“People Like Us,” the new movie directed by Alex Kurtzman, has a diverse cast and excellent story. It proved to be more than just summer entertainment. It told the story of a family–especially a brother and sister who heretofore had not known of each other’s existence.
Sam, played with breezy cool by Chris Pine, is purposely late for his father’s funeral but in settling his father’s estate discovers he has a sister and nephew. His beautiful half sister “Frankie” is played by Elizabeth Banks. Her character is working hard on many things in her life, largely to make things better for her precocious son played by Michael Hall D’Addario.
Special mention to Phillip Baker Hall, who played the attorney for Sam and Frankie’s late father. I like the matter of fact style that defines his work. (Hall played the beyond determined librarian who tracks down a long overdue book on a memorable “Seinfeld” TV episode).
Overall, “People Like Us” gave us good,conflicted characters with an unusual and powerful family dynamic. This manifested in some really nice performances. The cast also includes the still beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer who plays Sam’s mother. Their complicated relationship with its secrets unfolds in a consistent orbit with Sam discovering his sister “Frankie.”
The music is excellent as it showcases the record collection left to Sam by his late father a prominent “A and R” man (artists &repertoire: a veritable talent scout) in the music business. “Credits watchers” were rewarded with the following: Original Music: A.R. Rahman.
I strongly suggest seeing “People Like Us.” It’s a movie with a good deal of humor that takes a good look at a truly unusual family situation.
The All Star game results in a home field advantage for the National League, which takes some wind out of the Yankees’ sails. However it was a tremendous first half plus for the Yankees, who have a 7 game lead in their division and are (5-1) against both the Boston Red Sox (all six games were at Fenway Park in Boston) and New York Mets. The Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox have decent leads in their American League divisions.
In the National League, the Washington Nationals, once the Montreal Expos, have a 4 game lead in the East. Elsewhere tight races in both the Central and West. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a great story as they lead the Cincinnati Reds by one game in the NL Central. The Pirates last made post season play 20 years ago, losing a heartbreaking NLCS to the Atlanta Braves. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who last won the World Series twenty four years ago, lead the San Francisco Giants by a half game in the NL West. It should be a very interesting 2nd half of the baseball season.
For the third straight year the National League won the All-Star game. Prior to this winning streak, the NL had gone 13 straight years without a victory. They lost 12 of those games and there was that one sorry episode of a tie game in the mid summer classic–something that should be considered bizarre.
The All Star game has new meaning now that it determines home field advantage in the World Series. Thus the National League Pennant winner will play the first two and potential last two games of the World Series in its home ballpark. Starting in 1985, the team with that advantage has won an astounding 21 of the 26 World Series played.
At the All Star break, the New York Mets certainly are one of baseball’s pleasant surprises. Their record is (46-40) which easily exceeds the general perception as to how they would fare in 2012. They have bounced back from tough losses and are playing a brand of energized baseball under manager Terry Collins. Surely they are not a great team, but at this point, which team in baseball is?
Pitcher R.A.Dickey, an inspiring figure, is one of baseball’s big stories to this point. His numbers: a (12-1) record and 42 and 2/3 scoreless innings at one point tell a lot. His persistence after years in the minors tells even more. His book, “Wherever I Wind Up” addresses much of what Dickey has both accomplished and overcome. When I read about Dickey months back in Sports Illustrated, I “suggested” he would pitch well. His performance thus far in 2012 has exceeded all expectations.
The highlight of the season for the Mets was of course, the no hitter pitched by Johan Santana against the World champion St. Louis Cardinals on June 1st. It was the first no hitter by a Mets pitcher in their 50 plus seasons history. The Cardinals beat the Mets in the Mets’ first game in 1962. In game number 8,020 Santana pitches the first Mets’ no hitter vs the Cardinals. He struck out World Series MVP David Freese to end the game.
All sports is so hard to predict, witness three of the 4 major sports league champions being teams that finished nowhere near the top in the regular season. So I will not predict the Mets fate in 2012 nor speculate on their future. However, with the team playing well in beautiful Citi Field, (the site of the 2013 All Star Game), there is great anticipation. That is a good thing and not just when waiting for ketchup to dispense.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York is a truly inspirational place. Despite the fact that all time great Pete Rose is still not a member of the Hall, which is a disgrace on so many levels, I still felt the “old pride in baseball” when walking among the floors full of wonderful history and memories. The museum is located in a beautiful, peaceful town with trolley cars and other museums.
