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On today's certain-to-divide installment of the Condition, I talk to Steven Boone, East Coast freelance critic, blogger and friend of Armond. And we get into it on the subject of classical filmmaking, something that Boone feels is sorely lacking in our contemporary film culture, and whether the most acclaimed movie and the most ghettofabulous waste of time aren't that different from one another these days. (Hence the titular question.)

We also discuss how one particular, Oscar-winning summer blockbuster from way back can soothe that savage beast known as — the American teenager.

NEXT WEEK: A two-parter that still has my head buzzing.

Once again, my apologies for the lateness. But, the person who usually puts these podcasts in code for me was off last week, leaving me with several backlogged Conditions (including one, soon-to-be-infamous two-parter I'm saving for next week).

Luckily, they are still pretty timely, like this one I did with Simon Abrams (aka @simonsaybrams), New York-based freelance critic and blogger. We talked about Abrams sharing column space with the notorious Armond White, our different tastes in prison movies and the best films we've seen so far this year.

And let me just say that if you've ever wanted to hear a conversation about movies with not one, but two men who sound just like Eddie Deezen (no offense, Simon — I was beginning to think I was the only one), then you must listen to this podcast.

Next up on Friday: Is "The Dark Knight" no different than "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins"? A friend of Armond will explain.

Another one from the pro-"Transformers 2" crowd (and I am posting this exactly how this guy wrote it):

"To begin Id like to know where you get off calling me and any other movies goers who watches AND enjoys Transformers??Who died and made you Mr Hi-Brow movie critic???And I havnt been hyped into loving the movie.I on my own sought out info about it in anticipation of it and determined it may be okay.ANY movie I go to see has the possibility in the back of my mind that it wont be entertaining.Im not some low-brow senceless movie watcher and am offended you state such.Damn dude its a summer action movie not Hamlet.Gain some perspective here.And whats wrong with a hot chick straddling a motorcycle??Not a thing ,not a darned thing.As for Shia freaking out.......its part of the story but your just to hi-brow to get it.So in closing Mr lindsey.....perhaps you shouldnt worry so much about the publics taste in movies.You need to work on your manners and your movie critic skills(which are sorely lacking from my viewpoint)P.S. Im not some disgruntled kid,Im an educated 54 year old who has been going to the movies since six,my earliest was Godzilla(youll probably find something wrong with that)so with my vast movie experience I bet Id make a MUCH better critic that you."

— Gene 

Regarding my "Transformers 2" review (and I boldfaced a section a friend really wanted me to highlight):

"Dear Mr.Lindsey,
Hey there, my name is Kimberly Bailey.I went to the midnight showing for the new Transformer's movie last night and read your article this morning. I was just wondering.. have you actually seen Transformer's: Revenge of The Fallen, or are you part of the media that is just not very fond of Michael Bay? Do you actually understand the way that Michael Bay was portraying the world of the Transformer's, or have you gone by what you've seen in other movies, such as your example in your review, Star Trek, and been comparing? Some of your review, to me, was vulgar and unecessary. The part about Megan Fox was completely irrational to the movie itself and should not be put into a review reguarding the quality of a movie. Someone's breast work doesn't relate to transforming machines fighting. If there is a third movie added to the Transformer's, I hope you will possibly have a better view towards it.

Thank You, Kimberly"

No, THANK YOU!

Are you a parent having trouble picking movies you and your offspring can see together?

On today's edition of the Condition, I talk to a guy who knows that situation all too well. His name is Lance Mannion, the arts-and-culture blogger whose regular-guy expertise I have called on for an article or two. We discuss the difficulties that come with finding the right movie for adults and their children, especially when the children are beginning to mature and acquire cinematic tastes of their own. We also discuss Mannion's rather sensible movie-reviewing style — most notably, his takes on "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Night at the Museum 2." Those reviews almost make me want to see those movies — almost.

So, I'm assuming most of you are here because you just got through with my "Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" takedown in the paper and you would like to hear me rip it apart some more. Well, you're in luck!

Because on today's edition of the Condition, me and my guest, film producer, blogger and occasional film critic Andrew Dignan, go to town on "Pelham," "Terminator Salvation" and other summer movies you've probably already regretted sitting through. Dignan's a good guy to talk to about summer movies because sees many of them before anyone else does and, since he lives in La La Land, has all the inside info on why we have to sit through these movies to begin with. So, if you've ever wanted to know why Hollywood keeps giving us movies like "Wolverine" every summer, you should take a listen to this podcast.

It seems that's what's going to happen at the Marbles Kids Museum tomorrow night. You've been warned.

Oh yes, we're gonna get some California love at the Condition.

This week, I'll be talking to two cats straight from the City of Angels. For today's edition, I talk with Glendale resident Dennis Cozzalio, keeper of the Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule blog. During this podcast, he learns the quickest way to my heart: start talking about movies from the '70s.

What was initially supposed to be a podcast about the cinematic storytelling of Steely Dan (I figured it would be appropriate since they'll be performing tomorrow and Cozzalio wrote a recent blog post about them) turned into Dennis and I rapping about the underrated film work of Don Siegel and Peter Yates, gushing about the genius of "Freebie and the Bean" and basically saying that the '70s was the grest movie decade EVER!!

Eventually, we do talk about Steely Dan, and we also have some final thoughts on the passing of David Carradine. I had too much fun doing this podcast. Hope you have as much fun listening to it.

Coming Friday: straight talk about the summer movie season from an L.A. insider, who talks me down off the ledge when we discuss a remake that shouldn't have happened.

They dropped this on me after I put to bed today's film-picks column. (As always, tap on the poster for the actual-factuals.)

As always, sorry for the lateness, but I had to take a weed-wacker to this edition of the Condition — mostly, for my sake.

Just listen to me emm and umm my way through this podcast. Continuing with "Ladies' Week," I talk to Karina Longworth, online film critic, film festival gadfly, editor of movie news site SpoutBlog and an unrequited crush of mine. Since I've been talking Cannes with previous guests for the past few weeks, I figured why don't I just talk to someone who can actually give me some first-person, Cannes details.

I don't know if I was nervous, or if Miss Longworth didn't grasp I was trying to get a conversational vibe with this podcast (she still came correct with her Cannes 411), but this podcast may come off as a bit awkward. Nevertheless, for all you fellow film geeks out there who are fans of the bespectacled Longworth, I couldn't keep this from you — even if it does make me sound like a bumbling idiot with no game.

Next week: It's L.A. Week, where I talk to a couple of film guys from the City of Angels.