Where there's a Bunch of Crazy Fans, there's a Way: SERENITY

A couple years ago there was a show on Fox called FIREFLY. Despite being the latest project by the emmy award winning creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly's episodes were shown out of order and on unpredictable days of the week, and the show was cancelled after only 11 of the 14 episodes aired. But the rabid fans mobilized and got FOX to release the series on DVD and then, based on sales and internet presence, universal decided to make a movie based on the failed TV series. THis history lesson is mentioned just to get you acclimated with where SERENITY comes from, a story that is based on FIREFLY, but stands alone. I never saw Firefly. I hadn't even heard about the series until it had been off the air for a year. And I never watched Buffy. I try not to watch things where the fans plan their weekly schedule around the episodes and are inspired to write fan fiction in which certain characters fall in love with each other... whatever. THis seems more prominent in Sci-Fi. And despite the fact that Star Trek the Next Generation was the one show my entire family could agree on growing up, when I went out into the real world, I found these die hard fans, well, rather frightening. There was a special interest house at Carleton College organized around watching science fiction, They referred to it as BORG house. I still have never seen an episode of X-Files, despite the fact that I dated a girl (for like 2 weeks) in college who died and cut her hair specifically to look like Scully. And I have on ly recently come to terms with one of my best friends being someone who regularly goes to Star Wars conferences (at least he doesn't dress up). I don't know what it is about Sci-Fi that creates this allegiance. And Buffy fans are the worst. It seems that as soon as one Buffy fan discovers another, they must go into their little buffy world and discuss favorite episodes, which DVD features are their favorite, the cancellation of Angel, and eventually break into those really awful 'songs' from the so-called 'musical' episode.

But that being said, SERENITY was a really great movie. Not only did I not feel like I was missing out not having watched the series, I am now anxious to buy it on DVD and watch it. There were onle or two hokey dialogue moments in the third scene (the first on the starship Serenity, a firefly class (see where te names came from ?)) that felt out ofTV and out of place in a movie, as soon as we got through that, the movie was pure sci-fi glory. The universe writer/director Joss Whedon has created (his feature debut) is very complete, it has tons of history, but he never bored us with it, and everything we found out as the story progressed, I felt like it had been perfectly planted earlier. The story follows a rag tag group of space pirates led by captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) who is not unlike a Han Solo type. Their passenger River (Summer Glau), an esapee from a government program for telepaths, is a one-woman wrecking crew. The government has sent an assassin after her to eliminate the knowledge buried in her mind. It's a great story and its easy to cheer for the pirates who unfortunately have a conscience and decide to protect River. Not to mention there is a strong brother-sister bond (River's brother broke her out of the government institution) that hit me hard, as I have a little sister. Actually, every relationship in this movie is well-drawn. Whedon has learned a lot from his time in television, creatin really full characters and managing to tell us almost everything we need to know about them in a few minutes (obviously distilling the series down) and then building from there.

It is Sci-Fi so I would be reluctant to not talk about the visual elements. Whedon's universe helps him a bit as there are no aliens (other than the creepy cannibal human Reavers, if you can consider them that). But there are ships and battles and cities and they all look great. THe effects were done by the same studio that's been working on the new Battlestar Galactica series (which I must admit addiction to... oh, did I fail to mention that before - in my defense, however, it is my wife who travels more to the sci-fi channel website). Its only 500 years into the future, so there are guns, and knives, and the clothing looks fairly recognizable but that becomes an asset here. The design has a real unity and completeness (of course, it has the benefit of a three year preparation that few movies have).

The movie is funny and action packed and probably most comparable to, should I say it, STAR WARS. SERENITY is recommended for all fans of science-fiction, people who love ensemble-based films, anyone who likes to see Fox kick themselves in the ass, and people who generally don't like science fiction because "they're all full of aliens and stuff." Rick's Rating: A.

My Children Will Be Handcuffed to Me At All Times: FLIGHTPLAN

Number one movie in the america for two weeks, so I figured I ought to see it. Not to mention people were boycotting it, which is a surefire way to get me interested in going. FLIGHTPLAN stars Jodie Foster (in a role originally written for a man) as a movie flying her husband's coffin back to america who falls a sleep and has her daughter stolen from her - though no one on the plane even remembers her being there. Its a solid film, though I can't help but compare it to the near perfect RED EYE. Unlike that film, where everything is planted and paid off, this screenplay by Billy Ray (Suspect Zero, the excellent Shattered Glass) is full of red herrings, like the always excellent Erika Christenson making a comment about always finding her nieces and nephews in hide and seek, and then not finding anyone in this movie - in fact not even really being used in the movie, so much so that you are like, why did she take that part? Or several nearby passengers who end up not being involved in the storyline, despite several appearances on screen early. Then there is captain borimir (Sean Bean) who does very little in the story at all and could have been anybody. And then there's Jodie Foster, who I quite like, in anything. And I especially like to see her kick ass. Like a good action star. And she does that quite well. But Steven Segall never won the academy award for his acting and Foster just doesn't have enough to work with to really make a full character. But since no one else is doing that either, its not really that much of a fault. The finest performance is turned in by the always morally questionable Peter Sarsgaard (didn't I just say that - by the way, Peter Sarsgaard is not related to Stellen Scarsgaard- and William and John Hurt are not brothers - just figured that out). Sarsgaard plays the air marshall who doesn't believe Foster really had a daughter and then, well, I don't want to ruin it. Anyway, he's quite good.

