PAST PRODUCERS GAMES AND AN OSCAR EVE
2003
2004
2005
Thursday, February 23, 2006
PRODUCERS GAME 2006
By now, I have to assume that everyone who once checked this site has wised up and quit the futile habit. I stopped posting. And I stopped caring. It would be unfair of me to ask you to continue to care. That being said, I'm posting today, even if I'm the only one who'll be reading it.
Once again, it's that time of year when I fill out my ballot for the Producers Game. In 2005, I picked 8 of the top ten box office hits for the year, burned by "Wedding Crashers" and "The Chronicles of Narnia." With mostly smaller movies taking up the five Best Picture slots, I only managed to pick one correctly -- "Munich" -- which I also predicted would win the award. Doesn't look like that's going to happen. In preparing my picks for 2006, I became convinced it's going to be a big year for the studios. Of course, I could be wrong. Here goes...
TOP TEN HITS OF THE YEAR
2 points each. For movies released between: 2/22/06 - 1/1/07
1. Cars
2. Superman Returns
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
4. The Da Vinci Code
5. M:i:III
6. X3
7. Poseidon
8. Monster House
9. Miami Vice
10. Over the Hedge
Alternate: Casino Royale
THE NUMBER ONE SUMMER MOVIE
3 points.
My pick: CARS
Alternate: Superman Returns
THE NUMBER ONE CHRISTMAS MOVIE
3 points. For movies released between November and New Year's Weekend.
My pick: CASINO ROYALE
Alternate: Happy Feet
TEN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED FILMS
2 points each. All nominated categories are acceptable.
1. Flags of Our Fathers
2. All the King's Men
3. Dreamgirls
4. Cars
5. The Departed
6. A Prairie Home Companion
7. A Scanner Darkly
8. Babel
9. Che
10. Goya's Ghosts
Alternate: Marie Antionette
BEST ACTOR/SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMINATIONS
Name the actor and the film. 3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Benecio Del Toro - Che
2. Sean Penn - All the King's Men
3. Jack Nicholson - The Departed
4. Jamie Foxx - Dreamgirls
5. Will Smith - The Pursuit of Happiness
Alternate: Hugh Jackman - The Fountain
BEST ACTRESS/SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOMINATIONS
Name the actress and the film. 3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Nicole Kidman - Fur
2. Cate Blanchett - Babel
3. Annette Bening - Running With Scissors
4. Meryl Streep - A Prairie Home Companion
5. Natalie Portman - Goya's Ghosts
Alternate: Judi Dench - Notes From a Scandal
BEST DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
Name the director and the film. 3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Clint Eastwood - Flags of Our Fathers
2. Martin Scorsese - The Departed
3. Robert Altman - A Prairie Home Companion
4. Bill Condon - Dreamgirls
5. Milos Forman - Goya's Ghosts
Alternate: Steven Zaillan - All the King's Men
WORST PICTURE NOMINATED FILMS
As determined by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation.
3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Basic Instinct 2
2. The Pink Panther
3. Failure To Launch
4. X3
5. M:i:III
Alternate: Marie Antionette
BEST PICTURE NOMINATED FILMS
1. DREAMGIRLS
2. FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
3. ALL THE KING'S MEN
4. A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION
5. THE DEPARTED
Alternate: GOYA'S GHOSTS
BEST PICTURE
And the winner is: DREAMGIRLS
Alternate: A Prairie Home Companion
By now, I have to assume that everyone who once checked this site has wised up and quit the futile habit. I stopped posting. And I stopped caring. It would be unfair of me to ask you to continue to care. That being said, I'm posting today, even if I'm the only one who'll be reading it.
Once again, it's that time of year when I fill out my ballot for the Producers Game. In 2005, I picked 8 of the top ten box office hits for the year, burned by "Wedding Crashers" and "The Chronicles of Narnia." With mostly smaller movies taking up the five Best Picture slots, I only managed to pick one correctly -- "Munich" -- which I also predicted would win the award. Doesn't look like that's going to happen. In preparing my picks for 2006, I became convinced it's going to be a big year for the studios. Of course, I could be wrong. Here goes...
TOP TEN HITS OF THE YEAR
2 points each. For movies released between: 2/22/06 - 1/1/07
1. Cars
2. Superman Returns
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
4. The Da Vinci Code
5. M:i:III
6. X3
7. Poseidon
8. Monster House
9. Miami Vice
10. Over the Hedge
Alternate: Casino Royale
THE NUMBER ONE SUMMER MOVIE
3 points.
My pick: CARS
Alternate: Superman Returns
THE NUMBER ONE CHRISTMAS MOVIE
3 points. For movies released between November and New Year's Weekend.
My pick: CASINO ROYALE
Alternate: Happy Feet
TEN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED FILMS
2 points each. All nominated categories are acceptable.
1. Flags of Our Fathers
2. All the King's Men
3. Dreamgirls
4. Cars
5. The Departed
6. A Prairie Home Companion
7. A Scanner Darkly
8. Babel
9. Che
10. Goya's Ghosts
Alternate: Marie Antionette
BEST ACTOR/SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMINATIONS
Name the actor and the film. 3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Benecio Del Toro - Che
2. Sean Penn - All the King's Men
3. Jack Nicholson - The Departed
4. Jamie Foxx - Dreamgirls
5. Will Smith - The Pursuit of Happiness
Alternate: Hugh Jackman - The Fountain
BEST ACTRESS/SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOMINATIONS
Name the actress and the film. 3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Nicole Kidman - Fur
2. Cate Blanchett - Babel
3. Annette Bening - Running With Scissors
4. Meryl Streep - A Prairie Home Companion
5. Natalie Portman - Goya's Ghosts
Alternate: Judi Dench - Notes From a Scandal
BEST DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
Name the director and the film. 3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Clint Eastwood - Flags of Our Fathers
2. Martin Scorsese - The Departed
3. Robert Altman - A Prairie Home Companion
4. Bill Condon - Dreamgirls
5. Milos Forman - Goya's Ghosts
Alternate: Steven Zaillan - All the King's Men
WORST PICTURE NOMINATED FILMS
As determined by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation.
3 points each + bonus point if pick wins the award.
1. Basic Instinct 2
2. The Pink Panther
3. Failure To Launch
4. X3
5. M:i:III
Alternate: Marie Antionette
BEST PICTURE NOMINATED FILMS
1. DREAMGIRLS
2. FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
3. ALL THE KING'S MEN
4. A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION
5. THE DEPARTED
Alternate: GOYA'S GHOSTS
BEST PICTURE
And the winner is: DREAMGIRLS
Alternate: A Prairie Home Companion
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
A CRASH COURSE IN COMEDY
Not much gets me blogging these days, but here I am, so something must be up. I take my comedy very seriously. Even silly comedy. Last night, I ventured out to the Arclight to see "Wedding Crashers." Being a fan of both Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, I knew there would be some big laughs. And there were. However, the movie is sloppy. David Dobkin directed. I never saw his earlier efforts "Clay Pigeons" and "Shanghai Knights," but I suspect I would have been equally as frustrated with his work.
