Happy Middle of February, Lovers.
I rush to write this before a dose of reality kicks in, because what has gone on in New York this past 10 days has been bizarro-world-esque, Jeremy Lin has come from out of nowhere to lead a Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire-less Knicks squad to a 5 game winning streak. During the run Lin has tallied totals of 25, 28, 23,38! and 20. Coming out of nowhere to scorch the nets at 28.3 points per game will get anyone's attention, but it hasn't merely been his scoring prowess that has turned heads. (All the more amazing when you consider he has scored at a historic pace in his first 4 starts in the league, the most points in his first 4 games as a starter since the NBA/ABA merger.) Lin has the Knicks moving the ball, flowing on offense and creating opportunities for one another; a marked difference from the isolation 1 on 1 style of play the Knicks had plodded out with night after night in a series of losing efforts to start the season.
But who is Jeremy Lin? I mean, really? This story is so improbable, so bizarre. Players are monitored and recruited from the time they begin playing competitively in junior high. We can predict these specimens, we've known LeBron, Kobe and Garnett from the time they were high schoolers. There is no such thing as spontaneous generation. Unrecruited out high school, undrafted out of Harvard. Lin was picked up by the Warriors last season, he split time between the Warriors and their Reno D League affiliate. After a nice stint in Reno posting 18 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 20 games Lin returned this season set to play for the Warriors but he was an after thought in training camp, as they cut him to make salary cap room for a play at DeAndre Jordan of the Clips. Clearly their gamble didn't pay off, Lin was scooped up off waivers by the Rockets an attended their training camp as one of six guards trying to crack the squad and on December 24, the eve of the season, the Rockets too, waived Lin to make room for Samuel Dalembert. The Knicks then picked up Lin because they had released Chauncey Billiups, and Baron Davis would not be ready to play for the first couple months of the season. Early on Lin saw very little burn and was sent back to the D-League, joining the Erie Bayhawks. But then last week with little other options because of injuries (Carmelo, Baron), poor play (Toney Douglas), personal issues (Amare) the Knicks, in desperate need of a spark, found just that in Jeremy Lin and the rest has been history.
All year the Knicks have been looking for a PG to run their show and they've had one under their nose this whole time. After going undrafted the Knicks signed Jeremy Lin in their system and had sent him down to the D-League. As of last week the Knicks needed to decide if they should extend his contract through to the end of the season, as of this week Lin is the savior of the franchise and should have the ball in his hands. Too much. OK, maybe, but there's no denying the kid is for real.
Following a quick 3-0 start to Lin's career, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers came to the Garden on Friday night to find out what all the hype was about. Kobe found out alright, as he and Lin engaged in an epic 4th quarter shootout in which Lin matched Bryant shot for shot down the stretch and led the Knicks to victory with Lin outscoring Kobe Bryant 38 to 34 and. When interviewed after the game a humble Lin was quick to point out it was a total team effort, something worth noting, during a season with few victories of the sort.The team appears to be playing hard for one another despite obvious depth and talent issues with Carmelo and Amare out. That said, the experience of watching the team excel without them should provide a humbling presence over Anthony and Stoudemire. No doubt Stoudemire will thrive in this system as it features many of the pick an roll action that Stoudemire teamed with Steve Nash with for such devastating success during his time under D'Antoni in Phoenix. To this point D'Antoni hadn't had the point guard to run his system, since he shipped Raymond Felton to Denver as part of the Carmelo Anthony exchange. ( A time when the team was playing much better.) Amare comes back tonight and Carmelo looks to be back this week sometime as well. The final remaining point of intrigue remains to be how Carmelo reacts to the teams transferal of power. This is Lin's team now and they still have a chance at the playoffs if Melo becomes a willing participant, if he resists, the season's doomed.
