Jason Haskins's Blog, page 28

The star-crossed paths of Christopher Meloni and Elias Koteas

Two actors, both who inhabited the world of Dick Wolf produced shows, have been in the business for 30 plus years. It's time to get them in a show together.It's sad to think the paths of detectives Olinsky and Stabler never crossed paths. If they had, it might have been the best hour of television in the history of the medium developed by Philo Farnsworth.
In case you're not familiar with either -- or one -- of these characters, let's cover the basics. Alvin Olinsky, humbly played by Elias Koteas, appeared on the first five seasons of Chicago P.D. Soft-spoken, full of wisdom, stoic, and intense when needed, Olinsky was a throwback cop, sometimes with an unorthodox way of contributing to a case.
Elliot Stabler, portrayed by Christopher Meloni, might be the more recognizable of the two. For 12 seasons, he was part of the Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler team that helped put away the scumbags in the Law and Order: SVU universe.
The Dick Wolf produced dramas of Chicago P.D. and SVU have had a couple of crossover events in the past six years, but by that time Meloni had already left SVU. And even the character of Olinsky (*spoiler alert ahead*) was...
...killed off towards the end of season 5 on Chicago P.D.
A golden opportunity was missed as the two actors passed like ships in the night. This missed opportunity could be easily rectified by placing Meloni and Koteas in a show together.
Olinsky. Stabler. Detectives at large. This fall on NBC.The careers of Meloni and KoteasThese two actors have been on the radar and worked steadily for roughly the past thirty years. Both have been underappreciated in some regards, in not only their dramatic acting but with their comedic chops as well.
Koteas and Meloni were born within a month of each other back in 1961 and both began their acting careers in the late 1980's. In fact, over time, the two have often been confused for one other in the various projects they have participated in. (I, for one, thought it was Koteas in Wet Hot American Summer the first time I saw it.)

In Chicago P.D. and SVU, the subject matter tends not to lend itself much to comedy, understandably. These are formulaic crime dramas, one in which cases are often wrapped up in the span of an hour. Still, both Koteas and Meloni's career began with small parts in television movies, eventually moving on to parts in television shows like Dinosaurs (voiced Spike for 11 episodes) and a four-episode arc on NYPD Blue.
In 1999, he landed the role as Stabler on Law and Order: SVU, appearing in 272 episodes until his exit from the show in 2011. During that time, he also appeared on the critically-acclaimed Oz.
Most recently, Meloni appeared on The Handmaid's Tale.
His comedic side also shined bright over the years. He appeared in Wet Hot American Summer and its follow-up series' on Netflix. Meloni also did three seasons of the show Happy! and was in two of the Harold and Kumar movies. (White Castle and Guantanamo Bay.)
It was here Meloni and Koteas share something else in common, as Koteas, who also had small roles in television and movies at the start of his career, arrived on a grand scale in 1990, playing Casey Jones in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. He was would later reprise the role in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III.
Over the years, Koteas has had roles in such films as The Prophecy, The Thin Red Line, Shutter Island, and Zodiac.
Getting two stalwarts like Koteas and Meloni together on a project would make for intriguing television. The mix of dry humor, the long, disgruntled looks at one another and the fighting crime would indeed be riveting. 
Perhaps a show where they play detectives at a flailing crime agency. And it's set in the 1930's.
Or it doesn't have to be cop-related. Maybe they play a couple of retired guys who open a bar on the beaches of Hawaii. After their highly decorated careers -- both real and fictional -- the two have them have certainly earned it.
Meloni. Koteas. Drinks for two. Coming soon.
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

