All these wonderful things

The Voice Poll: Grizzly Man in Top 5

The beginnings of the annual Village Voice Film Critics Poll are online and, while it's still early, Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man is currently at number 4. This coming on the heels of a number of critics prizes for the acclaimed film that continue to call into question its exclusion from the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Documentary Feature (more on this subject in the coming week).

Also of note in the top 10 is the presence of Gus Van Sant's Last Days, which I wrote about back in July. I had mixed feelings about the film then but was feeling mostly positive. I have to say that in the past three months I have been asked about Last Days a lot and most of the people quizzing me have been almost angry in how much they disliked the film. So it's interesting to see it near the top of the Voice list.

Sex & Drugs & The Other Thing

Two of the most talked about indie films of the year are to be released in theaters tomorrow - Gus Van Sant's Last Days and Michael Winterbottom's 9 Songs. I've seen the former not the latter, although both already have divided critics - sometimes within a single paper or website (check out the Indiewire debate on Winterbottom's film, while the folks on the Stranger blog nearly come to blows over Van Sant's Cobain story).

Dealing first with the film I haven't seen, I must admit to being intrigued by the premise of 9 Songs - a couple goes to see bands play then they have sex. Actual sex. Checking out the trailer on the movie's website, it seems that Winterbottom is capturing (or attempting to capture) the essence of a young, lusting sexual relationship, placed in the environment of similarly young, dynamic rock bands of the moment. This seems to make a lot of sense on its face. Most rock music (and those that perform it) already has one foot in the sack. And the thrill of seeing a band that you love playing live can be as ecstatic and sensational as any carnal experience.