Does All Star Cast in Cut Bank Carry Movie?

"Cut Bank" is the name of a town in Montana in which the story of course takes place. Dwayne Mclaren characterized by Liam Hemsworth plan to swindle a huge amount of cash in order to leave Montana with his beautiful women Cassandra (Teresa Palmer) turns out not to be so cut and dry as he'd planned.

Derby Milton marvelously played by Michael Stuhlbarg proves to be a huge chink in the armor of Mclaren's plan to score huge bucks and run off to California with his enticing women. Milton is a demented soul who simply wants a package he ordered, and is not afraid to kill people in his quest to get it. Bruce Dern is the perverted mail man, George Wits who unwittingly complicates Mclaren's devious plan, which was a staged murder convincingly caught on Mclaren's cam corder.

John Malkovich is Cut Bank's sheriff who along with his pal Big Stan Steeley, (Billy bob Thornton) keep the story mildly intriguing. Steeley is also Cassondra's father, and when he begins to question her relationship with Mclaren, the plot thickens, but not enough to make this movie worthy of more than  2.5 stars. First on the big screen April 3, then on DVD May 26, it has all the ingredients for a true mystery suspense, corruption, murder and mayhem, but it could have been so much better.

"See You in Valhalla" Delves Into the Issues of Twisted, yet Soulful Family Values

While refreshing to see a new movie riddled with dialogue and no gluttony of special effects geared mostly for  adolescence minds, "See You in Valhalla" still lacks greatness.

First in theaters on April 24, then to DVD May 26, it's still worth a watch, but only once. "Modern Family's oldest daughter Sarah Hyland portrays Johana Burwood who returns to her home town after several years to attend one of her brothers funerals. Johana brings her new beau along to stay at her widowed fathers house along with her other two brothers and their families.

The deceased brother was a viking history advocate, and despite his suicide, the family who doesn't get along begin to confront their own personal demons. It's also a quest for the family to reunite and seek some sort of reasoning for death. "See You in Valhalla" validates that there are many ways to understand and interpret God, Odin, Mohammad, Bumba or any other name there is for an all powerful entity. Odin being of course the Viking word for God and their heaven which is called Valhalla.      

Johanna's boyfriend of the past factors into the flick for some more interesting wrinkles. While suddenly forced to deal with her former lover, she also has to deal with  one of her surviving brothers homophobia toward his other brother and gay lover Makewi played by "Shameless" regular Steve Howey. Makewi is the comic relief to the story, and possible wisdom enhancer for everyone.

"See You in Valhalla" is an average 2.5 star movie that doesn't live up to its potential. The ending is good with a great reference to how vikings dealt with losing a loved one.

"American Sniper," All American Classic, or Just Another One Time Watcher?

The story-line for "American Sniper" has all the elements for an intense mind journey for those of us who've never experienced real combat in a war zone.

The American involvement in the Afghan war just like the one in Vietnam has no true identification of its real enemies in the heat of battle, at least much of the time. In Afghanistan, like in the Vietnam war some children recently potty-trained are fully armed and eager to kill any American solider in sight. Too often in war, it's killed or be killed, even it involves killing the old and very young.

The focal character in "American Sniper," Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper)  is credited with more than a 160 kills in his many tours in the middle eastern war. He is faced with his personal demons and angles as to which of his kills are justified or maybe flat out murder of the innocent. The movie leaves open ends as to whether 'all' of his kills where legit, and I liked that aspect of the movie. If you see this flick, you be the judge of his war kills.

Deby Kyle (Elise Robertson) wants to raise her children she's had with her husband, and her spouse Chris wants the same, but he also wants to serve the U.S. in it's mission of madness. Chris, during his many encounters in the battle field manages to come out on the highly positive end physically, but dealing with Shell Shock puts tension in his marriage and over all life back home in America.

I give this movie an average rating of 2.5 stars. It was too pro war for me, and the scenes that were supposed to be intense simply lacked that knock-out cerebral punch. While having sympathy for the 6,848 U.S. troops killed in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (causalities.org), I also realize they volunteered, unlike the vets in World War I, II and Vietnam.

More than 50,000 U.S. soldiers have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, more than 1500 troops have lost an arm or a leg and 100s of them have lost multiple limbs so we can drive our gas guzzlers to our next abomination. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/iraq-afghanistan-amputees_n_2089911.html)

More Bleacher Babble

For the first time in over 90 games this season, the Houston Rockets lost three games in a row, a game in which they desperately needed to win.

