Borg vs. McEnroe

 

 

                        Thursday night, in a midst of a movie slump, can't seem to find movie that intrigues me in some ways. I won't name names because it's really not my way in terms of being a professional, though the first film was just terrible even from the start of it, the second film I felt a little bored moreover didn't seem ready enough to tackle in ways I can't explain. Which leads to this surprisingly great Tennis movie ever made by human hands, Borg vs McEnroe. Now before you moan and complain about the fact that Shia LaBeouf is in this film, bear with me when I say that I was the same way as you. But before I get into this movie, along with recommending this for the whole world, I need to give a little history lesson behind the movie, in 1980 tennis legend Bjorn Borg was chasing his fifth Wimbledon title, though another tennis legend John McEnroe was coming up to denied him that right, but what transpired became the stuff of legends. Now, I personally knew the story of Borg vs McEnroe from watching a VHS tape called Great Sports Moments of the 80's hosted by Al Michaels, so as a non-tennis fan I knew that I might be intrigued, but yet I would be turned down of Shia LaBeouf playing McEnroe, but luckily that really didn't happen for which leads to me say yet again that this was one of the best and only good Tennis movies out there, which is ironic because the only other tennis film I can think of was that one with Kristen Dunst and Paul Bettany. Alright enough talk let's talk about TENNIS.

                        All his life Bjorn Borg (Sverrir Gudnason) wanted to do was be the best Tennis player the world has ever seen but being disciplined without emotions is an odyssey. John McEnroe (Shia LaBeouf) is a talented young star but a bit controversial when it comes to letting his emotions out. Both men different in their own unique style of training, but nearly equal when it comes to tennis. But in the 1980's Wimbledon match what happened on that final duel changed the course of tennis forever.

                        After watching this great movie I got to say that Thursday night, I felt like Kirk Gibson hitting that home run of Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, and when I say I don't believe what I just saw I really don't believe what I just saw, if you catch my drift. Now I honestly don't know a whole lot of tennis movies, so I don't really apologize when I say that this was the best and only good movie about Tennis, that I've personally have witnessed seeing. Director Janus Metz Pedersen does a fantastic job in blending both the accuracy of what went on in Wimbledon with a huge amount of suspense throughout the whole match, and of course I knew who won but it was really the character development moreover seeing a lot of Borg and McEnroe's backstory where I was just lost and completely forgot how it went down, and then when we get to the final match of Wimbledon I was just on the edge of my seat throughout that sequence and to be truthful it was the most well-crafted sequence I've ever seen since watching Miracle. Moreover I love the fact that we get to spend a lot of time with Borg's backstory and get to see how much discipline he was forced upon along with having to control his emotions and the actor Sverrir Gudnason really does a fantastic job playing Borg in such a way of really embodying what the Swedish legend is thinking moreover his ability on the tennis court. Stellan Skarsgard does a great job as well playing Borgs coach and real life tennis player Lennart Bergelin, moreover I thought Skarsgard did a great job playing the mentor/father like figure to Borg's life where even himself went through all the struggles that Borg is going through as a player furthermore really sitting him down and telling him to channel is emotions but to use them in every stroke or back hand when it comes to the game of tennis. Also I thought Gudnason and Skarsgard did a great job in terms of chemistry wise to really show the audience on how much they can't stand one another but deep down they really care and need each other when the game get to difficult to endure. And that's another thing I loved about the film is that the director Pedersen really explores the intensity pure dedication when it comes to being a tennis player, now I myself have never was a big fan when it comes to watching tennis but I got to say this is one of the many sports I have to give respect, for many reasons that it really takes a toll on your body at like a young age especially when you’re trying to achieve greatness and balancing the press and if we all learned from Roger Maris's time with the Yankees that mental health leads to a lot of smoking, just saying. Now the time has come when I finally discuss Shia LaBeouf's performance as John McEnroe, and to truthfully honest I really thought he did a great job embodying the role of McEnroe, for example he at least got his attitude right but all and all I really thought he did a good job in his performance wise, story wise my only complaint is we don't really get to understand why he wanted to play tennis, although we do get to see him at a young age playing tennis I just kind of want to see his whole reasons as to why he chose the sport of Tennis. All things considered, I will stand by my beliefs and say that Borg vs. McEnroe is one of the best Tennis films of all time, even though there's not a whole lot of movies about tennis out there but This film I would rank in the top ten greatest Sports films of all time. So, if you’re looking for a movie to watch I would highly recommend this to all non-Tennis fans, also the film's on Hulu so if you have a subscription the you got a free deal.

