I don’t usually review stuff, except to say ‘yay! I read it! I loved it!,’ which isn’t really helpful for anyone, including me. But I have seen a fair amount of movies, read some books and heard some good music lately, so I thought since I feel as lethargic as someone can who actually bothers to finish writing ‘lethargic,’ that I would do some quick reviews. Maybe incite some discussion.

Shoot ‘Em Up: Abby asked me what I thought of this starring our boy Clive. I think it was a laudatory attempt to take the action movie to its nth degree, but it wasn’t quite clever enough. It was a load of fun to watch, but hardly resonant after. Not to say I won’t want to own the DVD when it comes out, but it was just a fun movie with a lot of death. Plus it had Clive for me, and Monica Belluci for the Loves Pale Women With Dark Hair Spouse.

Eastern Promises: Amazing. I love Cronenberg, apparently, and Viggo Mortensen gets so inside the skin of his characters it is astonishing (Plus he’s really freaking HOT!). This was a lot more memorable and complex than S’EU, with fewer deaths but way more violence, if that makes sense. Not for the weak of stomach.
Agnes And The Hitman: I didn’t care for the first Crusie/Mayer collaboration that much, but Jennie said this one was really good, so I gave it a try. And it was so much fun! A rollercoaster of action (bam!), romance (pow!) and way more death (kaboom!) than is usual in a romance novel. Totally refreshing, thanks for the rec, Jennie.
Beguilement (The Sharing Knife, Vol. 1): Oddly enough, I don’t like Lois McMaster Bujold’s most famous series, the Miles V-whatever his last name is, but I have totally adored her fantasy such as the Chalion series and now this one. She does subtle romance very well, and her world-building is complex and compelling.
Little Miss Sunshine: I was expecting a cute indie film with quirky characters, ooh, aren’t the disfunctional people funny, but this was way better than I had anticipated. This has depth and characterization and you really feel for all of the people involved, and it wasn’t just the fish-in-barrel fun of examining kids’ beauty contests. So, yay! I loved it!

Alice Smith: Amazing artist, her record is being re-released here soon. Alicia Keys meets Melanie, I’ve been singing her songs in my head ever since I first heard it. I love, love, love this record.

Kate Nash: British singer, a clear, pure voice like Sia’s or Bjork’s and with a biting wit like Dorothy Parker. Her record isn’t out here yet, but was #1 in England. Search for “Dickhead” on YouTube for a preview.

Lady Tigra: Oh, lord, totally stripped-down hip-hop, like ESG, only with a good rapper, and her songs are good allthe waythrough, which is just plain awesome. I am completely hooked on this one, too, I can’t believe how good it is.
Okay, so what’s got you stoked lately?