“Know it all” me learned a great deal including the fact that Tom Lasorda delivered an early scouting report on Tom Seaver. This was on display next to a scouting report on Sandy Koufax. The irony is that Lasorda, a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers, was sent down to the minor leagues to keep “bonus baby” Koufax on the major league roster. The displays and text regarding great teams for an era though brief, were very informative. Connie Mack’s (1929-1931) Philadelphia A’s are fairly well known as a great team but lesser known are the A’s under Mr.Mack from 1910-1914. The display on that team was really great. The team boasted the “One hundred thousand dollar infield,” an ungodly sum 100 years ago.
Another team that moved me were the New York Giants (1921-1924), still the only National League team to win 4 straight pennants. Names such as Ross Youngs and outfielder Casey Stengel were invoked. I thought of my father Norman, (1914-1994) and that those Giants were his first “team.”
I watched the reaction of the many people laughing long and loud as the classic “Who’s on first?” by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello was shown on a continuous loop. This version ended with a list of the lineup something I always wanted to see included in the incredible bit. It never grows old and represents timeless comedic genius.
The people enjoyed themselves and I overheard their reaction to some extraordinary baseball facts and history. Ryan Nadel of Staten Island, New York was surprised to learn there are still 8 teams that have never won the World Series. He put this information into his phone and soon memorized the 8 teams. That exchange of learning and inspiration sums up the positive Hall of Fame experience.
Some random notes from around town and in the world of sports.
Any time you can see Janeane Garofalo perform, go out and see her. Ms. Garofalo can be seen at the Eastview Comedy Club. I saw a recent show and without missing a beat, Janeane talked about certain beautiful actresses, an anonymous naked woman walking toward her, and really did a public service pointing out the abundance of non clipped toe nails on display. Her observation especially relevant with the plethora of open shoes being worn. This “lecture” to the guys was brilliant, funny, but also needed. Garofalo’s power of observation makes her an enduring figure in comedy. She is also very sweet and I hope she is enjoying Frank Langella’s book “Dropped Names” as I “drop in” that I recommended the book to her. I strongly suggest seeing Janeane Garofalo perform.
This was the 7th consecutive Presidential election year in which the NBA title was clinched at home. In 12 of the last 13 years in which there were both NBA and NHL seasons, (there was no NHL season in 2005) the NHL finals have gone longer(10 times) or as long (twice) as the NBA finals. This information and $2.25 will get you on the New York City subway.
Finally, I saw the first two parts of Julian Schlossberg’s “Witnesses to the 20th Century” and really want to see not only the other 3 parts but all his footage. Mr. Schlossberg, whom I hope to meet, interviewed myriad figures of the 20th century. Among the diverse figures he interviewed were George H.W. Bush, Robert McNamara and Gore Vidal. There were so many others including two women who were over 100 years old at the time of the interview. It was truly fascinating to see.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a classic, brilliantly written play by Tennessee Williams in 1947. Its theme and lessons apply for all time. I recently saw the current version at the Broadhurst Theatre and felt great to see the characters come alive on stage. Directed by Emily Mann, and with Blair Underwood as a mesmerizing, modern Stanley Kowalski, the story resonated for me yet again. I have seen the movie with Marlon Brando as Stanley and Vivien Leigh as Blanche Du Bois but never the play. I was truly glad that I had the opportunity.
The entire cast was excellent with Nicole Ari Parker earning special kudos for bringing out the essential Blanche. Her humor with some terrific lines was well timed and brought laughs. It was the pathos that stood out, however. She rendered true emotions with the timeless caution by Williams that “deliberate cruelty is unforgivable.” The play’s conclusion yielded a hope that “the kindness of stranger’s could happen.”
Sentiment aside, the magnetism needed was there. The sexual and violent components were provided by Underwood, a true presence on stage. Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella and Wood Harris capturing “Mitch” with his lean look also were excellent. Add Amelia Campbell, the daughter in law of the great Alan Arkin and I came away entirely pleased.
