Dogrun (book review)

Dogrun (2000) by Arthur Nersesian. A 30-ish woman comes home to find her lazy boyfriend watching TV. He won't talk to her. She fixes him dinner, then gets mad when he won't eat it. A minute later she realizes he is dead. This is how Nersesian's fascinating and beguiling novel begins. It's another of his sharply observed, sometimes humorous depictions of life in the Big Apple, told from a woman's point of view. Grade: B+

I, Robot (DVD review)

I, Robot (2004) starring Will Smith. Not for Asimov purists, this movie puts a slightly more ominous twist on the Three Laws of Robotics. Will Smith stars as a detective in a futuristic Chicago, circa 2035. The rendering of the world of the future is imaginative and feels original, but the robots themselves are somewhat of a disappointment. They all look exactly alike and, though extremely strong, are not very tough. The overall arc of the plot makes sense however, and the writers deserve credit -- although the kernel of the story owes a debt to other, much earlier writers of science fiction. Grade: B

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (DVD review)

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), starring Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, and a notable supporting cast. This is one lightweight movie, which is both its strength and its weakness. There are numerous missteps and flaws in continuity, but they hardly matter in what is essentially a sardonic fable. There are laughs to be had, but there are just as many clunkers among the jokes and sight gags. Grade: B-

The Boy Who Would Live Forever (book review)

The Boy Who Would Live Forever (2004) by Frederik Pohl. Strictly for hard-core science fiction fans, this is the latest in the Heechee series which Pohl began in 1977 with "Gateway." Although "Gateway" was a ground-breaking book, Pohl has wandered far off course with this book. For one thing, the title is never satisfyingly explained in the telling of the story. For another, too many characters are thrown into the mix and the narrative lacks focus. Grade: B-

Strayed [Les Egares] (DVD review)

Strayed (2004) (In French, with English subtitles) In France, during the early years of World War II, the German army is advancing, and a column of refugees is fleeing south from Paris. A widow, traveling with her two children, leaves the road when German airplanes bomb and strafe them. She forms a shaky bond with a stranger who seems to know what he's doing, and they hole up in a French country house. The events that ensue are, disappointingly, only moderately interesting. Grade: C+

Spanglish (movie review)

Spanglish (2004) starring Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Paz Vega. In spite of its many flaws, I liked this movie. The greatest attraction is the Spanish actress Paz Vega, appearing for the first time in an English-language film. Vega plays an illegal immigrant from Mexico who gets hired as a housekeeper in the Anglo home of Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni. She is startlingly beautiful and appealing. Leoni is over the top, in a good way, as the rich housewife who doesn't quite know what to do with herself. Sandler is uncharacteristically subdued as her husband, a famous chef. Although some viewers may be disappointed in the film's resolution, I still found the overall experience gratifying. Grade: B.

Collateral (DVD review)

Collateral (2004) starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx. Cruise is convincing as a morally blank assassin for drug lords. Foxx makes a good foil as the taxi driver who Cruise hijacks for a night of murder. There's even a fairly exciting chase scene. The movie has a bit of a believability problem, however. Grade: B.

Unlubricated (book review)

Unlubricated (2004) by Arthur Nersesian. The engaging female protagonist works in New York City and is struggling to become an actress. After surviving 9/11, she becomes involved in the production of an off-Broadway play titled "Unlubricated," in which she also hopes to star. Nersesian's dialog and characters all seem to be dead-on, and there's a good mix of black humor seasoning the whole tale. Grade: A-.

Raising Helen (DVD review)

Raising Helen (2004) starring Kate Hudson, Joan Cusack, John Corbett. Seems like we've seen this one before. More than once. Hudson plays a driven career woman who ends up unexpectedly with a house full of kids (not hers) to raise. At first she doesn't know what to do, then she figures it out, and along the way she meets and falls for a man (Corbett). This movie is mostly inoffensive, but oh so predictable. Grade: C.

The Terminal (DVD review)

The Terminal (2004). Tom Hanks. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Hanks plays a man from Eastern Europe who gets stuck in the New York City airport terminal when there is a civil war in his home country. There are some good moments, some amusements, but the movie goes way off track with his romance with a flight attendant -- a romance that just sort of peters out and results in a lame ending. Grade: C.

Ava's Man (book review)

Ava's Man (2001) by Rick Bragg. The "Man" in the title is Bragg's own grandfather Charlie, a hard-working family man and a moonshiner in the woods of Alabama and Georgia. The book tells an episodic but fascinating multigenerational tale, filled with family stories passed down through uncles, aunts and cousins. Grade: B+

Maria Full of Grace (DVD movie review)

Maria Full of Grace (2004). Interesting drama about one Colombian girl who becomes a drug mule. The plot, such as it is, is pretty much linear. But the movie goes into considerable detail about what makes someone become a drug mule, and what the mule has to go through to smuggle the drugs. (Hint: It involves swallowing a rather large number of drug-filled pellets. The pellets are hard to swallow, and if one should break in your stomach, you die.) Grade: B.

