Into the PrineInto the Wild won me over within the first few minutes. Midway through, Alexander Supertramp, AKA Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), and his new friend, Tracy (Kristen Stewart), duet on "Angel from Montgomery."Granted, it comes from out of left field that he can play an in-strument (some kind of keyboard contraption), but this is a guy who went with the flow. Sean Penn's filmmaking reflects that flow.The duo don't perform the world's greatest rendition, but itwould strain credibility if they did. The tune fits the tone ofthe piece perfectly. For me, it sealed the deal. John Prinewrote an amazing song, and his version is great, but Bo

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The Day of the LocustAuthor/screenwriter Nathanael West(1903-1940) died young, but he left two celebrated novels behind, Miss Lonelyhearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939). The latter is one of the finest roman á clefs ever written about Hollywood, on par with Budd Schulberg's What Makes Sammy Run? and Joan Didion's Play It As It Lays. (Or the uber-cynical cinematic equivalents: Billy Wilder's Sunset Blvd and Robert Altman's The Player.) It also features a character named—yes, that's right—Homer Simpson.Locust Music is an independent label located in Chicago. Last year, founder Dawson Prater released one of my favorite records, Starless and Bib

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The October SuiteThese are the reviews(and other assignments)I'm working on this month.Amazon DVDs: Family Ties - The Second Season [four-disc set] (click here for season one), The Panama Deception, Interview, Manufactured Landscapes, The Devil Came on Horseback, The L Word - The Complete Fourth Season [four-disc set], and two from the Criterion Collection: Stranger Than Paradise and Eclipse Series 6 - Carlos Saura's Flamenco Trilogy (Blood Wedding, Carmen, and El Amor Brujo). When it rains, it pours...bring on the rain!Amazon Theatricals: Reservation Road (Terry Georgedirects Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo), Gone Baby Gone(Ben Affleck directs his b

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Top of the World, Ma!Every few months, I check Google to see where my reviews (and other pieces) are ending up. Here are some of the more interesting results. Bit Torrent:AMG review of Little Wings – Look at What the Light DidBlog for America:Amazon review of Hacking DemocracyBlueBeat:AMG bio of Keren AnnDoors Left Open:Amazon review of the Decemberists - The Crane WifeThe Official John Densmore Forum:Amazon review of Ciao, Manhattan!MTV.com:AMG bio of Keren AnnThis bio is getting a lot of play (see previous search results). Music Eldorado:AMG review of OP8 - SlushSeven Generational Ruminations:Amazon review of Crude AwakeningTV Shows on DVD:Amazon re

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