Author: stumberry

Novel Review- The Great Santini

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+
Notable People: Pat Conroy
Title: The Great Santini

Review –A pretty interesting book; early 60’s story of crazed marine fighter pilot and his family which he runs like a marine unit. Conroy writes well and clearly knows his subject, though I got a bit bored with his lengthy ruminations on Catholicism and all things marine. The story is dynamic and very dramatic- a movie waiting to happen- which it was in 1979 with the great Robert Duvall in the role of a lifetime. Jenn had gotten into Pat Conroy’s books (Prince of tides and the ilk) and I bought her a few for Christmas; had no idea he had long ago written this book, which seemed out of character. A good read- but, honestly, go rent the movie if you want the total package.

Music Review- Van Morrison- “Duets”

Genre: Album

Grade: A
Notable People: Van the Man; many special guests including: George Benson, Natalie Cole, Mark Knopler, Taj Mahal, more
Title: “Duets”

Review –It’s Van the Man- that probably says enough, but it is way cool. An album of duets with some really great sidekicks. Al of the material is from Van’s vault- but mostly chestnuts form his catalog that are not the norm for his playlist. The album opens with a duet with the late Bobby Womack- enough said. Other highlights, amongst many, are the duets with Mark Knopler, Stevie Winwood and Joss Stone. Great choice of songs, incredible arrangements, Van still at his peak. Only small down side is no new material here. What are you waiting for- go get it.

Film Review- Wild Tales

Genre: Film

Grade: A
Notable People: An ensemble cast of brilliant and famous Argentinian actors. Directed by Damian Szifron
Title: Wild Tales (in Spanish- sub-titles)

Review –These ARE INDEED Wild Tales- six vignettes of revenge posed in every conceivably absurd situation. The acting is brilliant, the dialog masterful, the filming exquisite. You don’t want to get these people pissed off at you! I laughed, I cried, I kvelled…….this is great filmmaking- not surprisingly the executive producer is the legendary director Pedro Almodovar. Run to the art house and see this film (at the Drexel in Columbus)

Music Review- Leonard Live in Dublin

Genre: Album

Grade: A
Notable People: Leonard Cohen and Friends
Title: Live in Dublin

Review –Nothing really new here- just the world’s most beloved octogenarian on his endless tour. Three CD’s and one DVD-all recorded live. This is a lot like his previous 2009 live set- but the band has been together now for years and it shows. This is an absolutely incredible outfit. Sharon Robinson (Leonard’s long time “collaborator” and the Webb sisters sing like angels- otherworldly really, the players are cracker jack top of the line and then there is the one and only Javier Mas-another octogenarian form Spain- who is the absolute master of all things stringed. If you don’t know Leonard’s work- this is must; if you do- it’s like a very old friend. Solid!

Novel Review- The Shimmering Blond Sister

Genre: Novel

Grade: B
Notable People: David Handler
Title: The shimmering Blond Sister

Review –Handler’s series of books featuring Mitry and Berger are neither amazingly written nor deep stories- but a nice guilty pleasure. Set in a fictional Connecticut blue blood town in an idyllic setting, the 6 foot one imposing black state trooper (her) and the former “doughboy” Jewish New York film critic make both love and war on the masses. I can’t help liking the books- ten in the series and this in one of the more recent ones and more interesting. Could keep you occupied this summer?

Film Review- Still Alice

Genre: Film

Grade: A
Notable People: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristin Stewart, Directed by Richard Glatzer
Title: Still Alice

Review –This is not a movie to see to get out of a funk. Pretty tough stuff, but beautifully done. You will need a lot of tissues. Julianne Moore cements her place in my mind as the actress of her generation with this extraordinarily sensitive and low key portrayal of a vastly accomplished woman of amazing intellect coming to grips with early stage Alzheimer’s. She is MAGNIFICENT. Alec Baldwin is in his strongest role to date and Kristin Stewart really shines. This movie do not shy away from the tough shit that goes with the topic, but does not let us forget our own humanity in its wake. I don’t really pay attention to Academy Awards- but saw that Moore got one for this role- that was a no -brainer. Love does not conquer all- but it sure helps.

Novel Review- Fortress of Solitude

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+/A-
Notable People: Jonathan Letham
Title: Fortress of Solitude

Review –Wow- this guy is prolific- churning out existential novels of growing up in NYC. This is the third one I’ve read and each has been successively weirder- though not necessarily in a bad way. Letham is a Jewish New York John Irving type, in that the themes are constants in his books. Mothers disappearing, crackheads in Brooklyn or Queens, late 60s rock, Marvel comics and hapless fathers. Letham is VERY intellectual- so a lot of challenging verbage- but always interesting. This one has a lot of race relations, superheroes, escape to Vermont, escape to Berkeley and a mother disappearing to become a sort of Crab. It’s a long book and I found it hard to read a lot in one sitting- so has taken me about three weeks to finish. If you want a challenging writer with lot of weird shit and a novel 30 years in scope-to be read a bit at time- check it out, Letham also really knows his music scene- from the Village 60s folk scene to sixties soul music.

Music Review- CSNY-1974

Genre: Album

Grade: B+
Notable People: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Title: CSNY 1974

Review –This IS a journey through the past. Three CDs and one DVD from the legendary 1974 tour that swept through stadiums across the land. They managed to stay together for three months and then could not stand each other again for ten years. A lot of egos here. Stills was already past his prime vocally and a bit wild in his guitar work. Crosby and Nash bring their impeccable harmonies (though never as good as in the studio). Neil, as always, is clearly the star. He introduced both “On the Beach” and “Long May you Run” on this tour. His songs really stand out. Some of the other tunes are pretty energetic- some rather dull. There is lot of very familiar sounds here in abundance. Nixon was resigning that summer- and the boys were still leading the cheers against the establishment. Good backup for Tim Drummond on bass, Joe Lala on percussion and Russ Kunkel on drums…but not really enough when it comes down to it. The massive box has good photos and liner notes. Also has some previously unreleased songs they played live on the tour. There is good two page layout shot of the show in Buffalo, which has me trying to find a good magnifying glass- since I was at the show, and am convinced I must be in the massive crowd photo. A must have for true CSNY fanatics- not so much for the rest of you.

Film Review- Selma

Genre: Film

Grade: A-
Notable People: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah, Directed by Ava DuVernay
Title: Selma

Review –This is an important film- not so much for the quality of filmmaking as for the story. It starts with a literal bang and never stops hitting you over the head with the significance of what is happening. Hard to believe that Oyelowo is a British born, Cambridge educated Shakespearian actor- he really captures MLK in every way. Ejogo is majestic as Coretta King and the cast of character actors that play MLK’s entourage does it really well. Great attention to detail, very well filmed. The only distractions for me were the choice of actors for LBJ and George Wallace –two larger than life characters, whose essence was missed by these portrayals. You can’t have a Brit play Johnson. This film should be required viewing for every elementary school kid in America.

Novel Review- Missing Persons

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+
Notable People: Patrick Modiano
Title: Missing Persons

Review – This is a very strange but intriguing book. Modiano won the Pulitzer Prize for his book “The Honeymooners” and I heard him referenced on NPR with a spectacular review. This book is dark- film noir like. Basic story is a of a man in 1960’s Paris trying to find his identity that he lost during the halcyon days on the Nazi occupation. It’s short and very dramatic read- best done in small segments. The story traces back to before the first world war-and, I must admit, left me a bit dazed and confused. Very well written with great English translation from the French. Short and worth a try