It was an interesting five days of football across all levels. I had another week of double digit picks correct. The Cowboys are on a roll, Jaguars finally won, Colts' defense is dominant, Bears keep losing at home, the Seahawks are looking like they won't repeat as Super Bowl champs, Ball State finally got that elusive second win, my high school dominated their rival and became conference co-champion, and Notre Dame got screwed. Oh well.
Chargers @ BRONCOS
LIONS @ Falcons
BILLS @ Jets
RAVENS @ Bengals
SEAHAWKS @ Panthers
Bears @ PATRIOTS
TEXANS @ Titans
DOLPHINS @ Jaguars
Rams @ CHIEFS
VIKINGS @ Buccaneers
Eagles @ CARDINALS
Raiders @ BROWNS
COLTS @ Steelers
PACKERS @ Saints
Redskins @ COWBOYS
BYE WEEK: 49ers, Giants
LAST WEEK: 10-5, 71.43%
TOTAL: 61-44-1, 58.1%
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
Movie Nitpicks - Episode IV (SPOILERS)
Time for the fourth of my 'Movie Nitpicks', nitpicking certain aspects of 'Divergent', 'God's Not Dead', 'Boyhood', 'Insidious: Chapter Two' and 'Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones'. These contain spoilers, so read at your own discretion.
- 'Divergent'
- So the teenage citizens in this world have to take a test that helps determine which faction they belong to. Obviously the point of the factions is to control the people. But why is it that a day after taking the test they then have a choice to which faction they want to belong to? Doesn't that make the test kinda pointless?
- 'God's Not Dead'
I already nitpicked a few parts of this movie in my previous 'Movie Nitpicks' post, and that was just from watching the trailer. Now that I've actually seen the movie....oh boy.....- So Josh's girlfriend dumps him after five years of dating because he accepted Professor Radisson's challenge to debate the existence of God. Five years down the drain, but not only is that not mentioned at all the rest of the movie it also appears that it doesn't phase Josh at all. Yep, because that's realistic...
- So during one particular debate session, Professor Radisson keeps rebutting Josh's arguments and it appears that the class is favoring Radisson's view over Josh's. Yet, immediately after class Radisson goes up to Josh in the hallway and berates him for humilating him in his own classroom. I could understand this happening after the third and final debate when Josh wins over his classmates, but this was after the first debate. It just doesn't make much sense...
- So in one of the films many subplots, left wing blogger Amy finds out that she has cancer. Her initial reaction? Typing away on her phone, coldly stating "I don't have time for cancer". Okay...I can understand denial to such news at first, but this was harsh. But the cancer subplot nitpicks get harsher and harsher.
- Amy tells her atheist businessman boyfriend Mark that she has cancer while at a restaurant. His response? "This couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Then they subsequently break up. I'll make this simple: NO ONE WOULD SAY THAT OR RESPOND LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!
- Later on in the movie, Mark is on the phone talking to his sister Mina. The topic of his and Amy's relationship is brought up and Mark simply says that Amy has issues she needs to work out. ISSUES?!!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?! SHE HAS CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once again, NO ONE WOULD ACTUALLY SAY THAT!!!!!! - Now onto another subplot. Ayisha is a Muslim girl who is wanting to convert to Christianity. After her brother tattles on her after catching her listening to the Bible on her iPod, her father beats her and kicks her out of the house. If this were set in another country and in another language then okay I can buy this subplot....but certainly not in America and not in a very very very preachy Christian propaganda movie.
- Towards the end of the movie Professor has been hit by a car and is laying in the street. Reverend Dave and Reverend Jude just happen to be nearby, and upon first glance Reverend Jude immediately states that Radisson has broken several ribs, is bleeding internally, and will die. Reverend Jude clearly must has superpowers or something because I don't know how he was able to know that from just one look and Radisson clearly not looking all that injured...
- 'Insidious: Chapter Two' and 'Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones'
- Now these two share a common nitpick: Both involve time travel. Remember how things were going bump in the night during the first 'Insidious' movie? That wasn't because of a demon or the Black Bride, it was because Josh was trying to save his family from other demons and while also trying to get their attention and point out that that's not his spirit in his body but rather the Black Bride. He even goes back to when he was a boy and first being investigated by Elise. It does explain that this spirit world is beyond time and space....but time travel? Seriously?
