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Griffin Dunne recommended Ace in the Hole (The Big Carnival) (1951) in Movies (curated)
A great TV show
A great TV show, with a big cast. Looking at a small area of New York near Times Square and the many characters of the area.
Starting in the 70's and ending up in the mid 80's by the 3rd series. It takes in how porn, organised crime, police, technology all play a part in shaping the area and effect the lives of those involved.
Each series set at a slightly different era. The first 2 series were very good and the shorter 3rd series is OK. Well worth checking out for the wide array of characters caught up with life in The Deuce.
Starting in the 70's and ending up in the mid 80's by the 3rd series. It takes in how porn, organised crime, police, technology all play a part in shaping the area and effect the lives of those involved.
Each series set at a slightly different era. The first 2 series were very good and the shorter 3rd series is OK. Well worth checking out for the wide array of characters caught up with life in The Deuce.
Hawkeye, Volume 1: My Life as a Weapon
7.5
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Book
The breakout star of this summer's blockbuster Avengers film, Clint Barton - aka the self-made hero...
Merissa (11953 KP) rated Landscape of a Marriage in Books
Aug 2, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)
LANDSCAPE OF A MARRIAGE is a historical fiction story based on true events and people. In fact, the author is distantly related to one of the main characters by marriage.
Instead of focusing on the man himself, we follow his wife, Mary, and see their life through her eyes. They had good times and, undeniably, bad times too. Mary fell in love with her husband of convenience, and he, with her. That led them to a life of adventure and hardship, love and loss.
This was a great read, full of freeze-frame moments, stuck in time. The emotions come across clearly and help move this character-driven story forward. Some of the real-life events were glossed over slightly and I would have liked to have known more, but then, was Mary involved in them anyway?
I will admit to getting lost in the times given. I relied on Mary to tell me that Marion had grown, or that John was now forty-one, as there was no way I would remember from just seeing dates at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a historical fiction novel that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 2, 2021
Instead of focusing on the man himself, we follow his wife, Mary, and see their life through her eyes. They had good times and, undeniably, bad times too. Mary fell in love with her husband of convenience, and he, with her. That led them to a life of adventure and hardship, love and loss.
This was a great read, full of freeze-frame moments, stuck in time. The emotions come across clearly and help move this character-driven story forward. Some of the real-life events were glossed over slightly and I would have liked to have known more, but then, was Mary involved in them anyway?
I will admit to getting lost in the times given. I relied on Mary to tell me that Marion had grown, or that John was now forty-one, as there was no way I would remember from just seeing dates at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a historical fiction novel that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 2, 2021
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2018) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018
fighting for others but fighting for yourself
Roman (Washington) is a defense attorney who is basically kept behind the scenes more as an advisory position partner who he has worked with for 20 plus years dies of an heart attack and the practice is being dissolved. George (Farrllel) is a head partner at the firm that has acquired Roman'f firms cases and is offered an position because of his knowledge of the law and his caring for his clients. He has abides by the law his whole life but a life changing event happens and he sees an opportunity to do something for him even if it is against his morals and the law. How does he live with himself afterwards and what becomes him only the story can tell you.
Lots of lawyer movies you see these days involve the lawyer to get involved in some type of action sequence. This movie brings us to a great story, a good plot and a great cast. The only problem with it is that it is a little slow and at times and makes you kind of not interested but, then it picks back up again. This is a must for any Denzel Washington fan. Colin Farrell is very good as well
Lots of lawyer movies you see these days involve the lawyer to get involved in some type of action sequence. This movie brings us to a great story, a good plot and a great cast. The only problem with it is that it is a little slow and at times and makes you kind of not interested but, then it picks back up again. This is a must for any Denzel Washington fan. Colin Farrell is very good as well
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Giver (2014) in Movies
Aug 27, 2018
Watch this for the story, not for the cast
A very good premise in this film, following a community generations after the decision has been made to strive for a eutopia of bland polite sameness. No longer do people see colours (literally), all phrases have to be precise (something I think we could gain a lot by bringing in now!) and there are strict rules around curfews and behaviour, with everything being watched and lives pre-ordained.
The film follows three young people as they turn 18 and are allocated their jobs for life. Jonas has been selected to be the next Receiver of Knowledge - a role where he will receive all knowledge before the new world (of colours, wars, love, emotions, sledging).
Gripping dystopian vision of a future dreamworld and how wrong it would all be, and how, like religion, some good ideas become wrongly used as a strict framework for living life.
Needless to say, Jonas goes a bit daft with all this new knowledge (he somehow understood some of Jeff Bridges's incoherent mumbling) and looks to change the world for the better.
