tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29400182145396064562024-02-19T11:07:50.673-05:00i write you wrongShawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-7844989243834958042013-09-05T17:21:00.000-04:002013-09-05T17:36:15.490-04:00Blue Jasmine: Woody Allen's Best in Two Decades<div class="MsoNormal">
Jasmine Francis lives a gorgeous perfect Park Avenue
existence. Weekend retreats to the Hamptons. A handsome, millionaire husband
Hal Frances, who guest lectures at their son’s Harvard business class. Diamond
bracelets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But that’s all surface. Hal is as fraudulent as Bernie Madoff
and sleeps around behind her back. Jasmine appears oblivious…but is she really,
or is she choosing to look the other way?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her husband is jailed for fraud and, in a snap, it’s all
gone. The properties. The diamonds. “Everything I worked for.” Though of course
she never worked. She didn’t even finish college. This leaves her without any options
except to move in with her grocery-bagging sister Ginger in a crammed apartment
in San Francisco. She refuses to abandon her Park Avenue self-image and resolves
to somehow restore its foundation, but can only acknowledge her current reality
with a Xanex, vodka cocktail.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a sense, Jasmine Frances is the anti-Leonard Zelig, Woody
Allen’s fascinating social chameleon in his oft-forgotten <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zelig</i>. Zelig could and would emulate the likeness of all types
–bankers or janitors, politicians or baseball players, rabbis or Nazis – to the
point where he lost all personal identity. For Jasmine, maintaining personal
identity comes at the cost of reality. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Her arrival in San Francisco ruins the plans of Chili,
Ginger’s boyfriend, who was planning to move in. Played wonderfully by Bobby
Cannavale, Chili is warm but explosive with a blue-collar grasp of human nature.
He sees through Jasmine, but is big enough to keep his mouth shut.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To Jasmine, he’s an auto mechanic. To Jasmine, he’s no
better than Augie, Ginger’s affable, good-natured failure of an ex-husband
(never mind that Jasmine was responsible for losing all his money). To Jasmine,
Ginger can do better. It seems ludicrous – Ginger’s relationship is the fullest
in the film - but Allen takes no easy outs. Ginger has felt like the lesser sister her
entire life. With an endorsement from someone of Jasmine’s stature, why not
listen? <o:p></o:p></div>
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But then…does Jasmine have stature? Did she ever?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jasmine’s delusion is infectious,
and we as the audience aren’t immune. We laugh when Chili sets her up with one
of his guido friends…but should we? Might he actually be the better catch of
the two? We accept when Jasmine falls into the arms of Dwight Westlake, a
handsome, wealthy politician she meets during her rebound. He’s a genuine human
being, who fell on hard times, who loves Jasmine deeply - but isn’t it
interesting how he drones on about the campaign trail, how he seems fixated on her
elegance…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course, it’s far easier to sell mistruths to others than
it is to delude yourself. And as the film progresses and the gap between Jasmine’s
self-image and reality widens, her grip on that façade tightens, and we see
just what she’s willing to sacrifice to maintain that image.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is perhaps Allen’s deepest, well-written film since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hannah and Her Sisters</i>. The story is
ingeniously told, intercutting between San Francisco and her past in New York.
The transitional cues at first feel arbitrary, but grow increasingly
meticulous, adding to the depths of the film’s tortured character.<br />
<br />
Reaching such depths would be impossible without Cate
Blanchett, who somehow tightropes self-denial and integrity, pain and composure,
mental anguish and beauty. It’s a character that could easily alienate an
audience but we're clued into Jasmine's inner torture. Blanchett will receive awards for her work and she deserves them
all.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-47077735930847884922012-04-04T11:06:00.008-04:002012-04-04T11:15:49.738-04:00Scrapt Writing #1: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Written by Quentin
Tarantino</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/25017184/Inglourious-Basterds-Original-Screenplay" style="font-weight: bold;">THE
SCREENPLAY</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />Even three years
after its release, I still find Tarantino’s boldness admirable and refreshing.
He’s true to history while unapologetically changing it. Small liberties
capture the time period, like the German propaganda film <i>Nation’s Pride </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">or the “Jew hunter” Hans Landa. The greatest
changes are so implausible they can’t be taken literally. Of course no pack of
American Jews parachuted into France to be Nazis to the Nazis. Nor did they
assassinate the regime in a Parisian film house. Nazis were the closest things
to cartoonishly evil villains that existed in real life. And yet, few of their
henchmen faced those they persecuted. Tarantino isn’t fashioning a history
lesson, but a tale of revenge. He therefore serves Hitler and Goebbels up on a
platter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">I personally think
it’s Tarantino’s strongest, well-crafted film.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />And that’s why <i>Inglourious
Basterds</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> is such a
fascinating read. Not even a script by Quentin Tarantino - a maestro director
with final cut – remains fully intact on screen. Moreover, not even Quentin
Tarantino – one of the strongest writers around – gets it fully right on the
page.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Here are the biggest
changes between the script and the final product. All, I think, for the better.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>4. Madame Mimieux</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">In the film, Mimieux
is the name Shosanna uses in Paris to mask her Jewish identity. But in the
screenplay, Madame Mimieux is the original theatre owner who catches the newly orphaned
Shosanna sleeping in her theatre (page 37 in the link above) and takes her under her wing. It’s
a ten-page sequence spanning four years in which Mimieux teaches Shosanna
about film. How it’s handled, how it’s projected, and how sensitive it is to
heat. We also see a relationship develop with Marcel and Shosanna assuming
Mimieux’s identity after she dies (her death is unexplained).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Why was it cut?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsyLmioKgDCOkXne1cchwFev8tAT9uYTYw35WBZEs4w1E0U53e6WCHpowDyKnoXm2cYDvNgl-Tqk90lySlEAwAAoWPsG_JCRKFaxpF09NN_d7iajO09ToDnBF_iYl-E_fgb066P5YH1xn/s1600/Shoshanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsyLmioKgDCOkXne1cchwFev8tAT9uYTYw35WBZEs4w1E0U53e6WCHpowDyKnoXm2cYDvNgl-Tqk90lySlEAwAAoWPsG_JCRKFaxpF09NN_d7iajO09ToDnBF_iYl-E_fgb066P5YH1xn/s200/Shoshanna.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />Because less is
more. The audience can fill the gaps in Shosanna’s rebound by cutting to the
present, figuring out how she went from the woods to theatre owner. Additionally, no essential set-ups occur in the sequence. Yes, it’s more
effective when an apprenticing Shosanna has a cigarette slapped from her hand
when she lights up around nitrate film, but the later narration educates the
audience just as well.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />Scenes were actually
filmed with Maggie Cheung as Mimeux, which means the choice was made in post with
Tarantino’s late great editor, Sally Menke. I think aside from maybe being
non-essential, the sequence stalls the beginning of the final thrust of the
narrative. They were rightfully cut.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>3. Operation Kino</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />There’s one big
change in the <i>Nation’s Pride</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">
premiere. In the script, Donny uses the bathroom and catches the eye of a
swastika-scarred Gestapo officer. A gunfight ensues which ends in his death
(page 156). Why did this change? Because Tarantino had a better idea in one of
the more memorable scenes of 2009: Donny mowing down Hitler and Goebbels with a
machine gun. It’s aggressive and cinematic, Hitler’s plastic face chewed apart
by bullets. In the script, they are blown up like everyone else.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>2. The History of
Donny’s Bat</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Just before Donny
bludgeons his first Nazi (at least, on screen), we’re taken back a year or so
to his time in Boston. He buys the bat then takes it to an elderly Jewish woman
(played by Cloris Leachman). He tells her he plans to “make things right” in
Europe with his bat, then asks her to write the names of anyone whose life she
fears for. Though initially put-off by his crass behavior, she eagerly obliges
(page 34).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kzs6WAqgSvXXR8xU8es5V-aVLy_kRrZePGlcdRYrT-8Y2HfE3h8cuFlsaVT2I6bQMU22dd8USvE7z2abrdHdLRrErlVhpMeelncr4Ta3ZDC0k0_75cv7kSdVutFQyelXBdToHpLAx1Ab/s1600/Donnys+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kzs6WAqgSvXXR8xU8es5V-aVLy_kRrZePGlcdRYrT-8Y2HfE3h8cuFlsaVT2I6bQMU22dd8USvE7z2abrdHdLRrErlVhpMeelncr4Ta3ZDC0k0_75cv7kSdVutFQyelXBdToHpLAx1Ab/s320/Donnys+bat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The scene reads
quite well. It’s a struggle for Donny to get her to hear him out, much less
take part in his quest, but by the end of the scene she realizes his passion
and commends his strength. So why was it cut?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The sequence occurs
as a flashback from the scene with The Basterds in the woods. THAT scene is
another flashback from Hitler interrogating Private Butz (the surviving German
soldier). Going from Hitler to The Basterds to Butz might be one tangent too
many. And however effective and compelling the bat scene was, the sequence as a
whole is sturdy without it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>1.) Landa’s
Explanation</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">This was Tarantino
and Menke’s wisest cut.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">After her family is
murdered, Shosanna flees her hiding place and takes off towards the woods.