- And now on to the fifth 'Paranormal Activity' movie and it's time travel plot point. So early in the movie it's discovered that there is a door that will lead to a very dark, demonic place. While on the run from witches, Hector stumbles into the door thinking that he can hide from the witches. But that then takes him to...Katie and Micah's house from the first movie. Remember Katie screaming for Micah at the end of that movie? Well I guess it's because suddenly while getting out of her trance she discovers a random person in the kitchen. Micah comes down to fight him, but Katie ends up killing Micah and Hector then gets taken out by a witch who followed him. It practically does the same thing that 'Insidious: Chapter Two' does.
- 'Boyhood'
- Out of all the nitpicks I've done, this is probably the most nitpickiest. More of a personal nitpick than anything, but it has to do with parents swearing in front of their young kids. Now contextually in this R-rated drama I can understand the swearing to some extent. Mason Jr. and his sister Sam grow up in a rather broken home. Their parents are divorced, with their father Mason Sr. being the immature "fun weekend dad" for a good chunk of the movie while their mother Olivia goes from home to home, husband to husband, trying to make things better for their kids.
Olivia swearing at the kids I couldn't really buy. Can't really point a finger on why I didn't buy it, other than it just didn't seem like her character would do that.
Now Mason Sr.'s swearing I can buy, since it was quite clear that he was immature and didn't quite know how to act around his kids whom he hadn't seen in a year and a half. The kids even call him out on his swearing, and by the end of the movie Mason Sr. has cleaned up his act, remarried, and even has another child.
Bill, Olivia's second husband, is an alcoholic whose alcoholism gets worse and worse. His swearing at the children I can buy, since he was an alcoholic and eventually turned quite abusive towards Olivia and not only her children but his children as well.
- Out of all the nitpicks I've done, this is probably the most nitpickiest. More of a personal nitpick than anything, but it has to do with parents swearing in front of their young kids. Now contextually in this R-rated drama I can understand the swearing to some extent. Mason Jr. and his sister Sam grow up in a rather broken home. Their parents are divorced, with their father Mason Sr. being the immature "fun weekend dad" for a good chunk of the movie while their mother Olivia goes from home to home, husband to husband, trying to make things better for their kids.
Friday, October 17, 2014
REVIEWS - 'Boyhood', 'Oculus', 'Gone Girl'
Believe it or not I have a bit of catching up to do, with a couple possible Oscar contenders and a horror movie I rented from the library.
'Boyhood' (R) ***1/2
Filmed in 45 days over a period of 12 years, 'Boyhood' follows Mason Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows from childhood into adulthood and the various relationships, circumstances, and events that have molded him into the person that he became. Co-starring Lorelei Linklater as his older sister Sam, and Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as his divorced parents Mason Sr. and Olivia (Patricia Arquette). The latest from Richard Linklater, the director of such movies like 'Dazed and Confused', the 'Before' trilogy, and 'School of Rock'.
This had been in limited release for quite a while, and finally came to Fort Wayne around mid-August. It wasn't until late September at it's absolute last screening at the Cinema Center downtown that I finally had a three hour block of free time that not only coincided with a screening time for this movie but also allowed me to watch all of it.
Some reviews I wrote in the past would praise about how real certain aspects of a movie felt. 'Nebraska' I felt had realistic characters. 'The Spectacular Now' and 'Blue Is The Warmest Color' I felt took a realistic approach to relationships. In terms of realism, 'Boyhood' blows each of those out of the water. By far and without a doubt, this is the most realistic movie about childhood and growing up without being a documentary. While I couldn't relate to everything that Mason Jr. experienced, there were still many times in the theater where I silently thought to myself "Yep...I remember doing that" or "Yep...I've seen people EXACTLY like that" in addition to "Ah yes, I remember (certain year) and (certain song)". In terms of its scope and actually following the actors as they age throughout the years definitely deserves admiration.
A film to be admired, definitely. But is it any good? I'm happy to report that yes it is. Very good, in fact. And yes it is quite unlike anything I've ever seen. Much like life itself, sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's very dramatic. Sometimes it's over dramatic. But everything flows so casually and realistically that it's never bothersome when it changes tone for a bit. And it's bolstered by great performances from newcomer Ellar Coltrane and Ethan Hawke. This isn't a full four stars because of a few nitpicks I had with the movie. It does run about 10 minutes too long, some of the acting apart from Coltrane and Hawke is inconsistent, and the last nitpick I'll state in a future 'Movie Nitpicks' post. Still a very good movie that I hope to hear more and more about as Awards Season kicks in.
