(Don't) Sign Me Up For That Job

Okay, I take it back...I don't wish that I became a food critic when I was 12. At least not if it meant I would come off like this kid does. And really, a critic talking directly to the owner/chef of the restaurant he is reviewing? Come on.

Retrospective: The Birth of "Gun-Fu"

is, quite simply put, a critical node in the development of the action genre. I bring this film up in particular because I was just discussing it with some friends with reference to the films of some other "greats" such as Jean-Claude Van Damme. So how exactly is this 1986 Hong-Kong film at the root of some of today's most influential and popular films?

Well for starters, up until the release of ABT Chinese-imported films were on the map pretty much because of one man and the genre he defined: Bruce Lee and the kung-fu flick. Outside of that genre however, America (probably for good reason) had little interest in anything else from across the ocean. That is, until director John Woo came along. Woo drew from and updated diverse influences, be they the hardboiled detectives of film noir such as Sam Spade, classic Chinese tropes such as heroic bloodshed, the gangster flicks of Martin Scorsese, or the kung-fu film itself. By switching out physcial prowess for pistols and explosions, however, Woo founded a new genre of film, gun fu, and a modern age of action films was born.

So where would we be without ABT? Well, there would be no international moviestar Chow Yun Fat and who knows if Crouching Tiger could have been the same otherwise. Woo's career wouldn't have taken off either, as he went on the make several other HK classics such as Hardboiled and The Killer, and also American hits such as Face-Off and Mission Impossible-II. The revenge genre would not have arisen, meaning no Oldboy for Park Chan-wook or Mexico Trilogy (or breakthrough) for Roberto Rodriguez. Without the bullet flying and gun-toting antics of Fat and his costars, the inspirations behind the fight choreography behind pivotal films such as The Matrix would be absent as well (let's add the careers of Keanu Reeves and Larry and Andy Wachowski for good measure too). The film once again made HK and Chinese film cool and paved the way for the re-emergence of classical kung fun films such as Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China and Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx. As the film no doubt opened the way for other HK gangster flick's such as Infernal Affairs, without ABT we also would never have had The Departed, or for that matter Marty still would be Oscar-less.

I could go on, really, but I think enough is enough. Watch the clip below to see the scene that in my opinion redefined a generation of action films.

The Beets Anthology

Quoting from wikipedia:

The Beets: A rock band, composed of Monroe Yoder; Wendy Nespott; Chap Lippman; and Flounder, clearly based on both The Beatles (in name and somewhat Scouse accents) and The Ramones (in appearance and sound) with bits of The Smashing Pumpkins as well (in outlook and contemporariness), that Doug and Skeeter are big fans of, later breaks up, and go solo in the Disney version. The band's last album was titled Let It Beet, with an album cover parodying both the Beatles' Let It Be and The Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed. Songs The Beets produced include: "Killer Tofu", "I Need Mo' Allowance", "Where's My Sock?", and "You Gotta Shout Your Lungs Out". Numerous episodes involve Doug and Skeeter pursuing tickets to the band's concerts, or the band members themselves. The band's original name was "The Pickled Beets", a possible reference to the Beatles originally being known as "The Silver Beetles". Their first #1 single was "I Sneezed On My Face". The band has developed a cult following with original viewers of the show. The band's popularity reached an all-time high with "Beet Mania" (clearly a reference to Beatlemania). In addition, Doug once won tickets to a Beets concert through a radio contest, after Skeeter absent-mindedly named (correctly) one of the Beets' albums ( in witch a Tiny image of Chap lipman's gall bladder surgery is hidden ), Beets Me.

And now, the anthology:







And just for fun, Doug's premier single: Banging on a Trashcan

TV Weekend: Andy Samberg's Sloppy Seconds, Lost Teaser, I Hate Bobby Flay

-After the initial shock wore off and I successfully fought the urge to vomit, I realized that Andy Samberg's latest digital short is actually pretty funny, if extremely lewd. Mostly though I just love the cameos from Jamie Lynn Siegler (currently dating Entourage's Turtle of all people), Molly Sims, and JT (!?, as the cleanup in aisle 3 guy).

-With only a month and a half to go, the premiere of Lost Season 5 is imminent. How better to rejoice than with a 2 minute promo segment from the 1st episode, "Because You Left". If you must there are also plenty of spoiler videos surfacing with plenty of predictions for the season as well.


