Monday, April 14, 2008
Run, Don't Walk
We had the pleasure last night of watching Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox, a comedy starring John C. Reilly. This hilarious film was made by Judd Apoatow's crew and is a parody of all the biographical movies about musicians that have been made lately. Now I will warn you, the comedy is a rated R, and may not be for the feint of heart if you are opposed to coarse language. That being said, there were several very funny cameos (keep your eyes open for the famous faces that play the Beatles) and laugh out loud moments throughout the whole flick. I give this pitch perfect comedy a solid three and a half stars.
Reunited and It Feels So Good
I attended my first game at the Shrine a week ago Sunday, and I must say that it was fantastic. There is nothing like being at Wrigley Field. I can honestly say that it is on of my favorite places in the world. The game was against the Houston Astros and thankfully, it was a victory. Zambrano pitched seven solid innings, followed by Marmol in the eighth and Woody in the ninth. D-Rock and Soriano homered and that solidified the 3-2 victory. I went with my buddy Ben, who is one of the only people than I can honestly say is as die hard as me when it comes to loving the Cubs. We were lucky enough to have glorious weather that included cloudless skies and a gentle wind blowing out to left field. Another highlight was the seventh inning stretch, which was sung by the guys who sing the "Real Me of Genius" songs for Bud Light. They also sang a special version of the song before the game, which was really funny. That was hopefully the first of many to come this year as I continue my unwavering support of the real boys in blue. GO CUBS GO!!
Friday, April 4, 2008
About Frakkin' Time
That's right folks, tonight is the season premiere of Battlestar Galactica. So, if you are not doing anything this evening at 9 o'clock (CST), make sure you are tuned in to the SciFi channel. If not, set your DVR.
Monday, March 31, 2008
This Year Is Here
Today is Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs. Please make sure that you either watch, listen or monitor the game starting at 1:20 p.m. Central Standard Time. The game will be broadcast on WGN Channel 9 in Chicago and on WGN Superstation for people outside of the Chicagoland area. You can listen to the game on WGN 720 AM if you want to hear living legend Ron Santo and his counter part Pat Hughes.
Please keep the Cubs in your thoughts and prayers throughout the season as they march towards the World Series.
Please keep the Cubs in your thoughts and prayers throughout the season as they march towards the World Series.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Still Startin' Something
As most of us know, I am a HUGE music fan, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of a seminal album, Michael Jackson's Thriller. Even though I was three at the time of it's release, I have heard it's influence on popular music my entire life. As a matter of fact, I can remember being scared senseless of the epic video that accompanied the album's title track. But, it's not only the title track that is a stand out on this masterpiece.
For those of you that may be asking,"Why Christopher, what made you decide to discuss this topic?", the credit goes to my students. I was in my classroom and one of my students read about the anniversary of the release in the newspaper. The reaction to the article by my student was, "Who the hell cares about Michael Jackson? He is a total freak."
My colleagues and I all shared a little laugh and started to explain the significance of the album. While it is true that Michael may no longer be the King of Pop, the streak of albums he had in the 1980's was nothing short of spectacular. Let's not forget that Thriller is still the best selling album of all time. On top of that, the album contained nine tracks, seven of which were top ten singles in the United States. That was an unprecedented amount then and now. Imagine if one of today's pop stars, say Justin Timberlake or Pink, released an album that saw 77% of it's singles reach the top ten in the singles charts. It simply wouldn't happen.
Personally, my favorite tracks would have to be "Wanna Be Sartin' Somethin'" and "Human Nature." They are both perfect examples of pop songs and along with "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Thriller", "Girl Is Mine" and "Pretty Young Thing", which formed the seven top ten singles. Let's not forget that the video for "Billie Jean" was the first song by and African American artist to get heavy rotation on MTV. The video for "Billie Jean" proved to be just an appetizer for Jackson's next film endeavor.
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" proved to be a full fledged cultural phenomenon. The video was directed by Jon Landis, the master behind Trading Places, Animal House and The Blues Brothers, who collaborated with Jackson to create an original short length film. "Thriller" also featured makeup work by legendary effects artist Rick Baker. It was a smashing success and changed the way that music videos are made.
