As I am typing this, the ESPYS are taking place. Of course, I am not watching them because I live on the West Coast, and we are getting them tape delayed. Either way, the All Star Break and the ESPYS give a break from the sports world for a few days to look back upon the year so far. So I decided to put together a list of the most memorable moments from the first half of 2016. These moments are from January 1st-June 30th. That means anything that has happened so far in July doesn't count. So there will be no mention of the MLB All Star Game or Kevin Durant leaving Oklahoma City to punish the ownership for stealing him away from Seattle. (That is really the reason he left ... he just hasn't said it yet.) Anyways, here is the list.
Honorable Mentions
Laremy Tunsil Draft Day
This was possibly the weirdest story of the year. Laremy Tunsil went from being a potential first pick in the NFL Draft to free falling down the board because of a leaked video, blackmail, and utter chaos.
Jordan Spieth Masters Collapse
Jordan Spieth is one of, if not the, best golfer in the world. However, he has had better days than Sunday at the 2016 Masters. Falling apart down the stretch cost him his second green jacket and handed little-known Danny Willett a win on a platter.
AFC Championship - Final Brady vs. Manning
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have faced off in countless classic battles. With Peyton Manning retiring, the AFC Championship was the last of these matchups.
10. Super Bowl 50 MVP Celebration
To celebrate the fiftieth Super Bowl, the NFL gathered every Super Bowl MVP ever for a special moment before the game. Seeing a walk through history was a marvelous way to celebrate such a milestone in the biggest sports spectacle in the world.
9. 'Bama Wins Again
Number ten on this list was the first event on this list to take place. The Crimson Tide won their 4th National Championship under Nick Saban with an unlikely team. In an era where passing has dominated the game, Alabama made their run this year with a Heisman Trophy winning running back. Their win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff Championship Game showed everyone why Nick Saban is on another level in college football.
8. Dustin Johnson Wins the US Open
No one knows heartbreak in the game of golf quite like Dustin Johnson. Since 2010, Johnson has given away several major opportunities. At Pebble Beach in 2010, Dustin Johnson entered the final round of the US Open with a big lead. He then shot an 82 and finished in 8th. Then in the 2010 PGA Championship, he broke a rule he didn't even know existed that gave him a two stroke penalty that knocked him out of a playoff. Then, just last year at the US Open, he 3-putted from 20 feet to lose to Jordan Spieth. Making the first putt would have won the whole thing. Making the second putt would have sent it to a playoff. Then comes this year. Just when it looks like Dustin Johnson is going to break through, it's announced that he might be slapped with another penalty after the round. However, nothing was stopping Johnson on this day as he won by three strokes (which turned out to be two strokes after the bogus penalty). However, it was great to see such a great player finally win the big one.
7. NBA Slam Dunk Contest
The Slam Dunk Contest has been the highlight of NBA All Star Weekend. However, it also has been getting fairly stale. It seems like every few years, you have seen just about everything you can see in a slam dunk. Then came this year. Zach Lavine won, but the battle between him and Aaron Gordon was an epic contest with excitement that the competition hasn't seen since Vince Carter.
6. OJ Simpson: Made in America
The most unique sports moment on this list came in the form of a 5 part documentary about the rise and fall of OJ Simpson. This fascinating look inside Simpson's playing career, popularity after football, personal life, murder trial, life after trial, and current prison sentence took the sports world by storm. Everyone was talking about it as his story is really unparalleled in how high he rose, how far he fell, and how public the whole ordeal was. It was by far the best of ESPN's documentary series, which is one of the few things ESPN is still good for.
5. Golden State wins 73 games.
The Golden State Warriors finished their season in historic fashion, finishing 73-9. This bested the Chicago Bulls top mark set during the reign of Michael Jordan. This would be much higher on the list if Golden State had finished if off with a championship (but there will be more on that later). Maybe they will do better next year with Kevin Durant taking his talents ... anywhere but OKC (okay, maybe that will be the last time I mention that).