Landa steadies his Luger, pulls back the hammer, and... lowers his weapon? “Au
revoir, Shosanna!” It’s a great scene on film.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8EqFyGxO1TPCtAcexfIhQnJaBKfXxpcULbwofwkx1lje4iku1CqosStFCj9TfGFTKTM3IgAx0fnCjpgAjIeq7KCFi4poc5x6OB_SKuYPQnHAqyaPG2DdS2CqXvHlwcb5iwoVmXrxAn1p/s1600/Landa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8EqFyGxO1TPCtAcexfIhQnJaBKfXxpcULbwofwkx1lje4iku1CqosStFCj9TfGFTKTM3IgAx0fnCjpgAjIeq7KCFi4poc5x6OB_SKuYPQnHAqyaPG2DdS2CqXvHlwcb5iwoVmXrxAn1p/s320/Landa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">In the script, the
next scene is Landa driving away from the farm. He explains to his driver the
many reasons he allowed an enemy of the state to flee (page 17): she’s
harmless, weak, alone, has no hiding place, no one nearby will want to offer
her shelter...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">I can almost see why
Tarantino had Landa explain himself. Reading Landa on the page is different
than seeing and hearing Christoph Waltz’s Landa. On the page, perhaps you need
some sort of rationale behind Landa’s action. But having Landa explain himself
sort of weakens a great character both on the page and on the screen.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Again, though,
Waltz’s performance removes the need for a rationale. We’re meant to always be
questioning him, wondering what he really has up his sleeve with each question
and action. But with a lesser actor, would the rationale have remained? Let’s
hope not...</span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-3235798755028482442012-03-29T15:03:00.002-04:002012-03-29T15:07:42.469-04:00New Series: "Scrapt Writing"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I enjoy reading
screenplays for movies I’ve already seen. First off, I mostly read scripts for
stories I particularly enjoy, expecting to learn from the writer. So when I’m
laboring over my own script, it helps to see a scene with complex staging on
the page, to see what is or isn’t described. Or how great lines read on the
page. How action reads on the page. But the most interesting parts of produced
screenplays are the differences.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />Few films exactly
follow their screenplays. Woody Allen, for both </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Hannah and Her Sisters</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Match Point</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">, is the closest I’ve seen. He notoriously
demands line-to-line precision from his actors, but even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Annie Hall</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> departs from his script. And not just in the
lines. The script had an assortment of comedic scenes that, I believe, were
scrapped to fashion and emphasize a love story. In 9 of 10 scripts, scenes are
cut or rearranged. Endings change. Dialogue </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>always</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> changes. Characters do completely different
things on screen.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Why?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Perhaps scenes are
cut for pacing or because they feel redundant. Or maybe the writer and director
weren’t on the same page. Maybe an actor thinks up a better action to enhance a
character’s arc. Or maybe he fears being perceived in a negative light and
demands a change. The “why’s” are often explained on DVD commentaries or in
Hollywood gossip books. But as an aspiring screenwriter, it’s both interesting
and educational to speculate on why the filmmakers decided on these changes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I’m not sure if this
will be a weekly or bi-weekly thing, but “Scrapt Writing” will analyze scripts
with pronounced changes on film. Each script will come from a known movie.
Scripts for films like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Apocalypse Now</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>The Thin Red Line </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">will not be analyzed. I love these films, but the exercise is
pointless for scripts that really only serve as a blueprint, scripts with little
in the final product.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">First up...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Inglourious
Basterds</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">. </span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-60124838029317334822012-03-09T08:10:00.014-05:002012-03-09T08:48:54.976-05:00Adapting The Hunger Games<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">On the surface,
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>Hunger Games</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> shouldn’t be difficult to adapt. It’s a well-plotted story that
easily falls into three acts. The protagonist, Katniss, has a clear objective
with consequences, facing hurdles and moral dilemmas to keep her from her goal.
What’s more, dystopian stories are filmic, as would-be obligatory shots provide
detail and texture to foreign lands. Plus, it’s a blood sport.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />The story really
hits its stride during the Games. The opening charge to the Cornucopia, the
fireballs, the wasp nest, and others will make great action scenes. But you can
get action anywhere. It’s most engaging in tracing her logic through each
hurdle, watching her make firm choices, knowing what a misstep could yield.
Like when she hesitates to saw through a branch, waiting for the anthem to dull
the noise. Or when she figures out a way to communicate with Haymitch. Yeah,
she’s great with a bow and arrow, but she’s a great character for her
calculations.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">And that’s the
biggest challenge in this adaptation: how do you film a thought process?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Answer 1.) You
can’t, don’t try.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Right, she can be
badass with a bow and a crush. This isn’t Shakespeare. Just make it an action
movie. Why overcomplicate things?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">You shouldn’t,
unless you have a great character. Katniss is a great character. It's worth a try.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>2.) A friend.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">She can be less
solitary and has someone to talk to, someone to present a good idea, only to be
rebuffed by her intelligence. Perhaps Rue enters closer to the start of
the Games?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The thing is, much
of Katniss’ internal monologue is devoted to outsmarting the audience for
sponsorship. Even in rare instances she has the chance to speak her dialogue is
subverting; we know because her thoughts provide the context. The story’s
convention prohibits her cunning from being verbalized. That won’t work.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>3.) Voice Over.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Narration isn’t
necessarily sloppy, nor will it weaken a character if it’s
well-written (<i>Sin City</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">).
The key to voice over is consistency, be it every ten minutes in <i>Shawshank</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, the beginning and end of <i>Annie Hall</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, or throughout <i>Goodfellas</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. Here, it’s only needed in the middle. Story
elements would need to be changed to prevent it from being clunky. Still, it’s an
option.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>4.) Haymitch.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">He’s strong in the
novel, but omnipresent during the games. Katniss knows he watches over her with
good intentions and uses that to her advantage. In the movie, Haymitch could be
more in the frame. It could play like this:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Katniss falls to the
ground, pleading for water, and then we cut to Haymitch shaking his head; we
cut back to her, confused, then back to him saying, “C’mon…”; then, we see a
realization on her face; she springs up, moves forward and finds a lake; then
we cut back to him, a proud mentor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />In that sense, he’s the narrator. Like Ben Kingsley in <i>Searching for Bobby
Fischer</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, translating for us what an eight-year-old chess prodigy is <i>really</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> doing with his moves. Haymitch could be a
post we lean on without taking any credit away from Katniss.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Haymitch doesn’t
need to be restricted to that role. He can even have his own subplot,
something to cut away to during lulls in action. After all, he, not unlike
Katniss, is underappreciated with something to prove.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">I vote 4. (I'm mainly lobbying for more Woody Harrelson...not really)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Even if the
filmmakers go another direction, I expect Haymitch to be more present in the
film. I actually expect all major characters NOT in the Games to have a
stronger presence.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Because the next
issue is that the action and tension decrease in the
second half of the Games. It works fine on paper but won’t translate on screen,
no matter how much chemistry the leads have. The obvious solution is to write
more action scenes, which will happen.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">But losing the
novel’s first-person perspective allows the possibility of subplots. The most
important non-tribute characters are Katniss’ father, mother, and sister, Gale,
and Haymitch. Each serves an important function while existing (for the most
part) in her head. We can get flashbacks of Katniss learning to hunt with her
father (which are sort of in the novel anyway). Perhaps after Katniss is taken
away, her mother breaks down again, only to regain her strength when she
becomes a contender (thus increasing the stakes). Katniss wonders when she
kisses Peeta what Gale is thinking. Now we can see his reaction.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">I write that having
not read the second or third installments. Perhaps the integrity of the trilogy
demands certain things remain off screen. Fair enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />Still, the
filmmakers had options. Gary Ross is a talented filmmaker who has penned some
great scripts (<i>Big</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, <i>Dave</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, and <i>Pleasantville</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> being my favorites). He recruited the author
(and fellow NYU Dramatic Writing alum) Suzanne Collins for the screenplay. It’s
an asset, provided she was willing to kill her babies (given the subject
matter, that shouldn’t be a problem).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">A few other thoughts
on the adaptation:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- The novel did a
poor job establishing the populations of the districts. The film should clear
this up rather easily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br />- The irony of
Katniss and Peeta’s relationship is a credit to the author. Katniss starts out
questioning <i>his</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> motives
which prove genuine, but <i>her</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">
actions end up being more calculated and therefore less genuine... and she
doesn’t even realize it. Bravo! I hope it’s as well done in the film.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- The more she gets
in touch with her feelings, the more human she becomes, the more it weakens
her. They could throw more threats at her to strengthen the theme especially
since, again, the second half needs action.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- The antagonism
will need more of a face. Cato seems the likely candidate. Part of me wonders
if they’ll change his sidekick? Foxface was one of the more interesting
tributes though barely explored.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- Lenny Kravitz?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>SPOILERS... (more than before, anyway)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- There’s really
only one big problem I had with the novel: Katniss is let off the hook too
easily. I felt that her biggest moral dilemma would be to kill one of her
friends. Two are killed by other tributes. Fine. But when the voice of the
Games announced that two tributes from the same district could win - that
Katniss and Peeta are in effect on the same team – I rolled my eyes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Yeah, OK, the logic
holds up: the star-crossed lover story entertained the Capitol, and District 2
also had both tributes remaining. But the machinery is too apparent. Collins
doesn’t start the Games with that stipulation because at that point we’re still
questioning Peeta’s motives; we wouldn’t have to with he and Katniss on the
same team. After he saves her and the tension is alleviated, she knows the
amendment won’t spoil the tension.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Perhaps the
