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.

the roots - how I got over

America's best band is either Drive-By Truckers or the Roots. My glowing review of the latter's How I Got Over will be coming soon. But in the meantime, here's the title track.

'get low' and 'countdown to zero' reviews

A general grumpiness pervades my latest Consumables column. I take on Get Low and Countdown to Zero, two average films that have been given far too much respect simply because they're "indie" or "art-house" or whatever. Enough, I say.

scissor sisters - 'night work' review

Their first album was a sensation. Their second album was a dud. On album No. 3, Scissor Sisters return to the cheeky irreverence that made them so successful in the first place. My review of Night Work is up now.

'scott pilgrim vs. the world' review

Is Edgar Wright ever going to make a movie as brilliant and heartfelt as Shaun of the Dead again? I'm starting to worry, although I had a blast watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. My review is up at Screen International.

top 40 R.E.M. songs

Normally for About, I make Top 10 lists of bands' best songs. But with R.E.M., it became a much bigger task. Even cutting it down to 40 took some doing. Well, after a lot of soul-searching, I've come up with R.E.M.'s top 40 songs of all time. Let the debate begin.

'cats & dogs: the revenge of kitty galore' review

I'll say this about the Cats & Dogs sequel: I chuckled much more often than I was expecting I would based on the commercials. But in the final analysis, this kids' film has the same problem as so many of them do: It's so frenetic it's hardly ever charming. My review is up at Screen International.

thom yorke - "after the gold rush"

I was watching the American Masters documentary on Neil Young, Don't Be Denied, over the weekend. It's OK -- a very typical "hit the highlights" portrait of an icon -- but it did inspire me to seek out this Bridge School Benefit performance by Thom Yorke. He does a pretty decent cover of the great man's "After the Gold Rush," due in part to the fact that his voice can match Young's ethereal wail from the original.

'beautiful islands' review

"Placid" is usually not the sort of adjective you want associated with your movie, but Tomoko Kana's documentary Beautiful Islands is a pretty serene piece of filmmaking. It's a portrait of three islands across the planet affected by global warming, including Venice. My review is up at L.A. Weekly.

'salt' review

Angelina Jolie wanted to play a James Bond-like character. A producer had a James Bond-like script with a male protagonist. A gender switch later and we have Jolie starring in Salt, about a tough-as-nails female CIA agent accused of being a Russian spy. If your parents thought those Jason Bourne movies were too nerve-jangling and hand-held shaky, then they might find Salt more their speed. As for the rest of us ..... well, it's a bit dull. My review is up at Screen International.

danger mouse, sparklehorse, david lynch - dark night of the soul

To celebrate the official release (finally) of Dark Night of the Soul, how about the title track for our Friday? I sure do miss Mark Linkous.

'inception' review

As I've been bragging to anyone who will listen, I have avoided all spoilers, commercials and reviews for Inception for the last several months. (Only on Sunday did I realize that Ellen Page was in the movie.) Well, now I've seen it, and I review the film for my Consumables column. To the best of my abilities, I don't believe there are any spoilers in this review, so dive in if you'd like.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to read all the other Inception reviews.