4. Peyton Goes Out on Top
It was only appropriate that Super Bowl 50 be won by one of the best quarterbacks in league history in his final game. Peyton Manning may have played his worst season of his career (that even included him being benched for awhile), but when it came down to it, the Bronco defense allowed Peyton Manning to have the farewell he deserved. I may not have been rooting for him that day, but it doesn't mean it won't go down in history as one of the greatest moments in NFL history.
3. King James Wins One for Cleveland
What seemed impossible finally came true. Cleveland hadn't won a championship since the 60's. They had their shot when the hometown kid LeBron James was drafted by the Cavs, but then once again Cleveland's heart was broken when he took his talents to South Beach (much like Durant did to the poor, die-hard fans of all of 8 years in OKC). Then he came home, ready to save the city. He took them to the Finals in his first year back, but lost to the Warriors. Then he took them back to the Finals this season, only to be met by the Warriors once again. This time, the Warriors were coming off a record-setting, 73-win season. It didn't look good. Then, the Cavs went down 3-1. The Warriors hadn't lost two in a row all season. Then the Cavs beat them three in a row to win the championship. The pure joy exploding out of LeBron James following their Game 7 win was a career-defining highlight. Best stat of 2016: the regular season record holders for wins in all four major sports did not win the championship.
2. The Death of Muhammad Ali
I was too young to really understand the true significance Muhammad Ali had on culture, but anybody that follows sports in any way knows who he is and that he was a big deal. My first introduction to his greatness was at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta when he was picked out of all the potential candidates to light the Olympic torch. When he died earlier this year, the overall public outcry of love for the former Cassius Clay, I understood just how important he was. Only the special world icons get a live broadcast of their memorial service. Not only was his memorial service live on TV, he was eulogized by Billy Crystal and former President Bill Clinton. His life is one that will be remembered forever as he will always be the greatest of all time.
1. Buzzer Beater for the Title
March Madness is possibly the greatest sporting event every year. The excitement and unpredictability of every game in the bracket makes it the most must-see TV. Usually, all the craziness and chaos happens in the early rounds. However, this season had one of the best National Championship games in history. It was a perfect matchup. North Carolina is a program that always has some of the top talent in the country. Villanova is a program that rarely gets the top talent but instead builds up a team. North Carolina and Villanova battled back and forth all game. When Marcus Paige hit an off-balance three with under 10 seconds left to tie the game, everyone thought it would go down as one of the greatest shots in history as the game seemed destined for overtime. However, the game wasn't over. Only seconds later, Kris Jenkins sunk a miracle three at the buzzer to win the game in the most exciting finish in a championship game since NC State and Jim Valvano.
We can only hope the rest of 2016 is just as exciting!
With the release of the new animated film, The Secret Life of Pets, this week's Top Five will be about talking animals. There have been many awesome talking animals in films, so this list will have some notable characters missing. For me, animal characters need to have a few things to be considered great: good voice talent, good animation, and are they in a good story! They also need to be in feature films, so sorry Mickey Mouse. So let's get this list started like I usually do - with the honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions: Po - Kung Fu Panda, Marlin and Dory - Finding Nemo, Rango - Rango, Z - Ants, Dug - Up, Donkey -Shrek, Flick - A Bug's Life, Mufasa - The Lion King, Rocket - Guardians of the Galaxy
5.
Remy - Ratatouille
Ratatouille is one of those Pixar films that I feel gets overlooked at times. It's a great film that I have appreciated even more the last few times I have watched it. Remy is such a great character - he is trying to follow his dreams and not be what the world wants him to be. He is a great example of perseverance and patience. The very funny Patton Oswalt breathes his humor and humanity into Remy. He makes the character believable as well as relatable.
4.
