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The first edition of Complete Idiot's Guide to Bridge by H. Anthony Medley was the fastest selling beginning bridge book, going through more than 10 printings. This updated Second Edition includes some modern advanced bidding systems and conventions, like Two over One, a system used by many modern tournament players, Roman Key Card Blackwood, New Minor Forcing, Reverse Drury, Forcing No Trump, and others. Also included is a detailed Guide to Bids and Responses, along with the most detailed, 12-page Glossary ever published, as well as examples to make learning the game even easier. Click book to order. | |
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How Do You Know (8/10) by Tony Medley Run time 121 minutes OK for children. After his last effort, the debacle Spanglish (2004), three time Oscar®-winner Writer-Director-Producer James Brooks has finally done himself proud with this romantic comedy. Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) gets dumped from the U.S. baseball team and goes into a funk. But she finds herself pursued by Matty (Owen Wilson), a serial-womanizing major league pitcher who earns $14 million a year, and George (Paul Rudd), a corporate executive who has lost his position with his father’ firm because he is the target of a federal investigation. Backing them up in supporting roles are Jack Nicholson as George’s father, Charles, and Kathryn Hahn as George’s assistant, Annie. Their sparkling performances add immensely to the enjoyment of the film. But, good as they are, the three leads make this something special. Witherspoon gives a perfect, Doris Day-type performance as the woman in the middle, but it’s the comedic talents of Rudd and Wilson that turn this into a movie that stands with some of the better romcoms of history, like Pillow Talk (1959). Maybe it’s not up to When Harry Met Sally (1989), but it’s a lot better than Pretty Woman (1990). Rudd and Wilson are very funny and fine actors to boot. Wilson has been in a lot of horrible movies, too many to mention, but I’ve always enjoyed his performances. Rudd, too, has been in movies even worse than Wilson’s, like Anchorman (2004), Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), and the truly deplorable I Love You, Man (2009). Like Wilson, he got more out of the scripts and directing than they deserved. At long last both Wilson and Rudd get to work with a terrific script and the result is a thoroughly entertaining film, even if it is a half hour too long. I hope, now that they have been in a quality film, they will both pick their projects more carefully from now on. They are good enough that they can afford to be selective. Finally, a bit of movie trivia. How do you know? According to Rudd, there was line in the film that didn’t make the final cut that answered that question, “You are able to be more yourself than you ever thought possible when you’re in the company of this person.” According to Nicholson, however, the time you know is when you get a lawyer to draft a prenup. December 15, 2010
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