liked him far more in Hope Springs last summer, as he was terrific. Jones is great in this really good movie, but his performance is not near Waltz's. Not even close and not near as demanding.
The Dark Horse - Alan Arkin for Argo. Hollywood loved this movie a lot. He plays a Hollywood producer and Hollywood loves stories about themselves. He is pretty fun and Argo is going to win a few, and this could be one.
Supporting Actress
My Pick Would Be - Sally Field from Lincoln. Big role, where she gained 30 pounds to play Lincolns wife Mary Todd Lincoln. She holds her own in many vital scenes with Lewis. Plus, with no disrespect intended, this category has no real clear winner and a field that is not nearly as strong as usual.
The Winner Will Be - Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables. She lost 30 pounds for this movie. First off, a very small role as far as actual screen time is concerned. But many times an Oscar can be won with a huge single scene and she's got one. Her constant 5 minute one camera shot emotively singing the movies most powerful song was breath taking. It may be the best movie scene of the year. It will be the deal sealer for her.
The Dark Horse - Helen Hunt for The Sessions. This is a very daring role for a women near 50. She spends much of her time in the movie completely naked, and takes on a role you seldom see in any movie. Hollywood many times respects daring and this is. She plays a "sex surrogate" in a really good movie. Hunt can be very good and she was the best choice for this role. This could be one of the big upsets of the night, from a little known movie.
Director
My Pick Would Be - Ang Lee for Life Of Pi. He always takes on projects that can't be done, and does them. This was one of those. Huge book, big story, beyond incredibly difficult movie making. Without him, this movie would have been cartoonish.
The Winner Will Be - Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. This move is going to win a few, and he more than likely will. But in fairness, he is not to Lincoln, as Lee is to Pi.
The Dark Horse - David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook. You take a little story, with not much fanfare, and turn it into one of the years best movies with tons of nominations. And you make Jennifer Lawrence more that she has ever been. Bradley Cooper too. And somehow get Jacki Weaver nominated, and Robert DeNiro nominated yet again. Amazingly well done.
Feel free to e-mail me your opinions scott@wqmx.com
So on this list, we'll look at 6 major categories and make three picks. First my pick is for who I would pick in that category. Second, who I think will win, and third, the "dark horse." The one to watch who may be off the radar. We'll look at Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Actress, and Director. So let's go.
Best Picture
My Pick Would Be - Zero Dark Thirty. This movie is probably the best movie of the year, but it more than likely will have problems with the Academy. Much of this is not the kind of political correctness for Hollywood Academy voters, and that will more than likely keep it out of the big winners circle. But this is sensational movie making in every regard. This movie is brilliantly told, well acted and exceedingly interesting.
The Winner Will Be - Les Miserables. Hollywood loves to pat itself on the back sometimes, and loves honoring art, with more art. They did is last year, and got it right with the silent gem The Artist. This of course is long time play, now a big time movie. In a year where many of the nominees are controversial for various reasons, this is not. This is groundbreaking and very fresh in its approach. Les Miz, has a ton of nominations, and should win a few.
The Dark Horse - Silver Linings Playbook. If Oscar is in the right mood, this movie could be a big story this year. It's the first movie in 40 years that is nominated in the Best Picture category, and all four acting categories. This movie seems to have some momentum at the right time. Under the right circumstances this movie could really make a lot of noise.
Best Actor
My Pick Would Be - Daniel Day Lewis for Lincoln. I can't see any reason why he shouldn't win his third Oscar. He is brilliant in every single facet and this performance will be talked about for years to come. Incredibly prepared and done to perfection, in a movie that had to have it. The whole movie, every frame depended on Lewis. He was amazing.
The Winner Will Be - Daniel Day Lewis. For all the reasons mentioned.
The Dark Horse - Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook. If Oscar is feeling younger and feels a need to usher in a new era of Hollywood star, Cooper could be the guy to lead the charge. He is terrific in this movie and is a big Hollywood draw. It has he potential, be it small, to be the upset of the night. I would have little problem seeing him win as I am a big fan of this movie.
Best Actress
My Pick Would Be - Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings Playbook. She was fantastic in this movie and really showed what she could do in the presence of a great script and strong actors around her. This is long way from The Hunger Games. She was the real separator for this movie, as she elevated it to a higher level that it would have been without her in her vital role. This is a great performance.
The Winner Will Be - Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty. This may be the bone that this brilliant movie gets from the Academy. It is undeniable that this is a huge role, and she is great. This is by far the largest female role in any movie this year, and Chastain delivers. This way Zero Dark Thirty can be honored, without being honored. She is great. She would deserve it.
The Dark Horse - Quvenzahane Wallis for Beasts Of The Southern Wild. Hollywood might really like to have this completely charming 9 year old win for buzz, and what would be unprecedented press coverage, in a movie that was universally loved by the Academy that no one else saw.
