Well, It's...Another Saturday Night and I Ain't Got Nobody...

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

After leaving work fairly early in the afternoon, I went home, made me some lunch (spaghetti with chicken, it was pretty damn good if I say so myself) and watched "Mr. Brooks" as the sun was setting. For those who aren't aware, this is the story of Mr. Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) who just won Man of the Year from the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce...but he has a terrible secret...he's a schizophrenic serial killer with a creepy William Hurt as his personal Jiminy Cricket. Well, because he's addicted to the rush from killing, he gets a little sloppy...and somebody catches him in the act (Dane Cook). He doesn't go to the cops though, he goes to Mr. Brooks...and wants to feel the rush. Meanwhile, Demi Moore is a detective investigating the murders. The fun times ensue...and it's a pretty creepy movie. I really liked it...which is a bold statement to make for a movie starring Kevin Costner over the last decade or so. He used to be hot stuff with movies like "The Untouchables", "Dances with Wolves", "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", "Bull Durham", etc. You know what, I'm just going to discuss this later as my list. Check out Mr. Brooks though.


Farewell Party - Last night was the going away party for my friend Nell. A grand time was had by all...and best of all, there was no drama at this party whatsoever...which is a MAJOR accomplishment. The past few times have been...well, awkward at best. I drove there with Bubbles and met up with other friends...including fellow blogger B, who I hadn't seen in a while. I did have a few drinks...but stayed for about three hours so I was good to drive home. Then I had a drunken text conversation with JJ, who just apologized via text message as I was writing this...creepy, right? No apology needed. We've all been there. Hell, the first time that I got drunk when I was 18...I wrote romantic poetry. Stop laughing!!! At least I didn't call her up at 3 AM to see "Wazzuuuuuup?" Good times!!! It's good to see a bunch of your buddies in one setting...especially when you've kinda grown apart and have busy schedules. We're all gonna miss you, Nell (not her real name...but her identity has been changed to protect the innocent)!!!


Navy Midshipmen - After waking up late...and actually falling back to sleep while watching Kansas beat Nebraska 76-39, I started watching the Notre Dame vs. Navy game. I was hoping this was going to be a good game...because going into it, Notre Dame had a 43-game winning streak against Navy. Roger Staubach was Navy's quarterback the last time they beat the Irish in 1963. It was the longest streak in NCAA football history. Notice I said WAS. In triple OT, the Midshipmen beat the Irish, 46-44. I didn't get to see the overtimes because of driving to work...but the second half was very impressive. I like the Irish and they're going through some hard times this year (record of 1-8 now) but I really like watching the Navy vs. Army game each year...because those guys impress me...and here's why:

• Football Practice is the easiest part of their day - Military training on top of learning football...oh yeah...and graduating with a real major like Engineering or Microbiology.
• Football is just another hobby...and they still do it well. These guys aren't playing to be in the NFL. They're playing for the love of the sport and competition, to represent the other men & women at the Naval Academy, and to test their merits against top schools.
• Everybody is an Antwone Fisher - Nearly every player or cadet in general has a story of overcoming adversity and giving 100% plus tax for their country. For example, senior running back Zerbin Singleton had a story involving a mother that died of a drug overdose when he was a kid, father who killed himself, still graduating top of his high school class, wanted to go to Navy but was hit by a drunk driver and broke his collarbone, so went to Georgia Tech for a year, didn't play, then went to Navy for three years, is graduating with a 3.2 GPA in Aerospace Engineering, and is going to be an astronaut. Everybody has a story like this. Selfless, determined, motivated, these are the future leaders and heroes of our nation. One day, you may be saluting to their quarterback as Captain Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada.
• Their style of play - They have played nine games...and their quarter back has thrown 66 passes all year. The Hawaii quarterbacks throw about 66 passes PER GAME, Navy only does seven or eight. Triple options, Wishbone formations, Maryland Isolations, cut blocks, straight up-in your face running. Try and stop us. The goat is probably a fitting logo because they'll just buck it up in their and make you stop them. There's a lot to be said for an upfront style like that. Old school football at it's finest. It was a great game of this historic matchup to watch. I'm a little peeved that I missed the overtimes...but I'll see it on Sportscenter when I get home. The Irish will come back though.

