Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs may not like
hearing that their team is really No. 1 in the NFL when it comes to available
salary-cap room. The rebuilding Chiefs, losers of 12 straight games, were $23.8
million under the league-mandated $116 million salary cap this past week.
Fiscally, the Chiefs are very responsible.
Physically, they have been getting the crap beat out of them. Yes, Denny Thum
does an excellent job of spending owner Clark Hunt's money. Another reason is
that Coach Herm Edwards has demanded a younger roster — the Chiefs tied the
Packers this season in that department — and younger players mean you're not
paying older, high-priced stars. There really wasn't a superstar quarterback
out there — OK, Brett Favre was available, but the Chiefs didn't want to go
that route.
League-wide, there is almost $250 million in
salary-cap savings. But fans should not confuse cash with salary-cap dollars.
Twenty of the 32 teams have spent above the $116 million threshold when you
include bonus money paid to free agents, rookies and veterans that have signed
long-term contracts. I'm talking about the "real dollars" paid out this season
because all cap figures include millions in pro-rated bonuses.
For example, there are seven teams that still
have more than $7 million in cap room but have actually paid out more than $116
million to their players this season. The fact that teams are under the cap
doesn't necessarily mean owners have reduced their payrolls and are hording
money; they simply have discovered ways of being more efficient in their
salary-cap management.
What is interesting is that of the six teams
with almost 50 percent of the available room, four are legitimate playoff
contenders. Buffalo is unbeaten, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, who play each other
today, are both 2-1, and the Saints were picked by many to win the NFC South.
The Dolphins, like the Chiefs, are a rebuilding team.
What has been unbelievable, even for the
teams, has been the rapid salary-cap increases. For example, in late September
of the 2005 season, there was about $100 million of cap room league-wide. This
year, that available-room figure has more than doubled because the cap has
increased by more than $12 million a team over that same period.
This salary-cap business could really change
drastically next season if there are as many head coaching changes as everyone
is predicting. There were only four changes last season, and with fewer
changes, one executive told me there is less dead money sitting on team's
books. When there is upheaval in the front office, it generally leads to more
severe roster changes and more wild salary spending by teams.
GAME: Green Bay at Tampa Bay
TIME: 1 ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Monte Kiffin and
the Bucs' Cover-2 scheme figures to test first-year starter Aaron Rodgers, who
has thrown for 796 yards in his first three games without an interception. The
key for Rodgers, though, will be if RB Ryan Grant, who wasn't listed on the
injury report, can run like he did at the end of last season. The Bucs like to
play a tempo game and control the clock, and the key could be RB Earnest
Graham's ability to run. The Cowboys gashed the Packers for 217 rushing yards
last Sunday night, but the Bucs don't have the deep receiving threats that
Dallas does, especially with Joey Galloway sitting again. In fact, QB Brian
Griese, who passed 67 times against the Bears, might want to continue that act
with CB Tramon Williams starting for Al Harris (spleen) and the Packers also
minus SS Atari Bigby. Bucs C Jeff Faine has played at an All-Pro level in his
first three games. The Packers are worried about the 85-degree heat. Keep an
eye on Packers DE Aaron Kampman because Bucs OT Jeremy Trueblood struggles with
very physical, quick pass rushers. Packers WR James Jones won't play, but C
Scott Wells is back.
CZAR'S SCOOP: Bucs PK Matt Bryant
attended the funeral of his three-month-old son on Saturday, and the team has
told him that it is his decision whether to kick Sunday. If he doesn't, which
would be understandable, the Bucs will have to release a player in order to
bring in a one-game replacement. You would think that the NFL could grant a
roster exemption to teams in this kind of situation. The league grants roster
exemptions to teams when players sign after lengthy training-camp holdouts. A
death in the family should take precedence over a salary holdout. Coach John
Gruden has drastically altered his version of the West Coast offense, using
multiple-tight-end formations. He actually used five three-tight-end formations
against the Bears last Sunday and also uses more motions and shifts than
probably any other coach in the league. Bill Walsh was never into that much
shifting.