Top 5 Teams
5. L.A. Clippers -Losing Billups hurts because of his leadership in the locker room but not as much as you may think, he couldn't defend anybody at the 2 and he was only a standstill 3 point shooter who still felt his moniker of Mr. Big Shot still applies in Los Angeles. (Aside. What's with the 2004 Pistons, all of the members of that championship season still act like it's the the 2004 championship season, including the management, it's over, that was a long time ago.) All I'm saying is that at the end of games the ball should be flowing through the capable hands of CP3 and letting him make the best decision, whether it be to set up a teammate or shoot it himself, that's why the Clips gave up so much to get him. The Clips have picked up Kenyon Martin and if they pick up fellow Chinese Basketball League refugee J.R. Smith, no one will be missing Billups. Sounds like I hate Billups here and I don't in the least, but again, it's not 2004.
4. San Antonio - The consummate "too-old" squad keeps on getting it done for Greg Popovich. Manu has already been out (he goes out atleast once a year) and Tim Duncan is no longer player at an All Star caliber. So how are the Spurs getting it done? Tony Parker is still doing this his thing. Good drafts, shrewd free agent and trade moves to maintain some youth and depth (Neal, Leonard, Splitter, Green, Jefferson,) and a consistent style of play the emphasizes defense and rebounding. Throw in arguably the best coach in the game and this team will be ready to make some noise in the slowed down style of the playoffs, something they've been battle tested for year in and year out.
3. Oklahoma City - Currently the class of a very wild Western Conference, they've got the scorers in Durant, Westbrook and Harden and the defensive presence in Ibaka and Perkins. There will be continuing lingering conversations in the realm of "can Durant and Westbroook coexist?" But that's just nitpicking this team is the real deal and will be a very tough out playing at home in the post season. If anything, they could add a knock down three point shooter that can lock down on the defensive end, out of the Bruce Bowen mold or Thabo Sefolosha/ Daquan Cook (two players which they have) hybrid, but then again which team wouldn't want that.
2. Chicago Bulls - Bulls continue to play well and win despite a never ending streak of injuries to it's key players (Deng, Rose, Hamilton) That said, they continue to show off their depth and talent by winning games despite the rash of injuries. Bringing it on the defensive end on a nightly basis. It's currently a two horse race in the East and the Bulls being a little banged up has them slightly behind a healthy Miami squad as the two jockey for position down the stretch
1. Miami Heat - The Heat continue to roll through the East. With Dwayne Wade back and playing much better since his return the Heat look poised to go on a big run and solidify home court advantage for themselves in the playoffs. LeBron continues to amaze with his all around versatile skill set (Most Points Per Post Up In NBA) and Chris Bosh continues to be a valuable piece, dominating at times during Wade's absence and shrinking his role back down to accommodate Wade's return. The addition of Battier in the off season is beginning to pay off dividends but the real payoff will be big shots and big stops 4 months from now.
That's that.
How bout the world of entertainment.
I remember shitting on the movies of 2011 back sometime in November, was it just the theatres in town or was there simply nothing worth seeing. In the end I think it was a bit of both. 2011 wasn't a terrible year for films but I don't think there were too many classics released last year. When I say classics, I'm simply questioning how many of 2011's films would be listed in the films of the decade come 2020. Drive was certainly a very good film. Source Code had some very cool ideas. I've still yet to see the The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Moneyball might make break through the classic sports movie pantheon but for the most part 2011 was entertaining but certainly not eye popping. That said, I did not see many of the films Dan had listed so maybe I just didn't look around enough. But that's the thing, the major talking points with regard to film in 2011 were largely disappointing.
