Back Story is really good. I bought the e-book when drunk in an airport bar, and I don't regret it at all.

The Bubble was a weird halfway point between being intelligent and totally trashy, so it didn't work. I'd be curious to see what Mitchell thought of it (he didn't mention it in his book). But yeah, the episode with Robert Webb is hilarious.

Blackadder S1 is just…weird. Rowan Atkinson is doing a semi-Bean turn, Blessed honestly isn't that funny, but the production values are amazing for a BBC show of the time period. It's pretty clear that Curtis got completely sidelined by the big budget.

I know the stock answer is CZJ in The Mask of Zorro or maybe Chicago, but I think she's incredibly sexy in Traffic. Maybe everyone looks sexier when overexposed.

Well aren't you in for a treat, Heather from UK!

"Feminism is for Everybody" is one of those life-changing books for me, hooks is a terrific writer.

How many of your conversations revolve around the AV Club?

My arranging teacher's arranging teacher (I'd just say his name, but it completely escapes me right now) worked as Ellington's Strayhorn after Strayhorn died. One time Duke Ellington slipped a piece of a paper under his door after Ellington was hired to write a ballet. The paper said "It's a pas de deux: you know what…

He hasn't done an album since Heartland in 2010, so I don't really know (though he's toured 2-3 times since then). Now he's constantly hanging out with Nico Muhly, maybe they'll do something together.

2 Jazz Musicians named Duke Ellington

Jesus, what a great year that was. Eastern Promises is terrific, you won't regret watching it. I'm Not There is messy and uneven, but has moments of brilliance.

It's sort of frustrating, not because it ruins the story for me (I can suspend my disbelief, especially for a delightful story of replicant-murder), but because she instantly zeroed in on an insanely large hole in…someone's plan, and I absolutely can't remember what it was.

Oh, that's a really good film and a great performance. That's certainly Bowie's best starring turn.

Thursday (whatever, it was the weekend IN MY HEART) I got all classy and went to the symphony with a few friends. It was the New Creations Festival at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra this weekend, so we saw three pieces having their North American premieres, including a violin concerto from Owen Pallett (formerly Final…

The Illusionist is one of those movies that's such an indelible visual feast that the plot seems almost immaterial. The Prestige, though…lots of fun, great performances, and a surprisingly ingenious plot development (a friend of mine who I watched it with pointed out some gaping plot holes, which I've conveniently…

I'm ready for my close-up!

It's nice to see Bowie's role in Last Temptation of the Christ get some attention. It's a strange, fascinating movie to begin with, and he fits wonderfully into it. It's probably his best acting role, sorry Labyrinth fans.

He was on twice, once being the pilot!

Something that I find both confusing and fascinating about Coppola is, aside from some thematic stuff, her work is very difficult to pin down. Comparing the visual looks of Virgin Suicides vs. Lost in Translation vs. Marie Antoinette vs. Somewhere…she's very talented, but I've found both Marie Antoinette and Somewhere…

Ugh, Somewhere. I liked Marie Antoinette better than Somewhere, which is hideously self-indulgent.