For some reason they made this thing, Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez star in the car chase thriller, Getaway.
Holy cow, what is this? It seems like a 90 minute car chase, with a video game feel with non stop sensory overload and we're just getting warmed up. A story that doesn't really exist, a script and dialogue that is horrible, with performances by our principles that are equally bad. But in fairness, they had no chance.
Condensing this down for you, here goes. Brent (Hawke) is an ex-NASCAR driver that busted out of the sport a couple years ago. He marries Leann (Rebecca Buddig) and has begun a new life in Bulgaria. Leann is kidnapped by a high tech operation and is held for ransom. The Voice (Jon Voight) is the kidnapper. He places Brent in a super-charged Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra and by GPS, orders Brent to carry out terrorist type crimes in this car using his superior driving skills or he will kill Leann. So Brent does.
Brent then comes across The Kid (Gomez), who is a thug street type kid who attempts to steal the car from Brent, actually it is her car that has been stolen and is being used for this job. So, Brent and The Kid are off now to carry out the orders, try to stay alive, and try to rescue back Leann. That's about it. The rest is car chases and crashes. There is nothing more.
This movie is proof positive that when you start with nothing, and have no one behind the scenes qualified you have no chance. It makes no difference how big an actor or actors you get to play the leads, or what teen pop star you think will put butts in seats, you still have nothing. This is nothing except 90 minutes of silly PG-13 car crashes and chases. It's loud, ADD, and redundant to say the least. And this has holes in every single solitary fame.
Plus, Gomez is so horrible in this flick it is almost embarrassing. Granted, they asked very little of her and the script is terrible, but the rest is on her. She has no real believability on screen at all in this movie. She basically looks 14, talks 17, and all while trying to act 20, in a movie that has a mentality of a 10 year old. As good as she was in her small role in the brilliant Spring Breakers earlier this year, she has thrown it all away here. Not to pile on, but this is a huge career blunder as it shows she really can not act. But we all get hear her cuss! Woooo! As she says the "s" word about 5,000 times while riding in this car.
The rest of this outside of her is equally as bad. Hawke takes a giant step backwards after a brief resurgence this year with a couple of big hits, including The Purge which was a huge hit. There are some fine chase scenes here, but there's just way too much of that, and really nothing else. Why was all of this really happening, who is The Voice really and why does he do what he does? They try to tie it up, but even that is silly and misses badly. Oh, and did you know that most cars and SUV's, and dirt bikes in Europe can outrun and keep up with a 650 Horsepower Shelby Cobra Mustang? Yeah, me either.
Getaway. Yeah, don't just get away, run away from this.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen has written and directed another late summer comedy/drama, this one is called Blue Jasmine starring the wonderful Cate Blanchett.
As with most Allen pieces, it has that "Allen" feel to it. Strange and quirky, but wonderfully written with snappy dialogue and a story you have not seen before. Allen almost always gets great originality points. His movies over he past 5 years or so, have been some of the best movies of his long career. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, To Rome With Love, and the incredible Midnight In Paris have simply been gems. Although this may not be quite in that category, this is still pretty good.
Blue Jasmine is the story of "Jasmine" (Blanchett) and her sort of sister Ginger. Jasmine was a rich and narcissistic socialite wife of a long time crook and con man business man in New York City. After he is arrested and jailed and the entire fortune is lost, Jasmine moves to San Francisco to live with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Ginger is a blue collar worker, the furthest thing from a socialite and she opens her modest apartment to Jasmine. And the two worlds collide.
Jasmine is in horrible shape mentally. She is on a steady diet of pills, and booze, and has little tolerance for anything that isn't about her. She is trying to start over again, but she is her own worst enemy, making enemies of Gingers boyfriend and generally anyone she comes in contact with. This is told in flashback form and we keep going back to her life in New York to see how she got to this point. Is she too far gone?
This is a very strong story about the phony lives that many East Coast elite can live and real life is simply too real, and to honest for many to deal with. Nothing about Jasmine is real, and that's the wonderful conflict she has with Ginger. Although Ginger has little, she does have a sense of who she is, and where she fits into the world. This is told with a nice dash of drama, and of course some real funny lines and smart humor that make this typical Woody Allen. To be fair, this is not the feel good movie of the summer, but it is strangely entertaining and easy to watch, even though some of the subject matter is tough.
Blanchett is terrific as the insanely unlikable Jasmine, as this is a large and challenging role. She delivers. But, the real star is Hawkins. She is fantastic as the humble Ginger. I thought her casting was crucial for this movie. Blanchett of course is going to be great, but Ginger is a huge role, and Hawkins is great, and compliments Blanchett wonderfully. The casting of Ginger was the key to this move and they got it right.
Blue Jasmine. It's not Midnight In Paris, but still worth a watch.
As with most Allen pieces, it has that "Allen" feel to it. Strange and quirky, but wonderfully written with snappy dialogue and a story you have not seen before. Allen almost always gets great originality points. His movies over he past 5 years or so, have been some of the best movies of his long career. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, To Rome With Love, and the incredible Midnight In Paris have simply been gems. Although this may not be quite in that category, this is still pretty good.
Blue Jasmine is the story of "Jasmine" (Blanchett) and her sort of sister Ginger. Jasmine was a rich and narcissistic socialite wife of a long time crook and con man business man in New York City. After he is arrested and jailed and the entire fortune is lost, Jasmine moves to San Francisco to live with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Ginger is a blue collar worker, the furthest thing from a socialite and she opens her modest apartment to Jasmine. And the two worlds collide.
Jasmine is in horrible shape mentally. She is on a steady diet of pills, and booze, and has little tolerance for anything that isn't about her. She is trying to start over again, but she is her own worst enemy, making enemies of Gingers boyfriend and generally anyone she comes in contact with. This is told in flashback form and we keep going back to her life in New York to see how she got to this point. Is she too far gone?
This is a very strong story about the phony lives that many East Coast elite can live and real life is simply too real, and to honest for many to deal with. Nothing about Jasmine is real, and that's the wonderful conflict she has with Ginger. Although Ginger has little, she does have a sense of who she is, and where she fits into the world. This is told with a nice dash of drama, and of course some real funny lines and smart humor that make this typical Woody Allen. To be fair, this is not the feel good movie of the summer, but it is strangely entertaining and easy to watch, even though some of the subject matter is tough.
Blanchett is terrific as the insanely unlikable Jasmine, as this is a large and challenging role. She delivers. But, the real star is Hawkins. She is fantastic as the humble Ginger. I thought her casting was crucial for this movie. Blanchett of course is going to be great, but Ginger is a huge role, and Hawkins is great, and compliments Blanchett wonderfully. The casting of Ginger was the key to this move and they got it right.
Blue Jasmine. It's not Midnight In Paris, but still worth a watch.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Closed Circuit
In this summer of animation, cartoons, 3-D, IMAX, computer generated monsters, superheroes and guilty pleasure, raunchy comedies, I almost didn't recognize Closed Circuit. A political thriller where there's an involved story, and real actors.
All kidding aside, CC is a good movie and a nice pathway into the post Labor Day movies to come that will be very different than the Pre-Holiday fare. CC is a thinking man's movie that may struggle to find a huge audience here in August, but is solid nonetheless.
CC is a fictional story of a terrorist attack in Central London, an explosion in a market where 120 people are killed. A suspect is arrested and is being bound over for trial. Because national security in Britain is at stake, he is assigned two defense legal representatives. One for the trial, and one for the closed portion of the trial where no one can hear the evidence because of its sensitivity. But who actually is this suspect? And why the secrecy?
As we move on, turns out the the British government is not only spying on its citizens, but they are spying on the legal team that is representing our suspect. They are trying to make sure the real truth doesn't get out, and that this all goes away with minimal political damage. And they will go to any length to protect the secrets they want to.
Closed Circuit stars Eric Bana as on of our lawyers and Rebecca Hall as the other. They are fresh faces on the screen and that is part of what really makes this work. The actual star of this movie is the script, and the fact that we don't have huge stars getting in the way is a big part of its appeal. Bana and Hall are really terrific together and have a nice chemistry that is palpable. I have always been a big fan of Hall. We don't see her a great deal, but when we do, she is always great. I loved her in The Town a few years ago, and Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona and the Will Farrel Indy flick, Everything Must Go. She is one of the most underrated actors out there.
This is a great story, that is told very well and with a complicated plot, is presented in a very understandable fashion that doesn't leave anyone behind. It's very tidy at 1 hour and 40 minutes and comes together nicely in every fashion. Fair statement, this is a movie goers movie. If you like going to movies outside of the huge box office smash hits, this is your movie.