You know, it's not a bad movie, but it's not a great movie. There are so many things that could have been improved, and each step of the movie proceeded so slowly, I was always a step ahead (I knew where the girl was about five minutes into the search - and you will too). And then there is the trailer, which basically gave away most of the movie. The best moment of the whole movie probab ly would have been the shot in the trailer where the Jodie breathes on the window and sees where her daughter drew a little heart with her finger. But it was ruined. Because I saw it. In every preview. And I kept waiting for it to happen. There are so many movies that are crippled by a show-all trailer - I really wish they would figure out that less is more. That's why teasers are almost universally more exciting than trailers. Anyone remember the teaser for Godzilla (bad movie, great trailer). I am glad they changed the character to a female - I think it added an emotional aspect that would not have been present otherwise. And also made the story a lot more believable as far as people pushing her around.

FLIGHTPLAN is recommended for fans of Jodie Foster, people who see any movie that's set in an airplane, people anxious for another morally questionable role from Peter Sarsgaard, and those of you with a closet stewardess fetish. Rick's Rating: B

You Remind Me of the Film (What Film?): MIRRORMASK

This is the most gorgeous film you will see this year. It stretches its measely budget to epic proportions and is so full of ideas and freshness that it is almost unbelievable that everyone in the world is not talking about this film like the did of say Moulin Rouge. The movie is MIRRORMASK and it comes from the minds of Neil Gaiman (screenwriter) and Dave McKeon (director, design) who the astute pop culture student will know form the SANDMAN comics and several graphic novels. I first came into contact with McKeon's artwork in illustrations for Stephan King's DARK TOWER series and have been dying to see him get into film since. And I was not disappointed. This is the most amazing looking film I've seen in years. Locations, creatures, film styles, costumes, make up design, if this doesn't get a nomination for every visual academy award then I don't know what's wrong. It is breathtaking.

The story is hard to explain. A young circus performer enters a fantastical world divided into the kingdoms of light and darkness, where the balance has been altered. She must hunt down a charm to right the land. But really its about a girl growing up and making piece with her mother. Most of the characters double from her real life in the fantasy world (kind of like Wizard of Oz) and the whole fantasy sequence plays out like a metaphor... only its real ... or is it? Which is part of the genius of the movie - you are never really sure if it's all in her head or if is actually happening. Tonally, the nearest comparison I can make is Labyrinth, the mid-eighties jim henson-david bowie spectacular. It has some of the look (though obviously aged 20 years) and feel but it is a children's movie. Mirrormask, although it would appeal to kids, is certainly only going to be fully appreciated by adults. There are also no musical numbers. Or actors of any stature. So the comparison, though apt, only prepares you for what you will see, not what you will experience.

The cast, a group of unknowns (unless you consider the role of "Tommy Ryan" in Titanic memorable - do you even remember Tommy Ryan? Yeah I thought not) give adequate performances - they kind of hit one-note throughout and hold it. It's an effective note, but this is not the place to search for future oscar winners. I also have to go right and blame the director, who probably does not the experience of working with actors to get varied performances out of them. In fact, I'd have to say this would probably be a better movie if the two artists had gotten a third one to direct it and just focused on story and design. But that is only a minor knock against this movie, actually. Its like the recent Star Wars movies - no one went expecting great performances or directing. You went to SEE it and watch the STORY. And MIRRORMASK satisfies in every way on that.

MIRRORMASK is recommended for fans of the DARK CRYSTAL, anyone interested in visual art/design, anyone who ever wanted to run off and join the circus and people who want more out of their movies than just to laugh. Rick's Rating" A-

The Idiot Box Draws Me Back In

So I've been watching more and more television and it seems to me in this age of reality shows and carbon copy crime dramas, the writing has gotten millions better in the other shows, in order to get through. Now, this is the same person who went 4 years without cable because there was nothing worth watching who is now got a regular regimen of shows DVRing. Yes the miracle solution is DVR (Or TIVO) - you don't have to remember to record these shows, go searching for a tape, label a tape or watch commercials (or the 'boring parts' as the Tivo commercials go). So I thought I would let you in on what I've been watching lately, in the name of keeping good programs on (and letting shows like the SIMPLE LIFE go off the air).

