aldrears1 Reviews

Pardon the Interruption (2001– )

The Star Wars of sports shows

[10/10 · 27 November 2007]

What else needs to be said? There's "PTI" and then there are the rest. I've not missed this show in four years-I refer to Mike and Tony when discussing sports topics as if I know them personally. Watch PTI once and you will too.

I also love the fact that the show features a Jewish man, a black man, and an Italian man-and that Michelle Tafoya, when she's been a guest, has demonstrated that the woman can hold there own with the men. But there's nothing like Mike and Tony, because of the fact that the show is an outgrowth of their 20 plus year friendship.

Even though he gets on my nerves, when Dan Lebartard fills in it's quite interesting. I do miss Steven A. Smith. Even if you're not a sports fan, you'll love PTI.

PTI-The Best!

Super Fly (1972)

CLASSIC Black Cinema

[10/10 · 25 March 2006]

First this must be corrected. Superfly was directed by Gordon Parks Jr, not his father, Gordon Parks. Gordon Parks(who I had the pleasure of meeting) directed SHAFT! I wish the moderators of IMDb.com would more closely monitor these post-I visit the site regularly and rely on the information given as fact. Please IMDb, check the accuracy of the post, especially since you have the information on Gordon Parks here.

That being said, what makes Superfly such a great film are its imperfections-the editing, some of the spotty acting. It reads like a documentary in some ways. But the main performance of Ron O'Neal is one of the best the cinema has ever witnessed. He truly captured the paradox of Priest wanting to get out of the drug game by making one last drug deal. An Anti-hero, sure, but he knew he had to leave this lifestyle. That being said, I must say the opening scene where Priest is cruising up Park Avenue while "Freddie's Dead" is playing is extremely cool.

The Soundtrack! There are very few movies in which the Soundtrack not only propels the story forward, but also refutes any glorification of the drug lifestyle. The soundtrack serves to tell a counter-story, which works absolutely brilliantly. Curtis Mayfield is very important to me-a genius, a visionary, a humanitarian, and no one could have done a better job.

I have a cultural affinity for this film-maybe because I'm a black man, but I recommend it to all comers.

All of the main principles behind Superfly...Curtis Mayfield, Gordon Parks Jr. Ron O'Neal, Carl Lee, Charles McGregor, have all passed away. I'm so happy they were all a part of this classic piece of Cinema. The Statement that is made by this film warrants repeated viewing and consideration.

Goodfellas (1990)

One of the best movies ever made!

[5 December 2005]

I just finished watching "Goodfellas" again, and while of course agreeing with most of the comments about the movie being a masterpiece, there's something else I want to point out...the music. Especially the use of "Layla" in the whacking scenes of pretty much everyone connected with the Luftansa heist. That has got to be one of the best uses of music in a film, bar none.

That being said, I also want to give kudos to the performance of Paul Sorvino-the understated menace of his portrayal of Paul Cicero is something you only start to appreciate after multiple viewings. I've seen this film at least 20 times, and only after my last viewing have I truly come to appreciate his performance.

Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci were extremely brilliant of course, but Ray Liotta's portrayal of Henry Hill, IMO, is one of the best ever to grace the screen. One note of brilliance is the last scene in the courtroom, where he gets up off the witness stand and talks directly to the audience, while the other characters remain in the background. Martin Scorcese is a genius, and this scene is one of the best in all of cinema. It's hard for me to single out one thing, because it's rare that a movie contains excellence in so many areas. I can't say enough about this movie, it may be the best film ever made. I can't recommend it enough.