So, there you have it, my feelings on the album Thriller. While it my not be in my regular album rotation, I cannot deny it's ingenuity and staying power. So, if anyone wants a to listen to a blast from the past in pop music, you will not find a better listening experience.
For those of you that may be asking,"Why Christopher, what made you decide to discuss this topic?", the credit goes to my students. I was in my classroom and one of my students read about the anniversary of the release in the newspaper. The reaction to the article by my student was, "Who the hell cares about Michael Jackson? He is a total freak."
My colleagues and I all shared a little laugh and started to explain the significance of the album. While it is true that Michael may no longer be the King of Pop, the streak of albums he had in the 1980's was nothing short of spectacular. Let's not forget that Thriller is still the best selling album of all time. On top of that, the album contained nine tracks, seven of which were top ten singles in the United States. That was an unprecedented amount then and now. Imagine if one of today's pop stars, say Justin Timberlake or Pink, released an album that saw 77% of it's singles reach the top ten in the singles charts. It simply wouldn't happen.
Personally, my favorite tracks would have to be "Wanna Be Sartin' Somethin'" and "Human Nature." They are both perfect examples of pop songs and along with "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Thriller", "Girl Is Mine" and "Pretty Young Thing", which formed the seven top ten singles. Let's not forget that the video for "Billie Jean" was the first song by and African American artist to get heavy rotation on MTV. The video for "Billie Jean" proved to be just an appetizer for Jackson's next film endeavor.
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" proved to be a full fledged cultural phenomenon. The video was directed by Jon Landis, the master behind Trading Places, Animal House and The Blues Brothers, who collaborated with Jackson to create an original short length film. "Thriller" also featured makeup work by legendary effects artist Rick Baker. It was a smashing success and changed the way that music videos are made.
So, there you have it, my feelings on the album Thriller. While it my not be in my regular album rotation, I cannot deny it's ingenuity and staying power. So, if anyone wants a to listen to a blast from the past in pop music, you will not find a better listening experience.
Can We?
I fully expect to be lambasted by this entry, but I would like to ask everyone this question: Are the ideas of hope and change audacious enough? Of course this question is in regards to the Obama campaign and two of his overriding themes. Please keep in mind that I am in Obama's corner, but I feel that I have the civic responsibility to ask these questions.
While Obama is an overpowering orator, I cannot get past the ambiguity of what hope and change mean. Yes, I agree that we need a change at the top, but is blind support of Obama any better than the blind supporters of President Bush? I am in no way insinuating that Obama will be another version of Bush, but I think that questioning a candidates platform is very important. Once again, I support Obama, and consider him to be a better option than Clinton, albeit an option with less certainty of what will be brought to the table. The Blueprint that he proposes is inspiring and fresh and I can only hope that this game plan will truly convince the people that he will need in his corner to make the ideas work.
Now I try to keep myself abreast of the campaign race as much as I can, but I would by no means consider myself to be an expert on all of the issues. I like the idea of what change can bring, but is there enough substance to back his rhetoric?
While Obama is an overpowering orator, I cannot get past the ambiguity of what hope and change mean. Yes, I agree that we need a change at the top, but is blind support of Obama any better than the blind supporters of President Bush? I am in no way insinuating that Obama will be another version of Bush, but I think that questioning a candidates platform is very important. Once again, I support Obama, and consider him to be a better option than Clinton, albeit an option with less certainty of what will be brought to the table. The Blueprint that he proposes is inspiring and fresh and I can only hope that this game plan will truly convince the people that he will need in his corner to make the ideas work.
Now I try to keep myself abreast of the campaign race as much as I can, but I would by no means consider myself to be an expert on all of the issues. I like the idea of what change can bring, but is there enough substance to back his rhetoric?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Madness
As we approach the crowning of this year's NCAA men's basketball champion, it is time to reminisce about the magical year of 2005 , when the University of Illinois made there madcap run to the final game of the NCAA tournament. Although I attended Illinois State University and support my Redbirds to the fullest, I have a soft spot in the Illini. The 2005 season was one to remember for Illini fans, and as luck would have it, I was witness to part of that years madness.
