stumberry – Page 28

Stu’s Reviews- #618- Book – “A Better Man”- Louise Penny

Genre: Book

Grade: A

Notable People: Louise Penny

Title: A Better Man

Review: After two dozen novels in this series, I am trying to imagine what would make them any better? Frankly, if you like a- mysteries B- noir c- All Things French d- Canada e- top notch prose f- extraordinary character development over twenty years and g- a wonderful sense of humor………well if you don’t like any of that…are you actually still respirating? Penny never settles in these thoughtful and reflective books on the nature of life and loss and love and evil……plus she is wicked funny in a subtle way, and extraordinarily historically accurate. She has the best-ever acknowledgements sections – which themselves can make you weep……. she honors woman all the time without dismissing men……and she levitates dogs to godliness. Even with a very key character exiting in this book (which fans will pray is not final) this is a story that is hard not to love. And Gamache……. oh, Gamache…the father/mentor/brother/sage we wall wish to be around. Hot tip from Northern Michigan: amazon is hard at work filming a Gamache series starring Alfred Molina (good choice) Just cannot wait.

Stu’s Reviews- #617- Book – “The Crooked Branch”- Jeanine Cummins

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jeanine Cummins

Title: The Crooked Branch

Review: after two books, Cummins is fast becoming one of my favorite new wave of young American authors. Following up the brilliant “American Dirt” with this powerful novel about two women related by blood, and separated by an ocean and two hundred years; one in County Mayo, Ireland during the great potato famine, and her great, great, great granddaughter in contemporary Queens, NY. Cummins continues her in depth portrayal of the live of “immigrants in one form or another (the modern woman has immigrated from a trendy Manhattan life to what she calls the hell of suburban queens after the birth of a first child, which may be no less an immigration than that of her ancestors). The modern tales of angst and post-partum depression wore a bit thin on me over the course of the book, but were still quite compelling, and the alternating chapters focused on mid-19^th century Ireland were just plan riveting. Get characters, great storytelling, powerful messages about love, fear, survival, intimacy, trust and class. Great stuff.

Stu’s Reviews- #616- TV Series – “The Roosevelts”- PBS- 1 Season

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A+++

Notable People: Ken Burns

Title: The Roosevelts

Review: what is there to say about Ken Burns? By far, the greatest documentarian of our times (maybe of any time and any place) ……the man takes his subjects (baseball, country music, Vietnam, you name it) and brings it to life in a gripping and powerful way. And, then…you have the three Roosevelts- truly giants of our modern world. Cannot even imagine what our county and word would be like if not for them (think lynching, Hitler, bread lines). Given our sad state of current affairs, it is hard not to weep at the extraordinary tenacity, courage and inspirational leadership of Teddy, Eleanor and, especially, Franklin……these were simply amazing people who stewarded the world the most dangerous and chaotic times (and let us not gloss over the role of dear Winston on the other side of The Pond). This seven part, 14 hour epiphany should be required viewing for every American………pure brilliance.

Stu’s Reviews- #615- TV Series – “Dexter: New Blood”- Showtime- 1 Season

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A

Notable People: Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, Jennifer Carpenter, Clancy Brown, Julia Jones, Created by: Clyde Phillips

Title: Yellowstone

Review: Ten years after the demise of the original Dexter ShowTime brought back the inimitable Michael C. Hall to reprise his role in what has been shockingly the most watched show in ShowTime’s history. I was reluctant to think this could be done well, but the end of the original six season series did not end all that well and left fans pretty dissatisfied. It’s now ten years later, and our beloved serial killer has moved to remote upstate New York and started a new life after faking is own death back in the Miami days. He is tracked down and reunited with his long lost son, who appears to have some of the same “Dark Passenger” tendencies as Dexter. Jack Alcott is a revelation as the junior Dexter, with eerie nuances of similarity with his father and Clancy Brown and Julia Jones add gravitas to the cast with their takes on Dexter’s nemesis and love life respectively. The return of Jennifer Carpenter is wonderful as Dexter’s dear departed sister, Deb Morgan. Bringing back David Zayas as the hipster Miami detective from the original, was a stroke of genius. Clearly, one of the top shows of the last year without a doubt.

Stu’s Reviews- #614- Book – “The Blood Red Indian Summer”- David Handler

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: David Handler

Title: The Blood Red Indian Summer

Review: The umpteenth offering in the Mitry/Berger mystery series is probably the best yet. Set, as usual, in the bucolic Big Indian Island on the Connecticut/Long Island Sound shoreline, it finds our mismatched heroes (she a striking Conn. State Resident Trooper, he a former “Doughboy” Jewish New York film critic- as they pursue justice in what should be, by all counts, a panacea of mellow, but in reality, seems to be a magnet for very strange happenings. The characters are reaching prime development in this 9^th installment of the series, and the dialog is crisp and often hilarious. I clearly have a soft touch affinity for these genres, and especially those that seek to emulate the magnificent John D. MacDonald/ Travis McGee epics…that is just fine with me.

