tom morello speaks

It's not available online, but in the latest issue of Kerrang! is my interview with Tom Morello, who's back on the road with Axis of Justice, his tour that brings together country, hip-hop and hard-rock acts to raise awareness for worthy causes.

andrew sullivan is reading my mind

And if that's the case, thank you, Mr. Sullivan: You've helped cheer me up considerably this morning.

battlestar galactica: escape velocity

Was it just me, or was everybody in Friday's episode of Battlestar overacting just a wee bit? My rundown is at Vulture.

redbelt

David Mamet's new film Redbelt is another of his elaborate-con dramas, but it has two interesting wrinkles: It's set in the world of mixed martial arts and, more importantly, it stars the magnificent Chiwetel Ejiofor.

those damn subway ads

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds those "five-dollar foot-long" ads from Subway insanely, evilly catchy. Slate's Seth Stevenson interviews the commercials' "diabolical geniuses" and learns their tricks.

burt reynolds: what's the "deal"?

The mustachioed former sex symbol is the main reason to give Deal a try. But probably not a strong enough reason.

2001's moonwatcher speaks

Anybody who obsesses over 2001: A Space Odyssey as much as yours truly needs to read this.

battlestar galactica: the ties that bind

Friday night's episode of Battlestar was the season's best so far. My rundown at Vulture is here.

baby mama

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are really funny in the warm, likable Baby Mama. My review appears at Screen International.

beyond the call

Beyond the Call is a well-meaning documentary about three unpretentious Good Samaritans who are worth admiring. Too bad the film about them isn't.

the life before her eyes

Evan Rachel Wood is quite good in The Life Before Her Eyes, a drama about grieving and rebirth, but Uma Thurman is part of the film's major problems.

battlestar galactica: six of one

After the promising season premiere, Battlestar was a lot less engaging last Friday. My recap is at Vulture.

prom night

The remake of the 1980 horror film stars Brittany Snow and a guy from The Wire. It did surprisingly well over the weekend, but is it any good? My review is at Screen International.

andrew sullivan

You should read his blog every day, but you should really read this posting.

who you calling bald?

Like the rest of us, rock stars have to worry about losing their hair. Well, not all of them: Some do just fine without their lovely locks.

the sword

The Austin metal band is back with a new album, Gods of the Earth. Some people think they're joking with their Norse imagery and Sabbath-size riffs. They're not joking, folks -- they're here to rock.

the return of harold and kumar

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle was a fun surprise that did decent business, so of course a sequel was inevitable. Sadly, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is less funny and a whole lot cruder.

street kings: keanu reeves tries to walk like a man

Street Kings, which opens Friday, is a perfectly competent thriller, but it's the sort that perpetuates all the tired cliches about bad cops, codes of honor and this-is-a-man's-world bravado. My review appears in The Village Voice.

another reason to love obama

On his first date with future wife Michelle, he took her to see Do the Right Thing.

battlestar galactica: he that believeth in me

So, the season premiere of Battlestar Galactica aired Friday. What did I think of it? Click here.

george clooney has a ball in leatherheads

Leatherheads has its faults, but for the most part, it's a stylish, smart period comedy. Elsewhere in my Consumables column, I take a listen to the new Death Cab single and Cadence Weapon album, and sing the praises of The Bank Job and Paranoid Park.

battlestar galactica for newbies

With Battlestar Galactica gearing up for its fourth and final season tonight, here's a handy cheat sheet of the show's political subtext. If you've never seen the program, hopefully this rundown will at least get you caught up.

harmony korine at the silent movie theatre

Every Saturday in April, the fine folks at Cinefamily will be screening the films of Harmony Korine, including Kids, Gummo and the forthcoming Mister Lonely. For L.A. Weekly, I discuss Korine's oeuvre, warts and all.

battlestar galactica's col. tigh speaks

Michael Hogan, the terrific actor who plays the tortured Saul Tigh on Battlestar Galactica, spoke to me recently about the upcoming season, life as a Cylon, and the song he wants playing at his funeral. The details are all at Vulture.

