How's this for weird? Barry Bonds finally hits home run # 715 on Sunday afternoon to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list, and no one in the Bay area hears the call on the San Francisco Giants radio station, KNBR. Play-by-play announcer Dave Fleming was primed and ready, and as Bonds made contact for a mammoth blast to deep center field, here's what was heard:

"Three-two. Finley runs. The payoff pitch. A swing and a drive to deep cen..."

Then crowd noise only, as Fleming's mike went dead. The same mike that worked perfectly for the last two hours before Bonds swung at that pitch.

Many Red Sox fans believed in the "Curse of the Bambino" (bad karma for trading the greatest player in baseball to the rival Yankees in 1919) when the team failed to win a World Series for something like 9 decades up until a couple of years ago. Was the spirit of Babe Ruth at it again, or simply a disgruntled employee with a severe dislike of the most reviled man in baseball who happened to have his hand on the patchcord or button at the right time (or wrong depending on your feelings on the ex-roided up freak with the a-hole disposition)? If it was Ruth from beyond, it even kind of makes sense that he would silence the call on radio only and not television because that's how all of his amazing achievements were broadcast. By the time of Ruth's last season in 1935, only the most rudimentary TV models had been invented and baseball games were still a long way from being televised.

Technical glitch, p.o.'d baseball guy, the spirit of the Babe standing up for what's right. Who knows what really happened, but it's fun to speculate. And kind of bizarre to listen to (and not hear!) on such a "momentous" occasion.

--Matthew

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND is finally out, and not nearly the debacle fans of the first two Bryan Singer installments feared. Without giving too much away (no spoiler alert here), certain things came to mind:

1) There's plenty of action capably directed by Brett (RUSH HOUR) Ratner and $165 million can certainly buy you some impressive special effects, but perhaps the best one of them all is how creepy they make the young Prof. Xavier and Eric Lensherr (Magneto) look in the "20 years ago" flashback to their first meeting with Jean Grey as a girl. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are so smooth they barely look human...scary! Be on the lookout for the obligatory Stan Lee cameo in this scene as well.

2) The huge cast seems game but they are unfortunately saddled with little or no back story and frequently atrocious dialogue. Though I'm sure fanboys will want to blame these howlers on Ratner, the screenplay was co-written by Simon Kinberg (MR. AND MRS. SMITH, XXX: STATE OF THE UNION) and Zak Penn (INSPECTOR GADGET, ELEKTRA)--there's pedigree for ya! And the "well...it's supposed to be a comic book" rationale only goes so far. But at least they had the balls to knock off some characters.

3) Wouldn't it have been interesting to see what Matthew Vaughn (LAYER CAKE) could have done with this material if he hadn't bailed on the project?

4) Was Juggernaut British? I have no recollection of that from the comic book, but Vinnie Jones has some fun with him and for the brief time he's on screen, he's one of the more entertaining characters up there. But that helmet looks idiotic and bothered me in the same way that Magneto's has done through the whole series.

5) In case you haven't heard, there's a short scene after the end credits that you'll want to stick around for. 'Nuff said.

6) A huge sigh of relief--it may not be up to high standards set by the first two or Sam Raimi's SPIDER MAN movies, but at least it's better than other recent Marvel adaptations such as FANTASTIC FOUR, DAREDEVIL, and HULK. Some may call this damning with faint praise, but hey!--we're talking about a Brett Ratner film here. Go, see it on the biggest screen you can, keep your expectations reasonable, and we'll all wait for SUPERMAN RETURNS to rock our superhero world on June 30.

--Matthew (ex-comic geek)

For any of you out there whose passions go beyond film and music and into the world of pro basketball, the past few weeks and first two rounds of the NBA playoffs have been nirvana. In fact, I think there's only been two days since the start of the playoffs where there were no games scheduled. These matchups and series have been uncommonly good, and the best one of them all was the San Antonio/Dallas series won Monday night by Mark Cuban's Mavericks in 7 games, in overtime, on the road in San Antonio (a rarity since the home team wins game 7 nearly 82% of the time).

By some quirk in the playoff seedings system (which the NBA has promised to fix next year), these two teams with the best records in the Western Conference ended up meeting in the second round of the playoffs rather than the finals like two 60+ game winners should do (only the third time in history this has happened). If this was the NBA Finals rather than a second round series, people would talk about it as one of the best ever played. With exception to one game, the whole rest of the series was incredibly competitive with two unbelievably great players (Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki) with wonderful supporting casts going at it. Forgetting the two overtimes, the Mavs outscored the Spurs by a total of 5 points over 7 games! And four of the seven games had the possible winning shot in the air at the buzzer at the end of regulation. To add even more drama, one of San Antonio's key reserves was Michael Finley, an all-star with Dallas for many years, and the Mavericks' coach is Avery Johnson, who spent nine years as a point guard for the Spurs.