Tonight is the season debut of the brilliant comedy central reality show parody DRAWN TOGETHER. The show follows eight different style cartoon characters (a superhero, a disneyesque princess, an video game elf like creature, a josie and the pussy cat type hottie, an internet download, a ren-like non-sequitor, a 1920's black and white booplike character, and a pokemon type creature) all stuck in a house together and forced to talk to the 'producer' through the p.a. system. Its a hilarious show that goes where you would never expect (first season highlights include a full-on disney ballad by Princess Clara about her first lesbian experience "Some Black Chick's Tongue in My Mouth," the entire house getting addicted to licking Ling-Ling because he secretes some acid like substance when they make him sad, and the apperance of Bucky Bucks, and DOnald Trump character, to take them through a series of challenges for a job that he doesn't have (i.e. Apprentice meets Joe Millionaire).

Another hilarious show is NBC's THE OFFICE. Based on the hit BBC show, it is shot documentry style with interviews and little snippets of office life caught on camera. Now I know there are a lot of people who will want to swear by the original, but they are just wrong. THe US version is much better, first of all the ensemble is much more balanced and we are really getting to know everyone in the office. Second of all, Steve Carrill (40 Year Old Virgin) is a hilarious in a way the Ricky Gervis is not, as I think he is completely incompetent, but I still feel sorry for him. He is at heart a nice guy, not an ego-maniac. The Office has tackled such common issues as Diversity Training, Office Parties, and someone getting fired, almost at random. It's hilarious and the relationship between Pam and Jim is so cute... yes, I'm boy and I just said that. You'll have to watch it to understand.

To switch genres, I must admit that Erin and I were both outraged when the new 'season' of Battlestar Galactica turned out to only be 10 episodes, so we have to wait until January for more, but it looks like ABC's INVASION is going to fill in nicely. THis is one creepy show and it it is lead by another one of those actors I can never trust, William "It's confederated products, its an entirely different product" Fichtner (Perfect Storm, Black Hawk Down, Go) as the local sherif who may or may not actually be an ALIEN. The rest of the cast is also great (including the Broken Flowers' Lolita Alexis Dziena) and the story in unshakeable. Really sharp and creepy. And brought to you by Shaun Cassidy. Yeah that Shaun Cassidy. Strange, huh?

And then there is my daily standby for sports ESPN's PARDON THE INTERUPTION. If you've never watched the afternoon show, you are really missing out. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon argue through the top sports headlines, dress up as cops for good cop/bad cop, use cut-out heads on sticks for role play and interview great athletes and journalists. Its really all the sports you need in a half an hour, and they are really entertaining. The show is so good they've incorporated it into sportscenter for a few minutes everday and almost every one of the ESPN team has made a guest appearance (Dan Lebatard is the best guest host IMO).

And while we are on news, I have to give a shout out to my new favorite news program. Now I love The Daily Show as much as the next out-raged anti-Bushie, but sometimes, I do want a little actual news with my laughter. THe solution is COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN. Olbermann was the ESPN new anchor 1992-97 and has been doing this show on MSNBC for the last two years in which he looks at the top stories of the day in order and does actual news. In between he has segments like 'worst person alive,' the story 'my producers made me cover' and 'Oddball' - sort of a news of the weird on TV. He's really funny and he pulls no punches. When he does the 'real' stories he always pushes them places that other people just don't go. Because he looks at news as a common man would. He's not a political pundit, he's a guy who interviewed Dennis DeYoung of Styx on Monday becasue he was the only 'famous' white sox fan he could find. And he hates Bill O'Reilly, so that's gotta be worth something. Give it a try.

Don't Open Closed Doors, Duh: THE SKELETON KEY

Before you say anything, I had to see this movie. I have a screenplay, 9 drafts of one actually, a ghost story set in Louisiana with a voodoo influence. So figured I oughtta see THE SKELETON KEY, a movie about hospice worker (Kate Hudson) who helps a superstitious woman (Gena Rowlands) care for her dying husband (John Hurt). WHile there, she goes through doors that she's not supposed to and unravels a voodoo plot. Its kind of prepostorous but it is solidly acted throughout. Hudson is almost too cute for the role - I never really believed that she was strong enough to take on these powers. And John Hurt spends most of the movie babbling incoherently. The best performance, actually, is given by family estate lawyer Peter Sarsgaard who manages to excel in yet another morally questionable role. He's like James Cromwell for me - you can't trust him. Anyway, the setting is great, the locations manager should be commended - Louisiana just looks creepy. The screenplay is only so so. There is some dialogue that is plain embarrassing and some plot points that are never questioned and just accepted. The story is actually about hoodoo and not voodoo (a fine distinction) and there is entirely too much time spent on the intricacies of the belief system. The director falls back on several cat-jumps-out-of-closet type scares rather anything truly frightening. Also too much of Kate Hudson on her own. I don't think she is strong enough to carry so much screen time where she is alone and just doing things. She is at her best in dialogue. But this movie is short on that, and what there is of it, is not really the stuff great movies are made of. In general, THE SKELETON KEY is more the idea of a movie rather than the movie itself. And I hope it will be little remembered by the time someone is reading my screenplay.

