Valkyrie and other stuff

1) So the wife and I saw Valkyrie today. I've seen it earn tremendous praise from some as a possible Academy Award nominee, and I've seen it get torn to pieces by some high-profile critics and reviewers. After seeing the movie myself, I won't argue too strenuously with either viewpoint. It's a solid movie based on a true story that doesn't exaggerate the truth a lot, but one that drags a LOT during the middle portions (almost as if director/producer Bryan Singer had to cash in on a bet saying he couldn't stretch the movie to two hours). Still, the characters are developed well, there are some great examples of directing with some of the aerial shots, and Tom Cruise isn't as bad as some say he is (granted, he's been much better). There are some over-the-top scenes, including one where shrapnel knocked from a house in an air raid pushes a record player on, this producing a dramatic Wagner symphony. As tough as it is to believe, that one scene is an automatic quarter to a half-star deduction from the final rating.

All told, though, it's decent enough. A lot of people love it, and a lot of people hate it, but I'm coming down in the middle. I didn't think it was bad, but Cruise and Singer both have produced work of a higher quality. It's at least worth a rental when it comes out, and if you're a fan of either the director or the main star, don't be afraid to check it out. RATING: ***

2) Memo to all New York State drivers: STAY OFF THE THRUWAY. I drove down from Albany to Saugerties today, a drive of about 40 miles on that road. Well-trained chickens could have done a better job with road upkeep. I didn't see one plow with its blade down, nor did I see any salt trucks loosening up the freaking GLACIERS on the blacktop. On a related note, I also didn't see any lines on the road, the rumble strips, or a patch of black ice between Coxsackie and Catskill that spun me out (and almost caused an accident despite me going just 30 miles per hour). I get the concept of waiting until the snow stopped to do serious plowing, but when you can't see lines on the road, there's something wrong.

3) Looks like i'm 2-for-2 against the spread today. Great game between Baltimore and Tennessee that shows why the Ravens are so dangerous. They may not take your breath away on offense, but their defense keeps them in games and they OWN the fourth quarter. That's a REALLY dangerous combination, and if they draw Pittsburgh, who beat them on Santonio Holmes's controversial TD catch earlier this year, you know they'll be out for blood.

Meanwhile, the Anquan Boldin-less Arizona Cardinals have taken the Carolina Panthers behind the woodshed in the first half, leading 27-7 late in the second quarter. At this point, don't you HAVE to make a case for Kurt Warner as a Hall of Famer? He's certainly not a top-10 all-time quarterback, but he's won a ring, has played in fifteen career playoff games counting tonight, and produced an MVP-caliber season at age 38. That's gotta at least put him up near the top-25, and given all he's overcome over the course of his career, I tip my hat to him.

Interesting stat: In seasons where Warner has played 16 games, he has NEVER thrown for less than 4,300 yards. Say what you will about the receivers he's thrown to over the years, but Isaac Bruce fell off the map awful fast with Marc Bulger throwing to him, and Torry Holt went from All-Pro to just another good receiver as well. Marshall Faulk retiring probably contributed as well, but it all starts with the guys who get the receivers the ball. Warner's done that admirably, and he deserves a spot in Canton.