#80: The Apartment (1960)

Oscar Winner:

Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Art Direction

It's really easy to overlook how great a movie The Apartment is. It's not flashy, nor in your face. It's this subtleness that makes it such a great film. Whitney and I's favorite type of movies to watch are dramadies. Those movies that could either be a drama or a comedy. At their core, the dramatic stakes are high, but there is a slice of life that makes the conflicts bearable… even entertaining. The Apartment's genius lies in its ability to focus on the characters and forget all the surrounding elements around it.

Set in a New York work environment that is now familiar because of the popularity of Mad Men on television, C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is a goofy, yet charming man, who is willing to do whatever he can to get to the top of his insurance company. That doesn't mean backstabbing his co-workers or being cutthroat, but lending his apartment to the top dogs in the company to use for their extramarital affairs. This in itself becomes a full time job as he constantly juggles the vacancy of his apartment with little promises fulfilled by his bosses. Baxter finally gets his big break when the president of the company (Fred MacMurray) wants in on Baxter's hobby. As this event causes things to finally go right in Baxter's life, as well as a budding romance with the elevator girl (Shirley MacLaine), it also causes a mess of a love triangle that is not even close to being worth the price of success.

The Apartment is about 50 years old now, but its relevancy is still so strong. The film proves that the themes of pride and the emptiness of the desire for personal and material wealth never go away. If one was able to suspend thoughts of current affairs, this film could be released for the first time today and still have just as a big of an impact as it did in 1960. This film speaks frankly about sex, affairs, and suicide, which I'm sure was a shocker for filmgoers in the 60’s, but it's amazing how things really aren't that different now than 50 years ago. People still fall in that trap that money and success can bring happiness, and I can't think of any other film that instills this idea better than this one. The world that is presented here is full of faulted people with false ideals, and that is not unlike any other day in the American life.

It's fun to see a film on this list that isn't so flashy or has some kind of gimmick to prove its brilliance. It's just great storytelling, pure and simple. The director, Billy Wilder, is one of the most admired directors to come out of Hollywood. Based on this film alone, I think there are three reasons for this. One, he knows how to cast. The acting in this film is brilliant, no matter how small or big the role is. Jack Lemmon is personally one of my favorite actors to watch and he is perfect playing a character who is extremely lovable, but so very disillusioned. Two, he lets the story be the main star of the movie, not all the other elements of film. Don't get me wrong, cinematography and set design is crucial to a film's success, but if I'm not engaged in the story, I'm done with the film. And last, Wilder is brilliant at piecing together a film. No scene is wasted. Everything that is shown or said is there for a reason and enhances the film experience. I never was distracted, nor bored. How could a film not be labeled as great?

Like a good wine, The Apartment will just get better over time. During this present economic crisis, I can't think of a better example than this film to explain why people get greedy and do the things that they do. Most importantly, this film is both fun and has substance, and I would recommend it to just about anybody.

I give The Apartment 5 out of 5 card games.

* Oh yeah, and it has probably one of the best closing lines to a movie ever.

The next 10...

It has taken me a little over 7 months to watch #90-#81. It’ll get harder and harder now that Hallie is in this world, but trust me, she's worth it! These 10 were a little harder to get through with them being older in style and also longer in length. Looking at the next 10 gets me really excited. I’ve loved watching these, but I think it’ll just get more enjoyable as I go along.


Here's how #90-#81 faired:
1. 12 Angry Men - *****
2. The Sixth Sense - *****
3. Titanic - **** 1/2
4. Platoon - ****
5. Easy Rider - ****
6. Sunrise - ****
7. Swing Time - *** 1/2
8. Spartacus - *** 1/2
9. A Night at the Opera - ***
10. Bringing Up Baby - ** 1/2

#81: Spartacus (1960)

Oscar Winner:

Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Peter Ustinov), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design

I hate the word epic, especially when it's tagged as the genre of a film. It makes me think that the film is going to be long in length, have a lot of scenic shots to just show you how grand the movie actually is, and be very predictable. Spartacus easily met all these qualifications. So, the question was if I would enjoy this movie? It did take me several sittings to get through the 3 hour and 15 minute run time, but in the end, the qualities that make an epic indeed an epic, made this film an entertaining watch.

Kirk Douglas plays the title character, a tough slave who is sold into the hands of a Gladiator trainer, Batiatus (brilliantly acted by Peter Ustinov). With the brute combination of mistreatment and falling in love with one of Batiatus' slave girls (Jean Simmons), Spartacus leads a rebellion that overthrows the camp. As Spartacus leads the slaves towards their homeland, he unknowingly becomes a chess piece in a political game between two Roman senators, the republican Gracchus (Charles Laughton) and the militarist Crassus (Laurence Oliver).

Does the plot sound familiar at all? Switch out a few settings and names, and this could've totally been Gladiator or Braveheart (Oddly enough, epic, yet one of my favorite films). As mentioned before, this film is tough to get through solely on its length. If it would've been trimmed down by 45 minutes, it would have been much more watchable and I honestly think it could've retained its impact. It's interesting to know that Stanley Kubrick directed this film because it feels very dated. It's historically known that this was the last film in which he didn't have full control over all elements of the film and it shows. As a viewer, you slowly see two styles start to clash. Spartacus has that traditional Hollywood stiffness to its acting and dialogue that was so prominent in an earlier film on this list, Ben-Hur. But you begin to see Kubrick interject his now famous artistic vision in the way he stages and composes some shots. There is a much more realistic nature to the violence that must have not been seen up to that point. Spartacus is very revolutionary in the way that you can see a new style of filmmaking starting to take over the movie system.

Even though Kirk Douglas comes off like Charlton Heston at times, he definitely can carry a film, but its the supporting roles that keep one invested into the plot. I was surprised by how much more interested I became in the political maneuvering than I did the battle scenes. Unfortunately, there aren't too many surprises to what happens. I don't know if it's because that so many things that occur in the movie are now cliches in the epic genre, but when you aren't kept on the edge of your seat with a film like this, it's hard to pay attention.

That said, the plot is challenging enough to keep you invested and it really does have some moments that are truly memorable. I can now say, "I am Spartacus!" and know the emotional impact it carries. I can see why this film eked its way onto this list, but unless you just eat the epic genre up, you may could find a better feast.

I give Spartacus 3.5 out of 5 fights to the death.

* If you ever have a chance, reading about all the chaos that happened to get this film made is probably more interesting than the film itself.

#82: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Oscar Winner:

*Best Picture - Unique and Artistic Production, Best Cinematography, Best Actress (Jay Gaynor)

* The only time this category was awarded to a film

Ah yes... The first silent film on this list. Guess what? It's not even a comedy! It would almost take bribery to get most people to sit down and watch a silent film, but just like any type of history, one needs to discover something's past to truly gain an appreciation for it. It's been since college that I've really taken the time to sit down and watch a silent film, and although I don't recommend doing it at 10 p.m. (silent film = sleepiness), I'm so glad I did it with Sunrise.

Directed by the famous German director, F.W. Murnau (most famous for the vampire flick Nosferatu), Sunrise mixes Hitchcockian thrills and romance to tell a tale of rekindled love. Blended with the German expressionism style that Murnau made so famous (how about that film history knowledge being dropped on you!) and enhanced passion that audiences so love, Sunrise follows The Man (George O'Brien) and The Wife (Janet Gaynor) whose marriage is on the rocks. One night, The Man is tempted by The Woman From the City (Margaret Livingston) to kill his wife and leave his farm and children behind for a glorious big-city life with her. With obvious guilt-ridden feelings, The Man can't go through with the plan, but through this more-than-major set back, a stronger bond forms between the married couple.

This film is 83 years old and its amazing to see the apparent influence it has had on now current films. Two major components stood out to me. First off, I loved the cutting-edge editing and camera work of the film. Silent films always seem to be constrained in one setting, so it was refreshing to see an older movie get away from the genre’s static nature. Also, Murnau uses overlay effects to great dramatic effect that still seem innovative today. Even the very few title cards have an artistic breath to them. I couldn't help but think that Moulin Rouge was heavily influenced by this film by not just the editing, but the setting as well. Which brings me to the second component... The cinematography is beautiful. It's not a surprise that it won the Oscar for this category in the way that it captures its vast cityscapes that often had me admiring how they filmed their scenes.

Unfortunately, these technical achievements couldn't hold my attention very well when the second act of the film started. I absolutely loved the beginning and the end of this ironic fairy tale, but as the couples romance starts to bud once again, things start to slow down and it starts to feel like... well, a silent movie. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very engaging story, but the middle almost feels like a completely different film. But it's needed to have the very strong payoff at the end.

I would be remorse if I didn't mention the strong performances in the film. Silent film acting is a whole different type of performance and O'Brien and Gaynor bring so much conviction and realness to their roles. I would love to see how present actors would fair in a silent film like this. In a way, I think it would be an experiment that would really separate the really great actors from just the good ones.