GAME: Arizona at NY Jets
TIME: 1 ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Jets QB Brett Favre
(ankle) will start, but there are concerns about DT Kris Jenkins and his bad
back, and his absence could open up some running lanes for Edgerrin James. The
Cardinals, who spent the week in Washington D.C. after losing to the Redskins,
plan to attack rookie CB Dwight Lowery, who is starting for an injured Justin
Miller. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner would prefer to be throwing more, but Ken
Whisenhunt prefers a balanced attack (93 rushes to 87 pass attempts so far),
and that shouldn't change. There is no question that Favre doesn't have the
deep threats in New York that he had in Green Bay, and he still is struggling
for a complete grasp of the offense. The Cardinals took the train up to New
Jersey after visiting Walter Reed Army Hospital on Friday. The Cardinals are
the first western team that I can remember which spent a week on the East
Coast; generally East Coast teams spend the week on the West Coast.
CZAR'S SCOOP: Favre waspretty expansive this week regarding the one
summer Warner spent in Packers training camp, a year before he went the Rams.
"I don't remember the year. It was a long time ago, but he was just a guy,"
Favre said. "Obviously, he's a lot different now. The guy has played
phenomenal. I've played against him numerous times. I have a lot of respect for
him. I didn't know much about him at the time. There are a lot of guys that
come and go that just for whatever reason have never panned out. He's one of
those guys that when he got the opportunity, he made the most of it. I do
remember — I don't know if Kurt remembers — when (Steve) Mariucci was our
quarterback coach. He asked him to go in on a particular play. It was camp. He
said, 'No, I'm not going in.' He wasn't ready. In fact, when Steve was here a
couple weeks ago, we were doing an interview, laughing about that and how far
he has come. He's not afraid to go in now."
GAME: San Francisco at New Orleans
TIME: 1 ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Saints don't
want to get into a shoot-out like they did in Denver, and this could be RB
Deuce McAllister's coming-out party. The plan is to get him 10-15 carries and
see if he can soften the San Francisco defensive line. It might be tough
running the ball with rookie LG Carl Nicks starting for the suspended Jamar
Nesbit and Billy Miller starting at tight end. Saints CB Mike McKenzie is
supposed to play ahead of Randall Gay while the defense also gets SLB Scott
Fujita back. San Francisco RT Barry Sims starts again for Jonas Jennings.
Tarrell Brown will also play some nickel with Shawntae Spencer out.
CZAR'S SCOOP: After the Ed Hochuli
incident in Denver, Commissioner Roger Goodell wasn't too pleased with the
heavy criticism of the officials and sent out a memo to all club personnel to
cool their tempers and words. Well, Saints coach Sean Payton was fined $15,000
this week for pointing out that the officials missed an offside call in last
week's Denver game that may have cost his team at the end of the game. The
49ers may have two players suffering from staph infections, most notably rookie
WR Josh Morgan. The Saints got some good news in that TE Jeremy Shockey should
be back by Week 6 or Week 7.
GAME: Atlanta at Carolina
TIME: 1 ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This figures to be
a running game because the Falcons don't want to expose rookie QB Matt Ryan too
much; they'd rather have him in positive situations, especially with Todd
Weiner starting for injured LT Sam Baker, who is out. Falcons WR Laurent
Robinson is also out. Believe it or not, the road team in this series has won
the last five meetings. Carolina again starts RB DeAngelo Williams, but
Johnathan Stewart has a better average (4.7 to 3.7) and three touchdowns to
none. The Panthers are debating about taking Stewart off kick returns because
they realize how much they will need him as a red-zone runner down the stretch.
Panthers C Ryan Kalil struggled with the crowd noise in the Metrodome, and it
caused problems for Jake Delhomme last week. The Panthers want to get Steve
Smith untracked, but their focus will be their running game. Ditto for the
Falcons and Michael Turner (366 yards and 5 TDs already).
CZAR'S SCOOP: Atlanta DE John Abraham
has taken to calling Turner "The MARTA," after the Atlanta rail system. "That's
just a joke going around the locker room that Abe has been spreading," Turner
said. "He said the Steelers had the Bus in Jerome Bettis, and so he had to come
up with some other sort of transportation for me." Carolina has held San
Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson to 97 yards and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson to 77
yards. On the flip side, Falcons LB Keith Brooking is impressed with Carolina
rookie Stewart. "Both of their guys can do it all," Brooking said. "They are
very good in between the tackles. They break a lot of tackles and they can also
bounce the ball and beat you with their speed."