When they talk about every possession counting and the spirit of competition, this series of contests exemplified that in the best (and most exciting!) way. Having been a huge sports fan my whole life, I can honestly say this was one of the truly great playoff series of all time. Congratulations to the Mavs for getting over the hump and finally beating the Spurs in a series, who once again could not defend their title and repeat despite winning three World Championships in the last six years. Now let's see what Dallas can do against those MVP-led high-flying Phoenix Suns...it may not be a classic but it should be a lot of fun.

--Matthew

One of two family features to sneak preview at this year's Florida Film Festival along with THE SASQUATCH DUMPLING GANG, HOOT was enthusiastically received at its one matinee screening (especially by my 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old-son and their friends). Based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery Honor-winning book and produced by heavyweights Frank Marshall (SEABISCUIT, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK) and Walden Media (HOLES, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA), this Florida-based comic adventure about three middle-schoolers taking on greedy land developers and corrupt politicians to save a local population of (very cute) endangered owls seemed to have all the makings of a hit--wrong! Maybe it was the uncomfortable resemblance between one of the leads and Christopher Atkins in THE BLUE LAGOON or the fact that JImmy Buffett not only did the music and co-produced but decided to act (!) in it as well, but this adaptation of a terrific kids book just tanked at the box office. Reportedly HOOT had the lowest per screen average ever for a film opening on more than 3000 screens--ouch!

But props should be given to local talent Mark Simon, whose company Animatics & Storyboards Inc. handled the storyboards for the picturesque South Florida production. Mark is a veteran of the Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase whose series of perverse toons about a dim-witted cub scout, "Timmy's Lessons in Nature," have also appeared on Enzian's screen as part of SPIKE & MIKE'S SICK & TWISTED ANIMATION FESTIVALS. So congrats to Mark and here's hoping for little more luck with the next national release he works on.

--Matthew

Yes, it's South Asian Film Festival time again soon in Central Florida. June 10 - 12 marks yet another fruitful collaboration between Enzian Theater and the Asian Cultural Association, and "Beyond Bollywood: the 12th annual South Asian Film Festival" promises as always to provide a window into the extraordinary heritage and artistry represented by today's Indian filmmakers and Indian-themed cinema.

This year's lineup features three narrative features, one doc feature, and one short: Paul Mayeda Berges' magical romantic fable, THE MISTRESS OF SPICES, starring the stunning Aishwarya Rai, co-written by wife and creative partner Gurinder Chadha, and shot by Santosh Sivan; Shonali Bose's powerful drama of loss and cover-ups, AMU, winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2005 Bombay International Film Festival; the East Coast Premiere and second US showing of Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal's highly entertaining and topical film about outsourcing and the new generation driving the Indian economy, BOMBAY CALLING, winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the recent Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles; Avie Luthra's beautifully acted short about a South African AIDS orphan who learns about life through an unlikely bond with a racist Indian woman, LUCKY, winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Short at the 2006 IFFLA; and a special preview screening of Deepa Mehta's soul-stirring conclusion to her "Elemental Trilogy," WATER, as controversial a film as you'll find about the persecution of HIndu widows in the twilight of colonial 1930's India. The guts it took to make this film should be reason enough for everyone to go see it.

--Matthew

It's always interesting when the rare independent film "crosses over" and becomes so popular that it starts being referenced in editorial cartoons, talk-show-host monologues, water cooler conversations, and so on. Three examples of the last few years are such films as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, FAHRENHEIT 9/11, and THE MARCH OF THE PENGUINS. Though never quite accepted as being 100% part of the "mainstream" culture of the time, these movies were all lightning rods for controversy, opinions, and a lot of affection in places across the country where indies normally fail to tread.

The most recent example of this phenomena is of course, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, which has touched many a heart and many a nerve since its expanded release in January. Apparently, "the gay cowboy movie"--no matter how beautifully filmed, tremendously acted, and multiple Oscar-nominated--is still ruffling some feathers out there. Monday's BLONDIE comic strip by Dean Young, syndicated in God knows how many newspapers, contained the following dialogue:

Panel 1 - Blondie (reading a magazine with her back turned to Dagwood, who's stretched out in front of the TV, their dog asleep behind his chair): "What are you watching, honey?"
- Dagwood: "This is great!"