So forget last year, because 2012 is gonna make ya. With films from The Coen Brothers, Tarantino, the Anderson's (Paul T. and Wes), Cronenberg, Speilberg and Jackson, a who's who of modern directors 2012 promises to produce one of the most bountiful film harvests in recent memory. And that's not evening mentioning the likes of Ridley Scott, Sam Mendes, Baz Luhrman, Tim Burton or Tony Kaye. Add to that the latest installments of comic book blockbuster titans Spider-Man, Batman, and the ensemble cast that is Marvel's Avengers. A new bestseller novel gets the big screen treatment, in the Hunger Games and a couple of old favourites get a re-boot in The Great Gatsby, and Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth in his take on Tolkien's adventure The Hobbit. We've got new Bond and Bourne films on the way and, well just a buttload of talent peppered throughout each and every one. 2012 could well be the best year we've seen in movies in a long time. The following is a list of 30 movies that have me excited for their release. I haven't included Safe House or Contraband though I do wish to see both of those but clearly they are known commodities at this point. Any time you can get Denzel Washington in the role of a villain, a la Training Day, I'm in. Also their is an intriguing untitled Katherine Bigelow project (Re: Kill Bin Laden) but it seems unlikely to make it out this year. A few others fit this scenario but most of these films are set to release this year and have opening dates already. 
Honourable Mentions: Oldboy - Only listed as honourable mention because it seems unlikely to be released this year as it hasn't even began filming yet. Spike Lee has announced an American remake of the film and Josh Brolin has been attached so far. Ted - Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy fame takes his voice animation to the big screen this summer in Ted. You're Next - Everyone's cult horror fav from the festivals of 2011. Adam Wingard directs, could be 2012's Scream. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Battleship, The Grandmasters, Gravity, John Carter, Life of Pi, Men In Black 3, The Silver-Linings Playbook.Yeah those were the honourables outside the top 30. Here we go.
30. Inside Llwellyn Davis - Director: Joel and Ethan Coen. Note this one as probably the least likely to release in the 2012 calendar year, hence I've left it til last, but it's too good not to mention. The latest from the always great Coen Brothers is perhaps a look in at the 1960's Greenwich village folk music scene. Relative unknown Oscar Isaac (Also in Bourne Legacy this year, could be on the rise) plays the titular role, with Justin Timberlake and Casey Mulligan rounding out the films' stars. Having already done a music themed period piece in Oh Brother Where Art Thou, this could really be a winner. No where near a trailer yet.
29. Dark Shadows - Director: Tim Burton - Tim Burton calls on his usual suspects for a movie that seems tailor made for his dark and quirky sense of humour. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer headline an all star ensemble in a remake of a cult classic 1960's drama series in which a vampire (Depp) returns to his mortal estate only to encounter his still living dysfunctional relatives. Give that to Burton and see where he takes it. I'm interested. No trailer as of yet. In theatres in May. If you want to know more check out the sneak peek vid.
28. Dog Fight - Director: Jay Roach - Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis play two rival politicians in South Carolina who have similar presidential aspirations that ultimately become entangled, laughs ensue to be sure. Those names and that plot have to be mildly intriguing no? Unfortunately, no trailer yet.
27. Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie - Directors: Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim - If you're at all familiar with Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Good Job than you'll go in with the expectation for zany, absurb and utterly foolish humour. For instance this film is about Tim and Eric getting a billion dollars to make a movie, only to lose that billion and have to make it back. It's all preposterous but in the right mood, this could provide loads of laughs. Check out the trailer.
26. Cosmopolis - Director: David Cronenberg - Cronenberg just finished giving us A Dangerous Method and here we are with the novel adaptation of Cosmopolis, a 2003 novel by Don DeLillo of the same name. Robert Pattinson stars as the stories billionaire asset manager as we follow his eventful travels about Manhattan in his luxurious stretch limo. Ooo. Ahhh. Paul Giamatti, Jay Baruchel, Juliette Binoche, and Samantha Morton join Pattinson in this picture, which will surely have it's share of surprises. No trailer yet. Potential 12/12/12 release date.
25. Cogan's Trade - Director: Andrew Dominik - Andrew Dominik reunites with Brad Pitt following their experience together on The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Cogan's Trade is an adaptation of George V. Higgin's novel about a mob enforcer who is called following the robbery of high stakes, mob sponsored poker game. This should provide a gritty look at the seedy underbelly of Boston's underworld. Joining Pitt will be, James Gandolfini, Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta, and Richard Jenkins. No trailer or release date set yet.
