As a lawyer, I'd think the burden is on the U.S. to present the stronger evidence. Thus far, it's the evidence profferred by the villagers and AP that sounds more compelling.
* 2046. The movie officially sounds awesome. Richard Corliss calls it the film of the year; wife Mary Corliss of Time and John Anderson of Newsday pretty much concur. Best film of the fest according to the Frogs. Plus, Ebert hated it.
* Cannes awards. Palme d'Or to Farenheit 9/11, 2nd prize to Old Boy. Third prize to Tropical Malady. Actress to Maggie. I'm still skeptical of 9/11; Old Boy's strong showing was no surprise, given Tarantino's predilections. And Maggie (and Assayas' Clean itself) apparently left many folks cold, but I'm still hopeful.
Added! A write-up of Cannes from the terrific critic Rob Nelson, which includes the following rave:
Meeting the director of 2046 in a sun-drenched hotel salon two days after the screenings, I still feel the film like an open wound. The intensity of emotion in this movie, the degree of personal loss that it communicates largely through color and light and shadow (and our memories of Love) is simply overwhelming.
* Chalabi. What kind of idiots would get played by this fucker.
* Alexandra Kerry's nipples. Getting like ten hits a day from pervs searching for pics of Kerry's daughter's see-through dress. Guys: go here. Now leave me alone.