Supporting Actor
My Pick Would Be - Christoph Waltz from Django Unchained. I think this is the second best performance of the year in any category behind Lewis. Waltz is simply brilliant in this role as a polite, but diabolical bounty hunter in the Tarantino smash hit. With events in the real world, this movie is too incorrect to be honored this year I feel, and that is his biggest hurdle. He already has an Oscar from Inglorious Basterds from 2 years ago. Amazing there, better here.
The Winner Will Be - Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln. Lincoln is going to win a few, and this might be one that's a stretch. But I think the temptation will be too much for him not to win. He's a good guy, a big draw in a good movie. It's probably his turn. Truth is, I liked him far more in Hope Springs last summer, as he was terrific. Jones is great in this really good movie, but his performance is not near Waltz's. Not even close and not near as demanding.
The Dark Horse - Alan Arkin for Argo. Hollywood loved this movie a lot. He plays a Hollywood producer and Hollywood loves stories about themselves. He is pretty fun and Argo is going to win a few, and this could be one.
Supporting Actress
My Pick Would Be - Sally Field from Lincoln. Big role, where she gained 30 pounds to play Lincolns wife Mary Todd Lincoln. She holds her own in many vital scenes with Lewis. Plus, with no disrespect intended, this category has no real clear winner and a field that is not nearly as strong as usual.
The Winner Will Be - Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables. She lost 30 pounds for this movie. First off, a very small role as far as actual screen time is concerned. But many times an Oscar can be won with a huge single scene and she's got one. Her constant 5 minute one camera shot emotively singing the movies most powerful song was breath taking. It may be the best movie scene of the year. It will be the deal sealer for her.
The Dark Horse - Helen Hunt for The Sessions. This is a very daring role for a women near 50. She spends much of her time in the movie completely naked, and takes on a role you seldom see in any movie. Hollywood many times respects daring and this is. She plays a "sex surrogate" in a really good movie. Hunt can be very good and she was the best choice for this role. This could be one of the big upsets of the night, from a little known movie.
Director
My Pick Would Be - Ang Lee for Life Of Pi. He always takes on projects that can't be done, and does them. This was one of those. Huge book, big story, beyond incredibly difficult movie making. Without him, this movie would have been cartoonish.
The Winner Will Be - Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. This move is going to win a few, and he more than likely will. But in fairness, he is not to Lincoln, as Lee is to Pi.
The Dark Horse - David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook. You take a little story, with not much fanfare, and turn it into one of the years best movies with tons of nominations. And you make Jennifer Lawrence more that she has ever been. Bradley Cooper too. And somehow get Jacki Weaver nominated, and Robert DeNiro nominated yet again. Amazingly well done.
Feel free to e-mail me your opinions scott@wqmx.com
Monday, February 11, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Side Effects
February can be movie release purgatory, but the new Side Effects can help stem that tide, at least this year.
Great cast with Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum and others turn a real nice story into a real mind bender thinking man's movie. Side Effects cuts through so strong right now, because it is easily the smartest movie that's been released in a while. Should be noted in fairness to movie goers, this is not a "Channing Tatum" movie.
This is the story of Emily (Mara) a seemingly troubled young woman who is married to Martin (Tatum). Martin is just getting out of prison for stock market fraud, and is adjusting to life with his wife after 4 years apart. Emily is having a tough time. She starts to see a young Dr. Banks (Law) for therapy. He prescribes her a new depression medicine that gives her terrible side effects. Martin ends up dead, and now she is accused of his murder.
Seems that this medicine has a checkered past, and has a volatile stock market past as well. As Emily's murder trial commences, and there seems to be something else working underfoot. A former Dr. of Emily's (Zeta-Jones) is now in the mix, and it seems that Dr. Banks is going to take the fall for the whole deal. But he fights back to learn the truth, whatever it is. That in a very short capsule is Side Effects.
This is a really nice movie in the long run. I will admit, it stumbles a bit out of the blocks and gets off to a rather sluggish start. I found it hard to stick with for the first 25 minutes or so. But it gets better. And in the end, turns out to be a very good story. I always think that Law picks smart projects and this is as he is very good here. The insanely talented, and alluring Rooney Mara is bracing for big stardom. She of course came to be, as the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. She is again splendid as the tortured woman fighting against all odds. She is terrific in this movie. She has a great look and has the innate ability to have you look squarely in her eyes while on screen. Zeta-Jones has a big role and it's good to see her back in a larger task.
I have not decided if this is really that good, or if it just looks good next to all the mid-winter action flicks out right now. But one thing is for sure, the story here gets big points. It keeps you guessing and involved the whole time, especially after the slow start. This is a nice ensemble movie.
Side Effects. Good, solid movie!
Great cast with Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum and others turn a real nice story into a real mind bender thinking man's movie. Side Effects cuts through so strong right now, because it is easily the smartest movie that's been released in a while. Should be noted in fairness to movie goers, this is not a "Channing Tatum" movie.
