That stomach stabbing sequence was like the one of the woman in "Zodiac", which also made me wince for about 15 straight minutes, so, hooray for consistency!

hell yes 138th st.

So you pay $20,000 for a one word answer on what makes a hit movie - " 'Splosions! "

I keep thinking the guy in the pause frame of the video looks like a mix between Tom Selleck and McNulty. 

That ending is incredible - I even forgive *SPOILERS EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENDINGS OF THINGS* (and kind of love) the tear / blood symmetry when Strong shoots Firth.  They've been showing that a bunch on HBO recently and each time I find it hard to turn off, I think it's fair to call it a modern masterpiece,…

It was kind of a random analogy, but I also disagree there - the man had about 10 or so seasons where he conceivably could have won it, but the voters seemingly shift their definition of "valuable" annually to fit whatever storylines develop or overlooked player they feel obliged to honor.  According to the reviewer…

Actually it's Mariano Rivera.

I'd say it seems more like he's mounting his defense early on for a movie and a director he believes in, particularly because even when someone is so good at what they do, eventually it will be taken for granted (see: people no longer voting for Pujols for MVP because they got sick of him winning).

Until Teen Wolf 3 uses "Wolf Like Me".

A catcher with power in the bus leagues, though.  They make it apparent that he's bounced around a great deal and probably spent at least a little bit in each level from single A through to the big leagues.  I think people in the organization can see a guy who's hitting .300 with 20+ HRs in A ball, or a guy hitting…

@avclub-6d7d01236783f871a36ee948c146b9c6:disqus It wasn't a trade to sign Hatteberg, they were both on the team, it was a trade to force Howe's hand into playing the only 1B he had left.  And for what it's worth, the movie (I can't remember how the book handles it) has Johan Hill's character warning Billy about that…

@avclub-d116ae13554d47530ed800aef8ed5755:disqus That is possibly my favorite quote in the movie, and so I'm going to go super-nerd on you here and disagree with your inclusion of an "eh" in there.  He says it with SUCH self-deprecating pride, like he's felt this way about himself for years now, that there isn't a…

The sequel has some pretty hilarious parts, though certainly it pales in comparison.  I think cojones points have to be awarded, though, for having the same. exact. outcome. of the Ricky Vaughn at bat from the first movie.  Everyoen expects a re-heat with a sequel, but the nerve to just serve cold pizza is ridiculous…

The movie didn't include that stuff because the book really didn't, either.  The movie definitely makes the case more bluntly that the A's were winning *because* of advanced metrics and unorthodox player evaluation, but it's pretty faithful to the overall feel of the book - you could tell Lewis was infatuated by Beane…

I'd even say there are directors who if they say "jump" you say "how high"?, and Tarantino is also in that category.  Has any actor's performance in a Tarantino movie ever been his or hers worst?  You're either going to be a passable part of a really good to great movie, or have it be on your Mt. Rushmore of roles, I…

I hope the entire movie is this, on repeat:

It really is a Nic Cage kind of situation where Cooper's more or less the same guy he is in some other movies (a bit erratic, unapologetic about things he does/says, darkly funny), and while he's typically "jerk boyfriend / fiance" or "too cool for school", here he's the damaged protagonist, and without doing too much…

I don't think Pan's Labyrinth was nominated for best picture, actually.

I don't think Pan's Labyrinth was nominated for best picture, actually.

Cage won in like 1995 I think.