Recently enjoyed

I am bored. So here are some books, DVDs, movies and CDs I recently consumed and enjoyed.

On the nightstand:
"The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama: I saved this book from a lifetime sitting in a corner at the Sage when someone, for some reason, gave it to my ultra-conservative dad as a gift. Ths book sure makes it easy to jump on the Obama bandwagon. It gives great insight on how to fix "a political process that is broken" and includes vivid firsthand accounts of Obama's frustrations with political fundraising and partisan divisiveness.

On the turntable:
"Alright, Still" by Lily Allen: Lily Allen is somehow able to mix rap, pop, reggae and, yes, polka, while telling street stories with an infectious wit and cynicism. She's hilarious and unapologetic, and the music is so damn catchy.

On the screen:
"Black Snake Moan": Though I loooooved "Hustle & Flow," I was pretty skeptical of this movie, even if it DOES feature Justin Timblerlake. In the end, it's nowhere near as good as "Hustle & Flow," but it wasn't terrible, either. Sorry, I can't muster more analysis for some reason. Probably still thinking about Justin Timberlake.

On the DVD player:
"Sherrybaby": Maggie Gyllenhaal is awesome as a recovering addict who is a good example of what happens when want isn't balanced with self-control. Gyllenhaal is great at making you care about a pretty undesirable character.

"Talk to Her": A great film about human empathy, but creepy enough to give me some really weird dreams.

"Friends With Money": A good take on the lives of four West L.A. women. And one scene is shot inside Fred 62, my favorite place in Los Angeles.