Mr. Gregg, Mr. Rockwell, and Mr. Palahniuk face some odd questions

The first two episodes of Californication are already online before the show’s September 29 season 2 premiere. I watched them both the other night through the gauze of David Duchovny’s recent entry into rehab for sex addiction. It was bizarre seeing him play a character who’s constantly turning down sex from attractive extras (because of his character’s current involvement in a monogamous relationship) and wondering when exactly he propositioned them on set -- before or after they shot their scenes? I can't help but think that when an actress suggestively licked a popsicle to seduce Hank Moody, the real Duchovny must have been all riled up. Duchovny’s admission has sparked a debate of sorts on the nature of sex addiction.

It used to be easy to think Woody Allen’s best years were behind him. Match Point changed that; not an altogether great film, but a good one, and enough to induce speculation about a possible late-career renaissance. After an interval of two abject stinkers (Scoop, Cassandra’s Dream), that expectation is belatedly, but joyously fulfilled with Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It’s easily Allen’s best film in a decade.