If you're already feeling nostalgic for baseball and are dreading a long, long winter without, here's a suggestion that may help: HBO's 2001 film 61*, directed by Billy Crystal.
This is an uplifting (and mostly accurate!) historical drama about the 1961 season, in which 2 Yankees, Mantle and Maris, try to best Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.
Hiring look-a-likes is a risky proposal. Thomas Jane (The Punisher) plays Mantle, Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan) is Maris, and both are great. In fact the entire cast is excellent!
There's plenty of drama and tidbits to learn, even for anti-Yankee fans, like me. If you are a fan of the game of baseball this is a must-see!
Today's double feature is a bit darker and mean spirited than usual - but in that, you know, good way.
Get the Gringo (2012) is so reminiscent of 1999's Payback that it might as well be its sequel.
Both star Mel Gibson as the anti-hero who's relieved of his recently stolen loot. Mel attempts to get it back. Gringo has a corrupt Mexican prison, whereas Payback has the mob.
Both have some voice-over narration by Mel.
Sometimes it's fun to root for the bad-ass bad guy. Especially when his enemies are worse. And both films deliver.
I honestly think Payback is a little better - it's filmed in Chicago, its cast is better, less subtitles to read, and better... Well, I don't want to give away any spoilers. So I'd suggest renting this first and if you like it see Gringo.
Flypaper (2011) is a cute indie movie with an ensemble cast that doesn't fit neatly into any one category. It's a crime/comedy/action/mystery with a bit of romantic-comedy thrown in for good measure.
It starts by posing the question, "what happens when 2 groups try to rob the same bank at the same time?" And gets more interesting from there.
It's very original and plot twists abound.
I didn't laugh as much as I would have liked. Too many of the funny bits are in its trailer that I saw recently. But its Who-dunnit aspect more than made up for that for me.
Still, if you happen upon Flypaper's preview while watching something else I recommend skipping it.
The cast is excellent. The bigger names are Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Tambor, Tim Blake Nelson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Mekhi Phifer... and Curtis Armstrong (We have a Curtis Armstrong sighting!! Awesome!!). But everyone pulls his/her weight very well.
In the spirit of full disclosure, this was written by the 2 guys who gave us The Hangover. It differs from that movie in several ways. Probably the most important being 1) Flypaper seems to be written for people older than 15, and 2) Flypaper is good.
