Category: Stu’s Reviews

Stu’s Reviews- #495- TV Series- ” Marcella” – Netflix -3 Seasons

Genre: TV Series 

Grade: B+

Notable People: Anna Friel, Ray Panthaki, Aaron Mccusker, Amanda Burton Created by: Nicola Larder, Hans Rosenfeldt

Title: Marcella

Review:  this is one strange show. Over three seasons, Marcella has transformed from a slightly intense, overzealous London cop to an absolute madwoman. She is nuts-multiple personalities, borderline, schizoid…you name it…. but dedicated to laying herself on the line in penultimate dangerous situations. A not- to- be -messed with woman avenger. The show is a maze of plot that is hard to keep up with at times, and the support characters are a bit stereotypical, but Friel saves the whole shebang with an over the top performance not to be missed. So intense and dark it is hard to watch it on consecutive nights…. but fascinating just the same.

Stu’s Reviews- #494- Book- “The Shooting at Chateau Rock”- Martin Walker

Genre: Book         

Grade:  A

Notable People: Martin Walker

Title: “The Shooting at Chateau Rock”

Review:    Merdi, Merdi, Bruno……the latest in the long running Bruno, Chief of Police series- one that just continues to get better. Though framed as mysteries, these books are much, much more-full of French custom, philosophy, history, politics and the resplendent life of the magnificent Perigord region. Plus, you get play by play recipes of one of the world’s most distinguished foodie enclaves. And, it is a whopper of a tale to boot.  I took two weeks to read this book in short installments just because I did not want it to end. Check them out!!!

Stu’s Reviews- #493- Book- “Long Range”- CJ Box

Genre: Book 

Grade:  B+

Notable People: CJ Box

Title: “Long Range”

Review:    the 20th installment in box’s Joe Pickett series continues the wild adventures of the Wyoming Fish and Game Warden, who cannot avoid ruining pickup trucks and being shot at. Box is one of the best writing today in this genre. This one is filed with dark forces, drug cartels, political intrigue and a tumultuous plot……read it in three days flat. I will say it felt a bit predictable and repetitive of some previous efforts, but still an exciting read. Joes’ perennial sidekick, the Master Falconer Nate Romanowski, remains a character for the ages. Start at the beginning with this series- it will keep you busy and entertained for quite a while.

Stu’s Reviews- #492- Book- “Such a Fun Age”- Kiley Reid

Genre: Book       

Grade:  B+

Notable People: Kiley Reid

Title: “Such a Fun Age”

Review:    this one again from my daughter, in her ongoing quest to raise my consciousness. The story of a twenty something African -American woman trying to find herself and “become an Adult”, while working minimally as a faux-nanny. The story is intriguing, with a world of very discreet racism, and coming-of-age angst. The characters develop nicely and the narrative keeps you engaged. Pretty well written for a first time novelist, but not an art form yet. I liked it despite my initial eye-rolling at being way too old to read this story……..guess, I’m not.

Stu’s Reviews- #491- Film- ” Once Were Brothers”

Genre: Film (Amazon)

Grade: A

Notable People: Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manual, Garth Hudson, and a cast of luminaries offering tribute Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Title: Once Were Brothers

Review:    Winner of several major awards, this is the story of The Band- albeit through the eyes of Robbie Robertson. Scorsese reprises his magic of the Last Waltz in telling the story of the greatest American Band of all time. Poignant, funny, provocative…loaded with esoterica. Since Robertson is the last man standing (Hudson is still alive, but a bit of recluse) it is expectedly skewed to be more his story, but I will say it is a lot more human and empathetic than his past tellings. It’s really am amazing story of extraordinary success and the collective bains of the times: drugs, drink, crazed living and resentments. They were just too good to last. Rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins, who gave them their start in the wilds of Canadian Honky Tonks- as his backing band, when they were still teens, is the shining star of the show-still a wild man. Dylan talks about going electric with them at Newport in 1965, Clapton talks about going up to Woodstock and trying to join the band, Springsteen talks about hearing Big Pink the first time and never being the same. If you are even a minor fan of the music, this is must see. If not, it’s still a wonderfully done and stimulating documentary film. Did I mention, that the music is pretty good…