This is the story of Emily (Mara) a seemingly troubled young woman who is married to Martin (Tatum). Martin is just getting out of prison for stock market fraud, and is adjusting to life with his wife after 4 years apart. Emily is having a tough time. She starts to see a young Dr. Banks (Law) for therapy. He prescribes her a new depression medicine that gives her terrible side effects. Martin ends up dead, and now she is accused of his murder.
Seems that this medicine has a checkered past, and has a volatile stock market past as well. As Emily's murder trial commences, and there seems to be something else working underfoot. A former Dr. of Emily's (Zeta-Jones) is now in the mix, and it seems that Dr. Banks is going to take the fall for the whole deal. But he fights back to learn the truth, whatever it is. That in a very short capsule is Side Effects.
This is a really nice movie in the long run. I will admit, it stumbles a bit out of the blocks and gets off to a rather sluggish start. I found it hard to stick with for the first 25 minutes or so. But it gets better. And in the end, turns out to be a very good story. I always think that Law picks smart projects and this is as he is very good here. The insanely talented, and alluring Rooney Mara is bracing for big stardom. She of course came to be, as the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. She is again splendid as the tortured woman fighting against all odds. She is terrific in this movie. She has a great look and has the innate ability to have you look squarely in her eyes while on screen. Zeta-Jones has a big role and it's good to see her back in a larger task.
I have not decided if this is really that good, or if it just looks good next to all the mid-winter action flicks out right now. But one thing is for sure, the story here gets big points. It keeps you guessing and involved the whole time, especially after the slow start. This is a nice ensemble movie.
Side Effects. Good, solid movie!
Friday, February 8, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Identity Thief
Sometimes movie trailers are far better than the actual movie. That is Identity Thief.
IT stars Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy in this screwball comedy that has its moments of real fun, but spends most of its time being a bad imitation of much funnier and better movies. Namely Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), which was in the hands of far more skilled movie makers. Truth be told, once you've seen the trailer for this, there is nothing else new to see here.
Quickly, it's the story of Sandy (Bateman) his wonderful wife Trish (Amanda Peete), and their lovely daughters. Sandy is a young executive that lives in Denver and has identity stolen by professional ID thief, Diana (McCarthy) who lives in Florida. She ruins his life, rings up huge amounts of bills in his name, buys a car, commits felonies and Sandy loses his job over it. So, with a bit of luck, he finds out who and where she is and travels to Florida to bring her back to Denver to make things right. She agrees. Sound ridiculous already?
But look out, Diana is being chased by armed bill collecting bounty hunters and a drug cartel that she sold stolen identities to that turned out not to be effective. So what this story actually is, is the trek, and chase Sandy and Diana have across the country. He is the straight laced borderline uptight young business man. She is the outrageous, overweight, over compensating for something missing in life goofball. And their worlds collide...sound familiar? It is, there have been dozens of these before, including the very funny and tasteful, Jon Hughes classic, Planes Trains And Automobiles with Steve Martin and John Candy. Truth is, that movie made in a far different time, takes a much higher road than this. But the road is lower in the climate of movies today.
First off, this is going to be a smash hit. McCarthy is a big draw right now, and she is capable of being very funny. And there are moments in this movie that she is. Audiences will love this movie for all the slapstick, and the action comedy that comes with it. She is money in the bank. Her willingness to look silly and have the joke be on her is very endearing. But I like her better on TV, where there is at least some restriction on what is acceptable for her to do. She is terrific on Mike And Molly, because she has to throttle back from many things that she really doesn't need to do to be funny. She is blessed with being funny. But movies are different.
The F-bomb doesn't make her funnier, just more of a sell-out. I don't know about you, but I don't want to watch her have sex with a Texas cowboy in a motel for laughs, but we do here. And I don't need to hear about the condition of her various body parts verbally time after time. But we do here. I loved her in Bridesmaids where she got an Oscar nomination, and she was really original and funny. But the roles are starting to look the same. In short, I think she is actually way funnier than this movie script. I think she is more than this.
Then the real movie killer. The story. I know it's just a movie, but there has to be some semblance of reality. Truth is, real identity theft in the real world is a very serious crime as it ruins lives horribly. ID thieves are scummy people that set out solely to ruin your life. I don't think many ID victims befriend their ID thief. But ours does. In fact, he lets his young kids befriend Diana, and even tries to get her off the hook for her crimes against him. In short, the script calls for her to be the victim of a hard life, and makes her out sympathetically. We are supposed to feel sorry for her, and root for her. Are you kidding? I'm serious....are you kidding? Would you do that if someone ruined your life financially? Ridiculous writing, almost appalling. Hard to believe that someone in some board room somewhere didn't say, "WTH?"
