Sportaholic

Hello Friends, My name is Ryan Rosenbaum and I'm a sportaholic. From the time I met my wife, she has recommended I get some help. So here I am. I'm now coming to terms with this disease but I'm afraid it is incurable.

This illness began at an early age and I believe it is hereditary. My Dad was a sportaholic and his dad was too. It was around age 7 when my dad introduced me to the game of baseball. We sat by the television eating our peanuts and crackerjacks. Everything else in life had become unimportant to me. The Smurfs, The Atari, The Cub Scouts, and my homework would all now play 2nd fiddle to a midweek Phillies game in May.

This illness has become an obsession as baseball turned into hockey, which then turned into football, which then turned into basketball, which morphed in Collegiate sports. It has now ballooned into olympic sports, golf, bowling, soccer and yes...Spelling Bee. I can rattle off stats or in the case of Spelling Bee, words, that no human being should ever know about anything. I attend games, I skip important life events and I generally plan my life around a sporting event.

I try to keep June clear in case the Sixers / Flyers are in a championship run. I also have the Super Bowl date plugged into my brain. Ditto for baseball in the month of October. It was at one point in my life where I convinced my wife that we should have a November wedding instead of an October wedding just in case the Phillies made the World Series. As it turns out, the Phillies not only made it to the World Series but they won it 10 days before the wedding. Who says sportaholics don't think straight?

I know that the only two days of the year, where no sports are televised are the day before the baseball all-star game and the day after the baseball all-star game. These dates will now be known as potential birth dates for a future child of mine.

I know its a disease because my sportaholia is not just something that appears when a team is approaching a championship game. My sporteraholia makes me eager to watch a 3-13 Sixer's team play on a random Thursday night because I want to see the beginning of a hopeful winning streak. It effects me later that week when I want to watch an Oregon State basketball game because their coach is Michelle Obamas brother. It makes want to find a 24-hour internet cafe in Israel so I can follow an Eagles game at 3am Jerusalem time.

There lies within my issue. I can find an angle or compelling issue to follow with virtually any game in any sport. I find myself identifying with millionaire athletes that have nothing in common with me. As a person battling sporteraholia, I also have a small case of Theateritious, which is the case of one loving the art of theater. Thus doctors have surmised that there is a strong correlation between the two. Watching a sporting event is much like seeing a fine theatrical production. There is a cast of characters, a plot, a climax and sometimes like a Lebron James buzzer beater, there is a big finish. I find myself caring for and rooting for athletes who I will never meet or see in my life.

In 2001, The Sixers were on a run to win the NBA championship. Early the playoffs that year, our star player, Allen Iverson, fell on his butt and bruised his tailbone. The injury threatened to keep him out a few games and all the cities infected sporteraholics openly wondered "How is Allen Iversons ass doing?" Its nice to be empathetic sometimes but my guess is that Allen Iverson wasn't at home thinking "I wonder how Ryan's toothache is doing?" These games, these players and these sports have become a fabric of my life.

For a longtime this disease was caused by loseritious. This happens when your home town goes over 25 years without winning a championship. As previously mentioned, this drought ended 10 days before I was married in 2008 but I felt it coming back in recent years. This was evident when The Eagles lost in the NFC championship game in early 2009 and The Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup finals in June, 2010.

I don't how to cure this illness but what I do know is I love sports. I am Ryan Rosenbaum and I am a sportaholic.

FAMOUS NOT-SO FAMOUS PEOPLE WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT!!

How many times do you watch a movie, listen to a song or read a book and say “I wonder who that actor, musician and or writer is?” There are a lot of famous people out there who don’t get as much publicity or credit as they should. They are famous because of what they did but rarely get recognized for their work. This is why I am beginning my list of the Top 10 Famous Not-So Famous People.

Some of these names may be vaguely familiar, some may be obscure. The ideal here is that they are not household names. The other element I utilized is that they must still be alive. Obviously being dead means you certainly become forgotten. Let us begin in no particular order…

1. John Young (age 80)- Astronaut

This 1953 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology has been on more space flights than any other American. From 1965 to 1984, he was aboard 6 total trips. Two of those trips went to the moon. He not only walked on the moon but he is one of three people to drive the Lunar Roving Vehicle. Good thing he knows how to drive a stick shift. Even though he is not a household name, he still has a highway in Florida named after him. He also has a Planetarium named after him and he was portrayed in the documentary “The Wonder of It All.”

2. Kim NG

(age 42)- Baseball Executive

It’s tough to be a female executive. It’s even tougher when you are a Chinese American. It’s toughest when you are an executive for a major league sports team. Kim is defying all those odds as the Assistant GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The beauty of her position is that she was not handed this job because of nepotism or as a token of cultural diversity. She did it the old fashioned way, she earned it. She is a graduate of Chicago University.

She studied public policy and played Division 1 softball. She found herself working arbitration cases for Major League Baseball. She also worked as an Assistant GM for the Yankees in the late 90’s. It is not out of the realm of possibilities that she could one be the first female General Manager. She is relatively young, undeniably smart and very well-respected in baseball. It’s just a question of someone giving her the opportunity to shine. It was thought that day would come in the mid 2000’s when she interviewed for the GM job in Seattle but it was not meant to be. Keep your eye on her because she is one to know.

3. Eric Cantor (age 47) – Politician

I could have selected many politicians for this list. The reality is we know so little about them unless they cheat on their wife, have a lovechild or sell a senate seat. In the case of Eric Cantor, he seems to be a morally clean and respectable family man even though he is a pretty slimy congressional politician.

I personally don’t agree with his tactics or his ideological agenda but I really do admire him. It’s important to know his name for a few reasons. Firstly, he is currently the 2^nd highest ranking Republican in the house and after the election tonight, he’ll likely be the House Majority leader. This means we’ll be seeing his face a lot more as the conservative party shapes many new policies these next two years.

I also believe this will inevitably make him a possible candidate for US president or Vice-President in 2012. If I had to guess, I’d lean towards Vice-President. Why does it make sense? For starters he is Jewish and Republicans need Jewish voters to turn the tide in 2012. Not only is he Jewish but he has an outstanding record in causes related to Israel. He also is well-liked by his party and has a good conservative values.

4. Whitney Cummings (age 28) – Comic / Actress

At age 28, Cummings is one of the best up and coming comedians in our country. She has appeared a various “B” television show’s on basic cable but her writing and style as an edgy comic has made her a new fixture on the Comedy Central Roasts and it led to her own comedy special on the same network called “Money Shot”. Variety Magazine made her one of the “Top Ten Comics” to watch and Entertainment Magazine called her “One of the 12 Rising Stars of Comedy.”

She is one of those comics who no one really knows by name but when you see her on TV, you are sucked into her hilarious routine.

5. Roland Martin (age 41)- Columnist and Political Pundit

Chances are that 48% of the country like Roland Martin. Then there is 48% of our population that are Republicans. The other 4% have yet to decide on whether or not they like him. I would classify Roland as a common sense Democrat. That means he has liberal values but is NOT afraid to speak his mind and take shots at his own party if necessary.

