Jordan, Jeter, and West: Late in the Game, but with Plenty of Thoughts

First off, I want to apologize for the clunky title, sometimes titles for certain things I write are hard to come up with. I know it sounds ridiculous, but yeah I can be a heavily self critical, which in an odd way ties into the rest of my post. So here we go.

Man, there's a great many things going on in culture right now and I've been doing a lot of catch-up. This is especially true in relation to a bunch of these crazy outbursts and highly talked about public displays and no, I don't mean people calling our president a liar on national TV or comparing Obama to Hitler and even those who have crazily and recently called him Antisemitic for just trying to portray both Palestinians and Israelis for being flawed human beings who have both done things that are not always above reproach for very different reasons, both just and unjust. Sorry for this diversion, but I don't want to get into politics and specifics, so please anyone who reads this don't respond to this with political comments. I just wanted to make it clear that's not what I'm talking about, but that it oddly has a shakey, but still somewhat relevant connection to other things going on.

What I really am talking about is in relation to sports, entertainment and celebrity. And there are three prominent cases that I was kind of late some more than others. Two cases that give me a kind of semi-despair and one that gives me hope and makes me proud of the person. Okay, so here we go.



The first case is of an athlete, one who despite his recent profoundly human and flawed behavior is still one of my favorite athletes of all time, basketball legend, Michael Jordan. Ever since I was a young child in my budding years of sports viewing and participation, Jordan and his team, the Chicago Bulls has been a big part of my life. In some ways, the Bulls were the original favorite sports team for me and despite what some people may call my obsession with so-called frontrunners, I assure you I am still an avid, but sadly lax fan of the Bulls. He was beacon to what was possible and what someone at their top form looks like and he made me love watching each and every game I could with him and the Bulls, especially in the postseason. And as I have gone further in my life sports have taken a backseat to my primary love and career goal, being a part of art, specifically, film. But when I was young there was period where I want to be a basketball player and it's partially because of him. Too bad I wasn't very good and most attempts at the sport were fruitless, but despite that I still love the game, college and pro, and love to watch and dream of another life being like Mike.

So I have to say, just a little bit ago, part of that dream and of my childhood died. Which is a good and a bad thing. Good because there is part of your childhood that should die as you grow and see things for how they really are. Bad because it is still initially hard to take. This happened after I recently watched MJ's Hall of Fame acceptance speech. Basically, he felt compelled to not just say thank you and say some brief words, but to go on for many minutes in a very me-centered speech using it as a platform to supply digs at others and then talk about his motivation via people challenging him. It doesn't sound so bad, but when I watched the video, it amazed me how seemingly ungracious he was and how he proclaimed himself even further the best player to play the game. That is true, I think, but he didn't have to express it himself, it feels like he was just shoving in front of people's faces even further again, uplift his own ego, make fun of others and just make the night even more about him and how he's the greatest. There is a lot of division on this subject from writers and fans, but I just me, and for me it just felt so cheap and sadly made me lose some of the respect I had for him.

For some further context about me, I have a strict policy about performers/artists/whoever in the spotlight. That policy is, no matter the other parts of their life, I can still respect them and their craft, no matter who they are as a person. There are people specially in my area of expertise, it just means I know a good amount it nothing more, in film. There are filmmakers like Oliver Stone, Spike Lee, Lars von Trier, and actors like Sean Penn and others who I like them for being brash and outspoken, but still realize they are not always perfect and some of them can come off as jerks. MJ, I feel the same way about and despite this horrid behavior and his tumultuous personal life, I still love him as that player, but it was to watch him be so pig-headed and self-centered. I still wish he had acted like other greats like Bill Russell, Jim Brown, and Wayne Gretzky and just been thankful for the praise and then give the credit to others and not himself. While I still love him as a player, a part of childhood hero loved died and it's kind of despairing.



Now, there's a performer, a rapper, who I really like as a musician and even some of his candid boldness, but let's face it, he can a real doofus sometimes. Yes, I'm talking about Kanye West and infamous incident at the VMAs where he interrupted country star, Taylor Swift and just attacked like an idiot during her acceptance speech. Now, I don't care about the VMAs, am not a big fan of the pop-country stuff Swift makes or Swift as an artist, but come on. I do think that West, did some genuine remorse when he showed up on The Jay Leno Show and hopefully he will grow up a little from this. I've like how West in his music especially early on showed this dichotomy between his brash persona and him genuinely struggling and trying to be something better than that. Unfortunately, he's kind of just embraced the persona even more and it bleeds into most everything. While, he's not like MJ in my love and appreciation, it is sad that he just really did act exactly how our President put it, like a "jackass." It's just a shame to see and it is once again kind of despairing as a fan.