3 Dollars (book review)

3 Dollars (1999) by Elliot Perlman. A man and wife, seemingly solidly middle class, live in Australia in the 1990s. As the book progresses, they both lose their jobs to "restructuring" in the new, deregulated economy. Perlman's novel is well written and amusing, at the same time taking savage swipes at 1990s society. At the end, as at the beginning, the protagonist ends up with three dollars in his pocket, hence the title. Grade: B

American Beauty (video movie review)

American Beauty (1999). Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari. Repressed middle-class marketing executive Spacey decides to rebel against his pointless existence, and a series of unexpected events ensues. Benning delivers a great performance as his manic-depressive wife, Birch as his daughter and Suvari as the high-school cheerleader who becomes the willing object of his lust. The script is excellent, edgy and unpredictable, funny and sad. Grade: A.

Jesus Saves (book review)

Jesus Saves (1997) by Darcey Steinke. A suburban horror story in the guise of a novel, this book will make some readers' skin crawl. The detail and length of an abducted girl's suffering are squirm-inducing. On the other hand, the narrative seems to go off into fantasy tangents that don't really further the story. I found it frustrating because I felt there was a good book hiding here, but it just wasn't accessible. Grade: B-

Around the World in 80 Days (DVD movie review)

Around the World in 80 Days (2004), starring Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Cecile de France. I can't say I was disappointed in this film, because I wasn't expecting much. But boy, what a piece of crap. The parts that are supposed to be funny are mostly just embarrassing, the Jackie Chan martial arts scenes are poorly choreographed, and the story is for the most part just dull. It's hard to imagine how even a child could be amused by this pale new version of the 1956 movie based on Jules Vernes' book. Some viewers may enjoy the many cameos. Grade: C-.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (DVD movie review)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. A rich movie-viewing experience, even for adults, features a convoluted plot that may have some scratching their heads. The producers and director deserve credit for creating a rich fantasy world full of intriguing detail. The real star of the movie seems to be Emma Watson, as Hermione, who initiates most of the action and provides a smart protagonist who knows what to do next. Harry, unfortunately, seems to be just tagging along for most of the movie. Grade: A-.

One True Thing (DVD movie review)

One True Thing (1998) Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger. Driven career woman Zellweger returns home to care for her dying mother (Streep), whom she has never felt close to. She has always idolized her father, played by William Hurt, who is a literary professor. During the time she cares for her mother, she comes to see both parents in a new light. Worth seeing for Zellweger's performance, though some may find it a bit of a tear-jerker. Grade: B.

The Devil in the White City (book review)

The Devil in the White City (2003), by Erik Larson. The author brings to life Chicago in 1893, the World's Fair held there that year, and a chilling serial killer who inhabited Chicago while the fair was going on. Best of all, it's a true story. One of the better books I've read this year. It's rather long, but nevertheless makes for a quick read. Grade: B+

Secret Things (DVD movie review)

Secret Things (2002), in French with English subtitles. Drenched in sex, this French comedy-thriller features a cast no American is likely to recognize. It walks a fine line between porn and art, and would certainly get an NC-17 rating if it were made or distributed in the U.S. That aside, it's pretty good fun as two young women explore their sexuality, then try to exploit it in the business world, with disastrous results. Grade: B

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (DVD movie review)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet. Interesting story about lovers who break up, then decide to have their memories of each other erased by a hole-in-the-wall company named Lacuna Inc. Some great mental gymnastics and interesting use of special effects make this an engaging tale about love and how two people may just be meant to be together. Good performances by the stars, too. Grade: B+

Behind the Scenes at the Museum (book review)

Behind the Scenes at the Museum (1995) by Kate Atkinson. The multi-generational story of a family and its foibles in York, England. Ruby Lennox, the protagonist, tells of growing up poor in a dysfunctional family, complete with poor parenting, infidelity, and living above a pet shop in a dwelling called Above the Shop. The house is inhabited by ghosts, and Ruby's life is scarred by Pearl, her lost twin. With all the tragedy of their lives, the book is filled with an underlying humor and warmth. It's a bit of a challenge for American readers because of the British vernacular and cultural references, but a worthwhile read. Grade: B.

