Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Nerd Alert
Taking a holiday interlude from all things baseball for a minute, I was noodling around with the idea of top Five lists and came up with a bunch to share with you, just cause, well, I like to stimulate conversation, what can I say?
Five Great Stones Songs to Crank:
1. "Monkey Man" Scorsese was so cool to use it in "Good Fellas"
2. "Midnight Rambler"
3. "Stray Cat Blues"
4. "Doo, doo (Heatbreaker)" Organ riff is stupendous.
5. "Rocks Off" "The sunshine bores the daylights outta me..." Great moment.
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" is pretty damn slammin' too. I especially like the first three minutes.
Five Fun End Title Movie Sequences:
1. "Diner" Could listen to those dicks yenta-it-up all day...
2. "Liar, Liar" Carey is hilarious but Swoozie Kurtz gets the biggest laugh. To his credit, Carey is a good sport about it too.
3. "Cannonball Run" Classic, Burt and Dom schtick.
4. "Grumpy Old Men" Burgess Meredith steals the show with his "blue" material.
5. "Married to the Mob" At the very tail of the credits is a small scene, an epilogue of sorts, between Mathew Modine and Michelle Pfieffer. They dance together along the steps of a courthouse or a museum to a latin tune. She slowly moves backwards and he inches closer. Just as he gets to her, she backs into the handrailing, and quickly tumbles backwards. He lurches forward to grab her and just as he grabs her, she's far back enough to smack her head and...freeze. They freeze the frame. And you're just like, damn, no way that fall wasn't going to hurt. But Pfieffer totally gave herself to the scene. Got to give her credit. Onions!
Five Great New York Movies ('70s, '80s Edition)
1. "Dog Day Afternoon" Is Brooklyn in the house?
2. "Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3" Every pastrami-on-rye-character actor in New York is in this movie. With Mathau in the lead, how can you go wrong?
3. "Tootsie" Not really thought of a New Yorkk movie but was in every way. Murray is a monster in the supporting role. It's my favorite Dustin Hoffman performance.
4. "Annie Hall" Classic Woody, filmed all over the city.
5. "Moscow on the Hudson" One of Robin Williams' best, from uptown to the lower east side, this is an over-looked New York flick.
Five Great Baseball References in non-Baseball Movies
1. "The Odd Couple" Oscar misses a triple play because Felix gets him on the phone asking some old wifey questions.
2. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" Nicholson narrating Koufax pitching against the Yanks in the 1963 World Serious.
3. "Woman of the Year" Tracy takes Hepburn to a baseball game. Her interactiion with the fan sitting behind her is the highlight of the sequence.
4. "The Cameraman" Buster Keaton's first movie for MGM. Keaton plays a cameraman who goes to Yankee Stadium one afternoon only to find that the team is out of town. So Keaton plays and imaginary game of baseball--pitcher to the hitter--and ends up swinging and circling the bases. It must have been filmed in 1927, and the footage looks great.
5. "In the Bedroom" I haven't seen the whole movie, but I did see a sequence toward the end of the film where the father of the dead boy captures the boy's killer, and is driving him in a car to a place where he plans to kill him. And as they drive there is a Red Sox game playign on the radio. They let the radio call go on and it adds a good deal of subtle--even comic--distraction to tension at hand.
Honorable Mention:
"Ferris Bueller" The classic chant. I was never really down with that chant, but it caught most everybody's imagination for a minute there.
"Mystic River" Opening scene, dudes talking about Tiant and the Sox.
"The Bad Lieutenant" New York city sports radio talk show legend Chris Mad Dog Russo is the voice over during the opening credits and sports gambling--during a fictitious Mets season---plays a part throughout the movie. The Russo rant at the begining is a classic.
Five Great Jeff Bridges Movies
1. "The Last American Hero" The Junior Johnson story.
2. "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" Clint Eastwood buddy picture.
3. "Tucker" Failed Coppola epic.
4. "Cutter's Way" Cult California art house movie, early 80s.
5. "American Heart" Gritty, disturbing drama with Edward Furlong.
Five Best Movies I Last Saw in the Theater
1. "The Squid and the Whale"
2. "Syriana"
3. "Good night, and Good Luck."
