When [It] Strikes Me

Review: State of Play (2009)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500

On my flight down to Houston Friday night, I carried my Audiovox personal DVD player and my Netflixed copy of the US adaptation of the BBC miniseries “State of Play.” Through being kicked by some French four year old sitting, sleeping and being a general pain next to me, I did my best to appreciate and not simply identify the ways in which this film fell short of the miniseries.

Ultimately, it’s hard to not compare the two because this is hardly a reimagining. It’s a near true copy (with Americanized characterizations) of the UK roles, plot lines and mannerism. The main differences are really quite simple:

the black victim killed in the opening scene is an actual junkie, as opposed to a falsely accused innocent (hardly a spoiler there);
there is less depth to Dominic Foy’s character;
Della Frey and Cal McCaffery aren’t truly co-workers;
Hellen Mirren’s editor has no hotshot reporting son as was played by James McAvoy in the BBC version; and
the corporation being investigated by Stephen Collins’ subcommittee, Pointcorp, is a thinly veiled version of Blackwater, whereas the BBC version condemned evil oil conglomerates, in general.

Oh, and another difference is that the miniseries is actually good.

There are some strong updates to the UK story. Most notably, the use of a Blackwater proxy proved topical and a more natural fit for misdirection and demonization. It was a solid update over the miniseries’ oil company.

Also solid is the segregation of Russell Crowe’s Cal as a traditional (if not overly slovenly) ink reporter from Rachel McAdams’ Della, as an online content contributor (read blogger) for the same dying old media empire (the Washington Globe). The interplay of old and even corporate new media works well in a modern journalistic drama.

CLICK THROUGH FOR THE REST

But that really is where the positives end. Ben Affleck is stiff and unbelievable as a rising political star (although some Dems suggest that’s his real future). Meanwhile, Crowe is too much the stereotype and presents too stark a contrast from Affleck.

One of the strengths of State of Play on the BBC was the triangular relationship between Cal, Stephen and Anne Collins. Part of that functionality was Cal’s role as then-campaign manager and current-senior political scribe. It fit for a possible close relationship forced apart by circumstance. In the US version, we’re to believe that a similar relationship could exist among old college roommates who had long since distanced. There’s just no reason to believe a magnetic Congressman wouldn’t have found someone else to trust in the prior 20 years.

Another major problem is that the plot twists are telegraphed to make up for the lack of developed story segments. If you’ve seen the UK version, you also get nothing new here. Every Grisham movie will have at least one head fake off the book; however, you’re usually better off enjoying the original source first both in story line and delivery. That’s true here. The miniseries format and delivery is just far superior. Though in a concession to the producers, it would be hard to tell this story well in anything but a four to six hour miniseries.

Perhaps due to personal bias and a general disdain for all post-Voyage of the Mimi Affleck work (Chasing Amy actually was also good), I never could get into this or be surprised by the plot twists. It just fell short despite a solid turn from McAdams (who surprised me by being good). Jason Bateman is also completely wasted on a Dominic Foy that isn’t deeper than the film on soup that’s been sitting too long on the stove.

Ultimately, if you have access to both, there is zero reason to see this over the miniseries. For that reason, it rates a lowly 5 out of 10. It’s not terrible or anything, it’s just nowhere close to be as good as the miniseries.

This is why you're fat - the info graphic

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:52:16 -0500

For someone who is still working his BMI down from the overweight categories, I still have no problem yelling at Americans for being fatasses.

Created by OnlineEducation.net

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:18:11 -0500

As I watch my Tumblarity tumble toward zero

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:57:25 -0500

I have come to the conclusion that I’m going to be transitioning from the Tumblr format, to a more long-form friendly format. It probably will be either Wordpress.com or Wordpress.org. Nevertheless, I’m going to keep checking my dashboard on here, as I enjoy reading the latest interwebs fun and anti-creationist rants (which seem to be what Tumblr is best for). For those few followers I do have on here who would like to continue to read, when I’m set up on Wordpress, I’ll advise. They have email subscription features.

My Tumblr experience was fun, but I found the format to be a massive time-suck and the themes really aren’t ideal for what I’m looking to do. Ultimately, the forum was dictating my content production. I’d prefer it to be vice versa.

It’s been fun.

All y’all are talking about this new pop warner sensation...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:52 -0500

All y’all are talking about this new pop warner sensation like he’s the real deal. Everyone knows the real deal is Ben Wilson, the preteen terror who has been putting the beat down annually on Youtube since 2007.

Bring it, el toreador.

I believe the Houston airport was named after Bush 41 (George...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

I believe the Houston airport was named after Bush 41 (George Herbert Walker), largely because being greeted by a statue of 43 with a big banner saying Mission Accomplished would have proven somewhat frustrating when you find out that your bags were sent to Cleveland.

