TheFabulousThomasJ Reviews

Fantastic Four (2015)

The Best Argument Against Rebooting!

[1/10 · 8 May 2016]

You know it's pretty sad when you watch a comic-book superhero film based on a comic book series you grew up with as a child and you root for the villain to win.

Case in point: the recent rebooted monstrosity of the Marvel comic series "Fantastic Four" starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell and Tim Blake Nelson.

I cannot blame the actors for this hot mess; I must credit them for doing great with a urine-poor script and therein lies the blame.

And that credit goes to the writers Jeremy Slater, Simon Kimber and Josh Trank.

I think crystal-meth addicts could have turned in a much-better script.

I will not waste you time and go into details of this piece of merde except to say if you must watch the "Fantastic Four" buy or rent the 2005 film starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis.

That version will not disappoint you like the 2015 reboot will.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

What A Piece Of Crud!

[15 August 2015]

After all these years I finally sat down & watched "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".

I kept hearing how this film was magnificent and is the epitome of true horror films.

Oh, it's a horror, all right.

But not in a good way.

It's quite apparent Tobe Hooper suffered from bipolarity and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is his mania in full bloom, without medication.

What a waste of film stock! I'm now convinced Steven Spielberg directed "Poltergeist".

I wouldn't even call this a bad horror film; it's a waste of any film-goer's time and money.

And if you like it, I know you're mentally deranged.

Now I know why Tobe Hooper never became a successful director.

Get some medication, Tobe Hooper, if you haven't already.

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Beautiful Rendition of "The Great Gatsby" *Possible Spoilers!*

[9/10 · 10 April 2014]

I was not looking forward to Baz Luhrmann's take on "The Great Gatsby".

Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge" was an over-the-top animated cream pie that while looked wonderful, the plot and scenery-chewing histrionics of the cast made it appalling.

And I must admit while I was watching this film there were indeed a few moments when Luhrmann seemed to head off down the cartoon path once again but he reined those moments in very nicely.

"The Great Gatsby" moves, in more ways than one.

As much as I love Jack Clayton's 1974 take on the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic (which starred Robert Redford & Mia Farrow, by-the-way) this film does not feel distant, on the shelf, a curio from a bygone era.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire & Carey Mulligan connect with us from the very beginning.

They make 1922 a living, breathing NOW.

The performances by the cast, the film editing, the costumes and the music move us along much ground to be covered from the novel and reels us in gently with such great command.

For the first time in my life, after reading the novel many times and seeing the other celluloid takes, I sat watching the final scenes, hearing Maguire's voice-over narration read those final lines, and cried.

I got it.

At last.

You will, too.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

"Silver Linings Playbook" And The Lessons Learned

[10/10 · 10 August 2013]

I was not prepared for "Silver Linings Playbook". I was armed to hate it. I saw all the Oscar hype the Weinstein Company surrounded this film and I was loaded to cut it off at the ankles. And then, I saw it. In real terms, "Silver Linings Playbook" is a messy, disheveled little boy with dirt ground into the knees of his pants and snot running down his nose. The story sucks you in and gently shakes you. This is not a typical Hollywood film. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence give outstanding performances. Not since "The Graduate" (1967) have I thought this long and hard about a couple well after the final reel unspools. Like Benjamin and Elaine in the former, I want Pat & Tiffany to make it in the latter. Buy it on DVD.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Brilliant, Brilliant Film!!!

[10/10 · 16 September 2012]

Turn off the computer, silence your phone, put away the iPad and iPod and inject this DVD into your player and watch.

For those of us who went through September 11, 2001, it will be a blessing to your soul.

You will cry, rejoice, laugh, be touched and be released.

Kudos to all the actors involved, especially Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Zoe Caldwell, Max von Sydow, John Goodman, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright; and Thomas Horn as Oskar Schell, who spear-headed this fine cast.

It's a fine example of what movie-making should really be about: not just to entertain, but to touch and lift and maybe even heal the soul.

Righteousness!

Whitney (2011–2013)

Who Is This Person and Why Does She Have a TV Show???

