Top 10 Films of 2019

So here’s the thing…I just got done tabulating all of the new films that came out this year (2019) that I was fortunate enough to see…and it barely cracked 10 movies. Wow…just…wow. I’ve never had that happen before. I mean, looking back at 2019 it makes sense. I started a new job that made me work ungodly hours, the kiddo is now a toddler so that takes up a lot of free time, and things kept popping up that would get in the way of me being able to make it to a theater.

Also, I didn’t really want to go see a new movie at the theater besides a handful of them. Why is that? I loooovveee the experience of the theater. I go to a theater that does an amazing job of keeping distractions out (on top of great food and A/V quality.) I think this year I just got lazy about it. But that is changing in 2020; I got plans…oh do I got plans.

But anywhoooo, let’s dive in to the list, shall we? Do know, the list is severely lacking w/indie and critical darlings and I sincerely apologize for that. Don’t worry, my plans in 2020 rectify that. Here we go!

10 – Klaus (Written/Directed by Sergio Pablos)
Ok, this one, I had no idea about. Seriously. Didn’t even know it existed. I assume there had been some sort of trailer for it in the Youtube-sphere, but it never came across my radar. But on a random day where all of the family was home, we were scrolling Netflix and this little ditty popped up as a recommendation. We figured, why not, it could be background noise if we fall asleep. Cut to an hour and a half later and we’re applauding. The music, the voice acting, the jokes, the animation…oh the animation! This film grabbed me from the get-go and has earned a spot on my permanent Christmas movie rotation!

• 

9 – Shazam (Dir. by David F. Sandberg)
I was pretty excited for this one. The character has always interested me in the comics (when used correctly) and the announcment of Zachary Levi (shout out to any Nerd Herders out there!) sealed it for me. What surprised me the most about this film is that while it was an origin story (again), it focused on the origin of a family, not just a specific superhero. The childlike warmth that Levi brought to Shazam was phenomenal and played a great counterpoint to the over the top villain that Mark Strong was bringing (which I loved honestly, it really set up the more outlandish elements of the DCEU.)

8 – Toy Story 4 (Dir. by Josh Cooley)
I wasn’t sure if I wanted another Toy Story to be honest. I mean, TS3 finished on such a perfect note, that another sequel might sully that (heh, see what I did there?) What else was there to tell? Well, apparently a lot. While TS3 may have been the end of Andy’s story with his toys, it wasn’t the end of the story for Woody. It was a fitting end for the sheriff and I’m so grateful we got to see it. Also, hands down, this is the best and most cinematic looking Pixar movie yet.

7 – Us (Dir. by Jordan Peele)
Ever since seeing Get Out, I’ve been jonesing for another Jordan Peele mind bender (I would already be getting that if I had the CBS streaming service with his reimagining of The Twilight Zone, but daddy don’t have that kinda money.) I was especially pumped for this once the cast was announced; Lupita Nyong’o is a never ending fountain of talent and Winston Duke killed it in Black Panther. While watching, I watched every frame carefully, knowing Peele likes to be very deliberate in everything he shows (and specifically doesn’t show.) And everything that gets set up in the beginning, pays off in the end, and it is just pure cinema magic. Trust me, you’ll never look at “Hands Across America” the same ever again.

6 – Spider-Man: Far From Home (Dir. by Jon Watts)
Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man is, hands down, one of the best casting choices Kevin Fiege and the MCU have ever made. Holland just gets how to balance Parker/SM and how to portray the struggles a lower, middle-class kid from Brooklyn goes through. Taking Spider-Man away from New York was bold choice but one that pays off so well, especially with the addition of Nick Fury and Maria Hill along for the ride. And Jake Gyllanhal brings us one of the best MCU villains to date in Mysterio; visually stunning, with motivations that are understandable and layered (it literally brings together so many threads from the MCU’s past, it’s insane.)

5 – John Wick 3 (Dir. by Chad Stahelski)
This is the franchise I never want to see come to an end; I want to keep seeing how much more John Wick can suffer. Picking up mere seconds after the end of John Wick 2, this is a chase film where Wick has almost no resources and must somehow survive all of the world’s top assassins after him. The fight choreography, cinematography, and world-building continue to amaze. Ending with a twist that sets up (what I am sure is going to be a brutal) fourth film, this franchise should keep going until Keanu says no more…and hopefully that won’t be for a long, long time.