Right off the bat, there's a funny montage of Vaughn and Wilson crashing weddings, but it comes too soon in the movie. The audience needed another few minutes of getting to know Vince and Owen's characters (we already know their personas) before crashing weddings with them. The montage is funny and well-edited, but it's not nearly as satisfying as it should be. And really, that's my main criticism with this movie. Why in the world this thing is two hours long is beyond me. The third act was a mess, with several repeated beats and less laughs then the first two acts. I know that typically happens with a silly comedy when you're trying to wrap up an actual story, but the classic comedies, the ones we never forget, keep us laughing all the way to the end. You could feel the steam seeping out of the film, and consequently, out of the audience, as the story limped toward it's predictable conculsion. And I liked the predictable conclusion! It was cliche, but had a self-awareness about being cliche. It just took too long to get there once we knew where it was going.
I think Will Ferrell is hilarious. But I'm not sure he made me laugh more than once in his surprise cameo. Just like any over-the-top comedian, he needs to be directed.
Although a friend of mine told me I can learn everything I need to know about women from watching "The Notebook," I have yet to see the film. However, I will now, because of the truly adorable Rachel McAdams. I had only seen her play the queen blonde bitch in "Mean Girls," so it took me a scene or two before I recognized her. Once I did, I fell in love with her, right along with Owen's character John. She's cute and hot, not an easy feat to accomplish. And she's smart. It's hard for me to fall for actresses in the movies if there isn't a detectable intelligence behind the eyes. Rachel McAdams has it, and it's going to help make her a gigantic movie star.
Cameron Diaz walked out of the theater behind us, looking gorgeous in that "I'm just a regular girl kind of way." It's the fourth time I've seen her in public, and I've never been disappointed. I just hope she never stars in a movie that David Dobkin directs.
Not much gets me blogging these days, but here I am, so something must be up. I take my comedy very seriously. Even silly comedy. Last night, I ventured out to the Arclight to see "Wedding Crashers." Being a fan of both Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, I knew there would be some big laughs. And there were. However, the movie is sloppy. David Dobkin directed. I never saw his earlier efforts "Clay Pigeons" and "Shanghai Knights," but I suspect I would have been equally as frustrated with his work.
Right off the bat, there's a funny montage of Vaughn and Wilson crashing weddings, but it comes too soon in the movie. The audience needed another few minutes of getting to know Vince and Owen's characters (we already know their personas) before crashing weddings with them. The montage is funny and well-edited, but it's not nearly as satisfying as it should be. And really, that's my main criticism with this movie. Why in the world this thing is two hours long is beyond me. The third act was a mess, with several repeated beats and less laughs then the first two acts. I know that typically happens with a silly comedy when you're trying to wrap up an actual story, but the classic comedies, the ones we never forget, keep us laughing all the way to the end. You could feel the steam seeping out of the film, and consequently, out of the audience, as the story limped toward it's predictable conculsion. And I liked the predictable conclusion! It was cliche, but had a self-awareness about being cliche. It just took too long to get there once we knew where it was going.
I think Will Ferrell is hilarious. But I'm not sure he made me laugh more than once in his surprise cameo. Just like any over-the-top comedian, he needs to be directed.
Although a friend of mine told me I can learn everything I need to know about women from watching "The Notebook," I have yet to see the film. However, I will now, because of the truly adorable Rachel McAdams. I had only seen her play the queen blonde bitch in "Mean Girls," so it took me a scene or two before I recognized her. Once I did, I fell in love with her, right along with Owen's character John. She's cute and hot, not an easy feat to accomplish. And she's smart. It's hard for me to fall for actresses in the movies if there isn't a detectable intelligence behind the eyes. Rachel McAdams has it, and it's going to help make her a gigantic movie star.
Cameron Diaz walked out of the theater behind us, looking gorgeous in that "I'm just a regular girl kind of way." It's the fourth time I've seen her in public, and I've never been disappointed. I just hope she never stars in a movie that David Dobkin directs.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
Man, it's been a long time since I posted something. Not to say I'm too broken up about it. Occasionally, friends will email me and say that they're appalled by my lack of bloggerly discipline, but I never fooled myself into thinking I was one of those everyday bloggers who wake up in the morning driven to blog. In fact, I'm up right now, but my brain is all mushy and my body is tired, and I can't think of a single interesting thing to say. Haven't had any coffee or food or interaction with the world yet. Just wanted to post something so this Piker thing didn't fully decay and die. Maybe after I get some stimulation, I'll form a thought or two and post again. Who am I kidding? At this rate, my next post should land somewhere around Labor Day.
Drop whatever plans you guys had on Tuesday, May 10th at 9:30 pm, and tune into NBC for an episode of "Will & Grace" with my name on it. I wouldn't go so far as to say I wrote it, but it will say Written By...
Man, it's been a long time since I posted something. Not to say I'm too broken up about it. Occasionally, friends will email me and say that they're appalled by my lack of bloggerly discipline, but I never fooled myself into thinking I was one of those everyday bloggers who wake up in the morning driven to blog. In fact, I'm up right now, but my brain is all mushy and my body is tired, and I can't think of a single interesting thing to say. Haven't had any coffee or food or interaction with the world yet. Just wanted to post something so this Piker thing didn't fully decay and die. Maybe after I get some stimulation, I'll form a thought or two and post again. Who am I kidding? At this rate, my next post should land somewhere around Labor Day.
Drop whatever plans you guys had on Tuesday, May 10th at 9:30 pm, and tune into NBC for an episode of "Will & Grace" with my name on it. I wouldn't go so far as to say I wrote it, but it will say Written By...
Sunday, February 27, 2005
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... ZZZZZ
Here it is Oscar Sunday and there is absolutely no buzz about tonight's Academy Awards. The only true curiosity lies in whether or not Martin Scorsese finally wins a Best Director statuette. Count me among his many fans. I think, like me, many people would like to see him win, but it's hard to root passionately for his good-not-great epic The Aviator. Besides the Aviator/Million Dollar Baby divide for Best Picture and the Scorsese/Eastwood question in Best Director, it feels like the winners are already penciled in. I suppose we could be thrown a curveball or two tonight, but I anticipate the awards will hold true to form. That's why there's very little excitement surrounding this evening's self-congratulatory kudofest. It's also why I'm not even going to bother to post my picks. Don't care. I'm just hoping Chris Rock is funny and offends a few people to keep it interesting.
Checking my Oscar prediction picks from the day before nominations were announced, I'd say my performance was so-so. My picks were solid, but it felt like whenever I zigged, the Academy zagged. In predicting the nominees for the Big Eight categories, I was only perfect in one -- Best Actress -- and had no fewer than three in each category. Overall, I went 29 out of 40. Not bad, not great.
Last week, I turned in my ballot for Producers Game 2005, attempting once again to forecast the upcoming year in movies. Looks to be a really strong year for studio movies. I'll be posting my ballot along with my 2004 wrap-up sometime this week. I know you all can't wait.