24. Wettest County - Director: John Hillcoat - Set to release in August this film is hoping to cash in on Tom Hardy's popularity after the latest Batman is released. Hillcoat's last effort, The Road didn't do great but it wasn't a poor effort on his part. Set in Depression-era Virginia Wettest County is about a bootlegging gang who are under threat from the authorities. Boardwalk Empire heads South and gets a little grittier along the way. I'm up for that, check out this cast, Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce. Screenplay writer by Nick Cave. No trailer yet.
23. Skyfall - Director: Sam Mendes - Since the James Bond movies rebooted several years back the franchise has again redeemed it's name and is again worth a look, and this Bond has the names to back the name. Award winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) is handling this one, with Daniel Craig again playing James Bond, (He's very solid, in the reboots tendency to show Bond as a bit griitier than in the Pierce days, IMO) and Javier Bardem plays the role of the villain! (Anton Chigur, anyone?) Throw Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney in there as well. Plot leaks have the past of Judi Dench's character M in question, testing Bond's loyalty. Should be good. No trailer yet, due out in November.22. Detachment - Director: Tony Kay - Detachment stars Adrien Brody as a substitute teacher who drifts about life from classroom to classroom until he meets one unlikely school of students and staff. Tony Kaye (American History X) directs this moving picture as Brody's character learns along with the students he teaches. Trailer below.
21. Looper - Director: Rian Johnson - Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception) and Rian Johnson team up again after having last teamed up on Johnson's 2005 effort Brick. This time JGL shares the screen with Bruce Willis, only I'm not sure the two will ever share the same screen as the plot of the film suggests a killer who works for the mob of the future, recognizes his future self as one of his targets. JGL and Willis' play the future and past self of their character Joe. Sounds Sci-Fi like, they share the screen with Emily Blunt and Piper Perabo as well. No trailer yet. Due out September.20. The Amazing Spider-Man - Director: Marc Webb - What is the statute of limitations on Spider-Man remakes. After the series was successfully re-booted just over a decade ago it seems the series is ready for another reboot. Which I suppose is necessary if the alternative is Spidey 4: Spidey Goes Into Retirement. So I approach this with obvious skepticism. But the early trailers have been promising and who can fault the industry as comic book mainstays Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman all continue to be big producers at the box office, time after time. Andrew Garfield brings a fresh new face in this edition with Peter Parker appearing a bit more young, on edge, angsty and dare I say, emo. Check out the trailer. New Spider-Man arrives
19. Gangster Squad - Director: Ruben Fleischer - Execs at Warner Bros. reportedly spurned Darren Arnofsky (Black Swan) in favour of Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) to direct this 1940's and 50's period drama between pitting Sean Penn's mafioso types against a pair of Los Angeles detectives, detectives reportedly played by Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling. So we've got Gosling, Penn, Brolin, Emma Stone as a film noire femme fatale, sounds worth checking out. No trailer yet, expect it in theatres in October.
18.The Raid - Director: Gareth Evans - Hailed by some already as the action movie of 2012. The Raid is a largely unknown cast and director as it's an Indonesian film but the trailer looks exciting. The film follows 20 S.W.A.T. police as they fight their way through a tenement building owned by crime lords with thugs and murderers at every turn on every level. Loads of action. Out this March.
17. Les Miserables - Director: Tom Looper - Tom Looper (The King's Speech) directs another on screen adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic. However they have chosen to base their version on the musical based version rather than the original source material. However they chose to do it, the talent cast of Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Helena Bonham Carter, Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen will be more than capable. No trailer available yet, film due out in December.
