Fantastic Four (2005)*
I don't like comic book pictures generally and this is no exception. Only watchable because of Jessica Alba who is superb eye candy here.

What's Up, Doc? (1972)****
I've seen this several times and it never ceases to make me laugh. A sterling Buck Henry script, spot on performances by Streisand (who never looked hotter) and O'Neal, perfect support from Madeliene Kahn and Kenneth Mars, flawless direction by Peter Bogdanovich who was at the top of his game. San Francisco has a great supporting turn as well.

Lay, Skilling come to trial on Enron charges - Yahoo! News: "'We are not looking for people who want to right a wrong or provide a remedy for those who suffered in the collapse of Enron. We want 16 jurors who, although they do not relish being jurors in a four-month trial, nevertheless view jury service as a civic responsibility,' he[Judge Lake] said."

Wait a minute. If we are not trying to right a wrong or provide a remedy to those who have suffered due to the actions of these two, then WHAT THE HELL IS THE TRIAL FOR? We have a judicial system to right wrongs don't we? Sure, we want the jurors to presume these men are innocent and to listen to the facts presented in the trial and make an impartial decision, but the point is to potentially right a grave wrong. This judge has given the defense a HUGE boost here. His words seem to belie HIS leanings.

Broken Flowers (2005)****
Now here's a case where I didn't expect much of anything and was surprised by how well I enjoyed this picture. Quirky, goofy, yet perceptive at times, always well acted, and an A-list cast. I'm going to have to check out some other Jarmusch-directed films now.

The New World (2005)****
I had extremely high expectations for this film which were not all met. I felt the picture was kind of rushed and Malick had cut too much out. I found it very narrative-driven which is not what I expect from a Malick film. Perhaps the DVD version will correct that.

But aside from MY expectations, the film is extraordinary. Q'Orianka Kilcher owns the screen every moment she is on it and she is on it quite a lot. Visuals are stunning. This might be Malick's most box office friendly release.

Cenk Uygur: Al Gore for President | The Huffington Post: "I'm trying to figure out why I can't stop thinking about the speech Al Gore gave today in Washington. And I think I know why. We are starving for leaders who are unafraid. Who speak without equivocation. Who say the things that Democrats should have been saying all along but were too mousy to vocalize."

Um...before you run off to the nearest tree to carve your and Al's initials in the shape of a heart, consider that this great "leader" only seems to have something to say when he has NOTHING TO LOSE! But if he is running for office he says nothing at all. Wake up! This speech was/is irrelevant. You had Lindsey Graham lobbing pre-programmed softballs to Alito about sanctioning torture and unlimited imprisonment without trial and not one Dem said ANYTHING! And you think Al Gore is going to change that? What a moron.

New music roundup

Belle & Sebastian: The Life Pursuit ****


The Strokes: First Impressions of Earth ****


Enya: Amarantine *

Lax Oversight Found in Tests of Gene-Altered Crops - New York Times
"The report, issued late last month by the department's Office of Inspector General, found that biotechnology regulators did not always notice violations of their own rules, did not inspect planting sites when they should have and did not assure that the genetically engineered crops were destroyed when the field trial was done.

In many cases, the report said, regulators did not even know the locations of field trials for which they granted permits."

What can one say to this? Who are these people? What is going on here?????