Stu’s Reviews – Page 63

Stu’s Reviews- #222- Novel- Creole Bell- James Lee Burke

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Title: Creole Bell

Review: Being a serial reader, I have been on a renewed Burke kick. This one is a yin and yang. I do think Burke is one of the pre-eminent writers of our time in the “mystery” genre, but has become somewhat repetitive in later years. This is the 19th in the Dave Robicheaux series (I already reviewed the 20th not too long ago) and is back in his beloved Iberia Parrish, outside of New Orleans. His powers of description remain unparalleled and his stories are humdingers…but the sheer amount of symbolic meandering and philosophical/moral rants has become a negative diversion. The books have also taken on a bit too much of sheer unbelievability. So, A+ for the level of writing, and a B for the rest. If you are interested in exploring Burke, go back to his earlier Robicheaux novels (Neon Rain, Black Cherry Blues). when he was more of a flat out great storyteller and avoid the constant ramblings on the Vietnam experience and the nature of evil.

Stu’s Reviews- #221- Film- Room

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, Directed by Lenny Abrahamson

Title: Room

Review: Startling film about a woman and her child kept in a garden shed by a true sicko for seven years and what happens when they escape. Larson and Tremblay as mother and five year old son are remarkable. Allen is wonderful as the reunited grandmother and William H. Macy plays a troubling small part as the lost dad/granddad. Very, very tense movie with amazing shots inside the tiny prison room. A lot of darkness about human nature here. The second half dragged a bit- but a major must see.

Stu’s Reviews- #220- Film- The Revenant

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, , Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Title: The Revenant

Review: Sprawling, violent, dramatic story set in the vast wilderness without a whole lot of dialog. Leo is masterful. Hardy is despicably good. The cinematography is by the incomparable Emmanuel Lubezki and is worth going just to see that- absolutely majestic. There’s no doubt this is a very ambitious film and that the cast, direction and art of filming are all of the highest grade. There are some amazingly brilliant moments here…the bear mauling made me want to crawl under my seat. And, this IS one to see on the BIG screen. I did find it a bit long and at times, tedious. May also be adversely affected by the hype around it. Very good film- not great. Want to see great- watch Jeremiah Johnson from early 70s with a youngish Robert Redford- very similar context, shorter and equally compelling.

Stu’s Reviews- #219- Novel- The Company She Kept- Archer Mayor

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Directed by Andrew Haigh

Title: The Company She Kept

Review: Amazingly, the 26th offering in 26 years for the Joe Gunther series, Archer takes the form to new heights in this one. Circling back to some mysterious, and unresolved characters from books of ten years ago as well as introducing a host of new characters, he takes us on a great ride through the mountains and valleys of his beloved Vermont. His books have gotten more politically informed over time, as well as a lot more life-philosophical (Joe must be 90 by now!). But, his craft just keeps getting better. We had the good fortune to hear him read from the book this Fall, and the passion of his voice is quite sincere as are his musings about the writing process and its evolution, shared with us over coffee and pastry at Java Baba’s in Ludlow. . . fair to say, this is not an unbiased review as most of your know about our longtime acquaintance with Archer…but I wouldn’t let that dater you from going out and getting a copy right now. Well, well done.

Stu’s Reviews- #218- Film- 45 Years

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Directed by Andrew Haigh

Title: 45 Years

Review: A superb, but very depressing film, set in the English countryside- about a childless couple approaching their 45th wedding anniversary. In the midst of their preparations for a celebratory party, a long lost secrete emerges from the past, forcing the 70 something couple to reevaluate their lives and relationship. The acting in magnificent- Rampling especially has enjoyed a major late career resurgence- and the movie is wonderfully shot and composed. The music is haunting and everything just feels really dark-as it is intended to. A very fine movie but a hard one to watch.

Stu’s Reviews- #217- Novel- Light of the World- James Lee Burke

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Title: Light of the World

Review: Burke has gone a bit over the deep-end. In this, the umpteenth in the Dave Robicheaux crime series, he has moved from the Louisiana Bayou to the Bitterroot mountains of Montana-which corresponds to his own geographical re-location. Ostensibly, Dave and Clete and their families are spending the summer in Montana with a legendary activist writer friend. Needless to say, chaos follows and finds them. The book seems more far fetched than his even his usual and his long diatribes on the nature of evil, biblical exploration and the Vietnam experience take more of the book than the actual story. All that said, Burke is wonderful writer and has developed these great characters over the last 30 years. His descriptive powers of place are also among the best. It’s a thrill ride with a lot of lulls for rumination- but definitely worth the read.

#216- Film- Hunger Games- Mockingjay Part Two

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Woody

Harrelson, Directed by Todd Haynes

Title: Hunger Games- Mockingjay Part Two

Review: well- its now over after four years. Jennifer Lawrence went from being a girl to full grown woman, with even some insinuated sex scenes in the movie (nothing too obvious). The fourth and last was well done and had quite the extravagances. The character roles in this film were really great (Woody, Sutherland, PS Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore). Stayed pretty consistent with the marvelous books with a semi-happy ending. Lawrence was born for this role. If this is your kind of thing, make an effort to see it on the big screen- it is deserving of that.

Stu’s Reviews- #215- Film- Carol

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Cate Blanchet, Rooney Mara, Directed by Todd Haynes

Title: Carol

Review: This a wonderful film about two women in love I the forbidden 50s. Blanchet and Mara sparkle together- incredible chemistry. Mara is luminous as the young, naive woman who can’t say no. Blanchet is haunted as a repressed lesbian trying to maintain a foothold in the traditional world of the era. Magnificently shot, with enormous attention to detail of the times. The first half of the movie dragged a bit, but once it captured you, it did not let go. I really loved this film.

Stu’s Reviews- #213- Novel- Silkworm

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: Robert Galbraith

Title: Silkworm

Review: The second novel of three published by JK Rowling (Harry Potter) under the pen name of Galbraith, it is another extremely well written book. Galbraith/Rowling is the real deal as a writer, and these Cormoran Strike mysteries are quite the reads. Strike is a one legged gruff Afghanistan amputee living and working his private dick gig in the heart of London. The books are very descriptive and the mysteries pretty complicated. And, awful lot of red herrings. Strikes’ character is quite an enigma and well thought out and written. This is another good installment, but I found the last quarter of it dragged (the books are almost 500 pages to begin with). Still, a good read by a great writer.

Stu’s Reviews- #212- Film- Brooklyn

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent. Directed by: John Crowley

Title: Brooklyn

Review: This is an absolutely beautiful movie in every way conceivable. In early 1950’s young Irish girl, sponsored by the far away benevolent priest, comes to America form Ireland to find a better life, settling in the large Irish community in Brooklyn. This is the story of her transition, of grief and endings and beginnings, and falling in love..…filled with poignant moments that are so clearly life defining for those in them. I just loved this movie. Ronan is stunning in the lead role, Cohen is just right and Broadbent is a throwback to the priests of 1940s Hollywood. Beautifully shot, both in Brooklyn and Ireland, attention to all the details of 1952 life. Wonderful!