Edgy MD

Not that I believe in the notion of "meaningful games," but if there is such a thing, Anderson Hernandez didn't get into too many of them, arriving after the first week of August.

Them's some headscratchers.

He's probably one of the brats who ruined the MOFo.

Nelson is a prisoner of a minority-ruled racist state. As the ruling party's power and authority wanes, they wise up, release him, and yield to democratic rule. Nelson is elected president, but has to find a way to unify the bitterly divided country. The answer is... rugby! Should I go this weekend?

Boo.

That kid really has no reference points before 1999?

I guess a spacious outfield does make a ballhawk like Endy a more valuable asset.

Brief summary, anyhow. I found it moving, but it seemed to be aimed squarely at believers rather than doubters, making sure they hit a lot of expected notes --- Mary is given a blue wrap by her parents when she's about to ride off to Bethlehem, the introduction of each character is underscored by stating his or her name at the first opportunity, stuff like that. They even have the magi bearing the names we traditionally refer to them by, even though neither the names nor the number appear in scripture. Also, the score comes from a lot of variations on Christmas Carols --- the variations disguised enough that you don't recognize them instantly, but like a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, you appreciate the craftsmanship while rolling your eyes a little at the heavy-handedness. The other big influence seems to be Lord of the Rings --- as Herod's and Ceasar's troops come rolling into town as shadowy figures on impossibly muscular horses, beautiful, horrible, and indomitable. They are slowed down just enough to make clear how hopeless existence is for the meek in a world where such a power reigns. Cieran Hinds chews scenery as Herod, and he seems to be hired only because Christopher Lee was busy. Can't say I didn't cry a tear or two, because I did, alright?

Mary conceives. Herod not happy.

What the fuck? I pulled the plug. Did anybody die making this film?

That's not particularly hard for me to believe. It's your tools that get you to A-Ball, but it's your bat, your bat, your bat that gets you to the bigs.

Even all drapey?

Yeah, I should have mentioned how well the birds come through as individual characters.

Forgive me, as I sympathetically reject the notch on the grounds of its artificial character, but how does the notch threaten people's health?

I seem to remember the Bucket liking Royal Tennebaums under another handle back in the day.

Yeah. (Sperlers coming.) How does a guy end a multi-state killing spree with an act of shocking vigilantism and draw the attention and multiple visits from out-of-state mobsters before killing said mobsters and then getting a call from a rival gang from out of state who he goes to visit and splatter, while the only law involved is the fat genial sherrif saying, "Consarn it, something here doesn't add up."? I expect that sort of hands-off silliness in, say, Gremlins. In this, I would think there'd be 100 FBI officers crawling around town. Plus, Viggo. With that big fucking chin... how are you expecting to go underground and pretend you're somebody else, lying right to your old associates' faces?

Damien Magnifico "If someone met me on a game day, he wouldn't like me. The days in between, I'm the goodest guy you can find." -- Roger Clemens 17 minutes ago � Comment �LikeUnlike Edgy DC Bull. about a minute ago �

History of Violence --- I mean it's all cool when a freak like Bill Hurt gets to play a mobster, but there are huge swaths of this that make no sense.

Anyhow, even though I chose this, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Enjoyed it from the opening scene, in which our harmless square peg of a protagonist patiently explains his relationship to the flock to a crowd of insuffereable San Franciscans. You tend to keep your guard up against him --- a jobless failed musician drifter friend of nature. But it becomes clear soon enough that he's on the level, and his stewardship of the flock is responsible and honorable and not some sort Californian self-glorifying eccentricity. But there's a strange parallel --- they're wild birds, but non native, like him (he drifted down from Oregon), and subject to a naturalist criticism. And, like the birds, he's simultaneously fending for himself and depending on the kindness of others. Like the parrots in the flock that have been bred in the wild (against the odds), he may need a little kick to get out of the nest, despite the hawks circling overhead. In the end, he confesses that he's as cynical as the rest of us, but will testify to the meaningfulness of his relationship to the flock despite knowing how stupid it makes him sound. Four stars out of five from me. Beautiful bunch of birds.

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Boob Klapisch wrote: who other than Jose Reyes actually can take turn doubles into triples? David Wright. Carlos Beltran, if he stays healthy. Angel Pagan. Possibly FMart, if he sticks with the big club. Add Anderson Hernandez and Alex Cora and plenty of guys we've yet to meet. Re-engineering the ballpark to suit the current makeup of the team is the kind on narrow-minded shortsigned, self-centered approach I can only think of as Steinbrennerian. It's malfecant!

I can go for standardizing the height.

ADVENTURELAND UP THE SOLOIST I LOVE YOU, MAN

A documentary that follows a flock of wild parrots --- some escapees, some throwaways, and some natively hatched --- living in San Francisco, and the eccentric who looks after them.

My wife is more of a re-renter than I am, and we just saw this again. Please be reassured that this is still a wonderful film. Turned out McCarthy was also used as a writer on Up. Disney buys up the talent like the Yankees.

Yeah, I figured Ashie was overstating it. I expected it was loaded with allegory about our imperialist selves. Still not particularly interested.