4 – Booksmart (Dir. by Olivia Wilde)
Ok, this film is hilarious. I’ve had to watch it twice because there are so many rapid fire jokes that I missed half of them the first time. While watching, it gave off strong Superbad vibes for me, which is awesome cause I freaking love that film too. However, while there can be some similairties found between the two, this film is much more touching and a bit tighter of a film. There’s no real fluff, it’s just great character moments, a story that keeps moving at a good pace, and so many jokes…so many good jokes. The two leads, Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, are going to be huge in the future and this film will be where it started for them. And oh my god, Billie Lord (yes, daughter of Princess Leia herself) steals every scene she is in. I want a spin-off of just her.

3 – Long Shot (Dir. by Jonathan Levine)
Ok, this was the dark horse film I alluded to on social media a few days ago. I did not expect anything of this film, heck, I didn’t even know if I was going to try and watch it, like ever. But I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!!! Now, here’s the thing; I enjoy Seth Rogen, but I don’t love Seth Rogen. I feel when he’s kept on a shorter leash and doesn’t go super-improv, he’s pretty damn funny. Well, actually, I think it’s when he’s not in a Judd Apatow movie; all the roles he’s played outside of the Apatow flicks have been great, so maybe it’s more of an Apatow bias. But I was curious on how Rogen would do in a rom-com with my celebrity crush Charlize Theron (fell in love with her during Mad Max: Fury Road and have been repping her ever since.) While I knew the film was in capable hands with Levine at the help (seriously, go see 50/50, the man is a damn good director) I didn’t know if Rogen and Theron would have any chemistry. But they do, they have sooooo much chemistry. Because of how well they play off of each other, you buy in to the burgeoning romance between the two and you get the happy ending in only the way a Seth Rogen feature could give it.

2 – Knives Out (Dir. by Rian Johnson)
I was very curious as to what Johnson would do next after having directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the best Star Wars film ever (FIGHT ME!) and I had an inkling it would be a smaller affair, but I didn’t expect an Agatha Christie “whodunit” throw back! Stacked to the brim with an amazing cast and a script that just pops, everyone in this picture is having a blast, especially Det. Benoit Blanc himself, Daniel Craig. Filled with twists and turns, Johnson packs this film with so many big and small moments that it’s impossible to not smile the whole 2 hour run time. I pray to the cinema gods that we get several more entries in to the adventures of Det. Blanc, because by golly, we need some goodness in this dark, dark world. (P.S. That knit sweater though…MVP of the whole movie.)

1 – Avengers: Endgame (Dir. by The Russo Brothers)
Let’s be honest, there wasn’t really any other chance of another film taking this top spot. This movie is what I’ve been waiting for since 2006 when it was announced that Jon Faverau was directing Iron Man. This was the culmination of everything that came before it and paid off on everything…and I mean everything. I wept, I laughed, I cheered, I wept some more…when I finished, I was physically and emotionally drained because I had experienced so much. And just like the lore it’s based on, they made sure to set up threads for future stories throughout, so more fun adventures await our friends in tights. And if you didn’t shed a tear with that closing shot of Steve Rogers, I believe you are dead inside.

“I can do this all day…”

Welp, that’s my top 10 for 2019! If you want to see what other “Best of…” lists I’m cooking up, follow me over at Letterboxd and search for “theoey” and there I’ll be. Let me know your thoughts!

Keepin’ it Geeky,

Average Joe

The holiday season took a dark turn…

So this holiday season I’ve been focused on just making it through the insanity. The job I took on this year gets extremely busy for about 6 weeks out of the year; holiday season means 6 day work weeks, 13 hour (minimum) workday, upwards to 15 miles a day walked…so yeah, it’s pretty intense.

However, that position that was demanding so much of me this time of year…was eliminated. That’s right, my job was being cut, and therefore, would be jobless. As of last Friday, I am a Man with No Job.

And it’s been a crazy, emotional rollercoaster in the days since. But! I’m not letting this keep me down. I’m looking at the silver lining of all of this. For starters, my boss?…not good. Not having to work for that guy anymore is a big relief. He consistently failed me throughout my time there; don’t get me wrong, he’s alright dude. But his leadership style? His follow through? His execution? All lacking. He’s the type of person who reads leadership books and attempts to apply the content and fails miserably. I mean, there’s a reason there’s a lot of associates that leave his department and it’s not the job…it’s him.

Other positives? I get some extra time around the holidays with family. I’m taking the kiddo to daycare and cooking meals for the fam, having play time in the evening since I’m not super tired from work. My weekends are going to be spent with my folks, watching football, and helping them with renovation projects at their place. And I also have time to finally work on some hobbies I’ve been neglecting (this blog, the podcast, my screenplays, etc.)