-When I was in college I had an arch-nemesis. My nemesis was one of my closest friend's best friend. She enjoyed making fun of me in languages, namely Hindi, that I could not understand and generally made me look like an idiot at every potential opportunity. Though she certainly got on my nerves, the title of nemesis was honorific and playful, I just don't have the heart to actually dislike anybody that much. So please understand what I mean when I say I hate Bobby Flay. Nothing against his food, or probably even his real life personality. But the man's on-air ego I just cannot stand. Flay bases all of his shows (Iron Chef, Throwdown!) on the premise that he is G-d's gift to mankind and a culinary superstar. Not just that, but his ego even prompted a cross cultural hubbub after he finally succeeded in beating Iron Chef Morimoto on the original Japanese Iron Chef. So hopefully you can understand why I was so tickled to see that I am not alone in my sentiments. I'm just waiting for the day that I bump into Flay on the street and challenge him to a throwdown...

PS: Be on the lookout for a Full House re-vamp helmed by John Stamos. Somebody must be nearing bankruptcy...lucky for him though poor is in this season.

Millionaire, Bollywood Style

Three weeks ago I wrote about my anticipation and the buzz surrounding the newly released Slumdog Millionaire. Through a series of flashbacks evoked by a tortuous police interrogation surrounding his alleged cheating, the film recounts the story of Jamal, a Muslim orphan hustling for a living in the slums of Bombay, and how he came to be just one question away from the 20 million rupee prize on India's most popular game show. To say that all of my expectations were met would be an understatement. Director Danny Boyle weaves an intricate narrative that ties together the most poignant scenes from Jamal's life and plays out as a type of modern day fairy tale about the power of true love and determination. That said, however, do not confuse this movie for a candy-sweet Disneyesque fable. Rather, interspersed among the film's most touching moments are glimpses of man at his worst and most desperate. These roles in the film are assumed by Jamal's older brother Salim, a tenacious, though arrogant and corrupt teen that robs Jamal of one prize after the next, a deranged orphanage leader, and even Millionaire's host, an envious former-slumdog loathe to see another pauper rise to fame and fortune himself. Boyle puts the viewer on the edge of his seat at multiple points throughout the movie as the sheer dramatic force of the movie draws you in and makes you cringe at the disaster possibly awaiting the protagonists.

The film is also stunningly shot, with beautiful panormas of the emerging Bombay skyline, the Taj Mahal, and the Indian countryside shot with gorgeously filtered cinematography to highlight the full pallete of India's diversity. The acting is all top notch, I even read that Boyle bestowed co-director status to his Indian casting director for her invaluable contribution to the film. In addition, actress Freida Pinto plays Jamal's love interest Latika with an effortless grace, not to mention beauty. Current events aside, the film plays out as a symbol of the promise that Bombay holds for all its people, slumdogs included, not to mention as a postcard trying to draw foreigners to the country. Slumdog is certainly the best film I've seen in theaters (excluding Dark Knight...a very different beast indeed) for a few years at the least. See Slumdog for yourself and see for yourself how Jamal won the millions, if he cheated, if fate can bring true lovers together, and to see what a quality film looks like. Expect best director and film nods at the least, not to mention casting.

What I Did Besides Flip the Bird This Thanksgiving

-So while I was home for Thanksgiving break my dad asked me to help him out in the kitchen. What was my job? "Help me flip the bird would you? It's gotta cook on the other side." My dad and I stared at each other for a few seconds and then gave each other the finger and laughed. It was touching, really.

-Also while I was home my brother expounded the virtues of Mr. Kanye West to me. A while back I commented on how I was skeptical of his use of autotune, a criticism that I do not feel was unwarranted, though it does certainly seem like everybody and their mother is utilizing the technique these days. That said? 808s and Heartbreaks actually sounded pretty decent, mostly because it is such a departure from Kanye's other material. More beat versus hook oriented, more spoken than sung. Not to mention the fact that the two videos released thus far are both very impressive (though I still think of Richard Linklater when I see rotoscoped film)
-Love Lockdown
-Heartless

-Everybody! Now that Thanksgiving is over we are on the dawn of America's next great holiday! Get out your Santa yarmulkas!

-In my long running commentary against "urban loneliness", I can now claim the support on NY Magazine, owing to a very detailed investigative piece they recently completed. Though NYC may have the highest number of people living alone and isolated in other supposed ways, all indicators regarding true emotional isolation point to our being pretty sane after all.

-And one more thing. Can we just talk about Plaxico Burres for a second? I saw a headline yesterday: Burres Shoots Himself in the Foot. "Okay," I figure. The Giants must be 10-2 and lost another game thanks to some dropped catches of his. When my friend told me that, no, Burres did not drop any catches, but instead just shot himself in the thigh...I walked away in embarrassment for Burres. To shame...

Doggy Fizzle Meets the Martizzle

And That's Why...You Don't Try and Copy T-Pain

Because he and Justin Timberlake will just show up all of his imitators...I'm looking at you Kanye.

