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Moby recommended Them! (1954) in Movies (curated)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2063 KP) rated The Bootlegger’s Daughter in Books
May 2, 2024
Danger in Prohibition-era Los Angeles
It’s 1927, and Letty Hart is struggling to keep the family vineyard afloat on the outskirts of Los Angeles. When their contract to provide sacramental wine is canceled abruptly, the discovery of some illegal alcohol her father left behind seems too good to pass up. Meanwhile, Annabel Forman is trying to prove she deserves the promotion to detective in the LAPD. She is assigned a joke of a case, but she quickly begins to think she’s stumbled on a connection between several murdered bootleggers.
Obviously, these two women are destined to meet. The story along the way is enjoyable, and the further I got into the book, the more I wanted to keep reading. There are some surprises on the way to a suspenseful climax. I did feel like a few aspects of the plot were rushed, but that’s a minor complaint overall. We get the story from three different character’s points of view, Letty in first person and the other two in third person. These changes happen at chapter breaks and are all clearly labeled. The book is written in present tense, and once my brain got used to it, it didn’t matter. Many of the supporting characters don’t get much page time to be fully developed, but they feel real in the time they have. Letty and Annabel, however, are wonderful characters, and I enjoyed watching them deal with what life has given them. If you are looking for a historic crime story, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
Obviously, these two women are destined to meet. The story along the way is enjoyable, and the further I got into the book, the more I wanted to keep reading. There are some surprises on the way to a suspenseful climax. I did feel like a few aspects of the plot were rushed, but that’s a minor complaint overall. We get the story from three different character’s points of view, Letty in first person and the other two in third person. These changes happen at chapter breaks and are all clearly labeled. The book is written in present tense, and once my brain got used to it, it didn’t matter. Many of the supporting characters don’t get much page time to be fully developed, but they feel real in the time they have. Letty and Annabel, however, are wonderful characters, and I enjoyed watching them deal with what life has given them. If you are looking for a historic crime story, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2063 KP) rated The Baker Street Letters (Baker Street Letters #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Reggie Heath has rented the offices that would be Sherlock Holmes address if he'd been, you know, real. Part of his lease involves answering the letters, a job he's assigned to younger brother Nigel. But one letter sends Nigel on a trip to Los Angeles with Reggie close behind. What has Nigel stumbled into?
I'm not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, but I was intrigued by this book. Turned out to be a fun twisty read with good characters. It took a little bit to feel like I was part of the story, but once I got going, I couldn't put it down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-baker-street-letters.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I'm not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, but I was intrigued by this book. Turned out to be a fun twisty read with good characters. It took a little bit to feel like I was part of the story, but once I got going, I couldn't put it down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-baker-street-letters.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Them! (1954) in Movies
Feb 19, 2018 (Updated Feb 19, 2018)
Granddaddy of atomic bug movies works incredibly hard to stay credible as a drama; mostly succeeds. Government agents discover giant mutant ants on the rampage; can they contain the threat and keep the secret until the ants can be destroyed? Not quite documentary-style realism, but close enough; hard edged, takes itself impressively seriously.
Notable for featuring some relatively famous faces early in their careers - also for its use of full-scale ant puppets rather than animation or trick photography. Atom-fear angle is underplayed for the most part; this still stands up well as an SF thriller. The climax, with machine guns and flamethrowers battling snapping mandibles and exoskeletal monsters in the sewers under Los Angeles, was surely an influence on Aliens.
Notable for featuring some relatively famous faces early in their careers - also for its use of full-scale ant puppets rather than animation or trick photography. Atom-fear angle is underplayed for the most part; this still stands up well as an SF thriller. The climax, with machine guns and flamethrowers battling snapping mandibles and exoskeletal monsters in the sewers under Los Angeles, was surely an influence on Aliens.
Adam Carolla recommended track Blue by The Jayhawks in Tomorrow the Green Grass by The Jayhawks in Music (curated)
Andrew Ahn recommended In the Mood for Love (2000) in Movies (curated)
Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated Den Of Thieves (2018) in Movies
Jul 8, 2019
Heist films are typically filled with tropes and clichéd action sequences. Den of Thieves offers a new perspective on crime action films. The film stars O’Shea Jackson Junior (Straight Outta Compton) and Gerard Butler (300) on opposite sides of the law. Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr) is a new member of a bank heist crew focused on robbing the Federal Reserve in Los Angeles. Gerard Butler heads up a special division of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s department that is determined on stopping this crew.
