Who said this?
1 day ago
Monday, December 14, 2009
Flicks
Here's Stephen King's column about "Carriers," which I saw over the weekend. King is right. It isn't a great film but it's very entertaining and well made. It looks great and the story advances with a grim, simple power. I got it from Netflix. The King piece comes from Entertainment Weekly.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Flicks II
Here is a review of The Crazies, a remake of the Romero movie which I believe was filmed in north Georgia. And here's the preview from Yahoo movies.
Flicks
I was very excited about seeing "Public Enemies," the Michael Mann-directed movie version of Bryan Burrough's excellent book about Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Bonnie and Clyde. 2009 has been a "gangster year" for me. I've ready a good deal on the Depression era bad guys and enjoyed, with my pal Jim Donovits, a visit to the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum in Louisiana.
Well, Bonnie and Clyde are nowhere to be found in this movie and Pretty Boy is in for about one minute, being personally shot down by Melvin Purvis while Dillinger was still at large. Wrong. Purvis didn't shoot Floyd and he died months after Dillinger was killed.
So, one minute into the picture I realized that Burrough's highly-detailed book was little more than a paperweight for the screenwriters who butcher the real history in what is at times a remarkably self-defeating way.
For instance, Purvis is served up as a cardboard G-Man when in fact the real man and his tortured relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, was much more interesting than what the writers came up with.
Depp is fine as Dillinger, if you like two hours of stoney-faced grimness. Where is the charisma? Where is the flamboyance that made Dillinger a hero to many.
The French actress who plays Billie Frechette, Dillinger's main gal, looks the part but has nothing to do. Why does Dillinger love her so much? Why does he allegedly die with her name on his lips? This movie doesn't explain.
Bale's accent is atrocious at times and his character is mostly dull. Purvis was a lot of things, but not dull.
Hoover is seldom seen or heard from, which is a mistake for the film. His lurking presence would have added a lot.
This should have been a great film. But it falls far, far short of that mark.
Mann fails to deliver a single moment that approximates Dillinger's bigger-than-life exploits.
"Public Enemies" is terrible history and even worse, a deadly dull movie.
Well, Bonnie and Clyde are nowhere to be found in this movie and Pretty Boy is in for about one minute, being personally shot down by Melvin Purvis while Dillinger was still at large. Wrong. Purvis didn't shoot Floyd and he died months after Dillinger was killed.
So, one minute into the picture I realized that Burrough's highly-detailed book was little more than a paperweight for the screenwriters who butcher the real history in what is at times a remarkably self-defeating way.
For instance, Purvis is served up as a cardboard G-Man when in fact the real man and his tortured relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, was much more interesting than what the writers came up with.
Depp is fine as Dillinger, if you like two hours of stoney-faced grimness. Where is the charisma? Where is the flamboyance that made Dillinger a hero to many.
The French actress who plays Billie Frechette, Dillinger's main gal, looks the part but has nothing to do. Why does Dillinger love her so much? Why does he allegedly die with her name on his lips? This movie doesn't explain.
Bale's accent is atrocious at times and his character is mostly dull. Purvis was a lot of things, but not dull.
Hoover is seldom seen or heard from, which is a mistake for the film. His lurking presence would have added a lot.
This should have been a great film. But it falls far, far short of that mark.
Mann fails to deliver a single moment that approximates Dillinger's bigger-than-life exploits.
"Public Enemies" is terrible history and even worse, a deadly dull movie.
Iran
Opposition to the entrenched theocracy in Iran is being directly challenged in the wake of the brutal repression of election protests, but our freedom and democracy loving president ignores the carnage. Don't make the despots angry seems to be the strategy. Where is the outrage? Check out these photos from the BBC.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
New sports blog
Blog boss note: My new sports blog site is Sports From Dalton, which you can get to using the handy dandy link elsewhere on this page. Check it out mate.
Words
Mr. Espy meet Mr. Reacher.
Apparently author Lee Child has been knocking out this fine Jack Reacher series for a long time. So, why didn't somebody tell me sooner?
I picked up "Gone Tomorrow," the 13th in the Reacher line, from the book club recently and was absorbed with the story from start to finish.
Our hero, a highly trained former military operative with a high pain threshold very independent streak, witnesses a suicide on New York subway. The horrible event turns out to be even more alarming than originally thought, as Jack Reacher is inexorably pulled deeper into a convoluted and bloodthirsty mishmash of foreign intrigue and Patriot Act-era paranoia.
The story keeps you guessing and Reacher is a highly entertaining guide through this desolate landscape of betrayals and bushwhackings.
If I had any money I'd get the other 12 books in the series ASAP. Instead I'll pick them up at a more leisurely, economical pace and enjoy them like a rare bottle of wine.
Apparently author Lee Child has been knocking out this fine Jack Reacher series for a long time. So, why didn't somebody tell me sooner?
I picked up "Gone Tomorrow," the 13th in the Reacher line, from the book club recently and was absorbed with the story from start to finish.
