tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57660432024-03-12T20:16:59.943-04:00Rodger A. Payne's BlogI'm interested in international relations, American foreign policy, climate change, US presidential elections, public debate, Kansas Jayhawks basketball, film, and major league baseball.Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.comBlogger2042125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-86700104752879890992024-03-10T18:45:00.127-04:002024-03-10T18:45:00.139-04:00Oscars 2023<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c.pxhere.com/photos/49/7b/oscars_academyawards_slidersunday-525635.jpg!d" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="294" src="https://c.pxhere.com/photos/49/7b/oscars_academyawards_slidersunday-525635.jpg!d" width="587" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">This is my annual post about the Academy Awards. I'm not predicting who will win, but instead ranking the nominations in my preferred order of finish. I'll only rank the films and performances I've seen and will update this list in the future once I see a film. Those <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">changes will be noted in yellow highlights.</span> <br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">You can find my <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2023/03/oscars-2023.html" target="_blank">post about last year's Oscars here</a> and work backward if you want. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Best picture</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>“Killers of the Flower Moon</span><span>”</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Oppenheimer”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Past Lives”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“The Holdovers”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“American Fiction”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Maestro”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Barbie”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Frankly I'd be OK if any of the top 4 win. They are all very good films. The Holdovers is the one I could imagine watching again in a few years because of the humor. Maybe Barbie too. Oppenheimer conceivably could be a film for my political science course.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Anatomy of a Fall”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Poor Things”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“The Zone of Interest”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Directing</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Martin Scorsese, “Killers of the Flower Moon”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Justine Triet, “Anatomy of a Fall”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Actor in a leading role</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Colman Domingo, “Rustin”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Bradley Cooper, “Maestro”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Giamatti was excellent. He may not win, but the performance was award-worthy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I've seen a lot of Murphy in 2024 because my spouse and I have watched several seasons of Peaky Blinders on Netflix. He's talented and I would not be disappointed if he won.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Wright and Domingo were also excellent though I have not heard serious buzz about their winning and I probably would vote for one of the other performances. But this is a tight category. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Cooper was fine but the movie really didn't click with me. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Actor in a supporting role</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert De Niro, “Killers of the Flower Moon”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sterling K. Brown, “American Fiction”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ryan Gosling, “Barbie”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were well into the movie before I recognized Downey in his role. It's a very good performance. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">DeNiro played his usual type, a type he has long perfected. Brown was excellent too. I hope this pushes him into larger roles.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Gosling has had many better roles.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Actress in a leading role</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Annette Bening, “Nyad”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Carey Mulligan, “Maestro”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Last fall, my spouse and I saw Gladstone in a 2016 Kelly Reichardt film, Certain Women. It was a strong performance and I'm not surprised she delivered an Oscar-caliber performance this year. It's not as loud as Bening's role. If I had to re-rank them from scratch, I could just as easily put Mulligan over Bening. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Emma Stone, “Poor Things”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Actress in a supporting role</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">America Ferrera, “Barbie”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jodie Foster, “Nyad”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don't have strong feelings here though apparently Randolph is the overwhelming favorite. She was very good in her role. I've seen Ferrera's speech more than once on TV and wonder if it will carry her to a victory. It was impressive. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Blunt was fine, but the role was perhaps not Oscar-worthy. Surprisingly, Foster was somewhat mannered in Nyad, delivering a character not a lot unlike some others she has performed in the past. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Documentary feature film</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Bobi Wine: The People’s President”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“The Eternal Memory”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Four Daughters”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“To Kill a Tiger”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“20 Days in Mariupol”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So far we have not seen any of these. There's work to do, no none of them sound especially uplifting. Most are available on streaming services that we can access, so it is inevitable that I will see some.</span></div></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>International feature film</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Spain, “Society of the Snow”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Society of the Snow is an interesting film (on Netflix right now) that had me recalling the press coverage of the crash and aftermath. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Of the others, I really want to see The Zone of Interest, which is also on the top list above. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Italy, “Io Capitano”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Japan, “Perfect Days”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Germany, “The Teachers’ Lounge”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">United Kingdom, “The Zone of Interest”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Animated feature film</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“The Boy and the Heron”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Elemental”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Nimona”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Robot Dreams”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I have not watched many animated films the past few years. I saw a few minutes of the new Spider-Man at a brewpub and will probably see it before any of the others. </span></div><div><br /></div>
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-65974327433639314302024-02-22T12:35:00.008-05:002024-02-22T12:38:47.895-05:00American Feelings<!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><script async="" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-E6KSEVL5KC"></script><script>
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</script><span style="font-size: medium;">I used some "Feeling Thermometer" data in a class recently and was struck by an insane result reflected in the recent data. You'll see that below, where I've linked to the original polling agency, </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">First, definition: A "Feeling Thermometer" is a commonly used research measure. Here's a reasonable <a href="https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1028" target="_blank">definition from a recent piece of scholarship:</a></span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">The feeling thermometer, or thermometer scale, is a rating procedure to measure respondents’ feelings about an issue using a scale that corresponds or makes a metaphor to temperatures in the thermometer.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">Political scientists often derive these numbers via public opinion polling. Sometimes, respondents are specifically asked to provide a number on a scale (0 to 100 is typical) and the results reflect averages, often broken down by specific demographic information.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs asks Americans in a regular poll what they think about foreign countries. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://globalaffairs.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/american-sentiments-foreign-countries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="800" height="398" src="https://globalaffairs.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/american-sentiments-foreign-countries.png" width="631" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>As this data reveals, Americans feel quite warmly about Canadians, but have quite cold feelings about North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China. Likely not coincidentally, these are four states specifically identified as threats to American interests in the <a href="https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2023-Unclassified-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Director of National Intelligence's annual (public) assessment report. </a>Question for another day: w</span>hich way does the causal arrow run?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">With those numbers in the 19 to 32 range in mind (and 85 for Canada), take a look at this next polling result, showing how Americans feel about other Americans -- limited by their political party. Americans like other Americans of the same political party just a little less than they like Canadians.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And Americans' feelings about members of the opposing political party are comparable to their feelings about North Korea!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.carnegieendowment.org/images/article_images/Kleinfeld_fig_4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" height="450" src="https://images.carnegieendowment.org/images/article_images/Kleinfeld_fig_4.png" width="621" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2474736X.2020.1716630" target="_blank">Some recent political science research </a>is particularly interesting about the meaning of such data, suggesting that these positive and negative feelings can have real-world consequences, at least in international politics:</span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">This research note utilizes novel country feeling thermometer data to explore the [Democratic Peace Theory] debate’s micro-foundations: the underlying drivers of international amity and enmity among democratic citizens in the US, UK, France, and Germany.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">No wonder some scholars are studying the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/03/books/review-how-civil-wars-start-barbara-walter.html" target="_blank">allegedly growing risk of American civil war.</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-6120562838641596812024-02-07T14:30:00.007-05:002024-03-09T23:04:44.614-05:00Best films of 2023<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The graphic below identifies the top 25 films from 2023 that critics ranked on their end-of-year "best of" lists. The full list goes to 100 and if you are interested in seeing it, </span><span>I'm </span><a href="https://criticstop10.com/best-movies-of-2023/" target="_blank">sourcing the list from a different website</a><span> this year. The methodology for compilation is ostensibly the same. </span><span>Here's the detail:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: navy; font-family: "PT Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">Films are sorted by the percentage of lists they are included on.* This is typically the same as sorting by number of lists included, but can vary when films make lists across multiple years. For example, if one film makes 10 lists in a year with 100 lists available, it’s ranking will be higher than a film that makes 15 lists when 200 lists are available. The times a film appears at the top of a list is used as a tie-breaker.</span></blockquote><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="background-color: white; color: navy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: navy; font-family: inherit;">punctuation errors corrected </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Basically, this is an annual best films comment that I'm posting for 2023. <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2023/02/best-films-of-2022.html" target="_blank">This is the post</a> about the best films of 2022. Below this graphic, you'll find my rankings of these films (by tiers) with a list of the ones I still need to see. As I watch them over time, I'll edit the post but note the changes with<span style="background-color: #fcff01;"> yellow highlighting. </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">This "best of" comment is distinct from both the </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">annual</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">post on "</span><a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2023/12/films-of-2023.html" target="_blank">films of 2023</a><span style="background-color: white;">," which is my end-of-year musing about all the films I saw in a calendar year and my </span><a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2023/03/oscars-2023.html" target="_blank">annual Oscar post. </a></span></div><div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5XeowvX-9W8zqQw7G4tMSqZwGwKVGzC66QxPDMCdz81cOrpFPvVWxedgbvVTFnrKc4oMTAIh8Nlf5LrVkYfjiNZJfARERY5_d_XWgUBBhQMEJfO9k6DsFn6qGWVlvcmltxBmPxJ_e3R4o7S34_LMyW0XQHPSo7yELmM81O5Ctg0I0fRoA/s902/2023%20best%20films%20by%20critic%20lists.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="601" height="948" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5XeowvX-9W8zqQw7G4tMSqZwGwKVGzC66QxPDMCdz81cOrpFPvVWxedgbvVTFnrKc4oMTAIh8Nlf5LrVkYfjiNZJfARERY5_d_XWgUBBhQMEJfO9k6DsFn6qGWVlvcmltxBmPxJ_e3R4o7S34_LMyW0XQHPSo7yELmM81O5Ctg0I0fRoA/w631-h948/2023%20best%20films%20by%20critic%20lists.png" width="631" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Top-tier films</u></b>. These are very serious Oscar contenders:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">Killers of the Flower Moon</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oppenheimer</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Past Lives</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">American Fiction</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Holdovers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">May December</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've seen all but May December since the new year, which means they were not on the December list for 2023. The top <strike>4</strike> 5 on this are excellent and are well worth your time. Warning: Oppenheimer is exceptional, but it is both very long and about a subject that I have studied off-and-on since the 1980s. Your interest may vary from mine. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Incidentally, <a href="https://letterboxd.com/rodgerp/" target="_blank">I joined Letterboxd</a> last October and you can find my brief reviews of films there. I think I backfilled for all of 2023 and most of the films used in my political science course. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Second-tier films.</u></b> These are very good and may garner Oscar support:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">Maestro </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Showing Up</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barbie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maestro was well-made and well-acted, but I wasn't nearly as interested in this story as I was in the stories from the first-tier of films. I didn't find Bernstein's life especially interesting. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 2 films after Maestro were both calendar year 2023 viewings. Honestly I thought about putting Barbie in the following tier. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Third-tier films.</b></u> These are entertaining but flawed films:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Killer</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asteroid City</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, nothing new here yet. My spouse and I are trying to find time to see the Oscar nominated movies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Fourth-tier films.</u></b> I found these to be disappointing and do not recommend (if necessary, could remain blank):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">N/A</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Films yet to see (16 of 25 as of today):</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Afire</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of Us Strangers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anatomy of a Fall</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Boy and the Heron</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fallen Leaves</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Godzilla Minus One</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">John Wick: Chapter 4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Passages</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Poor Things<br />Priscilla</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saltburn</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Zone of Interest</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Glancing through the rest of the top 100, I've seen the following films already and rank them roughly in this order:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tar (tier 1, a remnant from last year's list for some critic)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fair Play (tier 2 or 3)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">They Cloned Tyrone (tier 2 or 3)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reality (tier 2 or 3)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I (Tier 4 material)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-85177708408007070362023-12-31T23:40:00.192-05:002024-01-01T00:08:06.744-05:00Films of 2023<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://the-public-domain-review.imgix.net/collections/it-started-with-muybridge/started-with-muybridge.jpg?w=640&h=1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="425" src="https://the-public-domain-review.imgix.net/collections/it-started-with-muybridge/started-with-muybridge.jpg?w=640&h=1200" width="567" /></a></div><br />I didn't watch that many 2023 movies this year, particularly through October. However, I did sign up for <a href="https://letterboxd.com/rodgerp/films/" target="_blank">Letterboxd </a>and have been writing brief reviews there. It obviously serves to log all the films I've seen, not merely those released in 2023. It appears I watched 86 films in 2023; thus, the list of new films below reflects only a small portion of my total movie viewing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As longtime readers know, this is an annual list and <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2022/12/films-of-2022.html" target="_blank">here is a link to last year's post i</a>f you want to work backwards through my viewing experiences. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Films from this first set will probably receive award nominations, or at least deserve strong consideration.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><script async="" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-E6KSEVL5KC"></script><script>