Elf (DVD movie review)

Elf (2003) starring Will Ferrel. Boy, is this movie a disappointment. It may appeal to grade-school kids, but there's nothing here for the discerning adult. It's not a family movie, in the sense of a movie that appeals to kids but has another layer of meaning for adults. There is no other layer of meaning, just a really dumb plot and lousy special effects. Grade: D

A Million Little Pieces (book review)

A Million Little Pieces (2003) by James Frey.
Harrowing memoir of Frey's stay in a drug rehab center and the pain of his improbable recovery. Intensely emotional, intensely descriptive, at times this book is almost too painful to read. It kept me interested, however, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something a little off the beaten path. Grade: B

Hot Plastic (book review)

Hot Plastic (2004) by Peter Craig. Fascinating story about a "family" of con artists who travel throughout the country and even to Europe in an attempt to keep the grift alive. The main con they run is in fake credit cards, hence the title of the book. Their adventures are made interesting by vividly portrayed characters, and an inside look at the many ways in which people can be tricked out of or just plain robbed of their money. Grade: A-

Eye of the Needle (DVD movie review)

Eye of the Needle (1981) starring Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan. Sutherland is compelling as the icy Nazi spy who has information that can turn the war around. Nelligan is convincing as the lonely, sexually frustrated woman who inhabits the island where he is stranded. Grade: B+

Swimming Pool (DVD movie review)

Swimming Pool, starring Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier. The young actress Sagnier is the chief attraction in this Hitchcock-esque tale about a writer (Rampling) who is loaned a French country house by her publisher so that she can get away from England and get some writing done. Soon Sagnier, as the publisher's daughter, shows up and events take off on an ever-escalating binge of sex and, eventually violence. But what is real, and what is in the writer's imagination? We don't find out until the final scene. Pay close attention. Grade: A-

Sexy Beast (DVD movie review)

Sexy Beast, starring Ben Kingsley. Kingsley, who once played Ghandi, comes full circle in his menacing portrayal of a violent thug in "Sexy Beast." The movie is set in Spain and England, with Kingsley portraying a crook sent to recruit a reluctant, "retired" criminal to help in a heist. The heavy use of British dialects makes the subtitle feature of the DVD very handy. Grade: B

The Secret Life of Bees (book review)

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. Set in South Carolina in the 1960s, this tale of a teenage girl searching for her place in the world is by turns poignant, spiritual, inspirational, funny and educational. Its only flaw for me was that it seemed at times to slip out of the adolescent voice and into the adult voice without explanation. I found the book very moving. Grade: A-

Skinny Dip (book review)

Skinny Dip, by Carl Hiaasen (2004). A funny thriller by the Florida-based writer. It starts with a woman being pushed over the side of a cruise ship at sea. "I married an asshole," she thinks as she plunges toward the water. But her husband has miscalculated, as she is a superb athlete and was on her college swimming team. Should she turn him in to the police, or would it be more entertaining to get her revenge another way? Grade: B+

You Remind Me of Me (book review)

You Remind Me of Me, by Dan Chaon (2004). A young boy is attacked by the family dog, leaving his face scarred for life. Later, he learns that he has a half-brother that his parents never told him about. His odyssey to find his brother and ultimately himself comprises this novel. Grade: A

The Return of the King (DVD review)

The Return of the King is the third and final installment in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Directed by Peter Jackson, it features stunning visuals -- and a three-hour running length. The plot will be familiar to Tolkien fans, and it is a stirring account of the final battle between Men and Evil in Middle Earth. The dialog is hard to understand at times, but the DVD has English subtitles available, so if you want you can catch all the nuances of the script by turning on the subtitles. I found this feature particularly helpful in understanding characters like Gollum and Gimli the dwarf. Grade: A-

Bel Canto (book review)

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2001). A select group of opera lovers find themselves taken hostage in a botched kidnapping attempt. The novel traces the path they follow as they are confined with their captors and gradually captives and captors begin to form bonds. Tends to drag a bit in spots, but overall an acute observation of human nature. Grade: B+

Mean Girls (DVD movie review)

Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan. This movie, based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabees," leaves a bit to be desired, yet Lohan is winning as the girl who starts at a new school and must learn the savage ways of teenage girls. Grade: B

Star Wars (DVD movie review)

Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Everyone knows this was the first "Star Wars" film, but according to Lucas it's part 4 of the story. It may be a treat for fans or first-time viewers, but it didn't hold up that well for me. The biggest positive is the quality of the image, which has been cleaned up for the DVD and is superb. The DVD also offers English subtitles, so you can catch subtleties of dialog you may have missed before. Grade: B

Man on Fire (DVD movie review)

Man on Fire, starring Denzel Washington. Jazzy cinematography can't disguise retro script, which is a pretty much standard revenge drama. Set in Mexico, with Denzel playing a bodyguard hired to protect a young girl (Dakota Fanning) from kidnappers. Grade: C

Camouflage (book review)

Camouflage, by Joe Haldeman (2004). Haldeman, author of "The Forever War," produces readable, old-fashioned science fiction. "Camouflage" is not a great work of literature, but it is a great read for science fiction fans. Two ancient aliens, both able to change their appearance, have lived undetected on Earth since prehistory. One learns to be more human, while the other lives to kill. By the end of the book, they will meet each other in a climax with a couple of nice twists. Grade: B+

Shadow Divers (book review)

