Entertainment Update – 2018

Life on Aleta isn’t all beer and skittles. Sometimes we have to do the hard work of indulging in pop culture, if only to keep the topics of conversation from becoming too stale. Or, indeed, to avoid conversation altogether. Here is a series of short reviews by category of entertaining stuff we’ve seen, read, or listened to recently. All items are rated subjectively on a scale of three sheets [1-3] to the wind. Three being the highest accolade.

BOOKS

A Gentleman in Moscow, A Novel, by Amor Towles: Thoroughly enjoyable story of Russia starting soon after the revolution as told through the eyes of Count Alexander Rostov. Placed under house arrest in the Hotel Metropole, the good Count makes the best of his situation and proves, once again, that manners maketh man. Such American government actors as there are in the book are both intelligent and unfailingly polite, establishing this as a work of historical fiction. – MN [3]

Eileen, by Ottessa Moshfegh: A young woman’s escape from an abusive life in Massachusetts is a darkly wrought para-thriller. With a dead mother and alcoholic father, Eileen’s work at a boy’s reformatory gives her little respite. A chance meeting and new friendship offers Eileen a different path. Despite the book’s accolades I found it a little too dark and discomforting. Thoroughly well written, I wanted to like it, but found the main character more irritating than tragic. Perhaps if I had read it in my 20s I’d feel differently. – CK [2]

TELLY

A Very English Scandal, directed by Stephen Frears: As political sex scandals go, British politicians just can’t seem to keep them simple. Jeremy Thorpe was a leading Member of Parliament for the Liberal party in the 1960s and 70s while successfully keeping his (then illegal) homosexual affairs secret. That was until he met Norman Scott. The power struggle between these two men, Thorpe with everything to lose and Scott with everything to gain, is played out masterfully over three hours as Frears keeps things rattling along. Leads Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw as Thorpe and Scott respectively are excellent. It’s a fine line between farce and tragedy and thanks to sensitive writing by Russell Davis and John Preston we are given a highly entertaining look into one of the darker moments of British politics and jurisprudence. – MN [3]

Goliath – Season 1, starring Billy Bob Thornton: Raging alcoholic and out-of-work lawyer Billy Bob takes on big defense honcho William Hurt. This is American TV so you can guess the plot lines. With great acting all round you’ll feel better about paying for Amazon Prime. – MN [3]

FILM

A Man Called Ove, directed by Hannes Holm: Grumpy old man keeps doing nice things for others in between suicide attempts. Deftly handled with some fine acting and cinematography, I loved it! – MN [3]

The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro: Mute woman (Sally Hawkins) falls in love with fish god (Doug Jones) and dons a red cardigan after their first interspecies hook-up. Octavia Spencer is terrific as Hawkins’ colleague and co-conspirator. You’ll end up rooting for the amphibious lovers just like we did. – MN/CK/TO [3]

Incredibles 2, directed by Brad Bird: Pixar cartoon family superheroes sign on with Disney and hand over something for everyone. Not as good as the original, but better than most sequels. – MN [2]

Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg: The line between video games and movies no longer exists. As a wise cop once said, “I’m too old, too tired, too hungry to go chase some hot rod. And I’m definitely too thirsty.” Spielberg phones it in, he probably had some bills to pay. – MN [1]

PODCAST

Revisionist History, by Malcolm Gladwell: Now in its third season Gladwell does his thing as he looks at the origins and development of history you thought you knew, but really didn’t. The stories are genuinely engaging and interesting, just skip over the (mercifully short) ads. [3]