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Thursday, 8 November 2012

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Word of the day : stem-winder
                                                  : one that is first-rate of its kind ; especially, a stirring speech

Oh, the allergies!  South, you kill me!

Ah-choo, ah-choo... well, let's get to the new movie openings this weekend:

Skyfall    50 years of James Bond, ladies and gentleman, and this is supposed to be one of the all-time best.  I'm not sure people thought that Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) was the right man to helm it, but critics are unanimous: this is one terrific actioner.  Daniel Craig is back, as is Judi Dench, who is supposed to have more to do than ever, as M, and who can go wrong with Javier Bardem as the villain?  Albert Finney, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Rhys Ifans co-star, and Adele's theme song is supposed to be a knockout.  But I've never seen a James Bond movie and won't start now. 
Verdict: Not Interested 

 
Lincoln    Oscar nominations galore are waiting for Steven Spielberg's long, talky epic of one of the most famous Americans of all time: in the role, Daniel Day-Lewis (talking in a reedy voice) is supposed to be nothing less than spectacular.  Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln will surely be an Oscar front-runner, as will Tommy Lee Jones for his scene-stealing turn as Thaddeus Stevens, a radical anti-slavery Republican.  Tony Kushner's script doesn't focus on battles or much Civil War fighting as much as it does political maneuverings.  It's leisurely paced, which might turn off some viewers.  A large cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, David Strathairn, Lee Pace, Jared Harris, Tim Blake Nelson, John Hawkes, and Jackie Earle Haley.
Verdict: Very Interested 

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A prediction for tonight?  Well, I think the Jaguars are the worst team in the league - them or the Chiefs.  Talent-wise, I don't think they are very far behind the surprising 5-3 Colts, who are the shocker of the year and a possible playoff contender.  I think the Jags will come out tonight inspired and... still lose.  The Colts and Andrew Luck won't let themselves get swept by the lowly Jaguars.
Colts 24, Jaguars 17      

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A performance today for my list of the 500 Greatest Performances of All Time


Paul Newman
as Frank Galvin in The Verdict (1982) 

As a drunker lawyer scraping for redemption and confronted with one of the most challenging cases of his life - a medical malpractice suit - Paul Newman is absolutely flawless.  It's a pleasure just to listen to him talk.  Surrounded by a terrific cast - including James Mason's Oscar-nominated work as a cagey lawyer - Newman oozes desperation and smarts, and you just can't take your eyes off him.  The movie's never as good as you want it to be - but Newman is. 






Images courtesy of:

http://writlarge.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/verdict_1.jpg

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2012/11/06/lincoln-daniel-day-lewis.jpg

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