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson (2004). One of the best books I've read in a long time, this is a nonfiction account of the discovery and exploration of a previously unknown German U-boat that sank off the New Jersey coast during World War II. Kurson goes beyond the narrative of the dive and search of the U-boat to delve into the lives and background of the characters who partake in the quest, and this is what makes the book so compelling. Grade: A

Jersey Girl (DVD review)

Jersey Girl (2004) starring Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Raquel Castro. Jennifer Lopez stars early in the film as Affleck's wife, who dies in labor. Affleck must come to terms with single fatherhood, and Liv Tyler is appealing as the young woman who helps bring him back into the world of the living. A pretty good cast is wasted in this movie, in which the script hits wrong note after wrong note until you might just want to scream. Grade: C-

The Ladykillers (DVD review)

The Ladykillers (2004) starring Tom Hanks. Occasionally amusing, mostly disappointing caper film about a group of would-be robbers who gather in an old woman's cellar for the purpose of tunneling from her house to the money room of a casino. The thieves are bumblers, as one would expect, but their bumbling is mostly irritating instead of funny. Even Tom Hanks, as the leader of the gang, hits a sour note in his portrayal by going a bit over the top in his acting. Grade: B-

Finding My Balance (book review)

Finding My Balance by Mariel Hemingway (2003). Hemingway, granddaughter of the famous author, writes somewhat movingly about her life, which has certainly contained its fair share of tragedy. She uses yoga as a framing device, starting and ending each chapter with a description of one of her favorite yoga positions. This sounds like it might be interesting, but unless you're already into yoga it probably won't be. Mariel Hemingway is a beautiful woman, a successful actress, and rich to boot. In this book, however, she comes off sounding rather simple-minded and occasionally a little shallow and self-absorbed. Grade: C

Truth and Beauty (book review)

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett. Dedicated to Lucy Grealy, 1963-2002. Patchett and Grealy are both well-known in literary circles, and this book is a very intimate and touching look at their friendship of many years. It makes a good follow-up to Grealy's book, "Autobiography of a Face," in which she describes her childhood cancer and the aftermath of the many operations she underwent to try to repair the damage it did to her face. Read "Autobiography" first if you get the chance. Grade: A

Rain Man (DVD review)

Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise star in the 1988 winner of the Best Picture Oscar. Although the film seems a little dated now, it still has many comic moments and evokes deep feelings about the relationship between the two brothers. Great soundtrack, too. Grade: A

The Passion of the Christ (DVD review)

(2004) As most movie-goers probably know by now, this is Mel Gibson's production of a film depicting the brutal torture and crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of Romans and Jews. Viewers will have to decide for themselves whether they want to venture into this territory. It is bloody and violent, but there are also a few moments of tenderness and compassion. Grade: B

The Girl Next Door (DVD review)

(2004) A sexy young woman moves in next door to a lonely high-school boy. To his surprise, she shows interest in him. Everything is fine -- until he learns that she is a porn star. Then the movie goes flying off the rails into bad taste and poor script. Execrable. Grade: D-

Dogville (movie review)

Dogville (2003, on DVD). Written and directed by Lars von Trier. Nicole Kidman plays a young woman who seeks refuge in a remote mountain village, and slowly comes under repression at the hands of the local citizens. "Dogville" features a large, diverse and talented cast, but at three hours it is tedious, needlessly cruel, and depressing. Grade: D

Ella Enchanted (movie review)

Ella Enchanted (2004). The improbably beautiful young Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") stars as Ella, a maiden in a magical kingdom. At birth, she receives the "gift" of obedience from a wacky fairy, and then her problems begin. The spell requires her to do whatever she is told to do, and her wicked stepsister makes her life a misery. A mixture of Cinderella, Shrek and, well, The Princess Diaries, this movie seems squarely aimed at tween girls, but could also be enjoyed by families (don't make the boys watch it). I've read that the movie is not true to the book it is based on, but I haven't read the book so didn't mind. Grade: B+

Calendar Girls (movie review)

Calendar Girls (2003, on DVD) A ladies club in England decides to raise money by having members pose nude (sort of) for a calendar. There's all sorts of controversy, of course, until the calendar becomes a smashing surprise success. This is a rather charming movie, but unfortunately the audience who will appreciate it is mostly limited to women over 50. Grade: B

How I Killed My Father (movie review)

How I Killed My Father (2003) on DVD. In French, with English subtitles. The title to this movie has also been translated into English as "My Father and I," which certainly takes the punch out of it. It features an age-old story, told in modern fashion, of the conflict between a father and son. The son, a successful and wealthy doctor, gets a letter telling him his father has died and was unable to return to France. A few moments later, the father appears, apparently alive, in the crowd at a party at the son's mansion. Is the father really alive? Is he a fantasy of the son's mind? Is the story being told in flashback? It's never really clear, and scarcely matters. Ultimately, there are no characters to like, and it's hard to care what happens. Grade: B-

Starsky & Hutch (movie review)

Starsky & Hutch (2004), DVD. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Juliette Lewis. Well-intentioned comedy version of '70s TV show may be most pleasing to fans of the original series. Sports a fine supporting cast and provides a few genuine laughs, along with the usual Ben Stiller nonsense. Owen Wilson is laid back as usual. Grade: B

Bon Voyage (movie review)

Bon Voyage (2003) DVD, in French with English subtitles. It's 1940, and a beautiful actress gets in a bind when she kills the sex maniac who is stalking her. She's a user of men, and she recruits a faithful friend to help her cover up the killing.