Panel 2 - Dagwood: "It's an old-fashioned movie"

Panel 3 - Dagwood: "When the cowboy only kissed his horse" (Blondie has turned her head around with a shocked look on her face and the dog has now opened his eyes wide as well)

Whatever the author's politics or sexual orientation (though I would say that's pretty obvious or he wouldn't be taking a shot at BROKEBACK), I thought comic strips were on the "funny pages" because they were supposed to be humorous or mindless escapism--not criticisms of an aspect of popular culture that doesn't adhere to someone's idea of "family values." (The always critical, satirical, and often hilarious DOONESBURY was banished to the editorial page in section A of the Orlando Sentinel for the flipside of this very reason.) After over four decades of reading this classic comic strip, I can honestly say for the first time that I find this particular BLONDIE extremely offensive.

-- Matthew

Many of you may be aware of the drought problems we're having in Central Florida, with the region now 7 inches below normal rainfall, neighborhood lakes conspicuous in their receding shorelines, and recent wildfires causing evacuations and shutting down long stretches of I-95. Before Thursday, it felt like it hadn't stormed for weeks. And what was scheduled for Thursday you ask? Of course being the second Thursday of the month means it's Popcorn Flick night, Enzian's free movie presentation under the stars in Central Park, downtown Winter Park. Naturally it poured early afternoon but then cleared up beautifully--BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID looked good to go on as planned. After waiting for darkness to fall, the film commenced with a nice breeze in the air but an occasional ominous raindrop or bit of heat lightning in the distant night sky. After about an hour and a half of the 110 minute feature though, the thunder and lightning was getting closer and closer and the film had to be stopped for safety sake for both the audience and the equipment. Within a half hour, it was pouring down rain once again.

You want to solve the drought problems in Orlando and stop the wildfires? Have Enzian schedule an outdoor movie every single week instead of once a month! Not to say we're jinxed or anything...

--Matthew

Kidfest 2006 Summer Film Series is a go! The series formerly known as "Peanut Butter Matinees" and scheduled four weekends in a row over July and August underwent a makeover last year as part of a Filmmaking/Storytelling camp for kids in grades 3 - 5. Now our series of classic and unusual children's films takes place four days in a row the final week of July, with a different film daily (all 35mm prints!) at 12:30 PM. The exciting and fun-filled lineup includes: THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES (1962, new print!);George Pal's Academy Award-winning adaptation of H.G. Wells' THE TIME MACHINE (1960); JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963, with those legendary special effects by Ray Harryhausen and score by Bernard Herrmann); and this year's nature doc, MICROCOSMOS (1996), winner of five French "Cesars" and perhaps the most amazing film about insects ever made.

So it's sixties-a-go-go and bugs, glorious bugs, from July 24 -27 at Enzian. And you don't even have to be kid to take part--I know where I'll be eating my lunch Monday - Thursday!

--Matthew

Hearty congratulations go out to three more short filmmakers whose work not only made a profound impact at the recent Florida Film Festival, but continues to make waves on the fest circuit worldwide. At the just completed 49th (!) San Francisco International Film Festival, Karina Epperlein's PHOENIX DANCE, a beautiful doc about one-legged ballet dancer Homer Avila, won the Golden Gate Award for Bay Area Documentary Short. Also reaping rewards at San Francisco was Christine Spindler from Florida State University for SIRAH, her sensitive portrayal of a young Muslim girl in the US dealing with peer pressure. One of the real gems at the "Best of Brouhaha" program in the FFF, the film won the Golden Gate Award for Work for Kids and Families.

And word from Sian Heder, director of MOTHER--this year's Grand Jury Award winner for Best Narrative Short--is that the film has been accepted into the "Cinefoundation" competition at the Cannes Film Festival. This terrific short (scheduled to be developed into a feature, hopefully sooner than later) is, according to the filmmaker, the first AFI film to get into this section of Cannes. So congrats again and best wishes to all of you as your films make their mark outside of the Sunshine State.

--Matthew

I started Thursday morning going to the Getty Musuem. I have never visited a museum where the outside is as fascinating as what is on the inside, but the Getty is stunning. A meandering tram ride up the hill transports you to a tiny city of white and marble travertine with the most amazing gardens. I have never seen poppies or cacti like that! Not to mention the art inside...stunning Monet, van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec...all amazing. My camera battery died and I forgot my charger so I had to buy a disposable...hopefully, the photos will turn out. I never wanted to leave and wound up staying much longer than I had planned.

Nearly out of gas (literally and figureatively), I made my way up Sepulveda to Ventura and finally found a gas station, holding my breath the entire way. Rush hour traffic actually wasn't too bad and I made it to Griffith Park in reasonably good time. I drove all around and wound up at the Observatory, closed for a three year reomodeling job, but there is a great view of the Hollywood sign from up there.