If I hadn't started to get bored somewhat during the middle of this film, Sunrise would get a much higher rating for me. Despite that, I would definitely recommend it to just about anybody and if you forced to only watch one silent film to be an example for the genre, I wouldn't mind this one being it.

I give Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans 4 out of 5 drunken piglets.

#83: Titanic (1997)

Oscar Winner:

Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Effects, Best Visual Effects, Best Music (Original Dramatic Score), Best Music (Original Song), Best Sound

One of the great things about seeing films multiple times is that it can evoke an entirely different sentiment the second time around. People will always have films that they will revisit time after time, but I'm talking about a response that is the complete opposite of what you originally felt. How many times have you revisited a film from your youth and it wasn't quite as good as you remember? I had the exact opposite reaction to Titanic on second viewing. Like everybody else in 1997, I saw Titanic, but as a teenager, the romantic air of the film made me want to gag. Although I thought it was a good film, I didn't quite understand why it broke so many Oscar records. I wasn't necessarily looking forward to seeing it again, but much to my surprise, I couldn't believe how much I was swept into…. yes, I'm going to say it… a movie masterpiece.

Yes, even a young child probably knows that the Titanic was the ship that was said to be unsinkable, but the director James Cameron uses a forbidden romance between two social classes to guide us through the disaster. Torn between being her own person and high expectations of a fortune-bound marriage, spoiled Rose (Kate Winslet) reluctantly comes across an artsy, yet poor star-crossed lover in Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio). Jack slowly, but surely, starts to crumble the walls of society that Rose is so bound in, but just as the two decide to take the giant leap into forbidden devotion, an iceberg comes along and ruins their party.

Even though every movie pretty much has a three-act structure, people don't mind dividing this movie into two-halves; the romantic story and the disaster story. Although I think that the sinking of the ship is a far better part and as close to perfect filmmaking that there is, I was surprised by how much I got caught up in Jack and Rose's story. This film had to have a strong foundation for you to invest in a journey where you already know the outcome. Cameron does a brilliant job of flipping the tables and makes the unknown into what happens to this young couple. Although this romance can't help but reek of cheesiness (and is the reason for not quite making it a five-star movie), I emotionally bought into these characters as my teenager soul mocked me in the back of my mind. I'm sure Winslet and DiCaprio have to shudder a bit when they watch this film because their performances aren't necessarily the best ever, but you can for sure see the talent budding that has now made them the top tier of the acting world.

Now that I got that sappy stuff out of the way, I have to expound on how gripping the visuals of the Titanic going down were. Cameron uses special effects mixed with live action to perfection. You can definitely see the budget of this film on screen, but I was shocked at how well everything holds up here. It's been a long time since my eyes were literally glued to the screen and I was totally swept up by the impact of the impending doom. The editing of the disaster scenes are near perfect and I think what really draws you in is the secondary characters that bring a realness to the screen that is very much needed.

Titanic is a film that contains humor, romance, action, big-screen effects, drama, sadness, and most importantly, entertainment. I'm not quite sure why all those elements weren't so clear to me when I was sixteen, but thank goodness for this list to help me see the way.

I give Titanic, 4.5 out of 5 scandalous portraits.

#84: Easy Rider (1969)

It's fitting that watching this film coincided with the recent death of Dennis Hopper, the producer, director and star of Easy Rider. It was known as one of his best works, and deservingly so. Easy Rider is easily the most experimental film to appear on this list so far, which is an understatement for a film that is laced with drug use. It's not often that you can feel the filmmakers’ presence behind the cameras when watching a film. It's not distracting though because you feel their own intentions, as well as the story's. Their approach happened to not just change the way films were made, but effected a whole generation.

Set alongside the southern roads of America, Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), hop on their motorcycles to head toward New Orleans after scoring some major cash after a cocaine deal. Invoking a Western-styled journey (influenced heavily by hippie ideals) Wyatt and Billy encounter both friends and foes as they embrace their ultimate destination of, well… life… man… Total freedom is the ultimate goal for these two nomads, but they learn that even their peace-loving ideals don't often bring the truest form of serenity.

This was actually the second time for me to see this film, and honestly, I wasn't as impacted this time around. Strangely enough, I almost feel like this film is best viewed just once. I love the editing (especially the transitional cuts) and the cinematography, but it's so easy to disregard the magic of what's happening on screen. It's widely known that most of the crew was just as strung out as the characters on screen, which in a way discounts the "genius" of this film. I just imagine that when this film was met with such critical praise, Hopper and Fonda had to feel like little boys who got away with stealing candy from the general store.

Nonetheless, you can't discount the impact this film made. Although at moments you may think to yourself, "What's the point?" you can't help but see what a new style of filmmaking this was. This film help usher in a whole new wave of counterculture filmmaking that made Scorsese, Coppola and Spielberg household names. It probably could be credited as one of the first, truly independent films that made the 70's, in my opinion, the best decade for both films and music.

This film is rated a little bit higher in my books more so for the impact then for the actual entertainment value, but to me it's a must see and highly deserves to be on this list. If anything, to feel the impact of the last shot.

I give Easy Rider 4 out of 5 Steppenwolfs. Read below my quick thoughts on the film from the first time I saw it in February of 2005.


I was a little hesitant on how I would view this movie. I knew not to expect too much (two hippies on motorcycles), so would this bore me? On the other hand, it is on numerous great movies lists. How can a buddy-road movie pull this off? While watching it, I enjoyed myself. It was entertaining, but I really didn't see the big deal about it. But, then the ending happened, and it all came together. As stated in the movie Adaptation, "Get them at the end. It doesn't matter what happens the rest of the movie, but if you got a great ending, then you have yourself a great movie." Once the credits rolled with the great theme-titled song, I actually felt what that time might have felt to a lot of hippies. Or maybe it was that joint I had been smoking the whole time.

Pro: The soundtrack! Oh yeah, and a great performance by Jack Nicholson.

Con: If you didn't live during the 60s/70s and have never done drugs (which I account for on both counts) the whole meaning of the movie might loose you.

#85: A Night at the Opera (1935)

Whenever you think of classic comedic acts, the Marx brothers are on the top of the list with the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. I would dare to say, the first big act of the "talkie" era. It had been a while since I had seen this film, but their use of one-liners and physical comedy had always stayed fresh in my mind. Their sense of comedic chaos was always something I admired, so that's why I was very surprised that I couldn't fully enjoy this film as much as I wanted to. A Night at the Opera attempts to reign in their comedy with plot and story-line, and this is one of the few times that I think this is a bad thing.

Groucho, Chico and Harpo play… well, it's a little confusing what roles they actually play, but through their antics they try to bring two lovers together who are talented opera stars. The boyfriend is trying to catch a break, so the Marx brothers ban together to get rid of the evil, leading tenor so he can become famous. Set mainly in the opera house and a cruise ship, the brothers constantly become intruders and stowaways in the name of love.

Don't get me wrong, the movie is funny and that is a key ingredient. The problem lies in the fact that there are story elements that sometimes completely disregard the existence of the Marx brothers. There are musical numbers with the opera singers that are just plain boring, and even when the Marx brothers are featured in a musical number, it comes across more appropriate for one of their vaudeville shows than for the screen. I was often left just waiting for the comedy to kick back in, and trust me, when it does, it's pretty memorable. It's not really until the last scene where the director lets the Marx brothers do what they do best… create comedic anarchy.

At its core, this is still a very entertaining movie. If you've never seen a Marx brothers film, you'll be pining to see more after this one. It's just that I can't wait to watch Duck Soup (their other film on this list) that is more perfectly bound in what the brothers do best. So, maybe this is a better movie to see first so that you are void of disappointment when you see some of their other films.

If I weren't tempted to fast-forward some scenes, this film would definitely receive a better rating from me, but I only blame the director for stifling such great talent.

I give A Night at the Opera 3 out of 5 crowded cruise rooms.

#86: Platoon (1986)

Oscar Winner:

Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound

As long as there have been movies, the war genre has existed. Many of the early ones, especially the ones that were focused on WWII, were very much American propaganda. As the 70's came along, so did a new whole style of filmmaking. It was never more apparent than the approach to the Vietnam war in the films Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter. Several years after those revolutionary films, Platoon came about with what I believe as a more inviting style, yet still maintaing its artistic integrity.

Based on Oliver Stone's actual experience as a volunteer (yep, a volunteer!) in Vietnam, Charlie Sheen plays Chris, a naive college student who quickly learns what a war experience actually is. As the atrocities and violence of the war wage on, Chris begins to discover himself. A battle of good and evil in the form of Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) and Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger) force the men within Chris' platoon to choose sides. A war within a war emerges as Stone explores the animalistic nature that comes both from physical and internal battles within man.