stephen malkmus

The former Pavement leader is back with his fourth solo record, Real Emotional Trash. If you like twisty guitar epics than can stretch to 10 minutes, it's the album for you. (And even if you don't, you should still give it a shot.)

run, fat boy, run

Shaun of the Dead's Simon Pegg seems destined to be a star, but movies like Run, Fat Boy, Run won't do much to help the cause.

black tide

These Miami teens love their old-school heavy metal. Light From Above is their first album: They have all the moves down cold, but they haven't found a personality yet.

usc makes the big dance

The Trojans, led by freshman sensation O.J. Mayo, go to Omaha Thursday to play the Kansas State Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament. I preview the matchup -- at least on the Trojan side of things -- at Deadspin.

who are these "gutter twins" you speak of?

Songwriters Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan, formerly of, respectively, the Afghan Whigs and Screaming Trees, have teamed up as the Gutter Twins. Their first record together, Saturnalia, is out now, and it's an interesting mash-up of their differing dark styles.

never back down

Can Hollywood capitalize on the trendy sport of mixed martial arts? The new teen drama Never Back Down suggests that, in a pinch, they'll simply try to redo The Karate Kid. My review appears here.

pete seeger

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song is an adoring, moving documentary about the protest folk singer. I review it in this week's Consumables, and I also take a listen to new singles from MGMT, Flo Rida (OK, "Low" isn't that new), the Raveonettes, and Mike Doughty.

college road trip

Disney's latest piece of pseudo-wholesome family entertainment, College Road Trip, opens today. Watching Martin Lawrence try to be adorable is simply too much to take.

miss pettigrew lives for a day

Frances McDormand is terrific, Amy Adams is decent: That's the short review of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. The longer, more interesting version is here.

the los angeles brazilian film festival

The first annual Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival kicks off Friday at the Landmark. For L.A. Weekly, I sampled some of the festival's offerings. I didn't love a lot of what I saw, but I did find one movie worth checking out: Not by Chance.

david poland on barack obama

I've been reading wall-to-wall election coverage in the last 24 hours, but I'm not sure if anyone more accurately nailed the challenge ahead for Barack Obama -- and the potential for him to truly come into his own -- as David Poland, editor of Movie City News, has done in a recent blog post:

What we will now learn, really for the first time, is how Obama would represent the United States. Because, truth be told, it is not just about speeches. It is about action. And the hard reality of the world is that leaders are often called upon to push back when a threat comes to bear.

Will Obama push back? How will Obama push back if he does? And will be cross the lines of discourse that he has set out to uphold? Can he effectively respond without becoming what he has beheld?

These hard moments are when we see the true beauty of greatness… or the sad, sad death of the dream that greatness can still exist in our cynical times.

The whole thing can be read here.

married life: the movie

Chris Cooper and Patricia Clarkson are both terrific in Married Life, a dark comedy-drama about one middle-aged couple's seemingly happy marriage which is slowly falling apart. You can read my review here.

r.e.m.: well, this is encouraging

I don't condone Monster bashing, but Josh Modell's review at Spin about R.E.M.'s forthcoming Accelerate has me very excited. 

cj7

Writer-director-actor Stephen Chow, the man behind Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, returns with CJ7, a hyperactive kids' movie that's a bit like E.T., except, y'know, not nearly as good.

romulus, my father

Actor Eric Bana (Munich, The Hulk) has two films coming out this weekend. The higher-profile one is The Other Boleyn Girl, but he's also in Romulus, My Father, a coming-of-age drama that deals with poverty and mental illness. It's understandably somber, but it's also almost too glum for its own good. My L.A. Weekly review appears here.

jon stewart and the oscars

Last night's Academy Awards made for an entertaining evening, says I. Also in Consumables, I discuss U2 3D, Be Kind Rewind, and Diary of the Dead.

vantage point

Most reviews thus far have been unkind to Vantage Point, but I actually think there's some merit in the film. You can read my musings at Screen International.

odelay

It's been 12 years since Beck's landmark record Odelay brought phrases like "two turntables and a microphone" and "got a devil's haircut in my mind" into the pop-culture lexicon. For Detroit's Metro Times I review the new Deluxe Edition of the album and try to figure out what all the fuss was about back then.

