I'm Not Gonna Lie 03.30.08: Some Madness in March

Posted by Nick Wallander on 03.30.2008

Let's get a little warm and fuzzy about underdogs and prison escapees...

How's it going faithful readers? This week I bring you a couple short essays in a different tone than normal, but a change of pace never hurt, right? Okay, so it can hurt, but this is only an internet column, so your emotional attachment to it should be limited. One would hope that it would be..

Just an observation…


As I watch Western Kentucky doing its best to take down UCLA, I can't help but admire the Hilltoppers. Sure, they might very well be in the process of making my bracket as useful as toilet paper, but a guy can't help but root for them at the same time. And that, my friends, is exactly why we love the month of March. This is the one time a year where real life is almost guaranteed to imitate the movies at least once as an underdog prevails. You don't even have to be a fan of college basketball to appreciate this since it is a natural joy for us to see the improbable happen right before our eyes.

Seriously, though, who doesn't love a good underdog story? Whether it be from sports movies like "Rocky" and "Hoosiers" or other movies like "October Sky" and "Die Hard", there is nothing quite like rooting for the main character to overcome the odds. That kind of effect and feeling is nearly a lost art nowadays. If you ask me, it is very rare to get involved in a movie today, especially to the point where you want to see the protagonist kick some ass. I can think back to the first time I watched "Hoosiers" as a kid and remember how I was literally on my feet cheering as Jimmy Chitwood took that final shot. Now I must ask myself "Where is that excitement, today?"

Anyways, it looks like Western Kentucky isn't going to pull off the upset after all. I am relieved because my bracket was relying on them to lose, but there was a point while watching the final few minutes where I was cool with the idea of them winning. I enjoyed the drama behind the game and the tension that seemed to be emanating through the television. It was honestly a better story than most of what I had watched on television earlier in the week. That is such an interesting feat since there were no writers or overpaid stars dictating what was happening on that basketball court. These were real kids just doing what they loved. Being a fan, we care about these games because we see that the players care as well. Whether or not we even follow the school we are rooting for there is a subtle emotional investment we didn't even realize was there. That, my friends, is exactly what I look for in a movie, book, or television show. I want to feel some kind of connection. Honestly though, it seems like those opportunities come few and far between these days, so one has to just go ahead and savor the moment.

With that I need to make a plea to Hollywood on behalf of anyone who agrees with me. So, Hollywood, please for the love of all that is awesome, give us more Jimmy Chitwoods. Give us some characters to get behind and care about like you used to do so majestically in a time not so long ago. Make us stand up and cheer again. Make us get excited every time the movie plays on basic cable and to the point where we can quote it from verbatim. Make us want to live the moment we are watching. That's not too much to ask, is it?

In defense of "Prison Break"

"Prison Break" was renewed by FOX this week for its fourth season. You may have seen that the renewal's story came up in this week's "Fact or Fiction" column. I was honestly a little surprised with the reaction by my fellow columnists here on 411. It wasn't what I would quite call warm, or even at room temperature for that matter. However, I can cut the guys a break, since neither of them has ever watched the show, so the question at hand was kind of loaded. Of course you wouldn't be pleased to hear of the show's renewal if you hadn't ever seen it before. I, however, have seen the show and I can't be more excited. So,with that, I would love to present my defense of a show I consider one of the most exciting on television.

I'm not gonna lie, folks. "Prison Break" might not be the best show on television, but it sure as hell knows how to keep a guy's attention. Each week I manage to be more surprised as to how the show managed to stretch a concept that would normally be relegated to a two-hour movie into two and a half seasons of high paced drama. Yes, I have been smitten by this show, but I should come clean and admit that I was initially a skeptic on it being anything remotely resembling good television. It looked a little too gimmicky for my liking, but then I gave it a shot on DVD one day. That's when my perception changed.

