ambulance ltd - sugar pill

Unintentionally, Friday Video is starting to turn into, "Hey, here's a good song used in a movie I've seen recently." That's just where my head's been lately. Anyway, this weekend Takers comes to theaters. I've already said my piece about the film, but I wanted to add right now how happy I was that this Ambulance Ltd. track was included in the movie. Also, Nathan Rabin totally stole my line about the movie resembling a high-end alcohol ad. OK, he probably didn't. But still.

'louis' review

The silent comedy Louis features fetching young women cavorting in barely-there clothing and Jackie Earle Haley channeling his inner Chaplin. So why isn't the movie more fun? I investigate over at The Village Voice.

the hold steady - the weekenders

Quite possibly the best song to ever start with the line "There was that whole weird thing with the horses." Because of the timing of its release, Heaven Is Whenever will forever remind me of being in New York in early May. Fun, fun times. OK, Craig Finn, play the blues.

'going the distance' review

Going the Distance had the potential to be a smart, timely, poignant look at long-distance relationships, our sagging economy and other bittersweet concerns. But the filmmakers don't quite have the nerve to go there all the way. My review is up at Screen International.

'takers' review

I have come to understand something about myself: I really dig heist/caper movies. Even the mediocre ones give me a little jolt of pleasure. So take that into consideration when I tell you that I enjoyed Takers, which wins no points for originality but is a slick, sharp-dressed B-movie. My review is up at Screen International.

roger - I want to be your man

An upcoming foreign-language film makes great use of this song for a funny running bit. I won't spoil it by saying what film or how it's used, so just sit back and enjoy the tune. Ahhhhhh.....

michael penn - walter reed

I'm not sure how many people would lose their cool realizing they're sitting a couple tables away from Michael Penn at a restaurant, but clearly I'm one of them. Anyway, here's "Walter Reed" off his 2005 album, Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947.

the roots - 'how I got over' review

It's still early, but How I Got Over is definitely one of my favorite albums of this year. Here's my review. And if you need more convincing, check out the title track.

'the other guys' review

The Other Guys, the fourth collaboration between Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay, gets a lot of laughs out of a juicy comedic target: the buddy-cop genre. And yet it still feels a bit like a missed opportunity. My review explains all.