DVDs This Week
Pick of the Week
The Elephant Man – It’s a deeply slow week but really, this is a very underappreciated Lynch effort that needs to be brought back into focus. It’s available in a boxset alongside Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire, the zenith of his exploration of abstract Hollywood mythos, but worth it on its own. John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins both give wonderful performances and Lynch leaves yet more indelible images on your mind.
Also Out
Vantage Point – Rashomon-style multiple perspectives tosh which even its stars can’t seem to get excited about.
Leatherheads – The first misfire from the House of Clooney, defeated by a confused sense of direction and half-cocked script. Close, but no cigar this time Georgey.
Tropical Malady – The other film from Syndromes and a Century director Apishatpong Weerasethakul. Not seen but his other film is mesmerising.
Children of Glory – Hungarian revolution drama notable for its screenwriter, Basic Instinct and Showgirls scribe Joe Eszterhas.
Dark City: Special Edition – A new double discer for the now cult hit from Alex Proyas which stands as a key precursor to The Matrix. I can’t quite build too much enthusiasm due to the presence of Rufus Sewell, a truly terrible actor.
Diggin
Music: I’ve had two weeks to let REM’s Accelerate sink in and, my verdict; it’s better than Around The Sun and overall is on a par with New Adventures in Hi-Fi. I love Man Man’s Rabbit Habits which streamlines the Waits-ian clang of their previous work into a more accessible and ultimately more satisfying listen. One of the year’s best albums so far. Add to that list Holy Fuck’s LP which is arty and sexy, mostly instrumental work. I’m digging Alopecia by Why? and I’m somewhat obsessed with Sun Kil Moon’s April and also that band’s (essentially Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters) version of Modest Mouse’s ‘Ocean Breathes Salty’ from Tiny Cities.
Film/TV: I took in Sweeney Todd this week which was pretty good but it had too many songs and too much blood. I’m not squeamish at all (I wrote my dissertation on horror movies), but I just didn’t quite see a need for the brutal scenes. Still, it was entertaining and well played by the excellent cast, most notably Alan Rickman in a return to his purring best. I also watched Killer of Sheep, Charles Burnett’s slice-of-life verite masterpiece from 1977 which I pretty much adored. Last was Wet Hot American Summer, a film which has a shockingly awful title but was very amusing and reasonably heartwarming. It features a couple of great performances from David Hyde Pierce and Janeane Garofalo and a manic turn from Christopher Meloni (Oz, Law & Order: SVU). The Office is back and it was wonderful, this time highlighting the brilliance of Melora Hardin as Michael’s lover Jan. Gavin and Stacey finishes its second season this week and I can’t wait. The rest of the season has been ridiculously great, notably witnessing Bryn and Smithy working out together, topless.
Books/Magazines: I read Me and Orson Welles this week, a story of a young theatre hopeful who gets cast in an Orson Welles directed production of Julius Caesar in the 1940s. It’s being adapted into a movie and I really enjoyed the book, a hearty romp which gets straight into the plot and the interesting characters and never gets bogged down and loses pace. I’m currently almost finished on Things the Grandchildren Should Know, a brilliant autobiography from Mark Oliver Everett (E from Eels) which points the way to the reasons for the darkness in his work and constantly exhibits the sense of self-deprecating humour that makes his music such genius. My magazine reading has been a little light this week due to film watching and book reading.
Other: I’ve fallen for KCRW/IPR’s To The Point podcast with Warren Olney which is a nicely informative and thorough round-up of important political news. Otherwise folks, it’s been a quiet little week.
Link Strawberries
JoBlo has a new clip from Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr is THE MAN.
Emma, hip hop musical style! Ooooh, she gonna get serrrved!
EW has a list of Daniel Day Lewis’ best ever roles.
Darren Aronofsky is writing a show for AMC.
Errol Morris is moving into fiction.
The reaction to Oliver Stone’s script about George W Bush has been mixed among biographers of the World’s Most Powerful Buffoon.
IndieWire has a review of The Visitor, the new film from The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy.
MGM is defending its decision to delay Valkyrie.
Bright Lights After Dark has a tribute to Bette Davis on her centenary.
Top Model reject Clare bitches away to TV Guide.
The AV Club interviews John Krasinski and profiles the career of Thomas Haden Church.
Bobby Cannavale is to star in the updated version of Cupid from Veronica Mars’ Rob Thomas.
Only Link Can Break Your Heart
The LA Times speculates on whether Heath Ledger died from insomnia.
Slate comments on the appearance made by Conan on Leno.
John Krasinski talks Leatherheads and directing with The NY Times.
Andrew Bird contributes to the above, discussing the process of songcraft.
Mark Kermode gets angry about being lectured by Michael Haneke.
The New Yorker discusses the comic book inquisition of the Cold War in the US.
Jeffrey Eugenides donates fiction to the very same publication.
Persepolis creator Marjane Satrapi is interviewed by The Guardian.
Esquire lists the five most useless products ever.
The Atlantic argues for the importance of Stop-Loss.
Apparently, Mexico does not like emo kids.
The Independent profiles Martin Scorses ahead of Shine A Light.