'Oculus' (R) ***
After picking up her brother Tim (Brenton Thwaites) from a psychiatric hospital, Kaylie (Karen Gillan) takes him back to their childhood home to prove that their childhood traumas were caused by a mirror with a violent past and an ability to induce hallucinations.
I had heard good things about this movie but I didn't really have the urge to go see this in theaters. So last week while looking for 'The Conjuring' at the library I wondered if this was out yet. Luckily enough, the library had a DVD of this so I rented it in addition to 'The Conjuring'.
I thought this was actually fairly creepy, filled with shocking visuals and layered with a feeling of dread throughout. And while it's not exactly one of the better movies of the year it is one of the more original movies I've seen this year. It is a little too long and it becomes rather hard to follow in my opinion. Not only are we following Kaylie and Tim in the present, it also flashes back constantly (and randomly) to when they were children and the traumas they faced in their childhood involving their parents. Combine those intertwining narratives with the mirror that bends reality and causes hallucinations....yeah. It can get confusing. But as a free rental from a local library it was worth it. Definitely something to check out if you want a tension filled horror movie that isn't saturated with blood, sex, and dumb teenagers.
'Gone Girl' (R) ****
With his wife Amy's (Rosamund Pike) disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent. With Neil Patrick Harris as a former boyfriend of Amy's, Tyler Perry as a hotshot lawyer representing Nick, Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit as a pair of cops suspicious of Nick, former 'SNL' player Casey Wilson as Nick and Amy's neighbor Noelle, Missi Pyle as a cable TV host highly critical of Nick, and newcomer Carrie Coon as Nick's twin sister Margo. The latest from David Fincher, director of such movies like 'Fight Club', 'Se7en', 'Social Network', 'Curious Case of Benjamin Button', and the American remake of 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'.
I had never read the book on which this was based on. Heck, I had never even heard of the book until I started hearing that it was going to be adapted. I wasn't completely sold on the trailers for this, but having liked all of Fincher's previous movies that I actually have seen I figured I'd check this out at some point. Then came the Oscar talk so that fast-tracked my interest in seeing this.
Is all the Oscar talk justified? In my opinion, yes it is. It's one of the best movies I've seen this year. It's also one of the most insane movies I've seen. I can't elaborate on that point further without giving away spoilers, so that's all I can say about that. It's suspenseful and shocking, darkly funny at times, features great acting from all of the cast, and is just an overall great movie that's extremely well made.
'Boyhood' (R) ***1/2
Filmed in 45 days over a period of 12 years, 'Boyhood' follows Mason Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows from childhood into adulthood and the various relationships, circumstances, and events that have molded him into the person that he became. Co-starring Lorelei Linklater as his older sister Sam, and Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as his divorced parents Mason Sr. and Olivia (Patricia Arquette). The latest from Richard Linklater, the director of such movies like 'Dazed and Confused', the 'Before' trilogy, and 'School of Rock'.
This had been in limited release for quite a while, and finally came to Fort Wayne around mid-August. It wasn't until late September at it's absolute last screening at the Cinema Center downtown that I finally had a three hour block of free time that not only coincided with a screening time for this movie but also allowed me to watch all of it.
Some reviews I wrote in the past would praise about how real certain aspects of a movie felt. 'Nebraska' I felt had realistic characters. 'The Spectacular Now' and 'Blue Is The Warmest Color' I felt took a realistic approach to relationships. In terms of realism, 'Boyhood' blows each of those out of the water. By far and without a doubt, this is the most realistic movie about childhood and growing up without being a documentary. While I couldn't relate to everything that Mason Jr. experienced, there were still many times in the theater where I silently thought to myself "Yep...I remember doing that" or "Yep...I've seen people EXACTLY like that" in addition to "Ah yes, I remember (certain year) and (certain song)". In terms of its scope and actually following the actors as they age throughout the years definitely deserves admiration.
A film to be admired, definitely. But is it any good? I'm happy to report that yes it is. Very good, in fact. And yes it is quite unlike anything I've ever seen. Much like life itself, sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's very dramatic. Sometimes it's over dramatic. But everything flows so casually and realistically that it's never bothersome when it changes tone for a bit. And it's bolstered by great performances from newcomer Ellar Coltrane and Ethan Hawke. This isn't a full four stars because of a few nitpicks I had with the movie. It does run about 10 minutes too long, some of the acting apart from Coltrane and Hawke is inconsistent, and the last nitpick I'll state in a future 'Movie Nitpicks' post. Still a very good movie that I hope to hear more and more about as Awards Season kicks in.
