Author: stumberry

Film Review- 50-50

Title: 50-50

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick

Review: this movie was a sleeper. Went to see at the dollar theater and was really pleasantly surprised. Could be a tear jerker-and comes close- but it’s not. VERY emotionally moving film and I thought the acting was tremendous; subtle and complex characters. Rogen is mostly Rogen but with enough of an underlying twist to make it a new place for him. Oh and by the way- its the story of a young guy who suddenly finds he has potentially terminal cancer and how everyone around him handles that. Great turn by the long missing Angelica Huston as his mother.

Film Review- Martha Marcy May Marlene

Title: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Genre: Film

Grade: B

Notable People: Sam Durkin (Director), Brady Corbett, Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes

Review: This is a pretty strange movie- hard to decide on it. Can be very dark at times about a cult with some similarities to Manson- and a girls’ attempt to break away from it. Hawkes is subtle but mesmerizing as the Manson figure. Elizabeth Olsen is the sister of the infamous twins- and is going to be a big movie star.

Novel Review- Tabloid City- Pete Hamill

Title: Tabloid City

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Pete Hamill

Review: If you don’t know Hamill you should. He was part of the great 50s-60s crew at the NY Post with Jimmy Breslin and Norman Mailer- and is still around writing really good books into his mid 80s. This is the story of a few days in the life on an aging newspaperman in NYC- as the paper folds around him; taken over by the web. A number of other stories of the city are woven in between. Hamill loves NY and its denizens and it shows. A captivating read.

Film Review- The Way

Title: The Way

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Martin Sheen, Emilio Estavez

Review: This is an amazingly touching movie about the pilgrimage known as “the Way”- the Camino de Santiago- an ancient walk from the French Pyrenees to the Spanish Basque country; walked by thousands over a century. Sheen’s family is from the Basque region and he wanted to make this film for the last 40 years. It is directed , produced and written by his son, Emilio who has a small part in it as well. A breathtaking movie; emotionally connecting and spiritually profound. Don’t miss it.

Novel Review- The Reserve- Russell Banks

Title: The Reserve

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Russell Banks

Review: This is classically dark Banks novel that takes place in the Adirondacks in the 1930’s. A little hard to follow the back and forth in time- but a compelling story that mixes in historical characters and events- mostly set against the back drop of the Depression and the impending war with Germany. A book I found it hard to put down.

Music Review- Steve Cropper- Dedicated

Title: Dedicated

Genre: Album

Grade: A-

Notable People: Steve Cropper

Review: This is the REAL thing. The greatest rhythm guitarist in R&B history (Booker T. and the MGs, the Blues Brothers) cuts loose and shows his stuff. An eclectic all star lineup of singers adds to the mix (Steve Winwood, Lucinda Williams, John Popper). The opening track is an instant classic. This is a legend at his best.

Novel Review- Burn- Nevada Barr

Title: Burn

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: Nevada Barr

Review: The latest in the Anna Pidgeon series; she’s a national park ranger who gets into a lot of very sticky situations. Ms. Barr is also a lifer in the Park service so she knows of what she writes. Each book is in a different national park and the settings are really good. This one has the unusual setting of an urban park setting in post Katrina New Orleans. Good stories and characters, decent writing. Serial readers could get attached. Not her best effort.

Novel Review- I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive-Steve Earle

Title: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: Steve Earle

Review: Yes- it’s THE Steve Earle- the wonderful singer songwriter of alt country fame. First novel; strange concept. Junkie lost doctor in South Texas doe abortions and communes with the ghost of Hank Williams. Loved the characters; faded a bit at the end. You’ve got to be interested in south Texas, drug addiction, Catholicism and Hank Williams to REALLY like this book.

Film Review- Beginners

Title: Beginners

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Christopher Plummer, Ewan Macgregor, Melanie Laurent

Review: This is a wonderfully touching and funny movie about a man dealing with his fathers’ coming out of the closet in his mid 70’s. Plummer is a jewel and Macgregor is really good. Laurent is the French beauty from Ingloriuos Basterds in a role that will leave you smitten with her. Very cool graphics in the film; the director a graphic designer as well. Great art house film.

Novel Review- The Glass Rainbow-James Lee Burke

Title: The Glass Rainbow

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Review: The umpteenth in the Dave Robicheaux series does not really cover new ground- but if you’re a fan – you’ll eat it up. Very good depiction of life in post Katrina Louisiana and a deep sense of what it’s like to live your life in a ritualistic southern environment. This book is his most focused yet on Dave’s iconic partner, Clete Purcell, who you will love or hate (or both). Good summer read.