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Awix (3310 KP) rated Just Mercy (2019) in Movies
Jan 21, 2020
Fact-based courtroom drama. Idealistic young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan), fresh out of Harvard, heads down to Alabama and sets up an agency to provide legal support to people with no other recourse. He comes across the case of convicted murderer Walter McMillian (Foxx), which strikes him as deeply compromised. But can he overcome a prejudiced system and win his client justice?
I was all set to be very glib and cynical about what looks like - from the trailer at least - another box-ticking exercise in liberal angst about the Plight of Black America, calculated to have a presence during awards season. Well, to some extent this is that kind of a movie, but it is also a genuinely involving, powerful and moving drama - it's the kind of film that gets past your defences and forces you to care, thanks to basic film-making virtues, a compelling story, and strong performances. Anyone doubting that Michael B Jordan is now a significant leading man should check out his performance here: he brings strength, dignity, and nobility, as you would expect, but there is also a willingness to show naivety and vulnerability. Obviously this is part of a tradition of films about racism in America that includes To Kill a Mockingbird and In the Heat of the Night, but by focusing mainly on the legal plotline and saving its political points until near the end, it makes them all the more impactful when they land. Jordan gets stuck with a bit too much speechifying as the film goes on, and a couple of the supporting performances are arguably overcooked, but otherwise this is an extremely accomplished film.
I was all set to be very glib and cynical about what looks like - from the trailer at least - another box-ticking exercise in liberal angst about the Plight of Black America, calculated to have a presence during awards season. Well, to some extent this is that kind of a movie, but it is also a genuinely involving, powerful and moving drama - it's the kind of film that gets past your defences and forces you to care, thanks to basic film-making virtues, a compelling story, and strong performances. Anyone doubting that Michael B Jordan is now a significant leading man should check out his performance here: he brings strength, dignity, and nobility, as you would expect, but there is also a willingness to show naivety and vulnerability. Obviously this is part of a tradition of films about racism in America that includes To Kill a Mockingbird and In the Heat of the Night, but by focusing mainly on the legal plotline and saving its political points until near the end, it makes them all the more impactful when they land. Jordan gets stuck with a bit too much speechifying as the film goes on, and a couple of the supporting performances are arguably overcooked, but otherwise this is an extremely accomplished film.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel in Books
Sep 12, 2017
A Dummies guide to understanding and quashing the worldwide drugs trade
What a fantastic book. Tom Wainwright manages to describe the global drug cartels as a business economic model which makes total sense. It is not just the violence and torture, it’s the revelations about the level of managerial stress. Running a drugs cartel, it seems, is not only a moral and legal minefield but a human resources, marketing and supply chain nightmare. The gang-centric tattoos that cartel foot-soldiers sport, were instigated to prevent staff jumping to another outfit or, worse, going straight.
Wainwright makes clear that those seeking to stop the drugs trade fail due to their insistence on treating it like a war, when they should treat it like a market manipulation. Such a clever book.
Wainwright makes clear that those seeking to stop the drugs trade fail due to their insistence on treating it like a war, when they should treat it like a market manipulation. Such a clever book.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Molly's Game (2017) in Movies
Mar 5, 2018 (Updated Mar 5, 2018)
Typically slick and snarky film from Aaron Sorkin, who does a good job of directing too. Over-achieving ex-skier goes to Los Angeles and winds up running big-money poker games; gets mixed up with the mob, legal troubles ensue.
One of those films benefiting from having a very topical theme about how women are (or were) overlooked in the entertainment industry, with a strong performance from Chastain. Feminist credentials are let down a bit by the prominence given to her father (Costner); also by the prominence given to Chastain's cleavage (one probably shouldn't say this, but: wow). In the end the film is a bit too keen on beatifying someone who was essentially a drug-addicted crook, at least for part of her career, but the story is engaging and well-told.
One of those films benefiting from having a very topical theme about how women are (or were) overlooked in the entertainment industry, with a strong performance from Chastain. Feminist credentials are let down a bit by the prominence given to her father (Costner); also by the prominence given to Chastain's cleavage (one probably shouldn't say this, but: wow). In the end the film is a bit too keen on beatifying someone who was essentially a drug-addicted crook, at least for part of her career, but the story is engaging and well-told.
Leah (: (569 KP) rated Dangerous Boys in Books
Jul 19, 2018
I read this book shortly after reading Dangerous Girls, the two books are in no way connected, they follow different people in different stories however they are similar.