Closed Circuit. It's thrilling, exciting and does keep you guessing. Very good, and refreshing after a long summer at the movies.
All kidding aside, CC is a good movie and a nice pathway into the post Labor Day movies to come that will be very different than the Pre-Holiday fare. CC is a thinking man's movie that may struggle to find a huge audience here in August, but is solid nonetheless.
CC is a fictional story of a terrorist attack in Central London, an explosion in a market where 120 people are killed. A suspect is arrested and is being bound over for trial. Because national security in Britain is at stake, he is assigned two defense legal representatives. One for the trial, and one for the closed portion of the trial where no one can hear the evidence because of its sensitivity. But who actually is this suspect? And why the secrecy?
As we move on, turns out the the British government is not only spying on its citizens, but they are spying on the legal team that is representing our suspect. They are trying to make sure the real truth doesn't get out, and that this all goes away with minimal political damage. And they will go to any length to protect the secrets they want to.
Closed Circuit stars Eric Bana as on of our lawyers and Rebecca Hall as the other. They are fresh faces on the screen and that is part of what really makes this work. The actual star of this movie is the script, and the fact that we don't have huge stars getting in the way is a big part of its appeal. Bana and Hall are really terrific together and have a nice chemistry that is palpable. I have always been a big fan of Hall. We don't see her a great deal, but when we do, she is always great. I loved her in The Town a few years ago, and Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona and the Will Farrel Indy flick, Everything Must Go. She is one of the most underrated actors out there.
This is a great story, that is told very well and with a complicated plot, is presented in a very understandable fashion that doesn't leave anyone behind. It's very tidy at 1 hour and 40 minutes and comes together nicely in every fashion. Fair statement, this is a movie goers movie. If you like going to movies outside of the huge box office smash hits, this is your movie.
Closed Circuit. It's thrilling, exciting and does keep you guessing. Very good, and refreshing after a long summer at the movies.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - You're Next
You're Next is the latest slasher flick to make the theaters. This is supposed to be scary, or thrilling or something. Fact it, all it really is ...is laughable.
You're Next is the latest in these kinds of movies that yes, is bloody, and violent, but it's not like the old days where this is supposed to be scary. It sort of has an aspect to it that is silly, and campy. You are supposed to laugh at times, as the slash-fest moves along. Yeah, you laugh along with this thing alright.
This is a story where a hugely rich family all gets together for the parents 35th wedding anniversary. They have 4 grown children, and to say that this is a dysfunctional family would be a gross understatement. These sibling hate eat other digging up childhood problems and getting after each other at the dinner table. All of the siblings also bring their wives, or boy or girlfriends with them, and they get drug into this hornets nest. They all get together at this highly remote mansion deep in the woods, where no one can get to them easily.
Suddenly, they all start getting killed and picked off one by one by some lunatic with a crossbow dressed up in I think a sheep's mask. Who is this? And why is he hunting down this family? That is as deep as the plot gets in this blood-fest. For the final 80 minutes or so, this is just violence. Be it ridiculous, it's violent. And being honest, you hate every member of this family so much,you don't mind much seeing hem getting "offed."
This is a movie that stars no one you know, and no one you will ever know. This is the poster child for poor writing, and absolutely the worst acting you will ever see. And that is part of the allure for the cult that will flock to this movie. The performances are so horrible, they are laughable. The script, the putrid music and the silly decisions our characters make is simply laughable.
Sure, there is a jolt or two, but you quickly understand this is not scary, it's silly. How many ways can we think of to kill about a dozen people and not let everyone watching get bored. Movie makers have resigned to the fact that slasher movies are not scary, but for many can be entertaining, so here we are with You're Next. You're Next - to be killed, get it? OK. Be advised this is a hard rated R.
You're Next. It is so bad, it actually isn't that bad.
You're Next is the latest in these kinds of movies that yes, is bloody, and violent, but it's not like the old days where this is supposed to be scary. It sort of has an aspect to it that is silly, and campy. You are supposed to laugh at times, as the slash-fest moves along. Yeah, you laugh along with this thing alright.
This is a story where a hugely rich family all gets together for the parents 35th wedding anniversary. They have 4 grown children, and to say that this is a dysfunctional family would be a gross understatement. These sibling hate eat other digging up childhood problems and getting after each other at the dinner table. All of the siblings also bring their wives, or boy or girlfriends with them, and they get drug into this hornets nest. They all get together at this highly remote mansion deep in the woods, where no one can get to them easily.
Suddenly, they all start getting killed and picked off one by one by some lunatic with a crossbow dressed up in I think a sheep's mask. Who is this? And why is he hunting down this family? That is as deep as the plot gets in this blood-fest. For the final 80 minutes or so, this is just violence. Be it ridiculous, it's violent. And being honest, you hate every member of this family so much,you don't mind much seeing hem getting "offed."
This is a movie that stars no one you know, and no one you will ever know. This is the poster child for poor writing, and absolutely the worst acting you will ever see. And that is part of the allure for the cult that will flock to this movie. The performances are so horrible, they are laughable. The script, the putrid music and the silly decisions our characters make is simply laughable.
Sure, there is a jolt or two, but you quickly understand this is not scary, it's silly. How many ways can we think of to kill about a dozen people and not let everyone watching get bored. Movie makers have resigned to the fact that slasher movies are not scary, but for many can be entertaining, so here we are with You're Next. You're Next - to be killed, get it? OK. Be advised this is a hard rated R.
You're Next. It is so bad, it actually isn't that bad.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Jobs
It's amazing how someone can decide to make a movie about someone with such a creative and out of the box mind, and make a movie that is everything the subject matter would hate.
That is the new movie, Jobs. The bio-pic of Apple computer, and basically the personal computer inventor, Steve Jobs. This stars Ashton Kutcher as the computer icon Steve Jobs and he never has a chance. The script here is so terrible that this movie never gets off the ground at all.
This chronicles Jobs from his time as a college drop out till his re-emergence at Apple Computers after being forced out of his own company a few years earlier. It takes us through the invention of the personal computer and his vision for what technology should be according to him. Jobs felt that new technology should be an extension of one's self. A theory that made him a giant, and has propelled his company today to one of the largest in the world. Jobs of course died in 2011 at the age of 56.
What this movie does well at times is create Jobs in a honest light. They make Jobs fallible, which is crucial for cred. But as the flaws start spewing out though, you realize Jobs according to this pic, was a self-absorbed, narcissistic, raging ego-manic with no real sense of one shred of common decency. That may be true, but it doesn't make it very pleasant movie going. This movie also goes through a few scenes where young Jobs is preaching like a religious figure to his adoring disciples, and those look silly and unrealistic. And even though there is some growth in character in this movie, you don't care for him much at the end of the movie either. You respect the fact that he was a huge mind, you are realize he never really used the part that would have helped him as a person.
What this does, is turn into a movie more about the corporate world at large and less about him the guy. It shows all the back stabbing and all the lying that you might expect, but that again is not very entertaining. There is not near enough focus... on his creative focus. They show the advent of the first PC, and that's fine. But how did he come up with the I-Pod, I-Pad, and where did those visions come from? Did he actually invent those things? I can see a corporate greed movie anywhere anytime. There are no shortage of those out of Hollywood. Plus this movie barley mentions the rift between Bill Gates and Jobs, just a simple screaming phone call where Jobs accuses Gates of stealing all his software.
Sadly, this movie is so amazingly average in every single way. The script is poor, characters come and go without any real say as to who they really are. The soundtrack is incredibly cliche' using the same old rock anthem songs every time piece movie uses. There is no strike of creativity that the man Steve Jobs would have insisted on from his own self and employees.
Jobs. DOS, floppy disc and monochrome.
That is the new movie, Jobs. The bio-pic of Apple computer, and basically the personal computer inventor, Steve Jobs. This stars Ashton Kutcher as the computer icon Steve Jobs and he never has a chance. The script here is so terrible that this movie never gets off the ground at all.
This chronicles Jobs from his time as a college drop out till his re-emergence at Apple Computers after being forced out of his own company a few years earlier. It takes us through the invention of the personal computer and his vision for what technology should be according to him. Jobs felt that new technology should be an extension of one's self. A theory that made him a giant, and has propelled his company today to one of the largest in the world. Jobs of course died in 2011 at the age of 56.
What this movie does well at times is create Jobs in a honest light. They make Jobs fallible, which is crucial for cred. But as the flaws start spewing out though, you realize Jobs according to this pic, was a self-absorbed, narcissistic, raging ego-manic with no real sense of one shred of common decency. That may be true, but it doesn't make it very pleasant movie going. This movie also goes through a few scenes where young Jobs is preaching like a religious figure to his adoring disciples, and those look silly and unrealistic. And even though there is some growth in character in this movie, you don't care for him much at the end of the movie either. You respect the fact that he was a huge mind, you are realize he never really used the part that would have helped him as a person.