Are there downsides? Of course! Once Cobra runs out, I’ll be without insurance (the family plan at my wife’s job is insanely expensive and isn’t feasible.) The kiddo was on my insurance and we’ll be shifting him over to the wife’s plan, which isn’t cost friendly but it’s still much cheaper than the family plan. I’ll be rocking the “no insurance” title until I get back to work. And the loss of steady income hurts, a bunch. We’ve made some cuts (and will be making future cuts) and I’ll have unemployment (thank god) to help a bit, but the sooner I can get some income back the better. Plus, my pride took a hit. Having your position eliminated is never fun and no matter the circumstance, you feel like crap.

BUT I WILL NOT STAY THAT WAY FOREVER! I have a plan!

The “Plan”

So what is the plan? Well, I’m glad you’re asking unattached voice (I’m not talking to myself already, I swear!) Well the plan consists of a 3 Pronged approach, it’s my “Trident of Success” if you will.

I am focusing on 3 key areas that will keep me focused and prevent me from succumbing to my anxiety/depression/etc. The prongs are as follows:
– Career Health
– Mental Health
– Physical Health
I’m gonna break down each one for ya. Check it…

Career Health

Alright, this is the most obvious (and by far the important.) Getting back to work needs to happen sooner rather than later. However, the short term focus may be on getting income, the long term focus is finding the next step in my career. So how do I figure that out?
– Start with research on career fields, see what tickles my fancy
– Review what steps I would need to take to get there; do I need to get some schooling done? Could I get the skills through a “bootcamp” or Udemy course? Would it be worth it? Do I have skills/experience now that could be considered relevant/transferrable?
– Use resources available at my disposal to guide me. That includes books like What Color is My Parachute?, my local library, and career fairs.
– Use my network and peers for guidance on what steps I should take and figuring out if they are the best ones for me
– Apply for at least 6 jobs a day; each app needs to be specific to that job so it’s not something quick and easy to do.

Mental Health

If I don’t keep my head straight, I’ll fall in to a deep, dark depression that is amplified by my unhealthy anxiety. That monster is a beast that is always on my back; I’ll never be able to truly slay it but I can control it. So the things I do in this prong need to succeed or my mental health will negatively impact the other prongs. (I just realized I’m going to be saying “prong” a lot with this whole trident analogy.)

Here’s what I’m doing for my mental health.
– Do something creative for at least one hour per day. It can be anything; trying my hand at drawing, working on a screenplay, putting out another podcast episode, etc. It just needs to engage my creative side and it has to be a minimum of an hour.
– Of the daily creativity, there needs to be at least 2 blog posts a week and 1 podcast episode a week. This non-negtioable. So luck you, you’ll be seeing way more content on here.
– If there is a way to do it, try and go to therapy. It may be group stuff, but something to at least keep me focused on overcoming and coping w/my depression and anxiety.
– Write at least 1 page a day on one of my screenplays. Think about it; a page a day will mean I have a feature length script (90 pages) in 90 days. Then I can say “I did it!” and start the revision process. After revisions, maybe submit them to some festivals.
– Complete 2 chores at home a day. That could be something as simple as making the bed to something as big as re-organizing the garage. As long as 2 chores are done, we good.
– Watch at least 3 movies a week; this is an important one for me. Over the last year, my movie watching consumption has slowed to a trickle and that bothers me. Nothing beats the experience of seeing a new favorite or a classic guilty pleasure. Plus, I’m so over watching PJ Masks with the kiddo….I need something more.

Physical Health

I mentioned the therapy above, but one of the easiest ways to impact my mental health is by getting my physical health in check.
– Work out for 30 minutes every other day; start on Sunday, continue on Tue, Thur, and Sat. Get my burn on.
– Change my daily food intake; I could easily just pig out each day I’m home and say “I’ll get healthier in the new year.” But the chances are I won’t. So may just start now and avoid the resolution issue all together? I’m thinking of giving the “Slow Carb” diet from Tim Ferriss’s The 4 Hour Body a try.
– Sign up for a 5k for Feb. This will motivate me to do the Couch to 5K program again.
– Sign up for a Half Century bike ride for next fall. Same as the 5k, this will get me back on the bike.
– Eat more greens. You know they say a colorful plate is a healthy plate 🙂

Tying it all together…

So I gotta find a way to tie this all together. I’m working on making a daily habit tracker that will keep my daily/weekly/monthly tasks in order. I know, I know, there are a bunch of notebooks and methods for that out there, but none really clicked for me. So I’m trying to develop one that works for me and gives me the flexibility I’m looking for.

So that’s it, that’s the “Trident of Success”. I feel very confident that my plan of attack will lead to the success (personally and professionally) I’m looking for. We’ll see…I’ll keep ya in the loop every step of the way.

Keep it Geeky,

Average Joe

Changes to​ this page are coming!