Stu’s Reviews- #490- TV Series- ” Unorthodox” – Netflix -1 Season

Genre: TV Series

Grade: B+

Notable People: Shira Haas Israel, Amit Rahav, Jeff Wilbusch, Alex Reid, Created by: Anna Winger

Title: Unorthodox

Review:  Whoa, mama……Zain Gisent…. the little girl has Chutzpah…. A six-part mini-series about an ultra-orthodox young Jewish Woman, in the heart of the Williamsburg enclave, who tries to get away from the prescriptive, rule-bound and male dominated culture (to The Reich, of all places). It is not all that easy to watch- was personally painful to me at times despite the extraordinary spirit shown by Esty (Haas Israel in a memorable performance). If you don’t know much about this culture, this will be eye- opening. A lot happens in the four one hour episodes, and the ending was a bit of a surprise. It took me a month to watch all four episodes (no binging on this one), but I was glad I did…and was also glad to be done. It’s not Indiana Jones.

Stu’s Reviews- #489- Book- “The Henna Artist”- Alka Joshi

Genre: Book       

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Alka Joshi

Title: “The Henna Artist”

Review:    Birthday gift from my daughter, who works at keeping me culturally relevant. Must say, I am not usually a big fan of Indian (dots, not feathers) culture (dining excepted), but this is an intriguing look at life in India, customs, castes, taboos. Very well written, joyous at times, dark and gritty at others. Delved into a world I knew little about, and came about with new appreciations. Very quick read, goes down like good bourbon…made me hungry in the middle of the night. It’s a keeper.

Stu’s Reviews- #488- TV Series- ” The Old Guy” – You Tube -1 Season

Genre: TV Series 

Grade: NR

Notable People: Roger Burton, Peri Gilpin, Various Five sisters, Created by: Maria Burton, Ursula Burton, Jennifer Burton, Gabrielle C. Burton, Charity Burton

Title: The Old Guy

Review:  A seven-part video series on You Tube created by my pal Gabrielle Burton and her four sisters, who have bene making impressive Indie films for years. The episodes are all between three and six minutes and quite entertaining, as they look at aging and the place of the aged in our culture. Their dad, and the star, is a real TV actor from the 50s and 60s, and is quite the resurgent find. I did not rate this due to the nature of the short film structure, but I highly enjoyed this, and commend to you for watching with your morning coffee, for short exercise stints or right after sex.

Stu’s Reviews- #487- TV Series- ” The Plot Against America” – HBO -1 Season

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-

Notable People: Zoe Kazan, Morgan Spector, Winona Ryder, John Turturro,  Created by: David Simon and Ed Burns

Title: The Plot Against America

Review:  Extraordinarily well done revisionist history mini- series in which Charles Lindbergh and his anti-Semitic crazies defeat FDR and keep America from entering into the second world war, relinquishing Europe to Hitler and turning the Us into a semi-fascist state. From a wonderful Philip Roth novel and developed for TV by the pair who brought us “The Wire” and “Treme”. Very well acted with a frightening element of commonalty with our current environment. Brilliant sets, costumes, music and ambiance. Ryder and Turturro are the definition of desperate naiveté and very solid work form Kazan and Spector. Well worth the six-episode watch

Stu’s Reviews- #486- Book- “Shamed”- Linda Castillo

Genre: Book  

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Linda Castillo

Title: “Shamed”

Review:    The next to latest volume (new one just came out) in the long running series, featuring chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, set in Ohio’s Amish country. It’s another barn burner…just plain hard to put down. Her long running characters develop nicely over time, and her knowledge of police procedurals is impeccable…as well as her insight into the eccentricities of the Amish culture. Great sense of place and the story is quite believable while being just this side of fantastical. Really, really like these books. Start at the top with this series.