16. World War Z - Director: Mark Forster - Brad Pitt stars in Mark Forster's on screen adaptation of Max Brooks' acclaimed novel World War Z in which a U.N. employee (Pitt) races against time and fate in his attempt to prevent the spread of a zombie pandemic. Promises to be pretty major in scope. With Zombie's being such a trending topic of late this could be the big movie of 2012, slated for a December release so 2012 might not be in the cards but we're hoping for a holiday release. No trailer yet. 15. Snow White and the Huntsman - Director: Rupert Sanders - One of two Snow White movies set to release in 2012, this looks like the far more interesting of the two, the other being Mirror, Mirror. Rupert Sanders' take is a dark and edgy fantasy in which the evil queen (played by Charlize Theron) hires a mercenary bounty hunter (Thor's Chris Helmsworth) to capture the Snow White (Kristen Stewart), he may or may not follow through on the evil Queen's request. Check out the trailer.
14. The Five Year Engagement - Director: Nicholas Stoller - As far as romantic comedies go, Forgetting Sarah Marshall was arguably one of the better picture in the past decade or so. Well the mind behind that gem, set their sights on The Five Year Engagement with Nicholas Stoller again directing and Jason Segel both writing the screenplay and starring in the film. Emily Blunt stars opposite Segel as his long suffering fiancee and the film charts the ups and downs of the couple with a strong cast of notable supporters. Check out the trailer below. In theatres late April.
13. Hunger Games - Director: Gary Ross - Be forewarned we are about to enter a twilight-esque phenomenon in which the characters of the Hunger Games are plastered everywhere around us. But unlike the Twilight series, the hype behind these films will be deserved, maybe. Borrowing from the highly acclaimed novels by Suzanne Collins the subject matter promises to to be vicious and engrossing. A young cast will have to show their acting chops to make the films memorable but the opportunity to build a terrific franchise will be theirs for the taking. Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) directs the film, which is set in the future in in which the Capitol selects one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts to fight to the death on live television. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth head a young, attractive cast. Trailer below, film to be released March 23rd.
12.This Is 40 - Director: Judd Apatow - Judd Apatow is up to his usual comedic habits and this time we're blessed with a spin off of the laugh out loud comedy Knocked Up. This is 40 follows two of the funniest characters from the original, the married duo of Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, as the two experience the domestic woes that plague couples nation-wide, well kind of. Expect numerous cameos as Apatow has a library full of characters and actors ready to lend a helping hang, or funny bone. No trailer yet, expect this to be theatres in the 2012 holiday season. 11. Prometheus - Director: Ridley Scott - It's been quite a while but if Ridley Scott knows anything it's science fiction film making. Scott originally made his name in the sci fi genre back in the late 70's and early 80's with with classics Alien and Blade Runner. And he certainly hasn't been a shmuck in the mean time. (Black Hawk Down, Gladiator) So it's with great interest that we wait and see what Ridley Scott can do with his imagination and modern technology. Throw in the talents of 2011's It man in Michael Fassbender, Swedish sensation Noomi Rapace (known for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version of Steig Larsson's Millennium Series) and Charlize Theron and we'll call it a blockbuster. Check out the trailer and see if you can figure this one out for yourself.
10. The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey - Director: Peter Jackson - If you need me to explain why you should be interested in a Peter Jackson adaptation of a Tolkien novel then we are not as alike as I thought. There's hours and hours of footage that suggest this will be a triumphant success. Check out the trailer below.
09. The Avengers - Director: Joss Whedon - Much of this years comic book film fodder was shot with this end in mind, The Avengers. Finally, we have made our way through the gauntlet of individual comic book genesis tales, we can just watch the super heroes do what they do best. Kick ass. No longer concerned with where, why or how, we can just buckle up and enjoy the ride in what promises to be one of the funnest super hero films to date. Marvel has a star studded cast with Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. Catch the Avengers in action in May and in the trailer below.
08. The Master -Director: Paul Thomas Anderson - Hard to believe it's already been 5 years since There Will Be Blood but true story. P.T. Anderson returns with a 1950's period piece, supposedly a thinly veiled portrayal of scientologist founder L.Ron Hubbard. The Master follows an intellectual whose faith based organization begins to catch on in America. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix Amy Adams and Laura Dern are some of the big names attached to this intriguing project.
