The IRA's 2009: Spreading The Wealth Around

In 2008, the IRA movie awards were swept to an unprecedented degree by the terrific, acclaimed but generally overlooked film The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. In 2009, a strong lineup of well-regarded movies and a desire to avoid another sweep guaranteed that the IRA awards were spread among a range of films from blockbusters like The Dark Knight to tiny flicks like Ballast and Shotgun Stories.

The IRAs is an annual get-together of movie buffs that was launched by college friends 33 years ago as a counter to the more mundane Oscars. These are film fanatics who go to Film Forum and Anthology Archives and film festivals throughout America and around the world. Members have won major Oscars and worked on Oscar-winning Best Picture winners, they've written acclaimed and best-selling Hollywood biographies like Ed Sikov's Dark Victory: The Life Of Bette Davis, the definitive Oscar book (indeed the definitive awards book) Inside Oscar, by Mason Wiley & Damien Bona; worked at major magazines and newspapers covering the industry; worked at major studios and in the independent film industry or in my case just schlepped around as a freelancer and watched a lot of movies year in and year out. In other words, IRA members range from major players to avid fans.

So here are this year's winners followed by the balloting as it happened with all the top vote-getters listed and the Bronx cheers at the end of Sominex and Dramamine movies (those that put us to sleep or made us sick) and Mechanical Actor and Actress. Watch the Best Picture honorees or the winners from past years (listed at the bottom) and you'll have a great overview of cinema in the past three decades.

BEST PICTURE: The Edge Of Heaven
BEST DIRECTOR: Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven
BEST ACTOR: Michael Shannon - Shotgun Stories
BEST ACTRESS: Anamaria Marinca - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Emile Hirsch - Milk
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Hanna Schygulla - The Edge Of Heaven
BEST SCREENPLAY: Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jody Shapiro - My Winnipeg
BEST SCORE: Carter Burwell for In Bruges and Burn After Reading
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Rejean Labrie - My Winnipeg
BEST COSTUMES: Danny Glicker - Milk

AND HERE'S THE FULL VOTING RECORD:

BEST COSTUMES:

1. Danny Glicker - Milk 38 points
2. Maira Ramedhan Lévy - The Duchess Of Langeais 17 points
3. Gabriela Salaverri - Savage Grace 11 points
4. Jacqueline West - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 10 points
5. (tie) Lindy Hemming - The Dark Knight 9 points
5. (tie) Michael O'Connor - The Duchess 9 points

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

1. Rejean Labrie - My Winnipeg 15 points
2. (tie) Nathan Crowley - The Dark Knight 13 points
2. (tie) Emmanuel de Chauvigny - The Duchess Of Langeais 13 points
4. Jerel Levanway - Ballast 12 points
5. (tie) Donald Graham Burt - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 9 points
5. (tie) James J. Murakami - Gran Torino and Changeling 9 points

BEST SCORE:

1. Carter Burwell for In Bruges and Burn After Reading 23 points
2. Ry Cooder - My Blueberry Nights 21 points
3. A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire 18 points
4. Thomas Newman - WALL-E 13 points
5. James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer -- The Dark Knight 10 points

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

1. Jody Shapiro - My Winnipeg 27 points
2. Lol Crawley - Ballast 24 points
3. Christopher Doyle and Rain Kathy Li - Paranoid Park 14 points
4. Adam Stone - Shotgun Stories 13 points
5. Nelson Yu Lik-wai - Still Life 12 points


BEST SCREENPLAY:

1. Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven 36 points
2. Cristian Mungiu - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 19 points
3. François Bégaudeau Robin Campillo and Laurent Cantet - The Class 15 points
4. (tie) David Volach - My Father, My Lord 11 points
4. (tie) Martin McDonagh - In Bruges 11 points


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

1. Hanna Schygulla - The Edge Of Heaven 40 points
2. Anne Savage - My Winnipeg 26 points
3. Hiam Abbass - The Visitor 16 points
4. Nursel Köse - The Edge Of Heaven 11 points
5. (tie) Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona 9 points
5. (tie) Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married 9 points

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

1. Emile Hirsch - Milk 23 points
2. (tie) Josh Brolin - Milk 18 points
2. (tie) Eamonn Walker - Cadillac Records 18 points
4. Vlad Ivanov - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 17 points
5. (tie) Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight 13 points
5. (tie) Brad Pitt - Burn After Reading 13 points

BEST ACTRESS:

1. Anamaria Marinca - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 32 points
2. Melissa Leo - Frozen River 24 points
3. Ines Efron - XXY 22 points
4. Kristin Scott Thomas - I Loved You So Long 20 points
5. Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy 13 points

BEST ACTOR:

1. Michael Shannon - Shotgun Stories 28 points
2. Sean Penn - Milk 27 points
3. Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges 14 points
4. (tie) Andrew Garland - Boy A 13 points
4. (tie) Richard Jenkins - The Visitor 13 points

BEST DIRECTOR:

1. Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven 32 points
2. Gus Van Sant - Milk 27 points
3. Guy Maddin - My Winnipeg 19 points
4. Cristian Mungiu - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 18 points
5. Hsiao-hsien Hou - Flight Of The Red Balloon 16 points

BEST PICTURE:

1. The Edge Of Heaven 32 points
2. My Winnipeg 19 points
3. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 18 points
4. (tie) Ballast 15 points
4. (tie) Flight Of The Red Balloon 15 points

SOMINEX AWARD (MOVIES THAT PUT US TO SLEEP):

1. The Happening 18 points
2. Synecdoche, New York 16 points
3. Che Part 2 11 points
4. Mister Lonely 9 points
5. Cassandra's Dream 8 points

DRAMAMINE AWARD (MOVIES THAT MADE US SICK):

1. The Reader 22 points
2. Mamma Mia 15 points
3. (tie) Towelhead 8 points
3. (tie) A Christmas Tale 8 points
5. (tie) Sex and the City: The Movie 7 points
5. (tie) Love Songs 7 points

MECHANICAL ACTRESS AWARD:

1. Meryl Streep - Doubt 22 points
2. Scarlett Johansson - Vicky Cristina Barcelona; The Other Boleyn Girl 21 points
3. The entire female cast - Sex and the City: The Movie 15 points
4. Kate Winslet - The Reader 12 points
5. (tie) Angelina Jolie - Changeling 10 points
5. (tie) Ellen Page - Smart People 10 points

MECHANICAL ACTOR:

1. Mark Wahlberg - The Happening 18 points
2. Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 13 points
3. (tie) John Malcovich - Changeling 10 points
3. (tie) Chris Noth - Sex and the City: The Movie 10 points
5. (tie) Mike Myers - The Love Guru 9 points
5. (tie) Ben Stiller - Tropic Thunder 9 points


THE COMPLETE IRA MOVIE AWARD WINNERS:

1975
Best Picture: Barry Lyndon
Best Director: Claude Chabrol for La Rupture and Just Before Nightfall
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Best Actress: Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Best Supporting Actor: François Perrier in Just Before Nightfall
Best Supporting Actress: Blythe Danner in Hearts Of The West
Best Screenplay: Tom Stoppard and Thomas Wiseman for The Romantic Englishwoman
Best Cinematography: John Alcott for Barry Lyndon



1976
Best Picture: (tie) Lipstick, and The Marquise Of O
Best Director: Eric Rohmer for The Marquise Of O
Best Actor: Sean Connery in Robin And Marian
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek in Carrie
Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards in All The President’s Men
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Bancroft in Lipstick
Best Screenplay: Alain Tanner and John Berger for Jonah Who Will Be 25 In The Year 2000
Best Cinematography: Nestor Almendros for The Marquise Of O



1977
Best Picture: Annie Hall
Best Director: Wim Wenders for The American Friend
Best Actor: John Gielgud in Providence
Best Actress: Dianne Keaton in Annie Hall and Looking For Mr. Goodbar
Best Supporting Actor: G. D. Spradlin in One On One
Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave in Julia
Best Screenplay: Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman for Annie Hall
Best Cinematography: Robby Müller for The American Friend


1978
Best Picture: Days Of Heaven
Best Director: Terence Malick for Days Of Heaven
Best Actor: Jon Voight in Coming Home
Best Actress: Jane Fonda in Coming Home
Best Supporting Actor: Dom DeLuise in The End
Best Supporting Actress: Stephane Audran in Violette
Best Screenplay: Eric Rohmer for Perceval
Best Cinematography: Nestor Almendros for Days Of Heaven


