In Memoriam: Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace is one of the most famous new journalist of all time, and while I did not get to see most of his first hand his legacy lives on within the television series 60 Minutes,  throughout other pieces of popular culture.

Mike Wallace was with the news program 60 Minutes from the beginning (1968), and while the show was not a massive hit from the beginning, the show became a top ten hit in 1977-1978.  The show remained in the top ten until 2001, and was often the most watched program of the year.  Mike Wallace was one of many new reporters but his solemn reporting often drew people to admire and respect the work that he did throughout the years.

Wallace hit hard at everyone from the public to private sector.  Challenging different people from members of the Nixon administration in the post Watergate era to Barbara Streisand.  His interview style challenged the interviewees.  Wallace did his research on the people he was interviewing; he also was the master of point out the obvious with questions that clarified and phrases like "forgive me but...." or "come on."

One the major situations Mike Wallace reported on was the 1995 was the whistle blower for tobacco industry Jeffrey Wigand.  Wigand had accused Brown & Williamson of intentionally putting extra nicotine in cigarettes.  The story ended up falling flat because CBS feared they would be sued for releasing an interview with Wigand because he had signed a non-disclosure deal with the company.  The New York Times released pieces of the story and showed this element, and exposed the unfortunate events at the end of Wallace's career.  In the final broadcast Wallace showed dismay over the story that had been gutted.  This represent not a low point, but the sign of changes in journalism.  If this sounds like a film, you are right this even was eventually made into a movie called The Insider where Russell Crowe played Wigand and Christopher Plummer played Mike Wallace.

Wallace is regarded as one of the best television journalist of all time, and his legacy will live out in quality work he put in throughout the many years on 60 Minutes, and even after he retired.  This man was   an incredible new reporter, and his memory will live on.

Religulous Revisited!

Today while I was relaxing my father called me saying he was sad I was not coming home for Easter.  My response was simply I am sad I will not be able to see you, but "I don't celebrate Easter."  My father talked about his own lack of religious yearnings, but mentioned how people tend to come home around holidays, and he missed my youth and getting me an Easter basket filled with candy as he saw people buying these things at Target.  I have to admit I miss the chocolate, but not church.

A few hours later I called my grandmother to thank her for the nice card she had sent for Easter; she to had wished i was coming home for the holiday.  I did not have the same conversation about religion with my grandmother, it would have been a moot point.  Like most of the people who raised Catholic from her generation (in the northeast) mass/religion are more about tradition and center on ways to bring the family together.  The same sentiment was in my father's thoughts.

As the day went on I thought a lot about not being home with my family and celebrating with them, and how we all used to celebrate Easter together with ham (which I hate).  Then when I got in from the gym with dinner my TiVo with some magic recorded, in the suggestion area, the film Religulous (2008).  Religulous is a documentary directed by Larry Charles (Curb Your Enthusiasm) about Bill Maher's perception on the current state of world religions.  While this is not the best documentary there are some great perspectives about different religions that are explored by Maher.

Maher is a self proclaimed atheist, and throughout his movie he goes to speak with a wide variety of people whose religion are the central part of their life.  Maher starts by going to a Church for truckers (Christian church), goes to speak with an ex-gay who tries to help people with their "transition", he goes to holiest lands from the Vatican, to places in the Middle East, and in the end he speaks with former Mormons, and people from Islam.  Maher conversations with these religious people are edited with scenes where Maher speaks with his mother and sister about their familial and his own life experiences with religion.  Each of these conversations centers around Maher's disbelief, and his thought that people cling to religions (not faith necessarily) which claim to have divine authority.

The film is filled with numerous memorable statements that provide some incredibly thought provoking moments like:

"The irony of religion is that because of its power to divert man to destructive courses, the world could actually come to an end. The plain fact is, religion must die for mankind to live. The hour is getting very late to be able to indulge in having in key decisions made by religious people. By irrationalists, by those who would steer the ship of state not by a compass, but by the equivalent of reading the entrails of a chicken. George Bush prayed a lot about Iraq, but he didn't learn a lot about it. Faith means making a virtue out of not thinking. It's nothing to brag about. And those who preach faith, and enable and elevate it are intellectual slaveholders, keeping mankind in a bondage to fantasy and nonsense that has spawned and justified so much lunacy and destruction. Religion is dangerous because it allows human beings who don't have all the answers to think that they do. Most people would think it's wonderful when someone says, "I'm willing, Lord! I'll do whatever you want me to do!" Except that since there are no gods actually talking to us, that void is filled in by people with their own corruptions and limitations and agendas. And anyone who tells you they know, they just know what happens when you die, I promise you, you don't. How can I be so sure? Because I don't know, and you do not possess mental powers that I do not. The only appropriate attitude for man to have about the big questions is not the arrogant certitude that is the hallmark of religion, but doubt. Doubt is humble, and that's what man needs to be, considering that human history is just a litany of getting shit dead wrong. This is why rational people, anti-religionists, must end their timidity and come out of the closet and assert themselves. And those who consider themselves only moderately religious really need to look in the mirror and realize that the solace and comfort that religion brings you actually comes at a terrible price. If you belonged to a political party or a social club that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence, and sheer ignorance as religion is, you'd resign in protest. To do otherwise is to be an enabler, a mafia wife, for the true devils of extremism that draw their legitimacy from the billions of their fellow travelers. If the world does come to an end here, or wherever, or if it limps into the future, decimated by the effects of religion-inspired nuclear terrorism, let's remember what the real problem was that we learned how to precipitate mass death before we got past the neurological disorder of wishing for it. That's it. Grow up or die."


This quote from Maher made me think a lot about religion and the power it has over people today.  I do not know where I stand at the moment.  I grew up in a Catholic family went to Church every Sunday was an alter boy, and believed in everything that my religion centered.  As I grew up and started to learn more about the world outside of religion I began to ask questions.  In the world of the Catholics there is a do as I say mentality, and I do not often play by the rules.  I was also gay.  There were so many things priests, deacons, and bishops would say and I just fundamentally disagreed with them.  I felt/feel conned.  My own spiritual development is still in flux.  I do not know if I am spiritual or what if anything I believe in.  This statement made me think deeply about what I believe in and made me want to assess where I am at, and where I am going.


Film can have a powerful influence over thought processes, but in the same breath, my own emotional journey is not defined by film.  I have many friends who believe in different things that I no longer understand.  I respect/appreciate their journey and their beliefs, but like Maher I often find myself on the sidelines thinking why do we let the undefinable define who we are as people.  I do not know if I would characterize myself as an atheist on the level of Maher but I appreciate his voice in today's society as some challenges the common thoughts centered around religion.  Maher is, after all, not incredibly likeable (even thought I like him).



Maher including his family in this film was one of the best aspects of this film and helped viewers to have a better understanding of his religious journey, and allowed me to know him better.  One of my favorite moments was Maher's mother talking about Bill being angrier that there was no Santa as opposed to losing his connection with religion.  While Maher often comes across as pretentious, and stubborn.  The moments with his family give him more humanity as the narrator of the story.  Maher's analysis of other's faith can seem jarring, but as he says throughout the film "I'm just asking a question" and he is doing just that.  Maher is an outsider and talks about the fact that people who have his disbelief rarely can have honest/candid conversations about religion with those who have strong faith.  I agree with this statement but also wish he went deeper into other religions that are defined by spirituality or religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, and even Satanism, but maybe in a sequel.

April Movies to See and Movies to Skip!

March had a strong set of films.  Within the last three weeks 21 Jump Street and The Hunger Games provided a lot of entertainment, and strong box office numbers.  April on the other hand begins with some nostalgia bringing back the team from the American Pie series, and Titanic in 3D, but the rest of the month seems to start to fall flat.  I do not want to wish April away, but there are too many May movies I excited to see.

April 6th

American Reunion

Titanic in 3D

American Reunion's preview looks pretty hilarious, and all of previous installments were pretty hilarious/entertaining (the third being the weakest).  Revisiting this franchise does not seem cheap because of the premise of the story, a ten year reunion, sign me up.  Will Kate Winslet's breast pop out of the screen?  While I enjoy Titanic it's not one of the films I want to go see again.  I do think it is a net concept though.

April 13th 

The Cabin in the Woods 

The Three Stooges

Lockout

This is wear April starts to fall flat.  While I was excited that Joss Whedon produced the thriller The Cabin in the Woods, the preview made me change my mind.  The Three Stooges went through several cast changes, directors, etc. and when the preview released my exact thoughts were "What a waste of time" and "This tarnishes the reputation of the television series."  I think the film looks and will be awful.  Lockout looks like Taken in space..do I need to say more?

