Anthony Bourdain alert!

New season of No Reservations begins tonight (BTW, I love the cable concept of "seasons": 'Anytime we run more than three episodes and then take a break, it's a season.'). Bourdain might be kind of an asshole in person, but I'm hooked on this show. My wife even digs it.

I think it's the concept that I like, the whole feeling that Bourdain is actually trying to find unique destinations, or a new facet to already popular sites. The emphasis on food don't hurt either.

Also, when is The Middleman going to be out on DVD?

The Oscar should go to Richard Jenkins!

I know that Sean Penn was great in Milk. I know that the Academy will want to reward him for many reasons, most of them noble ones, but... damn, Richard Jenkins swung the weight in The Visitor. Jenkins is a member in good standing of the "Hey-It's-That-Guy!" club; dude's been in everything. It was so good to see him get a part like this and so touching to watch him play it. Not to short Penn, but the Oscar should go to Richard Jenkins.

American Teen and Self-Consciousness

The family will watch American Teen tonight. My daughter and I saw it in the theater and liked it well enough to cajole my wife into watching it. My daughter loved the movie; I kind of liked it, but there was one aspect of it I found interesting and a little disconcerting.

American Teen takes place in a "small" Indiana town (I put "small" in quotes because I've noticed that in the movies and on TV, 50,000 qualifies as "small". I live in a town of 4500. I know from small.) What I noticed was that every kid on screen, every one of them, was completely comfortable with and aware of the camera at all times. Late in the film, when one girl blows up at her best friend, she carefully removes her body mic before storming out of the room.

I don't know if this has any greater meaning. I could speculate about our media culture, a steady diet of reality TV, or the belief that being on screen gives life meaning. I could wax philosophical about how our dreams have shrunk to the point that we cannot imagine anything higher than being on film. I could, but I won't, because that would be stupid. I don't have enough data or a concrete thesis. Take it for what it is--something that poked me in an uncomfortable place.

The Middleman on DVD?

As soon as this 12-episode gem is available for pre-order, it's on the way to my home.
"Hawks of the Luftwaffe!"

Hello, 2009!

Well, 2008 sucked. My brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, my mom fell and broke her hip (necessitating replacement), and my daughter came down with mono and spent September, October, and most of November dragging herself through the day.



Now, though, it's 2009. If you haven't yet seen Man on Wire, do it now. Great movie about an unforgettable character made more poignant by the involvement of the World Trade Center.

Are you watching The Middleman?

If not, why not?

Honestly, people, don't bitch about the lameness of TV if you're not going to make the effort to find great little gems like Middleman. Sure, it's on ABC Family and every episode costs about $13 to make, but that's part of the fun. Who knew such a lame channel would air such a witty, snarky delight?

Oh, and an Emmy for Mary Pat Gleason, if you please.

Sorry I've been gone so long...

If you want to know why, maybe I'll tell you some day. Let's just say that real life can be a bitch and when you find out about a family member's mental illness, it puts everything else on the back burner.

Anyhoo, there was a lively discussion at Lawyers, Guns, and Money about the death of the action scene. FX happened to be broadcasting The Transporter 2 tonight, and while that example of Jason Statham's oeuvre may be lackluster in parts, it does feature excellent action sequences, shot and edited with a real eye to flow, relationships, and perspective.

Also, saw Mongol last week. It's another entry in my "just because it's foreign doesn't mean it's good" file.