The above stat may be the first time the Rockets lost three in a row at home in the Toyota Center, but I'm too lazy to research the real facts on that one. Regardless, tonight the Golden State Warriors for the first time this series did not give anything to Houston and shellacked them by 35 points on their home court to take a commanding 3-0 best of seven series lead.

The first two games where close between these teams largely in part of Warrior turn-overs, but even in their 67(best in the league) games won in the regular season this year, they were not too good at protecting the ball. As a team the Warriors averaged 14.1 turnovers per game, and are at 15.1 in their 11-2 post season run thus far. (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/gs/seasontype/2/golden-state-warriors)

The Warriors only had one turn-over in the first half of tonight's game as opposed to nine in game two. Stephen Curry was again brilliant, amassing 40 points, and he only had three points at the end of the first quarter. Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green both had double doubles. The Warriors had 15 assists as a team and had a devastating 62-37 half time lead. Going into tonight's game, the Rockets were the leading scores in the playoffs this year, averaging more then a 100 points.

Since losing two games in a row to the Memphis Grizzlies in their last play-off series, the Warriors have now won six in row, largely in part to a 'play-off' defense as their head coach, Steve Kerr would say.

I hope my prediction is wrong now, in my last article I said each team would have blow-out wins and the series would go six games, now I just want the Warriors to win game four on Monday night to get to the finals. Being wrong can be a very  good thing.

Bleacher Babble

Twenty-six out of the 30 NBA teams are no longer vying for this years championship, and the odds point toward a championship series between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Tonight's game three match-up between the Warriors and the Houston Rockets is sure to be a basketball barrage of brilliant entertainment. The Warriors won the first two games of this series by a total of five points. The next two games between these teams shifts to the Toyota Center, the home of the Rockets.  

Both the Rockets and the Warriors are capable of huge scoring runs. During Wednesday nights game, the Warriors were up 49-32 in the second quarter, then the Rockets went on a 23-6 run to close out the second quarter for a 55-55 half time score. The Warriors had nine turn-overs in the half and the Rockets made them pay for it. 

Both math-ups between the Rockets and Warriors have seen both of their star players do their jobs. The Warriors Stephen Curry has had 30 plus points in both games, and The Rockets James Harden was one assist away in both games from having a triple double. In Wednesdays bout, Harden was the games leading scorer with 38 points. (10 boards, 9 assists) Curry was the games leading scorer in game one, and had 33 points in Wednesday nights game. 

The Warriors need to cut out the large number of turn-overs and need more production from Klay Thompson, and Harrison Barns to really put the Rockets away. The Rockets need more consistency from Trevor Ariza, Jason Terry, and if Dwight Howard's knees mend tougher, the Warriors could be home for the NBA finals. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers look poised to sweep the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavaliers have the number one defense in this years play-offs and they have been nailing their 3-point shots. To be honest, the series between the Hawks and Cavaliers is hard to watch. Thus far, I've only watched the second half of last nights game two between these teams. 

The king, LeBron James has taken a team that at best would have been a first round play-off losing team into one that is poised to win it all. If the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Warriors in the finals, the stage is set for a six or seven game series sure to entice its viewers. 

Currently the Cavaliers are 10-2 in the post season, as are the Warriors. The Hawks have too many banged up players and are simply over matched by Cleveland. Cleveland has won both games by a total of 20 points, and just watching the second half of last nights game, there was never a moment when you thought the Hawks might actually win. 

Go ahead and skip watching the Eastern Conference finals remaining games because there is no doubt which team is going to win the series. If you crave new entertainment, watch the remaining games with the Rockets and Warriors, because I predict one blow-out win for each team, and the rest down to the wire round ball games with the Warriors prevailing in six games.  

True Reality is Sports TV

The Golden State Warriors over came a 16 point deficit against the Houston Rockets to win game one of the Western Conference finals at the Oracle Arena.

It was the seventh time this season the Warriors have won a game when trailing by 15 or more points (league leaders in that stat) including a 26 point come from behind regular season victory against the Boston Celtics. The first quarter of Wednesday nights game featured three lead changes and one tie. In the second quarter, the Houston Rockets looked poised to pulverize the Warriors when they catapulted to a 16 point lead. Upon harnessing their huge lead, the Rockets MVP runner-up had only 3 points at this juncture of the contest.