The trouble with expanding television shows that had an end point

In an ever-growing entertainment landscape, finding the right balance as when to end a show is becoming an increasingly difficult task to master.There is something to be said about ending a series on a good note. Whether it's after one season or ten, the creator(s) of said series desire to tell as many stories of the world they created. I imagine if I were lucky enough to be put in that position, the choice would be a difficult -- but good -- one to have to make.
It's currently not something I have to worry about but as someone who has spent their life watching television, while also wanting to write in that medium, there is plenty of good entertainment to choose from. Content developed for streaming services, cable, and broadcast television is at an all-time high. It's often difficult to keep up with everything -- something I've given up on trying to do -- and it leaves viewers having to pick and choose what to watch and give dedication to more than ever before.
Arguments can be had about the length of a show's run and whether or not it outlasted its shelf life (See: The Walking Dead, Mad Men  or long-running sitcoms like Seinfeld, Friends, or How I Met Your Mother). And even more heated and divisive debates take place over series finales (See: Lost, Game of Thrones, and The Sopranos, for example).
Leaping into a whole other boat is the series devised as a limited series event, usually lasting 6-12 episodes, that are intended to be a self-contained story. Usually in these series', the story is (mostly) summed up in one season, leaving a few dangling threads to be explored by the greater universe of the Internet.
Some, like American Horror Story, appear to be different each season, with a new story set in a new era with new characters. Season 8 tied all the threads together, however, and we found these characters were all in the same universe. True Detective was another like this, loosely tying together events of the third season to the first.
As above-average as the third season was, following up a more-than-okay season two, True Detective might have been a show well-served to be self-contained in one season. The creators behind Sharp Objects are holding firm, so far, to one season, but here are three other shows that easily could have been only one season and still be remembered among the best out there today.Big Little LiesBased off the bestseller by Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies arrived on the scene in the summer of 2017. Led by an all-star cast, this show brought seven episodes of powerful acting, strong writing centered around a mysterious death, wonderful editing and directing and a great soundtrack, including the theme song.

Wrapped within this one season, multiple storylines were woven together, creating a rich tapestry of questions and eventual answers. Viewers were left with a fitting conclusion, despite the women deciding to cover up their crime. There was vindication in what they had to do and one of the things left to viewers imaginations was how the women would deal with their guilt.
Until a second season was ordered, with another seven episodes to explore the women and families of Monterey. Plus, the addition of Meryl Streep joining Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Zoë Kravitz. 
And the second season has been...fine.
The acting is still spectacular. Dern stole the show this season, with Streep elevating the game to a whole new level. I don't think there has been an episode in which I can't believe the other characters haven't pushed HER down the stairs. 
The soundtrack is still solid and the directing has been on point but overall there is something lacking in the story. Maybe it's because we're not trying to solve a mystery as we go along, as in the first season, or the scenes are clipped and short, sometimes bouncing back and forth between characters before we've settled in. While the effect of feeling "jostled" worked well in the first season, it hasn't carried the same weight in season two.
At times, characters and motivations seem underdeveloped, though we've seen more about the lives of Bonnie (Kravitz) and Renata (Dern) this time around, with the focus still on Celeste (Kidman) and Madeline(Witherspoon). Woodley's character Jane, who was more of a focus in season 1, has been more of a hit-and-miss in season 2.
The finale of season 2 is on Sunday night (July 21) so we'll see what happens. I had high hopes for this season but at this point, the luster of season 1 has taken a hit, as this series will now be judged as a whole and the stock has taken a hit. Going to a third season would be a tough sell, especially if the finale of season 2 wraps up the majority of the storylines. (UPDATE: The season 2 finale was perfect, bringing closure for the Monterey 5)Stranger ThingsTo begin with, I don't believe Stranger Things was ever intended to be a "one-off" season, unless it had turned into a massive failure.
I just think it would have still been considered a fantastic show if it was only one season. 
Even now, I wouldn't be too upset if things were left just as they happened with the recently released third season.
Are there answers that need attended to? Yes. Given how things ended, with the season finale "The Battle of Starcourt" that tapped emotional reserves like now other, the imperfect endings for the characters is the perfect ending for viewers. 
Plus, they'll likely never top Hopper's (David Harbour) letter to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) or this scene here between Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo): 

