Fozzy Bear, Captain Picard, and William Wallace Finally Come Together

This is a great montage of inspirational movie speeches. There is nothing better than a good movie montage or a memorable inspirational speech to make me smile. Kudos to the author for combining both well known and obscure titles. Anything set to the Henry V soundtrack will sound great.

Lost Sports Night plot?

Citing security concerns, the organizers of a WTA event in Dubai decided to bar Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer from participating in the 2009 Dubai Tennis Championships. This got me thinking: how great this would have been for an episode of Sports Night? This is the type of sports world meets the political world event that Aaron Sorkin would have found irresistible. It is too bad Dan, Casey, Jeremy, Dana, Natalie, or Issac are not around to put it all in perspective for us.

Find a Cylon lawyer?

According to Google, I can find a Cylon lawyer. I don't know whether to be frightened or intrigued. What kind of cases does a Cylon lawyer take?

Best of the Decade Nominee:
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights (1997) was one of the best films of the 90s and in 2007, Anderson released one of the best films of this decade. There Will Be Blood is a film epic in the best tradition of the phrase, but it is also an epic American film with its portrayal of a self-made man and his pursuit of capitalism at its grimiest. Anderson’s film offers sweeping vistas, grandiose themes, and a larger-than-life-character in Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). The film’s depiction of Plainview’s greed run amok can be closely compared to that Orson Welles masterpiece Citizen Kane (1941). Much like the fate of Charles Foster Kane, Daniel Plainview is “finished” by the film’s conclusion.

Watching the film a second time, I was struck by how meticulous and patient it is, especially at the beginning with its dialogue-free opening segment of Plainview prospecting. Anderson makes it clear from the beginning that this is not a plot-driven film but one of tone. In this way, the viewer’s experience is forced to parallel that of its oil man, one of patience with the hope of something important and rich to be discovered.

The scenes shot at Little Boston are some of the most brilliant in the film with oil derricks looming large over the land like Plainview himself. The fire burning through the night is the film’s signature image and probably will be the one most remembered.

However, I’m still put-off by Paul Dano’s portrayal of Eli Sunday. His conflict with Plainview is a central one of the film, but Dano seems too weak an actor to match the gravitas of Day-Lewis and Dano’s high, whiny voice seems severely out of place. I wonder if Anderson thought Plainview matching wits against the more diminutive Sunday would be an interesting contrast. However the viewer is never divided in this conflict on who to side with, because Plainview is the much more charming character. Granted, he’s a swindler and murderer, but he’s much more charismatic than the sniveling Sunday.

Although the “bowling pin scene” is shocking, Plainview’s meeting with his adopted son is almost as devastating. After Plainview discloses the truth to H.W., he transitions from Hannibal Lecter-like sympathetic villain to the sweaty, gangly monster who murders Eli Sunday. Anderson does offer Plainview some humanity with the flashback to Plainview playing with a younger H.W. in the past. He may disown his “son,” but some part of Plainview loved H.W. as more than a prop.

In many ways, There Will Be Blood is the film Stanley Kubrick never made. This is never clearer than in the final scene in the bowling alley with its deep focus photography of the largely empty room. Is Plainview’s use of the bowling pin to bash-in Sunday’s brains an homage to the ape’s use of a bone to kill in 2001: A Space Odyssey? Anderson’s use of classic musical and Jonny Greenwood unsettling score also recall Kubrick as well. And just like Kubrick, Anderson is able to depict a natural environment and make it alien and distancing at the same time.

Bottom Line: There Will Be Blood is a modern day classic that will stand the test of time along with Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia.
Rewatchability: High
Best Line: “I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people.”

Isn't it strange that Rachel Maddow does not own a TV?

Rachel Maddow was Jon Stewart's guest for the January 7, 2009 episode of The Daily Show. She mentioned she did not own a television and she claimed this helped her show be fresh and different from everything else on television.

There might be some logic to this notion, but a TV personality not owning a television seems rather odd when you think about it. Wouldn't it be strange to find out Bruce Springsteen does not own a CD player or Philip Roth does not own a book?

Not that it is a requirement for a TV personality to own the very device that receives the thing he or she produces, but it seems odd nonetheless. Maddow seemed almost boastful telling Jon Stewart this. Perhaps because television has always been a maligned medium that such a fact is not supposed to raise eyebrows but it should.

Maybe there is a connection between Maddow's annoying holier-than-thou level of snark and this rejection of the TV machine.

Reading Recommendation:
Scarface Nation: The Ultimate Gangster Movie and How it Changed America by Ken Tucker

Why did a critically unpopular and commercial disappointment released in 1983 become one of the most well known and most quoted movie of all time? Frequent NPR contributor Ken Tucker attempts to answer these questions in his thoroughly entertaining new book. Tucker offers a history of the film's production and discusses the film's influence on pop culture, especially hip-hop culture. Most people don't even realize the Pacino Scarface is a remake of a 1930s gangster film of the same name and Tucker discusses that one too.

