End of summer movie binge

What with some recent overhauls to the old life-as-I-know-it, I've been sorely remiss on my movie watching. In fact, this Friday marked 5 weeks since I'd seen a movie in the theater and about 4 weeks since I'd seen a new movie on DVD/video - my longest movie-free period in more than 6 years.

Fortunately, I now live in one of the better movie markets in the U.S., and this weekend I managed to get out to see some recently expanded indie flicks that have been the recipients of much acclaim - The Aristocrats and Broken Flowers. Full reviews will be up at some point, but it suffices (for now) to say that both live up to their excellent reputations.

The Aristocratsis indeed the most verbally crude pisspot of a movie ever dumped into theaters, but it also works as a remarkably insightful essay on the art of joke telling. Broken Flowers expands eloquently on both Jim Jarmusch's hipster minimalism and Bill Murray's pitch perfect portrayals of mid life melancholy. If they're in your market (and if they're not, they should be soon), both are well worth your time.

Coming soon - summer comedy: The Wedding Crashers and The 40 Year Old Virgin.