Music: Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0500

Below is Alexi Murdoch’s live performance video for Orange Sky. This song rocks on some many levels.

As a follow-on to yesterday’s Photo Favorite, we go back...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500

As a follow-on to yesterday’s Photo Favorite, we go back to Ireland for what sure looks like the most badass cow evah. Right now, he’s gotta be hamming it up over us forgetting all about Mad Cow in favor of Swine Flu. Ireland, up by Giant’s Causeway in 2003.

There are plenty of dumb Obama supporters too...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0500

But what strikes me most about this video from the Palin book tour is how much I hate people from Columbus, Ohio. CNN constantly insists that Columbus is the face of America, but I don’t buy it for the following reasons (among others):

They like THE ohio state university [new rule is that only the “THE” is permitted to be capitalized further to emphasize that Tosu is THE state university… also to emphasize what jackasses Buckeyes are];
They prefer Skyline Chili to just about anything and yet somehow didn’t originate the This Is Why You’re Fat Tumblr;
They are fat and content with it — your obesity is the reason healthcare (universal or not) won’t work in our country; and
They are the only soccer fans in America.

Mind you, I love soccer… it’s just that I find it depressing that Columbus is the only place it can catch on as a professional sport.

[Video via RobotInDisguise]

Anyway, these f’tards are all politically illiterate, but we’re kidding ourselves if you think similar videos couldn’t just as easily be made about Obama supporters. In fact, here’s what you get if you google “Dumb Obama Supporters”:

Anyways, I’m no Obama hater and I certainly loathe Palin, but let’s not pretend that the famous Leno gig Jay-Walking can’t be replicated for politics quite easily.

[From Eating The Road]

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:52:15 -0500

[From Eating The Road]

(from clairevo: via ilovecharts, csebastian...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:33:54 -0500

(from clairevo: via ilovecharts, csebastian and navigolucky)

All 193% of Republicans Support Palin, Romney and Huckabee

Whatever, their math is still better than their science. You’ve got three different upcoming books out of that lineup a) Praying Yourself Thin, a Governor’s Tale; b) You Betcha: Creationism and other things which can only be explained by my stupidity; and c) Magic Underpants and Several Other Things I Totally Won’t Bring Up on the Campaign Trail.

SEC Power Poll: Week 12

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Once again, this week’s SaveTheShield.com SEC Power Poll Entry is a true collaborative effort. STS’s Philip took the first crack and I filled in some of the gaps. Look for the final results when Team Speed Kills releases them on Wednesday morning.

1. Alabama

The Crimson Tide beat a team named after pieces of Native American footwear. That just doesn’t impress us.

2. Florida

The only thing that could have made this game worth watching would be if Isiah Thomas decided to coach the FIU football team too. Yawn.

3. Ole Miss

Ah, bittersweet November: the Month Houston Nutt ponders what might have been, had he not made such a hash out of September and October (also the month his texting thumb’s arthritis starts acting up in the cold).

4. LSU

We heard that Les Miles really meant to accept the Michigan Job. He just couldn’t get back to them before time ran out.

CLICK THROUGH FOR THE REST

5. South Carolina

The middle of the SEC is more muddled than Steve Spurrier’s accomplishments since taking the Gamecock job.

6. Tennessee

81 Vols became Bowl-eligible over the weekend and two became diversion program-eligible, but three others will have to wait awhile before they become parole-eligible. It’s like Fullmer never left.

7. Georgia

Losing a home game to UK in spectacularly bad fashion is hardly a fitting tribute to UGA VII. On the bright side, the loss does not go on UGA VIII’s official game record. So it’s like the second half never happened, right?

8. Auburn

Will it be Jekyll or Hyde this weekend in the Iron Bowl?

9. Arkansas

Arkansas’s performance only reinforces that Petrino will have Arkansas ready soon… and perhaps that keeping Ryan Mallet might have been a better decision for Michigan than hiring Rich Rodriguez.

10. Kentucky

A huge road win to spoil Georgia’s tribute to UGA VII game, and yet the story is more about both a dog and a disappointed Richt than it is the bowl bound Wildcats.

11. Mississippi State

State got shellacked by the Arkansas offense, thereby ending the bowl hopes of the best 4-7 team in college football.

12. Vanderbilt

The only real question is whether a season this miserable can put Bobby Johnson on the hot seat after taking VU to its first bowl in 25 years.

"Let it be known across the lands that Verizon’s .net email accounts have the absolute worst..."

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:11:41 -0500

“Let it be known across the lands that Verizon’s .net email accounts have the absolute worst spam filter known to man. And what’s up with only being able to block 100 addresses as permaspam?
Ugh, time to start transitioning friends to my gmail account.”

- Me, after spending too much damn time cleaning my frigging inbox.

