Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly

On November 22, 2023November 19, 2023 By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Another great read from one of the best in the business.

The 38th book by Michael Connelly is Resurrection Walk (2023). Mostly a court room procedural.

Retired LAPD Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch has cancer.

To get into an experimental drug research treatment program, he’s hired by half brother, criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. The Lincoln Lawyer.

It’s an interesting premise to put the two together as Mickey works to get accused criminals free. Bosch has had a career putting the accused in jail.

The unlikely duo try to prove the innocence of a woman convicted of killing her ex-husband — a cop.

“a stunning combination of police and legal procedural.” —– Booklist ⭐️ Starred Review

Of course both Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer currently have TV series.

Personally, I still picture Haller as Matthew McConaughey, who played him in the feature film.

But it’s Manuel Garcia-Rulfo on TV. Of course Bosch is Titus Welliver on TV.

Collision (British TV series)

On November 21, 2023November 21, 2023 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Great TV.

And a good reminder that the most dangerous thing most of us do is to climb into motorized vehicles.

… Bloody wasp.

Another Anthony Horowitz mini-series.

Collision (2009) is a five-part British television drama serial …

… the story of a group of strangers whose lives intertwine following a devastating car crash. The crash opens a number of startling revelations as stories of everything from government cover-ups and smuggling, to embezzlement and murder start to unravel. …

Jo Woodcock is particularly good as Jodie Tolin, a teenager paralyzed in a car crash — now trying to find a way forward in life.

Lucy Griffiths as Jane Tarrant is very appealing, as well. Oddly, her story has very little to do with the collision. It’s more like Love, Actually … with a twist.

… Beyond the crumpled cars and beleaguered emergency services are the invisible dramas and when DI John Tolin begins his investigation he finds himself drawn into many different and dangerous worlds including government cover-ups, smuggling, torn relationships and murder. …
anthonyhorowitz.com

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

On November 20, 2023February 7, 2024 By Rick McIn books, TV1 Comment

Not bad. Lightweight but no-nonsense …

Another charming British novel with an elderly heroine.

The Marlow Murder Club (2021) focuses on a group of older women who form a club to investigate a series of killings in Marlow.

It was published in January 2021 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. … The second book in the series, Death Comes to Marlow, was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe award for Best Cosy Crime novel published in the USA in 2022.

PBS Masterpiece and UKTV greenlit an adaptation of The Marlow Murder Club written by Thorogood and starring Samantha Bond in June 2023.

Abbott Elementary – season 2

On November 19, 2023November 19, 2023 By Rick McIn economics, education, GOP USA, government, humour, TVLeave a comment

Hilarious mockumentary sitcom.

Season 2 is still charming.

Abbott Elementary stars 4 ft 11 inch (149.9 cm) Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a predominantly Black school in Philadelphia.

William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, the school’s eccentric, overqualified and talented, custodian is my favourite character.

It’s an insight into the American public school system. ReTrumplicans insist on reducing funding for public education, while subsidizing rich kids in private schools.

The GOP later complains about crime when these same underfunded kids can’t make it in a nation with poor health care and a $7.25 / hour minimum wage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For kids, this is a silly show making fun of teachers.

For adults, there are many funny little details. This typical school group photo, for example. 😀

The Sleeping Dictionary by Sujata Massey

On November 18, 2023November 13, 2023 By Rick McIn books, movies2 Comments

Great book. Confusing name. 😀

Quite an epic life story.

Fast paced for a story of India written in English. I recommend it to one and all.

The Sleeping Dictionary (2013) is a novel by American writer Sujata Massey.

… Set in late Raj India, The Sleeping Dictionary tells the story of a young peasant girl, who makes her way to Calcutta and is caught between the raging independence movement and the British colonial society she finds herself inhabiting. …

While the term “sleeping dictionary” was originally coined for young women who slept with Europeans and educated them in the ways of India, Kamala turns the tables on the colonial establishment, using her talents for readings languages and men to work for India’s independence. …

There’s a Hollywood film with the same name and theme — The Sleeping Dictionary — from 2003.

The Mandalorian – season 3

On November 17, 2023November 16, 2023 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Though no particular fan of Star Wars, I do enjoy Mandalorian.

YES, it’s a stupid escapist Western shoot-em-up. With space pirates.

Like many westerns before it, the show’s plot is lifted directly from a popular samurai film series.

Lone Wolf and Cub follows a father and son as they walk the way of the ronin. The connection between Lone Wolf and Cub in Star Wars has only deepened with time. …
CBR

Baby Yoda is still cute.

Din Djarin (Mando) is still engagingly naive — and as principled as Gandhi.

Episode “Chapter 20: The Foundling“, directed by Carl Weathers, is particularly amazing in terms of special effects.

