The Last Movie You Watched

[Gwaithmir]

[Nanny]

Moneyball (2011) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_(film)

I have been playing stratomatic baseball since high school. I learned then that getting on base and preventing on base are the keys to baseball success. Fielding, batting average, slugging, running, all are secondary attributes. Moneyball is based on a book by Michael Lewis that outed the Bill James statistical revolution. It focuses on the lowly Oakland Athletics under General Manager Billy Bean. Oakland's player budget is among the lowest in the big leagues. The players have to pay for soft drinks in the clubhouse. During a visit with the Cleveland Indians' Mark Shapiro, Bean notices that Shapiro listened to a pudgy Yale economist when it came to player evaluation. Bean hires the kid away and implements statistical analysis in Oakland, much to the dismay of the old guard baseball men who evaluate "tools" rather than results. Brad Pitt plays Bean and seems to be eating something in every scene. The bits of family drama don't really fit in this romantic baseball tale.

The actors portraying MLB players did a fine job. It's not easy to duplicate the throwing motions, swings, and subtleties of the athletes. The film also shows the business of baseball. There's a scene where Peter (Jonah Hill) has to practice firing Billy. Peter's attempt is ham fisted. "These are professional ballplayers. Give it to them straight. Pete, we gotta let you go. This is the number of our traveling secretary and he'll make sure you're taken care of. Just like that. Would you rather a bullet to the head or 5 to the chest?"

I use this example with my managers to illustrate how to dismiss someone. "Pete, we're separating you from the company today. Laura from HR has some important information for you." And that's it.

It's a baseball movie, so not for everyone, but it's charming and well acted.

[arewethereyet]

Moneyball (2011) https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/prem...ntent-510k

I have been playing stratomatic baseball since high school. I learned then that getting on base and preventing on base are the keys to baseball success. Fielding, batting average, slugging, running, all are secondary attributes. Moneyball is based on a book by Michael Lewis that outed the Bill James statistical revolution. It focuses on the lowly Oakland Athletics under General Manager Billy Bean. Oakland's player budget is among the lowest in the big leagues. The players have to pay for soft drinks in the clubhouse. During a visit with the Cleveland Indians' Mark Shapiro, Bean notices that Shapiro listened to a pudgy Yale economist when it came to player evaluation. Bean hires the kid away and implements statistical analysis in Oakland, much to the dismay of the old guard baseball men who evaluate "tools" rather than results. Brad Pitt plays Bean and seems to be eating something in every scene. The bits of family drama don't really fit in this romantic baseball tale.

The actors portraying MLB players did a fine job. It's not easy to duplicate the throwing motions, swings, and subtleties of the athletes. The film also shows the business of baseball. There's a scene where Peter (Jonah Hill) has to practice firing Billy. Peter's attempt is ham fisted. "These are professional ballplayers. Give it to them straight. Pete, we gotta let you go. This is the number of our traveling secretary and he'll make sure you're taken care of. Just like that. Would you rather a bullet to the head or 5 to the chest?"

I use this example with my managers to illustrate how to dismiss someone. "Pete, we're separating you from the company today. Laura from HR has some important information for you." And that's it.

It's a baseball movie, so not for everyone, but it's charming and well acted.

My baseball movie is The Field of Dreams.  Though it really isn't about baseball when you get down to it.  It was filmed right outside of my hometown so there is always some nostalgia for me.

My son played baseball from about the age of 7 thru high school and was pretty good till he blew out both knees playing football.  It was sitting in those stands where I learned the more subtle aspects of the game.  Before the second knee injury, my son was an at will base runner and he was damn good at stealing bases, as well as hitting fast balls that were a bit low and near the outside.  I learned about the open stance as that was his preferred.  Those were fun days.

[Angrboda]

I really enjoyed Moneyball. Even aside from that it's about baseball. Though I suppose it's hard to separate.

[Fake Messiah]

The Flash (2023). Come on. They are exaggerating with these superpowers. If they wanted to make a guy who can run super fast, it would be more interesting if he ran like 100 miles per hour or 150, but no. This is not even running; it is teleportation. Plus, if he runs even faster, he can travel through time like a time machine.

[Fake Messiah]

My baseball movie is The Field of Dreams. 

My favorite baseball movie is "Eight Men Out" and Field of Dreams is like a sequel to it.

[Rev. Rye]

This week in the Deep Hurting Project, Star Trek: Section 32. I had to take the week off because I had to deal with a full season of Black Mirror that I'm halfway through writing a review of. Also worth noting: I'm not a fan of Star Trek, FTR. Not that I have anything against the franchise; it's just that the sheer volume of material I'd have to work through is TERRIFYING. When I had to explain why I never actually watched the series in the wake of the release of USS Callister it was simple: 736 hours. And with four separate Star Trek Series starting and ending in the intervening years, it's safe to assume that the prospect just gets more and more daunting. So, don't expect me to know the full depths of the shit that this movie, which takes place in between seasons of Discovery. Most everything I know about the franchise comes from videos by former Channel Awesome reviewers.

• Okay, so apparently, this Asian girl is winning a contest that we've never had explained to us, and now she's got the power over life and death?
  
• Well, I guess it's nice to finally see some exposition into what the fuck is going on 10 minutes into this 95 minute film.
  
• I've only watched a single episode of Star Trek in my life, but I have to ask: why does it seem so much like a slower version of Pluto Nash?
  
• And now Michelle Yeoh's just acting like Danny Ocean?
  
• So, you've got a Vulcan, a species infamous for not being emotional, and you introduce him laughing his head off? How do you fuck that up? 
  
• And you've given the Vulcan an Irish accent, and, somehow, he's just the one putting the most emotion in his performance? Did they just find an old script in the slush pile and shoehorn it into a Star Trek film?
  

Well, I fell asleep quickly.  Hopefully, Ticker will give me more material to work with.

[Mister Agenda]

I knew about 31, didn't know 32 was out. In 31, Fuzz wasn't a real Vulcan, it was a microscopic being in a 'Vulcan suit'.

Saw Sinners. My only complaint is the Choctaw vampire hunters never showed up again after Remmick narrowly evaded them.

[Jackalope]

The Sound of Music (1965)

[Jackalope]

Arsenic and Old Lace, 1944