If a modern war film can be described as approachable, I think this is it. There are still some very violent and hard-to-watch scenes, but it's the strength of its characters that I believe made it win Best Picture. Especially with Dafoe and Berenger's characters. Dafoe is so hippie-like in his loving spirit and Berenger's is so menacing with his scarred grin, that I was totally shocked not to see them on AFI's list of Heroes and Villains. Their rivalry matches that of Ali and Frazier, and although the material is very dramatic, it's a lot of fun to watch. It's also really entertaining to see all the now famous actors that got their start in this film. There's the great character actor Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon (Entourage), John C. McGinley (Scrubs), Johnny Depp and many more.

The downfall of Platoon is the use of voiceover. Too many times Stone uses Chris to literally tell us what he is feeling instead of showing us. It's a very gripping film that holds your attention the whole time, but it's not one for me that draws me to come back. That said, I think it's a must see, especially if you like the war genre at all. It's a little bit easier to swallow than other war films and definitely holds up today.

I give Platoon 4 out of 5 night watches.

#87: 12 Angry Men (1957)

Many films have been adapted from stage to screen. Off the top of my head, I can think of The Color Purple or Frost/Nixon. If you didn’t have that prior knowledge, you wouldn’t know those were plays. 12 Angry Men is the complete opposite of that. Like other stage adaptations, such as Death of a Salesman, 12 Angry Men feels like you are watching the story from Broadway seats, yet it totally stands up as a film to itself. Director Sydney Lumet takes the elements of the play that make it so good and enhances it two folds with his use of camera moves, editing and the acting. Although I had seen this once before, I was struck again by what a good film this is.

With a claustrophobic feel, the whole movies takes place in a jury room minus the opening and closing scenes. As the scenes play out in real time, Juror #8 (Henry Fonda) stirs the pot, so to speak, when he challenges the other eleven jurors to examine a murder case with a little bit more depth. An emotional journey takes place as each unique juror is forced to examine how they perceived the evidence, which pretty much turns the room into one big psychologist’s chair. The film quickly becomes a social experiment as each juror is forced to look within themselves to not just make a decision about a case, but many have to completely reevaluate how they look at life. The cinematic ride isn’t what the jurors will ultimately decide, but how they will make those decisions.

The superb acting really shines through in this film. All twelve performances are astounding and that's why I really like this film. Henry Fonda is clearly the lead, but I feel like this is more of an ensemble piece. Each character is able to have an unique character trait that allows you to clearly distinguish between everybody, which is hard to do with twelve different actors. This is both a credit to the acting and the screenplay.

Although it's a very dramatic film, it's not a too heavy-handed experience. The pace and editing are so well balanced that you know that pre-production was the key to obtain this success. All present-day filmmakers need to use this film as a study of how to achieve your point in a precise, yet entraining manner.

In my opinion, this is a movie that can appeal to all ages, sexes and races, and when a filmmaker can do that, I can't help but give it 5 out of 5 verdicts.

* On a side note, this whole film is based on the definition of 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' If you leave this movie agreeing with what the jurors decided, the O.J. Simpson jurors were correct in their verdict. I think Simpson's lawyers watched this film before the trial started. This was just something that hit me. What do you think?

Survivor H/V: Week 14 - Finale

Week 14 - Finale:
''Russell's keeping me around because I'll never get a single vote. But I don't know about that."

That was a pretty good finale! It was a lot better than I thought it would be. Usually you can predict how things will go but by the end, I honestly didn't know who was going to win between Parvati and Sandra.

Ok, let's get to it...

* It was finally good to see Colby compete in that immunity challenge. Although he didn't win, I think he may have saved his reputation a little bit. His little speech about throwing in the towel was pretty convincing, but his "strategy" to go to Russell was not. This move was a little too late and why does everybody go to Russell??? Even though they teased that Russell would change his mind, I didn't buy it and Colby was sent packing.

* I already shared my thoughts on Colby in the last email, so I won't go further. It was funny to think that if he had won that immunity challenge, he would've been really close to winning a million dollars.

* I thought that the last immunity challenge was very interesting. It was unlike any that they had before, and when it started, I didn't like the set up. Well, that certainly changed as I started yelling at the T.V. screen when Russell, Jerri and Parvati were all so close to grabbing that necklace! The producers lucked out on that one because it could've gone a completely different way.

* Russell's choice to vote out Jerri was very interesting and quite unexpected. I would have thought that for sure Parvati was a goner. This showed to me how much Parvati had him wrapped around her finger (I don't know why she didn't bring this up in her final argument). I wonder how much he regrets that decision? Maybe she was more liked than I thought. Plus, she was not a guaranteed vote like he imagined (more on that later).

* I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Jerri played a really good game. Not win-worthy, but by the end, I don't think she has anything to be ashamed of. I don't think she made any huge strategic decisions, but she flipped to the correct alliance, and she held her own in challenges. It really looked like she was having fun out there, and for being labeled a Villain, she was way more heroic than a lot of Heroes this season. She got really far in the game and she stayed quiet, yet effective. Thanks Jerri for not letting me hate you this season.

* Sandra throwing Russell's hat in the fire was priceless! Hilarity aside, I think that really affected Russell and he even admitted that it rattled him a bit. How funny is that? Sandra was the only true person in Russell's past two seasons that talked down to him and could rattle his bones a bit.

* The last tribal council was pretty good and I thought from a editing stand point was done very well. I thought everybody asked some pretty good questions and for the most part didn't come off too pretentious (minus Coach, but that goes without saying, right?). I thought Parvati and Sandra did amazing with their answers. Both stayed true to how they played the game, but without being condescending. Unlike somebody else, ha ha.

* I'm going to go back to the final three and break down their gameplay, but I LOVED this final three. Not only was it unexpected, but I loved that there were actually three players that deservingly could've won the million dollars. You don't always get that with a final three, and that's a testament to how great this season was.

* What a fun reunion show. This could've been two hours and I would have been thoroughly entertained. Probst talking down Russell, Sandra's lip, J.T. almost throwing his letter into the fire, Rob and Russell getting into it... It was good live television that actually felt live.

* For the record, I don't think J.T.'s move was the stupidest ever. It might be if Russell would've won, but it just won because it was the most relevant. In my opinion, it was Eric giving up his idol at tribal council. And although it's not as entertaining, Colby taking Tina did cost him a million dollars.

* I can't believe people like Rupert as much as they do. I know I talk about this way too much. I apologize.

* The ultimate survivor morph did not go over well. That poor graphic designer's hard work was mocked by the silence of the audience.

Okay, now to the final three survivors:

* Russell - I could go on and on about his gameplay. Yes, everybody knows his cockiness is as much as a downfall as an attribute to his gameplay , so I won't go into that too much. I was the first one to say that he should've won his first season. He was against very weak players and he clearly played the hardest. But, after seeing this finale, I may have changed my opinion. You can not, and I repeat, canNOT be the ultimate survivor when you fail to think about the jury members on the other end. That's just how the game is played. Dan Marino is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football, but what's one thing that he lacks? A superbowl ring. You can match up his stats against Aikmen, Brady, and Manning, and they may be better, but those guys will always be above him because they have the title. The same correlation can be made to Russell. He doesn't have the ability to see through other people's eyes, and that's why he hasn't and won't ever win this game. I'm not discounting how hard he plays, and has a valid argument that it's the only way he can play this game. But to think that others will give you a million dollars because you are true to that is just ridiculous. His whole gameplay is based on lying and deceitfulness, yet he doesn't bring that when it comes to the end. He thinks that if he gets to the final three he's golden, when in fact, he ditches the one strategy that has gotten him to that point.

* Parvati - I really feel bad for her. She played an AMAZING game and if I was voting, she would've got my vote for the million. I think that the Heroes did not quite grasp how much she controlled Russell. They should have not faulted her for aligning herself with such a hated person. She used him right from the beginning. She perfectly played the game in all three categories. Outwit - Russell took her to the final three, 'nuff said. Outlast - The first vote for the Villains was between her and Randy! Then, after the merge, all the Heroes were gunning for her. Outplay - She was the standout in most of the challenges, especially for individual immunity. She won when her butt was on the line. If Colby would've won that next-to-last one, she definitely would've been on that jury.

* Sandra - All that said about Parvati, I absolutely have no qualms about the fact that Sandra won. I was thrilled and very surprised when she was announced as the winner. I in no way think she was a coattail rider. Jeff Probst has always said that she always plays with the strategy that when it comes to deciding who is being sent home, she plays the "as long as it's not me" card. She knows when to play hard and how to vote, and that's why she won. She's vocal enough for people to know that she's around and she's never been tagged as being lazy around camp. Although she said her strategy from day one was to get rid of Russell, I think in code that means, "From day one I was set out to survive past Russell." The only time she really conceded to Russell's ways was when he was deciding who to take to the final three, and by playing the, "No one will vote for me" card, he took her. She played him just as much as Parvati at that point. And another thing that was a huge play was the fact that she strategized with the Heroes, but not enough for the Villains to fault her for it. All five heroes on the jury voted for Sandra. There were four Villains on the jury and Courtney was the only one of them to vote for Sandra. Unlike Russell, Sandra knew where the numbers lied on the jury. And that was probably Parvati's slightest fault was that she didn't socialize with the Heroes more. Sandra absolutely deserved the million dollars and I hope Russell despises that fact until the day he dies. Something tells me that he will.

