Beltmann

I'm looking for a vasectomy cheap; are you busy over spring break?

Now that the bill has passed, a new Gallup poll shows more Americans support the passage than oppose it. 49% of national adults think it is a "good thing," while 40% think it is a "bad thing."

I saw earlier today a breakdown of a reform poll--I think it was on CNN, but I don't have time now to double-check, so hopefully memory serves--that said 13% of those opposed only opposed the bill because it doesn't go far enough. Assuming that's accurate, if we swing those into the pro-refom column, we have a considerable majority that favors the bill or a more expansive bill. And yet we're supposed to believe that "Americans" oppose expansive health reform?

Weekend flicks: I loved Moon, but thought Zombieland was at best okay. And I finally caught up with Shutter Island, which was a blast. Works on every level: As a twisty-mystery, a suspense thriller, a psychological drama, a gothic melodrama, a study of loss, a study of post-traumatic stress. There are three twists at the end, and the first two are half-expected all along but saved through impeccable staging. The third--the ambiguity of the final line, which suggests not regression but an utterly rational decision--caught me off guard, and adds true depth, especially in context of the film

Glad I'm not the only who thought that was excellent.

FYI: The National is scheduled to play on Jimmy Fallon's show tonight, Wednesday 3-10.

You might be right, but I thought she was referring to a different controversy: Apparently, some people in Hollywood thought Mo'Nique should have campaigned harder for herself--I guess the way she refused to play the typical Hollywood campaign game was "scandalous" and alienated some of the Academy voters.

Me too. I actually didn't know she was on the album until I listened to it and heard that familiar, distinctive voice. Made me like the album even more.

I love Be Set Free. In the last few months, I'm not sure I've listened to another album more.

I haven’t watched much else in the last six weeks, but a few weeks back I had some surgery and was laid up for about four days. I grasped that opportunity to watch a bunch of DVDs. In order of preference: Passing Strange / Spike Lee / USA / 2009 Bright Star / Jane Campion / UK / 2009 Che: Parts One and Two / Steven Soderbergh / USA / 2008 Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs / Phil Lord and Chris Miller / USA / 2009 We’re No Angels / Neil Jordan / USA / 1989 [REC] / Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza / Spain / 2007 The Fall / Tarsem / USA / 2008 A Matter of Loaf and Death / Nick Park / UK / 2009

I stand by my conviction that Quiz Show is one of the greatest American movies of the '90s. I actually saw Booty Call in the theater, as part of a triple feature that included The Sixth Man (Marlon Wayans) and McHale's Navy (Kelsey Grammar). True story.

I’m working about 75 hours a week this semester (no exaggeration). I haven’t seen a new film in a few weeks, which tells you a lot about my schedule. I can’t believe I haven’t had time to see Shutter Island yet. Speaking of Scorsese... all of you who rightly recognize The Aviator as one of Scorsese’s greats are welcome to join my Oscar party on Sunday night. Ballots are $5; winner takes the pot. Well, I don't think that Avatar is one of the ten best movies of the year. But of course it deserves the Oscar, and here's why: The Oscars aren't really about recognizing enduring artistic me

A rather touching video: Roger Ebert Shows Off His New "Voice"

That description doesn't remotely do justice to what Up in the Air achieves. On a surface plot level, sure, it can be reduced to that arc. But what separates the movie from the pack has little to do with that arc, and everything to do with the intangibles, including sophisticated characterizations, an uncommon humanity, a surprising depth of feeling, and a unique, mature tone. All of those things elevate the movie far above the usual pablum; in fact, they are the mark of a smart, thoughtful, accomplished talent behind the camera. What's nifty isn't the premise; what's nifty is the executio

One of my favorite pieces by Ebert was written last February, ten years after Gene's death. It's a beautiful, perceptive, artful piece of prose writing. That's the thing about Ebert: He's known as a skilled critic, yes, but his real secret is that he's a skilled writer, period. I discovered Ebert as a teenager; one of the first "movie books" I ever bought was his 1988 collection of reviews. Since then, I've moved on to other, more scholarly critics, but I remain amazed at his unparalleled ability to discuss sophisticated cinematic topics in a way that the average newspaper reader can imme

Thought I had a line on some last-minute tickets, but it fell through...

I am genuinely pissed that I missed that set list.

I love irony.

Malick's movies are always closer in spirit to poetry than to conventional narrative, which is precisely their greatest virtue. To gripe that his movies lack plot is to really, really miss the point. (The New World is one of my favorite movies of the decade.)

But the people already have the power to impose that limit, whenever and wherever they see fit. As long as we have the ballot box, no amendment is necessary to limit a public servant's career. What term limits really does is remove options from voters--an amendment might not be undemocratic, but it does strike me as a violation of the principle of representative democracy. But like you, I'm sympathetic to the other side, too.

I agree with this. Statesmanship is a lost art, especially at a time when you can gain power more easily by demonizing your opponent as someone who, say, pals around with terrorists. I understand the appeal of term limits, but the problem is that it paints with too broad a stroke and takes power away from the people. It's another kind of government intervention that shrinks freedom, by assuming ordinary citizens can't make decisions for themselves--in this case, it assumes the public can't be trusted to decide who ought to represent them. If the people are happy with their incumbent, then

Yeah, terrific example. Before Sunrise is a good movie, but Before Sunset is a great movie because it expands and deepens and matures the emotional insights in a way that's consistent with how the characters have experienced more life. (Sunset is actually one of my all-time favorite movies.)

There's a place--no, a need--for loyal opposition, but the Sarah Palin / Tea Party axis is something else.

Right. And if Sarah Palin had fulfilled her elected term, and then decided to move on to book tours and Fox News, that might have been cynical and money-grubbing, but it would not have been quitting. It would have been a change of ambitions, which is entirely her right.

Public servants are obligated to fulfill their term. They are not obligated to keep serving beyond that duration. Once the term is up, their reason for moving on is entirely their decision, and therefore irrelevant. Evan Bayh might be leaving for cynical reasons. I dunno. But I do know that it doesn't matter, because he is not obligated to run for re-election. As long as he fulfills his elected term, there is no cut-and-run.