filmmakers won’t find Peeta’s ambiguity that important. They really should,
given the twist previously mentioned. No, Katniss shouldn’t slaughter Rue. I
don’t know the right choice. I’m also not being paid millions to figure it out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- Oh, one other
problem: the character names. They don’t read well, God knows how they’ll sound
coming from a tween. A quick IMDB search shows that the names will remain.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Damn it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Maybe post-introduction, the leads will be referred
to as Lover Boy and Girl on Fire? (I almost typed ‘Flaming Girl’ but it’s
probably not the effect the filmmakers are looking for.)</span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-78302820340610745812012-03-06T13:09:00.014-05:002012-03-07T18:41:07.283-05:00FINISHED: My Occupation on Wall Street<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This should have happened a year ago. Probably even sooner. How many other screenwriting grads work on Wall Street? Maybe more than I think. I mean, when student loan debt meets weak job prospects, something’s gotta give. At least that’s what I told myself when I took the job. But even after paying off my loans, I stayed on. “To survive a weak economy”; “to build up capital”; “to fund a move to Las Angeles”... It was a tired script.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />The truth is, I worked on Wall Street for the same reason anyone works on Wall Street: it’s safe.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />The life of an average financier is not difficult to plot. It usually starts at a decent state school and a summer internship in Manhattan. They move to the city after graduation, Upper East Side or Murray Hill. They rake in 60-90K (before bonus) through their mid-twenties, extending the party-school lifestyle to midtown. That is, until meeting someone “cool”... not someone they love, just someone moderately attractive and ready to settle down. They marry and relocate to the suburbs, commuting daily for a low/mid-six paycheck. Portfolio managers make headlines, but this is Wall Street.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Michael Lewis observed in <i>Liar’s Poker</i>, "Never before have so many unskilled 24-year-olds made so much money in so little time." That was 1989, before the MIT geeks at Long-Term Capital Management gave skilled mathematicians a permanent seat at the table (never mind that the firm failed in 1998). In 1960, a top MIT grad would have worked for NASA. Today, it’s Goldman Sachs. If back-office minions start at high five-figure salaries, a top mind from MIT will pull in anywhere from a quarter- to half-a-mil. NASA can’t compete with that. That cash isn’t in cancer research. Being an entrepreneur? You only live once. Where’s the sure income? The incentive?</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />An industry designed to profit on the ingenuity and creativity of others can rarely foster its own. And it steers the best and brightest away from industries with greater societal benefits.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I discussed this with a former coworker. I try to simplify it: the guy who runs and operates the best pizza joint in New York (DiFara’s) makes 300K tops; my boss, a very average MD, makes close to a mil. How is that fair? My former coworker argues you can’t just look at dollars and cents. The owner of DiFara’s </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>could</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> expand his store and/or franchise. Income clearly isn’t his biggest priority.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And then there’s bossman. Let me start by saying that he’s one of the more intelligent people I know. He sees through the bullshit and has a good worldview. But the guy drinks. He works four-day weeks, Fridays spent in bars. Even though he admits he’s overpaid, his sole day-to-day motivation is maintaining his lifestyle. He claims he lost his passion.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I wonder if the owner of DiFara’s would still lead a richer life if he quantified it like a financier. I wonder if I resent my boss for wasting his talents with booze. Or is that what I’ve been doing the past four years.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">That’s not to say I didn’t appreciate what the job offered. Aside from clearing student loan debt, it enabled me to produce a film. Not just in contributing and raising equity, but in creating and managing an LLC. I learned some invaluable tax skills, which sound boring but are insanely practical. I mastered Excel – which is boring and impractical, but, y’know, it gave me a sense of satisfaction. I ran the NYC Marathon for a partner’s charity, and it helped fulfill my 2012 New Year's resolution.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I understand the role of finance in society. More than hedge funders benefit from it: small businesses, bars, entrepreneurs... I couldn’t have gone to NYU without loans from a bank. Finance can cultivate good ideas, support talent, and stimulate growth. But it’s failing at that task right now, and sucking up resources.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Everyone’s pissed about it... but no one knows what to do. Not my former coworker, my boss, or the Occupy movement.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I wonder if financiers need to be braver on a personal level. In addition to my prior Wall Street stereotypes, almost all financiers at one point had non-finance aspirations. Doctors, vets, journalists. I trained for the marathon with a portfolio manager who lived in Jersey with his wife and kid; he also rented an apartment in midtown where he’d play squash. A pretty envious lifestyle. But he wished he’d done something that was meaningful. He said after saving a few paychecks, he wouldn’t mind teaching high school and coaching cross country.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But after getting accustomed to a high finance lifestyle, having such a realization at 37 is less realistic than a pipe dream at 20. Luckily, I learned finance wasn’t for me relatively early.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In September 2008, coworkers and I huddled around the Bloomberg watching the market collapse in real time. About a month earlier, I was approached by an exec about the firm possibly paying for me to get my MBA. It was an interesting proposition. But as we stood there watching the world collapse, my mind wasn’t on business school.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I got a text from my father. My brother scored a touchdown in freshman football, his first ever. I decided to fly back to Ohio for a rare Saturday game. He only had a carry for ten yards, but he played a great game. 500 miles east, a bunch of things you can’t eat, chew, or even hold in your hands were losing value. But that sunny afternoon, the world wasn’t collapsing. I knew finance wasn’t for me.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Nothing is guaranteed. Not an MBA salary, or the idea that such a salary would make me happy. A pretty wife and a Manhattan townhouse sound nice, but not rationalizing my life on a daily basis. I’ve had to do that for four years. The time wasn’t all bad. I made good friends, we had some good times. It was my first post-collegiate job.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But it’s time to do what I love. For the first time in my life, I have money. I’m grateful for the current flexibility. But I know that my journey - and those who dream to open a restaurant or to be the next Steve Jobs - would be less difficult if the wealth of a nation were funneled to more than one street.</span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-70719013207348614012012-02-25T02:24:00.005-05:002012-02-25T10:55:40.944-05:00Oscar Thoughts and Predictions<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">I get why the 2011
nominations are considered boring. It’s a field dominated by household-name
directors; a usually-controversial Scorsese churned out a kid’s movie; no one
likes one of the Best Picture nominees. But while I disagree with the consensus
(more later), there are two “risky” films the Academy failed to highlight
(though I understand why)...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Martha Marcy May
Marlene<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">We know little about
Martha. From her inability to socialize to her bizarre behavior and random
panics, we think she’s crazy. But flashbacks to her time in a cult provide
(possible) explanations for her quirks. I went from observing her to observing
life through her eyes... and I’ve rarely felt more terrified. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The dramatic but
gradual shift in perception is headed by writer/director Sean Durkin. In a plot
driven by curiosity, he understands the power of information: when to give it,
what to give, when to stop. His characters are either quiet or cryptic, giving
each scene an underlying tension. His editor knows a wide shot with a gun aimed
at someone’s chest is considerably less powerful than a medium with the gun off
camera. His DP leaves empty space in the frame, allowing the possibility of it
being occupied. Of course, there’s Elizabeth Olsen, who led the picture’s slim
Oscar hopes. As Martha she never tips her hand, acting neutral in bizarre
scenarios, allowing context to dictate the arc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">It might be the most
well-crafted film I saw in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg5bgW6_Uf-GJN654nZSEyhFMbDIk8imVe4mAbZZJVU12PdWhXzZBgQf9uAUoLXrZUas0mYmgO36sMLVrnWIOAPP6Ow1wVM-keVd-gDEzY7QEyo8UWljJNeRGDal6BdYVYvPBYC3UUB8w/s1600/martha_marcy_may_marlene05.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg5bgW6_Uf-GJN654nZSEyhFMbDIk8imVe4mAbZZJVU12PdWhXzZBgQf9uAUoLXrZUas0mYmgO36sMLVrnWIOAPP6Ow1wVM-keVd-gDEzY7QEyo8UWljJNeRGDal6BdYVYvPBYC3UUB8w/s320/martha_marcy_may_marlene05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">So why zero
nominations? A lack of exposure is the obvious answer, but more than that... The
title.<b> </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>Martha Marcy
May Marlene</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. I understand <i>why</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> this is the title, but damn...
I forget the order of the names. I sometimes say Marsha. Or Mary. Titles are
important. This one isn’t even bad, it’s just... confusing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Melancholia<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">It isn't until Part II of <i>Melancholia</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> that the rogue planet threatening to crash into Earth is mentioned, but in a way, both parts are
disaster movies. Part II, entitled "Claire", observes the titular character's fear of this planet destroying her life and her family and her eventual loneliness when disaster becomes inevitable. It's pretty conventional as far as disaster movies go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Part I is less obvious. Entitled "Justine", the story
focuses on Justine at her lavish wedding reception with perfect-looking people, all having a
great time... except for the fact that Justine is miserable. No one knows or cares to know. Her sister, Claire, can't understand why either. She's beautiful, her husband is handsome... she should be happy. But the reception is Justine's worst nightmare.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eijbjff8O0siL8PoYVRGgf2jojNjTR099MPPsE4ZWsSmdj3s9SsH8MwohYYGncZiitLKtpOKi7FwAgQLtvP2I-6e1c7QKX1viuEuFfNtlOs7Y88EZDUs_4lJf1_BY-znu9_-hi8MyfNp/s1600/Melancholia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eijbjff8O0siL8PoYVRGgf2jojNjTR099MPPsE4ZWsSmdj3s9SsH8MwohYYGncZiitLKtpOKi7FwAgQLtvP2I-6e1c7QKX1viuEuFfNtlOs7Y88EZDUs_4lJf1_BY-znu9_-hi8MyfNp/s1600/Melancholia.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">A therapist told
Lars Von Trier that people with depression are more equipped for heavy pressure
because they face it in their day-to-day lives. Von Trier dishes a lot at
Justine. A cold mother. A careless father. Guests with veiled agendas. Her
seemingly caring groom only wants to get her to bed. Even the vanity of the
reception seems to force happiness upon her. Von Trier wisely presents these as
triggers, not the cause of her depression. For her, the reception is a planet crashing into
Earth. Claire tries to will her into happiness, but can only later grasp her fear and loneliness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Kirsten Dunst won
Best Actress at Cannes for portraying Justine, and both she and Charlotte
Gainsbourg (Claire) deserved recognition. It could have also garnered attention
for writing, directing, and a slew of artistic awards but... well...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Perhaps an industry
exists where you can succeed while calling yourself a Nazi while admiring the
work of Hitler and Speer... I’ve just never been there. I have been to
Hollywood. They don’t much care for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(Also, I felt the
red herrings were distracting.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The complete
omission of these two films is my biggest gripe with the nominations.
Imaginative and creative, they could have filled the void in an average year.