The Skeleton Key is recommended for people who like scary movies, any scary movies, i.e. people who paid to see Bride of Chucky, anyone who's been considering living with superstitious elderly people in the Louisiana bayou, people who can't get enough of Kate Hudson's ever excited nipples, and people who wander confusedly into the theater and stumble into any doorway. Rick's Rating: C+

South Siders Suceed

Congrats to the Chicago White Sox, team of my youth, and proud American League Central Rival. Back when I was in junior high we got free white sox tickets for straight a's and perfect attendance - I had to get my straight a's (perfect attendance was never an option). But the funny thing in retrospect is that they basically did have to give tickets away to get people to the game. The white sox have always been the poor stepchild of CHicago sports... and its about time they get respect. Every ten years or so they get it together and make a run, this year's squad has something that those earlier teams didn't have - veterans from those earlier runs. Joey COra at the third base from the early nineties and manager Ozzie Guillen and bench coad Harold Baines from the eighties. And the WHite SOx are in the world series for the first time since 1959.

I am totally biased, but I have to give credit where its due. Everyone can't stop talking about chicago's pitching, but you have to notice that all those starting pitchers (that all just threw complete games) were in CHicago last year. Did they all just get magically better? How did that happen? The catcher's name is A.J. Pierzynski. Before he called the best series in american league championship history from behind the plate, A.J. was the starting catcher for the MInnesota Twins and chicago fans hated him. He always hit well in Comiskey, and guided hacks like Kyle Lohse to shut out the WHite Sox. THen, fast forward two years later and he finds himself a white sox. And in the middle of every controversy in the playoffs. WHy does that happen? Because he never quits. He runs out every out, argues every call and plays like its the most important ame of his life. And he is the unsung hero of this squad (although I have to say that I've heard Ozzie Guillen give him a lot of credit).

So congratulations Chicago White Sox, and A.J. Good luck in the World Series, where the White Sox haven't won since 1917 - a drought two years longer than last year's much celebrated Red Sox.

Coffee and a Side of Shotgun: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

You can forgive me for waiting for something to crawl out of Viggo Mortenson's skull at the end of A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, but it is a David Cronenberg film (Naked Lunch, Scanners, Shivers, eXistenZ) and I kept expecting it to be weirder (more disgusting) than it was. But actually, it is just a quality thriller that once again examines the nature versus nurture question. Mortenson, in his first star turn, plays small town cafe owner Tom Stall, who, in a moment of confrontation with hoodlums, goes balistic in a surprise fit of violence not seen since Geena Davis in LONG KISS GOODNIGHT. When the story makes the national news, thugs from distant states begin to poke their noses around town looking for one Joey Cusack, and convinced that Mortenson is him.

Viggo is so good in the movie, playing a roller coaster of emotions, that he demands a serious look for the lead oscar nomination. Ed Harris plays the main thug, and is creepy in a way that only Ed Harris can be. And Mario Bello plays Mortenson's wife, mother of two, and small town lawyer. It is one of the strongest written female characters in a movie the last five years. And she shines. Again, look for oscar buzz. And then comes the third act, which is basically stolen by William Hurt as a mafia kingpin. One of the things that is great about this movie is that just when you've got it figured out, and you think it is tying up, it keeps going and finds an entirely new tone. And it is here that Hurt takes over, putting a comic last chapter on the end of a serious movie. If he doesn't get a supporting actor nomination for an Oscar, he's been robbed.

Yeah, it's that solid of a movie. Cronenberg (like a few other directors before him) has learned his trade in the world of horror and suspense, and it makes a surprisingly easy transition into drama. I wouldn't be surprised if HE got a directing nomination (Hollywood loves to welcome those B movie makers who make good). So I guess you can tell I liked this movie. It is rare that a movie manages to be so 'conventional' but continually surprises. Or that you get true depth in every character on the screen. Or that you have sex scenes that are actually hot. (I actually really dislike sex scenes in movies, they rarely feel necessary to tell the story). Or has sharp tight writing (the screenplay is based on a graphic novel) that always forwards the story without being machine-like.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE is recommended for readers of Rousseau, people who still feel dirty from Crash (Cronenberg's movie, not the recent one), anyone tired of all mafia bosses acting like al pachino, and anyone who's ever considered shucking it all and moving to Indiana (unless it's for grad school). Rick's Rating: A

Yes (beat) I think that. (pause) I do think that (beat) What do you think?

Jerry: Well...
Emma: How are you?
Jerry: All right.
Emma: You look well.
Jerry: Well, I'm not all that well, really.
Emma: Why? What's the matter?
Jerry: Hangover. (raises his glass) Cheers. (drinks) How are you?
Emma: I'm fine. (looks round the bar, back at him) Just like old times.
Jerry: Mmn. It's been a long time.
Emma: Yes. (pause) I thought of you the other day.
Jerry: Good god. Why? (laughs) Why?
Emma: Well, it's nice, sometimes, to think back. Isn't it?
Jerry: Absolutely. (pause) How's everything?
Emma: Oh, not too bad. (pause) Do you know how long it is since we met?