Have a glitzy and glamorous evening.
Here it is Oscar Sunday and there is absolutely no buzz about tonight's Academy Awards. The only true curiosity lies in whether or not Martin Scorsese finally wins a Best Director statuette. Count me among his many fans. I think, like me, many people would like to see him win, but it's hard to root passionately for his good-not-great epic The Aviator. Besides the Aviator/Million Dollar Baby divide for Best Picture and the Scorsese/Eastwood question in Best Director, it feels like the winners are already penciled in. I suppose we could be thrown a curveball or two tonight, but I anticipate the awards will hold true to form. That's why there's very little excitement surrounding this evening's self-congratulatory kudofest. It's also why I'm not even going to bother to post my picks. Don't care. I'm just hoping Chris Rock is funny and offends a few people to keep it interesting.
Checking my Oscar prediction picks from the day before nominations were announced, I'd say my performance was so-so. My picks were solid, but it felt like whenever I zigged, the Academy zagged. In predicting the nominees for the Big Eight categories, I was only perfect in one -- Best Actress -- and had no fewer than three in each category. Overall, I went 29 out of 40. Not bad, not great.
Last week, I turned in my ballot for Producers Game 2005, attempting once again to forecast the upcoming year in movies. Looks to be a really strong year for studio movies. I'll be posting my ballot along with my 2004 wrap-up sometime this week. I know you all can't wait.
Have a glitzy and glamorous evening.
Friday, February 18, 2005
KIRCHNER
Sometimes you meet people who strike you as complete originals. They're usually the best kind of humans, and certainly the most entertaining. My friend Dave Kirchner is just such a person. All I have to do is hear his name mentioned or think about him and I smile or laugh. New York magazine recently did a profile on Kirchner for its real estate section. You have to read this hilarious story. Of course, it's even more funny if you know the guy. Best case scenario is you actually get to meet him and hear him tell the story. I've heard it several times, in great detail, and I doubt I'll ever get tired of it. Enjoy the uniqueness that is Dave Kirchner.
Sometimes you meet people who strike you as complete originals. They're usually the best kind of humans, and certainly the most entertaining. My friend Dave Kirchner is just such a person. All I have to do is hear his name mentioned or think about him and I smile or laugh. New York magazine recently did a profile on Kirchner for its real estate section. You have to read this hilarious story. Of course, it's even more funny if you know the guy. Best case scenario is you actually get to meet him and hear him tell the story. I've heard it several times, in great detail, and I doubt I'll ever get tired of it. Enjoy the uniqueness that is Dave Kirchner.
Monday, January 24, 2005
OSCAR EVE
Tis the night before nominations. Oscar takes center stage in the wee hours of the West Coast morning tomorrow. I've been rather obsessed with the race for the Academy Awards the past few years. I honestly don't know why. Scratching the surface, the answer could have something to do with my innate love of listmaking. Digger a little deeper, it could be related to an unyielding quest to take the temperature of the cultural zeitgeist. Drilling to the core, the chase for a coveted Academy Award nomination represents something real within me that longs for the ultimate recognition from the industry I'm attempting to ply my trade in.
Geekily, I've been keeping a running list of my predictions for Best Picture since the middle of November. The list has evolved as I've seen more of the movies and as buzz has shifted. We'll begin with my current Oscar Eve educated guesses:
BEST PICTURE PICKS
1/24/05
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
SIDEWAYS
FINDING NEVERLAND
HOTEL RWANDA
Stiffed: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
For over a month, my picks went unchanged. From 12/7/05 to 1/13/05, RAY was the choice for the last slot, but that was before I saw HOTEL RWANDA, which was unquestionably the more powerful movie of the two. I think the Academy will agree.
From 11/30/04 to 12/7/05, I believed PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was close to a lock, and FINDING NEVERLAND would knock out RAY from the final nomination.
And finally, from 11/19/04 to 11/30/04, before MILLION DOLLAR BABY made a strong move to the inside, my picks looked like this:
THE AVIATOR
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
SIDEWAYS
FINDING NEVERLAND
KINSEY
My predictions for the rest of the major categories:
BEST DIRECTOR
MARTIN SCORSESE - The Aviator
CLINT EASTWOOD - Million Dollar Baby
ALEXANDER PAYNE - Sideways
MARC FORSTER - Finding Neverland
MICHAEL MANN - Collateral
Stiffed: MICHAEL GONDRY - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
BEST ACTOR
JAMIE FOXX - Ray
LEONARDO DICAPRIO - The Aviator
PAUL GIAMATTI - Sideways
JAVIER BARDEM - The Sea Inside
DON CHEADLE - Hotel Rwanda
Stiffed: JOHNNY DEPP - Finding Neverland, CLINT EASTWOOD - Million Dollar Baby
BEST ACTRESS
HILARY SWANK - Million Dollar Baby
IMELDA STAUNTON - Vera Drake
ANNETTE BENING - Being Julia
KATE WINSLET - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
CATALINA SANDRINO MORENO - Maria Full of Grace
Stiffed: No one
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
THOMAS HAYDEN CHURCH - Sideways
MORGAN FREEMAN - Million Dollar Baby
CLIVE OWEN - Closer
PETER SARSGAARD - Kinsey
FREDDIE HIGHMORE - Finding Neverland
Stiffed: JAMIE FOXX - Collateral
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT - The Aviator
VIRGINIA MADSEN - Sideways
NATALIE PORTMAN - Closer
LAURA LINNEY - Kinsey
MERYL STREEP - The Manchurian Candidate
Stiffed: SOPHIE OKONEDO - Hotel Rwanda, KATE WINSLET - Finding Neverland
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
CHARLIE KAUFMAN - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
JOHN LOGAN - The Aviator
BILL CONDON - Kinsey
PEDRO ALMODOVAR - Bad Education
BRAD BIRD - The Incredibles
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ALEXANDER PAYNE & JIM TAYLOR - Sideways
PAUL HAGGIS - Million Dollar Baby
DAVID MAGEE - Finding Neverland
PATRICK MARBER - Closer
JOSE RIVERA - The Motorcycle Diaries
The chase ends tomorrow morning. I'm actually relieved. My mind can stop working on the speculation of nominations and move on to more important matters. I always find that after the nominations are announced, I lose interest until the week leading up to awards when I have to make my Oscar Pool picks.
Tis the night before nominations. Oscar takes center stage in the wee hours of the West Coast morning tomorrow. I've been rather obsessed with the race for the Academy Awards the past few years. I honestly don't know why. Scratching the surface, the answer could have something to do with my innate love of listmaking. Digger a little deeper, it could be related to an unyielding quest to take the temperature of the cultural zeitgeist. Drilling to the core, the chase for a coveted Academy Award nomination represents something real within me that longs for the ultimate recognition from the industry I'm attempting to ply my trade in.