1979
Best Picture: Fedora
Best Director: Blake Edwards for 10
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood in Escape From Alcatraz
Best Actress: Hanna Schygulla in The Marriage Of Maria Braun
Best Supporting Actor: Denholm Elliott in Cuba and Saint Jack
Best Supporting Actress: Frances Sternhagen in Fedora and Starting Over
Best Screenplay: Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond for Fedora
Best Cinematography: Tak Fujimoto for Last Embrace and Remember My Name
Best Music: Miklos Rozsa for Fedora and Last Embrace
Best Production Design: Dean Edward Mitzner for 1941


1980
Best Picture: The Big Red One
Best Director: Sam Fuller for The Big Red One
Best Actor: Lee Marvin for The Big Red One
Best Actress: Jodie Foster for Carny and Foxes
Best Supporting Actor: (tie) Joe Pesci in Raging Bull and Harry Dean Stanton in The Black Marble, The Long Riders, Private Benjamin and Wise Blood
Best Supporting Actress: Pamela Reed in The Long Riders and Melvin And Howard
Best Screenplay: Sam Fuller for The Big Red One
Best Cinematography: Jordan Cronenweth for Altered States
Best Music: Dana Kaproff for The Big Red One
Best Production Design: Tambi Larsen for Heaven’s Gate


1981
Best Picture: Cutter’s Way
Best Director: Ivan Passer for Cutter’s Way
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges in Cutter’s Way
Best Actress: Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest
Best Supporting Actor: Jack Nicholson in Reds
Best Supporting Actress: Mona Washbouurne in Stevie
Best Screenplay: John Guare for Atlantic City
Best Cinematography: Jordan Cronenweth for Cutter’s Way
Best Music: Georges DeLerue for The Last Metro, Rich and Famous, True Confessions and The Woman Next Door
Best Production Design: Ken Adam for Pennies From Heaven
Best Costume Design: Shirley Russell for Reds


1982
Best Picture: Victor/Victoria
Best Director: Blake Edwards for Victor/Victoria
Best Actor: Jack Lemmon in Missing
Best Actress: (tie) Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria and Jessica Lange in Frances
Best Supporting Actor: Robert Preston in Victor/Victoria
Best Supporting Actress: Lesley Ann Warren in Victor/Victoria
Best Screenplay: Blake Edwards for Victor/Victoria
Best Cinematography: Xaver Schwartzenberger for Lola and Veronika Voss
Best Music: Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse for Victor/Victoria
Best Production Design: Rodger Maus for Victor/Victoria
Best Costume Design: Patricia Norris for Victor/Victoria

1983
Best Picture: Berlin Alexanderplatz
Best Director: Andrzej Wajda for Danton
Best Actor: Eric Roberts for Star ’80
Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine for Terms Of Endearment
Best Supporting Actor: Jerry Lewis for The King Of Comedy
Best Supporting Actress: Jamie Lee Curtis for Trading Places
Best Screenplay: Bill Forsyth for Local Hero
Best Cinematography: Sven Nykvist for Star ’80
Best Music: Peer Raben for Berlin Alexanderplatz
Best Production Design: Fernando Scarfiotti for Scarface
Best Costume Design: Yvonne Sassinot DeNestle for Danton


1984
Best Picture: (tie) L’Argent and Once Upon A Time In America
Best Director: Sergio Leone for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood in Tightrope
Best Actress: Helen Mirren in Cal
Best Supporting Actor: Jean-Luc Godard in First Name: Carmen
Best Supporting Actress: Christine Lahti in Swing Shift
Best Screenplay: Franco Arcalli, Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Franco Ferrini, Sergio Leone, Enrico Medioli for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Cinematography: Robby Müller for Paris Texas and Repo Man
Best Music: Ennio Morricone for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Production Design: James Singelis for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Costume Design: Mic Cheminal for Entre Nous


1985
Best Picture: Prizzi’s Honor
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for After Hours
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson in Prizzi’s Honor
Best Actress: Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose Of Cairo
Best Supporting Actor: William Hickey in Prizzi’s Honor
Best Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston in Prizzi’s Honor
Best Screenplay: Joseph Minion for After Hours
Best Cinematography: Andrzej Bartkowiak for Prizzi’s Honor
Best Music: Brian Gascoigne and Junior Hamrich for The Emerald Forest
Best Production Design: Jeffrey Townsend for After Hours
Best Costume Design: Ann Roth for The Jagged Edge and Sweet Dreams


1986
Best Picture: Eyes On The Prize
Best Director: David Lynch for Blue Velvet
Best Actor: (tie) Daniel Day-Lewis in My Beautiful Laundrette and Jeff Goldblum in The Fly
Best Actress: Laura Dern in Smooth Talk
Best Supporting Actor: Steve Buscemi in Parting Glances
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Stuart Masterson in At Close Range
Best Screenplay: Hanif Kureishi for My Beautiful Laundrette
Best Cinematography: Frederick Elmes for Blue Velvet
Best Music: (tie) George Delerue for Platoon and Herbie Hancock for Round Midnight
Best Production Design: Patricia Norris for Blue Velvet
Best Costume Design: Jenny Beaven and John Bright for A Room With A View



1987
Best Picture: Housekeeping
Best Director: Bill Forsyth for Housekeeping
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears
Best Actress: Christine Lahti in Housekeeping
Best Supporting Actor: John Mahoney in Moonstruck and Tin Men
Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave in Prick Up Your Ears
Best Screenplay: Bill Forsyth for Housekeeping
Best Cinematography: Phillippe Rousselot for Hope And Glory
Best Music: David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su for The Last Emperor
Best Production Design: Santo Loquasto for Radio Days
Best Costume Design: Mary-Jane Reyner for Housekeeping


1988
Best Picture: Dead Ringers
Best Director: David Cronenberg for Dead Ringers
Best Actor: Jeremy Irons in Dead Ringers
Best Actress: Jodie Foster in The Accused
Best Supporting Actor: Divine in Hairspray
Best Supporting Actress: Claudia Karvan in High Tide
Best Screenplay: Christopher Hampton for Dangerous Liaisons
Best Cinematography: Vittorio Storaro for Tucker: The Man And His Dream
Best Music: George Fenton for Dangerous Liaisons
Best Production Design: Dean Tavoularis for Tucker: The Man And His Dream
Best Costume Design: Van Smith for Hairspray


1989
Best Picture: Story Of Women
Best Director: Claude Chabrol for Story
Of Women
Best Actor: John Hurt in Scandal
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert in Story Of Women
Best Supporting Actor: Ethan Hawke in Dad and Dead Poets Society
Best Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston in Enemies: A Love Story
Best Screenplay: Blake Edwards for Skin Deep
Best Cinematography: Jeff Preiss for Let’s Get Lost
Best Music: Michael Kamen for The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen
Best Costume Design: Jane Robinson for Scandal


1990
Best Picture: GoodFellas
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas
Best Actor: Michel Blanc in Monsieur Hire
Best Actress: Anjelica Huston in The Grifters
Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci in GoodFellas
Best Supporting Actress: Lorraine Bracco in GoodFellas
Best Screenplay: Craig Lucas for Longtime Companion
Best Cinematography: Oliver Stapleton for The Grifters
Best Music: Elmer Bernstein for The Grifters
Best Production Design: Dennis Gassner for The Grifters
Best Costume Design: Richard Bruno for The Grifters


1991
Best Picture: The Man In The Moon
Best Director: Robert Mulligan for The Man In The Moon
Best Actor: River Phoenix in Dogfight and My Own Private Idaho
Best Actress: Judy Davis in Barton Fink, Impromptu, and Naked Lunch
Best Supporting Actor: Harvey Keitel in Bugsy, Mortal Thoughts, and Thelma & Louise
Best Supporting Actress: Juliette Lewis in Cape Fear
Best Screenplay: Michael Tolkin for The Rapture
Best Cinematography: Freddie Francis for Cape Fear and The Man In The Moon
Best Music: Ennio Morricone for Bugsy
Best Production Design: Dennis Gassner for Barton Fink and Bugsy
Best Costume Design: Albert Wolsky for Bugsy


1992
Best Picture: Raise The Red Lantern
Best Director: Robert Altman for The Player
Best Actor: Tim Robbins in Bob Roberts and The Player
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Howards End
Best Supporting Actor: Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game
Best Supporting Actress: Judy Davis in Husbands And Wives
Best Screenplay: Michael Tolkin for The Player
Best Cinematography: Zhao Fei and Lun Yang for Raise The Red Lantern
Best Music: Lenny Niehaus for Unforgiven
Best Production Design: Marc Caro for Delicatessen
Best Costume Design: Alexander Julien for The Player
Sominex Award: A Few Good Men
Dramamine Award: Basic Instinct
Mechanical Actor: Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct
Mechanical Actress: ****