GAME: Minnesota at Tennessee
TIME: 1 ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: These teams are
mirror-images of one another, and this could turn into a field-position game.
Both have excellent defensive lines and live by their running games. Minnesota
RB Adrian Peterson (hamstring) will start, although Chester Taylor will be
there in case Peterson tires. Tennesee is hoping for a big game from RB LenDale
White because coach Jeff Fisher doesn't want to overuse rookie Chris Johnson.
Fisher wants him around in December, too. The Vikings may have the better deep
threat in Bernard Berrian, but Gus Frerotte doesn't plan on taking many chances
unless he gets single coverage on the outside. Vikings OT Artis Hicks could
have his hands full with Kyle Vanden Bosch, whose 254-pound motor is always
going. He is very similar to Minnesota's Jared Allen. Minnesota is also very
concerned about Titans DT Albert Haynesworth. Stephen Tullock will start for
Titans' LB Ryan Fowler.
CZAR'S SCOOP: This should be the last
game that Minnesota LT Bryant McKinnie misses, but there is no guarantee his
legal issues are behind him. He has a court date scheduled for Wednesday in
Miami, and his lawyer, Larry Kerr, said last week that he hopes to get a trial
date set for February or March on McKinnie's criminal case stemming from a
brawl outside a Miami nightclub. McKinnie faces four charges for his role in
the February incident, including one felony. Kerr has asked the State of
Florida to allow McKinnie to enter a pretrial diversion program, which could
lead to the charges being dismissed. McKinnie does not have to be present for
the hearing Wednesday. Vikings coach Brad Childress used a George Orwell
reference last week and CB Antoine Winfield said: "I had no idea who that guy
was. That's my first time ever hearing his name." Some of the players believe
that owner Zygi Wilf wanted Tarvaris Jackson benched and that Childress was
simply following orders.
GAME: Washington at Dallas
TIME: 4:15 ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Redskins will
be making their final trip to Texas Stadium, where they are 9-27. They have
struggled to run against the Cowboys' 3-4 defense in recent years, but they
need Clinton Portis to have a big game in order to keep the pass rush off Jason
Campbell, who is better with the deep ball than the West Coast dink-and-dunk
stuff. The Cowboys racked up 453 yards of total offense last Sunday in Green
Bay with Terrell Owens catching only two passes. He scored four TDs in a Week
11 game against the Redskins last season. DE Demetric Evans will replace
Washington's Jason Taylor, the team's best pass rusher. However, Taylor's
absence should improve the run defense a bit, and if the Redskins can contain
RBs Marion Barber and Felix Jones and create long passing downs, they might be
able to pressure QB Tony Romo into mistakes. Of course, that's a lot of ifs.
Romo's 22-7 record is the third-best in league history for any quarterback's
first 29 career starts.
CZAR'S SCOOP: Washington QB Jason
Campbell isn't surprised by the rapid improvement of Dallas NT Jay Ratliff
because the two played together at Auburn. Ratliff was recruited as a tight end
before ending up on defense, finally landing at defensive tackle. He's gone
from a seventh-round draft pick to a possible future Pro Bowler with dominant
play so far in 2008. Ratliff is fifth on the team in tackles (18) with two
sacks and eight quarterback pressures. "Jay was always a hard worker when we
were at Auburn," Campbell said. "What he's doing right now is not a surprise,
because he was one of the leaders on that side of the ball." Taylor had
emergency surgery at 3 a.m. last Monday after blood started to clot around a
nerve in his calf. The blood created pressure on the nerve, which led to
extreme pain. However, Taylor has a chance of playing in a week or two. The
Cowboys actually believe their secondary is better in pass coverage without S
Roy Williams.
Other games
Denver at Kansas City: The Chiefs have
lost 12 straight and return to veteran QB Damon Huard. However, if Huard
struggles, Tyler Thigpen will play. Huard should be able to do some damage
against Denver's 30th-ranked defense. The Chiefs rank fourth against the pass,
but Denver's Jay Cutler has been averaging 304.7 yards passing per game.
Broncos RB Selvin Young rushed for a combined 265 yards in two meetings last
year.