There are some big changes coming soon! I have to finish getting everything in order but this week you’ll notice new things and projects I’ve been working on. I’m beyond excited and you’ll be seeing a lot more activity here because of it.

Also, be expecting to see my “Top 10 Films of 2017” list coming soon (here’s a look back at my list for 2016 

Till then,

Keepin’ it Geeky,

Joe

Fall Games (I like sports!)

Ok, so I’ve been a lifelong sports fan. No surprise there. However, my excitement for certain sports kind of ebbs and flows depending on a multitude of variables. Are we competitive this year? Is there a particular player I’m excited about (oh Jimmy Gobble, how I miss thee)? Have I/will I be able to attend any games? Is there any new storylines throughout the season? The list goes on. Some years I’m overflowing with excitement for some sports, other years I keep a passing interest.

There have been some constants; win or lose, I’m invested in how the KC Royals do. I try my hardest to attend at least one Sporting KC game a season. I make it a point to receive updates on the Chiefs. I’ll always keep myself involved in KU bball. Yet, of the four I’ve mentioned, KU, SKC, and the Royals are the only ones who I have consistent rabid interest in, year over year. That will continue, but this fall, some other sports have (for some reason) come forward as my main focus during the cold months.

Since the NBA championship of 2015, I’ve gotten back in to NBA ball. I think that has a lot to do with where I was while that series was going on. The Golden State Warriors were on their way to winning their first title in years w/Steph Curry leading the charge. I was actually in San Francisco and Oakland at the time for work. So when I was done for work for the day, I made it a point to head to a bar or restaurant where the place would be packed with Warriors fans. It was a bit awkward at first; I was usually walking in wearing a Royals hat or shirt and the previous World Series was won by the Giants over my Royals in Game 7…in KC. I thought at first I would get razed pretty hard and eventually they would forget about it. Turns out, I was wrong. In a good way.

The first night I went to watch a game I found a high top table, kept my head down, ordered some nachos and beer, and prayed I would be left alone. 5 minutes later, I get a tap on the shoulder, and the following chat happened:

Me: Yeah?

Stranger 1: You from KC?

Me: Uhm, yeah, just in town for work…

Stranger 2: Cool! We went to KC for the WS and just gotta say, you guys are a great fanbase! And the town was pretty awesome!
(Side note: In San Fran, KC is considered a “town”, not a city)

Me: Thanks…(cautious, waiting for the razing to start)

Stranger 1: While we’re glad our Giants won, we’re pulling for you guys this year! You guys deserve a title!

Stranger 2: Let us buy you a beer!

And the night continued to be a great time of us cheering for the Warriors, reflecting on the best moments of the 2014 WS, and bonding on how much we all hated Joe Buck. Sadly, I don’t recall their names, otherwise I would have made it a point to stay in contact. The reason I bring this particular story up is because I realized something that night with the Warriors fanbase; they were a lot like the us. For a long stretch of time they had struggles and embarrassments. They would see hope and then have it squandered away. Then, some “young bucks” get on the team with a new coach (Mr. Steve Kerr, my 2nd favorite Bull of all time) and there is a sudden culture change. An air of positivity is surrounding the team. And finally, they are in the Finals competing for a championship. I could relate, especially in 2015.

Since then, my interest for the NBA has come back. I mean, in the early to mid 90s, pro bball was my jam! I was a Jordan fanatic (I still have my red Jordan jersey!) and I could not get enough of the Bulls. But once Jordan retired for a 2nd time(!), I started to walk away from the sport. There was this time where I thought there wasn’t anyone for me to follow. Even when Jordan came back for a 2nd time(!), I couldn’t enjoy it. He was a shell of his former self. I mean, yeah, he’d have flashes of brilliance, but it wasn’t the high-flying, tongue-wagging Jordan of yesteryear. His best days were far behind him and I just couldn’t enjoy it. He finally retired (for real!) after the 2003 season and I too stepped away from the game. Even the arrival of “King James” didn’t bring me back; heck, it probably pushed me further away from the game. Everyone was claiming how he was the heir apparent to the throne Jordan had vacated years ago and it just made me mad. “How dare they say that! There can be and will be only one His Airness!” I would scream at the commentators on Sportscenter.

Then when Lebron bolted Ohio for Florida I knew then I would never enjoy pro ball again. The era of the “Super Team” was upon us. Boston did it, Miami did it…hell, last year Golden State did and now OKC has done it. Yeah, the Spurs and Mavericks were the anomalies who found success by just having great coaching and good all-around teams, but most championships were going to whoever could sign the biggest all-stars. And another thing…wait, I’m gonna save that for another post at another time.

