The Skolney Blog

1992: My Saturday Night Live fandom has ebbed and flowed over the years, but for me my favorite era will always be that late 80s/early 90s era. Sandler, Farley, Spade, Rock, Nealon, pre-sellout Dennis Miller on Update. It was an iconic time.  So iconic that it was the era of SNL that started to get movie spinoffs. This was a big thing for about a decade, and I did like a couple of them, but nothing ever came close to matching Wayne's World. There was really no reason to think this skit was the one that had to become a movie, but they found a way.  This was definitely one of my formative comedies. You can see in it the seed of all the comedies to come (many starring SNL alum) that were as much about the absurdities and goofy asides as the actual plot. There are a hundred little bits of this movie that I quote or reference.  This movie was actually a really big deal at the time. Look no further than how it sent a 15 year old Queen song to the top of the charts. ...

In theaters: MOONFALL Roland Emmerich is back destroying things again. This time it's that dang moon. It's falling out of orbit for some reason and is going to crash in to earth and destroy everything and only NASA (led by Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson) and a conspiracy theorist (John Bradley from Game Of Thrones) can save the world. It's an enjoyably ridiculous movie, but Emmerich is basically just ripping off shots and sequences from his other, better disaster flicks (well, this is for sure better than ID4: Resurgence). This one also takes a turn into full-on sci-fi in the 3rd act that I'm not sure works. WHO WE ARE A documentary about racism throughout the history of America. It's illuminating, infuriating, sobering, and very well done.  DEATH ON THE NILE The long delayed 2nd installment of Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot cinematic universe. I enjoyed this about the same as Murder On The Orient Express. Branagh is a lot of fun as Poirot. The large ensemble ...

(Yes, I had this poster up for several years) Heading into 2002 my movie fanatic self was consumed with feverous anticipation for two movies. One was Attack of the Clones, which we will get to in May.  But the undercard was Crossroads, the proper movie debut of Britney Spears, who at this point was pretty much at the peak of her early career powers. This was one of the centerpiece events of that "Britney" era. I actually first saw the trailer for this movie at her Dream Within A Dream tour. I saw this movie 3 times in theaters. I have watched it many times over the years.  But Crossroads is not a great movie. That's okay. It arrived with all the hype and critical scrutiny (which we will get to) that would accompany a huge event film, but in reality this is a modest little film with modest goals. I think two things worked against this movie somewhat. One is that by early 2002 the teen movie boom of that era was already waning. Nothing that I would even consider...

RAMS 23 BENGALS 20 Was this the most blah close game in Super Bowl history?  Usually a close Super Bowl is memorable, with signature plays and moments and even teams. I didn't really feel that way with this game. The standout was the halftime show. The signature moments of these playoffs for me are in preceding games. Neither of these teams are anything approaching an all time great.  I picked the Bengals. I bought in to the Joe Burrow horseshoe after what I had seen in these other Bengals playoff games, that he was the new Brady and would win due to just strange shit always going his way, despite thinking the Rams were the better team. I mean, I was almost right.  Even as the Rams built a 13-3 lead it never felt like they were playing that great. And they had a botched PAT after their second touchdown that would loom large later. The Bengals closed it to 13-10 late in the half. The Rams botched a late drive with a Matthew Stafford pick that was basically a punt. 13-10 wa...

And apparently I really need to get to watching The Power Of The Dog.  So, just hitting on the big categories. And whatever else. Best Picture: Ten films. Licorice Pizza is by far my favorite of the 10. Beyond that I would rank them West Side Story, King Richard, Dune, Belfast, Nightmare Alley, Don't Look Up. How the hell did that last one get in?  I haven't seen Dog Power, Coda, or Drive My Car. Best Director: PTA in a runaway. Spielberg has been nominated in 6 different decades. This is how I realized that I have been alive in 6 different decades. 🤯 Best Actor: C'mon give it to Will Smith. Andrew Garfield getting in there makes me happy.  Best Actress: Yay Kristen! Yay Penelope! Yay Jessica! Now watch them give it to frickin Kidman. Best Supporting Actor: Only ones I have seen of the 5 so far are Hinds and Simmons. In my heart Andrew Garfield wins this for Spiderman.  Best Supporting Actress: Just give this to Ariana Dubose.and call it a day.  Best Original S...

So, after 3 and a half weeks of searching and interviewing, the Vikings have decided who will be the new head coach.  And it's a curveball. For about a week, it seemed that the hiring of Jim Harbaugh was not just possible but damn near certain. Many reporters said as much. His Wednesday interview at TCO was probably just a formality before the deal was signed.  Then within about 10 minutes we learn, stunningly, that Harbaugh was going to stay at Michigan, and then that the Vikings picked Kevin O'Connell.  Once the shock wore off, the truth emerges that this was the right move.  All along the feel was that it was time for the Vikings to hire an offensive minded head coach. O'Connell emerged as the top contender who fit the bill.  O'Connell comes from the Rams, where he has been the OC and Sean McVay's primary right hand man. While he does not call plays, he reportedly is deeply involved with gameplanning. And that McVay coaching tree to this point has been a big ...

It's is finally official, the overrated LOAT is finally FINALLY gone! No more of the one guy whose existence did more to trash my NFL fandom than any other figure ever could. I see there was some talk about him not thanking anybody from the Patriots in his retirement statement. But, nice guy that I am, I am going to offer up a bunch of thanks on his behalf, to the people who really helped Brady along the way. So, on behalf of The LOAT, thank you to... To whoever thought up the Tuck Rule to begin with, and then also the officials who wrongly interpreted the rule to overturn the clear fumble in his 1st playoff game. To Drew Bledsoe and the Patriots special teams and defense for winning him his 1st AFC title. To the Patriots defense for carrying him to his 1st ring, and Mike Martz for being completely outcoached in that game. Also to the officials who decided not to call Brady for a blatant intentional grounding on the final drive, and ruling J.R. Redmond out of bounds when he wasn...