David M. Brown's Blog, page 53

Book Review: Dinner with Churchill: Policy-Making at the Dinner Table – Cita Stelzer

Review: Dinner with Churchill Dinner with Churchill was a pretty delightful look at Churchill’s idiosyncrasies, love of food, mannerisms and foibles. I’d read certain accounts of the meetings and conferences of the allies but this was a new experience. Instead of Churchill the leader, the politician, we see Churchill in a light he certainly seemed(...)
Book Review: Dinner with Churchill: Policy-Making at the Dinner Table – Cita Stelzer | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and...



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Film Review: Soldier of Orange

Review: Soldier of Orange  Paul Verhoeven’s Soldier of Orange is an acclaimed Dutch film which tells the story of a group of university friends whose lives are turned upside down when Europe descends into the Second World War and the Netherlands are occupied by Germany. The war has a different impact on the group of(...)
Film Review: Soldier of Orange | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: The Woman in the Fifth

Review: The Woman in the Fifth  Based on the novel by Douglas Kennedy, The Woman in the Fifth tells the story of writer Tom Ricks (Ethan Hawke) who heads for Paris to see his daughter and ex-wife who suggests a violent past given that she has a restraining order against her ex-husband. After his bags are(...)
Film Review: The Woman in the Fifth | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: The Agent

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About The Agent (2008)[image error]It’s all in a day’s work for high-flying literary agent Alexander; manuscripts to read, deals to be done, celebrity clients to be taken out to lunch… but first there is an author to deal with whose latest book the agent thinks is, frankly, not up to scratch. However he hadn’t counted on the author’s resourcefulness… This bitingly funny film takes you behind the scenes of the publishing world to witness the wheeling and dealing required to create the next best-seller. Screenplay by Martin Wagner DVD includes the following extras: Klaus Maria Brandauer: Speer in London (documentary) by Martin Wagner (52 mins) Summer (short film) by Martin Wagner (11 mins) The Agent 60 seconds by Thorsten Knaub (1 min) Essay by Guillermo O’Joyce on The Agent (PDF) The Agent play (PDF)

Starring: William Beck, Stephen Kennedy, Maureen Lipman, Richard Trinder, Lucy Bayler

Directed by: Lesley Manning

Runtime: 80 minutes

Studio: Starz/Anchor Bay

Amazon UKIMDB
Review: The Agent (2008)

Thousands upon thousands of authors dream of that lucrative book deal each year. Some get that lucky break, others find an agent but most are left in the wilderness. Lesley Manning’s The Agent is a very intimate piece on the working relationship between an agent and an author, that seemingly begins well but soon turns very dark and nasty when the two men have differences of opinion about the author’s work.

Stephen Parker (Stephen Kennedy) is the author who has a wife and children to support. He’s been signed up previously by an agent, Alexander Joyce (William Beck), and is now onto his second book entitled Black. After submitting the manuscript, Stephen is called into the office four months later by Alexander who is unhappy with it. Unwilling to accept Alexander’s dismissals, Stephen goes far beyond understandable disappointment, effectively taking his agent hostage and threatening to blackmail him with some incriminating photographs. Stephen wants his book to have proper consideration and it is down to Alexander to work against the clock in getting several opinions on Black and maybe even a book deal.

This is a well-crafted film with the majority of the screen time devoted purely to Stephen and Alexander. To carry this off without making the film boring takes skill and Manning accomplishes this very well. Stephen’s deeply personal accounts of what it means to be a writer, his passion and burning need to write, the agony of submitting work and waiting for a response, it is all well conveyed. I had this down for a solid 4 stars but then the last ten minutes went and ruined everything. The conclusion takes an unexpected and unpleasant turn, one that leaves the narrative feeling unsatisfying and unresolved. I expected a dark ending and even predicted one or two scenarios that might occur, but the outcome here is a wrong turn in my opinion, one that impacts very negatively on the overall experience which is such a shame.

Until the final ten minutes I loved The Agent and was completely enthralled by the face-off between agent and author. This film could have ended in many ways but sadly Manning takes the audience down a path that leaves the conclusion with more questions than answers. Had the ending been different this would have easily been a 4 star film for me but reluctantly I have to demote it.

Verdict: 3/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Agent | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Book Review: Reaping the Harvest

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About Reaping the Harvest (2013)[image error]On his way home from a moving job, Rhychard Bartlett heard a scream and ran to help. That action changed his life forever and tossed him into a war between the Way and the Void. Given the Guardian Sword, assisted by an ellyll who only stands two feet tall, and bonded to a mind speaking coshey the size of a Newfoundland canine and a taste for pepperoni pizza, Rhychard must stop the demon Vargas from carrying out his plans. Once he finds out what they are, of course. In the meantime, he longs for the girlfriend who left him because he suddenly had too many secrets. Not only must he save the day, but he also must convince Renny Saunders he’s not the cheating lover everyone thinks he is. Amazon USAmazon UKSmashwords Review: Reaping the Harvest

You have to feel sorry for poor Rhychard Bartlett, the main protagonist in Robbie Cox’s novel, Reaping the Harvest. One day you’re driving along minding your own business, the next you’re rushing to the aid of an elf who has been mortally wounded by giant bat-like creatures. Jamairlo is a Warrior of the Way, bearer of the Guardian Sword, who, before he dies, bequeaths this sacred weapon to Rhychard. Rhychard’s life is turned upside down after this chance encounter. Plunged into a battle between the Way and the Void, Rhychard’s secret life alienates him from those around him. The most important is his girlfriend of four years – Renny Saunders – who interprets Rhychard’s distancing as clear signs of infidelity. Can Rhychard win her back and what of the war he is in the midst of?

