Stu’s Reviews – Page 44

Stu’s Reviews- #410- TV Series – “Deadwood”- HBO

Genre: TV Series (HBO)

Grade: A

Notable People: Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, John Hawkes, Molly Parker, William Sanderson, Kim Dickens, Powers Booth, Keith Carradine, Paula Malcomson, Robin Wiegert, Brad Dourff, Created by: David Milch

Title: Deadwood

Review: When David Milch turned his attention from Hill St. Blues and NYPD Blue in the early 2000’s, I was not that interested in a serial western. Tried it out it few times and found it to be quite strange. but this summer, we went back and watched all three seasons…and the movie completed and released fourteen years after the show ended. This is a certifiable masterpiece- a rendering of the old West unique to any before or since. Dark, dirty, pathetic, comical…and very, very gritty. An extraordinary ensemble cast led by the powerhouse McShane and the truly weird Olyphant, a lot of it is loosely based historically accurate characters in the wild and wooly days of the settling of South Dakota during the Gold Rush. Tragic, violent at times, wholly unpredictable end with a deep vein of dark humor running through it….this show is well worth devoting a month to watching. The show was unexpectedly cancelled in 2004 after the third seasons amidst a lot of controversy..…and finished without any type of ending (at the time it was supposed to be only the season ender in front of fourth season). So an ailing Mulch decided to provide a real ending with The Deadwood movie, FOURTEEN years alter…and got everyone who was still alive to come back and reprise their roles. An amazing amount of time between endings……and well worth the wait. A real gem.

Stu’s Reviews- #409- Book – “The Body in the Castle Well”- Martin Walker

Genre: Book
Grade: A
Notable People: Martin Walker

Title: The Body in the Castle Well
Review: The most recent is another absolutely splendid addition to in the fantastic Bruno: Chief of Police series. Like France? Like culinary extravaganzas? Like good wine? Like history? Like humdinger of a mystery? These books are can’t miss. Bruno is a magnificently complex character-surrounded by the rich people, place and history of the Perigord Region of southwestern France. Each of these books is finer than the one before….and, oh the recipes you can transcribe. Mon dieu! Start at the beginning and read them all- you won’t be disappointed.

Stu’s Reviews- #408- Book – “The Crime Czar”- Tony Dunbar

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Tony Dunbar

Title: The Crime Czar

Review: Hard to put these books down. Like jaded lawyers? Like young woman in distress? Like plots to take down big, big, bad guys. Like self-depreciation? Like getting into the underbelly and the inside wonders of N’Awlins? Then, these books are for you. Dunbar is actually a Big Easy lawyer and he clearly knows the city’s grift and graft….and all the best places to eat, drink and be merry. this is the fifth in the series-each one has been better than the last. Hope it goes on forever. Gotta love Tubby Dubonnet.

Stu’s Reviews- #407- Book – “The Second Life of Nick Mason”- Steve Hamilton

Genre: Book

Grade: A

Notable People: Steve Hamilton

Title: The Second Life of Nick Mason

Review: The new series from Steve Hamilton-the acclaimed noir author of the Alex McKnight series. What a start!!!!! This book is fabulously written, dark and mean in the underbelly of Chicago. Prison lifer gets his sentence dismissed after five years through the influence of incarcerated mob boss, but has to spend 20 years at the boss’ whim as his outside hit man. Mason is a complicated and troubled character surrounded by goons and evil. this book is made for a movie treatment. I’m all in on this series which currently has two more volumes available.

Stu’s Reviews- #406- Book – “Down a Dark Road”- Linda Castillo

Genre: Book

Grade: B+

Notable People: Linda Castillo

Title: Down a Dark Road

Review: The ninth in the Kate Burkholder Amish mystery series is quite the tale. As usual, set in the fictional town of Painters Mill in Holmes County (very real) in Ohio Amish territory, this one went a bit too far on the drama side for me. Lord, how much bad shit can happen in one Amish community…and to one very small town Chief of Police? That said, it is exceedingly well written, the characters are rich and Castillo (who lives in Texas) knows the Amish country and culture really well. It does appear that the Amish have a lot more dirty secrets than one might imagine????? Not the best of this series…but I must admit I read 300 pages in four days…so can’t pan it either.

Stu’s Reviews- #405- Album – “You’re Driving Me Crazy”- Van Morrison

Genre: Album

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Van Morrison, Joey Defrancesco

Title: You’re Driving Me Crazy

Review: Van the Man’s 39th album (yes, 39!)- is a new studio collaboration between Van Morrison and legendary Hammond organist Joey DeFrancesco. It features interpretations of jazz and blues standards as well as selections from Van Morrison’s songbook and is the follow-up to 2017’s ‘Versatile’, Van’s chart-topping jazz album. Nothing revolutionary here, but Van just keeps churning out quality rock, Celtic, blues and jazz-he even plays some saxophone on this one. Must have for Van lovers….and good juju for the rest.

Stu’s Reviews- #404- Book – “Bomb Shelter”- Jon Talton

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jon Talton

Title: Bomb Shelter

Review: the ninth installment in Talton’s Phoenix Deputy Sheriff/History Shamus, David Mapstone. This one is a barn burner. Talton is obsessed with the Californication of Phoenix and /Arizona-and displays an extraordinary historical sense of the area. This book is a no holds, no stop race to the finish line that left me believing that Barry Goldwater was a mobster. Talton’s series is one of the best in the genre. Long live El Jeffe Peraltha.

Stu’s Reviews- #403- Album – “The Saint of Lost Causes”- Justin Townes Earle

Genre: Album

Grade: A-

Notable People: Justin Townes Earle and is crack band; Produced by: JTE and Adam Bednarik

Title: The Saint of Lost Causes

Review: another very fine offering in Earle’s consistent catalog of blues inflected country and folk music. The Band is superlative and Earle has come into his own as a songwriter. Added in some very traditional Delta blues tracks here to his usual mix of heartache and longing songs. JTE sounds some like Jackson Browne on a few tracks. His albums never disappoint and seem to be getting stronger with each outing . Dad, Steve, should be proud.

Stu’s Reviews- #402- Book – “Widowmaker”- Paul Doiron

Genre: Book

Grade: B+/B

Notable People: Paul Doiron

Title: Widowmaker

Review: another in the long running series featuring Maine Game Warden, Mike Bowditch. Who knew there was such mayhem in rural Maine? Well written, great sense of place, evolving characters in this series. The plot on this one rambled a bit and the ending seemed abrupt and without focus. Still a very fun and very quick read. Overall, this is a great series.

Stu’s Reviews- #401- Film – “The Rolling Thunder Review”

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Alan Ginsburg, Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Title: The Rolling Thunder Review(Netflix)

Review: If you are of a certain age, this is must see film on Netflix. Long in the vault, it is a wide ranging and quite wacked out portrayal of Dylan’s 1976 (bicentennial) nationwide barnstorming tour with a group of noted eccentrics. Dylan and Baez are golden in their duets. Scarlet Rivera is luminous with her mystic-gypsy fiddle playing and he effervescent Alan Ginsburg is along as the spiritual mentor. Dylan not only leads the formidable group (including a spaced out Roger McGuinn) but drives the bus…and Scorsese captures it all as only he can. If you are in you advanced years-you’ll want to catch this piece of wonderful Americana.