Million Dollar Baby (PG-13)

View Trailer and Clips

A Review By M. Chad Durham

Ostensibly Million Dollar Baby looks an awful lot like Rocky donning a sports bra. Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) is too poor, too feminine, and too old to succeed in the world of boxing. Rocky was too poor, too Italian, and too old to make it in the world of boxing. Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is reluctant to train Maggie because she is too poor, too feminine, and too old to make it in the world of boxing. He sees female boxing as a carnival sideshow and, more to the point, he’s a bona fide misogynist embittered by the fact that he just lost his best fighter and, by extension, his last shot at training a champion. If you’ll recall, Mickey thought Rocky was too poor, too Italian, and too old to make it the world of boxing, but finally came to realize that Rocky was his last shot at training a champion.



Here’s where things start to differentiate: Scrap (Morgan Freeman), a one-eyed former boxer who lives in Frankie’s gym, intervenes. Whenever Maggie isn’t serving food and scraping plates as a waitress, she’s relentlessly pounding the punching bag day and night, desperate to capture Frankie’s attention because she knows she can become a champion with his help. Scrap begins to take a shine to Maggie, doing whatever he can to encourage Maggie and help Frankie see her potential. Once the two come together, the world of female boxing will never be the same; and neither will Maggie, Frankie, or Scrap.



So, Million Dollar Baby isn’t Rocky in a bra. It’s something much, much more. It’s Clint Eastwood’s finest achievement in filmmaking that transcends the sports genre. Eastwood’s use of shadow and light sets an interesting tone for the film that in a very real way equips the viewer to accept the story as it unfolds. He dares to take the audience in an unusual direction but does so with levity, tenderness, and aptitude.

Million Dollar Baby also happens to give us the finest performance of Eastwood’s long and distinguished acting career. Frankie Dunn is a complex man wracked by guilt, filled with doubt, and disappointed in life but somehow he still clings to a semblance of faith in God and man when he’s not antagonizing his favorite priest. Early in the film it seems like Freeman and Eastwood are just trying to out-rasp one another in a contest to see who can have the gruffer voice. However, as the story progresses, so does the depth and range that only veterans like these could pull-off. Freeman hasn’t had a part this good since The Shawshank Redemption.


The light-hearted banter between the three major characters seems genuine if only to serve as comic relief from the intensity of the plot. They flesh out some unforgettable roles as everything falls in place to offer up a powerful story that simply refuses to digress into cliché. Something profound happens to these people we come to love; they change in ways we only hope we could as they all discover what they’re really capable of doing for one another.



Hilary Swank is in top award-winning form. Maggie Fitzgerald isn’t just a female version of Rocky. She’s feisty, stubborn, and tough but sensitive and vulnerable around the edges. By the time we meet Maggie’s nasty family, we already know she comes from white trash but we also know she’s something special that can rise above the fray. The greatest fight Maggie Fitzgerald faces isn’t fought inside a ring against the champ, it’s fought outside the ring against her dreadful, ungrateful, and inconsiderate relatives.

Paul Haggis did an exceptional job adapting the screenplay from Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner, written by ex-cut man and boxing trainer Jerry Boyd, published under the pen name F.X. Toole. The anthology included a short story entitled “Million $$$ Baby” which is the basis for this film.

Perhaps the best movie of 2004, Million Dollar Baby is much darker than what you might expect from this genre, but most moviegoers should still come away with that warm fuzzy feeling only a good sports movie can provide. This is a HOT DATE and my pick to take the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress of 2004.

Weekend Sweep

The Robert DeNiro/Dakota Fanning horror flick Hide and Seek took first place at the box office over the weekend. Although most critics bashed the storyline and the highly protected final reel (The studio sent the final reel out to theatres separately from the rest of the film to "protect" the "surprise ending.") it still managed to top Are We There Yet and Oscar contender Million Dollar Baby's nation-wide roll-out. Coach Carter held on for another week in the fourth spot and Meet the Fockers rounded out the top five giving DeNiro two films in the top five. Sideways, another Oscar hopeful, went wider this weekend, finally cracking the top ten in seventh place right behind The Aviator, flying by in the sixth spot.

Clint Eastwood took the Director's Guild Award for Million Dollar Baby while The Incredibles dominated The Annie Awards.

ET profiles Keanu Reeves in the forthcoming Constantine.

