2008 MLB Playoff Predictions!

October is rolling around, and my Chicago Cubs are looking great. Those bats are about to start cracking, gloves will start popping, and those fastballs are going to smell as sweet as ever. Oh yeah, my little Bill Walton is cheering inside. Just switch out Wrigley for Berkley.

Though I am a National League based fan, I will make predictions for the American League as well. Also, I will do it because I want to.

NOTE: This is a movie based blog, but I'm making an exception.

American League Playoffs

Angels v Red Sox=Red Sox (in 5 games)

Can you smell the bloodbath brewing between these two? I can, and it's going to get nasty. The Red Sox, are who they are, and that's a powerhouse. The Angels are good as well, but the Red Sox are the red demons of baseball, and they are out to collect.

Rays v Twins=Rays (in 3 games)

The Twins are no match for a fully fueled Rays team, and that's an understatement. The Twins will be making the playoff's by the skin of their teeth, and once again, that's an understatement. Look for these two teams to have a short meeting in the playoffs.

National League Playoffs

Cubs v Dodgers=Cubs (in 4 games)

The Dodgers lineup will kill themselves. The pitching from both sides will be playoff caliber, and that's what the series will depend on. Don't expect the Dodgers to put up a fight against the best starting rotation in baseball, case in point: Dempster, Zambrano, Harden. The Cubs will hold it down on offense, scoring an average of four runs per game to keep it in check.

Phillies v Brewers=Phillies (in 3 games)

The Phillies are out for blood againts the Brewers, who's pitching is horrifying, except for Sabbathia. Even C.C. can only pitch a game at a time, and they'll still be riding him until his arm falls off anyways.

Paul Newman: The Legend

Yes, I have fond memories of Mr. Newman. The Hustler, Hud, Cool Hand Luke, The Color of Money, all of which ring eternal in my conscience. Even when I was young, I could feel the palpable sense of legend in his work. There was no actor more enjoyable. Paul Newman makes his case for the best actor ever, and when I say that, people would shout, "Marlon Brando is the best!" Well, you're right as rain. Marlon Brando called acting something simple, "Acting is just men acting like little kids". Paul Newman took that to a whole new level.

There is no competition for his performance in The Hustler, his air of cool in, The Color of Money. The list goes on. The Academy Awards left him unrecognized, until his late performance in The Color of Money. Same thing happened to Sir Sean Connery, who didn't receive one of his own until The Untouchables.

No matter what, Newman was also one of the most likeable guys around. His performances didn't aim to shake you, or make some air of impact finger printed on your soul, it was something much better then that. He was an entertainer, plain and simple. It's largely inconcievable to imagine a world of movies, without Paul Newman. A titan of his time, and a legend for the ages, his work is something all can enjoy.

The Best of 2007 (I know it's 08' but I couldn't help it)

No Country For Old Men
Try watching this, and not be entertained. The Coen Brothers sure know how to make the screen show some crazy things. Evil personified, Truth inhabited, Greed truthfully shown. No other movie has the shock value of this. Check out the confrontation between Chigurh and the store owner to see what I mean.
The Savages
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Laura Linney clash in a simple movie, about a simple situation, with an unusual outcome. I can't help but smile, when watching these two portray the real world, in "real" ways. I've never seen such a realistic portrayel of siblings, or real life occurances then in this movie. It's not "the" best, but it's quite the movie. Three times over.
There Will Be Blood
Anyone ever watch an actor, not act, but "be" something? Daniel Day Lewis twists the definition of acting, and turns it on it's head. All other actors should be ashamed to call themselves the term, if they watch this movie. Daniel Day Lewis inhabits his role, with a blood curdling ferocity that'll shake you to your core. The story ain't bad either.
The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford
The most original film to come out last year, by far. Unlike No Country For Old Men, Gone Baby Gone, There Will Be Blood, those movies had some wells of knowledge to extract from. While techincally this film was adapted from a book by Ron Hansen, this film had a style, bite, and grit all it's own. Watch Casey Afflecks frightened, yet realistic dialogue with Brad Pitt in the rocking chair scene, and you'll find the stuff of legend. Brad Pitt, yeah let's face it, is one of the best out there. Fight Club proved it, and this proves it.
Michael Clayton
George Clooney is shockingly one of the best Hollywood has to offer, and here's why. Check out anything he's done, and you'll see his own identity in films like Michael Clayton. This man was meant to stand among titans, in all areas of moviemaking. Good Night and Good Luck, Michael Clayton, Burn After Reading, all of which compliment his areas of expertise, and that's being the best.
Gone Baby Gone
I can't help but love those films with the moral dilemma displayed as it's centerpiece. Dennis Lehane penned the novel, and also wrote, Mystic River. I can't help but watch it, and love every minute of it. There's a deep, dark realism to everything this movie touches, and it infects you with enough dark resemblences of the world around you. Watch it, and it will shake you, because of how real it is.
Sweeeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Johnny Depp lives on a street named, "Weird" and "Odd" in terms of his film choices. From Ed Wood, to Corpse Bride, to Pirates of the Caribbean, to Sweeney Todd. No matter the role, Johnny Depp seems to flesh it out to fit his persona. I was enthralled by this musical masterpiece, and a tragedy mirroring the best of any I've ever seen.
Once
There's a spot in my heart for originality, no matter how raw, or refined it is. This film is a great example of untamed, unwrapped talent. Simplicity is personified, and displays itself in a way that offers a gift of music to one, and a deadbeat for others. I was unabashedly grateful for this movie, a present in it's own right.