It's dialogue like that that has driven audiences (and directors and actors) mad for years. And for good reason. Harold Pinter stripped the theatre of the artifices of language it had built up over the years and returned it to the way people actually talked. He gives artists so little to work with, and yet so much. His plays can be interpreted countless ways, and performances seldom answer all the questions. He is the most influential playwright of the second half of the twentieth century (playwrights like David Mamet, Carol Churchill and Patrick Marber (Closer) have acknowledged his influence) and today he was awarded the NOBEL PRIZE in literature. Pinter has been a favorite of mine since I first saw his work performed (at Carleton College in 1994). I consider him an influence on my writing and even more so on my directing. His attention to details such as punctuation and stage direction opened my eyes to clues you can find, use or ignore in a script. And then there is the discussion of the difference between a beat, a pause and a silence.

Pinter's first play (The Room) debuted in 1957, when he was 27 and shook the foundations of the theatre world. This original review shows exactly how fully formed the pinteresque style arrived into the world: "It is a brief excursion, in a slum room, into the nightmare world of insecurity and uncertainty. It has touches of Ionesco and echoes of Beckett; and somewhere not far distant is the disturbing ghost of that Henry James who turned the screw. What exactly the plot is, where the elusive landlord really lived, who are the unexplained couple seeking lodgings, why the lorry-driver husband is so long mute, what it the parentage of the woman who clings so desperately to shabby respectability, are questions that do not admit of precise solutions. They do not need to. " WHAT??? And all his plays are like that. He defies explanation and simple solutions. His plays have been performed by Donald Pleasance, Vivienne Merchant, Ian Holm, Terrence Rigby, Peggy Ashcroft, Michael Gambon, Judi Dench, Miranda Richardson, Steven Rea, Jason Robards, Blythe Danner, Liev Schrieber, Jean Stapleton, Raul Julia, Roy Schnieder, Juilette Binoche, John Gielgood, Ralph Richardson, Christopher Plummer, Julia Ormond, Anthony Hopkins, Ian Hart, Pete Postlethwaite, John Hurt, Colin Firth and directed by Sir Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, and Pinter himself. Pinter has also written screenplays (such as The French Lieutenant's Woman) and acted (most recently in Mansfield Park and The Tailor of Panama).

"Pinter restored theater to its basic elements: an enclosed space and unpredictable dialogue where people are at the mercy of each other and pretense crumbles," the academy said on their website. The nobel prize come with a 10 million swedish crown prize (about 1.25 million dollars). His last play (Rembrance of Things Past, based on the Proust novel) was written in 2000 (I had the good fortune to see it at the National Theatre in London). Recently he has been focusing on poetry and on politics - he has been a very outspoken critic of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and of Britian's involvement in the war in Iraq. In a recent forum of writers on the war in Iraq he opened his statement with the line "Freedom, democracy and liberation. These terms, as enunciated by Bush and Blair essentially mean death, destruction and chaos." He considers them both terrorists and suggests they should go on trial as war criminals. Whatever you think of his politics, his skill as a theatre artist cannot be denied. He had won every other award given and this prize will sit rightfully on his shelf.

Let Me Roll It: ROLL BOUNCE

THIS IS MY 50th POST !!! Congrats to me ... think of all the time I've wasted. I've actually quit that job I had when I started, and I should have the final draft of the screenplay (about the guy who blogs) entered into my cmputer today. This blog has taken me across the country, let me track my movie viewing 9god I see a lot) and let me air opinions that offend my family :). So, to carry on...

It would probably take an awful lot to get me in the movie theatre to watch a film about roller skating, but ROLL BOUNCE had one sure fire thing going for it. It was FILMED at the ROLLER RINK I WENT TO IN JUNIOR HIGH!!! That's right, good old Lynwood Sport Center makes it feature film debut as Sweetwater Roller Rink, home of the Skate championships of the summer of 1978. Now, I'm no Rink Rat like some of my friends, but I did spend several evenings and days off there ... including a date with a girl that my father and I picked up from a trailer park ... can't even remember her name now... but enough about my exploits as a thirteen year old.

ROLL BOUNCE is a funny and touching coming of age story about a group of teens growing up on Chicago's south side who's main passion is roller skating. When their local rink closes, they have to traipse up north to the fancy rink where they get showed up by the local superstars. They have to compete in a dance like challenge to save their face as their leader X (Bow Wow, 'lil no more) rebuilds his relationship with his father after his mothers death. Its a hell of a story, with great moments of comedy and drama intertwined throughout. The ensemble cast is well-utilized and everyone gets their little moment to shine. Especially good is Chi McBride as Xavier's father and Jurnee Smollett as Tori, X's quick tongued neighbor who goes from brace face to hottie during the course of the movie (I have similar memories of my friends back in my life as a thirteen year old at the roller rink).