1993
Best Picture: Six Degrees Of Separation
Best Director: Nancy Savoca for Household Saints
Best Actor: Dennis Quaid in Flesh And Bone
Best Actress: Stockard Channing in Six Degrees Of Separation
Best Supporting Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio in A Boy’s Life and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Best Supporting Actress: Regina Tourney in Like Water For Chocolate
Best Screenplay: Mike Leigh for Naked
Best Cinematography: Michael Balhaus for The Age Of Innocence
Best Music: Elmer Bernstein for The Age Of Innocence and The Cemetery Club
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for The Age Of Innocence
Best Costume Design: Gabriella Pescucci for The Age Of Innocence
Sominex Award: Heaven And Earth
Dramamine Award: Falling Down
Mechanical Actor: Richard Gere in Sommersby
Mechanical Actress: Madonna in Body Of Evidence

1994
Best Picture: Red
Best Director: Krzyzstof Kieslowski for Red and White
Best Actor: Terence Stamp in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Best Actress: Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale in Little Women
Best Supporting Actress: Kristin Scott Thomas in Four Weddings and a Funeral
Best Screenplay: Steve Baranczek for The Last Seduction
Best Cinematography: Stephen Czapsky for Ed Wood
Best Music: Zbigniew Preissner for Red and White
Best Production Design: Dennis Gastner for The Hudsucker Proxy
Best Costume Design: Lizzie Gardiner and Tim Chappel for Priscilla, Queen of The Desert
Sominex Award: Wyatt Earp

1995
Best Picture: Exotica
Best Director: Terry Zwigoff for Crumb
Best Actor: John Travolta in Get Shorty
Best Actress: (A three-way tie) Mia Kershner in Exotica; Alicia Silverstone in Clueless; Nicole Kidman in To Die For
Best Supporting Actor: Tim Roth in Rob Roy
Best Supporting Actress: Mare Winningham in Georgia
Best Screenplay: (tie) Atom Egoyan for Exotica and Buck Henry for To Die For
Best Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel for The Usual Suspects
Best Music: John Ottman for The Usual Suspects
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for Casino
Best Costumes: Mona May for Clueless
Sominex Award: The Brothers McMullen
Dramamine Award: Braveheart
Mechanical Actor: Dennis Miller in The Net and the cast of The Brothers McMullen
Mechanical Actress: Annette Bening in The American President


1996
Best Picture: La Ceremonie
Best Director: Claude Chabrol for La Ceremonie
Best Actor: Ewen McGregor in Trainspotting
Best Actress: (tie) Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient and Emily Watson in Breaking The Waves
Best Supporting Actor: Ian Holm in Big Night
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Kay Place in Citizen Ruth and Manny & Lo
Best Screenplay: John Sayles for Lone Star
Best Cinematography: (tie) Darius Khondji for Stealing Beauty and Oliver Stapleton for Kansas City
Best Music: Tiffany Anders, Burt Bacharach, David Baerwald, Carole Bayer Sager, Ed Berghoff, Elvis Costello, Gerry Goffin, Louise Goffin, Tonio K, Larry Klein, J. Mascis, Joni Mitchell, Boyd Rice, David A. Stewart, and J. Mayo Williams for Grace Of My Heart
Best Production Design: Harley Jessup for James And The Giant Peach
Best Costume Design: Dona Granata for Kansas City
Sominex Award: The English Patient
Dramamine Award: A Time To Kill
Mechanical Actor: All the men in She’s The One
Mechanical Actress: Maxine Bahns in She’s The One


1997
Best Picture: (tie) Crash and Grosse Pointe Blank
Best Director: David Cronenberg for Crash
Best Actor: John Cusack for Grosse Pointe Blank
Best Actress: Julie Christie in Afterglow
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Spacey in L. A. Confidential
Best Supporting Actress: Christina Ricci in The Ice Storm
Best Screenplay: Neil LaBute for In The Company Of Men
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins for Kundun
Best Music: (tie) Eleni Karaindrou for Ulysses’ Gaze and Michael Nyman for Gattaca
Best Production Design: (tie) Dan Weil for The Fifth Element and Jan Roelfs for Gattaca
Best Costume Design: Denise Cronenberg for Crash
Sominex Award: The Pillow Book
Dramamine Award: Con Air
Mechanical Actor: Billy Zane in Titanic
Mechanical Actress: Elisabeth Shue in Deconstructing Harry and The Saint


1998
Best Picture: Gods And Monsters
Best Director: (tie) Bill Condon for Gods And Monsters and Todd Solondz for Happiness
Best Actor: Ian McKellen in Gods And Monsters
Best Actress: Christina Ricci in The Opposite Of Sex
Best Supporting Actor: Dylan Baker in Happiness
Best Supporting Actress: Lisa Kudrow in The Opposite Of Sex
Best Screenplay: Bill Condon for Gods And Monsters
Best Cinematography: Maryse Alberti for Happiness and Velvet Goldmine
Best Music: Carter Burwell for Gods And Monsters
Best Production Design: Thérèse DePrez for Happiness
Best Costume Design: Bruce Finlayson for Gods And Monsters
Sominex Award: Dangerous Beauty
Dramamine Award: Stepmom
Mechanical Actor: Bruce Willis in Armageddon, The Siege and Mercury Rising
Mechanical Actress: Jena Malone in Stepmom

1999
Best Picture: Fight Club
Best Director: (tie) David Fincher for Fight Club and Spike Jonze for Being John Malkovich
Best Actor: Terence Stamp in The Limey
Best Actress: (tie) Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut and Hillary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry
Best Supporting Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Magnolia and The Talented Mr. Ripley
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich
Best Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for Election
Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson for Bringing Out The Dead and Snow Falling On Cedars
Best Music: Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Best Production Design: Owen Paterson for The Matrix
Best Costume Design: Michael Kaplan for Fight Club
Sominex Award: The World Is Not Enough
Dramamine Award: The Green Mile
Mechanical Actor: Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
Mechanical Actress: Annette Bening in American Beauty

2000
Best Picture: L’ Humanite
Best Director: (tie) Terence Davies for The House Of Mirth and Jim Jarmusch for Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai
Best Actor: Forrest Whitaker in Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai
Best Actress: (tie) Severine Caneele in L’ Humanite and Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Best Supporting Actor: Jack Black in High Fidelity and Jesus’s Son
Best Supporting Actress: Lupe Ontiveros in Chuck And Buck
Best Screenplay: Kenneth Lonnergan for You Can Count On Me
Best Cinematography: Remi Adefarasin for The House Of Mirth
Best Music: RZA for Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai
Best Production Design: Gideon Ponte for American Psycho and Hamlet
Best Costume Design: Monica Howe for The House Of Mirth
Sominex Award: Mission Impossible 2
Dramamine Award: The Replacements (aka The Scabs)
Mechanical Actor: Ian Holm in Joe Gould’s Secret
Mechanical Actress: Charlize Theron in Reindeer Games

2001
Best Picture: The Werckmeister Harmonies
Best Director: Bela Tarr for The Werckmeister Harmonies
Best Actor: John Cameron Mitchell for Hedwig And The Angry Inch
Best Actress: Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive
Best Supporting Actor: Steve Buscemi in Ghost World
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson in Ghost World and The Man Who Wasn’t There
Best Screenplay: Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff for Ghost World
Best Cinematography: (tie) Peter Deming for From Hell and Mulholland Drive and Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping-bin for In The Mood For Love
Best Music: Mihály Vig for The Werckmeister Harmonies
Best Production Design: Edward T. McAvoy for Ghost World
Best Costume Design: Mary Zophres for Ghost World
Sominex Award:
Dramamine Award:
Mechanical Actor:
Mechanical Actress:


2002
Best Picture: (tie) Far From Heaven and The Son’s Room
Best Director: (tie) Todd Haynes for Far From Heaven and Aleksandr Sokurov for Russian Ark
Best Actor: Greg Kinnear in Auto Focus
Best Actress: (tie) Emmanuelle Devos in Read My Lips and Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven and Samantha Morton in Minority Report and Morvern Callar
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Izzard in The Cat’s Meow
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Clarkson in Far From Heaven
Best Screenplay: Bill Condon for Chicago
Best Cinematography: Tilman Büttner for Russian Ark
Best Music: Elmer Bernstein for Far From Heaven
Best Production Design: Mark Friedberg for Far From Heaven
Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell for Far From Heaven and Gangs Of New York
Sominex Award: Naqoyqatsi
Dramamine Award: Bowling For Dollars
Mechanical Actor: Anthony Hopkins in Red Dragon
Mechanical Actress: Catherine Keener in Lovely And Amazing