Make sure you scroll down for this week's quote and to vote in our latest poll!

The Starting Lineup

Now playing at a theatre near you!


Million Dollar Baby (PG-13)
Starring: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman
Director: Clint Eastwood

Nominated for seven Academy Awards, this is the most promising national release in months. This film literally proves the cliche, "Critics everywhere agree." Boy, and how. The story supposedly has an incredible plot twist that keeps it from digressing into a Rocky sequel so if I haven't had a chance to see it by the time you read this--don't spoil it for me or anyone else.


Hide and Seek (R)
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Dakota Fanning, and Elisabeth Shue
Director: John Polson

The trailer is genuinely creepy. On the other hand, it hasn't been well received by critics. Count on good acting but be prepared for a disappointing story.


Alone in the Dark (R)
Starring: Christian Slater, Tara Reid, and Stephen Dorff
Director: Uwe Boll

Don't expect too much from this b-rate horror flick.

Thinking about Oscar

Best Picture

Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby has all the momentum going down the stretch. The film goes nationwide tomorrow, critics adore it, and it has a surprise plot twist. While The Aviator received 11 nominations, there just hasn't been the same buz about it there has been with Baby. Sideways could be in a much better position to challenge Baby for the bald guy. Ray and Finding Neverland are longshots.

Best Actor

This one is a much tougher race to call. Leonardo DiCaprio took the Golden Globe, but Jamie Foxx portrayal of Ray Charles and Don Cheadle's turn in Hotel Rwanda are just as praiseworthy. Clint Eastwood and Johnny Depp bring up the rear.

Best Actress

Like DiCaprio, Annette Bening won the Golden Globe but there's just no getting around the hype surrounding Million Dollar Baby so don't give Hilary Swank a standing eight count just yet. She's won once before. A personal favorite, albeit a real longshot, is Catalina Sandino Moreno who was outstanding in Maria Full of Grace. Imelda Stauton and Kate Winslet will miss out for sure.

Best Supporting Actor

Thomas Haden Church appears to have a pretty good beat on this award but Alan Alda's lifetime of work could push him aside. Academy voters often swing towards older actors and actresses in this regard. Jamie Foxx could pick up some make-up votes in this category, and he was very good in Collateral, but let's face it, Collateral wasn't very good. Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman will just have to smile gracefully.

Best Supporting Actress

My favorite? Hands down it's Natalie Portman. Virgina Madsen is second, with Cate Blanchett, Sophie Okonedo, and Laura Linney rounding out the list in order of preference.

Best Animated Feature

The Incredibles.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Sideways will probably get this award, but again, don't underestimate the attention Million Dollar Baby is getting right now. All five nominees are outstanding adaptations. Any one of them could win the Oscar on any given year. This is probably the toughest category to call this year.

Best Original Screenplay

I don't think there's anyway this award won't go to Hotel Rwanda. But, if it doesn't, then it will probably go to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Best Director

Will Clint Eastwood win again? Or will The Academy throw Martin Scorsese a bone? This could go either way. I'd put the odds 60/40 in favor of Clint simply because everybody seems so indifferent about The Aviator.

Well, that's my take. For whatever it's worth. Last year the wife beat me with her picks so that shows what I know.

Oscar Nods His Bald Noggin

Oscar has finally nodded his golden bald noggin and here are some of those nods.

Best Picture

• The Aviator
• Finding Neverland
• Millon Dollar Baby
• Ray
• Sideways

Best Actor

• Don Cheadle--Hotel Rwanda
• Johnny Depp--Finding Neverland
• Leonardo DiCaprio--The Aviator
• Clint Eastwood--Million Dollar Baby
• Jamie Foxx--Ray

Best Actress

• Annette Bening--Being Julia
• Catalina Sandino Moreno--Maria Full of Grace
• Imeld Stauton--Vera Drake
• Hilary Swank--Million Dollar Baby
• Kate Winslet--Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Best Supporting Actor

• Alan Alda--The Aviator
• Thomas Haden Church--Sideways
• Jamie Foxx--Collateral
• Morgan Freeman--Million Dollar Baby
• Clive Owen--Closer

Best Supporting Actress

• Cate Blanchett--The Aviator
• Laura Linney--Kinsey
• Virginia Madsen--Sideways
• Sophie Okonedo--Hotel Rwanda
• Natalie Portman--Closer

Animated Feature

• The Incredibles
• Shark Tale
• Shrek 2

Adapted Screenplay

• Before Sunset
• Finding Neverland
• Million Dollar Baby
• The Motorcycle Diaries
• Sideways

Original Screenplay

• The Aviator
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Hotel Rwanda
• The Incredibles
• Vera Drake

Best Directing

• The Aviator
• Million Dollar Baby
• Ray
• Sideways
• Vera Drake
  
  

DVD Rundown

New to DVD!


Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (PG)
Starring: Jude Law, Gweneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie
Director: Kerry Conran

Read The Hot Corner's Featured Review or catch it over at Grace Centered Magazine.


First Daughter (PG)
Starring: Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas, and Michael Keaton
Director: Forest Whitaker

Katie Holmes. My second favorite female in Hollywood, fourth favorite female in life. Maybe I'll scrape some change together so I can rent this film.


Alien Vs. Predator (PG-13)
Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Lance Henriksen, and Raoul Bova
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Whoever wins--we lose. Sounds like the 2004 Presidential Election! Just kidding.

The Starting Lineup

Not much coming out this weekend, but here's what's new.


Assault on Precinct 13 (R)
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, and John Leguizamo
Director: Jean-Francois Richet

Well, not entirely new. This is a remake of and old John Carpenter film but, in so far as remakes go, this one holds some promise considering the stellar cast that also includes Maria Bello, Brian Dennehy, and Gabriel Byrne. Wow. But this begs a truly important question. Why don't they remake a truly great Carpenter film like They Live or something? :) Watch out for changes from the original plot as Hawke and Fishburne team up to take on dirty cops. I'd still like it better if they were teaming up to fight dirty aliens.


Are We There Yet? (PG)
Starring: Ice Cube, Nia Long, and Aleisha Allen
Director: Brian Levant

Cube plays a guy who tries to woo a woman by bringing her kids cross-country to see her. It's hard enough to take kids on a trip, but when the kids don't think you're good enough for their mom? Watch out. The trailer looks like this film might be a mildly diverting form of entertainment for the family if you're really hard-up this weekend.

DVD Rundown

New to DVD today!


Friday Night Lights (PG-13)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, and Lucas Black
Director: Peter Berg

As I type these words I'm listening to H.G. Bissinger and Berg on the commentary track. The Wife scored the last copy of the DVD with a free paperback novel at Best Buy today. Which is a good thing cause my sister hijacked mine and took with her to the Big D area when she moved. For my review and some personal connections, click here.


Cellular (PG-13)
Starring: Kim Bassinger and Chris Evans
Director: David R. Ellis


The Forgotten (PG-13)
Starring: Julianne Moore, Anthony Edwards, and Gary Sinise
Director: Joseph Ruben


Catwoman (PG-13)
Starring: Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt, and Sharon Stone
Director: Pitof

Weekend Sweep

Things are about to get interesting around here. Friday Night Lights hits the shelves here in Odessa, TX., approximately one week following Gary Gaines appointment as Athletic Director for Ector County Schools. (FYI for the lost--Ector County Independent School District includes PERMIAN, Gaines former team, and the subject of the Peter Berg's film Friday Night Lights and H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger's book of the same name.) A mutual friend pointed out to me last night that Gaines and I even share the same look these days. Bald is definitely the comb-over of the new millennium. Best Buy is giving away the book with movie for $15.99. Circuit City is selling it $14.99 sans novel.

The Aviator took best drama last night at the Golden Globes while Sideways took best comedy. An obvious crowd favorite according to The Bull Durham Applause-o-meter was Hotel Rwanda. Go ahead and pencil these three in for Best Picture nods at the forth coming Oscars along with Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby. The last one or two spots are going to be a crap-shoot, but those four should be in the running.

Other winners included Clive Owen, Clint Eastwood, Natalie Portman, Teri Hatcher, William Shatner, Geoffrey Rush, and Annette Bening.

No Elektrafication took place at the Box Office this weekend as Jennifer Garner could ne'r o'r come Samuel L. Jackson's Coach Carter. In fact, Alias had better numbers last week than Elektra, which finished fourth behind the pad-lock-happy Coach, those irrepressible Fockers, and that Zebra flick The Bull's father wants to see so badly.

Don't forget! The Hot Corner has a new poll. Make sure you vote your favorite film of 2005. If it's not there, click other and make a comment on this post tell us what your favorite film was last year.