Identity Thief. This is a topical idea, but a terrible script, in the hands of myopic film makers who fail to take full advantage of the great talents of a funny lady in McCarthy. Instead this is a self-indulgent, and mostly insulting story, with some fun mixed in.
IT stars Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy in this screwball comedy that has its moments of real fun, but spends most of its time being a bad imitation of much funnier and better movies. Namely Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), which was in the hands of far more skilled movie makers. Truth be told, once you've seen the trailer for this, there is nothing else new to see here.
Quickly, it's the story of Sandy (Bateman) his wonderful wife Trish (Amanda Peete), and their lovely daughters. Sandy is a young executive that lives in Denver and has identity stolen by professional ID thief, Diana (McCarthy) who lives in Florida. She ruins his life, rings up huge amounts of bills in his name, buys a car, commits felonies and Sandy loses his job over it. So, with a bit of luck, he finds out who and where she is and travels to Florida to bring her back to Denver to make things right. She agrees. Sound ridiculous already?
But look out, Diana is being chased by armed bill collecting bounty hunters and a drug cartel that she sold stolen identities to that turned out not to be effective. So what this story actually is, is the trek, and chase Sandy and Diana have across the country. He is the straight laced borderline uptight young business man. She is the outrageous, overweight, over compensating for something missing in life goofball. And their worlds collide...sound familiar? It is, there have been dozens of these before, including the very funny and tasteful, Jon Hughes classic, Planes Trains And Automobiles with Steve Martin and John Candy. Truth is, that movie made in a far different time, takes a much higher road than this. But the road is lower in the climate of movies today.
First off, this is going to be a smash hit. McCarthy is a big draw right now, and she is capable of being very funny. And there are moments in this movie that she is. Audiences will love this movie for all the slapstick, and the action comedy that comes with it. She is money in the bank. Her willingness to look silly and have the joke be on her is very endearing. But I like her better on TV, where there is at least some restriction on what is acceptable for her to do. She is terrific on Mike And Molly, because she has to throttle back from many things that she really doesn't need to do to be funny. She is blessed with being funny. But movies are different.
The F-bomb doesn't make her funnier, just more of a sell-out. I don't know about you, but I don't want to watch her have sex with a Texas cowboy in a motel for laughs, but we do here. And I don't need to hear about the condition of her various body parts verbally time after time. But we do here. I loved her in Bridesmaids where she got an Oscar nomination, and she was really original and funny. But the roles are starting to look the same. In short, I think she is actually way funnier than this movie script. I think she is more than this.
Then the real movie killer. The story. I know it's just a movie, but there has to be some semblance of reality. Truth is, real identity theft in the real world is a very serious crime as it ruins lives horribly. ID thieves are scummy people that set out solely to ruin your life. I don't think many ID victims befriend their ID thief. But ours does. In fact, he lets his young kids befriend Diana, and even tries to get her off the hook for her crimes against him. In short, the script calls for her to be the victim of a hard life, and makes her out sympathetically. We are supposed to feel sorry for her, and root for her. Are you kidding? I'm serious....are you kidding? Would you do that if someone ruined your life financially? Ridiculous writing, almost appalling. Hard to believe that someone in some board room somewhere didn't say, "WTH?"
Identity Thief. This is a topical idea, but a terrible script, in the hands of myopic film makers who fail to take full advantage of the great talents of a funny lady in McCarthy. Instead this is a self-indulgent, and mostly insulting story, with some fun mixed in.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Stand Up Guys
Here come a real mixed bag of a movie, the new Stand Up Guys in limited release. What a great cast, what a great idea, but what is missing?
Stand Up Guys is a fun concept for a movie. About 3 old criminals who are now in their 70's. They are cut from a different cloth as far as being bad guys are concerned, and as simply being men. This story sets out to prove even bad guys mature with age and gain perspective they didn't have in their heyday. This is part comedy, part drama, and part tragedy. It gives credence that they don't make them like this anymore. Men, or criminals.
This is the story of Val (Al Pacino), and his best friend Doc (Christopher Walken). Val has just been released from prison after serving a 28 year sentence for killing the son of a local crime boss during a crime they both were involved with years ago. It's not really sure who actually killed the son, but Val being a stand up guy took the fall so no one else would have to. He did his time, now he is out, and is making up for lost time by eating, drinking and visiting hookers in the first 12 hours of his release.
Problem is, the crime boss leader named Claphands (Mark Margolis) has a contract out on Val, and he is extorting Doc to do the deed. And he has until 10AM the next day to do it, or he will go after Doc's pride and joy his granddaughter Alex (Addison Timlin). Val knows this, and accepts it. So they go through the night reliving the old days, settling old scores and making new wrongs right. They gather up one of their old cronies Hirsch (Alan Arkin) and off they go on a full nights adventure. The three have also found out the world has changed and it is not like the old days. But the bigger question is, how will this end up at 10AM with Val and Doc?