Bangkok Dangerous: The Death of Nicholas Cage's Career

Have you ever seen a Nicholas Cage movie? I have, I've seen a lot of them. And let me tell you, I've begun to wonder why this individual has a career. He's had a long list of mediocre, and forgettable films. Now I know what you're thinking, "Well there are plenty of bad actors who have jobs?" And that would be correct. But, this guy's movies...the few that make any money (National Treasure) are kids flicks. There's a saying, "No man is an island". Now that is correct, there's another one too, "No man can survive on kid flicks."

So when a man like Cage, takes roles like these...in films like these...and doesn't even do a reputable job in them...I want to know who's paying him and why. Exactly those words, WHO and WHY?

I've seen his one, only decent flick, and that's Leaving Las Vegas. His performance is memorable, and could be the only reason studio heads are ok'ing him to star, and hopefully grab some attention in their movies. Cage can't even do that. Word on the street is, Cage's real name is Nicolas Coppola. Ha! Seems like he didn't want to bring any shame to that family of prestigous filmakers (Francis Ford Coppola, and Sophia Coppola).

Who knows whay this guy's future is, but I hope it's something respectfull.

How Does Pixar Do It?

With Pixars newest release, Wall-E crossing the 280,000,000 million mark worldwide this week, I thought I'd ask the question: "How Does Pixar Do It?" And it's a valid question. Cars, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, all of them have mustered over 200,000,000 million in the united states alone. One begins to wonder what kind of magic they've got in their bag, that guarentees them the massive take the movies generate.
Not all animated films can make the cut, and a lot of them are quickly forgettable. i.e. Flushed Away, Happily "N"ever After, and Robots have all come and gone in the multiplex. But Pixar seems to stick around. Not one of their films have bombed, or business wise, been called a "failure".
The truth is, it's the stories. Each and every one of their films has a legitimate story, that packs intelligence, and can satisfy the minds of kids, and adults. It's unique to Pixar, as most animated movies are simply there to look cute, and utilize animation to the fullest extent. It's not the same with Pixar, who's movies have won Academy Awards, and keep viewers coming back for more.
Brad Bird, the latest individual to have capitalized on the seemingly invincible company, who's ventures rarely lose profit, viewers, or attention. Mr. Bird is responsible for The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. Both of which have earned Oscar's for Best Animated Feature.
No such catagory as animation, has served companies like Pixar so well. With live action movies, you don't have a built-in audience. Animation movies grab key demographics right off the bat. Kids, Families, and Young Adults rake in the cash for those animated features that we have all come to know and love. While The Dark Knight continued it's domination at the box office, films like Wall-E have done just fine, and are able to make their own kind of money, and for all we know, will stick around for a long time.

