Kinda Obsessed: Fourth Week of May

PETER DINKLAGE IN PRINCE CASPIAN

Unlike many I've spoken to, I thought the theatrical incarnation of Prince Caspian was a worthy-if-not-dynamic successor to Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. Although dark, violent, and definitely not for the kiddies, it was compelling and well-constructed. (Haven't you ever watched Saving Private Ryan and thought, "I wish this was more allegorical"? No?) We lose James McAvoy's Mr. Tumnus this time around, but we do get Trumpkin, a DLF (dear little friend) who plays like Tumnus' grouchy next-door neighbor. Dinklage's dignified gravitas brings an emotional heft that's lacking elsewhere in the film. He ponders each moral dilemma with a quiet humility, but he's also a stubborn bastard. Dinklage's eyes alone--under the layers of make-up--cut through the special effects to portray the real problems, problems of leadership and faith and fear, that plague our four Pevensie children and the prince that inexplicably does a Mandy Patinkin-in-Princess Bride impression for two hours.

LYKKE LI

So far, she only has an EP available in America and whatever you can YouTube. This Swedish pop star is no Abba. Hell, she's not even Robyn. If anything she's closest to Bat for Lashes, with her ghostlike vocals, yearning lyrics, and propensity for awesomely weird music videos (see below). Plus, she's using non-traditional percussive beats better than anyone this side of The Neptunes. Already catching on here on indie radio, she could blow up big once she releases her debut album, Youth Novels, in the States. Then again, maybe she'll remain seim-obscure and I won't have to share her.

STATE OF PLAY ON DVD

I'm halfway through the incredibly gripping first half of the British miniseries State of Play (which will be a film next year with Russel Crowe and Ben Affleck.) It was on the BBC in 2003 and saw early performances from James McAvoy and Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men) and a great, salty turn from Bill Nighy. Following a news story/case--depending on whether you side with the police or the journalists--it has the weaving government conspiracies and sense of urgency that the best episodes of 24 possess. It has the tangled city politics and intuitive investigative work of The Wire. And it has the random sexual partnering off of characters that, well, seems mandatory for a BBC production. It's a smart, addictive, wide-scope mini-series worth the 6 hours and 2 discs.

DAVID COOK WINNING AMERICAN IDOL

Well, duh, I'm happy. Made quite a few calls on his behalf and he will, without a doubt, be a top-selling recording artist. It was a good way to end a weird (and occasionally straight-up retarded) season.