It's getting close to caucus season in Iowa...ok, really it's not. But, almost all the Republican candidates for President are hanging out in Iowa a lot this summer. As such, I'm hearing a lot from these candidates, even though I'm trying not to.
This year, I'm torn, because I really like Michelle Bachman, and I think she would create the most interesting race against President Obama. Bachman is like a smarter version of Sarah Palin...she definitely won't make any of the blunders Palin has along the way. Don't get me wrong, I think Sarah Palin is great, but I don't think she should be President.
Anyway, back to Bachman. I think she has a lot of upside, and she definitely annoys my liberal friends. One friend told me that Bachman is just a "noise maker". So, for the shear entertainment value, I really want to support Bachman.
But, the other day we got a letter from the Ron Paul campaign. The letter was signed by his son Rand (Senator from KY), so I have to assume he at least consulted on the letter. As I read through the letter, I found that I agreed with 99% of what Ron Paul stands for. I struggle with some of his isolationist views in terms of our military, but economically and socially, I'm right there with him.
At this point, I'm left with a choice. If I'm honest about my political beliefs and the direction I want to see our country take, I have to support Ron Paul. If I want to be entertained, and end up with a candidate who is also really solid, I have to support Michelle Bachman. Right now, I'm leaning towards being honest with myself, but the side that wants to be entertained is still trying to win out.
I guess I have to make a decision by January 2012...better keep working on it.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Top 5 Westerns
I haven't done a top 5 list recently, but was inspired to do so while defending the greatness of "True Grit" (the new one, not the old one). I'm not a huge western fan, but I do like a good, slightly dark, western. Because of this, I really don't like the older westerns that seem campy, so you won't see any of the "Spaghetti Westerns" in this list, or movies like "Hang 'Em High", which had potential, but ultimately fell short. Also, I haven't seen "Cowboy's and Aliens" yet, so...you know...that's not on this list either.
So, here's my top 5 Westerns.
5 - "Back to the Future, Part III" - Hey, IMDB has this listed under the genre of Western, so I'm counting it. The finale to the classic 1980's trilogy was also my favorite of the 3 movies. I laughed, I worried for the characters, and in the end, I applauded a great movie.
4 - "Tombstone" - Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot, Powers Boothe and yes...Charlton Heston all play parts in this 1993 classic. "Tombstone" is my favorite telling of the Wyatt Earp story, and Val Kilmer is my favorite Doc Holiday. Plus, it has Charlton Heston...that has to count for something.
3 - "Silverado" - This 1985 movie is probably the least well known movie on this top 5 list. Starring Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover, Kevin Kline as the heroes, and Brian Dennehy as the main villain, "Silverado" is a surprisingly good Western. With a story of redemption and friendship that happens to include some good gun fights, and Scott Glenn (one of my favorite actors), "Silverado" has always been one of my favorites.
2 - "True Grit" - The 2010 remake, starring Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn is a really close 2nd on my list, and that's saying something considering that #1 is one of my favorite all time movies. While I loved Bridges and thought Matt Damon was very good as well, Hailee Steinfeld steals the show as Mattie Ross. This remake is so much better than the original that it's not even worth having a conversation about which one is better. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it'll move you Bob (and if you don't get that Veggie Tales reference, I'm sorry for you).
1 - "Unforgiven" - This 1992 Best Picture Winner, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, also earned Eastwood and Oscar for Best Director and Gene Hackman an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. "Unforgiven" is the greatest Western ever made. Eastwood masterfully tells the story of William Munny (Eastwood), a retired and reformed gunslinger, who reluctantly takes one last job to help his friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). But, when Little Bill (Hackman) pushes Munny too far, Munny becomes the gunslinger of old in my favorite movie shoot out of all time.
So, here's my top 5 Westerns.
5 - "Back to the Future, Part III" - Hey, IMDB has this listed under the genre of Western, so I'm counting it. The finale to the classic 1980's trilogy was also my favorite of the 3 movies. I laughed, I worried for the characters, and in the end, I applauded a great movie.
4 - "Tombstone" - Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot, Powers Boothe and yes...Charlton Heston all play parts in this 1993 classic. "Tombstone" is my favorite telling of the Wyatt Earp story, and Val Kilmer is my favorite Doc Holiday. Plus, it has Charlton Heston...that has to count for something.
3 - "Silverado" - This 1985 movie is probably the least well known movie on this top 5 list. Starring Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover, Kevin Kline as the heroes, and Brian Dennehy as the main villain, "Silverado" is a surprisingly good Western. With a story of redemption and friendship that happens to include some good gun fights, and Scott Glenn (one of my favorite actors), "Silverado" has always been one of my favorites.
2 - "True Grit" - The 2010 remake, starring Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn is a really close 2nd on my list, and that's saying something considering that #1 is one of my favorite all time movies. While I loved Bridges and thought Matt Damon was very good as well, Hailee Steinfeld steals the show as Mattie Ross. This remake is so much better than the original that it's not even worth having a conversation about which one is better. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it'll move you Bob (and if you don't get that Veggie Tales reference, I'm sorry for you).
1 - "Unforgiven" - This 1992 Best Picture Winner, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, also earned Eastwood and Oscar for Best Director and Gene Hackman an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. "Unforgiven" is the greatest Western ever made. Eastwood masterfully tells the story of William Munny (Eastwood), a retired and reformed gunslinger, who reluctantly takes one last job to help his friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). But, when Little Bill (Hackman) pushes Munny too far, Munny becomes the gunslinger of old in my favorite movie shoot out of all time.
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