tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923284230963487472024-03-04T22:11:56.990-07:00My Gray Morning"Introspective reviews of Films, Books, Music and anything that moves me...Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.comBlogger813125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-14923974452877955682018-02-23T17:07:00.000-07:002018-03-18T10:08:07.402-06:00Standard Deviation - Book Review<b>Standard Deviation</b> - Katherine Heiny <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B+</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9GklUUnij8NLCb51ZA0yGFkDZ6oq3pUbGWDrdYWPVt6Rr7eYVADqK5Qp0oMSuICN8uU7YiEU9MzEZ2vjFKiD8X-2BRmuj-0RPWyP_fJ5QHfTEPAFAQV2BhP-oTRZEZdsBG_a3h0mrfc/s1600/qzqxq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9GklUUnij8NLCb51ZA0yGFkDZ6oq3pUbGWDrdYWPVt6Rr7eYVADqK5Qp0oMSuICN8uU7YiEU9MzEZ2vjFKiD8X-2BRmuj-0RPWyP_fJ5QHfTEPAFAQV2BhP-oTRZEZdsBG_a3h0mrfc/s200/qzqxq.jpg" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: May 2017</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9GklUUnij8NLCb51ZA0yGFkDZ6oq3pUbGWDrdYWPVt6Rr7eYVADqK5Qp0oMSuICN8uU7YiEU9MzEZ2vjFKiD8X-2BRmuj-0RPWyP_fJ5QHfTEPAFAQV2BhP-oTRZEZdsBG_a3h0mrfc/s1600/qzqxq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>I loved Katherine Heiny’s short story collection, <i>Single, Carefree, Mellow</i> (2015)- it was scandalously delicious. <i>Standard Deviation</i>, Heiny’s debut novel (she’s published numerous YA novels under pen names) is full of charm and wit. I am always impressed when a novel that is meant to be funny, is funny. But, what I found most intriguing about <i>Standard Deviation</i> is the quiet and subtle portrait of a marriage in semi-crisis. <br />
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Graham, a 56-year-old venture capitalist is married to Audra who is 15 years younger. Audra was Graham’s mistress prior to divorcing his first wife, Elspeth. Elspeth was the prototypical (and misunderstood) starter wife. Graham and Elspeth never had kids. Graham and Audra have a 10-year-old son, Matthew. <br />
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Now, imagine if your current wife/former mistress wanted to be close friends with your ex-wife. I suppose it's not out of the realm of possibility; but, it's definitely not ideal. </div>
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I absorbed these characters, especially Graham. Each of them felt like people I know, I’ve known, or I'd like to know. The story is well-crafted. There is no over-the-top drama and basically no plot. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining look at marriage, exes, emotional infidelity and how easily the lines are blurred. <br />
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Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-955497210733107152018-02-09T17:45:00.000-07:002018-03-18T12:16:36.649-06:00 Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House - Book Review <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: Jan 2018</span></td></tr>
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<b>Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House</b> - Michael Wolff <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B+</span></b></div>
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<i>Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House</i> is like the proverbial train wreck - horrifying and scary but you can't look away. Considering the soap-opera our White House has become, it's hard not to believe Michael Wolff's account of the Trump Administration. This book is flawed and Wolff himself comes off as a bit slippery. Nevertheless, this guilty pleasure reads like a nonfiction novel. Entertaining. Disconcerting.<br />
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Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-70043797908775332572017-12-29T17:30:00.000-07:002017-12-30T14:32:03.272-07:00On the Beach at Night Alone - Movie Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">In Theatres Now</span></td></tr>
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<b>On the Beach at Night Alone</b> (NR) 104 mins <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>C+</b></span><br />
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Starring: Kim Min-hee, Seo Young-hwa, Jung Jae-young, Moon Sung-keun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Song Seon-mi<br />
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<i>On the Beach at Night Alone</i> is the critically acclaimed film by Sang-Soo Hong. It stars Kim Min-hee, winner of the Best Actress award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival for her role in this film. Min-hee plays Young-hee, an actress who is attempting to put her life back together after a torrid affair with a married filmmaker. <br />
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The film opens with Young-hee visiting Jee-young (Seo Young-hwa), a divorced girlfriend who lives in Germany. Young-hee is in a state transition, wondering if she should stay in Germany and if she should end a relationship with her married lover. This, and the entirety of the film, is sparse. The mood is pensive. But, the emotions percolating underneath the surface are complicated. The first "act" of the film is quietly intriguing. The two women spend a lot of time talking and walking around Hamburg. They visit a bookstore. They have an awkward dinner with Jee-young's ex-husband and new wife. The four of them end up on a beach at night, before the film fades to black and moves into the second "act."<br />
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The second act of the film finds Young-hee back in Korea, post-affair. Her life is still in limbo. Her thoughts are plunging into despair. During the second act we began to understand the protagonist a little better. The second act also turns up the emotional intensity a notch; however, I found this part of the film less intriguing than the shorter first act. I kept waiting for something more dramatic to happen, it never did. That said, I still liked <i>On the Beach at Night Alone</i> because of its honesty and introspection. For those unaware, this film is reportedly based on a real-life affair between Hong and Min-hee. <br />
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<i>On the Beach at Night Alone </i>is definitely not for everyone. But, it was enough to motivate me to explore Hong's previous works. <br />