France is about to be invaded by Germany, and this film is a strange brew of comedy and tragedy as madcap adventures are set against the ominous advent of the Nazis in Paris and throughout France.

The lead actors will not be familiar to most American viewers (with the exception of Peter Coyote, who apparently speaks French and German), but they are appealing and the leading man will remind many of a French Noah Wyle.

It's a bit of a mixed bag, but I liked it. Grade: B

Weapons of Choice (book review)

Tedious sci-fi tale about a naval battle group that gets thrown back in time from 2021 to (big coincidence) the Battle of Midway. Will modern weapons affect the outcome of World War II? Will you care after you wade through this book, which is just Part One of a trilogy?

A difficult read and not especially entertaining. Grade: C

More Reviews...

To see more movie and book reviews, click on the Archives section (left).

Hellboy (movie review)

Hellboy (2004), DVD. Starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair. Another comic book brought to the movie screen. It's no "Spider-Man," but "Hellboy" should please fans of the genre, with plenty of action, special effects, and really evil villains -- plus a fine performance by Perlman as the title character, and a script that has a sense of humor as well as of drama. Grade: B

Take the Cannoli (book review)

Take the Cannoli by Sarah Vowell (2000). A fine collection of humorous, insightful essays. Vowell is bemused by the contemporary American scene, but also by herself. A good read. Grade: B+

The Big Bounce (movie review)

The Big Bounce (2004, DVD), starring Owen Wilson, Sara Foster, Morgan Freeman, Gary Sinise, Charlie Sheen. Based on an Elmore Leonard book, this movie drifts far off course and leaves the viewer out at sea. It's supposed to be a kind of wacky caper film, but it misfires at almost every turn. Despite the goofy charm of Owen Wilson and the youthful beauty of Sara Foster, there's just not enough here to keep us entertained. Grade: D

This is me.

Freaky Friday (movie review)

Freaky Friday (2003), starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan. Some will say this movie's target audience is tween girls and their mothers, but I found it charming, disarming and funny. True, it's completely implausible, but who cares? It's a fantasy.

It's a remake of the 1977 film starring Jodie Foster, and it does a good job of updating the story about a mother and daughter who "magically" switch bodies for a day. The stars, Curtis and Lohan, both deliver pitch-perfect performances as they juggle their magical, switched identities and their "real" identities.

The bottom line? I've seen this movie twice, once in theater and once on DVD, and both times it left me feeling entertained and feeling good.

Grade: A-

13 Going on 30 (Movie Review)

Jennifer Garner is incandescent as a 13-year-old who is magically transported into her own body at age 30. She sparkles, she shines, she makes us laugh.

Unfortunately, she is not supported by a strong script or a strong cast. Although there are some good performances around her, they don't rise to her level, and Mark Ruffalo in particular is weak as her love interest.

Grade: Jennifer Garner: A, Script: C, Movie: B

Bad Santa (movie review)

See Santa Claus. (Actually, it's Billy Bob Thornton in a bad Santa outfit.) See Santa Claus drink. Santa Claus is a f**king alcoholic and big-time thief. Oh, by the way, Santa's favorite word is "f**k," and if you don't like it you better skip this movie. In fact, skip this movie anyway.

Santa's scam is to take a job as a department-store Santa, work until Christmas Eve, then use his position to rob the store and make his getaway.

Along the way Santa meets a pathetic kid who is the victim of bullies. Santa needs a place to stay, so he moves into the kid's house (kid's parents are conveniently gone). Inexplicably, Santa grows a heart.

So we have a happy, sentimental ending? Not quite. The kid is really, really not appealing, and Santa is really, really not a sympathetic character.

Bad Santa is a bad movie. Grade: C-

The Barbarian Invasions (movie review)

The Barbarian Invasions (2003), in French with English subtitles. A college professor who has been a philanderer for his entire adult life is dying of cancer. His family, in particular his estranged son, gather round to bid him farewell. For all the sins of his earlier life he is miraculously, unbelievably forgiven before the inevitable end.

