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Armie Hammer recommended Cool Hand Luke (1967) in Movies (curated)

 
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
1967 | Classics, Comedy, Drama

"Cool Hand Luke, to me, and I’m not a film historian, but what it feels like to me is it’s in this intersectional point between the glamorization of film and that golden era of Hollywood where everything was meant to look perfect, like all the old Cary Grant movies like His Girl Friday and Arsenic and Old Lace, where everything is supposed to look so nice and everybody’s always impeccably dressed and charming and all that. Cool Hand Luke comes after that, where it’s a more cinema verite realism kind of thing. But also, there are still elements of the older films that you don’t get anymore, like using imagery in a really cool way. Like, there’s one scene where, to inspire a feeling of tension and stress, there’s just a really slow push in on a whirling fan that just keeps whirling and whirling, and I feel like they don’t do that much anymore. Now they have to really pander to the audience, and make sure that they serve up to you exactly what’s going on, instead of using that kind of stuff. Also, Paul Newman is the f—ing best, and he’s so good in that movie, and it’s just cool, man. It’s just a guy who just won’t get beat by the system, and I really like that. There’s so many layers to that movie. It’s one of the few movies that I make sure I keep downloaded on my iPhone or my iPad, just so that I always have it available."

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Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
1961 | Classics, Comedy, Drama
I'm sorry, I tried my best - but I couldn't resist its charms. I loved all the characters (minus Mickey Rooney's third-rate impersonation of what dumbass white people in the 60s thought Asian people were like), the music is beautiful, its aesthetic is every bit as iconic as reported (naturally the outfits being the highlight), and this entire movie is carried so heavenly by George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn's wondrous performances. The chemistry these two have is simply out-of-this-world, I have no problem ranking it as one of the most affecting Hollywood romances ever to grace the screen. That being said, that is also close to all this movie has going for it. It has great scenes but even at its best it seldom ever rises above too much more than escapist fluff where story elements abruptly intrude on the romance rather than flow nicely with it (am I high or did some old dude come in about halfway through to talk about marrying a 14 year old girl?). It also dons some regressive 60s thoughtpoints on ownership in relationships and pointless racism that sticks out like a sore thumb - but that stupid shit is barely in the film for two minutes meanwhile most of your faves are probably problematic for longer, anyway. Idk man, I cherish the romance but the rest of the film is so jarring in comparison to it - it ain't really all that. Super cute but not as good as the Deep Blue Something song.
  
The Prom (2020)
The Prom (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Drama, Musical
9
7.5 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
From the get go this movie made me so angry. Basically the PTA of a high school decide to cancel prom rather than allow her to take her girlfriend. Then when we are thrown into a musical number by meryl Streep and James corden, I knew this was going to be fab right after I finished laughing at James corden fake accent of course! Anyway this duo are the star of a Broadway show called 'Eleanor' which closes on opening night due to bad reviews, and not for the first time either. During a long bar scene they decide they want to become activists to regain their fame, their project? Get prom reinstated and ensure Emma can bring her girlfriend.
Considering I thought the whole movie was about giving prom the go ahead, I thought prom was reinstated very quickly, as many dance numbers and 40 minutes later they are successful. As the movie is over 2 hours long though, that obviously meant there is more to the movie, but I'll leave that to you to see what happens. A word of warning though, it is so cruel! In true Hollywood style though it all works out.
I really enjoyed the movie, it has so many catchy and humorous songs. It's funny, emotional and full of pazazz all the way through. Arianna De bose and Jo Ellen pellman as Alyssa and Emma have great chemistry, and who'd have thought James cordon would be so good at playing a camp gay guy! If you love musicals, you will definitely love this.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2510 KP) rated Dead-Bang Fall in Books

Feb 2, 2023 (Updated Feb 2, 2023)  
Dead-Bang Fall
Dead-Bang Fall
J. R. Sanders | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Helping a Face from His Past
PI Nate Ross thinks he has a simple case when he’s hired for a penny-ante theft caper. But that’s before one of his suspects is killed in a back alley. While Nate didn’t witness the crime, he did see the victim go into the alley with someone that Nate helped put in prison five years ago. However, a few hours later, that man turns up at Nate’s office claiming to be innocent and hiring Nate to clear him before disappearing again. Nate buys most of the story, but he knows he didn’t get the whole truth. That feeling only grows as he starts to investigate. Can he figure out the whole truth?

This is a great trip back to 1939 Hollywood, and the setting comes to life. As a throwback PI novel, it does start out with a little too much jargon of the time, but fortunately, that calms down as we get into the story. It does have a bit more violence and foul language than in one of the cozies I read, but it doesn’t go overboard. The plot is strong with quite a few twists, compilations, and half-truths before we reach the fun climax. Nate much face his past here, and we are reminded about enough to make the growth real. Meanwhile, we get a couple of fun returning characters and a batch of great new ones. If you enjoy PI novels set in this era, this is one to check out.
  
felt it was a littel unfinished in places.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I liked this book, but I struggled a bit with it.

I liked that both Henry and Francis had a say, in the third person. I did not like that when Henry spoke, he spoke with a broad Yorkshire accent! I live one county down from Yorkshire, in the UK and it took me a bit of time to figure out what he was saying, so that took some enjoyment out it.

Henry and Francis are from very differing backgrounds, different classes and before WWII this was a major issue. It shows in places. Makes you think, about how things have changed. I didn't much like Francis' mother, but I think that's a generational thing. She came across extremely heavy on Francis and not so much on her brother, but then again, wanting to run away to Hollywood, in that time frame, was probably no more far fetched than it is today!

It felt a little clunky at times, and that made it a bit hard work. Some threads are left....unfinished.....I thought. Bit of tightening up, and I think this might have eeked that 4th star out of me.

BUT

It is well written, and I saw no editing or spelling mistakes, and I did finish it. Whether I will read another by this author remains to be seen.

a GOOD 3 star read

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Late Show (Renée Ballard, #1)
The Late Show (Renée Ballard, #1)
Michael Connelly | 2017 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not Sure the Character is New, but Story is Great
LAPD officer Renee Ballard has been demoted to working the overnight shift in the Hollywood division. She’s frustrated that she never gets to work a case to resolution in her current role. Until one night when a series of cases land in her lap. A woman reports a stolen wallet. A transgender individual is left for dead. A shooting incident happens at a bar. As Ballard gets involved in all these cases, can she solve them?

I remember when this book came out how far behind I was on the author’s books and thinking I’d never get to it. And yet here I am. I found that Ballard shared quite a bit with the author’s Harry Bosch character. I’m not saying I didn’t like her, but I felt like she was a bit too familiar. Maybe that will change when I see them together. And again, I did like getting to meet her here and am looking forward to seeing what else happens to her. The mystery was very compelling. I saw a few things coming early, but there were some great twists that took me by surprise as well. I also enjoyed the nod to the Bosch TV show, which I guess means it is time for me to start watching it. Do keep in mind this is a police procedural, so the content is stronger than in the cozies I often read. If you haven’t met Ballard yet, you’ll be happy you picked up this book.