When I think of complete and total commitment to a performance, I think of Daniel Day-Lewis (Last of the Mohicans, My Left Foot, Gangs of New York, etc.). His calculated immersion into every role is astounding to me. This seems to be the case for his latest movie, There Will Be Blood.

And you have to be thrilled about P.T. Anderson (Magnolia, ( Read more... )

Got 10 free iTunes downloads. What should I get?

(No, Peter, I won't get Jens Lekman)

So many people are out of their element in this movie. But I think it could work.

And Maeve and I will be in a Logan Square bar-to-be-named-later tomorrow to watch the Cubs do or die. (Zane, details tomorrow.) A-Ram, I'm looking at you.

Annie liked our wedding a lot...but I still think the happiest day of her life came when we got this guy:


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Pictures for everyone from Africa.
( 56k gets its face mauled by hyenas with baboon butts. )

“I may be jumping the gun,” Mr. Weinstein said, “but if Cate Blanchett doesn’t get nominated, I’ll shoot myself.”

I'll agree with him...and I'll guess that, judging from the trailer, it will be my favorite movie of the Awards season.

This is Rob's woman.

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And now she's back. With a slightly creepier thing going on.

The TRUEASIANJEW division of the Union and Confederacy.

Also, this is Annie and I's last night in Bloomington for a long time.

Oh, and comment here if you want to be on our South Africa weekly email update list. I won't be offended if you don't sign up. I know these things can create inbox clutter as much as anything.

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I talked to someone from the Bloomington Fire Dept. yesterday. He had to do a rope rescue a week or two ago for someone who broke his back jumping off rooftop at the quarries. As a result, the police are finally cracking down, giving out $150 fines for swimming there. Ben Mertz went yesterday and got kicked out before he even made it back there ( Read more... )