You can find him sitting in on the pundit panel of the many political shows on CNN. He comes across as a guy who is both knowledgeable and reasonable. He began his career covering Chicago politics. He hosts a morning talk show in that area and is the editor of the“Chicago Defender.” As a black man in America, he usually provides insights on issues that only he could speak upon. Many of these reflections appear in his book “Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America”

6. Kathryn Bigelow (age 58) – Movie Director

Let me just come out and say that, “The Hurt Locker” was an awful movie. I was completely disappointed but apparently the world disagreed with me and made it the Academy’s pick for best picture of 2009. This also gave Kathryn Bigelow the distinguished privilege of being the first women ever to win Best Director. She learned from the best. She was once married to Avatar / Titanic Movie Director, James Cameron. But is it possible that maybe it was he who lea

rned from the best. In almost all his interviews from the award ceremony, he graciously credited his ex-wife as the brains behind his work. “The Hurt Locker” was the 8^th movie she directed but all of Hollywood is a buzz with what she does next. Due to the miracle of the internet, we can determine that project is a TV movie called “The Miraculous Year” starring Frank Langella. It will take 3 more best director awards till she ties John Ford in that category and becomes more of a household name.

7. Jon Favreau (age 29) – Speechwriter – Not the Actor

Remember the old ad campaign when baseball players claim that “chicks dig the longball?” Perhaps you missed the more mundane commercial where a 24-year-old guy two years removed from his graduation at Holy Cross College found himself in the middle of writing speeches for then Presidential Candidate John Kerry and he uttered the words “Girls dig the speechwriting. Every part of this past statement is true except the “girls digging the speechwriting line.” It should read “”The world digs the speechwriting.”

The young writer nearly gave up on his craft after Kerry lost the election until and old buddy gave him a call. This friend was an Illinois State Senator who remembers Favreau from the 2004 Democratic Convention, where he was helped with a keynote speech. It turns out this State Senator decided to run for president himself and he tapped a now 27-year-old Favreau to be his top speechwriter. The rest is history.

Many people recall the epic battle crys and poetic rhythms in rally speeches that led commentator Chris Matthews to tingle in the legs. It was Jon Favreau (the speechwriter not the actor) that made Obama a crowd pleaser an ultimately our US President. Favreau is now the highest paid staff member in the White House and perhaps the most unrecognized person in politics.

8. Ben Folds (age 44) – Song Writer and Musician

In the mid 1990’s, many of us heard the band “Ben Folds Five” Many knew the songs but never really got to know the musicians. Songs like “My Philosophy,” “Army,” and “Brick.” It became those iconic songs where almost everyone was saying “Who sings that?” The leader of this group Ben Fold Five was a hard luck musician. He spent his time at small bars and fraternity parties. He was signed to a music deal in the early 1990’s and hung in Nashville to wait his opportunity.

Some can argue he is still waiting his dues. He is the modern day Elton John. He is a favorite of Independent music artists and often plays smaller venues. In an age of here-today-gone-tomorrow, he has sustained a career of over 4 decades. He is fresh, dynamic and curious looking. Most importantly he is entertaining and often not recognized. His music is melodic, fun and crosses generations.

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1. S.E. (Sarah Elizabeth) Cupp (age 31) Political Commentator and Red Hot Republican

I recognize that we have several other political figures on this list but S.E is quickly emerging as a sexy but reasonable Republican voice. I first came across her on “Real Time with Bill Maier.” She held her own in a very liberal-focused panel. She is not only an Ivy League standout pundit but apparently she is also a classically trained ballerina and an acclaimed writer. Best of all, she lets her mom blog on her website. How cool is that? Don’t be surprised to see more of her on local shows (S.E not her mom). She has the great combination of being gorgeous and being well-spoken. Take note Fox news; This is the kind of talent you truly need. Greta ain’t doing it for us anymore.

10. Dr. Martin Cooper (age 81) – Inventor of the greatest product of all-time

In 1973, a young division worker for Motorola thought “What if we could have a phone that we carry with us wherever we go?” After battling through some red tape at the FCC, he began to build a prototype. The first call went through in April of 1973. The rest is history. The man is now worth millions of dollars and created a device that is now used by more than half the world. It not only revolutionized the way we communicate but it ultimately changed the way we do business and access information. He does hold the patent and is widely regarded in the industry but it’s not a name that rolls easily off the tongue like Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Ben Franklin.

AGE IS BUT A NUMBER...I GUESS.

How Old Do I Look?

This past Tuesday, I unceremoniously reached the age of 32. This next day, Pamela and I had dinner at parent’s house and my mom said something pretty prolific. She was discussing the moment that she realized she was getting older. Her reflection was that “when we are young, we always want to do things to make ourselves look older. You know you are older when you try to do things to make you feel younger.”

It was interesting to hear, considering I’ve been feeling very passionate about age lately. There are two things that rankle my feathers more than anything in this world.

1. Misperception based on my youthful look

2. Being compared to other people

Let’s tackle these two things. I admit it myself. I look like I’m 23-years-old. It’s both a blessing and a curse. In my personal life it enables me to connect better with a younger generation. It makes me feel better about me and Pamela’s 6.5 year age gap and it gives me a sense of youthful immortality. With that being said, I wish I had more wrinkles, broader shoulders and less of a baby face. My youthful appearance is causing me to lose opportunities and causing people to have the wrong impression of my capabilities.

I’d like to make this point crystal clear. My performance, knowledge and experience in the professional world far exceed what most people assume. It sounds cocky, over-confident but it’s very factual. Other then plastic surgery, there is simply nothing I can do to make me look older. Sure I can put on a suit, dial up my hair and wear cheap cologne. You can also put a tux on a pig but it’s not going to fool anyone.

In a previous job, I was discriminated against simply because I look young. I’m not going to go into great detail nor am I going to waste time with regrets or lawsuits but my young face cost me a career. How do I know this? A few weeks into my executive level job, I was introduced to the president of this organization. We had never met before in our lives. He took one look at me, dropped his head, lost eye contact, give a limp handshake and simply said “Boy, you look young.” My response was, “perhaps you are right but I’m also well-qualified for this position and I can deliver on every promise.” As the job continued, I was told that other staff members would be added to my team to give the client the perception of “gray-haired advisors.” My reply, was “Am I doing something wrong?” “No, you are doing a great job so far,” I was told.

Before long, I was replaced by an older lady, much less qualified then me and it was evident that my departure wasn’t due to skills but due to my thick head of brown hair and my youthful appearance. I am the master of non-verbal communication and although phrases like “you look so young” can clearly give me vibes and signals, so does shoulder-dropping, minimal eye-contact and condescending verbiage like “’Hey buddy,’ ‘Thanks Champ,’ ‘Good Job Kiddo.’” It’s insulting, it’s irritating and it’s simply misaligned.