The book uses a split perspective between then and now to explain the two main mysteries of the book. 1) how did we come to the situation at the start of the story. 2) which brother survived and how’s it going to play out now.
I found it hard to put the book down as I just wanted answers and it kept me guessing trying to work out what had happened and why.
I have got to say I did prefer Dangerous Girls I think it was because it had more of the legal side of the investigation.
I would definitely recommend this book.
The book uses a split perspective between then and now to explain the two main mysteries of the book. 1) how did we come to the situation at the start of the story. 2) which brother survived and how’s it going to play out now.
I found it hard to put the book down as I just wanted answers and it kept me guessing trying to work out what had happened and why.
I have got to say I did prefer Dangerous Girls I think it was because it had more of the legal side of the investigation.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Ross (3282 KP) rated Just Mercy (2019) in Movies
Jun 15, 2020
Superb legal drama
A very topical film at the moment, telling the true story of a man ending up on death row after a dubious murder trial with negligible evidence weighed up against copious amounts of evidence of his innocence. As usual, it is the story of the police and DA being under pressure to convict someone of the crime and finding an easy target.
Jordan plays young lawyer Bryan Stevenson who moves to Alabama to fight for justice for death row convicts. Among many cases he meets Jonny D (Foxx), who initially refuses to fight any more despite the paper-thin conviction he received. Persuaded, the pair start their fight against the system, met time and time again with prejudice, injustice and an unfair system that is unwilling to review past cases.
The irony of this unfolding in the town that is so proud to have been where Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, the story of a black man facing an unfair trial accused of crime against a young white female, was not lost on me. This wasn't made much of in the film, I would guess out of respect for the family of the actual murder victim here, and not wanting to suggest a parallel with the false crime in the book.
The film does well to portray the racial injustice, unbalanced legal system and prejudice experienced by the authorities and smalltown America, but not overdo it. This leaves the viewer to mull it on their own, which is especially important to do in the current climate.
An excellent film that gets the balance right between story, faithfulness to the facts and sewing thoughts and parallels with modern day life.
Jordan plays young lawyer Bryan Stevenson who moves to Alabama to fight for justice for death row convicts. Among many cases he meets Jonny D (Foxx), who initially refuses to fight any more despite the paper-thin conviction he received. Persuaded, the pair start their fight against the system, met time and time again with prejudice, injustice and an unfair system that is unwilling to review past cases.
The irony of this unfolding in the town that is so proud to have been where Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, the story of a black man facing an unfair trial accused of crime against a young white female, was not lost on me. This wasn't made much of in the film, I would guess out of respect for the family of the actual murder victim here, and not wanting to suggest a parallel with the false crime in the book.
The film does well to portray the racial injustice, unbalanced legal system and prejudice experienced by the authorities and smalltown America, but not overdo it. This leaves the viewer to mull it on their own, which is especially important to do in the current climate.
An excellent film that gets the balance right between story, faithfulness to the facts and sewing thoughts and parallels with modern day life.
Mickey Haller’s latest murder case involves the death of a prostitute with her pimp as the prime suspect. Only Mickey knew Gloria when she was alive, working out what he thought was a deal to get her out of the life. Where has she been for the last eight years? And can Mickey get his client off when the odds keep piling up against him?
This was another gripping legal thriller that was almost impossible to stop reading. There were great twists and surprises along the way, yet there was still time for the characters to continue growing. I hope it isn’t too long before we are treated with another case for this great team.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-gods-of-guilt-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was another gripping legal thriller that was almost impossible to stop reading. There were great twists and surprises along the way, yet there was still time for the characters to continue growing. I hope it isn’t too long before we are treated with another case for this great team.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-gods-of-guilt-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Criminal Minds - Season 1 in TV
Mar 30, 2020
It's so weird to rewatch this series and have seen all these episodes before, but now, watching as a college student, studying criminal justice, history, and political science, along with legal studies and American studies, everything just clicks a little more.
It's so fun to see all the baby characters, the original team, the various plot lines that they pursued. I think this will always be one of my favorite seasons to watch and I don't think there's anything I don't like about the show. Other than the small inaccuracy they had when Haley first gave birth. They called her a girl in the first episode the baby is in and most everyone knows that Hotch ends up having a son named Jack. Small story discrepancies really get me like nothing else.
Other than that, great season. Baby Reid is so cute.
