May Recommendation: The Negotiator

 

                                    Well, it's the month of May and we're officially in the month of blockbuster movies, and this latest recommendation is somewhat of a reminder that late nineties movies where again the best time to go to the movies, as I've proved a year ago and The Negotiator was strangely a movie that first introduced me to legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson, and this was going back to when we had satellite cable TV and we've always had this channel where they always had shown previews of movies that came out and The Negotiator was always on all the time and this one actor that always came up for which was Samuel L. Jackson, and granted this has been a long time since I've watched the movie but finding it on Netflix I was like well dang I have to watch it since it's been quite a long time since I've seen it, and without a doubt a movie worthy of a monthly recommendation it's defiantly up there in one of the best cop movies of all time.

                                    Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal Affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Keven Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.

                                     After watching the film twice in case I missed anything moreover looking at where it ranks in the best Cop movies ever made, I was shocked to find that this amazing well-crafted movie is not ranked in any of the best cop movies from IMBD to Looper-Endless Entertainment, that is just something I cannot accept especially when humanity is a mistake, I mean how the hell is this not praised by any film buffs out there? You have two of the best actors of our generation (yes, I'm mentioning Kevin Spacey because I'm only praising his career from his early years to right after Baby Driver was released, since he's now fallen from grace) a great and unique story, so again I don't understand why this movie has been forgotten by everyone. Well, of course I guess I must be the only one to say that this was defiantly one of the best cop movies I've ever seen in a long, long time. For a billion reasons, this was defiantly one of these films that I've never seen like in terms of taking the movie seriously, as a result of this was one of the first times you ever, where you feel for the  protagonist from thirty minutes into the movie to the end of the movie, also when I began to see all of Jacksons friends turn against him I really felt for the guy especially when it comes to betrayal moreover having to take the law into his own hands by taking people hostage. What I like most about the movie is that it focuses more on hostage negotiators for which we've never got to understand how they work or how they operate, especially when they're rare few times a hostage situation happens. An interesting note I found out of the film was that the film was originally written to star Sylvester Stallone in the title role, and I wouldn't believe in a million years that would ever work for this film’s success and don't get me wrong Stallone will always be Rocky to me but I wouldn't take this movie seriously if Stallone was the Negotiator, so it was a wise choice to cast Samuel L. Jackson in the title role because he's exceptionally good when it comes to showing his emotions from being scared to angry at the same time and really after watching this movie I have to say that he's defiantly up there in the one of the top ten greatest actors of all time, and the same goes to Kevin Spacey by reason of he can do a great job play both a protagonist in one movie and makes a great movie villain in the next moreover the nineties were good for spacey because if you look at his filmography from 1990 to 1999 he made hit after hit when it came to movies. The film was largely based on a pension fund scandal in the St. Louis Police Department in the late 1980's and early 1990's, which really doesn't surprise me much but is fascinating when you think about it. Of course Sam Jackson and Kevin Spacey made this film work, but the supporting cast helped out as well a great example was the late J.T. Walsh who plays the Internal Affairs who accuses Jackson's character, furthermore does a great job being a smug a-hole who you just want to punch in the face because all Internal Affairs officers when it comes to movies are always the douche bags who never get fresh air because their always in the offices investigating cops. Another great actor in the supporting realm that needs to be praised was Ron Rifkin who was also in my December Recommendation of L.A. Confidential and who portrays a cop that you'd think would be Jackson's alley but through the course of the movie shows that nothing is what it seems, and he does a great job at that. The movie has a surprise guest star for which I was kind of surprised Dean Norris who’s known for Hank in Breaking Bad plays one of the SWAT officers for which I thought was cool even though this was made in 98. This is a great Cop movie from start to finish and has been forgotten for a long time, and thanks to Netflix I'm now bringing this movie out into the light because this was one of the best Cop movies I've seen in a while moreover way better than The Departed, and as for all of you that have or don't have a Netflix account I would highly recommend watching this movie, with its great acting chops of Jackson and Spacey as well as a tremendously well-crafted whodunit story. Also, how can you not watch a movie that has Samuel L. Jackson? 

        

See How They Run

 

                                   One of those movie nights where I'm hanging around with my mom and dad, they were wanting to watch a movie, and this was one of those rare few times I had to find a movie real quick because they would want to watch something they've probably seen and I really don't feel like it. So, See How They Run came up and I said let's watch this. This was defiantly one of those films that I've heard about via watching the trailer on YouTube, and I thought it was intriguing and so why not give this movie a look at, though my parents where asking me if I'd knew what happens in the end and I'd never told them but this one of the rare few times I was actually telling the truth, because it was my first time watching it.

                                   In 1950's London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. When a world-weary inspector (Sam Rockwell) and an eager rookie constable (Saoirse Ronan) take on the case, they find themselves thrown into a puzzling whodunit within the glamorously sordid world of underground theater, investigating the mysterious homicide at their own peril.

                                   This was no doubt an interesting film from start to finish though this was one of those movies I just felt like this could have been done better and it's one of these things where they provide some interesting, good ideas, but then it just felt like they kind of half a**. Really the core of the movie was Sam Rockwell's performance in the movie, he does a great job playing a down on his luck detective who’s a drunk and must put up with a rookie detective who at times gets on his nerves which I strangely can relate too in all kinds of ways. Ronan on the other hand I kind of felt annoyed by her, mainly yes, she plays a rookie cop lacks experience but there is such a thing of chewing a person’s ass out when it comes to pushing your buttons. I do like the whole chemistry between Adrian Brody and David Oyelowo who each of them play the screenwriter and director of the adaption to Agatha Christie's Mousetrap and each of them argue about how the movie should be made, for which is a great representation I view as each men wanting to make a movie but have different point of views which I liked seeing in the film, though the problem I have was that Brody's story board sequence foreshadowed how the movie ends which is like WTF? Like why they would do such a thing, I mean when it comes to making a movie on a murder mystery you should never give away details. Either way the movie to me was a decent watch from start to finish, I liked the performance from Rockwell, and there were a lot of interesting things they did in terms of a whodunit story, but there were other things I look at and just see that they could of dun a better job or worked on it more. Decent film had no objections of not wanting to see it, I'd recommend it for anyone to watch it and if you love the movie moreover have a different point of view, when it comes to the movie, I won't hold anything against you.

       

A Harold Ramis Double Feature

 

                                   So, this will probably be one of those nights that I will never forget, nor will I ever get the hours back no matter the run time. Now, Harold Ramis the most famous comedic writer behind such great classics such as Caddyshack, Stripes and Ghostbusters, has done such great work over the years along with such memorable performances like Egon Spengler. For which leads to the events of Vacation and no not the one with Ed Helms that movie doesn't count, I'm talking about the original Vacation film starring Chevy Chase as probably one of the dumbest men on the planet moreover never understood why Beverly D'Angelo should of just left him or pushed into traffic. Alright, getting back to the point I realized that I haven't seen this movie or may have seen bits and pieces and deep down I realize how much I hate the Vacation movie franchise after watching Vacation hell I began to understand why I will never watch Christmas Vacation ever again.

                                   Basically the movie is about a man who is a stubborn jack** played by Chevy Chase decides not the logical idea to take an airplane all the way to a fictionalized Disneyland, he decides to drive in entire family from Chicago all the way to California, which is like why can't you just take a plane for many reasons it's the early 80's so Airplane tickets are really cheap to purchase instead of today's ticket prices and let's be honest you know the rest.