4. "A History of Violence"
5. "Batman Begins"
I don't know that any of them were great necessarily, but it just so happens that the last five movies that I've seen in the theater have all been worth the price of admission to me. They all had something going for them, enough for me to say they were worth the dough. And what more can you say?
If you did, that would be in your top 5.
And a better version of Syriana( one that won't put you to sleep ) is The Constant Gardner.
Couldn't stand Batman, the plot was like every comic book I read as a kid, and Batman's voice
sounded like his costume was to tight.
And that I'm done criticizing yours here are mine. LOL
My top are.
1-Crash
2- Good Luck and Good Night
3- Cinderella Man
4- Munich
5-King Kong
Rooney: What's the score?
Bartender: Nonthin'-nothin'.
(Ferris catches a foul ball on the TV as Rooney is busy throwing a napkin in the garbage with a bit of flair.)
Rooney: Who's winning?
Bartender: The Bears.
"We're gonna kill one passanger a minute, until New York City pays us... ONE MILLION DOLLARS!"
It's the best thing I own!
My friends and I use "Mean Streets" as an adjective now. "Meet me at Ted's on 52nd and 10th. It's real 'Mean Streets' in there. You'll know when you see it." (There's no Ted's on 52nd and 10th, BTW)
The area around MSG is the only part of the city that reminds me of that era now. Probably for the better.
I love "Mean Streets." "Taxi Driver" is a NYC classic, as is "Sercpico" and "The French Connection," and, Allen Barra's favorite, "The Warriors" (which was recently re-released on dvd).
Quick line also in 'Cinderella Man'. After Braddock gets pummeled by the big corn-fed Georgia boy for most of the first round, he ends it with a vicious three punch combination that rocks the guy, then says 'Welcome to New York'...
#3 jdsarguy — yep, 'Crash' is a keeper. Great movie...
'STYLE WARS'
A very wise man turned me on to it a few years back. Which lead me to another NYC Doc:
'80 Blocks From Tiffanys'
When I was in college (upstate NY, early 80s) ... a frat had an "all Stones" party. I look back and laugh. They played basically 4-5 hours of Stones records. Just played 'em all night long. And the party was jammed and "rockin" as they say. 'Course many beers helped the moment, but I remember that party as packed and crazy. The idea that the only music they played was the Rolling Stones cracks me up. Crazy.
You know what one of my favorite NYC movies was/is ??? "The Pope of Greenwich Village". Totally loved it back in the day - haven't seen it in a long time. Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke were awesome. "Cop shit his pants! Cop shit his pants".... I remember the soundtrack as being really interesting too...
As for 70's and 80's NY movies, how 'bout:
-Taxi Driver (though not exactly a love letter to NYC)
-Manhattan (expertly filmed in grand and glorious b&w, depicts the city in all its resplendence while showing how New Yorkers' personalities are influenced by the city and vice-versa)
-When Harry Met Sally (maybe I'm just a sap, but this is one of the best cinematic love stories (save perhaps "The African Queen" and "Casablanca" I've ever seen)
As for Jeff Bridges movies, you omitted what I think are, by far, his two best (in the following order):
1. The Big Lebowski
2. The Last Picture Show
Also, anyone reading this, PLEASE SEE "Murderball," a documentary about the men's paraolympic wheelchair rugby team. Simultaneously emotionally gutwrenching and uplifting, you will at least for a while truly appreciate the gift of life and health.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Thanks again, Alex and Cliff, for this site and all your insight.
Maybe I should read posts once in a while before responding (#2, #7). My bad!
Disliked "Crash," though. Far too over the top and in-your-face for my taste. It seems to me that in 2005, the face of racism in America has morphed into something far more subtle (read:insidious) - and dangerous - than what was being portrayed in the movie.
and Taxi Driver on a New York movie list
there are many scenes in Godfather 1 that were filmed in New York (and Jersey)although probably not enough to qualify it as a "New York" movie, and I always will have a soft spot for "Splash" and "Ghostbusters", lots of New York scenery, and crazy true to life NY personalities
"Annie Hall" isn't #1 or #2? Can I beg to differ?
Jeff Bridges movies...."The Fabulous Baker Boys"(!), and really, the best is "The Big Lebowski" not to mention, "The Last Picture Show" I know you love Lebowski, what gives?