                   

March Recommendation: The Insider

 

                       

                          Given the way this year or decade is going in terms of news wise. I've been reminded of a underappreciative film by Michael Mann on what the bad mixture of business and reporting the news moreover why it never in a million years goes well, when it comes to reporting the truth. The movie I'm referring to is the Insider, based on actual events surrounding the Brown & Williamson Tobacco industry with Dr. Jeffery Wigand coming out about the dangers in the Tobacco ingredients. Amazingly this film was actually my first introduction of the names Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, though at the time I wasn't old enough to see this movie, but with cable TV like Dish Network being a thing in the late 90's Dish on Demand previews became my thing. Of course, I watched this movie whole a long time ago, but now with the way I'm viewing news today, I personally, in a sense was inspired by this movie in a way of making this my March Recommendation. For those who haven't seen the Insider the main story behind it really shows a good sense along with choices you have to make when it comes to bringing the truth to life much less having to live with the consequences in the aftermath. 

                         After being fired by B&W, Dr. Jeffery Wigand (Russell Crowe) is later feeling threatened by B&W when they coerce him into signing a more restrictive agreement with the assumption that in worry of Wigand revealing secrets of B&W. CBS producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) is intrigued by Wigand because he believes he has something to say but doesn't want to reveal for many reason's due to trying to provide for his family. Both men go on in epic journey of the pair's jobs both on the line when both corporations including CBS to shut down the story, for reasons that it would bring more trouble along the way.

                         For anyone whose interest in wanting to go into journalism, this is one of the many films I would highly recommend to watch, the other is Good Night and Good Luck but this film I would say explores more aspects of being a newsperson or a living soul of business. And sure you may believe only you can deliver the truth or news worthy stories that need to be told but there'd be times when cooperate will sometime interfere with those kinds of stories or for a better example they'll screw you big time then throw the source who risked everything, next to a bus so he can be left for dead, and I personally think that a movie like this should defiantly be seen by younger generation so they know at least what they'll have to for see, in future's to come. Also, I really believe that this is a kind of film that needs to be seen, in terms of a wakeup call with all that is going on with the capital riots and the so-called rigged voting. Now all that said and done, film wise this is without a doubt one of the best movies about journalism, along with Good Night and Good luck, but what makes this film amazing is that you have great and powerful performances from Al Pacino, an up and coming talent out of Russell Crowe moreover the late great Christopher Plummer, and sure Plummer does a fantastic job playing Mike Wallace but both Al Pacino and Russell Crowe really steal the stoplight in this film, I always looked at both performances as Russell Crowe being the true hero in this film and Pacino being the lone hero who does whatever it takes to bring the story to light. Crowe does a grand job playing a man whose afraid to do the right thing despite the fact that this might destroy his own family moreover his ability to provide for them, but he still continues to go on the record because he believes it’s the right thing to do. And so, Crowe really does a great job portraying that fear and intensity throughout the entire film and personally this was in a sense the role that made him for a lifetime to be honest. Pacino on the other hand I have to rank this movie in one of his top five best performances on film, though I only look at it in ways of him not over doing it or going nuts, and keep in mind there's a lot of his performances where he's really over doing it, in terms of method acting but this is one of the many films where he does a great job helping being the one true supporter in Crowe's character also fighting his own battles with cooperate  with bringing the truth to light even if it means betraying everything he stands for as a journalist. The late great Christopher Plummer does a great job portraying Wallace throughout the film and he does it in the best way possible especially in scenes where he stands alone standing up to cooperate in one scene where they cut most of his interview. Now for the architect of the Insider, director Michael Mann. Mann is most known for his film Heat but this film alone I do say does a great job in bringing a story that was based on true events several years prior to the film’s release but also make it, in the most realistic but dramatize the film, in a good way that you'll root for both men at the end of the film. I haven't seen a whole lot of Mann's film but if I had to make a list of his best films it would defiantly be Heat, The Insider and possibly Collateral deepens because I haven't seen Collateral in a while. Yes, this film isn't really a St. Patrick's Day type movie to recommend in March, though let's be honest it’s hard to recommend great Irish film, but the bottom line is that this is a standalone film I believe needs to be seen, due to the insanity that has happened the past few months, so if you’re a fan of the news or love to blog about how fake the news is. Or you want to study journalism when you grow up then I would highly recommend sitting down and watching the Insider.