                                    I'm sure everyone loves these movies, and I am not going to judge them for loving these movies, but this movie alone it really wasn't anything to do with Harold Ramis direction or anything against the cast, it was more to do with the story itself moreover the film itself just brought back terrible memories growing up, I mean it the young Russell felt like me. I mean the entire film just felt like life was sucking the life out of me, I mean in fairness I never remember my childhood in some degree I do remember taking family trips that where not the best of times. But this movie alone while watching it I was like "oh dear God", I began to have flash backs of the many vacations I had over the years that where not in the best of things. The movie itself was created by John Hughes who also written the first two Home Alone films for which I loved growing up furthermore Vacation itself was based on a short story by Hughes himself for which I guess was based on his experience and he transitioned into this movie. Now, look I understand that everyone loves Vacation and Christmas Vacation, but me I just can't watch these two movies ever again because as a grown man who is thirty-six years old and begins to remember really bad memories of not so great vacations and really I can never in a million years watch these movies ever, and after watching Vacation I couldn't sleep at all like the anxiety just kicked my ass so much that I couldn't even breath for which lead to another movie that Harold co-written and directed that helped me breath easily and went to sleep easily as well.

      

                  

                           Oh, hey look everyone I decided to watch Caddyshack after Vacation, what a coincidence huh? So, again right after watching a horrible nightmare that was Vacation, I had such a bad anxiety attack, it was probably around maybe 3:30 in the morning and I honesty couldn't sleep at all so in what probably the best decisions I've ever made, I decided to watch Caddyshack. Harold Ramis first movie moreover a beginning to a beautiful friendship between Ramis and up and coming comedic star Bill Murray. The funning thing about this movie is that even though Chevy Chase was in the movie, this was probably the best and only good comedic performance I can watch of him for many reasons that he plays a Zen-womanizing golfer who just doesn't give a s**t is great to watch plus playing a role model to Michael O'Keefe's Danny Noonan. Now, I'll admit I'm not a fan of Rodney Dangerfield but like Chevy Chase this is the one film I'd rather watch him in and not anything else that he was in. So, anyway let's dive right into a movie that helped me get a good night's sleep despite my bedtime becoming around 5:30-ish in the morning.

                                                          Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe), a teen down on his luck, works as a caddy at the snob infested Bushwood Country Club to raise money for his college education. To gain votes for a college scholarship reserved for caddies, Noonan volunteers to caddy for a prominent and influential club member (Ted Knight). Meanwhile, Danny struggles to prepare for the high-pressure Caddy Day golf tournament while absorbing New Age advice from wealthy golf guru Ty Webb (Chevy Chase).   

                                                          The interesting fact about the movie is that originally the movie was supposed to be about the Caddy's in the suburban golf course, but then they acquired all of these big-time actors the whole story about the caddy's they decided to take all the time and effort to focus on the actors like Chevy Chase and Bill Murray. Though in truth, the movie is really about just one Caddy which is Michael O'Keefe's character for which is really about him from the first act to the final act, and though you may not believe that it's really true though there so many stuff that they changed but deep down it's really about Danny Noonan and his quest to find out what he wants to do or what to find in life. In fact they in one of the original scripts the ending was that Danny won the big bucks and went off into college but comes across a pretty lady and goes with her while carrying her golf clubs, and granted I would of liked that ending but deep down when you watch the movie's ending you can tell by heart that he was defiantly going to college after winning the big bucks from Ted Knight's character. The difference when it comes to comedy, between Vacation and Caddyshack was when watching Vacation sure you as a viewer can laugh at the slapstick comedy when you’re a teenager or god knows still laughing at it when you’re as old as me, but the thing about it is when I watched it maybe as an immature teen sure I can laugh at it but once you get older and experience life then re watching it feels like your reliving a complete nightmare and watching Vacation at my age really felt like that moreover I'm close to realizing that I won't ever watch Christmas Vacation nor the first two Home Alone movies because really deep down I love my family but there were sometimes I wanted to kill them, and watching movies like Vacation I can't do anymore. Though with it comes to Caddyshack I'm a working man, I was raised in the working class though deep down I do have dreams but in all honesty I will always be working class, anyway movie on Caddyshack is really the working class putting up with the snob fest which is the upper class, and you really in a grand sense relate to that because we've all had one of those jobs where we've got to put of with those a-holes who think the world revolves around them and to be honest that's funny furthermore makes me feel good inside and that you're not the only one in the whole world that doesn't have to put up with that. With this movie, it's probably the only Chevy Chase movie I can watch because his unique way of not giving a s**t or his infamous one liners are just perfect to watch, but when it comes his performance in Vacation I just look at him as one of the most stupidest man alive, moreover if I was Russell I would jump out of the back and begin strangling him for how stupid he can be, especially with his decision making. Though let’s face it Bill Murray is way better at comedy than Chase because he had a long movie run as Chase had so who cares. I have to say, yes Rodney Dangerfield has some pretty good one liners, but watching him on screen I don't know whether he's a normal guy or a bunch of scientist were able to draw this bombastic cartoon and brought him out of the pages and that was Rodney Dangerfield, for which I'm thinking that's really what happen because I don't know how he was able to have a carry on in the film world. So, that was my night of pure madness honestly I'm pretty confident I learned a valuable lesson, never watch any John Hughes work, as I've said before this wasn't Ramis fault for directing Vacation in my point of view I just think that any of Hughes work which includes dysfunctional family comedy is never my cup of tea moreover never re-watch movies or shows that give you bad memories to relive it's just not worth it. 

    

                                  

Mother's Day Recommendation: The Illusionist

 

                                     This Mother's Day I decided to do something a little different. My Aunt who lives in Florida furthermore was an avid reader of mine suggested one of her favorite movies that she likes, called The Illusionist. Staring Edward Norton as a Keyser Soze type character with a blend of both sorcerers? Paul Giamatti as detective Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel as what maybe her best performance in her entire film career for which doesn't add up because I looked at her past films after The Illusionist and they, well let's just say they didn't pass expectations for my taste but let's be honest she's still married to Justin Timberlake so on the bright side she's still believe in commitment and if not that that's her damn fault. I've remember watching the Illusionist a long time back for many reasons it's been one of my sister's favorites but to be truthful at that time this film was more like a love story and didn't think much of it back then mainly Christopher Nolan was rocking the theaters with his latest movie The Prestige another film about magic. But don't worry everyone well get to that later, right now let's dive right into if Edward Norton can summon his imaginary friend Brad Pitt. 

                                     In 1900's Vienna, mesmeric entertainer Eisenheim's (Edward Norton) magical abilities are wowing crowds, with an act that ranges from mere tricks to an apparent capacity to raise the dead. However, he has also long been in love with Douches Sophie Von Teschen (Jessica Biel), which puts him in a dangerous competition with the violent, scheming Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), who jumps at the opportunity to have the magician arrested on grounds of necromancy. 