My overall feeling is that its fair game to ask me about my qualifications and my expertise. I embrace that conversation because we are now getting to facts and not looks. It’s come to the point where I feel the need to disclose that I’m married at job interviews. I recognize it’s a question that’s avoided in interviews but it’s a way for me to indirectly say “I’m older then you may think and I’m also responsible.”

This youthful appearance is not only something that interferes with my job establishment but it also effect’s me to a lesser degree on a personal level. One night Pamela and I were out with my friend and his fiancé. At this juncture of our lives, we were engaged for a few months ourselves but we had been seeing each other for well over two years. At this time, I was around 28 and Pamela was around 22 of age. The engaged couple consisted of my friend, who was around the age of 27 and his fiancé was maybe 26. They were together less than a year and at that point and were gearing up for a wedding in just a few short months.

We were sitting in a coffee shop and having a drink. The thought of my friend getting married was a joy for me. At one point of this evening together, my friend got up to the counter to grab a napkin. As he was up, his then fiancé (now ex-wife) had the audacity to say to us “Boy, you guys are really too young to be getting married.”

To this day, that comment still gets my goat for a myriad of reasons.

A. Last I checked, people can get married once they reach the age of 18.

B. Since when is there an obstruction of marriage based on the principles of simply “looking young?”

C. Age doesn’t determine how prepared you are for marriage. It’s a ceremony based on love, trust and compromise.

D. At that moment, we had a lot more foundation and longevity built into our relationship. Who was she to judge?

As it turns out, their marriage lasted a few months and the more I think about, I realized it was not my friends fault at all. He married a person who believed marriage was a coming of age and not a reflection based on other fundamental principles. My point is that I’m not here to embarrass my friend (notice I’m not mentioning either of their names) but more to bring out a much larger point. I am not defined by my youthful look.

DON’T COMPARE EITHER

Along the same line, I hate being compared to people. More specifically, I don’t want to be compared to those more fortunate than me and to be fair, I don’t want to be compared to people less fortunate than me either. I’m Ryan Rosenbaum, I’m one of a kind individual. In this bland, static and categorized culture, I can truly say that there is not a single human-being out there quite like me.

We are a culture of comparable subjects. Even in the world of celebrity. Chris Johnson is the next Walter Peyton, Christine O’Donnell is the next Sarah Palin, Katy Perry is the next Madonna. Who is the next Oprah? Why can’t you be more like your brother? Who does she remind you of?

I am not defined but what I do and how much I make. This endless comparative measurement drives me mad. Let me get this out of the way, I am an accomplished professional with an MBA and relevant work experience. I am also unemployed. There are inexperienced, unaccomplished, unprofessional people out there making more money and filling prominent positions. I do not take anything away from them nor would I beseech their success but I also wouldn’t dare to compare us because of the size of our wallets or career success..

Here is an example of what I am driving too. I was speaking to someone who is very dear to me the other day. I told this individual that Pamela and I would be purchasing a new home once I secure a new job. This individual began to verbally undress me and compare me to a person in my family, who recently bought a home and happens to be quite wealthy. I have no problem with this family member and I’m actually really happy they purchased a home but we should never be compared. There is nothing to compare. Having a job and money does not make him or anyone else better or any worse than me.

In fairness, this person who verbally undressed me made a more favorable comparison to me with another individual, when I was working and making a decent living. I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now.

These kinds of comparisons are also evident in work environments. In a past profession, I was the only manager to associate with the entry-level employees. I was actually ridiculed and repudiated for associations. The irony is many of these entry-level employees were far more brilliant and productive than many managers (myself included). Their one flaw is they made less money thus had less value in the eyes of the managers. How can we even begin to compare the value of these individuals? You can’t and you shouldn’t. That’s exactly my point.

You can’t measure a person based on economic wealth and you should never compare them to anyone else in life. I know it’s a fun exercise to determine common characteristics but I’m a very individualistic human being that should only be compared to one person…myself.

MY ULTIMATE TRAVEL BLOG

Recently, I thought about all the wonderful cultural explorations I’ve embraced in my life. This blog entry is not meant to be a boasting of my travel but instead a motivation for people to venture out of your cities, go out of the country and leave your cultural footprint on society. This is a challenge I specifically bestow upon my fellow Americans. According to The Expeditioner travel magazine only 22% of Americans even have a passport.

Other studies show that only 5 out of every 10 Americans have travelled more than 200 miles from their hometowns. I find these statistics to be both astounding and troubling. My own travel consists of 1/3 of the entire United States.

I also add to that my travel to over 15 countries in the last 15 years. My visits include, Canada, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Chile, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, The Netherlands, France, Israel and Vietnam.

My definition of a visit is seeing at least one attraction in that countries city. So that eliminates my 10+ hours in the Korean airport. My blog will break down the regions and highlight some of my personal experiences in hopes that it will motivate others to obtain a passport or pack up the car for a road trip to discover your own cultural journeys.

NORTH AMERICA

UNITED STATES:

I have been fortunate enough to visit the following states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, California, Texas, Nevada and Hawaii. Below I will highlight my personal 5 places to visit in the US:

1. Florida

This is a very easy choice for me, mainly because I’ve been to Florida around 7 or 8 times in my life. Most of those visits revolved around Disney World, which I highlighted in my

earlier blogs. (My wife pictured in Right at Disney). Early in my childhood, we visited distant relatives in the Miami area. Most recently, I have an Aunt and Uncle who bought a home in West Palm Beach. Staying with them gives me great serenity and calmness, which can be matched nowhere else in the world. It’s a sweet combination of home comfort with tropic weather.

One of the neatest trips to Florida was in 2009. I had the privilege of doing a guys trip with my buddy Scott-O. The main purpose of the trip was to see the Phillies in spring training. We began the adventure in West Palm Beach. Conveniently we stayed with my aunt and uncle. We also met up with my buddy Mike (L-R Scott-O, Mike and myself). We then rented a car and drove to the other coast and booked an ocean view room on Clearwater Beach. We watched baseball, ate seafood and gazed at hot women in bikinis. This sounds like a no brainer but the best times to go to Florida are from January-April. Not only is it cheaper due to off-peak travel season but it’s nice to get some nice tropic weather when everyone at home is covered in inches of snow.

2. Pennsylvania

It’s obviously my home state but it still amazes me how little people tour their home state. I live on the eastern side. The most populated region being Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. Philadelphia is the birthplace of our nation and it is the home to many of the firsts. Such as the, first firehouse, first library, first bank. Besides being the home of Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross and William Penn, it is also home to some of the country’s most prestigious schools, greatest restaurants and most incredible theater. That’s not to mention our passion and dedication to our 4 major sports teams and countless other sports interests.

Then you count in the western half of the state, which culturally has some wide differences but as the city of Pittsburgh grows it is evident that it also boasts with great colleges, restaurants and tourism. I spent a considerable amount of time in the middle of the state attending college at Penn State in University Park and Altoona. Both very representative of Middle America with agricultural centerpieces and small town focus. There are very places quite like Pennsylvania. Even in statewide + federal elections, pollsters are often uncertain which party would emerge because of the ideological diversity of our state.

