James Lawrence

How does goodreads give this unfortunate waste of time 4 stars when the chart of reader reviews is overwhelmingly 1 star? Correct me if I’m sounding clueless, but don’t reader reviews carry massively more weight than the comments of reviewers? Since books are published to be read by…lots and lots of readers? I must be missing something. Maybe book reviewers were afraid to dump on this sad entry because…I can’t think of a good reason. Since when are critics in the Red Cross Business? Lee Child is obviously a family man. His charity to his brother is evident in the last several books. There’s none of the dry wit, snappy rejoinders, scary (not lame, ineffectual, corrugated box paper) villains who snarl off the page instead of sounding like they don’t know how to have a believable (boring and filler-overlong) conversation. I have no animosity toward the younger Child. But he has I would wager let down millions of Reacher fans who will stop buying these training wheel novels until the canon is revitalized by big brother, or mercifully euthanized. I don’t think I have much hope for a Third choice – that Child the Younger will develop the skill in time to write up to his brothers level

In Too Deep: A Reacher Novel

60 likes

It’s a magnificent rendering of the epic novel Shogun. Cast is wonderful, but see the non-dubbed version (which Hulu makes stupidly illogical and difficult but keep trying to get the right combo of language settings, it’s worth it.) The Japanese cast and Blackthorne and Rodriguez et al are so right on. The Blackthorne actor reminds in voice and incendiary power of a young Richard Burton. But the series achieves its outsized impact from its central, inscrutable, master-scheming Toranaga, who is superb and perfectly cast. Direction is spot on. Sets and costumes/props and the CGI creation of Japan in the 1600s seduces you into a magical belief you are witnessing feudal Japan. This production renders the weak old tv mini series version Shogun from the 70s, with Richard “Dr Kildare” Chamberlain as Blackthorne, insignificant and impotent. The Blackthorne of this FX special has all the fire and brash arrogance of the character as James Clavell wrote him. The show deserves to win awards.

Shōgun

Past Lives

Aftersun

1 like

An incisive dive into human nature and the concept of being repeatedly challenged to be real and human in an increasingly artificial world that seems to demand we be anything but. The nuanced bravura performance of the central character is tantalizing and rewarding of viewer’s patience and compassion, revealing vignette by vignette a man who is by turns cowardly, heroic, humane, at times almost criminally indifferent, or overmatched and floundering, or a true deer in headlights caught in his own verisimilitude, yet a bold thinker and doer, yet a superficial vapid fool, a tender father, and a distant father…you get the idea. This character is fascinating to watch as he navigates his way through the complexities of his own place in the world vs a world none of us fully grasps or knows how to cope within. Don’t miss it, one of the most intriguing films I’ve seen since Blow Up…and that was a long long time ago.

The Square

22 likes

Plenty of action. That’s about it. Over the top action in fact, spectacular… but so what? Loose ends too. What happens after the final scene to the main characters? Disappointing waste of money and locations. Violence for the sake of spectacle. Bread and circuses. Ultimately unbelievable. And the main villain, not convincing. He missed a chance at a compelling characterization and seemed mostly ineffectual rather than scary or even believable.

The Gray Man

Sure, it was a bit clunky and uneven, but nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable look at the making of an incredible film saga. Some of the real life character interpretations were really wonderful, in particular the actors playing Robert Evans (Matthew Goode deserves an Emmy), Marlon Brando and Francis Ford Coppola, and Puzo too. Really enjoyable film. The regular creation of a multitude of crises per episode got a little routine, but at the same time that’s film producing. I used to be in the business as an actor, but I had no idea even then how many hassles there are to deal with. Really fascinating film. Like Miles Twitter though I felt he underplayed the character too much. Love Juno, his gal Friday. She’s amazing!

The Offer

9 likes