Strikes & Gutters: "Adventureland" movie review

Set in 1987, "Adventureland" follows the exploits of a recent college grad virgin who is forced to take a summer job at a local amusement park after his parents refuse to pay for grad school. There are a handful of moments that satisfy and most of them involve SNL's Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. This movie is further proof that Kristen Stewart's Whisper Acting most be catching on, because nearly all of the actors delivered their lines as if they needed a nap, which is how I felt about halfway through. Instead of picking an audience to speak to it tries to go after both generation X and Y. This movie falls short for both.

You're killing your father Larry: Remake of "True Grit"

I'm honestly conflicted about the Coen brothers remake of "True Grit" The good news is that Jeff Bridges will get to play with the brothers again reportedly portraying Rooster Cogburn. Bad news is that their last attempt at a remake ended up giving us "The Ladykillers." Here's to hoping that they can bring new life to the western.

Met a stranger in the alps: Vikings vs Saints

A couple of thoughts on the Vikings vs Saints.

• What screams classy more than FOX using the national anthem to pimp, I mean plug American Idol? I would have loved to be in on that meeting. Harry Connick Jr, no thanks. Neville Brothers, we'll pass. I know. Kris Allen!
• The NFL OT Rules. A shame that one of the best games all year is essentially decided by a coin toss. It's like a baseball game going into extra innings and only one team gets to bat.
  
• Joe Buck. He calls a football game like he took six Ambien and a hot bath right before kickoff.
  
• Brett Farve. Is it me or did the dramatic limp smell of Curt Schillings "bloody sock."
  

That creep can roll: Neil Daimond

Neil Daimond turns 69 today. Daimond is the Jeff Bridges of the music world. Under appreciated and often forgotten by the so called experts, all he has done is sold over 100 million records, written hit songs, and sold out every venue he has found worthy of setting foot in. How is it that ZZ Top, The Bee Gees, and The Talking Heads are enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but The Daimond is not? I guess Bill Murray put it perfectly in "What About Bob" when he said that there are two kinds of people in this world, those who love Neil Daimond and those who hate him. I'm not ashamed to yell out that I love Neil Daimond, sequins and all.

Happy Birthday Neil.

"Songs are life in 80 words or less."
Neil Daimond

Strikes & Gutters: "Paranormal Activity"

"Paranormal Activity" is everything "Blair Witch" was suppose to be and wasn't. For one it won't give you motion sickness. I have a feeling that like "Blair Witch" this is a love it or hate it movie. Some will be turned off by the slow build using still tableau framing, simple effects, or in its best moments the perfect use of the absence of sound. This movie is a welcome vacation from the torture porn horror films that have dominated the landscape these past several years such as the "Saw" series . Torture porn fans will most likely hate this movie, but I for one loved it for the very thing that those fans detest, and that is its simplicity. This is the anti-Avatar. This is the anti-Saw. I suggest you rent it, turn the lights off, and open a bottle of wine because if you let it, this movie can remind you of how a scary movie can mess with your mind without all the gore and the sorority screaming.

I am hopeful that this will be a much cheaper than therapy.