Go read about what happens when we stop being polite, and start getting real about that show with Clark Kent.
The server that Agreeable Comics is hosted on is experiencing difficulty doing its job. Here’s the Dreamhost post about it. With luck, we’ll be up and running again tomorrow, with The Rack and The Loneliest Astronauts.
Service resumes tomorrow. Lock up your daughters.
This week, we have a sponsored prize from EA Games. You can win a copy of the brand-new (and apparently very controversial) Dante’s Inferno game for the XBox 360 gaming platform! While I personally wasn’t very crazy about the demo, Dante’s Inferno is hotly anticipated by a portion of the gaming populace that doesn’t get enough nudity and violence in other forms of entertainment, and you might be one of them! (I don’t know. Maybe your mom monitors your Netflix queue. Time to cut the cord!)
Enter by commenting and telling everyone what circle of hell you’d probably find yourself in (and why, if you want to divulge anything) before before 12:01AM EST on Saturday, February 13 to qualify for the draw. The winner is determined using the Random.org number generator.
Terms And Conditions
Please note that because of shipping costs, this contest is for residents of the United States of America and Canada. You must leave your email address with your comment to qualify, as I’m not going to spend any time hunting down someone who didn’t want to be contacted about their amazing prize. One comment per person and yes, I will know if you cheat. Also, you’re going to have to be over 18 years old for this prize, as it’s got a M rating.
Jerry and Lydia talk about last night.
I Love Hot Dogs has a collection of screenshots from Onibaba, a Japanese horror movie from 1964 that you should watch if you’re ever bored with that whole sleep thing. It’s on Watch Instantly, too!
I call bullshit.
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead further affirms Sidney Lumet’s place in the pantheon of American directors. Remarkably easy to follow despite a non-linear script, the movie looks at the decision leading to and aftermath of the robbery of a small jeweler by the sons of the owners. The script’s very well constructed — Kelly Masterson imbues a remarkable amount of sympathy for two characters who engage in such a selfish act — but it’s Lumet’s confidence in his actors and trust in his audience where things really shine. I’ve never had a real use for Ethan Hawke or Marisa Tomei, but their portrayals of people who are simply overwhelmed by events in their lives provide a nice counterpoint to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s masterful take on upper-middle-class asshole and Albert Finney’s very effective performance as the clan’s patriarch. There’s no grand speeches, no morality tale hammered home, just a story about lives derailed and spiraling towards an inevitable end. Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead is on Watch Instantly, and you should.
Observe and Report is to Paul Blart: Mall Cop as Butch Cassiday And The Sundance Kid is to Young Guns 2. Jody Hill works some very black comic territory, using Seth Rogan’s finely-tuned performance as an unhinged rent-a-cop to remarkable ends. The movie isn’t a traditional comedy by any stretch — Aziz Ansari’s brief bits as a cart vendor harassed by Rogan provided some of the few actual laughs I had — but I was very impressed with how thoughtful and sad the movie managed to be even as it was tweaking expectations and leaving the audience wondering how much deeper down the rabbit hole it’d go.
The ending may be just a bit too pat, but Observe And Report is a very interesting take on the classic redemption comedy formula and it’s heartening how much control Hill obviously had over his production. One of the things I’ve most enjoyed about Hill’s recent strides in comedy is how he combines small-town ennui, Southern gothic tropes, and a disdain for the “American Dream” into biting satire that never goes for cheap “shocks” or and avoids gags that are just pumped-up versions of what The Daily Show’s writing staff do on a nightly basis. It’s rare to see comedy that’s as smart as his that doesn’t genuflect before its own intelligence and edginess constantly. Like Lumet, it’s Hill’s lack of pandering and a deep trust in his audience that makes me appreciate his work even more.
Rick and Lydia have a discussion about her nocturnal activities.
Here are some comic books that you can buy.
I’m not the only one that got some Lars Van Trier vibes off this, right? You can also watch “Scene 1 – Attack at Convenience Store” online and visit Birdemic.com for more details, including information about a premiere hosted by Tim and Eric!
Steve reaches out one more time
Aaron makes an announcement, and then is stymied.
