J Rose
Boston-based commentary with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer

Okay, so yesterday was technically the worst day of the sports year, but today is a close second.

The day after the All Star game has been widely regarded as the worst day for sports viewing, because it is one of the few days of the year when not one of the four major sports is in action.

Adding to the misery of the Wednesday after the Mid Summer Classic, there is no NASCAR, no golf tourneys, no tennis matches and nary a soccer game or curling match to be found.

This year today is a close second because for some reason, the dolts in charge of the MLB schedule decided to put just four games on the slate, including such must-see matchups as Detroit v. Baltimore and (wait for it)…the Pirates at the Rockies. Yawn.

Sure we got the British Open starting today, but without Tiger and with the 5 hour time difference, who really cares about a major that’s pretentious enough to call itself “the Open Championship”?

All of this non-sports action adds up to one thing – movie night!

So in honor of the (2nd) worst sports viewing day of the year, I’m gonna recommend some recent selections from my Netflix account. Some of these films might be on pay-per-view, basic cable, or in your library. If so, cue em up. Unless you’re a huge Pirates fan.

(BTW, I’ve included a couple of sports flicks, just so Mitch doesn’t get too pissed at me for going off topic)

The Big Lebowski Comedy 1998 Rated: R
Of course I’ve seen this cult classic many times, but my wife hadn’t, so I rented it and watched it again. Her opinion: “it’s a dude movie”. Of course it’s a dude movie – it’s got the quintessential Dude of all time as the lead character! Jeff Bridges is at his best as the slacker/ bowler who unwittingly figures out how to solve a kidnapping, and John Goodman is side-splittingly hilarious as his trigger happy, foul mouthed friend, Walter. So many great lines means this one never gets old, because every time you watch it you laugh uncontrollably at something different than the time before.

Needless to say my wife was “out of her element” with this one, and divorce proceedings are in the works.

First Snow Thriller 2007 Rated: R
Moody, stylish potboiler about a cocksure salesman (the always awesome Guy Pierce) who has his fortune told by a roadside psychic, but refuses to believe the kooky predictions could be coming true. It’s a bit slow at times, but the director builds the suspense to a terrific climax, and the solid supporting cast (William Fichtner, Piper Perabo, and JK Simmons) make this intense, beautifully shot indie flick a first rate sleeper.

The Final Season Sports Drama 2007 Rated: PG
Sean Astin of LOTR fame plays a small town Iowa baseball coach who leads a powerhouse high scholl baseball team to one last state championship before the school is shuttered forever, thanks to budget concious local politicians. Based on a true story, this predictable sports saga won’t win any kind of cinematic awards, and it lacks enough on field action to qualify as a great sports flick, but if you have a little league aged son, as I do, it’s a realistic account of how kids can overcome tough situations through the power of perserverance. Plus it’s got Rachael Leigh Cook, so there’s that.

In Bruges Crime Thriller 2008 Rated: R
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play a couple of British hit men who are sent to Belgium by their boss (Ralph Fiennes) after a botched hit ends with a young boy being killed. Farrell is hilarious as the heartless half wit who can’t get over the kid’s death, and Gleeson shines as his caretaker buddy who is faced with a tough task, thanks to the ruthless boss, Harry. A violent, curse-filled, semi-comedy along the lines of Snatch or Lock, Stock…, this flick is jam packed with funny quotes, surreal sights and stunning cinematography, and it boasts a startling ending.

Into the Wild Adventure/Drama 2007 Rated: R
The true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a brilliant college grad who decides to forgo the rat race and trek to Alaska to experience life in it’s purest form. The perfomance of Hirsch (Alpha Dog; Speed Racer) is Oscar-worthy, as we watch him go from healthy and happy to emaciated and near death in the span of two hours, and the people he meets and sights he sees en route to his ultimate ending are some of the most memorable I’ve seen on screen in a long time. Directed by Sean Penn and co-starring Oscar nominee Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener and William Hurt, the final scene of this emotional film is guaranteed to stick with you for a long, long time.

Okay, I’ve given you guys some guidance as to how to pass the time tonight. I will be viewing another contender for this list this evening, the Boston based thriller Gone Baby Gone, which will hopefully satisfy my Sox fix until they resume play Friday night.

Enjoy the evening, beacuse it’s back to neglecting the spouses tomorrow.

Popularity: 2% [?]