Late-Night Boredom Review: Smith & Robbie Are Charismatic Con Artists in "Focus"

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In some sense, if you've seen one movie about con artists or "grifters," you've seen them all. Veterans of the genre know that the hero (or antihero) will be in some seemingly inescapable jams throughout the story, but in actuality, those jams are exactly where the hero wants to be. It's only a matter of time before we find out that it was all a part of their plan. 

Focus (2015) starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, is no different -- but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. 

Smith plays Nicky Spurgeon, a smooth, calculating and uber-experienced con man. Nicky can pick pockets and strip wristwatches with his eyes closed, but his most lucrative talent lies in the orchestration of big cons. Nicky is the popular leader of a large network of like-minded and similarly-skilled grifters who look to him for organization, guidance and scouting of potentially big scores. 

Jess (Robbie) is not nearly as experienced. She has all of the tools -- skilled, stunningly attractive and morally flexible -- but she's a small timer. When an attempted scam of Nicky goes terribly wrong, she realizes that he is the man she needs to learn from. If she's going to reach the big leagues as a scammer, Nicky represents her pathway to the promised land. 

And off we go. Of course elaborate schemes ensue and sexual attraction develops between Nicky and Jess, but is it genuine? Is Nicky using his experience and misdirection to turn Jess into a very useful pawn, or is Jess more seasoned than we are led to believe? In their blossoming romance, who is the con and who is the mark?

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Not surprisingly, this is revealed at the end, but along the way we meet some entertaining supporting actors: Adrian Martinez as Farhad, Nicky's overweight and hilarious best friend and right-hand man and BD Wong as Liyuan, a fabulously wealthy high roller who tests the limits of Nicky's ego and resolve during a prop betting sequence at the Super Bowl. Both Martinez and Wong generate a number of laughs in limited screen time. 

In the end we have a light, slick well-crafted caper film by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. These guys know how to entertain. They helmed Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), one of the better films of its genre this millennium. I give Crazy, Stupid, Love something like an 8 or 8.5 out of 10, whereas Focus is more like a 7.5. 

The conclusion reminded me of 1973's Best Picture winner, The Sting (starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford), but I didn't mind much. I wasn't expecting much to the contrary. 

If you're looking for an easy, entertaining evening out, Focus is worth a look. 

** FRO'S RATING: 7.5 out of 10 **

Dark Clouds: How the Thunder Can Escape the Gathering Storm

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Once the explosive and popular darlings of the Western Conference, boasting four of the NBA's most promising young talents, the Oklahoma City Thunder (17-19) are now a mere shell of their former selves. In fact, with an exceedingly sloppy and embarrassing 104-83 loss in Sacramento last night, they may have fallen to the rock bottom point of the Kevin Durant era. 

So what exactly is plaguing this talented team?

First and foremost, once and for all, Oklahoma City's brass needs to fire head coach Scott Brooks. To try to summarize Brooks' many shortcomings as a head coach would be an exercise in futility, so here are some of the highlights of his inexplicably long tenure:

1. Knowing there was a good chance he'd be traded or lost to free agency in the future, Brooks still refused to start James Harden in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat -- a series the Thunder lost handily, four games to one -- instead opting to go with the offensively-challenged Thabo Sefolosha, whose above-average defense never made up for the black hole he created when the Thunder had possession of the ball. 

Though behind Durant and Russell Westbrook on the marquee at the time, most knowledgeable basketball enthusiasts had already recognized that Harden possessed superstar offensive ability. I think it's fair to assume that OKC would have put together a better showing in that series if Harden had played as many minutes as both Durant and Westbrook. Fans will forever think, what if? 

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2. Brooks has been seemingly obsessed with Kendrick Perkins throughout his head coaching tenure, despite the fact that Perkins' slow, lumbering style is in complete and utter contrast to the uptempo nature of his team's core (Durant, Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson and of course Harden, at the time). Perkins has never played well with the Thunder -- in fact, he's always been a below-average NBA player -- and yet he has stolen minutes from more useful and style-appropriate bigs like Steven Adams and Nick Collison. 

3. Brooks' offensive system cannot be considered "professional." In all honesty, there is no system. Brooks just speaks in broad generalities and then lets Durant, Westbrook and Jackson play one-on-one while he sits on the bench crossing his fingers. 