                                     It's kind of strange that there was a competition between this movie and The Prestige in terms of which was the best film about magicians, and even though I've watched the Illusionist I still have to go with The Prestige as the best one for many reasons of course it was a Christopher Nolan film but the ending towards the film was what made the movie amazing on the grounds that it was a perfect twist that I never saw coming a mile away when it comes to watching The Prestige. Now, that doesn't mean that I still enjoy the Illusionist for many reasons it still holds up when it comes to great acting a decent storyline and a perfect antagonist in Rufus Sewell. I defiantly declare, Edward Norton is up there in the top ten best American actors especially when it comes to a movie like this he really does a great job playing a charismatic magician who's both a kind an decent person, then through the course of the movie becomes like this Chris Angel like magician doesn't really present his tricks or being a presenter he just brings people back from the dead and just call it good, either way Norton is defiantly a reliable actor who can pull of a starring role moreover does a great German/Hungarian accent and the same goes with Paul Giamatti although I'm not much of a big fan of his he does a good job in the supporting role moreover playing a kiss ass to Sewell's character, I'm not lying when I say that Jessica Biel's best movie was the Illusionist, and deep down it really is true moreover sure there are a lot of those actors/actresses like Biel who have like this one good movie under their belt and a boat load of other crap that they either where in or starred in or was most famous for aka 7th Heaven, in which they use that to get other work because they don't realize how expensive California is, nor do they want to improve on their acting skills, but deep down that just sounds lazy if that's the honest assumption I can muster moreover pretty sad if you ask me. But what do I know because let's be honest, she's married to the most famous N'SYNC singer of all time Justin Timberlake, so now she's provided at least and even if Jess and Timberlake get a divorce that's really on her unless Timberlake makes terrible choices. Rufus Sewell who plays the Crown Prince does a fantastic job playing the typical antagonist to Norton's character and even looking at Sewell's filmography he has the most interesting in terms of the early nineties playing the supportive/good guy in movies let’s not forget my favorite film of his Dark City, but through the 2000's era he transitioned to playing the antagonist with films like A Knights Tale and The Illusionist, moreover the man's from England and they make great memorable bad guys. The direction that Neil Bruger does in the movie is really fantastic in terms of visuals but also scenery too it's almost as if he was trying to create a homage to some of the early 1910's silent films along with some simple transitions as well as some quick edit tricks they would do in the silent film age, furthermore a lot of some of the tricks that Norton performs is strangely interesting and complex in which you don't know how he really does it but in all fairness it's also a fantasy story so we can at least point that out into perspective. I don't think it's better than the Prestige, but it doesn't mean I fully appreciate it and respect the movie for being as great of a movie to watch especially since it's been a while since I've sat down and watched the Illusionist. For a movie alone, I can understand why my aunt would dig this movie too, it has both romance with a kiss of cliché story about a poor kid who falls in love with a rich girl and society tells them they can't be together, for which really is good to have because when you blend both a magic tricks and stage performing you do great wonders along the way. I would highly recommend watching this from start to finish, and hopefully every mother who hasn't seen this might check this movie out and watch it as well.

       

Doomsday

 

                                     There are times I feel like that I've seen things in movies that you people wouldn't believe, like a cringe erotic Twilight film, I've seen Ryan Gosling in a movie where he had a virtual reality girlfriend though the funny thing is he had a life-sized plastic woman for a girlfriend too. Hello, I watched ten minutes of A Million Ways to die in the West before I decided to leave because I couldn't take it anymore moreover it was a Seth McFarlane movie. I even went to an Adam Sandler movie twice for which made reach the conclusion of how much that man is the Devil in disguise. But just when I thought I've seen everything when it comes to watching movies, Doomsday comes around and I seriously don't understand what this film’s purpose is. Doomsday is a movie that was directed by Neil Marshall, who directed a film I actually liked of his, sure as hell not this one if that's what your referring too, but having seen other works of his plus the conception of this movie just made me realize that this film was not just bad, but this was like watching a train wreck and a guy who has a fixation of train crashes is strangely turned on by this and that's the disturbing factor of this movie.

                                     When the first outbreak of the Reaper virus hit Scotland, Eden Sinclair was one of the last to escape containment and had to leave her mother behind. Twenty-five years later, Maj. Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mirta) leads a team back into the hot zone to find a counteragent to the virus, which has re-emerged in London. She and her comrades wage a desperate battle for survival against feral survivors, as they try to prevent it from ushering in a new dark age.

                                      Strangely enough I remember seeing the trailer for the first time when it came out didn't think much of it, because to me it looked that the end of the world apocalypse but instead of the virus turning you into zombies you are transformed into a sort of punk rocker. Either way it looks like a rip off to all movies like Underworld or Resident Evil, just about any movie that consist of leather outfits. And yet while watching the film I honestly didn't think much of it other than the fact that the whole zombie virus felt left out in this story, but again when the movie went forward I was expecting the crazy Mad Max lunatics coming it was just a matter of when, so at the same time when they ambush Rhona Mirta's crew she's taken captive along with her doctor but they decide to do this sacrificial BBQ where we see the movie poster chick with the crazy tattoo on her face and flaunting her tongue out, almost as if she looks like she could lick a lot of WAP, then after they burn the good doctor they decide to eat him up moreover gave a sample of him to Mirta's character, although I didn't peg the Mad Max people to be cannibals though I guess that was an understatement moreover the scenes where they just carve into the guy is sort of disgusting but also bewildering too. Though a side from the many references to Mad Max films, what really caused my brain to have a mental breakdown then cause a huge seizure inside my brain, was when they escaped and out of NO WHERE mid evil knights from the 12th century Scotland appeared for which I said, "oh what the f**k?" I mean that was so much to handle I had to shut the damn movie off and go to bed, though let's be honest s**t like this always causes me not to go to sleep easy, but through the course of me trying to go to sleep I had to research this movie to get some answers because 12th century knights in a post-apocalyptic movie is just beyond my understanding. And with the thanks of Wikipedia, I was able to find answers that explain why this such a f**king train wreck. You know when most directors want to make a movie as sort of a tribute to movies from the past? Great example George Lucas using past adventure/science fiction movie serials from the early 30's and 40's to create Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, well Neil Marshall didn't just use Mad Max as an inspiration, he used past end of the world genre's from every film upon the 70's and 80's combined I'll list you off the films starting with the first three Mad Max films, Escape from New York, then Excalibur for which explains the 12th century Scottish knights. Then other films I don't understand why, firstly The Warriors all because of a Baseball gang so he had to incorporate that, Waterworld, Gladiator and Children of Men. So, now that you've understand how many films Marshall crammed into this on headache of a movie, I have to say that it's the most dumbest thing to ever do as a writer and director, I mean you can't just combine so many films you love into one movie you have to at least use at least two or three at least and sure I can see the fact that Scotland has very little in terms of cities but with more mountains combined although I could be wrong, furthermore I could see the Mad Max and Excalibur movie but as a movie whole that just doesn't seem right especially when it has nothing to do with the virus or any zombies that where hardly in the film. So, anyway by the near end of the film Mitra's character decides to expose the politics of Great Britain and decides to go back to Glasgow, Scotland where all the Mad Max cannibals are she decides to become the new leader and that's the end of the movie, which really I don't think I would ever in a million years would turn to eating people mainly because once you've seen what you've ate or looking at your dinner in the eye you just lost you sense of humanity, also I never want to see the animals I eat, for which is another reason I refuse to be a hunter although there other reasons but I don't want to go any further. Doomsday is probably up there in top five worst movies I've ever seen probably up there with Sucker Punch, Don't Worry Darling and Southland Tales including this movie, the only time I would ever want to watch this movie is probably with a group of people who haven't seen this monstrosity, now having seen this movie I wish to never ever in a million years see this movie again, because I hate this movie so much, the story's horrible moreover the gore is unnecessary disgusting, like if Eli Roth's half-brother made a movie this would be it.  