They do love flying through slot canyons. 😀

It’s only one small step from StageCraft to replace human actors with digital.

Inevitable, I’m thinking.

StageCraft is an on-set virtual production visual effects technology composed of a video wall designed by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).

Initially developed for the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, it has since been used in other productions and has been cited as a revolutionary visual effects technology.

Click PLAY or watch some examples from season 2 on YouTube.

I liked seeing Jack Black as Captain Bombardier. And Lizzo as Duchess of Plazir-15. Christopher Lloyd is in the same episode!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

On November 16, 2023November 15, 2023 By Rick McIn books, moviesLeave a comment

This popular book series rolls on with #4 being just as charming as the rest.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman.

Thursday Murder Club are British pensioners living in a retirement village who solve murders as a hobby.

Quite humorous. Very insightful regarding elderly life in the U.K.

Shocking news reaches them—an old friend has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.

The gang’s search leads them into the antiques business, where the tricks of the trade are as old as the objects themselves. As they encounter drug dealers, art forgers, and online fraudsters—as well as heartache close to home—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim have no idea whom to trust. …

One important and touching side story is Elizabeth’s husband Stephen declining with dementia.

While still in full mental capacity, Stephen wrote himself a letter explaining his medical condition. Elizabeth must read it to him every day as he’s already forgotten.

On the down side, the murder mystery is absurdly simplistic.

We don’t yet know who will play whom in the upcoming film adaptation.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Bosch: Legacy – season 2

On November 15, 2023November 15, 2023 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

The 9th season of Bosch.

Still worth watching. Still popular.

Madison Lintz as “Maddie” Bosch, a rookie Los Angeles police officer and Harry’s daughter is increasingly important.

Stephen Chang as Maurice “Mo” Bassi, Harry’s hacker is excellent. Maybe my favourite character.

Mimi Rogers as Honey “Money” Chandler is always good.

Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar is understated and believable.

The good ol’ regulars: John “Mank” Mankiewicz, Gregory Scott Cummins as Crate, Troy Evans as Barrel.

Set in L.A., Maddie’s boyfriend and many of the new characters are hispanic.

Bosch is a grumpy private investigator. Gruff and not all that loveable.

I miss Lance Reddick as Chief Irvin Irving, who died 2023 (aged 60). RIP. But he does make one appearance in the season.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

On November 14, 2023November 7, 2023 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

I’m a huge fan of Ken Follett‘s historical fiction Kingsbridge series, as are millions.

The Pillars of the Earth (1989) set in the 12th century
- World Without End (2007) set 157 years later
  - A Column of Fire (2017) starting 1558

There’s a prequel, as well set around 1000 AD – in the so-called Dark Ages: Evening and the Morning.

Happily, in 2023 he published The Armour / Armour of Light — starting 1792, around the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

New steam powered spinning looms require fewer people to operate them, throwing many people out of work.

Luddites, followers of Ned Ludd, destroy as many of the new machines as they can, but to no avail.

It’s a story we know well. New technology displacing old. The buggy whip industry disrupted.

Currently ➙ Artificial Intelligence threatening the jobs of many.

Instead of fighting AI — we need to regulate it as best we can to maximize the benefits, minimize the harm.

AI won’t take your job. Somebody who understands AI better than you will take it.

A good analogy is robots replacing factory line workers. Those maintaining and repairing robots are doing well.

This book continues through 1824 against the backdrop of social unrest occasioned by revolutionary ideas from America and France. And the Napoleonic Wars.

It ends at the Battle of Waterloo — named for the small town of Waterloo, now in Belgium. Napoleon‘s final defeat by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army under Field Marshal von Blücher.

*Butte du Lion* (“Lion’s Mound”) overlooking the battlefield of Waterloo

Great story. But I didn’t like the characters nearly as much as in the other books.

Spade is my favourite.

The coming-of-age story of Kit is inspiring, as well.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Morning Show – season 3

On November 13, 2023November 8, 2023 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I mostly complained about the first two seasons. Rich, powerful people bitching about their celebrity lives.

Season 3 is easily the best, so far. I quite enjoyed it.

Reese Witherspoon can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. One of my favourite actors.

It was cool to see Reese in the Capitol when Trump sent his criminals to overturn the election. Her brother Hal was one of the rioters.

Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison kept me watching. A death spiral.

Greta Lee as Stella Bak is … intriguing.

For me season 3 is by far the best season, so far. (It’s got mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.)

I appreciate the ambition of trying to cover real-life events close to LIVE.

I liked how they handled the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court leak. LIVE.

Right. This show is much about empowerment of women. None of the cast like the decision.

Abort the Court

I laughed to see Jon Hamm joining the cast as tech billionaire Paul Marks (Jeff Bezos?, Elon Musk?). For sure billionaires controlling old media is an important issue in 2023.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.