Geekily, I've been keeping a running list of my predictions for Best Picture since the middle of November. The list has evolved as I've seen more of the movies and as buzz has shifted. We'll begin with my current Oscar Eve educated guesses:
BEST PICTURE PICKS
1/24/05
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
SIDEWAYS
FINDING NEVERLAND
HOTEL RWANDA
Stiffed: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
For over a month, my picks went unchanged. From 12/7/05 to 1/13/05, RAY was the choice for the last slot, but that was before I saw HOTEL RWANDA, which was unquestionably the more powerful movie of the two. I think the Academy will agree.
From 11/30/04 to 12/7/05, I believed PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was close to a lock, and FINDING NEVERLAND would knock out RAY from the final nomination.
And finally, from 11/19/04 to 11/30/04, before MILLION DOLLAR BABY made a strong move to the inside, my picks looked like this:
THE AVIATOR
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
SIDEWAYS
FINDING NEVERLAND
KINSEY
My predictions for the rest of the major categories:
BEST DIRECTOR
MARTIN SCORSESE - The Aviator
CLINT EASTWOOD - Million Dollar Baby
ALEXANDER PAYNE - Sideways
MARC FORSTER - Finding Neverland
MICHAEL MANN - Collateral
Stiffed: MICHAEL GONDRY - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
BEST ACTOR
JAMIE FOXX - Ray
LEONARDO DICAPRIO - The Aviator
PAUL GIAMATTI - Sideways
JAVIER BARDEM - The Sea Inside
DON CHEADLE - Hotel Rwanda
Stiffed: JOHNNY DEPP - Finding Neverland, CLINT EASTWOOD - Million Dollar Baby
BEST ACTRESS
HILARY SWANK - Million Dollar Baby
IMELDA STAUNTON - Vera Drake
ANNETTE BENING - Being Julia
KATE WINSLET - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
CATALINA SANDRINO MORENO - Maria Full of Grace
Stiffed: No one
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
THOMAS HAYDEN CHURCH - Sideways
MORGAN FREEMAN - Million Dollar Baby
CLIVE OWEN - Closer
PETER SARSGAARD - Kinsey
FREDDIE HIGHMORE - Finding Neverland
Stiffed: JAMIE FOXX - Collateral
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT - The Aviator
VIRGINIA MADSEN - Sideways
NATALIE PORTMAN - Closer
LAURA LINNEY - Kinsey
MERYL STREEP - The Manchurian Candidate
Stiffed: SOPHIE OKONEDO - Hotel Rwanda, KATE WINSLET - Finding Neverland
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
CHARLIE KAUFMAN - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
JOHN LOGAN - The Aviator
BILL CONDON - Kinsey
PEDRO ALMODOVAR - Bad Education
BRAD BIRD - The Incredibles
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ALEXANDER PAYNE & JIM TAYLOR - Sideways
PAUL HAGGIS - Million Dollar Baby
DAVID MAGEE - Finding Neverland
PATRICK MARBER - Closer
JOSE RIVERA - The Motorcycle Diaries
The chase ends tomorrow morning. I'm actually relieved. My mind can stop working on the speculation of nominations and move on to more important matters. I always find that after the nominations are announced, I lose interest until the week leading up to awards when I have to make my Oscar Pool picks.
Friday, January 07, 2005
YOU HEARD IT HEAR FIRST, FOLKS!
The hottest couple in the world -- Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston -- are officially over! Their publicist confirmed they took at trip to Splitsville and never came back. Reading over the article, I was surprised to learn that they originally met on a blind date. That reminded me that I had a blind date scheduled for this evening, but it was canceled on account of rain. Oh, what might have been...
So, now that Brad and Jen are done, the most important question has got to be... Who is now the hottest couple in the world? Could it be Anna Kournivova and Enrique Iglesias? Nah. Physcially, they're certainly on fire, but she doesn't even play tennis anymore and I'm not sure what the hell he does besides her. Nick and Jessica are lame. J-Lo's hot, but Marc Anthony's not. J-Garner is hot, but Affleck has certainly seen his better days. SJP and Matthew Broderick? Pleeease... Could be Jude Law and Siena Miller. Could be Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. If somebody pinned me down and forced me to submit my ballot right now, I suppose I'd have to cast my vote for Derek Jeter and Scarlett Johansson. But maybe, just maybe, the hottest couple in the world is now Flav-O-Flav and Brigette Nielson.
The hottest couple in the world -- Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston -- are officially over! Their publicist confirmed they took at trip to Splitsville and never came back. Reading over the article, I was surprised to learn that they originally met on a blind date. That reminded me that I had a blind date scheduled for this evening, but it was canceled on account of rain. Oh, what might have been...
So, now that Brad and Jen are done, the most important question has got to be... Who is now the hottest couple in the world? Could it be Anna Kournivova and Enrique Iglesias? Nah. Physcially, they're certainly on fire, but she doesn't even play tennis anymore and I'm not sure what the hell he does besides her. Nick and Jessica are lame. J-Lo's hot, but Marc Anthony's not. J-Garner is hot, but Affleck has certainly seen his better days. SJP and Matthew Broderick? Pleeease... Could be Jude Law and Siena Miller. Could be Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. If somebody pinned me down and forced me to submit my ballot right now, I suppose I'd have to cast my vote for Derek Jeter and Scarlett Johansson. But maybe, just maybe, the hottest couple in the world is now Flav-O-Flav and Brigette Nielson.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
YEAR NEW HAPPY
Everything has just gone completely goofy in 2005. What the hell is going on? Are you guys freaking out too? I mean, it was as if one moment we were counting down -- backwards, I might add -- and then all of a sudden -- bam! -- just like that, it's a new year. Everything changed in an instant. Black is white. White is black. !upside-down is world The
Everything has just gone completely goofy in 2005. What the hell is going on? Are you guys freaking out too? I mean, it was as if one moment we were counting down -- backwards, I might add -- and then all of a sudden -- bam! -- just like that, it's a new year. Everything changed in an instant. Black is white. White is black. !upside-down is world The
Thursday, December 02, 2004
ALL GROWNS UP
True to Oscar season tradition, the National Board of Review was the first out of the gate to announce their "Best of 2004" movie awards. "Finding Neverland" took home the top prize. I saw the movie tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a very sweet movie, celebrating imagination and youth with a lot of heart, great costumes, and a bunch of excellent performances. I'm reluctant to admit it, but I teared up repeatedly during the third act, and that simply doesn't happen very often for me.
As far as the best film of 2004 is concerned, I'm still sticking with "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." How that didn't make the NBR's Top Ten (listed below) is beyond me.
National Board of Review's Best Films for 2004:
1. Finding Neverland
2. The Aviator
3. Closer
4. Million Dollar Baby
5. Sideways
6. Kinsey
7. Vera Drake
8. Ray
9. Collateral
10. Hotel Rwanda
There were no real shockers in the acting nods. Jamie Foxx for "Ray", Annette Bening for "Being Julia", Thomas Hayden Church for "Sideways", and Laura Linney for "Kinsey". I know the NBR announcement is usually treated with a grain of salt by the critical community, but if nothing else, the acting awards will only serve to solidify these four actors as the Oscar favorites in their respective categories. However, the biggest lock of the Oscar season has to be Charlie Kaufman and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" for Best Original Screenplay. I'd mortgage the farm on it, that is, if I had a farm.