      

                                                       

I, Robot

 

                                Like the Truman Show I, Robot was another one of those films that I haven't seen in quite a long time and maybe should have reviewed it sooner before Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. Though what I remember most about I, Robot was that the film was basically a robot takeover, with a lot of pretty good visual effects and Shia LaBeouf getting out of Disney furthermore breaking into films. Though either way all those Robots in the film have one thing in common with Chris Rock and that's they all didn't keep WILL SMITH'S WIFE'S NAME OUT OF THEIR DAMN MOOOUTH! Yeah, that's right I said it, we have nine more years to make fun of Will Smith so we’re going to make every year count.

                                In 2035, highly intelligent robots fill public service positions throughout the world, operating under three rules to keep humans safe. Despite his dark history with robotics, Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) investigates the alleged suicide of U.S. Robotics founder Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell) and believes that a human-like robot (Alan Tudyk) murdered him. With the help of a robot expert (Bridget Moynahan), Spooner discovers a conspiracy that may enslave humanity.

                                All jokes a side this was hands down one of Will Smith's best movies up there with Ali and really it's one of those films that blends both the action sequences he can do and more importantly the acting he portrays on film, and what he does great in the movie is playing the outcast cop who has no trust towards machines or robots all because of a dark past he has endured and really you relate to the guy a lot because I would imagine how hard it would be to not have a lot of people close to you believe you nor having faith in you, and as a performance wise you really feel for the guy, a side from the brutality on Robots but that's a whole other story. I totally forgot that Alan Tudyk plays the man android Sonny, and I have to say that Tudyk is a great character actor when it comes to movies, I mean this is the second movie I've seen him in and ability of being able to play a racist piece of s**t in 42, to a sympathetic robot is pretty amazing and this is a guy who doesn't receive a lot of credit as in actor and to be honest I truly believe he needs a lot of credit as an actor because he a great talent to have especially when it comes to movies like this. What makes this movie great is that it's simple murder mystery of a who done it perspective and in fact the story itself was inspired by an Agatha Christie novel, moreover you have a great director out of Alex Proyas whose most famous for films like The Crow and Dark City and does a fantastic job of blending a great action film along with a story that gets you to think on where we will all be when it comes to emotions lurking in robots or cyborgs or computers as well. The movie itself is an entertaining movie from start to finish although it does get boring the first thirty minutes but still was entertaining to watch from start to finish. There's defiantly a deadline for the movie being on Amazon Prime, I'm not sure if there's a deadline on Hulu but either way it's still on there so I would highly recommend watching the film itself. But while you’re watching the film please be sure to keep Smith’s wife name out YOUR DAMN MOUTH.

     

Crank 2: High Voltage

 

                                          Sometimes when it comes to watching movies, you just need a good jumpstart. Well, thank God I decided to sit down and watch the sequel to the dumbest but entertaining movie ever. Crank 2 High Voltage is a movie that I have absolutely no idea why we needed in the first place, moreover, been thinking about that ever since I've seen the trailer. And yet they continued to make a sequel but deep down it didn't surpass a third installment, mainly it's because the producers we're probably reading the first draft of Crank 3 and just decided to shut it down after reading the first three pages, though I'm just assuming that it might be a possibility. Though I guess some mysteries are best left unsolved.

                                          After surviving an incredible plunge to near-certain death, Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is abducted by Chinese mobsters. Waking up three months later, Chev finds that his heart nearly indestructible heart has been replaced with a battery-operated device that requires regular jolts of electricity or it will fail. Chev escapes from his captors, reunites with his lover Eve (Amy Smart), and sets out on a frantic chase through Los Angeles to get his real heart back.

                                           I will say this about the Crank films yes there extremely dumb on so many levels moreover yes, the story and direction doesn't make sense at all but, damnit when you’re in bit of a slump of watching movies or TV shows, both Crank movies are the best way to give you a jumpstart on life. Granted I never expected these movies to be excellent, in fact I don't think that anyone should expect these films to be great. And in all honesty when it comes to having everyday life of working putting up with stupid people mostly having to put up with so much crap in your average everyday life I truly believe movies like this that are so unexpected that you'd never quite expect it just refreshes the soul that's really the best way I can describe mindless action films like Crank 2, is that whenever you feel tired or not wanting to do anything, movies like this are a good reason to watch and I'm sure a lot of people have ways to turn their own brains off, like most women crave for lame drama series or guys watch any kind of sporting event furthermore we all have those type of things that we can all turn our brains off too, and really movies like Crank and its sequel have that unexpected and hilariousness you can't stop but enjoy. Now with this movie, I will not lie that this movie has some unexpected moments that even I couldn't believe moreover I learned my lesson from the first movie was to just sit down and watch the whole movie through, but deep down this movie wasn't up to par with this original mainly because this is just a same situation Chev is in with a different agenda to survive on, basically the same movie but with a new upgrade towards the insanity that he goes on, for which when I watched the trailer to High Voltage I wasn't quite sure on why they would want another movie because you can't be better than your predecessor, you just can't. Though in the end the movie is what it is along with some crazy moments for which still makes it fun and great to watch because it's unintentionally funny and that's basically what these Crank movies are about, moreover doubt they were ever trying to take themselves serious so deep down when you watch There will be Blood you're more interested in Daniel Day Lewis beating up Paul Dano then watching the movie for the first time, until you watch it again and understand it. As a movie in a nutshell, it's still amazing and crazy to watch at the same time, both movies combined. So, if you’re into bat-s**t crazy movies like Crank and High Voltage I would highly recommend watching them, though I would take your time and just watch one each, and don't forget this does have fake fire so if you’re not into lame fake fire I don't know what makes you entertained.

  

                                               

Major League: Back to the Minors

 

                                   So, it's like this binged so much on the Chosen finding my April Recommendation, basically trying to find something that's 90 minutes that I can somewhat ignore while working out. Apparently, Major League: Back to the Minors came on my radar while browsing on YouTube and the good news was that it was FREE to watch, I mean bad/mediocre movie from the late nineties trying to be a blend of both Major League and Bull Durham and it's free, hell I'm all in specially when it's free on YouTube. Moreover, if you have an account on YouTube you can defiantly find some great hidden gems on YouTube. I will say that this movie was without a doubt mediocre on so many levels but, and you may think I'm crazy when I say this, but this was much better than the sequel Major League 2.

                                   Minor league pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula) is about to be put out to pasture when he's given an opportunity to do the next best thing: manage the South Carolina Buzz. The ailing baseball team is full of terrible players, but owner Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) is banking on Cantrell to make a top-notch franchise out of them. While trying to work miracles on the wacky lineups, Cantrell butts’ heads with the uppity manager of the Minnesota Twins, resolving their conflict on the field. 

