Stu’s Reviews – Page 68

Music Review- CSNY-1974

Genre: Album

Grade: B+
Notable People: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Title: CSNY 1974

Review –This IS a journey through the past. Three CDs and one DVD from the legendary 1974 tour that swept through stadiums across the land. They managed to stay together for three months and then could not stand each other again for ten years. A lot of egos here. Stills was already past his prime vocally and a bit wild in his guitar work. Crosby and Nash bring their impeccable harmonies (though never as good as in the studio). Neil, as always, is clearly the star. He introduced both “On the Beach” and “Long May you Run” on this tour. His songs really stand out. Some of the other tunes are pretty energetic- some rather dull. There is lot of very familiar sounds here in abundance. Nixon was resigning that summer- and the boys were still leading the cheers against the establishment. Good backup for Tim Drummond on bass, Joe Lala on percussion and Russ Kunkel on drums…but not really enough when it comes down to it. The massive box has good photos and liner notes. Also has some previously unreleased songs they played live on the tour. There is good two page layout shot of the show in Buffalo, which has me trying to find a good magnifying glass- since I was at the show, and am convinced I must be in the massive crowd photo. A must have for true CSNY fanatics- not so much for the rest of you.

Film Review- Selma

Genre: Film

Grade: A-
Notable People: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah, Directed by Ava DuVernay
Title: Selma

Review –This is an important film- not so much for the quality of filmmaking as for the story. It starts with a literal bang and never stops hitting you over the head with the significance of what is happening. Hard to believe that Oyelowo is a British born, Cambridge educated Shakespearian actor- he really captures MLK in every way. Ejogo is majestic as Coretta King and the cast of character actors that play MLK’s entourage does it really well. Great attention to detail, very well filmed. The only distractions for me were the choice of actors for LBJ and George Wallace –two larger than life characters, whose essence was missed by these portrayals. You can’t have a Brit play Johnson. This film should be required viewing for every elementary school kid in America.

Novel Review- Missing Persons

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+
Notable People: Patrick Modiano
Title: Missing Persons

Review – This is a very strange but intriguing book. Modiano won the Pulitzer Prize for his book “The Honeymooners” and I heard him referenced on NPR with a spectacular review. This book is dark- film noir like. Basic story is a of a man in 1960’s Paris trying to find his identity that he lost during the halcyon days on the Nazi occupation. It’s short and very dramatic read- best done in small segments. The story traces back to before the first world war-and, I must admit, left me a bit dazed and confused. Very well written with great English translation from the French. Short and worth a try

Music Review- The New Basement Tapes

Genre: Album

Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Jim James, Rhiannon Giddens, The Goldsmith Brothers, Produced by T-Bone Burnett
Title: The New Basement Tapes- Lost on the River

Review – Everyone probably knows the basic premise- songs fleshed out from lost Basement Tapes (Woodstock late 60s) era Dylan discovered lost lyrics. This a who’s who of current folk rock- with members of Dawes. My Morning Jacket, Mumford and Sons, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Elvis comprising an interesting super folk rock band. They are quite good. The Costello songs stand out most to me, and of course, the lyrics are cryptically master Dylan. I can’t say I felt overly moved by this disc, but it is pretty interesting. Great Johnny Depp guitar work on “Kansas City”

Music Review- Cheek to Cheek

Genre: Album

Grade: A-
Notable People: Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Title: Cheek to Cheek

Review – Who knew? Lady Gaga is a classic old style siren singer. An album of American classics in the forties jazz styling’s with a master and an apprentice. They really pull this off well. Tony struggles a bit with the “shouter” type numbers but still sings a ballad like no one else and Gaga is a revelation. If you like this type of music- this is a gem.
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Music Review- Out Among the Stars

Genre: Album

Grade: A-
Notable People: Johnny Cash
Title: Out Among the Stars

Review – A lost treasure trove discovered by Johnny’s son, John Carter Cash- this is music recorded in a dark period following recovery from pill addiction in 1983. Full of spiritual music and romantic musings, with a sense of humor that does not always come through in Cash’s work. There are two duets with June Carter and one with Waylon Jennings. This is really nice present to those of us who have come to revere this man’s music.