There is a lot good about this movie. The writing is somewhat slick with snappy, and creative dialogue at times, problem is just not all the time. The story is fun and creative for the most part, and they develop some real nice characters. But the trouble is, there just is something missing that prevents it from being really above the fray. I think that overall, the enormous talents of our three principle actors is underused. There are not enough poignant moments in this move.
The supporting cast is great. Small roles filled by really well cast actors including Timlin, Julianna Margulies, Venessa Ferlito and Lucy Punch who was really funny in her small role as the madam of the house of ill repute that Val, Doc and Hirsch visit. I don't want to say that the three leads mailed it in because they didn't. But the story as creative as it was, could have used another rewrite or two. They just had only so much to work with.
Stand Up Guys. Good, yes. But an opportunity missed to be great.
Stand Up Guys is a fun concept for a movie. About 3 old criminals who are now in their 70's. They are cut from a different cloth as far as being bad guys are concerned, and as simply being men. This story sets out to prove even bad guys mature with age and gain perspective they didn't have in their heyday. This is part comedy, part drama, and part tragedy. It gives credence that they don't make them like this anymore. Men, or criminals.
This is the story of Val (Al Pacino), and his best friend Doc (Christopher Walken). Val has just been released from prison after serving a 28 year sentence for killing the son of a local crime boss during a crime they both were involved with years ago. It's not really sure who actually killed the son, but Val being a stand up guy took the fall so no one else would have to. He did his time, now he is out, and is making up for lost time by eating, drinking and visiting hookers in the first 12 hours of his release.
Problem is, the crime boss leader named Claphands (Mark Margolis) has a contract out on Val, and he is extorting Doc to do the deed. And he has until 10AM the next day to do it, or he will go after Doc's pride and joy his granddaughter Alex (Addison Timlin). Val knows this, and accepts it. So they go through the night reliving the old days, settling old scores and making new wrongs right. They gather up one of their old cronies Hirsch (Alan Arkin) and off they go on a full nights adventure. The three have also found out the world has changed and it is not like the old days. But the bigger question is, how will this end up at 10AM with Val and Doc?
There is a lot good about this movie. The writing is somewhat slick with snappy, and creative dialogue at times, problem is just not all the time. The story is fun and creative for the most part, and they develop some real nice characters. But the trouble is, there just is something missing that prevents it from being really above the fray. I think that overall, the enormous talents of our three principle actors is underused. There are not enough poignant moments in this move.
The supporting cast is great. Small roles filled by really well cast actors including Timlin, Julianna Margulies, Venessa Ferlito and Lucy Punch who was really funny in her small role as the madam of the house of ill repute that Val, Doc and Hirsch visit. I don't want to say that the three leads mailed it in because they didn't. But the story as creative as it was, could have used another rewrite or two. They just had only so much to work with.
Stand Up Guys. Good, yes. But an opportunity missed to be great.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Dewsweepers Golf Course Review - Southern Dunes
A couple of times a year my fellow Sunday morning Dewsweeper Beef and I are lucky enough to grab a couple of airline tickets and head on down to Florida for some winter golf.
We meet up with our friends Ray and Tim who live there, and spend 4 days playing some of the best courses you can imagine. As when we play golf up here every Sunday morning with Tex, and Joe Red during the warm weather months as The Dewsweepers. We call this the Dewsweepers "Southern Division" with Ray and Tim.
We get together, have a few beers, smoke a few cigars and play some golf. One of the great places we played this time is a course you can play if you head to Central Florida. In fact, you should make it a point to play Southern Dunes in Haines City. About 15 minutes west of Disney off I-4 on U.S.27. Southern Dunes is nothing short of spectacular. And lucky for us, we have played this course a number of times before, as did I when I lived in nearby Lakeland for 10 years 30 minutes to the west. Every time we play it, it gets better.
Southern Dunes is amazingly beautiful, and extremely challenging. We played this gorgeous track at about 6,400 yards, but you can tip this thing out at about 7,300. But I will warn you the back tees are incredibly difficult. This course also boasts about 200 sand traps in assorted shapes and sizes on all areas of the course. Some of these are absolutely brutal. Like Ray says, "One bad shot and Southern Dunes, turns to Sudden Doom!" And he's right on. With green, lush fairways, tens of thousands of all kinds of trees, and incredibly fast PGA quality greens, Southern Dunes is championship caliber golf. Read their website that I will link up here, and see how honored this course really is. You won't believe it.
Tim is the best player of our group, and on this day he showed it. Tim has a great stroke that generally keeps him in play, and gives him chances to score all day long. Tim got off to a great start by parring the first, a brutal 360 yard heavily protected par 4. After a stumble on the par 5 4th, with a double, he birdied number 5, and went on a real nice streak finishing the front at 43. Good score on this course. Only outdoing himself on the back with a real nice 39 for a total of 82. Breaking 40 on either 9 is a great score, especially for us amateur players.