But it is indeed <i>average</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">,
not poor. Though the Best Picture field is too generous, three nominees have
the imagination and skill to contend any given year. Hopefully these are made
clear by my predictions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>BEST ADAPTED
SCREENPLAY<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who should win: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">John Logan, <i>Hugo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who will:</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> Alexander Payne, <i>The Descendants</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>Descendants</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> was disappointing. The script is uneven and
clunky, the plots don’t mesh, and conflict gets resolved too easily. The
dialogue lacks the texture of Payne’s prior scripts, and the voice over is a bad choice. It wins more on subject matter than quality. <i>Moneyball</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> was a tough adaptation (no fewer than 3
Oscar winners tried to crack it). Statistics and calculations are tough to
film, and Sorkin and Zaillian were properly recognized for the amount of
content in the final product. But this can sometimes become cumbersome. The
writers never tapped into the book’s subtext, the <i>je ne sais quoi</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> of baseball that inspired Bill James to
write his books or Hatteberg’s wife to hit him grounders in the rain. Still, it's a solid script from a tough adaptation. <i>Hugo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> is well-imagined and has a lot of heart. It
flows sequence to sequence, and each turn is fresh and surprising. Every
character has dreams, fears, and personalities, and even the villain is
well-rounded. Logan will lose to <i>Descendants</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">
because his script is not emo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CRCVWGS6LE-k3qF6cR59DVhSMAHjWcJZQefzYElM_B_LkitcXvgz-o2nBcXYAItPOUJFLIYEb35ss8OjwGmHe2iqtUaSVrxd9QfAyCaugiuSN2tV7xyw-MEkYhZy2JdgPfZW_IDsHaIq/s1600/Hugo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CRCVWGS6LE-k3qF6cR59DVhSMAHjWcJZQefzYElM_B_LkitcXvgz-o2nBcXYAItPOUJFLIYEb35ss8OjwGmHe2iqtUaSVrxd9QfAyCaugiuSN2tV7xyw-MEkYhZy2JdgPfZW_IDsHaIq/s320/Hugo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You mean, he does nothing but mope<br />
for two hours?" "Nope." "Magical!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>BEST SCREENPLAY<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who should win: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Woody Allen, <i>Midnight in Paris</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who will:</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> Woody Allen, <i>Midnight in Paris</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Part of me wants Michel
Hazanavicius to win for The<i> Artist</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">.
Too often, people identify good writing with snappy dialogue over structure and
plot. Both are solid in <i>The Artist</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">,
which relies on visual storytelling. The parallel action sequences are done
well. His fall from grace and her rise to stardom is clear and natural, and
their cause is quite clever. And it ends on a good note. The story might be a
little too thin to warrant a victory over strong opposition. Props to <i>Bridesmaids</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> for scoring the nomination that eluded <i>Mean
Girls</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> and <i>40-Year-Old
Virgin </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">before it. There are
sight gags and mean observations, and all setups have payoffs. The characters
are funny and likeable, none of whom distract from the universal themes. For a
comedy, the nomination is a victory. Woody should get his first statue since <i>Hannah
and Her Sisters</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. The premise
is recycled from <i>Purple Rose of Cairo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, but this is a fun movie. And you don’t require expert
knowledge of ‘20s Parisian ex-pats to appreciate it. The story is less-cynical
than most of his work, and he strikes a variety of notes in a thin plot. And
few writers could turn a story with a single word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>BEST ACTRESS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who should win: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">I…don’t know<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who will: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Viola Davis, <i>The Help</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The category suffers
because the movies represented are, by all accounts, sub par. I can say that
Roony Mara in <i>Girl With a Dragon Tattoo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> killed it. More than a physical transformation, she inhabits
this tortured character. She’s quiet and aggressive; her stare and monotone
voice mask any rare slip of sentiment; and her stone cold expression makes any
smile chilling. I wish I’d seen the other noms to determine whether she should
win. I have lukewarm interest in <i>The Help</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> and will probably avoid <i>My Week With Marilyn</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> and <i>The Iron Lady</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. For the latter, Meryl Streep is said to be
the best thing in a bad movie. But as leads are partly responsible for overall
quality, I wish a great performance in a bad film were omitted for a great
performance in a great film (Olsen, Gainsbourg, Dunst). I hear Michelle
Williams and Glenn Close were deserving. It sounds like this is Viola Davis’
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>BEST ACTOR<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who should win: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">NOT George Clooney, <i>The Descendants</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who will: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">George Clooney, <i>The Descandents<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">He just wasn’t that
good. There are stronger ways to evoke internal conflict than walking around
with your head hung low, looking off in the distance. Take Paul Newman in <i>The
Verdict</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, or Eastwood in <i>Unforgiven</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. Granted, those screenplays gave more for
their leads to build on, but little about his performance feels inspired (I’m
fairly certain his “we’re Hawaiians” monologue is lifted from his <i>Fantastic
Mr. Fox </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">speech, Hawaiians in
place of foxes). Everyone in the category was better. Brad Pitt was the perfect
choice to play Billy Beane. He’s temperamental but fun; a handsome jock with
deceptive intelligence; good-natured but knows how to play the managerial chess
match. With more to work with in the first hour, Pitt would have been a
shoe-in.<i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1isE2UR6aeMQ-GVQCdoXtR9rRDPaG0x6quQY-yhV-tDPQaCkqZPgryezPvkW4yTg4Hnc7Qafaa-j-nZwZLWAcYZuRVqLgXdSSbh4xTlpEFwYILZMEf3e8DjJLnpL0fQOlP5a0R3hayPwH/s1600/Billy+Beane.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1isE2UR6aeMQ-GVQCdoXtR9rRDPaG0x6quQY-yhV-tDPQaCkqZPgryezPvkW4yTg4Hnc7Qafaa-j-nZwZLWAcYZuRVqLgXdSSbh4xTlpEFwYILZMEf3e8DjJLnpL0fQOlP5a0R3hayPwH/s1600/Billy+Beane.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Can I do something awesome yet?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>The Artist</i> lives
and dies on its performers. Jean Dujardin’s memorable scenes are of him dancing
and those with the dog, but the story is told on his face. It’s so expressive
and malleable that rare instances of stillness command attention. He could
score the gold, but I wonder if not speaking hurts his odds. In <i>Tinker
Tailor Soldier Spy</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, Gary
Oldman keeps those around him (and us) guessing through a difficult story. His expressions and speech remain unchanged, regardless of context. A
difficult monologue at the midpoint would have fallen flat with a lesser actor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>BEST DIRECTOR<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who should win: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Michel Hazanavicius, <i>The Artist</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who will: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Michel Hazanavicius, <i>The Artist<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The intro to <i>Midnight
in Paris</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> is reminiscent of
Woody Allen’s <i>Manhattan</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">.
If the latter is his love letter to New York, in many ways, <i>Midnight in
Paris</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> is a more
strongly-worded letter to the city of lights. The present scenes are full of
life and promise, the past is warm, inviting, and nostalgic. You get the
feeling that while his lead yearns for the old days, Allen begs him to just
look around. He could win this year. So could Martin Scorsese. <i>Hugo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> has so many great ideas that you don’t know
whether to credit Scorsese or Logan or the source material. We’re told that in
the early days of film, a film with an approaching train caused the audience to
jump out their seats in fear that it would charge off the screen. Later, during
a chase sequence, Scorsese takes advantage of 3D as a train literally jumps out
the screen at the audience. It’s an interesting choice, using 3D to tell a
story of early film. Traditionalists frown upon the new medium, but Scorsese –
as great a film historian as he is a filmmaker - seems open to the
ever-evolving art form. Still, I think this goes to Hazanavicius for<i> The
Artist</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. Directing is a
balancing act to begin with, but to omit a key component of modern film
requires extreme precision in every other element. The story works and doesn’t
need dialogue to cover any lapses in logic. The performances – from everyone to
Desjardin to the dog – are spot on. And everything looks perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>BEST PICTURE<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who should win: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>Hugo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Who will: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>The Artist<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><i>Midnight in Paris</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> would be my choice if not for one glaring
flaw: Rachel McAdams, as Owen Wilson’s wife. For Wilson's character to yearn for the past, the present cannot be inspiring, and that includes his wife. I get it. But she has absolutely no redeemable qualities. None. It's partially Allen's fault, but McAdams is way too aggressive. At some
point, I was annoyed at him for tolerating her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn1vIFwtR5ETx1LIlWQh8WV8qAlv2cUQU6waRd4DsAW0Q56eB5dXAuN6yO78fs0EL0BYLgio71RQ4ZesNVTas82Gtypwdd9AXgy7Rpc-M3jNVrjfthX4bUCuj5R4QqzNuugCKRzzh53s3/s1600/Love.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn1vIFwtR5ETx1LIlWQh8WV8qAlv2cUQU6waRd4DsAW0Q56eB5dXAuN6yO78fs0EL0BYLgio71RQ4ZesNVTas82Gtypwdd9AXgy7Rpc-M3jNVrjfthX4bUCuj5R4QqzNuugCKRzzh53s3/s1600/Love.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Quit it! When you kiss me I can't yell at you!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">In a two-race
horse between <i>Hugo</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> and <i>The
Artist</i>, I choose <i>Hugo</i>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> There’s not much
else to say to support my pick</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, I guess I just... still love being a kid at
the movies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b>Other Oscarvations
(sorry about that...):</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- Supporting Actor
will go to Christopher Plummer; for Actress, Octavia Spencer. I'd vote for Melissa
McCarthy in <i>Bridesmaids</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">.
