Genius of Modern Music Vol. 1 and 2 are definitely essential Monk. I think Genius Vol. 1 was probably the 2nd Monk album I ever purchased, and got a lot of listening out of it.

I agree. I thought that was the key "serious" point Pynchon was trying to make it that book, looking at the roots of the culture we're in now, with the internet. And comparing different communications technologies - on the one had, the new ARPAnet. On the other, and old technology like radio, and the way it brought…

The Coens were also kind of riffing on Altman's Long Goodbye, which was Altman's 70s-stoner shaggy-dog riff on an actual Raymond Chandler novel… the chain of works influenced just becomes a continuum, with Lebowski, Inhererent Vice the novel, and now, Inherent Vice the movie coming soon…

@avclub-a61f27ab2165df0e18cc9433bd7f27c5:disqus Very nice list. I might also add his short story "The Secret Integration" to that list, a lot of sincere emotion in that one as well.

I would agree with you on V., it was the first Pynchon I ever read, and probably for that reason still my favorite.  But it can lose people quick - the first couple chapters are Benny Profane, and very accessible. Then Pynchon drops the bomb of chapter 3, the "Under the Rose" / Egypt stuff and suddenly (for this…

I'm assuming you meant Charles Portis there instead of Clinton Portis, right? Or did the former NFL running back write a hilarious novel? I suppose stranger things have happened…

Thing about both Carlin and Pryor is, no matter how much parts of their style have been appropriated, no one can touch their original voices.  I'd say that phenomenon you are describing would apply more to someone like Seinfeld, whose complete way of doing things was more easily swiped and over-used by a generation of…

A prediction: the quality of SNL will continue to vary on a week-to-week, sketch-to-sketch basis, regardless of who hosts and who's in the cast, the same way it has done continuously for the past almost-40 years.

All this debate over Gravity has everyone missing the real point this article should have made - that The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears is an instant candidate for greatest movie title of all time.  

He's written reviews for Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook and by gum, it put them on the map!
He's written reviews for Brockway,, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook and by gum, it put them on the map!

I'd much rather listen to MC5, The Stooges or Motown, but I think the clear choice here is "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

The one time I tried to watch Ghost of Mars, I fell asleep during it. At least I stayed awake through all of The Ward. That's the best thing I can find to say about it.

They lost me when they revealed the married couple initially want to the frat to think they're "cool". Clearly there is absolutely no one in this movie to root for. 

I always think of David Cross's Mr. Show hick, in the amazing land of the U.S., marveling at the supermarket checkout - "…and a friendly ro-but, what counted it all up!"

The water will also be filled with Megasharks and Giant Octopi, etc, allowing them to conveniently reuse footage from all of their epics…

I wouldn't call it the absolute best, but I always think the Cleopatra Jones soundtrack deserves more mentions:

Hayes may have invented the template, but Gordon Parks himself gave him a run for his money with the music for "Shaft's Big Score",
both the title theme -    http://www.youtube.com/watc…

Not to mention "Freddie's Dead", "Little Child Running Wild", the title song, "Give Me Your Love", "Eddie You Should Know Better", the chase music…

Didn't realize there was a full-length documentary about Gordon Parks, looks like good stuff. That clip is originally from a 10 min. behind the scenes film MGM did for Shaft, TCM has played it many times between movies. I think there's more rehearsal footage of Hayes and co. in it than that, too.

Obligatory "Cafe Reggio" shout-out. That is some smooth shit right there.