It's Been How Long Since We've Been Off the Air? Come On!

Not that there have already been years of speculation about an upcoming movie (and it's certainly not as if we were promised one in its last episode), but is an Arrested Development movie finally upon us? I'm hoping so, but still very skeptical. The fan base is too devoted, I'm hoping at least, for them to trot out some sorry script and just try and make money off of it (though, ironically, this would be a reason to just make the movie regardless). If the quality of writing per episode is any indication of how smart the movie will be though, I plan on being able to watch at least 6 times before I catch all the jokes in there.

As a bonus, look for Turk from Scrubs and Buster from Arrested in this sweet Fall Out Boy video. I bet Buster learned those moves in Army Hero Training!

Sign Me Up For That Job

If somebody had turned me onto being a food critic as early as this kid, it's very possible that this blog would be on the NY Times web page and medical school would have been solely an afterthought in my mind. I'm impressed by such a young kid eating tripe! I didn't eat offal until I was 21 at least. Also, as reported earlier here, "Milkofuku" is supposed to be a huge hit, so I will be making my pilgrimage there soon...

You Play Ball Like a Girl!/You're Killing Me Smalls!/Wendy Peffercorn!

In today's nostalgia series, I give you The Sandlot. Never has there been a better sports/growing up movie to which we all could relate any better. Who hasn't gotten into a pickle before anyways? And who remembers when the worst insult you could actually get was being told you can't play ball? And who didn't want to buy some PF Fliers just so they could run like Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez? And who can make smores ever again without laughing and thinking of Ham Porter (well I can't at the least). Wendy Peffercorn, we salute you. (that's what she said?)

TV/Movie Weekend Update: 007, Slumdog, Office

-New in Oscar buzz this week is a film that I initially wrote off because I thought the title was ridiculous. Slumdog Millionaire? But as it turns out, I was very wrong, and I could not be happier. In a season where I've yet to see a standout, potential Best Picture nominee film (excluding Wall-e of course) I am intrigued by and anxious to see the plot of the film unfold. In short, Slumdog is about an Indian slum resident that makes it onto India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire equivalent, cheats, wins big, and is caught. In the process of his interrogation, director Danny Boyle weaves the intricate story of the main character's life in the slums of crime ridden, corruption addled Mumbai. Not only are initial reviews for both the film and director stellar, but the plot and narrative devices evoke Fernando Mereilles's Cidade de Deus. Cidade recounts a very similar narrative of an aspiring photographer reflecting on his own upbringing in the slums of Rio De Janiero and was itself a highly praised film. Keep your eye out on this film, and I'll be trying to see it myself asap.

-In terms of laughs at least, Thursday's Office was relatively low key. For all that Jim/Pam tension, it all resolved very quickly, something is up with that. But...Michael confronting the CFO over Holly shows continued growth for his character AND Holly is still signed for one more episode. Let's hope she'll be back for at least that episode. Classic line of the night though was Ryan, now unhappily back with Kelly, laments, "I realized that for whatever reason, I just can't do better than Kelly," as Kelly beamed giddily next to him. Also, keep your eye out for this season's online exclusive webisode series, The Outburst.

-I am disappointed, though certainly not surprised, to be hearing from friends and reading reviews left and right about the failure of Quantum of Solace to live up to Casino Royale's reinvigoration of the Bond franchise. The problem actually seems to be stemming from what I thought the solution to the farcical nature of the latter Brosnan Bond flick's was, which is to say, make Bond more like Bourne. Without a doubt all three of the Matt Damon films trumped the three pre-Royale Bond films in action, cinematography, writing, and acting and they reminded us what a taught spy thriller was supposed to be like. Then Casino Royale came along, drew from the dark aspects of the Bourne franchise (not to mention Batman Begins) and sucked us all back into the world of 007. From these reviews, however, it seems they've taken to this tactic too far, depriving Bond of some of the kitsch and campiness it was known for. You know, asking for his martini, picking up chicks with funny names, all those double entendres. I've yet to see the film for myself (and I will see it) but I am hoping that this new Bond universe, complete with interconnected, plot driven story lines will more thoroughly endear itself to fans in the next installment.

Music Better Than "Wake Up Call"

Well, I'm certainly not the biggest music person out there, but that doesn't stop me from coming across some pretty sweet leaked tracks. For the Killers, it looks like everything is going right. Their new track Spaceman is catchy and light and from the looks of the picture to the right, their lead singer lost his Mr. Brightside era eyeliner. As for Mr. West, I was a bit surprised to see that both of his tracks were so heavily influenced by T-Pain's autotune effect. That said, the two singles featured had solid enough bass lines and hooks, though they do not hold up compared to his prior successes in my eyes. Take a listen and judge for yourself, what do I know anyways.

