Best films of 2008 - Times Online

The 100 Best Movies of 2008 - Times Online

The critics from London's Times Online list their 5-star and 4-star film picks from their reviews of the past year. I do have some squabbles with the British critics' favourite movies (including movies that were released in 2006 and 2007), it's a great way for me to find new movies and DVDs to add to my Zip list, because Zip.ca has the DVDs you are looking you for. Search our library now.

The Netflix Conundrum

If You Liked This, You’re Sure to Love That – NY Times

This article, by the fantastic Clive Thompson, discusses the Netflix contest, where programmers try to improve the movie recommendation formula that Netflix uses. Netflix is the popular American DVD-by-mail subscription company (in Canada, I use zip.ca)

While the top researchers keep getting better at making movie suggestions, one of the things that stumps them is the “Napoleon Dynamite problem”.

Roger Ebert's Top 10 Films of 2007

rogerebert.com The year's ten best films
Esteemed film critic, Roger Ebert, checks in with his list of the best movies of 2007. The list contains his top 20 favorite movies, along with his favourite documentaries, animated movies and foreign films.

Canada's Best Music Journalism

Exclaim Magazine

Exclaim is Canada's authoritative music rag, with profiles of the coolest up-and-coming artists, playlist charts from Canada's college radio stations, and have indie pop culture news (not to be confused with the trashy mainstream news).

They do feature a lot of new Canadian music, but have also profiled exciting global scenes as well. If you know anything about Canadian music these days, you'll know it's doing okay. The reviews are extensive, featuring films, DVDs, concerts, and music from every genre, including: heavy metal, electronic, hip hop, alt-country, pop and rock (though not mainstream), punk, funk, experimental and avant garde, soul and world.

It's the magazine that people WISH that Rolling Stone and Spin were.

When I lived in Japan, Exclaim was the music magazine that I chose to subscribe to because of their excellent pop culture coverage. The low international rates were a bonus. In Canada, the hardcopy version is certainly worth more than the free cover price.

Today's Link source: I have no clue

Documentary about the State of Music in America

Before The Music Dies

Before The Music Dies is a new documentary about the state of music and the music industry in America. Through interviews with musicians, industry insiders, music critics, and fans, and performances by artists from The Dave Matthews Band and Erykah Badu to Seattle street performers and Mississippi gospel singers, the filmmakers try to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong with music.

Focusing on grassroots, word-of-mouth advertising, the filmmakers are promoting their movie by encouraging people to host a screening party. By giving away dvds to people wanting to host a screening party, the want to get hardcore music fans and their friends together to discuss the music, the industry, and the politics of it all, and hopefully, to inspire them to get involved.

Go to a screening of Before The Music Dies in your area, or host one yourself. Or send me an email, and watch Before The Music Dies with me this weekend.