The story takes place in Canada, with a couple of side trips to the U.S., where superior medical care is available for a price. The son procures heroin for the father to ease his pain and, later, to ease his death. While I was curiously unmoved by this film, it did hold my interest, with a cast of interesting characters. Grade: B-

The Dreamers (movie review)

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual scenes. This is a hard movie to grade, because I really wanted to like it, but it wasn't that enjoyable to watch. Released in 2003, it takes place in 1968 in Paris. The story follows the relationship of an American student abroad and the two French siblings -- one male, one female -- whom he hooks up with. The relationship between the brother and sister is strange, bordering on incestuous, and the three-way relationship that develops among the trio of strangers is equally strange. Viewers may want to see it just for the free sexuality, which is unusually explicit without being pornographic; the rest of the movie, however, has little appeal. Grade: B-

Double Whammy (book review)

Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen.  Copyright 1987.  Hiaasen is not in the same class as Elmore Leonard, at least in this early book, but he comes close.  In this mystery/social commentary he conjures up a slew of odd Southern characters and a string of murders set against the backdrop of professional bass fishing and evangelical television.  From many seemingly tangled plot lines all ends well and clearly, and characters we have come to care about emerge triumphant. Grade: B

Poplorica (book review)

The book jacket describes it as "a popular history of the fads, mavericks, inventions and lore that shaped modern America."  The story begins with the simple question, "How'd things get so weird?" and does a creditable and entertaining job of trying to explain with examples from everyday American culture.  Fascinating.  Grade: A

Becca with Halo

The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse, by Robert Rankin (book review)

The title of this book is great fun. The rest of the book, not so much. It's a fantasy/mystery that takes place in Toy City, a place where toys are actually alive and co-exist with humans. The concept is more interesting than the resulting story, though some readers may be amused. Grade: C-

A Mighty Wind (2003) (DVD movie review)

Entertaining and amusing story about three faux folk music groups and the events surrounding a reunion concert.  Directed by Christopher Guest ("This is Spinal Tap").  The cast is excellent and the satiric songs will make you smile -- if you remember the '60s folk music scene. Grade: B

Drumline (2003) (DVD movie review)

Drumline is a formulaic movie about a smart-aleck kid who happens to be a great drummer. The story follows his adventures in starting college and trying to make the college drum team. Some of the musical performances are entertaining, but that's about it. Grade: C+ 

Spider-Man 2 (2004) (movie review)

Spider-man 2 is a superhero movie that will not be denied.  For fans of the genre, it is a winner, as near-perfect as a movie based on a comic book can be.  It has humor, it has a fallible hero in Peter Parker (Toby McGuire), and it has a truly monstrous and scary villain.  My main kvetch is that I don't find Kirsten Dunst all that appealing, but I seem to be in the minority on that point! Grade: B+

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (movie review)

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) (in Spanish, with English subtitles)
Directed by Pedro Almodovar.  Except for a young Antonio Banderas, the stars of this movie will be unfamiliar to American viewers -- but that hardly matters. The sets are retro in the extreme, the acting is alternately histrionic and hysterical, the plot is absurd, and the movie is a hoot.  It's all about women and their difficulties with men -- especially one man, Ivan, who has a wife, a mistress, and at least one girlfriend.  The subplot is surprisingly current, involving a plot by Shiite terrorists to hijack a plane going to Stockholm. There are a few too many coincidences to satisfy the ultra-critical, but others who don't mind reading subtitles will be amused. Grade: B+

Secret Window (movie review)

About three-fourths of the way through Secret Window I was just about ready to give up on this movie, with it's increasingly preposterous plot.  It just seemed too ridiculous ... but I also knew that there was probably a major story twist in the offing.  And Johnny Depp was so good in the lead role that I really wanted to find out what happened to him.  Surprise, surprise, there was   a final twist that resolved all the strangeness and made sense of it -- sort of.  For fans of the thriller/horror genre, this is a movie well worth seeing.  For others, there's not much really new here.  It's a blend of several different plots we've seen before, but it's well done. Grade: B

50 First Dates (movie review)

Fans of Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler will no doubt love 50 First Dates. Me, on the other hand -- not so much.  The plot gimmick is a "Groundhog Day"-like one wherein Barrymore wakes up each day with no memory of the previous day, having lost her "short-term memory" in a car crash the year before.  Naturally, Sandler's character is smitten with her, and finds it difficult to romance a woman who can't remember him from one day to the next.  Within this framework is built a  broad romantic comedy, with Sandler playing a more sympathetic character than his usual role.  To me, the setup seems contrived, the humor seems forced, and the happy ending seems to have no basis in the story that went before. Grade: B-

Along Came Polly (movie review)

This film might as well have been titled Along Came Rachel. I would swear that's the character inhabited by Jennifer Aniston. Although she's supposed to come off as the free-spirited Polly to Ben Stiller's uptight Reuben, Rachel seems to be lurking in there, peaking out at every possible opportunity. This may be less a criticism of Aniston's acting skills and more a criticism of the movie's script, which just falls down so many times it's painful to watch. This movie has its moments, to be sure, and the stars are likeable, but in the end it's a trifle with some very distasteful moments. Grade: C

