Category: Stu’s Reviews

Stu’s Reviews- #247- Novel- Avenue of Mysteries- John Irving

Stu’s Reviews

Genre:  Novel

Grade  B-

Notable People:    John Irving

Title:  Avenue of Mysteries

Review: I had this book for six months before I read it- waiting to savor my 30 year relationship with Irving’s books. Alas, it was not to be….this was a struggle to get through and literally took me weeks and weeks. There is no question that Irving is a brilliant writer, and a legend of his generation. But, he has gotten carried away here with way too much symbolism, religiosity and ruminations….with very little real relationships or action taking place. It was very depressing, and obsessed with death as a theme, without the usual Irving caricature of such events. Almost no likeable charters, an those that are…..die. Way to heady for most people to be interested in….and I missed the bears, Vienna, wrestling and all the warmly expected themes of 30 years of writing. Where is GARP when we need him?

 

Stu’s Reviews- #246- Film- Hell and High Water

Genre:  Film   

Grade  A

Notable People:    Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Directed by: David Mackenzie

Title:  Hell and High Water

 Review: Dusty, West Texas shot film about two brothers becoming bank robbers to remedy the sins brought against their family by the oil- greed consumed local banks. Pine and Foster are excellent as the one go out in a blaze of glory and one sullen, reluctant brother. Bridges owns the role of the about to be retired Texas ranger – hoping for one last gasp. Dark and gritty, compelling, full of sadness. On a par with the Coen Brothers “No Country for Old Men” film a few years ago. and…great West Texas outlaw music to boot. This one’s a keeper. (and only drove an hour each way to see it!)

Stu’s Reviews- #245- Film- Cafe Society

Genre:  Film   

Grade  A

Notable People:    Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Steve Carrell, Parker Posey, Corey Stoll, Blake Lively,  Written and Directed by: Woody Allen

Title:  Café Society

 Review: The Wood-Man is back! I must admit that I have an unbelievable bias towards Woody’s movies- so they are almost always an “A” in my book- though I’m sure many would disagree. My leanings are large enough that we drove an hour and ten each way to Brattleboro to see the new offering (you don’t get the Wood-Man in the mountain cinemas)..and totally worth it. This one is a convoluted love story set in LA and New York in the 30s. Eisenberg follows in a long recent line of actors channeling what Woody used to do himself…. and does it really well. Stewart is too cute for words and Carrell is magnificent as a fast talking big-shot Hollywood agent. Check out the lighting, and the costumes and the general attention Woody gives to detailing the era….and the story…what’s not to like? It has 30’s Cinema sirens, legendary studio types, Errol Flynn legends, mobsters, the usual Woody-Jewish mother (“if Jews believed in the afterlife, we’d have a lot more customers”), great shots of New York, and a perfectly cast cameo from Paulie-Walnuts (The Sopranos). As expected, the music is marvelous and the whole production creates an aura only Woody can give you. And though he no longer appears, Woody narrates the whole shebang. Added bonus- at every twist and turn, an older woman in the rear of the theater would loudly shout ”OY”…..Loved it. Want more……and soon.

Stu’s Reviews- #244- Film- Florence Foster Jenkins

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-/B+

Notable People:    Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Directed by: Stephen Frears

Title:  Florence Foster Jenkins

 Review: Well- we finally got to movie up here in the mountains. Surprisingly, the local teen action flick cinema had this one- not sure why. Guess it is the drawing power of Meryl Streep. Wild story about an infamous patron of the arts in NYC in the 1940s, who was determined to have her own singing career, despite not being able to carry a single note. Alternately funny and tragic, it is decent movie, elevated to much loftier heights by Streeps’ typically virtuoso performance. Since she is actually a quite talented singer, she had to learn to sing really off key opera in a convincing way…and boy, does she. Grant does well as her kept and doting husband, and Helberg is magnificent as her reluctant accompanist. The acting makes it a passable A-.

