Book Review: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Paperback Writer here.

Last Wednesday, I headed down to the Carnegie Library to browse through the new releases there. Among the three books I picked up was Joan Didion's latest book, "The Year of Magical Thinking."

Oh, my god. I had forgotten how great a writer she is. This book will rip you apart and if you have ever lost someone near and dear to you, this book will speak volumes to you.

The premise: within the span of several weeks, her only child goes into a coma and her husband dies of a massive coronary. The book follows her from the time of his death to a year after the fact. She ponders what she could have done differently to save her husband's life and to reverse the fate that befalls her daughter.

Loki asked me why I was still reading the book if it was so sad. I replied because it's so good. It makes you think about life and the little things that eventually become big things. It also forces you to cherish the people around your life and to not take things for granted.

So, go ahead and read this book, but be prepared to be pinned to the wall by her writing.

I give this a five out of five stars.

PS

I promise to review a livlier and happier book. I promise. Truly. I don't really read or listen to all the depressing books and music. ;)

Movie Reviews: Accepted, Akeelah and the Bee, Friends with Money

Busy weekend movie-wise! I thought I'd review all three of these at once. I also saw Talladega Nights, but instead of reviewing, I'm just going to basically nod and agree with PW's Review.

Accepted
Justin Long (Dodgeball, Galaxy Quest) plays Bartleby Gaines, a semi-slacker teen who learns he's been rejected from all the colleges he applied to. In an effort to fool his disappointed parents, he enlists the help of a few friends and creates a website and an acceptance letter from a fake university. Word gets out about a college accepting anyone, and suddenly Bartleby (or "B" to his friends) finds himself running a school for people others would consider losers.

I expected Accepted to be so-so, it was the second half of the double-feature we saw at the Drive-in, but I was pleasantly surprised at the bright and fun story. The comedy is broad, and takes potshots at "normal" people/colleges in the "Loser Finally Wins" style seen in movies like Animal House.

Rated PG-13 for good reason, especially language (the initials of the college spell a cuss word which is used pretty much constantly). There's some suggestive situations, but no actual nudity. I'd take older teens to it, if you don't worry about them dropping out of college to pursue non-traditional dreams.

4 out of 5 stars

Akeelah and the Bee
Riding on the coattails of Spellbound, this movie attempts to make spelling bees cool. It held my interest and was very well acted by relative newcomer Keke Palmer, as well as Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and Curtis Armstrong. However, it was fairly predictable and unrealistic. I would say that if you cross Sister Act 2 with Spellbound and a pinch of pretty much any of the teacher-in-a-poor-school-trying-to-make-a-difference movie, you've got the basic idea. I felt as though additional "heart-wrenching" storylines were added for tearjerk value without adding to the plot, but overall it was a nice family-friendly movie. It may encourage younger kids to participate in spelling bees, or to read or play Scrabble -all good things.

2 and 1/2 out of 5 stars

Friends With Money
A chick-flick with the message that everyone has their own troubles, this movie features four female friends who are in different economic classes and marriage states. The main character is Olivia, played by Jennifer Aniston; the only one of the group who isn't married and is in financial hardships. After quitting her teaching job, she's been working as a housekeeper, while the other women all have housekeepers. A sort of wandering, aimless picture, we see glimpses of the women's life as they go about everyday activities, struggling with their problems and helping each other.

The movie felt like it wanted to go in several different directions, but never managed to get moving in any of them. Not a tear-jerker, not funny enough to be a comedy, not deep enough to be a drama, I had a hard time paying attention to the whole movie. I didn't hate it, didn't turn it off, but never really got into it.

2 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper

Paperback Writer here...again. :)

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper is not a happy book. It's a book about tragedy; his own and other's. At the age of ten, his father died of a heart attack; ten years later, his older brother, Carter commits suicide. So, Anderson Cooper really knows tragedy.

It chronicles his life as a fresh reporter chasing the big stories around the world (from Sarajevo to Sri Lanka to the war in Iraq to Hurricane Katrina) the reader has a chance to revisit these places through his gray, grimy glasses. He's seen and experienced it all. But it still does not help dull his pain or the pain of others.

In such a short book (it's only 207 pages) it reminds people that tragedy can happen at anytime and anywhere. He is constantly haunted by the deaths of his father and brother and says that it shaped him immensely.

Four out of five stars.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about him. And here is his information page on CNN and a link to his blog.

Album Review: Trouble (Ray LaMontagne)

Paperback Writer here.

I've discussed my bright, shining love for Ray LaMontagne on my blog, but I haven't actually reviewed his album. Well, now I will.

Trouble is Ray's debut album. It was actually released in 2004, but is only now gaining the attention that it truly deserves. He's not commercially played and it would seem silly for conventional radio to play him. He's not that sort of singer/songwriter. But what he really is, is a bluesy, folksy singer with a wonderful voice (all gritty, sandpapery and full of emotion) and a tremendous gift for song writing.

