theOneliner.com: Handling the Truth

Ahh, time to write more show notes. However, the past two hours have been fruitlessly spent trying to work out why my computer was crashing every time I tried to add the album art to the mp3, so they'll be somewhat abridged.

I hate Windows. Not discussed on the podcast, but is uppermost in my mind at the minute.

A review of the Coen Bros' latest thriller, the minimalist No Country For Old Men, which we like, albeit nothing like as much as everyone else seems to. We pose the questions others dare not namely, "Given these elements of the film that are either flaw, or doing and awesome impersonation of flaws from where we're sitting, how come this is being called a masterpiece"? What elements? Tune in to find out. If you think we're crazy, your educational diatribes are welcomed at podcast@theoneliner.com.

Sweeny Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A grave disappointment; nary a single demon was barbed during the entirety of the film. Otherwise an enjoyable, blood drenched roustabout of a musical despite the handicap of not really having anyone in it who can sing particularly well.

Walk Hard takes a loving parody of the musical bio-pic genre, namely Walk The Line with other miscellaneous tints that, for a film so obviously unnecessary, manages to be astonishingly amusing. Another winner from the Apatow stable.

Lust, Caution sees Ang Lee return to the Chinese market with a tale of spies, lies and lashings of sex scenes as a young girl is tasked with seducing a turncoat official during the Japanese occupation of mainland China during WWII. A beautiful, moody period piece with fabulous performances and a clear, strong narrative, the only element that detracts from it is the sheer volume of hot thrusting going on that really just gets in the way. Worth seeing, but a somewhat guarded recommendation.

In The Valley of Elah turns out to be a fairly dull police procedural with delusions of societal relevance. Next!

Cloverfield. Big monster smashes up Manhattan, told through the lens of a group of twentysomethings whose party is rudely interrupted. Great stuff, and maybe the best creature feature ever? Certainly the best made this decade. What? Well, you can take your King Kong and ram it sideways up your lower intestinal tract.

Enough! Experience! Enjoy!