Michael Mann winning for "Collateral" surprised me. I think it's a good movie with a ton of style, but it's not in my personal Top Ten and I seriously doubt that it'll be nominated for Best Picture. In a year likely to see Oscars spread out over a large number of films, can Mann really win for Best Director even if the film isn't up for Best Picture?
True to Oscar season tradition, the National Board of Review was the first out of the gate to announce their "Best of 2004" movie awards. "Finding Neverland" took home the top prize. I saw the movie tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a very sweet movie, celebrating imagination and youth with a lot of heart, great costumes, and a bunch of excellent performances. I'm reluctant to admit it, but I teared up repeatedly during the third act, and that simply doesn't happen very often for me.
As far as the best film of 2004 is concerned, I'm still sticking with "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." How that didn't make the NBR's Top Ten (listed below) is beyond me.
National Board of Review's Best Films for 2004:
1. Finding Neverland
2. The Aviator
3. Closer
4. Million Dollar Baby
5. Sideways
6. Kinsey
7. Vera Drake
8. Ray
9. Collateral
10. Hotel Rwanda
There were no real shockers in the acting nods. Jamie Foxx for "Ray", Annette Bening for "Being Julia", Thomas Hayden Church for "Sideways", and Laura Linney for "Kinsey". I know the NBR announcement is usually treated with a grain of salt by the critical community, but if nothing else, the acting awards will only serve to solidify these four actors as the Oscar favorites in their respective categories. However, the biggest lock of the Oscar season has to be Charlie Kaufman and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" for Best Original Screenplay. I'd mortgage the farm on it, that is, if I had a farm.
Michael Mann winning for "Collateral" surprised me. I think it's a good movie with a ton of style, but it's not in my personal Top Ten and I seriously doubt that it'll be nominated for Best Picture. In a year likely to see Oscars spread out over a large number of films, can Mann really win for Best Director even if the film isn't up for Best Picture?
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
PIKER SIGHTING
Whenever I see the word "piker" in a mass media print publication, a charge of electricity runs through my body. Yesterday, I came across my favorite word in Todd McCarthy's review of "The Aviator" in Daily Variety. Shockingly, it was used in reference to Katherine Hepburn.
If Kate Hepburn is a piker, I'm honored to call myself one. Ah, who am I kidding? I've always been a proud piker.
Whenever I see the word "piker" in a mass media print publication, a charge of electricity runs through my body. Yesterday, I came across my favorite word in Todd McCarthy's review of "The Aviator" in Daily Variety. Shockingly, it was used in reference to Katherine Hepburn.
Once the startling impact of her impersonation has subsided, the relationship successfully defines itself as a pairing of two completely self-absorbed misfits. The bond is strengthened by the rarefied air they share as two of the most famous people in the world, romanticized in a lovely "date" on Hughes' plane over Los Angeles at night and unsettled in a brilliantly funny sequence in which Hepburn takes her beau to the family compound in Connecticut, where the eccentric clan's air of self-obsessed superiority makes the famous daughter look like a piker (Frances Conroy's cameo as Mrs. Hepburn is indelible).
If Kate Hepburn is a piker, I'm honored to call myself one. Ah, who am I kidding? I've always been a proud piker.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
MOOOOOOVIES
My social life consists of very little besides the cinema these days. I've been attending a lot of screenings for upcoming movies, a lot of them with Q & A sessions with one of more of the involved principles. Often times lately, I've prefered the post-movie discussions more then the movies themselves. However, I've continued to track my ten favorite movies of the year. At this point, there a few contenders left that could challenge for a spot on this list. They will be listed below. Lots and lots of choices at the multiplex this time of year. So far, not much has impressed. Don't let that spoil your turkey feasts now, ya hear? Everybody have a good Thanksgiving.
TOP TEN
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. Sideways
3. Touching the Void
4. The Incredibles
5. The Five Obstructions
6. Before Sunset
7. Tarnation
8. DiG!
9. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
10. (TIE) Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall... and Spring
10. (TIE) I Heart Huckabees
HONORABLE MENTION:
Born Into Brothels, The Bourne Supremecy, Closer, Collateral, Dodgeball, Garden State, Harry Potter 3, Hero, Kinsey, Spiderman 2, Team America
YET TO BE SEEN:
The Life Aquatic, A Very Long Engagement, The Motorcycle Diaries, In Good Company, The Aviator, Spanglish, Finding Neverland, Ray, House of Flying Daggers, Million Dollar Baby
My social life consists of very little besides the cinema these days. I've been attending a lot of screenings for upcoming movies, a lot of them with Q & A sessions with one of more of the involved principles. Often times lately, I've prefered the post-movie discussions more then the movies themselves. However, I've continued to track my ten favorite movies of the year. At this point, there a few contenders left that could challenge for a spot on this list. They will be listed below. Lots and lots of choices at the multiplex this time of year. So far, not much has impressed. Don't let that spoil your turkey feasts now, ya hear? Everybody have a good Thanksgiving.
TOP TEN
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. Sideways
3. Touching the Void
4. The Incredibles
5. The Five Obstructions
6. Before Sunset
7. Tarnation
8. DiG!
9. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
10. (TIE) Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall... and Spring
10. (TIE) I Heart Huckabees
HONORABLE MENTION:
Born Into Brothels, The Bourne Supremecy, Closer, Collateral, Dodgeball, Garden State, Harry Potter 3, Hero, Kinsey, Spiderman 2, Team America
YET TO BE SEEN:
The Life Aquatic, A Very Long Engagement, The Motorcycle Diaries, In Good Company, The Aviator, Spanglish, Finding Neverland, Ray, House of Flying Daggers, Million Dollar Baby
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
A MOVEABLE FEAST OF MOVIES
I've been a bad, bad, bad little blogger. I don't want to make excuses, but... I will. My day job is all-consuming these days, and it's not a standard desk job that offers blogging opportunities. In fact, I spend most of the day in story meetings and writing sessions, and I barely even have the time to check my email. By the time I get home at night, the last thing I want to do is turn on the computer. And if I do, it better be to get my own writing done. That being said, we're entering into my favorite time of year for movies and I've begun my annual movie binge. I'm hoping it'll get me bloggin' more. In an attempt to kickstart things, I'm posting my preliminary Top 10 for 2004. Admittedly, it's a bit too early. I missed some flicks that have already been released and there is a slew of interesting movies on the way that could shake up the top ten in a big way. But, as I am prone to do, I was reviewing the year in cinema to date and jotted down a little list that got me motivated enough to post.