                                   I actually remember this movie a long time ago and really what brings my memory back is the douche bag Twins manager played by Ted McGinley, who was also in Married with Children for which I was surprised by that, though with his performance you can turn away or overlook his performance because deep down his performance is like nails on the chalk board when it comes to playing the over the top antagonist. Which is weird cause he should have been an excellent accomplice for Rachel Phelps in the Major League universe, although that's obviously never going to happen. Granted this movie has been on my radar to watch for quite some time I just never had the intention nor want to really want to re-watch it, I mean Bob Uecker said it best during a Brewers Broadcast if his partner watched the film, he replied no then Uecker said "Well don't. That movie was so bad that it opened in airplanes the week we finished it." Which is weird because I believe that's when I saw bits of the movie which was on an airport during a plane wait. Really what saves the movie, and why I think of this as a better movie than Major League 2 was that this wasn't repeating itself like Major League 2 was trying to do because in all honesty the sequel came out in 94 and so there huge gaps between the first movie and its sequel that there's really no need to make a straight forward sequel and what Back to the Minors provides is a decent story between the manager and up and coming ballplayer both played by Scott Bakula and a real young Walter Goggins furthermore the writers do a decent good job in portraying this relationship as a annoyed of each other but really need and respect one another in the end. I have to say the ability to shoot the film at the old Twins ballpark was pretty cool because the Hubert H. Humphrey Metro-dome is such an iconic ballpark second only to the Astrodome and the fact that they were able to shoot the first challenge moreover seeing a wide shot of the ballpark is awesome furthermore brings back memories growing up, even though I never seen it up close I've always remembered the movies about the Twins. Though sure I could say that Corbin Bernson and recurring actors from the second film returning but I can imagine that they we're just there for the money. A side from the decent story line, I'm still confused as to what the point it was to make this movie, for many reasons the sequel was big disappointment so why bring this movie back when you know that this wasn't going to be a great film, so there's got to be some reason as to why this movie was made in the first place because there's no story line as to why Bakula's character knows Dorn and Cerrano or how long they knew each other or what happened after the events of Major League 2, moreover I just find it pointless to make this movie in the first place. Granted the movie wasn't all bad to watch and some of the ridicules jokes like a dry ice baseball could really work when it comes to pitching, so to answer the question would I recommend this movie even if it was free to watch on YouTube or any streaming service? And to answer the question, no not really for many reasons it doesn't carry the magic of the first Major League film and I think the main reason as to why this film was made, was becuase of all the kid baseball films and it wasn't trying to take itself seriously furthermore yes the relationship between both Bakula and Goggins is decent to watch on screen, it just doesn't help to re-watch the movie all over again. Basically, it's like trying out a knew BBQ joint you get a good look at the place see some cool stuff in the background notice you feel like you’re slipping in the restrooms, try out the food say that it's pretty good, then you don't want to revisit the place ever again.

         

April Recommendation: Amazing Grace

 

                                            The past three years I've always kind of had trouble finding a theme base for April. I mean sure April's usually is Easter month, with the ascension of Jesus. But then it kind of took me a while moreover realized what it really should me a feel good or underdog story, when it comes to films. And this movie that my parents had saved a while back kind of in a strange sense reminded me that April really does need to be that theme presence. Amazing Grace is a small period piece released in 2006, when films like The Departed, Casino Royale and The Prestige where ruling the box office, damn that just brings back great memories when Hollywood wasn't releasing the same superhero movie all over again or Disney remaking classic animated movies into live action ones, hell now I want to travel back in time and prevent the disaster of Disney making movies suck. Okay, moving on the film itself is based on the song of Amazing Grace furthermore based on the abolishment of the Slave Trade during the 18th century British Empire.

                                            In 18th century England, House of Commons member William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) and his close friend and future prime minister, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), begin a lengthy battle to abolish Great Britain's slave trade. Though Wilberforce's legislation is soundly defeated in 1791, his growing affection for Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) inspires him to take up the fight once more.

                                            For a movie that has a great list of A-list powerhouse actors along with an up-and-coming actor Benedict Cumberbatch, I'm still kind of flabbergast that no one has been giving this movie a lot of attention nor praise that it deserves. I mean granted this was a movie that was pushed a side to like the spring or fall months and I probably understand that this movie wasn't going to grab huge bank at the box office but come on, this is a movie about one man being the biggest underdog taking down the slave trade of the British Empire the absolute worst crime ever committed since the south captured Slaves during the Civil War era, and not to compare because granted the both the worst things ever caused by humanity in the 18th and 19th century, but deep down the slave trade is probably in the top five worst things cause by humanity, though in all fairness I could be wrong and I never claim to be right. Though what really makes this film great is that it has a compelling story of one man fighting for the injustice of the world feeling like he hasn't done enough moreover can't continue the fight anymore but then gets a huge spring of hope from the unlikeliest of people and continues to fight till the very end. And that's what actor Ioan Gruffudd who a lot of people don't know is Mr. Fantastic from the first two Fantastic Four movies where they'd do anything for Jessica Alba to take off her clothes. And this movie was made after the first Fantastic Four film and he came out with this movie for which he does exceptionally well moreover does such great job playing a underdog politician who goes down in history as man who abolishes the slave trade at the cause of his own health, and to be honest after seeing the film his character really should be a great example to all up and coming politician students who want to get into politics. The other thing in what makes the film great to watch is the acting a side from Mr. Fantastic's performance, the movie itself has a great list of actors in the supporting realm as well, with actors like Albert Finney and Michael Gambon and of course Benedict Cumberbatch and even Rufus Sewell to help Gruffudd's quest, along with some great antagonist in both Ciaran Hinds and Toby Jones who are trying to make the Slave Trade stay in business, pretty much the pieces of s**t in the movie when you think about it, and the fact that we're not depending on just one star of the movie to make this film believable but they also have a great list of professional performers who've done theater before, come together and make this film believable, which to me is the coolest thing furthermore what makes this film great to watch as well. The other surprising factor that I just happen to find out while watching the movie was the fact that this was written by Steven Knight who happen to direct my favorite Tom Hardy one man band called Locke, so in all fairness when you have a guy like Steven Knight to write a period drama like Amazing Grace, you should know that this film is going to be great to see. Sadly, this film is nowhere to be found when it comes to streaming services so bottom line I can't get you all to see it, but if you want to spend money the DVD and Blu-Ray is on Amazon remarkably I'd highly recommend purchasing the movie itself, for many reasons this is one of those films that has been forgotten for nearly close to twenty years and needs to be seen by the human eye, moreover should be a good movie to watch for any students of politics or young lawyers who want to change the world, and William Wilberforce is a great example of no matter how much you try you need to get back up and continue the fight. 

                                

Ten Year Anniversary of 42

 

              

                                           Ten years ago today Hollywood made the wisest decision they could possibly make and develop a great story behind the first African-American ball player to enter the Major League Baseball organization. Ten years ago today, the film itself still stands the test of time, 42 tells the true story of Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey as both men make great changes in the game of baseball during the mid-1940's. The late Chadwick Boseman stars in the title role of Jackie Robinson and movie icon Harrison Ford plays Dodgers general manager, who decides the time is now to finally intergrade Baseball into the next generation. And re-living this film again I can honestly say this is without a doubt the most perfect adaptation to Jackie Robinson's life that you can possibly create especially when it comes to Hollywood.

                                          In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies Major League Baseball's notorious color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team. The heroic act puts both Rickey and Robinson in the firing line of the public, the press and other players. Facing open racism from all sides, Robinson demonstrates true courage and admirable restraint by not reacting in kind and lets his undeniable talent silence critics for him.