3. Texas

Texas is a very underrated and under-appreciated state. There is a sense of state pride that you will not sense anywhere else in this country. Most Americans couldn’t identify what their state flag looks like. People in Texas not only know what their flag looks like but most of them have it waving on their lawns or hanging in their homes. My trip to Texas was generally to visit old camp friends and to see a girl I met in Paris, even if she really didn’t care to see me. I went with a camp buddy of mine and we hit 7 cities in 7 days.

It began in Houston, up to College Station (Go Aggies) then to Temple, Baylor, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin. The highlights of the trip were spitting outside Texas Stadium…Boo Cowboys. Checking out Dealey Plaza, where JFK was shot, walking through the Riverwalk in San Antonio and watching The Philadelphia Sixer’s play in Houston. At that time it was one of the lowest scoring OT games in the Sixers history. I think the final score was like 85-84.

My favorite city was Austin. At the time we had a friend going to Texas University (Hook’em Horns). He introduced us to a few restaurants and festivals in the area. It made our time there a lot of fun.

4. Hawaii

(Pictured above. Me and my wife para-sailing + dancing hula gals). This was one of the longest trips I’ve ever taken. There was also lots of romance on this trip but that’s because it was our Honeymoon. It was a strange trip as the plane ride was over 12-hours long and we technically never left the country. Up to that point, my longest plane ride was nearly 8-hours to Israel. Hawaii might have well been a foreign country because the vibe and culture is nothing that can be appropriately compared to any American city. It’s a combination of 7 Polynesian influences on 8 different Islands.

There are only 5 islands that are considered tourist destinations. We hit the three most popular, The Big Island (Kona), Oahu and Maui. Each stop was carefully planned to represent different types of a travel experiences. They included historical, relaxation and adventure.

Oahu was our first and historical stop. Its capital is Honolulu, home of our current US president. We stayed on Waikiki Beach and it was so beautiful and mesmerizing to absorb. We were there for 3 days and the schedule included stops at Pearl Harbor, The Iolani Palace, which sticks out like a sore thumb in a heavily metropolis cityscape. We also headed North Shore to visit the Dole Plantation and the Polynesian Cultural Center, which can only be described as a thematic and fun attraction center that helps tourists understand the Polynesian cultures.

The highlight there was seeing a Luau and being seated next to former Philadelphia Eagle’s Via Sikahema, Chad Lewis and Koy Detmer. It was a super cool triple celebrity sighting.

We then flew 35 minutes to the Big Island for relaxation. We stayed for 3 nights. My wife really wanted to stay in Kona Village, which is one of the very few all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii. It is also the most unique place I’ve ever stayed in my life, which also means it was also the most expensive place I’ve ever stayed. The prices ranged from $300 a night to $800 a night. We went middle of the road and spent $595 a night. It was not your typical hotel rooms. There were individual luxury huts. There were no TVs or computers. It was just the open air, awesome hot-tubs / pools and excellent meals. We also saw Luau number 2.

The adventure part of the trip was Maui. This was the shortest flight I’ve ever taken. It was 22-minutes long from Kona. We stayed at the Marriot in Wailea. We stayed for 7-nights. We took a hike to see waterfalls, we parasailed on the beach, drove the Hana Highway, which is the most dangerous road in America with 612 hairpin turns and 53 one lane bridges over a 33 mile stretch. We went deep sea snorkeling, where I puked all over some Koi fish and we had some of the most incredible meals I ever tasted…and paid for. The highlight was the last night. It was our 3^rd Hawaiian Luau and by far the best Luau. It was the most authentic and was the only Luau that was a sit-down service as opposed to a buffet. It was called The Feast of LeLe. I really enjoyed my honeymoon. Afterall, you only have 3 of them in a lifetimeJ

5. California

(My wife and I on the walk of fame)

I’ve been to California twice. Both times I was in the southern region. The first time was with my college buddy and the second time was with my wife. You can imagine that the trips varied in activities. The time I went with my buddy, we went to see three baseball games (In Anaheim, San Diego and Los Angeles). We saw a live taping of the “Best Damn Sports Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” We also hit the comedy clubs, night clubs and drove across the Pacific Coast Highway.

The trip with my wife included the tour of Hollywood homes, a trip to the theater and a romantic walk on Venice beach. The best thing about Southern California is that it’s always 80 degrees and beautiful. There is something for everyone. You really do feel like a star as you sit in the celebrity seats in the Kodak Theater. It is where some of the major awards shows are held, including The Academy Awards.

MEXICO

My wife and I made a few stops in Mexico. They included Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. Each offered a unique and interesting approach to relaxation, adventure and eco-tourism.

In Cabo San Lucas we swam with Dolphins, in Puerto Vallarta we swung down 20 ziplines in a canopy tour and in Mazatlan where we witnessed a man jump from a 40-foot cliff into a pond that was five feet deep. After he emerged he asked all witnesses to give him tip money for accomplishing his near-suicidal feat. We didn’t feel as though tipping was necessary and instead we gave our money to a hobo guitar player singing Bob Marley tunes.It was a safer trick in our eyes.

Mexico can be very dangerous. There are petty crimes and corrupt policeman. If you can overlook all that then you will also experience some great shopping and tons of tourist attractions.

CANADA:

I was fortunate enough to visit Canada twice. My first trip was at an early age. My parents took the family to Toronto. I vividly recall the thrill of the Niagara Falls as we boarded the Maid of The Mist boat tour…and yes we did get sprinkled from the falls. We also visited the hockey hall of fame, where I got the autograph of NHL great Paul Coffey.

My second trip to Canada was also with my family. This time the destination was Montreal. I was a teenager and the purpose of the trip was oddly enough to visit our old Rabbi. My recollection of this trip was a visiting the botanical gardens, exploring underground walking tunnels and visiting the old Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1976 Winter Olympics.

CENTRAL AMERICA

Costa Rica

This was such an awesome trip because it hit me on many levels. It was a week long educational trip with my MBA class. It’s a very poor but developing country. We stayed in a luxury 2 star hotel, which by their standards was nice but by our standards was 1 level below outdoor living. I shared a room with my buddy Ed.

There was no TV, no temperature controls, two tiny single beds w/ mosquito nets and a bathroom that had the toilet nearly overlapping into the shower. The entire room was around 70 square feet. But it was nestled in the most gorgeous climate I’ve ever felt. What I remember most was getting a low internet connection on my computer from the hotel office. I then put on my slingbox and was watching the Phillies game while sitting under my mosquito net bed in San Jose, Costa Rica.

While on the trip we met with business leaders, many ironically were American. One guy made nearly $1 million a year breeding butterflies. We also met a multi-million dollar CEO who ran a coffee farm. We met with educators and delegates from Peace University and we even viewed the Poas Volcano. As a special treat to our hard work, we spent two nights in Manual Antonio. It is one of the biggest eco-tourist areas in the world but I thought we’d never make it there alive.