This was not Ray's best day. Ray had a few holes that really tore him up. But being fair, that is not hard to do out there. Ray had his share of pars and decent scores, but a few really tough numbers prevented him from getting on track. Ray didn't putt well either and that reflected in the score. These greens are lighting fast, and good play can not always be seen as 3 putting is not hard to do. The putts have to be in the cup. - Period. On this day, the greens were rolling about 11.5. Ray's 95 was not really a 95. But on a tough course, you've got to get it in the hole. Ray would rebound later in the weekend and show the kind of player he really is. This is tough golf.
Beef came around the front in 47, as it took a while for him, (and all of us) to get our feet on the ground, especially on the greens and bunkers. But Beef got it together on the back and shot 43 there, for a 90 that I think he was happy with. A great rebound after a tough start. Beef had a nice string after the 5th hole. We all staggered out of the box, But Beef did what you have to do, he kept it in play, out of the sand for the most part and got it in the hole. Bogey golf here is no crime. Play this course and see for yourself.
I stumbled early as well with a 46 on the front taking 6's on 4 of the first 5 holes. I have never played the opening holes on this course well at all, but I generally finish strong, and that happened this time. As I put up a 41 on the back for an 87 on the day, including a birdie on the par 3 14th hole. I stopped 3-putting and got the greens under control. Only two sand shots all day long was the key as I went to great lengths to keep it on the grass.
Course highlights? Well, the whole thing, but if you must...number 3, par 3, 195 yards down hill simply beautiful. Number 7 par 4, downhill, then uphill 425 yards, doggie left, number one handicap. Number 10 thin par 4, 429 yards, and number 18 par 4, 400 yards simply beautiful. All holes sand trap laden. Very little water. Southern Dunes is a position golf course. If you play it conservatively, you can be rewarded. Gamble and you're done. Not worth the risks.
Southern Dunes also has remarkable facilities in every way. The people and service are amazing. This is golf at its best. If you are making a run to Florida now, or anytime, make Southern Dunes a priority.
Simply amazing. First class golf and experience in every single way that a golfer would love. Few public courses anywhere at anytime can match Southern Dunes.
We meet up with our friends Ray and Tim who live there, and spend 4 days playing some of the best courses you can imagine. As when we play golf up here every Sunday morning with Tex, and Joe Red during the warm weather months as The Dewsweepers. We call this the Dewsweepers "Southern Division" with Ray and Tim.
We get together, have a few beers, smoke a few cigars and play some golf. One of the great places we played this time is a course you can play if you head to Central Florida. In fact, you should make it a point to play Southern Dunes in Haines City. About 15 minutes west of Disney off I-4 on U.S.27. Southern Dunes is nothing short of spectacular. And lucky for us, we have played this course a number of times before, as did I when I lived in nearby Lakeland for 10 years 30 minutes to the west. Every time we play it, it gets better.
Southern Dunes is amazingly beautiful, and extremely challenging. We played this gorgeous track at about 6,400 yards, but you can tip this thing out at about 7,300. But I will warn you the back tees are incredibly difficult. This course also boasts about 200 sand traps in assorted shapes and sizes on all areas of the course. Some of these are absolutely brutal. Like Ray says, "One bad shot and Southern Dunes, turns to Sudden Doom!" And he's right on. With green, lush fairways, tens of thousands of all kinds of trees, and incredibly fast PGA quality greens, Southern Dunes is championship caliber golf. Read their website that I will link up here, and see how honored this course really is. You won't believe it.
Tim is the best player of our group, and on this day he showed it. Tim has a great stroke that generally keeps him in play, and gives him chances to score all day long. Tim got off to a great start by parring the first, a brutal 360 yard heavily protected par 4. After a stumble on the par 5 4th, with a double, he birdied number 5, and went on a real nice streak finishing the front at 43. Good score on this course. Only outdoing himself on the back with a real nice 39 for a total of 82. Breaking 40 on either 9 is a great score, especially for us amateur players.
This was not Ray's best day. Ray had a few holes that really tore him up. But being fair, that is not hard to do out there. Ray had his share of pars and decent scores, but a few really tough numbers prevented him from getting on track. Ray didn't putt well either and that reflected in the score. These greens are lighting fast, and good play can not always be seen as 3 putting is not hard to do. The putts have to be in the cup. - Period. On this day, the greens were rolling about 11.5. Ray's 95 was not really a 95. But on a tough course, you've got to get it in the hole. Ray would rebound later in the weekend and show the kind of player he really is. This is tough golf.
Beef came around the front in 47, as it took a while for him, (and all of us) to get our feet on the ground, especially on the greens and bunkers. But Beef got it together on the back and shot 43 there, for a 90 that I think he was happy with. A great rebound after a tough start. Beef had a nice string after the 5th hole. We all staggered out of the box, But Beef did what you have to do, he kept it in play, out of the sand for the most part and got it in the hole. Bogey golf here is no crime. Play this course and see for yourself.