From the beginning, part of the success of Stranger Things has hinged on a nostalgia for the 1980's. This has been part of the fun of the show, though at times the direct homages get to be too much, especially in season 1. Back then, so much had seemingly been taken directly from sci-fi of the 80's that I believed Eleven was going to actually make the bicycles fly over the barricade, just like the kids from E.T.
Season four seems inevitable and I'm sure I'll be there watching, hoping at the beginning that once again the upcoming season will be the last.13 Reasons WhyLet's be upfront here, right away. I have not seen season two of this show nor do I have plans to. 
The first season was gut-wrenching enough, we got the answers about the characters we needed, and life in that world was fractured but finding ways to move on.
Plus, the focus of the show, suicide, is an issue that must be talked about and the first season did a fine job of that without glamorizing it (despite what people continue to say).
As an adult who has faced not only his own bouts with depression and suicidal thoughts over the course of life, plus in dealing with the loss of friends from that very thing, delving into a second season was not needed. It's not because of the subject matter itself, it's because the storytellers were successful the first time around in telling a compelling story about issues that needed to be addressed.
These three shows are just a few examples of shows that could have ended in one season. Even The Handmaid's Tale could have ended after one season, though there is a certain relevance to today's society that keeps this story moving forward (and Elisabeth Moss continues to knock it out of the park).  
A writer myself, I sometimes struggle of how much of the story to tell, whether it's in a continuation of books or wrapping up a stage play. It's no easy feat and even as seasons stretch on for certain shows, I'm still invested enough to see it through until the end, in most cases.
I just think that sometimes a story can be continued on in the viewer's imagination instead driving these characters into a stagnant corner, one in which no amount of good performances and directing can ever get them out of.
photo credit: en.wikimedia.org

Women's World Cup: Prep for final between USA and Netherlands

courtesy of flickr.comThe finale of the 2019 World Cup happens on July 7, with the United States taking on Netherlands. A preview of this, plus a little bit about Alex Morgan's celebration.One of the most iconic celebrations in the history of United States soccer -- both men and women alike -- is when Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt  after a penalty kick to help deliver the World Cup to the USA in 1999.
The moment was captured and lived on in magazines and newspapers, a moment of pure bliss and elation from converting on the biggest stage of them all.
Scoring a goal in soccer, especially in the World Cup, is always worth celebrating. Chastain's was certainly a response to the heightened moment, letting the energy flow. Creative juices are part of the goal-scoring experience, whether it's a planned team effort or simply showing off in the moment.
No matter the case, I would have never believed so much attention would be given to a simple gesture of drinking tea, as has been the case with Alex Morgan. Morgan scored in the semifinal victory over England and proceeded to deliver this celebration: 

No. 13 on her birthday. In honor of those 13 colonies.

That’s. The. Tea

Pulisic and McKennie era for the USMNT is upon us

The United States Men's National team is once again in the finals of the Gold Cup, in large part due to the play of Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie.The 2019 Gold Cup has seen the USMNT alternately playing to their full potential while at times looking completely lost. Sometimes, this has happened multiple times in the same game.
In any case, one thing is certain: The Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie era has been ushered in.
Their efforts and talents were on full display on July 3 in a 3-1 victory over Jamaica in the semifinals of the Gold Cup. McKennie opened the scoring for the Americans and had some well-played passes that set up other scoring changes throughout the game.
Pulisic continued to live up to his reputation as one of the best young players in the game as he scored two second-half goals to secure USA's spot in the final. Continuing to be a master dazzler, emptying the tank on every play, refueling, and dazzling all over gain, Pulisic has been the star of the Gold Cup:

Christian Pulisic is on one tonight

Women's World Cup 2019: Beware the VAR

The quarterfinals of the 2019 are set and while the play has been mostly spectacular, the overuse of VAR looms like a dark cloud over the tournament.In implementing the use of VAR (video assistant referee), the game of soccer was to benefit and aid on-field referees in making correct calls.
This system has had its moments in the 2019 Women's World Cup, but it's also been a hindrance, sometimes to infuriating levels.
Rarely have I seen so many games with stoppage time of seven, eight, nine, and even ten minutes. Games in this World Cup have been delayed due to VAR too many times, ruining the flow of the game and, in some cases, a team's chances of advancing.
France and Nigeria both ended up advanced, but a late use of replay resulted in a goal for France and the Nigerians having to sweat out play of other teams before advancing.
Scotland vs Argentina and Cameroon vs England also had their fair share of VAR moments, with calls in these games affecting the final result.
Goals have been both rewarded and taken away, penalties have been assessed and cards have been issued. It doesn't help that the officiating crew was instructed to hesitate in making calls -- notably when an offside call is at stake -- rather than blowing the whistle or raising the flag when they see something happen.
Instances of a player scoring and taking part in the ensuing celebration have turned on a dime thanks to the use of the VAR. This happened on occasion in the past, but usually the offside flag was noticed before the celebration made it too far, keeping a cap on that celebration, all because the flag wasn't raised and the referee had to take time to check with the system replay. I'm surprised all celebrations haven't been muted, waiting idly, frozen in place, until the signal for a goal is given.

