Movie | Black Metal Satanica | Pass

Another documentary about Norwegian Black Metal, this time featuring a more current crop of psychos.

TV | Barry'd Treasure | Pass

The most interesting person (to me) from Storage Wars gets his own show.

TV | Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed | Pass

Movie | Until the Light Takes Us | PAss

Beautifully done, but once again the connections between the people and events involved is mystifying to those that are new to the (true) story. This documentary doesn't do a very good job of explaining why you should care what the folks interviews are saying. But, if you've had some minimal exposure you'll find it pretty fascinating. There's so much more going on here, it's a little mind boggling and I think if somebody could do a better job editing it all down so that it could be more digestible, that would be a good thing. There were several times I was left thinking, "Wait...what just happened and why?"

Warning: Disturbing "performance art" scenes, which have very little to do with the actual story other than proving that the people involved are psychotic and seriously messed up.

Thanks for the recommendation, PW (I'm glad I read your book first)!

Movie | Philomena | PASs

Surprisingly marvelous. This is a simple story, often the true ones are the best. One of the really great things about it is that these are characters that you can identify with and the level of humor injected into what is a truly horrendous story is massively clever.

TV | The Writer's Room | Pass

All depends on who is being interviewed, of course.

TV | Metal Hurlant Chronicles | Pass

I was a big fan of the illustrated magazine Heavy Metal when I was younger, but I got bored of it and lost interest (though I still have stacks of them sitting around). So, after a couple of movies (only the first one was any good), they made an episodic television show out of it. It's sort of like the mag - mostly only interesting to young men. And that's about it.

Movie | Punk: Attitude | PAss

Very good.

Movie | The Darkest Hour | Pass

No great shakes, mainly due to some rather mediocre writing.

Movie | Joy Division | PAss

Beautifully done documentary on the groundbreaking band, but I still don't know much about them as people. Maybe that's too much to ask from the format.

Book | Lords of Chaos | Pass

Less about the music, but more of an examination of the sad characters that are/were part of the scene and the philosophy behind it all. I still know nothing about the subgenre from a musical standpoint. Thanks for the loan, PW!

Movie | Trance | PAss

Boyle does a heist movie, with typically superb results. If I had one complaint, the character development is a tad less than engaging.

Movie | Hell Baby | Pass

It had a couple of cheap laughs.

TV | Fargo | PASS

Delightful (in a violent sorta way!) and every bit as good as the movie. If you enjoyed that, you'll enjoy this. This show just got better and better. Plenty of well crafted "Oh my gosh!" moments.

Movie | The Comedians of Comedy | Pass

Fun to see a younger Patton Oswalt.

Movie | Merantau | PAss

Same director as The Raid movies and a similar deal here...great martial arts (this time, Silat) within a well-traveled storyline. I particularly liked the scenes with the main character and his family, which were lovely counterpoints to the other elements. Iko Uwais is hands-down marvelous and if he plays his cards right, could be the next Tony Jaa (not surprisingly, given his resume). Good movie, but there are better. Thanks for the suggestion, DubS!

Movie | The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | PAss

I liked this Being There homage a lot, but I think it won't sit well with a lot of other folks who, for whatever reason, were expecting something else.

Movie | John Leguizamo: Ghetto Klown | PASS

Movie | Infernal Affairs | PAss

I guess I'm just getting more and more jaded, but I remember this being more exciting and less predictable. I mean, it is, but it just didn't get my blood pumping like the first time I saw it. Ah well, it's still good (just not great). Thanks for loaning me the DVD, PW!

TV | Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time | PASS

Movie | The Internship | Pass

TV | Review | Fail

TV | Lords of the Car Hoards | Pass

TV | Doll and Em | Pass

Movie | Gantz II: Perfect Answer | PASs

As straightforward as the first one was, this one was confusing. The stated intention was to resolve all of the questions, but it ends up asking more than it can really handle. Ironic, given the title. Still, it was very good and well worth watching instead of the latest drivel from Hollywood.

Book | How to Piss in Public | PASS

X-rated with comedic intent. But also fascinating as a biography of a person who actually has a brain, a personality (very, very rare these days) and a desire to have something real to say.

Book | American Hardcore | PASS

Amazing and a fantastic read. This is just not the kind of book you can skim - you have to read every word to get the whole picture! Thanks for the loan, PW!

TV | Triptank | Pass

R-rated animated skit comedy that was actually funny. Who da' thunk it?

TV | @Midnight | Fail

Terrible format.