Finally saw The Bourne Ultimatum over the weekend and loved it. It was everything that The Bourne Supremacy should have been but wasn’t. Matt Damon proves, once again, that he’s one of the greatest actors of our generation and turns in another powerhouse performance. The supporting performances are great, Joan Allen manages not to ruin this film like she did in Supremacy, Julia Stiles is actually really terrific and you really can’t say enough about David Strathairn, the guy is liquid on screen. The action sequences were top-knotch and even had me smirking like a geek with their awesome-ness (a smirk which drew several wayward glances and eye-rolls from my girlfriend who enjoyed it but clearly not as much as I did). Behind Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ultimatum was my favorite movie of the summer.
I also saw Ron Howard’s The Paper with Michael Keaton, Glenn Close and Robert Duvall and really enjoyed it. I think it was very true to life at a newspaper and the actors were really convincing newspeople. I don’t think this film is as true to form as a picture like Shattered Glass but was every bit as enjoyable. The flick is perfect for a rainy day. Definitely worth a spot on your Netflix queue.
Currently blasting the speakers on my MacBook and in my car is Kanye West’s new single Stronger which features an amazing slowed-down sample of Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” The song is fantastic and really embodies everything that I unashamedly love about Kanye West. The guy is inventive and not at all afraid to take risks. Can’t wait to pick up Graduation when it comes out on Sept. 11.
Worth mentioning was the trailer for Peter Berg’s The Kingdom that I saw before The Bourne Ultimatum, which I am more excited about then I can even describe. Jamie Foxx, Hillary Swank, Jason Bateman and the imcomparable Chris Cooper in what looks like it could be one of the best films of the year.
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No, seriously…
British teen OD’s on espresso.
Some moron paid more than $1,500 for an oil smudge on a garage floor in Virginia. It doesn’t even look like Jesus. Frankly, it looks like a goat.
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ESPN’s Mark Schlabach lists college football’s biggest secrets in ‘07.
Lawrence Taylor tells Michael Strahan to hang it up.
Saints linebacker Scott Fujita sets the record straight on his water park foot injury.
Pair of pieces from ESPN’s Pat Forde on Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson and on Darren McFadden going pro after this season.
DC United player pissed about ESPN’s Beckham-centric MLS coverage.
Jon Gruden is still sifting through his pack of quarterbacks.
Not really news but I find it interesting that every week there is a letter from a reader in the Buffalo News about how awful Sabres management is. Every week, never fails.
Hoosiers hope to improve their pass rush. It really can’t get any worse.
The AJC’s Terence Moore wants Michael Vick’s staunchest supporters to wake up and smell the roses.
A nice piece in the Houston Chronicle on Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee.
Packers first-round pick Justin Harrell sees limited time in preseason opener. This might have been the worst first-round pick in last year’s draft.
In case you live in a cave: MADDEN COMES OUT TOMORROW!
Drew Henson fighting for his football life in Vikings camp.
Titans players defend their ownership of pit bulls.
The AJC’s Tony Barnhart on why the SEC is smiling and the things college football fans have learned a week into practice.
Oklahoma quarterback race still not decided.
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Three consumer groups have spoken out against the Whole Foods/Wild Oats merger.
Google to launch iTunes competitor, gBox.
Who owns what in today’s online media landscape.
Microsoft is hoping the release of the Halo 3 this winter can help the system rebound from hardware failures and slumping sales.
Christopher Nolan debuts some ‘Dark Knight’ footage at Chicago comic con. I can’t wait for this but it seems that the producers have gone 0-for-2 in my mind in the casting of Rachel Dawes’ character. First they casted Katie Holmes, who was the worst thing about Batman Begins and now they’ve gone out and gotten Maggie Gyllenhaal who is my least favorite actress on the planet. I have never seen a single film that she’s been in that I enjoyed. I hope she can change my mind.
Cinematical lists seven movie stars who are about to fall off the A-list.
Stereogum has the real cover of Kanye’s new record, Graduation.
Facebook makes the cover of Newsweek.
Newsweek’s 25 hottest universities.
As if you needed another reason to buy Kanye’s new record, 50 cent says that if West’s Graduation outsells his record, which comes out the same day, he’s going to stop making music. (Your lips to God’s ears, sir.)
Top Chef’s Sam Talbot on the now-infamous Rocco episode.
