Title: Meek’s Cutoff
Genre: Film
Grade: Not Rated
Notable People: Michelle Williams
Review: Too weird to give a rating to. The slowest most thought provoking western in the history of cinema. Story of pioneers lost on their way west to the Pacific; led by a cowboy philosopher (Meks) who know nothing. This is the antithesis of the grandiose awe- inspiring western. Got to have an art house theater nearby to see this one.
Title: Water for Elephants
Genre: Film
Grade: B +
Notable People: Robert Pattinson, Renee Witherspoon, Christopher Waltz
Review: nice adaptation of an excellent novel. Great cinematography that really captures the gypsy life during the Depression. Waltz (who won Academy Award for Tarentino’s Ingloriuos Basterds- is an absolute tour de force. The ending was changed to be more Hollywood- which was a little disappointing. Reece’s role is a real departure for her-pretty gritty. Overall pretty good for a mainstream movie
Title: How to be Clairvoyant
Genre: Record
Grade: A
Notable People: Robbie Robertson
Review: a new album- fist in over a decade from the former leader of The Band. Wonderfully complex lyrics and his usual funky guitar playing and arranging. This is real keeper and features a nice duet with Eric Clapton and vocals by Mavis Staples.
Title: Before the Devil (Knows You’re Dead)
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Directed by Sidney Lumet, with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei
Review: Wacked out film about two loser brothers who decide to hold up their parents’ jewelry store. Very good performances. Lumet’s last film before his death.
Title: The Paris Wife
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: Paula McLain (Author)
Review: a very interesting novel in the first person by Hemingway’s first wife- Hadley. Took it to Paris with me; it’s mostly set during the early (pre fame)Paris years and has a notable cast of characters (Gertrude Stein, Scoot Fitzgerald, Sherwood Anderson, Picasso). A sad tale of the end of thier marriage and his falling for his 2nd wife. Well told and very detailed research. This is must for anyone who is fan of EH or Paris.
Title: Stories
Genre: short stories
Grade: B
Notable People: T.C. Boyle (Author)
Review: Twenty years worth of short stories from a master of the form. Not for everyone; these are mostly very dark. Great one about Eisenhower’s secret affair with Khrushchev’s wife. Good bedtime reading; they are short and can be read one at a time.
Title: The Constant Gardener
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: John LeCarre (Author)
Review: a very complicated and socially conscious book about the abused of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. If you’ve seen the movie- the book has little resemblance and may seem a bit hard to follow. It’s a slow but dynamic read by an author who is master of the spy business. It’s also a very subtly touching love. Takes awhile to read.
Title: Mudcrutch
Genre: Record
Grade: B+
Notable People: Tom Petty and several of the Heartbreakers
Review: I’ve been listening to this album , released a couple of years ago, again. Very classic 70’s county rock from Petty and his original Gainesville band- which included two of the Heartbreakers and Bernie Leadon’s (Eagles fame) brother. Nice harmonies, jingle jangle guitars and classic songs of the era. A nice little record.
Title: Nowhere to Run
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: C.J. Box (Author)
Review: This is the seventh or eighth serial novel in a series about Joe Pickett- a Wyoming game warden. Fast paced, good characters (especially the mysterious falconer and ex CIA guy Nate Romanowski). Not the best plot in the series- but a very fast paced and good read. Very descriptive of the northern Wyoming terrain. If you are a serial reader- try Box out.
Title: Known to Evil
Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: Walter Mosely (Author)
Review: If you have not read Mosely before- this will be treat. It’s a new series based on a hard boiled NYC detective an former mob guy that has the usual charm and wonderful dialog from Mosely’ wonderful Easy Rawlins’ books. A great look into the African American psyche and the best one liners of any author I’ve ever read. Captivating story and great eye for setting