Now I will grant him this: His situation is kind of a catch-22. Over the span of the past five seasons, the Thunder have been very successful allowing Durant and Westbrook to freestyle and create opportunities for themselves; however, they've never won it all. What separates the Spurs, Heat and Mavs championship teams from OKC is unselfishness, passing, cutting, spacing and sound technical basketball. The Thunder may still have the best athletes in the league, but Brooks has done absolutely nothing to refine that raw talent. Simply put, he has to go. 

Here's what I would do to turn it around:

1. Establish a consistent rotation and stop giving playing time to guys who are essentially useless. Brooks has been starting Andre Roberson at shooting guard in recent weeks, and he's probably the worst perimeter-shooting guard on the roster. Brooks likes his length and defense, which sounds an awful lot like what he used to say about Sefolosha. Look where that got him. Roberson should be out of the rotation altogether. Same goes for Perkins. 

2. Make sure there aren't too many one-on-one players on the court at once. The Thunder have four of those: Durant, Westbrook, Reggie Jackson and now Dion Waiters. The solution is clear: Durant and Westbrook start together, Jackson and Waiters come off the bench together to carry (what should be) a strong second unit. Jackson and Waiters should both be instructed to work on their catch-and-shoot game because I'm sure they'll be instances where they need to play off KD and Westbrook down the stretch of games. They can't be one-dimensional shooters off the dribble if this team is going to contend with the likes of the Warriors, Spurs and Mavs. 

3. Make sure the floor is spaced at all times. One-on-one players need drive-and-kick lanes. Opposing defenses need to be kept honest. So here's my solution:

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C:  Steven Adams 

PF:  Serge Ibaka

SF:  Kevin Durant

SG:  Anthony Morrow (savvy pick-up by Sam Presti. Brooks uses him incorrectly.)

PG:  Russell Westbrook

6th man:  Reggie Jackson

7th man:  Dion Waiters

8th man:  Nick Collison

9th man:  Perry Jones

That's it. That's all there is to it. Play your best players and those who complement each other's style of play. 

The Thunder can be fixed, but Scott Brooks isn't the right mechanic. 

Mr. Presti, I'm available for an interview. 

John Frascella is the author of "Theo-logy: How a Boy Wonder Led the Red Sox to the Promised Land," the first and only book centered on popular executive Theo Epstein. Looking for a sports columnist? John can be reached at john.frascella@gmail.com. 

My 200 Favorite Movies: Clooney, Farmiga & Kendrick Soar in "Up in the Air"

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Young director Jason Reitman -- whose father, Ivan, famously directed 80's hits Ghostbusters and Stripes -- exploded on the scene in his late 20s/early 30s with the surprisingly successful trio of Thank You For Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air. While I'm definitely a big fan of both Thank You For Smoking (solid 8/10, breezy and entertaining) and Juno (closer to an 8.5 or 9, a more complete film), I believe that Up in the Air (9.5/10) is the crown jewel of Reitman's career to date. 

Up in the Air takes us on a flight alongside Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a 50-something loner who fires people for a living. Ryan takes pride in his work and certainly appears content with the lifestyle he has created for himself, particularly the travel. His biggest goal in life is to become the 7th person to fly over 10 million miles on American Airlines. 

But Ryan is forced to examine his ideals when two women -- Alex (Vera Farmiga), a sexy 34-year old traveling businesswoman whose life seems to mirror Ryan's, and Natalie (Anna Kendrick), an ambitious 23-year old co-worker who threatens Ryan's livelihood with a tech movement -- disrupt the equilibrium of his isolated world. He's invited Alex. Natalie? Not so much. 

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So why do I love this movie? Well, there are a number of reasons. 

1. The screenplay. Reitman adapted it from Walter Kirn's novel, and did so beautifully by finding a delicate balance between humor and heartbreak. The source material was especially timely as America stood near the edge of the fiscal cliff, and specific firing scenes effectively depicted the trickle down effect to the family-oriented working class. Above all, though, are Reitman's musings on modern relationships. In particular the scene when Natalie and Alex discuss their ideal men as Ryan watches and listens, entertained but helpless, is spot-on. Natalie sounded an awful lot like the girls I knew at her age. 

