Another year of mediocre movies

Race tracks continue to be heavily subsidized by taxpayers, state

The Front Page

Morning Update

Saturday, February 21, 2021

By Ken Tingley

As we come out of the latest surge of Covid-19, many of us hope to find our way back to the movie theater. But you may have to look hard to find a good movie.

For the second straight year, I’ve made it my mission to watch every Academy Award-nominated movies in every category from best picture to best costumes.

I’ll be taking you along for the ride.

Since the Oscar nominations came out last week, I’ve been scouring the streaming services to find the jewels hidden among the rocks. You may remember that last year was not a particularly good year for movies. My initial impression is that this year (2021) is not much better.

Of the 10 Best Picture nominees I have seen six of them - Belfast, CODA, Don’t Look Up, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog. But of those six I can only recommend three - Belfast, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) and King Richard. Two of the other three - Licorice Pizza and The Power of the Dog - have little entertainment value. In fact, I find both to have any redeeming value.

But there is hope if you look a little deeper.

Last year, I found it in the documentary “My Octopus Teacher.” This year I have found in among the animated features with wonderfully entertaining family romp called “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.”

If you are old enough to remember the world without smart phones, you will appreciate the premise of one family saving the world from a takeover by cell phone driven machines.

There is great dialogue, a heart at its core and wonderful action throughout. This movie is not just for kids, but for any adult who believes we have too much technology. You can find the movie streaming on Netflix.

Check it out this Presidents Day weekend.

As a backup, you might want to consider CODA. It is an inspirational tale of a deaf working class family with one hearing daughter who can sing like a dream. You can find Coda on Amazon Prime.

Times Union race series

The image that most of us have of the race track is one of great wealth and success. But in its latest installment of its series on the horse racing industry, the Times Union reveals that all of New York’s race tracks - including Saratoga - are heavily subsidized by taxpayers in the state.

It continues to give millions of dollars in taxpayer money to the New York Racing

Association. It is another important insight into New York’s horse racing industry.

York heading to Plattsburgh

I heard from Plattsburgh Press-Republican editor Joe LoTemplio this week that former Warren County Sheriff Nathan “Bud” York has been appointed the new sheriff in the city of Plattsburgh.

York was most recently in the news running for town supervisor in Warrensburg where he lost to Kevin Geraghty.

Sore winner?

Back in 2014, Rep. Elise Stefanik went toe-to-toe for the Republican Party nomination with Alexandria Bay businessman Matt Doheny.

She went on to defeat him in primaries twice and has risen quickly to the top of national Republican Party politics.

Doheny was back in the news after being endorsed by retiring state Senator Patty Ritchie to take over her senate seat.

But apparently, Rep. Stefanik is still carrying a grudge against Doheny. In a statement reported by North Country Public Radio, she called Doheny a “failed three-time loser.”

Who wins that state senate seat isn’t going to help or hurt Stefanik in Congress so it goes down to what type of person she is and she made that clear with her statement. It seemed uncalled for toward a fellow Republican.

Tweet of the Day

The New York Times @nytimes

The treatment of Kamila Valieva by her coaches was “chilling,” Thomas Bach, the IOC president, said a day after Valieva, the Russian figure skater at the center of doping questions, finished fourth in the women’s singles event at #Beijing2022.

nyti.ms‘Chilling’: I.O.C. president criticizes Valieva’s treatment by her coaches.Russia’s deputy prime minister called Bach’s comments “inappropriate and wrong.”