                                          As a baseball fan myself more of a Cardinals fan I've always heard stories of Jackie Robinson, in fact I remember reading a children's book back in school years called Jackie & Me for which tells a similar story Jackie Robinson's first year in the Major Leagues. So deep down I've always known the story behind his first year in the Major Leagues and the abuse he had to endure. So ten years ago, when I first heard that Warner Bros. where finally going to bring his story to a new generation was excited, because I believed it was the right time to really tell the story right and even though there's been one movie about Jackie Robinson that was made in 1950, for which I do need to see, but in all honesty I believe movies back in the golden age they would just sugar coat it as of now you can't sugar coat his career as a great baseball player and the struggles he had to endure. You can't really tell this story right, if you don't have a great list of actors to back the story up and to be honest, I was a little concerned on the choice of Harrison Ford playing Branch Rickey but then when I watched the trailer, I felt much better moreover this was no doubt one of Ford's top five best performances as an actor in all honesty. A lot of people would say that Black Panther was the Late Chadwick Boseman's best role but I have to say his performance as Mr. 42 was his crowning achievement as an actor, mainly because he does all the right things when it comes to portraying Robinson in his struggles and his courage in not letting everyone around him beat him including some of his teammates, and the hardest scene to watch is without a doubt the game where he faces the Phillies for the first time with Alan Tudyk who plays the main antagonist Ben Chapman, it's a whole lot of emotions that does the movie well, and my favorite scene was where Boseman had to let it all how and go inside the dugout and having a huge breakdown and Ford comes in to encourage him to go through because people believe in him. And even though that scene alone never happened, writer/director Brian Helgeland said that his justifications for including the scene was that he felt "there's no way Robinson could have withstood all that abuse without cracking at least once, even if it was in private". Without a doubt both Boseman and Ford's performances in the film are what makes the movie exceptional to watch, it's also the supporting cast that are great as well, and Alan Tudyk deserves a lot of credit of being the main antagonist of the movie for many reasons the obviously he was really committed in portraying the racist Phillies Manager Ben Chapmen who indeed tried to break Robinson in that April of 1947, for which really most actors I have to believe that it would most certainly be uncomfortable to say the N word so many times to make you feel uncomfortable moreover put a lot of hate in your heart and Tudyk was always playing like lovable sidekicks furthermore he was indeed in a Knights Tale who Brian Helgeland directed Tudyk so really when you think about it both men really had conversations about the role so in all fairness to took a lot of collaboration with the director and actor. Another actor that gets a lot of praise though he had little screen time was Christopher Meloni who plays Leo Durocher, the Dodgers manager at that time and even though he shared very little screen time in the movie his one moment to shine was when he gathers up his ball club and tells him that Robinson will play no matter how much you don't approve it, and his way to just enter into that scene and silence them was just amazing furthermore I would watch that scene so many times on YouTube. Last one I'm going to mention before I close this review, was John C. McGinley who was wildly know as Dr. Cox in the TV show Scrubs (fact he's the only good thing about the show) who portrays the Godfather of baseball broadcasting Red Barber, and what he does really well is that he really pull off a tremendous impression of Red Barber moreover does a great job looking like him, and I know because I listen to a Baseball Voices narrated by Pat Hughes and he had the same voice and accent as McGinley did in the movie. One last note is the tremendous visual effects that brought old ball parks from the past back to life, ball parks like Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds because sure the baseball scenes were filmed in a lot of maybe minor league fields (and I could be wrong) but the way they can bring those parks to life where amazing to see, almost like Billy Crystal's movie in 61*. Of all baseball stories that needed to be told this was the one story that need to be brought onto the screen because it was a triumphant story about courage along with an important message about being a decent and kind man to your fellow man, no matter how different he or she looks, this was on one movie that made Chadwick Boseman household name and seeing this movie it does feel sad that it was short lived moreover I would image anyone to portray Jackie Robinson than Chadwick Boseman. Again one of and up there in his top five performances, is one of Harrison Ford's best as an actor. So, if you’re feeling sad about your Baseball team this year not doing well, much like my Cardinals I would highly recommend watching 42 and having your kids watch it as well, because it has the greatness of Remember the Titans and is a great film to watch from start to finish. 

         

Easter Sunday Recommendation: The Chosen Season 2

 

                                       Well, it's Easter Season, the week to spread the good word of our Lord Jesus, and no we're not talking about the Easter Bunny because in my eyes he's not real and if you want to debate me, I'm all ears but right now it's not the time, we got to talk about the greatest religious show of all time. That's right as of right now I've officially watched Season Two of The Chosen where now Jesus assembled his trusted apostils, to spread the word of saving us all from sin. Now before I indulged in Season 2, I had to binge watch Season 1 as well in order to get ahead. Though with its great story and great actors involved what impresses me most is the character development, and the presence of Jesus alone aka Jonathan Roumie.

                                      Season Two continues the story of Jesus and his followers spreading the word of salvation moreover along the way tension building with a lot of speculation being afraid of the truth, but along the way they begin to build a crowd of people wanting to see the miracle worker.

                                      The first season of the Chosen was no doubt a ground breaking success and really one of the greatest Christian themed show ever created, and season two carries on that success along the way, and really what makes the season two great to watch is that you continue the adventures with Jesus played by Jonathan Roumie, moreover the show itself builds more character development between the characters and you see a lot in it, with a great example is the apostle Matthew played by Paras Patel, who through the course of season 1 he like a tax collector meets Sheldon Cooper, and during the course of season 2 we see him open up more in terms of being a good person and showing his flaws, furthermore I love the fact that we first see him in episode 1 of the second season he's grown a full beard and to me it's kind of hilarious because he goes from a tax collector with autism to Ron Swanson furthermore I thought that was funny in my own sense of humor. But it isn't just Matthew. I see a lot of Simon Peter as well who both begin to trust one another even though we see more development with Mary as well in terms of struggling with past trauma. And to be honest there all great ways to tell a story about Jesus and his followers, though I still believe the real center of it all is Jesus himself played by Johnathan Roumie who continues to shine in the title role, and the way he's able to shine on screen especially in moments when the group is arguing and he comes along tired and they feel shamed or and it’s really striking and the sense of hope you feel whenever he comes on screen or his promoting something he is just fantastic whenever he's appears on screen moreover I have to rank Roumie's performance as one of the all-time greatest performers to play Jesus of Nazareth. Now, I'm going to shorten this review mainly because it's a great Catholic show, but more importantly I don't want to spoil anymore details, though this no doubt is one of the greatest if not the best catholic shows I've ever seen, which of course is The Chosen for many reasons it's one of these shows where you literally relate to these characters with their personal struggles and hard times, and really it’s easier to point out despite where living in a sh**ty government world, and Israel is living in a Roman law but deep down it's there when you watch the show. Moreover I also look back at times when I watch like mediocre catholic cartoons or movies in general I sometimes feel bored and just want to leave mainly because I don't relate to it that much, though I may have to watch Prince of Egypt one day, that's going to be on my radar for next April but another great Christian movie I loved was the 2016 version of Ben-Hur where you finally see Jesus's face furthermore it has an important message to the whole story for which I can relate to, even more than the Charlton Heston version of Ben-Hur. So, without a doubt for the Easter season I would highly recommend watching this show from season one to season two mainly because it's fantastic and has a great ensemble cast that makes you believe there the Chosen.