What this does, is turn into a movie more about the corporate world at large and less about him the guy. It shows all the back stabbing and all the lying that you might expect, but that again is not very entertaining. There is not near enough focus... on his creative focus. They show the advent of the first PC, and that's fine. But how did he come up with the I-Pod, I-Pad, and where did those visions come from? Did he actually invent those things? I can see a corporate greed movie anywhere anytime. There are no shortage of those out of Hollywood. Plus this movie barley mentions the rift between Bill Gates and Jobs, just a simple screaming phone call where Jobs accuses Gates of stealing all his software.
Sadly, this movie is so amazingly average in every single way. The script is poor, characters come and go without any real say as to who they really are. The soundtrack is incredibly cliche' using the same old rock anthem songs every time piece movie uses. There is no strike of creativity that the man Steve Jobs would have insisted on from his own self and employees.
Jobs. DOS, floppy disc and monochrome.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Course Review
Course: Thunderbird Hills - South
Location: Huron
Directions: Right off Rt. 2, at Rt. 13. About an hour from Akron, 30 from Cleveland
Dewsweeper Tee Time Was: 645AM
Conditions: Perfect
Thunderbird Hills Website
This week, we took a bit of a drive, be it an easy one, to play a golf course that is not an easy one. Thunderbird Hills South is the second 18 hole course on the Thunderbird complex. The North Course in on the opposite side of Rt. 2. It is also a great place to play, as it is the older of the two courses.
The South is of moderate length and by looking at the card you would think this is not that tough of a track. You would be wrong. The South has tons of rolling fairways for uneven stances, very tight rough that is very undesirable to hit out of. Seemingly billions of growing pine trees lining many fairways. There is some sand at some greens, and actually very little water hazards. But the greens on this day were amazingly fast, and borderline perfect for getting the ball to roll. The breaks on the green were many, and tough too. They were releasing well, in fact probably a bit too well.
Joe Red got off to a bad start by getting a bad double bogey on number one, a par 5. But then a nice birdie on 2, and some very consistent play gave him a nice 41 on the front after a shaky start. Red hit the ball as well as he has all year long. Few mis hits but his putter helped him out as he really took advantage of the fast greens, and the ball got to the hole time after time. A nice 43 on the more difficult back, and a nice 84 on the day. Especially since this is a tough course from tee to green,
Beef also shook off a rough start on 1, and battled back nicely. Beef tossed in a birdie on 7, and then again on 14 and that really helped. Beef battled all day long, as nothing seemed to come easy, but a the end of the round, he hung in there and didn't let things get away from him. Going 43/42, for a nice 85 on the day. We all battled on this day, the course was really tough.
Tex had "rough" trouble most of the day, and showed why it's best to stay out of it. Tex overall did not play badly, but he did what all of us do. He had a few "blow up" holes. Been there? Tex had 3, but other than that he hung in there and played pretty well, including making 8 putts. 8 1-putt holes really helped. But the blow ups stung, Tex went 48/50. Hard to recover from 3 bad numbers.
I played a ton of irons and overall kept the ball in play. I had no real control over my driver today, hit 3 of them horribly. So I put it away for today. The story of my round was the throwaways. I gave away shots on 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, and 14. I was in great position on all these holes and could not get the ball in the hole. Completely dropped the ball. I went 43/42 for an 85, but from where I was on the course for much of the day? Should have been better. Those are 6 shots I should have had. Gotta improve on that.
Course highlights? 3, is a brutal par 3, 170 yards, water all down the right, with a sand protected green that rolls, with woods long. 9 is long and tough par 4 with water at the landing area. 10 with same water on drive, and uphill all the way par 5. 11, long par 4, over a creek, uphill. And 18 toughest hole on the course. Par 4, 425, with water, uphill, downhill and just flat out long.
This is a phenomenal golf course that is certainly worth the drive from wherever you are. This is a relatively new course and it gets better every time we play it. To make it really worth your travel, play 36. Play the North and the South with lunch in between. Both are very different, and really nice. This is a great place to play. Great service too.
Scores
Joe Red - 84
Beef - 85
Wynn - 85
Tex - 98
Next week we return to Fox Den in Stow! We played there in April, but the rain came, so we look forward to playing it with no rain. You can also play Fox Den for a great discount when you buy the WQMX Golf Deals Card
There are also some of the other courses we have recently played and reviewed.
Location: Huron
Directions: Right off Rt. 2, at Rt. 13. About an hour from Akron, 30 from Cleveland
Dewsweeper Tee Time Was: 645AM
Conditions: Perfect
Thunderbird Hills Website
This week, we took a bit of a drive, be it an easy one, to play a golf course that is not an easy one. Thunderbird Hills South is the second 18 hole course on the Thunderbird complex. The North Course in on the opposite side of Rt. 2. It is also a great place to play, as it is the older of the two courses.
The South is of moderate length and by looking at the card you would think this is not that tough of a track. You would be wrong. The South has tons of rolling fairways for uneven stances, very tight rough that is very undesirable to hit out of. Seemingly billions of growing pine trees lining many fairways. There is some sand at some greens, and actually very little water hazards. But the greens on this day were amazingly fast, and borderline perfect for getting the ball to roll. The breaks on the green were many, and tough too. They were releasing well, in fact probably a bit too well.
Joe Red got off to a bad start by getting a bad double bogey on number one, a par 5. But then a nice birdie on 2, and some very consistent play gave him a nice 41 on the front after a shaky start. Red hit the ball as well as he has all year long. Few mis hits but his putter helped him out as he really took advantage of the fast greens, and the ball got to the hole time after time. A nice 43 on the more difficult back, and a nice 84 on the day. Especially since this is a tough course from tee to green,
Beef also shook off a rough start on 1, and battled back nicely. Beef tossed in a birdie on 7, and then again on 14 and that really helped. Beef battled all day long, as nothing seemed to come easy, but a the end of the round, he hung in there and didn't let things get away from him. Going 43/42, for a nice 85 on the day. We all battled on this day, the course was really tough.
Tex had "rough" trouble most of the day, and showed why it's best to stay out of it. Tex overall did not play badly, but he did what all of us do. He had a few "blow up" holes. Been there? Tex had 3, but other than that he hung in there and played pretty well, including making 8 putts. 8 1-putt holes really helped. But the blow ups stung, Tex went 48/50. Hard to recover from 3 bad numbers.
I played a ton of irons and overall kept the ball in play. I had no real control over my driver today, hit 3 of them horribly. So I put it away for today. The story of my round was the throwaways. I gave away shots on 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, and 14. I was in great position on all these holes and could not get the ball in the hole. Completely dropped the ball. I went 43/42 for an 85, but from where I was on the course for much of the day? Should have been better. Those are 6 shots I should have had. Gotta improve on that.
Course highlights? 3, is a brutal par 3, 170 yards, water all down the right, with a sand protected green that rolls, with woods long. 9 is long and tough par 4 with water at the landing area. 10 with same water on drive, and uphill all the way par 5. 11, long par 4, over a creek, uphill. And 18 toughest hole on the course. Par 4, 425, with water, uphill, downhill and just flat out long.
This is a phenomenal golf course that is certainly worth the drive from wherever you are. This is a relatively new course and it gets better every time we play it. To make it really worth your travel, play 36. Play the North and the South with lunch in between. Both are very different, and really nice. This is a great place to play. Great service too.
Scores
Joe Red - 84
Beef - 85
Wynn - 85
Tex - 98
Next week we return to Fox Den in Stow! We played there in April, but the rain came, so we look forward to playing it with no rain. You can also play Fox Den for a great discount when you buy the WQMX Golf Deals Card
There are also some of the other courses we have recently played and reviewed.
Monday, August 19, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - The Butler
Super actor Forest Whitaker is back this week in a very interesting story about a real life man named Cecil Gaines. Gaines was a popular White House butler that served U.S. Presidents for over 30 years from the late 1950's to the mid 1980's. This is based on a true story.
First off, Whitaker is an Oscar-winning actor, and he is sensational in this bio-pic. In fact, he is so good, without him, this would more than likely fall flat. He gives this movie a much needed boost, to certainly compliment a story premise that we have never seen before, so the premise gets big time originality points.
Gaines was raised in rural Georgia on a cotton farm in the 1920's, essentially it was still a slave situation. His father was murdered by he farm owner, and Gaines is left to fend for himself. The old woman who runs the farm takes the 10 year old Gaines into the house, and teaches him the art of "serving". Learning to be house servant. As Gaines ages, he decides to leave the farm.
