The Film: The Lincoln Lawyer (based on the book of the same name by Michael Connelly)
The Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, Josh Lucas, John Leguizama, etc.
The Dealio: Mick Haller is a defense attorney who operates out of the backs of a fleet of Lincoln Town Cars, rather than offices. Living in the substantial shadow of a revered, now-deceased father, also a lawyer and a jurist, as well, Mick is asking himself if he has finally found a truly innocent client, in the person of Louis Roulet. Louis is the son of an upper crust LA family, now accused of a ferocious attack on a young woman with a murky background. Since Mick only has one speed- in the red- it is not long before he finds himself up to his ears in trouble, contradictions, lies and loads of misdirection.
The Grading Session: 4.86 pengies out of 5. Nice, spicy soundtrack...let's get that right out of the way. Then, McConnaughey was born to play this role, and moves into it with the effortlessness and ease of a cowpoke slipping into a pair of broken-in boots. Phillippe is very natural in his role as well. The supporting cast is superb, and my one gripe is two major departures from the book. I don't object to the one, since this movie holds the possibility of others to come (Haller is featured in at least two other novels centering on him, and several more as a support to Harry Bosch), one of the supporting characters has been renamed and given a slightly different personality from the that of the person in the book. That's understandable if there are more Hall movies in the offing. The other was the inclusion of a (fairly violent, but satisfying) scene towards the end. The only thing I can imagine is that the writer thought (and Connelly did participate in the screenplay) 'let's give the viewers a little pay-off before we sum up.' It works, but I was a taddy bit perplexed by its addition. Didn't need it; nice to think about, though.
Lessons Learned: This is not necessarily a new or distinct one, but it's a grand reminder: don't judge a books by its cover. Also- just because a lawyer hangs out with motorcycle gangs and snitches doesn't make him evil. Necessarily. Lastly: if it looks like someone has gotten into your house, DON'T GO IN!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Battle: LA
The Flick: Battle: LA
The Actors: Aaron Eckhart, Ye-No, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez, etc.
The Dealio: It's a far-from-original story: aliens do a dart-throw and come up with the decision to colonise Earth. Naturally. I mean, it really is the coolest place. Better even than Pandora. At first, everyone in the world believes that a flock of comets or whatever celestial hounds of hell have been unleashed- are heading, at warp speed toward Earth. However, some bright sparks who have especially well-honed skills of detection, realise that what is incoming is actually an alien life form. WhatEVER. The intent, and the outcome- is the same: destruction of the current populace. However, the actual plan has as its goal that Earth, now denuded of peeps, will serve to bolster the seven basic food groups of the non-carbon-based alien presence. In an amazing turn of events, the very first to know are the military. This, then, develops into the story of how a very determined bunch of Marines- and one USAF pogue- band together, against insurmountable odds, to wage a counter-assault on the aggressive would-be prospective tenants of Planet Earth.
The Grading Session: 4.79 pengies out of 5. Surprised? Okay, let's go through the numbers. First of all, thank God they didn't include the creepescent theme that plays behind the trailer. Ugh.
Next, although I did state that this was a far-from-original premise, those involved do a great deal with it, and there are some finely crafted bits for all the players to show what they can do, stretch their limbs a bit. All were very good, very true and believable. I really found the story compelling. But. Hasn't Michelle Rodriguez done the plucky, tough minded, moxie-ful femme a time or three in the past? Also- I really, really, really did not like the jittery handheld camera effect throughout. It was fairly nausea-inducing for me, and I have grown a bit tired of the effect, as director after director hops aboard this particular fad. Aaand haven't we seen the aliens-cobbled-together-from-junk deal too many times before? I found myself comparing these to the ones in District 9. And not really holding up to the comparison.
Lessons Learned: First of all: why are the aliens always picking on LA and NYC? Even as I am writing this, I must say that, in this instance, those choices make more sense than some of the others- like Paris, for example. I do not want to be a spoiler, so I won't tell you why, geographically, some of the choices of target cities make no sense. But if you see this one- and I would have you see it- you may share my confusion over this particular choice of targets. Next it's this: as we all know from countless movies of the past 50+ years, there is no possible way the aliens can shoot as well as the natural-born denizens of Earth. Why do they even try? Lastly: find the weakness in the aliens, and the rest is cake: extreme heat or cold? Bring it. Need air or water? Withhold it. Need pizzas or chicken? Call delivery, then, spike 'em with whatever you got (I recommend extreme heat or cold, hold the water and air toppings).
The Actors: Aaron Eckhart, Ye-No, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez, etc.
The Dealio: It's a far-from-original story: aliens do a dart-throw and come up with the decision to colonise Earth. Naturally. I mean, it really is the coolest place. Better even than Pandora. At first, everyone in the world believes that a flock of comets or whatever celestial hounds of hell have been unleashed- are heading, at warp speed toward Earth. However, some bright sparks who have especially well-honed skills of detection, realise that what is incoming is actually an alien life form. WhatEVER. The intent, and the outcome- is the same: destruction of the current populace. However, the actual plan has as its goal that Earth, now denuded of peeps, will serve to bolster the seven basic food groups of the non-carbon-based alien presence. In an amazing turn of events, the very first to know are the military. This, then, develops into the story of how a very determined bunch of Marines- and one USAF pogue- band together, against insurmountable odds, to wage a counter-assault on the aggressive would-be prospective tenants of Planet Earth.