The Starting Lineup

Now playing at a theatre near you!


Elektra (PG-13)
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Terence Stamp, and Goran Visnjic
Director: Rob Bowman

Garner continues the character she brought to life in Daredevil in this latest comic to film adventure. Elektra is revived from the dead by the same group of assassins who trained her. She's sent to kill a man and his daughter. Will she go through with it? What do you think? Although this film is rated PG-13 word has it Garner kisses another woman in the movie so be forewarned if that's not the sort of thing you want your child to see.


Coach Carter (PG-13)
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Rob Brown, and Robert Ri'chard
Director: Thomas Carter

In the most promising film released this week, Jackson plays the real-life Coach Carter who, after leading his basketball team through a championship season, padlocks the gym the following year because several of his players fail to meet the academic standards they agreed to in order to be a part of his team.


In Good Company (PG-13)
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, and Scarlett Johansson
Director: Paul Weitz

Quaid finds himself answering to a new boss--the childlike Topher Grace. Talk about a bad day at the office, first you have to answer to a guy half your age and then, wouldn't you know, the little twit starts dating you good-looking daughter.


Racing Stripes (PG)
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Hayden Panettiere, and M. Emmet Walsh
Director: Frederik Du Chau

A zebra raised on a Kentucky horse farm becomes a contestant in the Kentucky Crown. I think that just about says it all, don't you?

Unnoticed

Unnoticed (NR)
A Review by M. Chad Durham

You know you’ve arrived as a film critic when you land your first invite to a premiere. Living in West Texas, I seldom even get a chance to sneak films before they’re released to the general public, let alone screen a film with the entire cast and crew. Needless to say, when David Sean Stringer handed me my invitation, he caught me off guard. It takes a lot of guts, and confidence in your work as an artist, to invite the enemy to be on hand for the celebration of your brand new film. Premieres are for families and friends and investors. Premieres are designed to make people feel good about a job well done, which is why most filmmakers surround themselves with folks that are more than happy to give them a hearty pat on the back rather than stick one in their back. They just aren’t the sorts of places you find know-it-alls like me. But, when you’re a director as talented as Stringer, you needn’t worry too much about getting a bad review.



Stringer’s feature film debut was co-scripted by General Echols and David Holler. It tells the story of Bravo 1/Russ (Steve Hinshaw), a black ops soldier assigned to take down a terrorist threat in the Southwest Texas desert terrain somewhere along the Mexican border. Or so he has been told. Jericho (Jennifer Hart) is calling all the shots via satellite back in Eastern Europe and she fully intends to make Russ her patsy. She orders Bravo 2 (David Dunn) to eliminate the threat posed by his apparent disregard for orders.

But, “not everything is as it seems.” Russ stumbles directly into Ben’s path. Ben is a pastor who just happens to be a former military man as well. He decides right then and there he must help the wounded man. After all, “This has gotta be a God thing.” As they make their escape from Bravo 2, Ben gleans enough information to conclude that Russ is being used—not to kill off the dangerous leaders of terrorist cells that threaten America, but to assassinate leaders from the church in China. Chinese churches are organized using a cell structure similar to that employed by contemporary enemies of the U.S. government. Jericho eventually cuts Echo 1/Rachel (played by the captivating Dawn Glover) out of the loop. She’s been monitoring the entire sordid affair all along. It was originally her op, but clearly she has some kind of history with Ben, which somehow represents a huge threat to the villainess. Rachel quickly enjoins their quest to find the next mark before it is too late.

Unnoticed is a high-concept, fast-paced action flick with a shocking conspiratorial plot, but the primary subtext is one of salvation. Russ undergoes the ultimate transformation as the protagonist in a story that culminates in his salvation. Rachel recalls her own commitment—and is restored. Ben just helps people along the way, facing serious peril, but perhaps not more so than the spiritual perils that all ministers face in their service to God and men.



Each member of the cast struggles through a line or two during the course of the film, but this group of novices are still on par with the performances generally offered-up in other so-called Christian movies. Compared to Kirk Cameron and company in the Left Behind films, their performances are downright fabulous. This is a good-looking ensemble, especially Dawn Glover, who is totally convincing as an action babe. She was well coached and looks pretty natural holding the weapons in this film and with looks like that, she ought to be on film. She also had a little help from some stunt people (Terri Clardy and Tharren Barnes), but that’s to be expected. Hinisaw, Holler, and Dunn, each have moments to shine as well and, according to the wife, they look pretty good, too. Hart misses a few beats only to counter with some deliciously wicked moments at more crucial junctures in the film. They all seem to have some talent for this so it should be interesting to see if they do anything in the future.



