It's so difficult to create an American movie hero for mass consumption! The marvelous Pauline Kael, generally a sturdy populist when it came to American movies, wrote in 1964: "we don't want to see the image of ourselves in those cheats and cuckolds and cowards. We want heroes, and Hollywood produces them by simple fiat... A drama about a man's defeat would seem somehow antisocial, unamerican, 'arty,' and even decadent." But, surely, our tastes have evolved since? But then, maybe Kael's assessment still holds true. Even if men like Clooney and Pitt are allowed to flirt with darkness, ultimately, the hero must be a force for good and it helps when he is Will Smith. Okay, so here are great things that are happening that don't involve Will Smith. READ MORE

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The problem with books that get adapted into movies, is that, well, if you've taken the time to read the novel then you've created an entire ecosystem of scenery, face and motivations in your head. It's a completely unique world that's precious and belongs only to you. But when an auteur armed with a budget and his own ecosystem comes along, all those images are forcibly replaced. It's like a referendum on your imagination. It's not even a matter of not seeing the movie; advertising and promotion are unavoidable. So while there is some thrill in watching fuzzy-wuzzy creatures come to life or some Victorian suitor resurrected, it most often feels like a transgression, like something is being taken, not given. And that's why I won't be seeing "The Informant," which is based on the Kurt Eichenwald book. (Ha, got ya.) But here's some stuff that you should see and do. READ MORE

And now, our irregular but handy guide to happenings in New York, L.A. and the rest of the world! Oh hey, remember when MTV's video music awards had some level of relevance in our lives? No? Wait, what about when Jean-Paul Gaultier designed Madonna's colonial orgy for the VMA's. It was such a delicious confection of fashion, pop, and spectacle; everyone was like "oooh, this is pretty AND IMPORTANT!" Has such a theatrical, crazed moment played out on the VMA stage since? Well no. Even when Kanye or Fall Out Angel Waves or whomever does a ditty for the broadcast, it always feels like some afterthought on a publicity tour. But not Lady Gaga. She's set to take the stage on Sept 13th and in her words "inspire a movement." Oh, the Gags. READ MORE

It's almost over! This awful summer of death and disaster will soon give way to a glorious season of overall pleasantness: we're of course talking about fall TV programing and prestige movie releases! By the autumnal equinox, our stiff souls will be kindled by the warm glow of really neat stuff on the screen. It's like springtime for the indoor set. So come, little seedlings, let the winds of quality carry us through what's two weeks out. READ MORE