The Grading Session: 4.79 pengies out of 5. Surprised? Okay, let's go through the numbers. First of all, thank God they didn't include the creepescent theme that plays behind the trailer. Ugh.
Next, although I did state that this was a far-from-original premise, those involved do a great deal with it, and there are some finely crafted bits for all the players to show what they can do, stretch their limbs a bit. All were very good, very true and believable. I really found the story compelling. But. Hasn't Michelle Rodriguez done the plucky, tough minded, moxie-ful femme a time or three in the past? Also- I really, really, really did not like the jittery handheld camera effect throughout. It was fairly nausea-inducing for me, and I have grown a bit tired of the effect, as director after director hops aboard this particular fad. Aaand haven't we seen the aliens-cobbled-together-from-junk deal too many times before? I found myself comparing these to the ones in District 9. And not really holding up to the comparison.
Lessons Learned: First of all: why are the aliens always picking on LA and NYC? Even as I am writing this, I must say that, in this instance, those choices make more sense than some of the others- like Paris, for example. I do not want to be a spoiler, so I won't tell you why, geographically, some of the choices of target cities make no sense. But if you see this one- and I would have you see it- you may share my confusion over this particular choice of targets. Next it's this: as we all know from countless movies of the past 50+ years, there is no possible way the aliens can shoot as well as the natural-born denizens of Earth. Why do they even try? Lastly: find the weakness in the aliens, and the rest is cake: extreme heat or cold? Bring it. Need air or water? Withhold it. Need pizzas or chicken? Call delivery, then, spike 'em with whatever you got (I recommend extreme heat or cold, hold the water and air toppings).
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Millennium Triolgy
The Books: The Millennium Trilogy (The Girl With The dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest)
The Author: Stieg Larsson
The Dealio: This is a series of three books, set mostly in Sweden, which are, ostensibly, mysteries, but could also be comfortably shelved with adventure books. The two main characters are the Girl in the Title (Lisbeth Salander) and the controversial journalist, Mikael Blomqvist (who has as his super power, the ability to attract and successfully bed any woman he sees, walks by, wants or knows, despite being described in the books as a bear of a man, over middle age and over weight, not very good looking, not particularly rich or powerful, but also possessing a wicked case of attention deficit disorder). In the course of the three books, both Mika and Lisbeth will log some serious jail-, isolation-, court- and bad-press time. Mika finds himself on the losing end of a defamation lawsuit at the beginning of the series, and , after being thrown a life-preserver in the form of a contract with an aged and ailing business magnate, removes himself from the heat of the fray in Stockholm, where is is a partner in an up and coming magazine, Millennium. His assignment: to find out what happened to the rich dudes favorite grand-daughter...nearly 40 years ago. In doing some looking before leaping behind the curtains exploring, with the help of a securrity agency, Mika runs into Milton Security's #1 researcher, a cryptic, mysterious, secretive and diabolically talented Lisbeth Salander. Along the way through the three interlinked stories (you really need to read these in order), these two join forces, then bods, then snarky hostility as they work to get the true scoop not only on Mika's jail-time producing slander case, but also the mysteries of her past, which have put Salander in peril, at risk and on the run since she was a 12 year old girl. Along the way there is enough high grade violence- much of it against women- to satisfy even the hardest-boiled Quentin Tarentino fan. There are some vivid court sequences and interesting secondary characters, but it often seems that Sweden's justice department-with all it tentacled arms thrashing about here and there, causing casualties wherever they turn up- has out-Ramparted Ramparts PD.
The Grading Session: Dragon Tattoo: 4.51 pengies out of 5; Played With Fire: 4.01 pengies out of 5. Hornets' Nest: 4.812 pengies out of 5. Although Larsson always maintained that he was a feminist, these books are so much less about female empowerment than about a sadistic, jaundiced view of females, which subjects nearly all who show up in his writings to graphic, high-grade torture, subjugation and perversity. It took a lot for me to continue with each of these books in their turn due to this repressive climate. But I also felt that the stories were engrossing- the 2nd least of the lot- and the last segments of the Hornets' Nest- the court-room sequences - galloped along with such speed and velocity that I was literally breathless during the entire telling.
Lessons Learned: Aside from the fact that the guy who wrote this series gave himself carte blanche to vicariously be absolutely irresistible to a steady stream of hot and cold running women, while being an average, everyday, out-of-shape, not-so-physically appealing specimen? Yup; checked that block thoroughly.
Then: Come on, you know this one by heart, so let's all just say it together: 'You simply can never judge a book by its cover.' This applies not only to Blomqvist, but also to the Girl in The Titles. Salander had, for decades, been labelled as a mentally ill, probably mentally defective female incapable of reading or writing. Weeeeeellll, not so fast, peeps. Surprises abound ahead.
Lastly this: decay and corruption can be found at the heart of the very last places you would expect to find it. In systems designed to protect and serve. In political offices which have, as their purpose, to root out decay and corruption. But, too, strength, decency, and unquestionable loyalty can be found hidden in some pretty unexpected places, as well. Lesson? Tread carefully,look both ways before venturing forth, always on the watch, and please be so kind as to leave your assumptions at the door.
