It's been a very long time since I've walked into a movie theater and come out thinking I'd seen a truly great movie. The truth is, I just don't go to very many movies in theaters anymore. The ticket prices are ridiculous, the concession prices are outrageous and one of the great rip-offs that American consumers allow of themselves. We actually pay the same price for a cup of soda that you pay to buy a twelve pack in Walmart. And what do I get for all that? Inconsiderate people who talk during the movie or fail to turn their cell phones off. Some kid who invariably sits behind me and kicks the back of my seat for the whole film. Coming attractions for eight movies that I have no interest in seeing, not to mention the commercials. Sheesh, I'd rather stay home and wait for the release of the DVD.
I suppose the last truly great movie I saw in a theater was "Lord of the Rings--The Return of the King", but really, that was only part three of one nine hour-long extravaganza that I had to wait several years to see in full. I don't think that film won the Academy Award for its own self, but really for the entire trilogy.
No, the last truly great movie I saw in a theater that wasn't part of a trilogy had to have been "American Beauty", which I believe is one of the best, if not the best, satire of American manners and morality that has ever been made. And, of course, I saw that movie way back in the year 2K. It's been a long time.
Now, I was looking forward to seeing "The Dark Knight", the sequel to "Batman Begins." I thought "Batman Begins" was excellent, and had totally re-invigorated the Batman franchise. Christopher Nolan, its director, had made one of the true classics of the last ten years, "Memento", which I have seen several times on DVD. Christian Bale was excellent in the roles of Batman/Bruce Wayne. And, of course, like everyone else, I had read a great deal about Heath Ledger, and his performance as The Joker.
I expected a good movie, perhaps even an excellent movie. I wasn't expecting a great movie, but that's what I got. The story is fascinating (I have no intention of telling it here, go see it for yourself), the cinematography, art design, and set design are all wonderful, creating a Gotham City that for once looks like a very real place. There is action, excitement, tension, mystery, and humor. The acting is superb, starting with Bale and ending with Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, both excellent in small roles. Aaron Eckhardt is remarkably complex and fascinating as Harvey Dent, avoiding becoming a stereotype. Gary Oldman, one of the best actors in films today, was superb as Lieutenant-soon-to-become-Commissioner Gordon. Again, Oldman played a complex, interesting character, and not at all a stereotype.
Despite all that, this is Heath Ledger's film, pure and simple. I've never been all that impressed with Heath Ledger, including what was widely perceived as his break-out role in "Brokeback Mountain." And, considering the tragic circumstances of his recent death, it would be easy for his performance to be the subject of hype. But Ledger is simply amazing, one of the best performances ever in an American film, and the best performance of a villain since the very first time Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lector in "Silence of the Lambs." Ledger's Joker is not a cartoon clown, like Cesar Romero in the old Batman TV show (which I watched religiously as a kid), or a ludicrous freak, like Jack Nicholson in the Tim Burton film. This Joker is real, and complex, and totally evil. Every line, every mannerism, every tick by Ledger is absolutely perfect and just right. He completely nails the part, and he totally dominates the screen. You can't take your eyes off him. He is simply incredible, and he deserves every posthumous award he is sure to get.
I don't think I'm being a fanboy by saying "The Dark Knight" is the best comic book movie ever made. It is truly that great, and Heath Ledger's outstanding performance is one for the ages. But don't take my word for it, see it yourself. And see it in a theater, because for once, the outrageous cost more than makes up for itself with the dynamic sound and the big screen. The two and a half hours seemed to fly by, and I didn't even notice the little creep behind me kicking the back of my seat during the movie. I may even see it again---before it gets released on DVD. And that's truly saying something.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
What a difference a couple of weeks make
ITEM ONE: POKER
As my last post documented, two weeks ago I was in Las Vegas and out of four poker tournaments played, I made the final table in none of them. This past week, I made it out to my favorite local Indian casino, and played in poker tournaments on Wednesday and Friday nights. Amazingly, I made the final table both times. Wednesday night I finished 7th, and Friday night I finished 6th. Wednesday night's tournament was fairly small (43 players), while Friday night's was considerably bigger (100 players). So, what in the world happened, did I suddenly become a better poker player in the span of approximately a week and a half?
Hardly. As I stated in my last post, success in no limit tournaments is very much dependent upon luck and good play. Skill will give you the ability to make the final table, but only the addition of luck can guarantee that you get there.
