No Country For Old Men

I finally got around to some movies and fortunately saw some good ones:

• No Country For Old Men. The best movie I've seen this year, and one that has to be the odds-on favorite for Best Picture at this point. Set in rural Texas in 1980, the story isn't all that complex: strong/silent type finds drug money, bad guys send bad people to get it, drama ensues. But it's really the direction, cinematography, and acting that set it apart. Javier Bardem is terrific as a deranged bounty hunter while Tommy Lee Jones plays the weathered, wary Texas lawman role to a T. I can't say enough for the work done by the Coen Brothers in this film. I think some people might be a little disappointed in the story; it's fairly straight-forward and the movie is more a vehicle for the characters than one that tries to blow you away with a complex plot. Watch the trailer and you'll get a good feel for what the movie is like.
  
• American Gangster. It's all about Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington, who are both about as good as you'd expect, especially Crowe. The whole story is pretty cool and one I was totally unfamiliar with, though I suppose that's maybe why it's only based on a true story. It's all fun and entertaining and worth watching, but at the end it wasn't quite as satisfying as it could have been.
• Dan in Real Life. The more I see Steve Carell in non-Office roles the more I feel like Michael Scott is his worst character (my increasing disinterest in "The Office" is another story though). Here he plays a widower raising three daughters who goes to a family reunion in Rhode Island. It's nominally a comedy with a major rom/com element, and a worthwhile drama as well. Dane Cook is surprisingly not obnoxious as Carell's brother. Definitely worth a rental.

******

Picnicface are funny.

• I loved Powerthirst (Part I / Part II), and now Picnicface bring you Super Bingo (above).
  
• If you haven't seen it yet, check out the best referee call ever. Well, it wasn't totally original.
  
• Easily the most disturbing PSA I've ever seen. Raises a number of questions, like a) what's wrong with Canadians and b) isn't anything more specific wrong in Canada for them to be worried about?
• The Aston Martin DBS is the hottest ride on earth. Or close at least. Can you say gift idea?
• Boxers say the darndest things.
• Best Manute Bol picture ever. Which is saying a lot.
• "All I Need" has quietly become one of my fave songs off the brilliant In Rainbows, and this fan video is pretty cool.
• Goal of the month? Well, Leo Messi is never a bad choice.
• Malcolm Gladwell tells you why Kenyans are so good at running.
• Boeing is pitching to the army a Hummer fitted with a huge laser cannon turret. Badass.
• If bouncing balls were a sport, then this guy wouldn't need a day job.
• Wilco live on Austin City Limits: "Impossible Germany."