The Author: Stieg Larsson
The Dealio: This is a series of three books, set mostly in Sweden, which are, ostensibly, mysteries, but could also be comfortably shelved with adventure books. The two main characters are the Girl in the Title (Lisbeth Salander) and the controversial journalist, Mikael Blomqvist (who has as his super power, the ability to attract and successfully bed any woman he sees, walks by, wants or knows, despite being described in the books as a bear of a man, over middle age and over weight, not very good looking, not particularly rich or powerful, but also possessing a wicked case of attention deficit disorder). In the course of the three books, both Mika and Lisbeth will log some serious jail-, isolation-, court- and bad-press time. Mika finds himself on the losing end of a defamation lawsuit at the beginning of the series, and , after being thrown a life-preserver in the form of a contract with an aged and ailing business magnate, removes himself from the heat of the fray in Stockholm, where is is a partner in an up and coming magazine, Millennium. His assignment: to find out what happened to the rich dudes favorite grand-daughter...nearly 40 years ago. In doing some looking before leaping behind the curtains exploring, with the help of a securrity agency, Mika runs into Milton Security's #1 researcher, a cryptic, mysterious, secretive and diabolically talented Lisbeth Salander. Along the way through the three interlinked stories (you really need to read these in order), these two join forces, then bods, then snarky hostility as they work to get the true scoop not only on Mika's jail-time producing slander case, but also the mysteries of her past, which have put Salander in peril, at risk and on the run since she was a 12 year old girl. Along the way there is enough high grade violence- much of it against women- to satisfy even the hardest-boiled Quentin Tarentino fan. There are some vivid court sequences and interesting secondary characters, but it often seems that Sweden's justice department-with all it tentacled arms thrashing about here and there, causing casualties wherever they turn up- has out-Ramparted Ramparts PD.
The Grading Session: Dragon Tattoo: 4.51 pengies out of 5; Played With Fire: 4.01 pengies out of 5. Hornets' Nest: 4.812 pengies out of 5. Although Larsson always maintained that he was a feminist, these books are so much less about female empowerment than about a sadistic, jaundiced view of females, which subjects nearly all who show up in his writings to graphic, high-grade torture, subjugation and perversity. It took a lot for me to continue with each of these books in their turn due to this repressive climate. But I also felt that the stories were engrossing- the 2nd least of the lot- and the last segments of the Hornets' Nest- the court-room sequences - galloped along with such speed and velocity that I was literally breathless during the entire telling.
Lessons Learned: Aside from the fact that the guy who wrote this series gave himself carte blanche to vicariously be absolutely irresistible to a steady stream of hot and cold running women, while being an average, everyday, out-of-shape, not-so-physically appealing specimen? Yup; checked that block thoroughly.
Then: Come on, you know this one by heart, so let's all just say it together: 'You simply can never judge a book by its cover.' This applies not only to Blomqvist, but also to the Girl in The Titles. Salander had, for decades, been labelled as a mentally ill, probably mentally defective female incapable of reading or writing. Weeeeeellll, not so fast, peeps. Surprises abound ahead.
Lastly this: decay and corruption can be found at the heart of the very last places you would expect to find it. In systems designed to protect and serve. In political offices which have, as their purpose, to root out decay and corruption. But, too, strength, decency, and unquestionable loyalty can be found hidden in some pretty unexpected places, as well. Lesson? Tread carefully,look both ways before venturing forth, always on the watch, and please be so kind as to leave your assumptions at the door.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Adjustment Bureau
The Flick: The Adjustment Bureau
The Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackey, John Slattery, Jennifer Ehles (always and forever, my favorite Lizzy Bennet), Terence Stamp and John Stewart (as himself).
The Dealio: What role does free will actually play in our lives? Is it all that and a bag o' chips? Or is it, in reality, merely window dressing ('You can pick your brand of toothpaste or the color of your tie. But for the major things...Um, it's not really up to you'). That is the premise of this film- or it appears to be. A melange of genres- romance, comedy, adventure, fantasy, even parable- TAB is a well-crafted, intriguing and slightly unnerving tale, that focuses in on an Everyman, who is anything but. Damon's David Norris is a reformed bad boy politician (and I have to laugh over the things that earned him that label- he dropped trou at a college mixer and had pix taken of this momentous event, and he was involved in a bar-room brawl when he was 23 yrs old. Is it just me, or does that seem mild in comparison with things our real-life pols have been up to lately?). Into his life wanders modern ballet dancer, Elise (Emily Blunt), who captivates and inspires the soon-to lose-his-election Norris. Norris gives a whale of a kiss-off speech and people begin squaring up behind him to support his next run for public office. His reputation, as they say, is made. Unfortunately, through a miscalculation, he runs into the elusive Elise again, and this simply can not be allowed to stand. Seems as though there is an elite corps of men-no women, ya see- who, upon command of The Chairman (uh-huh), run around adjusting people who depart from their paths in life. David must make a decision: stop seeing Elise forever, or risk being permanently adjusted out of his memory. All of it. Da-da-da-DUUUUUUUUUHHHHHH!
The Grading Session: 4.719 pengies out of 5. Editing, again would have upped the pengie count. And the soundtrack was....forgettable.
Lessons Learned: First of all- and most importantly: Prendie was way ahead of the timeline for the resurgence of hat-wearing by men (don't believe me? Check out our garage, the guest room, our living room couch, the tansu...). Next, that there are certain things worth fighting for. And the payoffs for these are enormous. Lastly, this: plans are like pie shells, made to be broken. And that is not always something to regret. The fracture of one plan can enhance the resultant back-up one. But mindlessly sticking to a plan that is not working for me...that, I definitely would regret.
The Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackey, John Slattery, Jennifer Ehles (always and forever, my favorite Lizzy Bennet), Terence Stamp and John Stewart (as himself).
The Dealio: What role does free will actually play in our lives? Is it all that and a bag o' chips? Or is it, in reality, merely window dressing ('You can pick your brand of toothpaste or the color of your tie. But for the major things...Um, it's not really up to you'). That is the premise of this film- or it appears to be. A melange of genres- romance, comedy, adventure, fantasy, even parable- TAB is a well-crafted, intriguing and slightly unnerving tale, that focuses in on an Everyman, who is anything but. Damon's David Norris is a reformed bad boy politician (and I have to laugh over the things that earned him that label- he dropped trou at a college mixer and had pix taken of this momentous event, and he was involved in a bar-room brawl when he was 23 yrs old. Is it just me, or does that seem mild in comparison with things our real-life pols have been up to lately?). Into his life wanders modern ballet dancer, Elise (Emily Blunt), who captivates and inspires the soon-to lose-his-election Norris. Norris gives a whale of a kiss-off speech and people begin squaring up behind him to support his next run for public office. His reputation, as they say, is made. Unfortunately, through a miscalculation, he runs into the elusive Elise again, and this simply can not be allowed to stand. Seems as though there is an elite corps of men-no women, ya see- who, upon command of The Chairman (uh-huh), run around adjusting people who depart from their paths in life. David must make a decision: stop seeing Elise forever, or risk being permanently adjusted out of his memory. All of it. Da-da-da-DUUUUUUUUUHHHHHH!
The Grading Session: 4.719 pengies out of 5. Editing, again would have upped the pengie count. And the soundtrack was....forgettable.
Lessons Learned: First of all- and most importantly: Prendie was way ahead of the timeline for the resurgence of hat-wearing by men (don't believe me? Check out our garage, the guest room, our living room couch, the tansu...). Next, that there are certain things worth fighting for. And the payoffs for these are enormous. Lastly, this: plans are like pie shells, made to be broken. And that is not always something to regret. The fracture of one plan can enhance the resultant back-up one. But mindlessly sticking to a plan that is not working for me...that, I definitely would regret.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Unknown
The Flick: Unknown
The Peeps: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz (!)
The Dealio: An overkill of supremely lovey-dovey shots acquaints us with the main folk in this story: Dr Martin Harris (Neeson) and his lovely spouse, Liz (January Jones, who only does the one deer-in-the-headlights look) on board an airplane, headed for Berlin for some sort of international meeting of the heavy hitters in the agri-science scene. After forgetting his attache at the airport (don't ask), he cabs back to pick it up. Or tries to do so. An encounter with a fridge on the rampage on the Autobahn results in both cabbie Kruger and passenger Harris doing a swan dive over a bridge abutment. Kruger pulls the unconscious Harris from the cab, attempts resuscitation, then melts into the crowd when the coppers show. Awakening after four days in a coma, Harris ' memory is of the Swiss cheese variety and he slowly struggles to align the pieces together, slipping niblets of 411 into what he thinks must be their correct places, only to be told, by one and all, that he has made a terrible mistake. To prove just how terrible this mistake is, people begin trying to kill not only Harris, but everyone who has come into contact with him. Whut the aitch is going on here?
The Grading Session: 3.75 pengies out of 5. Saw this one with Prendie and he is not a major fan of the 'How can they turn everyone you ever met against you? How can EVERYbody be in on the plot?' school of paranoid film-making. However, this was definitely an action-packed show and you simply could not fall asleep for the duration. However, you also could not afford to go to the restrooms, either. I found the constant whipping around to look over the shoulder increasingly tedious as the clocked ticked on for the second hour of the film. Almost when it was too late did we get to meet Ganz' intrepid 'always one step ahead of the unknown enemy' PI and get a chance to see Neeson suddenly recall that one thing he does really, really, really well is kick some touchus. I live for that stuff and was beginning to wonder if we would ever get the pay-off.
Lessons Learned: January Jones is not a gifted actress. Think I guessed that from her stint as guest host on SNL, but super-nice to have it confirmed. Next: Reality and the return of memory are not all they are cracked up to be...'cause then, you sort of have to deal with the big reveal. Lastly: old secret policemen do not die...unless they want to. They simply continue to accrue factoids and incriminating evidence...and learn to navigate the Internet, apparently. Oh yeah, and steal every scene in which they are featured as 'support'.
The Peeps: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz (!)
The Dealio: An overkill of supremely lovey-dovey shots acquaints us with the main folk in this story: Dr Martin Harris (Neeson) and his lovely spouse, Liz (January Jones, who only does the one deer-in-the-headlights look) on board an airplane, headed for Berlin for some sort of international meeting of the heavy hitters in the agri-science scene. After forgetting his attache at the airport (don't ask), he cabs back to pick it up. Or tries to do so. An encounter with a fridge on the rampage on the Autobahn results in both cabbie Kruger and passenger Harris doing a swan dive over a bridge abutment. Kruger pulls the unconscious Harris from the cab, attempts resuscitation, then melts into the crowd when the coppers show. Awakening after four days in a coma, Harris ' memory is of the Swiss cheese variety and he slowly struggles to align the pieces together, slipping niblets of 411 into what he thinks must be their correct places, only to be told, by one and all, that he has made a terrible mistake. To prove just how terrible this mistake is, people begin trying to kill not only Harris, but everyone who has come into contact with him. Whut the aitch is going on here?