He uses his skills to get jobs at various hotels, eventually ending up in Washington D.C. He then is spotted and is offered a job as one of the 6 White House butlers to serve the Eisenhower Administration. From then he serves 8 presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan. The things he goes through and sees is really interesting stuff. A rare glimpse deep inside the White House that we never see. Very compelling.
But running parallel to this story, is the story of his oldest son Louis, as he grows up in the 1960's and 70's. He is a major player in the Civil Rights Movement constantly putting his life on the line, and having a value system that seems to be at odds with his father. Two different visions on what the movement should look like. Something's got to give. This movie focuses heavily on this conflict, and what it does to himself, and his family. Maybe too much.
The premise for this is so great, it was a bit disappointing to see this splintered off so much. In the premises defense, I think Cecil Gaines is far more interesting as a man than he is portrayed in this movie. As this goes on, it takes many turns, and makes loud, and not so subtle political statements that many will embrace, and others will find contrary to what they believe. It becomes apparent that this wonderful premise is being used as a platform for something else altogether. For me, I wish this would have been more about Gaines, the man, the deep man. He really was some kind of man, I am sorry we don't get all of him.
Whitaker is sensational as Gaines. I loved his huge performance, and his wonderful narration throughout. This is again Oscar-worthy stuff. This also has a strong supporting cast with Oprah Winfrey as Cecil's wife. She is good, but not great. This also stars, Cuba Gooding Jr., Robin Williams, John Cusack and many others in small roles that have them playing characters you may not suspect. That was a great idea and it works.
Much of his is very original, and some of this is powerful and compelling. Sadly, as good as much of this is, I think it wavers way too far off of the advertised course in trailers, and becomes something very different than you are expecting when you walked in. I also think this may be a victim of a bit of over-hype, as that can be tough to live up to.
The Butler. Great premise. The final product good, but a golden opportunity lost to be totally a one-of-a-kind.
First off, Whitaker is an Oscar-winning actor, and he is sensational in this bio-pic. In fact, he is so good, without him, this would more than likely fall flat. He gives this movie a much needed boost, to certainly compliment a story premise that we have never seen before, so the premise gets big time originality points.
Gaines was raised in rural Georgia on a cotton farm in the 1920's, essentially it was still a slave situation. His father was murdered by he farm owner, and Gaines is left to fend for himself. The old woman who runs the farm takes the 10 year old Gaines into the house, and teaches him the art of "serving". Learning to be house servant. As Gaines ages, he decides to leave the farm.
He uses his skills to get jobs at various hotels, eventually ending up in Washington D.C. He then is spotted and is offered a job as one of the 6 White House butlers to serve the Eisenhower Administration. From then he serves 8 presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan. The things he goes through and sees is really interesting stuff. A rare glimpse deep inside the White House that we never see. Very compelling.
But running parallel to this story, is the story of his oldest son Louis, as he grows up in the 1960's and 70's. He is a major player in the Civil Rights Movement constantly putting his life on the line, and having a value system that seems to be at odds with his father. Two different visions on what the movement should look like. Something's got to give. This movie focuses heavily on this conflict, and what it does to himself, and his family. Maybe too much.
The premise for this is so great, it was a bit disappointing to see this splintered off so much. In the premises defense, I think Cecil Gaines is far more interesting as a man than he is portrayed in this movie. As this goes on, it takes many turns, and makes loud, and not so subtle political statements that many will embrace, and others will find contrary to what they believe. It becomes apparent that this wonderful premise is being used as a platform for something else altogether. For me, I wish this would have been more about Gaines, the man, the deep man. He really was some kind of man, I am sorry we don't get all of him.
Whitaker is sensational as Gaines. I loved his huge performance, and his wonderful narration throughout. This is again Oscar-worthy stuff. This also has a strong supporting cast with Oprah Winfrey as Cecil's wife. She is good, but not great. This also stars, Cuba Gooding Jr., Robin Williams, John Cusack and many others in small roles that have them playing characters you may not suspect. That was a great idea and it works.
Much of his is very original, and some of this is powerful and compelling. Sadly, as good as much of this is, I think it wavers way too far off of the advertised course in trailers, and becomes something very different than you are expecting when you walked in. I also think this may be a victim of a bit of over-hype, as that can be tough to live up to.
The Butler. Great premise. The final product good, but a golden opportunity lost to be totally a one-of-a-kind.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Kick Ass 2
What was undeniable was the original Kick Ass was a big hit a couple of years ago, so here we go again, with Kick Ass 2.
For those of you late to the party, Kick Ass was a satirical look at everyday people who donned "superhero" costumes who were not actual superheros. Including Dave (Aaron Taylor Johnson) who is also the superhero Kick-Ass. He is an every day high school kid who moonlights as this superhero. His friend, Mindy (Chloe Grace Moretz) is also Hit Girl. She is a very gifted martial arts trained killer who is all of 15 years old. Jim Carrey is actually in this movie as one of our dressed up good guys. More on that in a minute.
They are teamed up with ton of others who are also dressing up as superheros and are out to fight crime against a bunch of others kids and young adults who are dressed up as "super-villains," and are out to terrorize the big city. It is a parody of good vs. evil, and who will win? That is Kick-Ass 2. If you missed the first one, you will be lost, so rent it before you go.
Now a word of caution that isn't told in the trailer for this movie. This is a HARD rated R movie. This movie, although dealing with kids on screen is not anywhere near kid friendly. This movie is ultra bloody violent throughout. Graphic, extreme, violence that isn't hidden in anyway. So much so, that Carrey actually said a month or two ago, he wished he hadn't made this movie in wake of real life events. This movie is also laced throughout with harsh language that stretches far beyond the F-word into words and phrases that we all would never use in real life situations. The reason I bring this up, was there were TONS of moms....and dads, there with kids as young as 8 or 9. This movie is completely inappropriate for kids.
Like the first, there are some very funny scenes in this flick, where the satire is so extreme that it is well thought out and cleverly written. There is a fine line walked between comic book fun and real life drama and some of that is pretty original. But overall what this is, is violent, complete with plenty of graphic cop-killing, and a glorification of extreme violence. It has something to say sure, about the hero in all of us, but it has to. I doesn't really want to. Big difference between reading this comic book and watching this on the big screen.
But his will find a big fan base, as the first one did and be a big hit. But this does lack some of the charm and fun from the first flick and is more violent. Also, some of the jokes are falling flat because of real life events. Example being, our young hero Hit Girl, or Mindy? Her full name in both movies is Mindy MacCready in parody of the real like country singer whose life was a mess much like our Mindy. Of course the real life MacCready killed herself a few months ago. So now, it's not so funny, it's just bad taste.
Kick-Ass 2. A hit, but overall a miss.
For those of you late to the party, Kick Ass was a satirical look at everyday people who donned "superhero" costumes who were not actual superheros. Including Dave (Aaron Taylor Johnson) who is also the superhero Kick-Ass. He is an every day high school kid who moonlights as this superhero. His friend, Mindy (Chloe Grace Moretz) is also Hit Girl. She is a very gifted martial arts trained killer who is all of 15 years old. Jim Carrey is actually in this movie as one of our dressed up good guys. More on that in a minute.
They are teamed up with ton of others who are also dressing up as superheros and are out to fight crime against a bunch of others kids and young adults who are dressed up as "super-villains," and are out to terrorize the big city. It is a parody of good vs. evil, and who will win? That is Kick-Ass 2. If you missed the first one, you will be lost, so rent it before you go.
Now a word of caution that isn't told in the trailer for this movie. This is a HARD rated R movie. This movie, although dealing with kids on screen is not anywhere near kid friendly. This movie is ultra bloody violent throughout. Graphic, extreme, violence that isn't hidden in anyway. So much so, that Carrey actually said a month or two ago, he wished he hadn't made this movie in wake of real life events. This movie is also laced throughout with harsh language that stretches far beyond the F-word into words and phrases that we all would never use in real life situations. The reason I bring this up, was there were TONS of moms....and dads, there with kids as young as 8 or 9. This movie is completely inappropriate for kids.
Like the first, there are some very funny scenes in this flick, where the satire is so extreme that it is well thought out and cleverly written. There is a fine line walked between comic book fun and real life drama and some of that is pretty original. But overall what this is, is violent, complete with plenty of graphic cop-killing, and a glorification of extreme violence. It has something to say sure, about the hero in all of us, but it has to. I doesn't really want to. Big difference between reading this comic book and watching this on the big screen.
