Archive | October, 2008

Everybody Wins!

15 Oct

In honor of National Grouch Day, I thought I’d observe the Equal Time rule and post this PSA for John McCain.
http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf

W. Is O.K.

15 Oct

You may have noticed that I’m a Democrat. Despite that, I went to see W. with eager anticipation. This film, a look at the life and times of George “Dubya” Bush from his days at Yale through 2004, was an ambitious undertaking and came together rather quickly earlier this year. So kudos definitely go to director Oliver Stone, because the finished product is an impressive film. Led by a charismatic, excellent performance by Josh Brolin, W. portrays our current president as a guy who likes a good time, is easily bored, but loves a challenge. And no challenge is greater for the film’s W. than stepping out of his father’s shadow. Whether it’s pledging a fraternity, running for public office, or starting a war in Iraq, most everything W. does is motivated by his “Poppy.”

Stone and writer Stanley Weiser (who also wrote Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story) resist the temptation to paint W. as an incompetent fool and make the film a political attack. Not that this is an entirely sympathetic portrait either — far from it. Instead, Bush is shown as a guy who got in over his head and who’s surrounded himself with stronger and more threatening personalities (Thandie Newton’s Condoleezza Rice will scare you with just a look). Richard Dreyfuss’ Dick Cheney is appropriately menacing, and Jeffrey Wright’s Colin Powell does his best to stay noble and above the fray. But it’s Bush with the weakness and compulsion to win who is willingly coached by Karl Rove (Toby Jones) and his Cabinet and goes along with their plans.

Since I’m not totally up on my political knowledge, I can’t say whether the film is fair or accurate, but I can tell you it certainly feels authentic. That’s partly due to the acting, which is great across the board. It’s worth noting how huge and notable the cast is — in addition to those already mentioned, it includes everyone from Noah Wyle and Stacy Keach to Rob Cordrry and Ioan Gruffudd. You may giggle at first when you recognize certain cast members, but all settle into their roles nicely. I didn’t exactly love this movie — after all, it’s not like I was rooting for W. to succeed. Plus, we all know how things turn out for our supposed hero. But as a fictionalized document of current events, W. is engaging and interesting. Even though I don’t support this president, I can still support the movie. So I’m giving W. a B+.

Feeling Rotten

15 Oct

EW.com’s PopWatch has just informed me that today is National Grouch Day. Muppets aside, I have much to be grouchy about lately (including the Red Sox falling behind 3-1 in the ALCS again) so I’ll be celebrating enthusiastically. Grumble grumble grumble …

Rock & Roller

14 Oct

As a tribute to Christopher Columbus, I did a little exploring of my own yesterday and discovered a great new artist who I wanted to tell y’all about.

His name is Eric Hutchinson, and he’s a singer-songwriter with a funky/poppy Jason Mraz/Ben Folds/Jack Johnson/John Mayer vibe that I’m really digging.

Check out the video for his first single “Rock & Roll,” which I’ve embedded below. It reminds me of Mraz’s first single, “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry).”

If you like Hutch’s song, click here to download that track and others.

Or, better yet, head to iTunes and buy the new deluxe edition of Eric’s debut CD, Sounds Like This (in addition to Ray LaMontagne’s Gossip in the Grain, of course).

For added fun, check out Live from Daryl’s House tomorrow, Wednesday, when Eric will be interviewed by Daryl Hall, of Hall & Oates.

Sure, I may be a little late to the party — Perez Hilton has already talked all about Hutch and VH1 has already named Eric an artist that You Oughta Know — but that doesn’t mean you still have to be in the dark about him.

Check out the video and let me know if you’re digging the Hutch’s music as much as I am.

