YouTubing-To-Obscure-Shameless-Self-Promotion Wednesdays: Go see Children of Men

First off, welcome to 2007.

In the spirit of end-of-2006 trophy-giving, here's a music video for my favorite musical "discovery" (in that I finally got around to digging it up) of last year: Serge Gainsbourg's mindbendingly lascivious 1971 album, Histoire de Melody Nelson. The following is from a 1971 TV special, in which Serge commissioned music videos for each of the album's seven songs, which constitute more of a suite than even, say, a concept album. The first, "Melody," clocks in at 7 1/2 minutes, and is paired with shots of a beleaguered-looking Serge purposefully driving, all while flashing lights, spinning statues and dancing ladies dissolve like mad. (If ye seek the rest of the cycle, click on the clip.) Beck-listeners will eventually hear the source of the song "Paper Tiger," which expertly paid homage to this one's unique sonic stylings. For those hoping to know just what the hell Serge is purring about, check this out.

Das Weekly!! I totally interviewed Alfonso Cuarón, whose Children of Men you really should go see. (Make sure to read Sean's review here.) Also, a review (second down) of Tom Tykwer's unabashedly deranged adaptation of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and, as usual, Rep.

My Screening Diary, which I accidentally abandoned a month or so back during a debilitating sick fit, will resume (in all likelihood) this weekend.