Blog From The Bench

So, on Friday night my wife and I invented a drinking game tied to the film 'I Robot' - it's easy, just take a drink anytime anyone says the word robot, or the word appears on the screen. Guaranteed to have you feeling no pain in about twenty minutes!

Clint Eastwood's upcoming 'Letters From Iwo Jima' was pronounced Best Film by the National Board of Review this week, a film most of us won't get to see until February. Could Oscar gold go to a movie almost no one watching the telecast has viewed?

They also called 'The Devil Wears Prada' one of the best of the year, which I can't back - it was mildly enjoyable, but pretty generic in a lot of ways, and made charicters do things seemingly out of their established personalities for the sake of the story's contrivances.

I suspect some of you might also visit CNET and enjoy its many great articles & podcasts on technology. Regardless, you likely heard about CNET's Senior Editor James Kim, who was found today after spending 11 days in the Oregon wilderness. He had left his wife and two daughters, who were located alive and well earlier this week, to get help after spending a full week stranded with their car. James died a hero.

Those interested should check out the memoriam video available at www.cnet.com.

I've wanted to get a minute to start my blog up for a while now - and the time has come!

Just a quick note in defense of Miami Vice (better late than never). I know it's officially a 'flop', a cautionary tale off to DVD Prep. But I think - and it might take some time - this is going to be recognized as one of the great undercover cop movies of all time. It's half art-film, half cop-drama, and all kinds of awesome. There's nary a word of exposition, lots of interesting musical chices, feats of cinematography never before seen on the big screen, and some truely satisfying kill-shots. The TV show was revolutionary when it came out, and I think this is too.

If you've got some free time this weekend, I encourage you to catch it while it's still in the theatre. You won't be dissapointed.