1. 112 (f. Notorious B.I.G.) – Only You (Puff Daddy Remix) (1996)

2. Next – Butta Love (1997)

3. Dru Hill – How Deep is Your Love (1998)

4. Keith Sweat – Nobody (1997)

5. Ginuwine – Pony (1996)

6. Toni Braxton – You’re Makin’ Me High (1997)

7. The Fugees – Killing Me Softly (1996)

8. Aaliyah – One in a Million (1996)

9. D’Angelo – Brown Sugar (1995)

10. Missy Elliott (f. 702 and Magoo) – Beep Me 911 (1998)

11. En Vogue – Don’t Let Go (1997)

12. Usher – You Make Me Wanna (1997)

13. Mariah Carey – Honey (1997)

14. Blackstreet (f. Dr Dre and Queen Pen) – No Diggity (1996)

15. Maxwell – Sumthin’ Sumthin’ (1996)

16. Lauryn Hill – Everything is Everything (1998)

A fairly pedestrian “love” story saved by fine film-making. Some of the things that set it apart:

1. The exercise of platonicism – so rare in film and so jarring.

2. The way Tony Leung holds and smokes his cigarettes.

3. The way Maggie Cheung moves in those dresses.

4. The way Wong Kar-wai uses Yumeji’s Theme.

I’ll begin with some positives. Morso is in a terrific location. It has a very cool interior – it’s small but the interior design and layout take maximum advantage of the space. The music was a good background sountrack that accentuated conversation without dominating it. But I’ve seen a lot of places with similar quality of design and atmosphere (Turkish restaurant example: Turcusine in Herndon) and really it’s the food that counts. In that respect, the bread was excellent despite the fact that the oven was metal instead of clay or brick. They have Kara Efe (although the raki service is lacking). And the yogurt selections that came with the bread were terrific.

Time to bitch. The menu itself is not too extensive and four of the items we selected were not available. The server told us one item had not been available for over two weeks. That’s bullshit. This place has only been open for two months but come on you need to have these things figured out before opening. It’s just wrong to receive your third, fourth and fifth options when you’re paying this much for the food. It’s one thing to run out of food on a busy weekend night (which would be pretty rookie in the first place) but to have practically half your menu missing on a lazy weekday night is pathetic.

The food itself was okay. The fish dish – I can’t remember the exact fish – was excellent. It was better than a lot of dishes you get at a place that specializes in seafood. The lamb chops were good but it’s hard to mess that up. The stuffed baby eggplant was laughable – I mean, it was one of those dishes that you can’t help but smirk at because of its pretension. A very small ring of pureed eggplant surrounding a walnut filling. Good but an absolute waste of money. The kibbeh were tough and salty. And the ground lamb kebab – basically an Adana kebab – was no better than what you’d get at Moby Dick. The main issue with the food was the liberal use of salt. I’ve been drinking water for the past hour in a desperate attempt to save my kidneys from future trips to the dialysis machine.

Perhaps most disappointing was the raki service. Raki should be poured at the table though if ordering a single glass bringing it out pre-poured is acceptable. But the water should be chilled and available in a vessel from which it exits easily – like a ewer or something with a wide lip. Not another raki glass. And there should be some means to put ice in your glass beyond your fingers. The preferred solution is the server topping off your glass with the ice but if that’s not going to happen then at least leave some tongs.

I guess the main issue was that I expected much more than what I got – which was an average experience where the food was pretty good. A place like this should be an ambassador of Turkish cuisine but ends up being just another Middle Eastern place. Perhaps in time they will figure things out but right now I would be hard-pressed to recommend to anyone. I certainly won’t be bringing my parents here or any friends interested in Turkish cuisine. There are plenty of other Turkish restaurants in the area that offer the same or better quality of food without the absurd menu issues. And why come to Morso when you can go to the legendary Zaytinya – more authentic, more delicious, more consistent and a better value?

I caught Inception on an IMAX screen last week and it’s the best movie I’ve seen this year. I’ve watched a lot of films so far – an unseemly amount. I keep a list on a legal pad and it’s over 70 right now. Most of them were released in past years so it’s difficult to comprehensively state that Inception is the finest film released this year but maybe we should set aside the bests and the comparisons and just say it’s fantastic. It’s a wonderfully entertaining film that begs to be watched on a big screen. It’s an essential example of why we pay inflated prices for a couple hours of mindless escapism. I hesitate to say it’s brilliant but it’s certainly in the upper tier of that wonderful segment of film-making that targets pure enjoyment and breathless entertainment over, say, technical aptitude or serious plotting and character development.