She finds a good balance in a role that’s tougher than meets the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- I saw the animated
shorts this week at IFC. There were some great ideas in both the nominees and
honorees. My favorite was <i>Wild Life</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">,
about an Englishman who moves to Canada to become a rancher. It had the most impressive animation and was the first animated mockumentary I've seen of any length. <i>The Stroll</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">
was also clever and well-executed. The Pixar entry <i>La Luna</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> left something to be desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- People cite Jessica Chastain, but Jonah Hill also had a better performance in 2011...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zuzaxlddWbk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- John Logan not
only penned a Best Picture contender, but the front-runner for Best
Animated Feature. The most underrated writer in Hollywood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- <i>Drive</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> is overrated, but count me among those who
feel Albert Brooks was robbed. The thing is, he doesn't play against type; his comedic persona is what makes his acts so sinister. Very clever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- I'm surprised Bennett Miller was ignored for <i>Moneyball</i>. He's a big reason the difficult subject matter works, and the baseball scenes are very well shot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">- <i>War Horse</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. There, I acknowledge it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-69457594132864205472012-02-13T02:15:00.007-05:002012-02-13T10:34:42.426-05:00Kyrie Irving, I’ll Never Buy Your Jersey. You’re Welcome.<link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSHAZEL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Looking back, it’s no wonder Kyrie Irving began the year
with such low expectations. As the Cavaliers’ questionable #1 pick over Derrick
Williams, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Irving</st1:place></st1:city> was the face of a draft without a superstar. Experts projected him as a poor man's
Chris Paul. And a city needing a successor to LeBron got a soft-spoken kid NOT from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Akron</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place>, who doesn’t have “Chosen One” tattooed across his back. He couldn’t even
attract ESPN or TNT to cover one game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">And he's been outstanding. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's not just that he's averaged 18.0 points on </span><span style="font-size: small;">49.2% </span><span style="font-size: small;">shooting </span><span style="font-size: small;">(41.3% on 3's), but that he's done it</span><span style="font-size: small;"> while only playing 29.8
minutes a game. He creates shots for himself and for those around him (5.1 assists per game). He already has wins over Boston, Rubio in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:place></st1:state>,
and the defending champion Mavs. </span><span style="font-size: small;">In a rookie season that's so far</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2012/02/rookie_kyrie_irving_vs_rookie.html" target="_blank">better than LeBron's</a>, some feel he was snubbed an</span><span style="font-size: small;"> All-Star selection, even though no rookie point guard has made the team since 1982. But instead of complaining, he's excited to be in the Rising Stars game. Cleveland loves him. And so do I.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">So much so, that I refuse to buy his jersey.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />No, really, it's no sweat. See, I get how injuries plagued him at Duke, and after sitting out the last three games with a concussion, the last thing he needs is a curse. And I refuse to subject him to the torture that befell every player whose jersey I've ever owned.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /><b>Derek Anderson</b></span><br />
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">A Google search of "Cleveland Derek Anderson" will yield photos of the Browns' canon-armed slinger of 2007.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But <i>this</i> </span>Derek Anderson was the Cavs' 1997 lottery pick<span style="font-size: small;">. While most fans gravitated toward newly-acquired Shawn Kemp, I preferred the swingman with Ray Allen's skill-set. The former "Untouchable" from Kentucky was of a select few to sign with Jordan's brand, and was permitted the number 23.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">No one knew of him when I got his jersey for my 13th birthday. By then, the Cavs were midway through a 47 win season with Anderson posting</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> a promising 11.8 points and 3.4 assists. In April, I wore his jersey to Gund Arena to watch the Cavs vanquish Jordan's Bulls for the second time that year. I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">t was only a matter of time before he became the first home-grown star in a decade.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Except... the lockout happened. Shawn Kemp gained 70 pounds of marbling, Z went down for the year, and the Cavs finished 6 games under .500. And Anderson... well, he didn't regress, he just never eclipsed his rookie numbers. He was eventually traded, then kicked around the league for a few years, fading into further obscurity.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Admittedly, tame results for Anderson. But they got worse...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><b>Jamir Miller</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">You might ask, who is Jamir Miller?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">The 2001 Browns rebounded from two disastrous first years in the NFL to post a respectable 7-9 record, highlighted by two victories over the defending Super Bowl champ Ravens. Had they closed winnable games against Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville, rookie coach Butch Davis would have had his team in the playoffs. As consolation, outside 'backer Jamir Miller made the Pro Bowl, the team's first representative since their return. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivudT6TpqBAgy5Erig8dMCu_8TAMrvyLNiuVYJYlIsoqDxZ4PTWEgRAqg-bg7TT69Wc4bx2jHHd3EW7HLk1WBLGIAM8HPmksyVKSIJtpCHxzrG47gQcszO3vWImOkIdTZJq5SIdC1stkT_/s1600/Miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivudT6TpqBAgy5Erig8dMCu_8TAMrvyLNiuVYJYlIsoqDxZ4PTWEgRAqg-bg7TT69Wc4bx2jHHd3EW7HLk1WBLGIAM8HPmksyVKSIJtpCHxzrG47gQcszO3vWImOkIdTZJq5SIdC1stkT_/s320/Miller.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">A few months after the season, I bought his jersey. A few months later, he tore his Achilles tendon. He would never play again...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /><b>Tim Couch</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">To this day, the Browns have never faced a more difficult schedule than 2002. With 7 games against playoff teams - including the eventual Super Bowl champs - they still managed 9 wins. The man under center, Tim Couch, led come-from-behind victories over the Jets, Titans, and Ravens en route to the team's first playoff appearance since 1994.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Unfortunately, a broken leg in the final game of the season (a clinching win vs. Michael Vick's Falcons) sidelined Couch for the playoff game in Pittsburgh. Enter Kelly Holcomb, whose 429 passing yards staked the Browns to a 17-point, second-half lead...only for the Browns' prevent defense to prevent a victory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">The performance created a quarterback controversy, championed by the fans and media who never really liked Couch. And there were whispers that the receiving corps also preferred Holcomb. But I bought my orange Couch jersey anyway. Why not? I mean, a good coach like Butch Davis wouldn't abandon a playoff quarterback for a career journeyman...could he?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">He could. And did. And the Browns went 5-11 in 2003, the lone highlight coming when Couch - subbing for an injured Holcomb - embarrassed the rival Steelers 33-13 on Sunday Night Football.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Couch was sick of Cleveland. He bounced around the league a bit - backing up Favre in Green Bay, a stay in Jacksonville - before calling it quits. He now coaches high school in Kentucky.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwDr6OKknMBkJsJLLXwO-cG219CYyhkKUkbgQTN2Oz9T5ZsBcSqVieEY7tVyj8yPiOso8GWx8MEd2923nb1VmVItfIsQ-mPerdfey-JSGsoINzEOrHtvGAuDbAQ0tjWZh8y4P9rz-w72d/s1600/Couch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwDr6OKknMBkJsJLLXwO-cG219CYyhkKUkbgQTN2Oz9T5ZsBcSqVieEY7tVyj8yPiOso8GWx8MEd2923nb1VmVItfIsQ-mPerdfey-JSGsoINzEOrHtvGAuDbAQ0tjWZh8y4P9rz-w72d/s1600/Couch.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Why, Shawn? Why..."</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">The brilliant Butch Davis was forced out in 2004</span><span style="font-size: small;"> after a</span><span style="font-size: small;"> 3-8 start. He coached college at North Carolina, but was fired prior to the 2011 season.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">But I shouldn't deflect responsibility. The fault lies with me, and me alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><b>Travis Hafner</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In August 2005, my grandfather and I went to Jacobs Field to watch the Indians play the Rangers. We sat in right field with Travis Hafner at the plate. The lefty turned on a fastball and nearly tore the cover off the ball as it screamed past the first baseman. My grandfather remarked that he'd never seen a ball hit so hard. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I bought Hafner's tee-shirt jersey a few weeks later.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2ekgRJv_ebEVG9VY7qREN04LOawf-O3JGUsgR0QZrwCnxhU38bpjaPudsQD_ZOWMqYUm-C-4lN8rIYeuPNHxYmMfBBSPWMQNkHLAsvebbTla71xCMVvzQywCIGzQcTi5_cuKXXB7jp0T/s1600/Hafner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2ekgRJv_ebEVG9VY7qREN04LOawf-O3JGUsgR0QZrwCnxhU38bpjaPudsQD_ZOWMqYUm-C-4lN8rIYeuPNHxYmMfBBSPWMQNkHLAsvebbTla71xCMVvzQywCIGzQcTi5_cuKXXB7jp0T/s320/Hafner.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />The 2005 Indians dropped 6 of their last 7 games, narrowly missing the playoffs. "Pronk" came 5th in MVP voting. 2006 was even better for Hafner, who hit .308 with 42 HRs (including a record-tying 6 grand slams) and 117 RBIs. He got on base at a .439 clip and had a 1.097 OPS. Had the Tribe not struggled, Hafner would have been MVP. So...the curse was broken? Not quite.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />The Indians had two marquee contracts due to expire in 2008: Travis Hafner and CC Sabathia. Mid-market teams can't afford to chew up payroll with two contracts, so the Indians had to choose one. They went with Hafner, paying him a $58 million extension over 4 years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />And the 2007 Indians were brilliant. Sabathia won the AL Cy Young, #2 starter Carmona (Heredia?) was the ERA champ, the offense clicked, and Kenny Lofton's return sparked the Tribe to its first division title since 2001. The Indians blitzed the Yankees 3-1 in divisional series and led the Red Sox </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3-1 in the ALCS,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> one win from the World Series.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />But what about Hafner? It was 2006 in reverse, Pronk fading as the team excelled. In the regular season, he hit .266 with 26 HRs. Maybe he'd turn it on in the playoffs? Against the Yanks, 4 hits in 4 games; versus the Sox, 4 hits in 7 games (and a dreadful .503 OPS). The Indians blew the series to Boston, who of course would dismantle the Rockies in the World Series. Sabathia was traded and eventually signed with the Yankees, leading them to a World Series title.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Meanwhile Pronk has been a shell of his former self. 42 homers in 2006, he's had 42 in the last three years combined. He and the Indians began strong in 2011, and hopes are high for 2012.