2003
Best Picture: Decasia
Best Director: Bill Morrison for Decasia
Best Actor: Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean
Best Actress: Hope Davis in American Splendor and The Secret Lives Of Dentists
Best Supporting Actor: Max Pirkis in Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World
Best Supporting Actress: Ludivine Sagnier in Swimming Pool
Best Screenplay: Shari Springer Bergman and Robert Pulcini for American Splendor
Best Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky for Spider
Best Music: Michael Gordon for Decasia
Best Production Design: Andrew Laws for Down With Love
Best Costume Design: Daniel Orlandi for Down With Love
Sominex Award:
Dramamine Award: In My Skin
Mechanical Actor: Anthony Hopkins in The Human Stain
Mechanical Actress: Nicole Kidman in The Human Stain


2004
Best Picture: Kinsey
Best Director: Bill Condon for Kinsey
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke in Before Sunset
Best Actress: Laura Linney in Kinsey and P.S.
Best Supporting Actor: Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey
Best Supporting Actress: Kirsten Dunst in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Best Screenplay: Bill Condon for Kinsey
Best Cinematography: Christopher Doyle for Hero, Last Life In The Universe and Days Of Being Wild
Best Music: Alberto Iglesias for Bad Education
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for The Aviator
Best Costume Design: Emi Wada for Hero and House Of The Flying Daggers
Sominex Award: The Village
Dramamine Award: The Passion Of The Christ
Mechanical Actor: Cate Blanchett in The Aviator
Mechanical Actress: Anthony Hopkins in Alexander


2005
Best Picture: Mysterious Skin
Best Director: Gregg Araki for Mysterious Skin
Best Actor: Joseph Gordon-Leavitt in Mysterious Skin
Best Actress: Maria Bello in A History Of Violence
Best Supporting Actor: Paddy Constantine in My Summer Of Love
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Keener in Capote
Best Screenplay: Gregg Araki for Mysterious Skin
Best Cinematography: Robert Elswit for Good Night And Good Luck and Syriana
Best Music: Howard Shore for A History Of Violence
Best Production Design: William Chang Suk Ping for 2046
Best Costume Design: William Chang Suk Ping for 2046
Sominex Award:
Dramamine Award:
Mechanical Actor:
Mechanical Actress:

2006
Best Picture: L’Enfant
Best Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne for L’Enfant
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson
Best Actress: Maggie Cheung in Clean
Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Mackie in Half Nelson
Best Supporting Actress: Carmen Maura in Volver
Best Screenplay: (tie) Guillermo Del Toro for Pan’s Labyrinth and Jean- Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne for L’Enfant
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for Children Of Men
Best Production Design: Eugenio Caballero for Pan’s Labyrinth
Best Music: Philip Glass for Notes On A Scandal and The Illusionist
Best Costume Design: Sharon Davis for Dreamgirls
Sominex Award: The Da Vinci Code
Dramamine Award: Babel
Mechanical Actor: Robert Downey, Jr. in Fur and A Scanner Darkly
Mechanical Actress: Julianne Moore in Children Of Men

2007
Best Picture: The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Director: Andrew Dominik for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Actor: Casey Affleck in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and Gone Baby Gone
Best Actress: Marina Hands in Lady Chatterley
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Schneider in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and Lars And The Real Girl
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone
Best Screenplay: Corneliu Porumboiu for 12:08 East Of Bucharest
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, In The Valley Of Elah and No Country For Old Men
Best Production Design: Patricia Norris for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Music: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Costume Design: Patricia Norris for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Sominex Award: Youth Without Youth
Dramamine Award: Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
Mechanical Actor: John Travolta in Hairspray
Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep in Lions For Lambs and Rendition

2008

Best Picture: The Edge Of Heaven
Best Director: Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven
Best Actor: Michael Shannon - Shotgun Stories
Best Actress: Anamaria Marinca - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Best Supporting Actor: Emile Hirsch - Milk
Best Supporting Actress: Hanna Schygulla - The Edge Of Heaven
Best Screenplay: Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven
Best Cinematography: Jody Shapiro - My Winnipeg
Best Production Design: Rejean Labrie - My Winnipeg
Best Music: Carter Burwell for In Bruges and Burn After Reading
Best Costumes: Danny Glicker - Milk
Sominex: The Happening
Dramamine: The Reader
Mechanical Actor: Mark Wahlberg for The Happening
Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep for Doubt

American Idol, the Kindle, Giving Away eBooks, the Jonas Brothers and More

I did two articles for the Daily News about the Jonas Brothers 3D movie. But I could only find the sidebar online: it's here. To correct some of the fact errors stated or implied in the sidebar -- Taylor Swift is not a Disney protege, th JoBros did a Times Square concert for fans at Planet Hollywood, not ESPNZone (even though Disney owns ESPN), the TV series J.O.N.A.S. was originally about pop stars doubling as spies but is now just a straightforward day in the life of teen idols with no spying (except by fans hoping to catch a peek at them), the Miley Cyrus movie grossed more than $30 million on its opening weekend and about $65 million overall, and Lovato's album isn't being reissued as such -- they're just being out a new edition with a few extra songs and a DVD which is very typical for pop albums these days. Whew!

Then I did a story for Huffington about the grosses for the Jonas Brothers movie and why calling it disappointing was silly.

More recently, I stirred up a lot of chat at Huffington with my post about a book industry innovation: Thomas Nelson publishing who is going to make ebook and audio book versions of select titles available for free to anyone who buys the hardcover version, something I've been championing for ages now.

And then of course there's American Idol. My coverage is here:

Top 36 Round One

Top 36 Round Two

Top 36 Round Three

You can always find more by going to Huffington and searching for my name. My page will list every post I've done for them.

My Oscar Ballot 2009

Best Picture -- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor -- Mickey Rourke
Best Actress -- Kate Winslet
Best Supporting Actor -- Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress -- Viola Davis
Best Director -- Danny Boyle
Best Original Screenplay -- Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay -- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Foreign Film - Waltz With Bashir
Best Animated Film -- Wall-E
Best Documentary -- Trouble The Waters
Best Animated Short -- La Maison En Petit Cubes
Best Live Action Short -- New Boy
Bst Documentary Short -- The Witness: From The Balcony of Room 306
Best Score -- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Song -- Down To Earth by Peter Gabriel
Best Art Direction -- The Dark Knight
Best Cinematography -- The Dark Knight
Best Costume -- The Duchess
Best Makeup -- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Sound Effects -- Wall-E
Best Sound Editing -- Wall-E
Best Visual Effects -- The Dark Knight
Best Editing -- Slumdog Millionaire

Best Movies Of 2008

2008

Entre Les Murs/The Class
The Edge of Heaven
My Winnipeg
WALL-E
XXY
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Shotgun Stories
Let the Right One In
Ballast
Encounters at the End of the World
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Water Lilies
Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest
Last Chance Harvey
Happy-Go-Lucky
Frozen River
Kung Fu Panda

American Idol -- San Fran and Louisville

Here's my latest Huffington Post on Idol.

What DVDs Should Obama Watch?M

My latest Huffington Post DVD column, shamelessly riding the coattails of 44.

Best CDs of 2008

Here are the best CDs of 2008. Let me know if I missed one of your favorite albums -- I'm always looking for more music to check out.

BEST CDS OF 2008

1. Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis -- Two Men With The Blues/Wynton Marsalis -- Standards & Ballads
2. Fleet Foxes -- Fleet Foxes/Peter Broderick -- Home
3. Mavis Staples -- Live: Hope At The Holdout
4. Teddy Thompson -- A Piece Of What You Need/ kd lang -- Watershed
5. Del McCoury Band and Various Artists -- Moneyland
6. Various Artists -- Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6/Various Artists -- Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sounds Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979
7. Kaiser Chiefs -- Off With Their Heads/The Last Shadow Puppets -- The Age Of The Understatement
8. Boz Scaggs -- Speak Low
9. Erykah Badu -- New Amerykah (4th World War) Part One
10. Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago/Bon Iver -- Blood Bank
11. B.B. King -- One Kind Favor
12. Q-Tip -- The Renaissance/Nas -- Nas
13. Paul Weller -- 22 Dreams
14. Jenny Lewis -- Acid Tongue
15. Sam Roberts -- Love At The End Of The World
16. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson -- Rattlin' Bones
17. She & Him -- Volume One
18. Various Artists -- New Orleans Funk Volume 2
19. Neil Diamond -- Home Before Dark/Joan Baez -- Day After Tomorrow
20. Santogold -- Santogold
21. Sonny Rollins -- Road Show Vol. 1
22. Southside Johnny with LaBamba's Big Band -- Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits
23. The Fratellis -- Here We Stand
24. Inara George -- An Invitation with Van Dyke Parks
25. Al Green -- Lay It Down
26. Lionel Loueke -- Karibu
27. The Gaslight Anthem -- The '59 Sound
28. Charlie Haden -- Family & Friends: Rambling Boy
29. James Hunter -- The Hard Way
30. Martha Wainwright -- I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
31. Ricky Ian Gordon & Michael Korie -- The Grapes Of Wrath
32. Vampire Weekend -- Vampire Weekend
33. Otis Taylor -- Recapturing The Banjo
34. The Magnetic Fields -- Distortion
35. Shelby Lynne -- Just A Little Lovin'
36. Black Mountain -- In The Future
37. Various Artists -- The George Mitchell Collection Volumes 1-45
38. Bill Henderson -- Live At The Vic/Cassandra Wilson -- Loverly
39. Aimee Mann -- @#%&*! Smilers
40. Jonas Brothers -- A Little Bit Longer
41. The Cure -- 4:13 Dream
42. David Byrne & Brian Eno -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today/David Byrne -- Big Love: Hymnal
43. Conor Oberst -- Conor Oberst
44. Nick Cave -- Dig Lazarus Dig!!!/Sigur Ros -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust/Ron Sexsmith -- Exit Strategy Of The Soul
45. Elbow -- The Seldom Seen Kid
46. The Real Tuesday Weld -- The End Of The World (Live)
47. The Raconteurs -- Consolers Of The Lonely
48. Antony & The Johnsons -- Another World EP
49. Sugarland -- Love On The Inside/Jamey Johnson -- That Lonesome Song
50. Daniela Cotton -- Rare Child/The Whigs -- Mission Control/Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons -- Cabin Ghosts