For the second time in their history, the Miami Heat are NBA champions. Both times the Heat won the middle three games of the NBA finals at home. They certainly are deserving champions lead by finals and regular season MVP, LeBron James. Shane Battier in game 2, Mario Chalmers especially in game 4 and Mike Miller in the series clincher all made tremendous contributions to the Heat title.
Pat Riley has now been a part of 8 NBA championship teams, six with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the Heat. He has 5 titles as a coach and one each as a player, assistant coach and now as an executive. He has been to many losing finals as a player, coach and last year as an executive.
The game 1 winner of the NBA finals has won 47 of the 66 finals that have been contested. However, in all 3 finals involving the Heat, the game 1 winner lost the finals.This was the 4th finals for the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise with the first three being when they played as the Seattle SuperSonics. In three of those four finals series, the game 1 winner lost the series.
The team with home advantage in the NBA finals has also won 47 of the 66 finals. Again, however, the Heat especially but also the Thunder/Supersonics deviate from the “norm” by a huge percentage. The team with home advantage has lost all 3 NBA finals involving the Heat and 3 of four involving the Thunder/SuperSonics.
Recently a nice baseball signing event was held at Empire Racetrack and Casino in Yonkers, New York. I saw Ralph Branca, Ed Kranepool, and waited on a long line to get a chance to tell Darryl Strawberry how big a factor he was in the Mets winning their last World Series in 1986. He really liked my recalling his stolen base in the historic Game 6 victory. Also attending was Ron Swoboda, who proved to be an amiable, considerate gentleman and who of course made one of the greatest and most important catches in World Series history.
It was game 4 of the 1969 World Series and the Mets, leading 2 games to 1 in the Series had a (1-0) lead. Eventual World Series MVP Donn Clendenon (he and Willie Stargell were on the same baseball card, “Bucco Belters” and when I think of that it makes me smile) had homered giving Tom Seaver a lead which he took to the top of the 9th inning at Shea Stadium. However, both John “Boog” Powell and the great Frank Robinson had reached base. The Orioles, who won 109 games that year, (remember the Mets were no slouches with 100 wins) had runners on the corners with just one out. Brooks Robinson hit a low line drive toward right center when out of nowhere Ron Swoboda dove and made an incredible catch. Frank Robinson tagged up and scored but there were now 2 outs and a runner on first. At the event Swoboda talked of the nightmare that would have manifested had he not caught the ball.
He did catch it and the Mets went on to win both games 4 and 5. This completed one of the most remarkable seasons in sport’s history. Today, Swoboda looks great, and is interested in musical talent in the New Orleans area. The entire event brought back some nice memories. Some numbers stick and I do recall he hit 19 home runs as a rookie.
At the event Swoboda warmly greeted Kranepool–the two teammates will always share that remarkable season. That heartfelt feeling went through me as I recalled a tremendous team that was a big part of an incredible time.
Coffee, tea, bakery items, sandwiches or specials, my suggestion for a truly great place is Panera Bread. There are so many delicious options there and this is less a review than telling about a true personal favorite. There are many good reasons to try Panera Bread.
I frequent the Panera Bread in Scarsdale, New York which offers a great atmosphere and a truly personable staff. Breakfast is my favorite and having experienced all the “franchise” establishments I find Panera Bread to be the best. I like tea but am one of the many people who “must” have coffee; and at “Panera” one can choose from hazelnut (my choice), light and dark roast. The price is reasonable as I usually get a medium coffee and a bagel with butter for three and a half dollars. At times, I order a delicious cinnamon chip with my coffee for an additional dollar.
I have tried the soup and sandwich and other specials for lunch. They are excellent. Often included with the meal are delicious potato chips. Whether for lunch or dinner and in my case breakfast, one can choose items from the bakery. My friend orders a cheese danish for breakfast the two time a week I join him at the wonderful Panera Bread in Scarsdale, New York. He does two things that I should do. He exercises at a nearby gym and he goes to Panera Bread each weekday.
Atmosphere, a friendly, efficient staff and great food. I wish I could be at Panera Bread each day.
Andy B Sports 