[1/10 · 1 October 2011]

I saw the cutesy promos most of the summer for this NBC show and I kept thinking to myself "who is this woman and why is NBC making a TV show with her?"

Turns out Ms. Whitney Cummings cut her teeth on the thoroughly annoying Ashton Kutcher-produced MTV series "Punk'd" and that is her modus operandi to situation comedy fame.

I think Khloe Kardashian has absolutely no talent whatsoever but she has more qualifications for a situation comedy than Ms. Whitney Cummings.

I didn't find the pilot episode funny in the least little bit, and the supporting characters Ms. Cummings created for herself are deadly dull people that I wouldn't waste 30 minutes on each week.

As much as I despise reality-based shows such as "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" at least there is a shard or two of entertainment possibility.

I can't say that for "Whitney".

The nicest thing I can say about "Whitney" is click your remote over to the Bravo channel and see what the "Real Housewives" are up to this evening.

"Whitney" is merde.

Daria (1997–2002)

Finally! "Daria - The Complete Animated Series" on DVD!!!

[10/10 · 14 May 2010]

I never thought I would live to see the day when "thirtysomething", "The Archie Show", "Salo: or the 120 Days of Sodom" or "Daria" would all come out on DVD. The first three were all released within the last few years; "Daria" was still the lone hold-out. But, that day has finally arrived; and hallelujah! MTV/Paramount released the entire series (plus the two movies "Is It Fall Yet?" & "Is It College Yet?") on a 8-DVD fat-clamshell box set!!!

So how does it look?

Mighty fine, I must say!!!

I long suspected (and it was confirmed by show creator Glenn Eichler in the box set) that the music bites used during the original MTV run would be the fly-in-the-ointment to getting this great show released on DVD (damn music licensing, anyway!) So 99% of those sound bites were replaced. Is it noticeable? As a die-hard "Daria" fan, I'm not missing the music cues one little bit! I think it was a wise move, indeed; perhaps those bites would have dated the series even more, twenty years down the line.

The DVD transfer are wonderful; of what I've viewed thus far, the colors are crisp and the prints are clean (however, on my copy, there seems to be a 5-second glitch at the beginning of "Boxing Daria": there's dialog, but no picture. I don't remember that). But I'm relaxing too high in hog heaven to even care about that picayune flub; because I'm enjoying all of my favorite episodes (like "Arts & Crass", "I Don't", "Write Where It Hurts", "See Jane Run", "Monster", "The Daria Hunter", etcetera) in the best digital glory.

There are also wonderful special features on the final disc; including the "Daria Day" bumpers used when MTV played "Daria" all day long (you can click to add them to the episode assigned, if you desire), the never-before-seen Mystik Spiral spin-off script, Top Ten Video Countdown by Daria and Jane, and the primitive but fun pilot episode "Sealed With A Kick".

For "Daria" fans everywhere, this is definitely the best bang-for-the-buck I've seen in a long, long time. You will not be disappointed.

And, for fans of animated series, if you own "The Flintstones", "The Jetsons", "Jonny Quest" or any of "The Simpsons" or "South Park" on DVD, this is definitely one to add to your collection.

Get it now while the getting's good!!!

Meet My Mom (2010 TV Movie)

What A Pleasant TV Film!!! *Possible Spoilers!!!*

[9/10 · 8 May 2010]

Usually I'm very wary with most TV films, especially those coming from the Lifetime, Oxygen, WE or Hallmark channels. Most are either the violent poor-poor-pitiful-me womens variety or they are so saccharine and preachy they make me gag! But "Meet My Mom" is a most pleasant film that didn't insult my spirit or my intelligence; I really cared what happened to the people involved.

The plot, in short: 7 year-old Jared Marshall (Charles Henry Wilson) strikes up a school project pen pal in the form of Army Sergeant Vince Carerra (a genuinely warm Johnny Messner). When Sgt. Carerra returns from overseas, he decides to look up the young Jared and in the process makes friends with the young lad's mother (a fine Lori Loughlin). Very gently, with little moments of every day life, these three people begin to bond.