I’ve read some reviews that criticize the film for its lack of character development and a plot that almost denies any attempt at emotional investiture. I can’t disagree with such an assessment but it’s besides the point. I don’t know the intentions of the director or much care but there seems to be a belief that just because the premise of the film uses some seemingly innovative concepts – the ability to construct dreams for other people – it should transcend the action-adventure film into something Charlie Kaufman might write. That’s baloney. It’s a film where the premise heightens the action and the enjoyment rather than dominates it. It’s a concept that Christopher Nolan has played with before – both Memento and The Prestige have uncommon structures that add to the entertainment but don’t try to masturbate over how uncommon they really are. You might call it pseudo-deep – a sort of concept wherein the film elevates a common action-adventure romp into a more sophisticated spectacle that falls purposely far short of Bergman or Fellini. After all, it’s meant as entertainment for the masses.

In the past 15 years, many of my favorite action movies have disregarded or poorly developed their characters or plot. The Matrix, the Bourne films, Mission:Impossible, Goldeneye, Casino Royale, etc. These are action films. It’s escapism. I’ve argued before and I’ll argue again that the purest and greatest form of film is the action movie – it allows us to experience the impossible and the amazing and really no other artistic format allows for that in such an immersive manner. Inception is in the same vein. I don’t know how it will stack up on rewatching. I’m not even sure if I’d call it mind-blowing. I think the last film to reach mind-blowing status was the Matrix, which was completely revolutionary, or perhaps the Lord of the Rings trilogy (honestly, does anyone think Avatar did anything technically that surpassed what Peter Jackson and crew did 5+ years ago?). But, who cares, it’s an intricately built, popcorn-shoveling adventure of a movie.

I can’t help but compare it to another film I viewed recently: Synecdoche, New York. This is the film that Roger Ebert named his best of the decade and the reason I name-checked Charlie Kaufman earlier (he wrote and directed the film). The reason I can’t help but compare is that both in a way deal with mind-fucks. In Inception, Nolan serves many scenes in a way that you’re not really certain what’s reality and what’s a dream. In Synecdoche, as the film goes on, what’s real and what’s staged in a play begin to muddle together as time contracts and characters multiply. What was a promising concept devolves into a confusing soup of people who never really get developed. The film centers around Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character but even all the clever allusions to diseases of the mind can’t hide the fact that his character never progresses beyond a one-note, one-dimensional walking advertisement for melancholy and loneliness. The difference between the two films is that Inception’s success doesn’t ride on the audience’s emotional attachment with a character – Synecdoche depends on it and ultimately fails. Inception is an action movie at heart and should be judged on its merits as such – and a terrific action movie it is.

Group A

France * Mexico * South Africa * Uruguay

One of the more interesting groups. France, a supposed powerhouse, are struggling and many would not be surprised by a repeat of the 2002 disaster. South Africa are weak but should be buoyed by the home crowd.

Players:
Luis Suarez – Uruguay
He averaged more than a goal a game for Ajax. Can Suarez convince a big club to take a risk on him by proving he can score on the biggest stage?

Yoann Gourcuff – France
One moment he’s being touted by everyone, the next he’s under the radar. A gifted midfielder, I think France’s hopes rest with his play.

First: Mexico
Second: South Africa

I’m going with the trendy pick of France failing at the first hurdle and I think South Africa will have enough to reach the knockout rounds. FIFA needs them to make it.

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Group B

Argentina * Greece * Nigeria * South Korea

Argentina should win this group at a canter despite a poor qualifying campaign. The other three teams have had better days.

Players:
Angel di Maria – Argentina
I’m excited to see this winger. I haven’t seen him play but from all I’ve read he’s on another level on the flanks.

First: Argentina
Second: Nigeria

Argentina with nine points. Nigeria is just a random pick. Wouldn’t be surprised if Greece bored their way into the next round.

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Group C

Algeria * England * Slovenia * United States

Many people think it’s cut and dry but I think Slovenia has a very good chance of advancing and Algeria are actually decent.

Players:
Robbie Findley – USA
I saw this guy in a couple of friendlies and he has enough pace and wiliness that he can cause havoc in opposing defenses as an impact substitute.

First: England
Second: USA

England are good against this level of competition. I was tempted to pick Slovenia but I don’t know how well they’ll do so far from home.

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Group D

Australia * Germany * Ghana * Serbia

A fascinating group. Injuries make things more even – Germany’s captain Ballack is out and so is Ghana’s best player Michael Essien.

Players:
Mesut Ozil – Germany
I wonder how much time he’ll get but he’s the kind of offensive creator that Germany don’t often have.

Milos Krasic – Serbia
I’ve heard a lot about this guy and I’m excited to see him in action. Supposedly a fantastic talent.

First: Serbia
Second: Germany

Serbia is a popular pick but that’s because they are seriously good. Australia are unlucky to be in this group cause they have second-round talent and Ghana can cause problems even with a depleted squad.

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Group E

Cameroon * Denmark * Netherlands * Japan

Looks straightforward to me. Cameroon are missing Mikel due to injury and Samuel Eto’o is not happy. Japan don’t have enough quality.