Really good five best movies (recent). Have you seen "Brokeback"? I think you'd like it...
Best to you dude (Alex abides),
TFD
BTW, congrats on the SI gig. Very cool.
But man, now you got me thinking... I haven't seen "Rancho Deluxe" or "Winter Kills" since... well, since I was on the campus entertainment committee 20 years ago. WHich would probably explain why I saw "Cutter's Way" on a doublebill with "Who'll Stop the Rain".
And for baseball references in non-baseball movies, there's a scene in "Rainman" where Raymond is watching a baseball game on a tiny portable TV as, I think, they drive into Vegas. I don't think you can see the picture at all but IIRC the audio is of the Astros' Glenn Davis double-clutching and absolutely hammering an eephus pitch off Pascaul Perez. Maybe you have to be a late 80s Astros fan to appreciate that one.
My favorite all-time Stones song is probably "Gimme Shelter,"
It is the best ever Stones track
"Midnight Rambler" is so cinematic. Always thought it would be great to design an Opening sequence of a cop/thriller movie to that song. You know, show the cop and set the scene, and cut that with the killer stalking his prey, setting the whole thing up. Yeah, it'd be a stunt, and a pretty flayboyant one, but hey, you only live once, right?
I haven't seen "Crash" and quite frankly, have a bad feeling it's one of those "provocative" movies that might strike me the wrong way. Least that's what I can tell from what my friends have said about it. But I'll keep an open mind and check for it once it's on DVD.
Then again, I also thought the same thing about "The Squid and the Whale," although to be honest with you, my critical facilities are a bit hampered when it comes to that movie simply because I had such a strong personal reaction to it. My parents got divorced in the early 80s and there was just a lot in that movie that hit home, so I was bound to connect with it, and I can't objectively say how anyone else would react to it. It's a self-conscious movie and the lead characters (Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney) are self-centered--Daniels, incorrigibly so--and probably not so likable. But I didn't find it pretentious, I just thought it was a movie about pretentious people. I don't know if it was the filmmakers' intention or not, but the theater I watched it in found much of it to be funny. There is something so likable about Jeff Daniels that he's hard to loath, even when he's playing a pompous ass--it's funny, I wonder how different my reaction would be have been had another actor been cast in the role...
A much starker--especially emotionally--divorce movie is 1982's "Shoot the Moon," with Albert Finney and Diane Keaton. It's painfully somber, and certainly not for everyone, but it's probably the most honest thing Alan Parker has ever done.
You have to have Superfly (stick it to the man!) and the original Shaft on the list as well.
As long as everyone is mentioining Jeff Bridges movies, how about Texasville.
And by the way, none of us should be honoring Lebowski on the Shabbos.
For real fans, check out Jeff Bridges - Pictures. Bridges takes photos with a Widelux camera during shoots.
Listening to Sirius' Stone's station. Too many good Stones songs to have a fave. Like trying to pick the best Dylan song.
Will also watch Cuckoo's nest. Looked back at the book. No TV scene.
Think you dissed Robinson Cano by leaving him off the list of surprises. More analysis needs to be done about A-Rod. True, the batting beat anything that his predecessors did, but Graig Nettles saved the series for the Janks. Lots of great fielding Third Baseman: Nettles, Andy Carey, Clete Boyer, Scott Brosius, Thurman Munson. A subject to come back to.
Happy New Year to all.
As for the Stones, yes, way too many to list, but for LOUD listening, I would immediately add: 1) Sway - just a monster of a song, emotionally and sonically and 2) Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow - that freak-out guitar ending!
Baseball reference in non bb movie:
Bad Lieutenant--Harvey Keitel keeps losing his shirt betting on Mets games.
I'd throw in 1975's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," starring Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft as a couple trying to cope with a city that's driving them crazy, as a funnier portrayal of that New York than the stylized, sanitized Woody vehicles from the era
Incidentally, a really good Jeff Bridges Movie is "The Door in the Floor" which is the cinematic adaptation of John Irving's "A Widow for One Year". Good stuff.