Where was I? Oh yeah, San Francisco 2015. After having spent some time with those fans and being reminded how fun cheering for an NBA team can be, I started following again. I was in an interesting position because while I did feel a slight connection to the Warriors, I really didn’t have a team I could call “mine.” So I would watch or keep tabs of games that had interesting matchups or fascinating storylines. During the playoffs I would be watching for a great series from both teams rather than picking sides. Then when the 2016 Finals ended and the Cavs finally earned that first ring, I realized I gotta start picking a team. Because I saw how amazing it was as a Warriors fan to win a title (and experienced as a Royals fan when they took the WS in 2015), I knew I needed to find a fanbase I could connect with. But who? Do I want to stick with the Warriors since I kind of already have a connection to them? Do I give Lebron a chance in his twilight years? Do I invest in “the process” in Philly and cheer on the young upstarts they got over there (where KU is represented)? I’m not sure. But I will say by the All Star break I hope to have it figured out.

What other sport has caught my interest? Well, Cycling of course…

What, no one believes that a big guy like me can enjoy a sport like cycling? Why I outta…ah, forget it. Back on track.

I don’t remember what exactly got me interested in cycling. I know part of it was my sis-in-law who does triathlons so that’s part of it. I just remember I found an old bike in my shed and I started tinkering with it, trying to get it back in to riding condition. I started doing research on what I needed to do and I fell in to a YouTube hole on cycling. Several hours later, I was overflowing with information about the sport and bicycles. I learned about things like Trek bikes, “sportives”, and a “peloton.” I was blown away by the fact that cycling can be a team sport and that there is a ton of strategy involved. I ended up going and watching replays of this year’s Tour de France and would get lost in the spectacle of it. So now I’m all in. I plan on devouring the rest of the UCI season, maybe even forking over the money for the NBC Gold package to watch all of the various championships and tours. I’m saving up for a Trek Verve 1. I’m attending cycling classes until then to build up my strength and conditioning. I’m gonna dive in and make some memories.

And with the cycling, I promise I’m going to do as much updating as I can on it. I’ll tweet, I’ll use instagram, Facebook, and this blog to share my ups and downs. I hope that’ll keep me on track for both blogging and riding.

Keepin’ it Geeky,

J

I miss my games… Pt. 1

Before someone becomes a parent for the first time, you never truly appreciate your free time. For realsies. Before our kiddo came, I didn’t understand the amount of time that I had at my disposal. I mean, there were times were I used the free time well but most of the time it was a missed opportunity.

There was one constant though. Board games were a frequent occurrence in my free time. Didn’t have plans after dinner? Let’s play Smash Up! Got a free afternoon? How about Big Trouble in Little China Legendary? Got a whole day free? D&D Temple of Elemental Evil! Our free time always consisted of either a movie (on Bluray or at the theater) or a board game.

That all changed when the kiddo came. And yes, family/friends and every parenting blog/newsletter I read said your free time would disappear, but like many parents it isn’t until that kid is born that the truth of that statement hits you. Don’t get me wrong, this is not me complaining about my kid being a time suck (not true in the slightest), because every second I spend with the kiddo I cherish. But this is me acknowledging that time spent on my hobbies is much harder to come by. It wouldn’t be so hard to find time to do my hobbies with just the kid; throw in jobs that require us to drive 35-40 minutes one way, demanding ungodly hours, and a lot of physical/mental demands, it makes getting home and having a game hit the table the last thing I want to do because A) I just want to sit on the couch and cuddle my kid, B) the kid’s bedtime routine needs to start shortly after we get home, and C) Other home responsibilities usually demand our attention as well.

The wife and I have discussed this at length. We both miss the thrill of a new game or an old favorite hitting the table. We made a promise while we were expecting the kiddo that we would make boardgaming part of our routine so that the little one grows up with table top just being part of everyday life. The community aspect, the critical thinking, the imagination needed to play games…all will be a benefit down the road. So, we are taking steps to put games back in to our daily lives. It’ll require a couple of steps to make it happen. We’ll plan/meal prep more, so we can just grab our dinner and not have to spend most of our evenings cooking. We’ll have the little one at the table with us, taking it all in. My sis will join our many tabletop adventures, as that gives her time to spend with our little one and she can also scratch her boardgame itch. One day out of the week will be a day focused entirely on working on the home so we can have more free time throughout the week.

These changes will allow us to finally hit the table with some of our games we have yet to play since we got them (Star Wars: Rebellion I’m looking at you!) But something even more exciting, it’ll allow us to finally play several games that we’ve been craving to play. What are they? Well, I’m glad you asked….

To Be Continued