Eddie Vedder and Phil Donahue, together at last
The alt-rocker and former daytime talker have recently become brothers in arms (so to speak) in the anti-war movement thanks in part to Tomas Young. After meeting the paralyzed army vet at Walter Reed in 2004, Donahue had cameras follow Young's every move throughout the next three years for Body of Waran unflinching doc that delves deep into everything from the soldier's post-deployment wedding and divorce to his inevitable ED problems. Powerful stuff, all deftly tempered by Young's wry wit and the soulful, Vedder-written soundtrack he helped inspire.
Elsewhere, The First Saturday in May takes a journey of a different sort: following six trainers as they prepare for the 2006 Kentucky Derby (eventually won by Barbaro). Hunter Thompson might have called the race decadent and depraved, but we've always found it a solid excuse to break out the juleps.
Body of War opens today at IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave., New York, bodyofwar.com; The First Saturday in May premieres Sunday at The Louisville Palace Theatre, 625 S. Fourth St., Kentucky, thefirstsaturdayinmay.com, and opens wide April 18