April 20th 

The Lucky One 

Think Like a Man 

Chimpanzee

Zac Effron takes on Nicholas Spark; he looks hot, but Spark's stories are so predictable, cheap ploys at getting emotions.  The only reason I will see The Lucky One is to watch him shirtless (honest).  Chimpanzee will be a cute family friendly film that may surprise and be more successful than people think.  Think Like a Man which is based on Steve Harvey's book looks like mindless fun entertainment.

April 27th 

The Five-Year Engagement

The Raven

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Safe 

As the middle two weeks of the month feel painful the last week is where things may start to pickup.  I think Engagement looks good, and Seagal and Blunt will make a great time on screen.  I have seen previews for this damn Pirates movie for forever (it seems), and I think it looks hilarious.  The Raven looks painful, time reassess your carer John Cusack.  Jason Stratham thanks for making the same movie  over and over again, I appreciate it!

Movies to see:American Reunion, The Five-Year Engagement, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Titanic3D

Movies to Skip:The Three Stooges, Lockout, Safe, The Lucky One, The Raven

Take me out to the Ballgame

Last night I sat down to watch Moneyball, for the second time with a group of friends.  The timing is honestly perfect as baseball season starts to get under way.  Moneyball is the most recent film about baseball, even though it hits a much deeper message, and takes the message to a much deeper level.  Baseball is known as America's pastime, so it only makes sense that the greatest sports films are about knocking one out of the park.  From Pride of the Yankees (1942) to Moneyball (2011) there has been an evolution within this genre about the game, the players, cultural impact, personal impact, and the game itself.

Pride of the Yankees was the first film about baseball.  The film centers around one of the greatest players of all time and his struggle with a disease that was named after him.  The film chronicles Lou Gehrig and his career along the greats like Babe Ruth.  Gehrig was only 37 when his disease forced him to step down from being part of the most feared duo in baseball.  In Pride the speech Gary Cooper gives as Gehrig gives as he leaves the Yankees is one of the most moving speeches.


Throughout the years films have emulated the iconic value of the game and the players.  There have been films about most of the greats, The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), The Babe (1992), and 61* (2001), to name a few.  


Baseball films have not only talked about the heroes within the game, but also done a great job talking about the underdog who comes from behind to save their team, or even our hearts as they make great catches, or win a game for their team.  The first film that comes to mind that does this does not do this in a touching way, but uses comedy.  Major League is one of the funniest sports films ever made.  When 'Wild Thing' (who knew how accurate that would be for Charlie Sheen) steps up to the mound you want to cheer.  This rag tag group of misfits comes together for love of the game (and sometimes themselves), but in the end you fill uplifted. 

The underdog team or player is a trend within baseball films.  There have been so many great baseball films that use this theme to convey someone coming from nothing and creating a great team, or working hard to succeed in something they love.  Films like The Bad News Bears (1976), Sandlot, Rookie of the Year, and Sandlot (both 1993) deal with young people who overcome odds to push themselves to become better in the game.  Bears is more like Major League in that the end results may be imperfect, but these young players push themselves to come together and be a better team.  Bears represents a the more cynical style of film making within the 70s.  Rookie and Sandlot both have this optimistic things will work out in the end mentality.  They represent the hopefulness of youth in attaining their dream of being part of something bigger/something they admire.


There are of course films about adults who go up against all odds to show their love for America's past time as well.  Field of Dreams (1989) deals with a man who is told by a mysterious "If you build it they will come."  Kevin Costner plays the lead role within this film, and many think his goal to build a baseball field is a crazy dream, but the emotional heft of this film is incredibly powerful, and shows the hope that surrounds this game, and its past.


In 2002 Dennis Quaid plays an older baseball player who people think has lost all chances of being successful in the major leagues, but he works incredibly hard and pushes himself.  This film represents the spirit of baseball as something for everyone, and as Quaid's character continues to prove himself you can't help but root for the underdog.  The same can be said for Robert Redford in 1984 classic baseball film The Natural.  While these two films represent different stories the show the passion of the athlete, and drive to not only be good at their sport, but someone who people can look to and admire.


Admiration of the game, and the players is another key element to a solid film about baseball.  In 1992 Gary Marshall made one of if not the best film about female athletes who took to field while their husbands went to war.  A League of Their Own was the story of the first year for women's professional baseball.  These women worked hard to break stereotypes, and prove that they were just as good at the sport as most of the men who played the game.  This film is heart wrenching and hilarious.

Bull Durham (1988) is another baseball film that breaks the rules,and many cite it as the best baseball film of all time.  Like some of the more recent baseball films the story is about more than just baseball or the baseball player.  The story interweaves the role hilarious role sex plays in helping a minor leaguer become better at the game.  The film proves that the king of baseball movies may just have to be Kevin Costner.  Costner shines in both of his films, and reminds people the diverse spectrum this game can bring to our lives.