Finally, I headed to the Arclight to catch a movie (and compare theaters) with Alicia & Ben. I was early so I walked over to Amoeba Music to check it out. And there on stage playing a small keyboard live was Daniel Johnston. I stayed and watched and thought it's little things like that that would make living in New York or LA worth it to me. And, at the same time, I kind of was just missing home...

OK, so I'm sitting at work tonight and my weekly Box Office Mojo Theater Counts report appears. Right at the top under "New" is, of course, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (what's the deal on that colon?) In case you didn't know, Paramount is opening its latest Tom Cruise blockbuster wide, really wide. To the tune of 4,054 freakin' screens! To someone who remembers when 2000 screens was a big deal (not that long ago I believe), that number is staggering. And it's not even Summer yet--good luck to any smaller films or indies trying to get on screen at the multiplex from now until mid-August.

To be honest, though the second one has completely faded from my memory like I was hypnotized to purge it, I may have to check this one out eventually. The great Philip Seymour Hoffman should be a fun bad guy, and as a fan of J.J. Abrams' TV work ("Lost", "Alias", and yes, even "Felicity"), I am intrigued by what the man can do with $150 million and a tired formula. But no matter how precise the studio is in gauging the demand for the film (and unfortunately they're probably right), that number of screens is simply obscene.

--Matthew

Initiated four years ago as a cooperative effort by Enzian Theater and the City of Winter Park to bring monthly free movies (and free popcorn!) under the stars to the local community, "Popcorn Flicks" heads into year # 5 with a fun-filled lineup that features many firsts. In the 50 or so family-friendly films that have already played outdoors on the Central Park Stage in downtown Winter Park over the years, none have featured Paul Newman, Jerry Lewis, or Jimmy Cagney--but that's all about to change.

Upcoming films include: May 11 - George Roy Hill's BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), the classic outlaw buddy western starring Newman and Redford; Frank Tashlin's THE DISORDERLY ORDERLY (1964), one of Jerry Lewis' funniest comedies as he runs amuck in a nursing home; July 13 - Chris Noonan's BABE, THE GALLANT PIG (1995), the wonderful Australian farm animal charmer starring James Cromwell and co-written by George Miller (the "Mad Max" movies!); August 10 - Rob Reiner's THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987), the beloved fairy tale/adventure written by William Goldman (BUTCH CASSIDY... and many other terrific films) and starring Mandy Patinkin, Christopher Guest, Peter Falk, and Andre the Giant; September 14 - Michael Curtiz' ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938), the classic Hollywood melodrama of "the old neighborhood" and two childhood friends (James Cagney and Pat O' Brien) who grow up to be a gangster and a priest (guess which is which), also co-starring Humphrey Bogart and The Dead End Kids; and Alan Rafkin's THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN (1966), our annual spooky comedy for Halloween month and a fitting tribute to the recently deceased Don Knotts (not to mention one of my favorite films as a kid).

Now let's just hope that Mother Nature behaves and we get to pull all of these off--heading into our fifth Summer, we have yet to be able to show all three films (June, July, and August) in any of the previous years. Remember that rain dates are one week later on the third Thursday of the month, and if the film is rained out a second time, it will be rescheduled for a drier time of the year. But we'll think positive thoughts...

--Matthew

The other night, I went to a party in the Valley...ewww, that sounds so 1987. Old friends and Orlando alums Alicia & Ben had a bash to celebrate both their birthdays and first wedding anniversary. I knew that there would be a few other Orlando alums there but I had no idea! It seemed like every person that walked through the door was an old acquaintance or friend or colleague. First I chatted with Ben Hershleder, whose short MOVIES ARE BETTER opened FFF 2005, but I also realized I knew him from the almost revitalized In Search Of... tv show that we worked on back at the turn of the century. Then Jason Neff walked in...oh, shit, I forgot to tell Jason that I was going to be in LA! Oops. Hi, Jason! Next came Zubi Mohammed who helped me shoot a weird little doc I was working on back in '01. Michael LaPoint, who was pissed I couldn't remember his last name and where I knew him from (Sunday morning Haxan softball games four years ago), despite his extra twenty pounds and oh, so LA ponytail. It was turning into This is Your Life. Then I spotted Taylor Marr, an old Enzian intern and UCF film grad turned assistant editor. Bob DeRosa was in Korea at Jeiho Lee's wedding or I am sure they'd have been there too. On top of all that, I met about 10 more "formerly of Orlando" people I didn't know before. I thought the whole Orlando Mafia thing was a slight exaggeration, but apparently not. It was like a bizarre MySpace Meet Up, oh, yeah...they are on MySpace. Good for them...but we miss them all!