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</script><span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Leave the World Behind</span></div><div><span>May December</span></div><div><span>Scrapper</span></div><div><span>Master Gardener</span></div>Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret</span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Showing Up<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><div>I doubt Leave the World Behind is the best picture of 2023, but I think it is outstanding and am certain to see it again -- and will strongly consider it for viewing in my class on Global Politics Through Film. Amidst all the paranoia are some interesting reactions to uncertainty, threats, cyber-terror, and ecological catastrophe. </div><div><br /></div><div>May December is an interesting film with strong acting performances and both subtle and unsubtle messages. At least the filmmaker had something of potential importance to say.</div><div><br /></div><div>Scrapper is sort of a British version of The Florida Project, though I think the young girl lead actor is older in this film. The story is interesting, there are some funny moments, and the human connections seem real. </div><div><br /></div><div>Master Gardener was one of the stranger movies I've seen in awhile and the romantic connection that the title character ultimately forms is unpredictable, but believable. Joel Egerton is a talented actor that I also saw this year in The Stranger. He plays very complex characters in both films. </div><div><br /></div><div>Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (based on the Judy Blume book) was entertaining, despite the fact that I was likely not the target audience. Kathy Bates steals her scenes, which are often hilarious. </div><div><br /></div><div>Showing Up is a character study with a thin plot and terrific acting performances. The artists in the film are friends and family who inspire and infuriate one another, depending upon the moment. In the end they seem to be able to live with that dichotomy even if some are particularly gifted and have talent that "shows up" others. My spouse and I are big fans of director Kelly Reichardt. Check out her other films, perhaps beginning with First Cow or Wendy and Lucy. We saw Certain Women a few weeks prior to seeing Showing Up. </div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>These films were quite good and might receive award consideration:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br />Sharper</span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Killer<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">They Cloned Tyrone</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Reality</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Barbie</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Pez Outlaw (documentary)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>S</span><span>harper is a pretty good crime film with con-man (woman) vibes. </span><span>The Killer is well-executed, but ultimately the story is a basic revenge plot for an unsympathetic character. It lacks heft. </span><span>They Cloned Tyrone isn't really a comedy, despite Jamie Foxx's performance, but it is entertaining and fairly clever at times. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Reality was interesting and based on a true story, but the true story felt a little thin for a feature film. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone saw Barbie, right? I liked it, more or less, but there are significant shortcomings inherent in the source material. This film's success proves that Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling have enough star power (and talent), and Greta Gerwig sufficient directing skill, to make an entertaining film out of almost nothing substantial. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I would have liked to see those 3 remake something like The Pez Outlaw as a feature film, rather than a small documentary. Bet that would be interesting. It's a fun tale on its own. <br /><br />These were less interesting to me:<br /><br />Asteroid City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">No Hard Feelings</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Asteroid City is an interesting visual experience, but Wes Anderson's mannered style becomes a bit tedious in this mediocre film. In all honesty, I didn't think that much of Wes Anderson's previous film, The French Dispatch, and wonder if he's trying a bit too hard to be quirky at the expense of story-telling. Keep in mind that I loved Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel. I also saw his short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar this fall and found it merely OK. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jennifer Lawrence is always worth watching, and there's much of her to see in No Hard Feelings (you probably read about the beach scene even if you didn't see the movie), but this is not a particularly funny comedy. Maybe it would have been better in a theater. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Nothing in Indiana Jones seemed particularly novel, but I guess it was worth using the IP for one last payday. I kind of wish the character Jones had been handled more like James Bond, with younger actors portraying him after a few films with more frequent releases. An adventuresome archaeologist is a great premise, but they could have used more creativity reflecting on the world. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm obviously missing a large number of highly rated films from 2023 and plan to see them through 2024 (and beyond). I used to provide a list (and I still might) of top-rated films that I have not yet seen, but I didn't do it last year and no one complained. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
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</script><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://powells-covers-2.s3.amazonaws.com/9781789098679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="120" height="333" src="https://powells-covers-2.s3.amazonaws.com/9781789098679.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span>This is my annual post listing books I read in the most recent year. It seems kind of hard to believe, but I have produced such a post since </span></span><span><a href="http://rpayne.blogspot.com/2005/12/books-of-2005.html" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2005</a>. This i<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">s </span><a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2022/12/books-of-2022.html" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">a link to the 2022 list</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> if blog readers want to work backwards.</span></span></span></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Also, I posted short reviews of most of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/46952421" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">these books at Goodreads</a>. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Non-Fiction</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Amitav Ghosh, The Great Derangement; Climate Change and the Unthinkable</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><div>Samara Klar and Yanna Krupnikov, Independent Politics: How American Disdain for Parties Leads to Political Inaction</div><div><br /></div><div>David Maraniss, Clemente; The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero</div><div><br /></div><div>Satchell Paige, Maybe I'll Pitch Forever</div><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Bill James, Bill James Handbook, Walk-Off Edition</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Sean Forman, The Negro Leagues are Major Leagues</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Anne Jewell, Baseball In Louisville</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jeff Silverman, The Greatest Baseball Stories Ever Told: Thirty Unforgettable Tales from the Diamond</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Buzz Bissinger, Three Nights in August; Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Robert D. Kaplan, The Tragic Mind; Fear, Fate, and the Burden of Power</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I read several books about climate change this year, but Ghosh's book is the only one that is not fiction. Ghosh writes a great deal about the need for artists to create content about climate change and he emphasizes the importance of imagining some of the catastrophic potential outcomes. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Klar and Krupnikov book I got via ILL and read it for a project I'm working on with a colleague. The Maraniss and Paige bio and autobiography are definitely worth your time. I was inspired to read about Clemente after attending a Pirates game in Pittsburgh. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've purchased just about every book Bill James has written about baseball, including the annual Handbook (he is a contributor), but this book was disappointing. I realize the publisher is ending the run of this book because the stats are virtually all available on the internet, but I like to have them all together in one book that I can read at my leisure in my living room without a computer or device. This book does not include very many of the stats long associated with the book. The essays are fine, but the product is below the standard set by the prior editions.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Silverman edited volume has some great pieces, but I'd previously read most of the best ones. Some of the entries are not that great. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wrote a <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2023/08/20-years-later-3-nights-in-august-by.html" target="_blank">long review of Bissinger on this blog. </a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br style="color: black;" /><b style="color: black;">Literature and Genre Fiction</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Larry McMurtry, Terms of Endearment</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anne Tyler, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Nick Hornby, Just Like You</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">John Updike, Bech is Back</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jenny Offill, Weather</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Yevgeny Zamyatin, We</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't know why I've only recently read Terms of Endearment. I read the prior book in the Houston series decades ago. And I saw the movie with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson soon after it appeared. Oh well.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anne Tyler and Nick Hornby are always worth reading and I enjoyed both these books a great deal. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Bech book is really a set of short stories. It's OK, but uneven for this reason. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Offill book didn't really click with me, though it occasionally mentions climate change. Zamyatin's We is a classic, but it seemed to fall short of my expectations for dystopian fiction. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Genre fiction:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">James Kestrel, <a href="https://www.powells.com/book/five-decembers-9781789098679?partnerid=30445" target="_blank">Five Decembers</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Kurt Anderson, True Believers </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Colson Whitehead, Crook Manifesto</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Walter Mosley, Bad Boy Brawly Brown</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Connelly, Trunk Music</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jason Matthews, Palace of Treason</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Derek Raymond, He Died With His Eyes Open</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd say these books were the cream of the crop. Kestrel's book is excellent and I urge everyone to read it. Kestrel, Anderson, and Matthews have all written books featuring spies and espionage so it was another good year for reading that sort of fiction.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Whitehead, Mosley, Connelly, and Raymond work in the crime genre and these are captivating examples. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Ward Just, Exiles in the Garden</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">M is for Malice, Sue Grafton</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe Gores, Hammett</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">R.D. Rosen, Dead Ball</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Richard McGuire, Here</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty's Secret Service</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Donald Westlake, Brothers Keepers</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Donald Hamilton, Death of a Citizen</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Richard Stark (Donald Westlake), Slayground</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">David Goodis, The Wounded and the Slain</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Charles Willeford, The Burnt Orange Heresy</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Robert B. Parker, Taming a Sea Horse</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Loren Estleman, Angel Eyes</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Ross McDonald, Sleeping Beauty</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Donald Westlake, The Hook</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Claudia Davila, Luz Sees the Light</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Carl Hiaasen, Star Island</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Christopher Buckley, Make Russia Great Again</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack Handey, The Stench of Honolulu</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Many, actually most, of the other authors are familiar from past iterations of this summary report. You'll find books here from the Kinsey Milhone, Easy Rawlins, Spencer, and Lew Archer detective series, which I'm generally reading in order. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">There are a couple of graphic novels about climate change on this list. Here is an interesting concept as the artist has drawn the changes over time to a single plot of land. The Luz book is for children, which means it is a quick read. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Many of these books were OK, but most were so-so and had some serious flaws. I'm not going to be detailing all of those here, but you can probably find out on my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/46952421?ref=nav_mybooks" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>account. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Buckley and Handey prove that it can be difficult to be funny. </span></div><br /><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-79547738551093380212023-11-30T14:36:00.001-05:002023-11-30T14:37:43.062-05:00Kissinger, Finally Dead<!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the years, I've collected a number of unusual images that I occasionally hang on my office walls. I am a student of political <a href="https://people.potsdam.edu/betrusak/625/Payne%202017%20Zombie%20Narratives.pdf" target="_blank">satire </a>and <a href="https://www.springerprofessional.de/de/stigmatization-by-ridicule-from-dr-strangelove-to-donald-trump/17362594" target="_blank">ridicule</a> and images sometimes convey complicated satirical ideas in a single frame. After all, a picture is worth a 1000 words, right?</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As an example, I long posted a fun picture of Cuban socialist leader Fidel Castro playing golf, the country club sport. I'm not sure this is the exact one, but it's similar:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.capegazette.com/sites/capegazette/files/2016/11/field/image/fidel-castro-golfing-dupont-course.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="629" height="399" src="https://www.capegazette.com/sites/capegazette/files/2016/11/field/image/fidel-castro-golfing-dupont-course.jpg" width="419" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In the mid-to-late 1980s, I found a discarded paperback about Henry Kissinger that included many images of the Nobel Prize winner with numerous celebrities, including many beautiful women of the 1960s and 1970s. He dated many of these women prior to his marriage to Nancy Maginnes in March 1974. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometime in the late 1980s and early 1990s, I put some of those photos on my bulletin board. Here he is with Elizabeth Taylor. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://wwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/19761.jpg?w=1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="303" src="https://wwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/19761.jpg?w=1024" width="454" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Why did I post those images? Where is the satire or ridicule? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>That question is particularly difficult in this instance for obvious reasons. After all, </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/jul/31/artsfeatures1" target="_blank">musician Tom Lehrer once said</a><span> that "satire died" when Henry Kissinger won the Nobel peace prize. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I'm not so sure. To my thinking, the images that used to hang on my office walls helped demonstrate Kissinger's faults. </span><span>I meant to ridicule Kissinger by posting images like this one, featuring <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001762/" target="_blank">Jill St. John</a>. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://historicimages.com/cdn/shop/products/dfpb39147_1200x.jpg?v=1631640870" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="800" height="455" src="https://historicimages.com/cdn/shop/products/dfpb39147_1200x.jpg?v=1631640870" width="583" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><div><br /></div></span><span>These photos reminded me of movies featuring </span><span>mobsters </span><span>with beautiful young mistresses -- </span><span>or perhaps even better in this case, of </span><span>global villains like 007 James Bond's Auric Goldfinger surrounding himself with <a href="https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1280x720/p06dxqmk.jpg" target="_blank">attractive young female employees</a>. Stereotypically, the women in these situations are shown to be with the men because the relationships were transactional, rather than built on romantic love. They were built on jewelry, cash, and jet-setting.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the years, much has already been made of the novelty of Kissinger's dating life and there are strong hints that even Kissinger recognized the material exchange implicit in his situation. This note from his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kissinger-obit-a-life-secretary-of-state-d760662fa0b911ed86333c219cee77e8" target="_blank">AP obituary</a> attempts to explain the phenomenon: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div></div><blockquote><div>Kissinger, who divorced his first wife in 1964, called women “a diversion, a hobby.” Hollywood executives were eager to set him up with starlets, whom Kissinger squired to premieres and showy restaurants, according to Isaacson. Jill St. John was a frequent companion. Others he dated included Shirley MacLaine, Marlo Thomas, Candice Bergen and Liv Ullmann.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a poll of Playboy Club Bunnies in 1972, the man whom Newsweek dubbed “Super-K” finished first as “the man I would most like to go out on a date with.