This one is better than 'Miami Vice' was, though.  Better by a mile.

I'm talking about 'The Departed' - Martin Scorcese's new joint.  This one is a classic.  Yes, as good as 'GoodFellas'.  With a cast that reads like a man's man locker room list of cinematic players, and a script that has multiple layers and twists that catch you guessing, Marty's returned to greatness after a few sputters with films like 'Gangs of New York'.

Never been a huge fan of Matt Damon for his acting skill, but I gotta day, the dude's got chops in this film.  Ditto for Alec Baldwin - he's made some turds in recent years - but returns to bit part gold, giving a similar but humorously wry performance as Damon's boss.  Leo DiCaprio is good as well and delivers.  Matrin Sheen joins the party too and is a decent addition.

All hail King Jack though.  The dude is class and one of the best in a generation at what he does.  He does throw a punch and fire a bullet here and there, but he brings it as a bad guy and is violent as they come below the surface without being overstated.  Nicholson is the centerpiece of this film, as he should be - and his performace is worth every cent he is paid and for every second he appears on screen.

I'd be remiss to mention the cinematic greatness that is Scorcese.  He uses shadows and color brilliantly to accentuate the evil that is Nicholson's Frank Costello.  As usual, his use of music is spot on and carries or adds to the scenes the tracks are used in.

Brush up on your Boston Irish spoken accents though - almost like listening to Cockney or some other English dialect variant, these actors deliver some lines with New England brogue.  Being a leprachaun myself, I loved every minute of this 'GoodFellas' for the Irish (read:  this is an Irish mob movie).  But, having your Irish card punched certainly isn't a requirement to understand or enjoy this film.

Nuff said - go see the next mob classic.

The film had more a Caribbean feel and less Miami vibe than I was expecting as well - but maybe growing up a kid in South Florida left me wanting more than the other moviegoers this weekend.  Jamie Foxx was good, if underused.  Colin Farrell was passable, and lacked the intensity just below the surface Don Johnson exhibited in the television version, and perhaps the Crockett character should have regardless of the size of screen. 

Guy toys were great - Ferraris, Bentleys, Donzi 'go fast' boats, guns and more.     

All in all, a good movie.  Maybe I was expecting bigger and better things from Mann, after flicks like 'Heat' and 'Collateral'.  With the money 'Vice' made, he's gotta be a happy guy come Monday.

Fall greatness - saw the trailer for Martin Scorcese's new flick, 'The Departed'.  Looks like a great flick with a great cast. 

The writing is greatness, but without great execution this role would likely be half baked (no knock on the NYC boys extracurricular habits, either) without the acting genius that is Jeremy Piven.  I've liked his work in ensemble roles in a bunch of movies over the years, but this guy has hit his stride in this role.  Some of the zingers he rolls off are priceless - and its hard to think of another actor who could pull it off. 

Here's hoping that Piven pulls down the Emmy Award for this role this year. 

Check out 'Entourage' - you won't be disappointed.

Grew up in Miami when the Heat first became an NBA franchise - and those were dark and dreary days.  Can you say Rony Seikaly?  Hell, its hard to spell, let alone say.

Became a Maverixks fan by proxy living here.

I'm not torn.  Congrats to the Heat, great season Mavs.

The new gadget would be subscription based, featuring all you can eat music streaming and download.  Hmm - as David Spade used to say in The Hollywood Minute back in the day on SNL - 'I liked that the first time i saw it... when it was called Yahoo! Music Unlimited.'  Key difference here is that, like Apple, they would own the entire calue chain - from device to service, to consumer. 

Good luck to the gang in Redmond - toppling the 300 pound portable music gorilla is bound to happen - question is when and by whom.

Go Mavericks.

The writing is great, the comedy excellent and witty.  Whether you're a guy who used to roll around with similar friends in high school or college - or a girl who knew some clowns like us - I feel it is entertaining for all. 

One caveat - the show is fairly Hollywood-centric, and features a ton of walk on and cameo performances (one recent episode featured James Cameron and Mandy Moore, Mark Wahlberg, who exec produces, has been on a few as well). 

Give it a look - you'll laugh - especially at 'Turtle'.

Wow.  Are we trying to be a third world nation on purpose?  With leadership like this, we don't need terrorists - we'll simply implode.

I'll say/type this s-l-o-w, so those of all political persuasions who might be reading understand.

There is only one politician on the planet less intellectually gifted and lacking more common sense than the one currently occupying the West Wing and Oval Office - and he 'governs' (and I use that term oh so loosely) the State of Florida.  Elect him at your own risk. 

I am still amazed at what appears to be the collective lack of vision and refusal to hold politicians accountable by the voting public.  Get a clue folks.

Office Space - the movie.  Classic.  Watched it again this weekend. 

You remember Lundberg.  And Michael Bolton.

But what about Lawrence?  The next door apartment complex neighbor.  The dude who was 'hanging drywall at the new McDonald's in Las Colinas'.  Greatness.  Some of the more classic lines in the movie, for my money.  Nice mullet, too.

This modern day office parody is pure gold.  Even if you didn't like some of the other cultural greatness from Dallas' own Mike Judge (see 'King of the Hill', 'Beavis and Butthead (ok - not so much there)), this film is his best work.  Check it out.  

Judge wrote some classic lines in this film - sad thing is, I've heard them myself and from some friends in various corporate cultures, which is really scary.  Take this nugget of genius - remember the banner hanging over the cubicle area in the film - white one that says 'Ask yourself - Is this good for the company?'  Mmmm yeah - still in place today in many offices. 

And don't forget - Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.

Seems to me Dell is heading in the wrong direction on pricing and strategy.