The Grading Session: 3.75 pengies out of 5. Saw this one with Prendie and he is not a major fan of the 'How can they turn everyone you ever met against you? How can EVERYbody be in on the plot?' school of paranoid film-making. However, this was definitely an action-packed show and you simply could not fall asleep for the duration. However, you also could not afford to go to the restrooms, either. I found the constant whipping around to look over the shoulder increasingly tedious as the clocked ticked on for the second hour of the film. Almost when it was too late did we get to meet Ganz' intrepid 'always one step ahead of the unknown enemy' PI and get a chance to see Neeson suddenly recall that one thing he does really, really, really well is kick some touchus. I live for that stuff and was beginning to wonder if we would ever get the pay-off.
Lessons Learned: January Jones is not a gifted actress. Think I guessed that from her stint as guest host on SNL, but super-nice to have it confirmed. Next: Reality and the return of memory are not all they are cracked up to be...'cause then, you sort of have to deal with the big reveal. Lastly: old secret policemen do not die...unless they want to. They simply continue to accrue factoids and incriminating evidence...and learn to navigate the Internet, apparently. Oh yeah, and steal every scene in which they are featured as 'support'.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Memory Palace
The Book: The Memory Palace
The Author: Mira Bartok (nee Myra Herr)
The Dealio: Bartok is one of two daughters, abandoned at a young age by their (alcoholic, genius, writer) father. Forced to live with their mother's parents, their gifted, schizophrenic mother begins a harrowing spiral of paranoia and combativeness, that ends, one night, with her attacking her daughters. In the aftermath of this violent, terrifying episode, (one of many such, but the mortal wound to the delicate balance the girls have created simply to be able to coexist with their increasingly irrational parent), both make an escape, a complete break which lasts for almost 17 years. Both women change their names, sever ties with their friends and remaining family, and communicate only through third party postal boxes in neutral cities.
Summoned back to their mother's side when she is 80 years old and dying (not a spoiler: this is clear within the first chapter of the story), Mira, who has become an artist and author of children's books, has, herself, suffered a brain injury due to a freak car accident. She now possesses a memory which is an Alencon lace-type affair: full of sumptuous, intricately woven designs, riddled through and through with minute gaps, gauzed-out recollections with several possible meanings ('That is what could have happened. Or...perhaps, what happened was this...'). As an antidote to the panic and uncertainty that envelopes her when she is faced with the smallest of tasks, (remembering appointments or how to get home from her grocery store), she adopts a device from the Renaissance:a palace of infinite rooms, into each of which she carefully situates a memory- in the form of a literal, mental picture. The memory is then safe, and can be visited again and again, reliably. Reassuringly.
The Grading Session: 4.851 pengies out of 5. This review is based upon an audio book rendering of the story. The reader is Hilary Huber, who is gifted and clearly moved and invested in the tale. However, the few debits that separate this story from a perfect score include some repetition ( I do understand the urgent and unrelenting weariness, guilt and agony of wondering where her mother is. Asking yourself if she, who has become homeless and traipsed in and out of institutions and programs for the best part of the intervening 17 years, is safe, warm, cared-for, must be a daily grief and scourge. Still, a bit of editing would have eased the narrative flow (look at the big brain on me, after reading one book about the editing skills of Jackie O!) considerably. The writing was lyrical, punctuated by meaningful- although obscure, sayings. Which makes them even more pungent. But there were three points at which I felt this books could have gracefully wound to a delicately couched landing...but then, suddenly, it didn't. This was still a hell of a read and I simply could not leave it alone. If you were caught up- often against your will- by the narrative of The Glass Castle, then you should check into the Memory Palace. Both powerful, made even more striking by the fact that these are both nonfiction.
Lessons Learned: There are people in the world who live extremely harrowing lives- and who manage to survive, even thrive. Also- the border between genius and mental illness appears, for some, to be crossed so many times, a passport has become a meaningless document. And finally, there is something to this notion that we are linked to those we have loved by that famous red string which binds us at the heart. So often in this story, Mira was traveling in some weird place (once, even, above the Arctic Circle), and leter discovered a notation from her mother's notebooks detailing the bird and animal life, or ritual and customs of the same places, written at the same time. It is that invisible, but very real thread which enables such a mighty mental connection. So, could we then believe that it is possible never to lose those who we love, and who love us, no matter the distance in actual miles? I would really love to believe this.
The Author: Mira Bartok (nee Myra Herr)
The Dealio: Bartok is one of two daughters, abandoned at a young age by their (alcoholic, genius, writer) father. Forced to live with their mother's parents, their gifted, schizophrenic mother begins a harrowing spiral of paranoia and combativeness, that ends, one night, with her attacking her daughters. In the aftermath of this violent, terrifying episode, (one of many such, but the mortal wound to the delicate balance the girls have created simply to be able to coexist with their increasingly irrational parent), both make an escape, a complete break which lasts for almost 17 years. Both women change their names, sever ties with their friends and remaining family, and communicate only through third party postal boxes in neutral cities.