BEST REISSUES OF 2008

1. The Smiths -- The Sound Of The Smiths
2. Jorge Ben -- Forca Bruta/Jorge Ben -- Jorge Ben (1969)
3. Simon & Garfunkel -- Live 1969
4. Linda Lewis -- Fathoms Deep
5. Bob Dylan -- Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006
6. Various Artists -- The Golden Age Of Popular Music: The Jazz Hits From The Hot 100 1958-1966
7. Various Artists -- A Room With A View Soundtrack

BEST SINGLES OF 2008

1. Beyonce -- "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
2. LaBelle -- "Miss Otis Regrets"
3. Adele -- "Chasing Pavements"/Duffy -- "Rockferry"
4. Van Morrison -- "Behind The Ritual"
5. David Archuleta -- "Crush"
6. Tom Jones -- "I'm Alive"
7. Jay Brannan -- "Housewife"
8. Randy Travis -- "Dig Two Graves"
9. The B-52s -- "Funplex"
10. Laurie Berkner -- "All Around My Room"
11. Mudcrutch -- "Crystal River"

"American Idol" -- It's Back

And so is my Huffington Post coverage of the show. And here's my coverage of night two and Kansas City.

Latest Huffington Post: New DVDs and BluRay Debates

Here's my latest Huffington Post, this one on new releases and BluRay.

My Newest Huffington Post columns

Here are my latest stories on Huffington Post:

Why CNN's Sanjay Gupta is a dumb (but telling) choice for Surgeon General.


How and Why You Should Switch To BluRay. (Loads of comments on that one.)


DVDs: My Reviews of Some December Releases.

A profile of Broadway musical South Pacific's David Pittsinger.

A roundup of holiday-themed new DVD releases.

A chat with LaBelle's Nona Hendryx.

The Movies, Books, Theater, CDs I Saw In 2008

Updated December 31, 2008

MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES

1. I Am Legend ** 1/2
2. Atonement ** 1/2 / ***
3. Enchanted **
4. There Will Be Blood ***/ *** 1/2
5. Lars and the Real Girl ****
6. Charlie Wilson's War ***
7. Lady Chatterly ***
8. American Gangster ** 1/2
9. The Savages *
10. Rescue Dawn ** 1/2
11. Day Zero *
12. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day * 1/2
13. Honeydripper ** 1/2
14. L'Iceberg *** 1/2
15. Mister Foe ** 1/2 (but *** 1/2 to Jamie Bell)
16. Breach * 1/2
17. Eastern Promises * 1/2
18. The Royle Family Series One (TV) ****
19. The Royle Family Series Two (TV) ****
20. Dragon Wars no stars
21. Cloverfield **
22. The Boss Of It All **
23. Jane Eyre (w Samantha Morton and Ciarin Hinds -- 1997) * 1/2
24. Last Year At Marienbad (1961) ***
25. Black Book ***
26. The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936) ** 1/2
27. The Kingdom * 1/2
28. Deep Water ***
29. Freshman Orientation *
30. Becoming Jane ** 1/2
31. Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938) **
32. Charlie Chan in Reno (1939) **
33. Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939) ** 1/2
34. Charlie Chan in City In Darkness (1939) ***
35. Topper Takes A Trip (1939) *
36. Oscar Animated Shorts **
37. Oscar Live Action Shorts **
38. Surfwise **
39. Violent Saturday (1955) at Film Forum ** 1/2
40. Jumper *
41. Jamaica Inn (1939) *
42. It Always Rains on Sunday (1947) at FF ***
43. The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) * 1/2
44. Nocturna (animated film at NYCFF) ** 1/2
45. Standard Operating Procedure (Errol Morris) ***
46. West Side Story (1961) ****
47. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (at Ziegfeld)(1982) ****
48. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired *** 1/2
49. Where in The World Is Osama Bin Laden? **
50. Run For Your Life (NYC Marathon docu) ***
51. Green Porno (Rossellini shorts about insect sex at TriBeCa) ***
52. All Saints Day (Brooke Berman short at TriBeCa) ***
53. The New Yorkist (short at TriBeCa) ** 1/2
54. Shine A Light (Rolling Stones concert film) **
55. Tilt: The Battle To Save Pinball **
56. Blast of Silence (1961) ** 1/2
57. Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh's version @ EbertFest) **
58. Delirious (@EbertFest) **
59. Yes (@EbertFest) *** 1/2
60. Canvas (@EbertFest) **
61. Shotgun Stories (@EbertFest) *** 1/2
62. Underworld (1927 w Alloy Orchestra live @EbertFest) *** 1/2
63. The Real Dirt On Farmer John (@EbertFest) *** 1/2
64. Mishima (@EbertFest) *** 1/2
65. Hulk (Ang Lee's @ EbertFest) **
66. The Band's Visit (@EbertFest) *** 1/2
67. Housekeeing (@EbertFest) ***
68. The Cell (@EbertFest) ** 1/2
69. Iron Man (at Ziegfeld on my birthday) ***
70. Waltz With Bashir (at Cannes) ***
71. Hunger (at Cannes) ***
72. Un Conte De Noel (A Christmas Tale) (at Cannes) **
73. The Chaser (at Cannes) * 1/2
74. Rumba (at Cannes) ** 1/2
75. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (at Cannes) ** 1/2
76. Tyson (at Cannes) ** 1/2
77. Tokyo! (three shorts, stayed for two) *
78. It's Hard Being Loved By Jerks -- The Trial (at Cannes) ***
79. Linha De Passe (at Cannes) *** 1/2
80. Tokyo Sonata (at Cannes) **
81. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (at Cannes) ** 1/2 (now **)
82. El Dorado (at Cannes) *** 1/2
83. Acne (at Cannes) **
84. La Silence De Lorna (at Cannes) **
85. Of Time and the City (Terence Davies at Cannes) ***
86. Serbis (at Cannes) no stars
87. Uc Maymum (at Cannes) ** 1/2
88. Sangue Pazzo (at Cannes) * 1/2
89. The Changeling/The Exchange (at Cannes)**
90. Two Lovers (at Cannes) **
91. Elevre Libre aka Private Lessons (at Cannes) ***
92. La Mujer Sin Cabeza/The Headless Woman (at Cannes) * 1/2
93. Che (at Cannes) ** 1/2
94. La Frontiere De L'Aube/The Frontier Of Dawn (at Cannes) * 1/2
95. O'Horten (at Cannes) ***
96. Il Divo (at Cannes) *** 1/2
97. Wendy and Lucy (at Cannes) ** 1/2
98. Synecdoche, New York (at Cannes) ** 1/2
99. The Class aka Entre Les Murs ****
100. My Magic (at Cannes) *
101. The Good, The Bad and The Weird (at Cannes) ***
102. What Just Happened (at Cannes) *
103. My Winnipeg (Guy Maddin) *** 1/2
104. The Love Guru *
105. The Incredible Hulk *
106. Happy Go Lucky (Mike Leigh film) ***
107. Boy A ***
108. American Teen docu **
109. Brideshead Revisited (2008 remake) **
110. Hancock ** 1/2
111. Foyles War Series 5 *** (the last season on DVD) -- overall series *** 1/2
112. Encounters at the End of the World (Werner Herzog at Film Forum) ***
113. Jazz on a Summer's Day (at Lincoln Center on July 4 w my friends) ****
114. Stop-Loss **
115. What We Did Is Secret (screening) ** (but Ashton Holmes ***)
116. Man On A Wire (World Trade Center docu) ***
117. Hell Boy 2 (at Union Square) no stars
118. Love Is News (1937 on DVD) **
119. La France (at Anthology Archives) ***
120. Buffy The Vampire Slayer Seasons One Through Five on DVD finale *** 1/2 (overall series); 1 - ***, 2 ***, 3 ****, 4 ***, 5 *** 1/2
121. The Dark Knight (at Lincoln Square screening) ** 1/2
122. That Wonderful Urge (1948 on DVD) *
123. Rhythm Romance aka Some Like It Hot (1939) *
124. Pineapple Express **
125. Religulous (screening) ***
126. Anita O'Day: The Story of a Jazz Singer ** 1/2
127. The Panic in Needle Park (at AA) ***
128. Shoot The Piano Player (at FF) ** 1/2
129. Boomerang! (on DVD) ** 1/2
130. Appaloosa ** 1/2
131. Eagle Eye **
132. Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) ***
133. Night Nurse (1931) ** 1/2
134. A Big Hand For The Little Lady ** 1/2
135. The Story Of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) ***
136. Ballast (at Film Forum) *** / 1/2
137. Sufi Soul: The Mystic Music Of Islam ** 1/2
138. The Happening -- no stars
139. The Visitor *
140. Cinderella (1950) **
141. The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad ** 1/2
142. Journey To The Center Of The Earth in 3-D *
143. Sex & Justice: Anita Hill Vs. Clarence Thomas (1993) ** 1/2
144. Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssssss Song at MoMA **
145. Millions Like Us (1944 WW II UK factory film) *** 1/2
146. To The Limit (mountain climbing docu) ** 1/2
147. High School Musical 3 (at Ziegfeld) **
148. Men In War (1957 -- Korean war movie Robert Ryan) ** 1/2
149. Ashes Of Time Redux **
150. Sugar (baseball player from Dominican) ***
151. The Times Of Harvey Milk (DVD) *** 1/2
152. Espionage Agent (1939) * 1/2
153. Kung Fu Panda *** 1/2
154. Tropic Thunder * 1/2
155. Stax Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967 ***
156. Eleven Minutes (project runway docu) ** 1/2
157. Cadillac Records ** 1/2
158. They Made Her A Spy (1939) * 1/2
159. Quantum Of Solace ***
160. Milk ** 1/2
161. The Reader **
162. In Name Only (1939 Carole Lombard and Cary Grant) ** 1/2
163. Made For Each Other (1939 Lombard and Jimmy Stewart) **
164. Dark Streets (New Orleans faux Cotton Club musical) *
165. Last Chance Harvey ***
166. Australia **
167. Twilight *
168. The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) **
169. Amarcord at FF *** 1/2
170. Goodbye Solo *** 1/2
171. Slumdog Millionaires ***/
172. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button **
173. Gran Torino **/
174. Coraline ***/ (great use of 3-D)
175. Defiance **
176. The Palm Beach Story ****
177. The Lost Patrol (1934) ** 1/2


BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS

1. Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery by James R. Benn ***
2. Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz ***
3. Bicycle Days by John Burnham Schwartz *** 1/2
4. The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz ***
5. Things I've Learned From Women Who Dumped Me edited by Ben Karlin *
6. The Feast Of Love by Charles Baxter *** 1/2
7. Saul and Patty by Charles Baxter ***
8. The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd ** 1/2
9. The Soul Thief by Charles Baxter **
10. The Learners by Chip Kidd ***
11. High Crimes: The Fate Of Everest In An Age Of Greed by Michael Kodas ** 1/2
12. City Of The Beasts by Isabel Allende **
13. Kingdom Of The Golden Dragon by Isabel Allende **
14. Hotel de Dream by Edmund White ***
15. Nightwood by Djuna Barnes ** 1/2
16. The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford ****
17. The Hungry Years: A Narrative History of the Great Depression in America by
T.H. Watkins *** 1/2
18. The Man Who Made Lists (Roget's Thesaurus) by Joshua Kendall **
19. Ball Four by Jim Bouton *** 1/2
20. Jumper: Griffin's Story by Steven Gould ***
21. Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey) ** 1/2
22. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin ****
23. The Guns Of August by Barbara W. Tuchman *** 1/2
24. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey) ***
25. Unnatural Deaths by Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey) *** 1/2
26. Hubert's Freaks by Gregory Gibson ** 1/2
27. Demon of the Waters by Gregory Gibson ** 1/2
28. A Wolf At The Table by Augusten Burroughs *
29. The Mists Of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley ****
30. Housekeeping by Marilyne Robinson *** 1/2
31. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima *** 1/2
32. Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Hero by Jon Lee Anderson ****
33. Blindness by Jose Saramago *** 1/2
34. Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War by Che Guevara * 1/2
35. Bolivian Diary by Che Guevara * 1/2
36. Ten Men Dead: The Story of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike by David Beresford ***
37. Haroun and the Sea Of Stories by Salman Rushdie * 1/2
38. What Just Happened by Art Linson ***
39. A Pound Of Flesh by Art Linson **
40. The Complete Stalky & Co. by Rudyard Kipling ***
41. The Children Of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien ** 1/2 (for serious Tolkien fans only)
42. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers *** 1/2
43. Strong Poison (Lord Peter Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers *** 1/2
44. The Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman ***
45. I Love You, Philip Morris by Steve McVicker ** (but story ***)
46. I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan * 1/2
47. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh *** (the miniseries is better)
48. Austerity Britain: 1945-1951 by David Kynaston *** 1/2
49. Act One by Moss Hart ****
40. Tales of The South Pacific by James A Michener ***
41. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell ***
42. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas *** 1/2
43. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Himself ***
44. Victory Of Eagles by Naomi Novik *** 1/2
45. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery ***
46. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston ****
47. Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin *** 1/2
48. Beloved by Toni Morrison *** 1/2
49. The Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers ***
50. Middle Passage by Charles Johnson **
51. The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley ****
52. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou *** 1/2
53. Angler by Barton Gellman (Dick Cheney book) **
54. The Ipcress File by Len Deighton ***
55. Funeral In Berlin by Len Deighton ***
56. The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead *** 1/2
57. Anne Of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery *** 1/2
58. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga ***
59. Captain's Courageous by Rudyard Kipling ***
60. Netherland by Joseph O'Neill ***
61. A Gathering Of Old Men by Eernest J. Gaines ***
62. Train Whistle Guitar by Albert Murray ****
63. The Riddle Of The Sands by Erskine Childers **
64. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis ***
65. The Watsons Go To Birmingham -- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis **
66. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama *** 1/2
67. Out Of Africa by Isak Dinesen *** 1/2
68. Shadows On The Grass by Isak Dinesen **
69. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates ****
70. The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper ** 1/2
71. Have His Carcase (Lord Peter Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers ***
72. Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers *** 1/2
73. The Nine Tailors (Lord Peter Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers *** 1/2


THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS

1. Dawn Landes at Joe's Pub * 1/2
2. Eli "Paperboy" Reed at Mercury Lounge ***
3. Signal The Escape in Brooklyn's Europe ***
4. New Jerusalem by David Ives at Classic Stage Company *** 1/2
5. Judith Owen at Metropolitan Club ** 1/2 (but *** 1/2 for the service)
6. Stan's Cafe: Of All The People In The World (one person=one rice exhibit) *** 1/2
7. Back Door Slam at Mercury Lounge *** 1/2
8. Nicole Atkins at Bowery Ballroom ***
9. 100 Years by Mike Leigh at Acorn **
10. Blind Boys Of Alabama at Cutting Room ***
11. Makin' Whoopee dress rehearsal by Susan Stroman at ABT ***
12. Happy Days by Beckett w Fiona Shaw at BAM *** 1/2
13. They Might Be Giants at Beacon *** 1/2
14. Adding Machine at Minetta Lane ** 1/2
15. Sharon Jones at the Beacon ****
16. Macbeth w Patrick Stewart at BAM *** 1/2
17. Jay Brannan of Shortbus ***
18. Gonzalo Rubalcaba at Village Vanguard ***
19. Traces at New Victory (circus) ***
20. The National at BAM ** 1/2
21. Can Cheez Doodles Do You Harm? and other one acts at American Theatre ***
22. How I Met The Beatles at Public ** 1/2
23. Eddie Izzard rough draft of new show ***
24. Passing Strange at Belasco ** 1/2
25. Tyson American Cup Gymnastics at Madison Square Garden ***
26. Paradise Park (Charles Mee musical play) at Signature ** 1/2
27. The Slug Bearers Of Kayrol Island at Vineyard ***
28. The Hooters at BB King's (murky sound, had to leave after an hour) **
29. Yank! staged reading for investors at Zipper ***
30. Hilary McRae at Living Room ***
31. Chamber Magic Show **
32. August: Osage County (at Imperial) ***
33. Straight Up With A Twist (at Players Theater) no stars
34. Bell X-1 at Bowery ** 1/2
35. Cry-Baby The Musical (at Marquis) * 1/2
36. Ladies and Gents (at Bethesda Fountain bathrooms) ***
37. Gypsy (at St. James w Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines) ***
38. Laurie Anderson: Homeland (at Carnegie Hall's Zankel) ***
39. Paul Simon: Songs From The Capeman (at BAM's Harvey w Frankie Negron) *** 1/2
40. Drunk Enough To Say I Love You (Caryl Churchill play at Public) ***
41. Paul Simon World Music (at BAM w Ladysmith, David Byrne, etc) ***
42. Sunday In The Park W George (at Studio 54) *** 1/2
43. Sizwe Banzi Is Dead (at BAM) *** 1/2
44. Boeing Boeing (at Longacre w Mark Rylance and Mary McCormack) ***
45. Chris Rock (at MSG's WAMU w Joe) ***
46. The Walworth Farce (at St. Anne's) ***
47. The God Of Carnage (at Gielgud in UK w Ralph Fiennes and Janet McTeer) ***
48. Fram (at National in UK) * 1/2
49. The Pitmen Painters (at Natonal UK) *** first act, ** second, ** 1/2 whole
50. The Common Pursuit (at Chocolate Factory in UK) **
51. Fucking Men (in UK) **
52. The Lord of the Rings (in UK) * 1/2
53. Psycho Buildings (art exhibit at Hayward in UK) *** 1/2
54. Medieval Play (reading of Kenneth Lonergan play) ***
55. Occupant (Edward Albee play w Mercedes Ruehl) play ** Ruehl *** 1/2
56. /passengers (at Mercury Lounge) ***
57. Single Black Female (at 42 West) ** 1/2
58. Hamlet (Shakespeare in Park w Michael Stuhlbarg) ** 1/2 (w Stuhlbarg ***)
59. Delfeayo Marsalis (at Snug Harbor in New Orleans w David Pulpis on bass, Joseph Dyson Jr. on drums, Victor Red Atkins on piano, Donald Lewis w monologue and Marlon Jordan on trumpet) *** show but did not like Jordan's technically proficient, fast, flashy playing
60. Port Authority (w Jim Noonan) ***
61. Cirque Dreams (at Broadway Theatre) no stars (but *** for eye candy)
62. Steel Pulse (at Battery Park) ***
63. Hair (in Central Park) ** 1/2
64. Bruce Springsteen (at Giant's Stadium) ** 1/2 (forced to leave before encores, weakest night after looking at set lists)
65. David Byrne -- Playing The Building art exhibit at Governor's Island Ferry waiting room ***
66. Hal Willner's Bill Withers Project at Prospect Park in Brooklyn *** (w Nona Hendryx, Corey Glover, Howard Tate, Bill Withers, etc)
67. The First Breeze of Summer (at Signature) ** 1/2
68. South Pacific (at Lincoln Center w Kelli O'Hara) ***
69. Ellis Island visit ***
70. Kurt Wagner of Lambchop (at Living Room) ***
71. Yankee Stadium Tour *** 1/2
71. The Marvelous Wondrettes (at Westside) **
72. The Tempest (w Mandy Patinkin at CSC) **
73. That Other Woman's Child (bluegrass musical) * 1/2
74. The Atheist (w Campbell Scott) ** (but Scott ***)
75. Raul Midon at Joe's Pub ***
76. Body of Water (Lee Blessing, starring Christine Lahti) ***
77. Ben Kweller at Bowery ***
78. PBR final regular season event at Mohegan Sun in Conn. ***
79. The Soul Of John Black at Webster Hall *** (v brief set)
80. Like You Like It (John Hughes/Shakespeare at Gallery Players) ***
81. Michael Arden Sings "Blue" (at Joe's Pub) ** 1/2
82. Joan Baez at Town Hall ***
83. A Tale Of Two Cities (musical at Hirschfield) *
84. Sleepwalk With Me (one-man show w Mike Birbiglia) ***
85. Boz Scaggs at Blue Note ***
86. Catalpa at Irish Arts Center ** 1/2
87. Opening Night (Dutch on Cassavetes at BAM Harvey) ***
88. Lightning At Our Feet (Emily Dickinson performance piece at BAM) * 1/2
89. Drama League Readings w Alisa -- * to ** 1/2
90. Roadshow/Bounce at Public ***
91. Home at Signature ** 1/2
92. South Pacific w David Pittsinger at Lincoln Center *** 1/2
93. Aimee Mann Christmas Show w Joe ***
94. LaBelle at Apollo (abbreiviated due to power outage) ***



CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS (Only the Cds I've listened to thoroughly and with a strong emphasis on the ones I like, so don't think I love everything I listen to -- I just don't bother really listening to the ones I don't like more than once and don't think it's fair to rate on a cursory listen)

