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 | A City Built On Cocaine, Pipedreams, and Blood For those seeking quick fortune and glory in the 70s and 80s, there was arguably no place quite like Miami. With unguarded ports, contraband could easily be smuggled in from Colombia or Cuba and, in short order, turned over for a pretty penny. Previously a quiet retirement community, Miami would become a hotbed for cocaine peddling and unspeakable violence. The remarkable rise, fall, and rebirth of Miami is charted in [b]Cocaine Cowboys[/b].More |  | A Vintage Unlikely To Please Many Palates Russell Crowe pulled down his first Oscar in 2000 with his intense performance as the betrayed and aggrieved general Maximus in Ridley Scott’s [b]Gladiator[/b]. Hoping for similar magic again, Crowe and Scott have collaborated in [b]The Good Year[/b]. It’s a good idea perhaps, but [b]A Good Year[/b] is far from stellar, although not bad enough to feed to the lions.More |  | Borat make much funnytime for many laughings of movieviewing peoples The easily offended, culturally sensitive, and politically correct would be best served by avoiding Sacha Baron Cohen’s absurdly offensive, but brilliantly hysterical [b]Borat: Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan[/b] (Henceforth, to be referred to merely as [b]Borat[/b]). However, for those who prefer their comedy grossly offensive (ample anti-semitism) and inappropriate(two naked men fighting over a Pamela Anderson centerfold), [b]Borat[/b] raises the bar for all comedies that follow it.More |  | Released on Explicit Lyrics, 9/19/06 DJ Shadow (aka-Josh Davis) made a career for himself by creating brilliant and infectious tracks that amalgamate samples, voices, and odd fragments of previously recorded dialogue. Shadow’s gifts first became apparent in his critically acclaimed debut, [b]Endtroducing[/b] in 1996. Moody, atmospheric, and emotive [b]Endtroducing[/b], caught the attention of critics and listeners.More |  | Released on Ginkgo Records Is there any ground more well trodden by artists than the vastness that is love? In a time when it’s frighteningly common to be cynical, jaded, and bitter about love, Anna Laube manages to inject new life into the oft maligned emotion in [b]Outta My Head[/b]. Laube offers no easy answers in the album, but never fails to seduce with a plethora of beautifully written, authentic tracks and talent that is unquestionable.More |  | It Can’t Be Reasoned With, It Can’t Be Bargained With, and It Absolutely Will Not Stop Woe to those foolish enough to incur the wrath of the "grudge". Unfortunately in [b]The Grudge 2[/b] just about everyone seems to find a way to cross paths with it. The creepy little boy, the weird cat, and the herky-jerky mother are back for yet another round of vengeance and this time around they’re really pissed.More |  | An Epic Clash Between Tradition and Modernity In the summer of 1997, the world was shaken by the tragic death of Princess Diana of Wales. While the public mourned the death of a woman who touched the lives of many and was often considered "The People’s Princess", there was another story not seen by the public, but no less compelling. This unseen story of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family’s response to this tragic event is unfurled in stellar fashion in Stephen Frear’s [b]The Queen[/b].More |  | Released on Roir, 5/9/06 The ascent of Hasidic reggae superstar Matisyahu is largely attributable to said artist’s considerable talents. However, no man is an island. Matisyahu is fortunate enough to have an excellent band, Roots Tonic, backing him up. There is little question that Roots Tonic has been an integral part of Matisyahu’s success.More |  | 10/5/06 - 10/15/06 Fall has descended upon the Bay Area yet again and while many of us mourn the passing of summer, film lovers have reason to celebrate! The 29th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival is nigh and with it comes a plethora of films jockeying for US distribution, some excellent documentaries, foreign gems, and countless other celluloid (and digital) delights.More |  | Your Self Sucks Losers, wimps, and the generally spineless have to cause to rejoice! Dr.P’s (Billy Bob Thornton) School For Scoundrels is in session and you too can learn to rub people the wrong way, manipulate the easily influenced, initiate violent confrontations, and become the alpha male you always wanted to be!More |
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