2. The performances. Clooney gets to play himself (as usual), but Ryan's subtle transformation in the third act is nicely handled. Clooney conveys a surprising amount of emotion with his eyes. This is pretty clearly the best work of his career (I found The Descendants to be watchable, but overrated). 

Farmiga is sharp, salacious and appropriately mysterious. Her chemistry with Clooney has an engaging ease to it. Her's was certainly an Oscar-worthy turn. 

This was rightfully Kendrick's breakout role as a dramatic performer. She plays Natalie with just the right amount of savvy mixed with naivety. She can be convincingly mature at times, and a heartbroken, sobbing teenager at others. It's a fun and lively performance. She goes toe-to-toe with Ryan in multiple philosophical debates and more often than not, emerges as the victor. So much for experience. 

3. The intriguing missing pieces. What is Ryan's back story? Why has he made these specific "life choices," as he puts it? Why the isolation? Was he ever close to tying the knot? What about the stewardess who asks Ryan if he wants the can, sir (pronounced cancer)? 

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What exactly is Reitman trying to convey with the ending? I know we are supposed to see that Ryan is considering what married life would have been like, but does the resolution with Alex suggest that Reitman sees logic in Ryan's philosophy? Food for thought. 

So why a 9.5 and not a 10? Honestly, the short, concluding monologue was a major disappointment for me. Such a nicely-paced and note-perfect screenplay ended with an artsy-poetic, somewhat preachy misfire. I was waiting for a big, poignant finish and was left with an annoyingly bad taste in my mouth. 

Nevertheless, Up in the Air has excellent replay value for me and it is certainly one of the stronger films of this millennium. 

** JOHNNY FRO'S RATING: 9.5 out of 10 **

Quarterback Power Rankings: Same Ol' Tune At the Top of the Charts

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This list comes by request -- you're welcome, Donald J. Toby and William Valeriano. Some people just love to argue about sports. 

TIER 6

32. Zach Mettenberger-Titans

31. Colt McCoy-Redskins

30. Geno Smith-Jets

29. Blake Bortles-Jaguars

28. Brian Hoyer-Browns

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27. Teddy Bridgewater-Vikings

26. Derek Carr-Raiders

25. Josh McCown-Bucs

TIER 5

24. Kyle Orton-Bills

23. Drew Stanton-Cardinals

22. Ryan Fitzpatrick-Texans

21. Shaun Hill-Rams

TIER 4

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20. Cam Newton-Panthers

19. Jay Cutler-Bears

18. Andy Dalton-Bengals

17. Mark Sanchez-Eagles

16. Alex Smith-Chiefs

15. Ryan Tannehill-Dolphins

TIER 3

14. Colin Kaepernick-49ers

13. Eli Manning-Giants

12. Joe Flacco-Ravens

TIER 2

11. Matt Ryan-Falcons

10. Drew Brees-Saints

9. Matthew Stafford-Lions

8. Tony Romo-Cowboys

7. Philip Rivers-Chargers

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6. Andrew Luck-Colts

5. Ben Roethlisberger-Steelers

4. Russell Wilson-Seahawks

TIER 1

3. Peyton Manning-Broncos

2. Tom Brady-Patriots

1. Aaron Rodgers-Packers

NBA Report Cards: Grading the West's Benches

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Earlier this week I posted report cards for the Eastern Conference benches, so now it's time to focus on the far-superior West. At the end I will list my overall bench power rankings, from 30 down to #1. 

Dallas Mavericks (Grade: B):  PG Devin Harris looks like the effective player he was back in his days with the then-New Jersey Nets, and C Brandan Wright and SF Jae Crowder are both returning from last season. PG Raymond Felton will be one of the better third-string point guards when he returns from injury, and forwards Al-Farouq Aminu and Richard Jefferson are both useful. Rick Carlisle will handle his bench beautifully as usual.

Denver Nuggets (Grade: B):  There's a lot of talent here, I'm just not sure how the minutes will be distributed. Guards Nate Robinson and Randy Foye are two of the premier bench scorers when hot, but Nate is on a minutes restriction as he recovers from a major operation. SG Gary Harris could be a useful rookie, and forwards Wilson Chandler and Alonzo Gee have been starters elsewhere. JaVale McGee is an explosive option for the back-up center spot. PF/C JJ Hickson should also provide a lift, if and when he returns from injury. 