Stu’s Reviews- #613- Film – “The Power of the Dog” (on Netflix now)

Genre: Film https://vermontrambles.com/2022/01/02/stus-reviews-611-film-the-courier/

Grade: B+

Notable People: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Directed by: Jane Campion

Title: The Power of the Dog

Review: Cumberbatch, Cumberbatch, Cumberbatch, Sherlock……..he is everywhere…..go streaming and you can see him on ay least a half dozen features with his versatile self…..though this is his first where he plays an American early 20th century Montana rancher….took me a while to grasp his accent, but it works. Campion adapted this film from a 1967 novel by Thomas Savage, and the critics have just loved it, winning all kinds of awards…. not quite so beloved by viewers….and IT IS QUIRKY…… In remote 1925 Montana, a domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son……..quite, complex film that startles you at the end…just did not see it coming….dark, brooding and very slow moving, but pulls you in nonetheless…never quite sure where it is going or what the point is, but he performances are exceptional…and…well…its’ Cumberbatch!

Stu’s Reviews- #613- TV Series – “Yellowstone”- Paramount Network- 4 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A

Notable People: Kevin Costner, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Gil Birmingham, Created by: Taylor Sheridan

Title: Yellowstone

Review: the just completed fourth season was another barn burner from start to finish as the legendary Wyoming Duttons try to maintain their stranglehold on an old western lifestyle against the forces of change and development. I thought this show was kind of hokey the first year, but the ensemble cat is so damn good, Costner has genuine star power, the cinematography is just magnificent and the writing so compelling, it is hard not to count the days until the next episode. Hauser(Rip) and Reilly may be the couple of the century and every woman I now secretly wants to be Reilly’s’ Badass Beth. Sheridan has created a monster here with a number of offshoots in progress. A season five is lock. If tales of the West interest you, this is a no brainer.

Stu’s Reviews- #612- Book – “Leave the Gun , Take the Cannoli”- Mark Seal

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Mark Seal

Title: Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli

Review: Unbelievably captivating recounting of the making of the most infamous film in history. This book has it all: Mario Puzo’s desperate attempt to write a book to pay his mob debts. The ongoing fights with the mob and their sinister involvement in getting the move made, cutting a real horse head for the most dramatic scene in film history, the extraordinary fights by Coppola to get the right casting done……and the rise of a group of unknown actors to stardom…along with the total rebirth of a washed up Brando. Who knew??? An absolutely riveting story for any fan of the film. Seal is not the world’s best writer, but the material almost writes itself here. They made me an offer I could not refuse. Long live Fat Pete Clemenza.

Stu’s Reviews- #611- Film – “The Courier”

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel Brosnahan, Merab Ninidze, Directed by: Dominic Cooke

Title: The Courier

Review: The Courier is a 2020 spy flick with the brilliant Cumberbatch as a British businessman who was recruited by British and American Intelligence Services to deliver messages to Russian secret agent Oleg Penkovsky (played by Merab Ninidze) in the early 60s. Centered around the drama of the Cuban Missile Crisis and set in London and Moscow, the film is a chilling look at the Cold War. Released simultaneously in theaters and on Amazon –where you can now watch it for free. Masterful attention to all details of the time period and very well shot and directed, it’s another vehicle for Sherlock’s undeniable artistry. Brosnahan still feels a bit too much like Mrs. Maisel, but she’s entertaining and Ninidze is wonderfully intense as the defecting Russian spook. Very nice film.

Stu’s Reviews- #610- TV Series – “Island at War”- IMDB- 1 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People: Saskia Reeves, Owen Teale, Clare Holman, James Wilby, Sam Heughan, Philip Glenester, by: Andy Harries

Title: Island at War

Review: Extremely well done 2004 British mini- series that tells the story of the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands- only a quick 30 miles from the shore of England and a German attempt to finally invade the Brits, at a time when they were last man standing against the evil empire. It primarily focuses on three local families: the upper class Dorrs, the middle class Mahys, and the working class Jonases, and four German officers of various degrees of allegiance to the Nazi regime. The fictional island of St. Gregory serves as a stand-in for the real-life islands of Guernsey and Jersey and the story is compiled from the events on both islands. Well written and complex story of the strange relationships developed during a wartime occupation and the struggles that some Germans had with their Nazi regime. Powerful and emotionally wrought with a wonderfully British cast and a nice part for the future Outlander star, a very young Heughan. Very unfortunately, this was a one and one mini-series and can be seen streaming on the free IMDB app with commercials.