- No Country for Old Men- saw it at the local multiplex here in Torrance at 10:40 in the morning. It reminds me of a cross between Raising Arizona and Blood Simple. Well-done set-pieces but somewhat episodic. The Coens are masters of highlighting fringe groups like country rednecks, Texas fat cats, trailer park folks, cheap motel managers, etc. I call it "the uncomfortable humour of casting and dialogue" with Borat being an example in the extreme. Craft-wise, the photography was excellent but the direction needed something. Maybe it was the faithful adaption to to CM's book. Bardem was excellent but I get the feeling it was not a diffcult role for him.

- I always wondered why novelist  John Cheever was held in such high regard in some literary circles. I had read his short fiction when I was younger and maybe that was the problem.

I was toooo young.

I just read his novels Bullet Park and Falconer and ol boy, what he shoots for is amazing. His writing may be childish at times but his examination of modern man in suburbia is not. Many writers owe him a great deal. Read his son Ben Cheever's book of his fathers letters in conjuction with the novels.

- Masher. Went over to my collaborator's to work on editing, the music ,and to discuss the web sight design. It's coming together (at least the first three episodes) but let's just say it is going to be an eccentric piece. More to come.