DVDs This Week May 19
Pick of the Week: Dexter: Season 1 – The complete first salvo from this terrific Showtime series in which the protagonist is a semi-moralistic serial killer. Michael C Hall steals the show as Dexter but the whole series has a nicely worked blackly comic tone and the shooting, in the glistening silver suns of Florida, sweats off the screen.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – Slightly overrated but still pretty enjoyable musical gore-fest from Tim Burton.
The Deal – Still the finest thing Peter Morgan has done on film yet, this dramatisation of the working of the Blair/Brown government features excellent performances and overall, its ten times more interesting than the TV movie mediocrity of The Queen.
Bee Movie – Jerry Seinfeld’s ill-fated return which I haven’t seen yet, mostly due to complete indifference to what looks a truly dull movie.
Prison Break: Season 3 – I don’t get the appeal of this but its popularity speaks volumes. You could never accuse it of getting ideas above its station though and as television popcorn, its all right.
My Kid Could Paint That – Reasonably good documentary about a four-year old modern art prodigy which asks interesting questions but isn’t all that good in itself. Certainly a conversation starter though.
Region 1
Diary of the Dead – Pretty shocking excuse for filmmaking from George Romero but the man earned our time.
James Stewart: The Westerns Collection – Absolutely fantastic set of Stewart-starring western including his Anthony Mann trilogy of Destry Rides Again, Winchester ’73 and Bend of the River. Peerless filmmaking.
Short Circuit – Steve Guttenberg before he became a creepy cult leader-like crazy. Also, a really heartwarming little picture.
Big Linkin
McSweeney’s has a fake musical starring Roger Clemens.
PopMatters gives its opinion on the sanitised Dexter.
The Guardian has just a whole host of good bits today. An interview with Portishead, another with Larry Clark and an acid test for Skins as real-life teens give their verdict on its verisimilitude.
Kosovo has declared its independence from Serbia.
The New York Times has reviews of the best short film nominees at the Oscars.
Should Hillary be advocating caucuses in Michigan and Florida? Jonathan Cohn at The New Republic asks just that very question.
The rumours are flying as to who will be McCain’s running mate. Condi? Pawlenty?
The Boston Globe investigates the modern evolution of the music video.
Oscar predictions galore at the moment. Here’s what The Washington Post expect.
Hillary Clinton has challenged Barack Obama to a debate on policies ahead of the Wisconsin primary.
The Hudge takes in some songwriting action. She probably doesn’t even need those hacks. She could just freestyle.
The Independent takes on Marvin Gaye’s ‘Here, My Dear’, his post-break up apoplectic rant set to a sumptuous, claustrophobic soul soundtrack.
Spinner has a list of the best ever band logos.
Esquire has a truly furious recollection of working at The Baltimore Sun by Wire-creator David Simon. Also it explores the political theorums and philosophy of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In Da Link
The AV Club has a beginner’s guide to The Kinks.
The future is not looking bright for HD-DVD.
Somewhat genius-like singer-songwriter Bon Iver donates a guest list of tunes he likes to Pitchfork.
Obama may have just won some supremely influential support.
Wanna speak Obama. Check this.
The Guardian has an interview with Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle.
A cleaned-up version of Dexter is coming to CBS.
Thank you so much to Pop Candy for this link. An excerpt from the novelisation of Roadhouse, the Patrick Swayze plays a zen-kung fu bouncer classic.
Zack Snyder is answering questions about Watchmen!
Newsweek has a fascinating article about poets and artists in Burma.
Sasha Frere Jones does not like the new remixes of Radiohead.
USA Today has the lowdown on when shows are expected back following the resolution of the strike.
The IHT reviews a new book claiming 1967 to be the most pivotal of filmic years.
American artist Phil Hanson has created some works inspired very directly by Amy Winehouse.
PopMatters thoroughly enjoyed the new book about The Replacements.
One of Betty’s birthday prezzies is we are going to see this young Gallic femme below.
