I saw this movie some time ago. It was just after the wide release of the film. When my movie companion was available for a film, I suggested it. He said, “Nothing like a major church cover up to make one cynical before the holidays.” Okay, so that’s his humor, but yes—Indeed. He had a…
Read this book. Everyone. Soon. Now. No, it’s not an easy subject matter. But it addresses one of the absolute guarantees of life: death. I originally bought this book, having heard the author interviewed on a podcast discussing end-of-life issues, for work. I often discuss end-of-life issues with clients as we talk about advanced…
Brooklyn (the novel, as distinguished from the new movie) is a wonderfully written book that gently shares the story of a young girl as she moves from Ireland to Brooklyn, starting life over in the 1950s. The tale touched me particularly as someone who just visited Ireland and who was struck by the sadness of…
Suffragette provides a glimpse into a dim area of history. It’s a good movie, solid in its cast and tale. But it does not rise above the bleakness that surrounds the story. And it will not appeal to many, even if those many prefer not to admit the horrible treatment of women for so long.…
I remember the 2004 election. I remember it being one of the first during which I paid a bit more attention to candidates and positions (rotely following the herd in my past). I remember being in the midst of an internal shift in the way I viewed politics. But I don’t clearly remember the events…
Bridge of Spies hits every mark. It’s a great movie—plot, pacing, performances, punch. The movie slowly pulls you into the characters (spies, FBI, CIA, attorneys) and time period (Cold War), exposing unexpected twists such that just as you think you know the story arc, another layer is added. It brings a needed bittersweet element toward…
I should admit some things as I share my thoughts on the movie, Steve Jobs. First, I am all-Apple. I made the leap as many did initially with the iPhone (I graduated from my not-at-all-smart Nokia to an iPhone 3G (or 3Gs? I don’t recall) around ‘08 or ’09. Then a few years ago, I…
The Girl on the Train provides a mystery reminiscent of Gone Girl, written in a similar style of jumping among first-person writers as the story unfolds over different time periods and from different perspectives. It is entertaining, and the mystery lasts long enough to interest the reader, even if not quite long enough to for…
I saw this film well over a week ago (Two weeks ago?), and since then, when asked if I’d seen any movies, more often than not, I haven’t been able to recall this film or its name. So I suppose I can say that Sicario is forgettable. That said, it did entertain me. Now, my…
The Nightingale is a wonderful read, an eloquently written and gently told story. Unlike the last couple of WWII novels I read, this book is more of what you would expect from fiction set in a war-torn France, a book that appeals for its stories of relationships using the war and devastation to France as…
Those who’ve been reading my thoughts might remember my urging—my insistence—to read Andy Weir’s The Martian when I wrote about it exactly six months ago today. And I know that many of you heeded that advice. Loved it, yes? 😉 And today—-finally. It’s Fall. And the movie is in wide release. Yay! First, biggest of thanks…
Mistress America was funny. But it was also scattered and tiring. It rambled. It was muddled. And it did not sell its premise to me well enough. It’s a good enough movie to escape for a short time for a matinee, but if you’ve choices for that time, think about which way to spend your…
What a fun movie! Granted, as I learned from reading the thoughts of another who saw the movie at the same time as I did, the film is not for everyone. But for me and my movie companions, it was a hit. Lily Tomlin delivers a fresh and spunky performance as the complexly layered grandmother…
When, with little notice, my movie companion was free for the evening for a film, I scrambled to find something suitable for both of us (said companion has displayed great patience in the past with my leanings toward less-than-blockbuster-esque films). Enter Black Mass—a decent enough crime drama with some violence, a lot of mobsters, and…
Short films…. Short films can appear to explore a single topic, but on viewing and reflecting, one realizes how complex each is, even in barely fifteen minutes. The short films selected to tour after this year’s Sundance Film Festival are no different: complex, breathtaking, beautiful, deep, heartwarming, and utterly strange. The first film, SMILF, seems…