Author: stumberry

Music Review- The New Basement Tapes

Genre: Album

Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Jim James, Rhiannon Giddens, The Goldsmith Brothers, Produced by T-Bone Burnett
Title: The New Basement Tapes- Lost on the River

Review – Everyone probably knows the basic premise- songs fleshed out from lost Basement Tapes (Woodstock late 60s) era Dylan discovered lost lyrics. This a who’s who of current folk rock- with members of Dawes. My Morning Jacket, Mumford and Sons, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Elvis comprising an interesting super folk rock band. They are quite good. The Costello songs stand out most to me, and of course, the lyrics are cryptically master Dylan. I can’t say I felt overly moved by this disc, but it is pretty interesting. Great Johnny Depp guitar work on “Kansas City”

Music Review- Cheek to Cheek

Genre: Album

Grade: A-
Notable People: Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Title: Cheek to Cheek

Review – Who knew? Lady Gaga is a classic old style siren singer. An album of American classics in the forties jazz styling’s with a master and an apprentice. They really pull this off well. Tony struggles a bit with the “shouter” type numbers but still sings a ballad like no one else and Gaga is a revelation. If you like this type of music- this is a gem.
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Music Review- Out Among the Stars

Genre: Album

Grade: A-
Notable People: Johnny Cash
Title: Out Among the Stars

Review – A lost treasure trove discovered by Johnny’s son, John Carter Cash- this is music recorded in a dark period following recovery from pill addiction in 1983. Full of spiritual music and romantic musings, with a sense of humor that does not always come through in Cash’s work. There are two duets with June Carter and one with Waylon Jennings. This is really nice present to those of us who have come to revere this man’s music.

Novel Review- Dissident Gardens

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+
Notable People: Jonathan Letham
Title: Dissident Gardens

Review – Letham is really interesting writer. If you grew up in the 50s-60’s or have been around someone who has a good deal, …and are a communist leaning, New York , Jewish intellectual…then this book is right up your alley. Depending on how many of those criteria you meet- may determine whether or not you appreciate this book. Letham writes from a very intellectual perspective- you practically need a dictionary/ thesaurus to get through his work, but a lot of wry humor and insights galore. Hard to describe what this story is about- but traces a set of characters over 40-50 years in the far left reaches of the time. Not much in the way of likeable characters- but they are interesting, and a vivid portrait of the times. No happy endings here…a challenging but worthy read.

Film Review- Inherent Vice

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reece Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Title: Inherent Vice

Review – Quite a ride this one. Anderson is a totally whacked out director, who has taken a pretty complicated novel by Thomas Pynchon (most people believe you can’ t make films from his esoteric books) and given us a film that seems to mate Sam Spade with The Big Lebowski with Quentin Tarentino. It’s a lot of fun and Phoenix is wonderful…Brolin is a great match too. The movie is 2 ½ hours long and I did find myself glancing at my watch, but still what’s not to like from a tripped out story of a stoned private detective living the life in a 1970s San Francisco beach town? The spirit of the times is well represented and the story has every crazy character you could imagine…..with some absolutely great lines of dialog. Good winter’s afternoon diversion.

Film Review- Big Eyes

Genre: Film

Grade: B+
Notable People: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Directed by Tim Burton
Title: Big Eyes

Review – Well this one is interesting. It has couple of themes I’ve had a lot of lately: the story is better than the film and you’ll like it better if you are of an age. This is the story of the Keanes- the folks who brought the ubiquitous “Big Eyes” paintings to the world consciousness in the 60’s… these works of art were EVERYWHERE- a background to the times. The story is fascinating. She painted them all, he took the credit….a 15 year massive deceit. It’s really a great untold story. The movie is pretty good- but after a while – it’s kind of predictable and drags a bit. Adams is good. Waltz is fast becoming one of the top actors of his generation though I found it a bit of a stretch to have the early parts with him as a 30 year old. And of course, Tim Burton is always pretty interesting in his approach. Lots of well portrayed early 60s San Francisco and North Beach (“is expresso a kind of reefer?”. All said, worth seeing. And if you remember this stuff –there is a lot of memories here of a time.

Film Review- Venus in Fur

Genre: Film

Grade: NR
Notable People: Emmanuelle Seigner, Matthieu Almaric, Directed by Roman Polanski
Title: Venus in Fur

Review – oh boy…this is a challenging one. My son sent me this film on Blue Ray for Christmas-which may be some kind of message that I can’t quite decipher. We watched it last night, and I have tried to assess its value since, but am stumped. Polanski is just short of insane, but maybe a genius. The actors- there are only two of them…..are peerless. The film is based on an 1870 Austrian novel of the same name by Leopold von Sacher Mosoch. It apparently was the book that led to the origin of the term sado-masochism (see the author’s name). The film is really slow and spellbinding at the same time. Not much happens except a pretty tenuous, sensuous and extremely edgy dialog between a director and would be actress in an empty haunting theater. After it was over, I was really not sure exactly what happened, but the time went quickly and I thought I must be watching a work of some degree of high art since I was pretty confused…but riveted. The actors are great, the plot is obtuse, the staging is minimal…intense Polanski at his best. Mon dieu…je ne sais quoi (French sub tiles- by the way). This is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea- but if you see yourself as somewhat a student of film…then will you please rate it for me

Music Review- Standing in the Breach- Jackson Browne

Genre: Album

Grade: A
Notable People: Jackson Browne
Title: Standing in the Breach

Review – Jackson, Jackson, Jackson…where have you been? I’ve been waiting for this album for around 35 years since Late for the Sky. An absolute beauty- mixing social concerns with love sings. Beautiful music, great messages, just sweet and moving. Backed by members of Dawes and other really fine acoustic players- even has some pedal steel…and a long awaited return to Winslow, Arizona (“standing on a corner…”). This is great.

Film Review- Wild

Genre: Film

Grade: A-
Notable People: Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern. Directed by Jean- Marc Valee
Title: Wild

Review –Moving and dramatic film about a young woman hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (Arizona to Oregon) to unwind her demons. Pretty reminiscent of “The Way” with Emilio Estevez from a few years ago- but not any less for it. The cinematography is spectacular- will make you want to go do the Trial. Witherspoon is wonderful in this role, Dern is her usual appealing self, and a nice supporting cast of cameo payers. A pretty emotional story- well told.

Film Review- Gone Girl-

Genre: Film

Grade: B
Notable People: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Directed by David Fincher
Title: Gone Girl

Review –I think this movie has been made before…probably better. Pretty suspenseful take on marriage and betrayal…and sociopathy…but way long and ran on with a bit too many twists. Pike is pretty disturbed and diabolical- but it just became kind of not believable after a while. I had seen some really good reviews of this film- so was pretty disappointed. Not bad for at home but not worth a trip to the movies. Better to rent a copy of Fatal Attraction and get the idea presented the way it should be.