I thought this problem was actually handled rather elegantly, in that every time Smoky or (to a lesser extent) Auberon asked a question, they got an odd, elliptical response. Even characters like Sophie and Alice feel it more than they can really explain it. It seems to be something that our language just can't…

I'm glad you pointed that out Miles, because I had the same thought. No one talks to a bartender like that, because then you wouldn't get any alcohol. Which I always kind of thought was the point of going to a bar.

Welcome
As a resident of San Diego, let me welcome you here Keith and Todd. Unfortunately, I think the craziness will be higher this year than last, because I tried to buy tickets when I normally do and they were already sold out. Also, Twilight.

My issue is time. Seems like you only get one or the other.

I'm with Shue in that I have never really read any other pulp, but definitely get the parallel to some of the noir coming out of Hollywood around this time. For me though, the narration was jarring. We're almost inside Hudson's head, but he keeps us at a distance. His language sounds like something you would hear…

I just read the DFW's Lost Highway essay (based on AV Club's Gateway to Geekery recommendation - Synergy!) and watched the movie just before. I loved the movie and DFW makes interesting points. I'm not sure I buy all his arguments (I believe I caught "excessive analysis is pointless" and "every man contains good and…

Wallflower, it's an interesting idea that Mann's last two films have been more opaque and one I hadn't really considered. I've never really thought of him as being a filmmaker who had his characters talk about themselves a ton (though I agree that with the exception of Dillinger here the characters are much less…

I wish I could agree with you Noel, but I'm with Phipps on this one. I enjoyed the film and you make some very interesting comments above about the stylization of the movie that I felt was way downplayed in this week's AV Talk. But ultimately the movie has no characters and barely any story. Claims are made and…

Great point about the look of Buffy here. I also noticed the great costume design in the Bad Girls/Consequences duo. Willow is dressed in denim overalls as she feels Buffy and Xander pulling away and she regresses to season one. Buffy wears dark clothing for most of the two episodes, as she indulges Faith's way of…

It's funny that you mention the Howie thing Wookiee, because I loved it. Absolutely heart-wrenching to my mind. While this show is certainly no Seinfeld, the cast members all have levels of self-absorption, neurosis, or obliviousness that would really blind them to their support staff in the office. It rang very…

A bit different than some suggestions here, but I would love to see Wrapped Up in Books cover a Haruki Murakami book. I went on a kick about a year ago and tore through about five of them. I think that I liked South of the Border, West of the Sun or Sputnik Sweetheart the best, but I want to hear what the gang…

SPOILERS

Noel, I like your point in relation to television, though I think you devalue endings too much for other mediums. Television by necessity has to be fluid as the creators do not have total control over their finished product, due to ratings, budget, cast availability, etc. (I know some of this is a factor in movies,…

I appreciate the insights Nathan, but wouldn't this have been more appropriate as a blog post discussing The Chronic? I see minimal insights into West Coast G-funk and one long appraisal of The Chronic (followed by some quick thoughts and Dre's overall career).

Being from Missouri, I have to take issue with the idea that Brad would have a southern accent since he is from Springfield. Some Missourians will have a bit of a southern lilt and so he would have some experience with it. But this would not really give him all that much insight into a New Orleans accent or whatever…

steerpike - that is possibly the best suggestion I have ever read on a message board (even one as insightful as the AV Club). It's unfortunate that they are both so stuck inside themselves that this will never happen. But still - Wes doing a Tarantino script? And vice versa? The mind reels at the possibilities.

I love Desolation Row and I couldn't narrow down my favorite Dylan songs below ten, but since no one has mentioned this I'll go with it: Don't Think Twice, It's Alright.

Good call on Carell. He probably earned his pass from me when he was on The Daily Show (though I never would have imagined he would need it at that point) and definitely cemented it with The Office and Virgin. Go ahead and make all the Evan Almightys you like big guy. People gotta eat.

Perhaps it's due to my somewhat limited Jarmusch exposure, but I'm having a bit of a hard time getting a bead on him. I almost fell asleep during Coffee and Cigarettes, but I loved the Murray and Coogan bits and felt an appreciation for the White Stripes and Old man portions. Dead Man mesmerized me, but Broken…

Cobie's delivery of the "Not a sick dad…..or a REALLY sick dad, am I right??" line was perfection. It caused a spontaneous response that I am a bit embarrassed by.