The movie has one of the best soundtracks in recent memory, perfectly capturing the mood of the time. And it is really well paced. It just flew by ... until the end sequence where we have to watch several roller skate routines (5 actually) - which were all good, but as they each were a whole song long, it made the end a little tedious. At least I was really invested in the story at the time, so I enjoyed it, but I couldn't help but think there could have been a better way to do that. Its a minor point though, a ROLL BOUNCE is an easy recommendation.

ROLL BOUNCE is recommended for 13 year olds, people who actually remember roller skating when they were thirteen years old, fans of soul/funk of the 70's, and anyone who wants a non-offensive non-violent movie that's not animated. Rick's Rating: A-

'Solitary Man' performs with massive band

Last night I had the great priviledge of watching a true entertainer hawk his craft in front of a PACKED HOUSE (that's right, packed) at the SBC center. How often do you get to see someone with 12 top ten hits (38 top 40's) whose chart success actually ranks him the #19 artist of all time. That man is NEIL DIAMOND. He rolled into San Antonio with his 14 member backing band (many of them who have been with him for 30 years) and the most elaborate lighting and hydraulic stage system I've ever seen and rocked that house. He opened the show with "Crunchy Granola Suite" and closed with "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show," two songs immortallized by his HOT AUGUST NIGHT live albums back in the seventies that still sound amazing with the almost big band treatment. In between he pleased the part-geriatric, part-hip swinger crowd with old favorites like "Cherry, Cherry," "Thank the Lord For the Nighttime," "Kentucky Woman" and "Sweet Caroline," which the crowd was very happy to sing along with the horn section. He tapped into his extensive catalog for more obscure tracks like "Shilo," the African influenced "Soolaimon," the late seventies almost disconess of "Desiree" and "Be" from the movie JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGAL. A personal favorite was "America" from the 1980 film THE JAZZ SINGER, preceeded by the schlocky ballad "Love on the Rocks." Neil also brought it down a little with a number of ballads like "Play Me," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," and the lyrical atrocity "I Am...I Said" Two of the highlights were songs he wrote but certainly didn't make famous: the big Monkees hit "I'm a Believer" and "Red Red Wine" which he even reggae'ed up and mocked UB40's number one hit song with new lyrics that amounted to 'it's nice to make money of them anyway.' His penultimate song, "Cracklin' Rosie" inspired much audience sing along Neil knows how to play to his crowd and it was great to see he could still 'shake it.' While I am sure he could do very well in Vegas, it's nice to see he doesn't have to. He played 2 and half hours and still missed several popular songs (such as "Solitary Man," "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," and the number one hit "Song Sung Blue" - oh and "Heartlight" from the E.T. soundtrack). Great show, if you have a chance to see him, don't miss it.

Of Meercats and Men: JUNEBUG

Every few years or so a movie comes out of Sundance that the distributers are so excited about, it gets full release treatment, months of trailers and fullscale openings in simultaneous cities. This year the movie was Phil Morrison's directorial debut, JUNEBUG. Compared to Woody Allen and Jim Jarmusch, Morrison's work is character focused, with lots of time to get to know our screen friends, and countless environmental shots (some of the most effective are soundless still shots of the rooms in the house). The story follows Chicago art gallery owner Madeline (Embeth Davidtz) on her first visit to the rural North Carolina hometown her husband George (Alessandro Nivola). Although the reason is to sign an untrained painter of inspired civil war battle scenes, the end result is a culture clash with her husband of six month's family. The mother is stand-offish and judgemental, the father is passive and silent and the brother absolutely hates George (and his own life).

The characters are indeed full, the cinematography moving, and it feels like a sundance film, but in the end, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. The people failed me. They were completely real, but thoroughly unlikeable. Its a slice of life movie, but this slice is not particularly enjoyable to eat. I was impatient for the movie to end ... and since the director never really decided whose story it was, it really could have ended at any point. Almost no one in the movie learns anything, or grows... and, well, I may just be a little biased against backwoods hicks. I don't understand people whose lives revolve around their community church and who don't know the difference between Arts and Crafts. I guess I am a little culturally elitist, and this movie has been described as a red state-blue state conflict ... but I still blame the director. He took the easy way out with the script and just filmed moment to moment without ever thinking of the big picture and 'the message' of the movie, if there ever was one, gets lost in the details.

The lone highlight in the film is the performance of Amy Adams, who plays George's brother's fiance, very pregnant and very talkative. The one person living in the house who really makes an effort with the new guest, she is a revelation and brought a smile to my face whenever she was on screen. Her performance is so good, her story became the only one I cared about (in fact there is a bit with a television show about meercats that is best 2 minutes of the movie). And the movie is worth seeing for her alone. But you know what, you should see it anyway because you might not suffer from the same prejudices as I do, and might really enjoy it - certainly there are so many critics falling over themselves to praise it, it might just be one of those movies for me that I just don't agree with other people on (like Far from Heaven and Beautiful Mind).