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Check out this trailer courtesy of YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkBJ9QGtvRA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkBJ9QGtvRA</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-68956012021572517492017-12-23T22:58:00.000-07:002017-12-31T13:04:28.488-07:00Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Movie Review <b>Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri</b> (R) 115 minutes <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B</span></b> <br />
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Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, Lucas Hedges and John Hawkes </div>
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Mildred Hayes (McDormand) is relentless. Months after her daughter is brutally raped and murdered, Hayes (McDormand) rents ad space on three run-down billboards just outside of her town. In an attempt to shame the local sheriff (Harrelson), the billboards raises the question: "Why no arrests/no progress?" The billboards immediately strike controversy and anger throughout the small town, especially with the "dumb as a rock" racist and homophobic deputy sheriff (Rockwell).</div>
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This film is flawed. Some of the dialogue is campy and contrived. But, despite occasionally missing the mark, <i>Three Billboards</i> is charmingly dark and McDormand delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. It's fun, in a sad sorta way. </div>
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Check out this trailer courtesy of YouTube ---> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU</a><br />
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Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-27256422944825281782017-10-07T23:39:00.000-06:002017-12-30T10:15:32.737-07:00Sweetbitter - Book Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINBgwpatBuVBNYAFkdBe4I5cF4m3OXof3eSM7qaWWiSCrGHJeVbF-ka1znISPezk74cg4cY19159qQjdPnjlyWfn5CldGhHWM6tart2EzIewzE5wCMU1IwhWC1ZhrHdY78jJcDQ5SgOA/s1600/sdsdsd.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINBgwpatBuVBNYAFkdBe4I5cF4m3OXof3eSM7qaWWiSCrGHJeVbF-ka1znISPezk74cg4cY19159qQjdPnjlyWfn5CldGhHWM6tart2EzIewzE5wCMU1IwhWC1ZhrHdY78jJcDQ5SgOA/s200/sdsdsd.png" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: April 2016</span></td></tr>
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<b>Sweetbitter</b> - Stephanie Danler <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>C-</b></span><br />
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The hype machine for Stephanie Danler's debut, <i>Sweetbitter</i>, was in full effect during the spring of 2016. It was often mentioned in the same breath as Anthony Bourdain's <i>Kitchen Confidential</i>, while one <i>New York Times </i>headline deemed it "Bright Lights, Big City for the Restaurant Set." I was intrigued. I assumed I was buying a gritty autobiographical restaurant novel about a small town girl in the big city (sex, drugs and food!). Instead, <i>Sweetbitter</i> was a sluggish coming-of-maturity romp that reminded me of my drunken work hard/play hard twenties and the eventual rock bottom epiphanies that demanded I grow up and get my shit together. The novel had its moments. It hinted at the potential its hype suggested. But, overall I found it slow, frustrating, and less about food, more about a tiresome love triangle.<br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-37637830400314834552017-09-28T23:07:00.000-06:002017-12-30T11:25:29.926-07:00Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History - Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BUSc99VvTFAGZDjnNoa8jwSVIm7KRqbxPD48rbI0lypWHJVQx_VEQnSGeWkOd284xcdssM4DmrPWDOsMWmJLmiUpDSqclz9XsqF5XR3RVXhLpzIHyGh25aOMlJanGQCqfhJibCWkMv0/s200/turrrr.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="130" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: Sept 2017</span></td></tr>
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<b>Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History </b>- Katy Tur <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>A-</b></span><br />
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In the spring of 2015, Katy Tur was a London-based NBC correspondent and campaign trail novice when she landed the assignment to cover Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Her boss said it would be, “six months tops.” But, what she (and most everyone) didn’t know at the time was that her trip on the crazy train was a one-way ticket. <br />
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For some, the wound is still too fresh to relive 500 days of Trump - that’s how long Tur was on the Trump beat. However, "<i>Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History</i>" is a fascinating and accessible behind-the-scenes look at the weirdest and most heartbreaking political campaign of my lifetime. And dare I say this is a lite read. Tur masterfully delivers her account of the Trump crusade in a way that’s both entertaining and enlightening, if not ultimately depressing. <br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-38601249455926475932017-09-22T23:13:00.000-06:002017-12-30T10:47:44.007-07:00The Hate U Give - Book Review <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOEVVovKpdB2C1gzgftdOLeNKU6zRD0g-nKrdgTSBSqXJ_zuu7v49vYu0FZCwMqSPvKNMYfR3OarWs6-GRJeusC4Lh_heS5QA-EO3UwqdyxQCj5F9nBL9BTKRXSEggrnrEDnI0oApJ9E/s1600/ashhhaass.jpg"></a><b>The Hate U Give</b> - Angie Thomas<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>C+</b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: Feb 2017</span></td></tr>
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My expectations were high. I wanted to love this book. The characters felt authentic. The subject matter is important. However, none of the characters resonated with me and it all felt too familiar. The <i>Hate U Give</i> is smart YA, but I was a little bored.</div>
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-83239540224021778672017-08-22T22:12:00.000-06:002017-12-30T10:23:23.379-07:00Restaurant Man - Book Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwvZ1rOKhhzdAyF_SAGYomsnRs4qahP81-H7Gt6qrkEI15z3JGdLQbh8G65PdUgfznLz_DLjt2PtjI90AfBkgObt7NJLJXb_Csfi4wf_1UIjBRXrVKbivF8qBEVA-qkY0jhezhDUx8us/s1600/rerrrwmmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwvZ1rOKhhzdAyF_SAGYomsnRs4qahP81-H7Gt6qrkEI15z3JGdLQbh8G65PdUgfznLz_DLjt2PtjI90AfBkgObt7NJLJXb_Csfi4wf_1UIjBRXrVKbivF8qBEVA-qkY0jhezhDUx8us/s200/rerrrwmmm.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: May 2012</span></td></tr>