After The Linkrush
Pitchfork interviews Johnny Greenwood.
And it gives justified praise to the re-release of Lemonheads’ It’s A Shame About Ray.
The AV Club quite liked Stop-Loss.
USA Today interviews John Krasinski.
The New Republic’s movie critic wrote his review of 21 based on the trailer as reaction against trailers being too long and giving away the whole movie nowadays. Testify!
The Guardian interviews cinematographer Roger Deakins on his finest achievements.
A movie version of The Hills?
Could Pete Doherty be a scientologist? (Thanks PopSugar UK!)
Annie Liebovitz may be in a little bother over the LeBron James piccy.
Superhero Movie is aiming to outdo Horton.
Free Dr Pepper all round if Chinese Democracy arrives by year’s end.
Plant says further live Zeppelin is a possibility.
Nick Cave has earned an honorary PhD.
Are muffins the new CDs?
Dutch filmmaker Geert Wilders has been condemned by Iran, Pakistan and Indonesia for his short video, ‘Fitna’.
Yet more Ellen Page films in the wake of Juno. Here’s the trailer for The Tracey Fragments.
No Link Advice
Trey Parker and Matt Stone talks to The AV Club.
Interview magazine has a tribute collection to Heath Ledger.
Why do white people like Stuff White People Like?
Ewwww… Screech is back…
Here’s the video for ‘Machine Gun’ by Portishead.
Pitchfork has details on the new Roots record.
A Beatles version of Guitar Hero… please. When is the Whitesnake one coming??
Zeppelin tour dates?
Simon Cowell isn’t quite so mean it seems…
Michael Cera is teaming with Edgar Wright for the Scott Pilgrim movie. Yippee!!!
Five years on in Iraq… The Huffington Post has some stats to ponder.
Cheney is warning against Iranian armament.
Hillary Clinton: Experienced? Hmm…
Sasha Frere-Jones is attempting to launch a new musical genre.
TV Squad interviews Lewis Black.
Leatherheads is having a hometown premiere.
Link Gun
The creators of The Wire contribute an editorial piece to Time about the drug war in America.
Steve Wiebe has again missed out on beating Billy Mitchell to be the King of Kong.
The AV Club has a primer for newcomers to the work of Alan Moore. My tip: don’t read Watchmen first. Everything else pales.
Pitchfork has a new MP3 from The Breeders.
I never do links on Liev Schreiber, even though he is a chameleon. Here he is training for Wolverine.
Slate reviews 10,000 B.C.
The above also provides nine ways to truly achieve fakery in literature.
Sebastian Tellier is to represent France at Eurovision.
I also never blog about Andrew WK. So here you go.
Paranoid Park has finally reached the US and the NY Times gives its opinion here.
Larry David discusses the Hillary scare-ad on The Huffington Post.
Sam’s Top 11 TV Shows of the Year
Television. The ol’ Goggle Box. The Tube. Yes, it’s time to celebrate the electronic hearth in the corner of the room which used to give us our information and still maintains its place as the one piece of art the Americans are just so, so much better at.
Without any further rambling, any further chatter, here are the eleven most notable of television shows I have seen this year and, at the close, a brief list of those I have not seen or could not make space for in the list.
Jingle Links
The AV Club notes movies which use violence to bring festiveness to one and all.
PopMatters reveals its favourite albums of 2007.
Albums of the year too from a few critical luminaries on Slate.
Led Zeppelin returned and Sasha offers an opinion.
Pamela Anderson is getting divorced. Again. After only 72 days. From a person whose only claim to fame is that he has video evidence that he schtupped (‘schtupped’? – Beth) Paris Hilton. Which is not something to be proud of. PopSugar, take over Oh. Or are they actually divorcing after all?... Everything changes so quickly!
A little bit of Milo for you? Entertainment Weekly delivers.
John Krasinski and George Clooney. In one movie. “Orgasmic,” says Tom.
Chris DeBurgh is to make history in Iran. Haven’t the West pissed them off enough?
PopJustice has been rendered speechless by Leon winning The X Factor.
Prepare never to eat a Cadbury’s Flake again. Joss Stone is the new face of them.. Hmm.
Where Did Our Link Go?
The AV Club has a glowing review of No Country For Old Men. On the subject, PopMatters has an interview with the Coens.
You can choose your friends. But not your family.
Garrison Keillor talks Halloween on Salon.
Hirsuite genius Guillermo Del Toro is to remake UK series Champions. For those who don’t know, here’s what that is.
The Village Voice reviews Sufjan Stevens.
Ellen has pissed off some writers.
The Pringles Ad of Brad Pitt’s past is back to haunt him.
The Office‘s John Krasinski is looking yummy in this sports-related spread from Men’s Health.
This evening Beth has mostly been playing High School Musical: Sing It! and marvelling at how complicated the harmonies are.
And Sam enjoyed Glengarry Glen Ross at The Apollo Theatre in London, starring Aiden Gillen and Jonathan Pryce.
There be some women out there who truly hate Observer Woman magazine…
And finally – here’s the Rashida Jones (Karen in The Office) starring Foo Fighters video for Long Road To Ruin
Electricity & Lust 
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