Summoned back to their mother's side when she is 80 years old and dying (not a spoiler: this is clear within the first chapter of the story), Mira, who has become an artist and author of children's books, has, herself, suffered a brain injury due to a freak car accident. She now possesses a memory which is an Alencon lace-type affair: full of sumptuous, intricately woven designs, riddled through and through with minute gaps, gauzed-out recollections with several possible meanings ('That is what could have happened. Or...perhaps, what happened was this...'). As an antidote to the panic and uncertainty that envelopes her when she is faced with the smallest of tasks, (remembering appointments or how to get home from her grocery store), she adopts a device from the Renaissance:a palace of infinite rooms, into each of which she carefully situates a memory- in the form of a literal, mental picture. The memory is then safe, and can be visited again and again, reliably. Reassuringly.
The Grading Session: 4.851 pengies out of 5. This review is based upon an audio book rendering of the story. The reader is Hilary Huber, who is gifted and clearly moved and invested in the tale. However, the few debits that separate this story from a perfect score include some repetition ( I do understand the urgent and unrelenting weariness, guilt and agony of wondering where her mother is. Asking yourself if she, who has become homeless and traipsed in and out of institutions and programs for the best part of the intervening 17 years, is safe, warm, cared-for, must be a daily grief and scourge. Still, a bit of editing would have eased the narrative flow (look at the big brain on me, after reading one book about the editing skills of Jackie O!) considerably. The writing was lyrical, punctuated by meaningful- although obscure, sayings. Which makes them even more pungent. But there were three points at which I felt this books could have gracefully wound to a delicately couched landing...but then, suddenly, it didn't. This was still a hell of a read and I simply could not leave it alone. If you were caught up- often against your will- by the narrative of The Glass Castle, then you should check into the Memory Palace. Both powerful, made even more striking by the fact that these are both nonfiction.
Lessons Learned: There are people in the world who live extremely harrowing lives- and who manage to survive, even thrive. Also- the border between genius and mental illness appears, for some, to be crossed so many times, a passport has become a meaningless document. And finally, there is something to this notion that we are linked to those we have loved by that famous red string which binds us at the heart. So often in this story, Mira was traveling in some weird place (once, even, above the Arctic Circle), and leter discovered a notation from her mother's notebooks detailing the bird and animal life, or ritual and customs of the same places, written at the same time. It is that invisible, but very real thread which enables such a mighty mental connection. So, could we then believe that it is possible never to lose those who we love, and who love us, no matter the distance in actual miles? I would really love to believe this.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Life by Keith Richards vs Zero Regrets by Apolo Anton Ohno
Get ready to ruuuuuuummmmble!
The competitors: Life by Keith Richards and James Fox in this corner. Zero Regrets:Be Greater Than Yesterday by Apolo Anton Ohno, a worthy opponent. (NOTE #1: These reviews are based upon the audio book versions of both. Note#2: Having just completed Reading Jackie by William Kuhn, it is tempting to have her in as a wild card. And, in truth, I feel certain Jackie could swing an elbow with the best of them, but it just seemed a little unfair to Keith).
Ghost Written? Ohno : Do not believe so. Richards: Let's call it co-ghost-written, since Fox's name appears on the cover. However, let me just say that I am amazed and, OK, dazzled, by the fact that Richards actually appears to remember so much!
The Father-Son Connection: Ohno: Incredibly strong, forged in a series of very difficult situations. As a parent myself, it is remarkable to note the amount of forgiveness and nurturing tough-love that has always existed between these two. And, yes, there are tear-y eyed moments from time to time. Richards: His dad left the family when he was still young. He writes that he was violently scared to meet his dad years later- long after he was 'Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones'- when, in walked this shrunken, ancient little old mild-mannered man. Still, the Stone doesn't fall far from the mountain, and he also remarks that his father seemed to 'effortlessly charm women of all ages'.
Self-Narrated? Ohno: Oh, yes. And although he does a workmanlike job, there seems very little joy and sauce in the telling. Too bad. But I have often noticed that authors are really not the best choice to narrate their own stories. (John Le Carre was the absolute worse, with Frances Mayes coming in a tight second. Geeps!). Richards: For about 3 minutes at the very end. The rest of the time, we get Johhny Depp (yes...that Johnny Depp) and Joe Hurley (this Joe Hurley is no relation to me). Johnny voices the very beginning and about 2-3 other chapters, but, for a person who has donned a Brit accent numerous times in movies, it's rather a surprise that he only assumes one when he is delivering a direct quote. He also is not a natural to this particular medium. Witness awkward sentence breaks and flat recounting. Joe Hurley, on the other hand, takes on the spirit and soul- with extreme relish, might I say?- of every character he voices. Texan, New York African-American, South American, German female...doesn't seem to matter. Listening to Hurley is like listening to an old-fashioned radio drama.Lush listening- even if you are not a Stones fan.
Sex?: Ohno: Uh. No. This is a autobiography meant to inspire the reader to excel...just not in bed-hopping or drug-taking or musical output. But there is mention of the 'sexy-inspiration of his Dancing With The Stars partner Julianne Hough (You are a wild tiger! ROWLF!) Richards: Oh. Hello! Who am I talking about? Try hot and cold running girls and women.
Inspirational: Ohno: Absolutely. Although he can get bogged down in the nitty gritty of such absorbing topics as the road to 2% body fat and learning what to eat to maximise strength and minimise weight, over all, this is a call to action. Basically Ohno is challenging people of all ages who feel they are too...well, something: old, weak, disenfranchised, poor, unathletic, etc...to reset their thinking and plan themselves into success. One of his most often repeated sayings- and it doth bear repeating- is: I do not ask myself, at the end of the day, did I win a gold? Did I beat every other competitor? What I ask myself, as I am falling asleep, is simply this: did I do the very best that I could do today-and do I have zero regrets about my performance? There are many, many worse messages to put out there, and I have found myself adopting this ritual as my own. And I will sleep the better for knowing the answers to these questions.
