Blogging the back nine

Boeing Boeing (1965) – Tony Curtis and a subdued Jerry Lewis star in this door-slamming farce that gave me a headache. Balancing lots of stewardesses are Tony’s pleasure, but then-topical 707 screws up his timetable. Thelma Ritter is the wisecrackin’ maid. Grade: C

Southland Tales (2006) – Wow, this is what an apocalyptic disaster looks like. Richard Kelly’s career might never recover and this misfire isn’t even interesting. Note: you can’t set out to create a cult classic, it has to form that status organically. Grade: D

Doomsday (2008) – Ugh. Biggest disappointment of the year from the man behind The Descent, this awful Mad Max wannabe is barely memorable. A blenderful of ideas, none well done, resulting in a mushy pulp mess. Grade: F

The Bank Job (2008) – Jason Statham is a fine leading man in this real-life bank job story that’s much more whimsical than the usual JS vehicle. Low key fun most of the way, with some final fight scenes wedged awkwardly in at the finale. Hey, the man’s gotta deliver the asskicking goods. Grade: B

Man in the Vault (1956) – Decent little programmer is noirish enough, based on a novel by Frank Gruber and a script by Burt Kennedy (one of his first). William Campbell and Anita Ekberg star. Grade: C+

Sleuth (2007) – Awful remake has Michael Caine and Jude Law dueling within an austere Vanity Fair photo shoot. Zero suspense, fussy direction by Ken Branagh and bizarre changes to the original by Harold Pinter. Nobody looks good in this disaster, except for Sir Larry, who wisely stays out of it altogether. Grade: D

Summer of Sam (1999) - With T at Museum Duty nearly fulltime, I watched quite a few bleak crime sagas and this one kinda kicked ass. Spike Lee weaves several storylines with increasing paranoid energy, capturing the dread of the NYC summer of 1977. Worst part? Yankees win (shudder). Grade: B+

Critters (1986) - Decent horror movie spawned an endless franchise somehow (even setting one installment on a spaceship). This is the best of the bunch, with a memorable bunch of title creatures wrecking havoc. This was screenplay research BTW, completely tax deductible. Grade: B

Walk Hard (2006) - A miss at the box office and now I'm sorry I missed the live John C. Reilly performance in character as Dewey Cox. The rapid fire gags are mostly hilarious, and popular music mavens will especially love it. Poor director Jake Kasden, he's at the helm when the seemingly unstoppable Judd Apatow money train run aground (undeservedly). Now this is a cult classic in the making (box office failure always helps). Tim Meadows' finest hour. Grade: A

Yahtzee Cup #34 – 2009 begins for the high rollers

Jan. 2, 2009

Killer Pimp J. John Johnny John (KPJ) enters the new year of Yahtzee Cup play as the reigning Cup champion, tied with Roman Castevet (RC) for the most all-time Yahtzee Cup wins at 12 each. The always-dangerous I Married a FrankenYahtzee (IMFY) holds nine.

Now, with a new president and a new world gripped in economic crisis, the race for the Cup begins again.

Game #1: the Pimp starts off as strong as he did at the open of Cup #33. He rolls the inaugural Yahtzee of the match and cruises to that all-important first win.

Game #1

KPJ 294/ RC 251/ IMFY 220

Yahtzee: 1 (KPJ)

Now, Game #2: KPJ works to solidify his lead. It's a close match, but the Pimp's lone Yahtzee proves the difference.

Game #2

KPJ 264/ RC 239/ IMFY 227

Yahtzee: 1 (KPJ)

Now up 2-0, the Pimp looks to take Game #3 as he aims for the first-ever Yahtzee Cup sweep. But Roman Castevet has watched the Pimp long enough, and it's a close one in Game 3, only the barest of edges comes from a slightly better upstairs score...Castevet gets the win!

Game #3

RC 269/ KPJ 266/ IMFY 158

Roman Castevet has dominated much of Yahztee play during 2008 - but Superstar Bootyray - here playing as IMFY - won two Cups this year, proving she's still dangerous. She also spoiled Killer Pimp's shot at a four game Cup sweep in May.

Now, she makes her presence felt again.

Game #4 approaches - and the Pimp has got to be sweating, thinking he could easily be looking at 3-0 lead with a chance to grab that elusive sweep.

But no, a three-point loss is followed by more of a complete Pimp fail. IMFY scores a Yahtzee, but she does not get her upstairs 63, so she's minus 35. It's not enough for the Pimp to overtake her though, Castevet comes much closer but he's still 23 short.

IMFY 269/ RC 246/ KPJ 216

Yahtzee: IMFY (1)

Game #5 provides the anti-venom for the snakebit Pimp. A solid performance (and IMFY failing to get her upstairs 35) gives him a 3-1 lead now.

KPJ 262/ IMFY 208/RC 195

Game #6

It grows late but the Pimp has a chance to finish this Cup and the card off. Are the last traces of venom out of his system? Not quite it seems...is a six-point loss twice as bad his earlier three point loss? Roman scores a Yahtzee but fails to break 200.

IMFY 232/ KPJ 226/ RC 178

Yahtzee: RC (1)

And the Cup remains in play...as 2009 begins.

To be continued...