07. Jeff, Who Lives At Home - Director: Jay and Mark Duplass - From the brother tandem that brought us the comedic stylings of Cyrus comes a film about a pair of brothers. Basement dwelling slacker Jeff (Jason Segel) is sent out by his mother on an errand, he joins up with his brother Pat (Ed Helms) as they investigate Pat's potentially adulterous wife. Susan Sarandon and Judy Greer anchor the film which looks pretty hilarious from the trailer below. Comes out this March.
06. The Bourne Legacy - Director: Tony Gilroy - Jason Bourne is back... well not really, but that's ok because the reboot is in good hands. With Matt Damon out you'd think the series has become a joke, not so, with Jeremy Renner on the cusp of the A list as the new treadstone agent, and the underemployed Ed Norton as his worthy adversary Bourne Legacy promises to be another credible addition to the Bourne umm, legacy? I'm the worst. Check out the trailer.
05. Lincoln - Director: Steven Spielberg - The Sixteenth President of the United States leads the North to victory over the South during the American Civil War. We all know the story, or should, but I'm sure the collective efforts of the incomparable Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), Joseph Gordon Levitt (Robert-Todd Lincoln), James Spader and Tommy Lee Jones will make for some kind of great American biopic. Genuinely looking forward to what this group of talented individuals can create on film here. Set for release next Christmas season, with expected Oscar fanfare I would think. No trailer yet.
04. The Great Gatsby - Director: Baz Luhrman - Baz Luhrman is the latest to give his take of F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal novel of the same name. Luhrman is accompanied by a sterling cast with DiCaprio playing Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy, Joel Edgarton and Tobey McGuire also star in this tragic tale of roaring twenties and it's exploration of class, excess, privilege and love. High potential to go either way, hoping for greatness. Another present for the holiday season. No trailer out yet. 03. Moonrise Kingdom - Director: Wes Anderson - The always interesting imagination of Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic) has produced another film. Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of a pair of young lovers who run away from their New England township, only to be sought out by a town search party. Relative unknowns Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, head the cast, but Anderson's band of usual suspects, you know the Bruce Willis', Tilda Swinton's, Edward Norton's, Bill Murray's, Jason Schwartzman's, Frances McDormand's, and Harvey Keitel's of the world, round out the cast. Trailer below. Promises to be bizarre in May.
02. Django Unchained - Director: Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained. One of the most unique director/writers of our generation? Mr. Pulp Fiction himself, QT. Check. An uber-talented cast? How bout Leo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, More Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sam Jackson, Christopher Waltz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kurt Russell. Gotta be a check. Revenge plot line? "With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner."- IMDB.com. Check. No trailer yet. Set to be released on Christmas day. Big film.01. The Dark Knight Rises - Director: Christopher Nolan - In 2008 the Dark Knight shattered our brains and became the best superhero flick ever, IMO. The Dark Knight returns with an all star cast in 2012, Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Liam Neeson, Tom Hardy, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy. Wow. Tom Hardy leads a brigade of convicts, deviants and derelicts into the streets of Gotham in what is billed to be the final Batman for both Bale and Nolan both, promises to be a raucous going out party! Check out the trailer, looks pretty epic. Just in time for the summer.
And there you have it, that is my top 30 most anticipated films for the rest of 2012.
Feeling pretty validated by the fact that while I was writing this Jeremy Lin hit a game winning isolation 3 from the top against the Toronto Raptors furthering his mythology. Calderon certainly outplayed him at points in this game but Lin was able to take over the game when it matter most. 6 straight wins for the Knicks and the legend of Lin continues to grow.
As far as the films are concerned I'm sure I missed a few and I've included and exhaustive youtube video with all of the releases month by month as they happen for the rest of the year. Next time we'll look at what albums are on their way for 2012 and we'll get another Hip Hop Top 20.
Peace.
