Will Smith plays Chris Gardner in this telling of a true, rags-to-riches story.
Chris Gardner sells (or more correctly, tries to sell) bone density scanners and is stuck with rent, taxes and a stack of parking tickets. His wife leaves him and Gardner takes custody of his son. Chris perseveres, trying anything to achieve happiness in life - teaching a few life lessons in the process.
Will Smith's acting was nothing short of brilliant, for me. There were times I caught myself rooting for him - which made me realize just why he got his Oscar nomination (Best Actor in a Leading Role) for this role. Strangely enough, by the same token, Thandie Newton's performance (I found myself actually hating her character) should be worth an award of some sort (and I'm not referring snidely to the Razzies!)
As much as the movie has motivational value, it's indeed ironic that the pre-success Gardners of today (the ones most needing its message) probably couldn't afford to watch the movie. Nonetheless, inspirational stuff - well worth watching.
Year of Release: 2006
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10 (11,666 votes, as at the time of posting)
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
SL vs. Ind, Vishakapatnam, 2007 (ODI 4)
A forgettable day for the Sri Lankan team, but a special one for Chamara Silva.
Yet again, after a top order collapse, the Sri Lankan middle/lower middle order showed fight to get to a score of 259/7 in 47 overs. Chamara Silva scored a superb run-a-ball 107 not out (12x4, 1x6) to make this possible, with help from Farveez Mahroof; Silva's innings bringing him the Man of the Match award.
The Sri Lankan bowlers then delivered a load of tripe (Dilhara Fernando was specially guilty of bowling both sides of the pitch) at the beginning, with Uthappa and Sehwag cashing in well. Sri Lanka had a slight chance of coming back at 118/3, but Yuvraj Singh took the game away with a 83 ball innings of 91 (not out). TM Dilshan bowled surprisingly well to keep even Yuvraj Singh tied down, the only plus point for the bowling attack - the quicks not showing much imagination at tying down the runs being by far the biggest negative.
There's a lot of work to be done, if Sri Lanka is to mount a credible challenge for the World Cup. Today's performance also raised a question mark of being able to adapt when under fire, a question that worthy World Cup winners should be able to answer...
Scores: Cricinfo
Bulletin: Cricinfo
Yet again, after a top order collapse, the Sri Lankan middle/lower middle order showed fight to get to a score of 259/7 in 47 overs. Chamara Silva scored a superb run-a-ball 107 not out (12x4, 1x6) to make this possible, with help from Farveez Mahroof; Silva's innings bringing him the Man of the Match award.
The Sri Lankan bowlers then delivered a load of tripe (Dilhara Fernando was specially guilty of bowling both sides of the pitch) at the beginning, with Uthappa and Sehwag cashing in well. Sri Lanka had a slight chance of coming back at 118/3, but Yuvraj Singh took the game away with a 83 ball innings of 91 (not out). TM Dilshan bowled surprisingly well to keep even Yuvraj Singh tied down, the only plus point for the bowling attack - the quicks not showing much imagination at tying down the runs being by far the biggest negative.
There's a lot of work to be done, if Sri Lanka is to mount a credible challenge for the World Cup. Today's performance also raised a question mark of being able to adapt when under fire, a question that worthy World Cup winners should be able to answer...
Scores: Cricinfo
Bulletin: Cricinfo
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
SL vs. Ind, Margao, 2007 (ODI 3)
India won by 5 wickets, levelling the series 1-1, with one to play.
India came back strongly with Zaheer Khan's opening burst leaving Sri Lanka's top order in tatters... a part of their game the SL batsmen have to address in order to make a strong showing at the World Cup.
Still, it was good to see the middle-order show some fight and end up scoring 230 which was just about defensible on a two-paced pitch. A few years ago, being 4 down for a handful would have been considered just cause for totalling 110 or thereabouts but Russel Arnold justified the selectors faith in him for the World Cup by scoring 66* and managing the last 25 overs or so, like he used to do sometime ago.