Golden State Warriors (Grade: A-):  You'd be hard pressed to find a better two-way bench duo than G/F Andre Iguodala and F/C Draymond Green.

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They are helpful offensively and exceptional defensively; new head coach Steve Kerr is going to be particularly thankful for the defense. PG Shaun Livingston was arguably the Nets' MVP last season, and G Leandro Barbosa and PF/C Marreese Speights are positive offensive contributors. This is a strong group.

Houston Rockets (Grade: F):  I am shocked at Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Widely regarded as one of the better decision-makers in the league, I can't believe he thinks his bench is sufficient for a championship run. He has to know how bad it is. Donatas Motiejunas, Kostas Papanikolaou, Isaiah Canaan and Tarik Black -- need I say more? Jason Terry is the only borderline professional in this group. 

Los Angeles Clippers (Grade: A-):  I've said this many times before, but Jamal Crawford is my favorite bench player in the NBA. He's the most entertaining ballhandler in the game, and his volume scoring is jaw-dropping at times. Can't say anything bad about the Clippers' additions of PG Jordan Farmar and C Spencer Hawes. Veteran forwards Hedo Turkoglu and Glen "Big Baby" Davis will play similar roles to last season. This unit was decent last year, and it has definitely since-improved. 

Los Angeles Lakers (Grade: D-):  Byron Scott's bench is only avoiding an "F" because of the eventual presence of Nick Young, one of the premier microwaves in the league. However, the Lakers may be so desperate for offense at the time of his return that he may be inserted directly into the starting lineup. Time will tell. 

Memphis Grizzlies (Grade: B-):  Vince Carter's professional career arc is pretty fascinating: From world-renowned dunker and top-tier superstar to grounded, effective, team-oriented veteran reserve. He deserves a ton of credit for his ability to adapt, and will certainly be a welcome addition to the Grizz. PG Beno Udrih, F Jon Leuer and C Kosta Koufos are all back from last year, and SF Quincy Pondexter will make his return from a nearly season-long injury hiatus. These guys aren't bad. 

Minnesota Timberwolves (Grade: C+):  It was thought that either Andrew Wiggins or Corey Brewer would come off the bench, but both were in Flip Saunders' starting lineup on opening night. That shortens the Wolves' bench. This group will be led by PG Mo Williams and C Gorgui Dieng. They will hope for breakout years from forwards Anthony Bennett and Shabazz Muhammad. There's some upside here. 

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New Orleans Pelicans (Grade: C-):  F Ryan Anderson is right up there in the #1 overall bench player discussion with Taj Gibson, Greg Monroe, Jamal Crawford, Isaiah Thomas and Manu Ginobili. The rest of the Pelicans' bench is quite underwhelming. 

Oklahoma City Thunder (Grade: B-):  Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow, Nick Collison and Kendrick Perkins looks good at full strength; the problem is that the Thunder have a plethora of injuries at the moment, a frustrating development that has blurred the lines between the starters and reserves. At 100% health this could be a B+/A- unit. 

Phoenix Suns (Grade: A-):  I'm still shocked the Lakers didn't sign Isaiah Thomas to be their starting point guard; maybe he didn't want to play for a horrendous team going nowhere fast. "The Pizza Guy" will easily be one of the best reserves in the league, and G/F Gerald Green and either SF Marcus Morris or PJ Tucker (depending on who gets the starting job when Tucker returns) will serve as his primary assistants. G Archie Goodwin and C Alex Len also have upside. 

Portland Trail Blazers (Grade: C-):  Guards Steve Blake and CJ McCollum both stink. I wonder how long it will take people in Portland to realize that. C Chris Kaman is the only bright spot in this below-average group. PF Thomas Robinson has just a bit of upside. 

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San Antonio Spurs (Grade: A):  Here's the best bench in the NBA. G Manu Ginobili and F/C Boris Diaw are confident and dangerous all-around veterans, and SG Marco Belinelli is an excellent 8th man. PG Cory Joseph and C Aron Baynes are both improving, and F/C Matt Bonner will always make his open looks. This group gets an "A" even with G Patty Mills on the shelf. I should also mention that they're being handled by the best coach in professional sports, Sir Gregg Popovich. 

