Finally saw Inside Man and really enjoyed it. It's been one of the best reviewed "big" movies in quite some time, all the more interesting since it's perhaps the most "main stream" movie Spike Lee has ever done. Clive Owen as bank robber, Denzel Washington as police negotiator and Jodie Foster as an interested third party all put on a great show, coolly matching wits with one another.

The fact that it's a three-sided negotiation is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the story; heist films rarely seem to rise above good vs. evil, but Inside Man manages to successfully blur that distinction. Denzel is cool and collected almost to a fault--it's entertaining for sure, but at times you wonder whether he should have toned down the Denzel factor a little, if only for believability. Either way I was pleased that the film was more than a tricky surprise ending, which it was only to a degree. The film doesn't really pull any punches in that regard, but even knowing that something otherwise unexpected is coming doesn't ruin the fun.



I also saw best foreign film Oscar-winner Tsotsi, which was something like a scaled-down (and inferior) South African take on City of God. It's a little hit or miss for an Oscar-winner, but was an overall satisfying film.

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So the first Rapture song leaked and it's pretty dope. Some more juicy tidbits about the Rapture's next album are also coming out, from Rolling Stone. Danger Mouse, Ewan Pearson, and Paul Epworth will be sharing production duties. Not too shabby...

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Mulldoggey provides word of yet ANOTHER Austin band: Ghostland Observatory. They've got kind of a Rapture vibe actually, though they're only two dudes. For further reading and to stream more tracks check out their label, the fantastically-namedTrashy Moped.

Ghostland Observatory / "Piano Man" (pillaged from MOKB)

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I found Cut Copy through Bliss Pop, The Presets through Cut Copy, and now I find Caged Baby through the Presets. Caged Baby is Tom Gandey, who is a liar because he is neither caged nor a baby.

Caged Baby / "Hello There (Presets Remix)" (from Prettiest Pony)