Terminator 3 (movie review)

Strictly for hardcore fans of the Terminator movies. This entry is a bit of a departure, yet tries to continue the elements that made the other movies hits. Seeing it on DVD adds the benefits of available subtitles in English so that no dialog is missed, and available commentary tracks by the principal actors that explain how they approached their roles, and why, in some cases, their performances are sub-par. But the actors' performances are really just a sideshow in a Terminator movie. This one follows the tried and true formula of the first two: Cyborgs from the future materialize in balls of fire, walk around naked until they find clothes, then begin an action-packed chase scene that continues pretty much uninterrupted until the end of the movie. Fans of the franchise will get their money's worth. Others should steer clear. Grade: B

Shakespeare in Love (movie review)

I saw Shakespeare in Love when it made its theatrical run, and a lot of the dialog just blew past me. Maybe it's my hearing, but the combination of British accents and Shakespearean dialog meant that much of the movie was lost on me.
On DVD, it's a different story. The movie has subtitles in English, which you can turn on or off as you wish. For me the subtitles were a blessing because I was able to understand and knit together snippets of dialog that had been lost on me before. For this reason I was able to appreciate the movie, even though my knowledge of "Romeo and Juliet" is woefully lacking. The male lead, Joseph Fiennes, was pretty weak, but Gwyneth Paltrow was excellent as a woman playing a man and eventually playing a woman. The script is also a polished jewel with many fine lines, including long sections directly from Shakespeare's plays. For those who love Shakespeare, and those who love romance, it's a winner. Grade: B

Groundhog Day (movie review)

Groundhog Day, released in 1993, is the near-perfect comedy, starring Bill Murray as the smug weatherman who starts out by living the same day over and over and ends up finding himself. Andie MacDowell could hardly be more appealing as his love interest, and the town of Punxsutawney is an idyllic backdrop for Murray's journey of self-discovery. Grade: A-

Cold Mountain (movie review)

Cold Mountain is an overlong, disappointing movie with a grand story that never quite achieves its potential. At the same time, some of the supporting performances almost salvage the movie; of particular note is Renee Zelwegger's Oscar-winning performance as Ruby, the farm worker who arrives about halfway through the film and breathes life into it just as the viewer is about to give up hope. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law do excellent Southern accents in their parts as lovers separated by the war, but they're only on screen together for about 10 or 15 minutes, not enough to generate any heat. Grade: B-

Just Visiting (movie review)

Just Visiting is a vile remake of a popular French comedy about a medieval knight who is projected into the future by a wizard and encounters his great-great-great-great granddaughter in modern-day Chicago. Jean Reno is the French star, re-creating his role in this English-language version of the film. Christina Applegate, of "Married with Children" fame, plays his descendant. Obviously the film seemed like a good idea to someone, but it is woefully executed, poorly scripted, and worst of all not funny. Grade: D

Touching the Void (movie review)

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Touching the Void, to its credit, is about true events. Two mountain-climbers get into serious trouble while climbing a high peak: on the way down, one of them breaks his leg. The injury is almost a sure death sentence for him, and perhaps his climbing partner, but miraculously both survive. There is little real suspense, because the two climbers narrate the movie. While the events are harrowing, and the cinematography is remarkable, the story lacks narrative drive. Grade: B-

Spartan (movie review)

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Spartan is a recent film that for some reason didn't get wide distribution. Starring Val Kilmer and written and directed by David Mamet, it's a political thriller about the abduction of the president's daughter and one man's mission to save her from Arab slave traders. It is tightly written and features the double-switchback plotting that is characteristic of Mamet movies. Grade: B+
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Shrek 2 (movie review)

Shrek 2 largely sticks to the formula that made the first installment of Shrek so successful. This is both a weakness and a strength. I must confess that there were several gags that had me laughing out loud; but just as often, I found myself on the verge of yawning, with the seen-that-before feeling that is unavoidable in a sequel. On the plus side, the kids in the audience seemed to love it. Grade: B-

The Dive from Clausen's Pier (book review)

The Dive from Clausen's Pier, by Ann Packer, is a minor masterpiece. It is also what some might call a "women's book," or even chick-lit. The first-person protagonist, Carrie Bell, is a young woman facing a dilemma. Her fiance, whom she is having doubts about, is critically injured when he dives into a shallow area of a lake and breaks his neck. Her journey to discover where her true feelings lie is the heart of the book. To distract herself when things get too intense, she sews. All in all, it held my interest and the resolution felt real, if not totally satisfying. Grade: B

City of God (movie review)

City of God is the "Godfather" of Brazilian cinema. Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro during the '60s and '70s, it tells a story of street children who become gangsters because of lack of alternatives. While at times brilliant, it will be too violent for some tastes. Grade: B

