Two weeks? Already? Wow.

It's been a very busy time here; Baby coming soon, preparations are well under way (hello, storage space), showers and doctor's visits and running around like mad. This week? More like it; Working on planning for the 2009 Sarasota FF and hopefully seeing a film or two and getting back to a better blogging schedule. In the meantime, some developments.

-- I have been posting reviews on Hammer To Nail, thanks to Michael Tully's generous and flattering invitation. Last week, Expired (which I really liked). Tomorrow, a DVD review of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. RSS it and let me know what you think.

-- The camera sold, so I picked up one of these and, inspired by Ray Pride's excellent pictures, one of these with the money. Break even. Thanks eBay!

-- I went to an amazing soccer match in Chinatown last week and got to meet my hero, Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler. A few highlights from Robbie's days with Liverpool...

This is the match that made me a Fowler fan. It was just after the World Cup in the USA in 1994 and I decided to start watching the English league. Fowler's hattrick, three goals in 4 minutes 33 seconds (a Premiership record) made me a Liverpool fan and he's always been my favorite player ever since. He can also do this...

and this...

So, when I saw that he was playing in a free charity soccer match in Chinatown, I knew I had to go. Add to it that the game also featured Barcelona's Thierry Henry, Chelsea's Soloman Kalou, former NY Red Bull and future Villareal star Jozie Altidore, USA legend Claudio Reyna and former Liverpool star Steve McManaman, and it was an amazing day. Pics:

Robbie Fowler and Me

Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman

Barcelona star Thierry Henry and Red Bull NY's Claudio Reyna

Fowler Up Close

Henry and Golden State Warriors point guard Baron Davis

Former Red Bull NY and new Villareal striker Jozy Altidore (go get 'em, Jozy!)

and you can see the whole set here...
Flickr!

-- Took in Celine and Julie Go Boating at BAM a couple of weeks ago. Very well attended in the biggest theater at BAM (80% full on a Thursday at 8:10 PM for a 3+ hr. movie is a huge success in my opinion). I really enjoyed the experience of seeing that film on that screen with that audience (people seemed really into it, lots of laughing, etc.) I am thinking of taking in the rest of the Directors' Fortnight at 40 series this week. The screening of Werckmeister Harmonies beckons.

--I really enjoyed the Euro 2008. I don't think I missed more than 90 minutes of the entire tournament and my favored team won with a goal from Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Congrats to Spain for a well-deserved victory for attacking football. If you enjoyed the Euros and want to start following the English Premiership (which starts in August), I host a Fantasy Football League for the Premiership that has a lot of film community members involved. If you're interested in joining when the season starts in August, drop me an e-mail and I'll add your address to the sign-up list.

More soon, I swear. Thanks for your patience!

this sporting hero of yours, would this robbie fowler be the same robbie fowler that in 1999 was fined £60,000 by his club for the goal celebration that included sniffing the touch line as if was a line of coke? or the same robbie fowler that was fined by the FA for waving his arse at chelsea footballer graeme la saux believing him to be gay while la saux wife and children were watching. what a hero! if you are going to choose an english sporting hero may i suggest either a crickter or a rugby union footballer

hope you enjoyed 'celine and julie go boating' its one of my all time favorites even though i have'nt seen it in many years. last year it was released on region 2 dvd by the BFI. many reviews had it down as 'overlong' we well know your views on that!