Beltmann

Five years ago, who would have thought we'd eventually be making jokes about twobobs hiking the Appalachian Trail?

Whatever Works might not be Manhatten--too often the thesis is worked out in a creaky, schematic way--but it's still one of Woody Allen's loosest, boldest, and warmest comedies in recent memory. And Larry David is a pleasure to watch, or more specifically, a pleasure to hear.

No kiddin'. I'll be waiting for this with eager anticipation.

I knew it was only a matter of time before my five-year-old daughter learned what a "zombie" is. I just didn't think she would learn it this week from a Michael Jackson video.

I held out for the actual release date, having heard only a few early live versions of a handful of songs. My initial impression was that it was another album in the vein of SBS, which meant that once again Wilco had made a well-crafted album for other people. But I've been listening nonstop for a week, and W(TA) has grown on me immensely. Even the few tracks that feel minor contain tiny glories and subtle oddities that I'm thrilled to have. In other words, it might be in the same vein as SBS but it convinces and pleases in a way that SBS didn't (at least to me). And "Sonny Feeling" is al

It's a very clean, spare gangster flick--I liked how Mann tried to revive the structure of the classic gangster movies of the '30s and '40s.

Now, now...

White Dog / Samuel Fuller / 1982

If you like that sort of thing, I highly recommend Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist.

YHF is the most important to me--it's the closest to my sensibilities--but BT is right there, too.

I made it.

The International is a pretty good actioner padded with just enough cynical social criticism to keep it interesting. I also caught up with Valkyrie and Defiance, two unconventional WWII stories told in very conventional ways. Still, both are made with some degree of old-fashioned craft, and I enjoyed them for what they were.

Yes, and it's driving me nuts.

Over the weekend I received one of the coolest birthday presents ever: The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, which is a comprehensive listing of the language of baseball. Sample entry, abridged: Baltimore chop: A batted ball that hits the ground close to home plate and then bounces high in the air, allowing the batter time to reach first base safely. "[bill] Hinchman broke loose with a single that bounded over [Dave] Altizer's head. The revival of the ancient Baltimore chop was appreciated" (The Washington Post, July 20, 1907) First use in print: 1905. "[Joe] Kelley netted a high bouncing bin

Been listening to this a lot... I love when the whistling kicks in. It's a really great version!

Good grief, that was fantastic!

I'm reminded of the football trivia test in Diner.

Holy hell, is this movie a lot of fun. Had a blast.

No replies to this yet? Odd. I don't have much to add right now--I have not yet heard either album--but I'll say that I enjoyed reading your thoughtful take on them.

I am still pure. At this point, it's nothing more than just a test of my willpower... kind of like my pal who wanted to see how long he could go without hot dogs.

After the band debuted "While You Wait for the Others" on Conan last April (2008), I became fairly obsessed with that song. It's probably one of my favorite single tracks of the last few years. I still don't have the new album, but I am going to pick it up soon.

I was just watching a DVD of the 1999 Rockpalast show, and pointed Jay out to my daughter, who is four. Her only reply was, "Is he a girl?" Man, Jay's hair was a blast.

I've been following this news all night... what a strange and awful journey from initial shock to being convinced it is a hoax to being convinced it is true. Rest In Peace, Mr. Bennett. Your contributions to the world of music have meant--and will continue to mean--a great deal to me.

Is Sugar, which charts a season in the life of single-A Dominican pitcher Sugar Santos, the best baseball movie ever made? If you prefer your baseball movies to be realistic, honest, unsentimental, and overflowing with details about life in the system, it might be. (At the very least, it's light years better than Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's last feature, Half Nelson, which was wonderfully acted but also a total crock.)

As it turns out, it lasted another hour. Gallardo looked off all night.