Happy 50th Birthday John Cusack

John Cusack celebrates his 50^th birthday today.

1988 Orion Pictures "Eight Men Out" #12 John Cusack as Buck Weaver 

Cusack is a little over a year older than myself and due to a combination of our age and his prolific output he is probably the actor with Whom I most identify.

Three of his films standout to me: Eight Men Out – cited by the card above which as a period piece set a century ago resonates with me because of my interest in baseball; Grosse Pointe Blank – A class reunion flick that helps me revisit the middle 80s; and High Fidelity – my other obsession(s) pop music and extended adolescence.

Happy Birthday to John Cusack and thanks for growing up (or not growing up) with me.

1988 Orion Pictures "Eight Men Out" #12 John Cusack as Buck Weaver (b-side)

 
Cusack's Eight Men Out card does a nice job of summing up his early career. I think I may have seen the triumvirate of films mentioned Class, The Sure Thing and Sixteen Candles in the theater.   


Also a nice shout-out to Chicago - Like Eight Men Out, Class and Sixteen Candles were both set in Chicago as was High Fidelity. 

A bit of sloppiness on Pacific's part though - I have never seen Sixteen Candles written as "16 Candles"  
 
Sources and Links
Vittles Pop
Imdb

John Hughes Memorial Trading Card Trivia Contest

In honor of the work of John Hughes, Team Phungo presents the

John Hughes Memorial Trading Card Trivia Contest!

I have 10 cards listed below and your job is to connect them to the correct movie. I have basically stuck to the movies Hughes directed and wrote during his mid to late 80s period.

I would like to run this as a contest, similar to Spot the Sig I have given each card a base hit value, if one accumulates enough hits they will score runs. Whoever scores the most runs wins.

There are some caveats:
-You must answer the movies in order and answer all of the movies
-If you miss a movie thats an out
-If you accumulate 3 outs you are done scoring
-Some movies are mentioned more than once and some not at all.

A perfect game would be 10 runs. Some of the Homers are distant connections that may only make sense in my own twisted mind, but it's my game so I make up the rules. Answer in the comments. Winner gets crowned King or Queen of the 80s and pile of junk cards from their favorite team.


A - 2003 Doruss Studio #113 Sammy Sosa
single



B - 1988 Pacific Eight Men Out #34 "Buck Weaver"
single

C - 2008 Allen Ginter #119 Billy Mitchell
double

D - 2008 Allen Ginter #144 Grand Canyon
single


E - 2005 UD ESPN #90 Vernon Wells
triple


F - 2008 Goudey #276 Bruce Jenner - Sports Royalty
Home Run!!!


G - 2008 Goudey #HPC-10 Mr Hockey - Hit Parade of Champions
triple



H - 1997 Donurss #203 Frank Banham
Home Run!!!



I - 2008 Topps #297 Tony Romo Pro Bowl QB and
2006 Fleer #33 Kevin Jones
Home Run!!!



J - 2007 Topps #DS28 George Bush - Distinguished Service
Home Run!!!

There you go have fun and good luck.

Since this is a weekend I will give till 6pm (eastern) on Monday 8/10 for folks to get their guesses in.

If there is a tie, the first entry will win.

The comments are open, so one can wait and vulture answers or try and get an entry in quick in an effort to be the first to get all 10 movies.