Houston at Jacksonville: The Texans
actually have a winning record (7-5) against the Jaguars, and they need rookie
RB Steve Slaton to repeat his 116-yard performance of a week ago. Said WR Andre
Johnson: "He's going to be a great player. He'll open up doors for the rest of
us." Yes, former Packer Ahman Green was a poor signing. He has a chance of
earning $9.8 million over his first two seasons in Houston even after reducing
his base salary this season. Matt Schaub has one TD pass vs. five INTs, and
fans are screaming for Sage Rosenfels. Jaguars should have WR Jerry Porter, and
both of their running backs are healthy.
Cleveland at Cincinnati: Well,
somebody is going to end their losing streak. These two teams are a combined
0-6 and both coaches, Romeo Crennel and Marvin Lewis, have to be on the hot
seat. Bengals QB Carson Palmer definitely has some inflammation in his throwing
elbow, although there apparently is no ligament damage. Palmer wants to play,
but his elbow is pretty tender. This also could be the game in which Browns QB
Brady Quinn sees some action if Derek Anderson struggles. Still, no Donte'
Stallworth for the Browns.
San Diego at Oakland: The Raiders will
be minus RB Justin Fargas for the second straight week, and now there's talk of
rookie Darren McFadden (toe) being a game-time decision. McFadden played last
week in Buffalo with the same injury, and there's no doubt that the offense
needs him. The Raiders are also minus DT Gerard Warren, which has to be good
news for LaDainian Tomlinson, who is averaging 3.3 yards a carry. But the
Chargers can win without L.T. because Philip Rivers leads the NFL with nine
touchdown passes, plus his offensive line is getting healthier with the
potential return of C Nick Hardwick.
Buffalo at St. Louis: Win or lose, the
Rams are considering firing head coach Scott Linehan on Monday. The two options
are long-time Ram, Henry Ellard, the receivers coach, or defensive coordinator
Jim Haslett. There is even talk of trading WR Torry Holt, who along with
benched QB Marc Bulger, is at odds with Linehan. Yes, it is an ugly mess in St.
Louis, but it seems like any prospective new buyer will have the option to pick
his own head coach next year.
Philadelphia at Chicago: The Eagles
believe that QB Donovan McNabb will start, but they aren't too sure about RB
Brian Westbrook (ankle). Westbrook didn't practice all week, but that has
happened in the past and he's shown up on Sundays. The Bears are still reeling
from last week's home loss to the Bucs in overtime. Chicago KR Devin Hester
(ribs) will play and probably show up as a receiver, but DT Tommie Harris (left
knee) will be a game-time decision. Apparently a Chicago defensive lineman (Adewale
Ogunleye?) kicked Bucs OT Jeremy Trueblood in the groin area, which led to a
fine and last week's costly personal-foul penalty on Chicago's Peanut Tillman.
Trueblood and Tillman were both fined by the league.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh: The Steelers'
first-round pick, RB Rashard Mendenhall, who has no carries in the past two
games, will start for injured Willie Parker against a Baltimore defense that is
allowing an NFL-low 89.1 yards per game on the ground since 2000. Pittsburgh's
offensive line struggled against the Eagles' blitz last Sunday, allowing nine
sacks, and you have to figure Rex Ryan will dial up more of the same for Ben
Roethlisberger. Baltimore plans to use Willis McGahee (bruised eye) as much as
they can, and then look for rookie Ray Rice. Steeler NT Chris Hoke needs to
stuff the run in order for Pittsburgh to put more pressure on rookie QB Joe
Flacco, who has two INTs and zero touchdown passes in two games.
Read more at: http://msn.foxsports.com
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WASHINGTON
(Sept. 24) - First lady Laura Bush says Republican vice presidential
nominee Sarah Palin lacks sufficient foreign policy experience but is a
very quick study.
In an interview Wednesday with CNN, the
first lady remarked that it's fortunate that Republican presidential
nominee John McCain has foreign policy experience himself.
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Paul Newman shied away
from Hollywood, choosing instead to live in a farmhouse in
Connecticut, but he was
held in awe by his movie-town peers.
A spokeswoman for screen legend Paul Newman said the actor has died at the
age of 83.
Spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic said Newman died Friday of cancer at his
Connecticut home.