Rosalinka (Come Out Tonight)
Anthony Bourdain talks to The AV Club
PopMatters lists its top acting performances of 2007 from women and men.
Emily Bazelon explores why Hillary may have turned round ze women.
The New Yorker explores all things Scientological.
Jon Stewart versus Stephen Colbert. Salon calls it.
Fight Club as a musical?
Dexter to be aired on regular TV?
Kimya Dawson discusses her contributions to the Juno soundtrack.
Amy Winehouse has embraced the lighter side of life…
I am officially in love with THIS t-shirt – cliche evil super-villians abound!
How would Law & Order: Criminal Intent work without writers?Not well, it seems…
“I think someone hit her with this thing… it’s glass… it’s very heavy…”
Thank goodness for Chris Noth.
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.
The Good, The Bad and The Uglink
PopMatters discusses Karaoke!!! Who loves Karaoke??? Everyone!!!
Will Zeppelin sing ‘Stairway’? Slate poses this very question.
Sasha Frere-Jones pays some serious tribute to uber-E&L favourite, Cat Power.
Check this clip from The Pineapple Express.
Very niche link here, for our buddy at Rate This Day, but Autechre is preparing the release of its new record.
The Wire Season Four is out on DVD in the US of A.
Sunset Rubdown does a session for Daytrotter.
Dexter could benefit from the writer’s strike. Here’s how.
These are Rolling Stone’s ten artists to watch for 2008.
TV Shorts
A little rundown for those of you with torrented-minds of which seven (for seven is the real lucky number, friends) shows in the US, four brand new three returning, you should check out or download or whatever.
1. Pushing Daisies
Deeply whimsical slice of skewed, black comedy. Stars Lee Pace (of little-known but again charming Wonderfalls) and Anna Friel being very sweet indeed. Basically, Pace brings death to those he touches but can give life back to them, only at the cost of another. It got great reviews, dragged in huge first night figures and mostly is well worth your time. Whether the whimsy will hold up, who knows. Right now, its cutesiness is eminently charming.
2. The Bionic Woman
Woman has car crash, boyfriends saves her by giving her state-of-art limbs, now rebellious worker for possibly-governmental agency. Not loved across the board but our very own Michelle Ryan plays the eponymous super-girl and she great. Also boasts Battlestar Galactica-alum Katee Sackhoff and a kind of Alias-ish vibe. Promising.
3. Reaper
A young lad hits his eighteenth birthday to find out is parents sold his soul to the devil. Yet to witness the second episode of this but it’s alleged to get very good, very soon. The first episode was okay if creaky in places but this could be one to watch if they nail the premise.
4. Chuck
Nerdy, if somewhat charming and attractive, tech worker gets sent email from FBI friend with all government secrets on and now, they want to get him. Charming show if still trying to find its feet at the moment, a solid third episode will make all the difference. Plus, Josh ‘The OC’ Schwartz is behind it and his shows always take a little time to get going. Have faith, I think this one’s gonna be a winner.
5. The Office
I still don’t believe I love this show as much as I do. It hasn’t quite surpassed the genius of Gervais but it’s carved out its own niche. This is its own show now and is of such a consistently high level of quality, you cannot fail but be swept along. Plus, there are four hour long episodes to kick off the year. Awesome.
6. Dexter
Along with Brotherhood, Californication and Weeds, Showtime now has a sterling line up to rival HBO. This pitch black comedy is the most celebrated and rightly so. Michael C Hall is creepy and still in the lead role, never showy and always charming. How you make a serial killer charming, I couldn’t tell you. The first couple of episodes of the new season set out the stall well and this should become a must-watch for all around.
7. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Barring The Office, this is hands-down the best comedy on TV. Semi-improvised, astonishingly mean-spirited and ball-achingly funny, this, to use a hideous but right now solid phrase, is Seinfeld-on-crack. The four leads, including the superlative and getting-even-better this year Kaitlin Olsen, is just perfect and if you haven’t discovered it, this is a must watch.
Electricity & Lust 
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