Right Up There With Lindsay Lohan's Music "Career"

I think Western Civilization just took a hit today. I submit, for your (dis)approval, Hayden Panettiere's "Wake Up Call". As if I didn't have enough reasons to hate Heroes. So bad.

TV Monday, Kitchen Scraps

-Well it's official. Heroes is the show I now love to hate. And no, I do not hate Heroes the way we all loved to hate The OC after season 1 or Entourage or Gossip Girl, in the sense that we love the shows for all their kitschy goodness. No, I just enjoy watching the show continue to send itself down the drain. Remember how I got pissed when Sylar baked cookies? Well today he popped open a bottle of vino and almost sat down to a baked ziti dinner with a very Stepford-Wife like Veronica Mars. I am so over this show. That's what Lost will do to you I guess.

-Top Chef! Top Chef! Top Chef! Filmed in NYC! Wednesday!

-Catch the office last week? I actually tend to agree with Kelly, Jim's character has gotten a bit "smudge" and arrogant (though I'll still be furious if they do not finally get married by the end of the season). Let's see him get out of being "out-Jimmed" by his NYC bizarro self. In the meantime, I am loving the Andy/Angela (ella-ella-ella...) wedding. A lot. I hope he sings at the wedding. And Schrute Farms as the wedding locale? Genius, really. I cannot wait for Mose to make another appearance and for the inevitable reclaiming of Angela by Dwight.

-Just a while ago I received this medically themed video in my email. Why do I love it for all its amateurish goodness? Well the fact that it uses a Weird Al song isn't a bad start. Speaking of which, have you heard his last two singles, here and here? Brilliant.

-So just a week or two ago I wrote about all that to do over how NYC is such an "isolating" place. Now more propaganda! "I want a boyfriend to go to church with and have emotional intimacy with in this weirdly disconnected city …"

-And last, a pretty sweet song a friend showed me. Check one reason to begin listening to The Decemberists.

Your Awkward Years on TV

Not much to this one, but check out the motley crew they've got appearing on this season's teen jeopardy. The girls are well enough put together, but look at some of the guys, emphasis on the first row. I will now be thankful that the only footage of me on a TV quiz-show is safely within the iron grip of my mother in her video drawer. I mean, it's not like I forgot to where my glasses on the air or anything... And no I will not disclose the name of said TV show. Ever.

"The McEl Bulli Burger": Exploring High Brow vs. Low Brow

My interest was piqued when I saw this article posted to one of my food blogs recently. For those of you unfamiliar with the field of molecular gastronomy/deconstructivist cooking/avant garde cuisine/whatever insiders are calling it at the moment, Ferran Adria is widely considered to be the founder, most influential, and most visible figure within the movement. Accordingly, El Bulli, his restaurant on the Catalonian coast in Spain, is the movement's Mecca, where mere thousands out of a pool of two million are actually able to land reservations to experience his one of a kind, 4 hour long, 30+ course tasting menus. What was so surprising about the article, however, was Adria declaring that, for the money, there simply was not a better burger than that prepared by McDonald's. Which, to me, raised a very important point of consideration. How do we compare the quality of everyday fare versus extraordinary indulgences? Can the familiarity and warmth of that with which we are familiar be likened to the excitement and sense of adventure we experience when trying something truly unique?

Now, the last time I had a fast food burger was maybe two years ago and before that, easily ten years. So maybe burgers aren't the best example for me. But I know I do have a similar conundrums. What about the virtues of my Bubbe's oil, ketchup, and onion slathered meatballs compared to those that I've had in Little Italy, or for that matter, Italy itself? Or how does a homemade ice cream Sunday compared to this masterpiece I experienced (to say ate would be dismissive) at Wd-50. Let's forget about food even. It's no secret that one of my favorite movies is 2046, a Hong Kong art house film directed by Wong Kar Wai and starring a whole host of China's finest actors. But then...I also love Harold and Kumar as well as Orange County, neither of which could ever pass for a high brow movie in a hundred years, nor would I even refer to either as a "film".