During the bus ride, there were two dangerous bridges. The first being a short bridge that had a metal structure but no planks. The street workers literally placed the planks on the bridge as we crossed. Equally as scary was a suspension bridge we rode over on the way home. There is nothing safer then being swayed on a 2-ton motor vehicle while you are hundreds of feet in the air.

The payoff was great as we toured a beautiful national park and swam in what felt like the most tranquil and refreshing beach ever. All these activities took place while being surrounded by monkeys frolicking about their business. It was also there that I got to experience whitewater rafting for the first time. It was so incredible and even more memorable. As it turns out, I used Costa Rica as my research city for my business school capstone.

Belize

This place was un-Belize-able. Sound corny? Trust me every native says this to you when they introduce their country. They have an insane amount of country pride. My wife and I had the pleasure of cave diving and shopping in the quaint little country nestled on the coast of the Caribbean Sea.

Honduras

Honduras was also on the same trip as Belize. In truth, we didn’t have much time for anything except shopping. I got myself a bundle of Honduran crafted cigars. My wife got a Honduran crafted pocketbook. Somehow the woman always wins.

SOUTH AMERICA

Chile

I was in Chile for a conference. It happened to be in a time where the World Cup was going on. It turns out that Chile won their match, a first for them in decades, thus it ended with the streets turning into joyous chaos. It was a beautiful site to see a warm metropolitan city flanked by the snow-topped hills of the Andes Mountains. Chile also has two of the finest vineyards in all of South America. It was a nice trip but would have been more eventful if I wasn’t there strictly for business.

THE TROPICAL ISLANDS

Bahamas

I was in the Bahamas on several occasions. Besides the crystal clear blue water and nice sandy beaches, you will also find the touristy straw markets and the view from the Atlantis, which is hotel / resort to marvel at and stay, if you have some deep pockets.

Grand Cayman

I was very surprised about how much there is to see and do in Grand Cayman. They are the rum capital of the world. In specific, they make very good rum cake, which is a pound cake with a kick. They have an incredible turtle farm and equally interesting stingray beach (Yes it’s safe to swim) but what takes the cake is their tiny town of Hell. Yes it’s a real town with a real post office. A guy dressed like Satan greets you with pleasantries like, “Where the hell you from?” Very classy. I guess I can claim that I’ve been to hell and back.

EUROPE

To date I’ve visited 6 countries in Europe. The continent can be defined by rich history, lots of churches and even more bars. The people here live a generally laid back kind of life and on the low end; they get 6-weeks of vacation a year. No wonder they live a healthier and relaxed kind of lifestyle.

1. ENGLAND

I’ve traveled to this country three times between the years 1999-2007. It’s not only my favorite place in Europe but it may be my favorite country in the world (Outside the US of course). My first visit was as an undergraduate student. I spent 6-months in Manchester, which is a three hour train ride north of London and three hours south of Scotland. I was 20-years-old and the world was my oyster. It was the first time I ever left the country and I hit all 3 stages of culture shock.

Stage 1 – The curiosity to explore new places

Stage 2 – Homesickness and tired of living in a new cultural

Stage 3 – Wanting to stay in this new country just a little longer

Because I was in a foreign country with fellow students, I got to use my weekends and visit tons of cities around the country. These places included Manchester, Chester, Liverpool, Oxford, Blackpool, Stratford Upon Avon, Sheffield, Sallafield, Bath, Stonehenge, Preston, Bolton, Andover and of course, London.

Liverpool was incredible place because it is the home of the Beatles. Think of it as the Graceland of England. As I boarded “The Magical Bus Tour” we saw the childhood homes of John, Paul, Ringo and George.

We also saw the famed Strawberry Fields boys home that Paul made into a dandy song. We also rode down Penny Lane (Yes there is a real Penny Lane with a barber shop a roundabout and all). Liverpool is also home to the world’s most famous club called “The Cavern.” Literally thousands of famous musicians have played there. Liverpool also has a pretty cool marina to take in some nautical highlights.

Sallafield is also any interesting site to see. Its most famous attraction is the Sallafield nuclear facility. This is England’s’ version of our 3-mile island. As students we took a trip to learn about the facility. All I remember is that we were not allowed to bring cameras because it could cause some radiation build-up. We were also given badges to wear that served the duality of measuring our radiation intake. They let us know a week after leaving if we would be ok with radiation intake levels. No one feared a thing. We all took the chance. After all we were in our 20’s, we were all immortal.

London of course is the best city in the world. Their train system “The Tube” is the easiest and cleanest in the world. There are loads of sights to see. They include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abby, The Thames River, The Globe Theater, tons of shopping at Heralds, The Tower Bridge of London, The English Parliament, The London Eye, loads of theater and some of the greatest taverns in the world. It was simply incredible.

My 2^nd trip to England was in 2004 to visit my old classmates. My 3^rd trip was in 2007 as an educational experience with my MBA class. I have a close friend that I met in camp that lives in England. I really like to go back again but I’m not sure when that time will be. I consider England to be my home away from home. I feel comfortable and oddly attached to their culture.

2. WALES

I spent an entire day in Wales, which falls under my definition of “a visit.” This was also a trip while an undergrad student. We went to the castle in Conwy, which was the first castle I have ever seen at that point. It was a good one because this castle was built in the 1282-1283. Even though it is no longer functional, it’s still neat to see how and where royalty lived. Consequently, the Welsh also lay claim to the smallest house in the UK. Its right neat the Conwy Castle and its super cool to see.

3. SCOTLAND

I visited the town of Edinburgh, which also has an incredible castle too see. It’s also the home town of movie-great, Sean Connery. It’s always fun to see men in kilts, with no shame. It’s a way of life for them. They also push their whiskey upon you so if you are a lightweight then be careful and take small sips. My favorite part of the trip was the climb on Arthurs Seat. It’s the largest mountain in Scotland and I made it to the summit.

4. IRELAND

I was in Ireland during the week of St. Patrick’s Day in 1999. You definitely get the flavor of the country during that holiday. It may sound cliché but it truly is the greenest country in terms of color. Incredible sights and the most jolly people around. I stayed in a hostel in Dublin and even the custodial staff can’t help but to sing about everything. There is anything more graceful then a man singing while he plunges a toilet. One of the neatest places to visit is Grafton Street. Its home to lots of shopping and street performers. Right beyond that district is Oscar Wilde Park (named for the famous writer). That park was also very green.

5. THE NETHERLANDS

By far this is one of the most bizarre places I have ever visited. I went with my cousin who was in college and interested in the sinful things the country had to offer. We stayed in a hotel 3 blocks from the red light district and we had a blast window shopping for prostitutes. Let the records show that neither of us spent the money for this hmm…”Tourist Attraction.” But it was interesting to see women try their best to earn my affection, I mean money. The streets are also lined with “coffee shops.”These are in reality marijuana shops with coffee served as a decoy. I might have been the only guy who goes into one these shops and has the audacity to order a coffee.

