Oh yeah, I'd like to apologize for falling far behind in the Draft Board. I caught up somewhat today (to pick #17-442), but still am about 5 days behind.
Will get more done when I come home after the Flames game.
GFG!
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Eberle said, "It was one of the more special ones I've had. You don't score your first NHL goal too many times."
The MacGuffins happily select, with their pick in the 18th round, for entry in the Wildcard #4 category:
Donnie Brasco
When they send for you, you go in alive, you come out dead, and it's your best friend that does it.
In the absence of a Crime/Gangster category, I felt it prudent to round out my team with a film of that ilk, and Donnie Brasco is possibly the most critically underrated movie of that genre in recent memory. It is constantly overlooked when discussing the best gangster movies of the last 30 years, and is a supremely involving and satisfying film.
The basic premise feels familiar- Depp is an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the mob and befriends a gangster named Lefty. Great pains are taken by Donnie Brasco (Depp's new gangster alter ego) to ensure he gains the trust of Lefty, and is not "found out" by the very mafia family he rapidly ascends within. It is based on a true story detailed in Pistone's book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia.
Carried by a strong, understated performance by Depp and a brilliant, almost too easy bit of stylish acting by Pacino, Donnie Brasco distinguishes itself from many other gangster films of its era by focusing its attention on the emotional relationship between Lefty (Pacino) and and Joe/Donnie (Depp), and the evolution of the friendship and bond that develops between the two of them. Director Mike Newell handles the subject matter tremendously well, creating a sympathetic character in Pacino's Lefty, and deftly presenting the internal struggle Depp's "Donnie" goes through as his undercover assignment nears completion.
With only one true scene of gangster mayhem/violence, Donnie Brasco can't begin to compete with other popular gangster movies in that respect. But it doesn't have to- the tension created by Donnie's involvement in a world he knows nothing about is palpable, and perfectly accentuated by the exceptional acting of the two leads. When the climax hits, viewers feel conflicted because of the ease with which they have identified with Lefty, Donnie, and even the colorful world of crime and excess they are immersed in together. But its a satisfying feeling- one brought about by the compelling nature of the film. Donnie Brasco never fails to entertain me when I pop it in my DVD player, and is truly a wonderful, underappreciated film!
With our next pick, Hot Buttery Topping is going down the Highway to the Danger Zone for our second straight Tom Cruise 80s classic...As our Second Wildcard pick, Top Gun.
Balls-out Reagan era Cold War machismo doesn't get any better than this film starring Tom Cruise as Maverick, Anthony Edwards as Goose, Val Kilmer as Iceman, and Kelly McGillis as Top Gun instructor, and Maverick's love interest, Charlie Blackwood.
Here's Quentin Tarentino's take on the movie (clip from the film Sleep With Me) - language warning...
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Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
With our next pick, Hot Buttery Topping is going down the Highway to the Danger Zone for our second straight Tom Cruise 80s classic...As our Second Wildcard pick, Top Gun
There were TONS of Top Gun costumes around here for Halloween...I seriously couldn't even count the amount of Maverick, Goose, and Iceman costumes I saw.
TEAM Wishwedidaporndraft is very happy to select into the Wildcard#3, the cult classic, written by Quentin Tarantino, Tony Scott's TRUE ROMANCE!!!
After being panned by critics and politicians for being too violent in its nature, True Romance became a cult classic after it was released on video in 1993. With maybe the best ensemble casts in the last 20 years, True Romance is among my top 5 fav movies off all time. It's violent, funny, sad and in true Tarantino fashion has great dialogue. AND OF COURSE, THE SCENE!!
The Cast
Chrisitian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Brad Pitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Sizemore, Chris Penn, Val Kilmer, James Gandolfini, Michael Rappaport, Bronson Pinochet(any movie with Balki in it is good in my books) and a jaw dropping performance by Gary Oldman!!!
Here's the best scenese from it: (in order of coolness)
NSFW.....language and violence
4. James Gandolfini(years before Sopranos) beating the crap outta Patricia Arquette and telling her how it feels to kill someone
3. Brad Pitt getting high and questioned by gangsters
2. Gary Oldman steals the show with his great potrayal of pimp Drexl
1. THE SCENE......CHRISTOPHER WALKEN VS DENNIS HOPPPER
My favortie scene of all time, Walken and Hopper face to face for 9 minutes!!
Last edited by VANFLAMESFAN; 11-07-2008 at 11:57 AM.
Great pick Van! Love that scene as well, and Pitt's character just cracks me up every time I watch that movie.
Steal at this point of the draft to be sure!
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