I stumbled early as well with a 46 on the front taking 6's on 4 of the first 5 holes. I have never played the opening holes on this course well at all, but I generally finish strong, and that happened this time. As I put up a 41 on the back for an 87 on the day, including a birdie on the par 3 14th hole. I stopped 3-putting and got the greens under control. Only two sand shots all day long was the key as I went to great lengths to keep it on the grass.
Course highlights? Well, the whole thing, but if you must...number 3, par 3, 195 yards down hill simply beautiful. Number 7 par 4, downhill, then uphill 425 yards, doggie left, number one handicap. Number 10 thin par 4, 429 yards, and number 18 par 4, 400 yards simply beautiful. All holes sand trap laden. Very little water. Southern Dunes is a position golf course. If you play it conservatively, you can be rewarded. Gamble and you're done. Not worth the risks.
Southern Dunes also has remarkable facilities in every way. The people and service are amazing. This is golf at its best. If you are making a run to Florida now, or anytime, make Southern Dunes a priority.
Simply amazing. First class golf and experience in every single way that a golfer would love. Few public courses anywhere at anytime can match Southern Dunes.
MOVIE REVIEW - Warm Bodies
Occasionally a movie comes out that looks so much like one thing, but actually is so much another. That is the new Warm Bodies, which opened up number one at the box office.
In this current film climate where we are so over-vampired, over witchcrafted and over zombied, it's good to have one that actually has something to say. Warm Bodies is a zombie movie that looks kind of silly, but turns out to be a pretty smart, and creative flick. It also does not rely on virtually any special effects, and relies far more on smart writing, that is slick, creative, funny, and very well thought out.
This is a very strange little movie. It again deals with a post-apocalyptic world where zombies have taken over the world in essence. No one really knows how it happened, but zombies walk the world feeding on the brains of people that are still alive of course. Julie (Teresa Palmer) a beautiful young girl finds herself in the middle of the zombies, and R (Nicholas Hoult) who himself is a zombie, saves her from being eaten by the others. As he protects her for a few days in the safety of his hideout, he finds that his "zombie-ism" is starting to reverse itself, and he starts a process of becoming the young man he used to be. Julie and R develop a deep friendship as R slowly becomes human again. And is it possible that romance could be up the road for these two from completely different worlds?
Then it is noticed that many of the other zombies are returning to human status as well. Seems that the emotions, and the lack of love is the key for zombies remaining zombies. The movie takes a nice turn and tells a story that love can conquer all, even being a zombie. Of course this is simplified, but Warm Bodies does make a nice social statement or two. About loving each other, prejudice and acceptance.
This movie is very well written, with a real nice mix of drama, young love, and humor. There is some real fun here, as Julie and R try to bridge the gap between life and death. Both Hoult and Palmer are great young faces on the screen that develop a real nice chemistry under highly unusual circumstances. Palmer especially lights up the screen with a huge smile and a real nice "way" about her. There is a nice supporting cast, and a few side plots to keep you in the game.
Warm Bodies is not going to rewrite cinematic history by any means, but this is pretty fun and innovative. This is a decent mid-winter release that is a pleasant surprise, at a time when we really need one. This is a nice break from all the winter action movies out there. There is some blood, and some mild violence, but in the end, it's a fun little, strange quirky love story.
Warm Bodies. Fun. What a surprise!!
In this current film climate where we are so over-vampired, over witchcrafted and over zombied, it's good to have one that actually has something to say. Warm Bodies is a zombie movie that looks kind of silly, but turns out to be a pretty smart, and creative flick. It also does not rely on virtually any special effects, and relies far more on smart writing, that is slick, creative, funny, and very well thought out.
This is a very strange little movie. It again deals with a post-apocalyptic world where zombies have taken over the world in essence. No one really knows how it happened, but zombies walk the world feeding on the brains of people that are still alive of course. Julie (Teresa Palmer) a beautiful young girl finds herself in the middle of the zombies, and R (Nicholas Hoult) who himself is a zombie, saves her from being eaten by the others. As he protects her for a few days in the safety of his hideout, he finds that his "zombie-ism" is starting to reverse itself, and he starts a process of becoming the young man he used to be. Julie and R develop a deep friendship as R slowly becomes human again. And is it possible that romance could be up the road for these two from completely different worlds?
Then it is noticed that many of the other zombies are returning to human status as well. Seems that the emotions, and the lack of love is the key for zombies remaining zombies. The movie takes a nice turn and tells a story that love can conquer all, even being a zombie. Of course this is simplified, but Warm Bodies does make a nice social statement or two. About loving each other, prejudice and acceptance.