A short, enjoyable, family friendly version of Black Mirror with a slightly disappointing though happy ending.
The film follows three young people as they turn 18 and are allocated their jobs for life. Jonas has been selected to be the next Receiver of Knowledge - a role where he will receive all knowledge before the new world (of colours, wars, love, emotions, sledging).
Gripping dystopian vision of a future dreamworld and how wrong it would all be, and how, like religion, some good ideas become wrongly used as a strict framework for living life.
Needless to say, Jonas goes a bit daft with all this new knowledge (he somehow understood some of Jeff Bridges's incoherent mumbling) and looks to change the world for the better.
A short, enjoyable, family friendly version of Black Mirror with a slightly disappointing though happy ending.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated I Did It For You in Books
Aug 26, 2023
I haven't read anything by Jayne Cowie before and after finishing this, I won't make that mistake again!!
I Did If For You is a gritty look at a world that has found a way to predict aggression and violence in men. A negative test means the best schools, the best jobs ... the best of everything but a positive test means the complete opposite, and if you refuse, it's as if the result was positive ... what would you do? Could you condemn your son to a life of barriers and hardship for a crime he hasn't committed or would you risk it to get the best that life can offer?
This is the dilemma facing two sisters, Antonia and Bea; they each make a choice which has far reaching and devastating consequences for them, their families and for those around them.
With a very different and intriguing plot, great characters and written at a good pace, this is a really good, thought-provoking read and although I guessed some of the twists, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of this book.
Thank you to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of I Did It For You.
I Did If For You is a gritty look at a world that has found a way to predict aggression and violence in men. A negative test means the best schools, the best jobs ... the best of everything but a positive test means the complete opposite, and if you refuse, it's as if the result was positive ... what would you do? Could you condemn your son to a life of barriers and hardship for a crime he hasn't committed or would you risk it to get the best that life can offer?
This is the dilemma facing two sisters, Antonia and Bea; they each make a choice which has far reaching and devastating consequences for them, their families and for those around them.
With a very different and intriguing plot, great characters and written at a good pace, this is a really good, thought-provoking read and although I guessed some of the twists, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of this book.
Thank you to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of I Did It For You.
This Book Will Make You Mindful
Book
'Beat the blues with this pocket-sized guide to mindfulness and living in the moment.' Stylist Live...
Debbiereadsbook (1166 KP) rated The Earth Bleeds Red in Books
Apr 3, 2018
a good book, just not one for me!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Scott and Jessie, and their 17 year old daughter Ashley, live a good life, a happy life. Til one day, it all goes terribly wrong and Ashley is kidnapped, possibly dead. Scott and Jessie need to keep it together long enough for Ashley to be found alive, or not.
Sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is a really good thing but, while a well told story, this one just didn't quite hit the spot. And I don't really know why!
Told mostly from Scott's point of view, in the first, it deals with how a family copes when tragedy strikes.
We do get some other people, in the third person, but they felt more of a narration of their voice, rather than THEM speaking, if that makes any sense?? I didn't connect to them in any way, not even when the bad guy has his five minutes, and you know how much I LOVE getting into the mind of the bad guy! I just felt, apart from Scott, totally disconnected from everyone else.
It is well written, and I saw no editing or spelling errors. It does get a little graphic in places, when being told what was done to Ashley when she was kidnapped, but it is not in any way romantic. Not even before Ashley was kidnapped, did I feel the romance between Scott and Jessie.
A good book, just not one for me and I'm sorry for that!
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Scott and Jessie, and their 17 year old daughter Ashley, live a good life, a happy life. Til one day, it all goes terribly wrong and Ashley is kidnapped, possibly dead. Scott and Jessie need to keep it together long enough for Ashley to be found alive, or not.
Sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is a really good thing but, while a well told story, this one just didn't quite hit the spot. And I don't really know why!
Told mostly from Scott's point of view, in the first, it deals with how a family copes when tragedy strikes.
We do get some other people, in the third person, but they felt more of a narration of their voice, rather than THEM speaking, if that makes any sense?? I didn't connect to them in any way, not even when the bad guy has his five minutes, and you know how much I LOVE getting into the mind of the bad guy! I just felt, apart from Scott, totally disconnected from everyone else.
It is well written, and I saw no editing or spelling errors. It does get a little graphic in places, when being told what was done to Ashley when she was kidnapped, but it is not in any way romantic. Not even before Ashley was kidnapped, did I feel the romance between Scott and Jessie.
A good book, just not one for me and I'm sorry for that!
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Building Faith Through a Carpenter's Hands
Russell Brandon and Danielle A. Vann
Book
Faith is something you are innately born with or it comes after you've been served a hearty dose of...