I guess you guys might be right about The Mirror. It is the first one I saw and the film that opened my eyes to the rest of his work so I guess that, for me, it was a great entry point. That said, it is an extremely abstract, nebulous film so I can see how it might not be the best gateway. Although I would still…

Second on the Stalker love. That movie is stunning. I'm a huge Tarkovsky fan and pretty much love everything I've seen by him. The Mirror is probably my favorite—something about that movie just hit me right when I saw it way back when. I think it's a good entry-point for folks interested in getting into Tarkovsy…

I know this thread is dead, baby, but props to Jorge. Well said.

Thanks Mike!
I look forward to this coverage every year, and every year it leads to a list of films that I won't possibly get a chance to see until the next Cannes festival is already rolling around (for example, I just saw Uncle Boonmee last week, and I had to download it). Once again you've given me a ton of things…

Maybe Spacey will reprise his role from Swimming With Sharks. I would watch that.

There is no better thread for the triumphant return of Black Bolt.

You know a film is doomed
When the opening credits are in that typeface.

For all the talk about Hicks' politics and spirituality, the man was also a true believer in the power a good dick joke. His depiction of Rush Limbaugh as a man who likes to lie in a bathtub while other people piss on him is pure precision of language. Poetry, basically. And it fucking kills.

In fact, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watc…

His last show
The first thing I ever saw of Hicks was a home recording of his last-ever show. I think he comes off much better in the "off-the-record" sort of moments than he does in his produced stand-up hours.

Here is my meager tribute.

The record is called El Paso Tickle Party, obviously.

Just decided to start a band called Seven Dads, All Kissing. Kind of an alt-country outfit I guess. First single: Momma Heard My Wiener Coughin'. Booking gigs already a bitch.

I saw Jonsi earlier this year and it was genuinely amazing. I've never seen visual spectacle like that at a show—I can't overstate the incredible attention to detail that went into every second of it. Also: one of the most incredible drummers I've ever seen play. Pure joy.

Ok that's pretty great. Thank you, sir or madam.

I used to really love David Sedaris a lot. I used to especially love listening to him read his work because, as others have noted, it really does give the text another angle and he is masterful at performing his own work. But at some point something in me clicked over and now—and I really never thought I'd say…

I like you Moe.

A link to said story: http://www.youtube.com/watc…

Brett Gelman's iBrain short story…
makes me cry. So, so over the top. That it's book-ended by the most painfully "symbolic" sophomore-writing-major prose ever takes it to the next level.

HDB, you sound like Patrick Bateman or something. This is one of the more weirdly shallow, sad, and insecure things I have read in a while. Way to embrace your nom de plume though.