I once considered taking a job in Los Angeles, and I thought that if I made the move I would invite my favorite music journalist, Mikal Gilmore, out for drinks, him living there and everything. When I was a music journalist, I ripped him off more than any other writer. His unique personal history lends a kind of gravitas and credibility to his writing that most of other music writers do not have. I had his e-mail address, but I didn't take the job and I was too chicken to write him anyway.
Bad Religion, Jets to Brazil, Social Distortion, Johnny Cash, Descendents/All, Crooked Fingers, Cat Power, The Muffs, Dan Bern, Neko Case, Clay George, Carolyn Mark, Heartless Bastards, Explosions in the Sky, Rainer Maria, Nick Cave, The Mountain Goats, Even in Blackouts, Murder City Devils, Good Riddance, Ten Foot Pole, Avail, The Who, Janis Joplin, old British hardcore; local music like the Sinkin Ships, Justin Rutledge, and Elliott Brood, and, for reasons I can't entirely articulate, I really like and respect Alanis Morrisette. Back in the day The Doughboys were my favorite band. There are a million more,past and present, but these are the ones that jumped into my head when writing this.
Magnolia, Fight Club, The Big Lebowski, Vertigo, Rear Window, Gentleman Jim, Batman, Batman Returns, the "Quatsi" movies, old musicals like The Music Man and West Side Story; LA Confidential, Happy Gilmore (laugh if you must, but that movie is not just about golf, it's about *life* :), other than these, there aren't a whole bunch that really come to mind. I don't go to movies as often as I would like, I admit, and it's been ages since I went to see a movie more than once.
The Cold Six Thousand, American Tabloid, Choke, East of Eden, Life After God. The Diviners, The Book of Daniel, The Sweet Hereafter, Rule of the Bone (anything by Russell Banks). I read James Ellroy's "Black Dahlia" a few weeks ago and it sent me to a bad bad place.