Saturday, February 5, 2005

Reviews and Recommendations




MUST-SEES
Film/DVD Picks:
Days of Being Wild - Thank whatever imaginary friend you like for the creation of DVD's, since DOBW is also now one of a 5-DVD box set put out by Kino. Director Wong Kar-Wai's gorgeous and evocative exploration of love, lust, impulsiveness, and the forces in a character's past that drive him. A spectacular film whose unusual but strangely fitting soundtrack, along with some great looking stars, adds to the mood. This film was a hit at the New Directors' festival in NYC some years ago, but failed to have a feature run here until now. Don't miss it!

SCTV Network 90/Vol. 1 & SCTV Vol. 2 - Some of the funniest sketches and impersonations ever in the history of television, all within the context of a critique of network broadcasting's idiocy and shenanigans. Musical guests were woven into the stories. Vol 1 includes the dead-on Ingmar Bergman parody, the cheesy Sammy Maudlin Show with regular guests Bobby Bittman and Lola Heatherton, and the Polynesiatown debacle, for starters. Vol 2 starts off with a Perry Como sendup and even more. (DVD's released by Shout! Factory)

Curb Your Enthusiasm :The Complete Third Season (HBO DVD) - more hilarity and hijinks from my favorite pessimist. Includes classic episodes like "Krazee-Eyez Killa" and The Grand Opening."

The Battle of Algiers (Criterion DVD) - a must see for our times.

Wattstax (DVD)

Art:
Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC): From Filippo Lippi to Piero della Francesca: Fra Carnevale and the Making of a Renaissance Master. Amazing, gorgeous. See it.

GOINGS-ON
Guest Events:
Thursday February 24, 7:30PM - KEN SMITH reads! LITTLE GRAY BOOK LECTURE NO. 30“How to Observe Presidents’ Day (Observed)” at Galapagos, 70 North Sixth Street, between Kent and Wythe in Williamsburg. (L Train to Bedford Avenue)(718) 782-5188. Other readers include JOSHUAH BEARMAN, JONATHAN COULTON, JON LANGFORD, and SARAH VOWELL. http://www.littlegraybooks.com/

Sunday February 27: Sam Lipsyte reading KGB with John Haskell 85 East 4th Street, NYC 7:00 pm

The best in jazz: go hear Jason Moran and the Bandwagon perform! His scheduled dates in NYC and elsewhere are listed on his site http://www.jasonmoran.com/shows.html

Other Events:



Sunday, December 5, 2004

Richard Dawkins and Michael Hirsh




Evolutionary biologist and frequent guest Richard Dawkins talks about politics, creationism, the state of science, and his latest book, "The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution."

and

How America can and must engage in the world: Newsweek's Michael Hirsh on his book "At War with Ourselves:Why America Is Squandering Its Chance to Build a Better World." http://www.mhirsh.com/




Saturday, November 27, 2004

Catherine O'Hara and Mike Leigh




Catherine O'Hara of SCTV and many films (BEST IN SHOW, A MIGHTY WIND, etc.). A DVD of SCTV Vol. 2 was just released.
and filmmaker Mike Leigh on his latest, VERA DRAKE.



Tuesday, November 9, 2004




The Home Version of Our Game Posted by Hello






Monday, November 1, 2004




The Home Version of Our Game Posted by Hello






Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Mark Crispin Miller




Media critic and author of CRUEL AND UNUSUAL and creator of the play (now on video) PATRIOT ACT.

Plus: commentary by Dorian and Ken

Music: Duck Hunting with Dick Theme Song and The Monkey Song (unknown)