The Writer's Life 9/16 - Analytics

I've now seen all the 2013 nominees for the Best Picture Oscar except for two that don't interest me. Here's how I rank them:
Captain Phillips - tense and exciting.   
Gravity - the most surprising. Beautifully shot, short and to the point.
American Hustle - probably one of those types of movies that get better with each viewing.
Her - challenging and unique.   
Nebraska - also out of the mainstream. It too might improve with each viewing.
12 Years a Slave - one-note film.
The Wolf of Wall Street - hated it. Should have been titled The Worst of Wall Street. Characters are so unlike most of the traders I knew.
Dallas Buyers Club - since we are now compelled to not only tolerate but approve of gay life, I now boycott films with gay themes.
Philomena - seems like feminist twaddle.
Here's a list of 2013 films I enjoyed as much if not more than the nominees.
The Book Thief - loved it. Tapped into the sentimental old fool in me.
A Single Shot - bleak, gritty thriller.
Prisoners - gut-wrenching. Best ending of the year.
August: Osage County - family super-dysfunction made compelling by a great cast.
World War Z - atypical zombie flick, more a thriller than gory shock-fest.
Lone Survivor - crisp action.
Inside Llewyn Davis - another unconventional film by the Coen brothers. Not their best but interesting
As I Lay Dying - wouldn't say it's good, but a tip of the cap for having the audacity to adapt Faulkner's work, which couldn't have been easy.

Here's one of the strangest sports headlines ever: "Tanaka Pitches Five Scoreless Innings in Simulated Game." Why not simply say he looked sharp and felt fine after the test? Whoever came up with the caption must be a die-hard Yankees fan desperate for good news in what has been a disappointing season. The franchise has millions tied up in that talented right arm and is no doubt suffering extreme anxiety regarding its health.

The most interesting development in week two of the NFL season is the possibility that San Diego has shown the rest of the league how to attack the vaunted Seattle defense.

Hockey gets complicated: According to an article at Yahoo Sports, several NHL teams are following a new theory, using advanced stats -- analytics -- as a guide. It revolves around strategies to increase puck possession. Someone figured out that the most successful teams dominate time of possession.

The floating book shop opened an hour later than usual due to lingering sprinkles, yet earned more than it does on an average day. My first two customers bought books to take to Florida. Thanks, gentlemen, and to all the others who made purchases.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/