Book Review: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

I had heard from several people that if you've seen the movie you have pretty much read the book, and this proved to be fairly true. (I actually credit the Coen Brothers for chopping the dialogue down to the bare minimum, because there were conversations in the book that felt overlong.) Since I saw the movie three times in the theatre and several times on DVD I wasn't able to fully experience the novel on its' own terms, but I'm still glad that I read it.

P.S. I should also note that despite the absence of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, this book is ten times as bleak as THE ROAD. That book, for all its grim imaginings, is about hope in the face of hopelessness. This novel, as the last paragraph makes clear, is about the absence of not only hope, but any order or sense to the universe at all. Harsh.

Book Review: SUMMERLAND

"The greatest stories contain every story."

I can't remember who said that (or if I just made it up) but it is certainly true of SUMMERLAND. Take everything you love about THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and LORD OF THE RINGS, mix in a dollop of THE TALISMAN, throw in a bit of THE GOONIES, add a splash of FIELD OF DREAMS, and you've got yourself an exuberant adventure story that will make you feel--and wish--that you were twelve years old again.

I was enchanted by this book within the first half of the opening chapter, and there isn't even anything that exciting in those first few pages. I have come to expect outstanding writing from Michael Chabon (and this book is no exception) but what stands out to me here is that although children are this target audience, he doesn't dumb down the language or paint everything in broad, cheesy strokes to make it simple. Instead, he does what I wish more people would do, which is to trust that kids are smart and can follow a complex story, and will rise to the occasion if he gives them a challenging word here and there (unlike, say, the author of a certain series of books about a boy wizard, who couldn't write her way out of a wet high school newspaper). Chabon borrows elements from numerous sources to craft an epic tale of good and evil, weaving these patchwork pieces into a literary quilt that maintains its uniqueness. SUMMERLAND is storytelling at its' best, and I have no doubt that I will be re-reading it the near future.

Movie Review: THE LIMITS OF CONTROL

"I think it's more interesting, all the things one doesn't know, is more fascinating than the things one does know." - Jim Jarmusch

Based on that statement, THE LIMITS OF CONTROL is the most fascinating movie I have ever seen. Or to put it another way: I have no idea what happened in this movie. I mean, I know the events that transpired, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what actually happened, what this movie is supposed to be about. There is almost no dialogue from the central character (hell, there's barely any movement--he spends half the movie lying in bed, staring at the ceiling) and what little dialogue we get from the characters he meets is cryptic and repetitive, dealing primarily with the sensory memories of molecules and musical instruments. (The underlying message of these conversations is that you carry with you everything you have every done, and the universe resonates with you.) In the last ten minutes of the movie we finally get to see him carry out the task he has been moving towards for the last two hours, but we have no idea why he is doing it. In the end, the things we don't know (everything about the movie) outweigh the things we do know (there are people on the screen) and the result isn't fascinating, just frustrating.

I am a big fan of Jim Jarmusch (I own all of his films) and I have never been put off by his slow, meandering style of storytelling before. In this case, however, I would have to say that THE LIMITS OF CONTROL felt more like THE LIMITS OF MY PATIENCE.

Happy Birthday, Tom!

Do us a favor: live for another 60 years.

Show Review: 30 ROCK

I'm not going to review this show, I'm just going to tell you to watch it. Created by and starring Tina Fey (Hottie!), this is the sharpest, funniest show I have seen on network television in a long time. Tina Fey is fantastic, Alec Baldwin is sublime, and Tracy Morgan is insane. The supporting cast is magnificent, and each episode tops the one that came before. So. Stinking. Good.

P.S. This review only applies to Season 1. I found Season 2 half-hearted and lackluster, and I won't have a verdict on Season 3 until it comes in at the library.

Book Review: MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH

As much as I have enjoyed the rest of Michael Chabon's novels (evidenced by the glowing reviews on this very blog), this one did absolutely nothing for me. MYSTERIES is Chabon's first novel, and although there are moments of lovely writing here and there, the fact is that I didn't care about the story, or any of the characters, or anything at all about this book. It felt strained, like he was striving to make the book bigger, to make it more than it is, and as a result everything comes out feeling terribly flat and somewhat dishonest. Believability is crucial to any piece of writing, and there was almost nothing in this book that rang true. (The exception to this is the climactic scene in the novel, which was poetic and vivid and graceful, and which I can't relay to you now for obvious reasons.) Taken as a whole, the book left me feeling unfulfilled, and slightly cheated.

I'm glad I read most of his other works first, because if I had started with this one I might not have bothered with the rest.

Movie Review: THE IN-LAWS (1979)

I first saw this comedy gem back in the day when I was working at Rain City Video, and it has been a perennial favorite ever since. I won't give away the plot (which is delightfully ludicrous and should be discovered first-hand), but I will say that what brings me back again and again is the joy of watching Peter Falk and Alan Arkin play off each other for 90 minutes. These guys are so sharp, and so funny, you literally can't take your eyes off of them. (Apparently, the primary reason this movie even exists is that one of the producers wanted a project that would bring these two actors together.)
Arkin is all forced politeness and pent-up frustration, while Falk is laid-back and charming even in the most dire circumstances. (I also have to say that Peter Falk is, without question, a comedic genius. While many people may only know him from THE PRINCESS BRIDE and COLUMBO, the man is a legend for reasons apart from those august performances.) These guys are clearly having a ball working together, and we are lucky enough to go along for the ride. Do yourself and favor and check this one out--you won't be sorry.