Although the dialogue is a bit wooden in a couple of places, for the most part, the story is as enjoyable as it is timely. It is certain to open Christian eyes to the plight of the church in China and the production quality of this film is so extraordinary it ought to reach out to non-Christian audiences with ease. This is in no small part due to Stringer’s keen instincts, natural presentation, and uncanny ability in the editing process. In reality, he shows us so much of what we need to know visually that the film doesn’t require that much dialogue. If Stringer goes unnoticed, it won’t be because Unnoticed is a bad film. Few viewers will ever grasp the sheer volume of special effects, manipulated shots, and enhancements Stringer and company had to make during post. A great deal of attention has been given to the technical aspects of the story and it is those precise details that lend greater credibility to this project.



Unnoticed is an exceptional debut from a promising director. Any shortcomings in this film are easily forgivable considering its shoestring budget, inexperienced cast and crew, and its inherent breakneck style. The pacing is simply phenomenal. There’s little doubt in this critic’s mind that Stringer has what it takes to become a big-time filmmaker. We’ll just have to see if that’s what God has in store for him. I’ll offer up my best rating—HOT DATE—and I’m anxiously awaiting the next project from Stringer and/or G12 Productions.

This copyrighted article was also published in Grace-Centered Magazine - A daily publication for Christians that examines tradition and aspects of living the Christian life.

DVD Rundown

Here are today's new releases on DVD:


The Village (PG-13)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, and Brice Howard
Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Shyamalan's latest is a totally predictable genre-bending tale set in the woods where Those Whose Names We Dare Not Speak threaten their way of life. Or are there other forces at worked threatening their Utopian world? I gave it a MATINEE rating over at GCM. Or, you can find it right here on The Hot Corner.


Without a Paddle (PG-13)
Starring: Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Ethan Suplee
Director: Steven Brill

A crass comedy with a promising cast, Without a Paddle had a pretty good run at the box office so we'll keep an eye on it and see how well it does on DVD. Paddle is the story of a group of friends that get involved in a treasure hunt on a canoe trip.


Alice Through the Looking Glass (NR--Family)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Ian Holm, and Penelope Winton
Director: John Henderson

Alice Through the Looking Glass is another retelling of the classic story starring none other than my current favorite actress as Alice--Kate Beckinsale. Now that she's gained some name recognition this past year, folks have decided to release this flick. I don't know much else about it besides what I've shared so far. I'm just still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that she's got blonde hair in this flick. Maybe I can crack the piggy-bank and rent a copy.


Paparazzi (R)
Starring: Cole Hauser, Tom Sizemore, and Robin Tunney
Director: Paul Abascal

A bomb. A pan. Rent at your own risk.

Also, two Luc Besson movies I adore will be getting the proverbial special edition/double disc treatment this week:


Leon (R) aka The Professional
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, and Natalie Portman
Director: Luc Besson

The sweet yet harsh enduring story of an isolated hitman who takes in an orphaned child. This film was trimmed down and tamed a bit for its U.S. release and renamed The Professional. Copies of the full length Leon have been hard to come by in this country with a price tag around 30 bucks in recent months. (I scored one years ago dirt cheap! It was one of the first DVD's I ever bought.) Ranked #75 on Bull Durham's Top 100 and #62 on IMDb, now it won't be so difficult or expensive to watch Beson's masterpiece as originally intended. Oldman is delicious as the villain, Reno perfect as Leon, and Natalie Portman's charm shines through as the girl who will certainly grow up to be a Cleaner. That's a sequel I'm still hoping for one day. HOT DATE


The Fifth Element (R)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and Gary Oldman
Director: Luc Besson

Although not anywhere near the merits of La Femme Nikita or Leon, The Fifth Element introduced us to Chris Tucker, pairing him with Bruce Willis who is in top wise-cracking form for this flick. The pace is perfect, the story funny and entertaining, although somewhat flawed. Lavish costumes by Jean Paul Gautier, special effects way ahead of its time, and expansive sets combine to bombard the viewer with brilliant imagery and offer us a glimpse at the future according to Besson. MATINEE

A 5-4-3 Double Play

Let's see... what could we talk about today besides the fact that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston split the sheets?

