#23 — Y Tu Mama Tambien (Alfonso Cuaron, 2001) In a recent issue of the U.K. movie magazine Empire, Francis Ford Coppola took a swipe at Steven Spielberg, asking him, though an editorial intermediary, when he was going to finally … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 00s — Number Twenty-Three
Still recovering. While I risk falling further behind on the big ongoing project by caving to this diversion, I think this is the proper way to fill this digital space today. This is presented partially as a tribute to my favorite band named after Muppets. (Posted simultaneously to “Jelly-Town!”) Continue reading Gonna rap about this, gonna rap about that, gonna tell everybody where it’s at
The inventions in this entry are utilized in Fantastic Four #40 (July 1965) TV EYE. The cutting edge in surveillance equipment, the TV Eye is a levitating sphere approximately six inches in diameter. It is equipped with a video camera which can be programmed to find specific targets, even on a bustling New York City street. It is launched from a modified gunmetal rifle, which is equipped with viewfinder that allows for surreptitious viewing. It’s doggedness upon acquiring its target is unparalleled. As Richards himself notes, “Once it zeroes in on a subject, there’s no way to outrun it.” ELECTRIC … Continue reading The Consummate Compendium of the Inventions of Dr. Reed Richards
I’ve been atypically quiet for the past couple of days for a very simple reason: this weekend was dominated by a necessary trip to my homeland. So how effectively did I manage to fit in some of the most important cultural touchstones of Wisconsin? Gray skies. Check. Scraggly, winter-dead trees across the landscape. Check. A reception in an American Legion hall. Check. The chicken dance enthusiastically performed at said reception. Check. A Packers loss. Check. A robust new illness making me throat feel like it’s been scraped with a rusty metal rake. Check. Tomorrow, we’ll return to our regular programming. … Continue reading Back from Dairyland
In the spirit of Phish’s Halloween costumes (which is the only thing I find interesting about Phish), we today present a musician in disguise. This song has made many, many travels around the Interweb, but it looks like it’s been a bit of time since anyone’s posted it anew. Not much else to note about it, largely because I’m a few hours from getting on a plane, and I’m terribly strapped for time. I’ll do better next week. Ted Leo, “Since U Been Gone” (Disclaimer: Correctly or not, I operate with the assumption that this cover has never been properly … Continue reading One for Friday: Ted Leo, “Since U Been Gone”
#24 — Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Woody Allen, 2008) It’s now been over thirty years since Woody Allen cast his cynicism in unyielding bronze by having Alvy Singer assess the state of his relationship with Annie Hall through the use of … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 00s — Number Twenty-Four
#25 — In America (Jim Sheridan, 2002) It’s tempting when designating a film as great to expound on all the big, significant things that it does, to point out its mastery of delicate topics or celebrate the way it gets … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 00s — Number Twenty-Five
Halfway through seems like a good time for a recap. Here’s what we’ve covered thus far: 50. Triviatown (Patrick Cady and Brit McAdams, 2006) 49. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001) 48. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Peter Jackson, 2003) 47. Far From Heaven (Todd Haynes, 2002) 46. The Savages (Tamara Jenkins, 2007) 45. Vera Drake (Mike Leigh, 2004) 44. Lars and the Real Girl (Craig Gillespie, 2007) 43. The Brothers Bloom (Rian Johnson, 2009) 42. Trouble the Water (Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, 2008) 41. Spider-Man 2 (Sam Raimi, 2004) 40. In the Bedroom … Continue reading Top 50 Films of the 00s — Halfway Point
Snow Angels (David Gordon Green, 2008). A grim, atmospheric drama about people living small, desolate lives and the way a family tragedy accentuates the levels of their dismay to such a point that bad choices begin to take over. Green handles the film with an elegant restraint that sometimes veers close to bloodlessness, but overall gives it a hard, tense sheen. Adapted from a novel, the film sometimes feels as though it’s missing out on the deeper psychological understanding that’s far easier to realize on the page than on the screen. It offers up nice actorly moments for Sam Rockwell … Continue reading Apted, Ashby, Cammisa, Green, Soderbergh
#26 — City of God (Fernando Meirelles with Katia Lund, 2002) I mean it as about the strongest compliment I can muster when I assert that City of God is reminiscent of Martin Scorsese at his rawest and most freewheeling. … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 00s — Number Twenty-Six
Coffee for Two 