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<i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b>Restaurant Man</b> - Joe Bastianich <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>A- </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"></span><b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />This book almost felt like a guilty pleasure because it's so self-righteous. Joe Bastianich, winemaker and restaurateur extraordinaire, schools his readers with everyman charisma, a father's intellect and caviar dreams. If you have ever wondered what it takes to run a restaurant, or just curious (like me), this is a must read. Thoroughly entertaining.</div>
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Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-13245875925974831952017-06-26T22:16:00.000-06:002017-07-08T09:15:23.302-06:00The Paris Wife - Book Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOc-tjxoIfAQFkkeoG-KGDLVEhxDoaAAK58jCYBO4AId2nwNboO0tj_26zQAfJCnZB2mU_vUIJYQE7HEDMSjziotMBbFMOa8I7McsRgpgJJlnRx33DmG-tkqgHRIiKd7mDmGHgXJGZTM/s1600/hhh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOc-tjxoIfAQFkkeoG-KGDLVEhxDoaAAK58jCYBO4AId2nwNboO0tj_26zQAfJCnZB2mU_vUIJYQE7HEDMSjziotMBbFMOa8I7McsRgpgJJlnRx33DmG-tkqgHRIiKd7mDmGHgXJGZTM/s200/hhh.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: Feb 2011</span></td></tr>
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<b>The Paris Wife</b> - Paula McLain<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"> A-</span></b><br />
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I can't get enough Hadley and Hemingway since I finished <i>The Paris Wife</i>. This fictionalized account of their 1920s romance and marriage was surprisingly captivating. Now, I'm desperate to separate fact from fiction. <br />
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Hadley Richardson was the first of Hemingway's four wives. She was an innocent girl from the Midwest, eight years his senior. Reluctant to fall in love with a younger man, Hadley eventually gave in to Hemingway's charm and youthful ambition. The couple moved to Paris shortly after getting married. In Paris, they fraternized with the likes of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. This period of their relationship was alive, filled with writing, friendship, and exuberant drinking. Adventures ensued, lines were crossed, and books were written. <br />
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<i>The Paris Wife</i> felt authentic. McClain did extensive research that included reading and rereading multiple biographies, memoirs, letters, novels, and stories written by and about Hadley and Hemingway. McClain's writing was simple yet intriguing, which is exactly how I felt about Hadley. Hadley was never the biggest personality in the room, especially among Zelda Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Duff Twysden, and Pauline Pfeiffer. But, in retrospect she might have been the best woman in the room. Even Hemingway might have agreed with that when it was all said and done.<br />
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<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-58142714966909625442017-06-14T22:49:00.000-06:002017-12-30T11:22:38.988-07:00This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare - Book Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqGCF8mCTQjzizGl4PMNFbuMZqWjvYtP1FNGWsJ9j0tnGDQdKrr6dSEHeaUS1BvPUjaMki6kglcwtJuuBfNLTlUNOuTYGG6-xenPCSBGf4G6tT7rqD8q7pH6ibv-nZZsv6MNjwpmhDRY/s1600/axqq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqGCF8mCTQjzizGl4PMNFbuMZqWjvYtP1FNGWsJ9j0tnGDQdKrr6dSEHeaUS1BvPUjaMki6kglcwtJuuBfNLTlUNOuTYGG6-xenPCSBGf4G6tT7rqD8q7pH6ibv-nZZsv6MNjwpmhDRY/s200/axqq.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;"><b>Published May 2017</b></span></td></tr>
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<b>This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare</b> - Gabourey Sidibe <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B+</span></b><br />
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I know Gabourey Sidibe was nominated for an Academy Award. I know she's been on various television shows. But, I've never been more impressed by her talents than I am now. <i>This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare</i> is entertaining, surprising, and one of the best books of 2017 so far. Her fortuitous rise to fame, her engrossing (but not overbearing) family drama, and her witty sense of humor made this book hard to put down. Inspiring and sensible.<br />
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For more, check out Sidibe's <i>Fresh Air</i> interview with Terry Gross via the NPR link below.
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<a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/05/08/527392123/actress-gabourey-sidibe-on-anxiety-phone-sex-and-life-after-precious">http://www.npr.org/2017/05/08/527392123/actress-gabourey-sidibe-on-anxiety-phone-sex-and-life-after-precious</a><br />
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Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-2646790005707484822017-05-26T15:20:00.000-06:002017-12-30T11:21:18.142-07:00The Lovers - Movie Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4phF08JzNLpRSlCFRJAMih2bD2BaClN20rVdGOLJjkCPCYFIo_DIBzYzqMP44RWGhOdjJJIthG-XByOssM0DX1BlhcAz9oT_klwU7-D2PQd0Bsd3H13zmZd-OZe3zUpgzNXSq-2eKc74/s1600/uq123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4phF08JzNLpRSlCFRJAMih2bD2BaClN20rVdGOLJjkCPCYFIo_DIBzYzqMP44RWGhOdjJJIthG-XByOssM0DX1BlhcAz9oT_klwU7-D2PQd0Bsd3H13zmZd-OZe3zUpgzNXSq-2eKc74/s200/uq123.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">In Theaters Now</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><b>The Lovers</b> (R) 94 mins <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>B+</b></span> <br />
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Starring: Debra Winger, Tracy Letts, Melora Walters, Aidan Gillen, Tyler Ross and Jessica Sula <br />