OFFSIDE! VAR rules out Ajara Nchout's goal and Cameroon's players are incredulous. #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/O0Flu9gApY— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 23, 2019

I understand the use of the replay. As it is with football, basketball, and baseball, there are instances in which replay is needed. Even in these sports, though, the extent it is sometimes used pushes it to the brink of being ridiculous.
In soccer, the need for it is clear when a goal may or may not have crossed the line for a goal. Use the replay in these cases. Being offside happens enough in the game that the linesperson should be the one making the call, not afraid to raise the flag and send it upstairs (or to the Fox replay bunker, in which I believe all of the replay assistants, and Mike Pereira, live).
More so, fouls during the pace of play should not be reviewed, unless it's a possible difference between getting a yellow card or a red card.
Ultimately, many of the calls affected by the use of replay ended with making the right call. On some occasions, however, it was a matter of inches (in a game that's affectionately and historical a game of inches) that human element should be accounted for.
The human element -- and corresponding errors -- is part of the thrill of the game. My teams have been hurt and helped by said errors over the course of my sports fandom. In the end, the overuse of replay frustrates players, coaches, and fans alike. After all, they are human, too and will also make errors. If we are going to let replay overtake our sporting events, then we might as well just suit up robots and watch them.
It's time to let the players, play. Again.Quarterfinal matches setThe round of 16 had plenty of excitement, with the world's top-four ranked teams all advancing and a couple of the game's stars bowing out.
Christine Sinclair remained at 182 career goals as Canada fell to Sweden, 1-0. And Marta of Brazil did not add to her World Cup goal total as Brazil fell to France in extra time, 2-1.
Two of the world's best teams will collide when France takes on the United States on Friday. Many from both sides have had this game circled on the calendar, especially with France playing on par with the United States in the last seven years. Since meeting in the 2012 Olympics, USA owns a record of 4-3-2 against the French side.
Most recently in their rivalry, France defeating USA 3-1 back in January.
Quarterfinal matches will take place on Thursday, Friday, and two games on Saturday and are listed below. (My picks in bold.)
Thursday 6/27: Norway vs England (3 pm EST)Friday 6/28: France vs USA (3 pm EST)Saturday 6/29: Italy vs Netherlands (9 am EST), Germany vs Sweden (12:30 pm EST)
photo credit: pxhere.com

Best summer film of 1999: Showdown between American Pie and South Park

The month-long journey in deciding the best summer film of 1999 is coming to end with a match between South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut and American Pie.Summer at the box office in 1999 certainly had its moments.
It started with the first new Star Wars movie in ages, something we are now accustomed to receiving almost every year. And, in the summer of 1999, it ended with a kid seeing dead people with the box office smash The Sixth Sense.
Both are no longer in this tournament. The Phantom Menace dropped out long ago while The Sixth Sense lost a close one in the final four, falling to American Pie by a single vote.
That's right. The horny kids from East Great Falls High have traveled all the way to the finals of this film tournament. It looks like Ostreicher (Chris Klein) finally got his wish of being known more than "just a kick ass lacrosse player".
This plucky film that could will be taking on South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut, which defeated Election in the final four. (Will they make it two for two against Klein?)
South Park had only been on the airwaves since 1997 before making the leap to the big screen. Writing, creating, and producing a new episode in seven days, as Trey Parker and Matt Stone (plus others), is a daunting task. So with a feature film, given the time, Parker and Stone let the words in the title of bigger, longer, and uncut do all the talking.
And considering it took beloved pop culture series The Simpsons nearly 20 years to reach the big screen after its small screen debut, South Park should be applauded.
Parker and Stone had tried their hands at the big screen before, albeit the more traditional, non-animated route. While beloved in certain circles, neither Orgasmo (1997) nor BASEketball (1998) were a bona fide hit.
The South Park movie collected over 52 million at the domestic box office. The movie also featured celebrity cameos with the likes of George Clooney, Minnie Driver, Eric Idle, Brent Spiner, and Dave Foley all voicing characters in this feature.
Later showing their musical acumen in the Broadway smash-hit The Book of Mormon, the creators gave us a little taste with their academy nominated song from the film, Blame Canada.