On
Saturday, Mainers who held a special spot in their heart for Newman together at
the diner that served as a backdrop in his movie "Empire Falls." Flowers and a
cross outside Skowhegan's
Empire Grill comprised part of a tribute to a legendary film actor who spent
months in the town in the fall of 2003, WMTW-TV reported.
Empire Grill served as a backdrop to Newman's HBO movie "Empire Falls" about
a gritty mill town. The diner was real and real townspeople were part of the
movie.
"My band was in the movie. We played in the wedding reception scene," said
Joe Scozzafava, an extra in the movie. "Our scene was just a minute or two long
at the most and we were there shooting for an entire day. To see how all the
pieces are made, how it all goes together, that was exciting for us, that was
great fun."
Townspeople said Newman became one of them during those months, saying they
got to know the real Newman -- even those who met him from a distance.
"He waved, he was very friendly. He's always been a great star of mine,"
said Maryann Shaw, of Skowhegan.
Residents said Newman was kind and generous, and he quietly donated to local
charities.
"You can see the emotion in him, too, how much he cared about what he did.
If he didn't like something, he didn't like it. He was truthful about that,
too. That was another good thing about him you knew where he was coming from,"
said Duane Burbank, the owner of Skowhegan Fleuriste, a local flower shop also
featured throughout the movie.
Burbank said the shooting of the movie was a special time when the town came
alive.
A scrapbook was left at the diner as a remembrance, and a customer stopped
by and left a single rose and a card that read: "In memory of Paul Newman on
behalf of the people of the town of Skowhegan. Thank you for your visit."
Hollywood Celebrated Man's Career
Newman
was nominated for Academy Awards 10 times, winning a regular Oscar in 1987 for
"The Color of Money" and two honorary ones. He was equally at home in comedies
such as "The Sting" and dramas such as "Hud."
He sometimes teamed with his wife, Joanne Woodward, also an Oscar winner for
the 1957 film "Three Faces of Eve."
Newman is survived by his wife, five children, two grandsons and his older
brother, Arthur.
His daughters released a statement Saturday morning, saying Newman was a
"rare symbol of selfless humility, the last to acknowledge what he was doing
was special."
The statement also said: "Intensely private, he quietly succeeded beyond
measure in impacting the lives of so many with his generosity. Always and to
the end, Dad was incredibly grateful for his good fortune. In his own words:
'It's been a privilege to be here.' He will be profoundly missed by those whose
lives he touched, but he leaves us with extraordinary inspiration to draw upon.
During this difficult time, we ask for privacy for our family."
Hollywood is also reacting to the passing of the screen legend.
Actor Robert Redford said he's "lost a real friend."
He and Newman were co-stars in two of their best-known movies -- "Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting."
Redford said it's hard to put into words his feelings about Newman. But he
said his own life -- and the nation -- are "better for his being in it."
Another former co-star, Sally Field, said, "Sometimes God makes perfect
people, and Paul Newman was one of them."
They worked together in the film, "Absence of Malice."
Jokester, Philanthropist
Newman was born in Cleveland, Ohio,
the second of two boys of Arthur S. Newman, a partner in a sporting-goods
store, and Theresa Fetzer Newman.
He was raised in the affluent suburb of Shaker Heights, where he was
encouraged him to pursue his interest in the arts by his mother and his uncle
Joseph Newman, a
well-known Ohio poet and journalist. He made his acting debut at age 7 in a
school production of "Robin Hood," where he played the role of the court
jester, according to Peggy Caldwell, the school district spokeswoman for
Newman's high school alma mater, Shaker Heights High.
He graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1943.
Upon graduating from Shaker, he enrolled at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
After a stint with the Navy in World War II, Newman completed his degree at
Kenyon Collegein Gambier, Ohio, 1949. He got a degree in English and was active
in student productions in. Later he went on to study acting at Yale University,
as well as under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York City.
His classmates at the famed Actor's Studio including Brando, James Dean and
Karl Malden. His breakthrough was enabled by tragedy: Dean, scheduled to star
as the disfigured boxer in a television adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "The
Battler," died in a car crash in 1955. His role was taken by Newman, then a
little-known performer.
Off the screen, Newman had a taste for beer and was known for his practical
jokes. He once had a Porsche installed in Redford's hallway -- crushed and
covered with ribbons.
