By CASEY COLE

Comedy equals risk plus commitment. Whether it’s Ricky Gervais rushing headlong into humiliation on The Office or Donald O’Connor doing back flips off the wall in Singin’ in the Rain, watching someone run blindly toward danger (emotional or physical) is damn funny.

Jon Stewart has always claimed that The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is a comedy show, not a news show. If we take him on his word, then he is failing miserably. As his ratings have climbed and the show has been awarded Emmy after Emmy, he has become less and less funny. Stewart has lost his ability to commit to a joke, always stopping to comment on a punchline before we even have a chance to get to the funny.

Check out this example, particularly the bit starting at 1:01:

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The Critical Condition’s Casey Cole is surprised by her response to Broken Embraces, the new film from Pedro Almodóvar. Find out why…

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A few weeks ago, The Critical Condition’s Casey Cole attended a special screening of Jane Campion’s new film Bright Star (opening tomorrow in select cities.) The next day, she spoke with Campion herself about the film, filmmaking, and the concept of “feminist” art. Here is Casey’s fascinating report on what saw, heard, and thought.

Jane Campion and the Nature of (Female) Creativity

By CASEY COLE

Jane Campion’s new film Bright Star, about the romance between poet John Keats and his neighbor Fanny Brawne, opens with a close-up of a needle poking through fabric. Much like the film itself, the image is humble and domestic, yet sharp and piercing.

Fanny’s sewing is an important part of the film, and a theme that Campion felt compelled to include. In the four years that she took off after making In The Cut in 2003, Campion took up sewing, making toys and embroidering pillowcases for her daughter. She also collects embroidered tablecloths and linens. “There’s something humble and beautiful about [sewing] to me,” she says. “Nobody gives a damn, or takes notice or pays any attention to it, but it takes hours and hours. It’s such a metaphor for a woman’s life in a way.”

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Hey everyone! As of today, I am back from Key West. My back is sunburned, my face is tanned, and my spirits are high. It was a fantastic trip.

As I play catch-up with my life, I’m pleased to present Casey Cole. She’s a singer, a performer, and the kind of friend who immediately accepts when you invite her  to see Hannah Montanta: The Movie, followed by karaoke in Korea Town.

Like me, Casey has been struck by a weird little trend that’s sweeping New York right now: Apparently, we’ve been mispronouncing Waiting for Godot for our entire lives. Every single one of us. What’s to be done? Take a look at Casey’s reaction, then weigh in with yours…

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