Sacramento Kings (Grade: D+):  I know it's only one game, but I watched these guys play against the Warriors last night and it was bordering on unbearable. It's gonna be a long season for this group. PG Ramon Sessions is overrated and PF Carl Landry is the only guy I like here.

Utah Jazz (Grade: F):  When Trevor Booker is far and away your best reserve, your team is in serious trouble. 'Nuff said. 

Johnny Fro's NBA Bench Power Rankings

30. Utah Jazz (F)

29. Philadelphia 76ers (F)

28. Orlando Magic (F)

27. Houston Rockets (F)

26. Los Angeles Lakers (D-)

25. Sacramento Kings (D+)

24. Portland Trail Blazers (C-)

23. New Orleans Pelicans (C-)

22. Indiana Pacers (C-)

21. Washington Wizards (C)

20. Miami Heat (C)

19. Charlotte Hornets (C)

18. Cleveland Cavaliers (C)

17. Atlanta Hawks (C)

16. Milwaukee Bucks (C+)

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (C+)

14. Brooklyn Nets (C+)

13. New York Knicks (B-)

12. Memphis Grizzlies (B-)

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (B-)

10. Denver Nuggets (B)

9. Dallas Mavericks (B)

8. Boston Celtics (B+)

7. Phoenix Suns (A-)

6. Los Angeles Clippers (A-)

5. Chicago Bulls (A-)

4. Golden State Warriors (A-)

3. Toronto Raptors (A-)

2. Detroit Pistons (A-)

1. San Antonio Spurs (A)

NBA Report Cards: Grading the East's Benches

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With the 2014-15 NBA season getting under way last night, I decided to do some last-minute research to assess my Nets and Knicks' chances in the Eastern Conference. My research has led me to believe that the success (or lack there of) of many of the East's teams will be determined by their bench production. 

That being said, I've decided to write report cards for all of the teams' reserves (in alphabetical order). We'll see where my Nets and Knicks stand. 

Atlanta Hawks (Grade: C):  Off hand this looks like a very average unit. I love the Hawks' starting core of Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Al Horford, but their bench leaves much to be desired.

PG Dennis Schroder looked over-matched for much of his rookie campaign and the early reports are that rookie PF Adreian Payne isn't ready to contribute. G Shelvin Mack, G Kent Bazemore, F Mike Scott and C Pero Antic are all decent, but nothing to write home about. I think SG/SF Thabo Sefolosha was a waste of a signing. One-dimensional defenders are a rightfully dying art in the NBA. They overpaid for a virtually useless player. 

Brooklyn Nets (Grade: C+):  PG Jarrett Jack looked out of place (and out of shape) with the Cavs last season, but this year he looks trimmer and closer to his old self. When he's right, he's one of the premier reserves in the game. F Mirza Teletovic should be the key player off Brooklyn's pine, finishing in the top 5 or 10 in bench ppg. C Mason Plumlee can rebound and block shots, but I think he's become a bit overrated league wide. He can't create anything for himself. SG/SF Alan Anderson will again be asked to be a solid contributor.

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Boston Celtics (Grade: B+):  This looks to be one of the better benches in the conference. PG Marcus Smart is a rookie, but he plays with control and understanding. I think up-and-coming head coach Brad Stevens has already had a positive impact on him. SG Marcus Thornton brings energy and instant offense, and is always one of the leaders in reserve scoring. SF Evan Turner's versatility makes him very useful on both sides of the ball. PF Brandon Bass could be a starter on a lot of teams. He's simply a solid professional big. Rookie SG/SF James Young will be an interesting player to monitor once healthy. 

Charlotte Hornets (Grade: C):  The fate of this bench is in the hands of SG/SF Gerald Henderson and SG Gary Neal. If they are shooting well this can be a productive unit; if they are off, the Hornets have nowhere else to turn. PG Brian Roberts is decent but not a game changer, and their frontcourt of PF Cody Zeller and C Bismack Biyombo has been a disappointment, though both players are still very young. Biyombo is a good shotblocker but brings absolutely nothing else.