But his will find a big fan base, as the first one did and be a big hit. But this does lack some of the charm and fun from the first flick and is more violent. Also, some of the jokes are falling flat because of real life events. Example being, our young hero Hit Girl, or Mindy? Her full name in both movies is Mindy MacCready in parody of the real like country singer whose life was a mess much like our Mindy. Of course the real life MacCready killed herself a few months ago. So now, it's not so funny, it's just bad taste.
Kick-Ass 2. A hit, but overall a miss.
MOVIE REVIEW - Paranoia
Sometimes you see a movie and you have to ask, "why?" Why make this movie? Who in the studio chain thought this script has a chance to be something good, or a hit.
Time will tell is this is a hit or not, but Paranoia is so amazingly average you'll remember this for literally minutes to come. If that long.
This movie at its heart is maybe the most stereotypically insulting movie you will see in a long time. In short, every group that can be insulted is. Middle aged men, young men, and especially young women. Toss in a story that is ridiculously average, and a script that looks like someone's first time and you have this mess. Plus, I am still struggling to know who is this movie is actually for? Who is the target audience? Seems it has none.
Liam Hemsworth stars as Adam. He is a 27 year old computer tech executive on the way up at a fictional tech giant company, called Wyatt. He and his amazing arrogance gets himself and his entire team made up of young exec's fired during a presentation the company owner Nick (Gary Oldman). So Adam does the next logical thing. He takes himself and his entire fired team out on the town on a yet to be stopped Wyatt credit card and rings up a $16,000 bar tab in one night. So, Wyatt then finds him and bribes him to be a corporate mole to be hired by the competition, run by Jock, (Harrison Ford), who was once in business with Nick. Adam had no choice, he may be killed.
So Adam gets hired and starts doing everything he has to do to steal every bit of info he can. He lies, cheats, and even sleeps with a high ranking marketing woman, Emma (Amber Heard). Will he get caught? Well, of course he will. And will he be double crossed? Well, of course he will. But, will everything work out in the end? Of course ...yet again.
This movie spends little time in developing any real characters. All are basically shallow and thin. Hemsworth spends the majority of this movie looking more like a magazine model than a star. Ford and Oldman are fine, but the writing is horrible and virtually anyone could have played these roles. Plus, it only spends about 5 minutes making you feel paranoid as it advertises. Think they forgot that was the whole premise.
The character of Emma should be concerning to many, and insulting to every women on earth. Emma is an Ivy League graduate from Yale. She is lied to, slept with, used, and is told every huge lie that a guy could do wrong to her personally and as a pro. And she loses everything she ever had. But in he end, all that matters is "love." As she ends up working for Adam in his start up company. (Yeah I'll spoil it because you see it coming and won't care). And she falls back in love with him. How amazingly insulting to every young woman on earth.
This movie looks like 1,000 other movies made like this, only this one is worse. No need to see it in theaters, or as a rental in 90 days. A weak leading man, an insulting script and a story that is beyond oridinary.
Paranoia. NOT good.
Time will tell is this is a hit or not, but Paranoia is so amazingly average you'll remember this for literally minutes to come. If that long.
This movie at its heart is maybe the most stereotypically insulting movie you will see in a long time. In short, every group that can be insulted is. Middle aged men, young men, and especially young women. Toss in a story that is ridiculously average, and a script that looks like someone's first time and you have this mess. Plus, I am still struggling to know who is this movie is actually for? Who is the target audience? Seems it has none.
Liam Hemsworth stars as Adam. He is a 27 year old computer tech executive on the way up at a fictional tech giant company, called Wyatt. He and his amazing arrogance gets himself and his entire team made up of young exec's fired during a presentation the company owner Nick (Gary Oldman). So Adam does the next logical thing. He takes himself and his entire fired team out on the town on a yet to be stopped Wyatt credit card and rings up a $16,000 bar tab in one night. So, Wyatt then finds him and bribes him to be a corporate mole to be hired by the competition, run by Jock, (Harrison Ford), who was once in business with Nick. Adam had no choice, he may be killed.
So Adam gets hired and starts doing everything he has to do to steal every bit of info he can. He lies, cheats, and even sleeps with a high ranking marketing woman, Emma (Amber Heard). Will he get caught? Well, of course he will. And will he be double crossed? Well, of course he will. But, will everything work out in the end? Of course ...yet again.
This movie spends little time in developing any real characters. All are basically shallow and thin. Hemsworth spends the majority of this movie looking more like a magazine model than a star. Ford and Oldman are fine, but the writing is horrible and virtually anyone could have played these roles. Plus, it only spends about 5 minutes making you feel paranoid as it advertises. Think they forgot that was the whole premise.
The character of Emma should be concerning to many, and insulting to every women on earth. Emma is an Ivy League graduate from Yale. She is lied to, slept with, used, and is told every huge lie that a guy could do wrong to her personally and as a pro. And she loses everything she ever had. But in he end, all that matters is "love." As she ends up working for Adam in his start up company. (Yeah I'll spoil it because you see it coming and won't care). And she falls back in love with him. How amazingly insulting to every young woman on earth.
This movie looks like 1,000 other movies made like this, only this one is worse. No need to see it in theaters, or as a rental in 90 days. A weak leading man, an insulting script and a story that is beyond oridinary.
Paranoia. NOT good.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Course Review
Course: Big Met
Location: Fairview Park in MetroParks
Directions: Easy Access from I-480, Lorain Road, Brookpark Road, and I-71
Dewsweepers Tee Time was: 7AM
Conditions: Ideal, calm 70 degrees
Big Met Website
The MetroParks courses are always really nice to play, with their natural settings and Big Met is a nice jewel that has been around since the 1920's. There was a time the were the most played course in the state, I am not sure if that is still intact. But Big Met is a popular place.
Big Met is not an overly long golf course, even from the deeps. In fact, there is not a great deal of difference between the whites and the blues. But Big Met is a beautiful course that is old school designed and extremely mature, and that is it's allure. Tree lined, with a moderate amount of sand, little water hazard, and average sized greens. The strength is in its setting, deep in the MetroParks.
This is a course that can be played well, if you simply hit it straight. It drives well, and the approaches are basically routine. Then rough today was really tough though, and wet from the early dew, that was a problem. The greens at Big Met are seldom extremely fast, and they weren't today, but they were nice.
Beef is nursing a sore shoulder and his game was good, but he was having a tough time getting all the way through the ball well as he normally does. But he fought through it with an erratic driver for a lot of the day. He did have a few really nice saves, and came in at 89 for the day. Better score if not sore. Not a bad score being 5-0 percent.
Joe Red was off this week, but his son Bryan filled in nicely. Bryan's game has come a long way in a few years. He overall kept the ball in play, posting a real nice birdie on number 6, a short par 4. But he got bit a time or two my a bad number and that kept him from going low. Although at the end of the day, he tossed up and 83.
Tex played his most consistent round of the year. Tex stayed away from the bad numbers and kept the ball in front of him. Tossed up a few pars, and his short game and putting really helped. Plus Tex and that new Taylormade driver are continuing to click. It's not hugely long, but in play and a slight draw keep him out of trouble. Tex tossed up a 86.
I hit a ton of irons, especially on the front and that was a good decision as the ball stayed in the fairway. I had two bad three putts that hurt and kept me from going low on the front, where I shot 41. On then back after a par, birdie start, I went on a bogey run, culminated by a bad double on the easy, easy number 17 par 4. I became impatient and hit a driver there, where iron was a better call. Then a par in 18...84 on the day. The way I hit the ball, it should have been far better.
Course highlights? Number 1, a long starting hole, par 4, 400 plus thin, number 5, short par 5, reachable, but water hawks you down the left. 7,8,9....very tough stretch, par 5, 3, and 4. You can lose your round there. Number 12, long uphill par 3, 200 yards.
Big Met is a course that only requires straight shots. You can make this course way harder than it is of you try to overpower it with the driver, and taking risky approaches on the par 5's trying to reach in 2. Big Met is there to be scored on, just do it. Wonderful serene golf.
Scores
Bryan - 83
Wynn - 84
Tex - 86
Beef - 89
Location: Fairview Park in MetroParks
Directions: Easy Access from I-480, Lorain Road, Brookpark Road, and I-71
Dewsweepers Tee Time was: 7AM
Conditions: Ideal, calm 70 degrees
Big Met Website
The MetroParks courses are always really nice to play, with their natural settings and Big Met is a nice jewel that has been around since the 1920's. There was a time the were the most played course in the state, I am not sure if that is still intact. But Big Met is a popular place.
Big Met is not an overly long golf course, even from the deeps. In fact, there is not a great deal of difference between the whites and the blues. But Big Met is a beautiful course that is old school designed and extremely mature, and that is it's allure. Tree lined, with a moderate amount of sand, little water hazard, and average sized greens. The strength is in its setting, deep in the MetroParks.
