Karl Belgum

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A beautifully written book. Sophisticated in its approach and argument. But not helpful as an explanation of the times and philosophies discussed. The author glancingly and obliquely refers to many important historical events and intellectual developments but never clearly explains them. This sort of “knowing wink and a nod” way of writing may be gratifying to people who already know the basic story and find their preconceptions confirmed in the text, but is a poor introduction and guide for everyone else. And even for those who know enough about the story to keep up, they will, at most, come away with their existing beliefs and assumptions confirmed. I love his podcast and really wanted to like this book but, in the end, it just wasn’t helpful.

The story is a “B.” Girl meets boy. He drinks. She can’t save him. It’s so sad. But still, run don’t walk to see it. It is a thrill to see Lady Gaga with her makeup off acting like a girl you might have gone to high school with who dreams of making it big. It wasn’t so long ago she was that girl. After watching this movie you will feel like you know her on a whole other level. Well worth it if you are at all a fan. Cooper is very good too. They are both super attractive separately and have great chemistry together. In fact that is the other weakness of the movie. It handles the two stars with such kid gloves, always showing them off in the most attractive possible light, that it sucks some of the drama out of it. If you are looking for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf 2018, this is not it. But still, go. It’s well worth it. Oh, and the music is good too.

Love the show, but it does have flaws. Based on Season One, the wonderful thing about it is that it defies all cop show conventions by being totally devoid of car chases, gun play, or any of the other standard devices. The show is just talk talk talk. They talk to each other, then interview cons, then talk to each other some more. It is practically My Dinner With Andre and Serial Killers. But that is a good thing. The flaw is in the main characters. Agent Holt is just odd - quiet, rule bound, with a hippie chick grad student girlfriend, rigid, naive, and insightful, risk-taking, conservative, dull, fond of oral sex He basically just doesn’t hold together as a character. His main personality trait seems to be a weird flat affect. And his partner makes no sense either. To make the story work the partner has to be the doubter, the skeptical one, the one who says what the audience is thinking. But if he such a doubter why did he volunteer for the unit? And how could he be such an incompetent bull in a china shop interviewer and be part of the behavioral studies unit? The writers just didn’t spend enough energy figuring out the two leads and what makes them tick as three-dimensional characters. But still, the show is more that watchable. I recommend it.