The Station Agent (movie review)

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The Station Agent is a nearly perfect, small-budget film with on offbeat theme. Peter Dinklage stars as a 40-ish man who happens to be a dwarf named Fin. His plight in life seems to be loneliness, and he seems to adopt it willingly to avoid the company of "normal" people. But Fin, after inheriting an ancient railroad station, finds himself drawn into the lives of his neighbors and learns that friendship is not impossible. The lead actors deliver superb performances. Grade: B+
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Mystic River (movie review)

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I read the book by Dennis Lehane, and I was curious to see what the filmmakers would do with it. I'm pleased to report that, in my opinion, the movie is actually better than the book -- a very rare occurrence. The book has been streamlined and clarified, and the movie works very well with some powerful performances (including Academy Award winner Sean Penn). The only flaw in the movie is the ending, where it seems to kind of droop and adds new material that is unresolved. All in all though, a riveting movie experience. Grade: B-
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"The Poet" by Michael Connelly

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This is a rather routine thriller by the author of "Blood Work" and "The Concrete Blonde." The ending is supposed to be a double-twist shocker, but instead it stretches credibility to the breaking point. I can't write more without giving away the plot, but I do advise you not to waste your time on this book. comments? ciao@juno.com
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Big Fish (movie)

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Movie Review ** (out of ****)

I thought this movie had a lot of promise -- good actors, great cinematography, a magical feel. But lacking was a compelling story and a satisfying resolution. Particularly weak was the lead role played by Billy Crudup as the son of the "Big Fish" of the title. Whether the role was weakly written or just poorly acted I can't quite say, but I think it set the tone for the whole movie, and it didn't quite work for me. Parts of the movie are wonderful and fascinating, but as in most Tim Burton-directed movies the whole was less than the sum of the parts.
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Gone South by Robert McCammon

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Book Review *** (out of ****)
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Interesting Southern gothic/freak show tale about ordinary man who ends up on the run from the law and finds all kinds of deep south (Louisiana) strangeness on the way. It's a good read with a satisfying ending.

In America (movie review)

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*** (out of ****) "In America" is a worthwhile movie about an Irish immigrant family in the 1980s in New York, not only the problems they have surviving in this new land, but a deep hurt that they bring with them and have to come to terms with. Although the script is a little rough around the edges, the core of the movie is solid and a series of vignettes about the family and the people they encounter knits together nicely into a coherent whole.
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Photo by Jim

"Broken Angels"

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Book Review. "Broken Angels" by Richard K. Morgan.

This is a science fiction book set several hundred years in the future, a time when humans have traveled to several nearby stars thanks to the discovery of artifacts and technology from an ancient civilization that once occupied Mars.

That much said, I can't recommend this book to everyone because it is a difficult read, and chock full of violence. There is much that is fascinating in Morgan's vision of the future, but also much that is obscure. It might help to read the first book by this author, "Altered Carbon," before reading this one. I have not.

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Elephant

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Movie review (DVD) ** (out of ****)

This movie was quite a disappointment. I rented it because the critics were so divided on it -- some giving it an A, some giving it an F. My curiosity is now satisfied, but otherwise I feel like I wasted my time.

The story follows a day in the life of a school which is clearly supposed to be a stand-in for Columbine. Although the subject is compelling, the movie is just boring. The ending was not particularly shocking, because we know how it ends.

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The Cooler

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Movie Review ***.5 (out of ****)

Excellent drama starring William H. Macy as the poor schlub whose "talent" is to bring bad luck to gamblers who are winning too much at a Las Vegas casino. His performance is nicely balanced by Alec Baldwin as the evil boss of the casino, who still likes to do things the old-fashioned way, including breaking the legs of gamblers who cheat and take too much of the casino's money. A fascinating look at Las Vegas and some of the characters who might inhabit the landscape there.

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Peter Pan

Movie Review *** (out of ****)

This 2003 live-action version of the Pan tale is a charming fantasy, mostly for children, but still amusing for adults and with lots of action and some good performances from the cast.

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Movie Review *** 1/2 (out of ****)

This movie, just out on DVD, is most notable for the nuanced performance of Scarlett Johansson in the role of Griet, the servant girl who is chosen to be painted by her master, Vermeer.

The film makes excellent use of period settings and costumes to re-create the feeling of what it might have been like to live in Holland in 1665.

It also elicits in the viewer an appreciation for the fine art of painting, particularly as practiced by Jan Vermeer.

There is little dialog, and here Johansson shines with her ability to express a range of emotions with just facial expressions.

This is not an action film or romantic comedy, nor does it have a "happy" ending. But it is highly recommended for the discerning movie-goer, or in this case video viewer.

First Post

This is my first post, and this is my first blog. I'll be feeling my way at first, but i hope to make frequent entries and find my way into the blogger community.