And now it's time for Three Line Reviews

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - Wow. I was pleasantly surprised at the not-too-low-brow humor. Plus, the soundtrack was almost as cool as a demon cobra riding a skeletal steed.

Short Bus - John Cameron Mitchell's second movie about a salon (not of the hair variety) features full frontal male nudity and actual sex, which means I automatically put it in the porn category until I had the pleasure of hearing said director speak after the film. He pointed out that sex in a person's life is not porn, and he wanted to use sex as a 'cinematic language' to explore his characters. This movie is a 2006 must see.[ I'm cheating. This is line number 5. Favorite line from the movie: "It's like the 60s with less hope."]

My Antonia by Willa Cather - At the persistent behest of a friend I read this Great American Novel and was not disappointed, although it's not heavy on riveting plot, or plot at all, really. My Antonia is about place and memory and beautiful writing. I can sympathize with all the kids forced to read it in high school, though.