     

                                         

  

March Recommendation: Phone Booth

 

                                         I've always in a fair sense associate March as the luck of the Irish month aka St. Patrick's Day and so I try at the best of my abilities to recommend an Irish themed movie, unfortunately it is very hard to find Irish themed films that are on the exceptionally good scale or lost treasures, as to put it. So, this year I have decided to look for films that have a famous Irish actor or actress in the starring role or best known for in that on movie, and I suddenly remembered a small independently suspenseful film, that has a unique special thing about it, mainly because it has that special tribute to Alfred Hitchcock in a way. The films called Phone Booth for which stars Irish legend Colin Farrell who is taken hostage in a phone booth, to those who don't know or not familiar with what a phone booth is, they were basically the first ever like telephone to be placed outside so in case you need to make in emergency phone call there's a private space to make a phone call with know what to disturbed you until an annoying a**hole knocks on it and invades your privacy. So, lets' dive right into our safe space of a Phone Booth.

                                        Cynical, smarmy PR man Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) picks up a ringing phone in a booth in a busy New York Street to find a killer on the line. Armed with a high-powered sniper's rifle, the anonymous caller soon proves his prowess and presents Shepard with a choice - convince the police of his story before they shoot him or drop the phone and be shot. His only hope lies in self-abasement and facing up to the truths of his life.

                                        During my teenage years I believe Colin Farrell was the first actor of my generational years where I never thought he was going to be an accomplished actor that he is now, for many reasons he always portrait himself as a bad boy type image where he would smoke a lot, show off his tattoos more like being this biker/hipster that he was in Ben Affleck's Daredevil film. Furthermore this was long before he became a Golden Globe winner, but in fairness he was a special actor when he first started out because the first film I was introduced to him was a small WWII film called Hart's War for which he starred along Bruce Willis then starred alongside Tom Cruise in Minority Report, so in all fairness he had some great acting credits I guess the way I would see it he really wanted to do more independent films to work more on his acting ability, and I looked through his filmography from Daredevil to In Bruges and it really shows from doing one epic movie like Alexander to a small film like In Bruges where I have to look at that man with huge praise of being a true professional actor, because when you’re in Hollywood you have no choice but to find work that's something you don't want to do but you have to in order to pay the bills. but when it comes to films like Phone Booth, he really does in exceptional job moreover delivers a great acting performance for which now I am going to have to check out Harts War because that is one movie I have not seen in a long, long time. The way the script was developed was fascinating, in the late sixties Larry Cohan who wrote Phone Booth, pitched the idea to the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, for which Hitch loved the idea. But the problem was that the project did not move forward, because the two men were unable to devise the plot which explained why the action had to be restricted to the one location. Cohan even recalled that Hitch would ask him if he had a solution to the problem when they met periodically met over the following years. Sadly, though after two decades among the passing of Hitchcock was when he came up with the idea of a sniper holding the protagonist hostage, and in all honestly, I would have loved to see a Hitchcock portrayal of Phone Booth, but fate does things to life that we can never control. Now before you click out of this review let me explain things in a personal not and that's yes, late Joel Schumacher directed Phone Booth and this was after his run on Batman and in all fairness the man did in deed direct some great films like A Time to Kill and The Client even though it was some of these big budget movie he just felt short on, but the interesting fact is that him and Farrell actually worked together on a small film called Tigerland so he at least knew he can trust Farrell into delivering a great performance of a scum bag who finally has a come to Jesus moment by being forced to confess by a psychotic sniper, Phone Booth was in fact one of the few films I remember as a High Schooler learning that this film was made within twelve days, ten in terms of production along with two days for some establishing shots, pickups and reshoots. And the way they were able to do that is just fantastic moreover I would tell anyone if you were trying to make a movie with in one set furthermore finding some inspiration, I would suggest watching Phone Booth. Every suspenseful film you have to have that protagonist and antagonist, which we do have in Colin Farrell as the protagonist but who really steals the show is TV legend Kiefer Sutherland who plays the mysterious sniper/caller, and what makes his performance so exceptional is that he's hardly in the movie all you really have is his voice and what he's able to produce with that psychotic like voice is just outstanding and really I'd wish he do more roles like this because he's great at it. Phone Booth is defiantly one of those films that you'll never get to make any more for many reasons telephone booths are long gone, and there just absolutely no way you can do that in any other location, but most importantly this is a long lost treasure that belongs in a Turner Classic Movie vault, furthermore needs to be seen by everyone because it's a great film from start to finish you get great supporting list of actors who deliver great performances more importantly you get great performances out of a young/up in coming actor out of Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland. Also, this was one of Joel Schumacher's best film ever and sadly his last great film. So, in closing if you are looking for a great suspenseful film, I would highly recommend watching Phone Booth till the final frame.

          

                                          

Baseball Recommendation: Facing Nolan

 

                             

                             Well ladies and gentlemen, Baseball season is coming next week the greatest time in American sports history, the only great time where we can call in sick or call in a day off or fake in injury from work and we can just sit all day and watch Baseball all day and all night. And sure, there is a lot of Baseball movies to watch and talk about, but this Baseball documentary I have made my choice a long time ago in terms of wanting to watch and recommend for my yearly Baseball Recommendation. 

                             If you grew up with late 80's and 90's baseball like I have then you had heard of the legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan, who still to this day holds a lot of records, the best way I would describe Nolan Ryan, let us just say he is the John Wayne of Baseball, a lot of the stories you hear about him are kind of like a stuff of legend per say. Even though the guy is from Texas so yes, the man is indeed a Cowboy. My first introduction of Nolan Ryan was without a watching The Great Sports Moments of the 80's by Al Michaels where he showed highlights of Nolan Ryan's no-hitter number five, and though yes, he made some bone headed remarks about the Texas Rangers beating my Cardinals in six games which is defiantly an a**hole part on him. Deep down I was intrigued in wanting to hear the legend of this great Pitcher and thankfully we have a documentary like Facing Nolan to tell his story. 

