I avoided enough of the raindrops tonight and made it over to Cinemark to see "Senna". For this documentary, there were more in attendance than some features I have seen. It's not really difficult to see the hold that Ayrton Senna still has over people. The greatest Formula One driver ever. And this doc is actually quite brilliant, catching all of the Senna magic. Great use of archival footage and no talking heads. Uses interviews from the past and only voiceovers from the same participants today.

Covers a lot in Senna's racing career. You can't dream up a hero like Senna and the villains, across the board, in the world of Formula One. We get the drives in the rain (including Monaco), Senna in the John Player Special (the best looking car ever in F1) for Lotus, the rivalry with Alain Prost at McLaren and then Ferrari and Williams, the politics of the FIA, the many dramatic incidents at the GPs of Japan, the first win at Brazil, some late Nigel Mansell and early Michael Schumacher driving, the three World Championships, the move to Williams and the fateful weekend at Imola (including Barichello's horrific crash and the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna).

This is an ESPN Films production, so I have to believe it gets an airdate there. Has to be a Documentary Oscar nominee...it's that great.

Top Gear Senna Tribute



Meal of Links

Cliff Robertson died today. For all of his roles, the one that sticks out for me was "The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid".

Uh, about that Arab Spring we heard so much about. You can't predict what happens in a vacuum.

Beers that America no longer drinks. All you have to do is see the expanded shelf space at your local grocer. Lots more choices.

Exercise Yard

Third weekend for the EPL. Is it already a two-team race?

Visitor

55 Across: "Dead Man Walking" Oscar wnner (8 letters) Answer: Sarandon