JUNEBUG is recommended for fans of intense character driven movies, people scouting next year's supporting actress oscar, and people curious how the other (obviously more than half) lives. Rick's Rating: B.

Herr President Nominates Crony For Yet Another Post

As if Michael Brown's lack of training to run FEMA hadn't by far been proven a mistake on the White House's part, Herr President went ahead and put up another completely unprepared person for a major post. This time the job is the highest court in the land, and the nominee, HARRIET MIERS, has never served as a judge. Has she maybe judged an Arabian Horse show? We don't know. But she has been in the White House since 2001, which means she must either a) hold all of Bush's views or b) not speak up about it too much. Neither is much of a choice for the Supreme Court.

In a strange development, the loudest complaints to Miers' nomination have been from people like Pat Buchanon and Rush Limbaugh. They are worried that she might not be conservative enough. The big problem with nominating someone with no judicial record is that there is no paper trail and thus no way to really figure out a) where she stands and b) if she knows how to be a judge. This is all part of Herr President's plan. He actually said to reporters yesterday he thought IT WAS IMPORTANT that there not be a paper trail so no one would know how she stands. Instead, we are supposed to trust him. "I've known Harriet for more than a decade. I know her heart," he said of his fellow Texan. "I'm confident that Harriet Miers will add to the wisdom and character of the judiciary." So what are the conservative pundits fussing for? Honestly, I think it's a big head fake. If these people are worried, then the democrats might be more inclined to not fight the nomination...

Meanwhile, no one seems to notice that Miers has made donations to pro-life organizations and is a member of an evangelical church. But the issues can be deceiving, especially when you have almost nothing to go on (I can also point out that she told a gay rights group, via survey, that she believed gay men and lesbians should have the same civil rights as straight Americans, but that she opposed repeal of the state's sodomy law criminalizing same-sex sexual conduct). These are also things that happened in the late eighties, when I might add, Miers was a Democrat (she even gave money to the Al Gore Campaign in 1988).

That's why I find myself siding with Rush Limbaugh this morning (I haven't said that since I was in high school) - it would be better if she had some judicial record so we knew what we were getting. But in my heart, I feel that anyone Herr President is THAT confident about, can't be someone I want. But wouldn't be better if it was someone with some experience? Who had tested their opinions and shown they could JUDGE what was right? Who hadn't been in the WHite House for the last 4 years and therefore not another CRONY? I'm tired of cronyism. It's bad for America. I was against it when Clinton did, I am against it When the current administration does it, and I probably would have been against if I had been alive back when Kennedy did it. It's not the way to get the best people to do the important jobs. How can it be?

Herr President, you've failed again. How long must we live under the tyranny of your poor choices?

Never Travel Alone: RED EYE

Director Wes Craven knows what he is doing. I sat back during the first 25 minutes of RED EYE and just watched for clues. It is amazing, if you watch close enough, you get all the details you will need for the rest of the movie, you only need to wait for them to be paid off. Like a photo on the table of a girl with a field hockey team … leading to the appearance of a field hockey stick 70 minutes later.

Rachel McAdams plays the manager of a hotel on a return flight from her grandmother’s funeral. Cillian Murphy is the creepy guy sitting next to her who is part of terror plot that is taking advantage of her hotel. She spends the movie trying to avoid helping the terror plot and escaping her stalker. Not so much a scary movie as a thriller, Red Eye was a joy to watch, pure suspense. It was so well made, I felt like I could just sit back and watch, and that rarely happens. The 2^nd act, entirely on an airplane in flight, is perfect and a great location for a movie – it’s a place we’ve all been stuck. The performances are spotless, from the leading duo, down to the extras on the plane. Brian Cox is especially good as McAdams’ father. Really there is little I can say about Red Eye except if you haven’t seen it, you really should. It is short, tight, and flawless. I was so full of adrenaline after the movie I was up for about 3 hours.

Red Eye is recommended for those who look suspiciously at the people around them on the airplane, fans of great thrillers, and anyone wants to see the female heroine not need a man to help her overcome her threats. Rick’s Rating: A.

Signs of Distress and Cheer in the Twinkies Season

So for the first time since 2001, I am greeting a baseball post-season without a team to cheer for. The Minnesota Twins, after three straight American League Central Division championships, finished third this year behind the early peaking White Sox and the late surging Indians. It was a season mirred with injuries, inconsistent play by young players, and lack of run scoring. The Twins will now have the 'benefit' of an extra month to figure out how to improve the team for 2006. It is easy to forgive a team whose entire payroll is less than one-fifth that of the Yankees, but their continued success the last three years and the sucess of the Indians (with an even smaller payroll) shows that you cannot just fall back on the easy excuses. So here, as I see it are the most encouraging and and discouraging factors from the 2005 season.