The film delves deeper than typical films of this genre. Instead of having one-dimensional characters who are either career criminals or law enforcement officers seeking to be heroes, we find characters that are much more than their description. The criminals are cerebral and men of action. We see them as flawed beings who have families, friendships, and goals of eventually leaving crime.
For those on the side of the law, we witness how these heroes are only valiant on the outside. We see them as vulnerable, overzealous, and skirting the law as they view themselves as the embodiment of the law.
Den of Thieves demonstrates that crime action films can have well-developed storylines that don’t rely on the action to carry the film forward. The film will have audiences speculating about the next move and progression of the stories and crimes in a way that would make Ocean’s Eleven envious in its creativity. The characters have you confused and conflicted as who to pull for as they make the criminals relatable and sympathetic.
Den Of Thieves raises the bar for the genre of heist movies.
The film delves deeper than typical films of this genre. Instead of having one-dimensional characters who are either career criminals or law enforcement officers seeking to be heroes, we find characters that are much more than their description. The criminals are cerebral and men of action. We see them as flawed beings who have families, friendships, and goals of eventually leaving crime.
For those on the side of the law, we witness how these heroes are only valiant on the outside. We see them as vulnerable, overzealous, and skirting the law as they view themselves as the embodiment of the law.
Den of Thieves demonstrates that crime action films can have well-developed storylines that don’t rely on the action to carry the film forward. The film will have audiences speculating about the next move and progression of the stories and crimes in a way that would make Ocean’s Eleven envious in its creativity. The characters have you confused and conflicted as who to pull for as they make the criminals relatable and sympathetic.
Den Of Thieves raises the bar for the genre of heist movies.
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.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Terminator (1984) in Movies
Feb 18, 2018 (Updated Feb 18, 2018)
Undoubted leader of the pack when it comes to post-punk low-budget SF movies is, let's be honest, highly derivative, but makes up for this with sheer inventiveness and economical storytelling; unusually grim tone helps, too.
Future warriors from post-apocalyptic future arrive in 1984 Los Angeles; one is intent on killing hapless young waitress, the other seeks to protect her. Time travel plot is cleverly retooled as the basis of gritty action thriller; performances are much better than you might expect, too - you can't imagine anyone being more perfectly suited to their role than Arnold Schwarzenegger is here (and I don't say that very often). Every other film and TV series in this particular franchise ultimately does nothing but diffuse the impact of this brilliant movie.
Future warriors from post-apocalyptic future arrive in 1984 Los Angeles; one is intent on killing hapless young waitress, the other seeks to protect her. Time travel plot is cleverly retooled as the basis of gritty action thriller; performances are much better than you might expect, too - you can't imagine anyone being more perfectly suited to their role than Arnold Schwarzenegger is here (and I don't say that very often). Every other film and TV series in this particular franchise ultimately does nothing but diffuse the impact of this brilliant movie.
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Bad - Single by Shy Keller in Music
Jun 18, 2019
Sky Keller is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, she released an attractive pop tune, entitled, “Bad”, produced by Danny Garibay.
“‘Bad’ is a song about loose ends. It’s about dealing with the power trips and struggles of attainable love when you want what’s not good for you.”
‘Bad’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who is in a troubled relationship with her significant other.
Apparently, she feels uncomfortable because of his uncertainty about their status as a couple, and that makes her nervous.
Also, she feels guilty for having to wait this long to find out that he’s such an indecisive person.
‘Bad’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and robust instrumentation flavored with an electro-pop aroma.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/sky-keller-bad/
“‘Bad’ is a song about loose ends. It’s about dealing with the power trips and struggles of attainable love when you want what’s not good for you.”
‘Bad’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who is in a troubled relationship with her significant other.
Apparently, she feels uncomfortable because of his uncertainty about their status as a couple, and that makes her nervous.
Also, she feels guilty for having to wait this long to find out that he’s such an indecisive person.
‘Bad’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and robust instrumentation flavored with an electro-pop aroma.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/sky-keller-bad/