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Kissinger’s explanation: “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.”</div></blockquote><div></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These images could be interpreted as living proof of that explanation. Why would beautiful women be attracted to Henry Kissinger if not for his political power? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On the other hand, a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/isr/article/22/3/464/5420406" target="_blank">feminist reading </a>of that quip might be that Kissinger had a greatly distorted view of both gender and power relations. HE was attracted to power (and women) for the same reason(s). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This image of Kissinger with musician (and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/17/dolly-parton-partly-funded-moderna-covid-vaccine-research" target="_blank">far </a>superior <a href="https://www.billboard.com/lists/dolly-parton-good-deeds-timeline/1988-the-dollywood-foundation/" target="_blank">human </a>being) Dolly Parton readily conveys his desires -- and they are just as <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/henry-kissinger-war-criminal-dead-1234804748/" target="_blank">awful and problematic as his policies</a> towards <a href="https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/chile-cold-war-henry-kissinger-indonesia-southern-cone-vietnam/2023-11-29/henry" target="_blank">Cambodia, Chile, or Indonesia</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://wwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1985-2.jpg?w=683" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="649" src="https://wwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1985-2.jpg?w=683" width="433" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-13106146086223699262023-11-11T16:44:00.002-05:002023-11-11T16:44:16.725-05:00Rochester (NY)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsQnATU4rVhvKIfiLNIw9CeyyurUNkn0bddo5fa9KeGSOrVmnBg2D39JhanTYH0fpdxSMMyMshGNdIcjfxJBV_ARnsA4catwDmKt_t9wcChK6vRj2v4wnH5nxfDMxx9Hk06K11Us0uhVcZoYvSAGRtK5i-jMKXdTuJdJWRumlAzf_PtQ-AA/s4080/PXL_20220930_214015232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsQnATU4rVhvKIfiLNIw9CeyyurUNkn0bddo5fa9KeGSOrVmnBg2D39JhanTYH0fpdxSMMyMshGNdIcjfxJBV_ARnsA4catwDmKt_t9wcChK6vRj2v4wnH5nxfDMxx9Hk06K11Us0uhVcZoYvSAGRtK5i-jMKXdTuJdJWRumlAzf_PtQ-AA/w362-h273/PXL_20220930_214015232.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Last month for fall break, my spouse and I visited our oldest daughter in Rochester, NY. That picture above is actually from our 2022 trip, when we also went during my University's fall break. And we went back again for Thanksgiving when our youngest daughter could join us.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This year, we took in a couple of tourist attractions that we had not seen on those prior trips, including the George Eastman house and the Museum of Play. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Eastman, of course, was the man behind Kodak. In other words, he was the business force behind the popularization of cameras and film. Here are some of the cameras on view in his museum home:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tVqrfKrJL3Oe2nEj1B3kAFDFu7O2FwZZkCeuDRYVkJw6gj4pn0ObQjuLI-w4Y2CfMqr_k63w9pOWPB3ZWAJjjdgJd7imKtatjLr2lN1b1157ILUd32oh8fGA78U55Q_qmTcNGfID2n7u9w8MBYVzziur3kYyOJdtPpyK6lnx_fsE5jvwKA/s4080/PXL_20231008_161002031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tVqrfKrJL3Oe2nEj1B3kAFDFu7O2FwZZkCeuDRYVkJw6gj4pn0ObQjuLI-w4Y2CfMqr_k63w9pOWPB3ZWAJjjdgJd7imKtatjLr2lN1b1157ILUd32oh8fGA78U55Q_qmTcNGfID2n7u9w8MBYVzziur3kYyOJdtPpyK6lnx_fsE5jvwKA/w288-h217/PXL_20231008_161002031.jpg" width="288" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHg0YA1PB2NFNakz0MjaVTa9D9V76UqOAXEg_Ng8TpwM8eNK7R074NqdixOEfbsykhWZ_rFfY7162KoulVkwW3niGb3X9cB2jxfZFLa4XP6qMFeVEeEb8fSJa2oJITA4oc6Md9GmNJA4cL1kTF5AJOe9WWCPYCE49vDzVwpfnXlhuR44_JQ/s4080/PXL_20231008_164840763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHg0YA1PB2NFNakz0MjaVTa9D9V76UqOAXEg_Ng8TpwM8eNK7R074NqdixOEfbsykhWZ_rFfY7162KoulVkwW3niGb3X9cB2jxfZFLa4XP6qMFeVEeEb8fSJa2oJITA4oc6Md9GmNJA4cL1kTF5AJOe9WWCPYCE49vDzVwpfnXlhuR44_JQ/w287-h216/PXL_20231008_164840763.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Museum of Play is interesting, though we went on a weekday that happened to be a no-school day for the locals (and part of Canadian Thanksgiving weekend). In other words, it was crowded and kind of loud in various play areas. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCz-D1X5ewHN1KV0Gl3TDpPPkD92HGIgFZl04LG8BSQKHZigp0X31s-gQQ-x871JM8gnolctF1EQFk-Otnkl12tsSGbFYlV0If_1Zj0Q4IspqSIzqjsiVQ5t3AC_Ty5ojj_oNoqriOOYqGWpE48FE3EbzWDFenR4iUGRpQXTOk56Uf13NhQ/s4080/PXL_20231009_172432484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCz-D1X5ewHN1KV0Gl3TDpPPkD92HGIgFZl04LG8BSQKHZigp0X31s-gQQ-x871JM8gnolctF1EQFk-Otnkl12tsSGbFYlV0If_1Zj0Q4IspqSIzqjsiVQ5t3AC_Ty5ojj_oNoqriOOYqGWpE48FE3EbzWDFenR4iUGRpQXTOk56Uf13NhQ/s320/PXL_20231009_172432484.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2XVNyiCmBOo0iAzPGwV3aYA8Cffcg2HBA6HP0HjHr4ky8l1N-hVgq4V9HYsFaQfBxVOaVdW81FBAxNSUthzdVq24GY4ytDB4U6ZPGfH7P1oSroHMp1tGdET57hULOHCx9gAht4PvqE3Rf6VUKASI8F5feaa71JC2Dq3JZhWzxUaW_lUg0Q/s4080/PXL_20231009_163517175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2XVNyiCmBOo0iAzPGwV3aYA8Cffcg2HBA6HP0HjHr4ky8l1N-hVgq4V9HYsFaQfBxVOaVdW81FBAxNSUthzdVq24GY4ytDB4U6ZPGfH7P1oSroHMp1tGdET57hULOHCx9gAht4PvqE3Rf6VUKASI8F5feaa71JC2Dq3JZhWzxUaW_lUg0Q/s320/PXL_20231009_163517175.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/baseball-cards/" target="_blank">museum website confirms</a> something I read elsewhere recently -- baseball cards were just inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. I collected thousands when I was younger though I haven't acquired any in recent years. I probably lost some thanks to the house calamity, but have not had a chance to sort through that stuff. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I took quite a lot of photos at the museum, including this one of an original Monopoly game from the inventor:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MZFhj5zQvxQ4CeGclMTrJeigqGgBmQLFCf8ACiWbvOXUM6o1obxcQFH5WwpEjnnF_B_DPjTNWd1S99KyNrZEcYKUF6lmwVCY-foy9ehZnxgY0TWqGfVZECz391Z-epK6V5-6Lbb8sPR2iWiTtzJUq5yL5tCxAMGyIrIc9yjyyLLrnKyLsQ/s4080/PXL_20231009_161702214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MZFhj5zQvxQ4CeGclMTrJeigqGgBmQLFCf8ACiWbvOXUM6o1obxcQFH5WwpEjnnF_B_DPjTNWd1S99KyNrZEcYKUF6lmwVCY-foy9ehZnxgY0TWqGfVZECz391Z-epK6V5-6Lbb8sPR2iWiTtzJUq5yL5tCxAMGyIrIc9yjyyLLrnKyLsQ/s320/PXL_20231009_161702214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This set of popular games were in my closet as a kid (and teenager), though I had an even older version of Risk:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKZqy2bc6ba_Hp1sLacW_fCQqNWqWRgpVlcW1IEB6N_L_W9wskLZOw9NviUtdXDbUXcLPYsC-rAG3NKmswaK2KJkw-TwC6Dgs5xd8bUQaedOKraVwAnBYwnT8dtfxu0DTXXvkjdRf9k-Dk5d8jKR2_xAhzG2DhYzQAWyR2U7KkmjA6Cmb_A/s4080/PXL_20231009_162735207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKZqy2bc6ba_Hp1sLacW_fCQqNWqWRgpVlcW1IEB6N_L_W9wskLZOw9NviUtdXDbUXcLPYsC-rAG3NKmswaK2KJkw-TwC6Dgs5xd8bUQaedOKraVwAnBYwnT8dtfxu0DTXXvkjdRf9k-Dk5d8jKR2_xAhzG2DhYzQAWyR2U7KkmjA6Cmb_A/s320/PXL_20231009_162735207.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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</script><span style="font-size: medium;">On August 25 the huge oak tree in front of our house dropped a large branch during a microburst from a storm. Later that night, it rained and rained and rained. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The tree punctured our roof in multiple places, crashed through a bedroom window, and even managed to pierce the internal ceiling of two upstairs rooms. The rainwater eventually found its way to our lower floor, which we noticed by the multiple drips and small puddles from the living room ceiling. A few days later huge hunks of plaster fell in that space. An old crack in our basement foundation also seemed to expand and allowed water into our storage areas for the first time in 32+ years of living in the house. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It's been a trying five weeks:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHu_v3XyYC3PrIuB1cPXQ5Yxot5-8QG1969rl35fsnu9iZyUd5WNRjN9b2sG4d-9oNYhg3eSFmVIsfAR4MKYjDBVmcOpSfaKVz3T2d9rt6lGn4_Ea6fXabBTDrw0v4PBEIrFvefCJOIEDiC2g66tSlscPYaOpUB8MkMgcENRD031ELPlUCsw/s4080/PXL_20230830_220929257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHu_v3XyYC3PrIuB1cPXQ5Yxot5-8QG1969rl35fsnu9iZyUd5WNRjN9b2sG4d-9oNYhg3eSFmVIsfAR4MKYjDBVmcOpSfaKVz3T2d9rt6lGn4_Ea6fXabBTDrw0v4PBEIrFvefCJOIEDiC2g66tSlscPYaOpUB8MkMgcENRD031ELPlUCsw/s320/PXL_20230830_220929257.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGEXeCbK_2_7luC0rEvuSg7fAD5lv3Wg3XlycVFJcnIf0HsO9zGK0ThvLhkX3fTJrYHddWAkfnD8Uq8iM5wLQXWeQdkV8JWmDG-BKOeRb_EU6qNHPJ9yWyVlHchuLq1LNMKWfBy3y8p3CMYbC04VyOfimis_KZ0Ct4vb4qH6w8vTutbtQBg/s4080/PXL_20230831_182337497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGEXeCbK_2_7luC0rEvuSg7fAD5lv3Wg3XlycVFJcnIf0HsO9zGK0ThvLhkX3fTJrYHddWAkfnD8Uq8iM5wLQXWeQdkV8JWmDG-BKOeRb_EU6qNHPJ9yWyVlHchuLq1LNMKWfBy3y8p3CMYbC04VyOfimis_KZ0Ct4vb4qH6w8vTutbtQBg/s320/PXL_20230831_182337497.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV30E1Dibjr8QeadENOALFx5CP1jsgd_h9bffWH7Fq-Bz8ijmtxL-OrN1y8ci_1Xl9cosjPwLb0Vns1yWvSufnNMwmM__NoKXPgny7d4Yj_FuotXIUwhLruD0Ua1lrGoKnSUBYTr-i14xYus6yu0ULP9XsoMvfPlkxKqewoxBBWKyLcO6bVw/s4080/PXL_20230920_210220984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV30E1Dibjr8QeadENOALFx5CP1jsgd_h9bffWH7Fq-Bz8ijmtxL-OrN1y8ci_1Xl9cosjPwLb0Vns1yWvSufnNMwmM__NoKXPgny7d4Yj_FuotXIUwhLruD0Ua1lrGoKnSUBYTr-i14xYus6yu0ULP9XsoMvfPlkxKqewoxBBWKyLcO6bVw/s320/PXL_20230920_210220984.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br />
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Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-9308895269990472152023-08-09T14:49:00.000-04:002023-08-09T14:49:13.110-04:00Beach week and DC Stopover<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBvfV5EzV_qCEeje1rYdnCOKjkfj6p1fpUZDbdsOT6pd75uje5AVlzJWJm2fJJfQHFiqXDO-le2NStTeHWy0qoe_66bd1TalR52pBgrPmnyA2szrxvIy8qvyTGMp_wItlbX0no42is7S8FPljqI6d1vVqgBASJ2i268rSDB02P-YnZfJvPQ/s4080/PXL_20230725_145120662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBvfV5EzV_qCEeje1rYdnCOKjkfj6p1fpUZDbdsOT6pd75uje5AVlzJWJm2fJJfQHFiqXDO-le2NStTeHWy0qoe_66bd1TalR52pBgrPmnyA2szrxvIy8qvyTGMp_wItlbX0no42is7S8FPljqI6d1vVqgBASJ2i268rSDB02P-YnZfJvPQ/w386-h513/PXL_20230725_145120662.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><span style="font-size: large;"><div>My family returned to the Delaware beaches this summer for the first time since 2017. My spouse's sister and her family also came over from the UK and so the vacation was also a family reunion. Moreover, the two families stayed together in a big condo at a <a href="http://www.beartrapowners.com/default.php" target="_blank">golf resort</a> favored by some friends who long ago lived on the same street as my wife and her sister. When everyone got together, as we did for pizza one evening and in various combinations on the beach, with spouses or partners and their mostly young-adult "children," it was a sizeable assembly. </div></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not really a fan of the sun, or sand, so I did little more along the ocean front than walk along the beach slathered in sunscreen. I did very much enjoy being with family and friends, drinking the <a href="https://rarbrewing.com/beers/" target="_blank">regional </a>craft <a href="https://www.dogfish.com/" target="_blank">beer </a>(and visiting a nearby <a href="https://www.oceanviewbrewingde.com/" target="_blank">brewpub</a>), and consuming the locally grown produce (the corn this year was spectacular). I should not forget to mention the excellent crab cakes my sister-in-law produced one evening nor the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57522883" target="_blank">excellent novel</a> I read while enjoying the freedom to do nothing. <br /><br />On the return from Delaware, my spouse and I stopped to visit one of her oldest friends who lives in Arlington. While in the DC area, I connected with one of my oldest <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgidley/" target="_blank">friends </a>who lives in nearby McLean and we spent part of an afternoon visiting the National Portrait Gallery and taking in the special Leonardo <a href="https://www.dclibrary.org/leonardo-da-vinci" target="_blank">DaVinci exhibit at the DC Public Library</a>. Among other attractions at the Gallery was a special exhibition for <a href="https://npg.si.edu/exhibition/one-life-frederick_douglass" target="_blank">Frederick Douglas.</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ2P9b8-XnrvNVXCg3h8zkx4yTzBqTWKN5yDlgCe9_trV3DHpizMVLPJRgBKyItT2_VGUiJ2b7rOo9t3gR_3I9goCLQ9dNhOrPlhVGKZ4vMypW7ip2AaQ7XksGUd1oDvYM44mXH9kHDaqXLA7lE8MqCT6byFn0dWq_vWsjgVxAc2yt7azUQ/s4080/PXL_20230729_195826099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ2P9b8-XnrvNVXCg3h8zkx4yTzBqTWKN5yDlgCe9_trV3DHpizMVLPJRgBKyItT2_VGUiJ2b7rOo9t3gR_3I9goCLQ9dNhOrPlhVGKZ4vMypW7ip2AaQ7XksGUd1oDvYM44mXH9kHDaqXLA7lE8MqCT6byFn0dWq_vWsjgVxAc2yt7azUQ/s320/PXL_20230729_195826099.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w3Yqb6veRVpNhTj-60ogJVcRFzFgWcNZNFg5yfFb68mHsscSkww75asjUAOkE3hp4pEgGmSyFBLFEKi_e9mTsYe6ZFNb6AhBM95iUYv8OgFS7Lyux6Z2xqYvXwOFqrsenefF4wv-4TdwdTpYLX1uNAUzmmbdvvfQ5wR18ommI66p6urH0w/s4080/PXL_20230729_195415838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w3Yqb6veRVpNhTj-60ogJVcRFzFgWcNZNFg5yfFb68mHsscSkww75asjUAOkE3hp4pEgGmSyFBLFEKi_e9mTsYe6ZFNb6AhBM95iUYv8OgFS7Lyux6Z2xqYvXwOFqrsenefF4wv-4TdwdTpYLX1uNAUzmmbdvvfQ5wR18ommI66p6urH0w/s320/PXL_20230729_195415838.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa4tXZeNcAkO4xQs6M17q5XRL9r9L4Xcg2OhTiijqsZSXKrOqu8pn4RsZXroDTz3H3V-INwhoStEhuyLCK1DKxgVDPkL0oCQoK6cUWPCtyu79wBitlH0AhrD33U1HPEzUkXbQ6y2bt9NAsPnYjzQSRUdS72agEbwXFMBX-rCendW5_16iGg/s4080/PXL_20230729_203016231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa4tXZeNcAkO4xQs6M17q5XRL9r9L4Xcg2OhTiijqsZSXKrOqu8pn4RsZXroDTz3H3V-INwhoStEhuyLCK1DKxgVDPkL0oCQoK6cUWPCtyu79wBitlH0AhrD33U1HPEzUkXbQ6y2bt9NAsPnYjzQSRUdS72agEbwXFMBX-rCendW5_16iGg/s320/PXL_20230729_203016231.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
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</script><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a href="https://buzzbissinger.com/book/3-nights-in-august/" target="_blank">This book</a> has been on my radar for a long time. It was published to some acclaim in 2005 and concerns a three game baseball series</span><span> </span><span>that occurred </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>August 26th to 28th, </span><span>2003,</span><span> involving the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. In that era, these were two of the best teams in the National League. It's been on my shelf for a good while after I eventually acquired a used paperback copy complete with an Afterward published in December 2005 that includes the framing of the book as a counter-take to </span><a href="https://www.michaellewiswrites.com/#top" target="_blank">Michael Lewis's</a><span> terrific</span><span> </span><a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2005/11/references-to-moneyball-philosophy.html" target="_blank">Moneyball</a><span>, which I read soon after it originally appeared. I finally decided to read this book when visiting St. Louis for the fourth of July weekend earlier this summer.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The book tells some interesting stories and offers some revealing insights into the way <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/larusto01.shtml" target="_blank">Tony La Russa managed </a>baseball games. Though the book focuses on a three game series, it also covers some of La Russa's personal baseball history dating back to his first job as a manager in the late 1970s, continuing through the 1980s with first the Chicago White Sox and then the Oakland A's. La Russa was hired by Sox owner<a href="https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/veeck-bill" target="_blank"> Bill Veeck,</a> who bought his first baseball team in 1941 and was the son of a man who was president of the Cubs in 1918! After this book was written, La Russa managed Cardinal teams that went on to win the 2006 and 2011 World Series. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The book also features stories about several star players that continue to be relevant two decades later. Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols was arguably the greatest hitter in baseball when this book was written and he retired just this past off-season, ending his career with a bit of a bounce-back season in St. Louis in 2022. Another prominent member of that 2022 Cardinals team, Adam Wainwright, is briefly mentioned in the book's Postscript because he was part of the return for a trade involving JD Drew, a talented Cardinal player of 2003. And Scott Rolen, who hit a key home run in one of the book's three games and made timely defensive plays as well, was just inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. La Russa himself returned to managing the White Sox in 2021-2022, winning a division title in 2021, but not completing the season in 2022 because of health reasons (after mediocre results as well). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The reader gets a good feel for how La Russa and his long-time pitching coach Dave Duncan prepared for games and thought about various tactics, strategies, and statistics. The events in the book occurred prior to the <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard" target="_blank">Statcast </a>era, but many of the ideas La Russa and Duncan have about pitch sequence and selection are now readily testable by anyone with an internet connection given the trove of data Statcast publishes online. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These are the best elements of the book. But there are some important weakness too:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">First, the book barely scratches the surface on the <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2007/12/13/a-timeline-of-steroids-in-baseball/" target="_blank">steroids scandal</a> that greatly influenced baseball in this era. The game had already agreed to employ anonymous PED (performance enhancing drug) testing in 2002 and the results announced after the 2003 season revealed that 5 to 7% of samples were positive, triggering a new random testing policy. Bissinger knew all this when he published the book and yet devotes only a few pages to the issue. I attended SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) meetings in Boston in the first months of 2005 and this was the center of a tremendous amount of discussion. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Bissinger's neglect of this topic is important for multiple reasons. To begin, he describes La Russa as an avid opponent of steroids who lamented their effects on the game and on young lives. Yet, we now know that La Russa's A's and Cardinals featured stars that were among the most notorious users -- sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. Bissinger quotes La Russa as saying he could tell which players were using and that Canseco wasn't! While the identities of the users had not been revealed by baseball in 2003 and 2004, by December 2005, when the Afterword was written, Canseco's book had acknowledged that he had been a user. Moreover, Canseco named Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa (a Cubs star in 2003) as users too. In March of 2005 McGwire and Sosa, along with Rafael Palmeiro (later suspended for PEDs) and Curt Schilling <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/baseball-players-testify-before-house-committe-about-steroids" target="_blank">testified before Congress about steroids</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Second, rather than enter into the steroids controversy, which seems like it would have said something important about the "humanity" of baseball, ostensibly Bissinger's goal in writing the book, the author instead takes the opportunity to attack Moneyball. He attacks the statistical analytical perspective promoted in Moneyball early in the book but the theme becomes the centerpiece on p. 269. I believe Bissinger focuses on the trees rather than the forest, devoting great attention to criticizing (with very little context) the specific players selected by the Oakland A's in the 2002 amateur draft. It's always dangerous to discuss a draft in the first few years after it occurred, but Bissinger makes fun of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swishni01.shtml" target="_blank">Nick Swisher</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blantjo01.shtml" target="_blank">Joe Blanton </a>initial two selections even though both turned out to be a pretty good players who spent a decade or more as major league regulars (or in Blanton's case as members of a major league rotation). Swisher made an All-Star team and both men played in a World Series. Many other selected players enjoyed <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7007945/2002-moneyball-draft-class-review" target="_blank">decent careers</a> and the draft was not a bust. This is now <a href="https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/draft_class/2002~21/" target="_blank">easily confirmed </a>with a simple Google search. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The real problem, however, is that Bissinger completely misses the point about Moneyball. He treats the book as if the Oakland A's use of various strategies and tactics to pinch pennies is inherent to the approach. That organization is notoriously cheap and Bissinger points out that money can buy winning players regardless of how smart the Harvard MBA GMs are. However, in this century, wealthy teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers have won numerous division titles, pennants, and championships by using the kind of advanced statistical analysis that Moneyball entails and that Bissinger explicitly hates. Yes, low budget teams like Tampa and Cleveland have also consistently succeeded (KC did as well in 2014-2015) by employing some of the same tactics, but the tactics themselves are not solely about saving money. Rather, they are about analyzing the game statistically to reveal previously unexploited advantages and inefficiencies. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Third, Bissinger's critique of advanced statistics also seems pretty hypocritical given that he devotes so much attention to the kind of small-N data that <a href="https://theathletic.com/1708634/2020/04/02/like-its-namesake-earl-weaver-baseball-was-way-ahead-of-its-time/" target="_blank">Earl Weaver allegedly used to employ </a>in the 1970s. Apparently La Russa and Duncan kept track of whether a particular hitter was 5 for 19 against a certain pitcher (and whether pitchers mostly succeeded against certain opposition hitters), but we have known for a fairly long time (dating to the work of Bill James in the 1980s) that these kinds of small sample statistics are not very meaningful. In any case, Bissinger seems to love revealing these and other less important stats throughout the book. He repeatedly mentions batting average, RBI, pitcher wins, and other traditional </span><span>stats that are now widely recognized as </span><span>less meaningful. Much of this was known in 2003, discussed prominently by Bill James and Michael Lewis and less notably by many hundreds of stats-drunk baseball nerds on the internet in the 1990s. </span><span>Why convey so many stats that do not say very much about winning baseball games? </span><span>This book isn't really an anti-statistical diatribe, it is a attack made with a head-in-the-sand approach. Bissinger simply refused to keep up with the field's use of more meaningful stats but relies upon older, less revealing, stats. Was this true of La Russa too?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These are not the only shortcomings and contradictions of this book. On p. 217 of the paperback, Bissinger writes about how pitcher Brett Tomko is laid back and sleepy. On the very next page he mentions how lost Tomko is in high pressure situations, implying a high strung response. Can an observer ever really know a player's psyche and situational reactions? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On pp. 270-71 Bissinger criticizes then-Baseballprospectus.com writer <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/2851/taking-one-for-the-team-when-does-it-make-sense-to-sacrifice-part-2/" target="_blank">James Click's article</a> evaluating and critiquing the use of the (sacrifice) bunt. Bissinger favorably quotes Hall of Famer Frank Robinson who objected in part because of his personal experience on the field as player and manager, something Click never had. I guess <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Click" target="_blank">Click got the last laugh since he was the GM of the World Series</a> winning Houston Astros in 2022 and the sacrifice bunt has <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/11/4/23439277/sacrifice-bunt-intentional-walk-vanishing-from-baseball" target="_blank">practically disappeared </a>from the modern game. In 2021-2022 while managing the White Sox, La Russa himself used the bunt less than half as often as he did when this book was written. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br />
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As it happened, this was the major league debut of Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz and signaled the beginning of a Cincy baseball summer 2023 revival featuring more <a href="https://apnews.com/sports/washington-nationals-cincinnati-reds-c2f0c762c9584a80bf61fbe43ee2df65" target="_blank">winning </a>and higher <a href="https://www.wlwt.com/article/record-attendance-reds-vs-braves-series-great-american/44336423" target="_blank">attendance</a>. </span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In the game, De La Cruz hit a double that was at that point the hardest hit ball by any Reds player this season. Tracking data from <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/elly-de-la-cruz-682829?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb" target="_blank">Statcast </a>also revealed that his sprint from the batter's box to second base gave him the highest sprint speed of any Reds player this season. Now, weeks into his career, De La Cruz is established as a player who hits the ball harder than almost any major leaguer. And he's the fastest man in mlb. Oh, and his throwing arm strength is also 98th percentile.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I took a photo of his first at bat: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8RNyWWgYWcdiL2zKdVOaez5YGDfpQypHUTGGpFgYTicCs-weQX8Y1vNnUnGDlAeJoNqeFaRLBp-vZQvm6x5pmWnzB5laR_MxCg2EkVqj4Rl0SRamXBqAr936NUthdxNoM24g2Mko7c9fvolFwM_CSXdDIp4y79XPq60uTMtjB7cUvKe2uw/s4080/PXL_20230606_232917817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8RNyWWgYWcdiL2zKdVOaez5YGDfpQypHUTGGpFgYTicCs-weQX8Y1vNnUnGDlAeJoNqeFaRLBp-vZQvm6x5pmWnzB5laR_MxCg2EkVqj4Rl0SRamXBqAr936NUthdxNoM24g2Mko7c9fvolFwM_CSXdDIp4y79XPq60uTMtjB7cUvKe2uw/s320/PXL_20230606_232917817.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a shot of the scoreboard</span></div><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0fkLngh5R4rsVr9mGzZy6DelD9s0Z9a9NnfOwc0gkjWgrOi_p_Mtup5gPdz4CRDF9teUs4HO4s6zicxGjLFhg2Yf7wCBGJV2lssYYpPvUMYKN2FpOF-GPpDWwnTz5LP4y5Cc1gTM8eiG0SvImBSr6N4oNbCeTSfYIxGULFS83E91oFTVsA/s4080/PXL_20230606_232930372.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0fkLngh5R4rsVr9mGzZy6DelD9s0Z9a9NnfOwc0gkjWgrOi_p_Mtup5gPdz4CRDF9teUs4HO4s6zicxGjLFhg2Yf7wCBGJV2lssYYpPvUMYKN2FpOF-GPpDWwnTz5LP4y5Cc1gTM8eiG0SvImBSr6N4oNbCeTSfYIxGULFS83E91oFTVsA/w403-h304/PXL_20230606_232930372.jpg" width="403" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here is De La Cruz after his loud double:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKoCBbg8rB6Yr9Z0VRdEPTpbuSqPd4XvFR6zWinCFj69Iz0Yau_8O-j0aC0SIFkzRsCTq-nqwt8UEDQUXzzF4DT2l1GjZSYBjnHF0adlEVP9RRvVETaS0qA_qff3OpowLm55bBzdPP2ip4vd5dEa22Atp3kWqI2gSVeFHtkIOClYt2qLWlQ/s4080/PXL_20230607_000843887.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKoCBbg8rB6Yr9Z0VRdEPTpbuSqPd4XvFR6zWinCFj69Iz0Yau_8O-j0aC0SIFkzRsCTq-nqwt8UEDQUXzzF4DT2l1GjZSYBjnHF0adlEVP9RRvVETaS0qA_qff3OpowLm55bBzdPP2ip4vd5dEa22Atp3kWqI2gSVeFHtkIOClYt2qLWlQ/s320/PXL_20230607_000843887.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The Dodgers jumped out to a big lead in the first inning 3-0, but the Reds came back to tie in the bottom of the inning. Freddy Freeman hit a grand slam in the fourth as part of a 5 run rally that gave the Dodgers another big lead 8-3, but the Reds came back again run-by-run to make it 8-6 entering the final inning. The Dodgers bullpen ended up blowing a 9th inning lead (mostly because of 3 walks) and <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471929" target="_blank">the Reds won 9-8. </a>My friend drove home a bit unhappy, but we both got to see Elly's remarkable debut!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />
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</script><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm going to use this post to summarize my recent and prior visits to Michigan brewpubs. This is one instance when Google Timeline data is actually helpful, though this information only goes back to mid-year 2013 when I must have authorized the tracking software. I'm not listing breweries where I didn't drink. We went into Ludington's Jamesport once, but could not get a table for dinner in a timely fashion, and we quickly left Grand Armory in Grand Haven on the 2022 trip because it didn't offer outdoor seating. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Given that Michigan has <a href="https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=21915&i=789894&p=12&ver=html5" target="_blank">nearly 400</a> breweries, my personal list includes less than 5% of the total! I could move to Michigan and have a difficult time sampling all of them. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2023 (1 new; 19 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Griffin Claw, Rochester Hills near Detroit</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Founders, Grand Rapids</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We dined at Griffin Claw and Brewery Vivant and the food was pretty good at both. We stopped at Founders to buy a crowler of one of my favorite beers generally unavailable in Kentucky (<a href="https://foundersbrewing.com/our-beer/reds-rye-ipa-draft/" target="_blank">Red's Rye IPA</a>) and I had a taster of <a href="https://foundersbrewing.com/our-beer/nitro-rubaeus/" target="_blank">Nitro Rubaeus</a>. We had hoped to have a dessert, but they didn't offer it that night and so the smooth raspberry ale had to suffice. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Incidentally, while we were in Ontario we visited Heritage Hops brewery in Stratford for a slice of chocolate cake (I paired it with a dark lager) before attending the play "<a href="https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Production/Casey-and-Diana" target="_blank">Casey and Diana</a>," and dined at Toboggan brewing in London on Father's Day. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2022 (4 new; 18 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Odd Side Ales, Grand Haven</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Unruly Brewing, Muskegon</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Rare Bird Brewing, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Cherry Republic Brewing Company and Public House, Glen Arbor</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Founders, Grand Rapids</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We dined at all of those places, though at Odd Side we had to order takeout from a nearby restaurant. They don't have food. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2021 (2 new; 14 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Big Lake Brewing, Holland</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Guardian Brewing, Saugatuck</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We also dined at all of these.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2019 (2 new; 12 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">New Holland Brewing, Holland</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Big Lake Brewing, Holland</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Clam Lake Beer Company, Cadillac (2)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Filling Station, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Workshop Brewing, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">MiddleCoast Brewing, Traverse City (was called <a href="https://www.record-eagle.com/news/business/brewery-changes-name-to-middlecoast/article_b4d0317c-e542-11e9-a339-d30c281224dc.html" target="_blank">Monkey Fist at the time</a>)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We did not dine at Big Lake or MiddleCoast, but both have food (I think).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2018 (2 new; 10 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Workshop Brewing, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Clam Lake Beer Company, Cadillac</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Filling Station, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We dined at these.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2017</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I was on antibiotics that trip and did not visit any brewpubs and avoided alcohol. It was kind of sad. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2016 (2 new; 8 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Saugatuck Brewing, Saugatuck</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Filling Station, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2015 (2 new ones, 6 total)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Short's Brewing, Bellaire</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Rare Bird, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We dined at these.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Older trips: (at least 4 visited)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">New Holland Brewing, Holland</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mackinaw Brewing, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">North Peak, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jolly Pumpkin, Traverse City</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We did not dine at Jolly Pumpkin, but they have food -- and various other locations across the state.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">* It is possible my memory has failed me in recalling other brewpubs visited before 2015 as we have been going to Michigan as a family since the 1990s when my children were quite young. Then again, we didn't really take the kids to brewpubs when they were young -- maybe restaurants that happened to brew some of their own beer. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I've also tried a good deal of Michigan beer in restaurants and taprooms, but I'm not going to list all of those here. I would put in a good word for the 7 Monks in Traverse. </span></div><br /><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-55971924969501419072023-06-28T23:17:00.003-04:002023-06-28T23:17:26.279-04:00Detroit<!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this month, my spouse and I drove north through Detroit, entered Ontario at Port Huron / Sarnia for a long weekend in Canada, and then returned to Detroit to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts museum and to attend a Tiger game. It was my first visit to DIA and to Comerica Park. It was also our first return trip to Canada since the fall 2018 sabbatical. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After leaving Detroit we spent several days in our usual western Michigan destinations, Grand Rapids, Holland, and Saugatuck. We managed to visit a couple of <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2022/07/michigan-beer.html" target="_blank">additional brewpubs</a>, as per usual.<br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The DIA features some interesting contemporary work, some pieces by enduring masters, and a terrific room filled with <a href="https://dia.org/collection/detroit-industry-murals-58537" target="_blank">murals/frescos</a> by Diego Rivera. You probably recognize the artist responsible for this self portrait:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7w4Ydi2EaHgDxoPEwlRgnQMnEd6kThCxLBxwpm-5xlXRW2rIXGNTe1v7qw-lD2nNS-KIT72bwFWelN4i9Xsv6dDOmN0_tXqHBSRDimqL61tC8a_yWa1f3ymJJrW811qiSXxE_KuayRczXuJ7hHLADm1MFMRWm-E0gdafQNjlxaBOOcGdlA/s4080/PXL_20230620_162328654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7w4Ydi2EaHgDxoPEwlRgnQMnEd6kThCxLBxwpm-5xlXRW2rIXGNTe1v7qw-lD2nNS-KIT72bwFWelN4i9Xsv6dDOmN0_tXqHBSRDimqL61tC8a_yWa1f3ymJJrW811qiSXxE_KuayRczXuJ7hHLADm1MFMRWm-E0gdafQNjlxaBOOcGdlA/s320/PXL_20230620_162328654.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Van Gogh</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"Welfare Queen" by Amy Sherald comes with an interesting <a href="https://news.artnet.com/opinion/amy-sheralds-welfare-queen-resale-royalties-economic-equity-artists-2037904" target="_blank">backstory</a>:</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow7i-1s42dyx0QQedTTYmt0-U7Hbj7MwKfuT7HqJU39YYEooht88d9KIzOtZjJtf0gEOIz1fw8a2_eZeKgBPBz2bhPfn856JvQaWhoR9EtxDgAe0i6owQIwAxV09niHWg7qqBCXfDZzFhAzajem_CIUymbILb2F_PUCuZrY9XZHkavXv0KQ/s4080/PXL_20230620_190127834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow7i-1s42dyx0QQedTTYmt0-U7Hbj7MwKfuT7HqJU39YYEooht88d9KIzOtZjJtf0gEOIz1fw8a2_eZeKgBPBz2bhPfn856JvQaWhoR9EtxDgAe0i6owQIwAxV09niHWg7qqBCXfDZzFhAzajem_CIUymbILb2F_PUCuZrY9XZHkavXv0KQ/s320/PXL_20230620_190127834.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It is nearly impossible to do justice to the murals with photos.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyGiD7zghQQkyXnuDPxpPIX8Y-SPPWXUZV4Wi1oEAdesyGGy9OpEm2yaQyd2_Et8rh_ccCo1EdQJj10UPtXOXu8d7hKLn42XALc4GaepkwoWm4GmOgCqwEhAAbQMnpH2IluYJJuqtQwb_Z-DowFIVRdYgyU6JX2v6Ve7xKp7zv_44mK0Z0Q/s4080/PXL_20230620_171639380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyGiD7zghQQkyXnuDPxpPIX8Y-SPPWXUZV4Wi1oEAdesyGGy9OpEm2yaQyd2_Et8rh_ccCo1EdQJj10UPtXOXu8d7hKLn42XALc4GaepkwoWm4GmOgCqwEhAAbQMnpH2IluYJJuqtQwb_Z-DowFIVRdYgyU6JX2v6Ve7xKp7zv_44mK0Z0Q/w392-h295/PXL_20230620_171639380.jpg" width="392" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4dBDTCf2q7889TJx2EaRj7uJEsVfrC3UaDZxpchpBn549aPXF8rLvChNgNDMZPtswsgSaCdd0BeuHM4z8f9FJ4PZ5Twa5lbmfvPtyU7MO1Rd6_6TGuxkXJmxYJAQC84ygc_jz7_glelWsNoy6ihlIG3nLpJAXFlSf7B9X5oZlnJyerWAbA/s4080/PXL_20230620_171737089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4dBDTCf2q7889TJx2EaRj7uJEsVfrC3UaDZxpchpBn549aPXF8rLvChNgNDMZPtswsgSaCdd0BeuHM4z8f9FJ4PZ5Twa5lbmfvPtyU7MO1Rd6_6TGuxkXJmxYJAQC84ygc_jz7_glelWsNoy6ihlIG3nLpJAXFlSf7B9X5oZlnJyerWAbA/w417-h314/PXL_20230620_171737089.jpg" width="417" /></a></div><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As for the Tiger game, <a href="https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php" target="_blank">Detroit beat the KC Royals 9-4</a>. KC infielders made a couple of key misplays that directly or indirectly led to a handful of runs. I liked Comerica Park, but perhaps not as much as PNC, which seems to have the advantage of being on the river with its statues of former stars outside the park and accessible to the general public. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs1V8vOEQBt0P3ONsEvFTqRon3zb_l3n5LpUv2S5VEY3p7Yr5VuQQFsnxnqvHs7-hArItCQU5JL-FCyfM7kGC-O6XjJxzFYpFcYB_Ipo2Re1_jBlnFERjZH8CS3yjb66GVp8YWvxrKGNn1rZEPbm5kyw5Iws_xiCvdoCxgdQRWO1UYv-Q3w/s4080/PXL_20230621_165510840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs1V8vOEQBt0P3ONsEvFTqRon3zb_l3n5LpUv2S5VEY3p7Yr5VuQQFsnxnqvHs7-hArItCQU5JL-FCyfM7kGC-O6XjJxzFYpFcYB_Ipo2Re1_jBlnFERjZH8CS3yjb66GVp8YWvxrKGNn1rZEPbm5kyw5Iws_xiCvdoCxgdQRWO1UYv-Q3w/w433-h326/PXL_20230621_165510840.jpg" width="433" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-44588297814984077262023-06-15T09:30:00.001-04:002023-06-15T09:30:00.141-04:00Brooklyn<!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><span style="font-size: medium;">After my spouse and I departed <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2023/06/pittsburgh.html" target="_blank">Pittsburgh</a>, we headed east to visit our youngest daughter in Brooklyn. She's moved to a slightly different neighborhood (Bed-Stuy) south and east of where she used to live in Williamsburg. I didn't completely master the local geography while our car was safely parked on a garage rack for nearly 72 hours, but we spent a lot of time walking the neighborhoods. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This was a somewhat impromptu trip so our daughter was working during the weekdays. Thus, we basically met her for a late lunch Friday, stayed 3 nights in a nearby hotel almost in Bushwick, and departed Monday morning after sharing some bagels. </span><span style="font-size: large;">After lunch Friday, we went for gelato not far from Malcolm X Boulevard and I noticed this school named for El Haji Malik El Shabazz, a/k/a Malcolm X: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFwAW5qKb353DLeDcnkld8B1WZHymo-t4Jmwdz9Rby7KNZa-IRycuYTmBZ6O_QmiNtQZYekKgjkExjhQbOBJYyL9nyrobWFmtqm_zEXajVjmrL0QuqXpOOaog6gUkH79PBgTQ-dr68wn6kx3x9V9mbDGSHrvTymjYuxX3EAT6g-89DCU/s4080/PXL_20230514_145538595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFwAW5qKb353DLeDcnkld8B1WZHymo-t4Jmwdz9Rby7KNZa-IRycuYTmBZ6O_QmiNtQZYekKgjkExjhQbOBJYyL9nyrobWFmtqm_zEXajVjmrL0QuqXpOOaog6gUkH79PBgTQ-dr68wn6kx3x9V9mbDGSHrvTymjYuxX3EAT6g-89DCU/w631-h475/PXL_20230514_145538595.jpg" width="631" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday, one highlight was visiting the Threes brewery, which is in Greenpoint, I believe (this is testing my NYC geography). I'm not much for day drinking, but I really enjoyed my half pint of a west coast-style pale ale that they did not at the time have for sale in cans (</span><a href="https://threesbrewing.com/products/tyranny-of-mirrors" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">Tyranny of Mirrors</a><span style="font-size: large;">). On Monday, driving out of town, I stopped at a grocery store that had a good selection and bought a fresh 4-pack of their pilsner (</span><a href="https://threesbrewing.com/collections/lager/products/vliet" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">Vliet</a><span style="font-size: large;">). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhZMC_Hg3b5zefK9y_my1sgSRfJ1LeyQ6DWYOpI6CYGO3XCj4RVrWCBwwU_UAxt1O9vHnITOsOsGiw_9C506ElTon4ceD1tbyuKVLir2ZE-ZU483L5D9IycIl_X8Vdd9hWJwAKlNwsq6kO8pgGeGKmmTXpSXpb9i1jmFl4cGsDRaN7f0/s4080/PXL_20230513_191251589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhZMC_Hg3b5zefK9y_my1sgSRfJ1LeyQ6DWYOpI6CYGO3XCj4RVrWCBwwU_UAxt1O9vHnITOsOsGiw_9C506ElTon4ceD1tbyuKVLir2ZE-ZU483L5D9IycIl_X8Vdd9hWJwAKlNwsq6kO8pgGeGKmmTXpSXpb9i1jmFl4cGsDRaN7f0/s320/PXL_20230513_191251589.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the weekend we ate several good meals and on Saturday night we attended an acoustic BYOB </span><a href="https://brownstonejazz.business.site/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">jazz club</a><span style="font-size: large;"> show in what looked like the sitting room of a B&B. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday we had a Mother's Day brunch and then wandered southwest over to Prospect Park to take in the <a href="https://www.smorgasburg.com/" target="_blank">Smorgasburg</a>. Though our stomachs were pleasantly full from the late morning meal, that didn't stop us from eventually having a tasty ice cream treat. The topping was scorched with a blowtorch! It was a warm sunny day so this sweet hit the spot. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On the way back to Bed-Stuy, I requested a stop to see the marker commemorating where Ebbet's Field used to be. There was a small home plate shaped marker in the sidewalk near what looked to be an apartment building, but no signage. There's apparently a school named for Jackie Robinson nearby, but we didn't look for it. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7u5JuUwftLijfQsvx-lPGrOMiAANLIw_3hVO_SGvCRErPnmsO8j1k13jBEIA7LAa4ZmOmmeQ0cuZCKnJ23gDUlTS0i1_D7sI-TQtN_IaJIcMjuMqUorPoA75YBZmH-srrfNGf8jiGy02QHLUeushYNvPquIInbrcqHLwe57vDqVmo08/s4080/PXL_20230514_205341835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7u5JuUwftLijfQsvx-lPGrOMiAANLIw_3hVO_SGvCRErPnmsO8j1k13jBEIA7LAa4ZmOmmeQ0cuZCKnJ23gDUlTS0i1_D7sI-TQtN_IaJIcMjuMqUorPoA75YBZmH-srrfNGf8jiGy02QHLUeushYNvPquIInbrcqHLwe57vDqVmo08/s320/PXL_20230514_205341835.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The drive back to Louisville was relatively uneventful, but it seemed quite long. Following tradition when passing through, we stopped at Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati to pick up some difficult to find items for our refrigerator and pantry. Unfortunately, they were out of the dark chocolate ginger <strike>cookies</strike> <a href="https://border.co.uk/our-biscuits/chocolates/dark-chocolate-ginger/" target="_blank">biscuits </a>that I grew to love in Dundee back in 2019 and also did not have the <a href="https://www.dutchsweets.com/nusco-dark-chocolate-spread-p-1471.html" target="_blank">Dutch dark chocolate spread</a> that can usually also be found in western Michigan and in Canada. Since we're going to those locations this summer, I'll find it!</span></div><div><br /><br />
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<i>For 280 character IR and foreign policy talk, follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/RodgerPayne">twitter.</a></i>
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.<br /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-63203556948209371342023-06-14T17:08:00.006-04:002023-06-14T17:13:20.500-04:00Pittsburgh<!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><script async="" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-E6KSEVL5KC"></script><script>
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</script><span style="font-size: medium;">A few weeks ago we drove to Pittsburgh and took in a Pirates day game against the Colorado Rockies and then visited the Andy Warhol museum the next day. We also visited the Southern Tier brewpub in this same area.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvhGO46CDk4cST-y8YUzRiNneg8xpv9ghgvuFjhKedtHHzQy_svzV6wciq6H7h2_TVST6dNe1vKgCgLd9Oy4bgtd-1nnTDuicpHDLwbBIJbMT1MKwpiqVPbPhfiVfgRzgEMn6cHq1k9EKYk35OOlH_q4pyXUR7pafrrdLWTh2iblFQjg/s4080/PXL_20230510_163446570.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvhGO46CDk4cST-y8YUzRiNneg8xpv9ghgvuFjhKedtHHzQy_svzV6wciq6H7h2_TVST6dNe1vKgCgLd9Oy4bgtd-1nnTDuicpHDLwbBIJbMT1MKwpiqVPbPhfiVfgRzgEMn6cHq1k9EKYk35OOlH_q4pyXUR7pafrrdLWTh2iblFQjg/s320/PXL_20230510_163446570.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTfYpiBNpxVli1IgpKCspGbNBp9L9oA73GgsgiYh77OmZP1du3M91wcHBJxRmP2oCGsfNdk1yWJuNv2HNnHsQaGOVaMu4uQPcHOgnZc2r3WfzJiMZUvKyN6WVIHtqn57C5jJ6aEOqUV84Ka_vOeA3Zs7dUAXDaq3jgStWdYnK-9mLFWE/s4080/PXL_20230510_150520887.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTfYpiBNpxVli1IgpKCspGbNBp9L9oA73GgsgiYh77OmZP1du3M91wcHBJxRmP2oCGsfNdk1yWJuNv2HNnHsQaGOVaMu4uQPcHOgnZc2r3WfzJiMZUvKyN6WVIHtqn57C5jJ6aEOqUV84Ka_vOeA3Zs7dUAXDaq3jgStWdYnK-9mLFWE/s320/PXL_20230510_150520887.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I took a good number of photos at both locations. PNC Park is very nice and the outside area is particularly striking, with statues of Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, and Honus Wagner encircling the facility. When we got back from our travels, I read the recent Clemente bio by David Maraniss, which I highly recommend.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxuxkaDcSwogIr3OtdI4GKT4ZazujqOLDFxZIE3Z1eQJlQu0sfa9zvOw2bzvX__81rEgmDsNLN2doc4_GZ0v9ysC_QBPt3BCzF7VW61Ux_A4BPdvUb5KYAhnc3SPpy94j-GtDMLWRoMU8X8t7oHtGoMtWej8tiVqKxporFi2z-_hd8hU/s4080/PXL_20230510_005920211.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxuxkaDcSwogIr3OtdI4GKT4ZazujqOLDFxZIE3Z1eQJlQu0sfa9zvOw2bzvX__81rEgmDsNLN2doc4_GZ0v9ysC_QBPt3BCzF7VW61Ux_A4BPdvUb5KYAhnc3SPpy94j-GtDMLWRoMU8X8t7oHtGoMtWej8tiVqKxporFi2z-_hd8hU/w156-h207/PXL_20230510_005920211.jpg" width="156" /></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vuuoIGNfYULWdxp2XcswMBT_mFa_M4Sym6mpAS6w7hIM4hYHv0BMrtFXXYwXF9K5l11ldPSIdl3Ylj2HpzMqRlkLkoNbR6CQ4I1jH7jrpLE1HpRBtCgTSVhY8Xxx_ufaqpUBN3_i1MrATA7jzjjUATS_wmMFOLdYRHMITezFkvvzNeA/s4080/PXL_20230510_004755214.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vuuoIGNfYULWdxp2XcswMBT_mFa_M4Sym6mpAS6w7hIM4hYHv0BMrtFXXYwXF9K5l11ldPSIdl3Ylj2HpzMqRlkLkoNbR6CQ4I1jH7jrpLE1HpRBtCgTSVhY8Xxx_ufaqpUBN3_i1MrATA7jzjjUATS_wmMFOLdYRHMITezFkvvzNeA/w158-h209/PXL_20230510_004755214.jpg" width="158" /></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMzsKJkZfqVR2H8zy2k_jc-oxzEcYxTUkT4TMfr-21Y_qTlTRpWu_3D96qcudvsqVCmDj5YlAq9k33BwM2SAMR9TPYaJWr9I9c3_ysUtZRPRiVL9WhPytzUrtrzPvPDATk7NvEqH-3U-IC8U_GCzIVj5UNXL_6DN8bla9jOc5Fa-240A/s4080/PXL_20230510_010036141.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMzsKJkZfqVR2H8zy2k_jc-oxzEcYxTUkT4TMfr-21Y_qTlTRpWu_3D96qcudvsqVCmDj5YlAq9k33BwM2SAMR9TPYaJWr9I9c3_ysUtZRPRiVL9WhPytzUrtrzPvPDATk7NvEqH-3U-IC8U_GCzIVj5UNXL_6DN8bla9jOc5Fa-240A/w159-h211/PXL_20230510_010036141.jpg" width="159" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzSAa0WOchSGISWlm046RzGQKjBd-TckHB3F0g7Cn4qcFFS2Kc1PSMZae7px7al8tsKGu3ABN-BiUHEajRlrjOie1ds_U-YmShVJtqUYg46j_MDvoZc2tqy5ZtFpWlgfIb-BRoGeDs56Ubd8PN_E97ZfSe3PmEhAX0M_OiaoUXLVanAw/s4080/PXL_20230509_230454584.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzSAa0WOchSGISWlm046RzGQKjBd-TckHB3F0g7Cn4qcFFS2Kc1PSMZae7px7al8tsKGu3ABN-BiUHEajRlrjOie1ds_U-YmShVJtqUYg46j_MDvoZc2tqy5ZtFpWlgfIb-BRoGeDs56Ubd8PN_E97ZfSe3PmEhAX0M_OiaoUXLVanAw/w159-h211/PXL_20230509_230454584.jpg" width="159" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWiEFjwEfZPPSJG6KljtTUMzqdHhO5QjJ9GOp5jMWQQqFHV5HXKdxFHiEK_ZatORm7KST6aEx5ZesxukwrJwwmQ-AjeYpxFevSjBrroAqdp3-0OUVeWLkDeXM571rrvDZs7oRvhlQe-uDaV2Q1ALO5BkSbtShOnrq8kAHw0esnzyZv7A/s4080/PXL_20230510_005415551.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWiEFjwEfZPPSJG6KljtTUMzqdHhO5QjJ9GOp5jMWQQqFHV5HXKdxFHiEK_ZatORm7KST6aEx5ZesxukwrJwwmQ-AjeYpxFevSjBrroAqdp3-0OUVeWLkDeXM571rrvDZs7oRvhlQe-uDaV2Q1ALO5BkSbtShOnrq8kAHw0esnzyZv7A/w148-h197/PXL_20230510_005415551.jpg" width="148" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyPPX0xGqFViqPMf4Ftltr6Kgt_LfLmHnY9md05293NlJABLCpwQTGqNsT9ePigg0mT9OMIQYXJL8-TDqbG7ZhGJjfHMYgiePT116Zqwq0bDB0p7vEW39XmCbPEh3RVOBOnbBPX3MjkWg3ciY0xwo1KKKKLw_iaO8y6Xf1MjssbzmoXQ/s4080/PXL_20230510_005429815.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyPPX0xGqFViqPMf4Ftltr6Kgt_LfLmHnY9md05293NlJABLCpwQTGqNsT9ePigg0mT9OMIQYXJL8-TDqbG7ZhGJjfHMYgiePT116Zqwq0bDB0p7vEW39XmCbPEh3RVOBOnbBPX3MjkWg3ciY0xwo1KKKKLw_iaO8y6Xf1MjssbzmoXQ/w162-h215/PXL_20230510_005429815.jpg" width="162" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">They also have oversize baseball markers commemorating all the Hall of Famers who played in Pittsburgh, including a good number of Negro League players. Earlier this year I read Satchell Paige's autobiography -- it was quite entertaining.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Warhol Museum is near PNC Park and I really enjoyed seeing the exhibits. We were one day early and thus missed a special exhibit featuring Warhol and the Velvet Underground. Warhol is sometimes credited with discovering the VU and was said to be their manager, though promoter might have been a more accurate term.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of one floor was devoted to Warhol's portraits, which was an especially interesting commentary on the 1970s. As for his pop art, I've seen more famous of his works in other museums in the US, Europe, or Canada. But these were some good exemplars:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJ__NQ1pi4FuKgqCbb0QB42sW2E3PHMfC0Hfn52DQsO55sJRZTNantaTUWC0MNMfEgo-5Kca_DzAqAe0vZMXPOWhrsDgLlHtfeMxqFmoPVFup5ihXdYBhpqhvV5Wyl_jieIb9elgUurUCiBeD6eQgoK0FbNB7yacyg9KnaGjfx8UQ6vU/s4080/PXL_20230511_143052326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJ__NQ1pi4FuKgqCbb0QB42sW2E3PHMfC0Hfn52DQsO55sJRZTNantaTUWC0MNMfEgo-5Kca_DzAqAe0vZMXPOWhrsDgLlHtfeMxqFmoPVFup5ihXdYBhpqhvV5Wyl_jieIb9elgUurUCiBeD6eQgoK0FbNB7yacyg9KnaGjfx8UQ6vU/s320/PXL_20230511_143052326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqMDNUqu-TGFATK5HZvQ4EsZYCHSd3pqC0_EQsgWC8ZR0sNVRWMSf8XJoc3V4cXNwJXKbK1c1XddtDF_AkH-mpBo33UhyzT7-dws5M77sXnMAFQg7j4_KoZ2-x2caTxIqa4pp7YlbqJFDfqRID9uAE6qDWvBBLoZtteps1UYJmcilevM/s4080/PXL_20230511_144326036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqMDNUqu-TGFATK5HZvQ4EsZYCHSd3pqC0_EQsgWC8ZR0sNVRWMSf8XJoc3V4cXNwJXKbK1c1XddtDF_AkH-mpBo33UhyzT7-dws5M77sXnMAFQg7j4_KoZ2-x2caTxIqa4pp7YlbqJFDfqRID9uAE6qDWvBBLoZtteps1UYJmcilevM/s320/PXL_20230511_144326036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW5-zY6o_Plm2b7k8_aSNbTuNmAu718s-VloBAJKzWue7Avp5277otDd2T2n583sEgJWCJUCSR-GX8XP6sV6_pXvXOGaptUXIlWMeE2KaEcZXVPlNqoPisSKp5DtTSoJXBT0Ry25APTrg0cusTzWyi3GkrQNQOSKBfugmM8Rj3wrCz20/s4080/PXL_20230511_142849007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW5-zY6o_Plm2b7k8_aSNbTuNmAu718s-VloBAJKzWue7Avp5277otDd2T2n583sEgJWCJUCSR-GX8XP6sV6_pXvXOGaptUXIlWMeE2KaEcZXVPlNqoPisSKp5DtTSoJXBT0Ry25APTrg0cusTzWyi3GkrQNQOSKBfugmM8Rj3wrCz20/s320/PXL_20230511_142849007.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
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</script><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHlLU2UaEZDdcx3n1qWS_JeQr-LMJWNzQnGApAbmvaR8wVKOcq057kQVwfJZvMnjK2bhLo8lJCkHIYY39zUMz7bNcVleGGWq7_TWn9c2DN6HBSZv9cDePUcT8QymfXq4iVgywat4EVUE-f6H1oVO2v8_EABM9G3H_Lt4uyrFg1RXWn_U/s4080/PXL_20230311_225426793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHlLU2UaEZDdcx3n1qWS_JeQr-LMJWNzQnGApAbmvaR8wVKOcq057kQVwfJZvMnjK2bhLo8lJCkHIYY39zUMz7bNcVleGGWq7_TWn9c2DN6HBSZv9cDePUcT8QymfXq4iVgywat4EVUE-f6H1oVO2v8_EABM9G3H_Lt4uyrFg1RXWn_U/w450-h339/PXL_20230311_225426793.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I have previously written here, I began playing in the Hardy House fantasy baseball league in 1989. It was named for the building on the Northwestern campus where we conducted our first few auctions. I didn't have to travel far as I was teaching in the Political Science department there at the time. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We started out as a standard 4x4 roto league, but switched from using batting average to on- base percentage as a hitting category in 2011 and also added strikeouts and runs as categories in that same season. We changed from saves to saves plus .5*Holds in 2019, but had no regular season in 2020 so this is still a fairly new category. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;">The <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2022/04/2022-bolts-from-blue.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2022 version of my team</a> finished in the middle of the pack (6th) of 12 teams. It started slowly, had a strong run in the middle of the season, but ultimately had insufficient pitching to contend for the title. If I had purchased Kevin Gausman at the auction from the Toronto rotation instead of Jose Berrios my entire position and strategy might have changed. Their auction prices spring 2022 were nearly identical. As a result of my predicament, very late in the season I traded virtually all of my hitting stars (who would be free agents) for some players I could potentially retain in 2023.</span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's my roster from the auction, which was held in person for the first time since 2019, though two owners again participated over Zoom. Because of various time conflicts, the auction actually occurred on March 11, which is incredibly early by the standards of Hardy House. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Retained players are in <span style="color: #2b00fe;">blue</span>. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">C Kirk TOR $7</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">C Jansen TOR $11</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">1B Pasquantino KC $29</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">2B Semien TEX $26</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">3B Rendon LAA $5</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">SS Crawford SEA $8</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">MI Paredes TB $5</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">CI Turner BOS $14</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">OF Ward LAA $5</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">OF Hays BAL $10</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">OF Kepler MIN $10</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">OF Stanton NYY $21</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">DH Moore SEA $3</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">$154 hitting (or 59% of the $260 allotment)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">P McClanahan TB $20</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">P Eovaldi TEX $8</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">P German NYY $3</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Rodon NYY $23</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Kirby SEA $20</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Hall BAL $2</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Kluber BOS $1</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">P Bautista BAL $3</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Pressly HOU $25</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Beeks TB $1</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">$106 for pitching (or 41% of the budget)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reserves (I selected 6th in the snake draft):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">OF Eaton KC $3</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Paul Blackburn OAK $2</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Bryan Baker BAL $1</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The league did a much better job of spending its auction money this year as there was not much left over. This was the first time in awhile that I spent every dime of my cash. The pace was also quicker and we finished nearly an hour earlier than we typically do when meeting in person. This was largely because we did not break for lunch -- owners were asked to bring lunch or arrange delivery. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I probably spent more than anyone on pitching, partly because I expected Rodon's salary to go higher despite the injury reports. I was price enforcing and the bidding stopped on me. At the listed price, he could be a big steal and a potential retained player for 2024 even after his required raise to $27. I apparently also valued Kirby more than others did, but a couple of other starting pitchers were bigger bargains -- Jon Gray went for $10, Tyler Mahle for $8, Pablo Lopez for $14, Luis Castillo $24, and Logan Gilbert $20. If I could reconfigure my pitching costs to swap out some other players, I would. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">As it often turns out, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">I ended up with some guys who moved over from the NL in the off-season (Rodon and Turner). Blackburn and Moore are hurt to start the season and Hall was sent to the minors by the Orioles. Crawford also has a minor injury apparently. I need to have a good outcome in the initial free agent run Monday.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pasquantino was likely retained at too high of a price, but my pre-auction calculations showed that 1B was not going to be a great position and it was probably ok to overspend a few dollars on a guy with very good OBP skills. By my calculations several of the veteran players I bought were a bit under their auction values. But no pick screams BARGAIN. Right after I bought Kepler some other outfielders of comparable talent went off the board for lower prices. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">During auctions, I often jump bids to $10 from the opening $1 to move the process along. That backfired this year when my brain momentarily confused Austin Hays and Anthony Santander. No one bid $11 on Hays and I ended up with an outfielder that I likely would not otherwise have pursued. That was dumb. Santander went later for $19. Sigh. <br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><br /><br /><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-13673676539045188092023-03-12T18:00:00.108-04:002024-02-07T14:30:35.366-05:00Oscars 2023<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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</script><div><span style="font-size: large;">The past few weeks, my spouse and I have been viewing many of the Oscar nominees. We saw several over the course of 2022, but quite a few remain on the watchlist. We would have watched 2 more films last weekend, but the windstorm knocked out our electricity for 54 hours ending hopes of viewing on Friday and Saturday night.