To illustrate, let me talk about Friday night's tournament, since my performance that night has to rank among my best of all time. Never once during the entire tournament did I get a high pocket pair, not even one time. No aces, kings, queens, or jacks, not even once. I got pocket tens three different times, Big Slick (AK) twice, and AQ once, which just happened to be the hand that I was eliminated with. I found myself bluffing confidently a couple of times, forcing my opponent(s) to fold, and I got lucky three times.
The first lucky hand was after the first break. Til then, I had been getting killed. A couple of brutal bad beats forced me to re-buy, and I also took the add-on at the first break. I was getting nowhere fast. I looked down at pocket tens in late position, and I went all-in. Only one person called, and he showed AK, the dreaded Big Slick. The flop contained a beautiful ten, giving me a set (three of a kind). Turns out I need all three of them, as the turn contained an Ace, and the river was a King. How's that for some good luck for a change? Later, I got AK for the first time, and I re-raised one person at the table. The flop was K-Q-4. The other guy went all in, I called. He turned over AQ. Oops, wrong time for that one, pal. My AK held up, and I knocked him out.
Much later, we were down to about two full tables and it wasn't looking good for yours truly. I was being blinded out and I only had enough for one last blind. I looked down at KQ, which is a trap hand and can lose very easily to AK or AQ. I normally try to avoid the trap hands, but there wasn't much choice left. I had to make a move, or risk being blinded out for good. I went all in, there was one caller. He turned over A5. And, glory be, there on that beautiful flop, was a nice fat King. The King held up, and I had knocked another guy out.
Then, I went on a rush. I had pocket tens the next hand. Four guys had limped in, and the last hand had suddenly given me a decent stack. I went all in, and they all folded. The next hand I had AK suited, and there were two limpers in front of me. I went all in again, and they both folded again. Suddenly, in the space of three pots, I was the chip leader at my table, and it looked very good indeed to make it to the final table.
Much later, at the final table, there were seven of us left. I was one of the two small stacks, although at that point in the tournament, 30,000 chips is a small stack, which is basically what I had. I was under the gun, which means I was first to act after the blinds. I was looking for the best opportunity to get my chips in. I looked down at J8, not a good hand, but it had possibilities, and I really didn't have many other options. I went all in. Only the big blind (the other small stack at the table) called. He had pocket deuces. And I sucked out. I ended up with a straight. I didn't last much longer. The other small stack was knocked out next, when his pocket aces got cracked. And I was the next to go, when my AQ suited never connected with anything and lost to pocket eights.
I finished in sixth place, out of a hundred people. Pretty darn good, in my opinion, especially considering the crap cards I got for most of the tournament. A nice tonic after the bitter disappointment of Vegas.
ITEM TWO: BASEBALL
Several posts ago, I was highly critical of the Mets after they had fired Willie Randolph and seemed to be floundering. Then, a funny thing happened. The atmosphere and mood of the team changed under Jerry Manuel. Carlos Delgado suddenly remembered how to hit, Jose Reyes started being a table-setter again, and the Mets went on a nine game winning streak right before the All Star Break. They are currently in first place, a game ahead of Philadelphia, and playing much better.
And the Diamondbacks? After a red-hot April, they sucked in May, June and the first part of July. They were still in first place at the All Star Break, but they had a sub-.500 record. As of this morning, they are still clinging to first place after sweeping the Giants on the road over the weekend. The Dodgers are holding fast, just a game behind, having also swept a weekend series (against Washington). The D'backs are playing much better, and they got some much-needed bullpen help, getting John Rauch in a trade with Washington. Still, the Dodgers are not going away, and it won't be easy holding them off.
Wow, both my teams in first place in their divisions in late July, both by only a single game. The pennant race in both divisions should be outstanding, and I'm looking forward to it. Let's go, Mets!! Let's go, D'backs!! I want to see you guys playing each other in the NLCS this year!!
As my last post documented, two weeks ago I was in Las Vegas and out of four poker tournaments played, I made the final table in none of them. This past week, I made it out to my favorite local Indian casino, and played in poker tournaments on Wednesday and Friday nights. Amazingly, I made the final table both times. Wednesday night I finished 7th, and Friday night I finished 6th. Wednesday night's tournament was fairly small (43 players), while Friday night's was considerably bigger (100 players). So, what in the world happened, did I suddenly become a better poker player in the span of approximately a week and a half?
Hardly. As I stated in my last post, success in no limit tournaments is very much dependent upon luck and good play. Skill will give you the ability to make the final table, but only the addition of luck can guarantee that you get there.
To illustrate, let me talk about Friday night's tournament, since my performance that night has to rank among my best of all time. Never once during the entire tournament did I get a high pocket pair, not even one time. No aces, kings, queens, or jacks, not even once. I got pocket tens three different times, Big Slick (AK) twice, and AQ once, which just happened to be the hand that I was eliminated with. I found myself bluffing confidently a couple of times, forcing my opponent(s) to fold, and I got lucky three times.