PRELIMINARY TOP 10 FOR 2004
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. Sideways
3. Touching the Void
4. The Five Obstructions
5. The Incredibles
6. Before Sunset
7. I Heart Huckabees
8. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
9. Dig!
10. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
Honorable Mention: The Bourne Supremecy, Born Into Brothels, Garden State, Hero, Team America, Dodgeball, Harry Potter 3, Spiderman 2, Collateral
Yet to Be Seen: The Life Aquatic, The Aviator, Alexander, Closer, A Very Long Engagement, Spanglish, Finding Neverland, Ray, Beyond the Sea, Proof, Bad Education, The Motorcycle Diaries, Kinsey, Tarnation, Primer, Maria Full of Grace, Napolean Dynamite, Open Water, House of Flying Daggers, Hotel Rwanda, Ocean's Twelve, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
I've been a bad, bad, bad little blogger. I don't want to make excuses, but... I will. My day job is all-consuming these days, and it's not a standard desk job that offers blogging opportunities. In fact, I spend most of the day in story meetings and writing sessions, and I barely even have the time to check my email. By the time I get home at night, the last thing I want to do is turn on the computer. And if I do, it better be to get my own writing done. That being said, we're entering into my favorite time of year for movies and I've begun my annual movie binge. I'm hoping it'll get me bloggin' more. In an attempt to kickstart things, I'm posting my preliminary Top 10 for 2004. Admittedly, it's a bit too early. I missed some flicks that have already been released and there is a slew of interesting movies on the way that could shake up the top ten in a big way. But, as I am prone to do, I was reviewing the year in cinema to date and jotted down a little list that got me motivated enough to post.
PRELIMINARY TOP 10 FOR 2004
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. Sideways
3. Touching the Void
4. The Five Obstructions
5. The Incredibles
6. Before Sunset
7. I Heart Huckabees
8. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
9. Dig!
10. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
Honorable Mention: The Bourne Supremecy, Born Into Brothels, Garden State, Hero, Team America, Dodgeball, Harry Potter 3, Spiderman 2, Collateral
Yet to Be Seen: The Life Aquatic, The Aviator, Alexander, Closer, A Very Long Engagement, Spanglish, Finding Neverland, Ray, Beyond the Sea, Proof, Bad Education, The Motorcycle Diaries, Kinsey, Tarnation, Primer, Maria Full of Grace, Napolean Dynamite, Open Water, House of Flying Daggers, Hotel Rwanda, Ocean's Twelve, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Thursday, August 26, 2004
LONG TIME NO POST
What are you guys still doing hanging around here? I thought this joint closed up ages ago. I'll tell ya, though, the old place doesn't look half bad. Lots of memories...
Since the last post, the Piker organization has been in a constant state of flux, unable to actually produce any posts. However, we here at Piker have grown confident that the new regime will be a highly productive well-oiled machine, cranking out posts almost daily. All right, maybe that's a bit too ambitious. Let's say almost weekly. Hey, that's a vast improvement over the current turnover rate. You people are just lucky this dump hasn't been taken over by squatters during the long absence. There may not have been any new material, but I'm proud of the fact that the integrity of this fine publication is still intact.
I'll be seeing you people soon. In the meantime, stay gold, Pony Boy.
What are you guys still doing hanging around here? I thought this joint closed up ages ago. I'll tell ya, though, the old place doesn't look half bad. Lots of memories...
Since the last post, the Piker organization has been in a constant state of flux, unable to actually produce any posts. However, we here at Piker have grown confident that the new regime will be a highly productive well-oiled machine, cranking out posts almost daily. All right, maybe that's a bit too ambitious. Let's say almost weekly. Hey, that's a vast improvement over the current turnover rate. You people are just lucky this dump hasn't been taken over by squatters during the long absence. There may not have been any new material, but I'm proud of the fact that the integrity of this fine publication is still intact.
I'll be seeing you people soon. In the meantime, stay gold, Pony Boy.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
HOT ENOUGH FOR YA?
Can you dig it?! Shaquille O'Neal is now officially a member of the Heat. The most dominant player in the NBA today has been traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler, and a first round draft pick. Essentially, the Heat gave up their starting front line to acquire the Diesel.
Can you blame them? Odom is finally coming into his own as a player and has a huge upside, Grant can't jump but works his ass off in the paint, and Butler could be a solid starter for a long time in this league. But the opportunity to get a player and box office draw like Shaq just doesn't come around very often.
Luckily, Pat Riley and Heat management were wise enough to take advantage of it. What I like best about the trade is that the Heat didn't have to give up Dwayne Wade, their star guard who will now play the role Kobe played alongside O'Neal. Will a happy Shaq and young Wade be enough to dethrone the World Champion Detroit Pistons in the East? Will the Heat supporting cast be any better than the Lakers subpar supporting cast of this past season? Who will take control in the Western Conference? KG and the Wolves? Duncan and the Spurs? Nowitzki and the Mavs? Will Kobe return to the Lakers, and if so, can they still contend for the Western Conference crown? Lots and lots of questions linger, but it's a very exciting day to be a fan of the NBA and a euphoric one to be a Heat fan.
Welcome to Miami, Shaq Daddy.
Can you dig it?! Shaquille O'Neal is now officially a member of the Heat. The most dominant player in the NBA today has been traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler, and a first round draft pick. Essentially, the Heat gave up their starting front line to acquire the Diesel.
Can you blame them? Odom is finally coming into his own as a player and has a huge upside, Grant can't jump but works his ass off in the paint, and Butler could be a solid starter for a long time in this league. But the opportunity to get a player and box office draw like Shaq just doesn't come around very often.
Luckily, Pat Riley and Heat management were wise enough to take advantage of it. What I like best about the trade is that the Heat didn't have to give up Dwayne Wade, their star guard who will now play the role Kobe played alongside O'Neal. Will a happy Shaq and young Wade be enough to dethrone the World Champion Detroit Pistons in the East? Will the Heat supporting cast be any better than the Lakers subpar supporting cast of this past season? Who will take control in the Western Conference? KG and the Wolves? Duncan and the Spurs? Nowitzki and the Mavs? Will Kobe return to the Lakers, and if so, can they still contend for the Western Conference crown? Lots and lots of questions linger, but it's a very exciting day to be a fan of the NBA and a euphoric one to be a Heat fan.
Welcome to Miami, Shaq Daddy.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
BOBBING FOR BIG APPLES
Want to read a rabbit's impression of "Farenheit 9/11"? Check out the Intelligencer section of the current issue of "New York" magazine. On newsstands now! Or, if you can't find a newsstand or are too lazy to leave the house, you can just read it here. The Rabbit takes a refreshing slant in commenting on the hot doc that seemingly everyone has weighed in on. If, after reading the article, you agree, help yourself to a free carrot!
Want to read a rabbit's impression of "Farenheit 9/11"? Check out the Intelligencer section of the current issue of "New York" magazine. On newsstands now! Or, if you can't find a newsstand or are too lazy to leave the house, you can just read it here. The Rabbit takes a refreshing slant in commenting on the hot doc that seemingly everyone has weighed in on. If, after reading the article, you agree, help yourself to a free carrot!