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I was drawn to Azazel Jacobs' latest film, The Lovers, because of the premise- a mature, zany bedroom farce with a Woody Allen-ish vibe. The film's trailer was also intriguing, but I feared it might be giving too much away (see the link to the trailer below). Despite what I thought I knew about the film, The Lovers was full of subtle surprises. An unhappy couple, played by Debra Winger and Tracy Letts, are on the brink. The film spares us the typical kicking and screaming that usually accompanies a cheating spouse comedy. Instead, it focuses on the doldrums of their unhappy marriage, the grind of their daily lives and the weight of their unsatisfied lovers. The tone of the film is light yet pensive- Jacobs really gets it right. In lesser hands this film would've been a throwaway bittersweet romantic comedy with a predictable outcome. Jacobs manages an outcome that's both satisfying and unnerving. If you're in the mood for a lite bedroom farce, The Lovers is a perfect matinee on a lazy spring afternoon. <br />
Check out the trailer via YouTube ---> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1stvXwxn_yE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1stvXwxn_yE</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-11011072788261035742017-05-22T22:00:00.000-06:002017-06-25T22:38:07.997-06:00Milk and Honey - Book Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFPRXUkU0j4Q1TLjZc8C3Mv07H9FW9WKZX_K7nuNCQrK4KUPCgUINSRnZNaR8jwMFP7J_G8ug8SJQhhxM19QbNUGCWLpd_QtVPal2Jc2Yrj4-64IBNlyz9Ll-4pyUj7kA1QJwfaAmzzI/s1600/aqzzz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFPRXUkU0j4Q1TLjZc8C3Mv07H9FW9WKZX_K7nuNCQrK4KUPCgUINSRnZNaR8jwMFP7J_G8ug8SJQhhxM19QbNUGCWLpd_QtVPal2Jc2Yrj4-64IBNlyz9Ll-4pyUj7kA1QJwfaAmzzI/s200/aqzzz.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: Nov 2014</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Milk and Honey</span></b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - Rupi Kaur </span></span><b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">C</span></b><br />
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<i>Milk and Honey</i> had its moments. I loved the black and white line drawings. However, the majority of these poems felt like appetizers and desserts without a main course. <i>Milk and Honey</i> is artistic and clever, but ultimately unsatisfying. </div>
Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-89567730868185449962017-05-21T21:57:00.000-06:002017-06-25T22:39:54.868-06:00So Sad Today - Book Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNh8bPIgfVYsVloRyh_ymR5zsQrgXl1O0XrYbSD75NxW2DCtvQFpGql7zDhyphenhypheneaxUylvJovAUsETTXBXu6QY20ryUk5bAjxxzs6h1ydH9_LhlyRxRwUWJ1t1wnYrJCbjKNyoSsZmUnEyc/s1600/ssstttddd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNh8bPIgfVYsVloRyh_ymR5zsQrgXl1O0XrYbSD75NxW2DCtvQFpGql7zDhyphenhypheneaxUylvJovAUsETTXBXu6QY20ryUk5bAjxxzs6h1ydH9_LhlyRxRwUWJ1t1wnYrJCbjKNyoSsZmUnEyc/s1600/ssstttddd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published March 2016</span></td></tr>
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<b>So Sad Today</b> - Melissa Broder <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>B-</b></span><br />
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Melissa Broder is an essayist, poet and Twitter sensation. I stumbled upon <i>So Sad Today</i> because it was one of those "if you like that, you'll like this" recommendations. I was unfamiliar with Broder, but <i>So Sad Today</i> was a curious title so I kept browsing. I googled the author and found a sample of the book- an essay about her open relationship with her husband and his mystery illness. I was immediately intrigued. Despite the book's title, I was still surprised by the depth of Broder's sadness. Her struggles with anxiety, addiction and depression were on vivid display. Some of her views and experiences resonated with me, some felt adolescent. Nevertheless, there was rarely a dull moment. <br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-44231689886507177472017-03-21T22:00:00.000-06:002017-06-24T14:45:06.973-06:00Spirit - Album Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01i_JB7vK2f5NJcxuNGSyKgb7iMFmaf7ZTuiy-nPd2DZObnzloPLkLsZ9XwnKFLNTpDu-MZf70Lj7U7kiVgglTg1AGm7UyC0BmDVVHv8wDz13NCZhOWoKbyfvrDcIE8h7DdNu6OXV-d4/s1600/nnnnlll.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01i_JB7vK2f5NJcxuNGSyKgb7iMFmaf7ZTuiy-nPd2DZObnzloPLkLsZ9XwnKFLNTpDu-MZf70Lj7U7kiVgglTg1AGm7UyC0BmDVVHv8wDz13NCZhOWoKbyfvrDcIE8h7DdNu6OXV-d4/s200/nnnnlll.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Released March 2017</span></td></tr>
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<b>Spirit</b> - Depeche Mode <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>B+</b></span><br />
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<i>Spirit</i> is Depeche Mode's 14th studio album. Produced by James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco, <i>Spirit </i>sonically finds the synth icons returning to their roots. Lyrically, it's the most socially aware album of their career. As a long time fan, even I was surprised by how much <i>Spirit </i>resonated after one listen. Depeche Mode has always been great at setting the mood - gloomy, soul-searching, sadomasochistic romanticism. This late-career album successfully marries that nostalgic sound/mood with current affairs. "Where's the Revolution," the album's first single is timely and sets the tone. However, it's just the appetizer to the main course. On "The Worst Crimes,"Gahan croons "/Blame misinformation/Misguided leaders/Apathetic hesitation/Uneducated readers." On the opening track, "Going Backwards," a poignant slow burner, the lyrics are direct and on target -"We are still in debt/To our insanities/We're going backwards/Turning back our history." But, my favorite album cut is all about the politics of dancing, the sultry "You Move." After listening to this album It's hard to believe it's been 36 years since Depeche Mode's debut, <i>Speak and Spell</i>. <i>Spirit</i> is an album that sounds more and more vital with each listen. My favorite tracks: <b>You Move</b>, <b>The Worst Crime</b>, <b>Fail</b>, and <b>Scum</b> <br />