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />But, man, had I not bought that jersey...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /><b>Grady Sizemore</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">I never owned a proper Indians jersey. Not even from the star-driven '90s teams of Ramirez, Thome, Lofton, Alomar, and Vizquel (had I, would they have been stars?). In 2009, Grady Sizemore seemed a logical choice. He struck out a lot for a leadoff hitter, sure, but he was a five-tool player with the potential to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases. He was a three-time All Star coming off his second Gold Glove. Hard-nosed, scrappy, a fan-favorite. The 26-year-old was never hurt, missing 21 games in 4 years, one of the most durable guys in baseball. I purchased his jersey in January 2009.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpANrjFjNCtkKXXdi6F16pGSQ6yOHMjsN7E668VNi0-2EvfMZna_peWXTagCZDiSSjJagnpGOThL4UTgetKZnHpZjFtwKaQWmjxRFaIdiEAXVSlipu5VZXH4dCBkNvbGh5jgGcSi1osB_h/s1600/Sizemore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpANrjFjNCtkKXXdi6F16pGSQ6yOHMjsN7E668VNi0-2EvfMZna_peWXTagCZDiSSjJagnpGOThL4UTgetKZnHpZjFtwKaQWmjxRFaIdiEAXVSlipu5VZXH4dCBkNvbGh5jgGcSi1osB_h/s320/Sizemore.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />His career would never recover...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />2009 was shortened by surgeries to his elbow and groin. In 2010, he logged 33 games before injuring his left knee. In 2011, it was his right knee. Over that time, he played 174 games out of a possible 495. When not under the knife, his speed, mobility, and power disappeared. A guy with 30-30 potential has hit 28 homers the last three years combined and had ZERO stolen bases in 2011. To top it off, some candid pictures intended for his girlfriend were intercepted and posted online (though for an athlete with sex appeal, maybe that's a positive?).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Like Hafner, 2011 had promise. Perhaps 2012 will offer a resurgence. But let's be real: his fate was sealed in January 2009...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b>Peyton Hillis</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">By 2010, yes, I'd learned my lesson. But listen... When my mother asks what I want for Christmas, she hates when I say money. Hates it. It's not even that I want money from her it's just...what else do I ask for? Paid time off? Box sets for TV shows I have no interest in? In November 2010, Peyton Hillis had just bulldozed through the Patriots and Saints en route to 1,177 rushing yards, another 477 receiving, and 13 TDs. When mom asked on Thanksgiving, I said the first thing on my mind: a Peyton Hillis jersey.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Instant regret.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Then, a Christmas miracle: every store in northeast Ohio was sold-out of Hillis jerseys! It shouldn't have come as a surprise. Because they are so few, a successful pro athlete in Cleveland can magically separate cash from wallets. The 24-year-old bruiser looked to carry the offense for a long, long time, and Clevelanders wanted on the bandwagon. And for once, I wouldn't be the one to derail him!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Cut to summer 2011, and a surprise package: a beautiful, white "Hillis" jersey with a note: "Better late than never!" Oh crap...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q7NHaWNgw9AW-WIIcy9-Z_BMaPT-2ufxZ0yWkIUAt1F6KvMRM5Qkti-Qiw8-bKQiE10qdE7v3n7THN-Wg1EwNn66Cw9ltHjBcYifcrLv2JwaTwszRgw-Ek4r1_UsBlXEE5-zOHUrU8nK/s1600/Hillis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q7NHaWNgw9AW-WIIcy9-Z_BMaPT-2ufxZ0yWkIUAt1F6KvMRM5Qkti-Qiw8-bKQiE10qdE7v3n7THN-Wg1EwNn66Cw9ltHjBcYifcrLv2JwaTwszRgw-Ek4r1_UsBlXEE5-zOHUrU8nK/s320/Hillis.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />I accept that a player's performance and well-being will inevitably suffer through my selfishness. I just never thought it would affect their psyche. NFL players play through sprains, pulls, concussions, broken bones...you name it. In week 3 of 2011, Hillis sat out against Miami with...strep throat? No way. Was it a ploy? A byproduct of contract negotiations? Were the Browns concealing a knee injury? Nope. Strep throat. The humble Arkansas boy would later flake out on a charity event, and his frequent mental lapses would prompt eight veterans to stage an intervention. He missed another five games with a hamstring injury and only scored 3 TDs all season.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Those who cite Hillis as another victim of the Madden curse can't begin to know the truth. My bad, dude...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Anyway, Kyrie, if you're reading this, you can rest easy. I fully understand how draping that veritable voodoo doll over my shoulders will bestow pain, suffering, and mediocrity upon the name scrolled across the back. Take your time with your recovery, please. Because if you become the first player to suffer a serious injury in the Rising Stars game, I'll consider myself vindicated and your jersey fair game.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><br />Best,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Shawn</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-50441659954286566802012-02-05T18:06:00.004-05:002012-02-08T13:20:10.391-05:00The Super (Awful) Bowl<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I love football. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I played high school ball </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">ten miles from the Hall of Fame</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">. In the Fall, Saturday and Sundays are reserved for football. Come Springtime, it's the NFL draft and college recruiting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">But I hate the Super Bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Don't get me wrong, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I've watched every Super Bowl since I was five. T</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">he Pittsburgh/Arizona Super Bowl is the best football game I ever watched. And I fully intend on joining</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> the Browns when they finally go (and, I admit, their zero appearances causes sour grapes).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />So maybe I use the word "hate" for emphasis. Let's just say, it's my least favorite football game of the year. Here's why...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><br />5. It Discourages History</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">The grainy film of Namath dueling Unitas is considered old-school football, but the Super Bowl is only 46 years old. Before that, the NFL Championship was around for over 30 years. The Bears, Eagles, and Browns were dynasties of the Championship era with 15 in total, but have one total Super Bowl victory between them. Conversely, the Steelers, 49ers, and Cowboys won 16 Super Bowls, but zero NFL Championships. (The Packers and Giants had success in both eras.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />It's common to measure the strength of a franchise </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">in Super Bowls, but doing so disregards half the league's history. Take the Yankees, who have an impressive 27 titles; over the past 46 years, they only have 6 (still impressive). Furthermore, if a player's legacy is shaped by their performance in the Super Bowl, what of those who came before? "Red" Grange. Bronko Nagurski. Y.A. Tittle. Jim Brown. The Mantles and DiMaggios of the NFL will be ignored Super Bowl Sunday because the name of the game changed after they retired.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AQfuySXN_AclawDkW3NHGvQcqKR84SsKZ5Ge91ypWx-ruh2FuU0GyAYNXx0dIUOAkBbXH8TPE6NP7Wc326OQHaArJF0FwvfW1j_i-5zIoBcehqJR-3e4aM9WlhOBhSxFZpdziumwhdM8/s1600/Jim+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AQfuySXN_AclawDkW3NHGvQcqKR84SsKZ5Ge91ypWx-ruh2FuU0GyAYNXx0dIUOAkBbXH8TPE6NP7Wc326OQHaArJF0FwvfW1j_i-5zIoBcehqJR-3e4aM9WlhOBhSxFZpdziumwhdM8/s320/Jim+Brown.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What I wouldn't give for a time machine..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b>4. The Worst Championship Name Ever</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I can imagine the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> young NFL exec pitching a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">revamped NFL Championship Game to the seasoned commissioner. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />"It's the only sport in America decided by ONE game. Make that one night a SHOW, THAT'S how we get the fans!" And the old commissioner sits back, listening to this twenty-something on his third cup of coffee rattle on about hundred-yard American flags and parades and movie stars.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />The commissioner interrupts, "You mean... like the Rose Bowl?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />"Um... Yeah, but that's college. The NFL is the SHOW, this is THE game! Yeah like the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, but... bigger! Like a... super bowl! YEAH! And we'll get giant helmets that shoot FIREWORKS and fighter jets and - " And as the exec continues, arms flailing to emphasize just how super this bowl will be, the commissioner scribbles "super bowl" on a pad. Intended as a placeholder, it never got corrected.*</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I-5ungh5JXNOI3NaBWRoLxKjayyvcfnaRdQ9s5-4OUn4ANB3ADPfdpN7f3pZPPhCkLgo4wcyWkxuLCP-73E1zjVN56sskYcYEAsMzJgu38PN9cRRU3x5hcINjXX0ju2AYoKyoS8MDUup/s1600/HelmetTunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I-5ungh5JXNOI3NaBWRoLxKjayyvcfnaRdQ9s5-4OUn4ANB3ADPfdpN7f3pZPPhCkLgo4wcyWkxuLCP-73E1zjVN56sskYcYEAsMzJgu38PN9cRRU3x5hcINjXX0ju2AYoKyoS8MDUup/s320/HelmetTunnel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh oh! Shit's about to get super, y'all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />*All made up. I don't know why it's called the Super Bowl, nor do I claim this much logic went into the choice.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b>3. There's a Fixed Venue</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">It's the only championship in America without a home-field advantage. While plenty of New Yorkers and Bostonites have descended on Indy, the majority in attendance will be Colts fans. They <i>may</i> choose to root against their sort-of-rival Patriots, but they're probably too jazzed about hosting a Super Bowl to be a good crowd. And that's a shame because Indy fans are as knowledgeable as they come. When the NFL calls the Super Bowl site n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">eutral, they mean the fans are equally ambivalent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />A Super Bowl appearance creates a logistical nightmare for a team's fan-base. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Say the Bears rebound next year, win the NFC title, and earn a trip to New Orleans (next year's host). A Bears fan is at the mercy of brokers and locals who will charge $1000 per ticket (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">minimum;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><i>if</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">they like him)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">. And there's still the issue of the flight and hotel. He gets only 10 days advance to book, whereas reporters, network personnel, and the remaining sports world spent months snatching up spare seats and rooms.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Indianapolis
is just the 3rd northern city to host a Super Bowl (the first