That year, the Midwest Regional Final was in Chicago at the Allstate Arena. My dad had scored me a couple of tickets nearly a year before the games without knowing that Illinois would go on the roll that they did. My dad's former office mate held season tickets to Depaul, who plays their home games at the Allstate. He offered my dad the opportunity to land a pair of tickets, and my father took him up on the offer with me in mind. Well, this foresight is what afforded me the opportunity to bear witness to one of the greatest games in college basketball history.
Anyways, Illinois earned a number one seed and made it's way through the first two rounds with no particular problems. Their game in the round of 16 was against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which they promptly won. I attended that game with my brother, which was a total blast. It was the first time that either of us had the opportunity to go to an NCAA tournament game and we both loved it. On top of that, the coach of UWM at the time was Bruce Pearl, who is a mortal enemy of the Illini nation. The second game we saw, Arizona vs. Oklahoma State, was a beauty. The game was back and forth the whole time and ended in a last second one point victory that sent Arizona to the Elite Eight.
I think everyone knew that the Illinois-Arizona match up was going to be great, but I don't think anyone could have guessed that it would be an all-time classic. My guest for this round was none other than my great friend Brian J., who is an Illinois alum and Illini fanatic. Tickets to this game were supposedly going for up to $1500 apiece, so they were definitely in high demand. I actually toyed with selling the tickets, but decided that this would be a once in a lifetime experience and attending it with one of my best friends made it all that much better.
The atmosphere in the Allstate Arena was totally electric. Even though games in the Tournament are supposed to be held at neutral sites, there was no doubt whose corner the crowd was behind. The Arena looked like a sea of orange as crowd expressed total adoration for the home state team. It was the hottest ticket in town, and the anticipation for the tip off was like nothing I have experienced at a sporting event.
Well, once the game began, there were multiple lead changes going into halftime. The crowd held their breath with every Illinois shot and cheered wildly with every steal. At the start of the second half, Arizona seized control of the game and put Illinois in a double digit hole. The crowd's enthusiasm started to fizzle as it appeared there was no hope for a victory. Little did we know, the show had just begun.
With four minutes left and mired in a 15-point hole, the Illini went on a run for the ages. The last four minutes of regulation saw Illinois score an unbelievable 20 points to tie the game and force overtime. Luther head and Deron Williams each scored 8 points, with Dee Brown contributing 4 pts. This onslaught, coupled with suffocating defense, allowed the Illini to stage this most improbable of comebacks. The crowd was going crazy, and I can honestly say that I have never experienced that sort of energy at a sporting event.
Overtime was just as wild. Both teams fought tooth and nail for every point. In the end, Illinois scratched out a one-point victory to the pleasure of the raucous crowd. This win also propelled Illinois to the Final Four. Brian and I were beside ourselves with joy and elation. Neither of us could have hoped for a better game, and each other's company made it all the better. Although Illinois lost in the championship game, the experience of attending this game will be something that I will never forget.
That year, the Midwest Regional Final was in Chicago at the Allstate Arena. My dad had scored me a couple of tickets nearly a year before the games without knowing that Illinois would go on the roll that they did. My dad's former office mate held season tickets to Depaul, who plays their home games at the Allstate. He offered my dad the opportunity to land a pair of tickets, and my father took him up on the offer with me in mind. Well, this foresight is what afforded me the opportunity to bear witness to one of the greatest games in college basketball history.
Anyways, Illinois earned a number one seed and made it's way through the first two rounds with no particular problems. Their game in the round of 16 was against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which they promptly won. I attended that game with my brother, which was a total blast. It was the first time that either of us had the opportunity to go to an NCAA tournament game and we both loved it. On top of that, the coach of UWM at the time was Bruce Pearl, who is a mortal enemy of the Illini nation. The second game we saw, Arizona vs. Oklahoma State, was a beauty. The game was back and forth the whole time and ended in a last second one point victory that sent Arizona to the Elite Eight.