electric apricot

Les Claypool is a revered cult musician -- he was the driving force behind Primus -- and he's hung around the business most of his life. Now he's putting that experience into ... a mockumentary. Electric Apricot, his spoof of the jam-band universe, has some funny moments, but, well, it's another mockumentary. My review is at L.A. Weekly.

sia

There's a good chance you've heard Sia's music and didn't even realize it: She appears on the soundtracks of shows like Six Feet Under and commercials such as KCRW's movie-theater spots. As I note in this week's Phoenix New Times, she's a great example of the future for up-and-coming artists.

eels

The Eels have two collections out now: a best-of (Meet the Eels) and a compilation of outtakes (Useless Trinkets). No matter the Eels fan in your life, one (or both) of these will be up their alley.

how good is the new r.e.m. single?

My answer is here in the latest Consumables. Also, my reviews of The Counterfeiters, The Band's Visit, the Ting Tings and the revamped B-52's.

paris hilton invades your movie theater

The Hottie and the Nottie, starring Paris Hilton, opens today in a very limited run. How bad is it? Find out here.

the best new artist grammy: a career killer?

Feist, Amy Winehouse and others will be competing for the Best New Artist prize at the Grammys on Sunday. It sounds like a prestigious prize -- a validation of your up-and-coming status -- but this particular award has a reputation for cursing its winners to mediocre, disappointing careers. Is it better not to win? For VH1.com, I looked back at past winners and discovered it's a pretty mixed bag of artists. You can read my findings here.

the eye

Is The Eye scary? Can Jessica Alba act? And what's Parker Posey doing in a horror movie? All the answers are contained in my Screen International review.

obama for president

The L.A. Times is endorsing Barack Obama for the Democratic primary. The well-argued editorial ends with this...

In the language of metaphor, [Hillary] Clinton is an essay, solid and reasoned; Obama is a poem, lyric and filled with possibility. Clinton would be a valuable and competent executive, but Obama matches her in substance and adds something that the nation has been missing far too long -- a sense of aspiration.

That just about nails it. The entire piece can be found here.

drive-by truckers

Brighter Than Creation's Dark is the first Drive-By Truckers record since the departure of one of its three songwriters, Jason Isbell. They survive the lineup shift mostly intact. My review is at Blender.

tre

Director Eric Byler's Tre may seem like your typical drama about attractive 20-somethings stumbling through life, but the strength of the performances and writing make for an affecting, insightful experience. My review appears in L.A. Weekly.

cloverfield = scary

In this week's Consumables, I have glowing things to say about Cloverfield, Woody Allen's Cassandra's Dream, and Steve Martin's memoir, Born Standing Up. Plus, I catch up with two of the most acclaimed indie-rock albums of last year.

the best movies of 2007

Near the end of last year, I contributed a ballot to the Village Voice/L.A. Weekly film poll. Here are my picks, but before you click, can you guess what movie I picked for Worst Film? (It was a close race, believe me.)

MLK

There's a news story out today, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, about how little people remember about the man's legacy.

"Everyone knows, even the smallest kid knows about Martin Luther King, can say his most famous moment was that 'I have a dream' speech," said Henry Louis Taylor Jr., professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Buffalo.

"No one can go further than one sentence," he said. "All we know is that this guy had a dream, we don't know what that dream was."

In case anyone out there is wondering, here's that dream in its entirety.

i don't get juno

Juno leads my latest Consumables, but it's one of the weakest movies on a list of mostly great films, which includes There Will Be Blood, Persepolis, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. You can read about those and others at The Simon.

anybody but the patriots

In today's column, the L.A. Times' Christine Daniels addresses all of us who are praying that somehow the undefeated, seemingly invincible New England Patriots don't win the Super Bowl in three weeks. And her advice? Don't get your hopes up.

chris cooper speaks

Chris Cooper, the star of last February's Breach, is a thoughtful, somber interview subject, but what else would you expect of such a calm, authoritative actor? I interviewed Cooper for L.A. Weekly, where we discussed his preparation for playing Robert Hanssen, his earliest filmic heroes, and the lost art of the everyman.