This is a course that can be played well, if you simply hit it straight. It drives well, and the approaches are basically routine. Then rough today was really tough though, and wet from the early dew, that was a problem. The greens at Big Met are seldom extremely fast, and they weren't today, but they were nice.
Beef is nursing a sore shoulder and his game was good, but he was having a tough time getting all the way through the ball well as he normally does. But he fought through it with an erratic driver for a lot of the day. He did have a few really nice saves, and came in at 89 for the day. Better score if not sore. Not a bad score being 5-0 percent.
Joe Red was off this week, but his son Bryan filled in nicely. Bryan's game has come a long way in a few years. He overall kept the ball in play, posting a real nice birdie on number 6, a short par 4. But he got bit a time or two my a bad number and that kept him from going low. Although at the end of the day, he tossed up and 83.
Tex played his most consistent round of the year. Tex stayed away from the bad numbers and kept the ball in front of him. Tossed up a few pars, and his short game and putting really helped. Plus Tex and that new Taylormade driver are continuing to click. It's not hugely long, but in play and a slight draw keep him out of trouble. Tex tossed up a 86.
I hit a ton of irons, especially on the front and that was a good decision as the ball stayed in the fairway. I had two bad three putts that hurt and kept me from going low on the front, where I shot 41. On then back after a par, birdie start, I went on a bogey run, culminated by a bad double on the easy, easy number 17 par 4. I became impatient and hit a driver there, where iron was a better call. Then a par in 18...84 on the day. The way I hit the ball, it should have been far better.
Course highlights? Number 1, a long starting hole, par 4, 400 plus thin, number 5, short par 5, reachable, but water hawks you down the left. 7,8,9....very tough stretch, par 5, 3, and 4. You can lose your round there. Number 12, long uphill par 3, 200 yards.
Big Met is a course that only requires straight shots. You can make this course way harder than it is of you try to overpower it with the driver, and taking risky approaches on the par 5's trying to reach in 2. Big Met is there to be scored on, just do it. Wonderful serene golf.
Scores
Bryan - 83
Wynn - 84
Tex - 86
Beef - 89
Friday, August 9, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - Elysium
Matt Damon is back and different than you have ever seen him in the new sci-fi flick, Elysium.
Elysium takes place in the year 2154. Life on Earth has become so horribly unbearable due to overpopulation, terrible environment, and worse government. But, the very rich can live a disease free, war free, care free life on this habitat called Elysium, that is a gigantic, man made satelight of Earth. The rest of us, live on a terrible wasteland that is Earth that has every problem you can imagine. Everyone in Earth longs to live on Elysium.
But Elysium is a fiercely protected place that allows no one in, mostly by force. But as the resistance on Earth trying to figure out a way to get to Elysium, the politics there are such that too much is not enough. And the middle powers that be, are thinking of a coup there to have even more, and rule even more diligently.
Max (Damon) is a young man on Earth who has a long list of felonies in his past. He suddenly finds himself in a battle for his life. He is horribly exposed to huge amount of radiation and has only 5 days to live. He seeks out help from the resistance to get to Elysium so he can be cured. All can be cured on Elysium. Along the way, he is implanted with the knowledge too, to re-boot Elysium, and change everything, so all on Earth can enjoy the magnificent things the habitat has to offer. Can he get there, and can he be the change that an entire planet has been waiting for?
When you peel back all the big special effects, and all the computer generation in this movie, you are left with a pretty original story, and very loud social commentary. Among the statements made, there is no one in the middle, only the very rich and the very poor. Toss in the closing off of borders, and to be rich is to be bad. And that certain things like health care are only offered to those who can afford it. These are not subtle messages and they are not meant to be.
Damon is an action hero, who becomes sort of half-droid, and does posses come super strength. He is quite good and looks comfortable in this new action hero role. Jodie Foster is the evil politician on Elysium, and I generally really like her. But for some reason someone thought it would be a good idea to have some kind of silly accent. And that's what it is - silly. The dialogue is also horribly written and sadly, it's a waste of a really good actress and no fault ot her own.
Elysium does a number of things right. It's not too long, it has nice effects, a fabulous and intense musical soundtrack and a bunch of originality. It pulls you in and holds on to you nicely. And in a time where a lot of these sci-fi flicks all run together, somehow this cuts through and looks and feels a bit different. This is not going to rewrite cinematic history but for what it is, it's OK.
Elysium. Better than you might think.
Elysium takes place in the year 2154. Life on Earth has become so horribly unbearable due to overpopulation, terrible environment, and worse government. But, the very rich can live a disease free, war free, care free life on this habitat called Elysium, that is a gigantic, man made satelight of Earth. The rest of us, live on a terrible wasteland that is Earth that has every problem you can imagine. Everyone in Earth longs to live on Elysium.
But Elysium is a fiercely protected place that allows no one in, mostly by force. But as the resistance on Earth trying to figure out a way to get to Elysium, the politics there are such that too much is not enough. And the middle powers that be, are thinking of a coup there to have even more, and rule even more diligently.
Max (Damon) is a young man on Earth who has a long list of felonies in his past. He suddenly finds himself in a battle for his life. He is horribly exposed to huge amount of radiation and has only 5 days to live. He seeks out help from the resistance to get to Elysium so he can be cured. All can be cured on Elysium. Along the way, he is implanted with the knowledge too, to re-boot Elysium, and change everything, so all on Earth can enjoy the magnificent things the habitat has to offer. Can he get there, and can he be the change that an entire planet has been waiting for?
When you peel back all the big special effects, and all the computer generation in this movie, you are left with a pretty original story, and very loud social commentary. Among the statements made, there is no one in the middle, only the very rich and the very poor. Toss in the closing off of borders, and to be rich is to be bad. And that certain things like health care are only offered to those who can afford it. These are not subtle messages and they are not meant to be.
Damon is an action hero, who becomes sort of half-droid, and does posses come super strength. He is quite good and looks comfortable in this new action hero role. Jodie Foster is the evil politician on Elysium, and I generally really like her. But for some reason someone thought it would be a good idea to have some kind of silly accent. And that's what it is - silly. The dialogue is also horribly written and sadly, it's a waste of a really good actress and no fault ot her own.
Elysium does a number of things right. It's not too long, it has nice effects, a fabulous and intense musical soundtrack and a bunch of originality. It pulls you in and holds on to you nicely. And in a time where a lot of these sci-fi flicks all run together, somehow this cuts through and looks and feels a bit different. This is not going to rewrite cinematic history but for what it is, it's OK.
Elysium. Better than you might think.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Characters/Caricatures
I looked two words up for exact definitions.
First - "Characters" - The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature some person or thing.
Second - "Caricatures" - A grotesque imitation or misrepresentation: To represent or imitate in an exaggerated, distorted manner.
Why? In many ways we need far more of the first, and less of the latter. This week it has come full full circle with the performance enhancing drug suspensions of still more Major League Baseball Players including Alex Rodriguez, who is determined to be his own worst enemy. I could care less about him and the rest of these suspended idiots.
But I do care about baseball, its legacy, and history. Baseball is a game of numbers and that fascinates us and it's worth protecting. And even though MLB is entirely too late, and let steroids go on far too long, at least they are starting to get what us real fans have always gotten. Guarding the games legacy, is the best gift to give it.
For over a 100 years baseball has been full of "characters" who are worth preserving. A heritage no other sport, heck anything else really American has. And the game has always been played by those with a story to tell. Not always a nice one, but legends that have formed the game and given us the glory that is baseball.
From the early days of the remarkable, record setting Ty Cobb who was actually hated by all players for his dirty play. Honus Wagner who became the games first real superstar from immigrant roots before there were home run fences. Christy Mathewson, one of the games first great pitchers won almost 400 games being devoutly religious and wouln't pitch on Sundays. Walter Johnson who was throwing pitches at 100 mph, when Indy cars were only going 70.
Babe Ruth changed the game with the home run, smoking cigars, womanizing and weighing way too much, eating hot dogs every day and throwing money around. His team mate Lou Gerigh gave us courage and strength when all the while an unknown disease was ravaging his body. Pitcher Rube Waddell was a wild man reportedly pitching many times still drunk from the night before.
As eras move on so did the stories. Jackie Robinson was more than a ballplayer as we all learned. Hank Aaron dealt with death threats from fans as he chased down Ruth's Home Run record. And Willie Mays who spawned the face of the new, complete player that could do it all. Mickey Mantle was the star of the New York Yankees in the mid 1950's and wasn't making enough money to get a credit card. These are examples of baseballs "characters". Those for 100 plus years have defined a game and made us love it. And legends such as Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, George Sisler and Grover Cleveland Alexander. Google them. See what they achieved it's amazing. And they need protecting.