Sri Lanka had their chances (with India 94/4) - and with Vaas and Muralitharan in the side, 230 would probably have been a winning score. Dilhara Fernando took a few wickets at the top, but the bowling lacked depth to deal with Dravid and Dhoni, both of whom played solid innings to take India home.
The second string bowling will have to improve - and quickly; Kulasekera seems to lack the pace to trouble top class batsmen and Dilshan tends to be expensive.
Still, SL has a got a positive to take out of this match - the fight they showed; it's just that you can't expect to win matches after digging yourself into a hole, all the time.
Scores: Cricinfo
Bulletin: Cricinfo
India came back strongly with Zaheer Khan's opening burst leaving Sri Lanka's top order in tatters... a part of their game the SL batsmen have to address in order to make a strong showing at the World Cup.
Still, it was good to see the middle-order show some fight and end up scoring 230 which was just about defensible on a two-paced pitch. A few years ago, being 4 down for a handful would have been considered just cause for totalling 110 or thereabouts but Russel Arnold justified the selectors faith in him for the World Cup by scoring 66* and managing the last 25 overs or so, like he used to do sometime ago.
Sri Lanka had their chances (with India 94/4) - and with Vaas and Muralitharan in the side, 230 would probably have been a winning score. Dilhara Fernando took a few wickets at the top, but the bowling lacked depth to deal with Dravid and Dhoni, both of whom played solid innings to take India home.
The second string bowling will have to improve - and quickly; Kulasekera seems to lack the pace to trouble top class batsmen and Dilshan tends to be expensive.
Still, SL has a got a positive to take out of this match - the fight they showed; it's just that you can't expect to win matches after digging yourself into a hole, all the time.
Scores: Cricinfo
Bulletin: Cricinfo
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The Prestige
'The Pledge, The Turn, The Prestige'
One of the best movies of 2006, which for my tastes was a cut above 'The Departed', even. Not entirely sure what the criteria for the 'Best Picture' Oscar is -and I can't really comment, as I haven't seen all the other nominated movies - but am surprised 'The Prestige' didn't make it up there (which is based on my comparison with 'The Departed', I think).
The story is about two magicians (played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale), who continuously try to best each other with their magic tricks, with a moral emphasis on the cost of obsession. Both Jackman and Bale turn in good performances, as does Micheal Caine (that's usually taken for granted, though!), while Scarlett Johansson provides the required eye candy (though her delivery seems to be rather wooden, from time to time).
While the story itself twists and turns, I tend to see Angier (Jackman's character) as something of a victim, rather than the villain - as Borden (Bale) is the cause of a great loss to Angier. Still, if Borden is the hero, he is by no means an angel.
Christopher Nolan proved yet again why he's such a good storyteller - probably my fave, on top of 'Memento' and 'Batman Begins', though I wonder if that's limited to dark, twisted plotlines.
A very enjoyable movie - probably worth buying the DVD.
Year of Release: 2006
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 (32,024 votes, as at the time of posting)
One of the best movies of 2006, which for my tastes was a cut above 'The Departed', even. Not entirely sure what the criteria for the 'Best Picture' Oscar is -and I can't really comment, as I haven't seen all the other nominated movies - but am surprised 'The Prestige' didn't make it up there (which is based on my comparison with 'The Departed', I think).
The story is about two magicians (played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale), who continuously try to best each other with their magic tricks, with a moral emphasis on the cost of obsession. Both Jackman and Bale turn in good performances, as does Micheal Caine (that's usually taken for granted, though!), while Scarlett Johansson provides the required eye candy (though her delivery seems to be rather wooden, from time to time).
While the story itself twists and turns, I tend to see Angier (Jackman's character) as something of a victim, rather than the villain - as Borden (Bale) is the cause of a great loss to Angier. Still, if Borden is the hero, he is by no means an angel.
Christopher Nolan proved yet again why he's such a good storyteller - probably my fave, on top of 'Memento' and 'Batman Begins', though I wonder if that's limited to dark, twisted plotlines.