Granted, it's not "Meet Me In St. Louis" and yet it is; there's a kindness to these characters that has been long missing from television (or films for that matter). It is so very nice to sit down to a film and watch it and care about characters without feeling like your soul has been sullied or your emotions masturbated.

And it is always a delight to see the wonderful Stefanie Powers, this time as Lori Loughlin's mother, Louise Metcalf. Ms. Powers is a great anchor for any production and "Meet My Mom" is blessed to have her.

The ending I won't spoil for you; Sgt. Carerra finds himself, after building a relationship with mother and son, ready to ship off once more overseas. Will they or won't they marry? The finale does satisfy, but don't bet the farm on a M-G-M happy ending.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

A Film Classic That Will Be Remembered 50 Years From Now

[10/10 · 11 March 2010]

My friends and I have a theory: those who bad-mouth Brokeback Mountain have NOT seen it.

This is a beautifully filmed motion picture; I'd dare as line it up alongside the David Lean 1962 classic "Lawrence of Arabia" and John Ford's 1956 masterpiece "The Searchers" for landscape and scenery being a principal character.

And heartbreaking, too; my, my!

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal play two young buck cowboys with nary a pot to pee in nor a window to throw it out of, herding sheep by their lonesome in Wyoming during the summer of 1963.

And because they have nothing but themselves, they first fall into rutting lust, and then slowly into love.

What is even more heart-breaking is the fact that they have the opportunity to strike out on their own as cowboy ranchers, but fear keeps one of the duo from following through.

And in the course of twenty years of meeting for summertime fishing trips, they fritter their lives away.

I watched this in a full house of blue collar types when it arrived here in our town; after the film was over, the general consensus was Brokeback Mountain was awesome, and we were glad for the chance to see this (finally) on the big screen, after all the hoopla controversy surrounding it.

Definitely one to own on DVD.

Up in the Air (I) (2009)

Somewhere in Heaven, the great Billy Wilder is Smiling

[10/10 · 10 March 2010]

I wasn't really prepared for Jason Reitman's "Up In The Air"; given the trailers I'd viewed, it looked like it would be a smart-ass little comedy.

Boy, did I blow it by avoiding it in the theater and electing to wait for the DVD.

In a nutshell, George Clooney is Ryan Bingham, traveling corporate cut-throat who has his honed his terminator skills to a fine science. When he discovers that fellow head-hunter Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) is about to make him obsolete, he petitions his younger boss (Jason Bateman) to allow him to round her up for a road trip to show her how it's done. Along this merry path of old dog/new trick comes Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), road warrior herself, whom Ryan discovers also delights in the high-flying traveling business life.

But along the way Ryan and Natalie discover just what is entailed in terminating individuals from the corporate payrolls; and Ryan begins to wonder about the road he has chosen and enjoyed for so long.

"Up In The Air" is a masterpiece that feels and sounds like a unreleased Billy Wilder film. I've already dove-tailed it (double-feature-style) with Wilder's 1960 classic "The Apartment", and it is san-fran-tastic to behold!! The nuances and shadings that George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman bring to this picture cannot be underestimated. Even if the great Billy Wilder had made this in an earlier decade, the best actors he could come up with in the respective roles would have been Cary Grant, Shirley Jones, Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon; and even then, they couldn't do it this wonderful justice.

Very rarely do I give a film 10 stars; this is one that I do.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Nope.

[1/10 · 3 March 2009]

I hate it when I go to a film and I wince.

The last time I did so (and all through the picture) was Baz Lurmann's Moulin Rouge.

I don't have a problem suspending my belief when I watch a movie; I'm willing to go along with the ride with any film-maker. I just don't like to have my intelligence urinated on; and once again, it happens, and the guilty party this time is Slumdog Millionaire.

It's a mess, pure and simple; the photography is all over the place (I HATE MTV and CSI) and the worst of it all I'm under the unspoken impression that I'm watching one barely subtle plug for the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire franchise.

I don't care if it took home every Oscar at this year's Academy Awards (and the ones they did win I'm totally convinced the Academy is using crystal meth), this is one Best Picture Oscar winner I will never add to my DVD collection.

A minus five stars, in my book.

The Boys in the Band (1970)

Kudos to CBS DVD/Paramount For A Beautiful Transfer!!!

