I think “Take No Prisoners” is up there in the Lou Reed solo canon. It’s definitely one of the best live albums from the ‘70s. You have a great selection of songs covering VU through Street Hassle, an incredible band lead by Michael Fonfara and Stuart Heinrich, and Reed at his most seemingly genuine. But, ultimately, h…

Well, anyone close to the likes of Delmore Schwartz and Andy Warhol before they turned 25 would probably think they’re always worth an A+. What I loved about Reed was that he could make an egotistical, tone-deaf pronouncement about himself and then write deeply empathetic songs like “Candy Says,” “Pale Blue Eyes,”…

“What does Robert Christgau do in bed? You know, is he a toe-fucker? ... Could you imagine working for a year and you get a B+ from some asshole in the Village Voice?!" - Lou Reed

When Withnail and I was released in the ‘80s, I was wrapping up college in California, living with three roommates and warily wondering when real life would finally assert itself. So I could relate to the characters’ unkempt, insular existence. I watched it again recently, the first time in decades, and enjoyed the…

Watched two iconic ‘80s comedies: Caddyshack and Working Girl. I’ve seen the former many times and don’t need to see it again for a while. In the spectrum of Landis-Ramis-Reitman comedies, Caddyshack ranks low - too episodic. Ted Knight is terrific, but Chase, Dangerfield and even Murray rely too much on their own…

I should have included F for Fake. I truly enjoyed that one. Even Joe Cotten’s in it, although it looks like he was filmed during cocktail hour at the Polo Lounge.

Agreed. EC’s early Nick Lowe-produced work (Aim through Trust) is worthwhile-to-superb. Imperial Bedroom is overproduced and a little turgid - but nothing like his post-Blood and Chocolate albums. Spike and Mighty Like a Rose are too long, self-referential and undisciplined. But “The Juliet Letters” is where Elvis the…

Welles doesn’t belong on your list. Given the limited and fragile amount of support and financing he received throughout his post-Kane career the fact that he could still deliver Othello, Touch of Evil, The Trial, Chimes At Midnight and It’s All True is heroic. Even misfires like Lady From Shanghai and Mr. Arkadin…

Not a fan, but I thought Simpson Tide and Saddlesore Galactica were much worse.

So cops can beat Miles Davis for smoking outside a jazz club and jail Chuck Berry for interstate travels with a prostitute but still cover up a string of brutal killings for a Motown singer less popular than Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross. Uh huh.

You might think, although I consider both touch and go compared to the debut, Candy-O and Shake It Up.

No. (Spoiler) The church service during Dilsey’s section is sublime. And Jason’s is the ultimate literary representation of southern white male rage that’s still pretty relevant 90 years later.

If you’ve read the the Benjy and Quentin chapters, make yourself a Mint Julep with extra bourbon (Faulkner’s favorite) and drink a toast to making it this far. The last 70 pages will prove a much easier read.

The Witch is one of my favorite movies of the “’10s”. The tone, pacing and acting is perfect. It took me a few viewings to catch all the nuances, but it was well worth the time and attention. Black Philip for White House pet.

You’re right; it was the name of the dance. The band was known as Les Sinners. Looks like they were fairly successful in Mexico before disbanding in the mid-’70s.

Saw Isle of Dogs at my local second-run theater and liked it. Not quite as cohesive and inspired as Fantastic Mr. Fox, but Wes Anderson does stop-motion very well. Things do resolve themselves a little too neatly in the third act, Bryan Cranston sounds too much like George Clooney, and Yoko Ono sounds like she…

While charity is hard, the novice priest whom Simon hectors and berates actually seems to make it work with the unwashed - especially the coarse, small-statured herder. Simon’s willful separation diminishes his ability to serve humanity on a useful level, which is why [SPOILER] he’s so easily whisked away by Satan at…

It was also the last Oceans to feature Pete Posthelwaite as loveable ex-IRA explosives expert Liam Limerick.

I liked People if Earth a lot. But, frankly, something better came along for Cenac. Once he was offered Problem Areas, Cenac likely cut ties with People so he could develop the show. He certainly seems more inspired and engaged by his current gig.

Even the extreme raunch is bleak.