It's so fun to see all the baby characters, the original team, the various plot lines that they pursued. I think this will always be one of my favorite seasons to watch and I don't think there's anything I don't like about the show. Other than the small inaccuracy they had when Haley first gave birth. They called her a girl in the first episode the baby is in and most everyone knows that Hotch ends up having a son named Jack. Small story discrepancies really get me like nothing else.
Other than that, great season. Baby Reid is so cute.
Sue (5 KP) rated Rescue Team (Grace Medical, #2) in Books
Apr 23, 2018
Tired of running from her past, nurse Kate Callison intends to become Austin Grace Hospital’s permanent ER director and make Texas her home. Despite staff friction, she’s moving ahead. Then unthinkable tragedy wraps the ER in crime tape, bringing swarms of media, legal chaos—and a search-and-rescue hero who seems determined to meddle in her life.
For Wes Tanner, nothing beats finding someone who’s lost; he’s known that helpless terror firsthand. So he’ll expand his team’s lifeline of hope: K9 tracking, swift water rescue, even horse-mounted searches. He’s ready for anything—except Austin Grace’s prickly and dismissive ER director.
As Kate and Wes discover more about each other, new respect becomes something deeper. Kate wonders if her heart might have finally found a home. Then an unsolved missing persons case—and a startling new one—become catalysts that threaten the loss of all she and Wes have found.
For Wes Tanner, nothing beats finding someone who’s lost; he’s known that helpless terror firsthand. So he’ll expand his team’s lifeline of hope: K9 tracking, swift water rescue, even horse-mounted searches. He’s ready for anything—except Austin Grace’s prickly and dismissive ER director.
As Kate and Wes discover more about each other, new respect becomes something deeper. Kate wonders if her heart might have finally found a home. Then an unsolved missing persons case—and a startling new one—become catalysts that threaten the loss of all she and Wes have found.
Sue (5 KP) rated Rescue Team (Grace Medical, #2) in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Tired of running from her past, nurse Kate Callison intends to become Austin Grace Hospital’s permanent ER director and make Texas her home. Despite staff friction, she’s moving ahead. Then unthinkable tragedy wraps the ER in crime tape, bringing swarms of media, legal chaos—and a search-and-rescue hero who seems determined to meddle in her life.
For Wes Tanner, nothing beats finding someone who’s lost; he’s known that helpless terror firsthand. So he’ll expand his team’s lifeline of hope: K9 tracking, swift water rescue, even horse-mounted searches. He’s ready for anything—except Austin Grace’s prickly and dismissive ER director.
As Kate and Wes discover more about each other, new respect becomes something deeper. Kate wonders if her heart might have finally found a home. Then an unsolved missing persons case—and a startling new one—become catalysts that threaten the loss of all she and Wes have found.
For Wes Tanner, nothing beats finding someone who’s lost; he’s known that helpless terror firsthand. So he’ll expand his team’s lifeline of hope: K9 tracking, swift water rescue, even horse-mounted searches. He’s ready for anything—except Austin Grace’s prickly and dismissive ER director.
As Kate and Wes discover more about each other, new respect becomes something deeper. Kate wonders if her heart might have finally found a home. Then an unsolved missing persons case—and a startling new one—become catalysts that threaten the loss of all she and Wes have found.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood in Books
Jan 3, 2018
An insider's view of Apartheid
It seems unlikely that comedian Trevor Noah would have ever made it out of the prison of colonialism, apartheid, poverty and violence, yet now he's regarded as one of South Africa's biggest export. His memoir is brutal and harrowing, describing how because of the illegal interracial relationship between his Xhosa mother and his Swiss-German, his birth was actually a crime.
It's hard to imagine that this legal segregation only ended 26 years ago, yet Noah then faced the turbulent legacy of post-apartheid. Being mixed race posed its own problems, as Noah describes never fitting in anywhere, but being accepted to a certain degree because of his 'whiteness' and his chameleon-like ability to adapt to his surroundings.
There are moments which are truly disturbing, as Noah speaks about his violent stepfather and going hungry. In this way, his life can be seen as a story of personal survival, through intelligence and humour, which millions have come to love.
It's hard to imagine that this legal segregation only ended 26 years ago, yet Noah then faced the turbulent legacy of post-apartheid. Being mixed race posed its own problems, as Noah describes never fitting in anywhere, but being accepted to a certain degree because of his 'whiteness' and his chameleon-like ability to adapt to his surroundings.
There are moments which are truly disturbing, as Noah speaks about his violent stepfather and going hungry. In this way, his life can be seen as a story of personal survival, through intelligence and humour, which millions have come to love.