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<span style="color: black;">My Top Five D-Mode albums </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><b>1. Violator </b>(1990)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>2. Ultra </b>(1997)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>3. Music For the Masses </b>(1987)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>4. Some Great Reward </b>(1984)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>5.</b> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">(tie)</span><span style="color: black;"> <b>Spirit </b>(2017)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>5. </b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">(tie)</span><span style="color: black;"><b> Songs of Faith and Devotion </b>(1993)</span><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-78849866309689389172017-03-12T23:14:00.000-06:002017-03-26T20:13:50.905-06:00The Nix - Book Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TcWFWpAUNEGsYNp0h9uXq3_LBusLwtZKzAz77pFKBPtODmidLlY21P9nCAo_mFclQPWBljEoyue1gNkR68N_fQJR2pICP2rZ-5nTg76BtlT7xyIAOvNB_sKd54Y1u7VOoVj2us7GUgk/s1600/thhnix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TcWFWpAUNEGsYNp0h9uXq3_LBusLwtZKzAz77pFKBPtODmidLlY21P9nCAo_mFclQPWBljEoyue1gNkR68N_fQJR2pICP2rZ-5nTg76BtlT7xyIAOvNB_sKd54Y1u7VOoVj2us7GUgk/s200/thhnix.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published: Aug 2016</span></td></tr>
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<b>The Nix</b> - Nathan Hill <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
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<i>The Nix</i> is a sprawling novel that has all the makings of a classic. It's witty, funny and surprising; a multilayered epic about family dysfunction, thwarted love and political unrest (among other things). This is one helluva debut. But, ultimately the novel is too ambitious for its own good. It's lengthy and I learned more about online gaming than I care to know. Otherwise, <i>The Nix</i> is sort of brilliant.<br />
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Check out the NPR review by Jason Sheehan below<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/08/31/490101821/the-nix-is-a-vicious-sprawling-satire-with-a-very-human-heart">http://www.npr.org/2016/08/31/490101821/the-nix-is-a-vicious-sprawling-satire-with-a-very-human-heart</a><br />
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<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-73816111073644604492017-02-19T17:07:00.002-07:002017-03-04T10:11:14.843-07:00Lion - Movie Review <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGFsXBkYv8IfSaCAucyg0EPXeBncSRmTtjDjgodFK9p1aux9-9JpojE3Uz4IvDGboFN_pz1wIZ4M7a_chP7LsSEHGxJvEE8cO7QgEyKiqjEMjPB4G1K7eBEJx4sQ__V7-LEbX8fXk-0w/s1600/olll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGFsXBkYv8IfSaCAucyg0EPXeBncSRmTtjDjgodFK9p1aux9-9JpojE3Uz4IvDGboFN_pz1wIZ4M7a_chP7LsSEHGxJvEE8cO7QgEyKiqjEMjPB4G1K7eBEJx4sQ__V7-LEbX8fXk-0w/s200/olll.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="141" /></a><b>Lion</b> (PG-13) 118 mins <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>C </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A fascinating story that fails to roar</span> <br />
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Starring: Dev Patel, Sunny Pawaer, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, Abhishek Bharate, Divian Ladwa, Priyanka Bose, Deepti Naval, and Tannishtha Chatterjee.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGFsXBkYv8IfSaCAucyg0EPXeBncSRmTtjDjgodFK9p1aux9-9JpojE3Uz4IvDGboFN_pz1wIZ4M7a_chP7LsSEHGxJvEE8cO7QgEyKiqjEMjPB4G1K7eBEJx4sQ__V7-LEbX8fXk-0w/s1600/olll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Saroo (Pawaer) is a five-year old Indian boy. He falls asleep on a train and wakes up thousands of miles from home. Suddenly, he's a stranger in a strange land lost and alone. Based on a true story, <i>Lion</i> is the kind of drama that should tug at your heart strings. However, the film had no such effect on me. Young Saroo was the best thing about the film, he was truly a lion. But, young Saroo eventually grows up and the film skips ahead twenty years or so. Adopted by a nice Australian couple (Kidman & Wenham), a mature Saroo (Patel) is now attending college, has a hot new girlfriend (Mara) and a bright future ahead of him. Yet, his past begins to haunt him more and more. He becomes sullen and emotionally divided between his past and present. Enter Google Earth. Saroo becomes obsessed with Google and finding his birth family. <br />
<br />
This is an intriguing and remarkable true story. There's nothing inherently bad about the film; however, it felt flat and it didn't resonate with me at all. Although, judging by all the sniffling in the dark theatre, it resonated with a lot of my fellow moviegoers. If you're in the mood for a sentimental true life tearjerker with an adorable child act- this one is for you. Me, not so much.<br />
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See the trailer via YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVgzmj-bK0c">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVgzmj-bK0c</a><br />
<br />
<i>A Long Way Home</i> via NPR <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/06/22/323355643/with-memories-and-online-maps-a-man-finds-his-way-home">http://www.npr.org/2014/06/22/323355643/with-memories-and-online-maps-a-man-finds-his-way-home</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-2717692395068641942017-02-18T07:12:00.000-07:002017-03-04T11:10:11.523-07:00Loving - Movie Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCcrIWwwUEdqZxmGKaavtod1ewujF5dKehVbECd3B42JWYIyiZBuIQy_2Xv2OX4aSkaNTA2OWaEzIUuce0drBEJ2USqROrK-2SlIcOqk7oKc3sYPotA1tGJYayF2Fnq-z2oWIIFLzbYU/s1600/alalalala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCcrIWwwUEdqZxmGKaavtod1ewujF5dKehVbECd3B42JWYIyiZBuIQy_2Xv2OX4aSkaNTA2OWaEzIUuce0drBEJ2USqROrK-2SlIcOqk7oKc3sYPotA1tGJYayF2Fnq-z2oWIIFLzbYU/s200/alalalala.jpg" width="135" /></a><b>Loving</b> (PG-13) 123 minutes <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">D</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Love Crimes</span> <br />
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Starring: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, and Michael Shannon<br />
<br />
I can't express how significant Loving v. Virginia (1967) is to me. I do not take Richard and Mildred Loving for granted. They were the interracial couple whose love was deemed unlawful in Virginia when they married in 1958. But, I'm sorry to say that this film (directed by Jeff Nichols) did nothing for me. Ho-Hum. <br />
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See it for yourself and let me know what you think.<br />
