A stretch of good movies since last blog entry

Because I only want to comment on 3 favorites since my last blog entry, I'll list ones that I've also seen that I think are very good: Carlos, Burlesque, Waste Land, For Colored Girls and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. The 3 favorites are: Genius Within: Glenn Gould, Fair Game and Client 9, The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer. Glenn Gould is an extraordinary documentary in so many ways. He was an amazing talent and psychologically complex. The interviews are thoughtful and penetrating, especially those with the woman, Cornelia Foss, and her children who he lived with for about 4 years. This movie is absolutely on the "must see" list. Then there is Fair Game. As good as this movie is, and Sean Penn and Naomi Watts are, it is hard to watch because it is so infuriating to be reminded again of the extent the Bush gang went to lie and trump up excuses for why we went to war with Iraq. Don't miss it but consider taking a tranquilizer before you go. Another very good documentary is Elliot Spitzer. This is a modern day tragedy about a legal hero who was brought down in a sex scandal. Why was he brought down when so many others in public life weather these kinds of storms? Better spin doctors? Anyway, he's far from down now. What a ride!

TV - 2 current shows are especially good

In Treatment is better than ever this season, especially with Debra Winger added to the cast as well as Amy Ryan. This is an extremely well written show and my favorite one going now that Mad Men is on break. Also, don't give up on Boardwalk Empire. After a slow start and a continuing issue of whether Steve Buscemi can pull off his big cheese role, this show is also getting better and Michael Pitt is a big reason that it is. He is engaging, tough, tender and unpredictable. Real Time with Bill Maher just concluded another successful season and continues to maintain its position among the very top tv shows.

Emmy alert: Debra Winger and Michael Pitt.