Class Movie Review

The movie we viewed in class, titled Loveless, is about a man working a dead end job who has a relationship with two different women. One of the women, Ava, is a young lady he meets at a night club and considers putting into the movie he is trying to make. The other girl is a more mature down to earth individual who used to date the main character, Andrew. Throughout the movie, Andrew goes back and forth between the two women. The conflict is that Ava, his potential actress, seems to be crazed. She claims she can speak with her dead father, as can the rest of her large family. After she gets in a fight with Andrew, her brothers seem to stalk him everywhere. Meanwhile, he continues to try to have a stable relationship with the other woman.
Though I was not able to view the whole movie, the plot was very unique. The stories gradually tied into each other, linking all the characters. While the women characters were very good, I often found myself annoyed by Andrew. He seemed rather lazy and indifferent toward everything that happened to him. The dialogue was very good, keeping the conversations casual and realisitic. Overall, it seems like an interesting movie, though I cannot fully comment since I was not able to finish the film.

Spring Training: The Delusional Baseball Fan's Favorite Time of Year

The middle of February is a great time for baseball fans. The weather is starting to get warmer (except in Buffalo, which doesn't get the weather memo), the grass is turning green, and opening day for baseball is just six weeks away. Hope springs eternal for every fan of every team, who truly believe that this is the year their hometown heroes are going to win the World Series. The same votes of confidence are muttered by rabid supporters every season. Seamus, a 30 year old pub owner from South Boston, says, "If Josh Beckett stays healthy, and our offense is able to hit with some power, the Red Sox are gonna go wicked fah in the playoffs." Tony, a 45 year old cheesesteak entrepreneur from Philadelphia, claims, "Yo, if that wimp Brad Lidge can get his fragile mind right and nail down 40 saves, the World Series is in the bag for the Phillies." Vinny, a 24 year old chop shop employee from Queens, is almost certain that "If the back end of our rotation steps up, our stars stay healthy, and Jeff Francoeur gets lost on the way to the ballpark, the Mets are easily gonna win the title. Fogedaboutdit." Then there are Cubs fans. We won't talk about them.
Preseason optimism is one of the elements that makes baseball so great. Sure, it is very easy to believe YOUR team is going to win it all before even one game is played. But what about if you're a fan of a team that has no chance? If you're a Nationals fan, do not tell me about how "dominant" your ballclub will be this year. The Nationals won 59 games last year (out of 162). They could be in a division all by themselves and still be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs two weeks into the season. As a Pirates, Blue Jays, or Athletics fan, one would have to be truly disillusioned to think their franchise is going to take home the trophy this year. So please, if your team is not going to compete in this upcoming campaign (admit it, you know who you are), do not set yourself up for disappointment when your club starts the season 12-45.

Give the Refs a Break

If you have ever been to a hockey game, you will notice that the refs get booed when they take the ice before every period. This made me think of how unfairly most referees and umpires are treated. If they make a mistake, they are subjected to the anger of the fans, players, and coaches alike. They regularly hear insults and taunts, and may occassionally have objects thrown at them.
What fans need to remember is that referees make the correct call virually 99% of the time. If they make a bad call every now and then, it's just a mistake, and they feel just as bad about it as the fans that get angry. They have to make tough decisions and calls on plays transpire in a fraction of a second. They see things that the average human would never spot. Also keep in mind that unlike the players, the officials do not get to rest until the game is over. The hockey refs have to stay on the ice all 60 minutes, while the players change shifts every 90 seconds or so. In baseball, the umpires have to stay on the field the entire game without sitting down. Imagine being a home plate umpire and having to stand for three hours in full gear in 95 degree heat. These conditions are hardly worth the low salaries that they make. Next time you think about getting on a referee, keep this in mind.