After picking up her brother Tim (Brenton Thwaites) from a psychiatric hospital, Kaylie (Karen Gillan) takes him back to their childhood home to prove that their childhood traumas were caused by a mirror with a violent past and an ability to induce hallucinations.
I had heard good things about this movie but I didn't really have the urge to go see this in theaters. So last week while looking for 'The Conjuring' at the library I wondered if this was out yet. Luckily enough, the library had a DVD of this so I rented it in addition to 'The Conjuring'.
I thought this was actually fairly creepy, filled with shocking visuals and layered with a feeling of dread throughout. And while it's not exactly one of the better movies of the year it is one of the more original movies I've seen this year. It is a little too long and it becomes rather hard to follow in my opinion. Not only are we following Kaylie and Tim in the present, it also flashes back constantly (and randomly) to when they were children and the traumas they faced in their childhood involving their parents. Combine those intertwining narratives with the mirror that bends reality and causes hallucinations....yeah. It can get confusing. But as a free rental from a local library it was worth it. Definitely something to check out if you want a tension filled horror movie that isn't saturated with blood, sex, and dumb teenagers.
With his wife Amy's (Rosamund Pike) disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent. With Neil Patrick Harris as a former boyfriend of Amy's, Tyler Perry as a hotshot lawyer representing Nick, Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit as a pair of cops suspicious of Nick, former 'SNL' player Casey Wilson as Nick and Amy's neighbor Noelle, Missi Pyle as a cable TV host highly critical of Nick, and newcomer Carrie Coon as Nick's twin sister Margo. The latest from David Fincher, director of such movies like 'Fight Club', 'Se7en', 'Social Network', 'Curious Case of Benjamin Button', and the American remake of 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'.
I had never read the book on which this was based on. Heck, I had never even heard of the book until I started hearing that it was going to be adapted. I wasn't completely sold on the trailers for this, but having liked all of Fincher's previous movies that I actually have seen I figured I'd check this out at some point. Then came the Oscar talk so that fast-tracked my interest in seeing this.
Is all the Oscar talk justified? In my opinion, yes it is. It's one of the best movies I've seen this year. It's also one of the most insane movies I've seen. I can't elaborate on that point further without giving away spoilers, so that's all I can say about that. It's suspenseful and shocking, darkly funny at times, features great acting from all of the cast, and is just an overall great movie that's extremely well made.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
NFL 2014 Week 7 Pick 'Em
Last week was my best ever week so far for picks, going 12-2-1. Since there was a tie game, I'm counting it was a tie. I picked the Bengals to win, but while they didn't win they didn't exactly lose. Another week like last week and I'll definitely be out of that hole I dug myself in earlier in the season. And how about those Cowboys? Contenders or pretenders? Time will tell.
Jets @ PATRIOTS
Bengals @ COLTS
Falcons @ RAVENS
Titans @ REDSKINS
SEAHAWKS @ Rams
BROWNS @ Jaguars
Vikings @ BILLS
Dolphins @ BEARS
Saints @ LIONS
Panthers @ PACKERS
Chiefs @ CHARGERS
CARDINALS @ Raiders
Giants @ COWBOYS
49ers @ BRONCOS
TEXANS @ Steelers
BYE WEEK: Buccaneers, Eagles
LAST WEEK: 12-2-1, 80%
TOTAL: 51-39-1, 56.04%
Jets @ PATRIOTS
Bengals @ COLTS
Falcons @ RAVENS
Titans @ REDSKINS
SEAHAWKS @ Rams
BROWNS @ Jaguars
Vikings @ BILLS
Dolphins @ BEARS
Saints @ LIONS
Panthers @ PACKERS
Chiefs @ CHARGERS
CARDINALS @ Raiders
Giants @ COWBOYS
49ers @ BRONCOS
TEXANS @ Steelers
BYE WEEK: Buccaneers, Eagles
LAST WEEK: 12-2-1, 80%
TOTAL: 51-39-1, 56.04%
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
NFL 2014 Week 6 Pick 'Em
Well...not a whole lot to say about last week. It seemed like the refs at the Seahawks/Redskins game were making sure that I didn't win in Fantasy this week...oh well.