What a great season! It's going to be extremely hard to beat this one. It'll be a while before another season comes close to it. 10 years and 20 seasons of Survivor. I'm so curious to see how this new decade plays out. Will it really last another 10 years? It'll be fun to see what new villains, heroes, and favorites will emerge and if another all-star edition is even plausible.

Before I sign off, a big congrats goes out to Ashliegh Whiteman for winning! I'll let you know what the prize will be. Like this season, nobody really had Sandra on their radar and you are one of the few that picked her.

I thought I did pretty well with the recaps this year. I only missed one week. It's a lot of fun to do, but a lot of work. Thanks for reading and I look forward to doing it again in the fall with Hallie doing all the typing for me :)

Until then!

Survivor H/V: Week 13

Week 13:
This Recap Is Brought To You By Sprint

Today's recap is fresh off the presses. Aren't you proud?

* I thought it was hilarious that Russ was still telling Parvati that Danielle was plotting against her. I was a little surprised by how forgiving the girls were of his move. Of course they said, "I don't trust him anymore," but they definitely weren't running to Rupert and Colby.

* I was proud of myself, this was the first time I did not tear up during the loved ones segment. Well, I take that back. I did form tears... tears of laughter as Colby constantly was berating his brother. That was hilarious and his brother was not fazed in the least by Colby's constant screams.

* The shots of Rupert and his wife making out were a little bit too close. It looked like she was making out with a bear. You should have seen Whitney's face... she was practically gagging. You could practically smell him through the screen.

* On the surface, Jerri's move not to take Russell along to the reward seemed like a bad move, but she was in a tricky spot. It was a little surprising that she chose Sandra so quickly. I wouldn't have done that, but I wonder if she was worried that Sandra might make an alliance with Rupert and Colby. The smartest thing was probably to keep Russell away from those two, but I guess it's all a mute point. Russell didn't hold on to his anger like I thought he would. She's too much of a good pick for Russell to take to the end.

* I was just waiting for one of those coconuts to crack open on one of their heads.

* I might even hear Rupert cracking sticks when I fall asleep tonight. He was that loud.

* You've got to hand it to Parvati... She's not only a strong strategic player, but she dominates in the "focus" challenges. I'm not sure how Rupert was moving his arms around so much and still stuck around as long as he did. I really wonder if he had won if Russell would have gone through with getting rid of Parvati.

* Now, I don't blame Rupert for going straight to Russell when Sandra whispered her secondary plan. But did he really have to do it in front of Sandra and Parvati? Rupert has no discreteness to his strategy, or lack thereof.

* How strange and funny was that exchange between Russell and Sandra? I think her and Parvati went loopy after all those burgers. It was hilarious that Russell was SO serious and the two girls were SO not. It did provide some intrigue going into tribal council, but my only thought to why Sandra was acting that way was because she knew she was playing the idol. I think she was just playing with the cameras when she said she wasn't going to play the idol. She is too smart to make a boneheaded move like that. She was brilliant not to tell anybody about it. She knew that if Russell and Jerri did turn, Rupert would still be gone and then she would expose Russell's faults even more so. Then she would come out looking like the hero... I mean the not-so-bad villain.

* Russell actually was a little more restrained on this vote. He knew that it wasn't going to do him any good to go with Rupert and Colby. He had to stick to the girls this time around.

* Let's talk about Colby for a sec. Did you see him at tribal council? He had his face buried into his hands like he was a pouty kindergartner. Here is a guy who has lucked into being in the final five, and he could care less. By far he's one of the most disappointing players this season. Who would've thought that the Villains wouldn't be pining to get him voted off because, "He's not a threat in challenges." Colby has become the coattail player that I so often get frustrated at. I would have never expected that.

* Now about Rupert's departure: I can't stand the man. Why did he glare at Russell like he had betrayed an alliance that had been going on since day one? I hated how self-rightieous he was about being a Hero and how evil the Villains were. But as soon as anything benefited him, he would switch to a Villains side immediately. I don't care that he did that, just don't act surprised when blindsides happen in the game of SURVIVOR. I might forgive him if this was his first time, but this is his third time to play the game. His last statement to the camera sums up how aware he is of his celebrity status, "I don't need Survivor to know that I'm a winner." I beg to differ Rupert, I beg to differ.

There's one more final episode to probably the best season out of the 20. Hopefully it'll live up to the suspense of all of these other episodes.

My bold prediction:
Colby is gone next.
Then, if Parvati wins immunity, she takes Russell and Jerri to the finals. Parvati wins.
If Sandra wins immunity, she takes Jerri and Parvati. Parvati wins.
If Russell wins immunity, he takes Jerri and Sandra. Sandra wins.

Of course if they keep Colby, this prediction is all a bust, ha ha.

What do you think? Happy viewing!

Survivor H/V: Week 12

Week 12:
Double the Trouble, Double the Surprise!

What a bizarre episode! I would have never guessed that Candice and Danielle would be the next ones to go. I thought for sure Colby and Rupert were goners, but with the way this season has been going, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Some thoughts...

* As predicted by me, Candice was automatically on the outs with both sides. Totally disgust from the Heroes and total disrespect from the Villains. Her swing vote had more dire consequences than I would have predicted.

* Another correct prediction from me was saying that Rupert and Colby needed to stir up some trouble. Although it wasn’t very effective, Rupert did a nice job of trying to throw Russell underneath the bus. It didn’t faze Russell though. It was like trying to convince a bluebird that in fact, it’s blue.

* I loved the first immunity challenge. Having them stand on those little ledges was a good bonus. Now, I know I have no idea what it’s like to experience hunger like these guys are, but I’m always amazed at how quick people ditch these challenges for food. I thought it was stupid for Russell and Sandra to bail so early because you know that Jeff is just going to bring out bigger and better food. I was really shocked to see Colby leave the challenge so soon. His competition level is at Lebron’s playoff performance (does anybody get that reference?). Also, I bet Candice wishes she would have stayed longer as well.
I’m so glad Sandra found the idol and finally did the smart thing that no Survivor does... She didn’t tell anybody about it!!! Sandra can easily win this game at this point.

* From now on, all Survivors will carry rocks in their pockets. Thank you Rupert.

* I was pretty shocked that Rupert wasn’t gone after the first immunity vote. I guess that the girl Villains (does Jerri deserve credit for this move?) just didn’t feel good about what Candice might do in the game. Maybe they saw that Russell was trying to suck her in. They probably should’ve been more on the same page on this vote, but maybe in the Villains eyes they were still ousting a Hero.

* I think Candice could’ve totally been in a position to win this game. She has the potential of being a great Survivor, but she lets paranoia get in the way of strategy. She had a good ally in Cirie and she let that go, and then she had a good alliance with the Heroes and let that go. Now, I don’t blame her at all for swinging to the other side, she just did it at the wrong time. She is physical enough and smart enough to win this game, but obviously not in an All-star edition.

* So, Russell comes back to camp with the mindset to gain back control, and boy does he ever. And somehow Colby and Rupert are still alive. How ironic was it that all the girls were cheering on Russell to win immunity and that it turned out to be their worst nightmare.

* Okay... So now about the biggest thing about this episode: Russell turns on his alliance. This once again to me is a brilliant but dumb move. Can you ever remember a Survivor moment where the obvious strongest alliance turns on each other so soon? The girls were obviously gaining control over Russell and everybody saw it coming. It’s as if lightning struck him when Candice was voted out and he said to himself, "No more!"

* Why this was a smart move: He could make this move because he had immunity. So if there was any better time to do this, this was it. He obviously has “real” control in the game now and he took out a person who could easily had won the million dollars.

* Why this was a dumb move: At this point he will get no votes from the jury. It may be a repeat of last year’s finale. Russell may still get to the end, and in my opinion is totally justified in winning, but if Sandra or Parvati are there at the end, he has no shot. His moves are so mean-spirited and are in such a bully-like manner that it will cloud the jury’s opinion of his strategy.

* I’m so glad Parvati stood up to Russell. Parvati has never been my favorite, but she gained a lot of respect from me for not letting Russell throw his male ego on top of her.

* One of my favorite moments of the season was this exchange; Russell to Rupert: "We're voting off Danielle." Rupert, with no hesitation, "Okay!" What a god-send for Rupert and Colby.

* I felt really bad for Danielle. She has played a really solid game this season and literally out of nowhere, she was stabbed in the back. She made a solid alliance, was in the background at the beginning of the game, and then she knew when to get aggressive. That would usually result in a million dollars, but she did allign herself with the most evil troll to ever walk this earth. She talked WAY too much at tribal council. I don’t fault her for crying, but she was falling more and more into Russell’s verbal trap. If I were Parvati, I would’ve hit her. I’m not sure what made Jerri change her vote, but she did, and now it’s once again a completely different game.