             

Solar Opposites

 

                     I'm a huge fan of Rick and Morty furthermore hearing about Justin Roiland's latest show on Hulu, I admit, I really wasn't quite sure on what to think of this show but after watching the first season I have to say that this was great entertainment moreover I think this is one of the many shows to get me through this insane asylum I call the pandemic. Now keep in mind this show is insanely dark, and I'm not afraid to admit that this is really my kind of humor along with shows like Rick and Morty, South Park and the Simpsons although I will say the Simpsons is a more dry sense of humor. But listen, I was forced in my own free will to be staying in doors to avoid people, our American Government took my sports away from me so in retrospect I shouldn't be judged when it comes to my sense of humor. So, let's talk about Solar Opposites.

                    The show centers around a group of aliens from outer space, after their planet was destroyed, they set a course for which leads them to earth. Although they decide to adopt earth as their home, doesn't stop them from being the sole problem and causing way too much chaos on the Earth.

                     Justin Roiland one of the creators of Rick and Morty is actually both a writer, an animator moreover a voice actor as well, for which explains it due to his way of providing voice for both the main characters in Rick and Morty furthermore when I heard that I said to myself that this guy is a genius if he's able to talk to himself a lot. Also, the guy attended a Junior College, so I must give that man great credit because I also attended a Junior College as well but of a different State/Town. What I like most of Roiland's comedic work is that he's more of a rambling dark sense of humor that's really doesn't make sense at all, but yet it feels funny because deep down I kind of say some of the same nonsense that really doesn't make sense either so, either way it’s nice to see a show that has your own taste in comedy. Bottom line what really makes this show amazing is that both Roiland and his co-creator Mike McMahan is that they use story elements from the past sitcoms furthermore actually admit the fact that everyone on earth doesn't really care of the fact that aliens are living amongst us which leads them throwing away all logic and doing whatever they want when it comes to storytelling. So, all jokes a side, if you’re a fan of Rick and Morty like I am then this is a show for you without a doubt, if you haven't seen Rick and Morty or Solar Opposites than I highly recommend this show for you though keep in mind that this is a dark show so be aware of what goes on in the show, but on the positive note I actually got my Dad into watching one episode of Rick and Morty so hopefully this will be a show for him as well, fingers crossed.

     

Star Wars: Squadrons

 

                              Finally got a chance to play a game of my choice. Since we're still not able to purchase a Playstation 5 for which makes me mad still. Although Star Wars games are always my go to game of choice and since we get to fly in any New Republic starfighter or Imperial fighter as well, I just must play Star Wars Squadrons and talk about it. During my entire childhood it was mostly consisting on Star Wars since the Star Wars Prequals were ruling the theaters via 1999-2005, and I personally know my mom wouldn't let me play games like God of War or Grand Theft Auto III at the time I figured I spend more time and play anything Star Wars. Even Though I still to this day have some great gaming memories from my Playstation 2 years (for which I still do ever since I bought a PS2 wireless controller for my ps2) with games like Star Wars Bounty Hunter and Star Wars Battlefront and its sequel. But I don't know what else can make you cry with tears of joy than flying your own starfighter. Although flying the Millennium Falcon would be nice but I think Battlefront 2 on the PS4 already accomplished that dream so, yeah, I got nothing as of right now so let’s talk about Squadrons.