Finally, for the hope and that comes with a baseball player for another one of my favorite teams, The New York Yankees. That player is Derek Jeter. Jeter, a guy I really respect and love and have always seen as a class act pulled off a great feat. He tied and then broke the All-Time Hits Record for the Yankees formerly held by the great Lou Gehrig. I was just really blown away by his humility and his gracefulness in how he dealt with it. He seemed appreciative, but also wanting to just get the job done and keep going and with my fingers crossed bring another World Series to New York again. I just so happy that amid other ridiculous behavior by people in the public eye, he did the opposite.

Now, I'm not one of those people who are overly moralistic and want to shove certain "values" on people and be a jerk about it. But it is really nice and I do wish in my heart, we had more people act like Jeter than the others mentioned. Even though he seems to be a kind of exemplary figure that is rare in our present context, it is really nice to see that. So I would say. Please people look at how this man dealt with this and learn. I know I just as much as anyone need to heed that and hopefully, his behavior will resonate in other arenas. That doesn't mean people can't be strong in their opinions or dissent or what not, but it should be tempered with some grace and civility. So in an odd way, I see this as a cry and challenge to myself and others in the culture right now, let's be more like Derek. Even though he's flawed human being like the rest of us, I see him as a guy with a good proper behavior in this situation. Which despite my despair and cynicism, still gives me hope in this age.

Sorry for the long and ranty post and I hope that I said something significant in it all. If you are interested check out the video of Jeter after tying the record and then after breaking it in a following game. For links to the other videos, just see it on Youtube if you want, but I would rather not revisit them myself or drag them up again for anyone. Anyways, godspeed and peace to all.





Picture Sources:
http://static.open.salon.com/files/michael_jordan1242892345.jpg
http://idolator.com/assets/images/idolator/2008/12/kanye_west-gal-products.jpg
http://yanksfansoxfan.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c583d53ef0120a4fbda8b970b-800wi

Video Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nr56Q0UHcg&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQwYQHkVy9E

Priceless

Adam and Jamie on CNN about their moon hoax recreation
and Buzz showing his guns and putting somebody in place.

I'm not one to celebrate violence, but this is one pretty hilariously
awesome exception. Check out the video below:

He Did It Again

So once again, I was going to post something about Robert McNamara's death and the reactions to it and my reaction to it, as well as to mention Errol Morris's great conversational documentary, The Fog of War, one of my favorite docs of all time and one film I am proud to own. It is a documentary that I also think that many people should see or revisit in lieu of McNamara's death. But as good 'ole Roger Ebert did with Transformers 2, he takes a subject I wanted to talk about he expands it and makes it as a springboard for something much more profound. He takes these recent events and the film as well as talking about the films of Ingmar Bergman and Carlos Reygadas to the concept of Catholic confession and Alcoholics Anonymous to talk about the central concept of confession. It is a very insightful and moving post, that I suggest you all read. Check it out:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/07/bless_me_father_for_i_have_sin.html

Also, here is the trailer for The Fog of War:


Here is also an interview with Errol Morris about the making of the film:
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/04/31/errol_morris_interview.html

The All-Star Games!!!! Do We Really Need Them?

Sports.
Usually this is a subject that I don’t bring up often, partially because of I’m not much of an expert at this subject as I once was. I know that those who disagree with my analysis here will use that against me, but I don’t care.

Since the beginning of my college years, I have been an on-again/off-again sports fan. Don’t get me wrong, when I get a chance to watch games or series that are events I rarely, if ever, miss them. But the fervor I once had for sports has waned from every since my peak, when I was both involved in athletics and reading and constantly watching. Back in my late junior high and early high school years, I couldn’t get enough. I read the sports page everyday, I had a very devoted subscription to ESPN The Magazine, and the weekends were sports time, especially since I grew up in house without cable, so I would miss many games from my favorite teams and I was at the mercy of what ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX would broadcast. Since a certain point in high school, around 11th Grade I think, my devoted reading dropped off and the days of watching NASCAR year round, NBA and NHL fall through summer, MLB summer through fall, and NFL fall and winter started to dissipate dramatically as the years progressed. My latter years in high school and mostly throughout my college life, I really devoted my time energy and reading to my first love, cinema. Not that I ever really left it, but next to sports, it took a backseat.

Recently, I’ve made my way back to sports again, really just in the last few months. With the NHL Stanley Cup Finals and the NBA Finals, I feel back in the action. Also, I have been watching two programs on ESPN consistently Around The Horn and PTI: Pardon the Interruption. It’s kind of odd because these are shows that I would have watched in my earlier more sports centric years, but I have this unusual fascination with these shows. I think really it has to do with my interest and draw to obsessions and understanding that mentality. I may not be a sports fanatic, I’m not, I’m a devoted cinephile, but I feel like I get that concept of a singular devotion driving a major part of your life. While, I don’t think I will ever be that sports fanatic ever again, it would be nice and I am attempting to follow sports in a significant way again. With all that being said, I finally get to the point of my post, I know I can be lengthy and verbose.