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These are my rankings for each category, not my predictions about the awards. You can find <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/2023-oscars-predictions-win-win/story?id=97664308" target="_blank">forecasts elsewhere</a>. I'll update these by <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">highlighting </span>films or performances that I view after today. </span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Picture</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“The Banshees of Inisherin” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“All Quiet on the Western Front” </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Tár” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“The Fabelmans” </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">“Triangle of Sadness”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Elvis” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Top Gun: Maverick” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Everything Everywhere All at Once” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Avatar: The Way of Water” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Women Talking” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I know that I'm ranking the favorite last, but it just didn't grab me. Maybe I should see it again. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Director </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Todd Field (“Tár”) </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ruben Östlund (“Triangle of Sadness”)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Banshees really was an excellent film. As was </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Tár. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Lead Actor</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Austin Butler (“Elvis”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”) </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bill Nighy (“Living”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Though I have Mescal behind others, he delivered a fine performance and I encourage everyone to see the film. Update September 2023: Nighy was also very good in Living, which is also worth your time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Lead Actress</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Cate Blanchett (“Tár”) </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ana de Armas (“Blonde”) </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Williams was fine, but her performance didn't knock me out. Yeoh's role was a lot more demanding and she was very good. The winner may come from a film I did not see yet. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Update: Cate Blanchett is a marvel. Riseborough was also excellent in a film few people saw based on the IMDB box office information.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Supporting Actor</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Brian Tyree Henry (“Causeway”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Judd Hirsch (“The Fabelmans”)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It was really difficult to decide which actor to select here from Banshees, which could mean voters will divide their ballots and open the door for another actor. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Supporting Actress</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hong Chau (“The Whale”) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Condon was excellent. Obviously, you know what film would sweep my ballot if I had one. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Documentary Feature Film </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Fire of Love”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Kraffts were risk-takers, making this film difficult to watch in spots. But it is an interesting story about volcano experts that is very much worth your time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“All That Breathes" </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“A House Made of Splinters” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Navalny” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best International Feature Film </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">All Quiet captures much of the spirit of the novel, but there are some significant plot differences. It is nonetheless a superior film. See it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Close” (Belgium)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“EO” (Poland) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“The Quiet Girl” (Ireland) </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Best Animated Feature Film </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have some work to do here as I have not seen any of these animated films at the time of the Oscars. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“The Sea Beast” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Turning Red” </span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a></span>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-59529974752145911472023-02-18T23:22:00.008-05:002024-01-05T22:52:11.499-05:00Best Films of 2022<!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Below, I have posted the <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-10-best-movies-of-2022" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">annual list produced by Metacritic</a> that reflects an aggregation of about 300 "Top 10" film lists produced by critics this past year. <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2022/02/best-films-of-2021.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Every year</a>, I note this list to keep track of what I've seen and to provide my own tiered rankings of the films. I will ultimately add some comments especially if I've updated my rankings from my prior post on new <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2022/12/films-of-2022.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">films that I managed to see in 2021.</a> </span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Generally, I post this list in February (just to be sure the rankings are final) and I'll have typically seen about half of them -- thanks partly to a concerted effort in the new year to see them. I'm behind schedule this year, as discussed below. </span></div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="listtable" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(153, 153, 153); border-image: initial; border-spacing: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: proxima_nova, "Proxima Nova", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 15px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100%px;"><caption style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; margin: 5px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 5px 5px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">FILMS MENTIONED ON MOST CRITIC TOP 10 LISTS - 2022</caption><thead style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th class="rank" colspan="2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #999999; font-family: "Roboto Condensed", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">Movie and Metascore</th><th class="center" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #999999; font-family: "Roboto Condensed", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;"># 1st Place</th><th class="center" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #999999; font-family: "Roboto Condensed", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;"># 2nd Place</th><th class="center" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #999999; font-family: "Roboto Condensed", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;"># Other</th><th class="center strong" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Roboto Condensed", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Points</th></tr></thead><tbody style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">1</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/everything-everywhere-all-at-once" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms01676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">81</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/everything-everywhere-all-at-once" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Everything Everywhere All at Once</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">44</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">19</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">78</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">248</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">2</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-banshees-of-inisherin" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms11676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">87</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-banshees-of-inisherin" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Banshees of Inisherin</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">18</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">27</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">100.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">208.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">3</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tar-2022" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms21676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">92</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tar-2022" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tar</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">17</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">90</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">196</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">4</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aftersun" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms31676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">95</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aftersun" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Aftersun</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">21</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">15</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">74.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">167.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">5</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/nope" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms41676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">77</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/nope" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nope</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">8</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">12</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">86.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">134.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">6</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/top-gun-maverick" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms51676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">78</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/top-gun-maverick" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Top Gun: Maverick</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">12</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">9</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">73</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">127</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">7</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-fabelmans" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms61676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">84</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-fabelmans" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Fabelmans</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">13</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">70</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">117</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">8</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/decision-to-leave" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms71676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">84</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/decision-to-leave" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Decision to Leave</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">8</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">68.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">100.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">9</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rrr" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms81676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">83</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rrr" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RRR</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">8</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">55.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">87.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">10</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/eo" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms91676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">85</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/eo" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">EO</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">7</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">38.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">64.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">11</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/all-the-beauty-and-the-bloodshed" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms101676779322236" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">90</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/all-the-beauty-and-the-bloodshed" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All the Beauty and the Bloodshed</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">47.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">61.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">12</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms111676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">81</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">43.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">57.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">13</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/crimes-of-the-future" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms121676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">67</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/crimes-of-the-future" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Crimes of the Future</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">7</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">6</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">57</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">14</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms131676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">79</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">42</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">53</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">15</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/women-talking" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms141676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">79</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/women-talking" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Women Talking</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">6</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">31</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">52</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">16</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-batman" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms151676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">72</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-batman" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Batman</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">37.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">47.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">17</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/elvis" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms161676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">64</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/elvis" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Elvis</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">0</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">39</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">47</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">18</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/saint-omer" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms171676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">91</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/saint-omer" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Saint Omer</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">5</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">27</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">46</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">19</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bones-and-all" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms181676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">74</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bones-and-all" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bones and All</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">4</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">5</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">19.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">41.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">20</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/no-bears" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms191676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">91</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/no-bears" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No Bears</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">39</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">21</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms201676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">80</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Marcel the Shell With Shoes On</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">30.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">38.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">22</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/happening" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms211676779322237" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">86</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/happening" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Happening</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">26</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">36</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">23</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/after-yang" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms221676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">78</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/after-yang" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After Yang</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">34.