Thinking about things through this lens, my answer came much more easily. To me, these dishes and films have to be judged independently of one another, any direct comparison would just be unfair. The money issue aside, unlike Bubbe's meatballs or H&K, spheres/clouds/foams/emulsions/other molecular delights and 2046 are not as always as easy to appreciate or, both literally and figuratively, digest. One of the reasons that we can enjoy the ordinary so much is that we know what to expect, and when that expectation is met, it is a very fulfilling experience. The challenge, and potential reward, of veering into the more adventurous is that while you do not know what to expect or if you will even enjoy the experience, you may be greatly surprised by what you ultimately get. Sometimes, the genius of a plate of food or film can only be appreciated through the type of scrutiny one would associate with an art critic in a museum. I myself would even describe one or two of my dishes at Wd-50 as mundane or overly complicated and 2046 as a 2.5 hour long, ill-paced, dense clunker that punishes the viewer that is unfamiliar with Wong's earlier work and is not prepared to really analyze the film. Should we really want to have to endure that drill every time we want to attempt to enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or chick flick? That's absurd. At the same time, however, to dismiss high cuisine or film as pretentious would be self-sabotaging. So in that spirit, go out and eat your big macs, just like Adria himself says. But also make an effort to indulge, in one manner or another, your adventurous side and accept the disappointments that will inevitably accompany your search.


Petit Four:
So David Chang, of Momofuku fame, and his pastry chef Christina Tosi are opening a milk bar in the East Village. Am I wrong to be deathly afraid of this venture ever opening, lest I be molested by some English droogs wearing fake noses serenading me with "Singin' In The Rain"? Damn you Kubrick.

Drop the Vote 2008

Though I'm sure most of you have seen these videos before, since I am experiencing some Election Day spirit I though I would link everybody up to a very smart plea from Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way urging all young people to vote. Also just yesterday I noticed this sequel, and even a musical addition from some people I don't know. As much as we, or at least I, may think that people really should not need any more prodding to get to the polling booths, this election is kind of a big deal. And 500 odd votes did determine the 2000 election, and ultimately 8 years of Bush in office. So if it takes a gimmicky video with pretty famous people in it to remind us of why we should actually stand in line this Tuesday (or vote early, by mail, etc). Therefore, no matter how much I hate politics, I will be voting Tuesday (for who? ask me after I vote) if only to enable me to complain about whoever turns out to be the winner for the next four years. Though hopefully he cannot be any worse than Bush, much less this would be president.

So Long Holly - Pre-Weekend Update

-Well, it finally happened. After getting caught by the CFO last week kissing Michael, Holly was off to Nashua, NH after last night's episode of The Office. The episode is surprisingly touching, and it really seems as if Michael is showing some real growth as a character this season. I'm all for it, as long as he doesn't totally lose his sense of awkwardness. And please, if you do not watch the whole episode, at least watch the cold open. Creed's, not to mention Pam's, Halloween costumes are classics for the ages. And if I go out tonight, it'll totally be with a "My name is Dave" sticker. Also, who loves Dwight playing pranks on Andy? I do.

-Those of you that know me know that I love Indiana Jones 1 and 3. And Medal of Honor Allied Assault. And Wolfenstein? Why? Because the Nazis get their own handed to them in each title. Which explains why, despite the Tom Cruise starring credit, I am excited for Valkyrie, the story of a plot by high ranking Nazis in the military to kill Hitler before the Third Reich implodes upon itself. Critics seem to be ready to pounce on Cruise's performance, likely for good reason, but I'm rooting for the film. Cruise, all incidences of ill-judgement aside, is a solid enough actor and shouldn't spend the rest of his career relegated to roles like this (as awesomely terrible as it may be).
-Edit- Speaking of Nazis, James Bond as a Polish Jew leading an insurgency in the forests against the Nazis? Sounds good to me.

-As much as I want to love Zach and Miri, why am I afraid that I will be very, very disappointed?

-This last story struck me as very interesting, and quite honestly we all should have considered it before. What happens to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert if/when Obama takes office? Who will there be to make fun of? If you've been watching these or any other liberal-minded satire shows recently then you cannot help but notice the dearth of anti-Obama material. Quite likely the shows will adapt, especially once Obama's first 100 days are over and he starts making some gaffes. Honestly though, I'd accept any decline in quality as long as it doesn't re-propel people like this to the forefront of political television.

Elections and Fidelity

Are New Yorkers, collectively really that isolated? Or lonely? Or held hostage by a city and a lifestyle that just leaves no time for quality time with friends or relationships? Well I for one say no, but that hasn't stopped me from reading article after article after article to the contrary. I mean isn't it enough already? Also, these are just the articles that I've found recently. Over the summer I read a number of similar pieces, the most memorable of which chronicled the insular nature of Manhattan. In the author's scheme, no matter how connected one was to a vast network of friends, these networks often lacked social cohesion and overlap, leaving the one in the center all alone at the end of the day. Now that's some depressing stuff for you. At least in the Intelligencer's day-in-the-life series I can laugh at the idiots that they are supposedly profiling. That said, Niedzviecki may well agree with that article, hell 700 "friends" and only one girl shows up? For most people reading this post now, we're all of college/young professional age and all most surely (hopefully?) have more than one real friend, much less a real facebook "friend". Finally, the fidelity article is shocking in that, with all of the technology available to us, we can be socially isolated from a spouse while utilizing that same technology to form meaningful relationships with other people. It is amazing how the routines of everyday life can just put people in situation in which they cannot, and do not, find someway to communicate with the people that are important to them, while at the same time cultivating new relationships to fill the void. Did the thought ever occur to them to call home? Or text? Or email? Or anything? We'll never know. Not only that, but it seems people cannot even commit to a candidate to vote for next Tuesday! In the words of Gob Bluth, "Come on!"

