Once is a movie about a vacuum-repairman-by-day-busker-by-night dude and an odd-jobs-immigrant gal. She approaches him playing the streets one evening, and they form a fast friendship. We follow them through the events of a week in which they grow, learn, and make life-altering decisions. They both learn to look a little outside themselves which, in turn, gives them the confidence and courage to do what needs to be done in each’s own life.

The characters are human and real, playful and serious, sinners and saints. The protagonists are played by Glen Hansard (from The Frames) and Markéta Irglová (a Czech musician/actress) (the album), who performed all the music and wrote their own original songs for the movie. Once plays as it is billed--a modern-day musical--and it is wonderful.

It’s a feel good movie that incorporates some fell-good clichés, but I’m a sucker for ‘em anyway. And I would have hated it if these scenes weren't there: 1) the reaction of the sound engineer to the first recorded song in the recording sessions; 2) the father listening to the recorded tape; 3) the final gift.

Once is an independent film written and directed by John Carney. Rated R for lots of F-bombs.

Jim Carrey v. Adam Sandler: Carrey wins.

In Living Color v. Saturday Night Live: SNL wins.

Kate Winslet v. Drew Barrymore: Push.

New York v. Hawaii: N/A.

Elijah Wood's Patrick v. Sean Astin's Doug: Doug.

Tom Wilkinson (link) v. Dan Akroyd: Wilkinson.

Kirsten Dunst.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs 50 First Dates. ESSM by a mile.

So what I want to know:

What would have Kay have written if Ana didn't like Harold's barley flour?

(Stranger Than Fiction. RT-73%. IMBD. Recommended.)

I had someone give me some pucky over my admission that I have, in fact, seen an episode or two of Gilmore Girls. Apparently GG is a ‘girl’ show, and, as a guy, I should either pooh-pooh it or pretend I don’t know about it.

Here and now, I publicly state the following:

• I have seen the show.
• There were times I enjoyed the show.

I can admit this because I’m secure in my manhood. Sensitive, but manly. Rugged and manly, yet sensitive. Strong, rugged, manly, sensitive... and secure. I’m a veritable wellspring of strongly rugged sensitive manliness. Eat that.

I’m not a writer (as you can tell, I’m sure), but I can tell that a good script makes a TV show work. Actors’ abilities can only take a lame story so far. For a TV serial, you need a good story, a decent arc, and smart lines here and there. Characters with whom you can identify come out of good scripts.

The TV shows that I tend to like most are those with witty lines and real (often sarcastic) characters. The better of these, though, are the throw-away lines spoken quickly and semi-randomly. And these lines aren’t belabored--you have be paying attention in order to hear it. Someone says it; it’s funny; they move on.

Shows I know and like that do this: Scrubs; House; West Wing; Gilmore Girls; Sports Night; M*A*S*H (note: only one ‘girl’ show on this list). And now I add Firefly.

Some other TV shows try to do the one-liners (the Laws & Orders; the CSIs; Without a Trace), but their lines usually fall flat to me. Maybe the writer is working too hard at trying to be memorable, pithy, or ironic. I’m not saying I could do better than these; in fact, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t. But that doesn’t mean I have to like lameness.

But this wasn’t supposed to be about trashing poorly written TV shows. It’s about rejoicing in, and enjoying, good scripts, whatever the target audience. And that I’m manly.

Update 1:22pm: Another good show: The Tick (animated) (I have no opinion on the live action show.)

Last night I started watching the TV Series Firefly. Until now, I only knew the show through critical hype and the theatrical release of Serenity (which I loved, by the way).

The show is great. The characters are human; the writing is smart and quick-witted; the severe moments are palpable; the relaxed times are relatable. It's cowboys-in-space with Gilmore Girls-esque dialogue. You should watch it.