Ranking Bob Dylan Songs, #118, #120: In My Time of Dyin’, Fixin’ To Die

These are the two worst songs on Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut album and, as such, two of the worst songs Dylan would record in the 1960s. To my knowledge, he never played either of them in concert; Dylan would, for the most part, abandon the songs that he didn’t write when he started performing regularly, although there is a performance of “Man of Constant Sorrow” featured in Martin Scorcese’s No Direction Home, as well as extant live recordings of a few other songs from the album, but none of “Dyin’” or “Fixin.’”

Aught Lang Syne: A Bad Decade for Movies

Commercially speaking, the Aughts were an excellent decade for film. Even in poor economic conditions, box office records continued—and still continue as we speak—to be broken. Box Office Mojo’s list of highest grossing films is littered with movies from the Aughts. Much of this is due to inflation, of course, but even on an inflation-adjusted list of all films to pass $100 million in gross, 273 of 665 films—or 41%—come from this decade alone.

For those who make their living off of movies, then, there was plenty to be happy about in the Aughts. But for the audience, for those who like to watch daring and innovative films, the decade was surprisingly disappointing.

Of course, painting in such broad strokes is always a tricky game, particularly for something as ingrained and multi-faceted as film. Unlike television, cinema has been established as a medium for serious art since before I was even born, so the Aughts couldn’t really see a general creative leap of that sort. Unlike music, in which production costs are lower and output generally faster, film cannot experience the kind of rapid flourishing and integration of entire genres.

Monday Medley

What we read while wondering what beats DJ AM is trying to impress Ted Kennedy with:

• William Safire takes on “clunkers”, a word that has been amusing since the “Cash for Clunkers” initiative began.

• Just as predictable as John S liking Inglourious Basterds was David Denby of The New Yorker hating it: He called it “too shallow to be called nihilism.” Tarantino took over Sky Movies a few weeks ago, and lists and discusses his favorite movies since 1992, as well as There Will Be Blood and a cool story about Martin Scorcese. Here also is a compilation of lists where he discusses his favorite movies of all-time.

• AV Club has crossed a line taking on a scene from one of NPI’s favorite movies: the “It’s Not Your Fault” scene from Good Will Hunting. Granted it may be a bit melodramatic, but “moronic” seems harsh. And as for the claim that “words lose power with repetition,” well, I defy you to watch this scene from The Wire and defend that claim.

• Anyone who’s not already excited for the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm–coming September 20–should get excited: First of all, more Curb, and second of all, it’s a quasi-Seinfeld reunion. Just be careful who you quote the lines to.

• As longtime devotees of Degrassi, it’s great to see Jimmy Brooks doing his thing. And walking. The walking’s cool, too.

• Not sure what was more interesting: The New York Times’ cover story (in Sports) on the possibility that Miguel Tejada tipped pitches and didn’t hustle after ground balls hit by Dominican friends in close games (yeah, there’s a small sample size), OR Deadspin’s dead-on critique of David Waldstein’s frustrating “say-it-already” way of making his point. Our question: Why was this article printed now?