BOOKS
1. ANYWHERE BUT HERE, BY TORI MIKI
Sublime and silly: Nothing's lost in
translation in these wordless Japanese strips and their bone-dry Zen
humor.
TV
2. THE WEST WING
Putting Jimmy Smits on the campaign trail — in his bid to
fill a post-Bartlet White House — earns NBC the ML vote for best TV show
assist. Review >
MUSIC
3. PRIONSERS OF LOVE, YO LA TENGO
Nineteen years of dreamy, whip-smart
indie pop are covered on this three-CD career retrospective.
DVD
4. LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN
Now on DVD: Gene Tierney plays a psychotically
possessive femme fatale who'll do anything to keep her man in this
deliriously perverse 1945 melodrama.
TV
5. THE FINAL FOUR
Offering more twists than a season of Lost — and more
overtime than a Teamster on a Kubrick film — this year's college hoops
tourney is already one for the ages.
BOOKS
6. FLANIMALS, BY RICKY GERVAIS
The Office star trades smarmy for surreal in
this kids' book (a hit in the U.K.), a lavishly illustrated field guide
to our favorite kind of imaginary animal: gross, goofy, and ridiculous. Q&A >
TV
7. GLENN CLOSE IN 'THE SHIELD'
She brings star power (and firepower) to
FX's gritty cop drama. Plus, would any perp mess with a bunny boiler? Q&A >
MUSIC
8. LET US NEVER SPEAK OF IT AGAIN, OUT HUD
Like a sweaty after-hours party,
the sonic solecisms on this CD offer a messy mess o' funky fun.
MOVIE
9. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS IN 'THE BALLAD OF JACK & ROSE'
A Butcher no more, the
Method maestro shows his delicate side in this intimate film directed by
his wife, Rebecca Miller. Review >
DVD
10. RINGS
Bridging the story line between The Ring and its so-so sequel,
this 16-minute short — available as a DVD bonus disc — is an extra worth
digging for. (We're glad it's not out on videocassette.) Review >