First and foremost, one has to appreciate the legitimate attempt at character development that the writers of "Prison Break" have brought to the table since the first episode. I appreciate this because the show may be a little farfetched at times, but at least we are able to understand the motives behind the plot. Speaking of these characters, they all manage to be very likable, despite the fact that some of them are technically human scum. Even the murderous T-bag (Robert Knepper) has a charm to him that is virtually unrivaled in the world of television. He's a shady killer, but you can't help but watch to see what he'll do next. To me, that is a compelling dynamic for the common television viewer, and nearly enough on its own to make "Prison Break" worth watching.

The second reason to watch "Prison Break" is the basic storytelling of the series. Honestly, there is no good reason that the show should still be running strong going into a fourth season. The story should have been simple: Guys are in jail, then they plan to break out, and then they finally break out. In another time, the show would have been an open and shut case, yet it is still going. A season on the run followed by an ironic plot twist involving a Panamanian prison made for a thrill ride I did not expect. Add on top of that the fact that nobody seems safe from being killed off and you have yourself a pretty well rounded storyline. (Or at least I think so)

One final bit to support the cause that "Prison Break" is worth getting excited about would have to be the great performances by members of the cast. First and foremost credit needs to go to Robert Knepper who has me utterly convinced that he has spent some time in his life as a rapist killer. Yet, he balances his demented character with enough suave charisma that even your grandmother could be fooled into liking him. Then there is the gritty performance by William Fichtner as the drug addicted FBI agent, Alex Mahone. Fichtner's character is a portrait of a man who is torn between his professional responsibilities and family, all the while harboring a dirty little secret. Wentworth Miller isn't too shabby as well. His performance as Michael Scofield will make you forget he ever did those guest stints on the WB's "Popular". I can honestly believe that Michael is a genius capable of mentally dissecting any person or situation in front of him. Rounding out my favorite members of the cast is Wade Williams as prison guard Brad Bellick, who without a doubt has become a sort of a scene stealer. Bellick is a character that is kind of an asshole, but you like him because he'll do whatever it takes to get the job done. Williams provides much needed comic relief in this role. Overall, these guys also have great on screen chemistry together, which should continue for at least one more year.

There you have it, faithful readers of 411. That was my make-shift defense of "Prison Break" and my cheap ass attempt to get at least someone out there excited that it is being picked up for one more season.

QUICK HITS

- Keenan Thompson was with a friend a few days ago who happened to get arrested for possession of marijuana. One might immediately think that maybe the friend was Kel Mitchell, who probably has smoked his share of the reefer. However, in this case, it was some guy named Kyle Mosley. When I started reading this story, I really did hope Kel was with him because that was how I always imagined their show on Nickelodeon would end.

- Google the new "X-files" movie trailer. It is worth passing a few minutes of your time.

- The more I see previews for the movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", the more I want to see it. Kristen Bell is flat out awesome on her own, but adding the Apatow crew to the mix can't hurt the cause.

- There were stories floating around the net about the creation of a new line of movie theaters that would be considered to be plush compared to the current standard. These new "gold class cinemas" would feature smaller theaters with recliner like seating and a pimped out sound system. The early talk is that it could cost somewhere around $40 per ticket for this experience. Yeah, I don't see this one working out. The DVD should never be less expensive than the damn movie itself. Common sense won't prevail here since the first theater of this type is set to go up in the greater Chicago area (Which is appropriate since it cost over $27 for a large pizza and some cheese sticks this weekend while I was visiting that same area).

- In a move that doesn't really affect me in any way, the daytime Emmys will be adding a category for court TV shows. I chuckled a bit when I read that since I can recall watching hours of those shows while unemployed last summer. One would hope that the voting for this category can be done by stay at home mothers and trailer trash. It will be amusing to see Judge Maria Lopez accept her award for being a cranky bitch.

- I'd like to give a shout out to Doc Ratman, who left me a great idea for a new banner to add to the top of the column. Doc suggested that I go with the catchphrase "Balls to the Wall", which I think is a brilliant little idea. I am going to go about and do it, but I need to find the right software to throw together a photo shopped masterpiece that sums this column up. Any suggestions on the direct I should take this?