[9/10 · 15 November 2008]

I gotta tell the truth and shame the devil, I didn't know if I WANTED to purchase the new DVD release of The Boys In The Band; all the self-loathing and bitchy camaraderie was just a little more than I could stand last time I viewed it (1998). But hey!, I thought, if nothing else I could run the pilot episode of (the American version of) Queer As Folk afterward to counter-balance the histrionics.

Well, not this time! I was really blown away (no pun intended unless you want to) by the beautiful print CBS DVD/Paramount struck on this DVD release: the colors were magnificent and I didn't see on dirt speck or stray hair the entire time I watched. Perhaps time has mellowed me a little more compassionately to my fellow freaks (and I say that with love and respect to the characters) and I wasn't wincing at all, unlike the '98 viewing.

Also lovely to look at were the mini-documentaries included on the disc: one for the original off-Broadway play; two, for the actual filming of this movie, and three; 40 years later, what happens in terms of the landmark this film has made.

It also contains the commentary track by director William Freidkin, which I will soon see, but if the documentaries are any indication, I will warm more to him than I have in the past (see Cruising).

My only bitch (CBS/Paramount, are you reading this?): once again, there's no informational insert card with the DVD.

All-in-all, The Boys In The Band is still a magnificent train wreck, but now an enjoyable one, nevertheless, thanks to CBS/Paramount.

Burn After Reading (2008)

Go See Burn After Reading! Go, Now!!! *Possible Spoiler!!!*

[10/10 · 12 September 2008]

. . .you'll laugh your butt off! Excellent cast; funny, well-written script all directed in that delicious Coen brothers style that is all seriousness with the subtle wink-at-the-audience that they do so very smoothly.

I'm not about to give away the plot, but this farce is hardly broad, because it is populated with characters with tics most of us can recognize.

Personally, I predict Brad Pitt and John Malkovitch will nab Best Supporting Actor Oscar nods for their performances in this film; both are beautiful to behold and watch for the next moment they fill the screen.

Just remember, the thing in the basement will bring down the house! I laughed and cried at the same time!

Archie's Funhouse (1970–1971)

A Great DVD Remastering of This Classic '70's Cartoon Series!

[10/10 · 6 March 2008]

I'm still watching this 3-DVD set of Archie's Funhouse as I type this; released this week (3/4/08) it's an almost perfect remastering of the 1970-71 season of Archie on the CBS television network.

This particular season of The Archies presents Riverdale's finest in "Laugh-In"-style blackouts and sight-gags (though not as risqué as that particular NBC classic) and features the Giant Jukebox, perfect to segue into the musical numbers for the show.

Bonus features on this collection include the music videos for "Sugar, Sugar" and "Jingle Jangle", Jukebox breakdowns of the individual animated songs for this season, plus the half-hour special "Archie and His New Pals" (which was presented in prime-time before the start of the 1969-70 season of Archie, entitled "The Archie Comedy Hour") and seven sequences of "The Archie Comedy Hour" that was re-configured into "Archie's Funhouse". Fans of Sabrina, the Teen-Aged Witch, will be delighted to see how her animated character came to Riverdale in this special, years before Melissa Joan Hart brought her live-action to a new group of children.

And let's not forget the fantastic interview with Ron Dante, the real-life lead singer for The Archies! He gives great insight into the makings of the classic recordings.

Those of us of an age who were children during the CBS run of Archie and the gang will be most delighted to own this fine purchase: kudos to ClassicMedia/Entertainment Rights, Inc., Genius Entertainment and Archie Comics Publications for their painstaking work on this collection.

Overall, the colors and editing are clean and crisp with only the slightest film smudge apparent (hey, these animated episodes are near 40 years old!) and the sound quality is superb! My only two quibbles about this release (thus far): the "Jingle Jangle" music video is far inferior to the presentation of the other musical numbers in this set (it looks as if they filmed it directly from an old color television) and Ron Dante looks rushed to "hurry up!" in places in his interview (I fault the director for this.) For some of you, this may not be your cup of tea for children's entertainment, and that's quite all right: the popularity of "High School Musical" escapes even me.

