2 + 2 = 5.

1) Latkes by Tim.

As a strictly honorary Jew, this has been the best Chanukah evs, thanks in large part to Tim's bad-ass latkes.

(Note: that is not a picture of Tim making the latkes. Although Tim does have very girlie hands.)

2) Never Never Land by UNKLE.
I ignored this album for a long time based on the negative buzz surrounding its release. Oops. It's a blast of jittery anxious electronics melded with '60s garage. And can any album that boasts guest appearances by Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme and Brian Eno and Massive Attack's 3D and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker be all bad? The answer is yes. But not this one.

3) Bad Education.

While I didn't rapturously love this one, I really respected it. What's most striking is while its labyrinthine plot mutates and its characters shed identities on a whim, you can feel Almodovar's control over the material. It'd be so easy for this one to jump the rails, but Pedro is in total command.

4) The trailer for Batman Begins.
I'm a nerd, but I love it. (It could use a good "In a world..." opening, though.)

5) Alexandre Desplat's score to Birth.

I finally bought the soundtrack and am convinced (barring Mr. Brion's score to Eternal Sunshine) this might be the best score of the year.