Anyways, today is a significant event for many people in sports; it’s the MLB All-Star Game, the 80th in fact. This used to be something that I yearned to watch every year come July. Even in those years of waning interest and obsession in sports, I still felt drawn to the mid-season classic as it is dubbed. But that has changed. I really look at the event, the hype, and all the grand promotions and I just now think, what’s the point? Now, I’ve always thought this about certain all-star games, specifically, the Pro Bowl. It’s a football game that is probably the most and lowest stakes any football fan could experience. It’s in February in Honolulu, Hawaii, and people play hard, but no one really makes a big deal and doesn’t give the best effort. And why should they? It’s after the Super Bowl, in the off-season, and why should they risk getting hurt by going 100% when they have millions of dollars riding on them? The NHL and NBA All-Star Games like the MLB are in the mid-season so it makes a little bit more sense. Because of lagging ratings, a few years ago, the MLB, decided to make the winner of the All-Star Game get home field advantage, which makes the game have a little bit more competitive, but really it’s just a gimmick. So basically, the all-star games are just big, bombastic, and self-congratulatory parties that really don’t mean a lot. Sure it is an honor to be picked as one of the best players in their respective sport, but the game itself isn’t that compelling whatsoever and personally I think it is more fun for the players than the fans. Now, I’m sure there are some people who would find offense and say every game, no matter what it is and that these all-star games are fun to watch. That’s great that they find meaning it, but I simply don’t. I think they are just big advertisements for the sports and the corporate sponsors and while some people will get to see favorite players that they don’t always get to see, it is under very artificial and manufactured circumstances. Sure any side can win, but really it is not a testament to anything significant for the teams themselves. It also just individualizes the players more the teams they actually represent. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it is a lot of fun to be able to be there live and in person. But if you are watching at home, why bother? It’s summer, you have the opportunity to get out and do things, or catch up on summer reading or watch those TV shows or movies you never got to. It’s okay, you’re not going to miss anything big or groundbreaking and if this is part of your definition of fun, maybe you should try to diversify your fun.

In conclusion, I will be watching this for a short time, but I really don’t have a huge investment. I’d like to see how our former athlete of president will do with the opening pitch and I’ll watch for couple of innings to say that I did, but nothing past the 3rd inning. I’m up to watch some games that I actually mean something for some teams, not some dream team scenario, which is really just smoke and mirrors.

A Drama I'm Looking Forward To

At Sundance 2009, there was a lot happening. Many films showed there of ranging quality but there are many that have highly anticipated. Films such as Moon, The Cove, We Live in Public, Five Minutes in Heaven, Bronson, Precious, Amreeka, Humpday, and many more films I have yet to see, because sadly I was there this year. One those many listed jumped out at me for two reasons, the film is called, Big Fan. The two reasons are two names attached, Robert Siegel and Patton Oswalt.

For those who don’t Siegel is the writer of Darren Aronofky’s tragic, beautiful tale, The Wrestler, tied for my third favorite film and I think the best American film of last year and he is the writer/director of Big Fan. Patton Oswalt is well known for his hilarious standup, as well as a semi-regular character on King of Queens, he also voiced Ratatouille in the film of the same name, and has had various guest spots and cameos in a variety of films and T.V. shows. When I first heard about this film, especially with the inclusion of Oswalt and knowing that Siegel used to work at The Onion, I assumed that this film was a comedy, but as the trailer shows below, it seems anything but that.

The film is about Paul Aufiero, a devoted New York Giants fan whose life is severely altered when he has a run-in with his favorite player, Quantrell Bishop (as himself). I’m going to let the trailer speak for itself, but personally I’m really excited about this! It will be also interesting to see Oswalt stretch and do a more serious role. It looks very good and even though, it is Siegel’s first directorial feature, but if it is even half as good as The Wrestler, then I think it will be a film not to miss. It releases in New York on August 28 and Los Angeles on September 11, and hopefully it will release wider in subsequent months.

Transform your mind, not your common sense

“"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is a horrible experience of unbearable length, briefly punctuated by three or four amusing moments. One of these involves a dog-like robot humping the leg of the heroine. Such are the meager joys. If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination.”