Timon and Pumbaa - The Lion King
Hakuna Matata! I couldn't just put one of them on this list and not the other. I think that it's safe to say The Lion King is one of the best Disney films of all time. Timon and Pumbaa are a pair and best buddies that bring the humor and laughs to this already great and otherwise rather dark story. Imagine if they weren't in the film - how different it would have been. Crazy to think about. Let's go eat some bugs now - I heard they taste like chicken.
3.
Roger Rabbit - Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit was such an innovative film that showed that live action and animation can work together. Yes, Roger Rabbit might be annoying at times, but he shows the innocence and humor that people might have. I find him enjoyable and I really love this film a lot. Bob Hopkins did an amazing job interacting with Roger Rabbit.
2.
Baloo - The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book, like The Lion King, is arguably one of the best Disney films of all time. Baloo, for me, makes The Jungle Book even better than it was already. He is a fun-loving, laid back type of bear, but as you see later on in the film, he has a protective side too. I loved the original version as well as the version of him this year.
1.
Kermit the Frog - The Muppets films
Kermit the Frog is my favorite talking animal in films. I grew up with the Muppets and will have my daughter watch them too! The Muppets have so many great and timeless characters. Kermit, the leader of the Muppets, has moments of craziness but still has a relatable charm to him. Every time I think of him, I always picture him sitting on a log, singing "Rainbow Connection". He will always be my favorite talking animal, and will be in the conversation for best movie character too. Team Kermit!
That's my list! What's on your list!
See you next week, when I give you my list for Top Five movie ghost.
This is the commencement of the annual Purge…review. James DeMonaco’s
low budget horror franchise is potentially the most unique and indispensible
franchise in the industry right now. If you are not familiar with the films, it
is about a not-too-distant future America where once a year there is a 12 hour
period where all crime, including murder, is legal. The ideas have all come
directly from the mind of DeMonaco, a director whose only previous credit was a
comedy mob movie called Staten Island.
While I am not completely satisfied with these movies, I still hotly anticipate
the release of each of them because the depth and storytelling are more
intriguing than anything else released in the summer in the US.
Election Year takes place a
couple years after Anarchy, the
second film in the franchise which followed Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), a former
policeman looking for revenge on the men who killed his son during a Purge.
Barnes is now a government agent tasked with protecting Presidential candidate
Charlene Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), whose entire family was tortured and murdered
decades before in a Purge, leaving only Charlene to survive. She has been
winning over voters with her down-to-earth persona and anti-Purge campaign. On
the other hand, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) are fighting
tooth-and-nail to keep the office in the hands of their party to continue the
Purge and all of the financial benefits it brings. With the annual Purge coming
up right in the middle of the campaign trail, this creates an obvious chance
for supporters of both groups to take matters into their own hands, especially since
the NFFA decided that this year no person will be safe, no matter what his or
her government clearance is. What this develops into is a sort of sadistic
action movie in which both candidates are targeted by guerrilla groups in order
to take out the competition and help their party. These groups include the underground
assassination anti-Purge team established in Anarchy and a group of Neo-Nazi militia hired by the NFFA. The
setup is dreamlike, and for the most part, it works.
One of the chief differences between this film and the previous Purge movies is the tone. The original
is a classic low-budget slasher/home invasion movie, which does not really
deviate all that much from predecessors in that genre, but it was used mainly
as a way to establish this universe with its public service announcement
trailers seeing what is potentially possible if a Purge were to be legalized.
The second movie was more of a traditional action movie out in the streets, and
that only gave a glimpse of what this actually looks like to people who are not
blessed with high-end home security and how terrifying some people are when
they are truly free for a period of time. Election
Year has an almost comedic vibe to it. I mean, the movie is totally wild
and violent, with scenes involving torture, ritualistic killings, and absolutely
psychotic ideas. However, with how much more bizarre the filmmakers made the
setup, it would have just been way too dark if they didn’t throw in the
one-liners from Mykelti Williamson (Bubba from Forrest Gump), who plays an anti-Purge deli owner, and the overall
looniness of Edwidge Owens (Kyle Secor), who is a minister and the NFFA
candidate for President. He becomes a sort of Jordan Chase type character (Take It!),
relating to the primal instincts of humans and their need to purge out their
demons. So, basically this movie is a little too crazy for it to have just been
a horror movie. It comes off in a 10
Cloverfield Lane type of way in which the intensity is not lost with the
comedy, but a bit of its edge is, especially for a franchise which had
established an unrelenting style thus far.