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">24</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/turning-red-2022" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms231676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">83</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/turning-red-2022" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Turning Red</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">0</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">30</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">32</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">25</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-eternal-daughter" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms241676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">80</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-eternal-daughter" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Eternal Daughter</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">31.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;"></td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/benediction" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms251676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">81</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/benediction" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Benediction</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">31.5</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">27</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_outstanding" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/hit-the-road" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms261676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">90</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/hit-the-road" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hit the Road</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">19.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">30.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">28</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/triangle-of-sadness" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms271676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">63</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/triangle-of-sadness" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Triangle of Sadness</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">0</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">30</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">29</td><td class="title" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_mixed" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/babylon-2022" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms281676779322238" style="background: rgb(255, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">60</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/babylon-2022" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Babylon</a></td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">18.5</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: transparent; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">28.5</td></tr><tr class="even" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="rank" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 5px 4px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;">30</td><td class="title" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="metascore_w small score_favorable" color="rgb(255, 255, 255) !important" data-meta-path="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-woman-king" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="ms291676779322238" style="background: rgb(102, 204, 51); border-radius: 6px; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: 26px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;">77</span> <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-woman-king" style="background: transparent; border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #0099ff; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Woman King</a></td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td class="center" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">21</td><td class="coltotal" style="background: rgb(241, 242, 238); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">28</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="tablefooter" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #333333; font-family: proxima_nova, "Proxima Nova", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3; margin: -10px 0px 40px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Because we include some foreign publications, it is possible for a few titles to repeat from last year's list due to differences in USA and overseas release dates.</p><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have seen a few of these films to-date, but have plenty to go (22 of 30 listed). As I watch them, I'll <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">highlight changes</span>. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Tier 1</b> These are top-notch Oscar-worthy films.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Banshees of Inishiren </span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Tár</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Triangle of Sadness</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Fabelmans</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Elvis</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hit the Road</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The newcomer here is Spielberg's autobiographical film, The Fabelmans. It is excellent and I highly recommend it. The acting is first-rate. Cate Blanchett is fabulous in Tár and the film is worth your time. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Tier 2</b> These are very good films, but with some flaws. Some of them likely will have received Oscar nominations. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #222222; font-size: large;">Aftersun</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #222222; font-size: large;">Babylon</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Nope</span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #222222; font-size: large;">The Woman King</span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #222222; font-size: large;">Marcel the Shell With Shoes On</span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This tier is surprisingly empty. I suspect that many of the remaining movies will fit in here, but I have no idea yet. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Update: Babylon is an over-the-top, overlong, zany, surreal, and thoroughly watchable spectacle. Yet, I did not regret the 3 hour investment of time and mentally compared it to Pulp Fiction on several occasions. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Woman King is a very different kind film, obviously, but I liked it and would recommend it. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Tier 3</b> These are good films, but with more flaws.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Batman</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Top Gun: Maverick</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Everything Everywhere All at Once</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I'm sticking to my opinion from December that none of these movies can be described as "very good," let alone great. I realize that there could be some Academy Award winners involved in the film-making, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">but that doesn't mean that I have to like the movies. They are well made and include some good performances.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I typically don't need lower tiers for this list because it is allegedly comprised of the very best movies of the year -- at least according to film critics. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here's the alphabetical list of the 22 films that I have not yet seen:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: large;">After Yang</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All the Beauty and the Bloodshed</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benediction</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bones and All</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Crimes of the Future</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Decision to Leave</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">EO</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Eternal Daughter</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Guillermo del Toro's </span><span>Pinocchio </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Happening</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No Bears</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">RRR</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Saint Omer</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Turning Red</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Women Talking</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a></span>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-70876364813637102292022-12-31T23:56:00.182-05:002023-01-03T14:31:43.371-05:00Films of 2022<span style="font-size: large;"><div>This is my annual post about the new films I saw over the prior year. Here's a <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2021/12/films-of-2021.html" target="_blank">link to last year's list</a> if you want to work backwards through my choices over time. </div><div><br /></div><div>I made the following point last year and it remains true thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:</div><div><blockquote>I saw all of these films at home rather than at my local multiplex. I think the last movie I saw in the cinema was Little Women in December 2019. On Long Island. I vividly recall the experience and miss it dearly. </blockquote></div><div>This first group of films is excellent. There are Oscar nominations to be found here:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tier I</b></div><div><br /></div>The Worst Person in the World</span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Banshees of Inisherin<br />The Outfit</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Glass Onion<br />Kimi</span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Elvis</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Fallout</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The Worst Person in the World was nominated for an Oscar (foreign film) last year, but it was not widely released in the US until February 2022, so I'm counting it as a current-year film. It was great. Obviously, it is subtitled, but you get some terrific scenes from Oslo, a lovely city that I have not visited in 25ish years. If the young female star Renate Reinsve </span><span>can work in English, she'll start appearing in major Hollywood films soon. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br />The Banshees of Inisherin is quirky, funny (at times), and ultimately kind of sad. It's a "tragicomedy" and perhaps typically Irish. The setting is beautiful, but the story of the end of a friendship quickly captures the audiences's focus. The film made me want to have a pint of Guinness with some old friends, most of whom are scattered all over the country. I see them too rarely. Top-notch film-making here. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Outfit seemed more like a play than a film, but it was a really well-done staged production about crime. Kimi featured a similarly claustrophobic production scale, but that was a key element of the plot. It embraced the isolation of the pandemic and made an entertaining movie from it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Glass Onion is funny, fairly clever, and thoroughly engaging. As the clues are ticked off in the end, I felt dumb for missing so many of them. It's perhaps better than Knives Out, which I loved. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Elvis is very flashy and entertaining, but it doesn't reveal quite enough about Col. Tom Parker, a major character in the film. Fortunately, the film devotes much more attention to the vibrant Elvis rather than the last few years of drug-induced decline. I've seen reports on the internet that a MUCH longer version could be forthcoming. It's already long. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Fallout is about student reactions to school gun violence. It was powerful, I thought. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tier II</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Emily the Criminal </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>What We Leave Behind (doc) </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Nope</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Athena (French)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Don't Worry Darling</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Nic Cage film (Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) will leave you thinking about watching Paddington 2. So far my wife and I have resisted the urge.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Emily the Criminal is a very good modern crime story, told from the perspective of the desperate criminal. Aubrey Plaza is good in the role and you worry about her safety at times. You almost always worry about her decisions. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I wouldn't be surprised if What We Leave Behind is included in the nominations for best documentary. It's a very good film about people who live in both the US and Mexico, though the main character is clearly most rooted in the latter. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Nope is not quite as good as the two prior Jordan Peele films, but it has its own virtues. We watched it Halloween weekend and the scares are fairly modest. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The French film Athena is about the relationship between migrants and the police/military. It was very good, though the style is a bit over-the-top at times. It reminded me of Guy Richie's early work. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Don't Worry Darling has a flawed storyline, but its virtues make up for it. The overall message is worth the effort and the visual style is simply remarkable. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tier III</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The Batman</span></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Lost City</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dog</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hustle</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Top Gun: Maverick<br />Everything Everywhere All At Once</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This next set includes films that have their virtues, but I found them to be fairly seriously flawed. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Batman was not outstanding, but it was fine. My students highly recommended it, so I guess it found its intended audience. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These comic turns for Sandra Bulloch (The Lost City) and Adam Sander (Hustle), plus Channing Tatum (Lost City and Dog) and Queen Latifah (Hustle), respectively, were fairly predictable entertainment vehicles that relied upon the appeal of the main actors. Lost City seemed like a lesser version of the old Romancing the Stone films and Hustle employs the standard sports film plot about the underdog who achieves some success thanks to grit, determination, and hard work. Dog was a surprisingly good film about PTSD. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Top Gun had its moments, but it was a popcorn flick with a forgettable plot. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not a big fan of martial arts and the sci-fi element in Everything Everywhere made for a strange combination. At least to me. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tier IV</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thor: Love and Thunder </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Strange: Multiverse Madness</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I watched these in December while my spouse was visiting her father. Neither is particularly good -- I'm not sure why Disney and Marvel keep making these films. Actually, I know why they to it -- to make a lot of money. Why do people keep watching them? I viewed them because I'm teaching the film class in spring 2023 and my students seem to see all of them. </span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow </span><a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01" style="font-size: large;">this personal twitter account.</a></span></div></div></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-77474135379701714812022-12-30T23:56:00.038-05:002023-01-03T14:36:59.477-05:00Books of 2022<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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</script><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/9781541698956.jpg?fit=450%2C675" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/9781541698956.jpg?fit=450%2C675" width="213" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This is my annual post listing books I read in the most recent year. It seems kind of remarkable now, but I have produced such a list since </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://rpayne.blogspot.com/2005/12/books-of-2005.html" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2005</a>. This i<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">s </span><a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2021/12/books-of-2021.html" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">a link to the 2021 list</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> if blog readers want to work backwards.</span></span></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Also, I posted short reviews of most of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/46952421" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">these books at Goodreads</a>. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Non-Fiction</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Ben Yagoda, Will Rogers: A Biography</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Christopher Coyne and Abigail Hall, Manufacturing Militarism</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div>Christopher Bader et al, Fear Itself: The Causes & Consequences of Fear in America</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I read a couple of Grawemeyer-nominated books that were better than any of these, but didn't list them because it's a confidential review process. The Will Rogers bio really captured my attention. I learned of this book some years ago when going through the Rogers Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was a remarkable entertainer and social critic. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The other two books I read because they are related to my research and teaching interests. Coyne and Hall are basically libertarian economists, but I generally agree with their argument about US manufacturing of militarism. Incidentally, Abigail Hall teaches at Bellarmine University here in Louisville, though I do not think we have ever met. The Bader et al book was written by the group who produce the <a href="https://blogs.chapman.edu/wilkinson/category/fear-index/" target="_blank">Chapman University Survey on American Fears</a>. The book discusses and contextualizes the findings over a period of years.<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik, The MVP Machine: How Baseball's New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Arnold Hano, A Day in the Bleachers<br /><br />Lois Browne, Girls of Summer: In Their Own League</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Bill James and Rob Neyer, The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The MVP Machine is the best baseball book I've read in some years and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand how baseball analytics have changed in the last decade or so. The "Moneyball" days of finding players with undervalued skills are mostly gone. Now, teams (and private coaches/clinics) are developing athletes into better </span><span>pitchers</span><span> </span><span>and</span><span> </span><span>hitters using advanced data based on the physical properties of pitching motion and grips or batter swing characteristics. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Hano book is humorous at times, but felt quite dated. Browne's work focuses on an interesting story -- the All American Girls Professional Baseball League -- but I felt like it could have been both more informative about player performance and more entertaining. It's the kind of baseball book that focuses on game-by-game results and year-to-year transactions and standings rather than big picture analysis.