Little Miss Sunshine

(2006) IMDb - A good comedy about a very dysfunctional family that I think has been over-hyped. It’s up for Best Picture this year, which I find hard to believe. Without giving anything away, it builds to an ending that I didn’t see coming, but which in retrospect makes perfect sense – and that’s a good ending.

Thank You For Smoking

(2005) IMDb - At the risk of raising expectations, this is the funniest movie I’ve seen in awhile. Writer/director Jason Reitman makes a promising feature debut. The cast, led by Aaron Eckhart as the tobacco industry spokesman, is great, although I think Katie Holmes is a bit miscast as a newspaper reporter. Highly recommended.

The Station Agent

(2003) IMDb - A quirky little movie about a dwarf who inherits an old railroad station and the two people he becomes friends with. Not as much of a comedy as I had expected, but enjoyable. It's not for everyone, though.

The Stepford Wives

(2004) IMDb - It could have been worse; at least I only wasted 90 minutes of my life. It's not funny, it's not scary, it's just pointless. It isn't even logically consistent. Do the people have computer chips implanted in their brains, or are they robots? The movie tries to have it both ways.

Laws of Attraction

(2004) IMDb - Two enjoyable leads and beautiful Irish scenery can't quite make up for the truly mediocre script of this romantic comedy. I know you're supposed to suspend disbelief, but I kept finding myself criticizing the movie as I watched it. It wasn't a waste of time ... but if I'd coughed up the money to see it in a theatre, I would've been upset. My advice: if you want to see a romantic comedy about lawyers, go rent Adam's Rib instead.

Shrek 2

(2004) IMDb - While I enjoyed the original Shrek, I didn't find it quite as hilarious as most people did. The same was true the second time around. I appreciate a clever cultural reference as much as the next guy ... but when that's the bulk of the humor, it can get a bit tiresome.

Haydn: The 12 "London" Symphonies - Jochum/London Phil.

(1958-73) - This 5-CD set from the classic era of DG recordings is wonderful.

Romeo and Juliet/Pictures at an Exhibition - Celibidache/Munich Phil.

(1997) - I rarely find classical music recordings that I don't like, but this is one. Both pieces sound s-l-o-w. Not recommended.

Matchstick Men

(2003) IMDb (2003) - A great movie, but the less I tell you about it, the better.

The Cooler (2003) - Modern film noir; but be warned that it's very much an "R" movie, with sex, violence and language.

The Ladykillers (1955) - A wonderful comedy (if you like older movies that are gentler and a bit slower-paced than today's).

Intolerable Cruelty (2003) - Good but not great Coen Bros.

Lost in Translation (2003) - A neat little movie that's not for everyone.

Chariots of Fire (1981) - A good movie, I'm glad I finally saw it, but Best Picture? Hmmm.

The Searchers (1956) - Interesting but over-rated western with John Wayne playing his darkest character ever.

American Splendor (2003) - Creative and interesting bio of Harvey Pekar.

Let It Be... Naked - Nice to hear the de-Spectorized versions of this, my least-favorite Beatles album, but where's the amusing stuff from the original version?

Down With Love (2003) - If you find amusing the idea of an homage to Rock Hudson/Doris Day movies, you'd probably like this; if not, you won't.

The Mole tv soundtrack (2001) by David Michael Frank - I never watched the show, but I like the soundtrack

They Live (1988) - good execution of a brilliant premise, in a paranoid 1950s B-movie sort of way

Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) - computer paranoia sci-fi that I can't believe I stayed up late to watch

Philip Glass: Symphony No. 3, plus "The Light" and other works - great stuff ... if you like Glass