Requim For A Dream

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (DVD)
I recently re-watched this with a friend and had forgotten how crazy and well done this was. If you have 5.1, the sound is insane. The best role of Jared Leto's life, and Jennifer Conolly never looked lovlier, younger (how did they do that?) and more pathetic. Yeah, I guess the whole point of the film is "drugs are bad," but if the message is this detailed and this well told, I could hear it a hundred times. Great extras including a fantastic audio commentary from the writer/director Darren Aronofsky (who was supposed to direct the new BATMAN but bowed out.)
Grade: A +


ARMED & DANGEROUS (CBS)
I actually thought this was going to be a particularly sucky reality show - and it's really good and original. I thought it would be cheesy - but Estrada, Wee Man and Jack Osbourne are really serious and shockingly good as policemen. Particularly Estrada and Wee Man. Wee Man, after this and JACKASS, has really emerged as a funny, humane guy. I know this sounds ridiculous - and believe me - when you see LaToya patting someone down and grabbing their crotch wearing that crazy babushka on her head - but I'm telling you - this is a very well produced show and it's more trenchant that you'd think.
Grade: B


SALVADOR (DVD)
The first Oliver Stone directed film starring a pre-bullshit James Belushi and much less histrionic James Woods - a complete knockout that has a lot in common with SCARFACE at times (Stone wrote SCARFACE the year before and the film shares many moods and even actors.) The extras are great and plentiful, and the movie is still shattering. He would go on to make PLATOON in the same year, but this is the better film.
Grade: A +


I LOVE NY (VH1)
3rd episode. Pooty lost his shit. NY kept saying, in her completely understanding way, "Pootie long his mother f...ing dang mind!" I like the guy who said he was worth 100 million and the dinner they went on to discuss his wealth - and then the credit report came out. This is becoming one wacky show - just the way I expected it to.
Grade: A




PRISON BREAK (FOX)
Enjoyably hectic as usual - however - it's sort of taken on the trappings of a criminal soap opera - a very good one at that. The last reveal of the veep doing what he did (trying no spoilers) was epic, and the T-Bag story continues it's twisted path, though I think I liked him when he was on the move, charming people. In any case, the show continues to be completely compelling.
Grade: A


RACHEL RAY (SYND.)
I keep watching this by accident when I wake up - and I have to say - she might be a bigger tool then even Ryan Seacrest. She's inane. And she should stop trying to cover the weight gain with those ridiculous little girl dresses - it's not her looks that are the problem - it's her annoying personality and complete non-ability to conduct an interview without laughing and kissing up to the guest. You would think she has a few questions that mean anything - but nope, she's a tool.
Grade: D


JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC)
Jimmy has been on a hilarious role, and now he has Keith and Kenneth from IDOL (the bush-monkey and the heavy set kid) doing interviews. This could be the ushering in of a great new era.


Still waiting for STERN ON DEMAND to post the documentary about the gang's trip to Bubba's wedding.


THE OFFICE (NBC)
Another somewhat lame ep. Dwight is asked back to Dundler-Mifflin, and the guy from THE DAILY SHOW creeps everyone out. This one just didn't gell, and any ep that pays too much attention to either Dwight or Angela is undoubtedtly going to go straight over the top. I think they might all need to watch the entire BBC series for a look at how to get it right.
Grade: C


30 ROCK (NBC)
An ok ep about Tina Fey almost finding love and Alec Baldwin trading jobs with Kenny the page. The bit at the end, with GOLD CASE was sort of funny - but they really need to do something interesting with Tracey Morgan at this point - he's funny, but he needs a real character in this. The crazy bit can't work every week.
Grade: B -


PRIMER (SUNDANCE)I watched the whole movie - about time traveling young scientists - liked the tone but never really got the convoluted plot.
Grade: C -

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBS)
So many words to describe this show, yet only one keeps coming back to me: Retarded.
Grade: D

MY BIG FAT INDEPENDANT MOVIE (SUNDANCE)
It's one thing to actually have material and satirize it. It's another just to mention those movies and believe that just by mentioning those movies - somehow you're waist deep in satire. This is complte utter shit.
Grade: F