Beltmann

I saw it over the weekend, and what

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SS!

Mildly clever script helped tremendously by two very funny performances. I enjoyed it.

A little late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Weren't Godard and Truffaut once critics? It's true that much of what passes as "criticism" these days is pretty piss-poor, but I'd still argue that the writings of the best, most perceptive critics are creative acts--even a critic starts by staring at a blank page--that often are far richer than the works they are writing about. Just one of countless personal examples: Jonathan Rosenbaum's writings about Eyes Wide Shut inspired me in more ways, and deeper ways, than the movie itself ever did.

Three... Extremes is an omnibus film of three intense short films by three of Asia's best-known filmmakers. My favorite was probably Park Chan-Wook's Cut, which had the guts to be funny as well as seriously twisted.

As many of you know, my younger brother Anthony was killed last November in a car crash. He was 18 years old. At the time many of you sent many wonderful letters to me and my family, and many of you also donated money to help my parents purchase a training horse in my brother's honor. He loved riding horses, and our family felt that investing in a living creature that would be used to teach others how to ride would be a perfect tribute. After many months of searching (and several deals that fell through), my parents finally settled on a horse. He is named Anthony's Apple. As promised,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Excellent. My wife and I both loved her last stop at the Pabst, and wouldn't miss this return for anything.

It's much more sensitive to use "person first" semantics. For example, "moronic jagoff" is far less sensitive than "jagoff with moronic tendencies."

I saw someone exactly like that at a Riviera show in Milwaukee... wonder if it's the same woman. I think if Beatle Bob pushed his way in front of me and started his dancing, I'd be tempted to wallop him in the ears.

I've been admiring that new avatar ever since you changed it. The pink is a nice touch.

It's already on my list. And I agree that Lapalco isn't as strong as Alternative... but I still like it.

Although the plots share surface similarities, the understated tone of Junebug is really nothing like Doc Hollywood or Napolean Dynamite--a better comparison might be to something like You Can Count On Me, another study of characters, words, and emotions that tempers its humor with undercurrents of disappointment and regret.

I vote for Rosemary's Baby.

All he meant was that the 4 members who live in Chicago were glad to be home, while the other 2 members (1/3 of the band) were happy to be in the city.

Seconded. I love "Hands" (my favorite on the album) and I also really dig Benson's Alternative to Love and Lapalco.

Yeah, Saw II sucks. I don't really like Carpenter's The Thing, either, but since that film came out, many of the best horror films have been made abroad. Off the top of my head: Funny Games, Memento Mori, Little Otik, Kairo, Save the Green Planet!, A Tale of Two Sisters, Wolf Creek. I'm surely forgetting a lot of other good ones, and there's been some good American stuff just under the mainstream radar, too. And the British The Descent looks promising. Actually, Kairo has just been remade here as Pulse, and Funny Games is about to be remade, with Naomi Watts and the original director (M

Ah, that's right... I totally forgot!

Are those the same guys who played at the Chicago DVD shows? I can't remember well enough to place the faces.

There was a maximize toggle button near the bottom of the screen. EDIT: Donna beat me to it!

Yeah, me too. I had the video at fullscreen--all the better to see Jeff's zits.

You've got a point there. However, if breasts are the greatest thing on the planet, then farts must rank at least third. Throw in an Aerobie, and this thread has everything!

My wife said he looked like a vagrant, and that he might rob her. But she has a phobia about robbers.