Nailed it.
"Individually, Bay's images are beautiful. Collectively, they're headache-inducing."

I haven't been terribly impressed with Jane thus far either. The best performance on the show by far is Jane Adams. Hell of an actress.

Yeah, I think Willeford was in full-on subversive mode here. I'm sure it did go over the heads of pulp paperback fans, which is why Willeford didn't develop any kind of critical reputation until much later in his life.

Mike — fair enough, but I dunno, I'd say at least Magnolia feels a whole lot more naturalistic than TWBB. (Haven't seen Boogie Nights in years, so can't comment.) The Aimee Mann singalong scene is so memorable because it stands out; everything else in the film is more or less realistic (okay, except the frogs). …

Loved it
Keith, if and when you get to the Hoke Mosely novels, be prepared for them to be *nothing* like this. Granted I've only read the first two — "Miami Blues" and "New Hope for the Dead" — but I really didn't take much away from them; they're solid crime novels with a dry sense of humor, rooted in a firm sense…

Wait
There Will Be Blood was naturalistic? I seem to recall a fair amount of expressionist weirdness well before the milkshake scene.

MBS, why on earth are you pledging to see this eventually??? What could you possibly gain by watching this? You do not need to see every movie that unspools in a theater while you are alive. There are some movies it is okay, indeed better, to not see, and this is one of them.

You guys actually like seeing Greta Gerwig naked? I mean, good actress, striking face, but "sexy" is not an adjective I'd apply anywhere near her body.

I appreciate that difference, but I wish Cohen would put his massive comic-acting skills to use in some real movies.

Enh
Cohen needs to ditch Larry Charles, imho. He's a ridiculously talented performer, but the whole "shock-offend-provoke" deal — which seems tied to Larry Charles' facile direction (see also Religulous, or better yet, don't) — is just not that interesting.

Enh
Cohen needs to ditch Larry Charles, imho. He's a ridiculously talented performer, but the whole "shock-offend-provoke" deal — which seems tied to Larry Charles' facile direction (see also Religulous, or better yet, don't) — is just not that interesting.

I can't believe you all took my question seriously when it was clearly a reverse firstie.

Too bad Daria was a terrible show

Hmm
Is this the last cult-classic TV series to be released on DVD

I'm a cheap bastard
I just put this on reserve at the library. That counts as supporting you, right? Well, in case it doesn't: Good job!

Karatloz you fool, why haven't you seen 25th Hour? One of the best films of this here decade.

Also
No discussion of this movie is complete without mention of Ernest Dickerson's incredible cinematography, which evokes summer heat more strongly than any film ever made.

candor
Nice personal essay, Zack. It's a welcome change from the "O hai guyz I totally watched this lame action movie!!!!" snarkage that shows up on this site's features too often. (Although that would be more "I watched this on purpose," but still.)

hee hee
"I look so hot in that movie, honey."

Oh, Collateral is GREAT. Makes wonderful use of HD video, actually, beautifully capturing the Los Angeles nightscape. And it's a hell of a thriller, with Tom Cruise fun in a rare villain role.