Protection from the "caricatures" of today. Sure, there are many great and honest players in today's game, the Derek Jeter's. But now we have the inflated stats and reputations of other cheating players, that for 20 years or more earned them tons of money. But also has earned them clown-like statures in the halls of history. I am fine with that. They can spend their money, but in turn they can spend their older years crumbling away physically and watching the names of Babe, Ty, Honus, Jackie and Willie live on, while theirs withers away deeply and forever into the baseball abyss.
The irony when you think about it is this. Our "characters," spent decades practicing vices that were actually performance inhibiting. They were great players that were simply great. Smoking, drinking, womanizing, sleeping on trains making little money compared to today's players. Many working part time jobs in the off season. And others carrying the extreme weight of social change all the while playing the game at its highest level. They all handed over the game, and made the modern game possible.
As for more modern players who have done, and some still do performance enhancing drugs, they simply are not better players, drugs or not. So many records have stood for so many years by true immortals it's almost surreal. And it's apt and it's just.
Most of these modern "immortals" are still too young to get it . For that long list of literally lying cheaters, the Sosas, McGuires, and so on, and now this new class led by A-Rod. There will be a time they will come to know that character would have been far preferable to caricature.
First - "Characters" - The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature some person or thing.
Second - "Caricatures" - A grotesque imitation or misrepresentation: To represent or imitate in an exaggerated, distorted manner.
Why? In many ways we need far more of the first, and less of the latter. This week it has come full full circle with the performance enhancing drug suspensions of still more Major League Baseball Players including Alex Rodriguez, who is determined to be his own worst enemy. I could care less about him and the rest of these suspended idiots.
But I do care about baseball, its legacy, and history. Baseball is a game of numbers and that fascinates us and it's worth protecting. And even though MLB is entirely too late, and let steroids go on far too long, at least they are starting to get what us real fans have always gotten. Guarding the games legacy, is the best gift to give it.
For over a 100 years baseball has been full of "characters" who are worth preserving. A heritage no other sport, heck anything else really American has. And the game has always been played by those with a story to tell. Not always a nice one, but legends that have formed the game and given us the glory that is baseball.
From the early days of the remarkable, record setting Ty Cobb who was actually hated by all players for his dirty play. Honus Wagner who became the games first real superstar from immigrant roots before there were home run fences. Christy Mathewson, one of the games first great pitchers won almost 400 games being devoutly religious and wouln't pitch on Sundays. Walter Johnson who was throwing pitches at 100 mph, when Indy cars were only going 70.
Babe Ruth changed the game with the home run, smoking cigars, womanizing and weighing way too much, eating hot dogs every day and throwing money around. His team mate Lou Gerigh gave us courage and strength when all the while an unknown disease was ravaging his body. Pitcher Rube Waddell was a wild man reportedly pitching many times still drunk from the night before.
As eras move on so did the stories. Jackie Robinson was more than a ballplayer as we all learned. Hank Aaron dealt with death threats from fans as he chased down Ruth's Home Run record. And Willie Mays who spawned the face of the new, complete player that could do it all. Mickey Mantle was the star of the New York Yankees in the mid 1950's and wasn't making enough money to get a credit card. These are examples of baseballs "characters". Those for 100 plus years have defined a game and made us love it. And legends such as Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, George Sisler and Grover Cleveland Alexander. Google them. See what they achieved it's amazing. And they need protecting.
Protection from the "caricatures" of today. Sure, there are many great and honest players in today's game, the Derek Jeter's. But now we have the inflated stats and reputations of other cheating players, that for 20 years or more earned them tons of money. But also has earned them clown-like statures in the halls of history. I am fine with that. They can spend their money, but in turn they can spend their older years crumbling away physically and watching the names of Babe, Ty, Honus, Jackie and Willie live on, while theirs withers away deeply and forever into the baseball abyss.
The irony when you think about it is this. Our "characters," spent decades practicing vices that were actually performance inhibiting. They were great players that were simply great. Smoking, drinking, womanizing, sleeping on trains making little money compared to today's players. Many working part time jobs in the off season. And others carrying the extreme weight of social change all the while playing the game at its highest level. They all handed over the game, and made the modern game possible.
As for more modern players who have done, and some still do performance enhancing drugs, they simply are not better players, drugs or not. So many records have stood for so many years by true immortals it's almost surreal. And it's apt and it's just.
Most of these modern "immortals" are still too young to get it . For that long list of literally lying cheaters, the Sosas, McGuires, and so on, and now this new class led by A-Rod. There will be a time they will come to know that character would have been far preferable to caricature.
MOVIE REVIEW - We're The Millers
The new comedy, We're The Millers is out this week early. This movie is a good example of the ever changing things that today's movie going public thinks is funny.
This movie will be trashed by most critics, and liked by most that see it. Up front, this is not the movie that it is packaged to be in trailers or TV commercials. It is far more raunchy, and at times offensive, and really not suitable for young kids. But as I saw today, many in charge will blow right by the R rating to make sure that all see this.
This is he story of David (Jason Sudeikis) who is a small time pot dealer in Denver. One night he is robbed of all of his money, and his dealers money and finds himself 100 grand in the hole to the wrong people. So his dealer Brad (Ed Helms) offers him a chance to make it right with him by going to Mexico to bring back a shipment of pot. That actually turns out to be about a ton of pot. At first David is reluctant, but soon finds out that he has no choice.
So David decides the best cover is to invent a fake "family" in an RV as to not attract attention to himself. So he hires a "wife" Rose (Jennifer Aniston) a neighbor stripper who is down on her luck. A son Kenny (Will Poulter) who is this awkward, naive but nice neighbor kid whose mom has abandoned him. And Casey (Emma Roberts) who is a homeless teen runaway. Together they go on a Mexican journey into the belly of the cartel, and the legal system to see if they can pull it off as the Miller family.
Of course they don't really like each other at first, but from frame one you know exactly where this is going. That these 4 misfits will somehow find love in each other, and this will have a happy ending. That of course is one of the films weaknesses. You know precisely what will happen from the opening bell.
This is another action comedy of sorts. There is some action, some gun play and a predictable plot. But mostly what there is, is endless, mindless talk of male and female sexual body parts, and long discussions about feminine hygiene. The subject matter comes down to the giggly 7th grade level, but spoken in dialogue that is clearly R. I think 75 percent of the sentences uttered here had some sort of harsh language, or part reference. That is the extent of their creativity for the most part, and that's a shame. Because they had a cast here that looks comfortable working together, and an idea that could have worked better.
This is an example of what sells today. Junior high stuff, wrapped in an R rating. Long gone are the comedies that are simply funny. Now, if they are not offensive to many, they don't work. I laughed at some of this, sure. There were some really funny moments here, but after a while you're done, and you realize the guilty pleasure laughs earlier, are now faded and they now have nothing new to offer the rest of the way.
Happy ending yes, and yes, Aniston does the obligatory strip tease scene or two just because she has to play the formula all the way out. Sudeikis is the same guy he always is and that's becoming boring. But Roberts and Poulter as the kids to me stole the show. Poulter was really funny, when they let him. Especially in an improvised nerdy rap sing-a-long that is the movies best laugh. And Roberts very authentic as a troubled teen.
We're The Millers. Fans will like. Critics will hate. I laughed some, but not enough.
This movie will be trashed by most critics, and liked by most that see it. Up front, this is not the movie that it is packaged to be in trailers or TV commercials. It is far more raunchy, and at times offensive, and really not suitable for young kids. But as I saw today, many in charge will blow right by the R rating to make sure that all see this.
This is he story of David (Jason Sudeikis) who is a small time pot dealer in Denver. One night he is robbed of all of his money, and his dealers money and finds himself 100 grand in the hole to the wrong people. So his dealer Brad (Ed Helms) offers him a chance to make it right with him by going to Mexico to bring back a shipment of pot. That actually turns out to be about a ton of pot. At first David is reluctant, but soon finds out that he has no choice.
So David decides the best cover is to invent a fake "family" in an RV as to not attract attention to himself. So he hires a "wife" Rose (Jennifer Aniston) a neighbor stripper who is down on her luck. A son Kenny (Will Poulter) who is this awkward, naive but nice neighbor kid whose mom has abandoned him. And Casey (Emma Roberts) who is a homeless teen runaway. Together they go on a Mexican journey into the belly of the cartel, and the legal system to see if they can pull it off as the Miller family.
Of course they don't really like each other at first, but from frame one you know exactly where this is going. That these 4 misfits will somehow find love in each other, and this will have a happy ending. That of course is one of the films weaknesses. You know precisely what will happen from the opening bell.