 Durham shows viewers more about the game off the field the way Moneyball this past year.  Moneyball is slowly becoming not only one of my favorite baseball films of all time, but one of my favorite sports films, because it is not only not just about the game, but about the spirit associated with the game.  Moneyball proves that general manager Billy Beene had an incredible drive to bring back the heart of this sport; he was a man rejected by the game as a player, and has done more than many have ever done behind the scenes.  The film and many others prove baseball is not only America's past time in the stadiums, but also in the cinema.

Who Killed Rosie Larsen?....At this Point, Who Cares

Last night I watched the premiere of AMC's television show The Killing.  The first season of the show premiered exactly a year ago on April 3rd , and had one terrific pilot.  The opening sequence of the first episode showed the young victim Rosie Larsen running for her life from her eventual killer.  The girl was found, and set a mystery in motion. (Note reading below may have some spoilers).

The Killing is based on a Danish television series entitled Forbydelsen (The Crime), and was made into a television show in the States by the same creator Veena Sud.  Sud wrote the pilot and used the talented Patty Jenkins to direct.  One year ago I was hooked, between the solid writing, directing, and performances I was on board for this mystery/thriller.  I don't have the same the feelings as much anymore.

The show cleverly uses each episode to describe a day in the lives of the characters.  Throughout each day the police investigate the murder, we saw Rosie's parents grieve, and the election for mayor unfold.  I liked the way they constructed each episode to represent a day, it helped with the pacing and made the show feel as though it were going somewhere.  The problem was that within each episode you followed a red herring, like within a procedural, and at the end of all of episode it felt as though the show led you down endless dead end streets.  The show is not meant to be a procedural, but within the context of the case I felt it lost that center.

After to the novelty of the first episode I kept tuning in to this (and may still) because of the great acting from three of its stars. Mireille Enos plays lead detective Sarah Linden, a woman who is hellbent on solving this case; she is a determined cop who often lets the job consume her.  Enos received an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal.  Michelle Forbes plays Rosie's mom, and she does such a fantastic job, and not only grieving for her daughter but trying to piece her own life together.  Forbes received a Best Supporting Actress Emmy nomination.  The third person is Joel Kinneman who plays Liner's partner Holden.  You never know if you Holden is a good guy, or if you can quite trust him, and Kinnemand plays this brilliantly.

While the acting has been solid since the pilot, the direction of the story has unraveled, and seemed to wander dropping little clues in a frustrating manner.  One of the major reasons this show failed at the end of season one was because of the network, AMC.As the first season was coming closer and closer to the end many people wondered, would we know who killed Rosie Larsen?  Would the show be picked up for a second season? AMC waited until the last possible minute to release they would be renewing the show, and boom season one ended with an unsatisfying result.

The beginning of season takes the red herring from the end of season one, and makes the story go in another completely different direction.  I am dizzy from all of this, and this show needs to focus on solving this case sooner than later.  If AMC brings this show back they need to be brave and do what Ryan Murphy is doing with American Horror Story (I never thought I would say those words), but they do not believe in this show enough to completely reboot.  This means solve the the case and move on, sorry Rosie Larsen, but this show is making me less interested in you.

Gary Ross creates a Fast Paced Battleground Where Young Children are Forced to Battle to the Death the Hunger Games

The Hunger Games (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville, Dave)

Written by Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, and Woody Harrelson

On September 14th 2008 author (and soon to be screenwriter) Suzanne Collins released her novel The Hunger Games about a society broken down into districts.  Within this society once a year each district sends two tributes, one male and one female to the Capitol where they will compete against one another to the death until one tribute is left standing.  The Games happen because once upon a time there was a District 13 that led a rebellion, which failed, and in order to remind the districts who was in charge the Capitol created the Hunger. Games for this and entertainment purposes.

The film focuses on Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) from District 12, the coal mining district.  Katniss has her family including her mother and her  younger sister she lovingly refers to as Prim.  Katniss is the sole provider for her family because her father was killed in an explosion in a mine shaft.  Katniss also has her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth).  

The film starts on the day known as the reaping in District twelve, where Effie (Elizabeth Banks) who is an elaborately and differently dressed woman is there from the Capitol to select the boy and girl who will be picked as the tributes for this district.  The film does not explain the selection process as in detail as it should, but your age increases the amount of times your name is placed within the bowl.  Prim is the girl selected from District 12, but her sister Katniss volunteers in her place.  The boy chosen for the district is Peeta Melark (Josh Hutcherson).  The two are going to be mentored by Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) the only past winner from their district.  