Roger Ebert’s One Star Review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

June 24, 2009

For awhile now I have been ruminating and really wanting to post about the big massive elephant on our movies screens, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Before I go further I would like to apologize to my favorite animal in the animal kingdom, it is just an expression. But yes, we have been assaulted by the phenomenon that is Transformers, unfortunately once again. Oddly enough for a film that is so brainless already there were a number of questions and issues I wanted to explore in a piece about the film. Questions like: why does it seem by many reports that the only woman that exists in the Transformers’ film universe look like dolled up porn stars? Why would Bay and/or the writers (sadly two of them Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci who wrote episodes of Alias, M:I 3, and Star Trek) put two racist inspired monkey-looking robots that are stand ins for young black gangsters? And why would Bay so mercilessly have fun with explosions and the death of many servicemen on an aircraft carrier only seven years after 9/11? And how did this film make $315 million in counting domestic and $648 in counting worldwide?



But a better, more intelligent, and more incisive critic than I, Roger Ebert, stepped up to the plate and gave this film a huge smack in the face. Say what you want about Ebert, he has been America’s film critic for a long time and thoroughly deserves it, even if he’s not always right. The quote I listed above is not just a portion from his review of this film, it is the entire review. With this, I think he has set up the perfect review to headline, Your Movie Sucks, Volume 2, if he ever decides to write that book. Of course with rabid, foaming at the mouth Transformers apologists and fanboys, this review caused quite a stir. In a most recent post on his blog, Ebert, further explains himself and deals with issues and questions I wanted to deal with as well as many more. I could not try to say it any better and therefore, I give the floor to Mr. Ebert. So I ask you to transform your mind, not your money or God-given common sense. Enjoy.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/07/i_am_a_brainiac.html

Tetro, Coppola's return to engaging and successful art film

Stirring visual beauty, punctuated by an engaging narrative that will consume you, despite its small handful of flaws.

This sentence in short, I think best describes Francis Ford Coppola’s newest film, Tetro. Self-financed, self-distributed, and shot in mostly black and white HD, Coppola takes a small film dealing with art, life, and familial relationships and he expands the film’s horizon and scope, by uniquely adding elements music, theater, and dance to enrich the story even more from the small, simple drama.



The film tells of the story of two Italian brothers, Angelo, now known as Tetro (Vincent Gallo) and Bennie (newcomer Alden Ehrenreich). Eighteen-year-old Bennie, who’s cruise ship has stopped in port in Buenos Aires, Argentina, decides to pay his older brother a visit. Tetro left many years before to go on a “writing sabbatical,” and since has wanted no contact with any member of his family, and is keeping to a humble and mostly mysterious existence in Bohemian section of Buenos Aires. Wanting answers, Bennie, comes not only to reunite with his long lost brother, and to rekindle the relationship he had with Tetro, but find out the true nature of their family history. Bennie is met by Tetro’s cold shoulder, with the brother not wanting to relive or retell the family’s dark past. As the story develops we find out that, Tetro and Benny are progeny of a world famous conductor and composer Carlo Tetrocini (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who is world renowned and celebrated worldwide, but is known personally as a horrible father, womanizer, and a cheat who stole all he knew from his older brother, Alfie (also played by Brandauer), and follow the path of celebrity rather than helping his brother become more successful in music. As the film progresses, we find out more and more about their twisted, sad, and complex family history that is filled with many twists and turns.



You can’t talk about this film without speaking to the masterful technical aspects. Shot in black and white with some flashbacks and other scenes shot in color, the HD filmmaking is superb; it seems that Coppola’s many years of work on film has trained him aptly to capture the same visual beauty on HD and in this film and his last, Youth Without Youth, he has made the transfer rather smoothly. The music by Osvaldo Golijiv is especially striking as well with a great variety of music mixing both classic and modern music with a beautiful blend of European and South American flavor. As a film, these elements mixed with a great ballet sequence and a mixture of clips from Powell and Pressburger’s films, The Red Shoes and The Tales of Hoffman, makes the film an operatic piece of art that makes the film more than just a melodrama.

While the film is a piece of art, it does have some flaws. Ehrenreich’s performance early in the film is bit too immature and petulant, and seems to be a bad imitation of early DiCaprio, yet as the film progresses he gets better. Also, certain characters tend to repeat lines of dialogue in a given situation and that seems a bit odd, out of place, and seems to suggest a tiny bit of more direction was needed in those scenes. There are bits of plot development that the audience picks up before the characters and therefore the revelation upon revelation seems to feel laborious after the while especially near the film’s climax.



These flaws are vastly outweighed by the arresting visuals and music, use of different art forms throughout the film, and the strong performances by Gallo, Branduaer, as well as Maribel Verdu, as Tetro’s partner, Miranda. This is one of the best films of the year so far and Coppola has proven that he still has what it takes as a filmmaker and artist. This film is a much more improved film than his last film, Youth Without which was far more complicated and incoherent, but still interesting. Tetro, while not perfect is a beautiful, promising film, and makes me excited to see what comes next from the man who gave us some of America’s most iconic cinema. Tetro obviously cannot compare to such films, yet it is a solid, small film that deserves welcome amongst the best of Coppola’s canon.