The first lucky hand was after the first break. Til then, I had been getting killed. A couple of brutal bad beats forced me to re-buy, and I also took the add-on at the first break. I was getting nowhere fast. I looked down at pocket tens in late position, and I went all-in. Only one person called, and he showed AK, the dreaded Big Slick. The flop contained a beautiful ten, giving me a set (three of a kind). Turns out I need all three of them, as the turn contained an Ace, and the river was a King. How's that for some good luck for a change? Later, I got AK for the first time, and I re-raised one person at the table. The flop was K-Q-4. The other guy went all in, I called. He turned over AQ. Oops, wrong time for that one, pal. My AK held up, and I knocked him out.
Much later, we were down to about two full tables and it wasn't looking good for yours truly. I was being blinded out and I only had enough for one last blind. I looked down at KQ, which is a trap hand and can lose very easily to AK or AQ. I normally try to avoid the trap hands, but there wasn't much choice left. I had to make a move, or risk being blinded out for good. I went all in, there was one caller. He turned over A5. And, glory be, there on that beautiful flop, was a nice fat King. The King held up, and I had knocked another guy out.
Then, I went on a rush. I had pocket tens the next hand. Four guys had limped in, and the last hand had suddenly given me a decent stack. I went all in, and they all folded. The next hand I had AK suited, and there were two limpers in front of me. I went all in again, and they both folded again. Suddenly, in the space of three pots, I was the chip leader at my table, and it looked very good indeed to make it to the final table.
Much later, at the final table, there were seven of us left. I was one of the two small stacks, although at that point in the tournament, 30,000 chips is a small stack, which is basically what I had. I was under the gun, which means I was first to act after the blinds. I was looking for the best opportunity to get my chips in. I looked down at J8, not a good hand, but it had possibilities, and I really didn't have many other options. I went all in. Only the big blind (the other small stack at the table) called. He had pocket deuces. And I sucked out. I ended up with a straight. I didn't last much longer. The other small stack was knocked out next, when his pocket aces got cracked. And I was the next to go, when my AQ suited never connected with anything and lost to pocket eights.
I finished in sixth place, out of a hundred people. Pretty darn good, in my opinion, especially considering the crap cards I got for most of the tournament. A nice tonic after the bitter disappointment of Vegas.
ITEM TWO: BASEBALL
Several posts ago, I was highly critical of the Mets after they had fired Willie Randolph and seemed to be floundering. Then, a funny thing happened. The atmosphere and mood of the team changed under Jerry Manuel. Carlos Delgado suddenly remembered how to hit, Jose Reyes started being a table-setter again, and the Mets went on a nine game winning streak right before the All Star Break. They are currently in first place, a game ahead of Philadelphia, and playing much better.
And the Diamondbacks? After a red-hot April, they sucked in May, June and the first part of July. They were still in first place at the All Star Break, but they had a sub-.500 record. As of this morning, they are still clinging to first place after sweeping the Giants on the road over the weekend. The Dodgers are holding fast, just a game behind, having also swept a weekend series (against Washington). The D'backs are playing much better, and they got some much-needed bullpen help, getting John Rauch in a trade with Washington. Still, the Dodgers are not going away, and it won't be easy holding them off.
Wow, both my teams in first place in their divisions in late July, both by only a single game. The pennant race in both divisions should be outstanding, and I'm looking forward to it. Let's go, Mets!! Let's go, D'backs!! I want to see you guys playing each other in the NLCS this year!!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Perils of Tournament Poker
As I am writing this post, they are playing out the Main Event of the World Series of Poker at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. There are 37 players left, with nary a big name among them. All those guys like Hellmuth, Negreanu, Annie Duke, and all the rest are long gone. And, although I was in Vegas this weekend, my name is not there, either. I will have to wait at least one more year to get back to the WSOP.
I did manage to play in four tournaments this weekend, two each at the Sahara and the Stratosphere. It was not a good weekend for me, poker-wise, and it's all because of bad luck and bad beats. You see, you can have all the skills and poker knowledge in the world (not that I profess to have either), and it won't do a damn bit of good in a tournament if you don't have good luck and avoid bad beats.
