Category: Stu’s Reviews

Novel Review- Cinnamon Kiss

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Walter Mosley
Title: Cinnamon Kiss

Review If you’ve never read any of Mosley’s Easy Rawlins books- you are missing an amazing piece of American culture. Easy is a part-time private dick and part-time criminal in post war LA. Mosley started writing these books in the immediate post war period in which LA was beginning to evolve (think Chinatown) and has continued , bringing it and Easy into the 60s. This book takes place as the 60s are exploding in both LA and San Francisco. It’s a hard boiled page turner but also a wonderful snapshot of the American Black experience. Easy is an incredibly complex character and his friend Mouse might be the most dangerous yet lovable character in the history of fiction. Mosley is a master and this is one of his really good efforts. When I get in big trouble- I want Easy and Mouse in my corner.

Film Review- Arthur Newman

Title: Arthur Newman

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt, Directed by Dante Ariola

Review Quiet and quirky film about two people trying to change their identities and lives. Nice cross country story; moving at times; with two very fine performances. Did I mention Emily Blunt? Well, she’s a keeper and Colin Firth is just plain excellent in everything he does- even affecting a very mid American accent. I thought this movie was really sweet and liked it a lot.

Film Review- Place Beyond the Pines

Title: Place Beyond the Pines

Genre: Film

Grade: B

Notable People: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eve Mendez, Ray Liotta, Directed by Derek Cianfrance

Review Interesting film, with a complex plot and excellent characters. Went on too long for my taste, and suffered once the incredible Ryan Gosling is no longer involved about half way through. Bradley Cooper just does not carry it the way Gosling does. Mendez is really good and Liotta is his usual fearsome self, maybe a bit exaggerated. The teens who are integral to the movie are exciting newcomers. A pretty good summer movie- though falls a bit short of its sizeable ambitions.

Novel Review- Rain Gods

Title: Rain Gods

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Review If you are a Burke fan- this is probably an “A”- for others not so much. Burke has serialized the Dave Robicheaux books for years- but has maintained a sideline series about Billy Bob Holland a small county Montana lawman. This is one step removed and is about Billy Bob’s elderly cousin- Hackberry Holland- a lawman in remote south Texas. Korean war vet, recovering alcoholic, man of many old demons..and a genuine sage- Hack is a pretty interesting character in a good yarn with all the eccentrics you could ask for. Not too demanding- a good quick summer read.

Film Review- The Company You Keep

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Robert Redford, Shia LeBouf, THE Julie Christie, Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, Richard Jenkins, THE Sam Elliot, Brit Marling, Directed by Robert Redford
Title: Cinnamon Kiss

Review If you are over 50- this is a great, must-see movie. Under 50- still really good. A cast of mid-elders to die for. Redford is magnificent, Christie is an old man’s wet dream…I LOVED this movie. Sixties underground radical decides to turn herself in after 30 years on the run/hide- and sets of a chain of events with her former colleague radicals in hiding. Heady movie with lots of conundrums (how often do you see that word in a movie review?). Made me want to out and march in the streets- or go into hiding. Nolte and Jenkins are sleepers. Redford is a prize.

Music Review- “Cold Fact”- Rodriguez

Genre: Album

Grade: B+

Notable People: Rodriguez
Title: Cold Fact

Review Got the album for my birthday and finally had a chance to listen to what the buzz has been about. I’m sure everyone knows the story; Rodriguez (not sure if he has first name?) was a late 60s- early 70’s singer-songwriter from Detroit- who made couple of well reviewed albums and then disappeared into obscurity and menial labor jobs for almost 40 years. Unbeknownst to him- he became a cult in south Africa and had a massive following there; a couple of producer types found out he was alive (long believed dead) and tracked him down a few years ago. There was a great documentary made on him “Looking for Sugarman”and his career has been renewed with vigor (and fortune). This is a re-release of his first album from 1970 and I really like it. Very melodic, catchy tunes, good lyrics and nice musicianship. It’s a time capsule- with classic folk rock with a psychedelic edge to it. His voice in reminiscent of early Jesse Colin young. This is like finding a time capsule; if you’re interested in antiques- go out and get it.

Novel Review- Sunset Park

Title: Sunset Park

Genre: Novel

Grade: A/A-

Notable People: Paul Auster

Review Have you read any of Auster? Well- he may be the most intense novelist writing today and this book is no exception. Very interesting tale of young man who runs away from everything for eight years after semi-accidentally killing his step brother. The book moves from South Florida to a shabby abandoned house in Brooklyn. The characters and relationships are really good. And angst…well Auster just does angst. Probably not for everyone, and I found the end disquieting- bit I really liked this book. Auster is tortured and brilliant.

Film Review- The Master

Title: The Master

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Dern; directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Review Whoa- this is one intense movie. Basic story of a damaged GI returning from the Big One who seeks meaning in a religious cult led by the alternately charismatic and wacky Hoffman. It’s a pretty subtle portrayal of this kind of craziness; Hoffman does quiet manipulation and a lot of laughing rather than hellfire and brimstone, As always, he is beyond brilliant (I have begun to think he may be the premier actor of his generation), Phoenix is good (though not all that nuanced) as the tortured seeker (I kept thinking he was going to start singing “I Walk the Line”) and Adams and Dern are very effective in polar opposite parts . The real star of the show, though, is director Anderson- who has captured the time and the angst with great intensity and amazing attention to detail. This movie was unusually shot at 65 MM and it brings out the 1950’s well with vibrant Technicolors and perfect costumes/scenery. Anderson previously did Boogie Nights and There Will be Blood- so he has both a strong pedigree and a deserved reputation for being on the edge. This movie could be disturbing to some and too slow for others. I found it a “must watch”

Book Review- The Christmas Kid

Title: The Christmas Kid

Genre: Short Stories

Grade: A

Notable People: Pete Hamill

Review I’m not often a big short story fan- but was totally captivated by this set of stories about a Brooklyn neighborhood from post war through the early 80’s . Hamill is a native and lifelong Brooklynite and a great writer. He wrote for many years for the NY Post in its glory days alongside Jimmy Breslin and Norman Mailer. His feel for place and characters in perfect. I had to stop myself form going through this book of stories all at once. What characters!

Novel Review- Angle of Repose- Wallace Stegner

Title: Angle of Repose

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: Wallace Stegner

Review This is an old book (1971) that i had never read before- by Stegner, who some consider one of the great American writers of the 20th century. It is a fascinating (but very slow) autobiographical novel that moves from his time in the 1960’s back to his grandmother’s life story amidst the settling of the West. His GM was indeed a pretty famous artist and writer and gave up her cultured east coast life to go west with his engineer grandfather- who was engaged in creating massive dams and waterways. A lot of the book is in the form of his grandmother’s letters- but they are quite a portrait of settling the west and the conflicts of a pre-feminist , feminist with following her husband to a series of brutal living situations in a primitive land. Very real; exceedingly well written- easiest read in short installments over a long period of time. Great and real characters.