This is another action comedy of sorts. There is some action, some gun play and a predictable plot. But mostly what there is, is endless, mindless talk of male and female sexual body parts, and long discussions about feminine hygiene. The subject matter comes down to the giggly 7th grade level, but spoken in dialogue that is clearly R. I think 75 percent of the sentences uttered here had some sort of harsh language, or part reference. That is the extent of their creativity for the most part, and that's a shame. Because they had a cast here that looks comfortable working together, and an idea that could have worked better.
This is an example of what sells today. Junior high stuff, wrapped in an R rating. Long gone are the comedies that are simply funny. Now, if they are not offensive to many, they don't work. I laughed at some of this, sure. There were some really funny moments here, but after a while you're done, and you realize the guilty pleasure laughs earlier, are now faded and they now have nothing new to offer the rest of the way.
Happy ending yes, and yes, Aniston does the obligatory strip tease scene or two just because she has to play the formula all the way out. Sudeikis is the same guy he always is and that's becoming boring. But Roberts and Poulter as the kids to me stole the show. Poulter was really funny, when they let him. Especially in an improvised nerdy rap sing-a-long that is the movies best laugh. And Roberts very authentic as a troubled teen.
We're The Millers. Fans will like. Critics will hate. I laughed some, but not enough.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW - 2 Guns
Put Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg together in a summer action flick and you're bound to have a hit. And we do with 2 Guns.
Although the only reason this is a hit is the star power. This is one of those funny, quirky action movies that looks like 25 other funny, quirky, action movies. Lots of action, things blowing up and plots that all look the same. Although, this does have a nice cast and that is the only separator...if there is one.
Meet Bobby (Washington). He is a DEA agent who is deep undercover in Mexico trying to bring down a drug cartel and its kingpin Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). He is working with Mike (Wahlberg) who is a Special Forces Navy man who is trying to secure millions of dollars for Navy intel, with drug money from Mexico to fight drugs. Problem is, they don't know that about each other. Bobby and Mike both think that the other is actual cartel employ.
So they plan this huge bank robbery thinking they are stealing the cartels 4 million dollars. Problem is, the bank has a cool 45 million in it, all belonging to the CIA! And now the CIA wants its money back and so does the cartel, as the cartel is in bed with the CIA, and this is a slush fund. Both agencies belonging to Bobby and Mike sell them out, and they are on their own for survival. Will they make it? 2 Guns.
As good as Washington and Wahlberg are and can be, I thought the real star of this movie was Bill Paxton who plays this real interesting CIA agent, who is in charge of getting the money back. I loved his performance, and the character they developed for him. He is a great compliment to our main stars, and gives this additional star power.
Problem is, this movie is just so typical. This is so unoriginal and such a formula that you have a hard time not losing interest. You'll feel like you've seen this movie 10 times before, only this one has bigger stars. I also felt that our stars simply mailed this one in. This has all the trappings of let's get this over with. I am not going to trash Washington or Wahlberg. The script is the script and there's not much that can be done with it that is positive.
There are fun moments here and there, but there's way too much of nothing going on between these two outside of the action sequences. Supporting cast good, effects marginal, and overall this is simply a C movie with A list stars.
2 Guns. 2 average.
Although the only reason this is a hit is the star power. This is one of those funny, quirky action movies that looks like 25 other funny, quirky, action movies. Lots of action, things blowing up and plots that all look the same. Although, this does have a nice cast and that is the only separator...if there is one.
Meet Bobby (Washington). He is a DEA agent who is deep undercover in Mexico trying to bring down a drug cartel and its kingpin Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). He is working with Mike (Wahlberg) who is a Special Forces Navy man who is trying to secure millions of dollars for Navy intel, with drug money from Mexico to fight drugs. Problem is, they don't know that about each other. Bobby and Mike both think that the other is actual cartel employ.
So they plan this huge bank robbery thinking they are stealing the cartels 4 million dollars. Problem is, the bank has a cool 45 million in it, all belonging to the CIA! And now the CIA wants its money back and so does the cartel, as the cartel is in bed with the CIA, and this is a slush fund. Both agencies belonging to Bobby and Mike sell them out, and they are on their own for survival. Will they make it? 2 Guns.
As good as Washington and Wahlberg are and can be, I thought the real star of this movie was Bill Paxton who plays this real interesting CIA agent, who is in charge of getting the money back. I loved his performance, and the character they developed for him. He is a great compliment to our main stars, and gives this additional star power.
Problem is, this movie is just so typical. This is so unoriginal and such a formula that you have a hard time not losing interest. You'll feel like you've seen this movie 10 times before, only this one has bigger stars. I also felt that our stars simply mailed this one in. This has all the trappings of let's get this over with. I am not going to trash Washington or Wahlberg. The script is the script and there's not much that can be done with it that is positive.
There are fun moments here and there, but there's way too much of nothing going on between these two outside of the action sequences. Supporting cast good, effects marginal, and overall this is simply a C movie with A list stars.
2 Guns. 2 average.
MOVIE REVIEW - Fruitvale Station
Many times very small movies can be really good movies. There is a small, Indy pic out in limited release now called Fruitvale Station playing to good reviews nationally, and now here.
Fruitvale Station is based on the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22 year old African-American young man that was killed by white police officers in the Fruitvale Train Station in the Oakland California area on the BART transit line. This movie deals with the single day, and all that led to him finding himself in trouble on New Years Eve at the station.
Oscar was fallible, which is the movies main strength as it is clearly told from his point of view. He has a young 4 year old daughter with his girlfriend, Sophina. He has cheated on Sophina, lost his job for being lazy, and has even done some time for dealing small time drugs. But Oscar decides that he is going to turn over a new leaf, and live life better as the year 2008 is coming to an end. He's going to stop the lying, cheating and the temptation to make easy money in the hood selling drugs to and from thugs. Oscar is basically a good kid underneath, he has just made so bad decisions up until now.
So, he takes Sophina and some friends out to a celebration in San Francisco on New Years Eve. On the BART train on the way home, his past catches up with him for the final time. He gets into a fight on the train at the station with an old nemesis. His friends get involved, and the BART police show up to sort it all out and restore order. Although, this seemingly minor scuffle gets way out of hand as police ego, and unfortunate circumstances get in the way. Oscar is shot by an officer for no real reason, and later dies. How does this happen?
Fruitvale Station does a few things very well. The opening sequence is actual cell phone video from the train platform of the incident the night Oscar is shot. It is compelling stuff as we can clearly see what was really happening. This movie is short, and tells its story in a very straight forward fashion. They do a very good job of showing you exactly who Oscar is in a short period of time. It also shows us just how tough some of these areas can be, that many of us only hear about. Even though this is Oscars story, his good, bad and ugly are all on display and that gives this real credibility.
This is a powerful piece that is aptly timed as recent real life current events have given a fresh look at race relations in our country. Well acted, casted, directed and well assembled overall.
Fruitvale Station. Small, but good.
Fruitvale Station is based on the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22 year old African-American young man that was killed by white police officers in the Fruitvale Train Station in the Oakland California area on the BART transit line. This movie deals with the single day, and all that led to him finding himself in trouble on New Years Eve at the station.
Oscar was fallible, which is the movies main strength as it is clearly told from his point of view. He has a young 4 year old daughter with his girlfriend, Sophina. He has cheated on Sophina, lost his job for being lazy, and has even done some time for dealing small time drugs. But Oscar decides that he is going to turn over a new leaf, and live life better as the year 2008 is coming to an end. He's going to stop the lying, cheating and the temptation to make easy money in the hood selling drugs to and from thugs. Oscar is basically a good kid underneath, he has just made so bad decisions up until now.
So, he takes Sophina and some friends out to a celebration in San Francisco on New Years Eve. On the BART train on the way home, his past catches up with him for the final time. He gets into a fight on the train at the station with an old nemesis. His friends get involved, and the BART police show up to sort it all out and restore order. Although, this seemingly minor scuffle gets way out of hand as police ego, and unfortunate circumstances get in the way. Oscar is shot by an officer for no real reason, and later dies. How does this happen?
Fruitvale Station does a few things very well. The opening sequence is actual cell phone video from the train platform of the incident the night Oscar is shot. It is compelling stuff as we can clearly see what was really happening. This movie is short, and tells its story in a very straight forward fashion. They do a very good job of showing you exactly who Oscar is in a short period of time. It also shows us just how tough some of these areas can be, that many of us only hear about. Even though this is Oscars story, his good, bad and ugly are all on display and that gives this real credibility.
This is a powerful piece that is aptly timed as recent real life current events have given a fresh look at race relations in our country. Well acted, casted, directed and well assembled overall.
Fruitvale Station. Small, but good.
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