The Warriors went on a 26-5 run during the last seven minutes of the second quarter. The Brazilian blur, Leonardo Barbosa of the Warriors made a phenomenal long bounce pass to Andre Iguodala who then made his easy lay-up to cut the Rocket lead to nine points. (40-31) The league MVP, Stephen Curry buried a 2 point shot at the half time buzzer, giving the Warriors a 58-55 lead.

The Rockets never lead again, but they have solidified themselves as real ballers to make this best of seven game series a real nail biter for fans of either team. The beard, James Harden did his part, amassing 28 point and was one assist away from having a triple double. (11 rebounds)

Trevor Ariza was also an intrical factor for the Rockets with 20 points including a 3 point swisher with less than 15 seconds remaining in the game to cut the Warrior lead to 2 points. (108-106)
Unfortunately for the Rockets they were forced to foul at this stage of the game. It was not surprising to witness Curry sink both of his free-throws for the Warrior 110-106 win.

Bench players for both of these teams are going to have to step it up for either team to win this series. The Warriors star bench player of the night was Shaun Livinston who had a career play-off personal best 18 points.  

Remembering Mom

Many tearful moments have occurred since you've left this planet,
I feel the way you would. All the lives you left your mark upon have
kept your soul alive for everyone who was blessed to know and
love you. When you left this world in 1993, your great grandchildren
were still preschoolers, now their college grads. They will never
know how truly funny and inspirational you were. You touched
our hearts with words of wisdom and feeling. You made us laugh
time and time again. Now, every Mother's Day awakes vivid memories
of sorrow, yet laughter still finds its way into our (da family)  hearts
because of your infinite patience, love and humor.
Whether your soul is currently in the Garden of Allah, Viking Valhalla,
Christian Chaos, Hindu Heaven, Buddha Bliss or the many other possibilities
of an eternity of youth and health, I'm confident your spirit is in the
dwelling den of the soulfully rich and the heart felt opulent.

Mark (Izzy) Schurr / Neil Peart 

Mom, (middle) her daughter & granddaughter

Wisdom Mother

Captivated in a moment, eased by her smile. Like a child

in a fit waiting for a mothers hit, hers and hers alone. A

true mother inspires realities desires. Seized responsibilities

breed fear, doubt, and a sense of accomplishment. I'm still

trying to comprehend my mothers’ wisdom.

Mark (Izzy) Schurr





You Be the Judge, "Inherent Vice" A Tough Movie to Rate

Every soul whether it's loving, hateful, creative, bland, adventurous or inhibited has its deviant vices in the opinions set fourth in "Inherent Vice."

First bred to theatrical audiences on November 8, then to DVD on April 28, "Inherent Vice" is an all star cast thrust into the year 1970 in a beach community. Illicit cigarette use, non prescribed pills and other hard drugs use factor in with free love, deceit and a bizarre quest for happiness and meaning.

Larry 'Doc' Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) whom I wasn't sure if he was a gynecologist or private eye gets involved in an all over the place storyline to rip off his ex-girl friends now billionaire boyfriend while having to deal with the crooked cop, Lt. Christian F. 'Bigfoot' Bjornsen played by Josh Brolin.

The Golden Fang, a dental company specializing in the fixing of meth and heroine laden teeth is also a business front for laundering massive amounts of herion and money into the U.S. for post 60s drug addictive youth and unsavory law and medical professionals. The Golden Fang, despite its mass distribution of hard drugs into suburban American life is just one example of what happens in the real word. People search for dangerous mind adventures and associate with others who do the same for reasons no one can exactly pin-point.

I enjoyed the very ending of this movie. It left questions and various answers as to what success and happiness are.

Other understandable tangibles to this flick was the eye pleasing Katherine Waterston who plays Shasta Fay Hepworth. As a man flesh and blood, she looked amazing in her full on nude scene.

Accomplished Hollywood big names also include Reese Witherspoon (D.A. Penny Kimball), Martin Short (Dr. Rudy Blatnoyd), Owen Wilson (Coy Harlingen) and Benicio Del Toro as Sauncho Smilax.

This may be a cop out on my part, but I am not giving this a rating based on the usual 0-5 stars, zero being the worst and five the best. My opinion is way too mixed to give "Inherent Vice" a rating.