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I watched with captions and it didn’t help me. Like I knew they were speaking English, but I couldn’t understand what they were talking about.

I'm having a hard time conveying intent in written comments lately. Please take these as neither pro nor con, just commenting. 1) I got a half-hour in the first time then shut it off when the match seemed set but there was still an hour to go. I also had no captions on and it was very hard to follow. I rewatched it all the way through with captions and enjoyed it. I agree with what people were saying about they really went for something. I viewed it as kind of a Chess-style musical. Trying to build a world then focus on a few people in it. 2) The song "Supersonic Sam's Cosmic Cafe" was my favorite song overall. Like others I had trouble with the strobe lighting and everyone constantly looking down at their video screens even as they're singing and dancing in unison. Seemed to be a very small cafe but busy so I guess Sam was happy. No snooker table visible so where did Billy go practice? 3) Billy was very engaging and earnest. Even when he was sitting back during the match he was trying to show the character's thoughts. I like Alun Armstrong (GBV) as an actor (more on that later) but he varied for me. Early it seemed like he was overacting (especially during the reporter's interview) but then toned it down and I actually cared how he felt about things. 4) I laughed internally that, after all the talk about the high price of tickets and the large crowds watching this match, the final room was just big enough for the opposing "sides" (the Sam's video crowd and the rich snobs). No cameras visible so how were people watching on TV? 5) I was jarred by T.O.'s introduction. It seemed like he was just a side story not Billy's manager and mate. If we had a scene where he left a conversation with Billy and then headed to pay his debts it would have made more sense. I knew the movie was about snooker so a card-based side story was confusing. 6) Lastly, back to Alun Armstrong. I first became acquainted with him since he played Thenardier in the London Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert. He played the role perfectly and I would have liked to see him in the full show. I've seen him here and there but most recently in The Hollow Crown, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. He has the sort of face that I'll recognize him instantly. His performances are usually that I can watch the role and not constantly think I'm watching a specific actor. Once the scene shifted to "I'll Bite Back" he stopped being Alun so much. Here's Alun as Thenardier in the concert. (Added: Alun was in Les Mis or preparing for it around the time of Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire.)

Have all those episodes of Bake Off not helped your comprehension?

The bard barfs.

100% agree. Demon Days is one of those rare perfect albums from T to B.

I dunno, the only Gorillaz album that works for me the whole way through is Demon Days. The others have their moments—and I really didn’t get into the last two—but I don’t like them as much. Although The two Del The Funkee Homosapien tracks on the first album are fucking awesome!

Oxford English Dictionary credits the stand-up comic Pat Cooper with the 1st documented use of "bada-bing" in 1965: "P. Cooper Italian Wedding in Our Hero (transcription of sound recording of comedy routine) (O.E.D. Archive) They never let go the envelopes. Ya gotta pull—bada-bing-a-bada-bang-a-bada-bing!""

Not once did the green baize vampire mention a soggy bottom

Ooo... I'm torn. I do love Gorillaz but I do love lots of Blur... it is a tough call. I would say Gorillaz is more to my taste overall.

I liked Oasis on the radio and bought Morning Glory. I had mixed feelings about it—thought it was well-Made but was so similar to the Beatles that I might as well just listen to the Beatles. Still, I don’t dislike them. Blur took me longer to warm up to initially but has stuck with me longer. I agree that not everything they—and/or Albarn—do is perfect, but the songs /Albums that I like, I really like. By the way, Albarn produced Bobby Womack’s last album and it has some really good stuff on it.

I probably prefer Pulp to Blur, but it's close and don't want to deny Blur their place. Their last album (The Magic Whip) was great, as is 13. Albarn's other projects go up and down for me, but yea they're always super interesting and worth checking out. And yea, Oasis is derivative and boring and I'm not a fan, though I've grown to somewhat appreciate Noel -- mainly for playing on the studio recording of "Free Love Freeway" haha. I tried to watch this week's movie, but the version on Youtube was of such low quality, I couldn't stick with it very far. The song I heard was pretty bad.

Song 2, I feel like, was such a curse for them. It’s a good song, but really unlike their other stuff.

This looks, uh, pretty good...

Plug Submission by The Monkberries! I humbly suggest that it becomes the permanent plug.