A very enjoyable movie - probably worth buying the DVD.
Year of Release: 2006
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 (32,024 votes, as at the time of posting)
Aus vs. Eng, 2007 (CB Series, 2nd Final)
England for the World Cup? A thought that would have been laughable 2 weeks ago, now seems... somewhat less laughable? Even between innings, most cricket fans would have given Australia good odds of winning the match and taking the clincher at Adelaide - until the wickets started tumbling.
Add Pietersen and Vaughan to the mix and the batting starts to look much stronger, but Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood will have to keep turning in similar performances if their World Cup dreams are to come true. Strauss' form, or lack thereof, might make him a casualty, but the bowling attack definitely requires beefing up to succeed on the placid Carribean pitches.
The fielding has been good (Collingwood being a cut above the rest), but never approaching the Australia team (it's hard to match Symonds, Hussey, Ponting, Hodge et al.). Nixon's glovework will probably keep him in the team for the duration, in addition to the amount of noise he brings to the middle.
Given their earlier performances this season, it was 'no way but up' for England. The question now is, on the bounce, how high can they rise?
Add Pietersen and Vaughan to the mix and the batting starts to look much stronger, but Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood will have to keep turning in similar performances if their World Cup dreams are to come true. Strauss' form, or lack thereof, might make him a casualty, but the bowling attack definitely requires beefing up to succeed on the placid Carribean pitches.
The fielding has been good (Collingwood being a cut above the rest), but never approaching the Australia team (it's hard to match Symonds, Hussey, Ponting, Hodge et al.). Nixon's glovework will probably keep him in the team for the duration, in addition to the amount of noise he brings to the middle.
Given their earlier performances this season, it was 'no way but up' for England. The question now is, on the bounce, how high can they rise?
SL vs. Ind, Rajkot, 2007 (ODI 2)
It was heartening to watch Sri Lanka win a match without Vaas and Muralitharan in the side, especially after India got to 129/2, chasing 257. The Sri Lankan spinners pegged India back, helped by some very good fielding in the mid-to-late overs but the win would certainly not have been on without Sangakkara's century (giving him a well-deserved man of the match award).
All this augurs well for the future, given that Muralitharan and Vaas can't go on for ever (or another 5 years, which ever comes first). Malinga Bandara performs well with almost every outing but seems to be swapped out way too often to do him any good. If Australia had done the same with Warne after his Test debut, we may never have seen him again (a good thing, I can almost hear Darryl Cullinan say).
What with some real pace from Malinga (who unfortunately went for 75 today, in 10) and swing from Farveez Mahroof, people are starting to talk of a second World Cup win, but the Sri Lankan top-order has to be far more consistent for this to become a reality. In this regard, Mahela Jayawardena's form (0 and 4 in the series thus far) must be of some concern.
Time will be the judge of whether Sri Lanka is good enough to take the World Cup again - for now, another couple of wins without Vaas and Muralitharan would help prove that this win was no fluke.
Scores: Cricinfo
Bulletin: Cricinfo
All this augurs well for the future, given that Muralitharan and Vaas can't go on for ever (or another 5 years, which ever comes first). Malinga Bandara performs well with almost every outing but seems to be swapped out way too often to do him any good. If Australia had done the same with Warne after his Test debut, we may never have seen him again (a good thing, I can almost hear Darryl Cullinan say).
What with some real pace from Malinga (who unfortunately went for 75 today, in 10) and swing from Farveez Mahroof, people are starting to talk of a second World Cup win, but the Sri Lankan top-order has to be far more consistent for this to become a reality. In this regard, Mahela Jayawardena's form (0 and 4 in the series thus far) must be of some concern.
Time will be the judge of whether Sri Lanka is good enough to take the World Cup again - for now, another couple of wins without Vaas and Muralitharan would help prove that this win was no fluke.
Scores: Cricinfo
Bulletin: Cricinfo
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