Tucker makes the point that Scarface is an anomaly by being a one movie franchise unlike the Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Star Trek series. Scarface is one of those movies that have permeated the culture to a point that people probably know it's most well known quotes without even seeing the picture. Tony Montana's "say hello to my little friend" might be as ubiquitous as "may the force be with you" or "here's looking at you kid."

Even though Scarface is one of the most quoted films of all time and it would be impossible to enter the average college dorm room and not find it's famous black-and-white poster, it definitely is not one of the "great films" and does not hold a candle to The Godfather. It marks the point where Al Pacino decided it would be a good idea to play every character over-the-top and it's 80s synth-score is pretty cheesy by contemporary standards. And it's a wonder how Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio got another role with that frizzy Latina hair she displays in the film. Regardless, Scarface has had a profound impact on our culture and Ken Tucker's book is a good primer for anyone interested in the Scarface phenomenon.

Best of the Decade Nominee:
Gladiator (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott

It seems only fitting to kick off this series with a hit movie at the beginning of the decade. Gladiator is the film that catapulted Russell Crowe to super stardom and won him Best Actor at the 2001 Academy Awards. The film also nabbed a Best Picture statuette as well.

After nine years, does Gladiator still hold up? Absolutely. The story of Maximus (Crowe) and his descent from general to slave to gladiator and finally to Roman Emperor killer is as entertaining as it was in 2000. Crowe superbly protrayed Maximus as a badass on a mission of revenge following the murder of his family. Other actors like Joaquin Phoenix as the evil Emperor Commodus, Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus, and Djimon Honsou as his slave pal Juba contribute greatly in supporting roles.

The movie's battle scenes are still good from the beginning one pitting a Roman legion against Germanic barbarians to the battles in the Colosseum. Maximus's battles against CGI lions might show some of the limitations of the technology back in 2000, but it doesn't detract.

Let's not forget Hans Zimmer's wonderful score which elevates Maximus's battles to mythic proportion. Gladiator's score is right up there in quality with Braveheart and The Last of the Mohicans.

Does Gladiator have any significance beyond being a wonderful piece of Hollywood entertainment? The soon-to-be dead Emperor Marcus Aurelis says: "There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish...it was so fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter." Following eight years of President George W. Bush, many fear America's standing in the world will falter in the 21st century. Perhaps Ridley Scott had America in mind when he depicted this Roman world.

Bottom Line: Gladiator might seem to be only a high-tech update to those sword-and-sandal epics from the '50s and '60s, but Ridley Scott elevates the material to be a stirring, emotionally rich drama filled with great action and good acting. Hans Zimmer also contributes a memorable score.
Rewatchability: Very High
Best Line: Maximus: "Brothers, what we do in life... echoes in eternity"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/

Best Films of the 2000s (2000-2009)

With 2009 being the last year of the first decade of the new century, it is time to start thinking about the best and most influential films of the past ten years. While this decade did not technically start till 2001, for the purposes of this series, this decade began on January 1, 2000 and will end December 31, 2009. I will nominate, examine, and discuss films that were best of the 2000s. Maybe a film released in 2009 will even make its way onto the list too.

Long Awaited Television Series Returns in January 2009

Barack Obama's inauguration is not the only exciting thing occurring this January. Three great shows return to TV and hopefully they will bring more excitement to the airwaves than what was seen this past fall.

First up is 24 which returns after a two year absence for its seventh season. The television-movie 24: Redemption filled in some of the time between season six and seven in a story that had Jack Bauer fighting rebels in the fictional African country of Sengala. Previews for the seventh season tease the return off thought to be dead ex-CTU agent Tony Almeida who was not given the silent tick treatment when he "died." While some might have been worried a two year absence from TV could have damaged interest in the series, I believe it will only help the show regain some of its lost glory. The 24 formula was getting tired which is partially why season six felt so off. However, I believe the absence will only make the show seem fresher and perhaps the extra time allowed the writers to perfect the season's story. The two night, four hour season premiere begins on Janurary 11.

Battlestar Galactica returns to TV on January 16 to conclude its final season, but Sci Fi has done a horrible job handling this show. In drawing out the series like they have by breaking up the final season into two parts, they've completely killed its momentum. They probably figure that no one new will watch the season and only loyal BSG viewers will tune in for the conclusion of the human-Cylon conflict. But they are probably right. Part 1 of last season ended with the Planet of the Apes-esque discovery of Earth as a barren wasteland. In Part 2, we will discover the identity of the final Cylon and who will win the battle for what is left of Earth. No doubt the reveal will be a disappointment much like the whole mystery of the final five Cylons. Regardless, Battlestar Galactica has been an amazing show and hopefully the the final episodes will live up to the genius that has been most of the series.

Season five of Lost begins on January 21. Last season, six survivors of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 made it off the island, but their lives became anything but joyful. The last image we were left with was of John Locke dead in a casket under the assumed name Jeremy Benthem. Season five is about those six returning to the island and hopefully John Locke can come back to life too. Season four was a return to form for what has been an enjoyable, but sometimes uneven series. Jack, the survivors' de facto leader, has quickly become an annoying character and the Han Solo-esque Sawyer was stupidly sidelined for most of last season. The deliciously evil Ben Linus and the time traveling Desmond weren't even in the first season, but have quickly become the most interesting characters with the best episodes featuring them. Hopefully the new season will have plenty of good material for Sawyer, Ben, and Desmond and hopefully some more mysteries of the island will be solved like what's the deal with that giant foot statue?