Chicago Bulls (Grade: A-):  Not only is this unit talented, but it also features superior chemistry between its top two performers. PF Taj Gibson and G Kirk Hinrich (pick-and-roll partners) are the seasoned leaders of this group, and SF Doug McDermott, PG Aaron Brooks, SF Tony Snell and F Nikola Mirotic should supplement them quite well. Head coach Tom Thibodeau extracts the maximum from his reserves. Gibson is probably the best all-around bench player in the NBA. 

Cleveland Cavaliers (Grade: C):  This sub-par grade isn't necessarily reflective of the talent of the group; it's more about the usage. New head coach Dave Blatt has decided to start Dion Waiters at SG, and I think that's a mistake. Waiters is an excellent one-on-one scorer who likes to get his touches, and I'm not sure he'll get what he wants playing with LeBron, Kyrie and K-Love. The bench will suffer without Waiters. PF/C Tristan Thomspon will have to be the leading scorer for this unit. I think Blatt would be better off starting F Shawn Marion and letting Waiters carry the bench. SG/SF Mike Miller would also be a better option to start. 

Detroit Pistons (Grade: A-):  Stan Van Gundy's bench may have the best 1-2 punch in the conference featuring PF/C Greg Monroe and PG DJ Augustin. Definite similarities to Gibson and Hinrich. The Pistons should also expect solid contributions from veteran SF Caron Butler, underrated swingman Cartier Martin and eventually either SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Jodie Meeks, depending on who starts when Meeks returns from injury. Lot of talent here. 

Indiana Pacers (Grade: C-):  In terms of talent this is probably closer to a D+ bench, but the reserve experience that PF Luis Scola and G CJ Watson bring is definitely valuable. SF Chris Copeland will have to shoot the lights out for this team to compete. C Ian Mahinmi never seems to improve his game. 

Miami Heat (Grade: C):  I don't know why teams keep giving SF Danny Granger a chance. He's finished. Everyone needs to let go. G Mario Chalmers will be asked to lead this group, and the Heat's brass hopes rookie PG Shabazz Napier will be right there with him. Birdman and F Shawne Williams will continue to do their thing defensively. This is an average group. 

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Milwaukee Bucks (Grade: C+):  Since we don't really know Jason Kidd's starters, this is kind of a guessing game. I will assume Jabari Parker and Brandon Knight are the most likely starters. If he plays it safe the rest of the starting lineup will consist of Ersan Ilyasova, Larry Sanders and Giannas Antetokounmpo. That leaves SG OJ Mayo as the top gun for a bench that will also rely upon F Khris Middleton, C John Henson, PG Kendall Marshall and G Jerryd Bayless. There's talent here, I'm just not sure how it's going to be utilized. This team is similar to the Celtics and Pistons, in that their starters and reserves are mostly interchangeable. 

New York Knicks (Grade: B-):  Led by the big-name duo of Amare Stoudemire and JR Smith, this unit might actually be the strength of Derek Fisher's team. G Tim Hardaway Jr.'s game is perfect for a reserve scoring role, and PG Shane Larkin seems to be popular within the organization. Like the Celtics, Pistons and Bucks, the Knicks have a number of interchangeable starters and reserves (with the exception of Melo). Only time will tell if that's a good thing.

Orlando Magic (Grade: F):  Orlando was the only team from the East to play on opening night, and boy, it wasn't pretty. Simply put, their bench is terrible. Especially with both Victor Oladipo and Channing Frye out with injuries. This group will be leaning heavily on veterans Ben Gordon and Luke Ridnour, and that isn't really a good thing. The rest of this unit isn't even worth mentioning. Definitely the worst thus far.

Philadelphia 76ers (Grade: F):  Tony Wroten and a bunch of scrubs. Not even worth talking about. This organization should be ashamed. 

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Toronto Raptors (Grade: A-):  This unit, led by G Greivis Vasquez and F Patrick Patterson, was very solid last season. The savvy additions of G "Sweet" Lou Williams and F James Johnson have only strengthened this group. I like what the Raptors organization is building. They should be a top team in the East again this year.

Washington Wizards (Grade: C):  I really like the addition of PF Kris Humphries, but I'm not particularly enthralled with the rest of this group. I think PG Andre Miller is finished -- he creates tension and trouble more than anything else. PF Drew Gooden is a solid vet. SF Otto Porter and SG Glen Rice, Jr. will have to break out in order for this bench to be above-average. 