This movie is very well written, with a real nice mix of drama, young love, and humor. There is some real fun here, as Julie and R try to bridge the gap between life and death. Both Hoult and Palmer are great young faces on the screen that develop a real nice chemistry under highly unusual circumstances. Palmer especially lights up the screen with a huge smile and a real nice "way" about her. There is a nice supporting cast, and a few side plots to keep you in the game.
Warm Bodies is not going to rewrite cinematic history by any means, but this is pretty fun and innovative. This is a decent mid-winter release that is a pleasant surprise, at a time when we really need one. This is a nice break from all the winter action movies out there. There is some blood, and some mild violence, but in the end, it's a fun little, strange quirky love story.
Warm Bodies. Fun. What a surprise!!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW -Bullet To The Head
The new Sylvester Stallone flick, Bullet To The Head is out this week. Pleasant name isn't it?
Here comes yet another mid-winter forgettable action movie that somehow Hollywood thinks we need. But before I go on any further, this really isn't all that horrible. In fact, there are tons of movies that come off way worse than this.
Stallone is still making movies and playing hard cases. Here Sly plays James or "Bobo." He is a life long criminal and has been arrested 26 times. He is a hit man now, doing horrible work for big pay in New Orleans. After being double-crossed on a job, his younger partner is killed in another contract hit. Bobo finds that the people after him now are farther up the ladder than he's accustomed to dealing with.
Bobo teams up with a cop Taylor Kwan (Sung Kang) who is a Washington D.C. detective who is in Louisiana investigating the people Bobo has now come in contact with. So the strange partnership ensues. Bobo starts out wanting only to avenge the death of his partner, but finds out that he must fight for his own life. And eventually for the life of his grown up daughter who ends up being kidnapped by these lousy people.
First off, this movie is aptly named. Because throughout the entire movie, there are plenty of bullets to the head - literally. This movie is graphically violent, but not overly by today's standards. There is a boatload of killing here. Although in its slight defense, all of it central to the story. This is not one of those silly action flicks that just kills to kill. They try hard to develop characters, and this is not as poorly written as many of this kind of movies can be. Stallone all by himself is a character, or at times a caricature of himself. Although props to him. At his age (65) he still looks pretty darn good, and can pull this off to a degree.
This movie in the end will suffer from a terrible movie disease that plagues a ton of these kind of films. It's forgettable. This looks, sounds and feels like 5,000 other dark winter time action movies over the years that star a bevy of young and aging action heroes. That's where I felt that The Expendables series has broken through that Sly has championed. They have a separator of fun, action, and tongue-in-cheek that this certainly does not. There is some attempted humor here, but not enough to give it any real life or charm. In a year, no one will really remember this except when an edited version of this is on TNT every other weekend.
Bullet To The Head. A Redbox or Netflix at best later. The only reason to go to the movies and see this now, is if you want to get out of the house for a couple of hours.
Here comes yet another mid-winter forgettable action movie that somehow Hollywood thinks we need. But before I go on any further, this really isn't all that horrible. In fact, there are tons of movies that come off way worse than this.
Stallone is still making movies and playing hard cases. Here Sly plays James or "Bobo." He is a life long criminal and has been arrested 26 times. He is a hit man now, doing horrible work for big pay in New Orleans. After being double-crossed on a job, his younger partner is killed in another contract hit. Bobo finds that the people after him now are farther up the ladder than he's accustomed to dealing with.
Bobo teams up with a cop Taylor Kwan (Sung Kang) who is a Washington D.C. detective who is in Louisiana investigating the people Bobo has now come in contact with. So the strange partnership ensues. Bobo starts out wanting only to avenge the death of his partner, but finds out that he must fight for his own life. And eventually for the life of his grown up daughter who ends up being kidnapped by these lousy people.
First off, this movie is aptly named. Because throughout the entire movie, there are plenty of bullets to the head - literally. This movie is graphically violent, but not overly by today's standards. There is a boatload of killing here. Although in its slight defense, all of it central to the story. This is not one of those silly action flicks that just kills to kill. They try hard to develop characters, and this is not as poorly written as many of this kind of movies can be. Stallone all by himself is a character, or at times a caricature of himself. Although props to him. At his age (65) he still looks pretty darn good, and can pull this off to a degree.
This movie in the end will suffer from a terrible movie disease that plagues a ton of these kind of films. It's forgettable. This looks, sounds and feels like 5,000 other dark winter time action movies over the years that star a bevy of young and aging action heroes. That's where I felt that The Expendables series has broken through that Sly has championed. They have a separator of fun, action, and tongue-in-cheek that this certainly does not. There is some attempted humor here, but not enough to give it any real life or charm. In a year, no one will really remember this except when an edited version of this is on TNT every other weekend.
Bullet To The Head. A Redbox or Netflix at best later. The only reason to go to the movies and see this now, is if you want to get out of the house for a couple of hours.
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