If I saw the commercial correctly through the fast-forward of the DVR, I think we only have two more episodes left! Thursday and then the finale on Sunday.

So, I think the overwhelming questions are... How shocked were you to see Candice and Danielle go? Does Russell have any chance of winning? Who is your favorite to win right now?

Survivor H/V: Week 11

Week 11:
No Fighting In Robert Louis Stevenson’s House!

* Russell and Parvati’s alliance won’t be the same. I would have never played that idol unless it was to get Russell out of the game. That is the only way he should’ve known about that.

* I’ve always liked the shuffleboard challenge. It’s a good reward one because anybody can win. Colby’s last shot was pretty clutch.

* I’ve never experienced so much awkwardness as Amanda and Danielle fighting over that immunity clue. I felt like I was watching Jerry Springer for a second. Colby’s reaction was priceless. Now, here’s the thing... in life, that clue was Danielle’s, put did Colby and Amanda give up too easily? Should they have forced Danielle to read it out loud? When you are trapped in a little room like that, how do you get that clue for yourself? What would have you done?

* Danielle should’ve known that Russell had that idol after not finding it. It seems like she had no choice to tell the rest of the group about the clue, but why were only her and Russell looking for it?

* Right when I think that Russell shouldn’t be as celebrated as he is, he pulls a brilliant move by swaying Candice. He is amazing at finding other player’s weak spots. He did it with Tyson, and now he did it with Candice. I can’t reiterate how brilliant this was. His trust in Parvati and Danielle had swayed, so he just goes and renews trust in a whole new girl.

* I like Candice. She’s my pick in this game, but she infuriates me sometimes. I understand that she was at the bottom of the Heroes alliance and that is why she swayed towards Russell. She saw more potential in him. There is a point though where you loose a lot of respect in this game, and she just screwed over all her Heroes alliance. At this point, even if she gets to the end, which I still think can happen, she will get no votes. The vote against Amanda didn’t show her strategic side, it just showed Russell’s.

* Poor Sandra. She must’ve known that Candice wasn’t going to switch, so why burn bridges with Russell and the other Villains. I think she is still somebody to watch out for. If she makes it to the end, which she can by being in the middle of the Heroes and Villains, she’s played a strong enough game not to be seen as “riding coattails.”

* It’s funny to think that Probst had never snuffed Amanda’s torch before. It’s pretty amazing that she still got this far in this game. I liked Amanda from China, but as the seasons went along she didn’t become my favorite. I don’t know if I got tired of her puppy dog looks all the time, but she has been one of the stronger female players in Survivor history and I’ve always liked that she played pretty strategically and always knew who to align herself too.

* Even though Russell played his idol in vain, he should have. At this point, I am SICK of all these hidden immunity idols. I can’t keep them straight anymore. I know that they make for some dramatic tribal councils, but it somehow cheapens the game of Survivor in my opinion. I don’t mind if there are a couple here and there, but it’s gotten pretty ridiculous this season.

* So, at this point, you’d think that Rupert and Colby are the next to go. I don’t know if they can do much to get back into the game, but I would start to make some strong moves. There are some cracks in that Villains tribe, so I would do everything I could to cause distress and tension there. If they did that and won immunity, they MIGHT have a chance to make it to the end, but I doubt it.

I rambled on way too much. Maybe I am making up for missing last week.

What do you think of Parvati’s move of playing two idols? What did you think of Russell pulling in Candice? Who is your favorite to win: is it possible that it’s not going to be Russell, Parvati or Danielle? Are you sick of immunity idols? How awkward did you feel when Danielle and Amanda fought over the clue?

Be on the lookout for an immunity idol hidden somewhere at your house. They are a dime a dozen this time of year.

EW's summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probt's thoughts: CLICK HERE
Courtney's exit interview: CLICK HERE

Survivor H/V: Week 10

Week 10:
For Once, Rupert Was Right!

I know, I know... I was doing soooo good and I missed a week. A big week at that. The merge week!

I’m not going to do a full recap like I usually do for Week 10, but here are just a couple of thoughts:

* I’ve never seen such a less enthusiastic merge. “Game On” mode started much sooner than usual. Probably due to the fact that they delayed it and that there are already two members of the jury.

* The second thought is mainly just about Parvati’s gameplay. I felt like she made a lot of mistakes, but a lot of good moves as well. In my opinion, there is no way I would’ve played both idols. I understand that she was protecting her Villains tribe, and that may pay off big time in the future (a vote from Sandra and Jerri perhaps?). But to throw the idol back into the game again was not a good move. I personally would’ve played just one and still kept the other one hidden. Also, she was dumb for exiting the immunity challenge so quickly. She really exposed to the tribe that she felt like she was untouchable. Regardless, Parvati is really taking over the game.

* Last, I would have never thought that I would say this, but the Heroes should’ve listened to Rupert! I don’t know what made them not trust his conversation with Sandra and believe Russell. I guess that J.T.’s idol handout now does solidify his move as one of the stupidest moves ever.

* J.T. will be missed. I always liked him and he will always be one of the stronger players to play this game. His fault was just playing too hard. He forgot about what helped him win the first time, being subtle. I don’t think he should have totally backed off, but he could’ve honed down his anxiousness a bit. Paranoia got him this time around, and that wasn’t a problem for him in his previous season.

Now on to Week 11:

EW's summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probt's thoughts: CLICK HERE
Courtney's exit interview: CLICK HERE

Survivor H/V: Week 9

Week 9:
Special for One Day Only: Free Idols!

There isn’t a whole lot to say about Courtney’s departure. She really didn’t do much except ride coattails. Towards the end we did get to see her sarcastic comments come out again, which were entertaining. If I were the Villains tribe, I personally would’ve gotten rid of Sandra, who I think is more of a threat. The other thing that I took out of tribal council was that I’m really ready for the merge. I think it’s weird that there will be two members of the jury who weren’t even on the same tribe as some of the Heroes. This just isn’t fair if one of the Heroes gets to the end. Also, I can’t help but think it was a ploy of the producers to have the tribes merge at a 5-to-5 tie. Not that it won’t be entertaining, but the way this has all gone down is a little odd.

Some thoughts...

* I liked how the producers made this reward challenge from an individual challenge, to a group endurance one. Although the Villains won by a mile (Courtney actually contributed!), this was one where I couldn’t predict who was going to win from the get go.

* Dear Outback, your new sponsor is now Sandra! She talked about Outback the way I talk about Pizza King

* So, Parvati found the other clue to the hidden immunity. She did a great job of concealing it. More on this in a bit, but I’m surprised that at this point, the others didn’t think to even look for a clue. That definitely seemed to be a trend to winning reward challenges this year.

* Right now Parvati is controlling this game. Russell thinks he is running the show, and he did, but now Parvati has taken the reigns without him knowing it. That is what makes her such a good player. She knows when to stay in the background and be quiet and then she finds the right timing to thrust herself into the leadership role. The other great move was to tell Danielle about it but not Russell. Maybe she sensed the tension between the two, but she is cementing the two-person relationship in the three-person alliance. I can’t wait to see how these two use this idol.

* Seeing that the immunity challenge was very physical, it was no surprise that the Heroes won. But was anybody paying any attention? Of course the highlight of the episode was J.T. giving Russell the hidden immunity. I loved how the transaction went down. The heist genre would be proud. The look on Russell’s face was priceless. Would you believe it if it happened to you?’

* Now, to J.T.’s credit, none of the other players got to see Russell last season. On the other hand, in no circumstance is it a good idea to give an idol to an opponent that you don’t even know! J.T. will get the blame for this (which he deservingly should), but his tribemates should’ve prevented him from making this idiotic move. J.T. is falling into the trap of over-thinking in this game, and if anybody is going to be targeted going into the merge, he will (being a past winner and being such a physical threat).

* Speaking of past winners, isn’t it crazy that three of these players will be going into the merge having won it all before?

* This sums up the Russell-Parvati-Danielle alliance perfectly: Russell told them all about his idol. Parvati and Danielle told no one else. This action alone will have a tremendous impact on this game, and in my opinion, means that Russell won’t win this season. It was unlike him not to look for another idol once he played his. And it was near a bridge, just like in his previous season!

* Parvati reading J.T.’s letter was HILARIOUS. The way she read it like the voiceover girl from Gossip Girl (I mean, from what Whitney tells me) was pitch perfect. J.T. single-handily changed from the popular jock to the geeky mathlete.

* The debate of whether or not Courtney or Sandra should go wasn’t all that interesting, but it just was another example of Parvati taking over the game as she slowly was pushing her opinion into the forefront, and Russell wasn’t seeming to mind all that much.

* I wonder if the other Villains have worked up the courage to tell Danielle about her mustache.

* If this was ever a time to voice your opinion about this season, now is the time: What did you think of J.T.’s move? This move will be talked about for a long time. What I like most about it is that we didn’t see the impact of the stupid move right away (like Tyson voting himself out). It’ll be fun to see how this mistake will fester.