Richards: Well. Depends: I found it inspirational that he was able to battle back against poverty and raw deals by finding some small thing: singing, writing, artwork, learning a musical instrument, gardening. And then kicking all buttocks equally in honing these skills and becoming an innovator in his endeavors. That, too, is inspiration. However, if you are looking for a more spiritual message- what the aitch are you doing with this book?! Go read Ohno's instead.
Drugs: Ohno: There are mentions of allegations of personal drug use(which were quickly and roundly dismissed as absolutely false), and the purported use of these among other athletes. Also, it is important to note that Ohno is a proponent of alternative- and Eastern- medicine. Even so, he maintains that he will not put any substance into his body blindly. He spends a great deal of time researching the alternatives and weighing all the issues of safety and side effects. Richards: This Keith Richards we're talking about, right? Lots and lots and lots of drugs. Although he maintains that he never mainlined heroin, he did inject it into the muscle. We'll sorta get back to that later.
Rehab: Ohno: mostly managed his own rehab- even when he was in a professional facility, under the care of therapists and doctors. Ohno is very strongly the 'take the bull by the horns myself' type. This is one man to whom you do NOT say, 'Well, you may never walk again.' What he is hearing is this: Blahblahblahblah, walk again. Save your breath. Richards: Routinely detoxed via cold turkey in preparation for tours, when he was unsure about the reliability of supply lines. Then, went back into it. Also took various recommended cures (including a highly unique one espoused by William Burroughs- who Keith was not entirely sure wasn't getting him back for something by recommending this specific cure). Finally kicked it for good right after meeting Patty Hanson, the love of his life. There are horrendous scenes of the rehabs/cold turkey episodes- as well as violent scenes of car wrecks and crashes- mental and physical- that preceeded these- that curdle the blood.
Funny/Touching/Nasty?: Ohno: a few humorous vignettes, mostly surrounding the earliest years with his dad and at the Olys. Anything that has to do with his dad and their tentative, scratchy, but always tender and caring relationship, is always moving and very touching. Nasty? I believe that Ohno feels being nasty is a waste: of time, talent and energy. So...no. Not really. Richards: Very, very funny, and I found myself laughing along at certain scenes, especially regarding his intense, convoluted and illogical plans to meet up with women. His story surrounding the death of his son Tara, (from what sounds like SIDS), moreover, was stunning, and I felt myself realising that such an occurance is the greatest equaliser- doesn't matter how famous or rich you are; you are 'touchable'. Nasty? Certainly, but usually, only when called for. His long-term relationship with Mick Jagger springs immediately to mind. Where once there was the old We Are Brothers anthem, now there is a vigilant detente.
The Dealio: Both books tell the life-stories of two quite public men. Ohno tells his story against the backdrop of the most important touchstones of his life: his feisty, take-no-excuses father, the Olys and, of course, his message of self-motivation, strength forged through stubborn persistence and the use of hope and hard work, in equal measures, to meet the goals you will set for yourself. Richards set his more straight-forward story against the backdrop of his life, moving from a WWII era lad in England up through his years as a musician, and finally as a founding member of the Rolling Stones, an actor and celebrity.
The Grading Session: Ohno: 4.61 pengies out of 5; Richards: 4.977 pengies out of 5 (he gets points off for calling various women in his life 'bitches' in a way that is both jarringly offhand and meanspirited in its casualness, both at the same time. He should be better than that- especially as he states that he never ends things badly, and that he loveslovesloves women of all sorts)
Lessons Learned: In both: you don't always get what you want; but, if you try try try, you just might find, you get what you need.
The competitors: Life by Keith Richards and James Fox in this corner. Zero Regrets:Be Greater Than Yesterday by Apolo Anton Ohno, a worthy opponent. (NOTE #1: These reviews are based upon the audio book versions of both. Note#2: Having just completed Reading Jackie by William Kuhn, it is tempting to have her in as a wild card. And, in truth, I feel certain Jackie could swing an elbow with the best of them, but it just seemed a little unfair to Keith).
Ghost Written? Ohno : Do not believe so. Richards: Let's call it co-ghost-written, since Fox's name appears on the cover. However, let me just say that I am amazed and, OK, dazzled, by the fact that Richards actually appears to remember so much!
The Father-Son Connection: Ohno: Incredibly strong, forged in a series of very difficult situations. As a parent myself, it is remarkable to note the amount of forgiveness and nurturing tough-love that has always existed between these two. And, yes, there are tear-y eyed moments from time to time. Richards: His dad left the family when he was still young. He writes that he was violently scared to meet his dad years later- long after he was 'Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones'- when, in walked this shrunken, ancient little old mild-mannered man. Still, the Stone doesn't fall far from the mountain, and he also remarks that his father seemed to 'effortlessly charm women of all ages'.