one missed call

Two things happened on January 4: my birthday and the release of One Missed Call. One event was more memorable than the other.

tila tequila and me

MTV and internet sensation Tila Tequila may not have found love on her self-titled reality show, but she gives a great interview. My conversation with Ms. Tequila can be found at Blender.

top ten albums of 2007

Happy New Year, everyone. 2007 was a great movie year but only a so-so music year. First up, let's count down the music year. Here are my Top Ten records of '07, complete with a pithy sentence or two about each entry.

honeydripper

John Sayles is one of America's real filmmaking treasures. His newest film, Honeydripper, isn't one of his finest, but it's worth seeking out.

national treasure: book of secrets

More of the same from Nicolas Cage and the gang as they run around the world lookin' for clues. My review appears at Screen International.

daft punk

Bummed you missed Daft Punk on their latest highly-praised tour? Want to know what it was felt and sounded like? You might try Alive 2007, their new concert disc. Just don't expect it to totally replicate the live experience.

hal holbrook speaks

The veteran character actor gives one of his best performances in writer-director Sean Penn's Into the Wild. In the midst of the Oscar buzz swirling around him, I sat down with the man, 82 years young, for an interview, which can be found at L.A. Weekly. We discussed his process, his past, and the acting advice his wife always gives him before tackling a new project.

rosa parks

The song, not the woman. Anyway, if you're curious how Outkast came up with their signature tune, wonder no more: I profile its origins in the latest Blender.

christopher plummer's oscar grab

Man in the Chair is one of those mediocre films which only seems to exist so as to give some venerable actor an outside shot at an Academy Award. Christopher Plummer supporters should give up hope now.

the walker

One of Woody Harrelson's best performances goes to waste in writer-director Paul Schrader's new mystery-drama.

simon lebon is the man

That was my impression, anyway, after interviewing him for Blender.

chris brown

R&B singer Chris Brown, a tape recorder, and I all got together down at the Venice boardwalk to take a little Blender personality test. The results can be read here.

divine intervention

If a movie has its heart in the right place, does that make up for a miniscule budget, so-so acting, and a weak script. In the case of Divine Intervention, a religious-themed romantic comedy, the answer is no.

bob dylan or amy adams?

I'm Not There or Enchanted? I say try 'em both. The two films lead my latest Consumables column, which also features reviews of Margot at the Wedding, American Gangster, Redacted, and other award-hungry films.

hitman

The Timothy Olyphant action movie (based on the popular Hitman video game) is decent, but not great. Its core audience will eat it up, but no one else will care. My review appears at Screen International.

bob dylan on film

In L.A. Weekly, I discuss the movies Dylan has made about his own legacy: Eat the Document, Renaldo and Clara, and Masked and Anonymous. None of them are as terrific as I'm Not There, but they're an illuminating bunch nonetheless.

lcd soundsystem

45:33 was a project LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy put together for Nike: a long instrumental suite of songs that joggers could listen to while running. Now available commercially, the album has its merits but isn't quite primo LCD.

mr. magorium's wonder emporium

The movie's title is a mouthful, but Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a really special family film, anchored by a terrific performance from Natalie Portman. My review is at Screen International.

me on no country for old men

My review appears here as part of my Consumables column. Also in there: my thoughts on Lars and the Real Girl, The Assassination of Jesse James, Thurston Moore's solo album, and more.

no country for old men and the coen brothers

After you've seen No Country for Old Men and digested it fully, proceed immediately to David Edelstein's terrific dissection of the Coens' oeuvre in New York.

afi film festival: the final weekend

AFI wraps up on Sunday, but there are still some worthwhile films left on the slate. Here's a rundown at the L.A. Weekly, including two reviews from yours truly.

radiohead's new album

Has the hype over In Rainbows died down yet? Can we discuss the album on its own terms? Great -- here's my review.

somebody help martin freeman

Martin Freeman, you may recall, was the lovelorn nice guy in the original version of The Office. He seemed destined to break out after that celebrated sitcom, but it hasn't happened yet. He stars in The Good Night, the feature debut of Gwyneth Paltrow's brother Jake. Freeman is decent in it, but he needs to find better material.

