The Skolney Blog

1982: I was very late to this movie. Not sure why. Sure it is older, even predating the 1980s John Hughes oeuvre, and some of those movies I was late too as well, but some of my favorite movies are high school movies. It got a 35th anniversary screening and I went to see it. And I liked it a lot. Like a lot of these movies, they exist years later as a time capsule, and as an origin for a bunch of budding stars. It's certainly a 1982 time capsule. I mean, I guess it is. I was an infant then. But the fashion and music are of its time. I'm sure Cameron Crowe's involvement had something to do with the aces soundtrack.  And yes, this movie launched a lot of careers. Most iconically is Sean Penn, whose Spicoli is even more weird and memorable considering where Penn's career and persona went. It's like if Daniel Day-Lewis had starred in Porky's. Nicolas Cage (then Nicolas Coppola) had his 1st appearance. Eric Stoltz and Anthony Edwards pop up. Forest Whitak...

In theaters: BULLET TRAIN I thought this really delivered, one of the better action comedies in a long time. Brad Pitt does good goofy. A fun, colorful supporting cast is highlighted by Brian Tyree Henry, a never better Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and a couple of dynamite extended cameos. Fun setting, and clever fight scenes. I laughed a lot. Like, hard laughing.  DC LEAGUE OF SUPER PETS I saw this hoping for some fun comic book jokes. I got a few, but not enough. This was mostly just a bland, by-the-numbers animated movie with animals. FALL A very simple premise, where two women climbers decide to climb an old TV tower, and then shit goes wrong (because there would be no movie otherwise). I wouldn't say I have a fear of heights, but this gave me some. Yeah, it's obviously a lot of camera trickery, but it's effective. You feel like you're trapped up there. Other than some needless personal drama, and the movie ripping off the twist from Adrift, this is a very lean, gripping m...

Twins 10 Red Sox 5 Sure, watching stars shine can be fun, but sometimes it's watching the role players step up and have a career game that can be just as memorable. Twins game #5 for me this year was one of them, as on Tuesday night it was Nick Gordon, the much maligned former 1st round pick turned utility guy, who had a career game, and led the Twins to a needed win. Gordon started right away in the 1st, following a pair of walks with a gapper that scored both runners. Jake Cave hit a towering solo shot the next inning to make it 3-0. Chris Archer was cruising through 3 no hit innings, did get tagged for a run in the 4th before a double play ended things, and looked like maybe he would last long enough to get an elusive 3rd win. But no, after getting 1 out in the 5th, he gave up singles to the 8 and 9 hitters, then another run scoring hit that knocked him out after 4 1/3. Thielbar came in but gave up the tying single and a walk, then Fulmer came in and on his 1st throw threw one t...

Broncos 23 Vikings 13 Okay, if you believe in signs this could be a good one. We lost power during a storm last night during the Vikings game. I ended up only SEEING the first quarter and the final minutes. But the only other time I recall ever losing power during a Vikings game was...1998, also in the preseason. Fwiw I recall also having a power outage at my job during a different preseason game that year.  So basically we're about to see a season as good as 1998.  Anyway, since I was unable to actually see most of this game I was at the mercy of the radio broadcast and my social media feeds. Once again the QB battle (as it were) was the headliner. With Nick Mullens in tow and inactive, making him the backup for sure, it was time for one last audition for Mannion and Mond. Neither distinguished themselves. Again, Mond was marginally better than Mannion, as Mannion took a strip sack, nearly threw a pick six and generally just played poorly. Mond didn't do anything as standout ...

49ers 17 Vikings 7 The battle to be Kirk's backup looked to have swung quite decisively towards Kellen Mond last week. This game could have all but clinched the job for Mond, but instead he took a step back. He had a few good plays, including a 3rd down where he evaded pressure and fired a dart for a 1st down. But his first and last drives both ended in pretty ugly picks. Sean Mannion led the only scoring drive, mostly with short passes (nice to see the crossing route return to Vikings football) and finished by a Ty Chandler run. Mannion also had a couple glaring mistakes, missing one wide open receiver downfield and also nearly throwing a pick inside his own 10. I'm fine if the team wants to go get a backup elsewhere, but the free agent pickings are slim as can be, and I wouldn't trade anything significant (the 49ers will have offers for Garappolo). Maybe just wait til final cuts and someone will be out there. Or just accept that Mond has talent that will benefit greatly f...

Raiders 26 Vikings 20 The score says the Vikings lost their preseason opener, but I think this game gave them at least one win.  Few starters played of course. The focus here was on the backup QB battle between Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond. I'm not sure there's much of a battle anymore. From what I saw in this game, Mond is clearly the guy. Mannion started, and looked mostly bad for a few series before Mond took over. Mond was much more effective. He threw a couple TDs, made a few other big throws, ran around a little. A few bad throws too, but that's to be expected.  For the first time really in a year and a half, I'm on board with Mond. You could see it today that he has a lot of talent and that there really is something there that can be developed. The previous coaching staff was either incapabale of or unwilling to tap into that talent. KOC & Co. obviously see it differently. I'm not saying Mond is on his way to Canton. I'm not even saying Mond is this t...

Sun 90 Lynx 83 Well, they blew it.  For the first time since 2010, since the year before the dynasty began, the Lynx missed the playoffs. And it's a fate they deserved. After a disastrous 3-13 start they went 11-7 through last Wednesday's win at Phoenix, which put them into the 7th seed, with control of their playoff lives. And what did they do? They were blown off the court by Seattle in the home finale, leaving them in need of a win today and a loss by either Phoenix or New York. And with their season on the line, they spent most of the day today being easily handled by a Sun team that literally had nothing to play for. Like so many games this season, the Lynx got down by double digits early (14 after a quarter) then spent basically the whole game down that much. Until late, I don't think it was closer than 8. Same reasons as the others. You can't make runs to erase deficits when you constantly miss easy shots, turn the ball over, and play poor defense. The Sun were n...

LYNX 81 DREAM 71 My 2nd, and barring a hell of a lot, last Lynx game of the season on Sunday night was marked by the surprise early return of Napheesa Collier for her 1st game of the season. Unlike my previous game, the home opener in which they never led, in this game the Lynx never trailed. They jumped out 8-0 and while they never made it a blowout they also limited the mistakes that have contributed to so many losses in a frustrating season.  The refs did that thing they do, where they call bullshit fouls on Sylvia Fowles, so she barely got on the court in the first half. Especially annoying since it's the last game I was likely to see her play. The Lynx offense struggled, but Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride hit some threes. Banham hit some shots. They held their own, even with Collier getting her sea legs back.  Every so often the Lynx looked about to break it open, then went into that idiot mode where they just start turning the ball over constantly. It didn't last tha...

I truly did not see this coming. As the Twins have stumbled and bumbled their way through most of the summer, hanging on to first place by default, attention turned toward the trade deadline. What would Falvine do? Buy? Sell? Nothing? I had settled into the nothing camp. I saw, and still see, this team as one that is not a serious threat in October. Why trade away assets to fill holes on a team that needs too much help?  I also figured the Twins were not going to do much. Maybe a minor trade or two for an extra reliever or starter, but nothing of significance. Nothing that would move the needle.  But Falvine did something. They did a lot actually. And what they did solidifies the Twins once again as division favorites, without even having to give up that much.  First they acquired Jorge Lopez, the Orioles all star closer. Then they dealt with the Reds to get starter Tyler Mahle. And then they picked up reliever Michael Fulmer from the Tigers. They also made a minor deal t...