I think everyone knew that the Illinois-Arizona match up was going to be great, but I don't think anyone could have guessed that it would be an all-time classic. My guest for this round was none other than my great friend Brian J., who is an Illinois alum and Illini fanatic. Tickets to this game were supposedly going for up to $1500 apiece, so they were definitely in high demand. I actually toyed with selling the tickets, but decided that this would be a once in a lifetime experience and attending it with one of my best friends made it all that much better.
The atmosphere in the Allstate Arena was totally electric. Even though games in the Tournament are supposed to be held at neutral sites, there was no doubt whose corner the crowd was behind. The Arena looked like a sea of orange as crowd expressed total adoration for the home state team. It was the hottest ticket in town, and the anticipation for the tip off was like nothing I have experienced at a sporting event.
Well, once the game began, there were multiple lead changes going into halftime. The crowd held their breath with every Illinois shot and cheered wildly with every steal. At the start of the second half, Arizona seized control of the game and put Illinois in a double digit hole. The crowd's enthusiasm started to fizzle as it appeared there was no hope for a victory. Little did we know, the show had just begun.
With four minutes left and mired in a 15-point hole, the Illini went on a run for the ages. The last four minutes of regulation saw Illinois score an unbelievable 20 points to tie the game and force overtime. Luther head and Deron Williams each scored 8 points, with Dee Brown contributing 4 pts. This onslaught, coupled with suffocating defense, allowed the Illini to stage this most improbable of comebacks. The crowd was going crazy, and I can honestly say that I have never experienced that sort of energy at a sporting event.
Overtime was just as wild. Both teams fought tooth and nail for every point. In the end, Illinois scratched out a one-point victory to the pleasure of the raucous crowd. This win also propelled Illinois to the Final Four. Brian and I were beside ourselves with joy and elation. Neither of us could have hoped for a better game, and each other's company made it all the better. Although Illinois lost in the championship game, the experience of attending this game will be something that I will never forget.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Since most of us are not in th loop, I would like to inform everyone that the third and final season of Battlestar starts next Friday, April 4. Go ahead and laugh at me now, but I will not stop supporting this excellent hour of television. I must admit, that I still have a couple of episodes from season 3 to watch, but I have been purposely saving them with the intention of watching them over my spring break. Although I have not watched every episode, I know what the outcome will be, due to my inability to not snoop around on fansites. Even I know what will happen in some of the episodes, I have enough vested in the show to finish watching the last few episodes that I have not seen.
Now that I have given you my Battlestar viewing history, I want to let everyone know that the Sci Fi Channel is running a half hour retrospective of the show so far. Since I know that not everyone has over sixty hours to devote to a television show in the next week, the retrospective does a nice job of summing up the main plot points and characters. Anyone interested in watching Battlestar should give this a whirl. Once again, I cannot give this show enough praise, it is truly terrific. So, kick back, relax and enjoy one of the finest shows you will ever see.
Now that I have given you my Battlestar viewing history, I want to let everyone know that the Sci Fi Channel is running a half hour retrospective of the show so far. Since I know that not everyone has over sixty hours to devote to a television show in the next week, the retrospective does a nice job of summing up the main plot points and characters. Anyone interested in watching Battlestar should give this a whirl. Once again, I cannot give this show enough praise, it is truly terrific. So, kick back, relax and enjoy one of the finest shows you will ever see.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Book Review Time
As promised, here are the reviews of the books that I have read in the last few months.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Fabulous. I cannot shower this text with enough superlatives. This book was previously reviewed in the following post.
Inherit the Wind- by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee- I really enjoyed reading this play that is a biting satire of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Hilarious and relevant in today's time as a reminder that freedom of speech is not always one of our inherent rights.