Among the naughty enlightenments, we also took in some cultural sights. The most surreal experience being a tour of the Anne Frank House. I was literally standing in the actual attic where Anne Frank lived with her family before she was captured and sent to the concentration camp. The bookcase still in tact and the experience completely mind-blowing. We also visited the Van Gogh Museum and toured the Heineken Brewery. The streets of Amsterdam are filled with lots of cyclists and surrounded by gorgeous canals. It’s not uncommon for people to live in docked house boats.

5. FRANCE

I spent 4 days in Paris, France. This was with two fellow students on my study abroad tour. It would be an understatement to say that Paris has the most beautiful buildings in the world. Obviously the most famous being the Eiffel Tower. We also went to the Louvre, which has a pyramid-shaped glass entrance that leads to its art collection underground. The most famous painting being “Mona Lisa.”

On day two of our trip, we were visiting the cathedral of Notre Dame. We befriended two gals who were visiting from Texas. That was the day I fell in love with Texas. Her name was Carolyn, she was blond, she was cute and we were in the land of romance. We spent the next few days getting acquainted around town. Nothing sweeter then kissing on the Arc de Triumph.

But likeTexas itself, she was a nice place to visit but I didn’t want to live there. She retreated back to the bible-belt of Baylor University and I went home and confessed my interfaith relations with my Rabbi. I did see her a year later when I visited Texas. Things were much different but at least we can look back and say “There’s always Paris.”

ASIA

Israel

I went to the holy-land for free. It was 3 weeks before I graduated from college and there were some very wealthy men looking to send Jewish college students to Israel. It was an honor sharing that experience with a close friend of mine, who was also a student at the time. Similarly to The Netherlands, I was in awe of seeing landmarks up close that most could only see in history books. A prime example is the Western Wall. What I remember most about the wall was that we saw it on the day we arrived thus we were all so jet-lagged. I nearly fall asleep on the wall. One of the appropriate things to do is to write some wishes on a piece of paper and stick it in one of the crevices of the wall. My wish that day was for more sleep.

It was one of the most intense trips I ever took because it was 10 days filled with activities and very little downtime. We went digging in caves, saw the place where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, climbed the Masada, ate lunch in a small village with the Drews people, Walked through Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial) and walked through campus of Tel-Aviv University. My trip to Israel also captured three other important moments for me. It was an opportunity to see the sunset on the Mediterranean equinox, which is one of the most breath-taking things I’ve experienced in my life. I also swam in the Dead Sea, which is one of the oddest things I’ve ever experienced in my life. You literally float above water. It has the highest saturation of salt in the world. Thus it’s impossible to drown. Lastly, I met a gal…again. Although it was a very brief romance (maybe 2 days at the most) it’s still nice to be a Casanova wherever one travels.

Vietnam

This was perhaps the most enlightening trips I ever took. This was also for a conference. I made sure I arrived a few days early because this trip had a very profound effect on me.

My dad fought in Vietnam in the late 1960’s. Even though the conference was in the north and he was in the south, I was still able to see enemy territories and quite frankly it was appalling. My hotel overlooked West Lake, which is where Senator McCain was shot down and subsequently taken to the Hoa Lo Prison (AKA The Hanoi Hilton).

The prison itself had a different portrayal of history too. They wanted tourists to believe that American POW’s were treated with decency. John McCain was beaten so badly that he couldn’t lift his arm above his head. Where’s the decency there? It was propaganda at its finest but it was still interesting to walk the same path as our American soldiers. Hanoi itself is a very poor country. $1 gets you a cab almost anywhere. $15 gets you a solid 60 minute foot rub and a 4 star hotel will run you around $75 a night. The streets are lined with merchants selling anything you could make with your hands. It was the most uncomfortable weather I ever endured. One could sweat in Hanoi by simply looking outside the window. The trip was capped off with a 2 day / 2 night regal river cruise on the Halong Bay. The bay was lined with incredible rock formations and even a floating fishing village. It was an incredible trip to see how a country operates in a poor and developing country.

CREATE YOUR OWN DESTINATION

I don’t profess to be a travel agent or an ambassador of any one country. I will say that there is something for everyone to see in this world. If you are a lover of beaches and tropic weather, I suggest Hawaii or the Bahamas. If you are a person who enjoys history then Israel and France may be your taste. If you want pop culture then Hollywood and Disney World is the right place. But sitting on your couch and watching on television only qualifies one as an imagination traveler. There is something to be said about touching, feeling, smelling, tasting and seeing what makes us unique as an American and an inhabitant of mankind.

2010 MY OSCAR REVIEWS

MY OSCAR PREVIEW

Every year we go through this charade of nominating films that experts believe to be true works of art. Personally I prefer the award shows that are based on the public opinion, but as a society we have grown to recognize the Academy Awards as the most prestigious show. Every year I make it a point to be the ultimate pop culture maven and see each of the 5 best nominated films, so that I can be a well-informed viewer of this award show. This year the Academy threw us a curveball. They decided to nominate the 10 best pictures. They can justify and spin this decision in any direction but it’s very evident to me why this decision was made. They wanted suckers like me to see all these films and the best way to ensure that is to nominate them. In interest of time, I will score all 10 movies but I’ll recap my top 7 favorites. These are not predictions but rather reflections. My requirements are quite simple. I like to take essential elements in moviemaking and see them bond together into a story worth watching. I want to come away from the movie feeling some emotion (Happy, Anger, bewilderment, anguish). There is one quality I don’t want to feel coming out of the theater and that is benevolence.

#10

District 9 – Overall Score 51 out of 100

#9

An Education – Overall Score 57 out of 100

#8

A Serious Man – Overall Score 60 out of 100

#7

THE HURT LOCKER

OVERALL SCORE: 77 out of 100

Let me make this very clear. The movie is completely overrated by the critics and is perhaps the most disappointing movie of this crop in my eyes. I admit that I came into this movie expecting it to be more than it delivered. I am partial to war movies and explosives. It came across as very indulgent and lacked a fluid story with dialogue that bonds together an entire production. It was filmed with limited cameras as if to portray a pseudo-documentary but the story disappeared after the first sequence. I would say that the first 10 minutes of the firm set such a high standard that it was never able to match that momentum for the final120 minutes.

PLOT: 18 out of 20. The plot takes us to Iraq where we follow an elite trio of men whose duty it is to diffuse bombs. The idea itself is an important story to tell because of how true it rings today. This is not a work of fiction. This is a real job with real people in a real war in real time.

WRITING: 12 out of 20. Obviously the movie itself takes liberties with the characters. One of these liberties is to create friction by having one of these characters to be a hotshot technician who doesn’t obey orders. Other then that plot development, the story comes across as 4-5 vignettes of real life situations, a car bomb, a random firefight and a bunch of IEDS. The storylines of these characters were pretty generic and it never really built into anything more than a bunch of men diffusing bombs. Maybe the purpose was to make it feel unscripted. If that were truly the case, I never felt any emotional attachment to what they were doing and to be honest, I never felt the tenseness that should be felt when watching a character I should care about. If they wanted to create suspense, they should have cast Jack Bauer instead.