Something that frustrated me that didn’t necessarily have to do with
the quality of the movie was how the Michael Kenneth Williams character did not return as the
leader of anti-Purge group. They essentially recast his role, but he has a
different name and it just wasn’t the same without Omar leading the way. He
would have made that part endlessly more badass and more likable. Another thing
that was a little off about the movie was its lack of subtlety in its social
commentary. The previous ones had definite parallels to our current world, but
this one takes it a bit too far. The subtlety of the first couple is what made
them really interesting, but in Election
Year, the Neo-Nazi leader of the assassination team tasked with killing
Senator Roan has a very distinguishable set of eyebrows that can only be
described as Trump-like, the NFFA has mid-Purge street-sweeping with a
disembodied voice saying something to the effect of “Make America clean again.”,
and there are public service announcements stating “I purge to keep my country
great.” I understand satire, but this is borderline propaganda. The message is
incredibly self-serving, but somehow that still doesn’t really take away from
the joy and thrill of watching the film. The cinematography is beautiful, and there
are a fair amount of surprises and original action sequences. The film was sort
of desperate to keep getting unarmed main characters out on the streets and
have lesser characters coming back into the fold by the film’s end, but there
is only so much DeMonaco can do to get his point across and keep making these
under $10 million slashers seem fresh. All of those characters are relatively
well cast and memorable.
So, should you see this movie? It depends. If you are a fan of Anarchy, then this is absolutely worth checking out. I can actually see this movie standing alone without needing to
be familiar with the first two. The films do a fairly decent job at bringing
the audience up to speed in the beginning, and almost all of the characters in Election Year are new to the franchise.
The movie is not nearly as squirmy as the original Purge and not as polished as Anarchy,
but it does appeal to the inner violence of the audience and keeps it
relatively tame with its biting humor and one-liners. It is pretty wild and
will still shock a lot of audiences, but I cannot help but feel a little let
down by the finished product. If they do decide to make another one, and the
final scene definitely leaves that door open, then I will still be first in
line, as long as DeMonaco is still at the helm.
With the recent release of the BFG, today's Top Five list goes to , Mr. Steven Spielberg! One of the greatest directors of our generation. I feel like that is a pretty accurate statement. He has made some classic films, that are adored by fans and critics alike. Made movie moments, that will be in the fore front of our mind for years to come. He personally made me scared to go into the ocean, with Jaws.
Now whether you love him or hate him, you can't deny what he has done as a film maker. This will be a really hard list to make. Don't worry '1941' will not be on it! LOL I hope to however to capture some of this mans best work and make a great Top Five.
Movies I Need to See: The BFG, Amistad, Schindler's List, The Color Purple, Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Honorable Mentions: Lincoln, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Hook, E.T., War of the Worlds, , The Adventures of Tin Tin, and Jurassic Park
5.
Catch Me if You Can
One of the many collaborations Spielberg had with Tom Hanks. A movie with great Dicaprio and Hanks performances, that I feel is a very underrated film. A movie with such star power in front and behind the camera, it only managed two Oscar nominations (Christopher Walken and John Williams) A cat and mouse film executed to perfection.
4.
Saving Private Ryan
The most heart pounding opening sequence you could of ever wished for. Saving Private Ryan is another well acted and well directed film. This movie should of walked out with the Best Picture Oscar! At least Spielberg walked out with Best Director. Tom Hanks, leads an all star cast (Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Matt Damon) just to name a few. Arguably, one of the best war films of all time!