Self-Narrated? Ohno: Oh, yes. And although he does a workmanlike job, there seems very little joy and sauce in the telling. Too bad. But I have often noticed that authors are really not the best choice to narrate their own stories. (John Le Carre was the absolute worse, with Frances Mayes coming in a tight second. Geeps!). Richards: For about 3 minutes at the very end. The rest of the time, we get Johhny Depp (yes...that Johnny Depp) and Joe Hurley (this Joe Hurley is no relation to me). Johnny voices the very beginning and about 2-3 other chapters, but, for a person who has donned a Brit accent numerous times in movies, it's rather a surprise that he only assumes one when he is delivering a direct quote. He also is not a natural to this particular medium. Witness awkward sentence breaks and flat recounting. Joe Hurley, on the other hand, takes on the spirit and soul- with extreme relish, might I say?- of every character he voices. Texan, New York African-American, South American, German female...doesn't seem to matter. Listening to Hurley is like listening to an old-fashioned radio drama.Lush listening- even if you are not a Stones fan.
Sex?: Ohno: Uh. No. This is a autobiography meant to inspire the reader to excel...just not in bed-hopping or drug-taking or musical output. But there is mention of the 'sexy-inspiration of his Dancing With The Stars partner Julianne Hough (You are a wild tiger! ROWLF!) Richards: Oh. Hello! Who am I talking about? Try hot and cold running girls and women.
Inspirational: Ohno: Absolutely. Although he can get bogged down in the nitty gritty of such absorbing topics as the road to 2% body fat and learning what to eat to maximise strength and minimise weight, over all, this is a call to action. Basically Ohno is challenging people of all ages who feel they are too...well, something: old, weak, disenfranchised, poor, unathletic, etc...to reset their thinking and plan themselves into success. One of his most often repeated sayings- and it doth bear repeating- is: I do not ask myself, at the end of the day, did I win a gold? Did I beat every other competitor? What I ask myself, as I am falling asleep, is simply this: did I do the very best that I could do today-and do I have zero regrets about my performance? There are many, many worse messages to put out there, and I have found myself adopting this ritual as my own. And I will sleep the better for knowing the answers to these questions.
Richards: Well. Depends: I found it inspirational that he was able to battle back against poverty and raw deals by finding some small thing: singing, writing, artwork, learning a musical instrument, gardening. And then kicking all buttocks equally in honing these skills and becoming an innovator in his endeavors. That, too, is inspiration. However, if you are looking for a more spiritual message- what the aitch are you doing with this book?! Go read Ohno's instead.
Drugs: Ohno: There are mentions of allegations of personal drug use(which were quickly and roundly dismissed as absolutely false), and the purported use of these among other athletes. Also, it is important to note that Ohno is a proponent of alternative- and Eastern- medicine. Even so, he maintains that he will not put any substance into his body blindly. He spends a great deal of time researching the alternatives and weighing all the issues of safety and side effects. Richards: This Keith Richards we're talking about, right? Lots and lots and lots of drugs. Although he maintains that he never mainlined heroin, he did inject it into the muscle. We'll sorta get back to that later.
Rehab: Ohno: mostly managed his own rehab- even when he was in a professional facility, under the care of therapists and doctors. Ohno is very strongly the 'take the bull by the horns myself' type. This is one man to whom you do NOT say, 'Well, you may never walk again.' What he is hearing is this: Blahblahblahblah, walk again. Save your breath. Richards: Routinely detoxed via cold turkey in preparation for tours, when he was unsure about the reliability of supply lines. Then, went back into it. Also took various recommended cures (including a highly unique one espoused by William Burroughs- who Keith was not entirely sure wasn't getting him back for something by recommending this specific cure). Finally kicked it for good right after meeting Patty Hanson, the love of his life. There are horrendous scenes of the rehabs/cold turkey episodes- as well as violent scenes of car wrecks and crashes- mental and physical- that preceeded these- that curdle the blood.
Funny/Touching/Nasty?: Ohno: a few humorous vignettes, mostly surrounding the earliest years with his dad and at the Olys. Anything that has to do with his dad and their tentative, scratchy, but always tender and caring relationship, is always moving and very touching. Nasty? I believe that Ohno feels being nasty is a waste: of time, talent and energy. So...no. Not really. Richards: Very, very funny, and I found myself laughing along at certain scenes, especially regarding his intense, convoluted and illogical plans to meet up with women. His story surrounding the death of his son Tara, (from what sounds like SIDS), moreover, was stunning, and I felt myself realising that such an occurance is the greatest equaliser- doesn't matter how famous or rich you are; you are 'touchable'. Nasty? Certainly, but usually, only when called for. His long-term relationship with Mick Jagger springs immediately to mind. Where once there was the old We Are Brothers anthem, now there is a vigilant detente.
The Dealio: Both books tell the life-stories of two quite public men. Ohno tells his story against the backdrop of the most important touchstones of his life: his feisty, take-no-excuses father, the Olys and, of course, his message of self-motivation, strength forged through stubborn persistence and the use of hope and hard work, in equal measures, to meet the goals you will set for yourself. Richards set his more straight-forward story against the backdrop of his life, moving from a WWII era lad in England up through his years as a musician, and finally as a founding member of the Rolling Stones, an actor and celebrity.
The Grading Session: Ohno: 4.61 pengies out of 5; Richards: 4.977 pengies out of 5 (he gets points off for calling various women in his life 'bitches' in a way that is both jarringly offhand and meanspirited in its casualness, both at the same time. He should be better than that- especially as he states that he never ends things badly, and that he loveslovesloves women of all sorts)
Lessons Learned: In both: you don't always get what you want; but, if you try try try, you just might find, you get what you need.
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