Together the effect is absolutely devestating. As one reviewer said (and unfortunately, I have no idea where I got this from) his voice will pin you to the wall. It's raw, it's emotional and packs a punch that Evander Holyfield would be proud of.

And if you're not already on the floor crying your eyes out from his voice alone, then you're probably done for when you actually sit down and listen to his lyrics. It's just that good. Well, at least to this little humble review it is.

Just from "Trouble" alone I hooked Loki and his best friend into Ray fans. And they aren't very prone to things like that anyway.

Coincidentally, next Tuesday, August 29 is the release date for Ray's new album "Till the Sun Turns Black."

Isn't it obvious what rating I'm going to give this album?

Five stars out of five.

Here's what Wikipedia says about him.

Movie Review: Just My Luck

I didn't expect to like this movie much. A romantic comedy (more comedy than romance, really) with Lindsay Lohan with an unbelievable premise - she's super lucky until she accidentally "loses" her luck to an unlucky shmoe by kissing him) - it didn't sound too promising, but Lohan's been good in Mean Girls and Freaky Friday, and once I heard Missi Pyle was in it - I was sold.

Yes, it's totally unbelievable/unrealistic, but that's not always a downside with me. I like a good story and some good slapstick and this had both. Lohan, as Ashley Albright (get it? All Bright?) is the luckiest woman in the world, rain stops when she walks outside, she finds fantastic clothes at unbelievable prices, she always wins scratch-off lottery tickets. However, she credits her good fortune to her positive attitude. Meanwhile, struggling for the smallest break, Jake Hardin is a perpetual loser who prepares for the worst, because it's coming. They meet at a masquerade ball and kiss, and within minutes, they've traded luck. Ashley ends up homeless, jobless, starving and humiliated - Jake ends up in a free penthouse apartment. She's searching for the masked man to steal her luck back, and ends up meeting Jake without recognizing him.

Misunderstandings and pratfalls follow, your typical bad-luck scenarios while Ashley learns to both appreciate what she has, and learns the value of her luck.

Cute, funny, seriously predictable in places, I enjoyed this as a good diversion for a few hours. Teens will enjoy it and there's nothing objectionable for them. Younger kids might like the slapstick, but might be a little bored in other places. Put it on your NetFlix list or head down to Family Video to rent it.

4 out of 5 stars, even though it did involve more animal poop than I like to see in a movie.

Movie Review: Poseidon

Like any good disaster flick, Poseidon is full of desperate people taking crazy chances, bonding with strangers and fleeing dangers aplenty. The effects in Poseidon are excellent, most notably the giant "rogue wave" early in the movie which (and really, this shouldn't be considered a spoiler by now) flips the cruise ship upside-down. You can easily imagine the work required to build a set that flips over.

It's been years since I saw the original, which I remember watching in front of a TV with knobs on it and you had to wait for a commercial break to go to the bathroom! But it was one of those hypnotic movies chock-ful of notable names. This one isn't much different in that regard, Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Andre Braugher, Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Kevin Dillon and Emmy Rossum all ride the ill-fated ship and we get (very) brief glimpses of their pre-disaster lives. The characters are somewhat stereotyped and predictable (young couple in love, scoundrel with a good heart, single mom with cute kid).

As exciting and interesting as some of the near-misses are (and uh, not misses?), it does get a bit repetitive. "Ho hum, another fireball, another rapidly approaching wall of water". There are your basic themes of self-sacrifice and trusting strangers with your life.

It's worth watching once, though, I'd say you can wait until it's on HBO. It's a good movie you don't need to think much about, and there is plenty of action. My one-year-old found some of the random disasters hilarious, so if you enjoy hand-clapping and a good three word book (Cat. Dog. Cow), this might be the movie for you.

Three out of five stars, which I what I seem to give most movies, sorry.

Movie Review: Barnyard

Based on just the trailer with the cows "boy tipping", I was looking forward to see this. Post Gazette columnist Samantha Bennett's concern over udders on males not withstanding, it looked like a funny, silly movie, always good for the Drive In, which is where I saw it. (Come on, Samantha, it's an animated movie with cows that play guitar, the udders are the least of the unreality . ..)

The basic story is about Otis, the son of head cow Ben, as he comes of age and takes his rightful place guarding the farm. Otis is a party animal, and even though he's a good guy, he's not interested in growing up.

There are plenty of gags in this, including cows stealing cars, a contortionist mouse and an unidentifiable critter who loves to dance. I was more surprised by the scariness and even some death in this movie. I'd certainly recommend seeing this before taking children under 8 or sensitive children a little older.

The movie wasn't hilarious, but had funny moments. It was predictable, but still enjoyable, and it features a rather impressive voice cast: Kevin James, Courteney Cox, Sam Elliot, Danny Glover, Wanda Sykes, Andie MacDowell and the always fantastic Maurice LaMarche (you geeks know who I mean). I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't over-impressed, either.