Monday, July 05, 2004
DAMN THE SWISS!
Those neutral bastards ruined our 4th of July sports weekend. Saturday, Swiss cyclist and Tour de France rookie Fabian Cancellara took the Prologue podium from Lance Armstrong, nipping him by two seconds in the individual time trial. Sunday, Switzerland's Roger Federer defeated American Andy Roddick to take home the Wimbledon title.
Federer's championship point celebration was remarkably reminiscent of Bjorn Borg's signature move. I suppose there's nobody better for Federer to emulate than Borg, who won Wimbledon five times in a row. Federer says his idol was Pistol Pete Sampras, and I suppose his game and his demeanor reflect both legendary grass court champions. Federer has now won two in a row at the All-England Club. Is Borg's record in jeopardy? Is Sampras's all-time Grand Slam record within reach? The overcast British sky is the limit for the stylish Swiss player.
You had to feel Andy Roddick's frustration in yesterday's match. Roddick came out blazing, serving like a madman and breaking Federer early in the first set, eventually winning the set 6-4. At that point, it looked like Federer was vulnerable. Roddick was pushing all the right buttons, breaking him again in the second set. But Roger broke back, and from the second set through the fourth set, Federer got all the breaks and all the bounces. On the big points, Roddick went for it and barely missed or Federer caught the line, even when he mishit the ball. Roddick's energy did not let up. But if for a split second, his concentration slipped, Federer was there to take advantage. This match really did swing on a handful of crucial points. It may not have gone the distance, but it was a close a tennis match as your likely to see. And this was the finals of Wimbledon. The number one seed versus the number two seed. The two best players in the game today. As finals rarely do, this one lived up to its billing.
Maria Sharapova, the Anti-Kournikova.
Those neutral bastards ruined our 4th of July sports weekend. Saturday, Swiss cyclist and Tour de France rookie Fabian Cancellara took the Prologue podium from Lance Armstrong, nipping him by two seconds in the individual time trial. Sunday, Switzerland's Roger Federer defeated American Andy Roddick to take home the Wimbledon title.
Federer's championship point celebration was remarkably reminiscent of Bjorn Borg's signature move. I suppose there's nobody better for Federer to emulate than Borg, who won Wimbledon five times in a row. Federer says his idol was Pistol Pete Sampras, and I suppose his game and his demeanor reflect both legendary grass court champions. Federer has now won two in a row at the All-England Club. Is Borg's record in jeopardy? Is Sampras's all-time Grand Slam record within reach? The overcast British sky is the limit for the stylish Swiss player.
You had to feel Andy Roddick's frustration in yesterday's match. Roddick came out blazing, serving like a madman and breaking Federer early in the first set, eventually winning the set 6-4. At that point, it looked like Federer was vulnerable. Roddick was pushing all the right buttons, breaking him again in the second set. But Roger broke back, and from the second set through the fourth set, Federer got all the breaks and all the bounces. On the big points, Roddick went for it and barely missed or Federer caught the line, even when he mishit the ball. Roddick's energy did not let up. But if for a split second, his concentration slipped, Federer was there to take advantage. This match really did swing on a handful of crucial points. It may not have gone the distance, but it was a close a tennis match as your likely to see. And this was the finals of Wimbledon. The number one seed versus the number two seed. The two best players in the game today. As finals rarely do, this one lived up to its billing.
Maria Sharapova, the Anti-Kournikova.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
EUROSPORTS
I love summertime in Europe. Granted, I'm not there right now, but I love the idea of it. I also love the great sporting events that take place in Europe during the summer. Really, it starts in late May with the French Open. But, right now, it's in full swing. Today, 17 year-old Maria Sharapova upset Serena Williams to win Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam title.
Maria beat Serena at her own game, using her powerful backhand and serve in combination with great confidence and superior control of emotion. It's hard not to like the young, lanky Russian who left her mother at age 7 to train in Florida. She's pretty, she's powerful, she seems nice, and nobody expected her to win this tournament so early in her career, let alone dethrone the two-time defending champion and best player in the women's game. Her win, coupled with Russian Anastasia Myskina's victory in the French Open, signals the arrival of some serious competition for the formerly-dominating Williams sisters and the Belgians Justin Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters.
And on the men's side... the dream final. #1 Roger Federer vs. #2 Andy Roddick.
Hope it's one for the ages, because these guys are clearly the best two grass-court players in the world, as well as the best two players period in the men's game. Can't wait to watch the Roddick power and the Federer finesse collide.
Oh, and don't think for a second I would neglect to mention that the Tour de France began today.
Lance Armstrong, in his quest to become the first rider ever to win six Tours, sent a message in the Prologue, with a lightning fast run in the time trial. Armstrong, the American, finished second (just two seconds back) to Swiss newcomer Fabian Cancellara, but immediately put some distance between himself and his main competition. I'm sure all the other riders got the message that Lance looks strong and somebody's going to have to been damn good to deny him his sixth Tour.
Tomorrow, the American and the Swiss will do battle again, but this time for the Wimbledon championship.
I love summertime in Europe. Granted, I'm not there right now, but I love the idea of it. I also love the great sporting events that take place in Europe during the summer. Really, it starts in late May with the French Open. But, right now, it's in full swing. Today, 17 year-old Maria Sharapova upset Serena Williams to win Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam title.
Maria beat Serena at her own game, using her powerful backhand and serve in combination with great confidence and superior control of emotion. It's hard not to like the young, lanky Russian who left her mother at age 7 to train in Florida. She's pretty, she's powerful, she seems nice, and nobody expected her to win this tournament so early in her career, let alone dethrone the two-time defending champion and best player in the women's game. Her win, coupled with Russian Anastasia Myskina's victory in the French Open, signals the arrival of some serious competition for the formerly-dominating Williams sisters and the Belgians Justin Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters.
And on the men's side... the dream final. #1 Roger Federer vs. #2 Andy Roddick.
Hope it's one for the ages, because these guys are clearly the best two grass-court players in the world, as well as the best two players period in the men's game. Can't wait to watch the Roddick power and the Federer finesse collide.
Oh, and don't think for a second I would neglect to mention that the Tour de France began today.
Lance Armstrong, in his quest to become the first rider ever to win six Tours, sent a message in the Prologue, with a lightning fast run in the time trial. Armstrong, the American, finished second (just two seconds back) to Swiss newcomer Fabian Cancellara, but immediately put some distance between himself and his main competition. I'm sure all the other riders got the message that Lance looks strong and somebody's going to have to been damn good to deny him his sixth Tour.