Yahoo for the merge!

Survivor H/V: Week 8

Week 8:
The Dragon Has Been Slayed

I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that Coach would’ve been the target in this next episode. He was truly shocked that he was voted out, but I don’t think he really cared. The Survivor strategy and backstabbing had taken the toil on the Steven Segal look-a-like. He definitely was more effective in challenges this season, but he never made any kind of move strategically. Although I know many are annoyed by him (Whitney and my Dad), but you can’t help but admit how entertaining it was to get annoyed by his quotes, antics and poses. In a way I’m glad he is gone early because that means the game-play will be stepped up even more so with him being gone. Thanks Coach for allowing me to mock you, but if you ever come back to Survivor, I think it will be a little overkill.

Some thoughts...

* As soon as tribal council was over, you could already predict how the rest of the show was going to go without Boston Rob’s leadership being present. I thought if that they didn’t merge, we would see the Villains back at tribal council, and I was more right than I thought I would be.

* How stupid was it that Courtney and Sandra sat out in the bowling challenge? I’m not saying that it would’ve helped them much in the next challenge, but it definitely didn’t help.

* Hey kids, do you know what foreshadowing is? Look no further than the Heroes thinking that their is an all girl alliance at the Villains camp. This misperception just works in Russell’s favor every which way.

* It was so funny that the Villains tore down their camp. In a way, I can’t blame them for thinking the way they were, but I love that the Survivor producers gave them a reality check. They wanted to remind them that they will always control what happens. I wouldn’t doubt if they changed their minds about the merge just because they saw them tearing down their camp.

* You may disagree, but I thought that J.T. did well with pretending that he intended to show everybody else the idol. He didn’t do an amazing job, but really how else could you recover. I thought it was hilarious when Candice and Amanda talked about their relief of stumbling into him. What I don’t understand is why they weren’t looking all together? People get these clues and then sit on it. This is really where you have to admire Russell’s perseverance.

* How smart is Sandra by sowing that “Coach is after you” seed in Russell’s head? Without this move, Courtney would’ve been gone for sure. She definitely knows how to read people.

* Coach, please stop flexing.

* The fights back at the Villains camp were classic. Things always seem to get tense during a Survivor season, but this one seemed omnipresent. Is this all due to Russell’s presence? Quite possibly.

* The Heroes dominated the mud challenge. I’m not a big Rupert fan, but he really did put a lot of effort into that one. Coach is much more physically fit than him, and Rupert almost beat him.

* I’m really interested to see what happens to this Heroes tribe of 5. I’m not buying their alliance at all.

* Could there be a rupture in Russell’s alliance? Danielle and him sure had it out. He just can not handle any slight thinking that is contrary to his. They seemed to make amends eventually, but I can’t see this being a partnership that stays intact. I’m glad they gave Danielle some more face time here. She’s pretty much been missing from this season, but I think this episode showed that she truly is a strong female player.

* I was really confused by the voting at this tribal council. Russell ended up voting for Courtney (to get a vote from Coach?) and Danielle ended up voting against Coach (a possible alliance with Courtney and Sandra?).

* I’m curious to see if Coach will throw his final vote towards a Hero or Villain at the end since he spent no time with the Heroes. He is definitely a vote that could be swayed towards the end. His vote may be a game-changer.

* It looks like a merge will happen this time and apparently, a mistake that goes down as one of the biggest in Survivor folklore!!! I can’t wait.

Until then!

EW's Dalton Ross' summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probst's blog: CLICK HERE
Exit interview with Boston Rob: CLICK HERE

#88: Bringing Up Baby (1938)

The best way to describe this movie is, “Loud.” As an audience, we’re used to that element with summer blockbusters, but this is a different kind of loud. Do you know that sound that radiates rooms when you walk into a kid’s birthday party? That’s what this movie reminds me of. All the dialogue is at such a high volume and pitch, it made the jokes hard to follow and most importantly, hard to laugh at.

This highly-acclaimed Howard Hawk’s screwball comedy follows the tightly-would paleontologist, Dr. David Huxley (Cary Grant), who in a quest to raise money for his museum, randomly runs into Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn). To say Susan is eccentric is quite an understatement, as Susan leads David into a journey full of exotic animals, bone-stealing dogs, mistaken identities and prison. Like many screwball comedies, the reason for all these events don’t need an explanation. They are there to serve the growing bond between two very different personalities as David and Susan both grow together and tolerate each other.

I know that plot doesn’t really need to be strong for a screwball comedy to work. It really hinges on the chemistry of the two leads and I just didn’t feel that spark between Grant and Hepburn. I know that they've done countless of movies together, but I just didn’t ever buy that their complete opposite personalities would gel as one. Which leads me back to the randomness of the plot. I felt like the screenwriter was constantly using a Mad Libs template to fill in the holes and gaps.

As mentioned previously, Hepburn’s dialogue is so high-pitched and shrilling that I was just plain annoyed. The jokes and gags are truly funny in their nature, but the way they are delivered are so angst-inducing that I was rarely amused. As always, Grant is the true anchor for the whole movie and he was the sole reason for me to slightly care about what happened to these characters.

This is by no means an awful movie and it really has some cute and funny moments, but I’ve seen much better black and white classic comedies. This was just an old-fashioned film that doesn’t hold up today. If people aren’t familiar to this genre, I can’t see them wanting to come back to it after seeing this film. It’s probably the most disappointing film so far for me on this list. As much as I love these actors and this genre, I was surprised to leave with such a so-so feeling for it.

I give Brining Up Baby 2.5 out of 5 run-away leopards.

Week 7:
That’s No Way To Make Friends

I hate to admit it, but Russell really proved here to be more powerful than Rob. I didn’t think it was going to happen, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shift in leadership at a camp before a merge like this one. How smart was it to target Tyson at the last vote? Because of this move, it really did take the wind out of the Villains tribe. All of a sudden Jerri is flopping all over the place and Russell is now in control of the game. Unbelievable. As he puts it, “Having the immunity idol means power,” and that sure proved true in this case. Now, how much this move is going to hurt the Villains as a tribe in challenges is yet to be seen because the merge is soon coming. I’m sure that Russell and them at this point don’t care if they loose anymore because they have their new alliance now. I was sad to see Rob go. He is the villain you hate to love because he has been such an amazing player in this game. No matter if it was strategy, challenges or providing at camp, he could clearly be labeled as the ultimate Survivor without the Villain label. Wow, I’m gushing like Coach right now... Needless to say, he did all that he could do to stay alive and it’s a shame that he carried his tribemates this far to get cut off so quickly. But that’s Survivor...

Some thoughts...

* I enjoyed both the challenges this time around. It was nice to see the Heroes win, and most importantly, see Colby do so well. How would have James’ knee do in those challenges? He would’ve had to do the puzzle on the second challenge, so chances are they wouldn’t win.

* Apparently the word Jerri means “punching bag” in its original Greek roots. It’s good to know that the Colby/Jerri feud will continue because Colby form tackled her.

* I got to watch this episode with family in Norman and we collectively all cheered out loud when the Heroes won both challenges. Not many shows besides sports can make me do that.

* I’m really interested to see if this new immunity idol can be collectively used for the good of the Heroes. It’s really never been done before, so it will be interesting to see what will happen if they find it.

* I’m shocked at how easily Jerri was swayed. Not a good move on her part. She just became a lower tier on somebody’s alliance. It was a great move by Russell, Parvati and Danielle. Those three have the swagger and confidence to deserve that title of Villain.

* Dear Courtney, you are useless in the game of Survivor. Sincerely, Nathan.

* By far one of the funniest moments ever in Survivor history is the two shot of Rob and Russell talking about who should go and Russell says, “One of those two,” and the camera pans to Sandra and Courtney sitting at their feet. Rob’s reaction was priceless and he didn’t even know what to say, which probably doesn’t happen that often to Rob. “That’s no way to make friends,” he stammered. This interaction alone defined this rivalry.

* Coach really did chicken out on his vote. I don’t think Rob would have been mad at Coach if Coach had written down his name, but the fact that he wrote Courtney’s, which was a throw away vote, infuriated him. In fact, it showed that he was not playing with honor by not picking a side.

* I’m really interested to see what happens when these two tribes merge. With Boston Rob out, I really don’t think of these alliances will truly stick. This will quickly become an individual game in a big way. Which of course means better episodes for an already great season.

Let me know what you think!

Nathan

P.S. Some links that might interest you:

EW's Dalton Ross' summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probst's blog: CLICK HERE
Exit interview with Boston Rob: CLICK HERE

Survivor H/V: Week 6

Week 6:
Tribal Council Goes Bananas!

Tsk, tsk, Tyson. You were in a really good spot to win this game and all of a sudden you’re gone! I can’t quite figure out if it was more Tyson’s stupidity to not sticking with the plan or if it was Russell's genius of getting him to vote Parvati that sealed Tyson’s fate. Regardless, Russell’s move will really put the rest of the Villains on guard, which I don’t think is a good thing. Was it a strategic move that came too early? I’d like to think yes, but Russell has proved us wrong in the past. Last season he could really get away with that type of move because he was still controlling the tribe. This time, he isn’t. Tyson was in a perfect alliance and he was strong enough to be a threat in individual immunity, so even his cockiness must’ve been bumped down a few notches.

