A lot of Veronica's conflicts are internal.

Yeah, but there's also a lot of external shit to keep me occupied otherwise. Besides the mysteries, a lot of her internal conflicts are manifested in her actions.

And think of Lorrie Moore's fiction -- there's often very little in the way of action or external conflict, and much more ruminating and thinkiness.

Yeah, her stories are all internal, but they're also made up of her words, which are lovely.

Movies are so short. I guess I feel dumb for not "appreciating" the subtle character pieces like You Can Count on Me and...I think I actually did like Sideways, for the most part, at least. I keep trying, though. Would I like Little Miss Sunshine ? Or The Departed ? Or Pan's Labyrinth ? I don't know anymore! Damn you, Alfonso Cuarón, you're making me have another crisis of art.

At least Dexter was just as awesome as I had been led to believe.

The Departed is not subtle. Trust me on that.

Woo! Down with subtlety! Up with extremity!

Woo! Down with subtlety! Up with extremity!

How about subtle extremities? Perhaps a squid's tentacle that tapers to an end so thin that it's practically evanescent. Huh? How about that?

That's probably in an anime somewhere.

That's probably in an anime somewhere.

And it's probably doing something naughty.

Aaaand I think I just squicked myself.

t /I'm even nattering, good lord

And it's probably doing something naughty.

Well, that was understood.

What about Remains of the Day? I know you didn't like the movie as much as the book, but even so.

The only movie mentioned here that I've seen is The Virgin Suicides, and... it was fine. I did not love it, I did not hate it. I did not feel like I'd wasted my time in seeing it, but I doubt I will ever watch it again. I think if I had to pin it down, I'd say that the movie didn't mean anything to me. However, I suspect that it did mean something to the people who like it. The meaning may be different to every single of them, but it means something.

What about Remains of the Day? I know you didn't like the movie as much as the book, but even so.

Hm. I think that has both non-linear narrative and Things Happening going for it. And I also could see the change in Stevens by the end. Fucking doves.

I did not love it, I did not hate it. I did not feel like I'd wasted my time in seeing it, but I doubt I will ever watch it again.

This, about The Virgin Suicides. I thought it well done and atmospheric, but I doubt I'd ever want to watch it again.

I *still* haven't seen Lost in Translation, and I have to, now. I have to know what all the fuss is about, for good or bad. It's what's tempting me to read The DaVinci Code, to be honest.