In any event, my response to all of the above? Life is all a state of mind. Concentrate on everything above and it'll just bring you down. Focus on the parts of yourself you hold in common with the stories above, and you may experience their remorse. But be honest and true to yourself, your friends, and those important to you? Last time I checked that can't steer you too wrong. In the meantime, go out tomorrow night, enjoy the costumes, and make a friend.

I apologize for this accidentally substantive subject matter. Here is a clip of Will Arnett/Gob Bluth on Sesame Street to make up for it.

Getting Lewd With Some Food

We've all seen or heard about the "art" of nyotaimori before. And, just as well, we are all lucky enough to have never experienced it for ourselves...or are we? For those not up on your Japanese foodie vocab, nyotaimori is the practice (apparently) of serving sushi and sashimi on top of naked women. Thanks to Vanity Fair we can now all see what it is like to be that naked woman. I'll give you a preview: yes, it is that demeaning (at least until everybody around you is too drunk to notice how naked you are) but thankfully the time flies. I hadn't heard of anything this creative with food since FOTC's Yoko episode genius "If You're Into It".

And some amuses bouches...
-Stephen Starr coming to a Top Chef episode near you! And he is opening a "chef driven" restaurant cum Tom's or L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Philly.
-Do you love molecular gastronomy? So does the NYT! Twice! Flying spaghetti monsters included.
-Mark Bittman pulls a Jewish Bubbe and makes kasha varnishkes! Be sure to watch the video to the end.

Rachel Getting Married, if Anne Hathaway Will Let Her

After a movie season of numerous disappointments (Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, INDIANA JONES, Religulous, among others) not only is Rachel Getting Married a welcome distraction, but the film is just utterly, beautifully executed. I would have to describes Rachel Getting Married as life, drama included, on film. And a masterful rendition at that. Though the film makes for an intense viewing experience that certainly won't leave you feeling buoyant or elated as you leave the theater, Rachel is a very satisfying film that truly explores the inner workings of an idiosyncratic Connecticut family surrounding a family wedding. Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is the titular Rachel though, as the poster implies, the story is really all about Kym (Anne Hathaway). And wouldn't it annoy you if somebody else was the star of your wedding? The conflict doesn't end there however, as the film, directed by Jonathan Demme (of Silence of the Lambs fame), further explores issues surrounding Rachel's rehab, depression, and the traumatic incident in her life responsible for it all. We are brushed away with each of the characters by Demme's use of Steadicam which, although initially disorienting, ultimately proves itself as the perfect way to film the movie, just as family friends would just as likely take camcorder recordings of weddings that they attend. Moreover, Demme further draws us into the experience of Rachel, Kym, and their family and guests by the use of a beautifully scored, wholly diegetic soundtrack. Though not necessarily a disciple of the Dogma 95 movement, Demme raises the technique to its most eloquent iteration that I have seen. The focal points of the film are long, sometimes drawn out family celebration sequences (a la The Godfather) that, just as you begin to question how this actually advances the plot or characterization, smacks you across the face with alternating touching or disturbing codas. It goes without saying that all of the acting was top notch, from leading roles down to the innocuous groom (Tunde Adebimpe) himself. And expect Oscar buzz around Anne Hathaway's performance, which is decidedly un-princess like and ranges from manic to cathartic to self-destructive.

Can You Smell What Barack is Cooking? And TV Wednesday

It's been a long week since I posted last, here's what's new in television for y'all.

First off, can anybody in America have missed Barack Obama's half hour long propaganda fest tonight? Broadcast on every major broadcast network (minus ABC, which aired Pushing Daisies...and Fox News, of course). What did I think was the most surprising part about the half hour program? Well, the fact that I actually didn't hate listening to it. That said I still turned it off after five minutes and watched Tivo'd Colbert Report.

Speaking of politics though, who here has seen Tina Fey on SNL? Or Tina Few in newspapers and magazines? But, how many of you have actually seen Tina Fey on 30 Rock? Well, be among the first to watch tomorrow's season premier today, courtesy of Hulu.

Curb Season 7. Filming. Need I say more? Gimme some more Leon!

