Generally clapping my hands and enthusiastically saying "Yeah!"

I'm overdue on a few entertainment reviews. I restarted Netflix even though I love our local vid store (Le Video in the Inner Sunset). And I've been working their warehouse system to a comfortable max. If you don't use Netflix, try them out. No advertisement - just a general appreciation. When we lived in Vermont, it didn't have the repeat volume efficacy of our current connection with their system here in San Francisco. But it still presents an amazingly efficient way of getting vids that you request. A few days of lag time ain't a bad thing if you only watch a few movies a week.

"Junebug" surprised the crap out of me. Some folks don't care so much for the quirky North Carolina dysfunctional family seen up-close-and-personal in this true indie. And Amy Adams got all the positive press even though the entire cast acted their asses off. My rating - a sentimental B. During dinner last night, I gave it a B-plus. That prior upgrade - while entirely defensible on the film's merits - was the wine talking. Still, a frickin' strong B.

"Good Night and Good Luck" was one of those movies that we all need to see. Even Bill O'Reilly. I rate it a B-plus. Most freaky liberal types will decry my assessment not being in the A-range. David Straithairn was phenomenal. Aside from all the range and eloquence of his protrayal, he made the chain-smoking Edward R. Murrow look cooler than a battalion of Joe Camels (too bad Murrow died of lung cancer). And George Clooney has every right to be "smug" as the "South Park" guys opined recently on a generally stupid episode. McCarthy once again saddens me with the realization that he once was the Junior Senator from Wisconsin, even if the actual news footage of his horridness is astonishing real and masterfully edited. But I saw a few problems. Namely, the payoff is slight. For a period of history so abhorent, it just missed that massive pay-off. Maybe that's what made this film so real - no need to have the symphonic denunication of an infamous era. Still - my standards require that I respect the rating system that I've miraculously pulled fully formed from my butt.

"Paradise Now" - not worth the hype. C-plus.

Music-wise - my new absolute-favorite song - "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. A delightful reincarnation of The Talking Heads at their most relevantly beautiful and aware stage. This band was supposed to be a massively-overloved "It Band of the Week" before I read that they beat the bloody cynicism out of the crowd in Austin at this year's SXSW festival. Listen to these people. They's smart.

Hope your Maundy Thursdays are anything but mundane. Rock on.