Killer Instincts

Fincher returns to form, Ferrell plays it straight

February 27, 2007

MOVIES: Gyllenhaal and Downey may dominate the screen, but the real star of Zodiac is director David Fincher's infectious paranoia and pyrotechnic storytelling. Falling slightly lower on the auteur scale is Craig Brewer, the Hustle & Flow maestro who returns with the gritty, sweaty, and thoroughly entertaining blues drama Black Snake Moan, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci, above.

MUSIC: Kaiser Chiefs showcase their knack for insanely catchy pop melodies with their sophomore album, Yours Truly Angry Mob. (Download the rousing single Ruby for evidence.) Meanwhile, Jesse Malin teams up with the likes of Ryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen for his somber third record, Glitter in the Gutter.

DVD: It's been a while since Oliver Stone had a hit movie, but he's evidently still got plenty of sway—how else do you explain the 214-minute final final final director's cut of Alexander? Over in the unjustly overlooked section, meanwhile, is the charming and witty Stranger Than Fiction, which proves that Will Ferrell is good for more than laughs.

TELEVISION: Here's hoping that Daily Show alum Rob Corddry fares better than his kid brother Nate of the dismal Studio 60. In The Winner, a comedy from the creators of The Family Guy that debuts Sunday on Fox, Rob plays a balding, middle-age man-child who lives with his parents. Even if he's half as funny as Buster Bluth, we'll be watching.

BOOKS: Sportswriter Michael Weinreb's The Kings of New York: A Year Among the Geeks, Oddballs, and Geniuses Who Make Up America's Top High School Chess Team is just as entertaining as it sounds. And for that empty spot on your coffee table, there's Shawn Mortensen's photo book Out of Mind, with a foreword by Glenn O'Brien.

WEB: MySpace profile feeling a little sparse? Starting Thursday, FakeYourSpace.com, will populate your page with hot-looking faux friends culled from stock photo agencies. Basic service starts at $2 per month, but you can't put a price on dignity.