I don't plan on buying this as soon as it's out, but I might get it in a few years when it's on the 3 for $15 shelf.

Three out of Five Stars

Movie Review: Clerks 2

I'm partial to Kevin Smith's work, for various reasons discussed on my blog. So I walked into "Clerks 2" expecting to like it, but slightly hesitant because of the brand of humor Smith is known for. When every preview is for movies worse than "Beer Fest", I get a little alarmed.

If you are looking for a crude I-can't-believe-they're-saying-that film, you'll get what you came for in "Clerks 2". However, that's not what sticks with me. What sticks with me in this movie is the last 15 minutes, which are all about friendship, love, and finding your place in this world. Smith may have set out to make a funny movie, and he succeeded, but he also made a true coming of age story.

The film picks up ten years after the original "Clerks" ended. Dante and Randall are still working at the Quick Stop, and come to work one day only to discover that the place is on fire. Fast forward a few years, and they are ensconced at Mooby's, the fictional fast food chain in several other of Smith's movies. Dante is engaged and preparing to leave NJ for a better life in Florida.

There are complications, as there always are. True love takes many forms in the movie, be it man and woman, strictly platonic hetero friend and friend, or man and beast. Riddled with the usual monologues on sex and Star Wars, and featuring Jay and Silent Bob, with cameos from some familiar faces, "Clerks 2" is everything you expect from a Kevin Smith movie. It's the perfect, fitting ending to the NJ stories he's told in almost all of his previous movies. Profane and profound, with a snappy dance sequence thrown in for fun, this is a movie you should go see with your best friend.

Movie Review: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Paperback Writer here.

Loki and I went to see Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby on Friday night. It was a fun movie, the kind of movie that you don't have to put a lot of brain cells into, which was the type of movie that we wanted to see that night anyway.

However, I will say if you saw 40 Year Old Virgin or Anchorman they were clearly the better movies. Oh, don't get me wrong, it's a good movie, not the kind of movie though, that I'd see again.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (who plays his best friend) were funny. I should say that everyone in the movie was funny, particularly Sasha Baron Cohen (that's Ali G to most people) who plays Jean Girard, a French Formula One driver who has come to America to beat Ricky Bobby. Adam McKay, the director, loves to use the same actors in his movies so expect to see a few familiar faces as the supporting characters. I'm surprised Loki didn't smack me for pointing out all the characters that were in Anchorman and the 40 Year Old Virgin.

Ricky Bobby is NASCAR's top racer but during one race he suffers a horrible accident at the hands of Jean Girard and all things go downhill from there. It is his redemption and how he learns to control his fear and drive fast again. His comeback race is at (wait for it) the Talladega Racetrack.

Anyway, I'm not going to go into too much detail about this movie - that would be too telling. Would I recommend it as a full price movie? No. But I would recommend it as a matinee movie or a cheap movie date. So, I'll give it three stars out of five.

Movie Review: Scoop

Scoop is a Woody Allen movie for people who don't like Woody Allen.

Oh, it's got all the talky bits he's famous for. The dialogue is more like a play than a movie, and barbs and banter are quick and overlapping. The film quality is there, too - no glossy Hollywood sheen for Mr. Allen. The movie stars Woody himself, Scarlett Johansson, and Hugh Jackman, with Ian McShane. Ms. Johansson plays an American college student and would-be-reporter visiting posh London friends, and Allen is an American magician who has brought his show there. Johansson's lovely beauty is almost obscured, as she manages to look completely normal and sometimes even frumpy. Her speech and delivery mirror Allen's so much, it's as if her character is a younger version of his, which comes in handy when they pretend to be father and daughter.

Jackman is the wealthy son of a British lord, and the suspect they are secretly investigating, on a tip from a dead reporter (McShane) hoping for one last scoop. The situations they put themselves in are frequently hilarious, and the tension of whether they will get caught is always present. You're kept laughing throughout the entire film, even up to the end, which is both expected and unexpected.

While rated PG-13, it's still a movie for adults. There is no nudity, and if you've come for Jackman's magnificent chest, you'd be better off renting "Someone Like You". A few things shocked my friend and I - Johansson hopes into bed right away with a man she's come to interview, and while you don't see it, it is discussed. We, two grown adults, kept looking at each other, taken aback by this behavior, which seemed unnecessary for plot development. I wouldn't take a teen to see this movie, in any event.

If you are a big fan of Allen and his movies, you may be disappointed. I thought it was a fun farcical mystery, and I laughed the entire time. There are some great lines, and if you find Woody Allen tedious or annoying, as my friend does, you'll find him charming and funny in this film.

Is it going to change your life? No. Will it be one of your favorite movies of all time? Possibly. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely.