one minute reviews

Beck's new album, Güero. Not sure how finished the version I heard was, but it's back to Odelay-style get-your-dance-move-on tracks. Hey, he name-checks the Norteño band, Banda Machos (famous for tunes like Machos Lloran Tambien), raps in Spanglish and makes music with hacked gameboys. What's not to love?

The Five Obstructions, Lars van Trier vs. Jørgen Leth as Lars challenges Jørgen to remake and then remake 4 more times, Jørgen's short film from 1967. OK, so half of me was entertained and charmed at their sadomasochistic compulsion to make and then break their own art (and themselves in the process.) The other half of me was irritated and pissed at such white-guy self-indulgence and self-aggrandizing.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston. If you don't know who Daniel Johnston is, it's about time you found out. Daniel, an up and coming songwriter/musician, at the right time and the right place--that place being Austin--eventually succumbs to the voices in his head. But he still makes music...and at an alarming rate. Artists like Yo La Tengo and Tom Waits have covered his heartfelt and slightly off songs. See this movie! Support your independent filmmakers! And find out about yet another artist's descent into madness.

Born Into Brothels. This is a feel good movie that made me feel, well, good. Children of prostitutes, who work the red light district of Calcutta, are given cameras and take to the streets. In time, they create art: stunning photographs, glimpses of humanity in the most destitute of settings, and proud, proud portraits of each other. The children speak plainly about the hopeless and desparate situations they are in. And yet, they thrive with these cameras in their hands.


And remember, not all jokes can be funny.