Well, Electra is but four days away from a theatre near you. I say near you simply because I won't be able to afford it when it arrives at that theatre near me since I'm out of a job. More's the pity.

Or, we could try and decipher the message behind the People's Choice Awards last night that saw both Fahrenheit 9/11 and The Passion win big. It's just a red and blue world these days and just what will Moore's People's Party Award do for him in Oscar's backyard?

Jack's back serving President and Country and punctual as ever, clocking in at 7:00AM. Jack is the "Michael Corleone" of television in that "he tries to get out, but they keep pulling [him]back in." Poor guy. Why don't they just let him be a philandering grandfather? Oh, well. It all be resolved in 24 short hours.

I should mention that I haven't even seen two of the biggest Oscar hopefuls, Sideways and The Aviator, which is nothing short of a sin because the latter is a Kate Beckinsale flick and you all know how I feel about here.

Oh, speaking of Beckinsale, maybe we should just catch up on old news.

Or, maybe I should just try to get somebody to explain to me like I'm a three year-old how Meet the Fockers could rule the box office three weeks in a row. That's practically unheard of for any film these days, much less a comedy. I must be missing something.

Or, perhaps I should just shut up and work on tomorrow's new releases, which includes another Kate Beckinsale flick. Yeah. That's precisely what I will do.

And That's a 5-4-3 Double Play!

, And A Brand New Poll

Make sure you take the time to scroll down and vote for your favorite film of 2005!

A Brand New Year, A Brand New Week, A Brand New Journal, A Brand New Blog

A brand new week begins today and I gotta tell ya', I'm excited about it! Today is the end of something that's been a wonderful part of my life for half a decade, but it is also the beginning of something entirely new. I don't know what that something is just yet, but whatever God has in store my family, I'm sure it's gonna be great!

Yep, I'm looking for a new gig these days. Hopefully I'll get something soon. I do think that since all the stressful and taxing situations from my last one are now a thing of the past I will be able to get serious about this blog again.

Here are the goals for 2005:

1. To purchase our own domain name and construct a custom web site that will always be THE place for movie reviews, news and commentary.
2. To provide you with additional writers and contributors that will broaden our coverage.
3. To continue to bring you film reviews using Bull Durham's copyrighted rating system.
4. To offer a place to find links to other important web sites, especially those that are dedicated to film and filmmaking.
5. To keep you informed on all the latest movie news.
6. To give added attention to the growing film business out here in West Texas.
7. To share news about The Desert Reel Film Festival and The Basin Film Society.
8. To eclipse a total of 50 film reviews and garner our credentials as part of the legitimate press community out here in West Texas.
9. To become a fully self-sufficient entity--we want The Hot Corner to be able to pay for itself.
10. To sell a screenplay and/or make a flick on my own--but that's for another set of goals, isn't it? lol

Regardless of what the future holds for me, even if I have to take a job at Taco Bell, I know that it's going to be a great year and that Bull Durham's Hot Corner will once again receive the (almost) daily attention it so richly deserves.

DVD Rundown

Here are a few flicks highlighting this week's new releases.


Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (R)
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, and Neil Patrick Harris
Director: Danny Leiner

This was one of the rare movies I had the privilege of screening in advance. I gave it The Hot Corner's RENTAL rating so maybe you'll wanna check out this little flick about a couple of lovable stoners on their quest for some tasty little burgers.


Troy (R)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom
Director: Wolfgang Petersen

I had very little kind to say about this film when it was first released, but for the record, it earned The Hot Corner's CATV rating.


Little Black Book (PG-13)
Starring: Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter, and Ron Livingston
Director: Nick Hurran

Ron Livingston's gal pal gets a little too curious for her own good when she goes snooping through his old address book. Or is it a PDA? I get the two confused.

Basin Film Society

Just returned from a meeting of The Basin Film Society this evening where I had the honor of screening Rick Owen's opus, The Minds Eye. We also elected new officers for 2005 and set some pretty lofty goals for the upcoming year. Owen will be our President this year, Sean Stringer our Vice-President, and Jeffrey Johnson the secretary. Rick and Jeff are also working diligently to bring us a new web site but until then, if you'd like to know more about The Basin Film Society, visit our web site at http://www.basinfilm.org/.

Resolved

To give this site its proper due again in 2005!