"Best Fascist Dictator, Adolf Hitler."

I'm a big observer of voice acting, I love a good voice performance, but I know what the Oscars would do if they made it a category. They'd use it to give late-career awards to the Lauren Bacalls, etc, who do a lot of voice acting late in life but are better-known for their early on-screen work. Of course, giving…

That's one reason I like this better than Tokyo Story.

Right, I meant financially. And yes, I agree, eliminating smoking wouldn't eliminate the problem, but it certainly wouldn't hurt it. I'm not an expert either, but as I understand it, our healthcare costs are out of control, a lot of people go into the hospital and go bankrupt, and in an attempt to recoup the losses…

This is my favorite Ozu film. I love how the war, which he usually leaves almost unstated (it killed the son in Tokyo Story, but is not discussed beyond that), comes to the fore in the scenes at the bar, and marks off the older generation's worldview from the younger's. I think to appreciate this film it helps to know…

I'm in a weird spot on this. I'm definitely a ban-tobacco-in-public-places guy, but I don't feel like making a hard job worse for people who are already subject to a lot of stress.

I'm not sure it's actually "fair" to allow smoking companies to exist at all, since the way societies work is that we all end up indirectly paying the cost of preventable diseases. A fairness argument just doesn't move me much.

I think most people are actually unaware of just how bad, and in how many ways, cigarettes really are for you.

I. Love. The Sundowners.

I'm with you on the politics, but damn if I don't love John Wayne anyway.

It's a nice picture, it's Wayne's most nuanced role, but the hair-dragging is extremely uncomfortable to watch. I like High Noon better, but I agree that Quiet Man would have been a more appropriate Best Pic pick, among the nominees.

That's a topic that could use more "Primer" articles.

I think the word "objectivity" should be replaced with "neutrality." It's what the author means, but unfortunately objectivity has another and more important meaning that people are understandably fixating on.

Not a bad fanwank, really. The timing of the coma episode is a nice touch. This kind of thing is passe, but I couldn't help but read it and smile appreciatively.

Yes. It's not important for a newscaster to be objective, because that's a myth; they're humans and have opinions. Rather, it's important that they be up-front about their biases, because that's part of their duty to be honest. Plus, I think if you're aware and honest about your leanings, you're less likely to bury…

Mine is Angel From Montgomery, followed by In Spite of Ourselves, but he's so solid it's a tough thing to rank.

I love John Prince's Paradise (it's my third-fave John Prine song, maybe), but I can't recall OxyContin Blues (though I'm sure I've heard it.) I shall click on this link soon and listen to it in that light.

I generally agree. I love country, alt country, etc, but Earle doesn't do it for me.

I haven't seen him live, but I once saw his son, Justin Townes Earle, open for my all-time favorite country songwriter, Guy Clark, whose raspiness I also prefer to Earle's.

Double-down Durden.