Everyone's gone to the movies

It isn’t everyday the members of a well-known rock band write a letter to a movie star for the purpose of threatening the movie star’s even more movie star brother.

But that’s what Steely Dan did last week, directing this missive at Luke Wilson.

In it, the legendary duo demand Luke convince his older brother, Owen, to admit sleazy Hollywood types forced Owen to participate in the critically panned flop "You Me and Dupree." A movie Steely Dan contends lifted its title and theme from the 2000 Steely Dan hit song "Cousin Dupree."

Becker and Fagen warn Luke if Owen doesn’t own up to this plagiarism by association and apologize on stage at Steely Dan's upcomming Irvine show, a "Russian Navy Seal" in the bands employ will impart justice on Owen.

Steely Dan decided to appeal to Luke, rather than go to directly to Owen, because they pegged Luke as the more rational of the Wilson brothers.

As someone who immediately noticed the similarity between the movie "You, me and Dupree" and the song "Cousin Dupree" I am glad Steely Dan has finally confronted this intellectual theft.

I am also pleased, that by posting their rambling letter on their website, Steely Dan has gives credence to my theory that all letter-writers in 2006 have some important screws loose.

A charge I doubt either Becker or Fagen would deny.