Random Story

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

One of my favorite stories from this past weekend traveling South for a wedding was told by a current professor at an SEC West football superpower.

When I asked him if he’d ever been pressured by the football superstructure or by friends regarding players he taught in his freshman level lectures, he laughed and said the only pressure he ever got was from friends who wanted him to flunk a particularly porous offensive lineman who somehow managed to start.

Gotta love the passion of football fans… and the ethics of the professor (who gave him the grade he earned).

The waffles may have been Texas-shaped… but they really...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0500

The waffles may have been Texas-shaped… but they really weren’t any larger than waffles one can get anywhere else in the States.

Who knows how many of these are real and how many are setups. I...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Who knows how many of these are real and how many are setups. I recognize plenty (as real). But some test the imagination (like the robbery).

Out west by Galway and the Ring of Fire. Cows were just...

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500

Out west by Galway and the Ring of Fire. Cows were just chillin’ in the street. It was all well and good. Ireland, sometime in July 2003.

My Jack Handy Moments: Flying

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500

Do you ever stop to think of just how ridiculous flying jets are? I mean really, you’re in an over pressurized, aluminum tube that is hyper-oxygenated and pumped full of high octane fuel. You are then propelled by friggin’ jet engines at 40,000 feet.

And that’s a safer way to travel than walking down Lexington Avenue.

Crazy.

This is what they call Poland Spring in Texas. Tasted like...

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

This is what they call Poland Spring in Texas. Tasted like dueling banjos.

Review: Zombieland (2009)

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500

The producers of Zombieland were very pleased with the reception the film got in theaters. The problem they had was the amazingly strong reception the movie got on Bit Torrent. I’m going to ignore that second fact by noting that I plan on purchasing the DVD when it’s available on Amazon, so we’ll ignore exactly how I came across a copy for my return flight from Houston on Sunday.

This movie is fun. It’s no high art, but it has many of the elements that have made teen or buddy comedies a success and installed them in a quick and clever zombie genre adaptation.

The film succeeds mostly on the back of its excellent cast, the male half of which is amazingly typecast. Woody Harrelson plays zombie-killing bad-ass Tallahassee. He is pretty much drawn as a mix of his Mickey Knox from Natural Born Killers and Roy Munson from Kingpin. And it plays amazingly well. In a reflective scene, when asked by Columbus if he’s one of those guys who listens to a story and automatically has to one up it with one of his own, he says, “No, but I know a guy just like that.”

As Columbus, the sidekick, Jesse Eisenberg plays his patented neurotic, but oddly identifiable teen (think Michael Cera with less awkward quirks and more psychologist bills). He rocks this role out far more effectively than he did playing the exact same character in Adventureland. He’s a witty, believable if ironic survivor who serves also as the narrator of the movie.

CLICK THROUGH FOR THE REST

As the female love interest, Emma Stone’s Wichita is very alluring in a ZooeyDeschannel -kind of way. She’s quirky, clever and hot without being insanely and untouchably good looking. Her interplay with her young, whippersnapper sister (played by Abigail Breslin) works well (making this, really, a double buddy movie). Breslin, in particular, is great both in providing a storyline motivator while filling the role of the snarky and smart preteen.

The brilliant cameo (which somehow has avoided being spoiled en masse on the internet) is just awesome. Very effective and funny. And I will say no more on that.

The movie lacks any real highbrow moments, but it does give traditional nods to certain common themes of the lonely pseudo orphans coming together and finding a home in each other, along with short dollops of love and reclaiming loss.

What made the movie interesting from a zombie genre perspective is that they actually provide a better explanation for zombies than most. 28 Days Later had the rage virus and I Am Legend had its amorphous virus, but most genre flicks ignore the science, despite a rise in technical theorizing on the subject thanks to the success of movies and books like World War Z and The Walking Dead graphic novel series. In Zombieland, a throwaway line explains that the condition is caused by a mutation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (AKA mad cow) while jumping to humans when patient zero eats contaminated beef. Not saying the explanation is realistic in any regard, just that they at least gave the explanation.

[If you want a serious look at zombies from a scientific standpoint, take a look at the statistical analysis of zombie outbreaks done by some Canadian researchers. It doesn’t look at the science of creating the walking dead, but on modeling an outbreak’s spread based on genre stereotypes.]

Overall, the script ranks highly on the quotability factor. The actors clearly are having fun playing roles that are well within their range and the film makers keep things moving along. Most importantly, it’s a zombie flick that transcends the genre and is really more of a fun, adventure-comedy. People aren’t going to get grossed out or frightened. This is great, easy bubble gum fun with enough good comedy writing to keep things fresh.

Because I can’t give a non-film too high a grade (this is definitely a movie and doesn’t have any real art to it), I’m going to stick Zombieland with a very strong 8.5 out of 10.