This week, I made my usual contribution to the movie review section, offering up an assessment of Putty Hill, a film that has, in my opinion, some clear forefathers. It’s the sort of lo-fi cinema wonder that gets extra credit when it’s discovered at a film festival, where its unassuming nature always feels a little fresher. It’s very good, but has some of the hard-to-dodge flaws built into its understated methodology.

Then there were a couple pile-on pieces that included my humble contribution. The first was the latest List Inconsequential, which focused on books that elicited tears. I’m not sure my selection actually made me cry, but it certainly hit me hard. To give due credit, I likely never would have even cracked that book if not for the informal little long-distance reading club I entered into with my friend Holly a couple of summers ago.

Finally, as a site that expended digital ink on movies, weighing in on the Oscars is almost an obligation. I was one of many voices contributing to that piece. I mostly reiterated things I’ve already typed out here, I’ll admit that I was pleased to have a fresh opportunity to heap contempt on Biutiful.