Saturday, July 11, 2015
First Lines: Ruth Rendell - A Judgement in Stone
Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
A documentary crew followed Metallica for the better part of 2001-2003, a time of tension and release for the rock band, as they recorded their album St. Anger, fought bitterly, and sought the counsel of their on-call shrink.
Amazingly insightful documentary that not only reveals the inner workings within a band, but also the often embarrassing moments.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.
Old-fashioned seafarer tale is wonderfully produced and manages to enhance the genre with a highly realistic depiction of life on sea including the battles which are quite spectacular.
Halliwell***: "Handsome drama of derring-do on the high seas that brilliantly recreates the horrors of battle, as cannonballs splinter ships and crush limbs, but also finds time for quieter, reflective moments."
Maltin***: "Lavish adaptation...Heavier on atmosphere than on story, but Crowe is an ideal commander, the human element is nicely played, and the physical production is impressive."
New Stuff: Waxahatchee
Waxahatchee is an American indie music project, formed in 2010 by the American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. The band is named after Waxahatchee Creek, in Alabama.
First Lines: Patricia Highsmith - Strangers on a Train
The train tore along with an angry, irregular rhythm.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)
Two bounty hunters with the same intentions, team up to track down a Western outlaw.
In many aspects a continuation and expansion not just of the first entry of the Dollar trilogy, but also of the Spaghetti western catalogue, highly stylzed and full of grim humour, but its ending drags on a wee bit too long.
Halliwell**: "Vague, inflated, sometimes good-looking sequel to A Fistful of Dollars, with customary violence and predictably mean performances."
Maltin***: "Slightly draggy but still fun; don't miss the scene where Van Cleef strikes a match on the back of Kinski's neck! Trademark atmospheric score by Ennio Morricone."
The Help (2011)
An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.
Clearly anti-racist, but politically a bit naive period piece, which nevertheless satisfies with a brilliant all-female cast, all at the top of their art.
Maltin***: "Evocative portrayal...The white characters' plight almost seems trivial alongside the life-and-death struggles of the servants, but the performances are rich, especailly Davis, who is heartbreakingly real, and Spencer..."
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
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