Tomorrow, the American and the Swiss will do battle again, but this time for the Wimbledon championship.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
THE MYTH OF THE DODGER DOG
Last night, by paying a scalper $35 for a $23 Field Level seat, I earned the right to claim to be counted among the largest regular season crowd to ever witness a Los Angeles Dodger game. The hometown heroes took advantage of an off night by Javier Vazquez and the New York Yankees, sending my buddy from Westchester County and I away disappointed. Then, to add insult to injury, after the game we were trapped in the worst parking lot logjam I've ever encountered. We sat idly for forty-five minutes, moving only a few feet forward as the line of cars ahead of us formed a steady stream of brake lights. Stuck in the back corner of this Dodger deathtrap, we listened to the post-game show on 980 AM. One call after another conveyed a gross group overreaction to one single early to mid-season victory. Somehow this game turned Dodger fans into cockeyed optimists, and gave them the freedom to speculate that a 6-3 win over the Yankees could be parlayed into a division title and a possible World Series showdown with the best team that money can buy. Perhaps these fans calling in to sports talk radio felt inspired by what they perceived to be a playoff atmosphere last night, and I'm unable to deny crowd was energetic and a possible factor in the game. However, it seemed to me to be a case of Dodger fans sniffing Blue. The Yankees beat themselves last night. Jason Giambi made a throwing error on a possible double-play ball and Javier Vazquez compounded that mistake with three wild pitches and a throwing error of his own. The Dodgers compiled a fair number of singles, but only had one extra-base hit the entire game. This was not a late-inning comeback filled with drama and grit. This was the Yankees coming off a Friday night loss in Arizona and a flight to Los Angeles for a Saturday night game, and the Dodgers coming off a three-game sweep of the mediocre Orioles and a peaceful night's sleep in their own beds. It was as if the call-in superfans started to believe the hype of the "Yankees suck" chant heard scattered throughout the stadium. I found myself tempted to answer the crowd back with "Yankees suck? Really? What is the basis for your argument? They currently have the best record in baseball. They've been to the World Series the last five out of six years. And they've more championships than any franchise in any major sport. Plus the fact that without them, Major League Baseball wouldn't be very interesting or profitable. The New York Yankees most certainly do not suck." However, I held my tongue and let these hyper Los Angelenos have their moment, their first taste of victory over the Yankees since 1981. Their hunger for even a small victory seemed palpable in the wake of an embarrassing display by their Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Their collective hopes for a championship dashed only days ago, those Laker fans saw their Dodgers vanquish the mighty Yankees, and a transference took place. Down came the Laker flags and up went the Doger banners. My Westchester buddy couldn't contain himself any longer and used his cell phone to call in to the 980 AM post-show to voice his Yankee opinion and give the Dodger fans who surrounded us a little dose of reality. I couldn't contain myself any longer either, and eschewed the stagnant line of cars for the open space of the littered parking spots in hopes of a better way out of the nightmarish parking lot gridlock. After dialing and dialing, my buddy got through to the station, cleared the screener, and was placed on hold to talk to the host. In true Houdini fashion, I found a seam and hit the hole hard to magically free us from the stranglehold Chavez Ravine so viciously held us in. We hit the 110 and headed home, but as luck would have it, the radio host ended his show just when my buddy would have been the next caller on the air. Turns out the only thing that brought Dodger fans back down to Earth last night was the news that Phil Jackson was not coming back to coach the Lakers, Kobe opted out of his contract, and Shaq demanded a trade. The Lakers had imploded. All that was left was the hope that the Dodgers can somehow manage to outlast the San Diego Padres for the NL West Division crown. For good measure, the Yankees sent a rookie pitcher making his Major League debut to the mound today and beat the Dodgers 6-2, reminding the L.A. crowd that by no means do the Yankees suck. Hate to say it, but Dodger Dogs kind of do.
Last night, by paying a scalper $35 for a $23 Field Level seat, I earned the right to claim to be counted among the largest regular season crowd to ever witness a Los Angeles Dodger game. The hometown heroes took advantage of an off night by Javier Vazquez and the New York Yankees, sending my buddy from Westchester County and I away disappointed. Then, to add insult to injury, after the game we were trapped in the worst parking lot logjam I've ever encountered. We sat idly for forty-five minutes, moving only a few feet forward as the line of cars ahead of us formed a steady stream of brake lights. Stuck in the back corner of this Dodger deathtrap, we listened to the post-game show on 980 AM. One call after another conveyed a gross group overreaction to one single early to mid-season victory. Somehow this game turned Dodger fans into cockeyed optimists, and gave them the freedom to speculate that a 6-3 win over the Yankees could be parlayed into a division title and a possible World Series showdown with the best team that money can buy. Perhaps these fans calling in to sports talk radio felt inspired by what they perceived to be a playoff atmosphere last night, and I'm unable to deny crowd was energetic and a possible factor in the game. However, it seemed to me to be a case of Dodger fans sniffing Blue. The Yankees beat themselves last night. Jason Giambi made a throwing error on a possible double-play ball and Javier Vazquez compounded that mistake with three wild pitches and a throwing error of his own. The Dodgers compiled a fair number of singles, but only had one extra-base hit the entire game. This was not a late-inning comeback filled with drama and grit. This was the Yankees coming off a Friday night loss in Arizona and a flight to Los Angeles for a Saturday night game, and the Dodgers coming off a three-game sweep of the mediocre Orioles and a peaceful night's sleep in their own beds. It was as if the call-in superfans started to believe the hype of the "Yankees suck" chant heard scattered throughout the stadium. I found myself tempted to answer the crowd back with "Yankees suck? Really? What is the basis for your argument? They currently have the best record in baseball. They've been to the World Series the last five out of six years. And they've more championships than any franchise in any major sport. Plus the fact that without them, Major League Baseball wouldn't be very interesting or profitable. The New York Yankees most certainly do not suck." However, I held my tongue and let these hyper Los Angelenos have their moment, their first taste of victory over the Yankees since 1981. Their hunger for even a small victory seemed palpable in the wake of an embarrassing display by their Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Their collective hopes for a championship dashed only days ago, those Laker fans saw their Dodgers vanquish the mighty Yankees, and a transference took place. Down came the Laker flags and up went the Doger banners. My Westchester buddy couldn't contain himself any longer and used his cell phone to call in to the 980 AM post-show to voice his Yankee opinion and give the Dodger fans who surrounded us a little dose of reality. I couldn't contain myself any longer either, and eschewed the stagnant line of cars for the open space of the littered parking spots in hopes of a better way out of the nightmarish parking lot gridlock. After dialing and dialing, my buddy got through to the station, cleared the screener, and was placed on hold to talk to the host. In true Houdini fashion, I found a seam and hit the hole hard to magically free us from the stranglehold Chavez Ravine so viciously held us in. We hit the 110 and headed home, but as luck would have it, the radio host ended his show just when my buddy would have been the next caller on the air. Turns out the only thing that brought Dodger fans back down to Earth last night was the news that Phil Jackson was not coming back to coach the Lakers, Kobe opted out of his contract, and Shaq demanded a trade. The Lakers had imploded. All that was left was the hope that the Dodgers can somehow manage to outlast the San Diego Padres for the NL West Division crown. For good measure, the Yankees sent a rookie pitcher making his Major League debut to the mound today and beat the Dodgers 6-2, reminding the L.A. crowd that by no means do the Yankees suck. Hate to say it, but Dodger Dogs kind of do.