South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut centers around the usual suspects of the television series. Cartman and friends see the R-rated movie starring their heroes, Terrence and Phillip. After, Cartman and the boys began to curse up a storm, causing parents in this sleepy Colorado town to blame the only ones they can think of: Canada.
American PieA throwback to the raunchy teen comedies of the 1980's, American Pie was not only a surprise hit, it became a franchise. The original crew -- well, most of them, at various times -- would appear in three more American Pie films, culminating in American Reunion. The franchise also spawned four direct-to-video films, under the guise of American Pie: Presents.
The original film went on to gross just over 102.5 million at the domestic box office. The movie launched the careers of directors Paul and Chris Weitz, who later co-directed and co-wrote About a Boy. Both have been involved as directors, albeit separately, in movies like In Good Company and Twilight: New Moon.
Little did we know at the time that this film about teenagers, sex, and pies would launch the careers of the ten actors central to the story.
The main character Jim, whose arc we followed through all four films, was played by Jason Biggs. Biggs had a few television credits to his name before making it big with American Pie. While he did headline a few movies of his own immediately after initial success, the franchise continued to be his moneymaker.
Jim's love interest in the films is Michelle, as played by Alyson Hannigan. Hannigan had made appearances on Roseanne and in the film Dead Man on Campus but was likely the most well-known of the young cast because of her role of Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hannigan later starred in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
Two of Hannigan's female co-stars, Natasha Lyonne (Jessica) and Tara Reid (Vicky), may have been just as well-known, at least in some circles. Lyonne was an indie darling, thanks to her role in Slums of Beverly Hills. And she'd been in the business awhile, appearing in Pee Wee's Playhouse in multiple episodes. Lyonne is currently starring in Russian Doll on Netflix.
Reid, meanwhile, was in Days of our Lives at one point and also had roles in The Big Lebowski and Urban Legend. She continued to appear in films, including the ever-popular Sharknado series.
Another child actor of the bunch was Thomas Ian Nicholas (Kevin), who shot to fame as Henry Rowengartner in Rookie of the Year. He continues to act but has not quite had the profile as some of his co-stars.
Both Seann William Scott (Stifler) and Chris Klein (Ostreicher) saw their careers go from almost nothing to stardom overnight. William Scott had only appeared in music videos and commercials prior, but turned American Pie fame into more than a handful of comedic turns along co-stars like The Rock and Billy Bob Thornton.
Klein's first film was also in 1999, in the movie Election. He has appeared in multiple film and television projects since. including a nice turn in the United States version of the show Wilfred.
Shannon Elizabeth (Nadia), Mena Suvari (Heather), and Eddie Kaye Thomas (Finch) also had minor roles in television shows prior to the film and both continue to act. Elizabeth appears a bit more sporadically, but recent just finished Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Reboot . Suvari appeared later in 1999 in American Beauty and continues to show up on t.v. shows, including American Horror Story. Thomas has also acted consistently on television since.
Of course, the film also had its veteran actors, cameos, and future stars. Eugene Levy, Jennifer Coolidge, Blink 182, and John Cho all appeared in the film
You've seen the films. You're caught up on the tale of the tape. Now, to pick a favorite. Voting can be done on both Twitter and Facebook. Happy voting!
photo credit: pixabay.com
Pt. 1:

