Curb Service: A Memior - Book Review

Published July 2013

Curb Service: A Memoir - Scot Sothern C+

Scot Sothern has made a career of photographing prostitutes. His passion for photography and affinity for streetwalkers led to his first book in 2011, Lowlife (published in the UK), and subsequent photography exhibits around the world. In 2013, Curb Service: A Memoir was published by Soft Skull Press. It's an unapologetic narrative that centers around Sothern prowling for and photographing prostitutes, while trying to maintain a "normal" life that includes an ex-wife, a son he adores, and a steady job. The book is gritty and bleak. Sothern does not glamorize or attempt to rationalize his nasty habit. The women he documents are often homeless, drug addicted, and forgotten. Curb Service is part junkie memoir, part exposé. Sometimes it's flat, sometimes it's redundant, but mostly it's too perverse to ignore.

For more info about the book, see the link below via americansuburbx.com (NSFW!)
http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/08/scot-sothern-follow-your-hard-on-an-interview-with-scot-sothern-2013.html

Elle - Movie Review

Elle (R) 130 mins B-
Oh! So Twisted.

Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Charles Berling, Judith Magre, Christian Berkel, Virginie Efira, Authur Mazet, Jonas Bloquet, Alice Isaaz, and Anne Consigny

Elle is a rape-revenge drama directed by Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Robocop). Verhoeven has been quoted as saying, "No American actress would ever take on such an amoral movie." Hence, his first French-language feature, critically his best work, and a provocative mind f**k. It stars an ageless Isabelle Huppert who delivers a captivating performance that hasn't gone unnoticed. At last count, Huppert has been nominated "Best Actress" for at least a dozen awards- most notably (to general audiences) for this year's Golden Globe.

Michelle (Huppert) is unbreakable. She's the head of a sexually charged/violent video game company, she's sleeping with her best friend's husband, her son is a money sucking underachiever with a pregnant girlfriend in tow, and her mother is shacking up with a young gigolo... none of which comes close to the most dramatic event happening in her life. I went into his film with a vague notion of what it was about, and if you plan to see this film (she'll likely be nominated for an Academy Award) I suggest the same approach. The film, a thriller, kept me guessing- I thought I knew what I was getting into, then I didn't, then I did. The film goes on too long and it felt messy. Nevertheless, Huppert's performance is worthy of viewing and worth the price of admission. Elle is a challenging piece of art, not for everyone. However, it's been lingering in my mind since I left the theatre.

Based on Philippe Djian's novel "Oh..."

Check out the trailer courtesy of YouTube & Sony Pictures Classics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM96ne-XiH0

Jackie

Jackie (R) 100 mins B
A biopic that looks and feels a little different

Starring: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt

Jackie is Pablo Larrain's latest film and first English-language feature. The Chilean filmmaker provides a unique look at an iconic life that has spent most of its historical relevance in the shadows. Natalie Portman plays an emotionally distraught Jackie Kennedy during the aftermath of her husband's assassination. The film is sullen, abrasive, and slightly awkward; however, those qualities only magnify Portman's Oscar-worthy performance and Larrain's fresh perspective.

Check out the Fox Searchlight Trailer via YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9pW3B8Ycc4

The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo - Book Review

Published: Aug 2016

The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo - Amy Schumer A-

Amy Schumer's first book, The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, is undeniably charming. This collection of personal/funny essays is yet another indication that she is (love her or hate her) a talent to be reckoned with. Considering the recent popularity of similar books (Boosypants, Yes Please, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Not That Kind of Girl) I was pleasantly surprised how this book transcended celebrity and resonated with me as "down-to-earth" and utterly entertaining. It's good times, bad times and why sometimes we have to laugh at it all. Highly recommend.