Movie review: The Artist

Went to see The Artist at the movies over the holidays with my sister. We were both puzzled by why this movie is getting so much buzz as one of the best of the year.

In its favor:
--Both of the leads (the actor who played George and the actress who played Peppy) were very good
--The black & white look and the fact that there was almost zero dialog were clever and a little creativity goes a long way with me.

Against it:
--The story goes exactly as you expect it to (especially if you've seen any of the versions of A Star is Born--tho it has a happier ending)
--I almost dozed off in the middle of it

I paid $5 for a bargain matinee and that was probably a fair price.

We Meant Well by Peter Van Buren

Peter Van Buren is an experienced State Department foreign service officer. We Meant Well recounts his adventures during his tenure in Iraq.

Van Buren has a wry sense of humor so some of his anecdotes will make you laugh. But others will leave you dumbfounded--particularly those involving the boatloads of money the U.S. government threw at programs to rebuild Iraq that were clearly doomed to failure (such as experiments in beekeeping). (It was interesting to see which programs did work--such as a small 4-H club set up for Iraqi children.)

Some of the passages will be indelibly imprinted in your mind. The one that comes to my mind was the chapter describing a medical training course involving pigs, designed to teach soldiers how to immediately respond to life-threatening battlefield injuries.

You may think you understand the Iraq War but We Meant Well is a fascinating look at the war from a totally different perspective.

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

In Explosive Eighteen, Stephanie Plum continues her adventures (and mostly misadventures) as a bounty hunter in New Jersey. The story begins with Stephanie returning from Hawaii and finding a photo of an unknown man in her bag. She tosses out the photo then discovers that everyone and his brother is looking for it. As usual, Steph has car issues, romantic issues and incompetence issues.

There are some funny scenes but there's not enough Ranger or Morelli--or even Grandma Mazur for that matter. Entertaining, but not the best in the series.

The Drop by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch is getting close to retirement age at the LAPD. He's now working in the cold case squad and has just started investigating a puzzling case in which blood evidence makes it appear that an 8 year old was a rapist and murderer. So begins The Drop. Before Harry can delve further into that case, he's called upon by the higher ups to investigate the death of a city councilman's son--who fell, jumped or was pushed off a hotel balcony. Along the way, he also has to deal with a partner he's not sure he trusts, a teenage daughter he's now raising alone and a possible new romance.

I love the way Michael Connelly writes.You're just drawn into the story. I also love the character of Harry Bosch. He's the kind of cop you'd want on the case if something happened to you or someone you love.

The Submission by Amy Waldman

The Submission by Amy Waldman has an intriguing premise: A committee is selected to pick an architect to design a memorial commemorating those who died on 9/11. Claire Burwell (whose husband died that day) represents the families. She is the strongest supporter of a submission called The Garden. Once the committee members choose that concept, they're stunned to learn that the architect is a Muslim --an American Muslim, but a Muslim nonetheless. When word leaks out, the public begins to vociferously make its opinions known.

Claire loves the architectural concept but isn't sure how she feels about the architect. Mo (short for Mohammed) Kahn, the architect, is a complex bundle of contradictions. There's also a good subplot about an illegal immigrant, Asma, whose husband died on 9/11. Though advised to remain in the shadows due to her illegal status, she feels compelled to go public with her thoughts on the memorial, with stunning consequences.

I liked the twist at the end. And I will say that, though it did bog down a little in the middle, The Submission is definitely worth reading and a book that gives you a lot to think about.

Devil's Gate by Clive Cussler/Graham Brown

Devil's Gate is another rollicking adventure yarn featuring some of Clive Cussler's old favorites--Kurt Austin, Joe Zavala, Paul and Gamay Trout--even Dirk Pitt, his original earth-saving hero. The plot involves a mysterious super weapon, a power-hungry African dictator, a beautiful Russian athlete/spy, an old nemesis of Kurt's, lots of things blowing up and plenty of near-death experiences. But it's all great good fun.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

My sister the librarian told me about The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt and I'm glad she did. It's described as a "novel in pictures" and is set up like a real scrapbook, with photos, souvenirs and typewritten descriptions.

The titular Frankie is a simple girl from New Hampshire in the 1920s who has big dreams of becoming a writer. The scrapbook shows her journey through Vassar (as a scholarship student), to New York then off to Paris to realize her literary dream, all the while looking for true love. It's an engrossing story--both for the actual journey and for the cool photos, fashions and miscellania from the 20s, which are so creatively displayed.

You can probably read the whole thing in an hour or two, but it's definitely worth searching for at your local library. It's a fascinating glimpse into the past.

The Litigators by John Grisham

The Litigators is an enjoyable legal romp, set in Chicago. David Zinc works ridiculous hours at a huge downtown law firm. One day, he decides he's had enough, walks off, gets drunk and ends up at "boutique" law firm Finley & Figg (ambulance chasers par excellence). He kind of likes the slower pace and learning about different kinds of law and doesn't even mind how little money he's making. Then one of the partners, Wally, gets the firm sucked into a huge lawsuit against a drug company, in hopes of making big bucks. Of course, nothing goes as planned and soon David, with no trial experience whatsoever, ends up trying the case by himself.

This book is a lot more lighthearted than some of Grisham's other books, which I liked.
It's a good story and David is an appealing "leading man." Is it great literature? No. But is it a good way to spend a wintry weekend? Definitely.