Sorry about that whole blurb about sports. I know that bugs a few of my loyal readers...but it's about so much more than sports that I just had to say it. By the way, the Eagles are going to beat the Cowboys tomorrow night. That is all I have to say...except my predicted score of Eagles 23, Cowboys 13.

Kevin Costner Movies

Medal Winners

Gold - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - Again, I'd just like to say...that this is MY list...and though many of you probably have other favorite Kevin Costner movies like "Field of Dreams" (great flick but not on my top three), you're also not me. A star studded cast including the Electric Company's own Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, James Remar, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and the voice of God himself, Alan Rickman. "Why a spoon, brother?" "It's dull you twit, it'll hurt more!" Priceless lines throughout...plus plot twists, fire, swordplay, damsels in distress, arrow shooting, Bryan Adams' score, witches, innuendo, drinking, being merry, prison escapes, all that you look for in movies. Oh...and it's even better to see it a second time as Mel Brooks' "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"!!!

Silver - The Untouchables (1987) - The Brian DePalma classic where Costner is Elliot Ness, Sean Connery is Jim Malone, Andy Garcia as Agent Stone, and Robert DeNiro is Al Capone. I've already delved a little bit into this movie before...but it's a great movie too. They're talking about the remake that should hit theatres in a few years...but it's going to be hard to hold a candle to this movie. Prohibition was never so awesome...

Bronze - Dances with Wolves (1990) - "I just pissed my pants...and there's not a damn thing anybody can do about it." Classic. The story of Lt. John Dunbar and his exile to a Civil War outpost in the American West, where he befriends the local tribe and as luck would have it, finds a hot caucasian woman among them named Stands with a Fist (Mary McDonnell). However, this is intolerable to the military, so this leads to conflict. Kevin Costner actually directed this movie...and did a great job with it. "Buffalo!" "Tatonka!!!"

Suggestion - JFK (1991) - Oliver Stone directs this masterpiece about a district attorney who investigates the JFK assassination...but finds there is much more than in the official records. Who's in the movie you ask? How about Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Michael Rooker, Joe Pesci, John Candy, Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau ("The Odd Couple"), Sissy Spacek, Laurie Metcalf, and Donald Sutherland (Kiefer's dad). The movie is long. I'm not going to lie. "Back...and to the left. Back...and to the left. Back.........and to the left. Back...and to the left. Back...and to the left." Hmm, apparently the head went back...and then to the left. I'M GONNA SEE THE GRASSY KNOLL IN LESS THAN A MONTH, Y'ALL!!! THE 6TH FLOOR MUSEUM TOO!!! WOO-HOO!!!

Flush It - The Postman (1997) - See, when you direct a movie like "Dances with Wolves" you can basically do whatever you want from then on...and Hollywood will sponsor you. Case in point, "The Postman" widely regarded as one of the worst big budget movies ever made. "Waterworld" is pretty close too...but he didn't direct that one...so it's not his fault, right? Plot: Post-apocalyptic America in 2013. What begins as a con game becomes one man's quest to rebuild civilization by resuming postal service. I know you're intrigued. Think Mad Max meets Pony Express. I haven't seen it but once...and that was enough...too much perhaps.

Future Watch - Swing Vote (2008) - In a remarkable turn-of-events, the result of the presidential election comes down to one man's vote. Costner is Bud Johnson...and apparently his vote matters (curious to see how that's brought up). Also starring is Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammar, Nathan Lane, George Lopez, Judge Reinhold (remember him?), and cameos by Willie Nelson, Arianna Huffington, and Richard Petty. God I hope it's a comedy. The New Daughter (2009) - A single father moves his two children to rural Illinois, only to watch his daughter exhibit increasingly strange behavior. Apparently, it's a horror movie...but with a sell like that, it sounds like Tuesday. We'll see. Why do I even mention it? Guess who the daughter is. Ivana Baquero. Still don't know who she is?

She's the little girl Ofelia from "Pan's Labyrinth." Have you seen that movie? It's an R-rated fairy tale with blood & guts and Nazi Spain and sexy Spanish subtitles and people sewing themselves back together and about 27% fantasy, the rest horrible gore and Spanish anger & vulgarity. Not what I was expecting with a name like Pan's Labyrinth. I was expecting David Bowie and CGI dwarves and stuff. It's an okay movie and all...but don't take the kids to see it. Hell, leave the teenagers at home too. Just trust me.

Anyway, that's enough for tonight. I've got work to do. Have a great Saturday night!!!