Beltmann

I enjoyed Parachutes and especially Rush of Blood. I thought X/Y was a colossal bore, but I'm hoping they will once again make decent music. Since I don't listen to much radio, or watch much TV, I guess the hype machine doesn't factor into my response. But that's an issue completely separate from the music itself, isn't it?

I see a kitten wearing a sweater. I suspect your browser cache just needs to be cleared. Once you do that, you'll see what we see!

Two of the most welcoming voices on VC share a birthday? Sounds astrological...

I understand what you're saying, but our society has clearly made exceptions to your rigid theory, usually on the grounds that such exceptions are in the general interest of the society. One example is free public education for all--it is illegal for schools, which provide a service, to turn away students. Perhaps people do not have a legal "right" to health care, but in my view it is in the general interest of our society to provide it. More importantly, in a prosperous society we have an ethical obligation to take care of each other.

Kamikaze Hearts Centro-Matic Joanna Newsom TV On the Radio Band of Horses

Thank you for sharing your story, Tristan.

I don't have to be in the right mood to enjoy the eels. No great work of art is ever truly depressing--the subject matter might be difficult, but I always feel lifted by the sense of artistic accomplishment. You know what I do find depressing, though? Bad music.

Seconded.

I can understand this. I can't resist listening to live bootlegs along the way--it's fun to observe the evolution--but I won't seek the leaked album. I'll wait until I actually have the CD in my hands.

I found it distracting for about 15 minutes, but only because I know that's not DiCaprio's real voice. But once I became absorbed in the story and in his performance, I didn't really notice anymore. You really find DiCaprio lacking as an actor? I know he's got the whole pin-up image problem and the Titanic backlash problem, but the dude's got chops and is only getting better. When separated from hype, his work speaks for itself.

There are many qualification rules, but the date requirements involve this: A movie must be shown commercially for seven consecutive days in Los Angeles County, and that run must open between January 1, 2004 and midnight of December 31, 2004. Basically, a movie qualifies if it screens for a week in at least one LA theater during the calendar year. Both Children of Men and Pan's Labyrinth met those requirements before starting their nation-wide distribution.

"Blasting Fonda" followed by "Cars Can't Escape."

I saw Wax Fang open for MMJ in November, and I've been listening to a few mp3s ever since (including this morning). Really good stuff.

One of the great things about Herzog docs is that he doesn't--can't--leave his stomach out of it.

Alan Keyes is joining the Steelers?

Nice list--there's not an unworthy film on there. Here's my list, as it stands now: 1. Children of Men 2. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada 3. L'Enfant 4. Pan's Labyrinth 5. Requiem 6. The Prestige 7. The Queen 8. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days 9. Old Joy 10. Fateless The Next Ten: A Prairie Home Companion; United 93; The Puffy Chair; Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story; Thank You For Smoking; The Death of Mr. Lazarescu; Workingman

I chose those two examples because they are the most famous, but mostly because the 30-year spread shows the strategy's age. But they aren't the only examples... just two years ago the Broadway production Lennon cast 9 actors in the title role. Granted, most other multiple casting examples offer some kind of literal justification for it within the story

Welcome! This is a great and generous place. Don't know for sure, but if history is any indication, I think you can count on it.

The Top 40 is soma.

I think I'm Not There has terrific potential, especially since its director, Todd Haynes, is a genuine artist with a proven track record. To these eyes, Safe and Far from Heaven are two of the richest American movies of the last 15 years. The concept of employing various actors in a single role may not be conventional, but it's also not particularly new or strange. Considering how Todd Solondz recently used the technique for Palindromes and how Luis Bunuel used it for That Obscure Object of Desire way back in 1977, Haynes' decision to use different actors to metaphorically embody the vario

Today I took in a double feature of Pan's Labyrinth and Letters from Iwo Jima. I'm not a huge fantasy fan, but I was spellbound by Pan--I'd much rather watch it a second time than any of the LOTR flicks. For at least an hour, Iwo Jima feels like any other recent war movie, but it definitely accumulates power, especially as it takes on metaphorical meanings that can be readily applied to our current zeal for launching wars.