northern game in a non-roof stadium won't be in 2014). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Tampa alone hosted 4, while </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Los Angeles, Miami, and New Orleans have combined for 27. This despite the fact that most teams hail from the North. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I understand that a northern Super Bowl could be disastrous for the league if, say, a blizzard hit. But a fixed venue marginalizes the demographic who made the NFL what it is: blue-collar fans.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><br />2. The Games!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">It was best observed in <i>Any Given Sunday</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">: "The first time they stopped the game to cut away to some fucking commercial, that was the end of it."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />The Super Bowl generally takes three and half hours to play. A regular season game is three hours. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">A 60-minute game of football - when accounting for halftime and other stoppages - can be completed in two and a half hours.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />The sport is a game of stamina and discipline. To lose either is to lose the game. "Time of Possession" is so indicating because a favorable ratio indicates a well-rested defense; the more rested, the more gas they have down the stretch. Scoring and preventing points is obviously the goal, but the key to football's chess match is to force three-and-outs on defense and to avoid three-and-outs on offense. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />But the Super Bowl gets half an hour of fat through extended breaks. This allows the defense to catch its wind even if it's being gashed. While I can at least understand the aversion to northern Super Bowls, game strategy and conditioning are variables that should not be sold out. But it makes sense because -</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><br />1. The Super Bowl is a Pageant</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">It begins with pretty faces on the red carpet. Then someone important - a former President, an old football star, <a href="http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-020510a.html" target="_blank">an astronaut</a> - flips a coin to decide many a Vegas <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2012/2/5/2772765/super-bowl-prop-bets-2012-odds-line-new-england-patriots-new-york-giants-2008" target="_blank">prop bet</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">. A famous recording artist will honor America, then after a series of $3.5 million short films intercut with images of movie stars and supermodels, a bigger recording artist will lead a rousing twenty-minute performance to begin the end of the night. Then there are fireworks!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />Quite a departure from the days of Lambert...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RyjEqVAtt06mdHUFOYaEK7Lz9yJhMDmR3VDZ8dhm4e7tNVFceIkn4EpqoE9OsYkenTB68bLzY6E3xRg0KHtEot2Ba3IHVdilCH97sRV_p4Uv4K6CNg0Ds_A-S9hyphenhyphenmIm9d-WoIZpOYp9k/s1600/Lambert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RyjEqVAtt06mdHUFOYaEK7Lz9yJhMDmR3VDZ8dhm4e7tNVFceIkn4EpqoE9OsYkenTB68bLzY6E3xRg0KHtEot2Ba3IHVdilCH97sRV_p4Uv4K6CNg0Ds_A-S9hyphenhyphenmIm9d-WoIZpOYp9k/s320/Lambert.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'd considered a career in European<br />
modeling. By going to four Super Bowls,<br />
you could argue I met it half way."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-77025441656428567962012-02-02T10:47:00.002-05:002012-02-02T12:50:50.361-05:00The Oscars: Why I Should Hate You, But Secretly Like You (And Not-so-secretly Want You)<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">OK, so the Oscars are flawed. Originally created by studios to market "good" movies that underperformed at the box office, an Oscar is the industry standard for excellence. Everyone in show business wants one, and - to some film artists - financial and critical success mean little without "Academy Award Winner" beside their billing.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Some question whether art should be measured in trophies. It boils down to intentions, whether the existence an award alters an artist's work. Indeed, some filmmakers and actors who feel their best work has been ignored tend to press in film choices. Martin Scorsese comes to mind. People debate his biggest snub: losing to Redford after directing <i>Raging Bull</i>;</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> not getting nominated for <i>Taxi Driver</i>;</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> losing to Eastwood after <i>Goodfellas</i>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">After getting bested by Polanski and Eastwood (again) in the aughts, he finally reigned one in for... <i>The Departed</i>.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Now let's be honest: <i>Departed </i>wouldn't<i> </i>crack his Top 10. Sure, it was enjoyable but c'mon: a movie about betrayal ends with a rat crawling in front of the State House. Is the image somehow less laughable because it's Scorsese? Scorsese would laugh at it if he wasn't Scorsese!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><i>Departed </i>was successful in presenting a clever dual-narrative weaved together by snappy characters and catchy one-liners. It maintained an edge while softening (dulling?) the climax of its Hong Kong predecessor. It was Scorsese's biggest hit, it was enjoyable to critics and audiences, it was - Oscar bait... And the Academy lined up his '70s buddies to give him the statue.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjberZ99ve3WQPN3qpUYDCH_wQoHTKUz_hM7zqfQ0ibrHp463JRuBC7e3ELqiwYQyXfg4BqGvOlCLf86gQgMRYN9B3p8bw927mo3Y4t0myPAp_A3D-iD3cS423A6p_I5aTAoD3OYtizHuvr/s1600/Scorsese's+Oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjberZ99ve3WQPN3qpUYDCH_wQoHTKUz_hM7zqfQ0ibrHp463JRuBC7e3ELqiwYQyXfg4BqGvOlCLf86gQgMRYN9B3p8bw927mo3Y4t0myPAp_A3D-iD3cS423A6p_I5aTAoD3OYtizHuvr/s320/Scorsese's+Oscar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Easy Riders, Raging Bulls.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">With actors, the joke is staring in a Holocaust movie, "going gay", or playing disabled nets you a statue. Of the 19 Best Actor winners since Pacino in <i>Scent of a Woman</i>, 12 fit the criteria.</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Not that every actor was fishing. Sean Penn felt inspired as Harvey Milk (though he WAS</span><i style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">fishing in </span><i style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I Am Sam</i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">, and got nominated). Same with Brody. Benigni. Hoffman.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">But awarding two of every three Oscars to these performances? The job of an actor is - simply put - to deliver their lines honestly while following the writer's intentions. The measure of their performance, therefore, is NOT how far they stray from reality, but in how they elevate and conceal the </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">machinery of the </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">screenplay. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">The voters seem to argue that "acting" is to pretend you have no legs or that you like boys. And it's not limited to sexuality and disability. DeNiro's two wins were well-deserved but were for one role in which he spoke Italian and another where he put on a record amount of weight. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Critics said </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Phillip Seymour Hoffman</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> "embodied" Truman Capote, but they can't seem to differentiate acting from mimicking. Showy roles are, frankly, easy to identify.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lt0ahoSwORipf_pwF6LEae_gkkIl9jFQGJS7If1fTRx0wAMXsxUm5dAX6lSqFrXHyrg3cXRrlABhzHYmPN8BUvSoqV9lprKJ8ujiOQB01-agRIWSMqpupaSlvuzP0ycumWdovQg5rrEz/s1600/fatd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lt0ahoSwORipf_pwF6LEae_gkkIl9jFQGJS7If1fTRx0wAMXsxUm5dAX6lSqFrXHyrg3cXRrlABhzHYmPN8BUvSoqV9lprKJ8ujiOQB01-agRIWSMqpupaSlvuzP0ycumWdovQg5rrEz/s1600/fatd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Try ignorin' me wit' 70 extra pounds, y' pricks."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">The year Hoffman won, Heath Ledger in <i>Brokeback Mountain</i> conveyed with little more than a stare all the depth and emotion and </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">confusion </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">and pain of his character. Had</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Ledger won, yes, he'd still be the actor who won for "going</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> gay". But to me it was less about sexuality than about a man subdued his entire life</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">, whose inability to love destroys the only person who inspired passion in his life, leaving himself alone, filled with regret. The story is plotted on Ledger's face, through subtle actions, and few words.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">A showy role can still be well-performed, sure. But film is still a dramatic art, and in drama, subtext is currency. Subtext doesn't necessarily mean subtle. DeNiro's loud-mouthed Jake LaMotta couldn't conceal his jealousy, and nothing Christoph Waltz said in <i>Inglourious Basterds</i> could be taken at face-value; the most offhand comment was a probe.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">But it takes an extraordinary talent to convey internal feelings in an external art form, to create between the lines. Before Ledger (who ultimately won for a showy role), there was Al Pacino in <i>Godfather: Part I</i>. I grew up knowing Pacino as a badass gangster, but in <i>Godfather </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">he was the quiet brother who wants no part of the family business. A crisis pulls him in, and he finds himself sitting with his family's enemy and a corrupt police officer. Though they believe he's making peace, he's there to kill them. But he's never killed anyone or done anything illegal, and for over a minute he sits silently, listening, and from his face we see him weigh taking this monumental step destined to change his life forever.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Pacino didn't win that year (he even boycotted the ceremony feeling his Best Supporting Actor nod should have been Best Actor). Nor did he win for <i>Serpico</i>, <i>Godfather II</i>, or <i>Dog Day Afternoon</i>. After losing again for <i>Dick Tracy</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">, his friends noted bitterness. The next year, he won by playing blind.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I write that contemptuously, but it was still a good performance. And the thing about any other winner I criticize is that their victories are not undeserved. Winners are subject to debate, but the strength of the Oscars is that the nomination itself is an achievement and a sign of recognition. Thomas Hayden Church and Jackie Earle Haley's careers got a kick from their nods for <i>Sideways</i> and <i>Little Children</i>. <i>Million Dollar Baby</i> got a nation-wide release and made bank after the '04 nominations were announced. The 2011 nominations have already piqued interest in <i>A Separation </i>and <i>A Better Life</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">At the end of the day, artists are human and seek recognition for good work. If not via award statues, then somewhere else. But what the Academy offers is a committee of professionals who can identify the best and say, "THIS is how it's done." And if risk, skill, and imagination are recognized, both artists and audiences will be better; if ignored, kitsch will replace quality. Let's just hope Hollywood is not full of rats.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ho5_C_8ve9F3pbqtgm-GAeu8Zrkl0bEV9vU_JDRB_cQGhcLQW_SqPW-0-tEcA4I-v5bI4lzsO_MCj4rKnLpbLmpYogwrJkDM7jV9rrNBOoaFdaoIv_dTFnfA46IqYZ8nVGMA0dtNG98u/s1600/Rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ho5_C_8ve9F3pbqtgm-GAeu8Zrkl0bEV9vU_JDRB_cQGhcLQW_SqPW-0-tEcA4I-v5bI4lzsO_MCj4rKnLpbLmpYogwrJkDM7jV9rrNBOoaFdaoIv_dTFnfA46IqYZ8nVGMA0dtNG98u/s320/Rat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The rat symbolizes obviousness!" </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"></span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-61806483620334139512012-01-30T17:43:00.000-05:002012-01-30T17:43:30.023-05:00A Sign?