Save this, if you're of that age of an innocence, you will very well understand.

So, Everything's Archie, once again!

Ghost Rider (2007)

WOW!!! What A Great Film!!!

[9/10 · 29 July 2007]

I missed Ghost Rider when originally released in theaters, so I received the DVD as a party gift.

I sat down this evening to watch it finally, with a bit of trepidation.

Surprise, surprise, as Gomer Pyle used to say; this is one delightful amusement park ride.

Nicolas Cage is Johnny Blaze, small-time circus daredevil, who in his younger days, made a deal with Mephistopheles (a quietly menacing Peter Fonda) to cure his father of cancer, in exchange for his soul. Deal done, young Johnny's father soon dies of a cycle mishap.

Good ole Mephistopheles! Grown now, Johnny Blaze gets wilder and wilder with each new cycle stunt; of course, with the devil on his side, he has no fear, thus becoming the hero to one and all.

But ole Hot Pants Himself is not quite done with him; see, there's an outstanding contract of a town who gave their souls in greed, and that contract is missing. The collector absconded with the document, and Mephistopheles' son, Blackheart (a deliciously evil Wes Bentley) wants that contract, so he can become the new Big Kahuena.

Thus, Johnny Blaze becomes Ghost Rider, the devil's bounty hunter, and in spectacular fashion, he literally becomes his last name.

Sam Elliot, steady as she goes, is the wise older man who seems to know about all that is going on with Johnny's situation, and steps in to lend a hand and dispense advice.

The action is thrilling, the special effects are spectacular (talk about 'flying down the highway with your hair on fire!'), and the wonderful editing of this film swoops and soars effortlessly.

There's not one wasted scene; Ghost Rider is a lean, mean dancing machine of stella mysteriosa and verve of the highest order.

Normally, this type of film is not my cup of tea, but wow! I'm a believer, now! Kudos to all involved!

A Face in the Crowd (1957)

What a Powerful, Under-rated Gem!!!

[9/10 · 31 May 2007]

From the laconic and gentle opening credits, A Face In The Crowd is like a drawn pot of water; carefully put upon the stove, gracefully ignited by the turn of a burner and generated by the subtle and stellar performances of one and all, spearheaded by the great Andy Griffith and sublime Patricia Neal.

And yet, this is not a 'potboiler' in the Hollywood tradition, no! The situation of a small-town radio gal (Neal) finding gold in a tiny Southern jail (Griffith) breathes with Kazan's fine direction.

Chilling it is to watch it today, the situation commentary then about the power of television over the masses in the hands of advertisers, networks and politicians does take one aback. This is as fresh and raw now as it was when released in 1957.

If you fancy yourself a devotee of film, you should possess this amongst your collection of DVDs and VHS; and if you don't, then what the hell is the matter with you?

From my theater seat, this IS the masterpiece from Elia Kazan.

I contemplate this piece of celluloid far long and much more than the revered Citizen Kane.

Shame on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for not recognizing Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Elia Kazan, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa, and Budd Shulberg with Oscar nominations for their contributions to this classic!

Disturbia (2007)

Go See Disturbia!!! (*May Contain Spoilers!!!*)

[9/10 · 18 April 2007]

Other viewers may disagree, but Disturbia is a wonderful teen thriller that, more often than not, borrows the basis of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (with elements of The Silence of the Lambs) and expands on it.

Shia LaBeouf is Kale, a young high-schooler on house arrest, after popping his Spanish teacher, who made a rude remark about the teen's late father.

Definitely not handling the ankle-bracelet-thingie as gracefully as Martha Stewart did, Kale comically begins to go stir-crazy in the confines of his house.

When new neighbors move in next door, Kale becomes interested in the lovely young Ashley, nicely portrayed by Sarah Roemer.

Kale begins to watch her every move (from the lonely confines of his house) and also begins to take in the abnormal-normal routines of his neighborhood (hence the title).

Aaron Yoo wonderfully plays Kale's computer geek buddy Ronnie with a wonderful ease and naturalness; seeing him and LaBeouf work off each other is a treat (and doesn't feel one bit phony). Soon, the two of them have Ashley in Kale's upstairs lair, observing the neighbors.