Official Bench Power Rankings (East)

15. Philadelphia 76ers (F)

14. Orlando Magic (F)

13. Indiana Pacers (C-)

12. Washington Wizards (C)

11. Miami Heat (C)

10. Charlotte Hornets (C)

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (C)

8. Atlanta Hawks (C)

7. Milwaukee Bucks (C+)

6. Brooklyn Nets (C+)

5. New York Knicks (B-)

4. Boston Celtics (B+)

3. Chicago Bulls (A-)

2. Toronto Raptors (A-)

1. Detroit Pistons (A-)

My 200 Favorite Movies: David Fincher's "Gone Girl" Subverts Expectations

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David Fincher's twisty mystery drama Gone Girl, based on Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel and starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne, had a $61 million budget. In just two weeks at the box office, it has grossed $78.3 million and is on the way to becoming Fincher's most successful film to date. 

No small feat for a director whose resume boasts popular titles including Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which grossed a career-best $127.5 million), The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. 

So why all the hype?

For starters, Gone Girl leaves you with an awful lot to digest. What begins as a mystery centered on the disappearance of Amy Dunne -- Nick's witty, intellectual and strikingly beautiful wife -- swiftly and steadily develops into much more than that. By the time the ending credits rolled, I was thinking less about what happened to Nick and Amy and more about the message Fincher and Flynn were trying to convey. 

Is Gone Girl a scathing allegory about the deflating or perhaps strangulating nature of modern marriages? Is it an extreme example of Only Child Syndrome gone terribly, terribly wrong? Is it a subliminal experiment meant to divide audiences between those who are willing to think for themselves and those who simply accept everything at face value? Is it a feminist piece that ultimately comes to a decidedly un-feminist conclusion?

I suppose that is for you to decide. Maybe it's just a movie about a guy who may or may not have murdered his wife and disposed of her body. Could be. 

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As for the performances, Affleck and Pike are steady forces throughout. I wasn't particularly fond of Flynn's dialogue during their "meet-cute" scenes in the early going -- much of their initial flirting came off contrived and unnatural -- but Affleck and Pike did their best with what they were given. The same could be said of Carrie Coon's (who plays Nick's loyal twin sister, Margo) dialogue in the first act. I would say the first 15 minutes of the film are the weakest, but it's all uphill from there. 

Once the plot thickens and one twist leads to the next, the key characters begin to flesh out and the performances escalate to a whole new level. In the first half of the film, Coon is intended to serve as the obligatory comic relief, but she actually becomes more likable and believable as the heavy dramatic aspects of the story begin to effect her directly. She opened as the most annoying character and closed as quite possibly my favorite. I was really empathizing with her during some difficult moments in the final act. 

Kim Dickens (Detective Rhonda Boney) and Tyler Perry (Tanner Bolt, Esq.) also deserve special mention for their impressive turns. Often times in a mystery the perpetrators seem to be one step ahead of the ill-prepared and stubborn cop characters throughout the proceedings, but that isn't the case here. Detective Boney is sharp, efficient, meticulous and most importantly, she does her best to reserve judgment in the absence of all of the facts. Dickens had my full attention every time she appeared on screen. 

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Perry, despite being in a small role, is a revelation. Known for the more obvious and mainstream humor he relies upon in the films he writes and directs, the laughs he generates here couldn't be any more to the contrary. As attorney Tanner Bolt, Perry entertains with his confident and assured delivery of well-timed quips. I had no idea that Perry had a character like this in his repertoire. 

Going back to the stars, Affleck seems to have revitalized his acting career by selecting roles that don't require much acting. Once viewed as a cocky, outspoken performer, the veteran Affleck now seeks calm, reserved and at times catatonic characters. The range he has to display as Nick Dunne is very subtle. The same could be said for his central role in Argo. 

As for Pike, she is sufficiently unsettling by film's end. To say much more about her character wouldn't be prudent of me. 

All things considered, Gone Girl is certainly worth the price of admission. Perhaps its greatest gift is the conversation its ending is bound to start. 

** JOHNNY FRO'S RATING: 9 out of 10 **