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The James/Neyer encyclopedic book might have rated higher if I'd read it 15 or more years ago. As it stands, the information about pitcher arsenals they painstakingly acquired is now readily available for current players on Fangraphs or other baseball websites. And the entries are much more complete. That does not undermine their accomplishment altogether, but it created frustration at the lack of depth in many pitcher entries. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>Literature and Genre Fiction</b></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Colson Whitehead, Harlem Shuffle</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">John Updike, Bech: A Book</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Evelyn Waugh, Men At Arms</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These works count as literature and all are worth worth reading. Remarque's book is rightfully a classic and I thought it was the best work of fiction I read all year. Yes, I should have read it long ago and my education likely suffered for not having done so. On the other hand, I managed to read it before viewing the newest film version.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I really liked Whitehead's recent venture into the crime genre and Updike's classic (?) semi-autobiographical (?) novel about an author. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These works by McCarthy and Waugh were fine, but I've read better books by both men. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Charles Cumming, Trinity Six</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Eric Ambler, Judgment at Deltchev</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Philip Kerr, A German Requiem</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jason Matthews, The Red Sparrow</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Donald Westlake, The Sour Lemon Score (as Richard Stark)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Donald Westlake, Deadly Edge (as Richard Stark)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lawrence Block, When the Sacred Ginmill Closes</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">John Le Carré, The Looking Glass War</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sue Grafton, L is for Lawless</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ross Macdonald, The Goodbye Look</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Brendan Boyd, Blue Ruin: A Novel of the 1919 World Series</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Donald Westlake, Somebody Owes Me Money</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Joel Goldman, Motion to Kill</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Each of the works of genre fiction above this note was good and I'm glad I read it. You probably notice that this was a particularly good year for reading spy fiction and Donald Westlake crime works. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Many, actually most, of the authors are familiar from past iterations of this summary report. You'll find books here from the Bernie Gunther, Matt Scudder, Kinsey Milhone, and Lew Archer detective series, which I'm generally reading in order. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Disclosure: Joel Goldman was a Kansas debater in the 1970s and I've met him a number of times at reunions or other events. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Gregory Benford, Timescape</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">John MacDonald, The Empty Trap<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lawrence Block, Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">PD James, Original Sin</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Helen MacInnes, The Salzburg Connection</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Stephen King, End of Watch</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ian Fleming, Thunderball</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">George V. Higgins, The Rat on Fire</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Cornell Woolrich, The Black Curtain</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Michael Crichton, Scratch One (as John Lange)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Dan Brown, Origin</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Gregory McDonald, Fletch Reflected</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Many of these books were OK, but most were so-so and had some serious flaws. I'm not going to be detailing all of those here, but you can probably find out on my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/46952421?ref=nav_mybooks" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>account. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a></span></span></div></div></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-36048932312635427632022-11-11T11:40:00.002-05:002023-11-11T16:26:56.436-05:00Mastadon? <!--Google tag (gtag.js)--><script async="" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-E6KSEVL5KC"></script><script>
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</script><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Anyone who has followed the Twitter meltdown in recent days knows that many academics are turning to substitute social media outlets. </span><span>It's not a social media comparison, but I keep thinking about how quickly Enron melted into nothing. Readers may recall the fate of other once-popular social media such as Myspace or Friendster.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As a precaution against the destruction of Twitter, I opened a Mastadon account (RodgerPayne@c.im) but have not posted any content to-date. Obviously that could change at any moment. </span><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It's also possible I could change servers as the setup was a bit confusing and many of the servers other academics recommended for scholars are not taking on new users -- or there's a waiting list and I wanted to set up something right away.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Who knows? <br /></span><br /><br /><br />
<i><a href="http://rpayne.blogspot.com/">Visit this blog's homepage.</a></i>
<br /><br />
<i>For 280 character IR and foreign policy talk, follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/RodgerPayne">twitter.</a></i>
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a></div></div></div></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-19281090585800758772022-10-19T11:26:00.003-04:002022-10-19T11:26:30.930-04:00RIP Paddy
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP Paddy. Her F '18 in Canada was truly unique & she thrived. Her brother's cancer had made her our lone companion & she was still in peak physical condition.<br><br>Sadly, born July '05, her body ultimately failed. She remained intelligent & otherwise true to herself until the end. <a href="https://t.co/irjA2Rqdtc">pic.twitter.com/irjA2Rqdtc</a></p>— Rodger Payne (@rapayn01) <a href="https://twitter.com/rapayn01/status/1580960110712455176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<br /><br /><br /><br />
<i><a href="http://rpayne.blogspot.com/">Visit this blog's homepage.</a></i>
<br /><br />
<i>For 280 character IR and foreign policy talk, follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/RodgerPayne">twitter.</a></i>
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-30972735877429781152022-09-24T23:18:00.005-04:002022-09-24T23:22:40.672-04:00End of Summer Film Festival<div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Thanks to the case of COVID that I'm still combatting, I've spent many evenings these past two weeks watching films I missed over the past few years -- with an emphasis on genre films that my spouse does not like all that much, including science fiction, overly violent action movies, and disaster films. She's again been away fulfilling a family obligation. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">These are the films I watched, ranked in order of my liking, with a few comments:</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Dune (2021) (HBO Max)</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This was far and away the best film I saw during the two weeks, but it is not without some significant flaws. I read the novel back in the late 1970s or early 1980s and saw the earlier filmed version not long after it was available on cable after a theatrical run. This version of the film told a compelling story with a clear narrative. I recall that the prior film sort of failed at that, but it's been many years since I saw it. Still, this movie's pacing is kind of slow and the plot turns on a betrayal that is not very well explained. I will watch the next one. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Midnight Sky (2020) (Netflix)</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Ultimately, this film is a disaster film more than a science fiction film. If it didn't star George Clooney it would probably be a lot less watchable. The film makes some strange narrative choices -- relying upon a good number of flashbacks to Clooney's youth and showing some "normal" day-to-day activity on a long-haul space mission. Not all of the threads weave together into a coherent narrative. I mean, ultimately, what was the purpose of this film? It was mostly entertaining, in its way, but the writing could have used a few tweaks. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>The Old Guard (2020) (Netflix)</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The premise of this film is interesting -- imagine a small group of people who cannot be killed. Indeed, their wounds miraculously heal in a very short amount of time. This superpower gives them the ability to live for centuries and combat whatever foes they decide to identify. Charlize Theron is the main character (and leader of the fighting force), but she isn't given much to say that is all that interesting. Apparently this is based on a comic book and it has that feel. I kept thinking that someone who has read the comics would have a much better idea of these characters and their relationships. Without that knowledge, the film fails to connect on some level. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) (Netflix)</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you ever wondered what happened to Jesse after the Breaking Bad series ended, then this film provides some answers. It was good to see some of the original stars make appearances in this film (often in flashback), but I didn't think it was as well-written (or well-paced) as an average episode of the original series. Better Call Saul is generally also better. It is worth your time and maybe should be a bit higher on this list. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>The Outfit (1973) (HBO Max)</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This film obviously isn't a recent release, but I had not seen it even though I've read a lot of Richard Stark's (Donald Westlake's) Parker novels. Those books are terrific, generally, and they work because the main character is basically a super-efficient criminal who nonetheless often runs into bad luck. The life of crime he selects is not easy. This film is not especially loyal to the original book and Robert Duvall did not make a very good Parker. And in this film he's named Earl Macklin. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Greenland (2020) (HBO Max)</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">At several points during the film I thought about ending my viewing. The story is clunky, featuring an "extinction-level" event for the planet, but focusing on the survival efforts of one family. The three members of the family are racing for shelter in a secret government bunker, but they become separated across Georgia and Tennessee thanks to a series of unfortunate events. One of these characters is a small child and the ongoing disaster is playing havoc with communications. Their reunion is all-too-easily achieved, frankly, even as it causes the father character to steal a car, fight for his life, and .... make peace with his father-in-law because of a prior act of adultery? The script is kind of a mess. </span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br />
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766043.post-10925098559022484742022-09-17T19:15:00.006-04:002022-09-17T19:37:58.621-04:00Debate reunion 2022<span style="font-size: medium;">Last weekend I traveled back to Lawrence for a University of Kansas debate team reunion. I still have not flown since 2019, so this trip involved a roundtrip drive to St. Louis, an Amtrak across Missouri Friday and Sunday, and then short car trips to/from KU. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>The Friday night registration and banner hanging was </span><span>on the top floor of a warm academic building. I wandered down to the trophy case on a (much cooler temperature) lower floor and snapped a shot of the national championship trophies on display. </span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwACaLgxvlZGaekZFzsyyi0DkLZznMU5JW9gvWFW7hBP2a0zZe_PQMOKThYu6oPycKEy5qNq54FzreVtIVijoMS-3aGB2JfzIGVCyzRSbH0yzdOrphoMUxkQ9jdzrEcngIrtG_K52eIUlQ1ykTZmbZ6Vu1UcCEvM37OaqQotikEFWznvo/s4080/PXL_20220909_235513142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwACaLgxvlZGaekZFzsyyi0DkLZznMU5JW9gvWFW7hBP2a0zZe_PQMOKThYu6oPycKEy5qNq54FzreVtIVijoMS-3aGB2JfzIGVCyzRSbH0yzdOrphoMUxkQ9jdzrEcngIrtG_K52eIUlQ1ykTZmbZ6Vu1UcCEvM37OaqQotikEFWznvo/s320/PXL_20220909_235513142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found the trophy I helped win in 1983 as well as the others depicted on these bright banners. This is only a taste of all the banners as there are also markers for Final Four teams, top individual speakers, winners of other national tournaments, etc. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcnHVECtwvtFoSIB8KxdV9fcZMCj3MCKvugjYsoibke-MfMTx7BsvUMjgJeOp1wlyD5Rn_V0XDNNT8lmZM73CsbnX-bfsKcuhBkOUwuSlbuSS8Qn3jEqeYodrj4Z73-vw2h0lrFK8rBGuIUlq3dDbsW5b3_Bl8axfErMHa4Jk2JCi278/s4080/PXL_20220909_223949221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcnHVECtwvtFoSIB8KxdV9fcZMCj3MCKvugjYsoibke-MfMTx7BsvUMjgJeOp1wlyD5Rn_V0XDNNT8lmZM73CsbnX-bfsKcuhBkOUwuSlbuSS8Qn3jEqeYodrj4Z73-vw2h0lrFK8rBGuIUlq3dDbsW5b3_Bl8axfErMHa4Jk2JCi278/s320/PXL_20220909_223949221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On an sour note, I felt the registration area was overpacked with people. Since I had the sniffles by Sunday, mild fever and body aches by Monday, and a positive COVID test by Tuesday, then I guess my concerns were warranted. Hopefully I was not a superspreader. I masked in some circumstances, but most people were unmasked throughout the weekend. I've only heard of one other person testing positive, but who knows given the state of contact tracing in America? I think my case could have been transmitted from poor ventilation in a hotel. One of my neighbors Friday night was coughing loudly all night. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The next event was a buffet-style dinner at a local catering venue with plenty of beer and food for everyone. There were some games, but the older alums that I hung out with on the balcony mostly sat around and talked. Lots of fun reminiscing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyUpORb0QS16hb7SKMiSoeH47RAL-p_StAmVjP6-tYLCwNBficOSZoCnzvcAjxsN9YLqesD6k7Dh3nVuEPTud7c8KeOzeXT3G8hD55AH8zH_DC6GZ1LMW21Z-ir24W8GobuY7ZuMpdMlkFCaEZVFso7GVkG2tIUIi_9aP9heCZfQIvao/s4080/image-8d7dc502-2855-4bdb-82e1-c07706c262a7637372217015111874.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyUpORb0QS16hb7SKMiSoeH47RAL-p_StAmVjP6-tYLCwNBficOSZoCnzvcAjxsN9YLqesD6k7Dh3nVuEPTud7c8KeOzeXT3G8hD55AH8zH_DC6GZ1LMW21Z-ir24W8GobuY7ZuMpdMlkFCaEZVFso7GVkG2tIUIi_9aP9heCZfQIvao/s320/image-8d7dc502-2855-4bdb-82e1-c07706c262a7637372217015111874.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday morning the debate alumni toured Allen Fieldhouse, home of the Kansas Jayhawks reigning national champion basketball team. They have <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2014/03/tourney-month.html" target="_blank">nearly as many recent victory banners and trophies</a> as debate does:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8KEZRNDgpcltnmt-vAIS5OKx5szuuyn6SMW6kD8k8R-7FZ2kf9V_XlvYYG6N2Mbtm4L6srVKn9ZvLoBjd33NsV7IA5PMJpw9utuoCs_eIED3S5UcAE8hGabOfWjIEX5VD0qL-3eocDIITPxecEYbVG4EENp1Z1dEX1MGglv4EOS3Ikg/s4080/PXL_20220910_155944181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8KEZRNDgpcltnmt-vAIS5OKx5szuuyn6SMW6kD8k8R-7FZ2kf9V_XlvYYG6N2Mbtm4L6srVKn9ZvLoBjd33NsV7IA5PMJpw9utuoCs_eIED3S5UcAE8hGabOfWjIEX5VD0qL-3eocDIITPxecEYbVG4EENp1Z1dEX1MGglv4EOS3Ikg/s320/PXL_20220910_155944181.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg-2QuhTKyJDqTcgGIl8uHj0cq1uZr_Aqxg19mo-n2FV_wd0x_NaFuAftBBaX6S5hboLHgW-cPeGcip1bnNtnL9N-hAjogdSbyNYjDxrb7SaGaKQTgGK0MBvkaTR9AFCQG0xWvD_MdHUgke44jJlZ_-C5yG1sxJCLSChQdS11DCQ6xwU/s4080/PXL_20220910_154124500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg-2QuhTKyJDqTcgGIl8uHj0cq1uZr_Aqxg19mo-n2FV_wd0x_NaFuAftBBaX6S5hboLHgW-cPeGcip1bnNtnL9N-hAjogdSbyNYjDxrb7SaGaKQTgGK0MBvkaTR9AFCQG0xWvD_MdHUgke44jJlZ_-C5yG1sxJCLSChQdS11DCQ6xwU/s320/PXL_20220910_154124500.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">There was an event remembering some of the KU debaters who have died in recent years (including <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2019/04/rip-frank-cross.html" target="_blank">Frank Cross</a>) and then a cocktail hour and meal at the Eldridge Hotel in downtown Lawrence. I was in a wedding there in May 1983 and may not have been back in all that time. Before dinner, I managed to help organize this photo that includes 5 debaters from the 1976, <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2008/04/debate-news-and-memories.html" target="_blank">1983</a>, <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2009/03/national-champions.html" target="_blank">2009</a>, and <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2018/03/rock-chalk-jayhawk.html" target="_blank">2018 champions</a>, plus the two head coaches.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Left to right: <a href="https://rpayne.blogspot.com/2007/11/photo-blogging.html" target="_blank">Former Coach Donn Parson</a></span>, Brett Bricker (2009), Robin Rowland (1976), Mark Gidley (1983), Quaram Robinson (2018), coach Scott Harris, and me (1983).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbbXTxg5tvsu5q-7UtOmU8QdA8sqo7ZRSFB2XTr2eAca8WKd0LiNhY8DH4WeM-zZe6whSr8aRYj6UuYB-OrxN6qDly3EjDJP50L5wosQeR0MrhD9eVJy-4VtcF67faDuD7f8hSP_n50fm4WzS5BWDQM4ea5a84AnIbi9YWQJToMyUlzM/s4080/PXL_20220910_233631586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbbXTxg5tvsu5q-7UtOmU8QdA8sqo7ZRSFB2XTr2eAca8WKd0LiNhY8DH4WeM-zZe6whSr8aRYj6UuYB-OrxN6qDly3EjDJP50L5wosQeR0MrhD9eVJy-4VtcF67faDuD7f8hSP_n50fm4WzS5BWDQM4ea5a84AnIbi9YWQJToMyUlzM/s320/PXL_20220910_233631586.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in 2013, this photo included 5 of the same victors, plus a member of the 1954 team, <a href="http://kudebatealums.blogspot.com/2017/02/rip-bill-arnold.html" target="_blank">Bill Arnold </a>on the extreme left. Others pictured: Robin Rowland (1976), me, Dr. Parson, Brett Bricker (2009), and Mark Gidley (1983).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXjubxlOLGmiUHMIElrjKFFrRjoM6kAIJ9yfKEtQF8rplckI9tXLPrAZZLkEPNgBWyVAvyPlL6Q5Lyzq1Cw1XjYKsVfOyGXoyJxItoL5l3oJREWjL70xzS4LZRJDLDx-nB2tfUCnRvACadB25ajnJ7RPEVNPHKOlpL-pa4Fz2wSFW3pM/s1632/photo-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXjubxlOLGmiUHMIElrjKFFrRjoM6kAIJ9yfKEtQF8rplckI9tXLPrAZZLkEPNgBWyVAvyPlL6Q5Lyzq1Cw1XjYKsVfOyGXoyJxItoL5l3oJREWjL70xzS4LZRJDLDx-nB2tfUCnRvACadB25ajnJ7RPEVNPHKOlpL-pa4Fz2wSFW3pM/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br />
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<i>For 280 character IR and foreign policy talk, follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/RodgerPayne">twitter.</a></i>
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Or for basketball, baseball, movies or other stuff, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/rapayn01">this personal twitter account.</a></span></div></div>Rodger A. Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00254146534767161655noreply@blogger.com0