COLTS @ Texans
PATRIOTS @ Bills
RAVENS @ Buccaneers
Steelers @ BROWNS
Panthers @ BENGALS
BRONCOS @ Jets
LIONS @ Vikings
PACKERS @ Dolphins
JAGUARS @ Titans
CHARGERS @ Raiders
BEARS @ Falcons
Cowboys @ SEAHAWKS
Redskins @ CARDINALS
Giants @ EAGLES
49ERS @ Rams
BYE WEEK: Chiefs, Saints
Last Week: 9-6, 60%
Total: 39-37, 51.32%
COLTS @ Texans
PATRIOTS @ Bills
RAVENS @ Buccaneers
Steelers @ BROWNS
Panthers @ BENGALS
BRONCOS @ Jets
LIONS @ Vikings
PACKERS @ Dolphins
JAGUARS @ Titans
CHARGERS @ Raiders
BEARS @ Falcons
Cowboys @ SEAHAWKS
Redskins @ CARDINALS
Giants @ EAGLES
49ERS @ Rams
BYE WEEK: Chiefs, Saints
Last Week: 9-6, 60%
Total: 39-37, 51.32%
Monday, October 6, 2014
REVIEW - 'Annabelle'
With the success of 'The Conjuring' I suppose a spin-off or sequel was inevitable since Hollywood sometimes just can't leave good movies alone. Heck, the 'Conjuring' sequel is coming to theaters next year. So in the meantime here we have a spin-off based on what in my opinion was one of the creepier things in 'The Conjuring': The Annabelle doll. Plenty of potential there for a spin-off based off of that.
Set before the events of 'The Conjuring', 'Annabelle' follows Mia (Annabelle Wallis) and John (Wade Horton) as they are about to welcome their first child into the world. But they suddenly begin to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. With Alfre Woodard as a mysterious cult bookshop owner.
Well...'Annabelle' is okay, but a bit uneven. It's well shot, the special effects are good, and it's well made, but it's also poorly acted for the most part and that gets aggravating. Some plot points are confusing but I'll go more in detail with those in a 'Movie Nitpicks' post. But when things start going bump in the night it does get kinda tense and creepy. Sure, it's cliched, but then again name a modern horror movie that doesn't fall into one horror movie trope or another at some point during it's running time. Heck, 'The Conjuring' was cliched as well. But the difference between 'Annabelle' and 'The Conjuring' is that the latter is very well-acted, well made, and maintains it's creepy atmosphere throughout. But I suppose this will do until the 'Conjuring' sequel comes out next year.
TRAILERS
- 'Into The Woods' - Watched a videotape of the Broadway production of this in my theater class in college. It's got a good cast so this could be interesting.
- 'The Interview' - Hate to say this, but I didn't laugh once during this trailer. Not because it was the Red Band R-rated trailer and I had went to see 'Annabelle' with my mom, but because it just wasn't funny. And usually I like Seth Rogen's movies...'Green Hornet' aside.
- 'Horrible Bosses 2' - Did 'Horrible Bosses' really need a sequel? Probably not, but at least this looks funny.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
NFL 2014 Week 5 Pick 'Em and An Update
Well I once again got less than 50% correct but it was nowhere near as bad as Week 2's disaster. But I'll take a slight moral victory in correctly picking the Chiefs to beat the Patriots. It's gonna take a few weeks to dig myself out of the hole caused by my Week 2 picks, although at the rate I'm going I might as well get comfy in this hole.
Vikings @ PACKERS
Rams @ EAGLES
BEARS @ Panthers
STEELERS @ Jaguars
FALCONS @ Giants
Bills @ LIONS
Buccaneers @ SAINTS
BROWNS @ Titans
Texans @ COWBOYS
Ravens @ COLTS
CARDINALS @ Broncos
CHIEFS @ 49ers
Jets @ CHARGERS
BENGALS @ Patriots
SEAHAWKS @ Redskins
BYE WEEK: Raiders, Dolphins
LAST WEEK: 6-7, 46.15%
TOTAL: 30-31, 49.18%
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Vikings @ PACKERS
Rams @ EAGLES
BEARS @ Panthers
STEELERS @ Jaguars
FALCONS @ Giants
Bills @ LIONS
Buccaneers @ SAINTS
BROWNS @ Titans
Texans @ COWBOYS
Ravens @ COLTS
CARDINALS @ Broncos
CHIEFS @ 49ers
Jets @ CHARGERS
BENGALS @ Patriots
SEAHAWKS @ Redskins
BYE WEEK: Raiders, Dolphins
LAST WEEK: 6-7, 46.15%
TOTAL: 30-31, 49.18%
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