Bruno - Swing and a Miss

I think SB Cohen misread the level of American homophobia in this film. Maybe 10 years ago this movie works, but today it really doesn't: he simply can't find effective butts for his jokes.

In Borat, the humor is clearly at the expense of the people who are outraged at his character. In Bruno, his targets are surprisingly tolerant of his over-the-top, in-your-face fagness. He gains some traction in the middle east and at a supposed ultimate fighting cage match, but in his encounters with real people, he has to create the humor himself -- his victims do not do him the favor of supplying the humor the way they did in Borat.

Bruno is an editor's nightmare: 20 minutes of good film and a 90 minute film to make. It's at best a renter, and probably disappointing even as that.

Required Viewing For Even Casual Fans

Narrated by Joey Molland and Mike Gibbins (the two band members who apparently didn't experience the gut-wrenching despair that leads to suicide), Badfinger: A Riveting and Emotionally Gripping Saga contains loads of incredible band footage, plus a how-to guide on getting fucked by some of the sleaziest shitbags in the music industry.

You can get it here, or I can Finagle The Pontiff.

For those bastards with a litte more time on their hands, I found this out of print book, too. Although it says it's just a sample, the whole thing seems to be here. Much cheaper than the $100.00 Amazon wants for a used copy ...

And as if that isn't enough, here's a live rendition of "Day After Day" from 1972. It's a little dodgy at first, until the soundman gets the mix right. Still, no kick drum. What's up with that?

Thank Christ My Real Estate Mogul Days Are Over

I was a nervous wreck this time last year, but I'd be right there with Owen Wilson if I were selling a house right now. More bad news from CNNMoney.com ...

Homeowners trying to sell last month faced the biggest glut of homes on the market in about 16 years, as declining sales and growing problems in the mortgage market helped push home prices down for the 12th straight month.

Read the full article here ...

This Will Almost Certainly Suck

And it's too bad, because the Richard Matheson book is so incredible. There have been two previous attempts - 1964's The Last Man On Earth, starring Vincent Price, and 1971's The Omega Man, starring Mr. NRA. Neither movie really got it right.

It's been a few years since I've read it, but the book does an excellent job of describing Robert Neville's plight as the only survivor of an apocalypse in which all other humans have become vampires. His loneliness is palpable, and it's particularly creepy how the vampires come back - night after night after night - and bang on his door, taunting him with insults and naked women. Come to think of it, I think the naked women insult him, too.

..And in other neanderthal news

"And the main thing ... I'm not sure what in the world that has to do with being president of the United States," said the former Arkansas governor.
-Mike Huckabee, after acknowledging (along with 2 other GOP presidential candidates) that he does not believe in evolution.
America, can we please just not do this?

Because Lurker Mike has apparently taken some 'compromsing' photos of Jay.....

... I offer this PSA. For real. I guess we've given up preaching abstinence from drugs and supporting literacy in our PSAs. Now we have to tell teenagers not to show their boobies on the internets. My only complaint is that the PSA shows a photo so innocent it could be a senior picture!