Along the lines of season premiers, I am anxiously awaiting Lost in January, which has just released the upcoming season's trailer. Until the season premiers I will not be short of opportunities to wish that the writers of Heroes will grow a collective brain and start scripting thematic seasons like on Lost.

After a misstep earlier this season involving the depiction of multiple sexual assaults on a friend of the boys' (clip unavailable, THANKFULLY), South Park is seriously back in action with their "Pandemic" series, continuing tonight. An epidemic of Peruvian PAN (get it pan pipes, pandemic?) pipe bands have taken over South Park to protect the people from giant, live action guinea pigs sent to Earth from outer space and that can only be stopped by Craig. I promise it is as good as it sounds crazy.

And finally, we come to The Office! Not only is Creed playing the part and being somebody totally creepy for Halloween, but the Angela-Andy wedding is in full swing! Hooray! And somebody keep Holly from getting fired please!

PS: Are you excited for the Watchmen movie coming this Spring? If yes, the new trailer is here.

The Minimalist in Spain

Every week Mark Bittman publishes a column called The Minimalist on NYT.com. Why do I love The Minimalist? Because ingredients, if of the right quality and treated the right way, can truly become breathtaking dishes with very little effort. I personally must have had fresh, green market cherry tomatoes tossed in extra virgin olive oil with fresh, green market basil and some grated romano over pasta twice a week this summer just because there is no other way to so simply enjoy the sweetness of fresh summer tomatoes. This idea was also jumped on by Eric Ripert, who entered the blogosphere as well this past summer, focusing on fast recipes using superior ingredients. Why else do I love Mark Bittman? Well I'll give you two reasons. First, this week's update features kasha varnishkes, a classic Eastern European staple peasant food. If you're anything like me, and apparently Mark Bittman too, your grandmother has tried on multiple occasions to shovel more kasha onto your plate because you're so skinny! Eat! The end of that video is priceless if you can empathize with that sentiment.

Second, the man is living out every middle aged foodie's dream (much less any man's dream) by cruising around Spain in expensive cars with Gwyneth Paltrow, Spanish actress/beauty Claudia Bassols, and (just to legitimize the food aspect of the show) Mario Batali on PBS's Spain - On The Road Again. Just look at the type of footage is being shot for this show and the sheer beauty of the food and countryside that they are traversing. Though the show sometimes seems to play out like a couple of high school nerds fawning over a pair of cheerleaders, on the whole Spain is a beautiful, appetite whetting gem in the television food genre. We actually learn about the regions, the people, and the food, something Food Network long ago ditched in lieu of junk like "ultimate wedding cake bake-off." Now, unfortunately, it seems only that Food Network is catering to some new demographic to which I clearly do not belong. Well, as long as Good Eats stays on the air...

Greek for "You need to eat here right away"

As much as dining here in NYC is in a class of its own, I never hesitate to laud that of Philadelphia as well when asked. What I miss most about the Philly food scene is all of the quaint little byob restaurants that turned out such amazing food at such dirt cheap prices. "Alas," I figured, once I had left Penn for Sinai, that the days of such amazing and affordable eating were behind me. Well two months ago I was happy to eat my words, and easily one of the best (as in ever, as in I have also eaten at Wd-50, Le Bernardin, etc) restaurant meals I have ever had, when I visited Kefi on 79th and Broadway (here for menu and nym review). What I had at Kefi was simply the best executed Greek/Mediterranean food I have ever had in my life and at prices that could just as easily be charged at a diner. Sixty bucks for a two-course dinner for two, with wine? That's what I thought. And how could things possibly get better? Try an imminent new, improved, expanded, now-accepting-credit-card-and-reservations Kefi located a precious 7 blocks closer to my dear home. I'm counting the days baby.

jp recs: Crispy cod, warm feta plate, Retsina wine, any fish entree, lamb shank with orzo

Heroes Vamps, #13 Back to Her Old OC Days, Why I Love Amy Ryan

So after having seen yesterday's Heroes, what can I say? Mostly, that as much as I hate myself for it, I will probably keep watching just to see what the hell happens. Honestly, maybe it's not even that the show stinks. But there is just no comparison to Lost...period.

In other news? Fox has way overhyped House this week, again relying on the same sex tendencies of the characters played by Olivia Wilde. First she dates Mischa Barton's character on The OC, now more of the same on House. Seriously, I'm not watching the show to see this. I just want the answer to be lupus one of these days!

And finally, Amy Ryan's character, Holly, is the best thing to happen to The Office this season. Who else could possibly fall for Michael Scott of all people or indulge him in such a ridiculous activity as singing "Let's Get Ethical..." to the tune of that old Olivia Newton John hit. I remember reading that her character is only supposed to be on for a few more episodes before Toby returns from his "vacation" in Costa Rica. I can only hope I am sorely mistaken...