Rhychard is aided in his quest by by an elyll named Tryna from the Land Under and Kree, a large coshey also from the Land Under. Rhychard’s is a busy life. He has to contend with gargoyles and other threats from the Void and sent by the demon – Vargas. If that isn’t bad enough, there are strange things going on at Rhychard’s church – Harvest Fellowship – and with him and Renny attending this place of worship things get a little awkward. Despite his best efforts Rhychard cannot win Renny back and she refuses to listen to any claims of his innocence about the infidelity she believes he has committed. Then there’s the pastor – Adrian – and a prostitute named Buttercup thrown into the equation before the end. Action-packed? Certainly.

The opening installment in the Warrior of the Way series, Reaping the Harvest begins well and continues at a frantic pace. The action only slows for the tender scenes between Rhychard and Renny but the threat of the Void is never far away and more than once you will be left wondering whether Rhychard will make it to the end. There’s a good story built around the Harvest Fellowship and you will be left speculating what the demon – Vargas – is up to throughout. The ending was something of a surprise as well. The only downside to the book is the brevity but I understand Mr Cox has another book in the works so that’s a mild complaint.

Reaping the Harvest is a solid opener. You will sympathise with poor Rhychard, left with a huge responsibility for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is a rare example of the downside of being kind and caring towards others. The narrative is well-paced with a memorable set of characters who I hope will make a welcome return in the next book.

Verdict: 4/5

(Book source: reviewer’s own copy)

Book Review: Reaping the Harvest | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats

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About The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)[image error]Kevin Spacey, George Clooney and Ewan McGregor star in this war spoof based on the non-fiction book by Jon Ronson. With a freshly-failed marriage behind him, rookie reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) decides to lose himself in the romance of war by travelling to Iraq to report from the front line. Bob gets more than he bargains for when he meets Lyn Cassady (Clooney), a ‘psychic’ special forces agent who reveals the existence of a secret, New Age-influenced military unit whose goal is to put an end to war by using mind control techniques, peace and love as taught in Vietnam in the early 1970s by ‘New Earth Army’ founder Bill Django (Jeff Bridges). When Bob and Lyn set out together across the Kuwait border into Iraq, they get kidnapped and end up in a secret desert training camp run by Django’s treacherous former student Larry Hooper (Spacey), who is running a lab of bizarre paranormal experiments aided by his former mentor, now a spaced-out alcoholic.

Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges

Directed by: Grant Heslov

Runtime: 94 minutes

Studio: Overture Films/Anchor Bay Entertainment

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats

Grant Heslov’s comedy war film follows the story of Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) whose marriage falls apart at the outset so he decides to head for Iraq in search of a story. Stuck in Kuwait, Bob meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) formerly of a unique branch of the US army that was trained in psychic abilities to become Jedi warriors. This strange digression from the army is told through a series of stories based around Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) who fought in Vietnam and spearheaded a new form of fighting, one involving the power of the mind rather than firing a gun. Having paired up with Lyn, Bob heads into Iraq in search of his story but what are Lyn’s reasons for being there?

Deep in Iraq, Bob and Lyn have to contend with barren deserts and unwelcoming locals. Their adventures see them taken hostage, being in the midst of shootouts and Lyn demonstrating many of his abilities such as being able to move clouds with his mind and a highly amusing technique he demonstrates on Bob which involves looking at him in a peculiar way. There’s even time for Kevin Spacey to make an appearance as a fellow student of Django who trained alongside Lyn but couldn’t match up to his peer in terms of natural psyhic ability. What about those goats you must be wondering. Well, they’re involved at some point. I just don’t want to talk about it.

I had no idea what this film was about before starting but it was nothing like I imagined. In many ways it’s quite silly but it’s also a real hoot. Clooney and McGregor make a great team with Clooney once again impressing me with another dominant performance. Bridges and Spacey are welcome additions though Spacey is somewhat underused while Bridges’ appearances reminded me of the Dude in The Big Lebowski which is obviously a good thing. This is entertaining and funny, one of those films where not a lot happens, but that won’t bother you given how much you’ll be laughing.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is an amusing war film with a very peculiar alternative approach to combat which will raise smiles, especially Clooney’s dancing, moustache and long hair! A good cast and humorous script keep this moving along well and although it’s not the most eventful film I’ve ever seen, it’s certainly memorable.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Book Review: Rape is Rape: How Denial, Distortion, and Victim Blaming are Fueling a Hidden Acquaintance Rape Crisis

Review: Rape is Rape: How Denial, Distortion, and Victim Blaming are Fueling a Hidden Acquaintance Rape Crisis There are subjects that are difficult to read about, awful to talk about but all the same it’s absolutely vital to keep the dialogue ongoing. And then there are subjects that you think you’ve heard the very worst examples of(...)
Book Review: Rape is Rape: How Denial, Distortion, and Victim Blaming are Fueling a Hidden Acquaintance Rape Crisis | Thank you for reading...



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Book Review: Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus

Review: Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus My usual ratio of reading has been one non-fiction title for every ten fiction titles, but 2013 has seen me embark on a real non-fiction kick. In part I blame (or rather thank) this book. Really, the book synopsis covers it perfectly: this is a book(...)
Book Review: Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Johnny Got His Gun

Review: Johnny Got His Gun  Dalton Trumbo’s war film tells the tragic story of Joe (Timothy Bottoms) who is nearly killed fighting in the First World War. Though alive, Joe has been left with no arms, legs, ears, eyes, mouth or nose. He is aware of vibrations around him but cannot communicate with the doctors and(...)
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Film Review: Fragments

Review: Fragments  Gun crime is a worldwide crisis and I recall a time when the use of guns in the UK was unthinkable but now drive by shootings are not uncommon, society is far less safer than it used to be and things sadly don’t look like changing anytime soon. In Rowan Woods’ Fragments a(...)
Film Review: Fragments | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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