Players:
Eljero Elia – Netherlands
I’m not sure if he’ll get a chance because of all the other attackers in the squad but this winger is something special.

First: Netherlands
Second: Denmark

Netherlands even without Robben should get through although they do make it tough sometimes. Denmark are sneaky good.

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Group F

Italy * New Zealand * Paraguay * Slovakia

Similar to Group A in that Italy are not what they used to be. Except New Zealand have no chance.

First: Slovakia
Second: Italy

Italy refused to go young in their squad and that could cost them. Slovakia have a lot of good players and had a great qualifying campaign.

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Group G

Brazil * Ivory Coast * North Korea * Portugal

Three good teams (on paper) and a complete unknown.

Players:
Kader Keita – Ivory Coast
I saw him quite a lot this year because he plays in the Turkish league. A winger who’s strong and quick and with a nose for the goal. Usually comes on as a sub for the Ivory Coast.

First: Brazil
Second: Ivory Coast

Didier Drogba may have a broken arm but he’s set to play for the Ivory Coast and Portugal have been abysmal in the last two years. So bad that North Korea have a chance of a point against them.

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Group H

Chile * Honduras * Spain * Switzerland

Spain will win the group but the other three teams are all good. There are no whipping boys here.

Players:
Eren Derdiyok – Switzerland
A young striker who keeps improving and keeps scoring.

Juan Mata – Spain
Spain have a lot of young, exciting firepower on the bench and Juan Mata is the type of winger who can inject some instant excitement as a substitute.

First: Spain
Second: Chile

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Second Round:
If it works out this way some really exciting matches in the first knockout round.
Mexico v Nigeria – Wow, this is a dud. Could be France here instead of Mexico.
England v Germany – Hard to bet against either team but it’s hard seeing Germany NOT in a quarterfinal.

Serbia v USA – Serbia are good. No good strikers but still really quite good.
Argentina – South Africa – The hosts get to bow out of the competition with a marquis matchup.

Netherlands v Italy – Repeat of Euro 2008 where Netherlands crushed Italy? With these squads I wouldn’t be surprised.
Brazil v Chile – Chile is good but Brazil is too good.

Slovakia v Denmark – Looks a dud on paper but could be one of the more exciting games.
Spain v Ivory Coast – Spain have too much for Africa’s best team in the competition.

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Quarterfinals

Netherlands v Brazil – Brazil are very solid defensively. Very very solid. What’s a World Cup without Brazil beating the Netherlands?
Mexico v Germany – It could be France here instead of Mexico.

Serbia v Argentina – In 2006, Argentina won 6-0. World Cups have recently had surprise semifinalists and Serbia can easily be one.
Spain v Denmark – Denmark can be another. But Spain is too good.

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Semifinals

Germany v Brazil – Rematch of 2002 final but as has been the case for Germany their quality just isn’t enough at this stage.
Spain v Argentina – This what everyone wants to see. Spain or Argentina against Brazil in the final. I’ve seen Spain crush their opponents too many times in the past four years to think they won’t make it to the final.

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Finals

Spain v Brazil – The bookmakers’ favorites for a reason. The Spanish squad is just oozing with a level of quality that even Brazil must envy at this point.

So there it is. Spain win the World Cup after winning Euro 2008 and cement their position among the greatest sides ever.

When we look at Barcelona now and consider them the greatest team in the world (despite being knocked out of the Champions League this week) it’s interesting to note that they’ve had two different great squads this decade. The current one is inspired by Messi and Xavi. The previous was all Ronaldinho.

For a couple of seasons, Ronaldinho was untouched as the finest player in the world. He single-handedly made Barcelona relevant again and helped add a second European Cup to the Catalan club’s coffers. Perhaps he became a victim of his own marketing and he burned out far too quickly. For four seasons between the World Cups in 2002 and 2006 he amazed and thrilled football fans.

This goal took place against Chelsea in the Champions League in the first knockout round. It was one of the most engrossing matches in Europe this past decade. Barcelona took a 2-1 lead to London and but were blitzed by three Chelsea goals in the first 10-15 minutes. Ronaldinho put Barcelona back in contention with a penalty and this spectacular goal. Chelsea eventually scored in the second half and advanced. They would lose in the semifinals to Liverpool (who went on to win the famous final in Istanbul against Milan). Barcelona would defeat Chelsea in the same round the next year en route to becoming European champions.

The goal I’m talking about is the second one in the video below but the first one is pretty awesome too so enjoy.

Thought I’d add Cantona’s famous kung fu kick of a fan (which was kind of a fail but funny nevertheless). The video below has both the kick and his classic post-kick press conference.

“When seagulls follow a trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. “

Denmark however would go on to win the game and advance out of the group. They were eliminated in the subsequent round.