Honestly, the Heroes ousting James was a complete surprise to me! I don’t know if it was the editing, but it definitely looked like Colby was gone. I think James knew that he was going to be voted out and to the Heroes credit, I don’t think that they revealed too much about their dynamics in front of the Villains. James was way too relaxed and was not at all surprised when they voted him out. Now, if I was Colby and Candace, I would see this opportunity as an amazing gift that doesn’t come too often in Survivor. The five remaining Heroes need to set EVERYTHING aside and go into these next challenges swinging. They need to set their differences aside and form a tight alliance that could possible side with Russell, Parvati and Danielle to flip the game on its heels. They did the right thing in voting out James, too bad that they were dumb and didn’t make this vote last week. Hopefully they can come out of this stronger and somewhat unified.

Some thoughts...

* Colby has checked out! I don’t blame him in a way, but it is disappointing as a viewer who is a fan. Hopefully this second chance will flip a switch.

* The exchanges between Boston Rob and Russell have been classic! You know that the producers have to be loving this interaction. It’s like watching a scene from The Godfather or The Sopranos. The mind game that is going between these two is one for the ages. It’ll be interesting to see which wins.

* I haven’t ever really liked it in the past when they do an immunity challenge and the winner still has to go to tribal council. The way they constructed it this time was perfect and I thought that it provided a good twist, but still gave somebody the chance to save themselves. I actually didn’t mind that both tribes went to tribal council this time. Well done Survivor producers!

* Sandra’s bluntness has been cracking me up.

* Rupert’s blank stares and frank statements still drive me nuts.

* Even with a bum knee, James probably could beat me in a race. Both him and Jeff Probst’s niece.

* I like bananas, they are my favorite fruit.

That’s really about it because the whole episode was pretty much tribal council.

Let me know what you think!

Whose going to win out, Russell or Rob?

Did the Heroes do the right thing in voting out James?

How stupid do you think Tyson’s move was?

Will Baylor make it to the Final Four?


Until next time...

Survivor H/V: Week 5

Week 5:
No Chocalate + Focus = Blown Out Knee

I won’t even hide it... I’m sad to see Tom go. Unlike some people who get voted out early, he really fought hard the whole game. I think his million dollar win was a target that never quite got unstuck. Despite being, what seemed, still pretty strong in challenges, J.T. had to vote against him to earn some kind of trust back from his other tribe-mates. I’m curious to see if James, Rupert and Amanda will still hold that strong loyalty. All three of the aforementioned are followers when it comes to alliances, so J.T. will probably still be able to guide them with a leash. I don’t think it was a good move on their part, especially with James with such a bad injury. They did not have me fooled for an instant. I don’t care how strong James is, that vote was totally based on alliances. The Heroes are in deep trouble, and even if they started to win some challenges, it may not be enough to catch up with the Villains when a merge happens. I think the Heroes know that, so they are starting to prepare now.

Some thoughts...

* Another brutal reward challenge. I’m seeing a trend. Reward challenge: physical. Immunity challenge: some physical and puzzle. If this keeps up, the Heroes will never win.

* Wow, Jerri took a shot to the face. Rupert did try to help her up, but I don’t think Jerri will ever forget that move. As soon as a merge happens, I bet she guns after Rupert. Colby will be thanking Rupert later.

* James’ injury was hard to watch, especially when he got back up to walk. It was clear that the Heroes were going to loose when he went down. I don’t think it was the lack of numbers that caused them to loose, but you could see the momentum just drift away from their “no chocolate” imitation strategy.

* Speaking of, I was ready to see Jeff and Colby throw down! I love how Jeff doesn’t back down from anybody.

* You know Russell was going to find that idol. Now I’m changing my thinking about him now being a “marked man.” That was really stupid for the others not to look for that thing. He really does hold the power, and like I said last week, if they vote for him, Boston Rob may be gone. So what if he’s a marked man?

* I have to admit to something. I actually stood up for Coach. Yes, and I was proven wrong immediately. When Russell started talking about bringing Coach into his alliance with Parvati, I thought, “No way! Coach is way too loyal to everybody else. Plus, Russell clearly didn’t join in the group yoga session.” I should’ve known better because Coach now has a bigger man crush on Russell and even bowed down to him. Like Russell needed another ego boast. Watch out for these three because if a merge happens, they will quickly grab J.T., Candace or Colby.

* As for the immunity challenge, it was just sad to see the Heroes loose like that... AGAIN! If I were at camp, I would constantly be creating puzzles for everybody just so they could be somewhat prepared. And as much as I hate to admit it, James did a great job “calling” out to everybody.

* Finally, I’m glad Tom called James out on his “strategy.” Somebody finally needed to do it. I’ve never quickly changed my opinion on a player like I have James this season. He really does seem to be a completely different person.

As you probably noticed, the NCAA tournament knocked a new episode from being aired this week. Don’t forget that the next one is this coming WEDNESDAY.

Sic’ em!

#89: The Sixth Sense (1999)

Forget everything you know about M. Night Shyamalan films and the twist endings you’ve come to expect from both his films and those who quickly followed, and I think The Sixth Sense still stands out as one of the best films to come out of the 90’s. As big of an impact that the film had on pop culture, I think that the elements that everybody noticed actually take a back seat to the suspense, storytelling, acting and tone.

Bruce Willis plays Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a noted child psychologist, who tries to solve a case with Cole (Haley Joel Osment) that reminds him of a prior patient that he was unable to “cure.” To say Cole is troubled is an understatement as Dr. Crowe tries to figure out what makes Cole so special and troubled, while trying to fix his own problems at home.

I’ve always admired the horror in this film. I’ve never been scared by the gore and torture porn of today’s current movies, but the psychological strings that Shyamalan pulls are fine-tuned and so calculated that your fear causes you to watch more instead of looking the other way. I love that plot and imagery play tricks on you versus fast cuts and brutal violence. The Sixth Sense preys on your nightmares, not on visuals.

I’ve seen this film several times, and what really struck me this time was the acting. Toni Collette’s performance as Cole’s mom should be studied on how to play a perfect supporting role. Furthermore, without the performance of Osment, this movie would’ve been dead in the water. Try to think of another child actor in his spot and I think the film could’ve come across as laughable. They both highly deserve their Oscar nominations for supporting roles and think that Shyamalan hasn’t found the same acting magic in his other films. The last scene between the two characters may be one of my favorite written scenes in film based on its impact and how it ties everything together.

Yes, watching this film multiple times will cause you to see some things that are spelled out to you a little bit too much (a close up of a prescription pills that have the label “anti-depressant” for Dr. Crowe’s wife), but this film is as close as to Hitchcock’s legacy as one can get. It’s entertaining, thought-provoking, suspenseful and most importantly, original. I envy those who get to experience it for the first time, but I think even more so for those who take it in more than once.

I give The Sixth Sense 5 out of 5 broken thermometers.

Survivor H/V: Week 4

Week 4: This is my tribe, and I can cry if I want to


Our first blindside! I told you that it may be coming. Cirie has always been such a strong strategic player, so it was sad to see her go in that respect. It’s always fun to see how she can twist people to think her way or how she smacks sense into them. Nobody has been aware of it, except for J.T. I know that although the vote happened for strategic purposes, I think it was the best vote for the tribe strategically. If they want to win challenges, Cirie probably wasn’t their biggest contributor. She did always play the role as the mother of the tribe, so from a gelling standpoint, I wonder how they will be affected.

Some thoughts...

* You know that when you are going to Tyson for comfort, something may be a little loose in the brain. Coach’s breakdown was hilarious and I love Tyson’s advice to him, “Get rid of the feather, don’t tell your stories, and do your yoga by yourself.”

* The slip and slide reward challenge was somewhat entertaining, but really was anybody’s game. I do love when it comes down to one last shot. I’ve personally enjoyed just the one immunity challenge.

* Could the producers be even more blunt in the immunity idol clue? Well, I think it worked because it was pretty entertaining to watch everybody scramble. The Heroes nearly killed each other while the Villains of all people, decided that anybody who goes for it is immediately a target.

* Even in a villains tribe, Russell is the only one who has to completely march to his own beat. You know, even if he finds it, he will have power. Even if everybody decides to vote for him with the idol, one of them is going home (Boston Rob perhaps?).

* The immunity challenge was really fast. It was over before I knew it. Once again, it was a incredibly close and I’m glad nobody fainted and passed out this time.

* I don’t know how to really sum up what happened next, but it’s pretty amazing that Tom and Colby are still alive in this game. It’s obvious that J.T. has all the power, so it will be interesting to see what happens when they all get back to camp. He’ll probably turn on his country charm and everybody will forgive him, but I can’t help but think if he’s playing too hard too fast.
Regardless, I think this will help with Parvati’s argument on the other side of camp, because her “ally” is now gone.