Women's World Cup 2019: Onto the knockout stage for top-ranked teams

Group play is over and now it's time to start getting down to the nitty-gritty of the 2019 Women's World Cup.The first two weeks of the 2019 Women's World Cup had a little bit of everything. There was a record-setting performance by the United States team in their first match, setting the tone for a team that didn't allow a goal in their first three matches.
There was the use of VAR, deciding games in stoppage time by reversing goal-saving plays. One of those games involved the team from Scotland, who was 20-minutes away from advancing before watching a three-goal lead evaporate.
And there were teams sneaking in by the skin of their teeth (with a little help along the way).
In the end, most of the teams who were supposed to advance, did.
All told, 14 of the world's 16 top-ranked teams will be present in the knockout stage. Nigeria (38th) and Cameroon (46th) are the two teams who needed a little bit of magic (and help) to advance. Both were the last two of the third-place teams to secure spots in the final 16. The Super Falcons finished third in Group A and had to wait until the finish of the Chile vs Thailand game on Thursday to earn their berth.
Cameroon, meanwhile, waited until the last possible second to secure their passage to the knockout stage. An early goal by Njoya Ajara gave Cameroon an early 1-0 lead over New Zealand, a lead that held up until the 79th-minute, when a horrendous own goal tied the game. This set the stage for final effort, a goal by Ajara Nchout that will live on in Cameroon soccer lore and vaulted the underdogs to the next stage.

A MIRACLE FOR CAMEROON!

FIFA World Cup 2019: USWNT notches victory, qualifies for knockout stage

The United States Women's National Team took care of business on Sunday, defeating Chile and joining eight other nations in qualifying for the knockout stage of the 2019 World Cup.The final tally of goals on Sunday against Chile for the USWNT was not quite the outburst displayed against Thailand, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.
Three first-half goals -- two by Carli Lloyd -- were more than enough for the USWNT to defeat Chile 3-0, guaranteeing the Americans a spot in the knockout stage of the 2019 World Cup.
If it weren't for Chile goalkeeper Christiane Endler, the final score might have been a lot worse.
Endler made several spectacular saves against the Americans attack, turning back forward Christen Press alone at least three times. Overall, Endler showed why she is a world class keeper, making six saves as the Americans had 26 shots (9 on goal).

Best women's goalkeeper in the world?

World Cup 2019: A baker's dozen for the USWNT

photo: commons.wikimedia.orgThe United States women's national team turned in a record-setting performance in their 2019 World Cup opener, announcing to all the title still goes through them.Four years ago, the USWNT started off the World Cup by struggling to beat Australia 3-1. The result still earned points -- and the Americans went on to win the 2015 cup -- but there was doubt seeded to just how prepared the team was to vie for the cup.
There should be no such questions after their first game in 2019.
Working cohesively, with a free-wheeling and precise attack, the offense practically lived in Thailand's defensive third, tallying 39 shots (21 on goal) in a 13-0 blistering victory on Tuesday.
Alex Morgan delivered a World Cup record-tying five goals as the United States scored early and did not let up until the final whistle. Morgan's tally tied her with fellow American Michelle Akers, who scored five goals against Chinese Taipei back in 1991.
Starting midfielders Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis each scored two goals, while fellow starters Megan Rapinoe and Linsey Horan each scored one. Carli Lloyd and Mallory Pugh each scored a goal off of the bench.
Thailand, playing in only their second World Cup, was on their heels from the get go. Morgan got things started in the 12th-minute with a perfectly placed header off of a nice cross from Kelly O'Hara.
Despite their constant pressure, the Americans were only up 3-0 at the break.
A flurry of goals -- four to be exact -- in a seven-minute span put the USWNT up 7-0. Twice more in the half the Americans would score three goals in seven-minutes span to help deliver the final score.
Not only did Morgan tie the record for goals scored in a single game, the team now has the most goals in a game -- in men's or women's World Cup action. With it, the score also provided the largest margin of victory.
Thailand, even with the United States playing only three on the back line for much of the game, failed to pose much of a threat. They managed two weak shots on goal, both of which were easily saved.
A bright spot -- despite the 13-goal output -- was Thailand keeper Sukanya Chor Charoenying, who made eight saves, many of which would have made highlight reels in any other game.
Up next for the USWNT is Chile, who lost to Sweden in a weather delayed affair. The game is on Sunday (6/16) at noon (EST).First-time teamsThe first games of all six groups are complete. Out of the 24 countries represented, four are making their World Cup debuts. All four showed in their first match that they belong, albeit with mixed results and all accruing a loss.
South Africa held a 1-0 lead into the 69th-minute of their opening match against Spain. One questionable call later, followed by a penalty kick goal, opened the flood gates for Spain, who ultimately won 3-1.
The Reggae Girlz out of Jamaica did some nice things in their debut but were shutout by Brazil, 3-0. All three of Brazil's goals were scored by Cristiane.
On Sunday, Scotland met up with rival England. The Scots chose a defensive approach, one that nearly worked out in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of The Lionesses. 
And finally, in Group F, Chile was battling Sweden to a 0-0 tie when the game was delayed thanks to weather in the 72nd-minute. Once play resumed, Sweden scored two late goals to pick up a 2-0 victory.
Each of these countries will be guaranteed at least two more matches in the 2019 World Cup and a chance to notch a point. Here is a schedule of their next game:South Africa vs China, 6/13 - 3 pm ESTJapan vs Scotland, 6/14 - 9 am ESTJamaica vs Italy, 6/14 - noon ESTUSA vs Chile, 6/16 - noon EST
Stay up to date with World Cup action on this blog or by following on Twitter: @jasonrh_78

