"alternative" papers like the L.A. Weekly give de facto bad reviews to Hollywood movies while offering a free pass to any movie with a low budget, gay cowboys, or one of the Tilly sisters.

Also? Those gay cowboys and the Tilly sisters are pretty freaking Hollywood to me, especially after reading the Voice thing. I think my issue is not that I don't believe the critics, but that they seem to forget that they are still writing for a relatively mass-market audience -- or should be. I mean, shit, the Voice is free on every street corner in Manhattan!

Oh, on the surface Dakota seems creepier with her surprised bush baby eyes and ultrasonic screams, but I think Miss Everyone-Will-Suffer can put more eerieness in her acting performance.

I think Miss Everyone-Will-Suffer can put more eerieness in her acting performance.

The true horror is that Dakota isn't acting. She's a living uncanny valley.

especially after reading the Voice thing.

That's exactly why I read the Voice film section. Because I know they'll be covering a lot of films that they've seen in film festivals that may or may not be released stateside so I can track them down in the video store. There are plenty of other resources for tracking mainstream film.

Don't go harshing on J. Hoberman!

Don't go harshing on J. Hoberman!

BAH! I will harsh if I want to. I'm fine with the coverage throughout the year, because they do review all kinds of things. It was just having the year-end wrap-up be so full of people and films I'd never heard of that bugged. Not that I follow cinema.

Not that I follow cinema.

Jesse's Resolution For The New Year: Quit smoking (again), see more film festivals in Berlin and Bangkok, preferably featuring lots of directors I've never heard of before. Get Makeover by famous fashion designer, preferably while on television.

I think I'll start with just trying to shift the superhero/non-superhero movie ratio a bit.

I think I'll start with just trying to shift the superhero/non-superhero movie ratio a bit.

Which way? I'm thinking with your current romance it's going to be more superheroes more of the time.

LESS SUPERHEROS. Really, a smaller ratio, is what I'm going for. Mostly, I just need to get to the movies more, and with other people. Or alone, as I'm doing tonight, to finally see Good Night and Good Luck.

Hey, leave the superheroes alone.