Here's where the luck part comes in. Yesterday afternoon, I was playing in a tournament at the Stratosphere. 62 players started, and there were about 24 left. They were paying only the top six positions, and there was a way to go. So far, I had been holding my own with careful and strategic play, and a few calculated bluffs. But as far as cards, I had been getting squat. No big pairs, no top hands, and I was starting to get blinded out. Finally, I looked down at pocket kings, the best starting hand I had seen all day. One guy in front of me raised twice the big blind. I re-raised two thousand more. This particular guy had just recently gone all in with a stone cold bluff, 2-7 offsuit, and had made sure to show us and rub our noses in it. I thought he probably had a decent hand, but I still thought I had him beat. He re-raised me all in, and I called. I turned over my kings, and he turned over pocket aces. I couldn't believe it. The whole tournament I'm getting squah-doosh, I finally get a top pair like pocket kings, and this numbnuts has aces. Of course, the aces held up and I was knocked out, thoroughly and completely disgusted.
In fact, I was so thoroughly disgusted that I waited a whole three hours later to play in my next tournament, this time at the Sahara. Every time I'm in Vegas I like to play in the tournament at the Sahara. The buy in is cheap, they usually have about 15 tables for each tournament, and the competition is very good. It's an excellent test of my abilities, and I have probably played about ten tournaments there. I have gone deep in most of them, and the closest I got to the final table was finishing twelfth one time, but I have never made the final table. Last night was no exception.
For the first three hours I was doing well, and I got to the second break with the biggest chip stack at my table. And then I went card dead, which means I had terrible starting hands. I couldn't even bluff, since every pot was raised and the table was full of rocks, who usually had quality starting hands. My stack was going down, and I was in danger of being blinded out.
Finally, I was in middle position with pocket tens. I did a standard three times the big blind raise. Everyone folded except the big blind. He went all in, and I called. I had him covered by three thousand chips, and he turned over pocket eights. It looked I was going to double up my chip stack. Unfortunately, this is where the bad beat thing reared its ugly head. The flop was inconsequential, and the turn was a bust. And then came the river, a big fat eight, giving this jerk-head a set of eights, and pretty much putting me on the rail. A brutal, stinking bad beat, and I was just about gone. I went all in the next hand with AJ, and it looked pretty good when the flop showed jack high, but a queen on the river knocked me out, and I was done. Disgusting.
And that, my friends, pretty much sums up the perils of tournament poker. You have no control over the cards, and the best hand sometimes loses. Anyone who says luck doesn't play a part in tournament poker has never had pocket tens beaten by pocket eights. If you're going to win a tournament, you must play with skill, make the right decisions, have a bit of luck, and your good hands must hold up to win. If you don't have all of those, you're not going to win, whether your name is Phil Hellmuth or Brucefan is Back.
I did manage to play in four tournaments this weekend, two each at the Sahara and the Stratosphere. It was not a good weekend for me, poker-wise, and it's all because of bad luck and bad beats. You see, you can have all the skills and poker knowledge in the world (not that I profess to have either), and it won't do a damn bit of good in a tournament if you don't have good luck and avoid bad beats.
Here's where the luck part comes in. Yesterday afternoon, I was playing in a tournament at the Stratosphere. 62 players started, and there were about 24 left. They were paying only the top six positions, and there was a way to go. So far, I had been holding my own with careful and strategic play, and a few calculated bluffs. But as far as cards, I had been getting squat. No big pairs, no top hands, and I was starting to get blinded out. Finally, I looked down at pocket kings, the best starting hand I had seen all day. One guy in front of me raised twice the big blind. I re-raised two thousand more. This particular guy had just recently gone all in with a stone cold bluff, 2-7 offsuit, and had made sure to show us and rub our noses in it. I thought he probably had a decent hand, but I still thought I had him beat. He re-raised me all in, and I called. I turned over my kings, and he turned over pocket aces. I couldn't believe it. The whole tournament I'm getting squah-doosh, I finally get a top pair like pocket kings, and this numbnuts has aces. Of course, the aces held up and I was knocked out, thoroughly and completely disgusted.
In fact, I was so thoroughly disgusted that I waited a whole three hours later to play in my next tournament, this time at the Sahara. Every time I'm in Vegas I like to play in the tournament at the Sahara. The buy in is cheap, they usually have about 15 tables for each tournament, and the competition is very good. It's an excellent test of my abilities, and I have probably played about ten tournaments there. I have gone deep in most of them, and the closest I got to the final table was finishing twelfth one time, but I have never made the final table. Last night was no exception.
For the first three hours I was doing well, and I got to the second break with the biggest chip stack at my table. And then I went card dead, which means I had terrible starting hands. I couldn't even bluff, since every pot was raised and the table was full of rocks, who usually had quality starting hands. My stack was going down, and I was in danger of being blinded out.
