Philip Seymour _____man. (Hoff, Mattress)

Known for being fairly laid back about himself and his art while still taking the latter very seriously, P.T. Anderson's work runs the gamut. The director of the long and dark There Will Be Blood also released this, a short and light public access channel recreation starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as "The Mattress Man." It's a bonus feature on the Punch-Drunk Love DVD.

-Adair

People used to name their kids things like Frank, Gene, and Jules.

Not to be confused with the other New York, New York, a song of the hope and ambition to "be a part of it, New York, New York."  Rather, this little piece of MGM musical candy's only ambition is to see the entire city "right from Yonkers on down to the bay, in just one day."  One of a wave of films that set the tone for the 1950s movie musical, On the Town placed Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Jules Munchin in the everyday city streets of New York, as opposed to a soundstage, the background of which looks like a 40 foot, multi-million dollar wedding cake, (See: Till the Clouds Roll By, or don't, it's not that good.)  Other movies that exemplify this newfound rawness were West Side Story and Oklahoma, both of which are good.  Oh, and that line about Manhattan women all wearing silk and satin?  It just isn't true.

-Adair

Loss of Anthony Minghella

Sadly, the phenomenally talented Anthony Minghella died today. It would be difficult to name another writer/director in recent memory who could adapt great literature into film the way he could. His work includes The English Patient (for which he won the Oscar for Best Director), The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain. He appears to have died from a brain hemorrhage as a result of an operation on his neck.

New projects

Seeing Spike Lee do a period (epic?) drama should be interesting. Inside Man really showed a new side of him far more commercial and glossy than anyone thought he was capable of. I really like the DP on this project too, Matthew Libatique. He did Requiem for a Dream, Phone Booth, The Fountain and Inside Man. Spike has had a full plate too - I can't wait to see his first stab at Broadway with Stalag 17. I heard a rumor he consulted "my man" (can I say that?........yes) George C. Wolfe.

-dh

Stalag is the new Sweeeetbackkkkk

David's Tidbits: This week's winner

This week's winner is Tilda Swinton. This may seem a bit delayed, but upon review of her performance, I was pleased. It's near Dern quality. Dern-esque you (me) might even say. I even managed to hone in on a nice impersonation of her super American accent. Cheers to fine work from an actress so under-appreciated---like Dern.

-dh

tilda + dern = sissy spacek's broken plate