Into the Wild by John Krakauer- A harrowing true story about a young man, Chris McCandless, who goes on a journey in to the Alaskan wild, never to return. Don't worry, the fact that he did not survive is revealed on the first page, so I did not ruin anything. Krakauer was very diligent in his research and does a splendid job of retelling the story of a well-to-do kidB that wants to experience life at it's most basic level. Although McCandless comes to a heartbreaking end, it was fascinating reading about his journey.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer- I read this before Into the Wild, and it is just as riveting. This story is a retelling of the deadliest group ascent of Mount Everest that was ever attempted. Krakauer was a member of this trip that went horribly wrong and provides devastating insight to the tragic event. You will remain breathless as the pages turn themselves. A terrific read.
Day of Tears by Julius Lester- Based on a true story, Mr. Lester retells the nightmare of the largest single auction of slaves in Unites States history. Lester retells the story from the point of view of several of the slaves as they deal with the fate of the sale. If there are any educators that happen to read this blog, I would highly recommend adding it to your curriculum as a way to show students the tragedy of the slave trade.
Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck- This tale about a friendship that is destined to end in tragedy is an American classic. George has been entrusted with taking care of Lennie, a gentle giant who has a low IQ. Both characters are Californian farm hands in the 1930's who travel where work will take them. The burden of taking care of Lennie, who literally does not realize his own strength, leads to an ending that tears are the readers emotions. While not on the epic scale of Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden, Steinbeck is able to catch the attention of the reader from the beginning we learn about Lenny and George's complex relationship.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Fabulous. I cannot shower this text with enough superlatives. This book was previously reviewed in the following post.
Inherit the Wind- by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee- I really enjoyed reading this play that is a biting satire of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Hilarious and relevant in today's time as a reminder that freedom of speech is not always one of our inherent rights.
Into the Wild by John Krakauer- A harrowing true story about a young man, Chris McCandless, who goes on a journey in to the Alaskan wild, never to return. Don't worry, the fact that he did not survive is revealed on the first page, so I did not ruin anything. Krakauer was very diligent in his research and does a splendid job of retelling the story of a well-to-do kidB that wants to experience life at it's most basic level. Although McCandless comes to a heartbreaking end, it was fascinating reading about his journey.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer- I read this before Into the Wild, and it is just as riveting. This story is a retelling of the deadliest group ascent of Mount Everest that was ever attempted. Krakauer was a member of this trip that went horribly wrong and provides devastating insight to the tragic event. You will remain breathless as the pages turn themselves. A terrific read.
Day of Tears by Julius Lester- Based on a true story, Mr. Lester retells the nightmare of the largest single auction of slaves in Unites States history. Lester retells the story from the point of view of several of the slaves as they deal with the fate of the sale. If there are any educators that happen to read this blog, I would highly recommend adding it to your curriculum as a way to show students the tragedy of the slave trade.
Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck- This tale about a friendship that is destined to end in tragedy is an American classic. George has been entrusted with taking care of Lennie, a gentle giant who has a low IQ. Both characters are Californian farm hands in the 1930's who travel where work will take them. The burden of taking care of Lennie, who literally does not realize his own strength, leads to an ending that tears are the readers emotions. While not on the epic scale of Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden, Steinbeck is able to catch the attention of the reader from the beginning we learn about Lenny and George's complex relationship.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Deathly Funny
Everyone should drop what they are doing and rent the movie Death at a Funeral. We watched this flick a couple weeks back and it was absolutely hilarious. Directed by Frank Oz, better known as Master Yoda, this pitch perfect British comedy is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. The plot revolves around a family funeral that goes haywire in unbelievable ways that induce consistent laughs. I do not want to say much more without giving away too much, so kick back and enjoy.
Starting To Catch Up
Time for me to give props where the are due. About a month ago I went on a tirade about the Board of Education's failure to accommodate English Language Learners for the just completed ISAT tests. Illinois has provided translations for several prominent languages for ELL students. I felt that it was only responsible of me to make mention of this change after going on a rather lengthy rant.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Time For Some Movie Reviews
Mar and I have had the good fortune to watch several movies in the last few weeks, so I am going to give my opinion on the flicks we have viewed.
The Bourne Ultimatum- Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen and David Strathairn. Wow. This movie totally knocked my socks off. I enjoyed the first two additions of this trilogy, but this one should go down as an action/suspense classic. Director Paul Greengrass was able to weave the intricate story of Jason Bourne's past with action sequences that left me catching my breath for the duration of the film. Without a doubt four stars and worth a view for everyone.
