How long's it been since you reread or rewatched these? Pardner, that's too long.
My top picks from last year. In no particular order.
Serenity
The perfect popcorn movie — a fantastic, fast moving adventure crackling with wit and set 500 years in the future.
(My review here.)
(My review here.)
Haider
Hamlet — Indian style. Told as a statement about police action and terrorism in Kashmir in 1995.
Master and Commander
Brilliantly conveys the essence of the first three of Patrick O'Brian's novels with artistry, realism, and wonderful acting and directing.
Hell or High Water
This heist film crossed with a modern western follows two West Texas brothers who begin robbing banks but only take loose bills and target branches of one
particular bank. They are pursued by a crusty Texas Ranger (Jeff
Bridges) nearing the end of his career. The opening with the deliberate framing of the three crosses begs the
question throughout the film — is there a "good thief" and what does
that mean beyond the easy Hollywood cliche of good intentions?
Lagaan
Peasants versus the Raj in an epic cricket match.
Charming and a celebration of the human spirit.
Charming and a celebration of the human spirit.
Barfi
Barfi is a magical fairy tale of a romantic comedy, somewhat like an Indian-style
Amelie. We see four interwoven timelines, a rarity for Indian movies, chronicling a
romance, a crime spree (of sorts), life in the big city with a
childhood friend, and present day.
Return to Me
As a lovely fable of romance, community, faith, companionship and humor it hits practically every mark. It shows Catholic community and life at its best without ever leaving the mainstream movie genre.
Adaptation
This is famous screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's meta-film about adapting The Orchid Thief novel into a screenplay. Above all it reminds you that Nicholas Cage is a
great actor when he wants to be. Though it seems to
drag as you approach the halfway point, it suddenly picks
up and turns into an entirely different beast and you realize how the
first half was necessary to setting up the inspired insanity of the
second half. Not for everyone, but if you like an intellectual look at
movies, then this is brilliant.
Bleak House
by Charles Dickens
I read this for my book club. Bleak House is a riveting blend of mystery, horror,
romance, a look at character (or the lack thereof), and much more ...
all laced with a self awareness that I find startlingly modern. O
Dickens.
(More here.)
(More here.)
The Man Who Was Thursday
by G.K. Chesterton
The City Not Long After
by Pat Murphy
This tale of post-apocalyptic America had a dreamy, fantastic quality that I really liked. I especially
liked Murphy's imaginings of how artists would shape the raw material of
an abandoned city to show their vision.
(My review here.)
(My review here.)
The Case of the Missing Servant
by Tarquin Hall
Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, usually investigates candidates for arranged marriages. However, a serious case arises when he has to save a crusading lawyer's reputation while discovering what
happened to the missing servant the lawyer is rumored to have murdered. This started me down the path of reading the rest of the series, which I highlighted in my Best of 2022 Books list.
(My review here.)
(My review here.)
Prince of Foxes
by Samuel Shellabarger
Set in Renaissance Italy, this classic of American popular fiction is the story of Andrea Orsini, a peasant boy who rises to perform delicate political, military, and romantic missions for Cesare Borgia.This description doesn't do it justice but it is a beginning. I absolutely love this author's historical fiction and this is my favorite of his books. He doesn't shy away from describing faith in attitudes proper to the time period which often leads to inspirational moments without being unbelievable to readers of any persuasion.
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