While the film is about the actual games, the film does not place the two tributes into the mix of the fight until about halfway through the film.  Ross does a good job with his direction there is a lot of great camera work, and even though some may think he works too quickly, I think the pacing he sets for the film allows this to be an incredibly well made movie.  Ross's work on the screenplay along with the books author Suzanne Collins allows for the film to be more faithful to the novel within a 2 1/2 hour window of time.  Even without constant action the film does a great job telling a good story.

Like with any book to film adaptation there are some changes in the film.  One of the major changes is how Katniss gets the Mockingjay pin.  I think this may have been a bigger mistake, but with Collins helping in the screenwriting I am less concerned. I wish the film did a better job exploring the tributes from the the other districts.  Viewers of the film who did not read the book may be confused about the different more prominent tributes, or the districts they represent.  I would like to have learned more about the other tributes, in fact they did mention one of the more key tributes nick named Fox Face until the end of the film.  This is a concept that is important in establishing the future concepts within the other novels.

The film and the book center around a larger social issues, the first film like the book does not get into the greater details.  Ross aptly handled social issues within the film Pleasantville, and like within the first book this film lays the foundational context for unrest.    As the viewer you see the Capitol is an evil bastion that attempts to control those outside of their world.  In the film Donald Sutherland's President Snow (who is the first film much more than in the first book) lays the foundation for the dark agenda of the Capitol.  I hope as the film series continues to explore the deeper context of the books, and the role each district plays rather than just quickly talking about them.

I also hope the book uses the solid acting to help make these films more watchable than most of the more recent book adaptations. The acting is top notch, Lawrence is always compelling, and she does a great job as Katniss; she sells every emotion.  Woody Harrelson who plays Haymitch was another standout performer, and like Katniss Haymitch is one of the great characters in this film. 

With any book to film adaptation there is always room for improvement, and there can always be some complaints, but this is a solid well made film.  Even with its flaws succeeds.  Many people will compare this film series to the Twilight saga, but there is no comparison.  Each film is its own, and I have to say this film succeeds in every place the other does not.  I was glued to my seat for the entire time, and drawn into the film, and as the credits rolled I was able to walk away feeling satisfied with the end result.

Mad Men Returns with "A Little Kiss"

I know I am behind the times on this, but I was not able to watch the first episode of Mad Men until today.   Mad Men has been off the air since October 17th 2010.  After one year and a half off the air Mad Men finally returned last week, and with a great publicity campaign that leaked little information about the shows return, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for this show to return.

Mad Men has represents a nostalgic look back culture within the 1960s.  The shows uses an advertising agency, its workers, and their familial experiences to highlight different lifestyles within this era.  The show represents an interesting look at gender, race, politics, and the influences of popular culture.  From working on the film Bye Bye Birdie with Ann Margaret to intertwining the JFK assassination into a wedding this show looks at this era with an imperfect lens.

The 60s were a turning point in American history, as many started the decade with sheer hopefulness the tides began to change.  In the post JFK assassination days things the Civil Rights Movement grew stronger, Vietnam became a reality, women started going into the workforce not just as secretaries, and  cultural norms started to evolve.  The history of this show has shown just how brilliantly this decade propelled the evolution of these characters within this show.

This season of Mad Men starts within the late 1960s and with the central character Don Draper turning 40.  The firm Sterling Cooper Draper Price is struggling financially and hoping to stay above water land clients, and make sure that they can maintain the business they built on their own.  Don and Meghan are now married, and working together which has created an interesting dynamic for the firm.  Joan has had her baby, and is struggling to balance motherhood, and missing her work as the office manager at the firm.

The episode entitled "A Little Kiss" represent an excellent use of the shows ensemble, from Pete being the one who works his ass off, as head of accounts to Roger being the office clown and mocking Don's new wife for her birthday dance.  The shows pacing allows the viewer to take less fast paced world.  The creator and main scribe Matthew Weiner has created a world based in reality.  Weiner has constructed deep characters that have grown throughout the years.  As this episode ends we see each character working through their own internal struggle in a way that will propel them toward their future at work, and within their personal lives.  As show ends the Civil Rights movement is in full swing, a joke advertisement forces the agency to interview and hire their first black receptionist, thus pushing this show further into the future.