My 5 favorites this year:
1. Grizzly Man
2. A History of Violence
3. Munich
4. The Squid and the Whale
5. The Conformist (saw it at the Film Forum -probably shouldn't count but I can't think of others I liked)
And History of Violence? Gack. One part Egoyan/Canadian realism (a diner on main street), one part graphic novel stylization (Bill Hurt, as the world's largest leprechaun) -- and never do the twain even come close to meeting. Add the Worst High School Bully Ever? You've got a movie coasting on the director's rep and some very fine performances by the actors trapped inside it.
Too bad Lynch didn't get a shot at it. Nobody knows how to find the weird side of normal and the normal side of weird like he does. (Which gave us Blue Velvet.)
1. A Bronx Tale (Yankees references too)
2. My Bodyguard (need I say more???!!!)
3. Anger Management
4. BIG
5. 25th Hour (someone already wrote this, but it's a GREAT movie)
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/378998p-321910c.html
If anyone is interested in a great book that explores the relationship between NYC and the movies and the way people view the City and its culture check out "Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies" by James Sanders. I lent my copy to a friend who won't be my friend if I don't get it back. It's jammed with great stuff.
Two great Noir classics that I love that give you a feel for the city in the late 40's and 50's and what the side walks must have felt like right down into the concrete are "Force of Evil" with Garfield and an early Stanley Kubrick called "Killer's Kiss". Force of Evil is really cool, the dialogue is written in a blank verse style that sounds unbelievably amazing coming out of Garfield. Killers Kiss has some great street scenes
Play "Sympathy for the Devil" really loud then play it again backwards at 38 rpm and it comes out as "Memo From Turner". Happy New Year.
Other than that: Let's go Big Blue! Tied at 7 near the end of the first. This needs to be an easy win. We need some MO.
Here's to a healthy, prosperous and happy 2006 to all our Bronx Banter brothers and sisters — and even you Boston rat bastard trolls ;-)
Peace.
'till April, at least...
And big ups to Alex and Cliff once again for literally raising the bar of what a blog should be. Cheers to both of you.
I don't want Arnold to acuse me of being a girly-girl, but what about: A League of their Own?
Aside from being based on fact...
And having many of the original 'old gals' playing BB at the end of the movie (very classy)...
And some great 40's dancing by Madonna...
An amazing play by a catcher (lets see Posada do a 'split' while catching a pop-up)...
When trying to add a little 'advertising' to the game, Madonna suggests that maybe her blouse could open and her 'bosoms could pop out'... and which point Rosie O. asks... "do you really think there are any men in America who haven't seen your bosoms?"
Tom Hanks telling the Ump he looks 'like a Penis with a hat'...
And............
There's no crying in Baseball.
THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!
Aside from Gehrig, is there a better known line from a baseball movie?
Maybe I'm a sissy, but I though that this was a great baseball movie.
A funny comparison of ROTY and Sandlot if there are any other fans out there: http://tinyurl.com/amrrd
Perfect Game is a good one, too. I mean, the movie was a little weird, but the concept of the Yankees landing the greatest pitcher ever was sweet.
And here's one for two of your lists: a great Jeff Bridges movie set in New York: The Fisher King.
League is a very fine baseball movie. Deals with many facets of the game: business, strategy, coaching, setting, and actual play. Has substance abuse issues, historical context, and a major cast. Dialogue snappy. Original Hanks. Music. Great titile. And an unexpected ending.
The Hall honors these girls, too.
Most will disagree with me, I'm sure, but I think Manhattan is a better New York movie than Annie Hall (though not a better movie). The problem with Woody Allen's New York in general is that, much as he loves it, his is a city of rich white intellectuals who live in huge, exquisite apartments. Broadway Danny Rose, a much underrated movie, is one of the few that shows it a little differently - and the scenes in the Carnegie Deli are priceless.
This HS season, since early on, has really turned around from for the Yankees and Sox.
Last year I read a review of "Melinda and Melinda" with the line: "Woody's New York makes "Sex and the City" look like "Serpico"." Or something to that effect. I thought it was pretty funny. Unfortunately I forget the reviewer and paper. If anyone knows, please let me know.
New York 70s/80s films-
After Hours-good downtown NYC early 80's stuff
3 Days of the Condor-fun film, good locations
Marathon Man-"I want you to rob my apartment"
Fort Apache the Bronx-oh yeah...
The Hot Rock-"Afghanistan Bananistan"
Midnight Cowboy- I know it was 1969, but...
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