 

 

Stu’s Reviews- #243- Novel- If the Dead Rise Not- Philip Kerr

Genre:  Novel

Grade  A-

Notable People:    Philip Kerr

Title:  “If the Dead Rise Not”

Review: I have been fully absorbed this summer with these Kerr books about the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Gunther is a wonderful protagonist- full of both heroic traits and frailties. … a very, very reflective tough guy. The material and the basis in historical truths is fascinating. What an unbelievable culture. This one finds Gunther in Berlin in 1937 trying to stay out of the Nazi’s sight and then in Havana in 1954 where he has been forced to escape due to his SS affiliation. It’s an amazing portrait of Cuba during the Batista regime and right before the Castro takeover…..and full of American gangsters. These books are worth their summer weight in gold.

Stu’s Reviews- #242- Album- Mudcrutch

Genre:  Album

Grade  A-

Notable People:    Tom Petty, Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, Tom Leadon, Randall Marsch  Produced by: Tom Petty and Mike Campbell

Title:  “2”

Review: The second offering form Petty’s original teen years Florida band that went away for thirty plus years and he has now restarted. This is pretty great country/swamp rock. Petty plays bass and is joined by two his ever present “Heartbreakers”  (Tench and Campbell) along with their high school buddies Leadon and Marsch (Leadon is the younger brother of original Eagle lead guitarist , Bernie Leadon). These guys make really cool throwback music and seem to be having the times of their lives doing it. Quite the side project. I dig it!

Stu’s Reviews- #241- Novel- “A German Requiem”- Philip Kerr

Genre:  Novel

Grade  A

Notable People:   Philip Kerr

Title:  A German Requiem

Review: As far as I’m concerned the summer of 2016 reading prize goes to Philip Kerr for these wonderful stories of the German detective Bernie Gunther. The series started in late 1930’s pre-war, Nazi gripped Berlin and follows our man through into the late 50s-early 60s. This selection is the third an final  in his original Berlin Noir trilogy, which started pre-war with the first book, mid-war for the second and this one, which takes place in 1948 post war-torn Berlin and then in Vienna, where the four victorious super powers reign supreme, while engaging in the kind of spy meets spy intrigue destined to become the Cold War. The writing is really good- the story even better. This is a series worth sinking your teeth into- great suspense/mystery writing in the context of very accurate historical times and people- all of which seem to be thoroughly well investigated and presented.

Stu’s Reviews- #240- Novel- “Children of War”- Martin Walker

Genre:  Novel

Grade  A-

Notable People:    Martin Walker

Title:  Children of War

 Review: Seventh in the series of ten so far..…I absolutely love these books set in the southwest of France. Bruno is just a wonderful character and the books are full of unusual intrigue, great cooking, magnificent wines from the Dordogne “Caves” and titillating stories of French history. This one is centered around the French Resistance during the war and loaded with political commentary as well. What great summer reads.

Stu’s Reviews- #239- Album- The Avett Brothers

Genre:  Album

Grade  A-

Notable People:    The Avett Brothers, Produced by: Rick Rubin

Title:  True Sadness

Review: Got this album in mail today from the alt country rockers, and listened to it four times in the car. Great harmonies, sweet songs, fine musicianship. Liked these guys before- but more now. They have matured as songwriters and the arrangements are sparkling. Viva Les Avetts.

Stu’s Reviews- #238- Film- Naked Among Wolves

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-

Notable People:    Florian Stetter, Peter Schneider, Sylvester Groth, Directed by: Philipp Kadelbach

Title:  Naked Among Wolves

 

Review: I very rarely watch films on TV- but was home alone one night and caught this 2015 film on Netflix. Very powerful Polish film about a group of concentration camp veterans at Buchenwald , at the very end of WW2 in 1945, who risk everything , to hide a 3 year old Jewish boy from the Nazis. Extraordinarily dark and moving- best film I have seen about these survivors trying to hang on as the allies approach to liberate them. Gotta be in the mood for this one.