DIRECTION: 14 out of 20. Once again the Oscars selected Kathleen Bigelow as the nominee because it’s a good story. She could be the first female to win as best director and she is up against her ex-husband James Cameron. Other than the Oscar storylines, I didn’t see much in the film that said, “Wow, this was nicely directed.”

ACTING: 15 out of 20. The Actor who played William James (Jeremy Renner) stuck out a bit because the perspective of the movie became more about his journey then the others. The other guys seemed to graciously support his role but in a film with minimal focus on character development, it’s kind of hard to select great performances.

DESIGN: 18 out of 20. There is nothing more authentic then recreating the scenes in the streets, deserts and locations where a lot of these bombs are set off in real life. I believe this movie was shot in the mideastern countries of Kuwait and Jordan. It’s very plausible that the element of danger for the actors was more intense then the characters that they portrayed. It was also neat getting a peak into the bomb outfits, terrain and barracks of a typical unit would see in action. Very realistic vibe.

# 6

AVITAR

OVERALL SCORE: 84 out of 100

It was perhaps the most publicly anticipated movie of the crop. Truthfully I would have skipped seeing if it wasn’t being presented as the Oscar favorite. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the difference between a generic sci-fi flick and an Oscar contender is the pure fact that this movie was presented in 3D. To the films credit, it was an innovative way of reframing the movie theater experience and James Cameron can now be considered a pioneer.

DIRECTION: 18 out of 20. In a way this aspect can be overlooked by some. Due to the special effects, the actors needed a very detailed description of time, place and situation. This movie was mostly shot in vacant lots with no concrete props or settings. They had to reply on the vision of the director. Because of this unique scenario, I give high grades to Director, James Cameron to helping present his vision on how the characters should move and react.

PLOT: 13 out of 20: The concept was there but the plot became stale and somewhat predictable. It was easy to see how things were developing and how things were going to end. It also became evident that it stole themes from Dances with Wolves and The Matrix. They say that art imitates life and it really felt like a future version of the Iraq war. Instead of fighting for oil these people were fighting for some expensive mineral rocks under a tree. The plot became a bit unimaginative.

WRITING: 15 out of 20: The dialogue itself was not memorable. I feel that on the surface the words themselves helped paint a picture of what was happening in the movie but it still felt like lines could have been easily substituted with lines from epic pictures like “Dances with Wolves” or “The Gladiator.”

They've sent us a message... that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send them a message. That this... this is our land!....”And Tell Them Scotland is Free”

ACTING: 18 out of 20. It’s odd because in this particular movie the acting and direction is essentially tied together as much as the writing and plot. In other words, my salute to the acting is for the same reasons I gave to the direction. It’s a lot easier to play your role when the actor has something to hold, use or incorporate into their character. If you saw how this movie is created, you gain a much bigger appreciation on how the actors got from point “A” to point “B.” These actors never saw what Pandora looked like until the film was edited together. It’s kind of the same reason I appreciate actors that work with cartoons because in Hollywood these cartoons are created in post production. For these reasons, I believe Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington were overlooked for best actor / actress nominations.

DESIGN: 100 out of 100: When you see this film, particularly in 3D IMAX, you realize that you are witnessing the Picasso of cinematography. The layers of thought into the land of Pandora and even the portal tombs of transformation given to Jake Sully (Don’t call me Sullenberger) illustrates the beauty, wonder and innovation 3D can bring to the movie experience. The way the fierce Pandora animals were illuminated and the glorious battle near the films end truly made me feel like I was in the middle of an amusement park attraction. To simply say it was amazing would be an understatement. It was a true creation to which all films will try to replicate.

# 5

INGLORIUS BASTARDS

TOTAL SCORE – 85 out of 100

This movie had a little bit of everything. It had comedy and gore. A friend of mine thought the pacing was slow (The movie is 2 hrs and 30 minutes). I think that pacing was sacrificed for authenticity. Around 70% of the movie is in subtitles. I don’t think it detracted from the overall value of the movie but it did make the viewer focus harder to stay on top of the plot.

DIRECTION – 19 out of 20. Besides Scorsese, there may not be a better filmmaker better than Quentin Tarintino at this time. The beauty of his films is they do have similar elements, which make the viewer recognize his style instantly. From the quirky direction to the perfectly selected music intertwined. This movie may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s hard to dispute the full composition of this Tarintino work of art.

PLOT – 16 out of 20 – You really have to suspend everything you knew about Nazis and Jews. Like “Hurt Locker,” it seemed more like vignettes than a fluid progressive plot. Unlike “The Hurt Locker,” this plot was more effective because these “chapters” actually came to together to tell a story. It was an odd story but it least it tied together in the end.

WRITING –19 out of 20 – If we are studying words and dialogue, you must recognize that the first 20 minutes of the film set the stage. There were great moments and none of it got lost in translation. It skipped from uncomfortable laugher to poignant changes.

ACTING – 14 out of 20 – None of the Bastards distinguished themselves. Brad Pitts character (Aldo) was naturally good and the performance by Melanie Laurant, who played Shoshanna, is underrated but this movie was not made to feature individual talents. It was constructed as an ensemble piece. In that respect it was successful. I really did enjoy how Tarintino worked in a Cameo by Mike Meyers.

DESIGN – 17 – 20 – Nothing really stuck out. It did have a certain authenticity to the period of time the movie represented but most scenes were shot in restaurants, homes, fields and a movie theater. My grade is in acknowledgement of the detail of the time period.

#4

UP

TOTAL SCORE: 88 OUT OF 100

In the story of “Up” you must suspend your norms of reality and recognize that it can take a far different approach then traditional films because it is as an animated film. The aspects that make this a best picture contender are ever-present in the recipe for best pictures. It has a story that is well-told. There are characters I care about and the writer has a storyboard that incorporates any blockbuster film. It has a beginning, middle and an end. Sounds like a simple philosophy that often gets tinkered with and in lost with other films.

PLOT: 17 out of 20. The movie focuses in on Carl Fredrickson, a retired ballooner (It’s the best way I can describe a character with a deep love and expertise for balloons). He decides to fulfill his lifelong dream that he had with his deceased wife and build a house in Paradise Falls , located in South America. He turns his house into a giant hot air balloon and takes off on what he thought would be a solo journey. What he didn’t account for was an 8-year-old wilderness scout sneaking along for the ride. Together it creates a dynamic that really warmed my heart as I felt like I was part of their journey.

DIRECTION: 16 out of 20. It’s hard to measure or compare because the role of director in an animated film as far different then a feature film. The one consistency is to help bridge the actor voices and the storyline in a way that makes sense to the audience. In a way, Bob Peterson and Pete Doctor created this experience. The true heroes of this film are the 200 plus animation directors and art directors that bring these characters to life on the screen.

ACTING: 19 out of 20. Once again a tough category to judge since it’s based purely on voiceovers. In that respect, I can say that Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer steal the show but we also have to recognize the voice of Russell. The role was performed by an actual 8-year-old child, Jordan Nagai. I point this out because cartoon children are often voiced by adults who can age their voices to fit the role. I find it amazing that they found a real life child to fit this role.