Wordplay- Featuring President Bill Clinton, John Stewart and Will Shortz. This is a charming little documentary about the world of crossword puzzles. Will Shortz is the editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle and also is the organizes the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, CT. I know this sounds a little quirky, but it was a fun watch and gives the viewer a window into the intricacies of making and solving crossword puzzles. Three stars.
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters- Another documentary, but not nearly as entertaining or engaging as Wordplay. Kong follows two intense gamers as they fight to be the world record holder of the high score for the video game King Kong. The story had the potential to be engaging, but it gets lost on the way by picturing the video game world in a seedy, shallow light. Two stars.
Stranger Than Fiction- Staring Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman and Maggie Gylenhal. This was a very enjoyable romance with a little fantasy intertwined. Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS agent that can hear his everyday life being narrated in his head. This narration comes courtesy of the Emma Thompson character, who is a writer. The writing is sharp, and the performances are fresh. It was nice seeing Ferrel drop the silly guy persona that he usually brings to life in exchange for someone we can all relate to. Bonus points for being filmed in Chicago. Three and a half stars.
Waitress- Starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith. This was a rather simple romantic comedy that takes place in a small Sourthern town. Russell gives a nice performance as a pie making waitress with an unexpected pregnancy and a failing marriage. She ends up falling for her OBGYN and decisions about her future must be made. It was a very nice movie to watch on a quiet day, and I would give it three stars.
Gone Baby, Gone- Starring Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris. First and foremost, this was a stellar effort by first-time director Ben Affleck. This heart breaking drama based around a kidnapping triangle is haunting and keeps the viewer on edge the whole time. Casey Affleck gives a sparkling performance as a private detective who is trying to solve the kidnapping case of a young girl while dealing with moral decisions that he did not foresee. One of the better movies to come out of 2007. Four stars.
I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With- Starring Jeff Garlin, Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt. I wanted to like this, I really did, but the whole flick was just a meandering mess. Marketed as romantic comedy written, directed and starring Garlin, follows a single actor in search of love. The only redeeming quality of this movie are the familiar Chicago locales that were the backdrops of the movie. One Star. Note to viewer: If Wrigley Field had not made several appearances, it would have been a 1/2 star.
Talk to Me- Starring Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Based on the real life and times of legendary Washington, D.C. disc jokey Petey Greene. Cheadle give Ejiofor give standout performances as we see Greene, played by Cheadle, rise from ex-convict to one of th most prominent voices in African-American radio during the seventies. Greene's story is engaging and was a joy to watch. Three stars.
I Could Never Be Your Woman- Starring Paul Rudd and Michelle Pfeiffer. A simple and satisfying romantic comedy from the writer and director of Clueless. Pfeiffer plays a sitcom writer in her 40's who falls for a twenty-something actor played by Rudd. Not much makes this movie distinguishable form other romantic comedy's, but it is enjoyable and fun to watch. Two stars.
Hot Fuzz- Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. A totally off the wall British comedy that is a hoot. Pegg and Frost play cops in a sleepy English town that are out to solve a series of murders that are being covered up. What starts out as a typical cop cation flick turns to complete lunacy and hilarity ensues. There is cartoonish violence, so watch out. Three stars.
Eastern Promises- Staring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. An intense drama that centers around the Russian mafia in London. The story begins as Watts attempts to determine the identity of a young woman who died while delivering a baby. This leads her to unknowingly contact a Russian mob kingpin. Mortensen gives a tour de force performance that stays with you as a mob driver who is trying to earn his way to the captain level. The story unravels as we follow these two characters while they try to reach their goals. A surprise ending will leave your jaw on the floor while satisfying the viewer. It doesn't get much better than this, but it is not for those of us who are squeamish to violence. Four stars.