1. Al Green -- Lay It Down *** 1/2
2. R.E.M. -- Accelerate ***
3. Daniela Cotton -- Rare Child *** 1/2
4. James Hunter -- The Hard Way ****
5. kd lang -- Watershed *** 1/2
6. The Kooks -- Konk ** 1/2
7. Drive By Truckers -- Brighter Than Creation's Dark ** 1/2
8. Billie Holiday -- Rare and Live Recordings Boxed Set *** 1/2
9. Raconteurs -- Consolers of the Lonely ***
10. Shelby Lynne -- Just A Little Lovin' *** 1/2
11. The Blind Boys Of Alabama -- New Orleans ***
12. Panic At The Disco -- Pretty Odd ** 1/2
13. Joe Jackson -- Rain **
14. Various Artists -- Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sound of the
Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979 *** 1/2
15. Various Artists -- Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds &
Nigerian Blues 1970-1976 ****
16. Cassandra Wilson -- Loverly ***
17. The Whigs -- Mission Control *** 1/2
18. Happy Mondays -- Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches *** 1/2
19. Van Morrison -- Keep It Simple **
20. Ella Fizgerald & Louis Armstrong -- Porgy & Bess ***
21. Gary Louris -- Vagabonds ***
22. MGMT -- Oracular Spctacular **
23. Various Artists -- Umalali: Garifun Women's Project **
24. She & Him -- Volume One ***
25. Otis Taylor -- Recapturing the Banjo *** 1/2
26. Cowboy Junkies -- Trinity Sessions Revisited ** 1/2
27. Nick Cave -- Dig, Lazarus, Dig ***
28. Billy Bragg -- Mr. Love and Justice ** 1/2
29. Happy Mondays -- BUmmed *** 1/2
30. Ersi Arvisu -- Friend For Life ** 1/2
31. Mimi and Richard Farina -- Reflections in a Crystal Wind ***
32. Vampire Weekend -- Vampire Weekend ***
33. Irma Thomas -- Simply Grand ** 1/2
34. Jay Brannan -- Goddamned ***
35. Lou Donaldson -- Here 'Tis (reissue) ****
36. Ron Sexsmith -- Exit Strategy Of The Soul ***
37. Simon & Garfunkel -- Live 1969 *** 1/2
38. Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Always *** 1/2
39. Neil Diamond -- Home Before Dark *** 1/2
40. Richard Swift -- Richard Swift as Onasis ** 1/2
41. Otis Redding -- Otis Blue ***
42. Lonely Drifter Karen -- The Grass Is Singing ***
43. Anita O'Day -- All The Sad Young Men ***
44. Bill Withers -- +'Justments *** 1/2
45. Bill Withers -- Naked and Warm ** 1/2
46. Fratellis -- Here We Stand *** / 1/2
47. Mudcrutch -- Mudcrutch *** ("Crystal River" song *** 1/2
48. Jorge Ben -- Jorge Ben (1969) ****
49. Brian Wilson -- That Lucky Old Sun ** 1/2
50. Linda Lewis -- Fathoms ***
51. Randy Newman -- Harps and Angels ***
52. Emmylou Harris -- All I Ever Intended To Be ** 1/2
53. Seals & Crofts -- Summer Breeze * 1/2
54. Graham Nash -- Songs For Beginners ***
55. Boz Scaggs -- Speak Low ****
56. Joan Baez -- Day After Tomorrow *** 1/2
57. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals -- Cardinology ** 1/2
58. Menew -- Of The Future ** 1/2
59. Copeland -- You Are My Sunshine ***
60. The Soul Of John Black -- Black John ***
61. Isobell Campbell and Mark Lanegan -- Sunday at Dirt Devil ** 1/2
62. The Streets -- Everything Is Borrowed ** 1/2
63. Sugarland -- Love On The Inside ***
64. Kaiser Chiefs -- Off With Your Their Heads *** 1/2
65. Tom Jones -- 24 Hours ** 1/2
66. Del McCoury - Moneyland *** 1/2
67. The Real Tuesday Weld -- The End Of The World ***
68. The Smiths -- The Sounds Of The Smiths ****
69. Southside Johnny with LaBamba's Big Band -- Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits *** 1/2
70. Jenny Lewis -- Acid Tongue *** 1/2
71. Conor Oberst -- Conor Oberst ***
72. Inara George with Van Dyke Parks -- An Invitation *** 1/2
73. Supergrass -- Diamond Hoo Ha ***
74. Peter Broderick -- Home *** 1/2
75. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones *** 1/2
76. The Jonas Brothers -- A Little Bit Longer *** 1/2
77. Q-Tip -- The Renaissance *** 1/2
78. George Jones -- Unreleased Duets ***
79. Taj Mahal -- Maestro ** 1/2
80. TV On The Radio -- Dear Science ** 1/2
81. LaBelle -- Back To Now *** /1/2
82. Coldplay -- Viva La Vida ** 1/2
83. Various Artists -- Little Stevens' Christmas A Go-Go ***
84. Harry Connick Jr. -- What A Night * 1/2
85. Ledisi -- It's Christmas **
86. Gary Louris -- Vagabonds ***/
87. David Archuleta -- Crush ** (but **** for single)
88. Tony Bennett -- Swinging Christmas ***
89. Aimee Mann -- F*#@ing Smilers ***/
90. Duffy -- Rockferry ***
91. Various Artists -- The Golden Age Of Popular Music: Jazz Hits From 1958-1966 ****
92. Kathy Matea -- Coal ** 1/2
93. Nas -- Nas *** 1/2
94. Sam Roberts -- Love At The End Of The World *** 1/2
95. Sonny Rollins -- Road Show Vol. 1 *** 1/2
96. Mates of State -- Mates of State **
97. George Carlin -- Am/FM *** 1/2
98. Nick Cave -- Dig, Lazaruz, Dig! *** 1/2
99. Joe Higgs -- Life Of Contradictions ***
100. Bob Newhart -- The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart ***
101. Jessica Lea Mayfield -- With Blasphemy So Heartfelt ** 1/2
102. Jamey Johnson -- That Lonesome Song ***/
103. Raphael Saadiq -- The Way I See It ** 1/2
104. Watermelon Slim -- No Paid Holidays ***
105. BB King -- ONe Kind Favor *** 1/2
106. Lil Wayne -- Tha Carter ** 1/2
107. Beck -- Modern Guilt ***
108. Ricky Skaags - Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1947 and 1947 ***
109. Lee Ann Womack -- Call Me Crazy *** 1/2/
110. Last Of The Prophets -- The Age Of The Understatement *** 1/2
111. Stephen Malkmus -- Real Emotional Trash ** 1/2
112. Randy Travis -- Around The Bend *** 1/2
113. Johnny Flynn - A Larum **
114. The Roots -- Rising Down ***
115. The Mannish Boys -- Lowdown Feelin' **
116. Charlie Haden Family & Friends -- Rambling Boy *** 1/2
117. Antony and the Johnsons -- Another World EP *** 1/2
118. Januva Magness -- What Love Will Do ***
119. Bill Cosby -- To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With ****
120. Wynton Marsalis -- Standards & Ballads *** 1/2
121. Martha Wainwright -- I Know You're Married ** 1/2
122. The Cure -- 4:13 Dream *** 1/2
123. Knux -- Remind Me In Three Days ** 1/2
124. Elvis Costello -- Momofuku ***
125. Los Campesinos -- We Are Beautiful ** 1/2
126. M83 -- Saturdays=Youth **
127. Erykah Badu -- New Amerykah Part One (4th World war) *** 1/2
128. The Gaslight Anthem -- The '59 Sound *** 1/2
129. Matthew Sweet -- Sunshine Lies * 1/2
130. David Byrne and Brian Eno -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today ***/
131. Mavis Staples -- Live At The Hideoout ****
132. R.E.M. -- Accelerate ***
133. Ray LaMontagne -- Gossip In The Grain ** 1/2
134. Alejandro Escovedo -- Real Animal **
135. The Explorers Club -- Freedom Wind ** 1/2
136. Elbow -- The Seldom Seen Kid *** 1/2
137. The Hold Steady -- Stay Positive **
138. The Grascals - Keep On Walkin' ***
139. Magnetic Fields -- Distortion ***
140. Little Joy -- Little Joy ** 1/2



Updated December 31, 2008.

The Books, Movies, Theater, Concerts, Etc. I've Seen In 2008

Go here to see my list updated as of December 9, 2008.

Ron Howard Vs. Ron Howard

My latest Huffington Post DVD column wonders what the four best Ron Howard movies are? (It's a lot easier to pick his four worst.)

Swingers: The New Voting Bloc That Could Change Politics Forever

My latest Huffington Post is about Swingers. Are you a Swinger?

Wall-E Vs. Panda Death Match!

My latest Huffington Post post covers the DVD release of Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda, the Studio One boxed set and more. Gosh, remember the pre-recession days when I got paid for this sort of stuff? Enjoy anyway.

Obama's Win and the Ten Lies The Right Is Spreading About It

My latest Huffington Post.

Fraggle Rock,

Here's my latest DVD roundup, including the Fraggle Rock boxed set.

Down With Bulky DVD Boxed Sets!

My latest Huffington Post is a rundown of bulky DVD boxed sets and what constitutes a good one.

Joan Baez on Palin, Obama and Her New CD

My latest Huffington Post is an exclusive interview with Joan Baez where she talks about Sarah Palin, John McCain, her new CD, what she would sing at a Presidential inauguration and why she's endorsed Obama for President -- it's the first endorsement of a politician she's made in her entire life, by the way. Enjoy.

The Hottest New Sport? Bull! It's the PBR

Here's my Huffington Post story on bull riding and the PBR. Enjoy.

Campbell Scott in The Atheist and Christine Lahti in A Body Of Water

My latest Huffington Post contains reviews of two shows -- Campbell Scott in The Atheist and Christine Lahti in A Body Of Water -- as well as a roundup of what others critics said.

It's Tina Fey's World...We Just Live In It

My latest Huffington Post begins with a look at Tina Fey's current domination of the zeitgeist and moves on to Hitchcock, Welles, Cartman and more.

My New York Weekend

Okay, the world is melting financially and literally, but that doesn't mean I can't still have fun. Friday night I went to a play starring Campbell Scott down in the Village. Saturday, I went to Joe's Pub for a free concert with Raul Midon at 2:30. Then I wandered down to an art gallery exhibiting prints of John Lennon scribbles -- great fun even if the notes describing the works treated Lennon like Gandhi and Einstein and Picasso rolled up into one and the noble tone spoiled by t-shirts on sale at the register. A beautiful, beautiful day so I kept walking. Up to Katz's deli for a late lunch. Then more walking in a fruitless search for dessert. Up town to Union Square, peering into stores and restaurants, people watching, soaking up the day. Then the train to 51st street where we jumped off at the last moment and headed to a tiny bakery for a treat before our 9 p.m. start time for another play, this one starring Christine Lahti. That was followed by headng home, some chicken noodle soup, watching a very bad movie -- Journey To The Center of the Earth -- while wearing 3-D glasses and then seeing the Rays beat the Red Sox. Total cost of the day: $18 (plus the soup). Hey, if I didn't have to pay rent, New York City could be very affordable.

"Fifty Words" and "That Other Woman's Child" reviews

My latest Huffington Post post is a review of the play Fifty Words and the musical That Other Woman's Child. Enjoy.

Mother Nature On Trail

The NYTimes does a story on the cases filling the Supreme Court docket in the coming year. I was struck by this passage on some environmental cases:

Federal courts in California have issued injunctions limiting the use of sonar in Navy training exercises off Southern California on the ground that it harms marine mammals. In Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, No. 07-1239, the Bush administration argues that the training is vital to national security and that the courts should not interfere.

In Summers v. Earth Island Institute, No. 07-463, the court will consider who has standing to challenge environmental regulations. Winter and Summers will be argued on Wednesday, and decisions are expected by the spring.

Surely, that last line should be rewritten to read: "Winter and Summers will be argued this fall, and decisions are expected by the spring."