Finally, I was in middle position with pocket tens. I did a standard three times the big blind raise. Everyone folded except the big blind. He went all in, and I called. I had him covered by three thousand chips, and he turned over pocket eights. It looked I was going to double up my chip stack. Unfortunately, this is where the bad beat thing reared its ugly head. The flop was inconsequential, and the turn was a bust. And then came the river, a big fat eight, giving this jerk-head a set of eights, and pretty much putting me on the rail. A brutal, stinking bad beat, and I was just about gone. I went all in the next hand with AJ, and it looked pretty good when the flop showed jack high, but a queen on the river knocked me out, and I was done. Disgusting.
And that, my friends, pretty much sums up the perils of tournament poker. You have no control over the cards, and the best hand sometimes loses. Anyone who says luck doesn't play a part in tournament poker has never had pocket tens beaten by pocket eights. If you're going to win a tournament, you must play with skill, make the right decisions, have a bit of luck, and your good hands must hold up to win. If you don't have all of those, you're not going to win, whether your name is Phil Hellmuth or Brucefan is Back.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
What's wrong with people?
Yesterday, I read online about the guy in suburban Rochester, NY who after playing a somewhat contentious softball game replete with alleged trash-talking, cold-cocked one of the opposing players in the back of the head as the two teams lined up to shake hands after the game. The report went on to say that the victim later died of those injuries. The suspect had fled the scene, but was eventually caught. It was later determined that the suspect had a felony criminal history and had served a four year prison term from 2003 to 2007.
I found the report disturbing for many reasons. First off, I'm no stranger to violent crime, as I have been a practicing attorney specializing in criminal defense for the last twenty-two years. Nevertheless, this particular crime, under these particular circumstances, seems to me to be just a little more reprehensible than most.
What could the victim possibly have said during the trash-talking that would warrant such an act of violence? Was it worth taking the man's life? I don't know if the victim had a wife or kids (the report I read made no mention of it), but I'm pretty sure he left behind some family that will be devestated by this for the rest of their lives. And the suspect undoubtedly has some family or relatives that love him who will now endure the pain of watching their loved one vilified, referred to by the media as some sort of monster, and prosecuted for this venal, horrific act. And for what? Some comment that the victim may have said that insulted the manhood of the other guy? Whatever happened to that old mantra, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me?"
And what a cowardly, ugly way to exact revenge. The guy waits until the teams are lined up to shake hands at the end of the game, an act of good sportsmanship that is as traditional and revered as the games themselves. It's a time to put all the intensity and conflict of the game itself aside, and participate in the good feeling of sportsmanship. To pick that particular time to hit the victim is horrific enough, but to cold-cock the guy from behind in the back of the head, when he has no idea what's coming and is unable to defend himself is simply reprehensible.
What in the world would push someone to do something so venal, cowardly, and senseless? Is this who we are as a society? Is it always so necessary to be right, to exact a measure of revenge if someone insults your manhood or trash talks you in some other way? Frankly, I find the whole episode disgusting. And if this is indicative of what we are as a society, then I fear for us.
I found the report disturbing for many reasons. First off, I'm no stranger to violent crime, as I have been a practicing attorney specializing in criminal defense for the last twenty-two years. Nevertheless, this particular crime, under these particular circumstances, seems to me to be just a little more reprehensible than most.
What could the victim possibly have said during the trash-talking that would warrant such an act of violence? Was it worth taking the man's life? I don't know if the victim had a wife or kids (the report I read made no mention of it), but I'm pretty sure he left behind some family that will be devestated by this for the rest of their lives. And the suspect undoubtedly has some family or relatives that love him who will now endure the pain of watching their loved one vilified, referred to by the media as some sort of monster, and prosecuted for this venal, horrific act. And for what? Some comment that the victim may have said that insulted the manhood of the other guy? Whatever happened to that old mantra, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me?"
And what a cowardly, ugly way to exact revenge. The guy waits until the teams are lined up to shake hands at the end of the game, an act of good sportsmanship that is as traditional and revered as the games themselves. It's a time to put all the intensity and conflict of the game itself aside, and participate in the good feeling of sportsmanship. To pick that particular time to hit the victim is horrific enough, but to cold-cock the guy from behind in the back of the head, when he has no idea what's coming and is unable to defend himself is simply reprehensible.
What in the world would push someone to do something so venal, cowardly, and senseless? Is this who we are as a society? Is it always so necessary to be right, to exact a measure of revenge if someone insults your manhood or trash talks you in some other way? Frankly, I find the whole episode disgusting. And if this is indicative of what we are as a society, then I fear for us.
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