The Bourne Ultimatum- Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen and David Strathairn. Wow. This movie totally knocked my socks off. I enjoyed the first two additions of this trilogy, but this one should go down as an action/suspense classic. Director Paul Greengrass was able to weave the intricate story of Jason Bourne's past with action sequences that left me catching my breath for the duration of the film. Without a doubt four stars and worth a view for everyone.
Wordplay- Featuring President Bill Clinton, John Stewart and Will Shortz. This is a charming little documentary about the world of crossword puzzles. Will Shortz is the editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle and also is the organizes the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, CT. I know this sounds a little quirky, but it was a fun watch and gives the viewer a window into the intricacies of making and solving crossword puzzles. Three stars.
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters- Another documentary, but not nearly as entertaining or engaging as Wordplay. Kong follows two intense gamers as they fight to be the world record holder of the high score for the video game King Kong. The story had the potential to be engaging, but it gets lost on the way by picturing the video game world in a seedy, shallow light. Two stars.
Stranger Than Fiction- Staring Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman and Maggie Gylenhal. This was a very enjoyable romance with a little fantasy intertwined. Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS agent that can hear his everyday life being narrated in his head. This narration comes courtesy of the Emma Thompson character, who is a writer. The writing is sharp, and the performances are fresh. It was nice seeing Ferrel drop the silly guy persona that he usually brings to life in exchange for someone we can all relate to. Bonus points for being filmed in Chicago. Three and a half stars.
Waitress- Starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith. This was a rather simple romantic comedy that takes place in a small Sourthern town. Russell gives a nice performance as a pie making waitress with an unexpected pregnancy and a failing marriage. She ends up falling for her OBGYN and decisions about her future must be made. It was a very nice movie to watch on a quiet day, and I would give it three stars.
Gone Baby, Gone- Starring Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris. First and foremost, this was a stellar effort by first-time director Ben Affleck. This heart breaking drama based around a kidnapping triangle is haunting and keeps the viewer on edge the whole time. Casey Affleck gives a sparkling performance as a private detective who is trying to solve the kidnapping case of a young girl while dealing with moral decisions that he did not foresee. One of the better movies to come out of 2007. Four stars.
I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With- Starring Jeff Garlin, Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt. I wanted to like this, I really did, but the whole flick was just a meandering mess. Marketed as romantic comedy written, directed and starring Garlin, follows a single actor in search of love. The only redeeming quality of this movie are the familiar Chicago locales that were the backdrops of the movie. One Star. Note to viewer: If Wrigley Field had not made several appearances, it would have been a 1/2 star.
Talk to Me- Starring Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Based on the real life and times of legendary Washington, D.C. disc jokey Petey Greene. Cheadle give Ejiofor give standout performances as we see Greene, played by Cheadle, rise from ex-convict to one of th most prominent voices in African-American radio during the seventies. Greene's story is engaging and was a joy to watch. Three stars.
I Could Never Be Your Woman- Starring Paul Rudd and Michelle Pfeiffer. A simple and satisfying romantic comedy from the writer and director of Clueless. Pfeiffer plays a sitcom writer in her 40's who falls for a twenty-something actor played by Rudd. Not much makes this movie distinguishable form other romantic comedy's, but it is enjoyable and fun to watch. Two stars.
Hot Fuzz- Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. A totally off the wall British comedy that is a hoot. Pegg and Frost play cops in a sleepy English town that are out to solve a series of murders that are being covered up. What starts out as a typical cop cation flick turns to complete lunacy and hilarity ensues. There is cartoonish violence, so watch out. Three stars.
Eastern Promises- Staring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. An intense drama that centers around the Russian mafia in London. The story begins as Watts attempts to determine the identity of a young woman who died while delivering a baby. This leads her to unknowingly contact a Russian mob kingpin. Mortensen gives a tour de force performance that stays with you as a mob driver who is trying to earn his way to the captain level. The story unravels as we follow these two characters while they try to reach their goals. A surprise ending will leave your jaw on the floor while satisfying the viewer. It doesn't get much better than this, but it is not for those of us who are squeamish to violence. Four stars.