And it's not long when one character really starts their suspicions: the subtly creepy Mr. Turner, played with ease by David Morse (Brutal in The Green Mile) Mr. Morse's turn gives oomph! to this snake-in-the-grass, and it's this addition that makes the similarities to Rear Window kick in.

Of more, I cannot say, except that Kale has a few run-ins with the police (the ankle-bracelet works!) and unwittingly plays into the villain's hands when his emotions get the better of him, before the conclusion of this enjoyable film.

I'll definitely be buying this one on DVD when it is finally released.

Shortbus (2006)

Shortbus: An Interesting Film On DVD!

[9/10 · 14 March 2007]

John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus arrived yesterday on DVD, and it is an interesting film.

For me, the jury is still out on this one.

Is it an adult film? Oh, yes! But it is hardly Deep Throat or Debbie Does Dallas.

It's about several New Yorkers who explore the comic and tragic complexities of love and sex.

Yes, there is full-frontal nudity and yes the sex scenes are very explicit.

They are short, however, and all sex scenes barely make up 1/4th of the film's running time.

Parts of the film, which takes place in a home sex retreat called Shortbus (hence, the title) is reminiscent in style to the Mardi Gras scenes of Easy Rider, the club scenes of Cabaret, coupled with the free-and-easy style of Milos Foreman's Hair.

Guys, do note that the director (Mitchell) is gay, so if scenes of gay sex bother you, then don't watch. Fortunately, most of these longer scenes are not long-and-drawn out: this film is more character-driven, with the sex scenes more matter-of-fact than gratuitous.

What I got from the film is this: there is a need and hunger to these characters living in the Big Apple to belong, especially now in these post-9/11 days.

As I said, it's an interesting film.

Not one to really own for your DVD collection, but one for mature adults to watch and discuss.

World Trade Center (2006)

Finally, Oliver Stone Gets It Right!

[11 August 2006]

I must admit, I went in tonight highly skeptical of the new Oliver Stone film World Trade Center.

Still smarting from the disappointment of his last film, Alexander, I indeed had a bit of the chip on the shoulder.

But, surprise, surprise!

Stone struck just the right notes; eschewing jingoistic patriotism and over-the-top histrionics by simply using the through-line of two police officers and what occurred to them inside the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

I consider World Trade Center to be a high point in the director's career; he has finally found storytelling with grace and humility.

I pray that he will never lose this in the future.

A magnificent film that deserves a Best Picture and Best Director Oscar nomination come the awards season this winter.

Capote (2005)

Capote? Or, "The Making Of 'In Cold Blood'"?

[7/10 · 26 March 2006]

I hate to be picayune, but they have titled this film wrong.

Truman Capote was a fascinating character, and the entire production, given the subject matter, is excellent!

BUT. . .

Do not go in thinking this film is about the life of Truman Capote. (Actor) Robert Morse's one-man show TRU on Broadway (in the 1990's) still remains the definitive production of the life of this most-excellent writer.

This is more about how Truman's novel IN COLD BLOOD came to be.

I do highly recommend this film, but rent it, don't buy it on DVD.

Walk the Line (2005)

Steak, But No Sizzle

[3 March 2006]

I've avoided the film Walk the Line for the longest time, because I was such a fan of the life and music of both Johnny Cash and June Carter. But finally, I broke down and recently viewed the biopic.

Let me say, kudos to Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, who were 100% point blank Johnny Cash and June Carter. Their Oscar nominations were well-deserved.

But, there is something about the film, especially in light of last year's Ray Charles biopic, that I cannot pinpoint as wrong, and yet is rather bland, given those of us who know the lives of these exceptional country performers.

The best analogy I can come up with is this: it's like going to an acquaintance's house, and they prepare you a steak dinner.

It's steak and it's dinner, but it's not as good as you thought it would be.

If I were a young person never knowing the back-story of Johnny and June's life and seen this film, I would say, "So what? What makes these two any more special than Tupak Shakur or the Notorious B.I.G.?" And I think therein lies the problem: we saw their troubles, but we weren't engaged.