WRITING: 19 out of 20. When you utilize the word writing it goes beyond simple words. It speaks more about how they advance the plot. When I reflect upon all 10 nominated films this year, I think back to the memorable lines and I try to imagine, which were the best. In “Up” there was a 5-minute moment that takes the cake in best writing in this year’s crop of films. It consisted of a simple montage of two children meeting, falling in love and growing old together. It was unbelievable because it was so true to form of real life. They had their careers, their dreams but more importantly they did all together. Every time they saved for something big, something else became a priority. When the dream of travelling to South America became a reality, the wife got ill and then passed. I’m not going to lie, I cried. I felt something at that moment and throughout the film. For that it earns a perfect score.

DESIGN: 17 out of 20. I don’t want to downplay the work required to do a Disney film. Watching a house fly with balloons was majestic. It took imagination and creativity to put it all together. So my respect for this film goes beyond the setting but more about the music and sound that goes into the total package of this film.

# 3

UP IN THE AIR

OVERALL SCORE: 89 out of 100

This movie explores a topic that often gets neglected in TV shows and movies. In a world where there are dozens of detective, hospital and reality shows, we have a lifestyle that is portrayed in a moving and in poetic light. There is an underground society of frequent travelers. These are people who do a significant amount of travel during their career. I know the type because my brother-in-law and mother-in-law fit this bill. They each have the code of airport-speak and each of them proudly announces what their airline status is and how many points that can acquire to get the next best deal. They know their way around most domestic airports and can tell you the best restaurants in each city. These are the kind of characters we follow in “Up in the Air.”

DIRECTION – 16 out of 20 – The setting, time and direction is pretty simplistic but for a movie that dares to just tell a story without gunfight and car chases, it’s better suited for this style.

PLOT – 18 out of 20 – This is up for interpretation but the fact that I have no other movie of its kind to compare it to, leaves me to admire its originality and unique twists in discovering the lifestyles of the well-traveled.

WRITING – 20 out of 20 – Brilliantly written. There are memorable lines that not only advance the plot but advance the characters intentions. There are two scenes in particular that strike me as movie magic. One involves the three main characters having a poignant discussion on marriage from 2 generational aspects. The other involves Clooney’s Character and Kendrick’s character in an awesome verbal debate near the end of the movie.

ACTING – 20 out of 20 – It’s a small cast. Really it centers around 3 main characters who have all been nominated for Oscars.

DESIGN – 15-20 –Nothing to brag home about. The film only cost $5 million to make, which is chump change in Hollywood. But most of the plot takes place in airport terminals and hotel rooms. So the need for a big blue prototype from Pandora was not a necessity for this comedic introspective.

TOTAL SCORE: 89 out of 100

# 2

THE BLINDSIDE

OVERALL SCORE: 95 out of 100

This is the most underrated and least talked about movie of 2009. In my opinion it had something for everyone. It appealed to a mass audience and it had a great foundation of characters. It told the story of an unwanted teen who gets passed on from foster home to foster home until a wealthy suburban couple takes him in, changes his life and helps him realize his life dream of playing in the NFL.

PLOT: 20 out of 20. There is nothing better for a movie then a plot that already exists. It was a true rag to riches story. It’s about a black teenage boy without a home and a terrible upbringing who overcomes his inabilities and inefficiencies. He captures the love of a random white suburban family, who help change his life and turn him into a better man and even better football player.

DIRECTION: 19 out of 20. John Lee Hancock was overlooked as best director. I think critics felt that since the story already existed, there was nothing more to explore in this story. What I loved about this film was that it was primarily told from the perspective of the mother Leigh Anne Tuohy but at different parts of the film, the story is presented from the perspective of the father, the sister, the brother, the tutor and the main character himself. It was very subtle but well thought out.

WRITING: 17 out of 20. The writing was often cliché and predictable but it served its purpose. It did advance the film but in a way that was more Hollywood and less true to form. It’s unlikely that the young son helped physically train the main character, Michael Oher. Its also unlikely that Leigh Anne Tuohy helped the high school team by coaching from the stands but then again the movie was based on real life events and not literal on real life events.

ACTING: 20 out of 20. Another perfect score. It is common that an actress gets chosen for an Oscar for sentimental reasons. It’s very plausible that Sandra Bullock will earn this truly on merits. Her stiffest completion could be Gabourey Sidbe of “Precious” whose chilling performance is also Oscar worthy. The most compelling performance in this film came from the least likely character, Jae Head. He was obviously given some juicy one liners but he came across as a child who had honesty and likability to his role. It’s much different then Macaulay Culkin or Haley Joel Osmont as the cute young stars of their time. Jae Head actually came across as less indulgent and more believable as the wide-eyed super involved brother in this film.

DESIGN: 19 out of 20. It had fun music, great football scenes and I felt the Memphis presence. It was the perfect backdrop for the film.

# 1

PRECIOUS

OVERALL SCORE: 97 out of 100

Every so often a story hits you right in the gut and makes you appreciate everything that you have in life. Something as simple as a decent home filled with love and a meal more delicious then hairy pig’s feet and stolen drumsticks.

PLOT: 19 out of 20. This story is unfortunately the reality of a lot of black women in America. Precious is abused at home, on welfare, has a limited education and is mocked by her peers. The beauty of this story is that we are can see a better future for her. We see her overcome these obstacles and stand up for herself. It projects strength through adversity and with just a little bit of support and self realization, Precious becomes more than a name, it’s a gift. I loved everything that this film stood for even during its most chilling moments.

DIRECTION: 20 out of 20. Lee Daniels unfortunately finds himself cluttered in the one category abundant of talent, Best Directors. That’s not to take anything away from his vision. I keep using the word chilling but when you combine it with compelling, you have a parlay of unique characteristics that bring us into this world that so few of us know much about. I imagine that the typical movie viewer lacks the compassion to make this movie more of a mainstream buzz. Not me, I felt something much deeper then what you get from leaving a movie theater. It made me think a little bit deeper about those who were born into a misfortunate environment then most. These thoughts are directly associated with how Lee Daniels presents his ideas, themes and visions of beauty versus vulgar. This was presented in the scenes where Precious suffered the most, she always dreamed of the best.

WRITING: 19 out of 20. One of my favorite lines is that “Every journey begins with a single step.” I love how this story evolved and how every moment was suspenseful and impactful. The actually spoken words between mother and child were captivating and filled with veracity and intrigue. I also felt Precious build a trust with the social worker and alternative teacher in equally powerful moments presented in spoken word.

ACTING: 20 out of 20. Every single actor in this film was outstanding with no exaggeration. From the students in Precious class to the scary portrayal of her mother Mary. If there were a best acting ensemble, this would be the clear winner.

DESIGN: 19 out of 20. How does one create a scene of such despair and yet enlightenment? It was a difficult task but it was relative and truthful to the story. The sound design was a bit underappreciated. The music appealed to the feel of the movie.

TOTAL SCORE 97 out of 100