"The Town" Got Shafted

I just recently watched the movie "The Town" with Ben Affleck. While it's not the perfect move it is still and excellent one and I am shocked it was not nominated for one of 10 spots for best movie of the year. I have seen four of the ten movies up for best picture this year, and while I know this is less than 50% "The Town" stacks up with the four I have seen. I loved the Fighter and True Grit and it is on Par with both of these movies. Maybe the other six will blow me away and there just was not any room to add The Town onto the list. I have Winter's Bone on my Netflix list and I will be honest I do not have very high hopes it will be better than The Town. Maybe the academy has something against Ben Affleck. I know he has been in some crap movies, cough Armageddon, Gigli. This was not one of them and he directed and wrote it, the movie was an original idea, well written, acted and shot. While the story is a bit far fetched, (and Inceptions not!!) it is still feasible. I do not know maybe I am making something out of nothing, but I just was wondering why this really good movie got only one Oscar nomination. I can see not getting best director or actor, there is some stiff competition, but not up for one of the numerous 10 best picture nomination, that is a little ridiculous.

GO BEARS!

This entire year I have not let myself believe the Bears are a good team. I have thought of them as kind of a fraud, not being able to get things done. They have had an excellent year, just not one I have enjoyed as a Bear fan, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. No more, I'm done with, I'm ready to believe and enjoy the ride. If they win or lose next Sunday it will mark the end of a great year for the Bears. Teams don't always make it to this point. There are four out of thirty teams left, I'm going to enjoy the game and hope they make it to the Super Bowl, where they will be a underdog for whoever comes out of the AFC, and let them be. I can't wait for the game next Sunday, the team is going to be pumped and the fans rowdy in hopes of beating the hated Packers for the rights to go the to the Super Bowl. I would give almost anything to be able to be in the stadium next weekend to see it happen.

Cubs get Garza and the Chiefs Lose

Well I have tempered enthusiasm about the Cubs trade for Matt Garza, he isn't Zach Greinke in ability, but he is more stable mentally, the Cubs will not have to worry about him getting bored and quiting in the middle of the season, which could always be a possibility with Greinke. The Cubs gave up some good prospects to acquire Garza, but you have to give up something to get a pitcher of his proven quality coming into the prime of his career. Hendry has had a brilliant off season, with the inventive Pena contract, getting Wood to sign for a major hometown discount, and now this trade. If the Cubs fail this season, then he still deserves to be fired, for prior transgressions. Alfanso Soriano being chief among them, only a few more years of watching him swing and miss against any decent picture he faces :-).

Living in Kansas City give me the ability to watch and follow the Chiefs closely. I cheer for them but do not get wrapped up in them, but it is good for the city in general win and are good team. Today's loss hurt, but it is not the end of the world, the team won four games last season and won the division. One more year of draft picks and free agents and the team could be a legitimate contender. They could be a much better team next year, but possibly have a worse record because of a tougher schedule. I still feel they are going to be the favorites for the division, with San Diego being another year older, Oakland the train wreck as always, and Denver cleaning up the mess their coach left for them.

True Grit Review "Some Spoilers"

True Grit is not what I expected. It is a great movie with outstanding script and cast, but I thought going into the movie the Cohen brothers would develop a Western which was as dark as the recent great No Country for Old Men. What I found when I saw the movie was a movie touching and funny in its bleak and harsh settings. Bridges is masterful, and Damon is great as the talkative odd Texas Ranger. The star of the show is young Mattie Ross played by Hailee Steinfield, she holds the screen from the moment she appears and carries the movie through to its end.  Her persistence and “True Grit” are evident but just beneath the tough exterior is the innocent 14 year old girl, who cries and wails when her horse is killed.  Steinfield ability to hold the screen with Bridges and Damon drives the movie forward.

The most pleasant aspect of the movie is its humor. The Cohen brothers are famous for their dark humor, and the subtle banter between characters does not disappoint. Several times I found myself laughing out load in a quiet theater, which I guess my sense of humor may be a touch off center from the rest of audience I was seeing the movie with.  True Grit is a must see for those who love westerns, the Cohen brothers, Bridges, or Damon.  

Greinke to the Brewers

Zach Greinke traded to the Brewers. I can’t blame the guy for wanting to get out of KC where there has not been a playoff berth since 1985, when he was still in diapers. I just wish they wouldn’t have traded him to a team within the NL Central and the Cubs having to face him possibly six times in one year. I don’t think it tips the balances in the Central to the Brewers favor, but it certainly does not hurt their chances.   I do not know how realistic it is to think of the Cubs as contenders this year either, but I can still hold out hope, like every Cubs fan, the team will compete and do some actual damage in the playoffs this year. 

The Cubs starting pitching vs. Brewers starting pitching goes to the Brewers.  Zambrano is Dempster are aging compared to Greinke and Gallardo. The back end of the rotation for both groups is unproven or over the hill. The Brewers are probably not the Team will have to worry about the Reds and Cardinals will both be strong teams again next year and will probably be who the Cubs will have to beat for the Division. I am looking forward to Baseball; the Winter Meetings have certainly gotten me excited for summer.