Our hero, a highly trained former military operative with a high pain threshold very independent streak, witnesses a suicide on New York subway. The horrible event turns out to be even more alarming than originally thought, as Jack Reacher is inexorably pulled deeper into a convoluted and bloodthirsty mishmash of foreign intrigue and Patriot Act-era paranoia.
The story keeps you guessing and Reacher is a highly entertaining guide through this desolate landscape of betrayals and bushwhackings.
If I had any money I'd get the other 12 books in the series ASAP. Instead I'll pick them up at a more leisurely, economical pace and enjoy them like a rare bottle of wine.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Comics
Dalton attorney Bill Jourdain writes intro to comics calendar. My feature from the Times Free Press.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Braves
Blog boss note: This post is also at my new sports blog site, Sports From Dalton, which you can get to using the handy dandy link elsewhere on this page. Check it out mate.
----
Signing Saito and Wagner are good moves. Now if we can just finish the time machine and go back to 2005.
Just kidding. I like each pitcher at those salaries for one year but wouldn't have signed both at the same time, not after their recent injury trouble. Healthy, they should do well. Both have excellent makeups for key bullpen roles.
Let me toss out a wild card here. If they didn't want to spend a lot on a reliever and age and arm problems were not disqualifiers, why not ink a little fellow named John Smoltz? Is that bridge burned, bagged and tossed?
Atlanta could have spent more on the position, either bringing in a free agent or resigning either Soriano or Gonzalez. Trading for a closer was possible, as the Bravos have the depth at starter to land a big gun for the bullpen. Bobby Jenks of the White Sox comes to mind.
More likely they'll use that starter chip to land offense, particularly with Adam LaRoche unlikely to return. How about a little fellow named Adam Dunn? His defense might make Bobby Cox gag but 40 homers is hard to argue with.
Nick Johnson might be a reasonable pickup at first base. He can hit but may not have enough power for the Braves' needs.
Whaddaya think?
----
Signing Saito and Wagner are good moves. Now if we can just finish the time machine and go back to 2005.
Just kidding. I like each pitcher at those salaries for one year but wouldn't have signed both at the same time, not after their recent injury trouble. Healthy, they should do well. Both have excellent makeups for key bullpen roles.
Let me toss out a wild card here. If they didn't want to spend a lot on a reliever and age and arm problems were not disqualifiers, why not ink a little fellow named John Smoltz? Is that bridge burned, bagged and tossed?
Atlanta could have spent more on the position, either bringing in a free agent or resigning either Soriano or Gonzalez. Trading for a closer was possible, as the Bravos have the depth at starter to land a big gun for the bullpen. Bobby Jenks of the White Sox comes to mind.
More likely they'll use that starter chip to land offense, particularly with Adam LaRoche unlikely to return. How about a little fellow named Adam Dunn? His defense might make Bobby Cox gag but 40 homers is hard to argue with.
Nick Johnson might be a reasonable pickup at first base. He can hit but may not have enough power for the Braves' needs.
Whaddaya think?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Braves
Braves arbitration moves. Garrett Anderson was clearly a one-year signing and he did a solid job.
Getting back either Soriano or Gonzalez would be a plus, but as the article says neither is likely to accept a one-year deal. I am not convinced either is a real closer. Gonzalez gets hurt too much and Soriano has consistency problems, though he can look great for awhile.
Not making an offer to LaRoche puzzles me. He provides some badly needed pop and his fielding has improved a lot since his first stint with the Braves. He was the team's MVP after arriving last year.
However, LaRoche has a history of starting the season disastrously. Are the Braves wary of paying good bucks to a half-season all star? Are they thinking of moving Chipper over and finding a third basemen with more range? (Not a bad idea.) Or is the budget just too tight?
Whatever the reason, if LaRoche leaves the Braves will have to find another veteran big bat. It would be a huge mistake to count too heavily on super prospect Jason Heyward.
Remember the name Joe Crede.
Getting back either Soriano or Gonzalez would be a plus, but as the article says neither is likely to accept a one-year deal. I am not convinced either is a real closer. Gonzalez gets hurt too much and Soriano has consistency problems, though he can look great for awhile.
Not making an offer to LaRoche puzzles me. He provides some badly needed pop and his fielding has improved a lot since his first stint with the Braves. He was the team's MVP after arriving last year.
However, LaRoche has a history of starting the season disastrously. Are the Braves wary of paying good bucks to a half-season all star? Are they thinking of moving Chipper over and finding a third basemen with more range? (Not a bad idea.) Or is the budget just too tight?
Whatever the reason, if LaRoche leaves the Braves will have to find another veteran big bat. It would be a huge mistake to count too heavily on super prospect Jason Heyward.
Remember the name Joe Crede.
Dawgs
David Paschal hustles on the Georgia beat. Here's his latest from the Times-Free Press on the suddenly relevant again Georgia Bulldogs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