* We watched the episode on that Thursday night, so sorry if my recap isn’t as detailed. If I don’t write them right after I see them, sometimes I forget the funny parts.

Until next week!

Survivor H/V: Week 3

Week 3:
Nobody Here Is Honorable... Except For Me


I’m so glad that the villains had to loose somebody. Not because I hate them, but like I’ve always said, Survivor just gets boring when the tribes are lopsided. We didn’t see much of Randy and it was apparent why that was the case this episode. He just didn’t ever gel with anybody. He was even more miserable than he usually is. I know Parvati is the threat, but they did the right thing voting him out. He was the weakest and they cut him loose despite staying loyal to alliances (where the Heroes faltered last week). I think it’s a shame he left because he was an entertaining guy to watch, but strategy didn’t get him too far in Gabon and you could see that weakness in this season. Like Sugar, I don’t think as viewers we’ll miss him much.

Some thoughts...

* Hiding the machete... really Russell? I think he’s starting to grasp at air in this season. What made Russell good last season was that he was playing with alliances that weren't so apparent. Not so in this season and I think he is getting played big time by Parvati.

* Speaking of Parvati... isn’t it crazy how much she controls people in this game? Coach says he’s not being seduced by her, but at times it certainly looks like it. I still don’t expect her to go far. Not because she isn’t a good player, but I think she’ll be an easy vote for the rest because she’s won before.

* J.T. may be playing too hard too fast. His lie about Candace may come back to haunt him. He’s gotta realize that everybody eats out of the palm of his hand and that he only needs to lie when it comes to tribal council. He’s worrying too early.

* Candace may not have a leg to stand on. It seems as if she has no close friends at all. Unless somebody really screws up in a challenge, she may be the next to go.

* How great was that immunity challenge? I’ve never enjoyed a butt whopping like that one. I was cheering out loud the whole time.

* Although Tom isn’t quite in the same shape as he was in Palau, he certainly took Russell down fast.

* Love the Colby/Boston Rob match up. I wish that I looked as intense as Colby when I flexed.

* Is it honorable when you pose for 30 seconds when you cheated in a game? Coach... how I love to make fun of you.

* James... you have to chill out some. The bag throw at Randy was just unnecessary. Beating Randy was no accomplishment. It seems like fame has changed the ego of the once gentle giant. He may be in trouble if he ever stirs up too much tension at camp.

* Two people to watch out for in the Villains tribe... Tyson and Sandra. Tyson is playing very low key, so I expect him to amp it up the second half if he makes it that far. He could easily side with J.T. and some Heroes if it plays in his favor. Also, Sandra is perfectly playing that “as long as I’m not getting voted out,” card. That’s why she won, she flies under the radar but provides enough in camp not to be a target, so she’s not necessarily seen as undeserving.

* It was funny to see all those Villains all at once at tribal council. If they continue to go, it should get more and more entertaining.

* Discounting Stephanie, I’m loving the fact that the least favored favorites are going early. The strong are staying in which makes this season all that more exciting. I wonder when the blindsides will start occurring.

As always, let me know what you think!

Survivor H/V: Week 2

Week 2:

One Voice!

I’m so intrigued by this season, and kudos to the producers for splitting up the tribes the way they have. I think it’s so interesting that you have a heroes tribe that is every word in the sense, self-destructing. They have their camp together perfectly, but Probst isn’t too far off when he says that ego is getting in their way. These people are use to winning and when it doesn’t happen, things go haywire. It’s almost as if they are strategizing too much at this point instead of focusing on winning.

Then you have the Villains tribe who are so individualistic, the camp is in shambles, but when it’s time to compete and win, they do. Just from a viewer standpoint, I would love to see the Heros start winning some challenges, but it’s going to be a tough task.

It was sad to see Stephanie go. She’s now complete the life cycle of a Survivor. The first to be on the jury one season, the final another, and now the second one gone. She really became a scapegoat and it was hard to see such a strong female leave so early. This was not a good move solely from a challenge standpoint. They are really going to miss her as time goes by.

Some thoughts...

* Woah James... There’s a difference between leadership and being a bully. He sure had it out for Steph.

* I loved how Colby and Tom stood up for Steph at tribal council. Things aren’t looking to good for them right now.

* Watch out for Cirie and Candace. They could be very dangerous together, and as much as I wanted them to go with Tom, Colby and Steph, they were smarter to stick with the other group.

* What? An episode that didn’t highlight Russell? It felt a little strange didn’t it? But nice at the same time.

* I forgot about how good Boston Rob is at this game. Yes he is cocky and defines a Survivor villain, but I forgot how good he is at challenges. As chaotic as the Villains tribe is, at least they know how to appoint a leader.

I’m still loving this season. I’m thrilled every time I have a chance to watch it. Let me know what you think! I love the feedback!

Survivor H/V: Week 1

Week 1:
Shoulders, Toes, and Bras. Oh my!

I’m already hyped up for what seems like a great season. I loved this first episode. When I saw the first all-stars, it was different because it was first time that I had seen the show. This time around, I recognize everybody, which makes it a lot more fun.

We had some power issues, so our DVR didn’t record the last 30 minutes of the show after the immunity challenge, so we missed all of of that, but it quickly became apparent that Sugar was going to be the first victim. Really, no surprise there and I never really liked her the first time, so I’m okay with more competitive people being around.

What I like so far about this season is that the past winners aren’t immediately a direct target like they were in the All-Stars season. That may change as the season goes along, especially in the last final tribal council, but this time around it seems like everybody is starting fresh from scratch.

Here are my quick thoughts, and hopefully Boston Rob will be around after the next episode. He’s too entertaining not to have around!

* Awesome opening challenge. It couldn’t have played out better.

* It’s funny how easily it is to start rooting for the heroes. They really assembled a strong group with those guys.

* Coach owned Colby. Thus, there will be millions of parents naming their children Coach in the future.

* Bras are meant for support, but sometimes they can be hindering to your ultimate goal. How great was it that Sugar won that battle?

* Stephanie dislocates her shoulder, puts it back and doesn’t complain about it afterwards. This is why everybody loves her.

* People better watch out for J.T. I like the idea of Tom and him working together. It reminds me of when Tom aligned himself with Ian.

* Rupert is not looking good so far. That toe will catch up to him and so far it doesn’t look like he is making good connections within his tribe.

* I loved Russell last season, but two seasons in a row may be a little overkill. It’s like going to high school with the guy with little-man syndrome and then finding out he is sitting next to you in your first college class. A little bit of Russell goes a long way. I do like that he has more of a challenge this time around.

* I forgot how cool Colby is. He may be my man crush like Coach has a man crush for Boston Rob.

* If Boston Rob sticks around, him and Sandra could make a lethal combination. Although she’s not my favorite, I love how comfortable she is in her own skin.

* Also, watch out for Cirie. How do people overlook her every time?

* And for my final thought.... Coach + Jeri = Ewwwwwwww

Until next week!

#90: Swing Time (1936)

Oscar Winner:

Best Music, Original Song - “The Way You Look Tonight”

Any film history course will no doubt mention Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in its lectures. They are a genre unto themselves and probably have influenced everything from early musicals to today’s dance flicks. Even with this knowledge, I had never seen one of their films. That’s what I love about this list... it’s been forcing me to see films that I need to have under my belt to even consider myself a film guru.

To make up for his tardiness to his own wedding, Lucky Garnett (Astaire) travels with his best buddy, Pop, to New York to earn $25K to gain his future father-in-law’s trust in his ability to provide for his daughter. Along the way he stumbles into a perfect dancing partnership with Penny (Rogers). Together they take New York’s night club scene by storm, and as they draw closer together, both are put in situations that force them to choose between former loves or each other.

Although the plot doesn’t blow you away, Swing Time is pure entertainment through and through. It never takes itself too seriously and the comedy here is truly funny, and to my delight, very offbeat at times. Astaire and Rogers are amazing together, especially in the dance scenes. What I found surprising was how much Astaire stood out next to Rogers. Despite the fact that he’s a pretty normal looking guy (especially when he’s next to his beautiful dance partner), his charm and wit match that of George Clooney. There were several scenes that just feature him and you forget about Rogers completely, which truly shocked me.

Swing Time very much feels like its age, which is both a good and a bad thing. I could easily see much of the younger generation getting bored by this film. Not that it’s slow, but the humor and tone may be lost on them. If one doesn’t enjoy the classics, I would be hard pressed to convince them to watch this one. Originality doesn’t really seep from its scenes, but is nature is so light-hearted and fun, I don’t know how somebody could not enjoy it.

I’m really glad I got a chance to see the magic and chemistry that is Astaire and Rogers. So, next time I see Zac Efron dancing the hallways in High School Musical, I can be justified in scoffing at the screen.

I give Swing Time 3.5 out of 5 tailored pants.