So Stark, the Con of Dan.

Just watched Hollywood's finest self-flaggellation attempt since, ah well, Mel Gibson, and.... it's okay, not as bad as the critics panned it, has its moments. Audrey Tatou, though, needs to work on her Hollywood emotions, even as her English delivery is fine. I suppose she's not really used to taking herself seriously.

Which, if you think about it, is my real criticism of the book and movie; my issue with the book isn't really that it presents distorted half-truths as fiction (hated the narrative, cringed at the characters, loved the quick trivia-fix and found those cryptograms quaintly evocative, just as a certain British judge did), but that it's so bloddy self-righteous in its message. Sheesh people, it's just another trashy airport novel, not the Second Revelation.

Releasing today on chat messengers worldwide, the phrase, "So Dark, the Con of Man", will be on display on my Google and MSN nicks for the next few days.