<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The friend who hosted me in Hollywood Hills spends a few hours each day writing in cafes around Los Angeles. Today, in a cafe in Los Feliz, she happened upon a drawer containing notes from former patrons. She sent me this an hour after my last post:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6QLZHkXB73jzdm5eWiTUZ4rqe2IoWjETIx7PQlWRvo9qa1FGDZ2NPcg2-OvRrZsgp1pLGrnZHCCYRRRqErbSYZ4slUM_k_zIRSixWk40OoyVslDmR3wIDZP-IR84MBq7wkDWeygp5T2v/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6QLZHkXB73jzdm5eWiTUZ4rqe2IoWjETIx7PQlWRvo9qa1FGDZ2NPcg2-OvRrZsgp1pLGrnZHCCYRRRqErbSYZ4slUM_k_zIRSixWk40OoyVslDmR3wIDZP-IR84MBq7wkDWeygp5T2v/s400/photo.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Interesting coincidence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">(Also, is that money in the drawer? Hm...) </span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-15740170925233369532012-01-30T12:05:00.015-05:002012-01-30T18:01:55.236-05:0072 People?<link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSHAZEL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><i><o:smarttagtype name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><span style="font-family: "Courier Final Draft"; font-size: small;">When its 100 degrees in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>, it's 72 in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>. When its 30 degrees in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> it's still 72. However, there are 6 million interesting people in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>, and 72 in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></i><style>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">East coast, west coast. Subways, freeways. <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>. Of all the differences, Neil Simon's three-sentence observation hits the nail on the head.*<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Few bother with the similarities. LA has their <st1:city w:st="on">Hamptons</st1:city> in <st1:city w:st="on">Malibu</st1:city>; Big Bear is their Poconos; Las Vegas their <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Atlantic City</st1:place></st1:city> (in terms of equivalents, NOT quality). Coney Island’s Boardwalk is not unlike <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Venice</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:place> (the latter openly advertises its “medication”). Both cities value healthy lifestyles, have a good mix of locals and transplants, good social cultures, good sushi. Both are beautiful cities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo-V4JJF6YdKM1-kaLJT4yEGd8VA_0uVgdLU3tHDDVDm_cOIE15W4xu19uZAhgDAE_KqtKZiAf5WiTjyx9W-ewUG12bMRNiD4kbq1R0ToFwD665usE9AMWX4RYZF4PeZBmIr5D2GN8CBD/s1600/Los+Feliz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo-V4JJF6YdKM1-kaLJT4yEGd8VA_0uVgdLU3tHDDVDm_cOIE15W4xu19uZAhgDAE_KqtKZiAf5WiTjyx9W-ewUG12bMRNiD4kbq1R0ToFwD665usE9AMWX4RYZF4PeZBmIr5D2GN8CBD/s320/Los+Feliz.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many differences - positive and negative - are accounted for. Rent is less in LA, sure, but the savings are offset by car payments/insurance. A month of gas costs as much or more than a Metrocard. Instead of subway delays you have the longest rush hour in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. No, you can’t get a good slice on any block, but the worst fish taco crushes anything in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m five years out of college, over four spent in a job I don't like. I have three screenplays generally considered above average. This was my third time in The City of Angels, and I had a great visit. LA is a movie town. So why am I not packing my belongings?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
To start… LA’s city-planning. No, really, it’s an issue for me. In <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>, Chinatown is different than <st1:place w:st="on">SoHo</st1:place>, K-town different than Murray Hill, with everything from the architecture to assimilating corporations (Citibank signs written in Chinese) contributing to its character. In LA, you know you’re in K-town because neon signs advertising Korean BBQ screams “this is K-town!” I know we’ve left Sherman Oaks because we’ve passed “Studio City Massages” on <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:city>. The Hills were designed, I’m convinced, by a child playing Legos, dropping houses here and there, and turning them every which way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beverly Hills</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size: small;">. Los Feliz. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Silver</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Few other towns in LA had a distinct feel. It’s intangible, sure, but so is that <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state> feeling of walking from tree-lined <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">West</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype></st1:place> brownstones through midtown’s concrete jungle. Clay rooftops and palm trees are gorgeous, yes, but the repetition isn't conducive to writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nor is it conducive someone who learns a city through geography. As a teenager new to the city, I lived and died on the grid system. My dorm was on 10th and 5th., so if placed in a random part of the city – say, 34th and 1st – I’d walk south until I hit 10th, west until I hit 5th. Eventually street counting was unnecessary, and the confidence led me to tackle the subway and outer boroughs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a city that blends together, where towns snake through mountains, where do you start? OK, so <st1:city w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:city> is between East and <st1:place w:st="on">West Hollywood</st1:place>. East Hollywood is just west of <st1:placename w:st="on">Silver</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> (right?), which is just west of (I hope) Los Feliz and then, um, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Studio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>? Yeah, I haven't digested that all too well. Fourth time’s a charm? I don’t know. People say I’ll get it, but I truly never understood the geography of northeast <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:state>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">And that’s a big reason I love <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>: I feel more comfortable here than anywhere else. It's not just the geography, but the culture and the sense of belonging. Where else can a discussion on foreign films evolve into football? In LA, I feel like I heard the same conversation about pitches and character arcs and beat sheets seven times. It was uninspired and uninspiring, not unlike like the architecture. I discussed this with a new Angelino who correctly pointed out that - like anywhere – LA has plenty of self-serving people, but it’s not without intelligent people in pursuit of success in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place></st1:city> with good intentions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4AKHbn35LvJcKJXdop835ZtdwAZDB3yC6EZMi7QLIMMAQOKuK-3ycaJHkDqvxQJCnRkDtD1XcpBXT21Zb7tcyUY7OgjN3SVOLV9bbJnO7r53NU3trzlMxBMM3D33t0qPlS-v69cJk5mN/s1600/Venice+Beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4AKHbn35LvJcKJXdop835ZtdwAZDB3yC6EZMi7QLIMMAQOKuK-3ycaJHkDqvxQJCnRkDtD1XcpBXT21Zb7tcyUY7OgjN3SVOLV9bbJnO7r53NU3trzlMxBMM3D33t0qPlS-v69cJk5mN/s320/Venice+Beach.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">What would it take to make the move? I usually list the differences of the two cities, but I should consider the differences <i>for myself</i> in the two cities. <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> is home and is home to many people I care about, but has little industry; LA has an abundance of industry, and…people I am destined to dislike? That’s a little too easy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the many things on Wall Street that bothers me is “post-work drinks”. It’s never really a time to socialize and loosen up, but to talk shop, or make and solidify connections. People are always on. I question whether the idea of “being on” bothered me, or if it’s my disdain towards finance; I wonder if I myself would always “be on” in the film industry. If I have a fear, it's becoming another talking head in a town where uninspired ideas are currency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p>But again, who knows?</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Courier Final Draft";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">The truth is, LA is a big question mark and will always be until I move. I’m not saying I will, but 2012 is the year where I have to be open to that possibility. It could end up being the worst move of my life. Or maybe I’ll find a new city, success, and – if I’m truly lucky - one of those 72 people Neil Simon referred to.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier Final Draft";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">*OK, Simon is a tad outdated. New York's population has increased by 2 million (33%) since he was quoted. Taking that into account, LA should have roughly 96 interesting people by now.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSHAZEL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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</style><i><span style="font-family: "Courier Final Draft";"></span></i><span style="font-family: "Courier Final Draft";"><o:p></o:p></span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940018214539606456.post-63748201527776618792012-01-19T13:33:00.001-05:002012-01-19T13:54:37.637-05:002012: A New Hope (For Direction)<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Starting a blog must be a common New Year's resolution. Granted, I haven't heard it used, nor is it among the "lose weight", "get rich" variety. But if a resolution is an attempt to strengthen an aspect of your life, blogging makes sense for a writer attempting to strengthen or even showcase their skills.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">So yeah, that's one reason I'm doing this. I often feel compelled to offer a viewpoint on certain topics, and want a platform to discuss the next ______ [Bin Laden killed/Occupy Wall St./Tim Tebow], sports, film, and (seldom) political insights, and just </span><span style="font-size: small;">general </span><span style="font-size: small;">random </span><span style="font-size: small;">musings. I also want to do this to track a time in my life that has a number of possibilities and changes</span><span style="font-size: small;">(hopefully)</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">The number one thing that needs to change in my life is my 9 - 5. I tell people I hate my job, but generally that's to avoid talking about it. It's a well-paid position that's given me new skills and opportunities out of college, and, yes, I am lucky be employed. But both the environment and job are dull and uncreative, and being here four years (and realizing that fact) has affected my general inspiration. It's time to go.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> But where? Maybe I'll move to LA to work for a production company. Maybe I'll take the Michael Arndt route, stay in Brooklyn, and live off my savings to write and market screenplays. There are downsides to both, sure, but each is a step towards achieving my ultimate goals. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The year itself is as open as my next move. I am submitting <i>Katie55 </i>(a feature film I produced in '11) to festivals. The LA question - job aside - burns stronger than it did when I came out of NYU. I hope to write a new screenplay, but I currently lack a firm idea. Should I go to grad school (if so, to study what?)?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
These questions will turn into goals this year. It's difficult to be dissuaded when I have direction, and it will be interesting to see where I go. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And it's fair to say this blog mimics my life. And until we both find direction... here's the all-too-common sports/politics/film blog!</span></span>Shawn...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02955679749707260717noreply@blogger.com0