"I think that my sense of humor is the only thing that keeps me sane," he
told Newsweek magazine in a 1994 interview.
He was also famously liberal -- and was proud to have earned a spot on
Richard Nixon's "enemies list."
In 1982, Newman and his Westport neighbor, writer A.E. Hotchner, started a
company to market Newman's original oil-and-vinegar dressing. Newman's Own,
which began as a joke, grew into a multimillion-dollar business selling
popcorn, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce and other foods. All of the company's
profits are donated to charities. By 2007, the company had donated more than
$175 million, according to its Web site.
In 1988, Newman founded a camp in northeastern Connecticut for children with
cancer and other life-threatening diseases. He went on to establish similar
camps in several other states and in Europe.
He and Woodward bought an 18th century farmhouse in Westport, where they
raised their three daughters, Elinor "Nell," Melissa and Clea.
Newman had two daughters, Susan and Stephanie, and a son, Scott, from a
previous marriage to Jacqueline Witte.
Scott died in 1978 of an accidental overdose of alcohol and Valium. After
his only son's death, Newman established the Scott Newman Foundation to finance
the production of anti-drug films for children.
In May 2007, he told ABC's "Good Morning America" he had given up acting,
though he intended to remain active in charity projects.
"I'm not able to work anymore as an actor at the level I would want to," he
said. "You start to lose your memory, your confidence, your invention. So
that's pretty much a closed book for me."
VBLAZIN VIBRANT VIXEN Contest!
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While we think that the show is one of the funniest shows on TV. But in
the real world always read any contract before you sign it. If you have a
cell phone contract, you know what we mean.
Danny DeVito agrees to do a third season of "It's Always Sunny In
Philadelphia"... on one condition.
In the world of film WWII has been done. It’s been done well, it’s been
done poorly. It’s been covered from every side and recreated in every angle
under the sun. It has not however been done by Spike Lee, the most prolific
black filmmaker in film’s history. This fact makes his new film
Miracle at St. Anna, which takes place during WWII, not simply just
another film from that era. Like or dislike his films, Lee has a style and
flare for filmmaking that is often hit (Do The Right Thing, Inside
Man) or miss (Bamboozled, Get on the Bus) but always
something to talk about.
But
let’s ignore the man behind the camera for a second and talk about
Miracle at
St. Anna as a film itself, putting aside
our opinion of its director. The film, which clocks in at a hefty 160
minutes, follows four black soldiers during WWII and a white child who one of
them rescues from death. The four men are separated from the rest of their
platoon and their racist commander during a battle and find themselves and
the boy, who seems to have miraculous powers, in a small Italian village in
the mountains that has been surrounded by Nazis. There are also modern day
bookends to this story that involve one of the four soldiers and his trail
after shooting a man in cold blood in a post office. Then there are about ten
more subplots and themes that would take far too long to get into here.
Actually, it seems it would take far too long to get into them in the
movie too. While the movie’s main plotlines are strong and many scenes are
relentlessly powerful, Lee seems to have some problems covering everything he
wants to cover or in this case everything the book the film is based off of
covered. A flashback scene of the soldiers getting kicked out of a diner
because they’re black seems out of place and lacks any serious impact on the
rest of the film. There’s just a bit too much there and it makes the
beginning of the film immensely disjointed and hard to follow. Thankfully
once everything settles down near the end the plethora of storylines starts
to dwindle down into a powerful final 40 minutes.
The acting is also a bit uneven, though the subject matter and Lee’s
steady neorealistic directing mean that almost none of the emotion is lost.
Some scenes feature impressive performances from an actor who in another
scene seems pleasantly removed from the events going on around him. Michael
Early’s character is imbalanced on the whole, sometimes acting in one way
only to switch to what seems to be an almost completely different character
in the next scene.
But returning to the man himself, Spike Lee, this might be one of his best
directed films, despite a few odd choices in cutting. A far fling from his
earlier movies, which were filled with the idea of confronting the viewer
with the anger and hatred in the world, this film, much like Inside
Man, focuses more on the good things that unify us all and not the evil.
Lee presents his scenes in a crisp, straightforward way that lends the film
far more power than it should have given its shortcomings, and if there is
one thing this film and Spike Lee are good at delivering it’s power.
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