3.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Spielberg directs one of the greatest adventure movies of all time! Get use to hearing greatest of all time when it comes to Spielberg. Casting Harrison Ford was a risking move that payed off for Spielberg and Ford himself. The question here was if Ford was only going to be remembered as Han Solo. Well guess what, this character is even better. Indiana Jones, is one of my favorite movie characters of all time and this movie is one of my favorites. Raiders of the Lost Ark is a work of art, from the action, to the script, even to the amazing score. Film making rarely gets better then this!
2.
Jaws
When I was younger, this film scared the crap out of me. I hated swimming in the ocean and still till this day am very weary of it. To me that makes a great film experience, how it sticks with you. I recently watched it again and enjoyed it just as much. Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw are crazy film characters that have become larger than life. Dreyfuss is a truly entertaining actor and his character is the same. The music is so iconic as well.
1.
Minority Report
Minority Report is not only my favorite Spielberg film, it's arguably one of my favorite films of all time, too. This gritty, crime film has one of the best Tom Cruise performances of all time too. I love the concept that Spielberg creates, it's very unique and innovative. When you first watch it, you are taking on an amazing ride that keeps you guessing from beginning till end. Another one of Spielberg films that got mostly over looked at the Oscars (Best Sound Editing), but will forever live on in my film library and the amazing filmography of Mr. Steve Spielberg!
Spielberg's Films Oscar Nominations and Win:
Bridge Of Spies
Lincoln
War Horse
Munich
Minority Report
Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
The Color Purple
E.T.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Catch Me If You Can
The Adventures of Tin Tin
War of the Worlds
Jaws
Amistad
Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Hook
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Empire of the Sun
A.I.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1941
Thank You for reading! For all your Top Five check back with almostsideways.com
Streaming services like Netflix are revolutionizing the film industry. It seems like there are more and more things being made and produced to go straight to streaming. Television shows have been the primary focus so far, however some movies have started to permeate. Netflix currently has a deal with Adam Sandler for his recent run of movies, but if you have seen the types of movies he has made for them (The Ridiculous 6, The Do-Over), Netflix might want to take back their deal. The movies that have started to make this a viable option are films like Beasts of No Nation which many people believe would have been an Oscar nominee if it hadn't been a Netflix release (although some would try to blame it on race). The latest Netflix feature film is continuing to show that quality can come from films that debut on the internet.
The Fundamentals of Caring stars Paul Rudd as ... well, Paul Rudd. His character's name is Ben, but the characteristics of Ben match most roles Rudd plays. Ben is a more tragic turn on the traditional Rudd persona though. He is a man down on his luck that is searching for new purpose in his life. He tries out a new job of being a professional caregiver. His first assignment is a boy named Trevor (Craig Roberts). He is suffering from muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. His mother has yet to find a caregiver that will put up with Trevor's quirks. It is quickly apparent that Ben is the perfect caregiver as he has the wit to match Trevor's sense of humor. In the first interactions between Ben and Trevor, you realize this is a different type of movie. Instead of being the traditional, inspirational, coming-of-age tale you might expect out of such a situation, it instead turns into a buddy comedy with flashes of a coming-of-age story. In between scenes of Ben and Trevor hilariously bantering back and forth, Ben helps Trevor break out of his shell and explore the world as they decide to go on a road trip to see worthless landmarks like the World's Biggest Bovine and the World's Deepest Pit. Along the way, they meet some new friends as you continue to enjoy just being a fly on the wall in the lives of this match made in heaven.
Like I said, Paul Rudd is not forced to stretch his acting chops very much. There really is no problem with that though. Paul Rudd is one of those actors who seems to be endlessly entertaining just being himself. Whether it is being Phoebe's husband in the final season of Friends or being the most refreshing part of the newest wave of Marvel movies, Paul Rudd has shown that it is entertaining just seeing Paul Rudd being Paul Rudd. The real revelation in The Fundamentals of Caring is Craig Roberts. He has had minor roles in some notable movies in the last few years, however he truly shows his capabilities in this performance. I was also pleasantly surprised by Selena Gomez. This is the first time I have seen her act since Spring Breakers ("Spring Break Forever!), and she is not one you think of when considering young acting talent, but she fits right in with this dysfunctional pair. Lastly, it's always nice to see Bobby Cannavale in anything.
