They definitely imply that, yes.

I agree. And now it's cancelled.

Last of the Mohicans
The first 2/3 are kind of boring, to be honest, but after Hawkeye and Co. escape Fort William Henry the film ratchets up the drama and you can't take you're eyes off the screen.

Magnolia is a divisive film and I definitely wouldn't call it great (in A.V. Club terms I'd give it a B+) but it's unique and fulfills a kind of emotional craving I have from time to time.

In the Bedroom is a great, oft-forgotten film. Good call.

Magnolia.
There are more elegant examples, for sure, but I LOVE everything from the Aimee Mann sing-along through the plague of frogs right up until Claudia Gator breaks the fourth wall.

I haven't killed anybody… since 1984…

Fuck. Just realized those links don't work. Last time I copy links without checking them first.

Good interview.
Lots of insight. Those interested should check out these "track by track" video interviews with Matt and one of the twins:

I have two guns…
One for each of ya.

Come to think of it, that weekend is going to be HUGE. Two nights of The National at the Wiltern followed by an evening with Frightened Rabbit at the Fonda.

Not to keep fawning over Mr. November, but it really is a highlight of the band's oeuvre and absolutely KILLS at live shows. I saw them last August and when Berninger launched in with "this is nothing like it was in my room…" the house went fucking nuts. Talk about a stadium sized sing-along. The crowd's enthusiasm…

Funny. The second I read talkingstove's post "All the Wine" started playing on my computer.

"My mind's not right!"

I agree with i and 1, "Sweet Escape" IS awesome. Also, "Cool" and "Early Winter" both succeed as over-produced 80's pop ballads (the latter was co-written by Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley).

I've been listening to this album on loop since the NYT stream and it's indescribably great. I don't know what it is, but by the time I get to "Runaway" I just lose it. Like full-fledged waterworks. It's embarrassing.

Favorite National lyrics…
Let's do this:

Give "Mr. November" a shot.

1984. Class of '02.

Also, I will admit that Garden State appealed to me as a sophomore in college. I saw it a couple times in the theater and bought the DVD when it came out. But I grew out of it. It served a purpose in my life at the time but now I see it for what it is: bullshit.