OBITUARY | ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN
12/11/1918 – 8/3/2008
Here we are, once again forced to bid farewell to yet another icon of the Twentieth Century. “Alexander Solzhenitsyn” isn’t exactly a household name, but the echoes of his influence will forever mark the small triumphs and bloody tragedies of our shared history. He was a soldier, a writer, and an activist; however, first and foremost, this man was a survivor, a testament to the strength of human belief. Neither Stalin’s vicious regime nor the brutal indignities of communist rule could break his will; he persevered against all odds, his stunning Dostoevskyan prose delivering the final crushing blows against an empire that was facing its final sunset. Rest well, comrade. You earned it.

FILM | MAN ON WIRE
James Marsh / Magnolia Pictures
I’m an absolute sucker for documentaries, and this is by far one of the best I’ve ever seen. Marsh filmed the process, planning and execution behind one of the greatest pranks ever pulled, capturing Philippe Petit’s audacious high-wire walk between the Twin Towers back in ’74. It’s a real life heist story, made all the more rewarding because the final prize isn’t cash or jewels; instead, it’s a brilliant and exhilaratingly beautiful work of human art. Fairfax is the closest theatre that will be screening the film, but it’s absolutely worth the drive. Don’t miss this on the big screen.

CD | CONOR OBERST
Conor Oberst / Merge
One day, Conor Oberst’s balls will drop, he’ll stop spending so much money on his haircut, and he’ll write music that sounds just a tad better than the hackneyed Bob Dylan-lite bullshit that he’s peddling right now. Until then, it’s best that we let this pompous prick stew in his own vainglorious juices, letting him wallow in his own self-importance.

CD | SUB TEMPLUM
Moss / Candlelight
Recently, I’ve been spending my Sunday mornings listening to a lot of heavy-fucking-metal on full blast, downing shots of vodka followed by cups of seriously black coffee. The new Moss album has been my poison of choice for the past few weeks. This is some glorious doom metal, creeping forward with the brutally relentless certainty of a civilization in decline. A must-listen for anyone who wants to get their ass kicked by the most pummeling riffs this side of Eyehategod.

DVD | THE COUNTERFEITERS
Stefan Ruzowitzky / Sony Pictures Classics
The only films I love more than documentaries are those based on true stories—and The Counterfeiters is one helluva film. Ruzowitzky’s brilliantly fictionalized account of Operation Bernhard—a secret Nazi plan to destabilize the British economy by flooding the country with forged bank notes—is an absolutely brilliant film. The casting is superb, the pacing is perfect, and the direction is absolutely flawless. It’s the perfect antidote for those tired of the usual, formulaic WWII drivel.