                             I think the most unique way they were able to tell Ryan's story was using visual sequences of Ryan on the mound pitching, and the fact that they use actual uniforms that he wore with a minor detail of they're using reproduction hats of this year for which it's not bad at all but in a visual sense it's a nice usage in terms of telling the story of how he's felling on the mound when it comes to his emotions for when he's pitching with the Met's or when he's pitching his no-hitters with the Angles, Astro's or Rangers. Knowing Nolan Ryan's career especially when it comes to pitching his last decade-ish of his years in Texas I've always wonder that, for many reasons I never quite understood why he never pitched for some great teams like the Cardinals of the 80's or Yankees of the late 70's because sure as a ballplayer your goal without a doubt is to make it into the Major Leagues but more importantly win a World Series and sure he actually did win a World Series title in 69 with the New York Met's but deep down that was the same team he was drafted by furthermore he was just starting out and finding his technique, moreover the Astro's in the eighties had like two great teams but that was it they were deep down a minor league team in the eighties decade with flashy outfits, so it always bring the most interesting question why did he go to much better teams then spending the rest of his days in Texas through his retirement. And what I've learns explains a lot about him was that he wanted to stay closer to home especially with his family along with that during his time with the California Angles (who were originally called California Angles) was that one of his kids was hit by a car and that hit a knot in his stomach and when you want to stay closer to family you can't argue with his reasons why, also his kid did survive in case if your reading this review that he died or something no he didn't, though while watching the movie I was in a shock of wow he really died, but he didn't so deep down that's the most importantly. The thing what makes the documentary great is that you have a tone of legendary ballplayers talking about what it was like to face Nolan Ryan, though Robin Ventura didn't want to participate in the interviewing process for many reasons, ah screw it he got his a** handed to him by Ryan so that's why though I won't tell you when he didn't it that's for you all to find out. But you also have other great players like Pete Rose, George Brett, Dave Winfield, Roger Clemons and including the great Randy Johnson who Ryan actually helped him be the great pitcher that he was, I have to say my favorite moment in the documentary is where Rose and Ryan are doing an autograph session and Rose says while taking a picture "this is close I want to be with this guy" then Ryan says "aw you love me", just your typical love hate friendship. But when you listen to some of these great ballplayers was how scary Ryan is as a Pitcher because he threw a lot of balls inside basically bringing fear to the batters and to be honest, I'd be scared of Ryan if I was facing him. I will say the other great thing was that George W. Bush came into the film too, mainly because he was the owner of the Texas Rangers during his playing career. I did learn a lot about his earlier playing career with the Met's and Angels especially during his time with the Met's and that was during early years in Baseball you only get paid for just that season and once the season is over that's basically it you don't get paid till next season, so during road trips Nolan Ryan brought a lot of books mainly because he wasn't sure if Baseball was going to be his lifetime so he basically need a backup plan to get by during his time as a baseball player and really after each season in the sixties you had to find a job to get by so after the 69 World Series he went back to work he really didn't go on vacation like most player would today. I learned a surprising fact about the Angles, was it was founded by Gene Autry who was known as the Singing Cowboy who in the early movies and television as well as radio, for which who da thunk an actual Cowboy from Texas becomes a founding owner of the LA Angles. Speaking of Television, I did hear a mind-blowing fact was that Ryan acutely made a cameo appearance in the seventies soap opera Ryan's Hope which wasn't a show for him but did make an appearance so if you’re feeling adventurous go find it, the show's surprisingly on YouTube but I'm not mainly because I have a lot of respect for Nolan Ryan, so I don't want to have that respect for him fade. I should add that I found out about the documentary back in the summer of 2022 but the problem is when it was released it took a long time to find it in terms of streaming or finding it at your local stores because let’s face it you'll never find anything like this at your local store in Nebraska so really it took around Netflix to finally put it out so as of now the film is still on Netflix forever and hopefully forever, but as a documentary whole I knew this was a movie I wanted to watch once I saw the trailer on YouTube furthermore one to recommend it as a Baseball Recommendation because people today I doubt never heard of Nolan Ryan and I believe every fan of Baseball needs to hear about the legend of Nolan Ryan, also they guy in my opinion is up there in the top five pitchers of all time. And I believe this film will show every baseball fan that this guy was a respectable guy, moreover he played from the late sixties to early nineties and that is something I think is awesome beyond measure and they guy has a lot of MLB records that still stands to this day.  

         

25th Anniversary of The Big Lebowski

 

                                         The Big Lebowski is twenty-five years old now, man time sure fly is by so fast and yet movies age like fine wine. Especially when it comes to The Big Lebowski, written and directed by the Coen Brothers the same geniuses behind such great classics like Fargo, Blood Simple, and No Country for Old Men. The Big Lebowski is one of those films like Major League where you can recite a line or dialogue, and everyone can know what that movie is in a blink of an eye. Sure, I can review another Oscar movie for this year’s Academy Awards, but this was one of the best decisions I have ever made in terms of sitting down and re-watching a classic. Now do not get me wrong I still consider this a great classic that still stands the test of time, but holy crap I still felt a little on the confused side in terms what the story and the inconclusive ending it has, though in all honesty that why it is considered a cult classic. 

                                        Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for Jeffery Lebowski, who is The Big Lebowski. Which explains why he is roughed up and has his precious rug peed on. In search of recompense, The Dude tracks down his namesake, who offers him a job. His wife has been kidnapped and he needs a reliable bagman. Aided and hindered by his pals Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), a Vietnam Vet and Donny (Steve Buscemi), master of stupidity.

                                        Twenty-Five years old and the film itself is still hilarious from start to finish. As a fan of this movie, you can defiantly watch this for some time in a while and recite any one liner and still have a great time watching the film and like I said again this is up there between Major League, in the category of best comedies you know by heart. I am not going to go much length in terms of the actors that bring the story to life and its characters but give more of a backstory behind how the Big Lebowski was developed and believe me the development is intriguing to hear about. The character of The Dude was based on The Coen Bros, producer behind their first movie Blood Simple, Jeff Dowd who just so happens to be that man based on Jeff Bridges, for which preferred to drink White Russian's, who of all people liked to be known as The Dude. The Dude as a character was also partly based on a friend of the Coen brothers, Peter Exline who was a Vietnam vet who reportedly lived in a rundown of an apartment, just like Jeff Bridges character in the movie and was proud of a little rug that "tied the room together". Both Peter Exline and the Coen Bros became friends through the course of the years after the success with Blood Simple and in 1989, told the brothers all kinds of stories from his own life, including ones about his actor-writer friend Lewis Abernathy (one of the inspirations for Walter aka John Goodman's character) a fellow Vietnam Vet who later became a private investigator and helped him track down and comfort a high school kid who stole his car, so bottom line is that this was a huge story research of using two guys as inspiration for a cult classic that stands the test of time, but most importantly a great story of using inspired events into a Raymond Chandler mystery/wacky comedy. Now the Coen Bros, stated that yes, they used these real-life friends as inspiration but most importantly wanted to create a Big Sleep type mystery where a hippie bum lost from the 1960's gets involved in a bizarre kidnapping case and to be truthful looking up this story that is creative when you think about it, despite being puzzled at times. I almost forgot that Academy Award winner sir Roger Deakins was the cinematographer behind The Big Lebowski, for which makes a tone of sense because let’s be honest he did a ton of work with Joel and Ethan Coen through the years including Fargo, and a lot of scenes where The Dude is tripping out or knocked out and has a bizarre acid like trip is truly outstanding including one favorite scene where the Dude is somehow trapped in the thumb hole of the bowling ball and we see a point of view of the ball going through the pins and the way they achieved this was they mounted a camera "on something like a barbecue spit" according to Ethan, and then dollied it along the lane. Though the challenge for them was figuring out the relative speeds of the forward motion and the rotating motion. With the help of CGI was used to create the vantage point of the thumb hole in the bowling ball. Now granted I do have a Blu-ray copy of the movie, so I am having read how they we are able to accomplish that shot is incredible and I'd now want to see how they we're able to do that because that's something I've never figured out. Granted I've said this a bunch of times on this review of how great this film is and sure I could say great things about Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore's performances in the movie but deep down it's like retelling how amazing Star Wars is, now granted there's a lot of people out there that don't quite get this movie at all, hell I had my Dad watch this movie while back and he didn't get this at all. So, if you do not like the movie because you do not get the story, I can totally understand your reason. Though now that this film has stood the test of time on its twenty-fifth birthday, I would highly recommend watching this hilarious comedy from start to finish moreover if you have not heard of Joel and Ethan Coen, I would also recommend checking out there films as well, so you can be a fan of their work as well.