Author: stumberry

Film Review- Quartet

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Directed by Dustin Hoffman
Title: Quartet

Review I thought this was a sweet and funny movie about an old folks home for retired musicians in the English countryside. Suffice it to say- this is a much more joyous place than your typical “home”. The ensemble cast really works well together, Maggie Smith is brilliant as ever and Hoffman does a nice job in his directorial debut. Connolly steals the show as a gregarious old man who refuses to give up his boyishness. And the music is pretty cool. When my time comes, I want to be put out to pasture at this place.

Film Review- Renoir

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Michael Bouquet, Directed by Gilles Bourdos
Title: Renoir

Review I adored this quite film about the end of Renoir’s life in the south of France. The film takes place in 1915 as his wounded son is on leave from the war. Renoir has taken in a new model for his lush “plein air” impressionist nudes and she and his son have quite an interesting connection (Jean, his son, went on to become a world renowned filmmaker). This is an absolutely gorgeous film; serene and powerful. Bouquet is a revelation as the 90 year old crippled Renoir. Hope you have an “art house” theater nearby- will be a hard one to find- but worth it to do.

Novel Review- A Year of Wonders

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Geraldine Brooks
Title: A Year of Wonders

Review This is a boo I almost quit on in first fifty pages; it’s about a year of the Plaque in Devonshire, England in the 1660s. Beautifully told by the heroine feminist before her time in a world that did not bless such woman. The book is haunting, elegiac, and enormously hopeful. With some really good twists at the end. You’ve got to be ready to deal with a lot of death and hardship to read this one- but I found it somehow uplifting. I believe it is Brooks first novel and she’s’ a good one; a war correspondent in all the Middle East hot spots, she was on break in rural England when she came to be in the town of Eyma- which had the true story of being the center of the Plaque and a place that through their spiritual leader cut themselves off from everywhere else for one year to avoid passing on the disease. An amazing story and once you find out it is basically true, in the afterward…even more amazing.

Film Review- Gatsby

Genre: Film

Grade: B

Notable People: Leo DiCaprio, Toby McGuire, Carey Mulligan, Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Title: The Great Gatsby

Review I was big fan on Fitzgerald and his work as a youngster and have probably seen all the incarnations of this book on film. This one is ambitious and pulls off a certain panache that makes it a really extravagant film. The party scenes really are spectacular and evidence the decadence and debauchery of the time and place very well (we saw it in 2D but those scenes would be worth seeing in 3D). The sets, costumes and cinematography are superb. Leo is his usual extraordinary self as Gatsby and the supporting cast is first rate. Nothing really new here; the plot is pretty well known and this version is not revelatory. It was almost a see at home film for me- except the big screen makes it worthwhile. Nothing brilliant here- but worth seeing if you really like film.

Film Review- Mud

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepherd, Tye Sheridan, Directed by Jeff Nichols
Title: Mud

Review Very interesting film set in rural Arkansas mostly about growing up in the river culture and trying to survive and become a man. Eye opener on McConaughey’s talents (immense). Shepherd is old, wily and weathered in a great short role. Reece plays totally against type. A very moving film though it dragged in places and lost its way a bit. Beautifully shot and nice score. Tye Sheridan is a star in the making.

Novel Review- Snow in August

Genre: Novel

Grade: A+

Notable People: Pete Hamill
Title: Snow in August

Review Best read I’ve had in last year. I think this may be Hamill’s “Great American novel”. A truly moving story in post war Brooklyn (Hamill’s principle muse)about an immigrant Irish boy coming to terms with his father’s death at the Battle of the Bulge, his growing sense of prejudice in America, his struggle to believe in something bigger than himself, his passion for the Brooklyn Dodgers AND the coming of Jackie Robinson- and his amazing friendship with a newly immigrant Rabbi. This may be the best book ever written about that time and place. Vivid writing, luminous characters and chills to be found as this novel / fable unfolds. A brilliant book.

Novel Review- Cinnamon Kiss

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Walter Mosley
Title: Cinnamon Kiss

Review If you’ve never read any of Mosley’s Easy Rawlins books- you are missing an amazing piece of American culture. Easy is a part-time private dick and part-time criminal in post war LA. Mosley started writing these books in the immediate post war period in which LA was beginning to evolve (think Chinatown) and has continued , bringing it and Easy into the 60s. This book takes place as the 60s are exploding in both LA and San Francisco. It’s a hard boiled page turner but also a wonderful snapshot of the American Black experience. Easy is an incredibly complex character and his friend Mouse might be the most dangerous yet lovable character in the history of fiction. Mosley is a master and this is one of his really good efforts. When I get in big trouble- I want Easy and Mouse in my corner.

Film Review- Arthur Newman

Title: Arthur Newman

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt, Directed by Dante Ariola

Review Quiet and quirky film about two people trying to change their identities and lives. Nice cross country story; moving at times; with two very fine performances. Did I mention Emily Blunt? Well, she’s a keeper and Colin Firth is just plain excellent in everything he does- even affecting a very mid American accent. I thought this movie was really sweet and liked it a lot.

Film Review- Place Beyond the Pines

Title: Place Beyond the Pines

Genre: Film

Grade: B

Notable People: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eve Mendez, Ray Liotta, Directed by Derek Cianfrance

Review Interesting film, with a complex plot and excellent characters. Went on too long for my taste, and suffered once the incredible Ryan Gosling is no longer involved about half way through. Bradley Cooper just does not carry it the way Gosling does. Mendez is really good and Liotta is his usual fearsome self, maybe a bit exaggerated. The teens who are integral to the movie are exciting newcomers. A pretty good summer movie- though falls a bit short of its sizeable ambitions.

Novel Review- Rain Gods

Title: Rain Gods

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Review If you are a Burke fan- this is probably an “A”- for others not so much. Burke has serialized the Dave Robicheaux books for years- but has maintained a sideline series about Billy Bob Holland a small county Montana lawman. This is one step removed and is about Billy Bob’s elderly cousin- Hackberry Holland- a lawman in remote south Texas. Korean war vet, recovering alcoholic, man of many old demons..and a genuine sage- Hack is a pretty interesting character in a good yarn with all the eccentrics you could ask for. Not too demanding- a good quick summer read.