Author Archives: Rich

Trip to LA

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Kara is ready for our trip to LA. Just me and the dog will be there tonight through Monday for a friend’s 40th bday and the final regular season Kings game, which is hopefully not their last game this season. Don’t let me down guys. #GoKingsGo

Great Tutorial on Headlight Restoration

I’ve seen a lot of tutorials on YouTube for headlight restoration, but this one is, by far, the best, most comprehensive one and it still manages to be fairly brief. Gonna be doing this on the S2000 and MDX this week. Just make sure you have a good random orbital polisher or sander, such as my Porter Cable 7424 XP, if you go with the professional method.

My Own Damn Movie Awards for 2014

Another year, another list of my favorites…

10 Best Pictures of 2014

  1. Nightcrawler (Best Picture, Best Screenplay)Nightcrawler Movie Poster
  2. Snowpiercer
  3. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Best Director)
  4. Joe
  5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  6. Whiplash
  7. The LEGO Movie
  8. Interstellar (Best Visual, Best Sound)
  9. The One I Love
  10. Babadook

Notable others include American SniperThe DoubleEdge of TomorrowEnemyGone GirlGuardians of the GalaxyThe Imitation Game, Inherent ViceLocke, A Most Violet YearObvious ChildSelmaThe Theory of Everything, and Under the Skin.

Best Actress

  1. Rosamund Pike – Gone GirlNightcrawler Movie Poster
  2. Elisabeth Moss – The One I Love
  3. Essie Davis – Babadook
  4. Tilda Swinton – Snowpiercer
  5. Jessica Chastain – Interstellar & A Most Violet Year
  6. Julianne Moore – Still Alice
  7. Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
  8. Jenny Slate – Obvious Child

Best Actor

  1. Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler & EnemyNightcrawler Movie Poster
  2. Nicholas Cage – Joe
  3. J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
  4. Michael Keaton – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
  5. Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
  6. Bradley Cooper – American Sniper
  7. Christ Evans – Snowpiercer
  8. Oscar Isaac – A Most Violet Year

Early 2014 brought some great movies like Joe and The LEGO Movie. I was certain Snowpiercer was going to be the flick to beat. Blockbusters like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Edge of Tomorrow surprised me how good they could be. Smaller films were out in force again with The Double, Enemy, and The One I Love, which was just such a treat. For me, though, one did stand above them all.

Nightcrawler immerses you into a dark and thrilling Los Angeles nightscape that’s threatening, yet hard to leave. Gyllenhaal’s transformative performance guides you through the shadowy and dangerous alleyways, proving again why he’s the most under appreciated actor today. It’s neo-noir that, unlike most modern noir, you watch for more than just the styling. Although lightless, it’s never dreary or grueling, and when it’s done, Nightcrawler is a world you’ll want to revisit again and again.