The Greatest Christmas TV Episode Ever:
"Noël" from The West Wing

Some people regard "In Excelsis Deo" as the series' best Christmas episode, but for me "Noël" remains the standout. It captures the Christmas spirit without being overtly hokey or sentimental. It also showcases the reason why the Jed Bartlet White House such an enjoyable place to visit week-after-week, the fact that these people really care about each other to an unrealistic, but highly entertaining degree.

In the episode, Josh Lyman is suffering for post-traumatic stress disorder from the attack on the President that nearly killed him. He's speaking to a therapist, played by Adam Arkin, recalling the weeks leading up an incident where Josh injures his hand. During that time Josh blows up at the President, a fighter pilot with Josh's birthday crashes his airplane, and the West Wing staff attend a Yo-Yo Ma. After the concert, Josh cuts his hand by breaking his window of his apartment and finally admits after previously saying he cut his hand while breaking a glass. Dr. Stanley Keyworth (Adam Arkin) diagnoses Josh with PTS and determines some music triggers his mind to think of the attack on the President. The episode ends with a great exchange between Josh and Leo. Leo, a recovering alcoholic and pill addict, lets Josh know that he's sympathetic to his problems. In a great West Wing exchange, Leo tells Josh:

This guy's walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out." [pause]...Long as I got a job, you got a job, you understand?

If only people at work were really this supportive.

Movie of the Year:
Iron Man

Although the The Dark Knight deservedly received much praise for it's gritty take on the comic genre and for Heath Ledger's stellar portrayal of the Joker, no movie satisfied me more than Jon Favreau's summer blockbuster. There's not much more to say about Robert Downey Jr.'s spot on portrayal of the flawed superhero. The supporting cast was great too from Gwyneth Paltrow's "Girl Friday" character Pepper Potts to Jeff Bridge's villainous Obidiah Stane even though I didn't understand why "the Dude" acted so mean. Most importantly of all, Iron Man holds up even after multiple viewings passing the difficult rewatchability test. Here's hoping Iron Man 2 lives up to the original even though Don Cheadle will be replacing Terrence Howard as the future War Machine.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

That Guy Hall Fame: In Memoriam
Robert Prosky (1930-2008)

In a television and film career spanning over 30 years, Prosky can be found well known films like The Natural (1984), Broadcast News (1987), and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). To me, he will be best known as Rebecca Howe's Navy father from Cheers and Coach 'Jake the Snake' Connelly from Coach.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698764/

COMING SOON: MORE PITHY COMMENTS ABOUT POPULAR CULTURE

The "Never Say Never" Rule

Whenever a character says that he/she will absolutely, never do something, he/she will be doing that exact thing in the very next scene.

The "Pinkie Taste Test" Rule

Whenever a character, almost always a cop, comes a across a bag filled with a mysterious powder, he or she uses a pinkie finger to probe the bag and then taste whatever the finger picks up. The character then can immediately deduce what narcotic is in the bag.

The "That's a Neat Shot" Rule

This rule applies to any shot in a film framed in such a way to elicit a viewer to think or say: "wow, that's an interesting/neat show." Most of the time, these "neat" shots are put into a film to demonstrate the DP or director's "unique vision" or "artistic mind."

"That Guy" Hall of Fame Presents: Philip Baker Hall

You see him everywhere playing judges and politicians, however Philip Baker Hall might be best remembered for playing the hardboiled library cop Lt. Bookman in Seinfeld's 3rd season episode: "The Library."

BOOKMAN: Yeah, '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.

Hall has 136 acting credits to his name, but his greatest visibility came in the late 90s. In 1997, Hall appeared in both Air Force One as the U.S. Attorney General and in P.T. Anderson's Boogie Nights as porn producer Floyd Gondoli. Hall has also shown up in The Insider, Magnolia (playing a sleazy game show host), The Sum of All Fears, and has made numerous TV guest spots. His worn, wrinkled face conveys a certain authority,which is probably why he plays so many authority figures. With several movies in development and some already on the way, Hall does not seem to be in want of acting roles. Nevertheless, Lt. Bookman will always be how I remember him.

BOOKMAN: Let me tell you something, funny boy... You know that little stamp? The one that says New York Public Library? Well, that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole helluva lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before -- flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... Why's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me.... Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world. What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers. Doesn't he deserve better? Look, if you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped. Or maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld... Maybe that's how you get your kicks... You and your goodtime buddies... I've got a flash for you, joy boy. Partytime is over.


http://imdb.com/name/nm0001311/

How can you not love this? Thanks Steve Jobs.

Did Eugene Levy Lose a Bet?

I couldn't help but notice Eugene Levy once again reprises his "Jim's Dad" character in the next installment of the direct-to-DVD American Pie series entitled: American Pie: Beta House. This make Levy the only actor to appear in every American Pie movie. One has to wonder, what in God's name keeps drawing him back to do these tired, rehashed movies? One word: money.