michael clayton and the amazing george clooney

If you want proof that I'm not one of those critics who hates everything that comes his way, check out my latest Consumables column, where I liked all nine things I wrote about, which includes Michael Clayton, The Darjeeling Limited, Eastern Promises, Bruce Springsteen's Magic, and M.I.A.'s Kala.

saw iv

At this point, you're either someone who watches ever Saw sequel or someone who badmouths the whole franchise. That sorta makes a film critic-proof, huh? Nonetheless, here's my take on Saw IV (as well as the whole series, really).

roger ebert nails grindhouse

It's been a delight to have Roger Ebert back reviewing movies every Friday; we had lost his distinctive critical voice for several months while he fought cancer. As if his full slate of new movies isn't enough, though, he's also been writing a new piece each week on a movie he missed while recovering. These reviews have allowed him an opportunity I think many critics would like to have: a chance to evaluate a movie long after its hype has died down and the pressures to file a review on deadline have expired.

A perfect example is today's piece on Grindhouse, a film that many critics I respect and admire loved back in the spring but which didn't do much for me. Ebert, blessed with perspective and his usual writing talent, sizes up the movie so clearly that his conclusions help explain not only why this B-movie double bill is terribly flawed but also why it didn't end up as any kind of box-office hit. Read his review here.

black irish

Writer-director Brad Gann's Black Irish takes on one of the cinema's most overdone dramatic territories: the suffering Irish family. My review is at the L.A. Weekly.

a film about jimmy carter

Man From Plains, a Jonathan Demme documentary about Jimmy Carter, is one of the best films of the year. But it's about more than just the former president -- a lot more. My review appears here.

the season of joy division

Ian Curtis has been dead for 27 years now, but his old band's legacy still looms large. Control, a film about Curtis directed by Anton Corbijn, drew raves at Cannes and is now making its way across the country. My review appears at L.A. Weekly.

ac/dc: their hidden gems

If you just know "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Back in Black," then enjoy my analysis of some of AC/DC's lesser-known tracks at VH1. (Hint: Most of 'em have something to do with sex.)

joni mitchell

Shine, her new record, isn't a galvanizing return to form, but if you give the disc some time, its beauty can sneak up on you.

chamillionaire doesn't drink or smoke

Those were just two things I found out about the "Ridin' Dirty" rapper in my recent interview with him for Blender.

band of horses

Cease to Begin is the South Carolina band's second album -- it's even more lovely than their first. My review appears at Blender.

the kite runner

The award-seeking adaptation of the Khaled Hosseini novel won't be arriving in theaters until December, but my review is up now at Screen International.

kid rock talks to me

To promote his new album, Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock sat down for an interview with me. The results can be found at Blender.

the final season

Another inspirational baseball film? I'm afraid so, but The Final Season has its heart in the right place at least. If it's on cable, give it 15 minutes or so. My L.A. Weekly review appears here.

baby elephant

Turn My Teeth Up! is the name of the new album from Baby Elephant, a collaboration between hip-hop producer Prince Paul (of De La Soul fame) and keyboardist Bernie Worrell (of Parliament-Funkadelic fame). It's an uneasy mixture of oddball humor and sincere testimonials to Worrell's legacy. My review appears in the Metro Times.

blender's 40 worst lyricists in rock

Yup, Blender magazine picked Sting as rock music's worst lyricist. But who were the other 39? The link to the piece, which I helped contribute to, is here.

bergman at the new beverly

If you've never seen Cries and Whispers or Autumn Sonata, now's your chance: Ingmar Bergman's harrowing family dramas screen at the New Beverly this weekend. My musings on both films appear in L.A. Weekly.

lake of fire

Filmmaker Tony Kaye's abortion documentary Lake of Fire opens this weekend in New York. It's an affecting but imperfect work. My review appears here.

bruce springsteen returns

The Boss is back with his new album, Magic. In honor of the occasion, I look back at Springsteen's greatest non-hits for VH1.

kanye west

Graduation, the new record from Kanye West, heads my latest Consumables column. Also included: reviews of Into the Wild, Justice, Beck's "Timebomb" single, The King of Kong and more.