Sounds Like A Graphic Novel

So about a month ago I got my weekly email from the rec office with their tickets to that week's events. But that week, a new genre was in the mix: opera. "Not bad," I thought to myself. Now I'll admit, I don't know much about opera apart from having a handful of arias and overtures on my ipod and having seen The Barber of Seville back in high school (hmm, does Tommy count?). But seriously, how can Dr. Atomic, an opera about J. Robert Oppenheimer, leader of the Manhattan Project, that touches upon such time relevant themes as the paradox of nuclear power, the threat of technology, and the burden of knowledge not be amazing? Especially when every time I go online I just read praise after praise. I'll admit I was skeptical at first of an opera that wasn't at least 100 years old and was performed in a foreign language. But wasn't Shakespeare that much cooler in high school when we got to rap it (at least I thought so anyways)? And in this crazy culture of cinematic revamps and franchise updates, Dr. Atomic has the potential to draw in a whole new audience to the opera. Moreover, this is a subject admittedly on the agenda for the Met, which has been trying, with great success, to appeal to a broader, more casual audience. Well Metropolitan Opera, I've already gone and scoped out all the shows I'm planning on attending this upcoming season. Bravo.

Will Sylar Bake Cookies Tonight?

I'll admit it, I almost deserted my beloved Heroes this season. I think it was sometime in between future Peter shooting present Nathan, future Peter taking present Peter hostage in another "hero's" body, Claire deciding to try and be heroic (while only succeeding in whining and wearing tight leather for all the perverts in the world), a long lost twin to Niki Sanders magically fabricating, Horn Rimmed Glasses repeating the same stupid dialogue every episode about protecting his daughter, dead-man Linderman walking around, the appearance of that annoying speed-demon Run Lola Run knock off character, Parkman talking to a turtle, and oh, let me think, Sylar MAKING WAFFLES in an apron that I decided the writers of the show had gone off the deep end. And after coming off a strike abbreviated season that actually necessitated creator Tim Kring's public apology to fans over its poor quality, I do not think that this was a wholly unfounded conclusion (nor was I alone). But then, just as I resigned myself to wait until January 2009 for another quality, science-fiction drama to return, things actually started to not be so terrible with the return of Parkman's father and things finally starting to make some darn sense as a legit set of "Villains" emerge. With Heroes pulling in its worst ratings yet, the writers had better act fast and reclaim their fan base before the show goes the way of Sulu's character on the show (he died, in case you couldn't guess). Hm, it's not that long till January is it?

The Debut

Hello kids! Welcome to my first attempt to enter the blogosphere: P=MD. For those of you not currently in medical school at Sinai right now, "P=MD" is the all too common reminder that upper-classmen tell us first years to help us remember that all we've got to do is pass to survive in this place...that, and probably a diplomatic way for them to tell some of us to just chill out and quit worrying so much. To that effect, the inspiration for this blog came to me. What began as a voracious appetite for tv and film trivia and references, not to mention a literal appetite for delicious food, blossomed into constant status message updates of all manners of interesting links that I found online. As the feedback came rushing back to me and I realized people actually appreciated the nonsense that I so frequently posted, the concept of P=MD was born. As of now, I'll be planning to post and comment upon the latest tv, film, and food news, and to link you, my readers, up to all the fantastic time wasters at my disposal on youtube/hulu/etc. To reflect the lofty aspirations and higher purpose of P=MD, you will notice the banner above of the statues greeting those entering the Vatican in Rome. No irony there right?

So I know what some of you may be thinking, you love cooking, why not a cooking blog? Well...I believe that something worth doing is something worth doing well. And compared to this gem founded by a classmate and friend of mine, it is quite clear to me that that just will not be the case at all. So, with that said, welcome to P=MD, and I hope that I can help waste your time more efficiently.

I will leave you with two clip definitely worth seeing. First, happy Sukkot everybody (with explanation for my non-Jewish friends)!

And second, did you know that the GOP actually thinks that Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin is destroying her image? Well the GOP must have thought that Palin's appearance on SNL last night may help to salvage her image. Did it? That only time will tell. But was it quality television? You bet.

PS: While we're on the subject, Mark Wahlberg's cameo (in response to this Andy Samberg pearl) is classic. I love how now that Entourage is sucking it up on HBO and his only current movie role is in the video game adaptation of Max Payne (a genre plagued with too many duds to list, but for a taste just check out director Uwe Boll's adaptation ridden resume), this "Executive Producer" is trying to reach out to a new audience. Yeah, good luck with that.