Spider-Man 3

Maybe it was just me, but I think that a lot of people were anticipating the third installment of the Spider-Man franchise. The series had an identity, and entertainment quality unique to itself. The first movie wasn't perfect, but laid a foundation. The second movie, which was quite possibly the best superhero film ever made, (before Batman Begins) was a powerhouse. The film's action scenes were phenomenal, and had a visceral quality all it's own.
With all of that said, we were given the third installment in the franchise. Spider-Man 3. If you've ever seen a Brett Ratner directed film, you would swear he had his hands all over it. With decent enough action scenes (The crane rescue is undeniably entertaining) the film seemed shaky, but still on the tracks. But we were given 45 minutes more of movie, then we'd bargained for. Three villains crowded the story, tack on's were packed in so tightly, you'd swear the movie would collapse due to the sheer pressure it was putting on itself.
The finale, which was way too much, left a mark on all people who paid full price for a movie that didn't deliver, and ate your sympathy to the point of no return.
Of course, the movies problems go deeper then the ending itself, and that's true. The casting was half hearted, the direction sloppy, and the effects were schlocked together, in an effort to amaze you. The casting of Sandman was spot on, Thomas Haden Church was about as good villain casting as you'll come by. Go ahead and gripe all you want about him not being a good enough nemesis, but his acting and realism stretch far. He is one of the only honest efforts the film puts forth with a consicence. Here's where the casting went awry. Topher Grace. I am a pure Batman fan, so I never read too many of the Spider-Man comic books, but I knew enough to figure out that a scrawny, and not at all menacing Topher Grace, is the wrong choice to play a huge, scary, evil force like Venom. As long as I'm ranting, let's allow ourselves to explore the real reasons for the movie's failure, and that's the tack-ons. Gwen Stacy, Harry's Goblin, Venom, Peter Parkers "wild side", and so on.
Bryce Dallas Howard, was actually great as Gwen Stacy. She was solid casting, but a terrible add on. We did not need Peter Parker to have another, "Love Interest" did we? Hell, it took him two movies to get his only girlfriend anway.
Finally, my major gripe about the movie, Venom. Ok, so here's what the producers must of been thinking.
"Let's take Spider-Man's biggest, most iconic villain, Venom, and put him in for the last 20 minutes!"
"Yeah, and then let's kill him off!"
This is why Spider-Man will always stand in the shadow of films like, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight. Those movies didn't have to kill off all of it's iconic villains, just for a lousy finale. This series needs a miracle, something fierce.

Tropic Thunder/Star Wars: Clone Wars

Ok, so here it is. Two releases that both carry leverage in their lineage. Ben Stiller, who's career has been dorment in imagination since the brilliant Meet The Fockers/Zoolander era, has brought Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. with him in the new war romp, Tropic Thunder. Going againts it, is George Lucas and his rung out, drowned of imagination series, Star Wars.

Both films carry a sort of weight. Tropic Thunder has encountered a bit of protest, and Star Wars' fans know that this film will successfully lock out the fan-boy central series in limbo. Tropic Thunder, which has been pumped and stuffed with hype, and a black version of Robert Downey Jr., it's a can't miss for the number one spot. Star Wars, is facing an uphill climb. Don't expect fans to be cleaning out the theatres when it opens, this is mainly a Cartoon Newtork advertisment, drawn out to an hour and a half.

Expect The Dark Knight to stay happy at the #2 spot, with around 18 Million, and Star Wars a close third, with 16.

Now, to the review portion. Tropic Thunder is a romp, period. Foul, filthy, and irresistable as ever, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Iron Man himself are gunning for a third victory for each actor. Robert Downey Jr. had Iron Man, Jack Black had Kung Fu Panda, and hopefully Stiller will join them in the club with a hit.

The movie is not brilliant, or amazing, but holds your attention, and gives you an hour and a half of laughter, guilty, and irreverent humour. Tom Cruise makes the movie though, as a foul man, who cusses his way to comedy, with success.

Now the bad movie, Clone Wars. Star Wars has been stuck in it's trap of "suckage" since The Phantom Menace debuted years ago. Then came Attack of The Clones, just rubbing salt in the wound. Then came the half-hearted attempt at redemption that only came halfway to meet our expectations of a flailing franchise. The movie, is basically a pre-cursor to countless Wal-Mart toy sales, Cartoon Network specials, and paints "soiled" all over George Lucas' career. It's not a nice venture, and stands in the shadow of animation done right (Wall E). So long, and until next week, watch some movies.