Rock On
I had the good fortune of getting Guitar Hero III for Christmas and I admit, I'm hooked. This game is a total blast. So far, I have beat it on medium, but I can't even beat a single song on hard. Even though I have beat the game, I still find myself going back for more in an effort to beat my previous scores. So, for those of us that still play a video game or two, I highly recommend this title.
Rocket Man
While I consider the fact that we had a "special congressional hearing" for Roger Clemens an embarrassment, I was totally enthralled when reading the transcript. That hearing made for some very juicy dialog and quite the theatrics. Who would have thought that hearing a couple of perceived liars lying about each other would be so entertaining? For the record, I am siding with Brian McNamee's version of the truth, since he had witnesses to corroborate the information that he gave to the Mitchell Report, which is quite a read.
The grilling that Clemens and McNamee took was very intense, and I would not say that either are better off after the hearing. Clemen's was particularly hurt by the sworn testimony of his friend Andy Pettite, who is a confessed user of HGH. Pettite's confession backed up what McNamee said, and casts a huge shadow of doubt over Clemens' testimony. Truth be told, I will never know the truth since I was not in the room when the alleged use of performance enhancers took place.
Even though this was a rather dramatic event, I have serious questions about the fact that our Congress decided to call a special hearing just for this case. The government has enough problems on their hands to be spending taxpayers money on something that is so frivolous. For those of us that think MLB needs a slap on their hands for the potentially hundreds of players that allegedly used performance enhancers, I think everyone knew something was in the players kool-aid. How else can the explosion in player statistics raise so fast? When it's all said and done, we Americans were willing to turn a blind eye because we wanted to just sit back and enjoy the show.
The grilling that Clemens and McNamee took was very intense, and I would not say that either are better off after the hearing. Clemen's was particularly hurt by the sworn testimony of his friend Andy Pettite, who is a confessed user of HGH. Pettite's confession backed up what McNamee said, and casts a huge shadow of doubt over Clemens' testimony. Truth be told, I will never know the truth since I was not in the room when the alleged use of performance enhancers took place.
Even though this was a rather dramatic event, I have serious questions about the fact that our Congress decided to call a special hearing just for this case. The government has enough problems on their hands to be spending taxpayers money on something that is so frivolous. For those of us that think MLB needs a slap on their hands for the potentially hundreds of players that allegedly used performance enhancers, I think everyone knew something was in the players kool-aid. How else can the explosion in player statistics raise so fast? When it's all said and done, we Americans were willing to turn a blind eye because we wanted to just sit back and enjoy the show.
Sorry, But We're Leaving You Behind
Sorry to let you down kiddies, but we are forcing you to take a test in a language that you do not speak fluently. This is the message that we are sending to current students that are being forced to take the ISAT's or PSAE's in a language that they are not completely fluent. I take serious issue with this. Here is a little summation from the Chicago Tribune that will help fill in the blanks if you do not understand what I am describing. How can we say that we are keeping the best interest of the students in mind if we are putting them at a distinct disadvantage by requiring them to take a test in a language in which they are not fully literate?
The PSAE's and ISAT's are tests that are used to gauge progress under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act that help fund schools. If a school does not reach their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) they will have there funding cut since they are not reaching levels that are in part determined by the tests that I have described. It is totally insane to test students for proficiency in math, science, history and other subjects when they cannot read the test. If we are looking to find out how a student has progressed, we should give them a fair shot. Would anyone in their right mind expect me to go to China take a test in Chinese? We all know that NCLB is a farce, but this decision by the Board of Education is totally unfair. Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but I am very passionate about this topic.
The PSAE's and ISAT's are tests that are used to gauge progress under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act that help fund schools. If a school does not reach their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) they will have there funding cut since they are not reaching levels that are in part determined by the tests that I have described. It is totally insane to test students for proficiency in math, science, history and other subjects when they cannot read the test. If we are looking to find out how a student has progressed, we should give them a fair shot. Would anyone in their right mind expect me to go to China take a test in Chinese? We all know that NCLB is a farce, but this decision by the Board of Education is totally unfair. Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but I am very passionate about this topic.
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My Simpsonization
Here is what I would look like in Springfield