Rob Burnett is not what you would consider a household name when it comes to quality film making, however he is a veteran of the industry. His most notable credits are writer and producer of the early 2000's show Ed as well as head writer and executive producer for The Late Show with David Letterman. Knowing just that alone shows how talented he is. As Burnett is trying to blaze a path in film, this movie will definitely help his standings. The Fundamentals of Caring is a breath of fresh air.
If there was one critique I would have, it would be with the ending. It ends a little too cliche and conventional than the rest of the movie deserves. However, it is not something that, I would say, ruins the film. I just wish it were a little different. Overall, this film is definitely one worth seeing, especially since all it takes is to log in to your Netflix account and click on it.
As I was preparing to do the next power rankings, I went to IGN.com to see some of the latest entertainment news. I came across the article saying that Anton Yelchin had passed away, he was 27.
He wasn't the most well known actor around, and I haven't seen many of his films. But when he was on screen, I always liked what he brought to those films. He had a charisma, that I felt popped of the screen. With his passing, lets take this moment and remember what a brief time we have and also reflect on a few of his films.
Films I need to see: Green Room , Like Crazy, Fright Night, Alpha Dog, The Beaver
5.
Kyle Reese - Terminator Salvation
Not a huge role, but a character we remember from previous films. He reminded us of a few moments in previous films, if it was a line of dialogue or an interesting action.
4.-3.
Chekov
Star Trek
Star Trek Into Darkness
He added his humor to this role. One of my favorites of these Star Trek films, was his role in them.
2.
Odd Thomas - Odd Thomas
What a very underrated film. If you haven't seen or heard of this film, go check it out. It's a fun ride!
1.
Charlie Bartlett - Charlie Bartlett
The number one role, has to go to the first film that I seen him in. His chemistry with Robert Downey Jr was good. He showed off his ability to be a star!
With the release of the newest Pixar film, Finding Doy, lets count down the Top Five Pixar Films! Now all top list are subject for debate and discussion. So lets start one, here is my list! Honorable Mentions: Up, Ratatouille, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo
5.
Wall-E
Starting off our list is the crazy and curious little robot named
Wall-E. I remember watching this film in theaters, with a ton of kids and their families. I know i left the theater with a greater appreciation of this film then the kids did. That's what makes Pixar so great, their films are entertaining for kids and thought provoking for adults.
4.
Toy Story
The one that started it all and made Pixar a force to be reckoned with in animation. This was every kids dream, to make their toys come to life. Buzz and Woody are the greatest characters that Pixar have ever created and the most endearing as well.
3.
Monster's Inc.
This film answered the age old question, Is there a monster in my closet? The monster's inc. universe is such a fun and interesting place to be apart of. I loved every minute of it. I was glad that Pixar made a sequel to this hit film too. Though, it didn't live up to the original.
2.
Inside Out
One of the newest additions to the Pixar filmography. Inside Out has to be the craziest idea for a film, that has the best pay off! It is a movie that made me cry, several times through out and made me laugh just as much. It should of gotten some best picture love at the Oscars in 2016 but at least it won, best animated film!
1.
Toy Story 3
Now if you would of told me, that back in 1995 when the original Toy Story released that it would be the beginning of a trilogy, I wouldn't believe you. The reason why is because I didn't know what a trilogy was back then and that I thought the first film was perfect as is. With each chapter of Toy Story films, you can see that Pixar has love for these characters. This is their baby and they totally don't want to put out a bad film. What a heart felt, tear jerking, and fun time this film showed us! Totally worthy of the top spot on my list and other peoples list as well!
