Around the Horn

Author(s): Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

“Around the Horn"

Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Alexander Payne
Produced by Albert Berger
Music by Pieter Bourke

Principal Cast:

Oliver Platt as Lenny Crow
Denis Leary as Ace Headlee
Jeremy Piven as Clark Quackinbush
Robert Downey JR as John Cannon
Christopher McDonald as Bob Payne
Morgan Spurlock as Himself
David Morse as George Lewis
Michael Rooker as Jim Deikstra
Laura Kightlinger as Lisa Deikstra
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tim Deikstra
Mary-Louise Parker as Connie Preston
Wiley Wiggins as Amber Newman
Terry Crews as LaMarshal Whitney

Tagline: "The words you don't see coming are the ones that hurt the most"

Synopsis: Host Bob Payne and four different citizens with the most hated jobs and opinions from across the country debate the hottest and intense topics live via satellite, "Around the Horn". Imagine one show where the "villains" get to speak, where they get their word in to express their own beliefs. The show often brings on guests to debate the 4 analysts on their own respective topics, and it's no holds barred.

Lenny Crow has the back of perhaps the people that are looked down the most in the country, the obese public. Crow is blind in his left eye which brings many of the other analyst humor, Crow is always knocking over his unseen pen or coffee mug on the left side of his body, but apart from this unusual habit, Crow means business. Crow is sick of these vegetarian, whiny, "eat healthy" activist that need to show themselves on TV every 4 seconds. The fact is the general obesity problem is no ones concern except the obese. Morgan Spurlock is often a guest on the show and is enraged by Crows comments. Perhaps Spurlock did put a hand in abolishing the "super size" option, now the public will just order 2 larges and invest more money in the fast food nation.

Ace Headlee, steroid activist by day, and uh...steroid dealer by night. Headlee is the medias most well known agent in all of sports. With clients in football and baseball, Headlee is a man on a mission, to juice the competition. With his biggest client, all-star left fielder and homerun batting champ LaMarshal Whitney, on suspicion for using horse roids that were strictly given to him from Ace Headlee, George Lewis, a former Senate majority leader, leads the investigation, but it's not enough to stop the problem. Ace has his opportunity to express himself on ATH, and in the end walks away with the cash, and a big old grin on his face.

Clark Quackinbush, the #1 hated man on all feminists, republicans, and pro-life activists lists. Quackinbush is the lead organizer of the biggest pro-abortion cult in the country, BNOB, "Baby Not on Board". Quackinbush is banned from most late night talk shows and is the leads the country for most death threats in one year. His security has doubled ever since the public felt the need to throw bricks through his house windows. Clark and his trusty accomplice Amber Newman (4 abortions to her count) take on the country, expressing the RIGHTS the country has been complaining about for years now, and it is a womans RIGHT if she wants to abort a child she doesn't want. Clark has kids of his own, which only pushes his pro-abortion standards ever further. With his on-going rivalry with feminist Connie Preston, Clark is a very busy man, and it's like he says, "Why be against something that you haven't tried yourself?"

And finally, our fourth and final villain, John Cannon, perhaps the most popular of the bunch, often is a guest on CNN, most media talk shows, Cannon is a ferocious predator with his war beliefs. Not only does Cannon not show a care in the world for the soldiers in battle, but is dealing with a law suit that the Deikstra has put on him. "Why should I feel sorry if a guy gets decapitated on television?" as John likes to say, claiming that if the guy doesn't want to get decapitated, stay home. Tim Deikstra is a soldier in present time and via satellite guest stars on the show against Cannon, debates in which people from all over the country tune into. Cannon's words affected Tim so deeply after 3 or 4 appearances, Tim eventually took his life over seas, in time led to the law suit. Cannon believes this incident alone shows weakness in the country, "how can this all around tough kid be affected by MY WORDS and my words alone?".

Perhaps some of the fueds will end badly, perhaps some will be jailed, some will be broke, but all in all, the show must go on, and not only do the panalyst get to express themselves, but the media is "rolling in the benjamins".

What the press would say:

You may find yourself very nervous when seeing a movie like this. You choose your friends or family carefully, you're not sure who you want to take and you must study their natural beliefs or you know you'll have a heated debate also. From the director of "Borat", Larry Charles brings you the most outrageous comedy since, um, well, Borat, "Around the Horn" is mesmorizing in it's own kind. Strictly led on it's witty, off beat humor and spot on dialogue, each staff and cast member in their own unselfish ways create this raunchy atmosphere that will definitely open some eyes and perhaps make you question your own beliefs. Not all of the film is shot on the talk show, but we get a good evaluation of how these realistic characters live and what they go through, it's truly an amusing matter.

You decide whether the ultra enthusiastic characters are the pro or antagonist, but what doesn't need debated is the performances from each panel member. Oliver Platt plays off his blindness as if he were actually blind, Platt is known for his comic supporting roles, this one will only increase his legacy. Denis Leary takes on the sports world and is so convincing it's hard not to love him. Jeremy Piven is without a doubt the most outspoken, charismatic character in the film, a supporting role that might go down as one of the most memorable. And finally Downey JR, who realistically took the most risky of all roles, that enough deserves credit. JR, who hasen't touched a bad script in so long, continues his comeback journey with his brilliant portayal of a man against sympathy for the "troops". His quote "Excuse me if playing cards and drinking all night doesn't deserve my sympathy" will go down in the books with "I'll make him an offer he won't refuse".

This movie will leave you speechless for a few hours, afterwards you'll be talking about it for days. Comedy has surely lost its touch, but it's guys like Larry Charles and Alexander Payne that bring the true brightness and intellect in comedy. "Around the Horn" shines, and it shines well.

For Your Consider:

Best Picture - Larry Charles, Alexander Payne, and Albert Berger
Best Director - Larry Charles
Best Supporting Actor - Oliver Platt
Best Supporting Actor - Denis Leary
Best Supporting Actor - Jeremy Piven
Best Supporting Actor - Robert Downey JR
Best Original Screenplay - Alexander Payne
Best Film Editing