Category: Stu’s Reviews

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.   

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Stu’s Reviews- #609- TV Series – “The Defeated”- Netflix- 1 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People: Taylor Kitsch, Michael C. Hall, Logan Marshall- Green, Ellen Hoss Created by: Mans Marlind

Title: The Defeated

Review: German series, originally titled Shadowplay, and taking place in the allied-divided Berlin immediately after the close of the second war- this show is a riveting look at the chaos of the times and the growing imminence of the Cold War. Kitsch shines as a war worn New York cop sent to the American sector of Berlin to train a novice volunteer police force, led by the compelling Hoss. The plot thickens with the underbelly of Max (Kitsch) trying to track down his deranged army-deserter bother, Moritz (Green), who is busy tracing down and creating grizzly deaths for surviving Nazis in hiding. Very well written and a potent glance ta the times. Clearly due for a second season.

Stu’s Reviews- #608- Book – “Redemption”- David Baldacci

Genre: Book 

Grade: A-

Notable People:  David Baldacci

Title: Redemption

Review: this is the fourth in this very interesting series about Amos Decker, brain inured survivor of his family’s murder-massacre and current oddball FBI consultant. Decker’s Ohio State football brain injury resulted in perfect memory but muted emotional capability……he is quite the character. This book takes him back to his hometown of Burlington, Ohio for the birthday of his late daughter, and winds up in a very convoluted set of murders and potential espionage that Decker cannot walk away from. The characters are very strong in these books and Decker emerging sense of being able to have relationships is well conceived. Baldacci is a very good writer and keeps you captivated throughout. For those who like the genre, this series is a keeper.

Stu’s Reviews- #607- Book – “The Sour Cherry Surprise”- David Handler

Genre: Book 

Grade: B+

Notable People:  David Handler

Title: The Sour Cherry Surprise

Review: Who doesn’t like revisiting an old friend? Accidentally ran into this book, from the Mitry and Berger mystery series that I had last left off about 15 year ago. Surprisingly, Handler has kept putting out this series (since late 90s) about a determined Black female state trooper in remote Connecticut and her dubious partner in crime, a Jewish New York movie critic relocated from the city……. who she calls “doughboy” due to his penchant for all things doughnut and his resulting physique. I always liked these books, even though they are not world class writing………but the characters are really quite well developed and the setting of the remote village of Dorset, along the glitzy Long Island Sound area of Connecticut are quite the draws. There is great Jewish grandmother character in the weeds here, who seems to be the second coming of Bella Abzug. I am excited to rediscover these books, and have taken three out of the library. Quick, entertaining reads for the chilly nights ahead. By the way, Handler is clearly devotee of the great, great John D. McDonald, who wrote all his fantastic Travis McGee novels with colors in the titles.

Stu’s Reviews- #606- Film – “Land”

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Robin Wright, Demián Bichir, Kim Dickens Directed by: Robin Wright

Title: Land

Review: Released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO, this is clearly a labor of love written, produced, directed and starring Robin Wright. It’s quite a turnaround from her years long spin on House of Lies. Quiet and moving film, with no real surprises- the themes have been done many times before and it is a bit predictable, but Wright and Bichir have great chemistry, and the cinematography is way worth the price of admission. Ever dream of living on a mountaintop and totally off the grid? This is a pretty good portrayal of that until the troops mysteriously come to the rescue. Worth a cold night on HBO.

Stu’s Reviews- #605- Book – “Kingdom of the Blind”- Louise Penny

Genre: Book                     

Grade: A

Notable People:  Louise Penny

Title: Kingdom of the Blind

Review: A magnificent rebound in the Gamache series for Penny after her previous work, “Still Life”, which was the least compelling in this wonderful series. Armand Gamache is on suspension as the head of the Quebec Surete (Provincial Police) and chasing all kinds of ghosts in the mystical village of Three Pines. The regular characters just get better and better and Penny is willing to go out on a limb to tackle real work problems and complex relationships in her fictional accounts. As always, the mind and heart of Gamache are the backbone of these books, and a magical exploration it is. Penny’s acknowledgment sections are surprising personal, frank and moving and make you feel like a valuable part of her writing (never experienced that before)- and in this one she movingly talks about coming back to these books after her husband, Michael (the inspiration for Gamache) died, and she had decided she would not continue the series….but her muse called, and she is back better than ever. These are don’t miss stories regardless of genre.

Stu’s Reviews- #604- Book – “WIN”- Harlan Corbin

Genre: Book   

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People:  Harlan Corbin

Title: WIN

Review: WIN is another intriguing character from the mind of the prolific Corbin, who also writes the Myron Bolitar mystery series (WIN is a fictional chum of Myron’s). WIN is short for Windsor Horne Lockwood III, a top of the line blue blood New Yorker, martial arts expert, borderline personality/narcissist, who unabashedly performs acts of violence in the interest of what he sees as necessary justice, while enjoying a life more or less in the style of Bruce Wayne (if I have to tell you how that is, we are in trouble here). The book has WIN delving back into a fatal bombing by a 60s militant group, woven into a story of the heist of major art works of Vermeer and Picasso, late night exclusive arranged hook-ups for the rich, sex abuse horrors and the mob……it’s a lot folks……but hard to put down. Corbin writes well, if a bit egotistically smug. The book should all be films in my view, and if you like suspense/mystery/wild yarns, give this one  a gander.