I do more than watch Movies: Recommendations.
Submitted by jgandcag on Thu, 05/09/2002 - 04:37
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- Books- Jim Thompson-The Killer in Me The amazing thing about this book is that it portrays psychotic homicidal behavior in a believable and almost sympathetic behavior. Thompson is rightfully considered near the top of noir hard-boiled writers of the last century. This is often considered his classic and I am not one to disagree. We get a first person description of Lou Ford a small town Texas Deputy Sheriff who everyone knows but no one knows well. Well that is except a local prostitute and a girlfriend who grew up next to him. The poor girls. It is a great book…more than a little disturbing but I highly recommend for the less squeamish.
Mystic River - Dennis Lehane Lehane is a Boston writer who has had some critical and popular success with a detective series that features two locals, Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro as PI partners who have an on again off again personal relationship. These books have been a notch above the standard mystery detective series but in no way hinted at the wonderment of his first step out of that genre.
Mystic River tells the story of three childhood friends who suffered a great tragedy together in their childhood and then updates these three characters into the messy world of adulthood with all the problems found there including divorce alcoholism and loss. The writing is just wonderful with a superb capturing of Boston dialogue and nuances. The book has a special place because of my Boston upbringing but do not let that deter you from seeking it out. It is one of the best books I have read in the last five years and I was totally surprised how good it really is.
I have heard that Clint Eastwood has signed up to direct this as his next movie with the wonderful casting of Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins as the childhood friends. I am not surprised as this book is right up Eastwood alley and I am hoping he does it some justice.
- Album- Nick Lowe The Convincer I have a love hate thing with Nick Lowe. When he is off he is smarmy and too cute for his own good. See his 1990 Party of One album as a prime example. But when he keeps his natural inclination towards smart aleck wordiness in check he is quite good. This is his 3rd very good album in a row and this is the closest he has come to sounding like the grown up Jesus of Cool he hinted at in the late 70’s hay days. Highlights are Between Dark and Dawn, Lately I’ve Let Things Slide and the first cut Homewrecker is a wonderful portrayal of how foolish the male gender can be when it comes to the opposite sex.
Bruce Springsteen –The Rising Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” is his first studio album with the E-Street Band in 18 years. That is a lifetime for many of the people Springsteen’s record company is trying to market the disc to but will the 18 year olds turn in droves to the latest epic from the Boss? Probably not but it will be their loss. With The Rising, Springsteen has done two things most thought were impossible. He has put out a wonderful mediation on the affects of September 11th and he has put out a kick ass rocking record that encompasses much of the greatness of his career.
It is a truly wonderful disc full of hope and bewilderment. The title track is one of the better songs of his career and there are so many wonderful songs that it is hard to list just some in fear I might shortchange some others. I am an openly avowed Springsteen fanatic but this disc really shocked me. I am hard pressed to find a Rock n Roll album made by someone over 50 that rivals this one.
- TV Shows- Ed and Once and Again Network TV often rightfully gets bashed for the schlock they pass off as their nightly schedule. A lot of it does suck, but every once in a while they get it right and these two shows are prime examples of how powerful the medium could be if quality meant something. TV has the unique ability to actually develop characters that the viewer can care about and watch grow and change much like real life. The departed Once and Again easily was the best prime time drama and a wonderful portrayal of the messiness of the modern world with all the complexities, frailties and wonder of the crazy world we live in these days. ABC did a horrible job of handling and marketing this show. It was moved all over their schedule and would disappear from the schedule for long lengths of time. It was sold as a chick show but it had some of the best-written and truest portrayals of modern man. I am really sad they took this show off the air and I wont know what is happening in Rick and Lilly crazy life.
Ed is a show that NBC has handled much better than ABC did with Once and Again. It has stayed steady on Wednesdays at 8pm and they have advertised the heck out of it. I think NBC is repenting for the way they handled Letterman’s departure and this show produced by Letterman’s production company and created by Rob Burnett Dave’s former head writer, is taking full advantage of it. Stuckeyville is the idyllic small town we all wish existed and Ed and his cohorts are the cool friends we all wish we had. The clichéd on again off again relationship between Ed and Carol has not got stale yet and the supporting characters are some of the best on TV. This show coupled with The West Wing on Wednesdays makes for a fun and intelligent two hours. If you were a fan of Moonlighting and you have not seen this show, may I recommend this small town counterpart to that show.
The Wire –HBO HBO used to be the future of television. But now, in many ways it has become the last hope of quality television. The networks often claim it is unfair to compare HBO’s series and their offerings. Their theory is HBO does not have to compete for the advertising dollar or create under the censor’s code. Though, of course, there is some validity to this statement it just reeks of rationalization. The reason HBO puts out the best stuff is they hire the most creative people and even more importantly they are not afraid to take chances.
The Wire is HBO’s latest addition to its vaunted Sunday night lineup. It joins the ranks of The Soprano’s and Six Feet Under that make Sunday night almost always an HBO night for me. This series was a little slow in taking off as it tried too hard to cram too many characters and plots in to the first couple of episodes. But for the lucky viewers who have stayed with it is now hitting its stride. This police procedural story based in Baltimore has done a wonderful job of character and plot development. The Baltimore setting echoes that other Baltimore based police show Homicide. It might not be in that league yet but much to my surprise it has become a weekly addiction for me.
Author Comments:
OK I spend too much time on this site writing about movies and I keep telling myself I need to do some other type of lists but never do. So I though I would try to do a cross genre list with the latest things I have been recommending. As with almost all my list, I included comments.
I have added recommendations to these threecategories. I went with a theme. All three recommendations; Mystic River, The Rising and The Wire have all been very pleasant surprises for me this summer.
I never doubted your well-roundedness, and it's nice to start to get a sense of your other interests, but I'm eager for your reviews on your "damn" list (I've seen more of your "pending" titles that usual) and your top 100 list. Don't go stretching yourself too thin!
I loved Homicide as one of my favourite-ever TV shows, so I shall eagerly watch out for The Wire, but I am in England so I do not know when it might reach us.
I have just checked out 'The Killer In Me' on Amazon.co.uk and it looks interesting, so I have ordered a copy.
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the professor - -
Interesting that I am just getting to these comments. The Wire's second season started last Sunday and the first episode was superb. I dont think you will be disapointed. Also The Killer in Me is a great book.
Thanks for the comments
Prof;
Did you ever get to the Killer in Me? I recently watched the movie derived from this book and it really did not do it justice
Great to hear from you! I know you have much more important matters on your hands than surfing the net, but we still miss you.
I hope all is great!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
My life is best described as happy chaos these days.
No complaints.
All the best to you and yours....