5 Most Encouraging things from the 2005 Season

1. The Starting Four. Johan Santana followed his first Cy Young Year by leading the AMerican League in ERA again and leading the major league in Strikeouts again. If the rest of his team had provided a bit more run support, there would not be any question of him repeating. As is, with Santana's 16-7, Bartolo Colon's 20 wins doesn't make him feel too secure. Brad Radke had another excellent season ruined by poor run support but his ERA was around 4 the whole year, he hit 200 innings and almost always got through the 6th inning. Carlos Silva had an excellent year despite some injuries and managed a 3.44 ERA with a 9-8 record (and poor run support). Number 4 started Kyle Lohse turned in an excellent second half, salvaging a season and bringing his ERA down to 4.18 and win total up to 9. THis is good because it either a) gives the Twins confidence in the talented but streaky young pitcher or b) makes him good enough to trade and actually get something back for.

2. Behind the Mask. Joe Mauer was everything advertised in his true rookie year. He called great games as a catcher and lead the team in batting average .294 and on base percentage and even stole 13 bases (as a cather!). His back-up, Mike Redmond, an off-season pickup from the Marlins, was always there when you needed him and even hit .311. No one misses Henry Blanco and his below the Mendoza line average.

3. Getting to the End of the Game. The bullpen had another great year for the Twinkies. Joe Nathan proved last year was not a fluke with 43 saves and 94 ks in 70 innings. Juan Rincon (2.45, 75 games) had another solid year as the set up man and youngster Jesse Crain (2.71, 75 games) leap frogged JC Romero (3.47, 68 games) for the 7th inning though they both had solid years. Rookie Matt Guerrier (3.39, 43 games) proved far more dependable in the bullpen than he ever was as a starter in the minor league system. And Terry Mullholland (4.27, 43 games) at 90 years old was even better than last year in his roll on the clean up crew.

4. The New Pitcher. September call up Scott Baker, seemingly part of every preseason trade deal the Twins didn't make, showed why they didn't want to get rid of him. 9 starts, 3-2 record, 3.35 ERA and opponents batting .241. He looks sure fire to make the rotation next year as the number 4 or 5 spot.

5. Gardy Goes On. You can't list the good qualities of the Twins without a shout-out to manager Ron Gardenhire, who, despite not winning the division for the first time, kept the team together through all the trials and pulled out the above .500 season when there seemed to be nothing to play for. Gardenhire can make monsters out of mice so I am sure he and #1 general manager Terry Ryan will come up with something to help us next year.

5 Most Discouraging Things about the 2005 season.

1. The Infield. After years of having one of the most dependable in baseball, the Twins returned only Luis Rivas for 2005, and he was in the minors by July. How bad were they? By the end of the year, they stillhadn't definitively decided on a starter at second or short and Cuddyer was starting at third by default. Morneau at first seemed to be starting based on his potential, but that was all it was. Instead of the promised first 30 hr season by a Twin since Kent Hrbek, Morneau gave us 17 and a batting average under .240.

2. The Outfield. The trio and their back up all had dissapointing seasons. Jacque Jones may have lead the Twins in HRs, but his average slipped even further away from the .300 it was 2002-03, down to .249. He's a free agent this season, don't expect to see him in a Twins uniform next year. Shannon Stewart had a disappointing season, finishing at .274, his first below .300 since 1998. More importantly, his OBA, the reason the Twins got him, dropped 60 points. Lew Ford the DH and fill in guy had a break out season in 2004. In 2005 he just looked broke, batting .264 with only 7 hrs. And Torii Hunter, fan favorite and most important member of the team, went down with an injury in July. But even at the time he was only batting .269.

3. Joe Mays. This man and his 8.5 million dollar salary gets a spot all to himself. Back in 2001 he went 17-13 with a 3.16 ERA. The Twins rewarded him with a four year contract (despite his 5.56 ERA the year before). He followed with a 4-8, 5.38 season the ended halfway with an injury. He came back in 2003 and was so bad - 8-8, 6.30 - that he was dropped from the rotation. He then was paid 8.5 million to have TOmmy John Surgery and not play for a year. And then came this year as the 5th starter, 6-10, 5.65, and dropped from the rotation. The Twins have the option on him for 2006. Its too bad they don't have the option of getting some of their wasted money back.

4. The Minor League System. Other than the aforementioned Scott Baker, after years of being able to deliver whatever the Twins needed when they needed it, Rochester and New Britain looked poorly equipped to help this year, maybe even 'tapped out.' Luis Rodriguez, Francisco Liriano, Jason Bartlett, Dave Gassner, Terry Tiffee, Travis Bowyer, Michael Ryan, and Brent Abernathy never seemed to get it together in the bigs. The lone success, 30 year old major league debuter Glen Williams, hit .425 in 40 ABs before a season ending injury.

5. The Cleveland Indians. They're young, they're cheap, and they look like the team of the future in the AL Central. THat's bad news for the Twin who have a lot of rebuilding to do.