Best of the summer films from 1999: The final 8

photo: freestockphotos.biz
The tournament for best summer film of 1999 rolls on as we are down to the final eight films, including one wildcard from the month of April.Two number-one seeds have been voted out, as have all four of the films seeded second. Star power and big budget movies have fallen by the wayside with indie movies, plucky upstarts, and animated films taking their place.
Truly only one of the films, Runaway Bride , can be considered both a big budget and star-driven film. This movie, the top moneymaker from July of 1999, featured the reuniting of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, stars of 1987's Pretty Woman. The pairing again turned into box office gold, collecting over 152 million dollars at the domestic box office.
Among the other films still vying for the esteemed honor of being named "best film from the summer of 1999" (as bestowed upon by you, the reader), we have South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut, American Pie, and The Sixth Sense.

This South Park film cemented Trey Parker and Matt Stone as bona fide Hollywood stars, and also delivered an Academy Award nominated song in "Blame Canada".

American Pie, meanwhile, helped launch the careers of most of the teen cast, including Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Chris Klein, and Mena Suvari, with Klein (American Pie, Election) and Suvari (American Pie, American Beauty) both appearing in multiple films in 1999.
And we can't forget about the career-defining movie from M. Night Shyamalan. The Sixth Sense launched the filmmaker's career into another stratosphere, one in which he eventually fell out of and one he is trying to climb back into as part of his second act.
Onto the final eight!May regionThe final two movies are films that did not have the strongest box office showings but, judging by your votes, were better than box office smashes like The Phantom Menace and The Mummy.
The first is the ensemble dark comedy and 8th-seed in the May region, Go.

Watching this trailer, I never realized Melissa McCarthy was actually featured in it. I was aware of her being in the movie but making the trailer turned her into a star! (Okay, maybe not).
Go will be taking on the movie that thrust Alexander Payne onto the scene (though Citizen Ruth was also good) and is the 10th-seed, Election. Reese Witherspoon was fantastic and even Chris Klein had some great moments. "Paul Metzler: You betzler".

June regionOver in the June region, it is the 12th-seed Run Lola Run that might be considered the surprise in the tournament, at least based off its box office run from back in 1999. This film has always been critically acclaimed so it's not much of a surprise to me its made it this far. 

This film's opponent? None other than the sixth-seed South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut.

July regionThe July region held closest to the way the films finished at the box office back in '99. The first seed from this month was the aforementioned Runaway Bride.



The film's opponent will be the third seed in the region, American Pie, which won a close contest against The Blair Witch Project. American Pie was a throwback to the raunchy teen comedies from the 1980's and had a surprising box office run. The film also made stars of its mostly teen cast and introduced the talents of Eugene Levy to a much broader audience.


August regionRounding out the final eight films are the two films from August, one a surprise hit and the other an animated film that was well-adored but struggled at the box office.

The first is the number one seed from August, The Sixth Sense.


The Sixth Sense is facing the 7th-seed The Iron Giant for the right to represent August in the final four.


Voting can be done over on Twitter at either at Sports 'n' Stuff or my main Twitter account: @jasonrh_78

If you don't have Twitter, feel free to contribute comments or gif's on this post or in the comments on Facebook with your favorite film(s).

Part one: Part two: Summer box office of 1999 and the movie 'Go'
Part three: Out of nowhere the Blair Witch beckoned in 1999