The L Word

13 Oct

As Rachel Maddow says: “Sometimes the most important thing you need to know about a politician is the frequency and enthusiasm and skill with which they lie to you.” Here’s yet another example of how Sarah Palin is quite skilled at avoiding the truth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27171061#27171061

Thanks, Dan

13 Oct

So let me get this straight: The Red Sox win game one, Dice-K impresses (all things considered), and the series is off to a good start. Then Shaughnessy writes a column about how it’s already all over and we’ve won the whole series, and all of a sudden we can’t win, nothing’s going our way, and we’re down two games to one? I mean, sure, Beckett and Lester (and of course, Timlin) are surely to blame for our losses in games two and three, and the series is surely far from over, but jeez Louise … can’t CHB keep his mouth shut? Just once??? Shaughnessy jinxed us in a big way, and I am not happy to see the same ALCS scenario play out again.

Oh, and don’t think I missed Buck Martinez adding salt to the wound when he announced early in the game tonight that Lester was the best pitcher in the major leagues. No sooner did he say that — right after the five-pitch top of the first — that Lester starting giving up runs and basically stinking up the joint. Thanks to you, too, Buck.

Twisted Sister

13 Oct

Do not be fooled by the trailer for Rachel Getting Married: It may look like a remake of Margot at the Wedding — last year’s very good movie about a bitter, unkind sister coming home for her sister’s wedding and wreaking havoc — but it’s not. Sure, the two movies have that basic plot in common, but Rachel cuts a lot deeper, with much sharper knives, and it’s much more painful to watch at times.

As directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), the action in Rachel unfolds naturally, and it’s captured in a hand-held vérité style that makes you feel like you are there. Kym (the excellent Anne Hathaway) has gotten out of rehab to attend her sister Rachel’s wedding. Kym is still dealing with a lot of unresolved internal pain and over the course of the weekend, she takes it out on nearly every member of her family. Rachel explores these familial issues, and the camerawork is effective in heightening the immediacy and pain of the situation, but the film never really resolves anything. So what we’re left with — other than some very good performances — is basically a home movie of a very awkward wedding weekend. And as such, there are some scenes, like the rehearsal dinner one, that just go on waaaaay too long. I hate going to a wedding where I don’t know anyone, and at times, that’s what I felt like I had done. I just wanted to slip out and leave. Rachel tops out at just under two hours and it should have been about 20 minutes shorter.

It’s impressive how the central couple’s mixed race is treated as a non-issue (it’s not ever referred to), and it probably should be repeated that Anne Hathaway is very good here, as is Rosemarie DeWitt, who plays Rachel. Alas, those scenes where they can really act come too infrequently in the movie and I found myself on an uncomfortable roller-coaster ride of emotion. So I’m going to keep my review to a B.

Solving the Great Fake Issues of Our Time

12 Oct

Paris Hilton is back, and this time she’s seeking the fake advice of former President Jed Bartlett, a.k.a. Martin Sheen. After all, “America was at its best when it was on NBC.” This chick definitely has my fake vote. I know she’ll help get us out of “the biggest depression since The Notebook.”
http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf

Jumping the Gun?

11 Oct

Hasn’t Dan Shaughnessy learned anything in recent years?

Methinks he has gotten a bit too confident and that he’s jumping the gun.

Here’s what he wrote in today’s Globe about last night’s win over Tampa Bay:

<< It’s only one game. So how come it already feels like the Red Sox are going to the World Series? … It just does. >>

Um, dude … weren’t you here in 2004 and in 2007?

You know the Yankees were dominant in the ALCS but didn’t win the series in ’04, and that the Sox won game one against Cleveland last year before they lost the next three and were on the verge of elimination.

Hell, Cleveland even printed up and was selling ALCS championship t-shirts. So let’s not get ahead of ourselves, alright? You don’t want to jinx anything.

At least CHB‘s colleague Bob Ryan is talking some sense.

Shaughnessy sounds like he should be wearing a pink hat or something.

Say It Right

10 Oct

On the one hand, this year we don’t have to sit through those endless Dane Cook “There’s Only One October” ads. But on the other hand, we do have to listen to Buck Martinez on TBS call our beloved designated hitter “David OR-tiz,” as opposed to “David or-TIZ.” I don’t know anyone who pronounces Papi’s name like he does. Say what you will about Fox Sports, but at least Joe Buck and Tim McCarver know who our players are. And they also dress a heck of a lot better than Craig Sager does. Jeeez, who picks out that guy’s blazers??!

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