Novel Review- Dissident Gardens

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+
Notable People: Jonathan Letham
Title: Dissident Gardens

Review – Letham is really interesting writer. If you grew up in the 50s-60’s or have been around someone who has a good deal, …and are a communist leaning, New York , Jewish intellectual…then this book is right up your alley. Depending on how many of those criteria you meet- may determine whether or not you appreciate this book. Letham writes from a very intellectual perspective- you practically need a dictionary/ thesaurus to get through his work, but a lot of wry humor and insights galore. Hard to describe what this story is about- but traces a set of characters over 40-50 years in the far left reaches of the time. Not much in the way of likeable characters- but they are interesting, and a vivid portrait of the times. No happy endings here…a challenging but worthy read.

Film Review- Inherent Vice

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reece Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Title: Inherent Vice

Review – Quite a ride this one. Anderson is a totally whacked out director, who has taken a pretty complicated novel by Thomas Pynchon (most people believe you can’ t make films from his esoteric books) and given us a film that seems to mate Sam Spade with The Big Lebowski with Quentin Tarentino. It’s a lot of fun and Phoenix is wonderful…Brolin is a great match too. The movie is 2 ½ hours long and I did find myself glancing at my watch, but still what’s not to like from a tripped out story of a stoned private detective living the life in a 1970s San Francisco beach town? The spirit of the times is well represented and the story has every crazy character you could imagine…..with some absolutely great lines of dialog. Good winter’s afternoon diversion.

Film Review- Big Eyes

Genre: Film

Grade: B+
Notable People: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Directed by Tim Burton
Title: Big Eyes

Review – Well this one is interesting. It has couple of themes I’ve had a lot of lately: the story is better than the film and you’ll like it better if you are of an age. This is the story of the Keanes- the folks who brought the ubiquitous “Big Eyes” paintings to the world consciousness in the 60’s… these works of art were EVERYWHERE- a background to the times. The story is fascinating. She painted them all, he took the credit….a 15 year massive deceit. It’s really a great untold story. The movie is pretty good- but after a while – it’s kind of predictable and drags a bit. Adams is good. Waltz is fast becoming one of the top actors of his generation though I found it a bit of a stretch to have the early parts with him as a 30 year old. And of course, Tim Burton is always pretty interesting in his approach. Lots of well portrayed early 60s San Francisco and North Beach (“is expresso a kind of reefer?”. All said, worth seeing. And if you remember this stuff –there is a lot of memories here of a time.

Film Review- Venus in Fur

Genre: Film

Grade: NR
Notable People: Emmanuelle Seigner, Matthieu Almaric, Directed by Roman Polanski
Title: Venus in Fur

Review – oh boy…this is a challenging one. My son sent me this film on Blue Ray for Christmas-which may be some kind of message that I can’t quite decipher. We watched it last night, and I have tried to assess its value since, but am stumped. Polanski is just short of insane, but maybe a genius. The actors- there are only two of them…..are peerless. The film is based on an 1870 Austrian novel of the same name by Leopold von Sacher Mosoch. It apparently was the book that led to the origin of the term sado-masochism (see the author’s name). The film is really slow and spellbinding at the same time. Not much happens except a pretty tenuous, sensuous and extremely edgy dialog between a director and would be actress in an empty haunting theater. After it was over, I was really not sure exactly what happened, but the time went quickly and I thought I must be watching a work of some degree of high art since I was pretty confused…but riveted. The actors are great, the plot is obtuse, the staging is minimal…intense Polanski at his best. Mon dieu…je ne sais quoi (French sub tiles- by the way). This is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea- but if you see yourself as somewhat a student of film…then will you please rate it for me