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Check out the trailer via YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQMF5MSohPA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQMF5MSohPA</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-43574608553679790242017-01-21T22:56:00.000-07:002017-02-19T11:42:46.163-07:00Curb Service: A Memior - Book Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxbVxiXXSm0ebT_JCDmEQb9gnkwIXVka1SyLyo6ZexUQP1h0eq-Dim2PLsJWq0DaqAopWYl05S4EN_Z-BPpFq8niL0z1xZiBA3nDSbEAOoCT5fGf6Wtka0i49PauItBCb_QydlQvcaXs/s1600/csddd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxbVxiXXSm0ebT_JCDmEQb9gnkwIXVka1SyLyo6ZexUQP1h0eq-Dim2PLsJWq0DaqAopWYl05S4EN_Z-BPpFq8niL0z1xZiBA3nDSbEAOoCT5fGf6Wtka0i49PauItBCb_QydlQvcaXs/s200/csddd.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published July 2013</span><br />
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<b>Curb Service: A Memoir</b> - Scot Sothern <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">C+</span></b><br />
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Scot Sothern has made a career of photographing prostitutes. His passion for photography and affinity for streetwalkers led to his first book in 2011, <i>Lowlife </i>(published in the UK), and subsequent photography exhibits around the world. In 2013, <i>Curb Service: A Memoir </i> was published by Soft Skull Press<i></i><i></i><i></i><i></i>. 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. <i>Curb Service </i>is part junkie memoir, part exposé. Sometimes it's flat, sometimes it's redundant, but mostly it's too perverse to ignore.<br />
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For more info about the book, see the link below via americansuburbx.com (NSFW!)<br />
<a href="http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/08/scot-sothern-follow-your-hard-on-an-interview-with-scot-sothern-2013.html">http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/08/scot-sothern-follow-your-hard-on-an-interview-with-scot-sothern-2013.html</a><br />
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Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-68871553946262000582017-01-08T11:40:00.005-07:002017-01-08T19:45:42.974-07:00Elle - Movie Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdgZ5SQ5hNbGVT8LO2PHfGhmDBAsVhoBKpIsbFIrevtapk5cGJvNso3LlFwCUWLVyJxch4_kk8SCSF0io7q1IusoYsZQia866eHt9jEf0UO-0uP04TBVk2dnIz5bUdttx9GCrBCFHIW0/s1600/hxxqa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdgZ5SQ5hNbGVT8LO2PHfGhmDBAsVhoBKpIsbFIrevtapk5cGJvNso3LlFwCUWLVyJxch4_kk8SCSF0io7q1IusoYsZQia866eHt9jEf0UO-0uP04TBVk2dnIz5bUdttx9GCrBCFHIW0/s200/hxxqa.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<b>Elle</b> <span style="font-size: xx-normal;">(R) 130 mins</span> <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B-</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh! So Twisted.</span><br />
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Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Charles Berling, Judith Magre, Christian Berkel, Virginie Efira,<b> </b>Authur Mazet,<b> </b>Jonas Bloquet,<b> </b>Alice Isaaz,<b> </b>and Anne Consigny<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<i>Elle</i> is a rape-revenge drama directed by Paul Verhoeven (<i>Total Recall</i>, <i>Basic Instinct</i>, <i>Robocop</i>). 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.<br />
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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. <i>Elle</i> is a challenging piece of art, not for everyone. However, it's been lingering in my mind since I left the theatre. <br />
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Based on Philippe Djian's novel <i>"Oh..."</i><br />
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Check out the trailer courtesy of YouTube & Sony Pictures Classics <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM96ne-XiH0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM96ne-XiH0</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-32867730502593687822017-01-07T07:20:00.000-07:002017-01-29T10:50:30.564-07:00Jackie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpUgmXgF1MJZpJ3aBgQG3MkNIynNKhof00KokUQiLCvw4Ctysa9GN2NJD_vpMxk67NG7HnxWHLA5jf4hAz7kWGNpwB34Y2_5KfwjjNUTQYY9oGxRGyNKZ29CwFMXfja0JqupadJKK9QE/s1600/apoqq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpUgmXgF1MJZpJ3aBgQG3MkNIynNKhof00KokUQiLCvw4Ctysa9GN2NJD_vpMxk67NG7HnxWHLA5jf4hAz7kWGNpwB34Y2_5KfwjjNUTQYY9oGxRGyNKZ29CwFMXfja0JqupadJKK9QE/s200/apoqq.jpg" width="130" /></a><b>Jackie </b>(R) 100 mins <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A biopic that looks and feels a little different</span><br />
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Starring: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt <br />
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<i>Jackie</i> 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.<br />
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Check out the Fox Searchlight Trailer via YouTube <br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9pW3B8Ycc4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9pW3B8Ycc4</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-91232337765083128132017-01-06T22:41:00.001-07:002017-06-24T15:40:44.931-06:00The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo - Book Review <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIHBlxNDPFUd9-J60RQ8iPsSqtg3me3Z4iILflb_AhSkfChjFKKNKw5qqXA_WiBmSJxb7hhTcKkm1MkcGeuPBMvYwKxzltKyhvvv0yf5aGOgV2m4JJw0waFFlvLQe32FaVx-XGvpbz_4/s1600/sdsds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="232" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIHBlxNDPFUd9-J60RQ8iPsSqtg3me3Z4iILflb_AhSkfChjFKKNKw5qqXA_WiBmSJxb7hhTcKkm1MkcGeuPBMvYwKxzltKyhvvv0yf5aGOgV2m4JJw0waFFlvLQe32FaVx-XGvpbz_4/s200/sdsds.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange;">Published: Aug 2016</span></div>
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<b>The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo </b>- Amy Schumer<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>A-</b></span><span style="color: orange;"><b> </b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"></span></b><br />
Amy Schumer's first book, <i>The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo</i>, 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 (<i>Boosypants</i>, <i>Yes Please</i>, <i>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me</i> and <i>Not That Kind of Girl</i>) 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.
Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-41087108346075028482016-12-24T21:00:00.000-07:002016-12-29T15:22:47.420-07:00La La Land - Movie Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkAxTgDJhCbVL-k6GCaw3TXmFpYefq4TjHEwuRXEHsD34dSlG0heum3O_tPbtcUlAzW0rJXUDnkAJMECVrg-h4jsSCb7M64kb2eOwP8TCZAMzy4F-hxra7CwhFKgujZfeXA6pGnSwmNU/s1600/babww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkAxTgDJhCbVL-k6GCaw3TXmFpYefq4TjHEwuRXEHsD34dSlG0heum3O_tPbtcUlAzW0rJXUDnkAJMECVrg-h4jsSCb7M64kb2eOwP8TCZAMzy4F-hxra7CwhFKgujZfeXA6pGnSwmNU/s200/babww.jpg" width="135" /></a><b>La La Land</b> (PG-13) 128 mins <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B+</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be singing and dancing.</span> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkAxTgDJhCbVL-k6GCaw3TXmFpYefq4TjHEwuRXEHsD34dSlG0heum3O_tPbtcUlAzW0rJXUDnkAJMECVrg-h4jsSCb7M64kb2eOwP8TCZAMzy4F-hxra7CwhFKgujZfeXA6pGnSwmNU/s1600/babww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, Hemky Madera, Jason Fuchs, and Finn Wittrock. <br />
<br />
I'll tell you up front, musicals are not my favorite. But, I went into <i>La La Land</i> with an open mind and a certain amount of expectations. Directed by Damien Chazelle (<i>Whiplash</i>), the film has already garnered the most Golden Globe nominations (seven) for next month's award ceremony. Not to mention, it's a critical darling and likely Oscar favorite. The film opens with plenty of beautiful people singing and dancing on the Los Angeles freeway (so much for easing into it). Immediately, I worried that the entire film would be a bright and shiny homage to old school cinema ala <i>Singin' in the Rain</i>. But, once I settled into the magic that is Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the film was enchanting despite the sudden outbursts of song and dance. <br />
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The story is familiar - two talented wannabes trying to make it in Hollywood. Mia (Stone), an aspiring actress and Sebastian (Gosling), a jazz musician trying to resurrect jazz. It's easy to see the romance brewing between Mia and Sebastian early in the film. But, without giving too much away, the film won me over because just like real life things got hard, things got complicated, and the film didn't necessarily take the easy way out. <br />
<br />
Recommend to those who like romantic musicals and/or Hollywood nostalgia 2016 style. <br />
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The trailer (courtesy of YouTube/Lionsgate) <br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdqf4P9MB8&t=7s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdqf4P9MB8&t=7s</a><br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-54298933429488695572016-12-07T22:05:00.002-07:002016-12-08T14:55:38.780-07:00Allied - Movie Review<b>Allied</b> (R) 124 mins <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>C</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">We'll always have Casablanca</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<i>Allied</i> is the latest film by esteemed director Robert Zemeckis (<i>Flight</i>, <i>Forrest Gump</i>, <i>Cast Away</i>, <i>Back to the Future</i>). It's high on suspense, fashion and Hollywood beauty. But, unfortunately the rest of the film feels like an imposter. T<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZY8AgtUs9jHP-r45B5Sv29kccdoOBElAZSdXJhHXGKj1-kMRSsY6e1NcDG9jWy-mwxkc6p3upOaInZNKYSa92LdKQLczmkexxvd8YTHXPvFkSUmFslvHIEe7mue7DgSLUZ_nPjayTQo/s1600/ALLReview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZY8AgtUs9jHP-r45B5Sv29kccdoOBElAZSdXJhHXGKj1-kMRSsY6e1NcDG9jWy-mwxkc6p3upOaInZNKYSa92LdKQLczmkexxvd8YTHXPvFkSUmFslvHIEe7mue7DgSLUZ_nPjayTQo/s320/ALLReview.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>he WWII thriller begins with intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt) parachuting into a vast desert before being mysteriously picked up and delivered to Marianne Beauséjour (Cotillard), a French Resistance fighter. The two are undercover as husband and wife. Their mission is to assassinate a specific high ranking Nazi official. Max and Marianne eventually fall in love, and when you think the love birds can't get any happier the unspeakable is suspected (anyone who has seen the film's trailer knows what I'm talking about). <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
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The first half of the film is overreaching- elaborate clothes, Pitt looking debonair, and Cotillard doing her best impression of a 1940s fashion model. The pace is slow and pedantic- and there's that scene where Marianne gives birth outside during an air strike, it's ridiculous. However, the film gains traction during the second half. The acting is dialed up a notch, and the best plot line (the one teased in the trailer) really takes shape. At the film's high point, I was just as puzzled as Max and just as smitten with Marianne. The film plays on a certain sensibility- classic love and war Hollywood style. For some, that alone might make <i>Allied</i> worthwhile. For me, it was a decent escape for two hours and nothing more.<br />
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harri<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZY8AgtUs9jHP-r45B5Sv29kccdoOBElAZSdXJhHXGKj1-kMRSsY6e1NcDG9jWy-mwxkc6p3upOaInZNKYSa92LdKQLczmkexxvd8YTHXPvFkSUmFslvHIEe7mue7DgSLUZ_nPjayTQo/s1600/ALLReview.jpg"></a>s, Matthew Goode, Lizzy Caplan, August Diehl, Camille Cottin, Charlotte Hope, Marion Bailey, Anton Lesser<br />
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Check out the trailer courtesy YouTube of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgvTJm8xiaU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgvTJm8xiaU</a><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><br /></strike>
Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-4330890529329272892016-12-05T23:07:00.002-07:002016-12-29T09:51:24.193-07:00Hungry Heart - Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing</b><br />
Jennifer Weiner <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">B- </span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwW-rP1C1oaVA8Nn1hLD-0RDvYW5UmAsAlWNMHzYbR5J5M50SJu6wyr9U5yIhAT4pjcWq2_Q-vs7mkYli5mHoWJl5fQlydQb_7rVX1paw7rMvZSy8UH00faqUxvQmqUq0bFxLn0nz-7I/s1600/wjwjwjw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwW-rP1C1oaVA8Nn1hLD-0RDvYW5UmAsAlWNMHzYbR5J5M50SJu6wyr9U5yIhAT4pjcWq2_Q-vs7mkYli5mHoWJl5fQlydQb_7rVX1paw7rMvZSy8UH00faqUxvQmqUq0bFxLn0nz-7I/s200/wjwjwjw.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Published Oct 2016</span></td></tr>
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Jennifer Weiner changed my life before I ever read her books. During the fall of 2004 I reluctantly attended one of her readings. Subsequently, I was hypnotized by her charm, her wit, and her story of becoming a bestselling novelist. She inspired and motivated me that evening. A few days later I enrolled at a local community college. A few years later I graduated from a local university. All because of that chance encounter. <br />
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Since then I have enjoyed several of her novels (<i>Good in Bed</i> and <i>Fly Away Home</i> are my favorites), and the film adaptation of <i>In Her Shoes </i>(very underrated). I've never been Weiner's "target" audience, and that never mattered to me. At the risk of sounding over dramatic, she changed my life. Now, twelve years after that initial encounter I still follow Weiner on social media, TiVo her on GMA (Good Morning America), and remain interested in her writing. <i>Hungry Heart</i>, her first nonfiction book, was especially exciting because it presented an opportunity to learn more about her life and her writing process. Plus, the book boasted that "no subject is off limits." <br />
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In this collection of essays, Weiner discusses all the usual suspects - weight, love, parenting, family, writing, etc... Some of which felt familiar (about her mother), some not so familiar (about her father), some I thoroughly enjoyed (the success of <i>Good in Bed</i>/the film adaptation of <i>In Her Shoes</i>), and some I couldn't relate to (motherhood). <i>Hungry Heart</i> is thoughtful and warm, but it only confirmed what I've been feeling lately- we've grown apart. Many times during this book I was struck by how impactful Weiner's experiences might be for young female writers. At times, It felt like I was privy to a conversation that wasn't meant for me, even though I was welcomed to listen. <br />
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I appreciate Jennifer Weiner. She's a fabulous role model and a champion for women. But, I'm afraid we don't have much in common, and maybe we never did? I guess this is why I'm not her target audience... and why should I be? There are plenty of books for jaded middle-aged men (like me) to draw inspiration from. Nevertheless, it's always a good idea to read broadly (it's great for the soul!). <br />
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Highly recommended for her targeted audience, you know who you are.<br />
<br />Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792328423096348747.post-37865206129943592162016-12-04T08:30:00.000-07:002017-01-08T09:32:25.520-07:00Manchester by the Sea - Movie Review <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyL2SVm9m2lim2MDW8-VPseFq77X4iLRLqjKwFjUnVIx4sSyFxb5_zplfY8P1_L3TQ5ZaVACRIyAn9maG0SogMGIIUfGm3TgspqpLEdRFTSAaHO3r3PbK62PSGmZUgjvFXcnqKcJBxOc/s1600/apopopp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyL2SVm9m2lim2MDW8-VPseFq77X4iLRLqjKwFjUnVIx4sSyFxb5_zplfY8P1_L3TQ5ZaVACRIyAn9maG0SogMGIIUfGm3TgspqpLEdRFTSAaHO3r3PbK62PSGmZUgjvFXcnqKcJBxOc/s320/apopopp.jpg" width="215" /></a><b>Manchester by the Sea</b> (R) 137 mins <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">A</span></b><br />
Uncomfortably Numb<br />
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Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, C.J. Wilson, Kyle Chandler, Matthew Broderick, Gretchen Mol, Lucas Hedges, Erica McDermott.<br />
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<i>Manchester by the Sea</i> is a strong contender for my favorite film of 2016. Casey Affleck has never been better, and in limited screen time Michelle Williams steals every scene in which she appears. With this film writer-director Kenneth Lonegran has created one of the most authentic and honest meditations on sadness, seclusion and grieving you'll see at the theatre this year. But, don't let that scare you... or do.<br />
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<i>Manchester by the Sea</i> introduces us to Lee (Affleck), a handy man/janitor who lives a quiet and lonely life in Boston. His life is severely uprooted when he gets a call from Manchester (a 90 minute drive north) that his brother Joe is seriously ill. By the time Lee gets to the hospital, Joe has died. Suddenly, Lee is faced with new responsibilities and a new life. Neither of which he's capable of handling. This is an emotionally dark drama intertwined with moments of humor. I love that Lee is a realistic anti-hero; His desolation feels familiar. Furthermore, he's proof that sometimes you can't go home again. <br />
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The trailer courtesy of YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtt0zwr3l_A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtt0zwr3l_A</a>Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608546204976410727noreply@blogger.com0