                            Star Wars Squadrons takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi, for which follows two groups of Squadrons, Vanguard Squadron of the New Republic, and Titan Squadron of the Empire. Each of the squadron has their personal goals moreover their personal vendetta's. Although with the Galaxy on the line only one can be left standing.

                            I must admit, I was a bit uncertain on what I was going to think about playing this since its basically first person-flight simulator. But with the easy mode I have to say I had a blast playing the game from start to finish. And nag all you want I want to at least enjoy playing a video game and, I have a life of my own furthermore I get frustrated when I die every hour on the hour. So deep down if you play on hard mode, I won't judge you on how you play your game. Unlike past Star Wars games that had the flight levels especially the Star Wars Battlefront 2 games both on PS2 and PS4 versions they both are enjoyable and really fun to play, but what really makes Squadrons fun to play is that it makes you feel that you’re the cockpit of a X-Wing fighter or a Tie fighter moreover helps you get comfortable with the control panels furthermore how to take down your enemy, now I usually don't want to call favorites but really hands down I do love flying the X-Wing and TIE's for many reason's the controls panels are simple and really I'm not much for help I like to at least do stuff on my own when it comes to getting my own ship back to health the way it needs to be. The story line is okay I personally didn't think it was all great since we're creating stories during the New Republic era, I figure at least there doing something from scratch. A side from the story line I kind of wished we at least have more personality with your own character, even in the cut scenes when your just talking to your squadron and they're just sharing their point of view but yet you don't get to say anything in return, that's kind of the thing that bothers me a bit when it comes to first person shooters your character is always the silent type. All and all, I thought this was a fun Star Wars game from start to finish furthermore up there in the top four PS4 Star Wars games of all time along with Fallen Jedi Order and Battlefront 2. So, if your one of us that still doesn't have a PS5 thanks to your own government screwing up the world at least Star Wars Squadrons will keep you entertained in hopes till July or December. 

      

Locke

 

                    Having a hard time looking for a movie to watch don't want to watch another film noir type movie, don't want to reveal my March recommendation yet. So, looking through my Blu-Ray collection I try to find movies I haven't seen in quite a long time and then as luck turned out the winner in that search was no other than the movie Locke. And the best way to describe Locke is this, think of it as a one-man theatre but with the supporting cast of characters as phone calls while going on a journey in which there is no turning back. Starting the ever-talented Tom Hardy whose shows he can do everything especially when it comes to driving in a car all night moreover talking to himself.

                    Ivan Locke's (Tom Hardy) life unravels after he leaves a construction site at a critical time and drives to London to be present for the birth of a child conceived after a one-night stand.

                    First time watching the movie I wasn't at all sure what to think about it but now watching it again I have to say that this was a well-crafted way to make a movie, if your ever trying to make a movie on a tight nit budget this would be a movie to watch for inspiration. It makes sense of the fact that the film is written and directed by a man like Steven Knight whose most famous for creating Peaky Blinders and the British version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which really should be called Who Wants to Half Ass on the last two questions of a Millionaire Show but that title is way too long. Knight does a really good job in thinking more of a playwright and directing the film if it was his own personal one act play with only one person to carry the film, with a rare amount of actors in support of the one actor in the center of the story. It was a wise choice to acquire Tom Hardy in the solo role, he is without a doubt the most talented actor I've ever seen in movies, and I don't care what people think he was awesome as Bane in the Dark Knight Rises so SUCK IT. Speaking of superhero's Tom Holland aka Spider-Man makes a voice appearance in this movie as well I mean sure this film was made in 2013 but when I found out I was like WHAT? No way sees that right there is getting a start on good work. Now I know hands down that this isn't a movie for everyone, I can honestly tell that I wouldn't be able to recommend this film to anyone of my friends or family but if your wanting to get into film with the grasp of wanting to direct or write movie's for a living then I would highly recommend this film for inspiration, as a way of trying to find a story in your mind of making it work for budgetary reasons.